Ghana Bar calls for fresh investigation into Judges’ murder
Re-sit students burn the midnight oil
Shaping the Future of the Newspaper: Internet Strategies Revisited
A President who listens and cares
H. E. Kyerematen and the Ghana Skill Bank
Ghana and Burkina Faso poised to strengthen
relations - Kufuor
Probe how assets of Black Star Line were disposed of - Chief
Africa needs 50 billion dollars annually to grow - Gebe
About 2,650 rural communities to be connected to national grid
Open membership of AU will encourage economic stagnation - Prof. Bluwey
Government policy on private pension is good - Larbie
Cocoa disease and pest control programme launched
AIDS beyond health problem - Prof Amoa
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2002 - The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on Sunday called on the government to act on demands for fresh investigation and the prosecution of those responsible for the murder of the three High Court Judges and the retired Army Officer on 30 June 30 1982.
Mr. Paul Adu Gyamfi, President of the GBA in making the call, expressed confidence that the Attorney General, "in this era of reconciliation," would authorise further and thorough investigations of all available evidence to ensure that no one linked, in whatever manner, to this heinous crime escaped the full rigours of the law.
''This will let the nation know once and for all, the full truth of this grisly deed, and finally the lingering suspicions, questions and doubts.'' Mr. Adu Gyamfi was speaking at the 20th Anniversary Remembrance Service for the three murdered Justices of High Court and the Army Officer at the Police Church in Accra. The murdered High Court Judges were Mrs Justice Koranteng-Addow, Mr. Justice Kwadwo Agyei-Agyepong and Mr. Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee.
In attendance at the solemn ceremony, were among other dignitaries, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, the Attorney General, Nana Akufo Addo, Members of the GBA, Judges of the Supreme Court, Rev. Aboagye Mensah, General Secretary of the Christian Council and members of the bereaved families.
The Biographies of the three murdered Judges, were read by Mr. Justice Amonoo Monney, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood and Mr. Justice S.A. Brobbey, all Judges of the Appeal Court.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi said statements by Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, son of one of the murdered Judges, now the government's spokesman and by sections of the media cast grave doubts on the reliability of the account of the investigations.
He said new evidence had been offered which sharply called into question the credibility of the Special Investigation Board (SIB) and the validity of some of its findings published along with a Government white Paper.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi said the Board made a number of findings, implicating two members of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and the Special Advisor to the PNDC in the crime, characterising the Special Advisor as allegedly the mastermind behind the crime.
''The findings against the Special Advisor was rejected by the then Attorney General in the White Paper'' he said adding, some of those implicated were then prosecuted, found guilty, sentenced to death and executed. “One of the un-indicted co-conspirators, Corporal S.K. Amedeka, was allowed to escape from jail and to flee the country.''
He said all facts at their disposal however, left little doubt that the crime of which the three High Court Judges were adjudged guilty by their captors and for which they were made to pay, was their singular and unswerving dedication to the rule of law and the impartial administration of justice.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi said it was a tragic irony that while they kept faith with their judicial oaths by doing justice to all manner of person, they themselves were not accorded any trial, which was a fundamental human right.
The GBA would forever commend and hold in high esteem judicial courage, honesty, fairness, and the rule of law without which the nation could know no real peace. ''Our departed colleagues died in the line of duty to their nation, to their countrymen and women and to the rule of law. We salute them as martyrs to the rule of law.''
Professor Emeritus, The Most Reverend Kwesi A. Dickson, President of All Africa Conference of Churches in a sermon said, "a society which is polarised, characterised by grave disparities, stands a fair chance of experiencing such tensions as could tear it apart."
Violence, he said was more likely to flourish in a society where the state of oneness was in doubt. Rev. Dickson said since the attainment of independence, the country had known the kind of politics that made the ruling party a privileged group with many in the society bowing to them endlessly.
He said the nation's efforts at improving living standards would be in vain unless these were geared towards the creation of a society in equilibrium, one in which each recognised a responsibility for the good of all especially those not so well endowed.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in an interview with newsmen said all the issues raised by the GBA would be taken care of by the National Reconciliation Commission, adding that the government would act on its recommendations.
GRi../
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President Compaore attends Republic day
Durbar of Chiefs.
Somanya (Eastern Region) 02 July 2002 - The visiting Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore on Monday said the celebrations of Ghana's Republic day should stimulate the commitment of Ghanaians to meet the challenges facing the socio-economic development of their country, Burkina Faso and the African continent.
Africans could develop their various countries and the continent through their courage and commitment, President Compaore told a grand durbar of chiefs from the 11 paramountcies in the Eastern Region at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, as part of activities marking the 42nd anniversary celebrations of Ghana's Republic Day.
President Compaore said Ghana the torchbearer of Africa showed the way to independence and African emancipation and has the potentials for economic development as well.
He urged Ghanaians, both government and entrepreneurs to make use of the arable lands and other natural resources that abound in the country effectively for the country's development. President Compaore pledged Burkina Faso's assistance to Ghana in finding solutions to many of the problems affecting the country and create employment for the people.
He said, "Ghana has arable lands, which should be utilised to create employment, we would help you solve some of the problems and since there is no book to create employment, we should use our imagination and never be discouraged by the problems confronting us to succeed".
President John Agyekum Kufuor said the challenge facing Ghana's culture was to retain those that were useful for development and have the courage to discard those cultural practices that retard progress.
He said some people bemoan that much of Ghana's culture had lost its purity as a result of the contact with other cultures but since culture was dynamic and must embrace change to retain the strengths of the core beliefs and adapt to suit changing needs. "It is however, imperative that we have the confidence to retain our identity and the attributes of which we can be proud as a people," he added.
Nene Narh Dautey Ologo VI, Konor of Yilo Krobo Traditional Area appealed to the government for assistance to unearth the rich tourism potentials in the district and other parts of the region to generate revenue for their development and employment for the people.
At a State banquet in the honour of the Burkinabe leader and Senior Citizens as part of activities marking the 42nd anniversary, at the State House in Accra, President John Agyekum Kufuor said African leaders owed it a duty to their peoples not to let their parochial interests prevent the rapid development required to connect their countries to the "global world".
He said they could not integrate their economies and societies to move forward unless they promoted peace, stability and good neighbourliness within their various sub-regional blocks. "We cannot integrate in the midst of conflicts."
He appealed to African leaders to ensure peace in their countries and with their neighbouring countries. President Kufuor said Ghana and Burkina Faso had a historic opportunity to realise their potentials, adding, "this is our challenge, we dare not fail".
Ghana's Highest State Award, Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (Honorary Division) was conferred on President Campaore. The citation read by Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Foreign Affairs said, "You have maintained peace and stability in Burkina Faso that had improved the economic development.
You have contributed to the development of economic and political co-operation within the sub-region and Africa as a whole. In recognition of your devotion to the rule of law and human rights and commitment to the promotion and establishment of democracy you are being honoured".
GRi../
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Kwesiminstim (Western Region) 02 July 2002 - Some junior secondary school students have converted the Out Patients' Department (OPD) of the Kwesiminstim Hospital in the Western Region into a study centre.
The about 50 students including from Apowa, Mpatado, Asakae, Whindo and Apremdo all outlying communities around Kwesiminstim, were busily preparing for the re-sit of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled to commerce today 2 July.
In an interview, Master Dela Minkah, who lives at Mpatado, said he was forced to come to the hospital when he realised that he could not study at home because of the noise and disturbances from his younger brothers and sisters. Master Minkah said though he did not ask permission before studying there, no official of the hospital had interrupted the revision exercises.
Miss Rosina Quaicoo, the only female among the boys said revision among the boys had given her more hope and inspiration for the impending examination. She said, on finding out that some of her colleagues were using the OPD of the hospital for studies, she informed her parents, who gave her permission to join them.
She usually left home around 8 p.m. and returned at dawn. She appealed to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) to ensure that none of the examination papers, leaked again. Almost all the question papers for the Basic Education Certificate Examination were leaked last month forcing WAEC to conceal about eight of the papers.
GRi../
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 02 July 2002 - A clergy on Saturday appealed to victims of atrocities and injustices of the past to co-operate with the National Reconciliation Commission to ensure peace, stability for development if it commence sitting.
Primate S.K. Adofo, Head of the Lord Brotherhood Church, therefore, appealed to persons who would appear before the Commission to forgive those who would be found liable to allegations of crimes to enable the country move forward.
He told the opening session of the four-day annual conference of the church in Kumasi under the theme, "The church's role in bridging the gap" that: "If perpetrators of atrocities accept their mistakes and confess and when the victims genuinely forgive them then true reconciliation can be achieved and not by any material compensation to victims."
It was being attended by 500 delegates drawn from 163 branches of the church throughout the country and Togo. He noted that, "compensation per se can not relieve pains that had been inflicted on persons who were dishonestly or cruelly treated and guarantee a re-union of victims and perpetrators of such crimes."
Primate Adofo urged the Church to assist government in fighting indiscipline, lawlessness, prostitution and other vices that have engulfed the country. According him such tendencies undermined God's authority, exhibited man's selfishness and resulted in the destruction of the country.
GRi../
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Paris (France) 02 July 2002 - Newspapers have been succeeding on the internet in terms of traffic, but what about revenues? Most publishers are still struggling to determine how best to exploit the world wide web, and the emerging range of distribution options that the internet presents.
The World Association of Newspapers recently looked at these options as part of its Shaping the Future of the Newspaper project (SFN), and has published the results in a report entitled, "Internet Strategies for Newspapers Revisited."
"The report provides publishers with an update on the usage of the internet, together with a range of strategies that they can adopt in their current and future business activities," said Timothy Balding, Director General of WAN.
The Paris-based WAN created the SFN project to identify, analyse and publicise, as quickly as possible, all-important breakthroughs that could benefit the future of newspapers all over the world. It produces a series of six annual SFN reports on new operational and strategic developments in the press.
"Internet Strategies For Newspapers Revisited" examines seven key points in exploiting the net:
--The rate of growth of the medium in its current form is slowing as many markets reach maturity;
--There are many opportunities in the print business to exploit the capabilities of the web to enhance the reader/advertiser/publisher relationship;
--The ability to reach an ageing population in mature markets will be enhanced because this group is the fastest growing segment of, the internet population;
--Simple interactions that allow users to react to news and to personalise it are vital both to gather knowledge and data and to strengthen communications between publisher and reader;
--Many new opportunities lie in emerging mobile technologies, where newspapers can exploit their core components of immediacy and community;
--The cost-per-thousand advertising model today provides little value for publishers but other models, including sponsorship and revenue sharing, offer returns in the future;
--The big threat to newspapers' recruitment advertising revenue is largely due to the high rates being charged, which give new service suppliers the opportunity to provide a service across a wider range of the recruitment value chain, at a significantly lower cost;
--Online developments in publishing need to be market-led and not technology led, with technology companies -- and not publishers -- taking the technological risks.
Other reports in the first SFN series are:
--The Value Driven Newspaper. "Do less better" is the message of this report, which focuses on how to drive the loyalty and regularity of readers and advertisers to increase revenues with less resource.
--Editorial Measurement. Some say it couldn't be done. But this report makes an argument that editorial resources can be measured for effectiveness, efficiency, economy as well as the traditional measures that the editor applies when judging how well the editorial staff are doing their jobs.
--Strategies for a Converging World. This report discusses both the concept of convergence and the actions of publishers in response to the rapidly changing technological environment. The report examines changing practice in terms of editorial, commerce, product development, technological implementation as well as wider strategic issues.
--Successful Customer Relationship Management. This report provides a five-step approach to successful CRM that can be implemented in newspaper sales, advertising or editorial. It outlines the implementation process of each of the three key components of CRM -- knowledge, technology and people-- and draws on case studies by industry leaders for examples of winning strategies.
--The Tailored Newspaper. This report examines the case for the tailored newspaper concept, including an economic evaluation of the potential and an overview of the latest technological developments in print and mail room capabilities.
In addition to the reports, the SFN project also includes a web discussion forum for each of the topics, where newspaper professionals update and comment on the latest developments. The reports, as well as the discussion forum on newspaper strategies, are available through subscription on WAN¹s web site at http://www.futureofthenewspaper.com.
The SFN project is a key feature of the READY project, which was launched in 1997 to promote improvements in product, management and performance at newspaper companies.
WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 71 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 100 countries, 13 news agencies and nine regional and worldwide press groups.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2002 - IF there is any indication that His Excellency, President John Agyekum Kufuor, is determined to live up to the Positive Change agenda set by his New Patriotic Party [NPP] government, it is in his desire to listen to the counsel of informed and wise individuals and to his electorate, a desire which he has demonstrated on quite a number of occasions since he assumed the leadership of this country.
Shortly after he had sworn the members of the Armed Forces Council into office at Burma Camp on August 31 2001, the President said, "The composition of this council is such that there is no reason it should not be able to advise the Commander-in-Chief [the president]. Most of you occupy the highest positions in the military. I, therefore, expect that this council will always give me the best of advice so that the troops can be kept happy and loyal to the Constitution and the state."
It is particularly gratifying to note that the President cited " the composition of this council" as the reason for reposing confidence in it. Included in the council, as the President himself noted, are the most senior military officials - the Chief of Defence Staff [CDS], the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air force and the Forces Sergeant Major.
The expertise and experiences that these men have acquired over the years cannot be discounted in matters pertaining to the military institution. The members of the council must have felt greatly motivated by such a great deal of trust reposed in them by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces
By that show of recognition, the President signalled his intention to count on the counsel of experts in his bid to make decisions. This is of great gain to Ghana, for as it is written in the book of Proverbs, "Without counsel, plans go away, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established". [Proverbs 15:22]
In recent times, the appointment of the three eminent traditional leaders by the President to mediate a resolution of the Yendi conflict can be seen as a further demonstration of his appreciation for expert advice and wise counsel in dealing with issues at stake. As the President himself noted during his meeting with each of the three leaders, the Yendi conflict borders on chieftaincy and, therefore, as traditional leaders and fathers of the land, the knowledge and wisdom of the Otumfuo, the Nayiri and the Yagbon-Wura can greatly influence the resolution of the conflict.
This is a decision which no Ghanaian of any political persuasion can fault. It is only hoped that the counsel of these eminent leaders will yield fruits of long lasting peace. In more recent times, the decision by Cabinet [which is headed by the President] to refer the dispute surrounding the Songor Salt Project to the Economic Management Team can also be seen in the light of the President's desire for consultation.
It is commendable that this issue was not taken with a pinch of political salt as happened in the past. It is hoped that the team will offer the kind of advice that will turn that treasure trove into a most lucrative and mutually beneficial project.
The press conference hosted by Mr Kufuor in connection with his hundredth day in office was an instance of his desire to interact with his electorate. The media are an indispensable link between the ruler and the ruled. By interacting with them, therefore, the President must have had a feel of public opinion pertaining to some of his decisions and actions.
With such a wealth of information, he must have geared himself to uphold or adjust such decisions and actions towards meeting the aspirations of the masses that alone have the power to sustain or unseat his government. The conference must have also offered him the opportunity to improve upon his goodwill by correcting adverse opinions that might have been formed against him and his government as a result of misinformation or disinformation.
Experience has shown that many persons in his position have shunned the media and reaped the sour fruit of the media's incredible capacity to influence public opinion. It was, indeed, a worthwhile public relations exercise and it has gone into the history of this country as the first of its kind.
Further, the public forum held by the President at the Accra International Conference Centre in connection with the first year anniversary of his government and replicated in various district centres throughout the country is the most valid testimony yet to his sensitivity to public opinion. Once again, the fora must have offered the President and his team on one hand and the polity on the other the opportunity for healthy interaction.
What made the fora outstanding platforms for the facilitation of the democratic process was their inter-personal nature. Various individuals acting on their own or on behalf of various interest groups had the rare opportunity of interacting with the President and some members of his team with very little limitations of space, language or channel. By replacing the anniversary parades that were normally held on the occasion by the previous regime with these fora, the President extended the arena for popular participation in governance a little further down the grass roots.
In spite of these instances, His Excellency appears to have shut his ears to his people on a few occasions. His decision to close the Sahara deal to inquiry, in spite of public outcry to the contrary, is one case in point.
Another instance is the presence of a high-powered Ghanaian delegation at the celebrations marking the anniversary of the coup de'tat that gave President Gnassingbe Eyadema political power in Togo, in spite of public outcry against his own presence at the anniversary celebration last year. Ghanaians hope that the spirit of popular participation kindled by the President will be allowed to grow to overshadow these isolated cases.
As the President listens more and more to his people, seeking the counsel of men of knowledge and of wisdom and courting public opinion as and when necessary, he will not only grow in the understanding of the dynamics of governance and leadership but will also understand more and more the ramifications of the aspirations of his people, thereby equipping him in his effort to drive the ship of positive change closer to its destination. – Graphic
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Washington DC (USA) - 2 July 2002 - On 29 June 2002, an impressive crowd gathered at the Embassy auditorium in Washington, D.C. to hear His Excellency Allan Kyerematen, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the United States, inaugurate the Skill Bank project. The ambassador described the Skill Bank as “a web-enabled, interactive database of Ghanaian professionals around the world.”
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Dr. Susan Rice, former Assistant Secretary of State for Africa in the Clinton administration, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey of
Harvard University, former Finance Minister of the Rawlings regime and others.
In the audience were Ghanaian citizens as well as many from the Diaspora. As described by the ambassador the main idea of the Skill Bank was to tap into a pool of skills, abilities, and expertise which originated from Ghana and now in service to every country in the world, except Ghana; skills that obviously were sorely needed back home in Ghana.
Dr. Susan Rice, who is no stranger to Africa, especially Ghana, described the project as “visionary and a momentous idea.” She went on to describe it as “a tool to fight poverty and underdevelopment. …And a wise way to conserve reserves when so much is spent by African governments to employ foreign experts.”
Technically, the Skill Bank will be easy to use. It is an interactive platform, not different than any web based data gathering device. Access to the site is free. Participation as a prospective employer or job seeker is through registration and activation of password. Again, no more difficulties here than you would encounter elsewhere. That done, the participant will be free to visit the site as many times as needed either to search for prospects or to update information.
H.E. Kyerematen, deserves kudos. Indeed, he has been present in Washington, D.C. for less than a year, but his impact on citizens in North America is being felt. The potential benefits of the idea he has proposed and launched with audacity certainly will extend beyond Ghana. Africa stands to profit tremendously with the availability of such skill bank.
But, with all good ideas come always the question of reception and acceptance. Surely, the targets of the skill bank are those who for one reason or the other are outside the country. There has to be some explanation, beyond economics, for their departure. Is it lack of patriotism or failure to grasp the importance of their skills to country?
Seeking honest answers from these skilled folk will be hard and more so to prove. But the answer is not important. One honest answer out of a hundred is all that is needed. Chances are given the number of skilled Africans outside the continent, finding one percent of this group - qualified, sincere and eager to go back home - is the easy part.
And that one percent may be all Africa presently needs to double her skill capacity on a continent that is suffering from massive brain drain. But, what has to raise concern is a bureaucratic culture in Africa that is recalcitrant to ideas from countrymen outside the loop. No one in his right senses would question the ability of this culture to understand the benefits of a skill bank. The problem is not perception. It will be usage. Will the bureaucracy use the Skill Bank as intended, or will it shelve it? Are the entrenched, the gate keepers who must sanction usage, going to feel threatened by it?
Seriously, this is not the only good idea that has surfaced in Africa since independence. And it is not the first time either that Africa will frustrate people of talent: The engineer who is employed as one, but ends up becoming a pay master, trekking to the regions to pay workers is an example. The experienced doctor from America who is required to take exams even though his credibility and qualification can easily be proven with a simple, official letter of inquiry to the medical board of the state he last worked in; or to his alma mater to request transcript is another.
Let’s be honest, Africa has a bureaucratic culture that has very little use of her men and women of abilities. Talent as it relates to development has been the least of its considerations. This is what kills Africa. Perhaps, you may not agree with the last statement but consider the following: The World Cup has ended. With the exception of Senegal, all other African teams performed beneath expectation, especially Cameroon and Nigeria.
Soccer may be just a game, an entertainment, but it is one of the foremost fields to showcase ability and talent. In this regard, the athleticism of Africans is proverbial. Without politics and other considerations, many countries in Africa could field superb soccer teams. The difficulty is selecting and fielding these players without rancor.
Even so, compare what Senegal achieved versus what Nigeria or Cameroon could not, and then decide which team’s approach was more postulated on the Skill Bank theme. Senegal is a peanut size country when compared with watermelon size Nigeria. Ranked 42 in standing, and staging her world cup battle among the most difficult group of France, the reigning champion, Denmark the Euro champion, and two-time world champion Uruguay, Senegal managed to go farther than Nigeria and Cameroon.
Nigeria, well, had problem accommodating her citizen players from the overseas leagues. She had more players in the European league and more and many talented players in her Skill Bank than Senegal. For some reason, she was not able to maximize usage of the bank. Cameroon, the African champion, ranked 17 in world cup standing, was the one team Africa had eyes on to bring glory to the continent. They arrived on the scene in a chaotic state.
In the confusion and defeat of both Nigeria and Cameroon was the untold story of how the Skill Bank was used or not used. With a dose of discipline, Senegal, however, maximized her meager pool of talent. She was then able to shock the world with her brilliance. The spark she lit in the World Cup, if continued in the tradition of utilizing the Skill Bank, would help her in future contests not limited to soccer only.
There may be other reasons for Cameroon and Nigeria lackluster performances. It may well be due to the “prima donna” complex, as some may say; but which danger ought to be expected. The complex comes with the privilege of putting highly talented people to work for a single purpose, a good cause in this case.
However, it is a good cause, only if it is understood by all as such. That done, the underlying task for a country’s development or advancement still lies in her ability to round up successfully and to maximize usage of all talent in her Skill Bank. Would Kenya or Ethiopia by-pass her overseas based athletes in a prospective World Cup run, based on a Boston style marathon, and hope to be the victorious nation?
It is kind of crass to say at any time that Africans are humans too. But if there is one thing that humans hold in common emotionally, it is the impact that frustration can make on their effectiveness. There is nothing that could frustrate people of talent and ability more than when they feel unwanted or think their abilities have no place in their societies. This can explain why many talented individuals from Africa are working outside the continent, while still yearning to come home.
Africa cannot be blamed for her people of talent migrating outside. The attractions of promise and reward are too great for her to counter. But, it will be folly, at a point when these same people are satiated, for her not to entice them back home or ask them to help.
The Ghana Skill Bank is an excellent idea. How such an idea could have escaped this nation for all these years is amazing. However, as they say, it is better late than never.
H. E. Kyerematen has a lot of work to do other than making sure that the bank functions. He must convince the government in Ghana it has a job to do too. The citizenry needs to understand that the Skill Bank is not a threat, but an idea which when embraced will lift all in the country. Perhaps, H. E. Kyerematen should also extend the same idea up to NEPAD or the AU. - Ablorh-Odjidja, Washington, D.C.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday said Ghana and Burkina Faso were poised to play their roles together to strengthen and deepen the process of integration within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He said ECOWAS was not an end in itself because the world was moving into a global village and ECOWAS was one of the building blocks within which
Africa would become a Union.
President Kufuor was speaking at the opening of bilateral talks between Ghana and Burkina Faso at the Castle, Osu. The talks formed part of the programme for the three-day official visit to Ghana by the Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore and a 30-member delegation, which arrived in Accra on Sunday.
Issues to be discussed at the talks include, review of political relations between the two countries, the work of the Ghana-Burkina Faso Joint Commission for Co-operation and the review of the political and socio international co-operation within financial and economic co-operation.
Others were the review of the political development in West Africa in relation to the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Mano River Basin as well as the entire African continent in Angola, Democratic Republic Of Congo, NEPAD and African Union.
The talks would also deliberate on sub-regional economic integration within the framework of ECOWAS, review of global issues such as international terrorism and the Middle East. President Compaore would also meet African ambassadors and the Burkinabe Community in Ghana.
On Monday, President Compaore would visit the Akosombo Hydro-electric power station and participate in a Republic Day grand durbar of chiefs at Somanya, in the Eastern Region. On Tuesday, President Compaore and his entourage would visit Kumasi to hold discussions with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, address Parliament and lay a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, before he leaves for home on the same day.
President Kufuor stressed the need for joint efforts by all countries within the Sub-region to unite them firmly and place ECOWAS in its rightful place in the envisaged African Union. He said "the visit was to join Ghanaians to celebrate the Republic Day and the two countries also to look at factors that bind them together to become the centre-piece of the sub-regional market for 250 million people."
"I hope the efforts we are making would lift our relations to a brighter and higher plane not for our mutual benefits alone but also the entire sub-region, " he said.
President Compaore said the visit was an honour to celebrate the Republic Day, which marked an important step in the emancipation of Africans and would also fulfil the process to bring people of the two countries together. He said within the current globalisation, it was only major political groupings, which could survive and make their voices heard, adding, "The West African integration is our contribution towards globalisation".
The Burkinabe President said it would be difficult for both Ghana and Burkina Faso to work into globalisation alone but with the sub-regional integration it would be easier for them to become active in the political and economic arena. He said the visit would also enable them consolidate their positions to integration within the sub-region because every successful process had to undergo difficult stages and it was their duty as leaders to help the two countries improve on what they had achieved between them towards such integration.
President Compaore said it was also an opportunity to consolidate and strengthen peace within the sub-region and give more impetus to ECOWAS, adding,
"Burkina Faso is determined to move ahead with Ghana to strengthen our bilateral relations and contribute to the sub-regional integration."
GRi…/
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Govt spends 80 billion cedis on crude oil
for Aboadze Thermal plant
Akosombo, (Eastern Region) 02 July 2002- The Government spends about 80 billion cedis on crude oil for Aboadze Thermal Plant every three months to generate electric power for some parts of the country.
This was disclosed by Dr Yves Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to newsmen at Akosombo on Monday. He said although about 55 per cent of electric power in the country was generated from hydro, within the next decade about 70 per cent of the electric power in the country would be generated from thermal plant.
The Chief Executive said, " hydro generation is no longer cheap and the use of steam and gas to generate electric power is now cheaper". He said last year, Ghana and Burkina Faso signed a Power Purchasing Agreement to supply power to its border towns through the Sawla power station in the Upper West Region.
Dr Wereko-Brobby said when the agreement become operational, the VRA could build transmission lines to connect Ouagadougou and supply more power to Burkina Faso. In answer to a question, Dr. Wereko-Brobby denied that Burkina Faso had built a hydroelectric dam to generate its own electric power.
He said, although they had the idea to build one sometime ago, it was abandoned because of the cost involved and was cheaper for them to purchase from Ghana than to build their own dam.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 02 July 2002- Nana Opoku Agyemang III, Adumakasse-Kesehene and member of the Kumasi Traditional Council, has called on the government to institute a high-powered probe into how the assets of the Black Star Line, the national shipping line were disposed of.
Nana Agyemang, one-time Manager of the Black Star Line in London, made the appeal when he met members of the Ghana Maritime Officers Association in Kumasi. He said before the December 31st coup, Black Star Line owned 20 ships with lots of assets in Takoradi, Tema and London but these were sold under mysterious circumstances without Ghanaians knowing how much the then government made from the sale.
Nana Agyemang, formerly known as Mr Kwadwo Takyi Berko, Member of Parliament for Offinso in the Third Republic, described as a "pity" that after 45 years of independence, Ghana, a pace setter in African politics, did not own a single shipping vessel. "In the light of this the government as a matter of urgency should institute the probe to find out if there is a way of retrieving any of the lost assets to the state", Nana Agyemang said.
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He said at the end of his four-year term, changes in the country would clearly show the difference between what a good government could do for the betterment of the people and how a bad government could make the entire nation poor and miserable.
This was contained in a message read on his behalf by Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, to climax the silver jubilee celebration of the Saint Paul's Catholic Parish at Amakom, in Kumasi on Sunday. He said Ghanaians had been known to be peace-loving and bemoaned how this enviable virtue was nearly marred by corruption, lawlessness, serial killings, oppression, fear and unlawful detention, which characterised the previous government.
He said with the support of all, Ghana would soon be a force to reckon with in Africa and the world promising to bring back memories of "the good old days".
President Kufuor noted that armed robbery, which was fast rearing its ugly head in the country would soon be a thing of the past as his government was leaving no stone unturned in its unrelenting fight against armed robbers till they had no haven in the country. He, therefore, called on leaders of churches, Muslims, traditionalists, chiefs and every well-meaning Ghanaian to make his dream a reality.
Speaking on the theme: "Evangelising Mission, Your Way Forward", the Right Reverend Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Catholic Bishop of Goaso in the Brong-Ahafo
Region, entreated the youth to emulate the good examples of Apostles Paul and Peter, who stood firmly for God even in the face of persecution. He called on the youth to let their good deeds follow them wherever they found themselves since as ambassadors of the gospel, a lot was expected of them in these turbulent times.
Mr Boafo commended the Saint Paul's parish for providing a water reservoir, carpentry workshop and a vocational school and building a bridge over the Aboabo River for the community. He reiterated that the NPP government was deeply committed to working with all well-meaning citizens as well as corporate bodies and religious institutions as dependable partners in the crusade against social vices.
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Ho (Volta Region) 02 July 2002- Africa needs 50 billion dollars annually for capacity building towards a better life for its people, Dr Yao Dzube Gebe, an expert on International relations said on Sunday. He said Africa would have to provide most of the funding since one would be kind enough to help the impoverished continent.
Dr Gebe was among panellists speaking on "the African Union and Ghana-vision, challenges and opportunities" at a workshop organised by Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on foreign affairs at Ho. Friedrich Ebert Foundation is sponsoring the two-day workshop.
He said "our experiences in the last 40 years of independence and association with Europe should alert us to the fact that there are very limited benefits to be derived from this association. It is time Africa began looking within itself for capital formulation."
According to Dr Gebe, "until we re-orient our thinking and psyche towards the realities of international economic relations and the dynamics of co-operation, our vision will only blossom into the perpetual dreams of tomorrow."
Mr Benjamin Godzi Godwyll, a retired diplomat, said the new vision of the African Union was the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He said Dr Nkrumah's dream provided a perfect path to integration, peace, prosperity and self-reliance for Africans. "Gadafi, the Libyan leader has admitted that his vision of a Continental Union for Africa flows from the ideas of the pan-Africanist movement led by Dr
Nkrumah and Dr Dubois".
The retired diplomat said all successive Ghanaian governments had shared Dr Nkrumah's vision in their own respective ways. He asked that Ghana embraced the objectives of the Union as spelt out in the constitutive Act to play its proper role in the eventual unification of Africa. "We must learn from the mistakes of the OAU. We must resolve to turn the failures of the OAU into successes. We must say this thing must work." Mr Godwyll said challenges like economic and social adjustments to allow the integration of the continent would "knock on every African country's door."
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President Compaore tours Akosombo
Hydro-electric Power Station
Akosombo (Eastern Region) 02 July 2002-The visiting Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore and his wife Chantel on Monday paid a familiarisation tour of the Akosombo Hydro-electric power station at Akosombo in the Eastern Region as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana.
Accompanied by his host, President John Agyekum Kufuor and his wife Theresah, they were conducted round by Mr. Kirck Koffi, Plant Manager and Acting Director of Operations of the Volta River Authority (VRA). After the tour, President Compaore and his wife as well as President Kufuor signed the visitor's book, President Compaore wrote, " I admire the technical mastery of our Ghanaian brothers".
President Compaore, whose visit coincided with the 42nd anniversary celebrations of Ghana' Republic Day, also attended grand durbar of chiefs from the 11 paramountcies in the Eastern Region at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area. In the evening, President Compaore would be honoured at a State banquet to be held in his honour and Senior Citizens of Ghana at the State House in Accra.
On Tuesday, President Compaore and his 30-member entourage would travel to Kumasi to meet the Burkinabe Community and hold private discussions with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace. He would return to Accra and go on a State ride with his host, address Parliament and lay a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum before he returns home on the same day.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2002- The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Monday extended its warmest felicitations to Ghanaians for attaining 42 years of a
Republican status.
In a statement issued and signed by Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, General Secretary of the party, it said 1 July would forever remain in the minds of Ghanaians as the day when this country attained a full sovereign status under the leadership of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the CPP and modern Ghana.
He said: " The quest for a Republican status was in fulfilment of the CPP government's commitment to achieving a major objective underpinning the declaration of independence in 1957"
Reminding Ghanaians of the struggle they went through to attain emancipation, self-dignity and equality of black people Mr Dowuona said, "the significant role played by Dr Nkrumah towards the attainment of those goals should not be forgotten." He called on all to commit themselves to the ideals of Pan -Africanism and the emancipation of the oppressed and underprivileged people throughout the world as they celebrate the day.
Dr Dowuona said all Nkrumaists welcomed the commitment to the establishment of the African Union by 'progressive African leaders' adding; " this shows a recognition of the vision and mission of Ghana's first President and founding father of the
Organisation of African Unity."
He expressed the hope that the sub-regional groupings such as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development
Commission (SADC), Arab League and the current economic blueprint, New Economic Partnership for Economic Development (NEPAD), should not frustrate or slow down the pace of the continental unity.
"The numerous factors that continue to hamper Africa's growth and development must be resolved quickly with a continental outlook to lift the continent out of its present gloom," he said.
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Ehie, (Volta Region) 02 July 2002- More than 2,650 rural communities are to be connected to the national grid under the phase three of the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) which ends this year Mr Kwabena Jahir Hammond, Deputy Minister of Energy announced on Saturday.
He was commissioning a 1.4 billion cedis self-help electrification project, undertaken by the people of Ehie, a farming community in the Ketu District of the Volta Region. Mr Hammond stressed government's commitment to job creation, poverty alleviation and the provision of affordable and reliable energy supply as an indispensable component in socio-economic development.
The Deputy Minister, however, expressed regret that the vision of the National Electrification Programme, started in 1989 as a catalyst for the establishment of cottage industries, job creation, incomes enhancement and the reduction in youth migration were being relegated to the background.
Mr Hammond advised the people of Ehie to establish cottage industries and use the power to create employment and generate wealth to assist them pay their bills. He said 25 per cent of power generated in the country annually was wasted at a great cost to the nation and the taxpayer through the use of poor lamps and second hand electrical appliances.
Mr Hammond said government in conjunction with the Energy Foundation was working hard to eliminate the waste by inducing the use of high efficiency appliances and said while it was true consumers paid the correct tariffs to cover cost in power production, customers equally deserved reliable and efficient services from the power producers.
Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Deputy Volta Regional Minister said the commissioning of the project was proof of government's sincerity in completing all uncompleted projects inherited from the previous government. He gave the assurance that that the roads linking the town with Dzodze and Agbozume would be tarred to ease transportation in the area.
Mr Linus Coffie, Ketu District Chief Executive (DCE) asked the people to rally behind the government for the development of the area and said work would soon begin on a six-classroom block for the town. He promised that the assembly would assist the community to pay its commitment fee of 150 million cedis for the 2.3 billion cedis GTZ water project.
Togbe Adukpo 111, chief of Ehie in his welcoming address said the availability of power would enhance gari processing, rice milling, food preservation and also improve the work of artisans in the town. He appealed for the construction of other roads linking the town, extension of power to adjoining villages and urged the youth to take advantage of the availability of electric power to improve their lot.
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Open membership of AU will encourage
economic stagnation - Prof. Bluwey
Ho (Volta Region) 02 July 2002-The open membership of the African Union has been criticised as encouraging economic stagnation and dictatorship on the continent. "An organisation which seeks to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular political participation and good governance along with the principles of social justice cannot reasonably contain in its membership, persons who virtually own states or declare war on their own people."
Professor Gilbert Keith Bluwey, a Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Ghana, told members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign affairs attending a workshop on the "African Union" at Ho. He said the membership of the union must be accessible only to those states whose governments demonstrate unambiguous commitment to its principles and objectives.
The Lecturer drew a religious analogy thus, "the Christian God and the Fetish god cannot reasonably co-exist under the same roof." He called for constant and consistent intellectual imports into the formulation of programmes of the Union. "The Union must through programmes of direct intervention, challenge Africa's academic intellectuals to go into creative research on the African condition."
Prof. Bluwey said such research results should be in public domain to inform the media, civil society and the general public. "African leaders have, for too long ignored the benefits of creative research to policy. The emphasis on technical committees and eminent persons groups may not be misplaced.
However, the more successful nations and organisations known to history have been those that take their initial cues from idealistic pondering of creative minds." He asked that experienced civil servants should partner "intellectual idealists in the formulation and conduct of policy."
According to the Professor, the implementation of the Union's vision would falter if the ordinary African was not well informed on issues. He called for an African, High command, a standing army of all African countries to check cross border crimes and prevent and manage internal conflicts and aggression against the continent.
Prof. Bluwey said the HIV/AIDS pandemic was quickly consuming African human resources adding that it should be checked immediately. He called for a common citizenship for Africans to promote meaningful cultural, economic and social exchanges among individual Africans. "All these are matters that an African Parliament must address," he stressed.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 02 July 2002- Mr Victor Larbie, Managing Director of Donwell Insurance Company, has described the government policy to encourage private pensions as good and commendable, which should be embraced by employers and employees. This, he explained, was because in every economic venture, the private sector needed long-term funds to be able to do business.
Mr Larbie, who was the guest speaker at the joint President's Ball of the Rotary Clubs of Tema and Tema Meridian on Saturday, was speaking on: "The private Sector And The Golden Age Of Business".
The President's Ball of the two Rotary Clubs saw Mr Francis Agboada, Financial Controller of Aluworks, as the new President of the of the Rotary Club of Tema, who took over from Mr Kwasi Kwakwa, while Mrs Akosua Sakyi succeeded Mr Kingsley Kofi Ditsa as the President of Rotary Club of Tema Meridian.
Mr Larbie noted that there was a dearth of long-term funds, adding that such funds were accessed in the Stock Exchange, the Social Security and National
Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Life Insurance. He explained; "while life insurance is about six million dollars per annum. SSNIT has only 10 per cent of the market, therefore, 90 per cent out there is not tapped."
He said the potential for long-term funds in terms of pension was in the region of 520 million dollars per annum, this meant that about 250 million dollars could be pumped into the economy if that sector was activated. Therefore, Mr Larbie pointed out, there was the need for industry to support either themselves or their employees, because it would make money available for them again.
Mr Agboada said he would ensure the sowing of the seeds of love in the club and would aim at finding opportunities for members to serve well. He said his one-year administration would take the club to the communities to continue all on-going projects, especially the school for the training of the physically challenged and pledged to ensure that the admission of the first batch of students would start from September this year.
Mrs Sakyi, said even though the club had been newly established, there were plans for it to adopt the day care centre at community one market to enable members to share their knowledge on health, child care and sanitation with care takers and parents. She said as a young club, it needed a lot of support from their sponsors - Rotary club of Tema- and other past Governors in the District.
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Cocoa disease and pest control programme
launched
Kyekyewere (Ashanti Region) 02 July 2002- The second phase of the cocoa disease and pest control programme which involves the spraying of cocoa farms in the
Ahafo-Ano North District of Ashanti has been launched at a ceremony at Kyekyewere, near Tepa.
The launching involved educating the farmers and spraying gangs on the preparations so far made for the exercise to take off in the district. Mr Akwasi Adu-Poku, Ahafo-Ano North District Chief Executive, who launched the programme, said it was intended to increase cocoa production so as to encourage the youth to take to farming. He said it also showed the government's concern to alleviate some of the problems of farmers.
Mr Adu-Poku announced that the number of spraying gangs had been increased from 75 to 91 to enable the exercise to cover all parts of the district.
Mr Roland Takramah, District Cocoa Officer, told the farmers that the exercise would last for only three months and that each farmer would have his or her farm sprayed thrice during the period. He announced that a five-member society taskforce would be formed in each society to oversee and monitor the activities of the spraying gangs to ensure that the exercise achieved its goal.
On the payment of the spraying gangs, he said it would now be based on the actual work done and, therefore, urged them to work hard. Nana Oppong Fordjour, District Chief Farmer, appealed to farmers to weed and prune their farms to enable the spraying gangs to work very fast to cover all the farms.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2002- Professor Sakyi A. Amoa, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission on Sunday called on policy makers to consider the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a developmental rather than a health problem. He said; "the pandemic can no longer be considered as a health issue due to its social and economic implications and its impact on the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)."
Prof. Amoa told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after signing a contract on the Ghana AIDS Response Fund (GARFUND) with 12 organisation and institutions.
The GARFUND, a World Bank loan, was to support projects and crusade against the deadly disease in the country. It is also to support all intervention areas in the fight against the AIDS pandemic. The 12 signatories comprising Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), Community Based Organisations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies were among the first of 329 organisations to benefit from the 25 million dollar loan over a four-year period.
Prof Amoa said the menace has to be tackled from a multi-sectoral perspective, if it was to be treated as a developmental issue. "The Ministry of Health alone should no longer be left to handle it, but rather all sectors should get involve with the crusade to prevent the further spread of the disease."
The Ministries of Education, Local Government and Rural Development, Tourism, the Interior, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Standards Board constituted the first five of the Ministries/Departments and Agencies (MDAs) category of the 12 signatories.
The rest were CEDEP, the Wisdom Association, Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Manya Krobo Queen Mothers Association under non-governmental organisations and the religious bodies; and Youth Advocacy Club, Best Life for All and Mamfe Women CBO under the Community Based Organisations (CBO) category.
Signing the GARFUND contract with beneficiaries in Accra recently, Prof. Amoa stressed that it was necessary to fight HIV/AIDS with dedication and one accord; else its effects on the socio-economic development would be overwhelming and disastrous in the next five to 10 years.
He said the present prevalence rate, estimated to be about three percent,would go up if serious efforts were not made to prevent its spread. "About 350,000 Ghanaians are already living with HIV/AIDS. This number, however, represents about 30 per cent of the estimated number of actual AIDS cases in the country," Prof. Amoa said.
Prof.Amoa disclosed that under the first call of the fund, which began in the last week of June, the AIDS Commission had disbursed about 4.3 million dollars (about 34.4billion cedis) to organisations that had had their proposals approved.
Under Window A that formed the MDAs, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) stipulated that disbursements would be made in two equal trenches, under which they would have to submit justification on utilisation and account for the first after having actually spent 80 per cent of the first to be eligible to access the second.
In the case of Window B that caters for NGOs and district assemblies payments would be done in three instalments; the first instalment would be 20 per cent of the approved sum, the second instalment 50 per cent and the third 30 per cent. For sub projects under Window C, which are community based organisations; the lump sum would be allocated to all projects under a contract signed between the AIDS Commission and the concerned CBO.
Prof. Amoa cautioned the beneficiaries that the Commission would conduct random audits of beneficiaries to ensure that the monies were well spent and warned of sanctions or withdrawal of funding in cases of breach of contract. He said the commission was determined to strictly monitor and evaluate the activities of the beneficiaries to avoid duplication.
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