57 women drag
ex-husbands to CHRAJ
Probe VAT deductions for education - Union
Regional Minister assures open door policies
Minister assures NGOs of co-operation
Redirect focus from poverty alleviation to
business ventures- Alima Mahama
GAWU cautions government on genetically
modified foods
Government committed to open governance- Ms.
Ohene
Agricultural Workers Union calls for probe
of cocoa purchasing companies
Operations of orphanages to be regularised –
Director
Drivers advised to
adhere to approved fares
Judicial Service
asked to check indiscipline
Do not compromise safety for money - TUC
Boss
Former DCE denies carrying away assembly
property
MPs share of
common fund to be reviewed - Baah-Wiredu
57 women drag
ex-husbands to CHRAJ
Goaso (Brong Ahafo) 02 March 2001
Fifty-seven aggrieved women in the
Asunafo District last year took their former husbands to the Commission on
Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over the maintenance of their
children, the year 2000 report of the operations of the Commission in the
District, has said.
Mr Oman Mprah, District Director
of the Commission, said out of a total of 193 cases received, 160 were disposed
of by the close of last year. He said 24 of the cases were on landlord/tenant
matters, while 10 were on paternity, and 17 on estate matters.
Mr Mprah added that women formed
the bulk of individuals who made complaints on various matters to the
Commission.
He, however, said lack of
resources, especially transport, was an impediment to the Commission's desire
to reach out to the various communities to educate the people on their rights.
Mr. Mprah noted that people are
unwilling to send their cases to CHRAJ as the Commission does not have power to
enforce its decisions.
He, therefore, appealed to
Parliament to give the Commission the necessary legal backing to enforce its
decisions.
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Probe VAT deductions for education - Union
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
The government has been called upon to investigate and publish the expenses made on the accounts of the University User Fees.
According to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Agricultural Workers Union, the NDC government increased VAT from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent with the understanding that the 2.5 per cent would go to finance education.
The NEC which made the call at its 53rd meeting in Accra said "as of now no statement has been made on the 2.5 per cent" which Ghanaians were made to pay. It called for a continuation of the national debate on financing education.
The NEC further called on the government to investigate the divestiture programme and the work of its implementation committee saying "the divestiture of State Owned Enterprises (SOE) was not transparent".
"The NEC believes that the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) carried out its activities indiscriminately and in a manner which breeds suspicion and ...fraudulent deals", it added.
It condemned the increased crime wave, especially the serial killing of women and called for increased logistics for the police.
The council said it is encouraged by the recent efforts of the government to combat crime.
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Regional Minister assures open door
policies
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh Isaac Quaye, on Thursday assured Regional Heads and District Co-ordinating Directors of an open door policy and a transparent administration.
Sheikh Quaye who is also the MP for Ayawaso Central told a meeting conveyed to formally welcome him to the Regional Administration that with his open door administration, he would expect all the staff to work hard to move the nation forward.
He therefore urged officers who would be submitting recommendations for payment to ensure that they had done their homework well by inspecting works on which payment are to be made.
"I am going to institute a system of cross checking for all payments in order to avoid waste"
Sheikh Quaye said the main focus of his administration is to improve the Environmental and Sanitation problems facing the region with special emphasis on Accra and Tema districts.
This is because though the two districts serve as the mirror for the country, his visit to some sanitary sites of the Waste Management Department has revealed that there is more to be done to rid the city of filth.
"I therefore give the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) up to March 8, to submit to my office a crash programme to clean up and also how to maintain an environmentally healthy Metropolis."
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Minister assures NGOs of co-operation
Tamale (Northern Region) 02 March 2001
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Ben Bukari Salifu on Wednesday assured Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others working for the development of the region of the Regional Co-ordinating Council’s (RCC), support and co-operation.
Addressing representatives of over 35 NGOs engaged in various development projects in the region at Tamale, he also pledged the commitment of all district assemblies to support projects that would be initiated by NGOs in their districts.
The meeting was to afford the Minister, who himself was once Chairman of the Northern Region Youth and Development Association (NORYDA), the opportunity to interact with leaders of NGOs in order to know the problems that undermine their efforts.
Mr. Salifu stressed the need for transparency and co-ordination among NGOs in order to reduce duplication of projects, which wastes resources and undermines the maximum utilisation of funds from donor organisations.
He suggested that NGOs should document their activities and present them to the RCC to enable it to keep track of their activities.
Mr. Justice Frimpong, Director of the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT) welcomed the initiative of the Regional Minister, saying, "I hope we would be able to work together to achieve the goals earmarked by government for this region."
Mr. Frimpong said literacy collaborators from GILLBT working in the districts, face certain constraints and he was relieved that they would now have access to the District Assemblies.
Madam Adisa Munkaila, Programme Manager of the School for Life, an NGO that offers education to children of school going age who are out of school, said stakeholders in education would not dissipate their energies and resources if they work together.
She said an idea was mooted sometime ago to establish a desk at the Regional Administration to handle issues on NGOs but nothing has been done about it.
Madam Adisa said NGOs were also directed in the past to present documents covering their activities in order to streamline and co-ordinate them but no follow up meetings were called to discuss the documents.
She therefore requested that these lapses should be addressed.
Mrs. Sanatu Nantogmah, Programme Manager of the Christian Children Fund of Canada said the meeting was an indication that the Regional Administration was not only keen about productivity but was also appreciative of the efforts of NGOs.
She appealed to government to speed up the registration of new NGOs that are now coming up to legitimise their activities.
Mrs. Nantogmah also appealed to government to exempt NGOs from paying tax on imported relief items.
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Redirect focus from poverty alleviation to
business ventures- Alima Mahama
Tamale (Northern Region) 02 March 2001
Ms Alima Mahama, Deputy Minister-designate of Local Government and Rural Development, on Wednesday urged Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to shift their focus from poverty alleviation to business investments.
"Poverty alleviation has been talked about for too long and would not move the (Northern) region forward. We need to take a business approach, if we are to move this region forward", Ms Mahama, a Lawyer and Development Consultant told a meeting of NGOs in Tamale.
The meeting was at the instance of the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council to discuss the activities of NGOs make them more cost-effective.
Ms Mahama said the District Assembly/NGO relationship should be cordial and mutual, "if NGOs feel that District Assemblies are forthcoming, they would co-operate more."
She said it will not be out of place for NGOs to discuss their yearly plans with District Assemblies and hold forums with beneficiary communities, stressing that NGOs should take a proactive stance in the discharge of their duties.
The Regional Minister, Mr. Ben Salifu, announced that the region in conjunction with the Upper East and Upper West Regions would institute periodic meetings to market their regions to attract both local and foreign funds for development.
"We are going to open up and find out who is occupying which seat in the Embassies and solicit assistance from donor agencies."
Mr. Salifu said the three regions would dedicate the first two months in office to establishing friendships and marketing their plans.
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GAWU cautions government on genetically
modified foods
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 March 2001
The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) on Thursday cautioned government about the use of genetically modified products as a means to achieving food sufficiency and suggested that there should be a commission to study its full effects.
The union said the genetic seed cannot be replanted after fruition and continuous dependence on it would gradually extinct natural seeds that ought to be protected.
The union expressed this view at its national executive council meeting in Accra.
It said before the study, government should stress on the advantages of natural foods as against laboratory prepared formulas.
The union said the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as part of its trade agreement, is pushing for the production of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) as a way of solving food deficit problems.
The Union said it is opposed to the move, cautioning that if accepted the issue of patent for the production of such seeds would exclusively be in the hands of foreign companies and the nation would have to find hard currency to import the modified seeds.
GAWU said genetic engineering has its cost and it would not be in the interest of the nation particularly the smallholder farmer who is the backbone of agriculture in most African countries.
"The council is not convinced about the health implication of depending on GMO", it added.
GAWU also called on the government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 141 Recommendation 149, which affords trade unions opportunity to better organise and represent all workers on the labour market.
The Union expressed surprise at the conduct of functionaries of the erstwhile government who froze the End of Service Benefit (ESB) only to manipulate and enjoy it.
It described the action as a "clear manifestation of exploitation and trampling on workers right" and called for its immediate restoration based on fairness and equity.
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Government committed to open governance-
Ms. Ohene
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State for Media Relations, on Thursday said that the government is committed to operating an open system of governance.
To this effect, it will co-operate with all stakeholders who will help develop more, the concept of open and transparent government.
Ms. Ohene said this when the British High Commissioner, Dr Rod Pullen called on her at the State House.
She said for the media to be able to effectively carry out its operations, the capacities of personnel would have to be built to meet the changing trends of the profession.
"We can only effectively operate an open government when the press is well developed to face modern challenges", Ms. Ohene stated.
"My office will ensure that, every opportunity is pursued to create an enabling atmosphere, which will indeed help in the training of journalists."
Ms. Ohene reiterated government's commitment to repeal the criminal libel law, but cautioned that citizens have the right to sue the media when they think they have been maligned in any way. This will be a civil case, which can be pursued as such.
Dr Pullen said Britain is following with interest the democratic transition that is taking place in the country and praised the people of Ghana for such a feat.
He stressed that the role of the media in a democracy is very crucial in sustaining participatory governance and said Britain shares and supports that view.
"Britain believes that the government is committed to an independent media and would assist in its realisation."
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Agricultural Workers Union calls for probe
of cocoa purchasing companies
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
The General Agricultural Workers Union on Thursday called on the government to order investigations into the operations of cocoa purchasing companies.
The union said there is no transparency in the award of license to the private companies in whose hands the purchasing of cocoa has been entrusted.
In a resolution at the end of the 53rd national executive council meeting in Accra, the union said there are too many companies involved in produce buying which makes it difficult to guarantee the quality of the cocoa bean.
It is also not in the country's interest since the total huge profits of these companies are repatriated.
The union further called on the government to review the restructuring exercise being carried out in the cocoa sector because it is soaring unemployment.
It said those affected by the massive retrenchment are not being retrained to acquire skills to fend for themselves, adding that if nothing is done to help such people they are likely to become liabilities to society.
The Union called on the government to control the importation of agro-chemicals and stressed the need for research into their effects on humans especially women.
It expressed concern that there is no clear-cut policy about pesticide use which is assuming an alarming rate, saying there are a dozen of things incorporated in the pesticide formulation which have effect on the health of workers especially women.
It called for discussions among stakeholders to draw up programmes to raise public awareness against unguarded pesticide use.
The resolution also stressed the need for a more business-like approach to the development of irrigation, which has the potential of achieving self-sufficiency in food production.
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Operations of orphanages to be regularised
– Director
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 02 March 2001
Government will initiate the promulgation of a Legislative Instrument (LI) to regularise the establishment and operations of orphanages and children's homes in the country.
Mr Stephen Adongo, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), who announced this on Monday in Kumasi, said the centres operate with temporary licences and the law will also assist in regulating their activities.
The regional director was speaking at a two-day workshop for Residential Child-Care Givers, Orphanages and Children's Home management staff.
The participants, numbering 60, came from the Kumasi Children's Home, Adullam Orphanage at Obuasi, Westphalian Village at Oyoko, and the Children's Home at Offinso. The rest were from the New Life Home in Kumasi, King Jesus Charity Home at Boadi, near Kumasi, Foster Home at Ejisu-Besease and Asante-Mampong Babies Home.
The workshop was jointly organised by the DSW, Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA), and Save the Children's Fund (SCF).
The topics centred on communication, home management, nutrition and medical care.
Mr. Adongo requested that social workers should be attached to the homes and orphanages to facilitate work there.
He said it is illegal for the orphanages and homes to release any of their inmates for adoption without the knowledge of the DSW.
Mr. Adongo explained that the children are expected to be well trained to enable them to earn a decent living in future.
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Drivers advised
to adhere to approved fares
Goaso (Brong Ahafo) 02 March 2001
The Asunafo District Co-ordinating
Director, Mr. Kusi Appiah has warned transport unions in the district to adhere
to the approved 15 per cent increase in transport fares or face sanctions by
the District Assembly.
He said the assembly would not
tolerate drivers who take advantage of the recent increase in fuel prices to
cheat passengers.
Mr. Appiah gave the warning when
he interacted with members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU)
and Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) at Goaso on their
reaction to the increase in fuel prices.
He said a lot of calculation was
done before arriving at the 15 per cent increase in transport fares and it will
be unlawful for drivers, whose representatives participated in the negotiations
for the fare, to flout the directive.
Mr. Appiah said the assembly would
conduct periodic checks to ensure that drivers keep to the approved the fares.
Mr. S. Yaw Gyamfi, first trustee
of the local GPRTU gave the assurance that no driver will be allowed to have
his own way to charge above the approved fare.
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Judicial Service
asked to check indiscipline
Ho (Volta Region) 02 March 2001
Mr Joseph Essiful-Ansah, Acting
General Secretary of the Judicial Services Association of Ghana (JUSAG), has
called for strict enforcement of discipline within the service to arrest its
declining image.
He said acts of indiscipline in
the service have exposed it to unprecedented public ridicule and criticisms in
recent times.
Mr Essiful-Ansah was speaking at
the inauguration of the Volta Region Branch of the Judicial Service Ladies
Association of Ghana (JUSLAG) at Ho on Thursday. It is under the theme "Women in Development: the role of
JUSLAG".
He said a performance review
meeting is to be held to evolve strategies to salvage the image of the judicial
service and enhance its efficiency to meet public expectations and aspirations.
He advised the ladies to work hard
to earn their promotions because "the days when people were unjustifiably
promoted are over".
Mrs Victoria Bonuedi, a retired
Assistant Director of Education and a panel member of the Community Tribunal,
advised the women not to turn the association into a "gossip club"
but use it to improve their professional competence.
She asked the women not to use
their positions in the service for "extortion of money from their clients
before doing what is expected of them or hide dockets, which eventually delays
the cause of justice".
Mrs. Bonuedi advised them not to
seek favours from their male counterparts as this could lead to sexual
harassment but rather earn their promotions through hard work and efficiency.
Miss Patience Klu, President of
the regional branch, said the JUSLAG, among other things, seeks to educate
women on their rights to enable them to be self-reliant and law-abiding.
Mr. Justice Attah Asare-Korang,
Supervising High Court Judge who presided, asked the women to use the
association as a pressure group to ensure that the judicial service is
strengthened to perform its duties effectively.
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Do not compromise safety for money - TUC
Boss
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March 2001
Mr Kwesi Adu Amankwa, General Secretary of the TUC, on Thursday decried the diversion of monies meant for protective gears, resulting in increased accidents in workplace.
Launching the Electricity Company of Ghana's policy document on safety and environmental management in Accra, Mr Adu-Amankwah said Trades Unions worldwide are becoming increasingly alarmed at the rate of injuries and deaths resulting from occupational hazards. The document was produced in 1995 but was not printed until April 2000.
"The International Labour Organisation's recent figures around the world indicated that more than 300,000 fatal workplace accidents occur each year, he said, adding that 250 million work-related injuries occur while 160 million workers fall ill from hazards and exposure annually."
Mr. Adu-Amankwa said that though most accidents at the workplace are caused by human errors, the use of obsolete machinery, lack of safety and protective gears and the refusal of some employees to use protective gears are the real reasons.
He said the world figures should be a signal for all employers to ensure that the safety of their workplace becomes paramount in their policy formulation.
Mr. Adu-Amankwa praised the ECG for the policy, which places emphasis on the avoidance of unnecessary risks and preventive measures and asked the management to interact with staff in translating it into reality.
"A special programme must be instituted to ensure that all workers in ECG are aware of what is contained in the policy," he said.
Mr. Adu-Amankwa urged the Union to monitor the implementation of the provisions in the policy, adding "I hope that the implementation will involve democratic participation of all workers in matters that affect them".
Mr. David Boa Essilfie, Western Regional Manager, said the ECG has on record 53 accidents over a period of seven years.
"Out of this number, 39 directly involve ECG employees while the rest are those affecting the public."
He expressed the hope that the application of the policy measures would enable staff to recognise the safety hazards that they would be confronted with.
The managing director of the ECG, Mr Emmanuel K. Annan, called on the workers to guard against all forms of hazards, adding that it takes a lot to develop the human resource, which is the most important in the discharge of every work.
"No company is happy when there is an accident which results in death because it takes a lot to develop the human resource."
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Former DCE denies carrying away assembly
property
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 02 March 2001
Mr Samuel Kwasi Acheampong, former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere West has denied being in possession of the property of the district assembly.
He said he has neither vacated the official bungalow nor has he left the country as it is being alleged.
Reacting to allegations that he has looted the assembly, Mr Acheampong said that the assembly never bought a single glass or cutlery for the bungalow and there was no colour television.
He explained that when he handed over the administration of the district it was agreed that inventory of assembly's property at the bungalow would be taken when was due to leave.
Mr. Acheampong said last Saturday, he asked the co-ordinating director for a vehicle to send his personal belongings to Kumasi which he obliged and released the assembly's Landcruiser to him.
"On Tuesday, February 26 I heard the police were looking for me. I immediately called the District Crime Officer who told me it was the DCD who came to report that I had left the place without notice".
Mr. Acheampong said when he called the director to verify he said he only wanted to be sure.
"I want to state that the assembly never bought a single cutlery or drinking glass to my house. I bought every glass and cutlery that were in the bungalow".
He said during the visit of the former Vice President to Asante-Mampong, all the cutlery and glasses were provided by the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
Mr Acheampong said when he occupied the official residence, nobody gave him a 29-inch television, neither did the assembly buy any colour television during the whole period that he was in office. "It is therefore surprising that anybody should even talk of a television set".
He said may be the co-ordinating director was thinking of a television set that was bought by an aspiring parliamentary candidate for donation to a community, pointing out that the donation could not come on because the television was faulty.
"I will want to put on record that I am still the official occupant of the DCE's residence and even when I leave I don't intend leaving the country like it is being rumoured".
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MPs share of
common fund to be reviewed - Baah-Wiredu
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 March
2001
Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister
of Local Government, on Thursday said the processes for the release and use of
the MPs' share of the district assemblies' common fund is being reviewed as
part of the re-assessment of the local administration system in the country.
The minister, who was interacting
with Members of Parliament from the Brong Ahafo Region, said the MPs' share
need not continue to be the bone of contention between the legislator and the
District Chief Executive (DCE).
He asked the MPs to endeavour to
relate well with their respective DCEs, adding "sometimes they feel that
we are intruders so they do not open up".
The minister appealed to them to open offices in their various
districts to facilitate their outreach programmes.
Mr. J.H. Mensah, Majority Leader
and Leader of Government Business, urged the MPs to concentrate more on their
oversight responsibilities and leave pure executive matters to the DCEs.
The Leader, who is also MP for Sunyani
East, said government is committed to increasing the percentage of tax revenue
channelled into the common fund but will have to strengthen management and
accounting systems at the district level.
"You will also have to help
in the tightening up of the tendering and procurement systems. Keep your eyes
open."
Mr. Samuel Woode, Director,
Institute of Local Government Studies, said the major problem facing District
Assemblies is the capacity to man.
He announced that the institute
has completed a pilot programme that studied a limited number of districts and
was now ready to take any district to the classroom.
Members called for the
re-demarcation of the districts and constituencies to reflect the true
demographic picture of the region.
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