GRi Newsreel Ghana 14 - 11 - 2000
IGP to deal with election violence or loose
his job
Ghana's labour movement to have Labour
Commission
NDC, NPP accuse each other of starting
violence
Ghanaians urged to ensure peaceful election
- Civil society
PNC inaugurates 60 zonal youth wings at Bolga Central
Journalists support right to information bill
IGP to deal with election violence or loose
his job
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 November 2000
President Jerry Rawlings has requested the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to submit to him within 72 hours a detailed plan on how he proposes to deal with any further provocative acts by supporters of all political parties.
A statement issued by Mr Jimmy Amissah, Secretary to the President, on Monday said the directives remind the IGP of his statutory responsibility to maintain law and order as well as ensure the individual security of all law-abiding citizens.
"As IGP, you will take personal responsibility for any inaction on the part of the Police and in consequence you may be called upon to relinquish the position," the directive said.
The president said it is his expectation, however, that he will live up to the challenge.
The directives called the attention of the IGP to the persistent reports of violence and lawlessness around the country resulting in serious injuries to members and supporters of the National Democratic Congress in particular.
President Rawlings said the IGP should ensure that where arrests have been made, the law should take its course.
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Havedzi (Volta Region) 14 November 2000
Construction Work at the Keta Sea Defence site at Havedzi has come to a halt for the third day running following a sit-down strike by the workers in demand for unionisation under the Maritime and Dock Workers Union (MDU).
They are also demanding the introduction of risk, night and overtime allowances and a stop to alleged racist attitudes of the expatriate staff.
When the Ghana News Agency visited the project site on Sunday, most of the over 200 Ghanaian workers were wearing red arm and headbands.
Their spokesman, who wants to be anonymous, said though they have completed arrangements for their unionisation under the MDU, Mr Garry Shark, the Project Manager has taken an entrenched position that they could only unionise under the Civil Engineering and Construction Workers Union.
He said the refusal of management to formally employ them through appointments and the delay in their unionisation make it difficult for them to bargain over issues affecting them.
The spokesman said they are neither paid overtime, risk allowances nor allowed public holidays. They are marked absent when they are sick and officially attend hospital.
He said sometimes they are kept working from 6am to 3am the following day apart from having to work under water in the night to change anchor for the dredger to move.
According to the spokesman the workers are paid between 450 and 716 cedis per hour without overtime while the project manager gets 400 dollars monthly allowance for his dog.
He said social security deductions are made on their salaries even though management has not demanded their social security numbers.
On the racism allegation, the spokesman said the expatriate staff often address them as stupid, lazy and useless Negroes, adding that recently an expatriate staff poured water on two workers who were resting during break hours.
The spokesman further alleged that management refused to assist the security man who was recently shot by armed robbers to attend hospital to have the bullet removed from his body.
He said 12 workers have been dismissed under questionable circumstances. Mr Shark declined any comments on the workers' allegations.
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Ghana's labour movement to have Labour
Commission
Tema (Greater Accra) 14 November 2000
A Labour Commission that will see to labour issues is expected to be in place when the new Labour law comes into effect, Mr Austin Gamey, a Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said on Monday at Tema
The Labour Commission will be independent of government control because it will not be directly responsible for the law.
Mr Gamey was speaking at the opening of a four-day seminar jointly organised by the Textile, Garment and Leather Employees Union (TGLEU) and the Pan-African Federation of Textiles and Clothing Workers (PAFTCW) for members in the textile sector.
The seminar is under the theme "The Textile Industry in Ghana, Problems and Prospects: The role of Government, Manufacturers, Labour and Distributors".
Mr Gamey said currently, the labour bill is expected to be laid before parliament when it resumes in the middle of December, hoping that it would not be long before it is passed because its contents have been agreed upon by all parties concerned.
Under the new labour law, there will be freedom of association, which will allow employers the freedom to select their own representatives. This will help stem labour conflicts such as the one between TGLEU and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU).
Women will also be allowed to play major roles by being in the forefront of labour matters.
In a speech read for him, Mr Dan Abodakpi, Minister for Trade and Industry, noted that the successful growth and transformation of the economy demands efficient and optimal use of existing resources to sustain and improve competitiveness.
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NDC, NPP accuse each other of starting
violence
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 November 2000
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) branches in the Ayawaso Central Constituency in Accra on Monday accused each other of attacking their supporters and vandalising property.
On Sunday, people alleged by the NDC to be NPP supporters attacked and destroyed various items at the NDC constituency office. These included a computer, a telephone, a typewriter, tables and chairs, flagpoles and posters.
In a counter charge, the NPP also alleged that a group of NDC members attacked the house of the MP for the area, Sheik Ibraham Quaye who is the NPP parliamentary candidate.
When the GNA visited the Tesano police station to verify these claims, a crowd of NDC supporters had gathered there to report the incident.
The district commander of the Tesano police station, Superintendent Alhaji Farouk Ashun said the matter is under investigations.
He said the police have inspected the scene, forms have been issued to the injured persons to seek medical treatment and that both factions have been invited to give statements.
Alhaji Siad Sinare, an NDC constituency party stalwart and former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, said the incident happened on Sunday evening.
He alleged that at about 1700 hours, Sheik Quaye and his brother Mr Mohammed Quaye organised about 500 people armed with cutlasses to destroy the NDC constituency office and its equipment valued at 50 million cedis.
He said the attackers injured some supporters of the NDC and he personally had to fire warning shots to scare them off before he could escape.
"I escaped death by a hair's breath. I had to fire warning shots before I could run away."
Alhaji Sinare said the gang later destroyed "CNN Base", a spot for the NDC youth in the area, and vandalised the tailoring shop of the ward organiser, Ahmed Annan.
Asked what the reaction of his supporters to the attack was, Alhaji Sinare said the matter has been reported to the police and they are awaiting the outcome of investigations.
He said he and some of his supporters know the assailants.
"Tension is high. No arrests have been made. If we had retaliated, we would have demolished their office which is opposite ours."
Alhaji Sinare said the NPP leadership have to call their supporters to order and pay for the damage that has been caused.
He said if the perpetrators are not handed over to the police, the issue will assume a different dimension.
"This is not the first time Sheik Quaye has done this. He did it in 1992 and 1996, now he is repeating it."
When the GNA got to the scene, spectators and sympathisers of both parties were on either side of the road and the atmosphere was tense. At the NDC constituency office, there were signs that it had been vandalised. Tables, chairs, benches and office equipment had been broken, with the flag poles uprooted. The NDC constituency chairman was not available for comment.
Narrating his account of the situation, Sheik Quaye dismissed the NDC's accusations against him saying they attacked his household.
At a news conference at his residence, only a few metres from the NDC constituency office, Sheikh Quaye said: "It seems to us that there is a sinister plan aimed at instigating us to violence, or to be used as a pretext for disrupting the current political process and perhaps (force) us out on the political campaign."
He said that the NDC parliamentary candidate for the area, Mr Issaka Amon Kotei, Mr Sinare and Mr Sumailah Dickson, the assemblyman for the area and some NDC supporters attacked his household, threw stones, destroyed structures and beat up some members of his household.
Sheik Quaye alleged that Mr. Sinare brandished a pistol, threatened them and fired two warning shots.
"It was an unprovoked attack on my house, where I have lived the whole of my life."
Shiek Quaye asked: "Why were they in my house? Why were they armed with a pistol and offensive weapons? Mr Amon Kotei and Mr Sinare don't live anywhere near the vicinity.
"The NDC in this constituency are known to be liars, they can go and vandalise their own place to give the impression that we attacked them. They could have injured themselves in the process."
He said the NPP has so far exercised restraint to avert violence. Sheik Quaye said the NPP's principle is to address issues through dialogue and peaceful exchange of views and that the constituency would do its best to ensure that a peaceful atmosphere is maintained during the elections.
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Ghanaians urged to ensure peaceful election
- Civil society
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 November 2000
The Civil Society Coalition on Monday called on Ghanaians to note that it is their civic responsibility to protect the constitution of the land and to ensure peaceful election and sustainable democracy to benefit all.
In a communiqué issued in Accra, the coalition urged Ghanaians to exercise their franchise, avoid all forms of violence and be vigilant.
It noted with concern the recent development on the political scene and media reports that seem to indicate intolerance, especially by political parties and their supporters.
The communiqué acknowledged the fair coverage of political party activities, especially on state television and radio, noting that there is still, room for improvement.
It was, however, not happy that a section of the media is being accused of inflaming political passions.
It recommended that the media be adequately resourced and the National Media Commission (NMC) be allowed to oversee the activities of the media, adding: "no other authority should arrogate to itself such responsibilities".
"The FM station at Berekum, which has been reportedly closed down by the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council, should be allowed to resume transmission immediately in order not to deny the people of Berekum and it environs the right to vital information," it added.
The media, it said, should be objective and circumspect in their coverage. The Communiqué called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure transparency in cleaning the voters' register so as to build public confidence in the electoral process and in the commission.
"The EC should as a matter of urgency come out with statements on what is going to happen to eligible voters who do not have photo identity cards at the time of voting."
The EC, it said, has the sole responsibility of declaring results and called on it to do so without delay. Political parties should, however, be free to compile results to cross-check with that of the EC's.
The communiqué entreated political parties to abide by the code of conducts they have themselves ratified and uphold the rule of law.
They must also appoint knowledgeable and dedicated people to represent them at the polling stations and embark on an extensive educational campaign to defuse tension during and after the elections.
The security services were urged to avoid any form of intimidation and be non-partisan in the exercise of their duties.
It said the military should not be involved in the conduct of Election, adding that, "as much as possible, the police and other security agencies should be used".
To the Judiciary, it recommended that the Chief Justice should designate a special court to deal expeditiously with electoral offences during and immediately after the elections.
The civil society coalition is made up of 17 organisations including the Trades Union Congress, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Bar Association, and the Ghana Employers' Association, among others.
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Aliu calls for peace, tolerance
Akwatia (Eastern Region) 14 November 2000
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Aliu Mahama has called on members of the party to exercise restraint even in the face of provocation by opponents.
This, he said is necessary because peace is vital for a successful transition from the present to the next administration and after.
Speaking at forums at Akwatia, Boadua, Nkwaakwaakrom Number four, Asubone and Anweaso during a campaign tour of the Akwatia constituency, Alhaji Mahama said the NPP would assume the reins of government come next January 7, ''because from all indications we will win the December 7 elections''.
He said throughout the country, there is a yearning for positive change, adding that the only credible alternative to the NDC, which has failed the nation, is the NPP.
Alhaji Mahama attributed the sorry state of the national economy and the resultant suffering of the people to bad governance by the NDC and said the NPP has the ability to turn the economy around and improve the lot of the people.
He said the ballot box is the most civilised way of electing and changing governments and asked Ghanaians to prove their maturity by removing the NDC from power since it has ''terribly let the people down''.
The Vice Presidential aspirant asked the electorate to reject ''the vile propaganda by opponents of the NPP that when the party comes into power it would expel all aliens from the country''.
Alhaji Aliu said the party has no such intention and explained that under the ECOWAS protocol, every West African should consider any part of the sub region as his or her home.
He said an NPP government would revamp the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Limited at Akwatia to play its expected role in the economy and create jobs. Alhaji Aliu paid a courtesy call on Akwatiahene, Barima Kofi Boateng III.
The chief used the occasion to send messages of best wishes to President Jerry Rawlings and NPP flag bearer Mr J. A. Kufuor following their escape from recent motor accidents.
He extended his condolences to the families of the dead and wished the injured speedy recovery.
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Klagon (Greater Accra) 14 Nov. 2000
Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, MP for Tema West, has called on Ghanaians to avoid tribal voting in the impending elections and rather vote for competence.
Mr Aidooh, who was addressing a mini-rally of the NPP at Klagon on Sunday, said Ghana has gone beyond the stage where people vote for parties simply because the leadership is from their region.
He appealed to Ghanaians who have attached tribal sentiments to the NPP that it is an Ashanti party to discard that notion and vote the NPP to power.
Urging Ghanaians not to vote for Vice-President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the NDC presidential candidate, Mr Aidooh said he is the head of the country's economic management team, which has pursued wrong policies leading to a collapse of the economy.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 Nov. 2000
The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday denied that it is still using the voters' register compiled in 1991/2, saying that has been discarded.
It is rather updating the register compiled in 1995, a statement signed in Accra by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mr H.B. Ampomah, said.
The statement said the Electoral Commission was reacting to a statement by Mr J.H. Mensah, Minority Leader in Parliament, that the EC was still using the 1991/92 register.
Mr Mensah made the statement on JOY FM's "Front Page" programme last Friday.
The EC said the Electoral Law requires the revision of the register periodically and replacement every 10 years.
"The commission has been revising the register since 1996," the statement said. It called on political parties and individuals to view the removal of unqualified names from the register as a collective responsibility and called for support in that direction.
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Winneba (Central Region) 14 Nov. 2000
The Great Consolidated Popular Party's parliamentary candidate for Effutu, Mr Alex Kweku Adu, has announced his withdrawal from the December 7 general election and asked his followers to vote for the NDC.
At a meeting with about 200 members of the party at Winneba to discuss how best members of the GCPP could collaborate with the NDC to ensure a landslide victory in both the presidential and parliamentary elections, Mr Adu said his action followed intensive tour of the constituency a fortnight ago to acquaint himself with development projects, which the NDC government has implemented for people in the Effutu Traditional Area over the past four years.
Mr Adu said after a careful study of the good works that the NDC had done for people in the Effutu constituency, he felt it was better for him to throw his weight behind the NDC government for more development projects to be extended to the area when it retains the seat.
He denied that the NDC had influenced him to support its cause, Saying: "what I am saying is correct and any doubting Thomas who wants to challenge it should take the pain to go round and inspect the projects I am talking about".
Mr R.R.R. Amponsah, NDC activist, thanked Mr Adu for his wise decision and promised that NDC members in the constituency would team up strongly with his members to canvass for more votes for the party.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 14 Nov. 2000
The People's National Convention (PNC) parliamentary candidate for Bolgatanga Central, Mr David Apasera, has urged the electorate not to accept apologies from politicians who claim they went wrong during their tenure of office and therefore need pardon.
Mr Apasera was addressing a rally organised by the PNC Zongo Youth at Bolgatanga at the weekend during which 60 zonal youth executive of the party drawn from 10 zones in the Bolgatanga Constituency were inaugurated.
He asked the people to accept gifts like kerosene, machetes, bicycles and rice given them by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because they were bought with the taxpayer's money but asked them to vote against the party.
He contended that monies used to purchase those items could have been directed to support education, health and agriculture to boost the country's ailing economy.
The PNC candidate condemned the cash and carry system, which, he said, has taken the lives of many capable Ghanaians.
He also criticised the high cost of education and said schooling has become a privilege for a handful of Ghanaians.
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Elmina (Central Region) 14 Nov. 2000
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Sunday declared its support for the Right to Information Bill, which the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is lobbying Parliament to pass as a private member's motion.
"This is a democratic path that will bring laws in line with freedom of speech," said a communiqué issued by senior journalists from state-owned and private media houses at the conclusion of a two-day seminar on The Law and the Media in Ghana at Elmina.
The bill drafted by Mr Justice P.D. Anin, a retired Supreme Court Judge, seeks to concretise the freedom guaranteed under article 12 to 23 of Chapter 5 of the Constitution.
The bill's preface said, "There are indications that the government is not averse to the passage of such a law."
The communiqué also called for the repeal of the Criminal Libel and Sedition laws. These laws are considered as the Sword of Damocles hanging over the operations of the media and sharply contradict the liberal provisions of the Constitution.
GJA appealed to the Ghana Bar Association, all lovers of freedom of speech and civil society to help change the archaic law and promote democratic culture, the communique said.
It urged the government to allow Chris FM station at Berekum to reopen, saying its continued closure will mean stifling the press. It appealed for calm and restraint in the Berekum area in the run-up to the election next month.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council closed the station on November 6 after a clash between NPP and NDC supporters.
The communique appealed to the NMC and the GJA to organise similar seminars for journalists throughout the country to enable them to update their knowledge on the law in relation to their work.
The National Institutional Renewal Programme (NIRP) sponsored the seminar in collaboration with the National Media Commission (NMC) and the GJA.
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