President nominates Wiredu
for Local Government portfolio
TUC to
negotiate new minimum wage
TUC wants
public sector rebuilt
President
Kufuor shows concern with Guinea
Germany promises
co-operation with Ghana
Chiefs ask Kufuor to ensure
accountability
GJA members to vote for
Deputy General Secretary on Jan. 18
Former Editor says will not
apologise to ex first lady & daughters
'Shed mystery around the
Castle'- President urges staff
Public confident Kufuor
will curb corruption
Businessman appeals for
re-establishment of BHC
MMC: We will not serve on
Communications Authority Board
NDC
advises NPP leadership to restrain supporters
Police say another woman
killed by unidentified man
Britain promises assistance to Ghana
Kufuor nominates Wiredu
for Local Government portfolio
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
President John Kufuor on Tuesday made his first cabinet nomination, naming Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
This was contained in a statement from the Office of the President signed by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government Spokesperson.
Mr Wiredu, 49, is the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North.
He was educated at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained a B.Sc. (Administration) degree.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday night asked the country's top security chiefs to keep him fully informed about investigations into the serial killings of women that have rocked the country.
He gave the instruction when he chaired his first National Security Council meeting at his temporary offices in the State House, according to a statement signed in Accra on Tuesday by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government Spokesperson.
The mysterious murders of women, especially in Accra, have raised a lot of concern.
Women and several NGOs have staged a series of demonstrations at the murders and expressed anger at the inability of the police to bring the perpetrators to book.
The statement said in attendance were the Chief of the Defence Staff and Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and heads of security agencies.
It gave no further details of the meeting.
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TUC to
negotiate new minimum wage
Accra (Greater Accra)
10 January 2001
Mr Kwesi Adu-Amankwah,
Secretary General of Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Tuesday said negotiations
on the new minimum wage will start after the appointment of Finance and
Employment Ministers.
He said: "as soon
as that is done TUC will open negotiations for a living salary for workers who
have lived on 'slave wage' over the years."
Mr Adu-Amankwah said
this at a news conference to highlight TUC's expectations of President John
Agyekum Kufuor's government.
He said the union would
not put pressure on the new government for new salary ''within the immediate
future'' as the President is yet to put his cabinet together.
"We will be
patient for the president to settle down and appoint the new minister who in
turn needs time to study the working environment then we will talk," he
said.
Mr Adu-Amankwa said
workers will no longer accept 'tighten your belt' promises while few others in
high positions enlarge theirs to the detriment of the working population.
He said he believed
there is the need for upward adjustment of incomes in the country, despite the
economic difficulties that the new government faces.
On the operations of
the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Mr Adu-Amankwah said
the union would reopen a petition it sent to parliament last year for a public
enquiry into its operations.
He said the TUC
instituted a study into the operations of SSNIT and suggested to the previous
government to restructure its operations and its board to conform to modern
labour trends.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said:
"SSNIT needs to be restructured for the benefit of contributors."
He said the allegations
against the conduct of SSNIT also present a new opportunity for government and
all stakeholders to investigate and adopt the necessary measures in the
interest of workers.
The TUC chief said the
labour movement has called for the de- freezing of End of Year Service Benefits
and other packages, which workers were entitled to but have been frozen.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said
TUC would not support divestiture of state companies based on ideology, adding
that argument against the performance of some state enterprises could also be
raised against private ones.
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TUC
wants public sector rebuilt
Accra (Greater Accra)
10 January 2001
The Trades Union
Congress (TUC) on Tuesday asked the new government to take immediate steps to
rebuild public institutions, adopt a new attitude to economic and social
development and make the judiciary independent of the executive.
In this direction, the
TUC said it expects parliament and the new president to provide financial and
material support to the Electoral Commission, National Media Commission and the
Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
At a press briefing to
state the TUC's "minimum expectations" of the new government, Mr
Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, TUC Secretary General, said the Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI), Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces must be
adequately equipped and encouraged to enable them perform their constitutional
functions.
Mr Adu-Amankwah
expressed regret that institutions of state have in the main been shaped by the
long years of political repression and its attendant culture of
authoritarianism.
He said as the nation
basks in the euphoria of change and peaceful transfer of political power,
"the hard business of governance and development must be attended to and
these await the new government with telling urgency''.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said
there could be no better occasion than now to put before the president and
parliament and all major players in the nation's political life the minimum
expectations of the masses of organised labour in the country.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said
they also look forward to genuine consultations, dialogue and mutual respect in
government relations with organised labour over matters regarding the economy
especially industrial relations.
He said the TUC looks
forward to creative human development policies that will address the crucial
problems of education, health and housing delivery for all.
"The workers of
Ghana are ready to make their contributions to national development as has been
over the years. What we will not accept is to continue to make sacrifices while
a few continue to enjoy," Mr Adu-Amankwah indicated.
He said the independence
of the judiciary and the efficiency of the nation's justice delivery system is
fundamental not only in sustaining democracy but also in stimulating
socio-economic development and called for the integrity of judges in order to
build public confidence.
"The workers of
Ghana would expect that our judges will take the necessary self-rectifying
measures to change the public perception of a pliant, inefficient and corrupt
justice delivery system," Mr Adu-Amankwah said. "We hope that the new
president and parliament will provide the necessary support to enable the
judiciary perform its functions without fear or favour."
On the economic and
social front, the TUC boss said there could be no doubt that Ghana is in the
midst of severe economic and social crisis adding, "this poses a
fundamental challenge of economic and social development for the new
government."
He said the results of
last month's elections were the graphic manifestation of the desire for change
in the direction of social and economic policy.
He said he was happy
that the president in his inaugural address acknowledged the enormous challenge
of economic development facing the country.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said
the TUC expects the new government to develop an appropriate income policy to
address the "slave wages" that is the lot of the majority of the
working people in Ghana.
"We welcome the
president's statement to make dialogue and co-operation with the TUC and all
workers a central feature of the fight to bring economic prosperity to our
people," he said.
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President
Kufuor shows concern with Guinea
Accra (Greater Accra)
10 January 2001
President John Kufuor
on Tuesday expressed concern about the political trouble in Guinea and pledged
his government's support for lasting peace in that country.
"I have been
concerned even before I became president that Guinea, a country endowed with
rich natural resources should be plagued with conflicts that could jeopardise
her political stability and development of the people.
"My government
will do whatever it can, in the spirit of ECOWAS, to help address the
unfortunate situation," President Kufuor told a Guinean delegation which
called on him at the State House.
The three-man
delegation, led by the Minister of Civil Service and Employment, Lamine Kamara,
called with a message from President Lansana Conte, inviting Mr Kufuor to visit
Guinea. Mr. Kufuor accepted the invitation.
"Assure Mr
President that his brand new brother will visit him," he told Mr Kamara.
He said he was concerned because of the long-standing bond between the two
countries.
"Guinea and Ghana
are sister nations... There's almost a love affair between them right from the
beginning of history. Guinea's joy should be Ghana's joy and any misery or
happiness is also shared," he told the Guineans.
He pledged his
commitment to the ideals of Presidents Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekou Toure
of Guinea, which, he said, were to bring about socio-economic development of
the sub-region.
"We must build on
this union by working together to help our people to generate wealth," Mr
Kufuor said.
Mr Kamara said
President Conte followed with admiration the historic strides made by Ghana in
her democratic dispensation.
He also followed the
campaign trail of Mr Kufuor with keen interest, particularly his pledge to
develop business in Ghana.
Mr. Kamara said his
government is eager to improve ties with Ghana not only at the political level
but also in economic terms.
"Our doors are
open to your government as well as other sections of the Ghanaian community so
that together we can develop in the spirit of our union."
Mr. Kamara said he
believes Guinea and Ghana can extend a hand to each other on the model of
South-South co-operation.
Ghana, he noted, is
endowed with skilled manpower, which could be of benefit to the region.
The Guinean minister
spoke about the situation in his country saying it is going through difficult
times presently.
"Since 1st
September, we have been victim of political aggression which has caused us lots
of lives and material damage," he said.
"But with the
tenacity of the people and assistance from foreign friends, we'll be able to
hold the fort," he said.
Guinea has faced a lot
of cross border raids, which it blames on anti-government forces sponsored by
Liberia.
President Charles
Taylor of Liberia has denied that his country is involved in the conflict
saying, Guinean dissidents are carrying on the fighting.
Also at the State House
was an envoy from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sadik Malainine, who
conveyed good wishes from President Mohamed Abdelaziz to Mr Kufuor.
Mr Kufuor expressed the
hope that they will work together to develop their countries.
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Germany promises
co-operation with Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
Mr Gerhard Schroder, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, on Tuesday congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his election as President of Ghana.
A statement issued from the German embassy in Accra said, " your victory in a fair and transparent election is an impressive sign of the consolidation of democracy and constitutional order in your country."
It says, "the Federal Republic of Germany will also, in the future, be happy to assist the Republic of Ghana in a spirit of partnership."
A German delegation led by the Deputy Minister in the Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development attended President Kufuor's inauguration last Sunday.
Meanwhile the Northern Region House of Chiefs has also sent its congratulations to the president.
A statement said, " you will agree with me that by the directives of the almighty God, the majority of Ghanaians voted for you and your party to lead this nation for the next four years. I therefore exalt you and your team in the new government to be guided by Almighty God in all your endeavours in handling the affairs of the nation."
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Chiefs ask Kufuor to
ensure accountability
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
The National House of Chiefs on Tuesday asked President John Agyekum Kufuor to ensure accountability in his administration.
"As a disciplined and consummate statesman, there is no doubt that you will bring to bear on your administration the virtues of honesty, integrity and transparency," a congratulatory message from the chiefs on Tuesday said.
The message, signed by the acting president of the House, Naa (Dr) Puore Puobe Chiir VII (Nandom-Naa), described the President's election as "one of the most heart warming victories that our dear country has won in its long and chequered history."
It said the President has difficult times ahead but expressed the hope that with the pursuit of the right policies, hard work and determination, his administration would succeed.
"We on our part, as traditional rulers, would like to accord you our unflinching support in your arduous task at nation building," the chiefs said and asked for God's guidance for the President.
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GJA members to vote for
Deputy General Secretary on Jan. 18
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
All candidates who filed their papers to contest elections for the National Executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), except for the post of Deputy General Secretary, were returned unopposed.
GJA members will therefore vote on January 18 to choose between Nii Nortey Dua and Mr George Marshall Naykene who filed their papers to contest the post of Deputy General Secretary, according to a statement signed in Accra on Tuesday by Mr Mawusi Afele, GJA Elections Officer.
The statement said that at the close of nominations on Monday, January 8, the following members had duly filed their nomination papers:
President Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie
Vice President Mr. Yaw Owusu Addo
General Secretary Mr. Bright Blewu
Treasurer Ms Yaa Oforiwah Acquah
Executive Members Mr. Matthew Mac-Kwame
Mr. Affail Monney
The statement said arrangements for the election would be announced later.
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Former Editor says will
not apologise to ex first lady & daughters
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
The former editor of the Business Chronicle, Mr Kenneth Agyei Kuranchie, says he will not apologise to Ex-First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and her two children as directed by the National Media Commission (NMC).
In a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NMC, he said an apology would negate his right under the constitution to free speech.
"Although I hold the NMC as a body in the greatest respect, I have decided not to comply with the NMC's decision since I disagree in the main with the grounds on which the request was made," Mr Kuranchie said.
The NMC asked the former editor to apologise to Nana Konadu and her daughters, Anima and Yaa Asantewaa, with respect to two publications in the newspaper.
Mr. Kuranchie said allegations made by the publisher of the paper, Nana Kofi Coomson, that he got to know of the publications after they had been made and that he shut down the newspaper because of a third publication along the same lines were not true.
"Mr Coomson knew of the publications before they were made and actually commented and laughed about them," he said.
"He withdrew the third publication on the eve of distribution over quite another matter which was then a matter of disagreement between him and I."
Mr Kuranchie said he accepts complete responsibility for the publications "because they carried nothing I need be ashamed of".
He said he would pursue every legal recourse open to him "if the NMC, which is only an advisory body, exceeds its terms of reference by attempting to take any overt and concrete measures that will endanger my right to work".
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'Shed mystery around the Castle'-
President urges staff
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday urged workers at the Osu Castle to make conscious efforts to shed the negative image of excessive use of power unjustifiably associated with the place.
"We want to shed that image of the Castle as a place where all kinds of negative acts such as the cruel shaving of people and throwing them into cells unjustifiably were committed, " President Kufuor said when he interacted with top civil servants at the Castle.
"Let's shed that mystery and give it a 21st century image," he said adding that the new symbol of the Castle should have a true reflection of government of the people and by the people.
President Kufuor recalled the history of the Castle and its use during the colonial period as slave dungeons, saying it is important for change to be effected to enable it attract love and respect.
He asked the workers to consider themselves as key players in his government and should therefore show commitment to duty towards its success.
"We want to work together so that in the end, we'll be able to formulate and implement policies to the satisfaction of the people whose mandate and taxes we're working with."
He said even though he expects them to be loyal to him, they should do so with openness and not feel diminished.
"You should be proud to be working with the new regime," he told the workers, most of them heads of department and their deputies. He added: "We haven't come as conquerors but as partners to work with you."
In an answer to a question, President Kufuor said his office will temporarily be located outside the Castle but "I wish to assure you that the Castle still remains the seat of government."
Vice President Aliu Mahama asked the workers to be punctual and dedicated to duty.
They should also develop a closer working relationship with the public.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chief of Staff asked them to feel free to make their differences known to him.
He said a good working relationship is crucial to the attainment of government's policy objectives to meet the high expectations of the people.
Mr James Bebaako-Mensah, secretary to the former cabinet pledged the support and loyalty of his colleagues to the new government.
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Public confident Kufuor
will curb corruption
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 10 January 2001
A cross-section of people the Ghana News Agency spoke to in the Koforidua Municipality on Monday expressed confidence in President John Agyekum Kufuor's capability to curb corruption among public officials.
They expressed the hope that he would be able to ensure that resources are well utilised for the creation of jobs for the majority of the unemployed youth.
According to them, corruption has been one of the social cancers that has held back Ghana's development in the past, and appealed to all Ghanaians to help rid society of it.
A teacher with the Ghana Education Service (GES) at Begoro in the Fanteakwa District, Mr Sylvester Yirenkyi, appealed to the new government to take over some of the divested state properties as a means of absorbing the unemployed.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr F. Y. Lartey, asked the new administration to think of the plight of workers and that of the under-privileged in society.
Mr Emmanuel Addo, a teacher at Akuni in the Akuapem North District, pleaded for special incentives for teachers serving in remote areas.
Master Philip Madjison, an SSS leaver, called for an overhaul of the current educational system to make it more responsive to the social and developmental needs of the country.
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Businessman appeals for
re-establishment of BHC
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 10 January 2001
Mr Kofi Kaakyire-Badu, a Kumasi-based businessman, has appealed to the NPP government to re-establish the Bank for Housing and Construction (BHC) which was liquidated by the NDC government.
He noted that the bank was established mainly for the construction sector and its liquidation has affected especially those in the private sector.
"Making the appeal through the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Tuesday, Mr Kaakyire-Badu said that the bank's re-establishment "will give impetus to the private sector to become the real engine of the country's economic growth".
He was emphatic that the BHC's overall contribution to the development of the national economy was significant.
"Except for the temporary lapses it suffered in its operation as a result of the A-Life scandal, the bank had a clean bill of health."
Mr Kaakyire-Badu said the BHC had competent and qualified professional bankers and that its re-establishment would not pose any problem.
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MMC: We will not serve on
Communications Authority Board
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
The National Media Commission (NMC) said on Tuesday that it will not serve on the National Communications Authority (NCA) Board because it compromises the independence of the media.
A statement issued in Accra in reaction to the inauguration of the National Communications Authority (NCA), NMC reiterated its stance that matters of frequency allocation and management for mass media must be in its domain in line with constitutional provisions.
"The NMC is thus, unwilling to serve on the NCA Board, which compromises the independence of the mass media because of its subordination to ministerial control," it said, in a statement signed by Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, Executive Secretary.
The NMC said its chairman, Mr Nutifafa Kuenyehia who was named as one of the board members, did not attend the function because of this issue.
The statement noted that the recent incident of the closure of Chris FM at Berekum by the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council underlines the position of the NMC that it, but not any ministerial body, must have authority over the allocation of frequency for broadcasting.
It said the commission would continue to press home this point until the responsibility for frequency allocation for mass media operations is transferred to it.
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NDC
advises NPP leadership to restrain supporters
Sunyani (Eastern
Region) 10 January 2001
The Brong Ahafo
regional office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday appealed
to the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to advise their supporters
to refrain from physical attacks and intimidation of NDC members.
Addressing a press
conference in Sunyani, Mr Joseph Kwaku Nkrumah Oppong, regional secretary of
NDC said, "NPP cannot be prevented from celebrating its election victory
but that should be done without infringing on the rights and liberties of NDC
members.
"Nobody is ruling
out the NPP's right to jubilate. The jubilation can even go on for all the four
years as long as it does not extend to the destruction of property and physical
attacks on members of the NDC".
Mr Oppong said the NDC
district and constituency organisers have reported that NPP supporters have
destroyed almost all the NDC's paraphernalia, including flags, sign and
billboards.
"Threats are being
issued to users of NDC party vans, to surrender them, while staff of certain
institutions are being confronted openly to leave office".
The regional secretary
cited examples of all NDC sign and billboards in the Atebubu district having
been destroyed, whilst at Wenchi a street sign, bearing the name of former
President Jerry Rawlings, has been removed.
Mr Oppong said a
drinking bar, belonging to the organiser of the 31st December women's movement
at Hwidiem in the Asutifi south constituency has been destroyed, whilst Alhaji
Mahamoud Abubakari, NDC constituency secretary, has been forced to take refuge
in Sunyani due to a mob attack on him on Monday.
He alleged that it was
the police at Hwidiem who advised Abubakari to flee the town for his own
safety, after the mob found out that he was being kept at the police station.
"This development
has degenerated into frequent free-for-all fights between some Ahafos at
Hwidiem and a section of the Zongo residents in the town".
Mr Oppong said similar
acts of destruction of NDC property have occurred in the Dormaa district, at Chiraa
in the Sunyani district and Seikwa in the Wenchi district.
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Police say another woman
killed by unidentified man
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
The Police Public Relations Directorate on Tuesday said preliminary investigations conducted into the death of a 25-year-old woman found at Abelemkpe on Monday indicated that an unidentified man attacked her with a cutlass.
"The deceased was attacked with a cutlass by an unidentified man around Santana Annex 'B' at Abelemkpe around 8:30 p.m.," the police said in a statement signed by ASP David S. Eklu of the Directorate, in Accra.
The statement said information gathered by the police indicates that the deceased, yet to be identified, shouted for help in the neighbourhood while her assailant pursued her but nobody came to her rescue.
It said her assailant was later seen fleeing the scene with the cutlass shortly after the incident.
The police appealed to members of the public who have relevant information on the assailant to contact the Commissioner of CID at the Police Headquarters, the nearest police station or call on 775769.
"The police are thus conducting further investigations to trace the perpetrator," the statement said.
At about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, January 8, another woman was found dead at Ablemkpe in Accra.
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Britain promises
assistance to Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 January 2001
Britain's Baroness Amos on Tuesday said she has recognised the serious economic problems facing the country and would work closely with the transition team to look at areas where Britain would be of assistance.
In a statement issued in Accra, Baroness Amos said she had a very useful meeting with President John Kufuor where he raised concerns about Ghana's debt burden, which would need to be tackled given the low world prices of gold and cocoa compared with the high oil price.
She said the British Department for International Development has a programme of support worth 55 million pounds a year aimed at supporting Ghana's priorities for poverty reduction.
Of the 55 million pounds, 30 million pounds will support programmes in health, education, rural infrastructure, natural resources and public service reform while 25 million pounds is channelled directly to the government's budget.
Baroness Amos expressed her pleasure to be at the inauguration of President Kufuor saying, "I would like to congratulate the Ghanaian people, the Electoral Commission and the political parties for the smooth running of the elections."
She said Britain would continue to offer her support to assist Ghana to meet her own targets for poverty reduction.
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