Immigration officers urged to exhibit professionalism
Ghana assures Italians of security
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday stressed the need for information flow from the various sector ministries to keep the people abreast with the government's activities and programmes.
He said information flow must be their priority and asked the Ministry of Information to put in place the necessary machinery that would ensure that the people were well informed to appreciate the government efforts in nation building in order to sustain their trust and confidence.
President Kufuor, delivering the keynote address at the Fifth Ministers' Residential Workshop, which opened at GIMPA in Accra, said "the people must not only hear and feel what we are doing but there must be information flow on what the government is doing and appreciate them to sustain their trust and confidence".
He cited the purchase of Peugeot cars for the Ghana Police Service from Nigeria and said if information had flowed properly, questions that were asked would not have arisen. The Minority in Parliament had requested Parliamentary approval for the purchase of the cars.
President Kufuor explained that between January and March this year, about 50,000 tonnes of cocoa were smuggled through the western border to La Cote d'Ivoire and the Police could not do much because they were handicapped due to lack of logistics.
The government appealed to the Nigerian government, which readily requested the Peugeot assembling plant in Kaduna to release the vehicles to Ghana and work out modalities on their payments.
He said letters of credit had been established for the purchase of about 500 vehicles for the police as promised by the government while some funds had been made available to begin some of the priority projects in the road sector in the country.
"When the people know we are truthful and sincere to them, they would understand. We must show confidence in our work."
President Kufuor said there were two things, which the government owed Ghanaians - to establish a culture of good governance within their four-year mandate and also lay solid foundation to transform the economy to improve their lives.
He said the government was on the right track because the difficult decisions taken in the past year had paid some dividends and stabilised the economy. However, there was more room for improvement. President Kufuor said it was possible for the government to turn things around dramatically because the most essential ingredient in an economy was the people.
He added that with Ghanaians being hardworking and anxious to learn, the missing link was an honest and inspired leadership. "I believe the government can and must offer this leadership. It is time for us to move up a gear. From now onwards our language should change. It should shift from we shall do this or the other one to we have done this or we are doing this or the other one," he added.
President Kufuor said government was determined to grow the economy, adding "we aim to double the size of the economy by the year 2008. This is an achievable goal".
He reiterated his call on them to work as a team and said no one should be a weak link to retard the progress of the entire team. "Time is not on our side, we do not have the luxury to sit and contemplate and to bicker among ourselves. I believe we can deliver, our compatriots believe we can deliver. There is nothing to hold us back, let us get on with it."
The three-day workshop, being attended by ministers and members of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), would discuss topics like "Maximising our impact as ministers", "Working with the media", "Civil service reform".
It is to assess their progress, review their activities, design and develop the planning process with achievable goals for the country. Mr Jospeh Henry Mensah, Senior Minister, said members of the NDPC were included in the workshop to assist government in the process of formulating a National Development Planning Programme for the country.
He said after two years, the government was obliged by the Constitution to present its national development programme to Parliament which must include the actual programme, how to translate those intentions and principles into action and implement them into a sustainable plan. "It is the implementation that determines whether we have succeeded or not, " he added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - The Andani gate in the Yendi chieftaincy dispute on Friday stepped up its pressure on the government to expedite investigations into the murder of the Ya-Na and at least 30 of his supporters, saying they demand justice, not favours, in the criminal acts committed at Yendi.
In a statement read by Dr. Wayo Seini at a press conference in Accra, they said they had made a commitment to get their people to refrain from acts of reprisals and would mobilise all efforts to ensure the resolution of the matter.
However, Dr Seini said, although they had launched a formal complaint with the police on the incident at Yendi, in which the Ya-Na was among those killed, and provided a comprehensive list of suspects, the Andani family members were rather being questioned and detained.
"The security agencies have over the past couple of weeks rather subjected members of the Andani family to a series of harassment, discriminatory and provocative searches of their homes.
"In the process, some members of the Andani family have been detained for reasons difficult to comprehend." Dr Seini said while they were being harassed at Tamale by the security agencies, "they have surprisingly left out Yendi, where most of the suspected murderers reside".
The Andani family has accused several top ranking government officials and former ministers of involvement in the fighting at Yendi and the assassination of the Dagbon King. They have denied the charges.
The Government has set up a high-powered team to investigate the circumstances of the bloody clashes at Yendi late last month which clamed the lives of the Ya Na and more than two dozens of his supporters. The government has also appointed a team of respectable chiefs to take a look at a peaceful solution to the chieftaincy dispute that has defied solution for decades.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - A prisons officer was on Friday arrested at the James Fort Male Prison in Accra with 40 wrappers of Indian hemp concealed in his boots. A statement from the Ghana Prisons Service said Ernest Obese Ntow was arrested during a routine search conducted on late shift officers. The arrest followed a warning by the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr. Richard Kuuire, that he would weed out all bad nuts in the service.
The statement issued by Superintendent Solomon Antwi said the Director-General had directed that Mr. Ntow be handed over to the police for immediate prosecution. "The Director-General wishes to reiterate his determination to get rid the Service of all bad nuts and criminals among staff," the statement said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - The National Media Commission (NMC) on Friday said the recent directive by the government to censor all stories from and about the Yendi conflict was unworkable and put a limit to press freedom.
Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, Executive Secretary of the NMC said the Complaints Settlement Committee of the NMC, together with the Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and disciplinary bodies of media institutions constitute alternative on the media regulation that are constitutionally acceptable than censorship by a government ministry.
Mr. Ayeboafo was presenting a paper at a panel discussion on Human Rights dubbed, "Censorship versus transparency: the role of the press in reporting the facts". In his paper titled, "In the Freedom Regulation Continuum, What is the mediating factor-an instrument of censorship or are there any alternatives", he said the media were the eyes and ears of the public and any attempt to stifle it would mean denying the fundamental rights of the citizenry.
He said the 1992 constitution provides for fundamental human rights including freedom of the media in articles 12 to 30. "However, article 31 (10) extinguishes all these freedoms in times of emergency, in so far as it seems reasonably justifiable to the President and his desires are endorsed by Parliament."
Mr. Yaw Owusu Addo, Director of Radio GBC, and Vice President of the GJA said democracy demands workable solutions rather than draconian systems, which take away the fundamental rights of the people.
He said, he was happy government accepted the GJA proposals of guidelines to the Ministry of Information for the coverage of conflict situations, saying this was a better way forward than censorship.
Quoting from the guidelines, Mr. Owusu Addo said there was the need to separate facts from opinion and conjecture, the media must be sensible to national and local values and norms and observe tact and diplomacy in their reportage. They should also avoid sectional, ethnic, parochial references, repetition of or allusions to stereotypes and propaganda, among other things.
He said infringement on these guidelines would attract sanctions such as imprisonment for a maximum of 14 days with the option of a fine, appointment of an administrator to direct the operations of the media house, subject to review within 14 days.
The NMC was enjoined to establish within the complaint settlement committee, a special committee to monitor the observance of the above guidelines and to initiate the necessary legislation to give effect to these guidelines, Mr Owusu Addo added.
Nana Ohene Ntow, Assistant Government Spokesman said government's intention was to ensure national security and cohesion during the Yendi conflict and the government's maturity in this was obvious.
The constitution contains specific provisions, which deals with accountability, transparency and participation, adding that the NPP government had made this the nucleus of its functions and was the first to put itself at the disposure of the public to be probed.
Nana Ohene Ntow said information has become the key resource in the world today, outstripping the importance of old key resources, like land and capital, adding that this was one of the doctrines of the present government.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Deputy Minister of the Interior, on Friday urged personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in their duties saying they had a crucial role to play in moving the country into a middle income status.
"Your actions, therefore, as immigration officers should reflect the urgency with which the government seeks foreign investment from non-resident Ghanaians and foreign nationals," he said.
"These actions must, of course, be within the law," the Deputy Minister said in an address at the opening of the first Regional Immigration Commanders' conference in Accra. The Commanders would take stock of their activities and discuss the implementation of the new immigration regulations. Mr Asiedu said in as much as the government would wish to open the doors to investors, "we must ensure that they comply with our laws".
He said as the investment community grew the need to enforce the laws would become imperative but cautioned that it must be done with all impartiality noting that the establishment of Enforcement Units in regional capitals and at the headquarters to monitor the activities of foreigners was a laudable but cautioned that they should refrain from harassing genuine foreigners.
He urged them to assist other security agencies to fight crime by sharing intelligence and stepping up their screening of foreigners at entry points observing that without co-operation incidents like the destruction of farms by Fulani herdsmen, who crossed the borders into the country would continue.
Mr Asiedu urged immigration officers to be disciplined and said government was working to solve some of the problems hampering the smooth running of the service. Nana Owusu-Nsiah, Director of GIS, said personnel should be pragmatic in their duties. "Do not restrict yourselves to immigration related issues alone. You should be able to collect and forward information on activities that are likely to impinge on security of the state and the people."
He warned that the recent war declared on armed robbers in Nigeria should alert officials at the entry points to be extra vigilant since the criminals were likely to relocate in other countries.
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Ghana assures Italians of security
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - The Ministry of the Interior has given assurance to the Italian Embassy in Accra that the security agencies would do all within their power to protect Italian citizens.
Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Deputy Minister of the Interior, told the Italian Deputy Head of Chancellery in Ghana, Mr Basilo Antonio Toth, that Italians should, therefore, move about freely and go about their businesses normally.
A statement in Accra on Friday said Mr Toth had gone to the Ministry for a briefing on the murder by armed robbers in Cape Coast of Mr Roberto Massino, 62, Managing Director of BRM Wood Processing Company.
The statement signed by Mr E.P.D. Barnes, Chief Director of the Ministry, said the Mr Asiedu described murder as regrettable and sad and expressed the condolences of the government to the family of the deceased and the Italian Embassy.
Mr Toth had expressed the concern of the embassy about the implications of the murder on other Italians, who had become apprehensive and feared for their security. "This feeling is shared by the Italian Government, which has instructed the Embassy to express its concerns to the Ghanaian government," the statement quoted Mr Toth as saying.
He added that this could have a possible negative impact on the international scene.
Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector-General of Police, briefed Mr Toth about the investigations into the murder and said the Police would do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators.
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Council of Labour calls for stiff
punishment for spousal killers.
Somanya (Eastern Region) 20 April 2002 - The Yilo Krobo District Council of Labour has advocated stiff punishment for men who kill their spouses as a means of halting recent incidents of spousal killings in the country.
In a three-point resolution adopted at its meeting at Somanya on Friday, the council expressed "deep concern about the manner in which women were being murdered by their husbands" and expressed its support for all measures, including the imposition of severe penalties on the offenders as a means of curbing the incident.
The Council urged the government to come out with appropriate measures, including empowering civil society, to mount campaigns on the need for couples to live in harmony, regardless of their differences, as a way of stopping the "barbaric acts".
The Council, which called on the government to pay workers "realistic wages", further urged it to, as from next year, announce a national minimum wage based on negotiations with the Tripartite Committee before coming out with the national budget.
The statement contended that, "reading the budget before announcing the minimum wage is not helpful" and therefore, stressed the need for government to conclude all negotiations with the Tripartite Committee before the budget was read. The resolution also called for the restoration of the End-of-Service Benefit (ESB) to provide retiring workers a meaningful life after pension. .
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Yendi (Northern Region) 20 April 2002 - Life in the Yendi District is becoming normal after the outbreak of violence, which disrupted trading and farming. Briefing newsmen on Friday, the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Mohammed Asibi Azonko, said government workers were now going about their duties without fear and appealed to the few who left to return to post.
He said agricultural activities have started seriously with farmers going to their fields early in the morning to cultivate and plant. The District Co-ordinating Director said the curfew imposed on the Dagbon area had been reviewed from 8 PM to 5 AM to enable farmers to have more time for their activities.
He said the people were also complying with the curfew while preparation towards this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were going ahead without hindrance.
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New Tafo (Eastern Region) 20 April 2002 - Participants of a just-ended three-day workshop on domestic violence at New Tafo Akim have called for the establishment of marital counselling centres in the communities and churches to help promote strong family ties and stem the spousal murders syndrome.
The participants also urged Parliament to review the law on domestic violence to ensure the imposition of stringent penalties for perpetrators of such crimes to server as a deterrent to others.
They also appealed to religious bodies, NGOs and the Department of Social Welfare to assist in the counselling of couples and the offering of financial and moral support for victims of domestic violence.
The participants said poverty was a major cause of domestic violence and called on government to establish more vocational training centres, create employment avenues and to grant soft loans for spouses to enable them undertake economic actives to generate incomes for the family.
They asked married couples to develop effective communication links and have mutual respect for each other to for promoting strong marital ties. The Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, urged the participants to initiate proactive strategies that could assist them in monitoring and preventing domestic violence.
The event, which was organised by the Ark Foundation, a gender promotion non-governmental organisation (NGO) attracted participants from religious bodies, the Department of Social Welfare, gender relate organisations, the media, women groups and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
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Tema (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - Unionised workers of the Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) has decided to embark on a demonstration in protest against the government's delay in increasing wages and the restoration of the End-Of Service Benefits (ESB) for workers.
At a general meeting at Tema on Friday, the workers said they would undertake a strike if authorities failed to expedite action on the issues after their action that is scheduled for May 8, 2002. They expressed regret that despite persistent reminders, the government has not yet responded to their petition for dialogue over the matter.
They said inasmuch as officials of the former National Democratic Congress (NDC) government were considered for the ESB under the ex-gratia, workers should be made to benefit from the package.
The TDCL, however, commended government for putting in place measures in line with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), aimed at solving problems facing workers of the local textile industries.
The workers, notwithstanding, said the Ministry of Employment and Manpower Development has failed to solve problems facing them and called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to ensure that a lasting solution was found to the GTMC issue.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - The Ghana Medical and Dental Council said on Friday that Dr. Prince Nicholas Beckley is not in good standing, as he had not renewed his registration since 1986.
A statement signed by Dr. E.K. Atikpui, Registrar of the Council, said Dr Beckley graduated from the Kalinin State Medical Institute in the Soviet Union in 1969 and was registered with the Council in 1982 with registration number MDC/RN/01779.
However, their records indicate that the last time he renewed his registration was in 1986. It quoted Section 27(2) of NRCD 91 (1972) which states that; "Every practitioner on the standing register shall pay such annual fee for retention of his registration as may be prescribed by regulations."
It said any doctor or dentist who failed to pay the annual retention fee was not on the register. The statement reminded doctors and dentists, who have not paid their retention fees up to 2002 that under the decree, any doctor or dentist, who is not in good standing shall not practice medicine and sign any certificate or document required by law to be signed by a practitioner.
The police arrested Dr. Beckley at the weekend following allegations that he had kidnapped two teenage girls for alleged spiritual purposes. A mob attacked and burnt down his residence and destroyed property worth millions of cedis. He has since been remanded into prison custody.
The Criminal Investigations Department on Friday said it was continuing with investigations into allegations that Dr. Ram Beckley, an occultist and a medical practitioner, kidnapped a teenage girl last week.
A statement signed by Mr Angwutoge Awuni, Director of Police Public Relations, asked the public to contact the Homicide Section at the CID Headquarters with any information that could be vital to the case.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - The Volta River Authority on Friday announced a new 12-member Board of Trustees for the VALCO Trust Fund under the chairmanship of Dr. Blucoo Allotey, the Greater Accra Region representative.
A statement signed by Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive of VRA, said the regional representatives are:
Tulwe-Wura Bakari - Northern Region
Mr. Clement Azantilow - Upper East
Brigadier G.N. Goumil - Upper West
Mr. S.S. Omane - Eastern
Mr. K. Asamoah Anane - Ashanti
Ms. Ruby Amarteifio - Central
Mr. Amenlemah Nkoe - Western
Mr. Paatrick Agbenuwosi - Volta
Nana Brobo Omanhene - Brong Ahafo
The other members are Mr. Reggie Bannerman, a lawyer and Prof. Abena Dolphyne, an educationist.
The VACO Fund was established in October 1971 under a Trust Deed, which was executed by the VRA and VALCO for the advancement of education and science. It is also carry out development projects that are directly beneficial to Ghanaians.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2002 - Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence on Friday said it was the vision of the government to solve health issues and ensure the general well-being of individuals.
He said the government was very concerned about the plight of the elderly and pensioners who often found it difficult to settle their medical and other bills due to the meagre pension packages they live on. The "Government therefore, welcomes the idea of any organisation or association that wishes to establish a scheme that will better the life of its workers or members at retirement," he said.
Dr Addo-Kufuor, a past president of the association was launching the GMA Pension Fund in Accra at a three-day medical conference and exhibition, which opened on Wednesday. It was organised by the GMA and a UK based company, FSG Communications limited.
He said whereas in theory retirement should be a period of rest, it had practically become a traumatic experience for many, who come to the realisation that they could not cope with the sudden change.
Dr Addo-Kufuor said the SSNIT pension scheme, which provides about 50 to 80 per cent of one's salary while in active service, was inadequate and presents an insecure future for workers. I have no doubt that retirement in a situation of financial insecurity is one of the major causes of the medical brain drain in the country," he added.
He urged the GMA to invite its external members to respond to the fund for its success. Dr. Jacob Plange-Rhule, National President of GMA, explained that contributions to the fund would be voluntary through monthly deductions.
He further explained that a contributor to the fund could only opt out after five years of continuous contribution. He appealed to members to support the scheme to ensure its success.
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