Rawlings calls for consultation in settlement of Chimpanzees
Youth want name of metropolis restored
Businesswoman commends Police and Military
Brong Ahafo NPP denies NDC defection claim
Rawlings calls for consultation in settlement of Chimpanzees
Accra (Greater Accra), 26th November 99
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday directed the Minister of Lands and Forestry to initiate consultations with the relevant bodies and concerned groups on the proposed project by the U.S.-based organisation, Friends of the Earth, to settle a number of chimpanzees in the Volta Region.
The animals have been used for experiments in the United States and their settlement in the country has met with objections from sections of the public.
An official statement issued by Nana Opoku Acheampong, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, said the traditional authorities would be part of the consultations, which would also cover the review of the environmental impact assessment of the project.
It said the outcome of the consultations and the appropriate recommendations are to be submitted to the office of the president within the next three weeks.
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Chinese company to re-open.
Kpone (Greater Accra), 26th November 99
Sanbao, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Company at Kpone, which was closed down following a raid by a gang of armed robbers, will be re-opened by the middle of next month.
Mr. Meng Fan Ming, Managing Director of the company announced this at a reception for Ms. Beatrice Naa Afieye Ashong, Member of Parliament for Kpone/Katamanso and Nii Tetteh Otu II at Kpone.
He said 20,000 dollars worth of spare parts for the equipment used for the production of insulin which was tampered with by the by the armed robbers would arrive in the country next week.
The MD said the police are providing security in the area, adding, "I feel investors will be able to work in a peaceful atmosphere this time."
He thanked the MP who donated 500,000 cedis and some food items to the Chinese employees and their Ghanaian counterparts when she visited the factory premises after the robbery.
Ms Ashong hoped that with adequate security being provided now, the company would increase production.
"If you get more profit, you will be able to expand to create more job opportunities for the youth in Kpone and the Tema Municipality in general."
Nii Otu said Ghana Telecom would soon extend telephone facilities to the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) to assist companies to transact their businesses with greater ease.
One of the eight armed robbers who attacked the factory, identified as Abinga, was shot dead while two others Yakubu Egala and Lartey who were wounded are still on admission under police guard at the Police Hospital in Accra.
The police are still hunting for the other five accomplices.
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Youth want name of metropolis restored
Sekondi (Western Region), 26th November 99
The Western Region Youth Association (WRYA) has called on the government to restore the status and name of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).
Mr. Joe Armah, General Secretary of the Association said in an interview with newsmen at Sekondi on Thursday that the sudden change of the Assembly's original name from Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) was done illegally, and without the consent of the people.
The new name is creating ethnic tension among the people, he said, and hoped that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development will act immediately.
Mr. Armah said the Association would support any move to create a separate District for Shama.
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Businesswoman commends Police and Military
Tema (Greater Accra), 26th November 99
Mrs. Elizabeth Mensah, a Tema Businesswoman has commended the Police and the Military for the swift manner they acted when robbers attacked her shop at dawn last week Thursday.
Mrs. Mensah told newsmen that at about two a.m. that day, one of the watchmen who managed to escape, came to report to her at home that thieves were breaking into her shop after they tied and gagged the other watchmen.
Mrs. Mensah said she and the watchman reported to the Community One Police station, which sent out a radio message. She said before she got to her shop, Police and Military personnel were already there.
According to the watchmen, the robbers, numbering about 10 wore only pants and had smeared themselves with oil.
He said they smashed the glass doors and tried to enter from about four different points but they were frustrated by the burglar-proof fence.
Mrs Mensah said even though the thieves escaped before the security personnel arrived, "they still deserve commendation for the swift manner they responded to the emergency call."
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Brong Ahafo NPP denies NDC defection claim
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo), 26th November 99
The Brong Ahafo branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described as a hoax a recent newspaper publication that said 153 members of the party had defected to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
"We want to make it clear that none of our numerous supporters and sympathisers in the region have defected to the NDC and the said publication is only part of the NDC's politics of deception."
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the regional youth organiser of the NPP, Mr. Kwame Twumasi-Awua, in reaction to a story in the November 24 edition of the 'Daily Graphic' headlined "153 NPP members join NDC".
The statement said there is ample evidence to prove that the NDC paraded their own supporters from outlying communities and introduced them at their poorly attended rally at Sunyani as defectors.
"The NPP will like to emphasise that its membership in the region is growing rapidly due to the people's disillusionment with the harsh policies of the government and the party is ready to win the next elections to save Ghanaians from further hardships".
The statement pointed out that the "NDC is notoriously famed for introducing their own supporters as defectors from other parties just to demoralise and create panic among the minority parties.
"Those dirty political tricks cannot deceive Ghanaians any more as they are all witnesses to the ineptitude of the NDC government and are yearning for a change," it stressed.
The statement advised the NDC not to waste its time and resources on phony defection exercises but devote its energy to finding solutions to the numerous problems they have created for the country.
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