NDC condemns burning of judge's car
Declare Nyakrom Zongo disaster zone, Brimah
Anti-government demonstration comes off November 25 - Mahama
UNDP Provides 345,000 dollars for Ghana’s Ozone programme
Invest in technological knowledge - Lecturers
NDC condemns burning of judge's car
Accra, (Greater Accra) 17th November ’99
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday condemned the burning of Judge Victor Ofoe's car over the weekend describing it as 'reprehensible.'
In a statement issued in Accra on Wednesday, the NDC said it regrets that despite efforts by the government to crack down on acts of vandalism, some base and incorrigible elements in the society will still persist in causing panic among decent citizens whose only offence is that they have the courage of their conviction.
The judge who had earlier in the week passed a 90-day sentence on, Eben Quarcoo, former editor of the Free Press for defaming the First Lady had his car burnt on Friday night in his house by unknown persons. Police say they are investigating.
"The NDC party notes that these elements have a protracted history of verbal assaults on the judiciary whenever verdicts do not go their way," the statement said.
It reassured the public that the NDC would not be involved in any counter-demonstration on November 25 when opposition parties demonstrate against the government's economic policies.
"The Progressive Alliance is a very well focussed group determined to show the way in peace, democracy and decorum, so vital for a stable and prosperous nation," it said.
"It is our fervent hope that our opponents will take a leaf from our vision and give peace a chance, for once", the statement added.
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Declare Nyakrom Zongo disaster zone, Brimah
Agona Swedru, (Central Region) 17th November
The Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, Dr Farouk Brimah on Tuesday called on the government to declare Agona Nyakrom Zongo, a national disaster zone after last weekend's clashes in the area.
Dr Brimah, who is also the MP for Ayawaso East, made the appeal when he led a three-member Muslim parliamentary delegation to asses the extent of damage after last Saturday's clashes between the Zongo community and a section of Nyakrom Youth leading to the burning down of the zongo.
The Deputy Minister advised the two factions to be law abiding and to co-operate with a committee that would be set up by the government to investigate the causes of the violence.
Dr Brimah asked the leaders and elders of Nyakrom to ignore rumours in the town that people from Nima would retaliate saying, "this is false and is intended to create more confusion."
With him were Alhaji Ali Amadu, MP for Attebubu and vice-chairman of Muslims in Parliament, Madam Mariam Salifu, MP for Saburugu and Mr Samuel Oppong MP for Agona West.
The parliamentary delegation was later joined by representatives of the national Chief Imam made up of Chief Salifu, Gonga Chief and president of the Muslims council, Chief Yahya Yandu, paramount chief the Zamerama community and chief Umoru Baba Issah.
Chief Salifu appealed to the government to set up an independent body to investigate the cause of the violence so as to bring a lasting solution to the problem, which dates back to 1958.
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Anti-government demonstration comes off November 25 - Mahama
Wa (Upper East Region), 17th November ’99.
Dr. Edward Mahama, the flagbearer of the People’s Convention Party (PNC), has stated that the anti-government demonstration scheduled to take place in Accra and other regional capitals on November 25, will definitely come on.
He was addressing an extraordinary meeting of the Upper West Women's and youth wings of the party at Wa on Wednesday.
Dr Mahama explained that the demonstration has been planned by the five opposition parties to coincide with the IMF-World Bank meeting scheduled to take place in Accra around the same time.
This, he said, is to send a clear message to the two international monetary institutions that their economic remedies for Ghana had woefully failed to lift the country out of its economic doldrums.
Commenting on the possibility of a counter demonstration by NDC supporters on the same day, Dr Mahama said "no amount of intimidation will make the opposition parties call off the planned demonstration".
He therefore called on President Jerry John Rawlings "to personally ensure the safety of opposition demonstrators on that day, as he would be personally held responsible for whatever happens to the demonstrators on that day."
Madam Victoria Yellu, Regional Secretary of the women's wing of the PNC, re-affirmed the unflinching support of women members of the party and appealed for logistics to step-up their campaign and membership drive.
Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Treasurer of the PNC, urged the youth to rally behind the PNC because it has genuine concern for their plight.
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UNDP Provides 345,000 dollars for Ghana’s Ozone programme
Accra (Greater Accra Region), 17th November, ‘99.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting Ghana with 345,000 dollars to phase out ozone depleting substances (ODS).
Dr Peter Acquah, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced this at a press conference to outdoor postage stamps designed to educate the public on the need to protect the ozone layer.
The stamps, which are in denominations of 200, 550, 800, 1,100 and 1,500 cedis were made with the Ghana Postal Company. They bear the EPA emblem with the inscription "Save the ozone layer 1999" in yellow, green, blue, orange and yellowish-green.
Dr Acquah said three Ghanaian polyurethane foam factories, Ashanti Foam, Latex Foam and Nsawam Foam, are benefiting technically and financially from the UNDP support to introduce environmental quality control measures to ensure occupational health and safety of workers.
He announced that Ghana has been restricted from importing more than 35.6 tonnes of Chloro fluoro carbons (CFCs), environmentally hazardous chemicals, annually.
Dr Acquah said the restriction is in line with the Montreal International Agreement under which all signatories are to stop using CFCs.
He said Ghana has up to the year 2010 to completely phase out the use of CFCs and therefore advised importers, retailers and users to shift to equipment that does not use these dangerous chemicals.
Dr Acquah cautioned importers of CFCs chemical substances to obtain clearance from the EPA before shipment.
Mrs. Jane Asamoah Broni, General Manager in charge of International Services of Ghana Post Company, who introduced the stamps called on the general public to patronise them to enable the company to support more environmental activities.
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Invest in technological knowledge - Lecturers
Accra, (Greater Accra Region) 17th November ' 99
Three lecturers speaking on energy, water, population and food security on Tuesday underscored the need for Ghana to invest in the acquisition of technological knowledge in order to survive the revolutionary globalisation of the 21st century.
The lecturers, Dr Nii Boi Ayibotele, Dr A. Brew-Hammond of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [KNUST] and Professor Samuel Sefa-Dedey of the University of Ghana, said this at a lecture that formed part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra.
Focusing on the theme of the anniversary " Critical Issues and Challenges of the 21st Century", they agreed Ghana has enough natural resources in water, energy and food production.
They said good policies and the set goals embedded in Vision 2020 as well as technological knowledge, could help in attaining this goal.
Dr Ayibotele, a Water Resources and Environmental Consultant, speaking on water, said Ghana has sufficient water resources to carry her to the first quarter of the 21st century but if not managed technologically could result in seasonal water shortages.
He said only a little quantity of water is put to use now and if the discharge of sewage and industrial waste into river bodies cease and the resource is critically managed to meet a healthy environmental pursuits, Ghana will have no problem of water shortage.
Dr. Brew-Hammond, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of KNUST, speaking on energy, said though Ghana has developed hydro sources for energy, it lacks petroleum deposits putting her at a disadvantage with some of its West African neighbours.
He said Ghana could develop solar energy, although it is more expensive than other sources of energy but when it is efficiently produced its technology could be marketed to other countries.
"To stay in a competitive energy market, Ghana cannot afford to abandon technology which will give 10 per cent more of the energy needed in 2020."
Dr. Brew-Hammond said biogas, which can provide about 70 per cent of the nation's consumption needs should be improved within the framework of available technology in collaboration with the private sector.
Professor Sefa-Dedeh, head of Department of Nutrition and Food Science, said in order to have sufficient food to meet the growing population there is a need to improve upon the simple traditional processes of food.
He said the effect of food insecurity lowers all productive elements in the economy and renders almost all activities ineffective, resulting in overty.
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