GRi Newsreel 01-03-99

Ofoase (Eastern Region), 1 March.  

The Federation Commodities Limited (FEDCO) a private cocoa buying company has launched its linkage package programme to enable farmers who sell to them to increase their output.

Under the programme, FEDCO will provide farmers with inputs such as DDT insecticides, cutlasses and Wellington boots at their doorsteps at moderate prices.

In this connection, 18 best farmers of the company were presented with cutlasses, exercise books and Wellington boots worth four million cedis.

The managing director of FEDCO, Nana Addade Boamah, who announced this at a farmers forum to launch the programme at Ofoase in the Birim North district Friday said the company, which started its operations a year ago has made significant achievement in the cocoa industry.

He said FEDCO had purchased 26,049.04 tonnes of cocoa nation wide as at February 18 this year of which the eastern sector had contributed 11.5 per cent. The managing director commended the government for the participation of the private companies in the buying of cocoa, which he said, has improved the country's economy.

On the distribution of COCOBOD scholarship application forms, Nana Addade regretted that although all farmers are to benefit from it, officials of COCOBOD are discriminating against farmers of private companies.

He urged district assemblies not to impose arbitrary levies on local cocoa buying companies, which operate in their area but should invite them for discussion of such matters.

The district chief executive for the area, Mr Prince Danso pledged the commitment of the government to continue to better the lots of the farmers and stressed on the need for Ghanaians to create a culture of responsibility.

Mr Danso said the assembly has set up an environmental task force to check pollution of rivers and streams in the area while it has also mobilised 100 people for its "Youth in Agriculture" programme.

Offinso (Ashanti Region), 1 March,  

A geologist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has said that geological disasters have significant negative impact on national growth and called for effective planning measures to avoid severe economic and social dislocation.

Dr K. E. N. Tzidzi, a senior lecturer in engineering and environmental geology, said though geological disasters such as soil erosion, coastal erosion and floods are prominent in the country, not much is being done to mitigate their effects.

"The best options for reducing the risks should include proper risk assessment and zoning, monitoring of hazards and education on the potential danger of these disasters", he said.

Dr Tzidzi was presenting a paper on "Managing geological disasters in Ghana", at a day's workshop for District Co-ordinators of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Ashanti Region at Offinso. He, however, said with the establishment of NADMO and adequate financial empowerment, geological disasters that affect the country could effectively be managed. The geological hazard situation in Ghana, he said, is quite serious, considering the fact that these hazards have not been accorded the necessary attention they deserve.

The lecturer said, "environmental problems can be exacerbated when policies do not account for pertinent environmental factors as the case of land use policies failing to prevent housing development in the flood-prone or high earthquake risk areas".

Sunyani, (Brong Ahafo) 1 March,  

Some members of the Kintampo District Assembly have called for an emergency meeting to review members' position on the nomination of Mr Kwasi Gyasi-Manu as District Chief Executive.

In a resolution signed by 43 of the 69-member assembly after a meeting at Kintampo on Friday, the members explained that their rejection of Mr Gyasi-Manu's nomination in October, last year, was done out of ignorance.

They said after Mr Gyasi-Manu's nomination by the president on October 12, 1998, balloting followed two days later without giving Mr Gyasi-Manu the opportunity to interact with members.

This and other factors resulted in his disapproval by members.

They said the absence of a DCE for the district for sometime now has adversely affected development programmes of the area and the people are now prepared to review their earlier position on Mr Gyasi-Manu's nomination.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 1 March,  

President Jerry John Rawlings returned home Saturday, after a four-day official visit to the United States.

He was accompanied by the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Madam Fati Jawula, a member of the Council of State, and Mr James Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Other members of the delegation were Dr John Abu, Minister of Trade, Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Victor Selormey, Deputy Minister of Finance, and Mr Kofi Attoh and Mr Kojo Armah, both Members of Parliament.

Briefing newsmen on arrival, Mr Gbeho described the visit as successful and historical. Mr Gbeho said President Rawlings and his delegation had discussions with President Bill Clinton and his officials on a wide range of issues.

President Clinton praised President Rawlings for his able leadership and for helping to maintain democratic governance in Ghana. President Clinton also praised Ghana for her peacekeeping role in the sub-region, namely in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau.

Mr Gbeho said Ghana's delegation met with the U.S. Labour and Agricultural Secretary during which two agreements on trade and investment, including a seven million-dollar deal by an American firm to purchase GIHOC, were signed. He said other facilities like linking Ghanaian schools to their U.S. counterparts via the Internet would be set up.

Mr Gbeho said both leaders acknowledged the critical times in Africa and stressed the need to consolidate the gains made so far and to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He said the visit has greatly enhanced the already cordial relationship between the two countries.

The presidential entourage was met on arrival by Vice-President John Atta Mills, ministers of state, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Peter Nanfuri, and some NDC supporters.

Tema, (Greater Accra) 1 March  

Saint Andrews JSS yesterday won the grand finale of the mathematics and science quiz competition organised for junior secondary schools (JSS) in the Tema municipality.

St. Andrews won with 51 points, Datus which came second had 49 points, while Tema Royal took the third position with 45 points. First Baptist JSS collected 42 points to take the fourth position. The winning schools received science books, mathematical sets pens and certificates as their awards.

The competition, which was sponsored by the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), is aimed at sharpening the intelligence of pupils in science and mathematics.

Mr Dave Weaver, VALCO director of human resource and administration said the company sponsored the contest with the objective of helping to develop the science and mathematics abilities of the children, in preparation for future challenges.

"Such skills will also provide the foundation that Ghana needs to eventually take off economically, industrially and technologically". VALCO contributes over one billion cedis annually to fund education related activities through the VALCO Trust Fund and supports three universities in the country to the tune of 50 million cedis a year. Mr Eric T.Nyanker, the quizmaster said a weakness identified during the competition was the inability of the pupils to answer abstract questions.

He said "the fear of mathematics is still there" as more boys than girls participated in the competition, a situation which he said must be reversed by encouraging girls to study science.

Mr Nyanker suggested to the Ghana Education Service to encourage public schools to take part in the competition, since all the contestants were from private schools.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 1 March, 

The Freedom Monument at the Christianborg Crossroads ,Osu, yesterday witnessed a brief and solemn parade and wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of three heroes shot dead there 51 years ago which catapulted Ghana into Independence.

A damp weather following an early morning rainfall made the Gulf of Guinea so calm and dull that the hoisted flags mournfully failed to flutter while four wreaths were laid. This was done amidst the sounding of the last post and the solemn music - "All tears away" and "Da yie" - provided by the Ghana Airfoirce Band.

Lieutenant-Colonel E.K.T Donkoh (rtd), Deputy Minister of Defence and Minister of Defence designate, laid the wreath on behalf of the people of Ghana. Another for the security services was laid by Air Vice-Marshall J.A. Bruce, Airforce Commander.

Colonel Dan Prah, Executive Secretary of the Veterans' Association of Ghana (VAG) and Nii Ayitey Agbofu, the third, Paramount Chief of Gbese, Accra, laid a wreath each on behalf of ex-servicemen and chiefs respectively.

One hundred and twenty men drawn from the army, the airforce, the navy and the police service and three officers formed the parade which was under the command of Squadron Leader G.S. Evans.

Major E.Y. Mantey and Captain S.S. Adam , Armed Forces Chaplain and Immam respectivey, said the Christian and Muslim prayers while Numo Tete the third, Nai Wulomo, poured the libation.

The parade and the wreath laying ceremony were in commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the 28th February Christiansborg Crossroads shooting incident.

Three ex-servicemen - Sergeant C.F. Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey - were killed when they and their colleagues in 1948 were marching to present their grievances to the British Colonial Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy.

The soldiers had fought alongside the allied forces in the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force during the Second World War and had returned home poor and their gratuities not fully paid. After several appeals to the colonial government to consider their plight failed, the ex-servicemen decided that a direct approach should be made to the British Colonial Governor of the Gold Coast.

On Saturday, 28th February, 1948, therefore, the ex-servicemen from Accra were marching to the Christianborg Castle, the seat of government, with their petition when they were ordered by Police Superintendent Imray to disperse. When they refused to do so Superintendent Imray ordered the police to shoot them as a result of which the three fell dead.

When news of the incident spread across the country it led to further disturbances in which many shoots were looted and properties destroyed. The committee set up by the colonial administration tee to investigate the incident recommended that the then Gold Coast be granted self-rule.

Tema, (Greater Accra) 1 March,  

The Tema development control task force Saturday halted unauthorised business activities along the ceremonial roads in the city with a surprise demolition of kiosks and stalls.

The exercise, which is being carried out jointly by the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), will last for six months.

Affected residents however saw the exercise as a misplaced priority in view of the neglected collapsed sewage systems, choked gutters and delayed payments for constructional works done.

Mr Mark Ofori Kwafo, Municipal development control officer said there are too many "unsightly structures along the ceremonial street which must be demolished before they become permanent ones".

Lotto kiosks were left untouched but dilapidated ones and those, which have not seen any painting for years, fell to the hammer of the demolition squad.

Alhaji Sule Bonge who rears goats and sheep in his house located in the city centre, at the displeasure of his neighbours, was compelled to hide his animals in his bedroom when he heard of the task force.

His pen was destroyed and was given 30 minutes to move the animals out of town or face prosecution.

Mr Samuel Akoto, Tema municipal engineer, said the exercise would cover the entire municipality and also affect structures sited on public lands.

He cited the case of a man who has ignored all warnings and has built his house on a land earmarked for a clinic at Baatsonaa on the Spintex road and said the culprit will be dealt with at the appropriate time.

Yendi gets Veranda Boys/Girls Club

Yendi (Northern Region), 1 March, 

Vice President Professor John Atta-Mills, has stressed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) "remains a party that seeks the welfare of the country, and is not the sole preserve of any individual or group of persons".

Supporters of the party must therefore work hard to retain the party in power to continue to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of Ghanaians, he said.

The Vice-President said this at the inauguration of the Yendi branch of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club of the party.

Professor Atta Mills commended the people of Yendi for helping to restore peace to the area after the 1994 ethnic conflict, adding that, "we need peace and stability for development".

Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, presidential advisor on governmental affairs, said government has this year earmarked 35 billion cedis for the maintenance of roads in the Northern Region. About nine billion cedis out of the amount would be spent on Yendi township roads and the Yendi-Tamale road.

Mr Kwamina Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said under the World Bank sponsored urban five projects, Yendi, Bimbilla and Zabzugu have been listed to benefit from roads rehabilitation projects.

Mrs Shirley Ayittey, vice-chairperson of NDC advised parents to send their children to school to help minimise the migration of young girls to the cities to engage in menial jobs.

Mrs Faustina Nelson, vice-chairperson of NDC and founder of the Veranda Boys/Girls Club welcomed those who have defected from the opposition political parties into the fold of the NDC.

She said the NDC is the only party that can develop the country and everybody has a role to play in it.

During a courtesy call on Ya-Na Yakubu Andani the second, Professor Atta Mills announced that the government is considering the list of divisional chiefs the Ya-Na proposed for elevation to paramouncies.

Ya-Na Andani praised the government for providing a number of social amenities in the area.

Dormaa-Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo), 1 March, 

The Dormaa traditional council has said that the suicide bid by the queenmother, Nana Akosua Ansuaa Ababio, on February 22 this year, has nothing to do with the search for a successor to the late Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman-Badu.

The council said in a statement that its members had enjoyed cordial and trusted working relationship with the Queenmother until the unfortunate incident "which could best be described as one of the tragedies of life", and not the result of any betrayal.

The statement, read by Barima Ansu-Adjei, Dormaa Krontihene and acting president of the council, at a press conference attended by all members of the council at Dormaa-Ahenkro yesterday was in reaction to a front-page story of the Ghanaian Times of February 26, 1999 about the Queenmother.

The story alleged that the Queenmother attempted to kill herself with a bread knife on learning that her son, whom she had nominated to be the next Dormaahene might be rejected by the kingmakers.

Barima Ansu-Adjei said as at the time of the incident, Nana Ansuaa Ababio, who has the traditional right to nominate a candidate to the paramount stool, had not yet nominated any royal or her son for consideration.

"There has never been any occasion since the death and burial of the late Dormaahene when we the king makers had purposely met with the Queenmother for her nomination of a successor to the stool" Barima Ansu-Adjei added.

He said the so-called betrayal of the Queen mother by some =91trusted king makers,=92 as alleged in the news item, cannot be said to be the underlying factor for the suicide attempt.

Barima Ansu-Adjei said the council "registers its strongest protest against the news item which had sought to connect the unfortunate incident with the affairs of the traditional council and for that matter, king makers".

Citing efforts being made to find an occupant to the vacant paramount stool, Barima Ansu-Adjei said that on December nine, 1998, a delegation of thekingmakers sought audience with the Queenmother.

The purpose was to cordially prompt her to start consultations among the two royal houses with the view to selecting a suitable candidate, but her suggestion that this should be done after the first anniversary of the death of Nana Agyeman-Badu on February 12 was accepted.

Two days after the anniversary celebration, Barima Ansu-Adjei said the kingmakers met the Queenmother again and proposed March 28 as possible date for the installation of a new Dormaahene.

He said the Queenmother again pleaded for more time to enable her to do her homework properly since she had not met with leading members of the royal houses.

"The news of her attempted suicide on February 22 therefore came as a surprise to all".

Barima Ansu Adjei said in future, matters relating to chieftaincy within the traditional area should be cleared with the appropriate traditional authority before publication to avoid any confusion and embarrassment to the entire people of the traditional area.

Koforidua, (Eastern Region) 1 March, 

Vice President Professor John Atta Mills on yesterday commissioned a cenotaph at the Koforidua Justice park to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Cross Road shooting incident in which three servicemen of the West Africa frontier Force were killed.

Construction of the 20 million cedis cenotaph, which bears the statue of the unknown soldier was initiated by the Eastern regional branch of the Veterans Association of Ghana(VAG) and financed jointly by the Regional Co-ordinating Council, Antartic construction, a private company and Somuah Dapaah contractors Ltd.

Vice President Mills and four others laid wreaths on behalf of the government and the people at the foot of the cenotaph in remembrance of the fallen heroes.

He commended the initiative for putting up a befitting monument to recognise those who sacrificed themselves for the nation's independence and urged the people to use the occasion to resolve to emulate such sacrifices and work harder for peace and prosperity. "We should be prepared to make sacrifices for the nation's development, otherwise those who have laid down their lives for our advancement would have sacrificed in vain".

He urged for the recognition of the positive contribution of the military to national development, saying that even before independence the military had stated their claim as nationalists who were prepared to sacrifice to secure freedom for us.

A parade was formed by eight contingents of security personnel made up of seven officers and 266 men drawn from the Police, Army, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and the Fire Service

Akim Oda (Eastern Region), 1 March, 

About 500 farmers drawn from the Eastern Region have ended a day's workshop on the cultivation and marketing of sunflower at Akim Oda.

The workshop, which was organised by the Ghana Sunflower Association (GSA), was aimed at equipping the participant with the necessary skills to enhance their cultivation of the crop.

Mr Emmanuel Twi Yeboah, National President of the Association reminded the participants that farming is business and urged them to manage their farms well to reap the desired benefits.

He called on them to study the weather pattern carefully before planting to ensure that the seeds are sown at the right time to enable them to maximise production.

The Eastern regional co-ordinator of the GSA, Mr Mark Kwame Frempong said sunflower cultivation is scientific and appealed to agricultural extension officers to make their services available to the farmers at all times.

He asked district assemblies to extend the facilities under the poverty alleviation fund to farmers, who would like to go into the cultivation of sunflower.

Mr Seth Quartey, a marketing consultant told the farmers that the cultivation of sunflower is lucrative, adding that as at January one this year, the world market price for a ton of raw seed sunflower was 775,000 cedis.

He said the quality of raw seed required on the world market should have oil component of not less than 44 percent and called on them to us the right seed for cultivation.

Akim Oda (Eastern Region), 1 March, 

A baseline survey on literacy and numeracy conducted in primary schools in the Birim South District last year showed a poor performance from the pupils.

Out of the 143 schools, which were sampled in Mathematics, only 43 schools were able to hit the pass mark of between 50-59, while in the English language, 76 out of the 143 schools had the pass mark of 50-59.

Ms Felicia Duku, the district director of education made this known at a schools appraisal performance meeting held with schools management committees (SMC), parent-teacher association (PTAs) and teachers at Akim Oda on Saturday.

The meeting was aimed at finding the root cause of the poor performance of the pupils and to find solutions to them.

The participants identified some of the causes of the low standard of education as lateness to school by both teachers and pupils, and the refusal of parents to provide their wards with stationery.

Ms Duku expressed concern about the poor results and called for a concerted effort from parents and teachers to help redress the situation.

Mr John Effah-Boadi, the District Chief Executive, who chaired the meeting, advised teachers to put in their best and suggested to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to have teachers whose pupils perform poorly sanctioned.

Accra (Greater Accra), 1 March 

The national working committee of the Reform Movement(RM) on Sunday said that it is not engaged in any negotiations with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as indicated in a press statement issued by Alhaji Huudu Yahya, NDC General Secretary, last week. The statement said representatives of the NDC and the NDC Reform Group had concluded negotiations regarding issues paramount to the re-organisation and internal workings of the NDC. The statement, which created the impression that the RM and the NDC were working at uniting again, caused a cross-section of the public to believe that the whole idea of the RM was an NDC ploy to sway their political opponents.

A counter-statement issued by the RM today said "the RM remains an independent political organisation and we are in the process of forming a political party to contest the 2000 elections as an independent political party.

"Next week, we will start publishing lists of our interim regional and constituency working committees to facilitate public contact as part of our commitment to the ideals of our February National Congress," it added.

The statement said that the RM has no interest in the re-organisation and internal workings of the NDC, adding that the so-called NDC Reform Group have nothing to do with the registered RM.

It said the RM has reason to believe that the fuss about NDC Reform group negotiation was part of an NDC campaign to misinform, confuse and demoralise Ghanaians and to discredit the leadership of the RM.

"We call on Alhaji Yahya to name the individual representatives of the so-called NDC Reform Group and publish the agenda on which their alleged discussions have been made."

Accra (Greater Accra), 1 March 

A United Nations report on child labour has revealed that Africa accounts for 32 per cent of the world's 250 million children between the ages of five and 14 who are working.

Only half of eligible children in Africa are enrolled in primary schools, and the gender gap remains wide.

"The girl-child faces discrimination, she receives less food, medical care and education," the report said. Ms Margaret A. Novicki, director, UN Information Centre in Accra, disclosed this at the first National Conference of African Peace Network (APNET) under the theme "Combating Child Abuse and Neglect : A key to peace and development".

Ms Novicki said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the major achievements of the UN. "It spells out individual rights and freedoms for everyone, including society's most defenceless, our children. Therefore, respect for human rights begins with the way society treats its children". She said the UN has placed special emphasis on children and women by focusing on two broad areas - defining and defending children's rights as part of the international human rights law, and working in a practical way to promote and improve health, education and welfare of children. Ms Novicki said Ghana has set up a multi-sectoral task force to draw up a National Programme of Action for the implementation of child's rights. This has been incorporated into the National Policy Framework, Vision 2020, which has paved the way for legal reforms.

"It is not enough to have rights enshrined in law; it is only by being aware of those rights that they can be acted upon and defended". She, therefore, called upon NGOs such as the African Peace Network and the media to continue to call attention to deprivations of children's rights and assist them.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Esther Appiah of the Women and Juvenile Unit(WAJU) of the Police Service said child abuse and neglect poses profound societal problems and causes difficulties for law enforcement.

"In the light of this, it would take the joint effort of the Police, parents, teachers, judges, media practitioners and other concerned citizens to solve the problem," she added.

Tema (Greater Accra), 1 March 

The New Patriotic Party(NPP) at the weekend launched an outreach programme code-named "2000 for 2000" to raise funds for its electioneering campaign towards the 2000 elections at Tema.

Mr Ishmael Ashitey, MP for Tema East constituency, in his address, conceded that the battle ahead of the party was not going to be easy. It, therefore, behoved every NPP sympathiser and well-wisher yearning to see the party win political power and improve the well-being of the Ghanaian to offer all they can toward its build-up.

Mr Ashitey said present-day politics had switched from mere party rhetoric to serious programmes of action "and requires us to put in place effective machinery and resources to keep pace with the fast changing times".

The "2000 for 2000" programme, he said, aims to expand the NPP's scope of mobilising funds by identifying 2,000 party sympathisers in the constituency who are prepared to contribute 2,000 cedis every month towards the year 2000 election. This, he noted, would help the party to prepare adequately for the election.

Mr Ashitey said the concept would also help inculcate in members of the party a sense of ownership which would encourage them to question any wrong-doings within the party. Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP, thanked the people for their show of concern and zeal towards the growth of the party.

He entreated members to pick the "2000 for 2000 card and contribute their widow's might to the party.

"This is because it will get to a time when you have to prove to the whole world that you are part of the success team," he added.