Journalists advised to be nationalistic
Custom hampers Intestate Law - FIDA
Popular arms manufacturer arrested in Kumasi
Police Administration honours brave
policeman
Election to Council of State to take off
President Kufuor begins two-day tour of
Central Region
Graphic and Chronicle editors were not
professional - GJA
CFD urges democratic groups to be careful
Coalition for Democracy commends public for
support
Ensure safety of ex-President Rawlings- NDC
Youth
Kufuor warns of AIDS havoc, calls for
vigorous action
Journalists advised to be nationalistic
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 14 June 2001
The newly appointed National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Director of National Mobilisation Programme (NMP) Brigadier Joseph Odei (rtd) has advised journalists to be dispassionate when dealing with issues that affect the international image of the country.
Brigadier Odei, who was appointed two weeks ago, gave the advice at Koforidua on Tuesday during his first working visit to the Eastern Region.
He said the records available show that only 4,000 Liberian refugees were supposed to be at the Buduburam Refugee Camp but at the moment there were about 18,000 Liberians there, adding that the population at the camp is increasing by between 100 and 150 people a day.
Brigadier Odei said if such a development was not checked early, it could put unexpected pressure on the economic resources of the country since the United Nation Commission on Refugees (UNCR) has stopped supporting the Buduburam Camp.
He explained that the reasons for the rush back to Ghana by the Liberians could be attributed to the increasing tension in some parts of that country and the fact that the UN has started interviewing some of the Liberian Refugees in Ghana for them to be allowed to settle in the United States and Canada.
Brigadier Odei said that most of the Liberians returning to Ghana just want to take advantage of the facility being extended to their nationals, who were left behind in Ghana by the UN.
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Custom hampers Intestate Law - FIDA
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) said on Tuesday that some customary norms are impeding the enforcement of the Intestate Succession Law (PNDC Law 111) after 16 years of its promulgation.
Ms Gloria Ofori-Buadu, Executive Director of FIDA, said this when a 11-member delegation from the Crowley Programme in International Human Rights of Fordham Law School of the USA, led by Professor Tracy Higgins, visited FIDA's office in Accra.
Ms Ofori-Buadu said the law seeks to provide a "uniformed and applicable succession to a deceased's property irrespective of tribal lineage, but unfortunately, its enforcement is being hindered by customary laws.
She noted that customary laws and practices are deep rooted not only in the minds of some traditional rulers but also among the elite who prefer the customary succession to the interstate law.
Ms Ofori-Buadu said, "such a situation places the surviving spouse and the children in a very critical and helpless conditions and makes mockery of the law."
She said most successors and administrators of deceased's estate prefer the customary law, which invariably discriminates against widows and their children.
The Executive Director explained that the customary practice provides little protection for the surviving spouse, "as neither the surviving spouse had a right to the property nor the children in a matrilineal system."
The right and maintenance of the children to reside in the house of the deceased is always at the discretion of the successors, she said.
Ms Ofori-Buadu said the "seemingly conflict", between the customary law and the Interstate Succession Law is due to "ignorance, greed, and intellectual dishonesty".
Mrs Ursula Owusu Adjei, Vice President of FIDA and personal Assistant to the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Justice, explained that the law states that "a person who dies interstate, the surviving spouse and children are entitled to all his household chattels."
These include jewels, clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, simple agricultural equipment, vehicles that were for the deceased's private use and other household belongings as may be determined by law.
Mrs Adjei said the law provides for the distribution of additional properties depending on the surviving family members.
The FIDA Vice President said the law does not recognise second wives marriage under the ordinate, "even in situations where the man was separated from the legitimate wife and remarried under the ordinance no matter the lengthen of time."
She also noted that the value of an estate of a deceased has been increased from 50,000 to 10 million cedis, saying where the deceased estate does not exceed ten million the entire amount or estate shall be given to the spouse and children.
Mrs Adjei suggested a review of the law to address the bottlenecks associated with its enforcement.
She also advised women especially, to formalise their marriage to avoid the double agony of family harassment after the death of their husbands.
Prof Higgins said the visit is to prepare the students for work as human right lawyers and also seek to have real and measurable impact on the level of respect for international human rights standards.
Prof. Higgins said the delegation undertook a study tour of Ho, Takoradi, Cape Coast and Kumasi and focused on women's property rights under the customary law and the enforcement of PNDC Law 111.
She said their study also focused on the relationship between the legal status of women's property rights, the nation's international human rights commitments particularly on the Convention on Elimination of all forms of
Discrimination Against Women and the African Charter on Human Rights and People's rights.
The delegation was made up of five lecturers, including a Federal District judge and six students.
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Popular arms manufacturer arrested in
Kumasi
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 14 June 2001
The Kumasi Police have arrested a 27-year-old blacksmith, who allegedly manufacturers pistols and rifles and distributes them to armed robbers for their operations.
Abass Osumanu, who was arrested at his workshop at Suame Magazine on
Wednesday is in Police custody would soon be put before court.
His accomplice, named as Dan is on the run.
Briefing newsmen, Mr George Asiamah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the Police upon a tip-off went to the place where Abass works.
He said a Police detective, who presented himself to Abass as an armed robber and wanted to buy pistol for operation was offered one by Abass at 30,000 cedis.
The Regional Police Commander said after receiving it the Policemen, who had surrounded the area arrested him.
A number of revolvers, guns and ammunition were retrieved from his workshop.
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Police Administration honours brave
policeman
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
General Corporal Kwaku Wuo was on Wednesday promoted to General Sergeant by the Police High Command for single-handedly battling and arresting two armed robbers on June 2.
The promotion means as a corporal with three years experience he automatically becomes a sergeant with just about a year to become an inspector.
Mr Wuo who was on guard duty at Miya Electricals at North Kaneshie saw armed robbers who were raiding a shop on that day.
He exchanged fire with them and deflated one of the tyres of a taxicab they were using but they failed to stop.
He chased them in a Land Cruiser vehicle belonging to the owner of the electrical shop to Atico junction where he fired at one of the robbers at remarkable distance of 52 metres when they abandoned the car and took to their heels.
Mr Wuo also arrested one of them whom, together with the wounded, he sent to the Kaneshie Police Station.
A citation accompanying his promotion said: "It is gratifying to acknowledge the exemplary feat achieved by you on Saturday June 2, especially in the context of the furore that characterised the tear gas incident at the Accra Sports Stadium and the chastisement we received from the general public. Some feeble minded personnel would have possibly recoiled into their shells particularly when the issue of the source of command for the tear gas has become contentious".
" It is in this context of displaying unparalleled initiative, bravery, sense of patriotism and selfless devotion and risking your life in single handedly arresting the armed robber at Atico junction on Saturday June 2 that the administration has duly taken cognisance of and is rewarding you today."
Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, acting Inspector General of Police said the action goes to prove that in spite of the unacceptable and unprofessional behaviour of a minority of service personnel, a sizeable number exists who have a high sense of professionalism.
" To such personnel let me give the assurance that the administration will not fail to acknowledge their good works."
He urged other personnel in the service to emulate Mr Wuo, adding, "No amount of stage managed propaganda can win us public trust, confidence and co-operation. It is only through a high standard of professionalism that can give us the co-operation we want the public to offer us".
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Election to Council of State to take off
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
The Electoral Commission on Wednesday said the election of regional representatives to the Council of State will come off at 10.00am on June 16 at the conference hall of the various Regional Coordinating Councils.
A statement in Accra said this follows the unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court dismissing the action sought by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to restrain the Electoral Commission from conducting the election.
It said all assembly representatives to the various regional electoral colleges are to take note of the new date and be present personally to participate in the election. Members of the Electoral College are also advised to obtain introductory letters from their assemblies. No proxy voting would be entertained, the statement added.
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President Kufuor begins two-day tour of Central Region
Kasoa (Central Region) 14 June 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday appealed to Ghanaians to exercise restraint and give the government time to put the economy on a sound footing.
He said though the government took over the reigns of power five months ago efforts made to improve on the economy would soon reflect in the lives of the people.
President Kufuor was addressing separate durbars of the chiefs and people of Kasoa and Winneba as part of a two-day official tour of the Central Region.
Accompanied by Miss Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in-charge of Media Relations and Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and
Technology, President Kufuor would visit Twifo Praso, Cape Coast, Assin Fosu and
Mankessim.
President Kufuor stressed the need for Ghanaians to exercise patience and allow the government to deliver on its campaign promises instead of engaging in acts that seek to undermine its efforts at resuscitating the economy.
" The government would always stand for the truth and be transparent to the people on issues that are of national concern. Those who oppose the government, should wait patiently for the next elections to decide on its fate."
He appealed for unity and co-operation among Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliations to assist the government in moving the country forward.
President Kufuor reiterated that the government opted for the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative because of the huge debt it inherited from the previous government.
Many countries including Britain, Italy, Holland and Canada have cancelled debts Ghana owes them because of the joining of the initiative.
President Kufuor gave the assurance that the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Cape Coast roads would be rehabilitated soon to reduce the high rate of motor accidents on them.
Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister, said the government has the socio-economic development of the region at heart and asked the people to support its efforts to achieve these objectives.
He therefore advised them to bury their political differences, eschew petty squabbles and chieftaincy disputes, which have retarded the development of the region.
Nai Asafoatse Doodo, Chief of Ofankor appealed to the government to help solve the perennial water problem facing the people in the Awutu-Senya area.
At Winneba, Neenyi Ghartey, Omanhen of Efutu Traditional Area, appealed to government to upgrade the University College of Education at Winneba (UCEW)
into a full fledged university, reactivate a machine at Dental unit of the Winneba Hospital, which has been idle for the past two years as well as solve some of the problems fishermen in the area face.
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Graphic and Chronicle editors were not
professional - GJA
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association on Wednesday said Mr. Elvis Aryeh, Editor of the Daily Graphic and Nana Kofi Coomson, Publisher of the Ghanaian Chronicle did not act in the best interest of the profession by criticising each other.
In a Joy FM radio discussion programme on May 2, Mr. Coomson made allegations of impropriety against the Daily Graphic to which Mr. Aryeh reacted imputing improper conduct to Mr Coomson.
A statement signed by Mrs. Frances Ademola, Chairperson of the committee which was mandated by the GJA to investigate the conduct of the two journalists said the committee observed that the two were motivated by their desires to uphold media accountability. However, the committee finds that their mode of approach fell short of professional etiquette.
The statement said at a meeting to resolve the issue, Mr. Coomson admitted that he had been unduly harsh in his criticism and had reacted harshly under provocation.
Mr. Aryeh, it said, was unwilling to give any supporting evidence before the committee but Mr. Coomson indicated his preparedness to give evidence.
The committee, the statement said, reminded editors of the need for civility in their criticism of colleagues, public officials as well as the general public.
It said the profession's ethics of right to true information and the obligation to write and report the truth enjoin journalists to substantiate every allegation at every point in time.
"The committee therefore finds Mr. Aryeh's position of unwillingness to provide evidence unhelpful."
It recommended that in the event of Mr. Coomson issuing a rejoinder in reaction to the Daily Graphic editorial of May 3, 2000, the Graphic shall in conformity of the constitutional provision on rejoinders, give such a rejoinder the same prominence as its editorial.
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CFD urges democratic groups to be careful
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 14 June 2001
The Christian Friends of Democracy (CFD), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has advised democratic groups in the country to be circumspect in their approach to issues raised by politicians in order not to heighten political tension that could threaten the country's young democracy.
The President of the organisation, the Rev. Samuel Agyei gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Koforidua on Wednesday, in reaction
to the recent political development in the country, especially the peaceful demonstration organised by the Coalition for the Defence of Democracy(CDD) in Accra on Tuesday against ex-President J. J. Rawlings for his utterances at a June 4 forum.
He said, even though, Ghanaians want democracy to thrive in the country, "yet this cannot be achieved through unnecessary accusations and confrontations, which could breach the peace and security of the country".
Rev. Agyei commended the organisers of the demonstration for its peaceful manner.
He, however, described the organisers' call on the United Nation (UN) to withdraw the appointment of the ex-President as an eminent person as "very unfortunate, since it sought to target the demonstration at his personality".
Rev. Agyei urged the ex-President to take a cue from the aftermath of his June 4 speech and "reflect seriously on the wishes and aspirations of Ghanaians, who have become politically active".
Rev. Agyei commended the government for the measures it has been taking to salvage the economy and it to concentrate on its job and work hard to address the problems facing the country.
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Coalition for Democracy commends public for
support
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
The Coalition for Defence of Democracy (CDD) on Wednesday commended Ghanaians for their massive and enthusiastic participation in the pro-democracy march, "Never Again" to protest against the "dangerous" outburst of former President Rawlings on June 4.
A statement issued in Accra said with their participation and commendable comportment, the objective of the CDD has been largely fulfilled.
The CDD also commended the Police for their responsible and gentlemanly conduct saying their performance is enough proof that they have leant from history.
"For once, Policemen shepherded a huge crowd without guns or tear-gas but shields and batons. This justifies our confidence in the Ghana Police Service to assist positively in the democratic growth of the country."
The CDD further commended the media for their coverage, particularly journalist who walked the distance to enable them to provide on-the-spot accounts.
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of the house were also commended for the warm reception they accorded the CDD representatives that went to present their petition.
The CDD said the march is an example to be followed by all those desirous of exercising their democratic rights.
"Exercising this constitutional right should never be a pretext to create confusion or indulge in violent and divisive behaviour.
"We, as a people need to be constantly reminded that in all things, the national interest should override our personal and sectional preferences."
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Ensure safety of ex-President Rawlings- NDC
Youth
Ho (Volta Region) 14 June 2001
The Ho Central Constituency Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday, appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor to ensure the security and safety of the ex-President, Jerry John Rawlings.
"This is because the repercussions of any threat to his life may be too much for the country as a whole to bear".
A statement signed by the Organiser, Mr William Attipoe to the press, said the youth wish to register its displeasure to the siege of the ex-President's residence by operatives of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and other security agencies last week-end.
"We the NDC Youth of the Ho Central Constituency, completely condemn the action of the security agencies, and re-assure the ex-President of our support and loyalty always".
The statement dismissed the explanation given by Alhaji Malik Yakubu, Minister for the Interior as "unconvincing", since he failed to explain why the ex-President was not given prior notice about the operation.
It condemned the protest march that was organised in Accra by the Coalition for the Defence of Democracy.
"We find the call on the United Nations to revoke the honour that has genuinely been conferred on the ex-President as a great source of worry to the avowed detractors such as the demonstrators".
The statement said though we are capable of organising a counter demonstration in solidarity with the ex-President, we prefer to channel "our youthful energies towards helping the country out of the economic doldrums that it presently finds itself in".
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Kufuor warns of AIDS havoc, calls for
vigorous action
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday painted another gloomy picture of the havoc being wrecked by HIV/AIDS and said the dialogue for a lasting solution must be unrelenting.
"We should consolidate existing partnership within our various businesses and among all stakeholders," he said.
"We must also build new partnerships with potential stakeholders who can be allies in the fight," he added.
President Kufuor said this in a speech read on his behalf by Ms Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women's Affairs at the opening of the second annual lecture of the Ghana Medical Association in Accra.
The two-day event is on the theme "HIV/AIDS: A national disaster."
In Ghana, the cumulative total as at last year was 43,587 and an estimated 600,000 adults are living with HIV/AIDS.
President Kufuor noted that priority interventions in Ghana have focused on the promotion of safe sex, condom promotion, improved management of Sexually-Transmitted Diseases and safe blood.
Other measures are infection control, prevention of mother to child transmission, voluntary counselling and testing, nursing/clinical care and counselling and home-based care.
The President noted that despite these strategies, the average adult prevalence rose from 2.4 per cent in 1994 to 4.6 per cent in 1999, necessitating a review of approaches.
President Kufuor said the context of response since 1998 has been multisectoral, multidisciplinary and expanded.
Stakeholders have included government and private sectors, NGOs, traditional healers, persons living with aids and civil society.
"This approach we have found to be very effective as it expands the base of stakeholders who use their respective comparative advantages towards the
response."
President Kufuor said the current emphasis of the education has focussed on personalising risks in order to adopt positive behavioural change.
He said private sector involvement continues to preoccupy the national
programme but noted that the levels at which they are operating at individual
levels are not enough to make a dent in the epidemic.
"We should, therefore, resolve to scale up all initiatives that have been shown to work, such as behavioural change and communication.
"We must also support policies that reduce infringement on the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS."
President Kufuor repeated the chilling statistics of HIV/AIDS in Africa and warned that the destruction forebodes serious dangers for the continent.
Although Africa is only 10 per cent of the global population, it has 80 per cent of all AIDS deaths, about 2.4 million of three million.
Africa is home to 70 per cent of all adults living with the virus, 80 per cent of all infected children and 95 per cent of all AIDS orphans. At least 25.3 million Africans live with the virus.
The President said HIV/AIDS has an important impact on economic development and is a major obstacle and challenge to economic growth and stability of a workforce.
The disease, President Kufuor said, threatens profits, productivity and human welfare advances and there are impacts on households, health, education, agriculture and business.
Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Health, noted that nearly 90 per cent of Ghana's HIV/AIDS cases are aged between 15 and 49 years and estimates say AIDS
related health care costs would rise by about 40 per cent of the current estimated expenditure of nine billion cedis.
"There is, therefore, the need for a concerted effort and multi-sectoral approach to control its further spread."
The Minister said it is necessary to take cognisance of the major role of the health sector in combating the epidemic.
He added that it is important that government interventions include the important role of functioning health systems in scaling up efforts to better confront the disease and the resources needed to do so.
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