All is set for the Lambussie bye-election
Ohene-Kena says there is no politics in AGC strike
Armed robbers attacked petrol filling station
Get Ready for Trade, Investment Opportunities - Ocran
Chairman of Brong Ahafo Lands Commission named
Women's resource centre helps women porters
Modify clearance procedures to facilitate gateway project - Salia
La Palm Royal Beach Hotel opens in August
Regional Council compiles data on Northern Region
Britain donates books to Ghana
GJA Awards Committee Inaugurated
Poor BECE results in Manya Krobo district
African American to undertake projects at Tanoso
Asantehene orders Tredehene to withdraw court case
All is set for the Lambussie bye-election
Wa (Upper West) 26 May '99
All is set for Wednesday's bye-election in the Lambussie constituency in the Upper West region.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) are contesting the seat, which became vacant after the death of Mr Luke Koo of the NDC.
The contestants are Mrs. Alice Teni Boon, a 37-year-old teacher, NDC, Mr Thomas Frankline Bie Ketting, a 47-year-old Marketing Manager, PNC and Mr Anthony Baloroo, a farm manager, for NPP Mr J.A. Kuffour, NPP Flag bearer, is in the region with a high-powered NPP team to monitor the election.
Members of his delegation include Mr J.H. Mensah, MP for Sunyani East and minority leader in Parliament, Nana Akufo Addo, MP for Abuakwa Central, Mr Samuel Odoi Sykes, Chairman of the NPP, Mr Dan Botchway, General Secretary of the party and Major Courage Quarshigah, National Organiser of the party.
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Chairman of the Electral Commission, is also in the region to supervise tomorrow's election.
Mr Adam M. Iddrisu, Acting Regional Director of Electoral Commission, told the GNA that election materials for all the 61 polling stations have been dispatched to the constituency.
Meanwhile, NDC has rounded off its electioneering campaign in the constituency, reiterating its commitment to national development.
Vice President John Evans Atta Mills and a host of NDC top men, who addressed a rally at Hamile, a border town in the constituency, on the eve of the bye-elections, urged the people to vote the party's candidate Mrs. Boon as the new MP for Lambussie, in order to sustain development in the area.
The Vice-President asked the people to repose their confidence in the NDC, saying, "you should send a message to the whole country that your constituency is for the NDC, a party whose interest is peace and national development".
Prof. Mills said Mrs. Boon has shown commitment and dedication to the welfare of the community and has vigorously worked towards the upliftment of women and the party.
Until her nomination, Mrs. Boon was the Regional Deputy Women's Organiser and women's leader of the party in the constituency.
"In terms of replacement for our departed MP, Alice already has the key to that position. She is the obvious choice", Prof. Mills declared.
He urged the people to regard whatever the party's opponents say about the candidate, the government and the leadership, as lies which have been concocted to discredit the NDC government's development efforts.
"Our opponent are not truthful enough to tell you about the progress we have made over the years", Prof. Mills said, citing the provision of social amenities and infrastructure in the area.
Prof. Mills also recalled the just-ended Fifth African-African American Summit (AAAS) held in Accra, saying it was part of the government's effort to bring economic development to Ghana.
He thanked the chiefs and people for their support to the party and expressed the hope that this co-operation would continue.
The NDC co-chairman, Alhaji Issifu Ali, said the party is the only one that has the people at heart and would deliver if given the chance.
Mr David Osei-Wusu, the Regional Minister, urged the people not to be deceived by gifts, including food items, which he alleged were being dished out by the opposition for votes.
He expressed the belief that the constituency belongs to the NDC, saying "it is our own family affairs and we don't want strangers to come and meddle in our family matters".
Mr Osei-Wusu, therefore, asked the electorate to turn up in their numbers and vote massively for Mrs. Boon.
Mrs. Comfort Owusu, the Deputy Majority Whip, dismissed the idea that women should not be allowed to assume leadership roles, citing the participation of women MPs in the country's democratic dispensation.
She asked them to unite and vote for development and not for personalities.
Mrs. Owusu said the NDC might not give them money today but would create an enabling environment for them to work and sustain their living.
Mrs. Boon said she was confident of winning the election massively.
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Ohene-Kena says there is no politics in AGC strike
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 May '99
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Mr Fred Ohene-Kena has described as ridiculous and absurd statements in certain sections of the press seeking to read politics into the industrial unrest at the Obuasi mines of Ashanti Goldfields Company.
A statement issued in Accra said the Minister condemned attempts by certain persons "to inject totally extraneous matters into the unfortunate Obuasi strike action."
The statement quoted the minister as saying since word got to government that there were agitations at Obuasi following the signing of the collective bargaining agreement between management and the workers' union, government had been involved both in preventing breaches of the peace and helping to negotiate a resolution of the impasse.
Mr Ohene-Kena explained that from the start of the unrest, the District and Regional secretariats had been involved in monitoring the situation and ensuring the maintenance of law and order.
"At the request of AGC management police reinforcements were immediately deployed to protect vital installations.
"The only request that government did not grant was for the deployment of military personnel because this was not considered advisable."
The statement said the minister led a delegation of heads of security agencies in Ashanti to meet with union and section representatives at which it was agreed that the workers should return to work while their grievances are addressed by their management.
This was followed by a meeting last Friday between the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and representatives of the workers from both their local and national unions.
"In the light of the foregoing, it is mischievous for a section of the private media to attempt to introduce politics into what is purely a labour issue."
The statement quoted the minister as saying since the beginning of this year, there have been several strikes involving doctors, polytechnic staff, Teachers and Educational Workers Union and other organised labour groups "which the same private media have viewed as normal industrial unrest."
He said he wondered why government should now be accused by the same media of manipulating AGC workers to strike when the loss of revenue resulting from the unrest rather affects government's ability to meet its economic target.
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Armed robbers attacked petrol filling station
Suhum (Eastern Region) 26 May '99
Armed robbers on Tuesday attacked the manager of the Nsutam Unipetrol filling station, near Kibi and two of his watchmen and made away with two million cedis and two single-barrelled guns.
Mr Musah Banda, the manager and his two watchmen, Mr Offei Atta and Mr Issa Dagomba, are in critical conditions and are on admission at the Kibi Government Hospital.
Sources close to the Suhum Police told the Ghana News Agency that three armed men broke into the office where Mr Banda was sleeping at midnight and demanded that he should surrender every money in the office to them.
When Mr Banda told them that sales made for the day had been deposited at the bank, one of the robbers fired at him two times but the bullets missed their target.
This was followed by a fierce scuffle between Mr Banda and the robbers who inflicted several cutlass wounds on him.
The robbers then bolted with the money they took from a drawer and left Mr Banda in a pool of blood. Mr Banda however managed to stab two of them and raised the alarm, which resulted in the arrest of one of the robbers.
The remaining two robbers drove away in a waiting car while the watchmen were later found in the thicket tied to trees.
The police sources identified the arrested robber as Abrefa Luke from Nsutam.
Meanwhile, the police have appealed to the public, especially herbalists and health workers to report any person seeking their assistance to treat stab wounds.
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Get Ready for Trade, Investment Opportunities - Ocran
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 May '99
African nations have been asked to take concrete steps that would make them ready for the benefits to be derived from new initiatives by the United States for increased trade and investment opportunities.
Professor Modibo C. Ocran, a Foreign Investment Lawyer at the University of Akron, Ohio, USA, said unless Africa prepares itself at the national, international levels and within existing regional economic and social groupings, it would forever be relegated to the background.
He made these points at the opening of a three-day seminar on "Securities Transaction and Foreign Investment - Trends in International Regulations"
organised by the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) as part of its programme of equipping investment practitioners and players on the securities market.
It is being attended by about 20 participants from the Securities Regulatory Commission, Bank of Ghana, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, commercial banks, financial analysts and stock brokers whose operations cover international business.
Topics being treated include linkages between trade and investment regulation, gaining access to the US securities market as a foreign issuer and securities regulation.
Prof. Ocran said: "Africa must get prepared within the existing economic groupings such as ECOWAS, UEMOA and others, in order not to be left at the periphery as has always been the case".
He expressed regret that for so long, some people have been satisfied with being at the periphery of global activity, and said, "it is time Africa takes the centre stage and proves her worth".
Prof. Ocran said Africa needs to develop its machinery and institutions to the stage in Europe just before their integration if it should be taken seriously in global economics.
He said for so many years Africa has entered negotiations and come out the loser because she lacks the appropriate manpower with the skill to make her case.
"The only way out is to make her human resource base skillful as well as maintain a sustainable ground for continuous training".
Looking back at the just-ended Fifth Africa-African American Summit in Accra, Prof. Ocran said:
"It was not much the racial levelling of things, but essentially Africa and Africans making maximum use of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act which seeks a free trade area for Africa, though not on the scale of the North America Free Trade Area.
"It envisages, a series of negotiations which requires a certain amount of skill," he said.
Mr Yeboa Amoa, Managing Director of GSE, emphasised "the place of knowledge and information" in ensuring successful breakthroughs into international markets.
"It is in this direction that the Exchange has come up with this seminar which is to equip the practitioners in the field on what they should know and how to apply it".
Mr Amoa said with the African-African American Summit over, there will be need for the building of more bridges, especially those who made business contacts and will need to follow up.
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Sogakope (Volta Region) 26 May '99
Labour laws in the country are to be codified into a single, handy and more coherent document by the end of this year.
This is to safeguard Ghana's global competitiveness in the next millennium. This was made known at the opening of a four-day labour forum aimed at reforming labour laws in the country.
The forum was jointly organised and sponsored by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and American-based Sigma One Corporation.
It is being attended by about 100 participants from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Universities, Civil Service, Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Ghana Employers' Association (GEA), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and other workers' organisations.
The participants would discuss a draft labour bill and come out with a single codified document that provides a broad framework for the drafting of a new labour legislation that promotes flexibility in the country's labour market.
The Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills told participants that the improvement of human and social conditions in the country requires nothing less than a reorientation of the whole basis of its development.
"Such reorientation must build upon and strengthen our existing capacities while reviewing and transforming old laws in order to keep abreast with development.
"The main aim must be to make our environment sufficiently attractive to both domestic and foreign investors to ensure our global competitiveness", he said.
Prof. Mills, therefore, urged the participants to make dispassionate recommendations with the view to coming out with a document that would serve both national and sectoral interests.
"To achieve this, you need to keep in mind our broader national goals and aspirations as well as our country's specific needs and circumstances", he said.
Panellists at the forum noted that labour laws in the country are fragmented, obsolete, rigid and "investor-unfriendly".
They said the supporting institutional arrangements are inefficient and sometimes hostile.
They observed that for the past 50 years, labour laws in the country have not been amended despite the several challenges they have faced in terms of industrial unrest and its resultant threat to investors.
Mr Ishmeal Yamson, President of the GEA, noted that due to the ancient nature of the labour laws, Ghanaian enterprises have not been competitive over the past five decades.
"There must, therefore, be significant amendments in these laws to reflect international market competitiveness, if Ghana was to survive in the next millennium".
Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said, "Ghana can no longer wait but must review its laws to fit into the current national development programme as well as the international framework of development".
The Ministry is determined to complete the law by the close of the year, adding that when completed, it would provide standard procedures to ensure fairness and inspire confidence and trust between organised labour and its employers.
The new law is also expected to provide processes for transparent, realistic and speedy resolution of industrial unrest and ensure better working conditions and higher sense of responsibility among employees.
The Minister said the new law would take cognisance of the Constitution and international labour laws to safeguard the interest of all stakeholders.
Mr Christian Appiah Agyei, Secretary-General of the TUC, said the new law must seek to correct the erroneous notion that cheap labour attracts investors.
He added that research has proved that cheap labour kills a nation's global competitiveness.
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Chairman of Brong Ahafo Lands Commission named
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 May '99
Mr Charles Boampong from Busunya in the Nkoranza District has been appointed Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Regional Lands Commission.
A statement issued by Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications in Accra on Tuesday said Mr Boampong, 62, is the West Africa Regional Manager of the City and Guilds International Office in Accra.
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Women's resource centre helps women porters
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 May '99
Women's Resource Centre (WRC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Kumasi, has started vocational training programmes for women porters, popularly called "paa-o-paa", in the Metropolis.
As a first step, the centre is training 10 "leaders" in soap making, who would teach their colleagues in various parts of the Metropolis the vocation.
Mr Philip Boodeme, Ashanti Regional Organiser, of the Centre, said dress- making and hair dressing would also be taught.
The Centre has also included sex education, particularly sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS and family planning.
Mr Boodeme, who was speaking to the Press in Kumasi said the idea of forming the WRC, was mooted by Womenkind International, a British NGO, which was moved by the plight of some women they saw carrying loads while they were returning from the northern region.
He said Womenkind International interacted with some of the women, who said if they had some kind of vocation, they would return to their towns and villages
Based upon this, another NGO, Action for the Development of the Disabled based in Tamale was tasked to undertake the preparatory work for the women to be given some form of vocational training.
Consequently, the WRC was set up to mobilise the porters for training.
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Modify clearance procedures to facilitate gateway project - Salia
Takoradi (Greater Accra) 26 May '99
Mr Edward Salia, Minister for Roads and Transport, on Tuesday said Ghana could become a gateway to West African Shipping, if clearance procedures for ships and cargo are modified and made simple.
Increasing cost to shippers and delays due to cumbersome clearance procedures in the ports reduce the competitive edge of Ghanaian ports over neighbouring ports and render them unattractive to shipping lines.
This was contained in an address read on his behalf at the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Ghana Shippers Council (GSC) under the theme 'Facing the Challenges of Shipping in the Next Millennium-Facilitating International Trade and Transport", at Takoradi.
Mr Salia said to help check this situation, the International Maritime Traffic Facility Convention in Ghana would be implemented immediately.
He added that the use of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) forms for the clearance of ships and cargo would not pose any risks to the Customs
Exercise Preventive Service (CEPS) but rather integrate the activities of CEPS into a global framework of shipping.
Mr Salia said these measures are important if Ghana was to become the maritime and industrial centre of the sub-region.
He called on providers of transport services to deliver their services in an efficient and safe manner in order to maximise the benefits from the country's transport facilities.
He also disclosed that adequate provision has been made in the Merchant Shipping Act to promote and encourage private ownership and operations of ships for the growing sea-borne trade.
"Relevant legislation is also in place for the establishment of a Maritime Authority to formulate responsive maritime policies, regulate, monitor, co-ordinate and harmonise activities of various sub-sectors for the provision of safe and efficient maritime transport services in the country".
Mr Salia called on the Ghana Shippers Council to pursue relevant reforms to keep the Council in focus in the light of international shipping trends.
Mr Kofi Mbiah, Acting Chief Executive of the GSC, mentioned the refusal of shipping lines and agencies to honour legitimate claims of shippers and the disregard for existing regulations, thereby creating more problems in the clearance of goods from the ports, as some of the constraints facing the GSC.
Mr Dominic Azumah, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, urged the council to reappraise its work and adopt new measures and strategies that would strengthen the Council to properly serve Ghanaian shippers and the entire shipping community in the sub-region.
The Ivorian Ambassador in Ghana, Mr. Amon Tanoe Emmanuel and Mr Konan-Kofi Leon, Special Adviser to the Ivorian Government attended the function.
Representatives of Trident Shipping Limited of Cote d'Ivoire, and Niger and Burkina Faso Shipping Councils were also present.
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La Palm Royal Beach Hotel opens in August
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 May '99
The ultra-modern La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel will begin operation in August, this year, Mr Sansone Banin, Managing Director, told journalists on Tuesday.
"The first phase of the hotel, comprising the two-bedroom wings made up of 21 world class guest bedrooms, two honeymoon suites, 15 chalets, totalling 120 guest-bedrooms and 15 presidential suites, a Polynesian restaurant seating 120 guests, an African seafood restaurant and various shops, is scheduled for completion in August."
Mr Banin who led the journalists on a tour of its facilities said the beach resort hosted nine presidents and a King and several guests who attended the just-ended African-African American summit.
He said the entire project, will cost "some seventy million dollars" on completion to become the largest five-star hotel in the country.
"At the turn of the millennium, the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel will be offering Ghana 350 guest rooms, Atlantic Shopping Mall, a fully air conditioned shopping centre, comprising 50 retail outlets, including boutiques, a beauty saloon, international casino night club, a health centre and other activities."
Mr Banin said the management holds a hospitality philosophy that will help open the country's doors to international tourists and businessmen.
"Apart from being interested in quality services, we think the beauty of Ghana and her friendly people will guide us give our guests services they will always remember."
He said 95 per cent of the staff are Ghanaians and that the management will never discriminate against any staff on the basis of colour, race or creed.
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Regional Council compiles data on Northern Region
Tamale (Northern Region) 26 May '99
The Northern Regional co-ordinating Council (RCC) is compiling data on the socio-economic potentials of the region to facilitate the implementation of the vision 2020 development programme.
The regional minister, Mr Joshua Alabi said the data, which will serve, as a reliable source of information to investors would focus on the region's vast agricultural potential, which remains largely untapped.
During a meeting in Tamale with Mr Mike Nithavrianakis, First Secretary of the British High Commission in Ghana, Mr Alabi noted that livestock production has not received the needed push and expressed the hope that investors would be attracted to the sector.
The Regional Minister said lack of information and misinformation accounted for past conflicts in the region and commended the Savannah FM radio station, the Northern Region Youth and Development Association and some NGOs for their role in reversing the situation.
He appealed for British assistance to expand the coverage of the radio station.
Mr Nithavrianakis, who stopped over in Tamale on his way to Upper West region, commended the RCC for its efforts in ensuring lasting peace and harmony in the region.
He thanked the RCC for the warm reception accorded British Princess Ann during her visit to the region last year and informed the regional minister of the impending visit by Queen Elizabeth to Ghana later this year.
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Britain donates books to Ghana
Tema (Northern Region) 26 May '99
The British Department for International Development (DFID), on Tuesday donated 4.5 million English supplementary readers worth 24 billion cedis to the Ministry of Education at Tema.
The books are a collection of Foreign and African writers.
Dr. J. Swift of DFID said that knowledge cannot be transferred without books while books cannot be used effectively without teachers.
He called for collaboration between players in the book industry and teachers to enable the latter write books for the next generation.
Dr. Stephen Ayidiya, co-ordinator for development partners of the ministry said the donation would help improve the standard of teaching and learning in schools.
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GJA Awards Committee Inaugurated
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 May '99
A 10-member committee to examine and consider entries for the forthcoming Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards slated for August this year was inaugurated in Accra on Tuesday.
Members of the GJA Awards Committee are Mr Edward Ameyibor, former President of the GJA and News Editor of GNA, Mr Razak El-Alawa, Editor Ghanaian Democrat, Dr Yao Graham, Editor, Public Agenda, Mr Ebo Quansah, Editor, Ghanaian Chronicle and Mr Kwaku Sakyi Addo, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Correspondent.
The rest are Mrs. Bridget Abadzi of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Kwaku Koranteng Daako, of Daily Graphic, Ms Adwoa Asiedu, News Editor, Ghanaian Times, Mrs. Josephine Carboo of the Information Services Department and Mr Akwasi Donkor, formerly of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio.
The committee, which is expected to elect its chairman, will submit it final report to the National Executive of the GJA by July 30, 1999.
It will consider entries taking into cognisance the relevance of the subject, creativity and innovation, effectiveness of style and language, quality of reporting/features/photography, presentation and possible impact.
Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of GJA who performed the inaugural ceremony, reiterated that the GJA is committed to the promotion of high journalistic standards.
She said the current scheme based on submission of entries for the GJA awards remains the only viable option.
Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie said suggestions of some media practitioners that the National Executive of GJA monitor the performance of members of the association is not feasible.
She said it is impossible to monitor the whole print and electronic media describing it as a Herculean task.
Mr Ameyibor in a statement on behalf of members of the committee gave the assurance that they would work hard to meet the expectation of members of the GJA and general public.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 26 May '99
National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists in the Koforidua and New Juabeng North constituencies have commended the government for successfully hosting the just-ended African-African American Summit, describing it as "a feat that is going to boost the image of Ghana once again in international circles."
The commendation was contained in a six-point resolution passed at the end of a day's seminar of the regional secretariat of the party organised for the activists from the two constituencies at Koforidua at the weekend.
The resolution reaffirmed the support of the activists to the NDC government for the "able manner it has been handling the investment policy which is transforming the country and raising the standard of living of the average Ghanaian."
It also praised the government for "the competent and efficient manner it had so far handled the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and the 'Health for all by the year 2000' programmes".
The New Juaben North Constituency chairman of the NDC, Barima Yaw Safo-Kantanka, read the resolution and called on beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation interventions, including the Youth in Agriculture and the Village Infrastructure Programmes to "faithfully honour the terms of the policies".
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Poor BECE results in Manya Krobo district
Asesewa (Eastern Region) 26 May '99
Out of 1,800 students who sat for the 1998 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Manya Krobo district, only seven candidates had aggregate six.
About 200,000 candidates had between aggregates eight and ten while aggregates obtained by the rest of the candidates made it difficult for them to enter senior secondary schools.
The district director of education, Mr Martin Awuye who disclosed this said the situation made it difficult for headmasters of senior secondary schools in the district to select the required number of students to fill vacancies in their schools.
He was speaking at the exhibition and award ceremony organised by the PLAN International, a non-governmental organisation, working in the Upper Manya area of the district, for primary school pupils selected from 15 schools who participated in an essay competition.
The competition based on the organisation's "child-to-child" concept, aimed at testing the minds of the pupils on their understanding of basic health issues in their daily lives.
Mr Awuye said, last year, only five candidates had aggregate six out of the 1000 students who were presented for the examination.
He commended PLAN International for the good work being done to improve the intellect of the pupils and said the essay, the art and craft work had sharpened the minds of the pupils and would help raise their academic performance.
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Suhum (Eastern Region) 26 May '99
A 36-year old rice seller has been installed Queenmother of Suhum in the Eastern region under the stool name Yaa Sakyibea the first.
Known in private life as Amma Sakyi Otubea from Aseseaso, she is the first to be installed as Queenmotheer of the town.
She swore the oath of allegiance to the chief of Suhum, Nana Ayer Kofo, and the second, who was represented, at the ceremony by the regent, Opanyin Kwame Opare.
Addressing the people, the Queemother pledged to work with the chiefs and other opinion leaders to ensure development of the area.
She said Suhum is one of the oldest commercial hubs in the region but is loosing its status because of lack of development and asked citizens of the town to team-up to find solution to the problem.
She expressed concern about expensive funerals in the town, and appealed to the Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar district assembly to help improve the standard of living of the people.
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African American to undertake projects at Tanoso
Tanoso (Brong Ahafo) 26 May '99
An elder of Tanoso in the Brong Ahafo Region has released a 23-acre land to an African American to undertake some projects.
Opanin Kwadwo Addai gave the land to Bishop William L. Lockhart's church, the Temple of Faith Ministry, for development following his homecoming to Tanoso, his ancestral home.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Tanoso yesterday, Evangelist Kofi Addai-Boateng, President of the Temple of Faith Ministry International, said an orphanage and a centre for needy children will be set up at an estimated cost of 200 million cedis.
He said the centre would be provided with modern recreational facilities and funding would be provided by the Temple of Ministry International.
Bishop Lockhart, has been installed Nkosuohene of Tanoso.
In addition, Evangelist Addai-Boateng said a centre will be built to train women in batik, tie and dye and dressmaking.
The junior sister of Bishop Lockhart, Sister Mary Handerson, would supply sewing machines and computers for the centre at a cost of three million US Dollars.
Nana Owusu Korkor, Akwamuhene of Tanoso, praised Bishop Lockhart and his family for their efforts to bring development to Tanoso.
He pledged to make the homecoming of Bishop Lockhart and his mother and two sisters an enjoyable one by providing some of their needs including land for them to realise their objectives.
Bishop William C. Lockhart, his mother and two sisters recently arrived at Tanoso, their ancestral home and were given enthusiastic reception.
He was installed Nkosuohene, while his mother, Bertha M. Brown, was made Nkosuohemaa.
Bishop Lockhart pledged to develop Tanoso into a modern township with the help of other African-Americans.
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Asantehene orders Tredehene to withdraw court case
Kumasi (Asahnti Region) 26 May '99
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has given Nana Nuben Asare II, Tredehene, up to Monday, May 31, to withdraw an appeal he has filed at the Court of Appeal against the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) or have his recognition withdrawn.
The Asantehene gave the order at the sitting of the KTC in Kumasi, when Nana Asare appeared before it.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu asked the Tredehene together with his counsel to bring to him the documents after withdrawing the case from the court.
When he was asked to explain why he sent the KTC to court, Nana Asare said about five years ago, one Komfo Serwaah of Trede, accused him and 18 others of stealing gold ornaments from her shrine.
He said when he appeared before the KTC, Oheneba Adusei Poku, the Akyempimhene, who was then the Acting President, did not give him a hearing.
Nana Asare said he then realised that he might not get a fair deal and so he asked his lawyer to write to the Council to protest against the treatment meted out to him but he did not receive any reply and so he sent the case to court.
At the meeting, Nana Adunya Safia, Asantehene's chief linguist, was found guilty of gross disrespect to the KTC and was fined 4,000 cedis and asked to slaughter four sheep.
The Council said the Akyeamehene flouted an order not to install an Abusuapanin for Bokankye until he had performed the pacification rites in respect of the swearing of the Great Oath of Asante against him.
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