GRi Newsreel 09-03-99

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 9 March, 

The Police Administration has dispatched a crack team of investigators to Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region, to help unravel the mystery and circumstances that led to the death of the queen mother of the town.

The team, made up of seasoned crime investigators, is drawn from Sunyani and Accra and led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

It would help establish whether the wounds found on the queen mother, Nana Akosua Ansua Ababio, which caused her death were self-inflicted as alleged or were the work of a murderer.

This came to light when members of the Traditional Council met the Regional Minister at Sunyani today to express their endorsement for a thorough and speedy investigation into the death of the queen mother on February 27.

The Regional Police Commander, Mr R. K. Safo-Kwarteng, who disclosed this, said the police were determined to get to the cause of death of the queen mother and appealed for co-operation from people in the town, especially those in the household of the queen mother.

The acting president of the Dormaa Traditional Council, Barima Ansu-Adjei, said members of the council strongly believe there is enough evidence to prove that the queen mother was murdered.

Barima Ansu-Adjei said it was not humanly possible for Nana Ansuah Ababio to cut herself deeply several times with a knife as the accompanying pains would prevent her from doing so.

Barima Ansu-Adjei said a police report would help the council to determine the next line of action to take as regards her funeral since no official announcement and arrangements could be made without the root cause of her death being known.

He also expressed the displeasure and anger of the council on media reports, which falsely sought to insinuate that the queen mother committed suicide and asked journalists to contact the council before doing stories on the queen mother.

The Regional Minister, Mr Donald Adabre, appealed to the chiefs and people of Dormaa to exercise restraint and tolerance in the interest of peace as the police go about their investigations.

He said investigations take time to complete and it is only when the team is given all the necessary co-operation and assistance that it could finish its task in good time.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, responding to the council's strong resentment against the reporter, who fist broke the news about the alleged suicide of the queen mother, appealed for understanding and restraint in spite of their displeasure.

Alhaji Adam noted that in the midst of the unprecedented press freedom being enjoyed in the country, traditions and customs are likely to be disregarded by journalists, and it is only dialogue that could ensure that they would respect the peculiar sentiments of the people.

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March - Members of the Research Staff Association (RSA) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), on Monday embarked on a strike action demanding an increment in their Enhanced Book Allowance (EBA).

Mr Patrick Ofori-Danson, national president of the Association, told reporters that all efforts made by RSA, over the past three years, to get government to honour the payment of the book allowance, which is currently being enjoyed by its colleagues in the universities and polytechnics, have proved futile.

He said "RSA members of the CSIR are demanding for an increment in the EBA from 100 dollars a year plus 80,000 cedis every month as research allowance to 650 dollars a year."

Mr Ofori-Danson said researchers need to update their knowledge by belonging to international professional associations to enable them get access to information on science and technology.

"Our colleagues in the universities are now receiving 600 dollars a year as their book allowance".

Mr Ofori-Danson said Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Environment Science and Technology (MEST) told the Association at an emergency meeting on March five that the book allowance was meant for only teachers doing research.

"Meaning that RSA is not to benefit from this allowance but we need to update our knowledge and be members of international professional associations for more information on science and technology.

"Our colleagues in the universities and the polytechnics are receiving 600 and 500 dollars respectively as their allowance, while we are receiving 100 dollars plus 80, 000 cedis as our research allowance, which is too small''.

Mr Ofori-Danson said the minister asked them to extend their time to June to enable him to study the issue so that he will be able to convince cabinet at its next sitting.

"We need to convey this to our colleagues for them to decide whether they will accept or continue with the strike.

"There will be an emergency consultative meeting at Kumasi on Wednesday to discuss the minister's plea, meanwhile the strike action continues".

Nsawam (Eastern Region), 9 March  

Nii Okaidja Adamafio, Minister of the Interior, on Monday said 3,000 prison officers will be provided with residential accommodation within the next three years.

He said this is within the government's Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which seeks to address the problems of the service from this year to 2001.

Nii Okaidja made the announcement when opening the 14th annual joint conference of Regional Commanders and Agriculture officers of the service at the Nsawam Prisons.

He said besides "the ongoing construction of a Medium Security Prison at Ankaful in the Central Region, we plan to establish three more Camp Prisons and construct two Medium Prisons by 2001 to reduce overcrowding".

Nii Okaidja said problems facing the Service have been "well identified and are being systematically tackled. Some require immediate attention while others could be done in the long term".

He said the possibility of trading off prime lands belonging to the Service to estate developers to build new prisons on virgin and spacious lands with adequate facilities for prison officers, is being considered.

Nii Okaidja urged the officers to secure the rights of the prisoners in their care to be able "to take the Ghana Prisons into the next millennium with a new image and a renewed sense of purpose.

"The advancement of personal freedoms bestowed by the Constitution constitutes great challenges to the Ghana Prisons Service as it seeks to execute its mandate".

Nii Okaidja, therefore, urged the officers to discuss at the forum how they can ensure the protection of prisoners.

Brigadier A. K. Djangmah, Director-General of the Service in a welcoming address said the service will make judicious use of funds provided by the government but pleaded that such funds should be released to them with minimum delay.

Meanwhile, a new toilet described as environmentally friendly has been built for the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons Estimated at 18 million cedis and known as "Enviro-Loo toilet", it was donated by Hedzome Limited, environmental, civil and mining engineers. It was developed in South Africa by Dr La Trobe of the University of Stellenbosche about five years ago and has won international awards from the World Intellectual Property Organisation and Organisation of African Unity. Mr Ed Holdbrook, Managing Director of the company, said it has advantages over KVIP because it is odour-free and does not attract flies.

He explained that the "Enviro-Loo" operates by separating the liquid and solid waste through radiant heat and ventilation to cause the separation of human waste, toilet paper and organic material into an "in-offensive compost-like material".

Aburi (Eastern Region), 9 March 

Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), on Monday urged the Town and Country Planning Department to gear itself up and not to be overtaken by the many developments in the social and economic sectors.

Mr Avoka, addressing a five-day review conference of regional heads and metropolitan directors in Aburi said the department appears to have been overtaken by current socio-economic events.

"Developments all over the country seem to be preceding planning rather than the reverse."

He told the planners not to be surprised at the current trend of events, if they fail to be responsive to what is happening around them "other agencies are taking over or competing with you in respect of the function you are expected to perform in society".

These agencies may not be performing functions, which will satisfy planning officers, but, however, it may be satisfying the needs of society.

"You must ensure that you perform your task as professionals with initiative and vision."

Mr Alex Avulete Tamakloe, acting director of the Department, said the law courts have also contributed to the land acquisition and encroachment problems due to the numerous injunctions. He called for a land policy that would make all utility providers inspect land plans and permits before providing such services.

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March 

Mr J. E. K Aggrey-Orleans, Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has expressed satisfaction on the contribution Africa is making towards international peace and security on the eve of the millennium.

He said at this juncture of African history and politics, Ghana's wish is for nothing but peace and stability on the continent, according to a statement received in Accra on Monday from the High Commission.

Mr Aggrey-Orleans said this at a gala reception for a cross-section of the Ghanaian community, members of the diplomatic corps, the business community and friends of Ghana in London, to mark the 42nd anniversary of Ghana's independence over the weekend.

He made reference to PANAFEST and Emancipation Day, which would be celebrated in Ghana this year saying that the renaissance of African civilisation would bring Africa to the fore.

Mr Aggrey-Orleans appealed to his compatriots, Africans and friends of Africa to reflect on the destiny of Africa as it enters the next millennium.

Anfoega-Akukome (Volta Region), 9 March, 

Two school blocks and 15 houses were destroyed during a rainstorm at Anfoega-Akukome and Gblemkor in the Kpando District last Wednesday. About 50 people were rendered homeless, but there was no casualty. The cost of damage is yet to be assessed.

Mr Traugott K. Yaokumah, assemblyman for the area who disclosed this to newsmen, said the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Primary 'B' school, and the Roman Catholic (RC) junior secondary school blocks and workshop had their roofs ripped off.

He said those rendered homeless are putting up with relatives and friends, while the school pupils are attending classes in the EP and RC chapels.

A new six-classroom block with a store and offices of the Akoviefe Local Authority Primary School in the Ho District was similarly destroyed in a rainstorm last Saturday.

Togbe Adza Osei the seventh, Fiaga of Akoviefe said about eight million cedis would be needed to repair the rehabilitate the building. "... There is virtually nowhere for our children to attend classes", he said.

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March

 Dr Moses Adibo, Deputy Minister of Health on Monday noted that weak surveillance systems are responsible for the continued presence of epidemics in the sub-region.

Dr Adibo, opening a week-long meeting in Accra on disease surveillance in West Africa, noted that surveillance and data collection on diseases is a difficult job, because the exercise is limited to big health institutions which do not provide the real situation on the ground. "It is unlike in the rural areas where a large number of the population live, and the early detection of diseases is lacking". Dr Adibo said the situation was unacceptable on the eve of the 21-century.

Eighty participants from Ghana,Algeria, Burkina Faso, Benin, Cape Verde, and Nigeria are attending the meeting, organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa.

The conference is aimed at strengthening partnership among health workers in integrated disease surveillance. The participants include Expanded Programme on Immunisation managers, data managers and epidemiologists.

Dr Adibo urged health workers to go to the rural areas and involve the people in disease surveillance because they could give out accurate information on the type of diseases prevalent in their communities.

Dr Martin Mandara, WHO representative in Ghana, said recent outbreaks of cerebro-spinal meningitis, yellow fever and cholera have shown that most national surveillance systems are not effective enough to detect outbreaks "let alone to predict them. " The same goes for the laboratory support for surveillance which is on the whole rudimentary ".

He said a recent assessment of disease surveillance activities in a few selected countries in the African region detected weaknesses at the most crucial levels of the health system.

Dr Mandara said it is in this direction that the Regional Office decided to carry out surveillance in an integrated manner for the whole of the African region.

Several potential epidemics have been selected for inclusion in the integrated disease surveillance programme, Dr Mandara said. "They are yellow fever, Lassa fever, ebola haemorrhagic fever and cholera."

He said at each level of the health system, four different activities are expected to be carried out in sequential manner to ensure appropriate action including data collection, analysis interpretation and action.

" All these activities are expected to be carried out in an integrated manner for all diseases which are considered major causes of mortality, morbidity and disability in any one country with cross border sharing of information."

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March The School of Administration, University of Ghana, Legon, on Monday commissioned three ''special facilities'' in recognition of the meritorious service by three former lecturers.

A computer centre, a library and a hall were posthumously named after Dr. Alex Donkor and Professors Kwame Efah Adjei and James Berko Appiah-Pippim.

Mrs Naadu Mills, wife of the Vice President who unveiled plaques in honour of the three former lecturers, said the initiative by the School to honour past members of staff "is refreshing and welcome".

"As a nation we some times neglect to give recognition to our heroes who have devoted their lives serving their nation and people.

"But we need to do this in order to identify those of our citizens who deserve to be role models whom our children can emulate.

"Even though the three lecturers died rather young, they left behind their mothers who had toiled to make them great men".

Mrs Mills said she acknowledged that it is a common feature among Ghanaian women who toil to educate their children to become responsible citizens and congratulated mothers of Ghana for the tremendous sacrifices they have made for the advancement of their children.

Tema (Greater Accra), 9 March 

Aliens registration certificates, to be issued during the on-going registration of foreigners, are not resident permits.

Mr Gilbert Jackson Kuofie, Tema District Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) acknowledged that some of the aliens may be confused about the exercise, "but they must be able to draw a clear distinction between the two documents," adding that aliens with resident permits are also required to register.

Mr Kuofie said the exercise should not be seen as a witch hunting exercise against aliens. "It is only meant to keep records on aliens in the country at any given time".

He said the registration form costs 10,000 cedis while the aliens registration certificate, a small green booklet issued on submission of the form costs 20,000 cedis.

The law requires that aliens renew their registration annually. As at the close of today only two foreigners, an Indian and Ukrainian had completed the registration process while five others have collected registration forms.

Mr Kuofie said most aliens were not anxious to register because there is no deadline for the exercise.

Mrs Olena Asare, an Ukrainian described the exercise as good, since the certificates will provide answers to some of the questions asked by the police at check points.

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March,  

Six non-govermental organisations were on Tuesday given a total of 94,000 dollars from the United States Embassy's Democracy and Human Rights Fund to support democratisation and human rights.

Ghanalert had 22,000 dollars to finance election observation in the country. This will entail assessing and reporting on the political climate and media coverage around the country in the run-up to Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the year 2000.

International Needs received 10,000 dollars to finance an education campaign involving drama troupes, school debates and publications against the practice of Trokosi.

Legal Resources Centre got 10,000 dollars to fund a year-long series of legal education clinics in Nima and New Town, targeting youth and Women groups, chiefs and religious leaders.

The Northern Peace Committee had 20,000 dollars to establish and maintain peace committees throughout the Northern region with the two-fold objective of furthering peace efforts and serving as early warning agents for conflict.

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) got 22,000 dollars to conduct a training courses for about 150 CHRAJ officersand publish manuals providing workers with guidelines on investigation, mediation and adjudication of human rights cases.

FIDA had 10,000 dollars to finance a mobile legal aid clinic to visit 15 villages and towns in the Volta and Eastern regions and assist women withlegal questions concerning issues such as marriage, maintenance of children, divorce, wills, succession and violence.

US Ambassador Kathryn Dee Robinson said the fund was set up by the USCongress in 1991 to boost grants and aids to the grassroot level.

She said since its inception, the Fund has disbursed 800,000 dollars to groups to support short term but effective human right institutions.

The recipients thanked the US Embassy and pledged to work for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

President Jerry John Rawlings today described the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second as a father who was non-partisan.

"He conducted himself with nobility. His death is a great loss to the whole country. I will miss him," he said when a delegation from the Asanteman Council formally informed him of Otumfuo's death and funeral arrangements.

The delegation, led by Nana Oduro Numapau, Essumejahene, informed President Rawlings that Otumfuo Opoku Ware, who died almost two weeks ago, would be laid in state for four days beginning March 21.

The body would then be taken to St Cyprian Anglican Church, Kumasi, for burial service to be followed by burial.

President Rawlings said the Otumfuo meant a lot to many people throughout the country.

Therefore, in choosing his successor care must be taken to ensure that the next chief "does not wind back the clock of progress."

President Rawlings said chiefs have roles to play in promoting peace and stability in the country to enable the government to go ahead with its development programmes. Therefore, in choosing successors to vacant stools and skins, care must be taken to ensure that candidates were acceptable to the people, otherwise seeds of discord would be sown to disturb the peace.

He told the delegation: "we know you are walking a tight rope" and recalled the deaths of certain paramount chiefs recently whose funerals attracted people from all parts of the country. "This is what is unifying us. This is what we must strive to maintain."

Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Adviser to the President on Governmental Affairs, said Otumfuo Opoku Ware was a great man who went to great lengths to maintain peace. "He played a great role in the resolution of the northern conflict and always maintained the dignity of chieftaincy."

Mr Nathan Quao, a Presidential Staffer, said of Otumfuo Opoku Ware: "He was humble, modest and a man of peace. He fulfilled his role as a worthy occupant of the Golden Stool."

Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State, said Otumfuo "took us as his children and advised us whenever we called on him. His death is not only a great loss to Ashantis but the whole country."

Mrs Cecilia Johnson, a Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Professor Kofi Awoonor and Professor Patrick Twumasi both Presidential Staffers, all paid glowing tributes to the Otumfuo, describing him as a man of peace.

Nana Oduro Numapau said the Otumfuo never dabbled in politics. "He would listen to all sides and preached reconciliation. He was diplomatic."

Accra (Greater Accra) 9 March 

The Ministry of Health on Monday asked health professionals who perform additional duty hours to submit justifications and in-puts for additional duty hours allowance to the Minister by Wednesday March 10, 1999 for consideration.

A statement issued in Accra said this was agreed upon at an emergency meeting on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the Minister, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, his two deputies, chairman of the Parliamentary select committee, heads of division of the Ministry and professionals, other than doctors, to discuss issues regarding additional duty hours allowance.

It said the meeting agreed that the groups would submit comments on the proposed conditions of service under the Ghana Health Service by the end of Monday, March 22, 1999 for finalisation and discussions with the Central Management Board.

Accra(Greater Accra) 9 March 

M r Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, on Monday said it is about time parents and guardians pay for the tuition of their wards at the tertiary level.

This was not to put extra burden on parents but to ensure that universities in the country do not collapse but are well developed to befit their status.

At a meeting held with heads of five tertiary institutions to discuss problems facing them and to find possible solutions, Mr Spio-Garbrah said payment of tuition by parents could be achieved through constant education.

The institutions are University of Ghana, Legon, University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University for Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), University of Development Studies, Tamale and University College of Education, Winneba.

Issues discussed at the meeting included the level of funding of the tertiary institutions, deteriorating physical facilities and lack of equipment, salaries and conditions of service and scholarships for graduate students to pursue their education.

He said the government will continue to play her role in the development of its human resources but urged parents and guardians to supplement government's efforts by playing their roles effectively.

''Development of the manpower resources of the nation needs a collaborative effort from all partners in education. "The government has a role to play, parents have a role to play, so have the students themselves."

Mr Spio-Garbrah said the government and the ministry are negotiating with some private sector operators and financial institutions to help students at the tertiary level with loans to lessen the burden of parents.

He asked heads of the tertiary institutions to send a memorandum on their service activities to the ministry of finance, and copied to his ministry, for action. The Minister said he was happy that the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has accepted the offer by government and Social Security and National Insurance Trust of the 50,000 cedis increase of the students loan for the 1998/99 academic year.

The acceptance by the students is a sign of mutual understanding between the ministry and the students' body he said and thanked them. or that.

Prof. A. K. Tuah, acting vice chancellor, KNUST, who led the discussion said government's subvention to the universities has now been cut down to 54 per cent. "This is woefully inadequate for the development of the universities since this only covers emoluments".

If the budget is not increased, the universities will be forced to reduce the intake of students next academic year.

Prof. Tuah called on the government to look into the salaries and conditions of service of lecturers, saying "this is making the retention of lectures at the universities very difficult".