Don't set aside agreements because of changes
He noted therefore that, "it is not every agreement on petroleum matters
have to be sent to Cabinet and Parliament," questioning that,"
otherwise why was the Sahara Oil agreement not submitted to Cabinet and
Parliament for approval."
Tsikata was reacting to allegations of impropriety levelled against him
by Albert Kan-Dapaah, Out-going Energy Minister, in the matter of the missing
cargo of oil from the Saltpond Fields and his reference to an agreement
purported to have been signed by Tsikata.
He said Kan-Dapaah's claims about him on the issue tended to suggest
that he had not read the agreement. "The GNPC Law under which a
sub-contract could be entered into was specifically mentioned and the
distinction between that and a petroleum agreement was defined in the Petroleum
Law requiring Parliamentary ratification ... but under our laws, it is not
every contract of a public corporation that requires Parliamentary
approval."
Tsikata said Kan-Dapaah claimed that the assets of GNPC on the field at
the time - production rig, oil wells, seismic, geological and engineering data
- were all valued at a measly 500,000 dollars in connection with the agreements
he signed and were now valued at 10 million dollars.
"It is simply not true that all those assets were previously valued
at 500,000 dollars. "I will like the Minister to produce the document that
justifies this claim," adding that, " the clear purpose of this lie
is to let the public believe that national assets were given away cheaply and whip the anger of the public
against me as the perpetrator of that deed."
He said most of the out-going Minister's allegations made against him
were just meant to "malign me in the eyes of the public and even to
justify my being prosecuted.'' He said the only asset of the company valued at
500,000 dollars in connection with the agreements with Lushann International
and other related items was the production platform.
Tsikata said it was misleading for the Minister to compare a current
valuation of all those assets with a valuation, even, before refurbishment of
the platform when the refurbishment increased the value of all the assets.
He wondered why the Minister and his Special Advisor kept giving
different explanations on the exact value of the platform before and after refurbishment.
Tsikata said in the proposed new agreement mentioned by the Minister, the value
of the assets was to be treated as a loan to the joint venture which was to be
paid from the sale of crude oil or with oil equivalent.
He explained that the agreement between GNPC and Lushan for instance was
an entirely different arrangement from the situation covered in a Petroleum
Agreement where exploration and production activities were to be initiated
after a company had applied to government for a concession to undertake those
activities.
"Such a petroleum agreement is entered into between the government,
GNPC and the company and requires Parliamentary ratification. This is not the
case with sub-contracts entered into by the Corporation under the GNPC
Law."
Tsikata said he found it rather "disquieting" that the work of
many dedicated and competent people was belittled in pronouncements of the
Minister and his Advisor, whilst they were eager to "claim credit for
themselves for things they did not even understand.
He said it was unfortunate that the Minister and his team had not taken
time to understand all the issues involved, saying, "I was amazed and
saddened about the staggering extent of ignorance, which had been so blatantly
deployed in the affairs of the Ministry for the past two years.
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Don't set aside agreements because of changes
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief
Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), on Monday
condemned the situation where agreements are set aside by new governments
saying this is detrimental to the objective of attracting investment into the
country.
He said the situation is especially critical in respect of petroleum
exploration and production where investors pump in huge sums of money only to
suffer severe setbacks after change in governments or change in the
administration of a public corporation.
Tsikata was reacting to allegations of impropriety levelled against him
by Albert Kan-Dapaah, the out-going Energy Minister in the matter of the
missing cargo of oil from the Saltpond Oil Fields.
Tsikata noted that the situation was much worse "when the nature of
the previous agreement is not even understood by those purporting to
renegotiate them. The situation tends to paralyse those who are supposed to
perform certain operational roles."
He said even if there were an intention to change an agreement this must
be a matter of mutual negotiation, not a unilateral fiat. "There must be a
recognition that pending the new agreement, the existing agreement remains in
force. Otherwise, the country is portrayed as not having stable agreements
since every new government would re-open agreements simply because they were
entered into during the tenure of a
previous government."
Tsikata said
"If Mr Justice Kan-Dapaah, sitting as an additional Judge of the
High Court, had not declared the agreement invalid, this would be a clear
provision to control the terms of agreements entered into in connection with
operations such as the agreement with Ocean and Oil," Tsikata said.
He asked the Minister and his team to put in the public domain
documents, which justify his claim that the production platform at the Saltpond
Oil Fields, as well as oil wells, seismic, geological and engineering data were
transferred to the joint venture for 500,000 dollars.
"He should also make available to the public the agreements that I
signed as well as the proposed new agreement he is advocating. That is the only
way his claim to rescuing the country from a 'bad deal' can be properly
assessed.
"Otherwise as happened with his calculations of new petroleum
prices no meaningful analysis of the numbers he throws out and comparison can
take place." He said for the oil production at the Saltpond Oil Fields to
be sustained, government must ensure the continuation of production in the
field and avoid damage to the reservoirs through disruptions to the operations
and also allow GNPC, with appropriate personnel, to play its technical role in
respect of the current activities in the field instead of an agreement which
leaves "technical partner" totally in control.
He also called for the fostering of co-operation between GNPC, TOR and
VRA such that the oil produced in Saltpond is sold and transported to either
the VRA oil storage facilities at Aboadze or TOR.
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In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Business Desk in
He was talking to the GNA after negotiations with the GNPC and other
government officials. Okoloko explained that the oil was never stolen and that
Ocean and Oil was just enforcing the Charter Party Agreement, "which the
"We took the decision of moving the ship because we had huge debt
yet to be paid and counting down seven months." Okoloko said they usually
operate within strict commercial terms and in times of default they reserve the
right to exercise the terms of agreement to the fullest."
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Nana Appau Duah (GNA Special Correspondent;
President Mbeki said this proposal of: "Reporting Africa to
Africans" also presumed that those Journalists themselves should know
Editors from 30 African countries attended the conference organised by
the South Africa National Editors Forum (SANEF) in conjunction with the NSJ in
President Mbeki said Journalists should be critical of their nations. He
noted that if they reported false
He was of the view that freedom of the press should be protected. He,
however, reminded African Journalists that they were Africans before they
became Journalists, and that they should not give distorted reports of various
countries.
The South African President wondered why Africans fly to
Mbeki said it appeared the world was fed up with superficial coverage,
some subscriptions were not renewed and Journalism was going down the road
because of trivial, sensational tabloidism in cynical effort by some Editors to
make money.
He advised the Editors that as they advanced native opinion they should
avoid the pitfalls of Journalism. He said they should watch out against the
threat to the integrity of Journalism - the ideological process that filtered
reality and distorted the analysis of the social world.
President Mbeki told the Editors that Journalism should be a dispenser
of truth and be reflective. "This is what it means to fight for the freedom
of the press. As you practise your profession, the question is whether you will
become instrument of liberalism, not a victim of the hegemony of
sensationalism," he said to the applause of all.
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The SRC suggested that as a first step, she should focus on strategies
that would facilitate the production of quality graduate manpower in both
public and private tertiary institutions.
This was contained in a congratulatory message by the SRC to Miss Ohene
on her appointment. The SRC appealed to her explore avenues to ensure that
support packages under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was not limited
only to public institutions but also extended to private tertiary institutions.
The message acknowledged that even though private organisations and
individuals owned private tertiary institutions, ''yet it is a fact that they
provide professional and skill training for a large number of graduates in the
country.''
"Students in private tertiary institutions are also Ghanaians whose
professional skills will eventually be brought to bear on development of the
national economy, hence a need for assistance through the GETFund to improve
upon facilities in them," the statement said.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15 April 2003- Madam Elizabeth Tabile Mokono,
President of Victorious Women's Fellowship, an interdenominational ministry in
South Africa, has called on Christian women to take "quality
decisions" when confronted with a problem.
She said in an attempt to solve a problem, they must forget certain
important things dear to them and help solve problems dispassionately. Madam
Mokono, a teacher by profession was speaking at a forum organised by the Ghana
Chapter of the fellowship for women organisations in
She asked women to always pray for patience and tolerance and refrain
from backbiting and rumour mongering and live in peace. She called on the women
not only to reach people with the word of God but must also learn from their
good deeds.
Launching the Ghana Chapter of the Fellowship, Madam Mokono asked
members to meet regularly, exchange ideas, and teach each other to be givers.
"You should not always rely on external assistance", she said.
She advised them not to allow foreign culture to influence modest
life-styles in the country. Madam Sarah Ocran, Co-ordinator of the Fellowship
in
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- The Ghana Association of the Blind
on Monday embarked on a five-hour demonstration, protesting against what it
termed "unfair treatment" meted to members by government and certain
institutions in the country.
"We are calling on government and any other institution responsible
for our upkeep to treat us fairly and give us equal opportunity in education
and employment" J.B. Mensah, of the youth wing of the Association, stated
when he addressed the media before the commencement of the demonstration.
The association named the Braille Press, Ghana Education Service,
Special Education Directorate and the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) as
organisations that discriminated against them.
They wore red bands and carried placards, some of which read: "We
Also Contribute To National Development"; "Treat Us Equally
WAEC"; "Ghana Braille Press Be Up And Doing" and "Save
Education For The Blind From Collapsing".
Unlike other demonstrators, who pass through principal streets, a
vehicle conveyed them to their respective places due to their plight. In a
petition to the Braille Press, which is responsible for printing their Braille
materials the Association said: "We express our disgust and anger to the
mode of handling the Braille Press, which had become a white elephant in recent
years".
Miss Agnes Osei, who read the petition, called for the immediate
resignation of all officials of the Press for "exhibiting gross
incompetence". Another petition to WAEC and read by Agyekum Adams,
Secretary of the Association, said the association was sad because of the
insensitivity of the Council's Officials, who work on their examination
materials.
The petition said WAEC should make it one of its priorities to handle
the members' examination papers properly, stop wrong issuance of examination
results and provide adequate Braille answer sheets.
There should also be a major improvement in the Brailing of examination
papers and that in-service training should be given to WAEC officials to be
able to read questions on the Braille paper that are wrongly spelt.
To the Special Directorate of Education, the petition said, officials
should act to bring the proposed integrated system at
The petition called for a permanent representative from the Ministry of
Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES), to champion the cause of the
blind and officials should always pay regular visits to educational
institutions for the blind for proper co-ordination.
Dr Bashiru Iddirisu Koray, National President of the Association, who
earlier addressed the media appealed to government to give equal chance to the
blind in society. Dr Koray, a lawyer by profession, said it was always an eye
sore to see the blind on streets begging due to relegation and that when the
education of the blind were given the maximum attention the situation could
improve.
Mrs Victoria Mawuli-Woneme, Director of the Braille Press, Revered John
Adotey, Head of National Office, WAEC and Mrs Diana Kwadade, Acting Director of
Special Directorate of Education, who received the petitions, pledged to
deliver the message to the appropriate quarters for redress.
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He said there was no way a divided army could win a battle. Dr. Tetteh
who was speaking at a press briefing on a five-day crusade to be organised by
the Bethany Methodist Church, Dzowulu, said the nation had so much to
experience, in terms of development and this would depend much on the whole
Ghanaian society.
The crusade, which starts from Tuesday 15 to 19 April is on the theme:
"Jesus Christ, The Same Yesterday, Today And Forever," Dr Tetteh said
the total development of a nation must include both the physical and spiritual
satisfaction of the needs of its citizens, so that they would be able to know
the 'times' and act accordingly," he said.
He urged spiritual leaders to be sensitive to the needs of the society
by being the touch bearers of the gospel and encouraging the society to see God
as the only sovereign one, whose grace could not be taken for granted.
He further reminded Christians of their role as the light of the world
and said society would be looking up to them for spiritual guidance,
"which you should be able to provide without being found wanting".
He also reminded Ghanaians of God's grace on the nation, adding,
"the peaceful atmosphere in the country must not be taken for granted, but
we must only be thankful to God for the favour done us and pray for its sustenance".
He appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage, since
some press publications tended to scare away investors and other citizens, who
might wish to retire back home after their long stay abroad.
The Very Rev. Helena Opoku-Sarkodie, Superintendent Minister, Dzowulu
Circuit, Methodist Church, said the crusade was to encourage Ghanaians to look
up to God for permanent solutions to national problems.
She attributed recent changes and moral decay in society to the fact
that people had lost the significance of Christ's coming. Rev Opoku-Sarkodie
reiterated the need for Ghanaians to bury their differences and learn to love
one another.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 15 April 2003- Pope John Paul 11 on Monday
appointed the Very Reverend Father Dr Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Rector of St James
Seminary and Secondary School, as the new Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese of the
Catholic Church.
Rev Fr. Dr Gyamfi succeeds Bishop James Kwadwo Owusu, who died in a
motor accident in December 2001. The late Bishop was the second of the Diocese,
which was carved out of the then Kumasi Diocese in 1973.
The congregation at the Sunyani 'Christ the King' Catholic Cathedral
received with joy the announcement by the Most Reverend George Kocherry,
Apostolic Nuncio to
Dr Gyamfi expressed appreciation to the Pope and said: "I accept
the office of Bishop of Sunyani wholeheartedly and also I do so very aware of
my unworthiness to occupy that office". He called for the prayers by the
clergy and the congregation to enable him to offer a dedicated and selfless
service. They should also unite for God to lead the Diocese to win more souls
and for development of the Church.
Dr Gyamfi was born on
On
Between 1990 and 1991, he worked as acting Parish Priest of St Peter's
Parish at Kenyasi in the Asutifi District and also served as the Vice-Rector
and full time tutor at St James Minor Seminary at Abesim, near Sunyani from
1991 to 1993.
Most Reverend Gyamfi from 1994 1998 studied at the
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Frank Joy Ankudey, National President of the Ghana Students Chemical
Society (GSCS), said buying the ink from KNUST would not only cut down cost but
also help create jobs for young graduates.
Ankudey made the appeal when he presented his annual report at the
national conference of the society in
He expressed regret that there has been no positive response from the
Commission. "In spite of the fact that the ink was approved by the Ghana
Standards Board the EC still opposes to its patronage."
"The ink produced by the Chemistry Department is equally as potent
as the imported one and has also been approved by the Ghana Standards Board
(GSB) as required by the EC, he said" Ankudey said by continuing to import
a product that is locally produced quality wise, "we are only killing the
skills of our own citizens.
Speaking on the topic "Careers in Science", Mr Francis Tuyee,
a Tema-based industrialist, appealed to chemists to desist from relying solely
on the formal sector for employment and strive to create their own businesses.
Tuyee said it is mainly when the chemist is able to establish his or her
own enterprise that he could bring the skills acquired in school to bear on
innovation and discovery.
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The Ministry, which is in constant touch with the World Health
Organisation, is monitoring the situation around the world and the necessary
measures were being put in place for any eventuality.
A release signed by S. Owusu Agyei, Chief Director of the Ministry in
Accra, asked Ghanaians not to panic but rather give the committee its fullest
cooperation to facilitate its work.
The committee, which is chaired by the Chief Director of the Ministry
has the deputy director general of the Ghana Health Service, Director of Public
Health, head of surveillance, representatives of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital,
37 Military Hospital, Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of the Interior, Port
Health of the Local Government and Rural Development and the Greater Accra
Regional health directorate as members.
According to the release, a contingency plan had been drawn and
responsibilities assigned to the various agencies. The Ministry of Health and
the Ghana Health Service shall be responsible for the provision of technical
information and education of the public and other agencies on the disease.
The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital and Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hospital have been identified as the final referral hospitals for the
management of the disease, while other health facilities shall be involved in
the management of any initial suspected case of SARS.
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Kade (Eastern Region)
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Kade, Prof. Afreh-Nuamah, who is a
leading Research Scientist at the
Prof. Afreh-Nuamah said as it were, most of the teachings were done in
the classroom with little fieldwork. For instance, in a course like agronomy; -
crop production or crop protection, about three quarters of the time is
allocated for lectures and about a quarter given to practical work, which only
involves the study and observation of specimen in the laboratory.
This situation, he said, only helps to produce theoretical
agriculturists and also reflects in the teaching curriculum of agriculture in
the second cycle institutions where an elective for agriculture consists of
four periods theory and three periods of practical work.
"In many instances we find that most of the agricultural science
teachers do not even have gardens of their own nor are they engaged in any
agricultural activities or venture, which, in itself could be a motivating
factor to encourage the students to look on agriculture as a source of business
venture or gainful employment.
In the ministries, the situation is even worsened by the bureaucratic
and strict adherence to hierarchical orders where in most directorates, it is
only the director, who speaks and who in turn look up to the Minister for
instructions.
"This limitation arises from the theoretical training acquired and
the bureaucratic practices after their schooling." In addition, because
promotion in the ministries is by long service.
''Experience and job performance would be preferred. The agricultural
officers are not encouraged to develop initiatives and the courage to make
useful and practical suggestions to the ministers, thus, instead of the
technocrats influencing policy decisions, they are only made to receive or
implement directives from above.
''This situation explains the situation in the country whereby the agricultural
sector greatly moves forward when it is headed by people with military
background." The reason is that military personnel are trained to be able
to identify and target the "enemy" (problem) and strategise for its
elimination. Agricultural scientists
should be so trained, he said.
Prof. Afreh-Nuamah said that agricultural training should be such that
at least 50 per cent of the time would be experimental and field-based. The
content and teaching methodology should also be designed to enable students
analyse issues critically and make informed decisions.
In this way, he said, agricultural graduates would be fully equipped to
appreciate and understand farmers' production constraints and device practical
strategies and interventions to address them. It is also a possible avenue to
entice and motivate the youth or agricultural graduates to take to farming as a
business venture.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- The Media Foundation for West
Africa (MFWA) on Monday expressed concern about the safety of four Liberian
Journalists, who have gone missing since the upsurge of fighting in the Central
and South-Eastern parts of the country two weeks ago.
A statement e-mailed to the GNA on Monday identified the Journalists as
Oscar Dolo, Nyan Flomo and William Quiwea of the "Talking Drum Studio and
C.Y. Kwanue of "The Inquirer" newspaper.
"Their whereabouts remain unknown since fresh fighting erupted on
24 March in Ganta in
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Gambibgo (Upper East)
"We still maintain our pledge to provide transparent governance
where all Ghanaians have a stake in sustaining a fortified democracy for the
betterment of this nation." Bukari said this at a durbar of chiefs and
people of Gambibgo, near Bolgatanga.
It was organised by the community branch of the New Patriotic Party
(NPP) to explain government policies and programmes to the people. He said the
assembly has secured a 1.5 billion cedis facility to construct a craft village
at Bolgatanga to bring together craftsmen under one body to improve upon the
trade.
The Bolgatanga District is noted for its basket products and other
artefacts but has no craft centre where the products could be exhibited. Bukari
explained the counterpart funding system and said it demanded that communities
be actively involved in the development process.
''All countries benefiting from European Union (EU) supported projects
and others that require counterpart funding and have to make specified
contribution towards the execution of the projects'', he said.
He said the assembly and the beneficiary community are expected to
provide 25 percent of the total cost of the project, while the donor takes 75
percent. Bukari appealed to the people
to come out in their numbers to provide labour. "If you fail to do this,
it means you have no interest in developing this community."
The DCE talked about revenue mobilisation and said it was one important
area to the assembly and appealed to chiefs in the area to help mobilise their
subjects to pay rates on their bicycles and cattle.
He urged the youth in the area to form co-operatives in order to access
loan facilities from the assembly's poverty reduction fund and pledged the
assembly's readiness to reconstruct the broken dam in the area to discourage
the youth from migrating to the south in search of jobs.
The assemblyman for the Gambibgo electoral area, Nsoyuure Alolbila,
appealed to government to inaugurate the Unit Committees in the area, adding
that the absence of the committees was hampering effective administration of
the area.
He expressed appreciation to the government and said since the NPP came
to power, the area had seen basic infrastructure development and called on the
people to be united and rally behind the government for more development.
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Salifu gave the advice when he addressed a general meeting of the
Adukrom ward of the party. Salifu said instead of apportioning blame and
finding excuses for the dismal performance in the by-elections, members should
rather begin to commit themselves more to hard work to enable the party chalk
victory in the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Iddrisu Seidu, chairman of the Adukrom ward of the NDC, made it clear
that politics was about numbers and not mere utterances, talks and campaign
programmes. He urged members to sacrifice time and energy to canvass for more
members into the fold of the party while they try to win back those who had
deflected.
Umar Farouk Gado, the Asokwa East constituency deputy organiser, announced
that as part of measures to strengthen the party in the constituency the
executives would tour all the 14 wards and 141 branches in the constituency as
from next week. Gado said the tour was not just to discuss effective strategies
but also aimed at seeking a means by which they could convince and bring back
members who had left the party.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor has
been inspired by the achievements of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in recent
bye-elections to work harder with more confidence to deliver on the trust and
mandate reposed in him by Ghanaians.
Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential
Spokesman, said "this would not make him complacent in achieving the goals
he has set for himself and the government".
Agyepong briefing the Presidential Press Corps at the Castle, Osu, on
Monday, said the results were clear indications of the confidence Ghanaians had
in the leadership of President Kufuor to bring the socio-economic development
of the country to the desired level appreciated by all.
"All of us should, therefore, assist him in his efforts as good
corporate citizens rather than make attempts to run down government policies
and programmes," he said. He denied accusations that the government was
determined to create a one-party state saying there were many registered
political parties available to contest the bye-elections as well as the general
election.
Agyepong said there was no basis for the main opposition party, the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) to accuse the government of misusing its
incumbency to win the bye-elections. He called on the NDC strategists to take a
hard look of the results from both previous and current elections to analyse
"why their votes had dwindled and those of the NPP had increased and not
blame anyone".
Giving statistics, Agyepong said in the Bimbilla bye-elections, NPP's
votes increased by about 30 per cent while those of NDC slumped by about 50 per
cent. In the Kumawu bye-election, the NPP maintained its votes with a slight
increase and those of NDC went down by 50 per cent.
In Wulensi, the NPP's votes increased by about 12 per cent while those
of the NDC reduced by about 10 per cent and in Navrongo Central, the NPP's
votes increased by about 17 per cent and those of NDC reduced by about 16 per
cent.
In the Gomoa East, the NPP's votes increased by about 20 per cent while
the NDC's votes reduced by about 14 per cent. Agyepong said it was not a
deliberate ploy by the government for the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama to
undertake official visits to areas of impending bye-elections to stifle other
political parties from campaigning for votes, adding: "We believe in a
free and fair competitive elections".
In an answer to a question on the low turnout at the bye-elections,
Agyepong said it was not low but rather confirmed the view held by the NPP in
the past that the voters' register was bloated and should be reviewed.
Agyepong said the suggestion from some NDC activists to the party to
boycott the impending Amenfi West bye-elections was uncalled for since all the
previous elections had been conducted in a free and fair manner.
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Asankrangwa (Western Region)
Ebo Archer, a 59-year old teacher at the Asankrangwa 'All Saint's
Academy' is also contesting on the ticket of the Democratic People's Party
(DPP). The Convention People's Party (CPP), Great Consolidated People's Party
(GCPP), National Reform Party (NRP) and the United Ghana Movement (UGM) are not
contesting.
In separate interviews at Asankrangwa, the three contestants pledged
their determination to put party affiliation behind them and endeavour to
galvanise the people for rapid socio-economic development when voted into
power.
The three said they would initiate programmes geared towards the
education of girls; motivate the youth to go into agriculture and create
alternative employment opportunities.
Mrs Sonful said the fact that she was contesting with her brother, did
not make them enemies. "This is a democracy and one's interest and
aspirations should not be hindered by family ties, social groupings or any
other activity".
The Western Regional Office of the Electoral Commission confirmed that
that all three contestants filed their papers before the close of nominations.
Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP, in an interview, said the Amenfi-West
bye-election, was the "final test case" for the NPP and that the
party would prove to critics that it had greatly transformed the lives of Ghanaians.
Botwe said the government's programme of providing the needs of schools,
rehabilitation of roads, mass spraying of cocoa, the motivation of cocoa
farmers and the youth in agriculture, as well as investment opportunities
"are in fulfilment of the pledge we made to the people." Samuel
Alberto-Takyi, the District Chief Executive for Amenfi West told the GNA that
the NPP would win the seat.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- Madam Gladys Dugbatse, a trader who
said 18 soldiers almost stripped her naked, gave her 24 lashes at her back and
slapped her several times in 1979 during the June Four Uprising on Monday
petitioned the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to assist her to treat
the pain in her ear as a result of the slaps.
According to her, the soldiers took away bags of sugar and cartons of
milk from her shop after charging her for hoarding. Madam Dugbatse said the
soldiers also went to GNTC to collect 100 bags of cement she had paid for, but
had not collected, claiming that it was against the law to have so much in
one's possession.
"I am happy I have forgiven all those who tortured me and I have
given everything to God," she said, but pleaded with the Commission for
resettlement. Madam Dugbatse, who is a resident of Ho in the Volta Region said
after the June Four Uprising she was in her store when a group of about 18
soldiers came and looted items including sugar and milk.
She said the soldiers took her in their vehicle, sent her home and
collected the rest of the items she had stored in the house and drove her and
the goods to the barracks. "I later tried to retrieve my goods but I was
not successful."
Madam Dugbatse said one day she was with her Pastor when she was
informed that the soldiers had returned to the store and had arrested her
daughter. This time, they took everything in the store including her
refrigerator and set the store ablaze.
She said in an effort to free her daughter, her brother directed her to
one Nyarko, who was the leader of the soldiers that came to loot the store.
However, at the barracks the soldiers arrested her, asked her to roll on the
ground and they kicked her.
"They later poured a mixture of water, stones and sand on me and
sent me to the Ho Prisons for three weeks. But before going to the Prison, the
soldiers took me to the Civic Centre and asked me to jump. They took my dress
off and gave me 24 lashes at my back."
She said her brother later took her to the
Madam Dugbatse said she did not petition the People's National Party
(PNP) Administration because the victims of June Four were asked not to talk
about it or even complain.
Professor Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, Member of the Commission, expressed
regrets that society accepted beating of adults in public, as something normal,
saying there must be respect for human dignity.
She said it was sad when people did not see anything wrong about canning
of adults in public. Even advertisements about indiscipline on television where
an adult was canned in public seemed so normal.
Yak Ziga, a farmer resident of Taviefe, near Ho, told the NRC that the
Ho Police imprisoned him for the whole of 1972 without telling him of his
offence. Ziga, who was a transport owner during the Busia regime, was the
Regional Secretary of the Progress Party. He said after the overthrow of Dr
Kofi Abrefa Busia's government in January 1972, there was a radio announcement
that all party activists must report to the nearest police station.
Ziga said he reported to the Ho Police only to be detained. He said his
detention had had serious effects on the education of his five children, his
livelihood and his two wives.
GRi.../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- Professor John Evans Atta-Mills,
Leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday expressed
his displeasure over a recent statement by Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, National
Chairman of the party over disaffection in the party.
A statement issued in
"Nevertheless, I will not be drawn into any public exchanges on
matters that I believe can be resolved internally." Prof Mills said that
it is now time for dedicated members and supporters of the party to exhibit
maturity and restraint, adding, "I would urge all members, supporters and
sympathisers not to rush to the press and leave matters to the party executives
and elders to address those issues using the party's own processes an
mechanisms".
He urged the rank and file of the party of the party to stand firm and
not to allow recent developments to divide them. Prof Mills said: "As
flagbearer, I will continue to stretch a hand of cooperation to all who
genuinely have the interest of the party at heart and work hard to heal any
rifts, real or imagined, that exist at all levels of the party". He
affirmed that his commitment to ensure that the party's interest remain supreme
and would work to ensure victory in the 2004 elections.
GRi.../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2003- A former officer of the Ghana Air
Force on Monday mentioned the names of 13 people who, he said, were behind the
arrest and executions of the seven top senior military officers after the 4
June 1979 Uprising.
Ex-Squadron Leader George Tagoe, appearing before the National
Reconciliation Commission, said they included Captain Korda, Captain Okaikoi
and Captain Odoi and Sergeants Asmah and Sergeant Quartey.
The others were Major Mensah Poku, Major M. K. Gbedemah, the late
Commander Henry Akpaloo, Captain Kojo Tsikata, Tsatsu Tsikata,
Squadron Leader Tagoe, former Commanding Officer of the Ghana Armed
Forces (Administration and Welfare), said he wanted to "finish" one
Sammy Michel, who had been part of a team that interrogated him.
He said Michel, who he described as a small boy whose hands he held as a
boy to school when he (Tagoe) was serving as a clerk to Michel's father, also
slapped him during his interrogation.
He said when he, therefore, heard that Michel had been brought to the
infirmary of the Nsawam Prisons, he wanted to "finish him", but
changed his mind when Commander Osei showed him the list of the 13 people as
those behind the arrest, interrogation and executions at the time.
Squadron Leader Tagoe said he had long been associated with Flight
Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and at one time arranged private tuition for him
to pass his promotion examination in the Air Force.
Just when the result was released Flt Lt Rawlings was embroiled in an
abortive coup on
The soldiers killed Colonel Ninful and his wife that night. He said following the order from Flt. Lt.
Rawlings to "all Senior Officers, who had nothing to hide to report",
he decided to report passing first through his residence at the Air Force
Officers' Mess.
He said immediately after he had arranged for some food for his daughter
and other children he saw four drunken soldiers in a convoy, three of whom were
detailed to escort him to Burma Camp.
On the way the soldiers ordered him to alight and asked him to double
up. However, as he doubled up, stray bullets hit two of the soldiers and they
died. The other one asked him to roll on the ground from the Burma Camp Post
Office to the Signal Regiment where he was detained in the guardroom for three
days.
He said he was sent to Nsawam Prison, and on
He said he faced the five junior officers at the 5BN during which Michel
slapped him. After the five had interrogated him, he was sent to Peduase Lodge
deep in the night and sent into on a very dark room to be interrogated by a
kangaroo court. As he walked through the dark, he was slapped from behind, he
said.
Squadron Leader Tagoe said one Lieutenant Kusi, who had earlier appeared
before the Commission, was in charge of the troops at the Lodge. The Chairman
of that kangaroo court was Squadron Leader Dogbe and Flying Officer Odoi was a
member. They sentenced him to 15 years' imprisonment.
He was later taken back to the Air Force and then to the Ussher Fort
prison and given an additional sentence of 80 years. He said pins were nailed
into the fingers of Nana Bantamahene, whom he met at Ussher Fort.
Later Okaikoi was brought to the prison but Okaikoi insisted that he
should be taken away because Tagoe had threatened to "finish him".
Squadron Leader Tagoe said he spent four- and-a-half years at Nsawam Prisons without
any charge being preferred against him. He added that any time Flt. Lt.
Rawlings visited the inmates of the Prison he (Tagoe) was whisked away and not
allowed to see him.
He said he refused to escape when Corporal Halidu Giwa threw open the
prison gates in an abortive coup in 1983. Squadron Leader Tagoe said all his
property was confiscated and he was dismissed from the Military.
He personally petitioned Rawlings after which he was given his pension
in 2000 and an End of Service Benefit of 43,000 cedis. Squadron Leader Tagoe
said his children's education suffered and he prayed the Commission for the
return of his seized assets including his gari processing plant and poultry
farm.
GRi.../
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Administration and Welfare, Squadron Leader George Tagoe (Rtd), on
Monday suggested a modification in the mode of recruitment of candidates for
the officers' course and training.
After an exhaustive narration of his experience as an administrator in
both military and civilian establishments, arrest and manhandling by junior
officers, detention and four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, Squadron Leader
Tagoe said qualification into the course should go beyond testimonials to
background character search of the applicants.
Squadron Leader Tagoe told the National Reconciliation Commission that a
number of coups d'etats and the consequent harrowing experiences in
post-independent
He insisted that only tested and well-mannered, loyal and disciplined
candidates should be accepted into the Forces for training to prevent coups
d'etats. Squadron Leader Tagoe referred to the handing over notes of a Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS) and said care must be taken not to recruit people with dual
nationality into the
Squadron Leader Tagoe described the breakdown of discipline in times of
coups d'etats, during which junior officers subjected their seniors to brutalities
as "one of the most disgraceful things we have seen in our Armed Forces.
"This is wrong. It is never done anywhere in the Service, neither
here nor abroad," Squadron Leader Tagoe said. "After 1963, all
candidates recruited into the Ghana Armed Forces were contaminated. Something
was wrong with the recruitment."
When Commissioner Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, reminded Squadron
Leader Tagoe that the 1966 coup was organised by senior officers, and it
appeared he was calling back for a return of the British to recruit and train
the Ghanaian military, Squadron Leader Tagoe replied that it was unfortunate
that some senior officers, trained by the British were involved in that coup.
Squadron Leader Tagoe agreed that it was not good for serving military
officers to be seconded to civilian establishments, adding that it bred
jealousy. At best there should be better remuneration for the military
personnel. They must stay in the barracks, and "not even come to town in
their uniforms", he said.
Squadron Leader Tagoe said it was surprising that there were a number of
soldiers with records of insurgency still at post in the Forces and prayed that
the Armed Forces must be examined and cleaned of such soldiers.
GRi.../
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