GRi Newsreel 02-03-99

Cape Vars to run course on labour

Labour market must be investor friendly - Mumuni

Out-of-school youth to benefit from skill training

Parents asked not to push disabled children into early trade

Publishers get 22 billion cedis contract

Independance Day marathon for children on March seven

African delegates to meet in Mali

Rawlings congratulates Nigerian President-elect

Sissal renew appeal for District status

Veep attends economic summit in Dakar

Chiefs advised to be role models.

GJA appeals to journalists to respect "time-honoured practices"

Rawlings receives message from Ivorian President

Failure of government is failure of civil servants, Dr Dodoo

 

 

Cape Vars to run course on labour

Cape Coast (Central Region), 2 Mar.  

The University of Cape Coast is to run a course leading to the award of Diploma in Labour Studies starting from the 1999/2000 academic year.

This was announced by, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Samuel Kwesi Adjepong, at the extraordinary congress of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) at the auditorium of the university today.

Professor Adjepong, who was welcoming delegates to the four-day congress said syllabus for the programme has been completed, awaiting approval by the Academic Board of the university.

The vice-chancellor recalled that the TUC at one of its congresses held at the university requested the UCC to consider offering a diploma programme in labour studies and said the programme would start from October, this year.

Professor Adjepong hoped that at the end of the congress, a stronger document, which takes into consideration the dynamics of change, would emerge to propel organised labour into the 21st century.

The secretary-general of the TUC, Mr Christian Appiah Agyei, said the congress was undertaking a review of its constitution at a time when the labour movement would have to come to grips with daunting difficulties facing the working people of the country.

"This is a period of titanic challenges to the trade unions generated by a turbulent world economic order in which capital is seeking to assert its dominance over labour for the sole purpose of maximising profits".

Mr Agyei told the delegates that they are in a market economy where prices are soaring according to the dynamics of the market, value added tax (VAT) has been introduced, utility tariffs are heading for astronomic levels thus elevating instead of alleviating poverty.

"This is the time we are being invited to co-operate in the implementation of a salary regime, which in relation to the current cost of living situation can best be describe as anachronistic."

The secretary-general said workers had over the years made sacrifices and hoped against hope that a time would come when their efforts and suffering would be acknowledged and their burden lightened through a modest improvement in salary levels.

"But this has remained a mirage while we wallow in a life of misery and social exclusion.

Mr Agyei stressed the need to use every opportunity to draw attention to finding early solutions to economic problems facing workers to achieve and sustain industrial peace.

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Labour market must be investor friendly - Mumuni

Cape Coast, (Central Region) 2 Mar. 

The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, has said that for the nation to survive and grow in the global economic arena, the labour market as well as the labour movement must be investor friendly.

He noted that the current situation on the labour market is one of an on-going change in response to economic reforms, but there is concern that the current legislative and dispute resolution framework are unable to cope with economic changes. Addressing and extra-ordinary congress of the Trades Union Congress at the University of Cape Coast yesterday, Alhaji Mumuni said the current legislation and administrative system for adjudicating labour complaints and disputes is geared as an adversarial system of union versus management, which takes a long time to resolve.

The four-day extra-ordinary congress being attended by 331 delegates from all the 17 national unions of the TUC is to review the constitution of the TUC, which had remained virtually static for well over three decades.

There were also local observers from Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Civil Servants Association as well as external delegates from the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations AFL-CIO and Organisation of African Trade Unions Unity (OATUU).

Alhaji Mumuni said the current legislation helps only those in the formal sector and not the vast majority of workers, who are found in the informal sector.

The Minister stressed that a more simplified system needs to be developed by the social partners to serve the interest of all workers.

The Minister the role expected of the TUC now is completely different from what was carved out for it under the Industrial Relations Act of 1965 - that is an arm of government representing labour.

Alhaji Mumuni said it was gratifying to note that the extra-ordinary congress aims at making the new constitution of the TUC gender sensitive.

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Out-of-school youth to benefit from skill training

Kumasi (Ashanti), 2 March 

About 3,000 out-of-school youth have been targeted in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area to benefit from various skill and rehabilitation training programmes under an Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) project.

About 150 youth identified as pregnant and parenting teenagers, who are school drop-outs, will also be rehabilitated under the project. Mr Nelson Agyemang, Executive Director of Youth Development Foundation (YDF), announced this at the opening of a five-day training workshop on ARH issues in Kumasi yesterday.

The workshop is being organised and sponsored by the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) based in Seattle, USA, for the YDF and Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), who are the implementers of the ARH project.

The workshop is designed to sharpen the skills of the implementers and collaborators in adolescent reproductive health issues and provide them training, which will in turn enable them to transfer such knowledge and skills to their peers.

Mr Agyemang said 250 of the out-of-school youth have been earmarked to attend literacy classes and receive life skills training and other services.

The rest of them will be educated on how to avoid the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and HIV as well as make them more responsive adults.

Dr Asha Mohamud, Senior Programmes Officer of PATH, said to start with, the project has embarked on a base-line

survey, which is aimed at collecting data on out-of-school youth and identifying their skills, needs and services.

He was optimistic that after the two-and-half years duration of the project, the PPAG and YDF will be in a better position to provide the requisite services and assistance to the out-of-school youth and help reduce the ignorance and the irresponsibility of such unfortunate youth in the system.

Dr Agartha Bonney, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health, called on the 32 participants at the workshop not to concentrate on educating others only but should also apply what they have acquired on themselves in whatever situation and environment they live.

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Parents asked not to push disabled children into early trade

Sekyere (Ashanti), 2 March 

A suggestion has been made to parents of disabled children to desist from the habit of pushing such children into learning a trade at a tender age but rather enrol them at normal schools to acquire basic educationfirst.

Mr Adu Boampong, national treasurer of the Disabled Association of Ghana, said at such a tender age, the disabled child like the normal child needs to be encouraged to broaden his or her potentials in all spheres before making a choice between academic and vocational pursuits. Mr Boampong made the suggestion at a fund-raising harvest organised by the Community-Based Rehabilitation Centre at Sekyere in the Sekyere East district of Ashanti in aid of the construction of permanent structures for the centre.

He said equal opportunities should be given the disabled child and not to wrongly perceive such handicapped children as liabilities. Mr Kwame De-Graft Agyei, the District Chief Executive, in an address read on his behalf, advised Ghanaians to shift their emphasis towards providing amenities and facilities that could help the disabled acquire employable skills rather than offering them charitable donations.

The DCE stated that this is the only option through which the nation can contribute to making the handicapped more productive to their communities, families and the country and also help rid the streets of the begging menace.

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Publishers get 22 billion cedis contract

Accra (Greater Accra), 2 Mar.  

The Ministry of Education, has awarded a 22 billion-Cedi contract to 25 Ghanaian publishing companies to print 4.5 million copies of supplementary readers for primary and junior Secondary Schools in the country.

The contract, the first in the history of the publishing industry in Ghana is part of a programme by the Ministry to provide reading material for basic schools. It is being undertaken with a £ 7 million grant from the British Department for International Development. Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, said this when representatives of the Ghana Book Publishers Association, called on him to express their gratitude for the ministry's efforts in promoting and sustaining the local publishing and printing industry.

They discussed issues affecting the industry, especially the cost of producing textbooks locally, release of the new basic school syllabus on time to enable publishers to print new textbooks, and the involvement of the association in policies on textbooks.

The publishers asked the Ministry to furnish it with its text book policy for the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme to enable them to ensure that books published satisfy the criteria.

It would also enable them to plan and complete their publishing projects on schedule.

Mr Spio-Garbrah commended the association for it's important role in the education sector and said the Ministry will look into the issues raised by the association and come out with workable solutions.

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Independance Day marathon for children on March seven

Accra (Greater Accra), 2 Mar.

This year's Golden Tulip Hotel annual Independence Day marathon for school children comes off at the Hotel in Accra on Sunday, March seven.

A spokesman for the hotel said in Accra yesterday that about 200 school children drawn from private and public schools in the Greater Accra Region are expected to participate in the 20-kilometre race, which starts at 0700 hours.

He said Cocoa Processing Company and Ashfoam Products Limited are the co-sponsors of the event.

Mr Tom Sheriff, Managing Director of the hotel will present prizes to the winners.

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African delegates to meet in Mali

Accra (Greater Accra), 2 March 

Two hundred delegates from 46 Sub-Saharan countries and other regions of the world are expected to review the implementation of the Bamako Initiative on health promotion for mothers and children.

The meeting, scheduled from March 8 to 12, would be organised by the government of Mali, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

A statement issued today said it would be the first meeting of its kind since the "Declaration" was adopted in 1987, by African ministers of health in Mali.

The Bamako Initiative is considered to be one of the most important approaches to health promotion, particularly for mothers and children.

The statement said more than half of African countries have implemented the initiative to varying degrees.

The review will aim at assessing the implementation of the Bamako Initiative and make recommendations to strengthen the performance of the health systems of various countries.

"The meeting will also identify the constraints, strengths and weaknesses, assess the impact of the Initiative on the availability and accessibility of essential drugs at the local level".

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Rawlings congratulates Nigerian President-elect

Accra (Greater Accra0, 2 March,  

President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday congratulated Nigerian President-elect, General Olusegun Obasanjo, saying, his "impressive" election is a clear demonstration of the people's confidence in his leadership, especially towards peace, stability and prosperity.

In a message released by the Foreign Ministry, President Rawlings said the people of Ghana have followed with understanding and admiration the short and difficult transition to constitutional rule "in your country and congratulate all Nigerians for making a success of the process.

"We will continue to be associated with developments in your great country in keeping with our common history and close cultural ties." President Rawlings expressed the hope that Ghana and Nigeria will co-operate even more closely together as well as with other member states of ECOWAS for their mutual prosperity in a stable and peaceful West Africa.

The message wished General Obasanjo good health and overwhelming success in the discharge of his "heavy responsibilities amid prosperity, peace and stability" in that country.

Former military leader Obasanjo was declared elected on Monday after weekend elections in which he polled 18.7 million or 62.8 per cent of the nearly 30 million votes cast.

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Sissal renew appeal for District status

Funsi (Upper West) 2 March,

The chiefs and people of the south Sissala area of the Upper West region have renewed their appeal to the government to create a separate district for them.

The area is presently divided between the Wa and Nadowli districts.

Kuoro Nwadei Bayong, divisional chief for the Funsi traditional area said at a press conference at Funsi yesterday that an earlier appeal in 1988 for the restoration of Funsi district, as the area was known under the first republic, has not received any response.

He said the area is marginalised and neglected because of its division between two districts which has led to its enormous potential in food and animal production not being tapped.

Citing examples of the neglect, Kuoro Bayong said the people in the area are a different ethnic group and it is difficult for the Sissala assembly members to contribute effectively during assembly deliberations, which are carried out in either Wali or Dagaari.

He said the only decent school in the area was provided by the Catholic Church, and all the senior secondary schools in the region are concentrated in Wa, hence " our children are unable to gain admission into them."

On health care Kuoro Bayong said there are only two clinics in the area, one of which is poorly staffed, while in other parts of the region a clinic can be found within a radius of every six kilometres.

Other areas of neglect, according to the chief are agriculture and water supply.

In a related development, Kajokperi Kundungu, a divisional chief has also appealed for the creation of a separate traditional council for the area.

He explained that for reasons of administrative convenience, the Dagaaba's and Sisala's in the area were brought under the Wala traditional council by the colonial government in 1933.

However, for over 20 years now the Dagaaba areas have had their paramountcies restored to them while the Sisaala's continue to remain under the Wala traditional council against their will.

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Veep attends economic summit in Dakar

Accra (Greater Accra), 2 Mar. 

The Vice President, Professor John Atta Mills, left Accra today at the head of a five-member delegation, to Dakar to attend an economic forum.

The two-day, "forum on the future competitiveness of African economies", is being organised by the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) and would be attended by representatives of the Organization of African Unity and the African development Bank.

The Vice President is expected to deliver a paper at the summit.

The delegation include Ghanaian economists and the UNDP representative in Ghana, Dr Abdoulye Janneh.

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Chiefs advised to be role models.

Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 2 March,

A traditional ruler has advised chiefs to regard their roles purely as sacrificial and not a means to amass wealth.

Osabarima Dotobibi Takyia-Ameyaw the second, paramount chief of Techiman traditional area, gave the advice when the newly-enstalled Adontenhene of Techiman traditional area, Nana Baffour Asare Twi-Brempong the second, swore the oath of allegiance to him at his palace at the weekend.

Nana Twi-Brempong, a 35-year-old civil servant known in private life as Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Asare succeeds his late grandfather, Nana Kwame Poku Ababio the second who died last August.

Osabarima Takyia-Ameyaw urged the new Adontenhene to respect his subjects and regard himself as the servant of the people.

He urged him to tap the rich experience of his elders and promptly respond to their calls without creating room for chieftaincy disputes because they retard progress.

Nana Twi-Brempong thanked the paramount chief, and the kingmakers for the honour done him and pledged his unflinching loyalty to the Techiman state and the people.

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GJA appeals to journalists to respect "time-honoured practices"

Accra (Greater Accra), 2 March

The Ghana Journalists Association has apologised to the Asanteman Council on media reports about the Asantehene and appealed to journalists to respect time-honoured practices which do not offend human conscience.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday night by Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, GJA Vice President, said it regretted any inconveniences that might have been caused to the Council as a result of lack of respect for traditional values of Asanteman in handling matters about the Golden Stool.

It noted that recent media reports about the Asantehene have created an embarrassment since they have tended to ignore valued traditions.

The GJA, therefore, appealed to journalists to exercise extreme caution.

"(The GJA) accordingly offers an unqualified apology to the Asanteman Council and pleads that the matter be resolved amicably".

The statement appealed to journalists "to respect time-honoured institutions and practices which do not offend human conscience and are meant to promote social order."

The GJA said "the constitution provides for customary law and institutions in so far as they are not unconscienable or offensive to the fundamental rights of individuals."

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Rawlings receives message from Ivorian President

Accra (Greater Accra), 2 March

An envoy from President Henri Konan Bedie of Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday delivered a special message to President Jerry John Rawlings inviting him to attend a conference on industrialisation in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan next week.

The conference is being organised by the Alliance for Africa's Industrialisation and will discuss ways of speeding up the continent's economic development.

The alliance is formed by African countries and, so far, 16 Heads of State have agreed to be patrons.

President Rawlings said he is not surprised that President Bedie is organising such a meeting because he is one of the African leaders who promote co-operation among African countries.

"This is an acknowledgement of what President Bedie is doing to promote co-operation among African countries. This is an important meeting. There no question about it".

He said there is no way Africans can make progress without co-operating among themselves. "This is the message I will continue to deliver and I hope my colleagues will do the same".

Dr John Abu, Minister of Trade and Industry, said response to the formation of the alliance has been encouraging, adding that initially it was planned to have six Heads of State to be patrons but the number has shot up to 16.

"This shows the commitment of individual countries and the desire to speed up the industrialisation of the continent."

Mr Emmanuel Amon Tanoe, the Ivorian Ambassador who delivered the message, spoke about President Rawlings' recent trip to the United States and said "we are pleased with the way you presented Africa's problems.

"You did not talk only about Ghana but the whole of Africa. Thank you," he said.

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Failure of government is failure of civil servants, Dr Dodoo

Ho (Volta Region), 2 Mar.

Dr Robert Dodoo, head of the civil service has reminded civil servants that they cannot be detached from the achievements and failures of the government because the service is an indispensable machinery of government.

He said this is the import of the performance agreements being signed between the government and civil servants at various levels of political authority.

Dr Dodoo was speaking at the signing of performance agreements between the Volta regional minister on one hand, and the regional co-ordinating director, the 12 district co-ordinating directors and the district chief executives, in Ho yesterday.

Mr Kwesi Aboagye, deputy Volta regional minister signed for the regional minister Alhaji Seidu Iddi, while Mr William Kemevor, the regional co-ordinating director signed for the regional co-ordinating council.

Mr Dodoo said this year's agreements are the result of the evaluation of that of 1997.

The 1999 agreements have outputs common to all regional co-ordinating councils specific to every regional co-ordinating council and district co-ordinating directorates.

The 1999 agreements also provide for incentives and sanctions based on the performance of the respective civil service heads in achieving the targets set in their agreements.

Dr Dodoo said each regional co-ordinating council would be expected to implement aspects of the president's sessional address, which relates to their regions including cabinet decisions.

"Let me remind you that you have common goals and objectives with your political heads and above all a shared responsibility in improving the quality of lives of the people through well planned socio-economic development strategies'', he said.

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