Tema CEPS activities halted temporarily
Twumasi says there is too much indiscipline in civil service
Threatened royal family appeals to IGP
World Vision to invest 300,000 dollars per annum for 15 years in Savelugu-Nanton
CP Presidential aspirant predicts NDC's end
Ghana in Brief - Beware of fraudulent employment deals – Ministry of Housing
NDC congratulates Rawlings for Agricola Award
Outstanding clients of SSNIT get awards
Mills whips experts for second cycle of Vision 2020
Ministry of Lands and Forestry bans timber firm
Tema CEPS activities halted temporarily
Tema (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2000
Work at the Tema Long Room of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Monday came to a standstill when unregistered clearing agents, who were refused entry barricaded the entrance to the hall.
The Tema Police had to use tear gas to disperse the demonstrating agents, who were wearing red bands and chanting war songs.
The Police Buffalo Unit had to mount a guard before business could start.
Ms Monica Acquah, Public Relations Officer of CEPS, told newsmen that CEPS had introduced a policy, under which it would transact business with only registered agents and freight forwarders, who holds identification cards issued by CEPS.
One of the conditions which qualifies a company for the ID card is that it must be a contributor to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme.
The aim is to weed out unregistered agents "who normally do dubious business to tarnish the image of CEPS".
Ms Acquah said most of the clearing agents do not belong to any company and operate from under trees, adding that many fictitious businesses had been traced to the unregistered agents, who cannot be contacted in the event of any problem.
She said a letter was circulated to all agents and freight forwarders informing them about the changes, which also aims at facilitating the clearing-process at the port.
Meanwhile, some of the agents interviewed lauded the CEPS' action but said lack of communication and the rush to implement the decision caused the confusion.
They admitted that the illegal activities of the unregistered agents had created problems for the registered agents.
Mr Daniel Asamesi, President of the Customs House Brokers Association called on CEPS to expedite work on the processing of identity cards for all the 250 clearing agents, saying that only 69 of them have so far been issued with the cards. CEPS however said it had issued 109 out of the 250 companies with the new ID cards
In another development members of the association of clearing agents at the Tema Port protesting against the introduction of new customs identity cards, have been urged by some colleagues to resume work while the issue is being resolved.
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Customs Brokers Association Ghana (CUBAG) and the Freight forwarders Association, Ghana (FFAG) made the call at an emergency meeting in the port city on Monday.
They assured their striking colleagues that they would meet officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to discuss the issue for an amicable resolution.
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Twumasi says there is too much indiscipline in civil service
Sogakope (Volta Region) 25 Jan. 2000
A Presidential Staffer, Professor Patrick A. Twumasi on Monday said most work places are characterised by indiscipline, poor performance and malpractices.
He said modern development abhors these and called for disciplinary action against defaulting civil servants.
Professor Twumasi, who is also the Chairman of the Civil Service Council, was launching the revised code of conduct for the Civil Service at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
The launch coincided with the review conference of the Civil Service Improvement Programme (CSPIP), which aims at transforming the service into a viable and more productive entity.
The 29-page booklet/code serves as a guide to civil servants with regard to their duties and responsibilities and to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
It spells out the guiding principles of the code, constitutional and civic responsibilities, disclosure of classified material and information, customer orientation, personal behaviour and disciplinary procedures and penalties.
Prof. Twumasi said "in spite of the ever blowing wind of change and the call to reform, some workers come to work to do their 'own thing'. Others come to register their names and vanish. Some resort to cheating by using the facilities provided by the state to do their own private business."
He said, notwithstanding, these lapses, workers indulging in these still enjoy their entitlements with impunity thereby undermining the system.
Prof. Twumasi said measures to check these lapses, including the compilation of the code of conduct, are steps in the right direction.
"If further pursued, they will build the confidence and trust of the public in the Civil Service."
He urged chief directors of ministries and heads of departments and workers to ensure total commitment to the code of conduct.
Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Volta Regional Minister, said the objective of the Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) to ensure efficient, result-oriented, cost effective, customer friendly and transparent service delivery are laudable but are beset with problems.
He said the delay in the granting of performance improvement facility to civil service organisations implementing the PIP is becoming increasingly frustrating.
Alhaji Iddi suggested that another look be taken to make the guidelines more simple, to enhance the effective implementation of PIP.
He called for right incentives and special privileges to encourage civil servants not to be involved in bribery and corruption and also to deliver their best.
Dr Robert Dodoo, Head of the Civil Service, thanked the government and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom for funding the CSPIP.
Dr Garth Glenworth, Senior Government and Institutions Adviser of DFID, called for more consultations among stakeholders in the implementation of programmes to ensure their sustainability.
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Threatened royal family appeals to IGP
Gomoa-Amanful(Central Region) 25 Jan. 2000
Members of the Gomoa-Amanful 'Kona' royal family have appealed to the Inspector General of Police(IGP) to intervene in a land dispute to avert an imminent clash between them and an opposing faction in nearby Gomoa-Odumasi.
Addressing a meeting of the family, its leader Nana Kweku Sam, said members were making the appeal because they were awareness of the problems such negative acts could create in the area.
He said previous judgements on the land were in favour of the royal family, but the opposing group, "have continued to issue threats of intimidation and bloodshed should members of the royal family dare enter the land."
Reverend Justice Ansah, secretary to the royal family alleged that the leader of the Gomoa-Odumasi faction, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, had vowed never to give up, boasting that "he does not fear the police and that we can take the case to anywhere we like".
He added that because of persistent threats from the opposing faction whose leader, he claims patrols the disputed land with a gun almost everyday, it has been difficult for the police to pursue the case with the seriousness it deserves.
Rev Ansah also appealed to the IGP to let the police striking force to handle the matter in order to ease the unnecessary tension being created by the leader of the Gomoa-Odumasi faction.
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World Vision to invest 300,000 dollars per annum for 15 years in Savelugu-Nanton
Savelugu (Northern Region) 25 Jan. 2000
World Vision International (WVI) is to support development projects in the Savelugu-Nanton District with 300,000 dollars a year for 15 years.
The projects earmarked for financing would include the provision of water, promotion of education, health, sanitation and building the capacity of the District Assembly.
Mr Eugene Asante, Northern Operations Director of WVI, said this at Savelugu during an awards ceremony organised by the District Assembly to honour 23 organisations and individuals for their meritorious service to the district.
He said WVI spent about 215,000 dollars to provide the district with 18 boreholes three of them mechanised, to widen the scope of water supply.
Mr Asante announced the intention of a number of other international non-governmental organisations to collaborate with WVI to undertake health and community development projects in the area starting this year.
The collaboration will involve organisations like Overlake Mission, Hilton Fund, Vision Aid and Overseas Eye Care and World Vision of the United States.
Mr Asante said WVI would launch a youth skill training scheme in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, this year, under which the first batch of 120 trainees including 30 from the Savelugu-Nanton district would be sponsored to undergo vocational training.
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CP Presidential aspirant predicts NDC's end
Kakpayilli (Northern Region) 25 Jan. 2000
Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, an aspiring Presidential Candidate of the Convention Party (CP), has said the growing public disenchantment about the policies of the National Democracy Congress (NDC) would end its years of dominance of the political scene.
He said the rising cost of education, health care and other social services, has become unbearable for most Ghanaians and their protest "will lead to the defeat of the NDC in this year's general elections".
Alhaji Mahama was addressing a rally of the CP at Kakpayilli in Tamale on Sunday during which 50 people said to be defectors from the NDC and other parties were introduced.
He said he has witnessed mass defections to the CP from every part of the country, which is an indication that the party is becoming very popular and strong to win the elections.
He called on supporters to remain loyal and committed to the party and work hard to annex power to implement CP's national reconstruction programme.
Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku, one of the defectors, who claims to be a former strong supporter of NDC, said he decided to join the CP because "CP has the vision that will change the destiny of the country".
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Beware of fraudulent employment deals – Ministry of Housing
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2000
The Ministry of Works and Housing on Monday said it has not appointed any individual or company to solicit or engage employees for the Keta Sea Defence Project.
The Ministry said Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company is the accredited contractor for the project, an official statement said.
The statement asked all interested parties looking for employment with the Great Lakes to contact the Keta and Ketu district offices of the Labour Department.
"Great Lakes wishes to inform the public that all representations so far made in respect of employment by any other body or persons must be considered fraudulent."
The Ministry requested all individuals to report any improprieties or purported employment for the project to the Ministry or the Contractor.
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Gomoa-Adam (Central Region) : With the support of the United States Embassy in Ghana, the people of Gomoa-Adam in the Central Region have completed a 13-million-cedis pipe borne water project.
Addressing a durbar to round off this year's Akwanbo festival, Nana Krampa Dadzie, chief of the village, said the Embassy donated seven million cedis towards the project.
The people provided communal labour and other materials estimated at six million cedis.
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Abesewa (Ashanti) : Six schools at Abesewa in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region have been temporarily closed down.
This follows a severe rainstorm, which hit Abesewa on Saturday ripping off the roofs of the six schools.
The affected schools are the Roman Catholic Primary, the Local Authority Kindergarten, Primary and JSS, King James International and a Day Care Centre.
Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano south, who made this known on Monday, said other buildings destroyed in the rainstorm were the local Mosque and the Chief Imam's residence.
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NDC congratulates Rawlings for Agricola Award
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2000
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday congratulated President Jerry Rawlings for the Agricola Medal awarded him by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
A statement in Accra said the award serves as an acknowledgment of the President's commitment and contribution towards the elimination of hunger and malnutrition in the country and across Africa.
The party said the award also reflects the international recognition, which President Rawlings has deservedly won through his efforts in this regard.
"This honour bestowed by the leading global agricultural institution is irrefutable evidence of the success of his rural development policy, which, indeed, forms the cornerstone of NDC's programmes."
The statement said the FAO award, coming on the heels of the Gold Coast award bestowed upon President Rawlings at the recent Millennium Excellence Awards, "is a reflection of his vision, foresight and commitment to better living conditions for each and every Ghanaian.
"The Medal also recognises the president's indefatigable efforts at forging regional and international partnership with a view to enabling access to 'Food for All.'"
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Outstanding clients of SSNIT get awards
Bawku (Upper East) 25 Jan 2000
The Bawku East District branch of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has rewarded two of its clients for their excellent patronage for 1999.
They are Action Aid Ghana, represented by the Bawku Programme Manager, Mr Abdul-Rahaman Samarad, and Alhaji Tenimu Dapore, a Bawku general contractor.
Mr Ebenezer Yaw Ofori, the SSNIT District Manager, said the face value of the two certificates presented to the award winners was worth 2,000 dollars and were valid up to July four.
The recipients can also enjoy free hotel facilities at La Palm Beach in Accra, Elmina and Busua Beach, to see for themselves SSNIT's good investments.
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Mills whips experts for second cycle of Vision 2020
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2000
Consultations on the second medium term step of the Ghana-Vision 2020 policy document began on Tuesday with a call on the key players to work objectively towards providing pragmatic alternatives to achieve set goals.
Vice President John Atta Mills, addressing the plenary session, urged the experts to critically analyse issues irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic leanings in order to make the long-term vision a reality.
He advised that "theoretical postulates should only serve as guiding instruments rather than being used as blueprints."
Ghana Vision 2020, to be implemented in phases, is a long-term development framework spanning 25 years (1996-2020), under which Ghana is expected to achieve a balanced economy and middle-income status.
The first part, which ends this year, is a comprehensive medium term framework containing a co-ordinated programme of economic and social development policies to be pursued during the first five-year period towards the fulfilment of the long-term goal of accelerated and sustainable development.
Tuesday's event, organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), therefore, was to set up Cross Sectoral Planning Groups (CSPG) to start preparation of the second development policy framework and the second medium-term development plan.
Vice President Mills urged the CSPGs whose membership comprise organisations in the private and public sectors, as well as political parties and NGOs, not to lose sight of the great moral responsibility demanded of them.
He further taxed them to assess the manpower requirements needed for the implementation of emerging policies.
He emphasised that the output of the consultative process would be a national document with national identity which no one party can claim to own.
Ministries, Department and Agencies should see the exercise as complementing their own effort in policy formulation and implementation.
Vice President Mills also asked development partners and donors not only to focus on aids but should also consider opening up their markets to Ghanaian products, both primary and manufactured goods.
He said due to lack of human and material resources, most District Assemblies were unable to produce their own district plans towards the first part but instead contracted consultants who had little or no knowledge about the aspirations of the districts concerned.
As a result, some plans were not properly prepared to capture the goals of the vision and the principles of plan formulation.
He therefore urged them to take interest and participate fully in the deliberations of the CSPGs.
Mr Kobena Erbynn, director-general of the NDPC said the CSPGs are expected to submit their proposals by mid-April this year and called on all the relevant authorities to make their inputs available to them.
"It involves a lot of work and we must put our shoulders on the wheel," he urged.
Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State who presided also urged the experts to make judicious use of the next three months to come out with workable proposals.
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Ministry of Lands and Forestry bans timber firm
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan 2000
The Ministry of Lands and Forestry has banned a Suhum based timber and mills company from operation with immediate.
The firm, "In Some Ways" was found flouting the Timber Management Resources Act by buying chain sawn lumber from illegal chain saw operators.
The firm was among the 28 firms approved by the government to sell lumber in the country.
Mr Nayon Bilijo, Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday after a tour to assess the implementation of the ban on chain saw activities.
As part of the tour, a team from the Ministry paid a surprise visit to the premises of the company early this month and found that the company had displayed lumber at its frontage thereby deceiving the public that it was dealing in sawn logs.
But in reality, it was dealing in beams purchased from chain saw operators, contrary to the law.
According to the new timber law, companies are obliged to sell sawn timber logs and not beams.
The Deputy Minister said the ministry would not spare firms, which take the law into their own hands.
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Ghana in Brief
Wa (Upper West) :Two Canadian organisations on Monday presented six solar-powered vaccine refrigerators valued at 30,000 Canadian dollars to the Upper West Regional Directorate of Health Services at Wa.
Rotary Club of Windsor in Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) made the donation following an appeal made by the regional health authorities.
Dr. Godfrey Bacheyie, a member of the Rotary Club who presented the fridges.
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Wa (Upper West) : Mr M.A. Seidu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa Central, on Monday presented assorted items valued at five million cedis to victims of last year's floods in his constituency at Wa.
They included 100 pieces each of students' mattresses, mats, cups, basins, 63 buckets and three bales of used clothing.
Mr Seidu said the National Disaster Management Organisation gave him the items following an appeal made to the general public by MPs from the three northern regions in parliament for assistance for the victims.
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