GRi Newsreel Ghana 29 – 06 - 2001

 

Death toll goes up, seven now feared dead

 

ECOWAS is yet to realise potential - Kufuor

 

Government urged to revise mode of awarding contracts

 

Donor funded consultancy services to be reviewed

 

Burkina Faso donates to stadium disaster fund

 

Vice President tours flooded areas

 

Government urged to shape cocoa-producing roads

                 

NADMO begins assessment and relief operations

 

Makola too affected by floods

 

CEPS steps up war against drug couriers

 

NDC denies Guide's story on former first lady

 

The role of opposition in democracy is indispensable

 

Strategy for conserving elephants in Ghana

 

Don't discriminate against the physically challenged - Aidoo

 

Declare heavily affected areas disaster zones - Residents

 

Government to pay road Contractors

 

Government urge to live up to its campaign promises

 

Benin thanks Ghana for assistance

 

Navy acquires ship

 

 

Death toll goes up, seven now feared dead

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

Seven people made up of five male and two female are now feared to have died during Wednesday's floods that hit several parts of Accra.

Dr Kofi Kesse Manfo, Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, speaking to newsmen after he had accompanied Vice President Aliu Mahama to tour some of the areas said two deaths were reported at Adabraka, two at Kotobabi and Alajo and three at Awoshie.

He said Senam Ayiku, a 24-year-old student was swept away when he attempted to retrieve some items from the floods while an ailing 66-year-old woman, Thelma Aryee, was found dead in her room after the floods at Adabraka.

Dr Manfo said Kwame Addo also known as Frank Darko, 22, a video operator who also attempted to retrieve some items from a kiosk which was being carried away also drowned and his body has not yet been found, while an unidentified body of a man was found at Alajo.

The Regional Commander said Christian Dagodjo, 21, who attempted to save a drowning goat was swept under the current of the floods while 18-month-old Prince George Asinam drowned in a pool of water in a house at Awoshie when his mother was asleep.

The seventh victim, Sabina Twumasi, 17, an apprentice hairdresser was in her room when part of the wall collapsed and when she came out was swept away by the floods.

Dr Manfo said the security forces rescued six people who were marooned at Mallam junction.

The worst affected areas were Achimota, Alajo, Avenor, Agbogbloshie, Mallam Junction, James Town, around the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Training School, Osu, Spintex Road and Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout.

Most of the victims spent the day drying their belongings and scooping water from their rooms and compounds.

GRi…/

 

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ECOWAS is yet to realise potential - Kufuor

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday noted that ECOWAS was yet to realise its full potential due to problems associated with the implementation of its protocols.

"In a number of cases, individual countries' interests have been allowed to override the provisions of the protocols signed by member states," he said.

This was contained in an address read for him by Dr Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Integration at the 27th meeting of the Board of Governors of the Regional Maritime Academy (RMA) at Nungua, near Accra.

The meeting is aimed at reviewing policies and programmes and to evolve strategies that would ensure the self-sufficiency of the RMA in the future.

It precedes a graduation ceremony for cadet officers on Friday.

The meeting would also deliberate on the pivotal role the RMA plays in the sub-region relative to training of competent seafarers who are vital to the survival of the maritime industry, which is currently experiencing a shortage of trained and youthful manpower.

The Ministerial Conference of West and Central African States (MINCONMAR), which is now the Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA), established the RMA in May 1983. It consists of five member states Ghana, the Gambia, Liberia, Cameroon and Sierra Leone.

These five member countries make up the Board of Governors of the RMA.

President Kufuor said the political framework within the last few months has been laid towards harnessing the synergies of the various countries in Africa.

This framework, he said, is designed to enable Africa to improve upon the quality of life of its people and to ensure that the Africa Union (AU) assumes her rightful role in the world.

The African Union Treaty demands greater co-operation among member states, he said, adding "it would demand the subjection of individual countries' interest to that of the sub-region or continent where appropriate".

Mr Edward Singateh, Chairman of the RMA Board of Governors, said for the sub-region to maximise benefits from the maritime industry, it must ensure that it has a well-trained maritime manpower to meet the challenges in the highly competitive industry.

GRi…/

 

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Government urged to revise mode of awarding contracts

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 29 June 2001

 

The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (ABCEC) has suggested to the government to revise the present procedure adopted in the award of contracts with the view to making available such contracts mainly through it.

Mr Opoku-Agyemang Prempeh, Vice-Chairman of the Ashanti branch of the association, said that this was the surest guarantee to eliminating waste and shoddy works associated with the execution of public contracts.

Mr Prempeh made the suggestion in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi on Thursday.

The Vice-Chairman noted that the association has a technical team in place, comprising technologists and various constructional professionals, which has been mandated to monitor and supervise all public contracts awarded to its members to bring them to acceptable standards.

This initiative, coupled with a back-up supervisory machinery of the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) on all public projects of members of the association, ensures that shoddy and poor quality work are eliminated.

GRi…/

 

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Donor funded consultancy services to be reviewed

Greenhill (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Thursday said the Government would review the use of donor funds for expensive consultancy services to ensure efficient use of scarce resources in public sector management training.

The Government would also check the proliferation of departmental training institutions to develop public management training policy.

These were contained in a speech read on his behalf, by Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff at the launch of the 40th anniversary of a 10-billion cedi Excellence Endowment Fund, for the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) at Greenhill, near Achimota.

Activities for the anniversary include a sod-cutting ceremony for the GIMPA Exchange Centre and a fund raising dinner dance.

The theme for the celebration is " Enhancing Management Capacity for Effective Leadership and Good Governance".

Alhaji Mahama said GIMPA, one of the few institutions under the Presidency, is of strategic importance to the Government for capacity building at the highest echelon of the Ghanaian society.

He said government would properly resource the institute to provide services required of it to move the country out of poverty into sustainable development.

Alhaji Mahama said the country's development crisis has led to deteriorating terms of trade, budget deficits and increasing balance of payment deficits.

"It has also reduced the tempo of activities in the public sector, caused production declines in the private sector, swollen the ranks of the unemployed and denied large sections of our people access to food and essential social services."

The Vice-President said several attempts initiated by the Government to promote efficiency and productivity in the economy require competent leaders with excellent skills to effectively implement policies at all levels and sectors, saying " critical task of building this capacity lies with institutions such as GIMPA".

He said managerial incompetence has contributed to the inability of most top executives to detect crimes and corruption adding that, "while corruption is totally unacceptable, non performance of duty arising either out of ignorance, incapacity or lack of training is equally bad."

He commended GIMPA for her role in managerial knowledge and skill development and urged government agencies to use their facilities to save the government a whopping sum of 75 per cent of training budgets that go to pay for facilities rather than on training.

Alhaji Mahama said even though GIMPA operates without government subvention, it will remain national in character, if it goes into commercialisation.

He said Government is seriously studying the GIMPA Commercialisation Report, and when concluded, the Government would put in place a new governing body to reflect the new status.

He urged GIMPA to introduce programmes that would expose senior officials to long term development objectives and integrate training in management techniques that would ethically re-orient them.

Alhaji Mahama called for development and expansion of the Distance Learning

Centre to link Accra and the regional capitals since the centre can hold a video conference with Washington, it cannot not at the moment be in touch with Accra and the other regional centres.

Dr. Stephen Adei, Director of GIMPA said organisations have to stress on excellence and become role models for others to emulate.

He said GIMPA spends 60 million cedis a month against a monthly subvention of 41 million cedis to cater for its re-deployed workers following the commercialisation exercise and called on the National Oversight Committee to expeditiously decide on the. Re-deployed.

Other areas of concern to the institute, Dr. Adei said, are how to attract additional qualified faculty to replace the aged and adequately remunerate the staff.

The GIMPA Director called for additional classroom facilities, have an executive centre and additional 100 living rooms, and vehicles and a digital library with 50 computers.

Dr. Adei said the institute was poised to open up its executive masters programme to foreign participants and use its current capacity to offer afternoon and evening programmes to the youth who need tertiary education adding that, the tutorial college would become fully operational next year.

In a goodwill message, Mr Alfred Salia Fawundu, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, pledged his support for the institute.

GRi…/

 

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Burkina Faso donates to stadium disaster fund

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

Burkina Faso on Thursday donated 125 million cedis to the Accra Sports Stadium Disaster Fund at the Castle, Osu.

The money was from the proceeds of two international friendly football matches played between the Burknabe national team, the Stallions and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in Kumasi and Accra Hearts of Oak in Ougadougou in solidarity with the victims.

Mr Kabore Emile, Burkina Faso Minister of Youth and Sports who made the presentation said Ghana and Burkina Faso are sister countries and whatever affects one, affects the other.

He expressed the hope that the money would help alleviate the sufferings of the bereaved families and the injured.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff who received the money said the gesture would further strengthen the bond of friendship between the two countries.

GRi…/

       

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Vice President tours flooded areas

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

Vice President Aliu Mahama on Thursday went on a one-hour flight aboard a Ghana Air Force helicopter to have an aerial view of the damage caused by Wednesday's heavy downpour in Accra.

Accompanied by some Ministers of State, Alhaji Mahama also visited some of the flooded communities and sympathised with the bereaved families at Kotobabi, Alajo, Adabraka Official Town, Sodom and Gomorrah market and Awoshie.

Alhaji Mahama, who abandoned his three-day official tour of the Volta Region to return to Accra following the floods, told newsmen that the government has to take bold decisions to forestall its re-occurrence.

At least six people died on Wednesday when heavy rains wrecked havoc and led to serious flooding of many parts of the city.

The Vice President said the enormity of the problem requires all stakeholders, parliamentarians, the mass media, security services, engineers and planners to have time to brainstorm and find a lasting solution.

Alhaji Mahama who is a Civil Engineer by profession said the major causes of the floods were that the main access drains to the Odaw River is too small.

Developers have compounded the problem by building along waterways and low marshy areas where the houses are submerged in water.

At Weija some people have built along the spillway without due regard to the building regulations.

The Vice President stressed the need for planners in the metropolis to live up to expectation and ensure that a well-planned and co-ordinated master plan is drawn for the metropolis.

Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, Minister of Roads and Highways, said a percentage of the 15 billion cedis set aside this year from the Roads Fund for emergency cases would be used to rehabilitate the affected roads and construct broken down bridges.

He attributed the damage caused to the roads and bridges to shoddy work by contractors and the use of inferior and sub-standard materials.

"We have to perform an efficient work with proper designs and quality materials."

Sheikh Ibrahim Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, said the haphazard manner in which the metropolis has developed is incredible and dreadful.

He called for a review of the activities of the Department of Town and Country Planning on development and the use of suitable materials for building.

The Regional Minister urged the people to observe personal hygiene and refrain from the careless disposal of waste, which chokes most of the drains and causes flooding.

Mr Solomon Darko, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, said enforcement of building regulations and demolition of unauthorised structures would be tackled soon.

"We have to review most of the laws, regulations and programmes of the AMA to bring sanity into our operations and the activities of the people for a sound and efficient development," he said.

GRi…/

 

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Government urged to shape cocoa-producing roads

Bonsu Nkwanta (Western Region) 29 June 2001

 

Licensed cocoa buying companies in the Bonsu Nkwanta District of the Western Region have appealed to the government to rehabilitate the 20-kilometre road linking Bonsu Nkwanta to Juabeso Nkwanta to enable them to evacuate all piled up stocks of the produce.

Mr H. K. Nkansah, the spokesman for 10 district purchasing officers, said due to the torrential rains in the area, which had rendered the road unmotorable, trucks conveying cocoa had suffered considerable damage.

Mr Nkansah, who is also the Area Manager of the North-West "Adwuma Pa" Buyers Company Limited, also noted that articulated trucks carting cocoa from Bonsu Nkwanta always get stuck in the mud whenever it rains.

He said the road is in such a deplorable state that it requires a competent contractor to put it in good shape.

Mr Nkansah therefore urged government to respond swiftly to their appeal to facilitate the evacuation of cocoa and other farm produce to marketing centres.

GRi…/

 

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NADMO begins assessment and relief operations

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said on Thursday it lacked adequate relief facilities to resettle displaced persons of Wednesday's floods in Accra caused by long hours of rains.

"We don't have mattresses and blankets to give out," Mrs Eunice Asamani Osae, NADMO's Director of Administration told the Ghana News Agency.

Police sources confirmed on Thursday that at least seven people including an 18 month-old child and 66 year-old woman died as a result of the floods which also destroyed property worth billions of cedis.

Mrs Osae said her outfit was yet to assess the volume of displacement but preliminary assessment estimated that some 150,000 people mostly residents in low-lying suburbs have been affected.

The worst hit areas were Dzorwulu, Alajo, Adabraka, Mallam, Nsawam, Awoshie, Madina and the Airport Residential areas where residents hanged out on their immersed houses, calling for help from rescuers.

Motor firms on the Graphic road were badly hit as their cars were immersed and, in some cases, submerged in floodwaters.

The floods also caused the disruption of some telecommunication links, especially the cellular networks and Internet Services.

The rescue team, consisting of the armed forces, fire service and the police saved trapped residents in boats and choppers.

Mrs Okae said major obstacles that hampered Wednesday's exercise were the attendant heavy traffic jams and inaccessibility to certain targeted areas due to improper planning.

She expressed appreciation to UNICEF for lending out vehicles to facilitate the organisation's assessment exercise.

GRi…/

 

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Makola too affected by floods

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

The downpour in Accra and its environs on Wednesday destroyed structures of the day care centre and clinic as well as wares and merchandise at the Makola market.

Security men there led by Mr. Samuel Fudzi had a hectic time evacuating more than 50 children of the centre.     

Mr. Bismark Antwi, Market Superintendent told the GNA that the floods have also destroyed other portions of the market and called for its immediate rehabilitation so that normal business could resume.

He also appealed to Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to assist in rehabilitating the day care centre and clinic.

Madam Esther Appah, Medical Assistant in-charge of the clinic appealed to individuals and non-governmental organizations to complement the government's efforts in assisting flood victims.

GRi../

 

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CEPS steps up war against drug couriers

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

Two more drug couriers have been arrested at the Kotoka International Airport as officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) intensified their efforts to combat drug traffickers who have been using the airport as a transit point.

In the last six weeks, six drug couriers have been arrested for attempting to smuggle substances suspected to be cocaine into the country.

The couriers have now changed their methods of concealing the drugs in their shoes or false compartments in their suitcases and are now swallowing them in the form of pellets, which are tightly cello-taped.

Last night, CEPS officials at the airport arrested Kamara Amadu, 51 and Bangoura Abdul Rahman 41, both holding Sierra Leonean passports when they attempted to smuggle substances suspected to be cocaine into the country.

CEPS officials suspected the two when they arrived from Europe after they noticed that they had travelled to drug producing countries in Southern America.

A body check on the two as well as their luggage did not reveal anything but an x-ray conducted on them at the 37 Military Hospital revealed that they had some foreign substances in their stomachs.

The two were brought back to the Airport for further observation and later Kamara Amadu expelled 16 pellets whilst Bangoura Abdul has so far expelled six.

Kamara told newsmen that he was forced into drug trafficking because of the economic situation in Sierra Leone as the result of the civil war.

"I have a big family and I need money to take care of them since I am out of job due to the war," he said.

The two have been handed over to the security authorities for further investigation.

GRi../

 

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NDC denies Guide's story on former first lady

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

The United Kingdom and Ireland branches of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday described as false an article in the June 7 to 13, 2001 edition of the Crusading Guide newspaper, which had as it's headline, "Nana Konadu's London Outburst."

The branch requested an apology and a retraction of the article. A release signed by Alex Segbefia, Chairman, described the article, which attributed certain statements to Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, former First Lady pertaining to Mrs. Theresa Kufuor as a further step "in a constructive and malicious attack on the person of the former First Lady".

It also said contrary to the impression the Crusading Guide sought to create concerning Nana Konadu's meeting with the executive of the UK and Ireland branches of the NDC, the executive "felt honoured to meet such an eminent and dedicated member of the party".

The release said the NDC remains a big family, united in a single goal of re-capturing political power through the democratic process, "which we have been responsible for sustaining since 1992 for the benefit of Ghana".

GRi../

 

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The role of opposition in democracy is indispensable

Kade (Eastern Region) 29 June 2001

 

Mr Rexford Kwasi Dankyi, Eastern Regional Second Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said on Wednesday that the role of the opposition in a democracy is indispensable since it serves as a watchdog on the government.

He therefore promised that the party would continue to work towards the socio-economic and political development of the country by keeping the government on its toes.  

Mr Dankyi was speaking after the election of a seven-member reorganisation committee for Akwatia constituency at a delegates meeting of all the 88 branches of the constituency at Akwatia.

He said the NDC has both the moral and political responsibility to seek the welfare of the people and to protect their rights, adding that this has been the focus of the party since its inception.   

Mr. Dankyi appealed to NDC supporters to cooperate with the party hierarchy and donate towards the reorganisation exercise to enable it to regain power in the 2004 elections.

 Mr Kenneth Asare Larbi, chairman for the Akwatia branch said the party made a lot of mistakes resulting in its defeat in the last general election and called for pragmatic measures to revamp it.

Mr Ahmed Baba Jamal, the party's parliamentary candidate for Akwatia in the last elections, said the constituency would work relentlessly for the re-organisation of the party to ensure victory in the next elections.

He advised the members to eschew rancour and bitterness, put the party's defeat behind them and forge ahead in unity to realise its objectives.

MR Yaw Antwi, a committee member, thanked the delegates for electing them and promised to work diligently to ensure that the party regains its strength. He cautioned the members to be wary of people who would infiltrate the committee to sow seeds of disunity.

GRi../

 

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Strategy for conserving elephants in Ghana

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

A strategic framework for conserving elephants in Ghana was on Thursday launched with a call on all stakeholders to help in its implementation.

The 10-year strategy estimated at three million dollars is to complement that of West Africa, which is to ensure the conservation of elephants and their habitats.

In a speech read for him, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, said the Government is committed to achieving this strategy.

It would therefore be appreciated if experiences from India, Malaysia and South Africa were tapped to build the country's management capacity, he said.

Dr Afriyie called for the strategy to be viewed as a living document that sets out a framework for a co-ordinated action to secure the population of elephants and their habitats during the first decade of the 21st century.

According to the 39-page document, the elephant population has declined throughout West Africa as a consequence of hunting and habitat loss and they are now found in a small and isolated habitat fragments.

Dr Afriyie said the Wildlife Division and Conservation International, with sponsorship from the Japanese Embassy and United States Fish and Wildlife Service are undertaking a three-year elephant biology and management training for six biologists from the sub region.

He said structures and mechanisms have been incorporated into the strategy to ensure its effective implementation and hinted that a co-ordinator would soon be appointed to move the strategy forward.

Mr Moses Kofi Sam, Elephant Specialist of the Wildlife Division, said Ghana holds 11 elephant sites out of 90 elephant sites in 13 West African countries.

GRi…/

 

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Don't discriminate against the physically challenged - Aidoo

Sekondi (Western Region) 29 June 2001

 

Mr Joseph B. Aidoo, Western Regional Minister on Thursday asked Ghanaians not to discriminate against physically challenged people.

He said the potential of people, who are physically challenged could be tapped for economic growth and all must assist in exploiting these potentials.

This was contained in an address read on his behalf at the commissioning of a 20,000-dollar electric generating plant for the Sekondi School of the Deaf.

Mr Aidoo urged Ghanaians to give such people an opportunity to learn skills to use their physical and mental abilities in order to achieve full social integration.

"To maximise the full potentials, we need to shun some of the negative attitudes that we have towards the disabled."

He expressed regret that in spite of the numerous educational programmes many still see people with disability as being helpless, dependent and problematic.

Mr Aidoo called on all and sundry to work hard to change this perception through public education and awareness programmes to ensure that "they become equal partners in development".

GRi…/

 

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Declare heavily affected areas disaster zones - Residents

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

Residents and businessmen in parts of the Accra metropolis heavily affected by Wednesday's downpour have appealed to the government to declare the areas national disaster zones.

The businessmen said they would need considerable resources before they can resume normal operations and called for assistance to reduce the impact of the disaster.

This was the consensus gathered by the GNA during a visit to the affected areas to assess the situation a day after the worst rainfall in the capital in almost six years.

Although most of them could not immediately determine the cost of damage to their properties, they said they would need millions of cedis to get back into business again.

There was little commercial activity at most of the affected businesses at Mallam, Adabraka Official Town, Abeka Lapaz, Alajo and Dzorwulu as the owners were busy clearing the debris.

Lt. Col. Akonorh Tetteh, leader of the military rescue task force advised motorists not to hinder the rescue operations.

Col. Tetteh told the GNA that some motorists obstructed the movement of the team and urged people who have nothing specifically to do with the disaster and emergency situations to make way for the professional rescuers.

GRi…/

 

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Government to pay road Contractors

Sogakope (Volta Region) 29 June 2001

 

The 235 billion cedis set aside in this year's budget to pay road contractors for jobs executed would be disbursed as planed, Mr J. L. Lamptey, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, said on Wednesday.

He was speaking during an inspection of the Sogakope-Adidome stretch of the 88 kilometres Sogakope-Adidome-Ho-Fume road by the Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

Messrs Frandesco, West Africa Limited (FWAL) has been engaged in the construction of the 31 million pounds project since 1997. Mr Lamptey said FWAL would be among those to be paid.

Mr K. S. Dzah, Project Manager of FWAL, told the Vice-President that non-payment for work done has adversely affected their work, compelling its foreign partners to sue the government and the company.

He said workers of the company have also laid down their tools for the past three months for non-payment of their salaries.

He assured the Vice-President that work would resume in earnest as soon as the company receives payment for work done as they have enough materials for the job.

The Vice-President said the government attaches great importance to the successful completion of the project and would do all it could to see this fulfilled.

He called on the company to begin tarring portions of the road, which are ready for sealing to prevent further delays and deterioration.

The road is the shortest link between the southern, central and northern sectors of the Region.

GRi…/

    

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Government urge to live up to its campaign promises

Offinso (Ashanti Region) 29 June 2001

 

Oheneba Kofi Asamoah, National Reform Party (NRP) parliamentary candidate for Offinso South in the 2000 general election, has urged the government to live up to its political campaign promises to sustain the support and confidence of the electorates.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Offinso, on Wednesday, Oheneba Asamoah reminded the government of its campaign promises of the provision of quality and affordable education, health delivery, housing schemes for workers and farmers, improved conditions of service for workers and provision of efficient, reliable and comfortable transportation system.

He expressed concern about exorbitant fees charged by some schools, financial and accommodation problems associated with tertiary education and called for urgent solutions to enable the poor but brilliant candidates have access to the highest level of education.

Oheneba Asamoah, however, commended the government for its modest achievements within the few months it had been in office and expressed the hope that Ghanaians would offer their support to enable it achieve more successes.

GRi…/

 

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Benin thanks Ghana for assistance

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2001

 

A two-member delegation from the Electoral Commission of Benin on Wednesday ended a two-day working visit to Ghana during which it thanked the Electoral Commission of Ghana for assisting Benin during her recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Ghana's Electoral Commission provided Benin with about 20,000 bottles of indelible ink to help check fraud in that country's elections. The ink has since been replaced, a statement said in Accra on Thursday. 

Pierre Desire Sadeler, Benin's Ambassador to Ghana, accompanied the delegation made up of Dr. Yaovi Djrekpo Chairman of the Beninois EC and Mr.Georges Denis Quenum.

The statement said the delegation took the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the operations of the Ghana EC, to exchange ideas with their Ghanaian counterparts and to explore other areas of possible co-operation.

GRi…/

 

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Navy acquires ship

Sekondi (Western Region) 29 June 2001

 

GNS Anzone, one of four ships acquired by the Ghana Navy from the United States has arrived at the Takoradi Naval Base.

In a ceremony to welcome the ship on Thursday, Rear Admiral J. K. Gbenah, Chief of Naval Staff, in a speech read for him, said the Navy was going to increase its surveillance at sea to significantly reduce poaching of marine resources, smuggling and save life and property.

He said the purchase of the four new ships for the Navy by the government would place it in a better position to carry out its surveillance duties at sea.

The Navy had been finding it difficult to keep surveillance of its domestic area of operation and meet its responsibility under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention because it had only four patrol boats.

As a result of this, poachers and economic saboteurs have had a field day, he said.

Rear Admiral Gbenah said it was to stem this tide of economic plunder and to enhance the utility of the Navy that the government secured the four additional ships.

He said Ghana Navy had not been given new ships or patrol boats for the past 20 years, adding that the three other ships would arrive by the end of the year.

Rear Admiral Gbenah said this investment in the Navy would result in direct generation of wealth for the country through the fines paid by poachers, when they are caught.

GRi…/

 

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