Rawlings, Asantehene resolve Kumasi impasse
Call for more action on the aged.
Contractors threaten demonstration
Floods damage many roads in UWR
Partisan local government not popular- Director
Workers union demands fifty- fifty share in STC
Parliamentary delegation for Denmark
Foundation welcomes cancellation of debts
Employers Association honours Rawlings
President Rawlings leaves for Zimbabwe
Saint Francis Girls is 40 years. Hurrah!
Inter Tourism '99 ends in Accra
Ghana Airways obtains two DC-10 aircraft
Grasshoppers control workshop ends at Akim Oda
Muslim women undertake projects
Don't fight over development projects, Rev Asore
Naadu commission's 86 million-cedi dormitory
Rawlings commended for resolving impasse
Berekum Civil Servants call for salary increase
Festivals should evoke virtue and values of long term visions
Rawlings, Asantehene resolve Kumasi impasse
Kumasi (Ashanti) 2nd Oct ’99
The misunderstanding between the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Dr Richard Winfred Anane and the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Nana Akwasi Agyemang has been resolved.
Following a joint intervention by President Jerry John Rawlings and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, a one and-a-half hours mediation was held behind closed doors
at the residency in Kumasi on Friday end the conflict which has generated tension in Kumasi for some time now.
President Rawlings said after the meeting that the tension engendered by the accusations and counter-accusations by the two men would begin to fade away with the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
He praised the MP and the chief executive for demonstrating maturity, saying they both recognised that it is in the interest of the people to restore good relations between them.
President Rawlings said it became easier to narrow down their differences and find solution to them when the two put aside partisan politics.
He said Kumasi is a sensitive area and that if the people were to allow partisan politics to polarise them, there could certainly be a problem that could be beyond control.
Party politics, he cautioned, should not be pursued in a way that would degenerate into tension and conflict.
President Rawlings called on all Ghanaians to see to it that the progress achieved by the country over the years is not allowed to roll back by partisan politics.
President Rawlings said the amicable settlement of the conflict may not go down well with those whose agenda is to see the tension created inflamed and maintained.
He, however, made it clear that the security service is alert and would not permit that.
The president who paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene at his Manhyia Palace after the mediation was emphatic that he would not allow small-mindedness to create a gap between him and the Asantehene or any other chief in the country.
He thanked Otumfuo Osei Tutu for accepting to be part of the mediation.
On his part, the Asantehene praised President Rawlings for taking the initiative to find a peaceful settlement to the problem that had the potential for exploding into violent confrontation.
He explained that Dr Anane and Nana Agyeman during the mediation openly and frankly expressed themselves and agreed to work towards the promotion and sustenance of peace and stability in Kumasi.
The Asantehene reminded the people to recognise in all they do the need to work towards national peace and unity.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu advised the people to ensure that they resort to legal procedures in finding redress to their grievances and asked that under no circumstances should they take the law into their own hands.
He explained that he is there for all and that they should not hesitate in approaching him on all issues.
Dr. Anane and Nana Agyeman earlier told newsmen that there was no problem between them.
The MP, who was the first to speak, explained that, with the personal intervention of both the Head of State and the Asantehene, he could no longer drag the issue.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive said Dr. Anane is a friend and that the problem between them came about as a result of a misunderstanding.
He promised to work with the MP and the others to bring about peace and progress in the metropolis.
Present at the mediation were Professor Kofi Awonoor, Presidential Advisor, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kojo Yankah,
Ashanti Regional Minister, and his Deputy, Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh as well as heads of Security services in the region
President Rawlings and Otumfuo Osei Tutu later inspected the rehabilitation works at Kejetia.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 2nd Oct. ’99
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPTRU) has announced an upward adjustment of 10 percent on all lorry fares following the increases on petroleum products announced by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST) on Thursday.
A statement issued in Accra on Friday said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of its national working committee that examined the increases.
"After careful computation, it was decided that lorry fares should go up by
10 per cent to the nearest 100 cedis.''
The statement signed by Mr Charles Ankomah, General Secretary of the union, appealed to regional secretariats of GPRTU to set up monitoring teams to ensure that the new fares are strictly complied with.
The new fares are as follow:
Trotro OLD NEW
Circle -Kaneshie 130.00 150.00
'' -Odorkor 260.00 300.00
'' -Zongo 200.00 250.00
" -Korle-Bu 260 300.00
" -North Kaneshie" 290,00 350.00
'' -Russia 290.00 350.00
'' -Bubuashie 265.00 300.00
'' -Darkuman 265.00 300.00
'' -Dansoman 330.00 350.00
" -Nungua 400.00 450.00
'' -Kasoa" 530.00 580.00
'' -Nungua Estate" 400.00 450.00
'' -Teshie" 330.00 350.00
'' -Nungua " 400,00 450.00
More
HIGHWAYS OLD NEW
Accra -Tamale ¢16,000 ¢17,600
" -Oda ¢4,000 ¢4,400
" -Kumasi (with middle seat) ¢7,700 ¢8,500
" -Kumasi (one man one seat) ¢8,250 ¢9,100
" -Kumasi (Benz bus) ¢6,600 ¢7,300
" -Kumasi (Peugeot) ¢12,000 ¢13,000
" -Kumasi (air conditioned) ¢9,400 ¢10,300
" -Kumasi (Chorus Hyundai) ¢7,200 ¢8,000
" -Takoradi ¢6,000 ¢6,600
" -Cape Coast ¢4,000 ¢4,400
" -Swedru ¢2,000 ¢2,200
" -Winneba ¢1,600 ¢1,800
" -Akropong ¢1,500 ¢1,700
" -Aburi ¢1,125 ¢1,300
" -Aflao (Burger bus) ¢4,095 ¢4,500
" -Aflao (LT. Bus) ¢4,885 ¢5,400
" -Aflao (Peugeot) ¢7,700 ¢8,500
" -Aflao (Benz Bus) ¢4,950 ¢5,500
" -Aflao (Pick-up Datsun) ¢3,960 ¢4,500
" -Aflao (Mini bus) ¢5,500 ¢6,000
More
Accra -Hohoe ¢5,280 ¢5,800
" -Kadjebi ¢6,600 ¢7,300
" -Lagos (Saloon) ¢31,680 ¢34,800
" -Lagos (bus) ¢23,760 ¢26,000
" -Akwatia (Mini bus) ¢2,970 ¢3,500
" -Akwatia (benz bus) ¢2,640 ¢3,000
" -Foso (via Yamoransa) ¢4,755 ¢5,300
" -Obuasi (via Yamoransa) ¢8,500 ¢9,350
" -Obuasi (Benz bus) ¢6,600 ¢7,300
" -Elubo ¢14,916 ¢16,400
" -Keta (Dabala road) ¢4,490 ¢4,900
" -Dzemeni (big bus) ¢3,300 ¢3,700
" -Dzemeni (small bus) ¢3,700 ¢4,000
" -Anum boso (big bus) ¢3,040 ¢3,400
" -Anum boso (small bus) ¢3,300 ¢3,700
" -Lome ¢4,885 ¢5,400
" -Larteh ¢1,584 ¢1,800
" -Sogakooe ¢2,640 ¢2,900
" -Adidome ¢3,300 ¢3,700
" -Kpalime ¢6,600 ¢7,300
GRi../
Call for more action on the aged
Accra (Greater Accra) 2nd Oct ’99
Communities, religious bodies and other stakeholders were on Friday called upon to initiate urgent actions to address problems facing the aged.
Some of these include their health, social well being and financial support.
Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, who made the call in Accra said Ghana, like many other countries, cannot continue to ignore the increasing number of the aged who are marginalised.
The deputy Minister was speaking at a press conference to mark the International Day of Older Persons which falls today.
The day has been set aside by the United Nations to focus attention on the needs of the aged. It is being celebrated under the theme "towards a society for all ages". It forms part of this year's celebration of the International Year of older Persons.
As part of activities, Ghana would join over 77 countries in a walk dubbed "walk for all generations", on Saturday, to create awareness of the needs of older persons and highlight the population ageing phenomenon.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said the world's population of 60 years and above is estimated at 590 million and is expected to reach 1.2 billion in 25 years with a higher proportion being women.
In Ghana the ageing population is estimated at five per cent of the total population and is expected to double soon.
"It is sad to note that majority of our elderly retire from active service poor and have no hope of receiving any pension, whatever. The hard fact is that while the labour force currently is over seven million, the people contributing to the SSNIT pension scheme, is less that one million."
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe therefore called on SSNIT to take immediate steps to expand its net to cover more workers, especially those in the informal sector and rural areas.
She urged insurance companies to institute schemes to reduce the poverty and misery of old age.
In a speech read for him by Mrs Margaret Novicki, the Director of the UN Information Centre, Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, noted that the older people of today have been innovators, catalysts and leaders of many initiatives and helped to pave the way to a safer and healthier life for many generations to come.
"As we enter a new millennium, old and young, and all in between, are called upon to join in the common task of shaping a rapidly changing world."
"It is up to us, whatever our age, to ensure that no contribution to this endeavour is wasted because of age discrimination,"Mr Annan added.
Among some of the issues discussed was the need for the government to review the age limit of the exemption policy by brining it down to 60 years. The policy for free medical care covers those aged 70 and above.
There was also the call for serious attention to be focused on the numerous and multiple health problems facing the ageing population.
GRi../