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

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.

GRi../

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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.

GRi../

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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."

GRi../

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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.

GRi./

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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.

GRi../

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