ICAO forecasts bigger passenger traffic worldwide
Rawlings says Foday Sankoh would not be tried in
Ghana
Police warn of fake foreign currency
Annan visits Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
Information is vital for growth and development - Wiredu
NDC
supporters call for solution to running mate problem
Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 August 2000
Passenger
traffic of the world's airlines is expected to grow at nearly six per cent this
year, 5.5 per cent in 2001 and over five per cent in 2002, forecasts by the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) say.
A
statement by ICAO on Tuesday said the total international and domestic
passenger traffic by the airlines of ICAO's 185 contracting states was
estimated at 2.791 billion passenger-kilometres for 1999. This is expected to
rise to about 2.956 billion this year, 3.118 billion in 2001 and 3.284 billion
in 2002.
Markets
for African, European, Latin American/Caribbean airlines are expected to grow
at rates higher than the world's average. Airlines of the Middle East are
expected to experience moderate growth just as in the matured North American
airline market.
ICAO
was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of civil aviation
in the world and, as a specialised agency of the UN, it sets international
standards and regulations necessary for the safety, security, efficiency and
regularity of air transport.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 August 2000
President
Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday put to rest media reports that Sierra Leone
rebel leader Foday Sankoh might be tried in Ghana, saying, "as long as I
remain the President of Ghana I will not allow that monster to be tried
here."
There
are other countries Sankoh could be tried in but not in Ghana. That man is fit
for the psychiatric hospital or a zoo. I hope media reports that he might be
tried in Ghana are just speculations," President Rawlings said at a
meeting with United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, at the Castle Osu,
on Tuesday.
Mr.
Annan, accompanied by his wife Nanie, is on an official visit to Ghana during
which a state honour will be conferred on him and receive an honorary doctorate
degree from the University of Ghana, Legon.
Corporal
Sankoh, awaiting trial in Sierra Leone, formed the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), which he led to start a civil war in his country. Under his leadership, the
RUF committed atrocities against the civilian population in Sierra Leone, such
as amputation of limbs, burning, looting and raping.
The
UN has fielded peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone in a bid to enforce a peace
agreement signed in Lome, Togo, last year and has indicated it would set up an
international tribunal to try Sankoh.
President
Rawlings recalled Ghana's contributions to the world body that include
providing technocrats and peacekeeping troops and gave the assurance that
"we will continue playing our role. We have constructive relations with
the UN."
He
mentioned Ghana's peacekeeping operations in West Africa and said the effort
has been difficult because country's the limited resources. "We have
received some support from developed countries but this has not been
enough."
Mr.
Annan said he would use his visit to discuss matters of common interest to
Ghana and the UN, especially peacekeeping in Sierra Leone.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 August 2000
Police on Monday warned the public to be on their guard against
fake foreign currency circulating in the country, a statement issued in Accra
said.
According to the statement
"some unscrupulous persons and criminal syndicates have put fake US dollar
and other foreign currencies into circulation in the country" and asked
any member of the public who have reason to be suspicious of the authenticity
of currency they have purchased to make a report to the security agencies.
Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 August 2000
Mr.
Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-general, on Tuesday laid a wreath at
the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, describing it as "a must visit site for
all".
It
is a historic centre that everyone must visit in their lifetime to pay homage
and honour to the late President. "A very important monument. A must for
every visitor to Ghana," he wrote in the visitor's book
Flanked
by his wife, Nanie, and Professor Francis Nkrumah, the first son of Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah, for most of the tour, Mr. Annan defied a morning shower to lay the
wreath.
Beaming
with smiles and spotting and light blue three piece "agbada," Mr
Anana was visibly impressed with the monument, which in part details the
history of Ghana, especially the part played by the first President.
In
a brief statement, Mr. Annan said he was happy to be back home, adding that he
was privileged to be among those who grew up in the days of Dr. Nkrumah whom he
described as a great man.
"The
visit and this tour takes me back in memory. I was one of the few privileged
ones who grew up in his time. I recall, as a young man, the inspiration he gave
us. The changes Dr. Nkrumah advocated were significant and made me grow up
believing
change
was possible".
Mr.
Annan mentioned Prof. Nkrumah, who sat on his left hand side with obvious
nostalgia, as he signed the book of condolence, saying: "I am very
honoured by the presence of Professor Francis Nkrumah, the first son of our
great leader".
The
UN boss is in the country on his first official visit since he took the high
office some three years ago. On Wednesday, Mr. Annan will commission a Peacekeeping
Training College, which is being named after him for his immense role in
peacekeeping efforts worldwide, and also receive an honorary doctorate degree
from the University of Ghana, Legon.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 01 August 2000
A watchman on Sunday shot dead a Paa Nii Sackey, 27, described by
police as a notorious criminal, killed during a robbery attempt at Vehrad
Transport Company at the Tema Heavy Industrial area.
Sackey, who the Tema police allege has been involved in several
robbery cases, was on a 20-million cedi bail and scheduled to appear before a
court on Monday for his part in the break-in of a warehouse belonging to the
Produce Buying Company (PBC).
One of his gang members, John Korshie Morte, alias Abinga, who was
jointly charged with him in the PBC robbery case, was also shot dead when armed
robbers invaded San Bao Pharmaceutical Company at Kpone last year. The police
suspect
Sackey was involved in that robbery too.
The source said between 0200 hours and 0300 hours on Sunday, about
10 robbers armed with cutlasses including Sackey invaded the Vehrad Transport
yard and cut the telephones lines.
They then caught one of the two watchmen on duty, tied his hands
and legs and dumped him behind the walls of the yard and left one person there
to keep watch over him.
The other watchman, who heard an unusual noise in the yard saw a
ladder placed against the warehouse and a rope hanging from the roof but he was
suddenly hit with a stone on the head when he tried to find out what was
happening.
The watchman, who was armed with a gun, told the police that he
heard one of the robbers telling his colleague "to deal with me, because
my weapon does not contain any bullet". He said, "I was compelled to
shoot at one of the robbers moving towards me with a sharp cutlass, in self
defence."
After the shooting, all the robbers took to their heels but Sackey
was later found lying in stream about 400 meters away from the warehouse with
gun shot wounds.
The police have so far retrieved four heavy-duty tyres, which were
allegedly stolen from the warehouse and hidden in a kiosk at Tema Manhean. One
person is being questioned over the ownership of the kiosk.
The deceased was also involved in a robbery at Quality Food
Processing Company, Tema in September, last year, but he and six others were
acquitted and discharged by a Tema tribunal because the police could not
produce a witness.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 01 August 2000
Mr.
Justice E. K. Wiredu, Justice of the Supreme Court, observed on Monday that the
availability of information to individuals must be seen in all forms of human
endeavour as a vital ingredient for growth and development.
Speaking
at the launch of "The Right to Information Bill, 1999" at the
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Mr. Justice Wiredu said without the
process of giving information to others, there would be no development
The
20-page pamphlet, which aims at directing Parliament's attention to the need
for a law governing the right to information, and sponsored by the institute,
was written by the late Mr. Justice P. D. Anin, a former Justice of the Court
of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
.
Mr
Justice Wiredu cautioned that even though information is very essential to the
existence of human beings, care must be taken to assess the type of information
available in order not to jeopardise the very basis of human existence.
He
urged Parliament to discuss the Bill on a non-partisan basis and treat it as a
national exercise aimed at promoting peace and development for the citizenry.
"The
enactment into Law of the Right to Information Bill will be an instrument for
ensuring freedom, social justice, self-determination, and help create a
prosperous society."
Mr.
Justice Wiredu suggested that provisions be incorporated into the Bill to cater
for how the individual and the courts should handle the reception or otherwise
of information through the E-mail, Internet, or any of the electronic Media.
He
paid tribute to Mr. Justice Anin whose untiring efforts produced the Bill, and
was optimistic that its passage into law "should be an imperishable
monument to his memory".
Mr.
Tim Acquah-Hayford, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), who
presided, said the launch of a 'Right to Information Bill' had been long
overdue since there had been a lot of discussions on the subject by both Media
practitioners and academia.
Mr.
Acquah-Hayford explained that the media has been so vocal for the enactment of
a law of right of information because practitioners need to have access to
official information if they are to avoid indulgence in speculative reporting
in the exercise of their professional functions.
He
said while the media has been accused of irresponsibility, particularly of a
lack of proper investigation in its reportage, it has also blamed its
non-performance on the absence of access to official information.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 01 August 2000
A
group of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ashanti have
called on the leadership of the party to be firm in resolving the wrangling
over who becomes the running mate to Professor John Atta Mills.
They
noted that the current confusion and intense lobbying by various interest
groups supporting the bid of different candidates, was creating cracks within
the party, which if allowed to continue could be disastrous with far-reaching
consequences, and called for a compromise candidate without delay.
They
proposed for consideration the selection of the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman
Rawlings or Mr. Paul Victor Obeng,
former presidential advisor on governmental affairs, as Professor
Mills's running mate.
The
group said Nana Konadu brings along with her a track record of proven
leadership skills and tremendous political experience. Her partnership with
Professor Mills, will therefore not only secure for the NDC a landslide victory
in the 2000 polls, but also provide the country with effective governance.
They
held the view that the choice of the First Lady as running mate would be
acceptable to all in the party, adding that barring any objection from her
husband, Nana Konadu should be given the Vice-presidential slot.
In
respect of Mr. Obeng, the group observed that his cognitive power, astonishing
gift of oratory and enormous political exposure and experience stands him tall
among the list of potential candidates bidding for the running mate slot.
Mr.
Obeng, like the First Lady, is a compromise candidate who would enjoy the
support and goodwill of the rank and file of the party, they noted.
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