GRi Newsreel 28 – 01 – 2000 

Volta Region hooked to the Internet

Ghana is pursuing reforms in maritime industry, Hammah

Government to encourage importation of timber

Tourists police system to be instituted in Ghana

President Rawlings calls for a union for operators on Volta Lake

World Vision launches triple anniversary celebration

Cabinet approves treaties

Transport fares go up by 15 per cent

GJA welcomes Supreme Court's ruling

Ho (Volta Region), 28^th January 2000

The Volta Regional Coordinating Council has put all District Assemblies in the Region on the Internet.

Mr. K. Orraca- Tetteh, Web Master of Ghana Classifieds, outdoored the network at a meeting with the out-going Volta Regional Minister, Alhaji Seidu Iddi, officials of the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council and District Chief Executives.

He said information on the Website includes investment opportunities, tourism, climate, agriculture, health and education and could be accessed on www.voltaregion.ghana.com

Mr. Orraca-Tetteh said the network which cost about 10,000 dollars would become operational on February two.

Alhaji Iddi told representatives of the regional branch of the Ghana Journalists

Association who called at his office to bid him farewell, that every Ghanaian has a duty to make his maximum contribution towards building the country.

He again commended the media for the effective coverage the region has received during his short tenure of office and urged them to maintain it.

Both the staff of the VRCC and the GJA presented gifts to Alhaji Iddi

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Nungua (Greater Accra), 28^th January 2000

Ghana is vigorously and systematically pursuing reforms in the maritime industry to allow increased private sector participation, Mr. Mike Hammah Deputy Minister for Roads and Transport said at Nungua on Thursday.

He said that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) is being transformed from a service port into a landlord port system to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

This is in view of the tremendous transformation that port operations and their support services are undergoing in the world, and which require appropriate skilled labour.

Mr. Hammah was the guest of honour at the graduation ceremony of the third batch of 27 students of the Diploma course in ports and shipping management at the Regional Maritime Academy (RMA).

The graduates, made up of 23 Ghanaians and four Camerounians, included four females.

Mr. Hammah emphasised the need for quality and skilled maritime personnel to enable the government's policy of introducing private sector participation and modern technology in the industry to be successful.

He called on the management and staff to help transform the Academy into a major specialised labour supply institution for both the local industry and international maritime community.

The Academy has gained affiliation to the University of Ghana to offer under-graduate/post-graduate diploma programmes in ports and shipping management.

It is envisaged that the course programme will be improved and obtain a wider recognition for the award of degrees by the Academy.

Mr Hammah urged Management of the Academy to market the new department to beneficiaries of its products, both locally and externally.

Mr Hammah asked Management to review student fees within the global context to enhance the competitiveness of the Academy.

He said this is because member countries of the Academy have defaulted over the years in fulfilling their financial obligations towards the successful its successful running.

The deputy Minister said the situation has had a negative impact on programme development and sustenance, making it necessary to identify and implement strategies and measures aimed at sustaining the institution's programmes.

In a welcoming address, Captain Aaron Turkson, Principal-designate, said the response of the maritime industry to the new programme in the ports sector has been encouraging.

That of the shipping sector, he said, has however been slow, because of "the current demise of our national fleet."

He said that though the national foreign going fleet are currently out of operation, there was still the need to train shipping managers for the coastal, inland and fishing fleet.

Captain Turkson said the Academy is expanding its short course and seminar programmes in ports and shipping administration, and the courses to be run this year include shipping agency, international ship management code and ship chartering.

Shipping, he said, is going to play an important role in the Ghana Trade and Investment Gateway Project (GTIGP) since more than 80 percent of the country's import and export trade would be carried by sea and handled through the ports.

Prizes were distributed to deserving graduates for outstanding performance. Commander Stephen Kwaku Darbo took the award as the best all round student.

A total of 72 students from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cameroon have so far graduated from the new department of the Academy.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 28^th January 2000

Cabinet has recommended for the consideration of Parliament, the removal of Import Duty on imported logs of timber, excluding lumber, in order to improve the supply and availability of logs for processing and trade.

A request for the removal of VAT on the product was, however, deferred, pending the submission of figures by the sector minister on the price differentials between imported logs and local ones.

Mr. John Mahama, Minister of Communications, supported by deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry Richard Dornu Nartey, told a post-Cabinet briefing in Accra on Thursday that the aim of the waiver of Import Duty is to encourage the importation of logs for the timber processing industry.

It is also to supplement the limited supplies that can be sustained from existing forest and timber resources, as well as facilitate increased utilisation of the excess milling capacity that exists in the timber industry and increase production for both export and domestic markets.

Mr. Mahama said it is envisaged that if the proposal was approved by Parliament, measures would be put in place to ensure that the product is imported from only countries that are known to have adequately managed their resources in order not to help deplete the resources of any country.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 28^th January 2000

Mr. Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism, on Thursday said there are plans to establish tourist policing and insurance systems to ensure the safety and security of tourists.

This, as shown by the experience of leading tourism destinations, would ensure increased tourist attraction and boost revenue.

Mr. Gizo was speaking at a press launch of a five-year safety and security project for the tourism sector.

The project is a joint collaboration of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Maxpal Intermediaries Limited, an insurance and risk management consultants, and Vanef Limited, a local car rental and tour operator.

The project, which covers between September 1999 and September 2004, aims among other things, at offering appropriate managerial, technical and professional guidance and support to stakeholders and players for the promotion of safety and security in the tourism sector.

It also seeks to create a forum for discussion among stakeholders with the view to establishing policies and legislation that would ensure strict application of insurance, safety and security measures in tourism.

Mr. Mike Gizo noted that tourism is the third leading foreign exchange earner for the country, generating 300 million dollars from over 400,000 international travellers annually.

He attributed the success story of the sector to the provision of adequate accommodation units, restaurants and good culinary practices, the development of the country’s cultural heritage, artefacts and the general ecosystem as well as the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality.

The Minister, however, noted that revenue generated from the sector is comparatively lower than what is expected, considering the extent of the development of tourist attractions.

He attributed the shortfall in revenue to poor patronage of the attractions, saying, "It is a fact that adequate safety and security measures are lacking in the tourism industry."

"Crimes against tourists and by them are quite rampant, and if this situation is not seriously addressed, the industry would suffer a set-back in the long run."

Mr. Gizo said under the five-year safety and security project, specialised public police and private security officers would be trained to ensure the security of both foreign tourists and residents from the anti-social activities by both parties.

"The old order should give way to the modern system of specialised public tourist police discipline assisted by private sector tourist security agencies as a matter utmost urgency."

Mrs. Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Executive Director of GTB, said a two-day workshop of stakeholders in the sector, would soon be organised with the view to seeking appropriate legislation and regulation on insurable tourism risk, hazards and special tourism security and policing system.

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Kpando-Tokor (Volta Region), 28^th January 2000

President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday commissioned a 2.5 billion -cedi Pontoon service for Kpando and the Afram Plain districts and called on boat operators and owners along the Volta Lake to form an association to regulate and enforce safety standards.

The boat, christened "MV Fourth Republic" was provided by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and is fitted with safety facilities.

President Rawlings said the formation of an association of boat owners and operators along the same lines as the Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport groups would help the owners and assist in regulating lake transport in the country.

"They will also be in a position to benefit from grants and loans to expand their operations and thereby contribute to the national economic growth".

President Rawlings appealed to churches, schools and colleges and opinion leaders, along the lake to join the campaign to promote safety on the lake.

He expressed the government's concern about fatal accidents on the lake due mainly to human errors and hoped "the pontoon will offer a practical demonstration of the type of safety standards being advocated in the operation of boats on the lake".

President Rawlings commended the VRA for providing the needs of lakeside dwellers.

"It is my hope that other corporate bodies will emulate the VRA and complement government's programmes aimed at bringing further relief to the people along the lake".

Mr. Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport, said the Ministry and the VRA would continue to work towards implementing safety programmes initiated since 1995.

He said the Ministry and the Attorney-General's Department have prepared a Ghana Shipping Bill and a Maritime Authority Bill as part of measures to give legal authority towards enforcing and regulating standards on Ghana's lake transport.

Mr. Salia said such legal authority is required in dealing with unsafe boat operations on the lake because operators have deliberately refused to observe safety standards in spite of the extensive education and information imparted to them on safety measures.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 28^th January 2000

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare on Thursday commended the World Vision International has provided humanitarian services to over 980,000 people in over 1,000 communities and institutions throughout the country in the past 21 years.

He said the major areas of focus of World Vision's work which include relief and rehabilitation, food and agriculture, health, water, sanitation and education are of particular interest to the government, as they constitute its growth and development objectives.

Alhaji Mumuni said this in a speech read for him at the launching of the ‘Triple Anniversary Celebration’ of World Vision International, a Christian, Relief and Development Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) working in more than 90 countries.

The celebration includes its 50th anniversary as an international body, 21 years of its establishment in Ghana and 15 years, in the improvement of rural water supply in the country.

The Minister said the government is ready to work with any NGO, which proves to be credible and transparent.

In view of this, government and NGOs are currently engaged in dialogue and consultations to bring about a policy that would establish the framework of government, NGO and private sector partnership.

"I am certain that the intended policy will in no small measure assist NGOs to improve their credibility, transparency and their organisational abilities for the benefit of our society.''

He commended World Vision for contributing close to 15 million dollars every year to rural development in Ghana besides training programmes given in various forms to many communities.

Professor Seth Ayettey, Chairman of World Vision Advisory Council in Ghana said the organisation, which came to the county in 1979 at a time of economic and political instability, has done a lot to improve the life of the people, especially women and children.

He said the anniversary is to help the organisation share with others what God has done to empower communities to become highly productive in every sphere of life adding, '' we go where many will not go and we lay down our lives for others for Christ sake.''

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Accra (Greater Accra), 28^th January 2000

Six International Human Rights Treaties were approved at the last meeting of Cabinet.

These were the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) 1996; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 1996 and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OPT).

The others were the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, 1990, and the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment during Punishment 1984.

The remaining was the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity 1968.

Also approved for Parliament's ratification was Convention 182 on the prohibition and elimination of the "worst forms of Child Labour," which was adopted at the 87th session of the International Labour Organisation in June 1999.

The Geneva Conventions Bill 1998, which seeks to provide penal sanctions for grave breaches of some Geneva Conventions and Protocols, also received the nod.

The meeting, Mr. Mahama said, endorsed an amendment to the Petroleum Agreement between the government and the Nuevo Energy in respect, of exploration activities in the Accra/Keta basin area.

The amendment will extend the exploration period to three-and-a-half years from three years whilst reducing the first extension period from two years to one-and-a-half years.

Mr. Mahama said Cabinet referred the memorandum on the draft National Communication Policy to its Social Sector Committee for study and advice.

The meeting, according to the Minister, agreed that Ghana should conclude Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) negotiations with the United States of America based on Ghana's Liberalised Skies Policy.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 28^th January 2000

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced 15 per cent increase across board in transport fares with immediate effect.

A statement signed by Mr. E. K. Gbedemah, National Chairman of the Union, said the National Working Committee decided on the increase at a meeting held on Thursday, following a careful study of other factors, rather than fuel prices, which are considered in determining fares.

The Union listed some of these factors as bank rates, cost of tyres, spare parts and lubricants.

The statement asked all regional secretariats of the Union to ensure strict compliance with the directive and also take appropriate measures against any driver found to be charging rates other than the approved 15 per cent.

It further advised passengers to report any driver, who would charge rates above the stipulated fares to the nearest GPRTU Secretariat noting the vehicle registration number for appropriate action.

Reaction to 10 per cent increase in fuel prices announced by the Bulk Oil Supply and Transport (BOST) last December, the National Working Committee of the GPRTU issued a statement that fuel constitutes only 15 per cent of lorry fares and that the increase at the time was negligible.

The Union, therefore, did not increase lorry fares, but said it was monitoring the situation and would come out at the appropriate time.

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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has welcomed Wednesday's ruling of the Supreme Court that the National Media Commission (NMC) is the sole authority to appoint Chief Executives and Board of Directors of State Owned Media Institutions in consultation with the President.

In a statement in Accra on Thursday, the GJA said the decision has settled once and for all the three- year- old legal tussle over the matter and has cleared all the ambiguity over Article 168 of the Constitution in relation to others.

The GJA expressed its satisfaction with the ruling and described it as a boost to press freedom and democracy.

It said the ruling assures state owned media organisations and its journalists that they are indeed exempted from government control and other interference.

The GJA urged the Media Commission to act quickly in order not to create a vacuum and to pay attention to the qualification and proof of the ability of those to be appointed in the interest of developing a sound media culture.

The Supreme Court by seven- panel unanimous decision ruled that the National Media Commission is the constitutional body vested with the power to appoint Chief Executives and Board of Directors of State owned Media Institutions acting in consultation with the President.

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