Rawlings to be given permanent accommodation
Paloma outdoor restaurant on fire
MP asks Agona assembly to suspend new fees
National interest supersedes political
traditions
Restrain Saahene from holding himself as
regional chairman
Togbe Fugah cleared of allegation of
misappropriation of funds
Upper East tomato farmers want Pwalugu
reactivated
Forestry staff fumes over news story
React to wild allegations against NDC - Rev.
Zormelo
Nii Nortey Dua establishes strong lead in
GJA vote
Rawlings to be given permanent
accommodation
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2001
The Office of the Chief of Staff said on Thursday that President John Kufuor will in due course decide on the permanent accommodation for former President Jerry Rawlings and his family.
The accommodation will not be a gift but a lifetime residence in accordance with the provision of the constitution as elaborated by the Greenstreet Committee, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, said in a statement issued in Accra.
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stands by the principle upon which the joint transition team acted with respect of the former President and outgoing executives.
Accordingly, he said, former President Rawlings is being temporarily accommodated at the state residence hitherto occupied by his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
With respect to vehicles purchased by former ministers and political appointees, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said, the public should be made aware that the Joint Transitional Team and the government had nothing to do with the valuation process or the deadline set for the completion of the exercise.
"This was a matter in the hands of the former NDC government. The NPP government is advised that the valuations of the official valuer are significantly different from the prices paid by the purchasers."
He said accordingly, President Kufuor has decided that in the public interest, the purchaser should either pay the difference between the prices they paid and the official valuation or return the cars. This exercise is to be completed within seven days from January 24.
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Bogoso (Western Region) 26 January
2001
Mr. Albert Kwaku Obbin, MP for
Prestea/Huni-Valley has taken measures to prevent NDC branch executives at
Cocoa-Shed, a village near Prestea, from an alleged sale of two JSS classroom
blocks to a private developer.
He has also given the party
executives up to February 4, to render accounts of building materials still in
their possession to the chief of the village.
Mr. Obbin said due to the long
distance that the children have to walk to school at Prestea, the inhabitants
started the school project through communal labour. The former NDC MP donated
some bags of cement and roofing sheets to help complete the blocks.
He said when the NDC lost the
recent elections its executives in the village allegedly began negotiations
with a private developer to buy the classroom blocks.
A concerned citizen informed the
MP, who intervened to stop the alleged sale, saying the school is for the
community and not the NDC executives and can therefore not be sold by any
individual or group.
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Paloma outdoor restaurant on fire
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2001
The outdoor restaurant of Paloma Shopping Arcade in Accra was on Thursday destroyed by fire.
It took firemen from the National Fire service about one hour to put out the fire after responding to distress announcements by FM radio stations.
Mr Cyril Chinery, Public Relations Officer of the Arcade, told newsmen that the fire was detected at about 10 am by a passer-by who alerted the staff.
He could not immediately tell the cause, neither could he give the cost of damage to property, which included plastic chairs, tables, cash machine and refrigerators.
It is however suspected that a spark from burning rubbish behind the building might have torched the thatch roof of the restaurant.
Mr Michael Gabianu, Second-in-Command of the Industrial Area branch of the Fire Service, complained about the attitude of the public who impeded their work.
He said disaster zones are restricted areas so people should allow the professionals to perform their duty without any obstructions.
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MP asks Agona assembly to suspend new fees
Swedru (Central Region) 26 January 2001
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai, on Thursday asked the Agona district assembly to suspend the proposed increase in fees until the President appoints a Substantive District Chief Executive.
He also cautioned the assembly not to take advantage of the transitional process to undermine the work of the new government.
Mr. Obodai was speaking at a meeting with Mr Roger Angosmwie, District Co-ordinating Director, on the sudden increase in market and other tolls. The market fee has gone up from 200 to 300 cedis.
The MP said certain people want to use the transitional period to implement decisions that could create public disaffection against the government, adding that the toll increase, for instance, will impose further hardship on the people.
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National interest supersedes political
traditions
Ho (Volta Region) 26 January 2001
The Volta Regional branch of the People's National Convention (PNC) has sent a congratulatory message to President John Agyekum Kufuor and Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama for occupying the highest office in the country.
The PNC also commended all the political parties that contributed to the parliamentary and presidential elections and for a smooth transition.
In a statement signed by Togbe Victor Kofi Akudeka, the regional chairman, the PNC said the Danquah-Busia and Nkrumaist political traditions can always find common ground in the pursuit of a common national interest as demonstrated in the 2000 presidential run-off.
"In fact, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Professor K.A. Busia's political eras are gone; we are now in a new political dispensation and Ghanaians have proved to the world that we are politically mature," it said.
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Restrain Saahene from holding himself as
regional chairman
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 January 2001
The Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) on Thursday petitioned the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) to stop Mr S.K. Saahene from holding himself as Regional Chairman of the association.
This, it said, is necessary for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity at the Suame Magazine, according to a petition sent to the ARCC and copied to the regional commanders of the security agencies, GNAG national secretariat and the press in Kumasi.
It said for sometime now, Mr Saahene, the former Regional Chairman, has been organising meetings at the Suame Magazine, adding that this is creating confusion especially at a time when the association is preparing for the election of new officers.
"We wish to make it clear that Mr Saahene cannot hold office again because the association's constitution allows executives to hold office for only two terms. He held office for 15 years."
The petition said the removal of Mr Saahene from office was in consonance with the GNAG's constitution and not politically motivated.
It pointed out that at the moment he does not even qualify to call himself a member of the association as he has not been meeting his commitments and obligations.
The petition said the association met with the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), and the former minister responsible for National Security, Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, in 1998, following a complaint made to it by Mr Saahene that he had been wrongly removed.
It disclosed that Mr Saahene lost the bid of regaining his position and said Mr A.Z. Mohammed is the substantive regional chairman.
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Togbe Fugah cleared of allegation of misappropriation
of funds
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 January 2001
The committee set up by the Ashanti regional executive committee of the Small-Scale Carpenters Association (SSCA) to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to association has completed its work.
The committee, headed by Mr Godwin Kojo Antwi, former Ashanti regional vice-chairman of the association, submitted its report to the regional executive committee.
Members of the SSCA had accused Togbe S.K. Fugah, its national Chairman, of misappropriating 24 million cedis belonging to the association.
The amount is 'ground fees' collected from members of the association at Anloga to be paid to Nana Akosah Yiadom, Amakomhene.
Mr Reynolds A. Debrah, the regional vice-chairman of the SSCA, on Wednesday disclosed this at a meeting with members of the Anloga branch of the association in Kumasi.
The report said the allegations against Togbe Fugah were false and unfounded.
Mr Debrah said a delegation has been sent to the Amakomhene to explain the matter to him and to clear the national chairman of the allegation.
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Upper East tomato farmers want Pwalugu
reactivated
Nyariga-Doone (Upper East) 26 January 2001
Dry season farmers in the Bolgatanga District on Wednesday appealed to the minister-designate for Agriculture, Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd), to adopt measures to get the abandoned tomato cannery at Pwalugu, near Bolgatanga, reactivated in the shortest possible time.
They said the reactivation of the factory was long overdue as further delays would discourage the youth from going into dry-season farming, especially tomato growing because of lack of reliable market avenues.
The Chairman of the Vea catchment area dry-season farmer's association, Mr. John Akaribo, made the appeal on behalf of the farmers in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Nyariga-Doone, a farming community near Bolgatanga.
He said when the factory is revived, it would provide market avenues and make tomato farming more attractive to the youth, thereby checking rural-urban migration.
Mr. Akaribo said tomato pricing in the area is dictated by market queens from Accra due to the unavailability of a suitable local market.
"This is frustrating and discourages the youth from going into dry-season farming," he added.
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Forestry staff fumes over news story
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 26 January 2001
Mr Yakubu Mohammed, Sunyani District Forestry Officer, threw decorum to the wind when he stormed the regional office of the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani and nearly assaulted a reporter "for giving his outfit bad publicity in the media".
The timely intervention of Mr Kwakye Ameyaw, Regional Manager of the Forestry Services Division, and another visitor, however, prevented Mr. Yakubu from landing his clenched fist in the face of the reporter.
Obviously embarrassed by the behaviour of his subordinate, Mr Ameyaw apologised profusely as he, together with the visitor, struggled to drag out the fuming district officer out of the office.
It all started when Mr. Yakubu in the company of his regional boss arrived at the office of the GNA to react to two stories published in a national daily over allegations of illegal exploitation of timber in the region.
After they had been given seats, Mr Yakubu lounged into a verbal tirade "promising fire and brimstone for the GNA and its staff for filing those two stories".
Mr Yakubu, however, without any provocation, shot out of his chair and dashed to the side of the reporter with a menacing clenched fist ostensibly to punch him.
Alarmed by the behaviour of the district officer, Mr. Ameyaw quickly rushed to separate Mr. Yakubu from his target and, with the help of the visitor, dragged him out of the office as he rained invectives on the staff.
Basically, the two stories, which are being disputed by the two forestry officials, said some forest reserves were being encroached upon whilst there has been a sudden upsurge in the illegal exploitation of timber in the region.
The sources of both stories accused forestry officials of complicity and called on the government to take steps to rectify the situation.
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British ship visits Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January
2001
A British Naval Ship, HMS Iron
Duke, will make her second trip to the port of Tema from Friday, January 26 to
Tuesday, January 30, a statement from the British High Commission said on
Thursday.
During her visit, the ship will
hold an Open Day and a party for children. The ship's sports team will compete
in a number of fixtures, including a football match, against the Ghanaian Navy.
The ship visited the Tema port in October last year.
The statement said the Royal Navy
ship, designated for South Atlantic patrol, has undertaken routine patrol
duties in the South Atlantic and West Africa "to provide a tangible United
Kingdom maritime presence in the region". Built
by Yarrows in Glasgow and commissioned on May 20, 1993, HMS Iron Duke is named
after the Duke of Wellington. She is the third ship to bear the name, and the
fifth of the royal Navy's type 23 frigates.
Her primary role is anti-submarine
warfare. HMS Iron Duke completes her role of Atlantic Patrol Task in March this
year and will be replaced by another Royal Navy unit.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 Jan 2001
A major foreign exchange earner in the tourist industry, the Mole National Park is suffering a set-back following the breakdown of its electricity generator for more than eight months now.
Mr Seidu Sofo, MP for Damongo/Daboya told the GNA in Accra that the park is now thrown in darkness resulting in diminishing returns in revenue. A rippling effect of the power outage is water shortage, as water from park's dam cannot be pumped to an overhead tank for treatment and distribution to the community.
Mr Sofo said it is embarrassing when foreign tourists who pay in hard currency for lodging and for game viewing could neither have access to potable water nor electricity.
He said work to connect the Park to the national electricity grid is about 85 per cent complete and it only requires about 6,000 metres of cable to string the transmission poles and connect the transformers.
He said tourists as well as the people of the area are worried about the situation and are wondering why such a national asset should be so neglected.
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Breman Asikuma (Central Region) 26 Jan 2001
Mr John Kweku Addai, District Chief Executive for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, has denied allegations of embezzlement of the District Assembly's common fund levelled against him by the MP for the area, Mr P.C Appiah-Ofori.
He said that a committee chaired by the Presiding Member was responsible for the disbursement of the fund under specific guidelines.
Mr Addai, who was reacting to a publication in an Accra Weekly, alleging that he had been misappropriating the assembly's common fund since 1998, said it was rather indebted to the tune of 600 million cedis when he assumed office the same year.
Speaking to the GNA, the DCE said an embargo had been placed on all contracts and this was lifted after the debt had been redeemed.
Mr Addai said the assembly paid the debt and awarded three contracts, estimated at 435 million cedis, which is at the completion stages.
He also said an Educational Fund for needy but brilliant students in the district was established, adding that 25 persons from senior secondary schools, teacher training and tertiary institutions have benefited from the package.
Mr Addai said the assembly also assisted in financing community-initiated projects such as roads, rehabilitation of schools, construction of hand-dug wells, culverts and electrification projects.
On the Breman Brakwa Rural Bank, he said on behalf of the assembly, he administered the Poverty Alleviation Fund to beneficiaries and denied that the money was misused.
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Bogoso (Western Region) 26 Jan. 2001
The Bogoso branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has appealed to the government to immediately intervene in a case involving Mr. Solomon Ntrakwa and the Union in a dispute over the ownership of Bogoso Lorry Park.
The area was approved by the Wassa West District Assembly to be used as a lorry park but the claimant, Mr. Ntrakwa, took the matter to the Tarkwa High Court, which awarded 19 million cedis cost against the union.
In addition, the court ordered the sale of a 11-room office block built by the union at the park if it fails to pay the said amount to Mr. Ntrakwa.
By this judgement, the union said it felt cheated because the court did not hear its version of the ownership story.
A statement signed by the chairman of the union, Mr. Daniel Toku, said the government's intervention would avert an imminent disaster because the union would not even allow the auctioneer to value the block.
It said the district assembly issued a letter on November 22, 1994, directing Mr. Ntrakwa to quit the site and clear his property within 21 days but he did not comply with the order.
Again, Mr. Ntrakwa did not honour the invitation of the then District Chief Executive to explain why he did not quit.
Rather, the statement said, he has been pestering the union to pay rent on the site, which resulted in a court action initiated by Mr. Ntrakwa.
"Under the law establishing district assemblies, all lorry parks are vested in the assembly and therefore the union sees no justification in paying rent to Mr. Ntrakwa," the statement added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 Jan. 2001
Oseadeeyo Addo Danquah III,
Okuapehene, has called for a fixed number of chiefs to be included in the
appointed members of district assemblies to address development issues
affecting their communities.
This, he said, could be achieved
by administrative practice pending constitutional amendment that explicitly
provides for the representation of chiefs in the district assemblies.
Nana Addo Dankwah was speaking at
the launch of the District Environmental Network Programme (DENP), a non-
governmental organisation that addresses environmental concerns in Accra, on
Thursday.
He said the lack of
institutionalised representation of chiefs in the local government structure
had resulted in a situation where most of District Chief Executives do not feel
obliged to involve chiefs or consult them in matters, which in most cases
affect them and their people.
The Okuapehene, who is also the
President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, said that, as a result of
the erosion of the power base of chiefs by ordinances of past governments, they
are not able to take control of natural resources in their areas.
Nana Addo Dankwah said natural
resources are vested in the President on behalf of the people, and the chief
has to beg the central government for his share of benefits accruing from the
exploitation of resources in his area.
"In most cases, they have not
been properly consulted or involved in the processes leading to the
exploitation of resources. In situations where this has been done, it has been
found out to be very controversial."
According to him, the communities,
which own the resources, have in most cases not benefited much by way of
revenue from the exploitation of the resources.
He emphasised that appropriate
steps should be taken to ensure that chiefs are well represented in the
district assemblies and are involved in the formation and implementation of
policies, as well as in the identification, distribution and funding of
development projects in the rural areas.
Additionally, more resources will
have to be made to the chieftaincy institution to be more effective in
mobilising the local people and make a meaningful impact in environmental
management.
The role of chiefs, he said, will
also have to be properly defined. On the state of the environment, Oseadeeyo
Addo Danquah said it is estimated that the forest in Ghana, which covered an
area of 8.2 million hectares in 1900, was reduced to about 1.7 million hectares
by the end of 1999, putting the rate of deforestation at 75,000 hectares per
annum.
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Winneba (Central Region) 26 Jan.
2001
The National Democratic Congress
(NDC) has been asked to react to allegations of mismanagement being levelled
against it by a section of the people through various radio stations.
Senior Bishop Deputy of the AME
Zion Church, the Right Reverend Dr. Godfred Zormelo, told the Ghana News Agency
at Winneba on Thursday that such public explanation would go a long way to stem
the unnecessary anger generated in the people by such phone-in programmes on
private radio stations.
Rev. Zormelo said the long silence
of the NDC over the issue was a source of worry to many Ghanaians, adding:
"the earlier the NDC comes out to clear the air the better".
He also expressed shock at the
statement by the government against the former Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr
Samuel Nuamah Donkor, for the measures he took to retrieve a number of state
property from the former Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi
Agyeman.
Rev. Zormelo said the steps taken
by Mr Nuamah Donkor were in the right direction and that the former minister
needs commendation and not condemnation.
He said since Mr Nuamah Donkor
acted in his capacity as acting KMA Chief Executive and a representative of the
nation, the government should not castigate him as such acts tend to dampen the
spirit of highly committed and dedicated citizens who want to render
appreciable service to the nation.
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Nii Nortey Dua establishes strong lead in
GJA vote
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2001
Nii Nortey Dua of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has established a firm lead in the election for the post of Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
According to the GJA Election Officer, Mr Mawusi Afele, with results from only the Northern Region yet to be declared, Nii Nortey has 271 votes as against 97 polled by Mr George Naykene.
He said the full results would be declared when the figures for the Northern Region arrive.
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