GRi Newsreel 05-03-99

Kumasi (Ashanti), 5 March

The Kumasi Traditional Council(KTC) WAS yesterday formally informed of the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, Asantehene. The announcement was made by Baffour Amoateng the third, Jachiehene, on behalf of Gyaase, Ankobea, Mawere and Nkosuo divisions of Kumasi.

By custom, Baffour Amoateng, presented 24 bottles of Schnapps, which were distributed among the various divisions of the council by servants of the house. Baffour Awuah the fifth, Bantamahene, on behalf of the council, accepted the drinks and then informed members of the council and the gathering at the Manhyia Palace, all clad in mourning cloths, about the death of the Otumfuo about a week ago after a short illness.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware, 80, returned from Britain on Thursday, October 22, 1998, where he underwent a medical review.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware, known in private life as Barima Kwaku Adusei alias Jacob Mathew Poku, was enstooled in 1970 as the 15th Asantehene, succeeding as far as the name is concerned, his great, great grand uncle, Opemsuo Osei Tutu, who founded the Asante Kingdom three centuries ago.

As the occupant of the Golden Stool, symbol of Asante unity and their source of inspiration, Otumfuo was the traditional ruler and head of Asantes.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware was a barrister by profession. He was educated at Adisadel College, Cape Coast.

He worked as a Building Inspector at the Kumasi Town Council between 1937 and 1940 and then with the Public Works Department and the Royal Air Force as Building Draughtsman and Surveyor from 1941 -1943.

His uncle, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh the Second, recalled him to assist in setting up the Asantehene's Land Office in 1943, when the Golden Stool lands were restored to him. While working at the Asantehene's Lands office, Otumfuo Opoku Ware, gave out land for the establishment of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Working as a Surveyor, he later made the profile for the first building of the University.

Between 1952 and 1962, he studied in the United Kingdom (UK). He returned to set up a private practice in 1962 as a Barrister-at-Law after studying at the Middle Temple. The National Liberation Council appointed him to the Executive Council in 1968 and was the Secretary of Communications.

In March 1970, Otumfuo Opoku Ware, was appointed Ghana's Ambassador-designate to Italy but his Uncle, Prempeh the Second, died and he was called upon to occupy the Golden Stool. Otumfuo Opoku Ware was a devoted Christian and a member of the Saint Cyprian's Anglican Church Council, Kumasi, in 1968.

In 1972, Otumfuo toured Britain at the invitation of the British Government and had audience with the Queen and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. In 1974, the Italian Government invited him to Italy and he was given audience with the President and Premier, and Pope Paul VI.

From Italy, he led a Ghana goodwill mission to Teheran where he was received by the Shah of Persia and the Prime Minister.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second returned home on October 22 last year from London after a five-month holiday during which he underwent a medical review.

He was welcomed at the Kotoka International Airport by Paramount chiefs from Ashanti region. They included Nana Otuo Sereboe, Juabenhene, Nana Aboagye Adjei the Second, Omanhene of Ejisu, Nana Akuoko Sarpong , Omanhene of Agogo and Oheneba Edusei-Poku, Akyempimhene of Kumasi and the son of the Asantehene.

The Asantehene, on October 23, 1998, called on Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills to express his gratitude to the government for taking care of him when he went to Britain for medical treatment.

Otumfuo said he was moved when President Jerry John Rawlings sent an aircraft to Kumasi to lift him to Accra enroute to London. He said in London officials at the Ghana High commission went to great lengths to ensure his comfort when he was on admission at the hospital.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware arrived in Kumasi on October 10, 1998 to a rousing welcome. He was met at the airport by the then Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, his deputy Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh, the Metropoilitan Chief Executive Nana Akwasi Agyemang, Lieutenant Colonel Fuseini Iddrisu, Commanding Officer of the Fourth Battalion of Infantry and Mr Yaw Adu-Gyimah, Regional Police Commander.

Also at the airport were paramount chiefs in Ashanti, members of the Kumasi Traditional Council and other chiefs, all clad in white and a large crowd that sang his praises.

After being formally welcomed back to Kumasi, the Asantehene drove through the principal streets of the city amid cheers from people from all walks of life, who had lined up along the streets to catch a glimpse of him. The long convoy ended at Manhyia, where a mini durbar was held to welcome him back home. At Manhiyia Otumfuo went round greeting all the chiefs gathered there.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware, then Life Patron and Spiritual Head of Kumasi Asante Kotoko appointed Mr Herbert Mensah, Country Director of M-Net, Chairman of the Kotoko Board with effect from February, nine this year, his last act, which was covered by the media.

Mr Mensah, who was to be responsible directly to the Asantehene was, therefore, requested to appoint his team of directors as soon as possible.

The Asantehene also suspended the Kotoko Constitution and was to appoint a committee to draw up a new constitution. Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene conveyed the measures to the players and officials on behalf of the Asantehene. He said the decisions were taken at an emergency meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council and some Paramount Chiefs, which deliberated on the crisis in Kotoko in Kumasi.

The Akyempinhehe said his father hoped that with the appointment of Mr Mensah as the Board Chairman, the crisis in the Club would end.

Akim Oda (Eastern Region), 5 March  

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) intends to adopt the new burnt brick housing technology for its district housing programmes.

The new technology has been developed by the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and SSNIT has identified it as the cheapest and most cost effective housing unit.

SSNIT would continue to support the construction of houses using the new technology if the district assemblies and other beneficiary institutions would be prepared to buy the houses outright.

Mr Richard Keelson, Eastern Regional Estate officer of SSNIT, said this during an inspection tour of 10 units of the brick houses being constructed by the Trust at Akim Oda yesterday.

The cost of a unit of brick house which comprises two bedrooms, a hall, kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities, is estimated at 22.5 million cedis, as compared to 28 million cedis of a similar unit constructed with sandcrete.

Mr Keelson said SSNIT has under the supervision of BRRI, constructed about 632 units of the houses at Ashongman in Accra and is constructing several at Berekum in Brong Ahafo and Mampong in the Ashanti region.

He said the houses form part of the Trust's district housing scheme and it would work out modalities to give them out.

The director of BRRI, Mr Kwaku Amoah Mensah, said the technology, known as the Fast Track Housing Technique, can cut the construction cost to between 25 and 30 per cent. This would reduce the overall import of building materials to about 67 per cent.

Koforidua (Eastern Region), 5 March  

The decline in infant and child mortality rates in the country is due to sound policies and strategies adopted by the Ministry of Health within the last 20 years.

Nana Paddy Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Health said this at the designation ceremony of the Koforidua Central government hospital as a baby friendly health facility yesterday.

The Eastern region, he said, has six baby friendly facilities, the highest in the country.

According to the Deputy Minister, the promotion of appropriate breast feeding practices has identified important strategies and priority areas to improve child health care in Ghana.

Breast feeding, he said, has also been identified as an important sub-component of the reproductive health programme of the ministry and is clearly related to the safe motherhood programme.

Nana Acheampong said this is being pursued vigorously to improve upon the health of mothers and children.

The Ministry's policy is to promote exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of the infant's life and continue with complementary feeds until the baby is two years or more.

The Deputy Minister said to create an enabling environment to implement the breast feeding policy, the ministry adopted the baby friendly health facility initiative in 1993.

By the end of the programme in the Eastern Region, there would be 23 baby friendly health facilities in Ghana.

Nana Acheampong stressed the need for the promotion of local foods for babies after six months because by that age, breastmilk alone would not be enough to sustain the optimal growth and development of the infant.

The Eastern Regional Director of Medical service, Dr Aaron Offei noted that breast-feeding provides good nutrition for children and also protects the child against life-threatening infections.

According to him the efforts put in by health workers in this facility during 10 months training on location management were directed towards enabling women to initiate and sustain breast feeding for the benefit of the infants.

He pointed out that every element of child-care is a mutual responsibility of both parents.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March

The finals of the 42nd Independence Day debate for senior secondary schools was held in Accra yesterday with Accra Academy defeating Opoku Ware Secondary School by one-and-a-half points.

The debate was organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation as part of activities to commemorate the Independence Day celebrations. It was aimed at involving students fully in the celebration and help them focus on national issues.

Speaking for the motion "The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of the African Continent," Accra Academy representing southern sector schools scored seven-and-a half points while Opoku Ware Secondary which spoke against the motion, scored six points.

The Principal Speaker for the motion, Master Noah Adablah, said the statement made by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah on the eve of Ghana's independence is relevant because the African Continent lacks peace and unity and this has given rise to political instability.

"How else can our independence be meaningful when prices of African goods are determined by the Western world. "What we need to do now is to unite as a people into a stronger force so as to forge ahead for development. United we stand, divided we fall."

Master Michael Kottoh, Principal speaker against the motion, said the statement was relevant in the colonial days because pre-independence wars made Ghana's independence fragile at the time. He said Ghana has achieved a lot and this has never been through any efforts of other African countries.

Master Kottoh added that through hard work Ghana can stand out as a great nation on the African continent. For their prizes, the victorious school and runner-up received a 29-inch and 25-inch colour television sets respectively.

Each of the principal and supporting speakers received copies of the 1999 Guinness Book of records and a Chamber's English Dictionary donated by EPP Books Services. These prizes will be presented at the forecourt of the State House on Saturday, March six, by President Jerry John Rawlings.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March, 

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Wednesday appealed to the public to stop patronising meat from 'unapproved sites', saying most of it is unwholesome.

Mr Samuel Adokwei Addo, Chief Executive, said it has come to the notice of the assembly that most of the animals slaughtered at unapproved sites do not go through the routine animal health inspection. "This is because the butchers have the conviction that the animals would be confiscated on health grounds, if sent to approved slaughter houses, so they prefer to do it themselves."

Mr Addo who was addressing the second day of AMA's general sessional meeting in Accra said "no health inspector will give a pass for the slaughter of a pregnant animal or one that appears to be very weak." Mr Addo called on "chop bar" operators, who mostly patronise such meat, to stop since this could lead to an epidemic.

Touching on permits for temporary structures, he said the assembly agreed that the issuance of such permits be suspended with immediate effect.Permits for temporary structures already issued would last for at most six months after which they would not be renewed.

Mr Addo said the assembly has been forced to take such measures, because the issuance of such permits is now causing problems for it. He cited the case of Agbobloshie where, he said, settlers have turned the place into a township, thus impeding the implementation of the Korle Lagoon Reclamation Project.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March 

The People's National Convention (PNC) on Thursday drew attention to the unhygienic conditions at Agbogbloshie in Accra and said it would introduce a housing policy that would check the development of slums if it came into power.

"A PNC government will embark on a comprehensive policy of construction of flats and rental units, which will be rented out to workers at reasonable rates, leading to a scheme where those who occupy them would own them," Dr Edward Mahama, leader of the party, said.

He was speaking at a press conference held at Agbogbloshie market, at which Mr Musah Nartey, a businessman, was introduced as the party's candidate to contest the Ablekuma Central by-election on March 26.

Dr Mahama said he wondered whether Agbogbloshie should be called a market or a residential area since "about 20 people live in a shack measuring about 6 feet by 10 feet."

"The people are compelled to live there because of shortage of decent accommodation, as there is no national housing policy".

Dr Mahama said to ensure that the PNC achieves success in its housing policy, cheap local building materials, such as bricks and tiles, wood and sandcrete would be promoted in the building industry.

"The operations of the State Housing Company, Tema Development Corporation and all other similar agencies shall be reviewed to make them to work in the interest of the ordinary worker."

Dr Mahama said the party believes that the only way the present high rents in the country can be brought down is through 'massive investment' in the provision of cheap rental units for workers.

He said the party would ensure "the provision of low-cost rural houses built with sandcrete blocks, developed and successfully tested by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)."

Loans would be granted to the people in the rural areas through rural banks to upgrade their mud houses.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 Mar.

Mr Sam Afari, Principal Narcotics Control Officer of the Narcotics Control Board, on Thursday warned drinking bar operators to stop mixing marijuana with hard liquor.

He said the board has received reports that some drinking bar operators mix some of their hard liquor with marijuana and label it "special bitters."

"This concoction makes partakers 'feel high' and increases their sexual appetite, leading to the high incidence of rape cases, especially of the under-aged and over-aged."

Mr Afari was addressing members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly at its second general sessional meeting.

He warned: "Anyone caught involved in such acts will be severely dealt with in accordance with the law."

Mr Afari said it is important that the assembly members embark on educational campaigns in their electoral areas to help curb 'this fast- growing menace', since some people take this "special bitters" innocently.

He said the increasing use of narcotic drugs is causing a lot of embarrassment to citizens who travel especially to Europe and the US, as they are subjected to thorough searches.

"While citizens of other countries pass through most immigration points easily, Ghanaians are often subjected to harassment and humiliation, notably for their involvement in drug trafficking".

Mr Afari said the board has also noted that some students and the public brew marijuana as "tea", which they serve to innocent people.

He called on the assembly to intensify its educational campaign to help make Ghana a drug-free nation.

Mr Samuel Victor Adokwei Addo, Metropolitan Chief Executive, called on parents to spend more time with their children to ensure that they stay free of drugs.

"Our inability to spend time with our children oftentimes leads them into bad company and subsequent introduction of drugs," he added.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March

The Convention Party (CP) on Thursday called on Ghanaians to commit themselves to Dr Kwame Nkrumah's policy of Pan-Africanism and emancipation of the oppressed and under-privileged people.

This was contained in a statement to the press to mark Ghana's 42nd independence anniversary.

The CP stated that "the Pan-African efforts made by Ghana to unite the continent under the leadership of the Convention People's Party (CPP), which led to the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), strengthened Ghana's position in international forums and enhanced the image of the African."

"However," the statement said, "the dream of establishing a Union of African States with a common economic programme, aimed at reducing our dependence on our former colonisers has not been realised."

The party therefore called on the youth of Ghana and Africa to struggle for the economic liberation of the continent.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 Mar.

Ghanaian musicians will now have the opportunity to improve upon their skills through the provision of professional training facilities by the Paris-based International Federation of Musicians (FIM).

The federation will also monitor the music industry for royalty due them in foreign countries.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari, President of the Musicians Union Of Ghana (MUSIGA), told a press conference in Accra on Thursday that this follows a contracte signed on behalf of the union at an African regional seminar in Cote d'Ivoire last month.

He said participants agreed to introduce the banderole system in all African countries to combat piracy after he presented a paper on the subject at the seminar.

"Participants were impressed with the strides Ghana has made in the area of copyright protection and the fight against piracy, especially with the introduction of the banderole. Some African countries do not have the banderole at all."

Alhaji Buari said MUSIGA is for every musician and not for a particular group of people or professionals.

Nana Ampadu, General-Secretary of MUSIGA, said the aim of the union is to encourage young people with potential to come into the industry.

"We don't have to wait until a child is 18 years and above before he is given the chance to perform and be a member of the union.

Some of us started performing when we were under-18."

The new executives earlier on paid a courtesy call on Mr Ebo Hawkson, deputy chairman of the National Commission on Culture.

Mr Hawkson told them that the music industry should not be taken for granted, saying music can contribute a lot in terms of revenue and economic

development.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March 

Junior doctors said on Thursday that the Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has no power to order any doctor to work.

"They should stay within their mandate to promote the welfare of doctors and dentists and stop playing to the gallery," the junior doctors said in a statement signed by Dr Asamoah Manieson.

The junior doctors were reacting to the executive council's order to the doctors to resume work following a strike to press the payment of additional duty allowances to all public doctors and dentists by last Monday.

They said for the executive council to describe their action as unilateral and unjustified shows that they do not understand the resolution adopted by the general membership of the association.

"It was made abundantly clear, even by the Minister of Health, that monies were released for payment only last Friday, February 26, 1999 and a large majority of doctors/dentists in the regions and even at Korle Bu had not been paid by March one, 1999.

"Typical of the National Executives' neglect of duty, they failed to inform the membership of such a development and reassure us that the monies will be paid.

"In the midst of their confusion and disinterest in acquiring information from the right sources, they also failed to realise that junior doctors at Korle Bu were not on strike on March two, 1999 but had been dismissed by 1700 hours on March one, 1999."

The statement said these developments, as well as the haste with which they lashed out at their junior colleagues through the media makes them lose confidence in their leadership.

Junior doctors at Korle Bu resumed work on Wednesday afternoon following the intervention of the Minister of Health.

Accra (Greater Accra),5 March 

The Chief Executive of Ghana Trade Fair Company, Colonel Seth C. Kwawu (Rtd), is to proceed on leave, pending the outcome of investigations into "expressed dissatisfaction with some arrangements" for the Second ECOWAS Trade Fair, which opened in Accra last Friday.

The General Manager (Administration) of the Company, Mr Kwame Ofori Amanfo, is to act as Chief Executive until further notice, according to a statement issued in Accra on Thursday by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr John Abu.

It said the Ministry has noticed with regret that some participants and concerned groups have expressed dissatisfaction with some arrangements for the fair.

It has, therefore , set up a three-member committee under the chairmanship of Mr Mr Ato Ampiah, President, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce, to investigate the matter.

Other members are Mr Simon Alangbe Asabo, MP for Bongo, and Mrs Margaret Insaidoo of Internal Revenue Service.

The statement asked participants and other concerned groups to lodge their complaints immediately with the committee.

People willing to give evidence should go to Room 408, Ministry of Trade and Industry, or contact officials on telephone number 665663.

"The Ministry wishes to assure all participants at the fair that everything would be done to uncover any unethical behaviour or misconduct on the part of any official connected with the organisation of the fair.

"The Ministry wishes to assure all participants that irrespective of these actions, everything will be done to bring the fair to a successful end."

Atimpoku (Eastern Region), March 

Demarcation of lands acquired for the Volta Lake Guage Protection Project will start before the end of March this year.

Mr Emmanuel Dwamena-Bekoe, Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, told assemblymen at Atimpoku on Wednesday that adequate "compensation will be paid to the owners of the 98 square kilometres of land earmarked for the project".

He expressed the hope that the payments would help prevent frequent confrontations between farmers in communities along the Volta Lake and the District Forestry officials and appealed to the chiefs and the affected landlords to co-operate to ensure the success of the project.

He said 90 per cent of revenue in 1998 were derived from the common fund and grants, attributing it to the level of economic and commercial activities in the district outside Akosombo.

Mr Dwamena-Bekoe said this year, the assembly has budgetted for a total revenue of about 1.7 billion cedis out which total government grants is expected to be about 1.5 billion cedis.

He said 29.84 per cent of the amount woud be used to finance school projects in the district while 5.7 per cent of the amount will support health related projects.

Mr Dwamena-Bekoe reported improvement in the relationship between the assembly and the Volta River Authority (VRA).

The assembly,he said, was awaiting the reaction of VRA to a request for a 500 million cedis as development grant.

In a welcoming address, Mr Moses Kenneth Osei-Tutu, the Presiding Member, called on the assembly members to establish good working relationships with unit committees to ensure the smooth implementation of development projects.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March,  

African Telecommunication experts at the end of a three day conference in Accra have decided to form a Telecom Think Tank, to promote regional telecom institutions.

It will also serve as a forum for the exchange of information and provide solutions to problems for the accelerated development of telecommunication on the continent .

The conference was organised by Spectrum International and the Ministry of Communication for stakeholders in the industry including network operators and decision makers.

It was under the theme, ''Beyond privatisation, what are the realities of effective telecom delivery.''

Some of the topics treated were, the liberalised telecom environment, telecom privatisation ,satellites and options for rural telecommunication

It brought together 200 experts from 30 African and five other countries.

Mr Shola Taylor, Cordinator of the Think Tank, noted that by pooling their resources, Africans professionals in the telecom sector can make a positive impact on the development of the continent.

He said the group will produce periodicals and reports that will enhance telecommunication.

Mr John Mahama, Minister for Communication, who closed the conference said the liberalisation of the sector is in the right direction.

He expressed the hope that the issues they discussed would go a long way to improve the poor telecom delivery system in Africa.

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March, 

Governments in the West Africa sub region have been urged to encourage investment in the shipping sector.

Participants at a conference on transportation, co-operation and development within ECOWAS in Accra yesterday also called for incentives for local investors in the sector to make them more competitive in the face of economic liberalisation.

They stressed that investment in the shipping sub-sector is lucrative and noted with concern that shipping lines in the sub- region continue to fold up as a result of privatisation.

They said that the absence of a coastal network in West Africa is hampering shipping and transportation and deplored the lukewarm attitude of ECOWAS members in implementing the protocols of the organisation.

According to them, this has affected the movement of people and goods. The participants called for the establishment of a Shipping Inspectorate Division within ECOWAS to facilitate transportation in the sub-region.

Mr Magnus Teye Addico, Secretary General of the Ministerial Conference of West and Central African States on Maritime Transport, said that a round voyage could earn millions of dollars for the operator.

He expressed concern about pollution and maritime safety and said foreign vessels pollute the West African coast through the washing and dumping of harmful materials into the sea Mr Ibra Birane Wane, General Manager of Air Afrique,

Ghana said ECOWAS countries cannot afford to liberalise their airlines and called for their integration.

He said while ECOWAS has intensified efforts to integrate the economies of member countries, almost all of them have agreements which run parallel to that of the organisation.