GRi Newsreel Ghana 27 - 09 - 2001
African youth command calls for probe
Electricity Company cuts power supply to TV transmission station
Ghanaians urged to respect one another's rights
Adopt strategies to enhance gender equity- Mrs Asmah
Tema (Greater Accra) September 2001 - The Management of Bunjin Engineering and
Construction Company on Tuesday sent all the 250 striking workers home for destroying some computers and other office equipment whose cost was not immediately known.
Two Management Staff Mr O. J. No, Quality Control Officer and Mr I. T. Kim, Welding Supervisor, as well as Inspector C. K. Mordzo from the Police Striking Force, who were brutalised, got injured and were rushed to the Narh Bita Clinic and the Tema General Hospital, where they were treated and discharged.
The workers have been engaged by the company to work on the expansion programme of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), but have since Friday laid down their tools to demand salary increases.
The Police said the workers' leaders had a meeting with the Management early this week and demanded 70 per cent salary increase but the Management offered 25 per cent.
When the Management's offer was communicated to the workers they charged and started destroying office property and turned over a saloon car belonging to one of the Management Staff.
The two management staffs were injured during the attack and when the Police were called in, the workers turned their anger on them, wounding the Inspector Mordzo.
Four workers whose names were not immediately known have been arrested and placed in custody.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2001 - The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Wednesday said it is not on red alert, (the highest state of alertness), as published in Tuesday's edition of the Evening News headlined, " We smell fake coup plot".
It also said no ex- service personnel have been detained as alleged by the newspaper, which attributed its story to Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, acting Chairman of the political committee of the NDC.
In a statement signed by LT- Col. Emmanuel Nibo, Director of Public Relations in Accra, the GAF assured Ghanaians that there was no cause for alarm and advised all to go about their normal duties without any fear.
It said although by constitutional obligations, the Ghana Armed Forces are to be alert at all times to be able to defend the country, "there are various levels of alertness that the Armed Forces adopt depending on the kind of threat the nation faces."
"We can state categorically that the Ghana Armed Forces is not on red alert ". The NDC said at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday that the Armed Forces had been placed on red alert as part of a plan by the government to implicate some leading members of the party in what it perceived as a coup plot.
Alhaji Iddrisu, who was the NDC spokesman at the press conference, claimed that some soldiers, including former security guards of former President Jerry Rawlings were arrested in connection with the coup plot.
The NDC called the press conference to declare its intention not to cooperate in investigation of former functionaries of its administration by various government agencies.
The party said the mode of the investigation sought to incriminate the former functionaries and constituted harassment and violation of their rights.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Sept. 27, GNA-The African Youth Command (AYC), a Pan-African youth development Non-Governmental Organisation, has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to probe the controversy surrounding the affairs of the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA).
It said the present confusion in the affairs of GUNA was a result of the "resolute" and "consistent" refusal by the collective leadership of GUNA not to cow down to the "persistent political intimidation and chicanery to toe a particular partisan line."
This was contained in a three-point petition issued in Accra on Wednesday and signed by Alhaji Yakubu Sulley and Dr. F.W.A. Akuffo, AYC General Secretary and President respectively.
The petition said: "Thirteen months to the December 7, 2000 general elections in Ghana, very insidious orchestrated campaign of ruthless character assassination against the leadership of GUNA by coercive institutional corruption of blackmail woefully failed, so far, to dismember and dismantle the GUNA".
It appealed to the Ministry to set aside the former government's inspired probe, which it alleged, have been geared to deceive the present government to break the front of the GUNA for partisan agenda.
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District Assemblies in Northern Region to
be re-audited
Tamale (Northern Region) 27 September 2001 - Some district assemblies in the Northern Region are to be re-audited due to unsatisfactory work done by some members of the Special Audit Team (SAT).
A source close to the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council quoted a Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development statement as saying that there had been cases of alleged bribery of some members of the SAT by certain persons they were investigating.
They are said to have received heavy sums of monies from the former District Chief Executives, finance officers and co-ordinating directors to write favourable reports about their districts.
The Tamale Municipal Chief Executive, Prince Imoro Andani, could not confirm or deny the re-auditing of the assembly, but said "we are yet to receive a copy of the audited report of the assembly."
Prince Andani said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was sending a special team to Tamale to inspect works on the one billion-cedi Tamale street light project, which was awarded under "dubious circumstances."
He said though, the lights had not yet been switched on, the contractor, All ALFA Electricals was demanding an additional 37 million cedis.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2001 - The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu on Wednesday said institutions under the ministry could not work effectively due to the lack of equipment.
Institutions under the Ministry are: Police, Prison Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Immigration Service, Narcotic Control Board and National Disaster Management Organisation.
He said as the ministry responsible for maintaining law and order, certain logistics such as communication gadgets and vehicles must be within its reach.
The Minister said this when he granted audience to Mr Majid Bizmark, Iranian Ambassador, in his office in Accra.
Alhaji Yakubu said, "Without law and order efforts by the government will come to naught."
Alhaji Yakubu said as the population of Ghana increased greater responsibilities would fall on the institutions under the ministry. For example, with a population of nearly 20 million the country has about 16,000 Police personnel. The ratio works up to one Policeman to 1,250 people.
He appealed to Iran to help improve institutions under the ministry to enable them to deliver quality service.
The Minister praised Iran for its contributions in the areas of health, education and agriculture.
Mr Bizmark called for a joint economic commission to spell out areas of co-operation between Ghana and Iran.
He appealed to the Ghana government to re-open its embassy in Tehran and Alhaji Alhassan responded by saying: "We are considering it, taking into consideration the country's resources."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2001 - Saudi Arabia is to establish a Technical Institute in Ghana to offer free tuition in computer science, Saudi Ambassador Mr Mohammed Abu Al-Hamayel said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Greater Accra Regional Minister,
Sheikh Ibrahim Quaye, he said Saudi Arabia would also award scholarship to
Ghanaians to study science in his country, fund the construction of some roads linking the north to the south of Ghana and encourage Saudi businessmen to invest in Ghana.
An ultra-modern mosque will be built at Kanda in Accra as a symbol of the strength of relationship between the two countries, Mr Al-Hamayel told the minister.
He said Saudi Arabia condemns the recent terrorist attacks on the United States and stands by the United States and other well meaning countries the world over to fight terrorism.
"I'm glad that the world is not linking the attacks with Islam," he said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2001 - The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission on Wednesday said the annual seasonal ban on hunting, otherwise known as the close season, is still in place and appealed to the public to help conserve the wildlife heritage of the country.
A release signed by the Chief Executive of the division, Mr Nicholas Ankudey said the close season, which began on August 1 is scheduled to end on December 1.
During this period it is illegal for anybody to hunt, capture or destroy any wild animals except the grass-cutter (Akrantie). However, this can be done only under licence issued by the wildlife division.
"Wild animals are our national resource and require our collective efforts to husband them."
Mr. Ankudey said just as nobody would slaughter a pregnant goat or nursing cow and or its calf, all citizens of Ghana should also join hands to give the nation's wild animals the same opportunity to breed successfully.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 27 September 2001 - The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has since Monday, disconnected electricity supply to the Television transmitting station at Kissi near Komenda, because the Ghana the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) could not pay accumulated bills of over 100 million cedis.
The Central Regional Director of the GBC, Mr. Kwabena Sarpong-Anane, told the Ghana News Agency at Cape Coast on Wednesday that officials of the ECG office in Cape Coast informed him that they received a directive from the Headquarters, in Accra to disconnect power supply to the station.
The action is affecting 'Radio Central', the GBC FM station in Cape Coast for similar reasons.
Mr. Sarpong-Anane said the Corporation pays about 15 million cedis for electricity supply to the television station every month, as against between five and six million cedis before the introduction of the new electricity tariffs.
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Takoradi (Western Region) 27 September 2001 - The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mr. Ebo Quashie has stressed the need for Ghanaians to prepare their wills to prevent the seizure of their property by family members.
He said the preparation of a will offers one the opportunity to distribute property according to one's wishes.
Mr. Quashie was giving a lecture on the topic "Will, its importance and preparation," organised by Christ the King Methodist Church Men Fellowship at the Anaji Estate, as part of activities marking its eighth anniversary celebration.
Mr. Quashie said one does not need to own a house or acquire more property before preparing a will, adding that anybody who has attained 18 years and above is legible to prepare his will with whatever property he or she has because a will can be changed or replaced when necessary.
The GBA President commended the enactment of the Interstate Succession Law (PNDC Law 111), but expressed regret that despite the existence of the law wives and children continue to be harassed by their husbands' relatives on their death.
Mr. Quashie noted that the practice is not only rampant in the rural areas but also in the urban areas adding that, the days when wives and children were thrown out of their marital homes after the death of their husbands, were over.
Mr. Quashie advised women and children, who are harassed by members of their husbands' families to report such cases to the police for redress.
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Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 27 September 2001 - Miss Joyce Nyamadie, Nkoranza District Director, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on Ghanaians to respect one another's rights and freedoms to maintain peace and stability.
Miss Nyamadie made the call while explaining the role of the Commission at a meeting of the Anglican Youth Association at Nkoranza at the weekend.
She said in a bid to consolidate true democracy in the country, there is the need for constant education of the people on their rights and responsibilities to prevent their infringement and abuse.
The Director advised the people to be law-abiding and respect people in authority.
She said the Commission does not charge any fees for services it renders to the public and urged people to feel free to approach the Commission for the redress of their grievances.
An Elder of the Church, Mr Yaw Nyarko, expressed gratitude to the Commission for sensitise members on their rights and responsibilities.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 September 2001 - Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, on Wednesday called on policy makers and implementers to adopt strategies that would bring about equity between men and women in the governance of the country.
She said while advocating for more women to participate in politics and decision making, it should be noted that merely adding to the numbers of women in local government would not result in their effectiveness in addressing gender concerns.
She said in a speech read for her by Madam Gifty Ohene-Konadu a Deputy Director of Projects at the ministry at the opening of a day's seminar on 'Affirmative Action and Women in Local Government Elections' held in Accra.
The seminar organised by the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) for gender advocates and some members of the media was to brainstorm on critical issues that underline the low participation of women in politics.
It was also to identify measures that would enhance women's active involvement in politics at all levels of the society, especially at the local or district levels where the majority reside and where women's leadership roles will have a rippling and cascading effect.
Mrs Asmah said women have to learn to manoeuvre around their power to advocate for gender issues. "They can also find their way to positions that would augment their capacity to influence policy".
She called on the Ministry of Local Government to transform its institutions to take into account values and practices that consider the needs of women and men alike to enhance the achievement of gender equality.
"There is the need to build gender competence among women, development planners, government decision makers, and international agencies, to ensure that gender equality as a theory is translated into practice to ensure the obliteration of persistent gender disparities in all sectors of development beginning with local government," Mrs Asmah said.
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