No firecrackers this Christmas
Youth attack chief's supporters
Government Committed to Salt Industry - Ministry
One out every three women bartered by partners - survey
District Assembly asked to purchase salt for iodation
ADB holds first zonal Akuafo Raffle draw in Kumasi
No firecrackers this Christmas
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Nov. '99
The display, sale and use of firecrackers (knockouts) is illegal, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said on Tuesday.
A statement by the ministry in Accra cautioned that "any person who violates the regulation will be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million cedis or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months' or both".
It said to import, distribute, offer for sale and to manufacture firecrackers, display shells, artillery shells, ball and canister shells contravenes executive Instrument (E.I.21) which also prohibits the manufacture, possession or carrying of these explosives.
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Youth attack chief's supporters
Badu (Brong Ahafo) 10 Nov. '99
The youth of Badu last Saturday fired gunshots and blocked the trunk road linking the town to Wenchi and Sunyani to prevent supporters of Nana Boakye Yiadom, Omanhene of the area, from travelling to Sunyani to attend the durbar that climaxed celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Armed with guns and other offensive weapons, the youth attacked vehicles conveying the supporters, forcing the drivers to abandon them and flee.
It was not immediately known if some people were injured during the attack.
The youth said Nana Boakye-Yiadom had been destooled in accordance with custom and was, therefore, not qualified to present himself as Omanhene at the durbar.
An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency at Badu that the action of the youth was also to protest against the Regional House of Chiefs over its continued recognition of Nana Yiadom.
At the time of the incident, Nana Boakye-Yiadom was already in Sunyani for the durbar.
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Government Committed to Salt Industry - Ministry
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Nov '99
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, on Tuesday said the government is still committed to the development of the salt industry.
In a statement in Accra, the Ministry said the government's interest in the industry had not waned, but "rather steeped in the study of a report that would facilitate the implementation of the salt master plan of the Ada-Songor Lagoon area".
The plan, which will use private sector finance, takes off as soon as discussions with various potential investors are finalised next year.
A statement, which seeks to clarify government's position on the industry, noted that the Minerals Law (PNDCL 153) vests all mineral wealth of the country, including salt, in the President in trust for the people.
The statement was in an apparent reaction to a front-page publication of the October 27-28th edition of the 'Ghanaian Chronicle,' which quoted a 'quit order' issued by the Terkperbiawe Clan of Ada-Songor to the Salt Development Project Task Force.
The order' was purported to be in reaction to the task force's default in the payment of various royalties accumulated over the last seven years that amounted to 334.6 million cedis.
The statement said the Minerals Law requires royalties gained from mining by any party with concession from the Mines and Energy ministry on behalf of the government, to be paid to the latter through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
"Such payments should be considered as part of (the) government national revenue for the promotion of various development projects and services, including the construction of health facilities, roads, electricity, water, etc. countrywide".
It said the government's consideration for communities where such wealth is exploited, made it direct that proportions of royalties be ceded to such communities through the district assemblies, traditional councils and the traditional chiefs.
The statement put royalties due between July 1992 and December 1997 as 6,888,162.74 cedis, out of which 5,742,952.00 cedis had been paid to the Terkpebiawe Stool.
It said the difference was temporarily suspended pending the outcome of a dispute over royalties among the Terkpebiawe, Lomobiawe and Adibiawe clans.
"Between July 1992 and September 1999, during which the Salt Development Project Task Force carried out a salt operation in the Ada-Songor area, the Task Force paid a total of 615.2 million in royalties to the IRS".
The Ministry said the task force has since 1993 up to September this year paid a total of 547.5 million cedis in respect of levies to the Dangme East District Assembly apart from the royalties.
It reminded people in the area that the Greater Accra Regional Minister was responsible for handling such conflicts, adding that when outstanding royalty payments are resolved, payments will be made to rightful beneficiaries.
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One out every three women bartered by partners - survey
Odumase-Krobo (Eastern Region) 10 Nov. '99
A survey in two districts in Greater Accra region has shown that one out of every three women is assaulted by their partners.
Nana Oyeh Rita, Assistant Secretary, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, said apart from the suffering such violence brings to the women, it also hampers their development.
She said rape, defilement, female genital mutilation, incest, indecent assault, widowhood rites and Trokosi, all constitute violence, adding that "the law says, whoever allows someone to go through these would be sentenced to prison''.
She was speaking at a workshop on domestic violence and family laws organised by FIDA for women groups in the Manya-Krobo district of the Eastern Region, on Tuesday.
Seventy five people attended the workshop aimed at sensitising women on domestic violence and family laws.
Nana Oyeh noted that the incidence of various forms of violence against women had increased over the years worldwide.
As a result, the United Nations, international bodies, governments and NGOs are in the forefront to ensure that the incidence is reduced.
Nana Oyeh asked local committees to join hands with governments in solving the problem.
Miss Edina Kumah, Co-ordinator of FIDA, speaking on the Children's Act, said every child irrespective of his colour, religion, tribe, ability or disability has the same status and nobody is to discriminate against him.
"The law provides that every child has the right to grow up with parents and if due to some circumstances your child had to stay with someone else, you must give reasons to that effect".
It is the responsibility of parents to provide clothing, food and shelter for their children and "Parents must maintain their children and see to their development and survival".
She advised single parents whose spouses have neglected their responsibilities, to send them to the family tribunal for redress.
Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Executive Member of FIDA and the Co-ordinator of the workshop, advised women not to mistake ''blessings'' in the church for marriage by ordinance.
She said blessings are celebrations of marriage anniversaries but ''unfortunately some women have mistaken it for legal marriages''.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the three different systems of marriage in Ghana which are legal are Registration of Marriage by ordinance, customary marriage or traditional marriage and marriage of Mohamadan ordinance (Muslim marriage).
She advised those who married under the traditional or Muslim ordinance to register their marriages to make them potentially valid.
Mrs Celeste Krahene-Williams, FIDA member, also took the participants through the Intestate Succession Law (PNDC Law 111) and urged spouses to remember to make wills to avoid unnecessary dispute after their death.
"A successful person is that who planned his life while alive".
The Federation would organise similar workshops at Sogakope and Adidome in the Volta region on November 10 and 11 respectively.
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District Assembly asked to purchase salt for iodation
Ada (Greater Accra) 10 Nov. '99
Mr. Theophilus Corquaye, Chief Executive of the Foods and Drug Board (FDB), on Tuesday suggested to the Dangme East District Assembly to consider purchasing all salt produced in the district and establishing a plant to add potassium iodate to it before marketing.
This he said would ensure that salt leaving the district is iodated and healthy for consumption.
He said since Dangme East is the leading district in salt production in the country, it must assist in efforts to ensure that salt is iodated for human and animal consumption.
Mr. Corquaye was briefing the Assembly on the importance of salt iodation under the Foods and Drugs law.
The briefing was to solicit the Assembly's assistance to ensure compliance with the law.
He said under it, salt should not be imported, manufactured, packaged, labelled, advertised, stored, delivered, distributed, traded, sold or exported if it is not fortified with potassium iodate.
The Board has mandate to ensure that salt is iodated to contain the Iodine Deficiency Syndrome (IDS).
The disorders include cretinism, goitre, stillbirth, impaired intellectual growth and spontaneous abortions.
He said this led to the formation of the National Salt Iodation Committee co-ordinated by the Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Health with UNICEF as the major financier of the awareness campaign.
A constraint to the successful implementation of the law is the presence of a large number of winners who do not have the capacity to iodate salt before sale.
Mr. George Armah of the Nutrition Unit of the Ministry, presented a report on the monitoring of awareness and consumption, and said as far back as 1995, salt produced in the country for human and animal consumption was expected to have been iodized.
Ghana is supposed to eliminate non-iodated salt by the year 2000, he said.
Mr. Justice Kwame Caesar, District Chief Executive called for a reduction in the cost of chemicals used in the production of iodated salt, to enable small-scale entrepreneurs to undertake the venture.
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ADB holds first zonal Akuafo Raffle draw in Kumasi
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 10 Nov. '99
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has held its first monthly zonal Akuafo Abasobo Raffle draw in Kumasi.
The zone comprises the New Edubiase, Atebubu, Goaso, Obuasi, Nkawkaw, Bekwai, Kumasi Main and Kumasi Market branches of the bank.
Twenty-three coupons drawn from all the branches attracted prizes ranging from bundles of roofing sheets, fertilisers, insecticides, Knapsack sprayers, Wax prints, bicycles, caps and 'T' shirts.
The first six winners had one bundle of Aluminium roofing sheets and a bicycle each, with the seventh to 12th winners collecting Gas lamps and stoves, Knapsack sprayers, wax prints, fertilisers and insecticides.
The 12th to 16th winners got a box of crocodile machetes each while the rest had caps and 'T' shirts as consolation prizes.
Mr Yaw Ntim of Yaa Asantewaa Hotel, Ejisu, was among the first six winners.
Four more of his coupons were drawn, making him the best raffle winner.
Mr Asare Fosuhene, National Best Farmer for 1998 who chaired the function, commended the ADB for instituting the raffle as a means of encouraging farmers to save.
In the Akuafo Abasobo Raffle, any 200,000 cedis deposited attracts a numbered coupon that qualifies the holder to participate in monthly zonal draws and two major national draws in January and June, next year.
The winners of the national draws get a three-bedroom house for the first prize, a two-bedroom house for the second prize, and an outboard motor, fishing nets and Kente cloths for the third prize.
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