Kojo Yankah snubs two rival chiefs
UN Security Council to be reformed
Thirty Ghanaians to receive gold medal
NMP grants 94 million cedis in loans
Kojo Yankah snubs two rival chiefs
Ntonso (Ashanti) 28 Oct. '99
Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, refused to address two rival chiefs of Ntonso who had assembled their supporters to welcome him during an inspection tour of projects in the Kwabre district at the weekend.
The Regional Minister diplomatically shook hands with the two chiefs, Nana Kofi Dei and Nana Opon Tenten, inspected the 250 million-cedi market complex, after which he went into his car and sped off.
Mr Yankah refused to address the two chiefs who had assembled their supporters and were waiting under a shelter to welcome him.
He had earlier inspected a 40,000-dollar community centre complex being financed by the World Bank at Mamponten. The Project has reached the lintel level.
Mr Yankah next inspected some projects at Mpobi, Aboabogya, Aduman, Kodie, Kenyase, Antoa and Ahwiaa.
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UN Security Council to be reformed
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 Oct. '99
The United Nations Security Council is to be reformed by the close of this century with the view to increasing the membership and enlarging the number of permanent seats.
Mrs Margaret Novicki, Director of the UN Information Centre in Accra, said the reforms is likely to result in creating a seat for Africa in the security council.
She was speaking at a press conference in Accra to launch the programme for the 54th UN day celebration, under the theme "Aged, partners in development."
The celebration this year is to educate the general public on the successes of the UN and how its resources could be harnessed to ensure effectiveness in the face of new world-wide challenges.
It is also to raise awareness of the significant contribution the aged can make to the development of nations, with the view to influencing policies.
Currently the Security Council comprises of five permanent member states and 10 non-permanent ones. Negotiations are underway to have the number increased, according to Mrs Novicki.
"The call for reforms was initiated by Japan, the second highest contributor to the UN and yet a non-permanent member of the Security Council."
She said the need has arisen for the UN to be more proactive to conflicts in Africa, adding that it has therefore become necessary for Africa to be represented on the Council.
Mrs Novicki said it is however, not clear how many members would be added and to what extent the permanent seats would be enlarged.
She said as part of preparations to face the challenges of the new millennium, the UN would soon hold a millennium summit.
"The summit is to gather suggestions and ideas as to how to make the UN more effective in the face of the challenges of globalisation."
Mrs Novicki noted that over the past 54 years, the UN has had its share of success stories as well as challenges. The greatest challenge facing the UN now is the indebtedness of the United States of America to the UN, she said.
"USA owes UN 1.6 billion dollars constituting about five years arrears."
In a related development, a photo exhibition was mounted at Ghana Museums and Monuments Board as part of activities marking UN day.
The exhibition, opened by Mr John Dramani Mahama, Minister of Communications, is under the theme "Ghana at the UN, 42 years of commitment to peace and development".
It is to showcase Ghana's contribution and activities in the UN as well as the activities of the 14 UN agencies in Ghana.
Mr Mahama described USA's indebtedness to the UN as a deliberate arm-twisting tactic geared towards manipulating the UN.
He therefore called on the USA to emulate poor countries like Ghana who has paid up her dues to the UN "and pay your arrears to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the UN."
Mr Mahama said since the formation of the UN in 1946, "there has been enormous waste of resources in its operation until the 1990's when calls were made for reforms by the USA and other countries."
He said such reforms led to the election of Mr Kofi Annan as UN Secretary-General in 1997, adding that "since Mr Annan's election, application of resources in the UN has been all-time judicious."
Other activities marking the celebration include tree planting, inter-school debates, quiz and symposia in the regional capitals, health screening exercise for the elderly at Adukrom and national prayers among others.
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Thirty Ghanaians to receive gold medal
Kpando(Volta Region) 18 Oct '99
Thirty young Ghanaians are to be decorated with gold medals under the Head of State Award Scheme this year.
The award, the local version of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, will be part of activities for the Royal visit to Ghana in November, this year, by Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Eighty-four students from Kpando Secondary and Hohoe Saint Mary's Secondary Schools who won the silver and bronze medals under the scheme, were decorated with their medals at Kpando on Sunday.
The scheme is meant to honour young people who distinguish themselves in non-competitive leisure activities such as expeditions, skills, physical recreation and services which unearthing their leadership qualities, love for the environment, community and teamwork.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Volta Regional Minister, called on students to aim at achieving excellence in pursuit of their chosen career, profession and hobby to enable them to play a constructive role in solving the country's problems.
He said they should be guided by the principle of conviction, initiative, commitment, discipline and innovation, saying "under a competitive market situation, it is only innovation that can overcome competition".
Mr Lawrence Adofoli, National Co-ordinator of the scheme, appealed to the youths to take advantage of the programme to unearth their potentials.
Mr Koku-Mensah Ahiaklo-Kuz, the Unit Co-ordinator, said a total of 115 students have been decorated with silver and bronze medals since 1995.
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NMP grants 94 million cedis in loans
Sekondi (Western Region) 18 Oct. '99
Loans totalling 94 million cedis have been granted to 47 mobisquad groups under the Youth in Agriculture Programme in the Western Region.
Mr D. O. Duncan, Deputy Western Regional Liaison Officer of the National Mobilisation Programme (NMP), made this known at a meeting of District Liaison Officers and heads of departments of the NMP in the region in Sekondi at the weekend.
Mr Duncan, a member of the Youth in Agriculture Programme Committee, said each of the mobisquad groups received two million cedis to increase food production in the region.
Mr.Yaw Boateng Djan, the new Regional Liaison Officer of NMP, called on the District Liaison Officers and heads of Departments to join forces to revive all dormant mobisquads to open up employment opportunities and give artisan training to the youth.
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