Woman dies with baby as nurses strike
Schools operated solely on profit motives to be sanctioned
Materialism taking over spiritualism in churches - pastor warns
Fishermen to resist take-over of pre-mix fuel sale
165 billion Cedis allocated for assemblies' common fund
Six Customs officers interdicted
Help check indiscipline in schools - educationist
Speaker warns against unjust international practices
Private schools provide good work - Effah
Rawlings calls for curb on "religious charlatans"
African Muslim Agency constructs 20 wells at Techiman
Mining companies construct bore-holes for two towns
Medical society advocates centres for aged
Woman dies with baby as nurses strike
Winneba (Central Region), 10th August 99
A Middle aged woman died with her newly born baby few minutes after delivery at the Winneba Government hospital on Friday because there was no nurse to attend to her.
This was made known when Lt Daniel W. Osardu, Winneba district chief Executive, after he had visited the hospital in the company of Mr G.B.L. Fiilo, Co-ordinating Director, on Monday to acquaint himself with the situation there in the wake of the nation-wide strike by nurses.
He found only three workers including one doctor at post.
Mr Larry Kumassah, Administrator of the hospital confirmed the death of the woman and her baby, saying the incident took place in the heat of the nurse's industrial action.
Mr Kumassah said all patients on admission have been discharged thus depriving the hospital of revenue.
Lieutenant Osardu regretted the nurse's action, adding they were expected to continue working once they had presented a petition to the government through his administration. He appealed to the nurses to rescind their decision and to resume work in the interest of humanity.
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Schools operated solely on profit motives to be sanctioned
Koforidua (Eastern Region), 10th August 99
The government is taking appropriate steps to sanction private schools whose overriding motives are to make profit through extortion of parents at the expense of educational standards.
Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, warned that private schools should adhere strictly to rules and regulations of the Ghana Education Service on the administration of private schools.
This was contained in an address read for him at the first speech and prize-giving day celebrations of the Assemblies of God JSS at Koforidua on Saturday.
He said government's open door policy to encourage private participation in the provision and management of schools did not mean that proprietors could gloss over the appropriate educational standards of their pupils.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the growth of education and the development of children should be regarded as the fundamental civic responsibility of both parents and the schools.
He therefore called on parents to assume their rightful responsibility of taking interest in their children’s welfare both in school and at home.
The Reverend Jonathan Donkor, the proprietor, said the school had acquired land to construct a Senior Secondary School(SSS) and added that the school would continue to train children to attain good education and high moral standards to ensure their proper upbringing.
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Materialism taking over spiritualism in churches - pastor warns
Mampong (Ashanti), 10th August 99
The president of the Central Ghana Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor A. P. Mensah, has said spiritualism, the hall mark of Christianity, is gradually giving way to materialism which is at variance with the purpose for which churches are established
He was speaking at the fifth anniversary celebration of the New Town and Adiembra branches of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church at Mampong under the theme "Not by might" at Mampong at the weekend.
The seven-day long anniversary was climaxed with the dedication of new choir robes.
Pastor Mensah said the morale decadence and its attendant social ills can partly be blamed on the churches for their failure to provide their congregation with the spiritual weapons to fight against lust for material things.
He identified self-consecration, faith in God, compassionate love and intercession prayers as the only means through which Christians can heal the nation of its social ills.
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Fishermen to resist take-over of pre-mix fuel sale
Half-Assini (Western Region) 10th August 99
Fishermen in the Jomoro district have said they will resist attempts by petrol dealers to take over the sale of pre-mixed petrol at the Fishermen's Service Centre at Half Assini.
A ministerial committee at the weekend advised that pre-mixed fuel at Half Assini should henceforth be distributed by fuel dealers. No reason was assigned for the directive.
The fishermen said since the sale of pre-mixed petrol was entrusted to the centre, there has been an orderly sale of the commodity to them. There has not been any fuel shortages since the centre took over the sale of the product.
The fishermen expressed support and confidence in their executives and appealed to the "ministerial committee not to yield to manoeuvres by some fuel
dealers to reverse this arrangement".
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165 billion Cedis allocated for assemblies' common fund
Accra (Greater Accra), 10th August 99,
The Administrator of the District Assemblies' Common Fund, Mr J.W. Ampiah, said on Monday that the Ministry of Finance has allocated 165 billion cedis to it this year.
A statement issued in Accra said this c onstitutes five per cent of an estimated tax revenue that the Ministry expects for the year.
It said going by the formula approved by Parliament for sharing the allocation, 10 per cent, which is 16.5 billion cedis, has been set aside as a "reserve fund."
The statement said 50 per cent of the reserve fund (8.25 billion cedis) is to be shared equally among the 200 MPs for constituency projects with each parliamentarian receiving 41.25 million cedis.
The remainder of the reserve fund of 8.25 billion cedis, 2.0625 billion cedis would be shared equally among the 10 regional co-ordinating councils to assist them in monitoring the use of the common fund.
Of the remaining (6.1875 billion cedis), part would be seed for counterpart funding for projects being jointly undertaken by government and major donor agencies and part for unforeseen and anticipated development expenditures.
The statement said the Ministry of Finance has, meanwhile, released 41.25 billion cedis, being the first quarter allocation of the Fund out of which 50 per cent has already been shared to the District Assemblies to enable them to pay for on-going projects.
"The balance is being released to them as and when they submit their approved supplementary budgets for the utilisation of their 1999 shares."
This should be based on guidelines provided by the Minister of Finance in consultation with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and cleared with the respective regional Co-ordinating Councils."
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Six Customs officers interdicted
Elubo (Western Region) 10th August 99
Six officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service(CEPS) at the Elubo and Osei Kojokrom borders, have been interdicted for their alleged involvement in the loss of revenue to the state.
The officials who were alleged to have assisted traders to under-declare and under-value their goods are Mr.Owusu Agyeman, Mr Ayittey Ghartey, Mr Andy Maanu and Mr S.S. Peterson, all stationed at the Elubo border.
The names of the two officers stationed at the Osei Kojokrom border were not disclosed for security reasons.
A top CEPS official told newsmen at Elubo that investigations were being conducted into the matter adding that they could be prosecuted after the investigations.
Meanwhile, Nii Okine Adjei, Commissioner for CEPS, has warned that very severe punishment "awaits officials who connive with smugglers to cheat the nation".
Nii Adjei, who was addressing a durbar of CEPS officials at Elubo as part of a six-day visit to the Western Region, said his office would not work with "crooks and unreliable personnel".
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Help check indiscipline in schools - educationist
Accra (Greater Accra), 10th August 99 -
Mr D.D. Danquah, Circuit Supervisor of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in charge of Gbawe in the Ga District, has called for an immediate action to check indiscipline in schools.
"There must be character and behavioural training to change things for the better," he said.
Mr Danquah was speaking at the 10th speech and prize-giving day of Princess International Complex Schools at Mallam, near Accra, on Saturday.
He said education is the best investment for the development of a nation.
"There is no progress in a country without education and the government recognises this. This is why it is introducing the Free, Compulsory and Universal Basic Education programme to ensure that children have access to education."
Madam Princess Gbordzoe, the Proprietress, said the complex which began with four children as a day care centre, now has a population of 750 pupils.
Madam Gbordzoe said 60 pupils have benefited from a scholarship scheme instituted to assist brilliant but needy children to further their education.
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Speaker warns against unjust international practices
Accra (Greater Accra) 10th August 99
The Speaker, Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan, on Sunday criticised programmes which are designed to address debt and poverty, but do not aim at a true and lasting response to poverty.
He, therefore, called on the international community to respond positively to changing trends and ensure that Africa does not finish at the losing end, even though it is made to think that the changes are intended for her benefit.
Mr Justice Annan was speaking at a dinner to say farewell to visiting U.K. parliamentarians and welcome delegates of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa region, meeting in Accra which opens on Wednesday.
The British parliamentarians and their Ghanaian counterparts looked at the sustenance of the democratisation process, socio-economic development, development assistance and good governance.
In an apparent reference to the fall in gold and cocoa prices, Justice Annan said: "we must once again draw your attention to the real concerns that we in the gold producing countries, particularly Ghana and South Africa, have registered about selling gold to finance debt reduction".
He described the consequence of widespread poverty as "debilitating and even dehumanising", saying this might erode confidence in the democratic process being established.
He said the discussions, which covered a wide range of issues, were fruitful.
Mr Justice Annan thanked the UK Branch for its assistance to Ghana's young Parliament since the re-birth of parliamentary democracy six years ago.
Ms Diane Abbot, Labour MP and leader of the seven- member delegation, described the visit as a magnificent one that gave them "a life-time treat".
She said they met the majority and minority MPs and had practical and useful discussions, including sentiments in the gold industry in Ghana and South Africa.
"We will take back the sentiments discussed and will let you have the feedback".
She said Britain and Africa are linked in several ways out of which has grown a very genuine mutual respect and love that must be nurtured to meet the aspirations of the peoples of both countries.
Ms Abbott said the next millennium will be one for Africa and asked the CPA delegates to help make it a reality.
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Private schools provide good work - Effah
Takoradi (Western Region) 10 Aug '99
The high patronage of private Schools is a clear testimony of their good work, Mr. Y.K.Effah, Western Regional Director of Education has said at the graduation and prize-giving day of NEST Nursery and Preparatory school at Takoradi on Saturday.
He said parents preference for private schools show that they are losing confidence in the public schools despite being staffed by more qualified teachers.
Mr.Effah called on all stakeholders in education to seriously ensure quality education for children in the public schools.
He stressed that until problems facing public schools are solved, private schools would continue to lead.
The Regional Director said the next millennium should see a new teacher who is committed and resourceful, adding that he must eschew lateness, absenteeism, drunkenness and other negative attitudes.
Mr.Effah warned that teachers who fail to change their negative attitudes to work would be dismissed.
He said any public or private school, which flouts the Ghana Education Service guidelines on education, would also be sanctioned.
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Rawlings calls for curb on "religious charlatans"
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Aug. '99
President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday called for a curb on the activities of "religious charlatans" among charismatic churches and said they use teachings in the Bible to mislead their flock.
"There are too many charlatans and their activities damage the image of the charismatic churches. A way has to be found to curb their negative activities," he said.
The President said this when he granted audience to a delegation of priests from the United States who were attending a five-day Conference dubbed "Ghana Believers Millennium Conference" in Accra.
The delegation, led by US Evangelist T.D. Jakes, included Mr Jorge Serrano, a former President of Guatemala between 1990 and 1993 who now lives in Panama, Mr Richard DeMaritte, a Bahamian Diplomat, and Mr Bill Greig, President of Regal Books/Gospel Light Publishing of the US.
President Rawlings said: "leaders of some of the charismatic churches are using the name of God for material gains. There are too many of them and they are misleading too many people."
He said the leadership of the orthodox churches, as well as some members of the charismatic churches, has expressed concern at what is happening.
"Some of these issues cannot be dealt with by the law. We have a great responsibility on our hands - both the government and the churches."
President Rawlings told the pastors "if you do not check the bad ones among you, they will continue tarnishing your image."
"Take them to task. Also, do not hesitate to take to task politicians. Criticise us when we go wrong," the President said.
Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State for National Security, said some of the pastors attending the conference have made an impact on the people through their preaching.
"They do not put fear in people neither do they play on their weakness. They help lift people up."
Bishop Jakes and other members of the delegation took turns to comment on
progress Ghana has made and said since they arrived they have not failed to notice the peace and tranquillity Ghana is enjoying.
Bishop Jakes told the President: "we have heard a lot about what you are doing and we hope to strengthen relations between African/Americans and Ghanaians."
He said they are also promoting partnership between religious leaders and governments for development. "We are empowering people for the 21st Century."
Mr Sorano, now a born-again Christian, said "since we arrived we have taken note of the tremendous opportunities here and we praise Ghana's leadership for this."
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African Muslim Agency constructs 20 wells at Techiman
Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 10 Aug. '99
Twenty hand-dug wells, sponsored by the African Muslim Agency, a non-governmental organisation based in Kuwait, were commissioned at Techiman at the weekend.
Selected communities which benefited from the programme include, Hausaline, Wangaraline, Gyarko, Kenten, Anyibirem, Konimase, Takofiano, Sikafoamantem, Aboaso, and Kokroko all suburbs of Techiman.
Commissioning the project, the director of the Agency, Sheikh Jafar Ibrahim, urged the beneficiary communities to take proper care of the wells.
The Brong Ahafo Regional co-ordinator of the Agency, Ustaz Aremiyaw Hussein gave the assurance that other communities would very soon benefit from similar projects.
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Elubo(Western Region) 10 Aug. '99
Prohibited goods found in false compartments of vehicles would henceforth be confiscated along with the vehicle to the state and the driver prosecuted.
Nii Okine Adjei, Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, reiterated this at a meeting with heads of departments operating at the Elubo border on Friday.
He stressed that goods, which are not contraband but are concealed in the false compartment of vehicles "will attract 300 per cent duties penalty."
Nii Adjei therefore asked the heads to be vigilant at the border to ensure that smugglers do not outwit them.
He asked them to work as a team to achieve their aims and objectives, adding that they should be fair and firm and "exhibit good behaviours".
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Mining companies construct bore-holes for two towns
Gyedu (Brong Ahafo) 10 Aug '99
Rank and Centenary Mining Companies, both prospecting for gold in the Asutifi district, have sunk five bore-holes for two communities in the district at a cost of 75 million cedis.
The beneficiary towns are Ntotoroso and Gyedu.
Mr Frederick Fosu, Assemblyman for Gyedu who disclosed this to newsmen, said this would help reduce the high incidence of water-borne diseases in the area.
Mr Fosu who is also Chairman of the Ntotoroso-Gyedu Area Council, advised the people to make judicious use of the facilities.
He commended the companies for their initiative, and expressed the hope that other mining companies would give similar assistance to communities in which they operate.
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Medical society advocates centres for aged
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 10 Aug. '99
The Society of Private Medial and Dental Practitioners of Ghana has advocated the establishment of community based clubs and centres for the aged to help reduce their loneliness and neglect.
They said the aged are being neglected because of the erosion of the traditional Ghanaian values.
The society noted that socio-economic factors, such as rural-urban migration, have also contributed to the increasing isolation of the elderly and therefore appealed to public-spirited organisations to initiate support packages for the aged to make their last days on earth a bit more tolerable and enjoyable.
These were contained in a resolution issued by the society at the end of its three-day national annual general meeting which was held at Sunyani under the theme "healthy ageing".
The resolution contended that healthy ageing is basically a responsibility of the individual and urged the youth to adopt good, ethical and moral lifestyles to enable them to become healthy adults.
"The avoidance of drugs, alcohol and tobacco intake coupled with the pursuance of education, physical exercises and effective family planning practices by Ghanaians will go a long way to ensure that the country's population age more healthfully".
The resolution further called on the government to make access to education, health care and job opportunities its priority to enhance the socio-economic status of Ghanaians and improve their capacity to care for themselves in old age.
It said the society was seriously considering the institution of special packages for the elderly and pledged the determination of members to intensify their educational campaign on the benefits of healthy living.
Dr T.K. Caiquo and Dr L.T. Ofosu, newly elected Chairman and Secretary of the society, signed the resolution.
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