Vision 2020 should be a reality - Mills
Revive Ghana-Mali friendship union
Resolve dispute between Akyeamehene and Abontendomhene
Suspend implementation of universal salary structure
Guide children in books, films selection - Educationist
Ministry to take over health facilities
CPA delegates want more funding for Parliament
MP blames truancy on shift system in schools
Junior nurses at Sekondi resume work
Vision 2020 should be a reality - Mills
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 Aug. ’99
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday urged policy makers and advisers to fully commit themselves to the implementation of development plans under the Vision 2020 Policy Framework to ensure that their objectives do not become an illusion.
Vision 2020 is the government's blueprint for socio-economic development, "The people of Ghana are expecting this from us. That is why they have entrusted us with the government and administration of the country. We cannot fail them. Let us therefore resolve today to work together as one team to implement this plan".
Professor Mills said this when he opened a one-day seminar on the Implementation and Monitoring of the First Development Plan (1996-2000) under Vision 2020 for members of the Council of State, ministers and presidential aides in Accra.
Prof. Mills noted that though Ghana had formulated 12 development plans since 1919, most of them were only partially successful because their implementation was taken for granted.
"There is no point spending so much time and money preparing a Plan which will not be implemented... "If we are to achieve the noble goal of transforming our dear country into a democratic, vibrant and prosperous middle-income country by year 2020, then all of us gathered here today are called upon to put in our maximum efforts and provide the necessary leadership for the implementation of the plan."
Vision 2020, Ghana's 25-year Policy Framework, was launched in 1996. Its objective is to transform an underdeveloped, low-income country into a prosperous middle-income country through the implementation of socio-economic development plans.
Prof. Mills said to ensure that plans under Vision 2020 are fully implemented, the process of formulation involved all stakeholders, including citizens in the remotest part of the country, and went through various and thorough assessment.
"This plan is a manifestation of our success in establishing a viable democratic, decentralised and participatory development decision-making process in Ghana".
Prof. Mills said the new planning system, which has been established under the laws of the country, requires all planning authorities, comprising Ministries, Departments, agencies, regional co-ordinating councils and the National Planning Development Commission, to be involved in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development plans.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to do their tasks constantly and effectively.
Dr Kobena G. Erbynn, Director-General of the National Planning Development Commission, set up 1990 to coordinate and formulate Vision 2020, said the seminar was to equip the participants with requisite knowledge to play their roles effectively.
The seminar is the fourth in the series to be held for implementers.
Dr Erbynn said though implementation of the first medium-term development programme has been slow, the overall target of achieving eight to10 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth would be achieved by 2020 with disciplined adherence to implementation strategies.
He said past national development plans failed because of political instability, flaws of centralised rather than participatory approaches, weak political commitment and general failure of planners to include flexible strategies.
Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State, who chaired the function, said Vision 2020 appears to be an ambitious endeavour, but Ghana has both material and human resources to implement it.
Mrs Esi Sutherland-Addy, a member of the NDPC who gave an overview of the Vision, identified manpower development, data collection and analysis, centralisation of power and strict adherence to hierarchy as some of the challenges to the implementation of the plan.
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Revive Ghana-Mali friendship union
Kumasi (Asahnti Region) 13 Aug. ’99
A call has gone to the governments of Ghana and Mali to revisit the issue of reviving the Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union which was formed by leaders of these countries in the 1960s.
Alhaji Mohammed Ben-Braimah, vice-president of the Ghana-Burkina Faso Friendship Association who made the call, said the formation of the association
would pave the way for a better understanding between nationals of the two countries.
Alhaji Ben-Braimah was speaking at the inauguration of the Ghana-Mali Friendship Association in Kumasi on Wednesday.
He advised the members to promote and establish economic ventures in partnership and also encourage tourism and visits among member countries.
He asked them not to involve the association in chieftaincy and religious conflicts or political issues but to foster unity among members and promote the welfare of members.
Alhaji Ahmed Musah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa East, who inaugurated the association, commended the Malian community for their support towards the development of the country.
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Resolve dispute between Akyeamehene and Abontendomhene
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13 Aug ’99
A concerned citizen of Bokankye in Kumasi Metropolis has implored the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to settle a land dispute between his Akyeamehene (chief linquist), Nana Adinyaa Safia and the Abontendomhene of Bokankye.
Mr Kontire Kankamfo, who made the appeal, said the dispute should be urgently settled to avoid loss of life.
At the moment, the two factions "embroiled in the dispute are preparing to engage in a very nasty confrontation", a situation which should be averted, Mr Kankamfo alleged.
Mr Kankamfo said the dispute was the result of a land at a boundary allegedly sold to the Abontendomahene in 1920.
He said the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, set up a committee to go into it and that the committee recommended that since the land was bought from a chief by a private individual, it could not be taken over by the Akyeamehene.
He said the committee also recommended that the Akyeamehene, as the overlord of the Abontendomhene, should be entitled to one-third of revenue accruing from the land.
Mr Kankamfo said for some inexplicable reasons, the Akyeamehene had refused to comply with "this order resulting in bloody clashes between supporters of the two factions".
He therefore appealed to the Asantehene to handle the issue independent of whatever case the Akyeamehene has with his people in order to restore peace among the two factions.
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Suspend implementation of universal salary structure
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 Aug.’99
Twelve health workers groups of the Ministry of Health (MOH) have called on the government to suspend the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) recommended by the Pricewaterhouse and Associates.
This follows the rejection of the GUSS by the health workers, according to a statement issued in Accra on Thursday.
The group is made of the Professional Association of the MOH, the Health Services Workers Union (HSWU), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA),
the Ghana Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technicians Association (GSRRTA) and the Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHPA).
The rest are the Hospital Engineers Association (HEA), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dental Technologists Association (DTA)and the National Association of Blood Programme Organisers (NABPO).
The others are the Association of Health Services Administrators of Ghana (AHSAG), Association of Ghana Medical Laboratory Scientists (AGMLS), the Ghana Medical Assistants Association (GMAA) and the Ghana Anaesthetists Association (GAA).
A statement signed in Accra by all the associations said their members were shocked and disappointed at the turn of events following a critical examination of the GUSS.
The group said it had realised that the implementation of GUSS is "in contravention of the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the group and the Central Management Board (CMB) on June 30, this year".
The statement said the conversion to the new salary structure has made "about 80 per cent of health workers seriously worse-off in their pay packages as compared to their previous salary levels before the GUSS".
They argued that no proper job evaluation was carried out by the Pricewaterhouse and Associates in the health sector and therefore a number of health workers were inappropriately placed in their salary levels.
The group said in pursuance of their concerns, it was agreed under the Memorandum of Understanding that an appellate body should be constituted within one month of the implementation of GUSS to reopen negotiations on the re-evaluation and re-classification of health workers.
"Disappointingly this agreement has not been fulfilled by the CMB as at August two, 1999".
In view of the above concerns, the health workers group considers the new salary structure for health workers unacceptable.
It therefore called on the government to immediately suspend its implementation "until the issues enumerated are resolved".
The statement was signed by Mr J.G. Akoto, chairman of the health workers group together with representatives of the 12 groups.
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Guide children in books, films selection - Educationist
Accra (Greater Accra), 13th August 99
Mrs Wilhelmina Asiedu, Co-ordinator of Basic Schools, Ghana Education Service, on Thursday called on parents to control and guide their children to select the kind of films, books and television programmes they should read and watch.
"Parents should select for their children good books and encourage them to read. They should also watch films together and explain to them that most of the situations in films are make belief."
Mrs Asiedu made the call in Accra when she launched the 25th anniversary celebration of Forster International School, dubbed "quality education, our goal". She observed that children these days watch films that gratify sex and violence without parental control. "This, to some extent, ruins their lives, since children are easily influenced by what they see".
She noted that most parents are often busy to the extent that they leave their children without any control but said that parents should allot time to read to the children and inculcate into them the habit of reading.
Mrs Asiedu said private schools, including Forster International, are partners in the education sector.
The contribution of private schools in terms of the FCUBE (Free, Compulsory and Universal Basic Education) Programme and making education accessible to children of school going age cannot be over-emphasised since government alone cannot bear the responsibility of funding education.
"This is the more reason why the element of community participation is being underscored in our educational system."
Mrs Asiedu stressed that private schools should create an enabling environment where teaching and learning can take place. "This means ensuring that Ghana Education Service norms are rigidly followed".
Mrs Helen Dorkenu, Headmistress of Queens JSS, Kotobaabi, who chaired the function, urged parents to provide their children with the necessary items needed for school to avoid truancy and their getting into bad company.
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Ministry to take over health facilities
Accra (Greater Accra), 13th August 99
The Ministry of Defence will soon take over the administration and running of the Ridge Hospital and two polyclinics in Accra.
The take-over is in line with a directive by the National Security Council that the Ridge Hospital, Mamprobi and La Polyclinics are to be integrated into those of the Military and the Police Hospitals.
The action will enable the three health institutions to handle emergencies in times of national crises such as industrial actions by health staff.
As part of the preparatory measures, two teams from the Ministry of Health and the 37 Military Hospital toured the facilities at the Ridge hospital and
reviewed the management procedures, structures and logistics on the ground.
Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Minister of Health and Brigadier Wallace Gbedemah, Director-General of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration, led the teams, which were taken round by Dr Korku Akpalu, a Consultant Surgeon at the Ridge.
Mr Nuamah Donkor said the action has become necessary in the wake of rampant industrial actions by medical staff, which have resulted in loss of innocent lives.
He said staff of the health institutions concerned, who cannot work under the military administration, can opt out.
"On the other hand, others who are not currently working in those institutions but are willing to do so can also apply".
In such cases, they would be made to work under conditions like those civilians working at the Military Hospital.
Dr Akpalu briefed them on the problems and conditions at the hospital and said the visit has helped to clear the minds of the staff who did not know their fate.
Brigadier Albert Gyenning, Director of Medical Services at the Military Hospital, said a team of health personnel will immediately be sent to the Ridge Hospital to beef up the staff strength.
"At the end of the day, what we need to see is that the public is provided with the needed health services."
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CPA delegates want more funding for Parliament
Accra (Greater Accra), 13th August 99
There was consensus among delegates to the 30th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Regional Conference on Thursday that committees of Parliament need adequate resources to function effectively.
The delegates were of the view that the committees, whose primary function was to ensure accountability of the executive arm of government, could only be effective in the discharge of their duties if they were adequately funded.
They were contributing to a motion on "The need for Parliamentary reforms in CPA countries: - The role of the Committee system in the scrutiny of the Executive, party caucus as an effective forum of backbenchers and effectiveness of Parliamentary questions, motions and statements".
Mr Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, Speaker of the Zambia National Assembly moved the motion and Mr Athumani Janguo, a delegate from Tanzania, seconded it during the first plenary session of the conference, which opened officially on Wednesday.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said the committee system allows for a small group of parliamentarians to perform functions, which the House itself could not do, such as carrying out investigations, hearing witnesses, discussing maters in detail and formulating reasoned conclusions.
He said another advantage of the committee system was that several committees could operate at any one time, which enables many more matters to be dealt with.
Committees, by concentrating on specific tasks or subjects, also offer the benefit of specialisation, he said, adding that through its committees, the legislature obtains information from the Executive and is able to receive advice from experts on matters under investigation.
He mentioned scrutinising government activity as an important function of committees and said they may also oversee the expenditure of public money and on behalf of Parliament, and call the government or the public service to account for their actions by asking them to explain or justify administrative decisions.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said one advantage of a party caucus is that backbenchers holding different views on the need by their party to implement certain policies could be openly expressed and thoroughly analysed by party representatives.
A caucus, he said also enables political parties to narrow down members' differing opinions and strive to adopt one position on a particular issue to be tabled for debate in the House.
He explained that this approach to issues tabled in Parliament, especially by the ruling party, is in line with the principle of collective responsibility, which requires Parliamentarians and Ministers belonging to the same party and the same government to support Executive policy both in the house and outside.
Seconding the motion, Mr Janguo, the Tanzanian delegate, expressed the need for parliamentary reforms and suggested that the traditional Standing committee system should be supplemented with new Select Committees to deal with specific topics thoroughly and quickly.
He said the choice of members to Select Committees should be left to backbenchers to free members of any obligation to tow party line and suggested that in small parliaments, MPs should be free to choose committees of their interest and should be free to elect their chairpersons.
Such a system, he said, allows members from the opposition also to be elected as committee chairpersons.
Mr Janguo recommended that meetings of parliamentary committees should be made public so as to subject them to public examination.
About 150 delegates from 19 African countries are attending the weeklong conference, with observers from the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Barbados and Burkina Faso.
Nigeria, which would be re-admitted into the Commonwealth at the CPA general meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, next month, is also attending as observer.
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MP blames truancy on shift system in schools
Kpone (Greater Accra), 13th August 99
Madam Beatrice Naa Afieye Ashong, Member of Parliament for Kpone/Katamanso, has said the shift system in public schools is contributing to falling standards in education at the basic level.
She said not only does the system encourage truancy among pupils, thus affecting their education, but also rush them through lessons due to limited time.
Madam Ashong was speaking at the first speech and prize giving day of the Kpone Methodist JSS at Kpone on Wednesday called on District Assemblies to help solve the problem by using part of their common fund to provide more classrooms, rehabilitate and expand the existing infrastructure.
She appealed to the District Assemblies to institute scholarship schemes for brilliant but needy students and urged students to study hard to justify the huge investments made in their education by their parents.
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Junior nurses at Sekondi resume work
Sekondi (Western Region), 13th August 99
Junior Nurses of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi called off their strike and resumed normal duties on Thursday.
A visit to the Hospital by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) showed that nurses were busy attending to patients in the consulting rooms and at wards "D" and "E" and the antenatal clinic.
Junior nurses throughout the country laid down their tools last month to back a demand for the payment of their overtime arrears.
The nurses have turned down several appeals to return to work until President Jerry John Rawlings met their leadership at the Castle Osu, earlier in the week to request them to return to work. The action of Sekondi nurses could be a result of that meeting.
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