ECG owes VRA 260 billion cedis
Children appeal for peaceful elections
International Pen protests against arrest of Odartey-Wellington
Sunyani (Brng Ahafo) 08 November 2000
Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Minority Leader in Parliament has expressed strong reservations about the growing public declaration of endorsement and support for certain candidates in the forthcoming elections by some chiefs.
Describing the trend as "dangerous and unconstitutional", he cautioned such chiefs, including Sunyanihene, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, to cease forthwith since such open partisanship undermined the neutrality and respect of the chieftaincy institution.
Mr Mensah, who is MP for Sunyani East, was speaking to newsmen in Sunyani on Monday on recent media reports of some chiefs openly campaigning for certain party candidates.
He cited a news item in the October 28 issue of a national daily in which Sunyanihene, among other things, pledged to use the influence of the traditional council to get the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency elected.
According to the report, Nana Bosoma also accused Mr Mensah of neglecting Sunyani in terms of allocation of projects from the MP's common fund and refusing to meet the traditional council to discuss the development needs of the town.
Mr Mensah said he had no qualms about a chief having personal sympathies for the NDC and its candidates, but it is unacceptable for some of them to openly pledge their support and campaign for the party.
"For openly declaring his support for Captain Adu Nkrumah (rtd), NDC candidate for Sunyani East, Sunyanihene has proved how prejudiced he is against the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
"He should not forget that his public support for this candidate is unlawful, politically naive and could get him into trouble".
Mr Mensah denied that Sunyani has not benefited from his share of the common fund, which he said is only about five per cent of the district assemblies' share of the fund.
He mentioned the Twene Amanfo and Sunyani Secondary schools as institutions in the regional capital that have benefited from his share of the fund.
"Sunyani is a city, and as such most of its problems demand multi-million cedi projects to solve, which my quarter of share of about 14 million cedis cannot undertake".
Mr Mensah said if Sunyanihene really cared to know how he had used his share of the fund, he could contact the district assembly where available records would prove beyond doubt that he had used the money judiciously for the benefit of Sunyani and surrounding communities.
He also denied that he has refused to interact with members of the Sunyani Traditional Council, saying that he had been to Sunyanihene's palace on a number of occasions but each time was told the chief was out.
Mr Mensah urged other members of the council to disassociate themselves from the politics of divisiveness being perpetuated by the Sunyanihene, "since it is this kind of politics that has retarded the development of the region".
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 November 2000
The four bodyguards of President Jerry Rawlings who died in an accident on the motorway were on Tuesday given an emotional farewell when they were buried at the Military Cemetery at Osu.
President Rawlings looked forlorn, his wife Nana Konadu kept wiping tears with a handkerchief and Vice-President John Atta Mills and his wife Naadu gazed with blood-shot eyes as the four bodyguards were laid to rest.
At the burial were the parents, wives and relatives of the dead soldiers who wailed as their simple wooden flag-draped coffins were lowered into their graves to commence their eternal rest.
Corporal Kwame Boateng, Corporal Kwabena Aboagye, L/Cpl Kweku Ewun-Tohma and L/Cpl Martin Kumashie perished in an accident on the Accra/Tema motorway while escorting the President to Akosombo on October 29.
Their remains were brought to the cemetery on top of gun carriages from a burial service at Burma Camp attended by ministers, parliamentarians, top brass of the Armed Forces and people from all walks of life.
A few meters from the gate of the cemetery, their colleagues from the 64 Infantry Regiment lifted the coffins from the gun carriages and stepping slowly to music played by the Armed Forces Central Band, carried them to their final resting place.
Among wreaths that were laid were those by President Rawlings for the government and people of Ghana, Lt-Col E.K.T. Donkor (rtd) Minister of Defence and Lt-Gen. Ben Akafia, Chief of Defence Staff.
Other wreaths were laid by Maj-Gen. Joseph Smith, Army Commander, Mr Ato Dadzie, Chief of Staff Office of the President and Lt-Col. Gbevlo Lartey Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment.
When the officiating priest intoned "dust thou art and unto dust shall thou return," Cpl. Aboagye's mother screamed as soldiers fired volleys of shots in honour of their departed colleagues. There was more wailing when L/Cpl Ewun-Tohma's body was removed from the coffin, to conform with Moslem tradition, and lowered into the grave.
After two buglers sounded the last post, mourners silently left the cemetery, some with their heads bowed and others wiping tears.
Cpl. Boateng has left behind three children and L/Cpl Kumeshie's wife is seven months pregnant. Cpl. Aboagye and L/Cpl. Ewun-Tohma were single.
GRi../
Shama (Western Region) 08 November 2000
Nana Akufo-Addo, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), at the weekend called on Ghanaians to reject the appeal by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be retained in power to enable it to complete its development programme.
He said the 20 years of PNDC/NDC rule had brought about abject poverty, corruption in high places, poor standards of education, expensive health care and mass unemployment. Speaking at a rally organised by the Shama constituency branch of the party at Shama, Nana Akufo-Addo said the NDC has nothing new to offer the nation except that it wants to perpetuate its rule to "cover its evil deeds".
Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Deputy Minority Leader and the Member of Parliament for Takoradi, asked Ghanaians, particularly those in the rural areas, not to be influenced by gifts and promises from the NDC.
She said items such as television and radio sets, wellington boots, cutlasses, and money from the poverty alleviation fund are not permanent solutions to their problems.
Mrs Asmah said "stomach politics" has made some well-meaning Ghanaians to follow the NDC blindly and requested the people to re-assess their condition of living and vote for the NPP, which is capable of leading the country to economic salvation.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 November
2000
President Jerry Rawlings on
Tuesday sent a message of condolence to the Nigerian leader, President Olusegun
Obasanjo, on the tragic accident on the Ife - Ibadan motorway on Monday
claiming about 100 lives.
"I share with the bereaved
families their great sense of loss. On behalf of the people of Ghana and on my
own behalf, I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the government and
people of Nigeria".
President Rawlings called for
collaboration between the two countries to combat the increasing "careless
elements who bring unnecessary death and suffering to innocent people."
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 November 2000
Mr Roderick Allen Pullen, UK High Commissioner, said on Tuesday that his country would continue to assist Ghana's private sector as the government considers it as essential for economic growth.
"Many British companies show a keen interest in further strengthening trade and investment links with their Ghanaian counterparts.
We believe this to be beneficial to both our countries and we shall do all that we can to support and assist them in promoting further co-operation."
Presenting his letters of credence to President Jerry John Rawlings at the State House, Mr Pullen said British technical and development assistance to Ghana this year will be in excess of 50 million pounds. This is focussed in particular on the health and education sectors in partnership with the relevant ministries.
President Rawlings commended the British government for the quick intervention early this year in the Sierra Leonean crisis, which averted the complete capitulation of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.
"I wish to express my appreciation and that of the people of Ghana to the United Kingdom for the economic and moral support which Her Majesty's Government has continued to give to Ghana."
Also in the State House to present his letrer of credence is Mr Allie Essa Bangura, Sierra Leone High Commissioner. He expressed his gratitude to Ghana for helping to maintain peace in his country.
"I would, on this occasion, like to take this opportunity on behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families of Ghanaian soldiers who lost their lives on the various missions in Sierra Leone."
Mr Bangura said Sierra Leone was fascinated by the level of development that had taken place in Ghana within the past two decades. "It is our desire to emulate Ghana," he added.
President Rawlings said the crisis in Sierra Leone has now extended beyond its borders and is threatening to engulf Liberia and Guinea.
He said this development has the potential to destabilise the entire sub-region and must be contained immediately.
"It is for this reason that Ghana has persistently called for the strengthening of UNAMSIL (UN Peacekeeping Force In Sierra Leone) and for it to work closely with the government of Sierra Leone and ECOWAS."
But for the force to be effective, he went on, it must operate at its maximum strength of 13,000 and appropriately equipped.
He welcomed the recent announcement by Ukraine and Slovakia to offer logistic support to UNAMSIL.
Other ambassadors who presented their credentials are Mr
Eui-Min Chung of the Republic of Korea and Archbishop George Kocherry,
Ambassador of the Holy See.
GRi../
Tema Manhean (Greater Accra) 08 November 2000
Five parliamentary candidates for Tema East Constituency in a public debate on Tuesday pledged to ensure environmental cleanliness in Tema township and its environs to befit the status of the industrial city when given the mandate.
They would therefore embark on a vigorous educational drive to create awareness on dangers posed by unhealthy surroundings.
Dr. Frederick W. K. Akuffo, Convention People's Party (CPP); Mr Haruna Quao, People's National Convention (PNC); Mr Steve Mensah, United Ghana Movement (UGM); Mr William Kobb Lumor, National Reform Party (NRP); and Mr Ishmael Ashitey, incumbent MP for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), took part in the forum.
The candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Eben T. Anuwa-Amarh, was however absent though he was invited.
The forum, organised by the Night Palace Club, a youth organisation based at Tema Manhean, was aimed at assessing the candidates to enable them to make an informed choice on December 7.
Dr. Akuffo, a private medical practitioner in charge of Lagoon Clinic, said, when elected as MP, he would place his expertise at the disposal of the people to ensure that they live in a healthy environment.
This he would achieve through constant education on topical health issues in the various communities since knowledge in such issues can lead to improved health and longer life span.
On his part, Mr Quao promised to improve the standard of education by making it cost-effective as well as asking firms and organisations in Tema to adopt schools in the Tema East constituency to provide them with their needs.
The Reform candidate, Mr Lumor, said he would bridge the big gap between the elite and the ordinary people in the constituency by integrating youth programmes in all sectors of the economy.
Under his administration, he said all youth above 18 years would be granted loans to train in vocations of their choice and refund the money when they get established.
Mr Ashitey, NPP candidate, promised to set up a "National Youth Command" to ascertain the credibility of the youth and grant them loans so that they can go into profitable ventures.
Mr Steve Mensah, who is contesting on the ticket of the UGM, said he would build more classrooms in the area to decongest the current crowded ones and give due attention to sporting activities.
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Akosombo (Eastern Region) 08 November 2000
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) owes the Volta River Authority (VRA) about 260 billion cedis for power supplied over the years.
Mr Benjamin Osei Afeng, VRA's director of generation, said this when he explained the relationship between the two companies to award winning farmers and fishermen on tour of the nation's major power generation station at Akosombo.
One of the 61 farmers billed to be honoured at this year's Farmers' Day Celebration, at Wa, wanted to know about the nature of relationship between the two organisations and why VRA does not supply power directly to consumers to reduce cost of electricity.
Mr Afeng said before the construction of the dam, which now provides 850 of the 1,200 megawatts power demand of the country, ECG was already distributing power from generators.
"When the dam was built, it was decided that ECG should remain in business to distribute VRA-generated power. But in the three northern regions and Brong Ahafo, VRA distributes power directly to consumers".
Supplementary hydropower to Akosombo is generated from Akuse in addition to power from Aboadze and imports from la Cote d'Ivoire.
Mr Afeng said the Akosombo power system is in good condition with the water level of the dam at 262.9 feet. Its peak level is 278 feet and lowest operational level is 242 ft. However, the generation director said the cost of installing hydro dams, with its environmental and social impact has become so expensive that thermal plants, which run on gas are preferable options.
Officials of VRA told the GNA that efforts are being made to get ECG to pay its debts.
They attributed the situation to the high level of indebtedness of consumers to ECG, especially state-owned organisations.
The tour, part of the award package for the farmers, enabled them to see how power is generated from the dam.
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Law enforcement agencies asked to help
reduce child trafficking
Sogakope (Volta Region) 08 November 2000
Participants at a workshop at Sogakope to develop a national plan of action for the elimination of child labour on Tuesday stressed the need for sensitisation of the law enforcement agencies to co-operate in curbing the increasing rate of child trafficking.
They noted that the police especially, do not appear to have much knowledge about the operations of child traffickers and therefore do not co-operate with concerned agencies who seek information on these activities.
Mr Klibert Tenghey, Executive Director of African Centre for Human Development, in a report on child trafficking in Ghana, spoke about a growing but subtle phenomenon of child trafficking.
The ILO-sponsored studies indicated that children between the ages of 10 and 15 are recruited from Wa, Bolgatanga, Tamale and Kumasi, by middlemen who promise them well- paid jobs in Accra.
However, these children end up as housemaids, chop bar operators, prostitutes, fishing apprentices, cowboys, among other jobs under very harsh conditions.
Ada, Elubo, Sekondi and Takoradi were identified as transit points for child trafficking with Agbogbloshie market in Accra as the distribution point.
Mr Tenghey called for an extensive research into child trafficking, backed by proper documentation as well as the establishment of inter-country monitoring mechanisms to track down the perpetrators.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 November 2000
Ghanaian children on Tuesday appealed to leaders of political parties to make this year's elections peaceful. They also want the elections to be free and fair and not to be used by any group to stir up hatred, violence or trouble. The children again urged political leaders to use polite language during their campaign programmes.
At a ceremony organised by the UN to remind the parties on the need to protect the interest of children when they are in power, the children called on political leaders to make their needs a priority when it comes to planning and implementing policies.
"On issues that affect us, we want to be given a voice."
The programme, supported by the World Bank, UNICEF, Child Right International and the Concerned Parents and Teachers Association (CPTA) of Ghana, was attended by students' representatives from first and second cycle institutions, street children, children with disabilities and those in difficult circumstances.
Children from different backgrounds who made the appeal concluded: "We want peace to continue to reign in our country. We do not want Ghana to join our neighbours in West Africa where children are suffering from the cruelty and horrors of war fought by adults".
Copies of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the appeal were presented to representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Reform Party (NRP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to serve as a reminder as Ghanaians prepare to go to the polls.
The other political parties - United Ghana Movement, People's National Convention, Great Consolidated Popular Party and the Convention People's Party - were absent.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 November 2000
The Ghanaian Centre of the International Pen on Tuesday said it is dismayed at the arrest and detention of its member, Mr Felix Nii Odartey-Wellington.
The police announced the arrest of Mr Odartey-Wellington in Accra accusing him of making a libellous statement against President Jerry Rawlings on a GTV programme, "Breakfast Show", on Monday.
A statement signed by the President of Pen, Mr Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah expressed "disappointment that the security services are allowing themselves to be used to stifle free speech and expression in favour of a few privileged in our society".
"At a time when the entire nation is preparing and working hard towards peaceful, free and fair elections, the intimidation of journalists and writers by the security services, leaves much to be desired," it said.
The statement reminded all institutions, including the security services, of the wind of political change blowing over the world in favour of democratic development and urged all to desist from tendencies that negate the rule of law and freedom of expression.
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