Ghana being destroyed by bad governance - Kufuor

Population advocacy team ends workshop in Upper East

Asantehene's Education Endowment Fund Launched

The 1999 Ghana National Trust Fund Launched in Kumasi

Nurses in Winneba want mass transfer

Regional workshop on money laundering ends

Policy makers asked to co-ordinate activities

Change military complex for peaceful purposes - Foundation

UNDP Special Advisor installed development chief

CIBA employees express support for Committee

Police Mount Search for Killer Driver

Mrs Mills Launches First Nzema Bible.

MP Institutes scholarship for needy children

Accra (Greater Accra) 9 Aug. '99

Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, said on Sunday that bad governance has led to mass poverty and upsurge in criminal activities.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to give the NPP their mandate to reverse the trend, saying: "there is hope in the NPP. Just give us the chance in the 2000 elections and you will never regret it".

Mr Kufuor was addressing a rally of the NPP at Town Council Line's Red Park in Ablekuma Central where the party won a bye-election in March, this year, following the death of Mr C Crabbe, then NPP Member of Parliament.

"There are widespread poverty, unmerciful criminals and mass exodus of Ghanaians to other lands because we are still dealing with leaders who are unnationalistic and bankrupt of ideas.

"Our nation is in crisis, fellow countrymen; we need prayers and good leadership to prevent a disaster."

Mr Kufuor said while a few privileged ones are enjoying, the majority of Ghanaians are reeling under poverty and hopelessness, adding: "the family unit, the last institution, which has survived all these years, is on the brink of disintegration".

He also rebuked the government for not stamping out corruption and for killing the local entrepreneurial spirit.

Mr Kufuor warned that under no circumstance would the party allow rigging and other forms of intimidation during the 2000 elections.

"We think enough is enough, never again shall we sit idle for them to cheat us. We are ready for anything."

He called for the issuance of photo voter identity cards to all Ghanaians and a census to make the next general elections credible.

Mr Kufuor urged all Ghanaians to resist any attempt at dividing them along tribal lines, "especially at this time when we have so much at stake".

Mr Samuel Odoi Sykes, National Chairman, denied that there is disunity in the party.

He said it is the party's style to discuss issues that baffle people because "some cannot understand why we do not have a human god in our midst".

Mr Odoi Sykes said Mr Kufuor's running mate would be chosen at an undisclosed date through well-structured processes.

Mr. Victor Okuley Nortey, Member of Parliament for the area called for the support of his constituents for the party.

"I stood on this same ground in March and promised to serve you if you gave me the opportunity. Now that you have given me the chance, I want to thank you and still ask you to support the party for good."

GRi../

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Bolgatanga (Upper East), 9th August 99

A five-day follow-up workshop on capacity building in policy analysis and advocacy for 16 members of the Upper East regional population advocacy team ended in Bolgatanga on Friday.

The participants were taken through population-related data collection and needs assessment, advocacy process and how to develop a presentation outline.

They also reviewed some computer-based models and concepts used for making projections on demographic variables that have impact on population-related problems and development, and updated the regional advocacy workshop on sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) and HIV/AIDS.

In his closing remarks, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper East Regional minister, observed that the country's quest of becoming a middle-income nation by the year 2020 would be unattainable if serious efforts are not made to ensure that the goals of the revised national population policy are realised.

He said the numerous attempts by government and its development partners to address the problems of the people are nullified by high fertility rate, excessive environmental degradation and low levels of school enrolment, among others.

Alhaji Sulemana, therefore, directed district assemblies to make adequate provisions in their budgets to target specific population-related issues in their respective districts for redress.

He said the assemblies should also give high priority to population concerns in their development programmes, including the need to mobilise both human and technical resources from government, donors and NGO's to improve the well-being of rural people.

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Kumasi (Ashanti), 9th August 99

Mr Kwabena Kyere, Deputy Minister of Education, on Friday said the establishment of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene's Education Endowment Fund is a progressive gesture that would help to address the problem militating against ensuring education for all children in theAshanti Region.

He said the initiative is a clear evidence of the Asantehene's resolve to contribute to the human resource development of Ashanti and the country as a whole and expressed the Government’s appreciation at the effdort.

Mr Kyere was launching the Fund and Video documentary of the funeral of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

A set of the documentary was auctioned for five million cedis and was purchased by the Management of Ghana Breweries Limited (GBL).

The about 74 million cedis realised at the auction which will be used as initial capital for the Fund.

Mr Kyere commended the Asantehene for his initiative and urged him the strengthen unity among the adding that education is a serious venture that needs the concerted effort of all Ghanaians.

He asked administrators of the Fund to be honest, fair and transparent to ensure that children who would have had their education terminated somewhere along the line are able to complete them.

Right Reverend (Dr) Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi appealed to the Government to release Mission schools to the Churches to enable them to serve the country.

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Kumasi (Ashanti), 9th August 99

For the first time since its inception about 41 years ago, the Ghana National Trust Fund (GNTF) has been launched outside Accra.

The Fund was established to mobilise funds to support voluntary social service organisations which take care of the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, as well as individuals, such as people with disabilities, orphans, the youth, the poor and the needy.

Launching the Fund, which has a target of 190 million cedis for this year, in Kumasi, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, urged the National and Regional Fund-raising committees to institute programmes and initiate activities that would attract people to contribute to it.

"We need not remind ourselves that donations to the Fund are tax-free. I therefore invite all to contribute generously to the Fund", Otumfuo Osei Tutu said, and himself made a donation of five million cedis.

Ghana Review International, a London-based publication on Ghana donated pledged one million cedis while Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III Denkyirahene and President of the National House of Chiefs donated two million on behalf of the House.

Ghana Airways donated a return ticket from Accra to New York.

The Asantehene noted that the launching is not only being done outside Accra for the first time but at a time when the country is being ushered into the next millennium and appealed to all and sundry to contribute to it for the benefit of the needy in society.

Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said about 10 per cent of the country's population (about 1.8 million people) is disabled and need the assistance of all into the next millennium.

He explained that the basic objectives of the country's development agenda are to reduce poverty, increase employment opportunities and average incomes and reduce inequalities, so as to improve upon the general welfare and material well-being of all Ghanaians.

Alhaji Mumuni said this also constitutes the basic tenets under Ghana's long-term developmental perspective under the Vision 2020 programme.

Dr Alexander Ababio, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, hoped Ghanaians would take the message home and contribute to bringing hope to their compatriots who are in need.

The function was chaired by Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III, Denkyirahene and President of the National House of Chiefs, who called on Chiefs to take the lead in the education of their people to contribute to the Fund.

At another function, Ghana Oil Limited (GOIL) has donated four million cedis to the Fund.

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Winneba (Central Region), 9th August 99 -

Nurses at the Winneba Government Hospital have threatened to apply for mass transfer to the cities to enable them to enjoy "the preferential treatment" the Ministry of Health is allegedly giving to their counterparts at the Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals.

They said although they are aware that such a transfer would defeat government policy on health delivery, "it has become necessary in view of the special dispensation enjoyed by our colleagues in Accra and Kumasi as far as payment of overtime arrears is concerned".

The nurses gave the warning when they presented a petition to the District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Lieutenant Daniel William Osardu, after a two-hour demonstration to demand an "immediate rectification of disparities in overtime allowance" for nurses on Friday.

The petitioners urged the Ministry of Health to introduce special incentive packages to encourage nurses and other paramedical workers in the country to accept postings to rural areas.

They regretted that whereas the ministry of education is vigorously making moves to initiate incentive packages to entice teachers to go to the rural areas, the health ministry is making things difficult for nurses to accept similar transfers.

The nurses were worried that while a principal nursing officer at Korle-Bu or Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital had 900,000 cedis as overtime allowance, their counterparts at the Winneba Government Hospital collected only 295,000 cedis.

Similarly, senior nursing officers at Korle-Bu were paid 900,000 cedis as against the 271,000 cedis collected by their counterparts at Winneba Government Hospital.

And for senior nurses, those at Korle-Bu received 500,000 cedis each, while their colleagues in Winneba hospital were paid 148,000 cedis each, they added.

Addressing the nurses later, Lt Osardu assured them that their grievances would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for redress.

He said the vital role nurses play in the country's health delivery system cannot be over-emphasised, and advised them to resume work to save the lives of their fellow brothers and sisters who need their help.

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Accra (greater Accra), 9th August 99

A West African regional workshop on money laundering ended in Accra on Friday with a suggestion that a task force to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes in the region be established.

Organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), the five-day workshop also called for the development of capacity in the sub-region for the implementation of anti-money laundering compliance systems.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the 68 middle and senior level participants from banks and other financial institutions, security and regulatory agencies and relevant ministries in Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The workshop was facilitated by experts on financial crime prevention and detection drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the United States.

It was aimed at exposing the participants to current trends in global initiatives to combat money laundering and methods of designing money laundering compliance systems for enforcement in banks and other financial institutions.

The participants noted some of the underlying causes of money laundering as high cash orientation in the huge informal sector of West African economies which, they said, facilitates money laundering activities.

"There should be public enlightenment campaigns on the harmful effects of money laundering and the civic duty to report cases of suspected money laundering activities," the group suggested.

This, they said, should be complemented by ensuring that law enforcement agencies are motivated through proper training, provision of equipment and adequate remuneration in order not to compromise their offices.

The group, in addition to the recommendations, drafted a model anti-money laundering legislation for adoption in the entire sub-region.

Even though statistics on money laundering activities in the sub-region are not available, experts say it is part of the global playing ground, where about 500 billion dollars is laundered every year.

Mr Chris Itsede, Director General of WAIFEM, said the region is not immune from global economic crimes, and, therefore, "all efforts must be made to raise the consciousness of the people, as well as strengthen our institutions, to meet the challenges."

Mr Itsede said the economic growth taking place in the region has brought in its trail technological advancement, which would have a strong impact on the financial sector.

"We must be prepared to monitor these new technologies since they constitute potential vehicles for money laundering and other financial crimes," Mr Itsede said.

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Jirapa (Upper West), 9th August 99

Policy makers have been asked to co-ordinate their activities to avoid sending conflicting messages to the people, especially rural dwellers.

Mr Jacob Boll, Jirapa/Lambussie district chief executive, said this when he inaugurated a 13- member district population advisory committee for the district on behalf of Mr David Osei-Wusu, Upper West Regional Minister.

The committee will among other things identify existing and emerging population problems in the district, manage and supervise population activities and provide technical guidance to population and development activities in the district.

He said, for instance, while Parliament has passed a law pegging the age of marriage for girls at 18 years, some officials of the National Population Council, on the other hand, are advising marriage couples to start having children at the age of 20 years.

This, he said, sends conflicting signals to the people since the newly married young man cannot wait for two years before having children with his wife.

Mr Boll said another issue that needs to be addressed is the linkage of population of an area to the creation of districts. He queried: ''How can people understand the need to reduce the size of their family when in another instance they are told that they cannot have a separate district of their own because the

population of the area does not qualify them for it?''.

Mr I. K. Yeboah, Regional Population Officer, said Jirapa/Lambussie and Sissala districts have been chosen for pilot projects for the setting up of population advisory committees in the regions.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 9th August 99

The Olof Palme Peace Foundation has called on the international military industrial complex to change their facilities and produce goods for peaceful purposes as we enter the new millennium.

In a statement issued in Accra on Saturday, the Foundation asked manufacturers of arms to make their industries benefit mankind instead of destroying it.

The Foundation especially expressed concern about the proliferation of small arms, which it said has been found to be more lethal than bigger ones.

"In the final analysis, those who suffer most are the less developed countries" adding that the Foundation feels that the gun is an insult to humanity.

The statement was in reaction to a recent report by the United Nations on the proliferation of arms and weapons in the world.

The report said there are more than 500 million small arms and light weapons globally.

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Kordiabe (Greater Accra) 9 Aug '99

A Special Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa, Dr Kingsley A. Fletcher, was on Saturday installed as Nkosuohene, (Chief in charge of Development and Progress) of the Shai Traditional area under the stool name of Nene Fletcher Adamtey.

The ceremony, which took place at Kordiabe, was marked with drumming and dancing. It was attended by a large crowd including people from the diaspora.

Dr Fletcher is a grandson of Nene Gati Agidi of Lekpeje, one of the major towns in the Shai State.

His European wife was also made the Queenmother of Kordiabe under the name Nana Mariquine Adamtey.

Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism and MP for the area, appealed for support for the new chief to ensure the rapid development of the area.

He also urged the new chief to do his best to serve the people as his position demands.

The Acting Resident Representative of UNDP, Dr Tarirai Isaac Chivore, pledged the support of the staff of UNDP, for Nene Fletcher and the people of the area.

Nene Adamtey who is also a Minister of the Gospel, assured the people of his support and thanked them for the trust reposed in him.

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Kumasi (Ashante Region) 9 Aug. '99

Employees of the Council for Indigenous Business Associations (CIBA) have said they have confidence in the four-member sub-committee of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Council set up three years ago by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to collect revenue in the metropolis.

Mrs Elizabeth Owusu, Chairperson of the Traditional Caterers Association, is the chairman of the committee.

In a statement issued at the weekend, they said contrary to the assertion by the Regional Executive body of the CIBA that monthly revenue collection under the supervision of the Committee is below expectation, the performance has been encouraging.

They were re-acting to a no confidence resolution passed against the committee by 12 associations affiliated to the Council in Kumasi.

The workers explained that of late revenue came mainly from hawkers, market tolls, hairdressers, dressmakers and traditional caterers.

They said the major areas that brought in a lot of revenue under the collection agreement with the KMA have been taken away.

The workers insisted that if it is true that the Council, before the appointment of the Sub-Committee was collecting between 86 and 96 million cedis every month, then the leadership of the CIBA at that time should be made to explain where those monies went.

The vote of no confidence passed by the Executive body followed what it termed the poor revenue collection performance in recent times by the Council due to pressure of work on members of the Committee who are unable to supervise and monitor the collectors.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 9Aug.'99

Koforidua Police have mounted a search for a 21-year-old driver of Akim Dwenase, Moses Teye, who absconded while conveying a young man he had knocked down to the hospital.

The victim, Yaw Adjei, 20, died at Kibi Government Hospital a few hours after admission.

A statement issued on Sunday by the Eastern Regional Police Relations Unit, Koforidua, said Teye, driver of Datsun Taxi cab with registration number AS.326.D, knocked down Adjei a few metres away from Dwenase town.

Teye allegedly rushed Adjei, a citizen of Akim Mosiaso, to Osino Health Centre where he was asked to take him to Kibi Government Hospital in view of the critical condition of the victim.

Teye then sought the assistance of two brothers of the victim, Mr Kwabena Odame and Mr Kwadwo Sarfo, to convey him to Kibi Hospital.

On reaching Nsutam Junction, Teye told the two brothers that he had run out of petrol and was, therefore, going to buy fuel at a nearby filling station.

The brothers, after waiting for some time without trace of the driver, became suspicious and worried because they did not have any money on them.

A mechanic, who saw the plight of the brothers, gave them 4,000 cedis to buy petrol and sought the assistance of another driver to take the victim to Kibi Government Hospital.

The victim, however, died a few hours after admission.

A post-mortem report attributed the death of Adjei to skull fracture culminating in profuse bleeding from the nostrils, ears and mouth.

The statement appealed to the public to provide the police with information that could lead to the arrest of Teye who is believed to be hiding in either Asesewa or Huhunya in the Eastern region.

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Bonyere (Western Region) 9 Aug. '99

Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, wife of Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills, on Saturday launched the first Nzema version of the Bible at Bonyere, in the Western Region.

The idea for the bible was mooted in 1970 but it was not until 15 years later that the Nzema version of the New Testament was launched.

Following the great demand for it, however, the Bible Society of Ghana was urged to complete the Nzema version of the Old Testament, which has now been combined with the new one.

Mrs Mills noted that the new translation makes the word of God accessible to many more people, particularly Nzema-speaking Ghanaians living in Cote d'Ivoire.

Mrs Mills regretted that despite the numerous Christian churches, fellowships, evangelistic and prayer ministries scattered throughout the length and breadth of the nation, "we see social evils happening in our society".

Children are sexually abused, schoolboys rob forex bureaux while many youth are involved in drugs and other indecent acts, she noted and wondered what had happened to the lessons people read and hear from the Bible.

Mrs Mills urged those who read the bible to let the word manifest in the daily lives of Ghanaians, saying: "we all need the word of God to be our lamp and light without which we will surely stumble and fall in the dark".She called on Ghanaians to help the security agencies to counter the upsurge of criminal activities in the country.

She said as a result of the recent spate of criminal activities, fear and insecurity had gripped the citizenary.

"If there has been any age in the history of the country when there has been a clarion call for Ghanaians to relive and uphold the true values, teaching and practices of the holy bible, then it is today."

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Accra (Greater Accra) 9 Aug. '99

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, has instituted a scholarship scheme for needy children of school-going age in his constituency.

The scheme will become operational in September, this year.

He has, therefore, asked parents in Odorkor, Dansoman Asoredanho, Otaten, Dweneboa, Awoshie, Darkuman and other parts of the constituency facing financial difficulties to apply through the Odorkor Mantse or the assemblyman for Otaten for assistance.

Mr Bartels made this known in a speech delivered for him at a drama presentation and open-day of Accra International School at South Odorkor in Accra on Saturday.

Mr Bartels, who is also the Minority Spokesman on Works and Housing, said education holds the key to the intellectual and future development of children in society.

He, therefore, advised parents and guardians to take active interest in the education of their wards, adding that though it has become more expensive, it is the best investment any parent can make for his or her child.

Mr Bartels said the Minority in Parliament had on a number of occasions initiated debates and expressed concern about the high cost of education with the view to ensuring that parents and their wards do not suffer undue financial hardships.

He advised parents to redouble their efforts and make sure that their wards attain an acceptable levels of education.

Ms Christina Tawiah, acting Headmistress of Accra International School, said the population of the school that stood at 50 in 1982 when it was established had now reached 300.

She said facilities in the school were being improved to increase intake and appealed to the Parent-Teacher Association and charitable organisations to assist the school to enable it to live up to the expectation.

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