ACDRs call for multi-party approach to reconciliation process
Aliu receives special message from Guinean Minister
State luncheon for senior citizens on Republic Day
Women urged to be active in politics
Agona West NPP Chairman removed for alleged embezzlement
Addo Kufuor calls for UN resolution against coups
Marketing students urged to help advance country
Illegal miners arrested by police at Teshie
Police urged to help end violence against women
Tamale (Northern Region) 26 June 2001
The Civil Servants Association (CSA) on Monday appealed to the government to stop its policy of retiring and transferring public and civil servants.
The CSA said as a non-partisan association, which had served the government with loyalty and dedication, it found the policy of the present administration towards senior civil servants disturbing.
Mr Abdulai Amadu, Northern Regional Secretary of the CSA, made the appeal at a durbar of workers at Tamale, which was attended by some national executive members of the association to brief the workers on current issues affecting them.
He cautioned the government to exercise "great circumspection" in the retirement and transfer of officers so that the exercise would not be seen as witch-hunting.
Alhaji Yakubu Ziblim, National President of the CSA, said the association had completed negotiations on new salaries for its members, expected to take effect from July with arrears.
On the issue of the SSNIT Pension Scheme as against "Cap 30", he warned that the association would be forced to "advise itself" if the government remains "intransigent in reverting us to the Cap 30".
He said the Northern Region had 3.34 million cedis of the 5.5 billion cedis released by the government for the payment of medical bills for civil servants this year.
Mr Smart Chigabatia, Executive Secretary of the association refuted a front page story of "The Ghanaian Times" of Saturday June 23, which alleged that the association owed the Wa Regional Hospital 108 million cedis as debt incurred by its members for treatment.
He said if there is such a debt, it was rather the Ministry of Finance, which owed the hospital and not the CSA, adding that "the association does not handle the medical bills allocated to them. All monies are paid directly to the hospitals by the ministry".
He said the payment of pension to of retired workers would soon be decentralised to make it easier for pensioners to collect their entitlements.
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Bunso (Eastern Region) 26 June 2001
The Association of Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (ACDR) has suggested that the on-going national reconciliation process initiated by the government and some non-governmental organisations should adopt a multi-party approach or be discontinued.
The Association contended that, "if indeed, the aim is to achieve genuine reconciliation in the country, then what the Bill supporting the process seeks to convey, was far from reconciliation, but at best, it is a National Division or Political Polarization and Tension".
This was contained in a press release from the National Leadership of the Association, issued to commemorate the 18th anniversary celebration of the ACDR's Day, which fell on June 19 and read to participants at a national durbar of the Association at Bunso at the weekend.
The Association challenged the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and "its local and external collaborators to be bold to clearly state if their thinking and target was to put the December 31st Revolution on trial".
The release referred to the searching of the national offices of the association by Police without warrant under the pretext of looking for arms, the breaking into the zonal offices of the association at Nima by some residents of the area led by the Assemblyman who the release claimed was a known NPP activist.
The Association said in some cases, some Regional Ministers had written letters to transfer some public and civil servants, who were not working directly under their outfit and by procedure, were not their employers while others were being threatened with dismissals.
The Association called on all cadres, wherever they find themselves to "remain vigilant and courageous against acts of intimidation, provocation and vendetta".
Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), called on the party to use all the communication channels available to them to change the wrong perception that people have about the party.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2001
Mr Cellou Diallo, Guinean Minister of Public Works and Transport, on Monday delivered a special message from President Lansana Conte to Vice-President Aliu Mahama at the State House in Accra on the security problem in the Mano River Basin, which comprises Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Mr Diallo commended Ghana for helping in efforts to bring peace and stability to his country saying, "for this feat, the president and people of Guinea have asked me to express their gratitude for the show of solidarity."
The Minister also used his visit to seek Ghana's vote for Mr Lansana Kouyate, the outgoing Guinean Secretary-General of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who is bidding for the position of the Secretary-General of the African Union.
Alhaji Mahama recalled the spirit of cooperation between the two countries leading to the formation of the Ghana-Guinea union in the early 1960's.
He said Ghana would continue to deepen bilateral relations by striving to promote peace and stability at the Mano basin.
Alhaji Mahama assured the Minister that the government would take a decision on Kouyate's bid.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2001
A state luncheon will be held on Sunday, July 1 at the Banquet Hall under the patronage of President John Agyekum Kufuor to commemorate the 41st anniversary of Ghana's Republic.
A statement signed in Accra by Mr James Ampadu, Acting Director, Information Services Department, said similar events would take place in the regional capitals.
It said there will the hoisting of the national flag and display of buntings on Thursday as part of the celebrations.
The theme for the anniversary is "Reconciliation for national unity and development."
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 26 June 2001
Mr Ameyaw Kyeremeh, Presiding Member of the Sunyani District Assembly has emphasised the need for women to be actively involved in national politics to brighten their chances of attaining key party and national leadership positions.
"Apart from giving them the opportunity to influence policies, active involvement of women in politics will boost their representation in leadership positions as it will provide them a platform to exhibit their innate qualities and make it easier for them to be identified for appointment".
Mr Kyeremeh, a lawyer by profession, was speaking on, "The rights and responsibilities of the Ghanaian woman", at a forum organised by the women's wing of the Sunyani East constituency branch of the NPP in Sunyani at the weekend.
The Presiding Member said the time when politics was deemed as a preserve of men was gone, and it was time women became assertive and regarded their participation in national politics as a right to be pursued.
"Women should strive to rub shoulders with their male counterparts since the era when even the political rights of women were vested in their husbands and male relatives is a thing of the past".
Madam Mercy Amankwah, Interim Secretary, said the wing is being re-organised to make it formidable one in spite of teething problems.
She urged members to ensure peace and harmony so that in unity, they could work towards the growth of the party.
Madam Dorcas Nana Owusua, Co-ordinator of the wing advised members to spread the government's policy of positive change to engender national commitment towards its attainment.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2001
The Council of Elders and the entire membership of the Agona-West branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have removed Adofo Gwamena as Acting Chairman for financial malfeasance.
Mr Kwaku Ackom, the first Vice Chairman has been elected Chairman in an election supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Addressing an emergency meeting at Agona Swedru on Monday, Ackom said Gwamena's continued stay in office would be "disastrous to the party".
Ackom alleged that Mr Gwamena has embezzled monies given to him by the party for polling assistants in the December 2000 general elections and 600 dollars air tickets given by the Government to any member of the Muslim Community in the constituency to travel to Mecca this year.
According to him the Acting Chairman pulled a pistol to shoot Mr Charles Asare, a party member who challenged him on the alleged embezzlement.
He further alleged that the acting Chairman fraudulently manipulated the party executives at various polling stations to his position as the Chairman.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2001
Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, on Monday appealed to the United Nations to come out with clear cut resolutions against countries whose governments are changed by military coups.
He said all African countries including Ghana are saddled with many problems, and coups and other forms of conflict would worsen their condition.
The Minster launched the appeal when Mr Stewart Graham Eldon, United Kingdom (UK) Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN, paid a courtesy call on him at Burma Camp in Accra.
Dr Kufuor said the countries in the sub region could not survive without support from the rich nations.
The Defence Minister made a special appeal to Britain and France to help regulate socio-economic integration in the sub region.
He observed that regular joint training of the various troops would be the way to bring sanity to the region, saying a competent army is a deterrent in itself.
Mr Graham assured the minister that there would be sanity and stability in the sub-region considering the involvement of the UN.
He suggested that the relations between the UN and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should be strengthened.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 26 June 2001
Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister on Monday urged marketing students to devise means and strategies to promote a culture of respect for locally manufactured goods.
"Let me urge all of you to join the crusade embarked upon by the government to encourage people to patronise locally produced goods".
The Deputy Minister was speaking at the launch of the annual week celebration of the Professional Marketers Association of Ghana (PROMAGS) at Sunyani Polytechnic.
He said marketing students could make an impact in changing people's attitude towards the use of local goods by wearing locally produced textiles and clothing for lectures.
"PROMAGS can be of much assistance to help the government and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to create more employment avenues in the industrial sector for the youth, provided that goods locally produced can be properly packaged, advertised and marketed to attract patronage by Ghanaians".
Mr Adjei-Duffuor said the government appreciates polytechnic education, which produces professional middle class personnel imbued with skills and expertise, who could advance the transformation of the country.
"Professionals like you are considered valuable to the nation's future and cannot afford to be mere spectators to the country's development".
Mr Kwaku Amoah Arhin, a marketing lecturer, who presided, advised the students to use opportunities open to them at school to prepare for a secure future.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 26 June 2001
Eight suspected "galamsey" miners were arrested by police at Teshie near Zebilla in the Bawku West District at the weekend.
They include Moro Abubakari, Alabogo Ayamba, Samuel Ayariga and Mba Adapanga. The rest are Jacob Alabugre, Jacob Mba, Francis Ayambilla and Akolbilla Mba.
A release by Inspector Thomas Agbanyo, Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer at Bolgatanga on Monday, said the police arrested the culprits because their activities were degrading the environment.
The release said on seeing the policemen some of the miners fled, while others threw stones at them.
It said the suspects would be put before court when investigations had been completed.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 26 June 2001
Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Chairperson of the Ghana branch of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) on Monday urged the Police to help curb the continuing acts of violence against women.
She said the police could effectively bring the crime to the minimum if they are given the encouragement.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu was opening a five-day seminar for 16 Station Officers and criminal investigators of the Police at Cape Coast.
The seminar is the ninth in a series being organised nation-wide to sensitise the police about the dynamics of law enforcement on domestic violence.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said research and recent media reports about violence against women has prompted the association to step up its campaign to fight the crime and to make sure that offenders are prosecuted.
She expressed the hope that police personnel who have benefited from the seminar would help achieve the desired objective.
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