Ghana produces less cotton than Burkina Faso
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National Information Technology policy in the offing
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Carpenters commend Speaker of Parliament
Opposition to rock nation on 25 November
Ms Addo decries showing of objectionable films
Opposition to rock nation on 25 November
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Nov ’99
Four opposition political parties on Thursday postponed their joint demonstration originally scheduled for 4 November, to 25 November.
The intended demonstration was to draw attention to what they called ''the government's lack of policy direction.''
This was contained in a statement signed by four parties and read at a press conference by Mr Peter Kpordugbe, Interim Chairman of National Reform Party (NRP). The others are the New Patriotic Party, Peoples National Convention and the Convention Party.
The UGM was represented, but was not a signatory to the document.
Dr Edward Mahama, presidential candidate for PNC, Mr S.A. Odoi-Sykes, chairman of NPP and Mr Felix Amoah, chairman of CP, were present and signed for their parties.
The parties said they were jointly organising the demonstration because the problems confronting the country are of national dimension." Our parties are co-operating to initiate mass action to protect democracy.
"We relish the opportunity of open and fair competition against each other and against the NDC in 2000.
"It is in order to preserve the possibility of such an orderly transition from NDC rule that we are working together today".
The parties said they would meet any counter demonstration squarely although they would wish that their action would be peaceful.
The opposition parties said it was not their duty to find solutions to the nation's problems when they are not the ones in power, adding: "we cannot give promises that we cannot fulfil."
The parties demanded that the government should initiate greater consultation and openness in the policy formulation and implementation process and should withdraw the increases in hospital user fees.
They also asked for the "immediate withdrawal of increases in University academic user fees for the 1999 -2000 academic year and the institution of a democratic process for determining how tertiary education will be funded in the years to come".
The demands are that a freeze should be put "on all layoffs and redundancies in the public sector including layoffs and redundancies associated with the divestiture of SOEs and to stabilise ex-pump price of petroleum products by reducing petroleum taxes.
They however admitted that meeting of those demands might not necessarily improve the quality of life for Ghanaians but "it will however demonstrate a basic sensitivity to the hardship and create an environment in which the kind of collective rethink of our economy the government is calling for possible".
They declared "we shall continue after this date to mobilise the people of Ghana to protest against the mismanagement of the national economy, corruption and the hardship imposed on them if government fails to meet these basic demands."
GRi../
Ms Addo decries showing of objectionable films
Akropong-Akwapim (Eastern Region) 5 Nov ’99
The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Patience Adow has observed that the kind of films shown on television screens these days and at video houses are highly offensive and damaging to the minds of children.
She therefore called on parents to live up to their social obligations and help check these new trends in the information technology as it is bringing child prostitution, drug addiction and juvenile crime in its trail.
This was contained in a speech read for her at the inauguration of the Akwapim North District Committee on Children at Akropong-Akwapim in Wednesday.
The Akwapim North District Committee on Children was the first to be inaugurated among 40 of such committees in selected district assemblies throughout the country.
The District Committee on Children was expected to focus attention on issues that hinder the proper development of children and deal with those issues locally.
Ms Adow suggested the establishment of unit committees within the districts to tackle child-related issues and to report to the district committee.
Ms Adow urged the District Committee to allocate sufficient funds for the formation of school clubs to educate school children on their rights.
Mrs Betty Akuffo-Amoateng, Executive Secretary of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) called on district assemblies to develop a data bank on children, identify the sources and peculiarities of problems that hinder the development of children in their districts and to address them.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Nov. ’99
Millicom Ghana Limited, a mobile phone operators, on Thursday presented a cheque for five million cedis to the National Disaster Management Organisation(NADMO) to assist flood victims in the three Northern regions.
Mr Stanley Okoh, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, said the company was moved by the plight of the victims when the company launched its services in Tamale.
He said the donation is to help NADMO assist the displaced people who have suffered through no fault of theirs.
Mrs Eunice Asamani Osae, Director of Administration, NADMO, said the floods have affected people who live near rivers in the Upper West and East regions, the Northern Region, the Volta and the Brong Ahafo regions.
She thanked Mobitel for the gesture and appealed to other organisations to come to their aid .
GRi../