Population Census is a national exercise - Mahama
Feeding package for Wa children
Security Council appoints committee to investigate Asankranguaa riots
Some Upper East communities condone with Fulani herdsmen?
Centre develops chocolate, jam, from Prekese
NCCE staff cautioned against partisan politics
Agricultural growth must outstrip population - Benyiwa-Doe
Kumasi gets new Co-operative Transport Association
Population Census is a national exercise - Mahama
Accra (Greater Accra), 26th January 2000
Mr. John Mahama, Minister of Communications has commended Regional Population Officers for educating people in the regional and district capitals on the upcoming 2000 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
Mr. Mahama, Chairman of the National PHC Publicity and Education Committee, noted that the exercise would benefit the entire nation and asked those who be engaged in the exercise to see it as an opportunity to serve rather than to make money.
The Minister was speaking after a meeting in Accra to review regional and district activities so far carried out to sensitise the people on the Census.
The Census is scheduled to take off on the night of March 26, 2000, which is the Census night and ends on April 10, 2000.
Nine censuses have been conducted in the country since 1891, with three in post-independent Ghana - 1960, 1970 and 1984.
Mr. Mahama indicated that steps are being taken to ensure that everyone outlaying areas in the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, and Northern as well as Upper East and Upper West Regions is counted.
He said in view of the huge constraint on government finances, new vehicles could not be acquired for the exercise and appealed to government departments, agencies and private organisations to lend their support to make the programme a success.
Dr K. A. Twum-Baah, Acting Government Statistician asked the regional officers to submit without delay all the necessary information on prospective enumerators to help the Secretariat fashion out a convenient document for the Census.
The PHC will, among other things, provide the facts that are essential for governmental policy- making, planning and administration.
Information on the size, distribution and characteristics of a country's population is essential in describing and assessing its economic, social and demographic circumstances.
It will also help develop sound policies and programmes aimed at fostering the welfare of the country and its population.
Census results are also used in policy development and evaluation for programmes such as education and literacy, employment and manpower, family planning, housing, maternal and child health, rural development, transport and highway planning as well as urbanisation.
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Feeding package for Wa children
Wa (Upper West), 26th January 2000
The Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in collaboration with an American non-governmental organisation (NGO), "Preparing the Bride Ministry" is to provide a feeding package for 100 school children in the Wa township this year.
The aim is to improve enrolment of children into schools, improve their nutritional status and encourage them to stay at school especially during the lean seasons when feeding becomes a problem to most parents.
Mr. David Osei-Wusu, Upper West Regional Minister, announced this at the Head of State end of year party for school children at Wa on Monday.
He said the number of children to benefit from the package will increase with time depending on the availability of resources.
The regional minister said the government is committed to the proper upbringing of children and urged them to play their roles effectively so that investments made on them will benefit the nation.
Mr Osei-Wusu advised the children against engaging early sex and other immoral activities, saying, "your concern now should be your books and nothing more than that".
He appealed to parents and teachers to allow children to develop at their own pace and avoid being unnecessarily harsh on them when training them both at home and at school.
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Security Council appoints committee to investigate Asankranguaa riots
Sekondi (Western Region) 26 Jan. 2000
The Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has appointed a five-man committee of enquiry to investigate the circumstances, which led to the recent disturbances at Asankranguaa.
Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, Regional Minister, said at Sekondi on Tuesday that the committee would investigate three shooting incidents that resulted in the death of a civilian and a Policeman.
She said the committee would also look into the alleged looting of property and arson during the disturbances and submit recommendations, which would prevent future disturbances in the Wassa Amenfi District.
The committee, which has Lt. Commander P. S. K. Kumako (rtd) as its chairman is expected to submit its report within a month.
Other members of the committee are Major R. S. Nyaka of the Ghana Army, Ms. Ama Aikins, Regional Lands Valuation Officer and a representative of the Attorney General's Department.
Mr. J. K. Y. Ocran, Deputy Regional Co-ordinating Director in-charge of Finance and Administration, is Secretary to the committee.
Mrs Nkansah urged the committee not to be biased and give members of the public an opportunity to express their opinion to establish the truth.
She said the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would give the committee every assistance to do its work.
Corporal Douglas Adu Darko Bosompem and one Joseph Andoh were shot dead while Constable Dominic Sanseh and one Miss Aba Yaa received gunshot wound during the disturbances.
There is a protracted chieftaincy dispute between Nana Anyani Buadum III, Chief of Asankranguaa and Mr S. K. Amelema, businessman.
The factions clashed during the Christmas holidays during which Mr Andoh was killed and Miss Aba Yaa was wounded. There was general breakdown of law and order in the town.
On 3 January 20 policemen were sent to beef up security in the area and to check the indiscriminate beating up of innocent people and the looting of property.
Unknown assailants shot Corporal Bosompem and Constable Sanseh, who were on guard duties at Mr Amelema's residence, killing Corporal Bosompem instantly while Constable Sanseh was injured.
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Some Upper East communities condone with Fulani herdsmen?
Bolgatanga (Upper East) 26 Jan. 2000
Some residents in the Nabdam Traditional Area of the Upper East Region are claiming ownership of large numbers of cattle suspected to belong to Fulani herdsmen.
Such claims are being made as a ploy to prevent the cattle and their owners from being sent out of the country, following the commencement of "Operation Cow Leg" in the region two weeks ago.
It is believed that Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring Burkina Faso have bribed some residents, who are claiming ownership of the cattle.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, Mr. E. G. Dogbe, Regional Director of the Forestry Department, said since the beginning of the dry season, cattle have been grazing in forest reserves, thereby destroying the vegetation.
"If the people are honest with themselves and allow the operation to go on, we can save our vegetation. But if this continues and all the cattle remain here, it would be devastating to this fragile environment".
Mr Dogbe described as alarming the damage so far caused to some of the 27 forest reserves in the region.
The operation, in its first move, drove away 500 cattle and their Fulani owners.
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Centre develops chocolate, jam, from Prekese
Bunso (Eastern Region) 26th January 2000
The Centre for Biodiversity Utilisation and Development (CBUD) of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, has developed seven products from Prekese, a local spice and medicinal plant.
The products include Prekese chocolate, baby food, Prekese brandy and jam.
Dr. Amoako Atta, CBUD co-ordinator, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day sub-project products development workshop at the Bunso Cocoa College on Tuesday.
The Royal Netherlands Embassy funds the project, under which snails, clam crabs and indigenous leafy vegetables are also being developed into various substances.
Participants at the workshop include researchers from the Universities, farmers and foresters, crops and animal specialists, marketing and processing specialists.
It is aimed, among others, to guide potential CBUD collaborating partners, actors, target groups, communities, individuals and farmers to formulate their sub-projects for the development of the products.
It would also enable CBUD to contribute to the conservation of the biological diversity for the research and promotion of the Prekese, snail clams and crab and leafy vegetable products.
Dr Amoako Atta said the centre would soon supply young snails to large-scale snail farmers in Begoro, Kukurantumi and Bepoase in the Eastern Region.
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NCCE staff cautioned against partisan politics
Tamale (Northern Region) 26 Jan. 2000
Mr Mohammed Alhassan of the Northern Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has asked political parties to challenge any staff of the Commission found indulging in partisan politics.
He said members of the Commission wishing to do politics should resign since the NCCE, by the Constitution, has to ensure a level ground for all parties to go about their activities in a responsible manner and without discrimination.
Mr Alhassan was speaking on "The rights and responsibilities of the NCCE during this year's general elections" at a seminar organised by the People's National Congress (PNC) in Tamale on Wednesday.
The seminar, organised for 160 delegate's from the 23 constituencies in the Northern Region was part of a national programme to train about 200,000 ''foot soldiers, who will be exposed to the party's manifesto and philosophy dubbed 'the New Ghanaian's Concept".
Mr. Alhassan said a large segment of Ghanaians are illiterates and the NCCE is tasked to educate them to understand and defend the Constitution at all times, and not to engage in any partisan politics.
He appealed to political parties not to engage in any anti-social activities during the electioneering campaign to undermine the peace and security of the nation.
Mr Alhassan called on the political parties to support their polling agents with the necessary logistics to monitor all aspects of the elections including counting of votes to avoid any suspicion or mistrust.
Police Chief Inspector Stephen Bimpeh speaking on "The role and task of the Police during the election day", said if a polling agent is in doubt about the identity of a voter, he should either report to the Police, Presiding Officer at the polling station or fill a protest form.
He said apart from officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) and representatives of the political parties, "nobody has any business hanging around a polling station, no matter his or her social standing".
Major Mahamadu Alhassan (rtd), Regional Chairman of the PNC, asked the participants to avail themselves of every information on the mode of the elections to ensure victory for the party.
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Accra (Greater Accra) - President Jerry John Rawlings has nominated Mrs Charlotte Abaka for appointment as the substantive Chairperson of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD).
A statement from the Office of the President signed by Mr J.L.M. Amissah, Secretary to the President on Tuesday said.
A Presidential task force is also to be set up to prepare for Ghana's effective participation in the Beijing Conference Review slated for New York this year, the statement added.
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Tamale (Northern Region) : The first phase of workshops on creating messages and materials to promote exclusive breast-feeding practice to meet the needs of rural audiences in Northern Ghana opened in Tamale on Tuesday.
The two-week workshop on the theme: "Messages and materials production:
phase one" is being organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in conjunction with Linkages Project of the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID).
The 24 participants comprised Community Health Nurses and Nutritionists, Rural Development Agents, Members of the Red Cross Society, Catholic Relief Service Agents and other collaborating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.
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Bawku (Upper East) - Hajia Fati Seidu, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, has said Ghana has made a lot of progress socially and economically under the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
She said when compared to the performance of past governments and taking into account the current unfavourable world economic order, the NDC government should be credited for making significant strides to improve the well-being of Ghanaians.
Hajia Fati, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, was speaking in Bawku at a reception organised for members of the constituency branch of the Progressive Alliance.
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Agricultural growth must outstrip population - Benyiwa-Doe
Accra (Greater Accra), 26th January 2000
Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, on Wednesday urged civil societies to work closely with the government to ensure increased agricultural production.
"In order to have sustainable food security and livelihood, Ghana would need a vibrant agricultural sector through which agricultural growth rate would outstrip that of population. Unfortunately this is not the case at the moment."
Opening a two-day workshop on "Food Security, Social Mobilisation and Community Empowerment" in Accra on Wednesday, Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe cited 1991 and 1997 where an average of 2.5 per cent growth rate was achieved in agriculture as against a population growth rate of between 2.9 per cent tan 3.2 per cent within the same period".
Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe, therefore, called for vibrant policies and action to address the numerous constraints faced by the operators in the sector.
"The sector is still plagued with some pressing problems... the farmer who is the main producer, the trader who helps in marketing the produce, the researcher, the policy maker and the implementers of policies made by the decision-makers, all these major actors, still face serious challenges of varying dimensions."
She noted that various governments have made efforts to address problems of production, credit, marketing, preservation and technology with limited success, stressing that, it would take the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that every Ghanaian has access to sufficient nutritious food at all times for healthy living.
The workshop, organised jointly by the Society for International Development, the African Association for Health, Environment and Development, and the African development Programme is being attended by 93 participants from educational and religious organisations, the private and government sectors.
Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe urged the participants to consider, in their deliberations, issues such as the ability of farmers to sustain themselves economically, alternative avenues for viable production, ways of eliminating constraints to effective distribution, marketing and social mobilisation.
She said the government would support the efforts of all stakeholders to remove impediments towards achieving food security in line with the objectives of Vision 2020 and to create job opportunities.
Mr. Stephen Adei, Director-General of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, said the issues of food security should be considered with all seriousness since it is a matter of life and death.
"For those of us in Ghana, we may not have had a personal experience with food insecurity, but at least, half of Africans at certain times of the year experience extreme hunger. Let us, therefore, view the issue as practical and not theoretical.
Dr Adei asked the participants to promote the merger of traditional and modern methods of farming, especially in preservation, as a way of increasing food output.
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Kumasi gets new Co-operative Transport Association
Kumasi (Ashanti), 26th January 2000
A seven-member management committee of a newly-formed Ashanti Regional Co-operative Transport Union was inaugurated in Kumasi on Tuesday.
Nana Kwakye Ababio is the president and Mr Samuel K. Agyei, vice-president, of the Union which has five other executive members.
Swearing-in the committee members, Mr. Bernard Kwakye Dickson, Ashanti Regional Co-operative Officer, asked them to ensure unity and co-operation among societies under them.
He explained that the co-operative concept thrives on co-operation, transparency and trust and asked the union to ensure that sanity prevails in all their dealings with the people.
Mr. Dickson urged them to operate in harmony and co-operate with other transport unions to ensure peace.
Mr. Wayak Gbeckor-Kove, General Secretary of the Ghana Co-operative Transport Association, commended the members for forming the union saying healthy competition in the transport industry would bring efficiency to the sector.
The union, comprising 11 societies out of which seven received their certificates, was formed a year ago.
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