$100,000 business plan contest launched
Ex- Top officer in legal battle
Stop these kids from indecent exposure
Sqn.
Leader Sowu to contest Obed
The allegation by the authorities of the
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital that they dialysed the deceased, Eva Boadu, 15 times
has been refuted by her mother and sister.
According to them, the hospital administered
only 10 dialysis treatments for which they paid the full cost of ¢7 million.
The Ministry, they said, paid ¢1.8 out of the amount.
Madam Alice Bio, the mother, and Gifty Boadu,
the sister rushed to the ‘Times’ offices in Accra and vehemently denied the
statement, which they called a “blatant lie.”
They said that after the letter from the
Ministry got to them, Eva was prepared by nurses and wheeled to the dialysis
ward for the 11th dialysis. But after the patient was kept there
from 8 am to 4.30 pm, it was not done.
When they got there to visit her, Eva told them
that she heard Dr Frimpong instructing the nurses operating the machine not to
continue with the treatment. “So, we maintain that Eva was only dialysed 10
times, and not 15 as he authorities of Korle-Bu would want the world to
believe,” they said.
It is recalled that the ‘Times’ carried on its
front page on December 5, that the deceased had been refused treatment by the
authorities of Korle-Bu even though the ministry had guaranteed payment.
On December 6, Prof A.B. Neequaye told the
‘Times’ that they would resume treatment but the young lady, Eva Boadu, 20,
died later in the evening. The hospital had not resumed treatment.
Following media condemnation the Korle-Bu
authorities led by Dr Henry Holdbrook-Smith, the Chief Executive, said that it
was not their fault that the young woman died. They claimed they had dialysed
the young woman 15 times before, and on receiving the Ministry’s letter, they
effected another five.
Meanwhile, Eva will be buried at the Awudome
Cemetery on Saturday.
More…/
A tutor at the Nurses Training College (NTC),
Ho, Mr Samuel McCarthy, has deplored the practice in which voluntary donors are
requested to pay for saline intravenous fluid before donating blood.
Mr McCarthy expressed the sentiments at the
second National Blood Donors Award day held at Ho last week. He won the second
prize of standing fan for donating blood for the 12th time.
Mr McCarthy cited an instance when he decided
to donate when he realized that the bank was short of blood but was asked by
the authorities at the bank to pay for the fluid. That, he said, discouraged
him from donating the blood.
He cautioned that unless the authorities
desisted from the practice, the blood bank would continue to have low volume of
blood resulting in the inability of the hospital to save lives. Mr McCarthy
stressed the need for the management of the hospital to link up with those at
the blood bank to sensitize the public to voluntarily donate blood freely to
save lives.
He said that the practice had sent the wrong
signals to the people hence they needed encouragement and motivation towards
blood donation in the region. Mr McCarthy noted that health personnel were
compelled to donate blood during emergency cases because the public was reluctant
to pay before donating.
Dr Geofrey Nyamuame, Medical Superintendent of
the Regional Hospital, assured blood donors that they would not be exposed when
the HIV/AIDS virus was detected in their samples. He however advised the people
to lead healthy lifestyles and commended the award winners for their relentless
efforts to make blood always available at blood banks in the country.
GRi…/
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The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission
(PURC) has developed a transitional plan to assist utility companies to operate
at full cost recovery levels within the next two years.
The Chairman of the PURC, Nana Dr S.K.B.
Asante, who announced this at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, said
the commission will ensure that cost recovery levels are accompanied by
commensurate improvements in the quality of service.
“The commission has carefully assessed the
needs and requirements of the utilities and decided that utility prices should
be adjusted and decided that utility prices should be adjusted gradually to
economic and efficient rates rather than the one-time steep increase being
demanded by the utilities,” he said.
He said improvements in the quality of service
will be a condition for further increases in rates charged by the utilities. Dr
Asante said following discussions with the government and the utilities, the
commission has decided to embark on an extensive public awareness programme
focusing on consumers, whose awareness, “understanding and support are critical
to the acceptance and successful implementation of the plan.”
He said before the transitional plan is
implemented, review exercise will be conducted to ensure that stakeholders’
concerns have been adequately and reasonably addressed.
On government’s policy to introduce private
sector participation (PSP) in the water sector, Dr Asante said the PURC has
indicated that it welcomes a policy initiative that will ensure improvement in
the quality of supply and greater accessibility of a larger proportion of the
population to utility services.
He expressed the hope that the participation of
the private sector will bring about the employment of transitional companies
with requisite expertise and resources to participate in the rehabilitation and
expansion of the urban water system.
Dr Asante said although the selection of
foreign operators is the prerogative of government, “PURC has taken steps to
clarify its statutory responsibilities relating to the sector to ensure that
stipulating within the law, policy, regulations and guidelines formulated by
the commission are taken on board and complied with.”
He said as part of its decentralization policy,
the PURC will establish regional offices in each of the 10 regions and Tema to
enable all consumers to avail themselves of the commission’s services regarding
quality service, consumer complaints, and other related problems.
He said the commission has issued two
legislations, which give adequate protection to consumers in their contractual
relationship with the utilities. “These regulations provide the framework for
receiving, hearing and determining complaints against utilities,” he said.
More…/
A section of members of the Bolgatanga
Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has protested
against the constituency executive elections held on Saturday December 1, 2001
at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The group contended that the holding of
the election was undemocratic and, therefore, should be declared null and void.
A statement read at a press conference accused
the Constituency Chairman, Mr Ephsona Ayamga, of manipulating the elections to
his advantage. The statement, signed by four constituency executive members of
the party, namely Peter Ayine, Constituency Organiser; Baba Atampugbire, Youth
Organiser; Stella Abahor, Women’s Organiser and Malku Danteni, the Propaganda
Secretary, alleged that the chairman kept the list of delegates a secret to
himself and was displayed only a day to the elections, something which the
group claimed is against the party’s constitution.
The statement also alleged that prospective
contestants whom the chairman considered to be opposed to his ambitions were
denied access to the delegates’ list to facilitate their campaigns.
Again, the statement said, the chairman refused
to meet with the executive and ward chairmen to certify that the list was the
true representation of the branches. The statement indicated that earlier on,
out of 28 ward chairmen and five constituency executive members and a patron of
the party had appealed to the chairman to postpone the elections and instead
address certain issues before the elections, but he refused.
According to the group, the elections were
fraught with intimidation; impersonation and other forms of manipulation,
saying that out of 250 delegates, 138 stayed away in protest.
The statement said out of the remaining 112,
only 86 were eligible delegates, with the rest coming in as impersonators. “It
only means, therefore, that only 86 out of the 250 delegates actually voted,
which should not have been the case,” the statement concluded.
More…/
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban
Bagbin, has called on the Upper West Regional branch of the NPP to amicably
resolve its differences to ease tension in a region that badly needs peace for
development.
During a courtesy on the Regional Minister, Mr
Sahanun Mogtari, Mr Bagbin also appealed for peaceful co-existence of the
various political parties in the region, especially between NDC and NPP.
“If members of the NPP fight one another, they
will have no energy left to combat our common foes, poverty, ignorance and
underdevelopment,” the Minority Leader said, adding that the infighting and
squabbles within the NPP could detract attention from pertinent development needs
and stall progress.
He expressed grave concern about the chaotic
outcome of the NPP’s Upper West Regional congress and wondered whether in the
face of so much turmoil from within his own party, the regional minister could
concentrate on the affairs of the region.
Mr Bagbin also expressed dissatisfaction with
this year’s poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results and
urged Mr Mogtari to support efforts to organize an educational forum to fashion
out ways of improving upon the standards of education.
The Minority Leader was unhappy about the
termination of contracts awarded by the NDC government to tar the Bole-Bamboi
Road and provide electricity to some rural communities. He urged Mr Mogtari to
impress upon the government to complete the road and the electrification
project.
The Regional Minister expressed his
appreciation to Mr Bagbin for always calling on him each time he visited the
region and said in spite of political differences between him and the MPs of
the region, he would always consult them on development issues concerning the
region.
More…/
$100,000 business plan contest launched
The Ghana Netherlands Business Association
(GNBA) has launched a $100,000 business plan contest for all senior secondary
schools in the country.
Under the plan, all students are to write on
the topic “The business of my dreams.” Winners of the competition, which will
be held on regional basis, will be awarded a full scholarship to any
institution of higher learning in the country of their choice.
Besides, the community that represents the
winners will receive an educational center such as library or any sports
facilities with its form to be decided based on the local needs.
The General Manager of the Philips Medical
Systems in Ghana, Mr Henk van Gestel, said in order “To develop and stimulate
skills among the future generations of Ghanaians, we have decided to launch
this programme which we believe would have a lasting impact on children in the
country.
He commended the Ghana Education Service for
its commitment to the contest by informing all secondary schools throughout the
country. He said every regional winner will qualify to take part in the
national finals scheduled for April next year.
Mr Van Gestel, expressed the hope that the
exercise is the association’s policy to encourage appropriate interventions in
all levels of the education process.
Mr Alexander Heldring, the Ambassador of The
Royal Netherlands Embassy commended the activities of the GNBA and pledged the
embassy’s support for it. “Just as we contribute to the plans for development
of the Ghanaian Government, we monitor the activities of the Dutch companies in
Ghana,” he said.
The Director of Secondary Education, Mr A.A.
Akuoko, urged participants to present original works during the competition,
adding that, “It is criminal to copy any work done by somebody.”
GRi…/
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NDC congress in danger
All is not well with the main opposition
National Democratic Congress (NDC) party. Credible information available to the
Chronicle reveals that some leading figures in the Pro-Rawlings faction of the
party have initiated moves to scuttle the party’s scheduled December 28
National Congress.
The group is seeking to have the congress
rescheduled over fears that former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr
Obed Asamoah, currently the lead candidate for the National Chairmanship slot,
will walk home with the prized position, if the event is not postponed. The
next NDC Chairman will serve as leader should the party’s founder (Rawlings)
lose that title at the forthcoming congress.
Information available to the Chronicle suggests
that the reasons being put across by the pro-Rawlings group for rescheduling
the congress include the explanation that the date of the event will coincide
with the reburial of the executed Army Generals, which incidentally falls on
the same date. There were strong indications by Wednesday evening that the
ruling New Patriotic Party government was considering fixing the date for the
reburial of the late army officers earlier than December 28.
Another argument put forward by the now-jittery
pro-Rawlings faction is that the date is inappropriate, since it was on the
same date that former Vice President John Atta Mills lost the presidential
run-off election to President J.A. Kufuor.
No decision had been taken on whether to postpone
the date as at Wednesday evening, Chronicle gathered. Attempts to talk to
Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, believed to have been slated for the position of
Vice-Chairman by the pro-Rawlings camp, on both Tuesday and Wednesday failed.
Media Committee Chairman, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah
had left the office to the Airport to board a flight to South Africa by the
time Chronicle called on Tuesday morning. None of the executives had responded
to phone messages left at the party office by Wednesday evening.
Reached at his home early on Wednesday evening,
NDC National Youth Organiser and MP for Ningo-Prampram, E.T. Mensah, said he
was not aware of any move to have the party congress postponed, since no such
issue had been brought to his notice.
But the Chronicle gathered from reliable
sources that the effort to convince the party hierarchy to reschedule the
impending congress was real.
Sources say the fear of an Obed victory became
more manifested over the weekend when the Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra
regions elected pro-Obed candidates at their regional delegates congresses.
The Eastern Region elected former Minister of
Mines and Energy and long time Rawlings foe, Fred Ohene Kena, (he was sacked by
the former President and he publicly challenged that decision) as Chairman
while the same position in the Volta Region went to Ketu North MP, Modestus
Ahiable.
The rise of former Greater Accra Regional
Minister and defeated MP for Krowor, Joshua Alabi, to the chairmanship of the
party was the third heartache for the pro-Rawlings group. Alabi was nearly
dismissed by Rawlings as a minister, and Rawlings aide, Victor Smith, told
Peace FM in an interview on Wednesday that the former President even advised
against the retention of Alabi as the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Krowor at
the 2000 elections.
All three men are reported to be close friends
of Obed Asamoah, who acknowledged this in an interview on Wednesday, but
suggested further that the three are independent-minded men who are equally on
good terms with the former President and Founder of the party.
Smith also accused Obed and Alabi of using
their positions as members of the Re-organisation Committee of the party to win
over the leadership positions in the NDC.
Last Monday’s press statement on a speech by
Rawlings, signed by Spio-Garbrah, which confirmed an earlier Chronicle report
on the fear of the Rawlings-led faction that the pro-Obed faction of the party
is out to use its alleged control of the finances of the party to win the
contest for the various positions on offer at the forthcoming congress, is also
raising eye-brows.
Rawlings’ comments were reportedly made at the
Kotoka International Airport on his way to attend an international conference
on HIV/AIDS in Burkina Faso on Sunday. The press statement itself has become a
source of confusion within the NDC, as some executives of the party who spoke
to the Chronicle on condition of anonymity, claim they had no prior knowledge
of the content of the statement.
Some pro-Obed members of the party have vowed
to break away from the NDC if Rawlings and his faction would not allow real
democracy in the party, Chronicle gathered.
The press statement quoted Rawlings as having
cautioned supporters of the NDC against the use of money to influence the
election of NDC regional executives in the run-up to the party’s National
Congress.
He also decried the reported use of money to
influence and buy delegates votes at the Greater Accra Regional Conference of
the party last Saturday. “It is extremely important for party activists and
those vying for executive positions to realize that any attempt to buy our way
into executive positions will not only undermine our party but damage the
integrity and the very spiritual soul of the party and Progressive Alliance,”
Rawlings was quoted as having said.
He added: “The NDC, by the nature of its
history has become the ‘sacred refuge’ of our people from big money politics.
If we soil this house through undesirable electoral practices, the people will
reject us – their home-grown Party – again, because of these questionable
characters who are using money to influence delegates or buy their executive
positions.
His statement, which blamed the use of money to
influence party delegates at the Greater Accra Regional delegates congress at
Tema on Saturday has been denied by Joshua Alabi, who said the Leader and
Founder of the party had been misled on events surrounding the congress.
Sources say Rawlings’ concerns were aimed at the Obed faction.
GRi…/
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We won’t allow Obed to hijack NDC
As the NDC prepares for its congress, signals of
Rawlings disapproval of Obed Asamoah being elected chairman of the party are
getting stronger.
His personal aide, Victor Smith, on Wednesday
told an Accra radio station, Peace FM that as founder and leader of the party,
ex-President Rawlings would not sit unconcerned for certain individuals to
hijack the party.
Earlier this week, Dr Obed Asamoah, the man who
chaired the party’s reorganization committee declared his intention to contest
the chairmanship position.
There have been widespread speculations that
the former President prefers Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama to be the chairman. Mr Smith
told the host of Peace FM Morning Show, Kwame Sefa Kayi, that it would not be
very well with the NDC if Rawlings should keep quiet over certain negative
happenings within the rank and file.
He said as founder and leader, ex-President
Rawlings has a firm grip of the NDC and would not leave it for people with
doubtful characters. He accused Dr Obed Asamoah of using the party’s resources
to champion his personal ambitions.
According to him, Dr Asamoah, as head of the
committee was entrusted with money, vehicles and other facilities to help in
the reorganization process, but he diverted them to influence people to get him
to his preferred party position.
He regretted that even people who were rejected
in the 2000 elections are offering themselves up for party positions because
they happened to have in their possession party resources. Mr Smith condemned
such acts of bribery and said it was not good for the party.
He was of the opinion that anybody who gets
himself elected to a position should have popular support of the rank and file
of the party and not through bribery. The personal assistant noted that if
people use influence to get positions, mistakes, which led to the defeat of the
party in the 2000 elections, were being repeated.
Mr Smith could not confirm or deny whether
former Accra Regional Minister, Joshua Alabi used party resources to get
himself elected as Accra Regional chairman of the party, but stated that he
could not say “everything on air.”
He said Rawlings listens to the grassroots and
comments of the people and ruled out that Rawlings hates some people in the
party. He said it was unfortunate that Dr Asamoah who was entrusted with party
resources was taking undue advantage of the situation but stated that he would
have no problem with him (Obed) if he is democratically and fairly elected as
chairman of the party.
In his reaction, Dr Obed Asamoah denied using
party resources to further his personal ambition. He said the reorganization
committee is made of 16 people and questioned whether the so-called money was
given to individuals or collectively.
Dr Asamoah said he did not know if he had the
support of Rawlings. “May be I don’t have the support of the ex-President.
Certainly, his support will be useful, but if I don’t get it, I still have the
democratic right to contest the elections,” he said.
The December 28 congress, he said, should not
bring any rancour among the members of the party but rather unite them to face
the challenge ahead.
GRi…/
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Ex- Top officer in legal battle
Air-Vice
Marshall James Ernest Akrong Kotei (rtd), Ghana's former envoy to Guinea and
Sierra-Leone, has been dragged to court in connection with a tussles over a
house situated at No 001 GOA, Pantang Junction, near Madina in Accra.
The controversy over the estate was generated
after the death of one Catherine Hill (alias "C Mama"), Proprietor of
Blue Angel Guest House at Dzorwulu, Accra, on July 23, 2001.
Whereas Air-Vice Marshall (AVM) J.E.A. Kotei is
claiming ownership of the house, the family of the late Catherine Hill-who was
said to be a friend to AVM Kotei-is vehemently insisting that it was "C
Mama" who built the house before she passed away.
The legal battle was instituted by the brother
of the deceased-Robert Bannerman-Administrator of her Estate, acting per his
lawful Attorney, Celestine Diji (Blue Angels Guest House).
The power of Attorney was given her by Robert
Bannerman and in an affidavit in support of an Application for the grant of
letters of Administration (LA) by him (Bannerman), Celestine Diji of Tema
indicating that she has the Power of Attorney from Robert Bannerman and the
authority to swear the affidavit, stated that the caveator (AVM Kotei) filed a
caveat on October 15, 2001 and that she subsequently filed a warning to him on
October 16, 2001.
According to her, the caveator had personally
been served with the wearing and a search conducted at the Registry indicated
that he (caveator) had since filed as Affidavit of Interest. The Applicant
(Diji) denied the Affidavit of Interest in its entirety and put the caveator to
strict proof thereof.
The Applicant continued, "Pursuant, I have
been informed and verily believed same to be true that caveator and/ or his
agents are intermeddling with the estate of the deceased; the actions of the
caveator amount to appropriation of the assets of the deceased without showing
proof of his interest, as demanded by the rules; I verily believe that this is
an apt circumstance which the caveator should be struck out and Letters of Administration
be granted".
In an earlier writ of summons filed for and
behalf of Robert Bannerman (Plaintiff) by Ms. Margaret K. Insaidoo, Solicitor
and Barrister, it was intimated that by a dead of conveyance dated November 30,
1992 and stamped LVB 3968A/2001, "Catherine Hill acquired the land and
constructed the house thereon".
It continued that the deceased, prior to her
death, was in absolute possession of the house to the exclusion of all other
persons and that she placed her servants at the said house to take care of it,
indicating also that she (deceased) paid bills-with receipts to show.
On November 22, 2001, the Defendant (AVM Kotei)
and to his agents "forcibly entered the premises and caused considerable
damage to doors and other property in the house." The Affidavit in support
of the writ maintained that in the night of the same day, the said agents
attempted to break into the house but were repulsed by the efforts of the
family of the deceased.
Plaintiff prayed the court to restrain the
Defendant else, "he will continue with these senseless acts of vandalism
which will destroy the property before the hearing of this suit is over."
In his Affidavit of Interest sworn on October
22, 2001, the Caveator/Deponent said during the lifetime of Catherine Hill, he
(Doponent/Caveator) remitted various sums of money from abroad to the deceased
to put up as dwelling house for him and that upon completion, the deceased took
him (Deponent) to his (Deponent's) house for inspection and delivery of
possession.
"That I was legally and physically put
into possession by the deceased before he died," Deponent asserted, saying
that he is the bona-fide owner of the said house situated and being at Pantang
Junction, off the Aburi Road. He said also that the Deed of Title was being
processed in his name.
In another affidavit in opposition to a Motion
for Interim Injunction filed by the Plaintiff, AVM Kotei (Respondent) said he
had been advised by Counsel and verily believed same to be true that the
application (for Interim Injunction) could not in law operate to prevent him
from protecting his interest in the house.
Maintained he, "I have all my belongings
in the house I am presently occupying the property as bona-fide owner". He
added that he had been advised by his Counsel and believed same to be true that
greater hardship would be caused him and his family if the application was
granted.
In a letter addressed to AVM Kotei (rtd) and
written by Margaret Insaidoo for and on behalf of Robert Bannerman and William
Hill-brothers of the deceased-dated October 23, 2001. You are cautioned that
the Police will be in attendance whiles these items are being removed."
Reacting to the order for and on behalf of AVM
J.E.A. Kotei, his Solicitor, Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, indicated, "Your
letter of even date addressed to our client, Air-Vice Marshall J.E.A. Kotei has
been referred to us with instructions to say that he owns the house being and
situated at Pantang. Please advise your clients to keep off the property as the
Air-Vice Marshall lives here there with his family." He continued that his
client did so to the knowledge of the late Catherine Hill before she died.
When last Monday the case was called before an
Accra High Court presided over by Justice J.K. Ebiasah, Counsel for the Plaintiff
argued that instead of the Respondent entering an appearance and filing a
defence against the writ of summons against him (Respondent), he, through his
Counsel, had also sued the Plaintiff and so his Respondent's writ should be
dismissed.
The motion was granted and the case was
consequently adjourned until Friday, December 14, 2001.
More…/
The Majority Chief Whip, Hon Osei Kyei
Mensah-Bonsu, has state that the proposed National Reconciliation Commission
will not aim at opening old wounds and punish perpetrators of heinous crimes
against innocent citizens of the country over a specific period in time.
He said the Commission among other things,
would seek to appeal to victims of atrocities of the past to forgive and forget
all the ordeal and trauma they had gone through and continue to experience, so
that the State would compensation such people for all Ghanaians to live
together again as one people.
Hon. Mensah-Bonsu was speaking in an interview
with a Kumasi-based private FM station, Fox (97.9 FM) recently, in a reaction
to the Minority MPs' walk out of Parliament on the November 23, 2001 in protest
against what they called "the persistent insults and arrogant utterances
of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akuffo-Addo".
He said those who had moved heaven and earth to
prevent the establishment of the Commission were only doing so far fear that it
would be tasked among others at engaging in personal vendetta against those the
NPP government perceived to have committed brutal acts against some people for
personal and political reasons.
Hon. Mensah-Bonsu who is also the MP for Old
Tafo Suame in Kumasi, noted that considering the argument surrounding the
National Reconciliation Commission Bill currently before Parliament, there was
no doubt that the whole country needs reconciliation.
According to him, the stumbling block was the
timing, that is, which period should tbe commission start its work from and
which regimes should be subjected to thorough scrutiny.
He said personally, he would have wished that
the period was limited to only military regimes but added quickly that since
the bill sought to reconcile the entire country, he would have no problem with
anybody if the whole country decides that the period should start from 1957,
when Ghana attained independence.
The Majority Chief Whip emphasised that the
National Reconciliation Commission Bill does not seek to deal with cases of
excesses on individual basis, rather, it is to compensate an individual who had
been offended by the State and not another individual.
He explained further that the Commission, when
set up, would work on issues concerning agents of the State who in the course
of serving this country or somebody purporting to be acting on behalf of the
State, and the course of that, offended an individual or group of persons.
Mr Mensah-Bonsu made it clear that acts
committed in the name of individuals do not come under the tenets of the Bill.
He disclosed that so far arguments that have been advanced by the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs point to one thing; that they did not want the
Commission to be established in the first place.
He said anyone who thought by sweeping the
whole issue under the carpet would reconcile the nation, would have to
re-think, since that alone would not make an embittered individual or group of
persons forgive and forget the heinous crimes perpetrated against them and
their loved ones.
Concluding, Mr Mensah-Bonsu emphasised that the
earlier NDC MPs saw the need for the establishment of the Commission to address
the issues of the past and heal the wounds once and for all, the better foe all
Ghanaians as a people.
GRi…/
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Stop these kids from indecent exposure
The
Central Regional Population Advisory Committee (CRPAC) has called on the Musicians
Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to restrain adolescents from mounting the stage to
perform as backing dancers for musicians because most of the performances turn
out to be indecent.
The Committee said the near-nudity of some of
these future leaders and the sexually suggestive orientation of their dancing
can negatively influence the country's morality in future.
In a resolution adopted at a meeting at Cape
Cost this week, the CRPAC said the short miniskirts, revealing dresses and
hairstyles worn by these adolescents during such performances ridicule the high
sense of morality of the Ghanaian.
It said the vulgarity of the dance movements'
gestures that movements and dances are accompany these dances are repulsive and
go to reveal the extent to which moral standards among some of the youth have
fallen.
The Committee said these factors tend to
influence the youth who patronize these shows and have contributed to the
irresponsible sexual attitudes among them.
It said unless immediate corrective measures
are put in place to redirect the focus of the youth, Ghana cannot claim to have
any meaningful future. The CRPAC mentioned specially Show Time and other
musicals as well as some feature films, which contain indecent scenes.
It also made complaints about other programmes
such as Cantata and the Key Soap Concert Party. It said even though the issue
treated in these programmes are largely educative, actors and actresses do not
show sufficient maturity in their presentations. "They simply sacrifice
decency for jokes and there-by muddy the socio-cultural environment.”
It said some of the utterances are also foul
and vulgar. It recommended that the rehearsal stages of these shows must be
monitored and purged of its indecency before they are staged for the public.
The Regional Population Officer, Mr Paul Djan,
in is address partly attributed the high incidence of teenage pregnancy,
HIV/AIDS and drug abuse to instill the right moral them values in the youth to
enable them live responsible sexual lives and improve the health status in the
region.
In speech read for him, the Central Regional
Minister, Mr Issac Edumaze, called for effective networking among institutions
to help solve the population problems in the region.
More…/
The infrastructure at the Manhyia Palace, has
always attracted a variety of guests be they tourists, VVIPs or ordinary
visitors.
This is rightly so because the Manyia serves
not only as the traditional seat of the Kingdom whose kingship dates several
hundreds of years but also the private residence of the Asanteman.
Today, any visitor to Manhyia Palace shows that
the residence of the Asantehenmaa has been rehabilitated to give it a modern
look. Another structure that would arrest the attention of the visitor is the
private residence of the Asantehene built in the 1970s to settle the then
monarch, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.
A modern office complex to serve as secretariat
for the King has also been constructed to give the place a differently new and
modern outlook to befit its status as the home of the monarchy.
Taking the Graphic round the rehabilitated
structures by Professor Owusu Addo, from the office of the architects that
designed the project it was observed that at the private residence of the
Asantehene a lot of transformation has taken place with some areas re-designed.
The main entrance to the main building has been extended and given a
portico (porch, vestibule) with a
fountain still under construction.
The roofing has been re-done, a new small
lounge provided and the hall, which the former monarch used to meet chiefs, has
been transformed to another area.
The hall has been given timber parquet
flooring, to reflect the beauty of Ghanaian timber. There is a banquet hall,
severy, pantry, rest rooms for attendants, store, issue office and laundry.
From the new set-up all traditional functions that used to be held at the
residence would now take place at the "Efiekessem".
A gate has been provided for the Asantehene to
move from his residence into the secretariat without going through the main
gates. Similarly, the monarch can now move to the queenmother's residence
without going out through the main gate.
At the new secretariat, there is a reception
and protocol office, store rooms, about six offices, a courtroom, office for
the private secretary to the Asantehene's secretary, waiting lounge and an
arbitration hall.
Under the second phase of the Manhyia, a big
durbar ground is to be constructed behind the queenmother's residence while
various structures would be pulled down and redesigned to give it
modernity.
The main gate to the King's residence will also
be moved forward to the old palace to give exclusivity to the King. Residential
apartments are to be built outside the palace for the King's functionaries and
operatives.
Already, the Manhyia Palace enjoys the position
as a major visitor attraction and it is expected that when the ongoing works
are completed its appeal to the tourist would double.
More…/
Abrantie Amakye Dede, founder and leader of the
Apollo Highkings Band, has been honoured as the overall Best Farmer for the
Ejisu Juaben District in Ashanti.
For his prize he received a spraying machine, a
radio cassettes player, a piece of cloth, a pair of Willington boots, a bar of
key soap and a certificate.
The occasion was the celebration of the 17th
National Farmers' Day in the district, which was held at Onwe, near Ejisu, the
district capital.
Amakye Dede, very famous in Ghana and abroad as
a great exponent of highlife music with a string of hit songs to his credit,
has large plantation, yam and cocoyam farms. He also has 200 goats and sheep
and rears grasscuters on his farm at Kubease.
An elated Amakye Dede called on the youth to
get actively engaged in agriculture because it is the only venture that can
sustain them.
GRi…/
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The
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) has produced cocoa wine, cocoa vinegar
and cocoa pulp juice. These new products were put on display at the first Ghana
International food and Agriculture Trade Fair (AGRIFEX 2001) held in Accra.
The
institute has already introduced on the Ghanaian market other products made of
cocoa. These include soap, pomade, brandy, gin, jam, pectin, rice biscuits.
In
an interview with HSJ, K. Asante-Amponsah of CRIG said the institute has
produced the new items on pilot basis and is ready to sell the patent to any
investor or entrepreneur who is ready to commercialise the products.
Some
participants and observers at AGRIFEX told HSJ that they were impressed with
the fact that Ghana has research scientists who could add value to our cocoa,
and wondered why after 44 years of independence, Ghana was still exporting raw
cocoa. One observer appealed to Ghana entrepreneurs to hurriedly procure all
the cocoa items on commercial scale for local consumption and for export.
The
cocoa industry is the livewire of Ghana’s agriculture. It contributes about 60
per cent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and provides more than 40
per cent of the total government revenue. It contributes about 12 per cent of
the GDP and employs about 17 per cent of the country’s labour force.
The
cultivation of cocoa in commercial quantity began in about 1878 with cocoa pods
brought from Fernando Po by Tetteh Quarshie. Peasant farmers in Ghana accepted
the challenge and, with the support of government, established Ghana as the
world’s leading cocoa producer from 1910 until 1979 when Ghana was overtaken by
other countries.
More…/
In an era
bringing Ghana close to the rest the world, there must be improvements in
infrastructure in the regional capitals, extending to the various districts,
communities, and villages. In view of that, the Ashanti Regional Branch of the
Ghana Institute of Engineers (GIE) has held a seminar on the issue at the
school of Engineering, KNUST, Kumasi.
The focus
of the seminar was how to develop the nation, particularly Kumasi and its
environs. Themed “Enhancing infrastructure delivery in Kumasi metropolis,” it
took note of the poor state of infrastructure delivery in Kumasi metropolis and
how to find ways of rectifying them.
The state
of infrastructure in Kumasi is characterised by poor roads and drainage systems
especially in new settlement areas, unsatisfactory sanitation and general
environmental degradation, inadequate and unreliable water and electricity
supply delivery and insufficient communication facilities.
According
to Adu Nyarku, the National President of GIE, the poor conditions are as a
result of inadequate funding for expansion and maintenance, inadequacies in the
planning and implementation of building regulations and societal and
attitudinal drawbacks.
It there
the role and concern of the engineers to direct the resources of nature for
convenient use of man which mostly involves the implementation of
infrastructure delivery.
Speaking
to HSJ, Fred K. Akwaboah, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of GIE, disclosed that
the institution has already drawn plans for the Kejetia flyover and the
expansion of many roads to ease traffic problems.
“Infrastructure
development is a total commitment to improving the quality of life for the
people of the metropolis by the provision of essential facilities and services
and the creation of an enabling environment to promote and sustain the
development of the city,” he declared.
This is
also the version of the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Maxwell Kofi
Jumah, who was the guest speaker at the seminar. According to him, plans are
underway to introduce spot fines for littering of streets, prosecute landlords
who convert toilets into living quarters and establish a plant to recycle and
incinerate waste to generate electricity.
Jumah then charged the citizens of Kumasi to facilitate the “garden city concept” which is bringing Kumasi back to its former beauty and state, by way of planting a tree each.
GRi…/
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Squadron Leader Clend Sowu the outspoken former
NDC Member of Parliament for the Anlo Constituency has decided to contest the
Chairmanship of the NDC.
In an interview with the Squadron Leader who is
known for his no-nonsense and bipartisan approach to national issues, he said
he as now decided to go for the chairmanship of the party because the race has
been thrown wide open.
Squadron Leader Sowu said since it was
announced that the NDC will go to congress on December 28 many friends and
sympathizers in the NDC both home and abroad have pressurized him to go for it.
In an interview he told us that in 1998 after
he had been sponsored by the Central, Western and Ashanti Regions and he had
filed his nomination papers for Vice-Chairmanship he was prevailed upon to step
down but he thinks the time is now ripe to make a move.
Squadron Leader Clend Sowu says looking at the
party now and the fortunes for the future, he believes he can make a
difference.
His interest in the chairmanship will bring him
face to face with Dr Obed Asamoah who has already announced his intention to
contest.
In a Peace FM interview on Wednesday December
12, Mr Victor Smith of the Office of the former President said Dr Obed
Asamoah'd intention to contest for the chairmanship has signaled a conflict of
interest.
He said Dr Obed Asamoah is the Chairman of the
Finance Committee of the party, he did not relinquish that position and later
on made himself the chairman of the re-organization committee of the party and
sought to use that position to further his ambitions. No one suspected that he
was going to use that position of traveling round the country seeking to
re-organize the party but in actual fact to lay the grounds for his
ambitions."
In an interview with Victor Smith he claimed
that if the rest of the NDC people knew Obed's intentions it would have been a
different matter.
But he kept it away from the rank and file, the
grassroots and in fact all of us and he is now using the logistics that belong
to the whole party to create an advantage for himself. This is unfair and it
must not happen."
GRi…/
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