GRi Newsreel 21-05-99

This, he said, requires democracy and good governance, essential prerequisites for peace without which Africa's recent socio-economic success would be in vain.

Addressing the Presidential plenary of the one-week fifth African-African Summit currently under way in Accra, Mr Sinamenye, urged delegates to highlight issues on women and the youth whom, he said, must be groomed to maintain and build on what they inherit from present leaders.

The plenary session, which opened yesterday and chaired, by President Jerry John Rawlings registered a record number of 12 African leaders in the eight-year history of the summit.

The dignitaries included Rev Jesse Jackson, American President Clinton's Special envoy for Africa and Rev Leon Sullivan, the convener.

Mr Sinamenye said the war in his country, which has done a lot of harm to the country's economy and culture, is being resolved through negotiations.

President Lansana Conte of Guinea touched on the many opportunities the current summit and another held in the US last March for some African leaders have brought to Africa.

He mentioned the US Africa Growth and Opportunities Act and the gradual growth of American investment in Africa.

He said the unity fostered between Africans and African Americans by the summit is strengthening the solidarity among African states, the most serious of which was the Ghana-Guinea Union established in the early days of independence.

He decried the situation where Western countries grant huge aid packages to countries in the North while those in the South are subjected to harsh pre-conditions before the 'little' development packages are granted.

President Conte said apart from the Marshal Plan designed by America to rebuild Europe, a Bank has recently been established in London to help the economies of Eastern European countries.

African Americans, he said, should also take a cue from that and establish an African American bank in Washington to finance development programmes drawn by African states.

"This is the only reliable way for African countries to achieve their development objectives...so that Africa can reclaim her greatness and dignity.

"Guinea is ready to do the utmost in efforts at reconstructing Africa through co-operation with African Americans", he said to resounding applause.

Sierra Leonean President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah noted that the donor concept is being replaced by economic co-operation and business partnerships saying it "augurs well for understanding among African countries, which see themselves as having a common interest".

He suggested to African Americans to extend their expertise, in the form of technology transfer, to Africa. The 'twin city' concept should also be extended to state level where African states would also have sister states in the United States.

President Kabbah said the situation in his country is not a civil war but the "lawless acts of rebels whose actions have killed, maimed and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

He said the suggestion by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) for a four-year transitional government is untenable since Sierra Leoneans regard their constitution as the best guarantee of their freedoms and rights.

"If the RUF wants constitutional changes it must transform itself into a political party and sell its ideals to the people. The people would not allow the constitution to be arbitrarily set aside without their consent".

President Kabbah said Sierra Leoneans have lost confidence in the RUF because of its habit of manipulating ceasefire declarations to their advantage and asked countries calling for peace to persuade the RUF to stop the war and negotiate with sincerity.

He said his government is committed to a peaceful solution to the problem and thanked Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea and Mali for their efforts at resolving the conflict.

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New millennium must be Africa's dawn of peace, says President Mkapa

Accra (Greater Accra), 21^st May 99 –

Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa on Thursday said the new millennium must be Africa's new dawn of peace, freedom, dignity unity and prosperity.

This, he said, calls for co-operation and partnership between everyone with roots in the continent.

"The indignity of poverty of someone in Africa should equally be the indignity of every human being, especially every black man and woman," the Tanzanian leader said.

He was addressing the presidential plenary of the one-week fifth African-African American summit in Accra.

President Mkapa spoke against what he termed misconceptions about Africa which, without reason, continue to impede the development of the continent.

He said the misconceptions have their roots in an unfavourable extra-continental press, "a press that thinks nothing good can come out of

Africa, that Africa is all about civil wars, a continent of dictatorships..."

He said stability, new leadership and new vision have emerged to create friendly policies for investment in Africa and urged world businesses to seize the opportunity.

"The majority of African countries are now democracies, and they continue to improve the institutional and procedural aspects of democracy."

He spoke about the economic policies being prescribed by the international financial institutions saying it is sometimes frustrating to see African governments taking painful and often unpopular measures in implementing these policies while the outside world pays little attention.

President Mpaka called for the nurturing of strong USA-Africa partnership for sustainable development to be spearheaded by Africans and African-Americans.

However, it must be a partnership that must, as soon as possible, pull Africa out of the morass of poverty and deprivation and on to sustainable development.

Besides, it must be a partnership led by the private sector that is both productive and for mutual benefit. It must "not be a partnership borne out of dependence or clientism;" it must be a partnership that will not make Africa an object of charity, but that which will make Africa a dignified and equal partner in the evolving world trade regime.

"We must also develop a partnership that will help Africa remain Africa, minus poverty," President Mkapa stated.

President Mkapa was of the view that this cannot happen if major markets such as the USA find it so difficult to give Africa a break.

President Mkapa thanked the Rev Jesse Jackson for the initiative he took in January to introduce the African Human Rights, Opportunity, Partnership and Empowerment (HOPE) Act, which seeks to reduce the continent's debt burden while increasing foreign assistance.

Another important area where African-Americans can help Africa is in capacity building, especially in terms of human resources, skills and science and technology.

He also commended that American President Bill Clinton's new policy should give economic relief to Africa, saying "without debt relief, all we are producing will end up servicing our debt rather than building the capacity to fight poverty."

The Tanzanian leader urged the summit to come out with a resounding call to the G8 (Group of eight industrialised) countries when they meet in Cologne next month, to cancel the debts of all highly indebted poor countries.

He added, "there could not be a better time to give these countries a clean slate with which to begin the new century and millennium."

The time to act is now, he said adding, "the time is right to do what is right."

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Kerekou urges concerted efforts to push Africa ahead

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May ’99

President Matthew Kerekou of Benin on Thursday called for concerted efforts by leaders of Africa to reinforce unity on the continent.

More efforts should be geared towards promoting fraternal relations between Africa and African Americans, citing the African-American Summit as one of such steps that will not only unite the people but would improve on their economic lives.

President Kerekou made these points when he took his turn to address the Presidential plenary of the fifth African-African American summit currently underway in Accra.

The plenary session, which started yesterday and chaired, by Ghana's President Jerry Rawlings registered a record number of 12 African leaders in the eight-year history of the summit.

The dignitaries included Rev Jesse Jackson, American President Clinton's Special envoy for Africa and Rev Leon Sullivan, the convener.

President Kerekou said the time has come for Africans and those in the diaspora to ensure good management and good governance in order to achieve results.

He urged the world to invest in Africa saying trade with the continent on the eve of the millennium is not riskier than anywhere else.

"African economies are open, Africa is poised for joint ventures," the Beninois leader declared.

He expressed the optimism that with united efforts, Africa can enter the next millennium as a new world devoid of division, ignorance, wars and diseases.

President Kerekou lauded renewed efforts by Americans such as Rev Sullivan to bring investment and trade to Africa, citing President Bill Clinton visit to Africa last year as a major breakthrough that must be built upon.

President F. G. Mogae of Botswana also had good words for the organisers of the summit.

He said after long years of separation, the time has come for Africans and those in the diaspora to come together to develop the continent. "Nothing will separate us again."

"We need to chart a new course for economic growth of Africa," President Mogae urged.

He said he was in the United States with President Rawlings last month and was not too happy with the degree of ignorance that is still clouding Africa in America and urged all to turn the situation round.

The people of Africa are determined to live in peace and concentrate on issues of development, citing the various regional groupings set up to restore peace in crisis situations.

President Mogae commended ECOMOG saying it has made sacrifices in the search for peace.

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African Americans build high-tech school

Accra (Greater Accra) 20 May '99

A group of renowned African Americans have built a 430 million-cedi modern technology school at Ada to accelerate the study of computer and modern technology in Ghana.

The project, initiated by Isaac Hayes, a renowned African American musician and actor, who was crowned Noyaa Mantse (chief of development) of Ada traditional area in 1992, is due to be commissioned in August this year.

It forms part of efforts by the Californian-based World Literacy Crusade (WLC), founded by he Reverend Alfredie John, to increase computer and modern technological literacy among Africans and African-Americans.

The major sponsors of the project include Mr Denzel Washington, a renowned African American actor who provided 50,000 dollars and Mr Bruce Willis, a boxing promoter who donated 25,000 dollars.

Others are Mr Bob Johnson, owner of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the first privately owned TV station in America, who provided 25,000 dollars and Isaac Hayes, who provided 10,000 dollars.

Naa Asie Ocansey, WLC Ambassador to Africa, told the GNA that other sponsorships are in the form of computers and equipment. Network Computer Systems (NCS) would provide free Internet services for the school.

She said the school would offer courses in marketing, vocational skills, computer science, Internet, among others.

"We will soon liaise with the Ministries of Education and Environment, Science and Technology, and the Universities to develop an elaborate course outline for the school."

Naa Ocansey mentioned inappropriate study technology and lack of knowledge and understanding of computer jargons and courses as the reasons for low-key computer technology skills among Africans especially.

"For this reason we employed 11 experts from the United States, United Kingdom and South Africa between August last year and January this year to train 37 Ghanaian teachers and 975 children in modern study technology."

She said the school would be dedicated to accelerating the turnout of computer literate persons in Africa, adding that the ultimate aim is to facilitate Africa's development through human resource development.

"We hope to assist Africans to have a firm grip on computer technology and improve their working habits as the new millennium with its challenges approaches."

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Chevron launches development programme for Nigeria's Delta region

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

Chevron Corporation has pledged a five million-dollar community development programme to improve the quality of life of the people living in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Rev Leon Sullivan, convenor of the Accra African-African American Summit, who announced this at the plenary session on Thursday, said the programme is being undertaken in partnership with his International Foundation for Education and Self Help (IFESH).

The programme aims to address critical social, economic and development issues through skill development, basic and health education, enterprise development and food production.

"This programme will focus on helping them to help themselves", Rev Sullivan said, adding, "we will encourage residents of the Niger Delta to participate actively in and not remain mere spectators of- their own social transformation."

Specific objectives of the programme include training and facilitating the self-employment of approximately 1,000 youths, as well as strengthening the food production capacity of fishermen/farmers in Chevron's area of operations.

It is to provide basic education for primary school children, literacy classes for adults and teacher training for primary school teachers in addition to facilitating the establishment of a self-run, privately funded credit finance co-operative organisation.

It is hoped to provide training for basic business skills and access to credit for existing small businesses.

The IFESH-Chevron partnership is expected to impact on some 26,000 people at the end of the five-year term. They include fishermen, women, teachers, community leaders, the youth and children.

Richard Matzke, a director of Chevron, said the partnership with IFESH, called the Western Niger Delta Development Programme," complements Chevron's long-standing commitment to bring benefits to communities near our oil and gas production operations".

George Kirkland, Managing Director of Chevron, Nigeria Limited said the company has so far invested more than 40 million dollars in Nigerian community development projects since 1991.

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Rawlings hosts delegates at state dinner

Accra Greater Accra) 21^st May 99 –

Delegates attending the Fifth African African-American Summit on Thursday night mixed business with pleasure when they wined and dined at a state dinner hosted for them by President Jerry John Rawlings.

The delegates, from all corners of the globe, have been busy within the past four days going through the tall summit agenda, but turned out in their numbers at the Banquet Hall of the State House to cool off from the pressure of work.

The Hall was filled to capacity and the delegates, most of them clad in beautiful African prints, shook hands with each other, embraced and rubbed cheeks in an atmosphere of informality.

In a short address, President Rawlings said, "the gathering as Africans, African-Americans and friends of Africa underscores our determination to work towards the consolidation of Africa's prosperity and the restoration of her dignity''.

He said he was convinced that Africa could turn her fortunes around, but warned that there should be no illusions as to the hurdles that must be cleared.

"Nor should we delude ourselves into thinking that we have no detractors who may be determined to ensure that we fail in our enterprise so that Africa's riches may continue to enrich others to the exclusion of her own people".

President Rawlings said it is important that Africa lays emphasis on information technology.

"It is increasingly becoming clear that by sharing and through net-working of expertise in business, science and technology..... Africa's capacity to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive world is growing''.

He said Summits provide Africa with the opportunity to demonstrate to African-Americans and other friends of Africa that ''we mean business and need their collaboration''.

"Let us therefore use this occasion to infuse more dynamism into the cultural and economic ties that bind us, so that we can overcome the remaining barriers to co-operation and progress'', the President said.

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Sudan wants more investors

Accra (Greater Accra), 21^st May 99 –

The President of Sudan, Lt-General Omar Hasan Ahmed Al Basher, on Thursday called on American investors to take advantage of the "liberalised market" of that country and open up more businesses.

Speaking at the Presidential Plenary Session of the Fifth African-African American Summit underway in Accra, the Sudanese President urged the investors to brush off the "misconceptions" about Sudan and participate in its privatisation exercise.

"I can assure you today that there is peace in Sudan. At least we have been able to resolve the thorny issues bordering on our federation and very soon an election will be held to finally decide on the issue."

President Al Basher said six out of the seven groups involved in the Sudanese "crisis" have signed an agreement to take part in the election.

"Conditions are now favourable for our liberalisation policy and democratisation process."

President Al Basher appealed to the over 4,000 African Americans attending the Summit to chart a new course for Africa.

The week-long Summit, which is under the theme 'Business, Trade and Investment: "Africa Can Compete", is a platform to launch Africa into the 21st Century.

At least the last decade of the African history has been characterised by strong political and economic reforms, which have propelled the continent to about four per cent growth annually, he said, adding that Sudan has also gone through the reform process, especially in the area of education, health and agriculture.

"The new vision for Sudan demands greater attention of the global investment community to take advantage of the reforms and take part in our privatisation process," he said.

For instance, he said, Sudan has established 25 universities in the last three years and privatised a number of state-owned enterprises but little of these achievements are known to the West.

"Some of these powerful nations are rather waging a propaganda war against us, creating the impression that there is instability in Sudan.

" As we open our economy we invite you all to feel free and take advantage of the numerous opportunities in Sudan and share the profits with us," the Sudanese leader said.

Similarly, the Monarch of Swaziland, King Mswati III, put across a strong appeal to America to come to his kingdom "and make money".

"In the 250 years history of the Swazi Kingdom, we have known no civil war, and conflict has not been part of our vocabulary", the 30-year- old Monarch told the audience.

He said Africa is crying out for investment because of the high rate of unemployment adding that the continent provides the perfect opportunity for the future of the world and through the strengthening of the private sector, it would be able to compete effectively.

The Presidential session under the Chairmanship of President Jerry John Rawlings, which started on Wednesday, assembled 12 Heads of State, a monarch and high-level state officials from Africa and United States.

The Presidents took turns to address the large audience, which conference sources said, is unprecedented in the history of the summit, first held in 1991 in Abidjan.

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Otumfuo commends safety of airspace

Kumasi (Ashanti) 21^stMay 99 –

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has commended the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for the high level of safety in the Ghanaian airspace, which has attracted many international airlines to fly into the country.

He was speaking when Dr. E. R. K. Dwemoh, Honorary President of African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), presented a "faxed tribute on Otumfuo Opoku Ware II", from the Commission's headquarters in Dakar, Senegal to him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu suggested to the GCAA to develop the Kumasi airport to serve as an alternate to the Kotoka International Airport.

The tribute noted the role Otumfuo Opoku Ware played in the creation of the Commission in 1968, when he was the Commissioner of Communications during the National Liberation Council regime.

It said as first president of the Commission, Otumfuo Opoku Ware was "kind and generous and his manners were stamped with the gentleness and honesty of his nature".

"Today the African continent is reaping the rewards of his steadfast loyalty to the principle of having a common stand or approach under the umbrella of AFCAC during international fora on aviation matters.

"Nana may your Soul Rest in Peace", the tribute concluded.

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42.3 million cedis for schools projects in Buokrom

Kumasi (Ashanti), 21^st May 99 –

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has voted 42.3 million cedis for the completion of projects being undertaken jointly by the school authorities and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) of the Okrom Junior Secondary Schools (JSS)'A' and 'B'.

About 29.5 million cedis of the amount has been allocated for the construction of a three-storey classroom block, offices and library for the JSS 'B', being undertaken by the

PTA, which has so far spent 22 million cedis on the project.

The remaining amount of 12.8 million cedis is to be used to complete a three-classroom block for the JSS 'A' on which the PTA has also so far spent 15 million cedis.

Mr Andrews Acheampong, assemblyman for Buokrom electoral area announced this at the inauguration of a 13-member Buokrom Schools Management, Committee (SMC) at Buokrom in Kumasi.

Mr Acheampong said the allocation of the money is part of the assembly's contribution to the upliftment of falling standards in education through the provision of basic infrastructure for schools in the metropolis.

The assemblyman said work would begin next month on the construction of a 80 million cedis modern place of conveniences with the assistance of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom.

He said a 30.5 million-cedi place of convenience would also be constructed in Sepe Owusu-Ansah and pledged the assembly's commitment to improve on the people's standard of living.

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Area Councils have no power to levy rates --officer

Nkawie (Ashanti), 21^st May ’99 –

Area Councils have no authority to levy rates, fees and licences because they have no legal power to do so.

Mr George Nti, Atwima District Planning Officer, announced this at a day's induction course held at Nkawie on Wednesday for newly employed staff of the 18 area councils in the Atwima district of the Ashanti region.

He explained that the local government instrument of 1994 explicitly excludes the councils from performing such functions, and it would therefore be wrong on the part of any area council to print its own revenue collection receipt books.

The course was designed to prepare the secretaries, treasurers, messengers and typists for their roles and to give them an insight into the limits of the councils.

The district planning officer asked the area councils to focus on helping to prevent fraudulent transactions in the collection of revenue for district assemblies, and enforce their byelaws.

Earlier, the District Chief Executive, Mr Peter Yaw Mensah, asked the staff not only to be concerned about monetary considerations but also to show a strong desire to serve the people.

He pointed out that the success or otherwise of the area council concept would, largely, depend upon the work of the staff and asked them to be imbued with discipline, punctuality and a high sense of dedication.

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NDC congratulates organisers and delegates of A A-A summit

Accra (Greater Accra), 21^st May ‘99 –

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday expressed its appreciation for the Fifth African African-American Summit currently going on in the country and said the ideals the summit represents validate the position the party has always held.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Vincent Asiseh, National Press Secretary of the party, said the NDC believes Ghana and the rest of Africa should be integrated into the global economy, "with the view to attracting direly needed private investment".

The biennial Summit, the brainchild of the Reverend Dr. Leon Sullivan, an African American, which started on Monday, reached its climax on Wednesday.

Twelve heads of state, a monarch and top government officials from the United States and other African states met to discuss the future of the continent.

"Certainly, Africa is deserving of all the attention it is getting here in Accra this week. Political stability and liberalised economies are enabling

investors to reap returns on investment, which can compete with the best on offer anywhere in the world and at acceptable level of risk too''.

The statement said the NDC has always held the view that Africa needs inflows of foreign investment in significant quantum to fuel the continent's accelerated economic development.

"This is why the NDC government has painstakingly worked to put in place a stable multi-party democratic policy and a liberalised, free market economy, which are the essential ingredients required to create a proper enabling environment to attract such foreign investment''.

It said the ongoing summit, which has proved to be the best in terms of attendance, represents a major step towards the realisation of the ultimate goal of achieving appreciable higher living standards for Africa's populace.

The NDC extended its hearty congratulations to the organisers and delegates at the Summit, which would eventually make Africa a more attractive investment destination than ever before, the statement added.

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ECG launches new customer service programme

Accra (Greater Accra), 21^st May 99 –

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Thursday launched in Accra, an educational programme aimed at improving customer service relations and the efficient use of electricity in the country.

The programme, which has already taken off in the Volta, Eastern and Central regions, is also aimed at getting first-hand information about consumers' electricity problems.

It is under the theme "Efficient Use of Energy: Cut Down Your Electricity Bills".

Mr Kwamena Longdon, ECG Public Relations Manager, said it is the policy of the company to get close to customers, interact with them, find out their problems and how best to solve them.

"ECG is now a (limited) liability company, which means it no longer enjoys tax exemptions as it used to, but pays all duties and taxes on imported materials for its work, just like any other company in Ghana".

Mr Longdon said at the moment, the financial expenditure of the company is very high, saying "our capacity to provide good service depends on customers, and this can be sustained if we have the capacity to bring in the materials from outside".

Mr A. T. Baffour, ECG Accra East Regional Manager, said the ECG is now operating under a new law, which became effective on March 15, this year.

Under the law, a customer could be disconnected 42 days after receiving a bill if it remains unpaid.

On receiving the bill, a customer is given 28 days to pay and 14 days notice before disconnection. The reconnection fee is 30,000 cedis.

Mr Anthony L. Frimpong, Director of Materials and Transport, said the company valued its customers highly and pledged its readiness to listen to and take advice from the public.

He said the company has plans to ensure that customers enjoy good service, adding, however, that satisfactory service require "funds and co-operation from you (the public)".

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Lack of info & base maps affect planning in Kumasi outskirts

Kumasi (Ashanti), 21^st May ’99 –

Planning within communities at the outskirts of Kumasi is handicapped by information gap and inadequate base maps on renewable natural resources.

Dr. Nsiah Gyabaah, Co-ordinator of the Kumasi Natural Resources Management Research Project (KNRMP), who announced this, said there is no information on which villages are growing or declining in population or in area.

Dr. Gyabaah was giving an overview of the project at a one-day training on, "The use of poultry manure at peri-urban (outskirts) communities around the Metropolis, in Kumasi on Thursday.

The training workshop was organised by the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and attended by 35 participants in Kumasi.

The Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom launched the project in 1997, under its natural resources systems programme of research. It aims at converting research results into tangible products of direct value to peri-urban communities in Kumasi.

Dr. Gyabaah said village development planning is weak or non-existent and there is limited community participation in planning.

"Co-ordination between villages and districts is weak and district departments often lack integration both with other departments in the same district and with others."

He said a research conducted during the project revealed that no strategic regional planning was taking place, while district development plans have not attempted to address identified problems and constraints.

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More needed for adequate water delivery - Adjei Mensah

Accra (Greater Accra), 21^st May 99 –

Mr Issac Adjei-Mensah, Minister of Works and Housing, on Thursday noted that lack of safe water and adequate sanitation facilities continue to undermine the health and nutritional security of the marginal urban and rural poor.

The minister said of the 37 major diseases in the country, 21 are water- and sanitation-related and these are being fuelled by the lack of water and sanitation facilities.

Mr Adjei-Mensah was opening a day's workshop on the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) assisted Greater Accra Regional water supply and sanitation project organised by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in Accra.

The workshop, attended by some 70 stakeholders in the water and sanitation industry, was used to launch the project, which was started in January this year.

The first phase is expected to cover four years and the second phase will take off from 2003 to 2006.

Under the project, 395 communities will benefit from water supply, 11,200 latrines will be provided and an estimated 60 institutions, including schools and clinics, will benefit from sanitation facilities.

Mr Adjei-Mensah said under Vision 2020, the government has no choice but to commit itself to programmes that would accelerate rural water supply and sanitation delivery throughout the country.

"If our water and sanitation problems are not tackled within the framework set in our Vision 2020, we shall face as a nation the prospects of conflict, disease and underdevelopment."

Mr Adjei-Mensah called for the active participation of communities in the provision and maintenance of facilities, stressing the need for gender mainstreaming at all levels of service delivery.

Madam Else Moller Nielsen, counsellor at the Danish Embassy, said Danish support to the water sector over the next four years would amount to 57 million dollars out of which seven million dollars is earmarked for the water and sanitation project in the Greater Accra region.

She noted that in the past, water projects had failed because women were left out of the planning and implementation process and called for a national strategy that would be gender based.

Madam Nielsen touched on the importance of cost sharing and maintenance culture in managing facilities in the sector

"The picture of abandoned and broken water pumps should be a picture of the past. We must all show commitment towards sustaining the investment."

She stressed the need for transparency and accountability for funds being provided for the various programmes, saying it would be a precondition for the continuation of DANIDA support.

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Church accuses AMA of shirking responsibility

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

The leader of Ghana Evangelical Society, Mr Immanuel Enoch Agbozo on Thursday accused the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) of serving as an agent of the Ga Traditional Council by helping it to administer the ban on drumming.

He was speaking at a press conference to elaborate on "the ban and its effect before God."

Mr Agbozo said: "It is an ... abuse of authority, powers and resources of the AMA to turn itself into an agent of the Ga Traditional Council, and champion its cause without due process of law..."

The church, he said, rejects the position taken by AMA and asked whether the Nai Wulomei have had the "private ears of the Central Government and AMA".

He said the ban is being used to denounce the work of God and "obstruct the movement of the spirit of God that brought liberation of the church and the people from idolatry and captivity".

The Ghana Evangelical Society, with nine branches throughout the country, is to launch a special mission dubbed "Mission Liberation Africa" to "extend the salvation, liberation and redemption work of God in Ghana throughout the continent".

Mr Agbozo said the mission "would provoke the church to seek the Lord's face regarding the import on the ban on drumming".

He cited the Lighthouse Chapel incident last year and said, "if the churches had stood up against the ban, it would not have been repeated this year."

Traditionalists have removed drums and other musical instruments from churches to enforce the ban on drumming imposed by the Ga Traditional Council as a prelude to the Homowo festival.

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Goods destroyed at summit bazaar

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

A downpour on Thursday destroyed goods on display at a Bazaar, which is a side attraction of the ongoing 5th African-African American Summit, in Accra.

Strong winds, which accompanied the rains damaged stands and goods worth millions of cedis, halting activities at the bazaar grounds. Some exhibitors were injured.

Companies affected included Nsawam Cannery Products, Mama Africa Fashion Gallery and Afro Margansa Enterprise, a food processing company.

Mrs. Mary Kodua, Manager of Mama Africa Fashion Gallery, said clothing worth about 10 million cedis got soaked. Another exhibitor said she had some foods destroyed.

Mr Kwesi Oppong, of the Organising Committee, said they were overwhelmed by the rain and did not know what to do. "We just hope that it does not rain like this again".

Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, who was at the scene, described the situation as "very sad and pathetic especially when some of them have not made any sales yet".

The one-week summit ends on Saturday.

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Lambusie, Hamile, others to join National Grid soon - Abingya

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

Four towns in the Upper West Region, namely Lambusie, Hamile, Guo and Tuopare are to be connected to the national Grid soon.

Mr Simon A. Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, said this in a press statement issued in Accra on Wednesday after a tour of the northern parts of the Upper West region.

The local cost of the project, which involves the erection of poles and installation, will cost 160 million cedis, and charged the contractor, Boat Electrical Company Limited, to complete the project on schedule.

Other beneficiary towns of the project are Karmi, Ullo, Guri, Chapuri, Han Tampoe, Janvuri and Sigri in one lot, and Ulo, Nandom, Ping, Sabuli, Busie and Dafiama in another lot.

Both phases will be undertaken at the same time at a cost of 168 million cedis and 135 million cedis respectively.

The deputy minister said Pulima, Silbele, Sorbele and Gyawia in the Sissala district would also benefit from the project.

Mr Abingya told the people that it is the policy of the government to get border towns such as Hamile connected to the national grid, adding "Hamile will be switched on by the middle of June, this year", the statement said.

"The government of the NDC, recognising that the Upper West is the youngest region, knows that development is what will let the region catch up with the others.

"The government will therefore leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the region gets its fair share of the national cake," he stressed.

In all, 23 communities will benefit from the facility within the Lawra, Jirapa, Nandowli and Sissala districts.

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