KNUST branch of NPP celebrates victory
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 January 2002 - The year 2001 began with the euphoria of the peaceful change of government that brought the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to power and expectations of political and economic activities that would positively affect the lives of Ghanaians.
The historic elections in December, 2000 saw Mr John Agyekum Kufuor of the NPP winning the presidential runoff held on December 28 with 56.73 per cent of the votes.
He defeated then Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had 43.27 per cent of the votes.
In the Parliamentary vote, the NPP emerged the single biggest party in the 200-member House, eventually wining 100 seats, up from 61 in the previous Parliament, while the National Democratic Congress won 92, down from 133.
The following were some of the events:
January 2: Rawlings and Kufuor hold talks
January 4:
Opening figures of inter-bank exchange rates of major currencies to the cedi:
Currency Buying Selling (all in cedis)
US Dollar 6,794.09 7,012.55
Pound Sterling 10,199.29 10,534.25
Deutsche Mark 3,278.25 3,384.83
CFA 9.78 10.09
The All-Share Index, or the main market indicator that gave the performance of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), was 737.16 points.
Change in year------------0.17 per cent
Market Capitalisation-----3,657.84 billion cedis
Volume Traded-------------31,800
Bids----------------------256,700
Offers--------------------256,700
January 6: Military holds ceremonial farewell for Rawlings
January 7:
Kufuor sworn in as new President
Inauguration of Third Parliament of Fourth Republic
Peter Ala Adjetey elected Speaker of the Third Parliament
January 8:
President freezes award of new contracts by ministries/departments and agencies.
President Kufuor moves to State House for use as temporary office
January 9:
Kufuor begins nomination for ministerial appointments.
TUC begins agitation for end of service benefit.
January 10:
Chief directors asked to head ministries
GNA Board of Directors inaugurated
GES adjusts fees for secondary schools
January 11:
President on first trip outside Ghana to Togo
World Development report (2000 and 2001) reports that 1.2 billion or one fifth
of world population lived on less than a dollar (7,000 cedis) a day.
January 12:
Controversy over sale of saloon cars to ex-ministers begins.
January 15:
TOR incurs two trillion cedis debt from failure to recover cost of import and refining of crude oil
January 16:
Supreme court quashes decision of Bolgatanga High Court to recount Bawku ballot papers.
WO1 Tettey, Former President's bodyguard dies
Rawlings accepts UN invitation to become eminent person to promote International
Year of Volunteers 2001
January 17:
President Wade stops over en-route to Yaounde, Cameroon
Vice President Aliu leaves for Cameroon
Mr S. J. Afari appointed BNI Director
Office of Chief of Staff releases lists of vehicles sold to former ministers - highest price, 25 million cedis - lowest, 300,000 cedis
Kabila shot dead by bodyguard
President meets IGP on serial murder of women.
January 18:
Government sends six-member delegation for George Bush's swearing-in
January 20:
CEPS boss Nii Okine asked to proceed on indefinite leave
January 22:
Managers of fuel filling stations in Accra agree to close at 2000 hours following increased spate of armed attacks
Vice President Aliu returns from Cameroon
January 29:
Joshua Amidu, former Deputy Attorney- General sues President Kufuor over appointment of three presidential staffers
January 25:
First X-ray scanner begins operation at Tema Port
January 30:
Vetting of ministerial nominees begins.
Thabo Mbeki stops over on his way home from Davos, Switzerland
Regional Ministers nominated
January 31:
Jake says at vetting that presidential jets would be sold
February 1:
First batch of 11 ministers sworn-in
VRA shuts down one generating unit to begin retrofitting project
February 2:
New GJA executives sworn-in
EU pledges 34.4 Euros for development projects
Former ministers and others receive 3.4 billion cedis as ESB
PNC cuts link with Mallam Isa following his nomination for the position of
Sports Minister
February 5:
Defence Minister orders retrieval of weapons
DIC sources say proceeds from 258 divested state-owned enterprises amounted to
78 billion cedis with 10 billion cedis outstanding
February 6:
BOG adviser says one trillion cedis outside banking system needed to be mopped up
February 7:
President directs heads of seven financial institutions to proceed on leave
Kojo Bostio, founding member of CPP dies.
February 10:
CAF puts one-year ban on Hearts of Oak from playing on home grounds
February 13:
President gives directive to sell two presidential jets.
February 15:
President gives State of the Nation address.
February. 16:
President revokes DCEs' appointments
February. 21:
President leaves for Nigeria - the two countries agree to trade in crude oil and salt
February 23:
New fuel prices announced
February 27:
Thirty-four named as deputy ministers
President leaves for Libya
March 1:
Controversy in Parliament over composition of Cabinet
INDUTECH 2001 opens
March 3:
VRA says it faces bankruptcy
March 5:
Muslims celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha
Twenty students receive President's Independence awards
March 6:
Independence Day.
March 7:
Former statesman Victor Owusu's burial service held
March 8:
International Women's Day observed.
Major shake up in Police Service made known
March 9:
Budget presented
Minister of Finance announces Ghana opting for the Highly Indebted Poor
Countries Initiative- sparks public arguments
March 12:
President leaves for Burkina Faso
March 13:
BOG clears air on overdrawn account to the tune of 600 billion cedis
March 14:
Mallam Isa resigns over missing 46,000 dollars for Black Stars
March 16:
Vice President tasked to oversee Sports Ministry
President effects changes in Armed Forces
Togo closes side of border with Ghana
March 19:
Parliament passes Civil Service Amendment Bill
March 20:
Police probe missing 46,000 dollars
March 22:
NDC holds press conference addressed by Former Vice President Atta Mills
Hackman Owusu Agyemang says 26 non-career diplomats, who worked under former government, recalled
March 23:
World TB Day celebration
March 27:
Third African Telecom Summit opens
Eleven appointed to Council of State
March 30:
First Fast Track Court to dispose of cases within a maximum of six months inaugurated
Parliament approves 10 per cent Reconstruction Levy Bill before tax on financial institutions
April 1:
Victor Selormey and Dan Abodakpi asked to assist police in investigations into transfer of huge sums to foreign consultant
April 5:
Hajia Baby Ocansey at centre of 1.5 million dollar scandal at BOG arrested
April 6:
President visits Benin for Matthieu Kerekou's swearing-in ceremony
World Health Day marked
April 9:
United States Congress delegation visits Ghana
April 10:
President accepts Justice Abban's resignation.
E. K. Wiredu named to assume office as Acting Chief Justice pending substantive appointment
President leaves for Abuja for ECOWAS summit
April 13:
Good Friday observed
April 15:
Selormey arrested at Airport
BNI probes Auditor-General
April 18:
President Kufuor holds press conference at Castle on 100 days in office
Coup in Burundi - Pierre Buyoya overthrown
April 19:
Mallam Isa implicated.
April 20:
Utility charges go up.
April 21:
Justice Abban dies.
April 23:
Works and Housing Ministry gives ultimatum to former ministers to vacate government bungalows.
April 24:
Kofi Annan visits Ghana.
April 26:
Former Vice President Kow Nkensen Arkaah dies in US.
April 27:
President grants request of widows of executed army generals to rebury their loved ones
List of DCEs out
April 28
FBI probes Juliet Cotton, American investor in Quality Grain Company
May 1:
May Day marked
May 2:
Producer price of Cocoa goes up
Laureant Gbagbo arrives in the country
May 4:
Funeral service for Arkaah
May 7:
Mallam Isa put before court
May 8:
FBI team arrives to assist to investigate murder of women
May 9:
One hundred and twenty-six fans perish in stadium disaster - President summons emergency Cabinet meeting
Parliament ratifies African Unity Act
May 14:
National economic dialogue held
May 15:
Serial Killer confesses
President goes to Morocco
BNI explains E. T. Mensah's arrest.
May 17:
Court seals takeover of Quality Grain Company by government.
May 18:
IGP bans use of teargas and rubber bullet at stadiums.
May 20:
IGP orders police to protect Quality Grain project following report of intended sabotage.
May 21:
Samples of plastic chair in stadium ordered to be tested for quality.
May 22:
ECOWAS Justice Ministers visit.
May 23:
Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, says ESB to be reviewed by tripartite committee.
Peprah, four others in court over quality grain scandal.
May 25:
Government probes former DCEs
May 26:
President leaves for Spain
June 4:
Rawlings gives speech "boom" - sparks controversy.
June 5:
World Environment Day
June 13:
Supreme court dismisses NDC writ on election of regional representation to
Council of State
June 15:
Former Chief Justice Abban laid to rest
June 16:
Election of members to Council of State held
June 22:
President leaves for the United States
June 27:
Parts of Accra flooded after heavy rains - claims 11 lives
June 29:
President nominates Mr Justice Wiredu for Chief Justice
July 1:
Republic Day marked
July 2:
J.H. Mensah and Osafo-Maafo say IMF imposed 39 million dollars penalty on Ghana for giving inaccurate figures on economy between August 21 and December 31, 2000
July 7:
President Leaves for Zambia to attend OAU summit
July 10:
Mr Amara Essy, Ivorian, elected new OAU Secretary-General
July 13:
Former police panther Jack Bebli and five others involved in the infamous highway gold robbery jailed 15 years each
July 16:
Education Minister Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi says 30,000 ghost names removed from payroll
July 20:
Mallam Isa jailed four years, to refund 46,000 dollars in one month or in default go in for two years and pay a fine of 10 million cedis or in default serve additional 12 months.
July 23:
Homecoming summit opens
July 27:
Commission recommends prosecution of cops in stadium disaster
July 29:
PANAFEST opens
August 3:
Government effects changes in BNI leadership with Mr Ellis Owusu-Fordjour, former education minister, as head.
August 7:
Government orders forensic audit into activities of GNPC, which led to the loss of 47 million dollars
August 10:
Ridge nurses on strike
August 12:
71,000 jobs to be created through export drive in four years
August 15:
Finance Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo says economy on track - inflation dropped from
40.6 to 34.6 per cent
August 16:
President launches special initiative to promote export of garments, textiles and starch from cassava
August 20:
President takes leave to rest
Government converts 50 per cent of domestic debt of 6.1 trillion cedis to three-year bond
August 25:
NPP holds national delegates' congress to elect party executives
August 27:
Cabinet approves 25 May, OAU Africa Day, as holiday
August 30:
Government commences audit into 31st December Women's Movement.
September 4:
Sherry Ayittey, high ranking member of 31st December Women's Movement, sent to court
September 21:
ECG now to pay for supply of power weekly
September 24:
Forty-three judicial service staff axed for forgery
President returns from United Kingdom
Ibrahim Adam, former Minister and Mr Adam Kaleem, former deputy secretary of
Agriculture in Northern Region, fight over ownership of divested State Fishing
Corporation at Tamale and Yendi
October 1:
VRA and Ivorian officials hold talks over 50 million-dollar debt
October 5:
Bomb scare at Barclays Bank in Accra
October 7:
UK and US launch attack on Afghanistan
October 11:
Kufuor reshuffles ministers
October 12:
Kofi Annan wins Nobel Peace Prize
October 14:
Trial of serial killer begins
October 16:
Cyanide spillage into Huni and Auman rivers from Ghana Goldfields Limited confirmed
October 19:
Industrial starch project takes off
October 20:
Mali President Alpha Oumar Konare pays a day's working visit
October 24:
Ghana Education Service directs retired officials to proceed on retirement
Nov. 1:
Unemployment registration begins
Nov. 2:
President leaves for Canada
Nov. 6:
Police officers to face trial in stadium disaster
Nov. 8:
Finance Minister gives mid-year review of economy
Nov. 9:
CASHPRO, private cocoa buying company, lands eight banks in financial mess
Nov. 11:
Nigerian crowned Miss World
Nov. 23:
FIFA clears Ghana in 25,000-dollar gift from Nigeria to Black Stars
Minority walks out over alleged A-G's arrogance on the floor
Riot at Pokuase - mob of 400 clashes with Police
Nov. 28:
Parliament unable to form quorum to take decision on Reconciliation Bill
President leaves for France
December 4:
Government says it will not review contract with telecom Malaysia, which expires in February 2002
December 9:
Dr Obed Asamoah, former Attorney - General declares, he would contest chairmanship of NDC in December. Congress was later postponed to 2002
December 10:
Selormey jailed four years for causing financial loss to the state
December 14:
Marion Jones - World fastest woman sprinter in Ghana
December 20:
Ibn Chambas elected ECOWAS Executive Secretary
December 28:
Bodies of eight top military officers who were executed in June, 1979, handed over to families for reburial
GRi../
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 01 January 2001 - Togbui Zormelo II, Paramount Chief of Atiteti-Weta in the Volta Region, has sent a New Year's message to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and congratulated him on his ascending the Golden Stool.
The message also commended the Asantehene for his immense contribution towards education in the country by the institution of the Otumfuo Education Fund, which had enabled the deprived and poor in society to pursue education.
"May the Lord continue to give you exceptional wisdom and long life to enable you to continue to work for the well-being of both the individual and also the entire nation.
"Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year", the message added.
GRi../
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 01 January 2002 - Mr Samuel Kofi Cudjoe, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has advised supporters of the party to marshal resources for the party to retain power in the year 2004 elections.
The government had put in place stringent economic measures to make life better for Ghanaians, Mr Cudjoe told the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) branch of the NPP at its dinner-dance in Kumasi to mark the first anniversary of the party's victory in last year's general election.
He appealed to the people to honour their tax obligations for the government to tackle its development programmes, adding that Ghanaians soon feel the benefits of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
Mr Cudjoe advised the people to help the government to fight corruption and said the NPP was committed to positive change and zero tolerance for corruption.
Mr Cudjoe called for the support of all and sundry to assist the ruling party to accomplish its vision for the country.
Mr Kofi Asante, Chairman of the KNUST branch and a Lecturer of College of Art, on behalf of the members appealed to the government to change the pattern of paying salaries to workers.
To improve upon the living conditions of Ghanaians, he said there was the need to pay salaries twice a month emphasising the need to divide the monthly salary into two equal parts to be paid to the worker every two weeks. Mr Asante said this policy would go a long way to put more money in the pockets of all Ghanaians.
GRi../
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