NPP poised to offer change, says functionary
Industrial unrest is imminent - GNAT
Workers call for easing of harsh living
conditions
Easter baby survives suffocation
Nkrumaists observe 28th anniversary of the
death of Nkrumah
Nuamah-Donkor calls for tollbooths on major
roads
Don't exploit children for selfish goals -
Speakers
CPP holds National Executive Council meeting
Alabi inaugurates
committee to monitor noise making in Accra
Accountants urged to
ensure judicious resource planning
Govt must accept
useful Minority suggestions - Addo-Kufuor
Two companies bid
for Koforidua water project
Party calls for new
political system for Africa
NPP poised to offer change, says
functionary
Tamale (Northern Region) 27 April 2000
Mr. Owusu Ampadu, Northern Regional treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said on Tuesday that it was a good sign for Ghana's democracy that more and more people were realising how much damage the NDC government had caused to the country's economy.
Speaking at a ceremony in Tamale to welcome 200 new members who have joined the party from the Veranda Boys and Girls Club, he cautioned the new members to be wary of people who peddle lies about the NPP and its flagbearer, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor.
Mr. Ampadu said having failed in their bid to tarnish Mr. Kufuor's name over the cocoa cheque episode, the NDC have fabricated another lie that he belongs to some strange cult and does not believe in God.
He said Mr Kufuor, like all devout Christians or Muslims, was not only a believer in God but also God-fearing adding that the NPP was happy that most people were now genuinely desirous for a change, which the party is poised to offer.
Mr. Sulemana Yusif Chelo, acting regional organiser of the party, said it was no wonder that people were rushing to join the NPP because they were fed up with the continued mismanagement of the country's affairs by the NDC.
Mr. Chelo told the defectors that it is not enough for them to join the NPP but they should get involved in the campaign wagon to unseat the NDC government.
Mr. Mohammed Issah, spokesman for the defectors said the destruction of the nation's economy and difficulties facing the people were clear signals for a change of government.
He said having now realised the incompetence of the NDC, many Ghanaians see the NPP as the only party that can salvage the country from its present economic predicament.
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Industrial unrest is imminent - GNAT
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April 2000
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on Wednesday said the current state of the economy could lead to a spontaneous industrial action by all sectors of the economy if the government does not make a speedy effort to get the economy back on track.
Speaking to newsmen in Accra, Mr. K. Amo-Dako, President of GNAT, noted that the current crisis facing the economy is due to the over 50 per cent increase in crude oil price, the fall in the price of gold and the bad performance of cocoa on the international market.
These, he said, have had a massive negative impact on the public as manifested in the increasing retrenchment of labour and the slump of the cedi.
Mr. Amo-Dako observed that the situation has resulted in the high cost of petroleum products, high cost of living and doing business. Many people, he said, have been pushed below the poverty line.
"Despite these harsh economic conditions facing Ghanaian workers as a result of mismanagement of the economy, the government has done nothing to improve the salaries of public employees, teachers, nurses, civil servants and the others.
"Their salaries and wages still remain fixed at the 1999 level irrespective of the simmering agitation from the rank and file."
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Workers call for easing of harsh living
conditions
Ho (Volta Region) 27 April 2000
Labour unions in the Volta Region at a forum to discuss the May Day celebration called on the government to find ways of ending the harsh living conditions facing the people and the threat these pose to social stability.
The Unions said at the forum at Ho on Wednesday that over the years the people had endured harsh living conditions hoping the economy would improve with the implementation of programmes such as the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) but their hopes had become a mirage.
They observed that while majority of the masses are suffering, a few, by virtue of their political and social positions, have become much better off and called on the government to withdraw the two-and-a-half percent increase on the Value Added Tax (VAT). Instead it should find ways to increase the tax base to include a large of the society.
The unions urged the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to reduce its recent rent increase on its housing units from 65,000 cedis to 34,000 cedis, considering the difficult economic conditions facing workers.
A living minimum wage should be given to workers to enable the survive the hard times while the huge privileges enjoyed by people in high public offices should be withdrawn or at least withdrawn.
Togbe Adom Drayi, II, Volta Regional secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), reminded the members to see themselves first as workers and not to allow their political affiliations to prejudice their thinking against the harsh living conditions the ordinary people are going through.
He said the TUC would continue to champion the interests of the state and the people irrespective of the political party in government.
Togbe Drayi said what was required of workers was for them to stand by their leaders and make their voices heard on national issues because their silence would signal consent to decisions not in their interest.
He noted that the government itself admits that Ghanaians are facing economic hardships but does not seem to have the antidote to the plight of the suffering people.
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Easter baby survives suffocation
Mampong (Ashanti Region) 27 April 2000
The Easter spirit helped to rescue a day-old baby boy dumped under her bed after delivery because she did not have money to cater for him.
Akua Akyaa, a 35-year-old unmarried petty trader and a mother of three, who is alleged to have committed the crime, was said to have concealed her pregnancy and given birth at dawn on Good Friday in her room alone.
She cut the umbilical cord, wrapped the baby in a black polythene bag and pushed it under her bed, apparently for disposal later but she started bleeding profusely and was rushed her to a clinic by co-tenants.
Shortly after she was rushed to the clinic, some members of the Ebenezer Methodist Church, where she worships, went to her room to collect the "Shepherd Staff" to be used for the Easter activities.
Instead of the staff her seven-year-old daughter pulled out a bloodstained basket containing the baby struggling in the polythene bag.
The women untied the polythene, found the baby boy and rushed him to the same clinic where Akyaa had been admitted.
Akyaa's mother, who declined to give her name to the Ghana News Agency, said she was mobilising 180,000 cedis to settle the hospital charges for the two.
The mother and child are said to be responding to treatment.
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Nkrumaists observe 28th anniversary of the
death of Nkrumah
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April 2000
The Liberated Nkrumaist Brigade of the NDC on Wednesday called on the People's National Convention (PNC), the Convention People's Party (CPP) and all progressive people to vote massively for Professor John Atta Mills and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in next December's election so that the good works started by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President would be continued.
A statement signed by Mr. John Otu, National Co-ordinator of the Brigade, said events in Africa had demonstrated the wisdom and foresight of the stand taken by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to unite the whole continent of Africa in freedom and bring dignity to the African in his own land and in the Diaspora.
"We should reflect on the ideals of Dr Nkrumah and what he stood for and embrace those ideals and ensure that those lofty ideals are upheld and pursued."
The statement said Ghana is privileged to have the NDC government led by President Jerry John Rawlings who has embarked on the implementation of the national progressive agenda initiated by the first president.
"On the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the death of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, we the Brigaders of the NDC wish to remind our comrades that the NDC is the only government that is capable of accomplishing the good works started by Nkrumah."
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Don't exploit children for
selfish goals - Speakers
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April 2000
Speakers at the opening ceremony of a workshop on War-Affected Children in West Africa on Wednesday said the use of children as combatants in conflicts is inhumane and unacceptable and urged governments, civil society and the international community to commit financial and technical resources to end the practice.
They also called for the elimination of the root causes of armed conflicts and the implementation of protocols and conventions that protect the rights of civilians, especially children, during wars.
The speakers were Mr. Napoleon Abdulai of the UN Centre for Peace and Disarmament, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, President of the 31st December Women's Movement, Senator Myrtle Gibson of Liberia, Mrs. Janet Graham, Canadian High Commissioner and Miss Nyemade Cummings of Liberia.
Over 130 participants, including representatives of 110 NGOs working for children's welfare, representatives of donor groups and UN organisations attended the workshop organised as part of the one-week conference on War-Affected Children in West Africa.
Mr. Abdulai noted that over 300,000 children under 18 years were fighting with government and anti-government forces across the world. About 120,000 of such child soldiers are in Africa.
He said with the exception of Southern Sudan and Guinea, children were used as combatants in wars across Africa. Over 20,000 children were used in Liberia and more than half of that number was used in Sierra Leone.
"A commander in the Democratic Republic of Congo said that children make good soldiers because they are young and want to show that they are brave. So they give them narcotic drugs, alcohol and AK 47 riffles and make them watch Rambo films then they use them."
"It is worth noting people who exploit these children do not include their children," he said, adding that they send their children to schools in Europe and elsewhere to secure their future.
Mr. Abdulai condemned such practices, saying the destruction of the future of child soldiers has serious repercussions for the future of Africa and recounted the ordeal of some child soldiers in Liberia who were forced to have sex with dead women.
Mr. Abdulai said it is unfortunate that violence and war are becoming acceptable to West Africans as a normal feature, adding that conditions that create wars must be stopped.
"Our society is undemocratic by essence. Africa likes to repeat history instead of making history. But we don't have to allow any Tom, Dick and Harry to resort to violence after they have mismanaged political power."
Mr. Abdulai urged civil society to pressurise governments to push for democratic societies, decentralisation and good governance as well as the reduction in defence and security budgets.
He stressed the need to commit funds for the establishment of structures that would set up indicators for measuring good governance and for the implementation of protocols and conventions on human rights.
"We have a number of UN conventions, African Charter of Rights and declarations, but these are paper tigers. We need to make them real tigers to frighten people, who plan conflicts, by enforcing them".
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CPP holds National Executive Council
meeting
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April 2000
The Convention People's Party (CPP) will hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on April 29, the party announced on Wednesday.
The gathering will seek to reconcile the various factions whose emergence nearly rocked the party, especially after the party was taken to court last November.
A statement signed by Mr Ben Eghan, Third National Vice-Chairman said about 150 party leaders from all over the country will attend the meeting, which is expected to map out strategies for the party's participation in the forthcoming general election.
The statement said the creation of a Council of Elders would be considered. The NEC will also establish committees and appoint chairpersons, who will be automatic members of the Central Committee.
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Alabi inaugurates
committee to monitor noise making in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April
2000
Mr. Joshua Alabi, Greater-Accra
regional minister, on Wednesday inaugurated a 20-member committee to manage
religious conflicts and to monitor noise making in the region.
The inauguration is in compliance
with a recent joint declaration by religious bodies and organisations in the
city at a workshop on managing religious conflicts arranged by the Regional
Co-ordinating Council (RCC).
The workshop was organised to
arrive at an agreement that would avoid clashes between religious leaders and
traditional authorities when the Ga Traditional Council imposes its ban on
drumming and noise making before the celebration of Homowo.
In 1998 and 1999, there were clashes
between the two groups as they flexed their muscles over their freedom of
worship as against the ban on drumming and noise making.
The declaration, among other
things, called for the establishment of a committee to monitor and manage any
misunderstanding arising out of the celebration or observance of customs,
traditions, festivals and worship in the region.
It said drumming and noise-making
beyond the levels prescribed by the Abatement of Nuisance (1995) Bye-Law of the
Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), shall be monitored by the joint committee.
The committee is, therefore, to
receive, investigate and arbitrate on complaints from individuals, parties or
entities who allege that their rights have been infringed upon by the
activities of a religious body or bodies.
The committee, presided over by
Mr. Fats Nartey, Director of the RCC, comprises four representatives of the
RCC, three each from the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) and AMA, two from the Ga
Dangme Society and one each from eight Christian, Muslim and traditional
religious organisations in the city.
Mr. Alabi said members of the
committee are mandated to enter any place, including churches, mosques,
shrines, bars, hotels, restaurants and places of residence in pursuance of the
law to carry out their duties and called for support from the public to enhance
their work.
"Let us all put our hands to
the plough and help make the region a peaceful one in thoughts and deed and
earn it a name that carries along with it, joy and security when it comes to
religion."
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Accountants urged
to ensure judicious resource planning
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April
2000
Mr. Harry Sawyerr, Member of Council
of State, on Wednesday called on the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA),
to serve the nation through judicious planning and resource use in these times
that foreign exchange is scarce.
Speaking at the opening ceremony
of the fourth Accountants' Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
(ICA) in Accra, under the theme, "Effective Corporate Governance",
Mr. Sawyerr said the choice of the theme suggests the thrust of the institute's
vision to go beyond theory and draw on the lessons of practical experience.
"Accountancy as a profession
thrives on transparency just as the ICA's conventions, codes and standards are
geared towards upholding transparency and accountability", he said.
Mr. Sawyerr said setting realistic
goals and striving to achieve them is a fundamental tenet of sound business
practice.
"Therefore, the management of
resources, both intellectual and material for the attainment of the set goals,
is a prerequisite for effective corporate governance world-wide."
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Govt must accept
useful Minority suggestions - Addo-Kufuor
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 27 April
2000
Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, MP for
Manhyia, on Tuesday called on the government to accept useful suggestions from
the opposition to ensure the prudent use of resources.
He noted that the billions of
cedis and energy wasted on the single National Health Insurance Scheme could
have been saved if the government had not brushed aside the Minority's
suggestion in 1997 that such a scheme was not viable.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor, who is also the
Minority Spokesman on Health, was reacting to the admission by Dr. Moses Adibo,
Deputy Minister of Health that, the scheme has been found not to be feasible.
He said the position of the
Minority, which has now been vindicated, is that in view of the high dependency
ratio, high levels of unemployment and the large percentage of people living
below the poverty line, it is more appropriate to encourage private insurance
schemes but this was disregarded by the government.
The MP said communities, religious
bodies, employers, associations and workers' groups should be encouraged to set
up their own insurance schemes as being done at Nkoranza and elsewhere in the
country. The government's role should be limited to monitoring, regulating and
supervising those schemes to ensure that they work well.
Apart from the health insurance
scheme, the Minority also suggested useful ways of improving the "Cash and
Carry" system to give it a humane face and the exemption of paupers from
payment of medical fees.
He repeated that accident,
obstetric complications, paediatric and emergency surgical cases must be seen
by doctors straight away without discussing money.
The MP called for the setting up
of exemption committees in all districts to ensure transparency in the
operation of the exemption system, adding that the system as it is now being
operated lends itself to corruption.
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Two companies bid
for Koforidua water project
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 27
April 2000
Te Ministry of Works and Housing
will next week choose between Messrs BATEMAN of South Africa and SADE of France
for commencement of work on solving the perennial shortage of water in Koforidua.
Mr. I.K. Adjei-Mensah, Minister of
Works and Housing, told a workers durbar in Koforidua on Tuesday that a
10-member committee has been set to screen the two companies and submit recommendation
for the selection of one of them.
Earlier the Minister visited the
Densuagya Water intake point and the Koforidua water treatment plant where he
was briefed on work going on in the area.
He said under the new project, the
source of water supply to the Koforidua Municipality would be from the Volta
Lake and all the communities along the route from the intake point to Koforidua
would benefit from pipe borne water supply.
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Party calls for
new political system for Africa
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 27 April
2000
A new political organisation by
name "the National Unity Movement (NUM) has urged African countries to evolve
durable political systems from their cultural heritage to enhance their
capacity to chart a more sustainable path of development.
It said the adoption of western
systems of governance based on partisan politics since independence has
abysmally failed to advance the development of Africa.
"This is due to the fact that
partisan politics, whether one party or multi-party systems, are borrowed
systems that are divisive, corrupt, adversarial and incompatible with our
indigenous systems of government which is based on consensus," a statement
signed by the founder, Dr Sylvester K. Ankama, a lawyer and Ghana's former High
Commissioner to India, said on Thursday.
The statement said NUM hopes to
convince Ghanaians to reject partisan politics and promote a national unity
government where elections would be based on individual merit as it is the case
under the district assembly concept.
It said the institutionalisation
of formal opposition in western systems of government adopted by African
countries has promoted destructive factionalism and denied Africa the chance to
fully tap the brains of all citizens.
"We allow brilliant brains to
waste in the so-called opposition camps due to partisan politics to the
detriment of our collective progress," it said.
The statement said before
Europeans arrived on the continent, Africans were able to rule themselves
effectively under an indigenous system of governance that was consensus-based.
"This promoted unity without
sacrificing democracy and people's right because everybody was allowed to voice
his opinion before a decision was arrived at by consensus. Until Ghanaians and Africans in general
evolve a system of government devoid of partisan politics, "our countries
will not be developed."
It said under a national unity
system of governance, district, regional and national political heads would be
elected from their respective assemblies to ensure that they truly owe
allegiance to the people and not to political parties as obtained in partisan
politics.
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Apam (Central Region) 27 April
2000
The chairman of Central region
branch of the NDC, Mr. Kofi Mintah has warned members of the party who are
attempting to impose parliamentary candidates on the people to stop
immediately.
Speaking to Ghana News Agency at
Apam, Mr. Mintah said it has come to his notice that some members of the party
are working for certain aspiring MPs in some constituencies in the region
without the knowledge of their executives.
He said the party has a procedure
for selecting parliamentary candidates and that any move outside the laid down
guidelines is illegal and will not be entertained.
Mr. Mintah warned that any member
who wants to create confusion and divide the party would not be spared.
"We need to work in unity to
ensure a resounding victory for the party in the December polls."
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