Kufuor Tour of Brong Ahafo – Day One
Minister orders salary of MD stopped
President appoints board for forestry commission
US-Ghana joint training exercise ends
Journalists demand apology from Wereko-Brobby
Delay at the Buipe depot causes fuel shortage in Upper West
Malian arrested for attempting to smuggle narcotics
Work on Ho township roads suspended
Goaso (Brong Ahafo Region) 03 August 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Thursday that government appointments
have not been selective but have cut across all ethnic groups in the country.
He said this was to make every Ghanaian to be part of the government, adding, "NPP (New Patriotic Party) has competent people from all ethnic groups in finance, education, health, security and all other sectors".
President Kufuor was addressing separate durbars of the chiefs and people of Kukuom and Goaso in the Asunafo District on the first day of his four-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
He said the nation needed the ideas, skills and knowledge of everyone in order to succeed.
President Kufuor announced that the government was to embark on a massive reforestation programme particularly in depleted forest reserves through the creation of land armies.
The armies, he said, would be given the needed inputs such as seedlings, technical know-how and other assistance to sustain the programme.
At Kukuom President Kufuor told the chiefs and people that the government would improve the quality and standard of Kukuom Agricultural Secondary School.
On a request by Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, Omanhene of Kukuom, for a separate district for Asunafo South, President Kufuor said the necessary negotiations would be made with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on the appeal.
He pledged to investigate the alleged 60 per cent reduction on timber royalties from the Forestry Commission to chiefs.
Osahene Aterkyi said chiefs, as agents of change, were committed to help to improve the standard of living of the people.
He urged the government to halt environmental degradation caused by bush fires.
Osahene Aterkyi called for the establishment of a cocoa processing factory in the area to create employment avenues for the youth.
He expressed concern at the poor state of some major roads in the district and appealed to the government to rehabilitate them to link communities in the area to marketing centres and mentioned in particular, the Nobekwaw-Sankore-Boako and Sankore-Abuom roads.
The Omanhene further appealed for the release of 1998-2000 accumulated stool royalties to chiefs in the Brong Ahafo Region to enable them to embark on development projects in their areas.
At Goaso, Nana Kofi Bofah, Acting president of the Mim Traditional Council appealed to the government to create a separate region for the Ahafo area.
He noted that past governments did not have the political will to execute it, but the chiefs of the area "have the conviction that since the NPP government has the goodwill of all Ghanaians, it can do it.
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Hwidiem (Brong Ahafo) 03 August 2001
The government would soon embark on mass spraying of cocoa farms in the major cocoa growing areas against the black pod disease, President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Thursday.
He said in addition, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been directed to pay all bonuses due to farmers for cocoa purchased during the 2000 main crop season.
President Kufuor was addressing the chiefs and people of Hwidiem in the Asutifi District on the first day of his four-day official visit to the Brong Ahafo Region.
Food and cash crop farmers would also be assisted under the Emergency Social Relief Programme (ESRP) launched in Accra last Tuesday, he said.
The President pledged the government's assistance to improve the road infrastructure, health facilities, potable water and provision of other basic amenities under its rural development programme.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians not to allow themselves to be intimidated by any group of people but to rally behind the government to ensure that democratic rule succeeds in Ghana.
Nana Osuodumgya, Barima Kwame Bonsu, Omanhene of Hwidiem Traditional Area, said the victory of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) "has ushered in a period of hope and prosperity for the country".
He appealed to the government to ensure that all towns along the Bechem-Junction to Goaso were connected to the national grid to facilitate the establishment of cottage industries.
Nana Bonsu called for the establishment of a district hospital at Kenyase, the Asutifi District capital, to augment the operations of the Hwidiem Mission Hospital.
Nana Bonsu called for a review of the free medical care for the aged from 70 years to 60 years, since most farmers die before attaining the age of 70.
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Lome (Togo) 03 August 2001
Ghana on Thursday welcomed Togo's support for her choice of candidature for the post of Executive Secretary of ECOWAS and said it reflects the cordial relations existing between the two countries.
Dr Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Regional Integration and Cooperation who made these remarks during talks with his Togolese counterpart, Mr Joseph Kokou Koffigoh, said the choice of Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas for the post was actually done in the spirit of co-operation which he noted was vital for development.
"We are very happy that President Gnyassingbe Eyadema welcomed our choice of Dr Chambas and that, Togo is ready to go along with us."
Dr Nduom said even though a full-fledged campaign for the post is yet to begin, initial exchanges between some neighbouring countries show that Ghana's has a very bright chance to pick up the seat.
"We cannot at this stage say for sure what the minds of our friends are, but for now they have indicated some support and we hope this and a vote later will carry us through."
The talks, which is a follow up to a similar one held three weeks ago in Lome, is meant to deepen relations between the countries especially in the opening of the Ghana-Togo border for 24 hours instead of the current 6.00 am to 10.00 pm.
He expressed the hope that discussions between the two countries would end in bringing greater hope and harmony between their peoples, " something that will lead to greater understanding and peaceful co-existence."
Mr Koffigoh expressed his appreciation for the blooming relationship between the leadership of the two countries, saying that Togo is happy at the serene atmosphere and the confidence that is growing between Togo and Ghana.
He thanked Dr Nduom for his initiatives in enhancing integration in the sub-region and hoped that other counterparts will lend similar support.
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Winneba (Central Region) 02 August 2001
The government has reiterated its intention to establish a Ghana Investment Fund (GIF) to provide Ghanaian firms with long-term credit facilities, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry announced on Wednesday.
He said this is intended to help the firms take advantage of new technological development and related expertise in the accelerated transformation and expansion of the country's industrial horizon.
In a speech read for him at the inauguration of the Association of Micro and Small-scale Industries of Winneba (AMSSIW) he said the government has also thrown a challenge to the banks and other financial institutions to develop concrete ways to help secure funds for innovation. This goes for such areas as technology development and adoption, development of new products and service as well as productivity enhancing activities.
Mr Osei-Adjei said government will also promote the establishment of a technologies information network involving the universities, research institutions, industrial associations and key government agencies to collect and collate information on technology and related services from around the world and make it easily available to industry.
He said in this regard one of the main strategies as pertains to industry would be to develop or adopt the type of technologies that are appropriate to the human and material resource base of the economy.
This will not mean a mere transfer of most modern technological processes available, but the adoption of the type of technology that would ensure optimum use of national resources as well as a national distribution of production units.
Mr Osei-Adjei expressed the hope that these areas would be the central concern of members of the new association so that they would give attention to financial assistance, information and training facilities that will enable small scale operators to increase their technical and management capabilities.
He said the inauguration of the association was a clear demonstration of the increasing awareness among members of the group on the need to engage in regular dialogue and consultation as a way of fostering better understanding of each other's role in their bid to develop the small scale sector.
Mr Osei-Adjei expressed optimism that the association would bring together a high calibre of people from different professional backgrounds to enable members to tap their expertise to complement the government's own effort in promoting the micro and small scale sector.
He called for the co-operation of the association to enable the ministry to attain its objective in the shortest time possible saying, "My ministry will welcome contributions from members of AMSSIW to help in addressing the problems facing the sector".
Mr Richard Ekem, chairman of the association said the Central Region has been rated among the poorest regions in the country, with industrial set up of 1.5 per cent.
He stressed the determination of the association to raise the level of the industrial sector in the region, saying however, that this would depend on the sort of financial support banking and other financial institutions would extend to it.
Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister and chairman for the function advised leaders of the association to ensure transparency in their work.
They should also keep proper record of its financial operations and team up with CEDECOM for a reliable industrial data to enhance their business.
Neenyi Ghartey VII, Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area challenged the association to revive the industrial spirit of the area.
He advised against the tendency to involve the association in chieftaincy activities.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 August 2001
Mr Fred Sai, National President of the Youth Department of the Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC), has commended the government for demonstrating in practical terms its quest for peace and unity in the West African Sub-Region.
Mr Sai said this has been evident in the quick manner President John Agyekum Kufuor visited Ghana's neighbours immediately he assumed office.
He made the commendation at the opening of the first national youth conference of the Ghana Baptist Convention in Kumasi on Thursday.
The five-day conference, which is being attended by 500 youth from all over the country and has as its theme: "Possessing your possession", is aimed at creating a platform for the mobilisation of the youth to re-orient their energies and talents towards enhancing the social, religious and moral development of the country.
Mr Sai called for policies, which would encourage food production and security and support local initiatives geared towards addressing the unemployment problem as well as social vices like armed robbery, prostitution and the AIDS pandemic.
Mr Sai announced plans of the Department to launch a national youth endowment fund soon to be used to assist in various social and community development activities as well as support outreach programmes on evangelism.
The Reverend Kojo Amo, General Secretary of the GBC, advised the youth to begin to back their religious activities with a resolve to direct their expertise, energies and potentials towards the development of their communities and the church.
Rev Amo urged them to strive to become champions and ambassadors of good morals, discipline and the teachings of Christ at their schools, local communities and workplaces.
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Pwalugu (Upper East) 03 August 2001
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu on Thursday ordered that the salary of Alhaji Issahaku Salia, Managing Director of Pwalugu Stone Quarry and Member of Parliament for Wa East be stopped with immediate effect.
He said Alhaji Salia as an MP has a lot of assignment on his hands and yet doubled as Managing Director of the quarry, a position he should have relinquished eight years ago when he entered parliament.
Mr Salifu made the order when he visited the quarry to acquaint himself with its problems.
The Minister described the financial situation of the company as not the best, saying as Alhaji Salia continues to draw his salary for no work done and his bungalow attracts utility bills, it was no wonder the quarry was running at a loss.
Mr Salifu dismissed claims that the quarry was a private company, saying it was established with shares from the SSB Bank and the defunct Upper East Regional Development Corporation and the Bank for Housing and Construction.
The Regional Minister said the quarry was doing a good job for the Northern sector and everything should be done to revamp it.
He advised the management to rehabilitate the environment and take good care of the community.
The acting Managing Director, Mr Iddrisu Yeldzie, said the company was finding things difficult because SSB the only surviving shareholder was selling its shares out.
He said the company has never been able to declare dividend since its inception.
However, it has insured its workers to the tune of 83 million cedis, established a community development fund, and has paid royalties to the government through the stool land administration.
The Administrative Manager, Mr Freeman Dramani, said the quarry has stone deposit that will last 233 years.
It has a work force of 56 workers with 90 per cent of them from the community but its machinery is obsolete with high fuel and power consumption rate.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 August 2001
A 10-Member Governing Board of the Forestry Commission has been appointed by President John Kufuor in consultation with the Council of State. The Chairman of the Board is Mr John Asmah, a retired Forest Utilisation Officer.
A statement signed by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Media Relations Minister on Thursday named the other members as, Mr A.S.K. Boachie-Dapaah, Chief Executive, Forestry Commission, Mr F. W. Addo-Ashong, Chief Executive Officer, Dupal Limited, Kumasi, representing the timber trade and industry, Mr F. B. Noah, Ghana Wildlife Exporters Association, representative of wildlife trade and industry.
The rest are Dr Emmanuel Djokoto, Professional Forester for the Ghana Institute of Professional Foresters, a representative of Lands Commission, Ms Gytha Nuno, representative of NGOs in forest and wildlife management and Mr Peter Boateng, Mr Wereko Brobby, of the Sociology Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Mr Yaw Asiedu-Mensah, MP for Dormaa-West all government nominees.
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Bundase (Greater Accra) 03 August 2001
The ten-week United States initiated pre-operational training exercise for the Ghana Armed Forces, code-named "Operation Focus Relief" (OFR) ended on Thursday at the Bundase training camp near Accra.
The exercise, which started on May 28, was aimed at equipping and training the UNAMSIL GHANBATT (4) contingent for peace enforcement in Sierra Leone.
The US initiated the OFR to support UN mandated peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone in the wake of violations of the Lome Agreement by the Revolutionary United Front and the militia.
OFR represents the U.S ongoing commitment to positive engagement with the
militaries of Africa and her interest in security and stability on the continent.
The operation seeks among other things to assist the nations of West Africa to enhance their capability to provide security and stability to residents of their countries and to the region as a whole.
A complement of 776 all ranks from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and 120 instructors from the first Battalion of the Third Special Forces Group (SFG) of the US Army took part in the exercise.
The Ghanaian battalion comprised personnel from all the services of the GAF with the 64 Infantry Regiment as the nucleus.
Before commencing the exercise all the Ghanaian troops were supplied individual personal equipment and M16 rifles and the battalion, light machine guns, two and half-ton cargo trucks, medical sets and equipment.
Their training involved weapons handling, rifle zeroing and classification, combat orders, salute reporting, tactical route march and camouflages.
The others were radio communication, first aid, Law, hand-grenades, counter insurgency operations, human rights education, collective task/unit training, tactics, battle drills, mortar drills, demolition, evaluation of battle situations, patrolling techniques and day and night attacks.
Although OFR was geared towards peacekeeping enforcement, troops were taken through peacekeeping techniques such as roadblocks, negotiations, searching procedures and checkpoint briefings.
GHANBATT (4) will leave for Sierra Leone in September to join two Nigerian battalions.
Brigadier Joseph Boateng Danquah, General Officer Commanding the Southern
Command, said peacekeeping operations have become more complex and expensive and as conflicts continue to rage throughout the world, global peace should be sought by enhancing the capability and capacity of regional and sub-regional armed forces to respond to their crisis individually.
Brig. Danquah cited the success of ECOMOG as a shining example of regional co-operation but added that it had not been without constraints of finance logistics, training and manpower.
It was therefore gratifying that the US government demonstrated the will to support efforts aimed at bringing peace to the people of the sub-region as was evidenced by her decision to provide basic logistics support for the battalion for the UNAMSIL operation, describing it as "a partnership with a difference".
He tasked the troops to bring the professional training acquired during the exercise to bear on the situation in Sierra Leone and commended the Special Forces Group for the assistance.
Mrs Cathryn Dee Robinson, US ambassador to Ghana said OFR demonstrates the
commitment of the US to assist in restoring stability to the West Africa sub-region.
She said the aim of OFR is to bolster the capability of selected West African partner nations to "put out fire in their own backyards".
She said the assessment of the US training facilitators is that GHANBATT 4 have the capability to substantially to put end to the Sierra Leone crisis.
"While it is our hope that the rebels in Sierra Leone will continue their recent actions in support of the peace process, if the rebels unwisely choose to renege on their commitments to end the fighting, it is clear that GHANBATT 4 has the capability to convince them otherwise".
She said OFR had broken tradition with past US-Ghana joint military activities with its programme of instruction incorporated for the first time in UN Chapter VII peace operations.
She said in all, the US would provide three million dollars worth of equipment to be deployed with GHANBATT (4) to Sierra Leone and would be handed over to become the property of the GAF after the operation.
Next week the US will turn over to the GAF all the equipment and items used by US personnel during OFR at the Bundase training Camp to be maintained for future use.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 August 2001
The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association on Thursday demanded an unqualified apology from Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Special Adviser on Energy, following an unsubstantiated bribery allegation he made against journalists.
The committee said in a statement that Dr Wereko-Brobby should retract the allegation since he has not been able to name the culpable journalist(s) and to substantiate his charge.
The committee was authorised to investigate Dr Wereko-Brobby's allegation on July 3 on JOY FM's "Super Morning Show" that some journalists had collected bribes in the "Sahara Affair".
The statement said Dr Wereko-Brobby admitted before the committee on July 18 that he was fully aware of the implication of his statement.
"At the meeting Dr Wereko-Brobby was unwilling to provide specific evidence of bribery to support his allegation but gave leads that needed further investigation by the committee".
It said the committee's follow-ups on the leads were unsubstantiated.
The statement said Dr Wereko-Brobby's inability to name the culpable journalist had "sullied the reputation of journalists in Ghana".
The committee's Chairperson is Mrs Frances Ademola with other members as Mr Kafui Asem, Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Dr Anthony Bonnah Koomson and Mr Kweku Rockson.
The rest are Mr Kwasi Afriyie Badu, Mr Frank Kludje (Member Secretary) and
Mr Bright Blewu (Member-Liaison).
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Bolgatanga (Upper West) 03 August 2001
Fuel station operators in the Upper East Region on Thursday attributed the frequent shortage in the region to delay at the Buipe depot in the Northern Region where they draw supplies.
They said their tankers sometimes have to wait for two or three days at the depot before being filled or in cases of prolonged delay travel to the refinery at Tema.
'Most of the time, the long wait at Buipe causes us to get short here and if we have to finally go to Tema then it becomes worse", said Mr Abuba Shaibu, Manager of the GOIL and SHELL stations, speaking on behalf of his colleagues.
They were meeting with the Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu after he had visited the stations in Bolgatanga to see their problem.
Mr Shaibu expressed fears that the situation might get more difficult by the end of August when they would be supposed to pay the total amount of money required before their underground fuel reservoirs are filled.
He appealed to the minister to help them get permit that would allow them to fill their tanks in Tema whenever Buipe runs short.
Mr Salifu said the fuel shortages have caused increase in transport fares and prices of food in the region.
He asked the proprietors to be vigilant and ensure that fuel is not sold in drums or other containers to people who might later sell at higher prices or smuggle to neighbouring Burkina Faso.
He also asked them to ration to articulated trucks that travel to or from Burkina Faso, saying a few of such trucks could exhaust all the supplies at a station.
The proprietors said they could not do anything about people who fill the tanks of their vehicles only to siphon all out and sell.
In times of shortage, a gallon of petrol is sold at 20,000 cedis or more.
The region started experiencing fuel shortages at the beginning of the year when the main fuel depot near Bolgatanga was closed down due high operational cost.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 August 2001
A 32-year old Malian, Sissoko Mamady, was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday night for attempting to smuggle into the country suspected narcotic drugs.
A source close to the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) told newsmen that Mamady arrived on a KLM flight and his passport indicated he had visited a drug producing area.
Mamady was taken to the Police Hospital where an X' Ray examination showed oval-shaped pellets suspected to be cocaine, in his stomach.
He has not expelled any of the pellets yet.
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Ho (Volta Region) 03 August 2001
The rehabilitation of the 5.6 kilometre Ho township road network by Messrs Wayss and Freytag (WF) of Germany at a cost of 10 billion cedis has been suspended for non-payment for work executed.
Mr Shelter Lotsu, Volta Regional Resident Engineer of the Ghana Highways
Authority (GHA), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday in an interview, that the company's decision to suspend work was communicated to the GHA by its principals in Germany in a letter.
Mr Lotsu said the project, which was awarded on August 29 last year, was to be completed in 12 months but as at June 30, only 38.6 per cent of the work had been done.
He said WF had confirmed receiving one payment since commencing work on January 3 on the wholly Government of Ghana (GOG) financed project.
He could not, however, say how much was paid.
Mr Kwadwo Aboagye, Volta Regional Director of GHA, said Messrs Bilfinger Berger 'b' of Germany, who were also contracted to rehabilitate 3.7 kilometres of the road network suspended work about six weeks ago for both financial and technical reasons.
He explained that modification to the original design has increased the contract sum from approximately 4.3 billion cedis to about 7 billion cedis.
The modification included laying of crush rock base instead of gravel, pedestrian walkways, relocation of utility service lines, parking spaces along the roads and compensation to owners of structures that were demolished.
Mr Aboagye said some payments have been made to the contractor to enable work on the project to resume adding that GHA has no hand in the payment of jobs executed by contractors.
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Wa (Upper West) 03 August 2001
The Police Administration has set up a Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) at Wa in the Upper West Region, to deal with cases of violence against women and children.
Inspector Daniel Dorkpoh, Regional Police Public Relations Officer in a statement on Thursday said the unit is expected to handle cases of defilement, incest, abduction, abortion, wife battering, child abandonment and non-maintenance of spouses and children.
He said the unit would work in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and non-governmental organisations that champion the welfare of women and children.
Insp. Dorkpoh urged the vulnerable in society especially women and children to report any cases of abuse against them to the unit, which is under the command of Detective Inspector Susana Dery, for redress.
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