GRi Newsreel 18 - 11 - 99

Rawlings holds banquet for Jamaican Premier

Accra (Greater Accra), 18^th November 99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday night said that Ghana and Jamaica have embarked on fruitful co-operation since his official visit to the Caribbean nation two years ago.

President Rawlings visited Jamaica in August 1997, as the Special Guest for the celebration of Emancipation Day, which marks the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834.

''Today, Ghanaian nurses are working alongside their Jamaican counterparts in Jamaica. Also, as a result of the co-operation agreements that were concluded during my visit, it is gratifying to observe that the Ghana/Jamaica Joint Commission has now become a reality''.

He was speaking at a banquet in honour of Mr. Percival James Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica, who concludes a three-day visit to Ghana on Thursday.

President Rawlings noted that more significantly, the visit laid the foundation for mutual co-operation and enhanced the prospects of the countries competing effectively in today's globalised market.

''We need to learn from each other's experiences in the process of economic and political transformation of our respective countries to avoid repeating mistakes, which will slow down our progress".

President Rawlings expressed the hope that discussions between the Ghana and Jamaica delegations would motivate the private sectors of the two countries to take advantage of available opportunities.

''On our part, we are ready to welcome investors and entrepreneurs from your country who are interested in sectors such as tourism and agriculture''.

President Rawlings said Ghana was pleased with the ''principled position taken by your country and other sister Caribbean countries against attempts to undermine the unity and cohesion of the ACP member countries during the on-going post-Lome 1V negotiations''.

He gave the assurance that West African countries would work with Caribbean nations to retain the unity and integrity of the ACP framework for development and global co-operation.

Mr. Patterson in an emotional response said he has been moved by the reception accorded him since his arrival.

He said it was indeed a welcome ''reserved for a brother. A son who is home at last''.

Black Jamaicans trace their ancestry to Ghana. Their forefathers were taken to the Caribbean Islands to work in the mines and on sugar cane plantations during the era of the slave trade.

On relations between the two countries, he said "Rawlings and Patterson would come and go but the friendship between Ghana and Jamaica must remain".

President Rawlings conferred the state honour of Companion of the Order of the Volta (Honorary Division), on Mr. Patterson in recognition of his "contribution to the advancement of developing countries and the strengthening of the historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean''.

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Accountants blamed for weak management of districts

Accra (Greater Accra) 18^th November 99

Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, on Wednesday said that the management capacity of district assemblies is weak mainly because of the level of accountants.

He was speaking at the launching of a research report on "the perception of the decentralisation policy" conducted by GHANALERT, a Non Governmental Organisation and sponsored by DANIDA.

The Minister said that funds at the inception of the district assemblies common fund in 1994, was very low as compared to present huge sums, which in most cases are beyond the level of some of their accountants.

He noted that the report confuses the district assembly concept with the decentralisation policy and said, "the district assemblies only represent the democratic political frame work for the implementation of the decentralisation policy".

The distinction is important "because you can have decentralisation without democratisation", he said adding that the combination of the two constitutes the Local Government Reform Programme.

Mr. Ole Blicher-Olsen, Danish Ambassador, said the focus of Danish assistance is to ensure an improvement in the standard of living of the people especially those in rural areas.

He said this explains the assistance to the decentralisation policy being implemented by the government.

Mr. Ben Ephson, Executive Director of GHANALERT, said the study was to find out how Ghanaians understand decentralisation.

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Elect leaders who can ensure victory - Hagan

Koforidua (Northern Region), 18^th November 99

An aspiring presidential candidate of the Convention Party (CP), Professor George Hagan, has reminded delegates to the party's forthcoming congress that their choice of leaders would be crucial in determining the fortunes of the party in next year's elections.

He asked constituency executives of the party in the Eastern region on Tuesday, to elect a presidential candidate and a chairman, who can lead the party to win the elections adding vote conscientiously or "live to regret it later".

The party is scheduled to hold the congress at the weekend to elect a chairman and a presidential candidate for next years' general elections after it failed to do so at its congress last July.

Prof. Hagan, former Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon called on Christians to disabuse their minds that politics "was for crooks", saying that, "the character of the leadership of a nation has a lot to do about your living conditions.

"If you don't have a God fearing ruler the nation will not have the peace for you to worship your God."

He said a CP government under his leadership would pursue Nkrumaist policies of free education and health care, social justice and selective agricultural subsidy to eradicate ignorance, poverty and disease.

Prof. Hagan, who is on a nation-wide tour, said a CP government under his leadership would launch a moral revolution to rid the country of corruption and anti-social vices in public service and the society and ensure equitable national development.

He gave the assurance that all constituency and regional offices of the party would be well established and given logistics for effective campaigning within four months if he is selected.

Dr Abubakari Alhassan, one of the two contestants for the post of national chairman, deplored rumours of monetary gifts to potential delegates by some candidates to solicit votes.

"If we do so, what moral justification do we have to accuse the NDC of corrupting the electoral process?" he asked.

Dr Alhassan declared that a CP government would find the means to provide free education and health care for the people.

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Elmina and Falmouth to establish relations

Elmina (Central Region), 18^th November 99

Elmina in the Central Region is to establish a sister city relationship with the city of Falmouth in Jamaica.

The visiting Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. Percival J. Patterson announced this at a durbar held in his honour at Elmina, as part of his day's visit to the region.

Mr. Patterson told the durbar, which was held in front of the Elmina castle that despite "our ancestors being taken away by force, today I have returned voluntarily".

The Prime Minister said he was delighted to see familiar faces and extended greetings from the children of Jamaica to the children of Elmina, who lined the streets to welcome him.

Mr. Patterson, who said he first came to Ghana in 60s as a student, called for the strengthening of economic and cultural ties between Ghana and Jamaica as well the exchange of teachers and students between the two countries.

He told the people "we belong to one great family and our roots are deep in the bowels of mother Africa".

Welcoming the Prime Minister, the Edinahene Nana Kodwo Condua VI asked him to consider the visit as a pilgrimage to his ancestral roots, to pay respects to his ancestors and draw inspiration for spiritual fulfilment.

The Omanhene said although such bilateral visits are very essential to strengthen the linkage between Africans on the continent and Africans in the Diaspora, more could be done in terms of trade and investment, which "our brothers in the Caribbean can take advantage of.

"I believe your visit will pave the way for progressive investments and concretise the relationship between our two countries".

The atmosphere at the durbar grounds was one of joy among the visitors, when the Fire Service Band struck one of Bob Marley's tunes "Man to Man" and both the old and the young joined in the singing and dancing.

The Prime Minister and his entourage later toured the Elmina and Cape Coast Castles, both world heritage monuments.

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Jamaican Premier meets with Caribbean community

Accra (Greater Accra), 17^th November 99

The visiting Jamaican Prime Minister, Mr. Percival James Patterson on Wednesday said African leaders must speak for themselves on global issues rather than relying on others to do it for them.

This he said is because Africans are better acquainted with problems affecting them and can present them better than anybody else.

The Premier was speaking in Accra during a meeting with about 120 members of the Caribbean community in Ghana.

He noted that the focus and pursuits of the present day Commonwealth is different from the one that existed about 50 years ago.

"The Commonwealth was established to promote the welfare of member nations but while we continue to meet to discuss such issues, Africans continue to live in poverty and deprivation.

"We must, therefore, determine to make our voice heard and use our hearts, soul and spirit to change our very existence".

He made reference to the forthcoming World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference in Seattle, US, and called on African leaders to use the platform to present issues affecting them.

Mr. Patterson identified some common ties between Ghana and the Caribbean and said "even though we are found on different sides of the Atlantic, nothing prevents us from forging together for a common goal".

On cultural issues, the Premier said for centuries, both countries have experienced neglect that has not been corrected in decades of independence but "our creative potentials can be pooled for our common good".

Mr. Patterson advised members of the Caribbean community to make contributions to the development of Ghana and also be worthy ambassadors of their nations.

Some members of the community asked questions on reparation to be paid to Africa by those, who engaged in the slave trade and colonialism, arms invasion in Africa, establishment of a Jamaican embassy in Ghana and dual citizenship for Jamaicans.

Earlier, Mr. Patterson had laid a wreath in memory of W. E. D. Du Bois at the Du Bois Memorial Centre, where he met the Caribbean community after which he toured the library and tomb.

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MP calls for independent enquiry into shooting

Accra (Greater Accra), 18^th November 99

Mr. James Adusei Sarkodie, MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya in the Ashanti region, on Wednesday called for an independent inquiry into last Saturday's shooting incident at Barekese, in which a driver of a truck loaded with sawn lumber, was killed.

"This has become necessary to help unravel and establish the truth for the law to take its due process.

In a statement issued to the press in Accra, Mr. Sarkodie said his call followed a visit to the scene of the incident and interactions with some of the residents.

" The Police account of the incident as published by both the "Daily Graphic" and the "Ghanaian Times" of November 16, sharply contradicts what the people say."

He said information at his disposal points out that there was no struggle between the deceased and Police Sergeant Samuel Boadu, but the Police report suggested that the gun went off and killed Iddrisu Mahama during a scuffle.

The statement quoted an eye witness as saying the incident attracted an irate mob, some of whom had travelled on trucks all the way from nearby Kokoti, to vent their anger on the Police, who fled for their live with their families.

"They vandalised the doors and windows of the local Police station, as well as the personal belongings of the officers and their families.

The MP wondered how the incident which occurred at a roadblock mounted in front of the Police station could not have been dealt with expeditiously.

"In as much as flagrant disregard of the law and wanton destruction of the country's forest resources should be condemned and discouraged, it is important that the right and sanctity of life is respected".

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