Machomen attack police station and free suspects
Chief Imam consoles people of Dagbon
Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - Representatives of the Dagbon State and the family of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II on Wednesday called for an independent commission of inquiry into circumstances leading to the assassinated murder of the King of Dagbon and several others at the Gbewaa Palace.
Dr Wayo Seini, a prominent member of the area, told journalists at a press conference in Accra that "the Andani family demands an independent commission of inquiry composed of non-partisan personalities of high credibility and integrity to probe these crimes."
He said: "We as well as all patriotic sons and daughters of Dagbon, will never be intimidated by open or veiled threats; we shall not let this matter die until we find out who killed our King, their accomplices and sponsors and ensure that they are brought to justice."
Dr Seini who is also a prominent member of the Andani Gate of the late Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani II, was briefing journalists on developments in the Yendi Traditional Area after the recent fighting.
The press conference, which was originally scheduled for 2nd April, was postponed at the eleventh hour to Wednesday, 03 April, to enable the family to meet President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu. The President had requested for an emergency meeting with the family members before they met the press.
Dr Seini was flanked by Dr Abdul Gamel Nasar a leading member of the CPP and a Prominent citizen of Dagbon, Dr Yahuza Gomda, Nephew of the late Ya-Na, Mr Andani Alhassan and Alhaji Fuseni Baba.
He called for the immediate arrest of several members of the national security office and government. They are: Lieutenant-General Joshua Hamidu, National Security Adviser; Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu, former Minister of the Interior and Major Abubakar Sulemana, National Security Co-ordinator.
The others are, Prince Imoro Andani, former Northern Regional Minister and Mr Habib Tijani, District Chief Executive of Yendi, for their alleged "complicity in the crimes against the Dagbon State." He said their arrest would indicate government's sincerity to investigate the mass murder as stated in the President's address to the Nation on Thursday 28 March 2002.
The Dagbon State, according to Dr Seini, wanted the government to explain: Why it imposed a curfew in the Dagbon area? Why the Regional Security Council failed to intervene to avert the attack on the Ya-Na "even when request to do so had been made by the Regent of Gulkpegu in Tamale on several occasions"?
The Representatives questioned why there was break in telecommunications with Yendi from Monday, 25 March to Wednesday, 27 March? It also wanted to know why the military detachment at Yendi, which was equipped with armoured cars, refused to respond to the Ya-Na's request to evacuate him from the palace?
They also appealed to the government to disclose the source of its information on the death of the King and its subsequent announcement on Wednesday 27 March 2002, which is a flagrant violation of the customs and tradition of the African and, especially that of the Dagbon State.
"We demand from the government the body of our King." Who identified the body? When and where the identification took place? Why members of the Abudu Gate were provided with special security during the period while all others were abandoned to their fate when it was abundantly clear that it was the Abudu Gate, who were the aggressors."
Dr Seini said; "we are only cognisant of the fact that other tragedies had in the past been unleashed on the Dagbon State by these same local criminal elements in September 1969, during the transition from the government of the National Liberation Council to the Busia Administration."
He said 69 members of the Andani family were gunned down then by state security forces ostensibly sent to protect the palace, when the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani had then taken over from his father in 1968.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - Representatives of the Andani Gate of the Dagbon Traditional Area at Yendi on Wednesday asked the former Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu to resign as Member of Parliament for Yendi.
The representatives led by Dr. Wayo Seini alleged that "the magnitude of the crimes committed against the citizens of his (Yendi) constituency and the Dagbon state in general, is of such monstrous dimension that he is not fit to be in parliament."
Dr Seini, who is also a prominent member of the Andani Gate of the late Ya Naa, Yakubu Andani II, made the call at an emotional press conference in Accra to brief journalists on developments in the Yendi Traditional Area after the recent fighting in which the Ya-Naa and at least 28 others were killed.
The press conference, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, 02 April 2002, was postponed at the eleventh hour to Wednesday 03 April. The postponement was to enable them to meet President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, for an emergency meeting with the family members before they met the press.
Dr Seini, who broke down in tears twice during the press conference, was flanked by Dr Abdul Gamel Nasar, a leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and a prominent citizen of Dagbon, Dr Yahuza Gomda, nephew of the late Ya-Na, Mr Andani Alhassan and Alhaji Fuseni Baba.
He accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of the Dagbon State and the family of the Andani Gate, alleging that in spite of several contacts, including telephone calls made on Monday, 25 March, to alert the government about the killings at Yendi, "the government through its numerous spokespersons maintained that the situation was normal and that there was no threat whatsoever to life and property in Yendi.
"Not even calls by the people who were lucky enough to have escaped from the terror to tell the tales of people being killed could change the attitude of officialdom, which still insisted that the situation was normal."
Dr Seini stated that the people of Dagbon demand from the government an explanation of "the bizarre circumstances leading to the cold-blooded murder of the king and about 40 others by the terrorists."
"We make this demand of government not only because it has the bounding duty to protect the lives and property of all Ghanaians but also because government had in the face of this development, indicated publicly that it was in control of the situation and that all was normal in Yendi."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said the crisis in the Dagbon State emanated from the customs and traditions of the people. He, therefore, appealed to the three-member mediation team made up of prominent chiefs in the country to use their wisdom and influence to find lasting solution to the crisis.
President Kufuor at two separate meetings with the Nayiri Gamni Muhammadu, Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area and the Yagbon-Wura Bawa Doshie II, Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area, both of the Northern Region, at the Castle, Osu said; "it is necessary the crises in the Dagbon state are quickly arrested for peace and harmony to be restored.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, the third member of the team, is expected in Accra on Thursday, April 4. "The crisis is vested in the customs and traditions of the people, and to make a headway, we should invite the prominent chiefs to use their wisdom and influence to find a lasting solution to the crisis," he said. He reiterated the government's commitment to peace and stability in all parts of the country.
President Kufuor said although the government came into power through partisan politics, government's sense of responsibility would not make room for everything to be dealt with by partisan politics, but efforts would be made to instil stability in the country.
He said he was optimistic that the outcome of the Mediation Team deliberations would enhance the credibility of the government. Nayiri Gamni Muhammadu said despite his age, he felt he was duty bound to contribute to find a lasting solution to the Dagbon crisis.
The events that occurred at Yendi were unprecedented in the history of the area, he said, adding; "through oral history, there has not been any similar incident in the past, that is why my mission to Accra has become necessary."
The Nayiri thanked the government for the due recognition given to him to participate in the mediation of the Dagbon crisis. "As prominent chiefs in the country and custodians of our customs and traditions, I hope our decisions would make an impact to find a lasting solution to the Dagbon crisis."
The Yagbon-Wura recounted the Northern Region conflict between the Kokombas and the Nanumbas during which up to date the culprits or the perpetrators had not been found and prosecuted.
He said had the perpetrators been found and punished the Dagbon crisis could have been averted. The Yagbon-Wura, therefore, appealed to the government to ensure that the culprits in the Dagbon crisis were brought to book. He pledged to contribute to find a lasting solution to the crisis. The President also met the Andani and Abudu gates behind closed doors.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 – The Government on Wednesday said it was working hard to bring the refugee situation in Tamale to normalcy, but noted that the situation at Yendi must be contained first.
To this end, a meeting is currently underway at the Castle between the Asantehene, Na-Yiri and the Yagbonwura on one hand and the Abudu and the Andani Gates. The meeting, which is at the instance of the President, is to examine the situation and seek to bring short to long-term peace to the Dagbon area.
Briefing the press in Accra, Mr Ferdinand O. Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, admitted that a large number of people from Yendi were streaming into Tamale for fear for their lives, besides those who were leaving or have left because their homes had been destroyed.
Tamale, the regional capital, has since the crisis broke out more than a week ago, received scores of people from Yendi for fear of being attacked or because their homes have been destroyed.
Mr Ayim said the refugee situation was very high on the agenda of the discussions since it was very paramount to the people returning to their usual places to continue with their normal economic and social activities.
Mr Ayim congratulated the high standard and responsible media reportage so far in the Yendi conflict and urged journalists to remain tactful in all that they write about the conflict. "We want to trust that Ghanaian journalists are committed to peace and security at Yendi as anyone else in the country."
He said a delegation from the Ministry had met the Ghana Journalists Association and the two sides have agreed to work towards a common and lasting document on the Yendi issue. "The two bodies are still talking and I hope that very soon an amicable solution or agreement will be reached," Mr Ayim said.
He said there seems to be calm at Yendi and expressed the hope that the calm could be translated into peace. "I hope that the good sense of courage and direction shown by their representatives at the meeting here in Accra will be reciprocated back home so that everybody can go back to their normal business."
Mr Ayim said the President has forwarded documents to Parliament, which is to reconvene for an emergency meeting on Thursday, to endorse the extension of the state of emergency for three months.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, National Imam of the Ahlusunna Wal-Jama'a, on Wednesday urged Ghanaians to allow the judicial system to operate towards bringing the perpetrators of the Yendi tragedy to book as pledged by President John Agyekum Kufuor.
"I am urging all interested parties and the entire Ghanaian populace to exhibit the desired maturity in order to help preserve the peaceful socio-political climate we enjoy," he said in a statement in Accra.
Sheikh Ibrahim said: "It saddens me to recall the tragedy that shook the nation as a result of the recent disturbances at Yendi that resulted in the tragic death of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, the Overload of the Dagbon State.
"Islam has in no uncertain terms condemned the taking away of life without tangible justification. As such this very act should be treated with the utmost disdain it deserves." Sheikh Ibrahim, on behalf of the membership of the Ahlusunna Wal Jama'a, extended condolences to the family of the late Ya Na and the Dagbon community.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 -- Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has filed a writ at the Supreme Court challenging the decision by the government to seek a review of the Supreme Court decision, which declared the Fast Track High Court (FTHC) unconstitutional.
The defendants in the case are the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General. Mr Tsikata, who was standing trial at the FTHC for allegedly causing financial loss to the state filed a writ at the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the trial court and won the case by a five-four majority decision early last month.
The new writ said in view of the clear interest shown by the Chief Justice that his dissenting view in the suit should become the majority view upon the review, the empanelling of two additional justices would be a way of increasing the chance of reversal of the majority decision and would be a violation of article 296 (a) and (b) of the constitution.
Mr Tsikata is, therefore, seeking an interpretation and enforcement of article 133 (2) of the 1992 constitution to the effect that there is no constitutional requirement for there to be a panel of 11 justices of the Supreme Court to hear a review of a decision by a panel of nine judges.
He said the same constitutional clause states that except in the case of a decision by a panel of five judges of the Supreme Court, there is no requirement for the Chief Justice to add two additional judges to hear an application for a review of its decisions.
The writ said the January 10, 2001 Practice Direction of the former Chief Justice, being used as a reference point should be declared null and void and contrary to article 128 (2) of the 1992 constitution. The defendants must, therefore, be restrained from acting on the basis of the said Practice Direction of empanelling justices of the Supreme Court.
Mr Tsikata, who was represented by Professor Emmanuel Victor Oware Dankwa, noted that on a true and correct interpretation of Article 128 (2) and Article 133 (2) of the 1992 constitution, there is no "ordinary bench" nor is there a "full Bench" of the Supreme court as existed under the 1992 Constitution and the 1971 Courts Act, Act 372.
He said at the time the application for review was filed, the number of judges of the Supreme Court was in conformity with Article 128 (10) the constitution on the composition of the Supreme Court.
He said in respect of the appointment of Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, a press release of March 11, 2002, issued by the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs stated that in event of a review of the FTHC decision, there would be an appointment of 11 members, a larger bench than the nine members who heard the original case.
Mr Tsikata insisted that there is no requirement either in the constitution or judicial practice that the Chief Justice should empanel a larger bench than the nine members who heard the original case.
He said the Chief Justice has even procured the nomination and appointment of a new Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, to bring the number of Justices to eleven and use the Practice Direction to compel this new Justice of the Supreme Court for the review.
He is of the view that the appointment of Mr Justice Afreh does not confer on him, a constitutional right to sit, where practicable and especially, in constitutional cases as the application of the Practice Direction would necessitate nor is it necessary for him to sit on the review of the case.
It said in relation to a review, the constitution has the requirement of a minimum of seven judges, which has already been complied with in the composition of the panel for his case.
Mr Tsikata is, therefore, calling for a direction by the Supreme Court that the discretionary powers vested in the Chief Justice under Article 125 (4) of the constitution should be exercised in accordance with Article 296 (a) and (b) of the constitution and not on the basis of erroneous interpretation of the constitution.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday, said he was committed to a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the crisis in the Dagbon State of the Northern region, last month.
"I am also committed to a peaceful and sustainable settlement of the crisis," Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Deputy Government Spokesman, quoted him when he briefed newsmen at the Castle, Osu, after the President had held separate closed door meetings with delegations from the Andani and Abudu Gates, the two factions in the crisis.
President Kufuor said the State of Emergency was declared in the area to prevent further loss of lives and property and thanked the factions for their co-operation with the five-member Presidential fact-finding team and the Six-member Council of State team, which visited the area.
He also thanked the chiefs and people especially those from Yendi for their co-operation with the police and military personnel keeping the peace for the relative calm in the town.
Mr Agyepong said both factions in the crisis expressed their appreciation to the government for the swift manner it brought the situation under control and expressed their preparedness to have frank and objective discussions with the Mediation Team and others involved in discussing the issue.
He said the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, a member of the Mediation Team was expected in Accra in the morning of Thursday, for a closed door meeting with President Kufuor and the Nayiri Gamni Muhammadu and the Yagbon-Wura, Bawa Doshie II.
Mr Agyepong said the team would later hold separate meetings with the factions with the Presidential fact-finding team participating. The Kumbun-Na Yiri II led the Andani Gate while the Nanton-Na Sule led the Abudu gate.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has called on Ghanaians to bear with the government as it embarks on a mission to find an amicable solution to the Yendi crisis. He said "what we have on our hands is an ancient and a highly inflammable situation which requires the co-operation and support of all to resolve.
"In the process some may have to temporally give up their rights and privileges for the survival and good of the country, " the Vice President told a delegation of Muslim chiefs led by the Chief Imam Sheik Nuhu Sharubutu, who paid a courtesy call on him to express their condolences and sympathies to the government on the Yendi tragedy.
He said "as a son of the area I am deeply saddened and embarrassed by the tragedy and I believe that every true son of Dagbon is equally saddened and embarrassed by the turn of events in Yendi.
"I wish to call on the rest of Ghanaians not to make it any worse for us by allowing this calamity to divide the country any further. Let us minimise the spoils of this conflict; the Dagomba state has already lost heavily, but Ghana must stay united and strong to comfort us all," Alhaji Mahama said.
He said "in this moment of our distress we need the sympathies and prayers of all Ghanaians to enable Dagbon to come out of this calamity." The Vice President also appealed to all Dagombas, irrespective of their family lineage to exercise extreme restraint and co-operate with the various investigation teams in their search for a lasting solution to the problem.
He expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed that Allah would support and comfort them in this moment of grief. The Vice President reiterated the government's determination to get to the bottom of the tragedy in Yendi and to bring to quick justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - Plans are in the pipeline to reconstruct the Rawlings Park into a multi-storey car park this year. The park would have warehouses, stores, shops, offices and a tower tall enough to enable visitors to view a good part of the city.
Mr Solomon Ofei Darko, Metropolitan Chief Executive, who announced this at the first ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in Accra on Wednesday, said it was part of the measures to de-congest the city.
Mr Darko said with the present rapid growth and expansion of the city, with the bulk of residential communities that make enormous demands on terminals, the AMA was proposing the creation of four inter-urban terminals. These include a Northern Exit to be created at Achimota to serve all Northern bound inter-urban traffic such as Suhum, Nkawkaw, Tamale and Bolgatanga.
The Eastern exit would be located at a junction between Spintex Road and the Motorway Roundabout to serve all eastern bound inter-urban destinations such as Kpone, Prampram, Ada and Aflao. The North Eastern Exit to be located opposite Secaps Hotel would serve destination such as Aburi and Akropong.
The Western Exit Terminal would be located either within the existing Takoradi Terminal at Kaneshie or at a site to be identified along the Weija Road. It would serve destinations such as Cape Coast, Takoradi and Axim. The Tudu Lorry Station would be converted for the use of hawkers as part of measures to de-congest the city.
The GNA/Diamond House Lorry Station would be dislodged and converted into a garden or a canteen for civil servants, while the Neoplan Station would be dislodged to serve as an intra-urban terminal in place of the Circle Trotro Station. The Circle Station would be turned into a hawkers' mall.
The Agbogbloshie Lorry Station would also to be dislodged of its inter-urban functions and re-organised for intra-urban functions. Mr Ofei Darko said the CMB and Tema Lorry Stations would remain strictly as intra-urban terminals.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 04 April 2002 - The Action Forum of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has welcomed the decision of Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, former adviser on governmental affairs, to contest for the position of national chairman during the national congress of the party this month. The forum described Alhaji Mahama as a "gentleman and a statesman in whom we have a lot of hope to reconcile the party on the road to the 2004 elections".
A statement signed by Nana Agyare Baffour, member of the council of elders and Obaa Yaa, women's organiser of the forum in Kumasi, said it was well known that the NDC lost the last elections because of internal problems, which were ignored at the time.
They mentioned disunity among the members due to the insensitivity of some leaders and said party activists and functionaries who voiced their revulsion against the bad administrative and leadership practices were either suspended or framed up.
The statement explained that this led to the formation of the Action Forum, which was now spreading to the regions. It said the Forum would be circumspect about personalities seeking positions but had demonstrated their arrogance and untruthfulness and were pitching their strength through perceived media popularity and money.
The Forum advised that in choosing its leaders, the party must be mindful of the old adage that "all that glitters is not gold," and said the NDC had enough human resources to have won the 2000 elections.
It said some of those seeking top positions promising to deliver at the 2004 elections were the very ones responsible for the defeat of the NDC. The forum said they handled the campaign machinery badly and disbursed funds irresponsibly, adding, "We need to learn our lessons now or never".
"The Forum is not against personalities. We are against what some personalities represent. If any person is contesting for any position at any level of the party's organisational structure and there is ample evidence that he or she will be counter productive in forging strong links it is our right to say so," the statement added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - There are 1.5 million blind children world wide-with a child going blind every minute, Dr Hannah Faal, President of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness said in Accra on Wednesday.
She said blindness in children in the developing countries was cased by conditions, such as vitamin A deficiency, measles infection, harmful traditional medicines and conjunctivitis of newborn babies. Dr Faal was addressing participants at a five-day regional workshop on refractive errors, low vision, education and rehabilitation.
The workshop drew about 30 participants from Ghana, the Gambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Sierra Leone with resource persons from Asia, Africa and Europe. She said blindness was increasing and affecting the socio-economic activities of the African countries and called on governments to adopt strategies to address the situation.
Dr Faal noted that the formation of the "Vision 2020: The right to Sight" was a global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. Dr Faal said the initiative would devote significant resources to reduce childhood blindness.
In Ghana, according to the Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Services, 360,000 more people would suffer from blindness in the next 20 years if immediate action were not taken to address the situation. The five top causes of the blindness - cataract, trachoma, childhood blindness low vision and onchocerciasis - were preventable and could be treated.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor in consultation with the Council of State has appointed Mr Boniface Gambila Adagbila as the new Director of the National Service Scheme with immediate effect.
A statement from the Office of the President on Wednesday said Mr Adagbila was born on June 9, 1959 and hails from Namdam in the Bolgatanga District of the Upper East Region.
He holds a Post Graduate Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Development, Training and Development from the University of Manchester and a B.A (Hons) in Psychology/Political Science from the University of Ghana. He served as a senior Assistant Director, National Service Scheme in charge of Training and Development from 1986-94.
From 1994-97 he worked on the World Bank funded project on Water and Sanitation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is also a member of the Institute of Personnel and Development. Currently, he is the Principal Trainer, Management and Administration at the Volta River Authority, the statement said.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 04 April 2002 - About 20 men stormed the Kuntanase police station, on Easter Monday and freed two suspects being held for stealing personal effects of holiday-makers who had gone to Lake Bosomtwe, at Abono.
According to the Police Public Relations Unit in Kumasi, at about 9 o'clock in the morning of Easter Monday, some soldiers handed over the suspects, Salifu Abass and Kwasi Owusu to the Kuntanase police.
The Police said a group of "macho men" numbering about 20 besieged the police station after the soldiers had left and demanded the release of the suspects. When General Corporal P. Agyemang who was alone at the station refused to release them, they attacked him and forced the cells opened and took the suspects away.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - The National Media Commission (NMC) on Wednesday appealed to the government not to use Act 472 to impose censorship in the country but to use the powers conferred by law in the best interest of the nation.
A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday and signed by Mr Nutiffafa Kuenyehia, Chairman of NMC, said at the Commission's 18th General meeting it thoroughly discussed the statement of the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs directing the media to seek clearance from his office before publishing any story from or about the Yendi conflict.
This, the statement said, was in view of the declaration of a state of emergency by the President in accordance with Article 31 of the 1992 Constitution and the Emergency Powers Act 1994.
It explained that under Article 31, the President was empowered to declare a state of emergency in a situation likely to deprive the community of the essentials of life or which render necessary the taking of measures, which were required for seeking public safety and the maintenance of public order among other things.
The statement said the Commission had noted the constitutionality of the Emergency Power Act but expressed regret about the circumstances leading to its invocation and described it as unfortunate.
The Commission, however, welcomed the willingness of the Minister to discuss with stakeholders, particularly the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and NMC in implementing the provisions of the law and in resolving any differences between government and the media.
It further reminded the media of Article 21 (1) of the 1992 Constitution on the limitations on the rights of freedom including freedom of speech and expression, which shall include the freedom of the press and other media during a state of emergency. The NMC accordingly renewed it appeal to the media to exercise circumspection and care in the reportage of the Yendi conflict and to avoid speculation and conjecture.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor is expected to address the 27th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Children Scheduled for New York from April 8 to 10, Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a pre-summit briefing held in Accra, she said a Children's Forum where two children from Ghana were expected to participate would precede the summit. The world's children would prepare a resolution for submission to the summit.
The session was expected to adopt an outcome document, "A world fit for children", which would indicate a declaration by participating governments, review progress and lessons learned since the first world summit in 1990, as well as adopt a plan of action for creating a world fit for children.
Mrs Asmah said implementation of the various laws that have been made since the last summit on children a decade ago had been greatly constrained by the lack of adequate enforcement mechanisms, effective resource allocation and lack of knowledge among relevant authorities and the public.
"Efforts to disseminate the Convention on the Rights of the Child have, however, not achieved the desired impact as many NGOs, professional groups and the bulk of the population do not show much attitudinal change," she said.
Mrs Asmah called for more public education in building up knowledge of the convention. She said it was important to let the people of Ghana know how much progress had been made in promoting the well-being and development of children in the country over the past decade and the factors that had inhibited progress for children in Ghana.
Ms Atawa Akyea, acting Executive Secretary of the Ghana National Commission on Children, said the special session was a follow-up to 1990 world summit for children where 71 heads of state and government and other leaders signed the world declaration on the survival, protection and development of children.
She said the special session was expected to focus on how investment in children's education, health, and protection would contribute to global stability and peace.
Ms Akyea said the issue of how and why to invest in children had taken on a greater significance and Ghana considered the dismal situation of the thousands of children on the streets, the "kayaye" and other problems as deliberate exploitation of children.
She said that was why the National Partnership for Children, launched by the president last April was so relevant, adding, "that effort was only a beginning to build a world fit for children".
Mr Aliu Bello, UNICEF representative, said the occasion would be used to appeal to the respective consciences of world leaders. "They would be told to put children first in the developmental process, to educate every child, prevent exploitation of children and reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, renew the fight against poverty and acquaint themselves with critical issues affecting children by listening to them," he said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - The World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting Ghana and six other African countries to establish a surveillance system and gather information on non-communicable diseases, which are responsible for millions of deaths each year with over 70 per cent of them happening in developing countries.
Dr. James Teprey, Programme Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases of the Ghana Health Service, mentioned Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, South Africa and Zimbabwe as other beneficiaries of the programme.
Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and stroke, known as lifestyle diseases, have reached epidemic proportion in most countries in the developing world. Health experts have associated these diseases with modernisation, high intake of alcohol, smoking, high-fat diet and little physical activity.
At a press briefing ahead of this year's World Health Day, slated for April 7, Dr Teprey said data on these groups of conditions in Ghana was scanty because the present reporting system was not designed for them.
The Day, which would focus on non-communicable diseases, is under the theme, "Move for health". The theme is meant to emphasise physical activity as a means of reducing the rising incidence of non-combinable disease. sThe WHO estimates that lack of physical activity leads to more than two million deaths each year.
Dr Teprey said the surveillance programme would involve a nation-wide exercise in the gathering of information on risk factors that pre-dispose people to non-communicable diseases such as tobacco use, nutrition, body weight and height.
According to him, non-communicable diseases were not only becoming the common causes of death or admissions but were also expensive to manage since they were largely chronic and incurable.
"At the Medical Block of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, hypertension is the number one cause of admission and complications such as heart attack and stroke account for 70 per cent of all deaths at the block."
He said over 400,000 people in Ghana were diabetic and it was estimated that in the year 2015 the ratio between deaths from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases, world-wide, would be 1:1.
Dr Francis Offei, President of the Ghana Diabetes Association, called on the authorities to create more pavement and walk-ways for people to exercise their bodies through walking or bicycle riding.
He also said there was the need for agencies such as the Food and Drugs Board to come out with a programme of labelling all foods and their nutritional and energy content to ensure that people knew what they were consuming to cut down on unhealthy diets and habits.
Dr. Ofei was of the view that the number of dieticians was not only few but also limited to the city of Accra and therefore, their role in public health education would not be felt.
Dr Melville George, WHO Representative in Ghana, said the organisation was working on a framework on the convention on tobacco, which was expected to be finalised next year to ensure that the effects of smoking on the health of the community could be reduced.
He said countries were being supported to come out with a health promotion strategy that would ensure that the double burden of infectious and non-infectious diseases would be addressed through information, education and change of lifestyles.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 April 2002 - Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, National Imam of the Ahlusunna Wal-Jama'a, on Wednesday urged Ghanaians to allow the judicial system to operate towards bringing the perpetrators of the Yendi tragedy to book as pledged by President John Agyekum Kufuor.
"I am urging all interested parties and the entire Ghanaian populace to exhibit the desired maturity in order to help preserve the peaceful socio-political climate we enjoy," he said in a statement in Accra.
Sheikh Ibrahim said, "It saddens me to recall the tragedy that shook the nation as a result of the recent disturbances at Yendi that resulted in the tragic death of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, the overload of the Dagbon State.
"Islam has in no uncertain terms condemned the taking away of life without tangible justification. As such, this very act should be treated with the utmost disdain it deserves." Sheikh Ibrahim on behalf of the membership of the Ahlusunna Wal Jama'a, extended condolences to the family of the late Ya Na and the Dagbon community.
GRi../
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