GRi Newsreel Ghana
05 - 09 - 2000
NPP announces running mate on Saturday –Botwe
My nomination was not a win but a consensus – Amidu
NDC activists protest against sitting MP
Salia made presidential staffer
Wing Commander Mensah honoured in Pretoria
Protect image of peace and stability – Rawlings
Make research findings available to society - Scientists
urged
Police arrest two men with pistols
NPP announces running mate on Saturday –Botwe
Accra
(Greater Accra) 05 September 2000
The New
Patriotic Party (NPP) will announce it’s presidential running mate on Saturday,
September 9, Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the party hinted on Monday.
Speaking to
the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr. Botwe indicated that the party would
make public the name of the vice presidential candidate after an emergency
national delegates conference at the Mawuko Girls' Secondary School Assembly
Hall in the Volta Regional capital, Ho.
Asked
whether the party will also choose a Northerner as has been done by other
parties, the General Secretary said the choice is left with the flag bearer.
He,
however, said in choosing a running mate ethnicity cannot be ruled out, since
in African politics, "regional balance" means "ethnic
balance".
Mr. Botwe
described as normal the choice by the NDC of Mr. Martin Amidu, Deputy Attorney
General as Professor John Atta Mills' running mate, saying it poses no threat
to the NPP's chances of winning the December elections.
"I do
not think anybody can begrudge him (Vice President Mills) for coming out with
his running mate, but come December 7, Ghanaians are going to vote for the NPP,
because it will present a better team to manage the country," the General
Secretary stated.
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My nomination was not a win but a consensus – Amidu
Accra
(Greater Accra) 05 September 2000
The
Deputy Attorney-General, Martin Amidu, who was on Sunday night chosen as the
NDC presidential running mate, said he regards his nomination as a victory for
consensus but not as a win for himself.
"I
don't think it was a win. I surely believe that there are so many people within
the party who are competent and capable.
"It
is a big family; I'll just think that they chose me because there was a
consensus that I should come out of the lot to assist in achieving the ideals
of the party and to move the nation forward," he told the Ghana News
Agency in an interview.
Mr.
Amidu, 49, who has served as the Deputy Minister of Justice for nearly 12
years, said he has always stood by the ideals of the NDC, and pledged his
unflinching support for Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the party's
presidential candidate.
"I
look forward to giving him (Prof. Mills) loyal and dedicated service to enable
him to achieve his objectives for the people of Ghana," Mr. Amidu said,
citing consensus-building, peace and reconciliation for development as ideals
he cherished in the party's manifesto.
He
described Prof. Mills as a great man who is well cut out to continue the good
works of President Jerry Rawlings and bring positive development to the people
of Ghana.
"I
think that he is in a position to take major policy directives which are very
genuine to the epoch of our development process, if we are to make a
breakthrough in the present economic difficulties.
"My
duty is to contribute my quota to ensure the success of these ideals."
Mr.
Amidu appealed to the rank and file of the party to remain together as one
family to achieve the set targets in its manifesto as well as the direction
being charted by Prof. Mills.
"We
can only do this through collective efforts and the interdependence of one
another," he said, and expressed his conviction that the NDC is the only
party, which can deliver the goods despite the economic hiccups.
Mr.
Amidu was a member of the Northern Regional Secretariat of the Interim National
Co-ordinating Committee of the former People's Defence Committees and Workers
Defence Committees.
Asked
how he was chosen and how he felt about his nomination, Mr. Amidu said he never
thought of any such position, adding that it came as a surprise to him.
He,
however, did not think that it was done on ethnic basis.
"It's
difficult for me to say why... it happened in a twinkle of an eye and I do not
think it would have been so easy if the flagbearer and the entire party
hierarchy had not supported my nomination."
Sources
close to the GNA earlier indicated that there would be a formal announcement of
Mr. Amidu's nomination later on Monday.
The
Electoral Commission has fixed September 12 and 13 for the filing of names of
candidates for the presidential and parliamentary elections in December.
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NDC activists protest against sitting MP
Ho (Volta
Region) 05 September 2000
A group of
National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists in the Ho Central Constituency on
Monday protested against what it described as the imposition of Mr. Kofi Attor,
sitting MP, as the party's candidate for the December elections.
The leader
of the group and secretary of the Ho Central Constituency of the party, Mr.
Kwami Tide said the MP does not visit the electorates and has also neglected
some of the constituency executives.
He alleged
that the MP has not initiated any project of benefit to the community and said
that the on-going projects in the constituency are those being undertaken by
the government.
Mr. Tide
said the group supports the NDC but it is against the imposition of MPs on the
people and appealed to the National Executive Committee of the party to
organise primaries in the constituency.
"The
people are saying that conditions are not favourable enough for the MP to
represent the constituency in the next four years", he added.
Mr. Attor
in reaction to the allegations made against him told the GNA that he could be
counted among the MPs, who visit their constituencies regularly.
"I
have made more than one visit to all the 110 branches in my constituency",
he said adding that he had equitably disbursed his share of the common fund to
communities in the constituency to improve education and sanitation and to
provide electricity and good drinking water.
Mr. Attor,
who is also the Deputy General Secretary of the Party, admitted that the NDC
has not done much to improve roads in the Volta Region.
He said,
"currently a lot is being done and all the major roads in Ho central has
been awarded on contract, while work on roads in other parts of the region is
in progress".
Concerning
the holding of primaries, Mr. Attor noted that it does not necessarily prove
the popularity of the winner and " by experience primaries do not help a
party to grow since the delegates are not representative enough".
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Salia made presidential staffer
Accra
(Greater Accra) 05 September 2000
President
Jerry John Rawlings has named Mr. Steve Akorli, Deputy Minister of Roads and
Transport as Acting Minister, while the substantive minister, Mr. Edward Salia
goes to the Presidency as a Presidential Staffer.
A
statement signed by Mr. J. L. M. Amissah, Secretary to the President, in Accra
on Monday said the appointment takes immediate effect.
The
statement also named seven persons, who have been nominated for approval by
their respective district assemblies as chief executives.
They
are Mr. Orsino Kweku Aryetey, Manya Krobo, Mr. Charles Amoa Acheampong, Afram
Plains, Mr. Peter Anarfi Mensah, Ahafo Ano North and Mr. Peter Kwasi
Nortsu-Kotoe, Akatsi.
The
rest are Mr. Mohammed Kwaku Doku, Asunafo, Mr. Francis Kwesi Enu, Jomoro and
Mr. Magnus Kofi Amoatey, Yilo Krobo.
It
said Mr. Kwesi Oppong-Fosu, Deputy Minister Designate for Local Government and
Rural Development has been made a government appointee to the Sekyere West
District Assembly.
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Wing Commander Mensah honoured in Pretoria
Accra
(Greater Accra) 05 September 2000
The
Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Wing Commander
Andy K Mensah has been awarded the African Individual Achievement prize for his
outstanding services to African civil aviation development.
The South
African Minister of Transport, Dr Dullah Omar presented the award to the
Director-General at an African Aviation award ceremony in Pretoria, South
Africa on Sunday.
A faxed
message received by the GNA said the award was in recognition of his personal
commitment and dedication to aviation development in Ghana as well as the
continent.
This is the
second year running that Wing Commander Mensah has been presented with an
African Aviation Award for his meritorious services in aviation development.
The first award was the African Aviation Prize for GCAA's outstanding
achievement at a gala dinner held last year in Washington DC, USA.
The message
said a citation accompanying the award said Wing Commander Mensah is widely
regarded as a doyen of civil aviation in Africa. It praised him for setting the
pace in promoting aviation development in Africa in particular.
Mr. Nick
Fadugba, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of African Aviation Magazine,
noted that Wing Commander Mensah is the only person to have won two African Aviation
awards - one for his organisation and the other for his personal contribution.
Wing
Commander Mensah said he is dedicating the award to the entire civil aviation
community, the government and people of Ghana and the Media in particular,
without whose support this international recognition would not have been
possible.
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Protect image of peace and stability – Rawlings
Acherensua
(Brong Ahafo) 05 September 2000
President
Jerry John Rawlings has called on Ghanaians to protect the country's good image
as a leading star in the West Africa sub-region for peace, political stability
and economic development.
He
said as the electioneering campaign gathers momentum, tolerance, discipline and
respect for divergent political views should be their guiding principles to
avoid conflicts and violence.
This
was contained in an address read on his behalf by Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, Member of
the Council of State, at a durbar to climax the Nkampo festival of the Chiefs
and people of Acherensua in the Asutifi District.
Irrespective
of our political opinions, we should strive to maintain the peace and unity
prevailing, by avoiding conflicts and intrigues, which can lead to violence, he
cautioned.
He
commended Nana Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem, Omanhene of the Traditional Area,
for ensuring peace, which has reduced chieftaincy disputes and land litigation.
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Make research findings available to society -
Scientists urged
Koforidua
(Eastern Region) 05 September 2000
The
Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow, has charged scientists to make
their research findings available to society to make them relevant.
She
said; "the time has come to inform the society at large about your
research findings and explain their relevance to the ordinary men on the
street".
In
a speech read on her behalf at the inauguration of the Koforidua branch of the
Ghana Science Association (GSA), at Koforidua, she asked the Association to
promote science with the "common man" in mind to end superstition.
The
Regional Minister asked the GSA to lead an industrial and technological
revolution in Ghana since the country cannot afford to depend on foreign
assistance forever.
This
would be possible if scientists strive for excellence in their research work
and consider themselves as partners in development.
GRi…/
Tema
(Greater Accra) 05 September 2000
Workers of
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the Tema Port area had the shock of their
lives when on Monday morning they reported for work to find the office watchman
lying dead in a pool of blood.
Bob Anaba,
45, is suspected to have been murdered by robbers, who broke into the offices
but could not reach the safe, which was said to contain 5.2 million cedis at
the weekend.
Mr. Yaw
Opuku, Head of the IRS at the Tema Port said he suspects that the thieves
entered the IRS office by removing the louver blades.
He told the
GNA that so far only a radio set has been confirmed missing but said an
inventory of other items in the office would be taken.
Mr. Daniel
T. Angmor, Tema Regional Crime Officer, who confirmed the incident said some
workers of the IRS, who reported for work on Monday and found the main door
locked sought the assistance of the police, who forced the door open only to
find Mr. Anaba dead.
Mr. Angmor
said the police are investigating.
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Police arrest two men with pistols
Tema
(Greater Accra) 05 September 2000
Following a
tip-off, the Tema Police have arrested two men for possessing pistols, Mr.
Selwyn Brat-Mettle, Tema Regional Commander of Police, told journalists in Tema
on Monday.
Joseph
Lartey aged 28, was found with a revolver loaded with eight rounds of
ammunition while Sam Kojo, 26, had a locally made pistol with one round of
ammunition. Both of them reside at Tema New Town.
Mr.
Brat-Mettle said Lartey was arrested in June, when the police received credible
information that he was going to use the revolver in an armed robbery at
Koforidua.
He said
Lartey, a leader of armed robbers had sent his men to Koforidua and he intended
to go there that night for their operation.
He said
when the police got the information they conducted a search in Lartey's room
and found the loaded revolver in his wardrobe.
The
Regional Commander said, Kojo on the other hand, was arrested last week
Thursday, at the Main Harbour, when the police had another tip-off from that he
wanted to use it in a broad-daylight robbery.
Mr.
Brat-Mettle said through collaboration with the public, the police had
undertaken a number of raids and arrested narcotic drug users and traffickers.
Some of
these criminal cases are being tried in the courts, while others are being investigated.
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