Owusu-Adjapong chairs Nat. Communication Board
"Get Involved in Marketing Ghana" - Nduom urges envoys
Lets harness resources for Africa's development - Mazrui
Odawna drivers threaten to stop paying levies
Government to deal ruthlessly with criminals –Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
Professor Ali Mazrui, the renowned historian and writer has described Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and immediate past President, Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings as the most significant heads of state in the country's political history.
"While Nkrumah projected himself as more of an African leader, Rawlings gained more popularity at home", Dr Mazrui, Director, Director of Global and Cultural Studies at the University of Binghamton, News York, said in a lecture in Accra on Wednesday whiles delivering the last in a series of the eighth Dubois-Padmore-Nkrumah memorial lectures on the theme, "Pan-Africanism in the era of globalisation"
"Nkrumah left Ghana poorer, less free and less of an open society than he met it, whilst Rawlings left a more open society and set the tone for effective democratic process in Ghana", he said.
The memorial lectures are organised annually by the W.E. B. Dubois Centre in Ghana in honour of the three founding fathers of Pan-Africanism.
Kenyan born Prof. Mazrui said the power of global Africa need to be reactivated and effectively mobilized and refocused towards the development of continental Africa to ensure that Africa is not marginalised in this era of globalisation.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday named a seven-member board for the National Communication Authority with Mr F.K. Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Transport and Communication, as its Chairman.
An official statement named the other board members as Mr Edward A. Boateng, Broadcast Consultant, Mr Isaac K. Botwe, Telecom Engineer and Mr Stephen Ayensu-Gyima, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The rest are Mr W.K. Baffor-Mensah, Bureau of National Investigations, Mr Mohammed Sani-Abdulai, National Banking College and the acting Director-General of the National Communication Authority.
Communication experts have criticised the appointment of the Minister of Communications to chair the board citing Constitutional provisions to support their disagreement.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
Dr Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Integration, on Thursday urged newly appointed envoys to get involved in marketing Ghana's potential if the country is to overcome its present difficulties.
He asked them to adopt proactive and aggressive sales approach to make Ghana the preferred destination for investment and tourism among others on the continent.
Dr Nduom made these remarks when he took his turn to brief newly appointed envoys at the ongoing 10-week induction seminar in Accra.
He and the envoys looked at the effect of inflation, interest rates, role of central bank in fixing interest and treasury bill rates, Ghana's drive at making her ports a hub for landlocked African countries and efforts at regional integration.
Dr Nduom asked the envoys to have confidence in the economy and talk about it "to the large number of people you will come into contact with on your mission. It takes a lot of confidence to do this''.
He said the situation may not be the best back home, "but I can assure you that the government is taking the best steps to ensure that Ghana succeeds."
Dr Nduom said his ministry is collating information on Ghana and asked the foreign ministry to ensure that vital and relevant information is available to the envoys to enable them to function effectively.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday said his government would pursue the reconciliation policy to remove all traces of fear that beset the country sometime ago.
He said it would also ensure that Ghanaians live in peace and go about their normal activities, adding; "together all of us would pursue the policy."
President Kufuor said this when Major Sulemana Abubakar (Rtd) Regent of
Tolon in the Tolon-Kumbungu District in the Northern Region led a 13-member delegation to call on him in Accra.
It was to thank the government for the delegation that witnessed the enskinment of the regent last June.
The President said the people of Tolon have been long standing friends of the Danquah-Busia tradition and with the NPP in power it was appropriate they reciprocate the gesture to attend the function.
Sumani Alhassan, Wayamba-Naa said the regent was chosen as a laid down procedure to enskin someone who is courageous to succeed his father.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday denied media reports that he is the father of one Kwasi Addo, 29.
A statement signed by Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chairman of the Media Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the former President, currently on a working visit to the United States, expressed his disappointment at the "wild and foolish allegations that can affect the emotions and sensibilities of this poor but fine young man."
The statement quoted former President Rawlings, as saying that any media speculation could only be described as "Sick-minded" since the young man's grandmother had already identified his real father.
"Some sections of the media need to be encouraged to concentrate their discussions on how food can be made affordable to all Ghanaians in order to reduce the time and money consumers have to spend reading distasteful articles," the former President advised in the statement.
The Dispatch, a weekly newspaper, last week carried an article in which it alleged that the former President is the father of the 29- year old man.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
The power of global Africa need to be reactivated and effectively mobilized and refocused towards the development of continental Africa to ensure that Africa is not marginalised in this era of globalisation, Professor Ali Mazrui said on Wednesday.
"There is more Africans in the world than on the continent of Africa," he said, adding that the wealth of African human resource living and working in the West need to be harnessed for the benefit of the continent, "if the continent is to catch up with the rest of the world.
Prof. Mazrui, Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies, Binghamton University, New York, was delivering the last in the series of three lectures at the eighth Dubois-Padmore-Nkrumah Pan-African Lecture.
The lecture, organised by the W. E. B. Dubois Centre in Ghana, in honour of the founding fathers of Pan-Africanism, was under the theme; "Pan-Africanism in the era of Globalisation."
Prof. Mazrui, noted that the role of Africa and her peoples in the emergence of globalisation manifest in history, religion, economy, technology and empire.
Though Africans continue to contribute significantly to the process of globalisation, the continent of Africa is maginalised when it comes to controlling the gains of the process.
"The transfer of skill from Africa to the United States alone come to four billion dollars a year," he said, adding, at the moment, over one-third of Africa's human resource are supporting development process in Western countries."
Prof. Mazrui noted that more "push-out" factors exist in African countries whilst "pull-in" factors exist in the West for African experts to apply their skills effectively.
He therefore, urged African leaders to create conducive conditions for skill personnel to stay, work and develop the continent.
Prof. Mazrui said whilst Africans should harness their resources at home and in the Diaspora, the international community owe a duty to Africa to amend existing conditions and protocols of reparation, for Africa's speedy development.
"There is the need for strong African representations on world bodies such as the World Bank, IMF and the UN Security Council, which have direct control on the development of Africa," he said.
He said reparation to Africa must begin with increased power sharing not only in the international organisations, but also in countries that colonized African countries.
"Africans in the Diaspora must, as a matter of necessity and fairness, be given the chance to rise to higher political positions in their respective countries," he said. "There must be equal power sharing among descendants of slaves and descendants of slave owners."
Prof. Mazrui said much as it was possible for former President Jerry John Rawlings, a half-Scottish and half-Ghanaian to become the president of Ghana, due to inter-racial marriage, it should be possible for an African-American to become president of the United States.
He described Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and former President Rawlings as the most significant presidents in Ghana's political history, saying that whilst Nkrumah projected himself as more of an African leader, Rawlings gained more popularity at home as president.
"Nkrumah left Ghana poorer, less freer and less of an open society than he met it, whilst Rawlings left a more open society and set the tone for effective democratic process in Ghana," he said.
Mrs. Victoria Cooper-Encher, who chaired the function said Africa needs leaders with conviction and vision to move Pan-Africanism from a mere academic discussion to a solution oriented process.
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Komenda (Central Region) 09 August 2001
The Omanhene of the Komenda Traditional Area, Nana Kodwo Kru II on Tuesday said South African investors have decided to reopen the Komenda Sugar Factory and called on the Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem constituency, Dr Ato Quarshie to assist them.
He requested the MP to collaborate with the Central Region Development Commission (CEDERCOM) to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
Nana Kru was speaking at a meeting organised by the Komenda Citizens
Improvement Association, to deliberate on development projects in the town.
He promised to make land available for the relocation of the factory and for the expansion of the sugarcane plantation.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said good governance should embrace all citizens and his government would offer the necessary assistance to any institution, organisation or individual that would bring honour to the country.
"We want to showcase Ghana in the best light and would offer assistance to any institution, organisation or individual who brings honour to the country," he said.
President Kufuor was speaking at the State House when Mr Nelson Agbesi, the first Ghanaian to be appointed Governor of District 403A of Lions International, which stretches from West Africa to Mauritania in North Africa, paid a courtesy call on him.
Mr Agbesi will serve for one year (2001-2002) until the next Multiple District Convention of the organisation, which has been in existence for the past 14 years, is held in Accra in May next year.
The organisation is committed to social services especially for the handicapped.
President Kufuor said the appointment of Mr Agbesi, 65, is no mean achievement and congratulated him for the honour to the country.
Mr Agbesi, who is a legal practitioner, said he was appointed at the Conference of Lions International held in Indianapolis, US, under the theme: "Light the path of the handicapped".
He said with proper planning and commitment, the conditions of the handicapped can be improved.
He decorated President Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama with badges of the organisation.
President Kufuor also received Professor Ali Mazrui, Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies in Binghamton University, New York who is in the country to deliver this year's Nkrumah-Padmore- De-Bois Memorial Lectures.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
Members of the Odawna Drivers Union on Tuesday threatened to stop paying levies to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) if the assembly does not provide them with an office and security lights at the Circle-Odawna Trotro station.
Mr William Oppong Addo, Welfare Chairman of the Union told the GNA that because there are no security lights at the station pickpockets and other criminals operate freely at night putting the lives of travellers and drivers at risk.
"Travellers from Kumasi, Koforidua and elsewhere, who alight at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, end up being swindled by criminals who pose as potters and guides. If there were security lights it would enable us to arrest the criminals who abscond with the luggage of passengers."
He said there were several reports from passengers who had fallen victim to the activities of pickpockets.
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Bechem (Brong Ahafo) 09 August 2001
Three armed robbers on Sunday attacked the Headmaster of St. Vincent Junior Secondary School at Bechem, Mr Anthony Fobi, and made away with one 1,050,000 cedis.
The money was meant for the registration of students for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) due next year.
Narrating his ordeal to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Fobi said he went to the school on Sunday afternoon after church service to complete the forms for the registration of his students.
According to him, while in the office, a young man holding a pistol approached him and ordered him to show where he kept the school's money.
Mr Fobi said he told the armed robber that the monies of the school had been sent to the bank and that he did not keep any money there.
It was at this point that the armed robber signalled to two others who appeared on the scene.
They then tied him to his chair with a volleyball net, stuffed his mouth with a rag and covered his head with a football jersey.
Mr Fobi said the robbers took a bag that contained the money and bolted. He explained that he had earlier in the day sent his son, Douglas Fobi, to collect money from one of his students.
He said it was after his son had returned from the errand that he was able to shout for help, which attracted some football fans from St Joseph's Training College who untied him and sent him to the hospital. The police are investigating the case.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 August 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday pledged the government's determination to deal decisively with the increased crime wave.
"We will deal with the criminals who want to make our country unsafe for the citizens," President Kufuor told the widow and family of Mr Charles Opoku Mensah, a Ghanaian resident in London who participated in the Homecoming Summit and was murdered by armed robbers at Anwomaso, a suburb of Kumasi on July 26.
Mr Mensah died from multiple injuries he suffered from the attack by the robbers when he refused to surrender the keys of his Mercedes Benz car to them.
They subjected his widow, Miss Philomena Appiah and their three children to severe beating before stealing their personal belongings worth millions of cedis.
Speaking at the State House meeting with the bereaved family, President Kufuor asked Ghanaians living abroad not to feel downhearted by the unfortunate incident but visit home regularly and help re-build the country.
The late Mr Mensah, 38, a Senior Horticulturist in London, will be buried on Saturday, August 11 at Kumawu-Ashanti.
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Ho (Volta Region) 09 August 2001
The Police at Ho have arrested two armed robbers after a shootout in a bush at Ziavi, near Ho.
William Mashood, 27, one of the robbers from Koforidua, was wounded in the arm and stomach and has been admitted to the Ho Regional Hospital.
Michael Ocansey, also known as "Dzido," who claims to be an environmentalist from Keta has been placed in Police custody pending investigation.
Victor Mensah alias "Tordia" from Ho and a fourth suspect are on the run.
Superintendent of Police, Mr Nicholas Blewusi, Ho District Commander told the Ghana News Agency that the four armed robbers on Monday hired a taxicab, which was being driven by Kwame Issaka from Tema to Afienya.
On reaching the outskirts of Afienya, the robbers seized the taxicab at knife point from Issaka and drove to Ziavi and hid it in the bush to enable them to look for a buyer.
Supt. Blewusi said some inhabitants of Ziavi, who became suspicious of their actions alerted the Ho Police and they moved to the scene.
The robbers opened fire on the Police, who fired back resulting in the injury and arrest of Mashood.
The Police Commander said Ocansey was arrested on Tuesday.
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