Gateway Secretariat wants corrupt CEPS task force abolish

Legon to start distance education in the Arts /Social Sciences

247 Displaced by Rainstorm at Ejisu-Juaben

EP Church of Ghana Holds 58th Synod

Aerospace Symposium ends in Canada

Public forum on Keta Sea Defence Project

D'zert Club of Philadelphia calls on Asantehene

President reconstitutes Ghana Water Company Board

Agric Ministry saves 2,220 hectares farmland from worms

Navrongo police mount search for rapist

MOH to support rural health operators

Police defend action during demonstration

Ministry-Students Impasse on Fees Still Continues

Tema (Greater Accra) 19 Aug '99

The Ghana Gateway Secretariat on Wednesday called on the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to abolish forthwith its special Task Force, which it described as corrupt.

Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, National Co-ordinator of the Secretariat, who made the call, said multiple examinations at the ports of entry by the Task Force "delays clearance of goods and is currently breeding extortion of money by customs officers".

Dr Yankey was speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on "Streamlining customs clearing procedures", organised by CEPS for 43 customs officers and 37 other stakeholders at Tema on Wednesday.

He urged the CEPS Commissioner to get rid of its Task Force personnel at the Tema Harbour since "their presence imputes either wrongly or rightly the inefficiency of CEPS".

If customs personnel undertaking examination of goods at the port are inefficient or incompetent, then, other officers should replace them, Dr Yankey.

"The current practice whereby officers from different teams of Task Force re-examine cargo several times after due examination by customs officials is unacceptable and must be discontinued", he said, adding, the right place for the Task Force is outside the ports and points of entry.

Dr Yankey criticised the current practice whereby cargo on transhipment to the sub-region is physically escorted by customs personnel and suggested the use of vehicles that can be sealed by CEPS.

Dr Yankey said it was envisaged under the Gateway Project that "certain customs procedures should be streamlined and efficiency improved by the end of this year".

He called on freight forwarders and ship owners to work faithfully with CEPS and desist from under invoicing or mis-description of cargo.

Nii Okine Adjei, CEPS Commissioner, said his administration has been redesigning measures to facilitate effective clearance of goods through customs.

These include reducing cargo examination from 100 to 10 per cent for statutory free goods and 20 per cent for all dutiable goods.

To ensure the accomplishment of "these objectives, a Performance Contract has been signed between the government represented by the Gateway Oversight Committee and the management of CEPS".

Nii Adjei said the workshop should suggest to the CEPS management, workable techniques that would enable it to meet challenges posed by the Gateway programme.

The report should favour the public without compromising CEPS revenue mobilisation functions.

Participants at the workshop comprised the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, AFGO, Shipowners Association, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, the Gateway Secretariat and the Chamber of Commerce.

GRi../

Return to top

Accra ( Greater Accra) 19 Aug. '99

The University of Ghana would as from early next year begin a distance education programme in religion, sociology, English and political science.

Dr Elorm Dovlo, Co-ordinator of the distance education programme, who announced this in Accra on Wednesday, said 95 per cent of the teaching materials for level 100, which caters for first year students entering the university from senior secondary school are ready.

"Forty-five per cent of level 200, for the second year and students with the Advanced Level Certificate is also ready."

At a forum on " distance education, a reality or illusion," organised by the University, Dr Dovlo said other universities would also start a similar project next year.

First year students of the distance education programme at the University College of Education in Winneba are about to write their first exams.

The forum brought together stakeholders and two renowned professors in the field of distance education at the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) to share global experiences in educational transformation.

Discussions centred on the need to provide innovative technologies, training and up-to-date learning materials.

The COL was established in 1987 by the Commonwealth to provide guidance in the areas of distance learning and technology-based education.

It is supported by voluntary contributions from member countries.

Dr Dovlo said the programme would be a national one with support from the district assemblies.

Mr John Mahama, the Minister of Communications, said it was time to shift from discussions to implementation since the burden of providing education in the traditional way is becoming more heavier.

With an annual population growth rate of about three per cent, the need to expand facilities is becoming a problem even though the educational sector alone takes about 35 per cent of the national budget.

Distance education is a better option for making education accessible to many in the most cost-effective way.

The Minister said there are plans to embark on an educational drive to inform employers and all stakeholders that there would be the same level of performance and qualification for both the on-campus students and distance education students.

"Since the government is the largest employer, it would ensure that products of the programme are not discriminated against by employers."

Mr Mahama said since technology is part of the programme, telecommunication facilities and other areas are being looked at to give the needed support.

The World Bank in collaboration with GIMPA, would soon use the distance education programme to train highly qualified professionals in the country, the Communication Minister said.

Professor Ian Macdonald and Dato Raj Dhanarajan, COL Chairman and President respectively, noted that with the explosion of knowledge, distance education is a useful tool to share resources.

The over six billion people on earth could not all have access to education and training in the classroom, they said.

GRi../

Return to top

Ejisu (Ashanti Region) 19 Aug '99

Rainstorm destroyed property worth 106 million cedis in nine communities in the Ejisu-Juaben district of Ashanti between January and June, this year.

It also damaged 46 houses in nine communities displacing 247 people.

Mr Ibrahim Jargisu, Ejisu-Juaben District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), made this known at a workshop organised by his outfit in conjunction with the district assembly at Ejisu on Wednesday.

The two-day workshop is aimed at evolving a plan for the prevention, management and control of disasters in the district.

Mr Jargisu said apart from the rainstorm, the district also recorded 105 suspected cases of Buruli ulcer in five communities. Five of the cases reported have so far been confirmed.

GRi../

Return to top

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 19 Aug. '99

Mr Kenneth Dzirasah, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, on Wednesday called for a meaningful dialogue between the church and traditional authority to forestall inter-religious conflicts.

He said while the constitution guarantees the fundamental right to association and worship, it also provides for diversity of religion, adding: "let us encourage the promotion of unity in diversity".

Mr Dzirasah was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 58th Synod of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church of Ghana in Kumasi.

The theme for the five-day Synod is "Write the vision, make it plain for a herald".

Mr Dzirasah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Tongu, explained that the state, through the constitution, guarantees the right and freedom of worship.

It is, therefore, the collective responsibility of all Ghanaians to ensure that the provisions of the constitution are respected.

The state, he said, does not have the capacity to post adequate security personnel at the various points of worship to prevent a breach of the peace.

"What we need in the circumstances is to develop the culture of accommodation," he added.

Mr Dzirasah said the Ghanaian society continues to be polarised along several lines, with individuals and groups holding views diametrically opposed to each other, adding that it is, therefore, important that the church at all times serves as a symbol of unity.

It is the responsibility of the church to ensure peace, harmony and unity in the society, he said, saying that to be able to fulfil this role, it is necessary that the church purge itself of all tendencies that promote disunity.

The Right Reverend Commander F.H. Gbewonyo, Moderator of the EP church of Ghana, said the church would soon launch a mobile health care programme to cater for communities along the banks of the Volta Lake.

In addition, the church will concentrate on the provision of the necessary inputs and equipment support for the Krapa-Ejisu hospital and the Pusupu health centre to enable them to provide community health care services.

Rt. Rev. Gbewonyo appealed to the government to address the issue of religious conflicts so that it does not degenerate into a serious religious confrontation.

He warned that the next time any of their branches are attacked, as it happened in Kotobabi in Accra this year, they would retaliate.

The church has over 600 congregations with a membership of about 70,000 throughout the country.

GRi../

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 Aug '99

A two day symposium dubbed 'Aerovision 2000'' to map out strategies for a safe and efficient global air transport system has ended in Vancouver, Canada.

The symposium, organised by Aerospace Industries Association of Canada was under the theme ''Visioning Global Air Transport in the New Millennium''.

It was attended by representatives of airlines, aircraft operators and manufactures, communication service providers, regulatory authorities, cargo operators and representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

A statement issued on Wednesday said the Symposium deliberated on the future of airline alliances and partnerships, solutions to airspace/airport congestion, aircraft acquisition and fleet management.

It also discussed how to implement a cost effective safety regime that will meet the public's expectation for safe air travel, challenges and opportunities of the new technology.

Delegates agreed that air safety remains the top priority of the airline business and commended ICAO's initiative in designing and implementing the international safety oversight audit programme.

"This would not only effect a change in aviation safety but would also provide leverage for influencing changes in the less safety conscious nations''.

Dr Assad Kotiate, President of ICAO, said air transport is critical to international economic activity and a global co-operation was the only way to monitor the safety, efficiency and regularity of international civil aviation during the transition to the year 2000.

He said ''it is in this spirit of global co-operation that the ICAO, and all stake holders have joined forces in dealing with the Y2K problem.''

Dr Kotiate said for the past two years ICAO, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and Airport Council International (ACI) have implemented a strategic and comprehensive Y2K programme that ensures the widest scope of activity by the international aviation industry.

''For the rest of 1999 and the first month of the year 2000, we will continue to co-ordinate our respective Y2K programmes of information gathering and dissemination, problem solving and contingency planning.''

He urged ICAO member states to be committed to the notion of global co-operation as the key to ensuring the continued safe and orderly development of civil aviation in the next millennium.

Wing Commander Andy Mensah, Director General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), led a three member delegation, which included Mr Maxwell Arthur, Director of Corporate Planning, GCAA and Mrs Catherine Mensah-Addo also of GCAA.

GRi../

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 Aug '99

The Ministry of Works and Housing is to organise a public forum on the Keta Sea Defence Project in preparations for its take off next month.

The forum which comes off on August 24, is to sensitise the public on the operations to be undertaken and what the project seeks to achieve for the people of Keta and its surrounding areas, a statement issued on Wednesday said.

The venue would be the offices of the Keta District Chief Executive at 10:00 hours at Keta.

GRi../

Return to top

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 19 Aug. '99

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said on Wednesday that visits by African-Americans and those in the Diaspora to the mother continent and the exchange of ideas help correct the wrong and negative image the media give to Africa.

The visits and exchange of ideas also erase the wrong image painted by the media about African-Americans and others in the Diaspora.

Receiving members of the D'zert Club of Philadelphia in the United States, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said he would lend his support to exchange programmes designed to teach the youth of America the true nature of Africa.

The students are visiting Ghana as part of an African tour organised by "Adventure in Africa Tours and Safaris".

Otumfuo Osei Tutu noted that African-Americans have a lot of technological know-how and expertise that can help Africa while Africans also have a lot of ideas and other things that could be beneficial to African-Americans and others in the Diaspora.

The Asantehene commended the group for the bold initiative they had taken to visit Africa and Kumasi to see him.

The group comprised students studying Ghanaian History in the US.

Mr Akbar Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam in Ghana who led the group said each of them was intrigued by Ashantis, having learned a lot about them from Ghanaians living in Philadelphia and other parts of America.

Mr Muhammad said the group would explain to Americans what they had seen, through the many African-American newspapers, to help keep up the recognition that Ghana is now enjoying internationally.

GRi../

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 Aug. '99

President Jerry Rawlings on Wednesday reconstituted the Board of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) with Mr Carl Wilhelm Obakoyewaw Sackeyfio, an engineer as chairman.

An official statement said members of the nine-member Board are Mr Kwabena Dapaah Siakwan, General Manager, Foreign Operations, Ghana Commercial Bank, Dr Samuel Kojo Asibuo, Senior Lecturer, School of Administration and Ms Phyllis Maria Christian.

Others are: Mr Charles Adjei, Managing Director of the Company, Mr S. Q. Barnor, Acting Chief Director of Ministry of Works and Housingand Mr J. S. Okpoti, a representative of Volta River Authority.

The rest are Mr J. O. Manful, Solicitor Secretary of the company and a representative of the workers yet to be named.

The statement said the President conveyed the government's appreciation and gratitude to members of the out-going Board and expressed the hope that they would in the future place their rich experience at the service of the nation.

GRi../

Return to top

Zebilla (Upper East) 19 Aug. '99

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) was able to salvage 2,220 out of 4,440 hectares of farmland ravaged by army worms in the Bawku West District.

Out of the 2,220 hectares of farmland completely destroyed by the worms, 81 hectares had been replanted with cowpea, groundnut, maize and bambara beans.

The District Director of Agriculture, Mr Joseph Amiyure, made this known to the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and Member of Parliament for Bawku West, Mr Cletus Avoka, during an inspection of some farms in the district.

Mr Amiyure said more could have been replanted but the quantity of cowpea supplied to farmers by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) was not enough.

Apart from the shortage, farmers in the district prefer their staple foods to other crops with which they are not familiar.

However, Mr Mahamadu Mbilla Asaki, who had his three-acre farm replanted with cowpea and maize, was full of praise for the ministry because he said he was sure of a bumper harvest.

Mr Avoka expressed satisfaction about the situation and called on the government to team up with Burkina Faso and Togo to keep surveillance on the worms.

GRi./

Return to top

Bolgatanga (Upper East) 19 Aug. '99

Navrongo police have mounted a search for Joseph Bawiah, 32, who allegedly abducted and raped a 16-year-old girl.

A release issued in Bolgatanga by Police Inspector Thomas Agbanyo, Upper East Regional Police, Public Relations Officer (PRO), said on 7^th August, while the victim was on an errand for her mother, she met Bawiah near the Navrongo Cinema, who allegedly blew a powdery substance into her face which made her drowsy.

When the victim finally gained consciousness she find herself in Bawiah's room. "Suspect raped the victim several times and detained her for three days without food and water," it stated.

On the third day, Bawiah is said to have released the victim who went home and narrated her ordeal to her parents.

A report was made to the police and a medical form issued to the victim to attend hospital for examination.

The suspect is said to have gone into hiding.

GRi../

Return to top

Koforidua (Greater Accra) 19 Aug. '99

The Minister of Health, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, says his ministry is working out an incentive package for health operators who opt to work in deprived areas where the ministry's facilities are not accessible.

Addressing the second biennial general meeting of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA) at Koforidua on Wednesday, he assured the members of his ministry's support for them to set up their own services in deprived areas.

Mr Nuamah Donkor, speaking on the theme:"Safe motherhood beyond 2000" - urged the meeting to come out with a framework that would enable the members to reach those sections of the population who do not have access to their services.

As a developing country, Ghana would continue to depend on the initiatives of organised groups for a long time to advance efforts at development, he pointed out that.

Mr Nuamah Donkor said the time had come for district assemblies to sponsor not only nurse/midwives but doctors who would be compelled to serve their communities after graduation.

On the reduction of fertility rate from 6.4 per cent in 1988 to 4.5 in 1998, the minister commended midwives for their complementary roles in achieving this goal.

GRi../

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 Aug. '99

The Police Administration on Wednesday defended the action of policemen during last Friday's demonstration by University students in Accra and said the events should be put into their "proper and unbiased perspective."

A statement signed by DSP Angwubutoge Awuni, Director of Public Relations in Accra, said while the police regret injuries sustained by some protestors during the clashes, "it rejects the sweeping condemnation of the Police as contained in statements emanating from some political groups."

The statement said though the demonstration started peacefully, at a point where the Police insisted on confining the demonstrators to agreed routes, it became clear that some elements among them were bent on violence and confrontation.

"They manifested this when they started burning tyres on the asphalt road constructed from the tax-payers money.

"This also constituted a fire hazard to the buildings and property around."

The statement said it was then that Police decided to apply a measure of force, including the use of tear gas and water canons.

Subsequently, the students moved into areas in and around Accra Central Business district.

"This situation created undue panic and compelled owners of some shops to close down fearing that criminal elements would take advantage of the situation to engage in looting and stealing."

The statement said "at this juncture, Police changed their posture and sought to react in a manner that would protect the economic livelihood of traders and shop-owners".

Last year, Police escorted a bigger student demonstration from Legon to Parliament House and Ministry of Education and provided them with buses, which transported them back to campus, the statement recalled.

"The Police Administration would like to reiterate that it will remain alive to its responsibility to enforce law and order. To this end, the Administration assures the public that it will continue to safeguard the rights of other citizens during such demonstrations."

The Police expect that the executives of the student body would in future be able to exercise control over "the handful within their ranks, who sometimes acting under the influence of alcohol is prone to provocative and unruly conduct."

"The Police take exception to the threats of violence and confrontation emanating from the student leadership and reiterates that this will not intimidate or deter them from responding to any situation in an appropriate manner."

The Administration also called on the mass media to ensure a fair and balanced coverage of matters involving the Police.

"Furthermore, the Police expects from the political parties and their leaders a dispassionate assessment of every given situation and refrain from rushing to make one-sided politically expedient statements against the Police, who have an obligation to maintain law and order."

GRi../

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 Aug. '99

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Wednesday refused to accept the three billion-cedi Tertiary Education Bursary Fund (TEBF) announced by government for needy students, saying it is inadequate.

Mr Joseph Adongo, President of NUGS, told a meeting between the Ministry of Education and the university authorities, on the one hand, and the students' body, on the other, that "the three billion cedis is woefully inadequate" to cater for their training programmes.

The Minister of Education, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, his two deputies, officials of NUGS and the National Council on Tertiary Education attended the meeting.

It was to discuss with the students' leadership whether the amount made available to support needy students and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust students' loan would be enough to cover their facility user fees for the academic year.

Mr Adongo stated that the government should have first identified the said needy students before instituting the scheme and suggested that user agencies should be taxed to support tertiary education.

Mr Ahmed Jamal, Co-ordinating Secretary of NUGS, said it costs undergraduates more than 2.4 million cedis per year for a programme while graduates spend more than 3.4 million cedis on their courses.

Last Monday, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, announced at a press conference that the government had initiated a three billion-cedi scholarship scheme to support needy students in tertiary institutions.

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, said 35 per cent of tax payers' money has been directed towards education which is significant by all international standards.

He stated that tax payers cannot be made to pay more than they are already paying. Rather, beneficiaries of tertiary education, their families and user agencies are those who should be taxed.

The Minister said this is because most of the students leave the country after graduation, making it difficult for those who contributed to their training to get full returns on their investment.

It is not the policy of the ministry to make tertiary education the privilege of the rich. Rather, it is to ensure that more poor students have access to quality education hence the bursary fund.

Mr Spio-Garbrah asked the students to be realistic and faithful to themselves and apply for the loan and see if they would qualify.

He reminded them that threatening to disrupt the academic programme was unconstitutional and appealed to them to respect the law and the rights of other students who have already paid.

Alhaji Jawula Seidu, Co-ordinator of the National Council on Tertiary Education, said it costs the government 5.6 million cedis to train a science student, 5.8 million cedis on those in applied sciences and 6.2 million cedis on an engineering student.

It spends 9.5 million cedis on a medical student, seven million cedis on a pharmacy student and 3.2 million cedis on a student offering humanities.

Dr Chambas stressed the need for both sides to play their parts well to ensure that at the end of the day the academic calendar is not disrupted.

He said government contributes about 70 per cent of the budget of tertiary institutions and called on the students to agree on the modalities to facilitate the scheme.

Dr Chambas called on the students' leadership not to restrain others from registering, adding: "let's not threaten those who want to register their wards so that at the end we would narrow down the number of needy students for prompt attention".

The university authorities would assist the ministry to identify such students for a quick take-off of the scheme.

Mr Kwabena Kyere, Deputy Minister in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, said middle-level manpower is very essential for national development. That is why the government is embarking on an expansion of tertiary institutions, he added.

GRi../ 

Return to top