GRi Newsreel Ghana 24 - 07 - 2001
"We'll respond positively to home call if..." Ghanaian expatriates
A private container terminal starts operation
next month
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
Nigeria on Tuesday threw its weight behind the candidature of Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, MP for Bimbilla, for the post of Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mr Chimaobi Nwakanma, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Nigerian National Assembly, who made this known in Accra, said Ghana and
Nigeria share common historical, political and cultural ties and there is the need for them to harness resources to spearhead the development of the sub-region.
Mr Nwakanma, who is leading a 15-member delegation to the country for a five-day visit geared towards the preparation for the establishment of an ECOWAS Parliament, said both countries were poised to move the sub-region forward.
"It is, therefore, necessary for consultation and collaboration among the various arms of government to ensure the success of that goal."
The government is putting forward Dr Chambas, for many years Deputy Foreign Minister and a key architect of the Liberian peace agreement in the middle
1990s.
Mr Nwakanwa praised Ghana for the successful transition from one democratically elected government to another saying, "member countries of the continent must emulate this".
Mr Okerchiri Adusa, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, who welcomed the delegation, said they would discuss how to fast-track the implementation of ECOWAS protocols.
The delegation will call on President John Agyekum Kufuor, the Speaker, Mr
Peter Ala Adjetey and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning and Regional Integration, Trade and Industry, and Tourism.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Monday said the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) have been vindicated through the birth of the African Union.
He said it was now time for "our generation of African leaders and peoples to have the same passion and determination of the founding fathers to forge a strong union."
Mr Baah-Wiredu, who was speaking at the 49th Independence Anniversary celebration of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Accra, said the union must be capable of confronting the challenges of underdevelopment, conflicts, poverty and disease that afflict the continent.
The Minister said collaboration between the two past leaders of Ghana and Egypt - Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Gamel Addul Nasser respectively - served as a catalyst for the decolonisation process that gathered unprecedented momentum leading to the independence of several African countries.
Mr Baah-Wiredu lauded African leaders for their conviction at the recent
OAU summit in Lusaka, Zambia, that the union should become a true community of peoples.
He said the commitment and resolution of the leaders and the emphasis on the principles of a common African identity unity and solidarity were reminiscent of the tenacity of the founding fathers.
The minister stressed that the increasing globalisation of the world, characterised by economic revolution, advances in information and communication technology, made it a necessity for a unionisation of Africa.
"Any country or continent that fails to adapt, risks being marginalised by technological advancement. For this reason African countries who are already at a disadvantage by the prevailing inequitable international economic systems must redouble their efforts to strengthen co-operation."
Mr Moneim Talaat, Egyptian Ambassador said the two countries hosted and
supported African liberation movements and actively contributed in shaping and
accelerating changes in the international arena.
He said arrangements were far advanced to exchange missions to promote
economic and business transactions to revive bilateral trade.
Mr Talaat said Egypt would share with Ghana its experiences in the tourism industry and co-operate with her in the fields of energy, oil, gas and communications.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
Ghanaian expatriates attending the first ever Homecoming Summit in Accra have said they are prepared to respond positively to the objective of the event, which among other things, seeks to repatriate home their skills and resources towards nation building.
However, a lot needs to be done to woo citizens' confidence to take the bold step to relocate at home.
At least 500 Ghanaians living abroad, mostly, the Americas and Europe, and dozens of home-based citizens are participating in the three-day summit, organised by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre with support from the government.
Organisers say they expect the numbers to increase, as more people were still arriving at the Accra International Conference Centre, venue for the Summit, which is also hosting an exhibition of local and foreign businesses to showcase potential investment areas for the home-comers.
"This Homecoming only marks the beginning of the long process of creating the right atmosphere for us to return," said Joseph Osei, a Reverend Minister and journalist.
Mr Osei, 51, who said he left Ghana 18 years ago for further studies, could not tell whether he would relocate back home immediately.
"May be I will decide in the next two years, depending on my conviction that the golden rights are there."
Mr Osei, however, expressed the hope that President John Kufuor means well to harness Ghanaian resources abroad for development.
"I am impressed about the fact that the government is giving recognition to
Ghanaian expatriates and acknowledging their worth in our dear country's stride towards development."
Mr Osei, who said he has obtained a US citizenship, said what struck him most is the offer for dual citizenship for Ghanaians holding other nationalities.
In his opening address, President Kufuor gave the assurance that the Dual
Citizenship law, which would soon be put before Parliament, would become effective by the close of the year.
Similarly, in acknowledgement of contributions by Ghanaian expatriates to national revenue, government would move to accord them the right to vote in the near future, the President added.
Mrs Victoria Manford, an investment consultant based in London for the past
25 years, observed that the summit holds "good tidings" for nationals abroad, depending on the outcome of the exchanges.
She said most often, expatriate Ghanaians arriving home are frustrated by bureaucracy.
For example, she said, certain procedures and requirements for owning a house at home tend to keep applicants away, rather than serve as a motivation.
Presentations at the summit would cover finance export trade, agro-business, education, health and manufacturing.
Official records say Ghanaians living abroad contribute between 300 million and 400 million dollars annually at the informal level, making it the country's third biggest foreign exchange inflow.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament on Monday said there are signs of weakness in the government's commitment to the policy of zero tolerance for corruption.
He said even though the National Democratic Congress supports the government's zero tolerance policy because "its adoption and implementation is in the best interest of the nation, the lack of willingness to take action on some corrupt practices is a matter of great concern."
Mr Bagbin was speaking at the plenary session on the "National Situation" at the first ever Homecoming Summit in Accra for Ghanaians living abroad.
"President John Agyekum Kufuor's 'no probe' decision into the Sahara issue, among others, is a matter that must be looked at."
The Summit has about 500 Ghanaian expatriates mostly from the Americas, Europe and Africa attending.
Mr Bagbin gave the assurance that the Minority in Parliament would do all it could to support the government to ensure that "the best, which is promised
Ghanaians is delivered."
On efforts at national reconciliation, he said it must be genuine, devoid of recrimination and witch-hunting and should start from March 6, 1957 to cover the entire political history of the country.
Mr Bagbin praised the government and the organisers for staging the summit saying it is a good beginning, "and we must build on it."
He said while efforts are being made to bring those abroad home, "the concerns and needs of those at home should not be overlooked to the extent that they end up leaving too."
Mr Bagbin proposed the compilation of a database of Ghanaians living abroad to make the dual citizenship law before parliament effective and comprehensive.
He also called for the institutionalisation of the Homecoming Summit for detailed dialogue between Ghanaians at home and abroad.
Mr Bagbin stressed the urgent need for consensus building across the entire political spectrum.
"It is important for us to reach a consensus; political parties and individuals should have to make a minimum movement from entrenched positions, because consensus building is not just about majority opinions only; minority opinion should also be considered."
Giving a background of the Summit, Mr Bagbin said it was the brainchild of the NDC; first by Dr Obed Asamoah, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, former President Jerry Rawlings and former Vice-President John Atta Mills.
"We must give credit where credit is due." When he said this, a section of the participants screamed "no, no," and walked out. Mr Bagbin then said their action also reflected the mood in the country.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
The first Chicago State University (CSU) International Conference, Trade Fair and Film Festival opened in Accra on Monday under the theme: "Bridging the Digital and Socio-Economic Divide."
The three-day conference aims at broadening and solidifying social and cultural relationships between Africa and African/American business people through matchmaking designed to link investors with opportunities.
It is also to strengthen relationships between Accra and its sister city of Chicago.
The Chicago State University, the Trade and Investment Office of the Ghana
Embassy in the United States and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are the organizers.
Professor Aisha Hakeem of the CSU and Co-ordinator of the conference said over 150 business, medical, technology and education specialists from Chicago would discuss with their Ghanaian counterparts how Ghana could effectively access the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).
"The event will link American business people with investment projects, partners and clientele in Ghana. It will provide information to help entrepreneurs who wish to engage in international business, but are constrained by lack of accurate and adequate information about the requisite process involved," she said.
Prof Hakeem said micro finance lending experts from Europe are also participating in the conference to assess the state of small-scale business financing and providing flexible alternatives other than the banks.
"Health experts are specifically participating to find ways of collaborating with their counterparts in Ghana to eradicate preventable diseases such as measles, malaria and others," she said.
Prof Hakeem said United States' Journalists participating in the conference would look at ways of bridging the gap created by negative reporting in the international media about Ghana and Africa, citing the Wall Street Journal report, which sought to create the impression that African/Americans are not fairly treated in Ghana.
Efforts would be made to link local producers with American business people to culminate in ventures that would combine American technology and capital with the abundant raw materials and lower labour cost that Ghana provides.
Such arrangements could include Ghanaian supply of raw and semi-processed materials needed by factories located in Chicago/Illinois and packaging, assembly or assembling of finished products in Ghana.
The third part of the conference will focus on health, education and computer technology.
Seminars will be organised to focus on issues such as partnerships - joint ventures, supply-chain management in primary products and industrial products and raw materials, commercial/property laws, department of commerce, export assistance programmes, payment and financing procedures, export and import procedures, and shipments.
Participants will also be sensitised on procedures to take advantage of opportunities offered by the United States' Export-Import Bank and other agencies such as the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
The trade fair will showcase products and services of business people from the private and public sectors of Ghana and America and their counterparts elsewhere.
Exhibitors will include manufacturers, industrialists, business people and business organisations.
Ghana was chosen as the first host because of her relatively healthy business climate and high literacy rate of 64.5 per cent.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
The Government on Monday named a 10-member board of Directors for the Ghana Cocoa Board under the chairmanship of Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng, Omanhene of Kwahu Traditional Area.
A statement issued in Accra by Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government
Spokesperson, said President John Agyekum Kufuor has also appointed Mr Kwame Sarpong, a management consultant, as chief executive and member of the board.
Other members of the board are: Mr Anunbari Bakiko, Government Nominee,
Mr K. Gyamfi, Former regional manager of Cocobod, Mr Robert Kwabena Poku Kyei, representing the Ministry of Finance, Mr K. Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, representing the ministry, the Governor of the Central Bank, representing the bank, Nana Kwame Korang, Damasehene, Mr Kwesi Gorke-Sekyim, representative of workers of Cocobod and Mr Osei Nyame, a lawyer.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
The Government has between March and June this year recovered 18 billion cedis out of a total of 4.8 trillion cedis owed it by corporate bodies and individuals, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, announced on Monday.
Presenting the country's economic situation to participants attending the Homecoming Summit, the Minister said he would resort to legal action when other debtors, who had already been served with demand letters, failed to pay up the monies at the stipulated time.
This is the second time in three months that the minister has threatened court action to recover money owed to the state. The first was in May, this year, during the National Economic Dialogue.
The summit on the theme: "Harnessing the Global Ghanaian Resource for accelerated national development," seeks to tap the expertise of Ghanaian residents abroad to help in the country's economic recovery efforts.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the collection of the debt forms part of broad measures by the government to enhance its revenue and to ensure that the economy stabilises to facilitate economic growth and development.
He mentioned review of expenditure of all ministries to enable them to live within their means, expansion in government sources of revenue through the introduction of various levies and removal of exemptions granted Non-Governmental Organisations, except on education and health materials, as some other measures being adopted to improve the economic situation.
These measures, the Minister said, are important to correct the weaknesses in the fiscal and monetary policies, such as high inflation, high interest rate and rapid depreciation of the cedi against major international currencies in the medium term to ensure that economic stability is not superficial but lasting.
This would also help lay a solid foundation for the private sector and government's vision of an export-led economy that would support and help create jobs for the teeming youth.
Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), Minister of Agriculture, blamed the bad food situation on lack of involvement of the private sector and the influx of imports to the detriment of domestic production.
Other factors, he said, included land acquisition, high cost of inputs, infrastructure and lack of haulage and processing.
The Minister said the government hoped to address the situation through a link with out-growers to ensure food security and encourage processing at the nucleus level.
He said an Agricultural Commission would be established to assist those wishing to invest in commercial farming. The modalities for the Commission were being worked out.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Deputy Government Spokesman who was attacked by armed men three weeks ago at his East Legon residence on Tuesday described the incident as "a wake up call" for the government to ensure the security of public officials.
He said such attacks on government appointees are very rare in the country and so he did not realise the need for an armed guard at his isolated home.
"It was an occupational hazard and I am mentally fit to deal with it although it was a very traumatic experience that would hardly be forgotten by my family," he said during an interaction with the Press at the State House, his first day at work after the attack.
Mr Agyepong, who spent about three weeks at the 37 Military Hospital, looked cheerful and he thanked God for sparing his life.
"I was beaten severely for about an hour by the assailants, numbering about nine. They left me bleeding after hitting my head with a hammer and the fact that I am alive testifies to the power of the Almighty." He was treated for head injuries at the hospital.
Mr Agyepong, who was the son of one of the three judges abducted and killed in 1982, said it was too early to speculate about the motive of the attackers.
The police are investigating.
Mr Agyepong expressed his gratitude to the President, fellow government officials, the general public and especially the medical staff for their care and attention.
"The only way I can repay is by getting to work quickly to contribute to the positive change the Kufuor Administration has assured Ghanaians."
The police have announced a 10 million-cedi reward to any person who volunteers information leading to the arrest of the culprits.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 24 July 2001
A Private container terminal at Tema would start operation next month, Mr Amos Fiifi Okyereh, Operations Manager, of Tema Container Terminal (TCT), announced at the weekend.
Mr Okyere, who was speaking when members of the Southern Sector Shippers
Committees tour the facility, said offices and warehouse for Customs, Excise and
Preventive Service (CEPS) were near completion.
The Antrak Group, Ghana and SVD Ghana own the 10 million dollars private terminal, which occupies 55,000 square metres of land outside the Tema Port and has the capacity to handle 45,000 twenty-foot containers per annum.
The Operations Manager said currently, Ro Ro, SVD, Antrak and Mitsui
Ghana Limited stock their containers at the terminal, adding some other private shipping companies have approached the management to use the terminal facilities and this was being considered.
He said TCT, which would operate around the clock, has one super stacker that could pack and lift 20-foot and 40-foot containers, adding that there were plans to acquire three more in addition to forklifts.
The terminal has separate areas for empty and stuffed containers to make for fast deliveries.
The Tema Port has a container terminal, which was built as part of the Port Rehabilitation Project, with a static capacity of 15,000 twenty-foot containers and there were plans to expand it.
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