Illinois legislative and trade delegation arrives
Don't sell gold now IMF and others told
Rawlings receives message from Obasanjo
Nomination of New Bekwaihene ends in confusion
Police plots measures to combat armed robberies in the North
Ya-Na commends government on hospital project
Presidential aspirant slams new salary regime
Kingmakers advised to give queen mothers chance to choose heirs
Experts want power sector development policy timed
Ghanaian lecturer in US donates to Winneba College
Education fund for Northern Ghana students
National Reform Party receives certificate
Eastern Regional Minister responsible for East Akim District
Illinois legislative and trade delegation arrives
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th July 99
A 14 member Illinois State Legislative and Trade delegation led by Senator James Clayborne, arrived in Accra on Tuesday to explore trade and investment opportunities in Ghana.
The visit is a follow up to that of President Rawlings to the United States last year.
Speaking to newsmen, Senator Clayborne said the delegation would promote trade between Illinois and Ghana and use it as a spring board to enter the African market.
He said the Illinois state will open an trade office in Ghana soon and hoped Ghana will do the same in Illinois to help speed up trading links between them.
Dr Kwabena Adjei, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs who welcomed the team, expressed his appreciation for the encouraging response Ghana is receiving after President Rawlings visit.
He noted that relations between Africa and African-Americans transcends time and boundaries adding that it is time trade opportunities are exploited for the benefit of both parties.
"I hope the visit would strengthen relation between Ghana and Illinois and would be emulated by other states".
The visit is sponsored by the State of Illinois and co-ordinated by PSI International, a US company in Ghana.
GRi
Don't sell gold now IMF and others told
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th July 99
Ministers of Mines of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, currently meeting in Brussels, have called for a moratorium on gold sales
by the G8 countries and the IMF until a forum has been established to ensure that they are done in a "structured and orderly manner".
They say the planned sales should be spread over "reasonable time frames" to protect market prices, a declaration adopted on Tuesday after a two-day debate on the "gold crisis" said.
They recognised the importance of debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) but said the dumping of gold reserves unto the market would depress the price of the commodity.
This would result in the loss of more than 266 million dollars annually to developing countries. A total of 30 HIPCs produce about 199 tons of gold annually.
"We are gravely concerned that these actions have graphically illustrated the vulnerability of this sector to market distortions, demonstrated by the drastic drop in the gold price from 290 in 54 dollars per ounce since the announcement by the UK to sell".
The ACP Ministers urged countries and institutions which have not yet made plans to sell their reserves to refrain from such actions since it would undermine the development objectives of the ACP/EU partnership.
Many ACP members rely on mining to support their economies and thousands of mine workers including those in Ghana face job loss as a result.
The ministers called for dialogue between ACP Ministers of Finance and their G8 counterparts and an increase in direct contributions to the HIPC trust fund.
The declaration called on gold producers especially, transnational corporations to re-consider their selling strategies.
Ghana was represented by deputy Finance Minister, Mr Victor Selormey, Mr G.D.
Apatu of the ACP Secretariat in Accra and officials of the Ghana Embassy in Brussels.
GRi /
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th July 99
Nurses of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have decided to call off their strike action.
This follows a meeting with the Minister of Health, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor in Accra on Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Logosu Amegashie, spokesman for junior nurses of the hospital.
It said at the meeting it became clear that the supposed fifty per cent increase in the extra duty hours allowance as communicated to the nurses "was misinformation".
The statement stressed that the issue has been settled.
The nurses had for the past one week refused to go to work unless they were paid their extra duty allowances in full.
Several petitions to them to return to work had fallen on deaf ears as the nurses had maintained the government had not fulfilled its earlier promise of paying the allowances that had piled up since the beginning of the year.
Their return to work will come as a big relief to the public many as it marks the return to normalcy at the hospitals.
GRi
Rawlings receives message from Obasanjo
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th July 99
An envoy from President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria on Tuesday delivered a special message to President Jerry John Rawlings at the Castle, Osu.
The message, delivered by Mr Ferguson Iheme, centred on bilateral on multilateral issues.
President Rawlings said some West African countries, especially Nigeria, spent a lot of resources in securing peace in Liberia and in Sierra Leone.
"It is our hope that democracy would be sustained in these countries so that we can turn our attention to development issues".
Mr Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and some officials of the ministry were among those present.
GRi /
Nomination of New Bekwaihene ends in confusion
Bekwai (Ashanti), 28th July 99
Attempts at nominating a new Paramount Chief to occupy the vacant Bekwai Stool on Tuesday ended in confusion.
The Acting President of the Traditional Council, Nana Amo Gyemfi, was in the process of inviting the Bekwai Royal Oyoko Abusuapanin, Nana Kwasi Aboraa, to present the selected candidate, when two young men seized the microphone and invoked the Asantehene's Great Oath, "Ntamkesie", to restrain him.
The two, Kwasi Korankye and Kwame Awuah, who are members of the royal family, argued that Nana Aboraa has neither met nor held consultations with the Oyoko family on the choice of a potential candidate for the stool.
They also alleged that the Abusuapanin had twice served prison terms and challenged the propriety of his heading the family.
All efforts to restrain Korankye and Awuah proved futile, instead they grew more aggressive and hurled insults at the other members of the royal family.
They would not listen to or reason with anyone, insisting that they were exercising their traditional rights.
The Acting President of the Council was left with no other option than to call off the ceremony.
Visibly disappointed, most of the sub-chiefs vowed not to attend any future invitation for the nomination of a candidate to occupy the stool.
The Bekwai Paramount stool has been at the centre of dispute since the destoolment of Nana Osei Kwadwo eight years ago.
In 1993 the late Nana Appiah Tutu Akate was elected as Bekwaihene but could not complete the full cycle of his installation due to a dispute until he died in April 1997.
Three candidates, Mr Kofi Tontoh, based in London, Mr Kofi Gyawu of Ghana Telecommunications Company and Mr Osei Tutu Agyeman, an Accra-based Architect are contesting for the stool.
The prerogative of choosing one of them to become the Paramount Chief now rests with the Abusuapanin, since Bekwai has no queenmother at present.
GRi /
Tamale (Northern Region), 28th July 99
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Joshua Alabi, has said that if children are to contribute to advancement of the nation, then they issues affecting them must remain paramount in the country's socio-political.
"A nation that remains insensitive to the welfare of its children has misplaced priorities and cannot develop sustainably," Mr Alabi said at an SOS Village Awareness Association programme in Tamale on Tuesday.
The programme is geared towards introducing the concept of SOS to the Northern region and inform the people about the principles, philosophies, objectives and values of the SOS villages association.
It is also aimed at winning the support, assistance, co-operation and collaboration of the people in the region as a forerunner to the establishment of the third SOS Children's Village at Sagnarigu, near Tamale.
Mr Alabi said it is imperative that every child enjoys not only the care and security of a home life but also the right to basic education and other essential amenities of life.
He, however, regretted that not even the presence of institutions such as the Social Welfare and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice as well as legislation to promote and protect child welfare was sufficient for the attainment of this goal.
Mr Alabi commended the chief of Sagnarigu for releasing a tract of land for the construction of the third SOS village in Tamale.
Dr Enchill Kofi Asare, national co-ordinator of SOS-Ghana, said in spite of the presence of SOS in Ghana for the past 25 years, there are still many Ghanaians who misunderstand its role.
He said it was for this reason that the awareness event was being held to enlighten people on the SOS-family-like home idea which had demonstrated a new and revolutionary way of solving the problem of caring for orphaned, abandoned and destitute children.
GRi../
Police plots measures to combat armed robberies in the North
Tamale (Northern Region)
The Northern Region Police Command has assured the public that the security agencies are "on red alert and firmly on the ground to confront any armed robberies".
To effectively undertake the task, however, the police command has called for the full co-operation of the general public by volunteering information about the activities and suspicious movements of strange persons in the Tamale Municipality.
Mr David Walenkaki, task force commander and special duties officer, in a press briefing at Tamale on Tuesday, assured all law-abiding citizens that there was no cause for panic since the situation was under control.
He said certain strategies, including day and night patrols, had been put in place to deal with the situation and assured the public that the identities of informants would be kept secret.
Mr Walenkaki said these measures have become necessary because of indications that, as a result of the relentless war being waged against the armed robbers in the south, some of them are moving up north.
"A report has it that some of them have actually arrived in Tamale and are preparing to strike very soon," he added.
He advised proprietors of hotels and rest houses to report to the police people who lodge at their premises and exhibit questionable lifestyles.
Mr Walenkaki warned that proprietors who fail to report the presence of such persons will be arrested together with the criminals found on their premises.
GRi /
Ya-Na commends government on hospital project
Yendi (Northern Region), 28th July 99
Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, the Over-Lord of Dagbon has commended the government for the rehabilitation works at the Yendi Hospital.
He said the decentralisation programme has made a significant impact in the health delivery system by providing the necessary infrastructure in the sector.
Ya-Na Andani was speaking at a cocktail party he organised at his palace for the Director and workers of Frednaro Construction Limited, currently rehabilitating the Yendi hospital.
He said the hospital serves the people of Yendi, Zabzugu/Tatale, Saboba/Chereponi, Gushiegu/Karaga and Nanumba districts.
Ya-Na Andani said the extent of work done by the contractor is commendable and the occasion was to express the appreciation of the traditional authorities and people for their good work.
He said health delivery has been extended to most parts of the district with the establishment of health centres at Ngani, Sang, Jimle, Bonbonayili and Adibo to serve the rural people.
Ya-Na advised the people to patronise the services of the health centres and to report all sickness for early treatment and asked mothers to ensure that their children were immunised against the six killer childhood diseases.
Mr Napoleaon Kwaku Boateng, Director of the construction firm thanked the Ya-Na and his elders for the reception and their concern for the project and assured them of good quality work.
He expressed his appreciation to the Ya-Na, health workers and the town's people for the cordial relationship with his workers, which, he said, has enabled them to work satisfactorily, adding that the project would be completed on schedule.
GRi
Return to top Presidential aspirant slams new salary regime
Tamale (Northern Region), 28th July 99
Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, presidential aspirant of the Convention Party (CP), has described the Ghana Universal Salary Structure, popularly called "Price Waterhouse", as a total failure, which needs critical reviewing.
He said it is a miracle that the government survived the "massive agitation of workers for a better package", because there is nothing in the treasury to meet their demands.
Alhaji Mahama, who was speaking to in Tamale on Monday, lauded the call of the opposition political parties for a change of government, because "the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is at the bottom of the barrel and has nothing to offer".
He said the NDC, being an incumbent government, constitutes a big challenge to the CP in next year's elections, because of its abundant resources, but explained that "there are times when money means nothing".
"It happened in the Congo and the Philippines, and it can happen in Ghana too", he stressed.
Commenting on his presidential aspiration, Alhaji Mahama called on supporters of the CP to vote massively for him during the forthcoming congress of the party to elect its flag bearer to revive their hopes and aspirations for a prosperous country.
He described himself as a "most experienced and popular politician", who enjoys the goodwill of many people.
GRi /
Kingmakers advised to give queen mothers chance to choose heirs
Hwidiem (Brong Ahafo) 28 July 99
The Omanhene of Hwidiem in the Asutifi District, Osuodumgya Barima Kwame Bonsu, has called on king makers to give queen mothers the chance to choose rightful heirs to their stools to curb chieftaincy disputes in the country.
He said the queen mother customarily has the prerogative to nominate for approval candidates to occupy vacant stools and said that nothing should be done to usurp such role.
Osuodumgya Bonsu was speaking at this year's Akwasidae festival of the chiefs and people of Hwidiem at the weekend.
He, however, advised queen mothers not to abuse their right by nominating an unqualified royal for vacant stools.
Osuodumgya Bonsu said, there was the need to rid chieftaincy of disputes if the institution was to stand the test of time.
GRi../
Experts want power sector development policy timed
Akosombo (Eastern Region) 28 July 99
Two energy experts have suggested the power sector development policy and the energy transition plan be put into specific time frames to enable investors to have confidence in the process.
They noted that inadequate objectives and mode of performance targets stand the risk of diminishing the reliability and the interests that investors have generated over the period, especially with reference to the energy sector.
Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby and Mr Louis Casely-Hayford, both energy consultants, made the suggestion at the opening of a two-day workshop in Akosombo.
Sixty participants from energy sensitive institutions heavily dependent on electricity for their operations are attending the workshop organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
Prospective independent power producers and those already engaged in independent power generation are also attending the workshop, which is to finalise guidelines for setting electricity tariffs.
It will consider, among other things, fair apportionment of total cost of supply to various classes of consumers and the provision of a certain minimum level of service (lifeline supply) at an affordable price to residential customers who may not be able to pay the full cost.
Dr Wereko-Brobby said the document has many complications that might result in possible conflict between existing energy bodies and newly established ones.
"These can compound the risk involved and thus erode the interest of investors. We are concerned about how we can make it without frustrating the incoming investor".
He called on the Energy Commission to speed up its operations and make its work and impact felt.
Mr Casely-Hayford was not happy about the introduction of licenses for bulk consumers from the energy commission, adding: "they should have direct links with the transmission network where established rules are set out".
"When this is done, then they can only inform the Energy Commission about their intentions and not to require licenses."
Mr Stephen Adu, Executive Secretary of the PURC, said the workshop will, among other things, rationalise various sentiments from the stakeholders in arriving at a final guideline for the energy sector of the country by the year 2000.
There were representatives from Togo and Gambia.
Mr Francis Gbeddey, acting director of power, Ministry of Mines and Energy, outlined the government's policy framework for the power sector and indicated that there are certain constraints that must be removed to make it more efficient.
He mentioned lack of clarity in government policy in the area as one of the restrictions that need to be removed to make it more acceptable to players of the industry.
"The government's vision or overall goal is to ensure that Ghanaians have universal access to electricity and that electricity supply is made more reliable, efficient and equitable.
The policy also seeks to transform state-owned entities into public-private partnerships and joint ventures.
Mr Gbeddey said the final objective is for the country to assume a leadership role in the development of the West African Power Pool.
GRi../
Ghanaian lecturer in US donates to Winneba College
Winneba (Central Region) 28 July 99
Dr Leslie Irwin, a Ghanaian teaching at Arizona State University in the United States on Tuesday presented a quantity of assorted library books worth several millions of cedis to the University College of Education (UCE), Winneba.
Professor J. Anamuah-Mensah, principal of the college, stressed the need for the students to make full use of facilities at the library.
He expressed his appreciation to Dr. Irwin for the donation and appealed to other well-meaning Ghanaians outside the country to emulate him.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah also thanked Dr. Bill Svoboda, dean of the College of Education in Arizona State University, for funding the shipment of the books.
He was also grateful to individuals and organisations in the U.S. who contributed in diverse ways to make Dr. Irwin's donation possible.
Dr. Irwin said his action is meant to help promote university education and the socio-economic advancement of the country.
GRi../
Education fund for Northern Ghana students
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 July 99
Alhaji Rahimi Gbadamoshie, former Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), on Monday called on parents, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other agencies to assist the three regions in the north to arrest the rapid decline in the standard of education there.
At a press conference to announce the setting up of the Northern Ghana Education Fund (NETFUND), he said students from Northern Ghana in the past had enjoyed the Northern Scholarship Scheme during the First Republic.
However, this was stopped at the beginning of the Second Republic.
The aim of the fund is to support economically deprived but exceptionally brilliant students of northern extraction to receive secondary and tertiary education.
Alhaji Gbadamoshie, who is the interim Chairman of NETFUND, said the conference is a precursor to the main launch of the Fund, which would also help to raise standards of schools, through effective teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools.
Its target is One billion cedis over a period of two years.
Alhaji Gbadamoshie noted that for a relatively brief period after Ghana's Independence, students from northern basic education schools could compete favourably for places in the country's top 50 schools.
Now, admission into these top schools has become increasingly competitive and opportunities for students attending basic schools in the north to gain admission into good schools have literally evaporated.
Citing figures of admission into University of Ghana, Legon for the 1991-1992 and 1998-1999 academic years, he painted a gloomy picture of prospects for students from the northern sector
He said the country's top 15 secondary schools such as Presbyterian Boys Secondary, Achimota School and Wesley Girls High School account for 39 per cent of the total admission to the University of Ghana.
The country's top 45 schools account for 96.3 per cent of total admissions to University of Ghana. Tamale and Navrongo Secondary Schools are among those top 45 but they account for only 3.7 per cent of admissions to Legon.
He said the picture was worse with the admission of females.
In 1998/99 academic year, a total of 1,033 females were admitted to the University out of which only 27 came from the North.
Alhaji Gbadamoshie said although northern Ghana has about 20 per cent of the national population, the three regions collectively account for 60 per cent of the poorest people in this country.
The human resource potential for the future of the north is wasting away, he said, adding that this means that the entire population of these regions are denied opportunities of contributing effectively to national intellectual, industrial and other levels of development beyond just unskilled labour.
Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a Deputy Minister of Education answering questions from the media, said the Ministry is in full support of this initiative because government alone cannot do everything.
The setting up of the fund was due to the fact that most people appreciate the need to go to school and that calls for an expansion in the system to include every child of school going age, he said.
Dr Chambas said the fund has not got any political sentiments. It was established by a core group of non-political people, who are concerned about the declining rate of education in the three regions.
Dr Chambas said GES is still trying to reduce the period for promotions for teachers, who are in the north to encourage teachers to accept posting to the area.
GRi../
Return to top National Reform Party receives certificate
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 July 99
The National Reform Party (NRP) on Tuesday received a certificate from the Electoral Commission to become the country's seventh political party.
Mr David Kanga, Deputy Director (Operations) of the EC, said the commission has satisfied itself with the information it received from the party executive "and we have found all to be true".
The certificate qualifies the NRP to operate as a legal political party.
Mr Kanga urged the leaders to expedite action to elect substantive national, regional, constituency and branch executives as required by PNDC Law 281.
He asked them to present a record of the party's assets, income and expenditure in written form to the EC in 60 days.
Mr Kyeretwie Opoku, Interim General Secretary, warned at a press conference after receiving the certificate that the party will respond to "every illegal and politically motivated attack on its members and supporters from any quarters beginning from today".
Mr Opoku alleged that in the one year of the existence of the Reform Movement, its members and supporters have suffered consistent and illegal politically motivated attacks and harassment from state officials and agents.
"In some cases, BNI officers have intimated to our members that they are under surveillance while state security officials have in the past seized our documents illegally.
"Reformists have been threatened with arrest and others have actually been detained for questioning by state security for no justified reasons."
Mr Opoku noted that several members have either been threatened with loss of job or their jobs have actually been interrupted.
Some landlords and headteachers have ejected some of our members and their wards from their homes and schools respectively for political reasons.
"Now our legal status is beyond challenge and we send a message to the perpetrators of the attacks that reform will respond to every illegal and politically motivated attack on its members and supporters."
He said the party would make use of the media to expose the activities of their attackers to public ridicule, adding that, where necessary, the party will take legal action.
Mr Opoku said by October and November, this year, substantive branch, constituency and regional executives will be elected.
He said a national congress would be held in February next year for the election of the national executive.
The party will run election 2000 as an independent party with a presidential candidate and parliamentary candidates in all 200 constituencies.
Mr Opoku said in the event of a second round of election in year 2000, the party will consider an alliance as a strategic means of getting the mandate of the masses to realise its development dreams for this country.
He said "though I do not approve of an alliance with the National Democratic Congress, I cannot categorically say that it is not possible for NRP and NDC to merge".
The General Secretary assured party members of transparency, accountability and integrity, adding that the party will be funded with the contributions of the masses to prevent domination by an affluent minority.
Mr Peter Kpordugbe, Interim National Executive member, said the NRP is not meant to destroy any political party but to compete decently and fairly in the quest for the mandate to develop Ghana.
He appealed to all political parties to support the EC with facilities that will speed up its activities.
GRi../
Eastern Regional Minister responsible for East Akim District
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 July 99
The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Patience Adow, has been assigned temporary responsibility for East Akim district, according to an official statement signed by Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
The statement said Ms Adow will have the extra-duty while Mr Mike Odame Darkwa is undergoing medical treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
GRi../