GRi Newsreel Ghana
07 - 06 - 2001
Tema car dealers hold discussions with Police
Smoked-meat sellers association complains of harassment
Women's
groups commend Police Service
Interstate
Succession law yet to have impact
Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
Delegates
to the fifth National Governance workshop in Accra on Wednesday asked the
government to demonstrate its commitment to its policy of zero tolerance of
corruption through a transparent appointment process and strict separation of
party and state.
In a
resolution adopted at the end of the two-day workshop on Wednesday, the
delegates called on the government to amplify its anti-corruption policy and,
in particular, include indicators of corrupt behaviour.
"Government
should strengthen the institutional capacity of anti-corruption agencies,
rationalise their mandates, increase their budgets and clarify their reporting
mechanisms," the resolution said.
It also
urged government to implement measures that provide education and access to
public information, and to ensure greater transparency through disclosure.
Besides,
Government should institute transparent, accountable and participatory
mechanisms governing the expenditure of public funds to ensure that they are
appropriately utilized and not diverted to corrupt or wasteful pursuits.
The
workshop was organised by the National Institutional Renewal Programme and the
Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) on the theme: "Ghana Uniting
Against Corruption".
GACC
comprises agencies and NGOs such as the Commission for Human Rights and
Administrative Justice, Transparency International and the Centre for
Democratic Development.
The
delegates representing the public and private sectors, civil society and
non-governmental organisations discussed pertinent issues relating to
corruption in Ghana and Africa with the view to eliminating the scourge, which
is said to have become worse than before.
They
explored the repatriation of monies illegally stashed away in foreign banks by
corrupt politicians and, in rare cases, some individuals and resolved that the
government and civil society should work actively with the international
community to expose the destinations for the return of the loot.
"Government
and civil society should work actively with the international community to
implement practical measures to instil openness and integrity in international
private financial institutions, offshore centres, and the safe havens that
facilitate the laundering of corruptly obtained money."
Delegates
also called for the tightening of the legal framework to require effective
disclosure and better verification of assets declarations.
Reports say
between 20 billion and 40 billion dollars belonging to poor countries mostly in
Africa have been illegally transferred to European banks.
Noting that
corruption undermines development and the moral order, the resolution called
for rededication of the nation to establishing integrity, honesty and probity
as the basis of conducting public life through state institutions, the private
sector and within civil society.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
The
Minister of Finance, Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, said on Wednesday that the United
Kingdom has agreed to write off Ghana's debt owed her if Ghana is able to reach
the decision point of the Heavily Indebted Poor (HIPC) Initiative.
Explaining
the decision point, he said this refers to the time when nations agree that
HIPC relief should flow.
Mr.
Osafo-Maafo told newsmen at the Airport on his return from London where he
attended a meeting with finance ministers of countries who have either opted
for the HIPC initiative or about to do so, that the UK is determined to assist
Ghana in her economic recovery effort.
"What
is now needed is how Ghana can come out of her difficulties by adopting
pragmatic measures as well as hard work.''
Mr
Osafo-Maafo said the UK used the meeting to appeal to the other members of the
Group of Eight to endeavour to write off Ghana's debt.
"Ghana's
decision point is between now and September, which is a critical period, hence
we should reduce expenditure, control inflation and ensure that we put our
house in order.
"Normally
it takes 18 months for a country to reach the decision point, however, Ghana is
doing so by September," he said.
Prior to
the London meeting, he stayed in Valencia after the African Development Bank
and the African Development Fund annual general meeting, to hold further
discussions with the Government of Spain on 100 million dollars funding to be
made available for on-going Spanish projects in Ghana.
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Tema car dealers hold discussions with Police
Tema
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
The Tema
Regional Police has scheduled another meeting next Tuesday with members of the
Progressive Car Dealers Association, who face ejection from the Tema Motorway
Roundabout area.
An attempt
by the Police to relocate the dealers at Kpone Car Market on Tuesday ended in a
stalemate and the next meeting is expected to take a major decision on the
issue.
Mrs Agnes
Sikanartey, Regional Police Commander, said the car dealers would not be
permitted to peddle their trade around the Motorway Roundabout because of the
numerous problems they pose to the city's beautification programme.
She told a
meeting with the dealers on Wednesday that in the interim, they should
reorganise themselves and be ready to move to the official place allocated to
them by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
The dealers
unilaterally moved from the Kpone Car Market two months ago to their present
location complaining that sales have been poor since they were relocated there
one and a half years ago.
The dealers
have petitioned the Minister of Works and Housing to find a suitable place for
them in the Tema Township and were expected to meet the Minister on Wednesday
to discuss the issue.
A taskforce
comprising officials from TDC, Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) and the Police on
Tuesday went to Motorway Roundabout with towing vehicles to eject the car
dealers, but they refused to go.
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Smoked-meat sellers association complains of harassment
Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 07 June 2001
The
Smoked-meat (Mmpunam) Sellers Association has complained about what it
described as the harassment and maltreatment of its members by the officers of
the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.
The
association said the officers of the Division randomly seize consignments of
smoked-meat they have purchased from licensed hunters in the Damango, Bole and
Bamboi while others extort money from them.
This was
contained in a petition signed by Nana Ama Ataa, Queenmother of the Association
in Kumasi and circulated to the Regional Ministers of Ashanti, Northern, Upper
East and Upper West Regions.
The
Association warned that the members would advise themselves if no action is
taken against the officers, who seize their consignments and at times sell them
to others.
The
petition said the traders have been harassed for so long, saying most of the
members have incurred huge debts as a result.
It advised
the officer to comply with the Wildlife Conservation Amendment Regulations 1989
(L.I. 1482) and not to refrain from harassing their members unduly.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
A number of
women's groups on Wednesday commended the Ghana Police Service for the
breakthrough in arresting a suspected serial killer of women.
The women
made the commendation at a meeting with Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister
of the Interior, Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Acting Inspector General of Police, Lt.
General Joshua Hamidu, National Security Adviser and other security chiefs in
Accra.
Mrs Gladys
Asmah, Minister of Women's Affairs who led the women, said the arrest of the
suspect is an indication that progress has been made but added that more will
have to be done to arrest the rest involved in the murder of the other 22 or
more women.
''We believe
that the suspect has accomplices and you must put in more effort to arrest
these killers.''
She said
the culprits must be brought to justice, ''for us women to feel safe in our
country.''
She
mentioned other negative things done against women such as the display and sale
of pornographic materials at the newsstands that portray women as sex objects
and called for a halt to it.
“Such
materials are a violation of the rights of women and they send very negative
signals.''
Mrs Asmah
said her ministry is liaising with the Attorney General's department to
introduce a form of censorship on films.
She urged
the police to clamp down on child trafficking and child prostitution, which she
said could undermine the effort to boost tourism.
She also
spoke about street children and stressing that her ministry needs the
co-operation of the police in finding solution to the problem.
Alhaji
Yakubu said the recognition accorded the police by the women is a reflection of
the positive change the President promised Ghanaians.
''The
president alone cannot impact positive change but good leadership brings out
the potential in people to strive to achieve good results.''
He said for
an institution to function well "you do not only provide for its needs but
also recognise its ability to live up to expectations.''
He said
even though the police have been in the forefront of the effort to unravel the
mystery of the murders the collaborative role of other national security
institutions must be acknowledged.
Alhaji
Yakubu said the Police have been working through very trying times with
mandatory logistics like transport and communication equipment hardly
available.
''Nevertheless
they have been working at their maximum best. But they can't work in a vacuum.
They need the public to assist.''
He gave the
assurance that the government will not relent until an efficient police force
is raised.
''It is
important that we fight crime together. Many nations have fallen apart because
people refused to be each other's keeper.''
Mr
Owusu-Poku said the police are determined to work in spite of the numerous
constraints and thanked the women for showing appreciation.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 07 June 2001
Dr Kwame
Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence on Wednesday said that the government is not
insensitive to the settlement of non-commissioned officers of the Ghana Armed
Forces.
Strenuous
efforts are being made to get them adequately resourced so that they could go
on retirement comfortably, Dr Addo-Kufuor told a durbar, attended by troops of
Four Garrison and Reconnaissance (Recce) Detachment on special duties from
Sunyani during his two-day familiarisation tour of military institutions of the
Northern Command, in Kumasi.
Dr
Addo-Kufuor said it was against this background that various schemes such as
loans, health, education and training programmes are being instituted to make
soldiers self-sufficient and prepare them to enjoy retirement.
The
Minister pointed out that the government is aware of the numerous security,
economic and social problems confronting the nation and there was the need for
the security agencies to support the government to protect and defend the
legitimate rights of Ghanaians and the Constitution.
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Ho (Volta
Region) 07 June 2001
Sixteen
years after the promulgation of the Intestate Succession Law (PNDC Law 111) in
1985, women are still deprived of legal access to the property of their
deceased husbands.
Mrs Hillary
Gbedemah, Volta Regional Legal Officer of Women in Law and Development in
Africa (WILDAF) attributed the problem to the ignorance of the law and its
dynamics, lack of access and the practicability of enforcing the tenets of the
law especially in rural areas.
The law
seeks to unify all customary laws and practices on the distribution of deceased
person's estate if such persons died intestate.
Mrs
Gbedemah was speaking to the Ghana News Agency after interactions with students
and fellows from the Joseph Crowley Programme in International Human Rights
from the Fordham University School of Law in the United States of America at
Ho.
The
two-week fact-finding mission of the group focuses on human rights issues
concerning women's property rights under customary law and the enforcement of
the 1985 Intestate Succession Law and its relationship with Ghana's
international Human Rights commitments.
The 11-
member team has some of its members working in Kumasi and Takoradi and include
Madam Deborah Batts, a judge of the Southern District Court of New York.
Mrs
Gbedemah said in spite of efforts at educating people through a legal literacy
programme, people still lack the will to enforce the law and manage the change
in the status quo of women, which it seeks to challenge.
She said
the courts and some chiefs are enforcing the law but, "outside these
formal structures people are unaware of the law while others are just sticking
to the old customary system".
The Legal
Officer noted that the distribution of a deceased spouses' estates forms about
11 per cent of cases that come to her office yearly, "which gives
indication that the law is not being implemented as it is expected".
The team
would hold discussions with government officials, chiefs, queen mothers, the
judiciary, academics and local opinion leaders as well as those who have been
denied their property rights and inheritance.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
Mr Jake
Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs, said on Wednesday that the
government would soon appoint a board of trustees to work out the modalities of
disbursing the Stadium Disaster Fund.
This, he
said, is necessary to ensure that the fund is managed efficiently to benefit
the families of the 126 soccer fans who lost their lives and those who were
injured during the May 9 stadium disaster.
Mr
Obetsebi-Lamptey, who is also the Chief of Staff, was speaking when he received
a total of 151.2 million cedis from 24 organisations at a ceremony at the Osu
Castle.
He said:
"It is unfortunate that it took a tragedy to bring us together, but God
moves in mysterious ways and he knows why it should be that way."
The latest
donors are Irani Brothers and Others Limited, 30 million cedis, Ghana Football
Association and the Korean community 20 million cedis each, the Sports Writers
Association, National Investment Bank, Ghana Manganese Company, Unique Trust
Financial Services Limited, Church of Christ and Ballast Nedem BV, 10 million
cedis each.
The Ghana
Society of Central New York donated 6.7 million cedis, Institute of Chartered Accountants,
Vodi Technic Motors, Sea Freight Pineapple Exporters, Pharmacy Business
Executive Association, Geo Mechanik Company and Tema Development Corporation,
five million cedis each.
Others are
the Baptist Mid-Mission of Ghana 3.5 million cedis, the Obo Kwawu Citizens in
Accra, Kelog Limited, Nicheren Soshu of Ghana and the
Association
of Fundamental Baptist Churches three million cedis each.
The rest of
the donations came from Ave Maria School, two million cedis, Private Newspaper
Publishers Association and Erehima Scaffolding and Plant, one million cedis
each.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
The United
States on Wednesday pledged her unflinching support for the Ghana Armed Forces
(GAF) saying, "the GAF should make its needs known to us and they would be
addressed".
Kathryn Dee
Robinson, US Ambassador expressed this commitment when she opened the second
phase of a joint military training programme dubbed; "Operation Focus
Relief" (OFR), for the GAF and the US Army at the Bundase Camp near Accra.
The
objective of the OFR programme is to equip and train up to seven battalions
from West African countries to conduct tactical operations up to the Infantry
Company levels in support of UN-mandated peace operation.
This
operation she noted will assist the nations of West Africa to enhance their
capacity to provide security and stability to residents of their countries as a
whole.
Lieutenant
Colonel William Ayamdo, Commanding Officer of the UNAMSIL Ghanbatt 5, said the
all ranks battalion of 776 is currently undergoing pre-operational training in
preparation towards their insertion in UNAMSIL as an additional Ghana
battalion.
He said
there are about 120 US resource personnel involved in the training of the
Ghanbatt. "The mobilization, kiting and concentration of UNAMSIL GHANBATT
5 is in response to the request by UNAMSIL high command for more troops to be
able to effectively dominate conflict ridden Sierra Leone".
Lt Col.
Ayamdo said the participation of the GAF in most peacekeeping missions attest
to the assertion that the Government of Ghana is committed to total peace in
Africa and the world at large.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
Two MPs on
Thursday blamed corruption, especially in the public sector, on society, which
they said pressurises officials with illegitimate favours.
Unless
society resolves to support the crusade against corruption, little would be
achieved in the current efforts at eliminating the problem, Papa Owusu Ankoma,
Deputy Majority Leader and Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader told a session of
the 5th National Governance Workshop shortly before it ended in Accra.
The two
ranking MPs also shared the view that institutions including Parliament should
be strengthened to enable them to perform efficiently in the realisation of the
President's policy of zero tolerance for corruption.
"But
if we seek to rely on exhortations, code of ethics and moral values alone in
fighting corruption, it will not work," declared Papa Ankoma who is also
Deputy Minister of Government Business.
He said
although he knew that corruption had been with Ghana over the years, he only
realised the enormity of the problem upon entering government.
He
expressed regrets that Parliament, one of the institutions mandated to check
corruption has not yet "crystallised" a thorough way forward.
The House
itself is handicapped when it comes to its monitoring functions.
The Deputy
Majority Leader said proposals to fashion out an Anti-Corruption or Ethics
Committee of Parliament that can, by itself initiate investigations and
question certain transactions by the Executive and others, especially the
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), were being discussed.
In
addition, the MDAs would be requested to submit quarterly report on their
operations and spending instead of annual reports as stipulated in the
constitution.
Papa Ankoma
said it gladdens his heart that individuals are becoming increasingly aware of
their responsibilities to question certain actions of the government and cited
the renovation works at the President's private residence and the Castle saying
the public interest these have attracted are signs to put public spending in
check.
Mr Bagbin
on his part affirmed the Minority's resolve to keep the executive in check and
collaborate with the Majority to achieve zero tolerance of corruption.
"I
want to make sure that if they (NPP) failed to keep us (NDC) in check, we'll
not fail," he said to a prolonged applause from the floor.
Mr Bagbin
identified the current system of lobbying MPs as one major vulnerable area that
could breed corruption.
He said
unlike the developed democracies like Britain which have recognised groups
through which Parliament is lobbied, in Ghana lobbyists make direct contact
with MPs and in the process may be tempted to influence them with rewards to
enable them push legislations in their favour.
Another
major problem hindering the effectiveness of the Ghanaian legislature in
checking corruption, Mr Bagbin said, is the constitutional requirement for a
majority of ministers of state to come from Parliament.
"At
the end of the day, Parliament is compromised," he said adding that he has
always advocated an amendment to the constitution to make it reflect the
changes of the time.
A national
survey on corruption in Ghana last year, which formed part of the working
documents at the workshop, has rated the police MTTU, the regular police, CEPS,
the Courts and the Ministry of Finance as the least honest public agencies.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
Barima
Adanse-Akyem Omane, Chief of Akyem Nkwantanan, on Wednesday called on the
government to abolish the Ministry of Youth and Sports and replace it with two
separate constitutional commissions.
He said:
"The youth and sports affairs of the country should operate with little or
no executive interferences and manipulations for effective policy directives
and initiation which a ministry lacks."
Barima
Omane who is also a legal practitioner made the suggestion at a forum organised
by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for Accra Polytechnic
students.
The forum
under the theme, "The Constitution and the Youth: Steps into the
future," was chaired by Mr Marshall Y. Kemevor, Dean of Students.
Barima
Omane said a presidential commission, according to the 1992 constitution, is
autonomous from political, executive or other forms of interference in its
operations, which the youth and sports ministry has suffered from over the
years.
Sports, he
said, should therefore be insulated from politics to make its organisation
truly independent, efficient and effective.
"There
has been too much political interference in sports administration in the
country contributing to its downward trend."
Barima
Omane said politicians have not allowed sports administrators to stay in office
long enough to grasp administrative intricacies, efficiency and effective
organisational abilities to propel the nation's sports to achieve continental
and international awards.
He said abolishing
of the ministry and replacing it with a National Sports Commission would create
the necessary enabling environment for sports administrators and personalities
to achieve international recognition and awards.
The
commission should automatically be made to absorb the functions of the Sports
Council, "which still operates under an anachronistic Supreme Military
Council decree 54 and the National Youth Council respectively," he said.
Barima
Omane explained that the youth forming about 60 per cent of the national
population spans across socio-political interests and should not be combined
with sports but at best be under the Ministry of Environment, Science and
Technology.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 June 2001
Mr Joseph
G. Amamoo, former diplomat and editor of the 'Ghanaian Times', on Tuesday
expressed the need to rebuild Ghana's image to attract foreign assistance and
rejuvenate the economy.
He observed
that military dictatorships that brought in their wake a reign of terror and
fear had given Ghana a bad image, which needs to be rectified to get
"foreign assistance to develop our vast resources".
"Ghana's
external image needs to be rebuilt to let everyone know about the change of
management."
Mr Amamoo,
who returned to the country after 20 years of living abroad, told the Ghana
News Agency in an interview that he was struck by the high level of poverty and
the sight of beggars all over the streets.
The
ex-envoy and former deputy Minister of Health in the Second Republic also
expressed dismay at the near collapse of Ghana's educational and health
systems, which he said, "have without question retrogressed".
He,
however, conceded that the road network and streets had improved remarkably but
queried: "At what expense, especially when we are saddled with an external
debt of 6 billion dollars?"
Mr Amamoo
traced the country's problems to General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's 1972 coup
d'etat that toppled the government of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, saying it was the
height of treachery.
"Busia's
government was the only one that had never detained anyone. He tried to
introduce real democracy. Everyone felt there was real democracy.
"However,
compared to other dictatorships, Acheampong was an angel," he said, adding
that there was not enough to justify the removal of a government.
Mr Amamoo
said the overthrow of Acheampong was without any basis because "they came
and did worse things".
He
described the execution of Acheampong and the other ex-heads of state as murder
and called for the consolidation of the new democratic dispensation, saying:
"We now have a new government dedicated to real democracy, the rule of
law, and respect for human rights."
Mr Amamoo
was detained together with President Kufuor, Mr J.H. Mensah, Leader of
Government Business, and other stalwarts of the Progress Party after the
overthrow of the government of Dr Busia.
Asked about
criticisms that the NPP government was witch-hunting members of the former
government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Amamoo, said this was
not the case.
"When
we were in prison, we were given eight-page forms to fill, detailing out all
our earnings and expenditure as well as our assets.
"What
Kufuor is doing is no with-hunting. He is not going to try the NDC.
"The
government has the moral obligation to investigate all acts of corruption and
malfeasance. Wrongdoers must be taken through the due process of the law and
those found to be guilty must be punished."
Mr Amamoo
said he strongly supported the idea of truth and reconciliation commission on
condition that people would confess their past wrongs and were ready to show
remorse for what they had done.
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Bunso
(Eastern Region) 07 June 2001
The
government has been called upon to set up a committee to investigate the
circumstance that led to the retrenchment of about 1,350 workers of the Cocoa
Services Division of COCOBOD.
Mr Nicholas
Darko, a redeployed employee of the Cocoa Services Division, said since the
retrenchment and redeployment of the workers of Ministry of Food and
Agriculture last September, most of the Division's cocoa plantations have not
been properly maintained.
Speaking to
the Ghana News Agency at Bunso on Wednesday, Mr Darko said out of about 250
hectares of cocoa farm belonging to the Division at Bunso, only about 20
hectares are being maintained properly.
The
government, should, therefore, recall some of the retrenched and redeployed workers,
as a matter of urgency, to assist to revamp the cocoa industry since it is the
backbone of the economy, he stated.
Mr Darko said there are only 30 pollinators,
who are being assisted by a few casual labourers on the Bunso plantation,
adding that there are no extension officers to give technical advice to the
farmers to maintain their cocoa farms.
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