Drought hits farmers in Salaga
Development policy on children to be formulated soon
Association calls for repeal of land law
Minority condemns attack on Agyapong
CPP says it is on track to contest 2004 elections
Sunyani Assembly owes contractors 1.1 billion cedis
Parliamentary Committee interacts with TUC
Forty-three countries ratify Act for Africa Union
More Member States pay up arrears to OAU.
Council of State members urged to be
non-partisan.
Tomatoes farmers worried about swindlers
HIPC yields five million dollars for projects
Enforce Building regulations to instil discipline - NADMO
Gambian geologist commends Ghanaians
Mrs Kufour receives honoured by Edinaman
Salaga (Northern Region) 09 July 2001
Farmers in Salaga in the East Gonja District in the Northern Region are expecting poor harvest next year due to erratic rainfall.
Maize farmers who took advantage of the early rains in May and cultivated large plantations are now regretting.
Farmers who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the crops have reached tussling stage and needed water but due to lack of rains the crop is withering.
A source at the District Office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) said the erratic rainfall pattern was not peculiar to the area alone but the whole Region.
The source said the rainfall was not poor as being said, "it is expected to pick up in July even though it had dwindled in June".
Figures received from the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) indicated that 124 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in April, and picked up to 170.5 millimetres in May but dwindled to 66.5 millimetres in June.
Yam farmers are also complaining bitterly about the effects of the drought. "We do not know when and even what we will harvest. Under normal circumstance, new yams should have come out either at the end of June or early July but as it is, we are at a loss when we will start to enjoy new yams," they said.
Rice farmers also said they have prepared the land and are waiting for the rains to do the planting.
The people in the area are, therefore, anticipating that with the long spell of drought, there was the possibility that there would be shortage of food next year.
Meanwhile, farmers are complaining about high cost of tractor services and fertilisers on the market.
It costs 70,000 cedis to plough one acre while a bag of fertiliser sells at 105,000 cedis, which the farmers say they are finding it difficult to afford. They have therefore called on the government to do something about the situation.
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Dromankuma (Brong Ahafo) 09 July 2001
Several communities in the Nkoranza District have been cut off from Nkoranza, the district capital, following heavy rains, which have rendered many link roads unusable.
The communities include Boana, Adumasa, Dromankuma and Taaho.
Mr Alex Baffoe-Nkrumah, Assemblyman, told the Ghana News Agency in Dromankuma that farmers in the area were finding it very difficult to cart their foodstuffs to the Nkoranza market.
As a result large quantities of yam, maize, cowpea and vegetables were getting rotten.
The assemblyman appealed to the District Assembly to liaise with the Department of Feeder Roads to rehabilitate the roads to alleviate the plight of the people.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
The Government is considering an early childhood care and development policy to streamline activities in the area of child training that would allow stakeholders to promote the proper development of children.
The policy will seek to adopt a holistic approach towards early childhood care and development to benefit children particularly in less privileged communities to ensure that they have access to all facilities and care to enhance their proper development.
Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister for Women's Affairs announced this at the 20th anniversary celebration of The Children's Centre, an early childhood and development centre at Osu. The anniversary is on the theme, "Nurture for the Future".
The Centre, which started with 25 children in 1981, has so far trained over 3,00O children.
Mrs Asmah said early childhood care centres have come a long way in providing the space that working parents need in order to go about their duties with the assurance that their children would be cared for and protected by professional.
"There is therefore the need for these centres to streamline their activities and incorporate child educational programmes for parents on child nutrition, environmental hygiene and safety to ensure that children benefit totally from their programmes."
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Sunyani (Eastern Region) 09 July 2001
The Sunyani Of-Land Farmers Association at the weekend appealed to the government to repeal Executive Instrument (EI46), which vests in the President all lands in the Sunyani District in trust for the people.
In a petition to President John Agyekum Kufuor signed by the executive and other members, the association said it was time the measure was taken "to enable the subjects and other landowners to have their lands".
"This has become necessary because land management in Sunyani as handled by the Lands Commission is tainted with fraud and corrupt practices," it said.
The petitioners cited a parcel of land acquired by the government for the construction of police barracks but which has been encroached upon by the Lands Commission and allocated to some individuals.
"The practice adopted by the Lands Commission as well as the application of the said law is against the principles of equity, fairness and good conscience," the association said, and wondered why lands are taken from their traditional owners without paying any compensation.
The statement mentioned a recent meeting between the Regional Lands Officer and the farmers regarding the demarcation of the land at Baakoniaba West in the district and said the 2.5 million cedis that the Commission promised to pay each landowner in that area was "meagre and not acceptable".
"The Lands Commission has cheated us for a very long time," the association added, and called for a probe into the administration of lands in Sunyani.
"We are of age and capable of managing our own lands and in this era of positive change we are calling for the repeal of the said law so that our lands are reversed to us as we cannot be strangers on our own ancestral land."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
The Minority in Parliament has condemned Wednesday night's attack on Mr Kwabena Agyapong Deputy Government Spokesman, describing it as cowardly and barbaric.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader told the GNA: "this action on a promising politician or any other fellow Ghanaian should not be allowed to rear its ugly head. It puts all of us at risk and no one knows who the next target would be".
He said it is bizarre and sad considering the fact that Mr Agyapong's father, Mr Justice Felix Kwadwo Agyapong was one of the three judges murdered in 1982.
Mr Bagbin said political opponents might read motives into it either wrongly or rightly and added, "this is a threat to our fledgling democracy. It is dangerous."
Armed robbers attacked Mr Agyapong in his home at East Legon in Accra, inflicting multiple injuries on him and making away with cash and jewellery. He is reported to be recovering at the 37 Military Hospital.
It is not known who the attackers were since no arrest has been made.
Mr Bagbin wished Mr Agyepong a speedy recovery and urged the police to work hard to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Other NDC sources in parliament also expressed outrage at the spate of attacks and robberies directed at political figures and called on the government to tighten security to prevent such acts.
The sources cited Mr Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of GNPC and Mr Steve Akorlie, Mr Doe Adzaho and Mrs Judith Haizel, all NDC MPs whose cars or houses were burgled.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 09 July 2001
The Chairman and leader of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Abubakar Al-Hassan has said that the party was on track towards its preparation for the 2004 general election.
He said there was the likelihood of by-elections in the Wulensi and Bimbilla constituencies and that would be the time people would know the actual strength of the CPP.
A Tamale High Court has declared the election of the Wulensi Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Nyimakam null and void because he was not qualified by residence to contest the Wulensi seat while the MP for Bimbilla was being considered for the position of the General Secretary of ECOWAS.
Speaking at a workshop on the party's constitution and organisational strategies for regional and constituency executive members from the Northern and Brong Ahafo Regions in Tamale on Saturday, Dr Al-Hassan said unlike the previous elections, where the party had less than six months to prepare, it has now got enough time to organise the people around its programmes based on the socialist ideology.
Dr Al-Hassan said the CPP would not shift from its position of the states participation in water, health and education delivery and the subsidising of agricultural inputs and would, therefore, resist the New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) decision to privatise the water delivery system in the country.
They were also to take stock of their performance in the last elections and evolve strategies to overcome the causes of their abysmal performance.
He said a series of organisational strategies were being put in place to propel the CPP into that stage of being a viable alternative to the ruling party, so that Ghanaians would have the opportunity to make a meaningful choice.
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Awua-Dumase (Brong Ahafo) 09 July 2001
The Sunyani District Assembly owes an accumulated debt of 1.1 billion cedis to contractors, Mr Ignatius Baffuor-Awuah, Sunyani District Chief Executive (DCE) told on the Awua-Dumase Traditional Council at Awua-Dumase, near Sunyani during a familiarisation tour of the District.
He said apart from the debt, the Assembly was also facing a daunting task of assisting to re-roof a number of school buildings, whose roofs were ripped off during rainstorms in 12 communities recently.
He said, "the government is only six months in office, so it is too early to expect it to deliver its electoral promises to the people.
"By the end of the four-year term the government would have dome its best for Ghanaians".
The DCE called on the people to support the Assembly to develop the District.
Nana Kwame Korang Asipim VI, Omanhene of the area, commended the DCE for the visit "since local government administration cannot progress without the chieftaincy institution".
He appealed to the DCE to strengthen the area councils and unit committees.
In a similar call on the chief, elders and people of Odomase Number One, Mr Baffuor-Awuah explained the essence of the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF), saying that a greater percentage of the fund disbursed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration was still with beneficiaries and warned that the Assembly would soon institute legal action to recover such monies.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has appealed to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Manpower Development and Employment to help fashion out the new Labour Code into a worker friendly law to safeguard the interest of workers.
Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwa, General Secretary of the TUC made the appeal when the Committee paid a familiarisation visit to the TUC last Wednesday for members to acquaint themselves with the structures and operations of the labour movement in promoting harmonious industrial relations.
A release issued in Accra on Friday said the visit by the Committee, led by Mr. Stephen K. Balado Manu, Chairman of the Committee and the Minority Ranking Member, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, was the first by a parliamentary committee on labour.
During the two-hour visit, members discussed issues on union dues, divestiture, the TUC's business ventures, inter union conflict resolution and women empowerment.
Mr. Adu-Amankwa said the TUC constitutes an effective organisation to protect the rights of workers in modern world of labour and the emerging globalisation.
"In this connection, the TUC has been transformed over the years into such an effective organisation to help safeguard the interests of Ghanaian workers in their contributions towards building the nation," Mr. Adu-Amankwa added.
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Lusaka (Zambia) 09 July 2001
Forty-three African countries have so far ratified the Constitutive Act of the African Union and deposited the Instrument of Ratification with the General Secretariat of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
A release by the Communication and Publications Division of the OAU in Lusaka, Zambia said the Republic of Cape Verde, Benin and Kenya deposited their instruments of Ratification last Friday with the Secretary General Dr Salim Ahmed Salim.
The Republic of Cameroon and the Kingdom of Swaziland have formally communicated to the Secretary General that it had also ratified and would be depositing the instrument shortly.
The release said only four countries, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Madagascar are yet to ratify.
Most African Heads of State including President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana have arrived in the Zambian Capital Lusaka for the three-day 37th Ordinary
Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, which begins on Monday, July 9.
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More Member States pay up arrears to OAU.
Lusaka (Zambia) 09 July 2001
The OAU Secretariat on Saturday said the commitment and speed with which member states are now settling their arrears of contribution augurs well for the transition to the African Union because it serves as guarantee that the Union's solvency from the outset would be assured.
A release by the Communications and Publications Division of the OAU issued in Lusaka, Zambia said more member states have now paid up their arrears of contribution and are temporary exempted from sanctions.
It said as a result of payments received so far six countries namely, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Sierra Leone have now been exempted from mandatory sanctions.
These countries have paid substantial arrears that would carry them up to the 75th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers coming up in February or March next year.
The Republic of Burundi is also free from arrears and is no longer under sanction and other member states, which do not have outstanding contributions are Algeria, Angola, Malawi, Chad, Egypt, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Swaziland, Togo, Tanzania, Tunisia, Lesotho and Ethiopia.
The release said the member states under sanctions has now been reduced from 14 to six, they are Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Liberia, Mauritania,
Sao tome and Principe and the Seychelles.
It said member states which have gone a step further to clear their assessed contributions for the current financial year 2001/2002 are Botswana, Namibia,
South Africa and Zambia.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 09 July 2001
Veteran members of the NPP have been urged to point out the mistakes of the government and its functionaries to enhance the success of the administration.
Members of the party must also desist from pressurising functionaries such as District Chief Executives for contracts and favours as compensation for sacrifices they made during the party's years in opposition.
This was the consensus of veterans of the party in the Brong Ahafo Region who met at Sunyani on Friday to complete preparation on the formal inauguration of the regional branch of the party's council of elders.
Mr Anthony Kusi Appiah, interim regional secretary of the council, tracing the history of the NPP said though it came from the oldest political tradition in the country it had been in power for only 27 months before its latest electoral victory.
"It is for this reason that we, the elder members of the party have a responsibility to advise and guide our DCEs and Ministers to conduct themselves in a manner that will not precipitate another quick exit of the party from power".
Mr Appiah described the NPP and its tradition as a great "political heritage" that must be preserved for posterity through good counselling of its functionaries.
Mr Francis Dwira, interim regional chairman of the council said it has a crucial role to play in ensuring that government functionaries do not commit the mistakes that brought down past governments.
Mr Dwira said the council is not meant to undermine the executive structure of the party but to play an advisory role to strengthen it for good governance.
"Having been living witnesses to the political evolution of the country, we believe we have a special insight and experience that we are obliged to put at the disposal of party functionaries to enable them succeed".
Mr Kwasi Osei a businessman said the NPP would fail like the NDC if members insist that they are given monetary rewards for their sacrifices.
Mr Joseph Yaw Manu, interim regional organiser of the council appealed for financial support for the council to enhance the realisation of its objective.
Nana Boakye Agyemang, also a businessman suggested that branches of the council be formed at the district and constituency levels.
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Council of State members urged to be
non-partisan.
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday asked members of the Council of State not to be partisan in their deliberations but be objective as the nation lays the foundation for democracy.
He said the constitutional responsibility imposed on them required objectivity and non-partisanship.
President Kufuor was speaking when he administered the oath of membership and secrecy and presented instrument of appointment to two members of the Council at the State House in Accra.
They were Nana Otuo Siribour II, Juabenhene and Mrs Emma Mitchell, a former Minister of State and Government Advocate on Gender Issues.
He said with the array of expertise and experience at their disposal, members were expected to offer the best of advice that would ensure self-discipline in the leadership, adding: "Offer advice that would make the President become a true father of all Ghanaians."
President Kufuor said their advice should not be for the President alone but the entire nation and gave the assurance that he would accord the Council, the necessary respect and not take advantage of his office to disregard its decisions.
"I do not expect partiality in your deliberations but objectivity even if the advice might not be pleasant to me."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
The Ghana Agriculture Products Traders Organisation (GAPTO) has resolved to set up a task force at the Agbogbloshie Market to ensure regular supply of tomatoes and to check traders, who swindle farmers by failing to pay back their suppliers.
It called on the government to protect the farmers by helping it to establish offices in the districts to enable it to monitor the activities of its members, especially those who buy on credit.
The call was made at an emergency meeting of the Executive Members held in Accra on Thursday to ensure cordial relations between members and farmers and to remove mistrust and cheating that have characterised the tomatoes trade.
Members held the view that well organised district branches of the organisation were necessary to deal with the high incidence of traders swindling farmers, who supply tomatoes to them on credit.
They said the district offices could guarantee for its members and thereby ensure prompt payment to the farmers.
Alhaji Haruna Ageshika, General Secretary of GAPTO, told the meeting that because tomatoes were perishable, farmers were often forced to supply the produce on credit but the traders fail to pay back and the farmers have no way of monitoring the activities of the traders.
He advised members of the organisation to always honour their obligations under the terms of such credit arrangements.
He said due to lack of adequate storage and processing facilities, there was the need to regulate supply of tomatoes so as to avoid glut, often leading to financial loss to the growers.
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Elmina (Central Region) 09 July 2001
The Government has secured five million dollars grant for development projects in the Central Region as a result of adopting the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.
The amount is to be added to another five million dollars the government has for social services including health and education.
DR Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation said this on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor, at a durbar of Chiefs and people of the Edina Traditional Area to climax the celebration of their annual Bakatue festival at Elmina at the weekend.
The durbar was preceded by a colourful procession of chiefs through the principal streets, under a heavy police security because of a chieftaincy dispute in the area.
The Minister said the poverty alleviation programme would be focused on initiating more development projects for the five deprived regions the Central Region.
He said the economic situation in the country demands that development programmes are properly executed without misappropriation of funds.
Dr Nduom said the Government has secured enough funds to rehabilitate the Accra-Aflao, Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Cape Coast roads, adding that when Parliament approves of the bill on the roads sector the architectural design of the three roads will be reviewed before they would be tendered.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) on Saturday urged the authorities to strictly enforce national building regulations to instil discipline into the building industry to minimise disasters.
"The disaster at most of the affected areas could have been averted if the developers had adhered to building regulations," Mr Akwasi Owusu Akyaw, NADMO Operation's Director, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra after touring and participating in clean up exercise at some of the areas flooded recently.
He said contractors, architects and officials of Town and Country Planning Department, who fail to enforce the appropriate legislation on buildings leading to disaster should be sanctioned.
Mr Akyaw noted that rescue teams were hindered in their operations during the last Wednesday downpour because of inaccessibility.
People failed to abide by the regulations, which mandate developers to leave reasonable distance from the shoulders of drains, waterways and the roads, he observed.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 09 July 2001
Mr Abdoulie Cham, a Gambian on Sunday said Ghana does not discriminate against foreign students in the country.
Mr Cham who works as a senior geologist with the Gambian Geological Unit after receiving training in Ghana was bemused with the Ghanaian hospitality that enabled him to successfully complete a four-year course at the University of Ghana, Legon, last year.
Mr Cham came back to Ghana during the week to donate 200,000 cedis to the Chiefs and people of Hlefi, near Ho where he did a two-month mapping exercise as a student.
He said he was enthused about the warm reception given to him by the people saying "initially I was worried because I could not speak their language but they made the most crucial part of my course very successful and memorable."
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Elmina (Central Region) 09 July 2001
The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufour was on Saturday honoured as an 'Eminent Citizen' by the chiefs and people of the Edina Traditional Council for her contribution to health care delivery and concern for the people of Elmina.
She was among 12 persons who were given awards at a durbar of the chiefs and people of Edina to climax a weeklong celebration of their annual 'bakatue' festival at Elmina.
She was given a certificate and a citation that accompanied it read: " You took the nursing profession as your career and have helped save a lot of lives in your time. At a time when the young girls in Ghana, especially at Elmina are desperately looking for a God-fearing, honest, trustworthy and loving but firm mother as their role model you appear to be the answer to that prayer".
DR Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation received the award on behalf of Mrs Kufuor whose father is a citizen of the area.
Those honoured included Dr Nduom, who also hails from the area for his selfless contributions towards uplifting the image of Elmina and Mr Peter King Badu-Prah, a retired educationist and a former Central Regional Director of Education.
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