GRi Newsreel 15-03-99

Ntotroso (Brong Ahafo) 15 March 

Thirteen houses at Ntotroso in the Asutifi district of the Brong-Ahafo Region had their roofs ripped off during a rainstorm at the week-end.

Mr Eric Pagpan, assembly member for the town who disclosed this to newsmen after an inspection of the affected houses, estimated the cost of damage at three million cedis.

He appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation, and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the victims.

The affected individuals are presently putting up with relatives, friends and sympathisers

Tarkwa (Western Region) 15 March 

A 25 year-old taxi driver Kwesi Senzu, died instantly when he was shot through the mouth by an unidentified armed robber, who seized and bolted with the taxi cab he was driving at Low Cost a suburb of Tarkwa.

The armed robber hired the driver to an isolated place close to Low Cost where he was shot.

According to some masons who were working nearby, they heard the gun shot but the culprit bolted with the taxi before they could get to the scene.

Senzu, alias Ewuntuma, has three children and resides at Bankyem, a community near Tarkwa.

The body has been deposited at the Tarkwa Government hospital and police are investigating.

Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March 

The Consumer Association of Ghana (CAG) on Sunday, called on the government, service providers and manufacturers to collaborate with to eliminate shoddy goods and services on the market.

This is contained in a statement issued in Accra by the president of the association, Dr Ferdinand Tay, to mark the World Consumer Rights Day, which falls on Monday March 15.

It said the day would make policy makers, manufacturers and services providers reflect on their role in providing value for money to the consumer.

The theme for the celebration is "consumer Protection: Where do we stand?"

It said in an era of economic liberalisation, consumerism remains the only way to protect consumers and to monitor the market to ensure that only quality goods and services are provided.

The statement said CAG is worried about the situation where shoddy goods enter the Ghanaian market and service providers are not living up to expectation.

It noted that the interest of consumers could be protected only with the enactment and enforcement of a more comprehensive consumer protection law. CAG therefore called on the Ministry of Trade, Ghana Standards Board and Public Utility Regulatory Commission to have more collaboration with consumer activists to ensure that the interest of consumers are taken into account when policies are being formulated.

Nkenkaasu, (Ashanti Region) 15 March 

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has embarked on a programme to educate its members in the Offinso North constituency to equip them in explaining government policies and programmes to their neighbours.

The programme seeks to eradicate misinformation and misconceptions about policies of the NDC government.

At a forum at Nkenkaasu on Saturday, Mr Benjamin Brefo, Offinso District Chief Executive, announced that the district assembly had spent 53 million cedis to provide office accommodation for the Nkenkaasu Town Council.

The DCE said local government structures were the only option for accelerated development, so the assembly was committed to providing logistics and personnel to ensure their smooth take-off.

Mr Brefo urged party members to get actively involved at all levels to ensure that the decentralisation concept gains roots.

They should strive to explain the merits of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to their neighbours.

Mr S. O. Tawiah, the Constituency Organiser, observed that three pavilions at Nkenkaasu, constructed by the government had now been clad at the cost of 15 million cedis.

Adugyama (Ashanti Region) 15 March 

The Ahafo-Ano South District Assembly has provided 38 low-tension electric poles at a cost of 10.4 million cedis towards the Adugyama electrification project.

Mr Abraham Kofe, assemblyman for Adugyama South electoral area said the community has also purchased 31 of the poles at the cost of 8.5 million cedis to speed up the project.

The government, he said, has provided 40 high-tension electric poles to connect the town to the national grid at Mankranso.

The assembly has donated 100 bags of cement, sand, six packets of roofing sheets and nails for the construction of a four classroomed block, an office and store for the local English-Arabic Primary School.

The school is being financed through a special levy of 5,000 cedis flat for citizens, while the chiefs and elders are contributing 7,000 cedis each.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15 March

Miss Victoria O. Boateng, proprietress of Holy Ghost International School in Kumasi, has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to review its policy on the teaching and learning of science in schools with regards to the provision of science equipment and materials.

The GES could release and donate some of the abandoned laboratory equipment and materials used in the senior secondary schools (SSS) where Science Resource Centres have been established to public and private schools, which have reached the junior secondary school (JSS) level.

At the inauguration of an 11-member School Management Committee (SMC) for the school in Kumasi, She observed that most of these science equipment and materials are lying idle and will go to waste while public and private schools with established JSS need them to boost the teaching and learning of science.

It is the policy of the GES that SMCs are established to assist the administration to control the general policy and in addition monitor effectively the day-to-day programmes in the schools.

These are quality teaching and learning, well being of pupils and students, teachers, supporting staff and issues relating to the promotion of good quality education in the country.

Miss Boateng advised parents to assist and support their wards at all fronts to overcome their learning disabilities. She appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Metropolitan Directorate of Education to address the issue of encroachment on the school's lands.

The school established in 1982 with five children now has 600 pupils.

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 15 March 

The Koforidua Police has placed two brothers in custody for allegedly murdering one Januru Abdulai, a 27-year-old unemployed at Suhyen, near Koforidua.

The suspects, Daniel Appiah 20, and James Appiah 16, were said to have beaten Mr Sanuru with sticks and inflicted cutlass wounds on him till he died. They allegedly carried the body to the Suhyen Local Authority Junior Secondary School where they hanged it on a tree.

A source at the Koforidua Central Police Station said Appiah and Mr Sanuru were engaged in rivalry over a girlfriend. It said on March 12, Mr Sanuru who lives at Jumapo went to Suhyen, to attend a wake-keeping. At about midnight he went to knocked Appiah=92s door to find out whether the girl, who stays at Jumapo was in his room. The source said when Appiah opened the door and saw Mr Sanuru, he shouted and called his brother, who brought cutlasses and a saw, which they used to kill him.

However, the source said a witness (name withheld), who is a relative of the suspects, went to the scene during the scuffle to separate them. It said when news broke in the town the following morning that someone had hanged himself, the witness identified the deceased as the one, who was fighting with the suspects.

He, therefore, rushed to their house and arrested them and sent them to the Jumapo Police station.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly admitted committing the crime.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Koforidua central hospital for autopsy.

Nsawam (Eastern Region) 15 March  

The Ghana Railway Corporation (GCR) in conjunction with the Concerned Citizens Association of Ghana (CCAG) on Saturday, mobilised about 60 people from Accra and Nsawam to clear the waste dumped on a portion along the Accra-Nsawam railway line by the corporation about four weeks ago. The discovery of the waste heaps at Atuquaye, a village near the banks of River Densu, by the Akwapim South District Assembly Sanitation Task Force on February 17 this year sparked off a controversy between the two bodies.

The assembly with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the corporation to get the waste removed before March 15 or face legal action.

The Corporation started the exercise with scrapping and burying the smouldering refuse.

Mr Kwadwo Gyang-Taah, Accra Area Manager of GCR, said he, regretted that their intention to check erosion along portions of the railway line, using the waste, "had unfortunately led to the accusation that we were going to pollute the Densu River, which to us is far way from the line".

The Corporation had been dumping similar waste for the same purpose along the Kotuku-Achiase Central Railway line over the years and recently it was decided that some should be used in the area in question.Mr Joseph Nana Aidoo,National Chairman of CCAG said, though, the association knew that the GCR was the cause of the problem, they were compelled to get involved to avert the possible pollution of the Densu.

He called on the district assembly to give similar attention to the waste engulfing Nsawam and the pollution of the Densu

Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March

Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the FAO, arrived in Accra on Sunday to begin a two-day official visit to hana.

Dr Diouf told newsmen at the Kotoka International Airportthat he will hold bilateral talks with government officials as a follow up to the world food summit, held in Rome a year ago .

He said the food situation in Africa has been very positive asa result of improved climatic conditions after the El Nino phenomenon, and which has increased agricultural production on the continent .

Dr Diouf acknowledged that there are still problems in foodproduction, and mentioned civil strife which has made it difficult to ensure food security on the continent .

"Until we solve our political crisis and wars, it would be very difficult to handle the food situation=94, he added.

The FAO is to increase food production vis a vis the world's population, which would increase to about 9 billion by the year 2,000, and also to ensure fair distribution .

The FAO boss said trade amongst developing nations should be stepped up so that food surpluses could be sent to needy areas. This should be done with the support of all member countries,he said.

Dr Diouf urged nations to address the food situation at the highest policy level and set appropriate objectives to meet FAO's aim of reducing hunger by the year 2015 . He urged governments to create the enabling environment for increased production of food crops .

Mr J.H. Owusu-Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture, and officials of FAO and the UNDP met the Director-General at the airport.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 March  

Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, deputy minister of education, has commissioned a 65 million-cedi computer laboratory at the University of Ghana, Legon.

The laboratory, which has 19 computers, was acquired through the initiative and foresight of the executive of the Students Representative Council (SRC) and the students body.

Dr Ibn Chambas, who is in charge of tertiary education, said computer literacy has now become an important factor in determining one's employment and remuneration.

He urged the students to enhance their marketability by acquiring computer skills since all the government and public organisations are now computerised.

Dr Ibn Chambas commended the students for their contribution towards the delivery of quality tertiary education.

Mr Frank Owusu-Ansah, SRC president, said the students acquired the computers through the help of the Canadian High Commission, Ministry of Education and Mr Kojo Antwi, a renowned musician.

The laboratory is temporarily housed in Akuafo Hall, but the SRC President said "plans are far advanced to have a permanent place for it'' and asked the students to pay a token fee for the use of the computers to help to keep the centre running.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 March - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has stressed that regional chapters can hold awards ceremonies which must however not undermine nor clash with the motive and status of the national awards.

It said the regional honours, which will be strictly monitored by the national executive, should not be as competitive as the national awards. They must "casually pick winners taking just their general performance into account".

The decision, which was taken at the GJA National Consultative Committee (NCC) meeting in October last year, was revisited during the presentation of the General-Secretary's report at the Association's annual general meeting in Accra Friday.

Consequently, the national executive has decided to sanction the Ashanti regional executive for organising an awards ceremony last year that was "too elaborate and in violation of the terms agreed upon at the NCC meeting".

Mr Bright Blewu, General-Secretary, said the Association was rocked by the incarceration of two of its members, Mr Kweku Baako Jnr, Editor of the Crusading Guide and Mr Harruna Attah, Editor of The Statesman, to a month's imprisonment each for contempt of court.

On the acquisition of land for a permanent Press Centre, Mr Blewu said due to the high number of land disputes in Accra, the problem of land location and the high cost of land, the GJA is in touch with serviced plot providers to "get the best deal".

He said last year's opening of the Ghana Media Gateway, an Internet facility for the Association will showcase the GJA and the general media scene in Ghana.

Earlier, Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, GJA President, described this year as a unique one since the Association will celebrate its golden jubilee in August, the first of such association south of the Sahara to do so.

She urged GJA members and the public to take part in this year's World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May three, "to take stock of the performance of the media and reflect upon the quality of journalism in Ghana".

A seven-member national executive was sworn-in for a second two-year term, with Mr Albert Sam, an editor at the Daily Graphic, as the new executive member.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 March

The Ghana Journalists Association on Friday signed a 71 million-cedi agreement with the Canadian International Development Agency(CIDA) for the funding of an internet-based directory of public and civic bodies.

The directory will assist not only journalists, but also all members of the civil society to identify and access decision-makers.

It is intended to be a first step in accessing information on knowing who is in charge, who is involved, how to reach them, what is their area of responsibility, be it in Accra or Wa.

The President of CIDA, Madame Huguette Labelle said Canada is a strong supporter of civic society dialogue and expressed the hope that Ghana would become a model for Africa.

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, president of GJA thanked CIDA for the assistance, and said the association is working hard to achieve an independent and pluralist media in Ghana, where information will be easily accessible to all.

The project, she said, will cover the whole country, but will be primarily made accessible to journalists although it will be open to all who access the Internet.

Saltpond (Central Region), 15 March  

A 33-year-old mother of five, Agatha Sam, gave birth to a set of quintuplets, all girls, at the Saltpond District Hospital on Thursday.

A Principal Nursing Officer of the hospital, Ms Hannah Hagan, said the first two of the babies, who shared a placenta, died in the vehicle conveying the mother to the hospital.

She said the three surviving babies, which were delivered at the hospital, have been sent to the Central Regional Hospital at Cape Coast for incubator treatment.

Madam Agatha, a peasant farmer from Mpese-Duadze-Bentsigua, near Abura Dunkwa in the Central Region who is in good health, told GRi that she would not have any more children.

The husband, Mr Kodjo Essel, also a 33-year-old peasant farmer, appealed to philanthropic organisations and individuals to come to their aid in caring for the children "at this critical stage of our lives".

Tema (Greater Accra), 15 March 

Mr Kwabena Kyereh, Deputy Minister for Education said on Friday that there is still a big gap between boys and girls education in the area of admission, enrolment and retention rates.

He said the gaps grow wider, especially in the Northern sector of the country, the gap is larger, especially in the northern sector of the country and in the commercial centres of the south, a situation which is at variance with the government's commitment to provide education for all by the year 2000.

Mr Kyereh was speaking at the commissioning of the Corpus Christ Catholic schools complex, comprising of a primary, junior and senior secondary schools, built by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) at the cost of 1.2 billion cedis at community 18, Tema.

The TDC last week formally handed over the school complex to the Catholic church to run in view of the church's good educational policies.

Mr Kyereh stressed the need to pay special attention to girl child education, adding that "we will make better wives or traders out of these children if we send them to school".

Mr Ebenezer T. Ayi-Bonte, Managing Director of TDC, said the educational facility is meant to help the people of community 18 and the surrounding newly developed areas to have easy access to good education for their children.

He said apart from the TDC, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is the only estate developer which has attached schools to its housing projects at communities 13 and three in Tema, and at Adenta.

The Managing Director said the TDC is planning to build another school at community 20 to take care of the spillage from surrounding communities.

The Reverend Sister Beatrice Gbedemah, headmistress of the school said the school has about about 300 pupils.

The SSS currently offers general arts and business studies and plans are advanced to introduce general sciences in the near future.

Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 15 March  

Persons with disabilities have been cautioned not to default in the repayment of the community based-rehabilitation loans granted to them.

Mr A. Sakara, Director of the Department of Social Welfare, gave the advice when he addressed 35 participants at a one-day workshop organised by the Department for beneficiaries of the loan scheme at Techiman on Friday.

He said the 10 million cedis distributed to them as loans was to test their honesty in repayment and they would have themselves to blame if they defaulted in re-payment.

Mr Sakara said the Department has succeeded in urging the government to create equal opportunities for both the able-bodied and disabled persons and asked the handicapped to reciprocate the gesture by being sincere and truthful.

Mr Isaac Adangabe, Techiman District Social Welfare Officer, announced that as at November last year, only six out of the 35 beneficiaries had repaid their loans. Four out of the six have been granted additional loans

He said that an amount of 5.5 million cedis is still outstanding and appealed to the defaulters to co-operate to avert the intended court action against them.

Madam Helena Adutwumwaa, chairperson of the Social Services Sub-committee of the District Assembly, appealed to the beneficiaries to uplift their image by paying back the loans to enable others to enjoy the facility.

Accra Greater Accra), 15 Mar- The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, last Saturday toed six vehicles to their premises for violating traffic rules on the newly launched one-way routes to and from Accra to Circle.

All the six vehicles were found parked at places earmarked either as stopping points for commercial vehicles or no-parking and no-stopping zones.

This was during the implementation exercise by personnel from the MTTU, to ensure that drivers adhered to the new traffic rules regarding the one-way routes, which became effective from Saturday.

Under the new rules, vehicles moving from Circle to Accra are currently using only Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, through either UTC to Post Office or through Liberty Avenue, then to Barnes Road, to Tema Station.

Those from Accra to Circle are joining the Kojo Thompson road from their various stations, then through the Akasanoma Street to Circle.

In an interview, Mr Mustapha Garba, Commander of the MTTU, said though vehicles are allowed to stop on both sides of the road, provided there is a bus stop, they are not allowed to be parked and left there.

He said such an offence would attract a fine of 50,000 cedis before the vehicle would be released to the driver, adding that the drivers of the six cars arrested would be used as examples to prevent others from repeating the mistake.

Mr Garba said vehicles are to be parked at the Rawlings Park and Globe Cinema, "and not at the bus stops, on walk-ways and by the road sides."

He expressed satisfaction over the smooth manner in which traffic was running on the new one-way routes and pledged that the MTTU would sustain the the exercise to ensure that the traffic jams that used to characterise the city is reduced to the barest minimum.

Mr Garba hoped that the reduction in traffic jams would reflect during festive periods such as Easter, Christmas and Homowo adding that such defects as the green lights at traffic lights showing for a short period will soon be corrected.

He advised pedestrians to use the pavements and the hawkers to use spaces beyond them to ensure smooth human traffic flow as well. Some pedestrian, who spoke to GRi said the new one-way system has made crossing of those routes easy "since one would only have to watch one side of the road before crossing."

They are also happy about the free flow traffic, which has reduced the long queuing at lorry stations under the scotching sun, and the situation where passengers sweat while in traffic jam. The drivers said the free flow of traffic is aiding business "and we are sure that by Monday we would be making our sales within shorter periods."