President Rawlings confers with security personnel
Ghana Armed Forces undertake mock military exercise
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 06 November 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings said on Friday that constitutionalism under multi-party democracy "is a fertile ground for an increase in corruption, lawlessness and disorderliness in the society".
"It is against natural justice and offends the conscience of the society when the truth is being twisted and stifled, with social injustices and economic malaise raging on unchecked in the name of multi-party democratic system of government."
The president, who is on a three-day campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region, was addressing a durbar of officers and men of the security services at Sunyani.
President Rawlings said that until the advent of the June 4, 1979 Uprising and the 1981/82 revolution, the entire fabric of the Ghanaian society was retrogressing.
"The reverse is the case now because the two military interventions have taught Ghanaians some lesson, he said, adding that army officers are now tried by their own peers.” The interventions, he noted, have restored control, law and order in the Armed Forces.
President Rawlings stressed that he has no power over the courts or what the constitution of Ghana says since the authority to try cases and adjudicate on issues are constitutionally invested in the judiciary.
He, however, noted that much as neither he nor any Ghanaian is above the judiciary, the courts must be seen to be acting reasonably in the interest of the state.
The president emphasised that it does not serve the national interest if a man who was alleged to have stolen one million dollars belonging to the state is granted bail by the court with a paltry sum of money below what he stole.
President Rawlings expressed regret that the country annually destroys and replaces 200 billion cedis because of the mishandling of the currency notes by fishmongers, petty traders and other categories of Ghanaians.
He blamed this problem on corruption, explaining that when more coins were being minted and put into circulation, some people were also melting them for jewellery.
"Though corruption is one of the causes of Africa's misery, the advanced nations must stop blaming Africa for her woes.
"Their own officials have been condoning and supervising the hoarding of the monies belonging to some African countries in hard currencies by certain past leaders like the late Mobutu Sese Sekou of former Zaire.
Earlier, the president, who said he was highly impressed with the neatness and cleanliness at the Liberation Barracks where the durbar was held, promised to institute an award for good sanitation practices in the country's security barracks.
He commended the officers and men at the barracks and asked them to keep up such environmental practices.
Lieutenant Colonel Martin Owusu-Ababio, Commanding Officer of Three Garrison, Sunyani, said in a welcoming address that it was gratifying and re-assuring "to see the president in such a healthy condition" despite the accident he had a few days ago. On behalf of the officers and men, he wished the president and the First Lady well.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 06 November 2000
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Sunday carried out a mock military operation at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and the headquarters of Ghana Telecom in Accra to determine what they called their state of preparedness to protect key installations in emergency situations.
The scenario of the exercise, code-named "Bold King", was that the KIA and Ghana Telecom head office had fallen into enemy hands. The General Officer Commanding, Southern Command, had to use a task force of battalion strength to recapture these installations.
Each combat team comprised infantrymen, airborne personnel, armoured troops, anti aircraft and special forces, with air support. Rubber bullets in M16 rifles were used. At the KIA, Lieutenant Colonel William Ayamdo explained to newsmen the various manoeuvres.
While airforce planes and an Augusta 109 helicopter hovered above, with sporadic tree line flying to spot dissidents, ground troops positioned at vantage-points, to shell and consolidate their gains.
A utility helicopter was also at hand to supply war needs and to convey wounded personnel to an emergency hospital.
At the Ghana Telecom, Lieutenant Colonel E.K.T. Donkor, Minister of Defence was briefed on the action.
Major General Francis Yahaya Mahama, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command described the exercise as successful.
He said similar exercises have already taken place at Bundase and Kumasi, as well as in border towns. A section of the public has condemned the exercise describing it as an attempt to intimidate the Ghanaians in the run-up to the December 7 election.
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Techiman (Bron Aafo) 06 November 2000
Mr Goosie Tanoh, flagbearer of the National Reform Party (NRP), said at the weekend that his government would increase food production and support agricultural-processing industries for economic growth and create more jobs for the people.
Mr. Tanoh was addressing supporters of the party at Tuobodom, Aworowa and Techiman in the Techiman North and South constituencies as part of a five-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
"The Reform Party has clear priority areas for action in agriculture and crops that are related to food security, price stability and processing potential for industrial growth will be targeted."
The flagbearer said that under the party's agricultural policy, more extension workers would be made to work in the districts with the view to increasing food production.
The key to the party’s economic success will be the use of national resources to pay for social investment and support for targeted sectors, including the elimination of corruption and waste in government spending, and 25 per cent more spending on social services, the NRP flagbearer added.
Touching on education, Mr Tanoh said the NRP would provide more Ghanaians with requisite skills and knowledge through a policy that would make education affordable for all householders.
"The cost of education in first and second cycle institutions will be made free to ensure that the people work for economic growth and development," the said.
Mr. Tanoh advised NRP supporters to avoid taking in alcohol on the election day to be able to closely monitor the proceeding to ensure a sound victory for the party.
Mr. Tanoh introduced his running mate, Mr. Cletus Kosiba, to the electorate.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 06 November 2000
The flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Kufuor, on Friday reiterated his party's call on the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure transparency in the electoral process.
He said this would save the country from the kind of civil disobedience experienced in Yugoslavia and Cote d'Ivoire.
Mr. Kufuor said majority of the people are yearning for a change in the political direction of the country to relieve them of the hardships they been enduring under the almost 20-year rule of President J.J. Rawlings.
Mr Kufuor was speaking at a rally at Koforidua to climax his six-day campaign tour of the region.
The tour took him to the Afram Plains, Fanteakwa, Kwahu South, North Birim, Yilo, Manya, Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar, East Akim and Akwapim South districts.
Mr Kufuor blamed the falling value of the cedi to low exports resulting from the government's bad economic policies, saying an NPP government would turn the situation around in its first four-year term. "We will attract investors and provide employment for the unemployed youth", he added.
Alhaji Aliu Mahama, running mate to Mr Kufuor, assured Zongo residents that an NPP government, would not expel them from the country saying, "we are all one people in West Africa under the ECOWAS treaty, which we shall uphold."
He said the NPP has the right calibre of people to implement alternative policies that would be pursued to improve the living standards of the people.
The MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, dismissed as vain, the NDC’s argument that the country's problems would worsen if any other party comes to power.
He said the NDC is at its wit's end in finding solution to the country's problems and they have to bow out peacefully to allow a more competent team to take over.
The MP for Abuakwa, Nana Akufo-Addo told the electorate to reflect critically on the pledge by Prof. Atta Mills to continue with the NDC policies saying, if they accept that position it only means that they would continue to experience poverty and hardship which have been their lot under the NDC. Mr Kufuor formally introduced the party's parliamentary candidates for the region.
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Tadieso (Brong Ahafo) 06 November 2000
Mr Moses Kofi Boakye, Convention People's Party (CPP) parliamentary candidate for Techiman South, has called on the electorate not to repeat the mistakes they made in 1992 and 1996 by voting for the NDC in the December 7 election.
Instead, they should vote for the CPP, which stands for peace and prosperity, is committed to the ideals, philosophy and vision of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first president of the Republic of Ghana.
Mr Boakye made the call at separate rallies at Nsonkonee, Twimia, Adiesu, Bomini, Dwomo Number One, Forikrom and Tadiesu in the Techiman South Constituency as part of his campaign tour of the District.
It was the CPP government that liberated Ghana from colonialism by leading her to achieve independence in 1957, he said.
A CPP government, he said, would create an enabling environment for farmers to obtain long-term loans with low interest rates from the banks and assist them to form strong associations.
On education, Mr Boakye noted that Ghana is endowed with some of the best brains world-wide but these are not being tapped because of bad educational policies.
Mr Boakye said education, which is the pivot of development, has been neglected under the present system in Ghana, making its future very bleak.
The CPP, he said, has come to revive the hopes and aspirations of especially the youth and the nation at large.
The parliamentary candidate urged the electorate to give the CPP the mandate to transform the country with new and better policies.
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Adugyama (Ashanti Region) 06 November 2000
Mr Stephen Kwaku Ballado Manu, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahafo Ano South has said the party will subsidise inputs to boost agriculture and revamp the agro-industrial base if voted into power.
The MP was speaking at the inauguration of a branch of the Young Elephants Movement (YEM), a youth wing of NPP at Adugyama in Ahafo Ano South district.
He said the party would also abolish the cash and carry system and institute a health policy that will ensure a reliable health care delivery.
The NPP will reform education to conform to current developmental trends and make sure that teachers and workers in the sector are well paid.
Mr Manu, who is the party's parliamentary candidate for the area, assured the electorate that if given the mandate again, he would ensure that a cannery factory is established at Sabronum to process vegetables produced in the area.
The MP dispelled the notion by the party's opponents that the NPP is ethnic-based, saying that NPP is a broad-based party, which derives its membership and support from all ethnic groups with diverse religious and social background.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 06 November 2000
Ms Akua Britwum of the Netright Coalition of Women's Groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Ghana, on Saturday called for a strong coalition of all women civil society organisations and the National Council on Women and development (NCWD) to commit political parties to fulfilling their electoral promises of addressing women's issues.
She was speaking on "The relationship between women civil society organisations and political parties - opportunities for advocacy in an election year", at a day's seminar organised by Abantu for Development, a gender-oriented African NGO, for various women's groups in Kumasi.
Ms Britwum said although various NGOs have spared no efforts at whipping up the interest of women in politics, most of these efforts have been uncoordinated, with none building on a previous one to create a systematised campaign for pursuing women's inclusion in politics.
She said such a networking will therefore harness efforts for a greater impact in this election year.
She said the timing offers a good environment for advocacy since political parties eager for votes are receptive to demands of sections of the population who wield a considerable influence in the constituencies on how people should vote.
Ms Gloria Ofori-Boadu of the Federation of Women Lawyers said FIDA, with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), has organised a two-fold programme aimed at promoting an enabling environment for women's participation in politics through a broader campaign targeted at political parties, the media, civil society and women's groups.
The second part of the programme, she said, is aimed at providing skill training in campaign techniques, fund-raising, communication, knowledge of electoral processes and voter simulation for sitting women MPs and campaign managers, youth and women leaders.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 06 November 2000
Major-General Henry K. Anyidoho, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Northern Command, has cautioned cadet corps against using their membership to either attempt undermining school authorities or causing unrest on campuses.
"Being in the cadet corps does not give you any license to either bully students outside the corps or to champion the cause of organising demonstrations against school Authorities."
This was contained in an address read for him by Captain Francis Arthur, Commanding Officer of the "A" Company of the Fourth Battalion of Infantry (4BN), at the inaugural ceremony of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School Cadet Corps in Kumasi on Saturday.
Captain Arthur reviewed a parade mounted by the cadet. Its inauguration formed part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee celebration of the school.
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Kenyasi Number Two (Brong Ahafo) 06 November 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Friday exhibited rare humility and unprecedented political courage when he went down on his knees before a large crowd and pleaded for forgiveness for Mr Baah Dankwah, National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Asutifi North constituency.
Mr Dankwah, who is the sitting MP for the area, is alleged to have distanced himself from the people, creating a very poor working relationship between him and his constituents.
The constituency has thus become a "no-go area" for the NDC even though the MP is seeking re-election.
President Rawlings disclosed that similar problems exist in other parts of the country and appealed to the people to forgive offending MPs for the sake of the survival of the party.
When the president stood up a few moments later, he pleaded with the electorate: "I am demonstrating to you that you are the kingmakers and we have to respect your power and do your wishes".
But the people responded with mixed feelings.
President Rawlings was addressing an NDC rally jointly organised by the Kenyasi Number One and Kenyasi Number Two branches of the party as part of the President's three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
He invited the MP, who is the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance, to follow his example to which he obliged. He knelt down and asked for forgiveness for his mistakes.
President Rawlings said he had noticed "clear signs of anger" on the faces of some of the people during the exchange of greetings on his arrival and that he would try to win their hearts and minds by telling the truth and doing what is right.
He advised the people to reject the lies, rumours and vain promises of the opposition parties and remain loyal to the NDC.
The President assured the people that there are procedures to replace their MP "but this can be done only after the elections since it is too late to replace him now".
Referring to the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the forthcoming elections, President Rawlings said Professor Atta Mills and Mr Martin Amidu are the "only assets for the country" and that the rest are all liabilities.
He attributed indiscipline in the society partly to the misuse of press freedom and said the situation could be stopped by changing portions of the constitution "which can be done if the NDC wins the elections".
Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Minister of Works and Housing, said the people should vote for the NDC to enable it to continue with its rural development programme.
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Awutu-Ofaankor(Central Region) 06
November 2000
Mrs. Hanna Serwah Tetteh-Kpodar,
NDC parliamentary candidate for Awutu/Senya, has called on the people to vote
overwhelmingly for the NDC in the December 7, elections to ensure lasting peace
and stability in the country.
Addressing the chiefs and people
of Awutu-Ofaankor, near Kasoa, as part of her campaign, Mrs Tetteh-Kpodar, said
efforts should be made to protect the peace and stability of the country.
She stressed the need to encourage
more female participation in parliamentary duties and promised to render
dedicated and honest service to the people of the area when they give her their
mandate.
Addressing a similar rally at
Winneba, Mr Nii Ephraim, Effutu Constituency Chairman of the party, charged
supporters of the party to intensify their community and house to house
campaign as the election draws near.
He gave the assurance that the NDC
would win the polls in the area "hands down" and called on supporters
of the party to penetrate the ranks and file of other political parties. Mr
Ephraim warned NDC members to desist from acts that could lead to violence.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 06 November
2000
Dr Nathan Shamuyarira, former
Zimbabwean Foreign Minister, on Friday said globalisation could overwhelm
African states unless they merge their economies.
They should also join the protest
against the negative policies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and to
co-operate with Africans in the Diaspora to promote Pan-Africanism.
Dr Shamuyarira was speaking on
"Pan-Africanism and the challenges of globalisation" to mark the
Third Pan-African Writers' (PAWA) Annual Lectures in Accra.
The lecture, which was chaired by
Professor T. A. Olu Otunla, Special Advisor to President Olusegun Obasanjo with
Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, a renowned Ghanaian playwright, was part of activities
for the Eighth International African Writers' Day.
Dr Shamuyarira, who was also
Zimbabwean Minister of Industry and Commerce, said political and economic
concerns of the 53 African states are of no significance to the strong
continental and regional unions in Europe, America and Asia.
He stressed the need for African
Unity adding, "unity is possible as long as the political will is there
and the people see the benefits of economic integration."
"The WTO is an instrument of
the West to replace colonialism with marginalisation of developing countries
adding, "it also affects workers in developed countries, as industries
relocate to areas with cheaper labour and inputs".
He charged Africans to join mass
protests against Organisations like WTO and events like those, which recently
happened in Seattle in the United States and Prague in the Czech Republic.
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Manso-Nkwanta (Ashanti Region) 06 November 2000
The Amansie West Justice and Security Sub-Committee, in conjunction with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has organised a day's forum on political tolerance before, during and after the December 7 elections.
Political parties, the Judicial Service, Electoral Commission, assembly members and chiefs attended it.
Mr Daniel Kwabena Sarpong, Amansie West District Director of NCCE, said it has been realised that some people are apathetic when it comes to exercising their franchise, therefore the need to sensitise them to turn up and vote on election day.
He stressed that tolerance is a key factor in democratic dispensation, adding that every citizen of voting age has the right to join a political party of his or her choice.
He said the district directorate of the NCCE has embarked on educational programmes aimed at educating the public on the need for tolerance in the run-up to the elections.
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