NPP Condemns NDC over controversial tape

Ghana, Jamaica call for enhanced relations

Civil Service Council orders members to lower red flags

Let's join hands in combating climate change - Ocran

Spacefon welcomes Ghana Telecom's new move

Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th November 99

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday condemned the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its General-Secretary, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya for attempting to link the NPP to the controversial tape, whose contents were published by the Statesman owned by Nana Akufo Addo, NPP Parliamentarian for Abuakwa.

The NPP said in a statement in Accra that it condemns attempts by the government and the security agencies to kill investigations into the tape.

The statement said the National Executive Committee of the NPP last Tuesday held an emergency meeting at which they deliberated on the issue.

"In the view of the NPP, the contents of the tape have far-reaching political and security implications and, therefore, are of vital interest to the people of Ghana."

It said the NPP is convinced that it is the responsibility of every citizen to apprise the government and security agencies of any activities that threaten the security of the state or which involve the possible commission of crime.

"The NPP, accordingly, endorses the decision of the publishers of the Statesman to distribute copies of the tape to the Minister of the Interior and the Security Agencies"

The party added that it also "strongly supports" the call for an independent probe to identify the voices and deal with the culprits according to law.

The statement said "it is abominable to claim the tape is part of NPP's sinister plot when no plot has been proven against the NPP and when no investigation has been conducted to identify the voices on the tape as belonging to any known genuine NPP member."

"The NPP considers it unfortunate that the National Democratic Congress as a party, the government and pliable security agency officials prejudiced any proper investigation of the tape by declaring it outright as 'forged' without taking even preliminary steps to verify its authenticity".

The Police said it is investigating the tape, which was also broadcast by an Accra FM radio station.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th November 99

Ghana and Jamaica on Thursday reaffirmed their determination to enhance economic, trade and cultural relations.

In a communiqué at end of a the three-day visit of Jamaican Prime Minister Percival James Patterson to Ghana, the two sides agreed to work towards the early adoption of bilateral agreements for trade and investment.

The communiqué was read by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Mr. Victor Gbeho and witnessed by President Jerry John Rawlings and Prime Minister Patterson as well as Ministers and officials from the two sides.

It said that it was the conviction of the two leaders that direct air and shipping links between Ghana and the Caribbean would encourage interaction between their private sector operators and promote tourism and cultural exchanges.

The visit of the Jamaican leader accompanied by a delegation of government and business executives coincided with the inaugural meeting of the Ghana-Jamaica Joint Commission for Co-operation to expand relations with a view to enhancing socio-economic interaction.

On the international front, particularly negotiations between ACP countries and the European Union for a successor agreement to the Lome IV Convention, both leaders underscored the indispensability of maintaining ACP unity.

"They were convinced that the proposals for dividing the ACP into several trade groups would not secure their interest and would undermine their potential for mutually beneficial trade and other arrangements with Europe."

The two leaders also exchanged views on the just ended meeting of Commonwealth Heads of State in Durban and other issues.

President Rawlings and Prime Minister Patterson reiterated their respect for the principle and objectives of the United Nations, the non-aligned Movement and the Commonwealth, as well as their respective regional organisations, which they said, constitute an ideal framework for the consolidation of peaceful co-existence.

The two leaders reaffirmed their support for the reforms going on within the UN and commended the secretary-general, Mr. Kofi Annan, for "his bold initiatives" aimed at strengthening the world body, making it more effective and able to face the challenges of the new millennium.

President Rawlings congratulated Prime Minister Patterson on Jamaican's election to the UN Security Council and expressed the hope that the island would use the membership to defend the interests of developing and small states.

The communiqué said both leaders recognise the need for a new international order, which promotes social justice, a vibrant democratic culture and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms as well as the rule of law.

While in the country, Mr. Patterson held talks with President Rawlings on international, regional and bilateral issues.

They also briefed each other on political and economic developments in their respective countries.

Mr. Patterson paid a courtesy call on the Ga Traditional Council and met the Caribbean Community in Ghana.

He also visited Cape Coast where he was the Guest of Honour at a durbar of the Chiefs and people and toured Cape Coast and Elimina Castles and Akosombo.

He laid a wreath in memory of Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at the mausoleum in Accra.

He left for home on Thursday.

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Accra (Greater Accra), November 99

The National Executive Council of the Civil Service Association on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the government's approach to solving grievances under the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) and ordered all red flags and banners to be lowered.

A statement by the National President Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu said in the face of this positive development, it is asking all those given the task to resolve the grievances to do it properly in order to uphold industrial peace in the service.

The statement noted that the first year of implementation of the GUSS has come and gone with a number of public sector organisations still not on board and appealed to the government to take swift steps to bring on board the other organisations as recommended by the consultants.

It tasked the Controller and Accountant General, Office of the Head of the Civil Service and the Central Management Board to organise training sessions for accounting officers and personnel officers on the new pay schedule.

The statement expressed the Council's regret that the government had allowed them to "bare their teeth" before it sat up adding that what happened could have been easily averted if the government had supported frequent dialogue with the association.

The Council said it hoped the government would pursue all outstanding issues while continuing the process of dialogue to uphold industrial peace.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th November 99

Mr. Lee Ocran, Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, on Thursday called for a concerted effort by all stakeholders to help combat the potential impacts of climate change, which could have a major effect on socio-economic development efforts.

Opened the Strategic Workshop on Ghana's Initial National Communication to the conference of parties of the UNFCCC, Mr. Ocran said Ghana has ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In doing this, she joined the international community in affirming that the continued increase of atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and the potential for adverse impact on global climate and on sustainable development, require the collective efforts of the global community.

"This affirmation underscores Ghana's belief that the sustainability of national, regional and global programmes and initiatives aimed at promoting and ensuring socio-economic development depend on sound environmental stewardship."

The two-day workshop is being attended by about 40 participants drawn from the Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Ministry of Mines and Energy, University of Ghana, Legon, Water Research Institute and the Forestry Commission, among other institutions.

The workshop is to provide a forum for the discussion of Ghana's initial national communication on climate change after ratifying the UNFCCC in 1995.

The convention defines climate change to mean a change in climate, which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

Mr. Ocran said there is sufficient scientific evidence to suggest that human activities have altered the composition of the atmosphere with particular reference to greenhouse gases and their precursors.

"The second assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change attests to the fact that the world's climate has undergone a rapid change over the past century."

He said several climatic models have been developed and tested, and they all project unprecedented climatic changes by the year 2050.

"These models furthermore project that changes in climate will have significant and often adverse consequences for many of the earth's ecological systems, as well as severe socio-economic repercussions for food supply, water resources and human health."

The situations are likely to compound poor environmental health conditions in many countries, he added.

Mrs. Agnes Guimba-Ouedraogo, Acting United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative said the programme is determined to support efforts of developing countries to combine implementation of the climate convention with poverty eradication.

She said it is a well-known fact that it would take some 100 years before the cumulative carbon dioxide emissions from developing countries equals those of industrialised countries. However, with changes in the earth's climate, developing countries would be hit first and hardest.

Dr Peter Acquah, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency, said the signs of climate change may already be with us in Ghana with issues such as floods and coastal erosion.

He said this was the time to create awareness and institute the necessary measures to slow down the phenomenon.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th November 99

Spacefon, the only operator of GSM mobile phones in the country, on Thursday said that the publicised intention of Ghana Telecom (GT) to provide nation-wide mobile phone services through GSM hand sets "is most refreshing and welcome."

"We are not at all threatened by GT's new move since it would only prove the high quality of our services to the public. It will also reveal that we are not the cause of the recent problems the public face when calling to our numbers," Mr. Fouad Chalabi, Commercial Manager of Spacefon, said in an interview.

GT recently announced its intention to start a nation-wide mobile phone service from December this year, using GSM handsets, which Spacefon also uses through the GT network.

While some Spacefon customers described GT's move as sabotage of the operations of Spacefon, others said they would switch to GT immediately they start the mobile service, because of the difficulty in getting Spacefon numbers.

Mr. Chalabi said the current problems the public face when dialling Spacefon numbers is due to traffic jam as a result of the inadequate number of channels granted the company on the GT network.

He said Spacefon has only 12 access channels on the GT network, adding, "we have applied for 10 more, but they have not been approved yet."

Mr. Chalabi said, "Spacefon and GT are not at loggerheads … we are partners in the telecommunications industry and we are working in close collaboration to solve the traffic jam problem and ensure customer satisfaction".

He said as far as Spacefon was concerned, there was no foul play on the part of GT.

Mr Chalabi said his company currently covers Accra, Tema, Takoradi, Kumasi, Obuasi and Bibiani and there are plans to expand towards eastern and northern Ghana soon.

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