Oguaa
will not face water problems this year GWCL
Owabi dam is heavily polluted --says Regional
Minister
Chemist warns of future water crisis in Brong
Ahafo
The
demonstrators, carrying placards some of which read "85,000 cedis a week
is an insult", "Teachers are not cheap labour" and "We want 50,000 cedis per day",
later presented a memorandum to Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema Municipal Chief
Executive.
Mr. Jones
Afesi, a spokesman, said the enumerators, who were paid 110,000 cedis each
during the first week of their training programme think that it was illogical
to reduce the amount to 85,000 cedis a week for the actual work, which they
said was rather more difficult and risky.
The
training during each week covered only three days with an allowance of 30,000
cedis a day and a transport allowance of 20,000 cedis.
Mr. Afesi
said during the three-week training, the transport allowance was paid only for
the first week after which it was suspended.
"We
wish to register our desire, zeal and support for the exercise. We, however,
want to remind the organisers of the highly risky nature of the job, hence
these demands," Mr. Afesi added.
Last
Monday, the enumerators, in a memorandum, requested the Census Office to tell
them how much would be paid during the period of the census following
inconsistencies in the payment of their honorarium.
They were,
however, infuriated when the organisers of the course came on Wednesday without
any explanation and rather asked them to sign an oath of secrecy when the
concerns raised had not been addressed.
They
resolved that they would decide on their next line of action on Friday
depending on how their demands are met.
Nii Armah
Ashietey, a member of the National Census Committee, however, told the
enumerators that the allowances for the enumerators in the Greater Accra Region
was a genuine mistake, which the committee had decided to correct.
He said
even though their point seemed logical, he urged them to discard the notion
that somebody wants to cheat them since the government wants the exercise to be
successful.
Nii
Ashietey said the issue of 50,000 cedis a day had been discussed but was not
accepted. However, apart from the
allowance, a honorarium will be paid after the exercise.
He assured
the enumerators that the issue would be further discussed at a national meeting
and appealed to them to rescind their decision.
GRi.
Ada (
Greater Accra Region), 23rd March 2000.
Vice-President
John Atta Mills on Wednesday urged the Private Enterprises Foundation and the
Association of Ghana Industries to collaborate with institutions like the
National Board for Small Scale Industries to explore research areas and ensure
better flow of research findings to those who need them.
This search
for the way forward should include identifying funding for research as this
sometimes becomes a major obstacle to designing and developing marketable
prototypes.
Vice-President
Mills was speaking at a durbar at Bedeku, near Ada, in the Greater Accra
Region.
The durbar
was organised by the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) in collaboration with
the UNDP to expose modern and appropriate machinery to the community,
particularly women's groups, to boost their income generating activities.
The durbar
also served as a roundtable workshop between women entrepreneurs and financial
institutions, notably rural banks, on how best credit facilities could be made
available to the people.
On display
at the durbar were cassava and tomato processors invented locally by the
Tema-based Larkai Motor and Engineering Company, which can be used to process
other roots and vegetables in commercial quantities.
There was
also an exhibition of a variety of food items made from cassava mounted by the
DWM, Food Research Institute and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Vice-President
Mills said the time had come to develop and use modern appropriate technology
for local industries if Ghana should make a leap with the hopes and aspirations
under the Vision 2020.
He said
government would resource small to medium-scale industries adequately to enable
them to perform efficiently and profitably.
He added
that for this to succeed, attention should be paid to the wastage of raw
materials as well as the need to add value to the products to enhance their
export potentials.
Dr. Clara
Fayorse, consultant for the project, said lack of credit, finance, marketing
and non-availability of appropriate technology had been identified as
constraints hampering entrepreneurial skills in most communities.
In the
Vice-President's entourage were some ministers of state, the Regional Minister,
Mr. Joshua Alabi, Ms Sherry Ayittey, a leading member of the DWM, as well as
MPs from the area.
GRi.
Wa (Upper
West Region), 23rd March 2000.
Dr. Daniel
Yeyemain, the only medical officer at the Jirapa St. Joseph's Hospital, has
abandoned his post and sought refuge in Wa, the regional capital, due to
persistent threats from the youth over his alleged involvement in the recent
burning of gods in the town.
Speaking to
some newsmen at Wa on Wednesday, Dr. Yeyemain said although he did not know
anything about the incident, he was targeted for attack and the only way out
was to leave for Wa.
He said the
gods were not burnt by any church but by an individual, Richard Dery, who is no
more a member of the Assemblies of God Church of which he is a member.
The
suspect, who confirmed burning the gods in mid-February, is a member of the
Kingdom of God Ministry and not an Assemblies of God member as reported in
"the Ghanaian Times".
Dr.
Yeyemain explained that Mr. Dery resigned from the Assemblies of God Church in
1993, adding that "it was, therefore, surprising when I read the report
that it was the Assemblies of God Church that burnt down the gods".
According
to him, the elders and opinion leaders never asked for any animals to pacify
the gods as reported, adding that "in any case, such a request would have
been rejected by the Assemblies of God Church".
The medical
doctor said Dery has been arrested and arraigned at a Wa circuit court and has
since confessed to the act.
Dr.
Yeyemain said at the time of the incident, the Pastor of the Assemblies of God,
the Reverend Daniel Ayembilla, was in Kumasi pursuing a course and wondered why
only the two of them should be used as "scapegoats".
He said it
was not until the matter was sent to court that the youth in the town started
threatening some members of his Church.
"Much
as we agree that the burning was done by a Christian, I want to categorically
state that the Assemblies of God Church was not part of the incident and,
therefore, played no part in the incident. We have no knowledge
about the
issue," he added.
GRi.
Mr. Charles
K. Amoah, station manager of the company's waterworks at Brimsu, near Cape
Coast, gave the assurance when he conducted some members of the public round
the station on Wednesday as part of activities to mark this year's World Water
Day in the Region.
He said the
present water level in the dam is 20 feet, five inches, a very good indication
that there would not be any problem with water supply since the maximum
operating level of the dam is 24 feet.
He noted
that in 1998, the municipality faced serious water problems because rainfall
was very low and the station was operating at 16 feet at that time, adding that
with the early rains this year, the station is going to
have enough
water to serve the municipality.
Mr. Amoah,
however, warned that if fishing activities in the Kakum River, the main source
of water supply to the station, was not stopped, the river would become silted.
He appealed
to the public to use water wisely because a lot of money is spent on the
purification of water, which has no substitute.
GRi.
Hand over STC to Management-Worker Buy Out
Accra
(Greater Accra Region), 23rd March 2000.
The General
Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Worker's Union (GTPCWU) of the Trade Union
Congress (TUC) on Thursday called on the government to impress upon the
Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) to hand over the State Transport
Corporation (STC) to the second best bidder.
"Since
Vanef, who was given the first option to buy the company could not meet its
contractual obligation of payment by the close of the agreed period, the second
option, the Management-Worker Buy Out must be considered."
This was
contained in an 11-point resolution adopted by the union at its sixth Quadrennial
Delegates Conference at Winneba in the Central Region and signed by its General
Secretary Mr. I. N. Y. Atopley.
The
resolution also asked the DIC to speed-up action on the divestiture of the City
Express Service to alleviate the suffering of its workers who have not been
paid for nearly 30 months.
On social
security contributions, the resolution condemned the attitude of employers who
engage casual labourers to avoid paying their contributions.
"We
are therefore calling on SSNIT and the Labour Department to ensure all casual
workers contribute to the SSNIT fund.
"That the social security law 247 of
the PNDC should be amended to take care of unemployment benefits for
contributors."
The
resolution called for majority representation of workers on the SSNIT Board
since they are the main contributors to the social security fund.
The
resolution appealed to the government to consider calls for the withdrawal of
the proposed two and half percent increase on VAT and to, instead, broaden the
tax net.
Other
issues the resolution touched on include a call on the government to restore
the end of service benefits to workers.
GRi.
Accra
(Greater Accra Region), 23rd March 2000.
The
Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, Nana Akuako Sarpong on
Wednesday called on the governments, traditional leaders, the armed forces and
the civil society to ensure that integration of the West African sub-region
becomes a reality.
"We
need it and we have the capacity to make this wonderful idea work," he
said.
Nana
Sarpong was briefing a 19-member delegation from the Nigerian War College on
the geo-political and traditional systems in Ghana in Accra.
Nana
Sarpong urged all leaders and relevant institutions to work and hasten the
integration process. He said globalisation has become the order of the day and
Africa cannot afford to be isolated.
The
Chairman of the National Commission on Culture called for the pooling of
resources between Ghana and Nigeria to spearhead the development of West
Africa.
He said the
two countries have since the colonial period played important roles in the
sub-region and stressed the need to consolidate it.
He said
armed forces in the two countries have a role to ensure peace in the
sub-region.
GRi.
Accra(Greater
Accra Region), 23rd March 2000.
The
Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Thursday said it is facing
implementation difficulties regarding the smelting of confiscated over-aged
vehicles.
A CEPS
source told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra that this is due to the high
cost involved in the exercise and the inability of parliament to approve a special
subvention to meet the cost of the exercise.
As a
result, only about five out of over 200 over-aged vehicles earmarked for the
steel mills have actually been demolished and moved from the ports.
Under a new
legislation, which went into effect in the middle of 1998, all Vehicles
imported into the country, which are over 10 years old, are to be confiscated
to the state and sent to the steel mills.
The source
explained that since CEPS began implementing the law on imported over-aged
vehicles, it has invested large sums of money in the exercise but recouped only
about one-third of that.
CEPS,
therefore, halted the exercise and appealed to Parliament to approve a special
subvention to enable it to defray the rest of the cost and continue with the
exercise.
Parliament,
on the other hand, has asked CEPS to remove and sell certain parts of the
vehicles such as windscreens, upholstery, steering and engines, which are not
required by the steel mills, to defray the cost.
The
official, however, pointed out that the suggestion of Parliament, if
implemented, might present procedural and accounting difficulties.
"Since
CEPS is not self-accounting, this suggestion could be a recipe for a serious
accounting problem. Moreover, we are a public service, which is enjoined to pay
all revenue we collect into the Consolidated Fund he added.
The
official said it would be legal and convenient for Parliament to approve a
special subvention to enable CEPS to carry out the law "and meet our
accounting and procedural requirements".
He noted
that proceeds from the sale of spare parts might not be enough to defray the
cost involved in the smelting exercise.
The
official said CEPS still stands by its appeal for subvention, without which the
smelting of the over-aged vehicles would be difficult to carry out.
He observed
that since the ban on the importation of over-aged vehicles came into force,
the inflow of such vehicles had reduced drastically.
However,
with the current stalemate, the problem is gradually building up again, and
Parliament needs to take another look at the issue to avoid an aggravation of
the problem, which the law seeks to solve.
GRi.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Trades Union
Congress (TUC) on Wednesday released detailed lorry fares following the 15 per
cent increase in transport fares it announced last Monday.
A statement
issued in Accra by the GPRTU gave the following reviewed fares.
Accra-Tamale:
19,300 cedis, Accra-Kumasi (Cosmos): 10,600 cedis, (one man, one seat): 13,200
cedis, (air-conditioned): 14,600 cedis, (benz bus): 9,600 cedis and (207 bus):
10,600 cedis. Accra-Takoradi: 8,800
cedis, Accra-Cape Coast: 6,000 cedis.
Accra-Aflao
(big bus): 7,260 cedis, (Lt bus): 8,060 cedis, and (caravan): 11,300 cedis.
Accra-Hohoe
(big bus): 8,700 cedis, Accra-Lagos (caravan): 53,000 cedis, Accra-Keta (big
bus): 6,100, Accra-Ho (urvan): 6,700 cedis, and Accra-Koforidua (urvan): 5,100
cedis.
It said the
taxi fare from Circle to Kaneshie is 530 cedis, Circle to Mamprobi, 800 cedis,
Circle to Airport, 1,300 cedis, Circle to Osu, 800 cedis, Circle to Kanda, 800
cedis, Circle to La, 1,000 and Circle to 37, 800 cedis.
The Trotro
fare from Accra to Osu is 580 cedis, Accra to Palm Wine Junction 740 cedis,
Accra to Burma Camp 740 cedis, and Accra to Tantra Hill, 920 cedis.
Other fares
include Accra-Korle Bu, which is 440 cedis, Accra-Odorkor 520 cedis,
Accra-Adenta 800 cedis, and Accra-Mallam 670 cedis.
GRi.
Moree
(Central Region), 23rd March 2000.
The
Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic
Congress, Apostle Kojo Jackson, on Tuesday, urged Ghanaians to help make the
impending Population and Housing Census a success.
He called
on supervisors and enumerators to be reasonable in their demands for
honorarium.
Apostle
Jackson made the appeal at a meeting with members of the party at Moree.
He asked
people to spare some time to be counted and to co-operate with enumerators.
They should also cross check their names when the Voters Register is re-opened
next month.
The meeting
expressed support for Professor John Atta Mills, vice president in seeking the
mandate of the NDC at its national congress scheduled for Ho to lead the party
in this year's elections.
GRi.
Dunkwa-on-Offin
(Central Region), 23rd March 2000.
The
Chairman, of the Central Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC), Mr. Kofi Mintah has stated that the secretariat would not
interfere in the selection of parliamentary candidates for this year's
elections.
Constituency
executives should however adopt transparent methods in the
selection
of the candidates to ensure a united front.
Mr. Mintah
said this when he visited the Twifu-Hemang-Lower Denkyira and Upper Denkyira
constituencies on Saturday.
He said
that the Regional Executive was only interested in the selection of candidates
who would be acceptable to the electorate adding that their party loyalty
should not be in doubt.
Mr. Mintah
urged members of the party to demonstrate their support for Prof. J.E.A. Mills,
by campaigning for him to ensure a resounding victory.
He urged
the executives to attach importance to the re-opening of the voters register
next month and ensure that members crosscheck their names while those who have
attained the voting age be made to register.
Mr. Mintah
stressed the importance of the forthcoming Population and Housing Census and
urged them to co-operate with the enumerators.
GRi.
World Water Day observed in Upper East Region.
Bolgatanga
(Upper East Region), 23rd March 2000.
Mr. Joseph
Azumah, Upper East Regional Chemist of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL),
on Wednesday appealed to Ghanaians to join the global effort to find lasting
and sustainable solution to the fast dwindling fresh water resources.
He was
speaking at Vea, near Bolgatanga, to commemorate this year's World Water Day in
the Upper East Region.
The Day was
observed throughout the World, under the theme "Water for the 21st
century", to highlight global concern on issues affecting the water
sector.
As part of
activities, GWCL organised a field trip for students of the Bolgatanga Nurses
Training School and Women's Training Institute (WTI) to the water treatment plant
at Vea.
Mr. Azumah
said that, the World Water Forum in Hague, Netherlands, should find solutions
to the challenges posed by human activity, rapid population growth,
urbanization and the consequent depletion and pollution of fresh water
resources.
If immediate
solutions are not found to the rate of water pollution, depletion and wastage,
millions of people "may become water-related refugees," he said.
He called
for more efforts to halt the drying up and siltation of the country's fresh
water resources as a result of increased agricultural activities,
indiscriminate waste disposal, mining, deforestation, urbanisation and other
human activity.
Mr. Azumah
said Ghanaians would pay a high price in the future in terms of water for
agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes if plans are not taken to manage
water resources.
The
Regional Chemist commended the media for being in the forefront of efforts to
enlighten Ghanaians on the issue.
The
Regional Administrative Officer of the Company, Mr. Cletus Anafo, explained
that the trip was to enable the students to have an insight into the
"costly process of water treatment".
He urged water consumers to avoid waste and
to endeavour to pay their bills promptly to enable the company to increase its
efficiency.
World Water
Day was instituted by the United Nations (UN), to create awareness on the need
for global consensus in tackling the dwindling freshwater resources.
GRi.
West African Gas Pipeline rejected by
environmentalists
Accra (Greater
Accra) 23 March 2000
Three environmental non-governmental organisations and some
communities in Ghana, Nigeria and Togo have rejected the West African Gas
Pipeline Project (WAGP).
The groups are the Environmental Rights Action (ERA),
Nigeria, Oilwatch Africa Network and Friends of the Earth Network of Ghana,
Nigeria and Togo as well as oil and gas endowed communities in Nigeria.
They say the absence of an environmental impact assessment
about the WAGP is an indication that environmental considerations are not on
the agenda of the WAGP consortium.
This was contained in a release signed by Pastor Niimmo
Bassey, Chairman of Oilwatch and convener of the just ended information and
consultation meeting on WAGP held in Warri, Nigeria, and made available to the
Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.
The release said "we reject the WAGP because the fears
of local communities have not been addressed.
These fears include grave environmental devastation that
will result from the project like deforestation, explosions, breaking up of
habitats and wildlife corridors and blocking of water bodies, cultural
dislocation as well as economic impoverishment."
They further threatened to petition the World Bank not to
support or promote the WAGP in any way unless the legitimate fears of the local
communities have been addressed.
The NGOs and the communities said they would challenge the
WAGP politically and legally until the concerns of local people are addressed.
The release condemned the concept of carbon credit and
stated that Chevron and other members of the consortium have never been
environmentally friendly in their operations.
The NGOs said they would set up a network of communities to
be affected by the project as well as civil society groups working on the WAGP.
"We would embark on empowerment education concerning
the impacts of the projects." the release said.
GRi../
Owabi dam is heavily polluted --says Regional Minister
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 23 March, 2000.
The Owabi dam, one of the two dams, which supply water to
the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, has been heavily polluted by activities
of mechanics and with household waste, Mr. Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, Ashanti
Regional Minister, said on Wednesday.
However, Mr. Kenneth B. Maison, Ashanti Regional Director of
the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) insists that water from the dam is safe
for consumption since it is well treated before distribution.
Mr. Nuamah-Donkor, who made the disclosure in a speech read
for him at the national celebration of this year's World Water Day in Kumasi,
said the activities of Developers, in recent years, have caused a siltation of
the dam.
He said the dam is heavily polluted with household waste and
through the activities of mechanics staying along the tributaries of the Owabi
River.
The Owabi Headwork, Mr. Nuamah-Donkor said, is therefore
unable to supply the required volume of water and is now supplying less than
its planned capacity.
The Regional Minister said as Ghana observes the World Water
Day with the theme "Water for the 21st century", "it
is important for us to note that fresh water is our life".
He said this makes it imperative for all Ghanaians to adopt
an integrated approach to managing the country's water resources.
Mr. Nuamah-Donkor said the government, therefore, has
ensured the provision of funds and legislation to support the efficient and
effective management of the country's water resources on a sustainable basis.
Mr. Maison, on his part, said though all the waste from
Suame presently gets into the Owabi River, the GWCL does not anticipate any
immediate danger. He said the company is measuring the amount of pollution and
may have to abandon the Owabi dam if the amount of pollution becomes too high
in relation to the amount of money that would be needed to treat the water.
Mr. Maison said at the moment, attention is being focused on
the Barekese dam to ensure continuous flow of safe drinking water for the
metropolis and its environs.
He also called for the drawing up of strategic water storage
plans and the rationalisation of water usage amongst competing user agencies
such as those responsible for the provision of potable water supplies,
irrigation facilities and hydro-electric power generation.
He also called for the enactment of a legislation to protect
water resources from degradation and pollution by vigorously discouraging human
settlements along riverbanks.
GRi../
All is set for the impending
national population census on 27 March with the National Census Technical
Advisory Committee (NCTA) expressing satisfaction with the country's readiness
for the exercise.
A statement signed in Accra on Wednesday by Professor
Patrick Twumasi, Chairman of the Board of the Ghana Statistical Service, said a
number of steps have been taken to ensure the success of the programme.
The steps taken include completion of recruitment and
training of enumerators and supervisors for the regions and distribution of
questionnaires to the districts.
All materials, such as satchels, pens, pencils, torch lights
and stationery have been distributed to enumerators with every enumerator being
supplied with identification badges to be worn on white T-shirts during the
exercise.
"Where necessary, enumerators have been supplied with
boots, rain coats, bicycles or motorcycles. Maps for the various enumeration
areas have been drawn and distributed to the enumerators and their supervisors.
"Meanwhile, enumeration of institutional population
areas, such as hospitals, prisons, police and military barracks as well as
educational institutions that are in session, began on Monday, 20 March and
will end mid-night of 26 March.
The Technical Committee, according to the statement, urged
all Ghanaians to co-operate fully to make the exercise a success.
Prof. George Benneh, a former Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Ghana, is the head of the18-member committee.
Other members include Prof. F. A. Aryee, Director of the
Population Impact Programme, Prof. D. K. Agyeman, Dean of the Faculty of Social
Sciences, University of Cape Coast and Prof. Nelson Addo, a consultant for the
UN Population Fund.
The rest are Dr Richard Turkson, Executive Director,
National Population Council Secretariat, Prof. Dorm-Adzobu, former Executive
Director of the Environmental Protection Agency and Mr. D. K. Ghansah, formerly
of the Demographic Unit of the Economic Commission for Africa.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra Region), 22nd March 2000.
The Registrar-General's Department on Wednesday directed
companies that have not delivered their annual returns or have not renewed
their registration to do so before 20 May.
A statement from the department said failure to do so
constituted an offence under the Companies Code, Incorporated Private
Partnership Act and Business Names Registration Act.
''All directors, officers, proprietors of companies,
partnerships and business names which continue to carry on businesses but fail
to deliver all arrears of their annual returns or renew their registration by
20 May will be prosecuted'' the statement added.
The statement said the registrar of companies shall also
strike off the names of defaulting companies, partnerships and business names
from the registrar and publish same in the gazette as well as in the print
medium.
It is an offence to continue carrying on any business after
the names of such businesses have been struck off the registrar.
Accordingly, directors and proprietors of companies,
partnerships and business names, which continue to carry on business after the
names, have been struck off shall be prosecuted and the business closed down.
The statement reminded proprietors that fees for filing
annual returns and for renewal of registration or any other fees are to be paid
only to the cashiers at the Registrar-General's Department.
GRi../
The minister noted that the event had really introduced the
region and its numerous tourist and economic potentials to the outside world,
and that the economic importance of the anniversary would be felt by those who
invested in it.
Mr. Adabre suggested that the trade exhibition, dubbed
"Dwa Kesee", held as part of the anniversary should be held every two
years to bring the people together to exhibit their economic potentials.
He thanked the committee for working tirelessly to ensure
the success of the anniversary with limited financial resources.
Mr. Adabre explained that the initial budget for the
anniversary was 680 million cedis but the committee managed to get 237 million
cedis from its sponsors and worked successfully with it.
He also thanked the sponsors for their gesture and expressed
the hope that they would reap the benefits of their investment in the
anniversary.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra Region) 22nd March 2000.
The police on Monday said they never took part in the
physical demolition of structures purported to belong to one Mrs. Marian
O'Sullivan Djuntuh as a section of the media alleged.
The demolition exercise was done on a parcel of land at
Teshie Agbliza called Maria Ville Home estates off Spintex Road, near Sakumno.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Awuntugwube Awuni said at a
press conference in Accra that the exercise was done in response to a lawful
order issued by a circuit court, and the police only accorded protection to
court bailiffs to the site.
He said an erroneous impression was being created in some
sections of the media that President Jerry John Rawlings and the First Lady are
using the police to settle personal scores, adding: "It is not the duty of
the police to defend the First Family".
"The court ordered that the 'applicants seek assistance
and co-operation of the police before any structure is removed."
In pursuant of the order, the Registrar of the court wrote
to the police on 22 February ordering the police "to release armed
policemen to accompany the court bailiff to carry out the exercise".
"In accordance with the rule of law, the police are
enjoined to comply with orders given by legally constituted courts."
Asked why the First Family is being put in the picture, DSP
Awuni said the section of the media that gave out the report knew what they
were up to. "As far as the police are concerned, there have not been any
facts to suggest the First Family's connection to the case."
DSP Aikins Kofi Darkey, Kpeshie Divisional Crime Officer,
said nine policemen, two of whom were armed, were sent to the site with
specific instructions not to turn the matter into confrontation should there be
any resistance.
When asked whether there was any resistance, he answered in
the negative.
GRi../
Kumasi ( Ashanti Region), 22nd March 2000.
The Zongo Freedom Seekers Association, an association
committed to the welfare of the NDC, Zongo communities and the Northern
Regions, has declared its support for Dr Obed Asamoah as the running mate to
Vice President John Atta Mills in the forthcoming general elections.
In a statement, the association said its choice of Dr
Asamoah is in view of his sterling leadership qualities and the fact that he is
non-tribalistic and stands for unity.
The statement, which was jointly signed by Alhaji Lardan
Chiroma and Alhaji Alhassan Ibn Ibrahim, chairman and secretary respectively,
of the association and issued in Kumasi on Wednesday, described Dr Asamoah as a
seasoned politician with a track record of international diplomacy.
The association said Dr Asamoah's selfless efforts in the
progressive alliance, has helped to instill unity in the NDC.
The statement acknowledged the good works the NDC has done
for the people of the three northern regions and the various Zongo communities.
GRi../
Bekwai (Ashanti Region) 23 March 2000
A 60-year-old professional accountant based in the United
States, Nana Osei Boapim Kantinka, has been installed the Nifahene of the
Asante-Bekwai Traditional Area.
He swore the oath of allegiance to Nana Kaakari Appau II,
Bekwai Omanhene at his palace on Monday.
The Nifahene stool is a new creation by the Omanhene and it
is expected that Nana Kantinka would bring his rich experience to bear on the
development of the area.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Nana Kaakari said it was his
vision to mobilise the human and material resources of the traditional area and
harness them for accelerated improvement in the lives of the people.
He hoped the Nifahene would co-operate and support other
chiefs of the traditional council to bring the vision to fruition.
GRi../
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 23 March 2000
The Brong Ahafo region would experience a major crisis in
its water supply situation in 10 years time if the rate of environmental
degradation and pollution of its water bodies were not abated.
The warning was given by the Regional Chemist of the Ghana
Water Company Limited (GWCL) Mr. Michael Yeboah Boateng at a news conference
held at Sunyani on Tuesday as part of activities to mark this year's World
Water Day.
Mr Boateng said farming and washing on the banks water
bodies coupled with severe deforestation is causing streams and rivers in the
region to get more polluted and seasonal.
The situation, he said is reducing the volume of their flow
and pushing up production cost at the company's head works.
Mr Boateng appealed to chiefs, district assemblies and all
the environmental agencies to collaborate with the company to avert a possible
disaster.
GRi../