Political parties
told to consult electorate in selecting prospective MPs
Katamanso Assemblyman killed by armed
robbers
NPP releases list of candidates in B/A
Mills lauds new turn in Ghana/France
relations
Japan gives Ghana 3.8 million dollars
International
Conference on Power Systems launched
Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June 2000
The Electoral Commission (EC) on
Tuesday said it has at no time subverted its constitutional obligation of
ensuring free and fair elections in the country to warrant the mistrust some
sections of the community have for it.
It thus challenged Ghanaians
"to produce evidence to support the claim that" it was doing
otherwise.
Professor Ernest Dumor, a member
of the Commission was speaking on the topic; Electoral Vigilance Beyond Electoral
Commission at a lecture organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
with the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) under the theme National
Interest and Elections in Africa.
He said, "there exists some
degree of mistrust " which bordered on unchangeable mind-set of some
people that whatever the Commission did was wrong and biased or that it was
tilted to this or that political party.
Prof. Dumor said with this kind of
mind or subjectivity instead of objective analysis one could not make the
democratic system work "if at every turn those who must assist the
Commission to carry out its assignments end up subverting the process".
Calling for support from the civil
society, political parties and pressure groups to generate confidence in the electoral
process, Prof. Dumor said there must be consensus building and the active
involvement of all stakeholders who want to see the thriving of democracy in
the country.
He said the Bar Association should
help the Commission to constantly review the electoral laws in non-partisan
manner and that there should be a broader national monitoring team before,
during and after elections.
This he said should also consider
the proliferation of political parties, which make the work of the Commission
difficult.
Prof. Dumor said, "in
abstract terms, proliferation may seem to increase the chances of enhancing
democracy by providing the electorate an expanded choice.
"In reality it rarely ever
works like that and that party proliferation is more likely to lead to confusion
and in creating more problems".
He said there were some parties,
which did not develop organisational structures and do not have identifiable
and substantial degree of popular legitimacy to create an enabling environment
for a healthy electoral competition.
Prof. Dumor asked what would
happen if the EC decided to remove the names of political parties that do not
comply with the electoral laws from the register.
He explained that there were some
parties, which when applying for registration certificates initially satisfied
the electoral laws but after they were legalised their constituency offices,
for instance, never got opened or manned.
He admitted that the Commission
has operational problems and that its financing has been about 75 per cent
donor-driven with the domestic contribution sometimes coming late after its
target exercise has been completed.
Ghana's electoral body is
efficient and had been of assistance to South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania and
Uganda with about 20 of its staff currently providing technical assistance in
Kosovo, Prof. Dumor said.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 21 June 2000
Tema Harbour Police have arrested Ambrose G. Josiah, a suspected con man, who claimed to own five million US dollars in a Sierra Leone bank and solicited assistance from an European to transfer the money outside that country.
Inspector Yaw Nketia-Yeboah, Tema Police Regional Public Relations Officer, said in a press statement issued at Tema on Tuesday that Josiah is alleged to have rang Mr. Martin Quinn, General Manager of Carnaud Metal Company Limited, on June 16, this year, requesting to meet him at a hotel for discussions on investment opportunities.
The statement said the General Manager, however, persuaded the suspect to rather meet him at his company premises on Monday, June 19.
When they met, Josiah informed Mr. Quinn that he was a Sierra Leonean residing in Denmark and seeking asylum.
He claimed to have five million dollars in a bank in Sierra Leone and promised Mr. Quinn that a friend based there would assist in transferring the amount to Europe and subsequently to Ghana for investment.
Mr. Quinn suggested that they contact the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) but the suspect declined, saying that he did not want to withdraw the money himself because everyone suspected Sierra Leoneans.
Suspecting a foul deal, the reported the matter to the police and when Ambrose was arrested, he produced a Liberian national identification card number 107703510 alleged to have been issued by the Ministry of Finance on September 12, 1989.
The statement described Josiah as fair in complexion, well built, speaks very fast with a foreign accent and is about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
It requested anyone who has been defrauded through similar means to contact Tema Harbour Police for further action.
It also warned businessmen and the general public to report suspicious persons to the nearest police station.
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Political parties
told to consult electorate in selecting prospective MPs
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 21 June
2000
A member of the Council of State,
Nene Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, has asked political parties to consult with the
people at the grassroots before selecting their parliamentary candidates in
order not to impose the wrong people on them.
He said political parties that
fail to heed this call would regret their action, which would not only affect
them but could also dislocate development programmes.
Nene Ologo, who is Konor of the
Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, said this when he sat in state with the Omanhene
of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng at his palace to
receive the Regional Ministers attending their 16th conference at Koforidua on
Monday.
He noted that although chiefs were
not supposed to take part in active politics, "we are part of the people
at the grassroots".
In this regard, he said there was
the need for political parties "to get correct politicians" to
contest for posts, a process, which must also involve consultations with the
local authorities.
"The voices of chiefs should
be heard and (the) government should take information given to it
seriously" since "we are supposed to help the government in power to
achieve its aim and to implement its policies", Nene Ologo said.
The Council of State Member
cautioned that upheavals in some countries in the West African sub-region
should serve as a reminder to politicians to conduct their campaigns peacefully
because we "can only develop if there is peace".
If democracy is to flourish to its
fullest, its grassroots practice should be given a new impetus, where the
voices of the populace is heard and taken more seriously.
Nene Ologo said because of the
unique position of chiefs, they were aware of the problems that confront people
at the grassroots and if their opinions were taken seriously, it could help
enhance development.
Daasebre Oti Boateng advocated for
regular holding of consultations between Chiefs, Regional Ministers and
District Chief Executives in order to defuse tension that might arise.
He said such rapport could create
a new impetus for dialogue and a mechanism for detecting problems before they
go out of hand.
Mrs. Cecilia Johnson, Minister of
Local Government and Rural Development, said that the government had always
been receptive to the chieftaincy institution and was willing to improve its
relations with chiefs.
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Katamanso Assemblyman killed by armed
robbers
Katamanso (Greater Accra) 21 June 2000
Mr. Isaac Laryea Otu, 31, assemblyman for Katamanso in the Tema Municipality, was on Saturday morning shot dead by armed robbers on the Katamanso-Ashaiman road.
The deceased, the son of Nii Otu Akwetey IX, Katamanso Mantse, had arrested a thief and was on his way with his brother, Mr. Joseph Nii Laryea, to lodge a complaint with the Ashaiman police when the incident occurred.
Mr. Joseph Odai Laryea, a family spokesman, said on that fateful day the entire family was awakened by an alarm at about 2am that some stranger in a taxi suspected to be thieves were in their vicinity.
He said they traced the suspected thieves to a nearby pond, where they saw four people who dived into it, leaving the driver of a Mazda taxi cab with registration number GR 8501 R, which was being used for their operation.
The taxi driver was arrested and on their way to the Ashaiman police, they again arrested one of the suspects who had earlier escaped.
The spokesman said thereafter, about four vehicles drove speedily through their village towards Ashaiman.
The Chief stopped one but it sped off soon after, compelling him to instruct his two sons and others to chase them to Ashaiman.
Mr. Laryea said when they reached the middle of the road, the occupants of another taxicab fired continuously at them during which the bullets hit their vehicle, deflating the front tyre.
Mr. Otu, who was hit several times in the thigh and the neck, died instantly but his brother and one other person managed to escape unhurt while the robbers absconded.
The two men who were arrested are helping the police in the investigations.
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NPP releases list of candidates in B/A
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 21 June 2000
The Brong Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has released a list of its candidates for all the 21 constituencies in the region for the December elections.
A release signed by the party's regional secretary, Mr. A.K. Kusi, said all the four incumbent parliamentarians of the party have been re-elected to stand for their various constituencies.
They are Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Sunyani West, Mr J.H. Mensah, Sunyani East, Mr. Joe Donkor, Tano North and Alhaji Mutar Musah Bamba, Wenchi East.
The aspiring MPs are, Mr. Joe Danquah, Wenchi West, Mr A. Adjei-Yeboah, Tano South, Prof. Philip Kofi Amoah, Asutifi South, Mr. Paul Okoh, Asutifi North, Ben Osei Kufour, Asunafo North, Nana G.W. Amponsah, Asunafo South and Yaw Asiedu Mensah, Dormaa West.
Others are, Stephen Adomah-Yeboah, Dormaa East, Capt. Nkrabea Effa Dartey(RTD), Berekum, Nana Nyamekye, Jaman, Osei Antwi, Techiman North, Prince Oduro-Mensah, Techiman South, and Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, Nkoranza.
The rest are Yaw Adjei Duffour, Kintampo, Ibrahim Mumuni Mohammed, Atebubu South, Ikunjoon Mahama, Atebubu North and Isaac Sunkwa-Hyeaman, Sene.
The statement said that the party is hopeful to win not less that 18 out of the 21 seats in addition to winning massively in the presidential elections.
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Mills lauds new turn in Ghana/France
relations
Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June 2000
Vice President John Atta Mills on Tuesday lauded reforms by France aimed at getting closer and helping developing countries grow and said Ghana is ready to exploit the opportunity.
He said Ghana stands ready to cooperate in forging trade links through joint ventures with the European nation rather than remaining dependent on aid.
Vice President Mills made these points when he granted audience to members of a French delegation to the second session of the Ghana-France Joint Commission for Cooperation at the Castle, Osu.
The session, which ended in Accra on Monday, produced an agreement putting Ghana on France's priority solidarity zone, a position, hitherto, enjoyed exclusively by Francophone countries.
The delegation, led by Mr. Jean-Jacques Beaussou, head of programme at the General Directorate of International Cooperation and Development, was accompanied to the presidency by the French Ambassador, Didier Ferrand.
Vice President Mills said an enhanced relationship with France is very critical to Ghana and noted that the European country has made a great impact on developing economies after launching a new policy towards them.
It is also critical at this period of globalisation in order to explore partnerships to face its negative effects, especially as France is billed to take over the presidency of the European Union.
Vice President Mills said Ghana is looking up to France with the hope that she will look into some pertinent issues over what seems to be barriers against trade from developing countries.
Prominent among the issues are the unfavourable quota system for Ghana's banana and the "high fat" campaign against chocolate from the region. "These issues are very dear to our hearts because we value trade."
He told the delegation that countries in the sub-region are determined to improve on their lot and cited the integration agenda of ECOWAS as one such vital step aimed at meeting the challenges of the time.
He also spoke about the Ghana/Nigeria fast-track approach in the integration process, saying it is to serve as a catalyst for the entire agenda.
The Vice President expressed appreciation for the keen interest shown by French companies in Ghana and thanked the government for its support over the years.
Mr. Beaussou told the Vice President that his side had in-depth and fruitful talks with their Ghanaian counterparts on enhancing cooperation.
He said the renewed cooperation has great meaning to both sides because henceforth, France would treat Ghana with all the benefits as other great partners.
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Japan gives Ghana 3.8 million dollars
Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June 2000
Ghana and Japan on Tuesday signed an agreement and exchanged notes for a 3.8 million-dollar Japanese grant for increased food production and security.
The grant brings to about 50.3 million dollars, Japanese grant to Ghana's agricultural sector under Japan's Increased Food Production Grant Programme, dubbed KR-2 Programme, which has been underway in the country since 1981.
Under the programme, the government of Japan has been granting aid in equipment and machinery, chemicals, fertilisers and insecticides worth between 350 million to 400 million yen to Ghana annually.
Mr. Richard Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance signed for Ghana while Mr. Shosuke Ito, the Japanese Ambassador, signed for his country.
Over the period, Ghana has provided 1.118 billion cedis as counter-funding in the KR-2 programme.
A joint statement issued by the two governments on the KR-2 project said the objective of the grant is to support the self-reliant effort of the Ghanaian government for increased food production through the procurement of agricultural inputs that are indispensable for the improvement in yields.
The statement said the target crops are staple foods such as rice, maize, sorghum and millet that ensure food security with the view to reducing Ghana's dependence on food aid and imported food.
"The goods procured under the project are consigned to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for sale at subsidised prices to farmers and the proceeds are deposited in the Central Bank and used in financing mutually agreed projects in the agricultural sector."
Mr. Ito lauded Ghana's effort at increasing food production and food security saying this is manifested in the Agricultural Sector Service Investment Programme (AgSSIP) which is the offshoot of the Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Development Strategy (AAGDS).
GRi…/
Yendi (Northern Region) 21 June
2000
The Yendi and Mion constituencies'
branches of the People's National Convention (PNC) have elected Mr. Mohammed
Ahmed Dowbia, a teacher and Mr Jacob Iddisah-Kojo, a principal superintendent
of education, as parliamentary candidates for the December general election.
Mr. Dowbia, who was the sole candidate,
was elected by popular acclamation at the constituency's delegates' congress at
Yendi while Mr. Iddisah-Kojo polled 40 votes as against nine by Mr. Kenneth
Wujanji of the Central University College, Accra.
GRi.../
International
Conference on Power Systems launched
Accra (Greater) 21 June 2000
Mr. Kwame Saraah-Mensah, Board
Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on Tuesday cautioned
stakeholders in the privatisation of power systems in Africa not to let
economic interest override the protection of vulnerable groups.
He said even though economic
considerations might be paramount in a restructuring exercise, the vulnerable
must be protected at all cost.
Mr. Saraah-Mensah was delivering
an address at the launch of the fourth International conference on Power
Systems Operation and Planning (ICPSOP) scheduled for July 31 to August 3 in
Accra.
It is being organised by the Volta
River Authority (VRA) in conjunction with the Electricity Company of Ghana
(ECG), Howard University and the National Science Foundation both of the United
States.
Others are Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology and National Electric Power Authority of
Nigeria.
The Conference under the theme
"Reliable Power System In A Free Market Economy" would bring together
African power engineers, regulators, policy makers and other stakeholders
together with experts from Europe and the United States.
It would deliberate on current
trends and strategies of ensuring a reliable power system infrastructure under
deregulation as well as provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and
experiences.
The first and the second
conferences were held in Nigeria while the Third was in Cote d'Ivoire.
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