Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. 2000
The donor community has confirmed its support to the Ghana Government and the Electoral Commission to ensure free, fair and transparent elections this year.
A statement issued in Accra on Thursday said the community last year set up a working group to look at the whole question of electoral assistance.
It comprised the British High Commission, Royal Danish Embassy, Canadian High Commission, European Commission, Embassies of France, Italy, Royal Netherlands, Germany, Japan and Spain, the UNDP and USAID.
"The group meets monthly and consults closely with the EC and the Ministry of Finance to look at the whole question of electoral assistance, which, for the most part, will be directed towards the provision of equipment and materials and the training of personnel.
"The community will be committing significant funds towards the preparation and arrangements for the presidential and parliamentary election in December."
The group also attends the regular Inter-Party Advisory Committee meetings at the EC to hear the views and concerns of representatives of the political parties.
Last week, it met the National Media Commission, Ghana Journalists Association and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to discuss their proposals and plans for monitoring media coverage of the elections.
In addition, NGOs and representatives of civil society are discussing with donors' project proposals on election-related activities.
Some donors are also expected to offer assistance to the media in capacity building, orientation courses and the distribution of handbooks to journalists.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. 2000
A non-partisan political movement, the National Front, on Thursday called on political aspirants and some opposition parties to bridge their ideas to solve the country's political and socio-economic problems.
A statement issued by the Front in Accra by its spokesman Nana Addo-Aikins, also called for the convening of a National Theoretical Conference where ideas on the formation of an Interim National Government to take off in 2001, would be discussed.
The statement described the present political order as "a millennium bug" and said its continued existence would be most destructive to the welfare of the nation and its people.
"Nationalists, statesmen and all others yearning for true change should join hands for the proposed National Theoretical Conference which shall be additionally tasked with the formation of National Government Fan Clubs as initial structures for a joint political action."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. 2000
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday urged the government to avoid unilateral formulation and implementation of labour policies.
The government should promote dialogue and encourage workers' participation in decision-making at both national and enterprise levels, it said.
In a submission to parliament on the Budget statement and economic policy of the government, it noted that poor remuneration of workers has been the major cause of
industrial unrest in both private and public sectors.
"We call on (the) government to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention 131 on minimum wage fixing and give it the necessary legal backing to facilitate the enhancement of workers' incomes."
GRi../