Attorney General worried over
delays in trials
Atta
Mills calls for probe into seizure of his vehicles
Yaw Barimah forms committee on
flood areas
Bagbin
warns of elective tyranny
Korle
Bu's Medical Block a death trap
Ofori-Sarpong elected Pro-Vice Chancellor
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair would begin a three-day visit to Ghana on Thursday as part of a three-nation African tour aimed at bolstering the emerging partnership between the United Kingdom and Africa democracies.
A diplomatic source said the central theme for Mr Blair's visit is conflict prevention and peace keeping in addition to trade and development. "He's coming to underscore the need for a serious coalition for conflict prevention," the source told the Ghana News Agency on Monday.
In addition, the tour would provide a platform for Britain to outline her newfound partnership and development agenda for Africa, especially designed to serve as an incentive for democracy and good governance. "He is also likely to underscore the need for a global fight against terrorism."
The presidency confirmed on Monday that Mr Blair would arrive in Accra Thursday evening and leave Saturday morning. Mr Daniel Osei, Secretary to the President, told the GNA that Mr Blair would take a trip to the Cocoa Research Institute at Tafo in the Eastern Region on Friday.
The trip would afford him the opportunity to familiarise himself with the cocoa industry as part of UK's interest in trade globalisation. He would also have a private dinner with President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Mr Blair would be the second British Prime Minister to visit Ghana since independence in 1957. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan paid a six-day visit to Ghana in January 1960.
Ghanaians welcome the visit as a rare opportunity that would not only bolster bilateral ties between Ghana and Britain but also further enhance global confidence in the West African nation, especially at the time of building her weak economy.
"The visit is a rare honour that we would have to take advantage of in future to boost our weak economy and our fledgling democracy," said Mr Oscar Ameyedowo, a retired diplomat and a former Member of Parliament.
The UK has remained Ghana's major trade and development partner since its independence. Between 1997 and 2001, Britain sank nearly 100 million pounds into various sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Specific areas included agriculture, roads, rural livelihood, water, human capacity building and local government.
In 2000, Ghana's exports to the UK amounted to 100 million pounds and this increased by 31.43 per cent in 2001. Her Imports from the UK was 169.4 million pounds in year 2000. It increased only by nine per cent the following year.
The top five items exported to the UK from Ghana were cocoa, coffee, spices, fish, vegetables and fruits, metalliferous ores and metal scraps and non-ferrous metals.
Imports to Ghana from the UK were tobacco, miscellaneous manufactured goods, vehicles, general industrial machinery and telecom equipment. The two countries have also enjoyed high-level exchanges, including two visits by Queen Elizabeth in 1961 and 1999.
As usual with such important visits, Mr Blair is expected to arrive to a colourful display of Ghanaian culture at the Kotoka International Airport where he is expected to interact with the people and speak with the press. He would also go on a 20-minute state drive through selected streets in the capital.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice on Monday said the move to allow private legal practitioners to prosecute cases in court was to reduce delays in the courts.
The backlog of cases kept on mounting and the Attorney-General’s office needed to employ about 97 attorneys to cope up with the job and it would take about two years to go through Civil Service procedures to engage such a number, he said.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who was speaking in interview with the Ghana News Agency on the steps he was taking to ensure swift trial of cases, said the use of private lawyers to prosecute cases was not new and that it was the practice in the colonial days and early days of the nation's independence.
He said, the Attorney - General's office was working out the remuneration for those to be engaged, adding that it would be based on the number of cases handled. This would drastically reduce delays in handling cases and give meaning to the Constitutional demand for quick trials.
Nana Akufo-Addo said it should be possible for Ghana to practice what pertained in England that unless there was a natural disaster a judge could not adjourn any case if the prosecution was ready to start or continue with it.
This has brought about a minimal delay in trials in that country, he said. "We are introducing this measure because we have to begin from somewhere and as we go along we should be solving the problems that come along with it. We cannot get anywhere if we don't introduce reforms."
On why there was shortage of lawyers in the country and yet the universities were doing law as a second degree whereas those in the system did it as a first degree? Nana Akufo-Addo said, "that is the problem of doing things in this country.
"What the left hand is doing is always unknown to the right hand. There should be linkages in institutional planning to ensure that training and market demands are brought into equilibrium."
Nana Akufo-Addo said an institution in its planning might be concerned about achieving a certain standards and sometimes become unmindful of national requirements.
Chief Justice Mr E. Kwame Wiredu supported the Attorney - General's stand, saying that the use of private legal practitioners in the prosecution of cases was not new to the country.
He said in view of shortage of staff the Attorney -General's Office was facing, the policy would help the Judiciary to give quick trials.
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Atta Mills calls for probe into seizure of his vehicles
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - Former
vice President, Professor John Evans Attah Mills has asked President Kufuor to
set up an inquiry into events that led to the seizure of vehicles from his
residence by security personnel. He has also questioned a directive from the
Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for vehicles allocated to him by the
joint transitional team to be reregistered.
Vehicles allocated to the former vice President
were confiscated last Thursday and subsequently released on Friday by security
personnel, who later explained that the cars were using security number plates.
The BNI later asked Mrs. Mills to change the
registration numbers of the vehicles but Professor Mills says there is no
reason to re-register the vehicles. In a telephone interview with JOY FM from
the University of British Columbia in Canada where he is currently based,
Professor Mills said it was wrong for the security agencies to treat his wife
like a common criminal.
Describing the explanation given by the security
agencies for the seizure of his vehicles as unacceptable, Professor Mills said
the vehicles are still state property and it does not make sense to re-register
them in his name. He noted that the fact that fuel from the vehicles is
provided by the government exonerates him from any accusation of theft, adding
that the security operatives have displayed their naivety by their actions.
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Parliament to debate
Sessional Address
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - As
Parliament prepares to debate the President's Sessional Address delivered to
the House, last Thursday, there have been varied and divergent reactions from
members depending on which part they belong.
As the Minority NDC maintains that the address
lacks initiative and focus, was uninspiring and provocative among others, those
from the majority side describe it as "excellent and full of vision."
Indications are that, it will be uncompromising, as members have already shown
signs of what to expect.
The Member for Bole Bamboi, John Mahama says
last Thursday's Sessional Address fails to spell out bold initiatives the
government is taking to deal with the numerous problems the President
mentioned. He said NPP government is stacked in what he called "opposition
syndrome."
Mahama who was a former minister for
Communications in the NDC regime said moments after the address that the
President only succeeded in going over once more, the problems of the country
which by now are well known to everybody. For him, what the president should be
doing now is to tell this country what bold initiatives he and his government
are putting in place to deal with the problems.
"We are looking for bold initiatives in
agriculture, in health, in education and in employment. These are the key areas
that the NPP made promises. But we don't see that in the speech," Hon.
Mahama said. He added that, "the NPP is stacked in what I call the
opposition syndrome, very good at outlining the problems, but forgetting that
they are in charge now and supposed to be solving the problems."
He said the address is full of intentions but
short of bold initiatives to solve the numerous problems.
First deputy Speaker, Freddie Blay describes the
address as "excellent" and disagrees with the assertion that it was
full of only promises and no initiatives. " I am surprised when anybody
says that it is still campaign promise." To him, the President has
outlines various projects that his government would be undertaking this year
and so it will be unfair for anybody to say that the address was just full of
promises. "Let's see for four years to come if nothing is done, then we
have to decide for ourselves, but as far as I am concerned, I am happy with
it," Blay told the Network Herald.
To the Second deputy Speaker, Ken Dzirasah, the
address lacked the spirit of reconciliation, was provocative and full of
inaccuracies. "Certain issues that he has raised were formulating into
some severe inaccuracies and I thought that if he was addressing the nation as
the President, he should have acknowledged what has taken place and indicated
what he intends doing. At a certain stage, some members from my side, were
inclined, if the rules of the House had permitted, of drawing the Speaker's
attention to the language he used and then asked that the Speaker brings him to
order." He added that, "that was the contemplation but of course the
rules do not permit that, if the President is addressing the nation, there must
be decorum."
Hon. Dzirasah said the President sought to
undermine what the previous government had done, adding that although he is
entitled to do that, it could have been done in a more descent language.
"I thought that some of the statements he made were very very provocative.
I am convinced that those statements were right to provoke a number issues by
way of reaction from our side of the House," Mr. Dzirasah, adding that
certainly, that will happen when the debate commences. - Network Herald - NCS
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Afrancho (Ashanti Region) 05 February 2002 -Sankofa International Incorporated, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the United States, has awarded 405 million cedis scholarship to three students of the Adum-Afrancho Junior Secondary School at Afrancho in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District of Ashanti.
They are Emelia Nyamaa, 16, Micheal Asamoah 17, and Beatrice Yeboah, 16. The fund, initiated by Mr Yaw Fobi, the Reverend Everette Hackney and Mr. Richard Willis, directors of the NGO, is aimed at ''converting rural African villages into model villages''.
Mr Fobi, a citizen of the town, who is also the brain-behind the NGO, appealed to all Ghanaians to set aside a portion of their resources to assist the campaign against the pandemic.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 05 February 2002 - A Tourism Consultant, Mr Debrah Bamfo-Boateng has advised hotel and restaurant operators in the Eastern Region to come together and select some local dishes for promotion to boast tourism.
He explained that the taste of the food and the way it would be served could make a tourist to travel back to the country to have a taste of that local dish or whet the appetite of a potential tourist, who had no plans of coming back to the country to add Ghana to the list of his or her future tour destinations.
Mr Bamfo-Boateng gave the advice in a lecture to members of the Eastern Regional Branch of Ghana Hoteliers Association at Koforidua at the weekend. He urged the participants to organise refresher and orientation courses for their staff to enable them to be abreast with modern trends in the hotel industry.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - The Ministry of Works and Housing on Monday formed a joint committee to give a report about the flood prone areas at Communities 19 and 20, near Lashibi in the Tema Municipality.
Mr Yaw Barimah, the Sector Minister, who formed the committee during a working visit to projects of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) directed that the report of the committee should be submitted to the Ministry within five days.
Membership of the committee is drawn from the TDC, Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) and the Hydraulic Department of the Ministry with the Chief Technical Adviser of Works at the Ministry as the convenor.
Mr Barimah said the potential for disaster within the area was obvious, therefore, the committee should be able to give the Ministry the idea and approximate cost to enable work to begin on the project before the rains set in.
The committee's report should also give the medium and long-term prescription. he Minister announced that there have been numerous reports from the Residents Association and the Member of Parliament, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidoo about the floods whenever it rained.
The Ghana News Agency says its in possession of a petition from 12 residents from
Community 20, Lashibi that complained about the floods in the area and an instance was given when it did not rain in the area, however, the rains in Accra led to a serious flooding and a family in one of the houses had to be rescued from their flooded house.
Drainage from the Aburi area runs into the Sakomono Lagoon, which is most of the time silted and the water rushes backward to flood Community 19 and Community 20.
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Bagbin warns of elective tyranny
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 -
Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin has criticised Volta River Authority (VRA) Board
of Directors' directive for the interdiction of two top men of the authority,
saying due process was not followed.
According to Bagbin, the reason given for the
interdiction of the two is not clear. He wonders why in this era of
"freedom of information" people could be interdicted for giving
information to the press. "We have not been told whether the information
allegedly leaked by the two men was classified," Bagbin said.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the
Minority NDC group in Parliament on one year of NPP rule, Bagbin warned of what
he called "elective tyranny," if the executive continues to take for
granted the goodwill they now enjoy.
The VRA Board of Directors earlier this week
directed its Chief Executive, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby to interdict the deputy
Chief Executive, Resources and Services, Mr. Eric Yankah and the Director of
Human Resources, Major John Gyasi (Rtd) with immediate effect.
MP for Bole and former Minister for
Communications, John Mahama condemned Dr. Wereko-Brobby's reasons for
converting part of the office into a shower, saying "there was no need for
the installation." The minority press conference took a critical look at
the one-year rule of the NPP government and said it was "unreliable and
disappointing."
According to the minority, any significant developments
or achievements within the one-year period of the stewardship of the NPP were
commissioning of projects that had been implemented by the NDC government.
"Examples are the Barry Calebaut Cocoa processing factory, the Crown Cork
factory which is an extension of the Camand Metal Box factory and the Tongu
Fruits Projects, etc, all of them being approved Freezone projects by the
NDC."
Unfortunately, the other key Freezone anchor
projects within the Tema Enclave seem to be suffering as a result of the
regime's rather ambivalent attitude towards investments from countries of the
South, Bagbin told the press conference.
According to the minority, since the advent of
the NPP to power, many mining companies have either folded up or withdrawn from
the country. Bagbin said government's imposition of a 5 per cent duty on mining
imports has increased the cost build-up of mining companies in the country per
ounce of gold, a situation which according to the minority is creating a more
difficult operating environment for the companies.
The minority says almost all the mining
companies in the country are closing down due to the difficult environment
created for them by the NPP government. "From 20 companies, we are likely
to have only three in operation." On transportation in the country, the
minority says nothing at all has been done. "Apart from the importation of
over-aged right-hand drive double decker buses for urban transportation,
nothing noteworthy can be said to have occurred in this area," Bagbin told
the press conference.
He said he is aware of moves by the sector
minister to amend the law on over-age vehicles to make it possible for the
government to import more over-age vehicles. In an answer to a question as to
what the minority will do about the illegal right-hand drive double-decker
vehicles, Bagbin said the nation must discuss and take a position as to whether
it wants the government to go ahead with the illegality or it wants to take
action. "It is not for the minority alone to proceed to court."
... And is warned by Interior Minister
Interior Minister Malek Al- Hassan Yakubu, MP,
last Wednesday threw down the gauntlet. He and NPP opinion leaders from the
Northern Region literally hijacked the conference room of the Information
ministry from an NGO, to set the records straight.
So what seemed like a well-choreographed script
ended with the minister, spelling out his new message to minority leader Albin
Bagbin.
Alhaji Malek Al-Hassan Yakubu explained to the
media in Accra that contrary to the minority leader's "disingenuous
efforts to create the false impression of a breakdown of law and order,
insecurity and persecution of political opponents in the country", the NPP
government is sincere about promoting a culture of decency, tolerance and maturity.
But while there was nobody from the other side
of the political divide to collaborate or otherwise what was been debunked, the
hall was told of how a BENCH 64, an NDC group that has earned enough notoriety
for its penchant for violence had sought to disturb the piece of the Tamale
Municipality by organising a noisy rally. At the rally Mr Bagbin was alleged to
have referred to the northern wing of cabinet as watchmen, a statement that had
offended the sensibilities of the constituents belonging to the NPP.
Virtually calling his actions dishonourable,
Alhaji Malek described Mr Bagbin as a politician with a foul agenda who could
" cook up a false story to give........a bad name." The minister
promised to institute investigations into the allegation of watchman calling
and other acts of provocation and recommend prosecution if necessary.
But he was quick to add that the politics of
impunity and brutality as seen in the past would not be seen again. - Network
Herald - NCS
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Korle Bu's Medical Block a death trap
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - The Authorities
at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have decided to evacuate the patients from
the hospital's main Medical Block. The block has fallen into a serious state of
disrepair and the hospital authorities fear that it poses a grave threat to
both patients and medical staff. Patients have often complained about the state
of Korle Bu's Medical Block. Their complaints have often yielded little or no
response from the administrators of the hospital.
But now, following complaints from senior
medical officers who regularly work in the block, the hospital authorities have
now decided to act. It has taken the hospital authorities quite some time to
realise that block is not fit for habitation by patients.
The building, looks like an old abandoned
structure from the outside. But it provided temporary shelter for hundreds of
patients until last Saturday when the hospital authorities decided to close it
down. The roof leaks, the mosquito nettings are torn and the cracks in the
walls have gone beyond simple fill-ups and the authorities say any attempts to
renovate the building will cost more than building a new block.
The building itself is surrounded by a number of
'keep off' signs warning about the danger of falling concrete or possible
collapse. Now with the decision to evacuate the block, no more patients will be
admitted into wards in the Medical block.
The closure of the medical block virtually
implies that Korle-Bu cannot accommodate patients with a whole range of
non-surgical cases. In the first few months of the closure of the medical
block, patients could be housed in other blocks at the Korle-Bu Hospital. The
danger here is that facilities in other areas will be put under severe strain.
The Head of the Department of Medicine, Dr
Neequaye says now is the time for the nation to realise that only patients
needing specialist attention should be sent to Korle Bu while the other minor
problems are sent to the various polyclinics and other health centres.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - Ghana
could be hit by energy crisis in the near future, because the country's
electricity supply is barely enough to meet demand.
According to available statistics, the total
demand for power is 1,290 megawatts while the total supply is 1,190 megawatts
making it impossible for the creation of any backup, Energy Minister, Albert
Kan Dapaah observed and said rainfall for last year was low.
Added to this is the fact that only 459 out of
the 550 megawatts of power generated from the Aboadze Thermal Plant got to the
Eastern corridor of the country due to poor transmission lines. Thirty per cent
of the power generated also got lost due to the inefficient use of energy by
Ghanaians. The 30 per cent of the end use waste is the total output of the
Kpong Power generation plant.
The Energy Minster noted that results from a
study conducted in Ghana showed that a 10 per cent savings in energy
consumption from room air conditioners could save residential consumers nearly
$8 million and reduce carbon emissions by 38,000 tonnes. - JOYONLINE
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday went to the 37 Military and Police hospitals to visit security men of his entourage, who were involved in a motor accident on the Accra-Aflao road last Saturday.
At the 37 Military Hospital, President Kufuor accompanied by Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State, General Joshua Hamidu, National Security Adviser and Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector General of Police, was met at the entrance of the male ward by Colonel Nii Aryetey, Commanding Officer.
President Kufuor interacted with Corporal Kingsford Fofie, who had both hands in Plaster of Paris (POP) and Mr George Amoafo, the driver of a Land Cruiser, which was involved in the accident that claimed two lives. He had his left hand in POP and a plastered head.
The President conversed with them and wished them speedy recovery. At the Police Hospital President Kufuor visited Detective Corporal Samuel Dwamena, who had a sprain on the right foot. Corporal Dwamena, looking hale and hearty, is to be discharged later in the day.
Two of the five occupants of the Toyota Land Cruiser died on arrival at the hospital. They were General Constable Two Maurice Afranie from Apatrapa in the Ashanti Region and General Constable Two Samuel Kingsley Kwao, popularly called "Possible", who hailed from Nkroful in the Western Region. The Presidential convoy was on its way to Accra after an official assignment at Agbozume in the Volta Region.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 February 2002 - Professor Edward Ofori-Sarpong of the Department of Geography and Resource Development and Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, has been elected the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon.
He polled 227 votes of the 416 votes cast by the professorial members of convocation for the appointment of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
A statement signed by three scrutinizers, Dr V. C. K. Kakane, Professor Docea Fianu and Mr M. A. Akoto and the Returning Officer, Mr A. T. Konu said the other contestants; Professor Seth Kofi Akyea Danso of the Department of Soil Science polled 154 votes while Professor Amoah Baah-Nuakoh from the Economics Department had 35.
Professor Ofori-Sarpong becomes the 14th Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University and replaces Professor Josef Amuzu, whose tenure of office ends on February 28. The Members of the Convocation were invited to cast their votes from Monday January 28 to Friday February 1.
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