Minority not government researchers - UGM

President Rawlings to receive FAO Award

Co-ordinating Director on importance of census

Accra residents protest over poor sanitation, irregular water supply

Rawlings receives FAO Award

Four men burn to death in motor accident

Northern Ghana peace building project takes off at Damongo

Rotary International supports Africa with 107 million dollars

Accra (Greater Accra), 24^th January 2000

Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, Founder and Presidential candidate of the United Ghana Movement (UGM), minority parties are not obliged to provide alternative solutions to problems facing the country until during election campaign periods.

"The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has not appointed the minority political parties as researchers to assess the impact of, gather the feed back on and suggest alternatives to its wrong policies".

He was speaking to newsmen on recent moves to privatise some "first class" second cycle institutions and the mode of selecting Junior Secondary School candidates for Senior Secondary School.

Dr Wereko-Brobby noted that it is not in the interest of any party that hopes to capture power in this country to always come up with alternative policies and strategies when those of the ruling party fails or impacts negatively on the economy.

Offering alternatives would only go to the credit of the ruling government in spite of its ineffectiveness, adding, "that way the government would correct its mistakes based on the alternatives and ride on the ideas and effort of the opposition to keep itself in office".

This, he said, would defeat the idea of forming a political party to contest for power to implement better policies one day.

"UGM is willing to offer alternative policies and ideas to the ones being implemented by the NDC government, but our alternatives would only reflect in our manifesto, which would be launched soon before this year’s general elections".

Dr Wereko-Brobby said the manifesto would convince the electorate that given the mandate "we have better ways of solving the socio-economic and other problems facing the country".

He noted that the recent adverse effects of the fall in the prices of cocoa and gold on the international market are signs of the government's "un-preparedness to handle inevitable economic shocks", adding that the IMF and World Bank are not to blame as the ruling government would want the public to believe.

The UGM flag bearer called on the electorate to change the government to ensure better solutions.

Asked when he was going to name a running mate, Dr Wereko-Brobby said the "position of a vice president is nothing" adding "some of the political parties including the incumbent have not even named their flag bearers and you are asking me of my running mate".

He said UGM parliamentary candidates for the 200 constituencies would be announced soon.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 24^th January 2000

The Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Dr Jacques Diouf, on Sunday said that even though the food situation in Africa has improved, the Organisation is concerned about its sustainability and security.

He attributed the increase to improved climatic conditions rather than serious effort by farmers.

Dr Diouf was speaking to newsmen on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to present this year's FAO AGRICOLA Award to President Jerry John Rawlings.

"The FAO is conferring the award on President Rawlings for his immense contribution to the growth of the agricultural sector, which had played and continues to play a key role in the Ghanaian economy with its resultant improved living standards of the people", Dr Diouf said.

The AGRICOLA award is conferred on personalities who have made "distinguished efforts at eradicating hunger and malnutrition through increased food production in developing countries".

Previous award winners include, Presidents Abdul Diouf of Senegal, Jacque Chirac of France, Pope John Paul II and Mr. Konan Bedie, former Ivorian President.

Dr. Diouf said that, "it is gratifying that many African countries are adopting the right agricultural policies" in line with the FAO Special Agricultural Programme to increase food production and to alleviate hunger and malnutrition.

"This programme, which is designed to integrate national food strategies into regional ones to ensure effective food security, would cut by half, the number of people facing hunger and malnutrition in the world, by the year 2015".

He said civil strive in the Great Lakes and parts of West Africa are the drawback to increased food production on the continent.

FAO apart from advising political leaders on the consequence of food security in war torn areas, is also collaborating with other UN agencies to rehabilitate displaced people.

Mr. J. H. Owusu Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Mike Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mrs Annaa Enin, Ghana's Ambassador to Italy and officials of FAO regional office in Accra met him on arrival.

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Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 24^th January 2000

Mr. Samuel G.N. N'larly, District Co-ordinating Director for Techiman has called for the cooperation of the people during the forthcoming national population census.

Mr. N'larly, also the district's census officer, made the call at the district assembly's first ordinary meeting on Wednesday.

He said that the census would not involve the counting of persons alone, but would include their houses in order to have adequate information and data on their living standards.

He said that the exercise has many advantages, including the fair disbursement of the common fund, while the data would enhance assistance from donor countries.

Mr. N'larly said that a district census committee has been formed with the District Chief Executive as the Chairman, the district statistical Officer as the Secretary, and certain heads of departments as members.

The committee has the responsibility to ensure the success of the whole exercise, he added.

The District will have 218 enumeration areas and at least 218 enumerators who should be teachers.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 24^th January 2000

The residents of Dansoman, South Odorkor and Mataheko in Accra at the weekend expressed their indignation over the poor sanitation, drainage and erratic supply of water in their areas.

The absence of toilet facilities has compounded the situation, sparking fears of a possible outbreak of cholera.

A number of the residents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency decried the poor drainage system in the area, leading to heaps of rubbish and stagnant pools of waste water.

Mr. Emmanuel Ansah, an opinion leader at Asoredanho, said due to the absence of good drains in and around houses, most tenants pour wastewater on un-tarred roads.

Residents without toilet facilities also wrap human excreta in black polythene bags and dump them at vantage points during odd hours.

Mr. Ansah, therefore, urged the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to enforce its sanitation regulations to ensure that landlords and landladies provide toilet facilities in their houses.

Ms Portia Baah, proprietress of God's Anointed Salon in Dansoman, said sanitary workers in the area have shirked their responsibilities which has led to the choking of gutters in the area with rubbish.

Residents are, therefore, often compelled to contribute money to hire the services of private individuals to desilt the gutters, she said.

Mr. Francis Aheleja and Ms Lily Mensah, residents of Mataheko and Tweneboa, complained bitterly about the irregular supply of water by the Ghana Water Company.

According to them, water supply to the area is interrupted at irregular intervals without any advanced notice.

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Accra, 24^th January 2000

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Monday presented President Jerry John Rawlings with the 'AGRICOLA' medal for promoting agriculture in Ghana, making him the 10th person to pick up the prestigious award.

Pope John Paul II, the late King Hassan of Morocco, President Jiang Zemin of China, President Abdou Diouf of Senegal and President Jacques Chirac of France have won the award in recognition of their tireless efforts at sustained food production and eradication of poverty.

President Rawlings received the award from Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the FAO, who has been re-elected for a second six-year term.

A citation accompanying the award said it is in recognition of President Rawlings' "commitment and contribution towards eradication of hunger and malnutrition in Ghana as well as in Africa".

Receiving it, President Rawlings said "I thank the FAO for honouring me with this award. But I must in all humility pass it on to those who have truly earned it. I may have provided some inspiration but the work was theirs.

"I, therefore, dedicate this award to the noble farmers and fishermen of Ghana some of whom are able to be with us here today."

President Rawlings thanked the technical support personnel in the Ministry of Agriculture as well as their colleagues in the private sector and NGOs who have helped Ghana to achieve an appreciable level of food production over the past years.

He said it is ironical that the world still suffers hunger and poverty when there is enough knowledge and resources to combat them.

"The fact that these exist against the background of phenomenal scientific and technological achievements in the last decades of the 20th century imposes on us an obligation to intensify our efforts in this new century at making hunger and starvation a thing of the past".

He said the government is backing the Ministry of Agriculture to implement the FAO's Special Programme for Food Security, which seeks to raise levels of nutrition and living standards of peoples of the developing world.

Sites for the pilot phase have been identified and preliminary activities to continue to enable full implementation to start during the next cropping season.

President Rawlings said linked with the Special Programme is the South-South Co-operation arrangement between the governments of Ghana and China.

However, "current economic difficulties might lead to the scaling down of the number of technicians envisaged in the tripartite agreement between the governments of Ghana, China and the FAO".

Dr. Diouf, a Senegalese, said Ghana's increased output in food production "has been a source of inspiration for other countries.

"Ghana stands tall in West Africa. She is a shining example for others to follow in terms of food security".

He attributed the success in food production to sound economic policies and the national recognition given to farmers.

At the International Conference Centre were Vice-President John Atta Mills, the Fist Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Council of State Members, Ministers and Service Commanders.

Also present were past and present winners of National Farmers Day Awards who took a group photograph with President Rawlings.

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Cape Coast (Central Region), 24^th January 2000

Four men were burnt to death when a Peugeot caravan on which they were travelling skidded off the road, somersaulted and burst into flames at the "Pedu Junction", near the Central Regional Police Headquarters, Cape Coast, at about 2.05 a.m. on Saturday.

Three of the dead were identified as Ivorians with one named as Mr. Seidu Konate. The fourth, the driver, is believed to be a Ghanaian.

Three other passengers on the vehicle, Mr. Fofana Mamady, an Ivorian, Mr. Shaibu Said and Mr George Tindomike, both Ghanaians, have been admitted to the Central Regional Hospital with various degrees of injuries.

Two others Mr. Kaba Mohammed and Mr. Abdulai Dama, both Ivorians, who managed to scramble out of the vehicle, escaped unhurt.

When newsmen got to the scene of the accident at about 4.15 a.m., personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service and the police were cutting through the mangled iron to remove the bodies.

Mr. Said, a second-hand goods dealer resident at Tema Community One, said at his hospital bedside that he was awoken from his sleep by a loud noise and realised that the vehicle had been involved in an accident.

Mr. Mohammed said he also managed to save the life of his brother Mamady by quickly pulling him out.

An eyewitness, Mr Kwabena Asabre, a taxi driver who helped pull out the victims and conveyed them to the hospital, said he was coming from the direction of the Cape Coast University when he saw the Peugeot skid off the road, somersault and burst into flames.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Cape Coast Municipal Hospital mortuary.

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Damongo (Northern Region), 24^th January 2000

A Northern Ghana peace building and conflict transformation project and resource centre for training in peace building has opened at Unity Centre of the Damongo Catholic Diocese.

The project, which is collaboration between the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Damongo Catholic Diocese and the inter-NGO consortium, will be funded for three years at an estimated 585,930 dollars.

The CRS will contribute 359,400 dollars, and the diocese 226,530 dollars.

The project seeks to establish an institutional infrastructure and human resource pool to provide training in peace-building and conflict transformation for development practitioners and other stakeholders.

Mr. Hippolyt A.S. Pul, deputy country representative and head of the programme department of CRS on Friday presented two vehicles and other logistics to the centre for the start of the project.

Other items are computers, fax machine, laser printer, scanner, photocopier and other teaching and office equipment, all valued at 83,000 dollars.

Mr. Pul said the project is designed to make peace building "a pervasive intervention, by providing its partners with the requisite knowledge and skills for identifying and dealing with the issues of injustices in conflict situations."

He said the goal of the project is to promote sustainable peace among ethnic groups in the three northern regions through the creation of opportunities and building capacities within church-based organisations, local government institutions.

Such institutions include the district assemblies, traditional political structures, local NGOS and community-based organisations to engage in constructive conflict dialogue and prevention.

It is planned that by September 2002, the unity centre of the diocese would have organised at least 27 peace building and conflict awareness programmes, as well as prevention and transformation workshops for 300 participants from church-based development workers and youth groups in the five dioceses of the Tamale ecclesiastical province.

It would also have supported research on issues of conflict and the documentation and dissemination of their findings through seminars, training workshops and publications.

The Rt. Rev. Philip Naameh, Bishop of Damongo Diocese, said peace building remains central in the evangelisation of the mission among the diocese's 22 ethnic groups.

"The various perceptions, fear and suspicions among the ethnic groups, which makes developmental efforts very difficult will be a thing of the past if all concerned citizens and stakeholders support the project."

He said the concern for peace is global, and as such there is the need for all to cherish and desire for peaceful fraternity, which should transcend religious, social, economic or ethnic biases.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 24^th January 2000

Rotary International has provided 44 African countries with 107 million dollars towards the polio immunisation effort.

A statement in Accra on Friday said the Club also contributed 340 million dollars for the protection of more than one billion children worldwide.

The statement signed by Mr. Jonathan Majiyagbe, Chairman of the Africa Plus Committee on behalf of Rotary President, Mr Carlo Ravizza, said the club's contribution would reach about 500 million dollars by 2005.

It said in addition, Rotarians served as volunteers during the exercise to have children immunised adding that "in India alone, Rotary mobilised 100,000 volunteers for national immunisation days reaching more than 130 million children".

Rotary called on all partners in the effort to "continue this momentum if we are to rid the World of this crippling disease".

It paid tribute to football heroes including Abedi Pele, George Weah, Marcel Desailly and Jay-Jay Okocha who have supported the campaign.

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