Sub-region looks up to Ghana, Nigeria for leadership -Kufuor
Vice-President closes Homecoming Summit
Five Deputy Ministers sworn into office
Government reconstitutes Boards of
institutions in the Energy sector.
Nigerian Foreign Affairs Committee calls on Speaker
MOFA to set up agricultural extension development scheme
Alhaji Abbas denies assasination attempt
Companies urged to establish environmental units
Government informed of the death of
Okerehene.
Military exercise begins at Jungle Warfare School
Joint operation yields results
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
President John Kufuor on Wednesday said the West African Sub-region looks up to Ghana and Nigeria to provide the quality leadership required for an effective integration in all sectors.
He said with the ECOWAS Parliament yet to come into fruition, the executive and legislative arms of government in both countries should perceive their responsibilities as check on each other towards a common goal.
President Kufuor said this when a 14-member delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Nigerian House of Representatives paid a courtesy call on him at the State House in Accra.
He said the two countries are more than twins in many ways from the same colonial rule and political evolution.
Mr Chimaobi Nwakanma, leader of the delegation said the visit is a testimony of the mutual relationship between them and their Parliaments.
He said the visit was to review some of the decisions taken at a meeting held in Nigeria for the mutual benefit of the two countries and to sustain the cordial relationship between them.
Mr Nwakanma said the cooperation between the two Parliaments is good for security and economic integration.
Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament who accompanied the delegation said the visit was a reciprocal one towards integration and co-operation among the legislatures in the sub-region.
A Parliamentary delegation from Ghana visited Nigeria in September last year.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
Vice-President Aliu Mahama on Wednesday tasked Ghanaians abroad to push towards a new Ghana by returning home to share their expertise and skills that could facilitate national development.
"History is replete with the incidence of returnees bringing prosperity to their motherland. The new millennium is for Africa and Ghana must set the pace. I invite you to join us make this happen for the benefit of the next generation," he said.
Alhaji Mahama who was addressing the over 500 participants of the first
Homecoming Summit of Ghanaians living abroad in Accra said their final relocation should be preceded by their capital inflows, ideas and goodwill.
The Vice-President said the theme for the three-day summit: " Harnessing the global Ghanaian resource potential for accelerated national development," was most appropriate since government recognises the role foreign and domestic private investment can play in transforming the distress economy.
He said the country's vision of a Golden Age for Business has been given a new meaning that encourages every citizen to be investor-friendly.
The principal contribution of government is to create a modern infrastructure, a stable incentive system and stifle the bureaucratic processes that hinder investment.
Alhaji Mahama gave the assurance that government would support wealth creation by ensuring a stable, predictable economic environment.
" As Government we have the team that has commitment, determination and the vision to move Ghana forward. We also have the goodwill of the people."
He appealed to the summit participants with varied professional and business backgrounds to ensure that the recommendations and resolutions they come out with are implemented to bring the desired national progress.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs said the President has notified the Electoral Commission about plans to give voting rights to Ghanaians abroad.
This attracted cheers from the participants who used the summit to agitate for such rights.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey expressed the hope that the summit will help Ghanaians living abroad to increase their remittances home.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
President J.A Kufuor on Wednesday said government would support Ministers of State and other appointees who work diligently in a transparent manner and are accountable for their stewardship.
"When you do your work well and diligently government would always support you," he said at the swearing-in of five Deputy Ministers of State who took the oath of office, secrecy and allegiance and received their instruments of appointment.
They are Mr John Bennam Jabaah, Deputy Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, Mr Alex Seidu Sofo, for Roads and Highways, Alhaji Moctar Musah Bamba, for Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu for Transport and Communications and Ms Sophia Horner-Sam, for the Western Region.
He reminded them that they are part of a government formed mostly by
Parliamentarians elected to serve in transparency and be accountable to the electorate.
"Your appointment to the new office would not make you master over the citizens but a servant. Therefore give your loyal support to the ministers and officials in the various ministries.'
President Kufuor asked them to co-operate with the civil servants in the ministries to earn their respect and enhance effective management.
Mr Agyeman-Manu on behalf of his colleagues said the honour bestowed on them comes with heavy responsibilities in the wake of the government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption.
He said they would work diligently to translate the NPP's pre-election pledges into reality.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Musa Bamba, has assured President Kufour that he will not abuse his confidence.
In a statement in Kumasi on Wednesday, Alhaji Bamba, MP for West Wenchi said he would work assiduously to justify the trust the President has in him.
"As far as I am concerned, I have no enemies. I have political opponents both within my own party and from the minority parties", he said.
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Government reconstitutes Boards of
institutions in the Energy sector.
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
The government on Wednesday announced changes in the membership of the boards of four institutions in the energy sector.
President John Kufuor, according to Deputy Government Spokesperson, Mr Kwabena Agyapong, named Dr Yves Charles Wereko-Brobby, Government Adviser on Energy as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Volta River Authority (VRA).
The other members are, Dasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben and former Government Statistician, Mr Akenten Appiah-Menkah, an Industrialist, Mr D. Fynn, former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Mr Osei Asamoah-Bonsu, a Chartered Accountant.
The rest are Mr Wilton R. Helton of VALCO, Mr T.K. Gyawu, a council member of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Samuel Dalafu, an Electrical Engineer and Mr Gilbert Ohene Dokyi, Chief Executive of VRA.
Professor George Hagan is the new Chairman of the Electricity Company of
Ghana (ECG) board, others are Nana Darkwa Woe II, Gyaasehene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Ms A. Lokko, President of the Ghana Institute of Chartered Accountants, Mr R. Basoah, MP for Kumawu and Mr Robert Atta, a Business Executive.
The rest are, Mr Peter Kpordugbe, a Business Executive, Mr K. Frempong Asafo-Agyei, a Legal Practitioner, Dr Selby Ashong Katai, an Insurance Consultant, Mr Kwame Ampofo, MP and Mr Fred Asante, Managing Director of ECG.
The reconstituted Board of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has Mr Adu Gyamfi as Chairman, Mrs Cecilia Kwofie, an Industrialist, Mr F. Tuyee, Mr J. Darko Mensah, MP, Mr Nik Akpewu, a Petroleum Expert, Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, MP, Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, a Petroleum Dealer, Mr Haruna Atta, Media Practitioner, a representative of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Managing Director of TOR.
The Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) has Mr Sekyi Hughes as the new Chairman of the Board. Other members are, Mr Freddie Blay, MP for Ellembelle and First Deputy Speaker, Dr S. Abdulai, a Business Executive, Mrs Cecilia Amoah, MP, Mr
Fred Antoh, a Business Executive, Dr Ofosu Ahenkorah of the Energy Foundation.
The rest are Mr G. M. Sarpong, a Chartered Accountant, Mr Gabby Nketiah
Nsiah, a Special Adviser and the Managing Director of GOIL.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday stressed the need for members of the West African sub-region to have a common currency and free movement of goods and services to facilitate the integration of its peoples.
He said such an integration would not only ensure interaction among the people but it would also let the people see themselves as one and not strangers in each other's country.
Mr Adjetey said this when he received a 15-member Nigerian Parliamentary
delegation led by Representative Chimaobi Nwakanma, Deputy Chairman, House Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Nigeria's National Assembly at his office.
The delegation is on a four-day reciprocal visit to prepare for the establishment of an ECOWAS Parliament.
Mr Adjetey said there were many benefits to be derived from co-operation and integration but unfortunately it seemed the countries in the Sub-Region have not moved fast enough to remove the various obstacles.
The Speaker said Ghana and Nigeria were kingpins on the political scenario of the Sub-Region and as such they needed to co-operate on all matters and to critically develop all sectors to their mutual benefit.
Mr Nwakanma said their visit was a reciprocal one to the one made last year by a Ghanaian delegation and commended Ghana for the warm reception accorded them.
He said the visit was also to build a bridge between the two Parliaments and facilitate cooperation.
Mr Nwakanma said the two Parliaments have to be pragmatic in developing their democracies for the benefit of their people and called for support to ensure the sustenance of democratic rule in the Sub-Region.
He said Foreign Affairs Committees play important role in strengthening the work of the Executive and so they should be encouraged to come out with decisions for integration.
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Fumesua (Ashanti Region) 26 July 2001
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is to set up an agricultural extension development scheme under the new agricultural services sub-sector investment programme Mr Y.A. Afrifa, Ejisu-Juaben District Chief Executive announced on Wednesday.
He said the scheme would make available to private institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) training funds for the full mobilisation of their human and material resources for enhanced productivity.
Mr Afrifa announced this at the opening of a 10-day Participatory Approaches to Community Development Planning workshop organised by the MOFA in collaboration with the Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture (KITA) at Fumesua near Kumasi
The workshop, which is being sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, is aimed at planning and designing a programme tailored to address peculiar problems of rural communities in the Ejisu-Juaben district and help reduce the poverty levels in the communities.
The programme is expected to cover three years and will entail the production of a hand book on what the MOFA could do to strengthen its linkage with farmers and also the various facilities that farmers could tap from the MOFA.
There will also be a booklet on farm management depicting effective costing systems and marketing opportunities for farm produce.
16 participants attending the workshop are drawn from the MOFA, KITA, the
Commonwealth Secretariat, Christian and Muslim communities and the Department of Community Development.
Mr Afrifa said the move to design such a programme was in the right direction since the government has made development of the rural areas the cornerstone of its development strategy, stressing "the need to promote agriculture, the mainstay of the economy cannot be over-emphasised."
Mr John Russell of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in an overview of the programme, appealed to the District Assembly to provide potable water for all villages and towns in the district to help ensure quality health for the people
Mr John Otoo, Director of the Crops Research Institute (CRI), said the institute is now focusing its attention more on involving farmers in the identification of problems and development of crop varieties rather than isolating them.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 July 2001
Alhaji Abbas Mensah, former Deputy National Organiser of the erstwhile People's National Party (PNP) in-charge of Ashanti, has denied he hired mercenaries to assassinate former President Jerry John Rawlings during the durbar marking the Golden Jubilee of the Restoration of Asante Confederacy.
Alhaji Abbas said he had not had the opportunity to deny the allegations until now, having lived in exile in London for the past 15 years.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Tuesday, Alhaji Abbas said: "No attempt was made on the life of former President
Rawlings. Nothing happened at the stadium, no bomb exploded at the stadium. It was all a frame-up."
Alhaji Abbas said he was a member of the Planning Committee of the Golden Jubilee Celebration in 1985 and was appointed Chairman of the Picnic Sub-Committee to organise the durbar slated for the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
Former President Rawlings was invited to be the guest speaker at the durbar on 31st January 1985 at the stadium by Asanteman.
Alhaji Abbas said he served soft drinks to the invited guests including the former President.
Alhaji Abbas said after serving them he was tapped on the shoulder by the ex-President, who requested that he (Abbas) should translate his speech; "I obliged and stood by him."
He said ex-President Rawlings handed over his prepared speech to him and for an hour spoke extempore.
"He took my hand and we both got down and he later invited me to Accra for an appointment and asked when I can honour the invitation", he stressed.
Alhaji Abbas said Captain Kojo Tsikata, Head of the Security at that time asked him to meet him at the Kumasi Airport on Wednesday to join a plane from Sunyani en-route to Accra.
According to Alhaji Abbas, there was a dance at the City Hotel on February 2, 1985, which formed part of the celebration but because he was sick he did not attend but chose to rest at home.
He recalled that while relaxing at home he saw Captain George Pattington,
Chief Bodyguard of the ex-President, who led soldiers to his house.
He claimed they started firing and shouting: "Come out Alhaji Abbas! Come out Alhaji Abbas! Shattering some of the louver glasses in the house."
Alhaji Abbas told the GNA: "It was divine intervention that I managed to escape. It was indeed a miracle."
"The next day, Sunday, February 3, after looting all my property in the house, he said the building was pulled down with bomb blast."
He said his watchman was arrested, tortured and sent to Accra.
"I had to flee the country and go into exile in Britain. I crossed the border and went to Abidjan with my family and moved to London, where I stayed for 15 years."
Alhaji Abbas blurted out: "It is not true that I attempted to explode bombs at the durbar nor did I try to assassinate ex-President Rawlings.
"The government statement that I came with mercenaries that is why they attacked my house is not true", he said emphatically.
Alhaji Abbas narrated that those of them in exile at the time including Mr
J. H. Mensah, Leader of Government Business and the former Vice President Dr Joe
De-Graft Johnson, fought hard to get constitutional rule in Ghana and solicited the assistance from those who believe in the rule of law and democracy.
This, he said, attracted the international community and the donor countries to call for constitutional rule in Ghana.
Alhaji Abbas explained that it was the advent of constitutional rule and the change in government through the ballot box, which encouraged some of them in exile to return home.
"We have come home to contribute our quota towards the success of the new attempt at democratic rule", he said.
Alhaji Abbas expressed appreciation to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for restoring the rule of law, adding: "I regard Kufuor as David, who has killed Goliath, for me to come back home."
He said those in exile have come home to help the government with all sincerity without expecting any reward and called for collaboration between the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) and the NPP since they all seek the welfare of Ghana.
Touching on national reconciliation, Alhaji Abbas said, the government should appoint a Human Rights Commission to investigate the human rights violations of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) while reconciliation should cover only the NDC era.
Alhaji Abbas supported the homecoming summit for Ghanaians living abroad, saying their expertise should be tapped to build an economically stable and prosperous nation.
Alhaji Abbas said ex-President Rawlings should not regard those, who have returned from exile, as dissidents since they have nothing dissenting about Kufour's administration.
"We all have birthrights as Ghanaians so he should not continue to call us dissidents", Alhaji Abbas added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has issued regulations to rationalize and spell out procedures for terminating service to consumers of utility services.
Mami Dufie Ofori, Director of Consumer Services who announced this at a public awareness forum in Accra on Wednesday said a public utility may terminate service when a consumer fails to pay for bills for the services used for more than 28 days from the date of demand of payment or defaults on an agreed payment schedule, or tampers or interferes with a meter or a public utility equipment.
She said a public utility could not terminate service where the consumer has lodged a complaint with that public utility in respect of a disputed bill and has paid or continues to pay a reasonable amount.
Mami Dufie said generally, no public utility is to discontinue services to a consumer unless it gives the consumer a written notice of termination of at least 14 days before the date for termination of the service.
Service may, however, be terminated without notice if the public utility finds that the service is being obtained by the consumer illegally or through tampered equipment.
Mami Dufie underscored the need for effective collaboration between the commission and all stakeholders, especially the media if the commission would achieve its goals.
She said that is why the awareness programme includes the use of the media to undertake consumer education on matters relating to the provision of quality utility services.
Mr Stephen Adu, Executive Secretary of the Commission said it shares the concerns of consumers about the quality of utility services and the general perception that that complaints are not promptly or adequately dealt with.
To obviate these problems, he said, PURC has issued regulations for the submission, hearing and determination of matters arising from the PURC Act 1997,
Act 538.
Mr Adu said any person who has a complaint against a public utility might lodge such complaint to PURC for redress. Notwithstanding this, consumers are encouraged to complain directly to the utility service concerned in the first instance.
He said where a complaint made directly to a utility service is not satisfactorily dealt with, it may be re-directed to PURC which is empowered by law to apply to the high court for the enforcement of its decision or directions.
Mr John Oletey Atuteye, Assistant Manager of Consumer Services said any person or public utility that obstructs or refuses to co-operate with the commission in the performance of its functions commits and offence.
He said a fine of five million cedis or imprisonment for one year or both could be imposed in the case of continuing offence and where the offence is committed by a public utility which is a body corporate or by a partnership or other firm, every director or officer of that body corporate or any member of the partnership or other person concerned with the management of the public utility shall also be guilty of the offence.
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Takoradi (Western Region) 26 July 2001
The Government is pursuing vigorously the dream of expanding the present railway system to the North and lend support to efforts to connect to Cote D'Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Western Regional
Minister, Mr Joseph B. Aidoo at the second working group meeting of the Union of African Railways (UAR) at Takoradi on Wednesday.
These expansions and inter connections, he said, would open up the markets in the Sub-Region to accelerate the realisation of the ECOWAS Protocol on the free and easy movement of goods and people.
Mr Aidoo said railways has a bright future and there was the need to take advantage of the many opportunities that would be created when the government's
"Golden Age of Business" finally starts bearing fruits.
The Secretary-General of UAR, Dr Bernard Zoba expressed the hope that
African Governments would continue to support rail transport with the view to enhancing economic development and interaction among the people.
He said with the advent globalisation, the railway sector was expected to play a major role in the future of African states.
Mr Rufus Quaye, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Administration and
Operations of Ghana Railway Corporation, advised the delegates to work to propel African Railways to the heights that the founding fathers dreamt of.
Delegates from 15 African States are attending the three-day international meeting.
The UAR, established in Addis Ababa in September 1972, is a specialised agency of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) responsible for co-ordinating railway transport development on the Continent.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
Mr Cletus Avoka, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku West on Monday urged firms and Institutions in the country to establish environmental protection units to tackle environmental issues.
He said, "in the face of technological advancement, Ghana requires sustainable measures of handling environmental issues."
Mr Avoka, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology in the previous government, made the call when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment Science and Technology toured three factories in Tema.
The Committee, which is under the Chairmanship of Mr Sampson Ottu Darko,
MP for Ga North is to assess environmental management plans designed to check sea, air and lagoon pollution.
The factories visited included, Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM) and Ghana Agro Foods Company (GAFCO).
This is the first in the series of visits by the 18-member Committee to manufacturing companies in Tema.
He called on government to put in place concrete measures to forestall any disaster in the country.
Mr Avoka entreated factories to contact Scientific Research Institutions in order to acquire the technological know-how, to operate their environmental treatment plants efficiently.
He called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that companies comply with environmental regulations.
Mr Paul Awuah, Managing Director of CPC told the committee that the
Company allots three billion cedis annually, for the treatment of effluent before they are discharged into the Chemu lagoon.
Mr Axel R. Enresen, Managing Director of GHACEM said dust emitted from clinker has been reduced because of the installation of dust collectors and hoppers with water sprayers, which moisten the dust to prevent air pollution at the port.
At GAFCO, Mr Rueben Fletcher, Mechanical Engineer and Environmental
Officer said deodorise around the factory are sprayed with chemicals to reduce fish deal odour.
Management staff at the three factories told the team that their workers undergo periodic medical examination to ensure that they are healthy.
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Government informed of the death of
Okerehene.
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said any Ghanaian who diligently serve in any capacity for the nation to progress deserves to be accorded the due respect and recognition even after his death.
He said with such recognition it would motivate others to emulate them and pave the way for progress and national development.
President Kufuor said this when a delegation from Akwapim-Okere Traditional Area formally informed him of the death of Osuodomgya Otutu Ababio IV, Okerehene and Nifahene of Akwapim at the State House in Accra.
He expressed the government's condolence to the people for the loss of their chief who reigned for 55 years and made valuable contributions to the development of the area.
Nana Asare Brempong II, Chief of Awukugua, who is Adontenhene of Akwapim and Acting Okerehene who led the delegation said the country has lost an illustrious son.
He presented four bottles of Schnapps to the government to symbolise a formal invitation to the funeral scheduled for August 15-18.
The late Osuodomgya Ababio, 95, known in private life as Mr Victor
Kwabena Kono was a purchasing clerk of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
He died on September 14, last year and left behind three wives, 40 children, 196 grandchildren and 245 great-grand children.
In another development, Dr Kwami Nyaho Tamakloe, Director of Nyaho
Clinic in Accra, led a 10-member delegation of the Chapman Nyaho family and the
Anlo Traditional Council to officially inform the government of the death of Mr Daniel Ahming Chapman-Nyaho.
Dr Tamakloe said the late Chapman-Nyaho a renowned public servant and statesman who died on July 13 would be buried on August 11 at Keta.
President Kufuor described the late Chapman Nyaho as a nationalist who served the nation in several ways as the first African Secretary to Cabinet in the pre-independence colonial rule and Ghana's Ambassador to the US and permanent representative to the UN.
He said Mr Chapman-Nyaho had a vision for the nation and had much potential for humanity and the evolution of a proud and capable Ghana.
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Achiase (Eastern Region) 26 July 2001
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), on Wednesday started a four-day jungle exercise, code-named "Exercise Tigers' Path 2001" at the Jungle Warfare School (JWS) at Achiase in the Birim South District in the Eastern Region.
The various units of the GAF are taking part in the exercise, aimed at sharpening their skills in combat readiness and survival, physical endurance, patrolling and long-range navigational skills.
It would also test participants in first aid, attack and ambush, obstacle crossing and marksmanship.
The Military Academy and Training School (MATS), under the command of its Commandant, Rear Admiral Jonathan Adoko, is organising the exercise with the support of JWS.
Participating teams are the Navy, the Army, Air Force and the Northern and Southern Commands, with three officers and 31 men from each team. The Northern Command is the defending champion.
The teams would navigate a 28-kilometre route through the jungle and Umpires would follow them to award marks for excellence.
The exercise began at 6.30 am from Akyem Essam in the Birim North District from where the groups would navigate a 17-kolometre route through the jungle across the River Birim.
The teams would undertake an attack at dawn on Thursday on an imaginary camp of enemies and continue navigating the remaining 11 kilometres to the JWS.
The exercise is based on politics where a new government, after assuming office, ordered that illegal diamond wining should be stopped in the Birim North and South Districts.
A militant group, Diamond Fire Boys (DFBs), opposed the directive, set up base training camps in the jungle and entice the local people with food and other logistics to join their fold.
In order to go about with their nefarious activities, the DFBs made up of 50, try to terrorise the people at Adwobue, Gyadem and surrounding villages and abduct the Assemblyman for Adwobue and some unknown assailants and destroy a vehicle for the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Birim South.
The National Security Council tasks the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to take the necessary action to restore calm in the affected districts.
The CDS then forms a "Task Force Tiger" to search and destroy the DFBs.
The Deputy Commandant for the exercise, Major Benjamin Owusu-Frimpong told the press that the scenario was intended to test the skills of the GAF in jungle warfare and counter insurgency.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
The Joint Military and Police patrol launched recently has made gains in their operations.
A statement by the Armed Forces Public Relations Directorate in Accra on Wednesday said at Manhyia Abuakwa in Kumasi, some robbers who tried to get away with a taxicab were arrested, while at Kofi-Badukrom, an Ivorian who attempted to cross to Dormaa-Ahenkro from Cote d'Ivoire with a US-made revolver was apprehended and the weapon seized.
The statement said six suspected robbers who attacked a minibus with registration number GT1092Q and inflicted cutlass wounds on a passenger were also arrested by the team who laid ambush on the Doryumu road near Shai Hills.
The patrol team has also arrested a drunken driver at Ogbodzo for parking on a highway around 0345hrs and at Adjiringanor, two security men who had been tied by arm robbers were set free.
Another patrol team arrested two suspects at Tudu in Accra at 2100 hours with dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The statement said the patrol team in Kumasi has arrested a taxi driver for careless driving and defying traffic regulations while another impounded a motorbike, which had been abandoned by gamblers at Old Tafo
Meanwhile, the under listed phone numbers have been released by the joint headquarters for the information of the public.
0202011837, 777903, 766007,766005,0202017292, 024315564, 0208154195, 0202011836 and 022208770
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
The Ghana Wildlife Society on Wednesday said conservation of resources is very important for the survival of biological diversity, including humans.
"In recent times, conservation is shifting from state controlled areas to community managed conservation areas, making conservation more sustainable and beneficial to the local people if well managed".
A statement issued in Accra said this falls in line with Ghana's wildlife policy of 1994, which advocates for the promotion of communities managing their own resources.
One such initiative is the Afadjato Community Forest Conservation Project, which has been adjudged the best community initiated natural resources management project by the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology.
As part of the capacity building of the community for conservation, a 12,000 US dollars study tour has been scheduled for a select group from Gbledi, Fodome Ahor and Wli to similar forest conservation projects in the Bamenda Highlands of the Northwest Cameroon.
The nine-day tour, which starts from July 28 aims at sharing experiences with counterparts on other projects, learn about other cultures, which depend on and affect forest and the traditional management as well as the role of women in forest management.
Members of the group include chiefs, landowners, assemblymen and representatives of Gbledi women's group.
It said projects to be visited, include the Bamenda Highlands Community Forest, Kilum-Ijim forest and the Mbinon Community forest.
The Afadjato community forest conservation project was initiated in 1997 by the chiefs and people of the Gbebli Traditional Area as a result of their increasing concern about the degradation of the forest on Afadjato (the highest mountain in Ghana) and selected areas of the Agumatu ranges.
It was implemented by the Ghana Wildlife Society in partnership with the local people.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 July 2001
The Management of Celltel Limited, a mobile phone service provider, said on Thursday that the company is growing under the congenial investor climate created by the government.
Mr Robert N. Palitz, Managing Director, told the press in Accra that an allegation in a Weekly that the company is disintegrating has no foundation, saying it is a calculated ploy to dent its image.
He denied also that he is an Israeli secret agent and said the mere fact that he was appointed to his post whiles working in Israel does not mean, "I am a secret agent. After all what interest will the Israeli government have in a small Celltel"?
He said employees are well motivated and are all discharging their work peacefully.
Confirming this, the General Secretary of Communications Workers Union
(CWU), Mr Anthony Dadzie said working conditions have improved since Mr Palitz assumed office.
"The least paid worker earns 800,000 cedis which is 60 per cent of the total wage bill of Celltel".
He said the union is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the management.
He pledged the unions' support for the management in its efforts to make the company even more viable.
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