Don't come near our markets - market women tell demonstrators
Bekwai gets Queenmother after nine years
Clear ambiguity about status of CEPS
Eight billion cedis to for Sunyani roads
God answers every prayer if .........
Eighteen women's groups in Northern Sector given awards
Don't come near our markets - market women tell demonstrators
Accra (Greater Accra), 23rd November 99
The Greater Accra Market Women Association on Tuesday told opposition parties who are planning the nation-wide demonstration on Thursday not to come near any of the markets in the metropolis.
Miss Mercy Needjan, Secretary-General, said at a press conference in Accra that the association's decision stems from past experiences where hooligans took advantage of such marches to harass traders and loot wares.
She recalled the chaotic 1995 "Kume Preko" demonstration in Accra and appealed to organisers to rescind their decision and seek other peaceful means to resolve any differences they might have with the government.
"We wish to note that during the 1995 "Kume Preko" demonstration, the wares of most of our members were looted and we suffered heavy losses. There was also physical injury to those who attempted to protect their wares and as at now some are still struggling to recover from the losses."
Miss Needjan said the country had gone through difficult days where there were shortages of essential commodities and people had to queue for common commodities such as milk, sugar and milo.
"If there are temporary difficulties today, it is only in an atmosphere of peace, stability and the spirit of dialogue that can correct it."
She said the association believes that there are other ways of meeting and holding discussions on issues with the government and these must be explored rather than subjecting the country to chaos and anarchy which often characterise political demonstrations.
Miss Needjan said: "while people have the right to demonstrate to achieve their objectives, we also have our right to trade and go about our business activities in peace.
"As mothers and wives, we contribute in supporting the family and as such our trading activities need not to be disrupted by any group of people.
"We deplore the way people are being transported from nearby villages into the city to take part in the demonstration which would only leave a tale of woes, tears and pain behind without the organisers having any thought of the well-being of their victims."
There was a general consensus among the women to protest vehemently against any act of humiliation, loss of property and injury from the demonstrators.
The five main opposition parties are planning a nation-wide demonstration on November 25, against what they called the mismanagement of the economy by the government.
GRi
Bekwai gets Queenmother after nine years
Bekwai (Ashanti), 23rd November 99
A 47-year old building contractor, Nana Adwoa Pinaman III, has been installed the new Queenmother of the Asante-Bekwai Traditional Area to replace the late Nana Adwoa Pinaman II who died in May 1990.
With her installation by the Omanhene, Nana Karikari Appau II, Bekwai now has the full complement of Chiefs for its traditional set up.
At the installation ceremony, which passed off without incident, the Traditional Council advised Nana Pinaman to join hands with the Omanhene and members of the Council to unite the people and mobilise them for accelerated development.
The Council acknowledged that the eight year bitter dispute over the Paramount stool, which ended with the swearing of the Oath of allegiance by Nana Appau to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Monday, October 25, has had a negative impact on the progress of Bekwai.
What is, therefore, required now is for all to stay away from acts likely to engender a cycle of rivalry, suspicion and apathy.
The Chiefs told Nana Pinaman to ensure that she counsels the Omanhene to bring about peace and orderly development of the traditional area.
The new Queenmother is known in private life as Madam Akua Mfum.
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Clear ambiguity about status of CEPS
Tema (Greater Accra), 23rd November 99
The Senior Staff Association of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (SSACEPS) has stressed the need to address the ambiguity surrounding the corporate identity of the service.
It said, even though, Parliament refused to pass a Bill by 16 to 144 votes, which made CEPS to remain as a public service and not a para-military institution, the service seems to be run as such.
Mr. George Adum-Kwapong, National Chairman of the SSACEPS made the call at the just ended ninth delegates conference of the Association at Tema, which was under the theme, "towards a corporate vision: trade facilitation in the next decade".
He recalled that the Constitution of Ghana (Amendment) Act 1996 was intended to repeal Article 190 (one) by removing CEPS and others from the list of public services in Ghana.
The argument was that some of those services, which have the right to bear arms, could be given orders to comply with in the interest of national security.
Mr. Adum-Kwapong said Parliament's refusal to pass the Bill means CEPS is just like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service.
"The arms we carry is for revenue protection just as forest guards carry arms to protect our forests", he said.
The SSACEPS also said officers have the right to form a trade union under Article 24 of the Constitution for the protection of their interest, adding, "it is unfortunate to restrict the perception of trade unionism to strikes only.
"We need a body to speak for us and bargain for improved conditions of service in the next millennium", Mr Adum-Kwapong added.
Mr. Adum-Kwapong also expressed concern about the new two-year transfer policy introduced by CEPS and called for the retention of the five-year transfer period and a four-year period for officers who work in harsh areas.
He said SSACEPS is of the view that the movement of officers every two years could have undesirable effects on children's education and called for a proactive system, which will ensure fairness, consistency and a humane atmosphere in the family set-up.
CEPS will also have to bear the staggering costs in transfer grants, hotel accommodation and transport to cart 1,600 officers every two years moving en bloc and criss-crossing the entire country.
The delegates said motivation has been at its lowest ebb due to lack of promotions in the service adding that basis under which some officers were promoted on because of 'outstanding performance is incomprehensible.'
Others have never gone through any promotional interview but have been promoted more than twice or thrice within a short period on the basis of outstanding performance and these have dampened the spirit of some officers.
They also called on CEPS management to expedite action on the large number of officers, who have been interdicted without payment of any salaries.
It said some of them have been staying at home for months on flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations although preliminary investigation could not establish any guilt against them.
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Eight billion cedis to for Sunyani roads
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 23rd November 99
The government has voted eight billion cedis for the reconstruction of a number of principal streets in Sunyani to enhance its status as the capital of Brong Ahafo.
This is in addition to the 1.2 million dollars (3.6 billion cedis) that was voted for the construction of the town's ring road which was completed this year under the World Bank sponsored urban three project.
The Sunyani District Chief Executive, Mr. Kwadwo Nyameke-Marfo, disclosed when he addressed a rally organised by the Sunyani East constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Sunyani on Monday.
The rally was to explain to the electorate the unfolding global economic trends which have negatively affected the national economy and measures being taken by the government to find solution to the problem.
Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said six billion cedis of the amount would be spent on roads such as the one from the post office roundabout to the ring road and the street linking the old MTTU through New Town to Point Four Hotel.
The remaining two billion cedis, he said, would be used to construct access roads and a lorry park at the new Bosoma Wednesday Weekly Market. These projects are expected to start early next year.
Mr Nyamekyue-Marfo said the whole of Brong-Ahafo has enjoyed unprecedented levels of development due to the government's good development policies and programmes.
"It is therefore important that the people in the region continue to rally behind the government and refrain from involving themselves in any demonstrations organised by the minority parties."
The Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam said transparency and honesty have always characterised the government's handling of the country's affairs.
Alhaji Adams reiterated the decision by the NDC not to organise any counter demonstration to the one planned by the opposition parties saying "their intended actions are the signs of the last kick of a dying horse".
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God answers every prayer if .........
Klo-Agogo (Eastern Region), 23rd November 99
The Anglican Archbishop of the province of West Africa, the Most Reverend Robert G.A. Okine has said prayers of Christians are always answered by God if they are made in good faith and at the right time.
He was delivering a sermon at a baptismal mass yesterday at the Klo-Agogo Saint Andrews Anglican church in the Yilo Krobo district during a pastoral visit on Sunday.
He explained that the daily survival of any Christian is by the grace of God and forms part of the blessings which God continues to shower on all men.
Archbishop Okine later visited the congregation of Obawale Saint Mary's Anglican church where he advised them to have faith only in God and not in any human being.
He said it is true that God works through human beings "but experience has shown that there are a lot of bad people among those who claim to be doing the work of God."
The Archbishop therefore advised the congregation to be wise to be able to "identify the bad men of God who can lead you astray".
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Eighteen women's groups in Northern Sector given awards
Bolgatanga (Upper East), 23rd November 99
Eighteen women's groups from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions have been honoured for their outstanding performance and excellence at a ceremony in Bolgatanga.
The groups were assessed on their performance and examined in the fields of financial management, civic knowledge, and personal hygiene and literacy skills, dubbed "The Four Literaries".
The awards ceremony was jointly organised by Womankind Worldwide, a British-non-governmental organisation (NGO), which currently supports about 140 women's groups in Northern Ghana and Maata-N-Tudu, women's organisation based in Tamale.
Akara Central Women's Group from Bawku East District, which was adjudged the overall best group, received 2.6 million cedis, while the VEA Abayeta Women's Group in Bolgatanga District, which came second, received 2.08 million cedis.
Mang-Sung Women's Group from Savelugu, Northern Region took the third position and was given 1.56 million cedis, while the Balungu Women's Group, from Bolgatanga District came fourth and got 1.04 million cedis.
Akara Central Women's Group, Balungu Women's Group, and Tsungtaba Women's Group from Walewale and Sugrukomboo Women's Group from Tolon, both in the Northern Region, received 780,000 cedis each for excelling in "The Four Literacies.
Ten other groups, which took part in the competition, received consolation prizes of 260,000 cedis each.
Hajia Fati Seidu, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, who was guest of honour, said women are hardworking but that they needed financial assistance as well as technical know-how to enhance their productive capabilities.
She asked Womankind and other NGO's to extend financial aid to support women's groups.
Dr Helen Pankhurst, Head of Womankind's International Programmes, explained that the awards were aimed at recognising and promoting hardworking groups in the three northern regions with a view to motivating them to attain greater heights.
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