Bribery and corruption responsible for
economic woes - UGM
Lawyers to pursue 777
trillion dollars compensation - AWRRTC
No party has
instant answer to economic problem - Braimah
UN Secretary-general Annan leaves for Geneva
Nkoranza
(Brong Ahafo) 14 August 2000
The
flag bearer of the United Ghana Movement (UGM), Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, has
attributed the country's current economic problems to the high incidence of
bribery and corruption.
Addressing
a rally at Nkoranza on Thursday, he said, some people have adopted bribery and
corruption as a means of living appealed to Ghanaians to vote the party into
power for an improvement in the national economy.
Dr
Wereko-Brobby said an UGM government would ensure that education is made
fee-free but compulsory, to enable every Ghanaian child to go to school to
enhance the development of the state.
A
UGM government would encourage JSS graduate, who will not be able to further
their education to enter other vocations as a way of solving the unemployment
problem facing the youth.
Dr Wereko-Brobby
expressed regret that there is no guaranteed price for foodstuffs and said an
UGM government would rectify this to enable farmers to improve their standards
of living.
He
blamed the government for spending millions of dollars to import rice instead
of providing support for farmers to produce it locally.
The
flag bearer advised the unemployed youth against moving from the rural areas to
the urban centres in search of non-existing white-collar jobs.
In
a welcoming address, Mr. James Amoah, Nkoranza Constituency Chairman of the
party said supporters would try hard to mobilise more people to vote for the
party.
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Lawyers to pursue 777 trillion dollars compensation - AWRRTC
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 August 2000
The Afrikan World Reparation and Repatriation Truth Commission
(AWRRTC) on Saturday said an international team of lawyers is to be assembled
by December 2001 to pursue the demand of 777 trillion dollars as compensation
from nations that participated and benefited from the enslavement and
colonisation of Africans.
In a five-point resolution called "Accra Action Plan",
passed at the end of its second Historical International Conference in Ghana,
AWRRTC said it continues to demand the payment of reparations and the right of
repatriation and the unconditional cancellation of Black Africa's debt.
"We also demand the unconditional cancellation of debts owed
by those nations of African decent in the Diaspora," Dr Hamet Maulana Co-chairman
of AWRRTC said.
The eight-point Accra Declaration calls for the establishment of
an international team of continental African and Diaspora lawyers.
The team will use all legal means to demand justice and monetary
compensation of 777 trillion dollars with an interest per annum at the current
market rate from those nations of Western Europe, Americas and institutions,
who participated and benefited from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and
Colonialism.
The Accra Declaration also states that Diaspora Africans, who are
the direct descendants of enslaved Africans, have the unconditional right of
return to the continent of Africa.
It also states that those African descendants, who wish to remain
in the land of their captivity should be granted full human rights and
institutions developed to improve their community and economy.
It says the European enslavement and colonisation of African
people over 400 years is indisputably linked to the burdensome African debt
crisis as well as the socio-economic deterioration of the global African
society.
AWRRTC reiterates that there is 'No African Debt' and advised that
'Africans refuse to pay this illegal, immoral and unjust debt servicing, now.'
The Plan also calls on the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to
allocate four observer seats to representatives of the African Diaspora of
North, Central and South America and the Caribbean regions.
The OAU should also allocate one observer seat to AWRRTC for the
purpose of monitoring the progress of reparations and repatriation to its
successful end.
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Ho (Volta Region) 14 August 2000
Mr. Kwame Saara-Mensah, Board Chairman of the Electricity Company
of Ghana (ECG) said on Friday that the company is in serious financial crisis
as a result of low tariffs paid by customers.
Speaking at an awards ceremony for ECG workers at Ho, Mr
Saara-Mensah said the company is indebted to the Volta River Authority (VRA) to
the tune of about 200 billion cedis apart from several billions owed to other
suppliers.
Mr. Saara-Mensah, a Secretary for Youth Sports during the PNDC,
said he was aware that the pay packet of the average Ghanaian was not enough to
meet present market conditions but asked that the payment of utility services
should be part of their priorities.
The country has reached a stage where salary levels are low but we
must organise ourselves to meet our obligations to enable the ECG to also
provide continuous efficient services, he added.
Mr. Kwasi Aboagye, Deputy Volta Regional Minister said the
government was ever committed to its resolve to extend electricity to every
nook and cranny of the country by the year 2010 as part of the vision of making
Ghana a middle income country.
While commending the ECG for introducing innovative measures, he
said it was also important that the company pays attention to some of its
shortcomings such as the relatively poor service delivery and unannounced
interruption of power supply.
Chief Musah B. Adams, Managing Director of the ECG, said the
awards night, apart from showing appreciation is also to create a forum for the
company to improve on its relationship with its clients and encourage others to
emulate the award winners.
He said the company has about 800,000 customers countrywide with
an annual growth rate of 10 per cent adding that over 90 per cent of the
customers are ordinary people, who find it difficult and are unwilling to pay
their bills despite the low tariffs being charged.
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Tema
(Greater Accra) 14 August 2000
The
Tema and Takoradi ports are to run as two separate autonomous ports by the end
of this year under a restructuring programme of the Ghana Ports and Harbours
Authority (GPHA).
Under
the programme, the two ports would be transformed into wholly landlord ports
and their cargo handling services handled by private companies instead of the
GPHA.
Mr.
Kwaku Dua Boateng, Acting Director-General of the GPHA, who announced this at
Press Soiree on Saturday night, said each of the two ports would have its Board
of Directors and a Director-General.
A
draft law to this effect would be submitted to Parliament before it completes
its term of office in December.
When
landlord port status is attained, GPHA would be in-charge of regulatory
functions to ensure that targets are met, he said, adding that the Authority is
developing the right strategies and programmes to address all the issues that
would come up as a result of the restructuring.
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Wa (Upper West) 14 August 2000
Naa Seidu Braimah Upper West Regional Chairman of the Progressive
Voluntary Organisations has said that no political party has the magic wand to
instantly take the country out of its current economic crisis.
He said Ghana's situation is a reflection of a world -wide
phenomenon and " I find it difficult to understand when some people brag
that given the chance they can change the economic trend in no time".
Addressing the regional congress of the Egle Party at Wa on
Friday, he said the NDC government has taken positive measures to stabilise the
economy and called on party supporters to forge ahead in unity to ensure
victory in the December general elections.
Naa Braimah admonished those who say they will vote for the
party's presidential candidate but not the parliamentary candidates because
they disapprove of their nominations, to rescind their decision.
He explained that without a parliamentary majority it would be
almost impossible for the executive to function effectively.
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Sang (Northern Region) 14 August 2000
The chairman of the publicity committee of the Convention Peoples
Party (CPP), Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. on Friday called for an independent committee
of inquiry into allegations of corruption against Mr. Goozie Tanoh, flag bearer
of the National Reform Party.
"Allegations by President Jerry John Rawlings that Mr. Tanoh
misappropriated 10 billion cedis given to him by the government to establish a
business is very serious and it is in the interest of Ghanaians to know the
truth".
Mr. Pratt who was addressing a at Sang in the Yendi district on
Friday said the CPP has always insisted that the NDC is looting the coffers of
the state, hence the need for a full scale enquiry.
The rally highlighted a constituency congress, which nominated
Alhaji Ibrahim Alabira as the party's parliamentary candidate.
"Ghanaians must know what went to other NDC activists so that
every pesewa stolen will be recovered; Mr. Pratt explained.
He later told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that he is
convinced Mr. Tanoh will welcome such an investigation in good faith to clear
his name of such allegations.
The chairman of the CPP, Dr Abubakar Alhassan told the rally that
the continuous stay of the NDC in government will adversely affect the
development of the country especially in the area of education and agriculture.
"It is only a government of the CPP that can articulate the
development aspirations of Ghanaians, he told cheering party supporters.
Dr Gamel Nasser Adam, CPP parliamentary candidate for Choggu -
Tishegu constituency in Tamale accused the NDC of impoverishing Ghanaians.
He asked, "how can a few NDC activists buy 10 copies of their
party's manifesto for over 900 million cedis when the majority of Ghanaians
cannot afford the basic necessities of life?
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 August 2000
United Nations Secretary-general, Kofi Atta Annan left Accra on
Friday night for Geneva, Switzerland, for a short holiday after a five-day
working visit to Ghana.
Mr. Annan, who was making his first official visit tom his home
country, discussed with President Jerry John Rawlings global issues,
particularly the Sierra Leone crisis.
The UN Secretary-general cut the sod to commission an
International Peacekeeping Training Centre at the Ghana Armed Forces Staff
College in Accra, which was named after him.
He also laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, which he
described as "a must visit site for all".
President Rawlings conferred on him the state honour of the
Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (Civil Division) in recognition of
his "unwavering efforts and indomitable spirit towards the achievement of
world peace".
The University of Ghana, Legon, also conferred on the UN
Secretary-general an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for his role in maintaining
global peace and for his distinguished career.
Mr. Annan and his wife Nane, were seen off by Mr. Victor Gbeho,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, officials of UN Agencies in Ghana, as well as some
members of the Diplomatic Corps led by their Dean, Mr. Abraham Omar, ambassador
representing the Palestine government.
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