GRi Newsreel Ghana 11
- 05 - 2001
Government declares three days of mourning after
stadium tragedy
Police interdict six senior officers
Pharmacists send condolences to bereaved families
Government sets up probe into stadium tragedy
GJA asks journalists to exhibit professionalism in
soccer tragedy reportage
Some stadium disaster bodies identified
NDC consoles families of families
GBA takes delivery of 50-million cedi law books
Regional Minister inspects Bontanga Irrigation
Project
Government calls for harmonisation, reconciliation
of policy
Atebubu South NPP protests against nominee.
Asantehemaa commended for intervening to solve
dispute
Software programme on driving launched
Punish those responsible for the tragedy - Kotoko
PRO
GSB officials prevented from seizing expired goods
Media Commission settles complaint
Government declares three days
of mourning after stadium tragedy
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The government has declared three days of national mourning
beginning from Thursday for victims of the Accra Sports Stadium tragedy.
In addition, it has provided drugs and medical supplies worth
about 300 million cedis for distribution to all hospitals, which treated the
injured people and would pay the medical expenses of all those injured.
President John Agyekum Kufuor who announced this in Accra on
Thursday after an emergency cabinet meeting said a special committee has been
set up to plan a state burial for the dead.
President Kufuor was speaking at the 37 Military Hospital when
he led Cabinet Ministers and a four-man government delegation from the Republic
of Togo to sympathise with the injured on admission.
The entourage visited the Police and Ridge hospitals, which also
assisted to care for the injured.
President Kufuor commended the medical officers, nurses,
paramedical staff and the public for their public spirit to save the lives of
their compatriots who were in danger.
President Kufuor said: "I thank you all for the solidarity
you have shown. I will encourage you to continue to sacrifice in the national
interest."
General Zoumaro Gnofame, Special Adivser on Security to
President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo said the delegation was sent to Ghana
early Thursday morning after a Cabinet meeting to express their condolences to
the government and people of Ghana.
He said it was also to express their appreciation to all the
medical officers, nurses and other people who volunteered to save more lives.
General Gnofame said sports is a major binding force and through
it the Togolese government is expressing its solidarity but added "such a
solidarity should have been in a different manner."
"On behalf of the government and people of Togo, we entreat
God to appease the hearts of all the bereaved families in the tragedy and take
it as ordained by God."
He urged Ghanaian youth to continue with the enthusiasm they
have in sports and not be discouraged by what has happened.
Brigadier Dan Twum, Director of Medical Services at the
hospital, said 54 patients are now on admission and 106 dead bodies have been
sent to the mortuary.
A total of 126 people by official count died in the tragedy.
He said about 50 per cent of the dead have been identified by
their relatives and post-mortem has began on some of them which would be
completed by the close of the day for embalming.
He said they would wait for government's directives on the
burial of those who would not be identified after some time.
He expressed appreciation for the goodwill displayed by
Ghanaians and institutions in assisting the hospital.
GRi…/
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Police interdict six senior
officers
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The Police Administration on Thursday interdicted six senior
officers who were on duty during the Accra Sports Stadium tragedy, the Director
of Police Public Relations, Superintendent Richard Baduweh told the GNA.
He named the officers as Chief Superintendent Nana Koranteng
Mintah of the Armoured Cars Squadron, ASP F.A. Aryeh, Police Headquarters, ASP
John Naami,
Striking Force, ASP B.B. Bakomora, Railway Police, ASP Frank
Awu, James Town and ASP Faakye Kumi, Police Headquarters.
He said they have been interdicted because they were the most
senior officers on duty at the stadium and as such the first to be held
responsible for any lapses.
Meanwhile, the IGP has named a five-member committee to probe
the tragic accident in which at least 126 people died during a league match
between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak on Wednesday when police
hurled teargas into one of the stands.
The committee is to investigate the circumstances leading to the
many deaths and injuries and the role of the police.
The committee is expected to make recommendations for the
prevention of future occurrences.
The committee commenced work on Thursday and has until May 25 to
submit its report.
Mr Sam Awortwi, Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal and
Prosecution is Chairman with Mr Kofi Boakye, Mr Salami Isaaka, Mr D.S. Eklu and
Mr Paul Avuyi as members.
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Pharmacists send condolences to
bereaved families
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana on Thursday expressed its
condolences to the people of Ghana especially to families who have lost their
dear ones in the bloody stadium tragedy that has claimed at least 126 lives.
A statement issued in Accra said the national executives of the
society have paid visits to some of the hospitals and provided emergency
attention to victims of the tragedy.
It said members also encouraged healthcare and other personnel
on duty to continue with the good work to alleviate the pain, suffering and
grief of victims and their families.
The executive committee called on all pharmacists to demonstrate
good nature and love particularly "in times like this as a manifestation
of our motto - 'friends of the human race'".
The statement said the executive is currently in touch with the
authorities concerned to determine the additional resources needed to manage
the situation and to assist accordingly.
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Government sets up probe into
stadium tragedy
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The government has established a five-member Commission of
Enquiry to investigate the Accra Sports Stadium tragedy and make
recommendations to forestall recurrence.
The Commission under the chairmanship of Mr Sam Okudjeto, a
lawyer, would investigate and make recommendations on the state of the
country's preparedness to deal with such national emergencies and disasters.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, who announced this in a broadcast
to the nation on Thursday, said the Commission has a month to submit its
report.
Other members of the Commission are, Mr George Ofosu Amaah,
former Director of Special Branch, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, President of
the Ghana Medical
Association (GMA), Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Dean of the Faculty
of Law, Legon and Mr Ken Bediako, a veteran sports journalist.
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GJA asks journalists to exhibit
professionalism in soccer tragedy reportage
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Thursday urged
journalists, who are covering the soccer tragedy to exhibit great
professionalism in their work.
Journalists must also co-operate with all institutions involved
in helping the nation overcome the tragedy, a statement said in Accra.
"They should also do well to adhere to Article 16 of the
GJA Code of Ethics, which requires that in cases of personal grief, distress,
journalists should exercise tact and diplomacy in seeking information and
publishing."
The statement, which was signed by Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie,
President of the Association, commended journalists, who with courage and
selflessness kept vigil in order to carry out an up-to-the-minute report of the
national tragedy.
The GJA said it is deeply saddened by the wanton loss of life
and the destruction of state property and agreed with the decision of the
government to order a probe into the whole incident.
It also expressed shock at the death of the 126 soccer fans at
the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday evening, following the Hearts-Kotoko
league match.
"We take this opportunity to express our condolences to all
bereaved families and our sympathies to the injured."
The Association highly commended all medical staff and
individuals, who helped in the evacuation of the dead and the injured to
hospitals.
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Some stadium disaster bodies
identified
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
A total of 42 out of the 104 dead bodies brought to the 37
Military hospital following Wednesday's Accra Sports Stadium soccer disaster
were identified by relatives as at mid-day on Thursday for post-mortem and
embalming processes which have already started.
The number of the dead at the Hospital has increased to 106 from
the initial 102 as four more from Nima were brought in by family members.
The families had attempted to bury them earlier in the day
against the instruction of the hospital authorities for an autopsy to be
performed.
Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East
intervened for the bodies to be brought to the hospital.
The atmosphere at the hospital was tense, as family members
anxiously waited to be allowed to enter the mortuary to identify their dead
relations.
A resident of Nima, one Mr Brown, who had identified three of
his relatives was still looking for five more.
Many of the people appeared very humbled by the gruesome sight
of the corpses lying on the floor in the mortuary, which had already exceeded
its 60 capacity limit by 30 more before the 102 more bodies were brought on
Wednesday.
Brigadier Dan Twum, Medical Director of the hospital, said no
identified body would be released to families after post-mortem until
government gives directives.
He said the hospital is in full control of the situation, adding
that all the injured are responding to treatment and hopefully some would soon
be discharged.
Various dignitaries including ranking members of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were at the
hospital to assess the situation.
The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor and the wife of the Vice-President,
Mrs Ramatu Mahama as well as the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Ofori Panin Amoatia were
also at the hospital to see the victims.
Seventeen-year-old Abdul Rahim Ibrahim, first year student of
Harvard College on admission, said when the tear gas was fired, people rushed
through the narrow exit point from the Ade Coker Stands "and all I could
remember was that somebody was carrying me ".
The Okyehene presented 10 million cedis to the hospital
authorities for the upkeep of the patients.
Mr Kwabena Duffuor, Governor of the Bank of Ghana also presented
a cheque for 30 million cedis.
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NDC consoles families of
families
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday expressed its
condolences to bereaved families of the stadium disaster after the league match
between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
A statement issued in Accra called on the New Patriotic Party
(NPP) government to institute a full-scale independent Commission of Enquiry
into the tragedy and take the appropriate measures to avoid any recurrence.
It said at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC)
meeting held at the party headquarters, the NDC called on the government to
declare a national day of mourning in honour of the victims, while all National
flags should be flown at half-mast.
They also urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to suspend
the national premier league competition for at least two weeks, impose a
temporary closure of the stadium for suitable reconstruction to be undertaken,
while investigation into the disaster continues.
The party said arrangements were insufficient to check the
possibility of occurrence of violence.
The party, the statement said, believes that if a combined
security network of the police and other security agencies had been put in
place as prevailed previously, the situation could have been different and the
deaths could have been avoided.
The NDC called on the government to take immediate steps to
release the identified bodies to relatives such as Muslims, for quick burial as
Islamic tradition demands.
The party also wished those on admission at the various
hospitals speedy recovery.
"The NDC calls for state assistance for the burial and
funeral of the victims and the payment of adequate compensation to the bereaved
families.
"We hope this national tragedy will call for sober
reflection on all aspects of sports administration and management of
infrastructure and support services at sporting facilities," the statement
added.
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GBA takes delivery of
50-million cedi law books
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The mutual relationship between the America Bar Association
(ABA) and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is to be strengthened to encourage
exchange programmes between the two countries.
Madam Brook Anne Robinson, Counsellor for Public Affairs at the
United States of America Embassy, made the statement, when presenting, on
behalf of the ABA, a quantity of law books to the GBA in Accra on Thursday.
The books, which comprised four sets each of 12 encyclopaedia -
" The guide to American Law, " and
" The American Bar Association African Law Initiative," are
valued at 50 million cedis.
Madam Robinson said, the books, published at the request of the
GBA, would benefit institutions such as the Supreme Court, Ghana School of Law
School and the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana.
Mr. Ebow Quashie, National President of the GBA, who received
the donation, thanked the ABA for the gesture and said, it was a manifestation
of the good relationship between the two associations.
Mr. Quashie said, with the establishment of the new
International Out-reach Committee of the ABA, relations between the two
Associations will be strengthened.
" The donation, coming at this time of our national
development, when reform and harmonisation of laws is on government's agenda,
is good news to GBA," he said.
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Agona Swedru (Central Region) 11 May 2001
The Agona District Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the President's
nomination for the post of District Chief Executive, (DCE).
Mr John Agyaben, a 36-year-old tutor of Nsaba Presbyterian
Secondary School, polled 62 out of 63 votes cast, at the emergency meeting of
the assembly.
After the election,
conducted by the Central Regional Electoral Commission, Mr Agyabeng, thanked
the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and promised to work
hard to ensure the development of the area.
The DCE said he would ensure that all dilapidated school blocks
are rehabilitated to facilitate teaching and learning.
Mr Agyabeng appealed to the people to co-operate with the
assembly to enable it to realise the 500-million-cedi revenue target for this
year.
Mr Isaac Edumadzi, Central Regional Minister, urged the Assembly
members and chiefs to co-operate with the DCE in his efforts to develop the
area.
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Regional Minister inspects
Bontanga Irrigation Project
Bontanga (Northern Region) 11 May 2001
The Bontanga Irrigation Project expects to produce about 10,000
metric tonnes of rice this year.
Mr Victus Ayingayure, the Project Manager, said this when the
Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ben Bukari Salifu, inspected the project site in
the Tolon/Kumbugu District on Thursday.
He said, the major constraint facing the irrigation staff and
the farmers was lack of machinery and other logistics.
The irrigation project, which has a catchment area of 165 square
kilometres, caters for about 600 farmers and their dependants from 17 villages
and other migrant farmers from Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The main crops cultivated are rice, corn, cowpea, onion, okro,
tomato and pepper.
Mr Salifu advised the farmers to form co-operatives to attract
loans to purchase tractors to boost food production.
He said the government has made agriculture, a priority sector,
to make the country self-sufficient in food production and in this regard,
would provide farmers with the needed machinery and ready market for their
produce.
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Government calls for
harmonisation, reconciliation of policy
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
Government has called for the harmonisation and reconciliation
between policy choices if the nation is to achieve stable macro-economic environment
and sustainable micro level development.
Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, said this is the real
challenge to government, adding that the process of achieving economic growth
is expected to impact positively on the growth of society, high rate of
economic development, higher levels of income and the affordability of adequate
social services.
This was contained in a speech read for him at a CEPA/ISSER
workshop on macro economic stability, growth and poverty reduction. The
workshop is one of a number lined up to collate information and technical
advice from experts and academia towards the National Economic Dialogue slated
for next week.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the ideal of a high level of economic growth
from a stable macro economic environment would go hand in hand with social
development.
The Finance Minister decried the pattern of economic growth in
the country describing it as "a little unusual."
"An agrarian economy will normally move into an industrial
economy and finally settle as a service economy. But it is the services sector
that is currently leading the economic growth rate ahead of agriculture and
industry."
It may be important to change this pattern of growth so that we
ensure a strong agricultural base that produces food for local consumption and
also for agro-based industry.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said living in poverty is a violation of the
rights of all citizens, adding that people need a decent standard of living and
a right to live.
In the decade of the 1990's and based on the upper poverty line
of 900,000 cedis, the percentage of the Ghanaian population defined as poor
fell from about 51 per cent in 1991/1992 to about 43 per cent in 1998/1999.
He said the increase in the incidence of poverty over the
10-year period was not evenly distributed, noting that the concentration of the
poverty increment has been in the capital and rural forest localities.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said Ghana is faced with a great deal of
challenges in establishing a realistic poverty reduction strategy for improving
the condition of the population.
He mentioned the challenges as creating and sustaining micro
stability, reducing poverty in general, increasing overall resources from
taxation and non-tax revenue, providing relief for the poor while ensuring a
balanced budget by restraining government spending.
Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice-Cancellolr of the University
of Ghana, said for too long, economic policy-making has been the preserve of
small groups whose credibility as effective policy-makers has "sometimes
been questionable."
He said when such persons failed to deliver international
partners are handed the excuse of taking control of policy making.
"It is now time to open up that process. It is time that
debates such as those that will take place here today and tomorrow are
encouraged and supported.
"It is time Ghanaian governments understood that one does
not need to be politician to contribute effectively to policy making."
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Atebubu South NPP protests
against nominee.
Atebubu (Brong Ahafo) 11 May 2001
New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters in the Atebubu South
Constituency in Brong Ahafo on Wednesday went on a peaceful demonstration through
the streets of Atebubu to protest against the President's nomination of Mr
Casius Osei-Poku as the District Chief Executive for Atebubu.
They carried placards some of which read, "Casius an unpopular choice".
A petition sent to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and signed
by Nana Owusu-Gyimah, Atebubu South Constituency Chairman and Mr Emmanuel
Owusu-Ansah, a
representative of the Youth Wing said the appointment of Mr
Osei-Poku is likely to cause embarrassment to the President.
The petition said at a joint meeting of the Atebubu North and
South constituencies held on February 21, it was decided that the names of Mr
Osei Kwame, Dr King David Amoah and Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Mumuni should be sent
for consideration as the DCE.
It said they were, therefore, shocked when it was announced that
the President has nominated Mr Osei Poku as the DCE and that this has generated
a lot of disquiet and has led to tension in the district.
The petition said Mr Osei-Poku got his name submitted to the
President under very dubious circumstances, which merits a very thorough
investigation.
“Only very recently a document of questionable authorship has
come to our notice extolling the virtues of Mr Casius Osei-Poku whilst
condemning all the other contestants”.
It said the document written on the letter heads of the Atebubu
South Constituency of the party was supposedly signed by Mr Osman Alhassan,
Second Vice-Chairman and pointed out that Mr Alhassan, who stays at Amanten
with Mr Osei-Poku, has however, denied knowledge of the said document.
The petition said Mr Osei-Poku has very questionable credentials
and accused him of financial malfeasance.
It said the nominee has no winsome character to attract people
to the NPP and that his leadership would no doubt disintegrate the party in the
district.
Within the one year that Mr Osei-Poku has been the party
secretary, he has been the architect of a split within the ranks of the NPP
constituency executives.
The petitioners expressed the hope that their petition would be
given all the attention it deserves and consequently revoke the nomination of
Mr Osei-Poku for peace to prevail in the district.
Mr Peter Antwi-Boasiako, Deputy District Co-ordinating Director,
who received the petition, thanked them for their comportment during the
demonstration and promised to forward it to the appropriate quarters.
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Asantehemaa commended for
intervening to solve dispute
Krapa (Ashanti Region) 11 May 2001
The Assembly member and the Unit Committee of Krapa in the
Ejisu/Juaben district have commended the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaah
Ampem, for intervening to peacefully resolve the Krapa chieftaincy dispute.
This, they said, has helped to defuse the tension and imminent
bloodbath that loomed over the town.
These were contained in a statement jointly signed by Mr Kwame
Nkrumah, assembly member and Mr Hamson Amankwaah, the Unite Committee Chairman.
"We have been tremendously relieved by the Asantehemaa's
intervention, which paved the way for the installation of Nana Boatemaa
Frebenim 11, as Queenmother of Krapa".
The statement pledged loyalty, total and unflinching support of
the people for the new queenmother to provide a stable and more peaceful
environment to tackle the development needs of the community.
Nana Frebenim succeeds Nana Adwoa Manu, who died in June last
year.
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Software programme on driving
launched
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
A computer software programme, specially designed for defensive
driving, was on Thursday launched in Accra with a call on Ghanaian
technologists, engineers and scientists to develop software packages suitable
to the local environment.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman Adu, Deputy Minister of Transport and
Communications-designate, said the packages would, however, have to be
patronised by the beneficiaries, in order to generate funds to support further
technological development.
Drive well Software, invented by Mr Cecil Ekow Garbrah,
Executive Director of Toptec Drive Consult Ltd (TTDC), and implemented by the
Ministry of Transport and Communications in conjunction with TTDC aims at
educating every road user on all aspects of motoring.
Users of the software would consist of pupils from the primary
school to students at the tertiary level.
Mr Agyeman Adu expressed the ministry's appreciation for the
effort and said it is in line with the general training program of the
government's mass transportation policy.
He said since the policy would involve the importation of
various buses and transport systems, "the Ghanaian must be educated in
safe and defensive driving."
He added that this makes the software programme most welcome.
Mr Agyeman Adu assured prospective investors in the transport
and communications sector that they would be assisted with all the technical
and administrative support they will need.
Professor Dominic K. Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and
Technology, in a speech read on his behalf, said among the various causes of
accidents are the poor state of vehicles as well as bad driving practices.
He said poor driving practices are the result of most drivers
not undergoing formal training.
"One often hears of situations where people obtain their
driver's licence without undergoing examination of any type."
Professor Fobih said the software cannot make one a good driver,
unless the prospective driver uses it according to how it is intended to be
used.
He said drivers would first have to be prepared to learn and
understand the working of the software in order to gain from it.
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Punish those responsible for
the tragedy - Kotoko PRO
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 11 May 2001
Mr Mohammed Haruna, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Kumasi
Asante Kotoko Football Club said on Thursday that those responsible for the
tragic death of 126 soccer fans in the Kotoko-Hearts premier football league
match at the Accra sports stadium last night should be duly punished.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Otec FM, a radio station in
Kumasi, Mr Haruna said "I am really sad about the tragic incident and have
lost appetite".
He said the incident, the worst in Ghana's football history
should be thoroughly investigated and those found to be responsible made to
face the full rigours of the law.
Mr Haruna said fans at times misbehave out of frustration,
saying the conduct of the referee in the match did not help since he ignored an
assistant referee, who had raised the flag before Hearts’ equaliser.
He said the result of the match is immaterial because human beings
have lost their lives.
On behalf of the Kotoko Football Club, Mr Haruna expressed
condolences to the bereaved families, saying, "this should not happen
again".
In a similar incident during a mid-week match between Kotoko and
Hearts at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in 1979 following a stampede, 19 soccer
fans died.
The horrific incident has generated discussions among football
fans and on FM stations in Kumasi.
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GSB officials prevented from
seizing expired goods
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
Ms Peggy Aryittey, Financial Manager of Golden Neo-Life Diamite
International Limited (GNLD), on Thursday prevented officials from the Ghana
Standards Board (GSB) from entering their warehouse to seize cartons of
unwholesome products in their custody.
Ms Aryittey insisted that her company, the distributor of food
supplements from South Africa, had already notified the Foods and Drugs Board
(FDB) about the expired products and the destruction exercise was scheduled for
tomorrow.
The Financial Manager handed over to newsmen photocopies of a
letter dated March 22, 2001 and a receipt number 857257 with a face value of
200,000 cedis being the charge for the destruction exercise.
Mr Kojo Chunney, Protocol Officer from GSB said they had a
tip-off that the management of the GNLD was forcing expired products on the
staff.
"Upon that information we came to the premises of the GNLD
and found cartons of Aloe Vera and Vitality Pack, which had expired since last
year," he said.
A cross check at the Waste Management Department of the Accra
Metropolitan Assembly, the sole agency in charge of destruction of unwholesome
products, indicated that there was no letter of notification to that effect.
Mrs Moira N. Ewa, Assistant Director of the Department, told
newsmen that the Department is the authorised agency to carry out such
exercises.
She said administratively, it would be wrong for the Food and
Drugs Board to destroy any item without the knowledge of the AMA.
"We don't just destroy the items, we issue a certificate to
indicate that all unwholesome products seized are properly destroyed."
A source from the FDB, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that
they had a letter from the GNLD about the unwholesome products and charged them
for the processing of documents for the destruction exercise.
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Media Commission settles
complaint
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The National Media Commission (NMC) on Thursday said it has
settled a complaint lodged with it by the former Minister of Youth and Sports,
Mr E.T. Mensah, against Mr. Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and
Sports-designate.
A statement signed by the NMC's Chairman Nutifafa Kuenyehia said
the complaint arose from comments on the Tagoe Report in Mr Aggrey's column
published in the Mirror Sport of Saturday, August 21st, 1999 headed "Bravo
Veep, but...."
The former Minister considered them to be embarrassing and an
attack on his person.
During its deliberations with the parties concerned, Mr. Aggrey
conceded that figures quoted in his article were wrong. He also conceded that the
local organising committee was set up a year before the U-20 finals and not
one-month as he wrote in his column.
On allegations of attack on his person, Mr. Aggrey said he was
not referring to Mr. Mensah in his personal capacity, but to his position as the
former Minister for Youth and Sports.
Mr Aggrey bemoaned the fact that the former Minister and his
legal adviser had taken the comments in his column to be an attack on his
person, which he deemed to be unfortunate, as that was not his intention.
The Commission recommended to others with complaints to use the
platform available at the commission for the resolution of their grievances.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2001
The Star Premier League has been postponed indefinitely, a Ghana
Football Association (GFA) source told the GNA in Accra on Thursday.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting between the GFA and
the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) following Wednesday's stampede
resulting in the death of 121 fans, according to official count.
Scores of soccer fans were trapped during the stampede after
angry fans at the stands hurled broken bottles and plastic chairs onto the
pitch after a league match between arch rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi
Asante Kotoko.
The police reacted by firing teargas leading to the stampede.
Hearts won the match 2-1.
Meanwhile, the Stadium security personnel have denied that at
the time of the incident the stadium gates were locked.
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