Alabi calls for holistic tourism development
Upper-East mark day at Inter-tourism '99
Environmental health officers attend workshop
Accra (Greater Accra) 1st Oct. ’99
The First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, left Accra on Thursday for London at the invitation of the United Kingdom branch of the 31st December Women's Movement.
While in London she would be the Guest of Honour at a fund-raising ceremony by the Movement.
Mrs Alice Boon, MP for Lambussie, accompanied her while Mrs Cecilia Johnson, General Secretary of the Movement would join the First Lady on the five-day visit.
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China marks 50th anniversary
Accra (Greater Accra) 1st Oct. ’99
Mr Li Zupei, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana has commended Sino-Ghanaian ties and expressed the hope that friendship between the two countries would grow.
Mr Li was speaking at a reception in Accra on Thursday night to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China.
He gave the assurance that China would pursue an independent foreign policy based on peace and the establishment of friendly relations with countries all over the world.
The Ambassador stressed the determination of China to make a greater contribution to world peace and development as the century comes to an end.
Mr Fred Ohene Kena, Minister of Mines and Energy, said Ghana was satisfied that the 39 years-old relations between the two countries have seen steady growth.
The government appreciates Chinese assistance over the past decade and expressed the hope that "relations would expand and deepen to the mutual benefit of both countries in the next millennium".
The Minister called on Chinese investors to take advantage of the country's liberal and conducive investment climate.
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Alabi calls for holistic tourism development
Accra (Greater Accra) 1st Oct. ’99
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Joshua Alabi, on Thursday called for an integrated and sustainable tourism industry.
He said the situation where tourism development is confined to the southern part of the country places a limitation on the development of the sector "and must give way to a holistic approach as we enter the new millennium."
Mr Alabi was speaking at a ceremony to mark Northern Region Day at the Ghana International Tourism Fair, dubbed Inter-Tourism '99 at the International Trade Fair Centre.
The day was to showcase the tourism potential and opportunities in the region to attract investors.
He noted that tourism could be the doorway to the socio-economic advancement of districts and communities.
"Government must expedite action on implementing its programmes to rehabilitate and expand all 121 tourist sites in all the regions of the country holistically."
Mr Alabi described the fair as "a giant step towards harnessing the potential of the tourism industry for the benefit of our people."
The Regional Minister said the region attaches great importance to the fair and intends to exploit its advantages to the fullest adding that, "we believe our region deserves a better stake in the tourism sector than it currently claims".
He said the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), is to develop a reliable database on tourism in the region with the assistance of a consultant.
"The region is also in the process of creating a website on the Internet to give our tourism sector a world-wide accessibility."
Mr Alabi identified some tourist attractions in the region as the Damba and Fire Festivals among other historic, cultural and natural attractions.
The day was marked with performances by several cultural troupes.
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Upper-East mark day at Inter-tourism '99
Accra (Greater Accra) 1st Oct. ’99
The Upper-East Region receives about 3,000 tourists with the receipt of about 200,000 dollars annually.
Dr. Albert Tenga, District Chief Executive for Bolgatanga said this in Accra on Thursday, after reading a speech on behalf of Mr Amadu Sulemana, Upper-East Regional Minister, to mark the regions day at the Ghana International Tourism Fair, dubbed Inter-Tourism '99.
Dr Tenga said most of the region's tourist attractions must be developed to ensure increased revenue from the sector.
He said the six districts in the region boast of 14 major tourist attractions including five festivals and sites like the Paga Crocodile pond, Tongo whistling hills, the Teng-Zuk shrine, and the Kulungugu Bomb site.
Dr Teng said the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and Ghana Tourist Board are drawing up plans for an aggressive tourism development and investment campaign.
The day was marked with performances by several cultural troupes from the region including the Togo-based African Show Boys who performed magical and acrobatic displays.
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Environmental health officers attend workshop
Bole (Northern Region), 1st October 99
The Bole District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Musah Issah, has called on people to pay their basic rates to assist the government to equip the many hospitals and clinics it has opened in the district.
He was addressing a two-day training workshop at Bole on Thursday for environmental health workers aimed at upgrading their skills on the implementation of sanitation laws.
The participants were taken through environmental sanitation policy, aspects of the Local Government system, market bye-laws and report writing, among others topics.
Mr. Issah asked the participants to propagate the concept of environmental sanitation in the communities, saying personnel of the Environmental Health Division must play a complementary role by providing facilities for cleanliness and enforcing good hygiene.
He stressed the need for the Town and Country Planning to ensure that building permits are provided for new buildings.
Mr Issah assured the participants of the assembly's continued support in providing them with the appropriate tools for the effective discharge of their duties.
The Ministry of Local Government would soon provide septic emptiers for the assembly to ease the work of the Environmental Health Division.
Mr. Issah said out of a targeted revenue of 85 million cedis for this year, only 48 million cedis has so far been realised and hoped that the participants would co-operate with the assembly members to ensure that the assembly achieves its target.
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Osei-Wusu visits Funsi
Funsi (Upper West), 1st October 99
Mr. David Osei-Wusu, Upper West Regional Minister, has called for support of the government's efforts at improving the lives of the people in the rural areas irrespective of party affiliation.
Speaking Funsi in the Wa District on Wednesday when he visited the area to assess the extent of damage caused by the recent heavy rains, Mr Osei-Wusu asked people living in deprived communities not to blame their plight on the government saying "we need time to plan and because of monetary constrains we need to do things step by step".
Mr. Osei-Owusu noted that the south Sissala area is saddled with problems and advised the people to rally round the government to address them.
He announced that the Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA) under its five-year development programme would train personnel of area councils and provide them with bicycles and motor bikes to facilitate their work.
The old area council building at Funsi is to be rehabilitated by the assembly while the Ministry of Health and Ghana Telecom are to install a solar system at the Yaya clinic and extend telephone there.
He appealed to the people to invest in the education of their children instead of withdrawing them from school to look after cows.
The Funsi Chief, Kuoro Nwandi Bayong, appealed for a senior and vocational school for the area.
He also called for the creation of a separate District for the area because of its geographical location to enhance development.
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