Widows join forces to fight for rights
Ecomog commander stops over in Accra
Hundreds pay last respect to late Dormaa Queenmother
Prof. Mills Honours 84 companies
Stop intimidating opponents - NPP
Tema and Greenwich resolve to form a twinning partnership
AGC strike - crucial talks today
Power project progressing steadily
Ghana is fertile ground to invest - Sullivan
New association for retired police officers inaugurated
Workshop to promote awareness on violence against women
University of Development Studies to run courses in nursing
World Bank official praises Ghana
Ex-police officer in trouble for making a dash for President Rawlings
Summit on future direction of Africa ends
Widows join forces to fight for rights
Tamale (Northern Region) 24 May ’99
Widows in the Northern Region have formed a welfare association to promote public awareness about their plight and provide a common platform to address their needs.
Known as the "Widows Ministries", membership transcends ethnic, religious and political affiliation. .
A 12-member executive for the association, which aims at fighting to eliminate especially customary practices that dehumanise widows, was elected on Saturday.
Mr. Patrick Ankobeah, assistant director of administration at the office of the regional co-ordinating council, who inaugurated the executive on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr Joshua Alabi, described the association as a laudable attempt to increase awareness of the intestate succession law.
The law seeks to defend the rights of spouses who are disinherited under certain customary rites when either of them dies intestate.
Mr. Ankobeah said while the law is effective enough to check these anomalies, a number of widows, especially those at the rural communities, cannot take advantage of it due to illiteracy and ignorance.
Mr. Ankobeah urged the widows ministries to lead the campaign to promote widowhood rights to reverse the untold hardships and humiliation these women go through.
He advised the association to register with the national mobilisation programme to get assistance for their colleagues who were affected by the 1994 ethnic conflict.
Madam Fati Paul, regional co-ordinator of the National Council for Women and Development advised the widows not to allow their misfortune to prevent them from playing their roles towards the nation's development.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May ’99
King Swati 11 of Swaziland flew back home on Sunday after attending the just-ended fifth African African-American summit in Accra.
The King, will make a stop over in Nigeria.
He said before departure that the summit to him has been a great success, as acknowledged by many well-meaning delegates.
King Swati said he was particularly overwhelmed by the Ghanaian hospitality and thanked President Rawlings "for this unique gesture".
Flanked by his wife, the king said he was happy with deliberations at the conference and hoped that resolutions and plans to sustain what has been achieved would be really implemented.
This would go a long way to strengthen relationships among Africans and Africans in the diaspora, he said.
King Swati congratulated Rev Leon Sullivan, convenor of the Conference, "for his wonderful foresight to help Africans to eradicate poverty and to help them raise their standard of living through such meetings"
Vice President John Atta Mills, first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and some key government officials were at the airport to see the King and his wife off.
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Ecomog commander stops over in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May ’99
The ECOMOG Field Commander in Sierra Leone, Major-General Felix Agho Mujakberou, on Sunday made a stopover in Accra enroute to Lome, Togo, to brief the ECOWAS ministerial committee of six on Sierra Leone.
Speaking to journalists at Kotoka International Airport, Maj-Gen. Mujakberou described the atrocities being perpetrated by the RUF rebels as worse than the carnage that happened in Liberia during the seven years of war in that country.
He said they use human shield to cause these atrocities, making it difficult for ECOMOG to disarm them.
Asked whether the cease-fire announced by the warring factions will hold, Maj-Gen. Mujakberou said he was optimistic but noted that this would depend on how Foday Sankoh is able to control his men on the ground.
He said rebel control of diamond areas makes it difficult for them to totally lay down their arms.
Maj-Gen. Mujakberou said ECOWAS' ability to stop the flow of arms to rebels will in a way end the conflict.
He was met on arrival, by Brigadier George Aryiku, Director-General of Joint Operation at the army headquarters (HQ), and Colonel Oduro Apenteng, Director, International Peacekeeping Operation at the HQ.
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Hundreds pay last respect to late Dormaa Queenmother
Dormaa-Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo) 24 May ’99
People from all walks of life thronged the Abanprediase Palace at Dormaa-Ahenkro yesterday to pay their last respects to the late queenmother of Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Akosua Ansua, who died in February this year at the age of 54.
Ministers, members of parliament, district chief executives and chiefs were among the mourners who filed past the body.
A government delegation, led by Mr J.H. Owusu-Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Berekum, was at palace yesterday to mourn with the people of Dormaa.
He was accompanied by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mrs. Cecilia Johnson, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwabena Kyere, Deputy Minister of Education, and Mr Donald Adabre, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister.
Others were Odeneho Oduro Numapau, Esumegyahene, and Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, Sunyanimanhene.
Mr Owusu-Acheampong, on behalf of the government, presented two bottles of schnapps, two cartons of beer, two crates of minerals and one million cedis as donation to the bereaved family.
Nana Akosua Ansua Ababio, who was enstooled queenmother in 1977, is survived by eight children.
She was buried at the weekend.
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Prof. Mills Honours 84 companies
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May ’99
Professor Evans Atta Mills on Sunday honoured 84 corporate institutions, which sponsored the just-ended 5th African-African American Summit in Accra.
The companies, put in categories of platinum, gold, silver and bronze, received certificates and citations.
Professor Mills described the response of corporate Ghana to the successful hosting of the summit as overwhelming, saying it took off a substantial portion of the nightmares and pressures that the summit brought on the country.
" ... government has been overwhelmed by the goodwill and nationalism displayed by corporate Ghana. You rose to the occasion, my dear friends, and proved yourselves worthy corporate citizens and residents of this great country of ours".
The 84 companies contributed 1.1 billion cedis, forming 80 per cent of the total budget of 1.8 billion cedis, the rest of which came from government.
Platinum sponsors gave 50 million cedis and above, while gold sponsors gave between 20 million and 40 million.
Silver sponsors were those companies who gave between 11 million cedis and 19 million cedis. The rest gave up to 11 million cedis.
Professor Mills said the summit was successful due to the immense corporate sponsorship received by the government.
Giving a background of the hosting of the summit, Prof. Mills said it was a problem since pressure was on government to cut down on expenditure.
"We were therefore in a quandary. How would we provide the necessary infrastructure and services to host an initially estimated 28 heads of state, representatives of governments and over 4,000 delegates without throwing the government's financial budget and budgetary programme out of gear?"
He thanked the summit secretariat, national preparatory committee and all the support service staff that were on hand to ensure that Ghana's image as a real business partner was never in doubt.
The Vice-President paid glowing tribute to the Ghanaian media, which, he said, "brought the summit closer to Ghanaians and the international community.
"You have proved yourselves able and concerned partners. We appreciate every drop of ink you used, every voice you raised and every website icon you clicked, to give the summit a global publicity", he added.
Professor Mills also singled out the La Palm Beach Hotel for special praise for its dexterity in getting prepared to host 10 of the 12 presidents who attended the Summit.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi said he was impressed with the support given by everyone to see the event through, adding that "it shows how far we can go as a country if both government and the private sector come together to move the wheels of development".
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Karni (Upper West) 24 May ’99
Alhaji Huduu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC, has said the government would continue to invest in health, rural electrification, agriculture and road network in the rural areas.
This would ensure that every Ghanaian is on the "same level" irrespective of where one is living. It will also help curb the rural urban drift, he said.
At an NDC rally at Karni near Jirapa to introduce the party's candidate, Mrs. Alice Teni Boon for the Lambushie by-election scheduled for Wednesday May 26, he called on the electorate to vote for Mrs. Boon to make her the only female MP in the region.
The NDC general secretary said the government is sensitive to gender issues and would draw up strategies to enhance the development of women in the region.
Alhaji Mahamma Iddrisu, Presidential Aide for Governmental Affairs advised the people to be wary of politicians who cannot offer them anything in terms of peace, unity and development.
He refuted rumours in the constituency that those who have lost their voter's identity cannot vote.
Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper East Regional Minister asked the electorate to vote for the NDC candidate to enable her to continue from where the late MP, Mr Luke Koo stopped.
Present at the rally were Mr Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr Emmanuel Zumakpeh, MP for Nadowli South, Mr David Osei Wusu, Upper West Regional Minister and his deputy, Mr Bede Ziedeng.
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Stop intimidating opponents - NPP
Lambussie (Upper West) 24 May ’99
Mr Leapog Batieka, Lambussie constituency chairman of the NPP has appealed to the NDC campaign team in the area to stop harassing their opponents.
Speaking to newsmen at Lambussie, he called on the police to give equal opportunities to all the parties contesting the bye-election in the constituency.
According to Mr Batieka, the NDC campaign team is telling the electorate that should the NPP win the by election there would be looting and terrorism in the villages.
He also said the police are "inconsistent in granting permits" to party leaders to organise rallies.
" We were supposed to hold our rally today at Karni and the police were aware of that, but when we got there this afternoon, the NDC people had already mounted their gadgets and the police did not stop them," Mr Batieka said on Saturday.
He described the NPP candidate, Mr Anthony Baloroo, as a dynamic and hard working man who would win the election and "turn the constituency into a viable centre".
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Tema and Greenwich resolve to form a twinning partnership
Accra (Central Region) 24 May ’99
Tema and the London Borough of Greenwich on Friday agreed by resolution to form a twinning partnership to promote social, economic and cultural ties between them.
Nii Armah Ashitey, Metropolitan Chief Executive, signed the twinning charter for the harbour city whilst Mayor John Fahy signed for the London side.
A statement issued by the Ghana High Commission in London and released in Accra on Saturday said the signing ceremony coincided with the inauguration of the new Mayor for Greenwich. The large audience at the ceremony was treated to Ghanaian music and dance.
The two mayors declared to maintain permanent ties between the councils of the two communities, and to promote mutual understanding, respect and friendship between their cities.
They will also promote human and cultural relations between their councils and the youth of the two cities.
Nii Armah Ashitey and Mr John Fahy affirmed that the partnership is a catalyst for a wide range of links and tangible benefits for their two communities, and this, he said, would go beyond traditional twinning arrangements.
Mr John Fahy said that a minimum of 500,000 pounds sterling would be raised during the year for the construction of a Polytechnic in Tema.
There will also be a regular exchange of information between schools in Greenwich and Tema.
The two councils are also to be linked up, as a matter of urgency by e-mail, to ensure an effective communication link between them.
Other programmes to be undertaken under the twinning would include visits, cultural exchanges, fostering business links, inter cultural education, approaches to local government and development, and health promotion.
Both Mayors emphasised the need for the twinning agreement to be meaningful, and a partnership that would make a lasting difference to both communities.
The statement said Nii Armah Ashitey invited the business community in the UK to the Millennium Texpo, which is scheduled to take place in Tema from November to December this year.
He congratulated the new mayor on his election and hoped that together they would work to build a fruitful, lasting and sustainable relationship for the mutual benefit of the communities.
Mr. Chris Kpodo, Ghana's deputy High Commissioner in London said the High Commission acknowledged its role as facilitator to the realisation of the objectives and programmes of the partnership.
He said that the mission saw in the partnership yet another opportunity to strengthen and sustain collaborative and mutual beneficial co-operation between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
The deputy high commissioner said it was significant that while some nations are busy building monuments to celebrate both the glories of the passing millennium and the vision for the new one, Tema and Greenwich are building bridges of partnership, co-operation, understanding and friendship for the mutual benefit of their people.
Mr Kpodo observed that Ghana and the UK have a lot to learn from each other and the High Commission was committed to creating an enabling environment for this to happen.
The statement said Nii Ashitey held discussions with officials of the Greenwich Council, and visited the Millennium Dome and Afro-Caribbean organisations in the Borough.
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AGC strike - crucial talks today
Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 -
The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare has invited the Management of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) and the Ghana Mineworkers' Union (GMWU) to an emergency meeting today, Monday, 24th May, over the crippling strike at the Obuasi mine.
Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni said in a letter that the Local Expanded Union and TUC should also attend the meeting at the Conference Room of the Ministry at 1000 hours.
The letter said the Ministry has followed with great concern the strike and the refusal of workers to heed appeals by the TUC and GMWU to return to work.
The Ministry is, therefore, calling the meeting "to help resolve the problem."
The management of AGC said on Thursday that Ghana loses 700,000 dollars in export revenue for every day that the strike at the Obuasi mines continues.
"More importantly, this situation cannot help government efforts at attracting investment into this country", it said in a statement issued by Mr James Anaman, General Manager, Corporate Affairs.
"There has clearly been a breakdown of law and order, a situation which cannot augur well for the development of the country", AGC said.
Meanwhile Right Reverend Dr Godfred Zormelo, Senior Bishop's Deputy of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, has appealed to President Jerry John Rawlings to personally intervene in the impasse between the management and striking workers of the Ashanti Goldfields Company(AGC) Limited.
Rev. Dr Zormelo said considering the key role AGC plays in the country's economic recovery programme, strenuous efforts must be made to thrash out all differences between the two sides without delay.
He expressed the hope that the personal intervention of President Rawlings would speed up the resolution of the differences for the early resumption of work in the mines.
Noting that the sector minister is scheduled to meet the two sides on Monday, together with TUC leaders on the impasse, Rev Zormelo said that the personal involvement of the head of state would "add more vigour to such efforts".
Closing a three-day youth convention organised by the leaders of the West Ghana conference of the church for about 800 youth drawn from various branches of the church in the Western Region, he warned that any further delay to resolve the problem might cause the nation dearly through damage to the company's heavy machines, in addition to the huge economic loss.
Rev. Dr Zormelo later led participants to say special prayers for the early resolution of the issue.
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Power project progressing steadily
Esiama (Western Region) 24 May ’99
Work is progressing steadily on the multi-million dollar Western Power Project of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
The erection of pylons and construction of the Esiama Sub-station for the supply of power to the Volta River Authority (VRA) for distribution, being undertaken by Sogelerg, a French company, are set to be completed before this September.
The project began in July 1998.
While work on the Esiama Sub-Station is about 95 per cent complete, the actual construction work at Elubo Sub-Station is yet to start.
Grading and excavation of the 120,000-cubic metre-project has been completed. Compacting has also begun.
GNPC has so far spent about ¢1.5 billion cedis on the Elubo sub-station, according to Mr John Quarshie, GNPC site engineer.
The sub-stations will have control rooms for panels, guest houses, and offices.
Mr Jean Menlig-Baader, Project Co-ordinator of Sogelerg, told members of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), on a tour of GNPC projects in the Western Region, that work is on schedule and will be completed within the estimated time.
He said about 170 kilometre lines are being constructed for the transmission of power to consumers of power from the Western Power Project.
Mr Kaal Laryea, Consultant and Civil Engineer attached to Sogelerg, said measures are being put in place to ensure that proper engineering standards are adhered to for the safety of the equipment.
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Ghana is fertile ground to invest - Sullivan
Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 -
The convenor of the African African-American Summit, Rev Dr Leon Sullivan has described Ghana as a ''fertile ground to invest.''
"With the growing economy of Ghana, it is possible for any serious investor to make it,'' Dr Sullivan convenor of the just ended Fifth African-African American summit told journalists in a pre-departure interview on Saturday.
He said Ghana would be the first country to benefit from a people's fund to be set by his organisation for small-scale entrepreneurs, especially in the area of crop farming and animal husbandry.
Dr Sullivan said that the African Development Bank would monitor loans under the fund.
He described Ghana as the most "hospitable nation" that he has ever visited and said, "such hospitality opens the door for tourists to flood the nation".
Dr Sullivan who was accompanied by 400 business representatives described the summit as a new chapter in the re-development of Africa both economically and politically.
He said the world owes Africa reparation in terms of debt relief and investment in education and economy.
''To me reparation means clearing the debt, bringing investors, pulling money from other nations to Africa to economically and politically emancipate her''.
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New association for retired police officers inaugurated
Accra, 22nd May 99 -
The Association of Retired Senior Police Officers (ARSPO) and the
Ghana Ex-Police Officers Association on Saturday merged to form the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO).
The main objectives of the new association is to foster co-operation and close relationship between serving and retired members of the police service, as well as see to the welfare of its members.
Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State who inaugurated NARPO urged members to guard against "intimidation and unwarranted criticism which are likely to be provocative or inflame passions".
"I caution tolerance and moderation in our utterances - whether by writing or mouth - so as to enable the country maintain a lasting democracy for the present generation and posterity.
" What Ghana needs is peace and stability to provide the citizens with much needed social and economic development."
Alhaji Bawumia appealed to retired police officers to make themselves available for appointment to the community tribunals.
"Through your long exposure to the law and the combating of crime, you have acquired enormous experience as adjudicators, and your willingness to serve on the community tribunals will help to promote justice in the country", he added.
The association, Alhaji Bawumia said, should also impress upon its members the need to be instrumental in the formation and efficient conduct of community watchdogs to augment government's effort to control crime.
Mr Peter T. Nanfuri, Inspector-General of Police, said the coming into being of NARPO has fulfilled the long-cherished dream of the police administration to have one national association of retired police officers and men irrespective of rank.
Mr Nanfuri expressed the hope that the new association will remove the "unprofitable rivalry" which, he said, had hitherto characterised the relationship of the two former groups.
He appealed to members of the association to use their professional experience to assist the country's crime-fighting crusade.
"What is needed most is crime intelligence, information gathering and education of members of the public to offer co-operation, support and goodwill to the police at all times."
Mr C.K. Dewornu, a former IGP and national president of NARPO, said the new association has branches throughout all districts in the country and urged all retired officers and men to join (it) for their own benefit.
He said the association has entered into a joint economic partnership with Dan Multi-Purpose Limited, to operate a weekly lotto.
"This lotto business has been the major source of the association's financial support," he said.
The association, Mr Dewornu said, has also established a company under the name, Ecilop Company Limited, which engages in economic ventures to help boost the association's financial standing.
He called on members to assist the government in the fight against crime and the maintenance of law and order, as well as contribute to the development of their local communities.
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Workshop to promote awareness on violence against women
Kumasi (Ashanti) 22nd May '99--
A workshop to create awareness on violence against women for personnel of the security services has ended in Kumasi.
Organised by the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana and sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation the workshop aimed making the participants aware of acts which constitute violence against women and inform them about the readiness of FIDA to provide legal education as well as support the police in prosecuting such criminal acts.
Mrs. Gloria Ofori-Boadu, administrator of FIDA, said violence is a term given to acts that causes or inflicts either pain or injury be it physical, psychological or any act that does not allow full enjoyment of the rights of an individual.
She said the most predominant form of violence against women occur mostly in homes and involve persons closely related to them such as husbands, lovers, parents, children, in-laws, or rivals among others
Mrs. Ofori-Boadu said this form of violence takes the form of pushing, slapping, punching choking, stabbing and forcing sexual activity or using violence to control another's behaviour which at times leads to serious injuries or death.
Such acts of violence which are criminal offences and constitute a violation of the human rights of the victims as well as posing health hazards against them, are however not accorded the importance that they deserve because they are considered to be "domestic matters and are handled as such."
The administrator stressed that this is unlawful and unacceptable because acts of domestic violence are damaging and have a lasting impact on the victims.
Mrs. Ursula Adjei, also of FIDA, who spoke on "Intestate law of succession" said in spite of the law, certain families totally take over the property of deceased relatives with impunity leaving surviving spouses and children to their fate.
She called on the law enforcement agencies to investigate such offences and to ensure that accused persons are brought to book to help ease pain, humiliation, anguish and grief of surviving widows and children.
Miss Mariam Gyasi, FIDA administrator in Kumasi, who led discussion on "Marriage dissolution and violence against women", called on women to quickly seek marriage dissolution if they feel their lives are being threatened, since there is a provision in the law to force husbands to look after their children after a divorce.
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University of Development Studies to run courses in nursing
Tamale (Northern Region), 24th May '99 --
The School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies (UDS) is to start a new nursing training programme that will focus on primary health care as a catalyst for disease prevention.
The new programme forms part of a three-year old partnership between UDS and Okanagan University College in Canada.
A two-member team from Kanagan is in the country to discuss the programme, to be known as rural nurse practitioner training programme, which has the ultimate objective of integrating all the various grades of nursing training.
Speaking to the GNA in Tamale, the team members, Joan Bassett-Smith, professor of nursing and Jennifer Tucker, for International Education, said a CIDA funding has been obtained for the programme.
The Dean of the Medical School, Prof. David Nii Amon-Kotei, welcomed the programme, saying it fits into the various categories of middle level health personnel.
Prof. Basseth-Smith said a curriculum based on the views of all stakeholders is to be developed, as well as an oversight committee, comprising the University Authorities, Ministry of Health, Nurses council, the training schools and the communities, among others.
This is envisaged to ensure a course content that would. truly reflect local needs.
Professor Basseth-Smith said the views of women are vital in this development process since it is they who manage the home and the family including their health needs.
Another concern which the curriculum is to address is the generally acknowledged passive attitude of the nurse in their relationship with other health personnel, especially doctors.
She said it is important that this relationship is based on equal partnership, there is therefore the need to include what she called ''political action'', as a subject to imbue the nurse with an outlook of self-confidence that reflects this partnership.
Mrs. Tucker said technical assistance to meet various needs of the programme would be provided, some of these including computers and a link to the internet will be treated as priority.
Professor Amon-Kotei said it is expected that the product of the new programme would be a grade higher than the medical assistant and capable of handling health problems with minimum supervision.
He explained that the aim of the medical school is to train middle level personnel in various health professions to bridge the existing wide gaps in the medical system.
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Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 --
The Police panthers unit last Thursday arrested George Kleh, 41, leader of a bag-snatching syndicate operating within the Accra and Tema metropolis, who has been declared wanted for a over month now.
Also busted is Habib Musa Adams, 30, an accomplice while Enoch Koku alias 'Melo' also member of the gang is on the run.
A police statement issued on Friday said George Kleh was sentenced in absentia to a five year prison term by an Accra Circuit Tribunal in November last year for robbery.
Various courts in Accra have issued warrants for his arrest.
Kleh has since his arrest confessed to the police about his involvement in numerous bag snatching cases.
He told the police that in April this year, he picked an amount of 48 million cedis, and 850 dollars from a white Opel Cadet car at the Legon petrol filling station.
The statement said in the same month Kleh picked 15 million cedis and 75,000 dollars from a man at Tema, and six million cedis from another car near the Kumasi sports stadium when the owner was having a drink at a bar.
Kleh also picked 30 million cedis in February this year from the premises of Linex Bau, a Road construction company in Kumasi,
The Police Public Directorate has invited members of the public who have fallen victims to the criminal activities of George kley, to contact the Directorate at the police headquarters, Accra.
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World Bank official praises Ghana
Atimpoku (Eastern Region), 24th May '99 -
Mr Bar Ngo, a principal economist at the macroeconomic unit of the African Department of the World Bank, has praised Ghana for her sound political and socio-economic structures.
He said these structures had enabled Ghana to reassert her position as the gateway to Africa's development growth and emancipation.
The World Bank economist made this observation when he accompanied a seven member joint Guinea-Burkina Faso delegation recently to the Asuogyaman district at Atimpoku to study the country's decentralisation programme.
Ghana's decentralisation programme has not only ensured the active participation of the populace in the decision-making process. It has also"stood the test of time" to the admiration of the rest of the world, Mr Ngo said.
The delegation, made up of top policy makers in the two countries gathered first hand information on revenue generation at the local level, budget formation, development planning and accounting, and fund release procedures.
Mr Ngo stated that the development of Ghana is crucial to the rest of the sub-continent, and must share experiences with neighbours.
In a welcoming address, Mr Emmanuel Dwamena-Bekoe, Asuogyaman District Chief Executive (DCE), noted that the present political dispensation had not only ensured rapid development for the majority of the populace but had also helped stabilise the economic growth of the country.
Mr Dwamena-Bekoe noted that the decentralisation policy has helped to set up economic activities at all levels.
Mr El Madj Sow, a senior adviser to the Guinean Minister of Planning, expressed appreciation to the Asuogyaman district assembly for the interaction.
He hoped that the experiences they had gathered would help in streamlining their local government structures to meet global demands.
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Ex-police officer in trouble for making a dash for President Rawlings
Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 -
A man, who tried to get to President Jerry John Rawlings during the prayer to mark the close of the Fifth African-African American Summit on Friday was whisked away by security men before he could achieve his objective.
The man, identified as Ignatius Kpaao, a retired Police Superintendent, entered the main hall and walked toward the dais apparently to make a complaint to him.
He told GNA that he retired in 1995 but had not been paid all his entitlements.
Kpaao said "I have tried several times to get my message to the President through the Inspector General of Police and some highly placed people in the Castle, but they have all proved futile".
Looking very emotional, Kpaao said he had the right to talk to the President. "I have the right to talk to my President. Why should you stop me?
am a human being and I demand that you treat me with respect," he protested to Policemen, who took him away.
He said he did not intend to harm the President, but was just trying to get his attention after all efforts to get to him through the appropriate quarters had proved futile.
"I have to feed my family and myself. How can I do this"? He questioned.
Kpaao, who was well dressed and carrying a brief case was led to the charge office at the Accra International Conference Centre for further questioning.
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Summit on future direction of Africa ends
Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99-
The Fifth African-African American Summit aimed at preparing Africa for the new millennium ended in Accra last Friday with a renewed dedication and commitment from delegates to lift Africa from poverty to becoming a partner in the global market.
The Summit, which opened last Monday, May 13, was under the broad theme of "Business, Trade and Investment - Africa Can Compete".
It brought together an unprecedented 19 Presidents and Heads of Government, 25 City Mayors from the United States, over 300 foreign companies and the largest number of African Americans ever "to return to Africa after slavery".
For the first time in the history of the Summit, which started in 1991 with Abidjan, some definite consensus on a "New Africa Vision", were reached.
Among them was the launch of the People's Investment Fund for Africa (PIFA), institution of the Global Sullivan Principles, Signing of an Agreement between Ghana and the State of Georgia in the US to help boost tourism in Ghana.
Memoranda of understanding were signed between some African Companies and their foreign counterparts.
Miss Rosa Whitaker, Assistant Trade Representative for Africa at the White House, said the continent needs about 100 billion dollars to sustain a growth rate of between six to seven per cent in a year.
"This cannot come in aid and grants but through investments and opportunity to be active partners in the world trade," Miss Whitaker said.
But, the most significant success was the shared commitment by the American Mayors, the Black Caucus in the US Congress and the Official African American representatives in the White House to push for the passing of the "African Growth and Opportunity Act."
"Even though that may not be all that we want for Africa, it will be a strong beginning for bringing Africa in the global market", Miss Whitaker, said.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, US President's special envoy for the promotion of democracy and human rights in Africa, said that Africa "can go forward with hope", when the bill is passed.
The Growth and Opportunity Act, at least, would give Africa access to the American market and improve trade relations with the rest of the world.
Apart from the consensus on the Act, American businesses were told to adopt a more proactive and positive outlook to the numerous business opportunities in Africa.
"We need to free ourselves from the 'ugly American syndrome' of seeing Africa as a continent with no future", the Reverend Leon Sullivan, the Convenor of the Summit said at a press conference to close the it.
Rev. Sullivan said he appreciated President Clinton's visit to Africa, which was "historic and important" and the efforts he is making to give Africa a focus on the global play-ground.
However, he said, there is more America could do to help Africa.
"The big thing, which we expect America to do is debt relief for Africa", Rev. Sullivan said.
The issue of relief was also played up at one of the Summit's workshops on - Business and trade and investment - where concerns were expressed about the huge debt overhung of the Continent.
About a third of the annual income of Africa, is spent on servicing debts owed to rich Western Nations and multilateral institutions.
Some of the workshops also dealt with health, agriculture and food security, good governance, education and the environment.
From a distance, the Summit was a big step towards Africa's reawakening vision for the 21st Century.
"This summit, by far is the most successful of all", the 67-year old Rev.
Sullivan, who looked exhausted from preaching the "New Africa" dream, said.
The success was partly measured by the quick response of the delegates to PIFA, which realised 250,000 dollars at six per cent interest per annum.
Rev. Sullivan said PIFA would be used to support small businesses and also create about 5,000 new businesses in Africa in the next five years.
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Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 -
The 70 million-dollar Kotoka International Airport expansion project is progressing steadily with some 24 months left for it to be commissioned.
Captain Joe Boachie, Deputy Director General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said at an "Open Day ", organised on Friday, as part of activities marking World Telecommunication Day that when the expansion work is completed the airport would be able to handle double the present 500,000 passengers that use it.
The project involves the updating of equipment, extension of the runway and roads and provision of other utility services, shopping and a services centre.
Capt. Boachie said the possibility of constructing another international airport would largely depend on the success of the project, since the present air traffic is not big enough to warrant a second one.
"We think that it will be necessary to have a second international airport only when facilities and space cannot cope with traffic.
"The idea of a second airport is not a matter of mere national pride, it should be built to take spill-over."
Capt. Boachie said the Tamale, Kumasi and the Sunyani Airports are being expanded gradually to handle internal traffic growth.
Commander P. M. G. Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Communications, praised GCAA for its high safety standards, which, he said, makes Kotoka International Airport one of the safest in the world.
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