Dumor advocates scientific approach to boundary demarcation
Banks agree to help train police guards
Ghana Armed Forces caution media on stories about military
Civil servants want pension issues thrashed
out
Volta DCEs protest against award of contract to Sunyani Contractor
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 27 October 2001 - Professor Ernest Dumor, Member of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday called for a more scientific approach to boundaries demarcation instead of the present descriptive system, which is associated with disputes and other problems.
The EC, he said, has trained personnel in Geographic Information System (GIS) to produce more accurate data, but due to lack of equipment the technology could not be used.
He therefore called on the government to provide adequate support to the commission to enable it to procure the needed equipment, saying, "until we acquire these facilities, we will continue to do the descriptive boundary demarcation which is fraught with many problems.''
Prof Dumor told a sensitisation forum for the demarcation of administrative and electoral boundaries in the Brong Ahafo Region at Sunyani, demarcating electoral and administrative boundaries is part of a wider agenda to establish good governance by improving the representation of the constituency.
It would enhance development and the democratic process, he said and appealed to the traditional authorities to co-operate with the EC to avoid boundary disputes.
He also explained the methods and criteria set by the EC to undertake the demarcation programmes and their toll on the national economy.
Representatives of political parties, District Chief Executives, Presiding Members of district assemblies, chiefs and other opinion leaders are attending.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 - Two NDC Members of Parliament on Friday said the attack on a former bodyguard of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings could not be simply explained away as a mere armed robbery case.
Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, Lawra/Nandom and Mrs Hanna Tetteh Kpodar, Awutu-Senya told the GNA in Accra that the incident was more than meets the eye.
Dr Kunbuor said the fact that ex-Warrant Officer Patrick Kuntor claimed he shot two or more of the attackers who were wearing turbans must give clue to the police to investigate the case thoroughly before coming to the conclusion that it was an ordinary armed robbery attempt.
He said wearing turbans meant the intruders were expecting a counter- attack and therefore needed to identify their gang members.
Dr Kunbuor said the police have not taken statement from anybody and that there were many leads which have not been followed. ''It will be necessary for the police to establish where those wounded were being treated and who sent them there''.
He said the NDC had on a number of occasions drawn the attention of the government to the harassment of former security officers close to the former President and had insisted that changing his security guards was rendering him "naked to attack".
Mrs Kpodar said the explanations by the police sound highly improbable, adding that every citizen needs the protection of the police and the security agencies.
"If investigators could be forthcoming with explanation as to why they considered the attack an ordinary armed robbery case it would help clear the doubts in the minds of the people", she said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Water Research Institute (WRI) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC) were on Friday directed to carry out tests on the Asuman stream in the Tarkwa district of the Western Region to establish its quality for human consumption and usage.
Prof. Dominic Kweku Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology who gave the directive said it follows a publication by an Accra bi-weekly newspaper on pollution of the stream, which serves a number of communities in the area.
The newspaper reported in its October 22 edition that Tarkwa Goldfields Limited accidentally spilled dangerous cyanide (chemical) into the main stream serving Abekoase and Huniso villages as a result of a heavy down pour.
At a press conference held in Accra, Prof. Fobih said although he had led a team to the area to investigate the story, the EPA, WRI and the WRC need to do their independent investigations to come out with the level of pollution in the stream.
He said his team's investigation revealed that the newspaper had blown the incident out of proportion. "However, monitoring of the situation is in progress and will continue until the ministry is assured of the safety of the people."
Meanwhile, he said, Goldfields Limited is providing the affected villages with water from tankers. The minister instructed all mining companies to provide roads in their areas of operation to ensure accessibility to communities that may be affected by such incidents.
He said it was difficult for the water tanker provided by Goldfields to reach the villages. The minister also urged companies to train communities surrounding their area of operation in safety measures to minimise the extent of damage should such incidents happen.
Prof. Fobih urged mining companies to enlarge their containment areas to enhance the safety of the communities in their areas of operation. Pipes running over heaps of ore should be reinforced to ensure that accidents similar to what we have witnessed do not happen.
During a downpour on the night of October 15 to 16, rains caused the movement of rocks that hit the joint of a pipe carrying cyanide solution causing its burst. The leaked solution therefore entered drainage, which is a tributary of the Asuman Stream.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 - Experts addressing a forum on corruption and good governance on Friday called on the government to provide and disseminate
anti-corruption guidelines, especially with regard to gift giving.
They said for the government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption to succeed, it must be "operationalised" in codes of conduct that are enforceable and capable of moulding the culture and attitudes of the society.
For example, public officials who claim to have gained wealth from gifts should be compelled to show proof that there has not been a conflict of interest as a result of the gesture.
Besides, there should be a system to establish that the giver acquired the gift genuinely and, where necessary, has honoured the appropriate tax obligations.
These summed up presentations made by retired Justice Isaac Richard Aboagye, formerly of the bench in Ghana, the Gambia and Botswana, Ms Audrey Gadzekpo, a lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, Legon and Mr Brian Sapati, Acting Executive Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) at the forum in Accra.
They were unanimous that assets declared by public office holders should include those of spouses and made accessible to the public.
The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the British Council jointly organised the forum on the theme: "The issue of corruption and good governance." It was the third in a series by GIMPA's in the search for answers to critical national development issues.
Discussants were drawn from the various public institutions including the Police and Customs, Excise and Preventive Services who, according to a survey, rank high among the most bribed agencies and departments.
Recent household surveys indicated that corruption has become worse now than it was three years ago. Ms Gadzekpo who cited numerous cases of corruption at various workplaces, traced the canker to poor remuneration, lingering bureaucracy and most of all, the culture of gift-giving to show gratitude.
"We must begin to move towards paying people a living wage, obviously and stop pretending people can live on their salaries," she said, illustrating her assertions with the controversy over end of service benefits to functionaries of the former government and the recent MPs car loan saga.
She said people are compelled to offer gifts because it has become accepted in the Ghanaian culture of showing appreciation. "If you don't, the service will not be available to you the next time you need it."
However, this accepted culture of gift giving could be taken to heights that undermine accountability and transparency in high public office, she said, citing the furore over the payment for some work on President John Agyekum Kufuor's private residence.
"... It is precisely because situations that put public officials in sticky situations must be avoided," she said, adding that in some countries there are guidelines to avoid such conflicts of interest.
Ms Gadzekpo said any active campaign against corruption must involve information and stronger reporting systems. "Without information we cannot determine whether there has been wrongdoing; we cannot follow paper trail and we cannot crosscheck facts," she said, adding that the availability of information could itself prevent people from being corrupt.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 Representatives of banks in the Accra Central Business District on Friday agreed to provide funding for the training of police for guard duties at the banks.
They stressed the need for professionalism by guard personnel and expressed their willingness to negotiate to pay more to the police administration to this effect.
This was the outcome of a forum organised by the Accra Central Divisional Police Command to sensitise banks within the division on the need to facilitate police guard duties at the banks.
The representatives were from Ghana Commercial Bank, The Trust bank, Standard Chartered bank, National Investment Bank, Cal Merchant bank, Merchant bank, Prudential bank and Stanbic.
Mr Kofi Boakye, Divisional Commander said for the police to perform efficiently on guard duties, they should be made to feel part of the institution, adding, "Without proper security no bank can function."
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Agriculture Students to go on demonstration
Pong-Tamale (Northern Region) 27 October 2001 - Students of Ghana's five agricultural colleges are planning a demonstration next month to press home their demand for the upgrading of the colleges to diploma awarding institutions.
"The upgrading of the colleges has been on the drawing board for long and we have channelled our grievances to the appropriate quarters without any attention. The time has now come for us to take to the streets to let our voices be heard" they said in a statement.
At their 20th annual Agricultural Colleges Students Union (ACSU) conference at Pong-Tamale, the students called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to liaise with the Ministry of Education to allow graduates of agricultural colleges to teach at the basic schools.
The conference under the theme, "Revamping Ghana's Economy - The role of the Agricultural College Graduate, is being attended by students from Kwadaso, Ejura, Ohawu and Damongo Agricultural Colleges and Pong-Tamale Animal Health and
Production College.
The students also appealed to the government to increase their monthly allowances of 200,000 cedis to cushion them against the rising cost of living.
Addressing the conference, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Issah Ketekewu said education is a priority of the government and assured the students that agricultural colleges would not be left out in the general transformation of the sector
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 - The Ghana Armed Forces on Friday urged the media to reflect on the stories they publish on the military, saying unsubstantiated allegations could affect the institution.
A statement signed by Lt. Col. E. W.K. Nibo, Director of Public Relations described as unfortunate a story in the Chronicle with the headline "Hidden weapons a threat to NPP government - Soldiers caution".
It said: "Far from promoting national stability, it introduces an element of scare-mongering when there is no basis for it.
"In addition, properly trained 'military intelligence' personnel in the Armed Forces do not report to the press and that certainly has never been the practice in the Ghana Armed Forces."
The statement said emotive comments or assertions, which are based on sectional views, have the capacity of creating the basis for unnecessary confusion within the society.
It said the new thrust of the Armed Forces is to step up training, among other things, to meet the increasing international obligations of the country for the use of her soldiers elsewhere in the world.
"Accordingly, the Armed Forces have embarked on a number of measures aimed mainly to raise the level of professionalism among its corps including the members of the 64 Infantry Regiment.
"This is a critical stage, not only in the history of the Armed Forces but also in our dear nation, given the effect of dwindling resources for the development of other areas in the economy."
The statement said this situation imposes a peculiar challenge, which in turn calls for creativity, maturity and foresight.
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Civil servants want pension issues thrashed
out
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 - The Civil Servants' Association has called on the government to initiate, as a matter of urgency, a meeting for the discussion of acceptable Pension Scheme for all civil servants.
The Association said there had been various degrees of interference in the implementation of the occupational pension scheme, otherwise known as Cap. 30 to the extent of bringing about its extinction.
Mr. Smart. Y. Chigabatia, Executive Secretary of the Association said in an interview at the weekend that for no justifiable reasons, sections of civil servants are enjoying the fullness of the scheme, while others are being deprived and forced to join the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SNNIT) Pension scheme.
Not withstanding that the two schemes are not alternative, the SNNIT Pension Scheme is inferior to the Cap.30, he observed. He said it is inferior in terms of quantum of benefit accruing, then qualifying period for eligibility and circumstances for retirement and eligibility for benefit payment.
Mr. Chigabatia said the Cap.30 used to be a uniform non-contributory pension until 1972, when laws were amended to allow pension contributions to the scheme.
Since then, he said, Civil servants, teachers, the police, Prisons and the Judicial Service were levied five per cent of their salaries towards their retirement benefit.
Mr. Chigabatia said the passage of the Pension and Social Security (amendment) Decree, 1975 SMCD Eight (rpt.8) also required qualified public servants to irrevocably opt either for pension under Cap.30 or the Social Security Provident
Fund scheme, which also compulsorily placed all civil servants, who joined the service on January 1, 1972 on the SNNIT Pension Scheme.
The passage of PNDCL 126, Police (Pensions) Law 1985, PNDCL 165 Public Officers (Pensions) Law and 168 Prisons Service (Pensions) Law 1987 exempt personnel from the police, public and prisons service from SNNIT Pension.
It enabled them to refund their contributions and revert them to non-contributory Cap. 30 pension scheme, he added.
If the SNNIT pension is in the interest of the working people of Ghana why have other sectors of the public service been contracted out of the SNNIT Pension?, Mr. Chigabatia asked.
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Seventy narcotics cases recorded in Ashanti
within three months
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 27 October 2001 --The Ashanti regional police narcotics unit has recorded 70 narcotics cases according to its quarterly report of July to September this year.
Detective Police Inspector Dickson Akatsah, in-charge of the unit, who announced this said 88 people have been arrested for dealing in suspected cannabis and seven, for heroine or cocaine.
The report read on his behalf by Detective Corporal Clifford Ofei, of the same unit at an educational programme on drug abuse in schools, at Kumasi Academy in Kumasi on Friday, indicated that out of the 70 recorded cases, 67 of them are before the Ashanti regional tribunal, while the rest are under police investigations.
Inspector Dickson Akatsah pointed out that among the people arrested, nine of them are below the age of 20, 88 are between the ages of 20-40, four people are also between ages of 41-50 and two are within the ages of 51-60.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 October 2001 - The Federation of Environmental Journalists (FEJ) on Friday questioned the level of professionalism at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), saying it had not acted when it was necessary for it to do so.
A statement signed by Mr Severious Kale Dery, Director of Communications, FEJ, said the EPA exhibited double standards by "collaborating with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in illegally dumping refuse at Djaman" and that it was trying to make the media a scapegoat in such a matter.
According to the statement, the AMA circumvented Environmental Impact Assessment procedures by not obtaining a permit from the EPA to dump waste at the site.
It described the AMA's action as a violation of the Environmental Assessment Regulations, adding that the EPA had not acted although it had the power to halt such a development.
"Residents and communities at Tarkwa in the Western Region are still suffering from cyanide contamination. Several petitions to the EPA have fallen on deaf ears."
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Kadjebi (Volta Region) 27 October 2001 - District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the Volta Region on Friday protested against the Ministry of Education (MOE) for awarding school projects on contract to Messrs Rinac and Company Limited, a
Sunyani based contracting firm.
The DCEs said Rinac, under the contract would build 25 three-classroomed blocks, 14 four-seater KVIPs and rehabilitate a number of schools in the Kete-Krachi, Nkwanta, Kadjebi, South-Tongu and North-Tongu Districts.
In a resolution, adopted at the fourth Volta Region DCEs meeting at Kadjebi, the DCEs said the said contracts were awarded without any consultation or correspondence with the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) nor the various district assemblies.
The statement said this action was generating disaffection among the local contractors, who said this was an attempt to enrich a few to the detriment of the larger society.
It said the action of the Ministry violated the decentralisation concept and should, therefore, be curtailed in the true spirit of grassroots participation in democracy and development. The resolution appealed to the VRCC through the Regional Minister to investigate the veracity or otherwise of the contract.
The DCEs of the five districts said they received a correspondence in August, headlined "Introduction of Contractor under the Primary Education Rehabilitation Project" (PERP) to construct classroom blocks and KVIPs and signed by Mr Ato Essuman, Director of Finance and Project Monitoring Unit (FPMU).
The DCEs said the letter with reference number MOE/PERP/01/C01 entreated them to demarcate sites and introduce the contractors to school authorities and relevant stakeholders to enable them to start work.
Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister said this action was at variance with the principles and directives of decentralisation and promised to investigate the matter.
He advised the DCEs to contact his office when in doubt about issues and praised them for their vigilance.
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