Halting Corruption will be top priority in
my government – Mills
Leave party functionaries out of press
conferences –GJA
NPP government to reduce number of ministers
– Quarshiegah
"We are prepared for re-runs" EC
NDC Campaign vans bought from treasury bills
- Deputy Minister
Judges urged to limit issuance of
injunctions
CHRAJ calls for vast improvements in Ghana's
penal system
Foreign Ministry
says no missing Ghanaian in Libya
Ghana Post to
resume savings scheme
Hagan tours Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency
PNC to collaborate with chiefs to promote
local government
Quashigah meets Bolga NPP youth
Halting Corruption will be top priority in
my government – Mills
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October 2000
Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, on Tuesday declared that fighting corruption would be a top priority of his government.
Prof. Mills, the current vice-president, said if the NDC wins the December 7 elections the price of corruption will be so high that it will be a commodity very few people would want. He promised swift and severe punishment.
At his first press conference with Ghanaian journalists, Prof. Mills said: "Corruption should never be tolerated in any form. It destroys society and creates inequities in the society ...we need to ensure that our society is corruption-free and we have said we are going to make it expensive for anybody to engage in corruption."
He said any member of government found to be involved in a corrupt practice will be dealt with. He added that those who allege corruption must be ready to stand by their words, "otherwise they are condoning corruption."
Prof. Mills called for public co-operation against corruption.
"We will need the co-operation of all, especially the media, religious bodies and educational institutions. We must preach against corruption. We must cajole against corruption and educate the public against it," he said.
The Vice-President noted that, "those who allege corruption and blackmail their victims into paying their way out of possible corruption charges are themselves guilty."
He said, the powers of anti-corruption institutions, would be strengthened and made more powerful to combat increasing crime and corruption.
"If the powers of the Serious Fraud Office had not been watered down as a result of unjustified criticisms, by members of the opposition at the time the law was being enacted, we would have had one of the most potent organs today to fight against corruption," Prof. Mills said.
Prof. Mills was upbeat about the issue of punctuality, noting that, "a feature of my administration, will be a general banishment of the concept of 'African punctuality'."
"There is no such thing. We must be punctual to work, punctual to meetings and punctual to functions. I will set the tone and I want the media to follow suit. The public and civil Service will then be alive to their responsibilities and the general public, I am sure, will come around."
Prof. Mills said he has programmes in all sectors of national life, as detailed in the NDC manifesto. But he indicated that some programmes would have greater priority over others.
He said some of them would have to be frozen in order to create funds for other sectors of the economy that require urgent injection of capital to take off.
"Our short term priorities are returning the ailing economy to health, addressing the foreign exchange shortfall and stabilising the cedi," he said.
Prof. Mills promised to boost agricultural production and marketing in order to halve domestic household expenditure on food.
"I shall implement a programme to extend our efforts from the mere production of crops into the creation of a really substantial agro-processing sector to add value to the food production chain," he said.
He said effective production, distribution, marketing, pricing and consumption policies will contribute towards lowering the cost of food, adding that to achieve this, Ghanaians must return to the land in large numbers.
"Those who do not return to primary farming activities must be ready to add value to what those who will go back to the land will produce. My government will consider a wide range of incentives to encourage those who wish to invest in agriculture."
Prof. Mills said reducing the cost of food, a major factor in the high consumer price index, will result in a reduction in inflation.
He pledged: "we will work with our transporters and market queens to address this problem."
Prof. Mills said his government would continue to make housing more affordable with emphasis on rental accommodation.
He said a team is currently reviewing the Rent Act of 1963 with a view to replacing its obsolete provisions and making it both tenant and landlord friendly.
He said even though it is easy to put aside concerns for the environment in order to make short-term gains during periods of economic stress, he will resist any such pressures.
"I shall ensure that existing legislation is vigorously enforced and that environmental issues are placed high on my government's agenda." Prof. Mills said quality education for every child and young person must be a top priority.
He noted that education should not be for sale to the highest bidder, and that access to education is a right and not a privilege.
He said a programme to achieve free compulsory and universal basic education is underway and will continue to be pursued.
Prof. Mills said it must be easy for those with talent to proceed to second cycle and tertiary institutions, since that is where quality is achieved.
He said as vice-president, he has been working to remove the backlog of students awaiting admission into the universities.
The NDC flag bearer said he is glad that one of the main opposition parties has accepted the idea of the Ghana Education Trust Fund, but has demanded that its administration is made more transparent.
"They need to be reminded that the administration of the fund has not yet started, and therefore the issue of transparency, let alone more transparency, has not arisen yet.
Prof. Mills said his administration would review the cash-and carry system in the health sector. He would however not promise free medical care for everybody at this time but the aged, pregnant women, children under-five and accident victims will receive special attention.
He proposed a health insurance scheme, that will be a mix of public and private, national and local funds that will cater for salaried and self-employed wage earners in urban and rural communities.
Prof. Mills said the AIDS epidemic must be addressed using the multi-sectoral approach.
He promised to ensure that the recently inaugurated commission on AIDS works efficiently so that Ghana can put into full practice methods that have enabled some countries to reduce HIV/AIDS infection.
He urged District Assemblies to focus on priorities such as water, education, health, roads and electricity, adding that central government will supplement their efforts through the Urban Credit projects with the World Bank and other bilateral donors.
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Leave party functionaries out of press
conferences –GJA
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October 2000
Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday asked political parties to leave their functionaries out of press conferences organised by them.
Speaking in an interview with the GNA at the end of a press conference in Accra by the Vice President, Professor John Atta Mills, Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie observed: "the event is a press affair and must be left strictly so. "Next time I will want to see only media personnel at such a programme".
The encounter is the first in a series by Professor John Atta Mills, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to outline his polices and programmes in the run up to the December elections.
Mrs. Afenyi-Dadzie described the press conference by the Vice President as timely adding that she was happy that he has declared his intention to hold regular media interaction and above all appoint a Media Policy Advisor with Ministerial Status to co-ordinate activities between his government and the media.
"For a long time, the Ghanaian media has been denied access to the presidency and it is gratifying that Professor Mills has programmes aimed at bridging this gap," she said.
Mr. John Mahama, Minister of Communications apologised for the high turnout of party functionaries at the press conference and promised to ensure that the situation is not repeated.
Nana Kofi Coomson, Editor-In-Chief of the "Ghanaian Chronicle" and President of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) described Prof Mills' delivery as 'brilliant' saying he was very impressed by it.
Mrs. Rebecca Adotey, a Deputy Minister of Communications said it was a masterly delivery. "It shed light on a number of issues that have bugged people's minds over the years and I believe that a lot of people are satisfied by now."
Squadron Leader Clend Sowu MP for Anlo said it was one of the best deliveries of the Vice-President he had seen. " I think we have here, the next president of Ghana."
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NPP government to reduce number of
ministers – Quarshiegah
Bolgatanga (Northern Region) 11 October 2000
Major (RTD) Courage Quarshiegah, National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said on Sunday that an NPP government would slash the present number of ministers of state from 88 to at least 44 as part of measures to reduce government expenditure.
Major Quarshigah said this when he briefed NPP constituency youth executive at Bolgatanga on the party's manifesto.
He said the youth are the worst hit by the current economic crisis and urged them to explain why the electorate should vote for the NPP.
He said the NPP would create the right economic atmosphere for every Ghanaian to achieve his or her aspirations.
An NPP government would improve by making funds and other resources available for those who want to go into farming to produce raw materials for the agro-based industries to increase employment avenues.
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"We are prepared for re-runs" EC
Sogakope (Volta Region) 11 October 2000
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission on Monday said the commission has put adequate measures in place to conduct as many re-run of elections as possible in the event of a run-off in the presidential election in December.
He said despite the budget constraints facing the EC, adequate logistics and administrative preparations have been made to conduct a re-run within the mandatory 21 days after a run-off.
"We are prepared for as many re-runs as possible and we will continue to do that until we get a winner", the Commissioner told a workshop for judges on electoral dispute adjudication at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
This he noted is however only applicable to the presidential election in which the constitution demands that a candidate must win a minimum of 50 per cent plus one of total votes cast before being declared the winner.
"A re-run election would also be conducted when necessary, between only the top two candidates".
Dr. Afari-Djan said the EC is taking a critical view of the intentions and manner of the political campaign and the possibility of a run-off in the December elections.
Touching on the attempt by the police to stop political parties from pasting campaign posters and other materials at certain public places, Dr Afari-Dzan said:" we are not aware of the basis of the authority of the police to do so".
He said political campaign activities help to popularise an election, adding that it is good for the EC since it reduces publicity cost.
He said as far as the EC is concerned, there is no specific law that prevents political parties from hanging and pasting campaign materials in public.
However, if such materials become a public nuisance then the police have the right to intervene.
Dr Afari-Djan repeated that the EC has no hand in the formation of electoral committees at the district assembly level even though the EC has a close working relationship with the committees, explaining that the electoral committees are security apparitions set up to prevent violence at polling stations during the elections.
"We are usually invited to give technical comments on their activities especially, as to the kind of security personnel to place at the polling station.
Dr Afari-Djan assured the public that the electoral committees would ensure a peaceful and non-violent election.
Mr. Justice Kwame Afreh an Appeal Court Judge said most of the electoral laws are non-realistic and need to be changed.
Giving an overview of Ghana electoral laws, he said: "we need to amend some of the laws and adopt lasting but expensive solutions if we are to ensure free, fair and transparent elections".
He suggested that to ensure that the voters’ register is adequate, there should be an annual voters registration to wipe out names of dead and under-aged persons.
"We must also establish a national registration board to collect and provide the EC with qualified voters during election years", Mr. Afreh said, and also stressed the need to issue all persons above the age of 17 a national ID card so that persons without ID cards cannot even register.
He noted that due to urbanisation, many constituencies have over-grown the mandatory 70,000 voters while the number has fallen in rural areas.
He also cited the district assemblies and said election to them has become partisan contrary to the law.
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NDC Campaign vans bought from treasury
bills - Deputy Minister
Awudua(Western Region) 11 October 2000
Mr. Kwaku Acheampong Bonful, Deputy Minister of the Interior, has said the NDC bought its campaign vans from interests accruing from treasury bills the party invested in after selling its old campaign vehicles.
It is therefore not true that the party used state funds to procure the vans, Mr. Bonful, who is also a Member of Parliament for Prestea/Huni-Valley said at an NDC rally at Awudua, near Tarkwa, at the weekend.
He said the NDC party thrives on planning and not theft and called on the party supporters to remain loyal to the party and not be swayed by lies.
Mr. Bonful donated four million cedis towards the building of the town's community centre and 10 pieces of student mattresses and 10 blankets to replace worn out ones at the local clinic.
Mr. Solomon Kwabena Amuah, Wassa West District Chief Executive, appealed to the electorate to vote for NDC in the December elections to enable the government to continue its development projects in the area.
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Judges urged to limit issuance of
injunctions
Sogakope (Volta Region) 11 October 2000
Mr. Justice George Acquah, a Supreme Court Judge, on Tuesday called on judges to refrain from issuing rampantly, injunctions demanded by parties and individuals in an electoral dispute.
This he said is to avoid undue delays of such disputes in court, which usually retard the electoral process.
Mr. Justice Acquah was speaking on "Electoral Disputes Adjudication" at a two-day workshop for superior court judges jointly organised by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
The workshop, being attended by about 80 high, supreme and appeal court judges, is to familiarise them with the electoral laws and regulations with the view to speeding up electoral disputes resolution in the courts.
Mr. Justice Acquah said speedy adjudication of electoral disputes is critical to the democratic process, adding that the success of the electoral process is not the responsibility of the EC alone but that of the judiciary and the entire citizenry.
The process also requires a lot of time and financial commitment, which must be borne by all stakeholders.
"On our part as judges, we must resolve to refrain from issuing injunctions to delay the electoral process and ensure that very rare circumstance only should necessitate injunctions in an electoral dispute."
Mr. Justice Acquah said injunctions should not be commonplace as it has been in the past, adding that persons seeking injunctions should have the onus to prove the justification on their claims.
"Under the new constitutional instrument, dubbed C.I. 30, which is yet to come into force, a person seeking injunction must prove why he was not notified of the issue he claims to have been wrongfully excluded from and also prove the possible irreparable damage that could be caused if an injunction is not issued."
Mr. Justice Acquah said there was also the need to have a uniform regulation for judges to apply electoral laws in the adjudication of electoral disputes.
He said the current situation where judges in the various regions are allowed to use discretion in the handling of petitions de-regulates and slows down the process.
"It should be possible for the EC to issue a constitutional instrument to guide judges on how to apply the various laws regarding electoral disputes to ensure uniform and speedy resolution of disputes."
Mr. Kwame Safo-Kantanka, Deputy Chairman of the EC, said the Commission cannot issue a C.I. that will contradict the constitution and the statutes.
However, it should be possible to put measures in place to allow the hearing of election petitions earlier than other cases in court during an election year.
"This is to ensure that all parties in such disputes are satisfied before parliament reconvenes for work."
Mr. Ebo Quarshie, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), said "if a petition is deemed invalid on the basis of the status of the petitioner and the time of the petition, it should be rejected outright".
He explained that a qualified petitioner should be a registered voter, qualified to be voted for; he must prove that he was to have been nominated and his petition should be within 21 days after declaration of election results.
Mr. Justice Kpegah, a Supreme Court Judge, who presided, said the electoral laws must be reviewed to allow all permanent residents in the country to register and vote despite their country of origin.
He argued that as long as such persons reside and do business in the country, pay taxes and are affected by the laws and government policies, "there is no reason why they cannot be part of the process to choose a government.
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CHRAJ calls for vast improvements in
Ghana's penal system
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October 2000
Mr. Emile Short, Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Tuesday called for vast improvements in Ghana's penal system to enhance the human rights of prisoners.
Opening a seminar for prison officers on inmates' human rights, Mr. Short described conditions in police and the prison cells as deplorable.
"A suspect or even a convicted prisoner does not lose his right to human dignity and we not only have a moral obligation to respect their dignity as human beings, but it is a legal and constitutional obligation as well," Mr. Short said.
The seminar forms part of a series of programmes to sensitise prison officers on the concept, practice and implementation of human rights.
Mr. Short said CHRAJ organised the seminar after its annual inspection of police cells and prison settlements brought into light the harsh conditions under which inmates live.
"Our findings have not been encouraging. We found congestion and overcrowding in pre-colonial structures with poor ventilation."
He said the prisons have inadequate food and no medication for sick prisoners due to the cash and carry system, the commission reported.
The Commission also noted with concern the imprisonment of pregnant women, sentencing and imprisonment of juveniles in adult prisons, the prolonged detention of remand prisoners without trial, coupled with woefully inadequate bedding facilities.
"The impression we had, which unfortunately still persists, was that the authorities do not put such premium on the rights of suspects and prisoners," Mr. Short said.
Following recommendations made to the authorities to improve the living conditions of prisoners, the government increased feeding allowance, transferred some juveniles to borstal institutions, commuted some death sentences to life imprisonment and others were released on pardon, Mr. Short said.
These are positive changes, but much remains to be done, he added. He reminded the authorities that; "when a person is convicted and sentenced to prison, it is primarily the convict's right to personal liberty that is forfeited.
"Other human rights such as right to human dignity remain intact and should be observed."
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Foreign Ministry
says no missing Ghanaian in Libya
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October
2000
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said on Tuesday that earlier reports of missing Ghanaians in Libya in the wake
of attacks on nationals of Sub-Saharan African countries residing in the North
African country, have been found to be incorrect.
"Ghanaians listed as missing
were persons who went into hiding and have since resurfaced at camps set up by
the host authorities'', the statement said.
It said although all alleged
missing persons have been accounted for, the Ghana Embassy in Tripoli is
conducting further checks to determine whether or not there are any cases of
missing or dead Ghanaians.
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Ghana Post to
resume savings scheme
Ho (Volta Region) 11 October 2000
The Ghana Post Company Limited is
working towards the resumption of its Post Office Savings Scheme, which was
suspended by the erstwhile Supreme Military Council (SMC).
The company is also expected to
come out with a directory of postal addresses similar to that of the Ghana
Telecom. It would facilitate the identification of clients and assist in
detecting fake addresses meant to mislead public officers and institutions
during the course of their work.
Mr. Godwin Y. Tetteh, Volta
Regional Director of Ghana Post Company announced this at a forum to mark the
31st World Post Day celebration at Ho on Monday under the theme "Expedited
Mails Service".
Mr. Tetteh said the
re-introduction of the scheme has become necessary in order to promote saving
habits among the rural people and low income earners.
According to him the company was
working towards the re-opening of postal agencies to bring services closer to
the rural communities.
He appealed to district assemblies
to co-operate with the company to provide efficient services to the
communities.
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Hagan tours Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency
Nsuaem (Western Region) 11 October 2000
Professor George Hagan, Presidential Candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has said the party has identified human resource development as the key to the solution of the country's problems.
To this end, the party would re-introduce Dr Kwame Nkrumah's free educational policy with some modifications to ensure that quality education is made accessible to Ghanaians.
Prof. Hagan made this promise when he paid a courtesy call on Nana Aduku Adaa III, Chief of Tarkwa-Nsuaem as part of his tour of the Western Region.
He said armed with the requisite skills and good qualifications, Ghanaians can create their own employment without relying solely on the government. He said when people are gainfully employed social vices like corruption and stealing would be minimised.
Nana Adaa also expressed the hope that a palace built by Dr Nkrumah for the Chiefs and people of Nsuaem, but was confiscated after his overthrow, will be restored to it’s rightful owners by a government of the CPP.
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PNC to collaborate with chiefs to promote
local government
Damongo (Northern Region) 11 October 2000
The Presidential Candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama said at Damongo at the weekend that his party when voted into power would work closely with chiefs to enhance local government administration.
Chiefs as custodians of tradition wield considerable influence and therefore have a vital role to play in promoting grassroots participation in the development of their localities.
Dr Mahama was speaking during a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Bawah Abudu Doshie where he formally introduced himself as the presidential candidate of the PNC.
He also introduced Chief Inspector Abudulai Adams (rtd) as the party's parliamentary candidate for Damongo-Daboya and Mr. Zakaria Buhari a businessman as candidate for Yapie-Kusawgu.
Dr Mahama said his party would re-introduce subsidies on selected agricultural items and abolish the cash and carry system in health service delivery and replace it with a national insurance scheme.
Credit facilities will be extended to the youth with skills to make them self-employed. Dr Mahama advised party supporters to be vigilant on polling day, December 7 to prevent any fraud. Yagbonwura Doshie wished Dr Mahama well in his political career.
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Quashigah meets Bolga NPP youth
Bolgatanga (Upper West Region) 11 October 2000
Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), national organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said on Sunday that the party would support the other opposition parties to resist any form of harassment and intimidation from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the forthcoming elections.
He was reacting to a question about a possible merger of the opposition parties, if there was a second round of balloting in the December polls, during an interaction with the Bolgatanga youth wing of the party.
Major Quashigah condemned recent events, which led to the death of a youth in Bolgtanga, and advised the youth to desist from arguments that could result in violence.
He noted that government expenditure far exceeds total revenue generated in the country and said the NDC government has no focus on the economy.
Major Quashigah criticised the purchase of an aircraft for the President, arguing that the amount involved could have been used in funding projects aimed at improving agriculture and education.
The NPP, he said, would initiate measures to improve teaching and learning to enable the youth acquire the necessary qualifications and skills required for national development.
Major. Quashigah said it would also revamp the agricultural base of the country by giving subsidies to farmers, and also expand the industrial base.
The NPP would also widen the tax net to include taxpayers that for years have been excluded. On health, Major Quashigah said the NPP would ensure that all hospitals and other health facilities are supplied with adequate quantities of drugs, equipment and other health needs.
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