Asante Kotoko Society congratulates Ga Traditional Council
Upholding democracy and social justice is our goal - Bediako
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August
2000
The Electoral Commission (EC) on
Sunday said public servants must resign before filing their nominations to
contest the December 7 elections.
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of
the EC, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra said that the
Commission would disqualify any public servant that does not resign before
filing the nomination papers.
Nominations for the presidential
and parliamentary elections would take place on September 12 and 13.
The names of many civil and public
servants have come up in the list of candidates selected by political parties
to contest the parliamentary vote.
He explained that those public and
civil servants, whose names have come up have only declared their intention to
contest and until they file their nominations they have not breached any law or
requirement for sanctions to be applied.
The electoral guide to candidates
specifically names certain categories of public servants that are disqualified
from contesting elections in the country.
The disqualification affects
public servants in any of the following organisations: the Police Service,
Prison Service, Armed Forces, Judicial Service, Legal Service, Civil Service
and Statistical Service.
Others are the Audit Service,
Parliamentary Service, National Fire Service, Immigration Service, Internal
Revenue Service and Customs, Excise and Preventive Service.
Dr Afari-Gyan also identified
other categories of people, who are disqualified from contesting elections as
including anyone, who has been declared bankrupt and has not been discharged
under any law in force in the country;
Anyone found to be incompetent to
hold public office or to have misused or abused his position as a public
officer by a report of a judicial or quasi-judicial commission or committee
whose finding has otherwise been confirmed by a government White Paper.
All those who have been
disqualified by law from registering as a voter or standing as a candidate, and
those whose official functions are connected with the conduct of elections or
entail responsibility for the electoral register cannot contest.
Anyone, who has not declared his
or her assets, is also disqualified. Chiefs are disqualified unless they
abdicate.
Dr Afari-Gyan said anyone, who has
been convicted for treason or an offence involving the security of the state,
fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude and has not been pardoned or 10 years have
not passed since his conviction is also disqualified.
Anyone whose offence is punishable
by death or by a sentence of not less than 10 years or an offence in connection
with an election cannot contest.
Dr Afari-Gyan stressed that all
these requirements apply to presidential candidates too.
The electoral guide said
qualifications for the contest of election include, being a citizen of Ghana,
being 21 years or above on voting day in the case of parliamentary elections
and 40 years for the presidential. One must be a registered voter.
The prospective candidate is
required to have resided in or hail from the constituency concerned or have
lived there for at least five years out of the 10 years immediately preceding
the election.
The law also requires that
candidates pay all taxes or must have made satisfactory arrangements for their
payment.
The general procedure for the
nomination of a candidate for election include the filing of nomination forms,
provided by the EC, and signed by the candidate and at least two registered
voters in each district for the presidential and in the case of parliamentary
candidates, 20 electors in the constituency.
Presidential candidates must have
nominated their running mates that also satisfy the same criteria of
eligibility as the president.
Nomination forms of a presidential
candidate should be delivered to the Chairman of the Commission or his
designated authority with a deposit of five million cedis.
The forms for parliamentary
candidates are to be delivered to the Returning Officer of the constituency
where he or she is seeking election with a deposit of 200,000 cedis.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
The Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) on Sunday called on the government to "as a matter of urgency to put in place more effective mechanisms to mitigate the sufferings of Ghanaians".
A communiqué issued at the end of its national congress in Accra urged the government to facilitate meaningful working conditions and living wage for the worker that will ensure industrial harmony and increased productivity.
FUSSAG notes with great concern the current economic crisis facing the nation and its attendant negative effects on the general standard of living of Ghanaians and efforts so far made by the government to address the situation."
On the political situation, FUSSAG urged all key players in the political arena to ensure tolerance and maturity in all matters affecting the conduct of this year's general election.
It called on leaders and supporters of the various political parties to ensure tolerance and maturity in all matters affecting the conduct of the elections.
It also observed the continuous falling standards in education at all levels and the general high cost of education in the country vis-à-vis the inability of the majority of Ghanaians to have full access to quality education.
"(The) Government must also put in place measures to forestall the frequent closures of the nation's universities and other higher learning institutions.
"In the light of this, we call on the government to take immediate steps to resolve the current impasse in the country's Polytechnics."
The communiqué urged the government, the security and other agencies to step up efforts to curb the current spate of serial killings, armed robbery, organised fraud, embezzlement, bribery and corruption.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 August 2000
The Ashanti Regional Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the weekend condemned what it calls “the shameful misconduct and rude behaviour” put up by some supporters of opposition political parties during the recent tour of the region by Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills.
A press statement issued and signed by the Regional Chairman, Mr. Philip Edward Kwabena Antwi, in Kumasi, said the NDC "finds it outrageous, irritating and ridiculous the jeers, boos and hooting at the Vice-President's convoy by the opposition supporters".
Those incidents took place at the Maakro Junction and Suame Roundabout in Kumasi and at the Obuasi Junction in the Adansi West District.
The statement also took a swipe at the "nuisance and undignified conduct by a group of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Akrofrom in the Adansi West district" when Professor Mills attended the funeral of the late chief of the town.
The statement noted that apart from noise making by the group, they openly distributed posters, banners and flags of the NPP at the funeral.
It said except for purposes of embarrassing the Vice-President, the NDC finds it difficult to understand how a solemn occasion could be turned into an arena for partisan politics.
It cautioned that such acts of political indiscipline, immaturity and intolerance, if allowed to fester, could lead to worse case scenarios and create nasty incidents in the run-up to the general elections.
It, therefore, asked the leadership of the opposition political parties to educate their followers and discourage them from engaging in acts of provocation to spare the country the trauma of political violence and turmoil.
The statement said it was high time Ghanaian politicians did away with the politics of insults and intimidation and lived by the code of ethics drawn up by the Inter-Party Committee.
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Akropong (Eastern Region) 28 August 2000
The sale of forms for the replacement of the old driving licence in the Greater Accra Region begins on Monday.
They would be sold at Post Offices, Mr. J. M. Y. Amegashie, Acting Chief Executive of the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD) of the Ministry of Transport said on Sunday.
Addressing the Akuapeman Drivers Union at Akropong, he said the exercise is not meant to disturb drivers but a measure to eliminate fake licences and to ensure safety on the roads.
He said that between 93 and 94 per cent of licences sent to VELD for renewal this year and some sent from overseas for verification were found to be fake.
Mr. Amegashie said the signature of a VELD official, who died in 1991, was found on a licence issued in 1992.
The new licence has several security checks, he said adding that, any alteration in the licence would easily be detected.
Mr. Amegashie said that a more secured driving licence does not only allow the bearer to drive but also enables the one to transact business using it as an identification card.
It would also make people to have confidence in the Ghanaian licence both internally and externally.
He urged vehicle owners to present the licence of their drivers to VELD for verification before engaging them.
Mr. Kofi Afful, Chairman of the Union, called on drivers to co-operate with VELD to make the exercise a success.
He said that the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is in the process of computerising its membership cards to ensure that dubious characters are removed from its ranks adding that members of the Union are to wear uniforms to distinguish them from others.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August
2000
President Jerry John Rawlings left
Accra on Sunday for Arusha, Tanzania to witness the signing of the peace
agreement between the factions in the Burundi conflict.
Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Minister
of Protocol and Chieftaincy Affairs and Dr Tony Aidoo, Deputy Minister of
Defence accompanied him.
Already in Arusha is the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Victor Gbeho. President Bill Clinton of the United
States as well as Mr. Nelson Mandela, former South African President and other
heads of state including those from the Great Lakes Region would witness the
signing.
The Vice President, Professor John
Evans Atta Mills and Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior saw him off.
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Effiduase (Ashanti Region) 28 August 2000
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is seeking political power not for the selfish and personal comfort of its leaders, Mr. Sampson K. Boafo, MP for Subin and Minority Chief Whip, has declared.
He said the party's quest for power is driven by a genuine desire to restore confidence in the economy after years of economic and financial mismanagement by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which has led to widespread deprivation and suffering.
Mr. Boafo was addressing a forum organised at Effiduase in the Sekyere East District at the instance of Mrs. Grace Coleman, MP for Effiduase-Asokore to account for the disbursement of her share of the common fund.
He said that the NDC is short of ideas to salvage the economy from its "present state of mess" and told the people to disregard "the lame explanation that this has come about as a result of external market pressures".
The Minority Chief Whip advised NPP supporters to be mindful of their utterances and strive to win more to the party.
He also called on them to ensure the effective policing of polling stations during the polling day to prevent cheating and vote rigging.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
The Accra-Tema branch of the Asante Kotoko Society, on Sunday presented customary drinks and cash to the Ga Traditional Council towards the celebration of the Homowo festival in Accra.
Mr. E. W. Edusei, Second Vice President of the Society, noted that members of Society have been participating in the festival at the community level but decided to officially join the Council to mark it this year.
He congratulated the Chiefs and people of the Ga Traditional Area for the peaceful celebration and called for regular interactions between the youth, elders and chiefs in the country.
Mr. Edusei conveyed the greetings of members of the Society from branches throughout the country and overseas to the Council.
Nii Adote Obuor II, Sempe Mantse and Acting President of the Council expressed the Council's gratitude to the Society.
He recalled the official visit to Accra of the late Nana Prempeh II, in 1946 and that of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last year, which have helped in strengthening the already cordial relations between the Ga Traditional Council and the Asanteman Council.
Nii Obour also mentioned the reign of the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, which witnessed cordial relations between the two Councils.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
Mr. Justice Daniel F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament, left Accra on Sunday for New York, United States, to attend the first ever conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments, which begins from August 30 to September 1.
Mr. Rex Owusu-Ansah, Clerk of Parliament, accompanied Mr. Annan.
The conference, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations, has the theme "Parliamentary Vision for International Co-operation at the dawn of the Third Millennium".
UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan will open the meeting, which will be attended by over 150 speakers from all over the world.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Saturday granted audience to two United States Senators and an Army Officer, who are in the country as part of an African tour. Their discussions centred on political, economic and security issues.
The talks between Senator Richard Shelby, a Republican, Senator Robert Kerry, a Democrat and Colonel Timothy Peterson and the President was to enable the US team understand the national security implications of the region.
The discussions also focused on some international trade practices that tend to undermine Ghana's economic progress.
The team would also visit the Great Lakes Region. With President Rawlings were Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior, Mr. Dan Abodakpi, Minister of Trade and Industry and Mr. Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
President Rawlings lauded the passage of the African Growth and Opportunities Act by the US Congress, which would allow African countries more access to the US market and expressed the hope that the outcome of the November Presidential Elections in the US would not affect its implementation.
President Rawlings said the problems facing Africa are so daunting that the continent cannot solve them alone. "We need assistance. The World is tired of the horrible scenes we see on our television screens".
Mr. Shelby expressed satisfaction with Ghana/US relations and told President Rawlings that "you brought stability and leadership to your country. You have brought changes, fast changes".
He said Ghana lost some opportunities after independence but "things are on track now". "The US Administration says it is working well with you. You have done well. Congratulations".
Mr. Shelby said some countries are making progress in Africa so it would be wrong to deal with the continent as a single unit plagued by wars and instability.
Mr. Abodakpi said the trade liberalisation policy as being implemented now is crippling local industries because "a lot of shoddy goods are being dumped on us".
He gave the example of a US company that is insisting exporting processed chicken into the country adding that, "we are opposed to it. We want the company to rear the chickens here so that it can employ people. Some of these issues are worrying us".
Mr. Laryea said it was unfair for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to resort to foot-dragging in releasing funds meant for Ghana.
He said that meetings between Ghanaian officials that of the institutions over the past months were unduly postponed until last Monday. "It was after the meeting that it was realised that Ghana's case was genuine".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August
2000
International Organisations of
Teachers and Educational Workers would continue to support programmes aimed at
entrenching democracy and social justice in Africa, Mr. Tom A Bediako, Chief
Regional Co-ordinator of the Education International (Africa) said on Saturday.
He pointed out, however, that in
co-operating with governments on the continent to achieve these goals,
educational organisations would not compromise their independence.
Mr. Bediako made these remarks at
a briefing to herald the forthcoming conference of Educational International
(EI) slated for September 4 to 6 at Ho.
The three-day conference, which
would be attended by about 70 participants from member-countries including
Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Gabon, and Cote d'Ivoire.
Others are Sierra Leone, The
Gambia, Chad, Niger, Egypt, Morocco, Liberia, and Nigeria, with Canada, United
States, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands as observers.
Participants would review a decade
of co-operation among teacher-organisations in Africa and their counterparts in
the developed world, or South-South and North-South Co-operation, and plan new
strategies for the years ahead.
Mr. Bediako said that the
challenges facing Educational Organisations on the continent in the new
millennium are enormous, but expressed optimism that with dedication and
commitment, members could make positive and meaningful contributions towards
the promotion of quality education for the majority of the people.
He was of the view that public
education in Africa could not be promoted and protected without ruling out
private participation, and said EI is bent on organising in-service training
for members in order to equip them with the necessary professional techniques
and skills to make them more marketable.
The Chief Regional Co-ordinator
expressed grave concern about the lack of exchange programmes for members and
expressed the hope that the Conference would look at the issue critically and
ensure that member-countries benefit from them to help to strengthen the bond
of relations.
On the conditions of service of
teachers, Mr. Bediako urged African governments to desist from their peace-meal
approach with respect to salaries of teachers and rather approach the issue in
a more realistic and holistic manner to motivate teachers to give of their
best.
Mrs. Georgina Baiden, Vice
President of EI said the organisation has a total membership of 24 million in
180 countries throughout the world.
Recounting its achievements on the
African continent, Mrs. Baiden said it was gratifying that South Africa's
membership of EI has helped in the establishment of a non-racial organisation
in that country, whose teachers were hitherto divided along racial lines.
She said that with the coming into
being of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), Namibia now has a
strong and vibrant teachers' organisation. Mr. Fred Van Leeuwen, EI's General
Secretary would attend the conference.
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