GRi Newsreel Ghana 01 - 11
- 2000
NPP will defend rights of all – Kufuor
Mills: My experience will facilitate
development
CPP sends message of condolence
Ministry lifts ban
on movement, slaughter of pigs
Northern Region
coordinating council receives service personnel
Runaway driver still not found
Lawra Assembly rejects
President's nominee
Cabinet approves
Bills to regulate Lake Transport
Rawlings receives message from Mali
President
Central Region NDC calls for investigation
into accident
I did not bribe election officer – MP
NPP will defend rights of all – Kufuor
Adoagyiri (Eastern Region) 01 November 2000
The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, on Monday assured Ghanaians that under his administration, everybody's rights would be respected and defended irrespective of their religious or ethnic background.
He therefore, dispelled speculations "by some mischievous people" that an NPP government would repatriate people living in the "Zongos".
Addressing a rally at Adoagyiri near Nsawam, Mr Kufuor promised that the party would not engage in divisive politics to destroy the fabric of society.
He said the NPP would abide by the ECOWAS charter, which encourages the free movement of goods and people within the sub-region to facilitate socio-economic development.
The rally formed part of a weeklong tour of the Eastern Region, which has already taken him to Suhum, Coalter, Nankese, Akim Sekyere, Anyinam, Kwabeng, Abomosu and Abakoase.
Mr. Kufuor asked why the party would choose a homegrown "Zongo boy" as his running mate and harass his people when it wins the elections.
He said Akyems and Krobos, for instance, have been living together in peace for a long time without problems and advised other ethnic groups to emulate this.
Mr Kufuor accused the government of mismanaging the economy, which has resulted in poverty, unemployment, diseases and hunger.
He said an NPP government would reverse the trend as well as prop up the cedi to accelerate economic development.
At Anyinam, he appealed to the electorate to vote for the party to transform the country to meet their aspirations.
The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa, Nana Akuffo-Addo, said the country needs a new government, which would make health care accessible to the people, create jobs for the youth and allow people to develop their potentials in a congenial atmosphere.
At New Jejeti and Suhum, Mr Kufuor formally introduced the party's parliamentary candidates for Atiwa, Dr Bimpong Yeboah and for Suhum-kraboa-Coaltar, Mr Ransford Agyepong to the electorate.
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Mills: My experience will facilitate
development
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2000
Vice President John Atta Mills on Monday said his experience in governance would facilitate national development if elected as the next president.
He said despite the lies of the opposition about what they claim is mismanagement, the chances of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December elections are higher than before because of its track record and ability to brave the storm.
Prof. Mills, who is the NDC's flag bearer, was addressing a rally at Abelenkpe in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Accra.
"The indications are good. We are going to genuinely defeat them. We'll win hands down. The battle for a convincing victory in Abelenkpe has begun. Our forces are ready," Vice President Mills declared, amid cheers from his audience, who included senior government officials and the party's top notches.
He asked them to go all out and explain policy objectives in the party's manifesto to the people without fear of threat or intimidation from the opposition.
Prof. Mills restated that the government is against corruption and said the "wheels of justice will turn soon" to expose the truth.
He said in as much as he admits the government is made up of human beings, who cannot all be perfect, he also believes "the so-called angels are not only found outside the NDC."
He expressed regret that the opposition does not find it worthwhile mentioning some of the government's bold efforts to improve the system but only picks on situations that suit them.
Prof. Mills dismissed the notion that government takes delight in frivolous spending and makes no effort to curtail expenditure.
He said the chunk of government's bills goes into the provision of basic human amenities for the people, especially those outside the cities who produce food to feed the nation.
Vice President Mills reiterated his call for peace, unity and stability during the elections saying it should be the responsibility of every Ghanaian to guard against violence.
The parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Mr Elvis Afreyie Ankrah, urged the electorate to intensify the house-to-house campaign "to convert more souls into the party."
He noted that there are more floating voters who have not made up their minds. "We should explain the party's policies and programmes to them," he said.
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CPP sends message of condolence
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2000
The Convention People's Party (CPP) said on Monday that the motorway accident in which four bodyguards of the president and one civilian were killed is symptomatic of the general state of lawlessness, including traffic offences, which has gripped the country.
In a message of condolence signed by Nii Noi Dowuona, General Secretary, the party said the motorway, which used to be the envy of Africa, has over the past few years been reduced to "a very dangerous path" on which traffic regulations are violated with impunity.
"The CPP wishes to stress that respect for law and order is a pre-requisite for national development and greater social responsibility and pledges to work in earnest to stamp out this canker from the society," it said.
The party expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and the Ghana Armed Forces.
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Ministry lifts
ban on movement, slaughter of pigs
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November
2000
The Ministry of Food and
Agriculture on Tuesday, announced the conditional lifting of the ban on the
movement of pigs in and out of the Greater Accra, Central and Volta regions
with immediate effect.
It also lifted the ban on the
slaughter of pigs and sale of pork in the three regions, according to a
statement signed by Dr M. Agyen-Frempong, Acting Director of Veterinary
Services.
However, pigs can be moved only
after they have been subjected to veterinary inspection and a veterinary
movement permit has been issued, it said.
Pigs can be slaughtered only in a
slaughterhouse or slabs after veterinary inspection and issue of veterinary
slaughter permit.
The Ministry last year slapped the
ban following the outbreak of African Swine Fever.
"After almost one year of
strenuous effort, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is satisfied that the
disease has been effectively controlled and eradicated."
The ministry said the ban on the
importation of pigs and pig products from the West African sub-region into
Ghana is still in force.
It urged the security agencies to
be very vigilant to ensure that the ban is rigorously enforced.
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Northern Region
coordinating council receives service personnel
Tamale (Northern Region) 01
November 2000
The Northern regional
Co-ordinating Council on Tuesday received the first batch of 75 national
service personnel posted to the region.
The second batch of 115 personnel
was expected to arrive later to bring the total to 190.
Welcoming them, Mr San Nasamu
Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister said over the years, the region had
had a problem of getting its fair share of service personnel.
He attributed the situation to
certain misconceptions and biases about the northern region, but said all these
have changed and the region was progressively making strides in attracting the
personnel.
Mr Asabigi congratulated them on
what he described as "your admission into the university of life".
Mr Asabigi said one of the
objectives of the national service scheme was to provide a basis for national
unity and integration, and urged the personnel to uphold this idea by working
to help bring the people together.
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Runaway driver still not found
Tema (Greater Accra) 01 November 2000
The Tema police said they have not found the driver of the Urvan mini bus, which allegedly crossed the presidential convoy resulting in the death of four persons, 48 hours after the accident, and have asked the public to co-operate in their investigations.
They said they are still combing Ashaiman and surrounding areas and expect the public to help with information since the bus was carrying passengers at the time of the accident.
President Jerry Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu escaped unhurt but four presidential guards died when crossed the president's convoy on the Accra-Tema motorway from an unapproved road.
DSP John Agboado, Tema Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit told GNA that 24 drivers of Urvan mini buses who were arrested in connection with the investigations were granted bail after statements were taken from them.
Meanwhile Mr Agboado said three drivers who were arrested on Monday for using the unapproved route where the accident occurred were fined 200,000 cedis each when they appeared before a Tema community tribunal.
The drivers, Robert Tagbolo, Charles Akuoko and Peter Osei-Bonsu pleaded guilty.
Members of the Tema and Accra District Security Committees on an inspection of the accident scene arrested a taxi driver, Samuel Nsiah, when he tried to join the motorway from Ashaiman.
Another driver, Kotey Ashison, with a vehicle loaded with wooden boards was also arrested when he tried to cross onto the motorway. Mr Agboado said the drivers would be prosecuted.
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Lawra Assembly
rejects President's nominee
Lawra (Upper West) 01 November
2000
Madam Rebecca Akua Sabri, on
Monday failed her second bid to get the Lawra District Assembly's approval to
become the first female District Chief Executive in the Upper West Region.
She polled 28 out of the 46 votes
cast, narrowly missing the 31 votes required to secure a two-thirds majority,
in an election conducted by officials of the Electoral Commission.
Madam Sabri 51, an assistant
director of education, at the Lawra District Directorate of the Ghana Education
Service, failed to obtain two-thirds in the first vote held on October 18, when
she polled 22 with 20 against out of 42 votes cast.
Addressing the assembly after the
result had been declared, Mr Bede Ziedeng, Upper West Deputy Regional Minister,
who supervised the election, urged members not to let the outcome of the vote
divide them, but rather work in unity with a sense of purpose.
The Deputy Regional Minister
assured them that the President would give them another nominee.
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Cabinet approves
Bills to regulate Lake Transport
Tepa- Abotoase (Volta Region) 01
November 2000
Cabinet has approved two bills,
the Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana Shipping bills, for enactment into
law to regulate lake-transport in the country.
Mr. Steve Akorli, Acting Minister
of Roads and Transport, announced this in an address read on his behalf at the
inauguration of a branch of the Boat Owners and Operators Association at
Tepa-Abotoase in the Jasikan district on Monday.
He explained that the Bills would
provide the legal and administrative framework for the effective enforcement of
safety measures in lake-transport.
The Ghana Shipping bill has
comprehensive provisions for regulating transportation on the lake while the
Maritime Authority bill provides for the establishment of a lake traffic
control unit, with suitably sited outlets to carry out monitoring, surveillance
and strict enforcement of safety regulations.
Mr Akorli said the formation of
the association, which was at the initiative of President Jerry Rawlings, would
facilitate the enforcement of safety regulations and improve the lake transport
sector in the aftermath of frequent fatal accidents as a result of human
errors.
According to a Volta River
Authority (VRA) statistics, over 300 lives were lost and property worth
millions of cedis destroyed in accidents on the Volta Lake between 1994 and
1999.
In June last year, over 70 people
died in an accident about two nautical miles from Tepa-Abotoase, while 13 died
in a similar circumstance in June this year.
The Minister exhorted branches of
the new association to embark on a self-policing drive pending the creation of
the lake transport control unit.
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Rawlings receives message from Mali
President
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday expressed concern about the post-election killings in Cote d'Ivoire and said the sub-region should step up efforts to curb the crisis before it gets out of control and spills over.
"What is happening in Cote d'Ivoire is a shock to many people but to some of us it is not a surprise. It has been simmering for many years," he said, when an envoy from the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Alpha Konare of Mali, delivered a special message to him at the Castle, Osu.
The message, delivered by Mr Madibo Sedebe, Foreign Minister and Chairman of ECOWAS Security and Mediation Council, centred on conflict areas in the sub-region.
These are Sierra Leone, the tension between Liberia and Guinea and the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire. Mr Lansana Kouyate, ECOWAS Executive Secretary, accompanied the Foreign Minister.
President Rawlings said Ivorians have been blaming foreigners for their problems and, on a number of occasions, went on the rampage and killed several of them, including Ghanaians.
"When they were killing Ghanaians and others, the world kept quiet. Now, they are killing themselves and the world is hearing about it. We have to sit up, analyse and contain the situation before it spills over."
About seven years ago, an incident at a football match in Kumasi between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Asec of Abidjan provoked a riot in Cote d'Ivoire.
Rampaging Ivorians went after Ghanaian residents in their country killed several of them and either burnt or looted their property.
President Rawlings said it seemed the "cold-blooded killing is declining" and that Ghana is willing to collaborate with other ECOWAS member-countries to bring normalcy to that country.
Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State in charge of National Security, said the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire "is of deep concern for Ghana as we share borders".
He said: "Now, the situation is not critical but dicey so it should be well managed."
He said the looming conflict between Liberia and Guinea, each accusing the other of harbouring dissidents, is worrying.
"All these conflicts add up to the insecurity in the sub-region. We also have to move quickly in Sierra Leone. It is important we tackle security issues in the sub-region to allow for peace and development."
Mr Sedebe said the security situation was impeding the sub-region's economic integration, adding: "We have to tackle security and integration at a go. The two go together".
Mr Kouyate spoke about indiscipline in Africa and said in many countries citizens do not take into account "the national interest and cohesion".
"Indiscipline is not only seen on our roads. It is seen in many spheres of national life," he said.
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Central Region NDC calls for investigation
into accident
Cape Coast (Central Region) 01 November 2000
The Central Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into Sunday's accident involving the presidential convoy on the Accra-Tema Motorway that claimed the lives of four soldiers.
In a statement issued at Cape Coast, the party condemned the irresponsible behaviour of the driver of the Urvan bus whose sudden intrusion onto the Motorway from an unapproved route resulted in the accident.
The statement, signed by the party's Chairman, Mr Kofi Mintah, expressed gratitude to God for saving the lives of President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, who have worked through thick and thin to improve the living conditions of their countrymen and women.
It called on the President and the First Lady not to be daunted by the accident but continue with their good work.
It also expressed its heartfelt condolence to the families of the presidential guards who perished in the accident.
"Though their death was painful, we take consolation from the fact that they died in the service of the nation and therefore have joined martyrs who shed their blood for the wellbeing of their people and are resting in the bosom of the almighty God," the statement added.
It wished the injured a speedy recovery.
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I did not bribe election officer - MP
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 November 2000
Mr Samuel Oppong, Member of Parliament for Agona West, on Tuesday denied having played a role in an alleged bribery scandal at Bobikuma in the Agona District of the Central Region that cost an election officer his job.
The member described the allegation as part of a "dirt smearing campaign" being orchestrated by his political opponents and threatened: "I have taken it seriously".
A Ghana News Agency story that appeared in the Ghanaian Times edition of Monday, October 30, had it that Mr. H.M. Nkrumah, election co-ordinator of Bobiban, had been sacked after receiving a carton of soap from Mr. Oppong as a gift intended to influence him.
The MP said he had no idea how Mr Nkrumah looked like neither had he at any time sent him any soap.
He said about three months ago, he visited the town as part of his campaign tour and met a group of teachers whom he sent a few cartons of soap after promising to deliver at a later date.
The member, who is a professional teacher, said he made the promise because he felt he needed to build closer ties with his colleagues.
He said if the said Mr. Nkrumah was among the teachers to whom he sent those cakes of soap, then he wished to assure his constituents that the gift was meant for his fellow teachers and not to influence any election officer.
Mr. Oppong said he had in the past taken many groups such as tailors and hairdressers on educational tours to places like Parliament to help them appreciate how these institutions work.
He advised other aspiring Members of Parliament in his constituency not to peddle lies about him but rather tell the electorate how capable they are to raise their standard of living.
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