Journalist repeats call for the removal of laws that hinder press freedom
Judicial staff asked to change attitude to work
Three regions get forestry teams
Northern university pleads for investment
No more payments for acting presidents - House
Ashanti branch of GBA elect new executives
Journalist repeats call for the removal of laws that hinder press freedom
Accra (Greater Accra), 16th December 99
The government has once again been called upon to expunge all obnoxious laws that hinder the free flow of information from the statute books.
Mr. Kwame Obeng Fosu, President of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association (PRINPAG), made the call on Wednesday at the launch of a book entitled ''The Law of the Press - A Ghanaian Perspective.''
The 221-page book was written by Mr. Andrews Ofoe Amegatcher of the Attorney-General's Department and sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through a grant to PRINPAG.
The book seeks to focus on parts of the law that promotes or hinders freedom of expression in books, newspapers, broadcasts and the new communication media.
Topics dealt with include defamation, sedition, contempt of court, rumours and false reports, state secrets and law of confidence.
Mr. Fosu said because of these obnoxious laws some members of PRINPAG have been jailed "for expressing their candid opinions."
He said Ghana must formulate its own press laws and expressed regret that 42 years after independence, the country still uses outmoded laws of its colonial master.
Mrs Janet Graham, Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, said that the existence of an active, free, independent and responsible press is important to a thriving civil society in a modern pluralistic democracy.
She said the book is a testimony to the vibrancy and stature of the press that weighs the delicate balance between press freedom and the individual's right to private and unwarranted injury.
Mr Emile Short, Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), who presided said the importance attached to the role of press freedom in the country is so opportune that there is the need to get a book to safeguard interests of journalists.
''I hope the book has been well researched and would help journalists, its users and also guide judges in their deliberation.''
Mr Amegatcher was one time head of the Information Services Department (ISD) and the Ghana Copyright Office.
In 1998 he worked as a consultant at the World International Property Organisation (WIPO).
The first copy of the book was auctioned for 500,000 cedis.
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Judicial staff asked to change attitude to work
Kumasi (Ashanti), 16th December 99
Mr. Justice Gilbert M. Quaye, Supervising High Court Judge for Ashanti, has called on the staff of the Judicial Service to change their attitude to work for an effective and efficient court administration in the country.
He said the correct attitude to work coupled with the envisaged provision of modern equipment and facilities for the judiciary, will enhance the administration of justice.
Mr. Justice Quaye was addressing the closing session of the three-day seminar for registrars and chief registrars manning the high courts and the regional tribunals in Kumasi.
The seminar on the theme "Human resources development for efficient and faster court administration", was organised by the Judicial Service Training School of the National Institutional Renewal Programme (NIRP) and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It was to update the knowledge of the registrars in the role they must play in creating an enabling environment for a faster and efficient administration of justice.
The seminar was also to introduce them into modern judicial administration and the use of information technology as a tool for faster service delivery.
Mr. Justice Quaye said it is ideal for them to be conversant with the rules of the courts since they complement the duties of judges on how orders made should implemented.
He observed that an effective and efficient disposal of cases before the courts are the joint responsibilities of all stakeholders in the Judicial Service.
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Three regions get forestry teams
Ho (Volta Region), 16th December 99
Regional Forestry Planning teams for the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions were inaugurated at a seminar at Ho on Wednesday.
Also inaugurated were the Regional Collaborative Forestry Management Teams for the three regions.
The teams will prepare and formulate Forest Management Plans in consultation with all stakeholders in forestry towards sustainable and scientific forest resource management.
Mr. Oppon Sasu, Revenue and Commercial Manager of the Forestry Service division, who inaugurated the teams, said the review of the 1994 forestry and wildlife policy is to make it more community focused in planning, management and operation of forest and wildlife resources.
He said the new policy would promote public awareness and involve rural people in forestry and wildlife conservation to facilitate life-sustaining systems, preserve scenic areas and enhance the potential of recreation, tourism and income generation opportunities.
"A working partnership between local people and forestry department will ensure that management of all forest resources is equitable, more efficient and encourage biodiversity".
Mr Sasu said Ghana's high forest zones covering an area of 8.2 million hectares in 1948 has dwindled to 1.8 million hectares due to deforestation and wrong farming methods.
He therefore charged the teams to work on the necessary guidelines towards making forestry management scientific and grassroots driven.
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Northern university pleads for investment
Nyankpala (Northern Region), 16th December 99
Students of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has called on the government to provide seed money for the establishment of its basic infrastructure.
They said the little resources inherited when the University was established in 1992, are under great pressure with the increasing intake of students.
At a press conference at Nyankpala on Wednesday to draw public attention to the state of affairs at the university, the students blamed the university's problems on government negligence.
''Those who are to oversee the right establishment are not doing their work'', Mr. Samuel Akwaka, President of the Students Representative Council, said in a statement read on behalf of the students.
''We call on the government and the Presidential Sub-Committee on UDS, to exercise the same political will that led to the establishment of the university''.
Mr. Akwaka urged the university authorities to be more versatile and pragmatic in marketing the university, expressing surprise at the absence of UDS at the recent national educational forum.
He said UDS will welcome donations from well endowed members of the public, including corporate bodies such as Unilever, the Valco Trust and the Asantehene's Education Fund, to build hostels.
Mr. Akwaka praised the deans and lecturers of three of the University's four faculties- Agriculture, Integrated Development Studies and Applied Sciences- "for delivering good results despite the meagre resources".
He could not say the same for the School of Medical and Health Sciences, the youngest of the four, whose dean, Professor David Nii Amon Kotei, he demanded should be removed from office.
He gave notice that if by January three, 2000, this has not been done "we will ensure his removal by any means necessary".
He accused the dean of refusing to comply with the curriculum with which the school was established, even though an alternative one he personally drafted has been rejected by the University's Academic Board.
Mr. Akwaka rejected a suggestion that their criticism of the Professor was misplaced, because he was only carrying out a mandate given by the government.
He said if that was so the government should come out to defend that mandate.
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No more payments for acting presidents - House
Koforidua (Eastern Region), 16th December 99
The Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has recommended payment of full allowances to acting Presidents of Traditional Councils should be stopped.
The measure is intended to reduce the long period of time taken to fill vacant paramount stools and compel such acting Presidents to ensure that such vacancies are filled in good time.
The President of the House, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, announced this at an end of year meeting of the house at Koforidua on Wednesday, saying the measure, if adopted, should be replicated in all traditional councils in the Region.
He charged Nananom to personally ensure early resolution of all Chieftaincy disputes pending before the traditional councils.
The meeting which coincided with the formal admission into the House of Okotwaasuo Kantamanto Owarea Agyekum III, Omanhene of Akyem Bosome Traditional area, brings to eight the total number of incumbent Paramount Chiefs in the house.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa, Omanhene of Akwapim Traditional area, renewed his appeal to the various judicial committees both at Koforidua and the National House of Chiefs handling stool disputes affecting Manya Krobo, Akwamufie and Akim Oda, to expedite action on them to enable those areas to fill vacant paramountcies .
He spoke of the respect that Ghanaians have for the chieftaincy institution and regretted that both the government and opinion leaders have on a number of times decried the increasing spate of chieftaincy disputes and its attendant negative effect on development and peace in the affected areas.
This situation, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa said, was a source of worry not only to the government but also to the Chiefs.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa recalled that the century just passing away has been characterised by wars, disputes and mistrust among mankind.
"We can only hope for a better in the next millennium if we take seriously the lessons offered by the events around the birth of Christ.
Mr. Justice George Twum, a Koforidua High Court judge who swore in Okotwaasuo Kantamanto Agyekum called on kingmakers to ensure that only people from the royal families are nominated, elected and installed Chiefs to avoid chieftaincy disputes.
He stressed the need for co-operation between chiefs, District Chief Executives and government agencies for the development of their areas.
Mr. Justice Twum advised chiefs against taking sides, adding they should be abreast with chieftaincy laws as well as the Constitution to enable them to dispose of cases brought before them.
Okotwaasuo Kantamanto Agyekum called on the government to assist Paramount Chiefs to stem the tide of disintegrating forces who are power drunk and want to bring division among some traditional councils.
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Ashanti branch of GBA elect new executives
Kumasi (Ashanti), 16th December 99
The Ashanti branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) at its annual general conference held in Kumasi has elected Mr Dei Kwarteng, as its president for the year 1999/2000.
Mr Kwarteng takes over from Mr I.K. Boakye, the immediate past president.
Mr Justice Kusi Minka-Premo, was elected vice president and Mr A. Osei-Poku , as secretary with Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, as assistant secretary.
A GBA statement issued in Kumasi on Thursday said Mr Kwabena Berchie-Antwi was elected treasurer while Miss Mariam Agyemang Gyasi was elected social secretary.
Mr Arnold Agyeman Prempeh and Mr Yaw Acheampong Boafo became the seniors and juniors representatives on the executive committee.
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