GRi Newsreel 01-10-99

Give us back our moneys - exhibitors

Accra (Greater Accra), 30^th September 99

Exhibitors at the second Ghana International Tourism Fair dubbed Inter-Tourism '99, on Thursday appealed to the organisers to extend its duration to enable them to "make enough sales to recoup the high participation fees."

They also called on the organisers to stop charging gate fees so that a lot more people could visit the stands.

Speaking to the GNA, Nana Yaw Koranteng, a spokesman for a group of aggrieved exhibitors said, "we are planning to embark on a peaceful demonstration this morning if the organisers do not respond positively.

"If they are not ready to extend the period and stop charging the gate fee, then we want our moneys back".

Nana Koranteng said exhibitors dealing in goods such as textiles, batik, artefacts and other tangible wares paid 358,000 cedis for a space and had to construct their own structures while another 50,000 cedis was paid for electricity and water supply.

"Some of us paid 240,000 for a structure to be erected for them while others constructed their own structures as additional costs."

Nana Koranteng, who is also the Managing Director of Denipat Limited, said in spite of all the high fees, patronage at the fair has been very poor due to low publicity and the high gate fee of 2000 cedis for adults and 1000 cedis for children.

"This fair is a failure but we will move heaven and earth to get our money."

A survey by the GNA at the fair grounds showed that all the exhibitors on the top floor of the round pavilion have moved to the down floor, others have moved out of the pavilions and mounted tables outside to attract patronage.

Mrs.Marie Joof, a Gambian exhibitor, said she paid so much for customs for her participation in the fair, adding, "I have already regretted coming all the way from the Gambia to participate in this ill organised fair with poor publicity."

Mr. Ibrahim Iddrisu of Bomukasa Limited, an artefact shop, showed a receipt indicating that he paid a total of 2.5 million cedis to the organisers to participate in the fair, but has sold nothing since the beginning last Friday.

Mrs Bernice Adjei of Fashion House, said since the fair started, she has not made more than 10,000 cedis sales.

Mr. Godfred Essuman of Friengo Enterprise said he has made zero sales since the fair started.

Mr. Ben Ohene-Ayeh, Public Relations Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), organisers of the fair, said "our information indicate that exhibitors in the services sector are doing good business.

"It is only those selling goods who seem to be complaining about poor organisation and low publicity."

Mr. Ohene-Ayeh however, pointed out that this period is not the best for such a fair, saying "this is not the peak period of tourism and that is why the foreign tourists are not in as expected."

He said the fair had to be organised at this time because this is the only time that the Ghana Trade Fair Company could make the site available to GTB for the fair.

Mr. Ohene-Ayeh said the numerous foreign exhibitors, travel writers and conference organisers expected, "have disappointed us badly" and assured exhibitors of a better organised fair in future.

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Surveyors urged to discuss land policy

Accra (Greater Accra), 30^th September 99

Dr Christina Amoako- Nuama, Minister of Lands and Forestry, on Thursday urged surveyors to make suggestions to solve the "hydra-headed land management and administration problems in the country.

In a speech read for her at a seminar by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GIS) in Accra, Dr Amoako-Nuama said " land administration and management has been inhibited by many institutional and managerial problems".

She told the seminar under the theme " National Land Policy of Ghana", that land problems have posed many challenges to the government, and investors which has rendered land utilisation for economic activities counter-productive, while some people have lost their ancestral lands to traditional rulers who in turn grant such lands to large scale operators.

The Minister said the law courts are flooded with land disputes with their attendant delays while there are some unscrupulous surveyors who sign wrong plans thus creating insecurity in land administration with the use land guards.

She urged the surveyors to discuss the new land policy, address the challenges posed by current land management and development practices and assess whether the new opportunities in the policy would satisfy landowners and improve land practices.

Dr Amoako-Nuama commended the surveyors for instituting procedures to discipline their members in accordance with the Survey Act to ensure effective and efficient land surveying in the country.

Mr. Jean Dotse, President, GIS, who chaired the function, said the participants will study the policy critically and come out with a communiqué to reflect the changing needs of the society.

Topics to be treated include historical perspective of land use, the legal aspect and private investors in land acquisition.

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National Investment Bank goes to the aid of blind student

Akropong-Akwapim (Eastern Region), 30^th September 99

The Akropong School for the Blind, Akropong-Akwapim on Wednesday re-launched an appeal for funds towards the upkeep and surgical cost of one of its students.

The student, Miss Esther Okyere is undergoing treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, for an enlarged breast believed to be a tumour.

The Reverend M. O. K. Mosmere, Headmaster of the School, was speaking when the management and staff of the National Investment Bank, presented a cheque for one point five million cedis towards the upkeep of the girl at

Akropong-Akwapim.

Miss Okyere has been successfully operated upon and is recuperating at the Re-constructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the KBTH.

Officials at the centre citing ethical reasons refused to disclose the amount involved when contacted by newsmen but it is believed to run into several millions of cedis.

Mr. Eric Owusu Achiaw, of the General Services Department of the Bank, who handed over the cheque to the school, said he hoped that other organisations would be touched by Miss Okyere's plight and respond accordingly.

Miss Okyere's agony first came to light in February, when the school authorities launched an appeal for funds towards her medical treatment.

Her breast became so enlarged that she could barely concentrate on her studies and do simple chores.

When newsmen visited her at the hospital in Accra she was hale and hearty.

She expressed her appreciation to all, who contributed towards settling her medical bill.

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Headteacher commends district assembly

Ahyiayem (Eastern Region), 30^th September 99

Mr. Paul Yaw Kodom, headteacher of Ahyiayem Methodist primary school in the Nkoranza District, has commended the district assembly for constructing an additional three-classroom block for the school.

Mr. Kodom told a meeting of the parent-teacher association of the school at Ahyiayem at the weekend that the block which includes an office and a store were a big relief to the pupils of the school especially those in class four to six who for the past 10 years have been attending classes under trees and in a church building.

He advised people in the community to make maximum use of the facilities by sending their children to school, saying that "the best legacy any parent or guardian can bequeath to a child is formal education".

Mr. Kodom asked the PTA for more dual desks for the school because, he said, "instead of two pupils to a desk, more than two pupils sit on a desk."

He praised people in the area for the interest they continue to show in farming ventures, but cautioned them not to overlook their children's education.

The chairman of the PTA, Mr K. Oppong who chaired the meeting, promised that the association would help in the education of the children.

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Chief executive calls for repayment of poverty alleviation fund

Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 30^th September 99

The Techiman District Chief Executive, Mr. Yaw Gyarko, has cautioned that loans granted under the poverty alleviation scheme and the youth in agriculture programme are not gifts and that they must be repaid to sustain the two packages.

He said the government instituted these credit schemes with good intentions and beneficiaries should not do anything to undermine the purpose for which they were set up.

Mr. Gyarko was speaking at the closing ceremony of a 12-day workshop on soap making which ended at Techiman at the weekend.

Eleven people attended the workshop, which was organised by the district office of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), the Rural Enterprise Project and the Department of Community Development.

Mr. Gyarko stated that the government is committed to alleviating poverty in the country and urged beneficiaries of loans credit facilities not to default in their repayment to enable others also to benefit.

He called on people in the district to avail themselves of the training opportunities offered by the BAC and the Rural Enterprise Project to enable them to acquire the necessary skills to generate some income.

Mr. Emmanuel Mantey, district BAC official, said the centre has so far trained 86 people in employable skills while 3,678 others have been trained in business management.

Mr. Mantey commended the district assembly for its support over the years and appealed to the banks to assist people trained by the centre to get loans to start and expand their businesses.

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Millennium Commission asks for notification

Accra (Greater Accra), 30^th September 99

The Ghana Millennium Commission on Thursday asked members of the public who are planning any activity in connection with the millennium to notify it.

A statement issued in Accra by the Information Services Department said this is to enable the Commission to rationalise and compile the many activities anticipated by agencies, enterprises or institutions for the information of the public, both national and international.

The Commission is mandated by government to co-ordinate all activities marking the transition into the third millennium.

The statement asked that notification of millennium events and projects should be addressed to the Ghana Millennium Commission, Private Mail Bag, Ministries, Accra or telephone 664714 or 662169 or contact the Director, Information Services Department, P. O. Box 745, Accra - Telephone 228011 - Fax 228089.

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NDC welcomes critics into its fold

Ashaiman (Greater Accra) 30^th September 99

Mrs Faustina Nelson, National Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday inaugurated the Ashaiman Lorry Park Food Vendors Association with an invitation to all critics of the party to join it.

She said the NDC is a mass national party, which does not discriminate in choosing its members and would welcome even those, who insulted the party in the past in its bid to build a united country.

Mrs Nelson said due to the good policies of the government, Ghana is developing very fast and prospects for the future are brighter, adding that it is only the ungrateful ones who would say that the NDC has not done anything for this country.

She cited the peaceful political atmosphere and stability, improved roads and communication network and the intestate succession law, which has benefit women and their children.

Mr. Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, National Organiser of the NDC observed that the track record of politics has shown that the NDC government has been the fairest government in this country.

He cited instances where people in opposition have been appointed to head banks and other vital institutions in the country without any regard to their political affiliation.

Mr. Alfred Agbesi, a Tema Legal Practitioner, who chaired the function reminded the food vendors that the government has spent a lot of money to construct the station and advised them to keep the place clean.

Mr. Agbesi cautioned them against conniving with criminals to steal the luggage of travellers.

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NDPC completes 1997 to 2000 Development Plan

Accra (Greater Accra) 30^th Sept '99

Dr Ferdinand Tay, Director of National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) on Thursday said the commission has completed work on its first Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) covering the period 1997 to 2000.

Speaking on "Decentralised planning within the context of vision 2020", on the second day of the three-day conference on the theme" a decade of decentralisation and local government reform in Ghana retrospect and prospects", Dr Tay said, the MDTP identifies development thrusts, objectives, major programmes and activities based upon which district assemblies prepare annual action plans on the basis of their priorities.

He said the planning process and methodology used to prepare plans under the system require that not only government agencies or departments but also private sectors and NGOs would be used to make inputs into the preparation of the plan.

Dr Tay said co-ordination among the agencies within the system is faced with a number of problems including understanding and knowledge of the new planning framework.

He said, at all levels, people are not very conversant with either the laws or the new planning systems or the purpose of Vision 2020 adding that this lack of knowledge goes beyond public education and requires training and dissemination of information.

The Director said much needs to be done to institutionalise the new system as a way of life and development management throughout the country.

To compound its problems, the NDPC does not appear to have the necessary support to fulfil its leadership because its functional linkages to other key public sector agencies have not been clearly defined or been delineated beyond ambiguity, he said.

The 105 participants are discussing trends in local government reforms and decentralisation in Ghana, decentralisation as a tool for effective administration and improved service delivery, local government and donor interface and institutionalising collaborative analytic problem solving at the local level.

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Dzelukope chief dies

Accra (Greater Accra) 30^th Sept '99

A delegation of elders from Dzelukope near Keta on Thursday called on President Jerry John Rawlings at the Castle, Osu, and formally informed him of the death of their chief, Torgbui Sokpui III.

Mr Marcellus Selormey, leader of the delegation, told the President that Togbui Sokpui died on 6^th July and would be buried in the second week of December.

Mr Selormey described him as "a man of many parts, who saw action in World War Two, was a customs officer, rose to the rank of Superintendent in the Police Service and as a chief, ruled for more than 40 years.

President Rawlings said Togbui conducted himself well and was a man from whom ''we learnt a great deal. We are proud of him because he stood for the truth and spoke the truth at all times''.

He expressed the hope that the elders in choosing a successor, would look for a man, who would measure up to the high standards set by Togbui Sokpui.

Mr Nathan Quao, a Special Adviser to the President, who served at Dzelukope as the first Headmaster of Keta Secondary School, said Togbui Sokpui occupied the stool with dignity and attributed the success of his reign to the experience he acquired in public service.

''He occupied the stool with dignity and served his people loyally. It is our hope that his successor will emulate him''.

Mr Alex Ashiagbor, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, said the late chief's disciplined background enabled him to establish peace and tranquillity in his area. ''There were no chieftaincy disputes during his long reign''.

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FAO looks into food situation.

Accra (Greater Accra) 30^th Sept. '99

The prospects of increased food production in Sub-Saharan Africa are good, as a result of regular rainfall, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.

It, however, said civil strife, wars, drought and pest outbreak are disrupting agricultural activities in Africa.

It said, in the Sub-Saharan region, as at August 1999, 37 countries were facing food emergencies.

In Somalia for instance, erratic and insufficient rains as well as pest outbreak had made 1.2 million people to be facing serious food shortages.

According to the September issue of the FAO Food Outlook, in Western Africa, the food situation in Sierra Leone continues to be unfavourable due to persistent insecurity.

On the good side, the Outlook mentioned Nigeria as the largest producer of paddy and following the re-introduction of sub-subsidy by 25 per cent on fertilisers, the country "is expected to lead in increased use".

The subsidy had been abolished under their Structural Adjustment Programme.

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British charity organisations donate to Builsa flood victims

Sandema (Upper East) 30^th Sept. '99

The Builsa district assembly in the Upper East region has taken delivery of relief items valued at 13 million cedis for distribution to flood victims in the area.

The items, which comprised 100 bags of maize, 100 bags of cement, 50 bags of cowpea and 30 bags of gari, were donated by "Access-4" and "Camfed", both British charity organisation.

The donation followed an appeal by the Anglican diocese of Tamale and the management of the Regional Advisory and Information Network Services (RAINS), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) for assistance for the flood victims.

The Reverend Father Edwin Abanga, Co-ordinator of the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Office (DDRO) in charge of the Northern, Upper East and

Upper West regions, made the presentation on behalf of the donors.

He said the gesture was an indication that the Anglican Church was always with the people, even in times of grief.

"Although small in quantity, it is the hope of the donors that the items will help ameliorate the hardship brought upon the people by the floods", said the Reverend Father.

Mr. D. A. Syme, Bulsa District Chief Executive (DCE), who received the items, thanked the donors for assisting the people in their time of need.

He said apart from rendering about 3,570 people homeless, the floods have also destroyed several hundreds of hectares of food crops in the area.

"The only hope the people now have is the help that would come from philanthropists and sympathisers", he said.

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