Raining season returns to normal pattern
NGO gives to 40 schools and communities
Farmers get seeds for re-cropping
Association of African Universities, U.S. University sign pact
Barclays Bank Donates Towards Education in Asanteman
Promote government's investment drive -Otumfuo
Traditional Council congratulates Odeefuo
Minister, six others receive awards
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 29 July ’99
Ghana now has only 2.1 million hectares of forest including game reserves, compared to the 8.1 million hectares that existed at the beginning of this century.
One of the factors responsible for this state of rapid loss of forest is over-dependence on a few species for domestic and commercial use.
This has put pressure on these species, to the point that they are threatened with extinction.
Mr Emmanuel Adu-Boateng, New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, said this in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a two-day workshop for small and medium scale carpenters.
It was aimed at encouraging the industrial utilisation and improved marketing of selected lesser-used Ghanaian timber species from sustainable managed forests at Koforidua on Tuesday.
It is the fifth in a series being organised by the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) with financial support from the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).
It was also aimed at finding suitable substitutes for primary species like Odum and Mahogany, which are being depleted.
Mr Adu-Boateng observed that though the lesser-used timber species have characteristics comparable - or, in some cases, superior - to the traditional species, they were often ignored by the international market.
Dr Augustus Addae-Mensah, Project Director, said the FORIG has so far identified six lesser-used species, which are in great demand in the Scandinavian countries for out-door furniture.
He said despite this, exporters have not been able to meet the target, which was both environmentally friendly and more profitably.
Mr Samuel Mantey, New Juaben District President of the Small-Scale Carpenters Association, appealed to government to create special timber markets before banning the chain-saw operators from operating.
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Raining season returns to normal pattern
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 July ’99
An officer of the Meteorological Service Department has described this year's raining season as a return to the normal pattern and advised people in the northern sector to continue with their farming since they are now getting to the peak season.
He said the peak of the rainy season occurred in June but for the past four years it shifted to May and tipped off in July.
Mr Kwa Wurodu, a Principal Meteorologist, said in an interview that in the southern sector, the sea surface temperature would continue to drop, indicating high prospect for a good catch of fish.
He noted that June recorded about 149.9 millimetres (mm) in the first 10 days in Accra as against 1.4 mm for the same period last year.
In May last year 84.2 mm was recorded in the first 10 days. Because of this pattern there is bound to be an extension of showers to the end of July.
"July has been a cut-off period of rain but because it started a bit late this year, it may extend to the following month".
Mr Wurodu said the rains have not stopped completely, adding that there would be continuous intermitted showers that would lead into the minor rainy season that may start in October to mid-December.
"As the inter-tropical boundary moves up, it does so with the thunderstorm and the southern sector will receive a lot of thunderstorm and showers in October to December to usher in the Harmattan".
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NGO gives to 40 schools and communities
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 July ’99
International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH), Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Wednesday presented books, chairs and desks to 40 schools and community libraries throughout the country under its SOS Books for Africa Project.
IFESH, an umbrella organisation of the Reverend Leon Sullivan, the Convenor of the African-African American Summit, is aimed at complementing the government's efforts to provide free and compulsory education for all by 2020.
The books, which cover subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Handwriting, Geography, History, Health and library readers, were the first consignment to be received after the summit.
Mr Kwesi Dzidzienyo, IFESH Country Representative, said publishing houses and the Latter-Day Saint Church in the United States of America were the main donors of the items.
He said the project is the efforts of Rev. Sullivan to mobilise educational materials for Africa to enhance its gateway project.
Mr Robert Amoako, Executive Director of the National Book Trust, commended IFESH for its efforts, saying it would help bring in more books to meet the demand of schools.
IFESH went into agreement with the government in 1995 to supply books to support education in the country and has since brought teachers and fellows to assist in various Teacher Training Colleges and the universities.
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Farmers get seeds for re-cropping
Jawia (Upper West) 29 July ’99
The government has started distributing seeds to farmers, whose crops were destroyed during the recent invasion by "army worms" in the Upper West Region.
Two hundred maxi-bags of unshelled groundnuts and 12 mini bags of cowpeas worth over 13 million cedis are being distributed to 26 farming communities in the Sisala district, which was the worst hit by the invasion.
Mr Sugulowu Balik, Sisala District Director of Agriculture, made this known when Mr Robert Wavei, Sisala District Chief Executive, presented 17 bags of groundnuts to the Jawia community on Tuesday.
Mr Balik said the worms destroyed about 3,000 hectares of crops in the district. Maize was the most affected crop.
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Association of African Universities, U.S. University sign pact
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 July ’99
The Association of African Universities (AAU) on Wednesday entered into a contractual agreement with the Historically Black Colleges and Consortium for Universities (HBCU) of US to strengthen joint research centres in Africa.
A memorandum of understanding to that effect was signed in Accra by Mr Narciso Matos, Secretary-General of AAU and Nana Ohene Darko, President and Founder of HBCU.
Other signatories were Mr Jimmy Jenkins Senior, President and Chairman of the Board of Edward Waters College and Mr Leon R. Tarver II, Chairman of the International Committee of the College.
The agreement is to encourage, facilitate and strengthen activities of the AAU and HBCU in the areas of exchange of information, professors and students, joint project development and consulting work with foundations, corporations and international organisations.
Other areas are support for curriculum development in African universities, junior colleges and secondary schools, joint work on AAU Core Programme of activities, development and co-sponsorship of a conference on Higher Education in Africa, among other things.
Nana Ohene Darko said the association handles 117 universities.
Scholarships have been awarded to several deserving people to pursue different programmes in foreign universities, said.
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Barclays Bank Donates Towards Education in Asanteman
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 29 July ’99
The Management of Barclays Bank, Ghana, on Wednesday presented a cheque for 10 million cedis towards improvement in the education assistance programme initiated by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, Chief of Amanokrom and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank who presented the cheque, said it was in appreciation of efforts by the Asantehene to improve the standard of education in Asanteman.
The presentation, together with assorted drinks and some money to the Asantehene, was to congratulate him on his enstoolment when the Board of Directors paid a courtesy call on him after their monthly meeting in Kumasi.
Mr Kwabena Quansah, Managing Director of the bank, said since its established in the country about 77 years ago, the bank has contributed
immensely to the socio-economic sector and hoped, with the reign of the Asantehene, the bank would earn more prospects and reputation.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu thanked the bank for its assistance to improve the standard of education in Asanteman.
In another development, the Asantehene presented 100 boxes of books worth about 50 million cedis to be distributed among basic and second cycle schools in the Ashanti region.
They were donated to the Asantehene by the Rotary Club of Kumasi last month to support his efforts at improving the standard of education in the region.
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Promote government's investment drive -Otumfuo
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 29 July ’99
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, on Wednesday asked financial institutions to promote the government's investments drive by undertaking innovative banking schemes.
He said although the financial institutions have contributed immensely towards the country's development, "there is still more room for improvement to attract investors into the country".
The Asantehene made the call when the Board of Directors and management of the National Investment Bank (NIB) paid a courtesy call on him to congratulate him on his enstoolment at the Manhyia Palace.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, a customer of the NIB, said it was established to promote investments and had lived up to expectation.
He urged the management to ensure that the confidence its customers have in them does not wane and asked the staff to be hard working and honest.
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Traditional Council congratulates Odeefuo
Abeadze Dominase (Central Region) 29 July ’99
The Abeadze traditional council in the Central region has congratulated Odeefuo Boa Amponsem, Denkyirahene on his election as President of the National House of Chiefs.
Okakyi Kwabu Ewusie the VII, Abeadze Omanhene at a meeting of the council at Dominase wished the new President well in all his endeavours.
The council appealed to Kingmakers to support Odeefuo Boa Amponsem to solve the numerous problems facing the chieftancy institution.
The chiefs called for a law to disqualify people who take cheiftaincy matters to the law courts from being enstooled or enskined chiefs or queenmothers.
Nana Nketia Afful, Abontindomhene of the area urged chiefs to make development a priority.
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Minister, six others receive awards
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 July ’99
A minister and six other personalities were on Wednesday honoured by the Ghana Employers' Association (GEA) for their meritorious services and contribution to the development of employment in the country.
The awards, which went with citations, were meant to motivate and encourage them to do better.
The awards were presented at a business luncheon as part of the 39th Annual General Meeting and 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the GEA in Accra.
The recipients were Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Richard Kombo of the International Labour Organisation, Ms Rita Claribel Dzubey of CFAO and Mr T. A. Donkor of Nestle Ghana Limited.
The rest were Mr James Idun-Ogde of British American Tobacco, Mr Bossman Agyako of Accra Brewery and Mr Eric O. Ofori of Cootek Limited.
Mr David Sarpong Boateng, a Presidential Aide, who represented the Vice-President, congratulated the GEA for its role in creating and sustaining the labour front over the years.
He expressed the hope that their contribution in securing a co-operative labour front would continue.
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