Confusion at Odorkor Lorry Park

Lake Transport operators must be unionised - Engineer

Workshop on Human Rights violation held in Accra

East Gonja predicts increased food production

Implement Children's Act- parents, law enforcement agencies told

Civil Servants salary must be at par with public servants - Chigabatia

USAID to spend 10,000 dollars on historical sites

Refugee management workshop opens in Upper East

Property rate in Koforidua pegged at 35%

Public called to be wary of Ginseng Tonics

Develop policies on sexual harassment

Comprehensive water project for Ejura

Assembly to accept guinea fowl as payment for taxes

Mine accident, one die 4 unconscious

Fifteenth regional ministers' conference ends

Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Dec. '99

Drivers plying the Odorkor-Accra road on Thursday morning withdrew their services in protest against what they described as "unfair treatment" by the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU).

Workers and commuters had a tough time getting vehicles to their destinations.

Those who could not wait trekked to Darkuman Junction to board vehicles to the Accra Central and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Angry drivers of the Odorkor Lorry Park prevented commercial vehicles from Mallam, Kasoa and surrounding communities from picking passengers at the station.

The timely intervention of armed policemen from the Kaneshie Divisional Command averted the situation.

The drivers are angry because they claimed they the role GPRTU executives were not playing any role to seek their welfare.

A source said whenever there is a problem involving drivers, the executives of GPRTU do not intervene thus shirking its responsibility of protecting members.

The drivers are, therefore, calling for a new executive body or the establishment of a new station.

Efforts to get the local GPRTU executives to give their side of the story proved unsuccessful as they had left the scene.

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Kpando (Volta Region) 10 Dec. '99

Mr Kenneth Appiah-Opong, an engineer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), has called for the unionisation of all those involved in the lake transport business to provide an effective mechanism for enforcing safety standards and quality services in lake transportation.

"We in the lake transport business must find strategies to organise stronger positive groups so that our combined voices will break through some of the barriers that confront lake transportation to enable us to provide safe and economic services to our clients."

Mr Appiah-Opong made the call when he presented a paper on 'Problems of transportation on the Volta Lake' at the on-going workshop on Water Transport,

organised by the National Disaster Management Organisation and the VRA for groups associated with lake transport in the Volta Region.

He said such a union would make it possible and easier for lake transportation to raise the capital required to buy relevant safety and communication gadgets for operators.

"There is no better option towards attaining the much desired high quality service and growth in water transport in the country than such a union."

He cited the example of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and its role in improving road transport in terms of safety standards, access to tools and machinery, infrastructure and government assistance and guarantees.

Mr Appiah-Opong said much as the VRA was doing its best to provide the necessary facilities to ensure safety in lake transport, it would need the co-operation of other stakeholders to achieve excellent results.

Speaking on 'Safety on the Volta Lake', Lieutenant Issah Yakubu of the Ghana Navy said it is mandatory for all those operating on the Volta Lake to provide life jackets, life buoys, fire fighting equipment and portable anchor.

There should also be first aid boxes, bilge pumps and radios on board boats.

Lt. Yakubu said it is important that operators conduct pre-departure briefing for passengers regarding safety procedures on board, the availability of safety equipment and how to have access to and use such devices in times of emergency.

He suggested that there should be a lake police to enforce safety standards in much the same way as the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit is doing for road transport.

He also called for the formation of a passengers association to serve as a pressure group to compel boat owners and operators to comply with safety regulations as well as protect members against victimisation.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Dec. '99

The protection of the rights of women, children, the elderly and the disabled should be the top priority of the nation, Mr Justice Emile Short, Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) said on Thursday.

Speaking at a workshop on Human Rights Violation in Accra to commemorate World Human Rights Day, which falls on Friday, 10 December, Mr Short said it is always the most vulnerable in society that bear the brunt of uncertainties and calamity of gross human rights violations.

The workshop, under the theme "Building an Inclusive Society for the Next Millennium" was to ensure that the human being, human rights and human dignity become the core of national policy.

Mr. Short said the pursuit of human rights education and protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms demand continuing consultation and partnership between all stakeholders.

He expressed the hope that the CHRAJ, United Nations Information Centre, the government, human rights organisations and civil society would invigorate their efforts to ensure that the rights of the excluded and marginalised groups remains a critical and pressing concern of the wider society into the next millennium.

Ms. Margaret A. Novicki, Director of the UN Information Centre said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted 51 years ago has seen great achievements for all people and nations.

She, however, expressed regret that more than half the world's population continues to suffer deprivations of their basic rights, from discrimination because of race, gender, religion, political belief or ethnicity and poverty among other things.

She expressed the hope that the consultation would contribute towards building a society that upholds the highest standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Ghana for the next millennium.

Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior said, even though, human rights and freedoms have been enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, the most important thing is to translate them into the everyday action and thinking of every Ghanaian.

Superstition and some cultural practices are major constraints to human rights, which are prejudices that are difficult to overcome, he said, adding: ''if human rights should become real then we should all make it an everyday issue in our homes, workplaces, communities and in the conduct of affairs in the wider nation.''

Professor E. Gyimah-Boadi, Director, Centre for Democracy and Development

said Parliament, under Article 29 (8) of the Constitution has an obligation to enact laws which would enable schools, hospitals, roads, court houses, banks and other public places get the appropriate facilities for the disabled.

He expressed regret that parliament has not found time in two terms of office to enact such legislation needed to compel these public places to acquire such facilities.

Professor Gyimah-Boadi called for the abolishing of the primitive philanthropy of throwing coins and defaced cedi notes to the disabled.

Instead, he said, a legal and institutionalised philanthropic system consistent with protecting the dignity of the disabled must be adopted, adding that tax reform could be part of a comprehensive incentive package to encourage businesses to employ qualified disabled.

Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, Acting Chief Justice who chaired the function said with education, it would be easy to know what human rights entails to enable people to enforce these rights.

He called on all stakeholders to interpret the conclusions at the workshop to the level of the ordinary citizen.

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Kpandai (Northern Region) 10 Dec. '99

Rice, yam and cassava production in the East Gonja District is expected to increase this year despite the recent floods in the Northern Region.

Mr Osman Rahaman, District Director of Agriculture said this at the District Farmer's day at Kpandai.

He said the district would realise 97,000 metric tonnes of yam this year as against 72,000 metric tonnes last year.

Cassava would increase from 36,000 metric tonnes to 45,000 metric tonnes while rice production would go from 3,750 metric tonnes to 6,400 metric tonnes.

He said for the past five year's, the district has been the major producer of yam, cassava and rice, accounting for up to 18 per cent of the region's production.

Ten youth groups benefited from the Youth-in-Agriculture programme with each group receiving two million cedis as loans.

He appealed to beneficiaries to pay back in good time to sustain the programme.

Mr Rahaman commended the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) for assisting 800 farmers in 40 groups to cultivate 333 hectares of maize and 166 hectares of soya beans and planted 30,000 seedlings of various tree species.

He disclosed that army-worms destroyed over 100 hectares of cropped land at Adamupe, Kuwani, Kitoe, Naamu and Loloto in the Sabonjida zone while 800 hectares more farms were destroyed by floods in over 25 communities in the district.

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Tema (Greater Accra) 10 Dec. '99

Mr. Alfred Agbesi, a Tema private legal practitioner, on Thursday called on parents and law enforcement agencies to help implement the Children's Act 1998, Act 560, which protects the rights of the child.

"It is a very progressive law so parents, guardians, law enforcement agencies and all Ghanaians should help in its enforcement", Mr. Agbesi said at a seminar on "The rights of the child and parents responsibilities", dubbed "Saving them young through the millennium".

It was organised by Industrial Settlers Women Development Association (ISWODA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to sensitise women on the rights of the child.

He called on society to pay particular attention to the rights of children for an orderly development.

"Every parent has the duty and obligation towards the child by protecting him/her from neglect, discrimination, violence and abuse".

Mr. Agbesi said parents must listen to their children and help them to participate in making decisions, which affect their well being.

Miss Lydia Bawa, Area Manager of State Insurance Corporation (SIC), called for constant education on laws protecting women and children since most people are ignorant of the human rights laws.

Miss Bawa, a lawyer, said specific gender laws are intended to foster equity and development but they would remain worthless unless conscious efforts are made to enforce and monitor them.

She noted that most issues confronting women and children stem from lack of education, adding, progressive initiative should be taken to address issues on sexual harassment, child labour and property rights of women, which are violated, even though, they are enshrined in the Constitution.

Miss Alen Agyeiwaah, President of ISWODA, appealed to the public to finance a recreational site in Tema for children.

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Sekondi (Western Region) 10 Dec. '99

Mr Smart Chigabatia, Executive Secretary of the Civil Servants Association, has called on the government to introduce a mechanism that would bring salaries in the civil service at par with those of the public service.

Addressing a durbar of civil servants at Sekondi on Thursday, Mr Chigabatia said the Association would be unable to negotiate for a salary structure that would enable them to meet all their needs if such a mechanism was not in place.

What the civil servants are agitating for are equitable distribution of the national cake and the establishment of an equitable salary structure.

Mr Chigabatia said the association was mobilising funds to set up a pension and credit scheme to enable civil servants to have access to credit on liberal terms.

Some of the workers urged the government to abolish the medical refund and re-introduce free medical care.

They said there has been bureaucratic difficulties and undue delays in the refund of medical claims.

Responding to these concerns, Mr. Chigabatia said the association was pressing for a health insurance scheme to ensure that people have access to medical care.

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Cape Coast (Central Region) 10 Dec. '99

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is to spend about ten thousand dollars towards the rehabilitation and restoration of ten historical sites within the Cape Coast Municipality to enhance its tourist attractions.

The sites include family houses of important personalities including the late Kobina Sekyi, John Mensah-Sarbah and Jacob Wilson-Sey, who played key roles in education and politics during the colonial era.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr H. Q. Jehu-Appiah on Thursday cut the sod at "Abramdo House", the first residence of the governor during the colonial era, to mark the start of the restoration works.

The restoration project is part of USAID's natural resource conservation and historical preservation project, being carried out in partnership with the Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust and Conservation International.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Gina Haney, project co-ordinator said the ten sites form part of 20 of such sites which have been earmarked for restoration.

Mrs Esi Sutherland-Addy, Chairperson of Heritage Conservation Trust, cautioned against the over-dependence on foreign assistance for such purposes, and urged people in the township to pool their own resources towards the restoration of more of such sites and to make sure that they are well maintained.

Mrs Sutherland-Addy stressed the importance of such sites and the need to ensure that the historical events associated with them are correctly written for posterity as well as tourists.

In an address read for the Central Regional Minister, Lt. Col. Charles Agbenaza, (rtd), he urged the people to take pride in their heritage and to do their best to protect, preserve and promote it.

He announced that an education and awareness campaign would be mounted in addition to the restoration exercise to highlight the history of those important figures.

The Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, also in an address read for him, urged his people to treasure their heritage and charged them to take stock of all places of historical interest and institute measures to preserve them.

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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 10 Dec. '99

A two-day workshop on refugee management for security personnel stationed in the border towns in the Upper East Region has opened in Bolgatanga.

The workshop, aimed at preparing participants on how to handle the situation should there be an influx of refugees into the region, is being organised by the Ghana Refugee Board and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Hajia Fati Seidu, said the issue of refugee protection has become a matter of great concern to the international community.

She said Africa has the highest refugee population in the world with majority being women and children, adding that Ghana has played a leading role in finding solutions to the problem.

The workshop would help build the capacity of the officers at the frontiers and also sensitise all stakeholders to handle the problem and them to take it seriously.

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Koforidua (Eastern Region), 10^th December 99

The New Juaben Municipal Assembly and the Landlords Association have agreed to peg the new landed property rate at 35 per cent instead of 50 per cent previously proposed by the Assembly.

The agreement was reached following a five-hour meeting between the executives of the two parties mediated by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) at Koforidua on Wednesday.

Landlords in the Municipality considered the 50 per cent property rate proposed by the Assembly after the revaluation of property "very exorbitant".

This created tension between the two bodies with rumours and threats of demonstrations and mass agitation.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi, who received a petition from the Landlords, directed the RCC to work out an acceptable percentage, which would suit the two parties.

Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Deputy Regional Minister who led the mediation, told a news conference in Koforidua on Thursday that the agreement "put to rest the tension, which threatened peace and security in the Municipality".

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged the landlords not to arbitrarily increase rents.

He said the new rates affect only private residential property and called on the executives of the association to educate their members on the implementation of the accepted 35 per cent rate.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also called on property owners who have already paid rates based on the 50 per cent face increase to consult the Assembly for refund of the 15 per cent difference.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Adu-Boateng, said the reduction would lead to "a serious shortfall in revenue estimates of the assembly."

He called on residents to pay their basic and other rates promptly to enable the assembly to provide efficient services.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 10^th December 99

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) on Thursday warned the public that it couldn't guarantee the quality, safety and efficacy of the various brands of ginseng tonic, a Chinese health drink, being produced and distributed in the country.

This is because the Board has not yet approved of the tonics produced by more than five companies locally.

A Board statement to called on individuals and companies involved in the manufacture and distribution of the tonic to stop and submit the necessary documents to the FDB for registration within a week.

The documents should include a list of ingredients in the preparation and the registration documents of both the premises and products to ensure their safety and efficacy.

The distribution and sale of Ginseng candies at lorry parks and on vehicles should also be discontinued, henceforth.

It called on the Police, GPRTU, other security agencies and the public to assist in these matters, since the actions of these companies contravene Sections 3, 14, 18 and 25 of FDB law (PNDC 305 B).

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Accra (Greater Accra), 10^th December 99

Dr. Ellen Bortei-Doku Aryeetey, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Science and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon, on Thursday called for the development of policies on sexual harassment to suit Ghanaian culture and religion.

Dr Aryeetey said this would enable the people to address its associated problems in a fair manner.

Presenting a paper on ''Defining Sexual harassment in Ghana'' at a public seminar organised by ISSER in Accra, the research fellow said sexual harassment is not restricted to any particular age group or gender and even children are at risk of being victims.

She said research findings indicate that sexual abuse is founded on socially conditioned gender inequality, an expression of gender politics and power struggle and women form the majority of the harassed.

''The results from the studies show a much wider identification of forms and sites of sexual harassment than are normally found in the literature''.

Prof. Kwesi Yankah, Former Head of Linguistic Department of the University, who chaired the function, said there is the need to incorporate sexual harassment policies in the second cycle institutions, where more institutional harassment go unnoticed.

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Ejura (Ashanti), 10^th December 99

Contract for a comprehensive water project for Ejura estimated at about 188 million cedis, which involves the laying of pipelines, connection of water to private houses and the erection of public stand pipes will soon be awarded on contract.

The project, to be financed by the German Technical Co-operation Agency (GTZ) and the government of Ghana, is spread over a period of five years.

Already, the Ejura/Sekyedumase District Assembly has mobilised about 148.5 million cedis as counter-part funding towards the project.

This was made known by Major Ceasar Kwadwo Acheampong (rtd), Ejura/Sekyedumase District Chief Executive, at the third ordinary meeting of the assembly at Ejura on Wednesday.

He said the Ejura community has contributed 48.5 million cedis while the assembly has released 100 million cedis to finance the project.

The DCE said five out of the nine boreholes earmarked for Ejura under the project have been sunk.

Major Acheampong said the Ejura Urban Council has passed a resolution on the formation of Water and Sanitation Development Committee (WSDC) to manage the water system.

The assembly has from January to October this year collected 205.9 million cedis from its traditional revenue sources or about 73.93 per cent of targeted revenue and expended 195.6 million cedis on some capital and re-current expenditures.

It has received 359.5 million cedis out of an expected 1.4 billion cedis as its share of the Common Fund.

The DCE called on farmers to be mindful of the dry season and avoid setting bushfires, adding the Ghana National Fire Service would soon embark on a massive educational drive against starting bushfires.

Mr Emmanuel Kofi Antwi, Presiding Member, accused some assembly members of sacrificing the interests of their people for their selfish ends.

He accused some assemblymen of unhealthy interest in the award of contracts under the Common Fund, adding this amount to a betrayal of the trust of the people.

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Nadowli (Upper West) 10 Dec '99

The Nadowli district assembly of the Upper West region has accepted in principle the option to accept payment of taxes and basic rates in kind instead of cash.

Under the alternative mode of payment, the assembly would accept one live guinea fowl as equivalent to 4,000 cedis.

The presiding member of the assembly, Mr Nathias Pouzaa made this known at the fourth ordinary session of the assembly at Nadowli on Thursday.

He said the assembly was currently discussing how to eliminate the possibility of abuse of the new system before implementation.

When the proposal is implemented, households and individuals could conveniently settle their tax obligations with the assembly with guinea fowls, he said.

Property rate in the district is 2,000 cedis, basic rate 300 cedis and bicycle fee is 500 cedis.

Giving reasons for the innovation, the presiding member said the assembly is considered as one of the poorest in the country, which reflects the difficulty the people go through before paying their taxes to the assembly.

Mr Pouzaa expressed the hope that the new arrangement would boost the assembly's revenue mobilisation drive.

During the two-day session the assembly would, among other things, approve development projects for the coming year and fix new rates.

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Wa (Upper West) 10 Dec '99

A 25-year old illegal miner, Nurideen Salifu, was killed and four other rendered unconscious on Monday when a makeshift pit from which they were drilling water to prospect for gold was engulfed with a poisonous gas.

The accident occurred at Dangyawkura village, in the Wa district, which is home to about 1,000 'galamsey' operators from all parts of the country.

The four others' names were not immediately available.

According to Police Inspector Daniel Dorkpoh, Upper West regional Police Public Relations Officer, said on Monday that the five 'galamsey' operators were pumping water out of the pit when the machine being use started emitting the gas.

He said other miners nearby saw a cloud of the noxious substance coming out of the pit and raised the alarm.

They found Nurideen dead while the other four were unconscious, apparently from the gas they inhaled.

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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 10 Dec '99

The 15th Regional Ministers Conference ended at Sunyani on Friday with a call on participants to continue to work hard to support the development aspirations of the people.

Closing it, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said as representatives of the government in their respective regions, they should live above reproach to be able to deal fairly with all manner of people irrespective of their political, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

He commended the ministers for their active participation in all deliberations and expressed the hope that with the exchange of ideas and experiences, "you are well armed to face the challenges of the coming year."

He mentioned the forthcoming elections and the national census in March, 2000, as some of the programmes that would prove challenging and said asked them to live up to expectation.

The next conference will take place at Koforidua, the eastern regional capital, in April or May, 2000.

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