GJA commends WAJA on 14th anniversary
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 23 June 2000
Workers of Ghana Telecom in Kumasi on Thursday said they would continue their strike action until the management reviews their salary structure.
The workers marched through some of the streets at Adum, precincts of their offices singing songs in protest against what they described as maladministration and cheating by the management.
They have since last Friday embarked on a sit-down strike action to back their demand for improved service conditions.
The workers are demanding a 150 per cent increase in salary across board but the management says it can afford only a 30 per cent increase.
Mr Kofi Ahmed Nuhu, local Chairman of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), told the Ghana News Agency that some workers of the company, after 26 years of service, take home about 6.7 million cedis as retirement benefit. Where as some senior workers for the same period on retirement take home 80 million cedis.
Mr Nuhu explained that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of the company expired in December, last year, adding that management agreed to pay 35 per cent increase in salary across board but the union did not accept the offer.
A salary restructuring last year favoured only the senior staff at the expense of the junior staff.
Concerning promotions, Mr Nuhu said, over the past 10 years, there have not been any promotions in the company.
A committee was set up to review the structure and promotions but nothing has been done about its recommendations, Mr. Nuhu added.
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Koforidua (Wastern Region) 23 June 2000
The New Juaben District Council of Labour has called on the government to withdraw the 20 per cent wage increase across board for civil servants and other categories of workers, to allow the Tripartite Committee to come out with a realistic living wage for workers.
According to the council, in view of the high cost of living and the coming into force of the new VAT Act, which had increased the VAT rate to 12.5 per cent, workers needed a living wage to cope with the hardship.
This was contained in a resolution adopted at the council's meeting in Koforidua and presented to the Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow, on Thursday.
The resolution called on the President to withdraw the Presidential assent on the VAT Act since the increase would further worsen the plight of Ghanaian workers.
It recalled a previous resolution adopted by the council on April 26, calling for "realistic salary to reflect present living condition."
It further appealed to the government to review its economic policies to give greater attention to the problems facing agriculture and the manufacturing industries.
The resolution further urged the government to take measures to stop the free fall of the cedi and put a mechanism in place to regulate the outflow of convertible currencies.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinting Council (RCC), Mr Fred Essilfi, who received the resolution on behalf of the Minister, commended the workers for the peaceful manner in which they presented the resolution.
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Major Caesar Acheampong (Rtd), Ejura-Sekyedumasi District Chief Executive, on Thursday cautioned people who join the NDC with the sole motive of amassing wealth to rethink their decision.
The NDC has survived the test of time as a result of its dedication and commitment to the socio-economic and political development of the people, he told separate rallies at Hiawoanwu and Kasei at which 86 members of the NPP, alleged to have defected to the NDC, were introduced. Fifty of the defectors were from Kasei and 36 from Hiawoanwu.
Maj. Acheampong advised the defectors to justify their membership by working relentlessly to ensure victory for the party during the elections.
"This will enable the NDC to consolidate and sustain the good governance in the country."
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 23 June 2000
Hajia Fati Seidu, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, on Thursday suggested to mothers to start educating their children on peace-building initiatives and conflict prevention while they are young.
This, she said, would help establish a sustainable mechanism for conflict prevention and peace in the communities and the nation as a whole.
Speaking at a workshop on Conflict Prevention and Resolution organised by ActionAid, a British Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), for 40 women from various women's organisations in the region, Hajia Seidu noted that if women are trained and encouraged to take active part in conflict prevention and resolution, they would be able to contribute significantly to the promotion of peace in the nation.
She urged women to help keep their homes and communities clean to avoid cholera
and malaria.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 23 June 2000
The Nigerian High Commissioner, Chief Sam N. Okechukwu, has asked Nigerian residents in the country not to take undue advantage of the Ghanaian hospitality to breach the country's laws.
"Above the fellowship extended to you by Ghanaians, remember that the greatest contribution you can make to the greatness of Nigeria is to be good ambassadors wherever you are," he advised.
Chief Okechukwu was addressing Nigerian citizens resident in the New Juaben Municipality at Koforidua on Thursday in connection with a radio programme he attended at a local FM radio station.
The Nigerian envoy warned that his outfit would not tolerate any criminal activity that has the tendency to undermine the relationship between the two countries, which are poised to ensure an eventual integration of their economies.
In this regard, he said, Ghana and Nigeria would not spare any effort to nip in the bud attempts by individuals or organisations to tarnish the relationship between the two peoples.
During an open forum, the participants appealed to Nigeria to grant a special rebate on crude oil price to Ghana to alleviate the current financial constraints facing the country.
They also appealed for further co-operation between private institutions of the two countries for their mutual benefit.
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Badu (Brong Ahafo) 23 June 2000
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday commissioned a 33 million-cedi electrification project for the people of Badu in the Wenchi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The project, which began in 1990, was financed with contributions from the inhabitants, the district assembly and the central government.
Addressing a durbar, the Vice-President said the government was committed to the extension of electricity to all parts of the country by the year 2020.
"Nobody can convince the government that there is no need to provide all communities, especially those in the rural areas, with electricity."
He said the NDC derives its support from the rural areas and would therefore not relent in its effort to ensure their comfort.
He charged the people to take advantage of the electricity to establish cottage industries to generate employment for the youth.
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Mills cuts sod for reconstruction of
Wenchi-Nsawkaw road
Wenchi (Brong Ahafo) 23 June 2000
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday cut the sod for construction work to begin on a 30-kilometre road from Wenchi to Nsawkaw with a call on the people to co-operate towards its successful completion.
The two-year project, being undertaken at a cost of 20.7 billion cedis, is solely funded by the government of Ghana. Completion is expected by July 2002.
A mini-durbar of the chiefs and people of the traditional area was held to grace the occasion.
The Vice-President recalled his last visit to the area in July, 1997, and said the beginning of work on the road was in fulfilment of his promise to them at that time.
He said the road would serve as a catalyst for the early development of the district and formed part of the government's sub-regional integration programme to link Ghana with neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, adding that the project would be extended from Nsawkaw to Sampa.
Vice-President Mills informed the people of the government's decision to deconsficate the legally acquired property of the late Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, President of the Second Republic, saying that the gesture was towards national unity.
He cautioned against "inflammatory, offensive and provocative" utterances during the electioneering campaigns.
Professor Mills expressed the hope that the construction of the road network would open up the district for agricultural activities and also ease transport problems facing the people, especially farmers, and attract investors after the construction of the Bui Dam.
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Speakers at a forum in Accra have called for a comprehensive evaluation of women and their peculiar circumstances to avoid their continued marginalisation in the mainstream political and socio-economic sectors.
They also called for the improvement of the general wellbeing of women, children and other vulnerable groups to ensure that they are not only protected from the unwelcome advances of men and sometimes women, but also facilities opportunities for addressing them.
They were speaking on various topics at a one-day seminar for women in the civil service to mark the African Day of Administration and Civil Service.
The speakers were Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, First Lady, Dr Mary Grant, a Member of the Council of State and Dr Robert Dodoo, Head of Civil Service.
The other speakers were Mrs Ruby Dagadu, Head of the Women's Desk at the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBBSI), Dr Ken Agyeman Attafuah of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye of Ark Foundation, an NGO for women's rights.
The seminar was under the theme "Towards the Effective and Equal Participation of Women in Mainstream Administration of the Civil Service".
Dr Grant said the current status of women is not due to any "intrinsic inferiority of women". It is the realities that society has imposed on them, in spite of the fact that they can go far when given the chance.
She mentioned great women such as Mrs Ruby Quartey-Papafio, Yaa Asantewaa, Mrs Justice Annie Jiagge and Nana Konadu as few of such personalities who have distinguished themselves when they were given the opportunity to help society.
She expressed regret that women still hold low-key positions as secretaries, typists and receptionists among others, even though they form a large chunk of the total population and should have been given the right to rise to managerial and decision-making levels.
"I am glad that the Civil Service has taken the lead to help develop women's capacity to enable them to assume decision-making positions in order to make meaningful contributions to national development."
Dr Grant noted that the future role of women in nation building is not so bleak since there are strong and capable examples to lead the way.
Nana Konadu said women should be prepared to fight for the promotion of women issues as well as ensure that they have the ability excel in their responsibilities.
She noted that it was the only way by which they can prove to all that what is needed for society can be provided not only by men but by women as well.
Dr Dodoo described the observance of the day for women in the civil service as unique since it offers them the opportunity to reflect over the activities and work out strategies on how to improve on their shortcomings and develop new consciousness towards nation building.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 June 2000
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Thursday congratulated the West African Journalists Association (WAJA), on the occasion of its 14th anniversary and said it is playing its role courageously and satisfactorily to promote good governance.
This was contained in a statement signed by its President Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie in Accra.
"The GJA notes with satisfaction, the immense contribution of WAJA towards the promotion of independent media as well as higher journalistic standards in the sub-region."
The GJA noted that WAJA came onto the scene at the threshold of agitation for a change from military rule to multiparty democracy in most parts of the sub-region.
It reminded the media to stay focused to ensure the sustenance of the rule of law, good governance, media pluralism and respect for human rights.
The GJA said it notes with regret the continuing attack, prosecution as well as persecution of journalists, sometimes resulting in deaths and imprisonment.
It said the outbreak of civil wars in some parts of the sub-region, particularly Liberia and Sierra Leone, have placed on journalists even more responsibilities which have led to injuries and deaths.
It expressed the hope that good sense would prevail for normalcy to be restored in all parts of the sub-region.
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