Extend mobile communications to rural area – Adotey
Depleting fish stock attributed to industrial fishing
Rename Akwapim Constituency – CPP
Introduction of
human rights studies in curriculum advocated
Mills inaugurates committee on integration
Police exposes informant to suspects
Mankranso (Ashanti Region) 18 May 2000
An informant whose information led to the arrest of some illegal chain saw operators in the Mankranso area of Ashanti has appealed to the Inspector General of Police for protection, following threats by the suspects.
The informant, who made the appeal through the Ghana News Agency in tears, alleged that the Police investigator told the suspects that he tipped them off.
He said he had reported the conduct of the policeman to Mr Anthony Kusi, District Chief Executive for Ahafo Ano South who confirmed the story. Meanwhile the Forestry Department and the District Assembly Task Force has arrested some illegal chain saw operators in the district.
During one of the operations, Mr James Manu, an assemblyman for Mpaasaso was assaulted by some of the operators, who are said to be on the run.
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Accra (Greater Accra Region) 18 May 2000
Mrs Rebecca Adotey, Deputy Minister of Communications, on Wednesday urged stakeholders in the telecommunications industry to extend mobile communications to rural areas to effectively harness the great power of new technologies to promote development.
"As part of Ghana's telecommunications reform, it is imperative to extend mobile communications and, in particular, cellular mobile services to the rural communities to enable them to have access to telephone facilities for socio-economic prosperity."
At a press conference to mark this year's World Telecommunication Day, Mrs Adotey said if Ghana wants to be part of the global economy, her telecommunication sector must be propelled by the technologies of the rest of the world.
The day set aside by the International Communications Union (ITU) under the United Nations is being celebrated under the theme "Mobile Communications."
Governments and telecom industries worldwide are requested to debate policy and regulatory issues to improve access to wireless-telecommunications in rural areas. It is being organised by the National Communications Authority (NCA) with supervision from the Ministry of Communications (MOC).
To derive maximum benefit from the theme, the ITU and MOC in collaboration with other stakeholders and telecom operators have drawn up a weeklong programme, which will involve panel discussions and adverts.
The Deputy Minister said some parts of the country have lagged behind in the supply of fixed lines. However, the telecom reform policy has made it possible for Ghana Telecom and Westel to operate cellular mobile services in addition to the fixed lines.
Mrs Adotey said the availability of mobile communications in rural communities would enhance the general communications network adding, "District Assemblies can engage in direct business ventures with prospective investors locally and abroad."
Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, said in a speech read by Ms. Margaret Novicki, Director of UN Information Centre, that while the powerful force of globalisation has brought prosperity to many, millions of people have been left behind.
He said telecommunications play a key role in the international community's efforts to create new opportunities, inspire global dialogue and integrate people and countries into the global economy.
Mr Annan said wireless communications, which is cheaper to install and easier to maintain than traditional fixed-line networks, would offer developing countries new opportunities for enhanced access to basic telecommunications services.
He called for the expansion and consolidation of partnership with the private sector to help build the infrastructure and develop the human resource for poorer countries.
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Mills signs book of condolence for Obuchi
Accra (Greater Accra Region) 18 May 2000
Vice President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday signed a book of condolence in memory of former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, describing him as "an excellent statesman and a good friend". Obuchi, 62, died last Sunday of complications from stroke after about 20 months in office.
Vice President Mills wrote: "Ghana and Japan have lost a good friend and an excellent statesman. The people of Ghana share the loss of the people of Japan. We genuinely mourn with our brothers and sisters in Japan. May the Soul of our friend, brother and a colleague rest in perfect peace."
Japanese Embassy sources described the former Prime Minister as "a party machine politician, who proved to be a surprisingly effective leader." He would be best remembered for getting Japan's stagnant economy back on its feet after its worst recession in over 50 years.
"Obuchi was a man of awkward charm, who was initially dismissed by political observers as a party hack, who had all the flair of cold pizza, utterly lacking charisma and without a bold idea in his head, but he proved all wrong before dusk."
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, United States President Bill Clinton and President Jerry Rawlings were among the first world leaders to have paid tribute to Prime Minister Obuchi.
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Aburi (Eastern Region) 18 May 2000
Participants at a workshop in
Aburi, on Tuesday attributed the depletion of the fish stock in the Gulf of Guinea
to industrial fishing.
They also identified weaknesses in
policy regulation and enforcement and the non-involvement of local fisher folks
in the management of resources and the multiplicity of statutory bodies on
fishing as other contributory factors to the problem.
They were speaking at a West
African Regional Workshop on Sustainable Fisheries, organised by Friends of the
Earth (FOE) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) concerned with the
conservation, restoration and rational use of the environment.
FOE's fisheries programme aims to
promote the involvement of local fisher folks in resource management
particularly at policy level and to develop information sharing as well as
promoting networking among stakeholders.
The workshop, which brought
together representatives from Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Ghana, was aimed at
creating a forum to brainstorm for a joint regional effort towards the
management of resources and to adopt a regional strategy document towards
resource protection.
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Rename Akwapim Constituency – CPP
Accra (Greater Accra Region) 18 May 2000
Mr Kwame Asa-Ofori, Akropong Constituency vice chairman of the Convention People's Party on Wednesday called on the Electoral Commission to change the name of the Constituency to Akuapem Central to give it the right geographical perspective it deserves.
A statement issued in Accra said people find it difficult identifying the constituency because "there are many Akropongs in Ghana, stretching from Akuapem, through Gomoa, Wassa, Ashanti to the upper part of the Volta region."
It said the present Akropong Constituency has become a misnomer and appealed to the Electoral Commission to change the name. "There are several big towns in the constituency whose names could equally be used to name the area."
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Introduction of
human rights studies in curriculum advocated
Tumu (Upper West Region) 18 May
2000
A human rights activist on Tuesday
suggested the introduction of ''Human Rights Studies'' as a subject in the
curriculum of second cycle institutions so that society would recognise its
importance.
Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Chairman of
the Upper West Regional Chapter of the Ghana Committee for Human and People's
Rights said this would also enable the majority of the people to know their
rights and responsibilities for true democracy to be achieved and sustained.
Mr Mogtari, also an Assistant
Director of Education, was speaking at a one-day workshop organised by the
chapter at Tumu in the Sissala District on the theme; "Eradication of
violence against women and children, which way?"
Participants at the workshop
included lady teachers, health workers, market women and trade unionists.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 May 2000
Vice President John Atta Mills on
Wednesday inaugurated an eight-member inter-ministerial committee on regional integration
and expressed the hope that the implementation process towards the realisation
of the ambitious unionisation of the West Africa sub-region would be quickened.
The Committee, which comprises the
Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, the Interior, Trade and Industry,
Communications, National Security and the Central Bank, will work under the
leadership of the newly created Ministry of Planning, Regional Economic
Cooperation and Integration (PRECI).
It will serve as the apex body for
the co-ordination and harmonisation of policies, plans and programmes designed
to enhance Ghana's participation in the accelerated regional integration
process.
Vice President Mills said Ghana is
seriously committed to the implementation of priority regional integration
programmes and tasked the committee to reach timely decisions on proposals that
have reached an advanced stage of formulation.
He made special reference to the
initiatives which Ghana and Nigeria have decided to implement as part of the
fast-track programme to integration, as well as agreements reached at the two
recent mini-ECOWAS summits at Abuja and Accra and urged the Committee to
"let the dreams come true."
The Abuja summit focused on
creating a borderless zone and a free trade area while the Accra meeting
discussed mainly the creation of a second monetary zone by 2003.
The committee is to continuously
review the status of implementation of various programmes and projects under
the Ghana/Nigeria bilateral fast-track approach to regional integration.
The committee is also charged with
the removal of any bottlenecks encountered by the numerous agencies charged
with the responsibility of implementing Ghana's integration programmes and
sensitise the people to the benefits and advantages, as well as their rights
and responsibilities under an integrated ECOWAS. Ghana has ratified all but one
of the 35 Conventions and Protocols of ECOWAS.
"(However,) this show of
political commitment to regional integration has not been matched by the pace
of the country-level implementation of policies and programmes agreed under the
various protocols.”
This is largely because the
responsibility for the implementation of the policies is spread among a large
number of government ministries, departments and agencies.
Mills therefore, expressed the
hope that the setting up of the committee will rapidly push forward the
processes harder than before.
While congratulating the Committee
members, Vice President Mills said he expected the Ministers themselves to be
present at all its meetings.
"At worst, they could be
represented by their deputies. I do not want to see or hear of Chief Directors
or Civil Service representation," he said, adding that it is meant to be a
political oversight committee and must not duplicate the work of the national
technical committee on integration.
On behalf of the committee, Mr
Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister responsible for PRECI, pledged that they would work
hard and be totally committed to their responsibilities.
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