Press is important for stability of nation - Bishop Sarpong
Officials warned to enforce building regulations
KMA takes over rehabilitated Prempeh Assembly Hall
Two arrested in robbers lynched
Bolgatanga Assembly grants loans to 50 women's groups
Agric ministry to promotes safer methods of crop farming
Let us show gratitude to Presbyterian Church - Asantehene
Rawlings inspects Wa-Bamboi road
Press is important for stability of nation - Bishop Sarpong
Kumasi (Ashanti), 25th August 99
The Right Reverend Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, has said the press is of vital importance to the stability and security of any nation.
Bishop Sarpong was speaking on "Freedom of the Press and National Stability" at a public forum organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Kumasi on Monday as part of the association's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
He asked Ghanaians to get used to the fact that freedom of the press implies the obligation to criticise when necessary.
Bishop Sarpong said, said however that the key virtue in the work of the media is truth, pointing out that if the work of the media is to be meaningful, it must be based on objective facts and not fiction.
He said the media has the duty of explaining things that are not easily understood and to give an opinion on what is happening.
The media, Bishop Sarpong said, has the duty of condemning what is detrimental to the community and drawing attention of citizens to it.
"The media is there to encourage good behaviour, support good ideas and good actions and to assist in the promotion of what is best in society. Journalism must be rid of the evil prejudice, stereo-typing and sheer sycophancy.
The Bishop noted that there are some papers that see nothing good in the opposition or in the government and there are papers that see nothing evil in the opposition or government, depending on which side the paper is.
He said one danger that has sprang up in Ghanaian journalism is the attempt to build personalities which has leading to a situation where whatever someone in a position of authority says is highlighted even at the expense of something better said by some one else on the same platform.
Bishop Sarpong said by African standards, the Ghanaian media has been good but pointed out that, in many instances in the past, it had left much to be desired.
Mr Peter Schellschmidt, Resident Director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, said the GJA continues to be one of the most respected journalists associations in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said freedom since time immemorial has not been handed over to anyone on a silver platter, adding that Ghana's constitution offers one of the most media friendly legal frameworks for the pursuit of journalism.
Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the GJA, called on the Ministry of Communications through Parliament to pass a media and information bill without delay.
She said press freedom and national stability cannot be in conflict if the government and the governed make conscious efforts to make it work.
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Officials warned to enforce building regulations
Accra (Greater Accra), 25th August 99
Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Tuesday said officials who intentionally neglect to enforce regulations on developments and collude with offending developers will be punished.
He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) must institute schemes that would ensure that development permits are given within the shortest possible time.
Mr Ohene Agyekum who was addressing the Fifth Ordinary Session of the AMA in Accra, advised that where an application has been rejected, the applicant must be notified immediately and the reason for the rejection clearly stated.
"We should not allow structures to be developed and sometimes completed before we write stop work on them."
On the District Assemblies Common Fund, the minister said "the question that the common man and the newspapers have been asking is whether the common fund has been effectively and judiciously used and properly accounted for."
He announced that teams have been established to properly monitor the use of the fund, adding that the Regional Monitoring and Co-ordinating Unit would also be strengthened to enable it to undertake frequent inspection of all projects within the regions.
Mr Ohene Agyekum warned the sub-metro assemblies to operate within the general framework of the AMA in the award of contracts and added that they cannot act independently.
He urged the Assembly to review its bye-laws on sanitation and enforce them to avert disasters and epidemics.
The Minster noted that the continuing chieftaincy disputes and violent litigation have often disrupted the search for peace, security and development in the region over land.
"We shall not sit down unconcerned while crime is committed by unscrupulous persons who parade as land guards."
Mr Samuel Addokwei Addo, AMA chief executive, in a mid-term report, said the assembly had 5.5 billion cedis from its traditional sources of revenue collection for the first six months of this year.
He said the AMA has estimated 600 million cedis to develop the area around the 'Sodom and Gomorrah,' and the Yam and Onion markets at Agbogbloshie as part of the Korle Lagoon Ecological project.
The AMA chief executive warned people who have been collecting fees from members of the public who dump refuse at sites to stop the practice.
He said the haphazard manner of erection of billboards has forced the assembly to enter into an agreement with the Advertising Association of Ghana to help in monitoring outdoor advertisements.
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KMA takes over rehabilitated Prempeh Assembly Hall
Kumasi (Ashanti), 25th August 99
The rehabilitated Prempeh Assembly Hall was on Tuesday handed over to the KMA by Consar Limited, a building firm in Kumasi.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly funded the project that cost 1.1 billion cedis. The rehabilitation works involved changing the roof, fixing new ceilings, new electrical systems and rehabilitation of the offices and fence wall, among other things.
Receiving the keys to the Hall, Nana Akwasi Agyemang, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, commended the contractor for the good quality work carried out on the project.
He also commended the government for introducing the decentralisation programme and district assembly concept, through which the KMA was able to make funds available for the rehabilitation of the hall.
Mr Stefano Ramella Pezza, Managing Director of Consar Construction Firm Limited, commended the government and the KMA for the bold initiative taken in releasing funds for the rehabilitation of the hall.
Nana Owusu Banahene, Presiding member of the KMA and Nkosuohene of the Asantehene who presided, appealed to the general public to make ample use of facilities at the assembly.
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Two arrested in robbers lynched
Ampoma (Brong Ahafo) 25th August 99
Residents of Ampoma near Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo region last Sunday mercilessly beat up two suspected armed robbers and set their vehicle ablaze when they broke into a house in the town and attempted to cart away a number of items.
Two other accomplices, who were wielding guns, however, managed to escape the wrath of the residents.
The items, which they attempted stealing included television sets, a computer, a video deck and a sounds systems all valued at about 20 million cedis, belonging to a Mr. Kwabena Kwarteng, United States-based citizen of the town.
Mr. Yaw Boafo, nephew of Mr. Kwarteng, who first spotted the robbers told newsmen at Kintampo on Tuesday that the robbers broke into his uncle's house around 2030 hours last Sunday and begun packing the items into their vehicle.
He said he sneaked away to inform the assembly member of the area, who managed to mobilise the residents with the help of the unit committee members to confront the robbers.
Mr. Boafo said though the residents surrounded the house to trap the robbers, two of them, who were holding guns escaped leaving behind the other two, who are now receiving medical attention at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital.
A source at the Kintampo Police station confirmed the incident but refused to disclose the names of the robbers "as investigations were still on-going".
The registration number of the burnt vehicle is BA 1047 Q.
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Bolgatanga Assembly grants loans to 50 women's groups
Shia (Upper East) 25th August 99
The Bolgatanga district assembly has given 50 women's groups in the Talensi constituency, loans totalling 69 million cedis from the assembly's income generating and employment fund.
The assembly would also clad ten school pavilions in the constituency at a cost of 120 million cedis.
These were announced by Dr. Albert Tenga, Bolgatanga District Chief Executive, when he addressed a rally organised by the Talensi West Zone of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) at Shia near Tongo.
He urged women in the area to show their gratitude by voting massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the year 2000 elections and to disabuse their minds of the notion that since President Rawlings would not contest next year's election that would be the end of the NDC.
The Regional Secretary of the party Mr. Donatus Akamugbe, urged women to take advantage of the adult literacy programme to educate themselves and to ensure that their children attend school regularly.
Mr. Patrick Kwugi, the constituency chairman, advised women to remain united and loyal to the NDC, saying that most opposition parties were now dead.
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Agric ministry to promotes safer methods of crop farming
Damang (Western Region) 25th August 99
"Cultivating the same plot of land and applying non-burning and inter-cropping methods are the most appropriate techniques for food crop farming.
"It is this technique, which the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is recommending to farmers to adopt in order to help ensure food sufficiency", Mr Eric Don Arkhurst, Western Regional Director of Agriculture, said at a farmers' field day at Damang, near Huni Valley, in the Western Region.
The day was jointly organised by (MOFA) and the Aboso Goldfields Limited (AGL) for farmers the region at the weekend.
Mr Arkhurst said that farmlands have become limited due to population Pressure as well as other economic activities including mining and appealed to the farmers to make judicious use of farmlands by adopting the new model of crop farming being introduced.
Mr Arkhurst explained that the weeds on a farm are not burnt but re-cycled as manure to ensure the continued fertility of the soil leading to sustainable yields.
This is in contrast to shifting cultivation, which encourages bush burning and land degradation resulting in low yields and low incomes of farmers.
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Two fishermen drown
Half-Assini (Western Region) 25th August 99
Two fishermen from the Central Region got drowned atsea and two others received severe burns in four separate incidents at Half-Assini last week.
Mr Kenneth Biney, an Executive Member of the Half Assini Co-operative Fishermen Service Centre, told newsmen at Half Assini on Monday that the first incident in which Clement Essel, 31, and Joseph Essel, 23, from Nakwa received severe burns, occured when a lamp they were using to off-load their catch at dawn fell on a petrol container and caught fire.
In the second incident, Kwesi Broni, 27, from Kromantsi got drowned in the sea when strong waves caused their canoe to capsize while hauling in a bumper catch.
In the third incident, which occurred on the same day, another canoe capsized and was destroyed with nets while some fishermen were hauling in another big catch, but there was no casualty.
The last incident, was when Kwesi Amandi from Nakwa at drowned in the when his canoe capsized.
He said a report had been made to the District National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for assistance, while a search party has been organised by the fishermen in the area to look for the bodies of those drowned.
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Let us show gratitude to Presbyterian Church - Asantehene
Kumasi (Ashanti), 25th August 99
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, on Tuesday said it is appropriate that Ghanaians acknowledged their indebtedness to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) for its contribution in the spiritual, social, educational and cultural spheres.
This was contained in a goodwill message he sent to the 70th Synod of the PCG, which opened in Kumasi on Monday under the theme, "Jesus Christ, the beginning and the end".
Four hundred delegates from all the 13 Presbyteries and the Northern Mission Field (NMF) of the church are attending the Synod.
The message said: "It is appropriate that we in Asante take the opportunity of the Synod to acknowledge the indebtedness, which the people of this country owe to the PCG for the contributions she has made to their spiritual, social, educational and cultural life".
"It is my fervent hope that the spirit of unity and co-operation, which sustained the partnership between the Basel Missionaries and our fore-fathers, will continue to grow. And that the 70th Synod of the Church, the last to be held in the 20th Century, will lead her into the next millennium with vision, hope and confidence", the message added.
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Rawlings inspects Wa-Bamboi road
Bole (Upper West), 25th August 99
President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday inspected portions of the Wa-Bamboi road and assured the people of the Upper West Region that it will be completed.
He said, "the fact that work on this road," which links the region to the southern part of the country, "has delayed does not mean it has been abandoned. We shall not shirk our responsibility".
President Rawlings was addressing the chiefs and people of Bole at a mini durbar organised to formally welcome him to the region at the start of his three-day tour.
He said the government is aware of the importance of the Wa-Bamboi trunk road, which has been on drawing board for a long time.
"Now that we have finished with amenities such as electricity, health posts, water and few other things, we shall tackle this road. It will be completed", he said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Last month, a delegation of chiefs and opinion leaders from the Upper West region called on the President at the Castle, Osu, and expressed their displeasure at the poor state of roads in the region.
The President said no part of the country would be neglected in terms of development, adding that he expected the people to make use of the electricity to set up small-scale industries.
"There is no need for you to rush down to the cities for work because the cities are choked. With electricity and a good road network you will be making money here".
Hajia Ajara Bukari, Bole District Chief Executive, spoke about the poor nature of roads in the region and said this is making it difficult for the region to attract investors.
"We are finding it difficult to attract investors because of the nature of our roads", she said, adding that the completion of the Wa-Bamboi road would give the region a boost as far as development was concerned.
Naa Dramani Amankwa, the Bole Wura, was happy that the President had come to the region to inspect the roads.
"We came to Accra to complain to you and we are pleased you have come to see things for yourself".
He said a vocational school has been established at Bole to take care of the "the girl child" and appealed to the Ministry of Education to post teachers there.
While in the region, the President will inspect the new Wa Airport, which is under construction, as well as the new residency.
He will also commission the surgical block of the Nadowli Hospital, cut the sod for work to begin on the tarring of Jirapa township roads and commission the District Health Management Team Office at Jirapa.
The President will also address the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs.
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