"NDC is only changing its driver", E. T. Mensah.
CP happy about settlement of court case
Accra (Greater Accra), 24 February 2000
An encyclopaedia on which Dr W.E.B. Du Bois, regarded as the father of Pan-Africanism, started working on when he settled in Ghana before his death in 1963, has been completed by a team of researchers.
Entitled ‘Africania’ which is an encyclopaedia of the experiences of Africans and African-American people, it was launched at a wreath-laying ceremony in Accra to mark Dr Du Bois’ 132nd birthday.
Professor Kwame Anthony Appiah and Professor Henry Louis Gates, both of Havard University in the United States, co-authored the work which sells at 89.95 dollars.
Nana Akuako Sarpong, Chairman of Ghana National Commission on Culture
(GNCC), laying a wreath on the tomb of Dr Du Bois, said the Dr Du Bois was working on the encyclopaedia "till the last day of his life."
"Dr Du Bois will forever be remembered in Africa for his contribution towards the decolonisation process in Africa."
Nana Akuoko Sarpong said in his fight against injustices in America, colonialism in Africa and black liberation world wide, Dr Du Bois advised "blacks to give higher education a priority as a way of achieving self confidence."
A critic of the book, Marian Wright Edelma, President, Children's Defence Fund, wrote:
"What a wonderful thing for the young people of this country to have, at last, within a single source, a chronicle of the history and achievements, the suffering and the triumph of African-American and their cousins in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the rest of the world."
GRi
Accra (Greater Accra), 24 February 2000
Mr. Steve Akorli, a Deputy Minister for Roads and Transport (MRT), on Wednesday advocated an effective and integrated urban transport policy to ensure a proper balance between all modes of transport.
This calls for an effective and co-ordinated planning to address congestion and pollution, he said, at the opening of a three-day annual review conference of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) in Accra.
The conference under the theme "A department of urban transport?" aims at evolving strategies to promote the design and management of transport infrastructure and its system of operation.
It is being attended by 70 participants drawn from the Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.
Mr. Akorli said there is the need for a public transport system in the form of buses to ensure a flexible, affordable and straightforward means of travelling.
"We need to secure greater accountability to the wider travelling community and give elected local authorities powers and resources to promote higher quality bus services."
Mr. Akorli said the time has come for those in the Urban Road sub-sector to begin looking at urban transport policy options which aim at enhancing the economy and reducing the negative effects associated with heavy concentration of traffic.
GRi
"NDC is only changing its driver",
E. T. Mensah.
Nyigbenya (Greater Accra), 24 February 2000
The NDC government under Prof. John Evans Atta Mills will pursue the same objectives of seeking the welfare of Ghanaians by developing the country and improving the living conditions of the people.
"The NDC after the 2000 elections will be the same vehicle. We are all going in the same vehicle. We are only changing the driver and the new driver is Prof. Mills", Mr. E. T. Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports, has said.
Mr. Mensah, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, was speaking on his campaign trail during which he commissioned "Polytanks" for water storage at eight villages in his constituency on Wednesday.
The villages, Nyigbenya (Tsopoli), Dormanya, Somey, Kpohe, Salom, Kpantsiredor, Gbesome and Amanakpo, are among the 51 communities supplied with polytanks to solve the acute water problems of the people, especially, during the dry season.
Some of the villages received football jerseys in addition to the tanks.
Mr Mensah told the people of Ningo-Prampram to vote massively to retain the NDC in power, adding, "if Prof. Mills becomes the president, you will be privileged to have a First Lady in the person of Mrs Naadu Mills, who hails from here."
He urged the people to ignore claims by opposition parties that the NDC government had not done anything for this country.
Mr Mensah urged them to appreciate how the Rawlings' administration has gradually transformed the country to its current position "which is being envied by all African countries".
GRi
Accra (Greater Accra), 24 February 2000
Mr. Victor Selormey, Deputy Minister of Finance, on Wednesday said the inability of the Ministry of Education (MOE) to include newly trained teachers in their budgetary allocation triggered the recent strike action by teachers.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) recruits 5,000 newly trained teachers every year but the MOE failed to make provision for their salaries and other entitlements to the ministry of Finance.
Mr Selormey said this at a lecture by the Progressive Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) in Accra for members of the Association for Defence of the Revolution (ACDR) in Accra.
He said in as much as the affected teachers have a point, the strike action was uncalled for, because avenues for redress of such lapses were still open.
The deputy minister expressed regret that the country is gradually attaining a reputation of being notorious for industrial unrest and this has affected the confidence the international community has in the economy.
"We have created a reputation as a strike nation," he said, adding that this is not a healthy sign for the government's accelerated development and the investment promotion efforts of the president."
Mr. Selormey advised industrialists who would want to take advantage of the government because this is an election year to reconsider their action as it will not be in the interest of the nation.
In 1992 and 1996 workers' excessive demands led to post election shortfalls and the government cannot allow such actions to continue, he said.
On this year's budget Mr. Selormey said it contains the basic activities to be undertaken to put the economy back on track after the shocks of last year due principally to external factors.
The Deputy Minister said 1999 was one of the most difficult years for the economy in recent times "and the budget tackles head-on some of the fall-outs."
GRi
Koforidua (Eastern Region), 24 February 2000
The Eastern Regional branch of the Convention Party (CP), has expressed joy at an out of court settlement of a case against the party.
In a statement, the branch said news about the settlement was received with great joy with members pledging their unflinching support of the party.
The message, signed by Mr. Kwabena Apea, the Regional Secretary, Mr Alex Apau, Assistant Regional Secretary and Mr. A.K. Ackumey, Regional Treasurer, was copied to CP Members of Parliament.
It appealed to all "genuine members of the party to bury their differences and rally behind the leadership".
It also urged all former members of the erstwhile Workers Brigade, State Farms, Young Pioneers and "all who are living below the poverty line because of NDC's mismanagement to opt for the CP".
It would be recalled that late last year, the branch gave the acting National Chairman a week's deadline to settle all pending cases out of court or it would advise itself.
GRi