GRi Newsreel 29-03-99

Alhaji Issifu Ali, National Co-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday congratulated the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for regaining the Ablekuma Central parliamentary seat in the March 26 bye-election.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after worshipping with members of the Ahmadiyya Mission at Bustan-E-Ahmad (Garden of Ahmad) at Ashongman, near Accra, Alhaji Ali said, "let me use this Muslim New Year of peace and Unity to congratulate the NPP on their victory".

He said, "it would have been too much of an embarrassment to the NPP if they had not won back their own seat. "If the NDC had won, the NPP would have said the election was rigged".

NPP candidate Okulley Nortey, a businessman won the seat, after the death of Mr C.S. Crabbe, who won it for the same party in the 1996 elections.

Alhaji Ali however cautioned the NPP not to let the victory "whet their appetite", and be deceived that they would win the 2000 general elections. "Ghanaians are mindful of the track record of the NPP, and if ever they come to power, it will be a disaster for the nation". Alhaji Ali's comments contrasted sharply with the majority of leading supporters at the Odorkor Police station where the final results of the polls were being put together.

The NDC team lead by their Greater Accra Youth Organizer, Mr Bismark Agbemenule, refused to sign the final result because they claimed that the ink used to thumbprint some of the ballot papers were not uniform. =93I will not sign, l will never sign, l am not satisfied with the conduct of the elections, Mr Agbenmule screamed as he called for a recount of the ballot from the Mercy Centre School, one of the 106 centres used for the elections.

NDC gurus, including Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Presidential adviser on governmental affairs, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary, Mrs Faustina Nelson, National Vice-Chairman, and Dr Mohammed Chambas, Deputy Minister of Education, were not enough to stop the fury of the NDC protest which held up proceedings for about two hours as the recount was made.

But perhaps the tension surrounding the counting of the elections was to be expected following the high pitch that the Ablekuma Central seat had been raised. In some instances, it appeared as if the campaign was for a national election and not a Parliamentary seat for one constituency.

All the parties saw it as a dress rehearsal for election 2000 as their big guns constantly made the rounds of the constituency which is one of the most populated in the country. The demography of Ablekuma makes it a testing ground of the popularity of the parties as its vast and diverse ethnic community makes it representative of the country.

There is the large Ewe, Zongo and ethnic Ga community living in the largely impoverished section of the constituency as against the rich and affluent sector, comprising doctors, lawyers and businessmen on the other side.

The seat had changed hands twice already. In 1992 it was won by NDC's Bawabut he lost it by a narrow margin to NPP's Charles Samuel Crabbe whose death about a month ago necessitated the bye-elections.

Although Crabbe secured 30,158 votes against Bawa's 28,952 political analystshad attributed Crabbe's victory to the contesting of the elections of Cornelius Abdala, an NDC member who stood as an independent candidate in defiance of his party's line. Abdala polled 9,865 votes and many believe those votes could have gone to Bawa. Not surprisingly, NDC's Jerry John Rawlings won in the presidential race.

When the seat became vacant the NDC saw it as an opportunity to lay claim on what =93is originally theirs=94 while the NPP thought it an opportunity to show what inroads they have made in the area.

For the major parties, it was also to test how prepared they are for next year's elections as is evidenced in all four major parties fielding candidates with the Reform Movement, which broke away from the NDC recently, supporting an independent candidate.

For the NDC it was a major test, as the party used it as test grounds of the popularity of their likely candidate for the 2000 elections, as Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills did the rounds in a vain bid to galvanise to ensure victory. Also on the hustings was Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, First Lady, together with all other NDC top shots. The only person left out was President Rawlings who in-between the campaigns cooled it off in the US and France.

The failure of the NDC to win the Ablekuma seat without the charisma of President Rawlings is the clearest indication yet that the party without him cannot stand the test of time. Research conducted by the respected Research International after the 1996 elections had shown that majority of those who voted for the NDC did so because of President Rawlings and not the personalities who stood at the various constituencies. This contrasted with the findings of the NPP where the majority of respondents said they voted because of the Party and not the individuals involved.

President Rawling is set to leave office next year after a two-year term in office. The stage is set for Vice-President Mills to take over from him. The Ablekuma elections, although could not be said to be a representation of what will happen countrywide, must be worrying to the former taxman and his supporters who will be judging his popularity against what happened last Friday.

Another factor of the NDC loss could be attributed to the Reform Movement who backed the independent Solomon Sulemani to place third with 566 votes.

Although Sulemani's showing was not 'earth-shaking' his association with the RM has shown that the RM's breakaway from the NDC could prove disastrous to the party.

To the NPP Ablekuma must be like a fresh breath of life. It must put them on high pedestal in their preparations for 2000. They can only build on their showing in Ablekuma and not relax if they hope to gain power.

For the Convention Party and Peoples National Convention, both struggling for recognition as the right legacy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ablekuma should be yet another indication that 'divided they fall, united they are capable of achieving something.'

A total of 93,994 registered voters were expected to cast their votes but provisional figures from the EC indicated a low turnout. In all, about 28,000 registered voters cast their votes in the election won by NPP's Victor Okuley Nortey with 15,210, followed by NDC's Ismail Safianu Bawa, with 10,569 votes. Solomon Buyoga Sulemani, independent candidate, came third with 566 votes, while Musah Nartey of the People's National Convention (PNC), had 297 votes and Hajia Fati Suraj, of the Convention Party polling 254 votes.

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 March '99

 The International Sunflower Growers Association [ISA] is to hold a conference in Toulouse, France from June 12-15 on finding solutions and new strategies for global adoption of the Sunflower as the main source of edible oil in the next millenium.

The conference under the theme ''Reinforcing both international relations and interactions between different sectors of Sunflower research and development'' would attract researchers from Africa, North and South America, Middle-East and Europe.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr.Thomas Appiah-Kubi, the ISA's local representative said ''it is the hope of the organisers that after the conference a lot of interest should be generated for countries which hitherto have not known the value of the flower to start adopting it.'' Mr. Appiah-Kubi called on the government to consider carrying out feasibility studies in acquiring agricultural land and credit for individuals to start cultivating the plant.

He mentioned the Eastern, Volta and Brong Ahafo regions as the most suitable areas for growing the flower.

Ho (Volta Region) 29 March '99

 The Volta Trust Forum, a local initiative for attracting investment and development into the Volta Region, was launched at Ho last Saturday with a call on citizens of the region to make financial commitments to its development.

The groundwork of the trust, which will be a company limited by guarantee, has been put in shape.

Professor Kofi Awoonor, interim chairman of the trust, said it is the most practical initiative in the region with a clear message that the region is capable of helping itself.

The present initiative is the result of a lengthy painstaking and an all-involving work with ample room for accommodation and refinement based on past experiences.

Professor Awoonor said the region abounds in men and women with the requisite financial, entrepreneurial and intellectual skills and resources necessary to achieve its qualitative transformation.

Launching the trust, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Agbenaza (rtd), Central Regional Minister, said this is an era of positive initiatives and scientific thinking and approach to solving problems.

Mr James Akpo, of the Strategic African Securities (SAS) and interim co-ordinating secretary of the trust, said it has so far mobilised 120 million cedis out of a target of one billion cedis from members' contributions.

Mr Akpo said there will be a board of trustees, members of which will contribute 5,000 dollars each, while ordinary members will pay 500,000 cedis and an annual subscription of 50,000 cedis each.

The trust, which will engage in portfolio investment, will have a general meeting, an 18 member executive council, a six member management committee and committees on education, finance, agriculture and tourism.

Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Volta Regional Minister, in his welcoming address, described the initiative as bold, enviable and worthy of support and encouragement.

Present were bankers, business executives, Members of Parliament and administrators.

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 Mar. '99

The Greater Accra regional Secretariat of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), has ordered the immediate closure of 18 unlicensed hotels and guest houses in the region.

Mr Charles Osei-Bonsu, Regional Manager of GTB, told the GNA on Monday that the assistance of the police has been sought to carry out the exercise with immediate effect.

The board's routine inspection revealed that eight hotels, nine guest houses and a brothel in the region, are operating without licenses.

He said it was also revealed that the unlicensed operators and some licensed ones use ordinary exercise books instead of the prescribed hotel register to record the particulars of their customers.

''This leads to the concealment and eventual evasion of the 10 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) charged on hotel and guest houses.

"The situation reveals poor security measures and poor accountability of the 10 per cent VAT collected from customers by some hotels," he stated.

Mr Osei-Bonsu mentioned the unlicensed hotels as Gyasikrom Hotel, Dansoman, Standard Hotel, Kpehe, The Plate Hotel, Nii Boye Town, Achimota Hotel and Hotel Raya, both at Achimota, View Paradise, James Town, Ustah Hotel, Dansoman and Ebeye Yie Hotel, Darkuman.

The defaulting guest houses include, Life and Living Guest House, Santa Maria, Blue Lagoon, Lartebiokorshie, Ray Gardens, Kokomlemle, Paako Guest House, Awoshie, Pecita Guest House, Dansoman and Mensah Inn Rest Stop, Chorkor.

The rest are Tokyo Gardens, new Gbawe Happy Stay Guest House, Madina, Young Executive House, North-Kaneshie, Gbormitah Rest House, Abokobi and No Problem Guest House at Big Ada.

At a meeting with the executives of the Greater-Accra Hoteliers Association (GHA), Mr Osei-Bonsu asked leaders of the hotel operators in the region to assist the GTB to rid the industry of unlicensed operators.

He also asked them to support the VAT system, by ensuring that their members keep proper records of customers particulars and account for the 10 per cent VAT collected.

Mr Seth Laryea, Chairman of the GHA assured the GTB of their support for the tourism sector and the VAT system, saying that "the executive would monitor our members and sanction anyone found in such malpractices."

Tema (Greater Accra) 29 March '99

 DSP Robert Azu, Tema, Community One District Police Commander, today called on the public to help the police bring down crime wave which stood at over 170,000 cases nation-wide in 1997.

In 1993 the police recorded 145,798 cases which rose to 151,147 in 1994 and 160,063 in 1995. This further shot up to 167,248 cases in 1996. Assault cases topped the list followed by stealing.

DSP Azu revealed this when he introduced members of the Tema Community One Site Two Unit Committee, to residents of the area.

DSP Azu commended the Site Two Watch Dog Committee which, since its establishment in 1995, has brought 41 serious crime cases to the police.

Out of this number, 18 cases gained conviction, 16 are still before the courts, while the rest, including the recent arrest of four car thieves, are under investigation.

Mr Ishmael Ashietey, NPP Member of Parliament for Tema East, described the unit committees as a vital aspect of the non-partisan local government system which allows the people to handle their own affairs.

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 March 

Public response to the Committee set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to look into complaints made by participants during the Second ECOWAS Trade Fair is "very discouraging," the secretary to the committee said in Accra on Monday.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Miles Caiquo, said apart from members of the National Co-ordinating Committee, which acted as representatives of the ECOWAS Secretariat who are appearing before it, no one from the public has appeared.

"Most of them seem to be shying away from the committee and even though we are meeting the co-ordinating committee, we will wish to meet some members of the public and a wide range of exhibitors and companies that took part in the just ended fair", Mr Caiquo said.

The Committee meets at the conference room of the Ghana Free Zones Board.

Mr Caiquo said the ministry received complaints from exhibitors from Nigeria, Benin and local companies that they were cheated, maltreated and discriminated against.

Local and foreign exhibitors who took part in the fair had criticised the Trade Fair authorities for the treatment meted out to them before and during the fair.

A local exhibitor said she paid for a modern shell scheme stand but a wooden stand was allocated to her.

An Italian exhibitor said he was relocated three times and the final place allocated to him was smaller than what he paid for.

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 March 99

 Mr David Pratt, Canada's Special High Commissioner for Sierra Leone on Monday commended Ghana for her commitment to peace inthat country and pledged his government's continued support to realise that goal.

"Canada is appreciative of Ghana's leadership role in peacekeeping inthe world over, particularly in ECOMOG," Mr Pratt told Vice-President John Atta Mills at the Castle, Osu.

Mr Pratt is leading a three-man government mission to the sub-region to assess the situation and explore how best Canada can help support efforts towards peace.

The others are Mr Stephen Moffat, Regional Security and Peacekeeping Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Mr Jacque Ciete, Dierctor, West and Central Africa, Department of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Pratt said Canada is concerned about the security and humanitarian impact of the conflict in Sierra Leone and hinted that the issue will be discussed at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group meeting to be held later in the year.

The Canadian High Comissioner to Ghana, Ms Janet Graham, accompanied the team to the Castle.

The Vice-President Mills expressed gratitude to the Canadians for their steady interest in Sierra Leone.

He also recalled Canada's continued assistance to Ghana which, he said, has helped to improve the life of the people.

Accra (Greater Accra) 29 March

The death is reported in Accra of Nikoi Olai Amoantia the fourth, Asere Mantse and acting President of the Ga Trditional Council. A statement issued on Monday said he died on March 26. It said funeral arrangements would be announced later.

The ascension to the Ofori Penin Stool as an Okyenhene is reserved for only sons of the Asuna Royal family of Kyebi.

Members of the Kyebi Asuna Royal family through historical linkage, also include members of the Asuna Royal families of Akropong-Akuapem and Adansi in the Ashanti Region. By this, royals from Akropong-Akuapem and Adansi could also contest for the nomination to the Ofori Penin Stool.

After the death and burial of an Okyenhene, the Queenmother of the Royal family is expected to, in-consultation with the elders of the Kyebi Asuna Royal Family, consider the various contestants to the stool and nominate one of them for consideration by the Kingmakers of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.

The Kingmakers are made up of members of the Central Committee of the Council which consists of the Adontenhene, Nifahene, Benkumhene, Gyasehene, Osaewoo and Amatomiase.

Since the Akyems inherit maternally, the contestants to the stool need to be maternal cousins of the Okyenhene or nephews or sons of the Okyenhene's sisters.

After a nomination has been made, the Kingmakers would then consider the candidate according to their custom and established tradition. Since the Ofori Penin Stool is revered, the Kingmakers had to ensure that the nominee is not a fellow who could bring the high office of the Okyenhene into disrepute by ensuring that the prospective Okyenhene has led a life worthy of emulation by society.

The Kingmakers have the power to reject the nomination of the Queenmother if they find the nominee unsuitable for the stool.

When the Queenmother's nomination is rejected, she has two more chances to nominate fresh candidates. Should the Kingmakers reject all three nominations of the Queenmother, then the right of nomination is reverted to them.

Should the position of Queenmother be vacant either through death or sicknessat the time of the death of an Okyehene, the Abusuapeyin of the Kyebi Asuna Royal family will be asked do the nomination. The reason for this is because since the Queenmother's nomination is often done in consultation with other elders of the Asuna Royal family, her choice only reflects the consensus reached by family elders where the Abuasuapayin plays an important role.

After the nomination and approval of the future Okyenhene, the lucky candidate is confined for 40 days. During the confinement, the future King is taken through all the rituals and formalities of traditional area in a bid to prepare him to assume control over his people.

At the end of the 40 days, the new Okyenhene is publicly installed and outdoored. At the outdooring ceremony, the new Okyenhene swears the oath of allegiance to the chiefs and people of the traditional area and the members of the traditional council.

The members of the Traditional Council and all the divisional Chiefs in the Traditional Council would then swear an oath of allegiance to the new Okyenhene.

Within 40 days after the outdooring ceremony, the new Okyenhene is supposed by customary practice, to perform the final funeral rites for his predecessor.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 29 March 

Nana Kwaku Dua, 49, a business executive, and son of Nana Afia Kobi Serwah Ampem the second, Asantehemaa, was on Monday nominated as the successor to Otumfuo Opoku ware the second, the late Asantehene who died on Thursday February 25. At a meeting of the Kumasi traditional council at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi, the Gyaase division of the council comprising Gyaase, Mawere Ankobea and Nkosuo, was asked by custom to contact the Asantehemaa, the regent, to nominate a successor.

A delegation from the Gyaase division led by the Saamanhene, Nana Saaman Nantwi the second, went to the Asantehemaa and after consultations nominated her son, Nana Duah who was introduced to the Gyaase division. Immediately Nana Duah was accepted by the Gyaase, his supporters poured powder on him and sent him to his private residence at Dichemso, a suburb of Kumasi where jubilations which started earlier continued.

Nana Duah told newsmen: ' "I was nominated not because I am the son of the Asantehemaa but because I am the most popular choice of the people". By custom, Nana Duah will be introduced to the Kumasi traditional council this week. If he is accepted the council will further introduce him to the Asanteman Council before being confined for 40 days prior to his installation and enstoolment.

Seven royals of the Golden Stool were tipped for consideration.They were Nana Akwasi Agyemang, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr David Osei Yeboah, a quantity surveyor and his brother Dr James Yeboah, a Takoradi based medical practitioner. Others were Nana Osei Tutu Owusu, a London based civil servant, Dr Isaac Kwame Takyi, a United States based engineer and Barima Osei Kwadwo.

Meanwhile Joy FM reports that the elders of Manhyia Palace are furious over an attempt by the government to influence the process of choosing the next Ashanti King.

On Saturday night, Joy FM reports that a four-member government delegation met with palace elders, including the Queenmother and now the Regent of Ashanti, Nana Afia Serwaa Kobi, and told them that the President and the First Lady, wish that they choose the controversial Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, as the next king.

According to Joy, reliable palace sources say Nana Kobi and Nana Karikari have expressed indignation at the government's intrusion. They said they won't permit government officials to tell them who the king of their 300-year-old kingdom should be.

Although Nana Akwasi Agyeman qualifies, along with at least half-a dozen others, to succeed Otumfuo Opoku Ware, many Ashantis find his personality too brash, and his association with the governing NDC too close for their comfort, the report said.

Ghana's constitution debars chiefs from dabbling in politics. This is to keep them above party political bias and safeguard the dignity of Ghana's ancient chieftaincy.