Farmers' day to be held on December 7
Memorandum of understanding to assist flood victims
Dual Citizens can vote - Bagbin
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament, said Ghanaians with dual citizenship could vote in an election in Ghana from their countries of residence provided the Electoral Commission has the logistics to extend such opportunity to them.
He said this had become possible following the passing of Act 591 and Act 573 last year on Citizenship and the Immigration Service respectively.
Mr Bagbin was reacting to a report quoting President J.A. Kufuor as saying in Lusaka that his government would submit a Bill on dual citizenship to Parliament to enable Ghanaians outside the country to vote in national elections.
He said the laws already exist and that the Ministry of the Interior last year submitted draft legislation to the Ministry of Justice on how the laws would be operated.
Mr Bagbin said what the President might probably be referring to is the draft legislation that has to be passed.
The rules or the regulations spell out the forms that one has to fill and whom to submit such forms when one wants to acquire dual citizenship.
He said Act 573 was passed in February last year while that of Citizenship was passed in December the same year.
On the intended code of conduct for ministers, Mr Bagbin said it would not be different from Chapter 24 of the Constitution that deals with code of conduct for public servants, including ministers as well declaration of assets and the resolution of conflict of interests.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
The Omanhene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Oseadeeye Dr Frimpong-Manso on Tuesday expressed concern about threats to peace and unity in the area by a protracted chieftaincy dispute.
He said the dispute is threatening to tear the traditional area apart and called on the government to intervene immediately with the deployment of rapid security force to forestall bloodshed.
The Omanhene also appealed to the Eastern Region House of Chiefs to expedite action in settling the dispute.
The Omanhene made the appeal at a news conference in Accra to draw the government's attention to the volatile security situation in the traditional area.
He said a faction of the Attafuah family last Sunday attacked him and his entourage with stones and other dangerous implements destroying property.
Oseadeeye Frimpong-Manso said the dispute started immediately after his enstoolment in 1999 after going through proper customary tradition of selection.
"I was nominated by the Queenmother of the traditional area, Nana Akua Asantewaa II and dully approved by the six Kingmakers and enstooled as the Omanhene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional area under the stool name Oseadeeye Frimpong-Manso IV."
He said the enstoolment ceremony was violently interrupted during the swearing of Oath of allegiance by sub-chiefs and a section of people opposed to him.
He claimed that Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for the area, supports the other faction.
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The government is to pay the negotiated salaries of members of the Joint Consultative Forum at the end of July, the Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo said on Tuesday.
He said in a statement issued in Accra that the new salaries would take effect from last May as agreed at negotiations with the Forum.
Those to benefit are the Civil Servants' Association of Ghana, Ghana Registered Nurses Association, Ghana National Association of Teachers, Judicial Service Workers Association and Health Workers Association.
"The agreed salary levels reflect among other things the new minimum wage announced by Government in May and a continuation of the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS). Agreement on the new schedule of allowances was also reached on 9th July, 2001."
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Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 11 July 2001
The University of Iowa in the United States will soon commission a research to assess the contributions of Techiman market-based associations to the development of the town.
The project will also analyse the developmental needs of the 72 associations, Professor Rex Honey, Director of Global Studies of the University, said in an interaction with the market associations and traders as part of the preparatory work on the project.
He said the findings of the research would form the basis of a blueprint for the development of similar market-based associations in Africa.
Prof. Honey said Techiman, one of the largest markets in West Africa, was chosen for the project in acknowledgement of Ghana's reputation as a hospitable country.
Mr Michael Kwadwo Ankomah of the Techiman District Assembly said the cosmopolitan status of Techiman makes it ideal for the project and expressed the hope that the research findings would help in the development of the district.
Madam Martha Kumah, President of the associations, pledged the readiness of members to support the project for the benefit of the people.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 11 July 2001
Mr Ben Bukari Salifu, Northern Regional Minister on Tuesday urged Ghanaian scientists not to over rely on Western science to the neglect of traditional knowledge.
He suggested the establishment of centres for the learning and application of science and technology to enhance the development of Africa.
Mr Salifu was speaking at the opening of "Africa Scientific Renaissance Day" organised by the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), the Water and Animal Research Institute and the University for Development Studies (UDS) at Tamale.
The Regional Minister called for the review of the science curriculum of schools to make it more practical with emphasis on the physical and biological sciences.
Dr Abdulai Baba Salifu, acting Director of SARI said the institute has developed a de-wormer for animals from pawpaw.
He said SARI was also looking at ways to improve soil fertility by encouraging the use of compost by farmers.
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Sunyani (Eastern Region) 11 July 2001
Mr Selwyn Bart Mettle, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Brong Ahafo Region on Tuesday stressed the need for the military and the police to strive to find common grounds to collaborate even in the face of provocations.
"As pivots of the country's security apparatus, we must endeavour to close our ranks at all times and ignore sentiments, incidents and public utterances that have the tendency to draw a wedge between us".
Mr Mettle was addressing a police/military durbar at Sunyani as part of measures adopted by the Regional Command of the two institutions to improve relations and co-operation between them.
He said since the change in the security policy by the NPP government, the public has been making unguarded statements, which have sought to question the loyalty of the military following the police take-over of certain state functions.
"Such sentiments have the tendency to strain relationship between the police and the military and must be ignored.
"As sister institutions, we must complement each other, join forces and close our ranks so that with unity, we can discharge our duties to the state which are to defend the territorial integrity of our nation and guarantee the safety and freedoms of our people".
Staff Sgt Lenox Nyaka of the Third Garrison called on the Command of the two institutions to organise regular durbars to enhance greater interaction between policemen and soldiers.
He expressed concern about the level of indiscipline in the police, which he said had led them to maltreat anyone who came into contact with them, including soldiers.
He recalled instances during joint operations with the police when junior ranks openly challenged and disobeyed senior officers, a situation that could never happen in the military.
"This has not helped the police to attract the needed respect from the public and for that matter the military".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor on Tuesday launched the National Partnership for Children Trust Fund to promote changes in social perception and increase social awareness on the right of the child, especially the right to basic education and protection from economic exploitation.
The Trust Fund, an effort of an alliance of partners including UNICEF, is to unite all sectors of the society towards a common goal of helping children.
A 12-member board of trustees made up of renowned public-spirited personalities from diverse backgrounds would manage the fund establish by the National Partnership for Children (NPC) and Ecobank Ghana limited. President John Kufuor launched the NPC in April.
Mrs Kufuor said statistics show that more than one out of every 20 children in Ghana dies before they reach the age of one.
"It has also been established that only four out of five children in the relevant age group attend primary school."
Mrs Kufuor said it is unfortunate that these worrying revelations depict the horrifying and painful truth about children who constitute about 54 per cent of the population.
Dr Jean Nelson Aka, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana Limited, stressed the need for everybody to contribute to the fund to improve the situation of the children to ensure their survival, growth, development and continue to protect the national heritage.
"With your contributions some children who are hungry and go to bed with empty stomachs would be fed. Others who are afflicted with diseases could be vaccinated and cured.
"Some children who are in despair and filled with hatred would now understand love and have hope," he said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
This year's National Farmers' Day celebration will be held on December 7, a statement from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said on Tuesday.
The statement signed by Mr F. Apeagyei, Special Adviser to the Minister, said it would take place as an integral part of AGRIFEX 2001, the first Ghana International Food and Agriculture Trade fair to be held from December 3-9.
The fair is being organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in association with the Ghana Trade Fair Company.
The statement said several individuals, companies and organisations have been invited to take part. They include farmers, processors, bankers, marketing agents, researchers and florists.
They will showcase Ghana's agricultural opportunities in order to chart a path for the future development of the agricultural sector under the slogan "Grow what we eat, eat what we can and can what we cannot."
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Streamline the building industry - RM tells
contractors
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 11 July 2001
Mr Sampson K. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister on Tuesday called on all stakeholders to find ways of streamlining operations within the building industry to eliminate waste.
He said streamlining the industry would enable the government to know qualified electrical contractors as well as help to generate revenue.
Mr Boafo made the call when he met the Ashanti Region branch of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA) in Kumasi to discuss issues pertaining to their work.
He observed that government buildings do not have smoke detectors and emergency exits and this posed serious danger for occupants.
He said it was, therefore, necessary for building and electrical contractors, plumbers and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to collaborate to ensure that buildings were safe from occupation.
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Fumesua (Ashanti Region) 11 July 2001
Professor Dominic K. Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, on Tuesday called on district assemblies to re-think their strategies and infuse more dynamism into their efforts at job creation and poverty reduction.
It is high time the assemblies departed from the traditional ways of doing things and developed pragmatic approach towards solving problems of poverty and unemployment in their areas, Professor Fobih said during a briefing session on the Rural Enterprise Project (REP), which is an integrated rural development package designed to boost rural economies by raising incomes and productivity.
Professor Fobih warned that the government would not accept the situation where project funds meant for assisting in the reduction of poverty among the rural population were either diverted for different purposes or dissipated on those, who do not deserve to benefit from such funds.
He made reference to an instance where an assembly he did not name used 30 million cedis of its Poverty Alleviation Fund to support 'Cashpro', a private cocoa buying company.
Members of Parliament (MPs), District Chief Executives, Presiding Members, District Co-ordinating Directors and District Planning Officers from REP's beneficiary districts attended the session.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ghana Government are funding REP, which began in 1995, at a total cost of about 9.3 million dollars.
It is currently being implemented in 13 districts in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions.
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Kpongwunor (Eastern Region) 11 July 2001
Members of the youth wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, on Sunday disrupted a meeting called by the Chairman, Mr Padi Asimeng to iron out differences among faction over the choice of a District Chief Executive.
According to an eyewitness, the youth who got wind of the meeting, which was taking place at the Liberty Hotel, Odumase rushed there and removed the Constituency Secretary, Mr Opata Paditey from his chair.
They then took away some party files after having destroyed certain documents placed on the secretary's table. Mr Asimeng called off the meeting and left the scene immediately.
When contacted, Mr Andrews Madjitey, Chairman of the youth wing, confirmed the incident and said their action stemmed from the fact that the "meeting was illegal since only three of the 29 electoral areas making up the constituency were invited".
He said following the disquiet over the nomination of Mr Andrews Tei as a DCE, the constituency leadership in a bid to help thaw the various factions in the dispute decided to organise a meeting.
Consequently, the youth proposed a date for the said meeting but unknown to them, the Constituency Chairman and the Secretary were convening another meeting and this infuriated the youth.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
A ministerial conference will be held next week to discuss a draft code of ethics for public officials as part of the government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Presidential Affairs, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday that the Attorney General's Department was working out details of the code, which would soon receive presidential assent to sanction any public officer who indulges in irregularities.
He said all Ministers of State had since last April declared their assets to enhance accountability.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, who also commented on the on-going renovation of the Castle, said work on the official residence of the president would be completed before the end of this month whilst the office for the presidency would be completed next month.
He said the Scandinavian consultants evaluating the entire works at the Castle have submitted their report "and we will get back to them, but I am afraid the project will take a very long time before it is completed."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 20011
Mr Solomon Ofei Darko, Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday warned that corrupt revenue collectors would be punished.
"We know them and the law will not have mercy on anyone caught in the web," he said during a familiarisation tour of the Ablekuma Sub-Metro Council at Abossey Okai in Accra.
He said his office had instituted a mechanism for detecting corrupt revenue collectors who would be prosecuted at the Fast Track Courts.
Mr Darko announced that as part of the decentralisation programme urban, zonal and unit councils would be established to bring governance to the doorstep of people at the grassroots where planning for development would also begin.
"When these councils are strengthened to execute programmes in their areas of jurisdiction it would ease the burden on the metropolitan assembly".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
A fund will soon be set up to solicit money to equip the Police Service and boost the morale of police personnel, the Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu said on Monday.
Alhaji Yakubu, who was speaking in Accra when he received a cheque for 10 million cedis on behalf of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) from the Ghana Chamber of Mines to assist flood victims, said cabinet has given its backing to the fund.
The Minister said the police have the constitutional mandate to defend and protect the public and it is only proper to equip them with the necessary logistics to enable them to perform effectively.
He deplored the way building regulations are flouted with impunity and said the government would implement long-term measures to strengthen these regulations to deter people from breaking them.
He said despite the constraints NADMO faces, it has lived up to expectation adding that its personnel could perform better if given the right equipment.
Mr. James Kwamina Anaman, President of the Chamber said members were deeply saddened by the havoc and deaths caused by the rains.
"This is therefore our widow's mite to the effort of NADMO to alleviate the pain and suffering of the flood victims and their relatives".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 July 2001
Ghana, the United States and the Consortium of Non-governmental Organisations on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 25,000 dollars to assist the victims of the June 27 floods.
The money is to buy clothing, blankets, water storage facilities, detergents and poly mats, among others, for the victims of the disaster that claimed about 13 lives and destroyed property worth millions of cedis.
At the signing ceremony in Accra, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior thanked the US government for its assistance, saying the agreement confirms both the short and long-term plans of the two governments to avoid the re-occurrence of such disasters, including the May 9 stadium disaster.
Alhaji Malik said: "if we ensure that every unauthorised structure is pulled down, especially from water ways, the US is ready to assist to construct better drainage systems".
Mr Jay Knott, Deputy Director of US Agency for International Development (USAID) said the US would continue to assist Ghana. Mr. Joseph Wumbee, Chairman of the inter-NGO Consortium, said the consortium and NADMO have identified the worst affected areas and provided the victims with 86 bales of used clothing, 7,500 pieces of poly-mats and 7,500 bars of soap.
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