Bar marks 17th anniversary of judges' murder
SSNIT not involved in construction of Barracks
Interior ministry investigates Togolese choppers incident
MP calls for harmony among community leaders
Rawlings hosts Senior Citizens
Ghana Club launches Golden Jubilee celebration
Relief goods on sale in the market?
40 billion cedis for land conservation in Upper East
Asantehene urges Media Practitioners to be conscientious
Muslim students asked to change negative attitudes
Bolgatanga urban council to plant trees along Bolgatanga-Tamale road
Rawlings consoles Mugabe over Nkomo's death
31st December Movement urged to intensify women education
Bar marks 17th anniversary of judges' murder
Accra (Greater Accra) 2nd July ’99
The 17th anniversary remembrance service for three High Court Judges and an army officer was held in Accra on Wednesday with a call to start a healing process to rid the nation of violence.
The three judges, Fred Poku Sarkodee, Mrs Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong, and Major Sam Acquah were abducted and killed in June 1982.
The Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, General-Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, made the call in a sermon under the theme, ''Reconciliation - The Healing of our Nation''.
The annual service was organised by the "Ghana Bar Association".
Reconciliation is not trying to achieve cheap and hasty peace by asking people to forget about the past violent history or put the past behind them and begin afresh, he said.
Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said although the memory of the past history is real and painful, it is important to take the suffering and pains of the victims seriously rather than treat them with contempt.
He said the healing process begins not by trying to cover up and ignore the causes of violence, but by identifying and confronting them in love.
While human beings expect that the perpetrators of evil are the ones who should begin the reconciliation process, "the biblical understanding of reconciliation is that it is God, the one we human beings have sinned against, who initiates and carries through the process of reconciliation.
"The initiator of the process of reconciliation is the victim - God. The truth of Christian understanding of reconciliation is that it is the sinned against who must first receive God's forgiveness because he is the one whose human identity and dignity has been twisted and tortured by the violence".
Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said as the victim of violence receives God's grace and love, he is then able to bring God's forgiveness and love to the perpetrator of violence so that the oppressor also prompted by the same grace and love is able to repent.
"Reconciliation is not something that we can force people to do. It comes by people coming to their senses like the prodigal son in the Bible.
"To share in God's reconciliation, there must be a public demonstration of repentance and forgiveness."
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Past President of the Ghana Bar Association, recounting what happened in 1982, said the crime of which the three Judges were adjudged guilty was their "singular and unswerving dedication to the rule of law and the impartial administration of justice".
He said it is a tragic irony that while they kept faith to their judicial oaths, by doing justice to all manner-of- persons without fear or favour, affection or ill will, they themselves were not accorded any trial.
Mr Adjetey re-affirmed the Association's pledge to commend and hold in high esteem judicial courage, honesty, fairness, impartiality and total commitment of all judges to their oaths.
Present at the service were Mr Isaac K. Abban, Chief Justice and some members of Parliament.
In another development, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, an engineer, on Wednesday accused the authorities of deliberately turning deaf ears to calls to reopen inquiry into the murder of three high court judges and an army officer 17 years ago.
Mr Agyepong, son of murdered Justice Kwadwo Agyepong, was speaking at a press conference just after a remembrance service organised by the Ghana Bar Association.
He said the continuous silence of the authorities and their refusal to respond to his various statements, means to achieve his goal, he "must move from press statements to more concrete, specific legal action".
Mr Agyepong said as the years pass, evidence accumulates, which, if true, indicates that a serious miscarriage of justice occurred in the investigation and conduct of the case.
"I will not let this matter rest until everything is known. I am even more determined because of the latest information I have received".
Mr Agyepong alleged that L/Cpl. S. K. Amedeka, who was described by the Special Investigation Board (SIB) as "head of the execution squad" wrote to the President and his wife seeking financial help from them.
He recalled that during Halidu Gyiwa's abortive coup on June 19, 1983, L/Cpl. Amedeka, escaped from prison whilst awaiting trial following the SIB report.
Amedeka was subsequently tried, convicted and sentenced to death in absentia in connection with the murders.
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SSNIT not involved in construction of Barracks
Accra (Greater Accra) 2nd July ’99
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Wednesday said it is not involved in the construction of military barracks for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Mr Charles K. Asare, Director-General of SSNIT made this known to newsmen at the resumed SSNIT-Media briefings in Accra.
He said the sentiments and allegations being expressed by people in the media are of great concern to the Trust since it seeks to give the impression that SSNIT is not investing public funds properly.
Mr Asare explained that what really happened was a debt-equity swap between it and the government.
He said government owed SSNIT but could not pay, therefore an arrangement was made for SSNIT to acquire government shares in three companies in return for the debt.
Part of the arrangement was for SSNIT to pay cash to cover a percentage of the equity.
Consequently, government shares in Ghana Commercial Bank, Total and Tema Lube Oil was swapped "while Seven billion cedis was paid in cash to Ministry of Finance account, at the Bank of Ghana.
"It is this seven billion cedis, which is being used to finance the construction of the barracks".
Mr Asare noted that SSNIT's involvement in the whole project is only to disburse government funds.
"The money is not pension money. It is not ours. It is government's own money we are disbursing".
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Interior ministry investigates Togolese choppers incident
Accra (Greater Accra) 2nd June ’99
The Ministry of the Interior is investigating last Monday's incident in which two Togolese military helicopters landed at Wli-Afegame, near Hohoe, in the Volta Region.
Mr James Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Ministry is awaiting the report from the Interior Ministry in order to assess the situation and take the necessary action.
"It'll take a day or two for us to do a proper assessment," Mr Gbeho said in a telephone interview.
Ghanaian and Togolese officials in Accra have confirmed that the Togolese authorities have been in touch with their Ghanaian counterparts over the incident.
Mr Nankoum Dzankla, Ministerial counsellor at the Togo Embassy, said Mr Joseph Koffigoh, Togolese Foreign Minister, made contact with his Ghanaian counterpart on Wednesday morning.
"They are still talking and will soon get to the root of the matter", Mr Dzankla said.
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MP calls for harmony among community leaders
Worapon (Ashanti Region) 2nd July ’99
Mr James Adusei Sarkodie, Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Nwabiagya, has called for a "high sense of understanding, respect and goodwill among Chiefs, assembly members and the Unit committees" to enhance of the area.
He observed that there cannot be any significant progress in a community, whose leaders are embroiled in "unnecessary rivalry, suspicion and power struggle".
The MP was addressing separate meetings with the people in eight settler-farming communities in the Atwima District as part of a tour to learn about their needs and problems.
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Zebilla (Upper East), 2nd July 99 -
The Upper East Regional directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has confirmed that an estimated 129,897 hectares of maize, rice, sorghum and early millet in the region are under threat of devastation by armyworms.
The figure represents 50 per cent of the total number of hectares of the specified crops cultivated in the region this year, and could rise if immediate measures are not taken to control the spread of the worms.
Dr T.A. Anyorikeya, acting regional director of agriculture said this at Zebilla in the Bawku west district, when briefing the regional Minister, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana on the threat.
He said the pests, which were first detected on June 27, in some parts of Bawku east, Bawku west and Kassena-Nankana, have now spread to all the six districts of the region.
Dr Anyorikeya said his outfit has requested for more chemicals and spraying equipment from Accra, since what is available in the region can not contain the spread of the worms.
Alhaji Sulemana who visited some parts of the Bawku West district to assess the situation called for immediate support to enable the regional authorities to fight the fast spreading worms.
"The very survival of the people is under threat because of the wide area covered by the worms, and more so because early millet, which serves as hunger break, is being consumed by the worms".
The Regional Minister gave the assurance that necessary measures would be taken to mobilise the needed logistics to help personnel of MOFA and the people of the affected communities to control the situation.
He urged the people to rise up to their responsibilities and help to seriously address the level of environmental degradation in the area.
Alhaji Sulemana commended personnel of MOFA for initiating measures to help the affected communities to fight the worms, but called for the judicious use of the available resources.
According to officials of MOFA, the worms are common in dry climatic conditions, like those prevailing in the Northern, Upper east and Upper west regions.
The worms have a life span of about two weeks and can cause considerable havoc.
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Rawlings hosts Senior Citizens
Accra (Greater Accra), 2nd July 99 -
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday hosted some senior citizens to a luncheon at the Banquet Hall of the State House and said without their dedication Ghana would not have been where it is now.
These elderly men and women, most of them above the age of 70, had served Ghana in various capacities during their youthful days.
They included retired civil and public servants, educators, military and police officers.
Those present included Mr Ako Adjei, who together with late President Kwame Nkrumah, Mr Akuffo Addo, Mr Obetsebi Lamptey, Mr William Ofori-Atta and Paa Grant constituted the "Big Six" that were thrown into jail by the British during the fight for Independence.
Also present were Mr Kojo Botsio, a Minister in the First Republic, Mr Nathan Quao, an Adviser to the President, who Mr Ako Adjei said, was four years his senior at Accra Academy Secondary school.
Those of them who had been honoured with national awards for services rendered to the state wore their sash and medals. They smiled, shook hands and embraced friends they had not met for years.
Four years ago the government designated Republic Day, July 1st, Senior Citizens' Day and organises luncheon for selected Senior Citizens.
President Rawlings said the senior citizens had served the country with dedication, loyalty and with integrity.
''Without your dedication Ghana would not be where it is now'.
''It is the duty of the present generation to build on this foundation'', ''why should we let you down," he said and asked.?
President Rawlings said it should be possible to bring back the values, which enabled these senior citizens to render useful service to the country adding that this could be done if political parties base their messages on the truth and refrain from saturating the populace with lies.
''The aged has done a lot for the country. It is our obligation to show them respect'', he said and added that the aged also should share their experiences with the present generation by writing their memoirs.
The President said it was unfortunate that some of them have been neglected by their families, but said the government has put in place programmes, which would take care of those affected.
''We must not shirk our responsibility towards the aged. We should not allow our cultural values to be eroded.
Mr Quao said it is now clear that the extended family system cannot take care of most of the aged and that responsibility should be shared by the society.
''That responsibility should be shared by the family, the government and non-governmental organisations''.
Mr Ako Adjei said ''Ghana is our country. We have nowhere to go. This is where God has placed us and the earlier we realised this the better for all of us''.
He said the progress Ghana has made over the past years clearly shows that ''Ghana shall rise. Ghana is rising''.
Turning to his colleagues, Mr Ako Adjei said, ''there is no end to the good a person can render his country. This is our mission'', drawing prolonged applause from the audience.
Mr E. M. Debrah, a retired top civil servant, said most of the retired civil servants still have energy and that their services are still needed.
''We still have a lot to offer so go back and help with the pieces of advice you can offer in schools, hospitals and other institutions. Do not sit down''.
In a closing remark, the Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills said the example set by the senior citizens would be emulated.
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Ghana Club launches Golden Jubilee celebration
Accra (Greater Accra), 2nd July 99 --
Ghana Club, originally known as the Gold Coast Club founded in 1947 is to mark its Golden Jubilee under the theme ''the Ghana Club and the next millennium''.
The Club was formed as a counterpoint to the then European Club, which was for expatriates. This meant that Africans irrespective of their educational, professional or social status could not be members. It is now open to Ghanaians.
Mr John Indome, President of the Club, told a press conference in Accra on Thursday that the anniversary, which would be marked over a three-month period would include a programme to profile the distinct role the club has played in the affairs of the country.
The President said the club would use the occasion to remember its founding fathers and departed members, take stock of its achievements and failures and plan for the next millennium.
Mr Indome stressed the determination of the Club to contribute to charity and to help the needy and the disadvantaged in the society including street children.
The Club would organise lectures on topics of public interest to revive its status in the colonial era as a powerhouse of ideas and a reservoir of knowledge and skills.
He said to transform the Club, the rehabilitation and refurbishment of it's house would be completed and more recreational facilities like a swimming pool, tennis and squash court provided.
The anniversary would be marked with an exhibition of paintings to be co-sponsored by Artist Alliance, a piano recital, a dinner dance, raffle, billiard competition and a memorial and thanksgiving service at the Ridge Church.
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Tamale (Northern Region), 2nd July 99 --
The Tamale Police are investigating a case in which 10 bundles of roofing sheets suspected to have been stolen from the stores of the Northern Regional National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) were offered for sale on the open market.
Mr Mohammed Yakubu Alhassan, storekeeper of ABA Construction Limited, a local construction firm, to whom the roofing sheets were allegedly offered for sale, alerted the Police.
Speaking to the GNA, Mr Alhassan called for a thorough check of the stocks of relief goods in the NADMO stores, because he suspected the items were stolen from there.
Mr Alhassan said, he became suspicious when the sellers quoted a price far below the prevailing market price.
He said while in his store in the afternoon of Sunday, June 27, two people came with a truck and offered to sell 10 bundles of roofing sheets to him.
"They offered each packet for 165,000 cedis. The prevailing market price is 200,000 cedis."
"I feigned interest in the transaction and asked them to unload them, while I went out to fetch the money''.
Mr Alhassan said he made a report to the Deputy Regional Police Commander, who sent Policemen to arrest the suspects, but one of them managed to escape.
A spokesman for the Regional Crime office confirmed that they are investigating the matter but declined to give details.
Officials of NADMO were also tight-lipped. They would neither confirm nor deny the theft.
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40 billion cedis for land conservation in Upper East
Bolgatanga (Upper East), 2nd July 99 -
The government has concluded an agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the commencement of the second phase of the "Upper East Land Conservation and Small-Holder Rehabilitation Project" (LACOSREP II), at a cost of 13.9 million dollars (approximately 40 billion cedis).
Like its predecessor, LACOSREP One, the second phase would have a life span of five years ending in 2004.
Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper East Regional Minister, announced this when he addressed the general meeting of the Regional House of Chiefs in Bolgatanga.
He explained that the components of the project include development of water resources, agriculture, and rural infrastructure, promotion of income-generating activities and capacity building.
He added that under the water resource management component, 30 existing dams in the region would be rehabilitated and six new ones constructed.
Livestock development and processing of farm produce and marketing would be catered for under the agricultural development component.
Alhaji Sulemana said the provision of potable water, latrines and feeder roads, as well as the strengthening of management capacity of the key implementing agencies, also form part of the LACOSREP II
"Taking cognisance of the fact that agriculture is the mainstay of the people of this region, government is leaving no stone unturned towards the improvement of that sector," the Minister said.
He said it is the policy of the government to improve the road network in the country to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
To this end, it has allocated 18.2 billion cedis to the Ghana Highways Authority in the region for the rehabilitation of major roads, he said.
Roads that are to benefit from this scheme include the Bolgatanga-Bawku, Chuchuliga-Sandema, Chuchuliga-Chiana, Winkogo-Zuarungu, Wiasi-Gbedemblisi, Missiga-Pulimakom as well as roads in the Bolgatanga, Navrongo and Bawku townships.
Alhaji Sulemana said in spite of the country's limited resources and the falling world prices of cocoa and gold, the government would continue to provide the basic needs of the people.
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Asantehene urges Media Practitioners to be conscientious
Kumasi (Ashanti), 2nd July 99 --
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has called on media practitioners to be conscientious to avoid being taken to court.
He asked, "if you know what you are writing or saying is not true, why do you go on to broadcast or publish it only to turn round to apologise, be fined or sent to jail?"
The Asantehene was speaking when members of the Ashanti Regional Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
He stressed the need for them as professionals to endeavour to cross check their facts before publication.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu advised journalists to present true and unbiased reports always to avoid eroding the credibility the public have in them, saying, "try to investigate issues when in doubt since whatever you write will be read".
He emphasised that the media is useful in nation building just as the judiciary, the executive and the legislature and urged practitioners to continue to perform that role without fear or favour to ensure the proper and effective development of the country.
The Asantehene assured journalists that he will give them necessary support and assistance as his predecessors had done to enhance the development of Ashanti and the nation at large.
Mr Kwaku Danso, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association, said members were prepared to work to ensure the development of the region.
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Muslim students asked to change negative attitudes
Kumasi (Ashanti), 2nd July 99 -
Alhaji Muhammad Braima Youseph, General Secretary of Al-Haq Society, a Muslim organisation in Kumasi, has asked Muslim students to fear God and to refrain from acts that militate against progress.
He said they should stand by their faith and contribute their quota towards the development of the Islamic religion.
Alhaji Youseph was speaking at the delegates' conference of the Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Muslim Students Association in Kumasi.
The conference is on the theme "Co-operation-Management leads to effective management".
He called on them to organise and to work hard to uplift themselves, their families and the Muslim community to enhance peace and progress.
Sheikh Muhammed Ahmed Nazir, a Muslim Scholar, advised the delegates to continue to acquire knowledge for the development of society.
He asked them to take good care of their parents and to map out strategies to promote nation building and to ensure peace and unity.
Mr Umar Farouk, National President of the Association, called for co-operation, understanding and commitment from members for the growth and development of the Muslim religion and the country.
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Bolgatanga urban council to plant trees along Bolgatanga-Tamale road
Bolgatanga (Upper East), 2nd July 99 --
The Bolgatanga Urban council has acquired 10,000 seedlings of various tree species for planting along some sections of the Bolgatanga-Tamale road.
The exercise, which is in three phases, begins at the end of June and would stretch from the Bolgatanga central hospital junction to the Royal Hotel at the Estates.
The cost of digging holes, planting and watering of the seedlings is estimated at 2.1 million cedis.
Mr David Apea, Chairman of the Bolgatanga urban council, disclosed this at its second meeting in Bolgatanga.
He said the district assembly would finance the project, while chairmen of unit committees would mobilise the people to provide labour.
Mr Apea further disclosed that the council has started clearing heaps of refuse in the township as part of measures to rid it of filth that has lately been a nuisance to visitors and residents alike.
He commended contractors in the town, who have placed their tipper trucks at the disposal of the council for the exercise and appealed to non-governmental organisations to assist in providing technical and logistic support for the success of the tree planting exercise.
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Rawlings consoles Mugabe over Nkomo's death
Accra (Greater Accra), 2nd July 99 -
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday sent a message of condolence to the President and people of Zimbabwe on the death of their vice-president Mr Joshua Nkomo.
"The news of the death of Mr Nkomo has been received with deep regret and sadness by the people of Ghana, government and myself," the message released in Accra said.
It said Mr Nkomo; a veteran statesman and nationalist, would be remembered for his long and relentless struggle against oppression, racism and injustice.
The statement said the people of Zimbabwe would never forget him for his heroic contribution to the freedom and unity of the people.
"On behalf of the people and the government of Ghana and in my own name, I wish to convey sincere condolences to the people and government of Zimbabwe, especially the bereaved family''.
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31st December Movement urged to intensify women education
Berekum (Brong Ahafo), 2nd July 99 -
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, has called on the leadership of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) to intensify educational campaigns and training programmes to uplift the image of women, as well as free them from obsolete customs and practices.
He made the call at a rally organised by the Movement at Berekum on Monday to round off its 17th anniversary celebrations.
Alhaji Adam noted that the government has worked tirelessly to enhance women's empowerment, and there was the need to educate them on unproductive practices such as bearing lots of children, the trokosi system and female genital mutilation.
He urged the leadership of the movement to encourage women to get involved in politics, from the grassroots level.
The Deputy Regional Minister urged more women to join the Movement, which he said, has empowered women socio-economically and politically, through the acquisition of capacity building techniques.
He commended the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings for her untiring efforts to help emancipate women from their mental slavery so they could rub shoulders with men.
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