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Newsreel Ghana 14 - 02 - 2001
Kufuor orders presidential
jets to be sold
Population of wildlife species in West and Central Africa declines
Social
Welfare official advocates education on women's rights
Ghanaians urged to co-operate with government
Akwatiahene
calls for co-operation
Remains
of Victor Owusu flown in
Do not over-rely on foreign
assistance for development
Harmattan condition is
normal – Meteo
Probe the Trokosi
liberation campaign – Ameve
Publish report on pre-mix
fuel probe – fishermen
Government to harness
resources for development - Amankwaa
Near disaster
at Tema Fishing harbour.
Kpando Police receive one firearm
EU invests 30 million Euro in small towns water sector
Farmers advised on the use
of agro-chemicals
Four car thieves fail to
snatch a taxi
NPP
will replace gov't appointees with experts, Baah-Wiredu
Kufuor orders presidential
jets to be sold
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
President John Kufuor has decided that the two presidential planes - Fokker 28 and Gulf Stream (G3) - should be disposed of as quickly as possible and a decision taken on the best mode for him to travel.
A statement signed by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government Spokesperson, said President Kufuor intends to use scheduled commercial flights as mush as possible and chartered flights as and when necessary.
"The president is determined that the business of government should not suffer because of the absence of a presidential jet and is willing to suffer the inconvenience to attain his objectives," it said.
"He is sure that people of Ghana will be understanding until the matter is satisfactorily resolved."
The statement said President Kufuor believes that there remains a lot of unanswered questions about how the G3 was acquired by the previous government.
"These questions still remain and attempts are being made to unravel the tangled web that was spun to cover the details of the purchase.
"It does appear though that there was malfeasance in the acquisition of the plane, enough to make the president determined not to use the aircraft."
It said even if the president wanted to use the G3 today, it would have to be serviced adding that the cost of operating it is not cheaper than chartering an aircraft.
The statement said the F28, which the previous government found to be expensive to maintain because of its age and demise of the manufacturers, is currently not airworthy.
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President Kufuor urges
young professionals, businessmen to assist
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday met with the Young Executives Forum, a group of professionals and business executives, loyal to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and urged them to help government achieve its vision for the people.
He said the task of building the nation will not be easy and requires talents, including those of the group, to translate the goals into reality.
The objective of the group, which has been active since 1992, is to promote free enterprise and entrepreneurship within the structures of the NPP. It also serves as lobbying machinery towards the realisation of the party's goals.
President Kufuor expressed gratitude to members for their support to the party especially, during the difficult times when it was in opposition.
He said their selfless support is required now more than before to bring relief to the electorate through whose confidence the party was voted into power.
Mr Alan Kyeremanteng, President of the forum, reaffirmed members' commitment to ensuring successful governance.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region)
14 Feb 2001
Environmental
degradation and the uncontrolled bush meat trade has led to the decline in the
population of wildlife species in West and Central Africa over the past 30
years.
A statement by an
environmental NGO, Conservation International (CI) Ghana in Kumasi on Wednesday
said the uncontrolled bush meat trade in particular has reached a crisis stage
as it is threatening to eliminate the endangered and threatened wildlife
species especially the primates.
It said for instance
that in Ghana, the Red Colobus Monkey has disappeared from all previously
occupied localities.
Conservation
International said the threat to extinction posed to various wildlife species
by the bush meat trade has grave implications for the forest composition and
structure because of the role these species play in seed dispersal.
It stressed the need
for urgent measures to avert the threats facing critically endangered species,
without undermining the socio-economic base of the rural people whose
livelihood depends on the bush meat trade.
As a first step
therefore, it said Conservation International would organise a two-day
stakeholders meeting on endangered bush meat on February 21 in Kumasi to
protect the country's bio-diversity and natural heritage.
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Social
Welfare official advocates education on women's rights
Bolgatanga (Upper East)
14 February 2001
The Upper East Regional
Director of Social Welfare, Mr. John Asundem has called on women's
organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations, (NGOs) agitating for gender
equality to intensify their education on the rights of women and children.
Speaking to the GNA in
Bolgatanga, Mr Asudem said the dowry in the form of cows is the cause of
subjugation of women by men in the area.
He said it is sad that
some women are being brutalised before their own children at home while others
are threaten with divorce on flimsy reasons. "If such women were
sensitised enough on their rights they would come forward to report such cases
for redress", he added.
On child maintenance,
Mr. Asundem said teachers are the worse offenders since many of
them do not care for
their children.
Mr. Asudem said as many
as 10 teachers' children report their fathers to the department every month.
The wives of these teachers are afraid to report, for fear of being rebuked at
home.
He said some mothers
cross the borders from places such as Bawku and Navrongoo to abandon their
children.
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Kade (Eastern region)
14 Feb 2001
Barima Gyakorang
Adutwum II, Kadehene has urged Ghanaians to unite behind the government to
achieve the national development objectives.
This they should do by
contributing their quota in the best interest of the country.
Barima Adutwum, who was
speaking at the celebration of the Efiri Tete festival at Kade, said:
"Gone are the days when people sat aloof and expected government to do
everything for them."
Kadehene said members
of the opposition should embrace NPP's electoral victory adding that the
objective of all political parties is to seek the socio-economic development of
the people.
He advised the
President to welcome suggestions from different shades of opinion irrespective
of ethnic, sex, religious or political background to help him in formulating
his policies.
Nana Adutwum said the
government should tackle the economic problems of the country with an open mind
since that is the heartbeat of the nation.
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Akwatiahene
calls for co-operation
Akwatia (Eastern
Region) 14 February 2001
Barima Kofi Boateng the
third, Akwatiahene at the weekend called on his people to co-operate with
traditional rulers to ensure the socio-economic development of the area.
The area is endowed
with human and natural resources that must be exploited to benefit the people,
he said.
The Akwatiahene was
speaking at the out-dooring of two sub-chiefs, at Akim Osenase in the Eastern
Region.
They are Nana Kwaku
Dabo, Ayoko Abusuapanin and Nana Yaw Boama Dapaah the first, Ayokohene.
Nana Dapaah, known in
private life as Yaw Dapaah has been linguist to the Akwatiahene for 17 years.
The Akwatiahene advised
the new chiefs to serve their people with truth and cautioned that they might
fail as effective leaders if they lord it over their people.
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Remains
of Victor Owusu flown in
Accra (Greater Accra)
14 February 2001
The casket containing
the remains of Mr Victor Owusu, a renowned politician was on Tuesday night
flown in on board a Ghana Airways flight from London.
The late Victor Owusu,
who was a presidential candidate for the erstwhile Popular Front Party (PFP)
died in Kingston Hospital, London on December 10, 2000.
The casket, which was
accompanied by family members, led by Mr Daniel Edusei, a Kumasi based lawyer,
was covered with the national flag. Libation was poured by a family linguist
for the safe arrival of the body.
At the airport to
receive the casket were family members and government officials including Nana
Akufo Addo, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Dr. Kofi Apraku, Minister
of Trade and Industries and Mr Odoi Sykes, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party.
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Do not over-rely on
foreign assistance for development
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
A senior Economics lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Augustine Gockel has deplored the over-reliance of the Ghanaian economy on foreign assistance for development.
"No country in the world has ever succeeded in carrying through its development programmes on foreign aid or assistance," he said.
Dr Gockel told a symposium in Accra on Tuesday, development must emanate more from domestic resources and people's own efforts, saying it is the only way to ensure sustainable development.
To achieve this, Dr Gockel advocated a strong technological base to ensure that the country absorbs any shocks that external market conditions will induce.
He asked for the redefinition of the market and government in the running of businesses to establish a clear-cut limit for the state, adding that the role of the government is critical in nurturing the growth of businesses.
Dr Gockel called for strong political will in implementing policies, no matter how harsh they are, to enable the country to overcome the current economic difficulties.
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Harmattan condition is
normal – Meteo
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
The Meteorological Survey Department on Tuesday said the Harmattan condition currently prevailing over the country is normal except that it is a little bit intense.
Mr. Kwao Wiredu, officer in charge of the Airport Meteorological Office, told the GNA that this Harmattan period, which is expected to last for a week, is the result of a high pressure system of wind over Europe with orientation from the north and the south.
He said the wind is carrying a lot of dust from the Sahara to the West Africa sub-region, giving rise to the intensity of the condition being experienced now.
"Relative humidity value are below 50 per cent, an indication of its intensity and a reduction of visibility."
Mr. Wiredu however noted that the Harmattan condition will not affect aircraft movement in Ghana.
There have been two minor spells of Harmattan in early and late January but its effects were not felt in the coastal areas as they were not as intense as the current one.
Mr. Wiredu said every year there are about three spells of Harmattan periods beginning from late November from the northern sector and spreads to the coast by early January.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
Accra is to be rehabilitated under a re-development project by UNESCO at a cost of over two million dollars.
The rehabilitation would be centred on the forts, castles, the old harbour and the entire township of old Accra.
The project also involves the upgrading of basic social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and the creation of employment avenues for the youth.
The President of the general conference of UNESCO, Professor (Mrs) Jaroslava Moserova who announced this at a meeting with members of the Ga traditional Council in Accra on Tuesday, urged them to protect the heritage bequeathed to them.
"Do not think about what UNESCO can do for you, but what you can do to maintain or upgrade what your heritage is," she said, adding that, "the future of your country is in your hands."
She commended the Chiefs for maintaining the forts and castles and said, "this has made your people highly respected at the conference of UNESCO."
The UNESCO representative in Ghana, Mr Bruno Lefevre said UNESCO agreed to assist in rehabilitating Accra because it harbours over 100 historical buildings, in addition to the numerous forts and castles.
"Some of these buildings held the one time beauty of Old Accra. We need this beauty back," he said.
Mr Lefevre said another area that UNESCO would be assisting in rehabilitating is the shrines in Ashanti, which have a lot of historical and heritage importance.
He called on the chiefs to set up an independent agency to oversee the rehabilitation work.
The Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo Mr Reginald Niibi Ayi-Bonte urged the chiefs to unite to ensure that the rehabilitation works succeed.
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Probe the Trokosi
liberation campaign – Ameve
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
Osofo Kofi Ameve, leader of the Afrikania Mission, which has been opposed to activities of NGOs to liberate women being held in shrines as slaves, on Tuesday repeated his claim that the Trokosi liberation campaign is a fraudulent money making venture.
Osofo Ameve, therefore, called on the government to "genuinely probe" the activities of the NGOs saying Trokosi as defined by them as a shrine that enslaves women in Ghana does not exist.
In a letter to Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women's Affairs and made available to the press, Osofo Ameve claimed that the mission's research into the campaign revealed that ordinary men are made to rehearse and present themselves as "fetish priests" liberating their Trokosi slaves.
He said at the end of these activities money is distributed to men, women and girls who are used in this fraud thereby corrupting the people.
"With funding from donors and official support from CHRAJ, they have succeeded in misleading the Ghanaian public, some women organisations, state officials and the international community."
He said the campaign by the NGOs damages the reputation of the cultural and religious beliefs of the people of GaDagme, Anlo State and Tongo.
"What exists in Eweland is Troxovi (a divinity that adopts children), a religious institution that has been the most effective educational and social welfare."
He said most often people beg for sanctuary in a Trokosi shrine so as to protect them from ill health, failure in business among others.
"Other mode of recruitment to the shrine for training is when a family member commits a heinous crime and calamity befalls the affected family.
"Such a family is regarded as having failed society by not effectively raising all its members on the path of righteousness."
He said one member of the family is sent to Troxovi for spiritual, moral and social training so as to serve as a role model for the effected family and society as a whole," he said, adding that Afrikania believes that the nation will be at risk if the belief system of the people is falsely denigrated and destroyed.
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Mim (Brong Ahafo) 14 February 2001
Fire gutted the Sawshop Department of Mim Timber Company (MTC) at the weekend and destroyed equipment worth billions of cedis.
There was no casualty. The cause of the fire is still not known.
It took firemen from Berekum and the company's own fire outfit about three hours to bring the fire under control.
Police, however, suspect foul play and have invited two workers who were on duty at the Sawshop at the weekend for questioning.
When the Ghana News Agency visited the MTC premises, it was virtually deserted and policemen had been deployed to guard the place.
Workers of the company on Friday embarked on an indefinite strike action in protest against the delay in the payment of their January salaries.
They ignored an earlier assurance by the Divestiture Implementation Committee that their salaries would be paid and went on strike.
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Publish report on pre-mix
fuel probe – fishermen
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2001
The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen's Council on Tuesday called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to immediately publish the report of the Mensah Committee which probed the activities of the previous Ministerial Committee on pre-mix fuel and implement its findings.
It also asked for the dissolution of the present committee, headed by Mr Bismark Doku Nettey, and appoint an interim committee to administer the pre-mix facility until the investigation committees complete their work.
At a meeting of members of the council, Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah IV, Ga Woleiatse and Executive Secretary of the Council, said the pre-mix fuel facility has now become the lifeline of artesanal fishing in the country and its withdrawal will spell their doom.
They asked for the sustenance of the facility, which, they said, has been grossly abused by its administrators and their collaborators.
Nii Kyerekuandah expressed regret that fishing has not been given the needed attention and support as farming.
"Whilst enormous national attention is always focused on farming, fishery as an industry is left on the periphery of the national agenda. It has never enjoyed the attention it deserves." He said because of the neglect of fishing over the years, the industry is on the verge of collapse and called on MOFA and allied agencies to give more attention to the industry.
He called for a change of name of the Fisheries Commission to Fisheries Development Commission, which should be placed in the hands of a competent body, with a clear perception of role and properly spelt out functions and responsibilities.
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Government to harness
resources for development - Amankwaa
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 14 February 2001
Mr Yaw Amankwaa, Treasurer of North America and Canada branch of the NPP, has assured Ghanaians that the NPP government will harness every available human and material resources for national development.
Speaking to the GNA, after the inauguration of the Asafo-Abrotia branch of Young Elephant Movement (YEM), a youth wing of the NPP, in Kumasi he said the government would be transparent in its handling of the affairs of state.
The government, he said, will give the youth a new sense of direction to enable them to offer useful services to their communities and ensure the effective implementation of government policies and programmes.
Mr Amankwaa said the government will help sustain the movement but it expects individuals, organisations and party functionaries to contribute in cash or kind to support its activities.
Mr. Amankwaa commended the youth of the party for their dedication, commitment and vigilance, which helped immensely to nip in the bud, attempts to rig the last December elections.
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Near
disaster at Tema Fishing harbour.
Tema (Greater Accra) 14
Feb. 2001
There was near disaster
at the main entrance of the Tema Fishing Harbour on Monday night when a fishing
vessel, MV Shabda belonging to Cactus Enterprise, a local fishing company
started sinking.
The vessel, which had
set sail for fishing with a 63-member crew of Ghanaians and Koreans, sent a SOS
message to be allowed to return to port. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
(GPHA) however refused to allow it to return to the port fearing that it could
sink in the fishing harbour.
Last Sunday, a fishing
vessel belonging to the same company that was undergoing repairs sunk in the
fishing harbour and the port authorities said it could cost millions of cedis
to remove.
A source close to the
port said GPHA therefore ordered the Korean Captain of the vessel which had
blocked the entrance of the fishing harbour to move east of the break water for
assistance but the captain turned down the offer saying they would use their
own pumping machines.
The source said the
fishing harbour would have been closed if the vessel had sunk at its entrance
since no fishing vessel can enter or leave.
The GPHA however put
its fire service personnel, bigger pumping machines and a tugboat on stand-by
to assist vessel. It set sail later in
the night.
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US
urged to implement African Growth and Opportunity Act
Accra (Greater Accra)
14 Feb. 2001
Vice President Aliu
Mahama on Tuesday urged the United States to implement the African Growth and
Opportunity Act to enable Ghana reap its full benefits.
He said Africa enjoyed
a lot of good will from former US President Bill Clinton, "and we want to
see what President George W. Bush has for us."
Alhaji Mahama was
speaking at a meeting with the US ambassador, Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson, who
called on him at the State House.
He said the government
has just settled down for business and wishes to improve on its relations with
the US especially in the area of trade.
Alhaji Mahama said the
country is over-stretched by its peace-keeping mission and counts on the
support of the US in meeting these commitments.
He said the government
remains committed to the UN, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the
Commonwealth, and the Economic Community of Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
Ms Robinson who was
accompanied by a six-member technical team from the embassy expressed the
desire of the US to continue the bi-lateral relations with Ghana, onsolidated
by the visit of ex-President Clinton to Ghana.
She said the Bush
administration remains committed to the Growth and Opportunity Act, explaining
that very soon the US government will organise a briefing session for
government officials and the private sector on it.
This, she said, would
help facilitate the growth of trade and commerce on the continent.
Dr. Frank Young,
Director of United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
described its intervention in Ghana as the most successful in Africa.
USAID is involved in
the promotion of private sector growth, regional co-operation, reproductive
health care, as well as democracy and good governance.
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Kpando (Volta Region) 14 February 2001
The Kpando Police said on Monday that they have so far taken custody of one firearm, more than one week after the ultimatum by the Ministry of the Interior to those in illegal possession of such arms to surrender them.
Speaking to the GNA Mr Cosmos Kwesi Nti, Deputy Superintendent of Police in-charge of the Kpando district declined to mention the type of firearm or who turned it in.
He said the police have no evidence that firearms are being manufactured in some parts of the district especially in the Alavanyo area.
Mr Nti said there is already a ban on the manufacture and possession of firearms in the Alavanyo area, adding that only two people are under license to repair guns in Kpando.
Other sources however told the GNA that there is a guarded secrecy about the fabrication of various types of firearms by craftsmen in the Alavanyo area.
Potential customers are said to channel their requests through people well known to the craftsmen whose identity is closely guarded.
The sources said the government's two-week ultimatum to retrieve all illegal firearms has further driven the activities of the craftsmen underground.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
14 February 2001
Mr Alessandro Mariani,
Head of European Union Delegation in Ghana, on Tuesday said the EU has given a
grant of 30 million Euro for Small Town Water Projects scheduled to be
completed by the end of 2002.
The Ghana government
has shown good leadership in the development of the water sector to enhance the
living conditions in the rural areas and eliminate waterborne diseases, he
said.
Mr Mariani said this
during a call on the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Kwamena Bartels, to
brief him on EU's projects with the ministry and discuss new areas for
development and co-operation.
He said 10 communities
in the Ashanti Region, eight in Brong Ahafo Region and six in Western Region
are the beneficiaries.
Mr Mariani said the
EU's goal is to develop a good portfolio with the government for future
investments.
Mr Mariani said
feasibility studies on the project have not identified any major problems that
would delay the commencement of work in the next few months.
He said approval has
also been given for the provision of 500 bole-holes in East and West Gonja and
Mamprusi Districts of the Northern Region.
Mr Mariani said the
reason for the selection the Northern Region is basically the low per capita
income of the area which is also one of the least developed.
He said a 10
million-Euro grant has been approved for the Fifth Macro Project Implementation
Programme.
Mr Mariani said the
African-Pacific-Caribbean (ACP) and European Union signed an agreement in
Cotonou, Benin, last June for them to embark on dialogue to identify areas of
co-operation for rural development.
He called on the
government to study the document and identify policies and programmes for the
mutual benefit of Ghanaians, especially the rural people.
Mr Bartels expressed
the government's gratitude for EU's assistance, particularly towards efforts to
improve the water sector.
He appealed to the EU
to consider extending the Small Town Water Project to the Volta Region,
particularly Kete Krachi, Nkwanta and Kadjebi which are along the lake but lack
potable water.
He said the government
is interested in these areas mainly to eradicate guinea worm.
"There is the need
to eradicate guinea worm, which is a waterborne disease, as soon as
possible."
Mr Bartels called for
additional support for rural development and poverty alleviation and assured
the EU of the support of the ministry for the micro projects.
The minister appealed
to the EU to consider investing in the coastline where the environment exists
for the development of a salt industry.
"This is a vast
and valuable investment portfolio for the large domestic and industrial market
in the sub-region," Mr Bartels said.
He urged the EU to help
Ghana draw an accurate map for the water table so as to eliminate waste as a
result of poor mapping.
Mr Bartels suggested to
the EU to consider Rural Housing Renewal projects under the micro project
scheme.
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Farmers advised on the use
of agro-chemicals
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 14 Feb 2001
The Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture, Dr Alfred Asante, on Monday advised farmers in the region to desist from using agro-chemicals indiscriminately on their farms.
Making the appeal in an interview with the GNA at Koforidua, he said observed that most farmers in the region are illiterate and cannot explain to their colleagues the proper use of chemicals they distribute to them.
The ministry has therefore decided to register and license all distributors of such chemicals in the region and to organise training programmes for them on their effective use.
Dr Asante appealed to farmers to stop farming along water bodies since the chemicals they apply to the soil could pollute them.
He said the removal of the vegetation cover will accelerate evaporation and erosion.
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Four car thieves fail to
snatch a taxi
Bodomase (Ashanti Region) 14 Feb 2001
Four suspected car thieves, including a woman who failed in their bid to snatch a taxicab from its driver, fled into the bush when they saw a cargo truck approaching the scene.
Narrating his ordeal to the Ghana News Agency at Bodomase, near Kumawu,in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti, Kwadwo Agyare, 34, driver of the taxicab with registration number GR 7781 C, said on February 5, this year, four men hired his car from Bodomase to Effiduasi in the night.
On his return journey from Effiduasi, four persons, including a woman, boarded the car at Oyoko to convey them to Wonoo, near Kumawu.
The men then asked him where he stays to which he replied Kumawu. In an answer to the same question, Agyare said he stays at Bodomase since all vehicles that ply the route have Kumawu as their focal point.
The passengers did not take kindly to the answer and accused him of telling a lie.
"They started conversing in Hausa and Ewe. One of them asked the man sitting next to him on the front seat to snatch the car key but he replied that since the car was old, the driver could use wires to start it. I then told them in Ewe that I would never hand over the key to them."
He said they asked him to surrender any money on him to them to which he refused, adding that between Akotosu and Wonoo, one of those at the back seat held his head backwards and pinned his head to the seat while the car was in motion.
Agyare said he warned them to stop their action or he would drive them into a ditch.
Mr Agyare said they pushed him out of the car while one of them hit him with a club, adding that he then pulled out a cutlass from the car and slashed one of them.
Another man who charged on him received a right punch in the eye which floored him in the process while the woman kept on ransacking the car for money.
Mr Agyare said in the course of the struggle, an oncoming cargo truck, which appeared on the scene, forced his attackers to flee into the bush.
He managed to drive the jerky car with a broken windscreen to Wonoo and reported the incident to Kumawu Police who instructed him to report to Oyoko Police where he was given a medical form to go to the Effiduasi Government Hospital for treatment.
When the GNA contacted Oyoko Police, they confirmed the story and said they were investigating it.
Meanwhile, the police have advised the public and hospitals to report anyone with cutlass wounds on the neck to them.
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Donkro Nkwanta (Brong Ahafo) 14 Feb 2001
Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Donkro-Nkwanta zone of the Nkoranza District have organised a victory rally and dinner dance to commemorate the party's success in the 2000 general election.
Addressing the members, Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, the party's parliamentary candidate in the constituency who lost to his NDC contestant, said "the victory of the NPP is a victory for all Ghanaians".
He advised the people to bury their political differences and join hands to initiate development programmes to enhance their living standard.
He advised NPP youth in the area to guard against anything that could bring the party's name into disrepute.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi, who is popularly known as "Abodwese", urged parents to invest seriously in the education of their wards since education is the only legacy they can bequeath to their children.
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NPP
will replace gov't appointees with experts, Baah-Wiredu
Techiman (Brong Ahafo)
14 Feb. 2001
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu,
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said at the weekend that
the New Patriotic Party would replace the 30 per cent government appointees in
the district assemblies with experts such as engineers and architects.
This, he said, is to
ensure that the district assemblies live up to expectation.
Speaking on the
Techiman-based Classic FM newspaper review programme last Saturday, the
minister said people with technical know-how are needed in the district
assemblies to help accelerate the development of rural communities.
"The engineers,
for instance, can be assigned the task of constructing roads in the hinterlands
to enable farmers to cart their produce to the urban marketing centres."
Acknowledging that town
councils and unit committees can only perform creditably if they are given the
necessary support, Mr Baah-Wiredu urged the youth, in particular, to rally
solidly behind these bodies to help achieve their goals.
Mr Baah-Wiredu stated
that the government would not abandon the Techiman market project since it
would help the district assembly to generate sufficient revenue to facilitate
the development of the district.
He said the NPP has
made it abundantly clear on page 39 of its manifesto that it disagrees with the
present arrangement and removal of district chief executives and hinted that
"ultimately DCEs will have to be elected".
Mr John Mahama, NDC
Member of Parliament for Bole, described media reports that his ministry left
behind huge telephone bills as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his hard-won
reputation.
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