We need you to carry on, Kufuor tells donors
Government requested to
eliminate waste in the public sector
Two ex-ministers take over cars
IGP calls for re-training
of police personnel
Police investigates death
of a farmer
NPP and
NDC supporters clash in Oguaa
Reduce
poverty through Cottage Industries - Delle
GAWIF welcomes creation of
Ministry of Women's Affairs
GTMC workers call off demonstration
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Jan. 2001
The government on Tuesday appealed to Japan to release an outstanding grant of 80 million dollars meant to offset the country's balance of payment difficulties.
Japan made the pledge last year but it is yet to release the money.
President John Agyekum Kufuor made the appeal when Mr Hiromu Nitta, Japanese Ambassador in Ghana, called on him at the State House in Accra.
"We need very powerful friends such as Japan to help us move ahead," he said. "Some will have to write-off our debts while others help with increased grants."
President Kufuor, who has persistently called on international donors to cancel the country's debts, however, explained that his call does not necessarily mean his declaration of Ghana as a Highly Indebted Poor Country.
He said what he seeks to do now is to mobilise assistance in any form to support the budget and usher Ghana into "a golden age of business", adding that his government will be efficient in managing the resources.
"We'll cut down on corruption to its barest minimum and support the private sector but not through protection."
President Kufuor said he hopes for an opportunity to meet with decision-makers in Japan in order to make a genuine case for Ghana.
Mr Nitta congratulated Mr Kufuor on his election and said he viewed the peaceful and transparent manner in which the elections were held as a sign of Ghana's democracy taking deep-root.
"Japan considers Ghana to be one of the key countries in West Africa which could become a model and development assistance base for Japanese aid in the sub-region."
Mr Nitta pledged his country's continued assistance to Mr Kufuor's administration through economic co-operation.
Japan provides the largest single donor assistance to Ghana in terms of grants, loans and technical co-operation.
The Asian country gave Ghana a total assistance of 157 million US dollars in 1998 although this went down to 100 million dollars in 1999.
Those present at the discussions were Mr Yaw Osafo-Marfo, Finance Minister-designate, Dr Kofi Apraku, nominated for the Trade and Industry portfolio, Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, NPP chairman and Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chief of Staff.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
17 Jan. 2001
President John Kufuor
has appointed Mr S.J. Afari as the Director of the Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI).
A statement signed by
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Presidential Adviser on Public Affairs on Wednesday said
the appointment was made on the advice of the National Security Council.
He replaces Mr Yaw
Donkor who has been assigned back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"It is to be
emphasised that Mr Donkor has not been sacked as has been suggested in the
media," the statement said.
Mr Afari, who is an
Assistant Commissioner of Police attached to the Narcotic Control Board, is a
graduate of the University of Ghana. He has served with the erstwhile Special
Branch.
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Kumasi (Greater Accra)
17 Jan. 2001
The Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology (KNUST) sub-ward branch of the NPP on
Monday called on the government to take firm measures to eliminate waste in the
public sector.
At a meeting at the
university campus in Kumasi it suggested, among other things, rigid control
over the use of official vehicles particularly during weekends.
The sub-ward also
proposed that all state vehicles should bear government registration (GV)
numbers for easy identification.
It said the government
should review the policy of selling state vehicles to certain categories of
public and civil servants on retirement at 'give away' prices.
Concerning education,
the sub-ward requested the government to encourage serious research in all the
country's universities to assist in the development of science and technology.
Meanwhile, the
Gyinyasi-Karikari Farms NPP Youth Club in Kumasi has sent a message of
congratulations to President John Agyekum Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama on their assumption of office.
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Takoradi (Greater
Accra) 17 Jan. 2001
Mrs. Esther Lily
Nkansah, out-going Western Regional Minister, and Colonel Kaku Korsah (Rtd),
out-going Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Shama Ahanta East
Assembly, have taken
over the ownership of two vehicles which belonged to the state.
A Mitsubishi gallant
salon car with registration number WR 6161 C has been transferred to Col.
Korsah while a Toyota Corona salon car with registration number WR 617 P has
been transferred to Mrs. Nkansah on the alleged instructions of the former
Chief of Staff at the office of the president, Nana Ato Dadzie.
According to sources at
the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) at Takoradi, the two are the
only officials of the previous government who have had their vehicles
transferred to them.
The amounts paid for
the vehicles vary but constitute only a part of the total cost of the vehicles,
the source hinted.
The Chief of Staff at
the office of the President, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, has said the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) administration will re-visit the issue of vehicle
acquisition by former government functionaries to ensure that the proper thing
is done.
A number of residents
the Ghana News Agency spoke to in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have
expressed disgust at the low prices being paid by the former ministers for the
salon cars.
While some were of the
view that the former ministers deserve it as a "farewell gift",
others said the government does not owe the ministers and do not therefore
understand why such vehicles should be sold to them at such low prices.
They called on the new
government to investigate the issue and prosecute any minister who has bought
any of such vehicles illegally.
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IGP calls for re-training
of police personnel
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Jan. 2001
Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), said on Tuesday that the police service will have to be re-organised to meet the challenges of the time.
This would require upgrading of skills and the bringing into the fore personnel with initiative instead of those who always want to be coaxed before taking action, Mr Nanfuri told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview.
He said some of the personnel are only interested in money and do things that they know will benefit them directly. The actions of such persons, he said, are to the detriment of the service.
Mr Nanfuri said "young blood with initiative" would have to be put into responsible places, adding, "when I started the transfers it was to achieve this but I was stopped midway."
He said some officers have been at certain positions for too long and this is not good for the service.
"It is sad that juniors who are supposed to work with you, refuse to do the right thing because they know they can go behind you if you challenge them. People use their influence with the top to kill initiative," Mr Nanfuri said.
"Serving the nation is important. The issue is a free hand where junior officers would not use their political influence to undermine you," he said.
Asked to comment on a newspaper report that he has been replaced, he said "I have not received anything to that effect. You can see me sitting here."
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Police investigates death
of a farmer
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 17 January 2001
Police at Prang in the Brong Ahafo region, are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of one Madam Amayi Konkomba, a farmer on December 28, last year.
Police source told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) when contacted on telephone, that the driver of a cargo truck involved in an accident, Mr Kwabena Agyei has been granted police inquiry bail pending further investigations.
Mr. Joseph K Manu, a Kumasi-based lawyer and owner of the truck told the GNA that he gave the vehicle to the Atebubu North Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to convey party agents to polling stations in the constituency during the presidential run-off.
He said when the driver reached Bommoden village, three women including the deceased asked the driver for a lift but he refused.
A few metres from where the women were, the vehicle stuck in a mud on the road and the women thinking that the driver had stopped to pick them, attempted to board the vehicle
Mr. Manu said in an attempt to reverse from the muddy area, Amayi fell and the truck ran over her and crushed her to death.
The driver and the other people on the vehicle abandoned the truck and left the scene when the other two women started wailing.
He said people around the area heard of the cries of the women and when they got there they allegedly set fire to the vehicle. The deceased has since been buried, he added.
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NPP
and NDC supporters clash in Oguaa
Cape Coast (Central
Region) 17 January 2001
The political calm
which settled over the Cape Coast municipality after the elections, was marred
on Monday when supporters of the NPP and NDC clashed during a street procession
by supporters of the NPP on Monday afternoon.
The clash, resulted in
about five supporters of the NPP sustaining various degrees of burns when hot
palm nuts soup was thrown into their midst.
The injured, who were
treated and discharged at the Cape Coast district hospital have lodged
complaints with the police who are investigating the incident.
Narrating the incident
to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday, Mr Emmanuel Amponsah, second
vice-chairman of the Cape Coast constituency branch of the NPP, alleged that
following utterances made by some NDC activists last Saturday to the effect
that Ms Christine Churcher has become insane and had been put in chains at a
healing centre at Edumfa near Cape Coast, she came to town on Monday to assure
her supporters that she was hale and
hearty.
He said Ms Churcher as
a result, went on a street procession accompanied by supporters of the party
and alleged that when the procession reached Kotokoraba, some NDC supporters
rained insults on her. Some women who operate a 'chop bar' nearby and are said
to be supporters of the NDC poured the soup into their midst, he said.
Meanwhile some members
of the NDC are also said to have lodged complaints of attacks on them by
supporters of the NPP with the police.
Addressing supporters of
the party later at the 'London Bridge', Ms Churcher expressed concern about
attempts by the NDC in Cape Coast to discredit her and asked them to give her
"the peace of mind" to enable her discharge her duties effectively.
The MP, who was full of
joy, spent the greater part of her address calling for prayers by Ghanaians to
enable the government build Ghana "into a happy and prosperous
nation".
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Reduce
poverty through Cottage Industries - Delle
Accra (Greater Accra)
17 January 2001
Dr E. N. Delle, member
of the Central Committee of the CPP, on Monday appealed to the government to
embark on a Cottage Industries programme to mitigate poverty at the
grass-roots.
Speaking to newsmen in
Accra on Monday, he said the establishment of cottage industries by the
government would encourage the youth to undertake viable projects using local
raw materials to check the rural urban migration.
Dr Delle called for the
posting of experts to the districts to over-see their establishment and to
offer technical advice
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GAWIF welcomes creation of
Ministry of Women's Affairs
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 January 2001
The Ghanaian Women Initiative Foundation (GAWIF), an NGO, on Tuesday welcomed the establishment of the Ministry of Women's Affairs saying it is a recognition of the role women play in the economic and political development of the country.
Mrs. Emma Mitchell, spokesperson for GAWIF, told a press conference in Accra that her organisation wants women to be included in all political policy making and advisory bodies.
She expressed the hope that the new ministry would be the rallying point for all women's organisations as well as activities geared towards the improvement of the conditions of women.
"We do strongly anticipate that the new ministry will truly stand for the objective for which it was established by representing the interests of all Ghanaian women regardless of party affiliations," she said.
Mrs. Mitchell, who is the chairperson of the political working committee of GAWIF, urged the government to provide adequate budgetary support and logistics for the smooth running of the ministry.
She called for the creation of special desks for effective links with the other ministries and support units such as research, human resource development and inspection.
GAWIF, she said, has proposed to the new government that there should be women among the top four members of administration of every ministry, department, institution, commission and the Council of State.
In addition at least 30 per cent of district chief executives and government appointees for district assemblies should be women.
"Qualified women must be given equal opportunities as their male counterparts with regard to top managerial job placement at the private sector level," she said.
Mrs. Mitchell said GAWIF joins other women's organisations in congratulating
President John Agyekum Kufuor on his election as President.
Mrs. Esther Ocloo, Chairperson of GAWIF, urged women to strive to attain the highest levels in every endeavour to be able to meet the challenges of the times.
She said: "we do not have to sit down and let other people tell us who we are and what to do when we produce over 80 per cent of the continent's food.
"We are going to work as a pressure group in monitoring this new ministry and ensure that it does not become affiliated to any political party."
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Nsawam (Eastern Region) 17 Jan. 2001
The Pineapple Growers Association of Nsakye and surrounding areas on Tuesday appealed to the South Akuapem District Assembly and the Department of Feeder Roads to help them regravel the 10-kilometre road linking the town with Aburi Amanfro and Pokuase.
Mr Aaron Ohene Ntow, president of the association, made the appeal at Nsakye on Tuesday through the Ghana News Agency at a meeting to find how best to market their produce.
Mr Ntow said the road became unmotorable during the last rainy season, which led to the destruction of their products due to transportation problems.
He said the members have agreed to contribute between 50,000 cedis and 100,000 cedis each to assist the government to re-gravel the road.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 17
Jan. 2001
Workers of the Ghana
Textile Manufacturing Company (GTMC) on Tuesday called off a demonstration
planned against the Textile Garment and Leather Employees Union (TEGLEU).
This followed the
intervention of Mr Wilson Agana, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Council
of Labour, urging the workers to call off their action.
The workers accused Mr
Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of TEGLEU, of being responsible for their
problems and denying them the constitutional right to join the Industrial and
Commercial Workers Union (ICU).
Mr Agana advised the
800 workers to reschedule a meeting with the council on Thursday, January 18,
to review the situation.
He assured the workers
who are temporarily out of job as a result of the closure of the factory on
November 28, last year, that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other
interested parties were resolving the impasse.
Mr Agana said it was no
longer necessary for them to embark on the demonstration since the struggle had
almost come to an end with success at sight.
He however assured them
that all workers in Tema are prepared to lay down their lives for GTMC workers
in their fight for their rights.
Mr Agana, who is also
Chairman of the Tema District Council of Labour, regretted that certain
personalities had tried to politicise the demonstration as if it were directed
against the NPP government, and explained that it was purely a labour conflict.
He said the TUC
respects the NPP government, which has been in office for only a week and that
the GTMC workers' demonstration was not against the new government.
The ICU and TEGLEU have
been engaged in a battle for the last four years over which of the two unions
the GTMC workers should belong to.
Last November's closure
of the factory was prompted by the poorly paid workers' demand for loans and
Christmas packages which the management of the company said it could not
afford.
The company has
directed all the 1,300 workers to re-apply for their positions. While TEGLEU
supports the idea, the ICU has requested the workers not to re-apply since this
amounts to abuse of their rights.
Last Sunday, TEGLEU at
a press conference accused the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare of
playing double standards in resolving the conflict, and appealed to the NPP
government to help bring an end to the Crisis, which has left the workers
poorer.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 Jan. 2001
The Elections Officer of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Mawusi Afele, on Wednesday announced that the vote to elect the Deputy General Secretary for the national executive has been postponed for one week.
He said the vote, which should have been held on Thursday, January 18, would now come off on Thursday, January 25.
Mr Afele said the election is being postponed because the ballot papers are not ready.
Nii Nortey Duah of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Mr George Marshall Naykane of the Christian Chronicle are contesting the post.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
17 Jan 2001
The Ghana Police
Service has taken delivery of spare parts for over 100 vehicles grounded over
the past few years due to the lack of maintenance and replacement parts.
To this effect police
mechanics throughout the regions have been summoned to the main workshop in
Accra to help repair the vehicles.
Mr Peter Nanfuri,
Inspector General of Police, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency on
Wednesday, said that he has given a three-week ultimatum for the cars to be on
road.
He warned the personnel
mechanics not to misuse the spare parts but to ensure that they are use for it
intended purpose and ''any attempt of abuse by diverting them would not be
tolerated."
On the recent cars
received by the police, Mr Nanfuri disclosed that in all, 65 cars are expected
and would be distributed throughout the country.
He dismissed criticisms
that the cars are not appropriate for police duties saying, " these are
high speed cars that can chase criminals and are widely used in advance
countries for police patrols."
"They are robust
and can easily go through rough roads, valleys and mud in pursuit of criminals.
They are not bluffing but rough resistant cars", Mr Nanfuri stressed.
He said car to car
radio communications would be installed in the vehicles to facilitate contacts
during patrols.
According to him these
new developments will improve efficiency in the service, adding," the cars
available now can move, we are moving away from moving cars, to cars that can
chase criminals."
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