NPP to restore Armed Forces Housing Loan Scheme

Child neglect cases on the increase - CHRAJ official

Ensure NPP wins general elections - Odoi Sykes

Nana Konadu attends New Juaben Queen Mother's funeral

Sunyani East NPP endorses J.H.Mensah's candidature

Forestry Commission must halt forest degradation - FEJ

Police asked to guarantee rights of citizens

Professor Ayim inducted into office

Accra (Greater Accra) 21 Feb 2000

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will restore the Armed Forces housing loan scheme, which was abandoned by the PNDC, Mr Darko Mensah, MP for Okaikwei North said in Accra on Sunday.

Speaking at a rally at Abeka La Paz, he called on the ruling NDC government to restore the scheme, "or we shall bring it back when we form the government next year."

On the general elections later this year, he said the party was "wide awake" and would not allow for any rigging. "All that this great party is calling for is a truly free and fair elections."

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Greater Accra Regional Chairman and campaign manager of the party emphasised that the Minority in Parliament had kept the government on its toes.

Had it not been for their efficiency and vigilance, the NDC would have been having a field day and mismanaging the economy, he said.

The regional chairman urged members of the party to emulate the MPs to ensure that the party wins this year's elections.

On the presidential jet, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the country was losing about 40 million cedis daily as long as it remained idle in the hangar.

This colossal sum could have been used to build more schools, he stressed.

Mr Kwamena Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North urged polling agents to be vigilant at the polling stations to avoid any cheating.

Madam Ama Busia, first vice-chairman of the party said the peace the country is enjoying is a reflection of the tolerance and magnanimity of the opposition parties.

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Axim (Western Region) 21 Feb. 2000

The Nzema East District office of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), disposed of 111 out of 128 cases reported last year, Mr William Osafo-Offinam, District Officer told GNA at Axim on Friday.

He said even though some of the cases were not within the jurisdiction of CHRAJ, they were dealt with to promote peace and harmony.

Most of the cases involved neglect of children by parents, wrongful termination of appointments and nonpayment of social security contribution and end of service benefits.

Other cases were landlord-tenant relations, women and children's rights, interstate succession, litigation over coconut plantations and administrative injustice.

Out of 128 cases, 51 were written petitions while 77 were presented verbally.

Mr. Osafo-Offinam expressed regret that child neglect cases continue to rise even though there have been extensive public education on the subject.

He appealed to traditional authorities, religious bodies and opinion leaders in the area to co-operate with CHRAJ to mount a campaign to educate parents on their responsibilities to their children.

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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 21 Feb. 2000

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will launch its revised manifesto for the forthcoming elections in April this year.

This was made known by Mr Samuel odoi-Sykes, National Chairman of the Party at the opening of a two-day workshop for 40 trainer of trainers of polling agents at Koforidua on Saturday.

He urged the participants to study the manifesto thoroughly and to educate the electorate well on the issues at stake before the elections to ensure a resounding victory in the forthcoming general elections.

Mr Odoi-Sykes told the activists drawn from Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta Regions that "the NPP is going into the election with confidence and determination to debunk the notion that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is unbeatable till 2020".

He reminded them that after losing two previous elections to the NDC, the leadership was making every effort to provide the necessary logistics and motivation to all activists, especially polling agents, in order to win the elections.

"Considering all the money, time and risks being put into the electioneering campaign, if polling agents fail to perform well, then, all our efforts would have been wasted".

Mr Odoi-Sykes spoke of "unpublicised defections of NDC members into the party from all parts of the country, adding "the defectors believe that it is only the NPP which could salvage the country from the harsh socio-economic conditions created by the NDC".

Mr Odoi-Sykes criticised the NDC for its "unproductive, educational, health and employment policies," saying the NPP would competently tackle them if given the mandate in this year's elections.

He said the fact that some government officials were educating their children abroad was an admission that "their education reforms programme had failed."

He called for the closure of the country's borders on the polling day to "ward off any possible detraction by outsiders".

Mr Yaw Osaafo-Maafo, Member of Parliament for Oda, criticised the government for not doing enough to boost local industries, thereby allowing multinationals and importers to dominate the economy.

He described the situation as "a recipe for disaster in the future."

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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 21 Feb. 2000

The First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings on Sunday attended the funeral of the late Queen Mother of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Juaben Serwaa II, who died on 17 November last year.

She was accompanied by a delegation including the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Deputy Minister of Defence, Dr Tony Aidoo, Mr Daniel Sarpong Boateng, Presidential Staffer, Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, District Chief Executives and MPs.

Nana Konadu presented assorted drinks to the bereaved family and attended a non-denominational burial service, officiated by the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rt. Rev.

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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 21 Feb. 2000

The Sunyani East constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has endorsed the candidature of Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Minority Leader in Parliament, as the party's candidate for the forthcoming general elections.

The unanimous decision was taken at a constituency delegate's congress at Sunyani on Saturday at which a new nine-member executive was elected.

Mr Gabriel Kwame Awuah, a farmer, was elected unopposed as the constituency chairman.

He said "Mr Mensah has proved beyond that he is a great asset, not only to the party and his constituents, but to the whole country, as far as politics and parliamentary procedures are concerned.

"But for his skills, astute and unrivalled experience in the conduct of parliamentary business, our newly found democratic process would have suffered.

Mr Awuah said the decision to give Mr Mensah another opportunity to serve his people in parliament and hopefully in a greater capacity was right.

He pledged that the new executives would work hard to unite factions within the party to ensure co-ordinated efforts towards a great election victory, and called for support and understanding for the executives.

Mr Mensah said what "the party needs now from supporters and sympathisers is loyalty, dedication and hard work to make its aspirations to win the 2000 elections a reality.

"Though everything points to a victory for the NPP, this will not be achieved on a silver platter".

Mr Mensah told the delegates to adopt campaign strategies that would win more votes for the party during the elections.

Mr Mensah emphasised that, if given the opportunity, the NPP is capable of turning the fortunes of the country around and appealed to the electorate to give the party the mandate.

"Our economy is in ruins and the government continues to take bad decisions to further worsen the situation".

"We are capable of making Ghana a better place for all if given the opportunity".

Referring to the recent debate on the presidential jet, the Minority Leader said, the approval of the agreement which, among others, enjoins the government to pay 47 million cedis a day of the tax payers money to the "unidentified" owners of the aircraft, was not prudent.

He advised NPP representatives who would be posted to the various polling stations on the election day to be extra vigilant to check possible vote rigging.

Mr Sule Dauda was elected first vice-chairman, Madam Felicia Appiah second vice-chairman, Mr Kwame Asante Gyabaah, secretary.

Other elected officers are: Mr Adubofour Sarpong, assistant secretary, Madam Florence Adomah, treasurer, Mr Kwame Kyeremeh organiser, Madam Faustina Nyarko, women's organiser and Mr Isaac Nsiah Bediako, youth organiser.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 21 Feb. 2000

The Federation of Environmental Journalists (FEJ) has appealed to the newly constituted Forestry Commission to work assiduously to halt the degradation of lands, forests and other natural resources.

FEJ said Ghana's forests and forest resources are depleting at a faster rate because of neglect and laxity in the implementation and enforcement of policies, laws and regulations on the protection of our natural resources.

A statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Kojo Kwarteng, Programmes Co-ordinator and Mr Severious Kale Dery, Head of the Communication Department, both of the Federation of Environmental Journalists, on Sunday welcomed the appointment of the Forestry Commissioner last Friday by President J. J. Rawlings.

The Federation asked the Commission to justify the trust reposed in them by the government by immediately halting encroachment on the forests by unscrupulous chain saw operators, miners and settlers.

It urged the Commission to work closely with the Ministries of Lands and Forestry and Environment, Science and Technology and all departments or agencies under it, NGOs, the FEJ and other environmental experts and foresters to achieve its aims.

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Akwadum (Eastern Region) 21 Feb. 2000

The Police have been called upon to comply with constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right of citizens from arbitrary arrest.

They should also ensure fair and transparent prosecution.

These were expressed at a forum organised by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly (NJMA) and the Eastern Regional Police Service at Akwadum near Koforidua on Friday.

The forum, the second in the year was aimed at promoting cordial relationship between the public and the police.

Relations were marred following the killing of a citizen of the town by a policeman last year during an arrest.

While the police claim that a gang, calling itself "Parliament" had been instigating anti-social activities in the town, the youth accused the police of arbitrary measures in enforcing law.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Adu-Boateng, said congestions at the prisons demand the adoption of alternative dispute resolution methods for non-criminal cases.

He said the police could not look on unconcerned when gangs like "Parliament" threaten peace.

Mr Adu-Boateng said since the police are to protect the public, the people must support them to carry out their mandate.

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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 21 Feb. 2000

Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, Acherensuahene and Chairman of the University of Science and Technology (UST) Council, last Friday, called for peace and unity at the university with the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor.

He said peace is inevitable for progress and development adding that, "all should bury the hatchet and together work for the development of the University".

Agyewodin Ampem was inducting Professor John Sefa Kwadwo Ayim into office as the sixth Vice Chancellor of the University in Kumasi.

Professor Ayim is the first alumnus of the University to be appointed Vice Chancellor.

Before his appointment, he was the Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University.

Agyewodin Ampem asked the Vice-Chancellor to be firm but fair, avoid favouritism or discrimination and to be guided by the maxim that "all issues should be decided upon on merit and not upon consideration of friendship".

He appealed to members of staff both the academic and non-academic to give their maximum support and co-operation to enable him to discharge his duties.

Professor Aim who took an oath of office after his induction, said the focus of the University should include training personnel to meet the higher manpower needs for the development of the budding polytechnics and other tertiary institutions, industry and commerce.

He said during his five-year tenure, faculties would be encouraged to forge aggressive and mutually beneficial links with local and overseas industry and commerce, in addition to designing and introducing new programmes, which are market oriented and relevant to the needs of the country.

Professor Ayim said management skills of staff particularly those in key positions and heads of academic and non-academic departments would have to be sharpened through special training to enhance performance.

He announced a scholarship scheme to support selected children of serving staff and said foreign student participation in programmes would be promoted to enhance the international image of the University.

This would also create international understanding and contacts for Ghanaian students for their future leadership roles.

The Vice Chancellor appealed to industries, businesses, NGO's, Churches, Chiefs and philanthropists to help the University to meet its immediate needs.

These include student housing, lecture theatres, computer and INTERNET facilities and the upgrading and maintaining the University hospital.

He assured students that a congenial atmosphere would be created for academic work and said this demands discipline, respect and hard work.

"I want to assure everyone that we have put the past behind us and we are working together as a team to pursue the vision of this noble University in the new millennium".

Professor E. Y. Safo, Pro Vice Chancellor in a welcoming address said the ceremony is the beginning of a tradition whereby subsequent Vice Chancellors would be formally inducted into office.

He called on those who have a stake in the University to rededicate themselves to achieve the goal of the University as the hopes and aspirations of the people.

Professor Ayim was appointed on October One, last year.

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