GRi Newsreel 08 - 06 - 99

Ghana's premier university to be thrown into darkness for non-payment of bills

Vice-president begins tour of Volta Region

Reform Movement files application to register as a political party

Ghana to host African Child Day

Mills calls for continuous support for government

Algerian President sends message to Rawlings

Demonstration in Half Assini

Rawlings commissions reconstructed Akosombo Road

Dormaa gets new chief

Akwatia NPP elects executive

Regional Minister advises assemblies to avoid partisan approach

 

Akim Kotoku Omanhene put on Black Stool

Ministry of Trade appeals to public not to panic on Belgian poultry

Minister calls for the elimination of buruli ulcer

Reject the NDC in the 2000 polls, MP tells constituents

Students go to the aid of school

Mitsubishi labour crisis deteriorates

 

Ghana's premier university to be thrown into darkness for non-payment of bills

Accra (Greater Accra), 8th June 99 -

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has threatened to cut off power supply to the University of Ghana on June 17 for non-payment of bills.

Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said this when the Rector of the UN University, Prof. Has Van Ginkel, paid a courtesy call on him on Monday.

He said a letter to that effect has been received from the ECG, saying the disconnection will take place by 1000 hours on June 17.

The University's outstanding bill as at April this year is 1,119,084,996 Cedis, according to the ECG.

Prof Addae-Mensah said the increase in utility tariffs has pushed electricity bills from an average of 50 million cedis a month to 220 million cedis a month.

He said students will be writing their examinations at the threatened time the disconnection exercise will be carried out.

He said although the approved budget for utilities is 186 million cedis a month, the university has since January not received its subvention from the government.

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Vice-president begins tour of Volta Region

Ho (Volta Region), 8th June 99 -

Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday renewed the government's commitment to develop the Volta Region as it promised during the last electioneering campaign.

He said the problems of the region are not new to the government and it is working systematically towards solving them, particularly reconstruction and rehabilitation of the road network.

Vice-President Mills was addressing a mini-durbar of chiefs, and assembly members of the Asogli Traditional Area in Ho at the start of a four-day working visit to the region.

The tour, his first to the region, will take him to Kpando, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, through Nkwanta to Krachi were he will undertake an assessment of problems of the people and commission a number of projects.

Deterioration of facilities such as roads and other infrastructure has been the major concern of the people.

In a speech read for him, Togbe Afede Asor the second, paramount chief of Asogli Traditional Area, expressed disappointment about what he termed, a neglect of the region and in particular the Ho area, as regards development projects and investments.

He cited the bad nature of roads in the Ho township, as well as the high unemployment rate among the youth and urged government to give them priority attention.

"All we are calling for is an all-weather road.

we are not allergic to asphalt roads," he said, adding, "the Volta region does not even have a full-kilometre of asphalt road."

Togbe Asor reiterated the need for the creation of more districts out of the Ho urban area to make way for effective development programming.

Mr Kofi Attor, Member of Parliament for Ho Central, buttressed the chiefs' concerns and called for the creation of an enabling environment for investments and the extension of some of government's programmes to attract trade opportunities.

On the Vice-President's entourage were Professor Kofi Awoonor, a presidential aide, Mr Dan Abodakpi, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries as well as members of Parliament from the area.

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Reform Movement files application to register as a political party

Accra (Greater Accra) 8th June ’99

The Electoral Commission (EC) today confirmed it is processing an application from the Reform Movement (RM) to register as a political party.

Mr. David Kanga, Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, said on Monday that the commission is studying the completed forms submitted by the movement and will issue them a provisional licence if it satisfies the required conditions.

Under the Political Parties Law, the RM will get a provisional licence in seven days.

The application was submitted last week.

Mr. Kanga said the licence will enable the movement to continue to organise its activities towards the formation of a political party.

The RM, which is a breakaway group from the ruling NDC, said at its congress on February four and five that it would launch a political party on May four.

According to an Accra private weekly, the RM is in the process of forming a party to be known as the National Reform Party, with "Ghana First" as its slogan.

The colours of the party is a yellow sun rising over a white horizon and against a blue sky. Below the huge bright sun is the word " Reform" in red.

Under the Political Parties Law, the next step is for the RM to prove its national character by showing it has a National Head Office and offices in at least 66 per cent of the country's districts, among other requirements.

After the electoral commission has conducted its own investigations within 30 days and is satisfied, it will then issue the movement with a final certificate to operate as a political party. The registration of the National Reform Party will bring to nine the number of registered parties in the country.

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Ghana to host African Child Day

Accra (Greater Accra) 8th June ’99

This year's national celebration of the Day of the African Child, which falls on Wednesday, June 16, will be held at the Efua Sutherland Children's Park in Accra.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday by the United Nations Information Centre said that more than 1,500 school children and those out of school, including street children, would participate in the programme.

It said the theme for the day is "Children: Agents of Change in the New Millennium - Listen, Learn and Live".

The statement said there would be an educational fair focusing on HIV/AIDS, the Girl-Child and the rights and responsibilities of the child.

United Nations agencies in Ghana, Ghana National Commission on Children, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, and the Ghana Education Service will sponsor the celebration.

Other sponsors are Save the Children Fund, Children's Right International, Concerned Parents and Teachers Association, Coalition on the Rights of the Child and International Club of Journalists for Children's Rights.

The day was declared by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to commemorate the June 16, 1976, massacre of school children in Soweto, South Africa.

Since its first observance in 1991, the day has focussed on the plight of children in Africa and is celebrated world-wide to raise awareness about the potential of the youth and obstacles to their advancement.

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Mills calls for continuous support for government

Ho (Volta Region) 8th June ’99

Vice-President John Atta Mills has appealed to the chiefs and people of the Volta Region to continue supporting the government to enable it tackle programmes designed to bring progress.

He said contrary to what critics of the government say, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Progressive Alliance would hasten the pace of development in the region.

Professor Mills was addressing the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, in Ho as part of his four-day working visit to seven districts in the region.

Vice-President Mills appealed to the people to repose their trust in the government and to co-operate with it to tackle important issues such as job creation and increased agricultural production.

On the future of President Jerry John Rawlings who retires at the end of next year, the Vice President said he would continue to contribute to the development of the country.

"Anyone who thinks that President Rawlings has nothing to offer Ghana again after he leaves office must be living in unreal world indeed," Prof. Mill said.

He also dismissed rumours that the region would be neglected after the retirement of the President.

Vice-President Mills gave the assurance that the Keta Sea Defence Project, which has been an issue of controversy, would be undertaken and completed.

He said construction of the road from Jasikan to link Nkwanta, Bimbilla and Yendi and Kete-Krachi would be started soon while efforts are also underway to elevate the Ho district to a municipal status.

Prof. Kofi Awoonor, a Presidential Aide, reacted to what he termed "a feeling among the people in the region that they have been neglected in terms of development" and said the region would see tremendous progress in the years ahead.

He said it was normal for the President to serve other people before turning to his homeland as a sign of selflessness.

"We don't go into politics because we want to fill our own pockets... we do it because of the national call for one nation, one people with a common destiny" Prof. Awoonor declared.

He reiterated the need for the people to rally behind Prof. Mills to give him the confidence to deliver when he takes over the reigns of government after President Rawlings.

Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Volta Regional Minister, said the government is not resting on its oars in its efforts to ensure the provision of basic necessities.

He said the tour of the Vice-President is one of moves to assess the needs of the people.

Togbe Dagadu VII, Member of Council of State and President of the Volta Regional House of chiefs, thanked the government for recognising the important role being played by chiefs in the social, economic, cultural and political development of the nation.

He urged the government to speed up efforts to elevate some traditional areas in the region to paramountcies to facilitate development.

Vice-President Mills and his entourage later visited the new regional hospital and the telecommunication facilities, which are being expanded.

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Algerian President sends message to Rawlings

Accra (Greater Accra) 8th June ’99

Two envoys from Algerian President, Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, arrived in Accra today to deliver a special message to President Rawlings.

The envoys are Mr Belaid Abdelssalam, former Prime Minister of Algeria and Ambassador Abdelihmid Semichi, Director-General of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The message is believed to centre on the forthcoming OAU summit, which will take place in Algiers from July 12 to 14 this year.

At the airport, the Algerian Ambassador in Ghana, Mr Hassane Rabehi, said the summit, the last in the century, is expected to take stock of OAU's achievements and setbacks since its inception.

It would also look at the relevance of the organisation in these times, as well as search for lasting solutions to the protracted conflicts on the continent.

Mr Rabehi said an ambassadorial meeting from July six to eight, to be followed by an African ministerial conference from eight to 10, would precede the summit.

He said the envoys would deliver similar special messages to heads of state of Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Liberia and Guinea.

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Demonstration in Half Assini

Half-Assini (Western Region) 8th June ’99

A large number of people on Monday held a peaceful demonstration at Half-Assini against the decision by the district assembly to pass a vote of no confidence against the District Chief Executive, Mr. Thomas Kwesi.

The demonstrators, wearing red armbands and carrying placards, alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency chairman, Nana Alex Asamoah, was the brain behind the move to remove the DCE.

They later converged at the assembly hall where they were addressed by the DCE who thanked them for their support.

The assembly could not meet to vote on the resolution because the police, who were to provide security, were at the scene of the demonstration.

Last week, 28 out of the 31 assembly members present adopted a resolution to remove the DCE.

A cross-section of people interviewed by GNA called for the personal intervention of President Jerry Rawlings in resolving the issue peacefully.

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Rawlings commissions reconstructed Akosombo Road

Afienya (Greater Accra) 8th June ’99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday commissioned the reconstructed 78-kilometre Tema-Akosombo road that links the Harbour City to the inland port at Akosombo.

The project was executed with a loan of 23.8 million deutsche marks from the German government while the Ghana government provided the local component of 4.6 billion cedis.

The road, which was first built in 1963, would serve landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to conduct their import and export businesses through the Akosombo port.

"Indeed, the project will provide enormous relief to importers and exporters in the northern sector of the country who will have the option to haul their goods to and from Tema by means of cheaper transport on the Volta lake," President Rawlings said.

He said the road would enhance Akosombo and the Shai Hills as tourist destinations.

"This will also attract potential investors to develop the Dodi Island and its environment for water sports and other recreational activities and to explore other tourism investments around the Volta Lake," the President said.

President Rawlings appealed to motorists to refrain from spilling fuel on the road as lubricants reduce the life span of the asphalt and increases maintenance costs.

"It is critical to note that the nation has sunk huge amounts of money into the construction of this road and it should, therefore, be protected."

The President also expressed concern about the rate at which road furniture such as signposts and guardrails are being stolen. "The havoc that these negative activities cause is immense. They cause

death and maim road users. I would, therefore, appeal to you once again to report such culprits to the law enforcement agencies without hesitation."

President Rawlings said the police should be up to their responsibilities in checking such illegal activities and appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority to keep to their scheduled preventive and maintenance programme.

Mr. Steve Akorli, Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, said there had been a tremendous increase in traffic, hence government's decision to upgrade the road from a bitumen surface to asphalt.

He said construction work that started in January 1997 and was scheduled to be completed in September, this year, had been completed three months ahead of schedule.

"We appeal to all contractors to emulate this," he said.

Mr Christian Nakonz, the German Ambassador, said over the past few years, the German government had committed two billion deutsche marks to various projects in Ghana.

Germany is also funding the reconstruction of the Tema-Aflao road, work on which would start soon.

Mr Nakonz said Germany has responded to the call for debt relief for developing countries, cancelling 500 million marks from the debt owed it by Ghana.

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Dormaa gets new chief

Dormaa-Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo) 8th June ’99

A 33-year-old lawyer, Mr. Daniel Kofi Mensah, was on Monday nominated and approved as the new Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area.

The new chief, who comes from the Atoase Royal Family of Dormaa, is the son of the late Dormaa queenmother, Nana Akosua Ansuaa Ababio.

He succeeds the Osagyefo Oseadeyo Dr Agyeman Badu, who died on January 30, 1998, at the age of 73 after ruling for 48 years.

The nomination was made by Nana Kofi Yeboah, Abakomahene and head of the two royal families, Atoase and Akanase, and approved by all the 10 kingmakers.

Barima Ansu Adjei, Acting President of the Dormaa Traditional Council who is also Krontihene of the traditional area, announced the nomination and approval at a colourful ceremony at the Abanpredease palace at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

According to tradition, the nomination has to be done by the Abakomahene since the late queenmother, Nana Ababio, has not been replaced to perform that function.

Mr. Mensah's supporters later carried him in a palanquin through the principal streets of Dormaa amidst drumming and jubilation.

Before the announcement, the whole township was electrified as everybody waited anxiously to hear the decision of the kingmakers who held a prolonged closed-door meeting in the morning.

As the announcement was finally made at about 1330 hours, the tension-packed crowd let out a loud cheer.

In attendance were Nana Oduro Numapau II, Omanhene of Essumeja in the Ashanti region and one of the heads of the Aduana Clan.

The ceremony passed off peacefully without any incident, as contingents of security personnel were deployed to maintain peace and order.

Three other candidates, namely Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Abayie, a London-based royal, Professor Acheampong, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Mr. Boakye Yaw Danquah, also a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, were said to have contested for the stool.

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Akwatia NPP elects executive

Akwatia (Greater Accra) 8th June ’99

The Akwatia branch of the New Patriotic Party has elected a new executive with Mr. Levis Kwame Nugloze as chairman.

The position of vice-chairman went to Mr. Yaw Bosompem while Mr. Ebenezer Okyere was elected Secretary and Mr. Kwaku Dua as Assistant Secretary.

The others are Mr. Yusif Hamza Yunah, Organiser, Mr. Kwaku Asare, Treasurer, and Mr. Daniel Bosompem, Porter.

Three women organisers, Miss Ramatu Dagomba, Miss Ataa Abrafi and Miss Paulina Nyameba were elected.

Meanwhile, 13 members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Akwatia have announced their decision to join the NPP.

The group, led by Mr. Edmund Kwame Boakye, alias Odasani, said they decided to quit the NDC because it had failed to deliver on its promises to alleviate hardships facing Ghanaians.

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Regional Minister advises assemblies to avoid partisan approach

Bawku (Upper East) 8th June ’99

Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper East regional minister, has reminded district assemblies to avoid partisan tendencies in the discharge of their functions.

"Even though assembly members may have their individual political affiliations, they should always bear in mind that they are in the assembly to represent the interests of the people", he said.

Alhaji Sulemana was addressing the third ordinary meeting of the first session of the Bawku East district assembly.

"If we allow our assembly to be divided along party or ethnic lines, we may end up never reaching a consensus on vital issues, to the detriment of the people we represent", he added.

The regional minister emphasised that certain provisions in the 1992 constitutions prohibit discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of ethnic origin, gender, religion or circumstances of birth.

Alhaji Sulemana regretted that some communities and traditional areas lack behind in development because of land, ethnic and chieftaincy disputes, and urged that such negative tendencies be curbed before they destroy the nation's social fabric.

He entreated assembly members to tolerate divergent views and work together for the promotion of national unity and development.

The regional minister advised members of the assembly to interact constantly with the electorate before and after assembly meetings to keep them abreast with current developments, and to promote a cross-fertilisation of ideas.

Mr. Dominic Akudago, Bawku East district chief executive, said the assembly had bagged 395.9 million cedis in revenue as at April this year, representing 57.4 per cent of an anticipated 515.2 million cedis the assembly intends to reap from traditional sources this year.

The DCE announced that the assembly has completed area council offices, and disbursed loans totalling 116 million cedis to 45 local groups under its poverty alleviation programme.

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Akim Kotoku Omanhene put on Black Stool

Akim Oda (Eastern Region) 8th June ’99

The newly installed Omanhene of Akim Kotoku Traditional Area was in the early hours of Monday put on the "Black Stool" at Akim Oda.

The ceremony, which signified the final installation of Dr Joseph Kyei-Minta as the new Omanhene under the stool name of Oseadeeye Frempong Manso IV, was held at "Nkonwafieso" at the palace.

Oseadeeye Frempong Manso succeeds Okofrobour Agyeman Attafua IV who died in June, last year, and was buried at Akim Oda in May, this year.

According to an enstoolment programme released at the weekend by the Acting President of the Traditional Area, Obrempong Affum Afronteng IV, Oseadeeye Frempong Manso will sit at the Palace on Monday to receive well wishers.

On Tuesday, June eight, the new Omanhene will sit at the Palace to receive homage from chiefs and people of Kotoku. On Thursday, June 24, he will sit in state at Gyasekese for his Chiefs and subjects to swear the oath of allegiance to him.

According to the programme, there will be a purification ceremony at the palace and the stool house on Friday, June 25, to be followed by a durbar of chiefs to outdoor the Omanhene at the Public Park on Saturday, June 26.

A thanksgiving service will follow at the Presbyterian Church at Akim Oda on Sunday, June 27.

Oseadeeye Frempong Manso, 42, known in private life as Dr Joseph Kyei-Minta, was born at Agogo-Hwidiem into the Agona Royal Family of Frempong Manso, the true and rightful occupants of the Frempong Manso Abohyen Dwa of Akim Kotoku.

He had his secondary education at Konongo Odumase Secondary School where he obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate in 1975.

He later completed the two-year sixth form course at the St. Augustine's College in Cape Coast where he had his Advanced Level certificate in 1977.

He entered the University of Science and Technology (UST) Medical School in Kumasi but later transferred to Semmelweis Medical School in Budapest, Hungary, where he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine Degree in 1987.

Dr Kyei-Minta enrolled at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, United States, and did consultancy training in Internal Medicine that he successfully completed in 1993.

The new Kotokumanhene started his working life at the Mt. Sinal University Hospital where he worked for a few years before going into private practice.

Dr Kyei-Minta, who currently runs two clinics in New York, also owns the Comprehensive Services Company in Ghana, dealers in earth moving equipment such as graders, excavators, payloaders, forklifts and low loaders.

He is married with two children.

Meanwhile, a mini durbar was held at Akim Oda on Monday where the Omanhene sat in state to receive well wishers.

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Ministry of Trade appeals to public not to panic on Belgian poultry scare

Accra (Greater Accra) 8th June ’99

The Ministry of Trade and Industry on Monday said it is doing all it can to get rid of all Belgium poultry, eggs, pork and pork products from the market.

Mr. Samuel Denu, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer, therefore, appealed to the public not to panic.

Mr. Denu, who was speaking in an interview in Accra, said Ghanaian poultry farmers do not import compounded feed from outside, thus making it free from the contaminating dioxin, which causes cancer.

"In order not to destroy our industry, I think Ghanaians should feel free to consume the poultry, eggs, pork and all pork products produced in the country because there is no evidence to show that our products are contaminated."

Mr. Denu stressed that their work would be very successful if the public assist by reporting any shop selling the said banned products to the appropriate quarters.

Ghana last week joined many countries in banning Belgian poultry and pork products that have been found to contain dioxin.

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Minister calls for the elimination of buruli ulcer

Accra (Greater Accra), 8th June 99 -

Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Minister of Health, on Monday called on health experts in West Africa to rise up to the challenge of reducing or eliminating buruli ulcer which has become a public health problem.

Mr Nuamah Donkor noted that the early recognition of the disease and its prompt and effective management at the early stages is a common challenge to both the community and service providers.

"We need to examine how the incidence of morbidity associated with the disease can be reduced.

"We know the cause of the disease but we need to know much more about how it is transmitted and spread."

He was opening a four-day inter-country workshop on the control of buruli ulcer in the West African Region organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Accra.

Programme managers and experts from Ghana, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea will examine and develop a generic framework to facilitate the design of a control strategy.

The meeting will also review country efforts in developing a national programme for the disease and discuss priority research questions needing urgent investigations.

Buruli ulcer usually manifests as a nodular swelling which later develops into a chronic ulcer with varying degrees of necrotic tissues.

It spreads and affects deeper tissues and bones leading to loss of function, deformity and the risk of amputation and death.

It is known to be endemic in more than 25 countries in Central and West Africa, Western Pacific, Asia and South America.

Mr Nuamah Donkor noted that there is the need to devise strategies and work with communities and families to ensure early detection and reporting on one hand and prompt provision of effective medical measures.

He said Africa is afflicted with many health problems that adversely affect socio-economic development adding if "we are to attain our desired status in the next millennium, we must safeguard our human capital.

"The challenges of rehabilitating those with deformities is a formidable one for the government as is the issue of educating and training those who may have dropped out of school."

The Minister noted that majority of the cases of buruli ulcer are found in young people below 15 years of age who suffer pain and deformity even before they become productive and are in a position to contribute to their society.

These patients live in the rural areas where access to health care is poor and the cost of care quite high.

"There is a need to explore ways to finance the cost of caring for these patients," he said.

Dr Martin Mandara, WHO Representative, said buruli ulcer is the third most common micro-bacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy and is known to cause much human suffering.

He said the true burden of the disease is not yet known but it has been established that the number of cases are on the increase and are now being reported in areas where the disease was unknown before.

Dr Mandara said in recognition of the growing threat of buruli ulcer as a disease, WHO came up with a Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative which is committed to assisting countries and the global community in finding solutions and

developing new strategies for reducing the burden of the disease world-wide.

In Ghana, WHO is supporting a national case search and medical management of cases.

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Reject the NDC in the 2000 polls, MP tells constituents

Agroyesum (Ashanti), 8th June 99 --

Ghanaians have been asked to reject the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2000 general elections " for poor economic performance that has led to widespread suffering of the people."

Mr Anthony Boakye-Yiadom, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Amansie West, said life is becoming unbearable for the people each passing day as tariffs keep hiking with school fees and medical bills always rising.

He said the only way to reverse this situation and bring comfort to all is to vote massively for the NPP which has "capable men to steer the economy in a more efficient and effective manner".

Addressing a rally at Agroyesum in the Amansie West district at the Weekend, Mr Boakye-Yiadom said a government of the NPP would focus on rural development, promote agriculture and ensure quality education for all.

He condemned the recent increases in the price of petroleum products, arguing that its expected negative effect on goods and services would wipe away whatever benefits that would have come out of the implementation of the Pricewater House salary structure.

Mr J. T. Boah, the constituency secretary, askedmembers and supporters of the party to always address issues and not to attack personalities.

He said the party can not afford to lose the 2000 general elections and called on all activists to intensify their campaigns for more members.

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Students go to the aid of school

Apam (Central Region), 8th June 99 -

The 'concerned students association (CONSA)' of the Apam Secondary School who have provided the school with an iron gate estimated at two million cedis.

Commissioning it, the Gomoa District Chief Executive, Mr Kow Anyanful, exhorted students not to see the government's policy on cost sharing as an attempt to deprive Ghanaians the chance to have tertiary education but rather as a means to expand facilities for the tertiary institutions to increase their student intake.

Mrs. Esther Hamilton, headmistress of the school, commended the effort of the students and said their action has negated the popular believe that students are only interested in hooliganism and destruction.

She appealed to members of the association to educate their fellow students against anti-social habits such as drug addiction and pre-marital sex, saying such programmes would go down well when they are initiated by students themselves.

Prince Joshua Agyiri, founder and president of the association, said the aim of the association is to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in its members.

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Mitsubishi labour crisis deteriorates

Accra (Greater Accra), 8th June 99 -

The impasse between management and workers of African Automobile Company Limited (AAL), distributors of Mitsubishi vehicles in Ghana, is deteriorating despite the intervention of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.

The Labour Department last Tuesday, June 1, was unable to get the problem resolved to enable the workers to go back to work.

This is because the management of the company has locked out the workers in violation of the advice of the Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Austin Gamey, for the workers to resume work for negotiations to begin.

The management has also asked all the workers of the AAL and its sister company, International Automobile limited, who did not join a demonstration on June two to go home and re-apply for employment.

Some of the workers who wish to remain anonymous told the GNA that the management is accusing workers of International Automobile Limited of backing the strikers.

The affected workers have, therefore, expressed disappointment about the decision and called on the government and the Trades Union Congress to ensure that justice is done and labour laws of the country respected by the management.

The workers have, however, indicated that they will not use violence or any unorthodox means to resolve the issue. They urged the President and the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to resolve the case amicably.

They said they will not re-apply as being demanded by the management.

When the GNA visited the premises of the company today, the workers most of whom were wearing red bands, had gathered outside the offices and the workshops with some security personnel around.

On June 2, technical workers of AAL embarked on a peaceful demonstration through some principal streets in Accra to press home their demand for increased salaries and improved conditions of service.

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