Officials urged to give information to media
CWSA calls for installation of Board of Directors
Course on election reporting opens
EC cannot order closure of borders - Afari-Gyan
Officials urged to give information to media
Abokobi (Greater Accra), 22 February 2000
Professor Lawrence Enu Kwesi, a member of the Council of State, on Monday urged officials to give information to the media to stop journalists from speculating on issues.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 11th General Assembly of the Association of Christian Lay Centres in Africa.
Prof. Kwesi noted that some media reports in recent times have been the cause of much tension in society because newsmen have almost always had to make do with pieces of information other than complete ones from official sources.
"Much as we expect the journalists to live up to their social responsibility as members of the fourth estate of the realm, we must not blame them totally for having to sometimes speculate in their stories.
"Official sources of information, such as political leaders and others who are usually very economical in the release of information to the media, are equally to blame for the harmful media speculations."
Prof. Kwesi called on people in authority to recognise the role of the media as 'an indispensable machinery' in the governance of African countries and be liberal in releasing information to newsmen.
"Officials must ensure that they put society's interest above personal and institutional interest to prevent half-truth reports."
Prof. Kwesi, however, urged newsmen to be circumspect in the face of compelling conditions to speculate, saying: "much as newsmen must inform the public on issues that concern us, it is their responsibility to ensure that such information does more good to society than harm".
He advised leaders in authority to help fight against corruption which has virtually become a canker in the society.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 22 February 2000
The Cape Coast Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the intention of the Vice President, Professor J.E.A. Mill, to seek nomination as the NDC flag bearer as "courageous."
The Constituency Chairman, Mr. Samuel Graham Wilberforce, speaking at a news conference in Cape Coast on Monday, said Prof mills is a "divine gift" to Ghanaians adding that, "we give him our fullest support as the flag bearer of the NDC in the December 2000 elections".
Prof. Atta Mills made his intention known in Tamale, at a meeting with cadres and party activists at the weekend.
He told the meeting that he would seek the nomination at the national congress of the party scheduled for Ho, from April 28 to 29.
The Vice President has proved to the whole nation through his performance that he is capable of leading the nation, he said.
"We have confidence in the leadership of the NDC and if President J.J. Rawlings himself has expressed confidence in Professor J.E.A. Mills, then he deserves the fullest support and co-operation of all".
The constituency branch also renewed its support for Mr. Ebo Barton-Oduro as the parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast.
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CWSA calls for installation of Board of Directors
Accra (Greater Accra), 22 February 2000
The Acting Chief Executive of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Mr. Peter Sackey on Monday said the absence of a substantive Board of Directors for the agency is hampering the smooth implementation of the National Community Water and Sanitation Programme (CWSP).
As a result, the International Development Association's assistance for the second phase of CWSP, which was to be operative from January one, this year, is still not effective.
Mr Sackey said this at the 1999 Annual Sector Review Conference of the CWSA. It is under the theme "Sustaining Investments in Water and Sanitation: Post delivery Management and Financing Strategies."
About 90 participants, including representatives of various Ministries, sector agencies and NGOs in the water sector, are attending.
The Chief Executive said the financial status of the agency has not changed from what it was when the agency was operating as a division of the Ghana Water Company.
He said they were allocated a total of 5.2 billion cedis but it fell short by 1.6 billion cedis.
"This negatively affected the ability of the Agency to attain the targets set in the performance contract with the State Enterprises Commission."
Mr. Sackey said in spite of their difficulties, a total of 857 boreholes were sunk as against an annual target of 1,352 last year. Eighty-six hand dug wells were constructed as against the 279 that was targeted.
A total of 2,039 existing facilities were converted to Community Ownership and Management as against a target of 1,064 while 1,646 household latrines were constructed against an annual target of 2,750 and 153 schools/institutions latrines were constructed against a target of 12 within the same period.
Mr Sackey said CWSA has signed a performance contract with SEC for 2000 and it is expected, among other things, to facilitate the sinking of 660 boreholes and 350 hand dug wells.
It is also to construct 40 small communities pipe systems, 30 small town pipe systems and 1,300 household latrines and 100 schools/institutions latrines.
Mr Sackey said the national strategy stipulates that communities are responsible for the operation and maintenance cost of facilities.
However, he said, "I have my fears whether communities appreciate this point and I think that they need support to enable them to meet the challenges of post delivery management."
He said CWSA must create the enabling environment for communities and other stakeholder groups to play their roles as far as post delivery responsibilities are concerned.
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Course on election reporting opens
Accra (Greater Accra), 22 February 2000
Journalists were on Monday urged to be objective, vigilant and responsible in covering elections, Mrs. Rebecca Adotey, a Deputy Minister of Communications said in Accra.
Opening a five-day course on election reporting, Mrs Adotey said if journalists showed objectivity in their reports and are able to move the people to exercise their franchise, they would be contributing to the prevailing peace in the country.
She urged journalists to report the facts without slanting issues.
The course organised jointly by the British Council, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Commonwealth Press Union, aims among other things, at tackling key reform agenda and in supporting good governance.
It is also aimed at improving human rights practice and the development of civil society.
The 25 participants, from both state and private media, would discuss issues leading to free, fair accurate, balanced and responsible coverage during elections.
Mrs Adotey said journalists can criticise but it does not augur well for the well-being of the people in society and the profession as well if they do not do it constructively.
Mr. Yaw Amfo Kwakye, Chairman, Commonwealth Press Union, Ghana Section, said the benefit of the course "will reflect in how we report on the all important election campaign".
Mr Ian Mackley, British High Commissioner said the course is most opportune because of the elections to be held later this year.
Mr Mackley said the elections would "represent the most significant step in the entrenchment of democracy in Ghana since the return to constitutional rule in 1992.
" It will be the first time in the country's independent history that there will be a peaceful transition from one president to another through free and fair elections."
Mr Mackley urged the media to ensure that the people are able to make an informed judgement when they cast their votes in December saying that the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) have important roles to play in that respect.
He congratulated NMC and GJA on their decision to set up a unit to monitor reporting in the run up to the elections.
He said the British government would support the Electoral Commission with 3.3 billion cedis in its crucial work by providing materials and equipment for the updating of the voters' register and in providing photo ID cards for every registered voter.
Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the GJA, stressed the need for accurate, balanced and fair reportage during the elections.
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EC cannot order closure of borders - Afari-Gyan
Accra (Greater Accra), 22 February 2000
The Electoral Commission has no power to direct the closure of the country's borders on polling day but would not object should the government take such a decision, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Electoral Commissioner, said in Accra on Monday.
He told the GNA in an interview that such a decision rests on the concerns of political parties and the government that are directly involved in the electoral process.
"Ours is only to conduct the elections."
The National Chairman of the New patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Samuel Odoi-Sykes, over the weekend called for the closure of the country’s borders on election day, citing the possibility of foreigners entering to breach the peace and security, as the reason.
Dr Afari-Gyan rejected the idea of foreigners interfering in the electoral process, saying, "we conduct the elections with the voters' register, therefore, if your name is not in it you can't vote."
The Commission would not hesitate to correct any flaw in the electoral regulations if political parties study them critically and draw its attention to them.
"Our system is very firmly laid down and everybody knows it. If everybody plays his role well there could be no rigging."
The Electoral Commissioner said the introduction of photo ID cards in the districts is just one of the measures built into the system to make it rigging-free, though "that alone would not make it a success."
The public should not expect major changes in this year's election exercise, except for "a few alignments" of polling stations that would be done during the revision of the voters' register to enable voters in newly developing parts of Accra to vote conveniently.
Dr Afari-Gyan stressed the need for funds to be provided on time, saying elections are time-bound processes and problems arise when funds for specific functions are not provided on schedule.
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