Over 72 petition govt for creation of new district
NPP celebrates first year in office
Aliu advises NPP members to convert political opponents
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 December 2001 - Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said on Monday that the government had received over 72 petitions for the creation of new districts.
He said of common interest to the petitioners was the benefit their localities would derive from the allocation of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF).
Mr Baah-Wiredu was delivering a speech on: "The strengthening of local government for sustainable development" at the 53rd New Year School which is underway at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The school is being organised by the Institute of Adult Education on the theme: "Good Governance and Sustainable Development".
Mr Baah-Wiredu said about 10 billion cedis was needed for the creation of a new district "and although I will not attempt to speak for the President, I believe to create 72 new districts would be a problem".
Mr Baah-Wiredu said Government would, however, examine the petitions and those that needed serious attention would be considered. He said under the decentralisation policy it was the responsibility of district assemblies to enhance socio-economic development at the local level.
This policy was, however, being hampered by lack of adequate resources and the political will to make the sub-district assembly structures, such as the unit committees and the area and town councils, functional.
Mr Baah-Wiredu expressed the government's commitment to strengthen the structures of the Assembly by paying members' sitting allowances to enable them to perform efficiently.
"There is double allegiance of the proposed decentralised department at the district level as the staff continue to be recruited and paid by the central government”, he said, adding that the implementation of sectoral programmes, including donor funded projects at the grassroots without reference to the district assemblies, were creating problems for the effective integration and co-ordinated development.
He said a key challenge facing the local government system was the lack of sound financial management in the district assembly. "To most critics of the decentralisation process, the local government sector is not well equipped to manage the huge resources entrusted to it."
Mr Baah-Wiredu said the ministry was creating an inspectorate division and would appoint internal auditors to assess the progress of projects and check malfeasance.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said since his assumption of office he had toured 91 districts and identified low revenue generation and under utilisation of economic potentials as common problems.
He appealed to district assemblies to encourage inter-district trade and other commercial activities and also explore wider markets for their goods and services.
During an open forum, participants expressed dissatisfaction about the massive destruction of the country's vegetation by chain-saw operators and appealed to the district assemblies to be proactive in checking the problem.
They asked for improved remuneration for members of the district Assembly to motivate them to give of their best.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
NPP celebrates first year in office
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 December 2001 - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday held a mammoth rally at Mantse Agbonaa in James Town, Accra, to commemorate the victory that brought the party to power in 2000 general elections.
The rally grounds was besieged by party faithful and supporters as early as 0900 hours, clad in party colours of red, blue and white amidst chanting of party slogans and songs. They included men, women and children who danced to gospel music provided by large speakers.
The Speakers who were mainly Ministers of State and party stalwarts commended the government's achievement over the past year, noting that the government inherited a very sordid state of affairs and used the first year to lay the foundation for progress.
Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior said the government would use the power given to it as a "tool to empower the people and not to enslave them".
He warned that the security agencies would not relent on their efforts to maintain law and order saying, " anyone who attempts to dabble in the security of the state would be sorry have the shock of his life."
The Interior Minister said as soon as taking power the government with its good intentions had been able to use the same security agencies to solve the problem of the serial killing of women.
Alhaji Yakubu said that the government would solve the problems of the security agencies, which had come about as result of long period of neglect.
He contended that the maintenance of law and order meant that every one who lived in the country would feel secured to go about his or her normal duties without necessarily being a Ghanaian.
GRi.../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
NDC calls for unit among rank and file
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 December 2001 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday told its members that the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution should bring them closer so that the party would grow from strength to strength.
A statement signed by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary, said the principles and ideals of the revolution, which they stood for - probity and accountability, participatory democracy, grassroots decision-making and bringing justice to the doorsteps of the ordinary man - should never be lost on them.
"This is the time to take stock of events over the past 20 years, make a deep reflection and come out with greater determination more than ever before in our forward march and our quest to improve upon the material living conditions of our people," the statement said.
"We should feel proud today, because our efforts over the period have not been in vain," it added. The NDC said, 'as a result of the 31st December Revolution, out of which the party was born, the country had experienced unparalleled infrastructural development and considerable improvement in the living conditions of the people.
"We have provided more and better roads, an expanded and improved health system, more and more children have access to education, whilst second cycle and tertiary education have witnessed considerable expansion and offered greater access.
"We have a better telecommunications system, and we have helped create an economy which has given hope to many Ghanaians. Many of our towns and villages do not only enjoy power supply but uninterrupted power supply."
The NDC said it helped bring democracy to the doorstep of the ordinary person and introduced an efficient and decentralised local government system "unparalleled in the history of Ghana".
The NDC said, there was still, however, more work to be done and this could only be achieved if party members remained focussed and united for their common purpose.
The party congratulated all those who "fought alongside the revolutionary leadership" and paid tribute to all those who lost their lives in the process, as well as "those who have made enormous sacrifices to bring this country this far.
GRi.../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 December 2001 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said the government was not satisfied with the achievements made under the fiscal and economic policies, which it implemented during its first year in office and more difficult decisions would have to be taken next year.
He therefore urged Ghanaians to continue to be tolerant and stand firm behind the government. "We will never deceive Ghanaians; the decisions to be taken are for a good cause and purpose for the development of the economy and society," he said.
President Kufuor was addressing the first anniversary celebration and victory rally of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the James Town Park (Mantse Agbonaa) in Accra.
"The government has done so well on the economy, the cedi has stabilised, rate of inflation has gone down, the effects of the HIPC Initiative will be realised by the end of next February but the government is still not satisfied. We will have to take more difficult decisions next year", he said.
President Kufuor said the government had to take those difficult decisions because the economy was in a mess, so also were education, health and employment, law and order. It therefore had to prepare the foundation to be able to move the country forward.
He said political opponents would not credit the government with any success but neighbouring countries and the international community had appreciated efforts of the government.
On criticisms that he had travelled rather frequently outside the country, President Kufuor said most of them were invitations by the host countries. "We will go to the end of the world to get the needed resources to get Ghana back on course for development."
He said the country had a destiny and responsibility not only for itself but the West African Sub-region, Africa and the entire world because most African countries were looking up to Ghana to take the initiative for economic success. When this was achieved the results would be beneficial to all of them.
President Kufuor said the government wanted to chart a course that would unite the sub-region and with new people at the helm of affairs of ECOWAS, it would support and work with them to succeed.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the country had now achieved peace saying it began when the government assumed power and made peace with neighbouring countries to mobilise efforts to fight the common enemy, which is poverty. "We shall deliver with your support," he added.
Mr Haruna Esseku, National Chairman of the NPP, said government had put in place programmes to fulfil its campaign promises to the people and supporters and urged them not to be deceived because the government was on course.
GRi.../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 December 2001 - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday repeated that it would offer caring and responsible leadership, under which all Ghanaians would be treated equally, irrespective of their party affiliations.
It said in a statement to mark the party's victory in parliamentary and presidential elections one year ago signed by Mr Lord Commey, National Organiser that the party would ensure equitable distribution of the nation's wealth and the rule of law.
"The sound macroeconomic indicators such as the stability of the cedi, the drop of nflation and fall in interest rates should convince all Ghanaians that after only one year of the NPP government in power, the necessary foundation had been laid for the resolution of the many problems confronting Ghanaians.
The party therefore, calls for patience and tolerance by Ghanaians to ensure that the many laudable policies of the NPP government are peacefully implemented to better the lot of the people."
The NPP thanked Ghanaians, particularly its supporters and polling agents who stood steadfastly behind the party to ensure the victory. It said "in spite of brutalities, intimidations and harassments that characterised the December 2000 elections...our numerous supporters, party activists and Ghanaians in general stood firm... The misuse of incumbency and blatant abuse of state power by the former government never discouraged Ghanaians to fight for the positive change we are all enjoying today".
GRi.../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Bolgatanga (Upper East) 31 December 2001 - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Sunday advised supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to convert their political opponents into their fold and desist from making fun of them.
Addressing members of the Nasara (Victory) Club at Bolgatanga, Alhaji Mahama said the government needed the contributions of all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation for the nation to progress.
"Rivals of the NPP should not be teased away. You should rather explain government policies to them so that they would appreciate them and help in their implementation", he stressed.
"We need to be tolerant of divergent views and opinions and in our interaction with those who do not understand us, let us try to woo them like we do in religion, but not deride them."
The Vice President said it was important for the NPP to get more support in areas such as Northern Ghana, where the party's support-base was weak so that more of the people would accept to serve in government.
Alhaji Mahama said the government would open its doors to all shades of opinion and continuously interact with the people so that their views and concerns would reflect in its policies and programmes.
The club, formed two years ago, has about 400 members, mostly business people with sympathies for the NPP. He advised the members to take advantage of micro financing schemes to expand their businesses and improve their standard of living.
Alhaji Alhassan Saibu, Chairman and Hajia Kande Seidu, Executive Member, led the delegation that paid a courtesy call on the Vice President.
GRi.../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com