Thanksgiving Service held for Okyenhene
Educator calls for education fund in B/A
Nantomah Presbyterian Church launches scholarship scheme
Cement distributors to check malpractice
Delegation from the IPS calls on Asantehene
Let security of country be paramount - Asantehene
Thanksgiving Service held for Okyenhene
Kibi (Eastern Region) 16 Aug. '99
The Right Reverend Dr Sam Prempeh, Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Ghana, says the chiefs and people of Okyeman should give thanks to God in spite of the loss of Okyenhene, Osagyefo Kuntunkununku II.
Give thanks to God for the many gifts He has given to the area and the country, he said in a sermon at a thanksgiving service for the Okyenhene at Kibi on Sunday.
Rev. Dr Prempeh said beside the gift of natural resources, such as gold, diamond and timber, the Okyeman was also blessed with abundant human resources some of whom, are serving in responsible positions in both national and international institutions.
He compared the peaceful situation in the country with the wars and displacement of the people, hunger and strife in neighbouring countries and advised Ghanaians to give thanks to God for such blessings.
Moderator Prempeh urged the people to hold firm to their faith in God despite trials and hardships and lead honest and peaceful lives to merit the salvation promised by God.
The service was attended by government delegation including the Minister of Mines and Energy, Mr Fred Ohene Kena, Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Patience Addow, a Minister of State, Mr Akuamoah Ofosu-Boateng, and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Owraku Amofa, and Prof. Danso Boafo, Ghana's Ambassador to Cuba.
A tribute by the Okyemen Council was read by Nana Akufo-Addo, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa.
It recalled with appreciation the period when there was lack of medical officers at the Kibi Government Hospital, Osagyefo Kuntunkununku had to ''set aside an ancient prohibition and went to treat patients, some of whom might have lost their lives but for his timely professional intervention, as a medical officer''.
"We believe that Osagyefo Kuntunkununku's professional intervention at the hospital opens up to the present and future generations a new vista of royal leadership by example''.
Oheneyere Florence Kuntunkununku described her husband as, ''a man of progress''.
She said after his recent election as the President of the National House of Chiefs and Member of Council of State, he made many plans geared towards the benefit of society, ''alas it was not to be.''
Among those who attended the service were five of the seven children of the Okyenhene and his first wife Mrs Dr Agnes Fredua Agyeman, brothers and sisters and close relations of the Okyenhene.
The Okyenhene has been lying in state over the past seven days at the "Potosoro" at the Ofori Payinfie. He will be interned at the Royal Mausoleum near Kibi, before the final journey to Banso some years later.
Known in private life as Alexander Kwadwo Okoampa Fredua Agyeman, the Okyenhene was born on 22nd February, 1942 and had medical education at the Sofia University, Bulgaria and the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.
He practised as a medical officer at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the Ridge Hospital in Accra before succeeding his late uncle, Nana Ofori-Atta III on 2nd August, 1976 as the 34th Okyenhene. He reigned for 27 years until his death on March 17, at the 37 Military Hospital.
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Educator calls for education fund in B/A
Goaso (Brong Ahafo) 16 Aug. '99
The Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Education, Mrs Belinda Addo has urged the regional co-ordinating council to institute, as a matter of urgency, an educational endowment fund and other interventions to help improve the standard of education in the region.
Pupils' attitude to learning and misplaced parental priorities, which place higher premium on material wealth than on education, have rendered most secondary schools in the region virtually empty, she said.
Mrs Addo said 15 out of the 52 secondary schools in the region have less than 100 students enrolment and with as many as 30 of them registering less than 30 students for last senior secondary school final examinations.
Mrs Addo was addressing this year's national congress of the Brong Ahafo Students Union (BASU), which took place at the weekend in Goaso, under the theme ''Quality education -the key to the development of the Brong Ahafo region''.
She said the establishment of the fund would help mobilise resources to grant scholarships and undertake other activities to re-orient pupils and parents to accept the indispensability of education to the development of the region.
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Nantomah Presbyterian Church launches scholarship scheme
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Aug. '99
A 60-million cedi scholarship scheme to assist brilliant but needy children of the Nantomah Presbyterian Church to further their education was launched by the church on Sunday, in Accra.
The scheme, which spreads over a three-year period, has for a start, an amount of 10 million cedis to cater for five children to pursue post junior secondary school (JSS) courses in various fields from the next academic year.
In a sermon the Reverend Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, Pastor in charge of the Church, said a survey conducted indicated that a large number of the youth were brilliant but lacked financial support to further their education.
He said since it was the priority of the church to develop the potentials of individuals, a scholarship committee was established, which recommended an amount of 60 million cedis to help the brilliant but needy children acquire skills to make them self-dependent.
Rev Frimpong noted that, even though, the church is one institution, which could raise the highest amount of money in a year as compared to other organisations, yet it does not cater for the large number of the poor and illiterate.
"As the cancellation of debts of developing countries continues, we must also strive to solve the poverty problems in our churches and countries, else Africa will remain a slave of the other continents,'' he added.
He said by the next three years, 60 million cedis would be raised to pay and provide the needs of all indigent children in the church, pursuing courses in senior secondary schools, vocational and training colleges.
Rev Frimpong noted that poverty, hunger and corruption are all demons, which hinder the development of a nation, adding, ''as we strive to cast out demons so must we cast out poverty."
He asked for God's blessings for the scheme and urged all the members to work hard and make more money to enable them contribute generously to it.
In a speech read on behalf of the Rev Peter Kodjo, Chairman of the Ga Presbytery, he said investing in the human resource is essential to promote development.
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Cement distributors to check malpractice
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 16 Aug '99
The National Association of Cement Distributors has set up a task force to check and protect customers against exploitation by dealers..
Mr Mike Korley, Secretary of the association, said the task force has been mandated to conduct random checks on the sales outlets of all distributors and retailers to ensure that such dealers were registered and paid the Value Added Tax (VAT) as well as possessed valid income tax documents.
Mr Korley announced this at a meeting of the executives of the association in Kumasi on Saturday to map out strategies to streamline the sale of cement.
The secretary said it has been observed of late that some cement dealers, who are not members of the association, have resorted to tricks to cheat the public and make abnormal profit.
Mr Korley said he regretted that most of such dealers do not only fail to pay their income tax and VAT but also engage in the siphoning of cement from the bags, thereby, reducing the original quantity and selling it at the same approved price per bag.
He said such unacceptable acts, not only go to undermine the national economy, but also erodes the confidence the public has in the cement business and, therefore, should not be allowed to gain roots.
Togbe Kwaku Agyimah III, Chairman of the association, appealed to the public to desist from buying cement from wayside retailers and rather procure the product from registered distributors so as to avoid being cheated.
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Delegation from the IPS calls on Asantehene
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 16 Aug '99
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has instituted a 10 million-cedi scholarship scheme for the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) at Madina near Accra for brilliant students.
The Asantehene, an aluminus of IPS, has also promised to see how best he could contribute further towards the growth and progress of the school.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu announced the scheme when a delegation led by the founder, Nana Opoku Ampoma I, Paramount Chief of Amoafo and, representatives of the staff, old students and present students of the institute paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi at the weekend.
The Asantehene noted that the institute has produced many qualified and competent accountants and secretaries to the extent that many of them were working abroad.
He said he has been following the progress of the institute and had been looking for an opportunity to meet the authorities to discuss how to move the school forward.
Nana Ampoma said unlike other tertiary institutions, graduates of IPS have ready jobs due to the professional nature of their courses.
He said they still offer accounting, secretarial studies and marketing and that due to financial constraints, new courses could not be added for the moment.
The Asantehene later asked Nana Baa Agu Okae IV, Aburi Krowura, Oseawuohene of Akwapim, who was his mate at the institute to meet him for full discussions on the utilisation of the scholarship.
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Let security of country be paramount - Asantehene
Kumasi (Asahnti Region) 16 Aug '99
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on hoteliers not to let monetary consideration overide the security of the country.
He also reminded them that the hotel industry demands truthfulness and honesty, because the impressions visitors carry about a country starts from hotels and as such it is imperative that hoteliers exhibit honesty and sincerity in their work, the Asantehene added.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu was speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Hoteliers Association at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi at the weekend.
The Asantehene lauded Mr Kojo Yankah, the Ashanti Regional Minister for his keen interest in getting the region to attract more tourists and, therefore, charged the hoteliers to render quality service.
He also commended Nana Kofi Genfi II, proprietor of Nnurom Hotel in Kumasi for being instrumental in the formation of the association in the country.
Nana Ofosu Asante, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the association and managing director of Star Guest House, disclosed that hotels in the region generated about 80 million cedis as revenue for the government before the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) last year.
There are 363 hotels and guesthouses in the region providing 2,012 rooms, he said, adding that these were even inadequate to meet the ever increasing demand for accommodation by visitors.
The association later presented one million cedis and a carton of schnapps to the Asantehene
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Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Aug. '99
Dr John Teboho Kolane, Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho, was found dead in his room at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra on Sunday morning.
Dr Kolane, believed to be in his early seventies, participated in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Region Conference, which ended in Accra last Friday.
A statement signed by Mr Rex Owusu-Ansah, Acting Clerk of Parliament of Ghana on Sunday said the cause of death was not immediately known.
The statement added that the authorities and Parliament in Lesotho have been informed and arrangements were being made to transport the body home.
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Big Ada (Greater Accra) 16 August '99
The government has expressed concern about the use of radio phone-in programmes to launch unsubstantiated and defamatory attacks on public office holders or persons of different political persuasions or ethnic orientation.
Radio is a powerful medium and the most popular source of information for the vast majority of the people of this country and its proper use must be the concern of all, Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, said at the formal outdooring of Radio Ada, an independent community radio station.
At the grand durbar of the annual Asafotufiami festival of the chiefs and people of the Ada traditional area on Saturday, Mr Mahama noted that because of the anonymity provided by the nature of radio as solely a voice activated medium some persons misuse it.
They use foul language and make the most scurrilous allegations against other people, he said.
Radio Ada, which operates on the frequency of 93.3 FM with a 50-man volunteer workforce, was established in February last year by Prof. Alex Quarmyne, a retired diplomat of UNESCO's Communication Division and his wife Wilna, a Broadcaster.
Mr Mahama said while some allowance could be made for some indiscretions, the nature and scale of the menace is assuming quite worrisome proportions.
With the liberalisation of the airwaves, radio was expected to play a central role in the acquisition of knowledge and foster a sense of unity and patriotism among the people but this has not been entirely the case.
For some people, radio has become a useful instrument for waging war on perceived political or ethnic opponents, adding, government is concerned about the nature and character that FM broadcasting is assuming.
Mr Mahama said government is concerned about the influx of foreign programming, the calibre of presenters, obscene programming and acquired foreign accents on radio.
He said a lot of responsibility rests on the shoulders of programme directors and presenters or hosts of radio programmes and advised them to be well versed in any topic that they wished to host in order to correct misconceptions raised by contributors to their programmes.
The Minister commended Radio Ada for the good standards it has set so far and expressed the hoped that this would serve as a model for other community based radio stations.
Prof. Quarmyne and his wife were installed as Development Chief and Queen Mother of Ada in recognition of the significant role that the station was playing in the life of the people.
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