British High Commission says apply for visa early
Asunafo district faces kerosene shortage
RCC/Rice growers worried about dumping of imported rice in Northern Region
NADMO will charge bodies for disaster
KMA meets on Wednesday, October 13
Queenmother nominates new Paramount Chief for Tepa
Ghana's six billionth child ushered into the world
GNA and GBC are not for sale - Mills
Draft disability policy for Cabinet
District assemblies urged to purchase farmers produce
Who is responsible for these teenage pregnancies?
Assemblies of God commissions vocational centre at Yendi
Citizens asked to be security conscious
Church leaders urged to help combat crime wave
Drivers asked to initiate moves to maintain road
Kyebi (Eastern Region) 12 Oct ’99
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, was on Monday outdoored and installed as the 35th Okyenhene at a colourful ceremony at the forecourt of the Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi.
He succeeds his late brother, Osagyefuo Kuntunkununtu II, who died in March, this year.
The ceremony also climaxed the installation process, following his nomination and confinement a week ago.
Among the large gathering was a government delegation led by the Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow.
The Okuapehene, Osaedeeyo Addo Dankwa III, who occupies the Ofori Kuma Stool at Akropong Akuapem, led a retinue of chiefs including Okuapem Kyidomhene, Nana Ansah Sasraku II, Mamfehene, to the function.
Osagyefuo Ofori Panin, a US-based Insurance Broker who was dressed in a white Adenkra, was escorted to the ceremonial grounds at 12.00 noon, accompanied by "Fontomfrom" drummers and an Asafo company, and exchanged greetings with the chiefs and dignitaries.
The high point of the ceremony was when the Adontehene of Akyem Abuakwa Osabarima Kena Ampaw, Acting President of the Okyeman Council handed over the state sword to the new Okyenhene.
He advised Osagyefuo Ofori Panin to promote the unity and progress of the area.
Osabarima Ampaw spoke of the loss of part of the Okyeman land to the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and urged the Okyenhene to take up the issue to ensure the peaceful claim of the land.
Okyenhene Ofori Panin, on his part, described the occasion as unparalleled in the 450 years of the existence of Akyem Abuakwa and thanked members of the Asona Royal Family of Kyebi, chiefs and people for the successful installation process.
He asked the people to take the education of their children seriously and join him to fight relentlessly to recapture the position of honour and dignity of Okyeman."
"With the contest for occupancy of the Ofori Panin Stool over let us bury our parochial differences.
"There should be no room for bickering, mud-slinging and hatred as we are one and indivisible family,'' Okyenhene Ofori Panin said.
He noted that Akyem Abuakwa used to be at the forefront in national affairs but regretted that it now lagged behind in terms of development.
Okyenhene asked the people to avoid laziness and join hands with him to develop the area, ''as the next millennium would be dedicated to hard work for progress and prosperity.''
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, 48, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration and Political Science from the University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
He had earlier obtained his GCE Ordinary and Advanced levels from the Abuakwa State Collage and Oxford College, England, respectively.
His accolade of "born to be a King" was due to the fact that his father Nana Yaw Boakye was the son of Nana Sir Ofori Atta I and Odehye Maame Joana Abena Akoto, a Royal of the Asona Clan of Kyebi and niece of Nana Ofori Atta.
The new Okyenhene went into insurance brokerage after obtaining his professional license and took over the presidency of Active Auto Body Services Incorporated in Linden New Jersey.
He is married with two children.
GRi../
British High Commission says apply for visa early
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 Oct. '99
The British High Commission on Monday advised Ghanaians planning to travel to the United Kingdom for the Christmas or New Year holiday to submit their visa applications at least six weeks before the time.
A statement issued by the High Commission said; " this is to avoid a last minute rush or disappointment." It is also to ensure that the process is started as early as possible.
The statement said the visa section is open to the public from 7.45 am to 10 45 am, Monday to Friday, every working week.
It will close from November 4th to 9th inclusive in preparation for the Queen's state visit to Ghana.
The statement announced that the High Commission will close on Friday 3 December, Friday 24 December, and Monday 27 December.
The rest of the days which the High Commission will be closed are Tuesday 28 December, Friday 31 December and on Monday 3 January 2000.
GRi../
Asunafo district faces kerosene shortage
Goase (Brong Ahafo) 12 Oct. '99
Due to shortage of kerosene in the Asunafo district of the Brong-Ahafo region, a gallon of kerosene is being sold at 4,500 cedis thus 1,125 cedis above the approved price.
A beer bottle of the product is being sold in some farming communities in the district for between 1,200 and 1.500 cedis though price per litre is supposed to be 750 cedis.
Apart from six towns in the district that have been connected to the national grid, over 200 communities in the district do not enjoy electricity and have to depend on kerosene for lighting.
A farmer at Asumura, Opanin Yaw Owusu, in an interview with the appealed to the government to supply fuel stations in the district with kerosene to ease the sufferings of farmers.
The Management of the two gas stations at Goaso said they had not received supplies of kerosene for the past month and appealed for regular supplies.
GRi../
RCC/Rice growers worried about dumping of imported rice in Northern Region
Tamale (Northern Region) 12 Oct '99
The Northern Region has expressed outrage at the dumping of imported rice into the region in the midst of attempts to find market for a backlog of locally produced rice.
Both the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and the Rice Growers Association (RGA) as well as schools and colleges, the main consignees, have rejected the move to dump imported rice in the region just when locally milled substitute is gaining acceptability, especially among students.
Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and heads of schools in Tamale said truckloads of imported rice have been arriving in the region for the past several days, for which they have been instructed to find storage, though they have no idea about the source of supply.
Mr Joshua Alabi Regional Minister announced at a press conference on Monday that he has set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the sources of supply.
Mr Alabi said both the RCC and the farmers are unhappy because "it is not healthy to our effort to revitalise the rice industry."
Inquiries made at the Ministries of Education and Food and Agriculture indicated that they are not aware of the consignment of over 34,000 (30 kilograms) bags of imported rice being sent to the Northern and Upper East Regions for distribution to schools and colleges.
He recalled that rice growers in the region appealed to him and the Minister of Food and Agriculture last February, to assist them to find market for their paddy rice produced in 1998.
Mr. Alabi said as a result of the appeal, MOFA released an initial 350 million cedis to purchase the extra paddy from farmers and that additional funds were made available to the Nasia Rice Company to rehabilitate its machines to mill the paddy.
He said he followed this up with a meeting of all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service, heads of schools, MOFA, rice growers and Nasia Rice Company to discuss the marketing of the milled rice.
MOFA agreed to release 50 bags of the milled rice for distribution to some boarding schools for trial to ascertain its acceptability by students.
All the institutions accepted the rice and some have already bought 500 bags while others were to place firm orders in September when schools re-opened.
Mr Alabi said the RCC and MOFA had expected that ''this positive development will lead to increased incomes to farmers and the revival of the declining rice industry.
"It is, therefore, unfortunate that some individuals and organisations are thwarting these co-ordinated efforts at making rice production economically sustainable", he said.
The five-member committee will, among other matters, probe the actual source of the rice and whether the schools and collages, the sector ministers of Education and MOFA as well as the Regional Ministers of the three Northern Regions were consulted.
The Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr J. K. Wumnaya, heads the committee, expected to submit its findings in 10 days.
Mr Wumnaya said Nasia Rice has already milled 6,500 bags of grade one rice from farmers in the Northern Region while the Upper East Region has 10,000 bags of paddy ready for milling.
GRi../
NADMO will charge bodies for disaster
Tema (Greater Accra) 12 Oct ’99
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) says it will hold Assembly members, unit committees, and zonal councils responsible for disasters which results from filth in their areas.
Alhaji Sughro, Greater Accra Regional Deputy Co-ordinator of NADMO, gave the warning at a seminar on disaster prevention and management at Tema on Monday.
These organised bodies must ensure that the communities are environmentally clean by organising constant communal labour.
The seminar was organised by the Tema office of NADMO for assembly members, unit committees, and zonal councils to mark the world wide disaster week, which is being celebrated under the theme: '' Prevention Pays''.
He said filthy surroundings, particularly choked gutters and heaps of refuse, are possible causes of the spread of epidemics.
Therefore it is proper to prevent.
To this end the first contact people, who are the organised bodies should ensure that residents live in a clean environment.
The NADMO official gave the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) one-week to clear a heap of human excreta in the open at the Ashaiman Complex School to avoid any epidemic.
He asked the TMA to close down the public toilet and rather provide a temporary urinal while it expedites work on the new facility under construction.
Regarding the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sale outlets sited in the open in the communities, Alhaji Sughro condemned it and called on the sellers to put an immediate stop to it.
GRi../
KMA meets on Wednesday, October 13
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 12 Oct. ’99
Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has invited all members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to a meeting at the conference room of the Regional Co-ordinating Council on Wednesday, October 13 at 11:00 hours.
A statement issued in Kumasi on Monday and signed by Mr Sylvester A. Manu, Deputy Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, said a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will attend the meeting.
The statement asked all the assembly members to endeavour to attend the meeting.
GRi../
Queenmother nominates new Paramount Chief for Tepa
Tepa (Ashanti) 12 Oct. ’99
Nana Pokuaa Ababio, Queenmother of Tepa on Monday nominated Mr Frank Opoku-Adusei, alias Nana Adu Atwenewaa, a 36-year-old Businessman in Kumasi as the new Paramount Chief of Tepa Traditional Area.
The new Chief will be presented to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene as custom requires on Tuesday October 12 at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
Mr Opoku-Adusei will then return to Tepa to swear the oath of allegiance to his sub-chiefs and elders in the traditional area and they will in return swear to him before he comes back to swear the Great Oath of allegiance to the Asantehene and the Golden Stool.
Mr Opoku-Adusei succeeds Nana Kwame Awuah II, his grandfather, who reigned for 45 years and died 13 years ago.
The stool has been vacant due to litigation between the Queenmother and the Kingmakers over a successor.
The Asantehene settled the dispute amicably on 7 October and directed the Queenmother to nominate one of the two contestants.
When the Gyasehene, Nana Kwabena Marfo Panyin on Monday consulted the Queenmother in the presence of Abusuapanin Appiagye Danka and Nana Boakye Yam, Senior Linguist of the Asantehene, the Queenmother mentioned Mr Opoku-Adusei.
Mr Opoku-Adusei was called and later presented to the Kingmakers and the people, who had gathered at the palace.
The Kingmakers accepted the nomination and pledged to support the new Chief to raise the image of the area.
After his acceptance, Mr Opoku-Adusei was carried shoulder high and paraded through the principal streets of Tepa amidst drumming and dancing praising God and Otumfuo for bringing peace and unity to the town.
Nana Boakye Yam commended the Queenmother for her decision, saying that she has behaved in a mature manner by nominating the choice of the people, thus bringing peace and unity to the town and the traditional area as a whole.
GRi../