Nkrumah wins BBC African of the millennium

Rawlings gives millennium New Year message

Annan says new millennium need not be time for fear, anxiety

Commit resources to enhance dispensation of justice - Registrar

Marginalisation of women unfair - Panellists.

Police strength to increase from 18,00 to 22,000 next year

Prof. Asiedu on sustenance of democracy

51st Annual New Year School calls for continued stability

Wreath laying marks anniversary

Rawlings says government will equip security services

Accra (Greater Accra) 3 January 2000

Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah was on Friday declared the African of the millennium in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) African Service programme monitored in Accra.

The contest featured many African personalities from walks of life including statesmen, politicians, scientists, athletes and musicians.

Among the personalities nominated for the award by BBC African Service listeners were former Presidents Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Gamel Nasser of Egypt and Liberian football star, Opon Weah.

Dr Nkrumah led Ghana to independence in 1957, to signal the beginning of the liberation of Africa from colonialism.

He was a founding father of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)) and the Non-Aligned Movement.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3 Jan. 2000

The President, Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, has expressed the belief that with God's guidance, Ghanaians would witness unprecedented peace and prosperity in the new millennium.

In a message on Saturday to mark the New Year and the new millennium, he said that after nearly half a century of independence, the foundation has been laid for the economic and political stability of the country.

President Rawlings noted that these objectives could only be achieved if all stakeholders, both nationals and non-Ghanaians, continue to unite, work hard and allow the lessons of the nation's political and economic experience to guide them.

On behalf of the government, himself and his family, he wished Ghanaians a happy and prosperous New Year.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3 January 2000

The UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, on Thursday said the new millennium need not be a time of fear or anxiety.

"As we move into a new millennium, many of us have much to be thankful for because the world is at peace and most of us are better educated than our parents and grandparents and expect to live longer lives with greater freedom and a wide range of choices."

In a video message for the new millennium, Mr. Annan said fears being expressed about the new era all over the world, are unfounded and unnecessary.

He added, however, that the new century brings hope but can also bring new dangers or old ones in a new and alarming form and that even the strongest states acting alone, may not be able to protect their citizens against any odds.

"That is why the UN is working for the people to preserve peace, outlaw weapons that kill and maim indiscriminately.

"We are working together to make human rights a reality for everyone and give all human beings real choices in life to make decisions that affect their own lives.

"If we work together and have faith in our own abilities, it can be a time of hope and opportunity."

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Kuntanase (Ashanti Region) 3 January 2000

An appeal has been made to district assemblies to demonstrate greater concern for the dispensation of justice in their areas by committing more resources towards the provision of adequate buildings for the Judicial Service.

Nana Onsroga Marfo-Hene, registrar of the Bosomtwe- Atwima-Kwanwoma Community Tribunal, who made the appeal, observed that it is crucial for assemblies to appreciate that their ability to attain their developmental goals depends largely on the creation of an environment devoid of criminality and unrest.

Nana Marfo-Hene made the appeal at an end-of-year get-together organised by the tribunal for its staff at Kuntanase on Thursday.

The occasion was also to honour two out-going panel members of the tribunal, Mr P. K. Adarkwah and Nana Yaw Marfoh, who have completed their four-year tenure of office.

Nana Marfo-Hene explained that apart from ensuring justice and peaceful atmosphere for the functioning of the assemblies and the various communities, the tribunals also serve as major source of revenue for the assemblies and, therefore, deserve their full support.

Alhaji Kofi Musah Nuamah, Chairman of the tribunal, advised panel members not to see their membership as an avenue to amass wealth but rather as a unique opportunity to render dedicated and fair service to the country.

He, therefore, cautioned them to guard against any temptation in the form of gifts and monetary offers that might turn out to influence them in the dispensation of justice.

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Winneba (Central Region) 3 Jan. 2000

Professor S. A. Amoah, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has called for the setting up of a Women-in-Politics Fund by the political parties to finance the electioneering campaign of women.

He said that lack of financing is one of the reasons discouraging women from participating in politics and to aspire to higher positions.

Prof. Amoah was contributing to a panel discussion on "Women in Politics" at the Annual New Year School at Winneba on Saturday.

On the general theme, "Women in Politics," over 300 people are attending.

He further suggested that monies for Beauty Contests should be channelled into the fund for leadership training programmes for women to make them more assertive and to go into politics.

Prof. Amoah further suggested that in order to get more women to rise to higher positions in politics, girls should be groomed in school and at the family level to know that they are not subservient to boys.

He also said women's participation in political life of the nation lies with them and there is the need for them to review their negative perceptions about politics, adding that largely it is not men depriving them of participation but their negative attitude.

He attributed some of their drawbacks as lack of good educational background, which makes them fear to be intimidated by males, unfair cultural limitations, the problem of sexual division of labour, and negative image created for courageous women who have entered politics.

Ms Christine Churcher, MP for Cape Coast, charged women to take active part in local politics such as presenting themselves for elections at the organisational and district levels without fear of insults and heckles.

"When a woman gets up in parliament she is booed and heckled but that is part of life but needs courage and as late starters we should know what to avoid".

Ms Churcher said there is the need for women's involvement in decision making to prevent policies, which impoverish "our husbands and bring untold hardship to families".

Ms Margaret Clarke Kweisie, Minister of State and MP for Gan South said that constraints against women include lack of appropriate education and lack of support from husbands.

She also attributed some of the constraints to the few numbers of women fielded by political parties and age constraints since women above 50 are not given opportunities.

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Winneba (Central Region) 3 January 2000

The strength of the Ghana Police Service would be increased to 22,000 from the present 18,000, next year, Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector General of Police announced in Winneba on Thursday.

He was answering questions during a panel discussion on "Law, Order and Human Rights" at the annual New Year School of the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, Legon.

The Service would soon take delivery of equipment from South Africa including water tankers and rubber bullets.

Mr Nanfuri said it is wrong for a Policeman to use his office to intimidate anyone over debt collection or other personal gains, adding that such conduct could lead to outright dismissal.

"It is high time the Police understood that the law is meant to protect and not to harass citizens", he said, adding that they should be seen to be fair to all manner of people.

The IGP called for public co-operation and said the Police administration is determined to flush out all questionable characters to save the image of the Service.

The conduct of some service personnel leaves much to be desired and said Ghanaians should muster courage to report such people to the Police Administration.

Mr Nanfuri said no Policeman has a right to demand bribe or compel complainants to provide transport to go and arrest a suspect or request for stationary to write statements.

He said, in the absence of Police vehicles a Policeman may request for assistance politely if in his view it could facilitate quick arrest.

Mr Ebow Quarshie, President of the Ghana Bar Association, reiterated the call by the association for the abolition of the criminal libel law, saying that there are a lot of laws in the statutes, which could take care of libel cases.

He said the law could kill freedom of speech and expression, which is vital for the nurturing of democracy.

Mrs Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, said that democracy is a collective affair and called on Ghanaians to contribute to sustain it.

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Winneba (Central Region) 3 Jan. 2000

Professor Kobina Asiedu, Director of the Institute of Adult Education, on Sunday called for continued dialogue among political parties to ensure the sustenance of democratic culture.

"It is only through this that we can build consensus on issues that divide the people".

Prof. Asiedu was delivering the closing address for the 51st New Year School on the theme "Consolidating democracy in Ghana: the year 2000 elections and beyond" at Winneba.

He advised participants not to keep the knowledge acquired at the school to themselves but to discuss it with people in the communities.

"Looking at the contemporary landscape of the African continent, it appears that Ghana is one of the few countries which give hope to the dream that the African is capable of taking his destiny in his own hands."

Prof. Asiedu said nurturing or sustaining democracy in Ghana has been emphasised by all speakers as a collective responsibility, adding that although the responsibilities are not the same, the government needs to show greater openness and to be more accountable.

Political parties, Prof. Asiedu said, must educate their followers to be tolerant of opposing views while the electorate should exercise their rights to choose in a responsible manner.

Prof. Asiedu stated: "we all need to behave in a salutary manner so that it will be unnecessary for somebody to come from somewhere to declare our elections free and fair".

He stressed the need to sustain the new year school in view of the important role it plays in finding solutions to some pertinent national issues.

On funding, Prof. Asiedu said this had been difficult and the school could not continue to rely on the benevolence of the government to keep it going.

He suggested that the school must be made self-financing with participants paying a higher fee.

"Such a move will exclude our core of self-sponsoring participants most of whom have retired and cannot afford to pay economic fees. We have to consider sponsorship seriously."

Prof. Asiedu called for suggestions which will ensure that the new year school continues uninterrupted so that those who wish to participate are not denied the chance.

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Winneba (Central Region) 3 Jan. '2000

The 51st New Year School ended at Winneba on Sunday with a resolution calling on Ghanaians to protect the nation from chaos by ensuring that political stability is perpetually sustained.

This can be attained by ensuring that this year's presidential and parliamentary elections proceed smoothly while campaign messages should focus on issues rather than personalities and must devoid of insults, animosity and mudslinging.

The theme of the school was "Consolidating Democracy in Ghana: the year 2000 Elections and Beyond".

It attracted more than 300 participants drawn from all over the country.

The school treated 11 sub-themes including "Political Parties and national integration", "The national economy and democratic sustenance", "Education for participatory democracy", "Enhancing Women's participation in Politics", "Organised labour in a changing environment" and the "Mass media and the 2000 elections".

The participants said political parties' manifestos should be published far ahead of the general elections to enable the electorate to study them and make informed decisions.

The participants said there should be no limitations on private funding of political parties and that adequate training should be given to agents of political parties.

Inter-party advisory committees (IPAC) must be replicated at the regional and district levels to ensure better understanding and collaboration among political groups.

They further suggested the establishment of election courts to deal expeditiously with cases arising from the elections, adding that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Electoral Commissioner be provided with adequate resources and funding to enhance their work.

Political party advertisements must be given equal treatment by both electronic and print media.

Furthermore, they called for adequate facilities for media practitioners but cautioned them against taking sides in their reportage.

The participants also supported the idea that a special fund be created to support women who want to go into politics.

Girl-child education must be encouraged whereas pregnant girls must be made to continue school after delivery.

The school commended the government for instituting the best farmer and teacher awards and suggested that the scheme must be extended to cover all sectors of the economy.

The school called for an increase in basic rates from 200 cedis to 1,000 cedis while the district assemblies were urged to institute training schemes to upgrade the skills of their staff.

Traditional values, they said, should be maintained and civic, religious, moral education and other allied subjects be taught at all levels of education to inject in the youth a high sense of respect for authority, hard work, honesty, tolerance and discipline.

The participants called for the establishment of an HIV/AIDS foundation to support AIDS patients in addition to an action plan to reduce the spread of the disease.

They urged the government to ensure regular and transparent consultations with organised labour to ensure industrial harmony and progress.

Parliament should also ensure that the new labour regulation provides adequate protection for workers' rights.

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Takoradi (Western Region) 3 January 2000

A Wreath-Laying ceremony to mark the 18th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution at the Takoradi Cenotaph on Friday.

In attendance was a contingent of the Ghana Army, Navy, Airforce, Police Service, Prison Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).

Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, Western Regional Minister, laid a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, while Commodore Joe Adoko, Two Garrison

Commander and officer in-charge of the Western Naval Command, laid one on behalf of the security agencies.

Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, President of the Western Region House of Chiefs laid one on behalf of the chiefs and people of the region.

Mr Ato Neizer, Western Regional Deputy Organiser of the Association of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (ACDR), also laid one on behalf of the progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs).

Prayers were offered for the President, Vice-President and the government and people of Ghana. The Reverend (Captain) J. K. Appiah conducted the service.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3 Jan. 2000

President Jerry John Rawlings on Friday, said the government would provide additional logistics to the security services in their efforts to combat crime.

In addition to this, personnel of the law enforcement agencies would have to adopt more innovative methods as well as bring new and progressive attitudes to bear in the performance of their duties.

The President was addressing members of the security services at El-Wak Stadium in Accra, to mark the 18th anniversary of the December 31st Revolution.

They converged at the stadium after a route march and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Revolution Square.

President Rawlings said in stemming the crime wave "Ghana cannot and will not provide shelter or sanctuary to criminal elements from elsewhere, who want to take undue advantage of our hospitable environment to engage in all manner of criminal activities bringing grief to many Ghanaians."

He said ECOWAS member-countries are unanimous in their condemnation of the activities of criminals, who operate across the borders and whose activities undermine the essence of sub-regional economic integration.

President Rawlings commended the security services for providing the enabling climate of peace and stability that has made possible the modest but important socio-economic and political gains.

"I know that you have been able to achieve these in the face of many difficulties, some of which we have been able to address. But more still remains to be done."

Commenting on last week's coup d'etat in Cote d'Ivoire, he said it was regrettable.

"But we must also recognise that events could have degenerated into a far worse scenario if the military had not stepped in."

The President said it was a credit to the people that there was no bloodshed.

"I congratulate them for staging a bloodless coup. It could have been worse as happened elsewhere.

"We must allow time to assess even an unconstitutional change in order to determine whether there are redeeming features that would tamper our reaction towards them."

President Rawlings said events in Cote d'Ivoire are a lesson, which should not be lost on civilian politicians in and outside the sub-region.

President Rawlings said the responsibility of maintaining stability rests with those in and outside government.

He said actions that seek to provoke the military or promote an atmosphere of public disorder could lead to unpredictable consequences.

"The nurturing of our democracy demands a more careful and well-considered conduct on the part of all of us," President Rawlings

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