Donors pledge 1.7 billion dollars for Ghana in 2000-2001
Ghana celebrates Millennium next year
Regional Minister to hold regular durbars with parties
President orders car to be released to Mr Ofoe
Workshop on National Building Regulations Ends
Donors pledge 1.7 billion dollars for Ghana in 2000-2001
Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Nov. '99,
The 10th Consultative Meeting between Ghana and her development partners ended on Wednesday with a pledge of 1.7 billion dollars for Ghana in the next two years.
Mr Peter Harrold, World Bank Country Director at a press conference to dilate on the two-day meeting, said that the donors have confirmed the pledge.
He said the shortfall of 80 million dollars from the last previous CG Meeting's commitments is expected in eight weeks.
Mr Harrold said the meeting reviewed the performance of the economy over the last two years, and the donors resolved to support the programme of stabilisation and reform embarked on by the government.
He was flanked by Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance and his two deputies, Mr J. H. Owusu-Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture and Directors of the IMF and World Bank office in Accra.
Mr Harrold said there is an estimated shortfall of some 120 million dollars for 2000-2001.
He said several donors have indicated their willingness to provide additional programme support, but said such assistance would depend on how fast the government puts in place its response to the adverse external conditions, as well as the quality of the measures implemented.
Mr Harrold said the government presented its programme to address the impact of the sharp deterioration in terms of trade through a combination of revenue enhancing measures - including an increase in the rate of VAT and expenditure cuts.
They also outlined measures taken to reduce corruption.
Donors were impressed about the government's commitment to combat corruption and asked for more action to be taken.
He said the meeting supported the government’s plans to intensify efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS "Given the strong convergent of views, government and its partners agreed to enhance their collaboration and follow up with urgency the commitments made at the meeting".
Mr Harrold indicated that plans on agriculture took centre stage, recognising the close link between improved productivity and growth and poverty reduction.
Mr Owusu-Acheampong who led the government side explained that the sector programme approach, which is aimed at modernising agricultural methods, would lead to increase in productivity and rural incomes.
Mr Owusu-Acheampong said it was important to reduce the overall burden that farmers face in their quest to increase food supplies, and stressed the need to source more funding for their operations.
He said more would be done to increase the value of Ghana's primary commodities.
Mr Harrold said government needs to deepen the pro-poor direction of policy, particularly relating to lagging regions and disadvantaged groups such as food crop farmers.
Quoting from the Ghana Living Standards Survey presented to the Meeting, Mr Harrold said the data indicated that population below the absolute poverty line decreased from 35.7 per cent in 1991-1992 to 29.4 per cent in 1998 to 1999.
" But not all areas shared in the gains. The share of the population classified as extremely poor, rose marginally in the rural savannah and urban areas, than Accra".
Mr Kwame Peprah described the two days as ones where they had "very successful discussions"
He said they covered very critical areas and expressed appreciation of the involvement of the private sector and civil society, for the first time, which benefited the Meeting immensely.
He said the holding of the meeting in Accra offered the opportunity of sector ministers to take the stand to explain specific programmes of their sector, something that was not possible at previous CG Meetings.
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Ghana celebrates Millennium next year
Batsonaa (Greater Accra) 25 Nov. ’99
Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, on Wednesday clarified the numerous arguments by some statisticians and mathematicians on the correct date of the commencement of the next millennium.
He said even though the next millennium begins in January 2001, the whole world, including Ghana, officially recognises the year 2000, next year, as a millennium and plans to celebrate it.
Mr Mahama said this at Batsonaa in Tema during a familiarisation tour of the Texpo'99 site.
The fair, which begins on Thursday, is under the theme "Millennium Trade and Industrial Show".
The Minister, who was accompanied by Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema Municipal Chief Executive, said most Ghanaians will not be disappointed and uncomfortable waiting for another year to celebrate the millennium.
He expressed satisfaction after the inspection and commended the TMA and the workers for a good work done.
Mr. Dan Acheampong, Human Affairs Manager, Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), donated a cheque for seven million cedis towards the gateway awards night.
Miss Delpine Dogbegah, Sales and Marketing Manager of Ravico Hotel, also donated a cheque for five million cedis and some assorted drinks in aid of a netball tournament during TEXPO '99.
Nii Armah thanked both organisations for their kind gesture.
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Regional Minister to hold regular durbars with parties
Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 25 Nov. '99,
Mr Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, Ashanti Regional Minister, has pledged to hold regular durbars with political parties in the region as a means of building fruitful co-operation, peace and understanding among them.
He said his administration would be transparent and, therefore expected the parties to approach him for discussions or clarification on issues that they do not understand.
Mr Nuamah-Donkor was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the political parties in Ashanti on Wednesday.
Five out of the seven national parties, namely the NDC, NPP, Egle Party, PNC and DPP were represented.
The Regional Minister said it was not possible for everybody to belong to the same party but pointed out that the parties could all take a united stand when it comes to issues of national importance.
He said there was nothing the parties could not do if they spoke with one voice on national issues, adding that they could, for instance, invite the Minister of Finance to come down and explain to them the state of the nation's economy.
This way, Mr Nuamah-Donkor said, there would be no need for demonstrations and called for love and unity among the parties so that they could realise their ambitions without recourse to any form of violence.
Mr Kwabena Agyening Boateng, Ashanti Regional Organiser of the NPP, suggested the formation of a football team among the parties in the region to strengthen co-operation and unity.
He said his main objective as the Regional Organiser is to ensure that insults, mudslinging and other activities, which retard progress are eliminated from politics in the region.
Mr Nti Fordjour, Ashanti Regional Vice-Chairman of the NDC, appealed to the Concerned Citizens Group to find a way of seeking dialogue with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to iron out any problems that may exist between them and the Metropolitan Chief Executive.
Furthermore, he asked the parties to explain to their supporters the cause of the financial crisis now facing the country instead of resorting to demonstrations.
Alhaji Awudu Ariif Abubakar Sadiq, Ashanti Regional Organiser of the NDC, called for regular dialogue among the political parties as a means of forging unity.
He said the NDC has shown the way by attending the funerals of some members of the other parties and that this should set the tone for mutual co-existence.
Mr Thomas Atigah, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the PNC, said demonstrations are a means of expressing dissatisfaction and that it is a constitutional right, which must be exercised.
He, however, pledged the preparedness of the party to work in close harmony with the other parties to ensure peace, unity and development.
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Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 25 Nov. '99,
The Association of Processed Drinking Water Producers (APDWP) has appealed to the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) for a downward review of the certification renewal fee of 210,000 cedis they pay in every six months.
The association expressed concern about the long delay in the issuance of certificates after payment of the registration fee.
Members suggested that certification be done once, and rather licences be renewed at regular intervals to ensure quality production.
The association took these decisions at a meeting with officials of the GSB in Kumasi on Wednesday.
The members maintained that the 210,000 cedis renewal fee "is unrealistic" and would only encourage most of its members to manufacture sub-standard products.
Mr Yacubu Alhassan, Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of GSB, explained that the delay in the issuing of certificates was due to the fact that the GSB needed a considerable amount of time for the tests.
He however admitted that the delay could sometimes be due to administrative lapses.
On the renewal fee he said the GSB needs such monies to cover the high operational costs of the tests.
Mr Patrick Adu-Gyamfi, Managing Director of Century Mineral Water and an executive member said the APDWP, which was started last year, aims at ensuring that quality water is sold, thereby safeguarding the health of customers.
The association has set up a task force that conducts periodic checks in factories to ensure that its members comply with standards.
On the proper disposal of used polythene bags, Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the association was negotiating with the Sanitation and Decongestion Tigers (SADAT) to collect them for a fee.
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President orders car to be released to Mr Ofoe
Accra, (Greater Accra), 25 Nov. '99,
Nana Ato Dadzie, Acting Chief of Staff, has released a car for the temporary use of Mr Victor Ofoe, a High Court judge, whose car got burnt in a suspected case of arson at his residence about two weeks ago.
A statement issued on Wednesday said Nana Dazdie acted on a directive by President Jerry John Rawlings.
The vehicle has been allocated to Mr Ofoe pending the conclusion of police investigations into the incident.
The car was burnt shortly after he handed a 90-day sentence to Eben Quarcoo, former Editor of the 'Free Press', for libelling the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
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Workshop on National Building Regulations Ends
Accra, (Greater Accra) 24 Nov. '99,
A two-day workshop on safety aspects of the construction industry for institutions and stakeholders in the building industry ended on Wednesday at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Accra.
It was under the theme "Towards Improved National Building Regulations".
The 60 participants, who were drawn form various organisations whose activities impact on the building industry, agreed on the need to revise existing building regulations, particularly with regard to flood prevention, land-use and improved construction against earthquake damage.
They were taken through several topics, including Geological Disasters mitigation and the Ghana National Building Regulations, and Geo-technical Consideration Towards the Establishment of a building Code in Ghana.
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