CEPS intercepts 420 million-cedis uncustomed goods
Telecom workers say they will advise themselves
Tamale (Northern Region) 17 June 2000
Personnel of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Tamale have impounded a Mercedes Benz fuel tanker loaded with large quantities of uncustomed goods valued at 420 million cedis.
Items found on the vehicle, with registration number NR11A, include assorted fabrics, foreign brand of cigarettes, towels and panties.
A statement issued by the Service in Tamale on Friday and signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmed Kanton, said import duty on the goods amounts to 190 million cedis.
A 300 per cent penalty imposed on smugglers by CEPS brings the total duty and penalty liability of the goods to 800 million cedis.
According to the statement, the owner of the fuel tank is required to pay a penalty of 570 million cedis within a month before the vehicle is released to him.
The owner of the goods is also required to pay the 800 million-cedi penalty within the same period or forfeit them to the state.
The driver and his two mates who were on the vehicle have been arrested and are assisting in investigations.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 June 2000
Workers of Ghana Telecom on Friday warned management to speed up negotiations on their collective bargaining agreement else they would advise themselves on their next line of action on Monday.
This followed management's failure to honour the workers' ultimatum of a final decision by 12 noon on Friday.
The workers, who were waving red flags, amidst singing and dancing in their premises,
were disappointed when they were told that management and the joint negotiating team were still "engrossed in negotiations".
A workers' representative told the Ghana News Agency that the vision of the company to become a model and caring telecommunications company in the sub-region would remain a mere slogan if workers were not given their due.
Earlier at a rally, the workers passed a six-point resolution rejecting outright the three proposals made by management for the consideration of the workers.
These are a 20 per cent increase in salary and negotiation for certain allowances; a 25 per cent increase in salary with no increase in allowances; and a 30 per cent increase in salary and a cut in some allowances.
The workers said the proposals had not met their demand of 20 per cent of the company’s profit going into salaries and that acceptance of any of the proposals would make them worse off.
They have also asked the management and the negotiating team to sit through negotiations during the weekend to quickly resolve the issues at stake.
Mr Emmanuel Darkwah, branch Union Chairman, said all sections had been advised to work pending the outcome of negotiations.
He said those dancing on the compound were workers on night duty or field men who had decided to wait for the outcome of the negotiations, adding that he had asked them not to tamper with any equipment.
He said the workers were now fed up with the apathy of the management and would do everything in their power to obtain the proposals under their collective bargaining agreement. Meanwhile, all regional offices are on standby waiting for the outcome of the negotiations.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 June 2000
Ghana has been identified as one of the transit routes for child trafficking in the West African sub-region where the trade is said to be on the ascendancy.
Mrs Margaret Sackey Acting Executive Secretary of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) said the commission is collaborating with security agencies and other stakeholders to clamp down on traffickers operating along Ghanaian borders.
At a ceremony in Accra to commemorate the Day of the African Child, which falls on Friday, Mrs Sackey said child labour has been identified as one of the problems, undermining child survival and development.
Organised by the Commission and the UN's systems in conjunction with other organisations, the day was set aside by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1991 to mark the brutal massacre of children in Soweto, South Africa during the apartheid regime.
In Ghana, the day is being marked with calls to redouble efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention, especially, among the youth.
“Using of children for hazardous labour, such as oyster fishing in Ghana, is an area which has to be tackled to reduce the incidence of deaths among children."
The acting Executive Secretary said, even though, tremendous progress has been made in child health in terms of immunisation and reduction of mortality rate, HIV/AIDS is proving a formidable threat.
Professor Patrick Addy, deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said HIV/AIDS is a "nation wrecker" and must not be allowed to go unchecked.
Citing examples in Uganda, where the disease has affected almost every single household, he said HIV/AIDS must not be allowed to erode the gains made in Ghana's development.
Madam Margaret Novicki, Director of UN Information Centre, said the day, has been dedicated to a "UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan "
This, is in recognition of the excellent and timely intervention, by the UN in the fields of HIV/AIDS prevention and the search for a potent vaccine and efficacious drugs.
She advised children to be messengers of AIDS awareness by spreading the message to friends, teachers and parents.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 June 2000
Beginning July 1, Ghanaians who
wish to renew their non-immigrant visas for the United States can submit their
applications to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy on Wednesdays, between
8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Formerly, renewal applications
were accepted on Mondays and Tuesdays.
A statement issued in Accra by the
embassy said under the new procedure, applicants who have had previous
visitor/business visas, issued within the last four years, can submit their
application for a visa renewal on Wednesdays. Issued visas can be picked up the
following Friday at 11 a.m.
GRi../