Independence Anniversary claims 46 casualties in Koforidua
Rawlings exposes Malik Alhassan
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 07 March 2002 - This year’s 6th March anniversary celebration at Koforidua was hit by casualties as 44 students and two security personnel collapsed at the parade held at the Jackson Park.
They were taken away by the Red Cross and given first aid to regain consciousness. A source at the Red Cross tent, where the first aid was administered to the victims, said the cause of the high casualty among the contingents was the very high humid at the parade ground. In all 1,520 students from both public and private schools in the New Juaben Municipality participated in the march past. Other contingents included the armed forces, prisons service, police, fire, immigration and the New Juaben Municipal guards.
Conspicuously missing at the parade were the GPRTU guards, market women and traders, the 31st December Women’s Movement, as well as other non-governmental organizations, who are noted for participating in ceremonial parades over the years. Their missing in action caused a sort of argument among the crowd of spectators, as some said they were NDC groups and since the party is not in power they could not participate in such ceremonies.
If there were anything good to write about, then it was the splendid gymnastic display put up by the Adweso Trinity Presbyterian Primary School which won spontaneous applause from the officials present and the large crowd that thronged the parade ground to watch the ceremony.
At the end of the competition, AME Zion schools placed first in the JSS category, followed by Ada Schools, while the third place went to Efidwase School. For the second cycle category, Koforidau Secondary Technical School placed second, followed by Pope John Secondary and Junior Seminary. They received certificates of honour.
The Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo Mensah, paid glowing tributes to the former leaders who fought for the independence of the nation, especially the late Dr Ako Adjei, who unfortunately did not live to see this year’s anniversary. He advised the students to take their students to take their studies seriously and respect their leaders and authority. The Chronicle
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NPP is conducting a clean campaign - Botwe
Bimbilla (Northern Region) 07 March 2002 - Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has denied that the party is resorting to underhand tactics in it’s campaign to win the Bimbilla Parliamentary seat in the March 14, 2002 bye-election.
“On the contrary, it is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which is indulging in a campaign of falsehood designed to discredit the NPP and give unfair advantage to the NDC in its bid to retain the Bimbilla seat,” he stressed. Mr Botwe was reacting to allegations made by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya General Secretary of the NDC, to the effect that the NPP was abusing its power of incumbency by, among others, embarking upon a campaign of harassment and threats calculated to intimidate NDC supporters to join the NPP.
He had alleged that such intimidating tactics and monetary inducements had been used to “coerce” Mr Joseph Likanli, Bimbilla Constituency NDC Vice-Chairman, to defect to the NPP in the ongoing campaign. According to Mr Botwe, the NPP, as “a democratically minded and peace-loving party” is committed to the pursuit of the rule of law and democratic tenets and will, therefore, ensure that its actions and general behaviour conforms to these values.”
“Besides, as a popular national party and the leading political force in the country, we have no need to resort to any underhand tactics to coerce anyone to join the NPP. The NPP, largely on account of its commitment to democratic principles, respect for the rule of law and the pursuit of the well-being of the people, is a magnet that attracts the people, and this, our political opponents must know and learn to appreciate,” he stressed.
On the defection of Mr Likani, Mr Botwe said the former NDC constituency Vice-Chairman, joined the NPP on his own freewill. “Mr Likanli, over a fortnight ago, walked into my office in Accra and expressed interest in not only becoming a member of the NPP but also in seeking the nomination of our party to contest the vacant Bimbilla seat. I subsequently referred the matter to the regional and constituency executive for attention,” he said.
Mr Botwe pointed out that, prior to seeking to play a more high profile role in the NPP, Mr Likanli relinquished his vice chairman position and renounced altogether his membership of the NDC. He pointed out that following these developments and his acceptance by the executive of the party at all levels, Mr Likanli, along with two others, was short-listed to contest the nomination of the party a week ago.
“Indeed given the suit then pending against Mr Dominic Nitiwul, who is now our candidate, Mr Likanli functioned as our standby candidate and has since been active in our campaign to win the seat come March 14,” he emphasized. “If anyone has to take the blame for intimidating people to join their party, then it has to be the NDC (because) Mr Likanli told us he had been intimidated to join the NDC and that he had always been a loyal member of the Danquah-Busia tradition,” he said.
On the campaign, the NPP General Secretary said it was so far smooth and peaceful notwithstanding “some provocative utterances” by some parties opposed to the NPP. He pointed out that even though the race for the seat was a very tough one, “I am confident the NPP will carry the day on March 14.” – Daily Graphic.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 07 March 2002 - The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Joshua Alabi, has stated that the party is vigorously reorganizing structures to anchor it to recapture power in the general elections of 2004.
He said the reorganization also forms part of measures to give hope to its teeming supporters after the unsuccessful attempts by some opponents of the party to criminalise and cow party members into submission with the aim of causing the demise of NDC after it lost power in the last elections.
Mr Alabi stated this at the inauguration of the sub-committees of the Greater Accra Regional NDC in Accra. The committees are Legal, Research, Communication, Fund-raising and Field Operations. He noted that the NDC has really exhibited a real hallmark of a viable political party, which is capable of withstanding all shocks and intimidations and “this foundation is propelling the party for landslide victory.
According to him, the Greater Accra Regional chapter of the party has initiated strategic and scientific moves dubbed “Operation Reclaim Accra2004,” to take back all seats lost to the party’s opponents. In this direction, he charged the members of the various sub-committees not to relent in their efforts at vigorously organising and winning more members to the fold of the party.
The Chairman said the people of Ghana are really having the needed experience to compare the rule of the main two political parties. This, he said, is propelling the party to victory and called on all party supporters and sympathizers to redouble their campaign on all fronts.
A national Vice-Chairperson of the party, Ms Sherry Ayittey, wondered why people who were faithful and committed during the cause of serving this country would be prosecuted at the end of the day because of political differences. She noted that all these political machinations by the opponents of NDC to entrench themselves at all cost, would come to naught. She said with the wide awareness and vigilance of the populace, no one political party can entrench itself and manipulate things through force and turn this country into a one party state.
Ms Ayittey said the forefathers of this country toiled and fought with their sweat and blood to give freedom and stability and “make Ghanaians proud and full of integrity”, adding that all must be equal before the law. She charged the rank and file of the party not to be perturbed by the calculated attempt to intimidate and harass them but gird their loins and be steadfast to secure victory for the party come next elections.
Ms Ayittey swore in the sub-committee members and charged them to work assiduously. The Communication and Fund-raising committees are chaired by Mr Joshua Alabi, Legal Committee by Nii Okaija Adamafio, Research by Flt.-Lt. Nii Tackie and Field Operations by Nikai Addison. – Daily Graphic.
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Yendi (Northern Region) 07 March 2002 - What started as a homely advice and a wake-up call to the people in the Northern Region to see through the evil machinations of NPP government’s Minister of the Interior has been twisted and misinterpreted by NPP propaganda stalwarts in the Northern Region.
Findings by The Ghanaian Voice indicate that when the ex-President was on his way to Bimbilla, he stopped over at Yendi where he paid a courtesy call on the Ya-Na. At Yendi, he was informed of the widening gap in the chieftaincy problem between Andani-Gate and Abudu-Gate. He was further informed that the whole problem was being created by the Minister of the Interior, Malik Alhassan, and that the same tactics was what precipitated the fracas between the Kusasis and the Maprusis.
Armed with this information, the ex-President at six different rallies advised the people to watch out not to fall into the divisive trap of Malik Alhassan because when mayhem or trouble break out he would be sitting comfortably in his air conditioned office in Accra while innocent people would be suffering for it.
He told the people that these divisive tendencies have been the stock-in-trade of people like Malik Alhassan and that they should not kotow to their intimidation and harassment but should resist the mischievous attempts to divide and rule them.
At no time did he mention the Kokombas and Nanumbers and advised them that when the NPP people bring money they should collect the money and use it to settle their financial problems in these difficult times but vote against the NPP. The Ghanaian Voice gathered also that there is no NPP campaign going on in the Bimbilla township and that the ground is so hot that the NPP national organizer, Lord Commey, and the Northern Regional Minister, Prince Andani, were even booed at some stages.
Another information available to this paper also indicate that a million cedis each has been lavished on the ‘Operation Gon-Gon’ and that all the District Assemblies have been asked to contribute from ¢5 million to ten million for the campaigning on the forthcoming elections. The Ghanaian Voice further gathered that since Ibn Chambas, a Nanumba, who was occupying the position did not complete his term, a Nanumba must fill his place. – The Ghanaian Voice.
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No ‘Fast Track’ Court in ’92 Constitution’ – Tsatsu’s lawyer
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 March 2002 - Prof E.V.O. Dankwa, Counsel for Tsatsu Tsikata, former Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Chief Executive, has insisted that there is nothing under the 1992 constitution known as the ‘Fast Track’ Court.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM, an Accra based radio station ‘Super Morning Show’ programme, Prof Dankwa said under Article 3 of the Transitional Provision, “the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court in existence immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution shall be deemed to have been established under this constitution and shall perform the functions of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court specified respectively in Chapter II of this Constitution.
He emphasized that “there was no ‘Fast Track’ Court.” Prof Dankwa conceded the fact that Parliament gives power for the creation of lower courts and as a result, Parliament had caused to be established Circuit Tribunals, Circuit Courts, Community Tribunals, among others. “Nowhere do we find a court known as ‘Fast Track’ Court that had been created by Parliament and so we asked ourselves, “what is this,” he underscored.
Referring to an alleged claim by the Attorney General that the ‘Fast Track’ court is a division of the High Court, Tsatsu’s counsel contended that, “if it is a division then it must be created in accordance with the provision of the Constitution on the establishment of the High Court.” He said that provision requires the Chief Justice to create the division of the High court and that the judges of such division must be known. “We must also know the subject area,” he insisted.
Prof. Dankwa made reference to a document from the Attorney General’s outfit which he observed, had only civil cases listed in it. “There is nowhere you could find that so-called division could try criminal cases”, he underscored, adding, “In any case, it is not even a document by the Chief Justice; it is a document with the Forward written by the Chief Justice and the content was written by other persons,” Prof Dankwa observed.
He stressed that the power of the Chief Justice to set up a division of the High Court is nothing he can delegate to other people “and so that is where it needs constitutional requirement.” When the station pressed further for him to substantiate his assertion that the document was written by other people, Tsatsu’s solicitor mentioned Brobbey and Ainuson.
Asked to differentiate between the ‘Fast Track’ High Court and the normal High Court as he said, with the common argument being that it is just mechanisation, Pro Dankwa said it was on the basis of the claim that it is a division of the High Court that he raised the question that “we don’t find it in the Constitution; we don’t find it in the legislation and we are told that it is a division.”
Komla Dumor, the host, further probed, “Now, the Supreme Court upheld your view and position but I believe as a practitioner, aren’t you concerned about the avalanche of cases set back by the decision?” In his reply, the solicitor quipped, “Will it not be better to deal with the consequence of those cases now than to wait until ten years, eight years, 12 years, for someone to come and say aah! What is this?”
To another question, Prof Dankwa said after the Supreme Court ruling, the case was pursued at the High Court the day after and again they raised a preliminary objection to the prosecution at that stage “because again, the charge is unconstitutional.” Expatiating further on this contention, Dankwa sited Article 19 Clause 5 of the 1992 Constitution, which states, “A person charged with a criminal offence shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence.
He explained that Tsikata was being charged for something he is said to have done in February 1993 when the law under which he has been charged was not yet into being. When told that some people had observed that he had been running circles around the Attorney General’s Department, Prof Dankwa intimated that he did not know how the A-G’s Department was run and could not really say that he met that description at all.
“I am a law teacher here (University of Ghana) and defending a client I have known for years and I put it that way that some consequences may flow from the defence of the client. But my main objective is to protect the integrity of the Constitution, after that is the interest of my client. The consequences which flow from the defence I put up for my client are consequences people affected should try and deal with,” he stressed.
Asked whether he is confident of the outcome of the review, which the government is asking for, Prof Dankwa said he did not see the need for a review. Tsatsu Tsikata had been charged with willfully causing financial loss to the State. – The Crusading Guide.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 07 March 2002 - Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) of the
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST) is developing a
rural technology for the extraction of Jatropha oil to be used as substitute
for diesel oil and kerosene in the rural areas of the country.
According
to TCC, Jatropha oil has been successfully used to run a diesel engine while a
prototype Jatropha oil lamp tested by the centre has shown encouraging results.
Professor J.S.K. Ayim, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, announced this in his report
to the 35th congregation of the university in Kumasi at the weekend.
A pilot
Jatropha oil production unit is to be established at Walewale in the Northern
Region for a shea-butter processing group. The oil from the production unit
will be used to fuel the diesel engine, which funs the equipment at the
shea-butter processing unit.
A 10-acre
Jatropha farm is under cultivation to provide raw material for the Walewale
project while structures for the production unit are under construction.
Professor Ayim indicated that the use of Jatropha oil as substitute for diesel
oil is currently receiving worldwide attention, especially in Mali.
The
Jatropha oil extraction project and the promotion of improved cook stoves
popularly known as ‘Ahebensu’ are being funded by the Global Environmental
facility (GEF) and the United National Development Programme (UNDP) under TCC’s
search for renewable energy sources.
The report
said TCC’s Food Processing Unit continued to make a positive impact on the
small-scale processing of vegetable oils in the rural areas. Last year, the
Centre, in collaboration with GRATIS foundation, set up a shea-butter
processing unit at Gbimsi in the East Mamprusi District of the Northern Region.
The unit,
using an environmentally friendly and energy saving technology developed by
TCC, is capable of processing 500 kilogrammes of kernels a day to produce 180
kilogrammes of good quality shea-butter of export standard. - The Ghanaian
Times
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 07 March 2002 - Three hundred and forty four teachers bungalows
are to be put up for teachers working in deprived areas. Of the number,
majority of them will be allocated to teachers in special schools, especially
blind teachers.
Ms
Christine Churcher, Minister of Primary, Secondary and Girl-Child Education,
disclosed this when opening the 32nd National Delegates Conference
of the Ghana Blind Teachers Association in Accra. Ms Churcher also added that
there were 12,000 children in Ghana with eye defects or low vision and that
under an integrated education programme, blind and low vision children would be
placed in regular basic schools in their communities and experienced teachers
on the defects made to provide remedial teaching.
The
Minister was full of praise for the blind teachers and the successes they have
chalked. She said the government was giving education a holistic approach that
included the needs of the blind teacher that they were very important partners
in national development.
Mr Joseph
Serebour, national president of the Ghana Blind Teachers Association, said the
association had chalked some successes within the past two years in spite of
the problems it faced. These, he said, included the admission of blind teachers
to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the acquisition of
permanent offices of the association. - The Ghanaian Times
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 07 March 2002 - the Koforidua Association of Women Empowerment (KAWE), has called on the Chief Justice, Justice E.K. Wiredu, to use his good offices to ensure that rape and other sexual assault cases are prosecuted without much delay. This, the association believes, will encourage women to report any sexual assault to the police and the law courts for prosecution.
KAWE made the call at its general meeting at Koforidua recently. A member, Mrs Margaret Asare, observed that provocative dressings of children, particularly girls and sometimes adults, which expose their sensitive parts of late has increased rape and defilement cases in the country. Another member of KAWE also observed that peer group pressure has been the cause of indiscipline in some of the children as they learn much of the indiscipline behaviours from their peer group friends.
In a short lecture on rape and defilement, a legal practitioner, Lawyer Isaac Okyere Darko, defined rape, as having carnal knowledge of a female of 16 years with or without her consent since her consent is avoidable. He noted that in order to be able to charge for rape there should be evidence of the assault caused which can be breaking of the hymen, secretion of semen and many more.
The lawyer pointed out that rape is one of the many sexual assaults, which should be reported immediately they occur for punishment, together with incest, forced marriage and indecent sexual harassment. Darko observed that most of the sexual cases occur where victims are made to drink alcohol or eat foods mixed with chemical substances to win their consents.
He advised them not to settle rape and other sexual assault cases out of court, since a lot of favours are taken into consideration to free offenders, which does not teach them any lesson. The legal practitioner admitted that most of the sexual assault cases delayed so much in court, but explained that much of the delays are traced to the investigators, lawyers, witnesses and prosecutors who normally ask for adjournments and expressed hope that soon the judicial system will improve. He advised women to protect their children from suffering rape, defilement and other sexual harassments in order not to contract HIV/AIDS. –The Chronicle
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