Tenth Consultative Group Meeting for Ghana's donors to be held in Accra
GPRTU protest against alleged discrimination
EP Church, Ghana, celebrates anniversary
Jamaican Prime Minister to visit Ghana
Ghana, Togo to have exchange programme in English and French
German Government votes 15 billion cedis for VIP
Korbieh denies membership of Reform party
Four-day mining and development conference opens in Accra
Take part in refresher courses or ..Pharmacy Council warns
US ship to participate in training exercise in Ghana
Finance Ministry urged to clear retired officers on contract
Tenth Consultative Group Meeting for Ghana's donors to be held in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. '99
The 10th Consultative Group (CG) Meeting for Ghana will be held in Accra from November 23-24.
A statement from the World Bank in Accra on Monday said participants from all over the world will attend the two-day meeting. This is the first time that the Consultative Group for Ghana is meeting in Ghana.
Consultative Groups are forums where developing countries meet with their donor partners to discuss the key policy issues facing the country and for the donors to give indications of their expected financial support to the country concerned.
Some of these CGs are held every year, but in the case of African countries, it is normally held every two years.
The last CG for Ghana was held in Paris on 5 -6 November, 1997. At that event, some 1.6 billion dollars was committed in external assistance to Ghana for the years 1998-99.
"The CG meeting being held in Ghana is an important symbolic change, signalling the growing lead that the Government of Ghana is taking in its relations with its external partners."
The statement said this is reflected also in the way the Government has taken charge of launching the Comprehensive Development Framework process in Ghana and is managing the Common Country Assessment with the World Bank and with the rest of the United Nations System.
"This is a very opportune time for Ghana to host this CG meeting. As recent discussions in Parliament and in the press have revealed, Ghana is facing acute financial pressures in the period ahead, not least because of the fall in the world prices of cocoa and gold, and the rise in the price of oil.
"In addition to measures that the country will itself be taking to address these difficulties, it is appropriate for Ghana to look to its external partners for assistance at this time."
The statement said CG provides the opportunity for the Government to have a dialogue with its external partners, and given these economic difficulties, the CG is most timely.
It said one of the explicit purposes of holding a CG meeting in the country concerned rather than outside the country is to provide the national press with a better opportunity to interact with the participants and to cover the event.
In addition to the opening event, which will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre on November 23, members of the press will be invited to a press conference at the end of the CG meeting, anticipated for November 24 at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
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GPRTU protest against alleged discrimination
Sekondi (Western Region) 16 Nov. '99
Taxi and Tro-tro drivers in Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis belonging to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Monday morning refused to pick passengers in protest against an alleged discrimination against them.
The protest was aimed at the mandate given to the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) by the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) to exclusively manage the Apremdo Lorry Park.
The newly constructed Lorry Park which should have been commissioned by PROTOA on Monday, had to be postponed when GPRTU members stormed the offices of the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC).
They presented a formal protest to Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, Western Regional Minister.
The leadership of the Regional branch of the union held a closed door meeting with Mr. Seidu Adamu, Deputy Regional Minister, Lt.- Col. Kaku Korsah, Metropolitan Chief Executive and officials of RCC and SAEMA.
A press release issued after the meeting said the attention of the RCC has been drawn to announcements by PROTOA about routes it would ply within and outside the metropolis.
The RCC requested PROTOA to halt further announcements on the routes it Intended to operate.
The RCC also urged SAEMA to invite executives of PROTOA , for a meeting to determine the conditions under which it would manage the Apremdo Lorry Park
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EP Church, Ghana, celebrates anniversary
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 16 Nov. '99
The Koforidua district of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, celebrated its district anniversary on Sunday, with an appeal to Ghanaians to use their given talents responsibly for the socio-economic development of the nation.
Rev. John James K. Tulasi, a pastor of the Suhum E.P. Church, in a sermon to mark the anniversary, attributed the present hardships facing the country to the failure of many people, especially Christians, to put their talents at the disposal of the nation.
The anniversary also coincided with the celebration of the Foundation Day of the E.P. Church, Ghana, which was organised throughout all its churches on Sunday.
Congregations from the seven branches of the church namely Koforidua, Suhum, Akim Tafo, Akropong, Asamankese, Kade and Kibi attended.
Rev. Tulasi said although God had given us talents, wisdom and knowledge to identify what is good or bad for the progress of the country, "we have buried these talents to the detriment of the society."
He therefore asked Christians to be guided by virtues of unity and love to contribute their quota towards the country's development.
Rev Tulasi urged parents to take decisions that would make their children responsible citizens.
Mr Senyo Dzamefe, chairman of the Koforidua circuit tribunal, who chaired the function asked Christians to donate financially and materially towards the progress and growth of the churches.
Over three million cedis was realised in an appeal for funds.
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Jamaican Prime Minister to visit Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. '99
The Jamaican Prime Minister Percival James Patterson will pay a three-day official visit to Ghana from Tuesday, 16 November to Thursday 18 November.
An official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on Monday said the visit is at the invitation of President Jerry Rawlings.
The statement said the visit would coincide with the inaugural meeting of the Ghana-Jamaica Joint Commission for Co-operation.
The meeting has been convened within the context of widening and deepening relations between the two countries with a view to enhancing socio-economic interaction.
While in the country, the Jamaican Prime Minister will hold discussions with President Rawlings during which the two leaders are expected to deliberate on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Mr Patterson will meet some chiefs and queen mothers of the Ga Traditional Area and the Caribbean Community in Ghana.
The Jamaican Prime Minister will visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum where he will lay a wreath in memory of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, be guest of honour at a durbar of chiefs at Cape Coast, tour the Cape Coast, Elmina castles as well as the Kakum National Park. He will also visit the Akosombo and Akuse dams.
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Ghana, Togo to have exchange programme in English and French
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. '99
Ghanaians with some basic knowledge of French and Togolese who have studied some English will soon get the chance to practice these languages across their common frontier.
A statement issued in Accra on Monday said Mr. David Anaglate, Ghana's Ambassador to Togo, has formed a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to promote these language exchange programme at affordable costs.
The statement signed by the Ambassador said under the exchange programme, Ghanaians participants would stay in Togo for four to six weeks a year to polish their French.
The NGO called "French For Friendship" would also assist Togolese who want to polish spoken English to come to Ghana for the same period.
It has been proposed that each participant should pay about 18,000 CFA francs or its equivalent, inclusive of logistics and transport for brief tours of Ghana and Togo as the case may be.
Mr Anaglate said it has been realised that many Ghanaians have studied French in school, both at the ordinary and advanced levels but are unable to speak it fluently for the lack of the opportunity to practice.
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German Government votes 15 billion cedis for VIP
Hwidiem (Ashanti) 16 Nov. '99
The German Government has voted 15 billion cedis in support of the country's Village Infrastructure Programme (VIP), Mr Christian Nakonz, the German Ambassador, has announced.
He noted that the VIP would help to bring about significant improvement in the lives of people in rural communities.
The Ambassador made this known when he joined the chiefs and people of Hwidiem in the Asante-Akim North District in their "Akwasidae" celebration.
Mr Nakonz who spoke of German assistance to the area said through the German Development Bank (KFW), his Government is rehabilitating 38 Teacher Training Colleges in the country and mentioned the Agogo Training College as one of the institutions benefiting from this.
Besides, they have also been assisting in the training of Doctors from the Agogo Hospital, in Germany.
He called on the people in the area to take interest in the fate and direction of the Agogo Hospital in view of its tremendous contribution towards their health needs.
"It is through your understanding, support and contribution that the hospital can remain and function well," he said.
Mr Nakonz praised the chief of Hwidiem, Nana Anarfi Kokortoh, for his leadership qualities and observed that traditional authority, when exercised more effectively, could promote unity, peace and development.
The Resident Director of Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Mr Peter Schellschmidt, said their association with the people of Hwidiem started six years ago when the Foundation provided the community with an 18 million cedis "gari" factory.
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Korbieh denies membership of Reform party
Jirapa ( Northern Region) 16 Nov. '99
Mr Francis Korbieh, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Saturday denied rumours in the Jirapa constituency that he and Mr Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport have joined the National Reform Party.
Mr Kobieh and Mr Salia, both from the constituency, refuted this rumour at a National Democratic Congress meeting to plan strategies towards next year's elections.
The Deputy Minister strongly affirmed his commitment and that of Mr Salia who is attending the Commonwealth Head of States conference in South Africa, to the NDC.
He said the two of them are loyal members of the NDC and "will live and die with the party".
He advised the constituents to be wary of people who go about peddling rumours about people in the government in order to divide the ranks of the NDC.
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Four-day mining and development conference opens in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. '99
A four-day international conference on mining, development and social conflicts on Monday opened in Accra with calls for the institution of regulatory measures to mitigate conflicts between companies and local communities.
It is being attended by about 30 mining companies, environmental activists and intellectuals from Ghana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Canada, United States, Sierra Leone, Philippines, United Kingdom, Australia and Ethiopia.
The conference is discussing a number of subjects including the role of multi and bilateral institutions in the mining sector, economic development of mineral endowed
African countries, gender and mining, environmental impact of mining and alternative sources of livelihood and social conflicts in Africa.
It is being organised by the Third World Network Secretariat.
Presenting a paper on the role of multi-lateral and bilateral actors in shaping mining activities in Africa, Dr Bonnie K. Campbell of the Department of Political Science of the University of Quebec and Montreal, Canada, said the concept of liberalisation calls for the redefinition of the role of the state in mining activities.
Dr Campbell stressed that emphasis should be placed on deregulation and its consequences on environmental legislation, the increasing use of private security companies and the issue of political accountability.
Dr Yao Graham, Co-ordinator of Third World Network, urged the participants to take the deliberations seriously saying the outcome of the conference will form an invaluable information base on mining, development and social conflicts on the continent.
Participants observed that some of the mining companies use their security agencies to torment communities and this generates tension and conflicts.
They said operation of arms wielding private security companies especially those related to mining firms may compromise national security.
They therefore called for measures to regulate the growing private security industry associated with the mines.
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Take part in refresher courses or ..Pharmacy Council warns
Tamale (Northern Region) 16 Nov. '99
The Ghana Pharmacy Council will withdraw the licenses of pharmacy and chemical shop-owners who do not participate in annual refresher courses aimed at exposing them to new trends in the marketing of drugs.
Mr Anthony Amalba, Northern Zonal Officer of the council, said in Tamale that "drugs play a vital role in health delivery and it will be disastrous to allow shops to operate without upgrading the knowledge of their owners".
Addressing the last in a series of national workshops for Licensed Chemical Sellers in Tamale, he said participants of such training courses are offered certificates and a handbook.
Mr Amalba said 429 chemical sellers in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions have benefited from the training programme, bringing the total number of trained chemical dealers this year, to 5,133 throughout the country.
The workshop was a follow up to a similar one organised for pharmacy shop owners early this year.
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US ship to participate in training exercise in Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. '99
The US amphibious ship USS Carter Hall, USS Carter Hall, will arrive in Tema, Ghana on Sunday, November 21, 1999 for a three-day visit.
The ship, with 300 marines and a US Coast Guard mobile training team, will dock at Tema as part of the West African training cruise (WATC'99) from October 31 until November 30, 1999.
A statement from the USIS said the ship would also stop at a number of ports, including Cape Town, South Africa; Walvis Bay, Namibia; Lagos, Nigeria; and Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
It said the purpose of WATC'99 is to foster a spirit of co-operation between the naval forces of the United States and participating African nations.
The Marine and Coast Guard mobile training team will conduct exercises on oil-spill clean up and containment, some medical training, and also deliver items from "Project Handclasp."
Project Handclasp is a cornerstone of the US Navy's people-to-people programme. Through this world-wide project, Navy ships annually distribute food, clothing, health care supplies, school materials, and other items to eligible organizations.
American companies, charitable organizations, and private citizens donate these materials.
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Finance Ministry urged to clear retired officers on contract
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Nov. '99
The Minister of Finance has been called upon to implement the portion of his 1998 budget statement in which he said all contract appointments in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will need to be approved by him and the sector minister.
Togbui Nanevi Katsekpor II, who styles himself as a concerned senior citizen, made the call in a statement to the office of the Vice-President, the Ministers of Finance and Education, the Majority and Minority Leaders in parliament.
Togbui Katsekpor referred to the statement by Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, on the subject and said the issue of retired officers on contract "has now become a serious threat to up and-coming junior officers in the system (MDAs).
"Junior officers are complaining bitterly about the perpetuation of this demoralising factor which tends to stifle the enthusiasm and zeal of those young ones still in active service."
Togbui Katsekpor mentioned the Non-Formal Education Division, Ghana Education Service, headquarters and NACVET Secretariat as the most "infested" MDAs with retired officers on contracts.
He urged the Minister of Finance to "wake up to his responsibilities" in "clearing" and "wiping" out all those "persona- non grata" in the system.
In his budget statement, Mr Peprah said "it is clear that in a number of cases, there is no basis for hiring retired officers on contract.
"This morale sapping phenomenon for those waiting to be promoted will be curtailed." He had said.
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