Minority MPs react to first cabinet reshuffle
Dan Lartey calls for early elections
Kufuor, Rawlings congratulate Kofi Annan
Six suspected cop killers arrested
Ashanti NDC executives asked to hand over party property
Presidential Dispatch Rider promoted
posthumously
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 October 2001- The Minority in Parliament on Friday said the cabinet reshuffle has failed to meet the expectations of Ghanaians and described it as "a mere window-dressing".
"The minority is disappointed that the present reshuffle undertaken under a panic situation lacks a clear purpose, direction or focus of the government and demonstrates a classical case of musical chairs."
The minority's views were expressed in a statement signed by Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip, in Accra.
The statement said the greatest amusement about the reshuffle was the naming of Mr J. H. Mensah as a Senior Minister, explaining that the position is unknown to the constitution and questioned the legitimacy of the change of leadership of Parliament from Mr Mensah to Papa Owusu Ankomah.
Quoting the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Minority stated that the party or parties holding majority of the seats in the House designate the Majority Leader. "It is never part of the prerogative of the President to designate the Majority Leader."
The Minority urged the NPP government to "as a matter of urgency come out and clarify the position."
The statement, however, conceded the prerogative of the President to appoint, fire or reshuffle members of his cabinet under the constitution.
The Minority stated that the creation of new ministries by the government debunks the much-touted claim of the ruling New Patriotic Party to reduce the number of ministers to cut down cost.
The number of ministries is now more than that of the former NDC government, which the NPP condemned while in opposition.
The statement also said the reshuffle has vindicated the policies and positions of the NDC, which the NPP rejected, by recognising and reverting to the designations of Ministry of Parliament Affairs, and Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The Minority described the de-linking of the Mines portfolio from Lands Forestry and Mines as not justifiable on rational policy grounds but craving to create more jobs for the boys. "This clearly is a waste of resources," it said.
The statement also called for clarification of the designation and mandate of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the newly created Ministry of Communications and Technology.
"Certainly there is a case of repetition and overlap, which the government needs as a matter of urgency clarify."
The statement, however, welcomes the appointment to cabinet of a candidate from the Upper West Region.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 October 2001 - The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) on Friday urged the NPP government to accept its handicap in administering the nation and call for early elections to redeem it and the country from political embarrassment.
"The President's ministerial changes within 10 months in office is clear manifestation of its inadequacies and an indication of round perks in square holes which has begun crumbling under heavy media and civil society scrutiny."
Mr Dan Lartey, GCPP leader, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in reaction to President John Agyekum Kufuor's cabinet reshuffle.
A party that was in opposition for eight years should have been in a better position to adequately assess the capabilities and qualifications of its members before assigning them portfolios, he said.
"Ten months is long enough for the government to establish its policies both locally and internationally to show the country's direction but unfortunately Ghana now lacks focus on policies. We are still being ruled under the shadows of the former NDC government's policies."
Mr Lartey cited the government's joining of the HIPC initiative without adequate consultation, lack of a master plan for economic recovery and the negative impact of 'Positive Change' on the lives of the people.
"We all stood and voted for positive change instead of progressive change but now the government is ruling under the later which is a direct violation of the people's trust and mandate."
Mr Lartey admitted the constitution is silent on early elections but said it is applicable. ''Ghana cannot wait for four years for an inefficient government to continue in office."
Mr Dan Botwe, NPP General Secretary, however, told the GNA that the changes are normal government prerogative exercised by presidents to keep state machinery in perfect operation.
He said the changes do not necessary mean the affected ministers were incompetent. ''It is a normal administrative procedure to add more dynamism to governance''.
Mr Botwe also disagrees that some of the ministers, especially Mr J. H. Mensah and Ms Elizabeth Ohene, have been demoted.
Mr Mensah, formerly Majority Leader, Leader of Government Business and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, is now Chairman of the Economic Management Team.
Ms Ohene, former Minister of Media Relations, is now Minister at the Office of the President.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 October 2001 – President John Agyekum Kufuor has sent a message of congratulations to Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General for winning the Nobel Peace Prize for 2001 together with the UN.
A statement signed by Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Government Spokesman, read: "We have just received the heart-warming news of your Nobel Peace Prize award for the year 2001.
"As a son of Ghana, you made the whole nation proud with your outstanding performance as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
"The Nobel Peace Prize award comes as an appreciation and recognition of your qualities as an eminent statesman and accomplished peacemaker.
"The Government and the entire people of Ghana join me in congratulating you on the honour done you and the organisation of which you are a worthy head.
"We wish you divine wisdom and strength to carry out your onerous responsibilities in the years ahead."
Former President Jerry John Rawlings on his part said the Ghanaian born diplomat deserved the high award.
Ex-President Rawlings, whose government alongside others supported Mr Annan's successful bid to become the UN boss, said he has not only proved the collective judgement of his supporters right but also made Ghana proud.
"This illustrious son of Ghana has put our country and Africa on a high pedestal in global affairs once again," the former President said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra.
Mr Annan, who shares the 2001 Nobel Peace Award with the United Nations, is only the sixth black person to win since it was first named about 100 years ago.
A career UN Official, Annan, 63, was easily elected to another five-year term as UN Secretary General in June, six clear months before the expiration of his first term in December.
Ex- President Rawlings said Mr Annan earned the respect of the world because he has demonstrated a high sense of political judgement and a grasp on global issues through appropriate reactions to issues.
He cited the Kofi Annan Peace Institute at the Teshie Staff College as one of such honours in recognition of his good works.
Ex-President Rawlings wished Mr Annan and the entire staff at the UN well "not only for the good work done but also for the immense task ahead of the world body.
"On behalf of my wife, Nana, and all well-meaning people of Ghana and leaders of Africa, who in diverse ways supported Kofi Annan's nomination to the high office of Secretary-General and on my own behalf, I wish him and his dear wife Nane, entire family and staff congratulations and God's blessings and success not only for the good work done but also for the immense task ahead."
Mr Annan was born a twin, the third of five children, on April 8, 1938. He spent his early childhood at Bekwai, near Kumasi.
Educated at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Annan left home in 1959 on a Ford Foundation grant to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he received a Bachelors Degree in economics.
He studied at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva before joining the World Health Organization. He worked for the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa from 1965 to 1971.
Before assuming the world's top diplomatic post in 1997, Annan was a personnel director, a security coordinator, a budget director, a programme manager, a controller and a refugee agency executive, to name only a few of his U.N. positions.
He became head of peacekeeping in 1993 -- presiding over the department's worst moments during the war in Bosnia and the genocide in Rwanda.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13 October 2001 – Six people suspected to be among the gang of robbers who killed two policemen at Asante-Mampong on Thursday and robbed the Otuasekan Rural Bank at Mampong have been arrested by the police with the assistance of some residents of the town.
Constable J.W. Awere who was on duty at the time the robbers struck was shot dead while Corporal William Kusi, the second cop to be shot was said to be chasing the robbers in a taxi when he was killed.
The robbers managed to snatch 26.6 million cedis from the counter and bolted but two of them were killed.
Briefing the media on the latest development on the incident, Mr George Asiamah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the robbers converged at Mampong on Thursday to attend the burial of a man suspected to be their colleague.
The police suspect that the dead man was the robber who was shot and wounded by the police at Ejisu sometime this year but managed to escape.
Mr Asiamah said the robbers might have decided to take their revenge on the police and so they stormed the bank and shot constable Awere who was on duty, snatched the money and bolted.
He said while the police gave them a chase in a vehicle, Corporal Kusi who could not board the police vehicle, followed and was spotted by the robbers and shot dead.
Mr Asiamah said when the robbers snatched the money, they ran through the Mampong lorry park and took refuge in the rented police quarters nearby and in an exchange of fire, two of them were killed.
He said when the police left the bodies and chased the remaining robbers, the residents incensed by the action of the robbers set the bodies on fire leaving their charred remains.
The regional commander expressed appreciation to the people of Mampong for their support, especially in identifying the robbers who attended the funeral of their colleague and said the hunt for the remaining robbers continues.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13 October 2001 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC), Action Forum in Ashanti on Saturday asked the Ashanti Regional Executive of the party to hand over all party property to the National Secretariat and give way to an interim group to manage affairs until regional elections are held.
It further called for the immediate dissolution of the Regional Re-organisation Committee because "some of the members are working for people with vested interest who want to continue to occupy the power spots of the party."
A statement issued in Kumasi and signed by Mr A.K. Mensah, President of Action Forum said: "It is the belief of Action Forum that if the NDC wishes ever to form a government in this country, she must begin to see the political terrain with sharp and pragmatic eyes".
The statement said the current crop of regional leaders does not inspire anybody and that people were even reluctant to register for elections under their administration.
"We are not calling for any unconstitutional means, but we are drawing the attention of those who care about the NDC to the fact that the calibre of leaders we have in Ashanti does not win 40 per cent of Ashanti votes," it said, adding that the Forum agrees with Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament on his views on the party's leadership in the region.
The statement suggested to the party to bend backwards to draw on the guidance of the founding members who it claimed had been ignored since 1994, use some human resources from trusted members of the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN) and knowledgeable organisers from the base group on whose foundation the NDC was formed.
Action Forum said contrary to the impression that the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee was functioning, it was in fact moribund, adding that the will to fight and organise was completely lost.
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Presidential Dispatch Rider promoted
posthumously
Pekyerekye (Ashanti Region) 13 October 2001 - The Police Administration has promoted posthumously Sergeant Emmanuel Kwabena Owusu, the Presidential Dispatch Rider who was killed in an accident last August, to the rank of Inspector.
The promotion, which took effect from September 1, this year, was in recognition of his dedicated service to the nation and the Ghana Police Service.
This was announced by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr George Asiamah, who is also the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, at the burial service for Inspector Owusu, one of the oldest and most experienced Dispatch Riders at his hometown Pekyerekye in the Ashanti Akim North District, on Saturday.
Among the dignitaries who paid their last respect to Inspector Owusu, popularly called "Burger" were President John Agyekum Kufuor, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Defence Minister and MP for Manhyia, Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, Minister for Communications and Technology.
The rest were, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and MP for Subin, Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, MP for Asokwa West and Minister designate for Youth and Sports, General Joshua Hamidu (Rtd) National Security Adviser, Mr Ernest Owusu Poku, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Deputy Government Spokesman.
They filed past the body dressed in police uniform and bedecked with wreaths and flowers. A police motorbike, helmet and police cap was placed beside the body, which was later buried with full police honours.
In a sermon, The Very Reverend Superintendent Bosomtwe Ayensu, Ashanti Regional Police Chaplain asked Ghanaians to use their God-given talents and skills to advance the socio-economic development of the country.
He said most people have become economic liabilities in society because of their poor attitude and unfaithfulness to work. "Everyone has a mission on earth and when pursued positively could lead to prosperity for the communities, society and the nation." He added.
Rev Ayensu said the deceased contributed tremendously to his profession as a Presidential Despatch Rider whose main duties were to escort and pilot Presidents of Ghana and very important dignitaries, a duty, which he performed conscientiously for the past 30 years without blemish and therefore deserved to be honoured by the nation.
President Kufuor on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana donated six million cedis and drinks to the bereaved family.
The late Inspector Owusu, 52, was leading a Presidential convoy to Burma Camp for the inauguration of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Council on August 31, when his motorbike and a Mazda pickup collided near the El Wak Stadium. He died
on the spot.
Inspector Owusu was enlisted into the Ghana Police Service as a recruit on June 1, 1973. He rose through the ranks and was last promoted to Sergeant on July 1, 1991 until his death. He left behind a widow and six children.
GRi../
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