Stores at Kejetia not authorised, says Metropolitan Authority
Police investigate alleged assault on NPP activists
Meeting on property rates end in confusion
Minister expresses concern over drug abuse among the youth
Assemblies urged to help mobilise resources for the districts
Zabzugu/Tatale district face wrath of floods
Work starts on Winneba water project
Forty per cent of Anwiankwanta-Kumasi road completed
East Mamprusi District makes education, health and sanitation a priority
Vice Chancellor assures Otumfuo
Stores at Kejetia not authorised, says Metropolitan Authority
Kumasi (Ashanti), 8th October 99
The Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) has not authorised any person or association to construct stores at the Kejetia lorry park in Kumasi.
This was announced by Nana Akwasi Agyeman, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, in an answer to a question by newsmen at a press conference.
The forum was organised last Wednesday by the Ministry of Roads and Transport to brief the media on the Kejetia project.
Mr. Ludwig A. Hesse, Acting Director of the Department of Urban Roads, in his briefing, said there are two main components of the project.
The first, he said, is a two-kilometre road network being undertaken by Limex Bau, a German road construction firm at a cost of 15 billion cedis.
He said 12 billion cedis has so far been spent on the project, 84 per cent of which was completed in August, this year.
Mr. Hesse said the Department has also spent 1.5 million cedis on the second project, a 4.2 billion-cedi Kejetia Terminal, which is 60 per cent complete.
Both projects, under the Kejetia Development and Traffic Management Project, are being funded by the OPEC Fund, International Development Association (IDA) and the Ghana government.
Mr. Hesse explained that the original drawings on the Kejetia terminal which began in 1990, did not include the construction of shops or stores, except parking area for vehicles, sheds for passengers, a canteen, offices and a plaza for the sale of cultural artefacts.
Professor Kwesi Andam, President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GIE), who was present at the briefing, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the project.
He commended the government for exposing public projects to public criticisms as a means of correcting any defect on them.
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Police investigate alleged assault on NPP activists
Tema (Greater Accra), 8th October 99
The Tema Community Two Police are investigating an alleged assault on some ward-executive members of the Tema West constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The executives were said to be holding a meeting at the residence of Dr. K. Darko, an executive member, at Community 11, when a group of 'machomen' broke in assaulted them.
According to a police source, Mr. Laud Amanor, Community Five Ward chairman of the NPP, had reported to them about an assault on him by some 'machomen', who ad 'invaded' the meeting with war songs and disrupted the peaceful gathering, claiming to be members of the party.
Mr. Amanor, also the Assemblyman for Community Five, said he has given a statement on the incident and submitted his hospital report to the police.
He said the machomen entered the meeting which was being attended by five out of the 14 ward chairmen, amidst singing and shouting and refused to listen to any pleas to calm down.
"I got up and walked to the gate to check who were behind the commotion, and when I looked back, I saw that the thugs had attacked and pinned down Mr. Emmanuel Saaba, one of the ward executives, and started beating him".
He said before he could reach Mr. Saaba, some of them turned on him, held his shirt and pushed him to the ground.
"I was also pushed down, and they gave me some slaps, removed 16,000 cedis from my pocket and took away my personal file containing some vital documents, including the birth certificate of my daughter."
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Meeting on property rates end in confusion
Koforidua (Eastern Region), 8th October 99
A meeting of landlords convened by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly at Koforidua to discuss the revision of property rates ended in confusion on Wednesday as some of the landlords stormed out in protest against the new valuation rates.
The walkout was preceded by prolonged hot-tempered arguments, boos and shouts of "Yentua", "Yentuaoo" (we won't pay), after the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Adu-Boateng, had explained the rationale behind the revaluation list.
Mr. Adu-Boateng told the landlords that the revision of the property rates, the first in the municipality in 23 years, was part of the package for the implementation of the Urban Three Project initiated in 1995.
He said other aspects of the package already being enjoyed included the rehabilitation of the Koforidua market, roads, storm water drains, toilets, solid waste disposal tanks and the supply of various sanitation equipment.
Mr. Adu-Boateng said under the Institutional Strengthening Component of the project, the municipality had been surveyed and the Land Valuation Board (LVB) tasked to undertake the revaluation of all premises in the area.
He stressed that the assembly had not yet fixed any new property rates. This would be done after the revaluation documents now being displayed for 21 days at various suburbs had been studied and the comments of landlords had been received.
Mr. Adu-Boateng told newsmen after the abortive meeting that he had ordered five revenue collectors whom he suspected to have misinformed some of the landlords on the new property rates to go on indefinite leave "since their misconduct provoked the landlords to be hostile towards me".
He said although the assembly had in February, this year, proposed a rate of 0.44 per cedi of any re-valued property, but this has been reviewed downwards to .0020 per cedi.
He said the revised figure was intended for negotiations with the landlords after they had inspected the new valuations before a mutually agreed rate would be fixed.
He criticised the landlords for their lukewarm attitude towards the consultative approach initiated by the assembly, saying only a few of them had attended the three previous meetings scheduled by the assembly.
Alhaji Yusif Osman, an opinion leader, said that information available to the landlords indicated that a landlord who owns seven bedrooms and who used to pay property rate of 6,000 cedis a year would now to pay over 200,000 cedis.
"We find this to be too prohibitive. If landlords pass on the increase to tenants, they cannot pay their rents due to the poverty level."
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Workshop on legal reforms end Elmina (Central Region), 8th October 99
A three-day stakeholders workshop on legal sector reforms for private sector development ended at Elmina on Wednesday with the adoption of a strategic plan to accelerate reforms in the legal sector.
The workshop, which brought together 80 experts drawn from the judiciary, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce (GNCC), was on the theme "Legal reforms for private sector development in the next millennium."
The strategic plans include the mechanisation of courtrooms and registries, amendments of obsolete procedural rules, regulations and laws and the strengthening of the Judiciary Training School.
As a short-term measure, the workshop agreed that "time limits" should be imposed on courts and judges in respect of motions and other applications.
The rules of courts should be amended to enable lawyers to submit written addresses at the close of trials.
The Ministry of Justice was mandated to present an action plan to cabinet for consideration for subsequent implementation of the reforms by the Legal Sector Co-ordinating Committee (LSCC).
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Martin Amidu, charged the LSCC, which is managing the reform project, "to assist in seeking donor funding to implement proposals needed to bring about improvement in the judicial sector."
Mr. Amidu emphasised the government's commitment to bringing improvement in the legal sector as part of its efforts to remove impediments in the way of private sector development.
He pledged his outfit's commitment, adding that the ministry would sponsor the various proposals to complement government's effort to have the sector reformed.
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Minister expresses concern over drug abuse among the youth
Jasikan (Volta Region), 8th October 99
Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Volta Regional Minister, has expressed concern about Ghana's future leaders " who are indulging in drug abuse and rendering themselves useless resources for national building and development"
Addressing the 43rd annual national conference of the Ghana Presbyterian singing bands Union on the theme "Turn to God, rejoice in hope" at Jasikan on Wednesday, Alhaji Seidu appealed to the help to remedy the situation and ensure a better future for the youth.
Preaching the sermon, the Rev. Fr. G.A. Dadzaa, Volta Presbytery Chairman, called on Ghanaians to desist from using religion to deceive their fellow citizens.
He said since Christ preached peace, Christians should avoid acts that breed violence.
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Assemblies urged to help mobilise resources for the districts
Jasikan (Volta Region), 8th October 99
Mr. John Preko, presiding member of the Kadjebi District Assembly, has appealed to assemblymen to live up to their responsibilities of generating revenue for development.
Addressing the second ordinary session of the Assembly, he said with limited funds at the disposal of the assembly, "a lot needs to be done to provide social amenities for the people."
Mr. Francis Amoako-Nyarko, District Chief Executive, said the Regional Co-ordinating Council has awarded a contract for the construction of a 15-unit office block for the district education directorate and a bungalow for the district director of education.
Work on the office building which has already started would be completed in seven months.
Mr. Amoako-Nyarko said 38.4 million cedis has been allocated to promote the 'youth in agriculture' programme and that 15 million cedis has also been allocated for agro-forestry plantation in the district.
He said 155.3 million cedis has been allocated for health, water and sanitation while 88 million cedis is allocated for the maintenance of the Kadjebi health centre.
More than one billion cedis has also been allocated for various sectors including communication, roads, bridges, education and housing, Mr Nyarko-Agyako added.
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Zabzugu/Tatale district face wrath of floods
Zabzugu (Northern Region), 8th October 99
Large quantities of foodstuffs, especially yam and cereals, produced by farmers in the Zabzugu/Tatale District of the Northern Region are reportedly going bad.
This followed recent floods in the region that cut off the area from the rest of the country.
The bridge over River Oti at Sabare is submerged, compelling commercial drivers to suspend their operations as traders from the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions are unable to carry on with their business.
Some of the affected communities areas Woriborgu, Nakale, Sheini, Kukpaligu, Kandin, Tatale, Dondoni, Zabzugu, Kubalem and Shuyili.
Alhaji Amadu Sonaa, Zabzugu constituency chairman of the NDC, appealed to the Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Ministry of Roads and Transport to assist the district with engine boats to enable the farmers to cart their produce across the river to the marketing centres.
He said arrangements had been made to ferry people and goods across the river into waiting vehicles at both banks of the river.
Meanwhile, more than 400 farms at Sambule, Kuncheaa, Kunani, Kunjib Morgbare, Butan Mobile and Baator Kura in the Saboba/Chereponi District have been destroyed by the floods laying to waste tons of yams, corn, guinea corn and rice.
The assemblymen for Kunani and Sambule, Mr. Solomon Bagme and Mr. Joseph Yaw Lamba, said about 50 electricity poles between Kuntule and Sambule have been submerged while more than 623 people have been displaced.
They appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation for food, clothing and shelter.
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Work starts on Winneba water project
Winneba (Central Region), 8th October 99
Mr. Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Minister of Works and Housing, on Wednesday cut the sod for work to start on a new water supply system for Winneba and its surrounding towns and villages.
The project, which will replace the existing system built in 1929, is designed to end the perennial water shortage in the area.
Spaans Babcock bv, a water engineering company from the Netherlands, is executing the project expected to be completed within two years.
Mr. Adjei-Mensah expressed the government's appreciation to the Dutch Government for providing a 15 million Dutch Guilders (about US$ 7.5 million) loan towards the implementation of the project.
The project, when completed, will increase the present daily water supply from 600,000 and 800,000 gallons to three million gallons.
"As primary provider of infrastructure, the government continues to bear a very heavy load financially in the provision of potable water to the people."
This, the minister noted, is mainly due to the current water tariffs which are still low and asked consumers to ensure regular payment of their water bills in order to sustain the water sector.
Mr. Adjei-Mensah said the government hopes to complete preparatory work that will allow private sector participation in urban water supply next year.
The involvement of the private sector in service delivery is to accelerate planned expansion programmes as well as increase operational efficiency in the water sector.
Mr. Charles Adjei, Managing Director of GWCL, said in recent years a combination of factors beyond the company's control had rendered water services to Winneba and its environs unsatisfactory.
The existing plant does not have the capacity to produce enough water to meet the increasing demand of consumers while the plant capacity is only capable of providing the people with 650,000 gallons of water daily as against 800,000 gallons.
Mr. Adjei said the new system would help the GWCL overcome all its technical and environmental problems to enable it to deliver satisfactory services to customers.
"We estimate that, by the year 2020, the number of people in the supply area who will depend on the services of the company will increase to about 70,000.
"This will require that we produce more than double the present installed capacity at Winneba."
Mr. Mensah said a new clear water storage tank with a capacity for 10,000 gallons would be built and a main transmission pipe installed under the new system.
Mr. Jetze Sandstra, Managing Director of Spaans Babcock bv, assured the nation of excellent services and called for the co-operation of people to make this a reality.
He said the company would use the next four months for feasibility studies after which full-scale constructional work would begin.
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Forty per cent of Anwiankwanta-Kumasi road completed Anyinam (Ashanti), 8th October 99
Forty per cent of physical works of the Anwiankwanta-Kumasi road rehabilitation project, which is being executed by Kajima-Shimizu JV at the cost of 44.5 billion cedis has been completed.
The Japanese Overseas Co-operation Fund (OECF) and the government of Ghana are funding the project. The OECF is contributing 60 per cent of the total amount while the government is paying the remaining 40 per cent.
Mr. H. Morita, Resident Engineer of the Construction Project Consultants (CPC) disclosed this when he led Mr. Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport and Mr. S. K. Nunoo, Deputy Chief Executive, Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) to inspect the road works on Wednesday.
Mr. Morita said, the project is expected to be completed by November one, 2000 adding that the last five kilometres of the project from Santasi roundabout in Kumasi to Anyinam, would be converted into a dual carriageway.
Mr. Morita said but for the very heavy rainfall recorded this year, which impacted negatively on the pace of their work, they have not encountered any major problem.
Mr. Salia expressed satisfaction about the quality and pace of work and said he was optimistic that it will be completed on schedule.
The Minister said in spite of the falling prices of gold and cocoa and the hike in oil prices on the world market, the government of Ghana is still coping up with its payment schedules on road contracts.
Mr Salia had earlier inspected works on the Kejetia Lorry Park in Kumasi, where about 84 per cent of the work has been completed and he indicated that he was quite impressed about progress of work there too.
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East Mamprusi District makes education, health and sanitation a priority
Tamboku (Northern Region), 8th October 99
The East Mamprusi District Assembly has placed education, health and environmental sanitation on its priority list to enhance the area's socio-economic development.
Hajia Barichisu Adams, District Chief Executive, said the Assembly would, therefore, encourage communities to initiate projects in those sectors.
She said this during a courtesy call on the chief of Tamboku, Mahama Zakari, as part of a familiarisation tour of the District.
The DCE expressed concern about children of school-going age loitering in the area without attending school and reminded parents of their responsibility to educate their children.
Communities should co-operate with the Assembly to reduce illiteracy in the District and advised the people to seek medical treatment at the health centres and not to depend on quack doctors.
The government has instituted free medical care for the aged, expectant mothers and children under five years as well as others with ailments like TB and they must take advantage and get treatment, she said.
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Vice Chancellor assures Otumfuo
Kumasi (Ashanti), 8th October 99
Professor John Sefa Kwadwo Ayim, Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), on Wednesday pledged to put the human and material resources at the University at the disposal of Asanteman for the success of the Asanteman Educational Fund.
Professor Ayim made the pledge when he led Deans of Faculties and Directors of Institutes of the KNUST to pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
He assumed office last Friday, October One, as the successor to Professor Eugene H. Amonoo-Neizer, whose tenure of office ended in 1997.
The Vice-Chancellor informed the Asantehene that there has been absolute peace on the campus since Professor Ambrose K. Tuah, Acting Vice-Chancellor handed over to him last Thursday.
He said all those who contested for the post were present at the handing over ceremony and it was done in a cordial atmosphere.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said KNUST has its own peculiar problems, adding that the recent confusion has antecedents but in all instances the image of the university remained unscathed.
He advised Prof. Ayim to unite and co-operate with all the staff, deans, directors and heads of department working at the University including those who contested with him and lost.
He should tap their skills and experiences for the well-being of the University and tertiary education, which is now in crisis over the facilities user-fees.
Professor Ayim later presented a carton of aromatic schnapps to the Asantehene as customary drinks.
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