More children suffer second-hand smoking
Customs adopts code of conduct
NPP organises course for polling assistants
Cigarette company says smoking is a choice
District co-ordinating Director denies involvement in malfeasance
Yankey, Ato Dadzie back to Fast Track Court
Three farmers remanded for murder
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- Over 300,000 children suffer from bronchitis and pneumonia every year worldwide through smoke they inhale from cigarette otherwise known as second-hand smoking. Such children, health officials said, are likely to get colds, allergies, asthma and ear infections.
Dr James Teprey, Programme Manager of the Non-Communicable Disease Control
Programme of the Ministry of Health, said in an interview that second-hand smoking contains dangerous chemicals like cyanide carbon monoxide, ammonia and formaldehyde that could cause cancer of the nasal cavity, cervix bladder, breast and other non-communicable diseases.
He said smoking is the second highest killer next to HIV/AIDS and it is estimated would kill 8.4 million people by the year 2020 if measures were not taken to control cigarette use.
In Ghana, though data of tobacco usage was scanty, research conducted in 2000 by the health research unit of the Ministry of Health showed that 19.5 percent use tobacco products. The research, Dr Teprey said, indicated that 14.3 percent of Junior Secondary School students have smoked cigarettes.
He blamed the British American Tobacco Company for not adhering to the laws of the country that mandate them not to advertise their products in the media. Dr Teprey said the national steering committee would ensure that control programmes were put in place.
Officials of the British American Tobacco Company (BAT) on the contrary, have challenged the Ministry of Health to produce the law that the company has been accused of flouting.
"We might be flouting a law which we do not know of and we will be grateful if MOH can point out that law to us", said Mr Kofi Selby, Marketing, Corporate and Regulating Affairs Director of BAT.
He said to the best knowledge of the company, there was no legislation that bans direct advertisement of tobacco products in the media (Television and Radio).
" What we know was a directive a former Health Minister Commodore Steve Obimpeh gave that bans smoking in public places and health institutions".
Sources close to the Attorney-Generals Department also confirmed that there was no law banning tobacco advertisement in the media.
"There was a proposal during the PNDC era but it never materialised and therefore, never became law", the source said. BAT has been accused by health professionals of flouting the country's law against public advertisement in the media.
Mr Selby said the company had stopped sponsoring beauty contests and are rather contributing their quota to the development of education.
The company is investing an average of 300 million cedis a year as scholarships for 86 beneficiaries at the various educational institutions and honour best students in the universities.
He said the company has been giving out scholarships to bright and needy students in the universities and payments were made directly to the authorities.
Mr Selby noted that the company does not advertise its products in the media, use celebrities nor successful personalities to advertise.
He said the company was aware of the health hazards smoking poses to people and their target was the adult population, adding, "we have campaign programme that seeks to educate the youth against smoking".
According to Mr Selby, a research conducted by the company showed that 2.6 per cent of the adult population in the country smoke cigarette.
He expressed the company's concern for not involving them in the national steering committee against tobacco. "Such a committee should have had representatives from all sectors concerned but that was not the case".
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Prestea (Western Region) 26 January 2002- Workers of Prestea Gold Resources Limited (PGR), a mining company, have since last Monday embarked on a sit-down strike over delays in payment of their four-month salary arrears.
Prior to the strike action, a group calling itself Concerned Workers of PGR issued a letter accusing their management of financial malpractices.
The letter, which was signed by Raphael Boham, Oveh Anthony, Kusi Anthony, Adam Karem, Kofi Atobaa, Elijah Gannan and Morrison Adrill, called for the removal of Mr. Robert Cole as Chairman of the Board of Directors of PGR and General Secretary of the Mine Workers Union.
They demanded, among other things, the dissolution of the Board of Directors of PGR because "it is made up of National Democratic Congress (NDC) cohorts".
They also accused the local Workers Union leaders of teaming up with management to intimidate workers. Mr. Jerome Essilfie, Mines Manager, in reaction, denied any financial malpractices by PGR management. He, however, admitted that PGR was facing financial crisis and arrangements had been made to solve the problem.
Mr Essilfie said PGR, in addition to other arrangements to acquire inputs, intends to negotiate with the Precious Minerals Company (PMC) to pre-finance its operations.
He said the workers were aware of this and the sudden sit-down strike action they had embarked upon was, therefore, a surprise to the management of PGR.
Mr. Essilfie said in September, 2001, PGR experienced shortage of inputs resulting in low production and therefore could not pay the workers.
Again, he said a repair work was done on one of the shafts, which developed a fault.
Because of these, Mr. Essilfie said, workers stayed at home without working until January 7, 2002, when production resumed.
"There are between 12,000 and 15,000 tons of broken ore underground which need to be hoisted but because of the strike action, it has remained underground."
Mr. Essilfie said a few of the workers speculated alleged financial malpractices against management, saying that PGR was being sold to Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) and that their four months' salary arrears would not be paid.
He said a section of workers who went to work on that fateful Monday were prevented from going underground by a section of the workers.
He said management, realising the dangers involved, decided to protect life and property and, therefore, called for the intervention of security personnel.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- Mr Rawbil Mutawakil and Mr Mohammed Abdul Malik Cheno, who were allegedly assaulted by New Patriotic Party (NPP) members at the People's Assembly in Tamale on January 8 said they still lived in fear.
"We are still afraid. They did it and they can do it again", Mr Mutawakil told Journalists in Accra on Friday. They were paraded at a press conference organised at Parliament by the Minority to press home the assault charge levelled by Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader.
According to Mr Mutawakil, members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were being harassed constantly. "When we report such cases to the police, nothing happens so we did not even bother to report this case. We are being threatened most of the time"
They said for the fear of being attacked in the night, they no longer pass the night in their houses but at undisclosed places. The two men, who claimed to be staunch members of the NDC in Tamale were the bone of contention between Mr Bagbin and Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior at the Parliamentary public forum in Accra. Mr Bagbin had told the forum that two men were assaulted in Tamale, which Alhaji Yabuku denied.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 January 2002- The District Lotto Operators Association has described the stand taken by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs Grace Coleman to ensure that the national interest in the gambling and game business was not sacrificed for that of the individual as harsh.
The Association said it was shocked to hear that her relentless crusade to abolish private lotto operations in the country had received Cabinet approval.
These were contained in a statement signed by the National President of the Association, Mr Dominic Anoma and issued in Kumasi on Friday.
It said the "Rush by the Minister to abolish private lotto operation will not help the nation", adding that, over two million people would loose their jobs.
The statement said the decision would rather make private lotto operators to operate illegally in the country. It questioned the sincerity of the government's call for private participation in nation building and called on the Minister to re-think and draw up programmes to bring private lotto operators in focus.
The statement suggested the establishment of an appropriate office to enable private lotto operators to register with the Department of National Lotteries (DNL) so that the Department would organise three draws a week for them and appropriate taxes collected to fill loopholes in the national treasury.
It also suggested that, the assets and liabilities of private lotto operators should be absorbed by the DNL and to allow their workers to work under it. The statement urged Parliament to examine the issue critically before taking a firm decision on the issue.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Friday launched its code of conduct as part of efforts to stem negative practices in the Service.
The launch of the 13-article code of conduct coincided with a flag-raising ceremony as part of activities marking this year's International Customs Day and the 50th anniversary of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Accra.
The theme for the day that falls on January 26 is "Customs Integrity Day."
Mr Isaac Opoku-Ntiamoah, Commissioner, said customs services all over the world have been tasked to put in place measures to increase the integrity of the various services and their personnel.
"In Ghana, we have quickly put in place a code to guide the conduct of officers in the performance of their duties as part of our effort to stem negative practices in the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service."
Articles in the code highlight broadly the personal responsibility of officers, compliance with the law, relations with the public, acceptance of gifts, rewards, hospitality and discounts, avoiding conflict of interest and political activities by officers.
It also spells out officers conduct in money matters, confidentiality and the use of official information, the use of official property and services, private purchase of government property, work environment, hours of work and the declaration of assets.
Mr Opoku-Ntiamoah said the concerns of the WCO and its members as far as performance was concerned had been varied. These range from Customs clearance procedures, narcotic drug trafficking, money laundering; relations with importers, exporters, travellers, corruption and efficient service delivery among other things.
It was in view of these that the CEPS had launched the code of conduct that included additional measures like the scheme of service, improved operational practices, sanctions for errant behaviour to make rendering of services more transparent and human-centred, Mr Opoku-Ntiamoah said.
He gave the assurance that CEPS management would do everything possible to make operations more efficient, more effective on the ground and more open.
A senior officer of CEPS, who spoke to the GNA lauded the code and said there was the need for officers to be guided by rules to make their operations professional.
The officer said prior to the launch of the code, officers were guided by conditions of service saying; "This is positive for all of us and will go a long way to enhance our image.
"If you work in an institution like this and you are not aware of how to conduct yourself, you will do things anyhow but when you are guided by documented principles, you are cautious not to breach the law."
Mrs Grace Coleman, a Deputy Minister of Finance, who launched the code, said the theme for the Day was appropriate and would help the Service to initiate the right measures to correct its problems.
She said the CEPS in Ghana was confronted with numerous complaints of collusion, misapplication of tax laws that led to over taxing, excessive delays in handling imports and aggressiveness in dealing with travellers.
The Deputy Minister welcomed the introduction of the code saying; "this instrument and other measures are to ensure that officials of CEPS complement government's efforts at eradicating fraud and instil discipline in tax administration."
Mrs Coleman said the code would serve as a challenge and ensure strict compliance for both management and staff to achieve good results in maximising collection and uplift the image of the Service.
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Ghana committed to peace in the Sub-region
- Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday said Ghana was committed to playing an active role in ensuring peace in the West African Sub-region.
"It is in our interest that we are not only at peace with our neighbouring countries, but that there should be peace in those countries as well," he added.
President Kufuor said this at a reception for the Diplomatic Corps at the Castle, Osu.
Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Representatives of United Nations Specialised Agencies and other International organisations accredited to Ghana, were introduced to President Kufuor who interacted with them.
He noted that, all eyes were on Ghana last year after the successful change in government through peaceful elections, which encouraged the government to deepen democracy and the rule of law.
The government, he said, had conducted its international relations in a manner that attracted support to its policies and programmes aimed at improving the welfare and quality of life of the people.
President Kufuor said the adoption of the African Union Treaty last year, meant a re-awakening of the self-awareness and resolve among Africans to pursue unity through practical means.
"With goodwill, co-operation and encouragement from the international community, Africa would realise its full potential. The New partnership for African Development (NEPAD) provides a useful framework to work with our development partners to move Africa forward", he said.
President Kufuor said Ghana condemned the September 11 bombings in New York and Washington and all forms of terrorism wherever they occur and would contribute its quota to the international effort to rid the world of the phenomenon.
He re-affirmed Ghana's faith in the Commonwealth and congratulated Queen Elizabeth II who would celebrate her 50th anniversary as Head of the organisation this year.
President Kufuor said the Commonwealth had played an honourable role in international affairs, adding "there can be no doubt that the organisation is renewing itself by promoting the respect of rights and humanity as being integral to cohesion among members".
Mr Ibrahim Khlil Omar, Ambassador of the State of Palestine and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps said despite the difficulties encountered by the government last year, it had maintained a high level of peace and stability while the basic infrastructure for national economic development was being put in place.
He commended the government for the efforts it had made to foster friendship and solidarity with Ghana's neighbours and promoting the political and economic integration of Africa.
Mr Omar said there were clear signs that the international community was responding positively to the government's efforts to promote a positive image for the country on the world scene.
He expressed the hope that, there would be more active co-operation between states especially among developing countries to help tackle and resolve the multiplicity of problems ranging from disasters, hunger, the HIV/AIDS menace and socio-economic problems to move the people forward this year.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 26 January 2002- The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has embarked on the first in a series of refresher courses for its polling assistants in the Bimbilla District of the Northern Region.
This is in anticipation of the expected bye -election to be held in the Bimbilla constituency when Dr Mohammad Ibn Chambas, Member of Parliament officially announces his resignation to parliament.
Dr Chambas is expected to relinquish his parliamentary seat following his election as Executive Secretary of the ECOWAS. Speaking to newsmen in Tamale on Friday, Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP who is on a three-day working visit of the Northern Region said even though the time of the bye-elections was not yet clear, Dr Chambas was expected to announce his resignation to parliament soon.
He said parliament would have seven days within which to inform the Electoral Commission, which would in turn be expected to conduct the bye-election within 21 days.
Mr Botwe said " all these would happen within a short time and the NPP is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to win the Bimbilla seat."
"We are taking all the necessary step to ensure that we win. This is the first of a series of refresher courses we would be organising for the polling assistants to equip them to cope with the challenges ahead."
Mr Botwe said during his tour of the Bimbilla District he met with polling station and constituency executives of the Bimbilla and Wulensi constituencies at two separate meetings.
He described the atmosphere between the NPP and the National Democratic Party supporters in the two constituencies as "very cordial."
"I paid a courtesy call on the NDC secretary at Bimbilla and I was well received. I therefore expect a healthy competition. We have a good chance of winning," he said.
Mr Botwe said the tour gave him the opportunity to assess at first hand the needs of the district adding that even though the area had recovered from the wound of the 1994 ethnic conflicts there was still the need to address some issues to facilitate its development.
He singled out the road sector saying there was the need for a good road network linking food-producing areas to the marketing centres to enable the farmers to sell their produce.
He also said there was the need for the creation of food depots to store agricultural produce especially foodstuff, as well as the introduction of storage facilities.
Mr Botwe dismissed allegations by some NDC functionaries that the NPP was trying to claim undue credit for the appointment of Dr Chambas as ECOWAS Executive Secretary saying," it is not in dispute at all that it was the government of the day which supported him."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- British American Tobacco (BAT), cigarette manufacturers, have stated that although smoking is risky, it is not the company's responsibility to decide who smokes.
"Our business is not about persuading people not to smoke; it is about offering quality brands to adults who have already taken the decision to smoke," the company stated in a one-page document.
It however, shared the concern by the public health community that the health impact of smoking should be reduced and expressed its commitment to working with others to achieve results.
For instance, the company would continue to support relevant research to understand the biological mechanisms that link smoking with diseases with the aim that the study would help it produce cigarettes with lower associated risks.
The document titled. "Smoking - Our View" dismissed claims about the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on people living nearby, usually termed passive smokers, saying they have been over-stated.
However, it accepts that environmental tobacco smoke is an issue of public importance "and we agree with health authorities that it is proper not to smoke around young children."
BAT further agrees with public health officials that smoking has the risk of serious diseases such as lung cancer, respiratory and heart diseases.
"We also recognise that for many people, smoking is difficult to quit," the document noted. Health professionals have in recent months expressed concern about the increasing prevalence and use of tobacco by a large number of the population, mostly under-aged school going children.
They called on government to act quickly to halt the emerging promotional bill boards which, though carry health warnings, have a greater influence on people to smoke.
Ghana has no legislation regulating media commercials. Meanwhile, the company's Annual Reports and Accounts for 2000 shows that BAT contributed a total of 101,820 million cedis in taxes and import duties to government in addition to shareholders' dividend totalling 122,933 million cedis.
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Amasaman (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- Mr Kwasi Marfo, Ga District Co-ordinating Director has denied that, he was involved in the financial malfeasance in the audit report published by an Accra daily recently. Speaking to newsmen at Amasaman, on Friday, he said the audit report of the assembly covered the period 1998 to 2000.
Mr Marfo explained that, he was the Co-Coordinating Director of the Komanda-Edina-Eguafo District, in the Central Region during the period saying he was posted to the Ga District in the year 2000.
The principal officers of the Assembly during the period were, Mr Jerry Akwei-Thompson who was the District Chief Executive and Mr K.A. Kotey, Co-ordinating Director, while the District Engineer was Mr E. Attuquaye Armah, currently MP for Ga South.
Mr Marfo said the Reporter of the daily mistakenly associated him with the report without first finding out the officers at post during the period.
He said the report had raised a lot of anxiety about his reputation with relatives including children and friends who were worried about his alleged involvement and advised journalist to be circumspect and to check and cross-check their facts before publication to remain credible.
The Co-ordinating Director expressed concern about the "delay or refusal" of the paper to retract the report after he had furnished the Editor with the relevant documents.
He said the report has dented his reputation won through dedication and hard work and urged the paper to render an unqualified apology before he takes up the matter with the National Media Commission and the Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalist Association to redeem his name.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- Two of the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal that heard applications for stay of proceedings at the Fast Track Court (FTC) filed by two of the five accused persons in the Quality Grain Company trial, on Friday dismissed the motions.
Dismissing the applications, the two judges explained that since two of the accused persons had already opened their defence, the granting of the applications would not only cause undue delay of the trial, but untold hardships to the two, who had opened their defence.
The two accused persons on whose behalf the motions were filed were Mr George Yankey, former Director in charge of Legal Sector, Private and Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance and Nana Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff.
The appeals filed on their behalf by their lawyers, Mr David Lamptey and Nana Adjei Ampofo were against a FTC ruling calling them to open their defence.
Their counsel had earlier made submissions of "no case" after the prosecution had closed its case, but the court ruled that adequate evidence had been deduced against them to warrant that they opened their defence.
The two and Mr Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister, Mr Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture and Mr Samuel Dapaah, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture are being tried for conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss to the State.
They are alleged to have played different roles in the Quality Grain Company scandal that led to the loss, to the state of an amount to the tune of more than 20 million dollars.
All have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Afreh, had granted each a self-recognisance bail.
The judges, Mr Justice F. T. Farkye (presiding) and Mr Justice Omari Sasu were of the view that the motions were only a repetition of the ones that did not succeed.
They said in bringing a motion for stay of proceedings to the Court of Appeal pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal, an appellant must satisfy the court with the provision of three documents - the charge sheet, the notice of appeal and the record of proceedings, from the lower court.
In this particular instance, the two judges said since it was only the notice of appeal that was before the Court of Appeal, they found it difficult to consider the application. Consequently, they dismissed the motion for stay of proceedings and ordered the FTC to continue with the trial.
Mr Justice B. T. Aryeetey, the third member of the panel, however, expressed a dissenting opinion, and ruled that even though the trial court could go on with proceedings, it would have to hold on with its judgement, until the final determination of the interlocutory appeal before the Court of Appeal.
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Wenchi (Brong Ahafo) 26 January 2002- The Wenchi Community Tribunal presided over by Nana Ogyabea Ehuren, has remanded three farmers from Akrobi in prison custody for the alleged murder of Dalude Shitto, a 60-year-old farmer last year.
The plea of the three, Ahina Agyika, 55, Kwaku Akorgah, 55, and Senegal Atsu, 28 was not taken and were to re-appear on February eight for committal.
Police Chief Inspector Augustine A. Darko prosecuting, told the tribunal that Agyikah and Atsu are Togolese national whiles Kwaku Ahorgah as well as the deceased are Ghanaians, but all belonged to an Ewe society at Akrobi and Domiabra, near Wenchi.
Chief Inspector Darko said the deceased later pulled out of the society to join the Anloga society in the area. About two years ago, Atsu defiled the deceased's daughter in the bush and when a report was made to the police it created a rift between the accused and the deceased.
Chief Inspector Darko said on December 30 last year the deceased came to Akrobi and while returning home at about 7 pm he was attacked and killed.
The prosecution said a witness who had seen Agyikah and Shorgah hurrying along a foot-path leading to the deceased's hamlet challenged them to know why they were in a haste but they replied that nothing had happened.
News broke out the following day that Shittor had been murdered and was lying in a supine position along the footpath with multiple cuts on the head.
Chief Inspector Darko told the tribunal that Agyikah said in his caution statement that while going to his hamlet he saw a dead body on the path and returned to inform Ahorgah, after which both of them went gone to the spot with a flash light to find out who it was but they could not establish the identity of the dead person.
Ahorgah however, said in his caution statement that he never went to any place with Agyikah as alleged.
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Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 26 January 2002- Nana Obosomfour Kwabena Gyan, a 75-year-old fetish priest and herbalist from Nkwabeng in the Nkoranza District, has urged government to support the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association to promote herbal medicine practice.
Nana Gyan, popularly known as Kontro, told the Ghana News Agency on Friday that, for lack of technical and scientific support, most herbal medicines lose their potency within a short period.
Such drugs can be processed and bottled to make them last longer, he said. He said some herbal drugs cure a lot of diseases, including insanity, epilepsy, impotency and sterility, which are caused by satanic spirits.
Nana Gyan asked the government to identify all practitioners in herbal medicine and give them the needed support to boost their morale to enhance herbal medicine practice in the country.
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Buoroyiri (Upper West) 26 January 2002- A total of 163 guinea worm cases were
recorded in the Upper West Region by the end of 2001, an increase of 117 over the 46 cases recorded by the end of 2000.
Out of that number, Buoroyiri, a farming community in the Wa District recorded a total of 21 cases about 34 percent of the regional total.
Mrs Perpetual Seidu, Wa District Nursing Officer who said this during the launching of the guinea worm awareness programme at Buoroyiri, attributed the alarming situation in the area to the lack of potable water.
She said the whole of the area, which had a population of about 602, had no bore-holes compelling the people to struggle with animals for water in the few available ponds and streams.
Mrs Seidu called on the Wa District Assembly to assist the people with a bore-hole.
She also stressed the need for the people to make maximum use of the water filters, the Ministry of Health officials had provided them adding, "although most of them were given filters, they refused to use them."
Mr. Mohammed Kpeglah, an official of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) urged endemic communities to mobilize funds to meet their five percent quota towards the provision of a bore-hole.
Mr. John Liribu, Wa District Guinea-Worm Co-ordinator who distributed filters to the people said filtering was the only way they could avoid the disease.
He said a number of programmes had been lined up to educate the people to stay away from bad practices that expose them to the disease.
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