Don't make the country ungovernable - NDC

BBC FM station launched in Accra

Mills receives Texas business group

Criminal libel laws cannot be repealed easily - Afreh

NPP Parliamentary candidate for Lower West Akyem elected

Peprah gets support from Ashanti NDC

There has not been any planned "demo" against Bekwaihene - Council

Wa gets Remand home for juveniles

Accra (Greater Accra), 16^th November 99

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday stated that it would continue to resist attempts that seek to destabilise the country and make it ungovernable.

It said the Constitution enjoins the party and the government to protect lives and property of Ghanaians adding that it is determined to guarantee peace and stability as non-negotiable conditions for national development.

Speaking at a news conference in Accra, Alhaji Issifu Ali, National Co-Chairman of the NDC, condemned the planned demonstration of opposition parties on Thursday, November 25.

He said a group calling itself the Ghana Armed Liberation Movement has, through the internet, broadcast and declared its intention to overthrow the NDC government on November 26.

Alhaji Ali said these developments "are obviously aimed at undermining the legitimacy of our government and the national constitution."

He described them as "blatant attempts to subvert the constitution and roll back the clock of democratic progress."

The co-chairman said the present economic difficulties could not be attributed to mismanagement of the economy and reiterated that the falling price of gold and cocoa as well as the soaring price of crude oil were causing the difficulties.

Alhaji Ali recalled that the government chalked successes in 1998 citing the reduction in inflation, tight fiscal control, provision of roads, bridges, hospitals, improved telecommunications network, modernised ports and liberalisation of the media as examples.

He described as "most ridiculous" the minority parties' demands for a reduction in specific petroleum taxes and the disclose of the formula for setting petroleum prices.

Alhaji Isifu criticised opposition demands for consultation and openness in policy formulation and implementation, saying the NDC has always adopted participatory and consultative approaches in dealing with national issues.

"Indeed the District Assembly concept is a very clear evidence of involving the local people in the affairs of their localities."

Mr. John Mahama, Minister of Communications and Member of Parliament for Bole, said the intended demonstration is counter-productive because it has no value since steps are being taken to address problems of the economy.

Mr. Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, said demonstrations have the potential of scaring away investors.

Mr. Moses Asaga, Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Nabdan, said efforts are underway to diversify the economy and to reduce reliance on certain traditional commodities.

Those present included Professor Kofi Awonor, Mr Kweku Baah, Madam Faustina Nelson, Ms Sherry Ayittey, all top officials of the party.

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Accra (Greater Acra), 16^th November 99

The BBC on Tuesday launched its re-broadcast frequency modulation (FM) station in Accra describing it as "a jewel in the crown of the operations of the BBC in Africa."

Mr. Barry Langridge, BBC World Service Regional Chief for Africa, described Ghana as a key strategic market for West Africa where "we have a large and loyal listenersship."

The launch was performed by Mrs. Rebecca Adotey, Deputy Minister of Communications bringing to 24 the total number of FM stations nation-wide since the airwaves were liberalised in 1994.

BBC world service which has already started broadcasting on 101.3 FM is the second foreign station after Radio France International (RFI) which is on 89.7 FM.

Mr. Langridge said they are delighted to be launching a 24-hour service in partnership with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) adding that this means a better and more accessible wavelength.

The technical facilities are being provided by the GBC under a joint co-operation agreement signed in August last year.

Among the programmes to be broadcast are the popular breakfast show, Network Africa and the evening current affairs programme, Focus on Africa.

Mrs. Adotey expressed the hope that the BBC FM broadcast in Accra would serve as an inspiration for an improvement in broadcasting and that the other stations will strive to be fair, truthful and balanced in their reportage.

"We also hope that these broadcasts will serve not only to inform, educate and entertain our people but also encourage national unity and integration rather than breed hatred and acrimony."

In another development, Mrs. Adotey, said that the ministry expects a speedy implementation of decisions of the meeting with owners and managers of radio stations.

This, she noted, is necessary in order to bring a new and improved dimension to broadcasting.

Mrs. Adotey did not specify what the decisions are but they are believed to have been reached at meeting between the Ministry and radio operators following the recent broadcast of controversial tape recording by a radio station of material the government has described as "unbridled and orchestrated programming" aimed at discrediting it to the outside world.

She said currently there are two Ghanaian stations re-broadcasting in London although as pirate stations.

"We have been approached by one of these stations for a letter of support in order to enable them to secure a radio license to legalise their operations in the UK.

"We intend to give them the needed support and hope that in the spirit of reciprocity, the Radio Authority of the UK will grant them a license to operate."

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Accra (Greater Accra), 16^th November 99

Vice-President John Atta Mills on Tuesday met with a business development mission from Houston, Texas, in the United States and told them that Ghana is ready for business.

"We've laid down the necessary infrastructure and are poised to forging partnership with investors," he told the group, led by the Mayor of Houston, Lee P. Brown at the Castle, Osu.

Mayor Brown, the first Black-American to be elected to that position, was a popular former Commissioner of New York Police and has a speciality in Security co-ordination.

The 20-member delegation arrived on Monday as part of a four-nation tour to explore trade and investment opportunities in Africa with special focus on banking and finance, construction and real estate, tourism, transportation, communications and health.

The group includes 11 business executives and nine government officials.

Its broad goals include increasing trade between Africa and Houston, achieving a more level playing field for Houston firms in Africa and transforming African-US relations from one of aid dependency to one of commercial partnership for mutual advantage.

Vice-President Mills told them that Ghanaians are committed and would work sincerely with foreign partners to ensure that their investments reap good results.

He said the group's presence in the country is evidence of its confidence and readiness to forge partnership with Ghana in particular and Africa in general.

He said such partnerships are highly recognised by government which, in turn, has worked over the years to provide congenial atmosphere for private investment.

Prof. Mills asked the group to link up with the relevant agencies such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in order to carve a worthwhile development course.

He said he looks forward to "visible signs" as soon as the delegation leaves Ghana.

Mayor Brown, an African-American, said the visit provides him with the opportunity to come home and forge business relationship with his people.

He said imports from Ghana through the port of Houston last year was 55 million dollars, representing 200 per cent increase over that of the previous year.

Mayor Brown said while in Ghana, the delegation would share the Houston experience in diversity of the economy with the Ghanaian officials, adding that Ghana has a great potential to enhance its economic base.

While in Ghana, the delegation would hold one-to-one meetings with Ghanaian Business Executives and related institutions before leaving on Wednesday. They are also expected to visit Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and South Africa.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 17^th November 99

Mr. Justice Kwame Afreh, an Appeal Court Judge, said on Monday that the history of criminal libel laws in Ghana makes it more difficult to expunge from the statute books than the media is suggesting.

He noted that such a process would have to begin with a critical review of those laws in relation to the 1992 constitution, "and must be done with the consent of the majority of our people whose reputation they are meant to protect."

Mr. Justice Afreh therefore called on the National Media Commission (NMC) to organise a forum of selected experts from all opinions to take a critical look at how these criminal libel laws could be repealed from the statute books.

He was speaking at a ceremony to mark this year's International Pen Day celebration for the Imprisoned Writer, organised by the Pen Club in Accra.

Mr. Justice Afreh said criminal libel, defamation, sedition and other laws described as obnoxious and extinct by the media were written and passed by the British colonial regime.

After independence, they were adopted and extensively used by subsequent governments, including those of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and General F.W.K. Akufo.

"Dr Kwame Nkrumah even used them against journalists and opposers of his policies."

He said it was expected that those laws would be repealed under the Busia regime but they were not.

Mr. Justice Afreh said the notion held by sections of the media that judges have the power to stop the application of those laws in the face of the 1992 constitution is wrong.

"As long as those laws remain in our statute books, judges are duty bound to interpret and apply them.

"Media practitioners and journalists must therefore disabuse their minds of the unfounded allegation that the judiciary is being influenced by the executive to maintain and apply criminal libel laws."

Mr. Justice Afreh said journalists should be aware that freedom of expression is balanced with appropriate mechanisms and laws that protect the reputation of citizens.

Mrs. Margaret Amoakohene, a lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, said some journalists who have had trouble with the law could have avoided such a situation if they had been guided.

She criticised editors who send young and, sometimes, student journalists to functions meant for editors.

"Our editors must wake up to the need for guidance in the our newsrooms".

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Asamankese (Eastern Region), 16^th November 99

Mr. Peter Kwaku Amoabeng, an Accra businessman, has been elected as the parliamentary candidate of the NPP for the Lower West Akyem constituency in next year's general elections.

Mr. Amoabeng received the nod of the members at a constituency delegate's conference at Asamankese.

He thanked the delegates and called for unity and sacrifices in the struggle to bring a change of government in Ghana.

He asked party members to brace themselves for a hectic campaigning, adding "if we have been in the dark, we have to get into the light. Come next year, Ghana will need to change".

The conference returned all members of the executive into office unopposed with Mr. Matthew Boateng as head of the executive committee.

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Kumasi (Ashanti), 16^th November 99

The Ashanti Regional Executive of the NDC has expressed surprise at charges of incompetence and mismanagement by the opposition political parties against the Minister of Finance, Mr. Richard Kwame Peprah.

A press statement issued and signed by Mr. P. E. K. Antwi, the Regional Chairman, said "it is most uncharitable and unfair to blame the country's present economic difficulties caused by international market pressures on the Minister".

It noted that budget planning is always made on the basis of the popular economic principle of "all things being equal" and wondered how Mr. Peprah could be expected to control external market influences.

The statement therefore saw no justification on the call on the Minister by the Opposition to resign his position.

"Mr. Peprah rather deserves commendation for the well and efficient manner he has handled the economy," the statement said, citing the significant fall in inflation and the fact that budgets prepared by him have never caused public uproar since they reflected the realities on the ground.

It asked the opposition to climb down from its entrenched position of always criticising and finding faults to suggesting alternative ways of propelling the economy forward.

The statement expressed support, confidence and faith in Mr. Peprah's ability to solve the temporary economic difficulties created by the fall in the price of cocoa and gold and the hike in petroleum prices.

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Bekwai (Ashanti), 16^th November 99

The Bekwai Traditional Council has denied reports that police reinforcement from Obuasi last Saturday prevented a planned demonstration against the installation of the new Omanhene, Nana Karikari Appau II.

The Council dismissed the report as "totally false and mischievous" and calculated to create unnecessary panic and tension".

Nana Asiedu Okofo, the Krontihene, told a press conference at Bekwai that "the Council is unaware of the arrest of any persons in connection with any abortive demonstration and that there has not been any police reinforcement to the town".

He said information available to them is that the three people, Opanin Kwasi Poku, Mr. Raphael Otu and Mr. Baffour Karikari alleged by the report to have been arrested on Saturday were rather invited by the District Security Committee (DISEC) on Thursday, November 11.

Nana Okofoh said it would "be most absurd, ridiculous and vexatious for anybody to suggest that the nomination, election and installation of Nana Appau was improper and that the "Ayeboafo Stool" had gone into wrong hands.

He maintained that "everything about the nomination, election and installation of the Omanhene conformed to custom. If anything, the Stool has found its rightful occupant".

The Krontihene explained that four previous Paramount Chiefs of Bekwai were from the direct ancestral lineage of Nana Appau, two of whom died on the stool while two were destooled.

He mentioned those who died on the Stool as Nana Asare Baffour VIII and Nana Karikari Appau XIII.

The destooled were Nana Asonade Kwame VIV and Nana Kwame Bona XIVth.

There is absolute peace and calm at Bekwai and that the new Omanhene enjoys massive support and goodwill of the people and the Traditional Council, he said.

Nana Okofo said of the three people invited by the DISEC, only Opanin Poku is a member of the Bekwai Oyoko family. Mr. Otu is a Fante while Mr. Karikari is from Adansi.

Nana Okofo wondered how "these people could be described as representing royals and the people of Bekwai".

He advised journalists of both the print and electronic media to cross check any information they come across with either the police, DISEC or the Council "to spare Bekwai of embarrassment and misleading reports".

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Wa (Upper West), 16^th November 99

The department of social welfare is constructing a two-unit remand home at Wa to be used as pre-trial custody of juveniles involved in serious offences.

The facility which would be completed by the end of this year, would also take care of juveniles who cannot be granted bail or placed on self-recognisance and for those who by the nature of their crime could be at risk if left in their communities.

Mr. Jonas Kaatori, Upper West Regional Director of the department said this at a two-day workshop on the theme: "current trends in juvenile justice administration in Ghana" at Wa, on Tuesday.

The workshop which attracted 56 participants from district assemblies, community tribunals, probation officers, prisons and police personnel in the region, was organised by the Department of Social Welfare and sponsored by Save the Children Fund (UK) Ghana programme.

It coincides with the 10^th anniversary of the United Nation's declaration of the rights of the child and seeks to create awareness on the Children's Act of 1998 which creates linkages among stakeholders in the administration of juvenile justice.

Mr Kaatori said with the support of Save the Children's Fund (UK) Ghana programme, 12 probation officers have been trained and posted to all the five districts of the region.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. David Osei-Wusu called on probation officers to look for non-custodial options of punishing juvenile criminals instead of mixing them with adult criminals who could become their role models.

"Juvenile crimes are on the increase and those who are involved in minor offences or are first offenders may be put in more hardened criminal posture if they are not separated from hardened convicts".

The regional minister said juveniles who commit crimes could reform within their communities while light punishments on them could hasten their social integration and erode any traces as stigma associated with ex-convicts.

He asked district assemblies to ensure that community tribunals are constituted with competent panel members to handle delicate juvenile cases.

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