GRi Newsreel 15-02-99

Kumasi (Ashanti), 15 Feb. '99

 The executive committee of the Asokwa-East constituency of the NDC has drawn up a campaign programme to win

more members. Alhaji Ahmed Musah, Member of Parliament for the area, said under the programme, "more

aggressive but diplomatic strategies" would be employed to canvass for more supporters in the 141 branches and

14 Wards of the constituency.

The MP announced this at a forum held by the Asokwa- East Constituency executives in Kumasi saturday to map

out effective and practical ways of implementing their programmes. He stressed that the mission of the early

campaign programme is to guarantee the NDC's leadership role in the constituency while ensuring a firm grip on

the constituency in next year's elections.

Alhaji Musah said that though the strength of the NDC in the constituency is very solid and unshakeable, "it is still

imperative for members to work harder than before to maintain their lead in all elections.

Alhaji Bawa Tanko, the Asokwa- East NDC Constituency Chairman, advised people who join the NDC not to

perceive it as an avenue to secure jobs or make money but should rather contribute to its development.

"The party depends on the sacrifices and contributions of its members to carry out its activities", he stressed.

The Constituency Chairman however advised the unemployed youth in the party to take advantage of the

numerous support packages the Government has offered to become self-employed.

Hohoe (Volta Region), 15 Feb '99

The Hohoe district branch of the Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs), has called on the National

Democratic Congress (NDC ) to critically watch cadres supporting the Reform Movement (RM) in their

attempt to form a political party.

At a meeting chaired by Mr William Chidiak, the local chairman of the June Four Movement, at the weekend, the

members said '' a close look at these supporters revealed that most of them are guys from the opposition trying to

penetrate and sow seeds of discord among the rank and file of the party''.

The members condemned the RM for bringing cadres into disrepute and appealed to the NDC to exercise maturity

and political tolerance so as not to waste precious time on the reformists, who have now declared their position.

However, the PVOs said if there were genuine problems confronting the NDC, then they should be addressed as

early as possible. They reminded all cadres that problems of the party can only be solved within the party and not

outside it. "The negligence to protect of the revolution is a crime for which history will never pardon the

revolutionists'', they added.

Kumasi (Ashanti), 15 Feb '99

 Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, at the week-end called on members of the Kumasi

Sub-Metropolitan Councils to open a new chapter in the administration of the metropolis.

She said they should prove to the residents and the country as a whole that Kumasi has got men of integrity, who

can measure up to expectation by striving to keep the metropolis clean at all times.

Mrs Appiah-Dwomoh was speaking at the inauguration of the Bantama, Subin, Manhyia and Asokwa Sub-

Metropolitan Councils in Kumasi on Saturday.

The Deputy Regional Minister said everybody has been yearning for the inauguration of the councils and,

therefore, charged the members to prove their worth in view of the high expectations of residents to see changes

in the metropolis.

Mrs Appiah-Dwomoh asked assembly members, who were in the administration of the past Sub- Metropolitan

Councils to search their hearts and find out whether they performed up to expectation and, if they did not, then

they must mend their ways and perform better.

Nana Akwasi Agyemang, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, noted that Kumasi is a fast growing city with its

attendant pressures on available infrastructure. It is, therefore, envisaged that the Sub-Metropolitan Councils

would enhance and improve upon the operations of the assembly.

Kumasi (Ashanti), 15 Feb '99

 The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) will start detailing firemen to patrol the Anloga Timber Market regularly as

a measure to help curb the frequent fire outbreaks there.

The firemen will, therefore, report anybody who will be found setting fire to the Police, Mr Albert Brown Gaisie,

Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, announced at Anloga at the week-end.

Addressing small-scale carpenters during a follow up to the scene of last week's fire outbreak which destroyed

about 15 carpenters' workshops, Mr Gaisie said it will also establish a fire volunteer squad within the community to

help fight fire outbreaks.

He asked them to be vigilant and watch out always for people who will set fire and arrest them, pointing out that,

one of the major problems facing the service and, in fact the whole country, is the refusal of people to identify

culprits or neighbours who cause fire outbreaks.

Mr Gaisie reminded them that, whenever there is a fire outbreak and the destruction of property, it is not only the

government which suffers but most of all, it is the victims.

He ordered all charcoal burners to move out of the place where they have been operating since they constitute the

major source of fire outbreaks there.

The carpenters complained that they are not able to insure their workshops because the insurance companies have

refused to insure them on the grounds that it is a fire prone area. Anloga is a migrant settlement in Kumasi where

most of the people are carpenters.

Offinso (Ashanti), 15 Feb. '99

Techno-Serve, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has embarked on "Maize Inventory Project" in the Offinso

District aimed at assisting maize farmers in the Nsenoaman farming area in marketing and storage of their crop to

avert post-harvest losses.

Mr M. K. Addai, Nsenoaman Area Council chairman, who disclosed this at an anti-bush fire education rally at

Nsenoafie in the Offinso District, said the project will also motivate the farmers to increase food production to earn

more income to improve their living standards.

The rally, jointly organised by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), National Disaster Management Organisation

(NADMO) and the Offinso District Assembly, is one in a series of programmes drawn-up to educate the public on

disaster prevention and mitigation.

Other educational programmes drawn up by NADMO include lectures, seminars, workshops, film shows, clean-up

exercises and tree-planting.

Miss Debora Konadu-Boateng of Offinso District NADMO Secretariat, cautioned the farmers against farming along

river banks, pollution of rivers and forest depletion.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 Feb '99

 The second annual mass wedding for traditionally married couples have been held at the International Central

Gospel Church (ICGC) with a call on couples to make use of communications as a tool for a successful marriage.

Dr Elijah Maswanganyi, a Reverend Minister from South Africa, made the call when he gave a sermon for

the 53 couples whose marriages were blessed on Sunday.

The occasion brought together a large crowd of relatives and well-wishers, who filled the church to

capacity with some standing outside amidst African choral songs and classical music.

Most of the couples aged between 27 and 50 were dressed in traditional attire.

Dr Maswanganyi noted that the world is now experiencing a lot of crisis in politics, communications and

socio-economics, saying: ''these do not affect only nations, churches and education, but also affects marriage, an

institution established by God to be enjoyed.

''Marriage has now, however, become a source of conflict, pain, and a curse globally, which brings about

either a divorce or separation.''

Dr Maswanganyi said the young generation do not even appreciate the marriage institution because it has

not worked between their parents.

He stated that ''as we make an effort to bridge this gap in marriages, we must not forget that it must also be

built on good foundation which requires that people should first be mature physically, mentally and spiritually''.

Cape Coast (Central Region), 15 Feb '99

 The government has been called upon to improve upon the infrastructure facilities in senior secondary schools

to enable them to absorb more qualified applicants instead of establishing new ones.

Professor D. A. Akyeampong, Head of the Mathematics Department of the University of Ghana, who made

the call, pointed out that, if the country's 450 or more senior secondary schools were properly equipped, the

pressure on heads of institutions, "forcing some to vanish from their campuses" would not be necessary.

Addressing the 162nd speech and prize-giving day of the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast at the

weekend, Prof. Akyeampong noted that, while parents and guardians look for admissions for their wards in the

older and better-endowed schools, the "newer ones cry for students".

He asked: "If it is for lack of money that we find it difficult to provide enough trained teachers and properly

equipped workshops for several of the existing SSS, causing parents and guardians to shun some of them, then

why where are we going to get the money to establish ten more SSS this financial year as was recently announced

by the Minister of Finance?".

Prof Akyeampong said it was his view that, instead of creating new SSS, whatever facilities so far provided

in existing schools must be consolidated and improved to enable them to absorb as many, if not all, the qualified

applicants.

He announced that the university has decided that because of the value of broad-based general education,

programmes in Law would be available only to first degree holders with effect from the year 2000.

He said the revised SSS programme would be examined for the first time this academic year .

The programme he said has addressed some of the concerns of the universities about the need to introduce

some basic science and other academic courses into the applied programmes of agriculture, business, technical

and vocational options, to enable those students following such programme to further their education.

He said "offering any three or four of Economics, Mathematics, French, Geography and Literature in English

is a better preparation we believe, for a degree in Administration than offering a cocktail of business courses such

as Business, Mathematics, Accounting and Business Management, which clearly encourages early specialisation".

Prof Akyeampong pointed out that, in a rapidly changing knowledge-based economy, such education might

work against the interest of the students at a future date. The headmistress of the school, Mrs Nancy Thompson,

said it was rather painful for her to have to drop some of the qualified applicants due to lack of space and

mentioned lack of Science teachers as the main problem of the school.

Bawku (Upper East) 15 Feb, '99

Hajia Fati Seidu, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister says the government has no intention to change the

name of the Bawku East District.

Such a change of name cannot be done without consultations with Members of Parliament (MP) from the

area and the district assembly, who are the people's own chosen representatives, she said.

Hajia Fati was addressing an emergency meeting of elders and opinion leaders of various ethnic groups in the

district at Bawku at the weekend.

The meeting was prompted by a publication in the "Daily Graphic" of Friday, January 29, in which the

Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Mr Cletus Avoka, was purported to have made certain

utterances regarding the change of names of the Bawku East and Bawku West districts, during a meeting of the

Northern regional branch of the Kusasi Youth Association in Tamale.

Mr Avoka, who is also the MP of the Bawku West constituency was reported to have advised the Bawku East

district assembly to petition the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to have the name Bawku

East changed to Agolle.

He was alleged to have said that the government has already consented to a similar request by the Bawku West

district, whose name is to be changed to Kusa-Toende district.

The Minister's statement is believed to have caused considerable consternation among the other local

ethnic groups, who viewed it as an attempt to perpetrate Kusasi domination in the area, hence the convening of

the meeting to dispel such anxieties.

Hajia Fati, who is also MP for Bawku Central told the opinion leaders that under the government's decentralisation

policy, the Bawku West and Bawku East districts are now separate political entities.

Therefore, decisions taken by either one of the assemblies have no bearing whatsoever on the other.

She reiterated the government's commitment to involve the people at the grassroots in decision-making

and said discussions on an important issue such as changing the name of the district would not have been held

elsewhere without the knowledge of the district assembly or the MPs.

"As your chosen representative in Parliament, I am here to serve your best interest and assure you that the

government has no such intentions", she added.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 Feb.'99

 The Nkwatia Youth Association (NYA), a development-oriented organisation of non-resident citizens of Nkwatia

in the Kwahu South district in the Eastern region, yesterday launched a scholarship scheme to assist orphans in the

area.

Mr Opoku Preko, district chief executive, said since orphans are often left alone to fend for themselves, they

may not even have the chance to enjoy basic education.

''There is, therefore, the possibility that they will grow up to be vagabonds and 'second-rate' citizens in their

own communities.''

Mr Preko said it is for this reason that the initiative taken by the NYA is commendable and hoped the effort would

not be a nine days' wonder.

He hoped the beneficiaries would show their appreciation towards the gesture by taking their studies seriously.

The district chief executive charged similar associations within the district to take a cue from the NYA and

complement the efforts of the assembly in providing communities with some of their basic necessities.

Mr Preko urged well-to-do citizens of Kwahu to assist the disadvantaged youth, adding that the assembly is in the

process of instituting a similar scheme to assist brainy but needy students.

The scheme will take off as soon as modalities for its implementation have been worked out, he said.

Mr Alex Osei, chairman of the NYA, said initially the association will focus its attention on orphans at

Nkwatia and later extend the offer to other orphans on the entire Kwahu Ridge.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 Feb. '99

The Redeemed Church of the Lord International (RCLI) says it has broken away from its mother church, the Church of the Lord Aladura International based in Nigeria.

The Most Reverend Apostle Emmanuel de-Graft Adjei, President of the RCLI, announced this at a press briefing at Nima, yesterday.

He said the move had become necessary because the mother church has no intention of helping to develop the church in Ghana'' since it was founded some 46 years ago.

The Most Rev Apostle Adjei said the RCLI aims, among other things, at promoting the speedy propagation of the gospel throughout the country and beyond.

It is also to supplement the efforts of government in the areas of education, health and social activities.

He called on members of the church to avoid divisive tendencies and indiscipline which are creeping into the church to ensure its steady growth.

The Most Rev. Apostle Adjei was appointed Provincial Head of the Church of the Lord Aladura, at Ogere, Nigeria, by the late Primate G.O.S Ositule the Second and inducted into office in Kumasi on March 23, 1998.

Tema (Greater Accra), 15 Feb. '99 -

The United nations (UN) has appointed Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Assistant Commissioner of police for the Tema region, as a civilian police officer of the UN Secretariat at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York.

Mr Alhassan was selected out of a group of national police/military nominees from UN member-countries world-wide on merit.

A statement issued in Accra on Friday by the Tema Regional Police Public Relations Unit said Mr Alhassan has served on UN missions in Namibia and Bosnia.

He holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Ghana and a Masters' degree from the University of Wales.

He has also attended many professional courses and workshops including management courses at the Ghana Institute of Management and Professional Administration (GIMPA).

Mr Alhassan is expected to assume duty in New York City on Tuesday, February 16.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 Feb. '99

The Ghana Journalists Association has warned impostors parading as journalists to desist from the practice since they would not be spared when caught.

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, president of the GJA, said this at the swearing-in of new executives of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the association in Accra last night.

She said while the practice is criminal such impostors normally harass organisers of functions for ''allowances'' for their services, pointing out however that the practice is gaining grounds with the collusion of some journalists.

Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie called on members of the association to refrain from colluding with impostors to tarnish the image of journalists, stressing that "this is a noble profession that must be held in high esteem".

The executive has Mr Ransford Tetteh as Chairman, Mr Gyamfi Boaten, deputy chairman, Mr Gayheart Edem Mensah, Secretary, Mr Gideon Sackitey, Assistant Secretary and Ms Patience Azaglo, Treasurer.

The GJA president urged the new executive to do away with internal wrangling, have confidence in the national executive and to reactivate the regional branch.

Mr Ransford Tetteh, pledged that the executives will work conscientiously to push the association forward and called for support from the members.

He stressed the need for co-operation with the various chapters to ensure the success of the regional branch.

Mr Frank Agyekum, out-going Chairman, called on journalists to have the association at heart and asked the executives to work closely with the national executives.

Mr Ben Eghan, Chief Director, Ministry of Communications, said the ministry sees the GJA as a partner in the shaping and development of the new communication atmosphere in the country and pledged his support for the success of the association's activities.

Nii Adjei Boye Sekan, MP for Ledzokuku and Parliamentary Select Committee Chairman on Communication, called for improved working conditions for journalists.

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 15 Feb. '99

 The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Donald Adabre, has called on radio stations to use their programmes to promote and strengthen the existing peace and stability for national growth and development.

He also called on them to be truthful and to make an effort to make an impact in the socio-economic life of the people. Mr Adabre was speaking when members of the National Communications Authority (NCA) met with the management of FM radio

stations in Sunyani.

He stressed the need for them to highlight important government policies and programmes such as the Value Added Tax (VAT), girl-child education, agriculture, environment and sanitation among other issues.

Mr Adabre, commended the radio stations for informing, educating and entertaining the public.

Major J.R.K. Tandoh (RTD), Director of Frequency Management Board, cautioned radio stations against programmes that are likely to stir up tribal, political, and religious sentiments which will undermine the peace and tranquillity prevailing in the country.

He urged them to recruit qualified staff to forestall ''unprofessionalism in the system''.

 Investigate contract awards - NPP Youth

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 Feb '99 -

 The Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to investigate the role of the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) in awarding contracts for printing value books.

"We are demanding a comprehensive probe into the procurement procedures adopted by the CAGD and the award of contracts to Checkpoint Limited", adding " the cost of printing VAT invoices had to be subsidised at the incredible cost of 15,000 cedis per booklet, which will ultimately be borne by the already impoverished taxpayer".

These were contained in a press statement signed by Mr Abeeku Dickson, acting National Youth Organiser of NPP.

The statement demanded an explanation as to why other printing houses were not invited to bid for the printing contract, which was awarded by CAGD.

" It is indeed hypocritical that at this time that the NDC government is preaching accountability and entreating Ghanaians to embrace VAT towards generating more revenue, the same government is awarding contracts by using the questionable procurement procedures of 'sole sourcing' and 'selective tendering', which have led to the loss of billions to the state".

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 15 Feb'99

 The General Secretary of the Timber and Woodworkers Union (TWU), Mr George Mannah has appealed to the government to re-open the Kato Sawmill at Berekum and appoint a commission of enquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting of an employee by a Policeman last year.

He made the appeal at the closing session of a two-week workshop organised for 20 chain-saw operators and charcoal burners of TWU at Sunyani over the weekend.

Since the law is no respecter of anyone, there is the need to identify and bring to book the Police officer, who killed the victim during a peaceful demonstration.

Mr Mannah, cautioned members of TWU to refrain from illegal strike actions but to resort to dialogue in seeking redress for their griveances.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Isaac Osei said since the forest contributes to the economic and socio-cultural well-being of the people, individuals, groups and organisations have the responsibility to protect it from degradation.

He explained that the country at the turn of the century had about eight million hectares of closed forest but this has been reduced to only two million hectares and called for the protection of forests as the bona fide property bequeathed to the nation.

Accra (Greater Accra), 15 Feb '99

 The Abuoso market near Begoro in the Fanteakwa district was razed by fire on Thursday.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Accra on Friday, Mr Samuel K. Danso, Fanteakwa District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said it took the Ghana National Fire Service and locally trained fire volunteers three hours to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire is not yet known but cost of damaged property, including market stalls and stores, runs in millions of cedis.

Mr Danso said Madam Akua Amiyo, a 22-year-old pregnant woman and her eight-year-old sister, Esi Kwaoyo, who first detected the fire, had burns and are currently on admission at the Koforidua General Hospital.

On behalf of the NADMO, Mr Danso appealed to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals to offer financial and material assistance to the Fanteakwa district assembly, which has plans to rebuild the market.

Effiduase (Ashanti), 15 Feb '99 -

The Effiduase-Asokore Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has passed a vote of no confidence in the constituency chairman, Alhaji Adamu Issa.

The move, according to a statement issued and signed by the constituency vice-chairman, Mr Solomon Adjei Mensah, and three other executive members, "is the only option left to salvage the image of the party in the area".

The other signatories to the statement are Mr Yaw Amofa, constituency youth organiser, Madam Serwaa Brogya, women's organiser and Mr Afram Boateng, propaganda secretary.

The statement accused Alhaji Issa of creating divisions within the party, saying, "anyone who does not approve of his agenda to remove the District Chief Executive" is branded an enemy.

It catalogued instances where Alhaji Issa issued threats to some of the elected executive members in the area and warned the vice-chairman, for example, not to step into the constituency party office.

"We cannot allow the chairman to continue to stay in office to ruin the party, bearing in mind the enormous task ahead of the party in the 2000 elections", it added.

Meanwhile, the two constituencies of the NDC in the Sekyere East District, have jointly denied having sent any petition to the National Headquarters of the party against the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Kwame De-Graft Agyei.

A press statement issued and signed by eight executive members of the party in the Kumawu and Effiduase-Asokore Constituencies said it is not true that the DCE had made any derogatory remarks against the NDC as contained in the Ghanaian Chronicle's publication of February 10, 1999.

They maintained that Mr Agyei deserves commendation for working so hard to restore the image of the party, which had sunk very low due to the activities of Alhaji Issa, the Effiduase- Asokore Constituency chairman.

Akosombo (Eastern Region), 15 Feb '99

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has secured an 18 million dollar loan to resume maintenance work on the Akosombo Power Generating Plant.

The work, expected to begin in October this year, will put the turbines in proper shape, make them more efficient, and increase their life span for another 30 years.

Mr Emmanuel Nsiah, acting Head of Electrical Management Unit of VRA, said this on Friday when the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, paid a working visit to the Station.

The work to be carried out include replacement of the turbines' runners and the installation of a major generator.

Since the construction of the plant over 30 years ago, attempts at rehabilitating the turbines have not proved very successful due to some difficulties.

Mr Nsiah said contract for the work has already been awarded adding that studies on the viability and potentials of some Ghanaian water bodies for hydro power generation have been concluded.

Mr Nsiah said the studies ranked the Bui Project which could provide 400 mega watts of power being the first among five others.

Mr Ruiz who was conducted round facilities at the dam, Comander K.T. Bedu-Addo (rtd), Technical Director, later went on a cruise aboard a Volta Lake Transport Company vessel for a cruise on the Volta river.

Meanwhile Mr Emmanuel Nsiah Acting of the Electrical Management Unit, has warned that the volume of water in the Dam has started to drop again.

The level of the water which was at 249 metres at the beginning of the year, has gone down to 246 metres by last Friday, February, 13.

Mr Nsiah attributed the situation to the lack of inflows into the dam but said this will not have a negative impact on the ability of the plant to produce power or affect the energy situation in the country.

Mr Nsiah said the present level of 246 metres is " four and half metres higher than what pertained in 1998 which necessitated the rationing of power nation-wide."

He said the production of power by the Aboadze Thermal Plant and another 30 megawatts of power by two independent power producing companies in Tema would support has helped to reduce the pressure on the dam.

He said currently only two units of the plant are being run by the Volta River Authority (VRA) adding that there are plans to add an additional unit by the end of this month.

On a question posed by Mr Ruiz on the effect of three dams constructed by Burkina Faso on the volume of water in the Volta Lake, Mr Nsiah said "the percentage of water taken by the Burkinabe dams does not have significant impact on the water in the Akosombo Dam".

He said Ghana can no more rely solely on hydro power and adding "this is why we are developing the thermal plant."

In 1998, Ghana experienced energy crisis, which slowed down socio-economic activities in the country as a result of unfavourable rainfall pattern leading to less water flowing into the Dam. The country resorted to power rationing for more than nine months.

Ahwiaa (Ashanti), 15 Feb '99

Nana Kusi Yeboah Ahwiaahene, has told land developers who have encroached on the site earmarked for the Ahwiaa Tourist Centre to stop encroaching on it

Nana Asiamah Yeboah, who was speaking to newsmen at Ahwiaa in the Kwabre District, asked land developers who have acquired building plots on Ahwiaa Stool lands to ensure proper legal documentation.

The affected stool lands are Akoasua, Ankani, Aboabo and Agyemasu.

He said, it is the aim of the people in the area to ensure the rapid development of the Ahwiaa Tourist Centre not only to offer employment avenues for the youth, but also to become one of the major tourist centres in the country.

"The Yaa Asantewaa festival initiated by the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council and scheduled for year 2000 poses a great challenge to Ahwiaa citizens" to develop and improve on the wood carving industry to serve as a major tourist centre, Nana Asiama Yeboah said.

The Chief and people of Ahwiaa, he said, will effectively co-operate with the Kwabre District Assembly and all stakeholders to ensure the successful development of the Ahwiaa Tourist Centre.

The Ahwiaahene, however, expressed concern about improper siting of buildings and other structures in the town and called on the Town and Country Planning Department to ensure strict compliance with rules and regulations on the siting of buildings in the area.

Kumasi (Ashanti), 15 Feb '99

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) will soon launch a 2.5 billion-cedi endowment fund to sustain the music industry and help improve the status of musicians in the country.

This was announced by Mr Joe Mensah, Out- going President of MUSIGA at a one-day quadrennial congress of MUSIGA under the theme "Reconciliation towards a vibrant and stable music industry in the year 2000 and beyond" in Kumasi on Friday.

Mr Mensah said the fund when accepted and approved by theCongress would be used for the provision of some facilities at their newly acquired Secretariat at the old passport office building in Accra.

Among the facilities are a Musicians Union store to sell the works of members, a hall of fame for great Ghanaian musicians of the past, a club house, establishment of a radio station by the Union to promote Ghanaian music, and a teaching centre for musicians to organise workshops to expose their members to modern trends in the music industry.

The Out-going President said the Oversight Committee has imported six million banderoles from Great Britain and when they are sold would save about 512 million cedis for musicians to help them improve their standard of living.

"Ghanaian music must be projected to the world. We cannot achieve this without reconciliation and unity", he added.

Nana Kwame Ampadu, General Secretary of MUSIGA, appealed to members for time, to enable him to produce a comprehensive report on their stewardship since 1992 when they were elected into office.

He explained that they had to organise the congress to beat the deadline set by an Accra High Court to report to it by next Tuesday.

Axim (Western Region), 15 Feb '99

Two fishermen, Kwesi Annan, 26 and Kow Mensah, 27, died instantly at sea when lightning struck their canoe, "Cold Store", while on a fishing expedition with six others last Friday. The "Cold Store" crew uses drift-gill nets to fish for sharks and tuna.

According to a spokesman for the owner of the canoe , Opanyin Nana Bassaw, he informed the police as soon as he heard of the 'sad news.'

Annan has been going to sea since the age of seven and Mensah took to fishing when he was l5 years old.

The bodies of the two, which were sent to the Axim Government Hospital, has since been buried at Shama, their hometown, in the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Area.

The Axim-based district fisheries development officer, Mr Edmund Vanderpuye, described the incident is 'very strange' and the first of its kind in the history of fishing in the Nzema area.

Touching on drowning at sea, Mr Vanderpuye disclosed that between 1996 and 1998, the district offices of the department at Axim, recorded three cases.

He gave the break-down as two cases in 1996, none in 1997 and the latest in 1998 of one Papa Kwesi Ackon, 47, also from Shama, who took to fishing in his youthful years.