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Considering her huge domestic and external debt, Ghana stands to benefit from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) for debt relief, Britain's Secretary of State for International Development, Ms Clare Short said in Accra on Tuesday.

Ghana, she said, will benefit from a relief to the tune of between 170 and 200 million dollars in the first year if she joins the initiative.

Ms Short was giving a lecture on the new British Government White Paper on International Development, titled "Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation work for the Poor."

She said opting for HIPC would reduce the pressure on government in debt interest payments and permit re-allocation of such resources to other critical sectors of the economy.

"The prospects of reducing poverty and channeling funds which otherwise will be used in servicing debts to other productive sectors are very high under the HIPC," she said.

The White Paper seeks to reduce extreme poverty among people by half, increase access to universal primary education in all countries by 2015, and implement national strategies for sustainable development in all countries by 2005.

Debt relief, Ms Short said, is important only when resources generated from it are conditionally linked to policies that reduce poverty and increase social justice.

She, however, stressed the need for Ghana to weigh the benefits vis-a-vis the disadvantages that the country will derive from HIPC so that a definite stand could be taken, saying the decision is entirely in the hands of government.

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana Mr Hiromu Mittah said his country will not block Ghana's desire to join the initiative. However, as a policy, Japan will not provide loans and aids to countries that opt for the initiative.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, who chaired the function said global inequality would continue as long as trade imbalances exist between the developed and the developing economies.

The answer, he maintained, lies in ensuring fair terms of trade between the two economies.

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Dapaah: There is need to rationalise fuel prices

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

The Minister of Mines and Energy on Tuesday said there is the urgent need for government to rationalise the price of petroleum products to conform to international market prices.

Mr Albert Kan Dapaah said the effect of such an increase must, however, be managed to ensure that inflationary effects are minimised.

"This can best be achieved by keeping transport and food price increases in check, and by controlling monetary growth," Mr Dapaah told journalists on the current petroleum situation in the country.

Accra and surrounding towns have in the past week been hit by petrol shortages that have led to numerous winding queues at the filling stations.

Industry analysts have attributed several reasons for the shortage, paramount among them being that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is unable to meet supply, panic buying and increased smuggling to neighbouring countries because of the low price of the product in Ghana.

The Minister said the current situation in which TOR finds itself deep in an unsustainable debt of two trillion cedis, and a further six billion cedis a day, based only on daily exchange rate fluctuation is unacceptable.

"This situation is not sustainable and demands immediate upward revision of ex-refinery prices," he said.

Mr Dapaah said the former government took a prudent step to introduce a policy to deregulate the pricing of fuel and allow market to determine prices.

"Regrettably, this laudable policy which was to grant TOR full cost recovery of ex-refinery costs was abused right from inception," Mr Dappah said.

He said as a result of lack of price adjustment, TOR has been left with debts not only accruing from the lifting of oil, but also from the servicing of its loan for expansion.

Mr Dapaah said although the decision is a difficult one, "the need to return to a full cost recovery regime cannot be postponed much longer in view of the debilitating impact it will have on an already battered economy."

He said the government would not run away from taking the necessary decisions, however, bitter. "We consider that certain actions should precede any price revisions so as to mitigate the effects of fuel price hikes. We are working assiduously on this very important matter."

Dr Charles Wereko-Brobbey, Energy Adviser to the government, said the current problems arise from the lack of transparency on how the price of fuel was determined by the previous government.

"The idea of a full cost recovery regime at this time is most economically imperative," he said.

Dr Wereko-Brobbey said smuggling is not a major problem in the current situation, "otherwise there should be a severe shortage of fuel at the country's borders, which is not the case now."

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Ministry to create self-employment avenues for women

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

The Ministry of Women's Affairs would create avenues for more women to become self-employed and politically empowered, Mrs Gladys Asmah, the sector Minister said on Tuesday.

She said steps would be taken to pass laws to support women's development through public advocacy and business promotion.

Mrs Asmah was speaking during a courtesy call by the United States Ambassador, Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson.

The meeting was to explore ways of collaboration and assistance to the new Ministry.

She said the ministry would collaborate with the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) and the Department of Community Development at the district level to implement programmes aimed at raising the status of women.

The ministry's activities she said would be a departure from the old social welfare approach to real economic empowerment.

"My Ministry's mission is to champion the cause of all women in Ghana through the promotion of gender equality to achieve economic empowerment of women."

She said the Ministry is mapping out strategies to collaborate with other Ministries to ensure that gender issues are given the emphasis it deserves.

Ms Dee Robinson pledged her government's support for the new ministry and said the issue of women and girls' empowerment is dear to the US government.

She assured the Minister of her government's preparedness to support the capacity building of the staff of the ministry.

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NPP government is ripping the constitution – Minority

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Barely seven weeks in power, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has been accused by the Minority of ripping the constitution, which it has sworn to obey and defend.

At a well-attended press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said the minority was alarmed at the spate of abuses the constitution has suffered from key operatives of the government within their short period in office.

He was particularly irked by the action of Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, minister for Local Government and Rural Development, who had allegedly jumped the gun by signing letters dismissing District Chief Executives on January 22 when he had not yet been sworn into office. The minister was sworn in on February 2.

Mr. Bagbin, who displayed copies of the letter, said the minister's action was not only a rip of the constitution but also an attempt to erode the basis of constitutional rule.

He said that though the minority had cautioned the government against this breech of the law when it became evident that most of the ministerial nominees were acting unconstitutionally, the NPP officials contended that they were acting as representatives of the government.

The minority leader said Mr Baah-Wiredu's action has vindicated the opposition who are prepared to perform their watchdog functions adequately to protect the constitution and prevent "serious breeches of the law by those in authority".

He also mentioned an order by the Central Regional Minister revoking the membership of government appointees on District Assemblies as an infringement on the constitution, saying "the regional minister has no such powers; it is the president who appoints one-third of the members after consultation with some groups".

Mr. Bagbin described the regional minister's action as "an infraction of the constitution", adding that those who were appointed are well placed professionals who act as resource persons to the district assemblies and that the mode of their dismissal was wrong.

The minority leader said the regional minister should have written to those affected instead of going on air and the pages of newspapers to do so.

He said it was time to draw the brakes and ensure that the government operates within the ambit of the constitution instead of allowing its functionaries to flout the law deliberately and get away with it.

Mr. Bagbin pledged the commitment of the opposition to "take the government through the due processes of the law" if it continues to violate provisions in the constitution.

Concluding, he said the minority promised to co-operate fully with the government in the interest of the nation. Nevertheless, it will not condone illegality.

He said that the pledge of co-operation should not be seen as a weakness on the part of the opposition.

Reacting to the accusations in an interview with the GNA, Mr Baah-Wiredu attributed the wrong date to an administrative error, "which was detected on the same day and rectified".

He showed the GNA copies of a letter with the same contents dated February 2 with an addendum nullifying the copies that were dated January 22.

The minister explained that the letter was saved in the computer and when he ordered its release, the secretary failed to alter the date even though they were dispatched on February 2 after he had assumed office.

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ILO director calls on Manpower Minister

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Mr Cornelius Dzakpasu, Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), on Tuesday said Ghana is a model in Africa to implement most of the organisation's conventions to protect the rights of workers.

Mr Dzakpasu, who is responsible for Ghana and Nigeria, said this when he paid a courtesy call on Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment.

He said Ghana is one of the first countries on the continent to establish a national tripartite committee and lauded her efforts to eliminate child labour, which is very prevalent, especially in the fishing communities.

The Director said ILO's main concern in recent times is to support governments to strengthen efforts to respect human rights, promote employment through development of skills and vocational training, promote social dialogue and social protection through the provision of security.

Social security exists mostly in the formal sector, Mr Dzakpasu noted, and said there is the need to lay emphasis on the private sector as well.

He also called for an improvement on the 60 per cent employment rate and gender balance in employment and said his outfit is ready to assist the ministry in any area that seeks to improve living conditions of workers.

Mrs. Bannerman reiterated that the change of name of the ministry from Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is not to reduce functions of the former ministry but rather meet the manpower demands of the country through training and capacity building.

She said this would help the nation conform to current global trends.

Mrs Bridgette Katsriku, Chief Director of the Ministry, said the revised labour bill has had cabinet approval and will soon be laid before parliament.

She said the bill seeks to address all current disputes, such as freedom of association that has led to labour unrest.

Earlier, the International Relations Officer of the Trades Union Congress of Cuba, Ms Florentina Laza Caridenas, called on the Minister as part of an African tour to solicit interest in an international labour congress to be held in Cuba in April.

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CPP aims at eradicating poverty

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Dr. Abubakar Al-Hassan, National Chairman and leader of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has described the party as a unique organisation with its focus on the eradication of poverty and social injustice.

"The focus of our policies and our actions in the CPP is to ensure that all Ghanaians can meet their food, health and educational needs," he said.

A statement issued by the CPP National Secretariat in Accra on Tuesday said Dr. Al-Hassan was addressing a meeting of the Regional Executive Council of the party in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.

It was attended by constituency executives and parliamentary candidates from the region as well as members of the Central Committee.

Dr. Al-Hassan stated: "We are serious about the re-organisation of the CPP from the ward level through the regional to the national structure.

"We are determined to rebuild the CPP into a dynamic force for the meaningful social change leading to the emergence of a prosperous Ghana whose citizen can take pride in their achievements in the fields of science and technology, agriculture and industry," he said.

On the relationship between his party and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Al-Hassan said the CPP remains an independent party, which is conscious of its social responsibilities.

"We will continue to contribute to the national development effort even under the Kufuor administration. We will advise them in the best interest of our people but we reserve the right to criticise them when they falter."

Dr Al-Hassan said there are many policy differences between the CPP and the NPP over issues such as education and health care, adding: "but we can still work together in the national interest".

He said the CPP is the only party in Ghana, which has worked out a viable alternative to the Structural Adjustment Programme being implemented under the sponsorship of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Mr K. Tawiah, Interim Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman, called on all party supporters to rally behind the national leadership in the effort to reorganise the party.

He called for "a very high level of discipline at all levels of party organisation because, without it, we will not go anywhere".

Mr Tawiah said plans are afoot to re-launch the CPP in the region and to establish a Regional Council of Elders which will bring together former functionaries of the Nkrumah and Limann administrations.

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Election of DCEs costly, says assemblyman

Yendi (Northern Region) 21 February 2001

Mr Abdul-Majeed Chendow, Assemblyman for Kumfong Electoral Area of the Yendi District Assembly, has said government's intention to have District Chief Executives elected will drain the country's financial resources.

"It will cost government a lot of money to organise elections in the 110 districts for each District Chief Executive to be selected by universal adult suffrage," he said at Yendi on Monday at a meeting with residents of his electoral area.

The meeting was held to plan for an electrification project.

Mr Chendow therefore appealed to the President to appoint the DCEs with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of the Assembly Members, thus limiting voting to the district assemblies to cut down cost.

He said a departure from the manifesto of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on the issue cannot be avoided in view of the country's precarious economic situation.

Mr Chendow said, "If we have to organise another general election to elect District Chief Executives, we will have to rely on foreign assistance to fund the elections".

This situation, he said, should be avoided in view of Ghana's mounting foreign debt.

He said NPP's resounding victory at the elections has not only lifted the image of Ghana as a true democratic country but has also shown that democracy can thrive on the African Continent, adding that there is nothing to prove again.

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Investigate allegation of use of potable water for irrigation-MP

Adankwame (Ashanti Region) 21 February 2001

Mr. James Adusei Sarkodie, MP for Atwima Nwabiagya, has appealed to the Ghana Water Company (GWC) to investigate allegations that officials of the company assist vegetable farmers around the catchment area of the Barekese Dam to tap treated water to irrigate their farms.

He said the practice resulted in the inadequate supply of potable water to the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, which have experienced water shortage for the past few weeks.

Speaking to the GNA in Kumasi, Mr Sarkodie said it is wrong for the company to blame the public for its indebtedness as a result of illegal connections to their pipelines, while its officials indulge in such acts.

"It is unpardonable to use potable water for irrigation purposes when people face an acute water shortage."

When the Ghana News Agency visited one of such farms, he found out that the irrigation facility installed has been connected to the "stop cock" on the main line from the dam to Kumasi.

Mr. Addai Manu, owner of the farm, said the connection was done by officials of the company and has documents to prove that he pays water bills.

He said the latest bill he had from the company was 193,000 cedis out of which he has paid 100,000 cedis.

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Professor Dumor gets new appointment

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Professor Ernest Dumor, a member of the Electoral Commission (EC) has been appointed a member of the Advisory Board of the International Institute for the Study of Elections and Election Management.

An announcement by the EC on Tuesday said Prof. Dumor's appointment signifies the recognition accorded the EC by the international community and his contributions in major elections and election-related programmes since 1993.

A former Sociology Professor, he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Ghana, Legon and doctorate in development studies from Michigan State University, East Lansing United State. He is also a development consultant.

Mr. Henry W. Okyne, Director of Public Affairs of EC told the GNA in Accra that among other things the Institute undertakes continental, regional, sub-regional and national studies and promotes the development of initiative and enterprise elections in Africa.

It also participates in election observation and monitoring.

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Increase in Police strength not feasible now -- Minister

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior said on Tuesday that inadequate accommodation will not allow an increase in the number of police personnel now.

He said the ratio of the police to the citizen now stands at one to 1085 (1: 1085) but his ministry is not considering an increase in the number now because conditions prevailing in the service do not permit that.

The Minister said this when the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Lu Yonshou called on him at the ministry.

The present strength of the service is 16580. This, the Minister said, is small compared to the size and rate at which the population is growing.

Alhaji Yakubu also mentioned other problems like inadequate and inefficient communication facilities, which need to be addressed and told the ambassador that Ghana would welcome Chinese assistance to cover some of the problem areas.

He said the ministry is working hard to improve upon the security situation. "We have to find the killers of our women and also stop the armed robberies that have engulfed the country at the moment."

Mr. Lu told the Minister that China is committed to strengthening relations with Ghana and would co-operate in every area especially the economy.

He said his government is currently involved in projects such as hospitals, electricity, water, and gold mining among others and expressed the hope that the existing political stability and conducive business climate would attract more investments into the country.

The Ambassador called for prioritisation of the detailed programme presented by the government for the rehabilitation of police barracks to enable the project to be implemented as early as possible.

He said the scheme for the project is very broad and hoped the government would appreciate its contribution a little.

Ambassador Lu said when the priorities are set, the Chinese government would get involved in the rehabilitation of the barracks and also provide about 50 to 60 new accommodation for the police service.

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Identify talented Ghanaians for support... Dele

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

A member of the Central Committee of the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday appealed to the government to initiate policies that would help identify Ghanaians with creative abilities.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Dr Edmond Delle said there are many of such people who need support to enable them to excel, adding that they can no longer be taken for granted.

He said some countries adopted a similar strategy to unearth the latent know-how of people, who now are giants in processing and invention.

Dr Delle said such an identification would provide a valuable data and lay the foundation for the industrial development of the country.

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Council of State elections postponed

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday postponed the election of regional representatives to the Council of State from February 27, to March 20, 2001.

The public election regulations stipulate the selection of one representative each by the ten regions as a member of the council of state.

Mr David A. Kangah, EC Deputy Chairman in charge of operations in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra said each region should constitute an electoral collage of two representatives each from the district assembles to elect the regional representative to the council.

He said a candidate who obtains the highest valid votes cast at the elections shall be declared elected and where two or more people obtain the highest votes the process of elections shall continued until one is elected.

Mr Kangah said except otherwise provided, the existing electoral laws shall apply to the council of state election with modifications and adaptations as directed by the commission.

He said the EC would furnish the President with the names of the ten elected regional representatives and publish the results in the Gazette.

Meanwhile information available to the GNA indicates that six persons had filed their nominations to contest the Greater Accra Regional representative election as at the close of nomination on February 15.

They are Nii Abeo Kyerekuanda IV of Teshie, Dr Ebenezer Quarshie Blavo of MacCarthy Hill, Dr Kofi A. Owusu-Ansah of New Achimota, Mr James Amoah of Madina, Mr Timothy Awumee of Nima and Mr Charles Ahenle Quarcoo of Laterbiokorshie.

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Illegal fuel dealer arrested

Tumu (Upper West) 21 February 2001

Police at Tumu in the Upper West region have arrested an illegal fuel dealer for diverting six drums of petrol meant for the Sissala District Assembly.

Alhassan Mohammed, 25, was arrested on February 7 upon information that he had large quantity of petrol, which he intended to smuggle to Burkina Faso.

A Police spokesman told the GNA on Monday that following the information, Police moved to the house of the suspect and retrieved one drum of petrol.

When questioned, he produced a fuel chit signed by the chairman of the regional fuel task force, which showed that the he was issued the fuel for delivery to the Sissala District Assembly but he failed to do so.

The spokesman said Mohammed was earlier arrested on February 3, at a check point on the Wa-Tumu road with the fuel and allowed to continue his journey after he convinced the police that the fuel was to be delivered to the district assembly.

Further investigations by the police revealed that the suspect is neither an official of the district assembly nor a registered fuel dealer.

He has been released on bail and the spokesman said he would be sent to court soon.

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Fire renders 90 people homeless

Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 21 February 2001

A fire outbreak at Bianhyewo, a farming community in the Techiman district on Monday destroyed 19 houses and rendered 90 people homeless.

There was no casualty but the cost of damage to property, which included 34 goats in a pen and foodstuff, runs into several millions of cedis.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service brought the fire under control from Techiman.

Mr Nicholas Asamoah an eye- witness said the fire started at a building with a thatch roof at the outskirts of the village, which spread, to other buildings.

The assemblyman for the area, Mr.Amoah Baffour, said the displaced people are putting up with relatives and friends, while others are being temporarily accommodated at a cocoa shed.

He commended the GNFS for their quick response. Nana Kwaku Owusu, Odikro of the village appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation to help resettle the victims.

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Government solicits Iranian support to open up rural areas

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Vice-President Aliu Mahama on Tuesday lauded the development interventions of Iran in Ghana and said this support would complement government's efforts to open up the rural areas.

He said the goodwill by Iran dating back to the 1950's covers projects on health, agriculture and education, which are vital to the development of the rural areas as well as the national growth.

Alhaji Mahama was speaking at a meeting with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr Mohammed Sadr who led a three-member delegation to call on him at the State House.

Dr Sadr is in the country to seek ways of improving bilateral relations.

The Vice-President commended Iran for establishing two clinics in Accra and initiating the Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) programme and other development projects in the Northern Region.

He said agriculture remains the backbone of the national economy hence the efforts by government to revamp the sector. Illiteracy also remains very high in the rural areas. This therefore calls for more interventions by government with the support of friendly countries like Iran.

Alhaji Mahama said Iran has participated in a number of trade exhibitions in Ghana, and called on the country to use its expertise in entrepreneur development to support the growth of the private sector.

He said government hopes to continue with the economic co-operation started between the two countries in the early 1990's and strengthen the diplomatic ties.

Dr Sadr congratulated Ghana for organising a successful change of government through elections. "I am happy to see the establishment of democracy in Ghana".

He expressed the wish of his country to improve political and economic co-operation with Ghana and invited President John Agyekum Kufuor to Iran to facilitate the process.

Mr Kwame Amoa-Awua of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to Iran to establish satellite campuses of the new Islamic University in Ghana.

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Accra has more fuel than it requires - Akoto

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 February 2001

Mr Yaw Akoto, Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on Tuesday expressed indignation at the continued shortage of fuel in the Accra Metropolis saying, TOR has pumped more than necessary into the system.

He said on Friday, TOR supplied 60 per cent more than the usual quantity supplied to the Accra region. Greater Accra normally receives a weekly total ration of 2.5 million litres of fuel.

Mr Akoto was reacting to questions from journalists during the press conference by the Minister of Mines and Energy to explain the uneven fuel situation in Accra.

"It is strange because on Saturday, we pumped in 700,000 litres extra just to make up for any shortage that occurred during that week," he said.

He said TOR then went ahead to supply 3.3 million litres of oil countrywide at the beginning of this week, with about 1.7 million litres going to the Greater Accra region.

He said it is therefore difficult to come to terms with the shortage, if the oil marketing companies did not have a hand in it.

Meanwhile a few of the oil marketing companies GNA spoke to have debunked the claim saying it does not make "economic sense" to hoard fuel at this time. "It will only result in our money getting locked up."

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