GRi Newsreel Ghana 27 - 02 - 2001
Dodoo asks civil servants to shun waste, bribery
Man dies in a
shootout with police
Fire destroys cocoa farms in Dormaa District
Selfishness
hinders industrial growth - Kpiebaya
Association calls
for probe into shooting incidents
Two robbers attack Accra-Aflao passenger bus
Civil servants urged to ensure proper time
management
Bunkpurugu
communities to benefit from solar project
Ministers call for law to facilitate IT
development
Advanced reporting course opens
Greenstreet Committee clarifies air about
ex-gratia, cars
Minister commends military leadership
Berekum kingmakers oppose enstoolment of
Omanhene
Kufuor calls for co-operation between Ghana
and Yugoslavia
New INDUTECH awards scheme introduced
Government working on revised poverty
reduction strategy - Minister
Ghana, EU sign water and sanitation
agreement
Levy polythene bag producers - NPP official
Streamline the issuance of passports - NUGS
Accra, (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
Dr Robert Dodoo, Head of the Civil Service, on Tuesday urged civil servants to do away with waste, bribery and inefficiency to ensure maximum support for the government's programmes and private sector development drive.
He said the government is focusing on the private sector as the engine of growth for development and a key aspect of this development drive rests invariably with ensuring that the administrative arm of government responds to the need for prompt, efficient and timely delivery of services and outputs.
Dr Dodoo said this when a seven-member delegation of high-ranking civil servants from Ethiopia called on him in Accra.
The delegation, headed by Mr Fikru Desalegne, Director of Service Delivery Programme of the Ethiopian Civil Service, is on a five-day visit to undertake a study tour of selected ministries, departments and agencies with special reference to service delivery.
Dr Dodoo said the civil service has developed a code of conduct to serve as a means of inculcating and establishing a culture of attitudinal change in approach to work and execution of work itself.
He said the service is now focusing more on rendering efficient services to the vulnerable in society -- women, children and those in the rural areas.
Dr Dodoo said under the reform programme in the civil service, a policy of transparency, open governance and customer-friendly services, has been developed to provide quality services to clients.
Mr Desalegne said Ethiopia has launched a reform programme in the civil service with focus on human resource and expenditure management, ethics and service delivery.
He commended Ghana for her leadership role in civil service reforms.
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Man dies in a
shootout with police
Wa (Upper West) 27 Feb. 2001
A 26-year-old unemployed, Salisu
Ahmed alias Rasta, was killed in a shootout with police searching for people
with illegal arms at Dondorli, a suburb of Wa at the weekend.
A Police statement signed by
Inspector Daniel Dorkpoh, Upper West Regional Police Public Relations Officer
on Monday said a team of policemen, under the command of Superintendent Joseph
Opoku, mounted an operation to retrieve unlicensed weapons after the
government's two-week moratorium had elapsed.
The operation, dubbed "Etuo
Mu Ye Sum" took the team to the house of Ahmed popularly known in the
neighbourhood as "Terrible Terror" but when they knocked at his door
he allegedly threatened to kill anyone who entered his room.
The statement said while the
police were waiting at the door they saw Ahmed jump through the roof of his
room onto the ground wielding a locally made pistol which he fired at the
police but missed his target.
The police returned fire fatally
wounding Ahmed who died while he was being conveyed to hospital.
The statement said the pistol,
together with an empty shell and live cartridge was retrieved from him.
A further search of his room led
to the discovery of a pair of military combat boots, a large quantity of leaves
suspected to be Indian hemp, a dagger and a weight-lifting implement.
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Fire destroys cocoa farms in Dormaa
District
Danyame (Brong Ahafo) 27 February 2001
A fire outbreak has devastated several hectares of cocoa at Danyame, Agyemankrom and Dabaabi, all in the Dormaa District.
Other property destroyed were foodstuffs like plantain, cocoyam, cassava and yam estimated to run into several millions of cedis.
Nana Kwadwo Takyi, a prominent cocoa farmer at Danyame, who disclosed this to newsmen, said more than 50 people had been affected by the disaster.
He said the fire started at Nsesreso, a nearby town, and swept through the farms, adding that it took the people more than five hours to bring it under control.
"The disaster has made it very difficult for us to live and even pay our wards' school fees," he said.
Nana Takyi appealed to the government and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to come to the aid of the affected persons.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gyabaah Acheampong, Dormaa District Co-ordinator of NADMO, has inspected the affected areas to acquaint himself with the extent of damage.
He expressed shock at the situation and assured them that NADMO would support them with some relief items.
The Co-ordinator advised them to report people who cause such fire outbreaks.
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Selfishness
hinders industrial growth - Kpiebaya
Tamale (Northern Region) 27
February 2001
The Most Reverend Gregory
Kpiebaya, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale, has said the inability of Ghanaians to
sustain and nurture economic projects that they embark upon could be traced to
selfishness and a lack of commitment.
"Our African spirit seems to
be against continuity. Other nations start something small and it grows and
grows to become a multinational enterprise. But in our case, we start something
and it begins to dwindle until it dies," Archbishop Kpiebaya said in
Tamale at the weekend.
He was commissioning a 500
million-cedi sheabutter extraction project for the Christian Mothers'
Association of the Catholic Church at Vittin in Tamale.
The Archbishop blamed the failure
of many economic projects initiated by associations and governments on greed
and the desire of individuals to prosper at the expense of the growth and
sustenance of these projects.
"We think too much of
ourselves rather than the common good of society," he lamented.
He said it was, for instance, the
practice of some people charged with overseeing community projects "to divert
fuel and other chemicals and machines meant for these projects for the their
own projects whilst removing parts of these same machines to service their own
machines".
"You do not only destroy
these machines by your lack of maintenance but also succeed in dismantling
them."
The Archbishop therefore cautioned
the women to take all the necessary steps to ensure that the project not only
survives but also grows in the years to come.
He advised them to take keen
interest in the preservation of the environment, saying "if you depend on
sheabutter, then there should be a constant supply of sheanuts. Environmental
degradation may cut off the supply of sheanuts".
Archbishop Kpiebaya said since the
sheanut tree thrives in the wild and resists human handling, the Christian
Mothers Association should support nature to continue to grow the trees by
fighting bush burning and the rampant felling of trees.
Mr. Edward Boafo, Programme
Manager of the Christians Mothers Association/Japan International Co-operation
Agency, said the association, with a membership of about 26,000 women
nationwide, has 1,200 women's groups in 100 decentralised districts.
These districts cover nine regions
in Ghana and the women's groups engage in self-help projects for their survival
and sustenance.
Mr. Boafo said the association, as
a registered Non-Governmental Organisation, was committed to empowering women,
reducing poverty and enhancing dynamic Christian social values among its
members.
He said it had financially
supported 200 local women's groups to establish various enterprises based on
available local resources.
In a speech read on his behalf,
the resident representative of the Japan International Co-operation Agency, Mr.
Shiro Mabeya, commended the Catholic Church for its spiritual support and
called on members of beneficiary communities to create a conducive environment
for women to benefit from the projects.
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Association calls
for probe into shooting incidents
Tamale (Northern Region) 27
February 2001
The Tamale Concerned Citizens
Association on Monday called on the Northern Regional Security Committee to
institute a probe into recent shooting incidents in Tamale one of which
involved a policeman.
Early this month, a policeman
allegedly shot and killed a 25-year-old man, Ilyass Abu, at Aboabo, and last
week another person was shot dead at Bayanwaya, both suburbs of Tamale.
A press statement signed by the
association's General Secretary, Mr. Baba Jamoni, said the perpetrators must be
made to face the law.
The statement cautioned the
Regional Police Command not to merely transfer the suspect policeman as
punishment, as was done in 1992 with the policeman who shot and killed a drug
peddler.
The statement said residents of
Tamale have suffered enough injustice especially in cases involving policemen.
The association called on the
Police Command to ensure that police personnel exhibit professionalism in the
performance of their duties and stop engaging in activities that bring the name
of the police service into disrepute.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 February 2001
Two geologists from the Gambian Geological Unit, Chief Geologist, Mr. Fafa Sanyang and Mr. Abdoulie M. Cham, Senior Geologist are in the country on a one week fact finding mission.
The visit is a follow-up to a capacity building Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 1996 between the Geological Survey Department of Ghana and the Gambian Survey Unit.
At a meeting with officials of the Survey Department in Accra on Monday, Mr. Sanyang appealed to the staff to provide detailed geological investigations to assist his country to establish a modern survey unit.
He said the Gambian government would embark on an exploration exercise following the already identified resources in the 1998 Chinese Geological Report, adding, "we need Ghana's rich technical and human expertise to ensure the project's success."
Mr. Sanyang announced that, the 1996 MOU enabled a Gambian to successfully undergo a degree course in Geology at the University of Ghana.
Another one is currently pursuing a degree course at the same university while a third one is on attachment with the Department.
He thanked the government and the Survey Department for their support and said he hoped the visit would further strengthen the existing relationship between the two nations.
Dr. E. K. Brantuoh, Acting Director of the Ghana Survey Department pledged his outfit's support for the Gambian Unit.
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Two robbers attack Accra-Aflao passenger
bus
Tema (Greater Accra) 27 February 2001
An Accra-Aflao bound mini-bus somersaulted on Monday near Dawa when two armed robbers who were travelling on it attacked the driver in an attempt to seize the vehicle from him.
Nine persons were seriously injured in the attack but the robbers escaped as none of the passengers made any attempt to rescue the driver who mustered courage to fight them off.
Mr Korshie Amedume told the Ghana News Agency that he and only six out of the 11 passengers on the bus were treated and discharged at the Tema General Hospital but he could not tell of the whereabouts of the rest.
The driver of the Hyundai Grace mini-bus with registration number GR 620 R said that he took off from Accra to Aflao at dawn on Monday with the passengers.
On reaching a place near Dawa, one of the passengers who sat next to him in the front seat politely asked him to stop the vehicle for him to urinate.
He said that on two occasions when he attempted to stop, the man asked him to go a bit further and this resulted in a quarrel between the two of them.
Suddenly, the robber pulled out acid from a polythene and splashed it into his face with the intention of blinding him but missed his eyes.
Mr. Amedume, who suffered serious acid burns, said the robber then tried to seize the steering wheel but he held firmly onto it as they struggled, making the vehicle to veer off and onto the road.
The other robber, who sat right behind the driver, then warned the passengers not to make any move or face the consequences.
Mr. Amedume said the robber who held him then pulled out a pistol from his pocket and fired a warning shot but he did not give up, adding that they struggled over the steering wheel until the vehicle skidded off the road and somersaulted.
According to him, the two robbers started running but he chased them despite his injuries and managed to arrest the one who had the pistol and seized from him.
Mr. Amedume said he wondered why the robber did not shoot at him but later realised that the gun was a locally manufactured pistol which takes only a bullet at a time.
He expressed surprise at the behaviour of the passengers and his mate who could not come to his aid, saying that he was compelled to allow the robber to escape.
Mr. Amedume said a colleague driver who was returning from Aflao to Accra brought him to the Tema General Hospital.
Meanwhile, the gun has been deposited with the police at Dawa.
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Civil servants urged to ensure proper time
management
Ajumako (Central Region) 27 February 2001
An analyst at the office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) in Accra, Mr. Ben Sam, has stressed the need for civil servants to ensure a proper management of time to enable them to achieve the targets set by their respective establishments and organisations.
He said lack of judicious utilisation of time is one of the major contributory factors militating against the attainment of the country's social and economic objectives and should be reversed to give way to progress.
Mr. Sam was closing a three-day management improvement workshop organised jointly by the Management Service Division of the OHCS for 40 workers of the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assemblies at Ajumako at the weekend.
He said the time has come for state employees to attach greater value to time by making sure that every minute of working hour they spend at their various workplaces produces dividends for the state.
He expressed the hope that participants would utilise the knowledge they had acquired at the course.
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Bunkpurugu
communities to benefit from solar project
Bunkpurugu (Northern Region) 27
February 2001
Many households in Bunkpurugu and
surrounding communities are to enjoy solar power under the Renewable Energy
Service Project (RESPRO) sponsored by the UNDP.
About 400 households have so far
registered under the project, which was started in 1999 in the Bimoba
traditional area to supply solar energy to 15 communities.
In an interview with the GNA in
Bunkpurugu, Mr Harry Abakeh, engineer in charge of the project, said patronage
was low during the first two years due to the high cost of equipment
installation and monthly levies. The
rates were therefore reduced for more people to benefit from the project.
Mr. Abakeh explained that
operating the system is simple and one only has to clean the panel anytime it
gets dirty.
He said apart from light, there
would also be enough energy for operating radio and tape recorders. "There are plans to expand the project
to include solar pumps for water supply and a battery charging station,"
he added.
Mr. Lawrence Kotuwah, a beneficiary,
said it cost him less to provide solar energy for lighting purposes and for
operating his radio than has been the case with kerosene and batteries.
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Ministers call for law to facilitate IT
development
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 February 2001
Two ministers on Monday told the launch of an Information Technology (IT) product that there is the need for a legislative instrument to facilitate the rapid transformation of Ghana into an IT country.
They said government recognises that for a rational and effective development, transfer and application of IT, there is the need to provide a conducive policy framework and operational guidelines for service providers, equipment distributors and users alike.
Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Transport and
Communications and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, made
the observation at the launch of "Linea@telephone", a telephone product with Internet facilities.
The product is capable of being
used as an answering machine, for e-mail services, Internet surfing and for
hand-free telephone calls.
Socio-Economic Development Centre,
a local computer assembling company, is marketing the product in Ghana for
subsequent export to other African countries.
Ghana will be the first African
country to distribute, monitor and maintain the product in Africa.
Dr Apraku, whose speech was read
on his behalf, said guidelines for IT development should address the
acquisition of the technology, human resource development and issues relating
to liberalisation and operational organisation.
"In this regard, government
is willing to create the appropriate regulatory and legislative environment
that will allow the Ghanaian private sector to compete effectively in the IT
industry," the Minister said.
Dr Apraku expressed the hope that
IT experts will soon start connecting schools with libraries, laboratories and
research centres, civil society and government businesses.
"The capacity to integrate
leading-edge private enterprise into the national economic development
programme is essential for accelerated and sustained economic growth," he
added.
Mr. Owusu-Adjapong commended the
product and noted its immediate relevance to the country but cautioned that the
distributors may need to pay special attention to a number of considerations if
their marketing effort is to succeed.
"These will include, for instance,
price, equipment reliability and other competitive products available on the
market," he said.
Mr Owusu-Adjapong said there is no
doubt that the portability of the terminal is an important feature for Internet
access as compared with a desktop computer.
"However, we are all aware
that other products such as the new generation cellular mobile telephones also
have the capability for Internet access," Mr. Owusu-Adjapong said.
He urged the management of the
marketing company to establish contact with IT departments of the universities
with a view to establishing collaborative programmes that would enhance
manpower development.
Dr Kenneth Afari, Chief Executive
Officer of SEDC, said: "If the new economy that IT brings will have any
significant effect on the development of Africa and Ghana in terms of
employment, production of skilled labour then care must be given to the private
sector group that has initiated the move to make IT have a base."
He said SEDC would continue to
produce simplified yet professionally applied computer technology textbooks at
all levels, strive to train quality personnel and produce quality tropicalised
computers at a very cheap price.
"It is my hope that the
bottlenecks that we in the industry face will be adequately addressed by the
government as soon as they really settle down," Dr Afari.
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Advanced reporting course opens
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 February 2001
A five-day intensive advanced reporting course opened in Accra on Monday with a call on all media houses to budget for and invest in training for their staff since the press needs to be relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Mr. Kwesi Yankah, President of the Africa Institute of Journalism and Communications (AIJC), said the current proliferation of media houses calls for a corresponding increase in training opportunities.
"The challenge becomes greater particularly because there is the danger of sacrificing professionalism for mediocrity and mercenary journalism," he said.
Mr. Yankah said the consolidation of a sustainable democratic culture depends largely on the professionalism of media managers who have the responsibility of shaping the minds of the people.
The course, organised by AIJC, drew participants from both the private and the state-owned media houses.
It is one of the remedial courses offered by the institute to upgrade the professional skills of journalists.
Participants will be taken through writing skills, in-depth reporting, multimedia editing, interviewing techniques and basics in computer literacy.
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Greenstreet Committee clarifies air about
ex-gratia, cars
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
The Greenstreet Committee, on Monday, said at no time did it propose the payment of ex-gratia award at the rate of six months salary for every year served by Ministers and other office holders under Article 71.
A statement issued in Accra said it submitted only four reports since its inception - one each in 1993 and 1998 and two in 2000.
"In both 1993 and 1998 reports, the committee recommended the payment of ex-gratia awards at the rate of three months salary for each year served and pro-rata to those mentioned in Article 71."
The committee said in its June 2000 report it reviewed the rate to four months salary for each year served.
The committee also said it did not recommend the sale of vehicles to ministers, parliamentarians or any of those named under Article 71. It said it acted in an advisory capacity to the President and its recommendations were restricted to only those named in the article.
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Minister commends military leadership
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, on Monday commended the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for the foresight in procuring 389 vehicles valued at 242,500 dollars from the United Nations.
The acquisition, part of decommissioned vehicles by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) procured at concessionary rates, confirms the goodwill that the GAF enjoys internationally, he said.
Some of the vehicles are not in good working condition. Some have to be cannibalised to repair others, after which they would be distributed to all the units in the GAF.
Dr. Addo Kufuor said this when he visited the Base Workshop as part of his familiarisation tour of facilities of the Support Services Brigade (SSB).
The Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Ben Akafia, Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Samuel Saaka, the SSB Commander, Brigadier Lord
Attivor and other senior officers accompanied him.
On arrival at the SSB Headquarters at Burma Camp, the Minister inspected a guard of honour mounted by three officers and 48 men, after which senior officers were introduced to him.
At the SSB Headquarters, Dr Addo Kufuor addressed a mini durbar of officers and men of the Brigade, where he introduced himself to them.
Other facilities of the Brigade the Minister visited included the Base Ordnance Depot, Base Supply Depot, 49 Engineer Regiment and the 37 Military Hospital.
The Minister asked the GAF to patronise Ghana rice rather than the Vietnamese one it being procuring.
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Berekum kingmakers oppose enstoolment of
Omanhene
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 27 Feb. 2001
Seven out of the nine kingmakers of the Berekum Omanhene Stool have condemned the purported enstoolment of Dr. Anthony Frank Leo Ofori as the new Omanhene of Berekum, and asked the people to regard the said ceremony as null and void.
They said the enstoolment was against customary practices of the people of the area and accused the Queenmother, Nana Akua Ameyaahene, and the Adontenhene, Osabarima Oppong Basanurudu, of impropriety and usurping the powers of the Krontihene to install an Omanhene.
"The whole procedure from nomination to enstoolment was wrong," Nana Ofori Appiah, Krontihene and Acting President of the Traditional Council, said at a press conference in Sunyani.
He was flanked by Nana Adu-Gyamfi Kumanini, Akwamuhene; Nana Kofi Yeboah Ababio, Ankobeahene; Nana Kwame Kyere, Kyidomhene; Nana Okofo Dartey, Gyaasehene; and Nana Baffour Asare Tutu, Akyempimhene, who are all kingmakers.
Also present was Nana Efa Asiedu, Akyeamehene, and Nana Kwabena Ofori, Twafuohene.
Nana Ofori Appiah emphasised that the enstoolment of Dr. Ofori, a Surgical Specialist at the Cape Coast Central Hospital as Omanhene of Berekum on Monday February 19 would bring unrest if it were allowed to stand.
Nana Ofori Appiah said by their action, the Adontenhene and Queenmother "are trying to bend the rules and regulations to favour the enstoolment of their favourite as the Omanhene, and this is unacceptable".
He, therefore, called on the Queenmother and the Adontenhene to cancel the 'so-called' enstoolment of Dr. Ofori, who is a brother to the Queenmother, and pass through the right channel of nomination and other procedures to ensure peace and harmony in the area.
He said the kingmakers would petition the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs on the matter.
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Kufuor calls for co-operation between Ghana
and Yugoslavia
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
President John Kufuor on Monday called for a special co-operation between Ghana and Yugoslavia to build on the foundation of the one time great leaders of the two countries.
Ghana and Yugoslavia had great leaders - Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Josep Brez Tito- who worked together to set the path for progress in unity, President Kufuor said.
He said this when he received Madam Milena Lukovic-Jovanovic, Yugoslav Ambassador, who called at the State House to bid farewell after her eight-year duty tour.
President Kufuor said Nkrumah and Tito worked together to form the Non- Aligned Movement which "wielded the two countries together".
He said his administration would further promote the existing bilateral relations with Yugoslavia with special attention on economic exchanges.
President Kufuor mentioned construction, education and culture as areas that Ghana can benefit from in partnership with Yugoslavia.
He asked the ambassador who has been reassigned to the Foreign Ministry in Belgrade, to remain the unofficial envoy of Ghana.
Madam Lukovic-Jovanovic said during her tenure, Ghana and her country established a joint commission, which has served as catalyst for boosting co-operation.
She invited President Kufuor to visit Yugoslavia.
"I have also made a lot of friends and enjoyed the warm cordiality of Ghana," she said, adding that she was leaving with emotions about a beautiful country.
"After staying here for so long, it is difficult for me to leave. I can tell you I am sad," she told the President.
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New INDUTECH awards scheme introduced
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
Organisers of the Industrial and Technology Fair (INDUTECH) on Monday introduced a new awards scheme aimed at encouraging exhibitors and sponsors to pursue excellence in their respective roles.
Mr. Victor Ameyibor, Chairman of the INDUTECH '2001 Awards committee told the third and final Exhibitors Forum that there are 11 awards in two categories under the scheme, which henceforth, would be taken over by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to ensure continuity.
The forum was to discuss difficulties exhibitors are facing in their preparations for the fair.
The first category of awards, which focuses on the excellence, innovation, quality, competitiveness and preparedness of exhibitors and exhibits, include the Most Innovative Local Exhibit and the Most Outstanding Local and Foreign Exhibit.
Other awards under the exhibitors category are the Most Outstanding Research and Technology award, under which three awards would be given for the basic, senior secondary and tertiary research levels.
The rest are the Best Indoor Exhibition Stand and the Best Outdoor Exhibition Stand.
The sponsors' awards include the Best Media Sponsor, the Most Consistent Sponsor and the Highest Overall Sponsor.
Mr Ameyibor said the scheme, which consists of plaques and certificates, is to motivate industrialists to insist on quality and value added products for both local and foreign consumption.He said all award winners would be published extensively with their company profiles as a way of promoting Made-in-Ghana products.
"During the fair, we shall send a questionnaire round for visitors to fill, based upon which we will give the award after final assessment of our data by March 5, 2001," he said.
Mr. Richard Anane, Public Relations Manager of AGI, said the pavilions have been categorised into sectors to ensure that like products are put together to facilitate easy identification.
Pavilion A is for purely Made-in-Ghana exhibits, Pavilion B is a mix of local and foreign exhibits, whilst the other pavilions are categorised into information technology, electronics and other products, he said.
An exhibitor of TECHNONET complained of the theft of five pieces of plywood while another from University of Cape Coast said he has no access to his stand as the entrance is under lock and key.
Others exhibitors complained of having been allocated spaces either less than what they paid for or at places other than the categories under which their exhibits fall. Some asked for the immediate refund of their money.
There were also complaints of difficulties in paying for stands as the receipts at the finance department of the AGI have run out.
The organisers assured exhibitors of expeditious action to resolve all anomalies before the commencement of the fair on Thursday, March 1, 2001.
Meanwhile, when GNA visited the fair grounds, exhibitors were busy mounting their stands and shelves, whilst hundreds of young men and women move around the fair grounds, seeking jobs with exhibitors as sales boys and girls.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 27 Feb. 2001
Taxi drivers in Tamale embarked on a four-hour strike on Monday to protest against the 15 per cent increase in transport fares, which they consider inadequate.
The drivers have applied their own increase of 40 per cent since the government announced a 64.3 per cent hike in fuel prices last Friday.
The drivers resisted when the local branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) sought to enforce the approved fares.
The drivers said they would not be able to break even in revenue if they charge the approved fares.
The strike was called off after passengers agreed to pay the fare demanded by the drivers following an appeal by the GPRTU through the local FM radio while it negotiates with the drivers.
Many stranded commuters resorted to walking or asking for favours from private motorists.
Mr Abdul Kuka, Chairman of the Kamina Barracks Taxis Station Union told the GNA that the 15 per cent official increase was not realistic. A section of the public the GNA interviewed were of the view that the strike had some political undertones as the GPRTU is generally perceived to be sympathetic to the NDC and the strike was intended to discredit the NPP government.
Meanwhile the executive members of the Taxi Drivers Union and the GPRTU were meeting over the matter.
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Government working on revised poverty
reduction strategy - Minister
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
The Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo- Maafo said on Monday that the government is working on a revised poverty reduction strategy to help reduce the level of poverty in the country.
Speaking in Accra when Ghana and the European Union exchanged notes for a grant of 92 billion cedis to enhance water supply in the West Mamprusi, West Gonja and East Gonja Districts in the Northern Region, he said the modalities of the strategy are being discussed with the World Bank.
Under the water and sanitation project, 25 large communities in the three districts will benefit from a pipe distribution system with elevated reservoirs and a number of standpipes.
There will also be the building of 500 water points made up of 425 bore holes and 50 wells fitted with solar-powered hand pumps and more than 2,000 sanitation facilities in the selected three districts to improve both water supply and sanitation.
The project, which is to begin in the second half of the year and last for four years, will enhance the rate of coverage of water supply to 53 per cent and sanitation to 30 per cent.
Mr Osafo- Maafo said although there may not be any broad changes in focus from past poverty reduction programmes, it is important that current strategies reflect the aspirations and the needs of the present government.
He said it is the desire of the government to improve the agricultural sector as a means of reducing poverty, adding that without the focus on the sector no meaningful progress will be made.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the only way to achieve this is to eliminate problems that inhibit increased agricultural production so as to provide income for the rural people.
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Ghana, EU sign water and sanitation
agreement
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
Ghana and the European Union on Monday signed a 92-billion-cedi grant agreement for the financing of a rural water sanitation project in the Northern Region.
The Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, signed for Ghana while Mr Alessandro Mariani, Charge d'Affaires of the European Commission, signed on behalf of the European Union.
Under the project 25 large communities in the West Mamprusi, East and West Gonja Districts will benefit from a pipe distribution system with elevated reservoirs and standpipes.
Five hundred water points, made up of 425 bore holes and 50 wells fitted with solar hand pumps, will be built in addition to more than 2,000 sanitation facilities in the three districts to improve both water supply and sanitation.
The project, which is to begin in the second half of the year and last for four years, will enhance the rate of coverage of water supply to 53 per cent and sanitation to 30 per cent. About 210,000 people out of a total population of 576,000 will benefit.
Mr Osafo-Maafo lauded the strong relationship between the EU and Ghana and expressed the hope that such goodwill would be extended to help the country out of its difficulties.
GRi../
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Levy polythene bag producers - NPP official
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
Mr Bernard Nunoo, Chairman of the Dadekotopon branch of the NPP Victory Club, at the weekend suggested to the government to institute a levy on polythene bag producers to help clean up the rubbish as a result of the mass patronage of polythene products.
He said a special levy should also be slapped on sachet water producers and other polythene product users to serve as incentive to sanitary workers to help rid the nation of filth.
Mr Nunoo was speaking after a three-hour clean-up exercise organised by the club.
He said the club has taken the initiative to educate the community on personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness adding; "we don't want to waste productive hours by attending the hospital frequently when that could be prevented."
Mr Nunoo said the cleanup would be done on the last Saturday of every month. "We hope to involve the whole community to participate in subsequent ones."
He said the club would organise clinics for children and form watchdog committees to curb the increasing incidence of anti-social activities.
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Streamline the issuance of passports - NUGS
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Feb. 2001
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Monday expressed concern about the illegal means by which passports are being issued and called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to streamline the process.
A statement signed by Frank Annoh-Dompreh, National President and Mr Razak Awudulai, National Secretary, said almost every worker at the Passport Office could issue passports charging illegal fees ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 cedis.
The statement said the union has established that people are compelled to bribe their way rather than go through unnecessary delays and frustrations.
"Cases of particular interest are situations where people submit forms for more than three months, and yet do not see any sign of getting a passport," NUGS said.
It cautioned that the present practice gives room for the international community to doubt the authenticity of Ghanaian passports.
NUGS called on its members with genuine problems to seek assistance from the union.
The statement also called on parliamentarians not to allow party affiliations to take precedence over matters of national concern saying the country's infant democracy can only succeed if they handle matters objectively.
The union said it welcomes the intention of the President to de-confiscate assets and called for action to be expedited to promote reconciliation.
It urged the government to allocate more support in its budget to the education sector, since education is the bedrock for national development.
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