A beach prayer camp service turned tragic for the Tema Community Five branch of the Church of Brotherhood when two sons of the assistant pastor were instantly killed by a device that exploded at the Halcrow Beach last Friday.

Gabriel Banini, a 28-year-old radio mechanic who had visited his father from Ho, and his 14-year-old brother, Charles Banini, a student, decided to take a walk along the beach but were found dead after the explosion.

Their father, Pastor John Banini, who was present at the beach, and the Reverend Theodore Kwame Duodu, Head Pastor, made a report to the Community Two Police after the incident.

Police Superintendent Mohammed A. Adams, Tema Community Two District Police Commander, who disclosed this to the press, said after normal police procedures, the military ballistic experts were at the scene the next day but their investigations could not establish the type of explosive that killed the Baninis since it was difficult tracing pieces of it.

The police, however, suspected it could be a grenade or a dynamite, which the senior one might have tampered.

Supt. Adams said if the explosive was a grenade, then the police suspect that it might have been dumped there by someone who illegally acquired it but realised he could not utilise it any longer.

A dynamite could also come from fishermen who use it illegally for fishing or it could also be some remnants from dynamites used in blasting works at the Tema Port which were washed ashore by the waves.

Supt. Adams cautioned those who go to the beach to watch out for such explosives to avoid walking on them or handling them.

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Chief of Staff throws light on cars for former ministers

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 January 2001

The Chief of Staff, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey on Tuesday suggested that the government valuer's formula be used in arriving at what former ministers and political appointees have to pay for their cars.

"This would be a straightforward objective evaluation that we can defend," he said, in a letter to Mr Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff, on the controversial amounts paid for the vehicles.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said once a saloon car that is more than two years can be offered to a person leaving office, the car can now be re-valued and those who wish to pay the extra amounts due may do so and keep their car.

"Those who do not wish to pay or were unqualified to benefit should return their vehicles," he said.

Using an example of the new price formula worked out, the letter said a 1997 Toyota Corona offered at five million cedis would now be offered at 17 million cedis.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said there were numerous previous examples of senior level public officers being offered "concessionary" benefits on leaving office.

"It was on this basis that the NPP team agreed that ministers and political appointees should be given the opportunity to purchase their one official saloon car that was more than two years old.

"This is the principle that we have sought to defend even in the face of the tremendous public outcry."

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said their position is to separate the principle from the prices, adding that the NPP has no hand in the setting of the price and valuation.

He said the government valuer, Mr F. Allotey, said Nana Ato Dadzie and not the government's formula for valuation, dictated the values at which the cars were offered.

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Police hunt for man who attempted to sell son

Sunyani (Eastern Region) 24 January 2001

The police at Sunyani have mounted a search for Bright Tse, mason, 34, who allegedly attempted to sell his 11-year-old son.

Police Superintendent David Ampah Bennin, Sunyani District Commander, Wednesday told the Ghana News Agency that on September 16, last year, Tse, a native of Ve-Koloenu in the Volta Region, reported the disappearance of his son, Francis Mawulawoe.

Tse told police that he suspected some masons working on a nearby building had kidnapped him.

Mr Ampah Bennin said Tse also disappeared from the town soon after the report, only to re-emerge on October 3.

On October 12, police at Sunyani had information from their counterparts at Tarkwa, in the Western Region that they had found the boy. Mr Ampah-Bennin said Tse accompanied police to Tarkwa, where he identified the boy as his son.

The District Police Commander said while returning to Sunyani, however, Tse sought permission from the policemen at a point, "to collect money from a brother," but escaped and had since not been seen.

He said Tse's wife, Veronica, told police that she suspected that her husband knew something about her stepson's disappearance, because he was reluctant to report the matter initially.

She told police that it was only when an elder of their church intervened that her husband agreed to make a report.

Mr Ampah Bennin said police also had information that Tse had arranged with a Yaw Obimpeh, at Tarkwa to sell his son to an Nzema man.

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Don't pressurise President Kufuor's government - Reform Party

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 25 January 2001

Opanin Kwame Afreh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Reform Party (NRP), has advised Ghanaians not to pressurise the government into taking hasty decisions detrimental to the interests of the nation.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Kumasi, Opanin Afreh said the majority of Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation, had accepted the new government.

It is therefore not advisable for some people to use some FM radio stations to make statements and utterances intended to favour a segment of the populace.

Opanin Afreh said the positive change that the NPP is calling for could be achieved if the initiators were given time to put their policies into fruition.

He said from the few days he took office, President John Agyekum Kufuor has demonstrated his pledge to build an all-inclusive government by appointing competent people to administer the affairs of the country.

"What is needed is co-operation and understanding from all and sundry for the government to deal with the serious crisis facing the nation," the statement added.

Opanin Afreh urged women to embrace the new Ministry created for them since it is in their best interest.

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Organic farming must be intensified

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 25 January 2001

Education programmes on organic farming techniques must be intensified for farmers to reduce over dependence on pesticides in the agricultural sector.

Such programmes could be realised through the provision of specialised information, leaflets and posters in very simple languages and circulated in farming communities.

This suggestion was given by Mr Lawrence K. Tsimese, Information Officer of the Ghana Organic Agriculture Network (GOAN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Mr Tsimese said the training programme should be backed up with workshops and forums for farmers at the various local levels.

Demonstration farms should also be established to give practical meaning of organic farming skills to farmers, he added.

Mr Tsimese was launching GOAN's Documentation and Information Centre in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The Centre is to be used to train farmers and other stakeholders on the dangers of pesticide usage on farming and promote alternative and more sustainable agricultural practices in the country.

Nana Akuoko Adomako, Chairman of GOAN, noted that the use of pesticides must be discouraged because they pose a threat to the health of users, consumers and also pollute the environment.

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NDC allegations pack of lies – Students

Sunyani (Eastern Region) 25 January 2001

The Sunyani Polytechnic branch of the NPP and the Patriots Club have called for thorough investigations into allegations by the Brong Ahafo NDC that its regional office was invaded and ransacked by members of the club.

Speaking at separate press conferences in Sunyani on Tuesday, the two bodies noted that police investigations into the allegations would exonerate them "because they are only a pack of lies".

Mr. Alfred Quartey, Secretary of the Sunyani Poly branch of the NPP, explained that last Tuesday, members of the branch decided to go on a victory procession to formally mark the party's success in the December polls.

The procession, which was solely organised and participated in by members of the branch, and not the Patriots Club as alleged by the NDC, was held belatedly because the Polytechnic was on break during the run-off.

Mr Quartey said to demonstrate that the procession was not for any dubious purpose, NDC members on campus were invited to join "since we strongly believe that the electoral victory of the NPP is a victory for all Ghanaians".

"If we really wanted to use the procession to cause any mischief, we would not have invited our friends from the NDC and neither would we have invited the police who were with us throughout the exercise."

Mr Quartey said when the procession got to the regional office area of the NDC, they saw a former student of the Polytechnic, Desmond Adotey, standing there and naturally some of them who knew him went to him to exchange pleasantries.

He said Adotey, together with the regional youth organiser of the NDC, Mohammed Seidu, who was also around, shook hands with the students and congratulated them on the NPP electoral victory after which they rejoined the procession.

"Nothing untoward happened so we were really shocked to have read in a national daily that members of the procession had invaded and destroyed vital documents at the NDC regional office."

Mr Baffour Awuah, Chairman of the Patriots Club, said it had nothing to do with the procession and was therefore at a loss as to why the NDC had accused it of vandalising its office.

"The Patriots Club is only an association of young professionals, and not a group of thugs, who took it upon themselves to strategize and mobilise resources for the NPP to win the elections."

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Police questions former TDC surveyor over land

Tema (Greater Accra) 25 January 2001

Tema Police are investigating how over 408.4 hectares of land at Adjei Kodjo, a village near Ashaiman, belonging to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) were illegally released to the chief and people of the village.

Mr E.W. K. Agato, a former Chief Surveyor of the TDC, who is alleged to have prepared a layout covering the area and given it to the Chief of Adjei Kodjo, is helping the police in their investigations.

Adjei Kodjo forms part of the 63 square miles acquired compulsorily by the government under the TDC Ordinance of 1952 for the development of the port and industrial city of Tema.

Sources at the TDC said Mr Agato, who retired in January 1987 and was re-engaged on contract, was alleged to have carved out an area covering over 4,000 building plots and lands reserved for schools and recreational purposes to the chief and people of Adjei Kodjo.

The Corporation recently allocated plots to individuals in the area and granted them permits to start developing them but they were surprised to have their houses demolished by landguards employed by the Chief and his subjects.

The TDC has received several complaints involving the guards and has told the chief and his people that mere possession of a layout did not make them owners of the land.

When contacted, the police confirmed the story and said Mr Agato, who was arrested last Thursday for interrogation, is on police enquiry bail.

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Petroleum retailers liaising with government on armed attacks

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 January 2001

The Petroleum Retailers Association (PRA) said on Wednesday that it is liaising with the government to solicit the assistance of the security agencies to help stem the increased crime wave in the Accra Metropolis.

At the end of an emergency meeting in Accra, the executives said that, as an interim emergency measure, all filling stations throughout the country are to close not later than 2100 hours daily in conformity with guidelines issued by the oil companies until the situation improves.

The meeting was necessitated by the recent armed attacks on three filling stations in Accra in which two people lost their lives and large amounts of money were stolen.

A statement signed by Mr Sylvester Y. Apedoe, President of the PRA, said they are worried because such attacks not only cost lives but seriously compromise their capacity to serve the public efficiently.

"We condemn the recent spate of renewed attacks by armed robbers on filling stations throughout the country," he said.

"In the mean time, we console affected families and urge them to bear with us..."

One member told the GNA that they could not afford to be exposed to such risks, and urged that the entire security apparatus be marshalled to remedy the situation if necessary.

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Armed robbers attack Forex Bureau

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 January 2001

Armed robbers on Wednesday morning attacked the KC Forex Bureau at the Awudome roundabout and took away one of the two safes in the office. They, however, abandoned it around Kotobabi.

Chief Inspector Kwadwo Bosompem, station officer of the Kaneshie Police Station, told the GNA that at about 0430, a securityman at the forex bureau reported to the police that armed robbers had attacked it and shot one of his colleagues in the leg.

Chief Inspector Bosompem said a policeman on duty around the area who heard the shots crawled to the scene and managed to shoot at the vehicle in which the robbers were escaping.

He said the robbers got away since the vehicle was too far, making it difficult for the policeman to get a clear shot.

Chief Inspector Bosompem said the injured securityman has been sent to the Police Hospital.

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NDC says no need to increase fuel prices

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 January 2001

The NDC on Wednesday said there is absolutely no reason at this time for panic increases in fuel prices and asked that the blame game by the NPP government must stop.

This is because as the previous government, the NDC did not pile up any debts to sabotage the incoming administration, Mr Simon Abingya, former Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy told a press conference in Accra on the fuel situation and government accounts.

Flanked by Mr Dan Abodakpi, former Minister of Trade and Industry and Mr Victor Selormey, former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Abingya said the new government is laying the grounds for increasing fuel prices out of proportion by accusing the NDC government of leaving debts behind, adding that this would bring untold hardships on Ghanaians

Mr Abingya said by March last year fuel prices had soared so high that the government could no longer continue passing the increases to consumers through full-cost- recovery and import-parity-pricing policy.

He said the policy was reviewed which led to the suspension of "any further upward price adjustments in order to alleviate the potentially negative effect" on the economy.

The NDC government, he said took note of forecasts at the time, which suggested that crude oil prices were likely to decline.

"The anticipated decline in price has finally occurred as world crude oil prices now hover around 24 dollars a barrel from the peak of 35 dollars a barrel", he said.

"The build up losses at Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is therefore expected to reduce." Mr Abingya said should prices fall further below 24 dollars per barrel, TOR would be expected to reap the benefits of the surpluses under the NDC import parity policy.

"We are surprised that the impression has been created that there is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the in-coming government by depleting the state coffers.

"The accounts for the 2000 financial year are being prepared by the Accountant-General to be presented to Parliament in the usual manner."

Mr Abingya said the fact that for several years, there have been deficits in government account, at the end of the year, "is a clear indication that we did not have the resources."

"We want to reassure Ghanaians that the NDC Government was in deed, very careful and judicious in the use of available resources but was faced with the daunting tasks of meeting the needs of employees, students and pressing social needs of the country."

Mr Selormey said since he joined the government in 1993 the coffers had always been empty and yet with prudent policy measures the NDC was able to sustain the economy and prevented it from collapse, adding, "the new government should not be afraid of borrowing".

He said he had acknowledged that the economy was in crisis and had several times called for discussions on it but this had been ignored. "All that we heard were accusations of corruption, mismanagement and positive change but all the same we have left debts, yes, but we have used the loans on development projects...in providing electricity, good drinking water, good roads... which are legacies for the new government to build upon."

He said, " governments are elected to manage and to solve problems and that the accusations of the NDC of doing this or that or not doing that, are not tenable. We are waiting for the new government to deliver".

Mr Abodakpi said the foreign pledges of about 250 million dollars that were withheld from the NDC have started pouring in.

He said: "We as opposition exist to offer alternative suggestions for policy formulation and the success of the NPP would depend on the co-operation and the ability of the government to accept them for the good of all Ghanaians."

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Journalists vote on Thursday

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2001

Ghanaian journalists go to the polls on Thursday to elect the deputy general secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

The two contestants are Mr George Marshall Naykene of the Christian Chronicle and Nii Nortey Duah of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

A statement signed in Accra by Mr Mawusi Afele, GJA Elections Officer on Wednesday said polling will be between 0900 and 1600 hours.

Only paid up members are eligible to vote. Any member whose name is not on the register but can produce a valid receipt to prove that he or she is a paid up member would be allowed to vote.

Regional GJA election officers are to send their results to Mr Afele at the Ghana News Agency in Accra

The statement said GJA members at GBC, Graphic, New Times and GNA will vote in their offices. All other members are to vote at the Ghana International Press Centre.

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University of Ghana coverts road to walkway

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2001

The Academic Board of the University of Ghana has approved the conversion of the main university avenue into a pedestrian walkway following concerns raised by the university community.

A statement issued from the office of the university relations cited concerns like the danger posed to pedestrians, mainly students, by competing use of the avenue by both motorists and pedestrians and the unacceptable level of commercial activity on the avenue.

Others include the use of the avenue by motorists as connecting route and the distortion of a congenial atmosphere that must characterise a university campus.

The statement said the conversion would allow for safe pedestrian movement and allow commercial vehicles on campus to operate along well-defined routes to restore congenial atmosphere for academic pursuit. It is also to "retake control of campus which is private property."

To ensure a smooth implementation of its decision, the statement said the university has taken steps, such as the provision of well-lit car parks with attendants and fencing of the university primary school to protect children. It has also provided ramps to slow down traffic and occasional opening up of the avenue during special periods such as re-opening or closing of semester.

The statement urged members of the community to strictly follow the road signs and request the assistance for security services in case of any difficulty.

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Commonwealth Trades Union Council commends Ghana

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2001

The Commonwealth Trades Union Council (CTUC) has commended Ghana for its smooth change of Government.

According to a press release issued in Accra on Wednesday, the CTUC made the commendation at the end of its five-day workshop held in Sierra Leone under the theme "Trades Union and democracy".

The participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Britain and Canada also discussed, among other things, the socio-economic and political developments within the sub-region.

The participants said the change was one of "the banes of their quest for the institutionalisation of democratic transition in the continent of Africa".

They condemned the cruelties meted out to war victims of Sierra Leone, and appealed to the government of that country to take urgent steps to resettle amputees and other the victims, numbering about 2,000 in a more permanent and decent manner.

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SABAT workers refuse to re-apply

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan 2001

Angry dismissed workers of SABAT Motors on Wednesday said they would not re-apply for their positions in the company as is being demanded by the management.

The workers, who besieged the premises of the Trades Union Congress, said the directive contravenes an earlier ruling on the case in which the workers were to be unconditionally reinstated.

They also criticised the entrenched position of the ICU General Secretary, Mr Napoleon Kpoh, saying they were appalled at his comment to the media on the issue and demanded from the national executives their role in getting the long-stand off with management resolved.

"For him to say that we are being ill-advised by somebody in management is an insult to our intelligence. We deserve an unqualified apology from him," Mr Harry Addo, local union chairman of the workers said.

He said no ICU executive has visited the premises since the closure of the company.

"An arranged meeting with Mr Kpoh and some executives was called off after we waited for so many hours only to learn that he has gone to his mother's funeral. This shows gross disrespect for the workers."

Mr Addo urged the government to act immediately to revert the company to its former status of a state-owned company, saying it was acquired through fraudulent misrepresentation.

"No worker is going to work if this decision is not taken." Gilbert Awinongya, Acting Deputy Secretary General (Operations) of ICU, said the workers' issue was more of a political dispute than industrial.

He said after meetings with some executives of the workers, they decided to "talk to people behind the scene" to see how the problems could be solved but this did not materialise.

Mr Awinongya said it was the decision of the national executive to look into all labour disputes and not treat individual cases and pleaded with the workers to use laid-down structures for resolving labour disputes.

Later at a meeting with the workers executives, Mr Kofi Asamoah, Deputy Secretary General, promised to look into the issue and asked the workers to exercise restraint.

Workers of SABAT were asked to go home in July 1999, pending the taking of inventory of stocks of the company. Since then efforts to get back to work has proved futile.

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More than 15,000 refugees still in Ghana

Accra (Greater Accra 25 Jan 2001

A large number of refugees are still in the country despite favourable conditions in their home countries, relief organisations said on Wednesday.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Ebenezer Quarshie Blavo, Chairman of the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB), said a large number of Liberian refugees for instance, who received repatriation packages and went back home have returned, citing insecurity in their country.

Others, he said, cited unemployment as reasons for their return to Ghana. The repatriation exercise, which elapsed last December for the Liberians, was meant to encourage them to return home to help in the reconstruction of their country.

Currently, there are refugees from Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and a number of other countries and according to GRB last count, there are over 15,000 refugees in the country. The figure will be updated by the end of the month.

Dr Blavo said the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the host country lack funds for the upkeep of the refugees and has recommended some of them to be repatriated to some European countries.

"Those who are left behind will have to take care of themselves through income generating skills they have acquired or will acquire while here," Dr Blavo said. " Many others have left the camp and become part of the larger society. You cannot even count them as refugees anymore."

He said presently, some 13,474 are still in Ghana preparing for repatriation or settlement elsewhere.

Dr Blavo said refugees are not above the law and when they commit crimes they must be made to face the full rigours of the law like any other person.

"Even though some of them have been arrested for criminal offences, it must not be used as a yard stick to judge the entire refugee or immigrant population," he said.

Dr Blavo, quoting the legal obligations of refugees under UN 1951 Refugee Convention, said they should "... conform to the laws and regulations of the country of asylum, as well as to measures taken for the maintenance of public order. It is important to note that refugees are under the legal obligation to respect the laws of Ghana."

The UNHR said its favourable repatriation packages to the refugees, mostly from neighbouring West African countries, has produced less results than anticipated.

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Greater Accra records less deaths from motor accidents last year

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Jan. 2001

One hundred and seventy-eight persons were killed in motor accidents in the Greater Accra region last year as compared to 234 in 1999.

The number of vehicles involved in accidents also dropped to 10,811 from 11,443 in 1999, Mr Samuel Kwame Appiah, Commanding Officer of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview on Wednesday.

He said there were 6,975 accident cases in the year under review compared to 7,313 in 1999.

There were 173 fatal accidents and 1,038 serious ones, with the number of persons injured increasing from 2,670 in 1999 to 3,570 last year.

Most of the accidents, Mr Appiah said, were due to general indiscipline among drivers.

"Some accidents could be attributed to the increasing number of cars in the region and the quest of drivers to fight for space."

He said about 107 million cedis accrued to the courts from fines for accident cases and 170.8 million cedis for violation of traffic regulations.

Mr Appiah said out of 1,073 traffic offences last year, 914 culprits were convicted while 13 were sentenced to between two and six months imprisonment for drunk driving.

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Review Road Traffic Law - Sevor

Accra (Greater Region) 25 Jan 2001

Mr Raphel K Sevor, former principal Workshop Officer at Base workshop, Burma Camp, on Tuesday, called on the government to review the Road Traffic Law to conform with modern driving regulations.

He noted that "The law has out-lived its purpose and must be reviewed immediately to instil discipline and professionalism among road users."

Mr Sevor in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra attributed the general misconduct and the increasing number of road accidents partly to outmoded traffic regulations in the country.

He said over 70 per cent of road accidents are human induced mainly as a result of non-observance of basic universally accepted road signs and regulations.

Mr Sevor said drivers at times flout traffic regulations not because of ignorance but for lack of respect for the law and its enforcing agencies. "This contributes to the country's ever increasing accident rate in the sub-region," Mr Sevor noted.

He said punishment under the law is not deterrent enough, citing instances where drivers are fined in monitory terms for lost of human lives or causing bodily harm to accident victims.

Mr Sevor suggested the withdrawal of licenses of offending drivers as an additional measure to get them of the road.

He noted that some professional bodies withdraw the recognition of "way ward" members and wondered why drivers should not be subject to a similar measure.

Mr Sevor, who also worked as Transport Examination Officer of the Ministry of Transport and Communications called on the GPRTU and other transport organisations to adopt more potent disciplinary measures against members who flout the laws to redeem their sinking image.

He charged transport owners to scrutinise the social background and competence of drivers before employing them.

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Police gives out new emergency numbers

Accra (Greater Accra) 25 January 2001

The Police Public Relations Directorate on Wednesday announced new telephone numbers the public can use to reach them in case of emergencies.

A statement signed by Superintendent Richard Baduweh, Director of Public Relations, said the numbers are 027-522288, 027-522299 and 191.

It said the Police Public Relations Directorate can also be reached during working hours on 777428 and 761274.

The statement said telephone numbers 775769, 027-534800 and 027-534858 are out of order but said efforts are being made to restore them.

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