GRi Newsreel Ghana
11 - 06 - 2001
British
MP urges Ghana to market historical monuments abroad
Upper West civil servants condemn "action group"
GPRTU says will not share lorry parks
President Kufuor returns home from South Africa
Constable to be raised for role in armed robbery incident
IGP calls for discipline among the ranks
Okyeman Environment Foundation launched
NDC reacts to comments on Ex-President's speech
Some District Assemblies in Western Region in heavy debts
"Youth will not support move to destabilise the country"-
NDC Youth
Ms Ohene stresses need to develop Volta R.
Minority says NPP's witch-hunting is real
Tema
(Greater Accra) 11 June 2001
One hundred
and sixty-seven Liberians on board "Mu Alnar", a Swedish vessel,
which berthed at the Tema Port on Sunday and were not allowed to disembark have
left for Liberia.
However,
the Ghanaians on the vessel disembarked.
Naval
Captain Albert Addison, Director of Naval Operations at the Naval Headquarters,
said though the Liberians had paid their fares, "their large number makes
it suspicious".
He said
pressure would be exerted on the Captain to sail back with the Liberians, who
paid 75 dollars each.
The
Ghanaians, made up of 46 males, 50 females including 38 children have gone
through immigration procedures and were given lorry fare to travel to their
various destinations.
He said one
of the three pregnant women among the Ghanaians, who delivered their babies on
board, were doing well.
"20
Nigerians and two Sierra Leoneans, who are in transit, were initially not
allowed to disembark, but acting on instructions, we have allowed them to
disembark to go through the necessary procedures while transport arrangements
would be made for them by their Embassies to travel back home".
Meanwhile
there is heavy security presence at the Port to ensure that the Captain of the
ship complies with the directive to sail back.
Naval
Captain Addison said the vessel, which operates along the West Coast, was
allowed to sail to the port to enable the Ghanaians to disembark.
He
explained that the original Captain abandoned the vessel, which compelled the
owner Captain Heinning Keiderg to allow him to take over.
The
Liberians, who looked pale and weak and were crying, expressed surprise at the
treatment meted out to them.
They said
they were genuine passengers and were not expecting the harsh treatment from
Ghanaian authorities.
Some of
them, mostly men, threatened: "if you send us back the fate of over
500,000 Ghanaians at Liberia is in our hands".
Representatives
of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Customs, Excise and Preventive
Service, Immigration Service, Port Health and security agencies were at the
port but official of the National Disaster Management Organisation were absent.
Mr. David
Bassey Adams, one of the Nigerians in transit, who spoke to the Ghana News
Agency at the Headquarters of the Ghana Immigration Service, said they set
sailed from Monrovia on June 1 and got to Tema on June 5, but were not allowed
to berth until June 10.
He said
they ran out of food and water since they had been told that the journey was
going to take only three days. Mr Adams said before they disembark at about
1700 hours on Sunday, the Ghanaian authorities replenished the food and water
supplies on the ship.
He
confirmed: "the Liberians said they were going to attack Ghanaians when
they go back."
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Elimina
(Central Region) 11 June 2001
A visiting
British Virgin Island Parliamentarian on Saturday called for the intensive
marketing of Ghana's tourist attractions, especially, historical monuments, to
lure Africans in the Diaspora back to their roots.
Mr. Mark
Vanterpool told the GNA in an interview at the Elimina Castle, as part of his
four days tour of Ghana that, "though we have heard and learnt something
about our past, I have never related to my past as I have done today."
He promised
to arrange annual visits for second and tertiary students in his country to
Ghana.
"Most
British Islanders trace their ancestry to Ghana. They know the historical
circumstances that took them far from home from books and lectures and I think
they should be helped to visit these important monuments."
He thanked
the Ghanaian Parliament for offering the delegation the opportunity to visit
" my roots"
The
delegation, which also visited the Central Regional Residency and the Cape
Coast Castle was accompanied by Mr Isaac Amoo, NPP-Ayawaso Wougon,
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Upper West civil servants condemn "action group"
Wa (Upper
West) 11 June 2001
The Upper
West Regional branch of the Civil Servants Association on Friday called on all
members to rally behind the national leadership in their efforts to negotiate
better salaries for them.
The branch
advised the civil servants not to be misled by "the baseless
accusations" being levelled against the leadership.
At a news
conference at Wa to react to the recent demonstration in Accra by a faction of
the association calling for the removal of the national executive from office,
Mr Geofrey Tuu, Regional Secretary said a few civil servants in Accra couldn't
take decisions for the entire members outside the nation's capital.
Describing
the demonstration as uncalled for and unacceptable, Mr Tuu advised members not
to pay any heed to the accusations against the national executive.
He said
those who went on the demonstration were "self-seeking members whose aim
is to create confusion within the association" and advised the members of
the faction to submit themselves to the democratic processes currently going on
within the association if they have leadership ambitions.
"Anything
short of that will be tantamount to undermining the democratic dispensation the
country is currently enjoying."
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GPRTU says will not share lorry parks
Mankessim
(Central Region) 11 June 2001
The Ghana
Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says it will resist attempts by any new
transport organisation to operate at the lorry parks used by the union.
Mr. Robert
Eshun, Chairman of the Central Region branch of the union who gave the warning,
called on the district assemblies to create new parks for such new
organisations to ensure peace and harmony.
Mr. Eshun
was re-acting to a story on an FM station attributed to Mr. Yawson Scott and
Mr. Dada Acquah, former officials of the GPRTU that monopoly granted the union
by the former government over the use of the lorry parks should be withdrawn.
Mr. Eshun
said the two former officers who were voted out of office for inefficiency,
have nothing to offer but to create confusion in the transport sector.
He,
therefore, appealed to the government to be wary of such disgruntled persons
who have an axe to grind.
Mr. Eshun
said even though the constitution guarantees freedom of association district
assemblies should investigate the background of persons who want to form new
transport organisations.
He said
GPRTU is an affiliated body of the TUC and not to any political party, adding
that since its inception in 1935 the union it has been the custodian of lorry
parks throughout the country.
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President Kufuor returns home from South Africa
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 June 2001
President
John Agyekum Kufuor returned home from South Africa on Friday evening after
attending a four-day summit of the South African Economic Forum at the
invitation of the South African leader, Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Mr John H. M., Minister of Government Business accompanied him.
Speaking to
Journalists at the Airport, President Kufuor said Ghana was the only country
outside the region that was invited to participate in the meeting.
The meeting
discussed efforts that Africa must make to be part of global development.
The
President who acted as the mouthpiece of ECOWAS at the summit spoke about
efforts by the regional block in complementing that of other African groupings
to accelerate the integration and advancement of the economies of Africa.
He also
held bilateral discussions with the South African Leader on how trade between
the two countries could be balanced and enhanced.
'We want to
export value added products and not raw materials only and also to attract
investment to our side'.
He said
South Africa agreed to reinstate its credit line to Ghana to help equip the
Police Service to enable it to perform its duties efficiently and effectively.
The
facilities include the provision of telecommunication gadget, armoured patrol
vehicles as well as assist in the training of personnel.
Mr J. H.
Mensah said Ghana was exemplified for her smooth transition from one government
to another during the last election.
He said
major leading multinational companies were represented at the meeting, which
was the African version of the World Economic Forum. It presented President
Kufuor the opportunity to interact with them on how they could assist in
Ghana's economic development.
He expressed
the hope that the result of the visit would soon be forth coming.
At the
Airport to meet the presidential entourage were the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu
Mahama, some Ministers of State, Acting Service Commanders and the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps, Ibrahim Omar.
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Constable to be raised for role in armed robbery incident
Koforidua
(Eastern Region) 11 June 2001
The Police
Administration is to promote to a Sergeant a Police Constable, who caused the
arrest of two armed robbers while he was on duty at Miya Electrical Area, at
North Kaneshie in Accra on June 2.
The Acting
Inspector General Police Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, who announced this during a
visit to Koforidua, said:" This is the type of officers and men we want.
Men with a great sense of initiative, who will not wait to be directed what to
do."
The Police
Constable, whose name is being withheld, in the afternoon of Saturday June 2
exchanged fire with about eight armed robbers, who had gone to rob a shop at
North Kaneshie.
Two of the
robbers were killed. Superintendent John Kudalor, District Officer in-charge of
the Kaneshie Police station, told the Ghana News Agency that the robbers
attacked Miya Enterprise at about 13:00 hours on that day.
He said the
robbers operated in two taxicabs, one of which they abandoned after the
Policeman 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 shotgun, one Police beret, eight pieces of 8.2
ammunitions and 27,000 cedis cash in the abandoned taxi.
The robbers
wounded one of the shop attendants. According to the owner of the shop, the
other taxicab, which managed to run away, contained most of the stolen items,
worth over 50 million cedis.
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IGP calls for discipline among the ranks
Koforidua
(Eastern Region) 11 June 2001
The Acting
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku has reiterated his call
on Police personnel to be disciplined and show respect towards the public.
He said the
bedrock of every law enforcement and maintenance was discipline.
"If we
allow indiscipline to creep into our very foundation, we will fail as law
enforcement officers."
The IGP,
who was addressing officers and men of the service from the Eastern Region as
part of a day's working visit at Koforidua on Friday, expressed regret that the
service rules, regulations and instructions had been flouted by some of the
personnel, thereby allowing acts of indiscipline to creep into the Service.
He said
several acts of indiscipline among Police personnel like illegal arrests,
unlawful detention of suspects, indulgence in civil cases, involvement in land
and chieftaincy disputes, over fraternising with persons of dubious character
have dented the image of the Police.
Police
personnel should not compromise on the discharge of their public duty with that
of their private views, he said, adding that the "service has no room for
those, who are only out to court cheap popularity".
On the
various acts of lawlessness on the country's roads, Mr Owusu-Poku called on the
personnel of the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) to devise workable
strategies to deal firmly with lawless and recalcitrant drivers and to curb the
growing road indiscipline.
He further
urged them to put men on patrol during the night to check the spate of armed
robbery in the country.
Mr Richard
Sarfo Kwarteng, Eastern Regional Police Commander, pledged the support of his personnel to the IGP in his
efforts to build a dynamic, disciplined and professional police service.
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Okyeman Environment Foundation launched
Kyebi
(Eastern Region) 11 June 2001
The
Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Dominic K. Fobih has
observed that due to contempt and disregard for traditional methods of
protection, management and conservation of the forest, most of the sacred
groves, watersheds and water courses in the country have been destroyed.
He,
therefore, called for networking among various sections of the society so that
Ghanaians would be well informed about environmental protection methods used
elsewhere.
Professor
Fobih made the observation when he launched the Okyeman Environment Foundation
at Kyebi at the weekend to climax a weeklong celebration of the Okyeman
Environmental Week.
During the
week, tree-planting exercises were organised in selected Akyem Abuakwa towns
together with durbars to raise public awareness on environmental issues.
The
Minister announced that when the Urban and Town Councils become functional, the
Ministry would focus on the establishment of community Environmental Management
Committees to promote the protection of the environment.
Professor
Fobih commended the Okyenhene, Amotia Ofori-Panin for his vision and profound
interest in the maintenance of a sustainable environment in the Akyem Abuakwa
Traditional Area.
Ms Hawa
Yakubu, Minister of Tourism, in a speech read on her behalf, said environmental
protection and forest conservation promote eco-tourism, one of the fastest
growing segments of the tourism industry.
She said
the Ministry was prepared to provide opportunities for the training of people
from Akyem Abuakwa to equip them to plan and manage eco-tourism.
The
Ministry would encourage investors to invest in the area and also support the
production of promotional materials and marketing of the products at
international tourism fairs and on the website of the Ministry of Tourism.
Scientific
research should be conducted to facilitate the exploitation of the forest
resources in the area, including herbal medicine production to yield more
benefits.
The
Okyenhene, Osagyefu Ofori-Panin had earlier called on the people to put into
practice technical advice offered during the week to protect the environment
from further degradation.
He
expressed regret that out of "48,000 settlements in the country, only
12,000 have any form of government institutions" and called for the
decentralisation programme to move some of the policy-making institutions to
the rural areas.
This, he
said, would enable the officials to appreciate the aspirations of the people
for whom their policies were supposed to benefit.
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NDC reacts to comments on Ex-President's speech
Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 June 2001
The
National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it endorses the decision of
ex-President Jerry John Rawlings "not to make any further public comment
on the matter of his address at the June 4 lecture.
A statement
signed by Alhaji Huudu Yahyah, General Secretary of NDC, on Sunday said the
speech delivered by ex-President Rawlings to commemorate the 22nd anniversary
of the June 4 1979 uprising, was never meant to incite any group of Ghanaians.
It said it
was unfortunate that "some of the reactions to the speech, especially
those from members of the ruling government and some sections of the media have
generated more heat than light".
It said
while the form in which ex-President Rawlings made his observations may have
been objectionable to some, "his statements did not amount to incitement
or a call to arms, nor were they so intended as the government wants the public
to believe".
It said
according to the ex-President, "he has had occasion in the past to advise
President Kufuor to have his own ears to the ground in order to know the real
feelings of Ghanaians and not to take loyalty and respect for granted".
The
statement said this was the context in which ex-President Rawlings made
reference to the well-known Ghanaian phrase, "fun fool respect".
It said
ex-President Rawlings has in several speeches over the years, "stressed on
the potential dangers of governing through fear and intimidation", which
often degenerates into hatred against a government, "a situation that gave
rise to June 4 1979 Uprising itself."
It said
this again was the context in which he advised the government against some of
its actions that are already breeding fear and resentment.
It
cautioned the NPP government against its tendency to invoke the spectre of a
coup d' etat in the making, whenever they are subjected to public criticism and
to be wary of false alarmists, since they create a feeling of instability in
the country.
The
statement noted that the greatest dangers to governments in the developing
world is not coup d'etats, but mass unrest and discontent with grinding
poverty, abuse of executive authority as well as excessive show of political
power.
It,
therefore, advised the NPP government to show restraint and use its mandate to
promote the economic well being of the Ghanaian.
It said the
NDC was willing to help reduce the "current political tension in the
country".
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Some District Assemblies in Western Region in heavy debts
Sekondi
(Western Region) 11 June 2001
Mr. Joseph
Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, has said the Regional Co-ordinating Council
(RCC), is awaiting auditor's report on financial administration of District
Assemblies under the former District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the region.
He said
those, whose actions caused the assemblies to incur debts, will be held
accountable.
Mr. Aidoo
said this in reply to complaints by nine new DCEs for the region who were
sworn-in, that most of the Assemblies incurred huge debts under the former
DCEs.
The
Regional Minister assured them that the government is prepared to help the
assemblies out of the situation to enable them to use the Common Fund for
development projects.
He asked
the DCEs to serve as a unifying force in their areas and provide good
leadership, adding that their success lies in working as a team, with all key
players for the desired objectives of the districts to undertake more development
projects.
Mr Kwesi
Biney, DCE for Ahanta West on behalf of his colleagues, said they have accepted
the challenge to reverse poverty and deprivation that the people have been
experiencing for many years and work hard to justify the trust reposed in them.
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"Youth will not support move to destabilise the country"- NDC
Youth
Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 June 2001
The NDC
Youth Forum, on Sunday, said it takes pride and credit for a peaceful and
stable country as its legacy and will therefore not support any move even from
the NDC that is capable of undermining national peace and stability.
"We
wish to assure Ghanaians and the NPP in particular that the NDC is very capable
and in fact prepared to wrestle power from the NPP legitimately as evident from
the disappointing performance so far of the NPP government".
A statement
signed by Baba Jamal Ahmed and Amos Martey, executive members of the Forum
appealed to Ghanaians and the ruling NPP not overreact to the June 4 statement
of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
"We
call on Ghanaians to consider the statement made by the former President as an
admonition to Ghanaians not to forget the lessons that led to the June 4
uprising".
"What
the former President sought to do was to caution the NPP government against the
dangers of the continuous harassment, intimidation and the unlawful arrest and
detention of political opponents.
"It is
regrettable however that the statement did not go down well with some people.
However we wish to assure the good people of Ghana that the former President
made the statement in good faith and without any ill motive", the
statement said.
The Forum
wished that just as the NPP youth would want to demonstrate against the
statement, the government will in the foreseeable future respect the right of
others to embark on similar demonstrations to protest against the rising cost
of living and the harassment of political opponents.
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Ms Ohene stresses need to develop Volta R.
Ho (Volta
Region) 11 June 2001
Miss
Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of Media Relations on Friday advised the people of
the Volta Region to support the government to develop the region.
She said
the need for development in the region is greater than any other region.
Miss Ohene,
who was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 12 newly appointed District
Chief Executives (DCEs) asked the people to assist the DCEs to perform the job
assigned them responsibly.
She said,
any DCE who would behave like "little governors" would be removed
from office and urged the people not to expect handsome donations at social
occasions such as funerals and weddings, from the Chief Executives, since that
could lead them to embezzle funds.
She warned
the people against anonymous letter writing, asking them to rather provide
constructive suggestions to create jobs for the youth.
Mr Kwasi
Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister swore the DCEs into office and called on
them to create an enabling environment for the people to realise their goals
and aspirations.
The Regional
Minister reminded the DCEs that the district assembly concept is non-partisan
and they must therefore work hard to enhance the development of their areas by
adopting an open door policy to tap all resources regardless of party
affiliations.
The Volta
Region approved all of the President's nominees of DCEs.
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Minority says NPP's witch-hunting is real
Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 June 2001
Mr. Alban
Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament on Friday said the assertion that the NPP
government has adopted witch-hunting and vindictiveness as a policy is real and
nobody should be under any illusion about it.
He said the
daily unfolding events on the political scene and actions being taken by NPP
political activists and front-liners confirmed this in respect of how people
who occupy prominent offices before the coming into office of the government
are being treated.
Mr. Bagbin,
who was speaking to the press in his office at Parliament House on Friday,
cited a letter written to Mrs. Alberta Quartey, Chairperson of Ghana
National
Commission on Children (GNCC) cancelling her representation of the country at
this year's General Assembly on the World Summit for Children of the United
Nations in New York.
The letter
signed by Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women's Affairs and addressed to Mrs.
Quartey accused her of holding contrary view about children's development that
is at variance with the NPP government.
The letter
dated May 29 said, "your appointment by the former President of the
Republic of Ghana, Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings as his special representative to the
preparatory committee meetings notwithstanding, your contributions at the consultative
meeting organised by the Ministry from 16-17 May, 2001 clearly show that your
views and ideas about children's welfare and development are at variance with
the vision of the Government."
It said,
"consequently, the Ministry has decided that His Excellency Nana Effah
Appenteng, Ghana's Permanent Representative at the United Nations should lead
the delegation to the third preparatory committee meeting to be held in New
York from June 11-15, 2001."
Mr. Bagbin
said he would leave the contents of the letter to the good judgement of
Ghanaians.
He said
Mrs. Quartey is held in high esteem about her commitment to the development of
children and wondered what constituted her contrary views to the NPP
administration's vision on children's development to warrant such a slap on
her.
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Larteh
(Eastern Region) 11 June 2001
The
flagbearer of the Peoples' National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama has
advised President John Agyekum Kufuor not to pay attention to his political
detractors.
He should
rather concentrate on finding solutions to the numerous problems currently facing
the nation.
Dr Mahama
gave the advice in reaction to the June 4 anniversary address by Ex-President,
Jerry John Rawlings at a forum organised by the National Democratic Congress
(NDC) at the Arts Centre in Accra.
Dr Mahama,
who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, said there was the need for somebody
to " sit the Ex-President down and educate him on his new role as a former
president and statesman in order for him to appreciate that environment".
He advised
the ex-President to distinguish himself in his role as UN Eminent Person and
not to continue to dabble in the country's internal party politics, adding that
his UN's appointment was not due to his affiliation with the NDC but
"because of Ghana".
Dr Mahama
promised to take it upon himself to meet the ex-President and "counsel him
to realise that he is a former head of state".
On the
revocation of June 4 as a public holiday, he said the PNC supported the idea.
Dr Mahama
said what the PNC would have done if it were in power was that it would
"commemorate June 4 but not celebrate it".
He
explained that, June 4 taught a lot of painful lessons, which Ghanaians should
not forget but always, reflect on in order not to repeat them.
The PNC
flagbearer called on Ghanaians to support the government to turn the economy
around.
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