ECOWAS Foreign Ministers meeting opens in Dakar
President Kufuor returns from France
NPP cautions mischievous members
Co-operate
in the field of agriculture
Tamale (Northern Region)
Briefing newsmen, Major Sammy Adorkor, Acting
Commanding Officer of the Sixth Battalion of Infantry at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale, said when the bus approached the
barrier, the military personnel stationed there signalled the vehicle to stop
and asked all the 57 passengers to disembark for check.
During the search, the soldiers found the packing case and upon a
thorough examination, discovered the explosives. Alhassan
Yusif, 31, who was travelling to
Major Adorkor said the bus was escorted to the
Barracks where Yusif told the security personnel that
he bought the devices in
The suspect said he was living at Ejura in the
Ashanti Region but had been living in
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ECOWAS Foreign Ministers meeting opens
in
The Ministers are expected to submit recommendations at the end of their
two-day meeting for the consideration of the summit of Heads of State, which
convenes on 30 and 31January.
High on their agenda is the political crisis in the
"The political situation is first because the security status of
the sub-region is not the best and the current situation in the
He commended those who brokered the peace in the
"I urge the leaders and the people of ECOWAS to ensure that this
peace holds and improves on the stability of the sub-region, because it is
still fragile". De said despite some difficulties on the ECOWAS second
monetary zone and the fact that its take-off point had been shifted from this
year to 2005, "great strides have been made in our efforts to harmonise
our various currencies".
The zone includes
He said another area of achievement was the introduction and use of the
organisation's passport to facilitate the free movement of persons and
integration of the sub-region. "However, efforts so far made to bring these achievement s to fruition must be sustained and
improved," he added.
During the session, the Ministers would consider the annual report of
the Executive Secretary, as well as reports by the community's Parliament,
Court of Justice, Bank for Investment and Development and the Status Report of
the Executive Secretariat.
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President Kufuor returns from
Speaking to newsmen, he said the feuding parties accepted the principles
of the accord and pledged to ensure peace. President Kufuor said one of the
main points in the agreement was the appointment of a Prime Minister to head a
government of national unity until general elections in two years.
ECOWAS and France also pledged their commitment to ensure the
implementation of the accord. He said the donor community including the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was present at the talks
promised to help kick start the Ivorian economy, which was on the downward
trend as the result of the four-month old conflict.
The European Union pledged 400 million Euros within the next four years
to help revamp the economy. The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan,
African Union Chairman, President Thabo Mbeki of
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NPP cautions mischievous members
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo)
He said the NPP would not suppress freedom of expression among its rank
and file but it would also not allow its image to be dragged into the mud. The
General Secretary said any member of the NPP could speak his or her mind even
if it was against President John Agyekum Kufuor provided that was in the
supreme interest of the party.
Botwe was speaking at the Brong-Ahafo Regional Delegates' Congress in Sunyani
to elect new Regional Executive Officers to lead the Party to the 2004 polls.
''The fact that any Party member can express his or her opinion does not mean
that, anybody can do whatever he or she wishes to bring to dent the reputation
of the party and bring its image down.''
Botwe advised the party members against rushing to the law courts with their
grievances but to exhaust all channels of redress in accordance with the
party's administrative grievance-handling procedure.
He said the NPP had strong machinery, capacity and proper laid-down
structure to settle amicably all scores within the party. Botwe
asked all members to adhere to the letter and spirit of the party's
constitution.
The General Secretary recounted the ordeals and struggle members of the
party went through since 1992 before winning the 200 general elections to
assume the reins of government.
He noted that the party did not win the 2000 elections by any magical
means but through commitment and dedication of members because it had no
resources and logistics to match the affluence of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC).
Botwe charged the executive members of the party at all levels to run the
party as a business-entity to ensure that their activities were well
coordinated. Botwe, therefore, charged the executive
members of all constituencies to submit their action plans through the Regional
Offices of the Party to the National Secretariat by 15 March this year.
He warned that, by the deadline any constituency that failed to go by
the directive, its executive members would be suspended. The Secretary General
indicated that, the party's target of winning between 140 and 150 parliamentary
seats could not be achieved with the reliance on voters who voted for it to win
the 101 seats alone.
He said they must therefore woo the supporters from other political
parties and the 'floating votes', adding that members of the party must embrace
people from other parties.
Botwe assured that, the party would not have problem with logistics,
stressing that, "the days of Tico are over"
since the party would do all it could to meet the logistical needs of the
constituencies during electioneering campaigns.
He urged the executives of the party, especially those of the
constituency and regional branches to form committees to facilitate their
activities. Botwe said by the end of March this year,
the party would organize constituency congresses for members to deliberate and
brainstorm on issues affecting them and the way forward for the 2004
Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
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The visit that forms part of her three-day visit to the West African
sub-region, is in connection with the crisis in the
A statement issued in
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He
said the government’s recognition of this crucial role underscores the
President’s concept of the vision of a “Golden Age of Business” and the
creation of a separate Ministry for the private sector.
He
said the dawning of the “Golden Age of Business” has opened up a wide range of
business opportunities “as the private sector takes centre stage while the
government takes a back seat and play the role of facilitator.” Bartels said
despite this philosophy, the government would still play a major role by
setting the stage and getting the actors the best possible role.
These
remarks were contained in an address delivered by him at the prestigious
British Institute of International Affairs in
Present
at the lecture were three members of the Ghana Investors’ Advisory Council -
Mrs Elizabeth Villers, Dr Kofi Amoah
and Elias Preko.
Speaking
on the topic - Financing Sustainable Development, Poverty reduction and the
Private Sector - Finding Common ground on the ground - The contest for the
Private Sector’s contribution,” Bartels outlined measures, which have been
instituted to attain the realisation of the Golden Age of Business.
On
institutional reforms, he called for a new thinking in the country’s
institutions “that is “pragmatic, developmental and economically rewarding to
both the individual and the country.”
He
declared: “We will critically look at our land, our financial institutions, our
public service and civic institutions and re-align them in tandem to our policy
of shifting the economy from government to the private sector”.
With
regard to innovation and entrepreneurship, he said the government would build
institutions that would nurture business leaders and provide breeding grounds
for businesses, which would be key to the economy.
Touching
on public-private sector partnerships, he said the active promotion of
partnership in which the state’s limited resources would be leveraged against private
capital and entrepreneurial abilities, would be
encouraged. Such partnerships, he added, would be characterised by the sharing
of investment risk responsibility as well as reward between the partners - the
state and the private sector.
He
said by doing so the government, while maintaining its overall role and
responsibility of providing for social services, would also benefit from the
strengths that the private sector would bring to the table.
He
said the overall beneficiary would be “the society, our communities and the
general public” and added that some of the partnership envisaged would come to
the district assemblies and Local Government Authorities.
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He
therefore called on the investor community to take advantage of the conducive environment and special incentive package offered
by the Government to invest massively in salt and other sectors and to tap into
the vast West African market.
Speaking
at a meeting with members of the West African Business Association, WABA, held
at the Chancery of the Ghana High Commission in London, Kwamena Bartels underscored
the government’s commitment to the development of a private sector driven
economy by improving prospects for investors through the stabilisation of the
macro-economic environment and enhanced access to markets both in the
sub-region and abroad.
The
WABA is a 150-strong group of companies and entrepreneurs having business
interests in or with West and
Present
at the meeting were His Excellency Isaac Osei,
In
pursuit of its agenda to revamp the agricultural sector with particular
emphasis on cocoa and the oil palm industry, the Minister announced that
government has made available over 300,000 hectares of land for cultivation by
prospective investors.
He
said attractive benefits also exist for investors in value added industries,
especially agro-based projects like cocoa and timber processing plants, and
generally for those who locate in designated free zone enclaves.
He
reminded his audience about the existence of bilateral agreements with many
countries including
His
Excellency Isaac Osei pointed out that the present government of
He
said the government’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption was targeted at
rooting out corruption in every facet of the society and to build on the confidence
shown by investors in the Ghanaian economy.
High
Commissioner Osei appealed to members of the Association who were already doing
business in
He
commended WABA for showing keen interest in
Osei
Yeboah called for assistance in developing the capacity of the Ghana Investment
Promotion Centre, which has so far registered over a thousand projects in
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The
purpose of the visit was to explore ways of strengthening links between the
association and the
The
highlight of the visit was a briefing by his Excellency, Isaac Osei, Ghana High Commissioner to the
In
an answer to a question on the vibrancy of the nation’s democratic culture
during interactions with the members, Osei said the people of
High
Commissioner Osei spoke about the NPP government’s determination to ensure good
governance, freedom of expression and the rule of law, which were important
ingredients for the growth of the economy and the overall prosperity of the
nation.
He
explained that various initiatives have been instituted by the government to
restore macro-economic stability since 2001, and added that the President’s
vision of the Golden Age of Business, which would nurture the growth and
emergence of new private companies, would eventually help to create wealth for
the nation.
Osei
appealed to the mayors to encourage their friends in business to invest in various
sectors in
To
a question on our relations with our neighbours, Osei said the government had
sought to improve relations which were at a very low ebb at the time the NPP
assumed office and added that the President’s foreign trips since 2001 had
helped to boost the image of the country within the international community.
Councillor
Len Snow, Secretary of the Association and former Mayor of Brent, thanked the
High Commissioner for giving members the opportunity to have a broader insight
on events in Ghana and expressed the hope that relations between the Mission
would be further enhanced by the visit through further interactions.
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Whilst
we had all been primed to expect some increases, the scale and extent of those
increases were never anticipated by anyone. The IMF in its Aide Memoire to the Government of
When
the NDC was in office, we used to agonise over the issue of petroleum price
increases. We were always worried about the amount of increases that the
ordinary Ghanaian could bear and we developed policies that ensured that
petroleum prices were affordable.
It
is unfortunate that the TOR debt, a portion of which accumulated during the
period of the NDC, has become the NPP Government’s convenient excuse to pad the
prices of petroleum products. The NDC always had a plan to amortise that debt
and we would gladly have discussed our intentions and proposals with the NPP if
only they had decided to speak to us.
Our
hearts go out to the people of
We
are also aware that within the announced prices are taxes and other revenue
raising measures that can be adjusted in such a way as to bring the prices down
and make them a little more affordable for the ordinary Ghanaian.
The
announced price increases show little or no regard for the poor, the vulnerable
and the disadvantaged in our society who are entitled to the constitutional
protection of the state.
The
new price of kerosene, for example, shows scant regard for the plight of the rural
dweller. The new price of pre-mix fuel seems almost designed to ensure the
destruction of the fishing industry, negating all the work of our hard working
scientists in developing a product specifically tailored to meet the needs of
that industry only. The new price of LPG is an unfortunate signal to people to
go back to the charcoal days, thus jeopardizing our efforts at afforestation
and reforestation.
When
the NDC was faced with a similar situation in 1995 with regard to the then
newly
introduced VAT, it rolled back, suspended implementation, went back to the
drawing
board, and came back with a repackaged and more acceptable VAT, with a lower
rate and a higher threshold.
It
is in that same context that we call on the NPP Government to roll back on the
announced price increases before it is too late. The Government met with the
religious bodies, sections of the student body and selected journalists on the
price increases. It is important for the NPP Government to also urgently sit
down with the leadership of the other political parties and social partners to
review the situation and agree on realistic but affordable prices for petroleum
products that will not allow the petroleum prices to choke the very life out of
the ordinary Ghanaian.
The
looming economic chaos and political tension arising out of the petroleum price
increases calls for such a meeting, for there is no way that
the new prices can be sustained. The NPP Government should not wait for
public manifestation of discontent before it does what is economically prudent,
socially equitable, and politically acceptable.
The
NDC will continue to monitor events as they unfold on the petroleum price front
and react as we consider appropriate.
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Alhaji Osman Boakye, second vice chairman of the Ashanti Region NDC, who
made the suggestion, said such groups become tools for promoting disunity
instead of strengthening the base of the party.
He was speaking
at the inaugural ceremony of a number of sub-committees of the Asokwa-East constituency of the NDC in
Alhaji Boakye said the essence of such splinter groups is,
"using them as a base to win new members into the party, but unfortunately
some are rather used as platform for attracting members of the mother party to
them, thereby defeating the purpose for which they were formed."
Alhaji Suleimana Gado, chairman of the Asokwa East constituency of the party, said the NDC was not
the property of any single individual. He said "The party is superior to
any individual and for that matter, every member's view
should be respected."
J.B. Salifu,
the Constituency Secretary of NDC, urged the wards and branches of the party to
adopt scientific methods of campaigning and propagating messages of the party
in the bid to win more members into the NDC. He asked party members not to
underrate the 2004 elections nor to be over-confident, but rather approach the
campaign drive with all seriousness.
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Co-operate in the field of agriculture
Tenkodogo (
He said
agriculture is of great importance to the two countries and that their farmers
have a lot to benefit from the sharing of agricultural technology and the
marketing of produce.
Salifu was
interacting with the Vice President of Burkina Faso, Paramanga
Ernest Yonli, during a regional agricultural fair at Tenkodogo, capital town of the
His
counterpart, the Haut Commissaire of
Salifu said it
would be particularly useful to have Ghanaian farmers participating in the
event so that they and their Burkinabe counterparts
could learn from each other's experiences.
Salifu stressed
the need for ECOWAS member states to extend their co-operation beyond the
political sphere, to embrace other important aspects such as agriculture and
the environment.
"The
incidence of cross-border bushfires could be combated more effectively if our
people living along our common frontiers collaborated
their efforts in that direction," he suggested.
He further
advocated a regular exchange programme between Ghanaian educational
institutions and their
On behalf of
the Government and people of
Yonli on his part observed that agriculture holds the key to economic
development in the
Yonli said the peoples of
The three-day
"Regional Fair for Agriculture, Livestock, Artisans and Fisheries" at
Tenkodogo brought together farmers and artisans from
six out of Burkina Faso's 45 Provinces or Regions, namely Boulgou,
Ganzourgou, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Nahouri and Zoundweogo, to show-case their various products.
Items exhibited
at the fair included maize, millet, groundnuts, cassava, tomatoes, onions,
bananas, fish, dairy products, assorted livestock and handicrafts and a wide
variety of locally made garments.
Prizes ranging
from water-pumping machines and donkey carts to wheel- barrows, cash and
certificates were presented to participants who distinguished themselves in
their respective areas of production.
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Ekumfi-Abor, (Central Region)
She said it is
in this regard, that her Ministry had embarked on "operation bring your
child home" programme to ensure that all children, especially those who
have been sold into slavery in the Yeji area and
other fishing communities in the country, get equal access to education.
Mrs. Asmah, who made the remarks when she hosted about 350
selected school children from the Ekumfi area at the
President's end-of-year party in the Central Region said, the "operation
bring your child home" programme is also to discourage child trafficking
and child labour.
She said the
government is also assisting women financially in their various trades as a
measure to empower them economically, to enable them to educate their children
since it recognises the importance of education to the socio-economic
development of the nation.
Mrs. Asmah advised the youth against engaging in social vices
since it would wreck their future, but to stick to their books and strive to be
achievers. The Minister expressed concern about the indecent mode of dressing
by some girls and stressed that it is against the tradition of the country.
The Central
Regional Minister, Mr. Isaac Edumadze asked children to be respectful and
studious, and also charged parents not to make negative remarks about their
wards since this might affect their self-esteem.
On the recent
fuel increase, he said it was a very difficult decision the government had to
take to ensure better future for Ghanaians and asked people who are
politicising the issue to desist from it.
The Odikro of the area, Nana Amoasi
VI appealed to the Mfantseman District Assembly to,
as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate the junior secondary school of the town,
which he said, is in a deplorable state. The government should also install a
pineapple-processing machine in the area to enable them to add value to the
fruit, which abounds in the area, he added.
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Accra (Greater
Accra) 27 January 2003- The Volta River Authority (VRA) has expressed concern
about the operation of self-styled opinion leader and social commentator, Mr Owula Mangortey, who has used the
media to cast insinuations, aspersions and suggestions of impropriety on the
part of the Authority, its staff, especially the Chief Executive.
A press release
issued by the Public Affairs Department of the VRA said Mangortey
has shown unduly exceptional interest in the affairs of the VRA and the Chief
Executive, acting under the guise of the pursuit of scrutiny of public
organisations and officials.
"The Volta
River Authority would like the Ghanaian public to know that whilst it welcomes
and is happy to keep the public informed of its activities, and is indeed
supportive of the important work of media personnel and social commentators to
keep the searchlight on public officials, it is extremely disturbed about the
motives and methods of Mangortey and feels compelled
to bring some very important issues to the attention of the Ghanaian
public," the statement said.
Over the last
year, Mangortey, who also styles himself as an energy
expert, has made approaches to the Volta River Authority to offer his services
as a Media Consultant and promoter of the Authority's cause.
Mangortey has approached Senior Management of the Authority
to offer the following specific services amongst others: "to be given
appointment as a promoter of VRA's public
image", "to invite VRA to use his radio programmes on Unique FM as a
tool to promote the Authority corporate image" and "to be given free
reign to use his access to the media to promote VRA's
corporate image".
The objective
of Mr Mangortey's offer to assist VRA has been to, in
his own words; "assist the Authority to correct the supposedly negative
image that it has in the eyes of the public".
VRA would like
to place on record that whilst it has politely listened to Mangortey's
offers, it has declined all of them on the basis that the Authority has a fully
functioning Public Affairs Department that can competently handle the promotion
of the Authority's image and its desire to keep the public fully informed of
its activities.
It is also
important to let the public know that each time the Authority has declined Mangortey's approaches, it has been subjected to sustained,
and unmeritorious attacks on its integrity and good name by Mangortey
in various media outlets in the country.
While these
attacks are seemingly presented as legitimate scrutiny of VRA's
activities on behalf of the public, it is also important to point out that the
coincidence of VRA's spurning of Mangortey's
approaches and subsequent virulent attacks from him in the media constitute a
very serious and dangerous conflict of the rightful and critical scrutiny of
public interest and the pursuit of Mangortey's own
private interest.
It is VRA's view that such conduct is unethical, unprofessional
and if not checked constituted a threat to the integrity and conduct of the
Ghanaian media, which has shown exemplary conduct in the pursuit of the growing
freedom of the press in Ghana and increasing the awareness of the Ghanaian
public of the work of public institutions.
VRA wishes to
re-affirm its commitment to an open and transparent prosecution of its business
and the strengthening of its relations with the media in their legitimate
pursuit of the Authority's accountability on behalf of the people of
"VRA is
also committed to the fullest scrutiny and public disclosure of the conduct of
its business. However, the Authority also believes that the freedom of the
media, which Ghana enjoys today, should go hand-in-hand with the practice of
responsible journalism; a practice that is devoid of any hint of extortion of
public bodies or any suggestion of the blackmail of senior officials.
"Such
occurrences, subtle or otherwise should not be allowed to mar the tremendous
strides and achievement made by
"VRA
believes that Mangortey's attempt to become both the
poacher and the game keeper of the Authority's corporate image and public
perception is unacceptable and should be made public so that the excessive and
obsessive interest shown by Mangortey in the
Authority's activities could be exposed and set in the proper context for all
the people of Ghana to have a more complete picture to judge the merits or
otherwise of Mangortey's comments on the Authority's
affairs," it said.
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