Security Council appoints committee to investigate Asankranguaa riots
Some Upper East communities condone with Fulani herdsmen?
Centre develops chocolate, jam, from Prekese
NCCE staff cautioned against partisan politics
Security Council appoints committee to investigate Asankranguaa riots
Sekondi (Western Region) 26 Jan. 2000
The Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has appointed a five-man committee of enquiry to investigate the circumstances, which led to the recent disturbances at Asankranguaa.
Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, Regional Minister, said at Sekondi on Tuesday that the committee would investigate three shooting incidents that resulted in the death of a civilian and a Policeman.
She said the committee would also look into the alleged looting of property and arson during the disturbances and submit recommendations, which would prevent future disturbances in the Wassa Amenfi District.
The committee, which has Lt. Commander P. S. K. Kumako (rtd) as its chairman is expected to submit its report within a month.
Other members of the committee are Major R. S. Nyaka of the Ghana Army, Ms. Ama Aikins, Regional Lands Valuation Officer and a representative of the Attorney General's Department.
Mr. J. K. Y. Ocran, Deputy Regional Co-ordinating Director in-charge of Finance and Administration, is Secretary to the committee.
Mrs Nkansah urged the committee not to be biased and give members of the public an opportunity to express their opinion to establish the truth.
She said the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would give the committee every assistance to do its work.
Corporal Douglas Adu Darko Bosompem and one Joseph Andoh were shot dead while Constable Dominic Sanseh and one Miss Aba Yaa received gunshot wound during the disturbances.
There is a protracted chieftaincy dispute between Nana Anyani Buadum III, Chief of Asankranguaa and Mr S. K. Amelema, businessman.
The factions clashed during the Christmas holidays during which Mr Andoh was killed and Miss Aba Yaa was wounded. There was general breakdown of law and order in the town.
On 3 January 20 policemen were sent to beef up security in the area and to check the indiscriminate beating up of innocent people and the looting of property.
Unknown assailants shot Corporal Bosompem and Constable Sanseh, who were on guard duties at Mr Amelema's residence, killing Corporal Bosompem instantly while Constable Sanseh was injured.
GRi../
Some Upper East communities condone with Fulani herdsmen?
Bolgatanga (Upper East) 26 Jan. 2000
Some residents in the Nabdam Traditional Area of the Upper East Region are claiming ownership of large numbers of cattle suspected to belong to Fulani herdsmen.
Such claims are being made as a ploy to prevent the cattle and their owners from being sent out of the country, following the commencement of "Operation Cow Leg" in the region two weeks ago.
It is believed that Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring Burkina Faso have bribed some residents, who are claiming ownership of the cattle.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, Mr. E. G. Dogbe, Regional Director of the Forestry Department, said since the beginning of the dry season, cattle have been grazing in forest reserves, thereby destroying the vegetation.
"If the people are honest with themselves and allow the operation to go on, we can save our vegetation. But if this continues and all the cattle remain here, it would be devastating to this fragile environment".
Mr Dogbe described as alarming the damage so far caused to some of the 27 forest reserves in the region.
The operation, in its first move, drove away 500 cattle and their Fulani owners.
GRi../
Centre develops chocolate, jam, from Prekese
Bunso (Eastern Region) 26th January 2000
The Centre for Biodiversity Utilisation and Development (CBUD) of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, has developed seven products from Prekese, a local spice and medicinal plant.
The products include Prekese chocolate, baby food, Prekese brandy and jam.
Dr. Amoako Atta, CBUD co-ordinator, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day sub-project products development workshop at the Bunso Cocoa College on Tuesday.
The Royal Netherlands Embassy funds the project, under which snails, clam crabs and indigenous leafy vegetables are also being developed into various substances.
Participants at the workshop include researchers from the Universities, farmers and foresters, crops and animal specialists, marketing and processing specialists.
It is aimed, among others, to guide potential CBUD collaborating partners, actors, target groups, communities, individuals and farmers to formulate their sub-projects for the development of the products.
It would also enable CBUD to contribute to the conservation of the biological diversity for the research and promotion of the Prekese, snail clams and crab and leafy vegetable products.
Dr Amoako Atta said the centre would soon supply young snails to large-scale snail farmers in Begoro, Kukurantumi and Bepoase in the Eastern Region.
GRi
NCCE staff cautioned against partisan politics
Tamale (Northern Region) 26 Jan. 2000
Mr Mohammed Alhassan of the Northern Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has asked political parties to challenge any staff of the Commission found indulging in partisan politics.
He said members of the Commission wishing to do politics should resign since the NCCE, by the Constitution, has to ensure a level ground for all parties to go about their activities in a responsible manner and without discrimination.
Mr Alhassan was speaking on "The rights and responsibilities of the NCCE during this year's general elections" at a seminar organised by the People's National Congress (PNC) in Tamale on Wednesday.
The seminar, organised for 160 delegate's from the 23 constituencies in the Northern Region was part of a national programme to train about 200,000 ''foot soldiers, who will be exposed to the party's manifesto and philosophy dubbed 'the New Ghanaian's Concept".
Mr. Alhassan said a large segment of Ghanaians are illiterates and the NCCE is tasked to educate them to understand and defend the Constitution at all times, and not to engage in any partisan politics.
He appealed to political parties not to engage in any anti-social activities during the electioneering campaign to undermine the peace and security of the nation.
Mr Alhassan called on the political parties to support their polling agents with the necessary logistics to monitor all aspects of the elections including counting of votes to avoid any suspicion or mistrust.
Police Chief Inspector Stephen Bimpeh speaking on "The role and task of the Police during the election day", said if a polling agent is in doubt about the identity of a voter, he should either report to the Police, Presiding Officer at the polling station or fill a protest form.
He said apart from officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) and representatives of the political parties, "nobody has any business hanging around a polling station, no matter his or her social standing".
Major Mahamadu Alhassan (rtd), Regional Chairman of the PNC, asked the participants to avail themselves of every information on the mode of the elections to ensure victory for the party.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) - President Jerry John Rawlings has nominated Mrs Charlotte Abaka for appointment as the substantive Chairperson of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD).
A statement from the Office of the President signed by Mr J.L.M. Amissah, Secretary to the President on Tuesday said.
A Presidential task force is also to be set up to prepare for Ghana's effective participation in the Beijing Conference Review slated for New York this year, the statement added.
More../
Tamale (Northern Region) : The first phase of workshops on creating messages and materials to promote exclusive breast-feeding practice to meet the needs of rural audiences in Northern Ghana opened in Tamale on Tuesday.
The two-week workshop on the theme: "Messages and materials production:
phase one" is being organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in conjunction with Linkages Project of the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID).
The 24 participants comprised Community Health Nurses and Nutritionists, Rural Development Agents, Members of the Red Cross Society, Catholic Relief Service Agents and other collaborating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.
More../
Bawku (Upper East) - Hajia Fati Seidu, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, has said Ghana has made a lot of progress socially and economically under the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
She said when compared to the performance of past governments and taking into account the current unfavourable world economic order, the NDC government should be credited for making significant strides to improve the well-being of Ghanaians.
Hajia Fati, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, was speaking in Bawku at a reception organised for members of the constituency branch of the Progressive Alliance.
GRi../