Minority leader to stand for elections in 2004
President
calls for tolerance, hospitality
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said the growth of
the country's infant democracy depended largely on peace and stability, which
could only prevail when Ghanaians become tolerant in the face of provocative
statements and actions.
The president
therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to be tolerant and hospitable to ensure a
serene atmosphere for the consolidation of the few democratic strides made and
for development.
He made the appeal in
a message of goodwill read for him by Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister for
Information and Presidential Affair at the Restoration Ghana Prayer Service
held at the Independence Square to mark the decade of the Fourth Republic and
two years of positive change in Ghana.
Quoting extensively
from the Book of James in the Holy Bible he urged Ghanaians to "be slow to
anger and slow to speak...for the anger of man does not work the righteousness
of God."
President Kufuor said
the various conflict situations and political tensions in the country is a
result of reactions to seemingly provocative statements and actions over which
there was no much reflection.
He said it was
imperative for people to reflect over such temptations and provocation and
react in a more matured manner to prevent protracted and cyclical conflict and
divisive tendencies in the country.
He urged Ghanaians to
uphold an attitude and gesture of hospitality towards one another and towards
our neighbours from other countries to ensure that we maintained a cordial
relationship with our neighbours.
"Let brotherly
love continue for in so doing some have entertained angels without
knowing," he said. "The responsibility to maintain peace, stability and
a friendly environment necessary for development and progress is ours as a
people and nobody else."
Major Rtd. Courage
Quashigah, Minister of Food and Agriculture said politics must necessarily
fulfil the Holy Scripture, adding that "as politicians in government, we
provide the enabling environment for everyone to exercise his or her talent for
the common good of the entire country."
This he said is in
keeping with the Holy Scriptures in Matthew 5: 14 - 16, which enjoins people to
shine their light among men. He said much as the government provides the
enabling environment to assist the people to brighten their corners, it is
imperative that the people reciprocate the efforts of the government by
treating the environment with a sense of responsibility and discipline.
Maj. Quarshigah noted
that the high level of indiscipline on the roads, market places, schools and
offices leaves much to be desired, adding that the provision of an enabling
environment alone was not enough to bring the needed development that will
raise the country to a middle income level.
In a sermon, Rev.
Samson Joe Banning, President of the Black Lineage Reality Research Centre
(BLRRC), organisers of the prayer service, said the positive change phenomena
by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is divine, adding that it marks
Ghana's leading role in the restoration of the black race in the 21st century.
The prayer session
was attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, members of the
diplomatic corps, reverend ministers and Christians from all walks of life. Johnson
Aboagye, Chairman of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) chaired the
function.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday announced government's
intention to replace the cash and-carry and system with health insurance
schemes by 2004.
The President who
made reference to the electoral promise by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to
scrap the cash and carry system at a Peoples Assembly in Accra said pro-type
schemes have already started in 42 out of the 110 districts.
"As not all the
districts are equally endowed, government is resolved to raise the resources to
extend the scheme to cover the entire country by next year," he told the
cross-section of the people who attended the People's Assembly being organized by
the government on the theme: "consolidating Ghana's democracy through
peace, unity and development."
The People's Assembly
was a novelty initiated by the Kufuor's administration a year ago to create a
platform for people to interact with the executive on national matters as part
of the celebration of one decade of the fourth republic and two years of
positive change.
President Kufuor said
government overstretched last year's budget to improve on the working
conditions of doctors and other health workers to stem the mass exodus of
personnel.
“I hope the doctors
and nurses and indeed all other workers will appreciate the desperate situation
that the country faces and not hold the nation to ransom.” “I have said it and
bears repeating, nobody will come from anywhere to develop this country for us.
We must all accept it as our duty to sacrifice to rehabilitate the economy and
then we can demand and receive our commensurate reward," he explained.
President Kufuor
announced measures to improve on infrastructural development, saying work has
started on the rehabilitation of all major arterial roads leading out of Accra.
"There is at
least one selected strategic road in each region that is being improved. In all
the regions, the feeder roads programme is being pursued vigorously." The
President said the expansion programme in telecommunications was on course,
whilst new telephone exchanges were being commissioned.
"The Information
Communication Training centre is under construction and will be opened in the
middle of the year", he said. On the energy sector, President Kufuor said
the Akosombo Hydro-Electricity Dam was being augmented with power supply from
thermal plants. He however, asked Ghanaians to express cautious optimism about
news of offshore oil exploration whilst they wait for the outcome.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday expressed confident
about his government's track record to augment the health and agriculture
sectors to boost national development.
He said the Ministry
of Food and Agriculture was concentrating on mechanization of agriculture, food
marketing, storage and processing to save the country from "a year of
plenty, only to be followed by lean years."
The rehabilitation
and expansion of irrigation schemes around the country will also continue
steadily, he assured a cross-section of people who attended a People's Assembly
organized by the government in Accra as part of the celebration of one decade
of the Fourth Republic and two years of positive change.
The People's
Assembly, which offered the electorate the opportunity to interact with the
Executive on pertinent national issues was on the theme: "consolidating
Ghana's democracy through peace, unity and development."
President Kufuor said
his administration had embarked on a programme aimed at boosting the morale of
teachers and their conditions of service. He said training facilities were
being expanded to upgrade the skills of teachers to enable them keep up with
the new trends around the world.
The President said
the provision of desks and basic textbooks to primary schools would soon be
completed. "We will then be able to say truly that every school child has
a desk to sit on and material to study." Work, he said, has started on the
project to upgrade at least one second-cycle school in every region.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday urged all factions in
the Yendi skin dispute to exercise self-restraint and allow the rule of law to
facilitate peace, justice and stability.
He described the
crisis as "an awful tragedy that befell the nation and Dagbon"
leading to loss of lives and the regicide of the Dagbon King Ya-na Yakubu
Andani II
President Kufuor was
speaking at a People's Assembly organised by his administration in Accra to
mark one decade of the Fourth Republic. "Government has worked hard since
the tragedy and is doing all it can to find a long-term solution to the
problem," he said.
The President said the
Attorney-General has been instructed to expedite action on the White Paper
issued on the Wuaku Commission's Report. The Ya-Na and some 30 people died last
March in fighting between the Andani and Abudu Gates in the Yendi Skin affair.
The People's Assembly
is on the theme: "Consolidating Ghana's Democracy through Peace, Unity and
Development." The forum, which would be organized nation-wide, would offer
the public the opportunity to interact with the executive on pertinent national
issues.
President Kufuor said
good governance, national security and the protection of individual liberties have
remained top of the government's agenda. "I believe it is fair to commend
the security agencies for their work so far. With the injection of a few
working tools, they are getting on top of the law and order situation and there
has been a marked improvement.
"The police are
more visible and thus inducing more confidence among the people. The military is also reverting to
professionalism and their proper constitutional role. They are bringing honour
to the nation." President Kufuor called on the citizenry to support the
security agencies in the fight against social misfits.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor who has been re-elected the
flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday renewed his pledge to work
harder for the betterment of the nation.
The President who was
elected at a delegates conference at Sekondi in the Western Region at the
weekend said," As if to emphasise that there is not a lot of time at the
disposal of government, the nation's attention is already being directed to the
next elections."
President Kufuor was
speaking at a People's Assembly organized by his administration to mark the
electoral victory of the NPP, two years ago and a decade of the fourth
republic.
He said the main
minority party in parliament, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has also
elected a presidential candidate for the next general election. "In other
words, even before government has settled in to do the business of governing,
it is already being thrown back into electioneering," he told the People's
Assembly, which is on the theme:" consolidating Ghana's democracy through
unity and development."
Similar assemblies`
would be organized in the regions to offer the electorate the opportunity to
interact with the executive on national issues. President Kufuor said the current
trend was good for nurturing democracy as it served to remind those in authority
that power remained with the people.
"Those of us,
who are given the privilege of holding office, ignore this fundamental fact at
our own peril." Commenting on the People's Assembly, he said it broadened
the democratisation process.
"In the
constitutional scheme of things, members of parliament have regular
opportunities on the floor of the House and its Committees to quiz Ministers on
government activity. As part of their work, members of the press also have
daily and organized access to my Ministers and me. On this rare occasion
therefore, the citizen outside the media and parliament has this opportunity."
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Tuesday that he took
concerns expressed about his criticisms of former President Jerry John Rawlings
recently at Sekondi very serious, adding that, having had his say after several
instances of verbal attacks from his predecessor, he would not be distracted to
repeat such speeches.
Reacting to the
concern of Francis Ankomah, a child rights activist, at the People's Assembly,
President Kufuor, who described his speech as one on a typical party occasion,
however, said, his critics should also advice his predecessor to desist from
castigating and provoking him.
Ankomah said he was
saddened by the President's harsh speech at the New Patriotic Party's (NPP)
Delegates Congress, adding "that did not augur well for
reconciliation" and suggested that the two leaders dialogue to settle
their differences.
President Kufuor's
address, which described Former President Rawlings as a bully and intimidating
person, has received criticism from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and
a section of the public as uncharacteristic of him and not reconciliatory.
Earlier, the
President had accepted Hajia Abiba's advice to tone down his political
statements to make them worthy of emulation. President Kufuor said since
assuming office two years ago he had until last Sunday not said "anything
untoward against Mr Rawlings", who had rather often made unsavoury remarks
about him and his administration and, therefore, took exception on that day to
react to some of those criticisms.
President Kufuor,
whose response received prolonged applause from the audience said the Former
President had said the coming into office of the NPP was an act of God to show
Ghanaians the difference between the good and the bad.
"My predecessor
had said my government would serve only one term and after that we should have
the courage to stay here," he explained. When one of the participants at
the Assembly asked the President on how he would draw the line between his role
as President and that of the Flagbearer of his Party, President Kufuor said
both officially and in private, he would continue to be the President, but at
party functions he would be the flagbearer.
In an interview with
the GNA after the Assembly, many people mentioned the response on the rally
speech as the one they appreciated most. Ms Constance Dzaka, a teacher said:
"The response to the Takoradi speech was excellent and the best for me. I
was also displeased when I saw him on television, but having listened to his
explanation, I believe it was necessary."
Several questions
bothering on issues from personal, political, socio-economic to cultural were
responded to by the President, Vice President Aliu Mahama and Ministers of
State.
The People's
Assembly, the second since the NPP came into office, was to afford citizens,
other than parliamentarians and the media to have access to interact with the
executive, the opportunity to seek answers to issues of governance. It was
attended by a cross-section of Ghanaians, including representatives of civil
society organisations.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- Bids for the rehabilitation of the Axim Junction-Tarkwa and
Abuakwa-Bibiani roads were opened on Tuesday under the supervision of Professor
Kwaku Appiah-Adu of the Central Tender Board.
Eight local and
foreign companies, including Taysec, Colas and PW Civils are bidding for the
jobs, to be funded under a grant from the European Development Fund.
Their bids ranged
from 141.3bn cedis to 204.7bn cedis for rehabilitation works covering
63-kilometre Axim-Tarkwa road under lot one to between 118.8bn cedis to 142.4bn
cedis for the Abuakwa-Bibiani Road for lot two.
All but two companies
submitted bids for both projects. All the bidders have 2bn cedis each as bid
security for the first lot and 1.5bn cedis for the second lot.
The contracts
included rehabilitation and widening of roads to 7.3 metres width with
asphaltic concrete surfacing, reconstruction of the Bonsaso River Bridge, piped
culverts of various sizes and other drainage improvements as well as the
provision of road line marking, traffic signals and crash barriers.
Prof Appiah-Adu said
the roads when rehabilitated would enhance the socio-economic development of
the people within the road's corridors in particular and the Western and
Ashanti Regions as a whole.
He said the opening
of the bids marked the beginning of an evaluation process by the consultants,
who would eventually select a winner. Prof Appiah-Adu said low bids are not
necessarily a requisite for choosing a contractor and advised the public not to
jump to conclusions. Each contract will be completed within two years of award.
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Koforidua (Eastern
Region) 08 January 2003- The family of the late Stephen Agbedenu, a mason who
disappeared and his bones found three months later under a mango tree at Koforidua
has appealed to the Inspector General of Police to set up an independent
enquiry to establish the real cause of his death.
The family were
astonished that despite the fact that there was evidence that the late Agbedenu
reported an earlier threat and assault on him to the police, the police did
nothing about it. The family also expressed concern that even though the wife
of the late Agbedenu, Faustina Aboni, reported to the Regional Police station at
Galloway-Koforidua that before Agbedenu got missing he was assaulted by one of
the suspects in the case, Holland-based Kwame Adofo.
Adofo and his
grandmother, Grace Addo, a suspect, allegedly beat up the children of Agbedenu
but the police did not take any action and allowed Adofo to travel to Holland, Freeman
Gardrie, a spokesman of the family, told a press conference on Monday.
He said when the
remains of Agbedenu ware located, it was only the skull, the pelvic and the two
thigh bones which were found and questioned where the rest of the body of the
deceased were.
Giving the background
to the death of Agbedenu, Mr Gardrie said sometime last year Adofo contracted
the late mason to construct a house for him and gave him money to buy sand and
stones for the project.
He said in October,
Grace, who was supervising the project, bought some cement blocks from one
Kwame Agyepong, manager of Kool House Enterprise, a company that deals in
cement and blocks.
Gardrie said Adofo
rejected the blocks because of their poor quality and demanded the refund of
the amount. He said Agyepong later got to know that his blocks were returned because
the late Agbedenu was said to have complained of their poor quality.
When Agbedenu came to
his shop with Adofo and the grandmother, Agyepong warned him to mind his
business and accused him of making two million cedis gain from purchasing the
sand and stones for Adofo's project.
Gardrie said Adofo
and the grandmother demanded that Agbedenu should refund the said two million
cedis. But Agbedenu denied making any gains and brought in some executive members
of the Eastern Regional Sand and Stone Contractors Association from whom he
bought the items to testify to that effect but Adofo and the grandmother
rejected the explanation.
Gardrie alleged that
sometime later Adofo met Agbedenu again at Agyepong's store, assaulted him and
removed 800,000 cedis from his pocket. He said Adofo dragged the deceased on
the ground, dumped him in a waiting taxi and drove away. Agbedenu, he said,
reported the incident to the police.
Gardrie said the
following day when Agbedenu and the wife had gone out, Adofo and his
grandmother went to their house to look for Agbedenu and when they did not find
him they beat up the children.
He said when the wife
of Agbedenu returned home and the children told her of their ordeal she went to
the house of Grace to find out why she and the grandson did that to the
children.
Gardrie said it was
there that Grace allegedly threatened that Agbedenu and Agyepong had connived to
cheat her and the grandson of 2m cedis and if Agbedenu did not refund the money
she would not care to spend 5m cedis to put him at a place Agbedenu would not
like to be.
He said the late
Agbedenu went out that day and never returned home. The spokesman said the
police arrested Adofo and the grandmother and when Adofo's car was searched a
blood stained knife was found in the vehicle for which the investigating
officer and another policeman were heard debating whether the blood on the
knife was that of a human being or not.
Gardrie said after
the initial police investigations, Adofo and the grandmother were granted
police enquiry bail for Adofo to be reporting daily to the police. But within a
week Adofo was allowed by the police to travel back to his base in Holland but
when a member of the family went to the police station to find out the
situation, he was informed that Adofo sought permission to travel to Accra.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- Eight-five causal workers of Bonsuvonberg Farms of Ogome-Kplade
near Somanya in the Eastern Region on Tuesday petitioned President John Agyekum
Kufuor to intervene in a protracted land dispute between the management and the
traditional authorities.
They said the dispute
had affected the management and administration of the teak farm, which started
large scale production in 1994 and appealed to the President to institute an
investigation into the circumstances delaying the signing of land agreement
between the parties.
Stating reasons for
the dispute at a Press Conference in Accra, a representative of the Workers
Executive Board, Abdul Karim said the Chief of Ogome Kplade Nene Akpatsu Aza II
has launched series of attacks on management and workers to force them to sign
the agreement.
Karim said the Chief
had also banned the management of the plantation from entering the farm until
all issues concerning the registration and payment of compensation were dealt
with.
He said the workers
were yet to receive a response from an earlier appeal to the Eastern Regional
Minister, the Minister of Forestry and Mines and the Trade Union Congress
(TUC).
He also appealed to
the Chief and people of Ogome Kplade and the management to consider peaceful
settlement of the misunderstanding in the interest of the workers who are
mostly from the Kplade community.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- Government would soon set up a seven-member committee to look
into chieftaincy conflicts and their causes and to advise it accordingly.
The committee will
not interfere in the installation, removal or administration of the chieftaincy
institution as enshrined in the constitution, President John Kufour said in
Accra on Tuesday at the People's Assembly, held on the theme:
"consolidating Ghana's democracy through peace, unity and
development"
The People's Assembly
was initiated by the Kufuor's administration a year ago to create a platform
for people to interact with the executive on national matters as part of the
celebration of one decade of the fourth republic and two years of
"positive change".
President Kufuor,
flanked by his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and a number of Ministers, said
government was concerned about the numerous chieftaincy troubles in the country
and much as Government would not interfere in chieftaincy affairs, it would
maintain law and order in all spheres of national life.
President Kufuor,
himself is a professional lawyer, promised to take up a personal interest in
the development of infrastructure at the Ghana School of Law. In reaction to a
question from Kofi Baafi Sampson, a representative of the Carpenters
Association, to the lack of adequate timber resources on the local market for
the furniture industry, Prof. Kassim Kasanga, Minister of Forestry said
government had to ensure a competitive bidding to prevent the exploitation of
the country's forest resources at give-away prices.
Prof Kasanga warned
against the fast depletion of the nation's forest resources, and regretted that
they were rather being given out without benefiting the people, and said there
was a need to revamp the policy on timber
Mrs. Cecilia
Bannerman, Minister of Employment and Manpower Development said 1,500 street
girls were retrieved from Agbogbloshi Market in Accra to their hometowns two
weeks ago.
She said the Ministry
was engaged in a number of skill development programmes for the development and
rehabilitation of the youth on the street to make them employable.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- A delegation from the Anglican Church on Tuesday, officially
informed government of the death of Right-Reverend Theophilus Samuel Anyanya
Annobil, first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Sekondi at the Castle, Osu.
The late Annobil, 65,
was also a member of the Council of State of the Fourth Republic between
1992-1996. He died on 20 November, last year in the USA after a protracted
illness and would be buried on Saturday, 11 January, after a wake-keeping and
vigil on Friday, 10 January and Memorial Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 12 January
at the Saint Andrews Anglican Church at Sekondi.
Right Reverend Robert
Kofi Okine, Archbishop of the Province of West Africa of the Anglican Church
led the delegation, which included friends and family of the late Bishop
Annobil.
Rt Rev. Okine said
the death of Bishop Annobil was a great loss to the Church because he was a
strong and industrious leader President John Agyekum Kufuor said the late
Bishop Annobil would be remembered for his leadership role and duties in the
Church and his community, which he executed with diligence.
He expressed his
condolences to the Church and the bereaved family. The late Bishop Annobil was
consecrated as a Bishop of the Church in 1981 and retired voluntarily in 1997
on grounds of ill health. He left behind a widow, Grace and five children.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- A reception was held at the forecourt of the State House in
Accra on Tuesday for a cross-section of the public as part of activities
marking the celebration of one decade of the Fourth Republic and two years of
positive change.
President John
Agyekum Kufuor accompanied by the First Lady, Theresa, Vice President Aliu
Mahama and his wife Ramatu and Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament, were
among the dignitaries including Ministers, MPs, politicians and members of the
diplomatic corps.
They were entertained
to cultural display and dance by the African Showtime Dance Ensemble, resident
troupe of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). Absent were representatives of
the Minority parties.
Earlier during the
day, a People's Assembly, which offered the people an opportunity to interact
with the Executive on pertinent national issues on the theme,
"Consolidating Ghana's Democracy through Peace, Unity and Development"
was held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Other activities for
the celebrations include a photo exhibition at the Arts centre in Accra on
Wednesday and a Super Gospel Rock Show at the National Theatre on Sunday, 12
January.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- Representatives of Minority Political Parties boycotted the
People's Assembly held in Accra on Tuesday to give opportunity to the citizenry
to question the executive on its governorship.
President John
Agyekum Kufuor addressed the forum and answered questions from the audience on
the economy, the political situation and government programmes. Ferdinand Ayim,
Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs and
Co-ordinator of the Assembly told newsmen that the boycott by the opposition
political parties was a mark of dishonesty and acts of deception.
He said invitation
cards were sent to all the Parties including the United Ghana Movement (UGM)
which is on leave and members of Parliament including the Speaker on 20
December last year.
Ayim said invitation
cards to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the former President Jerry
John Rawlings, former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills and four other
senior members of the Party were sent to the Party's headquarters on 24
December last year and were received by one Jacob Bonney who duly signed on
behalf of the party.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor Tuesday said at the People's
Assembly that it was within the rights of Former President Jerry John Rawlings
and former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills to accept or reject the State's
Christmas gifts.
Responding to a
question on how he felt about the refusal of the gifts by his predecessor and
the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Kufuor said
his government would continue with the tradition by offering presents to
statesmen.
"It is a worthy
tradition, which we inherited and we would continue to uphold it," he
said. He expressed the hope that Ghanaians would appreciate the gesture. The
rejection of the gifts on political grounds by Former President Rawlings and
for personal reasons by Prof. Mills has been widely condemned in the media as
well as some members of the public.
Aides of Former
President Rawlings have said he refused to accept the gifts because of the
not-cordial relations between him and President Kufuor. Prof. Mills, who has
rejected claims that he was instructed by his former boss not to accept the
gift, said his action was in line with a personal decision he took about a
month ago not to receive gifts and parcels in his home.
The People's
Assembly, the second since the New Patriotic Party assumed office, gives the
platform to the citizens who normally do not have access to the executive to
ask questions on governance.
President Kufuor,
Vice President Aliu Mahama and Ministers of State answered several questions on
personal, politics, social, economic, chieftaincy, religion, tribalism and
chieftaincy issues from a cross-section of Ghanaians and an American
businessman, Subhash Neuir, who complained that he had been defrauded in a gold
deal.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- An American businessman, Subhash Neuir, who said he had been
defrauded of 150 million cedis by some Ghanaians and Kwabla Kabonu, with a case
of wrongful dismissal, one presented their grievances to President John Agyekum
Kufuor at the People's Assembly, who promised help them seek legal redress.
President Kufuor,
however, advised foreign investors to deal with recognized public and private
institutions in order not to put them at risk. He said the government would ensure
that foreign investors were protected by relevant state institutions when they
encounter legal problems.
Nueir of Ebizinfotech
LLC of New Jersey, told the GNA in an interview that one Francis Asante, alias
Nana Yaw, Jim Morti and Joseph Kwesi Agbetoh have refused to ship 100 kilograms
of gold bars to him in the US as negotiated after he had paid $31,325 to them
through the Standard Chartered Bank at Osu, on 17 December last year.
He mentioned the
companies of the three as Precious Stones Resources Ltd, Sikhoti Ghana Limited
and Continent Investment. The Police and other security agencies, he said had
been unable to track down the three, who he believed, had absconded with his
money.
Neuir said Asante
invited him to Ghana where he inspected the gold bars at his office, along the
Spintex Road, following a meeting he had with him in the US. Kabonu on his part
said he was dismissed from his job at Pantang Hospital in 1999 for no apparent
reason.
He said even though
the Attorney-General's Office recommended an out of court settlement for his
compensation to be paid to him, his follow-up meeting with Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, ended on a sore note.
The Attorney-General
was not at the Assembly because he is out of the country. His petition to the
Office of the President, he said, had not been responded to. The President
assured him that his petition would be tracked at the Presidency and dealt
with.
Questions on
agriculture, transportation, education, roads, children's rights chieftaincy,
timber, tribalism, Cote' d'Ivoire, the environment and other areas were
responded to. The Assembly, the second since the NPP assumed office was to
afford citizens who do not have access to the executive to raise their queries
on governance and other issues.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- Vice President Aliu Mahama on Tuesday rejected a claim that he
had given more donations to churches than to the mosque, saying though he did
not want to disclose his level of contributions to the mosques, it was much
higher than what he had given churches.
Reacting to a female
questioner, who spoke to him in Hausa, a language he understands, at the
People's Assembly on the issue, Vice President Mahama also assured Moslems that
Morocco, which has a magnificent modern mosque would assist Ghana to build a
national one.
Vice President
Mahama, known for his generosity, last year donated 10 million cedis toward the
Methodist University Hostel, among other donations to churches. He said
following discussions on the issue with the Prime Minister of Morocco, Driss
Jettou, a plan of the proposed mosque had been sent to Morocco.
The Moroccan National
Mosque, which cost $600m, was funded by contributions from the citizenry. More
than 96 per cent of the population are Moslems.
Vice President Mahama
in reaction to another question on the discrimination against people living in
the Zongos said development projects such as roads were being extended to
deprived communities, including Zongos.
He, however,
emphasized the importance of secular education as the key to personal
development and prosperity, saying he had often encouraged Moslems to send
their children to school.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday requested
President John Agyekum Kufuor to withdraw the remarks he made against the NDC
at Sekondi-Takoradi during the NPP's delegates congress at the weekend and
apologise to the party.
Dr Benjamin Kunbour,
MP for Lawra-Nandom and a leading member of the NDC said now that the President
has agreed at Tuesday's People's Assembly that he would not be distracted to
repeat such speeches it was necessary for him to withdraw the war speech and
apologise.
Speaking in an
interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Kunbour said the President had said he
would tone down his war speech after he had listened to Mr Baba Jamal, Deputy
General Secretary of the NDC's solidarity message to the NPP at a rally held
just after the NPP congress in Takoradi.
The NDC message
pledged to co-operate with the NPP administration to ensure the growth of the
democratic process in the country. Dr Kunbour said if what the President had
said was the toning down of a war speech he had intended to make then it was
unfortunate.
He said, "we
have known all along that the very day that the NPP took over power it has
declared war on NDC and its leading members.” It was undisclosed war and now
that the President has toned down his war speech he was only unveiling that
veiled war and making it public.
"We need to be
guided by the development in the sub-region and it should be remembered that Laurent
Gbagbo President of Cote d'Ivoire declared war on the section of Ivorian
population and as to what we are seeing now we don't know who will be the
winner of that war."
Dr Kunbour said it
was disheartening that, "our President could also tone down a war speech
but all the same, it was also gratifying that the President has acknowledged
through public reaction that he will not be dragged into making such a
statement of attack on his political opponents."
He said it was good
that the NPP government was continuing with what the NDC had started through
the district assembly concepts and others of finding way to interact with the
people through public forums.
"The People's
Assembly was nothing new in the political life of the country and it is good
for the NPP to do it to entrench democratic governance." President Kufuor
reacting to the concern of Francis Ankomah, a child rights activist on Tuesday
at the People's Assembly, said his speech was made on a typical party occasion.
President Kufuor
however, said, his critics should also advice his predecessor to desist from
castigating and provoking him. Ankomah said he was saddened by the President's
harsh speech at the New Patriotic Party's Delegates Congress, adding that such
utterance did not augur well for reconciliation and suggested that the two
leaders dialogue to settle their differences.
President Kufuor's
address, which described Former President Rawlings as a bully and intimidating
person, has received criticism from the National Democratic Congress and a
section of the public as uncharacteristic of him and not reconciliatory.
Earlier, the
President had accepted Hajia Abiba's advice to tone down his political
statements to make them worthy of emulation. President Kufuor said since
assuming office two years ago he had until last Sunday not said "anything
untoward against Mr Rawlings", who had rather often made unsavoury remarks
about him and his administration and, therefore, took exception on that day to
react to some of those criticisms.
President Kufuor,
whose response received prolonged applause from the audience said the Former
President had said the coming into office of the NPP was an act of God to show
Ghanaians the difference between the good and the bad.
"My predecessor
had said my government would serve only one term and after that we should have
the courage to stay here," he explained. When one of the participants at
the Assembly asked the President on how he would draw the line between his role
as President and that of the Flagbearer of his Party, President Kufuor said
both officially and in private he would continue to be the President, but at
party functions he would be the flagbearer.
In an interview with
the GNA after the Assembly, many people mentioned the response on the rally
speech as the one they appreciated most. Ms Constance Dzaka, a teacher said:
"The response to the Takoradi speech was excellent and the best for me. I
was also displeased when I saw him on television, but having listened to his
explanation, I believe it was necessary."
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Accra (Greater Accra)
08 January 2003- Professor Ismail Sallam, former Egypt's Minister of Health and
Population, on Tuesday paid a day's visit to Ghana to lobby Ghana over his
country's international bid for the post of Director-General of the World
Health Organisation (WHO).
Prof Sallam, who paid
a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang in
Accra is bidding with eight other contestants who would be elected by the
Executive Board of the WHO on 28 January.
He is amongst two
other African contestants from Mozambique and Senegal. Prof. Sallam expressed
commitment towards a strong technical support for the fight against HIV-AIDS,
Malaria and other communicable diseases through research and other global
interventions.
Prof Sallam advocated
a global forum that would come out with a master plan to tap the potential of
the WHO to combat poverty and other socio-economic factors that affect the
promotion of health.
Owusu-Agyemang said
all the nine candidates have lobbied Ghana for the post and assured the
Diplomat that his curriculum vitae would assist the government to make an
informed decision on him. Prof. Sallam leaves for Gabon on Wednesday.
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Kaleo (Upper West) 08
January 2003- Alban Bagbin, Minority leader in Parliament on Monday declared
his intention to seek the mandate of the people of Nadowli North to re-elect
him as the Member of Parliament for the constituency.
Bagbin, who was
addressing members of the Bagbin Fan Club at Kaleo in the Nadowli District said
his decision emanated from the fact that all the communities within his
constituency were appealing to him to extend his leadership in the next four
years.
"If I say I will
not stand for re-election, then I do not love my constituents and the party.
Having been elevated to the post of minority leader; having propped up the NDC
during the party's most difficult moments, I can't bar my ears to the numerous
calls on me to keep contributing my mite to the development of Nadowli
District" Bagbin stated.
According to the
minority leader, he spent the first two years in office fighting to keep NDC
alive and that with Professor John Atta Mills as well as the party executives
now firmly in control of affairs, he would devote more time to the demands of
Nadowli North constituency.
Bagbin said, the NDC
in opposition is much stronger than when it was in power, adding, "Under
the dynamic leadership of Prof. Mills, we are riding triumphantly back to the
Castle and let me assure everyone that we shall harness adequate resources to
run a tough campaign to recapture power".
He later visited Ombo
and Kaaha communities within the Nadowli district where he disclosed that 150m
cedis had been approved for the drilling of a bore-hole, while 264m cedis had
been spent on the construction of a classroom block at Ombo.
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