Rawlings appeals for support for Cote d'Ivoire
Census committees for Brong Ahafo inaugurated
Western region journalists feted
Cattle destroy farms in East Gonja
NDC supporters urged to avoid inter-party rivalry
48th Engineer Regiment gets new block
December 7 or 8 is election day
Need for integrated land use planning advocated
Kade constituency of NPP elect executive
Workshop on chlorinating water bodies opens
Accra (Greater Accra), 21st January 2000
The New Ivorian Head of State, General Robert Guei arrived in Accra on Thursday for a day's official visit.
Accompanied by some senior Ivorian officials, he was met on arrival by President Jerry John Rawlings and some government officials including Mr. James Victor Gbeho Foreign Minister,
General Guei arrived in Accra from Liberia told a press conference at the airport that his regime need time to put things right before handing over to a civilian government and called for patience from the international community.
He declined to say when he would hand over to a democratically elected government saying, the situation now demands sometime for diagnosis.
Gen. Guei said there is the need to review the constitution to remove clauses that has inhibited some Ivorians from participating in national affairs.
The visit, according to him is to explain what he called "the recent painful events in Cote d' Ivoire" and to express gratitude to Ghana for her understanding.
Gen. Guei said Cote d'Ivoire is like a doctor who is being asked when his patient would leave hospital even before he does his diagnosis.
"We do not know the disease plaguing Cote d'Ivoire now. It would be difficult to say within this short period".
Gen. Guei said transition to a civilian government is not a problem, adding that, "we will strive to, as soon as possible, give the time frame for this transition".
"There would also be a census and the establishment of an Electoral College, so that all the details that are of concern would be addressed. We ask all our friends to have confidence in us to return to democratic civilian rule".
On the breaking of diplomatic ties by some countries with Cote d’Ivoire, Gen. Guei said, "Ivorians need to maintain their dignity and not to give it up on the plate of aid and grant".
He noted that like Ghana, which had to suffer a lot with her currency in the midst of inflation and unfavourable economic situations in the early days of the Revolution, Ivorians have their dignity to defend.
"We cannot have our dignity put underfoot because of aid and grants. If we do so we are going to let Cote d'Ivoire die.
"What happened in Cote d'Ivoire is an internal problem and we want to count on the good sense of all to understand us".
President Rawlings said he welcomes Gen Guei with mixed feelings because of the growing attitude in the sub-region against military coups.
He said that this is "justifiable", but indicated that "those who are condemning events in Cote d'Ivoire have to understand where they are coming from".
"Some countries like Ghana have had three coups and a revolt, therefore, they do not per se, have the moral right to pontificate against such events. But we must see the complex situation and make all efforts to understand the situation in Africa".
President Rawlings said he was happy that Gen Guei has found it expedient to visit leaders in the region since they were part of a process that sought to ease the process that brought him to power.
He asked him to attend to the emergency situation in Cote d'Ivoire and said Ghana will support all efforts aimed at restoring democratic rule as early as possible.
General Guei has since left for Burkina Fasso.
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Rawlings appeals for support for Cote d'Ivoire
Accra (Greater Accra), 21st January 2000
President Jerry Rawlings on Thursday appealed to the international community to support Cote d'Ivoire.
He noted that it could have been worse, and could "get worse if the international community does not lend its mind, heart and ear of understanding about events in Cote d'Ivoire".
President Rawlings made this appeal at the end a visit to Accra by the new Ivorian leader, General Robert Guei.
The visit was to enable the Ivorian leader to explain what he termed " the recent painful events in Cote d' Ivoire" to President Rawlings and to express gratitude to Ghana for her understanding.
General Guei was accompanied by General Lassana Palenfo, Minister of Security and Interior, Mr M'boua Christopher Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commandant Djeklou Saint Cyr, Secretary to the Ivorian Cabinet, Amadou Traore a Special Counsellor to the President, and five others.
The Ghanaian side had Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister for National Security, Mr. James Victor Gbeho, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. K. Munufie, Ghana's Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire and Dr Tony Aidoo, Deputy Minister of Defence in attendance.
President Rawlings stressed the need to assist the government of Cote d'Ivoire to stabilise and to work toward an effective and efficient electoral process demanded by all.
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Census committees for Brong Ahafo inaugurated
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 21st January 2000
An 11-member committee to co-ordinate activities for the forthcoming national population and housing census in the Brong Ahafo Region was inaugurated at Sunyani on Thursday.
Also inaugurated was a 10-member committee for each of the 13 districts in the region.
Mr. Donald Adabre, out-going Regional Minister, charged members to educate the people to take part in the census saying "the best technique we can employ in the field should be that of persuasion so that reliable and accurate information is given freely by every respondent".
He said the census is very important since it will assist the central government, regions and the district assemblies to plan their health, educational, housing and other socio-economic activities.
Mr. Adabre noted that foreign countries, donors, investors and non-governmental organisations also require such information for planning their technical and economic assistance to the country.
He said the advantages to be derived are so enormous that "we cannot, as responsible officers, allow the exercise to be toyed with".
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Western region journalists feted
Sekondi (Western Region), 21st January 2000
Mrs. Esther Lily Nkansah, Western Regional Minister, has called on journalists to practise development journalism instead of focusing on personalities.
She said focusing on personalities rather than development journalism deprives the region of valuable economic investment and business opportunities.
She was speaking at an end-of year get-together organised for members of the Western Region branch of the Ghana Journalists Association in Sekondi on Wednesday.
Mrs. Nkansah urged journalists to be circumspect, fair and balanced in their reporting and avoid sensationalism and biased reporting which retard the development of the region.
Mr. J. K. Buadi, Western Regional President of the Ghana Journalists Association, appealed to the Regional Co-ordinating Council and other agencies in the region to help solve some of the major problems facing journalists in the region.
He cited transport and lack of accommodation as the major factors inhibiting their smooth operations.
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Cattle destroy farms in East Gonja
Lonto (Northern Region) 21st January 2000
In spite of "Operation Cow-leg" launched by the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to drive away alien herdsmen and their cattle, a number of them have returned to the East Gonja district and are damaging farms and the vegetation.
The herdsmen, who number about 100 with a herd of over 5000 have been sighted at Lonto and Ekundi areas where the cattle are allowed to graze on maize and rice farms.
Farmers in the area reported the matter to Mr. Jerry Draman Jackson, District Chief Executive when he addressed an area council meeting. They also complained about the spread of cattle diseases like anthrax.
Mr. Jackson gave the assurance that the district security committee would liaise with the Regional Security Council to flush out the herdsmen.
He appealed to the farmers to furnish the district assembly with information about the hideouts of the herdsmen.
Mr. Jackson commended the two area councils for their revenue drive and self help initiative.
He said the District Assembly will this year use a sizeable portion of its budget to improve on the road network in the rural communities, water, sanitation, and educational projects will also be given a boost.
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NDC supporters urged to avoid inter-party rivalry
Yendi (Northern Region) 21st January 2000
Professor Kofi Awoonor, Presidential Staffer, has called on NDC executive members and supporters to avoid inter-party rivalry, tribalism, and other divisive tendencies and work in harmony for victory in this year's elections.
Prof. Awoonor made the call at a constituency meeting attended by about 200 members and functionaries from the Yendi and Mion constituencies aimed at mapping out strategies to win back the Yendi and Tishegu/Karaga seats that the party lost in the last elections.
Also in attendance was a high-powered delegation of national executives, including Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the party.
Prof. Awoonor stressed the need for Ghanaians to return the NDC to power for it to complete its development programmes on roads, schools, hospitals, water and electricity.
He said apart from the First Republican government, "it is only the NDC government that has done well in developing the nation and it is important that the it retains power to be enable it to continue its service".
Alhaji Yahaya stressed the need for unity to enable the party to consolidate its position in the next elections.
The delegation held similar meetings with the executives of party branches in Saboba, Chereponi, Yendi and Zabzugu-Tatale constituencies.
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48th Engineer Regiment gets new block.
Accra (Greater Accra), 21st January 2000
Brigadier Francis Yahaya Mahama, Commander of the First infantry Brigade, on Thursday commissioned a 70 million-cedi 16 room block single quarters for the 48th Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The block was constructed through proceeds accrued from the Regiment's attachment to AGGREKO, a British Electric generating firm at Tema.
The AGGREKO Block which was dedicated by Captain Paul Hometown, Unit chaplain is fully furnished and will accommodate 64 newly trained soldiers for the Infantry.
The commissioning coincided with the Infantry's annual WASSA (get together) celebrations initiated by the British in the colonial era, to enable soldiers to dine and wine with their families.
Lieutenant Colonel Kojo Klobodu, the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, called on the soldiers to be abreast with modern technology as the 21st century demands sophisticated engineer.
" Only intelligent, physically fit, educated and well trained engineers can leverage technology to its full potential.
"You must always be ready to adapt, adopt, and improve on your weaknesses and strengths as well.
GRi
December 7 or 8 is election day
Accra (Greater Accra) 21st January 2000
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Electoral Commissioner said on Thursday, that this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be held on either December 7 or 8.
"The date has not yet been approved so do not quote me yet," Dr Afari-Gyan told a the GTV programme News Conference to be aired on Monday 24th January.
Dr Afari-Gyan said on the programme hosted by GRi Managing Editor, Frank Agyekum that adequate preparations has been put place to ensure a smooth elections.
He said plans are far advanced for the cleaning of the voter’s register and for issuing photo-identity cards.
The Electoral Commission, he said needs about 50 billion for the election exercise but has so far got less that 25 billion dollars.
The donor community have however pledged their support to the exercise Dr Afari-Gyan and was hopeful that the estimated amount will be realized.
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Need for integrated land use planning advocated
Aboaso (Ashanti), 21st January 2000
Mr. K. A. Boadu, Ashanti Regional Manager of Forests has stressed the urgent need for an integrated programme on land use and planning by all sectors that depend on the forests.
"This way, improved land use techniques could be adopted for implementation by relevant organisations."
Mr. Boadu was speaking at the launch of this year's national environmental campaign of the Renewable Natural Resources Students Association of the University of Science and Technology (UST) at Aboaso in the Kwabre district of Ashanti.
Mr. Boadu said education programmes of the Forestry Service have created the needed awareness on tree planting, especially, in Ashanti.
He said the Service provides technical advice and supplies seedlings to people who are interested in planting trees.
Under a new law a timber contractor can only be given felling rights if he established 10 hectares of forest plantation for any one kilometre square of area granted him.
This has made it obligatory for timber contractors to plant trees to replace those felled, he said.
Nana Dwomoh Sarpong, Executive Director of Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies, suggested to traditional rulers to revisit the traditions of old which protected the forests and rivers.
He therefore advocated the creation of special stools by traditional rulers to help check the present rate of environmental degradation.
Mr. Kwame Aboagye-Agyei, an Assistant Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), called for the involvement of the local people in environmental issues.
He said local participation can help with afforestation, wildlife conservation, improvement in sanitation systems, erosion control and watershed management.
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Kade constituency of NPP elect executive
Kade (Eastern Region), 21st January 2000
The Kade constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has elected a new executive to steer the affairs of the party for the next three years.
Mr. Kwaku Sarpong was elected unopposed as chairman after the incumbent, Mr. Adanse Awusi, had announced that he was stepping down for personal reasons but would vigorously campaign to ensure victory for the party in the constituency.
Mr. Kwame Ofosu Okyere and Mr. Adu Marfo were also elected unopposed as first and second vice chairmen respectively.
Mr. Asafo Adjei retained his position as constituency organiser by beating Mr Baah Adinkrah by 17 votes to 11.
Mr. John Koomson is the new constituency organiser. He polled 23 votes as against 16 by Mr. Ben Nyannor.
The position of women's organiser went to Miss Ellen Nimoh while three other women , Miss Lucy Danso, Miss Vivian Otopia and Miss Janet Obenewaa have been appointed to assist in the organisational work..
Mr. Edward Broni polled 22 votes to become the new Youth organiser, beating Appau Danso who had 12 votes and Oduro Frempong, five.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Sarpong pledged to work with zeal to make victory for the party in the constituency a certainty.
Mr. Kwame Nyarko MP for Kade asked the executives to make whatever sacrifices necessary to retain the constituency for the party in the next general elections.
Mr. Alex Agobo, Eastern regional organiser of the party called on the new team to work with dedication by getting to the remotest hamlets to mobilise support for the party.
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Workshop on chlorinating water bodies opens
Tamale (Northern Region), 21st January 2000
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has begun a series of workshops and training sessions on chlorinating water bodies in communities, which were affected by floods last year.
One of such workshops for 39 participants drawn from NADMO, Environmental Health and Community Water and Sanitation Division in the Northern Region was held in Tamale on Thursday.
Mr. Kofi Portuphy, National Co-ordinator of NADMO, in an address, said the workshop is to equip communities to deal with contaminated water sources following the floods last year.
He announced that NADMO has taken delivery of 57 water tanks with 7,000 litre capacity each at a cost of 104 million cedis for distribution to communities in the Tamale District and Upper East Region, which have submitted detailed reports on their systems affected by the floods.
Mr. Portuphy asked the participants to adequately prepare their community members to eliminate the ignorance and superstitious beliefs they associate with diseases like cholera and guinea worm.
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