TUC deplores arrest of labour leaders in Nigeria
INTERPOL seizes cocaine stashed in lawn
mower, one man arrested
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2002 - INTERPOL Ghana on Wednesday seized about 3.5 kilograms of cocaine stashed in a lawn mower imported from Venezuela.
A 41-year-old trader Kwesi Mensah, also known as Kwesi Ebo, has been arrested for the import of the drug, which was concealed in the engine of the mower from the South American country, a senior official of INTERPOL, Accra, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday.
Mr Kwaku Opare-Addo, Head of INTERPOL of the Police Service, said the drug was ompressed in a compartment of the engine that was removed and then welded to avoid detection.
He said following a tip-off, his outfit started monitoring a parcel brought into the country by Fedex, an international courier, at the AFGO warehouse at the airport. Mr Opare-Addo said with the co-operation of officials of Fedex, INTERPOL kept surveillance till Wednesday when Mensah came to clear the parcel and he was arrested.
He said while going through clearing formalities, INTERPOL intervened and asked custom officials to thoroughly search the parcel, which, they suspected, to contain narcotics.
Mr Opare-Addo said upon Police intervention the lawn mower, which was in a cardboard box, was opened. The Police detected that part of the motor had been welded.
When they broke that part, they found white powder compressed in it, which officials of the Narcotics Control Board confirmed was 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. The suspect claimed that a woman asked him to take delivery of the parcel and he was not aware that it contained the drug.
He volunteered to take the police to the woman but when he took them to Taifa, where he claimed the woman lived, he could not show them the house.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Sunyani (Bromg Ahafo) 18 January 2002 - A branch of the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service has been established in the Brong Ahafo Region with its offices located at the Regional Police Headquarters, Sunyani.
A statement issued and signed by Mr Alex Yartey Tawiah, Assistant Superintendent of Police, said it had become necessary to replicate WAJU in all the regions of the country to deal with cases affecting women and children, the disabled and the aged in the society.
This, he said was due to the increasing wave of crime of violence against women and children. The Unit is mandated to handle domestic violence, which include sexual offences of rape, indecent assault, female genital mutilation (FGM), economic deprivation through denial of living allowance and child labour, the statement said.
It, therefore, advised the general public to report cases relating to violent crimes against women and children in the region to the Unit for quick investigation and action.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Fumesua (Ashanti Region) 18 January 2002 - An Agriculturist has observed that the surest guarantee to ensure effective post harvest handling of vegetables to avoid waste was to design and apply technologies that were conducive to the local environment.
Mr Mervyn K. Pritchard, Director of School of Agriculture of the University of Manitoba, Canada, said the tendency of over-dependence on imported technologies for the preservation of vegetables after harvest, might not be the best since that technology might not be suitable for the Ghanaian environment.
Mr Pritchard made the observation when he delivered a paper on "Post Harvest Handling of Vegetables and other Horticultural Crops", at a day's seminar, organised by the Middle Zone Branch (Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions) of the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists (GIH) at Fumesua, near Kumasi.
The seminar was aimed at creating a platform for the discussion of proposals with the view to coming out with appropriate technologies to improve upon post harvest handling and marketing of vegetables, fruits, ornamentals and perishable crops produced in the country.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2002 - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) on Thursday said the improved cassava varieties being introduced to rural communities under the President's Special Initiative (PSI) for agribusiness is safe for human consumption.
The Ministry said the cassava is safe when boiled or processed into various cassava food items such as gari, agbelima (cassava dough), konkonte, baking flour and confectionery and starch.
Mr Akwasi Adjei Adjekum, National Programme Co-ordinator of the Root and Tuber Improvement Programme of MOFA, gave this assurance at a press briefing on the status of the implementation of the PSI in Accra on Thursday.
It was also in reaction to a publication in an Accra newspaper, Weekly Insight, of Wednesday, January 16, which claimed that: The special variety of cassava to be cultivated under the PSI may turn out to be a killer. Experts say that the new high yielding variety is far more toxic than existing varieties of cassava."
Mr Adjekum said all the three improved cassava varieties - Afisiafi, Abasa fitaa and Tekbankye being distributed under the PSI, were suitable for human consumption under any form of production. In addition Abasa fitaa and Tekbankye could be used for ampesi and fufu.
"It is untrue that the improved cassava varieties are extremely toxic and could kill a few hours after consumption as claimed by the newspaper."
Mr Adjekum said it was well documented that cassava consumption was associated with toxicity due to the crop's ability to produce cyanogenic compounds stored inside the cells, which could react with enzymes in the cell wall and capable of hydrolysing those compounds to produce cyanide. However, as a gas cyanide did not accumulate in the cassava plant.
He said due to the steps involved in the processing of cassava the accumulation of toxic levels of cyanide was not possible. "We wish to assure the public that the improved varieties of crops including those introduced into the country were subjected to intensive research and adapted to local conditions before being released to farmers and consumers," Mr Adjekum said.
The National Programme Co-ordinator said the improved cassava varieties being promoted under the PSI were released by MOFA in 1993 to farmers, who had recognised their potentials for high yields, resistance to pest and diseases and had been widely accepted by consumers.
"They are, therefore, suitable for human consumption and for processing into various food forms," he said. Concerning the problem associated with genetic modification of local cassava varieties by the new variety on a large scale, Mr Adjekum said cassava's propagation was vegetative planted with cuttings and not seeds.
"The tendency of genetic modification has no scientific basis and is untrue," he added.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Bawku (Upper East) 18 January 2002 - The Minister for Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor has stated that the government had no intention to set up military barracks in the Upper East Region because of the Bawku conflict.
He explained that the operation of military camps involved huge sums of money, which the government could not afford now, considering the economic base of the country.
Dr Addo Kufuor was reacting to a question at a Peoples' Assembly held in Bawku on the possibility of establishing a military camp in the town in view of the persistent clashes between the Kusasis and Mamprusis.
He explained that creating military barracks was not a solution to the Bawku conflict but the people's own desire to bring peace to themselves by sitting at a round table conference to bridge whatever differences that existed between them.
The Minister said if the government considered creating a military barracks in Bawku then, it would have to satisfy other conflict areas with similar provision, which he said the government could not afford.
He said setting up barracks was not a decision for him to take alone but a decision from the Armed Forces Council. He gave the assurance that he would take it up to the Council for consideration.
Bawku has been a conflict area since Independence. There had been numerous clashes between the Mamprusis and Kusasis with the most recent one in December 2001 claiming the life of about 60 people. The Police and the Military have been deployed to area.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor leaves Accra to Freetown, Sierra Leone on Friday to attend a ceremony which marks the completion of the Disarmament Process in that country.
The one-day official visit is the first by President Kufuor outside the country this year. Progress in the disarmament was accomplished with the implementation of the agreement on peace and cessation of hostilities concluded on November 10, last year between the Sierra Leonean parties in the conflict on the initiative of ECOWAS.
A historic meeting was held earlier at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja on March 2, last year, during which important decisions were taken and a plan of action adopted for the effective resumption of the disarmament and demobilisation exercise.
Representatives of the UN, OAU, the Sierra Leonean government, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the ECOWAS Committee on Sierra Leone attended the meeting.
In compliance with the decisions taken at the meeting, the RUF immediately undertook to withdraw from the areas it formally held, particularly at the borders with Guinea where armed attacks were regularly launched against the Guinean population.
Ten out of the 12 districts formerly held by the RUF have been handed over to the government after the disarmament of the combatants of both the RUF and the mainly civil defence forces known as the Kamajors.
A total of 38,871 combatants had been disarmed by the end of last year, of these 11,290 were RUF, 22,681 were civil defence forces and 384 were in other formations and 3,566 of the combatants disarmed were child soldiers.
The ECOWAS Ministers of Foreign Affairs at their 48th meeting held in Dakar, Senegal last December commended the UN for its contributions to the peace process.
They, however, expressed concern about the difficulties being encountered in mobilising the funds needed to reintegrate ex-combatants, facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons and organise elections scheduled for March.
Sierra Leone, which had independence from Britain in 1961, had since 1991 been embroiled when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels led by Corporal Foday Sankoh took up arms.
The crisis continued until elections were held in 1996 and Ahmed Tejan Kabbah became the President, he was in power for 10 months when a military junta led by Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Paul Koroma overthrew the government and formed the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on May 25, 1997.
Through the efforts of ECOMOG, President Kabbah was restored in power but the hostilities continued, which led to the historic March 2, 2001 meeting that intensified the peace process in Sierra Leone.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2002 - The outgoing Ethiopian Ambassador, Dr Koang Tutlam Dung on Thursday urged Ghana to brave the odds and restore her economy, especially the value of the cedi to the desired level.
Ghana has the potential to become the beacon of Africa if her economy was put on the right pedestal, Dr Dung told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at a farewell luncheon organised for him by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
Ministers of State, MPs and members of the diplomatic corps attended the luncheon that was conspicuously an all-men affair. "I am leaving with excellent memories of this great nation, Ghana, which I hope will do better if more efforts are put into mending the economy," said Dr Dung, who had served five years.
Responding to a farewell toast earlier, the outgoing diplomat expressed the hope that his successor would take note of President John Agyekum Kufuor's positive strides to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
He traced relations between his country and Ghana saying there existed "blood" relations and this the two countries could work on to establish a better economic co-operation.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid tribute to the outgoing Ambassador, saying the existing cordial relations between the two countries reflected his excellent performance.
He asked Dr Dung, who is to be reassigned in Addis Ababa, to assist Ghana to obtain a land for the building of a permanent Mission there.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2002 - Dr Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), would be given a state burial and all flags would fly at half-mast on that day in his honour, President John Agyekum Kufuor announced on Thursday when a six-member delegation from the bereaved family informed the government of his death at the Castle, Osu.
He said the nation owed Dr Ako-Adjei gratitude as a hero, who served the country as a young man, for democratic rule in future. President Kufuor said as one of the Big Six in Ghana's political history, the death of Dr Ako-Adjei marked the end of the first cycle of history in terms of ''the harsh political atmosphere in the country at that time. But the memory of that era cannot be erased''.
"They launched a political party system of which the government is a beneficiary. Ghanaians benefiting from this great legacy and achievement owe it a duty to rally behind the bereaved family to offer Dr Ako-Adjei a fitting state burial".
Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said the death of Dr Ako-Adjei had marked the end of the era of the founding fathers of the nation and Ghanaians were now left on their own to survive.
He said in reality, the vision that energised them to ensure free democratic rule now prevailed in the country, adding "they did a great deal of work for our country and he is one of the heroes of this country".
Mr Jake O. Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, said the chapter on the era of the Big Six had not been erased with the death of Dr Ako-Adjei because their experiences were available for future generations.
"There were a lot of other Ghanaians with the Big Six, who championed the cause of democracy. If you do your best for your country, you would be remembered, " he added.
Mrs Julia Sarkodie-Mensah, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Ghana in Botswana and niece to the deceased, who led the delegation, said no date had been fixed for his burial and presented a carton of schnapps as customary drinks to the government.
The late Dr Ako-Adjei, 90, a veteran journalist and a lawyer, died in Accra last Monday, January 14.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Atibie (Eastern Region) 10 January 2002 - Kwahu citizens resident in the United States of America and Canada have presented 42 boxes of bed sheets and blankets worth 90 million cedis to the Kwahu Government Hospital at Atibie. They have also spent 294 million cedis to rehabilitate the Gynaecology Ward of the hospital.
Presenting the items, the Secretary General of the United Kwahuman Association of USA and Canada, Mr Stephen Somuah said the assistance was meant to improve the health needs of the people at home and, therefore, urged the hospital authorities to ensure the effective use of the items.
He said they had been donating health equipment and other items to all health institutions in the district for the past four years. Mr Somuah said they were spending 420 million cedis to re-roof 10 classroom blocks in the district for basic schools to promote effective teaching and learning.
Mr Michael Assuman, President of New York branch of the association, urged resident citizens to advice their relatives abroad to join the various Kwahu citizens associations to enable them contribute towards development activities at home.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 January 2002 - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, on Thursday called for more regular interaction between the First Ladies of Ghana and Nigeria, saying this would help facilitate good governance by their husbands.
Otumfuo made the call when Mrs Stella Obasanjo, wife of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace as part of her one-week visit to Ghana at the invitation of Mrs Theresa Kufuor, Ghana's First Lady.
He said he regarded the visit as a step towards promoting the welfare of women in the two countries, adding that the co-operation between the two First Ladies lent credence to the popular saying that "Behind every successful man there is a woman".
Otumfuo expressed the hope that the two of them, if they came together, could do a lot not only for their countries but also the entire West Africa sub-region.
He exhorted the First Ladies to contribute towards helping the handicapped, adding: "Should you succeed, posterity will surely judge your contributions." The Asantehene expressed his appreciation to Mrs Obasanjo for the visit.
Mrs Obasanjo said even though her visit was a private one, she could not have come to Ghana without calling on the Asantehene. "You cannot drive past a King's palace without stopping to pay homage," she said, quoting a popular Nigerian proverb.
She asked for God's blessings and a long and peaceful reign for the Asantehene and also expressed her condolences to him over the loss of his father.
Earlier, the Nigerian First Lady had visited Lake Bosomtwe at Abono in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 January 2002 - The Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday condemned the arrest and detention of the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and called for their immediate and unconditional release.
"We appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take immediate steps to meet the leaders of the NLC for an amicable resolution of the impasse," it said.
These were contained in a statement issued in Accra by the TUC in protest against the arrest and detention of the President of the NLC, Adams Oshiomhole and other labour leaders, who organised a mass demonstration against an 18 per cent increase in fuel prices.
"We consider the Nigerian government's action not only arbitrary and harsh, but an attempt to criminalise genuine expression of discontent against a government's decision.
"It is also a calculated attempt to silence and domesticate the Nigeria Trades Union Movement, whose leaders were simply expressing the genuine grievances and sentiments of their mass membership."
The TUC, therefore, drew the attention of the Nigerian government to elements that could destroy the democratic gains saying "...such high-handed measures only drive dissent underground where it can be fed by anti-democratic elements who are opposed to Nigeria's new democratic experiment in particular.
"In this new age of democratisation and respect for human rights, such action coming from the government of Nigeria does very little credit to the new Africa our people are striving to build," the statement added.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com