NPP urges Ghanaians to help meet challenges
CPP comments on NPP's 100 days in office
NPP Youth wing commends Kufuor on 100 days
Kintampo farmers
unable to cart foodstuff to market
200 people rendered homeless by rainstorm
Chief butcher blames AMA over illegal slaughtering of livestock
Set up committee to develop schemes for youth - Aliu
Work on Keta sea defence to continue
Chief calls for rehabilitation of roads to Aburi
Exercise Cohesion Kotah underway in Yendi
ICAG to present bill on insolvency to parliament
Regional Minister meets security agencies in Bawku
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday urged Ghanaians to help the government meet the challenges confronting the nation and win the economic war.
"We need to rebuild our shattered economy, reinvigorate our willpower to resist corruption in all its forms and strengthen the power of our institutions to propel us into greater developments," it said in a statement to mark President John Kufuor's 100 days in power.
"The next years will not be easy. They will not be free of risks and temptations. But our yoke would be less if we all rally behind the President, J.A. Kufuor, with determination and patriotic zeal," said the statement signed by Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, National Chairman.
It said Ghana needs to move forward, both economically and socially, adding that the NPP is determined to succeed where others have failed.
The statement said the party deems it a great honour to express its solidarity with the president, supporters and Ghanaians as the government celebrates "a successful 100 days in office".
It said: "The NPP is conscious of the fact that the 100-day journey has not been very easy because of the precarious legacy left behind by the corrupt regime of the NDC (National Democratic Congress)."
The statement said that notwithstanding all the daunting tasks, the president would "never renege on his promise of honest governance, rule of law and open dialogue with the people".
"Indeed, the NPP administration will never compromise on the war against corruption," it said, adding: "our policy on good governance is directed not against any political party, group of persons or ideology, but against hunger, poverty and economic decline."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday commended the positive disposition of the government towards the African Unity Charter, saying the concept has been the underlying principle of the party.
The party also commended the government on its moves towards regional integration and the efforts at normalising Ghana's relations with especially Togo and Burkina Faso because the peaceful co-existence with "Our neighbours is a necessary prerequisite for internal stability and national development".
These were contained in a statement signed by Dr. Abubakr Al-Hassan, National Chairman and Leader of the CPP, on the occasion of the 100th day of the NPP government, which fell on April 17.
The statement questioned the NPP government's uncritical acceptance of the IMF, World Bank economic programmes, saying they have left nothing but massive economic and social dislocations and misery.
"We would like to reiterate that the government's prescriptions for tackling the economic crisis confronting the country will at best only paper over the structural cracks without altering the basic underlying cause of our underdevelopment and poverty."
The CPP said its position stemmed from the fact that after 17 years of faithful implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme, Ghana was eventually declared bankrupt and was coerced into opting for the HIPC Initiative.
The IMF and World Bank and SAP are integral parts of the problems associated with the nation's economic crisis and therefore cannot be the solution, it said.
The CPP, however, welcomed the "new transparency associated with the business of government", saying: "it is hoped that this would translate into prudent fiscal management".
The party urged the government to be transparent on the allegations of impropriety associated with oil imports involving some top NPP sympathisers.
"The essence of prudent fiscal management in the country's economic survival cannot be over-emphasised," the statement said.
"It is in this that the CPP is worried that not enough thought went into the appointment of the Board of Governors of the Bank of Ghana which lacked a regional balance."
The party also expressed its disapproval of the dollarisation of the economy but said it is happy that over the past several months the cedi has enjoyed some measure of stability.
The CPP said it is concerned about the continued silence on the government campaign promise of subsidies on agricultural inputs, as well as the absence of a programme to mobilise the peasant majority, which in its view would seriously jeopardise agricultural transformation in the country.
It said it is important for the state to play an active role in both the agriculture and manufacturing sectors because these are the main lifelines of the economy, which are critical to the nation's survival.
The CPP said only a miracle would enable the NPP government to fulfil its campaign promise of creating more jobs.
"The CPP has had occasion to point out that the NPP's obsession with privatisation will only succeed in aggravating an already bad unemployment situation in the country."
The statement also expressed the party's surprise at the evasive rhetoric regarding the cash-and-carry system that the NPP promised to abolish when it comes to power.
It further urged the government to move beyond its present superficial commitment to uplift education as expressed in the number of ministerial and deputy ministerial appointments in the sector ministry.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
The Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday commended President John Kufuor on his 100 days in office and said the government has made giant strides to deepen democracy.
"President Kufuor's assumption of office after the internationally-acclaimed historic, peaceful and smooth transition ...has witnessed a welcome period of the restoration of dignity and reverence to the presidency," it said in a statement signed by the Acting National Youth Organiser, Kwame Twumasi-Awuah.
The statement said the president's "unenviable inheritance" was a deeply polarised society and a nation on the verge of bankruptcy.
This was "compounded by endemic corruption at the highest levels of government, arrogance of power, ostentatious display of improperly acquired wealth, insensitivity to the problems of the average Ghanaian and a dangerous slide into ethnicism".
The Youth Wing said limited as 100 days are, "the president has taken bold and pragmatic measures aimed at stemming the growing decay of the national fabric, cleansing the system and restoring our national pride".
The statement said the appointment of ministers and deputy ministers within three months of his inauguration, as well as the general conduct of state affairs have demonstrated the president's commitment to national reconciliation and all-inclusiveness.
Other commendable attributes, it said, are the restoration of safety and freedom on the roads, effective policing, improved civil-military relations, presentation of the budget in record time and bold economic decisions.
The Youth Wing also commended the president for his "commitment to due process and the rule of law, even in the face of mounting evidence of various acts of corruption and malfeasance by officials of the former NDC government".
It urged the government "to speed up the process of breathing life into the now dormant principles of probity and accountability by establishing a commission to uncover and recover suspected improperly acquired huge sums of money being kept both in Ghana and abroad....".
It said of particular interest to the Youth Wing is PNDC Account 48, adding: "Ghanaians need to know the exact state of that account".
It appealed to Ghanaians to be patient "as the well-oiled machinery of good governance grinds slowly, with the assurance of a smooth pace eventually worth the confidence they entrusted to the NPP government".
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Kintampo farmers
unable to cart foodstuff to market
Kintampo (Brong Ahafo) 18 April
2001
Farmers in some communities in the
Kintampo District are finding it difficult to transport their produce,
especially yams, to the marketing centres because of bad roads.
Mr Yak Seidu, Chairman of the
district branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), told the
Ghana News Agency (GNA) that large quantities of yams have been piled up while
the farmers "cry for market".
Mr. Seidu said Krabonso-Anyima,
Ampoma-Miawani, Dumso-Kunsu, Kintampo-Apesika, Anoma-Junction and Agyina, are
some of the farming communities whose roads are cut off from marketing centres
due to recent down pour.
He appealed to the Department of
Feeder Roads to rehabilitate the roads to facilitate economic activities in the
area.
In another development, Mr Seidu
appealed to the government to provide Kintampo Police with means of transport
to enhance their work.
He said but for the assistance
often provided by the Union, the Police would have always found it difficult to
effect arrests or curb crimes in the area.
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200 people rendered homeless by rainstorm
Abura Dunkwa (Central Region) 18 April 2001
Two hundred people were on Easter Monday rendered homeless at Abura Dunkwa in the Central Region following a rainstorm, which ripped off the roofs of 30 houses and damaged property worth about 50 million cedis.
The worst affected were the mission house of the St. Stephen's Catholic Church and Junior Secondary School. The victims are putting up with friends and relatives.
Nana Osam Kwesi VII, Chief of Abura Dunkwa, who took newsmen round on
Tuesday to assess the situation, appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation, NGOs and public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the victims.
Mr Ahorny Narh Tetteh, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Assistant Disaster Control Officer, advised the people to plant trees around their houses to serve as wind brakes.
He also asked them to always consult experts before putting up houses, stressing that it is necessary to do this to ensure that the houses, especially the roofs, are properly constructed.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
The National Chief Butcher, Alhaji Soofo Zakari, on Tuesday blamed the indiscriminate slaughtering of animals at unauthorised places on the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), which has failed to provide butchers with slaughter slabs and other facilities.
He told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that since the demolition of the Accra Slaughter House in November 1998, the Accra District has not had any convenient place to slaughter animals like pigs, sheep and goats.
Alhaji Zakari said the Accra Abattoir has no facilities for smoking slaughtered animals, adding: "we burn the skin after slaughtering animals like sheep and goats and wash them nicely before cutting them up. But the abattoir peels off the skin, which becomes a waste".
Besides, he said, the animals are not inspected to ascertain their wholesomeness or otherwise but are offered for sale to the unsuspecting public.
When asked why his members were not complying with the directives to patronise the abattoir at Lashibi, the chief butcher said they had on several occasions complained about the distance and the cost involved in slaughtering a goat or a sheep.
Alhaji Zakari also alleged that no better consultation was done with the butchers regarding the hygienic preparation of the meat after slaughter at the abattoir.
He said though the butchers suggested to the AMA that they were prepared to construct a modern slaughter house at their own expense, this was rejected.
The AMA also failed to heed a request by the butchers for a meat van to ease their transportation burden.
Asked if he was aware of diseases associated with the consumption of unwholesome meat, Alhaji Zakari said that it had become increasingly clear that something ought to be done.
He suggested to the AMA to allow butchers to contribute towards the construction of a new slaughter house or provide them with a meat van in the Accra Metropolis.
"We are ready to bring in investors to construct a modern slaughter house, an abattoir or slaughter slabs in the six sub-district of the Metropolis," he stated.
The Acting Director of the Metropolitan Public Health Department of the AMA, Mr. Emmanuel Akrofi Bruce, told the Ghana News Agency that a programme of activities had been drawn up to raid the various illegal slaughtering points.
He said since his office is charged to protect the health of the people, he would ensure that illegal slaughtering of animals was discouraged.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
Vice-president Aliu Mahama on Tuesday directed that an action committee be set up immediately to develop schemes that will address youth employment in the country.
He also suggested that all youth oriented NGOs should liase with the National Youth Council (NYC) for greater and more focused impact of their programmes.
A statement issued in Accra said the Vice-President announced this at a meeting with officials of Empretec Ghana Foundation and the NYC.
It said the meeting was called at the instance of the Vice-President to discuss areas for collaboration between the two institutions for the benefit of the youth.
"The youth is our problem and everything possible has to be done to address that problem now," he said.
It said Mr. Tom Tandoh, Chairman of Empretec, announced the launch of two new products aimed at equipping the youth with creative and employable skills.
They are the Graduate Enterprise Programme and the Business Incubator Facility, which will give university students entrepreneurial training and assist them to set up on the their own.
Under the Business Incubator facility, Empretec will develop a large and well equipped business centre, which will be rented out to the youth for a period until they are able to move on their own.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
The Police have granted a request to provide armed officers to protect life and property at the operational areas of the Great Lakes and Dredging Company, which is currently undertaking the Keta Sea Defence project.
Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing, told the Ghana News Agency that the Inspector General of Police granted the request at a meeting between the company's management and the Ministry on Tuesday.
This was in response to threats by the company to abandon the project after it had suffered a spate of armed robberies at its operational areas as well as residential quarters of expatriate directors.
Mr Bartels, who described the meeting as successful, said the company rescinded its decision and will resume work with vigour, adding: "They are happy now".
He said the ministry is also meeting with the workers to resolve other "grey areas" such as disagreements over salaries.
The Company, which started work barely a year ago, has suffered three armed robberies since October, last year, resulting in the loss of property worth several millions of cedis.
In the latest incident, seven armed men attacked the residence of the expatriate staff, injuring five people and stealing property worth millions of cedis.
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Aburi (Eastern Region) 18 April 2001
Otoobour Nana Djan Kwasi II, Omanhene of Aburi, at the weekend appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority and the South Akuapem District Assembly to rehabilitate the Aburi-Nsawam and Aburi-Kitaase-Accra roads.
Nana Djan Kwasi, who is also the Adontenhene of Akuapem Anafoo and the life patron of the Aburi branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), made the call when he addressed more than 400 members of the union, chiefs, car owners, assembly members and opinion leaders on Easter Sunday.
The meeting was aimed at finding the best way of rehabilitating the roads before the rains set in.
Otoobour Djan Kwasi said more than 40 pineapple and food crop communities in the area would benefit from the rehabilitation of the roads.
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Wa (Upper West) 18 April 2001
Callers contributing to a phone-in programme on Radio Upper West, an FM station at Wa, were virtually divided in their assessment of the 100 days in office of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Out of 14 callers, six who spoke in favour of the government cited peace, self-confidence and happiness Ghanaians now enjoy as some of the government's achievements.
They were of the view that given the economic mess inherited from the former government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Kufuor administration had no choice but to use the 100 days to clear the economic mess before it could find its way clear.
The pro-NPP callers also noted with satisfaction the reduction in the spate of serial killing of women and reduction in crime in general since the NPP came to power.
They, therefore, called on all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political persuasion, to put their shoulders to the wheel for the reconstruction of the country.
Those who criticised the government accused it of failing to create 100,000 new jobs promised the electorate during the electioneering campaign in the last general election.
They also criticised the government's failure to abolish the cash and carry system at the hospitals and increase the salaries of workers.
Others blamed the government for opting for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 18 April 2001
Troops from Ghana, Togo, and Cote d'Ivoire have gathered at Yendi in the Northern Region to start a one-week multinational peacekeeping exercise scheduled to begin on
Wednesday.
The exercise, code-named "Exercise Cohesion Kotah", is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the forces to move rapidly to the aid of any sub-regional country or countries in crisis.
The exercise, sponsored by the participating countries and the French government, would also enable the soldiers to be trained in the management of refugees and displaced persons in times of disaster.
It is also to afford the participating countries to know the traditions and cultures of the people of the various countries so that they can adequately cater for refugees in times of crisis.
A military source told the GNA that Burkina Faso, which is Ghana's northern neighbour, is not involved because it is also undertaking a similar exercise with Mali.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), is to present to parliament a bill that seeks to give legal backing to insolvency and bankruptcy of companies.
The bill will enable crippled companies to seek legal backing to employ expertise from the courts to help them get back on their feet, Ms Aurore Lokko, President of the Institute, said on Tuesday when she launched this year's Accountants Week in Accra.
The week is being celebrated in collaboration with the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) under the theme "Regional Co-operation and Mobilisation".
Ms Lokko said such a bill would put distressed companies and public institutions on track to move the economy forward.
Outlining the programmes of the institute, Ms Lokko said ICAG intends to train about 200 accountants yearly some of whom would be exported to earn foreign exchange.
"Ghanaian professionals are on high demand by international bodies because of the good training they have. It will, therefore, be in line if we train more of such professionals to boost the image of the country."
Ms Lokko said ICAG would achieve this through the establishment of an accountancy village that would have faculties for research, library, and computer laboratory, among other things.
Funding of the village would be in the form of levies from members and support from users of products from the school, including government and philanthropists.
Ms Lokko said such a facility would enable ICAG to train accountants to acquire post-graduate and doctorate degrees as part of efforts to help bridge the gap between supply and demand.
She acknowledged the fact that government would soon withdraw subsidies from the institute and said it should in principle stop nominating representatives to serve on the ICAG council.
Ms Lokko regretted that not more than two chartered accountants have been employed at the Finance Ministry, which manages the country's financial affairs.
She suggested that a chartered accountant be employed to oversee the affairs of the Auditor-General's Department to be able to balance the nation's liabilities and assets.
Mr John Hyde, a former president of ICAG, emphasised the need for government to employ the services of chartered accountants in the public sector to give a proper statement of accounts on the economy.
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Bawku (Upper East) 18 April 2001
Mr Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister, on Thursday commended security agencies in Bawku for restoring peace in the area.
Speaking at a meeting with personnel of the Police, Air Force, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Immigration Service, Fire Service and the Prisons at Bawku, the minister urged them to remain vigilant to be able to sustain the successes so far chalked.
Mr Salifu appealed to them to be politically neutral and maintain good relations with the people in the discharge of their duties so that they could enjoy the co-operation and support of the public.
He assured the security agencies of his assistance to enable them to work effectively.
Mr William Twumasi, Bawku East District Police Commander, told the minister that the security agencies would work diligently to ensure that law and order are maintained for the socio-economic development of the people.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2001
All illegal structures impeding the construction of access roads and drains at the Dunkona Housing Development site would be demolished to pave way for the rapid completion of the project, the Works and Housing Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels said on Tuesday.
The Minister, who was on tour of the project site, said other property, which are within the project area will be considered as part of the project and the owners made to pay for the serviced plots.
In this direction, Mr Bartels, said a meeting between the Ministry, trespassers, Ghana Real Estates Developers Association and the contractors is scheduled for Tuesday next week to discuss and amicably resolve all issues for work to go on.
The government in 1992 acquired the 272 hectares Dunkona Housing Development site for the construction of low cost, medium class to executive houses.
A total of 1.2 billion cedis was paid as compensation to the chiefs of James Town and Bortianor, the custodians of the land.
Mr Bartels said his initial contacts with some of the trespassers indicated that they knew they were doing something illegal but decided to go ahead anyway.
"They also do not have title deeds to the land they are developing," he said.
Mr Bartels said the housing units would be built with a 50 million-dollar facility from the Czech government, which would be made available to members of GREDA through a bank.
"The amount would be repaid in 15 years and it is the first time that GREDA is benefiting from such a scheme," he said.
Mr William Fearon, Project Co-ordinator, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Development, said some of the properties were in the past demolished but they sprang up again.
He said although the first phase of the project was due to be completed last January, it has to be extended because of the problems posed by trespassers.
Mr George Darkoh, Project Co-ordinator, GREDA, said about 420 mixed houses would be built under the first phase of the project.
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