GRi Newsreel Ghana
28 - 08 - 2001
Ministers
on AGC board withdrawn to avoid political interference
Kufuor
calls on utility services to improve on delivery
NPP
targets 140 Parliamentary seats - Botwe
Government
appoints GIMPA as consultants to restructure GNPC
E.T.
Mensah advises Prampram Chiefs to reconcile
UK
supports cassava project with 10,000 pounds
Take
inspiration from Dubois' teachings - Dr. Maulana
U.S Congressional delegation arrives in Ghana
Asantehene
calls for education on land title registration
Members
of Presidium of Danish Parliament call on Speaker
Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
President
John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday said Ministers of State on the board of Ashanti
Goldfields Company (AGC) were removed to enable the company manage its
operations professionally and efficiently.
This
would ensure there was no political influence as well as interference in
activities of the company, the President told Sir John Craven, Chairman of
Lonmin Plc, majority shareholders in AGC, who led a three-man delegation to pay
a courtesy call on him at the State House in Accra.
President
Kufuor said the government would remain open-minded in ensuring that its
interest and the 19 per cent shares in AGC were enhanced, adding "for us
gold remains the cornerstone of the economy and nothing would be done to
subvert the gold market''.
President
Kufuor said with the government's commitment to promoting the private sector as
the engine of economic growth, it was still appreciative of the strategic
partnership between the government and AGC.
Kwaku
Afriyie, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, said a memorandum to review the
Mines and Mining Law, promulgated in 1996 has been prepared and would soon be
presented to cabinet for consideration.
Sir
John expressed his appreciation for the government's desire to enhance the
operations of AGC and said Lonmin's interest in AGC has not waned despite its
550 million dollars investment in platinum in South Africa.
He
said Lonmin had no ill motive when it reduced its shares in commercial ventures
and in agriculture and increased its interests in mining especially in AGC,
Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Lonmin
did this because of the potentials in the mining industry, Sir John said.
Sam
Jonah, Chief Executive Officer of AGC and a Director of Lonmin, said with the
government's commitment to transparency, support for the private sector and its
determination to work with AGC, the company would reciprocate by working in
partnership with the government to ensure maximum value from AGC.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
President
John Agyekum Kufuor said on Monday that the utility services could only count
on the government to back their demand for higher tariffs if they improved on
their services.
The
frequent power outages and rampant disruption of water supply were not the best
option for the government to throw its weight behind an increase in tariffs,
President Kufuor said, when he swore in Alexander Kobina Bonney, a Trade
Unionist, who replaces Kwasi Adu Amankwah, the Secretary-General of the Trade
Union Congress on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
He
said the over 30 per cent losses in revenue through waste, illegal connections,
leakages of pipelines and corrupt practices should be checked before the
government would have the conscience to back any reasonable economic increase
of tariffs.
The
President urged Bonney to use his expertise as a trade unionist to bear on the
commission's work.
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Sunyani (Brong
Ahafo) 28 August 2001
The New
Patriotic Party (NPP) is targeting to win not less than 140 seats in the next
general elections, its General Secretary, Dan Botwe said on Monday.
"To
bring this ambition to fruition, we have begun our campaign for the 2004
elections by putting in place the necessary mechanisms to strengthen our
organisational sub-structures and make sure that our government performs
creditably to make us worthy to be re-elected".
Botwe
told Sunyani-based Sky FM radio in a telephone interview that despite the
tremendous goodwill the party was enjoying, it was not going to be complacent
because it wanted to take the next election by storm.
"We
have a very bright chance to retain power but we also know that the margin of
our victory will depend on the performance of the government and how well we
strengthen our organisational structures and train and equip our agents".
Rating
last weekend's national congress of the party as "highly successful,"
Mr Botwe denied that some contestants were compelled by party gurus to step
down to boost the chances of their favourites.
"The
NPP is a party that absolutely believes in freedom of choice and could
therefore not have forced qualified people to step down, and as such I can only
say that those who stood down did so purely on personal grounds".
Botwe described as unfortunate the failure of the National Democratic
Congress
(NDC) and the National Reform Party (NRP) to attend the congress even though
they were all given invitation letters.
On
President John Agyekum Kufuor's call for a debate on state sponsorship of
political parties, he said the idea was worth considering since it was done in
most democracies as part of measures to nurture and deepen multi-party culture.
"What
perhaps we need to do is to find a workable basis for qualification so that
people do not form parties just to rip off the state".
In
another interview, Huudu Yahya, General Secretary of the NDC also endorsed in
principle, the call for state sponsorship of parties but cautioned that it
could only be adequately considered in the contest of the health of the
national economy.
"The
NDC is not against the principle but what we have always said is that it can
only be adequately considered when the health of the country's economy is such
that it can shoulder the additional burden in the face of competing
demands".
Yahya
denied that the NDC refused to attend the NPP congress, stressing "as I
speak to you on this Monday morning, no letter of invitation from the NPP has
reached my office".
The
NDC General Secretary said the party's re-organisation exercise had done
"extremely well" and come December, it would go to congress to elect
new national executives who would lead the party to re-possess power in the
2004 elections.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
The
Ministry of Energy has appointed the Ghana Institute of Management and Public
Administration (GIMPA) as consultants to implement the official report on the
restructuring of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC).
Kwabena
Agyepong, Deputy Government Spokesman told journalists at the State House on
Monday that the consultants would study and adopt or revise when necessary the
organisational structure and requisite manpower levels of the company as
contained in the report of the restructuring committee headed by Professor A.K.
Addae.
The
institution also has the mandate to liaise with the Ministry of Manpower
Development
and Employment, the local union and the Senior Staff Association of GNPC to
agree on a framework for the restructuring exercise.
"The
consultants will provide a transparent framework to determine and oversee the
best ways for the disposal of assets not considered necessary for the operation
of the core business and the settlement of all verified liabilities of
GNPC."
Agyepong said the assignment would transform GNPC into a compact
organisation of highly motivated and skilled technical staff to play a
facilitating role in the exploration and subsequent discovery of hydrocarbons
to promote the socio-economic development of the country. A reconstituted Board
of Directors of GNPC is to be announced soon.
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He said: "Reconciliation simply
means repentance and forgiveness," reminding them that there could be no
progress and development in any human endeavour especially when the leaders
were fighting among themselves.
He was speaking at a fund raising
durbar organised by the chief and people of the Prampram Traditional Area in
aid of development projects to climax the celebration of this year's Homowo
festival.
The durbar observed a minute silence in memory of 10 citizens of
the area, who died in a motor accident earlier in the week near Prampram on
their way to the festival.
Nene
Tetteh Djan III, the Paramount Chief did not attend the durbar because of a
chieftaincy dispute in the town.
Mensah expressed his condolences to
the bereaved families and advised the chiefs and elders in the area to stop the
indiscriminate sale of Prampram lands to individuals.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 28 August 2001
The United
Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) is committing 10,000
pounds in support of the implementation of a participatory cassava project at
Kwadaso, which would eventually help improve the quality of production of
stakeholders in the cassava industry.
International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA) based in Ibadan,
Nigeria is
implementing the project, which aims at developing and evaluating conventional
and participatory approaches for breeding superior cassava varieties in Africa
and Ghana in particular.
Its
focus is also to investigate how farmer varieties of cassava evolve and spread
as well as how farmers identify what traits of cassava to select.
Under the project farmer varieties of
cassava, collected from Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria were crossed and exposed to
the Africa Cassava Mosaic virus at Nkaakrom, Aworowa and the Kwodaso
Agriculture Station.
Fields
days are organised every three, nine and 12 months by farmers, Researchers and
Extension Staff to evaluate the crops.
Speaking
after the evaluation and selection process, Joseph Manu, an
Agronomist
at the Crop Research Institute (CRI), explained that the participatory approach
was being looked at as an alternative means of correcting some of the problems
created by the conventional methods.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
Dr Hamet
Maulana, Chairman of the Afrikan World Reparation and Repatriation Truth
Commission, on Monday called on Ghanaians to emulate and take inspiration from
the works and teachings of Dr. Williams Edward Dubois, the late Pan-Africanist.
Dr Maulana, who writes under the pen
name "The Master Teacher", said this at a wreath-laying ceremony at
the Dubois Memorial Centre to mark the 38th anniversary of his death and 15th
re-interment anniversary.
He appealed to all to have a focus
towards the redemption of the African continent.
Daniel Agbeyebiawo, Research Officer
at the centre, said Ghana needed to honour its heroes who contributed immensely
towards the independence of the country.
He said Dr Dubois played a
pioneering role in the early 20th century in the United States and contributed
to the liberalization of the African continent. ''The black race owes Dr Dubois
a lot of gratitude'', he said.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
Naa Morkor
Busia was on Monday joined by friends and well wishers to celebrate the 23rd
anniversary of the death of her husband, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, Ghana's second
Republican Prime Minister, at the Calvary Methodist Church in Accra, where he
worshipped.
Mrs
Theresa Kufuor, First Lady, and several Ministers of State, including Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, whose father was
President at the time, were among the congregation.
In
a sermon, the Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Asante, Principal of the Trinity College
said Dr Busia's life could simply be summed up as "greatness articulated
in humble service."
The
late Premier was being remembered not because of "his political and
academic achievements but because Jesus made an impact on him," he said.
Rev.
Dr. Asante asked Christians to reflect on Christ's advice that leaders must
serve and be prepared at all times to be the least.
He
said the clamour for power, rejection of self-denial service and the desire to
be recognised as leaders and to enjoy the spotlight have rendered life petty.
"The
life of Dr. Busia was filled with humility. He rendered sacrificial service. We
shall remember him!" he said
Prof.
K.E deGraft-Johnson, a student of Dr. Busia, said: "It is 23 years short
of one day when Prof. Busia left us. Today we gather here to remember him and
the ideals he stood for."
He called Dr. Busia, "a
Christian who held his faith strong" and urged Ghanaians to keep the flame
of democracy burning.
"Let
this generation know the ideals. Too often generations forget and drift away
from the very virtues that make a nation strong."
Prof.
Abena Busia, daughter, said: " By the time of his death, father was
regarded as one of Africa's most influential scholars whose parallel academic
and political career was shaped by an abiding and consistent concern for the
peoples of Africa and principles of democratic rule.
Concluding
her father's biography, she quoted from L.H.Ofosu Appiah's eulogy on the former
Premier, written in 1978: " The curtain has fallen on the figure of Kofi
Abrefa Busia, but his good deeds will outlive him. History may be kinder to him
after his death than it was when he lived."
Dr.
Busia died in exile in Oxford, United Kingdom, on August 28 1978.
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U.S Congressional delegation arrives in Ghana
Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
A-six-member
US Congressional delegation arrived in Accra on Monday for a three-day business
exploratory visit to the country.
A source close to the Foreign
Ministry told newsmen at the Airport that a 30-member US delegation is already
in the country and would be joined by the Congressmen, led by J.C Watts, to
call on the President on Tuesday.
The delegation would also hold
discussion with government officials and the business community on investment
and joint ventures.
The delegation expressed interest in
agro-business, textile, media, finance and information technology.
The Congressional delegation was met
on arrival by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Joseph H.
Mensah, Leader of Government Business and the out-going US Ambassador,
Katherine Dee Robinson and Kwabena Darko, a business executive.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 28 August 2001
Otumfuo
Osei Tutu II, Asantehene has called for an educational programme on the Land
Title Registration to enable landowners to be abreast with the law and to
reduce land disputes.
The
Asantehene told officials from the Lands Commission, Land Title
Registry,
Department of Town and Country Planning and Stool Lands Administration, when
they presented the Manhyia Palace Lands Title Registration Certificate to him
in Kumasi.
Otumfuo
Osei Tutu called for a review of the "ground rates values" and suggested
a standard allocation formats for the release of land to be endorsed by him as
the overall owner of Stool lands in the Ashanti region.
He
deplored the situation where estate developers build at unauthorised places
including waterways and blamed officers who sign such documents.
The
Asantehene called for regular meetings between the departments and his outfit
to ensure proper land use in the region.
Clement
Eledi, Deputy Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines pledged the government's
commitment to support agencies, which administer land to facilitate their work.
He
called for an overhauling of land administration to ensure reliability,
security of tenure and insurance against loss of investment.
Sampson
Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister expressed concern about the manner lands
were released for housing projects in the metropolis and assured the Asantehene
that he would help institute corrective measures.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
A
five-member delegation from the Presidium of the Danish Parliament on Monday
called on the Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey at the State House and
pledged to continue to assist the country in the water, health, roads and
private sectors.
The
delegation is on a weeklong visit to
promoting economic co-operation between the two countries and strengthen
the relations between the two legislatures.
The
team would visit the Volta, Central and Greater Accra Regions to inspect DANIDA
sponsored projects.
Ivar
Hansen, Chairman of the Presidium and Speaker of the Danish Parliament, who led
the delegation, said Denmark has as a policy of establishing cordial relations
with African countries.
He
said the two countries have had very positive and rewarding relations for a
very long time.
Hansen,
who has been the Speaker for the past 28 years, said there was the need for
Ghana's Parliament to evolve strategic plans to strengthen its committees and
to ensure good working relations with the Executive, Local Government
Authorities and the people.
The
Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament said the fruitful and cordial relationship
between the two countries dated back to the pre-independence days of Ghana and
the contributions of the Danish people has been significant and consistent
since Independence.
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Immigration Service gets news director
Accra
(Greater Accra) 28 August 2001
Nana
Owusu-Nsiah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), has been seconded to the
Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) as the Director with effect from Monday,
September 3.
Kwabena
Agyepong, Deputy Government Spokesman, told newsmen in Accra on Monday that
President John Agyekum Kufuor made the appointment in consultation with the
Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu.
He
said Nana Owusu-Nsiah, who succeeds William Aboah, would be the Director for
the next two years. Aboah is due for retirement.
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