James
Fort Prison dangerous for habitation - Prisons Council
Don't
drive a wedge between Rawlings and Asamoah –Ashanti Youth
Volta
Region throws weight behind Obed
Daily
minimum wage is now 7,150 cedis
Kufuor
names Commission to investigate Yendi tragedy
Give
realistic minimum wage to workers
Police
bust another 419 syndicate
UK
Maths & Science teachers give to educational institutions
James
Fort Prison inmates accuse Police
National
Media Features on Children's award in August
Danish
government to support private sector development
More
water tankers, as Oguaa water situation worsens
Govt
to enhance housing delivery in two years
Clergyman
wants pastors exempted from payment of income tax
Trade
Union calls for release of Palestinian territories
Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The Reconstituted Prisons Service Council on
Thursday described the James Forts Prison as a "death trap and dangerous ground
for human habitation" and suggested immediate evacuation to avoid any
disaster.
The
Chairman of the Council, the Reverend Professor Seth Ayettey, told newsmen
during a familiarisation tour of the prison for first hand information on
conditions prevailing there, it feared that the cells could collapse in case of
any earth tremor or severe rainstorm.
The 12 out
of the 13 members of the Council sworn into office in Accra on Wednesday and was
charged by the President Kufuor to be motivated by the sense of humanity to
ensure that the prisons were modernised in terms of the physical conditions and
the treatment meted out to prisoners.
Newsmen
observed during the tour that the prison was dilapidated and its structures were
weak. The sanitary environment was unhygienic, ceilings have caved in and
electrical wires were exposed dangerously. The fort, which is almost 400 years
old, was originally built for 200 slaves, but now houses 740 male and 36 female
prisoners.
The
inmates included 686 Ghanaians, 31 Nigerians, eight, Togolese, 10 from other
West African countries, one each from South Africa, United States, Germany,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The 740
inmates share nine showers for bathing, 20-hole toilet used during the day and
piss-pots in each cell for the night. The slave caves converted for dormitories
have serious ventilation problems. Two inmates sleep on one student size foam
mattress. The physical structures have developed huge
cracks.
Alhaji
Mohammed Assani, Assistant Director of Prisons, told the delegation that
problems of the service included failure of Police officers to present suspects
to courts on due dates, overcrowding, lack of transport to send inmates to
courts and hospitals.
Others are
lack of drugs at the infirmary, harsh bail conditions, expired warrants, late
presentation of dates for court hearing, low water pressure and lack of
accommodation for officers.
The rest
are lack of adequate bedding facilities such as clothing, foam mattress and
blankets. It is becoming more and more difficult to continue the use of James
Fort Prison, due to the weak and old structures," Alhaji Assani said.
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A six-month-old baby in
prison
Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The reconstituted Prison Service Council was on
Thursday divided over the fate of a six-months old baby with the mother at the
female cells of the James Fort Prison in Accra.
The
Council members could not immediately decide whether to recommend for the baby
to be sent to the Osu Children's Home, the Department of Social Welfare, or send
the baby to the relatives of the mother.
The
members were deliberating on the fate of the child, problems at the prison and
other related developments after a familiarisation tour of the prison for first
hand information on conditions prevailing in the cells.
The
Reverend Professor Seth Ayettey of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, who is the
Chairman, led the members to visit both the male and female
cells.
The
mother, one Esi from Winneba, who is serving a three-year jail term for stealing
a television set and escaping from lawful custody told the delegation that she
gave birth to the baby while serving her term. She said her relatives have
refused to take-over the child for dragging the name of the family in the
mud.
Mr Richard
Kuuire, Director of Prisons, said although prison regulations specifically
require that a child of a convict should be weaned from the mother in jail, most
mothers refused to give out their babies and rather used them as bait for the
mother's release from the prison.
He agreed
with a suggestion that it was against the fundamental human rights of the child
to be kept in prison for no offence but said the situation was tricky, "as we
have no baby and mother unit cells." Mr Kuuire noted that the problem of nursing
mothers was a major setback in the administration of justice in the
country.
He also
explained that some women on bail intentionally get pregnant before sentencing
"thinking that their condition would be used to set them free only to end up in
jail and create problems for us." Prof Ayettey pledged that the Council would
make the necessary recommendation for government to address the
problem.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 26 April 2002 - The Ashanti Regional Youth Wing of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned against attempts by some leading members
of the party to drive a wedge between former President Jerry John Rawlings and
Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, one of the main contenders for party's chairmanship
position.
This could
become a potential source of confusion and a sure disaster to the stability of
the party, a press statement issued in Kumasi by the youth wing and signed by
the Regional Youth Organiser, Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, said.
It noted
that the two for a period spanning over 20 years had enjoyed an excellent
working relationship and wondered why anyone or group should seek to drive a
wedge between them.
The
statement said, as founder, the NDC youth in Ashanti recognised that former
President Rawlings had a tremendous role to play in maintaining the unity and
cohesion of the party.
They,
therefore, appealed to him to be magnanimous and reach out to all factions and
interest groups within the NDC and help to resolve any emerging differences
before the party's national congress slated for Saturday, 27
April.
The
statement advised the leadership and the rank and file to desist from unguarded
statements and utterances that were likely to excite passions and promote
further divisions within the party.
It asked
that all issues bordering on amendments of the NDC constitution should be left
to the congress to deliberate and take decisions on them. The youth wing said
until this was done all should allow a sense of political decency and maturity
to prevail, adding, "let us stop providing our opponents with the ammunition to
shell us".
Meanwhile,
the Upper West regional branch of the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network
(TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed its displeasure
at the in-fighting among the party's leadership and called on all factions to
bury their differences to ensure a successful congress next
Saturday.
In a
statement signed by its President, Kale Cezar on Thursday, TEIN noted that the
power struggle within the party had given its opponents the opportunity to make
statements that were marring the image of the NDC. "It is normal that a
broad-based party like the NDC should have internal disagreements but that
should not be pushed to levels where the party can break
up."
The
statement appealed to all candidates contesting the various positions of the
party at the forthcoming congress to do so in true spirit of democracy and
brotherliness.
It
congratulated Mr Iddrisu Haruna on his election as the national youth organiser
of the party and said his success was due to his loyalty and dedication to the
party over the years.
"Having
served on numerous committees of the party, Mr Haruna has gained a lot of
experience which we believe would be applied to restructure and strengthen the
NDC." The statement appealed to the party leadership to assist Mr Haruna to work
assiduously.
In another
development the Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVO's) affiliated to the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ashanti have expressed their opposition to
the idea of maintaining the concept of co-chairmanship for the
party.
They held
that the current political situation in which the NDC finds itself makes the
single chairmanship practice more feasible, appropriate and workable. This was
contained in a communiqué they issued at the end of an emergency meeting held in
Kumasi.
The
communiqué appealed to the Council of Elders of the NDC to find ways to
reconcile former President Jerry John Rawlings and Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, a
leading member of the party in the interest of unity, peace and
stability.
From the
Eastern Region the executive committee of the Party called on all parties in the
conflict within the NDC to resolve to unite and work together in the party's
interest.
The
executives further urged "the party to work towards the realisation of the unity
and peace the party stands for and that any decision must take into
consideration these principles."
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Ho (Volta
Region) 26 April 2002 – The Volta Region branch of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC) on Thursday declared its support for Dr Obed Asamoah in the
contest for the party's chairmanship.
Speaking
to newsmen, Mr Michael Gamor, Regional Organiser of the party said their
decision was not because Dr Asamoah hailed from the region but because of his
experience in the country's politics.
Dr Asamoah
was the only candidate, who could deliver and transform the party into a winsome
side come the 2004 elections, he said. On the co-chairmanship, Mr Gamor said the
region preferred sole chairmanship so that "somebody could be held responsible
for the success or otherwise of the day-to-day administration of the
party".
Mr Gamor
said the co-chairmanship was workable when the party was in power adding that
the same could not be applicable while in opposition.
He said it
was the recommendation of the masses at the grassroots, during the tour of the
country by the re-organisation and the regional taskforces to abolish the
co-chairmanship at the congress. "We do not want anybody or a group of people to
impose the decision of sole or co-chairmanship on the party but should be left
for congress to decide".
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The National Tripartite Committee (NTC) on
Thursday announced a new daily minimum wage of 7,150 cedis up from the current
5,500 cedis an increase of 30 per cent.
The
communiqué signed by Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and
Employment, Mr Ato Ampia, President of Ghana Employers Association (GEA) and Mr
Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said
the effective date is May 1.
It said
any institution; organisation or establishment whose daily minimum wage falls
below the new wage should adjust accordingly. "For those who are already paying
above the new national daily minimum wage, their existing machinery for
negotiations should apply on due dates."
The
communiqué said in agreeing on the new wage, the NTC affirmed its commitment to
continue to work to determine national daily minimum wage to serve as an input
into the annual national budget, support the productivity enhancement initiative
and develop inputs for the improvement of real wages.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday named
a three-member commission of enquiry to investigate circumstances surrounding
the Yendi, tragedy which claimed at least 30 lives including that of the Ya-Na
Yakubu Andani the Over Lord of Dagbon and led to the destruction of
property.
A
statement issued in Accra on Thursday said the Commission had one month to
finish it work and submit a report to the President for consideration and
appropriate action.
Members of
the commission are Justice I. N. K. Wuaku, a retired Supreme Court Judge,
Professor Kwesi Yankah, University of Ghana, Legon and Mrs Florence Brew, an
educationist.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The
West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) on Thursday dismissed speculations that
there had been a leakage of some of the papers of the ongoing Basic Education
Certificate Examinations (BECE).
The Ghana
News Agency reports Revered John Adotey, Head of Test Administration at WAEC, as
saying that a journalist came to the offices of WAEC last Tuesday 23 April, with
Examination materials alleging that there was a leakage in the Pre-Technical
Skills and the Mathematics papers and asked for an
explanation.
He said
after comparing the material to the originals of the said papers, there was no
indication of a leakage since the questions were very different from what was to
be administered.
Rev Adotey
said the journalist declined to disclose the source of the hand written material
to enable the Council to carry out investigations and was, therefore, surprised
to hear the story in the news.
The GNA
said it was provided with the original copies of the exam papers and copies of
those alleged to have been leaked.
Mr Adotey
said based on what the media reported this morning, the Council had sent
officials to some centres to further investigate the alleged leakage adding that
the outcome would be made public immediately. He called on the public not to hesitate
to report any examination malpractice for the Council to deal with the
offenders.
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Agona
Swedru (Central Region) 26 April 2002 - The Agona District Council of Labour has
called on the government to expedite action on the determination of the 2002
daily minimum wage. The Council also reiterated the call on the government to
restore End-of Service-Benefit (ESB) to Ghanaian workers.
This was
contained in a seven points resolution adopted by the Council on Wednesday, at a
meeting with the Central Regional Executives of the Trades Union Congress at
Agona Swedru.
It stated
that the new wage should take cognisance of the impending increase in utility
tariffs. In a welcoming address, Mr Harry Tetteh, Agona District Vice Chairman
of the Council said workers have suffered for far too long and entreated the
government to do something to alleviate their plight.
He said
the workers were aware that inflation had gone down yet the workers do not feel
it in their pockets and appealed to the government to let them feel the
impact.
Mr.
Augustus Ackon, Central Regional Industrial Relations Officer of the Trade Union
Congress (TUC) appealed to the government to include the minimum wage in the
national budget after consultations with the TUC and other stakeholders to avert
threats and other intimidation's from workers so as to enhance
productivity.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - Interpol Accra has busted another 419 syndicate
and arrested three Nigerians, who lured foreign nationals into the country and
duped them of huge sums of foreign currency.
The Ghana
Police is reported by the GNA as saying that the suspects boasted that they had
absolute control over the government and could bring it down. They proceeded to
show their victims huge sums of money and produced documents with official seals
purported to have come from high-ranking government officials to win the
confidence of their victims before fleecing them.
Chief
Superintendent Kwaku Opare-Addo, Head of Interpol of the Criminal Investigations
Department, who led a team of investigators to trail and arrest the three
suspects on Wednesday, showed GNA several fake documents that the syndicate used
to convince their victims.
He named
the fraudsters as Clement Oghuwu, 37, who claimed to be a lawyer called Kujuku
Mensah from "Kakaraba Chambars", Victor Itive, 34, and Collins Otuwashe, 36 all
Nigerians.
Members of
the syndicate whom Police described as "forgery experts" had in their possession
forged documents purported to have come from the Ministry of Justice, Customs,
Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Bank of Ghana and Office of National
Security Council which they used to dupe their victims.
Chief
Superintendent Opare-Addo said one of their victims, Rajeshkumar Balubhei Patel,
34, an Indian national, who deals in rough diamonds in India, was lured by the
suspects through their syndicate in London and Dublin, Ireland, into the Ghana
with the belief that they had some diamonds for sale.
However,
the syndicate changed the transactions from buying diamonds to helping him
transfer 63 million dollars out of Ghana. Mr Opare Addo said the Nigerians told
him to pay a total of 40,000 dollars in order for them to facilitate the
transfer of the 63 million dollars.
The victim
was shown a large sum of dollars by the fraudsters and was made to believe their
story that they had 63 million dollars that they wanted to transfer through him.
The Police suspects that they were papers that had been neatly cut to the size
of the greenback with a few notes at either side of the
bundles.
Chief
Superintendent Opare-Addo said Patel parted with 20,000 dollars when he saw the
fake dollars and added another 20,000 dollars later as fees for the processing
of the documents for him to take the money away.
Chief
Superintendent Opare-Addo said the victim was almost held captive in his hotel
as members of the syndicate had taken all his money and were then giving him
money for food.
The
Indian, fearing for his life co-operated with the suspects, till he managed to
contact the Indian High Commission, which reported the incident to the Head of
Interpol.
Interpol
then devised a plan with the victim whose co-operation led to the arrest of the
suspects, who had then requested for an additional 15,000 dollars to complete
the "transaction".
One of the
forged documents the Police showed to the GNA read: "This is to certify that Mr
Rajeshkumar Balubhei Patel, a citizen of India, with passport number A- 7952392
has been issued with customs clearance certificate, which empowers him to
transfer any amount of foreign exchange out of the Republic of Ghana through
borders, boundaries, frontiers and ports.
"A red
label tag #19994047 in any of his luggage is free from inspection. His password
is Julala." The certificate bore a number of stamps from various organisations,
had the picture of the victim and the stamp of CEPS purportedly signed by one
P.K. Azamenti as a customs comptroller.
It was
copied to the National Security, Ports and Harbours and Narcotics Board. Another
document is a certificate of authority from the Bank of Ghana, Foreign Payment
Department which read: "The Governor Bank of Ghana in conjunction with the Board
of Directors of the Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Republic of Ghana has
today 22 April 2002, finally approved this fund valued at US$ 63 million for
onward telegraphic transfer clearance subject to tax assessment by Internal
Revenue Department."
This was
to be signed by the Head of Foreign Accounts, Bank of Ghana. Another forged
documents was from the Registrar, Ministry of Justice in Accra which reads:
"This is to confirm and certify that the bearer Mr Rajeshkumar Balubhei, a
citizen of India and holder of passport number A-7952392 is the bona fide
beneficiary of the total fund of valued at US$ 63 million all in US dollar bills
and now in the custody of Paramount Security Company in Accra,
Ghana.
"This
declarant has sworn an affidavit to reaffirm that this fund in question is not
stolen from any quarters, is not drug related money or arms sales or proceeds
from black diamonds in West Africa. Confirmed and ascertained by Diplomatic
Channel Centre and the West Africa Monetary Unit".
The
Director (Inspection) WAMU, Head of Diplomatic Channel, Rev. John Kwesi and the
Minister of Justice purportedly signed the document. The name '419' is derived
from "Philippians" chapter four verse 19; which reads: "But my God shall supply
all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus".
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Wulugu
(Northern Region) 26 April 2002 - Mrs. Lynne Symonds of the Commonwealth
Association of Science, Mathematics and Technology Educators (CASTME) in
Britain, on Wednesday presented about 55 million cedis (5,100 pounds sterling)
to various educational institutions in the Mamprusi West District, at a ceremony
in Wulugu, near Walewale.
Beneficiaries included the Mamprusi
West District Assembly, which received 1,000 pounds sterling, to start
preparatory work on the construction of a vocational school in the District.
The
Assembly is expected to construct the school to foundation level, while CASTME
bares the remaining cost of the construction.
The Wulugu
Senior Secondary School, which is already a beneficiary of CASTME support,
received about 32.5 million cedis to renovate and refurbish its girls'
dormitory.
It
received an additional 5.3 million cedis as a sponsorship package for brilliant
but needy female students and a set of girls' jerseys, four footballs and a
trophy. The other beneficiary was the Sugri Junior Secondary School, which
received 6.5 million cedis to purchase dual desks.
Making the
presentation, Mrs. Symonds said for a society to prosper, it needed to fully
support the education of women because they were basically the key group around
which society revolves and survives.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - Inmates of the James Fort Prison in Accra on
Thursday accused police personnel of creating congestion at most prisons in the
country through their covert actions and inaction.
"The fate
of suspects on specific warrant to appear before court are most often determined
by the Police/Investigators, who decide when to send the suspects to court, even
though the courts might have stated the specific date for hearing of a case,"
the Leader of the James Fort Prisoners told a delegation of the reconstituted
Prison Service Council that was on familiarisation tour of the prison for first
hand information on conditions prevailing there.
The
Reverend Professor Seth Ayettey of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, who is the
Chairman, led the members to visit both the male and female prisons. The leader
said; "for reasons best known to the Police they select inmates due for court
according to their own whims and caprices and times with the excuse that they
have no vehicle to convey more inmates to court."
He also
accused the Police of extorting huge sums of money from inmates before deciding
to send them to court. The inmates also complained about conditions of bail,
which they described as unrealistic, saying the Police also created impediments
for convicts; that had been granted bail by refusing to sign the documents. The
Police were also accused of encouraging litigation.
The James
Fort inmates highlighted the poor condition at there, citing lack of sanitation facilities,
congestion and poor health care. President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday
swore in 12 out of the 13 members of the Council in Accra and charged them to be
motivated by the sense of humanity to ensure that the prisons were modernised in
terms of the physical conditions and the treatment meted out to
prisoners.
He said
people should come out of prison and become useful citizen to the society. "It
must be made possible for prisoners to either learn some skill or use whatever
skill they had before entering the prison for the betterment of society,"
President Kufuor said.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC)
on
Thursday
said a selection committee has been constituted under the Ministry of Women and
Children's Affairs to consider published transcripts, materials or recordings on
cassettes for the National Media Features on Children Award slated for 26 August
2002. Transcripts, published materials and recordings on cassettes must be from
the period of July 2001 to June 2002.
A
statement by the commission said interested contestants might submit copies of
their publications or broadcast materials to the GNCC Secretariat at Ridge
before 17 June or call telephone
number 223425 for further information. The award scheme was instituted by the
GNCC to reward media practitioners and communicators in order to promote
advocacy on behalf of children.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 26 April 2002 -Mr Peter Lysholt Hansen, Under Secretary of
State of Denmark, has assured the Ghanaian business community of his
government's preparedness and continuous support in the private sector
development of the country.
He said
trade relations between his country and Ghana dated back to the 16th century and
even today traces of this could be seen, noting that this cordial relations was
growing stronger and stronger.
Mr Hansen
was addressing a cross-section of businessmen and women as part of a visit to
the Ashanti region at a party organised by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
(KMA) for him, the Danish Ambassador and the Programme Co-ordinator to the
Danish private Sector Development programme in Kumasi on Wednesday
night.
He
indicated that in the past, his government involved itself in the health and
transport sectors of the Ghanaian economy but would be moving to the educational
sector seriously now. "We also plan to help in micro credits to support all
vibrant entrepreneurs and industrialist and also support good corporate
managerial enterprises".
Mr Hansen
added, "we need good governance and we are determined to support and improve
managerial skills and work out strategies to help in the legal framework of the
country".
Mr Ole
Blicher Olsen, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, commended Ghanaian manufacturers
for the efforts they are putting in to improve the economy of the
country.
Mr Maxwell
Kofi Jumah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, thanked the delegation for
the visit and hoped the assurance given would give the businessmen the impetus
to improve on their performance.
He was
grateful to the Danish government for accepting to construct the dual-carriage
road from Konongo to Kumasi with streetlights from Ejisu to Kumasi, which would
be started during the year.
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Cape Coast
(Central Region) 26 April 2002 - Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing
on Wednesday told residents of the Cape Coast Municipality and surrounding areas
that the government would do everything possible to solve the current water
crisis that had hit the area.
He said as
a short-term measure, 25 more water tankers would be brought to the region to
supplement the 10 already in the system, to enable all the affected communities
to be supplied with potable water.
The water
shortage is as a result of the low level of water in the Brimsu dam, which
provides water for the Municipality and its environs. The current water level is
three meters instead of the operational level of six
metres.
Mr
Barimah, who was speaking after he had toured the Brimsu Water Head Works of the
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to assess the situation, said plans were also
far advanced to draw water from the Pra River for treatment at Brimsu, to
curtail the recurrence of such crisis.
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Cape Coast
(Central Region) 26 April 2002 - The government in collaboration with the
private sector is to increase the number of rental units of accommodation,
homeowners and serviced plots by the end of 2004.
Under the
programme 110 rental and housing units are to be developed, 25,000 serviced
plots provided and acquire about 20,000 hectares for private sector housing
development.
Mr Yaw
Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing, announced these at the inauguration of
an 18-member executive of the Central Region Association of Real Estate
Developers at Cape Coast.
The
Minister said more real estate developers and small-scale contractors would be
trained in management and general construction methods. Unemployed youth in
rural areas would be trained in construction and building inspection to monitor
housing construction at the district level.
Mr Barima
said the annual housing requirement for the nation was estimated at between
110,000 and 145,000 units, but the current production stood at only 35,000 units
per annum. "It is in this regard that the government has had to review the
national housing policy and action plan to enable it to effectively tackle the
housing needs of rural dwellers and of the lower income group in the urban
centres in a more focused manner".
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 26 April 2002 - A clergyman has appealed to the government to
consider exempting ministers of religion from the payment of income tax in view
of the sacrificial and divine nature of their job.
The
Reverend Joseph K. Gyimah, Leader of the True Light of Christ Church, said the
earnings of full-time pastors were mere gifts from the church and were so
meagre. Rev Gyimah made the appeal at a meeting with pastors of the True Light
of Christ Church at Abrepo in Kumasi.
He
acknowledged that the lifestyles of some pastors portrayed affluence but it was
also a fact that the majority of pastors did not even earn any income but
allowances for their sustenance.
Commenting
on the issue of payment of tax on tithes, Rev Gyimah said it would be
duplication for churches to pay tax on tithes since the people paying the tithes
to the church had already paid taxes on their incomes. He said tithes were used
to support and initiate social projects for the benefit of the local communities
and not monies that were injected into commercial
ventures.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The women's wing of the Ghana Federation of the
Disabled (GFD) on Thursday bitterly complained that their issues were not put
high on the national agenda to be given the needed
attention.
Mrs
Getrude Oforiwaa Fefoame, National Vice President of the association of the
blind, speaking at the opening of a national forum on women with disabilities in
Accra, said efforts by the association were not recognised and, therefore,
received little attention from the government.
She
specifically mention the lukewarm attitude shown to them by the Ministry of
Women and Children Affairs and described it as "unfortunate". "We have on
several occasions since the creation of that Ministry tried to show our support
and to participate in its activities, but we have never been granted audience by
the Minister."
She said
members wanted to be mainstreamed and be on board with the activities of
national development so that they would not feel marginalised within the society
in which they lived.
Mrs
Fefoame said that women with disabilities had a lot to contribute to national
development and called for their efforts to be recognised and be involved in the
activities of women's movements to "cause a change in the way society look at
women with disabilities."
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 Aril 2002 - Wednesday, 1 May (May Day), is a statutory public
holiday, according to a statement issued in Accra on Thursday by the Ministry of
The Interior.
The
statement signed by Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence and Acting
Minister of The Interior, said the day should be observed as such through out
the country.
The
national May Day durbar would be held at Ho in the Volta Region. The special
guest of honour would be President John Agyekum Kufuor, who would deliver the
keynote address. The theme for this year's celebration is: "Decent work and
labour standards - Necessary conditions for national
development."
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Trade Union calls for release of
Palestinian territories
Accra
(Greater Accra) 26 April 2002 - The African Regional Organisation of the
International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions
(ICFTU) has called on Israel to withdraw its troops immediately from Palestinian
occupied territories and lift the blockage against Chairman Yasser
Arafat.
A
statement issued through the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday, said the
"incursions must end, and the Isreali government must return to the path of
peace rather than confrontation".
"Any path
that refuses to recognise the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is
bound to lead to nowhere and the denial of the rights of the Palestinian people
can no longer be continued''. It said the recent invasion, together with the
blockade of the offices of the Yasser Arafat have only worsened the humanitarian
situation in the region.
The
Regional Organisation therefore, called on its 13 million organised workers in
Africa to give full support to peace initiatives aimed at restoring peace and
security in the region and ensure that the Palestinian people have an
independent state of their own.
The
statement said it is important that states in the region respect the territorial
integrity of each other, meaning that, "the two peoples, living side by side
must have territories, which are secure and have recognised borders". Only then
can the process of building a durable peace in the region start, it
said.
GRi../
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