GRi Newsreel Ghana 20 - 07 - 2001
Don't encourage children into prostitution - Churcher
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, on Thursday urged the military to be perpetually alert to protect the nation from active threats along her land and maritime borders.
He said much as the nation has no territorial ambition nor any intentions of interfering in the internal affairs of neighbouring states, active threats like smuggling, illegal arms trade, occasional border demarcation problems, armed infiltrators, massive poaching of her maritime resources by foreign travellers demand that the Armed Forces assume a posture of "perpetual alertness."
Dr Addo Kufuor made the call in Accra at lecture at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College on the topic: "Defence and Wider Government Policy."
The Minister said although it is the cardinal duty for the Armed Forces to ensure that Ghana did not become subservient to any other nation and her people were free, the cardinal duty of the survival of the state as an independent sovereign nation should not be viewed predominantly as military or police problem.
"It should rather be regarded in its broader meaning, which encompasses political, economic, social and environmental concerns of the people."
Citing events in Sierra Leone, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo as examples, the Defence Minister called for adequate protection of Ghana's minerals.
"Nations endowed with rich resources but which are without developed state institutions to protect them act like magnets, attracting bandits, mercenaries, rebels, criminals and other lawless people in search of plunder."
Dr Addo Kufuor said even within her limited resources, if Ghana does nothing to help stem the tide of conflicts in the sub-region, she herself will be overwhelmed by the chaos and anarchy from these conflicts and might go the way of her unfortunate neighbours.
He said the end of the Cold War coupled with the economic reforms in Eastern Europe have contributed to increased marginalisation of Africa and reduced her external inflows.
Dr Addo Kufuor said Africa is in a dilemma. She is faced with the choice of either globalisation, for which she is not adequately prepared, or marginalisation, which would deprive her of the benefits available in the global village.
He asked the Armed Forces to understand the dilemma and adopt a positive attitude to democratic governance and rule of law, saying this could help African societies develop guidelines to take their rightful place in the wider world.
Dr Addo Kufuor drew a correlation between timeframe, peace and stability in developing the human resources of a country and overall national development
and warned against military coups and interference, which scare away foreign direct investment (FDI).
The Defence Minister again emphasized that while everything about the military could not be made public, its budget must be read on the floor of Parliament and the Ministry of Defence must take the Parliamentary Committee on Defence into confidence on several issues.
"However, for the sake of national security, such items as guns, ammunition weapons, aircraft and other military sensitive items must be kept secret."
During question and answer time the Minister agreed with the officers on the need to organise periodic and frequent interactions with and education for the media on military practices to ensure objective and fair reportage on the military's activities.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Awutu-Bawjiase (Central Region) 20 July 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor has initiated exclusive projects to be implemented at a fast-track rate throughout the country to create job avenues for the youth and alleviate poverty, especially in the rural areas.
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development announced this in a speech read for him at a farmers' forum at Awutu-Bawjiase in the Ewutu-Efutu Senya district.
The first of such projects, he said is the Corporate Village Enterprise (COVE) that seeks to establish large-scale export oriented ventures, to be collectively owned by farmers in rural communities and managed by high calibre professionals with proven managerial and technical expertise.
The Minister said he has been selected to supervise the first COVE under which cassava would be produced and processed into starch for export.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said about 2,500 farmers located within 25 kilometres radius in the district are to be registered as shareholders of the scheme and would be assisted to produce the raw material to feed the industry.
His Ministry has been charged to provide administrative and logistics support through the district assemblies, to ensure the successful implementation of project.
He said the President would ensure that projects he has initiated get off the ground by the end of the year, to enable the youth to contribute to the development of their respective communities.
Mr Baah-Wiredu urged the district assembly to make it possible for interested farmers to obtain land by next month for the cultivation of crops for the minor season.
Mr Osei Owusu-Agyeman, UNDP/Enterprise Africa representative, who is also the National Co-ordinator of COVE, educated the farmers on the essence of the project and advised them to embrace it.
He said the government has earmarked seven million dollars for the Bawjiase scheme, cassava processing machines and other equipment are expected in the country soon.
The industry would also serve as a source of animal feed for livestock farmers and the wastewater, a form of fertiliser, would be supplied free of charge to registered farmers. The shareholders who would be mainly farmers would be given the opportunity to determine the price of cassava.
Mr Owusu-Agyeman said government plans to extend the industry to other parts of the country depending on the success of the Bawjiase one.
Mr Nicolas Niiquaye, District Director of Agriculture assured prospective shareholders that his outfit would supply them with adequate improved variety of cassava sticks selected for the project.
Nai Kwao Otuo, Central Regional Chairmen of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) and Nai Kweku Osardu Bawjiasehene promised to release land for the project.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 20 July 2001
Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, on Thursday said that efforts to achieve sustainable development through capacity building must not be limited to academic style of conferences and seminars alone.
He stressed that participatory learning process, which could stimulate the local people to take action to better their living standards, should also be taken into consideration.
Mr Boafo was speaking at the launching of the Social Investment Fund (SIF), the sixth pilot project under the Ghana Poverty Reduction Initiative in the country in the Subin Sub-Metropolitan Area of Kumasi.
Mr Ernest Kwarteng, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director read the speech on behalf of the Minister.
Mr Boafo noted that it was important that communities were given the chance to appreciate the problems they face, talk about them and find the best ways to solve them.
He said the people's involvement in sustainable development has always been hailed as the key to real progress and development and noted that though the new local government system has chalked some measure of success, the living conditions of the people have not seen any significant improvement.
Mr Boafo said: "Over the years, development projects have been haphazardly implemented resulting in waste and loss of resources transferred to the district assemblies. Funds specifically meant for poverty alleviation were misapplied".
He stressed that the government was poised to ensure that poverty reduction interventions such as the SIF were made to serve the purpose for which they were established by ensuring that the target groups benefit from it.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Cooperation said joining Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative was of a great benefit to the nation because it would help solve the socio-economic problems facing Ghanaians.
Dr Nduom said the government was committed to the welfare of Ghanaians and would not sit down unconcerned for the people to live in poverty and ignorance.
The Minister told the people that the government would no doubt complement their efforts and, therefore, urged them to embrace the project to enhance their socio-economic development.
Nana Awuah Kronko, Apemhasehene, who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, called on the Ashanti Regional Minister to create awareness of the facility in all corners of the region.
He called on the people in the Sub-metro to seriously team up, form cooperatives and work hard towards its sustenance so that other communities would benefit from it.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Cape Coast (Central Region) 20 July 2001
The Central Regional Police Command on Thursday appealed to residents of Cape Coast and Elmina as well as visitors to the fifth Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST 2001), which takes off next Saturday to assist in ensuring effective security during the period.
The Regional Commander, Mr George Obeng, who made the appeal in a statement issued at Cape Coast, gave the assurance that his outfit has put in place adequate security measures to make the festival incident-free.
He, however, pointed out that "absolute security cannot be taken for granted" and that there was the need for the general public to assist by being security conscious.
"This appeal has become imperative in view of the fact that the festival, which is expected to attract numerous visitors worldwide, s also bound to attract a lot of social misfits, who will use the congestion to rob and engage in other vices to discredit the region and the nation as a whole."
The statement, therefore, among other things, advised residents as well as vehicles owners to secure their property when leaving for any of the festival's activities and charged hoteliers to be on the look out and promptly report anyone, who trails lodgers to their premises.
It stressed the need for the public to co-operate fully with the security agencies in ensuring the success of the festival and to contact the Police on telephone numbers 32465, 32411 and 32464 if they have anything to report.
The statement also reminded the public that it was an offence punishable by law to beg for alms and that an operation would soon be mounted to rid the streets of beggars.
The statement warned against the use of beaches as places of convenience and said offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Takoradi (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
Dr Baffour Agyeman-Duah, Associate Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), on Thursday called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to invite the Military to collaborate with the Police combating the current high spate of armed robbery in the country.
"Armed robbers are becoming daring and there is a general sense of insecurity among Ghanaians", he said.
Dr Agyeman-Duah made these statements in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Takoradi.
He said the Police, which lacks basic equipment could not cope with the crime wave thus the need to assist them.
"The boldness of the armed robbers is so frightening that unless the military assists the police, the latter cannot control the situation alone", he added.
Dr Agyeman-Duah noted that since the Military has been assisting in emergency situations, it would only be proper to invite them o help reduce the incidence of robbery and restore the confidence of the citizenry.
He also called on Ghanaians not to condemn former President Jerry John Rawlings as he adjusts to his new role as a Senior Statesman.
He explained: "It is difficult to adjust into a new role" and appealed to all Ghanaians to bear with him and help him resettle.
Dr Agyeman-Duah, however, advised the former President to be circumspect in his language and to live as an elder statesman.
"This can be done effectively if he does not interfere in partisan politics but rather give constructive ideas to all Ghanaians."
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Agona Swedru (Central Region) 20 July 2001
The European Union (EU) has released a total of 48.6 billion cedis for the construction of 700 health and educational facilities through out the country this year.
Dr Kweku Osafo, EU National Project Manager who announced this during an inspection of ongoing projects at Agona Swedru said the amount covers the first phase of the programme.
He said the projects which would be supported by the communities with communal labour are expected to be completed and commissioned in January/February 2002.
Dr Osafo who was accompanied by Mr Neketia Sarpong, Project Manager for Central and Ashanti regions said the objective of the EU was to assist the government to provide more health and educational facilities especially in the rural areas.
He said more projects would be undertaken under the second phase of the programme if the first phase was completed on time.
Dr Osafo commended the people for their enthusiastic support for the projects and called on the engineers of the district assemblies to give technical advice to ensure quality work.
Mr John Agyabeng, Agona District Chief Executive assured the EU that the assembly would provide its share 25 per cent of the cost in support of the projects to complete them on schedule.
He said the assembly would renovate all dilapidated school structures to enhance teaching and learning.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Nana Akomea, on Thursday said his ministry is working in collaboration with the Hydrology Department of the Ministry of Works and Housing to solve the problem of flooding at the Secaps Hotel.
The Deputy Minister who was speaking during an inspection of the hotel to ascertain damage caused by the recent floods in Accra, said the management of the hotel which has ceased operation since the floods, would need advice from the Hydrology department for the next step to be taken.
Mr. Minta A. Aboagye, Acting Director of the Hydrology Department, who accompanied Nana Akomea, said the situation at the hotel would thoroughly be examined for the right decision to be taken.
Mr. Aboagye said to prevent flooding there is the need to restructure some of the hotel buildings to allow free flow of water.
He said although flooding is a natural occurrence and cannot be completely prevented, some of its adverse effects could be minimized if appropriate actions were taken.
Mr. Smart Binitie, Manager of the hotel, said although there were floods in 1995, the Secaps hotel was not in the least affected and blamed the recent floods on the springing up of new structures in the area.
Mr. Binitie told newsmen that the hotel, located near the Tetteh Quarshie Circle, lost about 50,000 dollars worth of electrical equipment. The cost of other items damaged during the floods has not yet been ascertained.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kumasi (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
The managements of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and private television and frequency modulation (FM) stations have been called upon to stop airing profane music and films.
Mr Opoku Agyemang Prempeh, Managing Director of Lakayana Company Limited, a general building firm in Kumasi, made the call in an interview with the GNA in Kumasi.
He said the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS and general increase in immorality could be traced to bad music played by the FM stations and foreign films shown on the television screens.
Most of the films shown are foreign and tend to portray cultures based on permissiveness that extol violence and sexual promiscuity under misconceived concepts of individual freedoms.
He said though a certain level of indiscipline existed in the system it had not reached such alarming proportions.
Mr Prempeh, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Ashanti Region branch of the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (ABCEC), said the
proliferation of FM and TV stations has unleashed on the country a furore of western ways of doing things.
He said since the youth are impressionable, they develop affection for crime, indiscriminate sex and disrespect for authority and the aged.
Mr Prempeh stressed that the managements of the electronic media should not allow the profit motive to blind them to their role of educating people in a more positive direction to enable them to contribute towards national security and development and building a disciplined nation.
He suggested to the FM and TV stations play music and show films that edify society and instil sound and decent morals in the youth to prepare them adequately for leadership roles in the future.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
Sheikh Ibrahim Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Thursday said disaster management is a developmental issue and not a health problem, and called for collaboration in the setting up of rapid response to emergencies.
He said there is the need for networking among the military, health officials and the Regional Coordinating Council to help in the establishment of an efficient emergency response to disaster in the Accra metropolis.
In a speech read for him at a stakeholders meeting on the establishment of an ambulance system in the Accra metropolis, Sheikh Quaye expressed concern that after 44 years of nationhood, Ghana could not boast of an efficient response to emergencies.
Experts drawn from various places, including the Fire Service, Health sector and the media, attended the meeting organised by the Accra Metro Health Directorate.
Sheikh Quaye said Ghana had experienced many life-threatening emergencies, including the Air Link crash and the accident involving the school bus of the Aburi Girls Secondary School.
He said there is the need to make sure that many lives are saved and disabilities from injuries lessened.
He charged the participants to collaborate with the Ministry of Defence, which is in the process of setting up a disaster management programme, to avoid duplication and waste of resources.
Dr Andrews Arde-Acquah, Metro Director of Health Services, said ambulance services would be established in areas along the Weija-Kasoa road, Pantang and Achimota to take care of various problems including road traffic accidents.
He said as soon as the cost of the project was worked out, proposals for implementation would be forwarded to parliament.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
The Attafuah House of Akyem Kotoku said in Accra on Thursday that the Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo was not involved in the chieftaincy dispute in the town as alleged by Oseadeayo Frimpong Manso IV, the disputed Omanhene.
"We wish to state categorically that Honourable Osafo-Maafo has never played any role in the Kotoku stool dispute," it said in a statement signed by Mr Kwame Appiah and Mr Kofi Ofori of Akyem Oda Old Town.
"We do know him as a man imbued with sound moral principles who would not involve himself in any act that would tarnish his hard won reputation.
"For the teeming ambitious young people of the Constituency, he is a role model who inspires us to achieve excellence in our various professional pursuits." The finance Minister is the MP for Oda.
Oseadeayo Frimpong Manso on July 10 told a press conference in Accra that there were threats to peace and unity in the area by the protracted chieftaincy dispute.
He said the dispute was 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.
He said a faction of the Attafuah Family on July 8 attacked him and his entourage with stones and other dangerous implements destroying property and accused the Minister of supporting the Attafuah divide.
But the Attafuah family said the statement by Oseadeayo Frimpong Manso, whose installation has triggered the dispute, was a "desperate attempt to drag otherwise honourable personalities into the gutter with him."
The statement said the Abusuapanin of the Agona Royal Family in conjunction with the Hweakwaehene has filed a petition with the judicial committee of the Eastern Region House of Chiefs challenging the royalty of Oseadeayo Frimpong Manso, known in private life as Dr Joseph Kyei Minta.
The petition is also challenging the purported enstoolment by the queenmother, Nana Akua Asantewaa II.
"The judicial committee has indeed been taking evidence subsequent to the filing of the of the petition in May, 1999. Surprisingly, Kyei Minta has never attended any of the numerous sittings so far to establish his royalty.
"We advise (him) to submit himself to the Eastern Region House of Chiefs and prove his royalty and claim to the Kotoku Stool."
In a reaction to the Attafuah challenge however, the Omanhene of Akyem Kotoku stated on Friday that his royalty to the throne is indisputable.
"I am ready to prove it within five minutes before any competent body or committee," he said.
Oseadeayo Frimpong Manso IV, the Omanhene, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra stating that Mr Kwame Appiah and Mr Kofi Ofori who had defended the Attafuah course are the Oda constituency secretary and deputy secretary respectively of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Oseadeayo Frimpong Manso explained that he has personally not appeared before the judicial committee of the Eastern Region House of Chiefs because "it is the kingmakers and queenmother who installed me who have to prove the royalty of the chief.'
"In any case, I am ready to prove my lineage in less than five minutes.
"My uncle has been the Abusuapanin of the Frimpong Manso royal family in Oda. Nana Nyankomango, the immediate past and Nana Atia Yaw, the current Abusuapanyin, are also my direct uncles."
The Omanhene stated that any person, who claimed origin to Kotoku would have linkage or relatives with the Asante Akyems.
He expressed concern about threats to peace and unity in the area by the protracted chieftaincy dispute noting that the relative calmness now does not mean that all is well.
He said there are people, who go around threatening others "as I was last Sunday threatened by one Kofi Owusu in the palace with a pistol. These developments are not healthy for the traditional area."
Oseadeeyo Frimpong-Manso reiterated the call on the government to control the volatile security situation in the traditional area.
He explained that the dispute started immediately after his enstoolment in 1999 after going through the proper customary tradition of selection.
"I was nominated by the Queenmother of the traditional area, Nana Akua Asantewaa II and duly approved by the six Kingmakers and enstooled as the Omanhene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional area under the stool name Oseadeeyo 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.
The Omanhene said the Attafuahs are from the Akim Bosume traditional area and settled at Kotoku to understudy their traditions as well as for protection and were never part of the royalty.
He said since the last incident, the police have not as yet arrested anybody and the culprits walk about in town and continue to threaten others while boasting that no one can touch them.
He said truth should be the yardstick of any decision that one takes and people should avoid using their seemingly influential position to perpetuate falsehood and cause mayhem.
He said the development of the traditional area is his main concern and urged all to remain calm and support him to implement his development policies to uplift the image of towns and villages under him.
"We should not use our scarce resources in protracted chieftaincy disputes to the detriment of the community."
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 July 2001
Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of State for Basic, Secondary and Girl-Child Education, on Thursday urged parents and guardians to stop pushing their teenage girls into prostitution by neglecting their welfare.
Ms Churcher, who was the key speaker at a ceremony in Accra to launch a handbook on the rights of the child, cited a case reported to her in her constituency, Cape Coast, where a mother stopped providing for her daughter and urged her to exploit her beauty to cater for her needs.
Ms Churcher said: "When I confronted the mother she proudly told me that when she was her daughter's age she brought money home. She was encouraging her to bear fruits when she wasn't mature."
She said parents and guardians should not use poverty as an excuse to be irresponsible because children have the right to food, shelter, healthcare and education.
The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, was the special guest of honour at the ceremony attended by representatives of women's groups and pupils of basic schools.
Ms Churcher commended the Ghanaian Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) for publishing the handbook: "The Rights of the Ghanaian Child," to create awareness among children, parents, policymakers and teachers on the need to uphold children's rights.
The 35-page illustrated handbook, published with support of the German Agency for Technical Co-operation, is the simplification of the Children's Act 560 and the Criminal Code Amendment Act 554.
It seeks to eliminate all legal technical language so as to make the laws understandable to all sections of the public and encourages children to accept their rights and guard against their violation.
The handbook, launched by Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women's Affairs, highlights the treatment of the disabled child, right to express an opinion, protection from torture and degrading treatment, forced betrothals and marriages and penalty for contravention.
It spells out the roles of the district assemblies and the Department of Social Welfare, the duty of individuals, children in need of care and protection, children's rights under the intestate succession law, the child and the social security laws and the right to parental property.
Ms Churcher advised parents to provide for their children even when they are over 18 years, until they have been adequately prepared for life.
Most children at 18 are unskilled and not well endowed to face life as adults, she said.
Ms Churcher advised fathers who deny paternity of their children because they are conceived outside wedlock to acknowledge them and provide for their needs as they also have rights.
"I have received several letters from children complaining about irresponsible fathers and some of them are pathetic."
She said sexual offences against children are rising, especially in schools, and asked authorities in educational institutions to report such cases to the police and the Ghana Education Service.
"We (government) will not tolerate these abuses and we will ensure that offenders are prosecuted."
Mrs Asmah said her Ministry is coordinating with others to establish a Victim Support System to cater for children whose parents are prosecuted for violating their rights so that they do not suffer.
"We have realised that several abuses against children are not reported for fear of becoming destitute when the offenders are punished."
Mrs Kufuor expressed her commitment to advocate the rights of children to ensure that they become responsible adults and leaders in future.
"The recognition of their rights is basic to their survival and we should guard against their exploitation, abuse and exposure to pornography and prostitution," she said. "No one should force a child into early marriage."
The president of FIDA, Mrs Ernestina Naana Hagan, said the handbook would be translated into the major Ghanaian languages and promoted through the use of games, films and other aids.
She, however, stressed the need to complement education with the provision of basic needs and facilities to achieve success and appealed to government and district assemblies to provide these.
Ms Hagan appealed for support to enable FIDA to acquire spacious accommodation for offices so that it can cater for its large clientele.
FIDA, established in 1974, provides free legal aid and services to the poor.
It handles about 50 cases a day, most of which involve the neglect, maintenance, custody and support of children.
Mrs Elizabeth Owiredu-Gyampoh, past president of FIDA, who chaired the ceremony, said the best guide for parents to uphold the rights of children is to recall their childhood experiences and avoid threatening their children against the things they feared and hated.
Two thousand handbooks have so far been published. They were given free to children, but sold at 5,000 cedis a copy to parents.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com