Rawlings takes on chiefs and the media

Akim Kotoku to outdoor a new Omanhene

Enforce laws banning school children from video shows

Sierra Leonean party in exile supports interim government

NPP holds workshop for polling agents

SSNIT Flats Are Expensive - Civil Service

Civil Service adopt new working culture- Dodoo

Western Sahara seeks Ghana's support

Turn to God end bribery and corruption - Rev Effah Ababio

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

President Jerry John Rawlings granting audience to the Asantehene, Otumfou Osei Tutu II on Friday said Ghana would continue to be peaceful and stable if chiefs use their traditional authority to curb some of the excesses in society.

Some of these excesses are committed by the media against individuals as well as those in authority "thus destroying traditional respect for authority", he said.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was at the Castle, Osu with some of his divisional chiefs, to thank the government for its support during the funeral of his predecessor.

President Rawlings said: "there is so much disinformation and misinformation that they are causing so much damage."

For example, he went on, when a one month ban on drumming and dancing was announced by the Ga Traditional Council last month, a lot of debate was generated in the media.

On one of such discussions on an FM station in Accra, a contributor said the Ga people should not compare themselves to Ashantis.

President Rawlings said, that statement was in bad taste and that the tension it generated in Accra would have eased if an Ashanti chief had come out with a statement condemning it.

President Rawlings said after the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II when Nana Akwasi Agyeman's name emerged as one of the contestants to the Golden Stool, a section of the media heaped insults on him.

It was surprising that no one from either the Ashanti Royal House or any Ashanti chief came out to defend him, he said.

President Rawlings said traditional authorities must assist to ensure that the power of the pen is not misused, stressing: "The pen can either build or destroy".

The President said Ghana has achieved a lot of progress through unity and that this must be maintained.

"We made all these achievements together as one people. Opposing views must be aired but these must be constructive otherwise the clock of progress will be wound backwards."

President Rawlings told Otumfuo Osei Tutu: "I wish you the best. Do not ignore the advice of your elders. Do not close the door to the words of wisdom from your elders".

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said his predecessor achieved a lot for Ghana and for Ashanti and he would build on that solid foundation for the progress of Ghana, adding that he is ready to co-operate with the government for the good of the country.

"Chieftaincy is like government. They both deal with people. But, as a new chief, I need time to look into things so the government should be patient with me."

Professor Kofi Awoonor, a Presidential Staffer, and Mr M.A. Seidu, Deputy Majority Chief Whip, both called for national unity.

Mr Seidu said the quick installation of Otumfuo Osei Tutu is a lesson for all traditional areas, especially those who have been embroiled in chieftaincy disputes.

"This shows that we also have democratic institutions that have stood the test of time," he said.

Nana Oduro Numapau, Esumejahene, called for co-operation between chiefs and the government.

"As a chief, you cannot be successful if you do not co-operate with government," he stated.

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Akim Oda (Eastern Region) 21 June '99

The New Kotokumanhene, Oseadeeye Frempong Manso IV, will be outdoored at a durbar of chiefs at the Akim Oda public park on Saturday, June 26.

Obrempong Affum Afronteng IV, Adontehene of the Akim Kotoku traditional area, said on Monday that the durbar would climax a four-day outdooring programme for the new Omanhene.

The programme would start on Thursday June 24, at Gyasekese, the palace where Oseadeeye Frempong Manso would sit in state for the chiefs in the traditional area to swear the oath of allegiance to him.

Obrempong Afronteng, acting president of the traditional council, said this would be followed by the purification of the palace and the stool house on Friday, June 25.

The programme would be rounded up with a thanksgiving service at the Akim Oda Presbyterian Church on Sunday June 27.

The acting president appealed to all sons and daughters of Akim Kotoku to come in their numbers to grace the occasion.

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Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo)

Mr Thomas Opoku, School Management Committee (SMC) chairman for Nkoranza Central schools, has appealed to the Nkoranza district assembly to enforce bye-laws banning school children from attending video-shows, dances and concerts.

It should also ensure that parents do not shirk their responsibilities to their wards to prevent the incidence of street children in the communities.

Mr Opoku at a recent School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM) organised at Nkoranza, some of the parents blamed teachers for the poor academic performance of students in the schools.

He stressed the need for parents to team-up with teachers to impart the right knowledge and skills to their children to prepare them for the future.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

Sierra Leone People's Democratic League (PDL), a political party in exile, has declared its total support for the formation of an interim government of "inclusion" in Sierra Leone and the talks in Lome Togo, aimed at ending the blood bath.

"It is the only path to bring lasting peace and security in Sierra Leone", the League said, adding that "only negotiations through the on-going Lome talks can bring the untold sufferings of our neglected people to immediate end".

The League expressed its support in a statement issued in Accra on Sunday signed by Mr Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh, chairman and leader of the party.

It called for the reinstatement of the Sierra Leonean army as the only constitutional body responsible for defending the country's national sovereignty and the holding of "free, fair, honest, transparent and participatory elections".

The League condemned the on-going campaign in the capital, Freetown against the formation of the interim government, describing the action as "criminal, selfish and a declaration of war against peace and stability".

The statement said any parliamentarian, who would sit in "any impeachment discussions" against President Tejan Kabbah for accepting an interim government "will be considered an enemy of Sierra Leonean society and will be treated as such".

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Akropong Akuapem (Eastern Region) 21 June '99

The Eastern Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party has organised a seminar for polling agents in the Akropong constituency and appealed to women to contest for executive positions in the party.

Mr S.M. Ahyiah, Eastern Regional secretary who made the appeal, said there is nothing in the party's constitution which debars women from holding positions at any level.

Mr Ahyiah called on the functionaries to ensure that problems were first resolved at the constituency and regional levels before they get to the national headquarters.

Nana Adi Ankamah, the regional chairman, said the workshop was to ensure proper organisation of the party.

An effective organisation would ensure that this time round " NPP does not loose the next general elections again."

Mr Abbeku Dickson, acting National Youth Organiser, advised the participants to embark on "a campaign of truth and desist from promising things that the party could not honour when it comes to power.

He urged functionaries to ensure that the electoral registers in their polling stations are free of ghost names.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

The Civil Service has slowed consideration of applications for Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) flats by civil servants because of their high cost.

It said the budgetary allocation for housing from the Ministry of Finance is not substantial to support payment of 38 million cedis per flat as being demanded by SSNIT.

Dr Mr Robert Dodoo Head of the Civil Service, announced at a press conference to outdoor the programme of activities to commemorate the fifth anniversary celebration of Africa Day of Administration and Civil Service in Accra on Monday.

The day has been set aside to take stock of the civil service, discuss pertinent issues affecting the administration of the service and gather views for improving it.

Dr Dodoo said, "due to the financial constraint and low budgetary allocation for housing, the service cannot afford a flat payment of 38 million cedis a flat."

"The service can only pay five million cedis for each beneficiary or make instalment payment since the 38 million cedis will drain the service and deny others from benefiting."

Mr Kofi Obeng-Adofo, Chief Director of the Civil Service, said the service has been operating a special scheme, the Public Servant Housing Scheme, for over two decades now to help lessen the accommodation problems of working and retired public servants.

So far, about 700 people have benefited from the scheme.

Mr Obeng-Adofo said apart from the scheme, the service has been relying on SSNIT to provide housing to civil servants but its policy has changed to a flat payment demand for each flat.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

Pragmatic policies have been adopted to remove bureaucratic tendencies, apathy and laziness from the civil service, Dr Robert Dodoo, head of the service, said in Accra on Monday.

At a press conference to launch a programme of activities to mark the fifth anniversary of the Africa Day of Administration and Civil Service, Dr Dodoo said a new code of conduct/work ethics has been drawn up for the service.

The new ethics incorporate the principles of selflessness, integrity, justice and fairness, accountability, transparency and leadership.

He said the code would instil the appropriate standard of responsible behaviour and work habit to facilitate efficiency and effectiveness.

The activities for the week include commissioning of the Civil Servants' Association Office Complex, anniversary lecture and awards, seminar for women in the civil service, Moslem Prayers at Abossey Okai Mosque, and a thanksgiving service at the Wesley Methodist Church on June 27.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

Vice-President John Atta Mills on Monday granted audience to Muhammed Salerm Ould Salek, Foreign Minister of the Sahraoui Arab Democratic Republic and assured him of Ghana's continued support to see the end of the territory's struggle for freedom.

Prof Mills said it is Ghana's belief that the people of Western Sahara should be given the right to self-determination and expressed the hope that the scheduled referendum to decide their future would be free and fair.

Foreign Minister Salek called at the Castle with a message from President Abdul Aziz, inviting President Jerry John Rawlings to visit the territory, which has been struggling for self-rule from Morocco over the years.

He told the Vice-President that the people of Western Sahara have followed with keen interest Ghana's leading role to see development and stability in Africa and would be glad to receive President Rawlings.

"President Rawlings has something very special for the Sahraoui people," he said, adding that his visit would mean a lot to them.

The Organisation of African Unity will hold a summit next month in Algeria to discuss, among other things, UN's plan to conduct a referendum on whether the territory, with a population of about 220,000, should become independent or remain part of Morocco which controls the main urban areas.

Mr Salek spoke about impediments in the plans for the referendum, which he said, were being caused by Morocco, backed by France.

He called for Ghana's intervention to lobby other countries like Nigeria to support the territory's cause.

Mr James Victor Gbeho, Ghana's Foreign Minister, said government was aware of the situation in the Western Sahara and would be ready to assess the latest developments to make informed decision as to what assistance it could offer the people.

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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 21 June '99

The Reverend Dr Kofi Effah-Ababio, Asante Presbytery Chairman of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said on Sunday that bribery and corruption could be eliminated when the real culprits - the giver and the receiver - turn over a new leaf.

Government officials, the clergy, chiefs and opinion leaders are all calling for an end to this social canker which is destroying socio-economic development of the country, he said.

Rev Effah-Ababio therefore urged those involved in the act to stop forthwith.

He was delivering the sermon at a thanksgiving service to climax activities for a three-day 14th annual conference of the Asante Presbytery Men's Fellowship of the church at the Presbyterian Church of Ascension at Obuasi in the Adansi West district.

The theme for the conference was "Turn to God, rejoice in hope".

The Presbytery Chairman pointed out that Ghana's determination to free itself from bribery and corruption would be successful only if Ghanaians turned to God with faith and hope.

Rev Effah-Ababio inducted a new 14-member executive committee for the fellowship headed by Mr Asante- Agyarko, into office.

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