The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Brong Ahafo Region is operating at a loss due to the acute water shortage that has hit the Sunyani Municipality and its environs about a month now.

The shortage has largely been attributed to the drastic fall in the water level of the Tano River at the Abesim headworks

Mr. Senyor Theodore Amengor, Regional Chief Manager of GWCL told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday that the company is operating at a loss because the river has virtually dried up at Abesim "and it is practically impossible to draw water for treatment and distribution".

The company now fetches water from Berekum in polytanks for supply to consumers at 100 cedis per bucket at vantage points in the Sunyani district, Mr Amengor said.

He explained that the company derives 27,500 cedis from a polytank of 275 buckets, "and even each day we are able to supply all the six polytanks at our disposal, we are still unable to meet the operational costs and that is the source of the loss".

Mr Amengor noted that the problem has reduced the revenue generation of the company, which is not a subvented organisation, adding that, the situation would even make it difficult to pay the workers for this month.

He, however, said that the management is collaborating with the Regional Co-ordinating Council to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr Stephen Kwadwo Fordjour, Acting Regional Commercial Officer of the company, said between 60 to 65 per cent of the company's revenue is generated from the Sunyani district, while the remaining comes from Berekum, Techiman, Dormaa and Dwomo districts.

"So if the revenue from the Sunyani district declines, then, virtually the entire region drastically suffers an operational loss".

Meanwhile Dr. Kofi Isaac Asare, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services has advised residents to boil water from the streams before using, to avoid the outbreak of epidemics such as cholera and water borne diseases.

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Difficult decisions necessary - Apraku

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, said on Monday that the current state of the economy requires difficult but honest decisions to create the needed macro-economic environment to ensure the much awaited positive change.

"The decision to join the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) was a difficult but inevitable one for this government. The budget is tough but we cannot help other than to be honest about the fact that more of such difficult decisions are ahead."

Dr. Apraku made this remark at a flag-lowering ceremony to close the Fifth Ghana Industrial and Technology Exhibition dubbed INDUTECH '2001.

He assured the public that though the government is poised to take all the necessary difficult decisions to transform the economy, there is goodwill on our part to ensure that the private sector thrives under this government.

Dr. Apraku said the government has no intention to stifle the debate about its difficult decisions, adding: "but when we believe our decision is right, we will prefer to suffer the heat from public criticism and go ahead with our decisions for the benefit of this country".

He said the government has by the presentation of the budget started a process of reconciliation and transformation of the economy, which demands the participation of all to ensure positive change.

"Our mentality has got to change and get used to the hard decisions and responsible attitude to work to ensure that we achieve our set targets within the periods we give ourselves."

The minister expressed disappointment over the lateness of exhibitors to the closing ceremony of the fair, saying the NPP government will not countenance that poor attitude to time.

Dr. Apraku said the government is committed to its positive change goal and it is determined to do things in the interest of the people of this country.

He praised the organisers and exhibitors of this year's INDUTECH, saying that the calibre of exhibits were a proof of the ingenuity of Ghanaian industrialists.

"The only problem we have now is the lack of effective co-operation between industry and research and between the government and the private sector," he noted.

The minister called on industries and research institutions to collaborate to ensure that goods produced in this country are innovative and are of high quality enough to remain competitive on the international market.

Dr. Apraku called on investors to convert the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC) into "a large shopping arcade and entertainment centre" to ensure that the facility generates revenue on regular basis and not only during fairs and exhibitions.

"The government is ready to do its part in the move to generate regular revenue from the GTFC. Industry and commerce are urged to take advantage of the facility and invest," he urged.

Mr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), called on the public to support the President's decision for the country to join the HIPC initiative.

"The president has taken the decision and instead of having unending debates, let's support it to move this country forward."

Mr Kludjeson, however, told the minister that within a couple of days, the AGI would seek an appropriate forum to discuss the policy measures, especially the HIPC, with the government.

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NDC not happy about presentation of nation's debts in cedis

Wa (Upper West) 13 March 2001

The Upper West Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Jatoe Gaa says the presentation of the country's external debts in cedis instead of dollars was meant to score political points.

Speaking at a news conference at Wa, on Monday, Mr Gaa said President John Agyekum Kufuor's conversion of Ghana's external debt of 5.8 billion dollars to 41 trillion cedis was a crafty action orchestrated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to discredit the NDC government.

He said, even though, it is the same amount there is a flaw in the presentation "because if the cedi were to gain back its strength against the other major currencies, the external debt will automatically reduce".

The conversion of the dollars to cedis is unacceptable since the government is to pay back the debt in dollars adding, "it has caused an unnecessary alarm in the minds of Ghanaians that the NDC has left behind a huge external debt".

The Regional Secretary said countries like Burkina Faso, Cote D' Ivoire, Nigeria and Malaysia owe heavy sums of money and wondered why the "NPP government has decided to be hyping on only debts without considering other achievements".

Mr. Gaa said the NDC was disappointed that no minister was chosen from the region and said the NPP performed worst in some regions than the Upper West, yet those regions have cabinet ministers and urged the government to consider appointing qualified people from the region.

The Regional Secretary also urged the government to check the "unacceptable lorry fares being charged by commercial drivers due to the increment in fuel prices" adding that their fares are not in conformity with the 15 per cent approved by the government.

Mr. Bede Zieding, former Deputy Regional Minister, members of regional executive of the party, women's wing of the Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs), Veranda Boys and Girls Club, Liberated Nkrumahists Brigade and the NDC youth wing were present at the press conference.

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I have been vindicated - Bartels

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing, on Monday said his decision to close down the water hydrant at Okponglo where private water tanker operators were drawing water has been vindicated.

This is because his directive has resulted in the restoration of water supply to areas that were not getting water from the government booster station due to the activities of the tanker owners.

"Prior to this decision, water was not flowing at areas like Dome, Taifa, Ashongman, Agbogba, Adenta and East Legon," he said.

"All these areas are now getting frequent water supply," he said when the executives of the Association of Private Water Tanker Owners called on him.

They discussed problems they are facing as a result of the closure of the hydrant since March 7 and to find workable solution to them.

The tanker owners were ordered to fill their tankers at Kokroko, near Awoshie, and La 'T' Junction.

The minister said the decision was taken on the best advice from his team of experts adding, "we have satisfied the interest of the mass of the people who were not getting water due to the activities of the tanker owners.''

Mr Bartels asked the executives to give him some time to discuss the issue with his team of experts promising that by the close of Tuesday, Mr Appiah Kubi, Area Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), would brief them on the decision taken.

He expressed his displeasure at the way and manner the issue was handled by members of the association through the media, adding that he was not treated fairly.

Wing Commander Charles Addo (RTD), Chairman of the association, said the closure of the hydrant has caused water shortage to over 1,200 households in Accra and Tema as well as some hospitals and organisations.

He said the collecting points at Kokroko and Odorkor are too small to accommodate the 295 registered tankers operating in Accra.

Commander Addo said the situation could lead to tanker drivers getting water illegally and loss of revenue to the GWCL.

He suggested that the tankers should be allowed to resume work at the Okponglo hydrant while efforts are made to get the new places ready.

Commander Addo apologised to the Minister on behalf of the association for some misleading reports it gave to the media.

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Gender inequalities affect girl-child upbringing - Official

Tamale (Northern Region) 13 March 2001

Mr Jacob Achulu, an Official of the Department of Social Welfare, has said that gender inequalities in the upbringing of male and female children impact negatively on the girl child.

Practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) early and forced marriages and lack of leisure that infringe on the fundamental human rights of the child, affect mostly females, Mr Achulu said.

He told a two-day workshop on the rights of the child, which was attended by staff from the Information Services Department and the Department of Community Development, that the girl-child has her fundamental human rights often abused by culture and tradition and she is often worse off in this regard than her male counterpart.

The workshop was sponsored by the Tamale Municipal Assembly and Save the Children's Fund, a non-governmental organisation.

It was aimed at equipping staff of the two departments with adequate knowledge about the rights of the child to enable them to propagate it at the grassroots level.

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Amidu says Kofi Coomson can go to Supreme Court

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

Mr Martin Amidu, former Deputy Attorney-general and Minister of Justice, said in Accra on Monday that Mr Kofi Coomson, who was discharged after the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice decided to drop criminal libel charges against him, can go to the Supreme Court over the action.

"Should you be really disappointed at your discharge upon a "nolle prosequi" you can proceed to the Supreme Court under articles 2 and 296 of the constitution," he said in a statement issued in Accra.

Mr Amidu said the complainant can also avail himself of such a right. "Indeed, any citizen who is mindful to do so can do so. There are several legal authorities in the Commonwealth and the United States of America that support our written constitutional provisions," Mr Amidu said.

Mr Coomson and Mr Eben Quarcoo were discharged after the AG, Nana Akufo-Addo entered a "nolle prosequi" in a criminal libel case for a story they published in their newspapers that the NDC was dealing in drugs.

A story in Coomson's newspaper, the Chronicle, said he and his counsel were disappointed at the AG's decision.

Mr. Amidu said the action of Nana Akufo-Addo raises serious constitutional and ethical issues for him.

"This is because Nana Akufo-Addo who entered the 'nolle prosequi' as Attorney-General was a leading counsel in the case at the Supreme Court. "I am equally disappointed at the decision because it was entered by a lawyer who could not get the Supreme Court to rule in your favour that section 185 of the Criminal Code, 1990 (Act 29) was unconstitutional."

Mr Amidu said in the light of the Supreme Court's decision, the "nolle prosequi" entered by the AG "appears to be a self-serving act to side step the authoritative decision of the Supreme Court."

"The Constitution prohibits legislative judgement. It cannot, therefore, support the Attorney General's executive judgement embodied in the 'nolle prosequi.'' Mr Amidu said the conduct of the Attorney General also reinforces his belief that Mr Coomson would have been prosecuted under an NPP government."

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Probe Pre-mix fuel committee - Kyerekuandah

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council on Monday said it welcomes the dissolution of the previous committee on pre-mix fuel headed by Mr David Hammond and called on the new Interim Management Committee to probe it.

The Council's Executive Secretary, Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah IV, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra that the council expects the new committee to remove the lapses in the administration and judicious use of pre-mix fuel.

It also expects the new committee to make the system efficient to meet the needs of fishermen and the fishing industry.

"The pre-mix fuel facility is meant to be used by fishermen, and steps should be taken by the committee to ensure that it is used by fishermen," Nii Kyerekuandah said.

The interim committee, he said, should ensure compliance of the guidelines of the pre-mix fuel and make sure that only chief fishermen and their management committees at the various landing beaches are supplied with the fuel.

"This means that the committee should find out which pre-mix fuel outlets belong to chief fishermen and the number of canoes available at each landing beach."

Nii Kyerekuandah said the committee should regularly publish its quarterly reports on its operations and finances.

He questioned the use of the 100-cedi levy on each gallon of pre-mix fuel and said the previous committee did not clearly state what that money was meant for.

Nii Kyerekuandah said the previous committee was not accounting to anybody until its attention was drawn to the need to explain its expenditure.

He said a statement of account by the then committee, raised question marks on the disbursement of the levy, and that led to the setting up of a committee at the instance of Dr Kwabena Adjei, then Minister of Food and Agriculture. However, their report was never published.

Nii Kyerekuandah, who is also the Ga Woleiatse (Chief Fisherman), called for a monitoring mechanism to be put in place so that the pre-mix fuel is not diverted.

Nii Kyerekuandah said money accruing from the 100-cedi levy per gallon of premix fuel should be used to establish a financial institution to support the artisanal fisherman and the fishing industry.

He called for a public enquiry into allegations of misuse of money from the fund.

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Legal System needs professionals with skills - AG

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

Nana Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, on Monday underscored the need to equip members of the legal profession with a broad range of skills.

This, he said, will reform and modernise the legal system so as to help salvage its sinking image.

Nana Akufo-Addo was opening the 43rd Annual Law Week celebration of the Ghana School of Law (GSL) in Accra, which is under the theme; "Consolidation of Democratic Rule in Ghana: The Role of the Lawyer".

Activities lined up for the celebration, include clean-ups, seminars, fun games and an Annual Dinner Dance.

Nana Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the numerous criticisms levelled against the legal profession and said this has brought it into considerable disrepute.

The time has therefore come for members to make concerted efforts at improving the quality of service they render so as to protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged, he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo urged lawyers to uphold the tenets of the rule of law and to ensure effective and prompt delivery of justice to the ordinary person.

He urged lawyers to support government's measures to heal past wounds so as to reconcile the people to ensure peace and development.

While urging lawyers to brace themselves up for the many challenges ahead, he also cautioned them to abide by the code of ethics of the profession.

Tracing the history of the country's legal system, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that it is the oldest profession whose members have made immense contribution towards nationalist activities in the country before and after independence.

He said lawyers were at the forefront of the struggle for independence and spoke about the positive role played by John Mensah Sarbah, the country's first trained lawyer, against British imperialism.

Mr. S. Y. Bimpong-Buta, Director of GSL, noted that the week is being held at a time when for the first time in the nation's political history, there has been a peaceful change of government through democratic elections.

He urged students of the school to use the celebration to discuss issues relating to the political, economic and social needs of the country.

Mr. Augustine Obour, President of the Students' Representative Council, expressed concern about the duration for the training of lawyers, and suggested that after obtaining a first degree, the four-year training period before lawyers are called to the Bar be reduced to three years.

Mr. Justice George Acquah, Justice of the Supreme Court who chaired the function, pledged the bench's preparedness to co-operate with both the government and the bar to ensure an efficient judicial system.

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Minister appeals for French assistance for security agencies

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior, on Monday called for the assistance of the French government in recruiting and equipping the Police service to curb the rate of crime.

He said the Police could not work efficiently because they lack vehicles and equipment.

The Minister made the call when he received the French Ambassador in Ghana, Mr Jean-Michel Berrit, to discuss co-operation between the two countries.

Alhaji Yakubu said the police have struggled with armed robbery and serial killing of women but because they are not well equipped, they have not been able to achieve much.

The minister said democracy could only be developed if the security of the nation is assured. However, he said, "our police, prisons and other security agencies are not well equipped to perform their duty."

Alhaji Yakubu said the government has appealed to some countries for assistance adding that the US has shown interest by sending some officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigations who are based in Abuja to assess the situation and the sort of assistance to give.

The minister said his outfit is determined to control the use of arms by unqualified people, adding that the two-week ultimatum the ministry gave for people to submit their unlicensed arms to the police received a positive response.

Mr Berrit commended the ministry for their efforts in straightening the security of the country.

He appealed to the government to give them the chance to teach the Police French which, he said, will help them when they go out on peace keeping missions in French-speaking countries.

He also promised to assist Ghana in business, trade and provision of logistics to the security agencies.

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Father murders son in a brawl

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

The Odorkor District Police are investigating the death of a 22-year-old man, Mr Eric Appiah, who was allegedly killed by his father last Thursday at Sampaman, near the Weija barrier, in Accra.

Sources at the district crime office told the Ghana News Agency that Eric's father, Yaw Appiah, 54, who lives with his wife Sarah Donkor at Sampaman had a misunderstanding with her during which he assaulted her.

Eric stepped in to rescue his mother but his father stabbed him on the cheek with a sharp object.

The police source said he became unconscious and was taken to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police are yet to retrieve the murder weapon, but have preferred a provisional charge of murder against Yaw Appiah.

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Existing projects will be completed under HIPC - Minister

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

The Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, on Monday said foreign funded development projects currently underway would be completed despite government's decision to join the HIPC Initiative.

Government has received assurances from the donor community that on-going projects would definitely be completed, he said in Accra when he met journalists to discuss the full impact of the 2001 budget presented to Parliament last Friday.

Some economic analysts have expressed fear that numerous jobs would be lost since Japan, France and Germany, some of Ghana's largest multi-lateral partners, will either reduce their contributions to the HIPC Fund or slash considerably loans and grants to the country most of which is in development projects.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo conceded there might be job losses because of expected delays and possible stoppages of some donor funding. However, he said, "it would not be to the disadvantage of the nation."

He denied that 29,000 jobs would be lost from government's decision to join the HIPC Initiative.

"We would then be talking about as many as 30 plus companies and no company employs consistently 1,000 employees who will lose their jobs, not even in the construction industry."

He said Ghana is in a desperate situation in view of the huge debt situation, which is the reason why government has opted for the HIPC Initiative.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo said external debt service build-up has risen significantly from 3.3 trillion cedis in 1999 to 6.2 trillion cedis this year.

"In the same vein external debt has risen from 197.7 million dollars in 1981 to 5.8 billion dollars in 2001 while domestic debt rose from zero to 31.7 trillion cedis over the same period," Mr Osafo-Maafo added.

He explained that there was nothing wrong with Ghana being described as heavily indebted and poor.

"Looking at our debt situation and current status we are actually poor and heavily indebted to donor partners. Being poor is a cash-flow problem and does not mean we do not have resources.

"It would only allow us to manage our resources much better because we would then have more money to use judiciously to alleviate poverty."

He said Ghana qualifies under HIPC because her per capita income of 390 dollars is far lower than the qualifying criteria of 690 dollars. It also qualifies under other criteria set by the World Bank/IMF.

The minister said government took the decision after receiving two reports from the IMF and Debt Relief International, which showed that Ghana would be better off under HIPC.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo said the previous government did well in initiating the poverty alleviation programme but said it must be improved to benefit more people.

"Government has initiated a new poverty reduction programme that would make it relevant to Ghanaians as it would be on our own terms," he said.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said the increase in airport tax from 20 dollars to 50 dollars per head would bring in a 25 per cent increase in revenue to the operations of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

This is because it is assumed that more people would visit Ghana judging from the increased number of flights by the airlines to and from Ghana.

"Twenty dollars will still go to the GCAA while the remaining 30 dollars will go into the consolidated fund."

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) made 250 million dollars in airport tax alone last year.

Dr Kwesi Ndoum, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Integration, said he was concerned about the added benefits for Ghana under the HIPC initiative adding "it brings in a lot of relief to the mass of Ghanaians."

Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said government welcomes the HIPC programme because of its benefits but noted that "it is not a panacea to solve all the nation's problems."

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Explore settlement mechanism - NMC

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

The National Media Commission (NMC) on Monday said it is determined to facilitate the effective operation of the media to ensure high journalistic standards.

It has, therefore, advised members of the public to explore its settlement mechanism.

This was contained in a statement issued after the NMC settled a complaint lodged against Mr Ben Ephson, Editor of the Dispatch, by Mr Vincent Assiseh, Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Congress.

The story captioned "Assiseh attacks Obed Asamoah" was on the front page of the paper dated 6th-12 September. It was over an interview by an Accra FM station on the nomination of Mr Martin Amidu as running mate of Prof. John Atta Mills of the NDC.

The paper alleged that Mr Assiseh said that Dr Asamoah fanned his purported nomination as the NDC's presidential running mate in the interview.

The commission found that Mr Assiseh never made such a statement. It said the headline was speculative and the story did not reflect the headline.

"Mr. Ephson graciously admitted the lapses and offered his apologies to Mr Assiseh who accepted it", the statement said.

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Minister urges tourism operators to strive for international standards

Cape Coast (Central Region) 13 March 2001

The Minister of Tourism, Madam Hawa Yakubu, on Monday urged operators in the hospitality industry to adopt modern standards of maintenance and cleaning in order to sustain their business and meet international standards.

She said the increasing number of tourists arriving in the country and the discerning nature of travelers, generally have made it important for operators to tailor their services to match client expectations.

Madam Yakubu made the call in an address read for her at the opening of a five-day workshop on; " Cleaning and Hygiene", organised jointly by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) and Cleaning Solutions Limited (CSL), a branch of UNILEVER Ghana.

She stressed the need for operators to be quality-driven since the industry has become highly competitive.

" The travel and tourism industry is flourishing throughout the world, and it is set to grow at record rates this century", hence the need for modern standards of maintenance and cleaning, she said.

The Minister, therefore, advised the operators to give requisite training to their staff, motivate them and place the "right people in the right places and positions."

She welcomed the setting up of a training institute for personnel of hotels, restaurants, chop bars and others in the hospitality industry by CSL to update their skills.

The Managing Director of CSL, Mr. Kofi Asamoah said his company has since last year trained 1600 operators of the industry in hygiene, sanitation and maintenance to enable them to attain high professional standards.

Ms. Regina Kpanga, Acting Executive Director of GTB, who chaired the function, urged the participants to apply the knowledge they acquired at the workshop to improve their services.

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Fire destroys six farms at Asamankese

Asamankese (Eastern Region) 13 March 2001

Six cocoa and food crop farms at Asamankese were destroyed by bush fire at the weekend.

The owners, Kwasi Adjawada, Kwabena Gyamfi, Kwame Kuma, Afua Anima, Kwabena Nudziekpor and Michael Kpoduhia told the GNA that they did not know the cause of the fire, stating that they have been shattered by the extent of destruction.

A team from the National Disaster Management Organisation led by the District Co-ordinator, Mr A.O. Larbi, has visited the farms to assess the extent of damage.

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Robbers escape after shootout with police

Nsawam (Eastern Region) 13 March 2001

The Nsawam Police at dawn on Sunday exchanged gunfire with five armed robbers suspected to have attacked the people of Oparekrom, near Nsawam, in the Eastern Region.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Nsawam on Monday, Superintendent James Bruce in charge of Nsawam Police Station, said that, following a tip-off, he sent six policemen, led by Chief Inspector Asafo Adjei Nartey, to the town.

He said since there was no police vehicle, he hired a taxi for the operation.

However, he said, the vehicle ran short of petrol halfway the journey so they decided to walk to the village where the robbers were firing indiscriminately to scare away the people.

Superintendent Bruce said as his men approached the village, the robbers engaged them in a shootout and eventually escaped into the bush when they realised they would be overpowered.

He said the police then entered the house of Mr. Francis Mawuli, an accountant of Standard Chartered Bank, whom the robbers had attacked and robbed of 9 million cedis.

Superintendent Bruce appealed to the Ministry of Defence to supply the Nsawam Police Station and its three posts with two vehicles to help combat the rising crime in the area.

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Student commits suicide

Tema (Greater Accra) 13 March 2001

A 19-year-old student committed suicide at Tema on Sunday leaving a note that she was fed up with false accusations by her mother that she was flirting and causing abortion.

Miss Vida Mansa Yakah, a third year student of Tema Methodist Day Secondary school (MEDASS) was found hanging from the ceiling of the hall of their home.

Police Superintendent Mohammed Adams, Tema Community Two District Commander told newsmen that Miss Yakah's mother, Madam Felicia Ameduku, said she found her daughter hanging when she woke up at 5:30 for morning devotion.

She left a note, which read: "Mother says I Mansa has caused an abortion and when I dress to school, I go about having sex with men. This is not true. I know that my own sister Mary hates me and mother as well, so I am ending it all.

"I may be a liar, but a murderer I am not. I can never in my life kill even an insect, let alone an abortion".

Superintendent Adams said the previous night Vida had a misunderstanding with her elder sister Mary for wearing Mary's pair of stretch jeans but their mother intervened. She wore it out but returned home 30 minutes later.

At about 10.30 PM, the family retired to their bedrooms upstairs only to wake up the next morning to find Mansa hanging in the hall.

Police are investigating.

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Mining companies submit land reclamation plans to EPA

Sekondi (Western Region) 13 March 2001

All the eleven mining companies in the Western Region have submitted their land reclamation plans to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as required by law.

The companies are the Ghana National Maganese, Ghana Bauxite, Iduapriem Goldmine, Ghana-Australian Goldfields and Goldfields Ghana Limited.

The rest are Bogoso Goldfields, Ashanti Goldfields Bibiani Limited, Prestea Gold Resources, Sankofa Goldfields, Satellite Goldfields and Aboso Goldfields.

Speaking to the GNA in an interview in Sekondi on Monday, Miss Irene Heathcote, Regional Programme Officer of EPA, said only Aboso Goldfields has set aside funds for its reclamation plan.

The remaining companies are in the process of paying money into a special account for that purpose.

Miss Heathcote said reclamation plans of the companies are aimed at rehabilitating degraded lands as a result of mining activities to be implemented after the closure of the mines.

She said EPA approves such plans when it is satisfied that they are capable of restoring the lands to their original state.

Miss Heathcote said under the programme, the companies have established a fund, which was approved by the EPA to finance the plans, adding that nobody would have access to it, until after the closure of the mines when the rehabilitation will take place.

She, however, said most of the companies are presently implementing reclamation programmes alongside their operations as a temporary measure to reduce cost, which will be higher if they wait until the closure of the mines.

Miss Heathcote gave the assurance that no mining company can leave the country without implementing its reclamation plan.

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ER Minister urges VRA and Asuogyaman Assembly to coexist

Atimpoku (Eastern Region) 13 March 2001

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, has urged the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Asuogyaman District Assembly (ADA) to find an amicable settlement to their dispute over the collection of revenue in the Akosombo township area.

He said with goodwill from both sides, an amicable settlement could be found to the issue of who has the exclusive right to collect taxes in the Akosombo Township.

Dr Osafo-Mensah made the appeal at Atimpoku when interacting with departmental heads in the Asuogyaman District, during his familiarisation tour of the district at the weekend.

The VRA and ADA have been at loggerhead over which of the two institutions is properly disposed to collect revenue and other rateable taxes in Akosombo.

Dr Osafo Mensah stressed the need for the assembly to develop its enormous tourist potentials as a way of improving its revenue base.

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