Obed asks top NDC members not to descend into the gutter
TUC to train journalists on labour reporting
House of Chiefs and Asanteman Council laud Asantehene
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 December 2001 - Dr Obed Asamoah, a high ranking member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday appealed to members of the party "to deal with issues and not to descend into the gutter to engage in smear campaigns."
Dr Asamoah said in a reaction to the press statement by a group calling itself "Action Forum" that he should be vetted for his tenure as chairman of the NDC's finance committee before contesting the chairmanship that members should ease tension in the party.
"We should try and ease tension not sustain it or create a crisis atmosphere for short-term political purposes which is what has been done to scuttle the holding of the national congress now to the great disappointment of the rank and file of the party.
"Those indulging in such tactics should reflect on the great harm they are doing for the survival of the party. Don't let us play into the hands of our opponents. Don't let us undermine the progress towards autonomy for and greater democracy within the party."
Dr Asamoah said the statement by the "Action Forum" was calculated to impugn his integrity and was "obviously part of a grand design ...conceived by a group of high ranking members of the NDC to stop the forward march towards greater democracy in the party by engaging in as much mudslinging as they can against me in order to frustrate my bid for the chairmanship of the party."
He said those people, being incapable of operating on the level of ideas, issues and principles, had developed an action plan to destroy his integrity.
"Those who live in big glass mansions, must know that throwing stones at others can be exceedingly costly...." Dr Asamoah said the signatories of the "Action Forum" statement, Mr A.K. Mensah and Mr Asamoah Atuahene, had been suspended from membership of the party for persistent indiscipline and anti-party activities.
"For them to continue claiming membership of the party and to be entertained by certain high-ranking members of the party speaks volumes of their character and that of their sponsors."
Dr Asamoah said he welcomed any investigation in the management of the finances of the NDC. "I know that I have accounted for everything that came into my possession to the persons who were concerned with this matter and hope that those who know or should know the truth and who for narrow political interests continue to question my integrity in this matter will submit to an audit of all monies that they collected in the name of the party and the sources of such funds. The investigation should begin from the Greater Accra Region.
"It has become the habit of certain high-ranking members of the party to impute financial impropriety to persons vying for political office.
"In the search for a running mate for Professor Atta Mills last year, such allegations were made with relentless abandon even against persons they now have a new found love for."
Dr Asamoah said the two men should tell the nation how the NDC came by the money to acquire the 200 pickups they were talking about. "What I am aware of is that whilst the NDC might have used that number of vehicles, most were not owned by the party. It is easy to check this out from records at the Licensing Office."
He denied that he supplied pickups to individuals to campaign for him to be NDC chairman. On the theft of party money in his house, he said it was regrettable that persons who claimed to be members of the party could doubt his integrity despite the evidence adduced in court.
He said the fact that the case had not been concluded did not mean that he was the cause of the delay or that he was not being transparent in the matter.
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Senegalese President Wade new Chairman of
ECOWAS
Dakar (Senegal) 22 December 2001 - President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and the newly elected Chairman of ECOWAS on Friday said Africa should not remain passive but be committed to the maintenance of lasting peace in the Middle East.
He said maintenance of peace in the area is precarious because of the threatened aggression against Palestinians who have given their solidarity to their leader Yasser Arafat and appealed for recognition of the right of Isreal to exist in secured borders.
President Wade made the call in his acceptance speech at the closing session of the 25th Summit of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS at Dakar, Senegal on Friday.
He said under his leadership, ECOWAS would work towards peace and brotherliness, from which violence and cross-border crime would be eliminated, fight against terrorism, human rights abuses and champion democracy and the rule of law.
President Wade said women within the sub-region would be actively involved in the activities of ECOWAS, for them to contribute their quota, while he would strive to utilise the potentials in the youth, with the co-operation and commitment of the other leaders.
He said Senegal was ready to give its liberty for the success of the African Union (AU), which is now emerging in unity with ECOWAS as the cornerstone.
President Wade gave the assurance that no efforts would be spared to accelerate the integration of the economic and political emancipation of ECOWAS, in line with the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
He commended the out-going Chairman of ECOWAS and Malian President Alhpa Oumar Konare for his commitment and enthusiasm, which had encouraged most of the leaders into action for the survival of ECOWAS.
President Wade expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor for providing a man who is up to the task of heading the ECOWAS Secretariat.
"Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the newly elected Executive Secretary of ECOWAS is the person I need to work with to continue the work began by the founding fathers of ECOWAS", he added.
President Wade paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, the late President Leopold Seder Senghor of Senegal who died in Dakar last Thursday and said "Africa has lost one of its most illustrious sons and a man of perfect harmony of culture and politics".
President Konare, the out-going Chairman of ECOWAS said the sub-region had made giant strides for peace and stability and on daily basis, ECOWAS had progressed with commitment and has now reached a decisive stage to concretise the achievements made so far for sub-regional integration.
He said the sub-region is in symbiosis with the other regional groupings on the continent for economic and political emancipation and was hopeful the new people elected to steer affairs of ECOWAS would build upon the foundation laid.
President Konare also paid tribute to the late President Senghor and said, being the proponent of Negritude to unify Francophone countries within the sub-region also brought democracy to Senegal, which has flourished. A minute silence was observed in his memory before the closing session began.
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Dakar (Senegal) 22 December 2001 - The Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS on Friday asked Benin to nominate a candidate for the post of the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).
The Gambia was to nominate a candidate for the post of Financial Controller. The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of their two-day 25th Summit held in Dakar, Senegal from December 20-21.
The communiqué, read by the out-going Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Mr Lansana Kouyate expressed their appreciation for the establishment of democratic rule, promotion of human rights and rule of law in most of the countries within the sub-region.
It also commended Benin, which had already printed and started issuing the uniform ECOWAS passport to its citizens following the approval of the passport at last year's Summit held in Bamako, Mali.
The Authority commended Sierra Leone for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, particularly with regard to disarmament and demobilisation.
The Summit accepted most of the protocols submitted by various Councils and Committees, such as the establishment of one monetary zone with a single currency and free movement of persons following the abolition of the entry and tourist visa requirement by all ECOWAS Member States and the introduction of the ECOWAS Travel Certificate.
Others were trade liberalisation and customs union, monetary co-operation programmes and multilateral surveillance, an air transport programme to establish ECOAIR, maritime transport project to establish ECOMARINE in Togo with the participation of the private sector.
The Summit rejected all submissions made for the ECOWAS flag and decided that a new competition should be organised next year, while the technical committee reviewing the lyrics of the ECOWAS anthem was given the mandate to continue with its work.
The Authority paid glowing tribute to the late Senegalese President, Leopold Seder Senghor, 95, who died last Thursday in Dakar during the Summit. A minute silence was observed for the late Senghor a Founding member of ECOWAS and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 22 December 2001 - Mr. Fred Ohene-Kena Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has advised members not to allow various media reports and interpretations of reasons for the postponement of the national congress of the party to disturb their focus.
They should rather continue to organise themselves since the year 2004 was near and soon power would "certainly return to its rightful place," he said at the first meeting of the newly elected regional executive at Koforidua on Friday.
Mr.Ohene-Kena said the regional executive supported the postponement because it was important for the party hierarchy to ensure that all legal issues and concerns raised by certain members and groups in the party were democratically resolved before it's historical congress to the satisfaction of all members.
He commended members for their resilience and determination to make ends meet during "these difficult times of the nations economic history."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 December 2001 - The Trades Union Congress (TUC) in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) would early next year organise a workshop to train Journalists interested in Labour reporting.
The programme is designed to introduce journalists to covering labour and labour-related issues "to put an end to the stereotyped media concentration on red arm bands and strikes that are only a small aspect of the reality of labour and labour relations".
Speaking at a meeting with journalists on Friday, the TUC Secretary General, Mr Kofi Adu-Amankwa, said land and capital were more recognised and enjoyed greater legitimacy than labour.
He said the three formed the factors of production, adding that labour should be accorded due recognition to avoid agitation and conflict.
He said the training course would enhance the journalists' techniques of reporting and analysing labour issues better and help them to focus more on what was being done and not just on what people said.
Mr Adu-Amankwa said it would also enhance journalists' understanding of labour as an organised institution, comprising workers' associations and organisations, working classes and working people and their relationship to their work, employers, government and the international system of politics.
"This implies coverage of working people at the so-called formal and informal levels, at organised and un-organised or spontaneous levels, at the national, regional and international or global levels."
He said unless the society made an effort to recognise labour, greed, exploitation, discrimination and poverty would continue to dominate society.
This was why the International Labour Organisation (ILO) since 1919, has set standards and laws for labour and given it the necessary recognition, Mr. Adu-Amankwa said.
"We need special intervening ideas to change attitudes and reform how we address issues of labour and help society to promote equality, solidarity and objectivity in respect to labour."
Mr Adu-Amankwa said there was a big problem of education in the country as many people did not know their human rights basically because most agreements and policies were written in English that most people, providing casual labour could not understand.
He said the TUC would soon start mass education on labour issues through the radio and television in the local dialects. This, he said would make a greater impact than organising seminars in which only a few people benefit.
Mr Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of Media Foundation For West Africa, said the economic situation of Ghana promotes the agitation process of workers most of whom had little or no skills and could easily be dispensed of the moment they start to fight for their rights.
"In a weak state, it is always the poor and unprotected who suffer,'' he said, adding that workers in the rural areas, the agricultural sector and casual workers needed to be protected.
He said workers should be educated against attacking journalists in the performance of their duties.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 22 December 2001 - The Ashanti Region House of Chiefs and the Asanteman Council have lauded the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, for the honours bestowed on him by the international community, particularly universities in the United States and the United Kingdom and Ghana for his outstanding contribution to education and health.
At separate meetings on Thursday to review activities for the year, Nana Wiafe Akenten 11, Offinsohene, who conveyed the Ashanti Region House of Chiefs' appreciation to the Asantehene, said the honour did not only reflect on him but the whole House and the people of Asante.
He expressed the hope that God would continue to guide the Asantehene to use his wisdom to lead Asanteman to greater glory in the years to come. Daasebre Osei Bonsu 11, Mamponghene, conveying the appreciation of the Asanteman Council to Otumfuo Osei Tutu at its meeting, said the honour reflected not only on the Asantehene but on Asanteman as a whole.
Addressing the House, Otumfuo Osei Tutu reminded the various committees of the House of the responsibilities entrusted to them and asked them to take stock of their achievements and failures and make amends where they erred.
Nana Owusu Asiama 11, Oboguhene, complained about the behaviour of some settler farmers from the Akim, area who after harvesting their cocoa carted all the produce across the Pra River to the Eastern Region to sell and refused to pay royalties to Asante.
Nana Ayim Kuampa 11, Gyadam Manhene corroborated Oboguhene's statement and said some of them even fell timber and carted the logs across the Pra River to the Eastern Region describing the situation as serious since they did not pay any royalties.
The Asantehene asked that the matter should be referred to the Lands Commission. At the Asanteman Council Meeting, Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed regret that some chiefs in Kumasi sold lands without paying his percentage to Manhyia and warned such chiefs to stop the practice forthwith.
He said since the inception of the Education Fund, some chiefs had also not presented any pupils from their areas to be sponsored from the fund and, therefore, charged all chiefs to liaise with teachers in the various schools to present at least six brilliant but needy pupils to be sponsored by the fund as from next term.
On the collection of the fund, he expressed disappointment at some chiefs, who had not collected any money for the fund, while he said those who had collected receipt books of the fund had either refused to collect the money or failed to pay what they had collected into the fund.
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