GRi Newsreel Ghana 27 - 09

GRi Newsreel Ghana 27 - 09 - 2000

Spanish satellite informed NADMO of sea disaster

Tema (Greater Accra) 27 September 2000

The accident involving the MV Resurrection on high seas in which at least 22 fishermen are feared dead, was detected by a Spanish satellite and relayed to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Accra.

The satellite, Compass sent the message to NADMO on Sunday morning when the boat was sinking with the fishermen left at the mercy of the sea, but NADMO did not inform the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) for any assistance to be sent.

A source close to the Tema Fishing Harbour said the satellite indicated the position of the vessel but NADMO never communicated this until it sent a letter to the port signal station on Tuesday morning.

The satellite gave the position of the vessel as 0521.5 N 00155.9 W and 05 15.3 N 00402.9 W and no rescue was sent until about 20:00 hours on Sunday night when the GPHA sent a Tug boat after the survivors brought the sad news home.

The three survivors, Mr. Mensah Amudzi Deku, Mr. Charles Bleboo and Mr. Kwame Akakpo paddled the dingy for about six hours before they were rescued by a group of canoe fishermen.

The survivors told the ports authorities that the fishermen were drawing the fishing net into the boat when they detected that the hatch was flooded and the boat begun sinking. One of them managed to join two others on the dingy while the rest hanged onto the floating net.

The survivors have so far given the names of 13 people who were on the boat. They are Moses Narh Tettegah, First Captain, Godwin Egum, Second Captain, Kwasi Amornortey and Dzinyarmeh Kisseh both Boatswains.

Others are Expensive Mensah, First Fitter, John Nampah and Kofi Attipoe, George Aryitey, while the rest were only named as Gomango, Second Fitter, Nor, Korletey and Awortwi.

According to the survivors, the canoe, which picked them up, made an attempt to locate the rest but they were compelled to return ashore because its outboard motor was running out of fuel.

According to Mr. Ankamah Okine, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association, a search and rescue team sent on Monday found a life buoy belonging to the vessel.

He said if the fishermen were dead, they were expected to float after three or four days and the Association is seeking the assistance of the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Airforce to help locate them.

Mr. Okine said, only four out of about 24 operational vessels at the Tema fishing port have been fitted with the two-way VHF radio normally used but some boat owners have introduced mobile phones in place of that, which are sometimes ineffective.

He said communication equipment is very expensive and there is no form of technical assistance for the development of inshore fisheries, leaving the fisherman at the mercy of the sea.

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I satisfied all statutory requirements - Okaija

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2000

The Minister of the Interior, Nii Okaija Adamafio, has denied that he did not submit his tax clearance certificate with his nomination papers to the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the Odododiodoo parliamentary seat in the December election.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday, the Minister, who is the incumbent, said there must have been an administrative error on the part of the EC, adding that, he submitted his tax clearance certificate and satisfied all the statutory requirements for parliamentary candidates.

He pointed out however that, if the allegation was meant to embarrass him or disrupt his campaign then "it was a wasted effort" since it would not have any effect on his supporters.

Nii Okaija, who showed documents from the EC certifying that, he submitted his tax clearance certificate, advised the EC and the media to be circumspect in dealing with matters of the election.

He expressed the hope that they would not make any false statements about him or any other candidate adding that, he would have taken legal action had it not been for his belief that "it was an administrative lapse".

Media reports on September 20, said 60 out of the 129 candidates, who filed their nominations to contest the 22 seats in the Greater Accra Region did not submit their tax clearance certificates.

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Afari-Gyan, told the GNA that they signed a statutory declaration before a judicial officer indicating that they had either paid or made satisfactory arrangements for payment.

He said that if the declarations were found to be false their nomination would be declared invalid.

The reports said 15 candidates of the National Reform Party, 13 of the People's National Convention, nine of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including Nii Okaija and seven of the Convention People's Party (CPP) candidates did not submit tax clearance certificates.

Six candidates each of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the United Ghana Movement (UGM), three independent candidates and the only candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) also failed to provide the certificates, EC said.

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Britain provides 40 million pounds programme aid for Ghana

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2000

Ghana and Britain on Tuesday signed a grant agreement for 40 million pounds for 2000 and 2001 to protect social sector spending and enhance the government's poverty reduction strategy.

The British Government is providing the funding through the Department for International Development (DFID).

Mr. Victor Selormey, Deputy Minister of Finance signed for Ghana while Mr. Ian Mackley, the out-going British High Commissioner, signed for his country.

It is intended to assist the Ghana government in meeting development targets. This would be achieved through the provision of funds to the Ministries of Health and Education.

The first tranche totalling 171 billion cedis (18 million pounds) will be released immediately, while a further 66 billion cedis (seven million pounds) will be available before Christmas while the balance will be disbursed in two equal instalments in June and December 2001.

Mr. Selormey said Ghana's development partners are encouraged to assist her because there is evidence that the government is seriously exploring avenues and putting in place measures to ease the burden on the people.

He said Ghana is committed to poverty reduction, with sector policies and expenditure allocations, which have significantly reduced poverty and which give realistic prospects for meeting the international development targets.

"Besides, Ghana has remained on track with its IMF-backed Poverty Reduction Growth Programme in spite of difficult economic circumstances largely brought about by significant external shocks."

He said the signing ceremony therefore demonstrates the continued faith the country's development partners have in government's efforts at reducing poverty.

Mr. Selormey commended the UK for her continued and unflinching support, especially in the area of programme aid support, when most countries have reduced theirs.

He asked the UK government to bring forward the period of disbursement of the second tranche of 7.5 million pounds before December to ensure that all targets set, especially in the social sectors, are met.

He stressed government's commitment to its objective of stabilising and restoring growth in the economy, and expressed the hope that the sacrifices now would yield high dividends in the very near future.

Mr. Selormey said the grant was part of the funds promised in the Minister of Finance's statement of extra funds to support the economy.

Mr. Mackley said he was happy with his tenure of duty in Ghana, a period during which programme aid assistance has increased from between 15 and 18 million pounds a year to between 50 and 80 million pounds.

He said the programme is designed to support government's own effort at helping the social sectors, adding that the UK government would ensure that the money gets to the very sectors where they are needed.

As to why the UK government delayed in releasing the money, Mr. Mackley said Britain on its own, would have given it out sooner, "but there is a uniformity, and this follows the lead of the IMF and the World Bank reposing confidence in an economy."

He said as a long-standing friend and partner of Ghana, and as a strong supporter of economic and social reforms, "we judged it essential that Britain responded positively to the need for further support".

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Asantehene to attend "Godigbe" festival

Aflao (Volta Region) 27 September 2000

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, is to visit Aflao on Saturday September 30 to honour an invitation by Togbe Fiti Amenya the V, paramount chief of the Aflao traditional area, to participate in the annual "Godigbeza" of the chiefs and people.

He would be accompanied by a large number of chiefs from the Ashanti Kingdom.

Speaking to the GNA on Monday, Togbe Fiti said the Asantehene's visit would offer him the opportunity the witness the rich culture of the people of Aflao.

Togbe Fiti said the visit is aimed at bridging the gap between Ewes and the Ashantis and to promote peaceful co-existence among Ghanaians.

Togbe Fiti, who paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene when he visited Kumasi two months ago, said it was necessary that traditional rulers unite to ensure the socio-economic development of the country.

"The visit is the beginning of good relationship between the Ewes and the Ashantis for the development of the country at large".

He advised traditional rulers to play down on ethnic sentiments since it could divide the people.

"The Ashanti kingdom accommodates large groups of Ewes as Aflao also accommodates Ashantis here so the visit will tell our subjects that they are one people."

While in Aflao, the Asantehene will join the chiefs to launch a 250 million cedi education fund and cut a sod on a large tract of land the Aflao traditional area has released for the creation of a new Akan township.

He would also interact with Ashantis in Aflao and pay a visit to the Ghana-Togo border at Aflao.

Other traditional rulers expected at the Godigbe festival include Nana Yeboah Afari Obuagyan the II, Obohene, Togbe Dagadu VII paramount chief of the Akpini traditional area and some chiefs from the Republic of Togo.

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