GRi NEWSREEL 11-01-99

Accra, (Greater Accra) 10 Jan. 

Ghana is consulting with other countries in the sub-region to restore sustainable peace and consolidate democracy in troubled Sierra Leone, a senior government official said in Accra over the weekend. As part of the collaborative effort, a special delegation led by Mr James Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has left Accra for Abuja, Nigeria, to hold discussions with the authorities there over recent developments in Sierra Leone. Another delegation led by the deputy Minister of Defence, Lt. Col. E.K. T. Donkor left for Guinea. President Jerry Rawlings, reiterating the need for a negotiated settlement, has appealed to countries supplying sophisticated weapons to the rebels to fight ECOMOG, to desist from it. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and rebel leader Foday Sankoh on Thursday said they had agreed to an immediate seven-day cease-fire. Kabbah promised he would free Sankoh at the end of the period. They said in separate broadcasts that they would return to the 1996 Abidjan Peace accord but Kabbah cautioned that "this time round we must be sincere". There was jubilation in Freetown last night, when the residents heard the cease-fire announcement. They chanted, "we want peace" and "we are tired of war." Rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and their allies, remnants of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) broke through ECOMOG defences last Wednesday, taking the eastern part of the city and State House. ECOMOG controls the western part of the city, Wilberforce Barracks and Lungi airport.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 10 Jan.  

Ms Roshone Cassandra Ault, Miss Africa / United States, today paid a courtesy call on Nana Akuoko Sarpong, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), as part of her two-week tour of the country. An undergraduate student of law at Syracuse University in New York, Ms Ault yesterday called on President Jerry John Rawlings and visited the Dubois Centre, Nkrumah Mausoleum and was part of the celebration of the Sixth Anniversary of the Fourth Republic. Miss Ault, said her visit was sponsored by the International Woode Foundation, which organises the pageant every year to help promote African culture in the Diaspora. The foundation was established in 1993 by Dr. Harold Afiriye in memory of his mother Sarah Woode to foster and motivate young people with skills in science, mathematics and engineering. The foundation also offers scholarships each year to high school and university students. ''The pageant is, therefore, organised every year to promote and boost the work and achievement of the foundation'', she said. The pageant also helps and motivates young African Americans to ''really understand what African culture means''. She said beauty pageants should not only be about beauty, but experiences and academics. Miss Ault encouraged the youth to take part in beauty pageants to portray African womanhood. Nana Akuoko Sarpong, said he was happy the beauty queen chose Ghana because of the high profile and the good relationship Ghana has with the United States. He expressed his appreciation to the foundation, which made the visit possible adding, '' when you go back, you will project the good image of Ghana and Africa as a whole". The beauty queen will also visit the Asantehene's Palace, Akosombo dam and Dodi Island among other places.

Bolgatanga, (Upper East) 10 Jan. 

A nineteen-year-old resident of Kongo Village near Bolgatanga, Anara Ajemkum, alias "Ninja", is helping the Bolgatanga Police in their investigations into the circumstances leading to the death of an employee of the Upper East Regional office of the Statistical Services Department.

Ajemkum and one Ali Ayindeem, now at large, are believed to have caused the death of 55-year-old Tiyo Azuma.

A statement released in Bolgatanga and signed by Police Inspector Thomas Agbanyo, Regional Police Public Relations officer, said on the evening of January one, 1999, Ajemkum was playing a violin in the market at Kongo, with Ayindeem dancing to the music.

While dancing, a youngster name withheld, gave Ayindeem a shove which sent him sprawling on the ground. Ayindeem got up and confronted the boy but Ajemkum the violinist, accused him of trying to beat his brother and a fight ensued between them.

The statement said the deceased, Mr Azuma, tried to disengage the two combatants but Ajemkum kicked him in the groin and he fell to the ground unconscious. When Azuma later regained consciousness he went to a clinic for treatment.

On the morning of January third, a neighbour, who had not seen the deceased since daybreak, went to his compound only to find him dead in bed, the statement added.

A report was made to the Police, who moved in and arrested Ajemkum.

However, Ayindeem managed to run away. The statement said the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Bolgatanga Hospital mortuary for autopsy and the suspect will be put before court on a provisional charge of murder.

Mpataapo (Brong Ahafo), 10 Jan.  

Residents of Mpataapo, near Berekum, in Brong Ahafo have launched a three-year development programme estimated at 120 million cedis.

The programme includes the connection of the town to the national grid and the construction of a three-classroom block for the local junior secondary school.

The assemblyman for the area, Mr Kwadwo Nkansah, told Newsmen at Mpataapo that every household is contributing 20,000 cedis towards the project while individual non-residents are to contribute 50,000 cedis a man and 25,000 cedis a woman.

He said the layout of the area has been prepared and funds needed for the purchase of 50 poles for the project is ready.

Mr Nkansah commended the Berekum District Assembly for providing the community with 42 poles to support the project.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) and the Berekum District Assembly have built a six-classroom block for the local primary school at Mpataapo.

Ajumako, (Central Region) 9 Jan.

 The Ghana Association of French Teachers (GAFT) has appealed to the Ministry of Education to make the study of the French language both a core and an elective subject at the senior secondary school level.

The association also called on the ministry to upgrade the Mount Mary Teachers' Training College at Somanya to a diploma awarding institution and allow it to continue to be a special college for the study of the language.

In a resolution signed by its president, Mr Alfred Agbeh, GAFT urged the French government to continue supporting the teaching and learning of the language in Ghana.

GAFT called for the extension of the duration of in-service training of Mount Mary Teacher Trainees outside Ghana to two months.

The resolution said heads of institutions should not be allowed to use their discretion to allow the teaching and study of French in their schools.

It said "instead of 360 contact hours, French should be given 800 contact hours of 20 periods a week over the three-year period of the course at Mount Mary College in order to satisfy the required standard".

Tanina (Upper West), 10 Jan.  

There has been a drastic reduction in guinea worm cases in the Wa district, with 28 cases recorded last year as against 58 in 1997. This is a drastic reduction from the 2,217 cases recorded in the district at the of the guinea worm eradication programme in 1989.

Launching the final phase of the programme at Tanina yesterday, Mrs Perpetual Seidu, Acting District Director of Health Services, Kpongu, Bulenga, Ducie, Jeyiri, Manwe and Kpala as some of the communities where the guinea worm disease is prevalent.

Mrs Seidu said the monetary incentive for volunteers who report cases of guinea worm had been increased from 2,000 cedis to 5,000 cedis and appealed to the district assembly to assist in the eradication of the disease by providing wells and boreholes.

Alhaji Ali Seidu Pelpuo, Wa district chief executive, asked unit committee members to help in monitoring the health of their communities and report abnormal occurrences to the Ministry of Health.

Ruling party branch to hold night meetings

Accra (Greater Accra), 10 Jan.

The Ledzokuku constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is to institute a special programme dubbed "Night Meetings" as from next Saturday to educate Teshie residents on government policies.

Nii Adjei-Boye Sekan, a Presidential Staffer, announced this after a four-hour clean-up exercise organised by the branch of the party in the Teshie township.

Nii Adjei-Boye, who is also the MP for the area said the programme is to bring the work of government to the doorsteps of the people to make them feel a sense of belonging.

The programme which will involve workers and traders will enable him and the NDC to know the views of the people so they can be incorporated into development planning and help to improve communication between the electorate and the leadership.

sanitation is a a major problem facing the Accra metropolis and said it is for this reason that the party in collaboration with the four assembly members of the town, organised the clean-up.

He said that the exercise will be made a weekly affair and called on the people to keep a clean environment to prevent the outbreak epidemics.

Koforidua (Eastern Region), 11 Jan.

The Eastern Regional branch of the Democratic People's Party (DPP), has sent a solidarity message to the national chairman of the party, Mr Daniel K.G. Markin, for steering the affairs of the party peacefully.

In a release signed by the regional chairman and the Deputy national organiser of the party, Mr Kofi Kwahin, the DPP praised the national chairman for his dedication, commitment and foresight which has transformed the party into a formidable political party.

The release said the party as a broad-based organisation was not a bonafide property of any one person and urged the rank and file of the party to resist any attempt to divide their ranks.,

It warned all destructive and controversial elements in the party to take heed and stop their nefarious activities against the party.

The release expressed gratitude to the electoral commission for legitimising the party's national delegates congress elections last month. A rumpus is currently raging in the leadership of the DPP. Mr T.N. Ward-Brew, former leader of the party, who also claims to be the founder, has instituted an action in Accra court challenging Mr Markin=92s leadehrsip of the party. Mr Ward-Brew who was ousted as party Chiarman at congress last year says that congresshas no legal basis as it was not properly constituted and planned in such a manner as to get rid of him. He has asked the court to prevent Mr Markin and his executive from doing business on behalf of the DPP. A date is yet to be fixed for the hearing.

Accra (Greater Accra), 11 Jan.

The Ghana Real Estates Development Association (GREDA) last night marked its 10th year of existence with an awards dinner night at which more than 25 deserving individuals and organisations were honoured. Prizes, including plaques and certificates, were presented to the winners in categories of Best Estate Developer, Most Promising Estate Developer, Outstanding Service and Founding Fathers of GREDA. Regimanuel Gray Estates Limited, Manet Housing Estates Limited and Tema Development Corporation won gold, silver and bronze plaques respectively in the Best Estate Developer category. For the Most Promising Estate Developer awards, Hydrofoam Estates, Coastal Estate Developers and Medium Dwelling Estates were each presented with a certificate. While the Founding Fathers category was mainly made up of individuals who helped in the growth of the Association. Awards for Outstanding Service mainly went to financial institutions including Merchant Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Home Finance Company and the Town and Country Planning Department. Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Minister of Works and Housing, said experience has shown that compulsory acquisition of land for housing development leads to well planned cities and suburbs and pledged the ministry's support for real estate developers in that regard. He said at the moment GREDA is able to meet 75 percent of the 110,000 annual demands for houses and promised the ministry's readiness to intervene on behalf of estate developers in their quest for financial help, including mortgage finance from the banks. The Minister expressed concern about shoddy work undertaken by some members of the Association, leaving some of their buildings with cracked walls and poor electric installations. Mr Chris Torgbor-Mensah, GREDA President, noted that 'road shows' to countries like the US, South Africa and Europe have helped the Association greatly, and said they will be intensified in the coming years. He mentioned land acquisition as a major problem facing estate developers and called for the promulgation of a National Housing Policy to facilitate the smooth provision of houses.

Banda Ahenkro (Brong Ahafo) , 11 Jan

The Omanhene of the Banda traditional area, Osabarima Okokyeredom Kwadwo Sito the First, has denied press reports of renewed tension in the Banda area following a durbar held in the town in aid of a senior secondary  school (sss) project.

A statement issued at Banda Ahenkro at the weekend and signed by Nana Sito and his elders described the report carried by the 'Daily Graphic' as ''dubious'' and misleading.

While agreeing that there is a chieftaincy dispute between the Banda Ahenkro and Kabrono royal families, the statement said it was not true that anyone had planned any form of violence to disrupt the durbar which raised funds for the only sss in the area.

''The facts of the matter as reported.... even though are undeniable, the fact that tension had been mounting in the area was a wrong piece of information.

''It may interest the public to know that the fund-raising durbar was organised by a specially selected committee made up of members from the Banda Concerned Citizens Association(BACCA) and was attended by all the sub-chiefs as well as Banda citizens from different parts of the country, from outside the country and from the area, including the assemblyman for Kabrono.

'' It sounds strange that these same people of Kabrono who, in the recent past had organised a similar durbar in aid of a rural clinic in that town without opposition ....at a time when no verdict had been given in this same Banda chieftaincy dispute' should advance the same argument and decide to resort to violence to disrupt the fund-raising durbar,=94 the statement said. It against ''calculated efforts'' being made by some people in the Banda area .... which are only meant to ''cause panic among the people and perpetuate conflict and instability in the Banda area for their own whims and caprices''.

''It is rather unfortunate that at a time when the president of the republic, well-meaning Ghanaians and the entire international community are craving for peace and stability in all parts of Africa, some rich personalities from Kabrono should engage themselves in fanning this long-standing chieftaincy conflict instead of helping the

judicial committee of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in making every effort to resolve it.''

It noted that the Banda area has promising economic potentials, adding that recent findings in the Banda Hills point to large reserves of gold deposits next to Obuasi Goldfields.

The inhabitants also produce large quantities of yam and groundnut and engage in cattle rearing while huge clay deposits are found in many parts of the traditional area.

The statement, therefore, reiterated the need to heed appeals made by the member of parliament for Wenchi West, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who is also a deputy minister of Food and Agriculture, and other dignitaries for peace, unity and stability in the area.

The 'Daily Graphic' in its December 29, 1998, edition, reported renewed tension in the Banda area as a result of a decision by Osabarima Sito to ride in a palanquin during a durbar in aid of a school project.

The report said a group of people from Kabrono who visited the offices of the Daily Graphic registered their disgust at the behaviour of the Banda Ahenkro royal family and appealed to the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Committee to stop the fund-raising rally to prevent possible confrontation between the two royal families.

Winneba (Central Region), 11 Jan.

A medical assistant of the Winneba Government Hospital, Mr Philip Bilson, has warned the youth to take the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign seriously and desist from indiscriminate sexual practices.

Mr Bilson, who is also the assembly member for Domiabra Electoral Area, was addressing the community on the dangers of the deadly pandemic which has no known cure.

He warned young men and women who have been going round with the slogan: ''AIDS or no AIDS, the show must go on'' to refrain from polluting the minds of committed and honest youth in the society.

AIDS is real and dangerous and can wipe off a whole family within a decade. Parents must therefore educate their children and close relatives on the havoc the disease can cause to their families and thereby help minimise its spread.

Mr Bilson also educated the people on the Value Added Tax (VAT) and advised those who qualify to collect the new tax not to evade it adding that it will widen the tax net and provide the government with more revenue for development.

He urged all eligible tax payers in the Domiabra electoral area to pay their basic and property rates to the Awutu-Effutu Senya District assembly to strengthen its revenue base.

Elmina (Central Region), 11 Jan.  

The Children's Bill, which has now been signed into law by President Jerry John Rawlings prohibits the practice of employing children under 18 years of age from going fishing.

Nana Ato Dadzie, Acting Chief of Staff, Office of the President, who stated this said the new law is explicitly against such a practice since "children under 18 years are expected to be in school".

He was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Edina Traditional area at Elmina on Saturday to climax the celebration of their annual "Edina Buronya Festival". The festival is an occasion for them to remember their ancestors, settle family squabbles and promote reconciliation.

Nana Dadzie said although public debate on the Bill focused more on the minimum marriageable age, the legislation affects the Ghanaian society at large and safeguards the healthy growth and development of the child in a dignified manner. "Care and protection of children, fostering and adoption of children, child labour and apprenticeship", are some of the salient components of the law. He called on the social services sub-committee of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem district assembly to procure copies of the law for study "so that together we shall work to protect the rights of the child".

Nana Dadzie told the people that it is only in an atmosphere of peace and unity that the natural and human resources of the area can be harnessed for their common good.

The Deputy Central Regional Minister, Mr H. Q. Jehu-Appiah called on the people to use the occasion to pursue true peace for the sake of progress and the development of Edinaman.

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, the Managing Director of Ghana Breweries Limited, brewers of Star beer and ABC beer, which sponsored the festival announced that the company plans to document many of the festivals in the country to make them meaningful and also preserve them for generations yet to come.

The Company presented cash prizes and some of its products to winners of a football match, marathon and regatta races organised in connection with the festival.

Accra (Greater Accra), 11 Jan.

A three-member United Nations (UN) police recruiting team arrived in Accra last night to assist the Ghana Police in selecting and training of Police Personnel to serve in Bosnia.

The team is led by Superintendent Helmer Pettersen of the civilian Police unit of the UN headquarters. Others are Major Eugueni Onelthenko, of the UN civilian police and Mr Robert Rail, of the UN international training support section.

Speaking to newsmen at the Airport Supt. Pettersen said 150 men have been selected for testing in language and driving skills out of which 98 will be chosen to serve as UN police peace keepers in Bosnia. After a week =92s training, the selected Policemen will leave in March for a year's peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.

Ghana already has about 100 policemen serving in Bosnia whose operation will end in March.

Ghana Police have been involved in UN operation in Bosnia since 1995 and also serve in Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Cambodia, Iraq, Somalia and Western Sahara.

They were met on arrival by Supt. F Adu-Poku of the Legal department, Police Headquarters, ASP Richard Johnson and Inspector Peter Kobina all of the Police Protocol Department.