GRi Newsreel Ghana
08 - 10 - 2001
NPP
supporters told to lead exemplary lives
President Kufuor receives key to Yamoussoukro
Africa's development is the responsibility of all - Kufuor
Conflicts, bad policies cause food insecurity in Africa - Minister
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 October 2001 - Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), Minister of
Food and Agriculture, on Monday said armed conflicts and bad agricultural
policies
Constitute
reasons for food insecurity and malnutrition problems plaguing Africa.
He said
while issues such as globalisation and trade liberalisation have contributed to
food insecurity in much of Africa, it is still sad to note that most countries
are unable to store or process agricultural produce in the lean seasons.
Speaking at
the opening of a consultative meeting of African NGOs in Accra ahead of next
month's World Food Summit in Italy, the minister said Ghana spends 80 million
dollars yearly to import sugar while less endowed countries such as Burkina
Faso are producing sugar, potatoes and rice for local consumption.
Representatives
from NGOs and civil society organisations across Africa are attending the
five-day meting to review progress made at the last summit in 1996.
The
meeting, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, will also draw up
new strategies for the future.
Major
Quashigah called on NGOs to challenge African leaders who adopt bad
agricultural policies that do not deal with poverty, malnutrition and food
security.
But they
should also support policies like President John Agyekum Kufuor's initiative
for the production of industrial cassava, textile and garments for export.
Mr Bamidele
Dada, FAO Regional Representative for Africa, said the objective of the 1996
meeting was to reduce the number of under nourished people in the world, which
was then 800 million, by half by 2015.
He said at
next month's meeting, Heads of State would be requested to outline measures
they envisage for achieving the goals that they set for themselves at the last
meeting.
"It is
important for us in Africa to constantly reflect on the problems of poverty and
hunger and seriously commit ourselves to finding workable measures to reduce
them.
"This
is because nearly half of the world's hungry people, including 200 million
children, are located in sub-Sahara Africa."
Miss Mercy
Karanja, a representative of the National Farmers Union of Kenya, said issues
such as democracy, access to resources and food sovereignty would be discussed
at the meeting.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 08 October 2001 - Members and supporters of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) have been called upon to maintain unity and harmony
in the party at all levels.
Mr Ekow
Spio-Garbrah, member of the National Re-organisation Committee of the NDC, said
since multi-party democracy was essentially about which political party wins
majority votes, it behoves the party to keep a firm grip on its supporters and
to win more sympathisers.
Addressing
party functionaries in the Ashanti Region in Kumasi, at the weekend, he called
on members to adopt tact and diplomacy in resolving all problems and
differences in the party.
He advised
the party hierarchy to listen to and accommodate new ideas, noting that,
"ideas that kept coming as a result of the re-organisation exercise have
been fantastic".
Mr
Spio-Garbrah also urged party supporters to put the electoral defeat in the
last general election behind them and focus on charting a new course, to enable
the party to recapture power in 2004.
He said the
NDC has no resources to support groupings such as fan clubs within the party
that do not have legal status.
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Mampong-Akuapem
(Eastern Region) 08 October 2001 - Traditional rulers have been assured that
the government would not dabble in chieftaincy matters, so long as the peace
and security of the people was not threatened.
The
government would rather support chiefs to enable them to provide effective
leadership required for development.
Dr.
Osafo-Mensah, the Eastern Regional Minister gave the assurance at a durbar of
chiefs and people of Mampong-Akuapem, to climax this year's Ohum festival on
Saturday.
Speaking on
the theme: "The development of Mampong- every citizen's concern", he
said the development of every nation depends on peace, unity and stability.
He
expressed regret that the region was engulfed by numerous chieftaincy and land
disputes, resulting in the lost of lives and properties.
The
Regional Minister urged Ghanaians to unite and to mobilise the human and
material resources for the development of the country.
He said the
government was committed to ensuring a balanced development of all parts of the
country.
Dr.
Danquah-Quist announced the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of a
number of roads and school blocks and hinted that a non-governmental
organisation, ISOSS, would soon build another hospital at Mampong.
She said
the rehabilitation of the Akuapem Ridge water system was on course and appealed
to the people to co-operate with the contractors to ensure the early completion
of the project.
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Akrofu-Xeviwofe(Volta
Region) 08 October 2001- Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, Deputy Volta
Regional
Minister on Saturday said the essence of festivals, as social and convivial
occasions should change to a catalyst for development.
Festivals
should serve as a time for communities to take stock of developmental
activities and set new targets for the ensuing year.
Mr.
Dzamesi, who was speaking at the Annual Yam Festival of the Akrofu Traditional
Area suggested that a community could, for example, "pick on the
completion of the foundation of a school building by the next festival."
The
Minister acknowledged efforts of communities, which are engaged in self-help
projects, but said, "nonetheless, the time has come for us to take a
maximum advantage of our festivals, plan more effectively and efficiently with
a view to using them to achieve concrete developmental goals for our
communities".
He
expressed disappointment at the fact that, "no account of any
accomplishment of any project(s) and an indication of what has been planned for
accomplishment by the next celebration was given in the Chief's Welcome
address".
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 October 2001 - Dr. K. Bowi Darkwa, Executive Director of the
La Veterinary Hospital, Saturday said the notion that pet keeping is mainly a
pre-occupation of the wealthy is gradually being discarded.
He said
more people in Ghana keep showing interest in the rearing of pets, as they gain
more knowledge about the benefits of keeping them.
Dr. Darkwa
who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the end of a three-day pet show
held in Accra, described the show as a success as far as patronage is
concerned.
Dr. Darkwa
who is also chairman of the organising committee of the show said one main
problem that organisers faced was that of finance.
He
expressed the hope that in future individuals and organisations would help with
sponsorship, adding that publicity bears immense cost.
About 20
companies including a foreign one took part in the show, which was under the
theme, "a good pet a friend forever."
A dog and
equestrian display were held to mark the end of the show. Pet owners whose
animals excelled in various competitions held as part of the show received a
number of awards and prizes.
The show
was organised by Infocus Public Relations under the auspices of the Ghana
Veterinary Medical Association.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 October 2001 - Mr Nkunu Akyea, Executive Director of the
Ghana Heritage Conservation (GHCT) has said careful control and nurturing of
tourism would impact more positively on the country's economy.
Speaking at
a public lecture in Accra to commemorate World Tourism Day organized by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB),
Mr Akyea said tourism has become one of the most important and fasted growing
sectors of the global economy.
The Day has
been set aside by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) to deliberate on world
tourism issues and trends under a chosen theme.
This year's
theme, "Tourism: a tool for peace and dialogue among civilisations",
echoed that of 1996 which was "Tourism: a factor of tolerance and
peace".
Mr Akyea
who is also the President of the Tour Guide Association of Ghana, said the
theme was significant because it had coincided with the greatest threat to the
very system that moved the industry so rapidly in the last century -- air
transport.
Referring
to the recent terrorist attacks in the United States using hijacked planes that
crashed into the world trade towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington,
he said humanity needs peace to ensure rapid growth and development.
He said
peace is a desired natural attribute that is achieved through knowing people
and places.
Mr Akyea
said Tourism was growing at the rate of six per cent annually worldwide, and at
between an estimated rate of four and six per cent in Ghana, being the third
largest foreign exchange earner for the country.
As a
country, he said, Ghana is pursuing a more deliberate, gradual qualitative
tourism development than the generally acclaimed mass tourism development
proposed for less developed countries.
Mr Akyea
said he was optimistic that by the time Ghana hit the million tourists arrivals
per year, "we would have developed the necessary over-all systems to
harness the industry."
He
commended religious bodies for their positive role in tourism, and specifically
lauded the Methodist and Catholic Churches for their tourism initiatives.
Mr Charles
Osei-Bonsu, Greater-Accra Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board said
peace is "sine qua-non" to world civilisation and development
otherwise, "we risk world destruction and annihilation."
He said as
the world's population increases, "we should be able to address common
problems that confront us within our own communities, our own nations, our
regions and globally to ensure sustainability of our earth's resources for the
future."
He re-echoed
the words of Louis d'Amore, founder and president of the International
Institute for Peace through Tourism, and said the world could no longer afford
the waste of human, social, scientific and material resources in the 21st
century "in waging or preparing for war and its wasteful consequences in
human physical and environmental devastation."
The
Regional Manager urged stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry to give
it the much needed support, encouragement and boost to enable it to play its
leadership role in the pursuit of the aims of the UN decade for peace.
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Twifo
Praso (Central Region) 08 October 2001
- Osadeoyo Nana Kwesi Kenin 111,
Omanhene of
Ati Morkwa traditional area has appealed to the Twifu-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira
district assembly to demarcate stool lands boundaries in the district to help
end stool land disputes and encroachment.
Speaking at
a forum on land usage organised by the assembly at Praso to educate the people
and landlords on planning and land management, the Reverend Ben Donkor,
Presiding Member of the assembly said it has embarked on a five- year
development plan to face -lift the district.
Under the
plan a new layout will be drawn up and appealed to land developers to
co-operate with the assembly by seeking permission before they put on new
structures.
Rev. Donkor
warned that those who contravene this simple directive would have their
structures demolished and be prosecuted at the law courts.
Mr Mahamadu
Mahama Central Regional Principal Town and Country Planning Officer advised the
people to make judicious use of the land in view of the increase in population
growth.
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Sakassou
(Cote d’Ivoire) 08 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor was on Saturday
enstooled the 14th Paramount chief of Baule at Sakassou in Cote d'Ivoire under
the stool name Nana Kouame Dje III.
President
Kufuor sat on an Asipim Stool decorated in full regalia with a gold plated
headgear, bracelets, bangles, a ring, native sandals and a white hand woven
cloth.
Nana
Anoungbre III, Paramount Chief of Baule decorated President Kufuor and traced
the history of Warebo people forming the Baule Traditional area saying that
they migrated from Asante in Ghana more than 300 years ago.
The
enstoolment, which took place in Nana Anoungbre's palace at Sakassou about 150
kilometres from Yamoussoukro, was the first honour bestowed on an African
leader in Cote d'Ivoire.
President
Kufuor and his host laid wreaths on the tomb of the Late Nana Kouakou Anoungbre
II, Paramount Chief of Baule and a descendant of Nana Abla Pokou of Kumasi who
migrated to Sakassou in 1730.
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Abirem
(Eastern Region) 08 October 2001 - The Eastern Regional Chairman of the New
Patriotic
Party (NPP), Nana Adi Ankamah, has called on supporters of the party to live
exemplary lives to safeguard the image of the party.
He reminded
them that though the party is in power, it did not mean "it has the powers
to do whatever it likes. There are people outside the party watching us and
ever ready to criticise us."
Speaking at
the fifth Birim North constituency delegates' congress of the party at New
Abirem on Saturday, to elect officers, he said, for the past eight months that
the NPP had been in power it has been able to stabilise the economy and
attributed this to the "excellent administrative strategy of the
government".
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President Kufuor receives key to Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro
(Cote d’Ivoire) 08 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday
called on Heads of States in the ECOWAS sub-region to use their leadership
skills to utilise the abundant natural resources for the economic prosperity of
their people.
"We
should be mindful of the sub-region with a population of over 200 million
people and the many natural resources that abound should be utilised for the
economic prosperity of the people."
President
Kufuor was speaking at a short, but impressive ceremony on the second day of
his five-day official visit to Cote d'Ivoire when he received the key to the
city of Yamoussoukro at the City Hall.
President
Kufuor said "with good leadership skills we should be able to create much
wealth, maintain law and order, peace and prosperity for the people in the
sub-region."
"I
hope Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire together could be the fulcrum on which the
sub-region could develop", President Kufuor said, adding that the key, is
symbolic to a city, built on vision spawn by a son of history.
He said the
Late President Felix Houphoeut-Biogny represented something dear to his heart
and motivated by his service to humanity and reconciliation.
He built a
nation that encompassed diversity of ethnicity in African, Kufuor said of the
late President Houphoeut-Biogny.
"The
establishment of Yamoussoukro, which is the central point of Cote d'Ivoire was
to be the administrative capital. In the process, a strong foundation for the
economic development has been built," he added.
President
Kufuor said no nation could pursue an effective development programme without a
solid economic base, adding, "the Late Biogny established economic
development to a certain proportion that has become a reality to mankind".
President
Kufuor threw a challenge to his host, President Gbagbo, to restore the city to the
peace and stability that characterised the long reign of President
Houphoeut-Boigny.
Mr Gnrangbe
Kouakou Kouadio Jean, Mayor of Yamoussoukro who presented the key to President
Kufuor recalled the long standing bond of friendship between the two countries
and said the presentation was symbolic, to make President Kufuor a citizen.
President
Kufuor later signed the visitors' book.
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Africa's development is the responsibility of all - Kufuor
Yamoussoukro
(Cote d’Ivoire) 08 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor said on
Saturday that it is the responsibility of all Africans to work in unity towards
development on the continent.
There is
the need for governments to do away with marginalisation and ethnic passion in
Africa, President Kufuor told a meeting of the African Diplomatic Corps in La
Cote d'Ivoire as part of his official visit to that country.
The visit
was to discuss issues on the ECOWAS sub-regional integration, conflicts
resolution and how to move the concept of African Union forward.
President
Kufuor said such informal meetings between African leaders could put into good
focus the African agenda.
Mr Ousmane
Camara, Senegalese Ambassador in Cote D'Ivoire commended Ghana as a country
committed to African unity.
He said
President Kufuor's vision for Ghana and his commitment to democracy, human
rights and the rule of law should be a shinning example for other African leaders
to sharpen their pledge to make Africa a better place to live in.
Addressing
the Ghanaian community in Yamoussoukro, President Kufuor said his government
has vowed to respect the will of the people, be transparent, accountable and
provide good governance.
He said
government's fiscal and monetary policies are helping to put the economy on a
sound footing and called for the tolerance and support of Ghanaians both at
home and abroad.
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