Akufo-Addo on provisional charge for publication of tape
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Girl named after Queen Elizabeth thrilled about her visit
Wildlife society to develop eco-tourism around mount Afadjato
Ghana Association of the blind sets up white cane project
Rawlings receives special message from Beninoise President
Workshop on rational drug use opens at Ankaful
ECOWAS energy experts meet in Accra
B/A anniversary committee apologies to Wenchihene
Collapsing building kills six persons
Opposition parties urged to respect the rule of law
Vehicular fires on the increase in Greater-Accra
Annan urges PAWA to get its own publishing house
ECOWAS energy experts meet in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 Nov '99
ECOWAS energy experts have began a three-day meeting to review recommendations on the master plan for the development of energy production facilities.
The experts are also discussing interconnection of member states' electricity grids within the framework of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) for adoption by their Ministers on Friday.
WAPP is a sub-regional programme aimed at ensuring an efficient energy supply system that would accelerate development of the region.
About 30 experts are attending the meeting to study recommendations made at an earlier meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The experts will also consider the report of the Executive Secretariat in energy matters from October 1997 to October 1999, examine the framework for the implementation of WAPP and look at the private sector's role in developing regional energy sources.
Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister Responsible for Mines and Energy, asked the experts to come out with workable recommendations, adding that none of the countries represented could ensure total energy efficiency on its own.
He noted that the meeting was coming at an opportune time when most of the countries in the region are recovering from a severe energy crisis that crippled the industrial and manufacturing sectors.
He described the proposal to collaborate as most appropriate, saying, exchanging power appears to be the best way for leaders in the sector to "identify, study and map out" a common strategy that will enable the countries optimise the opportunities that regional co-operation offers.
"Technical efficiency of electricity installations will thus be enhanced and energy requirements met at a much lower cost".
Mr Spio-Garbrah urged member countries to abide by the rules by ensuring that they have adequate reserves on the interconnected network.
However, inter-connection of power grids would be possible only if policies for the development of such facilities are co-ordinated and clear rules on transfer of power through countries' electricity grids of intermediary countries are set, he said.
The Minister said since power generation potential is high and uncertain in some countries, it will not be a sound policy for countries to seek power production capacity in isolation.
"It is gratifying to note that Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria have taken the West African Gas Pipeline Project seriously," adding that "it will ensure that by the year 2002, these countries will have access to long term supplies of natural gas".
He said the project demonstrates how ECOWAS member-countries can benefit from regional energy integration and play a key role in energy supply in the sub-region.
Mr Spio-Garbrah said he had a vision of a gas pipeline, which will span the whole of the West African sub-region, "from Gabon and Nigeria, through Ghana to Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Mali and Senegal.
"A project that transcends the numerous political and trade barriers facing our sub-region today".
Mr Lansana Kouyate, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, said in a speech read for him, that the energy crisis, triggered by drought in West Africa two years ago, brought into focus the precarious energy situation in the region.
He said findings of the ECOWAS Secretariat strengthened the case to promote a regional project for the inter-connection of national electricity grids, starting with the extension of the existing international grid from Cote d'Ivoire to Nigeria.
He said permanent solution would come with the establishment of WAPP.
The adoption of the master plan as well as legal and regulatory framework will form the basis for a rational development of the production capacities and a more secure distribution system.
"This is a necessary step towards the establishment of the West African Power Pool. The West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) now being developed will form a crucial link in the region's thermal power generation".
Mr Kouyate said the advantages of the planned integration of electricity transmission are significant and numerous.
They include the tapping of regional renewable resources for mutual benefit, increased trade between countries, load sharing between utilities, emergency back-up power and peak power savings through day-time power exchange.
Dr Frank Young, Director of USAID, commended ECOWAS Heads of State for initiating the project and added that it is only through appropriate policy, well-managed programmes and partnership that the vision of regional energy independence and co-operation could be realised.
He said USAID and other US government agencies were eager to assist in the achievement of the objectives of generating and distributing affordable and environmentally friendly energy in the sub-region.
Dr Young said the recent and on-going experience with Ghana in the development of the WAGP provides a starting point for future assistance.
In addition to assuming responsibility for the regional aspects of the gas pipeline, USAID's regional strategy will assist ECOWAS countries in the establishment of a regional power pool, one of which is focused on the development of a specific power grid.
"During such an initial phase, USAID may assist ECOWAS and the appropriate countries to develop the administrative, regulatory and policy co-ordination of the regional energy network''.
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B/A anniversary committee apologies to Wenchihene
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 3rd November 99
The planning committee for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Brong Ahafo region has apologised to the Omanhene of Wenchi, Osagyefo Ampem Abrefa Mbore Bediatuo, for not recognizing his role towards the creation of the region.
The chairman of the committee and president of the Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, rendered the apology when he led a delegation to the Wenchihene's palace on Sunday, according to a press statement issued in Sunyani on Tuesday.
The release said the inaccuracies in the recounting of events, which led to the creation of the region, resulting in the omission of the Wenchihene's name from the founding fathers of the region, was "unintentional".
"The planning committee recognizes the special role played by Osagyefo Mbore Bediatuo that led to the cancellation of the intended referendum and brought about a peaceful transition without any civil war", the release said.
The release said Osagyefo Mbore Bediatuo told the meeting that he wanted the history of the region to be corrected and not distorted.
He promised to support the celebration if he was recognized as such and his traditional area given its due place in the history of the region.
The planning committee has accordingly selected the Wenchihene to represent the region in a GTV Adult's Education Programme "So Mu Bi'' to recount his experience and the march towards the independence of the region.
It would be recalled that Osagyefo Mbore Bediatuo held a press conference at Sunyani last week during which he threatened to boycott events lined up for the celebration of the 40th anniversary.
He said he felt slighted by the decision of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs to make it compulsory for some chiefs described as founding fathers, excluding him, to ride in palanquins at the grand durbar of chiefs to climax the celebration of the anniversary.
The decision, however, did not ban the remaining chiefs who wish to ride in palanquins from doing so.
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Collapsing building kills six persons
Nerebehi (Ashanti), 3rd November 99
Tragedy hit Nerebehi, a town in the Atwima District early on Monday when a room in which eight family members was sleeping, collapsed killing six of them.
Madam Afua Dufie, a mother, who escaped with her twin baby girl, sustained minor injuries and was treated and discharged at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
The bodies of the dead have since been retrieved from the debris of the collapsed wall and conveyed to the morgue at KATH for autopsy.
The deceased were identified as Memuna Banda, Hawa Banda, Alhaji Mama and Arthur Hassan, a twin boy, all children of Mr. Attah Alhassan Banda who was also killed in the accident.
Also killed was Miss Adjoa Akyere, a 15-year-old Junior Secondary School Form three student who is the sister of Madam Afua Dufie.
Mr. James Adusei Sarkodie, Member of Parliament for Atwima-Nwabiagya, visited the village to extend his condolences to the bereaved family and visited the scene of calamity.
Opanin F. Y. Apomasu, a spokesman for the bereaved family said the incident which occurred at about 1 a.m. on Monday "is unprecedented in the history of disasters in the area".
He told the MP that the residents rallied round the area, soon after the accident to retrieve the bodies before reporting to the police who conveyed the dead to the KATH mortuary.
The grieve-stricken Mr. Sarkodie appealed to non-governmental organisations, the Atwima District Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and philanthropists to come to the aid of the bereaved family.
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Opposition parties urged to respect the rule of law
Kumasi (Ashanti), 3rd November 99
The Ashanti Regional branch of the Veranda Boys and Girls club has called on opposition political parties to respect the rule of law to ensure the peace and stability of the country.
A release issued and signed by Mr. O. K. Amankwah, the Regional Chairman, warned that if the opposition parties have solutions to the plight of this country, "they must come out explicitly for everybody to know".
It said "if the nation appreciates their solutions to the present difficulties, the electorate will give them the mantle to rule the country, but so far, the opposition have not demonstrated that when given the mantle of power, they can rule this country better".
It wondered why the opposition blamed the low price of cocoa and gold on the world market as well as the rise in the price of crude oil on the NDC Government when they were aware that the prices were affected by external circumstances on the government has no control.
The release referred the opposition to the Second Republic when the then Prime Minister, Dr K. A. Busia told the country that the Education Bill at the time could not be borne by the Progress Party Government alone.
It wondered why at that time the opposition saw nothing wrong with that policy but now sees the same policy as an abomination because it is from the NDC Government.
The statement said the Government has done a lot to open up the country in its developmental drive to the appreciation of the outside world which has culminated in the visit to the country by US President Bill Clinton.
Queen Elizabeth of England and her husband Price Philip are also being expected on November seven.
It said if the opposition parties can solve the economic problems of the country, they must let it reflect in their manifestos instead of resorting to unconstitutional and uncalled for demonstrations and rumour peddling.
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Vehicular fires on the increase in Greater-Accra
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd November 99
The Greater-Accra Region has so far recorded 99 cases of vehicles that have caught fire this year as compared to 75 for last year, Mr. Tony Lawoe, Regional Fire Officer (RFO), said in Accra on Monday.
Mr. Lawoe blamed the situation on the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads in the metropolis, most of which, he said, "have their electrical gadgets not professionally fixed or connected".
He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the region recorded a total of 766 fire outbreaks in 1998, and was optimistic that this year's figure, which stood at 679 by October 24, "will not exceed that of last year".
The Regional Fire Office said property damaged last year amounted to seven billion cedis, as compared with three billion cedis from January to October this year.
The RFO said last year the Fire Station at Amasaman responded to 22 road traffic accidents which led to 89 casualties and 15 deaths.
Mr. Lawoe stated that the present figure for "this year stands at 17, with 62 casualties and 11 deaths", cautioning that "this figure may exceed that of last year if drivers on the Amasaman road are not cautious."
He pledged his outfit's determination to step up its educational campaign on the need to prevent fire outbreaks, adding that given the necessary logistics, "the service will meet the many challenges facing it".
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Annan urges PAWA to get its own publishing house
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd November 99
Mr. Justice D. F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament, on Tuesday called on the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) to explore the possibility of establishing a major African trans-national publishing house to reduce their dependence on foreign publishers.
Speaking at a three day international workshop for members of PAWA on the theme "The African Writer in the New Millennium", Justice Annan said foreign publishers tend to publish works that suit their own interests
He said "African literature, written from the African point of view and published by our own continental publishing house, would be a rich reservoir from which our film makers could produce films that will project our dignity, humanity and the essence of the African writers".
Justice Annan urged African writers to help their political leaders by providing answers to social, political and economic problems that confront the continent thereby lay "a solid foundation for the flowering of African culture in the new millennium".
He said, "on the verge of a new millennium, new hopes, expectations and challenges indicate the need for another kind of dream".
The Speaker said the new African renaissance "is no longer the liberation of African territories from colonial rule and oppression but on the liberation of the African mind.
"The success of this struggle will help to define and confirm not only the freedom and true identity of the African but also the relevance of PAWA in the new millennium".
Justice Annan reminded the writers that they are cultural producers who alone should know best how to ''fight fire with fire'' and urged them to liberate the African who suffered bigotry from the hands of foreigners.
Dr Ojo Madwuke, Nigeria Minister of Culture, said writing is fundamental to social changes and development and that the continent's writers now face a huge challenge in the face of new technologies.
He said Africa, in its efforts to develop, cannot afford to go through the stages that advanced countries went through.
Dr Madwuke said it is only through creativity and making effective use of a strategy that can make Africans join the race at the finishing point "we can also become part of the Global Village. "
Mr. Atukwei Okai, Secretary-General of PAWA in his welcoming address said the love of African literature which has brought the writers together should ginger them to re-define their frontline role of how to respond to the challenges of new technologies.
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