President makes additional
nominations
Suspend end of service
benefit for past government officials-UGM
Chief
condemns pollution of river
MP asks
Constituents to put the past behind them
Transport owners want to be
part in determination of fuel prices
TEGLEU reacts to GTMC
workers' claims
Refrain from influencing
security personnel -Alhaji Gariba
Cabinet to discuss fate of
Dis. Chief Executives-veep
Upper West chiefs greet
President, Vice President
Top TUC official condemns old
ministers' action
Government has no hand in
chieftaincy-Veep
President makes additional nominations
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor has made additional ministerial nominations, drawing part of the list from parties outside the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The new list include, Dr Kwesi Nduom, an economic consultant and leading member of the CPP who has been nominated as Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation.
A statement from the President’s office also named Mallam Ali Yussif Issah, Vice Chairman of the PNC as Minister of Youth and Sports. Others are Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service as Minister of Education, Dr. Richard Anane, MP for Bantama, Health, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, MP, Afigya Sekyere West, Energy, and Mr. Kwamena Bartels, MP, Ablekuma-North, Works and Housing.
The statement named Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, a consultant, as Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, Mr Owusu Agyapong, MP, Akim Swedru, Communications, Mr Charles Nyannor, MP, Upper-Denkyira, Minister of State at the Presidency responsible for Private Sector Development, Mad Hawa Yakubu, MP, Bawku Central, Tourism, and Mr K. Adjei-Dako, MP, Sunyani West, Roads and
Transport.
Ms Christine Churcher, MP, Cape Coast has been nominated as Minister of State for Education (Primary, Secondary and Girl-Child), Mr Ishmael Ashitey, MP, Tema East, Minister of State for Agriculture (fisheries), Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State (media relations).
Mr. J.H. Mensah, MP for Sunyani East has been nominated as Minister responsible for Government Business and Chairman National Planning Commission, while Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey has been made Minister of Presidential Affairs.
In earlier nominations announced, the president named his brother, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor as Minister of Defence, Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, Minister of Finance, Dr Kofi Apraku, Trade and Industry and Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, Interior.
Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Local Government and Rural Development, Maj. Courage Quashigah (rtd), Agriculture, Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo Addo, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Foreign Affairs, Mrs Gladys Asmah, Women Affairs, Prof. Dominic Fobih, Environment, Science and Technology and Dr K. Afriyie, Lands, Forestry and Mines.
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Suspend end of service
benefit for past government officials-UGM
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
The United Ghana Movement (UGM) on Monday appealed to President John Kufuor to order an immediate suspension of actions on the payment of end of service benefits to officials of the defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
A statement signed by Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, leader of the party, called on the President to order an immediate return of public vehicles, which have been sold to and registered in the names of former ministers and senior public officials of the former government.
UGM also appealed to President Kufuor to establish a committee to review the Greenstreet Report and make proposals for consideration and approval by parliament.
The statement said if there is any justification for the payment of benefits to public officials other than the former President, then it has to be done in accordance with the laws of the land.
It said in spite of the recommendations of the Greenstreet Report, and with the singular exception of former presidents, ''there appears to be no legal basis for the institution of end of service benefits to retiring public officials''.
''The recommendations of the Greenstreet Report that is being quoted to favour public officials of the out-going government even though reviewed twice, was never laid before parliament for debate and therefore does not have the full constitutional and legal backing for final decisions''.
The statement said since Ghana has a written constitution and practising democracy as well, there should be nothing like established conventions to be used as the basis for justifying the clearly self-serving actions taken by the former government.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
Mr. D. K. Osei, Acting Ambassador of Ghana to Denmark was on Monday appointed Secretary to the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor.
A statement signed by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government Spokesperson, said Mr. Osei who has been temporarily seconded from the Ministry of foreign affairs, is a career diplomat.
He was educated at Achimota School, University of Paris, University of Dakar and the International Institute of Public Administration, Paris. He is married, with three children.
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Chief
condemns pollution of river
Pruso (Brong Ahafo) 23
January 2001
Nana Yaw Agyeman III,
chief of Pruso, in the Nkoranza District on Monday condemned the use of
poisonous chemicals to fish in the River Pru and charged Unit Committees in the
area to help track down the culprits.
He said the practice is
a threat to the people's health since the river is their main source of
drinking water.
Nana Agyeman told the
Ghana News Agency in an interview that the practice has become an annual
ritual, especially during the dry season when the people need water most.
He expressed fear that
the practice, if not checked promptly, could result in the outbreak of an
epidemic.
Mr Samuel Acheampong,
assemblyman, expressed regret that in spite of public education campaigns
against bush fires and water pollution, some of the people still paid no heed.
He announced that a
task force would be formed to check group hunting and fishing with poisonous
chemicals.
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MP
asks Constituents to put the past behind them
Bekwai (Ashanti Region)
23 January 2001
Mr. Kofi Poku-Adusei,
Member of Parliament (MP), for Bekwai, has called on people in his constituency
to put the bitterness and acrimony of the pre-election era behind them and act
in unison to ensure progress and prosperity.
"With the
elections over, what is important now is for all of us to act as sincere
partners in the search for solution to problems holding back the development of
our constituency".
Mr. Poku-Adusei was
speaking at an inter-denominational thanks-giving service at Bekwai for the
peaceful political transition.
He called on the people
to support the district assembly, which is the catalyst for the area's
development, saying that at the next elections to the assembly they should
elect qualified and dedicated persons.
Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, the
NPP constituency chairman, observed that every Ghanaian has a role to play in
national reconstruction. It is in the light of this that the government has
given firm assurance that no one would be sidelined in the governance of the
nation, he added.
Ms. Vivian Achiaa
Boadi, an activist of the NPP, appealed to Ghanaians to give President John Kufuor
a free hand in making political appointments.
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Transport owners want to
be part in determination of fuel prices
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
Transport owners are in dialogue with government to involve all stakeholders in the determination of petroleum prices to ensure that decision taken is in the best interest of the country.
"This is the only way to build consensus and promote goodwill among all the parties involved in the sector," Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) Chairman Ellis Gbedemah told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday.
Mr. Gbedemah said the transport sector is aware that the outcome of on going consultations on the fixing of fuel prices is the sole responsibility of government.
"We however believe that suggestions from transport operators will go a long way to ensure that all parties are satisfied with the outcome and decisions are in the best interest of all."
The various transport operators include the GPRTU, Progressive Transport Owners Association and the Co-operative Transport Union.
Mr. Gbedemah, who was not willing to give the percentage rise that members will accept, said he is in touch with the Chief of Staff on the issue, adding that fixing of transport fares will depend on the final outcome of government consultations with the various parties.
High-level discussions are going on between senior officials of the Ministry of Mines and Energy and government advisers to come up with an appropriate price level for petroleum products.
The meeting is also looking at other petroleum tax options to make up for losses incurred in the last 12 months and beyond.
The Tema Oil Refinery is said to be in debt of more than two trillion cedis due mainly to uneconomic fuel prices.
A gallon of petrol is currently sold at 6,400 cedis and experts say this price is so low that it makes cost recovery impossible.
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TEGLEU reacts to GTMC
workers' claims
Tema (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
The Textile, Garment and Leather Employees Union (TEGLEU) said on Monday that it will continue to pursue due process of law in seeking redress in labour disputes.
It said where it has a bad case, TEGLEU will appeal for mitigation of sanctions to assert its credibility in the arena of industrial relations practice.
TEGLEU's statement was in reaction to a press conference organised last Thursday by workers of the Ghana Textile Manufacturing Company (GTMC) accusing the union of being funded by the ex-NDC government to destroy the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The statement, signed by Mr Abraham Koomson, General Secretary, accused the ICU of exhibiting ignorance about the constitution of Ghana and International Labour conventions.
It urged the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) to be circumspect and objective in dealing with issues involving industrial actions as happened on November 20, 2000, at the GTMC in order not to aggravate the problems of the workers.
The statement said the TEGLEU leadership is sad that the ICU continues to mislead the workers by publicly inciting them against management's directives on the procedure for the re-opening of the factory, which was closed down on November 28, last year.
It urged GTMC workers to learn a lesson from ICU deceptions, which recently caused havoc to workers at Volta Garment Limited that was closed down in 1997, resulting in the laying off of over 500 workers.
TEGLEU also mentioned Akosombo Textiles Limited, which was closed down in 1999, and PZ Limited, which was closed down last year, during which workers suffered a similar fate.
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Refrain from influencing
security personnel -Alhaji Gariba
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
Alhaji Mustapha Gariba, Greater Accra Regional Police Commander on Monday warned land owners in the Accra metropolis to refrain from bribing police personnel by offering them free plots of land.
He also cautioned the Police against getting involved in chieftaincy and land cases.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Alhaji Gariba said he realised during a recent visit to Weija and Oblogo that the problem of land guards, illegal sale of land and chieftaincy disputes are the main causes of criminal activities that militate against land development.
The Regional Commander also expressed concern about the increasing crime wave in the country and asked every security personnel to exhibit a high sense of discipline and tact in dealing with the challenge.
He said the police would need the co-operation of neighbourhood watch committees but cautioned them against taking the law into their own hands by administering instant justice to suspects.
"Suspects should not be lynched, because once a suspect is killed, evidence is also killed," Alhaji Mustapha added.
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Cabinet to discuss fate of
Dis. Chief Executives-veep
Tamale (Northern Region) 23 January 2001
The Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has said that the issue of district chief executives would be sorted out when cabinet is put in place.
He said because of the importance attached to local government, its sector minister was the first to be named by the president.
Alhaji Mahama was speaking to the press in Tamale on Sunday on his maiden visit as vice- president.
On the agenda of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Northern Ghana, the Vice-President said priority would be given to the eradication of poverty through the creation of wealth.
This he said, would be done by revamping the agricultural sector adding, ''the government would soon come out with a package that would encourage people to go into agriculture''.
The vice-president said the NPP would continue with the free compulsory education at the basic level, ''but we would be committed to making it really free and compulsory.''
He describe the road network in the northern region as ''terrible'' and said he would ensure that ''something is done to the roads''
Alhaji Mahama said the government was aware of the expectation of the people and would work harder to meet them, ''though the problems and the mess are enormous''.
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Upper West chiefs greet
President, Vice President
Wa (Upper West) 23 January 2001
The Upper West Regional House of Chiefs has congratulated President J.A. Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama on their assumption of office and urged them to apply the principles of accountability, unity and reconciliation in the governance of the country.
"These principles, we are sure, will bring about prosperity and move our dear nation forward", a statement signed by Naa Banamini Sandu II, President of the house said.
It said the task ahead of the new government is enormous and assured them of their prayerful support.
The house also commended Prof. John E.A. Mills, presidential candidate of the NDC for his courage in conceding defeat even before the results of the election were officially declared.
It also praised the security services, the electoral commission, the observer teams, the political parties, the media and civil society in general for the maturity they demonstrated to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
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Top TUC official condemns
old ministers' action
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 January 2001
Deputy Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr J.N.Y. Atopley on Monday accused ministers of the past government of failing to live by their slogan of probity and accountability by accepting to take away their official cars at "such cheap prices".
Reacting to the decision to allocate former ministers their official cars they were using while in office at give-away prices, Mr Atopley said they should have considered the economic situation of the country.
In an interview with the GNA, he said the TUC is yet to take a position on the issue, adding that the leadership will be meeting soon to deliberate on it.
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Government has no hand in
chieftaincy-Veep
Tamale (Northern Region) 23 January 2001
Vice-President Aliu Mahama has said the government will have no hand in the appointment or removal of chiefs. "It is the prerogative of the national house of chiefs to handle chieftaincy matters", Alhaji Mahama told the press in Tamale in reaction to a question about his role in the Dagbon chieftaincy divide.
The Vice-president, a Dagomba, is allegedly aligned to one of the two chieftaincy gates in Dagbon. He said the decision of the Supreme Court in 1986 had settled the matter finally and that decision is irreversible.
Alhaji Mahama said Dagbon has come a long way and it would be suicidal to revisit the chieftaincy dispute. "It is now time to put our act together and forge ahead," he said.
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