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Four bodyguards of President Jerry John Rawlings died on the spot on Sunday when a driver using an unapproved route into the Tema motorway crossed the president’s convoy causing a fatal accident.

The President and the First Lady, Nana Konadu sustained minor injuries of which they were treated and discharged, according to officials at the 37 Military Hospital.

The dead have been identified as Corporal Boateng, Corporal Aboagye, Corporal Kumashie and Lance Corporal Ewum-Tomah. Three others, who sustained various degrees of injury, are on admission at the 37 Military Hospital. The driver who allegedly caused the accident bolted away.

Three vehicles in the convoy were damaged beyond repairs.

Following Saturday night's downpour, which flooded the Adjei-Kojo Underpass and rendered it impassable, motorists travelling from Accra to Ashaiman were on Sunday compelled to divert onto the motorway through unapproved routes.

When the Ghana News Agency visited the scene of the accident, military police had cordoned off the area as people kept trooping there after hearing of the accident.

The police were later seen towing away the president's car, which was damaged at the left rear.

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Journalists asked to project issues

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 October 2000

Mr. Ishmael Yamson, Chairman of Unilever Ghana Limited, on Saturday called on the media to present facts and project issues that will assist the electorate to make informed and wise choices in the December 7 elections.

"To help us make our decision in these times of electioneering campaigns, the media have more to do in the next few weeks if Ghanaians should return a capable and dedicated government to power through peaceful and orderly elections.

"In the cause of reporting on political campaigns across the length and breadth of Ghana the media will need to report objectively, present facts and project issues as they come up."

Mr. Yamson was speaking at the 9th annual Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards night, to appreciate Journalists who excelled in 1999.

Fourteen awards were given, the highest of which is the prestigious "Journalist of the year". Mr. Kweku Baako, Editor and Publisher of the Crusading Guide emerged the winner of this award.

For his prize, Mr. Baako receives a personal computer, fully paid residential advanced journalism course at the Thompson Foundation in Cardiff, Wales, a return air ticket and full per diem during the period of the course, all valued at 50 million cedis, sponsored by Unilever.

Mr. Yamson mentioned the issues of concern to the populace as those of poverty, unemployment, unfavourable international policies among others. He said the problems facing Ghana requires visionary leaders "who will dream big dreams with a focus and a single-minded commitment to grow the economy.

"Forty-three years after independence, Ghana is still not competitive as a country and unless we grow the economy, this country will remain poor".

He said democratic governance should provide Ghanaians with an opportunity to grow provided they can elect visionary leaders with the capacity to dream big and translate vision into action and empower the population to respond to their vision.

Mr. Yamson said Journalists and the media as a whole have the responsibility to show the electorate, which of the politicians is exhibiting such vision in order to make informed choices in the elections.

He said the falling cedi rate and cocoa prices and rising inflationary and interest rates as well crude oil prices, call for a large measure of thinking that will not only sustained, but clear, sensible and filled with long-term vision.

"I am convinced that with sober reflection and guidance by the media we should be able, as electorate, to elect leaders who can combine long-range vision with action, leaders who will bring together their mission, strategies and values to change Ghana," he said.

He called on politicians vying for leadership roles to desist from making lofty but empty promises and focus on how they intend to solve the problems facing the country.

"We do not need promises from politicians, we have enough of them. Our politicians must instead demonstrate in-depth understanding of the issues facing our country, their causes and their impact and then articulate solutions."

Mr. Yamson noted that all the seven presidential candidates for the December 7 elections have stated very laudable goals, but none of them has given the cost of their programmes and how they intend to fund them.

This he said has been the bane of this country since independence, where promises are made and are never fulfilled due to the inability of the promise makers to cost and fund them.

"Early this year the world's poor, including Ghanaians, were promised water fall, health for all, electricity for all and education for all by year 2000, but none of this has happened, yet we have only 64 days for this year to be over," he said.

Mr. Yamson said this is a source of worry to the business community and should be an issue for the electorate in considering whom to return to power.

"We have a bloated government sector, which is also inefficient, yet very hostile to private enterprise. Moreover the policies of our development partners have frustrated rather than promoted local manufacturing initiatives."

Mr. Yamson said the IMF and the World Bank, who have supervised the commodity-export-centred Economic Recovery Programme over the past 20 years, have failed to support Ghana to restructure the economy away form commodity export.

"They have precipitated the economic crisis of the country over the past 12 months and are now shamefully blaming the government. They should not have blindly promoted the expansion of the mining sector, cocoa and non-traditional commodity export to the exclusion of sectors with the capacity to sustain strong growth," he said.

These, Mr. Yamson said, are some of the pertinent issues the media should discuss in the run-up to the elections. This will make the next government revamp its relationship with the development partners to ensure the eight per cent growth needed to make this country a middle-income nation by the year 2020.

He praised the media for expanding the frontiers of democracy in the country, saying, "but for the media, we will not have democracy, justice, accountability, good governance and fundamental human rights would be trampled upon."

Mr. Yamson said his company believes that when given the needed support, the media can do more than it is doing now. He therefore called on all beneficiaries of the media to assist in developing a dynamic fourth estate of the realm.

Mrs. Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, President of the GJA announced steps taken by the association to improve the image of Journalism. She said a permanent ethics and disciplinary committee has been put in place to help regulate the activities of GJA members and ensure that Journalists do their work with the highest professional standard and sense of

responsibility.

"We are also taking vigorous steps to clean our house and restore our image. This includes steps to acquire a permanent GJA secretariat soon."

She condemned the incidence of arrest and ambush of journalists and the recent smearing of human faeces at the premises of the Crusading Guide as low points in our democratic process.

Mrs. Afenyi-Dadzie assured the public that journalists would not relent in their effort to promote democracy, responsible leadership and good governance no matter the threat.

She called on the new National Media Commission to be up to their constitutional role and appealed to parliament to expedite action on the passage of the Freedom of Information Act.

Out of 14 Awards, three were won by women, Eunice Menka of the Ghana News Agency, best health reporter of the year, Nancy Arthur of the Statesman, best columnist of the year and Isabella Gyau-Orhin of the Public Agenda, best economic reporter and best environmental reporter of the year.

Other award winners are William Nyarko, Chronicle, best investigative reporter, Richard Keelson, the Independent, best features writer, George Koomson, Public Agenda, best arts reporter, Godfred Blay, Ghanaian Times, best photo journalist, Edmund Kofi Yeboah, Radio Ghana, best radio news reporter.

The rest are Mr. A. C. Ohene, Chronicle, best rural reporter, Mr. Osei Boakye, TV3, best television news reporter, Mr. Daniel M. Brand, Radio Ghana, best radio feature writer, and Mr. Ferdinand Ayim, the Statesman, best print news reporter.

Mr. Baako, Journalist of the year said: "my victory is victory for commitment and courage" and warned that journalists have come very far and would not bow to threats by politicians.

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Electorate asked to vote wisely

Kwamikrom (Volta Region) 30 October 2000

Mr. Goosie Tanoh, Presidential candidate of the National Reform Party ( NRP) on Saturday advised the electorate not to hand over their votes to "the highest bidder," otherwise they would lose their right to be part of the decision making process.

Rather vote wisely in the December election by electing leaders with high moral aptitudes and leadership capabilities, he said.

Mr. Tanoh told a rally at Kwamikrom on Saturday that the country's present predicament calls for a leadership with purpose and vision, which the NRP stands ready to provide when given the mandate.

"This makes every vote a decisive factor in shaping the country's future direction.”

He explained his party's manifesto to the electorate and implored them to show their confidence in the NRP by voting for him as President and the party's parliamentary candidates.

Mr Tanoh was touring the northern sector of the Volta region, during which he introduced Mr. William Semanhyia, as the party's parliamentary candidate for Biakoye.

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Tema West NDC launches campaign

Tema (Greater Accra) 30 October 2000

The Tema West Constituency of the NDC on Saturday launched its campaign for the December 7 election with a call on politicians not to use their campaign platforms to incite their members to create confusion.

Flight Lieutenant M.B. Nii Tackie (Rtd.), NDC parliamentary candidate, said the time has come for politicians to help make politics a system of alternatives, which calls for campaigning on issues instead of resorting to insults and lies.

"We as politicians should be able to convince our constituents with our programmes that we can achieve while in office and therefore plead with the people to vote for us; but we must not engage in campaigns of lies, half-truths and misinformation coupled with insults to create unnecessary tension.

"When we listen to the phone-ins on FM radio stations and read some newspapers, it looks like there is tension in the country; but on the ground, that is not the case.

"At least, Ghanaians have learnt good lessons from what has happened in Liberia and in Sierra Leone."

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Women Parliamentary aspirants learn political skills

Tamale (Northern Region) 30 October 2000

Women parliamentary candidates from the three Northern Regions have gathered in Tamale for a workshop in skills training to equip them to handle the challenges of political office.

The nine parliamentary aspirants, who are vying for seats in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, have with them their campaign managers to discuss: Women in politics, Challenges to women's participation in public life and Gender issues affecting women in Ghana.

Other topics are, Preparation for electoral campaigns, resource mobilisation and political negotiations.

Ms. Beatrix Alla-Mensah, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science of the University of Ghana, told them that since politics is a human activity, women must necessarily get involved because they form a significant part of humanity.

She said women serve as the first point for political socialisation and by their nature are good managers, understanding, caring, and are more emphatic than most men.

Ms. Alla- Mensah said it makes sense for women to participate actively in politics since they constitute more than 50 per cent of the population. This would help change the status quo, where the majority are not heard in politics and public circles.

She mentioned socio-cultural practices, economic status, education and knowledge acquisition, institutional structures and attitudinal change as some of the challenges women face, and urged that women must be supported to overcome these hurdles to enable them to play a meaningful role in politics and the decision making process.

Madam Hawa Yakubu Ogede, a former member of parliament for Bawku Central, who was the chairperson, said it is consoling to realise that there is an emerging affirmative and positive response from a lot of women willing to enter politics.

She said armed with the right inputs, many women can exhibit enough courage to meet the challenges, but advised that they decide on their own what they want to do.

The three-day workshop, which started on Saturday, was organised by the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD), Advocate for Gender Equity (AGE) Women in Broadcasting (WIB), UNDP, CIDA, Friedrich Ebert Foundation (EFS) National Institutional Renewal Programme and Ghana Women Initiative Foundation.

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Kumasi Central Market gutted by fire

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 30 October 2000

The Kumasi Central Market was on Sunday morning the scene of sorrow, anguish and pain as scores of traders, mostly women who had lost valuable items and goods running into several million cedis to a raging fire, screamed, sobbed or wept uncontrollably.

Some of the traders, defying the wet and muddy ground caused by a downpour that preceded the fire, lay sprawled on the premises of their shops and stalls as they mourned their losses, drawing a large crowd to the scene.

An elderly woman who could not contain her loss of an unspecified amount of money and goods screamed: "God, I am finished!" as she was led away and consoled by friends and relations.

According to sources, the fire, the cause of which is yet to be determined, started around 1 a.m. and within minutes had torched many stores and shops.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service had a difficult time gaining access to the scene and tracing water hydrants due to congestion at the market and the haphazard manner tables, shops and stalls had been arranged or constructed.

When the fire personnel managed to gain access to the blazing fire, they battled it all night.

Items destroyed included foodstuffs, footwear, cooking utensils, drums of edible oil, clothing and other valuables.

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Government spends 7.3 per cent of GDP on food imports – Anane

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 30 October 2000

Government spends about 7.3 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to import food into the country despite the vast arable land lying fallow, Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, MP for Bantama, said in Kumasi on Friday.

Giving statistics, Dr. Anane, NPP Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said one trillion Cedis worth of food was imported in 1997; this increased to 1.3 trillion Cedis in 1998 and to about 1.54 trillion Cedis last year.

Dr. Anane was interacting with 16 journalists drawn from the Northern Sector of the country at a two-week course on "Election Reporting" organised by the Thomson Foundation and sponsored by the British Council.

He said an NPP government would solve the problem of subsidy on agricultural inputs as well as credit facilities for farmers to enable them to produce enough food for consumption and more raw materials for agro-processing. It would also reduce food imports.

Dr. Anane noted that Ghana being an agricultural country, the new government to be formed by the NPP would pay more attention to production, marketing, transportation of farm produce, storage and processing to add value to them.

Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, MP for Old Tafo Suame, appealed to NPP polling agents to be very vigilant at the polling centres and the constituency collation centres on the polling day.

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Don't allow politicians to influence your work, returning officers told

Techiman (Brong Ahafo Region) 30 October 2000

Madam Theresa Cole, Member of the Electoral Commission has urged returning officers not to allow politicians to influence their work on election day.

She said they should resolve to work within the electoral laws and regulations to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

Madam Cole was addressing a one-day training of trainers' workshop at Techiman for 17 returning officers drawn from Techiman, Nkoranza and Wenchi districts.

Mr. Yahaya Mahama, acting Regional Director, assured the participants that the Commission would provide any assistance so long as they work within the law.

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More Ghanaians evacuated from Libya

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 October 2000

Three hundred more stranded Ghanaians in Libya were on Saturday night evacuated back home.

The evacuees, the 15th batch so far to arrive, comprising 290 adults and 10 minors, were screened and registered, with a few of them receiving medical treatment before being allowed to leave for their various regions.

Briefing newsmen at the airport on the exercise, Mr. Kofi Portuphy, National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said so far 5,013 Ghanaians have been evacuated. The last batch of unspecified number is expected by Monday.

"Most of the evacuees have been given letters to present at the regional and district health posts for further check ups and treatment."

Mr. Portuphy said NADMO officials at the regional and district levels are co-ordinating with relevant agencies, NGO's and the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to assist in their resettlement.

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Taywood mines workers on strike over Christmas Bonus

Iduapriem (Western Region) 30 October 2000

Workers of Taywood Mining Company at Iduapriem near Tarkwa on Friday started a sit down strike to back their demand for an acceptable Christmas bonus.

Wearing red bands on their wrists and heads, the workers numbering more than 200 stayed outside the offices of the company at the plant site.

Police were deployed at the site to protect installations and to keep the peace.

According to the workers, annual bonus to employee should, by law, be agreed upon by the management and the local workers' union but management unilaterally fixed ten percent of the annual basic salary of a worker.

The workers said the management's stand of non-negotiable payment of annual bonus is contrary to what is enshrined in the collective bargaining agreement threatening that they would not resume work until the matter is resolved.

However, the local union has proposed 2.5 million cedis for each worker, according to Mr. Tijani Rahmani, the secretary.

The workers said their action has become necessary because management has never bided by the provisions of CBA on the payment of annual bonus since the company was set up in 1998.

Mr. Sean Stirling, Project Manager, said officials from the Ghana Mines Workers Union, Tarkwa branch, have been invited to intervene in the workers action which management considers unofficial.

"They have refused to work, and they have refused to go home" he said, adding that they were denied lunch from the company's canteen because they were not working.

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Inexperienced leader will lead nation into confusion

Tarkwa (Western Region) 30 October 2000

Mr. Martin Amidu, vice presidential candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC) said on Saturday that inexperienced leaders could lead the nation into a state of confusion.

He said the NDC is the only party, which has the experience to manage the affairs of this nation efficiently.

Mr. Amidu who was interacting with members of the northern community at Tarkwa during a campaign tour of the area, called on the people to vote for Professor John Evans Atta Mills as president in the December 7 election, adding that he has the experience.

Mr. Seidu Adamu, the Deputy Western Regional Minister said, in spite of the hardships the nation is going through, NDC has been able to sustain the economy.

He called on the Imams to pray for a peaceful election because it is by the grace of God that the nation has reached this far.

Earlier in a welcoming address the district chief Imam, Iddrisu Umar expressed his appreciation for the nomination of Mr. Amidu as the vice presidential candidate by Prof Mills.

Mr. Amidu later introduced Mr. Francis Kojo Yankey NDC parliamentary candidate for Tarkwa-Nsuaem to the people and urged them to vote for him.

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Two Techiman parliamentary candidates withdraw

Techiman (Brong Ahafo Region) 30 October 2000

Two parliamentary candidates for Techiman North and Techiman South constituencies have withdrawn their candidature for this year's general election.

They are Mr. Emmanuel Godfrey Yeboah, a 48-year-old graduate teacher who was standing for the Convention People's Party (CPP) for Techiman North and Mr. Kofi

Boakye Saarah-Mensah, 47, an Accounts Officer, standing for the National Reform Party for Techiman North.

Mr. Anthony K. Oppong, Techiman electoral officer who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency said this latest development has reduced the number of parliamentary candidates contesting the Techiman North constituency from five to four, whilst that of the Techiman South from six to five.

He noted that any parliamentary candidate is free to withdraw at anytime but only those who would withdraw their nomination early enough would have their 200,000 cedis nomination fee refunded.

The two parliamentary candidates said they are joining the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

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EC to stem rigging

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 October 2000

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday assured political parties and the electorate that it has put documentary, security and administrative measures in place that will effectively check any form of rigging of the December 7 elections.

The commission however called on political parties and the public to be vigilant at every level of the electoral process, saying, "prevention of all forms of rigging requires the same level of vigilance from all stakeholders in the elections."

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Sylvia Crabbe, Senior Public Relations Officer of the EC, said the current electoral process has been improved at all levels to prevent the anomalies that occurred in 1996 and to ensure absolute transparency.

She said the compulsory photo ID card system, workshops for operatives, including the returning and presiding officers, political party and candidate agents, the judiciary and electoral assistants on the dos and don'ts of elections, are some of the steps to stem rigging.

Mrs. Crabbe said the donation of vehicles and computers to the political parties is also a step to assist them play their watchdog role more effectively this time round.

"Despite all these measures put in place by the EC, if political parties and the rest of the public are not vigilant enough at all levels of the electoral process, the EC can not be blamed for possible unorthodox practices of some electorate and party members," she said.

Mrs. Crabbe said the political parties are expected to mobilise their members to be actively involved in the electoral process at the registration, filing of nomination, revision of register, voting, counting of votes, compiling and declaration of results levels.

"Political parties are not supposed to sit back and make noise about the electoral process. It takes collective effort of all stakeholders to effectively prevent electoral rigging."

Mrs. Crabbe said the EC would continue with its mopping up exercise aimed at providing each registered voter with a photo ID card until one week to the elections.

She therefore urged registered voters who have misplaced their ID cards or have thumbprint ones to contact the regional EC offices for photo ID cards.

Touching on the bloated voters' register by 1.5 million, she quoted Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Chairman of the EC as saying on a private radio station that the figure could comprise unreported deaths, double registration and wrongful registration of under-aged persons.

"It is assumed that 200,000 people die every year in Ghana making 600,000 over the last three years, yet only 20,000 deaths have been reported and duly scrapped from the register to date," she said.

She added that some of the remaining 580,000 might be part of the number. Mrs. Crabbe said recently at Tamale, 400 voter ID cards belonging to under aged persons were seized by the EC and the case reported to the police for investigation.

She said the EC has also discovered that some voters who changed the location of their residence, re-registered instead of transferring their votes during the recent revision process.

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"Don't be intimidated"- Mills tells NDC activists

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 30 October 2000

Vice President John Evans Atta Mills has called on NC activists to remain steadfast and not to feel intimidated or inferior by the opposition's unproven allegations and 'half truths.'

He said despite the lies, the NDC's chances in the December elections are higher than before because of its track record and ability to brave the storm.

"The indications are good, we're going to genuinely defeat them. We'll win hands down," Vice President Mills, the party's flag bearer, told a packed hall of NDC activists, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology wing of the Tertiary Education Institutional Network (TEIN).

The event formed part of activities by the NDC to intensify its campaign to win more seats in the Ashanti region, which is regarded as the stronghold of the NPP.

"The battle in Ashanti has begun, our forces are ready," Vice President Mills declared, amid deafening cheers from his audience which included senior government officials and the party's top notches.

He asked them to go all out and explain policy objectives in the party's manifesto to the people without fear of threat or intimidation from the opposition.

Prof. Mills made reference to a series of press conferences held recently by the NPP and said those who addressed them presented half-truths as a ploy to question his personal integrity and discredit the government.

"I am not deterred by those attacks and I will respond to the allegations at the right time.

Here again he told party members not to be on the defensive in the face of the allegations but continue to work hard to meet the challenges towards a resounding victory.

Prof. Mills restated that the government is against corruption and gave notice that the "wheels of justice will turn soon" to expose the truth.

He said in as much as he admits that the government is made up of human beings who cannot all be perfect, he also believes "the so-called angels are not only found outside the NDC."

He expressed regrets that the opposition do not find it worthwhile mentioning some of the government's bold efforts to improve the system but only pick on situations that suit them.

For example, he said, in order to discredit the NDC, the NPP read out a selected list of beneficiaries of overseas medical treatment and deliberately left out some names in order to create the impression that the beneficiaries were all NDC functionaries.

"These things will not help us move forward as a serious minded people," Prof. Mills declared.

Prof. Mills dismissed the notion that the government takes delight in frivolous spending and makes no effort to curtail expenditure.

He said the chunk of the government's bills goes into the provision of basic human amenities for the people, especially those outside the cities who produce food to feed the nation.

He said when he was joining the government from the university, he thought all the problems of educational institutions would be solved but not long after, he realised there are more problems at other areas.

However, he still acknowledges the fact that there are mounting challenges facing the campuses and their lecturers who, he said, represent brilliant pillars that support the nation.

He said he is happy that despite the criticisms by opponents, the beneficiary communities themselves appreciate the projects.

Vice President Mills restated his characteristic call for peace, unity and stability during the elections saying it should be the responsibility of every Ghanaian to guard against violence.

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All is calm on Ghana-Cote d'Ivoire border

Sunyani (Greater Accra) 30 October 2000

Reports reaching Sunyani indicate that all is calm at Gonokrom and Kofi Badukrom in the Brong Ahafo Region, two main entry points to Cote d'Ivoire, which last week experienced a political turmoil following clashes between rival political parties in Abidjan over the country's presidential election result.

Workers and other commuters arriving from the two border towns say there has not been any significant influx of Ghanaians from Cote d'Ivoire into Ghana and that people are going about their normal activities.

The situation has abated fears that, in the wake of the confusion that arose after the election, may Ghanaians living in that country would return home.

"There is no danger at the moment as there has not been any mass exodus of either Ghanaians or Ivorians for their safety," an immigration official said.

Reports monitored in Sunyani after Sunday's controversial presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire and the fleeing of the head of state, General Robert Guei, spoke of continued bloody clashes between security forces and supporters of newly installed Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and those of Allassane Dramani Ouattara, who was barred with 13 others by the country's Supreme Court from contesting the presidential election because of his alleged dual nationality status.

More than 40 people were said to have been killed during three days of violence on Thursday in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.

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MPs and ministers should prove their worth - NUGS

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 October 2000

Parliamentarians and ministers of state should prove their worth in parliament and in their respective ministries and stop using their time campaigning for the people's vote, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) said on Saturday.

A statement signed in Accra said such officials would be known by their fruits and "not necessarily going to tell the electorate what they are not doing".

"We, by this release, condemn in no uncertain terms such attitudes and consider various reasons being given as frivolous and not tangible," the statement said.

The NUGS said contributions by such persons in parliament and their deeds in the various sectors and constituencies for the past four years would determine whether they would be maintained or removed through the ballot box.

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