Ghana loosing increasing percentage of GDP
to bushfires
Adehyie Investment Partners to raise funds for Children orphaned by AIDS in Ghana
President Kufuor returns from Madrid, Spain
Women empowerment is not a threat -Bagbin
Volta
Security Council cancels Dededo 40th anniversary durbar
Counterfeit
notes used to pay fees at T. I. Ahmadiyya
Ghana loosing increasing percentage of GDP
to bushfires
Wenchi (Brong Ahafo), 29 October 2001 - The incidence of bushfires in the country Went up by 150 per cent during the first quarter of this year compared to last year, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior, said on Saturday at the launch of the 2001/2002 Bushfire Prevention Campaign at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The launch, under the theme: "Keep Ghana Green-Help Prevent Bushfires" was attended by Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, District Chief Executives, traditional rulers, fire volunteer squads, security service personnel and the general public.
Performing the launch on behalf of President Kufuor, Alhaji Yakubu said bushfires have a direct effect on the economy as in recent years Ghana has been loosing an increasing percentage of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the ravages of bushfire.
In 1994 alone, losses due to bushfires amounted to more than 97 million US dollar, which was almost two per cent of the country's GDP.
Alhaji Yakubu said the drop in cocoa production levels in Ghana, leaving it behind Malaysia and other countries, was due to the ravages and destruction of the vegetation in cocoa producing areas by bushfires.
The Interior Minister said the negative economic effects aside the menace has so seriously caused environmental degradation that desertification has now become part of the scenery which only recently were green forest belts.
The period between 1983 -2000 witnessed a lot of devastating wild bushfires that damaged about 52 per cent of forest and grassland, Ahlaji Yakubu said, noting that the main drawback in controlling bushfire has been the difficulty in implementing the controlling laws as people refuse to collaborate with the Police in prosecuting alleged offenders.
Alhaji Yakubu, therefore, appealed to traditional authorities to institute measures to help bring offenders to justice. "From now on, the government will put an eagle eye on originators of bushfires, and the security agencies have been directed to arrest all those who start bushfires and deal with them severely and according to the law."
He commended the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council for its proposed bylaw to hold traditional authorities responsible for any bush fire outbreak in their area. He said the move was laudable and urged all Regional Co-ordinating Councils to copy the initiative.
Mrs Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Science and Environment, said fire activity report on the Forestry Commission showed that bushfires in Ghana caused an annual loss estimated at two per cent of the GDP.
She said on the average, the country loses about one billion cedis of agricultural products each year and more than 15 people die through bushfires as a result of ignorance within the populace and inadequate public education.
She said other factors were the lack of co-operation between the law enforcement agencies and community leaders during investigation, arrest and prosecution of offenders and the laxity in the application of exiting laws.
Dr Kwadwo Afriyie, outgoing Minister of Lands and Forestry, indicated that animals and birds in the forest and grasslands areas in the country were now endangered species because of the destruction wreaked by bushfires.
The Minister appealed to traditional rulers to contribute effectively in the effort to prevent and control bushfires. Awards were given to fire volunteer squads from all the 10 regions.
Nana Kofi Drobo II, Chief of Nwoase, near Wenchi was given a special award for his successful and effective organisation of fire volunteers to prevent bush fire in the area
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Newark (New Jersey) 29 October 2001 - Adehyie Investment Partners (AIP), a partnership of young professional Ghanaian women based in New Jersey, has announced plans to host a fundraising gala to benefit the Children Orphaned by AIDS Centre in Accra, Ghana.
The fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, November 23, 2001, in the Tri-State Ballroom of the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey.
The fundraiser gala is expected to draw over 500 guests from the Tri-State area and Massachusetts, as well as the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia corridor.
"Adehyie Investment Partners' goals are twofold - to secure the financial future of the members of the club and secondly and most importantly, to consistently invest in our community," says Nana Boateng, president of Adehyie.
"We chose to host a benefit gala as our first event for AIP to underscore our commitment to investing in our community." The 8-member investment club was formed in April 2000.
The Children Orphaned by AIDS Centre (COAIDSCEN) is a safe haven for children who have been orphaned by AIDS. It offers the children an environment in which they can feel nurtured, and at the same time, provides them with education, vocational and manual skills, to better prepare them for life after the centre. For the children who are HIV-positive, the centre provides them with terminal care in a peaceful and loving environment.
It has been operational for 3 years and the implementation of this visionary work is still on going.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over 70 percent of the world's 36 million AIDS cases, and has caused over 30 million children to be orphaned. Local governments are overwhelmed with the spread of the disease and are reaching out to the international community and non-profit organisations for assistance.
"The funds we raise will go a long way in providing much needed resources for the shelter, and raising the hopes of the children of this epidemic" says Nana Ampofo, Public Relations Officer for AIP.
"We also want to use this event to raise awareness of how other African professionals can coordinate their vast resources and experiences to help make a positive difference in our communities".
Adehyie Investment Partners say it plans to host the event yearly to benefit other causes.
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Klikor (Volta Region) 29 October 2001 - Togbe Satsimadza Afari II, an exiled Divisional Chief of Klikor, near Agbozume, was on Saturday welcomed back home after 12 years refuge in Togo.
Togbe Satsimadza, also enstooled as a development chief of the traditional area, went into exile in 1989 after daring the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government.
A durbar of chiefs and people, at which a ram and a fowl were slaughtered amidst the firing of musketry, was held to formally signify his return and acceptance by his subjects and colleague chiefs.
A retired Superintendent of Police, Gabriel Glago, who is Chairman of Dunenyo Youth Association in a welcome address, described Togbe Satsimadza as a true representation of a traditional ruler, who was concerned with the welfare of his subjects.
He mentioned the Satsimadza camp, which housed the Togolese refugees in the 1990s under the UNHCR, pipe-borne water, a hospital manned by Korean doctors, which collapsed during his absence, and the premises housing the Klikor Technical School as projects Togbe Satsimadza financed.
Others included petrol filing station, classroom block, furniture for public schools in the area and other uncompleted structures dotted around the area.
Mr Glago said there has been no development in the absence of Togbe Satsimadza and called on the citizens to embrace his return and eschew backbiting for the growth of the area.
Togbe Satsimadza said some local detractors played the PNDC against him out of envy and added that he has come back fully to continue his development agenda.
"This is a promise of no return, we are ready to die for Klikor, he stressed.
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President Kufuor returns from Madrid, Spain
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 October 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Sunday night from Madrid, Spain, where he attended a meeting on democratic transition and consolidation.
The meeting, which brought together 33 heads of states and former presidents from 25 countries shared experiences on the way forward to consolidate democratic transitions.
Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang who accompanied the President told newsmen at the Airport that Ghana and Spain have signed a soft loan agreement of 40 million US dollars to help support Ghana's economic development.
A further five million US dollars grant was also made available to Ghana for feasibility studies into the various sectors of the economy where Spain has interests. A memorandum of understanding for 100 million US dollars assistance for the year 2003 and beyond was also signed.
Spain expressed interest in investing in Ghana in the areas of fisheries, real estates, metals and the building of highways, according to the Foreign Minister who also said President Kufuor had bilateral discussions with King Juan Carlos, of Spain and the Prime Minister on how best the two countries could co-operate.
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Women empowerment is not a threat -Bagbin
Atimpoku (Eastern Region), 29 October 2001 - The Minority leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Sunday reiterated the need for men to recognise that women empowerment is not a threat but rather a way to improve the family and society.
Society can only progress if men promote women's empowerment in all spheres in the family, reproductive sector, decision-making, education and the legislature, he observed.
Mr.Bagbin was delivering a paper on, "Empowering Women for Politics: A man's view," at a two-day workshop aimed at encouraging the participation of women in the activities of District Assemblies.
Mr. Bagbin said power that was believed to be the prerogative of men could be shared with women for the betterment of society.
He therefore, suggested the setting up of an institution, "not necessarily a physical structure," to monitor, support and direct up and coming female politicians and other public office holders.
This group, he said, when set up, could embark on fund-raising to ensure that the financial burden imposed on women candidates was lessened, he said.
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Volta Security Council cancels Dededo 40th
anniversary durbar
Dededo (Volta Region) 29 October 2001 - A durbar to mark the 40th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Dededo, a Christian community in the Ho District on Saturday, was cancelled in the last hour by the Volta Regional Security Committee (VREGSEC) in the interest of peace.
The Reverend Apostle Brigadier Albert Tehn-Addy (rtd) told journalists that Mr James Amo, Volta Regional Police Commander conveyed the order to the organisers of the durbar.
He said the organisers were told to cancel the programme on the grounds that there could be a breach of the peace as result of threats issued by a faction engaged in the protracted land dispute between the people of Peki and Tsito in the area to disrupt the ceremony.
"We are law abiding people gathered only to mark the 40th year of the remarkable growth of this community and cannot but go by the dictates of the security committee", Rev. Brigadier Tehn-Addy stated.
Dededo was founded by the late founder of the Apostles Revelation Society (ARS) Mawufe Ame C. K. N. Wovenu and is inhabited by citizens of six communities that still maintain their individual identities.
Dededo was agog with activity when the Ghana News Agency got there at about 09;00 hours with Church groups and other performers rehearsing their roles for the celebration.
Almost all buildings including the premises of the ARS church have been re-painted and a cenotaph to commemorate the day adorned. However, more than three hours after the programme was expected to begin there was no sign of any activity.
While a Police source told the GNA that there was a security problem and about 20 of their men in uniform and mufti were on the ground to forestall any breach of the peace, Church elders maintained that there was no security risk and that the anniversary was a Church affair.
At about 13;00 hours the celebrants some of whom came from the Republic of Togo, were asked to take a break for lunch during which the elders announced the cancellation of the celebration.
Rev Apostle James Amegah, Leader of the Church, told the large gathering when they re-converged to sing and watch cultural performances that rumours being circulated that a chief was to be outdoored as part of the anniversary were false.
"You have to seclude a Chief and prepare him for outdooring, nothing of the sort had been done so there could not have been any plan to outdoor a chief", he said. The launching of an educational and development fund formed part of the programme.
Settlers at Dededo, according to a handbook were expected to belong to the ARS Church and to abide by the 12 rules governing the settlement, one of which says: "No one who is a thief, a harlot, an insulter, quarrelsome, a criminal or a pagan shall be accommodated in the town".
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Akyem-Osiem (Eastern Region) 29 October 2001 - The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said at the weekend that the NPP's electioneering promise to create jobs for the youth forms the core of the government's overall policies.
The government, he said, was putting in place sound and prudent policies to kick start the economy to sustain the objectives of creating wealth for both the people and the nation.
Nana Akufo-Addo who is the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa, was addressing party members at a mini-rally at Akyem-Osiem in the Eastern Region. The "Government will abide by its campaign promises, but the right micro economic policies will have to be put in place for this to happen".
He expressed the hope that with appropriate fiscal policies in place, the economy would be in a position to support employment creation schemes to be implemented by the government.
The Minister said he was confident that these policies would bring positive change and transform the country within the next four years, adding that in the distribution of the benefits, no Ghanaian, irrespective of party affiliation, would be discriminated against.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 29 October 2001 - Fifty-five thousand cedis out of the fees paid in cash by some parents of T. I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School (AMASS) in Kumasi were counterfeit notes, Y. K. Agyare, Headmaster, told the school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting at the weekend.
He said the use of cash should be avoided in view of the problems associated with it and appealed to parents to ensure that they used financial instruments like bank drafts, cheques and Sika Card for the payment of school fees, which provided the needed security against armed robbery.
The PTA resolved to pay 205,000 cedis per student to complete projects it has started for the school. These projects include a two-storey dormitory block for girls, a computer laboratory and organisation of extra-classes.
They have, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to grant the approval for the collection of the levy. At a well-attended general meeting of the association, they said they recognised that education was expensive and must, therefore, be prepared to pay for it.
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