President says : No apology to wrong-doers
Rawlings inspects Tema-Aflao road
President says : No apology to wrong-doers
Accra (Greater Accra), 20th January 2000
The President, Flt.Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has described as unfortunate, comments by certain individuals on his recent sessional address to Parliament, adding that he owes no apology to wrongdoers.
Speaking to the GNA in a rare interview Accra on Thursday, President Rawlings said one of the obstacles standing in the way of genuine reconciliation is the arrogance on the part of some individuals who conveniently overlook how much their own actions and behaviour contributed to the angry explosions of June 4 and 31st December.
"Such individuals tend to over-simplify the issues and would want Ghanaians to believe that simply because of the excesses, everyone who suffered was a saint or committed no crimes.
''Certainly some people deserved to be punished and l will not be a hypocrite to say sorry to them. And yet even for some of them, we have gone out of our way on compassionate grounds, to reduce the effect of the punishment they received to the extent of setting aside some convictions, rehabilitating them and restoring some properties to them.''
President Rawlings said "We are genuine when we stretch a hand of sympathy to persons who might have suffered as a result of some excesses of the revolutionary period.
''We have always been willing to say sorry to innocent people who were caught in the crossfire of events. And this is not the first time I have said so in public. We will continue to do what is necessary to forge a spirit of togetherness among Ghanaians,'' the President added.
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IPR condemns Kabral's arrest
Accra (Greater Accra), 20th January 2000
The National Executive Council of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) on Thursday added its voice to condemnation of the arrest and detention Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere, publisher of the Independent newspaper, last week.
In a statement in Accra, the IPR expressed regret at the way and manner the arrest was carried out saying "it subverted Ghana's infant constitution."
The IPR therefore urged all institutions such as the Ghana Armed Forces to abide by the laid down guidelines in the constitution which deal with media complaints.
It appealed to all sections of society, including the Armed Forces, to ensure that Ghanaians go about their duties calmly and according to rules of the land.
Mr. Blay-Amihere, who is also President of West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA), was arrested at about 2200 hours last Thursday by military personnel in mufti and was released the following day.
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Rawlings inspects Tema-Aflao road
Prampram (Greater Accra), 20th January 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday inspected portions of the Tema-Aflao road, which are being rehabilitated pending reconstruction.
The road, constructed more than 40 years ago, has developed huge potholes as a result of heavy rains last year which has rendered some portions un-motorable.
Accompanying the President were Mr. Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport, his Deputy, Mr. Steve Akorli as well as Alhaji B.L.T. Sakibu, Chief Executive of the Ghana Highways Authority.
President Rawlings saw work in progress from the main Tema barrier, popularly called Jerusalem Gate, stretching up to the Prampram Junction. This stretch of the road is undergoing complete reconstruction because of its bad nature.
Mr. Salia said the work being done is the normal maintenance and is estimated at four billion cedis. "We are covering the whole stretch of the Tema/Aflao road".
He said the road has seen "its useful life span and soon complete reconstruction would start".
Mr. Salia said a loan of 76 million Deutsche Marks from the German government has been procured but this would cover only the Tema/Sogakope portion adding that the donor's response for financing of the Sogakope/Aflao portion has been positive.
He said the Tema/Aflao road forms part of the West Africa Highway project, and its construction is very important to the government".
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