Debt relief vital
Odinga back in custody
'Declare HIV/AIDS a national disaster'
We'll uphold truth always
Robbers raid forex bureau
Reform, CPP plan common action
Criminal Libel Law now gone!
"Trial of ex-Ministers is a normal exercise
Tribunals are death traps
Customers exposes deals at ECG
Millennium Commission's big gamble
Remain calm but firm
Debt relief vital
President J.A. Kufuor has said that debt relief is an indispensable measure to alleviate poverty in Africa and to promote the fight against the HIV/AIDS disease, reports the Daily Graphic.
He said foreign indebtedness has exacerbated the level of poverty on the continent and added that, "so far as outrageous levels of poverty persist, it will influence the heterosexual patterns of transmission of the disease."
In a speech read on his behalf at the second annual public lecture of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) in Accra by the Minister of Women's Affairs, Mrs Gladys Asmah, the President expressed regret that trading sex for survival and sustenance remains a major challenge to the continent's effort at controlling the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS.
President Kufuor, recounting the devastating nature of the disease, said using dialogue as 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 allied in the fight," he added.
President Kufuor said "the debt per capita for every man, woman and child in Africa is about $350," adding that "this is a continent where more than 290 million people live on less than $1 a day".
He said considering the fact that some African countries have poverty levels of more than 60 per cent debt relief should be a major plank of any anti-poverty initiative.
The President stressed the need for African governments to also take initiatives to mount a massive response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to reinvigorate their health care systems.
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Odinga back in custody
A large crowd besieged the Osu Community Tribunal in Accra on Thursday to catch a glimpse of Albert Hamid Odinga, the Belize national who is alleged to be a counter intelligence agent and staying in the country illegally.
Odinga, who was arrested by security personnel in the early hours of last Saturday, was for the second time in succession, remanded in Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) custody by the Tribunal, chaired by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills. His plea was not taken.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Margaret Awuni, prayed the tribunal to remand Odinga in custody to enable the prosecution to complete its investigations.
"The prosecution has not completed its investigations in the case and there is the likelihood that when the accused person is granted bail, he will interfere and impede investigations. My Lord, we are, therefore, humbly praying that he should be remanded in custody for two weeks to enable us to complete our investigations," she pleaded.
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'Declare HIV/AIDS a national disaster'
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has stated that the HIV/AIDS pandemic must be declared a national disaster to enable government to mobilise resources to mitigate the scourge of the disease.
Consequently, the GMA has advocated a significant reduction in the price of both female and male condoms to encourage the poor and skeptics to patronize them.
It contended that such radical measures are necessary because, contrary to speculations that HIV/AIDS is a looming disaster, "it is the belief of GMA that the disaster is already upon us and, therefore, requires radical and comprehensive solutions now".
The suggestion was made by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, President of GMA, in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the second annual public lecture of the association in Accra on Wednesday under the theme: "HIV/AIDS - A National Disaster".
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We'll uphold truth always
The Ghanaian Times reports that President J.A. Kufuor on Thursday received a tumultuous welcome at separate durbars at Cape Coast and Twifo Praso, as part of his two-day tour of the Central Region.
Thousands of people lined up the main streets of Cape Coast to welcome him, as he arrived at the Chapel Square here at exactly 1.15 pm, among them chiefs, heads of department, party members and activists, students and the general public.
Speaking at Ajumako, where the President also made a stop, he stated that the NPP government would always uphold the truth and be accountable to the people during its four-year term of office.
He emphasized that "the government has no intention to corrupt the nation or deceive the ordinary Ghanaian, rather, to uphold the truth at all times."
The President re-affirmed his determination to ensure a zero tolerance of corruption within his government and pledged to ensure that his officials give good account of themselves.
He called for unity, love, peace and understanding among Ghanaians, and thanked the people for the confidence they had reposed in the party by voting it into office.
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Robbers raid forex bureau
Four armed men, wearing masks on board a taxi, screeched to a halt at Alla Bar, a busy commercial center in Kumasi, in broad daylight on Wednesday, and stormed the shop of a popular foreign exchange dealer, Mr Amadu Abdul and made away with unspecified amount believed to be in the millions.
Narrating the story to the Times on Thursday, a police spokesman said that Mr Abdul was changing foreign currencies into cedis for some customers at about 2.30 pm when the taxi, AS 4989 E, with the four occupants, including the driver, pulled up in front of the shop.
Wielding guns the four men dashed into the shop and ordered Mr Abdul and those present to 'freeze'.
They them seized an unspecified amount from Abdul and bolted.
Abdul reported the robbery to the Zongo Police who have mounted a search for their arrest.
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Reform, CPP plan common action
The Evening News reports that the National Reform Party (NRP) is gradually but steadily gravitating towards parties that subscribe to the ideas and ideals of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The NRP's direction is believed to hinge on a low-key arrangement to torpedo the ruling NPP government from power, come the 2004 general elections.
The first of such political arrangement recently ballooned into a meeting among key leaders of the NRP, the People's National Convention (PNC), the Great Consolidated People's Party (GCPP) and the Convention People's Party (CPP) at the headquarters of the CPP at Asylum Down in Accra.
Sources close to the meeting say, a committee has been constituted by the four parties to fast-track their interactions towards the realization of their political dream, come the 2004 elections.
Dr Abubakar Alhassan, leader and chairman of the CPP, in an interview, described the meeting as a fruitful deliberation, which could lead them to ultimate unity to forge ahead.
He was hopeful that if the atmosphere that characterized their meeting continued, then "we may form the next government".
Acknowledging the impact made at the meeting by his party, Mr Dan Lartey, leader of the GCPP, said his presence demonstrated his party's commitment towards finding a common platform for the Nkrumahist party to win the 2004 elections.
Strangely, however, a national executive member of the National Reform party told The Evening News that although their party is committed to the ongoing talks among the Nkrumahist parties, "there is no way our party will be absorbed by any other party in the 2004 general elections."
The parties hope to meet again on June 21.
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Criminal Libel Law now gone!
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), have decided to expunge finally the Criminal Libel Law from the statute books of the country as part of its efforts to honour its electioneering promise.
This was disclosed to the Chronicle by the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-addo, in an interview at Parliament House on Thursday.
According to the AG, though the Bill has already been gazetted last Friday, June 8, 2001 it will take two weeks for it to mature since it is not under a certificate for urgency.
The Bill is scheduled to be laid for the First Reading on Tuesday June 26, 2001.
Asked what could be done to make the National Media Commission (NMC) effective in the discharge of their duties, the AG said: The Seditious Libel Law (Section 185) also goes off.
"These are all matters under discussion. In fact until decisions are taken I am unwilling to say what should be or should not be."
He said discussions are going on between himself and the Chairman of the NMC and as soon as it is over the public will be informed accordingly.
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"Trial of ex-Ministers is a normal exercise
A veteran politician and businessman, Mr. J.A Attoh Quashie, has said the ongoing trial of former ministers of state and top government officials under ex-President Rawlings' government cannot be described as witch-hunting.
This is because there were commissions of inquiry to probe acts of malfeasance and illegal acquisitions of wealth by government appointees in the First, Second and third republics.
He cited the Djibowu, Justice Taylor, Justice Apaloo and Azu Crabbe Commissions as examples that must be continued.
Speaking to the Chronicle in an interview in Accra on Thursday, Mr Attoh Quashie said "it is nonsense for people, especially supporters and office holders of the previous government, to accuse the NPP government of witch-hunting when all they have achieved in the last twenty years is the shedding of blood, crippling people's businesses and hounding political opponents into exile".
He further remarked that after presiding over the wanton rape of the economy and committing acts of fraud and abuse of human rights the PNDC-NDC has no moral right to accuse the current government of harassing the former President and his appointees.
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Tribunals are death traps
The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that once the Chief Justice and the new Judicial Council are in place he will consult them about proposals to be laid before Parliament for the amendment of the Courts Act to abolish the Community Tribunals System and restore the Magistrate Court, writes the Daily Guide.
Nana Addo said the Magistrate Court, prior to the conversion into Public Tribunals, was manned exclusively by lawyers.
He said this in reply to a question put to him by Hon Kwakye Addo, MP for Afram Plains South about what problems the Minister had identified with the country's Tribunals and how his Ministry is addressing the problem so identified.
According to Nana Addo the Community and Circuit Tribunals are statutorily created and are amenable to reform by the statutes.
He said the Community Tribunals or the District Magistrate Courts are the first points of law for the majority of persons who become embroiled in the system.
The Attorney-General said that there are some people who maintain that the tribunal system is fundamentally progressive of the concept of popular participation and that they should be maintained.
He said superficially attractive as this may be it fails to address two fundamental defects. The first one being the excessively expensive nature of the tribunal system and the other the poor quality of justice built into it.
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Customers exposes deals at ECG
Five employees of the Asamankese District Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have been interdicted for allegedly causing a financial loss of over ¢100 million to the company, reports the Free Press.
The four: Mr Nii Tackie, District Manager, Francis Offei Tetteh, District Engineer, Alfred Bossman, Meter Reader and the Disconnection Officer, Mr Asare were interdicted following persistent complaints from customers in the area of extortion and embezzlement against them.
Among other things, they were alleged to have condoned in illegal connections, refused to issue receipts in respect of payment made, selling of electricity poles above the illegal sale of meters.
According to one of their victims, she was made to pay ¢395,000 for the installation of a meter on her premises, but was given a receipt for only ¢195,000 and even this receipt was found to be fake when she cross-checked from Koforidua.
In another instance, a customer who wanted power at her new building purchased poles for the purpose but they rejected the poles as substandard and asked her to pay ¢2.5m for new poles.
However, after she paid the money, she detected that they had used the original poles they rejected for the work.
There were also numerous complaints about people being disconnected at the whims of these officers and when reconnection fees were paid, no receipts were issued.
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Millennium Commission's big gamble
The Ghana Millennium Commission is in deep crisis over its inability to organize the Millennium raffle, which should have been drawn about 18 months ago, writes The Weekend Statesman.
The commission which organized the raffle to mark the end of the second millennium as well as the beginning of the third millennium in Ghana, has not been able to deliver on its promises as it kept on rescheduling the draw date on several occasions. The draw was to have taken place originally in December 1999.
Even though the objective for setting up the Commission was credible the paper learnt that the members were over-ambitious to include the raffle in its project with the view to raising enough funds to execute its programmes.
The initial mandate of the 24-member Commission, headed by the then Director of Information Services Department, Kofi Sakyiamah, was to celebrate the millennium in Ghana because of her unique position with eight other countries in the world, on the Prime Meridian line.
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Remain calm but firm
The Ghana Palaver reports the Ex-President J.J. Rawlings to have strongly condemned the politics of deception and lies and appealed to members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to be intimidated by their opponents.
Flt-Lt Rawlings gave "the charge", when the NDC Parliamentary Caucus, led by the Minority Leader, Mr A.S.K. Bagbin, called on him last Wednesday to re-affirm their unflinching support to the former President and Leader of the Party, for his immense contributions to peace in the country.
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