Ghana to adopt water-harvesting technology – Minister
Approval of DCEs shows Volta's commitment to orderliness
Opponents of President's nominees asked to
reconsider their stand
Team to tackle development of Volta Region
Houses on gov’t lands to be demolished
Police clash with eight robbers
GNAT calls for implementation of white paper
GPRTU recognition based on contribution to revenue generation
Accra (Greater Accra) 04 June 2001
The June Four Movement (JFM) on Monday renewed its call for the sustenance of the fight against all forms of corruption and acts of vendetta from the body politic of the nation.
It said it should not be lost to the nation that "if there is awareness today that corruption is inimical to progress, and for that matter many institutions and governments have identified it and are fighting it, then the June Four action has indeed been vindicated".
A statement issued in Accra by the leadership of the movement on the 22nd anniversary of the June Four uprising said those of the "June Four tradition" were among the first, if not the first in contemporary Ghana to make the boldest effort at combating corruption".
Young military officers and other ranks took up arms on June 4, 1979 and rescued Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and other soldiers who were being tried for a May 15 mutiny.
The mutineers overthrew the military regime of the Supreme Military Council (SMC II) under the chairmanship of Lieutenant-General F.W.K Akuffo and established the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).
The AFRC ruled the country for three months and handed over to the People's National Party of President Hilla Limann.
The JFM said since it rose against corruption it has never ceased condemning it. "We re-call with reverence the blood that was shed on that fateful day, and many more that had to be shed during the 22 years that we have travelled, all with the view to consolidate 'People's Power'.
"To all these heroic ones we wish to reiterate that we shall never allow their names and deeds to be smothered by the dust of the ages or to be obliterated by inactions on our part nor by the works of our opponents", it said.
It recalled that the appearance of the movement on the political scene was not without a historical and economic significance. It said the nation's economy was in ruins with “Kalabule” (corruption) on the ascendancy. Queues had to be formed for commodities like milk, soap and toilet rolls and roads were unmotorable.
The JFM said at that time many able-bodied people and scholars deserted the shores of Ghana because "hope was lost, desperation was rife and frustration was evident in all aspects of our lives as a nation."
"Today, not only has the decay and hopelessness been reversed into hope and progress but also there is sustainable development, political stability, relative peace, investor confidence and restructuring of the economy."
It expressed regret that opponents of the movement refuse to appreciate the landmark strides and the breakthrough.
The JFM said in commemorating the event it was necessary for all to address the problems of rising cost of education, health and shelter, creation of jobs, hikes in water, electricity and fuel tariffs.
It condemned "current unnecessary arrests, frame-ups and detentions" of former government officials and urged the government to recognize and respect the opposition and treat its leadership with the decorum they deserve.
The JFM congratulated former President Jerry John Rawlings and his lieutenants in the struggle for putting Ghana on the international map of economic recovery and recognition.
Ex-President Rawlings will be addressing sympathizers of the Movement later today at a symposium.
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Sogakope (Volta Region) 04 June 2001
Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing said on Sunday that the government has initiated policies and programmes for private sector participation in the urban water sector by March 2002.
Addressing the Mole 12 conference on the community water and sanitation sector at Sogakope, he said two private companies would operate the current system being run by the Ghana Water Company Limited on leasing terms.
The Mole Conference aims at assessing the performance of the community water and sanitation programme as well as generating debate, sharing of experiences and drawing lessons from the sector.
The four-day conference is on the theme: "Looking back at the community water and sanitation programme, the NGO factor."
The Minister said the country has been divided into two business units with Greater Accra, Volta, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions forming one unit while Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern, Central and Western Regions form the second unit to enhance the private participation scheme.
Mr Bartels told the conference, organized by Professional Network, an NGO engaged in the water and sanitation sector, that the government believes in people-centred development to reduce poverty and any form of dehumanisation.
"Poverty eradication strategies and programmes, therefore, need to include plans aimed at complete eradication of the guinea worm disease which is currently endemic in three regions of the country."
The Minister said Ghana is one of the leading guinea worm infected countries in the world and the only solution is make potable water accessible to all the people.
"I would therefore wish to use this occasion to appeal to all NGOs especially those working in the endemic regions of Volta, Northern and Brong Ahafo to concentrate their operations in the affected districts and communities to help eradicate it completely".
Mr Bartels said the water and sanitation situation needs to be transformed through exchange of ideas and experiences among stakeholders.
He deplored the attitude of some NGOs operating in the water and sanitation sector who do not comply with the national strategy objective to ensure sustainability of the systems provided.
Citing the continued application of supply driven approach of providing facilities to communities without any contributions towards capital cost, he said this approach has an adverse effect on the activities of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
He explained that while the CWSA provides cost recovery programme some of the NGOs provide free facilities.
Mr Bartels also noted that some of the NGOs fail to prepare the communities adequately for the operations and maintenance of the facilities that have been provided, which has a long-term adverse effect on the sustainability of the projects.
He challenged the NGOs to adopt policies that would include post-delivery role of the communities in terms of operation and maintenance.
Mr Gordon Mumbo, Water Aid-Ghana Country Representative said over 40 per cent of the world's six billion people are without access to safe water and sanitation 60 per cent of whom live in Africa.
Mr Mumbo urged developing countries to adopt networking and collaborative approach to provide adequate water to the urban and rural communities.
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Sogakope (Volta Region) 04 June 2001
Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing on Sunday said the government is to introduce a bill in parliament to make it mandatory for Architects to include water-harvesting technology in the design of buildings.
He said with such abundant rainfall and the ever-increasing demand for potable water, the nation needs to take advantage and introduce affordable technologies to make use of this natural resource.
Mr Bartels said this at the opening of a four-day Mole XII conference on Community Water and Sanitation Programme (CWSP) organised by the Professional Network, an NGO engaged in the water and sanitation sector, at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
The Mole XII conference seeks to review the performance of the CWSP in terms of NGOs participation, contribution and other related targets and offer stakeholders the opportunity to go beyond review of past achievements to delivery of clear, forward looking strategies and concrete actions for implementation.
Mr Bartels said the rate of water and sanitation facilities delivery is below the national demand, noting that conservative statistics show that urban and rural water coverage is about 76 and 47 per cent respectively while sanitation is eleven per cent in rural areas.
The Minister deplored the attitude of some NGOs who fail to comply with national policies aimed at ensuring sustainability of the systems.
He said some NGOs continue to use the supply driven approach of providing facilities to communities, who do not contribute anything towards the capital cost of the facilities. "This tends to have adverse effect on the activities of community water and sanitation agency, especially in districts where NGOs have provided or are providing free facilities."
The NGOs are also guilty of inadequate preparation of the communities on the operations and maintenance of the facilities, which has a long-term adverse effect on its sustainability, he said.
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Denu (Volta Region) 04 June 2001
Mr Thomas Amematekpor, a Special Advisor to the President, has described the overwhelming and orderly confirmation of the new District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the Volta Region as a true reflection of the people in the region.
He said contrary to fears that the majority of assemblymen in the region being National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, would put impediments in the approval process, it turned out to be constructive and "most lively".
Mr Amematekpor, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Denu at the weekend, said the people of the Volta region are law abiding and obedient citizens who tread cautiously and consider every case on its own merit.
"Voltarians view the DCE position as Civil Service positions rather than political and their rejection of the candidates in their view would have caused unnecessary civil disorder," he added.
Mr Amematekpor rejected the notion that the people of the region are ethnocentric for voting en-bloc for the NDC in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 elections because the party's leader, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings comes from the region.
The people of the region more than any other, in the 1970s supported General I. K. Acheampong's Union Government concept though he came from the Ashanti Region, he said.
"With time the people of the Volta Region would come to support the New Patriotic Party (NPP) based on careful studies of its policies and programmes," Mr Amematekpor said.
The Special Advisor said the government is continuing with all projects initiated by the previous government in the region while sourcing funding for those on the drawing board.
He said investigations by the government into some decisions and actions by the previous government rather than being a witch-hunt are genuine and aimed at putting the economy in order for the desired growth.
Mr Amematekpor asked Ghanaians to change their self-seeking attitudes, which engender corruption so that the little resources available could be utilised for the general good.
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Opponents of President's nominees asked to reconsider their stand
Aflao (Volta Region) 04 June 2001
Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who are opposed to the President's nominees for the position of District Chief Executives (DCEs), have been asked to review their stand.
Mr Jacob Ashiakpor, a Goldsmith and an opinion leader of Aflao, who made the call through the Ghana News Agency at the weekend, said the grounds for the rejections are not tenable.
He said the protests in the form of letters and demonstrations, some of which were destructive, could distract the government from its mission of putting the country on a sound footing.
Mr Ashiakpor said not all considerations for appointments are political but that sometimes an appointee's personal capabilities override political considerations.
If the rejection or acceptance of candidates is based on ethnic sentiments then no single person would be able to hold any office anywhere in the country, he said.
Mr Ashiakpor said the acrimony against the appointees is a direct affront to the mandate, which all Ghanaians have "wisely entrusted into the hands of the President".
He called on the government to see to the development of the Volta Region pointing out that the stalemate on the Keta Sea Defence Project should not deteriorate into its abandonment.
Mr Ashiakpor also mentioned the Aflao-Accra road, Aflao beach road and road projects in the northern part of the region as those that need urgent attention.
He reminded the government not to renege on its campaign promises to the people and also asked Ghanaians to support the government in its efforts to revamp the economy.
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Kumasi (Asahnti Region) 04 June 2001
Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, has announced that the government has put in place a high-powered team to help tackle the development problems of the Volta Region.
The action is not a hoax, but a genuine effort of the Kufour’s Government to address the peculiar development problems of the region, he said adding, “it will not take a long time for the people of the region, to begin to see practical signs of this concern."
Mr Owusu-Yeboa made the announcement in an address read for him by the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi at the "Unity and Development" forum, held at the weekend by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Branch of the Volta Region Students Association (VORSA) in Kumasi.
Mr Owusu-Yeboah said the success of the government's move in seeking pragmatic solutions to the development problems of the region, would depend on the attitude and support of the people coupled with the resources available.
He advised the people of the region to resolve to put an end to the numerous chieftaincy disputes and land litigation, since such acts only serve as destructive tools to development and is also resource consuming.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 June 2001
Houses and other structures on government lands around the Weija lake near Accra will soon be demolished to save the lake and the environment from further degradation.
Mr. Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing said on Friday that: "Those on the lands are without permit and title deeds because (the) government acquired them years ago for the Weija dam basin."
He told a meeting of chiefs and representatives from the area, held in the Minister's office the dam, at present is drying up due to soil erosion, and dumping of refuse by villagers near it, thus making the water unsafe for drinking.
The meeting was called to resolve problems relating to the government’s acquisition of land and the drying up of the river due to excessive pollution.
This is costing the Ghana Water Company three billion cedis every month through the cost of three different chemicals for its purification for safe drinking, he explained, adding, "the dam requires just only one chemical for safe drinking."
He also warned farmers, fishermen, and land guards to move away from the acquisition areas and desist from activities that pollute the river. “Anyone caught within the boundaries would be prosecuted and if possible jailed."
He said the government has realised that parts of the lands have either been sold or leased to private developers by the chiefs.
The Minister assured the chiefs that the government intends to re-demarcate the acquisition areas soon in order to give part of the lands to the chiefs for their own development.
"Those who have not been paid their compensation from the time of acquisition would be paid," he added.
However, he said that 900 feet (300 yards) away from the lake has been earmarked for organisations such as the Construction Pioneer (CP) to plant trees to protect it from pollution.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 June 2001
Italy on Saturday marked her National Day with a reception in Accra.
The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Giancarlo Izzo, proposed toast to the health of President John Agyekum Kufour and people of Ghana.
Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Presidential Affairs who represented the
President replying to the toast, said the event gives Italy the opportunity to take stock of her present, past and what the future holds for the country.
It also gives friendly nations the opportunity to asses relations with that country and aim at strengthening ties.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said Ghana is ever grateful to Italy for the active role she played in the country's Presidential and Parliamentary elections with an assistance of 200,000 dollars.
Italy, like other friendly countries contributed greatly to help Ghana to maintain her position as a pacesetter in Sub-Saharan Africa, he said.
The Minister said Italy had also had a successful general election and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to work closely with the new government for the benefit of the two nations.
Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said he sincerely hoped that the change in administration in Italy would not have adverse effects on the proposed conclusions of an agreement with Ghana to increase the quota of Ghanaians to be issued with legal working documents in Italy.
Ghana would always be ready to offer her widow's might to Italy and congratulated the great country on her happy occasion.
He also wished the Prime Minister-elect, His Excellency Silvio Berlusconi good health and well-being of his people.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 04 June 2001
A number of known National Democratic Congress (NDC), members, of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), have expressed their support for the President's nominee, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, as the Municipal Chief Executive.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), a cross-section of NDC members in Ashaiman and Kpone/Katamanso, Tema East and West constituencies, they said they respect the President's nominee and expressed the hope that he can champion the cause of the people in the area.
They noted that for political expediency, the President could not have nominated any member of the NDC.
Madam Habel Adjei, Assembly member for the Night Market electoral area said "we need a MCE who is qualified and would be dedicated to duty, and Mr Ashong is the right choice. We would offer him the maximum support and co-operation".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 June 2001
The Police on Saturday afternoon exchanged fire with about eight armed robbers who robbed a shop at North Kaneshie.
One of the robbers died, two are in detention at the Kaneshie Police station, one is receiving treatment at the Police Hospital at Cantonments while the others are on the run.
Superintendent John Kudalor, District Officer in-charge of the Kaneshie Police station who confirmed the story, told the Ghana News Agency that the robbers attacked Miya Enterprise at about 1.PM, operating in two taxicabs, one of which they abandoned after the policemen succeeded in shooting its tyre.
The police found five Compact Disc Cassette players, five Video decks, one Sony radio set, 22 live cartridges, one double short gun, one police beret, eight pieces of 8.2 ammunitions and 27,000 cedis cash in the abandoned taxi.
Mr. Michael Kelvin, owner of Miya Enterprise, in an interview said the robbers attacked the shop wounding one of the shop attendants, who is now receiving treatment at the Police Hospital.
He said the other taxi cap, which managed to run away, contained most of the stolen items, worth over 50 million cedis.
In a related development, two persons have lodged complaints with the Kaneshie
Police about their cars, which the robbers are alleged to have taken away from them after abandoning one of their taxicabs.
Francis Ekow Mbir, driver of Mitsubishi Lancer GR 6572 K said he was in traffic on the Kaneshie Odorkor road when the armed men pulled him out of his car at gunpoint and fled in it.
Meanwhile, the car has been retrieved by the police, while the other car, Hyundai Accent GR 9580 Q is still missing.
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Bekwai (Ashanti Region) 04 June 2001
The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr F. A Forkuo on Saturday called for the implementation of the government white paper on conditions of service, for teachers, effective January this year.
He said: "it would be suicidal and uneconomic for teachers to embark on industrial strike, before their legitimate claims and allowances are paid".
Mr Forkuo told the first quadrennial delegates conference of the Amansie East district branch of GNAT, at Asante-Bekwai that the role of education in national development is significant and efforts should be made to solve problems facing the sector, particularly in respect of teachers' conditions of service.
Miss Mercy Adu-Tiwah, headmistress of Bekwai Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA),
Secondary School, said teachers are the principal instrument of social change, and that sufficient remuneration should be provided to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.
The conference was under the theme: "The teacher as an agent of positive change."
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Kasoa (Central Region) 04 June 2001
The Kasoa branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) said at the weekend that the recognition that past governments gave to the union was due to its immense contributions to transport and revenue generation.
Addressing an emergency meeting of the branch, the secretary, Mr R.S. Atteh, said GPRTU would continue to offer its services for the government to earn more revenue.
The meeting was in reaction to allegations by a former member of the GPRTU, Mr Yawson Scott that GPRTU is an integral part of the NDC.
Mr Scott, former Chairman of the Senya-Beraku branch of the union is now an executive of the Co-operative Transport Association at Senya-Beraku
Mr Atteh said the interest past governments had in the GPRTU was due to the efficient manner it collected taxes on daily basis from its members to the state.
Besides, GPRTU, being the largest private transport organization continues to instill discipline in its members to ensure efficient transport system.
It is therefore not correct that the union is an affiliate of the NDC, he said, adding that nothing could prevent the union from continuing to mobilize revenue through tax collection and promotion of efficient transport system to enhance the economic development of the country.
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