GRi Newsreel 04-05-99

Religious leaders have been urged to desist from creating unnecessary panic with the approach of the millennium by refraining from dooms-day predictions of the end of the world with the advent of the 21st century.

Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, said the promotion of such apocalyptic notion would only drive the world to the brink of chaos and inertia and undermine industry, planning and stability.

He was speaking at the dedication of a 3.2 million- cedi brass band instruments donated to the Bechem district of the Seventh Day Adventist Church by the Kumasi Adventist Union at Bechem on Saturday.

Alhaji Adam said religion must fill people with hope not apprehension, adding that religious leaders should rather inspire their followers to be ready for their creator by living through righteous lives.

Pastor Appiah Kubi Kwarteng, president of the mid-west Ghana Conference of the church, urged Christians to pursue both their religious and civil duties with all their might.

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Outmoded, cruel, customs killing women in Bawku East

Asiakwa (Eastern Region), 4^th May ‘99,

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has been asked to save women and children in the Bawku East district in the Upper East region, whose lives are threatened by outmoded customary beliefs and practices.

Ms Elsie Ayeh, Manageress of the Garu Presbyterian Agriculture Station in Bawku East, made the call in an interview at the Asiakwa SOS Village on Saturday.

According to her, babies whose mothers die during delivery are held responsible for their death and are abandoned or left to die for fear that they could kill other members of the family.

Ms Ayeh said when such babies do not get people to adopt them, they are taken away by members of their families only to leave them to die due to lack of care.

Ms Ayeh had brought a four-week old baby girl from the District for adoption at the SOS Village.

She said the child's family had rejected her because the mother died during her delivery as a result of placenta retention and delay in getting medical care.

Ms Ayeh said in some parts of the Bawku East district, when a woman in labour fails to bring out the placenta after delivering the baby, it is believed that she got pregnant through an extra-marital relationship.

If the delivery occurs outside a health institution, pressure is put on the labouring mother to mention the names of people with whom she had an affair, and in some cases, the women die from excessive bleeding or delayed medical attention.

In most of the communities in the district, twins and triplets are regarded as fairies that have powers to decide how long they will stay on earth. They are, therefore not given parental attention as given to ordinary children.

Most twins and triplets, she said, are not properly taken care of, resulting in the death of many of them.

Ms Ayeh, therefore, appealed to the CHRAJ to launch an education campaign in the area to put an end to such outmoded and cruel customary practices.

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Institute of local government studies to take off soon

Bolgatanga (Upper East), 4^th May ‘99,

The Institute of Local Government Studies will be officially commissioned on May 24, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has said.

He named Professor Samuel Wood, former director of the University of Ghana's School of Administration, as the first director of the Institute expected to have campuses in Accra and Tamale.

Mr Ahwoi was speaking at the closing session of the 14th conference of Regional Ministers in Bolgatanga.

The institute will be developed as an outreach and resource centre where induction courses will be organised for co-ordinating directors, presiding members and other staff of the district assemblies.

Mr Ahwoi said district assemblies would be required to send essential staff to the institute for various training programmes previously handled by his ministry.

The World Bank as part of government's efforts to concretise the decentralisation programme has provided funds for the establishment of the institute.

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National forum on repentance slated for July 24

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4^th May ‘99,

The First National Forum on Repentance, Forgiveness and Reconciliation to prepare Ghanaians into the next millennium with "real magnanimity devoid of suspicion, division and rancour" is to be launched on July 19, this year.

The forum will be organised by the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), the Christian Council of Ghana, the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), the Ghana Muslim Council and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission.

Others are the Federation of Ghana Muslims, the National House of Chiefs, the Ghana Pentecostal Council and the National Commission on Women and Development.

Mr Larry Bimi, Chairman of NCCE, said "the forum will address factors that have contributed to social friction and threats that undermine national peace and cohesion".

He said from the political activities of the pre-independence era to the present day, all governments have, in various ways, formulated or executed certain policies that have left feelings of hatred and bitterness in some individuals, families or groups of people.

The outstanding characteristic of both Ghana's civilian and military administrations since independence to date, has been a record of omissions, commissions and policies that were executed in the perceived supreme national interest and in the bid to fulfill their political mission, he explained.

''While governments and opposition groups may have been responsible for these lapses, the reality is that in some instances it was individuals or groups who, taking advantage of the times, may have acted on their own, even though the governments or opposition groups at the time had to bear the political responsibility''.

Mr Bimi said the NCCE will collaborate with its partners to intensify its educational efforts at encouraging all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation and ethnic origin, to appreciate the need for national healing through true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

''The nation must, individually and collectively, recognise and accept that there have been wrongs in the past, accept that they were occurrences in our historical development and find ways and means to redress the wrongs and to pledge, not to repeat those wrongs in the future''.

The Rev. Aboagye Mensah, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, stressed the need for a true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation from Ghanaians to ensure that the forum becomes a success.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Kornu, Assistant Secretary General of the NCS, assured the public of the religious bodies' support to promote a sense of unity among the populace.

''People might be wondering why now? The answer is simple. This is the time, a time for salvation and redemption and we must all work together to ensure its success''.

Maulvi M. Bin Salih, Deputy Missionary in Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, appealed to the public to assist in every small way to achieve the goals and objectives of the forum.

At the end of the July forum, a final document, a pledge, which will be issued, will be signed by all religious, traditional and party leaders as an indication of their commitment to it.

Regional activities in the form of workshops will be organised and communiqué issued. In cases where religious bodies and political parties are involved, they would be asked to preach and disseminate information at their gatherings, campaigns or rallies.

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Consolidate West African democracy-Rawlings

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4^th May ‘99,

President Jerry John Rawlings said on Monday the proposed sub-regional Parliament is as crucial to the consolidation of democracy in West Africa as it is to the promotion of good governance in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Opening the First Conference of Speakers of West African Parliaments in Accra, President Rawlings said when its funding dimension is kept in proper focus, the process of establishing the ECOWAS Parliament will not stall and abandoned midstream.

"Governments and related international partners will definitely be interested in the cost of the project just as they will be curious about how to make governance at the sub-regional level more efficient, more open and transparent, accountable and responsive."

The three-day conference aimed at fostering inter-regional co-operation and integration among the peoples of the West African sub-region and their Parliaments is being attended by delegates from 12 out of the 16 ECOWAS member-states, as well as representatives from the Secretariats of the ECOWAS and the Union of African Parliaments (UAP).

The participating countries include Ghana, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Guinea and the Cape Verde. The rest are Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, and the Gambia.

President Rawlings, the guest speaker, reminded ECOWAS countries that it would be needless for them to develop democratic institutions and processes of governance at national levels if they do not ensure that non-democratic and technocratic structures at the sub-regional level are changed.

The President commended the Speakers for creating the forum, adding in coming together to exchange experiences and common concerns, "you will not only be forging greater unity in the sub-region, but will also be advancing the cause of meaningful democracy".

He pointed out that the establishment of Parliaments or National Assemblies does not in itself ensure real democracy because the mere existence of these institutions during the pre-colonial era did not prevent "our countries from experiencing serious political crises, including the violent overthrow of regimes, periods of undemocratic oppression, and in some cases, even civil war."

President Rawlings blamed this unfortunate situation on the greed and ambitions of individuals and interest groups coupled with the external political and economic influences.

President Rawlings therefore reminded the Legislature that if the electorate see Parliament as a remote and an exclusive club far away in the capital, they will become frustrated and dissatisfied due to the lack of channels of communication, and the end result will be instability.

As conflict managers and peacemakers, the President urged Speakers of Parliaments in the sub-region to add their collective voices to the fight against the prevention or resolution of conflicts in nations whose infrastructures needed to advance economic prosperity and to sustain human development, are being destroyed.

Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan, Speaker of Parliament, recounted the formation of ECOWAS more than two decades ago and said its treaty promised a well-integrated region for posterity in the sub-region.

Mr Justice Annan admitted however that the journey since then has not been easy and smooth because of setbacks ranging from conditions of economic decline instead of growth, social disintegration rather than cohesion, and violence and war, instead of dialogue and peace.

The Speaker said in spite of "these setbacks, some modest achievements have been made in the areas of trade, the free movement of persons and goods, and in containing armed conflict and enforcing peace in the sub-region.

"These mixed outcomes have not weakened our resolve to search tirelessly for unity where there is division, integration where separation persists, and security and stability where turbulence, insecurity and instability remain."

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Shirt for Second Emancipation Day launched

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4^th May ‘99,

A shirt designed as the official attire for the Second Emancipation Day celebration in July, this year, was on Monday unveiled at the on-going joint WTO-ATA conference in Accra.

The "e-bond 2000" shirt has a black background with the symbol of an African mother and child printed in gold, depicting an eternal bond of love, heritage and strength connecting Africans everywhere "to our common ancestry and common destiny".

A statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism said the shirt would also be the official attire for

the 'Akwantukese' Festival of the people of New Juaben in the Eastern region on Tuesday, May Four, which forms part of the WTO-ATA conference.

The statement valued the shirt at 60,000 cedis or 25 dollars, adding that part of the proceeds from the sales would go into the construction of a ‘monument of return’ at Assin Manso in the Central region which is regarded as the home of the slave castles.

Mrs. Asie Ocansey, wife of Isaac Hayes, the renowned African-American musician, and President of the GoldTech LLC, an American-based technology and development consultancy designed the shirt. Isaac Hayes is royal of Ada under the stool name Nene Cartey Ocansey.

Mrs. Ocansey told newsmen that the shirt would be sold to celebrities in America to merchandise Ghana's tourism and the final emancipation in this millennium.

She said the shirt comes with a six-yard cloth for women, which also sells at 60,000 cedis, adding that from Friday, May 7, the two products would be sold on a special website on the Internet.

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First Lady wants tourism to highlight role of women

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4^th May ‘99,

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the First Lady, on Monday asked participants of the on-going WTO and ATA joint tourism conference to pay attention to the role of women in the development of tourism.

She made the call at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a trade show, bazaar and handicraft fair as part of the joint conference in Accra.

More than 50 local and international tour operators, travel and tour agencies, handicraft, jewelry and cloth designers are exhibiting at the fair which is meant to showcase products and tourism investment opportunities that abound in the participating countries.

Nana Konadu commended the leading role being played by women in both the conference and the fair saying it is a demonstration of the premium women place on the development of tourism.

"Your deliberations at this conference must, therefore, take into account roles that women should appropriately play in the development of tourism in Africa as we approach the new millennium," she said.

She congratulated women for their contribution and encouraged them to strive for greater heights in the industry.

"The dynamics of global competition demands that you should strive to improve upon the quality of product, service delivery and package to satisfy the customer."

Nana Konadu called on the participants to collaborate and forge partnerships that will strengthen and build their respective economies.

She expressed the hope that the fair would add value to the cultural, historical and ecological attractions for a sustainable tourism in Ghana.

Owuraku Amofa, Deputy Minister of Tourism, called on participants to gear the fair toward enhancing trade and investment within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world.

He said such a focus would put Africa in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the WTO and secure a sound footing on the world tourism map.

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Churches agree to observe ban on drumming

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4^th May ‘99,

All churches, except the Lighthouse Chapel Ministries at Korle Gonno, a stronghold of Ga traditionalism, on Monday agreed to obey the ban on drumming imposed by the Ga traditional council.

At a meeting organised by the assemblyman for the area, Mr Wisdom Dodoo, and the Ophir Unit Committee to broker a deal, all representatives agreed to oblige but stressed that should anyone trespass, the fellow should be spared the use of brutal force.

Lighthouse Chapel which last year clashed with Ga traditionalists for not observing the ban, was not represented.

"It is a shame that they did not show up and I guess they are ready for the repercussions. If the inevitable happens, God knows that we tried to avoid it," Mr Ben Brown, adviser to the Ophir Unit Committee, said.

Thirty days of no significant noise making is observed annually by the Ga people to prepare them for the celebration of the Homowo festival.

The organisers said they were highly disappointed that the Lighthouse Chapel did not honour their invitation because it was the main target of vandalism last year after some traditionalists alleged that it had deliberately ignored the ban.

"We are more concerned after receiving media reports alleging that the church was arming itself to rebuff any reprisal from the traditionalists.

"We are afraid it would happen again and may be more explosive and that we (Korle Gonno residents) are sure to suffer the effects of the clash," Mr Dodoo said.

The deal itself did not come easily as the youth wing and the churches, especially the Pentecostals, were locked up on the issue of whether tradition should supersede the individual's freedom of worship and vice versa.

The Reverend Father Vincent Shamo, Parish Priest of the Saint Michael and All Saints Anglican Church, helped ease the tension when he said they should first consider the issue of peaceful co-existence.

"If we look at this issue from the legal point of view, the argument would never stop but my fellow Christians, let's be frank with ourselves. Has the state even given traditionalists any holiday?

"Why don't we let go these few days? After all, God knows that we intend to worship him faithfully," he pleaded.

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SDA church to establish hospital in Tamale

Tamale, (Northern Region) 4^th May ‘99,

The Northern-Ghana mission of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church is to establish a hospital in Tamale this year.

The church has already purchased a building for the project and has concluded an agreement with the Adventist Hospital in Florida, USA for medical personnel, hospital equipment, drugs and other logistics.

Pastor A.K. Waahu, president of the mission made this known in Tamale at a special church service on Sunday to close a four-day biennial convention of the Ghana Adventist Choir Union.

Pastor Waahu said a Senior Secondary School project the church intended undertaking in Tamale is being held up due to a dispute over a 32-acre land the church acquired more than 20 years ago.

Donors in America have threatened to withdraw interest in the project and expressed the hope that the dispute will be resolved soon for the project to take off.

The four-day convention, under the theme: ''experiencing the fellowship of his family'', was attended by 44 choirs from the Mampong Zone and the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions who engaged in musical concert and spiritual revival.

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NDC will win the year 2000 elections - Gyenfi

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 4^th May ’99

The Deputy National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Ken Gyenfi, has predicted a landslide victory for the party in the 2000 general elections.

He was emphatic that although President Jerry John Rawlings would not be contesting the election, that would not affect the chances and performance of the party, which he said, symbolises the hopes and aspirations of Ghanaian masses.

Interacting with members of the Institute of Management Studies (IMS) branch of the party in Kumasi, Mr Gyenfi asked supporters of the NDC to remain firm and ensure that they do not allow themselves to be swayed by what he described as "politics of lies and deception by those in the opposition parties".

It formed part of a programme to strengthen the party's presence and organisational work in Tertiary Institutions.

He reminded the students to develop critical and intellectual minds that would enable them to dispassionately examine and discuss all political issues.

Alhaji Alhassan Napoh, Deputy Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser, called for political tolerance to ensure sustenance of the country's democracy, national peace and harmony.

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WTO bemoans Africa's benefit from world tourism

Accra (Greater Accra) 4^th May ’99

Africa's immense tourism resources remain untapped, thus its benefit from the industry is poor, Mr Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), said in Accra on Monday.

Out of 625 million global tourist arrivals last year, Africa had only 125 million, accounting for 9.6 billion dollars out of the global profits of 455 billion dollars.

"Within the same period ECOWAS recorded about 25 million arrivals with 266 million dollars of profits."

Mr Frangialli made the remark at the opening of the joint 33rd WTO Commission for Africa (CAF) meeting, 24th Africa Travel Association (ATA) annual conference and the convocation of African Ministers of Tourism in Accra.

The five-day meeting is the first to be held jointly by the two organisations and the first in Ghana and Africa. Over 1,500 officials, including 27 African ministers, are attending.

Mr Frangialli said Africa has great tourism potentials that warrant the commitment of their governments to its development.

He praised the Ghana government for its positive political will for the development of tourism, saying this encourages WTO to support her effort.

Mr Frangialli pledged WTO's support to Africa to ensure that the continent realises the full benefits of its tourism potential.

Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism, stressed the need for African countries to form coalitions to fully utilise the resources.

Africa's tourism potential makes it qualify for financial support from donor agencies, he said adding, "it is a viable venture to invest in Africa's tourism."

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Ashanti Region branch of GJA congratulates Asantehene

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 4^th May ’99

The Ashanti Region branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has asked Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, to be a symbol of unity and reconciliation for Asanteman and the country as a whole.

In a congratulatory message issued by the Association in Kumasi and signed by its Secretary, Nana Osei Kyeretwie, following the enthronement of the Asantehene as the 19th King and 16th occupant of the Golden Stool, the Association pledged its support to play its role in the progress and development of Asanteman under his reign.

The statement said the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, was a life patron of the Association and he practised an open door policy with people from all walks of life and endeared himself to many people who made contacts with him as well as the media in Asanteman.

The statement expressed the hope that Otumfuo Osei Tutu would continue with the cordial relationship that existed between Manhyia Palace and the media before the demise of the late Asantehene.

It promised that the media would continue to project the socio-economic development of Asanteman.

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Cocoa Service Division defends retrenchment

Akim-Bawdua (Eastern Region) 4^th May ’99

Dr Stephen Twumasi Ampofo, Executive Director of the Cocoa Service Division (CSD) of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has defended the retrenchment exercise being carried out by the COCOBOD as ''a good policy intended to bring efficiency, productivity and competence in the CSD" and not a witch-hunting exercise against any individual.

The policy would remove duplicity of duty and enables the CSD to increase purchasing prices of farmer's produce.

Dr. Ampofo was reacting to concerns expressed by some farmers about the rationale for the continuous reduction in the manpower size of the CSD at a time when farmers are appealing for more extension officers.

At a forum at Akim Bawdua near Akwatia on Friday to launch this year's "Ye wafuo yie" programme, which seeks to educate farmers to maintain their cocoa farms and to promote cordial relations between extension agents and farmers, he said the government would increase the purchasing price of cocoa "but to be able to do so, it must ensure a 'lean' service capable of generating enough revenue for national development".

Mr Francis Nsiah, Eastern Regional Manager of the CSD, said COCOBOD exported 400,000 tonnes of cocoa last year, enabling the commodity to regain its position as Ghana's major foreign exchange earner.

Increased cocoa production would reverse government's dependence on external loans for development, he said, adding that farmers should not only cultivate large tracks of land, but also adopt modern agricultural practices.

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Manya Krobo development plan fails

Odumase-Krobo (Eastern Region) 4^th May ’99

A five-year development plan drawn by the Manya Krobo district assembly to guide it in its development programmes has failed to achieve its objectives.

The plan, which was drawn in 1996 "has serious gaps between what is on paper and what is actually happening on the ground", the presiding member, the Reverend E.D.S. Mate-Kodjo, said.

"There is a disparity between what is planned and what has been achieved'', he stressed.

At the first meeting of the second session of the assembly, at Odumase-Krobo, on Friday, Reverend Mate-Kodjo, said concerns expressed by assembly members on the development of their communities, prompted him to study the plan.

He therefore, called on the finance and administration communities of the assembly to review the plan to enable it achieve its goals.

The District Chief Executive, Captain (rtd) Henry Hammond, announced that a number of measures have been put in place to ensure effective revenue mobilisation in the district.

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Rainstorm damages school

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 4^th May ’99

A severe rainstorm on Monday hit Sarkodie complex schools, causing severe damage to books and other school property.

The worst affected buildings were the Primary "C" and "D" JSS, classrooms of the Junior Secondary School. Books, office equipment and stationery estimated at millions of cedis were also destroyed.

Mr Augustine K. Poku, chairman of the Parent Teacher Association told Mr Yaw Barimah, Member of Parliament for Koforidua and Mr Augustine K. Poku, chairman of the Parent Teacher Association inspected the site.

Ms Doris Yeboah, the headmistress, said this was the second in four years that rainstorm had destroyed the new block and appealed to the PTA and the Municipal Assembly to renovate the blocks before schools reopen in order to interrupt academic work.

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Press Freedom –A right to fight for

Accra (Greater Accra) 4^th May ‘99

As they trooped into the premises of the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on Monday to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, journalists heard whispers of aliases given to them: "members of the inky fraternity, members of the press, the watchdogs of society", reports Juliet Adime Amoah.

The World Press Freedom day, a relatively new event introduced six years ago by the United Nations and observed on May 3 every year, had for its global theme "Unpunished Crimes against Journalists".

The Ghana Journalists Association however tailored the theme for the celebration of the day in Ghana to read: "GJA, Press Freedom and political stability".

Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, urged media practitioners not to allow their prejudices to affect fair reporting of events in Africa, pointing out that a bad piece of journalism may impact negatively on its fragile democracy.

Progress in entrenching democratic principles all over Africa is on-going and journalists have a role to play in its success, the Minister noted.

At a flag raising ceremony to mark the last World Press Freedom Day for this century, Mr Mahama said the continued pockets of ethnic conflicts and violence going on in the West African sub-region demand that journalists exercise circumspection in the discharge of their duties in order to ensure peace on the continent.

He thanked the media for heeding to his call to minimise discussion on the ban on drumming by the Ga Traditional Council which was becoming heated as a result of radio discussions.

The Minister explained that the government had nothing to do with the placement of advertisements in private newspapers and has not blacklisted any private newspaper.

Reacting to a statement in the Free Press, claiming that the government had told its agencies not to place advertisements in the private media, Mr Mahama said if any newspaper was facing problems with getting adverts, it may be on account of the insults rained by the paper on a section of the public.

A joint statement issued by Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General and other heads of UN agencies read by Mr Bruno Lefevre, UNESCO Resident Representative in Ghana, appealed to all governments to guarantee the safety of journalists.

It said each time a journalist is attacked or killed, society at large suffers.

The statement questioned the arguments of those who claim that press freedom threatens stability and endangers progress, and said freedom of speech is a right to be fought for.

It noted that the century had been marked by ceaseless struggles for press freedom and the continued targeting of journalists cannot be tolerated.

"As we prepare to enter a new century and millennium, a thriving local, national and international free press is more important than ever."

Miss Margaret Novicki, Director of the UN Information Centre in Accra, gave a list of some journalists who had been murdered in various countries, including Norbert Zongo of Burkina Faso and said "we cannot be complacent about these events because they indicate a trend towards an erosion of press freedom."

"We, in the United Nations are opposed to all or any attempts to shackle or silence the press."

Mr Tim Acquah-Hayford, Chairman of the National Media Commission, noted that "we are now in an era of a less tense media landscape yet we are at a crossroad for responsible freedom or a decline in public esteem."

Nii Laryea Sowah, General Secretary of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana, said about 21 out of 68 newspapers which blossomed in 1992 have folded up because of weak capitalisation and lack of adverts.

Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of GJA, said no democratic society can exist without a pluralistic press and called for tolerance to make press freedom a reality.

She called for investigation of the deaths of journalists in Kosovo, Yugoslavia and Burkina Faso and called on NATO to halt attacks on media installation in Yugoslavia.

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