Pre-empt corrupt practices - Rawlings tells UN auditors

Farmers receive compensation

International Civil Aviation anniversary observed

Two embassies, African diplomats donate to northern flood victims

Team probe kerosene shortage

Three Fulanis escorted out of the country

Judicial Secretary refutes newspaper report

Ahwoi defends appointment of DCE

Two returned unopposed for GJA vote

Metro Youth Co-ordinator cautioned

Co-operative Transport challenges GPRTU over ownership of lorry parks

Students call for probe into activities of developers

Rawlings grants audience to Unilever Chief

Rawlings meets Worldspace chairman

Egyptian Embassy donates to northern flood victims

Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. '99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday appealed to auditors not to wait until things go wrong before they come out with reports but they must try to pre-empt corrupt practices.

Auditors' drive against corruption must not be limited to the public sector. It must stretch to the private sector as well, he said, adding; "now, the global economy is in the hands of the private sector."

President Rawlings made the points when some auditors attending the 40th Regular Session of the Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations called on him at the Castle, Osu.

This is the first time the session is being held in an African country.

Those attending include auditors from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, France, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa and Philippines.

The session will afford the auditors the opportunity to map out strategies to meet the challenges of the next century.

President Rawlings said in as much as checking corruption within the public sector is of paramount importance, the private sector must not be given free room to operate as far as exploitation is concerned.

"The private sector must not be allowed to bleed developing countries. After all, when things go wrong it is the government that is blamed."

He said private external companies do dubious deals with people here.

"Corruption takes place and resources are siphoned from developing countries and saved abroad.

"Virtually nothing is left in developing countries," he said, and appealed to auditors to help curb this practice.

"Let us try to reduce corruption to a minimum. You have a heavy burden on your shoulders."

Mr Moses Asaga, a Deputy Minister of Finance, said since the return to constitutional rule, the Auditor-General's reports, have assumed importance as they are debated in parliament.

"The government attaches so much importance to these reports and acts on them accordingly."

Sir John Bourn, Auditor-General of the United Kingdom and chairman of the Panel, said corruption is a problem in all countries. "We have been discussing this."

He said to curb corruption, auditors would need powers to enable them investigate the bank accounts of people. "We will need more powers."

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Goaso (Brong Ahafo) 8 Dec. '99

A total of 258 million cedis was yesterday paid to 153 farmers and landlords at Kukuom, Goaso and Mim in the Asunafo district of the Brong Ahafo region for farms and buildings destroyed during the construction of the 54- kilometre Mim-Gambia number two asphalt road.

The road, estimated at 26.3 billion cedis, is being funded by the European Union. Mr. Francis Atta-Affram, an officer of the valuation board, Accra, who supervised the payments, said the government was doing everything possible to compensate people who lost properties during the road project.

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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 8 Dec. '99

A flag-raising ceremony was held at Sunyani on Tuesday to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

It is the first time that the ceremony has been held outside Accra since Ghana joined the world body.

Three civil aviation guards and eight rescue fire-fighting men mounted a parade, which was reviewed by the Regional Civil Aviation Manager, Mr Patrick Ansah.

A message from the President of the Council of the ICAO, Dr Assad Kotaite, which was read at the function, said that air transport had brought together, billions of people throughout the world.

He said this has helped people from various parts of the world to know each other, and has also enabled them to gain better understanding and appreciation as members of one global community.

Dr Assad said ICAO is proud to have played a central role in this profound human achievement by acting as the international forum for its 185 contracting states to build an infinitely complex yet resilient structure of international regulations and agreements that make it possible to fly safely.

He noted that the manner in which the ICAO had co-operated with its members to meet the challenges of the Y2K problems has given hope that it could sustain the momentum in the 21st century.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. '99

Three Ambassadors on Tuesday donated 100,000 dollars and relief items to flood victims in Northern Ghana at a ceremony in Accra.

Mr Hassane Rabehi, Algerian Ambassador, presented 50,000 dollars, Mr Dai Yan, Chinese Ambassador, signed an agreement for 50,000 dollars and the African Diplomatic Corps, led by the Liberian Ambassador and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Mr Elwood Greaves presented assorted items.

The items were made up of 21 bags of maize, pharmaceutical products and 60 pieces of blankets.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Joseph Awah Laryea received the donations.

Mr Greaves said: "we want our brothers to know that we are people who care and must come together as a strong force."

Mr Laryea thanked the Ambassadors and assured them that the items would be distributed to the victims.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec.’99

The Police on Tuesday ordered a Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) distributor at Achimota to close the diesel-dispensing pump at his filling station.

The order follows a preliminary investigations by a team from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which indicated that there had been a degree of adulteration of the diesel with kerosene.

The filling station located opposite the Achimota branch of the Barclays Bank is owned by one Alhaji Issah Mohammed.

The team, which has representatives from Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company and the Ghana Police Service, is investigating the circumstances leading to the shortage of kerosene in the country.

The team visited oil marketing companies and filling stations in Osu, Achimota and other parts of Accra to ascertain the adulteration of diesel and oil with kerosene by operators of petroleum products marketing outlets.

Laboratory technicians from TOR led by the Chief Chemist, Mr Amoh Michael, and experts from the Ministry took samples of products at Ghana Oil Company (GOIL), Total, Shell, Mobil and Elf filling stations in the areas visited for scientific analysis to establish the level of dilution of diesel with kerosene.

Briefing newsmen before the exercise, Mr Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, said kerosene supply from TOR has been constant and regular from the beginning of the year.

TOR releases three million litres of kerosene to all parts of the country each day, however it has been realised that the kerosene does not get to the consumers, especially those in the rural areas, he said.

Certain selfish oil dealers were adulterating diesel with kerosene to maximise their profit margins at the expense of the state, he charged.

The Deputy Minister warned that those found to have adulterated their products would not be spared, describing them as "nation wreckers".

During the exercise it came to light that some of the retailers do not have licence to operate.

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Wa (Upper West) 8 Dec. ’99

Three Fulani herdsmen and their families have been escorted across the Ghana, Burkina Faso border with their 366 herds of cattle under an exercise code-named, "Operation Cowleg II" aimed at ridding the country of alien herdsmen.

The three families headed by Hassan Mahama. Mahamadu Jalu and Abubakari Seidu were living at Kinkale, Joluyiri and Tafali in the Wa District without permit, while their cattle were causing wanton destruction to farm produce, water bodies and property.

The Fulani families, who had stayed in the district between three and 17 years, were also made to pay a total of 2,928,000 cedis in cattle rate due the Wa District Assembly before their repatriation.

A detachment of the Tamale Airborne Force, based at Wa and the Police escorted them.

Addressing them before their departure, Mr Bede Ziedeng, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, announced that it was the beginning of an exercise to flush out alien herdsmen from the country.

The Fulani herdsmen have been responsible for the numerous cattle rustling cases in the region, he charged. Those who have resident permits would be allowed to stay".

The Deputy Regional Minister warned chiefs and elders in the communities, who collude with the Fulani to rustle animals, "we shall let the law take its full course when we get such people".

Lt. Joseph Punamani, Leader of the escorting team appealed for vehicles and other logistics, to convey the families of the herdsmen since the women and children could not make the journey through the bush.

He promised to carry out the operation successfully and called on the people and Fulanis to co-operate with them to avoid the use of force.

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The Judicial Service on Tuesday refuted a newspaper report that the Chief Justice is dying in a London hospital and described it as "distasteful".

A statement issued by the Office of the Judicial Secretary and signed by Mr J. P. K Appiatse said the front-page report is an " attempt to send wrong signals to members of the public, the judiciary and the immediate family of the Chief Justice."

The Ghanaian Chronicle, in its Monday, 6 December edition, reported that the Chief Justice, Mr Isaac K. Abban, is suffering from a kidney failure and is dying in a London hospital.

The statement said "while the chief justice at his age may have natural health problems, the reference to the fact that he had a "kidney failure and is in a battle for life in London is false."

It said at the time of the publication, the Chief Justice had returned home safely for nearly two weeks after a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom and has resumed duty.

"The headline and story carried by the Ghanaian Chronicle was wrong in every material detail.

"And the attempt to attribute an imaginary crisis of succession within the highest court of the land and by going further to mention the names of some judges of the Supreme Court is not only unfortunate but in bad taste. "

It therefore called on the Ghanaian Chronicle to make the necessary restitution to correct the erroneous impression.

Meanwhile Mr Aban has granted an interview to Radio Ghana during which he said: "I am hale and hearty"

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Cabinet has approved proposals for amendments to the Local Government Act of 1993 Act 462.

They are to remove obstacles to the implementation and accelerate the pace of decentralisation.

Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said this when he addressed the District Assembly at Sunyani on Tuesday.

He rejected suggestions that District Chief Executives should be elected directly by the people.

Such a move would be unconstitutional and undermine national security, cohesion and development.

"Ghanaians in a free and fair referendum adopted the constitution, which contains the present procedure for appointing DCEs.

Those who wish for a change should make it part of their manifesto in the next election, the Minister said.

The DCE being the representative of the Executive, it is prudent that they are appointed by the Government to ensure that state policies are implemented for accelerated national development.

Other calls for the repeal of the Government's right to appoint 30 per cent of assembly members and the conduct of district assembly elections on partisan basis lack merit.

"These provisions have helped to implement the country's affirmative policies and improved women, traditional and skilled professional representation in assemblies and need not be changed".

Mr Ahwoi called on Ghanaians not to play politics with the current economic crises arising out of the impact of the severe adverse external economic conditions.

"Let no one underestimate the effect of the 'triple jeopardy' of the steep decline in the world price of cocoa, a confused gold market and the near tripling of the world prices of crude oil'.

The Government has taken measures including an increase in the Value Added Tax from 10 per cent to 12 per cent to compensate for the shortfall in revenue.

Initiatives have been taken to accelerate development especially in rural communities.

Under the Urban V Project, 23 towns would receive support in capacity building, revenue mobilisation and infrastructure, Mr Ahwoi said.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. ’99

Mr Yaw Owusu Addo, an Editor at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Ms Yaa Oforiwah Acquah, an Editor at the Ghana News Agency were on Tuesday returned unopposed when nominations closed for by-elections to fill the vacant positions of vice-president and treasurer respectively.

A statement issued in Accra by the Electoral Officer of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Mawusi Afele said Mr Addo replaces Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who has resigned. He is now the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission.

Ms Acquah takes over from Mrs Eunice Osei-Bonsu who has also resigned.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 8 Dec ’99

Messrs George Sarpong Legal Services, a Kumasi legal firm, have advised Mr George Ankomah Yeboah, Kumasi Metropolitan Youth Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC) not to interfere with the activities of Youth-in-Action, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Kumasi.

A letter addressed to Mr Yeboah reminded him that the Constitution under the present political dispensation has no room for any umbrella youth organisation "that seeks to indoctrinate the youth to the extent of having the power to proscribe the activities of any youth organisation which does not conform".

The letter was in response to one written to the Ashanti Regional Police Commander by Mr Yeboah, in which he accused the Youth-in-Action of doing partisan politics and should, therefore, be stopped from carrying out any form of activity including holding meetings.

Mr Yeboah asked the Regional Police Commander to urge landlords, organisations or group of persons, who entertain the Youth-in-Action to stop having any dealings with it because "it is not recognised by the National Youth Council, Department of Social Welfare and the National Commission on Women and Development.

The legal firm said it has taken the matter seriously since the posture of Mr Yeboah has the potential of undermining the development of civil society, which is very crucial to the effort at building a governmental machinery that is accountable.

"It is probably too late to seek to stop or proscribe the activities of civil society organisations in the metropolis, particularly those organised and led by Odeneho Kwaku Appiah.

"You may serve the nation better and earn your income if you raise pertinent issues for the consideration of the civil society organisation rather than seeking clandestinely and cowardly to undermine and intimidate them".

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. ’99

Mr Emmanuel O. Ashley, National President of the Ghana Co-operative Transport Association (GCTA), on Wednesday called for the interpretation of a circular which authorised the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to supervise all lorry parks in the country.

The circular, according to him, was issued by Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in 1989 during the PNDC era.

Addressing a meeting of the association in Accra, Mr Ashley said the GPRTU has taken advantage of the supervisory role given to it by the government and taken over all lorry parks in the country, thus driving away other transport organisations from using the parks.

Mr. Wayak Gbeckor-Kovi, General Secretary of the association, said the circular to GPRTU in 1989 is now null and void since the country is under constitutional rule.

He said the stipulated lorry parks must be under the district assemblies, and, "as Ghanaians, we have the constitutional right to the use of the parks".

Mr Gbeckor-Kovi called on all district assemblies to form lorry parks management committees comprising all transport organisations, the police, the Ghana Highways Authority and other transport institutions to oversee the day to day running of the parks.

He said the association "will join the suit against the Attorney Generals Department and the GPRTU by the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) until the case is resolved."

Some members expressed the view that the executive must send a delegation to see the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development before proceeding to court.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. ’99

Students of Accra Training College (ATRACO) on Wednesday appealed to the government to set up a probe into the activities of developers occupying parts of the college's land.

In a six-point petition to the Speaker of Parliament, the students said the situation is so serious that it needed urgent attention in order not to disrupt work in the college.

Master William Sackey, President of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) who presented the petition on behalf of the students, urged the government to give the college authorities the title deeds of the land.

Master Sackey charged the appropriate government agency responsible to do everything possible to protect the 171-acre land of the school by fencing it.

Mr Freddie Blay, Second Deputy Speaker received the petition on behalf of Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan and thanked the 17-member student delegation for the matured manner in which they have handled the issue without taking the law into their own hands.

Mr Blay was optimistic that the Ministry of Lands and Forestry and all other appropriate authorities will put their heads together to find a lasting solution to the problem.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. ’99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday gave kudos to Unilever and said the United Kingdom multinational's business practices in Ghana have helped to improve the living standards of many Ghanaians.

He said the company's policy of buying produce from farmers and adding value to them is helping farmers to have a ready market, thus raising their income levels.

"This is the kind of business ethics we want to see in this country. We are indeed grateful for what Unilever has done for this country over the years," the President said when he granted audience to Mr Naill Fitzgerald, Chairman of Unilever, at the Castle, Osu.

Mr Fitzgerald is in the country to hold talks with Unilever's top brass in Ghana and launch the company's "Foundation for Education and Development."

Unilever has been assisting farmers in the Western Region to increase production of palm fruits which the company buys and processes into consumer goods such as margarine, soap and cooking oil.

Company sources said this ready market for the palm fruits has enabled the farmers to increase the size of their farms.

President Rawlings said Unilever's decision to launch the "Foundation for Education and Development" is not surprising because the company has always supported education in Ghana through scholarships.

"You've always been interested in education."

Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a Deputy Minister of Education, said Unilever has always been a friend of Ghana.

"The company stuck with us when things were difficult. Therefore, we should build on this solid relations, which we have nurtured over the years."

Mr Fitzgerald told the President that Unilever is satisfied with its operations in Ghana and is exploring the possibility of investing in tomatoes, cereals and salt processing.

"As far as salt is concerned we want to make Ghana a base from where the product will be exported to Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. I have been encouraged by what I have seen and heard in Ghana."

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. ’99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday granted audience to Mr Noah Samara, Chairman and Chief Executive of Worldspace, the world's largest satellite broadcast system that will transmit programmes across Africa.

The programmes will be available to one billion people in Africa and the Middle East via the Worldspace Afristar satellite.

These programmes can be received through portable receivers specially designed and built for the company by Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic and Sanyo.

President Rawlings expressed his gratitude to Mr Samara for launching the system in Ghana and said: "but for obstacles put in your way by some of our own people", this should have happened long ago.

"It is our hope that nothing will be done to obstruct you as was done in the past."

Mrs Rebecca Adotey, a Deputy Minister of Communications, said the launch of the system would enable "Africa's story to be heard by a wide audience".

Mr Samara expressed his appreciation for the support his company has been receiving from the government since 1990 and gave the assurance that Worldspace would live up to expectation.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 8 Dec. ’99

The Egyptian Embassy on Wednesday presented food items to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for flood victims in the three northern regions.

The items worth more than 50 million cedis are made up of 200 bags of sugar, 180 bags of rice and 160 bags of flour.

Mr Monein Talaat, Egyptian Ambassador in Ghana, presented the items to Mr Joseph Awah Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Talaat said the donation symbolises "our sympathy for our brothers who were affected by the floods."

The situation represents a great challenge to the people of Ghana but "I'm sure you will be able to overcome these moment."

Mr Laryea said such unforeseen natural disasters usually affect development and the living conditions of the people and expressed his gratitude to the embassy for the support.

He said the items would be given to the National Disaster Management Organisation for distribution to the victims.

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