Ghana Red Cross treats 5,750 minor cases at funeral
National House of Chiefs/others pay last respects
Govt. says university fees "reasonable", announces aid for needy students
Our stand on fees remain resolute - NUGS
Farming community builds hostel for teachers
Abingya urges justice for shooting victim
Navrongo CDS students demonstrate against poor campus facilities
Tongo-Tenzuk chosen as UNESCO cultural heritage site
Newspaper vendor dies from bullet wounds in Bolgatanga
Chief demands ten million cedis compensation
German Embassy says deportee is a Ghanaian
Foundation develops energy efficiency material
Red Cross delegation visits Upper East Region
Challenge Bookshop Donates to Nsawam Prisons
Ghana Red Cross treats 5,750 minor cases at funeral
Kibi (Eastern Region) 17 Aug. '99
The Ghana Red Cross Society has so far treated 5,750 minor cases and referred 15 serious ones to the Kibi Government Hospital during the week long funeral of the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Kuntunkunuku II.
Mr Kwabena Ofosu, Leader of an Emergency First Aid Team of the society, said a 31-year-old man, Mr Boakye Amoako-Atta, had his left arm seriously injured during an explosion while mixing gun powder with sand. He was referred to the Kibi hospital on August nine.
A soldier who collapsed while on duty was among those referred.
There was a near clash on Saturday between the police and some Amantuommiensa youths who besieged the Kibi Police Station following a false report that three Amantummiensa youths were in custody at the Police station.
However, calm was restored when senior police officers and elders of Amantuommiensa searched the cells and found none of their people in the cells.
Meanwhile, the body of the 57-year-old Okyenhene which was laid in state for seven days was interred at the Kibi Royal Mausoleum on Sunday night.
The Okyenhene who died on March 17, this year, was 34 years old when he was installed in August 1976 as the 34th Okyehene.
President Rawlings was among thousands of mourners who filed past the mortal remains of the Okyehene at the Ofori-Panyin Fie's great hall of Okyeman.
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National House of Chiefs/others pay last respects
Kibi (Eastern Region) 17 Aug. '99
The National House of Chiefs, led by its Vice-President, the Nandom-Naa, Dr Puore Puobe Chiir IV, on Saturday paid its last respects to the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II.
Naa Chiiri made a personal donation of a ram and, on behalf of the National House of Chiefs, he presented a wreath, kente, a carton of schnapps and a gold ring to the Okyeman Council.
The Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, who is the occupant of the Oforikuma stool, led a large retinue of the chiefs and people of the Akwapim Traditional Area, to pay their last respects.
The day also saw the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre (Dr) Oti Boateng, accompanied by his brother, Nana Otuo Serebour, Omanhene of Old Juaben leading another large retinue to mourn with Okyeman.
The Okyeman was two-time hosts of fleeing ancestors of the New Juaben in 1832 and 1875 from wars with the then Asantehene, which ended with their final settlement at the present day Koforidua on Akim land.
The Juaben delegation presented Okyeman with a kente, a blanket, a gold ring, a scarf and customary drinks.
The Kumawuhene, Barima Asumadu Sakyi, a school mate and friend the of the Okyenhene, led the old students of Prempeh College to pay their last respects.
Among the paramount chiefs who were also in attendance included the Acherensuahene, Agyewodin (Prof) Adu Gyamfi II, and the Akwamuhene, Otumfuo Ansa Sasraku.
The Ghana News Agency, was among a number of public institutions which donated cash and customary drinks to the Okyeman Council.
The GNA delegation led by , Mr Seth S.K. Akoto, the Eastern Regional Manager, donated 200,000 cedis and customary drinks to the council.
Mr Kofi Coomson, Publisher of the Chronicle Group of Newspapers, also led a delegation of his workers to present customary drinks and 500,000 cedis.
The Ghana Medical Association of which the Okyenhene was a member, was also represented by a delegation , led by Dr Kwakye Marfo, National President.
The delegation presented a carton of Schnapps and an undisclosed sum of money to the Okyeman Council.
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Govt. says university fees "reasonable", announces aid for needy students
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Aug. '99
Government on Monday described fees being charged by universities as "reasonable" and announced a three-billion-cedi package to help needy students to pursue their academic programmes smoothly.
Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of tertiary sector, told a press conference in Accra that "modalities to prevent any possible abuses of the special fund, including the completion of 'Needy Assessment Forms', will be announced shortly."
The press conference was arranged to explain government's position on the recent student demonstrations asking for the withdrawal of the new fees by universities and their clash with police.
Students, under the leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), have described the new fees as "unbearable" and have vowed to fight for their withdrawal.
University authorities, however, say they have no option but to increase fees since government subvention is now only 60 per cent of their requirements.
The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals said last week that: "If the shortfall is not met, then the universities will have no choice but to admit only the number of students that available financial resources can cater for.
"This would mean admitting no fresh students and laying off about 30 per cent of the continuing students or close down until such time that adequate financial resources from sponsors of students, the government and parents."
Dr Chambas said government has accepted the fact that levels of fees being charged are justified, realistic and reasonable.
"Indeed it is not possible to reduce the levels of fees set without jeopardising the credibility of the programmes to be run or without sacrificing the admission or continuation of students."
He said parents and guardians who have the means and are willing to pay should be allowed to do so in order that genuinely needy ones may benefit from the proposed fund.
Dr Chambas said other measures decided upon by cabinet include a mechanism to enable those who cannot afford paying the fees at a go to do so by agreed instalments.
A scholarship and a bursary scheme is to be introduced to cushion outstanding students and encourage healthy competition.
"Various District Assemblies will be encouraged to support the education of promising students from their communities through the provision of grants."
The Deputy Minister said a mechanism that would enable the Students' Loans Scheme to be disbursed early and at a time that loans are likely to be most judiciously used, and for the purpose that they are meant will be worked out.
He appealed to companies and corporations to set up scholarship schemes in specific disciplines of their choices.
He said the decision is a stop-gap measure aimed at making the universities run their academic programmes smoothly until the National Education Forum slated for next month, comes out with a well accepted and sustainable cost sharing concept.
Dr Chambas said proposals submitted by the students' leadership, including a one per cent tax on petroleum products, taxes on luxury goods and graduate tax for all persons who have enjoyed education in the country are being examined.
Other suggestions by the students are taxes for all registered companies, all registered churches and religious bodies should be made to make some specific contributions to the fund and a specific percentage, for example, five per cent of revenue from VAT should go into the fund.
Dr Chambas said since Parliament decides on what is to be taxed and for what purpose, these suggestions cannot be implemented immediately but would be considered by the National Education Forum.
He described the student police clash as unfortunate and regrettable and hoped it would not happen again.
"Government wishes to caution against lawlessness engaged in by a section of the student body and reiterates that the law enforcement agencies will not shirk their responsibility to ensure law and order to protect the rights of other students.
He said the backlog of students awaiting entry into the universities created by events of a few years back is itself bad enough.
"We should not add to the crises by engaging in any acts which may have effects of jeopardising the future of our young ones."
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Our stand on fees remain resolute - NUGS
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Aug. '99
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Monday said it will continue to oppose the imposition of increased fees until it is withdrawn.
It said in spite of the "police brutality on peaceful demonstrating students last Friday, students are not deterred".
Mr Joseph Alhassan, International Relations Officer of NUGS, said in an interview that the leaders of the student body are meeting to determine the next line of action.
He said the outcome of the meeting will be made public at a press conference scheduled to take place tomorrow, August 17.
Mr Alhassan said NUGS is at the moment working on two major issues of concern.
Apart from the "Mobrowa Struggle", which is aimed at getting the new fees withdrawn or suspended, NUGS is also planning for its annual congress expected to come on at the weekend, he said.
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Farming community builds hostel for teachers
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 17 Aug. '99
The people of Konkrompe, a farming community in the Nkoranza district, are constructing a hostel at a cost of about ten million cedis to accommodate teachers in the area.
Mr Paul Tewiah, Unit Committee Chairman, said at Nkoranza that the project was being financed through individual contributions of 10,000 cedis a man and 5,000 cedis a woman, in addition to offering communal labour.
Mr Tewiah said the people had also decided to construct a first-aid centre.
He appealed to the Nkoranza district assembly to provide them with 40 bags of cement and four bundles roofing sheets.
Meanwhile, the community has commended the government for constructing the four-kilometre feeder road in the area to link them to food marketing centres.
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Abingya urges justice for shooting victim
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Aug. '99
Mr Simon Abingya, Member of Parliament for Bolga, on Monday condemned "in no uncertain terms" the police shooting incident which resulted in the death of a newspaper vendor.
The vendor, Mr Richard Ayelbire, died three days after he was allegedly shot and wounded by Deputy Superintendent Albert Friko, at Soe, a Bolgatanga suburb, in a brawl over the siting of a kiosk belonging to the policeman's wife.
Mr Abingya, who is also Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, contended that the police who are supposed to be protecting life and property are rather doing the reverse and appealed to the IGP to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
He said the police should direct their attention to the current spate of armed robbery rather than "testing their marksmanship on the ever peace loving people of Bolgatanga."
The MP commended the youth of Bolgatanga for heeding to appeals of their elders to exercise restraint in order to uphold the peace.
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Navrongo CDS students demonstrate against poor campus facilities
Navrongo (Upper East) 17 Aug ’99
Students of the Navrongo campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) on Friday went on a peaceful demonstration on their campus to back their demand for improved facilities.
With red bands on their wrists and heads, chanting patriotic songs, the students led journalists through the campus to witness some of the facilities that were in a state of disrepair.
These included a dilapidated makeshift building that is being used as "Great Hall and Canteen", deplorable toilet facilities, cracked walls of lecture halls and lecturers bungalows and the poor drainage system.
The President of the Navrongo Campus branch of the UDS Student's Representative Council (SRC), Mr Michael Buxton, said their "action was not to undermine the authorities of the university, but to draw attention to the need to improve the woefully inadequate facilities and the deplorable conditions on the campus."
He said the core facilities of the campus, which were inherited from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, have not undergone any rehabilitation and as a result, the structures are falling apart.
Mr Buxton said heavy rains this year have also turned most parts of the school campus into "overseas" areas, thus making it difficult for students to go about their academic activities freely because of the poor drainage system.
Besides, he said, puddles formed as a result of the rains have turned into breeding grounds for mosquitoes and toads.
"Whenever there is a downpour, students have to literally swim through muddy water to attend lectures", Mr Buxton added.
The SRC President appealed to the authorities to provide enough funds to help address their problems emphasising the need for President Jerry John in particular to ensure that his baby university is saved from collapse.
On the decision by university authorities nation-wide to increase user fees the students made it clear that they were not prepared to pay any amount in excess of fees paid last year and that they would "fiercely resist any attempt to impose any additional fees" on them.
Later in an interview, Professor Z. K. M. Batse, Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (IDS) said the concerns of the students were being addressed gradually.
Professor Batse disclosed that the government has made provision in the 1999 medium term budget for funds to improve upon the water supply system at the Navrongo campus and that the university authorities have contracted a drilling firm to provide technical and financial proposals for work to begin.
He said in July members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education visited the campus to find out some of its problems and said he hoped that they would take urgent action on some of the students' concerns.
The Dean, however, acknowledged the state of inadequate facilities at the Navrongo campus and other campuses of the UDS.
He said because of this, the university might be able to admit only 60 students out of more than 500 applicants to the faculty of integrated studies next academic year.
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Tongo-Tenzuk chosen as UNESCO cultural heritage site
Tenzuk (Upper East) 17 Aug. ’99
Tongu-Tenzuk in the Talensi area near Bolgatanga, has been selected as a United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Cultural Heritage site.
It was selected following a workshop in June to chose from a list of tourist sites in Ghana for the project.
Tongo-Tenzuk is one of the tourist sites in the Bolgatanga district with a variety of naturally decorated rock formations arranged architecturally.
Launching the project on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, the Bolgatanga District Chief Executive (DCE), Dr Albert Tenga, said the project is in line with the Vision 2020 document which obliges district assemblies to develop and sell their cultural heritage to the outside world.
He said the district assembly, has provided 8,750,000 cedis for research aimed at promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of the people of Tongo-Tenzuk.
The DCE commended UNESCO and said it is making an investment it would never regret because the area has rich cultural heritage.
Dr Tenga said the actual project would begin in 2001 and advised the people to be patient and to co-operate with the researchers.
Dr I N Debra, acting Director of the National Museums and Monuments Board, said it is the responsibility of every state to protect its cultural and national heritage.
He said one of the criteria for the selection of sites under the UNESCO project is that it should be an outstanding example of the culture of the people.
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Newspaper vendor dies from bullet wounds in Bolgatanga
Bolgatanga (Upper East) 17 Aug ’99
A thirty-five year-old Newspaper Vendor, Mr Richard Ayeribire, admitted at the Bolgatanga Hospital last Thursday with gunshot wounds has died.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Albert Friko, Officer in-charge of the Police Clinic in Bolgatanga, was alleged to have shot Ayeribire last Thursday afternoon during a confrontation over the siting of a kiosk in front of the DSP's bungalow.
Mrs Hilda Yirifare, a Staff Nurse at the hospital told newsmen that he died on Friday.
She said the patient's condition, which appeared to have improved during the early part of Friday, began to deteriorate around noon and died at about 3:40 PM.
"There was a sudden relapse and his blood pressure kept declining until he finally passed out later in the afternoon", the staff nurse said.
Mr Ayeribire's body has been deposited at the hospital's mortuary for autopsy.
DSP Friko's wife allegedly wanted a kiosk erected in front of their bungalow but Madam Azorko Apopam, Mr Ayeribire's grandmother who had planted groundnuts on the premises protested.
Mr Ayeribire it is said went to the support of his grandmother and in the dispute that ensued, the DSP was alleged to have shot him in the abdomen.
According to a Police spokesman, DSP Friko has been escorted to Accra for further interrogation.
Meanwhile, Mr Eric Atuah, an 18 year-old unemployed, who received bullet wounds in the back during a confrontation between a Police patrol team and some people from Mr Ayeribire's area of residence, is responding to treatment at the hospital.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Aug. ’99
The La Constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday appealed to the La Traditional authorities to settle their differences so that peace would prevail to pave way for the celebration of 'Homowo' festival this year.
"The executives and members of the NPP of La Dadekotopon Constituency are appealing for calm and mutual understanding to find amicable solution to this unending feud among the traditional rulers of La..."
A statement issued in Accra, said dispute among La traditional rulers has lingered on for too long and has prevented the people from celebrating their annual Homowo Festival.
"Opinion on the ground among the people indicates that they want peace, and more importantly, yearning to celebrate this year's Homowo Festival at all costs as a send-off to the next millennium."
"Our humble appeal to the traditional authorities is that they should bury their hatchets and, as a matter of urgency, see to the wishes of their subjects."
The statement said the NPP's appeal should not be seen as a "spring board" to score political points as "peace is too important a matter to leave to politicians."
It said this is a genuine case, which should be treated objectively before it gets out of hand.
The statement also appealed to all citizens of La to pray for peace.
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Chief demands ten million cedis compensation
Bediakokrom (Brong Ahafo) 17 Aug. ’99
Nana Bediako Ababio, Chief of Bediakokrom, near Mim, is demanding 10 million cedis from Messrs Mota Compenhia, a Portuguese construction firm undertaking the 54-kilometre European Union-sponsored Noberkaw-Gambia No 2 asphalt road.
The compensation is for the alleged destruction of a cemetery belonging to the people of Bediakokrom.
Nana Bediako Ababio told the GNA that four persons had mysteriously died within two weeks after the desecration of the cemetery for the chiefs, fetish priests and the public.
He said mysterious deaths had never been known in the history of Bediakokrom. He, therefore, attributed the "catastrophe" to the failure of the contractors to notify the elders to perform certain customary rites before the contractors exhumed graves.
Nana Ababio is therefore demanding ten million cedis from the construction firm to enable him to perform rituals to prevent further "mysterious deaths in the area."
He warned that the elders of the area would not hesitate to take court action against the contractors if the amount was not paid within three weeks.
The chief and elders of Bediakokrom have petitioned the contractors through the Mim Traditional Council, demanding the amount. Copies of the petition were sent to the District Chief Executive and the Resident Engineer of Roads, Ghana Highway Authority.
Meanwhile, Nana Ababio and the fetish priest of the area have reburied skeletons exhumed following the destruction of the cemetery at a secret place after the performance of customary rites.
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German Embassy says deportee is a Ghanaian
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Aug. ’99
The German Embassy on Monday denied that Mr Jonathan Blake is a Jamaican who has been erroneously deported to Ghana, saying he is, indeed, a Ghanaian.
A statement from the German Embassy in Accra said the man's name is Mr Frederick Adjei, alias Jonathan Blake Degueyter, who was deported from Germany in 1997.
It said his Ghanaian citizenship has been long established by competent Ghanaian authorities on at least three occasions in 1986, 1995 and 1997.
The statement said allegations made by the deportee in a newspaper report on Monday were not true.
It said throughout the repatriation procedure, the human rights of Mr Adjei were carefully respected and it is not true that he was drugged by German police prior to his repatriation.
"It is further not true that documents in possession of the Ghanaian national were seized by the German police prior to his repatriation."
According to the statement, the German Embassy's records show that Mr Adjei is neither married to a German national, under either of his two alleged identities, nor does he have a child residing in Germany.
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Foundation develops energy efficiency material
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Aug. ’99
The Energy Foundation has published a brochure to guide both residential and industrial energy consumers on the efficient use of energy.
The brochure, dubbed "Energy Wise", to be distributed free of charge, will be launched on
Wednesday at Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
Mr Ernest Asare, Director of Communications and Marketing of the Energy Foundation, disclosed this in an interview in Accra on Monday.
The brochure spells out the energy consumption rates of common devices and appliances that will enable consumers to calculate the units of energy utilized.
It also outlines steps towards efficient use of refrigerators, immersion heaters, pressing irons, cookers, air conditioners and fans.
Mr Asare said the major problem facing the Foundation is the bulk printing of the brochure for wider distribution.
He, therefore, appealed to industries and companies to assist it to print more copies for distribution to consumers throughout the country.
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Red Cross delegation visits Upper East Region
Bolgatanga (Upper East ) 17 Aug. ’99
The Upper East Regional Administration has expressed appreciation to the Red Cross Society for helping to cater for patients in hospitals and health centres in the region during the recent strike action embarked upon by nurses.
The Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yaro, expressed the appreciation, when a two-man Swiss Red Cross delegation paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
The delegation, which was made up of the Director of the Swiss Red Cross, Mr Peter Metzler and Mr Martin Fuhrer, Head of the International Department, was accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Ghana Red Cross, Mr Anthony Gyedu-Adumako and the Swiss Red Cross co-ordinator in Ghana Mr Walter Ricklin.
Mr Yaro said through the Swiss Red Cross, the Ghana Red Cross has helped to train 300 community-based health volunteers throughout the region.
He said apart from providing public information, the Ministry of Health was using the volunteers for public service anytime there was a disease outbreak.
The Regional Co-ordinating Director said the provision of 190-million-cedi dam at Tonde, as well as seed loans to members of the Red Cross Mothers' Club, have helped a great deal to reduce malnutrition and poverty among the women in the rural areas.
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Challenge Bookshop Donates to Nsawam Prisons
Nsawam (Eastern Region) 17 Aug. ’99
The management of Challenge Bookshop on Monday presented musical instruments valued at 10 million cedis to the Medium Security Prisons at Nsawam in the Eastern region.
The instruments, made up of a combo and set of Drums, were presented by Madam Eunice Roberts, Manageress of Enquiries Centre, on behalf of the management of Challenge Bookshop.
Madam Roberts said Challenge Bookshop has been having joint church services with officers and inmates of the Prisons and, therefore, gave the items to enhance their worship.
She hinted that the management intends donating a set of guitar to the Prisons by the end of the year.
Chief Superintendent R.M. Manu, on behalf of the Prisons, thanked the donors for the gesture and gave
the assurance that they would be used to enhance the Prisons' reformation programmes.
He appealed to philanthropists, organisations and individuals to contribute towards improving conditions in the Prisons.
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