GRi Newsreel 17 - 11 - 99

Rawlings returns from Commonwealth Summit

Accra (Greater Accra), 17^th November 99

President Jerry John Rawlings returned home on Tuesday from Durban, South Africa, after attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The First lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and Mr. J.E. Aggrey Orleans, Ghana's High Commissioner to London accompanied him.

Briefing newsmen, Mr. Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the summit discussed issues of the Commonwealth as well as global ones including international trade, investment, democracy, good governance and human rights.

The meeting was under the theme "People Centred Development: The Challenges of Globalisation."

The summit also marked the 50th anniversary celebration of the modern Commonwealth.

Mr. Gbeho said the summit noted that the concept of globalisation has come to stay and that developing countries must endeavour to live with it.

He said the meeting agreed that globalisation cannot be achieved without stability, security and good governance and urged all countries, especially developing countries, to make it to work.

The Foreign Minister said the forthcoming World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Seattle, US would be very crucial to developing countries and urged them to take advantage to open up and have access to the world market.

He said developing countries should aim at penetrating the market with their industrial and agricultural products and press for the maintenance of subsidies as pertains in the developed world.

The Summit urged member states to work assiduously to make democracy, good governance and human rights achievable in their countries.

"The Commonwealth is a club of democratic countries and has no place for countries which practice anything otherwise."

On Pakistan, the Summit agreed that she should continue to stay out until they see evidence of a return to democracy.

"Any government that comes to power unconstitutionally will be treated in the same manner."

The Minister said the Summit also discussed Cyprus, Guyana, East Timor and Angola as well as social issues on children, arms conflict, debt cancellation, corruption and AIDS.

President Rawlings, the Minister said, was very vocal on corruption saying, "one cannot talk of good governance without addressing the issue of corruption."

The meeting elected the Foreign Minister of New Zealand, Mr Don McKinon as the new Secretary General.

The next summit would be held in Camberra, Australia.

The President and his entourage were met on arrival by the Vice-President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Ministers of State, Service Commanders and Members of the Diplomatic Corp.

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Jamaican Prime Minister arrives

Accra (Greater Accra), 17^th November 99

The Jamaican Prime Minister, Mr Percival James Patterson, arrived in Accra on Tuesday for a three day official visit.

Prime Minister Patterson was accompanied by an eight-member delegation including Mr. Collin Campbell, Minister of Local Government, Youth and Community Development, Ambassador Evadne Coye, Under Secretary for International Relations.

He was met on arrival by the President Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, the First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Vice President Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State.

Also at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister were Ministers of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Ben Akafia and a large number of students and people from all walks of life waving miniature Ghana flag.

Prime Minister Patterson was met at the gang way by President Rawlings after, which the Nai Wulomo, Numo Tete II poured libation for his safe arrival.

President Rawlings and Prime Minister Patterson mounted the dais for the national salute, after which the Jamaican leader inspected the guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Ghana Airforce.

Four officers and 60 men under the command of squadron leader Evans Santrofie Griffith formed the guard of honour. A 19-gun salute boomed at the background.

While in the country, Prime Minister Patterson will hold bilateral discussions with President Rawlings at the Castle, Osu, lay a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and tour the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles.

He will also receive some chiefs and queen mothers of the Ga Traditional Area and meet with the Caribbean Community and tour the Akosombo and Akuse dams.

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Canadian agency pledges support for Upper East Region

Bolgatanga (Upper East), 17^th November 99

The Canadian Government is to assist the Upper East Region mitigate the hardships imposed by the recent flooding and help the region to find a lasting solution to its perennial food shortages.

Areas for the assistance would include food production and storage, post harvest management and income-generating activities.

Mr. Jonathan Arnold, Development Officer of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), speaking at a meeting of a team from the Agency and district chief executives in the region in Bolgatanga on Tuesday said the project will last between 10 to 15 years.

CIDA will collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations in the region to avoid duplication.

The District Chief Executives called for a programme to ensure the construction of houses that can withstand the area's extreme weather conditions.

They said some of the displaced people are staying with relatives while others are still living in social centres and market stalls.

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MP appeals for massive support

Accra (Greater Accra), 17^th November 99

Mrs. Grace Coleman, MP for Afigya Asokore, has appealed to the people to critically analyse the economic and social problems of the country and vote massively for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2000 elections.

Addressing new executives of the Dade Kotopon branch of the NPP at La, Mrs. Coleman said Ghanaians should not be swayed by gifts to return the government adding, "a bad decision taken just a day would end up with you facing another four hard years of economic depression of the NDC government".

She called on members of the party not to see their political opponents as enemies but should rather explain the realities on the ground to win them to their side.

Nii Badu Botchway, Constituency Chairman, outlined strategies to ensure victory for the party.

He said a council of elders has been formed while members in 80 polling units out of 109 in the area are organised.

Nii Botchway commended Mr. Sylvester Mensah, MP for the area for committing 10 million out of his 28 million-cedi share of the 1997 common fund towards the establishment of an education endowment fund.

He said however that the people are yet to see what he has done with the allocation for 1998-99 for the benefit of the community.

Members of the executive include Mr. Mohammed A. Issahaku, vice chairman, Mr. Addo Moses, secretary while Mr. Addai Mensah is assistant secretary.

Mr. Victor Dotse is treasurer, Mr. Edward Asante, financial secretary, Madam Emma Tetteh, organiser and Mr. Kwartey Quartey assistant organiser.

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Young Elephants Club withdraws decision to defect

Tamale (Northern Region), 17^th November 99

Ten members of the Northern Region Young Elephants Club of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were said to have defected to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) have rescinded their decision.

They said their alleged defection was a ploy hatched by a prominent business and newspaperman from the north who lured them to Accra, put them under pressure and manipulated them into signing documents of their defection.

At a news conference at Tamale on Tuesday to announce their stand, a spokesman for the defectors, Mr. Iddrisu Musah Superior, said after careful reflection the group felt their conscious would not allow them take such a stand.

Explaining the circumstances that led to the defection, Mr. Musah Superior said when they got to Accra they were personally received by the National Chairman of DPP, Mr. Dan Markin who gave them a warm reception and coerced them into signing documents to give credence to their defection.

They were made several offers and promises including visas to the US, big sums of money and had their transport fares paid.

Mr. Musah Superior said on their return to Tamale, they realised that the Progressive alliance was using money to influence people from other parties to defect.

They said after carefully taking stock of the episode they felt the guiding principles of the NPP was a legacy from their fathers adding that they cannot allow money to influence them to abandon their just course.

Mr. Musah Superior apologised to the entire membership of the NPP for their action and immaturity and appealed that they should be accepted in good faith.

Mr. Armiyao Harruna and Mr. Owusu Ampadu, Regional Secretary and Treasurer who were present said that they are being accepted into the NPP fold as "prodigal sons".

They said the party is conscious of moves by other parties to influence members its members to defect adding that it is adopting strategies to counteract such moves.

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Mike Gizo meets with Houston business Delegation

Accra (Greater Accra), 17^th November 99

Ghana needs 800 million dollars to enhance its historical, cultural, and leisure potential to enable her to compete favourably with more established tourist destinations.

Some of the features that need to be developed are the forts and castles, which has already seen collaboration with UNESCO by designating them as world heritage sites.

Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism told a five-man Houston, Texas, US Business Delegation currently visiting the country at the Ministry on Tuesday.

The five is part of a 23-member delegation currently in the country to explore business and joint venture opportunities and will be meeting stakeholders in order to arrive at a consensus on which areas to invest.

"The slave route project, which has attracted a lot of attention from the Diaspora is another sector that has been given a lot of attention by this Ministry."

Mr. Gizo said in the field of eco-tourism the Ministry has identified and marked 15 new parks that have the potential to be developed into national parks.

This will also check the rate of degradation of resources in these areas.

Mr Gizo said the sector has grown from 20,000 tourist arrivals in 1985 to the over 300,000 arrivals 1999 adding that the target is to hit the million visitors mark in the near future.

He urged them to collaborate with their Ghanaian counterparts to explore areas that would be beneficial to both parties.

A member of the delegation, Mr. Shun Siddiqi said he has been able to locate a suitable site for the construction of Holiday Inn Hotel and asked the Minister to furnish him with the necessary information on the tourist spending and demand on hotel rooms.

The Minister said Accra alone has a shortfall of about 4,000 beds.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Houston Partnership, Mr Aaron Smith said he is exploiting the possibility of setting up a fast food franchise at the airports in the country and at vantage sites in the city.

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