GRi Newsreel Ghana 03 - 10 - 2001
Repeal of criminal libel law, Akuffo-Addo says no regrets
Repeal of criminal Libel Law is ideal for democracy -Kufuor
Lawyers must not condone corruption - Deputy A-G
Utility watchdog urges gov’t to pre-finance investment in utilities
Girl needs assistance to enrol at the School for the Blind
Stadium Disaster Committee begins process to compensate victims
Over 300 books missing from community library
Nigerian car assembly plant donates to Police
Ghana seeks Canada’s assistance to clear garbage
Substantiate bribery allegation - Education Director
Bodies of Bafana Bafana team members identified
Public sector is indispensable partner - CPP
NDC needs 40 per cent Ashanti votes to recapture power - Bagbin
Defence Minister pledges Ghana's support for Burundi's peace Process
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 October 2001 - Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice said on Tuesday that the government has not regretted repealing the criminal libel law as its existence was unconstitutional and inimical to free speech.
He said the Acting Chief Justice, Mr Justice E.K. Wiredu’s statement that the repeal was unjustified, was an expression of his personal opinion that is not shared by the government.
Nana Akuffo-Addo was answering a wide range of questions in an interview on Sunyani-based radio "Sky FM" on some pertinent issues raised at the opening of the National Conference of the Ghana Bar Association currently underway at Sunyani.
The Acting Chief Justice caused a stir at the opening ceremony on Monday in the presence of notable legal authorities including Nana Akuffo-Addo when he questioned the justification in the repeal of the law.
Justice Wiredu said the law of sedition should rather be repealed, not the criminal libel law because, "it has given journalists the chance to publish (rubbish)".
Nana Akufo-Addo said there were strong and compelling reasons for the repeal of the criminal law from the statute books.
He said civil society groups and members of both sides of the political divide in Parliament supported the repeal of the law, explaining that "the laws were counter-productive and that was why respected bodies such as the Ghana Journalist Association, the Ghana Bar association, CHRAJ, the TUC and religious bodies joined in the fight for the repeal of the law".
He, however, declined to comment on whether the government, which initiated the repeal of the law was going to take a serious view of the Chief Justice's remarks or not.
Asked whether Mr Justice Wiredu's statement will affect his chances of getting confirmed as Chief Justice, Nana Akufo-Addo said the decision lies in the hands of Parliament.
"It is only Parliament that has the constitutional duty to approve his nomination or otherwise," he said. - Daily Graphic
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law was a benchmark of proper democratic, liberal and social evolution in the country.
He said the law was introduced by the colonial rulers to ensure that state authority was not challenged, adding: "Our government, which believes in the rule of law, human rights and freedom of speech, had to repeal it for the benefit of society."
President Kufuor said this when a five-man delegation from the National Executive Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, to show appreciation to the government for releasing a building for the association's permanent secretariat.
He said the repeal of the law was not to condone loose talk but to ensure that people, who hold office, were responsible and anyone who benefited from its repeal would appreciate it.
President Kufuor said with the repeal of the law the government was counting on media practitioners not to indulge in publications that would undermine the state or create an opportunity for evil forces to operate.
"The government, mass media and civil society would have to relate favourably in order that no one would take the country for a ride to enable us build a country in which democracy would thrive", President Kufuor said.
President Kufuor expressed appreciation to the association for its concern about the government's efforts at upholding human rights and freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
He said the government's gesture was a result of the lack of physical infrastructure for the association to function properly and expressed the hope that the building would help strengthen the media to play its role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
"We would continue to support you to perform well and grow with a sense of responsibility for Ghana", the President said.
Miss Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of Media Relations, said the sentiments being expressed by some members of the judiciary with regard to the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law was a reflection of some of the anxieties in the society and asked journalists to handle the freedom of speech with much circumspection.
She said the government has demonstrated its confidence in the media in its role of nurturing democracy and it was the responsibility of journalists to return the confidence by ensuring that the repeal of the law made a positive impact on society so that other repressive laws in the statute books could be expunged.
Mrs Gifty Affienyi-Dadzie, President of the GJA, commended the government for initiating the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, which she said had changed the media landscape.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 October 2001 - Corruption has become so endemic in the country's judicial system to the point that some lawyers have come to accept it and even factor in the amount of inducement they give to judges and court officials when determining charges for their clients.
Mrs Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney General said this act of condoning must cease if lawyers and indeed the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) are to command the moral authority to spearhead the fight against corruption.
Addressing the national conference of the Ghana Bar Association at Sunyani on Tuesday, she said: "A lot of lawyers always accused judges and judiciary staff of being corrupt but we cannot deny that some of us have contributed to the problem and therefore also need to take a look at ourselves as we point accusing fingers at others".
The three-day conference, which opened on Monday, is under the theme: "Corruption, the rule of law and the administration of justice."
Making a contribution after Mr Emile Francis Short, Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice had presented a paper on the theme, Mrs Akuffo said lawyers must practise their profession with integrity to enable them to question societal ills.
In his delivery, Mr Short said a corrupt and politically dependent judiciary overrides legal norms and undermine justice and national development.
He described as regrettable the gradual loss of public confidence in the judiciary as pointed out by a recent survey, which showed about one third of households and organisations citing corruption as the cause of their reluctance to use the courts.
Mr Short said it is unsupportable to state that judges would be less prone to corrupt influences if they were paid like private lawyers. "Judges who are corrupt will remain corrupt if even their salaries are tripled even though I am strongly of the opinion that they must be given remuneration that is worthy of their high office".
The CHRAJ Commissioner said a corrupt judicial system is a danger to national life because it encourages people to seek alternative system of justice that gives rise to mob actions and instant justice as being experienced in the country now.
He commended the government for repealing the criminal libel law and the Institute of Economic Affairs for sponsoring the drafting of a freedom of information bill, developments which he said, would embolden the media to do more to expose corruption.
Mr Short said central to effective reduction in corruption is the existence of a whistle blowers act that grants immunity to informants and reward them financially when they provide information that leads to the prosecution and conviction of corrupt officials.
During the open forum that followed the delivery, a number of speakers stressed the need for confidential background checks and the views of GBA to be sought in the determination of who should be appointed to the bench.
Mr Ebo Quashie, out-going GBA President, said the association, concerned about corruption in the judiciary, has set up a "committee for monitoring the conduct of judges" to check the situation.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 October 2001 - The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has called on the government to take a critical look at the issue of financing upfront, key investments of the utility companies.
This is the only way the companies can be assisted to improve on their performance, Mr Andrews Quayson, a member of the PURC said at a workshop in Kumasi on Tuesday on the transitional plan for electricity tariff rate adjustment and quality service issues.
The workshop is the first in a series PURC is organising in the regions to provide further insight into its programme of activities to create consumer awareness and appreciation of its role in the electricity sector.
Mr Quayson mentioned power generation, transmission and distribution systems as areas where attention needs to be focused.
He said a retrofit at Akosombo and the Takoradi expansion project for power generation would cost a total of 345 billion cedis.
The improvement of the Prestea-New Obuasi and the Aboadze-Volta transmission lines on the other hand would require 300 billion cedis while upgrading the distribution system through the installation of SCADA would need an investment of 780 billion cedis.
SCADA is a technology for detecting faults immediately they occur.
Mr Quayson spoke about the need to redefine the power sector development policy, support the West African Gas Pipeline Project and implement mechanism to ensure that ministries, government departments and agencies pay their utility bills promptly.
The utility companies on their part should optimise revenue collection, liaise with the PURC to rationalise tariff structure, carry out intensive public education on energy conservation and be more customer focused and friendly.
Mr Quayson said the PURC is committed to ensuring the financial viability of the utility companies through efficient cost recovery rates.
It would also encourage and promote competition in thermal power generation and undertake the necessary technical studies to help rationalise the tariff structure.
He asked the Energy Commission to complete the strategic national energy plan within the next two years and redefine the threshold for bulk customers in terms of energy and capacity in consultation with all stakeholders.
Mr Stephen Adu, Executive Secretary of PURC said acceptable levels of quality service are achievable only by a well- thought-out gradual mechanism which ensures that prices move in tandem with service improvement.
He said in recognition of this, the PURC has built into its two-year transitional plan, quality service benchmarks that must be met by the utility companies.
Contributors to the discussions complained about the ECG's poor customer relations and what they perceive as faulty meter readings.
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Ve-Deme (Volta Region) 03 October 2001 - Pastor Akrasi Sarpong, Chairman of the
Orphanage International Ministry, has appealed to non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) in the country to help sponsor a 13 year-old blind girl of the Orphanage
Street Child International, a private orphanage home, at Ve-Deme in the Hohoe District to a blind school.
The girl Miss Grace Agbeyega was admitted into the orphanage at the age of two but got blind seven years ago.
Miss Agbeyega, who wants to be a journalist, is finding difficulties with her studies due to her disability.
Pastor Sarpong, therefore, called on NGOs, churches and individuals to help the teenager to achieve her aim.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - Relatives of the victims of the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium Disaster are requested to provide the necessary data to facilitate the disbursement of the Stadium Disaster Fund.
The Stadium Disaster Relief Fund Management Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr J. S. Addo on Tuesday requested all those, who collected the 2.5 million cedis funeral donations on behalf of the respective families of the victims to call at the offices of the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council by October 5 with the data.
A statement signed on behalf of Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, said the representatives should report to Mr Fat Nartey on the second floor of the Regional Co-ordinating Council Office, near the Teachers' Hall, Accra.
The data should include the names of the deceased, injured or those permanently incapacitated.
They should indicate their age, sex, address with house numbers, hospitals attended, number of children, name(s) of child/children, ages of children, the school they are attending and their classes or stages.
Birth certificates, weighing cards, baptismal certificates or passports should also be brought along.
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Kraboa Coaltar (Eastern Region) 03 October 2001 - The National Service Secretariat
Library at Kraboa Coaltar has been closed down after more than 300 books were stolen from it.
Only 351, out of the 700 books are left while the rest have mysteriously found their way out without proper records Mr Agbesi Freeman, Assemblyman for Coaltar, told the Ghana News Agency.
The GNA had gone to ask Mr Freeman about the continued closure of the library while schools have reopened.
The "Cathy Hawke's Memorial Library" was donated to the town in 1997 to serve senior and junior secondary schools there and was entrusted into the care of National Service Personnel's appointed periodically from the District Co-ordinating Council.
He explained that because the community could not provide a permanent librarian, when the library was commissioned, the National Service Secretariat took over and brought its personnel from Suhum to run it.
Mr Freeman said to their dismay, they were informed that the personnel in-charge had closed the place without informing the community.
He said in view of this, he ordered an immediate stocktaking, which revealed that a number of books were missing from the shelves and the inventory book had also been tempered with, with some parts torn off.
Mr Freeman said he reported the conduct of the personnel to the District Co-ordinating Council at Suhum.
Some of the stolen books were on Modern Science, Mathematics, Literature, Chemistry, Engineering and novels.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - Peugeot Automobile Nigeria on Tuesday presented a 306 Peugeot saloon car worth about 17,000 dollars to the Ghana Police Service in Accra.
The car, designed specifically for use by the Nigerian Police, is a gesture from the company towards the efforts of the two countries to achieve the goals set out by ECOWAS.
Making the donation, Mr Philippe Beudet, Managing Director of the company, said the current disposition between the Presidents of the two countries has opened the window for increased bilateral co-operation within the framework of ECOWAS.
He said: "What we are gathered here to witness is a practical demonstration of the quality of Nigeria-Ghana bilateral co-operation."
"In this wise, we salute the initiative, conviction and sustained efforts of these two great African leaders in the promotion of regional understanding and unity", he said.
Mr Beudet stressed that the crucial role of the Police in combating crime must be matched with adequate logistics for results to be achieved.
He lauded the launch of the Police Endowment Fund, saying: "This is one sure way to mobilise public opinion about the plight of the Police against a backdrop of considerable expectation on one hand and to appeal to national sense of patriotism of the citizenry on the other hand."
Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector General of Police, who received the keys to the car, said in spite of the lack of logistics the service would continue to do its best to maintain law and order.
"I am happy that through the spirit of ECOWAS the Police service is richer by one car."
He said the Nigerian High Commissioner had hinted that Nigeria would soon donate a fleet of cars to the service.
Mr Sam Nnamdi Okechukwu, the High Commissioner, said that the crime rate in Ghana was low but stressed that it could be brought down.
He called on all to give their widows' mite to equip the Police to enable them perform creditably.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), on Tuesday said sanitation has become a major problem for the government and urged Canada to help find a permanent solution to it.
"Canada should assist Ghana to find the appropriate technology in disposing of solid waste to rid our cities of sanitation problems", Prof Fobih said when the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Jean-Pierre Bolduc paid a courtesy call on him.
He said the government was also concerned about food security, water preservation and deforestation and appealed to Mr Bolduc to consider those issues in his Mission's assistance programmes.
Canada could also assist Ghana in agriculture by strengthening research in the cultivation and preservation of food items for export to meet international standards.
"We need support in training research personnel to manage our environment more efficiently."
Prof Fobih expressed the hope that the visit would be the "beginning of a new relationship between the two countries in their collaboration efforts".
Mr Bolduc said the issue of food security has been at the core of Canada's programmes and it would not do "anything that would not benefit Ghanaians".
He said all other concerns raised by the Minister were in line with Canada's assistance programmes and gave the assurance that Canada would assist.
Mr Bloduc urged the government to handle and sustain the Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Research (GRATIS) project as it entered its third stage.
GRATIS is a Canadian industrial research project under which personnel are trained in appropriate technologies and is being handled by CIDA.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 03 October 2001 - The Central Regional Director of Education, Ms Lydia Osei on Tuesday challenged the parent, who claimed she paid three million cedis bribe before her ward was admitted to the Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, to substantiate the allegation.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Cape Coast in reaction to the allegation published in an Accra daily and read as part of the newspaper review by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Tuesday morning, Ms Osei said it is "unbelievable" for someone to pay that much as bribe for her ward to gain admission and pay a fee of just 640,000 cedis a term.
She explained that it was only when the parent had provided the necessary proof that her office could bring the culprit to book, to serve as deterrent to others.
Mr Crosby Eshun, Headmaster of the school, denied the allegation and said: "The GES and the Methodist Church have confidence in me and I will not do anything that will soil their good image."
He also challenged the parent to come out boldly to identify the one who collected the money.
The school authorities declared their intention during the two-day exercise to select candidates on the September 13 and reduce this year's intake from 500 to 450 to improve discipline and check over crowding that has put pressure on facilities.
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Takoradi (Western Region) 03 October 2001 -The Police have identified the five members of the Takoradi Bafana Bafana football club who died in a motor accident on Sunday.
Mr Isaac Alex Kouainoo Takoradi District Police Commander, gave the names of four of the victims as Benjamin Arthur, Curil Lambert and Ebenezer Bodzie all footballers and Mr Yalley Nsiah, driver of the team bus. The fifth victim was only identified as the wife of the team manager.
Meanwhile Mr Kouainoo said the police have mounted a search for the driver of the heavy- duty truck, which was involved in the collision with the bus resulting in the death of the team members.
The driver absconded after the accident, which occurred while the team was returning to Takoradi from Cape Cost after a first division league match against Cape Coast Vipers.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Monday urged the government to recognise the indispensable role of state institutions and organisation in the socio-economic development of the country.
"There is a great deal of direction and initiative that the state-sector is bound to give in the development of the national economy which cannot be so easily done by the private sector whose primary aim is profit and not national interest."
Dr Adolf Lutterodt, CPP Greater Accra Regional Chairman stated in a statement that, "the over reliance on foreign capital, ownership and monopoly in the national economy marginalised the role of the public sector, influences neo-colonialism and undermined the country's independence."
He said the government's Golden Age of Business for the private sector should not lead to total marginalisation and privatisation of vital public institutions to the detriment of the ordinary person.
The current economic hardship is a clear manifestation that majority of Ghanaians cannot afford high economic tariffs of utilities and other social services, while remuneration and salaries of workers continue to lose value on a daily basis.
Dr Lutterodt noted that public institutions are to supplement the government's effort in the national development through the provision of public services, to serve the interest of the majority poor.
He stressed that the public sector participation in national development is still relevant in the 21st century with the necessary restructuring and refocusing to meet the changing needs.
He said "this does not call for privatisation of such vital public institutions at the perils of the ordinary person just for its economic viability."
The CPP regional chairman urged the government "to refrain from feeding the public with statistical data, which are meaningless and irrelevant in so far as they do not retrench the high cost of living for the ordinary man."
Meanwhile the Greater Accra office of the party has reaffirmed its determination to reorganise in all the 22 constituencies in the region.
It is to repackage its operations, philosophy and tradition to make them more attractive to the youth and relevant in modern day Ghanaian politics for the 2004 general elections.
Dr Lutterodt said the assessment of the dismal performance of the party in the last general elections in the region, called for the establishment of a strong youth and women's wing in all constituencies for mobilisation and politicking.
He urged members to close their ranks and unity towards the building of strong and formidable party ready to liberate the country from neo-colonialism and economic marginalisation.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 October 2001 - Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has stated that if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was to recapture power in 2004, it must win not less than 40 per cent of the votes in Ashanti.
The party, therefore, has to put in more efforts and resources to make significant in-roads into the region that has traditionally remained the stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Bagbin was speaking at a meeting with the regional executives and functionaries of the NDC in Kumasi on Monday.
He said Ashanti, with its huge voter, population should be of special interest to the NDC and that everything should be done to make the people in the region to "see that we have better policies".
The Minority Leader saw the electoral defeat of the party in the last general election as an act of God to give Ghanaians an opportunity to "see the alternative and compare".
He noted that, policies, now accepted and being implemented by the government would only bring about hardships to the people. "If at the end of their term, they are able to reduce Ghana's debt by one dollar, I will cast my vote for them."
Mr Bagbin claimed that within its relatively short period in office, the government has contracted loans totalling over 700 million dollars.
He, however, said that as a developing nation, there was nothing the country could do about taking loans.
The Minority Leader observed that the actions of the NPP did not seem to suggest that it was serious and sincere about promoting genuine peace and reconciliation.
He advised members of the NDC not to do anything to undermine the peace of the country, saying, "we are a peace loving people and should continue to do things that would bring peace".
Mr Bagbin denounced what he said was the orchestrated campaign of lies, misinformation and distortions peddled by sections of the mass media to cause public disaffection for the NDC.
Mr Nti Fordjour, NDC Ashanti Regional Vice-chairman, called on party members and supporters to remain united and firm and work relentlessly towards building the party into a strong political force in Ashanti.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - The Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor has pledged Ghana's support for the Burundi peace process and said a cease-fire agreement signed by all parties in the conflict was a pre-condition for the deployment of peacekeeping troops.
He also stressed the need for a political leadership acceptable to all parties in the conflict-torn Central African country.
A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday by the Directorate of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces said the Minister made the remarks at the just ended 16th Regional Summit on Burundi held in Arusha, Tanzania on October 1.
The statement said the Minister, who was reviewing the various initiatives on the Burundi crisis, stated that Burundi's civil society should be engaged in the dialogue to provide the necessary impetus for the peace process.
Dr Kufuor also called on the international community to support initiatives being pursued and to be prepared to fund future peacekeeping operations in the country.
The statement said the Defence Minister expressed Ghana's confidence in the Technical Assessment Team (TAT) tasked to develop a contingency plan for the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces in Burundi.
The TAT comprises senior military officers from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal and Burundi.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela, Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process, chaired the summit that the presidents of Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda attended.
The presidents of Burundi, Vice President of South Africa and defence ministers from a number of African countries were also at the summit.
Mr Frank Mpare, Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence and Lieutenant Colonel Obed Akwa, the Minister's Military Assistant accompanied Dr Kufuor.
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Government would support shipping industry
to excel - Veep
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 October 2001 - Vice President Aliu Mahama said on Tuesday the government would provide the appropriate legal environment and organisational framework to develop the shipping industry and enhance its competitiveness in the global market.
Alhaji Mahama, who was speaking at a ceremony to mark the Second National Shippers' Day, said in pursuant of this cause, operators in the industry needed to be educated and equipped to be abreast with technological advancement in the sector.
"A look at the various sectors of the shipping industry today reveals unprecedented developments, which call for the adoption of new technologies, strategic alliances, and re-engineering of structures and procedures to keep up with the pace of development."
Vice President Mahama noted that larger and much faster vessels as well as more sophisticated cargo equipment had been developed, while information technology applications in the industry had streamlined the process of identification and location of consignment.
"The Ghanaian shipper, no doubt, needs to be adequately educated and equipped to operate in this competitive environment, if he is to survive."
Alhaji Mahama said the government was reviewing NRC Decree 254 of 1974 establishing the Shippers' Council as amended by PNDC Law 181 of 1987, to streamline its membership and to make its operations more relevant to modern trends in the industry.
He commended the Council for the leading role it played in the establishment of inland port at Boankra, near Kumasi and said the government would support the project to make it successful.
The inland port would enable shippers in the hinterland to consign their exports and receive their imports in Kumasi.
He urged the Council to strive to become the major player in developing transit corridor between Ghana and its landlocked neighbours - Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - to facilitate sub-regional trade.
Alhaji Mahama launched the 'Shipping Review' and 'Maritime Trade Statistics' and urged researchers, students, government agencies and operators in the industry to patronise them to update their knowledge in the industry.
He also opened an exhibition of about 20 operators and out-doored the Council's new logo, which depicts Ghana in the globe, superimposed on a ship, indicating Ghanaian shippers' participation in the international transportation of goods.
Ghana, last year, recorded a throughput of 8.4 million tons of shipment. This was, however, four per cent short of the 1999 tonnage.
Mr Felix Owusu-Agyapong, Minister of Transport and Communications, said the government had reviewed the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Authority Bills to create a conducive atmosphere for the industry to thrive.
The Bills, he said, would soon be placed before Cabinet and then Parliament for approval.
The day is being marked with workshops, exhibition and the launch of two publications and a logo. Its under the theme: ''Transport Technology and 'E' Challenges of the Shipping Industry in Ghana: The Present and the Future."
The bi-annual event was not marked in 1999. Instead, Ghana hosted the first African Shippers' Day.
The Council, set up in 1974, provides services such as warehousing facilities and logistics, negotiation of port tariff and information to its 23,000 registered companies.
It also addresses problems of cargo insurance claims, illegal charges and levies and shipment problems.
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