GRi Newsreel Ghana
04 - 10 - 2000
Biodiversity
Reporting Award launched
NRP
will attract workers to deprived areas with increased pay-Tanoh
Don't intimidate Journalists
-TUC
Cabinet
approves establishment of more consulates
NDC running
mate averts violent clash at Bawku
We will
review criminal libel Law - CPP
Foreign
investors urged to take advantage of BOT policy.
Ghana to
implement UN resolution on blood diamonds
SSNIT assures
public of their investments
Corporate
social responsibility no longer driven by legislation
CPP condemns harassment of
Crusading Guide staff
Britain
introduces simplified entry procedures
Deputy
Minister assures Ghanaians of meaningful life
Biodiversity
Reporting Award launched
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October
2000
An initiative to promote coverage
of environmental issues by journalists was launched in Accra on Tuesday.
Dubbed "Biodiversity Reporting
Award" it would provide an opportunity to Ghanaian journalists to compete
with articles on biodiversity issues, published in the local print media.
It is being organised by the
Conservation International (CI), an International Federation of Environmental
Journalists (IFEJ) and the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ).
A statement from the organisers
said the Award is to generate new incentives and to engage journalists in the
coverage of biodiversity related themes.
In this connection, the contest
would accept articles on such diverse issues as scientific research and
findings, the establishment of protected areas, the value of Eco-tourism and
other economic alternatives to the destruction of biodiversity as well as
threats to the conservation of Ghana's natural heritage.
According to the organisers, staff
of state and privately owned media and freelance journalists are expected to
participate with up to four entries of articles published in Ghanaian
Newspapers and magazines between June 1, 2000 and May 31, 2001.
The statement said all entries for
the contest must be received by June 6, 2001 to enable a jury of five including
representatives of IFEJ and ICFJ to review the articles and select the winners.
The Award winners will be announced
at a ceremony in Accra in August 2001.
The eventual winner of the contest
will participate in the 9th World Congress of Environmental Journalists
scheduled for Kathmandu, Nepal, in November 2001.
The second and third prize winners
will receive cash awards of two million cedis and one million cedis
respectively.
They would also receive two years'
membership to IFEJ and a professional resource kit from ICFJ.
Ghana is the fifth country to join
the environmental journalism contest after it was launched in 1999 in Guatemala
and Guyana.
Colombia and Brazil are the other
countries participating in the contest.
GRi…/
NRP will attract workers to
deprived areas with increased pay-Tanoh
Wa (Upper West Region) 4 October
2000
Mr. Goosie Tanoh, presidential
candidate of the National Reform Party (URP) said at Wa on Tuesday that his
government would pay more salaries and other incentives to attract people to
work in deprived areas.
"We will pay more salaries and
give allowances and other incentives to attract people to stay and work in
deprived communities to balance the pace of development throughout the
country."
Mr. Tanoh was briefing newsmen and
supporters at the beginning of a four-day campaign tour of the Upper West
region.
He was met on arrival at Bamahu, a
village, four kilometres south of Wa by a large crowd of supporters clad in
party colours, amidst chants of "Ghana first" and accompanied by
brass band music.
Mr. Tanoh who is being accompanied
by his running mate, Cletus Joseph Kosiba will visit 30 towns and villages,
call on community leaders and hold rallies to spell out his party's programmes
to the electorate.
Mr. Tanoh said the NRP will come
out with a "clear cut" programme to stop people refusing to accept
postings to communities in the three northern regions.
Mr. Tannoh said when elected, the
NRP would institute two programmes: "the stay in school" and the
"school food "programmes, to give decent diet to children on daily
basis and grants to households to motivate their children to stay in school.
"The idea is to make the
children healthy and to improve enrolments and quality teaching and learning
with special attention to the girl child". The
presidential candidate assured the people that the NRP will replace the ''cash
and carry'' system with a health insurance fund where every Ghanaian will
contribute into the fund.
Contributors to the fund would be
given identity cards, which could be used to get free medical treatment.
He promised to establish soyabean
oil, sheabutter, textile and livestock feed factories in the North to engage
the youth in meaningful jobs, if voted into office.
Credit facilities would also be
given to farmers to expand their farms and increase production.
GRi…/
CPP pledges to revamp economy
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
The Convention People's Party (CPP) has pledged
to provide the policy framework and political will to move the nation to
prosperity and build a self-reliant and vibrant society.
"We shall irrigate our lands, provide
meaningful agricultural extension services, minimise post-harvest losses, set
up agro-industries to process what we cannot eat now, extend credits to
agricultural producers and move away from total dependence on rain-fed
agriculture."
Dr. Abubakr Al-Hassan, National Chairman and
Leader of the party, said this at the launch of the party's manifesto in Accra
on Tuesday.
The 29-page booklet, signed by Dr. Al-Hassan
and Professor George Hagan, party leader and presidential candidate
respectively, has 21 chapters on the people, economy, agriculture, science and
technology, minerals and natural resources, tourism, energy, labour and
employment local government and rural development, health, education and
housing.
It also addresses the environment, transport
and communication, the media, youth, sports and culture, women, chieftaincy,
civil and public service, the judiciary, defence and security, foreign
relations, African unity and basic commitment.
While recognising the exceptional circumstances
that led to the introduction of the Economic Recovery Programme, the CPP
promised to work in active collaboration with other countries to explore
alternative programmes that are directed towards the structural transformation
of the entire national economy, which will have the capacity to meet the basic
needs of the national population.
The party will also pursue a policy of energy
conservation and enhance prospects for oil and gas through the use of the Tano
Basin Gas reserves for power generation as well as consider the construction of
the Bui Dam and other mini-hydro projects across the country.
The party promises to produce a comprehensive
training and employment policy linked up with a national development strategy
in all sectors of the economy with concentration on the development and
acquisition of skills through the use of technology.
It further promises to institute, as a matter
of urgency, a National Health Insurance Scheme to be managed by the state,
reorganise technical and vocational education and give special attention to
university education by shedding the ivory tower image and providing students
with the necessary facilities that will enable them to become focal points of
community and national development.
According to the manifesto, the CPP will review
the laws of libel, sedition and defamation with a view to decriminalising media
practice and journalism.
It will also promote all programmes designed to
achieve continental unity, maintain and strengthen Ghana's membership of the
OAU, ECOWAS, UN, and promote South/South co-operation.
The first five copies of the manifesto were
auctioned for 6.5 million cedis.
Twenty-nine of the party's 192 parliamentary
candidates were introduced at the launch.
GRi…/
Don't intimidate Journalists
-TUC
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday
described as dirty and cowardly the vandalising of the offices of the
"Crusading Guide" with human excreta.
In a statement signed by its secretary-general
Mr. K. Adu-Amankwah, the TUC said the act was utterly offensive to the
sensibilities of all decent Ghanaians.
It recalled a similar incident against
"The Ghanaian Chronicle" and "The Free Press", adding that
it was the third time such method of vandalism was used since 1992.
However, it said the perpetrators have up to
date not been apprehended.
The TUC said, "if such intimidating
actions are wreaked upon the media, then the freedom of the people is at stake
and their lives at risk."
It asked what future should Ghanaians hope for
if eight years into a democratic dispensation such undemocratic and uncivilised
treatment is meted out to the media that is "the barometer of the growth
of democracy."
In the view of the congress, the fruits of
democracy and constitutionalism would elude Ghanaians if groups and individuals
do not learn to accommodate divergent views, but rather yield to their
emotions.
The TUC expressed the hope that for once
"the security agencies would not be found wanting in exposing the gang
that has set itself on a course to soil the peaceful atmosphere that all
Ghanaians of goodwill are hoping will characterise the few weeks to the
elections and thereafter."
The Congress assured Mr. Kweku Baako, Editor of
the "Crusading Guide" and staff of its support in all their
legitimate efforts to positively advance the country's democracy and urged them
not to be intimidated by "faceless cowards".
The TUC further assured all Ghanaian
Journalists of its support as long as "their cause is right and within the
law."
The statement said Congress believes that the
media has played a very notable role in sustaining democracy in the
country.
GRi…/
Cabinet approves establishment of more
consulates
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
Cabinet has approved the establishment of more
Honorary Consulates in Italy, Croatia and Slovenia and other areas where there
are significant numbers of Ghanaians and/or potential for increased trade.
This was contained in a statement issued by Mr.
J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the Cabinet on decisions taken at its sitting
on September 21.
The statement said cabinet noted that the
Honorary Consulates do not involve any cost to government but that potential
Honorary Consulates must be carefully selected and must have the necessary
commitment, resources and business and official connections.
It said Cabinet also approved the National
Science and Technology Policy.
The policy provides the basic framework, which
will ensure that science and technology, forms the foundation for the country's
development as outlined in vision 2020, the government's blueprint for
socio-economic development.
The statement said the Minister in charge of
the Gender Desk at the Presidency presented recommendations arising from the
23rd special session of the UN on women.
It also approved in principle the need for
legislation to provide backing for affirmative action and gender mainstreaming
and requested the submission of specific draft legislation for consideration.
The statement said cabinet also considered an
IDA credit agreement for 67 million dollars for the agricultural services
sub-sector investment project.
It asked the minister of food and agriculture
to explore the possibility of restructuring the agreement to provide a
component for more direct assistance to farmers in production, marketing and
processing.
GRi…/
NDC running mate averts violent clash at Bawku
Bawku (Upper East Region) 4 October 2000
Mr. Martin Amidu, the running mate to Professor
John Atta Mills, managed, during his recent visit to the Upper East Region, to
avert a bloody confrontation between a section of the youth and the family of
an alleged armed robber at Bawku.
Mr. Amidu told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday
at Bawku that at about 2300 on Tuesday, September 27, one Mr. David Belko of
the District Education Office, was held at gunpoint by two armed robbers who
took away his "Yamaya 125" motorcycle.
One of the robbers was identified as a native
of Bawku while the other allegedly hailed from Kulungugu, a border town, near
Bawku. Their names were however, not given.
"Angered by the action of the armed
robbers, a cross-section of Bawku youth marched to the family house of the
suspect but a local cola nut dealer, Arao Saleh, emerged at the scene and
managed to persuade them against setting the house on fire.
Mr. Amidu said while Mr. Saleh was pleading
with the youth not to destroy the house, an unidentified person among the crowd
hit him on the forehead with a stick, causing blood to gush out, and he was
rushed to the Bawku Hospital for medical treatment.
Within minutes, rumour spread in the town that
Mr. Saleh had died from the head injury allegedly inflicted by relatives of the
suspected armed robber.
At this juncture, some people started arming
themselves with all sorts of weapons in readiness to avenge the alleged death
of Mr. Saleh.
"I rushed to the hospital to ascertain the
situation only to find out that the patient was alive and was responding to
treatment," Mr. Amidu said.
He said he even made a personal donation of
200,000 cedis to the victim's family to help defray the medical expenses.
He then moved swiftly to the houses of some
prominent elders and opinion leaders, including the Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago
Azoka, and succeeded in defusing the tension that threatened to disrupt the
peace of the town.
Mr. Amidu said the Bawku Naba and opinion
leaders invited the various youth groups and assured them that Saleh was alive
and responding to treatment.
In a related development, a group of youngsters
moved to the Mobil filling station in town where some vehicles had queued to
buy fuel and confiscated a Toyota double-cabin pick-up and a "DAF"
cargo truck belonging to relatives of the suspected armed robber.
The group indicated that the owners would only
have the vehicles back if the stolen motorcycle was returned to its owner.
Mr. Amidu said he was able to persuade the
leaders of the group to hand the impounded vehicles over to the police for
safekeeping.
The running mate dismissed as false allegations
that the tension was as a result of a confrontation between supporters of the
NDC and the NPP, adding that it was not a tribal feud either.
Meanwhile, a detachment of the Airborne Force
from Bolgatanga has been sent to reinforce security at Bawku town at the
request of the District Security Council (DISEC).
However, calm has returned to the town and
everyone is going about their normal duties.
GRi…/
We will review criminal libel Law - CPP
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
A government of the Convention People's Party
(CPP) will decriminalise media practice and journalism by reviewing laws of
libel, sedition and defamation, which obstruct the right of free expression.
"Existing legislation, which unduly limits
access to public information, would be reviewed to create an enabling
atmosphere for the effective and efficient functioning of the media."
The CPP's position is contained in a 29-page
manifesto launched by the party for the December elections.
It addresses the economy, agriculture,
industry, science and technology, minerals and natural resources, tourism,
energy, labour and employment, local government and rural development and
health, among others.
The party said its policy on African unity
would be to strive for an overall economic planning on a united continental
basis with the view to increasing the industrial and economic power of the continent
to raise the quality of life of the masses.
A CPP government, it said, would strive for the
creation of a joint military command and the adoption of a common foreign
policy to give political direction to continental defence as well as economic and
industrial development planning.
The party stressed that its commitment to the
political, economic and social integration of Africa is irrevocable and it is
ready to sacrifice part or all of Ghana's sovereignty for the greater goal of
establishing a United States of Africa.
The defence policy of the CPP government, it
said, shall be based on the fundamental role of the security forces in national
defence and the maintenance of law and order.
The manifesto said a CPP government shall
adequately equip the police force and modernise the armed forces and other
security agencies to make them effective and ready at all times.
GRi…/
Foreign investors urged to take advantage of
BOT policy.
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 4 October 2000
The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Patience
Adow, on Monday called on foreign investors to take advantage of the
"Build-Operate-and-Transfer" (BOT) policy to invest in the country's
utility services resource for mutual benefit.
She cited the perennial water problem facing
the Koforidua Municipality and invited foreign investors to tap the resources
of the Volta Lake to supply the area with water in order to attract the
establishment of industries.
Ms Adow was speaking when ten of the 18-member
delegation from the Lansing City Council (LCC) of Michigan, United States now
in the country paid courtesy call on her at Koforidua as part of their two-week
reciprocal visit to the Akuapem South District Assembly.
The Assembly and the Council established a
sister-city relationship four years ago during which they exchanged visits
aimed at exploring and initiating projects for their mutual benefit.
The District Chief Executive for Akuapem South,
Mr. Emmanuel Atta Owusu who led a delegation to Lansing City in August, this
year, accompanied the Lansing delegation to Koforidua, which included the Mayor
of Lansing City, Mr. David C. Hollister, health and education officials.
Ms Adow appealed for technical assistance from
the LCC towards the training of middle-level personnel by the polytechnics, the
distance learning scheme and cultural exchange programmes among the youth of
the two sister cities.
In commending the two bodies for establishing
the relationship, the Regional Minister said she hopes that it would relieve
the central government of some of the burden in providing services to the
Assembly.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel
Ofosu-Ampofo, suggested to the delegation to seek technical support for the
Centre for Scientific Research into Plant
Medicine at Mampong Akuapem to improve upon the
preparation and packaging of its products for export.
The leader of the delegation, Ms Barbara
Roberts Mason, who is also the Chairperson of the Lansing Regional Sister
Cities Commission, said besides providing support in the human development
sector, the LCC is exploring the possible development of infrastructure at the
Aburi Botanical Gardens to enhance revenue generation.
Mayor Hollister said his city has similar
relationship with five other cities world-wide which, he noted, is helping to
promote international understanding and human-centred development.
The delegation will donate an ambulance,
medical supplies and 20,000 library books to the Akuapem South District
Assembly during the visit.
GRi…/
Ghana to implement UN resolution on blood
diamonds
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
Cabinet has asked relevant state organisations
to take appropriate measures to implement the provisions of a UN Security
Council resolution banning the illicit trade in diamonds from Sierra Leone.
The organisations include the Ministries of the
Interior and Roads and Transport, the Minerals Commission, Ghana Ports and
Harbours Authority and Ghana Immigration Service.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr.
J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the Cabinet, on decisions agreed at its
sitting on September 21.
Cabinet noted that the illegal diamond trade
funds the purchase of arms by rebel factions and all UN member states are to
co-operate in checking and tracing transit and purchasing of illicit diamonds
originating from Sierra Leone.
The world has criticised the rebel
Revolutionary United Front, which has been exploiting the diamonds, which it
used to oil its war machine.
The statement said cabinet has recommended to
Parliament the ratification of the Montreal Convention for the unification of
certain rules for international carriage by air.
It noted that Ghana signed the convention in May
last year, and its coming into force would consolidate the hitherto fragmented
and complex system of regulations of international air transport in the best
interest of all stakeholders.
The statement said Cabinet also recommended for
ratification the Kyoto Convention, which seeks to reduce the emission of
greenhouse gases, which cause adverse climatic change associated with global
warming.
Ghana has already signed the convention and has
taken steps to reduce emissions, for example, by checking the use of CFC gases
in refrigeration equipment.
GRi…/
SSNIT assures public of their investments
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
The Social Security and National Insurance
Trust (SSNIT) on Tuesday assured contributors, pensioners and the public that
their contributions are safe and in optimal investments that aim at promoting
the economic development of the nation.
A statement issued by the management of SSNIT
and signed by Mr. Kweku Osei Bimpong, Head of Public Relations, said as with
any good organisation, SSNIT will continue to adopt measures to improve on its
operations and services rendered to its stakeholders.
In an apparent reaction to issues raised by an
Accra radio station, which criticised the investment programmes of SSNIT, the
statement said SSNIT is concerned about the deliberate attempt to distort facts
and discredit the institution.
It said any discussion of SSNIT investments
requires ''careful and knowledgeable analysis of the many factors that bear on
the initial continued viability of such investments.
"It is inaccurate to link pension benefits
levels to SSNIT investment returns. The amount of pension benefits are clearly
defined under the Social Security Law 1991, PNDCL 247.
The level of pension benefit is directly linked
to the salary on which contributions are paid, period of contribution to the
scheme and one's retiring age".
GRi…/
Corporate social responsibility no longer
driven by legislation
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
Mr. Kafui Johnson, General Manager of the Ghana
News Agency said on Tuesday that corporate social responsibility is no longer
driven by formal legislation but by worldwide concerns about making business
more than just a matter of monetary profits.
He said bodies like the United Nations, Prince
of Wales Leaders Forum and environmental interests and public policy concerns
are leading such initiatives, which are largely induced by globalisation.
Mr. Johnson was speaking on "Building and
maintaining a good corporate image" at a two-day seminar organised by the
Institute of Public Relations (IPR) in Accra.
The seminar, which forms part of the IPR Week
celebrations under the theme:
"Maintaining competitive edge - the PR
factor", was attended by 35 IPR members.
Mr. Johnson said gone are the days when
corporate bodies relied solely on statutes to govern their operations and
suggested a marriage between innovation and laid down procedures for any
company wanting to excel.
What is needed now is a flexible management
that has foresight, sensitive to public opinion and adjusts to changing
circumstances at short notices.
Using the Ontario Hydro (OH), an electric
utility in Canada as a case study, Mr. Johnson said strong management brought
it technological achievements, including operation of nuclear plants, while its
sheer geographical spread made it a monument of Canadian enterprise.
"Established in the 1920s, OH provided
employment for citizens and at a point it became a pride to work for Ontario
Hydro".
In the late 1980s, however, values began to
change with the onset of environmental concerns, anti-nuclear campaigns,
excessive bureaucracy and customer requirements.
Mr. Johnson said OH, therefore, changed its
focus from energy marketing to energy management. This involved helping the
consumers to manage their own electricity consumption in a way that benefited
both the electricity and the consumer.
GRi…/
CPP condemns harassment of Crusading Guide
staff
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday
condemned the dumping of human excreta on the premises of the Crusading Guide
in Accra describing it as a shameful and dirty act that would blot the pages of
Ghanaian history.
The action would also "tell a sad tale of
intolerance and total disregard of the will of the people", the CPP said
in a statement signed by Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Chairman of the party' publicity
committee.
"The spread of human excreta on the
premises of the newspaper could only have been done by those who for the last
20 years made an art out of the blatant violation of the human and democratic
rights of Ghanaians."
It said the harassment of the staff of the
paper is a crude attempt to subvert the constitutional order, and the right to
free expression of all Ghanaians.
The CPP said everything possible should be done
to find the perpetrators and those who masterminded it and appropriate
punishment meted out to them.
GRi…/
Britain introduces simplified entry procedures
Accra (Greater Accra) 4 October 2000
Britain on Monday introduced a new type of visa
designed to help visitors enter the country more easily.
A statement in Accra on Tuesday by the British
High Commission said this reflects London's commitment to "fairer, faster
and firmer" entry clearance process.
The statement noted that until now, a visa has
been issued at a British mission abroad, but the decision to give a visitor
permission to enter has been taken by an immigration officer at the port of
entry.
"That is now changing. From today
(Monday), the entry clearance officer issuing a visa abroad will also grant leave
to enter, and an immigration officer at the port of entry will simply verify
that the visa is valid and in a genuine passport."
It said the new standard visa would cost the
same as the current single entry visa, but it would allow for unlimited travel
in and out of the United Kingdom during its validity.
It will usually be valid for six months from
the date of issue, the statement said, and urged the travelling public to
submit applications early to avoid delays at peak periods.
"An applicant may therefore ask for the
visa to come into effect up to three months after its date of issue."
The statement said frequent travellers and
business visitors could still apply for multiple entry visas, valid for one
year, two years or five years. Each visit during that period can last a maximum
of six months.
GRi…/
Deputy Minister assures Ghanaians
of meaningful life
Leklebi-Duga (Volta Region) 4
October 2000
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister,
Mr. Kwasi Aboagye has said that the Government of the NDC, is doing everything
possible to make life meaningful for Ghanaians.
Mr. Aboagye, was addressing a
durbar of chiefs and people of Leklebi Traditional Area as part of activities
marking the celebration of their annual yam festival.
He said the government is sparing
no effort in providing social amenities that would enhance the living standard
of each citizen.
"The extension of potable
water, electricity, the construction of roads, schools and hospitals are clear
testimonies of what the NDC government has done for the people", he added.
Mr. Aboagye said the country is
facing harsh economic conditions as a result of the negative effects of
globalisation.
He explained that revenue earnings
from the country's major traditional exports such as cocoa and gold continue to
decrease while government expenditure on major imports, including petroleum
products continues to rise.
Mr. Aboagye called on chiefs and
people living along the country's borders to help check smuggling of petroleum
products.
On the forthcoming elections, the
Deputy Minister called on Ghanaians to regard political opponents as partners
in development and not enemies.
They should therefore help create a
peaceful and congenial atmosphere to ensure a free and fair election.
Mr. Aboagye announced that the
Regional Consultative Council is packaging traditional festivals and other
attractions that abound in the region for placement on the internet.
He said "this would help
market our rich festivals and potentials to the outside world to attract
tourists and investors into the country".
Mr. Aboagye asked the Traditional
Council to liaise with the Regional Office of Ghana Tourist Board for the
assessment and inclusion of Aflabo waterfalls on the tourist map of the Region.
He said the VRCC would do
everything possible to support the traditional area for the realisation of its
objective.
Mr. Obed Kissiedu, Hohoe District
Chief Executive, asked the people to reciprocate the provision of basic amenities
in the area by honouring their tax obligations.
He called on the chiefs and people
to maintain projects that have been constructed by the Assembly.
Mr. Kosi Kedem, Member of
Parliament (MP) for Hohoe-South urged the people to rally behind the NDC to win
the forthcoming elections to enable it to continue with its developmental
programme.
Togbe Agboka VI, Paramount Chief of
Leklebi Traditional Area praised the government for reshaping roads and
extending electricity to the area.
He however, appealed to the
government to connect Leklebi- Fiafe, Agbesia and the surrounding villages to
the national grid. It should also stock the Leklebi Secondary School's library
with books and provide the tutors with accommodation.
Mrs. Doris Ocansey, Deputy Director
of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), inaugurated an
eight-member Leklebi Traditional Rulers Club of the NCCE.
GRi…/