Fishermen complain of neglect of sector

Asantehene shows concern about falling standards of education in Asanteman

NDC Congratulates Workers on May Day

Mills wants transformation in police service

Parliamentary Committee says government will rationalise salaries

Fight to achieve good governance-NPP urges workers

Regional Ministers pledge to support the youth in agriculture programme

No night gowns out side bedrooms – women advised

Ignore prophets of doom, Ashietey

Mathematics Crucial in Modern-day Economics - Don

Mills Calls for Mutual Settlement of Industrial Disputes

Assembly hikes hospital charges

Mathematics, English teachers end workshop

Centre of the world prepares for millennium bash

Electricity company warns workers

Akim Kotoku buries chief after 10 months

Asanteman council gives honours for contribution to Otumfuo’s burial

Churches pray for Asantehene

Assembly wants education service to take over school

Chiefs express confidence in chief exective

Media Commission expresses concern about TV sex, violence

Bad roads isolate two communities from rest of district

Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

Lapses in fisheries policies and neglect of fishermen by government are the main impediments hindering sustainable fisheries management in the country, participants at a day's roundtable meeting said in Accra on Friday.

They said sustainable fisheries management in the country could only be achieved if the policies were revised and implemented, taking into consideration the need to involve fishermen at all levels for effective implementation.

The meeting, organised by Friends of the Earth (FOE), an environmental non-governmental organisation, brought together various institutions involved in the fishing industry to identifying factors leading to the present degradation of fishery resources.

It also sought to identify practical action at the grassroots within the communities and at the policy level and how best to enforce them.

Participants were from the media, five local fishing communities in Accra, Elmina, Atimpoku and Ahobre and Ngelekazo in the Western region.

Others were from the Fisheries Department and the National Association of Fishermen.Whereas there are agricultural schools for crop farmers to enhance their technology, there is nothing like that for fishermen, they complained.

Moreover, the scholarship for farmers' children are not extended to those of fishermen, thereby making it impossible for them to sponsor their wards' education.

"We are made to feel as if we do not matter in the country. On Farmers' Day, only about two outboard motors are given to fishermen while the cars and other bigger prizes are given to crop farmers as if the food they produce can be eaten without fish."

The fishermen complained that most of the time their views are not sought in the formulation and implementation of policies and they are totally excluded from monitoring and controlling activities of alien vessels.

They also said the enforcement of the present fisheries regulations has not been uniform, opening doors illegal fishing.

The fishermen requested for patrol boats fitted with communication gadgets to assist the navy in monitoring alien vessels that invade the country's territorial waters.

Officials from the Fisheries Department said the fisheries policy has been revised and is now before cabinet to be forwarded to parliament for implementation.

Community-based fisheries management committees have been instituted in the various communities to assist the department in its monitoring activities, they said.

The officials also mentioned a World Bank-supported project that will help in monitoring, controlling and surveying activities in both shallow and deep sea.

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Kumasi( Ashanti Region) 3-5-99

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has called on the management of State Insurance Company (SIC) to assist in the improvement of the falling standard of education in Asanteman.

The company could institute a scholarship scheme to enable intelligent and needy children from poor families get formal education from nursery to the tertiary level.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when some members of the Board of Directors and Management of the SIC paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

He asked the management to ensure the early completion of their offices in Kumasi, the Opoku Ware II House, as a fitting monument to the late Asantehene who had the company dear at heart.

The Asantehene said the company could also assist the youth to learn new technological developments through the provision of computers to schools in the region or finance research programmes of the universities to encourage entrepreneurs, investors and other industrialists who are financially handicapped.

Mr Kwame Osei, a member of the board who led the delegation, on behalf of the management, presented assorted customary drinks, diaries of the company, a clock with the company's emblem and two million cedis to the Asantehene.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday congratulated workers for their hard work towards better living conditions for themselves.

A statement to mark May Day issued in Accra, said the NDC expresses solidarity with all workers in the "common struggle to create better living conditions in order to achieve a high standard of living for themselves".

On this occasion, the NDC wishes to assure all workers that the party and government remain committed to the pledges that were made to all the people of this country to stalwartly serve and guarantee them the life of dignity and self-respect in all spheres, the statement said.

"The party again wishes to assure all workers that government's plan to improve salaries and wages of workers, which was launched almost three years ago, has been designed to replace the older system which operated with built-in inequalities."

The party called on workers in both the public and private sectors "not to fall prey to the misinformation that emanate from opponents of government whose avowed intent is to destabilise the country, inflict hardship on the people and then turn round and blame the resultant condition on government".

The NDC called on workers, employers and the government to place a high premium on the use of consultation, dialogue and consensus building to resolve all differences and conflicts that may arise.

"By these, we shall continue to chart the course of peace, stability, development and progress for our nation."

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

Vice-President John Atta Mills on Friday stressed the need to radically transform the culture and ethics of the police to enhance its capacity to respond professionally to the demands of today and the new millennium.

Professor Mills, who is also chairman of the Police Council, said it is essential that the police strive at all times to live by "positive values of honesty, integrity, courage and loyalty".

Reviewing the graduation parade of the 33rd police officers' course during which 50 cadets, including two women, passed out after going through six months of academic and professional training at the Police College at Tesano in Accra, he said: "It is only when you are seen as trustworthy, upright and duty-conscious friends of the community that you will get the co-operation which is so essential to effective policing".

The Vice-President said while the police needed the co-operation of the public to operate efficiently, much depended on the public perception of the average policeman.

The Ghana Police and others world over would have to be prepared to meet the challenge of the emergence of international crime syndicates which continue to assume more serious dimensions, he stated.

The Vice-President therefore, tasked police personnel to review and improve their capacity to respond effectively in order to remain effective in protecting the people they serve.

Prof. Mills said while government is aware of the need to provide the service with more scientific equipment to keep pace with technology, the personnel should also remember the basics of community policing.

The best cadet officer award went to Yaa Tiwaa Danso, who also took the prize for the Humanities.

Cadet Officer Peter Gyimah received the prize for professional police subjects while the best student in Foot and Arms Drill went to Cadet Officer Nelson Opoku.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises said on Friday that the government will not relent in its efforts to rationalise salaries as contained in the Price Waterhouse Report.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Mr Fuzzy Torbay, to mark May Day which falls on Saturday, the committee said plans were in motion to release the report for implementation "somewhere in July."

The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare has lined up a series of policy amendments pertaining to labour and employment issues which are expected to be submitted for the Committee's consideration and parliament approval.

The bills include the codification of all labour laws, unionisation of senior management staff and a policy on the aged and disabled.

Other government policy interventions to be initiated are in the areas of youth and employment services.

The committee said it was aware that the country’s labour laws were outmoded and had called on government on several occasions to review them.

"This has been accepted by Cabinet and would soon be placed before Parliament for consideration."

The committee said despite the spate of strikes in recent days, "the government is determined to dialogue with workers and consult with the TUC and other stakeholders in the labour industry to reach an amicable solution to the industrial unrest".

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged workers to resolve to fight to achieve good governance, "which is the most essential pre-requisite for a nation's progress".

In a statement on Friday to mark May Day, the party said it was congratulating workers on their continued forbearance in the face of tribulations.

It said the party is aware that for workers in Ghana, "it is mostly woes under the current government".

"And yet the NPP believes that this country possesses the requisite resources - both human and material - to spare workers and, indeed, the entire Ghanaian population the impossible existence of the past two decades or so."

"That Ghanaian workers and their relations have to endure hard living standards is due in no small way to the bankrupt policies of a government that ironically rode on the backs of workers to power.", the statement said.

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Bolgatanga (Upper East ) 3^rd May ’99

Regional ministers at the end of a five-day conference in Bolgatanga have pledged to support the youth in agriculture programme and ensure its successful implementation.

In a communique, the ministers lauded the programme, initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, as a viable means of addressing youth unemployment in the country.

"Conference is satisfied that the programme can effectively solve the seemingly intractable problems of funding, marketing and post-harvest losses which plague the agriculture industry," the ministers said.

The communique said the conference took particular note of concerns about the activities of alien herdsmen, and resolved that adequate measures would be taken to solve the problem once and for all.

It further stated that the ministers, taking note of the depletion of the country's forests, recommended that a more aggressive and pragmatic forest management programme be adopted to halt the trend.

Other issues in the communique include the millennium bug problem, contract administration, manpower planning, tourism development and the members of parliament constituency fund.

The ministers acknowledged that the role of manpower planning in the attainment of Ghana's vision 2020 objectives calls for effective co-ordination between the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, training institutions and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), with the view to institute measures that would prioritise the country's manpower needs.

The communique said the ministers also urged district assemblies to recruit students of tertiary institutions to assist, during holidays, in updating data required by the assemblies.

It called on district assemblies to improve access roads to tourist sites, commit adequate resources to the tourism sector, and make efforts to modify traditional practices that hinder tourism development in their respective areas.

The conference resolved to actively monitor the disbursement and use of the MP's constituency fund as well as the productivity improvement and income-generation fund, also known as the poverty alleviation fund, to ensure strict compliance with laid-down regulations.

The frequency of the regional ministers conference has been reviewed from three to two meetings annually, and the 15th meeting would take place at Sunyani next October, the communique announced.

Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said it would be necessary to let traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and internal collaborators of alien herdsmen to appreciate the gravity of the destructive effects the activities of those herdsmen unleash on the environment.

"What we need is a national policy, regional monitoring, and district and community implementation," he emphasised.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 3^rd May ’99

Women have been advised against the wearing of ''night gowns'' outside their bedrooms.Madam Juliet Annor Frimpong, Leader of the of the Women's wing of the Kingdom Life Ministry at Old Tafo in Kumasi, said the practice is morally wrong and socially unacceptable.

At a seminar organised by the Ministry in Kumasi on Friday, Madam Frimpong said the habit expose women to rape and lowers their dignity.

The seminar on the theme "an Ideal woman, choosing a life partner", was aimed at educating women on how to select their future husbands.

She called on Christian Women Fellowships and Groups to take up the challenge to discourage the practice.

Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, President of the Youth in Action, a Network of Youth Groups in Kumasi, asked women not to use wealth and social status as a basis for entering into marriage.

He stressed that marriages, which are not based on genuine affection break down very early.

He urged Christian parents to ensure that their daughters persuade their would-be husbands to perform the relevant customary rites before resorting to wedding in the Churches.

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Tema (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

Ghanaians have been urged to "ignore prophets of doom who say the world would come to an end in the next millennium."

Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema Municipal Chief Executive said Ghanaians should instead seek God's guidance through prayers and undertake activities that would improve their standard of living as the world enters the next millennium.

At a special Muslim prayer service held at the Tema community one main mosque as part of activities to launch the millennium celebrations in Tema, Nii Ashietey urged Ghanaians, particularly residents of Tema to take active interest in the celebration.

Tema is among 15 cities, towns and villages in the world situated on the Greenwich meridian which divides the world into East and West and also determines a universal time for the world.

"It is therefore imperative that Tema takes the centre stage in the millennium celebrations." he said Nii Adjei Kraku the second, the chief of Tema urged Ghanaians to seek new ideas and work together for peace and progress of the nation.

The chief, a Muslims, appealed Muslims to show respect for each other and live in peace with their neighbours.

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Kwabenya (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

An university don has stressed that the application of Mathematics is very crucial in fashioning out development policies aimed at maximising the utilisation of resources.

Professor Tomas Kaberger of the Institute of Physical Resource Theory of Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, said Mathematical models help increase the understanding of the dynamics of the economy and the way resources are managed.

This, he said, is of crucial importance for long-term strategic thinking in resource management.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the on-going six-day African regional workshop on "Mathematics in Economics" which opened last Wednesday at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Kwabenya, he said: "There are risks that you can avoid if you want to be successful in long-term development,".

The workshop is the first of its kind being organised in the West African sub-region by the National Centre for Mathematical Sciences (NCMS) of GAEC, International Centre for Theoretical Physics(ICTP), Italy, the Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, both in Sweden.

Prof. Kaberger stated, using Mathematical models in economics make problems visible to policy makers.

Prof. Kaberger, a resource person, explained that the use of mathematical models in economic theory, as used widely in Sweden and Europe, can lead to a better appreciation of bad and good policies, especially as they affect the environment and natural resources.

Professor Karl-Erik Erikson, also of the same university and a resource person, said Mathematical modelling can be applied in various areas of human endeavour, including natural resource management, environmental issues and issues of justice, adding that though the mathematical models are not a reality, they help in deepening our understanding of issues.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd May ’99

Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills has stressed the need for mutual settlement of labour disputes.

Addressing a large rally of workers to mark this year's May Day celebrations in Accra at the weekend, Professor Mills said where there is no agreement, the parties should abide by the statutory provisions in the Industrial Relations Act of 1965.

"This is the best way for speedy and mutually acceptable resolution of our labour problems with minimal damage to the economy and inconvenience to the general public."

This year's celebrations, was under the theme of "Challenges of the 21st century - The role of the Ghana Labour Movement".

Prof. Mills said the country's labour laws are bound to change from a centralised one to suit the liberalised economy and, therefore, invited workers to fully take part in the forum on the new Labour Code scheduled for the end of May.

Outstanding issues that delayed the implementation of the medium to long-term public sector salary and wages policy, popularly called "Price Waterhouse Report", have been settled and workers will begin to enjoy the adjustments from June, this year, he said.

Prof. Mills explained that the two-month delay following the final meeting between the Central Management Board (CMB) and workers' representatives in April is to enable the Accountant-General to effect the changes in the payroll.

He re-assured workers that the adjustments will be effective from January, this year. The CMB will also be ready to consider and find acceptable solutions to problems that may arise during its implementation.

Mr Christian Appiah Agyei, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), cautioned the management in the public sector who use difficulties in the implementation of the "Price Waterhouse" policy to delay the re-negotiation of expired collective bargaining agreements.

If workers' rights are downtrodden, the "TUC would have no choice but to come out and defend the heritage bequeathed to us", he said.

Mr Appiah Agyei stressed the need for a social policy geared towards the achievement of equity and also provides for job creation and employment generation.

"Social policy must also take account of the needs of the population in the area of housing, education, health and utility services".

Thirty-eight unionists received national and regional awards of television sets and radio/cassette players respectively, for their outstanding services to labour welfare.

Some placards borne by the workers read: "Satisfy the producer", "Increase minimum daily wage", "Corrupt state officials must be prosecuted", and "E.U. be fair to Ghana".

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Mampong (Ashanti Region) 3^rd May ‘99 –

The Sekyere West District Assembly has accepted proposals by the Asante Mampong District Hospital Management Committee to charge extra hospital fees of 500 cedis for out-patients and 1,000 cedis for in-patients.

The proposal seeks to generate more revenue to enable the hospital to settle its outstanding electricity bill of 28 million cedis.

Dr Francis Abebrese, District Medical Superintendent, commended the assembly for its action, saying it would assist the hospital to settle its average monthly bill of five million cedis as against the government approved monthly subvention of 1.7 million cedis adding that it was time the hospital upgraded to a regional status.

Mr Samuel Akwasi Acheampong, District Chief Executive, said the assembly had formed a revenue task force to improve on the district's revenue collection.

He said 20 million cedis had been set aside as poverty alleviation package for 170 individuals and appealed to traditional rulers to release land for the successful implementation of the youth in agriculture programme in the district.

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Ajumako (Central Region), 3^rd May ’99 -

An eight-day workshop organised for 150 teachers on new trends in teaching mathematics and English language in primary schools ended at Ajumako on Saturday.

It was organised by the United States Agency for International Development and designed to assist the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service to improve upon basic education.

Participants comprising circuit supervisors, headteachers and classroom teachers from Mfantseman, Ahanta West and Birim South districts were taught how to prepare and use teaching and learning materials.

In a teaching materials exhibition competition organized as part of the programme, Abandze Methodist Primary came first with 29 per cent, Agona D/A Primary was second with 25.3 per cent while Aboase Obohen Methodist Primary came third with 22 points.

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Tema (Greater Accra), 3^rd May ’99

Commodore Steve Obimpeh, chairman of the Ghana National Millennium Committee, on Saturday inaugurated the Tema Millennium committee at the Tema Presbyterian church, situated on the Greenwich Meridian where longitude zero degree passes.

The 28-member committee is under the chairmanship of Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema municipal chief executive. It is to assist the national committee to raise funds for activities to mark the entry into the next millennium.

Cdre. Obimpeh noted that Tema occupies a very unique position in the world as the only human settlement nearest to the centre of the world.

He said Tema also lies at the end of the landmass north of the equator which the Greenwich Meridian transverses.

Beyond Tema, the longitude zero degrees does not touch any other landmass until it reaches the south pole.

With these cardinal features, Tema qualifies to be the centre of the world, particularly where human beings live.

Cdre. Obimpeh said it is for this reason that government has directed that activities to mark this great event be in reference to the Greenwich Meridian.

The occasion was used to plant 200 trees along the Meridian near the Tema port, and a libation poured at the sacred grove of the people, as part of the inaugural ceremony.

Nii Armah noted that the millennium celebrations was a non-partisan affair and urged all residents of Tema to take part in the celebrations.

He said anyone who plants trees will have his name recorded in the Tema millennium register "which will be kept in a safe for years." The being carried out under the Millennium Tree Planting Project that will link 15 other districts in five regions of the country.

The regions are the Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Northern, and Upper East.

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Tema (Greater Accra), 3^rd May ’99 –

Mr Musa Adams, Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on Saturday warned that workers of the company who illegally connect power to house holds will be severely punished when caught.

He advised the workers to "rather do things that would improve the revenue generation of the corporation and not condone crime".

The Managing Director was addressing a ceremony at Tema during which the Tema Region of the ECG honoured eight of its workers for dedicated service to commemorate May Day.

Mr Felix Owusu, a tradesman/cable jointer, emerged the best worker and had a sounds system plus a certificate while Mr Raphael Konnu, customer director, and Mrs Agnes Keelson, accountant, who placed second and third respectively, had wall clocks and certificates.

Mr Adams said in 1997 the ECG could not achieve its revenue target of 64 billion cedis and urged the workers to put up their maximum effort this year.

"Since we are in a competitive world, ECG workers should start cultivating the habit of moving to customers to render service rather than customers frequenting your offices even at times without getting prompt service.

This lukewarm attitudes affect our revenue collection and must stop" he said.

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Akim Oda (Eastern Region), 3^rd May ’99 -

Vice-president John Atta Mills on Saturday led a six-man government delegation to Akim Oda to attend the funeral of the Omanhene of the Akim Kotoku Traditional Area, Okoforobuo Agyeman Attafua IV.

Professor Mills, on behalf of the government, presented 1.5 million cedis cash, four crates each of minerals and beer, and two crates of Guinness to the Akim Kotoku Traditional Council towards the funeral.

Prof. Mills paid glowing tribute to the late Omanhene and expressed the hope that when the election of his successor was due, it would be done peacefully.

Other members of the delegation were Madam Faustina Nelson, national vice-chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Akouku Sarpong, Presidential Staffer on Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Moses Adibo, Deputy Minister of Health, Miss Patience Adow, Eastern Regional Minister, and her deputy, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.

Mr John Effah-Boadi, Brim-South District Chief Executive, on behalf of NDC, also presented one million cedis cash and assorted drinks to the council.

Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), also led a delegation of his party to console with the council. They included Nana Akufo-Addo, MP for Abuakwa, Ms Ama Busia, first vice-chairperson, Mr Odoi Sykes, national chairman of the NPP, and Dr Kofi Apraku, MP for Offinso North.

Okoforobuo Agyeman Atfafua, who died in July, will be buried at the Akim Oda royal mausoleum today after a memorial service at the St. Andrews Anglican Church.

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Kumasi (Ashanti), 3^rd May ‘99 –

Forty-one organisations and individuals were honoured on Saturday night for their immense contributions towards the burial and funeral rites of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, last month.

The awards were presented at a Royal State Dinner-Dance held in honour of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The occasion was also used to launch the Ashanti Regional Tourism Development Fund. Nine media houses including, the Ghana News Agency, Graphic Corporation, New Times Corporation, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), and Ghana Television(GTV) were among those honoured. Crystal TV and all the four FM Radio stations in Kumasi also received awards.

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, receiveda special certificate for his unique role in the burial rites while the security agencies were honoured for the excellent security they provided during the period. The Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, who was the Nwisiahene at the period, also received an award for the meticulous preparation and peaceful performance of the burial rites of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

Companies that received special awards wereGuinness Ghana Limited, Ghana Breweries Limited, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ashanti RegionalCo-ordinating Council, Ministry of Tourism, Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), and the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC).

The others were Metropolitan Insurance Company, Social Security Bank Limited (SSB), the Trust Bank, Merchant Bank, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL), MEGASTAR, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Milicom Ghana Limited.

The rest were POP Pres, State Insurance Corporation (SIC), Voltic Ghana Limited, BAMSON Company, Cashpro, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Ghana Airways and the Bank of Ghana (BOG).

Daasebre Osei Bonsu, who launched the Tourism Development Fund, recounted the efforts made by Mr Yankah since his assumption of office and said it augured well for tourism in Ashanti and said there was no gainsaying that Ashanti abounds in tourist attractions, particularly in the chieftaincy institution.

The regional minister said the Regional Co-ordinating Council would hold two conferences ontourism very soon.

One of the conferences will be specifically on Lake Bosomtwe while the other will be on theTourism Development Plan.

He expressed satisfaction that, at least for the first time, the private sector had shown interest and was responding to the call to help in the development of tourism in the region.

Mr Mike Gizo, the Minister of Tourism, gave the assurance that his ministry would collaborate with the Asantehene to promote tourism in the region.

He recalled that Otumfuo Opoku Ware was given the accolade "Tourism Personality" and said the honour conferred on him was in recognition of his majestic comportment and personification of authentic Ghanaian traditional culture.

Mr Gizo said, additionally, his practical efforts at achieving peace and understanding among his people were attributes that reigned supreme in tourism development.

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Kumasi (Ashanti), 3^rd May ’99 –

The Kumasi Council of Churches on Sunday held a non-denominational thanksgiving service for Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, for his successful enstoolment as the 16th Asante King.

The well-attended service was under the theme "spiritual wisdom".

The Right Reverend (Major) Daniel Y. Safo (rtd), Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, in a sermon noted that the challenges ahead of the new Asantehene were daunting and required spiritual wisdom to enable him to succeed.

He observed that Otumfuo Osei Tutu has ascended the Golden Stool with a clear focus to build bridges for unity, social harmony, peace and cohesion among his people, and to promotedevelopment and heal old wounds.

Rt Rev Safo said to achieve these, the Asantehene would need the guidance of God and asked Otumfuo Osei Tutu to keep in constant touch with the Lord through prayers and service.

The Anglican Bishop hoped the Asantehene's reign would see unity among the Asantes and and other ethnic groupings, true national reconciliation and progress as well as the promotion of Asante culture and the attainment of high levels of education among Asantes.

Rt Rev Safo on behalf of christiandom congratulated the Asantehene for his peaceful and successful enstoolment and assured him of the loyalty of the churches.

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Kuntanase (Ashanti), 3^rd May ’99 -

The Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly, has appealed to the Ghana Education Service to absorb the Trede Senior Secondary School currently being managed by the Assembly to relief it if the burden of running it.

Mr I. K. Nyame, District Chief Executive, it has become difficult for the Assembly to continue running the school which it established many years ago because of the high cost of over heads and lack of resources.

He said the Assembly decided to cater for the school to make education accessible to the inhabitants of Trede area and expressed disappointment at the low enrolment level.

Mr Nyame asked the chiefs to impress it upon the people to send their children to the school instead of taking them to the, ‘so called big schools’ outside the district.

Mrs Gladys Kwapong, District Director of Education, appealed to Chiefs and Unit Committees to provide decent accommodation for teachers to entice them to accept postings to their areas.

They should also monitor the activities and output of not only teachers but their wards as well to supplement the efforts of School Management Committees.

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Sekondi (Western Region), 3^rd May 2 ’99 -

Some members of the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional Council in the Western Region have dissociated themselves from a petition calling for the removal of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Asante-Mensah.

They include Nana Ago Botwe 11, Queenmother of the Traditional Area, Nana Yaw Gyaim, Awasohene and Akwamuhene of the area, Nana Kwaku Gyedu 11, Mmamahene, Nana Ngoa Anyima Kodom 11, Bibianihene and Krontihene of the area and Nana Kofi Ankoanna 11, Abusuapanin of the Omanhene.

In a statement, they expressed their confidence in Mr Asante-Mensah and said the hardwork, leadership qualities, integrity and transparency of the DCE are exceptional.

The statement copied to President J. J. Rawlings and the Western Regional Minister claimed that the Council has not met to take any decision for the removal of the DCE.

They explained that since August 4, 1997, when destoolment charges were brought against the Omanhene, Nana Yaw Gyebi the second, at the Judicial Committee of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, the Council has not met.

The Chiefs maintained that people handpicked by the Omanhene signed the alleged petition.

They dismissed the accusations against the DCE and said that they should be ignored.

The statement denounced what they said was an attempt by the Omanhene and his small band of supporters to drag the Council into partisan politics.

On the issue of royalties raised in the petition, the Chiefs explained that this does not fall within the jurisdiction of the District Assembly saying the

Administrator of Stool Lands and the Minerals Commission pays royalties.

They are only effected through the assemblies, they said, adding that, as recent as January 25, this year, the Traditional Council was paid 5,715,753.06 cedis as royalty on the operations of the Ashanti Goldfields Bibiani Limited.

It may be recalled that in late April this year, the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional Council issued a petition calling for the removal of Mr Asante-Mensah, citing disrespect among other charges.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 3^rd May ‘99 –

The National Media Commission (NMC) has expressed concern about the multiplicity of television sex, violence and culturally unacceptable advertisements which, it said "are becoming staples".

In a statement issued in Accra to mark World Press Day which falls today Monday,3^rd May, the Commission said it hoped the electronic media in particular would exercise greater restraint about these developments.

It urged journalists to strive for quality and balance between fairness and the public's right to know.

The Commission however noted "with fair satisfaction", signs of growing maturity in the media, declining sceptism and an increasing confidence in them.

"While the Commission will continue to depend on the co-operation of all stakeholders, it is also aware of the media's pressing difficulties".

The Commission said it intended to broaden dialogue with consumers, government and the media during the year, to keep each other informed to achieve an independent, reliable and vigorous media.

On the plight of journalists in the world, the Commission said it was pleased with the "apparent gradual fall off in the mistreatment of journalists in the performance of their duties".

However, the statement said, the Commission notes with grief and pain the escalating conflicts in Africa and Europe.

The Commission urged everyone to continue to choose negotiations rather than combat to resolve differences.

It said the loss of lives of journalists justified calls for an international code for the protection of journalists.

"The threshold of the millennium offers the Commission a unique opportunity to expand its international relations in the belief that as the co-operation gains momentum, it will enable us to address issues of common concerns".

The issues, it said, include "how developing news formats and new technologies can best help our mission and ensure that both the Commission and the country's media are effectively serving our economic and cultural goals in the public interest as mandated".

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Bad roads isolate two communities from rest of district

Offinso (Ashanti), 3^rd May 3, ’99 - Farmers in Naama and Kwakutaakrom and surrounding villages in the Offinso District have virtually been cut off from the rest of the district due to the poor state of the only feeder road that links the area.

The five-kilometre road has so deteriorated that vehicles, including tractors, have stopped plying it.

Mr A. P. K. Addo, Naama Assembly member who led newsmen to inspect the road, said large quantities of foodstuffs and cash crops are getting rotten in the farms, as a result of the poor state of the road.

Mr Addo said although the area produces more than sixty percent of the district's food and cash crops requirements, it is the least developed in terms of the provision of basic infrastructure.

He said the Offinso District Assembly could not deliver on its 1995 pledge to release two million cedis to supplement the farmers' efforts to re-habilitate the road.

Mr Addo added that in 1996, Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, then Ashanti Regional Minister, visited the area and promised to re-habilitate the road, but this has also not been fulfilled.

He said he had on several occasions appealed to the Offinso District Assembly, Feeder Roads department and the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council on the situation but has not received any positive response.

Mr Addo stressed that if nothing was done about the road rehabilitation before the rains set in, the farmers would have no alternative but to abandon the area and demonstrate againstthe insensivity of the assembly and the Government over their plight.

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