The MP for Koforidua, Mr. Yaw Barimah, has described criminal libel in the statute books of the country as "superfluous, outdated and need to be changed".

Speaking at the an end of year get together of the Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at Koforidua on Friday, Mr. Barimah said the law "intimidates journalists to abandon their duty to society."

Mr. Barimah observed that the quality of justice depends not too much on the law but on the one who administers it and said "unfortunately recent criminal libel cases have shown the inclination of some judges to satisfy the whims of the Executive."

He referred to the sessional address of President Rawlings to Parliament pleading for pardon for "those who break an egg to make an omelette" and said Journalists who make mistakes in the discharge of their duty should not be put behind bars.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, commended Journalists in the region for their performance and asked them to be guided by fair play in order to avoid falling foul of the law.

The Regional GJA Chairman, Mr. Edmund Quaynor expressed the Association's appreciation to individuals and organisations for their assistance.

He made special mention of Mr. Isaac Appaw-Gyasi of ICL computer training institute who has offered to train members to become computer literate.

Osagyefo Nana Addo Dankwah III, President of the Eastern Region House of Chiefs, has noted that despite Ghana's colourful durbars and exclusive festivals, tourist inflow is still below expectation.

He however expressed gratitude to the government that it remains undaunted in its efforts to make Ghana the gateway to Africa.

Osagyefo Addo Dankwa was speaking on Saturday, at the launching of the African Cultural Festival (ACUFEST) which will be held in Accra from the 7^th September to 23^rd September.

ACUFEST expected to be a biennial festival incorporating an African Trade Exhibition and Congress (AFRIMAT), initiated by the Organisation of African Cultures (OAC).

The festival on the theme "One festival-One people" would bring together participants from 54 African countries with over 1500 exhibitors from 100 countries.

Nana Dankwa said since socio-economic development is the responsibility of every citizen, Ghanaians should co-operate in efforts to improve living conditions.

He appealed to companies and the business community to participate actively in ACUFEST 2000.

Mr. Noski Attidigah, ACUFEST Program Director, noted that even though most African countries have adopted Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP), economic growth has remained sluggish although some improvement is evident.

He said the appalling situation is that African countries have to service "huge debts, though SAP may be working".

This defeats the rationale of the programme adding that, "unfortunately, some developed countries and donors require African countries to function as well as developed countries or to function in ways that they view as congenial with their interest," he added.

Mr. Attidigah said this trend has influenced national planning and made some African leaders to look like incompetent.

He said ACUFEST and AFRIMAT would provide a path for the positive development of the continent.

The festival, which aims at fostering peace, love, harmony and friendship among Africans, would provide a platform for the development of commerce and industry to improve living conditions on the continent.

It would also involve performing arts, drama, music and dance, lectures on African traditions and culture and a fun fair.

Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), National Organiser of the NPP, has said there will be no respite to poverty in Ghana so long as the NDC retains political power.

This is because such state of affairs suits the political interests of the NDC as it makes it easy for the populace to be manipulated, especially, in the run-up to elections, Maj. Quashigah said at the inauguration of the Ho Zongo branch of the Nasara Club of the party at Ho at the weekend.

He said it should dawn on Ghanaians by now that the NDC government is incapable of creating conditions for the better lives to which they aspire.

Maj. Quashigah observed that, on the other hand, those connected to the NDC have become affluent while the vast majority are reeling under poverty and uncertainty about the future.

He said it was, therefore, gratifying that Zongo communities are now opening their doors to the NPP so that they can also avail themselves of the other side of the political argument.

Maj. Quashigah said it is unthinkable that Ghana should be importing rice and other basic food items such as plantains from its less-endowed neighbours while a large number of people resort to borrowing to feed their families.

Alhaji Huseini Maiga, National Organiser of Nasara Club, assured Zongo communities that the NPP embraces all those who reside in Ghana and has no secret agenda against them.

Alhaji Maiga said gifts, which are showered on them by the NDC at election time, are insults to their intelligence.

"We should not allow ourselves to be used as seasonal tools which are abandoned after elections," he advised.

He said a new era has arrived in the Zongo communities that will no longer make them easy victims of political trickery.

A 10-member executive with Hajia Adisah Malik as Co-ordinator was sworn into office by Alhaji Tanko, National Co-ordinator of the club.

The shops of three small-scale sawmill operators who get their supply of beams from chainsaw operators in and around Cape Coast have been closed down on the orders of the Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, Mr. Moses Nayong Bilijo.

The Deputy Minister found the beams at the shops on his way from an inspection tour of sawmills in the Central Region on Saturday.

He ordered forest guards to dismantle and seize their equipment (plainer and conversion machines) and ensure that they are prosecuted.

The shops include "Okyere" and "Nyame Ndae" Enterprises. The operators of the third shop who apparently got wind of the arrests, bolted before the minister could reach them.

Mr. Bilijo expressed concern about the activities of chainsaw operators despite the ban on their activities and warned small-scale sawmill operators to desist from buying lumber from illegal operators.

He said the ministry does not have any problem with the operations of small-scale sawmills if they get their supplies of beams from licensed sawmills.

The government has since October 1999 banned the operators of small-scale chainsaw operators accusing them of causing cutting down trees under the endangered species list.

Anybody found using products of products from the chain-saw operators who have now gone underground, is liable for prosecution.

Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Presidential advisor on government affairs, on Saturday called on citizens from the north residing in southern Ghana, to help salvage the falling standards of education in the three northern regions.

He said their effort in this direction would help to bridge the wide educational gap between southern and northern Ghana, and increase the chances of citizens in the northern regions in attaining high offices.

Alhaji Iddrisu was speaking at the biennial fund-raising get-together of the Greater Accra Northern Police Welfare Fund (GRANPOF).

The fund was established two years ago by 50 police officers from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions serving in Accra. They aim to raise funds to assist each other in times of need, and to support development projects in their respective regions.

Alhaji Iddrisu blamed the wide educational gap between the south and the north on falling standards which he said has been largely due to negligence of parents.

"While most parents are not keen about the education of their wards due to lack of funds, those of us who are gainfully employed in the south are also not supporting the sector enough".

Alhaji Iddrisu explained that the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, established the fee-free education system in the north, "not because of poverty, but because of the negligence of the colonial government to extend education to the north

The system was therefore to accelerate the process of bridging the gap between the north and south for the full integration of the country, he said.

"We must therefore maintain that focus and take advantage of the fee-free facility and send our children and other needy ones to school".

The Presidential Adviser however stressed that the government could not continue to provide all the necessary educational facilities in the north, and called on non-government organisations and individuals to help.

"It is in this light that we are glad to see northern police officers establish a fund to support education and the needy in the north".

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, urged his colleague ministers and parliamentarians from the north, to support the police in the effort to raise academic standards.

In response to his appeal, the northern parliamentary caucus donated two million cedis to the fund.

Mr. Peter Nanfuri, IGP, and his two Commissioners also donated one million cedis each, while Rev Simon Asore, member of the Council of State, presented 500,000 cedis cheque to the fund.

The Cape Coast constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday elected unopposed Mr. Lawrence Kwesi Sarbah a 55-year-old businessman as the constituency chairman.

Mr. Mustafa Mohammed and Mr. Dane Eshun were also elected unopposed as first and second vice chairmen respectively.

Mr. Agyeman Kesse, acting Regional Vice Chairman, who supervised the elections said this year's elections is very crucial and called on members to rally behind the party to enable it to win the elections.

He asked them to register when the voter register is re-opened, adding that the party can only win when they do so.

He advised them to desist from attacking personalities and said criticise issues and principles.

Mr Andy Amoah, was elected secretary, Mr J. O. Pinkrah, treasurer while Mr Baba Issa is organiser, Mr Eugene Kojo Antwi, youth organiser and Madam Memuna Tanko, women organiser.

The Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, Mr. Moses Nayong Bilijo, has stressed the need for Ghana to stick to prescribed sustainable forest management practices to avoid being sidelined on the international market.

The Minister said Ghana has already lost about three-fourths of her forest cover and his ministry would, therefore, put in place pragmatic policies to avoid the situation where the country would not be able to boast of any forest reserve in future.

Mr. Bilijo was speaking to newsmen when he visited the Central Region on Friday to inspect selected sawmills that have been granted permit to supply wood to the local market.

Small-scale chainsaw operators were producing about 73 per cent of lumber for the local market at the time the ministry took the decision to clamp down on their activities.

The minister said to fill the vacuum created, 24 sawmills were selected throughout the country to produce wood for the local market.

He expressed satisfaction with their work so far but said there were complaints from the public that products from the sawmills were expensive.

Mr. Bilijo explained that the increase in the price of wood from the sawmills should be expected since chainsaw lumber and beams are stolen products and are, therefore, tax-free.

People must accept that timber is not a cheap commodity and that its real value must be respected, he pointed out.

Mr. Bilijo said most of Ghana's neighbours cannot boast of any forest reserves and expressed concern about the rate at which some chainsaw operators were destroying the country's reserves.

"If their activities are not checked, there will be no forest left for the country within the next five years".

The Ashanti Region branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday elected a nine-member executive committee to steer the affairs of the party for the next three years.

Officials of the electoral commission supervised the election, which was part of the activities of the regional delegates congress.

Mr. Frederick Freduah Antoh, 45, a businessman was elected unopposed as the Chairman, while Mr Kwame Agyei polled 93 votes to become the first vice-chairman, with Mr. Ben Abankwa elected unopposed as the second vice-chairman.

Mr. J. P. Atiemo was elected unopposed as treasurer, and Mr. Sam K. Cudjoe, Secretary.

Other officers elected were Mr. Opoku Boateng, assistant Secretary, Alhaji Kwasi Yeboah, regional organiser, Mr. Ben Abdallah, youth organiser and Miss Georgina Osei Tutu, women organiser.

Major Courage Quashigah, national organiser, said the National Executive Committee would embark on an intensive training programme for polling agents of the party.

He said first 100,000 people to be trained under the programme would be expected train others so that the party can have at about five agents’ at least, at each of the 40,000 polling stations.

Major Quashigah emphasised the need for discipline in the party's operations to enable them to win the elections. "We are at war and we have to listen to instructions carefully in order not to make mistakes".

The national organiser asked the delegates to avoid negative tendencies and exhibit self-discipline, guarding against pronouncements that would make people shun the party.

"Make sure to win one of the floating voters a week into the party fold," he urged them.

Mr. Antoh, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the delegates for the confidence and trust reposed in them and gave the assurance that efforts would be made to win more people into their fold and win all the 33 seats in the region this year.

Some of the delegates in their contribution called for an end to petty squabbles, backbiting, rumour mongering and other vices that retard the party's growth.

They advised the people to ensure unity and co-operation among them to enable the party to win the next elections.

The executives must ensure that party agents are well catered for on the Election Day, they added, and urged for the intensification of the campaign in the rural areas.

Mr. John Mahama, Minister of Communications, has urged journalists to be guided by social responsibility in the discharge of their duties.

He said while they should go about their work unhindered, journalists should realise that the country's peculiar circumstances impose certain responsibilities on them.

Mr. Mahama was interacting with journalists in Bolgatanga on Friday, during a two-day working visit.

He said even though the concept of Press Freedom is indispensable to the survival of any democratic society, it cannot be divorced from the social, political and economic situations of the society.

Mr. Mahama said "what we need, therefore, is freedom and independence anchored in our developmental aspirations, mindful of our quest to forge ahead as a united country".

The Communications Minister called on media practitioners to renew their commitment to the concept of developmental journalism by co-operating with the government and other stakeholders for the progress of society.

Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper East Regional Minister, commended journalists in the region for bringing the plight of the people to public attention, especially, during the armyworm invasion and the flood disaster, which hit the area last year.

He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council in collaboration with the district assemblies have plans to revamp the studios of the Bolgatanga URA-Radio Frequency Modulation (FM) station.

The Swiss embassy in Ghana is introducing a community interactive planning programme to boost the country's local government system.

The programme, which starts this year on a pilot basis at the Tamale and Accra branches of the Institute of Local Government, will run courses for personnel of the district assemblies on the decentralisation process.

Dr. Peter Schweitzer, Swiss Ambassador, said this in Tamale on Tuesday at a meeting with Mr. Joshua Alabi, out-going Northern Regional Minister.

He said the programme has been operating successfully in Switzerland since 1945, and expressed the hope that it would facilitate the efforts of Ghana to promote grassroots participation in policy decisions.

He said his country would commit few resources to operate the programme since Ghana has abundant material and human resources that could make it self-sustaining.

Mr. Alabi commended the Swiss embassy for the initiative which he said, will go a long way to facilitate the development of the region.

The German Radio Service, Deutsche Welle (DW) on Friday presented a satellite dish/receiver and a stabilizer, worth 22 million cedis, to the local radio Savanna FM station for the rebroadcast of its services in Tamale municipality.

Dr. Floian Reindael, first secretary in charge of media, German Embassy, and the Right Rev Gregory Kpeibaya, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale, performed the commissioning and dedication respectively, of the facility.

Dr Reindal said under the licence of agreements with other radio stations at Techiman, Bolgatanga and Tamale, DW has financed the installation of the equipment for the reception of DW programmes.

He said with the new arrangement and the provision of new equipment, the radio stations are now disposed towards the latest satellite telecommunication technology.

Mr. San Nasamu Asabigi, deputy Northern Regional Minister noted that the latest communication and information technology available in Tamale would allow information to be easily accessed into famous libraries and contacts via the internet for involvement of investments.

He said it is expected that viable private investors would take up the challenge and venture into the inaccessible and remote areas of the region with their activities.

Mr. Asabigi urged NGOs and multilateral agencies to initiate more development projects to reduce the level of poverty, illiteracy and ignorance in the region.

Mr. Evans Acheampong, regional director of GBC said that the German-Ghanaian co-operation in the media sector has a long tradition, and recalled popular "Old Fox" series and "Football made in Germany" on the television.

He said he hoped listeners in and around the region would get reliable and creditable information on political, economic and other changes in Europe, and other world issues.