Don't join HIPC - CPP tells
government
President's
aircraft develops fault
Government will accelerate
delivery of water to people – Veep
Address implications of
calls for re-introduction of ESB – GEA
Drivers in Sunyani increase
fares arbitrarily
Police look for former DCE
to retrieve items
GPRTU releases new
transport fares
Gbagbo says ready to work
closely with Kufuor
Do not engage in partisan
politics, Minister advises chiefs
CIDA delegation calls on
Quashigah
GAWE launches
entrepreneurial skills campaign
Help Ghana out of
developmental chaos - Fobih
Bolga NPP youth reject Dr
Mahama's proposal
Don't join HIPC - CPP
tells government
Tamale (Northern Region) 28 February 2001
The Chairman and Leader of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Abubakar Alhassan, on Tuesday called on the government not to accept the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative because Ghana is not a poor country.
Ghana has abundant natural and human resources and what is needed is a responsible leadership to harness these resources to put the country on the right footing, he said.
Speaking to the GNA in Tamale Dr Al-hassan said the government should instead negotiate for the rescheduling of the country's external debts.
Ghana has a proud history and to allow her to be classified as HIPC, would bring down her image, he said.
"Ghana is the first black African country to gain independence and to allow ourselves to be classified as HIPC after 44 years of Independence will rather be an embarrassment to Ghana and Africa as a whole''.
Dr Al-hassan appealed to the NPP to try and maintain the respectable image of Ghana that the CPP built, by not joining HIPC, which would eventually reduce her to a beggar nation.
The CPP leader cautioned the government to be wary of those urging Ghana to join HIPC, saying, ''These same people hailed the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) as a success story which we all know was a failure''.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday nominated 34 Deputy Ministers, including 20 MPs, to Parliament for approval.
A statement issued by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government Spokesperson, said the number includes nominees for five for deputy regional ministers.
The following is the full list:
Presidential Affairs - Edward Osei Kwaku, MP Asokwa West and Alhaji Moctar
Musah, MP Wenchi East.
Parliamentary Affairs - Paapa Owusu-Ankomah, MP Sekondi Finance - Mrs Grace Coleman, MP Effiduase Asokore and Dr. G. Adombila Agambila, Lecturer
Defence - Eddie Akita, MP Ledzokuku Foreign Affairs - Alhaji Iddrisu Mustapha Ali, MP Gukpegu Sabongida Justice and Attorney-General - Capt. Effah Dartey-Nkrabea (RTD), MP Berekum Interior - Yaw Barimah, MP Koforidua Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Alima Mahama, Lawyer/Development Consultant
Education - Rashid Bawa, MP Akan Health - Moses Baah Dani, MP Sisala
Agriculture - Dr K. Antwi, Soil Scientist, Dr Abel-Majeed Haroun, Agricultural Economist
Roads and Highways - Alex Seidu Sofo, MP Damongo/Daboya, Transport and Communications - Agyeman Manu, Chartered Accountant, John Setuni Achiliwor, MP Navrongo Central Trade and Industry - Osei Agyei Akwasi, MP Ejisu Juaben, Boniface
Abubakar Saddique, MP Salaga. Lands, Forestry and Mines - Benjamin Osei Kufuor, MP Asonafo North, Clement Eledi, Legal Practitioner Environment, Science and Technology - Mrs Anna Nyamekye, MP Jaman Manpower Development - Joe Donkor, MP Tano North, John Jebbah, Educationist, Economic Planning - Prof. Abena Busia, Academic
Energy - K.T. Hammond, MP Adansi Asokwa Youth and Sports - Joe Aggrey, Sports Journalist Works and Housing - Theresa Tagoe, MP Ablekuma South Tourism - Nana Akomea, MP Okaikwei South Northern Region - Issah Ketekewu, Teacher, Brong Ahafo - Agyei Duffuor, Teacher, Eastern Region - Naa Dometey, Consultant/Architect
Volta Region - Kofi Djamasse, Engineer, Western Region - Sophia Honer-Sam, Entrepreneur
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President's
aircraft develops fault
Accra (Greater Accra)
28 February 2001
The chartered executive
aircraft, Bowing 727, which was carrying President John Agyekum Kufuor and his
entourage to Libya had to return after take-off due to a technical fault.
President Kufuor was on
his way to attend the fifth extra-ordinary summit of the Organisation of
African Unity.
The aircraft, however
took off after technicians rectified the problem.
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Government will accelerate
delivery of water to people – Veep
Half Assini (Western Region) 28 February 2001
Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice-President, said on Tuesday that the government will accelerate the delivery of potable water and good sanitation facilities to people in rural communities.
He said it is the priority of the government to increase coverage from 47 per cent to 90 per cent in the long term preferably by the year 2010.
Alhaji Mahama gave the assurance in an address read for him by Mr. Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing, at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of Small Towns Water projects in the Western Region at Half Assini.
Six of the 25 beneficiary communities are from the Western Region. They are Half Assini, Agona Nkwanta, Asankrangwa, Sefwi Wiawso, Bibiani and Juabeso.
The remaining communities are in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, which are also benefiting from the project, which is jointly being financed by the government and the European Union (EU).
Alhaji Mahama said the EU has made available a total of 100 billion cedis for the project in the three regions.
In addition, the EU is providing financial support of 93 billion cedis for the drilling of some 500 boreholes in three districts in the Northern Region.
Furthermore, the EU is funding a programme study for a new 50 Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation project in the Western and Central Regions.
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Address implications of
calls for re-introduction of ESB – GEA
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
The Ghana Employers' Association (GEA) on Tuesday urged government to consider the implications of calls for the reintroduction of End of Service Benefit (ESB) and stem it before it gets out of hand.
Speaking during a visit to the new premises of the GEA by Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and Labour, Mr Ato Ampiah, GEA President, said the ESB issue was discussed at length and certain principles agreed on.
"However, there is a slow movement to bring back ESB, which will rather have negative effects on both enterprise and the economy," Mr Ampiah said.
Some of the effects, he said, would be high demands on enterprise and an inflationary effect on the economy.
To this end, he asked government to also reconsider the decision to adjust salaries since it could have the same effects on enterprise and the economy.
"The GEA agrees with the view that salary increases should be based on sharing profits created through high productivity and not to share reserved profits."
Mr Ampiah said GEA is not in favour of unionisation of senior staff at enterprise level and urged government to have a second look at labour laws to check loopholes that give room for such tendencies.
Certain clauses in the constitution are being used as a lever for wanton unionisation but "the same constitution, which makes it necessary that there should be wanton unionisation, also gives room for employers to protect their assets and investment." He said.
"This is not to say that we do not trust our senior staff," he added and explained that employers cannot have all their staff unionised because there is the need for them to protect their assets and interests.
He therefore called on the Chief Labour Officer to review or vary labour union certificates instead of issuing new ones in order to check the trend.
Mrs Bannerman in response to concerns raised said circumstances necessitate adjustment in salaries of public workers but as regards private enterprises, the issue is between employers and their staff.
She assured GEA members that the government is giving serious thought to inflationary tendencies to arrive at the right decision.
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Drivers in Sunyani
increase fares arbitrarily
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 28 February 2001
Residents of Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo regional capital, and its environs have criticised the arbitrary increases in transport fares by taxi and long distance passenger vehicles following the new prices for petroleum products announced by the government.
They have, therefore, appealed to the authorities to speed up the calculation of new approved fares to save them from "Shylock" drivers.
"These people are killing us because the typical Ghanaian always wants to exploit a situation for selfish interests to the detriment of the welfare of the masses," Madam Ajoa Akowuah, a trader at the Sunyani Central Market, said.
Mr. Kwabena Asiedu, a storekeeper at Fiapre, was of the opinion that the government should have announced the new fuel prices alongside new fares as well as a salary increase to cushion their effects on poor workers.
A good number of callers on a local radio programme corroborated the sentiments of many who said that the ritual of announcing new fuel prices before coming out with new transport fares must stop to enable people to make positive contributions to national development.
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Police look for former DCE
to retrieve items
Mampong (Ashanti Region) 28 February 2001
Asante-Mampong Police are looking for Mr Samuel Kwasi Acheampong, former Sekyere West District Chief Executive (DCE), who is alleged to have in his possession a number of items belonging to the district assembly.
They are a 29-inch colour television set, two floor carpets and a set of new furniture.
According to Mr David Bakari, District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Acheampong, after officially handing over last Friday, pleaded that he should be given three weeks to stay in the bungalow and wind up his affairs.
He said, however, that on Sunday he received information that the ex-DCE had secretly vacated the bungalow with his family, leaving only the watchman.
Mr Bakari said he suspects that Mr Acheampong has taken these items away, adding that when inventory at the bungalow was being taken, it was discovered that the items were missing and when the Ex-DCE was questioned, he said the TV was for the NDC.
The Co-ordinating Director said he told Mr Acheampong that the television set and the other items were the property of the district assembly and should therefore return them but he failed to do so before vacating the bungalow.
The matter was therefore reported to the police.
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GPRTU releases new
transport fares
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Tuesday announced new transport fares based on the 15 per cent adjustment declared earlier by the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRTCC).
Following the 64 per cent increase in petroleum prices GRTCC agreed to adjust transport fares upward by 15 per cent.
The new fare was made available to the media at a meeting held between the Minister of Transport and Communications and representatives of transport unions and vehicle dealers in Accra.
The differences range between 1,000 cedis and 3,000 cedis for inter city commuters, while intra city ranges between 100 cedis and 400 cedis for taxis and 100 cedis and 200 cedis for "tro-tro".
Accra-Lagos (Caravan) is 69,000 cedis, (Saloon) 80,500 cedis and (Urvan) 57,500 cedis. Accra-Tamale is 33,000 cedis, Accra-Kumasi, depending on the type of bus ranges between 16,000 cedis and 20,500 cedis.
Accra-Takoradi 11,500 cedis, Accra-Cape Coast 7,000 cedis, Accra-Aflao between 10,000 and 21,850 for hiring, Accra-Elubo 27,600 cedis, Accra-Ho 8,050 cedis, Accra-Koforidua 6,000 cedis.
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Gbagbo says ready to work
closely with Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
Ivorian President Laureant Gbagbo has said he would work closely with President John Kufuor to improve bilateral relations with particular emphasis on economic integration.
A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said President Gbagbo was speaking when Ghana's Former Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Mr A.A. Munufie called on him in Abidjan.
The statement said President Gbagbo recounted Ghana's leading role in African emancipation adding that he was glad to see Ghana once again champion the struggle to install and perpetuate democratic values in Africa.
This, he said, is evidenced in the peaceful transition of power, a situation that contrasts sharply with the political transition in his country.
President Gbabgo commended Ghanaians in Cote d'Ivoire for not meddling in the internal politics of their hosts when nationals of other countries were doing that.
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Sousoudis story confirmed
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
Police sources on Tuesday confirmed that a revolver was recovered from Mr Michael Sousoudis, a businessman who went to the house of the President on Monday morning in the company of a friend, Mr Charles Wayo, also a businessman.
Mr Sousoudis is already under investigations for possession of illegal arms following a search by police of his residence last Saturday. The police are yet to charge him for court on that offence.
The action followed the end of a two-week moratorium given by the Ministry of the Interior for all unlicensed guns to be submitted to the police or the military.
According to the source, at the gate of the President's house metal detectors exposed the gun, which was found to have been concealed on the body of Mr Sousoudis.
He was immediately arrested and sent to the police headquarters where after interrogation, was taken back to the house of the President.
The source however did not disclose what transpired at the residence. Meanwhile Mr Sousoudis has been released without any charge.
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Do not engage in partisan
politics, Minister advises chiefs
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 28 February 2001
Mr. Ernest K. Debrah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Tuesday added his voice to the call on chiefs not to engage in partisan party politics so as to maintain their image and dignity.
He urged the chiefs not to allow the image of chieftaincy, which is the custodian of the country's rich culture and traditions, to be eroded.
The Regional Minister, who assumed duty on Monday, was speaking during a courtesy call on members of the Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani.
He commended chiefs in the region for their co-operation during the December elections, adding that the government expected the same spirit and assistance to turn around the country's fortunes.
"As a people, we should not allow partisan politics to divide our ranks," he advised, and exhorted the people to forge ahead in unity for the region's steady development.
The Regional Minister promised to remain neutral as far as chieftaincy matters are concerned, saying that he would allow the regional house of chiefs to deliberate on all issues concerning the institution.
Mr. Debrah expressed concern about rampant bush burning, which has resulted in a serious degradation of the environment and gave the assurance that the government would evolve measures to rectify the situation.
Mr. Debrah said he would serve the region to the best of his ability and promised to adopt an open-door policy that would ensure fairness to all manner of people, irrespective of their political affiliations.
Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, President of the House of Chiefs and Omanhene of Prang, assured the government of the co-operation of members of the house to ensure development and prosperity in the region.
He recalled the immeasurable assistance the new Regional Minister offered in the planning and successful celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the region in 1999, adding "the government could not have made a better choice".
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CIDA delegation calls on
Quashigah
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
The Minister of Agriculture, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), on Tuesday underscored the need for an inventory receipt system that would allow farmers to use their produce as collateral to secure loans from the financial institutions.
He said the inability of farmers to access credit to expand production because of lack of collateral and huge interest payment is a major problem confronting agricultural production.
Major Quashigah also mentioned the lack of technical inputs to farmers and stressed the need for the establishment of farm service centres where farmers could easily obtain technical input and support services such as tractors at affordable prices to enable them to expand production.
The Minister was speaking when a five-member delegation from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), led by the Canadian High Commissioner, Madam Janet Graham, called on him in Accra.
The delegation was there to inform the minister of CIDA's new Country Programming Framework to assist the Government to reduce the incidence of food security in rural northern Ghana, for which it has proposed a grant of between 41 and 50 million Canadian dollars.
It was also to discuss how the Ministry and the CIDA could collaborate to identify priority areas in which CIDA could assist MOFA in the implementation of food security and the agricultural services sector investment programme, among other things.
Major Quashigah said the absence of storage facilities and the country's inability to preserve most of its farm produce does not augur well for her, and tasked the scientific community to develop simple methods that would encourage the preservation of some of the products.
Irrigation, the minister said, is critical if the country is to enhance its food production capacity and ensure the availability of food at affordable prices, adding that reliance on rain-fed agriculture would not move the nation forward.
Madam Graham assured the minister of CIDA's preparedness to assist in efforts to revamp the sector and asked the ministry to make available to it a detailed programme as early as possible to enable it to identify areas where they could be of assistance.
She said CIDA would review its programmes to see that they tail in with the needs and aspirations of the government.
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GAWE launches
entrepreneurial skills campaign
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
The Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE) on Tuesday launched a five-year campaign to develop and promote the culture of entrepreneurial development skills among the youth, especially girls.
Mrs Atawa Akyea, a representative from the Ministry of Women's Affairs, launched the campaign at a ceremony, which formed part of the passing out of trainees at a youth training programme organised by GAWE.
The 10 females and four males undertook a month's course in entrepreneurial skills in tie and dye, batik, and screen-printing.
Mrs. Lucia Quachey, President of GAWE, said the organisation plans to establish centres to be called 'GAWE Young Entrepreneurs Academy' in the regions and districts to assist indigenous Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
"Training the youth and women to become self-employed will reduce poverty, unemployment and build capacity for industrial competitiveness," Mrs. Quachey said.
Ms. Ruby Dagadu, head of the women's desk, National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), said it is time to critically look at self-employment as a preferred option to paid employment, which has been most fashionable in the recent past.
"Self-employment and private sector development through the building of capacity and skills are crucial to the nation's development."
Ms. Dagadu regretted the lack of information in the micro skill enterprises, which has made planning and programming very difficult.
She therefore urged such business enterprises to acquire the culture of proper documentation if they want their businesses to grow.
She called on the government to set up a special fund that would provide credit to women in small businesses.
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Help Ghana out of
developmental chaos - Fobih
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2001
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Professor Dominic Kweku Fobih, on Tuesday said Ghana can come out of its present developmental chaos, if the benefits of science and technology are well applied.
He said some nations, which started worse off than Ghana, have leapfrogged to become middle-income economies because they allowed science and technology to propel them.
"Some of these countries are currently poised to become developed country members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development," Prof. Fobih said, when he inaugurated a 20-member working group on the management of science and technology in Ghana.
Prof. Fobih tasked the group to study the current mechanism for the management of science and technology in the country.
The group, using the science and technology policy document as its guide, has also been tasked to propose a framework, which would allow for science and technology to become an integral part of the national development process.
It is also to identify other issues, which would allow the national acceptance of science and technology as the tool for the country's development, among other things.
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Bolga NPP youth reject Dr
Mahama's proposal
Bolgatanga (Northern Region) 28 February 2001
The Bolgatanga Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday rejected a request attributed to Dr Edward Mahama, Leader of the People's National Convention (PNC) to nominate District Chief Executives (DCE) in the constituencies that the PNC won in last December's parliamentary elections.
"We promise the President that we have capable and dynamic persons to achieve the manifesto of the NPP," the Youth Chairman, Mr Issaka Ayamga, said at a press conference at Bolgatanga to protest against Dr Mahama's alleged proposal.
He said the people of Ghana have mandated the NPP to govern the whole nation and not some parts of it.
"The PNC's DCEs would not be responsible to us because, neither the government nor the party can hold them accountable for their stewardship".
He said promises made by the NPP are still fresh in the minds of the electorate, especially the revival of the tomato cannery, the meat factory and the rice and oil mills in order to create employment for the youth.
Mr Ayamga said if that privilege is given to the PNC the party would claim the credit and thereby hinder the political development of the NPP in the area.
He said the Bolgatanga District especially, lags behind in infrastructure and education and appealed to the President to intervene.
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