Veep announces affirmative action to improve lot of senior citizens
National Reconciliation is best option for Ghana - Kwesi Armah
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 02 July 2001
Members of the Brong Ahafo Regional branch of the NDC have proposed the amendment of the party's constitution to allow for the election of its flag bearer two years before general election.
They said the existing practice of choosing the presidential candidate during the election year would negatively affect the fortunes of the party if it is not changed to give the candidate adequate time to market himself.
They also called for the outlaw of the selection and endorsement of party officers and candidates by acclamation and said all positions, with the exception of the founder, should be subjected to open contest to enhance internal democracy.
Speaking to the GNA in an interview at Sunyani, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, former Deputy Regional Minister, said these formed part of the sentiments expressed by members during a tour of the region by the party's re-organisation committee.
He said the re-organisation committee has been overwhelmed by the renewed enthusiasm of members since the exercise took off a couple of months ago.
"We have been amazed by the resurgence of commitment by our members since the re-organisation exercise started and we have no doubt that the party is back to its former strength and ready to dislodge the NPP come the next elections"
Alhaji Adam said contrary to the view of sceptics, the defeat of the party and the exit of ex-President Rawlings from the national leadership position are going to strengthen rather weaken the NDC.
"With the party out of power, our ex-president and other leaders are going to have all the time to rebuild the party's structures to enhance its capabilities to wrestle power in the next elections".
GRi../
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Ho (Volta Region) 02 July 2001
The Government will carry out extensive consultations and public discussions to come out with acceptable modalities for achieving sustainable national reconciliation and unity, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister has said.
Addressing a get-together of some senior citizens in the Volta Region at Ho on Sunday as part of Ghana's 41st. Republic Day celebration, he called on the elder citizens, irrespective of their political inclinations to offer their support and suggestions towards achieving sustainable national unity and reconciliation.
This is because it is the majority of the citizenry who stand to reap the benefits of peace and development or bear the brunt of a bad situation.
Mr Owusu-Yeboa suggested to the senior citizens to either individually or collectively offer their views on how best to achieve lasting national reconciliation.
The Regional Minister reminded the elder citizens that national unity and reconciliation are extremely necessary now because unless the country is truly reconciled, it will remain divided and without any focus for development.
The government is, therefore, poised "to take all necessary actions to facilitate reconciliation and unity amongst Ghanaians", Mr Owusu-Yeboa assured.
Some of the senior citizens underscored the need for trust, honesty, love and fear of God among the citizenry for the achievement of peace, unity, reconciliation and development of the country.
The over 60 elder citizens included retired public and civil servants, farmers, reverend ministers, chiefs, traders and housewives.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2001
Vice-President Aliu Mahama on Sunday announced plans by the government to adopt a wide range of affirmative programmes of action to facilitate the dramatic improvement in the living standards of the country's senior citizens.
Although the programme rules out the establishment of old people's homes, it will give support to religious organisations and other identifiable groups that support the aged and also reinforce the old and time tested social values inherent in the extended family system to offer them the needed care and attention.
Alhaji Mahama was speaking at a state luncheon in Accra to mark 'Senior Citizens Day', which forms part of the 41st anniversary of Republic Day, which falls on July 1.
The Government, he said, is also considering programmes that will sustain the mental and physical strengths and capacities of senior citizens to enable them to continue with the crucial leadership roles they play in society.
These words of assurance drew applause from the over 500 senior citizens who were invited from all the regions to take part in the event, which took place at the Osu State Banquet Hall on the theme "Reconciliation for National Unity and Development".
"We are aware that over the years we have not as a nation taken any decisive and meaningful steps to make life better for our elderly citizens.
At the same time, the difficult economic situation has consistently eroded the personal savings and pension entitlements of our senior citizens."
Alhaji Mahama urged the senior citizens to join the crusade against high inflation, rising government expenditure, huge national debt and widespread unemployment and poverty.
"Our national fortunes have fluctuated between periods of prosperity and success and periods of political tension, economic stagnation and social unrest," he said.
The Vice-President later proposed the toast for the success and prosperity of the nation and the senior citizens after he had opened the floor with the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, with highlife music provided by veteran Musician, C.K. Mann.
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Takoradi (Western region) 02 July 2001
Studies on the introduction of intra-city rail passenger service in the country has been completed, Mr Samuel Barnes, Managing Director of the Ghana Railway Corporation (GRC), said on Friday in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Takoradi.
He said technical details and drawings have been submitted to the government for the necessary action.
"What we are waiting for is for the government to provide the necessary financial support for the project to take off."
Mr Barnes said the service would first be introduced in Accra and later in Kumasi as part of efforts to provide an alternative means of transport as part of measures to decongest vehicular traffic.
Mr Barnes said the studies recommended that the service be run by a private company but the GRC would like to start it using existing rail links between Accra and Tema.
He said the service would later be extended to some densely populated areas in Accra where vehicular traffic was a problem.
Mr Barnes said a three-year programme to refurbish 30 passenger coaches was on course and so far 21 coaches have been completely rehabilitated while work was progressing on six others.
Some passenger train services were suspended sometime last year because of shortage of fuel and to enable some coaches, which had been in operation for about 14 years to be refurbished.
He said plans were afoot to add to the existing service to ease congestion. There are no immediate plans to purchase new locomotives to in addition to the 25 in use.
Mr Barnes drew the attention of the Accra and Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies, that it was their responsibility to build markets for the people and should, therefore, initiate action to rid rail lines of hawkers.
He said the Corporation had tried to deal with the problem without success.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 02 July 2001
Mr. Anthony Kusi, Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the NPP, has urged Ghanaians to forget about the past infractions of the military and discard lingering suspicions about their commitment to the preservation of constitutional rule.
He said "continued scepticism and suspicion is undermining cordial civil-military relationship and national cohesion and it is about time the two sides forgot about the past and collaborated to entrench democratic rule in the country".
Mr. Kusi stated this in Sunyani on Friday at a public forum organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) as part of its outreach programme to improve civil-military relationship.
The forum, held under the theme "Civil-military Relationship in a Constitutional Democracy", was attended by more than 200 participants drawn from the military, security agencies and civil society.
Mr. Kusi said for such confidence building measures to bear fruits, there is the need for soldiers to conduct themselves in accordance with the constitution and refrain from doing things that in the first place contributed to the poisoning of their relationship with civilians.
Captain Maxwell Mantey, Adjutant of the Sunyani Three Garrison, said there was no basis for Ghanaians to continue to doubt the military, especially when its high command has repeatedly stated its commitment to constitutional rule.
He partly blamed the media for this state of affairs, saying that by constantly highlighting the negative side of the military and refusing to give it credit where due, public distrust is engendered.
"We have contributed immensely to the economic and democratic development of this country, particularly over the past eight years, and it is important that Ghanaians accept and acknowledge the military as a true partner in nation-building".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2001
Mr Kwesi Armah, a member of the Council of State said on Sunday that the government's efforts to reconcile the nation is "one of the noblest things President Kufuor has embarked upon to promote peace".
He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra that national reconciliation must be total and embrace all facets of society.
Mr Armah who was part of the over 500 Senior Citizens who attended a State Luncheon to mark the 41st anniversary of Ghana’s Republic Day, was commenting on the theme for the celebration: " Reconciliation for national unity and development."
"I believe President Kufuor means well. There should be no discrimination. Reconciliation must be total in the interest of the state."
Mr Armah, a former diplomat and minister in the first republic, suggested that reparation should be paid to all those who were affected by actions and inactions of the state from the first republic to ensure genuine reconciliation. He said people whose properties were unjustifiably confiscated by the state should be returned to them.
Mrs Shiata Bawa, a Retired Educationist said President Kufuor's administration has already shown commitment to reconciling the nation and every effort should be made to keep it on track for the sake of posterity.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2001
The Convention People's Party said on Sunday that July 1 would forever remain in the minds of Ghanaians as the day when the country attained a full sovereign status under the able leadership of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the party and modern Ghana.
It said, in a statement to mark Republic Day that Ghanaians should consider themselves fortunate for the vision and leadership of Dr Nkrumah and his lieutenants at that most important time in Ghana's history.
"On this momentous day, it is pertinent to remind ourselves of the struggle for emancipation, self-dignity and equality by black people and the significant role played by Osagyefo towards the attainment of these laudable goals.
"As we mark the 41st anniversary of our attainment of Republican status, the Convention People's Party calls on all Ghanaians to commit themselves to Dr Nkrumah's policy of Pan Africanism and emancipation of the oppressed and under-privileged people. The coming into force of the African Union brings to fruition the vision of Dr Nkrumah and other founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity".
The statement said CPP lauds the setting aside of Republic Day by the state to honour its senior citizens.
It is in recognition of their contributions in building a country where tolerance, love and forgiveness are the ingredients that have established its social fabric and cohesiveness, it said and called on the youth to resolve to continue the struggle to build a better and prosperous Ghana and Africa.
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