National Information Technology policy in the offing
Motor accidents in Tarkwa on the increase
Thirty-five strikes recorded this year.
CP blames the government for poor economic management
Teachers learn to manage Catholic Relief Programme
Carpenters commend Speaker of Parliament
National Information Technology policy in the offing
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Nov. '99
A draft policy aimed at establishing a National Information Technology Board (NITB) to formulate strategies towards the creation of a multi-media corridor in the country, is to be laid before Cabinet for approval before the close of this year.
Commander Pious M. G. Griffiths, a Deputy Minister of Communications in charge of telecommunications made this known at a forum on Information Technology (IT), at the on-going Ghana International Information Technology Fair, dubbed Infotech '99.
The forum, jointly organised by the Ghana Trade Fair Company and Joy online, an online news provider, was to emphasise the importance of IT to the economic development of the country.
Cdr. Griffiths said currently the draft policy, dubbed "IT Plan 2000" is on the government's web site for experts and the general public to comment on.
He said Cabinet is currently busy with issues of labour unrest, lower prices of gold and cocoa and the price hikes in the oil market among other things.
"We want Cabinet to have a thorough consideration of the draft but this is not a very good time for that.
"We hope to table it this month and when it is approved, the bill will be sent to Parliament to be passed as the national IT policy."
Cdr. Griffiths said the policy will set standards for IT training, examinations and certification, adding that it will also regulate the activities of IT service providers in the country.
The policy, he said will ensure that IT training in Ghana runs at the same pace with the changing global situation.
"Under the new policy a cyber village will be established to serve as a converging point for all national resources".
The cyber village will then serve as a springboard for national development through the extensive application of information technology in all sectors of the economy in the next millennium.
"Other cardinal features of the policy are the encouragement of a culture of documentation through IT and the emphasis on increased IT training as a wise investment rather than cost, that will yield incalculable dividends to the economy in the future."
Cdr Griffiths said the policy will also contain the much desired freedom of access to information bill and will address the issue of the importance of the media to national development.
The policy will also establish an IT board to assist both state-owned and private academic and business organisations to be hooked on to the IT super highway by 2020.
The Deputy Minister, therefore, called on all tertiary institutions to initiate moves towards getting hooked on to the information super highway and assured them of government's support.
Dr Mohammed Sani Abdullai, Head of the IT Faculty of the Bankers Institute suggested that the government makes it a policy for all state-owned organisations to communicate through electronic mail.
He suggested that electioneering process, population census and public lobbies to Parliament should be done on the electronic mail to save time and other resources.
Dr Abdullai said the board which is to be established by the IT Plan 2000, should be closely linked to the President's office to ensure that the government house is updated on all sectors of the economy.
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Motor accidents in Tarkwa on the increase
Tarkwa (Western Region), 5th November 99
The Wassa West District recorded a total of 293 accidents, involving 273 vehicles, between January 1 and June 30 this year in which 33 people died.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kwadwo Peprah Addai, in charge of the Tarkwa division of Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) told the GNA in an interview at Tarkwa that 80 victims were seriously injured with 258 sustaining minor injuries.
Many observers in the town have expressed concern about the spate of accidents in the area, which they have attributed to the fast rate at which people are becoming commercial drivers.
ASP Addai called on drivers to be careful on the roads to save lives and property warned of severe penalties for driving offences including a fine not exceeding five million cedis or a prison term of six months or both.
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Thirty-five strikes recorded this year.
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Nov '99
Thirty-five industrial action were recorded between January and September, Mr Mohammad Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare said in a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday.
Giving further details in an interview with the GNA, an official of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, said most of the disputes have arisen after the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) also known as Price Waterhouse Report.
Of this figure, 23 were in the public sector, mainly in the health and education while the remaining 12 were in the private sector.
He said most of the cases in the private sector have been solved through consultation, mediation and arbitration.
" But efforts to resolve those in the public sector have been short lived due largely to the process of implementation of the Price Waterhouse report."
He said since the announcement of the Queen`s visit, some workers have indicated their intention to go on demonstration.
"Labour leaders are quick in issuing out threats of strike to press home their demands thus creating the "erroneous impression that the government and employers only give in to workers demands when threatened with strikes".
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CP blames the government for poor economic management
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Nov. '99
The Convention Party (CP) on Thursday blamed the government for managing the economic poorly, saying this has created the current labour unrest in the country.
Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, General Secretary said: "there is a high level of unemployment, production is very low and investment is centred around only Greater Accra.
Dr Dowuona, who was speaking to newsmen in Accra, said this has resulted in migration from the rural areas to the urban centres and its attendance high unemployment rate in the country.
He said the minimum wage and income policy is dear to the heart of the Party, asking, "what is the sense in giving someone a remuneration that will not cater for shelter, food and other essentials".
He said, "we have to define our economic direction to emphasis production in order to retain a large amount of money in the system. This will improve the cost of living."
Thirty five labour unrest have been recorded by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare as at September this year, according to figures released by the Ministry in Accra.
On the postponement of the party's congress in Kumasi last month, Dr Dowuona said that became necessary because there were legitimate and practical problems.
He, however, denied that the postponement was due to lack of funds, organisational problems and unqualified candidates, adding that the Political Parties Law, the 1992 Constitution and the party's own laws and regulations are clear on the issue.
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Teachers learn to manage Catholic Relief Programme
Salaga (Northern Region) 5 Nov '99
Teachers from 15 schools in the East Gonja District, which benefit from Catholic Relief Service's (CRS) feeding programme have attended a workshop at Salaga to learn how to administer the scheme.
An Assistant Director of Education in charge of manpower, Mr Isaac Bonzali in a speech warned the 54 participants not to do anything to undermine the programme.
The programme aimed at providing food security for school children in the Northern Region in order to keep them in school.
He said the programme has served as an incentive to children of school going age in the area most of whom would otherwise, be out of school.
Teachers should, therefore, help to sustain the programme by ensuring that the children get whatever is allocated to them.
Mr Bonzali advised them to adhere to the system of record keeping as demanded by the CRS in order not to give cause for any doubt.
Mr Ayuba Ziblim, District Partner Support Officer of CRS urged the teachers not do anything to undermine the confidence reposed in them.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 5 Nov. '99
Sixty-one members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tema East Constituency on Thursday defected to the National Democratic Party (NDC).
Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, former secretary of NPP in the constituency and an assembly member of Tema Padmore electoral area who is the leader of the group announced the defection at a press conference at Tema.
He explained that after carefully assessing the political, economic and social policy of the government, they were fully convinced that the NDC is the peoples' government.
He said ''the solid foundation that the NDC has laid puts the party ahead of all the political parties and even if the opposition parties amalgamate they cannot unseat the NDC government in the next general elections.''
Welcoming the defectors, Mr Quaynor-Mettle, National Propaganda Secretary of the NDC called on Ghanaians to close their ranks and work hard to promote the continued peace in the country.
He entreated Ghanaians to eschew confrontational attitudes that would create instability because we are not enemies, saying bitterness and acrimony would not move the nation forward.
Nii Armah Ashietey told Mr Ofosuware to impart his rich experiences into the NDC to enable the party regain the parliamentary seat in the constituency in the next elections.
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Carpenters commend Speaker of Parliament
Kumasi (Greater Accra) 5 Nov.'99
The Small-Scale Carpenters Association (SSCA), has commended Mr Justice D. F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament, for the swift manner in which he acted to save a carpenter working on the roof of Parliament building from being held for contempt.
The SSCA observed that the Speaker's intervention is a practical demonstration of his recognition and appreciation of the contribution of artisans especially carpenters, to national development.
The Reverend S. K. Fugah, President of the SSCA made the commendation at a forum held by the Executive Committee of the Ashanti Region branch of the Association in Kumasi on Thursday.
He said, he was optimistic that various organisations, ministries and departments would take a cue from the Speaker's example and be ready to respect and also protect all categories of workers.
A carpenter, who was working on the Parliament building, during proceedings, recently, was said to be making noise and some members of the house were of the view that his action constituted contempt of Parliament.
Touching on the five billion-cedi afforestation project that was launched by the SSCA last August, Rev. Fugah said active consultations were being held with the Department of Forestry to acquire land.
The implementation of the afforestation project will be supported with funds from the Timber Export Development Board (TEDB), the Forest Products Inspection Bureau (FPIB) and the Forestry Commission.
The TEDB and FPIB through the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) would provide 50,000 seedlings including teak, wawa, avodare and mahogany, the SSCA President said.
Mr Reynolds Debrah, Vice-Chairman of the Ashanti Regional branch of the SSCA, urged the members not to wholly rely on the project to be established under the association but to also take up the challenge of growing selected tree species on their individual farms.
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