Asunafo North NPP gets new executives
Muslims assured of equal treatment
Northern Region to get Youth Training Centre
Graphic replies opposition parties
Mobilise support for national census- Mahama
Put more reliance on increasing co-operation –lecturer
Workshop on adding value to cassava opens
Community contribute towards power project
Rawlings invited to G77 conference
Female tractor driver crushed to death
Man found hanging, police suspect foul play
Re-open enquiry into murder of judges -Agyapong
Kwapra Gyaasehene destooled for embezzlement
Asunafo North NPP gets new executives
Goaso (Brong Ahafo), 18th January 2000
A 10- member New Patriotic Party executive committee for the Asunafo North constituency was at the weekend sworn into office following elections at Goaso in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The election was conducted by Mr Gabriel Dei, the Asunafo District Officer of the National Electoral Commission and supervised by Nana Kojo Yeboah-Fordjour, the NPP Regional Chairman.
Seven persons including the chairman, the vice-chairman and the treasurer were elected unopposed.
Mr. Osei Wereko, a Goaso businessman who until the election was the constituency secretary, became the new chairman of the party with Mr. Osei Boateng as the secretary.
Mr. John Gyakye was elected treasurer with Mr. Thomas Ohene Sefah as the organiser.
Nana Yeboah-Fordjour advised the executive to unite and intensify their campaign to enable them to win more people for the party.
"Organise yourself and embark on house- to- house campaigns especially in the rural areas to win more people."
Mr Wereko assured the NPP of the preparedness of the executive to intensify their campaign to bring more people into the party.
He called on all NPP supporters to close their ranks and gear their efforts towards pushing the party to victory.
GRi
Muslims assured of equal treatment
Aflao (Volta Region), 18th January 2000
Lt.-Col. Charles Agbenaza (rtd) in-coming Volta Regional Minister, has assured Muslims that they will not be discriminated against on account of their religion.
"No Ghanaian can be discriminated against on grounds of religion".
Colonel Agbenaza, also Member of Parliament for Ketu-South, was speaking at the inauguration of the Aflao branch of the Muslim Youth Association at the weekend.
He said the government has taken note of the fast growing popularity of Islamic religion, hence the unprecedented approval of two Islamic public holidays yearly.
The Regional Minister spoke about plans to decongest Aflao Zongo due to its growing population and lack of space for further expansion.
Colonel Agbenaza said land would soon be acquired in Aflao to resettle the growing Muslim population and for other development projects such as an English-Arabic school and a mosque.
The Minister urged the Muslims not to allow themselves to be discriminated against because of their way of dressing.
Mr. M. A. Gaddal, National Chairman of the Muslim Youth Association, urged Muslims to actively involve themselves in the political programmes of their communities.
He urged Muslims to register to enable them to exercise their franchise in this year's general elections.
Togbi Fiti V, Paramount Chief of Aflao, commended the Muslim community for their peaceful co-existence with the local people over the years.
He urged them not to misdirect their energies towards crime and other negative practices. "You should acquire knowledge for your personal development."
In a welcoming address, Mr. Abdulai Abubakar, Chairman of the association, said the association with more than 500 members aims at encouraging Muslim children to have both secular and Islamic education.
GRi
Northern Region to get Youth Training Centre
Tamale (Northern Region), 18th January 2000
A Youth Training Institute is to be established at Nalerigu near Gambaga this year.
The institute, the eighth after Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Volta, Upper East. Upper West and Eastern Regions, will cater for drop out's and unskilled youth in the Northern region.
Alhaji Mohammed Nabilla, Regional Youth Organiser, said at Tamale on Monday that carpentery and joinery, masonry, blacksmithing, plumbing, agricultural science and home economics would be taught at the institute.
Alhaji Nabilla appealed to unemployed youth to enrol at the institute to acquire new skills.
GRi
Anyinam (Eastern Region), 18th January 2000
The Atiwa Constituency of the NPP on Sunday elected new executives at its Delegates Congress at Anyinam.
The Chairman, Mr David Amoako, polled 78 out of the 118 valid votes cast to beat Mr Seth Asimeng.
Mr. Emmanuel Appiah Kwakye and Mr Addo Darkwa Pope, were re-elected unopposed as Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively, while Mrs Mary Kyerewaa, retained her position as Treasurer.
Mr. Oboobi Kwarfo was elected unopposed as the first vice chairman while Mr. Emmanuel Numafo Anorkwa, polled 72 to beat Mr. Appiah Tenkorang for the position of second vice chairman and Miss Gifty Sarkey Women's Organiser.
The East Akim District Electoral Officer, Mr. Dogbey Selormey, supervised the election.
Addressing the delegates, the MP for the area, Mr. Yaw Baning Darko, said the party could not afford to lose the 2000 general elections adding that the national executive has put in place measures to elect polling station committees to educate and supervise elections in their areas.
The Eastern Regional Chairman, Nana Addi Ankama, expressed concern about petty squabbles among members and called on the executive to consider themselves as "managers and operators of the party in the constituency".
Mr Emmanuel Appiah Kwakye admitted loosing some young supporters to the NDC but attributed this to economic hardships facing the young people in the area.
GRi
Graphic replies opposition parties
Accra ( Greater Accra), 18th January 2000
The Graphic Communications Group Limited, which publishes the Daily Graphic and four other papers on Monday, said it will give fair access to all political parties in spite of its new status as a limited liability company.
"The Graphic Communications Group Limited is aware of public concern about the need for fair access to the media especially during a year of presidential and parliamentary elections. The legitimacy of this concern has no relevance to the status of our company".
These were contained in a statement signed by Mr Elvis Aryeh, Editor of the Daily Graphic, in reaction to the disapproval of the Minority Group in Parliament of the new status of the defunct Graphic Corporation.
The Minority Group at a press conference last Tuesday kicked against the turning of the Graphic Corporation into a limited liability company, saying it "would aggravate the inequitable access to the most powerful daily print media in the country."
The Minority, therefore, called on the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ministry of Communications and other concerned bodies to take steps to safeguard the democratic interest of all parties and business organisations.
Mr. J. H. Mensah, the Minority Leader in Parliament, said Graphic's new status would not only allow private individuals with their own political leanings and agenda to manipulate the company to their advantage, but it would also aggravate the inequitable access to The Graphic, a state-owned media.
The move, he said, has also got the potential of denying access to some business organisations branded as supporting the opposition financially.
In reaction to these the statement said, "we hope that the nation will see the Graphic Communications Group Ltd not as a tool for the pursuit of any political agenda but as a business venture".
It would be a "development-oriented organisation desirous of meeting the basic needs and aspirations of the people holding its own in highly competitive global information market".
It said the company is aware that it draws its readership from the broad spectrum of the Ghanaian society irrespective of political affiliation".
"Good journalistic practice and respect for democratic norms dictate that we offer a fair service to all if we are to retain our position as the nation's leading publishers."
On its transformation to a limited liability company, the statement said the process was done in accordance with parliamentary procedure.
It said Graphic Corporation was among 51 state-owned enterprises slated for conversion into limited liability companies through a legislative Instrument (LI 1648) of August 17, 1999.
The statement said Mr. Kwame Peprah Minister of Finance issued the legislative instrument, which came into effect after being on the table for the statutory period provided by the rules of Parliament.
"The coming into force of the instrument meant that Graphic Corporation Instrument, under which it had existed, ceased to operate.
"The obligation fell on the board to take procedural action to have the Successor Company registered with the Registrar of Companies under the Companies Code as a limited liability company.
" It is strange that a group of Members of Parliament, before whom the Instrument of Conversion was placed and whose Honourable House is ultimately responsible for the enactment, should suddenly kick against the Graphic for acting to implement its provisions".
Graphic Corporation said this month that it has formally been incorporated into a limited liability company under a new name, the Graphic Communications Group Limited.
The new company has two subsidiaries - Graphic Packaging Limited and Afrimedia International Limited, a UK-registered company, who are publishers of the West Africa magazine.
The Board of Directors and Management of Graphic Communications Group Limited remained unchanged.
GRi
Mobilise support for national census- Mahama
Tamale (Northern Region), 18th January 2000
Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, Presidential aspirant of the Convention Party (CP), has called on supporters of the party to help mobilise people in their communities to be counted in the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census.
He asked them to spread information about the exercise to every village to sensitise the people to patronise the exercise.
Alhaji Mahama, who was speaking at the inauguration of a 17-member youth wing of the CP at Sagnerigu in Tamale, said the March 28 "census is an important element for planning and good governance".
He called on the youth to work hard to ensure victory for the party in this year's general elections so that its programme for the development of the country could be implemented.
Alhaji Mahama said the NDC had failed the country with its bad policies "and it is time it was shown the exit".
He said the growing popularity of the CP attests to the capabilities and qualities of its leadership who can be relied upon to guide the nation to progress.
Alhaji Issah Zoro, the Northern Regional Organiser, asked the government to accede to the demands of the people of Zabzugu-Tatale District for the removal of their District Chief Executive.
He said Ghana is a democratic state hence the views and aspirations of the people must be respected in such matters.
Madam Sanatu Alhassan, Assistant Regional Women's Organiser, asked unskilled teenage girls to learn some useful vocations instead of migrating to urban areas in the south to do menial jobs.
GRi
Put more reliance on increasing co-operation --lecturer
Kumasi (Ashanti), 18th January 2000
Developing countries have been urged to put more reliance on increasing co-operation among themselves to survive the global economic crisis.
Dr Yaw Nsiah-Peprah, a Lecturer at the Department of Planning at the University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, stressed this at a lecture in Kumasi on :"The political economy of Ghana in the midst of global economic crisis" organised by the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the Ghana Muslim Students Association.
He called for the removal of existing trade barriers in the present economic climate so that protectionism could be dismantled.
He said for developing countries, including Ghana to survive within the global economic crisis, what is needed is a new international order in which developing nations can benefit from a more equitable international trading arrangement.
"Developing countries which are mainly producers of primary commodities should be given the opportunity by the developed countries to have a greater influence in fixing the prices of commodities like cocoa, coffee, timber and gold."
Mr. Mohammed Yasin, Ashanti Regional President of the GMSA, appealed to political parties to draw up strategies to make this year's electioneering campaign violent-free.
He called on the government to check the sharp depreciation of the cedi against the major foreign currencies.
Mr. Yasin urged Muslims to stop internal wranglings and forge ahead in unity to enhance the socio-economic and political development of the country.
GRi
Workshop on adding value to cassava opens
Accra (Greater Accra), 18th January 00
A five-day workshop aimed at equipping participants with skills to add value to cassava, to reduce post harvest losses and improve food security in the country opened in Accra on Monday.
It is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (MOFA), the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria and the Food Research Institute.
The workshop will among other things help participants to know how to process good quality cassava for exports and introduce them to available cassava products on the market.
Mr. Akwasi Adjei Adjekum, National Programme Co-ordinator of the Root and Tuber Improvement Programme, (RTIP) said root crops and tubers form 40 per cent of agriculture produce, with cassava alone accounting for some 22 per cent.
"Cassava is a main source of carbohydrate and a dietary requirement for the rural poor.
"Owing to its bulkiness and high water content, post harvest losses is higher than most root crops and there is, therefore, the need to process cassava to improve its quality."
Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of crops, said research shows that cassava is the staple of over 200 million people in tropical Africa.
He said the government has sought to develop the full potential of the crop through the RTIP because of the important role it plays in the economy of the nation.
"Fortunately, cassava has been found to respond very favourably to innovative and transforming technologies in its utilisation. By this process cassava can be turned into a major economic crop and expose its exports potential.
"Processing and utilisation of cassava would not only reduce post-harvest losses but would enable us provide local substitutes for some imported convenience food as well as generate employment opportunities."
Dr Francis Ofori, Director of Crop Services, MOFA, said cassava contributes to sustainable poverty alleviation, since it could be grown under diverse ecological conditions.
GRi
Community contribute towards power project
Nwineso Number Three (Ashanti), 18th January 2000
The chiefs and people of Nwineso Number Three in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma district have embarked on a 30 million-cedi electrification project to help promote the establishment of cottage industries and check the migration of the youth to urban centres.
The project involves the erection of 70 poles and is being financed through the payment of special development levies by the people.
Non-resident males are paying 20,000 cedis each with females contributing 10,000 cedis while the residents are paying 10,000 cedis and 5,000 cedis per male and females respectively.
Nana Kwasi Abire, chief of the town, who announced this at a fund-raising rally in support of the project, said 20 of the poles have been procured.
Dr Matthew K. Antwi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Kwanwoma praised the people for their initiative, since "self-help is crucial for development."
The MP advised the people to register during the national population and housing census which, he said, could determine the feasibility or otherwise of creating a separate district for the constituency.
Mr. Isaac K. Nyame, District Chief Executive, said the project has been selected for completion by the government under the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP) this year.
More than four million cedis was realised at the rally.
GRi
Rawlings invited to G77 conference
Accra (Greater Accra), 18th January 2000
The government of Cuba on Monday invited President Jerry John Rawlings to a conference of the Group of 77 developing countries slated for Havana from April 10 to 15, to discuss their economies in relation to globalisation.
Mr. Angel Dalmah, Cuba's Foreign Minister, who extended the invitation when he called on President Rawlings at the Castle, Osu, said the "South Summit" would deliberate on a plan of action to adopt for the United Nations Millennium Summit scheduled for New York in September.
"It is the hope of the Cuban government that President Rawlings will attend the summit because his contribution will be beneficial", he said.
President Rawlings said until developing countries took themselves serious, "they will continue to be at the periphery of the economies and technologies of the modern world".
He said developing countries have the numbers, the resources and the circumstances to speed up their development. "We need to examine where we are and where we are going".
Mr. Victor Gbeho, Foreign Minister, said western countries have rearranged their affairs to take advantage of the new realities in global trade and until developing countries do the same "they will be at the receiving end".
"Ghana is interested in developing together to chart a new course", he said.
GRi
Female tractor driver crushed to death
Kade (Eastern Region), 18th January 00
Miss Esther Asiedua popularly known as Gab, a 42-year-old tractor driver of the Ghana Oil Palm Development Company (GOPDC) at Kwae in the Eastern region, met her tragic end on January seven when she was crushed by the tractor she was driving.
The Kade Police said at about 5.15 p.m. the deceased, a mother of three, was driving a Massey Ferguson Tractor in the company of four other employees when on descending a hill she lost control and ran into a ditch.
Asiedua, with 20 years accident-free record, was thrown off and trapped under the rear tyres of the tractor.
Police investigations continue while the body has been sent to the Police Hospital in Accra for an autopsy.
GRi
Man found hanging, police suspect foul play
Ashaiman (Greater Accra), 18th January 2000
A middle-aged man was found hanging on a at Middle East, Ashaiman, near Tema on Sunday morning and police suspect foul play.
A police source said the man who has not yet been identified, appeared relax and the tongue was not protruding, as is normal with people commit suicide by hanging themselves.
The body has since been deposited at the Tema General Hospital while investigations continue.
Mr. Baba Alhassan, assemblyman for the area, said the man was hanging by a belt from a neem.
No arrest has been made.
GRi
Re-open enquiry into murder of judges -Agyapong
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2000
A son of one of the judges murdered in 1982 has called on President Rawlings to re-open the enquiry into the gruesome murder of his father, a high court judge and two other high court judges and a retired army officer in 1982.
At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Agyapong, only 20 at the time of the killings, said he was disgusted by some bland remarks the President made concerning the murders in his sessional address to parliament last week, which some see as a genuine apology.
Mr Agyepong whose father, the late Justice Agyei Agyepong was murdered with his colleagues, last year called for the setting up of a truth commission, to look into the murders.
Justice K.A Agyapong, Justice F .P Sarkodie Justice Cecelia Koranteng Addo And Major Retired Acquah were murdered during President Rawlings' military junta and their bodies found burnt on the night of 30 June 1982.
President Rawlings, whose 18 year rule ends in January 2001 said in his last address to parliament that " we could not have turned this country round, nor come this far, without taking some difficult, painful, unpalatable but necessary decisions. In the process we have offended some people. We have upset some people. We have hurt some people. To all such people I say we are sorry".
"That was no apology at all" Mr Agyapong retorted. "When he says it was necessary to turn the county round, which in fact he has not, his remark seizes to be a statement made in remorse. Rawlings knows he did not make an apology and it is pretentious that anyone should think he did".
This is not the first time that the President has taken this line of action - apologising for the so- called excesses of his revolution, he stated.
Agyapong who is in his late thirties said, what he is fighting for, is a commission along the lines of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to be set up to re-examine the unfortunate event, and to investigate about 700 other killings and disappearances, that occurred in the early days of the revolution.
He said though his earlier three press conferences last year fell on deaf ears, his continued fight was meant to give the President a "rare window opportunity" to use his last years in office to heal the wounds and reconcile the nation.
‘As far as we are concerned, it is only when the terrible truth of what was done to the people of this country is revealed and acknowledged, that there can be genuine reconciliation’ he stressed.
‘The abduction and brutal killing of my father, his two colleagues and the retired army officer was a carefully planned, premeditated act of murder. It can not be classified as one of those painful, unpalatable but necessary decisions that had to be taken to turn the country round if indeed this country has been turned around’ he said.
"I am also reliably informed that, other aspects of Rawlings involvement was unsuspectingly revealed by his wife, Nana Konadu who called some June Fourth Movement (JFM) leaders and berated them for issuing a statement condemning the killings saying those killed were ‘reactionaries’, a term commonly used for those opposed to the revolution."
Mr Agyepong stressed: "I will not let this matter rest until everything is known. I am even more determined because of the weight of information I have been able to gather over the past year.’
When asked what his next line of action would be since all his calls are falling on deaf ears, he said he doesn’t hope to pay back Rawlings in the same coin. "But when nothing is done about this I will prepare legal action against the President, his wife and all those implicated in the Special Investigations report" he said.
Also asked why it took him such a long time to arrive at this decision, he said ‘As you grow you become more matured and you start to think of the deeper meaning of things. I also had to prepare myself to be able to stand up for the course of justice."
Mr Agyepong said: "To struggle to bring an end to human rights abuses and violations has become world wide and there is no place for murderous and despicable rulers to hide", in an era where international law has been strengthened by the landmark arrest and prosecution of former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet in the UK, for human right violations during his rule, he added.
"Saying sorry does not foreclose the need to know the Truth" he stated saying "sorry is the first positive step and it is now time to translate intentions into concrete actions to help reconcile our people.’
GRi../
Kwapra Gyaasehene destooled for embezzlement
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 Jan 2000
Nana Kwaku Gyaakye, Gyaasehene of Kwapra, near Kumasi, and the Abusuapanin, Nana Yaw Boakye Yiadom have been destooled by the Aduana family for allegedly misappropriating family funds realised from sale stool lands.
Nana Adwoa Amankwaa, the Gyaase Queenmother, who initiated and supervised the destoolment in the presence of Nana Baffour Adu-Gyamfi Kumanin, Kwaprahene, said the Gyaasehene and the Abusuapanin conspired and sold 22 building plots belonging to the family and misappropriated the funds.
The building plots which were earmarked for the construction of a palace for the Gyaase stool were allocated to the Aduana family by the Kwaprahene.
Nana Amankwaa said every effort by the family for Nana Gyaakye and the Abusuapanin to account for the proceeds from the sale of the plots failed hence the performance of the necessary customary rites for their destoolment.
In an interview with Nana Gyaakye later, he confirmed the destoolment and said he was no more interested in occupying the stool.
He explained that some years ago, Nana Adu-Gyamfi Kumanin allocated 12 building plots to the Gyaase stool which the family members shared among themselves.
He said four building plots each were allocated to the stool, the family and himself.
Five extra plots were again allocated to the family by the Kwaprahene out of which, he said, he took one and gave the rest to the Abusuapanin and the family.
According to him, the Abusuapanin sold all the plots and could not account for the proceeds.
GRi../