GRi Newsreel (Part 2) 30-03-99

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 March

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday said it has no intention to protest or contest the result of last Friday's bye-election in Ablekuma Central when it is declared by the Electoral Commission.

"The NDC will abide by the decision of the National Electoral Commission," Mr George Quaynor-Mettle, National Propaganda Secretary of the NDC told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. The party had reservations about alleged fraud in the March 26 Elections, he said, adding that there were reports of people being brought from Odododiodio constituency to vote for the NPP and other electoral malpractices.

The NDC Propaganda Secretary said the party does not reject the overall results of the vote and the refusal of the Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Mr Bismark Agblemenule to sign the declaration form was on technical grounds. He said the NDC had no problems with the conduct of the election.

The Electoral Commission declared the result provisional.

Mr Victor Okuley Nortey, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate won the seat with 15,210 votes as against NDC's Ismail Safianu Bawa's 10,569 vote to place second. Mr Solomon Buyoga Sulemani, an independent candidate supported by the Reform Movement, came third with 566 votes. Mr Musah Nartey of the People's National Convention (PNC) had 297 votes with Hajia Fati Suraj of the Convention Party polling 254 votes.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of Mr Clement Sammy Crabbe, NPP Member of Parliament.

Mr Agbemenule on Friday night refused to sign the form declaring the results, saying the party was not happy with the conduct of the voting. Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC, said there were blank sheets and different inks on the sheets. He alleged that a presiding officer at Laterbiokorshie one and three polling stations impeded in the performance of his duties.

A total of 93,994 registered voters were expected to cast their votes but provisional figures from the Electoral Commission indicated that only about 28,000 people voted.

Mr David Kanga, Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations and the Public Relations Officer were not available for comment.

Prof. Richard Berko Biritwum, a lecturer at the Ghana Medical School, on Tuesday stressed the importance of weather and climate to mankind, saying they have an immense influence on the health of mankind.

"If we do not create harmony between health, weather and climate, our survival on earth would be seriously threatened very soon," he warned.

Prof. Biritwum was addressing a public forum in Accra as part of activities to celebrate World Meteorological Day.

The day was set aside by the World Meteorological Organisation to offer a orum for all member nations to share ideas on the global climatic and weather trends.

Prof. Biritwum said the weather and climate have, since the practice of orthodox medicine, had immense influence on the health of mankind.

"In all these instances what is needed is the capacity to endure the negative effects but in situations where the balance is precarious, a little hitch may spell doom."

He cited Cerebro-Spinal-Meningitis which sweeps Northern Ghana during the dry, hot harmattan season and disappears at the onset of the rains.

"Down south, malaria plagues the population at the peak of rainfall because mosquitoes have enough resources to multiply."

Prof. Biritwum said the nation needs to take a serious look at reforestation, good drainage and a home grown approach to architecture and planning in order to save forestry resources for the future.

Prof. Biritwum said logging at river catchment areas should not be encouraged and laws that deal with the use of chrolofloro carbons should be applied to the full to save the ozone layer.

Dr Awudu Tinorgah, acting director of Medical Services, said the Ministry of Health is now seeking active collaboration with the Meteorological Services Department to enhance health delivery.

The population should be constantly and adequately educated on the implications that climate and weather have on their health,he said.

Members of the National Ageing Policy Planning Committee on Tuesday visited aged patients on admission at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital to study their problems.

The Committee, led by Mrs Cynthia Asare-Bediako, toured the female and male wards and presented food items, soap and clothing to them.

Mrs Asare-Bediako said the trip forms part of the year-long activities marking the Year of Older Persons celebration.

She said by socialising with the patients, the committee could learn more and incorporate them into their programme of action as the country develops a policy for the aged.

Mr Kwabena Kyere, Deputy Minister of Education, said on Tuesday that the winner of the overall National Best Teacher prize will on October five receive a vehicle at Cape Coast to mark this year's World Teachers' Day. He said 400 million cedis is estimated to be spent on prizes for 1,200 teachers. They include motor cycles, television sets and radio cassette recorders.

Mr Kyere was launching the 1999 Best Teacher Award scheme aimed at recognising, motivating, rewarding and honouring hardworking teachers and inspiring others to pursue excellence. The criteria for the selection of award winners include professional competence and personality factors such as the moral, emotional and spiritual characteristics of the teacher that makes him/her a model for the youth. Mr Kyere said in spite of the heavy investments government has made and continues to make in education, it has become increasingly clear that it cannot bear the mounting costs alone.

He said government appreciates the vital role individuals and corporate bodies are playing to ensure the success of the educational reforms and appealed to them to sponsor the Best Teacher Award. "As collective beneficiaries of Ghana's educational system, we need to ensure that our educational requirements are met through our collective contributions".

Mrs Irene Adanusah, deputy secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), said the association is happy that the government and public now recognise the important role of teachers in the development of the nation's human resources.

For this reason, GNAT will strive to promote quality education in Ghana, she said and appealed to the private sector, individuals, national and international donors, to invest in public education.

Mrs Esi Sutherland-Addy, who presided, said awards to teachers must be seen in a wider spectrum, adding that "the award must not be considered to benefit only teachers but the community as well". She stressed the need to motivate the over 180,000 people employed in the Ghana Education Service.

The Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) have accepted the nomination of Barima Kwaku Duah, a 49-year-old business executive, as the successor of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second.

At an emergency meeting of the Council at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Nana Saaman Nantwi the second, Saamanhene and head of the Gyaase Division, informed the meeting that Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem the second, Asantehemaa, had nominated her son, Barima Kwaku Duah as the successor and he has been accepted by the Gyaase.

Baffour Awuah the fifth, Bantamahene and head of the Kingmakers of the Golden Stool and acting President of the Council, thanked the Asantehemaa for the decision.

Baffour Awuah said since there has been no objection by the members to Barima Dauh's nomination, he ordered his introduction to the Council.

Later, the Saamanhene led Barima Duah in mourning cloth to the meeting and when his presence was announced, he removed his native sandals and shook hands with the Bantamahene to signify his acceptance by the Council.

Baffour Awuah informed the meeting that a delegation would be sent to Nana Osei Bonsu the second, Mamponghene and Asanteman "Nwisiahene" tomorrow to inform him of the Asantehemaa's decision on the successor of the former Asantehene to be conveyed to the Asanteman Council.

The Asanteman Council's acceptance of Barima Duah would lead to his confinement for 40 days prior to his installation and enstoolment.

By Asante custom, royals aspiring to the Golden Stool are given the title "Barima" and after enstoolment he can adopt any title of his choice.

Barima Duah, born in May 1950 to the present Asantehemaa, began his early childhood with his late uncle, Oheneba Mensah Bonsu, Hiahene of Kumasi.

After his secondary education at Sefwi Wiawso Secondary School and Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School (OKESS) in Kumasi, he studied accounting at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) Legon in 1971.

In 1973, Barima Duah proceeded to the United Kingdom to continue his accounting studies at Kilburn Polytechnic in Northwest London. Two years later, he shifted course and enrolled at the University of North London to read Human Resource Development and Public Administration.

In 1980, Barima Duah moved to Canada where he worked with the Ontario Mutual Insurance Group in Toronto as a senior consultant for a year, during which he participated in a short term company-sponsored course at Toronto University.

He returned to Britain in 1982 and was admitted into the membership of the British Institute of Personnel Management (IPM), the professional body for human resource practitioners in the United Kingdom in 1985.

Barima Duah worked for Oxo, the famous British firm of food manufacturers as an accounts officer and with his membership of the IPM, he joined the Manpower Services Commission attached to the Brent Council in North London where he helped to develop and oversee projects to assist young unemployed youth from deprived communities to get into self-fulfilling employment.

He returned to Ghana in 1989 to set up his own business and has acted as representatives of some highly reputable British and European companies in the mining sector. Barima Duah is married to Madam Yaa Akyaa with three children. Meanwhile, Barima Duah has generally been accepted by residents of Kumasi.

A number of people the GNA spoke to approved of the choice and described it as "in the right direction". People are going about their normal duties.

Adankranja (Ashanti Region) 30 March

The death is reported of Nana Adankranja Osei the second, Paramount Chief of Adankranja Traditional Area in the Amansie East district of Ashanti after a protracted illness.

A release issued by the Adankranja Traditional Council at Adankranja on Tuesday signed by Nana Kofi Yeboah the second, Gyaasehene, said Nana Osei, 86, died on Monday, March One, this year.

Nana Osei known in private life as Mr Osei Hyiaman Owusu Afriyie, a lawyer by profession, was a former Ashanti Regional Commissioner, Minister of Social Welfare and Minister of Health in the First Republic.

He reigned for 28 years. Final funeral arrangements would be announced later, the release said.