Ministry offers 10,000 dollars for information on murders
Expert says Africa needs two million ICT experts yearly
Accra, {Greater Accra Region} 18 March 2000.
The Ministry of the Interior has announced a reward of 10,000 dollars or its equivalent to any member of the public who offers information leading to the arrest of any of the perpetrators of the series of gruesome murders of women in certain parts of Accra.
A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday signed by Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior, appealed to any member of the public with information to contact any senior police, military officer, district or metropolitan chief executive.
They could also call directly at the Ministry of the Interior or the National Security Council Secretariat, Castle Annex, near the Accra Sports Stadium.
Meanwhile, the special inter-agency team set up to co-ordinate investigations into the murders has assured the public that it is leaving no stone unturned to arrest the situation.
It called on the public to exercise vigilance at all times and be forthcoming with information.
In less than tow years 20 woman have been found murdered at Mataheko with the latest happening on Sunday morning.
Women have held demonstrations protesting against the murders and demanding action from the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 March 2000
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert said on Wednesday that African countries would need at least two million locally trained ICT experts every year "if we are to overcome the challenge of ensuring sustainable economic development through the use of ICT".
The expert Dr. Nii Narku Quaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Network Computer Systems (NCS) therefore, urged African governments to make specific annual budgetary allocations for the training of the two million ICT experts and the total development of that sector.
"The time when ICT was listed under miscellaneous items in the annual budget must be a thing of the past" he said.
Dr Quaynor, was speaking at a lecture at a seminar organised by the
Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The Seminar attended by about 60 participants, which forms part of a series dubbed, "The ISSER millennium Seminars," was on the theme "Communications for sustainable growth and development."
He observed that the example of countries, which have dynamic ICT sectors, indicates that specific annual budgetary allocation is made for the sector.
"That is the only way governments of African countries can prove their commitment to the sector."
Dr Quanor said African countries need to maintain a steady "train and use" programme geared towards training and making use of ICT experts locally rather than hiring people from abroad. This would facilitate job and wealth creation as well as poverty alleviation on the continent through the application of ICT.
Dr Qauynor also urged African governments to practice democracy on the information superhighway, as a way of generating public interest in the use of computers and information technology.
He said processes such as decision making in parliament and other issues that demand public consent could be put on the internet for whoever is concerned to give their opinion on the net.
Dr. Quaynor noted that though African countries are making a very late entry into the ICT world, there are some priority areas which when considered could facilitate a strong African impact in the sector.
He mentioned such priority areas as preserving folkloric and cultural objects online, which he called (COOL), tele-medicine, tele-agriculture, indigenous languages as well as programmes for handicapped persons which, he said, are prospective areas of wealth creation for Africa.
Dr Quaynor asked African governments to establish specific institutions that would effectively manage the ICT sector, saying that measures also need to be put in place for computers and programmes to be developed on the continent "to ensure that we do not become only users."
"The ICT world" he said is plagued with the non-existence of cyber laws and lack of proper cyber taxation measures, which account for major losses to African countries and companies who put programmes and information on the net.
African governments must, therefore, create regional networks that would facilitate co-operation between them in the fight against unnecessary losses on the Internet.
Dr Quaynor lauded the government's effort at facilitating the growth of the ICT sector in the country, and asked that the efforts should focus on wealth creation, poverty alleviation and the empowerment of the private sector.
"The situation is bleak for Africa but there are opportunities for us to make an impact if we make the right decisions and investments now" he said.
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Accra, {Greater Accra Region}18 March 2000
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Wednesday, congratulated Muslims on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Adha and said it shares with them in the joy and high ideals of the festival.
"We learn that the Eid-Ul-Adha, during which Muslims the world over offer rams and other animals as sacrifice, is a festival to commemorate the historic sacrifice the Prophet Abraham was ready to make of his beloved son Ishmael in obedience to the command of God."
A statement signed by Mr Dan Botwe, General-Secretary, said the lesson of the festival is the faith by human beings to be prepared to make supreme sacrifices even of it means laying down their very lives in order to serve their God and win his pleasure.
"The lesson for us Ghanaians is that we should develop a high sense of sacrifice if we are to develop a decent and moral society in our country
"This means that as Ghanaians, we should not allow party enticements to divert us from being determined to turn our country round into an honest, decent and accountable nation."
The NPP expressed regret about the hardships Muslims go through each year in their desire to perform the Hajj and gave the assurance that if the party forms the next government, it would ensure that Muslims undertake the Hajj in an orderly and comfortable manner.
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Wa (Upper Wes) 18 March 2000
About eighty per cent of work on the 14.5 billion Wa Airport project is completed.
Apart from fencing around the runway, construction of two box culverts and final tarring, every other work has been done.
Mr Kwesi Danso, Upper West Regional Director of Ghana Highways Authority who is the engineer's representative, disclosed this to reporters at Wa on Wednesday.
He gave the assurance that the project would be completed before October this year.
Mr Danso said the final base of the project and the construction of two box culverts are being carried out "and as soon as they are completed the double surface tarring will begin."
He said the fencing programme around the two-kilometre runway is almost completed.
Mr Sheltor Lotsu, Resident material engineer, said P and W Ghanem Ltd, the contractor, has so far done a good job adding "the work is of international standards".
He said the project, which started, about one and half years ago would attract international commercial activities to the region.
Mr Lotsu, however, warned the public against illegal sand winning around the area which could create problems for the project.
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