Morocco to re-open Embassy in Accra
Stalemate over NDC parliamentary candidate for Salaga deepens
No serial killings in Kumasi - Police
Professor Mills addresses durbar at Konongo
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
The Police on Wednesday said they have initiated investigations into an alleged attack on Dr Tony Aidoo, Deputy Minister of Defence by three "machomen" last Sunday.
A statement signed by Inspector A. K. Arthur, of the Police Public Relations Directorate in Accra said the attack was after the Deputy Minister had taken part in a radio discussion on Vibe FM, which also featured Lieutenant General (rtd) Joshua Hamidu a former Chief of Defence Staff.
According to the statement Dr Aidoo suspects that the men who confronted and nearly molested him had accompanied Gen. Hamidu to the radio station that evening.
It said Gen. Hamidu has denied any knowledge of the incident but he has been asked to assist the police in establishing the identity of the men.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
President Jerry Rawlings on Wednesday announced the appointment of Nana Akwasi Agyeman, former Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive as a special envoy.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the President Mr. Jimmy Amissah also named Mr Ernest Yaw Owusu-Poku, Commissioner of Police, as the new director of passports and Chief Musah Badumsugro Adam, Chief Executive of the Electricity Company of Ghana as Ambassador-designate.
The statement said the appointments of Nana Agyeman and Mr. Owusu-Poku take immediate effect. It said the successor to Chief Adam would be announced later.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
The Ghana National Association of Consumers (GNAC) on Wednesday appealed to the Government to rethink its free market policy and put some form of limitations on importation of foreign goods to curb the influx of poor quality commodities on the market.
This, the government should do by placing high tariffs on foreign food items and to encourage local farmers by giving subsides on agricultural inputs.
A statement signed in Accra by Mr. Francis Badu-Brown, the Executive Secretary, said the quality of some foreign goods and services fall short of international standards and " this poses a great deal of health and environmental hazards to the people."
"The Association is therefore suggesting that, all commodities both locally made and imported should be subjected to tests and approved by the Ghana Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Standard Board."
The statement decried the poor storage practices of food, meat and fish on the markets where they are exposed to the harsh tropical heat while others are kept for too long in cold rooms which render them low quality.
It therefore called on health inspectors to regularly visit the markets and ascertain the quality of these items.
The GNAC further appealed to all Ghanaians irrespective of their political inclination to join hands with it to ensure the consumption of good quality goods and services in the country.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 August 2000
Mr. G.K. Appiah, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has resigned with immediate effect.
A letter addressed to the regional secretary of the party, with copies to the press in Kumasi on Wednesday did not assign any reasons for his resignation.
He, however, stressed that he would continue to be a member of the party he loved so much. Mr. Appiah was elected to the post in June last year, at a regional conference in Kumasi.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
Morocco is to re-open her Embassy in Ghana, Mr. Mohammed Benaissa, Morocco's Foreign Minister, said in Accra on Wednesday.
He noted that Morocco was one of the first African countries to recognise the independence of Ghana and followed it with the establishment of air links between Casablanca and Accra. Morocco closed its embassy in Accra in 1969 citing economic reasons.
Mr. Benaissa, who delivered a special message from King Mohammed VI to President Jerry Rawlings, told reporters at the airport that his country is working towards establishing stronger ties with West African countries.
This is to fulfil the aims and objectives of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
"We are prepared to work in collaboration with other African countries especially, West Africa. We have to work together in unity or we will be overtaken by events."
Mr. Benaissa said his visit to Ghana was, among other things, to renew the long lasting relations between the two countries as founding members of the OAU.
Mr. Benaissa who once lived in Ghana said he was impressed with the development the country has undergone, adding that Ghana can be a model to other African countries.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
Mr. Ismael Yamson Chairman of Unilever on Wednesday called for specific policies to deal with problems plaguing the agricultural sector to enable it to play the role of a stimulator of industrial growth.
"There is the need to focus closer attention to resolving residual issues if agriculture has to provide the platform for the industrialisation of this country."
Mr. Yamson who was speaking at the launch of the first Ghana International Food and Agricultural Fair (AGRIFEX 2001) in Accra said the transformation of agriculture and expansion of its productive capacity would enhance living standards and create the purchasing power needed for industrialisation.
The fair to be held between December 3 and 9, 2001 on the theme: "Growth In Agriculture -A Giant Step Towards Industrialisation", is aimed at enhancing the image of the farmer and entice people into the agricultural sector.
It will also expose farmers to modern farming methods and open up the sector to modernisation and investment.
Mr. Yamson said agriculture faces challenges in its role as an employer of the bulk of the population and earner of foreign exchange that the country needs most in the quest for economic development.
He said agriculture contributes over 40 per cent to GDP, provides employment for 57 per cent of the labour force and a living for 70 per cent of the population.
Despite this, he said, the sector continues to be dominated by small-scale subsistence farming, lack of coherent policies, poor infrastructure and inadequate credit facilities among others.
He said although policy measures adopted in the early years of the Economic Recovery Programme to deal with some of these issues led to substantial growth in agricultural production, there is still a long way to go to create the platform for industrialisation.
Mr. J.H.Owusu-Acheampomg Minister of Food and Agriculture, who chaired the function, said the fair is part of government’s efforts to generate the impetus for increased production to ensure food security and attract more foreign exchange inflows.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
In spite of the constitutional order and growing awareness on human rights issues, over 5,000 girls and women are still languishing in ritual servitude in Ghana.
Mr. Vincent Azumah, Publicity Officer for International Needs, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) spearheading the struggle against its practice, told GNA in Accra on Wednesday that 2,800 trokosi girls have been freed since 1995.
"Some politicians are posing a threat to the lives of some of us as they continue to openly whip-up support for the practice."
International Needs is among a coalition of human rights NGOs, which organised a seminar today on the enforcement of laws against ritual servitude like Trokosi.
"This dehumanising practice, which is incompatible with the norms and values of modern, progressive African societies, can not be justified as it is a violation of the rights of women and children in our society."
Mr. Short said the repercussions of the system are very grave as it washes away the freedom from sexual abuse and exploitation, the right to human dignity and deepens gender discrimination.
"These rights are guaranteed to every citizen in Ghana by our 1992 constitution as well as several other conventions and treaties of which Ghana is a signatory."
The Commissioner said except a few traditionalists who argue for the retention of the practice, most right thinking Ghanaians believe and know that it is evil and must be abolished.
"These slaves must be released and integrated into society to realise their individual and collective potentials."
He said efforts are still being made to secure the release of the "slaves" but stressed that since the practice has been with the people for a long time its complete dismantling would not happen over night.
"It needs a gradual and thorough process of dialogue and consensus to get the practitioners to accept the norms and values inherent in the international human rights laws and practices."
He called on government to enforce the laws against the practice.
"District Assemblies and traditional authorities should also use their influence to secure the quick release of these unfortunate victims of this evil practice.
Mr. George Ahiable, Chairman, Ghana Human Rights NGOs Coalition, said the group is forging closer relations with all human rights bodies to build a " better, safer and more just society where the rights of our people will be respected."
"We have made some progress as a nation but the end of the journey is still far. But reach it, we must."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday received a message from King Mohamed the Sixth of Morocco and appealed to the North African country to rejoin the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
"It is our genuine desire to see Morocco back to the OAU. What caused Morocco to leave the continental body could be resolved'', he said after taking the message from Mr. Mohamed Benaissa, the Moroccan Foreign Minister.
Morocco left the OAU in anger in the 1970s when the organisation recognised the Sahroui Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an independent state after Spain, the former colonial master, vacated the territory without granting it independence.
Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania carved up the phosphate-rich territory, provoking a liberation war by the territory's freedom fighters.
Algeria and Mauritania renounced their claims, compelling Morocco to claim to the whole territory.
Moroccan troops and SADR guerrillas have fought battles over the years and now there is a cease-fire holding to enable the UN to solve the problem through a referendum to give its inhabitants the chance to decide whether they want to be part of Morocco or be independent.
President Rawlings said allowing the UN to solve the problem "is a good compromise'', adding that Ghana's relations with SADR, which it recognised, ''falls in line with its principled relations with other African countries''.
President Rawlings said Ghana and Morocco have enjoyed good relations over the years especially during the long reign of late King Hassan and hoped these ralations would be enhanced under the new king.
''The message from King Mohamed the Sixth is a testimony of our mutual desire to forge closer co-operation to avoid being left behind in the changing world.
Mr. Benaissa, who served as a diplomat in Ghana for five years in the 1970s, spoke about physical changes in Accra's landscape and said ''I saw what Accra looked like in 1975 and how it is today I am in a good position to compare. There has been tremendous development''.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 24 August 2000
The Ajumako District Police have arrested a man, Kwame Annor, alias Dada from Enyan Maim who allegedly offered four bones suspected to be human parts for sale.
A statement signed by Chief Inspector Jonathan Kwame Abban, of the Regional Police Public Relations Unit in Cape Coast said an accomplice Kwesi Kwansah who is now at large has been put on the police wanted list.
The statement said on August 9 this year, Annor and Kwansah allegedly approached Okomfo Kweku Abeka Sebi of Breman Essiem with a black polythene bag containing four suspected human bones, which they offered for sale. Okomfo Sebi refused to buy them and alerted the police.
The next day the two men went to Okomfo Sebi again with the request that he should look for a market for them.
Okomfo Sebi informed the police and Annor was arrested but Kwansah escaped. The statement appealed to the general public to assist the police in arresting the suspect.
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Kuntanase (Ashanti Regioon) 24 August 2000
Mr. John Arthur, incumbent Presiding Member of the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly, was on Tuesday re-elected for the third consecutive term.
Even though Mr. Arthur, a tutor at the Atwimaman secondary school, Trabuom, was the only candidate to have filed his papers at the close of nominations, but the assembly regulations demanded that his nomination should be voted upon.
Mr Arthur polled 57 out of a total of 59 votes cast in the elections conducted by the district electoral office at a meeting of the assembly held at Kuntanase.
One member voted against him, while one other abstained. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Arthur expressed his gratitude to the assembly for the confidence reposed in him to steer affairs of the assembly for a third term running.
The Presiding Member assured them that he would work hard to ensure peace and successes in the affairs of the assembly, but that demanded the maximum co-operation of all members.
Mr. I.K. Nyame, the District Chief Executive, who had earlier presented the executive committee report to the meeting, announced that the district had been allocated 540 million cedis under the fifth phase of the micro projects programme for execution of a number of projects.
He said 24 communities are to benefit from the facility in the area of education, health, water and sanitation sectors, as well as the construction of markets.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
Mr. Joseph Ebow Quashie, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), on Wednesday urged Parliament to come out with a definite date for the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections as soon as practicable.
Stating GBA's views in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the date announced recently by the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr. Quashie said it is the duty of Parliament to fix the date with reference to the constitutional provisions.
He said if the fixing of the date is left in the hands of the EC, there is the likelihood of "manipulations".
He, however, contended that until Parliament comes out with the date, the present one fixed by the EC should remain.
The GBA President noted that no matter when polling takes place, not all eligible voters would be able to cast their ballots.
"No matter what date is finally fixed, by the exigencies of life and circumstances, somebody will be disenfranchised on voting day."
Voting day, December 8, which was announced by the Electoral Commission, has triggered a debate with some Muslims saying that being a Friday in the Ramadan month, some of them may not be able to vote.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has been quoted as saying that Parliament should take steps to set a specific day in a specific month for the conduct of elections.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
The United Ghana Movement (UGM) said on Wednesday that the government has misfired in introducing a new driver licence as this would not lead to improvement in road safety.
It said any exercise to improve Ghana's appalling road safety record must focus on the commercial and institutional sectors, which are responsible for transporting the substantial majority of Ghanaians.
"If the government does not review the programme, a UGM government would suspend the exercise and refocus it towards getting the maximum improvement in road safety in the shortest possible time", the party said in a statement in Accra.
The Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr. Edward Salia on Monday launched a new driver licence to replace the old one that was characterised by abuse.
The UGM said the government should focus its road safety efforts on making sure that all vehicles, which carry passengers and goods, are mechanically sound and driven by properly certified drivers.
It said the exercise to change licences must therefore start with drivers of commercial and institutional vehicles.
"In addition, the issuance of the annual certificate of roadworthiness of vehicles must be tied to a comprehensive inspection by certified garages."
The UGM said vehicles must first be put through a basic examination and issued with a certificate of roadworthiness before the annual fee is collected.
"The present emphasis on collection of fees without any or simply cursory inspections is a major contributor to the growing number of accidents and deaths on our roads."
The UGM said all drivers who are convicted of certain road offences should first be banned from driving for specified periods and/or forced to retake driving tests, irrespective of whether or not their current licences are genuine. It did not specify the offences.
Additionally, all drivers should be made to take eye tests at the time of the change over to ensure that they have the proper natural vision to drive or are in possession of the necessary visual aid.
"Those found with defective eye sight must produce evidence of visual correction before their new licences are issued to them."
UGM said the sale of alcoholic beverages at commercial vehicle stations should be banned with immediate effect.
Equipment for testing driver drunkenness should also be used and guilty drivers banned.
"Safety is the most urgent problem to tackle on our roads at the moment. Too much time and too much effort has been spent on schemes to squeeze money from the long suffering Ghanaian motorists."
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Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 24 August 2000
Mr. Anthony K. Oppong, Techiman District Electoral Officer, has warned electoral officials currently engaged in the issuance of photo identity cards to refrain from diverting electoral materials.
Mr. Oppong gave the warning at a day's briefing course organised by the Electoral Commission for electoral officials in Techiman.
"Any official who fails to account for the materials at the end of the exercise will forfeit his or her allowance," he said.
He said the exercise would be seriously monitored and that "under no circumstance should any official condone and connive with the photographers to divert electoral materials".
Mr. Oppong cautioned the officials not to take instructions from any political party activist during the 10-day exercise.
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Salaga (Northern Region) 24 August 2000
The stalemate over the re-nomination of Alhaji Baba Braimah as the NDC parliamentary candidate for Salaga deepened on Tuesday when a 39-year-old civil servant also announced plans to join the race.
Mr. Abubakar Saddique Boniface, senior economist and financial analyst with the Ministry of Finance, told the press at Salaga that his decision was a popular choice of the people who could attest to his leadership qualities as a cadre and active supporter of the NDC.
"If I lose the nomination of the party, I will stand as an independent candidate”.
Mr. Boniface, members of the NDC Youth Wing on Tuesday organised a rousing welcome for him on his arrival from Makango.
Mr. Boniface referred to the cheering crowd who interrupted the press briefing for over 45 minutes as a clear testimony to his popularity.
He promised to improve on social amenities in the constituency and create employment avenues for the youth.
In a reaction, Mr. Jerry Draman Jackson, District Chief Executive, said the decision to let the incumbent MP contest the December election was irreversible, and called for unity among party members and supporters to ensure his victory.
"There is the need for consensus since plans for Mr. Boniface to stand as independent candidate will split votes."
He said the development of the district is the collective responsibility of everybody and that the present political stalemate cannot facilitate such a process.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
The Presidential Candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Professor George Hagan, left Accra on Wednesday for a seven-day visit to the United Kingdom where he will address sections of the Ghanaian communities.
He will also meet with Pan-Africanist, socialist and liberal groups, according to a statement signed by Mr. Kwesi Pratt, Chairman of the party's Publicity Committee. The statement said Prof. Hagan, who will be accompanied by Mr. Pratt and Mr. Ben Eghan, Third National Vice-Chairman, will also visit the Headquarters of the Labour Party and meet with prominent MPs who have identified themselves with the Nkrumaist cause in Ghana.
It said Prof. Hagan's visit is at the invitation of the UK and Ireland branches of the party and the Black People's Association of Hackney, London.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 August 2000
The Ashanti Regional Police Command on Wednesday assured residents of the Kumasi Metropolis that it has no evidence to suspect that the serial killing of women in Accra has been extended to the Ashanti regional capital.
The police said no single case has been found or established and therefore advised the people to rest their anxieties.
A statement signed by Dr. Kofi Kese Manfo, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Ashanti, said the serial killings in Accra have created an atmosphere of unease, apprehension and fear among the womenfolk in Ashanti.
It said there have been inferences that the killings are being extended to the region because a number of events that have happened in the region in the last few days have been used to rationalise and buttress such fears and anxieties.
It said, for example, that a woman was reported to have been attacked by three men at Ahinsan in Kumasi while she was sweeping the environs of her house.
The statement said a second incident involved a woman who boarded a taxicab from Atonsu to Kejetia but the cab diverted its course to Daban where the woman was dropped in the bush.
It said whiles in the bush a man reportedly emerged but refused to kill her because he proclaimed her to be a witch as her face seemed to suggest.
The statement said these cases and others making the rounds in the Kumasi Metropolis were being investigated by the police but added that preliminary investigations do not support evidence of any serial killing.
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Government urged to appoint more women into
district assemblies.
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 August 2000
Madam Elizabeth Solomon, a member of the Electoral Commission, on Wednesday urged the government to ensure that at least half of its 30 per cent appointees to district assemblies are women.
She said the assemblies are good training grounds for political and public life and appointing women there, would prepare them for such positions.
Madam Solomon was speaking at a round table discussion on increasing women's participation in mainstream political, social and economic spheres, organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) with the support of DANIDA.
Representatives of women's groups and political parties present hailed the suggestion.
She said in 1994 there were only 351 women representing 17.7 per cent of the 1,979 government appointees to the assemblies.
Mr. Vincent Asiseh, Press Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who presented his party's position on the issue, promised to convey the suggestion to the appropriate quarters.
He expressed the hope that women appointees would rise up to the challenge if offered the opportunity.
Mr. Asiseh said the NDC has initiated several educational policies, legislation and programmes toward achieving gender equity.
The party recognises that it would take some time to realise the objectives of having at least 40 per cent women representation on advisory bodies and 30 per cent in district assemblies.
He explained that the cultural and social barriers that inhibit the participation of women in public life could not be wished away but could only change over time by educating society to change its attitude.
Mr. Asiseh said since political contests are highly competitive, tough and rough, many women turn down the offer to join, adding that, because the NDC would like to win elections it would only field candidates on merit.
"It is unfortunate that many women activists have taken the stand that women deserve more positions, for the simple fact that they are women.
Mr. Asiseh said it is his party's conviction that women are capable of competing favourably with men on merit and should, therefore, be given an enabling environment to compete by removing socio-cultural barriers rather than giving them preferential treatment, which encourages mediocrity.
"Affirmative Action must seek to replace any sense of inferiority currently felt by women with a sense of equality in terms of competitive abilities on the political front".
He said the low level of women's participation was not peculiar to Ghana, adding that the nine per cent proportion of women in Ghana's Parliament was higher than that of 27 other democratic countries in Africa.
"Nigeria has 7.3 per cent; Kenya - 3.6 per cent; Egypt - two per cent and Togo 1.2 per cent. Indeed no African country has yet achieved the 40 per cent parliamentary representation target that Ghana has set for itself. The best so far is South Africa's 30 per cent."
Some discussants, however, argued that since many women were not given the opportunity in the past to get formal education and have been constrained by family responsibilities to advance socially, political parties should give them preferential treatment by reserving safe seats for them.
They said research has shown that the Affirmative Action seats in Uganda have increased women's participation in the legislature of that country and enriched the debates and legislation.
Ms Gloria Ofori Boadu, Executive Director of FIDA, urged political parties to encourage women by paying their registration fees and sponsoring their campaigns.
Mrs. Elizabeth Owiredu-Gyampoh, President of FIDA, said the campaign for gender equity is to ensure that 52 per cent of the population, who are women, contribute effectively to national development and must not be seen as battle for women to take over men’s roles.
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Konongo (Ashanti Region) 24 August 2000
Vice President Professor John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday asked supporters of the various political parties to ensure civility in the run-up to the elections.
He observed that insults, intimidation and destruction of opponents' party paraphernalia would compromise the course of peace.
The Vice President, who is on a four-day tour of the Ashanti Region, was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Konongo/Odumase in the Asante-Akim North District.
Prof. Mills called for peaceful co-existence and tolerance among the people, saying these are prerequisites for development.
Prof. Mills, who is also the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), asked the people to vote massively for the party to enable it to continue with its well-planned development programme.
He used the occasion to introduce Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu of the Ministry of Finance as the party's parliamentary candidate for the area in the upcoming polls and asked them to vote for him.
Nana Batafo Acheampong II, Konongohene, in a welcoming address, appealed to the government to expand facilities at the Konongo/Odumase Government Hospital to enable it to meet the increasing needs of the people.
The Vice President's entourage included Mr. Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, Dr Christina Amoako Nuamah, Minister of Lands and Forestry and other leading members of the party.
They paid a courtesy call on the Agogohene, Nana Akuoko Sarpong and interacted with communities at Dome and Juansah, both located between Konongo and Agogo.
In Kumasi, the Vice-President paid another courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace.
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