NPP denies jeering at Vice President at funeral
Rawlings swears in Ambassadors-designate
Salaga, Kpandai constituencies endorse Mills
NPP executives for Sawla sworn in
Alien herdsmen and their cattle invade Asante-Akim North
British American Tobacco undertakes afforestation
African Youth Command hails OAU on formation of Parliament
Ahafo-Ano North NDC endorses Vice President Mills
NPP denies jeering at Vice President at funeral
Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 8 April 2000
The New
Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied that its members shouted the party's slogan
and jeered when Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills led a government
delegation to the funeral of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II at the Manhyia Palace in
Kumasi recently.
The denial
was in reaction to an accusation by the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A statement
signed by Mr Sam K. Cudjoe, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NPP, said the
arrival of the Vice President saw a healthy and cordial atmosphere as he went
round to greet and even embraced Mr J. A. Kufuor, NPP flag bearer.
The
statement said Vice President Mills, after embracing Mr Kufuor, took his seat
on the dais amidst cheers from the crowd as Mr Kufuor also went to him to
return the greetings. The NPP flag bearer and his entourage went to the funeral
grounds two hours before the arrival of the Vice President and his team.
The
statement said before Mr Kufuor's arrival, there had been a number of
provocative acts against the NPP leadership by an NDC activist, notably among
them, the parking of a Nissan pick-up directly in front of the NPP leader and
his entourage.
It said a
lot of argument erupted before the pick-up was finally removed but all these
happened without any provocation from the NPP. The statement explained that
hell rather broke loose as soon as Mrs Faustina Nelson, a Vice-chairman of NDC
and her Veranda Boys and Girls group started singing NDC songs and waving NDC
mufflers at the funeral and the crowd started booing at her.
The booing
by the crowd it is believed was not against Prof. Mills but the behaviour of
Mrs Nelson and her group, who had wanted to politicise such an important
occasion.
The
statement accused the NDC of always trying to find scapegoats when they did the
wrong
things at public gatherings and are booed by the crowd.
The
statement said the membership of the NPP are well-composed people, who believe
in the rule of law and as such would not do anything that would tarnish the
image of the Vice President of Ghana.
GRi…/
Rawlings swears in Ambassadors-designate
Accra
(Greater Accra Region) 8 April 2000
President
Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday swore in three Ambassadors-designate and a High
Commissioner-designate and handed them their letters of credence.
The new
envoys are Mr Kobina Wudu, Ambassador-designate to Switzerland, Mr Fritz Poku,
Ambassador-designate to Ethiopia, Nana Effa Appenteng, designated as Permanent
Representative to the United Nations and Mrs Ellen Nee-Whang, High
Commissioner-designate to South Africa.
The four,
all top officials at the Foreign Ministry, swore the oath of allegiance, the
official oath and the oath of secrecy.
President
Rawlings told them he hoped they would do their best to enhance relations
between Ghana and their countries of accreditation. "We have come a long
way but we have a long way to go" he said.
He spoke
about the need to speed up the country's rate of development and appealed to
the new envoys to fish for investors from the private sector as well as
financial assistance from bilateral and multilateral institutions.
Mr Nathan
Quao, Adviser to the President, said the appointment would be a morale booster
to the staff of the Foreign Ministry. "It is also a challenge to you to
promote the interest of Ghana," he added.
Mr Daniel
Agyekum, Minister responsible for Protocol and Chieftaincy Affairs, told them
to ensure that the nation's interest overrides all their undertakings.
Mr Joseph
Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the selected envoys emerged
from a tall list of candidates. He therefore cautioned them saying "do not
let down the government or abuse the confidence reposed in you. The whole of
Ghana expects a lot from you."
He asked
them to refrain from extravagance because Ghana is going through difficulties
at this moment.
GRi…/
Salaga, Kpandai constituencies endorse Mills
Salaga
(Northern Region) 8 April 2000
The
Salaga and Kpandai constituencies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC),
have endorsed the candidature of Professor John Evans Atta Mills as the party's
flag bearer in this year's presidential election.
Speaking
to the Ghana News Agency at Salaga, the constituency secretary, Malam Sachibu
Wakaso, said the two constituencies took the decision because they believe
Prof. Mills could lead the party to a resounding victory.
He
called on all supporters to stand solidly behind the Vice President and to work
hard for victory.
Malam
Wakaso commended Taysec Construction Company for donating 100 bags of cement
and five packets of roofing sheets towards the resettlement of victims of the
recent rainstorm at Salaga.
He
appealed to other organisations and individuals to assist the victims because
the damage caused was so severe in some parts of the town that the people may
not be able to repair their houses without assistance.
GRi…/
NPP executives for Sawla sworn in
Sawla
(Northern Region) 8 April 2000
The
Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji
Abdul-Rahman Salifu has called on members of the party to close their ranks and
work to ensure total victory in the forthcoming general elections.
"Victory
for the party will depend largely on you the youth, your loyalty and
preparedness to go the extra mile for the party," he said.
He was
speaking to a large gathering of party members at Sawla in the Bole District,
during the swearing-in of new constituency executives.
Alhaji
Salifu also commissioned a new constituency office built by party members. He
advised them to be vigilant during the elections to prevent rigging.
The new
executives, has Mr Abukari Sadiq as the Chairman with Mr Yakubu Dauda as Vice
Chairman, Mr Abukari Adam as Secretary, Mr Abdulai Amantana, Treasurer while Mr
Sakara Abudu and Madam Grace Charnaa retained their positions as Organiser and
Women's Organiser respectively.
The
Regional Vice chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, congratulated the members for
organising a successful election and urged them to intensify their efforts to
ensure victory in the general elections.
Later at a
meeting at Larabanga in the West Gonja District, Mr Yusif Sulemana Chello,
Regional Youth Organiser called on members to take the training of polling
agents seriously to ensure free and fair elections. He urged members to remain
faithful and to intensify their efforts for the party to win the elections.
GRi…/
Alien herdsmen and their cattle invade Asante-Akim North
Abrewapong
(Ashanti Region) 8 April 2000
Members of
the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Wednesday toured a number of
communities in the Afram Plains portion of the Asante-Akim North district to
ascertain, at first hand, reports of massive destruction by alien herdsmen and
their cattle to farms and other properties in the area.
The
reports, made by the Asante-Akim North District Security Committee (DISEC),
indicated that the activities of the herdsmen and their cattle are adversely
affecting economic ventures of the indigenous people.
The reports
accused the herdsmen of using the cattle to destroy farms, pollute sources of
drinking water.
Members of
the REGSEC who were led by Mr Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, Ashanti Regional Minister
visited Abrewapong, Oseikrom and Mpasenpasen among other communities.
Members of
the REGSEC at different locations during their tour saw more than six different
large herds of cattle.
Children of
the alien herdsmen who were shepherding the cattle to graze signalled the
animals, which raced off when they noticed the approach of the REGSEC team.
Their
fathers and owners of the cattle, who were comfortably relaxing under shades of
trees at Mpasenpasen, were however taken unawares by the REGSEC team and could
therefore not escape even though their wives and children went into hiding in
the nearby bush.
When
questioned by the Regional Minister, the
herdsmen, denied every allegation levelled against them.
Briefing
newsmen at the end of the tour, the Regional Minister said the REGSEC will meet
immediately to analyse what they themselves observed during the tour to enable
them determine the next line of action against the herdsmen.
GRi…/
British American Tobacco undertakes afforestation
Takoradi
(Western Region) 8 April 2000
The
British-American Tobacco (BAT) Company is this year embarking on a three-
billion cedi afforestation programme to protect the country's water bodies.
Dr John
Kobbina Richardson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the BAT disclosed
this at the 47th Annual General Meeting of shareholders at Takoradi on
Wednesday.
He said the
first project under the programme, involves planting trees along the Weija
Lake. Dr Richardson said the company has also initiated a major programme to
prevent children under 18 years from smoking.
This
programme, he explained, is in line with the BAT's view that the choice to
smoke is one exclusively for adults.
Dr Richardson
also revealed that Ghana was losing large revenue through smuggling of
cigarettes from neighbouring countries into Ghana.
He alleged
that the estimated loss in 1999 in terms of smuggled cigarettes amounted to 20
billion cedis. Dr Richardson therefore appealed to the government to review the
excise duty to more realistic levels.
This, he
said, would enable the BAT to compete fairly against low priced smuggled
cigarettes, on which no duties are levied, to discourage smuggling.
The
chairman disclosed that the government earned a total revenue of 63.9 billion
cedis from excise duty and VAT on cigarettes manufactured by the BAT in 1999.
He said the
company realised 10.3 billion cedis and paid a total dividend of 4.6 billion
cedis to its shareholders.
GRi…/
African Youth Command hails OAU on formation of Parliament
Accra
(Greater Accra Region) 8 April 2000
The African
Youth Command (AYC) on Thursday lauded OAU's efforts and preparations towards
the formation of a continental Parliament.
A statement
issued by Alhaji Yakubu Salley, General Secretary said "The AYC is very
much gratified to be fully associated with your timely declaration for the
establishment of the nascent African Parliament by the OAU."
The
statement said Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, secretary-general of the OAU, had made the
declaration, which was published in the East African Standard recently.
The group
said the creation of a legislature of such nature would give the OAU a new
lease of life since "its loose and compromised creation in 1963."
"With the creation of the new African Parliament, AYC foresees that the
OAU shall no longer continue to grope as a toothless bulldog and hapless in the
face of contemporary international geo-politics hitherto predicated on
prevarication, sophistry and mistrust among African leaders," the
statement added.
The ATC
said if the U.S., China and Europe have decided to form their own united
entities, a fragmented Africa could only be assured of a gloomy and bleak
future.
It,
therefore, urged African countries to cede part of their sovereignty to that
Parliament when it is operational for the good of the entire continent. AYC
called for the establishment of the African High Command to halt the numerous
wars on the continent.
GRi…/
Ahafo-Ano North NDC endorses Vice President Mills
Tepa
(Ashanti Region) 8 April 2000
The
Ahafo-Ano North constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has
pledged its total support for the nomination of Vice President John Evans Atta
Mills as the party's presidential candidate for the 2000 elections.
In a
resolution adopted at the end of their delegates' congress at Tepa, on Tuesday,
all the 200 delegates affirmed their unflinching support for the Vice
President.
Addressing
the delegates, Mr K. Osei-Owusu, the constituency chairman, urged the delegates
to ensure that all structures of the party function properly for the 2000
elections. He charged them to intensify their campaign by embarking on
house-to-house campaign to ensure total victory for the party and to retain the
parliamentary seat.
Present at
the congress was Mr K. Nti-Fordjour, Ashanti Regional Vice-chairman of the NDC.
GRi…/