MP calls on Asantehene to resolve Effiduase chieftaincy dispute
Government educates public on state of
economy
Rawlings calls for support to curb conflicts in West Africa
NPP dismisses six members at Kumawu
Wamfie (Brong Ahafo) 12 October 2000
Mr J.H. Mensah, Minority Leader in Parliament, has said the government cannot escape blame for the hardships the country is going through citing its mismanagement of the economy as the cause.
"The NDC's bad economic policies have made it impossible for Ghanaians to lead decent lives", Mr Mensah said at a fund-raising rally organised by the Dormaa East constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party at Wamfie on Tuesday.
He called on Ghanaians to vote the NDC out and the NPP in to enable it to initiate sound policies to improve the economy.
Mr Mensah who is also the Member of Parliament for Sunyani East said the government's policy of health-for-all by the year 2000 has failed because of the cash and carry system.
He said the system would be abolished and an insurance scheme introduced to ensure quality health care under an NPP government.
Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, MP for Sunyani West said an NPP government would reduce the number of ministers as a way of cutting down on government expenditure.
He advised the people of the constituency to rally behind the party's parliamentary candidate, Mr Stephen Adoma Yeboah.
Mr Anthony Kusi, Regional Secretary of the party, asked the party's polling agents to be vigilant and check any election malpractice. Mr Adoma Yeboah assured the people of a dedicated service when voted to parliament.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 12
October 2000
The TUC will hold a news
conference about the misgivings being expressed about the operations of SSNIT,
Mr Kofi Asamoah, Deputy Secretary-General of the congress, said at Cape Coast
on Wednesday.
He was opening the two-day Regular
Central Regional Council of Labour Meeting for 30 participants to deliberate on
policies adopted at the sixth quadrennial congress of the TUC.
The Deputy Secretary-General
expressed concern about the dominance of "non-contributors" on the
board of the Trust and said SSNIT must be streamlined in the interest of
workers.
He said the Congress is committed to the election of a government,
which would be committed to the welfare of workers and called on leaders of the
various structures of the TUC to educate workers on the manifestos of the
parties.
This, Mr Asamoah said, would
enable workers to make informed choices to ensure a "labour friendly
government" to protect workers' rights.
The TUC hopes to receive a
"favourable response" from the government on the proposals for a
daily minimum wage of 5,500 cedis, he said and assured workers that they would
be informed about developments on the issue.
Mr David Dorkenoo, Head of the
Ghana Labour College, said a research conducted from 1994 to 1998, indicated
that most workers are ignorant about labour issues and do not take active
participation in trades union matters.
The TUC is therefore embarking on
an educational programmes to address the problem, he said adding that the
College would be upgraded and trades union schools established for the purpose.
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Bawku (Upper East) 12 October 2000
The Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Jimmy Carl-Rhule, said on Wednesday that Ghanaian citizens living across the borders might return on the election day to vote.
He, however, cautioned that the return of these people to the border-towns in Ghana where they might have registered as voters should not be misconstrued to mean that foreigners are entering the country to vote.
Mr Carl-Rhule was addressing a two-day workshop under the theme "Economic and Business Promotion at the Local Level" at Bawku.
Mr Carl-Rhule warned that such false information has the tendency to spark off violence, which could disrupt the peace in the country.
He therefore called on the people to be wary of such rumours and ensure that peace prevails during and after the elections.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 October 2000
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday expressed its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Ghanaian Media for participating in the first of the series of planned media encounters by Professor John Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the Progressive Alliance.
A statement signed in Accra by George Quaynor-Mettle, National Propaganda Secretary particularly thanked the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Private Newspapers Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) for honouring the invitation.
"It is the cherished hope of the NDC that, this display of mutual respect and healthy relationship between the Party, the Vice President and the NDC flagbearer on one hand and the media will continue to blossom in the years ahead".
The Party also commended the general public for the immense interest shown in the proceedings of the press interview by Prof. Mills.
The statement said the party is heartened by the overall verdict of the content of the rich and meaningful programme in which the Professor acquitted himself with distinction. It said it has also noted the criticisms by the NPP campaign manager, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 12 Oct 2000
Mr Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Candidate of the National Reform Party (NRP) has said the reconstruction of the country is possible with the collective collaboration and determination of all Ghanaians.
He said since politics cannot be disengaged from the socio-economic development, transparency in governance through the involvement of all citizens in the management of the country's resources, cannot be over-emphasised.
Mr Tanoh was interacting with party functionaries at Bolgatanga at the start of his one-week campaign tour of the Upper East region.
He said the NRP when voted into power would build strong community oversight committees to encourage community participation in the decision-making process.
He added that when this is done, it would give the people a fair idea of the government's programmes and policies.
He said the NRP would create an internally dynamic and stable agricultural programme, provide markets for agricultural produce and stabilise incomes.
He identified the key areas of expansion as the social services, industry and agriculture and said these areas would be given priority attention.
Answering a question on his party's relationship with the NDC, Mr Tanoh said NDC deviated from the purpose for which it was born, and started putting individual interests first before the over-all national interest. "The vision of placing Ghana first is what the NRP stands for", he added.
The vice presidential candidate of the party, Mr Cletus Kosiba said an NRP government would put into place a mechanism to make district assemblies more responsible and accountable to the people and make the position of the District Chief Executive elective.
He noted that without a solid system of education, the country risks destroying its human resource base and general economic output, adding that an NRP government would therefore ensure that quality education is delivered.
He said NRP is a movement for change, and embraces healthy minded people who care for the development of the country.
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Odumase-Krobo (Eastern Region) 12 October 2000
The flagbearer of the CPP, Professor George Hagan, has explained that the rebirth of the party is aimed at redeeming the country from its present economic woes and place it at its rightful position on the globe as did the founder of the party, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
He said poverty, disease, unemployment, hunger and low levels of education resulting from mismanagement by the present government had ruined the country, which was once regarded as a beacon of hope for the whole world and Africa, in particular.
Prof. Hagan was addressing party activists at Odumase-Krobo on Tuesday as part of his three-day campaign visit to the Eastern Region.
The visit also took him and his entourage, including the first National Vice-Chairman and Campaign Manager, Mr Felix Amoah, and regional executives to Asesewa, Sekesua, Otrokper and Somanya in the Krobo area and Old-Tafo and Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa Constituency.
Prof. Hagan said the CPP government, when voted into power, would reactivate all the abandoned government industries and enterprises embarked upon by Dr. Nkrumah to create employment for the youth.
Prof. Hagan called on Ghanaians to constantly remind politicians of the promises they make during campaigns to ensure they perform accordingly.
This, according to him, would keep them on their toes to work hard and improve the living conditions of the people.
Mr Amoah said the CPP government would reintroduce the free education system, which was started by Dr. Nkrumah and generate employment for the people.
He urged Ghanaians to be united and say no to the NDC government, which has deceived the people for the past 20 years.
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Nana Owusu Sekyere, said the rebirth of the CPP had enabled many Ghanaians who had hitherto joined different parties to come back to their mother party, which is poised to win power in the December elections.
He said as a disciplined group, the party would conduct its campaigns peacefully and called on party supporters to avoid acts that would lead to violence and confrontation with their opponents.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 12 October 2000
Mrs Grace Coleman, Member of Parliament (MP), for Effiduase-Asokore on Tuesday appealed to Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, Asantehene, to find an immediate solution to the 20-year-old chieftaincy dispute at Effiduase.
She said the dispute was revived last Saturday and resulted in the death of one person while many others were injured, and property destroyed.
The MP said the dispute had affected the socio-economic lives of the people and there was the need for a lasting solution to enable the people live in peace with each other.
Addressing a Press Conference in Kumasi, Mrs Coleman also called on the government to institute a probe into the killings and the destruction of property and bring the perpetrators to book.
The MP expressed concern about the use of arms and ammunition during the incident and appealed to police to investigate the source to rid the area of arms.
Mrs Coleman said she was dismayed at the incident and expressed deep condolence to the bereaved family.
"We have to remember that we are all brothers and sisters. Let us live together and be at peace with each other".
She said, "Chieftaincy is a laudable institution which should unite us and not divide us. We the people of Effiduase cannot continue to lose relations over such disputes"
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Government educates public on state of
economy
Tema (Greater Accra) 12 October 2000
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Chief Executive of the Investment Promotion Centre said on Tuesday that the country's present economic situation is a result of unfavourable international market forces.
He said despite the situation, the government was trying to manage its negative effect to keep the economy moving.
Mr Ahwoi was speaking at a day's forum on the state of the economy for opinion leaders from Tema, Dangme East and West Districts.
Mr. Ahwoi said that even though prices of fuel continue to increase on the world market the government has not increased prices of fuel while neighbouring countries such as Togo and Ivory Coast have done so.
He disclosed that the government has paid about 535 million dollars for crude oil from Nigeria, adding that any increase in fuel price now would be justifiable.
The Chief Executive however said that the government is subsidising the price of the product because of the rippling effect it would have on transportation and wages for workers.
He urged Ghanaians to patronise made in Ghana products adding "by patronising foreign products, we help to create jobs for people in other countries to the neglect of many Ghanaians who continue to be unemployed"
Mr Ahwoi said this attitude contributed to the collapse of the country's industrial base.Mr Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy noted that the government had connected all the 110 district capitals to the national grid, and gave the assurance that all towns and villages would enjoy power supply by the year 2020.
On the fuel situation, he said in November, Ghana would start importing crude oil directly from Nigeria.
The Deputy minister said despite the increase in the price of crude oil, the government had kept faith with the people by not increasing the price of the commodity.
Mr Abingya said, Ghana, would receive a total of 1,350 barrels of fuel per month from Nigeria and asked the public not to panic about any shortage.
On divestiture, Mr Emmanuel Agbodo, Chief Executive of the Divestiture Implementation Committee denied allegations that foreigners have monopolised it.
He said on the contrary, Ghanaians are considered before foreigners, stating that out of about 233 enterprises divested, 190 are being managed by Ghanaians, 20 as joint ventures made up of Ghanaians and foreigners, while only 23 went to foreigners.
Mr Agbodo said comprehensive procedures are adopted to ensure transparency and fairness in the implementation of the programme as companies to be privatised are advertised in both local and international media.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 Oct. 2000
President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday said West African countries would continue to need assistance to contain conflicts engulfing parts of the sub-region.
He said conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea are proving difficult for West African countries to curb because of lack of adequate resources and thanked the United States and other countries that have given support in various forms.
"We appreciate assistance from the US and other countries and it is our hope that this assistance would continue," President Rawlings said, when he granted audience to General Carlton Fulford, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, US European Command.
Gen. Fulford is on a tour of regions, which fall within his area of command, including West Africa and the Middle East.
The US has not sent peacekeeping troops to any African country since it withdrew from Somalia in 1991 following the death of some its soldiers.
Washington has been giving logistics support and training soldiers from African countries in peacekeeping and has offered to equip a battalion of Ghanaian troops for peacekeeping duty in Sierra Leone.
President Rawlings, who played an active role in the resolution of the Liberian conflict, said it is important "to nib conflicts in the bud as they get more expensive to solve if they drag on."
The President, in the twilight of his presidency, spoke about the December elections, the peace prevailing in the country and expressed optimism that "whoever wins the elections will continue to maintain stability."
Gen. Fulford said the United States looks forward to continuing its co-operation with Ghana in terms of peacekeeping as Ghana is the first African country to accept the US-sponsored African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) programme.
Under the programme, the US trained a battalion of Ghanaian soldiers in peacekeeping. Senegal and Uganda also benefited from the programme.
Gen. Fulford said the US is prepared to equip a battalion of Ghanaian troops for peacekeeping duty in Sierra Leone.
"Just tell us when you are ready. Ghana has provided stability and a strong leadership in the sub-region."
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NPP dismisses six members at Kumawu
Kumawu (Ashanti Region) 12 October 2000
Mr K. Ofosu-Boateng, a member of the NPP who is standing as an independent candidate for the Kumawu Constituency, and five others have been dismissed from the party with effect from September l3, this year.
A statement signed by Mr Isaac Opoku-Boateng, Kumawu Constituency Secretary of the NPP, gave the names of the others as Mr Alexander A. Marfo of Woraso, Assistant Constituency Secretary; Miss Doris A. 0wusu, Assistant Women's Organiser; Mr K. Oteng of Kumawu and Mr Kwadwo Acheampong, both of Kumawu; and Miss Yaa Antwiwaa of Bodomase.
It explained that the dismissals are in accordance with Article 3 (H) of the party's constitution, adding that Mr Ofosu-Boateng of Sekyere and his group are forbidden to use the NPP logo, colours, slogan and other symbols in their campaigns.
The statement said they also have no mandate to speak for the NPP and that anybody who deals with them in the name of the NPP does so at his or her own risk.
It appealed for calm from all members of the NPP, stressing that vigilance was needed to thwart the efforts of some powerful interests working for Mr Ofosu-Boateng and against the NPP.
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