GRi Newsreel Ghana 03 - 01 - 2001
All is set for Asutifi parliamentary
election
Security personnel intercept guns at Bawku
NPP govt. will work for state support to
parties - Botwe
Osu Traditional
Council commends EC
Hunters halt
activities of farmers
Police search for
attackers of masqueraders
Farmers urge NPP
to continue good policies of NDC
Ghanaians urged to give support to Kufuor
NDC says its supporters are being
intimidated
Government has
been co-operative-Baah Wiredu
All is set for Asutifi parliamentary
election
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 January 2001
All is set for Wednesday's parliamentary election in the Asutifi South constituency of the Brong Ahafo to bring the curtain down on the electoral process in the 2000 parliamentary and presidential elections.
The parliamentary election in the constituency could not be held on December 7, 2000 because of the sudden death of the NPP candidate, Prof. Philip Amoah a few days to the election.
Mr. Amadu Sulley, regional director of the Electoral Commission told the Ghana News Agency at Sunyani on Tuesday that all the voting materials have been dispatched to the constituency and polling will follow the normal procedure, starting from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A total of 240,000 voters are expected to exercise their franchise at 65 polling stations in the constituency.
Mrs Cecilia Gyan Amoah, wife of the late Prof. Amoah is representing the NPP, while Alhaji Collins Dauda, the incumbent MP stands on the ticket of NDC with Mr Alex Osei Amankwah for Convention People's Party (CPP),Mr Kwabena Yeboah, People's National Convention (PNC) and Mr Alfred Osei Nkrumah for National Reform Party (NRP).
Mr. Sulley said the regional police command has given assurance of adequate security for the election.
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Security personnel intercept guns at Bawku
Bawku (Upper Eastern) 03 January 2001
Security personnel on Sunday intercepted nine Russian-made single-barrel guns concealed in sacks on a commercial bus at a road check-point at Bawku where a post-election conflict resulted in the loss of several lives and destruction of property.
The bus, (registration number GT 6035H),belonging to Kingdom Transport Service (KTS) was from Kumasi.
A police source told the GNA at Bawku that none of the passengers claimed ownership but said the police have detained the bus and the driver together with a loader at the KTS terminal at Bolgatanga to assist in investigations.
Corporal Osei Williams who was on duty at the charge office at Bawku Police station, said the driver, Fred Okyere, allegedly told the police that he saw the loader Ali Yambil, sewing a torn portion of one of the sacks in which the guns were found at Bolgatanga.
Yambil allegedly said he knows the owner of the arms facially because he uses the route regularly.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 03
January 2001
The Northern Region Youth and
Development Association (NORYDA),a local non-governmental organisation, on
Tuesday appealed to the president-elect, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, ''to build bridges to unite the country which is
polarised along party lines''.
The Chairman of NORYDA, Mr. Ben
Salifu, who made the appeal in a press statement in Tamale, said Mr. Kufuor
should ensure that every Ghanaian is encouraged to help move the nation
forward.
Mr. Salifu commended the flag
bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Atta Mills for
not only conceding defeat, but promising to do everything possible to help in a
smooth transition.
He also lauded the electorate, including
the chiefs and community opinion leaders, for their co-operation to ensure the
success of the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr. Salifu urged the youth to
channel their energies to the pursuit of peace, truth and justice to enhance
the sustainable development of the country.
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NPP govt. will work for state support to
parties - Botwe
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 January 2001
Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP, on Tuesday hinted that the incoming government of the party would seriously work towards the institution of a mechanism to give state support and sponsorship to political parties.
He said there is already a national consensus on the issue "but the lack of political will towards its actualisation by the NDC government has thwarted its implementation".
Mr. Botwe, who was speaking to the Ghana News agency in Sunyani, recalled the outcome of a national forum held sometime ago, which advocated the institution of a fund by the state to support the operations and growth of parties.
This, he noted, was due to the realisation that helping parties to operate and grow would not only lead to the consolidation of democracy in the country but would also contribute towards its development.
"Sadly, however, the official report submitted by the Electoral Commission, which advocated state sponsorship of political parties, was rejected outright by the NDC government."
Mr. Botwe contended that, with a national consensus on the issue, what is left to be done is the designing of modalities for ascertaining which parties benefit, what and how much should be given to them.
"We have the brains in the country to surmount this problem and the NPP government will consult widely to bring the scheme into fruition since it will help consolidate democracy in the country."
On the future of certain state agencies like the Non-Formal Education Division, National Disaster Management Organisation and the National Mobilisation Programme, which are rumoured to be partisan, he said their continued existence would depend on their productivity and relevance.
"If they are found to be productive and relevant to the cause of national development, they will be supported to continue to operate and their personnel need not be apprehensive, irrespective of their political affiliations."
Mr. Botwe, however, cautioned that if these agencies are found to be "waste pipes" and duplicating the functions of other state agencies, then there would no other alternative than to restructure them.
The restructuring, if need be, he emphasised, will not be motivated by political reasons but by economic factors.
"Having promised Ghanaians that a government of the NPP is going to make job creation its priority, it cannot go about closing down state agencies indiscriminately merely because its personnel are perceived to be pro-NDC."
On the call by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Justice D.F. Annan to the NPP to appoint some of the NDC ministers into its government, the General Secretary said "that is the prerogative of Mr. J.A. Kufuor, President-elect, who has already promised to form an all inclusive Government."
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Osu Traditional
Council commends EC
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 January
2001
The Osu Traditional Council has
commended the Electoral Commission, political parties, monitors, the security agencies,
the media and the electorate for the holding of two successful elections in
December.
In a message of congratulation to
the Member of Parliament-Elect for Korley Klotey, Nii Adu-Mantey, the Council
praised the NPP for its magnanimity in victory and the NDC for being gracious
in defeat, which it said is good for national unity and should push the
country's infant democracy forward.
The statement signed by the
Secretary of the Council, Mr S. A. Adjietey, expressed the readiness of the
Council to co-operate with the new NPP MP for the smooth administration of the
area.
The Council expressed its readiness as traditional rulers to
welcome the president-elect, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, to the seat of government
at the Castle, Osu.
It said that as fathers of the
community, the Chiefs would work with the people's representatives to enhance
unity, which they said, has eluded the community for a long time.
The Chiefs especially called on
the MP-Elect to take special interest in the development of educational and
health facilities in the area and to ensure that they are provided with the
necessary equipment and inputs for them to function properly.
The statement advised him not to
meddle in chieftaincy and religious matters and to team-up with the people
irrespective of their political affiliation to enhance his position as an
independent arbiter.
It asked him to lead efforts to
revive abandoned factories and projects in the area and to initiate new ones to
create jobs for the large army of unemployed youth roaming the streets.
He should also lead in efforts to
ensure that Osu lands and property, which have been taken over by the
government and some of its functionaries are returned to the custody of the
chiefs for the benefit of the whole community.
They urged him to co-operate with
Mr David Lamptey, out-going MP, who has been advised to drop a legal challenge
to the election of Nii Adu-Mantey, since they are all citizens of Osu and
therefore "brothers".
The Council said it does not want
to believe that the EC, the media and the various monitors of the December
seven election, which was held in a free and transparent manner, did not do
their work well.
It asked Mr Lamptey to accept his
defeat in good faith and to co-operate with the MP-Elect for the accelerated
development of the community.
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Hunters halt
activities of farmers
Gomoa-Asebu (Central Region) 03
January 2001
Land preparation for new farms and
harvesting in Gomoa-Asebu area of the Central Region came to a halt last week
following threats to the lives of the farmers by group hunters from Accra and
Kasoa.
The hunters openly ask the farmers
to leave or have themselves to blame should stray bullets during their
expedition hit them.
The Chief of the area, Nana Kodwo
Baadu IV, said this at an emergency meeting of the chiefs and opinion leaders
of the town on Tuesday.
He said that apart from setting
bush fire, which destroy farms, the hunters also steal farm produce and called
on the Minister of Interior to protect the farmers, they would not hesitate to
attack any group hunters in the area.
Speaking to the GNA, some of the
affected farmers suggested that group hunting should be banned during the dry
seasons to protect the ecology.
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Police search for
attackers of masqueraders
Winneba (Central Region) 03
January 2001
The Winneba Police are searching
for a group, which attacked and wounded 10 members of the Winneba Nobles No.
One Masqueraders on Tuesday.
The group headed by Nana Kokroko,
also known as Madam Aba Gyatua, a retired health worker, was parading through
the principal streets of Winneba when the incident occurred.
Nana Kokroko told the police one
Mr Kojo Korsah-Brown; former Chairman of the group led the attackers, who
destroyed the instruments of the brass band, which was hired from Saltpond for
the picnic.
She appealed to the police to
intensify investigations to bring the culprits to book and said members of the
group would assist to apprehend those involved.
Meanwhile the destroyed
instruments are in the custody of the police while the victims were treated and
discharged.
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Farmers urge NPP
to continue good policies of NDC
Tamale (Northern Region) 03
January 2001
The Cotton Farmers Association of
Ghana on Tuesday appealed to the New Patriotic Party to continue with the good
aspects of the agricultural policy of the NDC.
"We wish to draw the
attention of the in-coming government that the future advancement and the
positive development of Ghana depends on agriculture. They should therefore not do anything to stop the good
agricultural policies already laid down by the NDC government".
This was contained in a statement
by the association in Tamale.
It expressed optimism that the NPP
would assist cotton farmers, especially to contribute towards poverty
alleviation through sound economic and social policies.
"Farmers would expect to see
positive change in the new parliament in enacting laws, which would steer a
competitive market economy that would provide equal opportunities for all
Ghanaians to improve themselves".
The statement also called on
workers to adopt a positive attitude towards productivity.
"Reporting late to work and
closing from work earlier than the official working hours, must be changed for
the better.
"As the farmers stay in the
hot sun toiling to produce your food requirements, we expect you (workers) to
change your ways to suit the policies of positive change of the NPP," the
statement said.
The association congratulated Mr.
John Agyekum Kufuor on his election as President, as well as Alhaji Aliu
Mahama, Vice President, adding "your victory is a victory for all
peace-loving farmers and Ghanaians as a whole".
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Ghanaians urged to give support to Kufuor
Winneba (Central Region) 03 January 2001
Supporters of the National democratic Congress (NDC) have been called upon to heed President Jerry John Rawlings's advice to offer their maximum support to president-elect John Agyekum Kufuor and his government to speed up the socio-economic advancement of the nation.
The Right Reverend Dr. Godfred Zormelo, Senior Bishop's Deputy of the A.M.E Zion Church, who made the call at a New Year church service at Winneba on Monday,
described the President's advice as heart-warming, which all NDC followers should wholeheartedly accept to ensure national unity.
The Rt. Rev. Zormelo urged Ghanaians, especially Christians and Muslims, to continue to pray for God's guidance and protection for the nation.
He commended Mr Kufuor and Vice-President J.E.A. Mills for their high sense of political maturity and deep sense of understanding, love and commitment to national peace, stability and progress.
The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Mr Daniel William Osardu, in a New Year message at the Church of the Lord Mission at Awutu-Bawjiase, appealed to supporters of the NPP and other opposition parties to regard Mr Kufuor's victory as one for the entire nation.
He therefore advised them to desist from acts that could undermine the good intentions which both the out-going and the incoming governments have for the nation.
Mr. Osardu described President Rawlings as "John the Baptist" of Ghana who has come to pave the way for workable and progressive democratic governance for the nation.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 January 2001
More congratulatory messages continue to pour in for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on its resounding success in the December 7 election and December 28 presidential run-off.
The latest is the Brong Ahafo Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, which on Tuesday congratulated president-elect John Agyekum Kufuor for his historic achievement.
In a statement signed by Mr. Emmanuel Abraham Mensah, Secretary, and Madam Yaa Badu, President, the association stated: "We pledge our unflinching support for the in-coming administration of the NPP".
The association wished Mr. Kufuor and the party all the best in the governance of the country.
In a related development, Nana Sonpremoo Aduyaw I, Chief of Ayakomaso, near Sunyani, has also sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Kufuor and all NPP members.
He expressed the hope that the winning party's supporters would translate their joy on the victory into hard work and support the NPP government to succeed in turning round the country's fortunes.
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NDC says its supporters are being
intimidated
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 January 3001
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday said its supporters were being harassed and intimidated and appealed to them to remain calm.
"The NDC has learnt with dismay various acts of arson, intimidation, threats to life and property and attacks on (our) supporters and sympathisers and its Progressive Alliance partners across the country," it said in a statement in Accra.
The statement signed by Mr Issifu Ali, National Co-chairman, said the party deems such acts as "very unfortunate" after several calls by well meaning Ghanaians and the international community to ensure a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the vote.
"In the face of these attacks, and particularly to uphold our resolve to protect the democratic order we have toiled to establish, we call on all our supporters and sympathisers to remain calm but resolute.
"We entreat all NDC and Progressive Alliance activists, supporters and sympathisers to exercise restraint and avoid any acts that may lead to unnecessary confrontation."
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Government has
been co-operative-Baah Wiredu
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 January
2001
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Member of
the NPP transitional team, on Tuesday said the out-going government has so far
displayed goodwill, co-operation and commitment to the transitional process.
"We are being given the
necessary information and I hope that we will be able to cover much ground
before January 7, Inauguration Day."
Mr Baah-Wiredu, who is the Member
of Parliament for Asante Akim North, was speaking to journalists at Parliament
House.
He said the time allotted for
transition by the constitution was very short and said something has to be done
about it.
"I personally think that
elections should be held on the first Thursday of November so that enough time
could be made for transition.
He said a team has been formed by
the NPP to advise Mr John Agyekum Kufuor on the formation of his cabinet but,
as stipulated by the constitution, the majority will come from Parliament.
On the inaugural ceremony of the
next president, he said he would be sworn into office at the fore court of
Parliament.
On whether Mr Kufuor would stay at
the Castle or not, Mr Baah-Wiredu said it is a personal decision that would
have to be taken by him.
"I must restate that the
transition has begun on a very smooth note and I think that nobody will feel
peeved at the end of the day. The politicians know they must go but the
ordinary public servant will continue to help with the machinery of
government," he added.
"We are not enemies; we just
chose a new leader to carry us to where we want to go."
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