Coalition protest against Rawlings’ June 4
speech
Kufuor pledges support for local investors
Government will not interfere with chieftaincy matters- Salifu
Campaign to promote quality maize launched
Cigarette smoking reducing in Upper West region
Investment profiles for the Volta Region in
the offing
Minister cautions contractors against shoddy
work
NPP and NDC urged to stop trading
accusations
All African botanical gardens network
meeting opens
Volta NPP expresses gratitude to assembly
members
AMA gives massive support to President's
nominee
CPP celebrates 52nd anniversary
Coalition of national reconciliation formed
Civil Servants Association says can’t
guarantee peace if...
Company smells a rat and demands government
probe
Temporary office being prepared for Kufuor
Coalition protest against Rawlings’ June 4
speech
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
A group calling itself the Coalition for the Defence of Democracy (CDD) on Tuesday organised a peaceful demonstration in Accra to condemn Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings for utterances he made at a National Democratic Congress (NDC) forum to mark the 22nd anniversary of the June 4 Uprising.
Thousands of people heeded the call and gathered at the Holy Gardens at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle at about 10:00 hours and at 10:55 hours began their march.
They went through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Kinbu Road to the back of the Osu Stand of the Accra Sports Stadium, where they were addressed by the organisers.
The number of demonstrators, some wearing red bands, swelled as they went along singing and dancing to brass band, Kolomashie and recorded music.
At Tudu most of the traders left their wares to join in the dancing and merry-making.
Scores of Policemen, some in helmets and clutching batons and protective shields and others on horseback provided cover for the demonstrators.
The leaders of the CDD said it comprises 12 civil organisations and their action was aimed at the promotion of peace and democracy.
There were no incidents. A number of Senior Police Officers the Ghana News Agency spoke to described the demonstration as very peaceful.
Ex-President Rawlings on the 22nd anniversary of the June 4 Uprising lashed out at his successor, President John Agyekum Kufuor's Administration on several issues, including the withdrawal of his military guards, outlawing of June 4 as a holiday and the arrest of members of his party and warned that there could be an explosion if the trend continued.
Some of the demonstrators carried placards with inscriptions: "Let us live by the rule of law", "Welcome democracy" and "J. J. leave Kufuor alone".
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Kufuor pledges support for local investors
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday called for a strategic partnership between government, management of enterprises and labour for national development.
"The three entities must come together in strategic partnership to achieve success because without strategic partnership between the government, management of enterprises and labour there cannot be any successful business," he said.
President Kufuor made the call when he toured Printex (Ghana) Limited on the Spintex Road with Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry.
He said the type of democracy envisaged by the government is one that is based on the creation of wealth with investors through the establishment of factories and farms hence the introduction of the concept of "Golden Age of Business" in the country.
President Kufuor said the government would not allow management of such enterprises to take the lion's share of the profits and keep their workers in poverty although it would collect its fair share in taxes and other levies from the enterprises.
He said investors, who take advantage of the government's policy to invest are taking risks and should, therefore, be encouraged to create the needed employment opportunities for the 100,000 youth promised jobs by the government.
"Private enterprise-led growth for national development is our goal. We need more factories and we must attract investors. We should treat them well and make them feel at home."
The company was established in the 1950s as Millet Textile Company to manufacture towels. It operated under the name Spintex Limited in the 1980s and has spinning, weaving and finished departments.
It produced furnishing, suiting and shirting materials, traditional clothes, school uniforms, uniforms for factory workers, the security services and commercial banks.
About three years ago the company changed its name to Printex when it started making African prints.
Dr Apraku said Ghanaians must learn to patronise goods made in the country in order to develop the technology and expertise of Ghanaian entrepreneurs to produce goods needed for development.
The Minister pledged the government's commitment to provide the private sector and the textiles industry the needed assistance to overcome their problems.
However, he stressed the need for Ghanaians along the borders and officials of the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to endeavour to put an end to smuggling and evasion of taxes by importers, adding that if the appropriate taxes were paid local companies would become competitive.
Mr Milad Millet, Managing Director of the Company, pledged to keep standards high.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 13 June 2001
The Government is committed to ensuring that settlement of chieftaincy matters and related conflicts are kept out of political interference, Mr Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister said on Tuesday.
Addressing the Regional House of Chiefs at Bolgatanga, Mr Salifu said the Government believes that only traditional rulers can effectively solve such disputes without delay.
He urged them to solve land disputes to encourage private and foreign investors as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), saying peace is the cornerstone to societal development.
The Regional Minister said it is better for chiefs to be neutral in party politics in order not to drag the institution into disrepute.
He assured them that district boundaries in the region will soon be reviewed and where necessary, additional districts will be created to enhance the decentralisation policy.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
The Government would do everything possible to eliminate all bottlenecks that impede the growth of agricultural production.
Dr Majeed Haroun, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOA), said on Tuesday in Accra at the launching of campaign to promote good quality maize for better health.
The campaign, aimed at creating an awareness of the dangers of eating contaminated grains is currently being held in Togo and Benin where maize is highly consumed, and would be extended to other West African countries.
It is under the joint initiative of Rotary Club International, MOH, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Food Research Institute and Ghana Standards Board (GSB)
Dr Haroun said research indicate that most of the maize consumed is of poor quality as a result of poor handling and storage practices that lead to pests, diseases and moulds.
He said "although we process maize before consuming, some of the toxins are resistant to cooking, heating, boiling and frying. The threat posed by consuming poor quality maize cannot be overlooked.
"It is therefore imperative to pragmatically, address the problem of poor quality maize and its associated health issues, and this will however require the concerted efforts of farmers, traders, consumers and researchers."
He called on farmers to play a leading role in this campaign since they are the first people to handle the maize at the farm level.
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Wa (Upper West) 13 June 2001
Most cigarette smokers particularly in the urban centres of the Upper West region are abandoning the habit, a Ghana News Agency survey has shown.
The survey sampled people in 12 towns and villages of the region to find out the effects of smoking on the youth.
Ten people in each of the 12 communities interviewed said they gave up smoking for both financial and health reasons.
About 80 per cent of ex-smokers interviewed at Wa, Lawra, Tumu, Nandom and Jirapa cited high cost of cigarette and health hazards as their reason while about 20 per cent said they were influenced by health education.
"My brother died through excessive smoking and alcohol and why should I also continue with that practice," Ali Chaluba said at Homite.
On the contrary the rate of smoking in the rural areas is still high among rural dwellers due mainly to illiteracy and ignorance about its ill- effects.
Most of the smokers there hold the view that smoking energises them to work hard in their farms and keep them active. An average of two smokers in every household was recorded in the rural areas.
Dramani Adams a driver who commutes between Wa and various villages on markets days told the GNA that smoking keeps him warm and steady anytime he feels tired and feverish.
It also enables him to drive for a long time without dozing off.
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Investment profiles for the Volta Region in
the offing
Ho (Volta Region) 13 June 2001
A Six-member industrialisation and economic advisory group aimed at preparing a comprehensive business plans and profiles for investment in the Volta Region would be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 26.
The group has Professor Francis O. Kwami, former Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as Chairman with Mr
Cephas J. Donkor, a management consultant as the Vice- Chairman and Mr William Kemevor, Regional Co-ordinating Director as Secretary.
Other members of the group are Barima Owusu-Afari, Managing Director of Afariwa Farms, Mr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, President of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and Mr James Akpo, Managing Director of Strategic Africa Securities (SAS).
Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, who disclosed this to newsmen at a meeting on Tuesday, said the group would review and repackage all existing literature on the economic, industrial, manufacturing and tourism potentials of the region.
He said their responsibility would also be to prioritise investment potentials in the region and solicit for funding both in and outside the country.
The Regional Minister said the group would identify and link up local and overseas-based indigenes of the region to provide equity capital to enhance development of the region.
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New Edubiase (Ashanti Region) 13 June 2001
The government has tasked the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to immediately put in place mechanisms that would improve its services to customers to merit the recent increase in tariff.
Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, Deputy Minister of Energy, said, the "government wants to see improvement in the performance of ECG and that the regular power cuts being experienced in some parts of the country should be something of the past".
The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adansi-Asokwa, was reacting to an appeal made to the ministry by Nana Assiama Guahyia Ababio, Edubiasehene, over the rampant power cuts in the area, which he said was causing harm to property of residents at New Edubiase in the Adansi East district.
Mr Hammond, who was paying a courtesy call on the Edubiasehene following his appointment as Deputy Minister, said a task force has been set up to monitor the activities of the ECG to ensure that the company's services to the public are acceptable.
He reminded traditional rulers of the immense roles they could play to facilitate positive change in their communities.
Nana Guahyia Ababio complained about the rate at which erosion is creating immense hardships to residents of New Edubiase and appealed to the Deputy Minister to assist in solving the problem.
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Minister cautions contractors against
shoddy work
Bolgatanga (Upper East) 13 June 2001
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu, said on Monday that he would not countenance any forms of fictitious dealings by contractors, especially those who do not deliver and still want to be paid.
Addressing the interim executive members of the Bolgatanga branch of the Civil Engineering and Building Contractors Association who paid a courtesy call on him to discuss some pertinent problems facing the association, Mr Salifu said contractors play a pivotal role in the construction industry and any acts of malfeasance would undermine the development process.
He urged contractors in the region to pool their resources in order to set standards comparable to what obtains in other parts of the country.
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NPP and NDC urged to stop trading
accusations
Takoradi (Western Region) 13 June 2001
The Sekondi-Takoradi District Council of Labour at its quarterly meeting in Takoradi on Tuesday appealed to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop the trading of insults and accusations.
It pointed out that such activities if not checked could degenerate into a civil or ethnic conflict nationwide and destabilise the workforce of the country.
The Council said, instead of dwelling on statements made on June 4 by Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, the government, should rather find ways of improving the working conditions and creating more jobs for the unemployed.
It called on opinion leaders, churches and civil society, to intervene by inviting the NPP and NDC to a round table discussion for an amicable solution.
The Council also called on the executives of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), to expedite action on the reintroduction of the End of Service Benefits (ESB).
It further urged the government to review the Social Security Pension Law and make it attractive to workers.
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All African botanical gardens network meeting opens
Aburi (Eastern Region) 13 June 2001
The first steering committee meeting for the network of all Africa botanical gardens opened at Aburi on Tuesday with a call on the members to come together to find solutions to many problems confronting them.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, who made the call in a speech read on his behalf, stressed the need for botanical gardens in Africa to work towards conserving biodiversity.
The Botanical Garden Conservation International (BGCI) of United Kingdom is sponsoring the two-day meeting, which delegates from Ghana, Togo, South Africa,
Cameroon and representatives from the country's three universities are attending.
Dr Osafo Mensah said governments should give the necessary support to Botanical Gardens in Africa to enable them to formulate national plant conservation strategies to document, conserve and plan the sustainable utilisation of their genetic resources.
While expressing the government's commitment to provide the needed support and encouragement to the Aburi Botanical Gardens, the Minister urged African Network Gardens as a matter of importance to endeavour to co-operate among themselves and other related institutions.
Miss Fiona Dennis, a Representative of BGCI, said a new African botanical garden network to be established, would have a membership from all countries South of the Sahara Desert and would be open to botanical institutions in the region.
Miss Dennis said her organisation would manage the network and provide logistical support for the production of an African Bulletin aimed at providing a forum in which African Botanical gardens could demonstrate the achievements and activities of their gardens.
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Volta NPP expresses gratitude to assembly
members
Ho (Volta Region) 13 June 2001
The Volta Regional Branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commended district assembly members in the Region for approving all the 12 District Chief Executives nominated by the President.
In a release signed by the party's Regional Secretary, Mr Kwame Attah said by approving all the President's nominees they have made the "region proud as one people with the same destiny".
It noted that the gesture was also a demonstration of the support of the people in the region for the government in its efforts to develop the districts and the region.
The release asked the District Chief Executives (DCE) to take advantage of this "genuine support and work together with all the assembly members to bring sanity and rapid development" to their districts.
It expressed the hope that the same cordial relations that existed between the past DCEs and the entire assembly members would be accorded the incoming ones in the "supreme interest" of the districts, the region and the country at large.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Tuesday condemned actions by groups or individuals that could lead to chaos and jeopardize the security of the nation.
A statement signed by Mr N. K. Agboada, Director of Public Education of NCCE on the current political development in the country said, "it is only through dialogue and consensus-building that the country's constitution and development could be pushed forward."
It urged all stakeholders in the political playing field not to do anything to disturb the country's young democracy.
It said the Constitution being the supreme law of the land seeks to promote peaceful co-existence of all Ghanaians and other nationals.
"It is for this reason that the Constitution frowns upon any act that is at variance with the principles and objectives underlying it as the fundamental law of the land."
The statement urged Ghanaians to team up with the NCCE to intensify and sustain the culture of tolerance and democratic practice.
It reminded the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary to do their work with fairness and without fear or favour as well as seek to promote national reconciliation, peace and development.
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AMA gives massive support to President's
nominee
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday approved Mr Solomon Darko, the President's nominee as Chief Executive of the Metropolis.
He polled 89 out of the 90 votes casts by members who were present and voted.
Some members had earlier, moved for the unanimous endorsement of the nominee without a voting process because of the overwhelming support.
Mr Samuel Yirenkyi of the Electoral Commission, however, said this would be against the law and urged the members to rather translate their support into voting for Mr Darko.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, commended the members for their support and urged them to translate this unity into moving the affairs of the assembly forward.
He said there are many challenges facing Accra, including the degradation of the environment and called for support in transforming the city into a "jewel" in the sub-region.
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CPP celebrates 52nd anniversary
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday urged all members to be steadfast as the leaders of the party embark on its re-organisation to enable them to take its "rightful place" in contemporary Ghanaian politics.
A statement signed by the National Chairman and Leader, Dr Abubakar Al-Hassan, on the party's 52nd anniversary called for a rededication to the struggle against underdevelopment.
The CPP said the anniversary is being marked with renewed optimism because the party was part of the forces of change that fought to replace the old system.
"We take this opportunity to applaud the return to a more civilised political dispensation in which decency and genuine accountability have assumed their real meanings," the statement said.
The CPP called on all its members and sympathisers to rally behind the call for democracy and resist "political hooliganism" which, it said, is responsible for the sorry state of the national life.
The party said the urgency of the call is underscored by the crippling economic crisis and the threatened re-colonisation of Ghana through the IMF and the World Bank.
"The vision of the party is anchored in the firm belief that the road to our prosperity lies in structurally disengaging our economy from the exploitative orbit of the present international system through a programme of militant national self-reliance."
The CPP said it appreciated "the new atmosphere" in the country which progressive forces could take advantage of, to collectively struggle against neo-colonialism and the negative aspects of globalisation.
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Coalition of national reconciliation formed
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
A civil society coalition on national reconciliation in Ghana has been established under the auspices of the Ghana Centre for Democracy and Development (GCDD).
It is to enable civil society to take active part in national reconstruction.
The coalition, according to Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, Executive Secretary of GCDD, has the objective of mobilising civil society support for the government's national reconstruction initiative.
It will also help identify the scope and overall nature of the National Reconstruction Bill currently before Parliament.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi told journalists on Tuesday that it is important to ensure that the government does not become the only body to come out with how to fashion the reconciliation effort that was announced recently.
A number of activities have been planned to achieve these objectives, namely mobilising key civil society organisations and opinion leaders to explore ways of supporting the government's initiative, exploring ideas to strengthen the national reconciliation process, broadening public support for it, preventing backlash and mobilising resources for the initiative.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said civil society organisations have held several meetings and undertaken a countrywide survey of public opinion to collate information on how the reconciliation should be like, adding that the report would be released before the international conference on reconciliation and transitional justice scheduled for June 19-20, 2001.
Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Ghana, congratulated the GCDD for taking the step saying, "reconciliation is of paramount interest that requires everybody's input hence the need to involve all the stakeholders in the process in order to make it complete and acceptable."
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Civil Servants Association says can’t
guarantee peace if...
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
There is a growing discontent and dissatisfaction with the government's casual attitude towards the issue of salaries in the Civil Service, the Civil Servants Association has revealed said.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, the President of the Association, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, said the process is too slow and "it is feared that if the enhanced salaries are not paid at the end of this month, the association cannot guarantee industrial peace in the civil service based on reports being received from the regions."
The Government has already released 5.5billion cedis for the payment of medical bills for Civil Servants.
Alhaji Yakubu however said while the association is appreciative, it urged the government to handle the issue of the review of allowances and other conditions of service, including pensions in a similar manner.
Alhaji Yakubu who was commended the government's response to the association's ultimatum for the negotiation of new salaries in the public service, appealed to all civil servants to remain calm to allow the negotiations already started to progress in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
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Company smells a rat and demands government
probe
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13 June 2001
Mr Osei Tutu, Managing Director of OTB Timbers, a saw milling company at Mim, near Nkawie, has appealed to the government to probe circumstances surrounding the moves by the Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission to revoke the company's rights on an off-reserve area at Pamuruso in the Atwima District.
He said his company suspects foul play engineered by Nana Kontoh Boakyewaa II, Queenmother of Nkawie-Panin.
Making the appeal through the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, Mr Osei Tutu said the queenmother offered that she would use her political influence and association with some officials at the Forestry Commission to assist his company obtain the necessary documents to operate in the area last year.
He said upon Nana Boakyewaa's own demand, OTB Timbers paid her 46 million cedis and has been operating on Permit at Pamuruso.
Mr Osei Tutu claimed that for sometime the queenmother kept making personal demands on the company some of which bothered on outright blackmail.
"Naturally the incessant pressure and demands became a bother and cause for us to complain, which offended Nana Boakyewaa, who vowed to stop our operations and collapse the mill."
He said true to her word the Operations Director of the FSD, Mr E. P. K. Dzodoku, in a letter dated May 24, 2001, instructed the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Division to immediately stop the company from operating at Pamuruso.
The basis of the letter a copy of which was made available to the GNA was that the OTB Timbers Managing Director had insulted Nana Boakyewaa.
Mr Osei Tutu said that apart from the money paid to the queenmother, the company has been living up to its social responsibilities to the communities in which it operates.
"It is significant to note that we employ about 100 people and if investors could be treated in this manner on the promptings of individuals, then the government better forget about attracting both local and foreign investments".
Mr Osei Tutu appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei tutu II to take firm measures to complement the government's private sector investment drive by stopping traditional rulers serving under the Golden Stool from frustrating investors and hindering job creation.
When contacted, the Queenmother through the husband, Mr Akoto Mensah confirmed taking the amount quoted by the OTB Timbers Managing Director.
She also admitted writing to the FSD to stop the company from operating at Pamuruso that falls under the Nkawie-Panin Stool Lands but denied having threatened to collapse the mill.
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Temporary office being prepared for Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2001
A temporary office is being prepared for President John Agyekum Kufuor after his office at the State House was flooded on Monday from a broken down water tank.
The President, who has not been to the office this week because of the incident, would move into the temporary office at another wing of the State House.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, told the Ghana News Agency that the temporary office would be ready in the next three days.
Workers of the Public Works Department (PWD) on Tuesday morning removed soaked carpets and wooden scantlings.
President Kufuor has been using an apartment at the State House until the completion of rehabilitation works at his office at the Castle, Osu. The rehabilitation is to be completed by the end of this month.
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