Armed youngsters attack police Inspector?
Ghana's agriculture labour force dwindling fast
Protect refugee Children, Tuyee
Mills receives Sierra Leonean Chief Justice
First private library opens in Kumasi next month
Minister meets Council of Principals of Polytechnics
MTTU rakes in big amount from fines
Destool chiefs in accordance with the law-Odeneho Ababio
Armed youngsters attack police Inspector?
Obuasi (Ashnti Region) 28 Aug ’99
Police Inspector Francis Kyirafage of the Obuasi Divisional Motor Traffic Unit was on Thursday night rushed to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital following several gun wounds he allegedly received from angry youngsters from Akrofoum, near Obuasi.
The emotionally charged youngsters who arrived at the police station in three buses with offensive weapons are said to have fired at Inspector Kyirafage in front of the Charge Office.
Eyewitnesses say he was shot in the head and other parts of his body.
The youngsters were said to have smashed the windscreen and side glasses of a Hyundai saloon car with registration number AS 3305 C and damaged a vehicle belonging to the Fomena police.
They then besieged the Obuasi Central Police Station and forced the police cells open in search of one Mr Moro whom they claimed had been detained for his own safety by the police.
Mr Moro, said to belong to a faction of a chieftaincy dispute in Akrofoum was alleged to have beaten some youngsters of Akrofoum for which their friends are seeking revenge.
As Mr Moro was not found in the cells after inspection, however, the youngsters kidnapped Corporal George Bediako, driver of the Divisional Commander and took him hostage till the next Friday.
The installation of a queenmother had brought divisions in the town with one group supporting Nana Okasi Ababio, Akrofoumhene and the other group supporting Mr L.K. Ahenkorah, headmaster of Obuasi Secondary Technical School.
A police source alleged that when the police invited Nana Okai Ababio to the Obuasi Police station, armed Akrofoum youth angrily descended on the Obuasi Central Police Station and demanded his release.
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Ghana's agriculture labour force dwindling fast
Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 28 Aug ’99
Ghana's agriculture labour force is fast dwindling and ageing due to the unwillingness of the youth to regard farming as a profitable and attractive profession.
Current statistics indicate that 90 per cent of the labour force engaged in farming are over 60 years, a situation, which could spell the doom for agricultural productivity and national development if it is not addressed.
Mr Kwadwo Maama Adam, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, reiterated this at the Brong Ahafo regional launching of the Agricultural Development Bank's (ADB) Akuafo Abasobo raffle at Techiman on Thursday.
The 320 million cedi raffle is aimed at mopping up excess liquidity in the system, to encourage farmers to save in the banks and to reward Ghanaian farmers for their hard work.
Each farmer is encouraged to deposit 200,000 cedis with the bank to qualify for the raffle.
Alhaji Adam said the government is concerned about the reluctance of the youth to go into agriculture and has therefore instituted schemes including the 'Youth in Agriculture programme' to encourage them into farming ventures.
Farming, he said is a noble and lucrative profession and urged the youth to take advantage of the 'Youth in Agriculture programme' to help minimise the unemployment problem.
Four houses, kente cloths, outboard motor machines, fishing nets, cutlasses and other agricultural inputs would be given out to winners of the raffle.
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Protect refugee Children, Tuyee
Tema (Greater Accra) 28 Aug. ’99
Mr Francis W. Tuyee, a Tema Industrialist, has called on the government to discourage the practice of refugees using their children to beg for alms along streets.
He said on Friday that while the constitution allows refugees to enter the country, they "must be made aware that the same constitution talks about the rights of the child".
Mr Tuyee said it was wrong for the refugees to let their children, some as young as three years old, stand on their feet from morning to evening begging while their parents sat comfortably at a corner elsewhere to collect the monies.
He said the children must be properly cared for and be allowed to go to school and if their parents cannot afford that, "then it is the responsibility of the Department of Social welfare to see to their welfare".
Mr Tue suggested that refugee parents who operate at traffic lights and traffic jams exposing their children to danger must be arrested.
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Mills receives Sierra Leonean Chief Justice
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Aug. ’99
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday urged all key players in the Sierra Leonean peace process to be committed to the cause of reconstruction to enable the West African country regain its rightful place in the sub-region.
He also called on the International Community to help in the reconstruction efforts by the government and people.
Vice-President Mills made these points when the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Mr Justice Desmond Luke, called on him at the Castle, Osu, with a special message from President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah to President Jerry John Rawlings.
Prof Mills said the judiciary in that country should play a special role in the reconstruction process.
The time has come for the governments and peoples of the sub-region to work collectively towards peace in order to move ahead economically as Southern African states are doing.
"We should now strengthen our structures and remove trade barriers in order to move our region ahead."
He said it was in the pursuit of these goals that Ghana has played a leading role over the years in the search for a lasting peace in Sierra Leone.
"It is really a matter of dignity for Ghana to assist other sister countries which have the potential but are now in a bit of a trouble," Prof Mills said, adding that he was happy that at long last, there is peace in Sierra Leone.
Chief Justice Luke expressed President Kabbah's appreciation for Ghana's unrelenting support for his country at various forums, including those of ECOWAS and the United Nations.
He said Sierra Leone was pursuing plans to establish a mission in Accra at the High Commission level.
Mr Joseph Ahwa Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the people of Ghana and Sierra Leone do not only have blood relations but share common values.
The two countries, being British colonies, share political, legislative and allied institutions and have had co-operation at various levels in the Commonwealth.
Mr Laryea recalled the various agreements and accords that were reached towards ending the conflict in Sierra Leone and was happy that the Lome Accord, brokered by President Gnassingbe Eyadema, crowned it all.
"But at the end of the day, achieving peace and stability in Sierra Leone depends on the people of Sierra Leone themselves," he said, adding that the peace brokers are just facilitators.
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First private library opens in Kumasi next month
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 Aug ’99
The first private library attached to St. Francis Schools at Bomso to serve the public and basic and senior secondary schools opens in Kumasi next month.
Mr Francis A. Owusu-Ansah, Director of Saint Francis Schools, said in Kumasi on Friday that the library is to encourage students and the public to read to improve their knowledge.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said the library would contain over 15,000 books on various subjects.
The acquisition of the children's and other books was made possible through the efforts of Mr John Osei-Bobie, an electrical engineer in London.
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Minister meets Council of Principals of Polytechnics
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Aug. ’99
Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, on Friday advised educational institutions to take advantage of FM radio and television stations in the regional capitals and other towns to hold regular discussions on their fees and cost structures and how much they receive from the government.
He said such regular discussions, would help educate and sensitize the public, parents as well as students on how their institutions are run.
Mr. Spio-Garbrah gave the advice at a meeting with the Council of Principals of Polytechnics (COPP) in Accra.
"Tell the people of the progress on your campuses; let them know the sort of training programmes and courses you offer at the various faculties".
He said electricity consumption alone in the polytechnics is very high due to high rate of usage for various programmes at the polytechnics, saying "government alone cannot bear the high cost of utility charges in our tertiary institutions".
The Minister said such interactions would bring understanding and build up public sympathy and confidence in these institutions.
"There is a wide gap in understanding ... Bridge the gap through public education and this will make the public aware of the importance of polytechnic and university education in the country".
Mr Spio-Garbrah said "the ministry is not aware of any proposal of fee increases for the polytechnics that would warrant support from the Tertiary Education Bursary Fund (TEBF).
"I am not saying there are no needy students at our polytechnics but help will be given to the very very needy ones only when the ministry is presented with new fee structures and get approval from the educational council and TEBF for implementation".
Dr George M. Afeti, Principal of Ho Polytechnic and Former Chairman of COPP, said the polytechnic students' press conference calling for their inclusion in the disbursement of the TEBF, was premature.
"It is just unfortunate, because the authorities of polytechnics have not yet determined or concluded consultations on fee levels for next academic year.
When this is decided, students as usual, will be involved in the discussions".
Dr Afeti said "whatever increases that we arrived at, if any, will be a compromise between the need to provide credible polytechnic training and the ability of the students to pay".
He explained that "the process to determine fees involves consultations with the students and the approval by the various polytechnic councils and whatever fee structure is agreed upon, is then submitted to the Ministry of Education through the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE) for approval before implementation.
"It is only when this process is concluded that we will know that there is any significant increase over last year's".
Dr Nicholas Aidoo-Taylor, Chairman of COPP and Principal of Takoradi Polytechnic, called on the students to continue to use the normal channels of arriving at decisions affecting polytechnics to avoid misunderstandings between the polytechnics authorities and the government.
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MTTU rakes in big amount from fines
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 Aug ’99
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service on Friday announced it has contributed 88 million cedis to national coffers from fines of drivers charged with various offences from January to August this year.
The fines ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 cedis were charged for offences such as stopping and loading at unauthorised places, reckless driving, jumping red lights and driving under the influence of alcohol.
In an interview, Mr Mustapha Garbah, Commanding Officer of the MTTU, said both private car owners as well as commercial drivers were guilty of such offences.
He said even though forums have been organised for drivers to desist from such offences, the message has not gone down well with most of them.
Mr Garbah said nine drivers have so far been imprisoned for motor offences and warned that the police would continue with the exercise until sanity prevails on the roads.
He said "drivers are to render public service but not to cause inconveniences".
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Destool chiefs in accordance with the law-Odeneho Ababio
Sekondi (Western region) 28 Aug ’99
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, President of the Western Region House of Chiefs, has called on kingmakers to ensure that chiefs are destooled in accordance with Chieftaincy Act 370 of 1971.
He said the days when chiefs were destooled by removing their sandals and slaughtering sheep were over, adding that in a democratic regime, no individuals can take the law into their own hands.
Odeneho Ababio was speaking after amicably settling a dispute between Odeneho
Bretuo IV, Omanhene of Aowin Traditional Area and a faction led by the Gyasehene, Nana Ekoma Annor II, at Sekondi on Thursday.
Nana Annor was alleged to have organised a mob to attack Odeneho Bretuo in his palace on April 29, this year but the Omanhene's supporters stopped them.
On the same day, the Gyasehene and his supporters returned to the palace to slaughter a sheep to declare him destooled and the kingmakers, sensing danger whisked the Omanhene to safety in Takoradi.
Odeneho Bretuo, not satisfied with the manner of his destoolment, petitioned the judicial committee of the Western Region House of Chiefs for redress.
Before the Judicial Committee could sit on the case, Odeneho Ababio applied to withdraw the case to have the matter settled out of the House.
In his defence, Nana Annor claimed that his action was based on the fact that Odeneho Bretuo was "too old and partially blind" to be able to perform his duties effectively as Omanhene.
Odeneho Bretuo's destoolment was thereupon nullified and an order was given for the reopening of the palace.
Mr Kweku Akye Ackah, Member of Parliament for the area and Dr. S.B. Arthur, former Deputy Speaker were asked to get the Police to reopen the palace.
Libation was poured to signify the settlement of the dispute and the Kingmakers were asked to assist the Omanhene to seek treatment for the eyes.
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