Kufuor marks first anniversary with a People's Assembly
Kufuor talks about positive gains under his administration
Bawku West Presiding Member defects to NPP
Fireworks mark NPP anniversary
Victims of Bawku conflict receive roofing sheets
Audit Service wants for information on ghost names
President Kufuor interacts with a section of Ghanaians at a cocktail
NPP MP urge opponents to recognise gains by government
NDC says would recapture all seats lost to NPP in Ashanti
Use of official vehicles for party activities wont be allowed -Kufuor
Over 6,000 women involved in farming to get
assistance
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday celebrated his one-year in office promising Ghanaians that he would pursue strict and well-calculated priority projects this year to improve their lot.
The government policies and programmes were moving in the right direction to facilitate a holistic approach to national development "and this year will mark the real beginning of the creation of wealth."
President Kufuor was speaking at a special People's Assembly organised as part of activities marking the first year of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) administration and the ninth year of the Fourth Republic.
The theme of the Assembly replicated in the regions was: "Positive change, a good beginning." Ministers of State, diplomats, heads of the security agencies and the public attended.
President Kufuor said his government would streamline the machinery of the government to ensure efficiency. "The task ahead is huge but I have the confidence we will succeed." He urged Ghanaians to adopt new work ethics and be ready to sacrifice to streamline the economy.
President Kufuor said the state was unable to raise adequate revenue to balance the budget last year and expressed appreciation to the people for their goodwill and understanding. "I count on you for your continued support and encouragement to carry us through the difficult times ahead."
He said he undertook numerous international trips to seek assistance to revamp the economy. "Each trip had been for a worthy specific purpose and of economic advantage."
President Kufuor announced plans to provide the security agencies with the needed logistics support beginning with the Police, which would receive a number of vehicles to enhance their general preparedness to combat crime.
He said the Army was enjoying high reputation internationally as a result of improved conditions of service, motivation and professionalism. He said the relationship between the civilian population and the Military had also improved under his administration.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - Confident looking President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday addressed a Peoples Assembly in Accra where he rated his one-year in office as "far better than a pass mark" and asked the citizenry to evaluate the gains made so far.
"We have stabilised the economy and restored the confidence in the currency..........I don't see many failures though I see a lot of room for improvement", the President told a public forum making the ninth year of the Fourth Republic and one year of New Patriotic Party's (NPP) rule dubbed: "One year of positive change."
The Assembly, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, was on the theme: "Positive change, a good beginning." It was attended by a large number of people including Ministers of State, the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of the security agencies and the public.
President Kufuor gave an overview of his administration and in an answer to a question said: "We have been able to reduce inflation from over 40 to 23 per cent whilst the interest rates of the banks have been reduced from 50 per cent to 34 per cent."
He said the serial killings of women was one of the major concerns of the security agencies and it had ceased due to the support the government gave to the Police in collaboration with some external security organisations.
President Kufuor said accountability was being enforced to ensure the rule of law and good governance. He said he would pursue a vigorous agricultural production drive this year and gave the assurance to a questioner that this year's budget statement would come out with specific development vision.
President Kufuor said in a response to a question by the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr Kwasi Adu Amankwah about the privatisation of the water sector that the government alone could not provide potable water to the people hence the need to access foreign investment to promote general efficiency in service delivery.
"It is not a sell out to people, who are out to exploit the country. No!" he explained. President Kufuor said the government's "Golden Age of Business" programme could not succeed without the active participation of labour, hence the need to create the enabling condition for their active participation in business growth.
He said his major priority was to build a corporate Ghana that would have the support of everybody. President Kufuor said although foreign business capital was necessary for the development of the nation this would not be allowed to discourage local initiative. "We are rather seeking foreign investment to promote medium and small-scale industries.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 08 January 2002 - A Koforidua-based legal practitioner, Nana Addo-Aikins has appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor to refer the National Reconciliation Commission Bill back to Parliament for a consensus decision to be taken on it before his Presidential Assent.
In a press release he referred to the boycott of the Bill by the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentarians at the voting stage in Parliament and described the situation as "constituting a serious constitutional hazard for which a special Presidential directive is needed to solve."
He noted that the prevailing situation, which called for a second look at the Bill, in its present form, "could go out of hand if it is not given the serious and quick attention it deserves."
Nana Addo-Aikins, a former Public Tribunal Chairman under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime, therefore, urged the President to "see the seriousness of the matter, invoke his Constitutional powers under Article 106 (7, 8a) of the Constitution and refer the Bill back to Parliament for reconsideration, bearing in mind the urgent need for Parliamentary and public consensus."
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Binaba (Upper East) 08 January 2002 - The Presiding Member of the Bawku West
District Assembly, Mr Anthony Aboku, at the weekend announced his defection from the NDC to NPP
Mr Aboku made the announcement at an NPP rally organised by the Bawku West constituency branch at Binaba. His decision to join the NPP, he said, stemmed from the fact that the good performance of the government in its one year in office was a clear indication that it could deliver as it had promised.
The Presiding Member said it was also to affirm his support for the District Chief Executive and to ensure that together they bring the needed development to the area. He urged the people to rally behind the DCE, Mr Moses Appiah and vote massively for the NPP in the next election.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 08 January 2002 - The Central Regional Co-ordinating Council on Sunday organised fireworks to mark the first anniversary of "Positive Change" of New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and the ninth anniversary celebration of the Fourth Republic at the Victoria Park at Cape Coast.
The function, which was well attended, came to an abrupt end at about 2200 hours following a downpour. Earlier some of the party members in a jubilant mood danced to music provided by Super Cas Sounds.
Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister, Mr Munuru Arafat Nuhu, Cape Coast Municipal Chief Executive and party functionaries attended.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 08 January 2002- The Islamic Council for Development and
Humanitarian Services has presented 10 packets of roofing sheets worth five million cedis to victims of the Bawku ethnic conflict.
Alhaji Tahiru Seidu, the Council's Regional Representative and Deputy Chief Imam of Bolgatanga presented the items to the Upper East Regional Minister Mr Mahami Salifu. Mr Salifu said the donation would go a long way to relieve the sufferings of the people.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - The Auditor-General on Monday requested the public to voluntarily provide information to the Audit Service to make the on- going exercise to rid government payrolls of ghost names a success.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Kwesi Okyere, Public Relations Officer, called on all persons with valuable information to contact the Auditor General in person at his office at the Ministries.
The statement said the service was prepared to refund transport and incidental expenses incurred by informants.
The statement gave the following telephone numbers as contact lines for anybody with some information to call 664928, 666616, 662031, 663538 or fax numbers 675496 and 662493.
The head count of staff of government establishments began in December last year when the Ministry of Finance revealed that government loses over 300 billion cedis yearly in servicing ghost payrolls.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor accompanied by his wife Theresa, Vice President Aliu Mahama and his wife Ramatu interacted with a cross-section of Ghanaians at a cocktail held at the forecourt of the State House to climax activities marking the ninth anniversary celebrations of the
Fourth Republic.
President Kufuor shook hands and chat freely with the people that included members of the Diplomatic Corps, politicians, chiefs, Parliamentarians, Ministers of State and other functionaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
At the cocktail was Dr Edward Mahama, Presidential candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Professor George Panyin Hagan, Presidential Candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Commission on Culture (NCC). The Central Police Band provided music.
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Asanso-Patase (Ashanti Region) 08 January 2002 - Mr Kofi Poku-Adusei, Member of
Parliament (MP) for Bekwai, has called on political opponents of the government to be humble enough to give credit and recognise the significant economic gains it had made within the past one year.
It was time politicians do away with the tradition of refusing to see anything good about their opponents to give a new image and face to politics in the country, Mr Poku-Adusei told separate durbars of chiefs and people of Asanso-Patase, Daa and Nerebehi as part of a tour to interact with his constituents.
The MP described as "Amazing" what he said were the persistent attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its functionaries to trivialise and down play the creditable performance of the President John Agyekum Kufuor's administration.
He told the people that the government would remain on total focus and not be distracted by the diversionary tactics of its opponents.
He asked them to have faith and confidence in the government and to continue to show understanding and support for its policies and programmes.
Mr Poku-Adusei repeated the assurance that they would be no discrimination and asked the people to organise themselves into co-operatives to enable them to benefit from loan schemes to expand their productive ventures.
At Nerebehi, where the MP commissioned a hand-dug well fitted with hand pumps constructed by the people, he praised them for their spirit of self-help.
He noted that it was only when they took the initiative to improve on their living conditions themselves that they could expect support from both the government and the district assembly.
Mr Poku-Adusei appealed to people from the area resident outside to identify themselves with development programmes at home.
The Chief of the town Nana Adu Broni praised the MP for his frequent visits to keep the people adequately informed on all government policies and programmes.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 08 January 2002 - Mr Emmanuel Nti-Fordjour, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had vowed to lead the party to recapture all parliamentary seats it lost to New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2004 general election.
"We make an impressive showing in Ashanti that has traditionally remained the stronghold of the NPP", he told a get-together held for a cross section of NDC functionaries in the region in Kumasi.
Present were the newly elected Regional Executive, past executive members and the Re-organisation Committee.
Mr Nti-Fordjour told them that the challenges facing the party were enormous and asked for hard work, loyalty and dedication from the members and supporters. "This is the time for every genuine member or supporter of the NDC to stand up to be counted."
Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, a former Minister of State and a leading member of the NDC, called for internal peace and harmony in the party.
He said all should swallow personal egos and pride for the good of the party, pointing out that it could not afford to allow its front to be weakened by internal wrangling and petty squabbles.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 08 January 2002 - The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has commended the government for instituting effective security measures to prevent any possible destabilisation of the country.
The National Chairman of the party, Dr Abubakr Alhassan, who made the commendation in Koforidua, said President Kufuor's visits to neighbouring countries immediately after taking over power, had ensured co-operation among the various security forces along the country's borders that had led to the arrest of cross- border criminals and stopped saboteurs.
Dr Alhassan was giving an assessment of the NPP’s one year in office at a meeting with members and supporters of CPP during which a programme of action for the party in the year were also discussed and approved.
He also commended the government for ensuring internal peace and security, which he noted, had defused the fears and anxiety generated in the country during and immediately after the 2000 elections.
Dr Alhassan, however, expressed dismay about some of the policies instituted by the government so far and criticised the decision to join the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, saying; "relying on HIPC for the positive change will be an illusion".
He called for the reintroduction of subsidies on agricultural inputs to enable the government to realise its dream of attracting more youth into farming and also establishing trade schools in all the district capitals for the youth to get employable skills.
Dr Alhassan further called on the government to introduce rural housing schemes as a means of providing decent accommodation for the people and also creating jobs.
Dr Alhassan said the CPP abhorred the situation where few rich people were able to attain higher education and reiterated the party's call on the government to make education free and compulsory for all categories of people.
He urged the government to state its position on the "Cash and Carry" system, which it promised to abolish during the electioneering campaign.
Dr Alhassan advised the CPP activists to exercise restraint to enable the negotiators of the unity talks to finish their work well before any pronouncements were made.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday said the government would ensure that officials use their private and party vehicles for activities of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said failure by government officials to distinguish between state and party functions with regard to the use of official vehicles would lead to unjustifiable expenditure on the Consolidated Fund.
"It smacks of corruption, it is not a practice we want to encourage. We want some transparency on the part of government expenditure and for government to function efficiently", President Kufuor said in an answer to a question on the use of official vehicles at party functions at the People's Assembly held as part of activities marking the ninth anniversary celebration of the Fourth Republic in Accra on Monday.
The theme for the assembly was: "Positive Change, A Good Beginning." He, therefore, appealed to government officials to make clear distinction between the use of their vehicles for state and party functions. Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama called for a national debate on indiscipline in the Ghanaian society.
He deplored mob action in some mining towns especially in the Western Region leading to destruction of life and property saying that this affected the government's investments policy negatively.
"When we allow such indiscipline to continue, especially in major mining areas, what signals are we sending to potential investors, who want to take advantage of the prevailing economic conditions to invest?"
Alhaji Mahama said the government had created the environment for the creation of job opportunities. Therefore, civil society, chiefs and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) should involve themselves in finding solution to issues that led to disorder.
The Vice President Aliu said it was unfair to accuse people wrongly and called for an end to unjust accusations against government officials.
"Let us not create a situation where good and honest people would refuse to go into politics," he added. Before the commencement of proceedings, a minute silence was observed for those who died in the past year including politicians, statesmen and the victims of the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium Disaster.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, said the assembly was organised to make the government transparent and accountable to the people.
He said it would help improve co-operation between the government and the people to remove any misgivings on government policies and programmes.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs is to assist 6,000 women in six regions with 3 billion cedis in February to go into maize and cassava cultivation.
The regions are Central, Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, Western and Brong Ahafo. Mrs Gladys Asmah, the sector minister said in an answer to a question on how women were benefiting from the 21 billion cedis Women's Development Fund at the People's Assembly held in Accra on Monday.
Other women farmers in the Volta, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions would benefit from the Fund when their farming season begins in May.
Mrs Asmah said the Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana (BOG), was working on the modalities for the disbursement of 500,000 cedis to each beneficiary to be repaid after the farming season.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 08 January 2002 - District Assembly elections would be held in June and July this year, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development announced in Kumasi on Sunday.
Addressing a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Regional Rally to climax the activities for the celebration of the first anniversary of the NPP's Administration, he said the various structures of the district assemblies - unit committees; town and area councils would be strengthened to ensure the smooth implementation of the decentralisation programme.
Mr Baah-Wiredu announced that the government disbursed a total of 188 billion cedis to the district assemblies last year as against 80 billion cedis disbursed in 2000.
He called on Ghanaians to work hard to consolidate the gains made so far to improve upon their living conditions and gave the assurance that those who worked hard would be assisted but said the lazy ones would not benefit from the various packages initiated by the government towards poverty alleviation.
Mr Baah-Wiredu warned against the setting of bush fires and the pollution of streams and water bodies with the aim of catching fish pointing out that if people continued to burn the bush to destroy the environment, there would surely be shortage of food.
Mr James Adusei-Sarkodie, Member of Parliament for Atwima-Nwabiagya, called on Ghanaians to be patient with the government to deliver on its promises but cautioned that if people rushed the government into taking ad-hoc measures to resolve problems that needed proper planning and implementation, it would be the nation that would suffer.
Mr Adusei-Sarkodie said very soon there would be real change, especially in the field of education and gave the assurance that when that happened, teachers who were the backbone of producing the nation's manpower requirement would have their fair share.
He expressed regret that teachers had become the scorn of society and called for a change in attitude to encourage them to give of their best.
Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports, reiterated the determination of the Ministry to shift emphasis which was put on sports alone and football in particular to the detriment of Youth and said both youth and sports would be given equal treatment.
He pledged to lead the senior national team the Black Stars to the CAN 2002, which would take off in Mali this month to bring home the African Cup, which had eluded the country for some years now.
Mr Kwasi Akomea-Kyerematen, Member of Parliament for Afigya-Sekyere East and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select-Committee on Health, told Ghanaians that the government needed every able-bodied Ghanaian to vote in the 2004 elections and should, therefore, guard against contracting the HIV/AIDS disease.
He explained that the Cash and Carry system was still operating because government was taking its time to plan and put in place the Health Insurance Scheme so that when it took off it would operate smoothly without any serious hitches.
Mr S. K. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister told residents of the Metropolis that this year was going to see the real rule of law and, therefore, warned traders and other people who used the pavements in the metropolis to stop it forthwith since they would be arrested and prosecuted.
He asked them to make use of the markets at Asafo, Atonsu, Bantama, Amakom, New Tafo (Krofofrom) and the Race Course.
Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, told the supporters of the party that there was hope for this country saying that the first year of the rule of the NPP, was used to prepare the ground for the take-off adding that this year would see the real takeoff.
Other speakers included Dr Alex Antwi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Atwima-Kwanwoma, Mr Fred Fredua Anto, and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP and Constituency Chairmen of the NPP.
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Accra
wakes up to assessing damage caused by flush-floods.
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 January 2002 - Residents of the Accra
Metropolis Monday morning woke-up to assess the damage caused by the over
three-hour rains which left in its trail, floods in some parts of the City
Center of Accra. Incidents of floods were reported in parts of Madina,
Palm-Wine Junction near La and the Kwame-Nkrumah Circle Area.
Portions
of the Spintex road which links Accra with the Light Industrial Area as well as
other new real estates developments were reported to have been inundated with
rain flood water. Some drivers were also trapped in their vehicles because of
the Flush-Floods.
Last
nights rains once again highlight the need for the city Planners to expand the
City drainage system to do more to stop the construction of houses in
designated waterr ways. Meanwhile the Meteorological Services Department warns
that in the next 24 hours, the Coastal stretch from Accra to Ada will
experience some rainfall.
The
forecast says rainfall will further be experienced along the Western-Coast from
Western Coast from Winneba and the Cape-Coast through to Axim.. Parts of the
Eastern Region, and Asokore especially the Kwahu and Asokore as well as Kumasi
in the Ashanti region will also experience some amount of rainfall. –Joy
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