Respect ban on movement and sale of pigs -"Domido" sellers told
Help inculcate self-discipline in Children - Director
Ghana Airways to fly to Baltimore
Concerned Citizens want action on Price Waterhouse expedited
Relief items for Keta flood victims
More support for Northern flood victims
Forty participants attend population seminar in Bongo
Radio stations cautioned on playing foreign music
Women urged to speak against violence
Respect ban on movement and sale of pigs -"Domido" sellers told
Accra (Greater Accra), 29th October 99
The Veterinary Services Directorate has appealed to "Domido" (fried pork) sellers in the Accra-Tema Metropolis to comply with the ban on the movement and slaughtering of pigs and the sale of pork following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in some parts of the country.
Dr. S. A. Ofosu, Deputy Director of the Veterinary Services in Accra, said everything possible was being done to bring the disease under control and to return the pig industry to normalcy.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ofosu said there was no need for "Domido" sellers to rush to the offices of the Veterinary Service for exemptions.
He said the most effective way of controlling the disease was to respect the ban and appealed to the security agencies to enforce the prohibitions.
Dr Ofosu said, "the outbreak of the disease in Cote d' Ivoire, earlier this year cost so much to control but we (Ghanaians) can spend less to control it if we respect the ban".
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) on October 22, banned the movement and slaughter of pigs in parts of the Greater Accra and the Central regions following the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in the two regions.
It explained that there is no known vaccine against the disease, which affects only pigs.
Restricting the movement of the infected animal could check its spread.
GRi
Help inculcate self-discipline in Children - Director
Bonwire (Ashanti), 29th October 99
The unprecedented spate of criminal activities being experienced in the society of late behoves parents to inculcate self-discipline in their children.
Mrs. Gladys Asomani, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education said "it is only when children are disciplined that they would be able to resist temptations to commit crime".
She was speaking at a public forum on education organised by the Kwabre Number One Welfare Union for Kwabre Number One Basic Schools including Antoa, Abira, Sakra-Wonoo, Bonwire and Kenyasi at Bonwire in the Ejisu-Juabeng District.
The forum was aimed at identifying problems militating against quality education delivery and how best to remedy the situation.
Mrs Asomani advised the people to take interest in Senior Secondary Schools in the area and let their children patronise them and urged chiefs and landowners not to encroach on plots allotted for school projects.
Mr. Paul Peter Adolinama, Lecturer in English and Communications at the University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, suggested that it was time people supplemented the efforts of the teacher by providing books and other school needs of their children.
Mr. Adolinama, who spoke on "English language, fundamental for communication skills and comprehension of other subjects", stressed that the English language, for good or bad has come to stay and "it is in our supreme interest to acquire it".
He said the task of a teacher to improve the standard of English in a class does not end in the classroom and that it continues outside in the community.
This, he said, is so because the language is a fundamental tool of communication and a gateway to the comprehension of other subjects.
The lecturer called for a review of the education policy of using the vernaculars as a medium of instruction in the lower primary suggesting that English should start from the Kindergarten.
He also suggested that the teaching and learning of the English language should be eclectic.
He attributed the falling standards of the language in recent times to the new craze of the youth for pidgin English, lack of interest in education by parents, teachers attitudes or role models in speaking and writing good English.
Mr Adolinama asked that stakeholders in the educational process should supplement the efforts of teachers by establishing community libraries and stocking them with good and relevant reading materials.
GRi
Ghana Airways to fly to Baltimore
Accra (Greater Accra), 29th October 99
A four-man delegation from Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Airport are in the country to enter into an agreement which will enable Ghana Airways to fly direct to its airport in Baltimore.
The delegation, which called on Owraku Amofa, Deputy Minister of Tourism, is also to negotiate with Ghana promotional tourism packages it can offer to lure tourists to the country.
Owraku Amofa said it was noteworthy that Ghana Airways was getting the deal because of its excellent services, which have won them international recognition.
He said the population of travellers in the West Africa region to the US and those in the Washington areas who want to travel to Africa was quite huge.
The Minister said a direct flight from Ghana to those areas would promote the country's tourism industry since the BWI has agreed in principle to complement efforts in that direction.
Mr. Kirk Wineland, Deputy Administrator, BWI, and leader of the delegation, said the venture would be beneficial to both parties.
GRi
Concerned Citizens want action on Price Waterhouse expedited
Accra (Greater Accra), 29th October 99
The Concerned Citizens Association of Ghana (CCAG) has called on the committee set up to review the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS), also known as the Price Waterhouse Report, to expedite action to reduce the tension built up on the labour front.
A statement issued in Accra on Friday by the Association said with the implementation of the policy some workers thought conditions were going to be better for them but they are now worse off.
The Association, therefore, believes that a review of the policy would prevent the agitation and loss of man-hours used for demonstrations and its consequential effects on productivity.
It advised workers to use dialogue in solving such issues instead of resorting to demonstrations saying, " this apart from the loss in productivity tarnishes the image of the nation and could even affect the government's efforts to bring in investors.
The Association said it hoped that government would take steps to address the problem in an urgent manner.
GRi
Relief items for Keta flood victims
Horvi (Keta), 29th October 99
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has presented 400 blankets worth four million cedis to the People of Horvi and Tegbi respectively in the Keta district who have been displaced by tidal waves of the sea.
The people of Horvi awoke from sleep last Saturday at about 2 AM to see tidal waves bringing down their houses in which millions of cedis worth of property was lost.
At Tegbi, more than18 houses have been submerged since September 17, rendering the occupants homeless.
Madam Tsoene Kumi, 21 and her one and half year old son who were trapped by a wall that collapsed in their house are responding to treatment.
Alhaji Seidu Iddi, Volta Regional Minister, presenting the items appealed to the people to seek shelter at safer locations while long term solutions are sought.
He said as a temporary measure, culverts would be constructed under the road separating the flooded area and the lagoon to enable the floodwaters to flow into the lagoon.
The Regional Minister said the lagoon, which is above the flooded area, should be dredged to accommodate the volume of the seawater.
Mrs. Eugenia Kumassah, Keta District Chief Executive, who received the items on behalf of the people thanked NADMO and the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council for their prompt response.
GRi
More support for Northern flood victims
Accra (Greater Accra), 29th October 99
The Swiss Government, German Embassy and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have presented cash and materials worth 145,000 dollars to victims of the recent flooding in Northern Ghana.
The Swiss gave 102,500 dollars, Germans 25,000 dollars and USAID 17,500 dollars.
Representatives of the donors presented the cheques and the items to Mr. Henry D. Clarke, Chief Director, Ministry of the Interior in Accra on Friday.
The Swiss Government presented polymats, plastic buckets, plates and cups, blankets, as well as cholera information leaflets.
The donation from the German Embassy covers 20-litre jerrycans for the storage of water and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), while the USAID is providing blankets and kerosene- lanterns.
Mr. Mark Gerber of the Swiss Embassy, Mrs. Marya Ening Heideng from the German Embassy and Mr. Dennis Mathew, Charge de' Affairs of the US Embassy made the presentations.
Mr. Gerber, who is the first Secretary to the Swiss Counsellor, said the assistance was meant to alleviate the poor conditions of families affected, particularly women and children, displaced by the flooding.
Mr. Mathew noted that the donations were in response to the government's appeal to the diplomatic community last Monday and were being channelled through the Ghana Red Cross.
GRi
Forty participants attend population seminar in Bongo
Bongo (Upper East) 29th October 99
A one-day seminar on population and development has been held for assembly members, heads of departments, District Population Advisory Committee members and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the Bongo district of the Upper East region.
It aimed at sensitising the 40 participants on the importance of incorporating population issues in the district's development activities.
Topics treated include, population and development as well as health issues affecting the people of the Bongo district.
Mr. Stephen Owusu Kwankye, Associate Project Director of the Population Impact Project (PIP), urged district assemblies to co-operate with the Population Council to create a more effective impact on the people.
He said the population of the Bongo district is increasing without a guarantee of improved arable lands or other job opportunities for the people.
The Director said the population growth must either be checked or the resources of the district would have to be increased to avoid famine and suffering among the people.
Mr. Kwakye said population growth rate in the district now stands at 2.3 per cent, adding that the district's present population of 98,638 would increase to about 2.4 million by year 2020.
Mr. Sylvester Agangmikre, Regional Population Officer, said a recent survey by Rural Help Integrated, a Bolgatanga based NGO, showed that the average number of children per family in the district is seven.
"If the present rate of child-bearing continues, efforts by the district assembly, donor agencies and other development partners at poverty alleviation may not yield the desired results," he pointed out.
Mr. Agangmikre said with the present contraceptive use rate of less than 10 percent in the district, there is an urgent need to intensify advocacy to get the support of various groups including traditional leaders, policy makers and religious leaders to understand the benefits of a smaller family size.
GRi
Radio stations cautioned on playing foreign music
Accra (Greater Accra), 29th October 99
Radio stations should not lose sight of the fact that they are obliged to pay royalties in hard currency if they play music of foreign artistes.
Mr. Ebo Hawkson, Deputy Chairman, National Commission on Culture has, therefore, cautioned radio stations in the country to desist from saturating the airwaves with foreign music because of the effects the practice could have on the national economy.
"Playing too much foreign music would have adverse effect on the economy because the station owners would have to pay royalties in hard currency to recording companies outside for using their work."
Speaking at the launching of the Radio Personality of the Year Contest, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Accra, on Friday, Mr. Hawkson asked radio stations to take the Copy Right Laws seriously because the security agencies would soon crack down on those who flout them.
The Radio Personality contest, initiated by Summit Concept, an advertising company, is to afford radio presenters and newscasters, who are not members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), a chance to be rewarded for their work.
It is open to all presenters in all the radio stations in the country.
The country has been divided into two sectors for the competition. The southern sector comprises Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Eastern and Western regions.
The Northern sector comprises Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
Coupons would be sent to all radio stations for the public to pick and make nominations, after which the top 10 presenters to be selected from each sector would be made to present themselves before a panel of judges.
Five would be selected from each sector for the final at which the personality of the year would be chosen.
Buckpress, a publishing company is sponsoring the contest.
Mr. Abeku Sagoe, Chairman, Summit Concept noted that radio presenters shape public opinion hence their activities must be recognised by the entire society.
Mr .Godwin Avenogbo, Acting Director of Radio, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) said, radio frequency allocated to a radio station is a national asset so presenters must use it to project the nation in a positive way.
Noting that broadcasting affects every body in the country, Mr. Avenogbo advised radio presenters to use appropriate language when communicating with their audience.
He said radio presenters "must be builders and not destroyers of society" and mentioned that an upright character formed a good presenter.
GRi
Women urged to speak against violence
Tema (Greater Accra), 29th October 99
Mrs. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, a Human Rights Consultant on Thursday called on Ghanaian women to fight for their rights through finding solutions to violence against them.
Mrs. Dwamena-Aboagye, an Accra legal practitioner and Executive Director of ARK Foundation, Ghana, said many women are going through all sorts of violence because they do not know how to seek their fundamental human rights.
She was speaking on "Combating violence against women" at a talk organised by the Zonta Club of Tema to mark the 50th anniversary of United Nations (UN) day.
Mrs. Dwamena-Aboagye, said women go through violence such as marital rape and sexual harassment which are still not recognised under our laws and "yet this is a source of worry to women".
She enumerated other acts of violence against women as defilement, incest, indecent assault, sexual exploitation, economic violence such as denial of access to property within marriage and asked women to "let their voices be heard to seek their liberties."
According to Mrs. Dwamena-Aboagye, statistics showed that the greater number of rape cases are done by people from within the environment.
"This means that families are in trouble because they not seen what is happening until it is too late.
"It is important that women and young girls read the constitution and know more about their fundamental human rights to enable them oppose any violence perpetrated against them."
Mrs. Dwamena-Aboagye said "you must muster courage to expose all sorts of violence", and warned against protecting those who perpetrate them else they will continue to maltreat them and never put a stop to such acts.
Women must ensure that the UN ratification of human rights law works perfectly and urged all women's groups to come together and share views on this pertinent issue with the view to assist those who are ignorant about the law.
The human rights consultant called for the involvement of the private sector in this exercise to assist government organisations like the Department of Social Welfare Department in finding solutions to the problems.
Mrs Emma Mitchell, a former Minister of State and a Zontian who chaired the function said after several declarations and resolutions culminating in the UN women's conference in Beijing in 1995, "we are yet to eradicate the violence that women face".
She said the tragic stories illustrating the effects of violence on women with their "astounding physical and emotional trauma have reached an unacceptable proportions that demand the outrage of all women."
GRi