GRi Newsreel 18-03-99

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March  

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for a review of labour laws of the country.

There is the need to develop a common perspective for organised labour on the review which should include a repeal of all obsolete laws on labour, Mr Alex Bonney, chairman of the TUC has said at a workshop in Accra.

He said the labour laws in the country "should be updated and brought together, since most of the laws are scattered.

The workshop was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and attended by about 45 officials drawn from the Civil Servants Association(CSA), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, and all the 17 affiliated unions of the TUC.

It was held in preparation towards a tripartite workshop scheduled for May to deliberate on draft labour law proposals.

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March

An exhibition to educate primary school pupils on stamp collection and letter writing to improve their writing skills opened on Thursday in Accra.

The exhibition, organised by Ghana Post, was also to select the most attractive Ghanaian stamp issued in 1998.

It brought together about 120 pupils from the Soul Clinic, Christ the King, Ghana International, North Ridge Lyceum and the Ridge Church Schools out of which 20 were given prizes for demonstrating their intensive knowledge on stamps since it was introduced in Britain in 1840.

Mrs Jane Assamoah-Broni, Senior Manager in charge of Philately, said stamp collection has been the hobby of school children for some forty years now and this she said helps them to communicate with friends and relatives both in and outside their country.

About 250 million people world-wide are into stamp collection but expressed regret that the introduction of television and video games have distracted children's attention from this hobby.

She mentioned two types of stamps as commemorative for occasions such as Independence and definitive stamps for wildlife pictures used for ordinary posting.

Mr Samuel Asare, Head of Marketing of Ghana Post, said it is an obligation of the postal services to ensure that letters posted get to the recipient within four to five working days for an ordinary postage and 24 to 48 hours for the Expedited Mail Service (EMS).

In order to make the service efficient, the public must also endeavour to use the correct stamps and provide the necessary information to enhance delivery.

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March  

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, has advocated the use of communications and information technology to support education. Addressing a conference in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, he said communications could make a meaningful impact on the sector if key partners are identified and their roles fully understood and appreciated.

This would also help determine and devise the most effective strategies needed to build the necessary partnerships and develop the much needed trust upon which consensus building can rest, he said.

A statement from the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Accra on Thursday said Mr Spio-Garbrah was speaking on Ghana's experience in the use of communications to enhance education. The conference was organised by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) in collaboration with the World Bank.

The conference with the theme "Communication for Education" is being held alongside an African ministers of education summit to adopt the draft programme of action of the "Africa Decade of Education 1997-2006". The decade was declared by the African heads of state at the 1996 OAU summit in Yaounde, Cameroun.

Mr Spio-Garbrah said Africa has no choice but to use the vital tools of communications as a key component and pillar to build a holistic educational system capable of transforming the continent.

The MOE has in this direction initiated moves through a multi-sectoral approach aimed at promoting extensive discussions and consultations among student bodies, teachers' organisations, parents and development partners among others groups.

Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 18 Match  

The Nkoranza community is to raise 129 million cedis to support a pipe-borne water project under the Promotion of District Capital One Project.

Each household is expected to contribute 70,000 cedis for the project, sponsored by the German Technical Cooperation and estimated at 3.5 billion cedis.

The contribution of 70,000 cedis a household represents five per cent of the commitment fee of the Nkoranza township for the water project.

Mr George Osei-Poku, Development Officer of the Nkoranza District Assembly, said at Nkoranza on Thursday that a four-member task force is educating the community on the need to pay the commitment fee.

He stressed the need for landlords to organise all their inmates to contribute promptly to enable the project to take off on schedule.

Akropong (Brong Ahafo) 18 March 

The Nkoranza District Education Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has launched a programme to educate the people on the need to guard against expensive funerals.

Mr Yaw-Effah Manu, district education officer of the NCCE, warned that frivolous expenditure on funerals only result in wastage.

He called on the people to invest in the education of their children, adding "it is unfortunate that some people prefer to spend their money on frivolous ventures rather than educating their children'.

Mr Manu urged parents to show greater responsibility for their children, warning that the large number of teenage mothers in the district is neither in the interest of neither the district nor the nation at large.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 March  

The Planning Committee in charge of the funeral of the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second has made elaborate preparations to accord the late Asantehene a burial befitting the status of an occupant of the Golden Stool.

Otumfuo Opoku Ware, the 15th of the Kings of Asante, died on Thursday, February 25, after reigning for 29 years.

According to the funeral arrangements announced on behalf of the Asanteman Council by Nana Osei Bonsu, Mamponghene, the late Asantehene will be laid in state at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Sunday, March 21.

Paramount chiefs in Ashanti and all those who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool will swear the oath of allegiance on Wednesday, March 24.

The body of the Asantehene will then be conveyed to the Saint Cyprian's Anglican Church for a burial service on Thursday March 25.

Since his death, the Asanteman Council has placed a ban on drumming and funeral celebrations in Ashanti until after April 8, when the 40th day celebration will be observed.

According to the Mamponghene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware will be given a state burial "in recognition of his invaluable services to the nation and chieftaincy".

President Jerry John Rawlings, Ministers of State, Members of the Council of State, Parliamentarians, leaders of political parties, religious leaders, chiefs, members of the Ghana Bar Association and other organisations, and people from all walks of life will file past the body while it lies in state.

Over 700 policemen and soldiers will be deployed to beef up security during the five-day period until the burial on March 25.

According to the police, Antoa road, which passes in front of the Manhyia Palace, will be closed to traffic from Sunday, while that from the Zongo police station to the Labour Office in front the Saint Cyprian's Cathedral will be closed on Thursday, March 25.

The funeral cortege will move along the Antoa road to Kejetia and branch onto the Guggisberg road in front of the Kumasi Central Market to the Cathedral for the burial service. Wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Bantama mausoleum, after the service.

Since the announcement of Asantehene's death, government, churches, political parties, organisations, establishments, groups and individuals have been paying tributes.

A government delegation led by the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, called at Manhyia Palace last week to express its condolence to Asanteman. The Manhyia Palace has also been invaded by people from all walks of life, companies, organisations, institutions, political parties to express condolences, sign the book of condolence and offer assorted drinks and donations.

The family of Mr Kofi Annan, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, was at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday to present assorted drinks to the Asanteman Council and express condolence on his behalf.

Mr P.V. Obeng, former Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs, has also been to Manhyia to express his condolence and present customary drinks.

In compliance with tradition, the Asanteman Council has come out with a dress code for those who want to attend the burial. Men would have to put on "kuntunkuni" and women must wear "baasankye" or "Kaba" without headgear. Ornaments like watches, chains, earrings are forbidden. Those who file past the body must remove their sandals.

The burial has led to an influx of both domestic and foreign tourists into the city of Kumasi leading to traffic jams on major roads to Kumasi. The situation has also been worsened because of the major rehabilitation works going on at Kejetia, the central lorry station in the city. According to Nana Kofi Genfi the second, chairman of the Hoteliers Association, all hotels in Kumasi have been fully booked. Asante is in a state of mourning, and it is the wish of the Asanteman Council and the Funeral Planning Committee that the entire nation joins them to give the departed Otumfuo Opoku Ware the befitting burial reserved for the Monarchs of Asante.

Ominous signs could be in the air for Ghanaians this year. Hardly had the nation gotten over the shock of the death of perhaps, its greatest king, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the II, Asantehene, than the news of the passing away of another monarch hits the headlines.

This time it is that of Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku the III, Okyenhene, and President of the National House Chiefs, who is believed to have passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, March 17. The 57-year old Osagyefuo is believed to have died at the 37 Military Hospital, after a brief illness.

Though no official confirmation has been given of his death, as is to be expected on such occasions when tradition demands the performance of certain rites before a formal announcement is made, events at the Ofori Penin Fie, the Okyenhene's official residence in Accra, gave enough indication of the passing away of yet another bulwark in the traditional setting of the country.

As the few privileged members of the household whispered among themselves about the death, word soon got round and by the afternoon of Wednesday, March 17, the Ofori Penin Fie was virtually besieged by hundreds of tearful subjects of the Osagyefuo.

The gates to the house were uncharacteristically left wide open, and subjects of one of the powerful traditional settings in Ghana who had all of sudden been left fatherless, were left wondering what fate has befallen them.

In terms of importance, the Okyenhene is perhaps, ranked second only to the Asantehene. Elected President of the prestigious National House of Chiefs only last year, his death coming soon after that of the Asantehene has set many tongues wagging as to what has befallen the chieftaincy institution.

Known in private life as Dr. Alex Fredua Agyeman, the late Okyenhene was born at Kyebi on February 22, 1942 to Samuel Joseph Okoampa Agyeman of Asiakwa near Kyebi and Madam Juliana Abena Akoto of Kyebi.

Alex, as he was commonly called by his friends, started his schooling at the Asiakwa Presbyterian Primary School from 1948 to1951 and continued at the Asamankese Presbyterian Middle School and completed at the Akim Tafo Presbyterian Middle School in 1956.

Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku had his secondary education at the Prempeh College from 1957 to 1961 from where he obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate (GCE 'O' Level).

In the same year, he entered Accra Academy to pursue his sixth form course. Within the same period, he was awarded a government scholarship and left for Sofia State University, in Bulgaria to study medicine.

In 1962 there was a deadly clash between African students and their white counterparts at the university campus resulting in the transfer of all African students, including the Osagyefuo to Konen-sky University where he continued his studies until 1968.

In 1969, Dr. Alex Fredua went to Charles University in Prague, the former Czechoslovakia were he finally qualified as a medical doctor in June 1970.

When he returned home in 1972, Dr. Alex Fredua Agyeman was posted to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and worked there until mid-1974.

Between 1974 and 1976 he worked at the Ridge Hospital, Castle Clinic and at the same time served as Medical Officer in charge of the Stadium Clinic, all in Accra.

On August 2, 1976, Dr. Alex Fredua Agyeman was installed Paramount Chief of the Abuakwa Traditional Area. He succeeded his late uncle Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II who died in 1975.

Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku III held offices as the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, member of the National House of Chiefs, member of the Consultative Assembly, member of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council and until his untimely death was the President of the National House of Chiefs.

He was also a member of the Council of State a position he held by virtue of his status as President of the National House of Chiefs.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 March '99

The government has voted 16 billion cedis for disaster management activities in the country this year, Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), announced in Kumasi on Wednesday.

He said out of the amount, two billion cedis is to go into the payment of salaries while the rest is to be used in training schemes, capacity-building programmes and disaster management drives.

Mr Portuphy was speaking at the opening of a one-day workshop, organised by NADMO for its staff in the Ashanti Region.

The workshop is aimed at equipping the staff of NADMO with the requisite skills and knowledge as front liners to enable them effectively handle and manage disasters.

Mr Portuphy asked the officers not to evolve their programmes in isolation since disaster programmes must be done and co-ordinated into the district development plans.

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, stressed the need for personnel of NADMO to strive to approach their work in unity and fairness, devoid of any intrigues of discrimination since that was the only way their assistance can have greater impact on communities.

He advised them to back-up their management and handling of disasters with intensive educational programmes, adding that this is vital as disaster management is not based only on technological advancement of a society, but the level of psychological readiness of its people on such occurrences.

Mr Yankah called on NADMO to adopt an inter-sectoral approach in the execution of their job by linking up with the various departments of the district assemblies, chiefs and religious bodies for the design and implementation of their programmes.

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March '99

Dr Frank Young, Mission Director of the USAID on Wednesday said Africa presents the best potential yet for investment and she must dispel the wrong perception in the minds of investors about the continent.

"Africa needs to eradicate the image of hunger, poverty and deprivation, which has become the norm in certain parts of the continent.

Africa presents the best potential yet for investment,' Dr Young said at a luncheon in Accra by the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AMCHAM).

Dr Young said African brains in the diaspora, need to return and make themselves available for the massive transformation programmes and socio-economic changes taking place on the continent. AMCHAM is a voluntary partnership of business and professional organisations and people networking to build a vibrant business community among Ghanaian and American companies.

The Mission Director said the visit of President Jerry John Rawlings to the US recently sparked off a lot of interest, not only in the Ghanaian economy, but Africa as a whole since he used the opportunity to present the case of Africa and demanded that Africa be given attention.

He said, he was happy that all African states accept the need for structural reform.

'Africa's growth rate of 4.5 per cent last year, was the lowest in the world, =85 after emerging from two decades of declining growth, Africa must do well to accelerate its progress,' Dr Young said.

He said the Ghana government has successfully navigated the economy out of the woods and has set it on the threshold of breaking new grounds of development.

'Ghana's ratings in the international community, has improved and is in the high stakes. It, however, needs to aim at higher growth paths and increase its competitiveness''.

Dr Young said the role of the donor community has changed in recent years merging aid with foreign policy measures, and noted that " the days when foreign donors gave out funds for the sake of it are gone".

Mr Kwabena Darko, owner of Darko Farms, Ghana's biggest poultry farm, said Ghana has renewed goodwill among the world community, especially with the visit of the British and French foreign ministers and should now launch to state its case.

He urged his colleagues in the chamber to put their businesses right, by ensuring that their books and finances are in good shape so as to make their contacts with American businessmen not only profitable but to enable them to access funds easily.

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March '99

The Sunyani Forestry School is to be upgraded to a diploma-awarding institution, Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama, Minister of Lands and Forestry, said on Wednesday.

Negotiations are under way for the transfer of the school to the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

Dr Amoako-Nuama, said, the negotiations involve the Ministry, the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the Forestry Department.

The Minister was responding to a question on the ministry's plan for the upgrading of the Sunyani Forestry School, to a diploma-awarding institution during "Question Time" in Parliament.

The question stood in the name of Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko NPP Sunyani West.

Dr Amoako-Nuama said, the Forestry Department indicated that it was no longer in a position to provide funds, for the running of the school.

As a result, the Forestry Commission discussed the issue and recommended that KNUST be contacted to absorb it as one of its campuses and turn it into a diploma-awarding institution.

Dr Amoako-Nuama said the executive committee of the university discussed the proposal and agreed that the Sunyani Forestry School should be adopted to become a campus of the KNUST to be known as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Forestry, Sunyani.

She said the university on January 22, this year, communicated its decision to the National Council for Tertiary Education, which in turn deliberated on the issue.

The Ministry is yet to be informed of the outcome of the deliberations.

Asked about the desirability to upgrade the school into a diploma-awarding institution, Dr Amoako-Nuama replied that with the privatisation of a lot of the forestry sector, most private sector participants look for much better qualified personnel to man their plantations.

Besides, she said, it is also the government's policy to upgrade schools of such level as the Sunyani Forestry School, to provide the middle manpower needs of the country.

On what the ministry's policy would be after the school has been divested, Dr Amoako-Nuama said the Ministry would continue to maintain some relationship with it, adding that the students would be offered the opportunity to do attachment at the Forestry Department and other agencies of the ministry.

Asked when the school's hostel at Brosankro in the Tano District will be completed for use by the students during field training in the area, Dr Amoako-Nuama said the facility will be ready for use by July one, this year.

She explained that the hostel was built under the Forestry Resources Management Project and funded by the International Development Association (IDA), to serve as a field-training centre of the Forestry Department.

It was completed in early 1998, but no provision has been made for access road, electricity and potable water.

Dr Amoako-Nuama announced that the Forestry Department has awarded a contract for the provision of these facilities, which should be completed by the end of June.

"As of now, the electricity connection has been made, bore-holes are being sunk and the access road is under construction. The Department is meeting the cost of these from its own resources", she said.

Mr Agyare Koi Larbi, NPP-Akropong, wanted to know steps being taken by the Ministry of Lands and Forestry to speed up the disbursement of monies lodged with the Administrator of Stool Lands for the payment of compensation due to stools.

Dr Amoako-Nuama said to date, all compensation monies lodged with the Stool Lands Administrator have been disbursed, except where there are conflicting claims.

In such cases, the monies are lodged with the courts pending the determination of ownership.

She explained that compensation payments are made in respect of lands acquired by government for specific projects and that such payments are either in lump sum or annual rental amounts, depending on the legal instrument used for acquisition. For example, the Minister said, stool lands are usually acquired under the Administration of Lands Act, 1992 (Act 123).

In such cases compensation is prescribed in the form of annual rental payments. But where it becomes necessary for stool lands or any other type of land to be compulsorily acquired under the State Lands Act 1992 (Act 125), lump sum payments are made.

Tema (Greate Accra) 18 March '99

 The three-member delegation of the Duchess Group of Companies from The Netherlands currently in the country yesterday inspected some projects undertaken by the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) in Tema and Matsekope in the Dangme East District.

They include day care centres, kenkey and gari factories and afforestation projects.

Mr Rene L.H. Sprangers, chairman of Duchess World Aid Foundation and leader of the delegation which is on a five-day visit, said they would study all the details and consider what kind of investments they could offer.

Ghana is safe and has a stable government which is ideal for investment, he noted.

The delegation will also explore investment opportunities and assist the health sector under the humanitarian aid component of the Duchess World Aid Foundation.

Other members of the delegation are Mr Mike C. Heyl, project manager and Mr James Atta Nuamah, project manager of the group for Africa.

Tema (Greater Accra) 18 March '99

 The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) said that any plans to re-open the Atlantic Port Services (APS) must be based on a unified decision by the two factions fighting over the company.

"We want a unified APS to ensure peace and security in the port," Mr Kwaku Duah Boateng, Acting Director-General of the GPHA, told the GNA in an interview in reaction to an announcement that the company will re-open on Wednesday.

APS, a private stevedoring company set up by the late Chief Hamilton Biney, was closed down last Thursday following a dispute between two factions of his children over who should run the company.

One of the factions, led by G.K.A. Biney as managing director, brought in securitymen from Intercom Security Services who drove out all the workers, shut the company and invaded the staff quarters at Community 12 where they deflated the tyres of all the company's vehicles.

Meanwhile the Maritime and Dock workers Union (MDU) which asked the Private Enterprise Foundation to mediate in the dispute has said the decision by G.K.A. Biney to re-open the company is premature since the main issue threatening the employment of the workers had not been resolved.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary of the MDU, said that the decision to re-open would not be in the interest of the workers since the issue of who should take over had ended in a deadlock.

The GPHA has also stated that the closure of the APS cargo has not in any way affected stevedoring activities. The company is currently under police guard after the GPHA compelled Intercom Security Services to withdraw its men.

Tema (Greater Accra) 18 March '99

The Acting Regional Police Commander for Tema has ordered immediate investigations into alleged cases of assault on some workers of the Textiles, Garment and Leather Union (TEGLU) by their colleagues at the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company(GTMC) in Tema.

Chief Superintendent Agnes Sikanartey told the GNA that two workers of the TEGLU who were reportedly assaulted by workers of the GTMC showed bruises and lacerations they sustained on their bodies and were sent to the Tema General Hospital after they had written their statements.

Their names are, however, being withheld.

According to the police commander, some of the ICU workers whipped the TEGLU workers when they were identified at the factory gate soon after closing hours on Tuesday. Others allegedly used clubs to beat the workers but no arrests have been made.

Mr Joseph Djani, Personnel Manager of GTMC, said two other workers of TEGLU, namely Mr George Gyarteng and Mr John Akapo, who were also assaulted by the ICU workers, reported to him in his house at Labadi in Accra after close of work last Tuesday.

One of them was able to give him the names of his attackers but said the GTMC management had not taken any action against those involved in the incident.

He had, however, invited the leadership of the local ICU and warned them that management viewed the brutalities committed against TEGLU workers with all seriousness, he said.

Mr Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of TEGLU, said due to intimidation by the TEGLU workers, some of them now fear to report for work.

Akim Oda (Eastern Region) 18 March '99

 A large crowd that attended a meeting of the Akim Kotoku Traditional Council at Akim Oda, on Tuesday, could not hold their tears when the death of the Omanhene, Okoforobuor Agyemeng-Attafuah the Fourth was announced.

As soon as the announcement was made by the acting President of the Council, Obrempong Affum Afroteng the Fourth, most of the chiefs present at the meeting as well as observers burst into tears.

Two sheep were later slaughtered in accordance with traditional rites.

Okoforobour Agyeman Attafua the fourth, known in private life as Samuel Dwuma Boateng, was born on September 14, 1931 at Akim Oda.

He completed his elementary education at the Roman Catholic School at Akim Oda in 1950 and attended the Agriculture Training school at Bunso.

He worked with the Ministry of Agriculture for 20 years before his enstoolment as Omanhene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area on May 19, 1975.

During his 23 years of peaceful reign, Okoforobour achieved a considerable measure of success in the development and progress of the area.

Until his death, Okoforobour was the President of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Council and a member of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

He served on various standing committees of the National House of chiefs.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 March

 The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) has tasked all residents in the Kumasi Metropolis to undertake special daily cleaning exercises in their immediate surroundings in readiness for the burial of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second on Friday, March 26. A release from the ARCC signed by Mr S. A. Manu, the Deputy Regional Co-ordinating Director in Kumasi, said the exercise, to be undertakn at electoral and unit committee levels, is to be supervised by all assembly and unit committee members in their respective areas.

To ensure its success, therefore, the ARCC has appealed to all residents to carry along their own tools and equipment.

The release said schools and other educational institutions are also expected to clean their school compounds or premises during the period and added that, it is the expectation of the ARCC that all residents of Kumasi will co-operate to make the special clean-up exercise a success.

Awutu-Bawjiase(Central Region) 18 March 

The Awutu-Bawjiase Presbyterian Primary "A and B" Schools have been temporarily closed down and all the 447 pupils sent home following the destruction of their wooden six-classroom-block by a rainstorm last Friday.

Mr Joshua Osei, headmaster of the Bawjiase Presbyterian Primary and Junior Secondary Schools, made this known when he briefed Lieutenant Daniel William Osardu, District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya who visited the school on Wednesday.

The DCE said the district assembly is making efforts to provide the children with temporary structures to enable them to resume classes by next Monday. The pupils start their examinations next week and everything possible would be done to put the school structures in place before the examinations.

In another development, the assemblyman for Kasoa, Mr Haruna Tetteh Mensah, also visited the Kasoa branch of Datus International Schools which suffered a similar fate about a week ago.

Mr A. C. Williams, Assistant Headmaster of the school, put the total cost of damage caused to the school at about 12 million cedis. Mr Williams appealed to organisations and the district assembly for help.

Cape Coast (Central Region) 18 March

The Managing Director of Unimax Publishers Limited, Mr Eddie Addo, has offered a special educational development package for Aggrey Memorial A. M. E. Zion Secondary School at Cape Coast. This involves the supply of 25 million Cedis worth of library books to strengthen the school's library, two computers, and a cash donation of five million cedis towards the completion of on-going projects. Mr Addo made the offer when he chaired the 59th Speech and Prize-Giving ceremony of the school held at Cape Coast on Saturday. The day also coincided with the launching of the 60th Founder's Day celebration of the school. Mr Ado said his action was in response to appeals by religious leaders, the government, and heads of educational institutions to individuals and organisations to contribute towards the development of education.

In another development, members of the Old Boys Association of the school pledged to contribute 10 million Cedis towards the provision of additional structures and equipment for the school.

The Right Reverend Dr G. N. K. Zormelo, Chairman of the school's Board of Governors, thanked Mr Addo and the Old Boys Association and expressed the hope that they would fulfil their promises.

Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March

 Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, has commended the Ghana Journalists Association for its efforts in ensuring the attainment of high professional standards. He said the Ministry "will give support to anything the association will do to advance the cause of practitioners,who are partners in national development".

Speaking when the executives of the Association led by its President, Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Mahama noted that efforts at improving standards are yielding fruitful results as evidenced in the decline in court cases against journalists.

Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie informed the Minister that the GJA will be celebrating its golden jubilee this year and intends to invite President Jerry John Rawlings as a special guest of honour.

Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, Vice President of GJA, assured the Minister that journalists would do all they could to protect the image of the country.

"Ghana is the only country we have and to destroy it will mean destroying ourselves".