Five drinking water producers ordered to close down

Ghanaians waste 160 megawatts of power annually - VRA official

NDC is not behind Kejetia stores

All NPP branches told to set up campaign teams

Asantehene commends Kojo Yankah

Christian Council donates relief items to flood victims

Government will bring economy back on track - Hammah

Anti-bush fire campaigns not achieving results - Osei-Wusu

Two killed in tractor/STC bus accident

Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs holds end-of-year meeting

Okyenhene fetes 2,500 pupils

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 21 Dec '99

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Factory Inspectorate Division, on Monday ordered the closure of five companies producing processed drinking water in the Kumasi metropolis.

The companies, which have not registered with the Division, also operate under unhygienic conditions and lack safety measures such as protective clothing and fire prevention equipment.

They are Shalom Mineral Water and One Heart Treated Water at Tafo-Nhyiaeso, Valentine Purified Water at Asokwa and Divine Radiant Pure Water and Adams Treated Water both at Amakom.

Mr Samuel Owusu-Mensah, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regional Inspector of Factories gave the order after an inspection of the factories by a Task Force, set up by the Ashanti Regional branch of the Association of Processed Drinking Water Producers to rid the metropolis of members, who operate under unhygienic conditions.

Mr Owusu-Mensah said members of the association are expected to register with the Division to enable it to inspect their premises.

When the Division is satisfied with the condition of their premises, they would be allowed to operate.

Under the Factories Act, it is illegal for producers of bagged water to operate without registration, he said adding that the exercise would continue.

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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 21 Dec. '99

Every year, Ghanaians waste about 160 megawatts of electricity, the equivalent of power generated annually by the Kpong Hydroelectric Dam.

Mrs Ellen Essifie, Acting Director of Organisational Services of the Volta River Authority (VRA), made this known at Koforidua on Monday when she presented a cheque for two million cedis to the Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana National Trust Fund (GNTF).

She, therefore, urged consumers to conserve energy to enable the VRA to raise more money to invest in power generation to meet the 10 per cent annual increase in electricity demand.

Mrs Essifie said the conservation of power would also enable the VRA to donate more funds towards the provision of social services.

She called on the GNTF to intensify public education on its activities to attract more donations from individuals and institutions.

Ms Patience Adow, Eastern Regional Minister, who received the cheque on behalf of the Trust, thanked the VRA for donating annually to the fund.

She called on contractors undertaking projects in the region and other business concerns to use part of their earnings to support the provision of social amenities in the communities.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 21 Dec. '99

The Ashanti Regional Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed shock and disgust at rumours that the party is behind the construction of stores at the Kejetia lorry terminal.

A statement in Kumasi signed by the Regional Chairman, Mr Philip Edward Kwabena Antwi, said NDC has nothing to do with the stores.

It described the rumour as false and reprehensible, adding that "we do not want to believe that this is yet another orchestrated plot to incite public anger and hatred towards our party, its membership and supporters in Kumasi".

The statement called on the people of the metropolis to ignore what it described as "the mischief-inspired rumour".

In another statement, Mr Antwi denied allegations in certain opposition circles that, he masterminded the transfer of Mr Kojo Yankah, former Ashanti Regional Minister.

He said "dirty politics" have never been attractive to him adding that for sometime now he has been out of public view after undergoing medical treatment abroad.

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Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 21 Dec. '99

The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour, has called on the various branches of the party to reactivate their organisational structures and set up campaign teams to enable the party win the next elections.

At the moment not a single branch out of the 21 constituency branches in the region is working effectively, he pointed out, and warned of a humiliating defeat in next year's elections if they fail to reorganise for the task ahead.

Mr. Yeboah-Forduor was speaking at the delegates' conference of the Techiman branch of the party at Techiman at the weekend to launch a special coupon printed by the party to raise funds for its activities.

He called on the executives of the various branches to take the recruitment and training of polling agents for the next elections seriously to forestall electoral fraud and rigging to enhance the chances of the party winning the elections.

A former constituency chairman of the party and a patron, Mr Donkor Boateng, urged members who would be recruited as polling agents to be fearless and dedicated in the discharge of their duties during the elections.

Dr Opoku Agyeman, Chairman of the Constituency's Council of Patrons said the party derives its strength from its democratic nature.

This, he noted, has allowed the party to maintain its unity and prevented the creation of any personality cult in spite of the existence of divergent views.

Mr Andrews Kwasi Oppong of the Council of Elders said the party could not win the last elections mainly as a result of lack of funds.

He, therefore, urged members to send the coupons to every corner of the district for maximum patronage.

A 17-member interim management committee was constituted with Mr Kwabena Adom as its chairman to help re-organise and re-energise the party for the next elections.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 21 Dec. '99

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has commended the former Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah, "for serving the region with all his heart and with respect".

He said Mr. Yankah was impressive during the year that he served in the region.

The Asantehene was speaking at a send-off party for Mr Yankah in Kumasi. "I took him as my brother, my son, my grandchild. Whatever he did, he did not think he is a Fanti, but rather he was prepared to promote the cause of the region".

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said he discussed a lot with the former Minister on matters concerning education, tourism and employment generation.

"One year is long but not too long. The government brought him and the government has recalled him. We are impressed with what he did for the region".

The Asantehene said Mr Yankah started a lot of programmes and asked him to put his knowledge, wisdom and professional competence at the disposal of Asanteman.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu in appreciation presented him with a kente cloth and sandals while his wife was given a kente cloth.

Mr Yankah thanked him and Asanteman for the honour and said he was overwhelmed by the because he did not work for glory but rather felt that he had to do his work with his heart wherever he was.

"I am gone but not gone. Whatever I can do to help develop the nation, I will do," Mr. Yankah said.

He expressed his readiness to assist in the development of Asanteman and the nation and said anytime Otumfuo "calls me I will come".

Mr. Yankah described the tourism potential of the region, as second to none, but must be developed, he added.

He said Ghana is moving ahead and the people should not engage in bickering but must exhibit love in the new millennium.

The former Minister stressed the need for peace and said, "I am not in government but whatever I can do to help, nobody can stop me".

He commended the Asantehene and his chiefs for receiving and sending him off with love.

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Tamale (Northern Region) 21 Dec. '99

The Christian Council of Ghana on Monday donated 70.7 million cedis worth of relief items to about 5,067 families in seven districts of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions affected by the recent floods.

The items, which included safety matches, kerosene, blankets, plates and buckets, will benefit 4,344 families in West Gonja, West Mamprusi, Saboba-Chereponi, Tolon Kumbungu and Bole Districts of the Northern Region, 362 others in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region and 361 in Wa District of the Upper West Region.

The Right Reverend Joseph Tekyi-Ansah, Bishop of the Tamale Diocese of the Methodist Church and Chairman of the Northern Sector of the Christian Council, handed over the items to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

He said the donation was part of the continuous efforts by the Christian community to assure the victims that they cared for them.

The council has already donated three million cedis to the Inter-NGO Consortium in the North and participated in an exercise by NADMO to airdrop relief items to the Zabzugu-Tatale District, which was cut off from the Northern Region during the flood.

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Winneba (Central Region) 21 Dec. '99

A Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr Mike Allen Hammah, said on Monday that despite the fall in gold and cocoa prices on the world market, the government will do everything possible to bring the economy back on track.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to exercise restraint in the face of current hardships and assist the government to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr Hammah, who is also the MP for Effutu, was speaking at a ceremony at which he presented 40 pieces of the Holy Koran and five bags each of rice and sugar to the Winneba Muslim community to support their Ramadan festival.

He said the current economic upheaval confronting the nation was a temporary one and that the government was determined to arrest the situation.

Mr Nii Ephraim, NDC constituency Chairman for Effutu, appealed to Muslims to use the month-long fasting period to pray for national reconciliation and unity.

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Wa (western Region) 21 Dec. '99

Mr David Osei-Wusu, Upper West Regional Minister, on Monday said the annual anti-bushfire campaigns were not achieving results because most of the target communities are not prepared to abandon the practice through persuasion or education.

He has, therefore, called on the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), district assemblies and related agencies to apply the laws to ensure that the practice is eradicated from the society.

Addressing the fourth ordinary meeting of the Wa District Assembly at Wa, he said, "launching of these campaigns are becoming cosmetic and we have to look for alternative methods that people will adopt for farming and shea nut picking without burning the bush".

"What are the numerous fire volunteers doing in the communities," he queried, adding that "from next year, I will not attend any anti-bush fire launching ceremony and I will ensure that no money is spent on such a purpose in the region".

He said, operation cow-leg, currently going on the northern border regions, was not aimed at driving aliens away, explaining that the herdsmen were undesirable aliens, who were involved in activities no Ghanaian living in their countries of origin would ever dream of engaging in.

Alhaji Ali Seidu Pelpuo, Wa District Chief Executive, said 1,700 herds of cattle belonging to four alien herdsmen have been expelled with their owners from the district since the second phase of the "Operation cow-leg" started two weeks ago.

In his report to the assembly, he announced that the assembly has so far received 579.4 million cedis, out of its share of 1.14 billion cedis of the common fund, which includes the last quarter allocation of last year.

Four hundred million cedis have been voted under the Village Infrastructure Project for the construction of stores and stalls in the Wa Central Market.

Other projects earmarked, include the construction of two agro-processing facilities at a cost of 70 million cedis, procurement of ten pairs of donkeys and their carts at 13 million cedis for farmers and a credit facility of 60 million cedis for 20 farmers' groups.

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Tamale (Northern Region) 21 Dec. '99

Two people were killed on the spot when a tractor loaded with seed cotton and a State Transport Company (STC) bus were involved in an accident at Damongo junction on the Tamale-Kintampo highway on Friday.

Three others were injured with one of them, the tractor driver, Mr. Emmanuel Dadzie, in critical condition at the Tamale Regional Hospital.

The driver of the STC bus, who was one of the injured, was treated and discharged while the third, Mr. Yaw Effah, a passenger on the bus, is on admission.

The identities of the dead, the tractor driver's mate and a passenger on the bus, are not yet known.

Giving an eye witness account of the accident from his hospital bed, Mr. Effa, a 32-year- old wood carver from Techiman-Aworowa in the Brong Ahafo Region, said the two vehicles collided as the tractor entered the highway from the Damongo road.

The bus bound for Kumasi from Tamale plunged into two unoccupied houses along the road.

Mr Effah said he shared the front seat besides the driver with the other passenger, who died, and that he was trapped in-between the debris of the damaged houses and the bus.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 21 Dec. '99

Six Asante Paramount Chiefs on Monday swore the judicial and secrecy oaths at the end-of-year meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs (ARHC).

The chiefs were Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene and Nana Ofori Agyeman II, Adansihene.

Others were Nana Osei Ahwerewa, Tepahene, Nana Karikari Appau II, Bekwaihene, Barima Offe Akwasi, Kokofuhene and Okoforobuo Kwakye Dopoa III, Asankarehene, all newly installed chiefs.

Mr Justice G. M. Quaye, Supervising High Court Judge of Kumasi, who administered the oaths, called on them to stand above reproach and abide by the oath.

Addressing the meeting, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene welcomed the new chiefs to the House, whose admission was made possible through the resolution of protracted chieftaincy disputes in their areas.

He thanked Nananom for their support and co-operation in solving chieftaincy problems since he was installed seven months ago and said the settling of disputes in other areas, is currently receiving serious attention.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed the hope that by the middle of the year 2000, there would be peace and understanding in all traditional areas within Asanteman as a whole.

The Asantehene took the opportunity to welcome Mr Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, the

Regional Minister, who was attending the ARHC meeting for the first time and urged him to continue the good work of his predecessor, Mr Kojo Yankah.

He said Mr Yankah formulated elaborate plans for the region in the areas of tourism, investment, education and health and got the region hooked on to the Internet.

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Kibi (Eastern Region) 21 Dec. '99

The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, feted more than 2,500 pupils, from nine basic schools in the Kibi district, at a Christmas party in his palace on Sunday.

The children accompanied by their teachers.

The Okyenhene distributed prizes of educational materials including school bags, books, pencils and pens to the best pupils in each class of the selected schools from kindergarten to the primary six.

When the Okyenhene joined that party the children, most of whom have never come so close to him, rushed to shake hands with him.

The school children entertained the Okyenhene and his entourage, who sat at the centre of the party grounds, with cultural dances and poetry recitals.

Osagyefuo Ofori-Panin advised the children to learn hard so that they could become highly qualified professionals to assist in the development of Okyeman and Ghana in general.

The newly installed Apegyahene of Okyenman, Nana Asante Bedietu Ketekyie, said the children's party, which was the first of its kind organised by an Okyenhene, would be held annually.

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