MPs' car loan package is not a done deal - Leader
Review MPs working conditions - Minority
We'll recover all debts owed us - SSNIT
President to launch cassava project
Nkrumaist unity talks on course
NPP Government has focus and policy direction - Anto
Government will support efficient companies – Isaaac Osei
Ghanaians in UK give to victims of stadium disaster
Journalism professor concerned about poor language in media
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-Papa Owusu-Ankomah, the Majority Leader, on Wednesday said the process for the acquisition of cars for Members of Parliament (MPs) was ongoing and not "a done deal."
"MPs need to have cars as a matter of necessity to do their work. In fact MPs commute more than any professional I can think of at the moment."
The Majority Leader, who is a day old in office, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that "The options for making the legislators mobile are many, and we are still in the process of looking at the most viable option in view of the country's economic circumstances."
He said it was unfortunate that the country's historical circumstances have made the public less appreciative of the work of the MP.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the MP being the elected representative of the ordinary person was more sensitive to public opinion.
He said it was necessary for Ghanaians to be sympathetic and understanding for the MPs to be effective in the discharge of their duties.
On the deduction of the first instalment of the car loan from the MPs September salary, he said, "it was an interim measure taken pending the final determination of the process".
He said as a Leader of the House, "it is my responsibility to see to it that MPs get cars to enhance their work for the legislature to operate in a democratic environment.
"My wish is to work with all MPs to improve on the capacity of Parliament and make it very independent. I know that is the vision of the President." He said: " After all Parliament is the bulwark of democracy. We have decided to embrace the concept, so let us keep going."
Sources close to Parliament told the GNA that the MPs harped on the issue all day, behind closed doors after spending just 10 minutes for normal sitting.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-The Minority on Wednesday said they have referred the working conditions of the Legislature to the Executive for review to ensure that Members of Parliament (MPs) were able to deliver under the current democratic culture.
They said this was in accordance with Article 71, which empowered the President to appoint a committee in consultation or on advice of the Council of State to determine conditions of service of the Legislators.
Mr John Akologu Tia, Deputy Minority Whip, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, said the review of the conditions was necessary in view of how the Executive was handling the MPs' car loan affair.
This was after the House met behind closed-doors to consider the 20,000 dollars car loan to each parliamentarian that has attracted public outcry with the Executive claiming it had no hand in the deal.
Mr Alban Bagbin said the MPs deplored the government's handling of the car loan issue making it appear as if it was Parliament that has the power to approve its own budget. The Constitution gives the Executive power to scrutinise and approve parliamentary budget and vice-versa.
He said the Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo had concluded a deal with the Parliamentarians to purchase cars for their official duties under a high purchase agreement for MPs in a letter dated September 4.
The letter said, "instalment payments for each member of parliament will be deducted at source with effect from the end of September 2001 at the rate of 1.2 million cedis per month".
The letter directed that "unpaid balance will be settled from other entitlements of MP's at the end of the parliamentary term of four years".
Mr Bagbin said some MPs were even surprised when at the end of September the deductions were effected while they have not even taken delivery of the cars. He said the deductions started early to ensure that the MPs would be able to complete payment on schedule.
Mr Bagbin said it was unfortunate that the public was reacting to the situation as if the car loan was a gift "and that MPs were like vampires that have no sympathy for the ordinary Ghanaian".
He said the MPs need cars to function, adding, "an MP without a car cannot be blamed for coming to Parliament late and not attending properly to the business of the House".
Mr John Mahama, NDC-Bole said the negative public reaction to the car issue was the failure of government to face up to the realities and "rather adopted diversionary attitude towards the issue as it does whenever there was public outcry on national issues". "This government has a history of distancing itself from matters that have negative public reactions."
Mr Mahama cited the government's denial of jailed former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Yusif Ali Isa, who claimed he initially reported the missing 46,000 dollars saga to Vice President Aliu Mahama.
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Nyankpala (Northern Region) 18 October 2001-The Savana Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) has proposed the release of three new rice varieties for cultivation after 10 years of research and on-farm trials.
Five varieties of cassava, which suit the climatic conditions of the northern regions, have also been proposed to the National Variety Release Committee for cultivation.
The genetic names of the three new rice varieties are IRAT 12979-24-1 and IRAT 262, which are early maturing varieties and IRAT 216, a medium maturing one.
Dr Abdulai Salifu, Acting Director of the Institute, said this at a field day organised for rice farmers to enable them to assess the qualities of 42 other varieties on trial at the station.
He said all was being done to step up rice production in the country adding that, research at the Institute was tailored to respond to the agricultural policies of government.
It is also to ensure improvement and expansion of rice production. Dr Salifu said the government recognised the role of science and technology to the development of rice and agriculture as a whole and called on it to provide adequate funding to the Institute.
He expressed gratitude to the West Africa Rice Development Association (WADA) for providing the original material for the research.
Mr Wilson Dogbe, an Agronomist, said the advantage of the new early and medium-maturing rice varieties proposed for release was that they could be harvested before the paddy fields dry up during the dry season. Mr Dogbe said whilst IRAT 262 was an upland rice variety, the other two were lowland varieties.
He said more than 200 farmers were cultivating IR 12979-24-1, which was released to them on experimental basis two years ago while IRAT 262 has also been cultivated by farmers in the Upper West Region.
Mr Sylvester Adargo, Northern Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), said rice cultivation in the country has slumped over the past 20 years.
Even though efforts have been made within the last five years to revamp the industry, not much has been achieved.
Mr Adango attributed this to the fact that not much attention was paid to the development of seed rice, which was the pivot of the industry. He called on farmers to put in the necessary effort to derive maximum benefit from the new varieties.
"Do not just plant the rice and fold your arms for it to germinate because you have heard it is high yielding since you need to till the field for it to grow," Mr Adongo cautioned. He called on SARI to conduct more research on the new varieties to ensure they remained pure.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Wednesday said it would recover all debts owed it by beneficiaries of the Students Loan Scheme.
"Reclaiming the moneys owed us should not be a problem at all. At best, we would fall on the contributions of the guarantors to offset the debts," Mr Laryea Mensah, Head of the scheme told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
Mr Mensah said the law allowing beneficiaries to pay their loans within a period 10 years after completion of their course and employment has largely contributed to the huge indebtedness, which stands at more than 183 billion cedis.
He cautioned beneficiaries to pay promptly so that guarantors would not be held responsible when they are due to collect their entitlements.
Mr Mensah said SSNIT is compiling a list of all beneficiaries whose loans have been outstanding for 10 or more years. It would then write to the beneficiaries to make good their payments within 42 days after which it would fall on guarantors' contributions to offset the loans.
He said two options are open to beneficiaries to pay their loans - using their monthly contribution to pay through an agreement with the SSNIT or through payment by instalment.
Mr Mensah, however, advised against paying with contributions, saying it would not make the contributor qualify for a pension.
A contributor qualifies for pension after contributing for 240 months or more. A lump-sum payment is given a contributor who contributes for less than 240 months.
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Awutu Bawjiase (Central Region) 18 October 2001-All is set for the launching of the President's Special Initiative on Cassava Project (PSICP) by President John Agyekum Kufuor, on Friday, at Awutu-Bawjiase in the Central Region.
More than 3,000 farmers in and around the area have already registered for the project, which is designed to produce starch for export.
Over 6 million US Dollars have been voted for the project. Capt. Stephen Kobina Armah, District Chief Executive for Awutu Effutu-Senya, speaking to the GNA after meeting the chiefs and other stakeholders at Awutu Bawjiase on Wednesday to finalise arrangements, advised the people to help make the project a success.
He commended the chiefs for their unity and co-operation and called on them to mobilise the people to participate in the launching.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-The government on Wednesday said it would subject the issue of ratification of the "OHADA" treaty to parliamentary scrutiny before taking a decision on whether to join it or not.
"OHADA" is a Francophone dominated continental body that seeks to promote regional integration and economic growth through the harmonization of business laws in Africa.
Nana Addo-Dankwah Akufo Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who was taking part in a seminar on the harmonization of business laws in Africa, said it was necessary to critically examine the prospects and determine the convergence between Ghana's legal environment and that of OHADA.
OHADA, initiated by the French in 1993, operates as a continental bloc with the objective of providing member states with a single, modern, flexible and a reliable business law, adapted to each country's economy.
It has its own Common Court of Justice and Arbitration and provides an opportunity for training judges and judiciary staff to ensure their specialisation.
Its membership includes Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Gabon and Chad and the entire Francophone West Africa.
Nana Akufo Addo noted that there were some important differences between the legal systems of the continental bloc and that of Ghana that needed to be harmonised.
For example, after ratification, the laws of OHADA would not only be binding on member states but also supersede similar existing instruments.
"We must all agree that we are ready to ratify this treaty and will accept its laws in convergence with ours," he said, adding that there was no point in getting into the union just to be nurturing internal conflicts. The Attorney General agreed to a proposal that Ghana should collaborate with Nigeria in examining the treaty.
Foreign Minister Hackman Owusu-Agyemang in a speech read for him said while he lauded the concept as an incentive for direct foreign investment and integration, provision should be made for the protection of member states against illegal operations by investors.
Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Integration lauded the initiative saying it would strengthen the foundation of the rule of law and good governance.
He said Ghana's per capita income would double in the next 10 years if integration and regional cooperation was strengthened and sustained.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-Three Nkrumaist political parties who contested the last general elections on Wednesday announced the adoption of a common political Platform to guide their activities in the campaign for social equality and economic independence.
The Convention People's Party (CPP), National Reform Party (NRP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) in a statement signed by their general secretaries urged their members to debate and work out common modalities to build consensus for unity.
The secretaries are Dr Nii Noi Dowuona of CPP, Mr Kyeretwie Opoku of NRP and Mr Gabriel Pwamang of PNC. The statement said the Inter Party Co-ordinating Committee of the three parties and their national leadership would work out an organisational programme for the attainment of ''united progressive activism in the country''.
The statement urged members of the various parties to organize internal discussions on the modalities and make the appropriate inputs for a comprehensive document.
The political parties that identify with the Nkrumaist tradition after the last elections started unity talks to form a common front for future elections.
However, the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) withdrew from the talks accusing the other members of undermining the tenet and spirit of the talks.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 October 2001-The Government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has within its 10 months in office demonstrated that it has real policy direction, well focussed and on track, Mr F.F. Anto, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, has declared.
This, he said, is evident from the positive signs shown by the economy, citing the stability of the currency and the downing of inflation from 40.6 to 34 percent to support his claim.
These were contained in a press release he issued in Kumasi in re-action to a statement reported to have been made by Mr F.A. Jantuah, a member of the Council of Elders of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) that the "NPP has nothing good to offer".
Mr Jantuah was quoted to have said this at a meeting of the CPP Regional Executive, Council of Elders and all the 33 constituency chairmen in Ashanti at Abuakwa, in the Atwima District.
The Ashanti NPP Chairman said it was hypocritical and dishonest on the part of anyone to refuse to acknowledge the "wind of positive change blowing in the country with the advent of the administration of President J.A. Kufuor and his team of ministers."
Mr Anto catalogued initiatives the government has taken to reduce poverty, generate employment, re-forest the destroyed vegetation, revamp the cocoa industry, promote business growth and enhance the educational sector.
Some of these include the National Forest Plantation Development Programme, Mass Cocoa Spraying Exercise, Social Relief Programme and the President's Special Initiatives on Cassava, Garment and Textiles Export.
"It is only a fastidious person who will fail to appreciate the impact of such laudable programmes and proclaim that the NPP Government has nothing good to offer," Mr Anto added.
He also dismissed as "uncharitable and surprising," accusations of neglect said to have been made against NPP by the Ashanti Chairman of the CPP, Mr O.T. Bonsu and gave a list of CPP members appointed to public positions by the NPP.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-Nii Armah Ashietey, former Tema Municipal Chief Executive in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has been commended for his honesty during his eight-year tenure of office.
In a statement of commendation, Mr David Sebuabe, Assembly Member of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), noted that the fact that Nii Ashietey was mentioned among 16 District Chief Executives exonerated from any financial malfeasance and would receive his end-of-service benefits, showed that all the allegations made against him were false.
The statement noted that Mr Ishmael Ashitey, MP for Tema East and currently the Minister in-charge of Fisheries, persistently accused Nii Ashietey of embezzling the funds meant for the Tema Trade Centre Project and the Poverty Alleviation Fund to the tune of 650 million cedis.
He said though an eight member audit team appointed by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, audited the Assembly last year, following the persistent allegations against the former Chief Executive and exonerated TMA, Mr Ashitey went ahead to peddle more false financial misappropriations, which the new government's audit team has found to be false.
The statement congratulated the staff of TMA and Nii Ashietey and said: "The achievement came as a result of dedicated service and able leadership qualities which brought about team work among the TMA staff and heads of departments who worked under him." It said this was the real beginning of Nii Ashietey's political career and so urged him on to venture into other avenues.
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London (United Kingdom) 16 October 2001 - Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the U.K. has declared that the NPP Government will give maximum support and encouragement to all conscientious and hardworking companies operating in Ghana.
Citing Taylor Woodrow as an example, Mr Osei praised the company for mobilising local skilled workers for its operations in the country and also for training Ghanaians to assume high-level management positions within the company.
He said a people-centred approach helps to create job opportunities for the mass of the people and reflects confidence in the qualitative labour force, which abounds in the country.
Mr Osei made these comments during a visit to the headquarters of Taylor Woodrow International in London where he was briefed on the operations and activities of the company by Mr Eric Pearson, International Contracts Director of the firm.
Accompanying the High Commissioner were Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Eric Amenuvor, Minister-Counsellor (Trade), and Mr Fritz
Andoh, Minister-Counsellor (Information).
Mr Pearson told the High Commissioner that Taylor Woodrow International remains committed to Ghana and would not deviate from its overall objective of delivering quality works in all projects undertaken in Ghana.
At a meeting with Brigadier J.A. McGregor, Director-General of the West Africa Business Association (WABA) made up of 170-member group of companies and entrepreneurs with business interest in West Africa, Mr Osei said he intends to tap into the rich experiences of its member companies for the benefit of the country.
He said the Mission would assist companies which do business in Ghana to set up regional offices and to expand their access to the sub-regional market and added that he would be encouraging Ghanaian companies with interests in the UK to join the WABA to enable them enjoy facilities provided by the Association.
On commerce, Isaac Osei noted that Britain is Ghana’s most important trading partner and indicated that WABA is well positioned strategically to further deepen the trade links between the two countries.
He also briefed Mr. McGregor about the shift from champagne to economic diplomacy espoused by President Kufuor and expressed the hope that British companies operating in Ghana will increase their investments in recognition of the business friendly environment in Ghana today.
On his part, Mr. McGregor said the association would hold a special seminar for Ghana tentatively in May 2002 and outlined a number of activities designed to generate publicity for the event.
At another meeting with a select committee of the Ghana Airways Board, representatives of ticketing companies, Ghanaian community associations and groups,
Mr Isaac Osei called on all corporate organisations in Ghana to operate under due rules and regulations and use good corporate governance principles in running their companies.
He explained that the government has put in place a highly professional Board of Directors for Ghana Airways to help salvage the national carrier from collapse.
He urged the Ghana Airways board to put in place sound management policies and strive to operate in a transparent manner to enable their partners and customers to access information on flight schedules and seat bookings in real time.
He said Airlines all over the world are faced with a major challenge in the wake of the suicide bombings in America and urged the Ghana Airways Board and officials to do all in their power to make Ghana Airways an airline that all Ghanaians can be proud of.
Most of the agents present expressed displeasure with the airline’s outdated reservation systems citing corrupt booking officials and frequent closure of flights from Accra for the abysmal performance of the Airline.
The meeting recommended that corrupt booking officials should be disciplined and re-trained and called for the establishment of a strong customer service office to handle complaints of customers.
Other suggestions include the deployment of security video cameras in reservation offices to flush out corrupt officials, increase in flights during the peak season and installation of modern communications equipment that will enable all stakeholders to communicate in real time.
Mr James Adusei Sakordee (MP), Chairman of the Select Committee, which is currently touring the airline’s key destinations in Europe and America to collate views from their patrons on the performance of the airline, thanked the meeting for the concerns raised and promised to see to it that they are speedily resolved.
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London (United Kingdom) 16 October 2001 - A cheque for an amount of £13,401.42 (about (140 million) and 50 wheelchairs have been presented to the National Disaster Relief Committee at a ceremony in London.
The presentation was made by H.E. Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK on behalf of the Ghanaian community to Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The wheelchairs were donated by the Knights of Marshall (Council 70), a catholic friendly society based in London.
It may be recalled that the Ghana High Commission in London set up in May last year, a Disaster Relief Fund Committee, made up of representatives of Ghanaian community associations, opinion leaders, political groupings and the High Commission to mobilise financial and material resources for the victims.
Receiving the cheque and wheelchairs, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman praised the High Commission for setting up the committee and commended the Ghanaian community in the UK for their immense contributions.
He announced that government had started disbursing moneys from the fund in an orderly and transparent manner and added that a portion of the fund would be invested under a Trust to cater for the education and upkeep of the children of the disaster victims.
The Hon. Minister formally used the occasion to welcome the new High Commissioner, H.E. Mr Isaac Osei to the London Mission and called on all Ghanaians in the UK to give him the much needed support and co-operation to enable him provide quality service to all Ghanaian nationals and friends of Ghana.
He praised the High Commissioner’s sterling qualities particularly his entrepreneurial spirit and active involvement in the area of community development and added that he was optimistic he would use his rich experience to bring about vital changes in the work of the Mission.
Mr Isaac Osei thanked the entire Ghanaian community in the UK and friends of Ghana for their moral and financial support.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 October 2001-A panel of speakers at a forum on the media in
Accra on Wednesday expressed concern about poor language usage in the media and stressed the need for training and retraining for practitioners to improve on the quality of their work.
Journalism Professor Kweku Ansu-Kyeremeh, Head of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, said during a working lunch for senior management and editorial executives of media houses that "the performance of the broadcaster or journalist reflects on the organisation he or she represents."
The event was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education on the theme: Media as public educator
Speaking on media language as a means of fostering peace and stability for positive change in Ghanaian society, he said the safest approach to language use should be for the practitioner to use denotative instead of connotative application of words. Prof. Ansu-Kyeremeh said language implications could be problematic in terms of festering trouble and instability in society.
He urged journalists to identify and avoid private language on the airwaves and in print.
Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC) said media ethics does not consist primarily in the application of formal set of rules, but in the maintenance of responsible attitude in the exercise of journalistic duties.
He cautioned practitioners against the mixing of comments and opinions with facts or presenting opinions as facts. Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said this constitutes a weakness in the media and this sometimes makes for the allegations of sensationalism, unacceptable language or direction, even where there is no deliberate or malicious intent to impugn any person's integrity.
Mr Tim Acquah-Hayford, a lawyer and former Chairman of the NMC, said marketing communication in terms of images and language, which is improperly and unprofessionally used, can negatively influence individuals and groups of people and so impact negatively on peace, stability and growth.
Mr Acquah-Hayford also expressed concern about communication techniques in advertising that attempts to mimic certain ethnic groups. "Even though the technique might sell the product, it could also be a smouldering time bomb whose effect on ethnic peace might be unpredictable."
He urged media practitioners to eliminate all manner of vulgarism to give way to growth that promotes peace and stability. Ms Audrey Gadzekpo, Lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, expressed concern about the content of news presentations.
She urged talk show hosts to research the topics they present and direct the listeners and contributors on the issue and the language that is used.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 October 2001-The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Wednesday advised the African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters (CAPSDH) to let the truth be the guiding principle in their work.
He noted that there is so much cheating all over the world that truth had lost its worth. The Asantehene gave the advice when the National Executive of CAPSDH led by the President, Dr E.N. Delle called on him at the Manhyia Palace to inform him of the impending 10th anniversary of the commission slated for November 1, in Kumasi.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu told the CAPSDH executive that they had a onerous task, having taken upon themselves human rights and health, two key areas, which he noted were crucial to the survival of mankind.
He mentioned low salaries and wages, multiple sales of land, injustices at the law courts, where the rich had sway over the poor, noting that these had become the order of the day.
The Asantehene did not spare chiefs his rod, saying some of his sub-chiefs refuse the poor access to him, while they quickly usher in the affluent and pointed out that all these bordered on the denial of people's rights.
He said although the government was doing its best to ensure health for all, there was the need for private support to ensure that health delivery reached all.
Otumfuo lauded the proposed health insurance scheme to be introduced by the government to replace the present cash and carry system.
He reminded CAPSDH that although the work was voluntary, they should not relent in their efforts at ensuring human rights and health for all irrespective of class or financial standing.
Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, Vice-President of CAPSDH and spokesman briefed the Asantehene on the work of the commission and said besides human rights and health, it was involved in HIV/AIDS campaigns. He said the commission also contributed second-hand clothes and drugs to victims of the northern conflict.
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