Public urged to expose corrupt Judges
Commonwealth press agency calls for editors' support
Police to rid Tema of criminals
Population Council holds seminar for the Army
Minister speaks on Western region roads.
Help sell Ghana abroad - Foreign volunteers urged
TEIN commends government for reduction
NMP national conference opens at Sunyani
Public urged to expose corrupt Judges
Accra, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
The Judiciary has called on the public to expose any corrupt Judge, tribunal chairman or judicial staff.
A statement issued in Accra on Thursday and signed by Mr. Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, Acting Chief Justice, said, "Our attention has been drawn to a television programme titled "Public Concern", concerning the administration of justice in the country.
"On the said programme allegations of corruption were made against Judges of the Supreme Court, in particular, and other courts in the country
"The Judiciary will like to state that it has over the years been handicapped in its efforts to administer speedy and transparent justice by lack
of equipment, tools and other facilities for the expeditious trial of cases. And is happy that the legal Sector Co-ordinating Committee is making efforts to have these anomalies dealt with"
"With regard to the allegations of corruption, we will like any member of the public, who has any evidence of corruption against any Judge or Tribunal Chairman or any Judicial Staff, to come forth boldly with the evidence so that such bad nuts will be weeded out of the system.
. The statement said, "it is the belief of the Judicial Administration that this is the only way by which the honest Judges can be separated from the dishonest ones, who will be exposed.
"The Judiciary will like to assure the public that it is committed to establishing true justice in the country", the statement concluded.
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Commonwealth press agency calls for editors' support
Accra, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
African editors have been asked to support the campaign against atrocities against African children by foreigners, a statement issued by the Commonwealth Press Agency in Accra on Thursday, said.
The statement, signed by Mr. Alexander Okunnor, a member of the Agency said for centuries, foreigners including Europeans, Arabs and Missionaries have abused African children and recalled the humiliation Africans suffered during the slave trade and f colonialism.
"They continue to abuse, rape, sexually assault our children and yet, no government appears to be doing anything to stop this predatory life of some of these foreigners.
The statement said the culprits got away in the past, "but not anymore because we are determined to root them out and drive these pathetic human beings under ground".
The warned Africans who have acquired what it termed "these barbarous habits" to end child molestation in Africa once and for all.
"No longer should we tolerate such inhuman and depraving life styles visited upon the poor innocent African child," it added.
Copies of the statement have been sent to governments, heads of state and African traditional leaders including chiefs and queen mothers.
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Tema, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
The strike action by Tanker drivers at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) entered its second day on Thursday with the drivers demanding an unqualified apology for the alleged assault on them during an exercise to clamp down on criminals on Wednesday.
The drivers are demanding the apology from Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema Municipal Chief Executive or Mr. Joe Danquah, Tema Regional Police Commander for the alleged assault which left six of them wounded.
More than 100 tankers are currently parked at the refinery, where red flags have been hoisted and attempts by the national executives of the Ghana Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association to get the drivers to go back to work has failed.
Mr. Wilfred Gbormitah, National Chairman of the Association said, "we are still impressing upon them to go back to work while their grievances are resolved but their main concern is why they should be labelled as thugs and criminals".
The Police and Military carried out a joint operation at the Tema harbour and TOR in which about 120 suspected criminals were arrested.
All tanker drivers and their mates, who were arrested during the operation, were unconditionally released after the drivers refused to load fuel from the refinery in protest against alleged assault on their members.
Mr. Samuel Kabutei, National Secretary of the Association, said the Police did not only arrest the drivers and their mates but also brutally assaulted them while they were going about their normal duties.
He denied allegations that the fuel adulterators popularly called "Belebele Boys", who were the main target of security agencies were members of the Association.
In another development, Mr. Lovelace Prempeh, Acting Chief Executive of TOR said the stoppage of loading by the tanker drivers for a day or two would not affect fuel stocks since there is enough fuel on the market.
He said it is only when the tankers stop work for a week or more that fuel filling stations will start drying up and this could affect stocks mainly meant to service Kumasi and other fuel depots on the Accra-Kumasi route.
Mr. Prempeh said the management of TOR held a meeting on Thursday morning with executive officers of the Association during which it explained to them that TOR was not directly involved but expressed regret for any injuries suffered.
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Police to rid Tema of criminals
Tema, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
The security agencies will continue with their operation in Tema, particularly at the peripheries of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) until the city is rid of criminals.
Mr. Joe Danquah, Tema Regional Police Commander told newsmen at the end of a second day of the operation to rid Tema of criminals, during which 25 suspects were arrested the TOR and Atlas areas.
On the first day of the operation, the Police and Military arrested 120 people the TOR, the Main and Fishing harbour areas.
Mr. Danquah said the operation at TOR would continue so long as criminals continue to siphon fuel from the tankers to adulterate.
''We will not stop our operation because the practice is not only criminal but dangerous as TOR is a disaster prone area''.
He said tanker drivers should not be allowed to take the whole country to ransom because they are not above the law, adding their activities can create a situation, where there can be a serious fire out-break, which can cost the entire nation dearly.
Five out of the 25 arrested suspects were found with three mini bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp while seven were held for loitering.
Mr. Danquah stated that 240 security personnel comprising the Police, Army and Navy took part in the exercise during which they also confiscated quantities of jerrycans, which were used in carrying siphoned fuel.
The criminals will be put before a tribunal on Friday.
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Population Council holds seminar for the Army
Accra, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
Mr. Moses Mukasa, Country Representative, of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Thursday urged the military to mount an intensive campaign on the dangers of HIV/AIDS for its personnel.
In an address read on his behalf at a seminar for the military in Accra, Mr Mukasa said the disease poses a big threat to the developing world.
Another challenge is rapid population growth resulting from " the reduction of infant, child and maternal deaths and increased access to quality health care, particularly reproductive health service, are some of the challenges the world has to deal with".
The seminar was organised by the National Population Council (NPC) and sponsored by the UNFPA.
Brigadier Wallace Gbedemah, Director of Personnel Administration of the Ghana Armed Forces, said population and its related issues must not be seen as private. "It must be looked at and approached on a national level since the consequences affect us all".
He advised participants to play an advocacy role in the fight on population reduction to ensure quality life.
Dr. Richard Turkson, Executive Chairman, NPC, said the success of population programmes in the country, calls for a multi-sectoral approach to ensure the participation of all segments of the society.
He commended the Army for its commitment to incorporate population and development issues into its pre-service and in-service curricula.
Dr. E. O. Tawiah, of the Population Impact Project, University of Ghana, Legon, called on men not to burden their wives with too much childbearing, since this has an adverse effect on their health.
He said Ghana has a fertility rate of 5.5 and if this is not checked, the population will double in 23 years.
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Minister speaks on Western region roads.
Accra, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
Mrs. Esther Lily Nkansah, Western Regional Minister, on Thursday, said remedial action will soon be taken on road conditions in the region.
In a statement after meeting officials of the Ministry of Roads and Transport and institutions under it, Mrs. Nkansah said remedial action on the deplorable conditions of roads in the region as a result of the rains would be taken soon.
She said the contractor of the Bawdie-Asankragwa Road has been warned to proceed with work on the base material for the road and its eventual tarring.
The Asankragwa-Enchi road has been shortlisted for award in early November, adding that foreign and local contractors would be considered.
It said the tender for rehabilitation work on the Akontombra road is to be awarded by the end of the month while the contractor for the Axim Junction-Tarkwa road has been ordered to commence work immediately.
The statement said contractors engaged in maintenance and rehabilitation work of feeder roads in the region have been instructed to resume work immediately, since the rains have stopped.
Work on the roads was suspended temporarily at the onset of the rains.
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Help sell Ghana abroad - Foreign volunteers urged
Krobonshi (Central Region), 22nd October '99,
The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Lt. Daniel William Osardu, has appealed to foreign voluntary organisations in the country to help sell Ghana's investment potentials abroad.
They are well placed to sell Ghana's potential to the outside world through their exposure to the country especially in rural communities and their visit to tourist centres.
Lt. Osardu was speaking at the closing session of a two-week international summer voluntary work camp at Krobonshi near Senya Breku on Thursday organised by the Ghana Voluntary Work Camps Association (VOLU) to assist the people of the village to construct a KVIP as part of a six-classroom block project being built by Plan International.
He commended the 50 volunteers made up of 41 Ghanaians and nine foreign nationals from Australia, Belgium, Germany and United Kingdom.
Pastor Chris Kofi Nyame, National Organising Secretary of VOLU said the Association has organised 20 camps between June and September this year and would organise five more in December.
He commended the District Administration for sponsoring a trip to the Elimina Castle and the Kakum National Park for the volunteers
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TEIN commends government for reduction.
Accra, (Greater Accra) 22nd October '99,
The National Co-ordinating Committee of the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday commended government for reducing the Academic User Fees by 30 per cent and increasing the levels of the SSNIT loans.
A statement in Accra said the gesture has once again proved that it is "a people's centred government," which will do what it could to reduce the suffering of the people.
It is important for all especially students to appreciate the financial loss to the Universities and other sectors of the economy as far as the reduction is concerned.
The TEIN urged students to accept the 30 per cent reduction "and prepare physically and mentally to return to school".
Furthermore, it commended the authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for coming out with the timetable for its re-opening.
It urged all other institutions to follow suit to ensure a smooth take off of the academic year.
"The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), should stop being emotional about issues of User Fees and take time to study the concept properly so as to be in a better position to explain it to its members".
The NUGS, it said, should redefine its role in the current democratic dispensation so as to make a positive contribution instead of leading the students on a wild goose chase that does not benefit anybody, TEIN said.
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NMP national conference opens at Sunyani
Sunyani, (Brong Ahafo) 22nd October '99,
The Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama on Thursday called on the National Mobilisation Programme (NMP) to re-examine its role as an agent of development in the transition from government to private sector oriented economy.
"This re-examination calls for a sober assessment of the past, expectations of the future and aspirations of the people within the context of the goals of vision 2020".
The conference is under the theme "National Mobilisation Programme, challenges in a competitive free market".
Alhaji Mahama said having stayed with the people at the grassroots it should be able to identify and articulate their needs and concerns.
He, therefore, charged them to use their personal commitment, integrity and sacrifice to guide the people to make right choices that would raise their living standards.
Alhaji Mahama noted that due to the multi-sectoral nature of the work of the NMP, it should always consult and share information with interested parties to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts.
He advised the organisation to develop specific project proposals and seek both funding and partnership for their implementation.
Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Donald Adabre stressed the need for the NMP to turn its attention to job creation for the youth and the unemployed in the rural areas.
"The need for adequate training to impart requisite skills and expertise should be uppermost on the agenda of the NMP so as to give real meaning to the mobilisation initiatives typical of the current competitive environment", he advised.
He said he hoped that the NMP would collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the district assemblies to make the government's Youth in Agriculture Programme a success.
Mr. Adabre also urged the NMP to secure the necessary document to register the mobisquads as companies to enable them to bid for contracts and called on the assemblies to consider such mobisquads for contract awards.
The National Director of the NMP, Major R. S. Adu disclosed that the government has released over 716.5 million cedis over a period of two years through the organisation to purchase relief items for distribution to distressed areas in the country.
He said the NMP has thus supplied relief items to Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West, Central, Eastern and Volta regions through district chief executives, Members of Parliament and regional and district liaison officers.
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