E.T Mensah's son now in Mawuli School
NPP women's wing congratulates appointees
MDAs to establish expenditure control units
A retired Police officer appeals to IGP
Government receives more messages of condolence on stadium tragedy
Government to embark on mass spraying of cocoa farms
Kufuor meets family of Agyenim-Boateng
Suspect conceals hemp in "kokonte" meal for cellmates
TUC moves to unionise informal sector workers
Kufuor to attend AfDB meeting in Spain
Rural folks, Celltel's target of mobile service
Police force too small and not well equipped-Minister
Kufuor receives Chinese delegation
Government would not fail the people-Oduro-Mensah
GaDangme Council appeals for calm
Ho (Volta Region) 24 May 2001
Master Jerry Teye Mensah 18, son of Mr Enoch Teye Mensah a former Minister of Youth and Sports is now a student of Mawuli Secondary School at Ho.
He was admitted to the school two weeks to the end of the second term of this academic year as a second year arts student.
Mr Winfred Bonsi, Headmaster of Mawuli School, confirmed this when the Ghana News Agency contacted him following rumours that Master Mensah, a former student of Mfantsipim School in the Central region has been admitted to the school following his alleged misconduct in his former school.
Mr Bonsi said Master Mensah was brought to Mawuli School by his mother and was issued with a transfer form to be completed by the authorities of his former school but the completed form is yet to be submitted to his office.
He said Mawuli School is ready to offer an opportunity to Master Mensah to reform.
Mr Bonsi said Master Mensah has, however, been given two weeks to submit the completed transfer form from his former school or be expelled.
The Headmaster said Master Mensah has so far comported himself adding that he was cautioned against misbehaviour.
Master Mensah told the Ghana News Agency that all has been well with him in the school so far.
In October last year Master Mensah made the headlines when he alleged that he was abducted from his former school by a group of men and a woman and later abandoned at an unknown destination near the Budumburam Refugee Camp in the Central Region.
Police investigations, however, revealed that Master Mensah fabricated the story to escape punishment for spending a night out of school without permission.
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Sunyani (Eastern Region) 24 May 2001
The women's wing of the Sunyani East constituency branch of the National Patriotic Party, on Wednesday appealed to Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) to give priority to programmes and issues that affect the welfare of children and women.
It said, though women have been making tremendous contributions to national development, they, together with children, still constitute the most vulnerable group in the country.
"There is therefore the need for greater political support for grassroots programmes geared towards their welfare, if they are to be uplifted from the socio-economic doldrums in which they find themselves," it said.
This was contained in a statement issued in Sunyani by the wing to congratulate Mr. Akobour Debrah and Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah on their appointment as the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and Sunyani District Chief Executive respectively.
Signed on behalf of the wing by its co-ordinator, Madam Dorcas Nana Owusuaa, the statement stressed the need for Ministers and DCEs to have regular interaction with women groups in their areas to help them make greater contributions to nation building.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
The Government has ordered the establishment of expenditure control units in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that expenditure in the institutions are controlled and kept in tandem with government revenue.
The units will be composed of five persons to be selected from two junior and middle level staff each and management personnel.
"These committees are to meet fortnightly and see how to minimise waste," and copies of their findings should be made to me as and when they have them," he said.
The Finance Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo announced this at the close of the first enhanced Consultative Group Meeting between Ghana and her development partners in Accra on Wednesday.
The mini consultative group meeting is a forum at which Ghana and her development partners meet quarterly to exchange ideas on issues of mutual interest, notably in the areas of economic management, poverty reduction strategy and donor coordination, especially for programme and project support.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the government, at the meeting presented its programmes to deal with the very difficult economic situation, especially the very tight domestic debt problem since servicing of the debt accounts for some 45 per cent of domestic revenue.
The government also outlined a number of revenue measures and initiatives to tighten the control of public expenditure. It also indicated its intention to deal with the domestic debt through a combination of reduction in fiscal deficit, restructuring of present debt stock, dedication of future privatisation receipts and the use of part of the HIPC resources.
Mr Peter Harrold, the World Bank Country Director, said the development partners were strongly encouraged by the government’s measures to deal with the economic difficulty, saying the partners ability to provide budgetary and balance of payment support would depend to a large extent, on improvement in the areas the measures cover.
The development partners also endorsed the government's decision to enter the HIPC initiative, and expressed the hope that all necessary preparations for receiving HIPC relief would be completed within the next six months.
Mr Harrold said the partners also welcomed the presentation of the current status of preparation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS), and the outcome of the recently- held National Economic Dialogue.
"These two exercises indicated a much clearer approach to participation in economic and social policy decision-making, which the partners welcomed strongly," he said.
Mr Harrold said the development partners were supportive of the regional and district-level targeting of public expenditure to ensure the delivery of key public services such as health, education, agriculture, roads and water supply, especially to the Northern, Central and Eastern Regions, which had seen worsening poverty in recent times.
He, however, stressed the need to link the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy with the sector plans of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that the GPRS is reflected in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the next budget.
Mr Harrold said though the meeting was mainly for Ghana government to provide its social and economic policies to the partners, some financial support from the partners were obtained.
It is estimated that Ghana needs a total of 695 million dollars in balance of payments and project support.
Mr Harrold said while the proposal for the programme and project support were new and needed to be studied by the partners, it was concluded that the external financing of the programme would not be a constraint to its successful implementation.
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Nkawkaw (Eastern Region) 24 May 2001
A 63-year-old retired Police Inspector has appealed to the Minister of the Interior and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), for the payment of his five years' salary arrears, due to his premature retirement from the Police Service, in 1993.
Thomas Ameyaw, who is down with stroke, also appealed for the payment of all his retirement benefits due him, for serving the Police Service for 32 years.
Speaking to the GNA at Nkawkaw, he mentioned that he was among more than 1,500 police personnel, who were prematurely retired from the Service in 1993-94, at the age of 55 instead of the 60 years stated in the 1992 constitution.
He said, he was given 1.5 million cedis as his gratuity after 32 years of service, while the police administration also failed to assist him with transport to convey his personal belongings from his station at Takorase, near Akim Oda, to Obo-Kwahu.
Inspector Ameyaw said the matter was later referred to the Supreme Court, which ruled that affected officers should be reinstated into the Service, but the then government and the police administration failed to comply with the order.
He, therefore, called on the new IGP, to ensure compliance with the order, and the payment of the salary arrears due him and the other officers.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
The government continues to receive more messages of condolence on the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster.
The message from President Negaso Gidada of Ethiopia expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident.
"At this time of national grief, I will like to express on behalf of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and that of my own, our profound condolence and sympathy to your excellency and through you to the families of the bereaved," it said.
The Foreign Minister of Cuba, Dr Felipe Perez Roque, in his message, expressed deep shock at the accident.
"On such a painful juncture, we convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear Ghanaian people and in particular to the relatives of the victims of that regrettable tragedy."
The Anglican Archbishop and Primate of the Province of West Africa, The Most Reverend Robert Okine said in his message: "There is very little one can say at a time like this. But we do want to assure all the victims of our love and concern and offer our deepest condolence to the bereaved relations and friends of the deceased"
The President of the Western Region House of Chiefs, Odeneho Gyapong, said it is the hope of people of the region that the accident will never happen again.
"As we mourn as a nation for the loss of the many lives, we should not forget the need for us to unite and build our nation."
The message of the UK and Ireland called on Ghanaians to mourn with the affected families, sharing in their grief.
It said as part of the terms for the Commission investigating the disaster, it should look at the preparedness of the nation, including the security and health agencies, for such national emergencies.
"We call for calm and sober reflection on all sides at this moment of national mourning while the nation awaits the outcome of the enquiry."
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Dunkwa (Western Region) 24 May 2001
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would soon embark on mass spraying of cocoa farms throughout the country against the black pod and capsid diseases.
Nana Tandoh Boadi, Farmer of COCOBOD Western-South Zone, made this known at a meeting of district chief farmers of the zone at Dunkwa on Tuesday.
He said the exercise, which would be free of charge could attain the best results if farmers clear their farms and make them ready for the spraying.
Nana Boadi, however, told the cocoa farmers that they are expected to provide the sprayers with water, for the mixing of the chemicals and reminded them of their role in re-vamping the cocoa industry.
He expressed his appreciation to the government for increasing the producer price of cocoa, adding that the early opening of the light crop season this year, was a big relief to farmers and their families.
Nana Boadi noted that farmers were cheated by middlemen during the lean season and asked his colleagues to work hard and expand their farms to enable the country re-ain its lead in cocoa production.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 May 2001
Fire on Wednesday morning gutted two spare parts stores, two fitting shops and a chop bar at Suame Magazine Zone Four area in Kumasi destroying equipment and items running into several millions of cedis.
It took the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) hectic time to bring the fire under control.
Mr George Asiamah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said he intercepted a message from the Suame Police asking for assistance from the Buffalo Unit and,
therefore, ordered some of his men to go to the scene immediately to help the GNFS put out the fire.
He said the spare parts stores belonged to Mr Kwame Nkrumah and Mr Kingsley Nkansah while Mr Kwasi Anokye and Mr Amansie Antwi were the owners of the fitting shop and the chop bar, that of Madam Afua Akyaa.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 May 2001
The Association of Communication Centres (ASSOCOM) in Ashanti has called on the management of Ghana Telecom to streamline its billing system.
They said they are always at a loss when bills are presented to them because they do not understand how calculations are done and when complaints are lodged, they do not receive positive responses.
Disclosing this at the closing session of a two-day in-service training course for over 100 operators of various communication centres in the region, Mr Edward Peter Wiredu, Regional Secretary of the association, said billing for International Direct Dialing (IDD) is most of the time done wrongly.
He said the management promised to give itemised bills on monthly basis as but it is yet to be implemented in Ashanti even though customers in Accra and the northern part of the country are enjoying the facility.
Mr Wiredu urged Telecom to come out with rates for trunk calls to various parts of the country so that they would know how the calculation is done.
He said members find it difficult to get additional lines to their centres even though, he alleged that members were made to make a deposits of 100,000 cedis towards the expansion programme about a year ago.
Mr Wiredu expressed concern about how customer service lines are disconnected unannounced when operators do not make prompt payments, stressing that when faulty lines are reported, management do not respond to their call but stays away for about six to eight months.
Mr Kwaku Kusi, Kumasi Area Manager of Ghana Telecom, said that efforts are being made to rectify some of the anomalies and warned that defaulters would be disconnected.
He said a machine for itemised billing would soon be put into operation.
Mr George Frank Whyte, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the association, called on Telecom to co-operate with them to render good services to their customers.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday advocated the need to nurture and sustain political parties in the country as the bedrock for the promotion and strengthening of democracy.
He said political parties are also the training grounds for all democratically elected leaders worldwide and must be accorded the respect they deserve in society.
President Kufuor expressed these views when the family of Mr Joseph Agyenim-Boateng, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), called on him at the State House to formally inform the government about his death.
The large delegation led by Nana Owusu Sekyere, a family spokesman, included the chairman of NPP, Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, Mr Dan Botwe, the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr R. R. Amponsah, a veteran politician and other leading members of the party.
The President was briefed about the funeral arrangements of Mr Agyenim-Boateng who died two weeks ago after a short illness at the age of 64.
Mr Kufuor said Mr Agyenim-Boateng served the NPP and the Danquah-Busia tradition with dedication for 16 years and any last honour the party would pay him should be perceived to be in the interest of the state and not a partisan fanfare.
He said the late former General Secretary's contribution to the development of politics in Ghana led to the electoral victory of the NPP "and I as President."
"I would study my schedule to see whether I can attend his funeral personally. If not, I will make sure that the government is represented fully to give him a fitting burial."
Nana Sekyere said the deceased would be buried at Asante-Mampong on June 29 after wake keeping and other funeral rites.
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Ashaiman (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
A crime suspect, who was granted bail from the Ashaiman Police cells was brave enough to carry a substance believed to be Indian hemp to his cellmates on Tuesday, but the vigilance of the Police foiled the attempt.
Edwin Boateng, 25, who escaped arrest, wrapped the Indian hemp in a polythene sheet and concealed it in an appetising ball of "kokonte" with groundnut soup, which he brought for colleagues he left behind in the police cell.
When Policemen at the charge office cut open the ball of "kokonte" with a spoon to ensure that the inmates were going to enjoy purely a "kokonte" meal, Boateng suddenly took to his heels raising suspicion that something had been concealed in the food.
Superintendent Harry Fiawoo, Ashaiman District Police Commander told the GNA that Boateng, who is a spare driver, was arrested on Monday, May 21 and placed in custody for keeping somebody's car for three days before abandoning it at Somanya.
He was granted bail the next day only to commit another serious offence by daring the Police.
Supt. Fiawoo said the Police have mounted a search for him to face prosecution for both offences.
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Accra 24 May 2001
The Ministry of Transport and Communications on Wednesday expressed concern about the proliferation of aerial towers by telecom operators.
Mr John Achuliwor, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications said these microwave towers or masts pose environmental nuisance for towns and cities and aircraft.
Mr John Achuliwor speaking at an open day by Celltel Telecom Company to announce its strategic expansion programme, beginning this year, urged all telecom operators to think of areas that would enable them cooperate and collaborate on a single aerial tower to carry their transmissions efficiently.
"We have to think together to find ways of cooperating rather than competing," he added.
Mr Achuliwor said the government is committed to improving the telecommunication facilities and told the operators, "quality service is a major concern for the government and there will be no compromise on this principle".
He stressed the need for honesty in the billing systems and warned that operators would be held liable should their staff be found engaging in underhand dealings to exploit customers.
He commended Celltel for pursuing a consistent maintenance programme to support its uninterrupted service to customers.
Mr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, Chairman of Celltel, said the company by the end of this year, hopes to open up 50 base stations out of 120 programmed for the expansion work.
He said the purpose for the expansion is basically to develop a very formidable and affordable mobile telecom network to enable those in the rural areas to also have access to the very service that is being enjoyed presently by only a few.
"In all these, our objective has been to bring a new order of efficient but low cost mobile telecom service to the country."
Mr Kludjeson said currently a switch that the company has installed has a capacity of 75,000 subscribers and hoped it would be expanded to 150,000 to propel Celltel into the digital arena.
It was through the government's liberalisation policy in the telecom sector that Celltel entered into a partnership arrangement with Hutchison Whampoa Limited of Hong Kong.
Mr Robert N. Palitz, Managing Director of Celltel, said the rebirth of the company has made them realise that the issue of telecom service in Ghana is not about demand but rather affordability.
"Celltel is in to keep telecom basically in people's hands and show them how to use it efficiently."
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Tema (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has decided to work harder towards the unionisation of the estimated six million workers in the country's informal sector with the view to increasing its membership.
The move follows the challenges of globalisation faced by the trades unions all over the world with its attendant lay-offs, casualisation and contractual labour relations.
Mr J. N. Y. Atopley, Acting Secretary-General of the TUC, who announced this at Tema on Wednesday, said the TUC is linking up with all informal sector associations with the view to sensitising them to unionise.
He was opening a three-day workshop on "consolidating the organisation of self-employed rural workers within trade unions" being organised by the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU).
The General Agricultural Workers Union of the TUC, which is the first trade union in Africa to begin the unionisation of the self-employed in 1976, has been able to unionise only 17,000 of such workers.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor is to attend the African Development Bank's Annual General Meeting scheduled for Valencia, Spain, next week.
President Kufuor who announced this when Mr Fernando Corral, Spanish Ambassador in Ghana, called on him in Accra on Wednesday said he hopes to try and make maximum use of the invitation to explore more avenues for Spanish investments in Ghana.
He said the government's emphasis on private sector development is to unearth the wealth of the country to provide employment for the people and add value to agricultural produce for export.
President Kufuor appealed to countries, which have diplomatic relations with Ghana to help the government attract businessmen from their countries to undertake joint ventures with their Ghanaian counterparts.
He commended Spain for its assistance to Ghana with the development of solar energy and pledged to deepen the relationship between the two countries.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said President Kufuor was scheduled to meet high government officials in Spain to further strengthen their bond of friendship and improve on trade relations.
Mr Corral said an intensive programme has been drawn up for President Kufuor's five-day visit, which would take him to major cities in Spain to promote investment avenues in Ghana.
President Kufuor is expected to leave Ghana on Saturday.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
Celltel Telecom Company has embarked on a programme to expand mobile telecommunication service to reach rural areas and make it very affordable for them.
Areas that would be covered for the first phase that ends this year are Koforidua, Akosombo, Aburi, Winneba, and Ho. As a result 50 base stations out of 120 programmed for the year would be in operation.
Mr Frederick Opare Ansah, Technical Manager of Celltel, announced this on Wednesday during a tour with newsmen and Mr John Achuliwor, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication, at the company's staging centre at Tema.
He said at present a new switch with 75,000 subscriber base capacity has been installed and would be expanded to 150,000 to propel Celltel into the digital arena.
The Deputy Minister assured Celltel of government's support and said his ministry would not do anything that would hamper the success of any indigenous company.
He said telecommunication would be the driving force for development of the economy in this era.
Mrs. Majorie Ekua Ampah, General Manager of Celltel, said though Celltell's tariff is the lowest, with the help of their investor, Hutchison telecom company of Hong Kong, the programme would still make the service more affordable to the rural poor.
She said it was sad that in this era of telecommunication technology, only about 500,000 people have access to mobile phones in a population of about 19 million.
Professor Basil Lokko, Executive Director for Administration and Finance of Celltel, said the customer base for the telecom service is rather in the rural areas.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
Alhaji Malik Yakubu, Minister of the Interior on Wednesday said the police force is not only small in number but it is also ill equipped to implement its policies to achieve the desired results.
The Minister said this when the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Pavel D. Pavlov called on him in Accra.
He said though Ghana needs more officers to ensure security in every part of the country, recruitment could not be increased due to lack of accommodation and other facilities.
He said the situation has brought problems in efforts to maintain law and order adding, this is reflected in the way the security agencies are grappling with the serial killings, armed robbery, drug related offences and the May 9 stadium disaster which claimed 126 lives.
He, however, commended the security agencies for their efforts, which led to the arrest of one of the serial killers and urged them and the public to continue with the good work to arrest the others for citizens to go about their legitimate activities without fear.
He said measures are also being put in place to make the stadiums safe for the public and appealed to other countries to assist Ghana in its efforts to maintain law and order in this critical time.
Mr Pavlov expressed his condolence to the relatives of the victims of the disaster and called on the public not to put the blame totally on the police saying there could be other issues that could have contributed to the situation.
He suggested the use of a public address system and the fixing of opening gates where the people can easily run out in time trouble.
Mr Pavel said the world is becoming a global village and therefore countries need each other's assistance and assured the minister of his country's readiness to help train the police.
He also expressed concern over the high rate of reported rape cases and wondered whether the punishment is not stiff enough.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday commended China for remaining steadfast to the promotion of world peace and development co-operation.
He said it is also gratifying to note that China as the world most populous nation and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has shown interest in the development process in Ghana and the rest of Africa.
Speaking during a meeting with Mr Xu Jialu, Vice-Chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress of China at the State house, President Kufuor lauded the over 40 years of bilateral relations between the two countries and appealed for the strengthening of development co-operation in the area of agriculture, culture and education.
Mr Xu is leading a 16-member delegation to the country, comprising six legislators and 10 government officials as part of an official visit to Africa.
He asked the delegation to be good ambassadors by whipping up the interest of Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in the industrial sector especially the establishment of garment factories to process the large harvest of cotton.
"We would also be happy if China helps Ghana to add value to its raw materials and strengthen the information technology sector."
President Kufuor said efforts to streamline the economy by reducing high inflation and interest rates have created an enabling environment for investment.
He commended the Chinese for donating 25 million cedis to victims of the stadium disaster, adding, "no donation is small since what is important is the spirit and motive behind it."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
Mr Prince Oduro-Mensah, NPP-Techiman South, has said the government has no excuse to fail the nation because it believes in the ingenuity and fortitude of the ordinary Ghanaian.
"The government has a working plan borne out of the problems, challenges, ingenuity, fortitude and visions of the Ghanaian."
Mr Oduro-Mensah, who said this at the weekend at various forums during a tour of his constituency stated that basic infrastructure needed for the development of rural communities would be provided in earnest.
Mr Oduro-Mensah explained the work of Parliament and enlightened the people on the need for the majority and minority groups in the house to co-operate on important national issues.
"The fact that we belong to different camps does not mean that we are enemies. We, members of the NPP have made it a policy that any party that seeks the welfare of the Ghanaian will be considered as a friend."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
The GaDangme Council on Wednesday expressed concern about injuries to people and destruction of property in the enforcement of the traditional ban on drumming and noisemaking by the Ga Traditional Council.
"The injuries and destruction of property are unacceptable and should not continue," Mr K. B. Asante, a retired diplomat and President of the Council, said at news briefing in Accra.
He described the ban as a custom and not a religion or faith. "Any view contrary to this is a gross misrepresentation calculated to detract attention from the nature and purpose of this GaDangme custom, as all other customs, traditions and cultural practices in Ghana, protected by Articles 11 and 26 of the 4th Republican Constitution."
Mr.Asante stated that since the constitution recognises the customary laws peculiar to communities GaDangmes are asking for such recognition.
He said the ban was not restricted to only churches or a particular group and questioned why churches which in living memory were opposed to drumming now appear to regard it as an indispensable way of expressing faith.
Mr Asante said the constitution only bans customary practices that dehumanise or cause injury to the physical and mental well being of a people and the ban on drumming does not do that.
He said the council expects the law enforcement agencies and the Accra
Metropolitan Authority (AMA) to rigidly enforce the law on noisemaking, which was the basis for the agreement reached last year between the stakeholders.
Mr Asante said that in spite of the agreement, 31 cases of violations were recorded.
"This constitutes great disrespect to the GaDangme chiefs and people and was responsible for the unfortunate strife and injuries which have occurred."
He, however, condemned acts of lawlessness carried out by some Ga youths saying, "the rule of law must be maintained."
Mr Asante asked the Regional Police Command and AMA to ensure compliance of laws, rules and regulations about noisemaking within the metropolis. These specify that music and addresses made through a public address system should be such that they would be heard only within the confines of the institution in question.
The AMA Noise Abatement Bye Law 1995 further states that "a person conducting a religious service shall not cause music to be played so loudly so as to cause a nuisance to the public and residents in the area."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2001
The Nigerian Minister of Justice, Musa Elayo Abdullahi, said on Wednesday that overseas institutions that keep stolen state money should be punished with the main culprits.
He said the fact that some financial institutions abroad, particularly Swiss banks, readily accept to be custodians of illegal wealth from corrupt politicians and dishonest individuals, make them accomplices in the crime.
"The most important thing is that whichever place this money is kept the people that receive this money know that it is illegal money because they know the sources," Abdullahi told the Ghana News Agency, at the end of the West African Justice Ministers anti-corruption conference in Accra.
The two-day conference, which was under the auspices of ECOWAS, ended with the adoption of an ambitious declaration by the ministers, calling for protocol reforms and international support in the retrieval of stolen wealth stashed in banks abroad.
The declaration also seeks "the relaxation of cumbersome legal procedures for actions to secure recovery and repatriation of state wealth being proceeds of corruption stashed away in banks and financial or investment institutions in foreign countries."
The ministers, however, stopped short of a collective decision to make a pronouncement on the position of the recipient banks, although some individual members including, Abdullahi, made a case for their punishment as well.
Alhaji Abdullahi, whose country is believed to be the worst victim of stolen money, described the Accra Declaration as a landmark move, although it is quite ambitious.
"It will show to the world our resolve to involve them to assist us to recover our stolen wealth and stop further corruption."
He said more than five billion dollars of Nigerian taxpayers' money was illegally transferred to European banks by former military dictator, Sani Abacha, alone.
Alhaji Abdullahi said although the new government put in so much effort through negotiations it could only retrieve a little because of the cumbersome and strict rules involved in the procedures.
"In most cases, some of the people involved were ready to release the money upon a guarantee that they would be left to go free.
"I am talking about pockets of moneys of 300 million... 600 million... 16 million pounds... huge amounts in deutsche marks... about a billion Naira..."
Besides, a lot has been retrieved locally from the late Gen. Abacha's family, his security adviser, ADC and other close associates.
The Nigerian Minister said despite the frustrations, his government is hopeful of success in its effort to retrieve stolen money from abroad.
He cited a judgement the government obtained recently at a London Court for the retrieval of some of the money as positive.
Alhaji Abdullahi commended the decision of the conference to make the declaration the basis of ECOWAS' input to the Global Forum II Conference on "Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity" to be held next week in The Hague.
In addition to this, it is also intended to become a convention for ECOWAS because corruption is assuming international dimensions.
Mr Yaw Asamoah, Director of Transparency International, Ghana and a member of the organizing committee, described the conference as successful and distinctive from other workshops whose output only remained on the drawing table.
"There has been enough commitment from ourselves. For once, the people are up with a common voice against a canker that is eroding development potentials on the continent."
The Liberian Minister of Justice, Mr Eddington Varmah, whose country is facing UN trade and travel sanctions, commended the organizers, especially the Ghanaian government, for the initiative.
"Corruption is everywhere; it is rife in my own country, just as we are coming out from a war situation."
Thirteen Justice ministers attended the conference and signed the declaration.
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