President leaves for South Africa
Teen's centre expansion commissioned
SSSCE to be taken in May/June 2001
Health Officer banished from community
Police quiz man on murder of CEPS official
Pharmacy Council opens zonal office in Tamale
African health experts brain storm on minimising diseases
Orphanage receives over 30 million cedis gifts
Women and Earth NGO President visits Ghana
Regional Minister cautions Assemblies on expenditure
Blindness awareness week launched
Government to check land degradation
President leaves for South Africa
Accra (Greater Accra), 15th May 99 -
President Jerry John Rawlings left Accra this morning for Pretoria to attend the inauguration of the second democratically elected South African president, Mr. Thabo Mbeki.
The ceremony will also mark the farewell for Mr Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa.
President Rawlings was accompanied by the first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Mr James Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Comfort Nimo, member council of state and Miss Rebecca Damptey of the Brong Ahafo regional administration.
A statement by Mr. Joseph Laryea, deputy Foreign Minister, said President Rawlings will meet other heads of state and governments.
About 25 African heads of state and representatives 96 countries will be attend ceremony.
President Rawlings and his entourage was seen off at the airport by the Vice President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, chairman of the council of state, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Peter Nanfuri, Ministers of State and the officials of the South African High Commission.
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Teen's centre expansion commissioned
Abiriw-Akuapem (Eastern Region), 15th June 99 -
The first phase of the expansion of the Abiriw Teen's Centre to enable it to offer reproductive health education and services and skill training to more teenage mothers and female school drop outs has been commissioned at Abiriw.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Patience Adow, speaking at the ceremony called for support for school drop outs, young girls and teenage mothers.
She expressed appreciation to organisations which contributed towards the project especially the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG).
Mr Koichiro Fukasawa, third secretary of the Japanese Embassy stressed the need for the establishment of more centres and asked the students to take advantage of the facility to improve themselves.
Mr Justice G.K. Acquah, national president of PPAG said research confirms that one out of every ten pregnant women in the country is a teenager.
He said the establishment of the centres is part of PPAG's efforts to meet the needs of pregnant teenagers and mothers by supporting them with skill training.
Apart from the Abiriw Teens Centre, the association has other institutions at Abuesi near Sekondi and Oforikrom in Kumasi.
Mr Anthony Gyampoh, Akuapem North District Chief Executive, said the district assembly had enacted by-laws to prevent children from indulging in late night activities.
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SSSCE to be taken in May/June 2001
Accra (Greater Accra), 15th June 99 -
The Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSSCE) would from 2001 be taken in the months of May and June to bring it in line with the school calendar.
The SSSCE examination for private candidates would take place for the first time between November and December this year together with the public schools' examinations.
Rev. Ebenezer Allotey, Head of SSSCE of the Administration Department of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) said this on Monday at a seminar organised for final year senior secondary school (SSS) students in Accra.
The seminar was under the theme: "Time with WAEC", and was meant for students to familiarise themselves with the usual problems associated with WAEC examinations.
It was to see how best they could avoid such problems either before or during the examinations.
It brought together students from various schools in Accra and Mawuli Senior Secondary School in the Volta Region.
Rev Allotey said WAEC had been allowing the registration of seven subjects but this year the number was increased to eight adding that in October this year, Oral English examination would be administered.
He said WAEC has introduced the Ghana Commercial Examinations, which used to be known as Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
Rev Allotey said WAEC has the mandate to ensure that students pass their examinations but if they act in a way that makes them fail, they should not blame the Council.
He warned students against examination malpractice, saying they all contribute to "you failing your exams because either your results will be withheld or cancelled and at times one person's fault might affect a whole school or the Council".
He said carrying of all forms of foreign materials to the examination hall are some of the things that lead to the cancellation of students results.
Others are leakage, cheating during the examinations, seeking help from invigilators, impersonation and school authorities condoning and conniving with students.
Rev Allotey, answering a question on change in school syllabus, said it was due to the introduction of the educational reform but said the contents of the subjects remain the same.
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Health Officer banished from community
Wa (Upper West), 15th June 99 -
Mr Adam Salia Mohammed, Environmental Health Officer for Bulenga, a farming community in the Wa District, has been expelled from the village for being the source of "uncomplimentary news report" about their negative attitude to environmental hygiene.
Looking dejected and withdrawn, Mr Mohammed told newsmen at Wa on Monday that the elders and people met on Sunday and gave him 48 hours to leave the village because his safety could no longer be guaranteed.
On June 10, 1999, a "Ghanaian Times" story from the GNA attributed to the Environmental Health Officer, said the Bulenga community had abandoned a KVIP toilet put up by their district assembly for their use claiming it was an affront to their dignity and traditional beliefs to use it.
The story said they reasoned that their human waste could not be "sleeping in a well constructed house", toilet, while they themselves sleep in thatched houses.
Mr Mohammed said the people have also refused to drink water from a bore hole sunk for them, claiming that it was salty, compared to the stream water they were used to.
Confirming the banishment of the officer from the village, the assemblyman for the area, Mr Seidu Mohammed Saani, said the elders took the decision because they could not continue to live "with someone who has insulted us as backward".
He described the story as a pack of lies coming from "an officer, who is not respected by the community because he lacks any sense of decorum".
Mr Saani said the 12-seater KVIP was being patronised and he has employed a labourer to keep it clean and he pays him weekly from his own resources.
"We even need another toilet because this one cannot serve the whole community", he said.
The assemblyman said the people have contributed money through levies and paid it to the Community Water Project (COWAP) for the replacement of a faulty bore hole. This will add to three functional hand dug-wells fitted with pumps and another bore hole.
"Why should we contribute money to pay for the replacement of bore holes, if we have no use for potable water?" he queried.
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Police quiz man on murder of CEPS official
Tema (Greater Accra), 15th June 99 --
The Tema Police have invited Mr John Bentum, a former VALCO employee, to help them in their investigations into the murder of Mr John Lee Manu, an employee of the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Tema.
According to Mr Joe Dankwa, Tema Regional Police Commander, the Police could not arrest two other men, who are allegedly connected with the murder.
"We are making all efforts to apprehend them to help us in our investigations", he said.
A source close to the Police said Mr Manu, who was said to be tipsy, entered Mr Bentum's car, thinking it was his. The two cars allegedly have the same colour.
The Police source said Mr Bentum raised the alarm and a mob besieged Mr Manu. In spite of interventions by some opinion leaders in the area, the mob attacked him, one member allegedly stabbing him with a sharp knife below his right ribs.
He was also allegedly hit in the head by a concrete block.
The body of Mr Manu was discovered on Sunday at Community Seven. It has since been deposited at the Tema General hospital mortuary for autopsy.
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Pharmacy Council opens zonal office in Tamale
Tamale (Northern Region), 15th June 99 -
Nana Paddy Acheampong, a Deputy Minister of Health, has asked the Ghana Pharmacy Council to help check the activities of illegal drug vendors and marketing of sub-standard drugs in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
Nana Acheampong, who was commissioning the zonal office of the Council in Tamale on Monday, said due to ignorance and poverty, all sorts of criminal dealings in drugs go on unchecked in these areas.
The Deputy Minister advised the five-member council under the chairmanship of Mr Anthony Analba to collaborate with the three Regional Co-ordinating Councils and other stakeholders to be able to work effectively.
He said the Ministry of Health is providing technical and logistic support to the Council and other regulatory bodies to ensure the effective participation of the private sector in the implementation of the five-year health reform programme.
Nana Acheampong asked all health professionals to identify with the national drug programme, to not only attain professional standards but also ensure that pharmaceutical services are improved.
Mr Kwabena Ohene-Manu, chairman of the Ghana Pharmacy Council, said a fourth zonal office would be established in Koforidua to oversee the Eastern and Volta regions.
He said the Tamale zonal office would commission drug inspectors to check the activities of quack drug dealers, who have been peddling fake and unwholesome drugs.
"We are also aware that there are a lot of unregistered chemical sellers in the three regions, and I wish to remind owners of such unauthorised shops that they are in breach of the law", he warned.
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African health experts brain storm on minimising diseases
Accra (Greater Accra) 15th June '99
A five-day meeting aimed at strengthening the preventive capacity of African countries in responding to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) opened in Accra on Monday.
It is to focus on the need to evolve specific strategies to lighten the burden of diseases on the continent and is expected to set up a technical resource network on sex on the continent and identify resource people.
Twenty-five experts from six countries including Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa as well as representatives of such international organisations as the World Bank, UN agencies are attending the meeting which will deliberate on steps for the implementation of a regional STDs programme.
The meeting forms part of a regional STDs task force gathering organised by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa.
Dr Martin Mandara, WHO representative in Ghana, said AIDS is now a leading cause of death in Africa, replacing malaria and other communicable diseases.
At the current rate of infection, it is estimated that 1,200,000 people in would be living with HIV in Ghana by 2005. At least 600,000 are currently living with HIV, he said.
In 1997, he said, it was estimated that 2.3 million people died of AIDS, worldwide, which represents a 50 per cent increase compared to 1996.
Dr Mandara said, "one distressing fact is that about 90 per cent of these infections are known to be in Africa, giving our continent an immense burden of dealing with and responding appropriately to the epidemic."
There is, therefore, the need to plan and implement activities, which aim at personal protection against infections and transmission, including the empowerment of vulnerable groups with skills for negotiating safer sex practices and improving their economic base.
Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, noted that "within our society are vulnerable groups that must be reached with appropriate interventions in order for us to make an impact on the rate of spread of the HIV/AIDS."
She said more has to be done to obtain a better understanding of the dynamics of transmission among vulnerable groups and come up with effective interventions to empower and protect them from sexually transmitted infections to reduce their impact on the society.
"Our expectation is that this workshop will come up with a viable and innovative strategies for approaching young people, women and other vulnerable groups to enable them to make better choices about STDs.
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Orphanage receives over 30 million cedi gifts
Offinso (Ashanti), 15th June 99 -
The Offinso Children's Centre, an Orphanage at Offinso, has been presented with a vehicle and acontainer-load of items valued at over 30 million cedis for the upkeep of the children.
The vehicle, "IFA-W50", would be used for commercial towing services to help generate income to enable the Centre to become financially self-supporting.
This, together with the items in the container which included fridges, clothing, shoes, blankets, learning materials and toys, were donated by a German Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), SOLIDAVITCET EINE WELT.
Mr Michael Hammerl, a representative of the organisation, said they will continue to assist to make life more comfortable for the children.
Mrs. Mary Osei Tutu, Co-Founder of the Centre, expressed appreciation to the NGO for its support and gave the assurance that the management would ensure that all donations are used exclusively for the benefit of the children.
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Women and Earth NGO President visits Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 15th June '99
Mrs. Tatyana Mamonova, President of Women and Earth Eco-Network International, a US non-governmental organisation dedicated to women and development, arrived in Accra on Monday to begin a three-week tour.
Mrs. Mamonova, accompanied by Mrs. Mildred Didio, Vice-President of the organisation, will have discussions with government officials, women and NGOs with the view to improving relations between her organisation and Ghanaian NGOs.
They will also assess preparations towards the Annual Conference and Film Exposition of Women and Earth Eco-Network, to be held in Accra in December.
Mrs. Mamonova is being hosted by African Peace Network International (APNET) and the Ghana branch of Women and Earth Eco-Network.
Speaking at a meeting with executives of Women and Earth, Ghana, and APNET on arrival, Mrs. Mamonova said the organisation is poised to improve the welfare of women and children in Ghana and West Africa as a whole.
She expressed her readiness to support the Ghana branch of her organisation to grow and render the services for which it was established.
Mr Alex Adu Appiah, Executive Director, and Mr William Sakah, Administrative Secretary of Women and Earth Eco-Network, Ghana, said branches of the NGO have been established in Togo and Benin.
They said land has been acquired in Accra for the training of women in vocational skills and modern agricultural practices to improve the well being of women.
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Regional Minister cautions Assemblies on expenditure
Bawku (Upper East) 15th June '99
Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper East Regional Minister, has advised District Assemblies to spend a greater percentage of their locally generated revenue on capital projects rather than recurrent expenditure.
He told the third ordinary meeting of the Bawku East District Assembly at Bawku that assembly members should ensure that revenue collection is adequately strengthened for the assembly's effective functioning.
The Regional Minister expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Assembly whose total revenue collection for 1998 stood at 473.8 million cedis as against an estimated target of 353.7 million cedis.
He noted, however, that a critical look at the Assembly's monthly trial balance "gives a disconcerting impression. For instance, 49.1 million cedis representing 10.3 per cent the total in 1998, was spent on capital expenditure.
The implication is that almost 90 per cent of the revenue for that year were spent on recurrent expenditure, which he said, was not good enough.
''Proof of your Assembly's performance is not only measured by the amount of money you generate, but on your ability to provide your people with basic social facilities with the monies collected,'' he declared.
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Blindness awareness week launched
Sandema (Upper East) 15th June 99 –
The Ministry of Health (MOH) supported by the International Trachoma Initiative and other donor agencies, has started a special programme to reduce the incidence of trachoma in the country.
The ministry is identifying endemic communities for control measures to be put in place in collaboration with the district assemblies, the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation's rural water division, the Department of Community Development, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Ghana Education Service.
This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Health, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor at the national launching of this year's Blindness Awareness Week in Sandema, on the theme "Good eyesight for active ageing".
Mr Nuamah Donkor said even though trachoma could easily be prevented from causing blindness, it has become a major public health problem in the country, especially in the drier areas.
He, therefore, urged people living in communities that are at risk of trachoma to avoid over-crowding, and maintain good personal hygiene.
Mr Nuamah Donkor indicated that the theme for the week-long celebrations has been focused on the aged and the ageing to disabuse the minds of people that old age is a time to suffer from ill health, including blindness.
He said most of the ailments people suffered during old age are direct results of the reckless lives they might have lead in their youth.
"A life of exercise, moderation in eating habits, good health practices, prudent economic behaviour with careful investments, non-smoking and little intake of alcohol will certainly lead to enjoyable ageing," the Minister observed.
He said the eye care programme with the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education Service has started training teachers in first cycle schools to identify eye problems in children for early treatment.
Dr Erasmus Agongo, Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, said onchocerciasis, once a major cause of blindness in some parts of the region, has been wiped out under the World Health Organisation's Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP).
Dr Agongo, however, urged the affected communities to be vigilant to prevent the re-emergence of the disease in the oncho-freed areas.
In a welcoming address, Mr Daniel Syme, Builsa District Chief Executive, said the district assembly and the Sandema Presbyterian Community-based Rehabilitation for the Disabled (SPCRD), the District Health Management Team (DHMT) and the Department of Social Welfare, have introduced a programme to rehabilitate the disabled, including the blind.
He said through this partnership, more than 373 people suffering from cataract and other eye diseases were operated upon.
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Government to check land degradation
Akwatia (Eastern Region), 15th June –
The government is introducing measures to redress land degradation and to improve the environment, Mr Edward Dzoboku, Eastern Regional Manager of the Forestry Department, has said.
The measures include the adoption of a new forestry and wildlife policy, a forestry development master plan and a 10-year natural resources programme.
Mr Dzoboku was addressing St Rose's Secondary School Wildlife Day celebrations organised by the Wildlife Club of the School at Akwatia at the weekend.
He said the government is increasing public awareness on the need to protect the environment and to get individuals and communities actively involved in afforestation.
The regional manager called for the formation of more wildlife clubs in schools and communities to make them participate actively in the crusade to protect Ghana's remaining forests and to embark on massive afforestation programmes.
Mr Korankye Ababio, Kwaebibirem district chief executive, said the government's programme as contained in Vision 2020 "addresses all the issues relating to land and forest conservation and the general environment".
In broad terms, the programme includes sustainable forest and savannah management, propagation of forest base products, forest industry rationalisation and wildlife conservation.
He said the government through the Forestry Department has introduced measures to properly control timber harvesting both on and off forest reserves and to curb the spate of illegal timber and chainsaw operations.
Mr Gerard Boakye, project officer of the Ghana Wildlife Society, speaking on "the importance of wildlife to the Ghanaian economy", said Ghana realises about 250,000 dollars in wildlife tourism a year and the wildlife department has a long-term potential revenue of one million dollars.
He said a figure of 500 million dollars is commonly given as the estimate of the total wholesale value of bushmeat consumed in Ghana each year, adding that harvesting of wildlife products is also of much importance to the economy.
Examples of such products are medicinal plants, sponges, snails, shea butter, honey from bees, raffia palm, marantaceae leave for wrapping food, cane for basket and furniture and grass for thatch.
The Rev Fr Andrew Campbell, Parish priest of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Tema, regretted that selfishness had led people to destroy natural habitats of animals. They cut down trees and cause soil erosion due to their failure to replant the trees to replace those felled.
He said "the mining industry is attracting many investors who have become rich at the expense of the poor farmer whose farms have been destroyed and who is offered very little compensation".
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