African governments asked to improve condition of prisoners
Research project on Lake Bosomtwe is laudable – Gizo
Cadres asked to elect leaders to champion their cause
Osei Kufuor wins NPP ticket for Asunafo North Constituency
SSNIT welcomes agitations for improvement
Offinso Assembly approves 12.5 billion-cedi development fund.
Nkoranza communities get bore holes
African governments asked to improve condition of prisoners
Accra (Greater Accra), 8th February 2000
African governments have been called upon to improve the living conditions of prisoners.
A statement issued in Accra signed by the Executive President of the Olof Palme Peace Foundation, Osoronko Nana Yabani, noted that prisoners are going "through mental stress struggling to regain and correct what mistakes politically or socially" they committed.
It expressed regret that conditions in some prisons on the continent are deplorable and unsuitable for human beings and said cells are over crowded when inmates need peace and the right atmosphere, to reform spiritually".
The statement said it is the duty of every government to ensure the well being of all citizens including prisoners.
The authorities in most African countries do not create the necessary conditions for inmates, it said adding that "they need justice hope and protection" to guarantee a better future for them when they regain their freedom.
It urged African leaders not to see their political opponents as enemies and said that, "they must not be thrown into prison, like outcasts under the most unacceptable conditions".
The Foundation described some Police cells as dungeons and appealed to African governments in financial problems to approach international institutions including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for assistance.
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Research project on Lake Bosomtwe is laudable - Gizo
Abono (Ashanti), 8th February 2000
Mr. Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism on Monday said the scientific research project on Lake Bosomtwe aimed at developing it into a natural science museum and eco-tourism park is laudable.
He said to make it beneficial to the country, there should be collaboration between the Ministries of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), and Tourism as well as the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly to ensure that the project is properly managed.
Mr. Gizo was addressing the Technical Committee on the Project, during a familiarisation tour of the Lake basin at Abono-Ashanti.
He assured the people and communities on the banks of the lake of the government's continued commitment and assistance to their socio-economic development.
Mr. Sylvester K. Danuor, Co-ordinator of the Ghana-German Research Project on Lake Bosomtwe said the lake crater was formed by a meteorite impact about one million years ago.
He said it is the largest crater in the country and has most of its original features intact adding that it offers a unique opportunity for detailed scientific research for the development of the area into a natural scientific museum and eco-tourism park.
The project began as a joint co-operation venture between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, the Geological Survey and Survey Departments, and the universities of Frankfurt, Munich and Kiel in Germany.
The three German institutions are providing equipment, personnel and financial assistance estimated at 640,000 dollars for the three-year project.
Mr. Danuor said an initial amount of six million cedis is required from the government for the construction of a floating platform for the scientific investigations on the lake and hoped the money will released to early to facilitate work.
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Cadres asked to elect leaders to champion their cause
Bolgatanga (Upper East), 8th February 2000
The Presidential Staffer for Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs), Nii Adjei Boye-Sekan has said the lack of strong leadership for cadres is responsible for the difficulty in getting their grievances adequately redressed.
It is, therefore, necessary that Cadres organise themselves effectively to conduct elections to get zonal, district and regional executives to champion their cause.
Nii Boye-Sekan was addressing a meeting of Cadres in the Upper East region at Bolgatanga convened to make them aware of government's plans to rehabilitate them.
The Presidential staffer described as unfortunate the circumstances that led to the suing of the National Mobilisation Programme (NMP) by some its employees in the region and called on the aggrieved persons to withdraw the case for amicable settlement.
He said since cadres are also members of the civil society, they should be considered for assistance under the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YAP), Village Infrastructure Projects (VIP) and the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) of the district assemblies.
Nii Boye-Sekan disclosed that plans are far advanced to provide training for cadres, who want to become carpenters, masons, electricians among others and commended them for their unflinching support for the government in spite of the difficulties they were facing.
The Upper East Regional Convenor of PVOs, Mr. Ben Sinabisi, on behalf of the cadres assured the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that they will stand solidly behind any presidential and parliamentary candidates the party will choose to ensure their victory in the impending general elections.
He, however, said good groundwork needs to be done to come out with candidates who are easily acceptable to the electorate.
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Osei Kufuor wins NPP ticket for Asunafo North Constituency
Goaso (Brong Ahafo), 8th February 2000
Mr. Benjamin Osei Kufour, an Accra based management consultant has been elected as the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Asunafo North constituency to contest this year's elections.
Mr. Kufour, who was defeated by Mr. David Amankwa of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 1996 elections, polled 42 votes as against 21 by Alhaji Isaak Abubakar, a Kumasi-based businessman.
He thanked supporters of the party for the trust reposed in him and promised to do his best to win the constituency seat in the forthcoming elections.
Supporters and sympathisers should close their ranks and rally solidly behind the party to enable it to win power.
"Start house-to-house campaigning, go to the hinterlands to preach the good tidings of the party to enable you win more supporters for the party" he advised the 63 delegates.
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SSNIT welcomes agitations for improvement
Koforidua (Eastern Region), 8th February 2000
The management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it is not opposed to a review of the law establishing the trust and is open to any ideas that will lead to the improvement of the scheme.
Speaking at get-together for the Koforidua branch of the SSNIT pensioners scheme over the weekend, Mr. S.L.G. Ofori, acting Eastern Regional Manager of the Trust, said as at September 1999, the Trust had 34,107 pensioners on its payroll out of which 4,953 are from the Eastern Region.
He said it is the wish of the Trust that pensioners enjoy meaningful live-styles adding that "is why pensions have been increased by 20 per cent with effect from January this year."
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the Association , E.K. Berchie-Darkwa, appealed to SSNIT to consider establishing recreational centres in all the district capitals where pensioners could go to play games such as draught and oware.
He also appealed to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to go to the go to the aid of pensioners who embark on income generating activities.
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Offinso Assembly approves 12.5 billion-cedi development fund.
Offinso (Ashanti), 8th February 2000
The Offinso District Assembly has approved plans for the establishment of a 12.5 billion-cedi Offinso Development Fund.
Part of the fund would be used as a seed capital for the establishment of a Health Insurance Scheme and Health Workers Welfare and Incentives Scheme for an efficient and effective health care delivery in the district.
Mr. Joseph Akwasi-Kumah, Offinso District Chief Executive, announced this when he launched the Eighth World Day of the Sick at the Saint Patrick's Hospital at Offinso on Monday.
The theme for the celebration "Service to the sick and the suffering is Service to God" is being organised by the Kumasi Diocese of the Catholic Church.
The DCE said since 1998, the government has spent over 1.5 billion cedis to improve on health service delivery in the district in addition to the construction of a six-seater water closet at the hospital, which has been awarded on contract by the assembly.
He said to prevent the recurrence of fire outbreaks at the hospital the government has installed a number of batteries with inverters at a cost of 56 million cedis.
The DCE appealed to the hospital authorities to take good care of the equipment, considering the cost involved and their importance to the efficient and smooth running of the hospital.
Mr. Akwasi-Kumah assured the people of the government's support and commitment to ensuring an efficient, effective and affordable health service delivery system in the country.
"Our efforts at promoting investment in the districts and other development initiatives would be fruitless if serious efforts are not made at positively turning around and improving upon our health service delivery", he said.
Dr. Joseph Kwame Oduroh, Offinso District Director of Health Services asked the sick and the aged to attend hospitals or health centres when they fall sick instead of going to quack doctors who only compound their illness.
He said the government has released funds to cater for the medical bills of paupers, the aged, and antenatal patients and advised the sick in that category to visit the health institutions to benefit from the facility.
Dr Oduroh said the district achieved 105 per cent coverage during the first National
Immunisation Day (NID) against poliomyelitis last month and hoped the target will be exceeded during the second round on February 19.
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Nkoranza communities get bore holes
Abrukwa Number Two (Brong Ahafo), 8th February 2000
The government with assistance from the World Bank has constructed 27 boreholes costing about 405 million cedis for 17 communities in the Nkoranza District.
They include Fiema, Konkrompe, Adoe, Boama, Senya, Akonkonti, Sikaa, Adumasa, Bomiri and Mpem.
The other communities are Asuoso, Dromankuma, Bonte, Boaben, Akrudwa Number Two, Asekye-Krukese and Boana.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Joshua Ankoma speaking at the commissioning of the project at Akrudwa Number Two, called on the people to protect water bodies in their communities.
The DCE stressed the determination of the government to provide all communities with portable water to enhance the health of the people and urged them to take proper care of the boreholes to enable them last longer.
He said Donkro-Nkwanta has been provided with a Small Town Pipe Borne Water System at an estimated cost of 500 million cedis to ease their burden in having to travel long distances for water.
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