Vice-president Mills
visits plane crash victims
NDC solving economic problems on the quiet
Involve youth in policies
that affect them -Medical Doctor
Let us do more on World Environment Day
Death toll in Airlink crash now six
Rawlings receives message from Lebanese
President
NPP would ensure effective use of resources
–Selby
Ashaiman NDC parliamentary contestants want
Aheto out
Vice-president
Mills visits plane crash victims
Accra (Greater Accra) 06 June 2000
Vice President John Atta Mills has
commended the 37 Military Hospital for it handling of national emergencies such
as that of Monday’s plane crash and said there is need to equip the institution
with adequate resources.
He said equipping the hospital and
its sister agencies with the needed facilities would facilitate swift delivery
of health care.
Vice President Mills made the
remarks during an interaction with the top hierarchy of the hospital shortly
before he toured the wards to ascertain the state of health of victims of the
plane crash.
Six people including three
foreigners died when the fokker 27 operated by the Ghana Air Force crashed at
the threshold of the Kotoka International Airport tarmac just before midday.
There were 52 passengers,
including four crew, on Flight 200, returning from Tamale to Accra on a routine
domestic trip. It went down minutes before expected landing time at the airport
in heavy rains.
Vice President Mills shared a few
words of sympathy with the victims and wished them speedy recovery. They
include the pilot, Wing-Commander W.E.A. Kekrebasi and co-pilot Seth Owusu who
sustained various degrees of injuries.
Prof. Mills also visited the ward
of the remaining students of the Aburi Girls motor accident to see how they
were faring.
Brigadier Daniel Twum, Commanding
officer of the Military hospital described yesterday as a very bad day as they
had to deal with victims of a car accident that occurred on the motorway just
at the same time of the plane crash.
He said earlier in the day, the
main electrical cable to the hospital's electricity transformer got burnt,
thereby resulting in a blackout. However, power was later restored.
Brig. Twum praised the Ghana Civil
Aviation Authority and the Air Force for the swift manner in which they handled
the victims without putting any pressure on the hospital's services.
He said the condition of those on
admission have been stabilised but added that some of them needed serious
attention.
Brig. Twum said none of the
surviving victims has been discharged from the hospital, however, the reigning
Miss Ghana, Ms Mariam Sugru Bugri, also a victim, left the hospital on her own
to the Trust Hospital.
He said clinical examinations
would continue on the patients today.
Although the authorities are yet
to come out with findings on the cause of the crash, most survivors the GNA
spoke to blame it on poor visibility as a result of the downpour.
They praised the pilot for
"expertly" handling the crisis, which has helped to minimise the
death toll as well as the degree of injuries.
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NDC solving economic problems on the quiet
Ashaiman (Greater Accra) 06 June 2000
Prof. John Evans Attah Mills, the Vice-President, has admitted that the country has economic problems, which are being solved on the quiet.
He said the current economic crisis facing the country are not due to mismanagement or incompetence on the part of the government but are the effects of global economic factors and the government has the capability to handle them.
Speaking at an NDC outreach programme at Ashaiman on Monday night to introduce himself to the people of the Ashaiman constituency, Prof. Mills condemned the opposition parties for attributing the current economic situation to the government.
He said the government's economic policies are geared towards ensuring that
Ghanaians are in control of the economy and " that is why it has created free zone enclaves and introduced the Gateway Programme to open up the Ghanaian economy."
Prof. Mills said Ghanaians cannot continue importing everything with hard earned foreign exchange and warned that if care is not taken Ghanaians would even start importing "kenkey".
He urged Ghanaians to ignore people giving false information that the NDC government has done nothing for this country or has no solutions to the country's economic problems.
"The difference between the NDC and the opposition is that we are humble, we don't blow our horns and that is why we have been in power for 20 years", he said, adding "the only thing is to admit the truth that not everything is rosy".
Prof. Mills said the government has no money to share to the people but has instead made development its main target for the people to earn a living.
He asked the party's supporters not to see members of the opposition as enemies, adding that the best they should do is to ignore all their provocative talks and move forward. Prof Mills also advised them to live in peace with every one since no one can enjoy his wealth in confusion.
On opposition claims that he is politically immature, the Vice-President asked how many people have been vice-presidents for three and half years in Ghana's political history or even acted as President.
"We don't want to go round wearing badges because the people have elected us to serve them".
On the confusion within the Ashaiman constituency of the NDC, Prof. Mills advised supporters of the party not to allow people to sow seeds of hatred among them.
"Let us sink our differences; we have to be guardians of our own destiny," he said.
Mr. Dan Abodakpi, Minister for Trade and Industry said it is true that times are difficult but the government is trying its best to improve the situation.
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Mankranso (Ashanti Region) 06 June
2000
The youth of Mankranso in the
Ahafo Ano South district have vowed not to honour payment of further
development levies until special rates collected from them about seven years
ago towards their electrification and water projects have been accounted for.
The youth made this known to the
District Chief Executive for the area, Mr. Anthony Kusi, during a public forum
organised by the district assembly at Mankranso on Monday.
Mr. Anthony Kusi, however advised
the youth to exercise restraint and assured them that a committee will soon be
set up to probe how the money was disbursed.
Mr. Kusi also urged supporters of
all political parties to refrain from using abusive language during campaigns
to enhance peaceful elections in December.
GRi…/
Involve youth in
policies that affect them -Medical Doctor
Cape Coast (Central Region) 06
June 2000
Dr William Bosu, a medical
practitioner in Cape Coast on Monday stressed that it is important to seek the
views of the youth on issues pertaining to their welfare.
He expressed regret that current
policies and legislation that affect the youth " are often a by-products
of other actions, which do not meet their aspirations.
Dr Bosu, who is with the Public
Health Division of the Central Health Administration, said this at the opening
of a 5-day workshop to educate Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers on
population and family Life Education (POP/FLE) issues.
More than 70 participants
including district directors of education in the region are attending the
workshop.
It is aimed at inculcating family
life education into JSS pupils to enable them become more aware of their
responsibilities as adolescents.
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Let us do more on World Environment Day
Asuokaw (Eastern Region) 06 June 2000
The president of the Nanoa Environmental and Human Development Organisation (NEHDO), Mr. Isaac Nti-Ababio, has suggested that the celebration of World Environmental Day should be made a weeklong affair during which every effort should be made to improve the environment.
He said during the period of celebration, trees should be planted on a massive scale and towns and villages made to clean their surroundings.
Mr. Nti-Ababio made the suggestion after he and members of the organisation had joined the chiefs and people of Asuokaw in a clean up exercise in the township.
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Death toll in Airlink crash now six
Accra (Greater Accra) 06 June 2000
Six people have so far been confirmed dead in Monday's Airlink crash at the Kotoka International Airport. They are made up of three males and three females, including two foreigners.
Wing Commander Andy Mensah, Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), disclosed this to newsmen at a news briefing at the Airforce Station in Accra.
Present at the briefing were Group Captain Kwame Mamphey, Director of Air Operations of the Ghana Airforce, Captain Joe Boachi, Deputy Director-General of GCAA and Commander Richard Fodjour, Commanding Officer of the Airforce Base.
According to Wing-Commander Mensah, the Airlink Flight 200 took off from Tamale at 9.56 am and was scheduled to land at 11.15 hours in Accra but lost contact with control tower at the expected time of landing and crashed at the threshold of the runway.
The aircraft was carrying 52 passengers.
Wing Commander Mensah said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Group Captain Mamphey said the State Insurance Company, the insurer of the aircraft has been notified about the accident.
He said for now all Airlink operations have been suspended and asked travellers holding the airline's advance tickets to return them for refund.
He confirmed that the aircraft is badly damaged adding that but for the experience of the pilot the death toll would have been higher.
Meanwhile, the airport, which was closed for three hours, has been re-opened for operations. It was closed to enable the authorities clear the debris of the plane from the runway.
The plane was landing in poor visibility during a heavy rain.
The Minister of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel E.K.T. Donkor, told reporters that it was too early to speculate about the cause of the crash and said that the ministry is investigating.
The military cordoned off the site of the crash and unconfirmed reports said that the passengers included the reigning Miss Ghana, Marian Bugri, who was returning from the northern regions where she had carried her campaign on breast cancer.
The injured passengers have been sent to the 37 Military Hospital, which had been working in darkness at some point due to power failure.
The military provided makeshift lights to assist the doctors and nurses.
Fire Service engines and military helicopters rushed to the site of the crash to rescue the survivors. Military, Fire Service, Police Hospital, GCAA and Tema Oil Refinery ambulances ferried the injured to the hospital.
President Jerry Rawlings and the Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr. Mike Hammah, were among the first to be on the site of the crash.
Airlink is operated by the Ghana Air Force for domestic flights.
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Rawlings receives message from Lebanese
President
Accra (Greater Accra) 06 June 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday appealed to Lebanon and Israel to take advantage of opportunities being offered now following Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon to achieve lasting peace.
"This is another opportunity to straighten things up and this chance must not be lost," he said when an envoy from Lebanon delivered a message to him from President Emile Lahoud at the Castle, Osu.
The envoy Mr. Najib Makiti, Minister of Transport and Public Works, is in the country to re-launch Middle East Airlines (MEA) flights in Ghana. MEA suspended its flights when civil war broke out in Lebanon in the early 1970s.
President Rawlings asked: "what will Israel's pullout from south Lebanon mean in terms of relations between the two Middle East countries? This is what we are not sure of. It is our hope that the injustices of the past will not be carried into the future."
He said there might be a genuine desire by Israel to achieve peace and that the first step is the withdrawal.
He said the two countries must compliment each other's peace efforts adding "if peace is not made it is blood that would be shed."
The President appealed to Syria, the main power broker in the Lebanon, to re-examine its relations with Lebanon so that Beirut "can enjoy an air of freedom. Lebanon must be given the necessary breathing space to enjoy its freedom".
President Rawlings said Ghana and Lebanon have enjoyed good relations over the years and that he has not complained in recent times about the behaviour of some Lebanese nationals resident in Ghana.
"I had cause to complain in the past but things are improving now and let us hope things would continue to improve."
He said Lebanese in Ghana used to concentrate on trading but now, they are moving into manufacturing and commended them. "This is what we want."
Mr. Victor Gbeho, Foreign Affairs Minister, went down memory lane and said 40 years ago he was on an inaugural Ghana Airways VC 10 flight to Beirut.
"Therefore, the resumption of commercial flights between the two countries is significant to us."
Ghana Airways' VC 10 aircraft was caught in Middle East violence and was blown up by Israeli commandos at Beirut airport in the early 1970s.
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NPP would ensure effective use of resources –Selby
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 06 June 2000
Dr Kofi Dsane Selby, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that when voted to power, the NPP would ensure a more effective management of the country's resources to bring marked improvement in the lives of the people.
He said government spending would be reduced to prevent waste and restore confidence in the economy so as to attract investors.
Dr Selby who was addressing a rally organised by the Asafo ward five of the NPP in the Subin constituency in Kumasi on Sunday, accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of misrule.
He said the high level unemployment, widespread suffering as a result of poor management of the economy, unaffordable health care and problems in the education sector as well as the steady decline of living standards among other things, were a manifestation of the ruling government's bad policies.
The NPP leading member therefore asked the electorate to vote the NDC out of power in the December general elections.
Mr. Sampson K. Boafo, Member of Parliament (MP), for Subin, expressed optimism about the NPP's chances of winning the 2000 polls.
He revealed that the party is making significant in-roads into areas that previously were considered "no-go areas" and were in firm and safe grip of the NDC.
The Subin MP said the focus of the party now is to carry out sustained and vigorous political education in the rural communities to get its message across to the people.
Nana Kwame Asante-Frimpong, MP for Kwabre, said political power should essentially be used to advance the welfare of the people "and said since the NDC has failed to bring economic prosperity to Ghanaians, it has no moral justification to ask for another mandate of the electorate."
He described the country's present economic situation as hopeless and gave assurance that the NPP would turn the economy round within its first term of office when voted into power.
Mr. Edward Osei Kwaku, MP for Asokwa-West, gave the assurance that the NPP would revamp collapsed industries to create jobs when it takes power.
The party would also tackle corruption, waste and mismanagement of the economy with zeal.
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Ashaiman NDC parliamentary contestants want Aheto out
Ashaiman (Greater Accra) 06 June 2000
Seven National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary aspirants for the Ashaiman seat have passed a resolution asking the incumbent, Mr. Franklin W. K. Aheto not to contest the December election.
The resolution said that the aspirants and the constituency executives have resolved to present a consensus candidate if Mr. Aheto is prevailed upon to drop his intention to contest.
They took the decision at a meeting on Saturday, to find a solution to the tension mounting in the constituency over Mr Aheto's decision to seek re-election.
They are Mr. Alfred Agbesi, Mrs Mary Denyo, Captain Vincent Quaye Laryea, Rev Stephen Adoku, Mr. S. S. Martin Asem, Captain Jerry Afeku and Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Baidoo.
They said that Mr Aheto should be prevailed upon not to contest the elections in the interest of the party and for peace.
The resolution addressed to the Vice-President, Professor. John Evans Atta Mills said that Mr. Aheto is not popular and could not be relied upon to retain the seat.
Sources at the NDC headquarters in Accra have hinted that top executives of the party would be meeting the aspirants and constituency executives on Tuesday to try to resolve the impasse.
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Abakah re-elected
Effiakuma (Western Region) 06 June 2000
The Effia-Kwesimintsim constituency branch of the Convention People Party (CPP), at the weekend re-elected Mr Joseph K. Abakah unopposed as the party's Parliamentary Candidate for the forthcoming general election.
Mr. Abakah's re-election took place at a constituency congress held at Effiakuma and attended by about 200 party members.
At the close of nominations last Friday, it was only Mr. Abakah who had filed his nomination and was consequently declared unopposed by officials of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
The members expressed their satisfaction at the performance of Mr. Abakah as their Member of Parliament.
They maintained that through the hard work of Mr. Abakah, some hitherto unmotorable roads in the constituency have either been reconstructed or re-gravelled.
The members said Mr. Abakah has used greater part of his share of the common fund to provide communities in the area with cement, iron rods, roofing sheets, boards and roofing nails to complete their self-help projects.
"Honestly, although all our needs have not been met, we can at least point at certain facilities in the constituency, which came as a result of the efforts and hard work of Mr. Abakah", they added.
Mr. Abakah thanked the people for the confidence reposed in him and gave the assurance that he would continue to fight for the well being of the people of the constituency.
He urged supporters of the party to campaign seriously to make victory possible during the election and said that they should desist from the use of abusive language.
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