Two NDC Candidates filed nomination papers
Political parties pledge support for code of
conduct
Third suspect in cabby's murder case arrested
EC dismisses three officials over use of wrong
photos
Emulate Ghana TUC, advocates unionist
Labour movement can contribute to economic emancipation
We will serve the interest of all Ghanaians - Amidu
NDC will not abandon the Volta Region
Let's have a National Tourism Development Fund
- Gizo
Asamankese (Eastern Region) 15
September 2000
There is confusion as to who is
representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the up-coming general
elections in the Lower West Akyem Constituency.
At the close of the filing of
nominations at Asamankese on Wednesday, two persons filed as the accredited
nominees of the NDC.
They are Lt. Col. (rtd) Isaac
Owusu Twum-Ampofo, 64, a former Minister and Ambassador in the PNDC
administration and Mr. Isaac Nti-Ababio, 46, a public servant.
Sources at the West Akyem District
office of the Electoral Commission (EC) said, each of the two men brought a
letter of introduction from the party's headquarters in Accra, dated September
7, and signed by the General Secretary, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya.
The EC office has, however, sent
the two nominations to its Regional Office at Koforidua for further scrutiny.
When Lt. Col. Twum-Ampofo's
nomination was announced this week, the constituency party executives
vehemently protested against it saying, he was unpopular and they could not
therefore market him.
Meanwhile, five other candidates
also filed to contest the seat on the tickets of their respective parties. They
are Mr. Peter Kwaku Amoabeng, for NPP, Alhaji Hassan Salifu for PNC, Mr. Mark
Ayitey Kwablah for CPP and Mr. Joseph Otoo-Essilfie for UGM.
At Akwatia, six candidates
including an Independent have filed their nominations to contest the Akwatia
seat.
They are, Mr. Ahmed Jamal Mohammed
for the NDC, Mr. Kingston Akomen Kissi for NPP, Mr. Samuel K. Agyei,CPP, Mr
Kwame Dickson, PNC and Mr. Christian Addo for NRP
The independent candidate is Mrs.
Mary Adams Buabeng, a teacher who had earlier aspired for the NDC slot.
Five candidates who are vying for
the Kade seat are Miss Faustina Korantemaa Addo (NDC), Mr. George Ankoma Yeboah
(CPP), Mr. Ofosu Asamoah (NPP), Mr. Appiah Twum Barima (PNC) and Mr. Ohene
Antwi Tutu (NRP).
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 September
2000
Eight political parties on
Thursday pledged to work with, and abide by the dictates of the Code of Conduct
for Political Parties in Ghana, which was launched in Accra.
The Great Consolidated Popular
Party, NDC, EGLE, CPP, PNC, UGM, NRP and NPP were unanimous in the belief that
the Code would level the political playing field, set standards for future
politicians and bring a positive development into Ghana's multiparty democracy.
They said they would limit their
campaign rhetoric to issues as stipulated in the eight-page Code that they
signed in May.
The code was prepared by the
political parties, through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, (IPAC)
sub-committee, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
(FES).
The 23-point document touches on
"The rule of law", "Campaigning", "Elections" and
"Implementation", and also contains the signatures of representatives
of the parties.
Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah, First Deputy
Speaker of Parliament, described the contents of the Code as "mere moral pleas
to the conscience of Ghanaians and are therefore not justiciable."
Its enforcement, therefore,
"depends on the leadership of the parties and the moral will of
Ghanaians".
He said the pledge by the parties
was being keenly watched by Ghanaians and expressed the hope that the spirit
that motivated the creation of the Code would "enlighten the path of its
enforcement".
Mr. Dzirasah advised the
leadership of the parties to carry the cordiality existing among them over to
their supporters to demonstrate that "in politics we must agree to
disagree".
He said in view of the growing
culture of political violence and intimidation, it was important to furnish
party activists who physically attack each other out of political differences
with contents of the Code.
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC
Chairman, said much as the document is not legally binding, it would constitute
a superior form of democratic behaviour expected from the parties.
He said the Code would also
promote access to the electorate by the parties and called on civil society to
take keen interest in it by constantly calling the attention of the parties to
any violation.
Mr. Peter Schellschmidt, FES
Resident Director, said 40,000 copies of the document, had been printed to be
issued to political activists, election officials and observers, the media and
the public.
He said the Code is an improvement
on the first one published in 1992, adding that it would serve as a yardstick
for the electorate and international observers "to measure the maturity of
the democratic process in Ghana".
The code, among other things,
enjoins all parties and their agents to avoid defamatory, derogatory and
insulting attacks on rival parties or individual personalities by any form of
communication, written or verbal.
Though it allows for criticism of
opponents, it specifies that this must be done during electioneering.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15
September 2000
Stephen Kojo Appiah, 25, driver
and the third suspect in the Wadie-Adwumakase taxi driver's murder case, has
been arrested by the police.
Briefing newsmen in Kumasi on
Thursday, Dr. Kofi Kese Manfo, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said Appiah
was arrested by the Osei-Kojokrom police in the Western Region and brought to
Kumasi last Wednesday.
He said the other suspects,
Mohammed Latif, 20, driver, a resident of Aboaso, and Kwaku Ankamah, a
50-year-old farmer of Kojoaba, near Oseikrom, would soon be arraigned before
court after police investigations.
Giving the background to the case,
Dr. Manfo said on September 8, Latif and Appiah, who reside at Aboaso, hatched
a plan to lure a taxi driver to the bush and kill him with the intention of
snatching his vehicle to sell to help off-set their financial predicaments.
After agreeing on the plan, the
Regional Police Commander said, the two then moved to Kumasi where they
succeeded in hiring a taxi driven by the late Kwaku Prince and asked him to
drive them to Wadie-Adwumakase.
According to Dr. Manfo, between
Kwabre-Kenyasi and Wadie-Adwumakase, they tried strangling the driver but he
managed to escape but they pursued him, caught up with him in the bush and beat
him till he died.
The two then drove the car towards
Osei-Kojokrom but stopped at Kojoaba, near Oseikrom, in the Western Region to
visit the sister of Appiah, who was staying in the village with the husband,
Kwaku Ankamah, a farmer.
Dr. Manfo said the two suspects
told Ankamah that they had bought the taxi in which they came and intended selling
it and, therefore, placed a "for sale" notice on it.
The following day, September 9,
they convinced Ankamah to join them to Osei-Kojokrom, where in their attempt to
sell the taxi, they were apprehended by the police.
In the course of the struggle to
arrest them, Appiah escaped back to Kojoaba where the sister resides and was
arrested only last Wednesday and brought to Kumasi.
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Mamponteng (Ashanti Region) 15
September 2000
Three officials assisting the
Electoral Commission (EC) to take photographs of eligible voters in the Kwabre
District of Ashanti have been dismissed.
Mr. Busby Asante, Kwabre District
Director of the EC who confirmed this to the GNA at Mamponteng on Thursday,
said the three conspired to allow some eligible voters to use their own
passport photographs for their new voter ID cards at the polling stations.
They are Noah Mpiani, Kwadwo
Oppong and Boakye Dankwa, of the Adwumakase-Kese, Nkukua-Buoho and Afrancho
electoral areas.
Mr. Asante said following a report
to the EC by Mr. Ernest Opoku-Fofie, the District Chief Executive, his outfit
found out that some people were
condoning with the officials to forge ID cards for certain people. Mpiani was
found with 11 printed cards, Oppong, one card and Dankwa, with four cards.
When the GNA contacted Mr. Samuel
Ntow, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, he said the action taken was
in the right direction because the commission wants uniformity in terms of the
ID cards in all aspects.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15
September 2000
A leading Nigerian Trade Unionist
has lauded the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) for choosing a theme for its
sixth quadrennial delegates congress in Kumasi that aims at addressing the
chronic economic and political problems of the continent.
Mr. Roxy Udogwu, Regional
Secretary for Africa of the International Transport Workers Federation, told
the GNA that the theme: "Economic emancipation and democratic governance,
--The role of Trade Unions" was apt, impressive and reflective of the
age-long politico-economic problems Africa.
Mr. Udogwu is among the 350
delegates, observers and representatives of various labour movements from
around the world attending the congress at the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology.
He urged all trade unions on the
continent to adopt the theme as "the gospel message for the
millennium".
Mr. Udogwu, who is based in Kenya,
said the problems of economic imprisonment and political mis-governance were
still the bane of Africa's slow development and impoverishment of the
increasing millions of workers.
He appealed to the African labour
movements to design their campaigns to centre on this theme because "these
chronic problems of mis-governance and massive corruption by our
post-independence leaders have made their workers to bear the brunt of their inefficiency
for far too long".
Mr. Udogwu declared "this
unique and proactive theme will once again give the impoverished workers a new
lease of hope for the future because there is a possible recovery after
convulsion by all means".
He described the Ghana TUC as one
of the best organised in Africa, which has produced world- acclaimed leaders
like Mr. John Tettegah, the late B.A. Bentum, Alhaji Abudu Mumuni Issifu, Mr.
David Egyir, Mr. E.T. Ashiley, Mr. S.O. Nunoo-Quaye and the out-going
Secretary-General who have all made Africa proud.
Mr. Udogwu stressed that the
presence of leading foreign trade unionists to the congress testifies to the
esteem the Ghana TUC has been accorded in the world.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15
September 2000
Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr,
Director of Research of the Association of African Universities, said on
Thursday that the labour movement can make a major contribution to the economic
emancipation and consolidation of democracy in Ghana.
He said, however, that for this to
happen its leadership must have "the fullest possible appreciation of the
basic factors driving current developments and the trends that are shaping the
conditions of life and the future of the working people".
Professor Sawyerr was delivering a
paper at the sixth quadrennial delegates congress of the TUC on the congress
theme: "Economic emancipation and democratic governance --The role of
trade unions" at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST) in Kumasi.
The five-day congress is being
attended by 350 delegates and foreign observers. He said this appreciation
should form a basis for redefining the true interests of workers and
elaborating and implementing an appropriate education and mobilisation campaign
around the pivotal issues.
Professor Sawyerr, a former Vice
Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said to ensure efficient service to the
labour movement, the TUC and its member unions need to raise their level of
technical and managerial efficiency.
Professor Sawyerr stressed the need for the TUC to develop a professionally staffed and fully equipped research unit saying and a greater use of information technology is indispensable.
He said the labour movement must follow through on the understanding that the major problems confronting labour in Ghana as elsewhere in the world have their roots outside the "shop floor" in the social relations of production and distribution.
This, he added is shaped by the economic and political transformations taking place at the national as well as the global levels.
Professor Sawyerr therefore made a number of proposals for the consideration of congress, which asked the labour movement to come to terms with the fact that the task of organising, mobilising and championing the cause of workers is a profoundly political one with inescapable ideological dimensions.
He proposed that the labour movement must oppose the hegemony of free market ideology and contest the "Washington consensus" adding that in place of the latter, organised labour must help to develop a vision of an alternate, less individualistic and market-driven society and mobilise around it.
Professor Sawyerr said the movement must resist the easy option of concentrating on the place of work or the "enterprise level" and narrowing its mandate down to its "core business".
Instead, he said, the movement must re-focus on the "world of work" as the terrain of struggle and regard its constituency as extending beyond the formally employed.
Specifically the TUC must move vigorously to organise informal sector workers as members and the unemployed as potential members.
Professor Sawyerr said the labour movement has to multiply and deepen its links with and, provide leadership to all civil society institutions engaged in any aspect of the struggle for the welfare of the majority of the people of Ghana.
It should also be prepared to wage campaigns to educate and canvass public opinion directly on social, political and economic issues.
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Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 15 September 2000
The Techiman District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has drawn up a three-month action programme to sensitise the electorate on the need for political and religious tolerance to ensure peace and stability.
Mr. Pierre K. Ankomah, District Director of the NCCE, told the Ghana News Agency at Techiman on Thursday that the programme is aimed at educating students and the adult population about the process of democratisation in the country.
It is also to ensure that the spirit of reconciliation is rekindled for the peaceful resolution of differences among political and religious groupings.
Mr. Ankomah said the commission would organise regular civic education programmes for students in first and second cycle institutions in the district.
"The youth are the future assets of the nation and they need to be enlightened about the principles and objectives enshrined in the constitution," he stated.
Mr. Ankomah appealed to the district assembly, businessmen, philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to help with funds to enhance the implementation of the programme.
Through forums and civic education, the NCCE seeks to promote a cordial and peaceful political atmosphere in the run-up to this year's general elections, he added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 September 2000
Mr. Martin Amidu, NDC Presidential running mate, on Wednesday night reiterated that the government of the Progressive Alliance is committed to serving the interest of all Ghanaians.
Addressing cadres at a public lecture dubbed "Special Nation Time Lecture" at the ACDR House, Mr Amidu urged Ghanaians to remain steadfast and committed to the government, which, he said, had kept faith with them in the past.
The meeting afforded members of the Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) the opportunity to interact with Mr. Amidu and other top officials of the Alliance.
"We will continue to champion the cause of the common people, reconcile all factions, and ensure that they become proud of being Ghanaians."
He assured workers that in spite of the current global world order that has resulted in the current economic hardships, the government would continue to pursue policies that would help improve the living standards of Ghanaians.
Mr. Amidu assured Ghanaians that he would help to unite rather than divide the people, adding: "I am for building bridges for the whole spectrum of Ghanaians".
He urged Ghanaians, especially politicians, to respect and tolerate divergent views to ensure peace and stability in the country.
While commending the media for their positive role in shaping the destiny of the nation, Mr. Amidu warned practitioners against the use of intemperate language so as not to land them in trouble.
He said so long as the Criminal Libel Law remains in the statutes, the only way media practitioners can avoid coming into conflict with it is to play it safe by being objective and fair in their reportage.
Nii Adjei-Boye Sekan, Presidential Staffer in charge of PVOs, reminded the cadres of their crucial role to ensure a resounding victory during the countdown to this year's general election.
Alhaji Huudu Yahya, General Secretary of the NDC, urged members of the alliance to remain committed to it to ensure its rapid growth and development.
Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports, appealed to members of the opposition to stop peddling lies about the government and make sure that they tell Ghanaians what the real situation is.
Commander Pius Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, urged the cadres to unite and work hard to ensure victory in the upcoming elections.
Mr. Eddie Palmer, Greater-Accra Regional Vice-Chairman of the NDC, commended the cadres for their unflinching support and loyalty to the party, and urged them to be wary of members of the opposition who are bent on dividing their ranks.
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Juapong (Volta Region) 15 September 2000
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday re-assured the chiefs and people of the Volta Region that the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has not abandoned them.
He called on them to renew the mandate of the party in this year's elections to enable it to continue with its development programme, which it is tackling systematically.
Professor Mills gave the assurance at a mini durbar of the chiefs and people of Juapong at the beginning of a three-day tour of the southern sector of the Volta Region.
He said the next phase of the NDC government's development agenda is to focus on agriculture and the creation of jobs for the people, and urged them to remain united and steadfast behind the party to enable it to move the nation forward.
Prof. Mills said the NDC would not be deterred by what he called misinformation and lies being peddled about the party in the face of the current economic difficulties that have beset the nation, adding: "we stand for the truth and will stand by it at all times".
The NDC flagbearer said the party regards the Volta Region as the "land that feeds it" and as people who have sacrificed a lot to support the government.
He explained the current economic difficulties to the people, saying it is as a result of conditions in the unfavourable external markets, which have largely affected other big nations such as France, Britain and Belgium.
Prof. Mills said the government is determined to brave the difficulties and asked the people to rally behind it.
He expressed appreciation for the region's support to the NDC over the years and reassured the people that, when re-elected into power, the party would address their needs.
Welcoming the Vice-President's entourage, Togbega Ribitim Komlaga II, Fiaga of Dorfor Traditional Area, spoke about a protracted land dispute between the Akwamu and Dorfor Traditional Areas, which has marred relations between the one-time allies.
He asked the government to come out and declare a boundary based upon tribal settlements instead of finding out who owns the land.
Togbega Komlaga said another issue dislocating the unity of the North Tongu District is the delay in the creation of a "Dussor area Council" to make way for partnership.
The chief also commented on the choice of the running mate for the NDC, saying his people were disappointed when "at the eleventh hour" the candidate was not picked from the region as they were made to believe earlier.
"We are closely following the ethnic sentiments and manoeuvres against the sons and daughters of the region who by dint of hard work should deserve national recognition but are being denied."
He called on the government to extend power to the remaining villages in the traditional area and also tar roads leading to the communities.
The durbar was also used to introduce Mr. Joe Gidisu, NDC parliamentary candidate for North Tongu, in this year's election.
Vice-President Mills also addressed a similar durbar at Dededo in the Ho District where he urged the people to keep the peace, stability and unity, which the country is currently enjoying.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 September 2000
Mr. Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism, on Thursday called for a National Tourism Development Fund to accelerate the growth of the industry.
"If tourism is to bring in the needed foreign exchange to close the resource gap and to help accelerate the rate of development, then both government and the private sector must demonstrate the will to create a fund for it."
Mr. Gizo was opening a one-day workshop on Tourism Action Plan for revenue generation and sharing in Accra.
It was organised by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is being attended by more than 40 participants drawn from the hospitality industry, Ministry of Tourism and environmental groups.
Participants are to formulate a plan of action of revenue mobilisation and distribution in the tourism industry.
Mr. Gizo said prior to the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT), tax revenue generated in hotels and restaurants alone was more than 10 million dollars annually.
"With the present widening of the tax net and strict application of the VAT, a lot more revenue certainly must have been generated and stand to be generated over the coming years."
Mr. Gizo said presently, the sector is allocated inadequate resources yet it rakes in a lot of revenue.
He called for the retention of some of the revenue generated at the various tourist sites to be used to address crucial administrative and minor investment issues.
The Minister suggested that the traditional custodians of such sites be given a share of revenue generated.
"Social justice demands that such communities adjacent to the sites realise some concrete benefits from the revenue generated."
He said, the District Assemblies may not be asking for a portion of the revenue now, but rather to be given a role to invest part of the common fund in the projects.
Mr. Gizo asked the participants to draw up a plan of action that would convince government and other development partners on the need to inject more resources into the sector.
Dr Fenton Sands, Director, Trade, Agriculture and Private Sector Office, USAID, said Ghana's potential tourist sites are widely dispersed and needed a good plan to link them up.
He asked all partners in the sector to complement each other since tourism is an industry that has stakes in all facets of society.
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