UGM says it is the better alternative

Reform Party holds seminar for constituency organisers 

Millennium excellence awards institutionalised

Leave Journalists alone-NPP

President Rawlings says he is not a violent person

Ghanaian invents calliper joints for the disabled

Women call for conflict resolution training

Nsawam (Eastern Region) 17 Jan. 2000

Mr Kwame Kwakye, Akwapim South constituency chairman of the United Ghana Movement (UGM), has said, "the UGM strongly considers itself the better alternative to serve the nation".

Speaking at a rally at Sakyikrom, near Nsawam in the Akuapem South District to outline the party's policies and programmes towards this year's parliamentary and presidential elections, he said the UGM would work towards the reduction in poverty, promote peace, accelerate national development and create job opportunities for the youth.

Mr Suleman Mohammed, constituency secretary, said the economy of the nation "is in shambles", and "this is what the ordinary Ghanaian must be made to acknowledge.

"This will allow them to decide wisely and vote against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in the next elections."

GRi../

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Tema (Greater Accra) 17 Jan. 2000

The increasing corruption in the nation can only be halted through honest and good governance, Mr Goosie Tanoh, spokesman for the National Reform Party (NRP) said at Tema on Saturday.

Opening a two-day seminar for constituency organisers in the Greater Accra Region, he cautioned that "if Ghanaians don't ensure good governance, we will see more crimes and the new phenomenon of homelessness".

This is why NRP is telling Ghanaians that, "fence sitting is no instrument for national development", he said.

The reform agenda seeks to mobilise all people for nation building, Mr Tanoh said adding that, "it is the task for reformers to make changes by managing our resources well".

He said, "while we often discuss corruption as a Central government phenomenon, we tend to pay illegal monies or bribes to those who render official services to us, and this is a bad practice, which we must all resist, to enable us build a just society".

Mr Tanoh said that it was unfortunate that Ghanaians have lost confidence in some important democratic structures and added that, "we should not have a society where people prosper through connection, which creates injustice".

"Our acceptance of whom you know is unacceptable. You don't need to know a medical doctor before you go to hospital or a headmaster before you get a vacancy in a school. We should not be made to look like it is criminal to get sick".

Mr Tanoh called on followers of the party to help to organise people in their constituencies to get better services, stressing that we should contribute to the growth of development programmes in our communities such as desalting choked gutters and taking part in communal labour.

"We have to move away from a complaining society to a doing society, where we complain about anything that the President does, after all Ghana does not start from the Castle", he added.

The NRP spokesman said one who complains can feel good that he has voiced out his feelings, however this does not solve the problem, that is why Reform Party does not believe in sensationalism.

Our mission is to enable Ghanaians to ask questions about education, health care, housing policies, motorable roads, social amenities and not to appreciate party colours, flags symbols and slogans.

The party will talk about issues such as jobs for JSS and university graduates, housing, roads, water, health care and the management of the economy and not personalities during the electioneering campaign, Mr Tanoh said.

We should not relate issues only on what the Central government can do, but what the District Assemblies, area and zonal councils could do and called on the NDC to stop the politics of exclusion where qualified people are denied poverty alleviation money.

GRi../

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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Jan. 2000

Mr Arshim Morton, Chief Executive Officer of Ghanaclassifieds, organisers of the Millennium Excellence Awards, said on Friday that the awards scheme has been institutionalised under a new name of "Excellence awards" which would be organised biennially.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA in Accra, he said the excellence awards, to commence in 2001, would focus on personalities and institutions excelling in their contributions to Ghana's development over a two-year period.

Under the excellence awards, the Gold Coast Award of a plaque, a luxury car and cash prize, which President Jerry John Rawlings won this year, would always be given to personalities who have contributed excellently to national development over a period of at least 20 years.

"An 18-month thorough research will be made into the background and performance of nominees for the awards to ensure proper scrutiny and public confidence in the scheme".

Touching on media allegations that the millennium excellence awards was "cooked" from the Castle as part of the government's millennium celebration programmes, Mr Morton said: "it was purely a private enterprise affair."

"It was a magnified version of the Internet personality of the week, which we publish in the Daily Graphic every week, based on our unrivalled data-base of the background and performance of personalities in the country".

The chief executive explained that when the government was informed about the awards, "the planning committee of the government's millennium celebrations, chaired by Commodore Steve Obimpeh, wrote a letter to query us for not involving them in the planning of the millennium excellence awards, but we insisted on our independence".

Mr Morton said the 13-member panel, which made the selection of the 205 final nominees, neither included Commodore Obimpeh nor Mr David Awoonor, (said to be a junior brother of Professor Kofi Awoonor, a Presidential staffer) adding, "I have never worked with the two gentlemen before and I do not even know the latter".

He showed a video tape entitled 'The making of the millennium excellence awards' which is soon to be screened on GTV, saying "you will see in this clip that at no point was any state functionary involved in the selection of the nominees".

The chief executive, however, preferred to keep the criteria for the selection of award winners and the identity of the panel private, saying "that will not be in the interest of the honourable personalities involved, and is against the rules guiding Nobel prize system upon which we modelled ours".

Mr Morton dismissed allegations that some corporate award winners paid between one to 75 million cedis for awards, saying that no company nor personality paid a pesewa for an award.

He said the programme was sponsored by Ghanaclassifieds and by more than 40 other companies, some of which did not receive any award, adding that no personality sponsored the programme.

"Some of the corporate award winners were not sponsors".

The chief executive explained that all the 205 final nominees, including 175 nominees short listed from over two million public nominations under the 35 different categories, 20 renowned statesmen and 10 contributors to rural development, were served with letters of invitation to the awards presentation ceremony since there was a possibility of any of them winning an award.

He noted that under each category of awards, there were three awards, comprising of the grand prize for excellence over a century, excellence over a decade and excellence for the 1999 year.

"We never wrote a letter to anyone or company to tell them they have won a particular award".

Mr Morton said special mention was also made of an extra 248 personalities and companies under a roll of honour category, for excellent performance in their respective areas.

Commenting on the build-up towards the awards night, Mr Morton said the photographs, which were exhibited in the metropolis, were not necessarily those of nominees.

"Those photographs were mere teasers as part of our advertising strategy, because some of the personalities whose photographs were displayed, were not even on the list of the more than two million public nominations".

The chief executive said it is not true that Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the UN, ignored invitation to receive an award.

"His representative, in the person of Mrs Margaret Novicki, Country Director of UN Information Centre, was at the ceremony to read an acceptance speech he had written".

He said the millennium excellence awards were to recognise and reward the performance of worthy personalities and corporate organisations with a view to encouraging others to aim at providing excellent and quality services in their

respective areas towards the development of the country.

"It was also to encourage our youth to aim high in life and remember that there is always a reward in hard work and excellence".

"It is high time we stop the pull-him-down attitude and recognise the contributions of individuals and organisations as a catalyst to national development."

He, however, noted that every constructive criticism of the maiden edition of the awards would be taken in good faith and would go a long way to reflect positively on the institutionalised excellence awards as from 20001.

GRi../

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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 January 2000

"It is shocking but not surprising that Journalists continue to be harassed in contemptuous disregard for our constitution and popular opinion", says a statement released by the New Patriotic Party this morning.

Signed by the NPP’s General Secretary, Mr. Dan Botwe, the statement says that party officials are unhappy about the manner and timing of the arrest of Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere.

Mr Blay-Amihere, President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) and publisher of ‘The Independent’ newspaper in Accra, was arrested last Thursday for allegedly reporting that soldiers had refused to march at the annual anniversary of the 31^st December revolution.

Kabral’s front page story in the Independent of Tuesday the 11^th headlined "Soldiers refuse to march" had apparently displeased the Armed Forces who are said to have invited Kabral to the Burma Camp for questioning.

Mr. Blay –Amihere considered a top-notch journalist and one of the trailblazers in the fight for a free and fearless media, is said to have asked the Military to address its grievances through the National Media commission. He was arrested at about 10pm on Thursday at gun-point and released Friday morning.

The NPP expressed concern at the timing and mode of the arrest by two military men with drawn guns at an isolated spot on the outskirts of Accra.

"The point is why could he not be picked up in broad daylight in full view of people? And will those who ordered the arrest explain what would have happened if Kabral, not knowing whom those arresting him were, had resisted?" the statement said.

It also said "the party soundly condemns the cynical attacks on the media and all the attempts made to intimidate media practitioners, especially in an election year".

The release continued "We duly recognize and fully respect the Media Constitutional functions of keeping those in authority - including the NPP, when it comes to power next year - accountable to people".

Party officials said they hoped the Military would take steps to ensure that those elements among them who are tempted to behave in that unacceptable manner desist in the future.

In another development, the Ghanaian Centre of International PEN- a world association of writers, on Friday expressed disgust at the arrest and detention by the military of Mr Kabral Blay- Amihere, Editor and Publisher of the Independent.

A statement issued in Accra by the Ghanaian PEN centre said: " We find it highly disturbing that the military could act the way they did only few hours after President Jerry John Rawlings had preached peace in his last sessional address.

"PEN strongly deplores the situation where the military and the police regard journalists as enemies who must be crushed at the slightest opportunity."

Members of PEN therefore urged the security services not to see themselves as being above the law, and thus treat journalists and writers without respect to the laws of the nation.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces said on Friday it arrested and detained Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Editor of the "Independent" for a news item "calculated to sow dissension amongst soldiers and precipitate indiscipline and possible disorder.

In a statement reacting to several media reports on 14 January in connection with the "arrest and detention" of the Editor, the Armed Forces said it "indeed invited" the Editor on 13 January over a story published on the front-page of Tuesday, 11 January with a banner headline "Soldiers refuse to march for 31st".

It said although Mr Blay-Amihere indicated that he would report to the Public Relations Directorate on his own volition, he failed to turn up, thus forcing the military "to go for him at about 2200 hours."

The statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel B.W.K. Nibo, Director of Public Relations, said when Kabrah was picked up, he requested "to go home and also see his lawyer and that he was given the opportunity to do all that and finally when he arrived in Burma Camp, he was kept at the reception of the military police till the following morning.

"The fact of the matter is that Kabral Blay-Amihere is the editor of the "Independent" newspaper that published false and inflammatory story about the military.

"We wish to emphasize that the story, which is calculated to sow dissension amongst soldiers and precipitate indiscipline and possible disorder, follows the pattern of insurgent publications that have been the agenda of the Editor".

The statement said: "the public must recall that in the wake of public criticism of the Value Added Tax (VAT) proposal in 1995, the Editor wrote two editorials inciting coup d'etat in the country. During the interrogation, he indicated that he is against coup d'etat in any form.

"The interrogation by the military over the publication of the story was purposely meant to ascertain his source of information and his evidence which showed that soldiers 'REFUSE' to march for 31^st.

"The Ghana Armed Forces reminded the media once more to be circumspect in their publication and avoid sensationalising issues which should not be treated as such.

The "Independent" story amounted to inciting soldiers and calling for disorder. Indeed, there has never been any occasion when soldiers refuse to go on route march.

We wish to reiterate that the Armed Forces will also not sit down for those media personnel who want to use the military for their private agenda to sow any seed of discord and disharmony among troops.

It is the desire of the Armed Forces to see a peaceful, stable and successful election year. The Armed Forces will therefore not accept any insidious attempt by persons including some media personnel to create unnecessary tension and instability through their publications.

"We therefore wish to caution the media against deliberate misinformation and publication of stories that will create indiscipline and disunity."

Mr Blay-Amihere on his part has stated that he was locked in the guardroom overnight and not at the reception as the military is claiming.

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President Jerry John Rawlings said on Sunday that peace and stability can be sustained in the country when people tell the truth and do not provoke others through their inflammatory speeches and writings.

Speaking at an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark the close of the second millennium at the Accra International Conference Centre, President Rawlings said those who swear on the Bible and "yet tell lies, are crucifying Jesus who was crucified for saying the truth. I will not see truth crucified in my time".

The service was organised and sponsored by the Christian Council of Ghana, the National Catholic Secretariat, the Council of Independent Churches, and the Ghana Pentecostal Council in collaboration with the New Millennium Commission.

It was on the theme: "Peace and Stability in the New Millennium."

He called for peaceful co-existence and advised that "no one should provoke his or her neighbour because no one likes to be attacked.

It was gracious to share in love and champion the cause of morality since the Apostles achieved greater success in preaching the word of God through love and peace rather than violence.

President Rawlings said he is not violent but perhaps people attribute violence to him because of the tone he uses to condemn evil in the society.

He expressed regret that there are people who put in about 60 per cent of work and yet demand 100 per cent salary, adding that there are some establishments who employ family members at the expense of more qualified people who do not belong to their tribes or families.

President Rawlings asked the congregation to pray for peace for neighbouring countries that are locked up in wars.

In a sermon, the Right Reverend Justice Akrofi, Anglican Bishop of Accra and Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, said it is a challenge to Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful election this year.

He appealed to the President to work towards that objective as he indicated in his sessional address to Parliament last Thursday.

Rev Akrofi said Christ left peace and love to his disciples which are more infinite gifts than His body to his foster father Joseph and His soul to His heavenly Father.

Calling for peace and reconciliation, Rev. Akrofi said peace and stability "are things that are to be doggedly fought for".

"It requires sacrifices and even burying one's own pride. It requires humility.

"There can be no reconciliation without mutual forgiveness and that itself is preceded by mutual confession of guilt."

Rev. Akrofi called on the government and the opposition to admit their faults when the need arises and stop telling lies about each another.

The Very Reverend Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat, urged churches to stop accusing one another of wrong beliefs and doctrines.

Mr Justice D.F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament, read the second lesson while the Reverend S.T. Doku, president of Council of Independent Churches, said the thanksgiving prayer.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 17 Jan 2000

A calliper joint invented by Mr Musah Baba Ahmed, former orthopaedic technician at the Jachie Training Centre for the Disabled in 1986, has been given a patent in England.

The joint exhibited during the 1988 Industry and Technology Fair (INDUTECH '88), was made from flat metal components, rivets and springs. It weighs about 220 grams.

It has a spring that operates a lever. When the lever is pressed at the back of the joint, the knuckle rotates allowing the lower part of the calliper to bend the spring locks and the lever back into position when the leg is straightened.

A release by Ghana Against Disability in Kumasi signed by Mr Yaw Poku Attakora-Asamoah Jnr, President of the NGO and Mr Ahmed, said the joint is being produced in Ramsey, Isle of Man in England, under the supervision of Mr Steve Salter, an associate of the inventor.

It said field tests are being conducted in Ethiopia, Somalia, Mozambique, Kenya and Cambodia and in Ghana 20 disabled persons would be supplied the callipers free of charge after paying for workmanship.

The organisation appealed to the government to establish a National Council on Disability initiated about 19 years ago. It asked Parliament to speed up action on the Disability Bill.

The release appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to include institutions, which cater for the training of the disabled in the Educational Fund he has set up because most of disabled persons need financial and material support.

The institutions are the Edwinase Rehabilitation Centre, Jachie Training Centre for the Disabled, Offinso and Nkenkansu Training Centres for the Disabled and the Nkoranza Craft Production and Training Centre for the Disabled.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Jan. 2000

A women's rights activist, and former Director of Institute of Adult Education on Monday called for mediation and conflict resolution training for women and young people, as a means of curbing violence against women and children.

Professor Miranda Green street appealed to the government to improve existing legislation to ensure that women and children abusers are dealt with more rigorously, whiles homes and temporary places of refuge for women victims of violence and abuse are establish to ensure their safety.

She made the call at a ceremony to launch a report on "Breaking the silence and challenging the myths of violence against women and children in Ghana".

The report, based on various documented cases of violence, against women and children of age 13 and upwards in Ghana, between 1993 and 1997, is to provide a comprehensive information on the situation in the country so as to determine the appropriate measures to address it.

It is also to let policy makers and society have a better knowledge of the profile of victims, offenders, magnitude and nature of violence, with the view to drawing up appropriate strategies to sufficiently deal with the offenders and protect the victims.

Prof. Green street appealed to Parliament, saying, "in Ghana it is imperative for legislation to be improved and made more rigorous".

She said women and children must also be educated on their rights and to be directed on how to report cases of violence against them, as a way of curbing the situation.

According to the report, compiled by Mrs Kathy Cusack, an International Human Right activist, over the period of the study, 27 per cent of women in Ghana, suffered psychological abuse through either threat with the fist by men or insults from both genders.

It noted that 33 per cent of women, suffered physical violence at the hands of partners, out of which 51 per cent occurred in 1997 alone.

Out of the 51 per cent of cases in 1997, 81 per cent suffered from hand beatings, while 27 per cent suffered from sexual abuse.

Touching on child abuse, the report stated that about two million children are subjected to female genital mutilation every year world-wide, adding that a further one million children go into prostitution annually due to violence-prompted broken homes.

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