CPP urges gov’t to
move away from dependence on aid
Ahwoi denies
claiming huge end of service benefit
Ministry will ensure strict financial
discipline - Baah-Wiredu
Maize yields likely to decrease due to
climate change- EPA
Investors to
cultivate cotton in Afram Plains
NDC urges Ghanaians
to work for peace
NDC sets up committee to reorganise party
CPP urges gov’t
to move away from dependence on aid
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 March
2001
The Convention Peoples Party (CPP)
on Monday called on the government to move from over reliance on aid to the
mobilisation of internal resources to meet the needs of Ghanaians.
It referred to the debate on
whether Ghana should join the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative
and said: "this is the inevitable result of economic mismanagement coupled
with prostrate dependence on inflows of external resources."
In a statement signed by Dr
Abubakar Al-Hassan, National Chairman, to mark the 44th Independence Day celebration,
which falls on Tuesday, the CPP said many Ghanaians have been impoverished to
the extent that they cannot afford one square meal a day for themselves and
their families.
"Education and health
services are almost in complete ruin," it said. "Unemployment of all
categories is on the rise and our industrial capacity is dwindling by the
month."
The CPP said "the collapse of
the last vestiges of military rule and the restoration of more credible
administration" provides some hope that the legitimate aspirations of
Ghanaians will become the guiding post in national political and economic
endeavours.
"This, we believe, will lead
to the emergence of a strong and prosperous Ghana whose citizens will enjoy the
fruits of their labour in peace and freedom."
The CPP, whose predecessors under
Dr Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana to independence in 1957, said it is committed to
ideals of the independence movement world-wide, and pledged to continue the
struggle of Africans against an unjust world economic order "responsible
for the poverty and misery on the African continent."
It said Africa is confronted with
a bleak future mainly because, in spite of its rich mineral resources, ruling
elite of the continent still acts as "house of niggers for their
neo-colonial masters in the metropolitan countries."
The CPP said the debt burden is
heavily weighing down Africa and continues to be one of the major obstacles to
the development efforts of the people.
"Ghana's huge external debt
of about six billion dollars is mainly due to unfair trade practices of the
developed world."
It said by 1995, IMF and World
Bank loans had almost tripled Africa's debt burden from 70 billion dollars in
1983 to 180 billion dollars, a figure that represents more than the continent's
aggregate net income.
"We cannot accept the
situation in which after 20 years of the implementation of the Structural
Adjustment Program (SAP), the average African has 10 per cent less food to eat
and 18 African nations are classified among the world's poorest 20."
The CPP said it joins the
anti-debt movements in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America,
to call for the complete cancellation of the debts of developing countries.
"These debts have been repaid
several times over and constitute a millstone around our necks."
The CPP said if a fairer
international economic system is built in place of the existing one, all the
world's peoples can realise their full human potential.
"After all it is generally
agreed that the world's resources can cater for the needs of 50 billion people
and the population on earth is still under the seven billion mark."
The CPP paid tribute to the
pioneers of the independence movement and pledged to fight on until Ghana and
Africa are free from "the yoke of exploitation and oppression."
GRi…/
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Ahwoi denies
claiming huge end of service benefit
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 March
2001
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Chief Executive of
the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), said on Monday that he has
neither retired nor been retired to warrant claiming any end of service benefit
(ESB).
He said there has never been any
demand by him at the GIPC for the payment of end of ESB, neither has there been
a cheque prepared for such payment.
"No signatory to the centre's
cheque has been dropped up to the time I was asked to proceed on leave on
February 20, 2001," Mr Ahwoi said in a statement in Accra.
There have been a series of press
reports claiming that he attempted to sign a cheque for 100 million cedis for
his ESB. He has also been accused of several malpractices, which he denied in
his statement.
On retirement benefits of the
Deputy Chief Executive and Directors, he said the board approved new service
conditions on January 3, this year, when it was realised that a deputy chief
executive was entitled to five million cedis as his retiring handshake.
The board had earlier considered
and approved a special dispensation to top up the amount to 10 million cedis. The
new conditions of service give chief/deputy chief executives two months gross
emoluments for each completed year of service, and all other categories three
months basic salary for each completed year.
"Of critical importance is
the decision by the board and the Ministry of Finance, through its
representative on the board, to encourage the centre to generate funds outside
the central government's budget to cater for its welfare programmes.
He said on February 2, Mr Yaw
Osafo Maafo, Minister of Finance, directed that there was no particular urgency
for the board to rush into decisions, which would bind the new administration
without giving it the opportunity to appraise them.
The minister's letter said
President John Kufuor, therefore, directed that the last meeting of the board
and all decisions taken on that day be nullified with immediate effect.
Mr Ahwoi also denied that he
"owns a fleet of cars" and drew fuel from the GIPC for his personal
vehicles. He said he owns only one car, a Pontiac Transport SE (1994 model),
which landed at Tema on December 2, last year, and was licensed on January 15
as GR 7 S.
He said a Nissan Skyline (1987)
model, AS 4092 E, which he purchased in 1992, had been transferred to his wife
and is owned by her and registered in her name since June 12, 1998. Mr Ahwoi
said a BMW 518 (1993/94 model), GT 6 E, is a company car.
"I do have access to these
cars and use them for my office duties when the two official cars are at the
workshop. Those are the only times I draw fuel. These can be ascertained from
the transport and accounts office of the GIPC."
Mr Ahwoi denied allegations that
he took up to two million cedis weekly allegedly for party campaigns, saying
that it will be a non-discerning Chief Executive Officer who will take official
imprest for a party campaign. "I did not and would not do that because I
am known to be discerning."
On high telephone bills, Mr Ahwoi
said communication is the secret and the success of the GIPC, a modern,
sensitive and responsive investment promotion agency.
"I think I should be judged
more by my output and inflow vis a vis the cost of telephone input for an
international agency such as the GIPC."
He said he owns only one house at
North Legon and does not own a beach house at Ningo as alleged, adding: "A
Taiwanese friend of mine has a beach house at Prampram which I use from time to
time".
On allegations that he was
planning to travel overseas to earn part of a 40,000-dollar grant to the GIPC,
he said he was recruited on September 24, last year, to address the Second
Africa-Asia Business Forum and had applied to the president for permission to
travel.
He had been recruited together
with three other Ghanaians among a group of 11 consultants/resource persons for
the forum.
Mr Ahwoi said there is no such grant
as 40,000-dollar grant to the GIPC.
GRi…/
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Ministry will ensure strict financial
discipline - Baah-Wiredu
Konongo (Ashanti Region) 07 March 2001
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has re-affirmed the determination of his ministry to ensure discipline and prudence in the financial administration of the district assemblies.
He noted that it is by sealing the leakages and mismanagement of the assemblies' finances that the quality of life of the people could be raised.
Mr Baah-Wiredu, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante-Akim North, was speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Konongo Wesley Methodist Church on Sunday.
The service climaxed activities marking the victory celebration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency.
The Minister said to strengthen and promote efficient resource management, it is necessary to have more technocrats and professionals serving on the assemblies.
There should also be a change in the work ethics and attitudes of local government employees to bring about the envisaged positive change.
Mr Baah-Wiredu was unhappy with the situation whereby most unit committees are non-functional and asked all to help support them to become active.
He spoke to his constituents about plans to re-activate the Konongo-Odumase mines to provide employment opportunities for them, saying that contacts had already been made with some South African and American gold mining companies.
Nana Batafo Achampong Nti II, Konongohene, asked the people to put the bitterness of the past behind them and join hands to move the area forward.
"What we need to do as a people is to show a deep sense of understanding, mutual respect and co-operate with one another in finding solutions to the socio-economic inadequacies of our communities."
Earlier in his sermon, the Reverend J.P. Sackey noted that all authority comes from God and should therefore be used to serve but not to oppress and exploit the people.
He observed that the challenges ahead are daunting but gave the assurance that, through oneness of purpose, goodwill and understanding, the country would certainly pull through.
GRi…/
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Maize yields likely to decrease due to
climate change- EPA
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 March 2001
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday said current yields of maize and other cereals, are likely to decrease by year 2020 if climate-change-policies are not formulated.
This, Dr. Peter C. Acquah Chief Executive Officer of EPA said, is due to the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climatic changes.
The other cereals likely to be affected are rice, sorghum and millet.
Dr Acquah was speaking at the launch of the third and final Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report held in Accra from February 28 to March 3.
The IPCC working group III, comprising 140 representatives from 85 countries met in Accra to review the many technologies and policies that are available for reducing or limiting greenhouse gas emissions in order to minimise future climate change.
The delegates unanimously approved and launched an 800-page report for policy makers titled: "Climate Change 2001: Mitigation"
The report, among other things, called on governments to use the numerous technologies available for mitigating climate change.
Dr. Acquah said policies that would enhance the production of heat and drought-tolerant crops and the development of action programmes to discourage rampant removal of the vegetation cover are among some of the policies needed by Ghana to help mitigate the climate change.
Dr Acquah said despite the fact that Ghana does not emit greenhouse gases, studies have shown that the energy sector has the highest greenhouse gas emission potential.
" For Ghana to be able to contribute to the global effort of addressing the effects of climate change, clean and sustainable development pathways have to be followed," he said.
Dr Acquah said the development of renewable energy resources, especially solar and mini-hydro dams will go a long way in contributing to sustainable development efforts.
"The development of the transport sector especially the re-introduction of inter-city rail network, (Accra-Tema railway) and urban public transport will be of great benefit to the country," he added.
Professor Ogunlade Davidson, Co-chairman of the working group (three) of IPCC said until African governments adjust to some of the new technologies that would help mitigate climate change effects, they would continue to be worst hit by the effects of climate change.
GRi…/
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Investors to
cultivate cotton in Afram Plains
Mpraeso (Eastern Region) 07 March
2001
A team of Ghanaian, Israeli and
American investors is to go into large scale cotton cultivation along the banks
of the Afram lake in the Kwahu South and Afram Plains Districts of the Eastern
Region.
The group would also cultivate
crops like yellow corn, banana and groundnuts on a rotational basis to maintain
the fertility of the soil.
Ms Ama Gyenfuaa-Darko, Managing Director
of the Wood Ford Complex Ghana Limited, announced this when she introduced a
ten-member delegation of the investors to the Kwahu Traditional Council at
Mpraeso, on Monday.
She said the necessary arrangement
had been completed with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use water from the lake to irrigate
the tract of land along its banks for large scale cultivating of cotton and
other crops.
Ms Gyenfuaa-Darko said the project
would cover about 120,000 (one hundred and twenty thousand) acres of land.
Mr David Miller, an Israeli and
leader of the team said Wood Ford Complex, Agripacs and D. J. Miller Group of
Georgia, Atlanta, in the USA, would jointly undertake the project, which would
increase cotton production to feed local industries and for export.
The Omanhene of the Kwahu
Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, commended the companies for
investing in the area to offer employment to the people and assured them of the
council's preparedness to release land for early commencement of the project.
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NDC urges
Ghanaians to work for peace
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 March
2001
The National Democratic Congress
(NDC) on Monday urged Ghanaians to continue to work for the maintenance of
peace and stability that the country has enjoyed for the past two decades.
In a statement to mark the 44th
anniversary of Independence, the NDC said as Ghanaians celebrate the occasion,
they must continue to uphold the principles of the founding fathers, which are
enshrined in the country's motto - freedom and justice.
"In this regard, the party
calls for the country to be governed by the rule of law," it said in the
statement signed by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary. The NDC said it
would continue to defend the democratic gains the country has made.
Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings,
leader of the NDC and his Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) ruled the
country from 1982 to 2000.
The party referred to the
declaration by President John Agyekum Kufuor of Independence Day as being the
single most important event of the nation's calendar and said it is instructive
that the successors of political groups that opposed Dr Kwame Nkrumah's motion
for Independence, now recognise its significance.
The NDC said it salutes workers,
farmers, fishermen, the security services, women, the youth and all Ghanaians
who have toiled to bring the country this far.
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Accra, (Greater Accra) 07 March
2001
The National Democratic Congress,
which ruled Ghana from 1993 to 2000, said on Monday that it has set up a
committee to make suggestions on the immediate re-organisation of the party.
A statement issued in Accra by
Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary, said the committee is under the
chairmanship of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Obed
Yao Asamoah.
The NDC, led by former President
Jerry Rawlings, won two elections in 1992 and 1996, winning about 58 per cent
of the vote in the first round on both occasions. It also had an overwhelming
majority in the 200-member parliament.
However, it lost both the
presidential race and parliamentary majority in the December 2000 vote.
The NDC's candidate, former Vice
President John Atta Mills was beaten in the second round by the President John
Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party.
The NDC also saw its parliamentary
majority plunge from 133 to 92 seats. The NPP, with 100 seats, is the party
with the largest number of seats.
Meanwhile, the NDC has denied a
publication in a private newspaper that a new club, the Progressive Alliance
Youth Club, has been formed in the party.
"The National Executive
Committee (NEC) of the NDC wishes to state categorically that no such club
exists within the party..."
It said it believes the story is
"one of several attempts by opponents of the NDC and the Progressive
Alliance to sow seeds of confusion within the ranks of our party."
The NDC said it would not
countenance the proliferation of any such clubs or organisations at the time
when it is busy re-organising itself "into a dynamic political
force."
"To allow that will dissipate
our energies thereby promoting the interest of only opponents of the NDC."
The leadership of the party called
for unity, closing of ranks, singleness of purpose and harnessing of all
available human and material resources towards the objective of capturing power
in 2004.
GRi…/
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