United States strategic partner to Ghana's development-Kufuor
Security search of Omanhene's palace
unfortunate - Papa Ankoma
Controversy over removal of Ghanaian head of ECOWAS Bank
Accra
(Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 – The embattled President of the ECOWAS Bank for
Investment and Development, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey has broken his long
silence over the purported termination of his appointment with the ECOWAS
Financial agency.
Speaking to
JOY-FM in a telephone interview from Togo this morning, Dr Yankey described as
false, the assertion by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang that
he had been sacked.
Dr Yankey
said though he received a letter of dismissal in April this year, it was in
contravention of the ECOWAS protocol and a point of reference in a substantive
suit before Court, explaining that he will remain in office until the out come
of the case.
Dr Yankey
accused the Foreign minister of prosecuting an agenda to have him replaced with
a former senior Official of the ECOWAS Secretariat, Dr Goerge Appenteng, whom
he described as a relation of the Foreign Minister, and also because he failed
to contribute to his political campaign during the year 2000 elections.
Dr Yankey
disputed the assertion by Owusu-Agyemang that his appointment was made by the
Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS. Rather, he said, the appointment to
the position of President of the ECOWAS fund was only endorsed by the ECOWAS
authority of heads of States and Governments, which was duly done at their last
summit in Bamako-Mali in December 2000.
Under such
circumstances the only body that has the authority to terminate the appointment
of the Bank's President is the Board of directors and Council of Ministers. The
Selection process to fill the Vacancy, commenced in March last year and was
closed in December 22nd 2000, when Dr Yankey was appointed.
The Foreign
Minister is alleged to have on February 2, 2001, called Dr Yankey to order him
to give up his appointment or face embarrassment, raising questions as to
whether issues of ECOWAS appointments were not best to be dealt with by the
Ministry of Economic Planning and Regional Integration.
Meanwhile,
Owusu Agyeman has in an interview with JOY-FM, reacted to accusations that he
is waging a personal vendetta against, Dr. George Yankey to ensure his
dismissal.
"Why
will I go to a poor civil servant like Dr. Yankey and ask him to sponsor the
party" adding that "if he claims I have a personal vendatta against
him, does it mean we will wage personal vendattas against all those who did not
contribute to the party's campaign activities?"
Hackman also
wondered how he could unilaterally take such a decision of national concern
without approval from the government. He told JOYFM that he did not sign the
letter terminating Dr. Yankey's appointment saying that "If he says it is
a personal agenda, will Dr. Ndoum fall in line, will the President, Finance
Minister”
He also
denied allegations that Dr. Appenteng is his relative adding that he got to
know Appenteng at the Institute of Economic Affairs. "How can somebody be
my relative when I've not known him for all the about 60 years that I have lived."
Asked by
Komla Dumor, the host of Super Morning Show to explain the circumstances under
which he told Dr. Yankey not to take up the appointment in February this year,
when in fact he had already received his letter of appointment in December last
year, Owusu Agyeman explained that Dr. Yankey had not taken up the appointment
when he asked him to step down.
He further
explained that he met Dr. Yankey at his former office at the Gateway Services
Secretariat in February this year and realising that he had not yet assumed his
new post asked him in his own interest to resign.
Dr. Yankey,
according to the Foreign Minister, refused and the government had no option
than to declare his appointment void. Dr. Yankey is currently standing trial in
the Quality Grain scandal, where together with five former government officials
and Ministers have been charged with causing financial loss of 20,000 dollars
to the state.
Media
reports on Tuesday said the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government
has terminated the appointment of Dr Yankey as the President of the ECOWAS Bank
for Investment and Development (EBID).
The
termination, according to reports, follows the withdrawal of Ghana Government's
support for him.
The Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, who was said to have disclosed
this, said the government's withdrawal of support for Dr Yankey follows its
interest in the position of Executive Secretary of ECOWAS.
The
government is reported to have told member states of ECOWAS of its unflinching
support for the candidature of Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Member of Parliament
for Bimbilla, for the position of ECOWAS Executive Secretary and could,
therefore, not support Dr Yankey.
He said
judging from responses received, Dr Chambas would win the position, saying
"more than 70 per cent of ECOWAS countries are in support of Ghana's
candidature for the top ECOWAS post” adding that the country cannot occupy the
presidency of EBID in addition.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - Tragedy hit the Police Striking Force in the early hours of Tuesday when a 24-year old constable was killed by a 19-year old driver trainee while asleep at the compound of the unit's headquarters.
Constable Richard Osei Asibey Bonsu died instantly when the girl, Felicia Ababio, who was learning how to drive, run over him.
Most of the Police personnel and their dependants often sleep at the compound. Investigations revealed that the girl, alias Kooyo, who was being taught how to drive by her boyfriend, Kofi Ahen when the accident occurred, would be charged with manslaughter.
They have been detained at the head office of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit. Meanwhile, most of the officers of the unit have protested over the lack of accommodation for the personnel of the unit. ''The accident could have been prevented if the authorities have had our welfare at heart," some said.
Douglas Akrofi Asiedu, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Commander, said that some form of accommodation has been provided for the personnel. "We do sympathise with the unfortunate loss but sleeping outside the long room provided for personnel is very dangerous to the personnel because they are exposed to all manner of people including lunatics and criminals."
He said, "the long room may not be comfortable but this should be expected in a developing country where basic infrastructure are not in place".
Asiedu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said the neglect of the Police Service has been so long that the government could not solve the problems at once.
Richmond Osei Asibey, father of the deceased, said he held the government wholly responsible for the death of his son. "The state has murdered my son. How can you allow my son, serving in an elite unit of the Police Service, die in his sleep for lack of accommodation."
He said the tragedy exposes the contempt the state has for the Police Service, which it has neglected over the years. ''This goes to show that the condition of service is a factor for the abysmal performance of the Police."
Colleagues of the deceased, who wanted to remain anonymous, expressed dissatisfaction with their service conditions and said it contributed to the death of their friend.
"How do you expect over 50 people to sleep in this small canteen converted into a long room."
They quoted from the Police Service Act 350/70, section 6 which states: "an officer below the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police is to be housed free of charge in barracks.
''Where the barracks is too small, quarters are to be rented and when unavailable rent allowance be provided."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said the visit to Ghana by a delegation from the US Congress and Business Community was the best advocacy for the country in the United States.
"We could not have a better advocacy in the US than you being here," he told US Congressman J.C. Watts Jnr when he led a 35-member Congressional and Business delegation on a three-day visit to Ghana to pay a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.
The delegation would discuss trade, economic development, health care, disease prevention and the promotion of democracy and stability in the West Africa Sub-region.
President Kufuor said: "Once you are here, you would get to know us more and deeper; when you return home inform your colleagues about what we are trying to do to attract investors".
He said the government is making sure Ghana remains the welcoming gateway to West Africa and all the required basic infrastructure and institutional framework are being put in place to make it a reality.
President Kufuor said any investor determined to invest in Ghana would have his capital, technical know-how and the market free and safe to invest among hospitable people prepared and always ready to learn and very fast too, adding, "you would see in us worthy partners for economic ventures".
Watts said the visit is a follow-up to a similar one he made in April and a reciprocal to President Kufuor's US visit in July, to build a strong relationship between the two countries.
He said while strengthening relationships it would in addition build mutual friendship and explore avenues on how both countries could work to promote business, trade, and economic and general development.
Watts said the delegation is expected to visit Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria to afford members the opportunity understand the challenges in West Africa.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - The need for Ghana to resume the export of electricity was on Tuesday put on top of the agenda of the new board of directors of the Volta River Authority (VRA).
As a means of ensuring that the Authority makes a profitable turnaround within the shortest period, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Energy said: "It is important to hit the export market where the authority can make some revenue to meet its increasing demands of generation.”
Inaugurating the new board in Accra, the Energy Minster stated: "I wish to charge the new board to restore the export of electricity to our neighbouring countries. You should explore this possibility and this must be done soon."
Ghana currently imports power from Cote d'Ivoire at about five million dollars a day and is also indebted to the tune of about 400 billion cedis. The VRA produces electricity at 5.2 cents but sells at 2.6 cents to consumers.
Domestic load, which constitutes 50 per cent of VRA load, is, according to the Minister, "provided at give-away prices."
Kan-Dapaah said export of electricity was a major source of income to VRA for many years, "but sadly, things have changed - the difficulties of distribution companies have worsened things for VRA almost crippling its generation and pricing capacities."
He promised the government's support to the new board and urged them to work at reversing the fortunes of the Authority.
Dr Jones Ofori-Atta, an eminent economist and former head of the economic team of the New Patriotic Party, is chairman of the board.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 29 August 2001 - Enoch Teye Mensah, National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said on Monday that ministers in the past government did not embezzle state funds.
"If that was the case, we would not still be in the country. We would have fled," he added.
"We are around to defend ourselves; to protect and maintain our integrity and reputation because we did the right thing".
Mensah, a former Minister of Youth and Sports, was speaking at a forum of the youth and women's wings of the party at Sunyani. The forum formed part of the re-organisation process to prepare the party to recapture power in the 2004 general election.
Mensah, who is Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, admitted that complacency contributed to the defeat of the party in the last elections, however, he said the defeat was a blessing in disguise because "it is teaching Ghanaians a lesson that the NDC can govern the country better than the NPP".
"It is also telling members of the NDC to avoid factionalism and bury all differences to maintain a cohesive front in future elections".
He stressed the need to re-activate the youth and women's wings of the party to lay a solid foundation towards the next elections.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said the United States is a strategic partner in Ghana's national development and efforts would be made to deepen and strengthen the relationship between them.
He said for the past eight months, support to the government policies and programmes by the US Embassy, USAID, other agencies and institutions of the United States has been tremendous and promising.
President Kufuor asked Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson, out-going US Ambassador for the past three years, who paid a farewell call on him at the State House in Accra, to carry along with her the good sentiments and prospects of investments in Ghana to her country and continue with her activities as " Ghana's ambassador " now that she is on retirement.
President Kufuor commended her and the US government for the role they played to make the December 2000 elections, free, fair and successful.
Ms Robinson expressed appreciation to the government for the support and co-operation it gave the embassy during her tenure of office and said she was hopeful the government would achieve its objective of positive change.
She said most of the decisions taken by the government entailed no political risks; rather they were courageous decisions to move the country forward and pledged her support for the efforts.
Ambassador Robinson said it has been a genuine pleasure for her administration to achieve greater heights in Ghana, adding "I leave Ghana with sadness because of the many friends I leave behind but hopeful that the government would achieve its goals".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - Ghana on Tuesday honoured two ambassadors with the State Grand Medals, Honorary Division, for their tremendous contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.
Christian Nakonz, German Ambassador and Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson, United States Ambassador, would be leaving the country soon after completing their duty tours.
They were honoured for their contributions in education, health, agriculture, forestry, water supply, energy, transportation, sanitation and provision of infrastructure.
Each of them was presented with a scroll and decorated with medals by President John Agyekum Kufuor when they paid separate farewell calls on him at the State House in Accra.
President Kufuor said both of them, going on retirement, should continue their role as ambassadors of Ghana in their respective countries and project the good image of Ghana.
"You should continue in your leisure time to forge ahead and deepen the cordial relationship between Ghana and your countries for our mutual benefit."
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Gomoa Brofoyedur (Central Region) 29 August 2001 - The Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, Ama Benyiwa-Doe, has said the Minority in Parliament would not relent in its efforts to ensure good governance and rule of law.
She said the opposition would, therefore, continue to keep the government on its toes to ensure that its policies and programmes are in the best interest of the people.
Speaking at a durbar at Gomoa Brofoyedur, near Apam to mark the annual "Akwambo" festival of the area, the MP said in discharging this responsibility, "we should not be seen as enemies of the government."
She expressed regret that some government appointees do not want to cooperate with the opposition whom they see as enemies.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe assured her constituents that she would continue to seek the improvement of their living conditions despite the fact that she is no more in government, adding that being in opposition does not mean that she cannot help them.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - Admission to the Osu Children' Home has increased to 121, from 70 children last year, Mrs Millicent Nyarko, Assistant Supervisor of the Home said in Accra on Tuesday that the number shot up because the home now admits abused children in addition to the abandoned children it usually caters for.
The Home also takes in children whose mothers are serving prisons sentences as well as those of mentally ill mothers.
She said babies brought to the home are screened for HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
''Such babies are separated from the others because of their weak immune system so that they do not transmit their diseases''.
The Home run by the Department of Social Welfare benefits from subvention from the department and donations from individuals and organisations.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 August 2001 - Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local
Government and Rural Development on Tuesday called on the Ghana Railway
Authority and Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to discuss who has control over traders at the Accra Railway Station.
He said: "the responsibility of who cleans and collects tolls at the station should not be an excuse for the unsanitary environmental condition at the station."
A statement from the ministry said Baah-Wiredu made the call after an inspection tour of Okaishie and the Station.
He expressed concern about the poor sanitation especially at the station as a result of the activities of traders who have turned the place into a market.
He asked the authorities to use the fees they collect from the traders to develop the station.
Baah-Wiredu urged AMA to ensure that all permanent structures at the station are redesigned to serve the needs of the growing population.
He asked the assembly to pass a by-law to compel owners of commercial buildings in the central business area to provide toilet facilities.
The minister also deplored the unsanitary conditions at Kasoa in the Central Region and urged the Awutu Senya District Assembly to take immediate steps to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic.
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Takoradi (Western Region) 29 August 2001 - Papa Owusu Ankoma, Minister of Youth and Sport, has described as unfortunate the raid by police and military personnel of the palace of the Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso last week Tuesday.
Speaking at a public forum organised as part of ''Human Rights' Week'' by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Takoradi, he cautioned the security agencies to be circumspect in discharging their duties in order not violate the fundamental rights of people and create panic and tension.
Papa Ankoma suggested that the incident should be thoroughly investigated and called on the security agencies to review their investigation techniques to elicit public support and cooperation instead of scare away potential informants.
Last Tuesday police and military personnel searched the house of the Omanhene, Nana Okuah Okundom, while he was away in Accra.
The security personnel picked up the Gyasehene, Nana Adu Tawiah and allegedly forced him to allow the search to be conducted.
The house of the chief linguist, Nana Yiadom Boachie, was also searched and he was taken to Takoradi but released later.
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