June 4 is indelible - Rawlings
Leading NPP member reacts to former President's address
Boniface makes triumphant entry into Salaga
Northern Region rice farmers receive tractors
Armed robbers seize Forestry Commission vehicle at gunpoint
Ghana Textiles Company to lay off 762 workers
GUNSA urges Government to increase support on environmental issues
Effiduase-Asokore NDC cautions defector
GNPA urged to purchase local rice
Nineteen perish in road accident at Ejisu-Besease
Kumasi tapping technology expertise for development
Workshop on conflict resolution opens in Kumasi
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday defended the events of June 4, saying, it was brought about as a result of neo-colonialist tendencies that had eaten into the society at the time.
He said the day should always serve as a remembrance in honour of not only the gallant soldiers, who died in defence of the revolution but also scores of civilians that sacrificed their lives for its success.
Ex-President Rawlings was addressing hundreds of members of the Association of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (ACDRs), 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), National Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as other members of the Progressive Alliance in Accra to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of June 4, the day he was rescued by junior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces, while he was standing trial for mutiny.
It was on the theme: "Ghana's evolving democracy, the relevance of the June Four action."
Ex-President Rawlings said it was sad that the present government had failed to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of June 4 just because of the hatred they have for the NDC, which identifies itself with the event.
"If you are in politics, you must be gracious enough to live above pettiness," he said.
He said he was not surprised at the recent outlawing of June 4 by the government because its leaders are of different ideology.
"They can outlaw June 4 on paper but they can't undo it ... Nkrumah could not, Rawlings cannot and Kufuor cannot."
Ex-President Rawlings said the government is using its apparatus including the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to intimidate people perceived to be sympathisers of the NDC.
While advising the government to exercise power with a sense of nationalism, he also asked the people not to fold their arms but rise to defend their constitutional rights against any such misuse of power.
"Democracy is a two-way affair; for ours to survive we must be active in putting up constructive criticism, " he said, adding that without this, the people would be contributing to the destruction of democracy.
He appealed to members of the Progressive Alliance to remain united in the face of difficulties, saying they were mere political trials.
Ex-President Rawlings also condemned the decision of the government to replace the military guards at his residence with police personnel, saying it was a ploy to cripple him.
The large number of people that attended the gathering included the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, Former Vice President and NDC flag bearer in last December's Presidential Election, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, Alhaji Yusifu Ali, National Co-Chairman of the NDC and Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Advisor on Governmental Affairs of the former regime.
The others were Dr Tony Aidoo, Ex Deputy Minister of Defence and Mr Martin Amidu, Ex-Deputy Attorney General.
There were also a line up of MPs led by the Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin, Ex- Ministers of State, representatives of the People's National Convention (PNC) led by Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Treasurer, and a cross-section of the public that milled to catch a glimpse of ex-President Rawlings as he arrived at the main hall of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), the venue.
Prof Mills urged the activists of NDC to be guided by the principles of June 4 and remain united and focused to rebuild the party.
He said it was a pity that the new government was doing everything possible to discredit the former administration.
The former government never deliberately cut corners to harm the nation as the current leadership was portraying. "But we are confident that history will judge us favourably."
The former Vice President called for tolerance, hard work and prayers from the members, adding that NDC might be down but not out. "We have the resilience to bounce back," he declared.
He said while he admits that they might have made mistakes while in office, what mattered most was the motive behind those mistakes.
He asked the party followers not to become dispirited by rumours and falsehood perpetuated to discredit their leadership.
Other speakers were Alhaji Iddrisu, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni former Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Dr Aidoo, Mr Bagbin, Mr Moses Asaga, former Deputy Finance Minister, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, NDC General Secretary, Mr Ali Yemoh, a cadre and Mrs Edith Hazel, MP for Evalue Gwira.
They gave an overview of the state of the nation during the PNDC/NDC, the aftermath of the 2000 general elections and the way forward for the alliance.
Their presentations were interspersed with party songs and slogans from the enthusiastic supporters.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
Dr N. Nyaho-Tamakloe, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Monday said the NPP administration has no time to indulge in unnecessary squabbles.
This is because it has ahead of it the enormous task of "rebuilding the economy and improving upon amenities such as roads, water supply to villages and schools among other things.
Dr Tamakloe was speaking to members of the Ablekuma- South Constituency of the NPP in reaction to an address by Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings to members of National Democratic Congress (NDC) to mark the June 4 anniversary.
Dr Tamakloe said there was no need for Ghanaians to give former President Rawlings "even a day again through the ballot box in Ghana".
He said this is because nothing new could be expected of him after being in power for 20 year.
"Ghanaians voted President Kufour to be President and so he will be till they vote him out".
It is important to note that the majority of Ghanaians voted the NPP government into power, he said, adding that any decision taken should thus be in the interest of the majority.
Dr Tamakloe gave the assurance that under the NPP government, there would be no tolerance for corruption, laziness, complacency and immorality.
He advised the NDC to do some self-examination in order to return to the political arena in 2004 saying, "if they vote us out through the ballot box we will accept it. Anything short of that will vehemently be resisted by Ghanaians".
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Salaga (Northern Region) 05 June 2001
Social and economic activities in Salaga came to a standstill on Sunday when the Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Boniface Abubakar-Saddique made his maiden visit to the constituency since he was appointed Deputy Minister.
Schools and markets were closed and no commercial vehicle left Salaga. Mr Abubakar-Saddique won in the Salaga constituency as an independent candidate.
Thousands of people from all walks of life, including ethnic groups who were at war in 1994, lined the Salaga-Makango road, in NPP and his own campaign colours -green-white-green with a hoe on the white, to welcome him.
Several others went in trucks to meet him at Makango from where he arrived in a ferry from Yeji with Alhaji Muktar Musah Bamba, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs-designate and Alhaji Mustapha Maiga, National President of the "Nasara Club".
It took the long convoy of vehicles two hours to make the 30-mile journey to Salaga.
When Mr Abubakar-Saddique and his entourage finally arrived at the Salaga lorry main park, there was a spontaneous ovation and people got onto any height to catch a glimpse of their MP.
It took the combined effort of the Military and the Police to control the crowd, most of whom were eager to shake hands with him.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Issah Ketekewu and the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Majeed Harroun met the delegation.
At a meeting with the executive members of the NPP in the Salaga constituency and Mr Abubakar-Saddique's campaign team, Alhaji Bamba said though, he stood as an independent candidate he was now part of the NPP administration.
Alhaji Bamba said though the NPP has majority in Parliament, it cannot rule smoothly without the support of the independent MPs and the MPs from the Minority parties.
He, therefore, appealed to the NPP supporters to give such MPs the needed support and co-operation in the performance of their duties.
Mr Abubakar-Saddique appealed to all the people in the constituency to bury their differences and unite towards the development of the area, which he noted, has been neglected for so long.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 05 June 2001
Twelve tractors valued at 2.1 billion cedis were on Saturday presented to 12 farming groups in the Northern Region as part of a pilot programme to boost rice production in the region.
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), made a deposit of 700 million cedis for the acquisition of the tractors and accessories.
In addition, the bank would advance credit for the farmers to purchase seeds and fertiliser.
Mr. Jacob Wumnaya, Northern Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) announced this at the presentation of the tractors to the farming groups in Tamale.
He appealed to farmers in the region to work hard to increase production to justify the increased investment in the rice industry.
Dr Majeed Harroun, a Deputy Minister of MOFA who presented the tractors to the farmers groups, asked them to work hard to enable the government to achieve its aim of cutting down the importation of rice by 30 per cent.
Dr. Harroun appealed to the leaders of the groups to avoid petty squabbles and try as much as possible to be transparent in their dealings with their colleagues.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 05 June 2001
A group of armed robbers wielding an AK 47 assault rifle and pistols on Saturday seized at gunpoint a Toyota pickup belonging to the Resource Management Support Centre of the Forest Services Division and bolted.
The incident occurred at the Pankrono Estate in Kumasi at about 20:45 hours. The robbery has been reported to the Police but no arrest has been made.
Mr Atta Owusu, Liaison Officer of the Centre, who narrated the incident to the Ghana News Agency, said the vehicle with registration number GR 1869 S has been officially assigned to Mr Kofi Affum-Baffoe.
Mr Affum-Baffoe on that day used the vehicle to convey some officers of the Forest Services Division to Akwapim-Akropong to attend the funeral of an employee of the Centre.
The Liaison Officer said while driving back home, Mr Affum-Baffoe noticed that a taxicab was closely following him but he had no suspicion about the intention of the occupants.
He, therefore, drove straight to the yard of his compound, switched off the engine and was about to get down only to be confronted with repeated shouts of "Why did you cross us?"
Mr Affum-Baffoe told the police that when he turned, he saw four well-armed men pointing their guns at him. They held him hostage for about three minutes and ordered him to surrender the ignition keys.
All this while, the wife and the child, who were indoors, never knew what was happening within the compound.
Afraid for his life, Mr Affum-Baffoe had no option but to obey the orders of the robbers. They jumped into the vehicle and started firing indiscriminately to scare away people in the neighbourhood.
It was after they had sped off that the people moved in to assist Mr Affum-Baffoe to make a report to the Police at Old Tafo while others rang the FM radio stations to inform them about the robbery.
A source at the Tafo Police station that sought anonymity confirmed the incident on telephone to the GNA and said efforts were being made to track down the robbers.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
The Ghana Textiles and Manufacturing Company (GTMC) management is to lay off about 762 workers as soon as money becomes available for their severance pay.
The company would retain 365 workers to work at the printing department, while weaving and spinning sections of the factory would close down temporary.
This is the outcome of a committee meeting held by the representatives of the management, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and the Textiles, Garment and Leather Union (TEGLU), chaired by an official of the Ministry of Manpower and Development.
A source close to the Ministry told the Ghana News Agency that the severance pay package is being worked out. When payment is effected the company, which was closed down about seven months ago, would be reopened.
Following several years of court cases and physical clashes between ICU and TEGLU over which of the two unions should meet management on salary negotiations, even though TEGLU is holding the bargaining certificate, the company has never known peace at the factory floor.
Issues heightened when the two groups clashed, on November 28, last year, and the management closed down the factory. All the workers were sent home and have never been made to report back.
Political manoeuvres made by workers' leaders to force management to open the factory have not yielded any good results.
Efforts of the management to call some of the workers at different times to resume work were also frustrated by the ICU workers.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra on Monday for Durban, South Africa, to attend the South African Economic Summit, at the invitation of President Thabo Mbeki.
President Kufuor was accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Mr. J. H. Mensah, Minister of Government Business and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry.
The summit is a follow-up to the recommendations made at the World Economic Forum in Davrox, Switzerland last year.
The three-day round table conference will bring together political leaders and the leaders of the private sector.
The issues to be discussed include the economic integration of Africa, international trade access for Africa and HIV/AIDS.
President Kufuor will also hold bilateral discussions with his South African counterpart on ways to improve trade between the two countries.
The President, who will be away for five days, was seen off at the airport by Vice President Aliu Mahama, ministers of state and the Acting IGP, Mr. Ernest Owusu-Poku.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
The Ghana United Nations Students Union (GUNSA) on Monday called on the Government to increase its support for civil society organizations on the environment by providing them with constant information, education and training on environmental issues.
"This will create an enabling environment and favourable conditions to facilitate and enhance their work on environmental matters", a statement by GUNSA said in Accra.
Miss Mary Togobo, General Secretary of GUNSA, signed the statement, in connection with the celebration of this year's World Environment Day. The day is being celebrated in Ghana under the theme: "Our Environment: Let's manage it Together."
GUNSA reminded Ghanaians that issues concerning the environment are of pressing concern to people of all age groups, hence the need for continuous and consistent attention and action by Government, NGOs and individuals to help solve the numerous environmental problems.
It also urged civil society organizations to concentrate their efforts on bringing environmental issues to the attention of policy makers by raising public awareness and promoting innovative ideas and approaches that would transform commitments into actions.
GUNSA said as the world prepares for the World Summit on environment and sustainable development in Johannesburg in 2002, it believes that the youth are committed and must be given the needed support to participate in all steps towards sustainable development.
The Association reaffirmed its commitment to environmental issues and said it will continue to implement actions through its network of students and youth.
GUNSA congratulated all stakeholders, especially the media, for their positive role towards the environment and sustainable development so far.
"However, we must note that a lot more needs to be done," it said.
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Effiduase (Ashanti Region) 05 June 2001
The Effiduase-Asokore Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned, Mr Amakye Boateng, a defector from the party to desist from the vicious and disparaging remarks against it.
A press statement signed by Alhaji Adam Issa alias Malala, the NDC Constituency chairman, said the "intolerable length at which Mr Boateng out of desperation is attempting to damage the image of our party and to vilify and criminalize its members baffles us".
Mr Boateng, who was the NDC Parliamentary candidate, for the constituency in the last general election, recently defected to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The release said the NDC accepts that it is within the former parliamentary candidate's democratic right to join any political party of his choice but "we find it both unacceptable and despicable for him to resort to bare-faced lies, half truths and outright fabrications to win favour from his new-found allies" it said.
The release said Mr Boateng's action offends the rules of decency, honour and political maturity, adding that such behaviour only tends to create tension and mar inter-party relations.
The statement challenged Mr Boateng to go public on how he spent the 45 million cedis the NDC mobilised for him to support his political campaign in the last general election.
"We dare Mr Boateng to explain to the good people in the constituency details on how he utilised the said money to convince us that he is really a man of honour and integrity".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
A group of people calling themselves Victims of the June 4 Uprising on Monday commended the government and parliament for expunging from the statute books the celebration of the June 4 as a public holiday and urged Ghanaians never again to allow such a tragedy to occur in the history of the country.
"We also want to say thank you to all those who voted in parliament and especially those who did not vote at all to ensure the passage of the bill to remove June 4 as a holiday," Nii Yemoh, a Spokesman for the victims, said at a news briefing in Accra at which he and some of his colleagues recounted their experiences.
Nii Yemoh said in spite of the excesses of the day "the perpetrators have over the years found a way to remind Ghanaians of the wicked deeds that were unleashed on various families."
He said the blood of their loved ones could have been taken as sacrifice for the nation if the apostles of the day had lived up to expectation.
"We are all in Ghana and we know how these ancient and modern charlatans have failed the very test that they subjected us and our great nation to.
"The probity and accountability that they judged us with, they say, cannot be applied to them. The social justice they promised has become animal farm justice."
Nii Yemoh described June 4 as a "fraudulent regime" that unleashed unprecedented wickedness and violence in the name of "house cleaning", that brought about the shedding of volumes of blood, public executions, undisclosed murders, deep injuries, pain and humiliation.
He said: "For the Ghanaian woman, that was the lowest point of her respect as her womanhood became the object of ridicule through humiliating drills.
"Many of us lost our loved and dear fathers, mothers, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters and friends who never survived the injuries...and some of us have to live with the nightmare of those blood and thunder days."
Nii Yemoh cautioned that the nation should never allow such a chapter in its history.
"Never again should people subject others to standards they themselves cannot meet. Never again should kangaroo justice be allowed to replace the rule of law and due process.
"Ghana is free from the cursed ghost of June 4 forever. Let us all let it rest in peace so that we can all have our peace."
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Denu (Volta Region) 05 June 2001
The government has been asked to live up to its campaign promises and stop making up excuses for its inability to deliver.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Agbenaza (rtd) former Volta Regional Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu-South, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Denu at the weekend.
He called on the government to focus its attention on the work before it because the citizenry are yearning for the fulfilment of promises made to them.
Lt. Col. Agbenaza said the nation's debts and financial problems stem from the unfavourable international trade, which were not the making of the previous government.
The government is looking backwards instead of marching forward, "Ghanaians would soon realise that the government lacks the courage to propel the country forward".
He dismissed assertions in certain quarters that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was a spent force that could not come back to power and said the current reorganisation exercise would strengthen the party's structures to work towards its victory in the next elections.
Lt. Col. Agbenaza said the arrests of some former government Ministers were meant to intimidate the party and described as unfortunate the manner in which the security agencies were going about their duties.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 June 2001
The ministries of Food and Agriculture and Trade and Industries have been urged to ensure that the Ghana National Procurement Agency (GNPA), the largest importer of rice, purchase locally produced rice to promote production and to guarantee prices for farmers.
Mr Zac Dodoo, Managing Director of Ottofio Food Agency, a rice milling company at Dawahenya, who was speaking to the GNA in Accra, on Monday, said the banks should also be encouraged to assist farmers with loans and credit facilities to increase production to ensure food security and save hard currency for the country.
Mr Dodoo said the company with the capacity of milling 100 bags of rice a day has marketing problems because GNPA, which was supposed to purchase the produce has failed to do so.
He commended the government for promoting production of grains and cereals locally and said a task force should be formed to facilitate efforts in that direction.
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Ejisu (Ashanti Region) 05 June 2001
Nineteen people were killed on the spot when a tanker crashed head-on into a Kumasi-bound Hyundai urvan bus, near Ejisu-Besease on the Accra-Kumasi road at about 05:00 hours on Monday.
The mangled bodies of the victims, most of them women believed to be traders, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary in Kumasi.
The driver of the tanker and his mate whose names could not be immediately given, however, escaped unhurt.
A source at the Ejisu Police District Headquarters told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the driver of the tanker was trying to overtake a tractor when he rammed into the bus that was coming from the opposite direction, killing everyone on board.
The driver of the tanker has been placed in police custody at Ejisu to assist in investigations.
At the KATH mortuary, a big crowd of people, who rushed there on hearing of the accident, were seen weeping bitterly as the badly mutilated bodies some with the legs and hands severed laid on the floor.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 05 June 2001
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is collaborating with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to tap its abundant expertise and technological resources to give Kumasi a befitting face-lift.
Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, who announced this at a reception he held for journalists in Kumasi, said every available human and material resources irrespective of one's political inclinations would be harnessed to accelerate the development of the metropolis.
"Kumasi is endowed with a lot of resources including attractive tourist sites, festivals, culture, land, vegetation, manpower and it is left for the residents including the mass media to highlight on the potentials to attract investors", he said.
The press, he said, as partners of development should intensify the education of the residents on their civic and constitutional responsibilities to maintain sanity and discipline in the city.
Mr Jumah expressed optimism that with maximum co-operation from the press, academic institutions, religious groups, traditional authorities, organised groups and associations, he would succeed.
He commended the staff of the assembly for their dedication and commitment, adding, "in spite of the numerous problems that the KMA was confronted with before coming into office of this new government, the workers stood firm and did what they can to sustain the image of the city".
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 05 June 2001
A five-day workshop for conflict management and resolution for community leaders opened at the Freeman Centre for Leadership Development in Kumasi on Monday.
It is being organised by Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, the World Vision International (WVI), Ghana and the Freeman Centre for Development of the Methodist Church.
The participants are from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), Department of Social Welfare, Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), religious organisations and community leaders.
Topics to be discussed at the workshop include "Prevention of conflicts", "De-escalating conflicts and peace building", "General principles of conflict resolutions and management", "Techniques of negotiations, mediations and arbitrations", "Planning training programmes or facilitating a programme for change in a community or organisation".
Opening the workshop, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, said land, chieftaincy, religious, political and ethnic conflicts were making heavy demands on the nation's resources.
He said there was, therefore, the need as a nation to collectively sit up and adopt appropriate measures to keep the situation in check.
The Regional Minister commended the Methodist church and their collaborators for organising the workshop, saying that the importance of conflict management and resolution skills in leadership was particularly important under the present democratic dispensation.
Professor (Mrs) Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, Co-ordinator of the ADR Centre, said the ADR training programme was born in 1996 and since then has provided training to various groups in the communities and this has become an important outreach arm of the Faculty of Law.
She noted that the value of peace in a country could be better appreciated by looking at those communities without it, where precious property that could have been used to improve the country's development is destroyed.
Professor Mensah-Bonsu said peace in a community does not occur as a natural element, it has to be produced by a combination of factors including personal attitudes.
Baffour Awuah IV, Bantamahene, who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, observed that truth and transparency could curb conflicts in any society.
The Right Reverend Kwaku Asamoah-Okyere, Methodist Bishop of Kumasi, asked the participants to take the workshop serious so that they could contribute to conflict resolution in the society.
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