Help Ghana government to succeed - Dr Kwesi Botchwey
President Kufuor nominates five for Supreme Court
Witchcraft causing high school dropouts in Nadowli
I did not recognise Ya-Na as Dagbon overlord – Witness
Security personnel averts near clash between
Moshie factions
Ashanti Civil Servant gets own health scheme
Rights Commission staff asked to work hard
Change methods of checking motor accidents -
Professor Apt
Estate Developers ask for soft loan from govt
Squatters at railway stations to be
evacuated - Manager
Ghana's resource allocation to science and technology still low
Akuffo-Addo addresses DCEs from three regions
at Ho
NPP official on party squables
Building capacities of aspiring assemblywomen
President Compaore lays a wreath at Nkrumah
Mausoleum.
Traditions must be used to promote social progress
Intensify efforts towards peace, development - ECOWAS States urged
President Compaore leaves after three-day visit
London (UK) 3 July 2002 - The opinion of speakers and audience at a meeting on the above theme in London on 29 June 2002 to mark Ghana Republic Day was overwhelmingly the former. Neo-colonial Ghana is no republic, because by all definitions of the word - a democratic, egalitarian, self-determined society - it doesn't measure up. The meeting was organised by the African Liberation Support Campaign (ALISC)
Chair James Armah, general secretary of the Nzima Assocation in the UK, pointed out that Nkrumah, despite the obstacles the British colonists left behind, nonetheless laid the foundations of a modern infrastructure. He made sure that factories, schools, hospitals, roads and houses were built. Armah stressed that the problem since then has been that the western powers want to tell Ghanaians who their leaders should be.
Ghana cannot be a republic, said Pat Budu, first speaker and vice-chair of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures International Committee, because Ghana doesn't control its own affairs. When you look at what Ghanaians consume, you see this particularly sharply. From food to clothes to telecommunications to electrical goods - all manufactured goods come from abroad and Ghana produces none. Ms Budu gave a historical account of the act of democracy under various governments and also the occurrence of coups d'état and military governments, rendering the title of republic a misnomer.
The second speaker Odarquaye Lamptey, member of the All African People's Revolutionary Party (speaking in a personal capacity) and recently back from a visit to Ghana, emphasised the huge poverty gap between the elite and the majority of people. Ghana can't possibly be a republic which is defined as a society with equality between its members and serving the needs of all the people. Ghana's dependence on the west makes this impossible. Rather, because people have to pay for everything, only the wealthy get education, for example, or hospital care. The time has come, Odarquaye said, to join organisations and take action. NEPAD, he said, was both useless and dangerous.
Contributors from the audience of about twenty included Explo Nani-Kofi of ALISC who explained that Nkrumah's Pan Africanism promoted black power, a weapon left unused by other leaders on the continent. Nkrumah's concept of Ghana was that, like the original empire of Ghana, it should be a centre for bringing together people of all groups, and also a centre for liberating Africa, for people to be equipped to fight neo-colonialism. Pan Africanist slogans without a reference point are useless and Pan Africanists have to face the reality of building a continental union government, a government at the centre of transforming Africa. The mere taking over of any one neo-colonial state can never achieve this. The current presentation of Botswana as heaven is a myth.
After some discussion about whether Africans from the Caribbean could contribute to African countries and also those countries' successful professionals invest in productive enterprises, Pat Budu pointed out that it's a mistake to think of African states as nations with a long history and commensurate power. The fact is all Africans states were created by the colonists, all are bound by the governmental structures created by the colonists, and all states compete with each other, the weakest going to the wall. James Armah pointed out that western investment in Ghana has been in mining alone - in the extraction of primary resources, not in manufacturing, which latter will never happen. Odarquaye Lamptey said that Africans in the Caribbean needed to be educated into the fact of their Africaness, and realistically so.
The meeting agreed on certain questions - that Africa's wealth is being stolen by the west, that the OAU and its successor the African Union can never act in the interests of the African people because these two are merely the west's friends and running dogs - hence the humiliating spectacle of NEPAD's promise ending in a kiss on the cheek from President Bush in Canada and a couple of dollars from the G8 to keep the African natives happy.
At the meetings were members of the All African People's Revolutionary Party, ALISC, The Land Is Ours, the Tamil People's Forum, individual Pan Africanists/Nkrumaists and friends/supporters of the African liberation struggle. - Judith Amanthis
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Washington (United States of America) 03 July 2002 - The Ghana Skills Bank, a web-enabled interactive service aim at storing data of the professional qualifications and experiences of Ghanaians abroad was launched at the Chancery of the Embassy of Ghana in Washington on June 29.
In a message to His Excellency Alan Kyerematen, the initiator of the Bank, The President of the Republic of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor commended him for the establishment of the Bank saying its significance to the economic management of the country could not be underestimated.
According to President Kufuor, the development of Ghana could only be accelerated with the humble applications of those who have acquired the skills and are willing to share with their colleagues at home.
The function, one of the biggest gathering of over four hundred professional Ghanaians who travelled from virtually every part of the United States and Canada also had a message from the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan which was read by Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum, Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Integration.
Mr. Annan congratulated Ambassador Kyerematen and said the Skills Bank will not only help in measuring the development capabilities of Ghana but that Ghana should be a leading light in sharing the benefits of the Bank with other African countries.
According to the United Nations boss, it is clear that effective international partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable development while improving governance, rule of law, regulatory systems, investment and management in Africa require the full engagement of African talent, both on the continent and from abroad.
The Skills Bank which will primarily store the details of the professional from around the world will serve as a database for the Government of Ghana, its missions abroad, international financial institutions and development agencies (such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United States Agency for International Development all of whom representatives attended the launch) to execute projects and programs among others.
It will have a featured personality of the month at its web site, which will bear testimony to the varied talents of the country. At the launch, five people were used as a symbolic gesture of that.
The first was Dr. Vincent Anku, a leading specialist on Cancer treatment in the United States and a member of the prestigious Cosmos Club. He is also the Founder and Director of The Cleveland Cancer Institute. Dr. Anku has in the past five years invested over 5 million dollars in the Ghanaian economy and is setting up what may be the premier Cancer Institute in Africa in Ghana.
Dr. Dotsevi Yao Sogah, Professor at Cornell University is one of the leading scientists in American. Voted by a committee of eminent scientists and Noble laureates as one of the leading scientists in America, he is a Nobel Prize potential and inventor of the Process for Preparing Living Polymers, which was hailed as the invention of the century.
Dr. Kwame A. Boakye another featured personality is Vice President, Technology Planning for AT and T and Consultant on Information Technology, New Emerging Technologies and Development and Strategic planning for the United Nations Agencies and presently a member of the Technological Advisory Council to the United States federal Communications Commission.
The fourth to be recognized was Kwame Anthony Appiah, a world leading authority on ethics and identity of Philosophy and co-editor with Henry Louis Gates, of the monumental African dictionary, the dream project of the greatest Black Sociologist of the last century W.E. B. Du Bois.
The fifth was Dr. Kwaku Ohene- Frempong also world leading authority on Sickle Cell disease and who currently has a Sickle Cell unit in Ghana and travels around the World as international missionary. The featured professionals later expressed their appreciation to the management for the honour done them and pledged their total support to the Skills Bank.
Also present with a complex team of world, renowned Black and White jazz players that entertained the gathering was Nick Robinson, former Director of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Accra and now with the Africa Section of the U.S. State Department in Washington and Okyerema Asante.
The Bank, which is also the first, ever initiative between the Embassy and Ghanaian professionals working outside is chaired by His Excellency Alan Kyerematen and has as a Project Director Ivor Agyeman-Duah who is Minister Counselor of Information at the Embassy. Other members include, Kofi Honu, an IT specialist as Technical Director, Messrs Francis Tsegah, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Ghana Embassy, Lawrence Akwasi Agyeman Prempeh, Municipal Management Consultant, Francis Tamakole of the World Bank, Washington, DC and Dr. K. Laast, a medical practitioner.
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Washington DC (United States of America) 03 July 2002 - Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Skills Bank at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC, the Guest Speaker, the former Minister of Finance Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, said, it is only with humility that Ghanaians who have acquired skills in America and Europe could fit into the Ghanaian situation.
According to Dr. Kwesi Botchwey who is currently a Senior Fellow at Columbia University, some professional Ghanaians who have worked abroad turn to portray an attitude of superior complex on their return and invariably clash with their colleagues whose sacrifices, sustained the economy.
Dr. Botchwey was speaking to over four hundred professional Ghanaians who had travelled from all over United States for the launch of the Ghana Skills Bank. The development of Ghana should be a burden for all to bear he explained. The Government of President Kufuor, he said, is doing its best and that it was left to the professionals to be humbled and contribute their quota and stop being pessimists.
Africa's worst pessimists have sometimes been African themselves who having travelled abroad and found advanced levels of development could not comprehend Africa's underdevelopment.
Paying professional Ghanaians what was due them on their return had always been a sensitive issue. He asked whether it was right to pay 5,000 dollars a month to a Ghanaian who did not stay to help solve the many difficulties at home but who is coming home with new skills.
While some of those who stayed may be prepared to work with the returned professionals, there would always be resistance and lack of co-operation if those who had returned did not initiate mutual respect.
About 40 billion dollars a year, he said, is spent on 200 skilled professionals to work in Africa and other developing countries. More often, Africa could not readily supply the profiles of their skilled professional men and women even when they protested and the opportunity was given Africans to use their professional people to execute World Bank and other projects. It was in that direction that he commended the initiator of the Ghana Skills Bank, His Excellency Alan Kyerematen and explained that its usage would be immense in the business of international development assistance and projects.
According to Dr. Botchwey, in his travels and meetings with African leaders and international development agencies, there is an inexpiable feeling all over that Ghana will overcome its poverty and difficulties and urged all to work towards that realization.
Dr. Botchwey who is also head of some African development foundations within and outside of the United States promised to make available potential sources of sponsorship for the bank.
Another Guest Speaker was the former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Dr. Susan Rice. She was of the opinion that Ghana was gradually emerging again as the place to look for in Africa for development and investment. The country, she said, has escaped the conflicts in other African countries and enjoying great stability, which is good for planning.
The Skills bank, she said was as important or better then possession of natural resources since natural resource could depreciate but human resources have always been infinite and fundamental to many things.
Ms. Sharon Cromer, Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) pledged that the organization was happy with the launch of the Skills Bank and will use some of the Bank's personnel to execute some of its programs in Ghana. She marvelled at the immense talents of Ghanaians and said it should reflect on the Skills Bank. There were other representatives from aid agencies and other financial institutions including the World Bank.
Mr. Nick Robinson, Former Director of the Public Affairs Section of the American Embassy in Accra and now of the Africa Bureau of the U.S. State Department led a team of African (Okyerema Asante) and African-American jazz players from the U.S. and Caribbean entertained the audience.
The Bank, which is the first ever initiative of the Embassy and professionals working outside it has as Chair His Excellency Alan Kyerematen with his Minister Counselor of Information-Ivor Agyeman-Duah as Projector Director. Other members include Kofi Honu, an IT specialist who is Technical Director, Francis Tsegah, Deputy Chief of Mission, Lawrence Akwasi Agyeman Prempeh, Municipal Management Consultant, Francis Tamakole of the World Bank, Washington, DC and Dr. K. Laast, medical practitioner.
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President Kufuor nominates five for Supreme
Court
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday nominated five persons for screening to the Supreme Court.
They are Mr Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, Mr Glen Baddoe, Professor Kofi Kumadu, Professor Samuel Kofi Date-Bah and Dr Seth Twum. The appointment Committee would have to state when their screening would commence.
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Wa (Upper West) 03 July 2002 - The belief in witchcraft in the Nadwoli District of the Upper West Region has accounted for a high rate of school drop-outs in the area, Mr Siddique Ubeidu, Nadowli District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has said.
He said studies carried out in the district have revealed that most children who are often accused of being witches and wizards drop-out from schools to avoid perpetual mockery and other acts of embarrassment.
Mr Ubeidu said this in Kaleo in the Nadowli District on when he talked on the role of traditional authorities towards the promotion of education of the girl-child in a day's durbar organised by CHRAJ to sensitise parents.
World Vision International sponsored the programme that brought together chiefs, elders, teachers and students from first and second cycle institutions. He said the belief in witchcraft in the Nadowli District was so high that about 90 per cent of people who asked questions on the human rights and responsibilities in a lecture concentrated on witchcraft and its beliefs in the area.
Mr. Ubeidu called on other human rights organisations in the country to step up education programmes on girls' education and educate people against some of the obnoxious practices that impede development in society.
He called on traditional authorities to either modify or abolish certain cultural practices that are inimical to the development of girls. The District Director also called for the establishment of special education endowment fund for girls as an incentive for them to study hard.
Rev Sister Juliette Kpimebome, Nadowli District Girl Child Officer, said cultural practices such as early marriages and elopement of girls have impacted negatively on their education. She therefore called on CHRAJ and the District Assembly to enact bye-laws that would restrain people from some of these practices.
Mr Elias Yibile Bruttoh, Senior Legal Officer of CHRAJ, said the removal of cultural practices that retard the progress of women should be given a multi sector approach to become workable.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 03 July 2002 - Mr Imoro Alhassan Champon, a teacher at the Yendi Roman Catholic Primary School on Tuesday told the Wuaku Commission that he did not recognise the late Ya-Na as the overlord of the Dagbon traditional area.
"The Bolen Lana, head of the Abudu Gate, is considered as the overlord of the traditional area because after the death of his late father he was enskinned as such". Mr Champon was giving evidence as the 50th witness of the commission (CE50), which is probing into the Yendi conflict of 25-27 March this year.
Nantogmah Alhassan Andani, son of the late Ya-Na, had mentioned the witness as among the group of men from the Abudu Gate who were seen dancing and jubilating at the spot where the late chief was killed and set ablaze.
He is also alleged to have been one of the people who set the Gbewaa Palace and some near-by houses ablaze on 27 March in addition to holding a gun near the palace. Answering questions from Mr. Charles Hayibor, leading counsel for the Andani Gate, Mr. Champon said, "I did not recognise the Ya-Na because I did not have anything to do with him".
He also denied that he was part of the group allegedly seen dancing at the spot where the Ya-Na was killed, adding, "I was nowhere near the Gbewaa Place on 27 March". Mr Champon said he could not have been seen near the Gbewaa Palace heavily armed in the evening of 25 March, since he was in his uncle’s house, Zalanko Lana, an elder of the Bolin Lana.
He stated that because of the intensity of shooting on 26 March, he stayed indoors and later ran to a friend's (Alhaji Chechan) house for safety. Counsel for Commission (G.K. Owoo): Did you see those who were shooting? Champon: Not at all.
Counsel: Did you go to the Bolin Lana's house on 26 March, and why?
Champon: I went there because he is my chief?
Counsel: What then was the late Ya-Na? Was he not the overall chief of the Dagbon traditional area?
Champon: I don't know anything about the fact that the late Ya-Na was chief of the Dagbon traditional area.
Mr. Champon said on 26 March he saw so many people in the Bolin Lana's Palace, where they had gone to seek refuge because of the shooting. He said he spent the night with other people in the Bolen Lana's Palace on 26 March.
Later during cross examination, Mr. Hayibor suggested to Mr. Champon that it was because of his attitude of non-recognition of the late Ya-Na that he conspired with others to assassinate him. To this, witness replied in the negative, maintaining his earlier submission that he never went anywhere near where the Ya-Na was said to have been murdered.
Champon, however, admitted that one of his siblings, also called Champon, was wounded and was sent to the Church of Christ Clinic, "as the whole area leading to the Yendi Hospital was occupied by the Andani fighters."
He said he was not among those who took his brother to the clinic, but later disguised himself as a woman and went to the clinic since it was dangerous for men to be seen outside during the conflict. This prompted Mr. Justice I.N.K. Wuaku, chairman of the commission, to remark, "you therefore, went to the clinic as a woman" drawing laughter from the audience.
Abdul Razak Yusif alias Nyaba, a photographer who was alleged to be holding a camera among the group of people seen jubilating at the spot where the Ya Na was allegedly murdered, also appeared before the commission as the 51st witness.
He stated that although he was aware that there were disturbances between 25-27 March, he never took part. When counsel for the commission told Yusif about the allegation witness Nantogmab Alhassan Andani made against him, he told the commission that the claim was untrue.
"It is not true that I took photographs of the severed head of the Ya-Na", he maintained saying he was indoors the whole of Wednesday, 27 March, and could therefore, not have been seen by Nantogmah at the alleged scene of the Ya-Na's assassination.
After answering series of questions from Nana Obiri Boahen, leading counsel for the Abudus about his alleged involvement in the murder of the late Ya-Na in the negative, Yusif said he did not even know the Bolin Lana nor did he go to his palace on 27 March. He however, said that Nantogmah was his classmate from primary one to primary six.
When he took his turn, Mr Hayibor, counsel for the Andanis put it to the witness that since Nantogmah was his friend and classmate, he (Nantogmah) could not be mistaken if he said that he saw him (Yusif) at the spot where the Ya-Na was killed.
Mr. Hayibor also told Yusif that he was not telling the truth since he was actually identified by Nantogmah holding a camera and cutlass at the spot where the Ya-Na was killed. Witness answered that all what he had told the commission was the truth he knew about the conflict.
Yusif said that although he does not own a studio, photography is his only source of livelihood, adding that though he took pictures during the fire festival last year, he did not take one during this year's festival because of the disturbances.
Commission: Don't photographers make name when they risk their lives to take pictures such as the assassination of the late Ya-Na?
Yusif: It is only those who do not fear death who will take such a risk.
Commission: Do you fear death?
Yusif: Yes.
When Yakubu Mahama, the 52nd witness took his seat, the commission realised that he only bore the same name as the witness who was being sought for by the commission to testify before it.
Yakubu Mahama said he was 34 years and works with a non-governmental organisation, whilst Yakubu Mahama, who was supposed to appear before the commission is 55 years and a farmer. But the police maintained that he was the Yakubu Mahama who gave the statement. He also explained to the commission that he was at the hospital when police took his statement after being hit by a bullet during the conflict.
In an answer to a question by counsel for the commission, Mr Owoo, witness said that he did not know one Yusif Razak, after which it became abundantly clear to the commission that he was not the witness being sought and was consequently discharged.
Lukeman Mohamamed, alias Kukuldoo, the 53rd witness, said he did not take part in the clash between the Andanis and Abudus because he had just returned from Mecca and had confined himself for 40 days, according to Islamic tradition.
Mohammed, a driver and transport owner in Yendi, denied an allegation by Nantogmah Alhassan Andani and some earlier witnesses that he was among those who danced and jubilated over the death of the Ya-Na and the supposed victory of the
Abudus over the Andanis on Wednesday, 27 March.
He replied as untrue when counsel for the commission told him about an allegation that he broke into the safe of the Ya-Na on the Wednesday and looted it. When asked by Mr. Justice Wuaku, Chairman of the commission, the exact date he left Yendi for Mecca and when he returned, witness, who said he spent more than one month in Mecca could, however, not tell.
He, nonetheless, replied that he was in Mecca during the El-dul-fitr celebration, when the commission asked where he was during the celebration. Asked by the Chairman why he was not called Alhaji if he had been to Mecca, witness replied that the Commission only asked him to mention his name but not his title.
To this answer Mr. Justice Wuaku pointed to him that "all Moslems are proud of the title Alhaji, so, if indeed you are an Alhaji, you would have proudly mentioned it". Mohammed responded that: "I am before the Commission not to boast with my title but purposely to give evidence."
In reply to another question by Mr Owoo concerning what he knew about the Yendi tragedy between 26 and 27 March, witness replied that he returned from Mecca three weeks earlier before the tragic incident occurred. He told the Commission that on his return from Mecca, he was visited by well wishers from both the Abudu and Andani Gates.
When the Commission's Counsel asked him to mention some of those visitors from the Andani Gate, witness name one Solomon, whom he said, was his friend, as well as another man known as "SS", whom he said was present at the sitting.
Asked why he did not go out on the Monday, 25 March, by Nana Obiri Boahen, Counsel for the Abudus, Mohammed explained that on that day, none of his neighbours could go out because of the firing of gunshots, whilst visitors were still calling on him.
Witness replied to another question by Nana Boahen that on Tuesday, 26 March, he remained indoors till 4pm when his father Mohammed Abdulai, who is related to the Bolin-Lana, sent word to him that since he stayed in the midst of the Andanis, he should pack and leave his house because of the shooting exchanges.
Witness, who replied in the negative to most of the questions posed to him by Counsel for the Abudus, told the Commission that he only heard of the Ya-Na's death in the evening of Wednesday, 27 March, since he did not come out that day.
When Mr Hayibor wanted to know if those well-wishers told him about the rationale behind the firing of guns whilst in confinement on his return from Mecca, witness replied in the affirmative.
As to what exactly he was told, witness said, "my friends among the Abudus told me of the attacks on them by the Andanis during the El-Dul-Adha festival because the Andanis claimed that we, the Abudus, had also observed it."
He replied in the negative when Mr Hayibor suggested that, that was why the Abudus also attacked the Andanis. In answer to a question if he had a gun, witness replied in the negative.
The Leading Counsel of the Andanis, however, suggested to witness that he was lying to the Commission, saying, "as a driver, you are quite prosperous and that on the Wednesday, 27 March, you were seen by Nantogmah wielding a sophisticated weapon."
Witness retorted to Counsel's suggestion that, "no one can force me to say that I have a gun and that Nantogmah saw me holding it. "If Nantogmah saw anybody with a gun that was not me."
At this point Mr Hayibor enquired about the inscription on his vehicle but witness became evasive and cheeky in his responses. Mohammed told Mr Hayibor through the interpreter that he (lawyer) had no right to ask him of his property.
Counsel, therefore, told witness that he was not being cheeky to him (lawyer) but rather to the Commission. Mr. Justice Wuaku then intervened and ordered witness to give a direct reply to the question about the inscription on his vehicle(s), to which Mohammed replied, "Quality Is Better Than Quantity".
Witness replied in the affirmative when Mr Hayibor asked if that inscription was on all his vehicles. Mohammed agreed to a suggestion by Counsel that he was virtually identified by the inscription.
When the Andanis' Leading Counsel further told witness that, "Nantogmah then saw you", he replied; "I don't dispute that fact because even small children know me." In answer to a question by the Commission, witness said he was surprised to hear that the Gbewaa palace had been burnt.
When the Commission asked why he was surprised, Mohammed explained that; "I know there are some powers there and nobody can burn the palace." As to what those powers were, witness evasively replied that there were a lot of people in the Gbewaa palace, hence, he felt it was impossible for it to be set ablaze.
At this point, Professor Kwesi Yankah, member of the Commission expressed his dissatisfaction with this explanation and his doubts about the veracity of his evidence, saying that since he had returned from Mecca, he was expected to be truthful in the name of Allah.
The 54th witness, Zakari Yakubu, alias "Forestry", a retired employee of former Department of Forestry but now a farmer, told the Commission that he remained indoors on Monday, 25 March, because of gunshots at the vicinity of the Gbewaa palace.
He told the Commission that he is 54 years, which contrasted with the 65 in his statement to the police. When the Commission asked of his reaction during the sporadic shooting between the Andani and Abudu Gates, witness replied: "I have no gun, so I did not do anything."
Mr Justice Wuaku then asked him that if he did not encourage the Abudu youth to take part in the hostilities, to which witness replied in the negative. He again replied in the negative when the Commission asked him if he knew Nantogmah Alhassan Andani. He said he only saw him at the Commission's sitting "when I came here because of his allegation against me."
Commission: "was what you heard Nantogmah say about you correct or incorrect?"
Witness: "it is wrong."
Commission: "Nantogmah said you were holding a cutlass and jubilating on Wednesday, 27 March?"
Witness: "that is not true."
Yakubu, nevertheless explained that "as a farmer, I am entitled to have a cutlass but I did not use it in fighting." Witness agreed to a suggestion by Mr. Hayibor that he is well-known in Yendi because of his long service with the former Forestry Department.
He, however, replied in the negative when Leading Counsel for the Andanis insisted that Nantogmah and his friends identified him as an accomplice in the attack on the Andanis by the Abudus.
Yakubu, in answer to a question by Mr Hayibor if he accepted the Ya-Na as the overlord of the Dagbon State, said, "If all Dagombas accepted him as the Ya-Na, then, I also recognised him as such, but I was not following him."
The Chairman of the Commission, following an observation and a report by security personnel, appealed to members of the two gates, before proceedings were brought to a close, not to bring walking sticks that had deadly weapons concealed in them to the auditorium. If you have walking sticks of the sort, keep them at your places of abode and use them there, he warned.
Military personnel on duty at the Commission had observed that some people were using the walking sticks, which had sharp pointed swords concealed in their leather cover, posing a threat to general security at the place. Sitting continues on Wednesday.
GRi../
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 July 2002 - The timely intervention of the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) prevented what could have been a nasty and embarrassing confrontation between two feuding factions of the Moshie chieftaincy dispute in Ashanti at the Kumasi Airport to welcome the visiting Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore.
While the Burkina Faso Embassy in Accra clearly and explicitly requested Alhaji Amadu Tapsoba, a leader of one of the factions to organise Burkinabes in Kumasi to give their Head of State a befitting welcome, his main rival, Alhaji Abdurahman Ibrahim would have none of that and insisted on taking the centre stage of the affairs.
The two backed by their fanatic supporters were, therefore, at the airport with each claiming the legitimate right to lead the welcoming party. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, the Regional Minister and the regional security chiefs sensing danger, hurriedly convened a meeting at the VIP lounge with both Alhaji Amadu and Alhaji Ibrahim where a compromise was struck before the Presidential Jet carrying the Burkinabe President touched down.
The two with their few chosen elders were allowed to join the welcoming party while the intimidating presence of the security personnel kept their followers at a distance.
President Campaore on arrival inspected a guard of honour mounted by soldiers from the Fourth Battalion of Infantry. He thereafter exchanged greetings with the welcoming party amidst colourful cultural display and waving of miniature flags.
Chantal the wife of President Campaore, the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and the wife, Rahmatu, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Mustapha Idriss, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and some Burkina Faso Ministers of State were in the entourage.
He was in Kumasi to pay a courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and to address his countrymen in the metropolis. President Blaise called on the Moshie Community in Ashanti to unite and work towards the development of their community and Ghana. He told his people to reciprocate the hospitality of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asanteman by living peacefully together.
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Ashanti Civil Servant gets own health scheme
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 June 2002- Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice President, said on Friday the cash and carry system, though has created problems of inequities and access barriers to health care, it could not be abolished without finding a more effective and efficient alternative to cost recovery.
He said it was to avoid the pitfalls bedevilling that system that painstaking efforts were being made to ensure that the proposed national health insurance to replace it was well thought out and properly regulated.
Alhaji Mahama was launching the Ashanti Region Civil Servant Medical Care Scheme at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi. The Vice President said the situation where the majority of the people in the country, due to poverty and low income, were unable to afford health care was unacceptable.
He said Ghanaians deserved a comprehensive scheme that would give quality health care to all and protect them against the high cost of medical care. Vice President Mahama announced that the draft legislation of the National Health Insurance was now ready for Cabinet approval.
"Effective, accessible and equitable health financing can help raise productivity and lead to wealth creation and poverty reduction." He commended the Ashanti Region civil servants for their initiative and asked those managing the scheme to ensure that they performed with dedication.
He said the scheme could become a shinning example that would be replicated in other regions. Mr Moses Dani-Baah, the Deputy Minister of Health, said the ministry was promoting the formation of Mutual Health Organisations (MHOs) to ensure a gradual phasing out of the cash and carry system.
He said 40 MHOs would be put in place before the end of the year, adding that the government was determined to see to it that there was equitable and universal access to health care without pocket payment at the service point.
Mr Charles Asamoah Dwomoh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Civil Servants Association, said the scheme that was started last year was benefiting 15,000 civil servants and three of their family members. Mr Dwomoh said premium deductions were smooth as contributions were deducted at source.
The Regional Chairman appealed for support by way of donation of computers, fax machines and photocopier to enable them to efficiently manage the scheme. He praised the Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Partnership for Health (PHR-Plus), a non-governmental organisation for the material and technical support for the scheme.
The Management Committee of the scheme is under the chairmanship of Dr Joseph Oduro while the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyirah, heads the technical board.
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Rights Commission staff asked to work hard
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002 - Mr Justice A. K. B Ampiah, a Supreme Court Judge on Friday advised staff of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to bear in mind that they were working in a government institution and should, therefore, not expect that all their demands would met.
Justice Ampiah, who gave the advice when he inaugurated the Commission's staff association: "CHRAJSA" in Accra also appealed to the workers to be dedicated and committed and work in accordance with the regulations of the Commission.
He urged the executives to work hard so that the existence of the association did not become " nine days' wonder." " You should also keep to the objectives of the association and co-operate with the staff and do not lord it over them since it was because of them that you are representing CHRAJ"
Mr Bejamin Kwesi Oppong, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, urged the association to take the responsibility of complementing the efforts of the management in solving problems confronting the Commission to improve upon the poor conditions of service of the staff.
He advised the executive not to use the association to settle their personal scores with other categories of workers otherwise their purpose would be defeated. Mrs Mary Dei Awuku, an Assistant Director of the Ministry of Employment and Manpower Development, said the golden age of business would thrive in an atmosphere of respect for human rights.
She advised the workers against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and called on CHRAJSA to fight for children's rights. Mr Timothy Larwerh Ogum, National President CHRAJSA, said the association would be the first to promote and protect the favourable public image that the
Commission appeared to have earned so far.
He said the association's good image was equally proportional to the practice of and adherence to the principles that the Commission was established for. The other executive members include, Mr Kwabena Agyei Arhim, Vice President, Mr Cephas Essiful-Ansah, National Secretary, Mr Simon Sylvester Agbeehia, Assistant National Secretary and Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, Financial secretary.
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Change methods of checking motor accidents -
Professor Apt
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- Professor Nana Araba Apt, Director of the Centre for Social Policies Studies (CSPS), University of Ghana, on Friday called for a change in the approach to improving road safety in the country.
She said the old system whereby seminars, route marches and long public lectures were organised for the elite, must give way to a new system whereby such funds for the organisation of these activities would be used for repairs of bad roads and other factors of accidents.
Prof. Apt was speaking at a day's seminar organised by the Centre for the Police, Parliamentarians and Health Officials. The seminar was designed to raise consciousness of leaders and analysts, about the need to make vehicular and road safety issues the number one priority on government agenda.
Prof. Apt said Ghana among the Sub-Saharan African nations, had the distinction of having the most dangerous roadway and vehicular transportation system based on morbidity and mortality data.
Prof. Apt noted that since roadway transport crashes and casualties presented a major public health problem, "there is little evidence that Ghana as a nation has fully recognised the threats to human life, cost to the economy, damage of families or a factor that simultaneously restrained economic and human development."
She said a nation must ensure the total safety of its citizens at all times to ensure sound development, adding, "the current hike in motor vehicular accidents on our roads that claim hundreds of lives a year, represents a lost of our human resources and further hinder national development."
Prof. Apt recalled situations where both the Police Officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union
(GPRTU) looked on unconcerned and allowed "unworthy vehicles to ply our roads."
She attributed the cause of most accidents to the importation of a fleet of used vehicles that were sometimes manufactured with fewer safety "add-ons," such as airbags, high performance tyres and good ventilation.
She further noted that most of such commercial vehicles lacked regular maintenance, making them more prone to accidents. "Some have worn out tyres, broken windscreens, bad brakes, burst exhaust pipes among other things that contribute to these accidents." Prof. Apt suggested on the spot fines for both drivers and passengers, who failed to wear seat belts, as a way of checking some of the deaths during accidents.
She challenged the GPRTU, Police and all involved in maintaining road safety in the country to study the past trend of the causes of road accidents and make recommendations for possible review of some of the road safety measures in the country. She suggested measures such as free periodic eye screening tests for drivers, brightly painted barriers and ensuring that only road worthy vehicles were allowed to operate.
Mr Michael Nyanu, Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, said for the problem to be controlled, there was the need for all involved in enforcing road safety measures to ensure that they did not compromise with drivers on what was right.
"Every driver must at least be literate to be able to read road signs," he suggested. He said for Ghana's vision of becoming the Gateway to the Sub-region to be fully achieved, "there is the need to ensure human safety and make our roads pliable without fear."
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Estate Developers ask for soft loan from
govt
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- The Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) on Friday appealed to the government to make available soft loans and land to improve on housing delivery in the country.
Mr Brandford Daniel Kwame Adu, President of GREDA and Member of Parliament for Okere, said the association needed a 100 billion cedi revolving fund to provide 2,400 housing units a year.
Mr Adu was inaugurating committees of the association in Accra to develop an inventory of local producers of building materials and examine contracts as well identify suitable lands for development among other things. The committees included those on land and legal affairs, education, research and development.
Mr Adu said the association, which was established 14 years ago, had set standards and charged members to work assiduously by developing new ideas and concepts in the years ahead.
Wing Commander Charles O. Addo (rtd), Vice President of GREDA, said in countries including Germany and Holland, governments had put in place constructional funds in form of soft loans to estate developers to put up quality put affordable housing units and this was creating jobs for most of the working class
He urged government to adopt those innovations to enable Ghana to solve its housing problems. Wing Commander Addo, an estate developer, cited high interest rates, high cost of building materials and multiple sales of land as some of the challenges facing the association.
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Squatters at railway stations to be
evacuated - Manager
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- Mr Divine Kwame Ablerdu, Area Manager of the Ghana Railway Company Limited, on Friday said that the company had plans to evacuate all squatters from railway stations throughout the country.
"In view of the cumbersome nature of the exercise a committee comprising the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) and the company had been set up to find pragmatic measures to ensure amicable solution to the problem on the yards" he said.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, Mr Ablerdu said the presence of squatters within and along railway lines was a nuisance to the operations of the company.
He said due to their presence, a train killed an 18-year-old girl along the rails last two weeks saying: "Her death could have been avoided if squatters had not invaded the place." He appealed to the squatters, particularly those who have erected temporal structures, to get rid of them before the exercise commenced.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- Nana Kwadwo Ofosu Ayeh, a businessman, was on Friday arraigned at an Accra Circuit tribunal for allegedly defrauding a student of 17.48 million cedis under the pretext of securing her with travelling documents to enable her travel to United State of America. Ayeh, who pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences, was granted bail in the sum of 20 million cedis with a surety, to re-appear on July 18.
Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Amegah told the tribunal chaired by Mr Imoru Ziblim that, in January this year, complainant, Ms. Cynthia Smith, who lives at Cape Coast in the Central Region, had an invitation from a relative to travel to the USA.
The complainant then consulted two of her friends, who advised that the accused could assist. Chief Inspector Amegah said the accused charged 17.48 million cedis for the processing of the documents, which the complainant and her friend paid.
The tribunal was told that the accused promised to produce the document within three weeks, but failed to do so. The Prosecutor said when all efforts by the complainant to get either the visa or her money proved futile, she reported the matter to the Police and accused was arrested.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- Twenty-two years after African Heads of States agreed to allocate one per cent of their country's Gross Domestic Product to the development of science and technology under the Lagos Plan of Action, Ghana's contribution still fluctuates between 0.3 and 0.5 per cent.
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, described this as regrettable saying "science and technology has low priority in the eyes of policy makers and the managers of the nation's resources. "The poor performance of the various sectors of the economy such as the health sector, could be attributed to the lack of effective application of advances in science and technology," he said.
Dr Afriyie said this in a speech read on his behalf by Ms. Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Environment Science and Technology, at a national durbar to commemorate this year's OAU day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa, which falls on June 30, The theme this year is: "Science and Technology for Health".
The day, instituted in 1987, was to create awareness on the need to harness science and technology for the development of Africa and rekindle the hopes of Africa to put itself in the scientific world of inventions and discoveries. Dr Afriyie said studies had consistently shown that the incidence of diarrhoea could be reduced by more than 20 per cent through improved access to water supply and sanitary facilities.
He challenged the scientific and technological institutions to create the much-needed public awareness about the use of scientific findings in areas such as health, agriculture and sanitation to ensure a more sustainable livelihood for the people.
Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Environment Science and Technology, said the millennium would see significant environmental challenges and surprises should be expected saying: "In the face of threats of irreversible environmental damage, scientific uncertainty should not be used as an excuse for postponing actions which are justified in their own right."
Prof. Fobih said an infusion of appropriate financial resources especially in the management of research and development, system analysis and modelling and training in basic sciences was needed, adding, "the world need long-term scientific assessment of the depletion of resources, energy use, health impacts and population trends."
Professor Akwasi Ayensu, Acting Director General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), said it was time collaborative efforts were initiated between the scientific and technological institutions to establish standard packaging and dosage administration to generate local and international confidence in herbal medication.
He appealed to the government to create functional management systems for the science and technology sector by establishing the proposed presidential commission on science and ministerial co-ordination committee on science.
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Ho (Volta Region) 03 July 2002- Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, on Friday told District Chief Executives that the government would continue to ensure good governance by being transparent and accountable to the people.
He told the DCEs from the Volta, Eastern, Greater Accra and Central Regions at a mid-year review meeting at Ho that at the end of its four-year mandate government would be seen to have fulfilled its promises to the people.
"Signs are already there, we shall be able to say that indeed we have been able to improve lives of the ordinary people," Nana Akufo-Addo stated. He called for the promotion and development of businesses at the local level to open up the districts and create job opportunities.
The Attorney General said the government was currently laying a sound foundation for growth to be able to improve the life of the ordinary people. On the up-coming district assembly elections, Nana Akufo-Addo asked the DCEs to ensure that majority of the members "are for positive change" to enable them work and discharge their responsibilities without hindrance.
"We would be living in the air when the ground is not with us," he said citing the current experience of the district assemblies being mainly sympathisers of the previous government. He said co-ordination among all in government was vital and that "we are all in one boat and nobody should think he is roaring the boat alone."
Nana Akufo-Addo lauded the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and his two deputies for the excellent idea of monthly meetings of DCEs to evaluate, co-ordinate and exchange views on their experiences. Captain Nkrabea Effah Dartey (Rtd), Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development asked the DCEs to make all necessary efforts to rehabilitate abandoned projects in their areas.
He said the Minister for the Ministry, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu had initiated a plan calling on every town or village with a population of 5,000 to construct a structure to be known as "Government House" to be built and commissioned before 2004 to serve as a symbol of authority in the area.
Capt. Effah-Dartey deplored the attitude of some DCEs, who take delight in travelling to Accra instead of remaining at post to see to the day-to-day administration of their districts. He said the government was determined to push the decentralisation policy to the constituents, towns and urban centres.
Capt Effah-Dartey deplored the habit of DCEs who flout laid down rules resulting in revolts against them by members of their assemblies and warned that the government would not cover up any DCE who commits blunders.
Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Region Minister, suggested that the intervals between the monthly meetings of DCEs be extended to free them "sufficiently for other equally important official assignments and engagements that they may have to undertake or perform."
He also suggested that to save the DCEs' Regional Meetings from degenerating into "monotonous presentations and discussions on subjects perceived to be of general, application without specifically addressing the peculiar problem" the Volta Region's innovation of involving chiefs and people in the opening ceremony of the meetings as participants be adopted.
Mr Owusu-Yeboa asked the DCEs to stamp their authority on their districts and move swiftly against persons found to be engaged in anti-state, anti-government and criminal activities.
He said there is absolutely "no merit or gain in political weakness and a DCE who is excessively and wrongfully conciliatory and forgiving may soon discover that he has undermined not only his personal authority and influence but also the dignity and authority of office." Dr Osafo-Mensah, Eastern Regional Minister said the government was poised to deliver on its promises.
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Ho (Volta Region) 02 July 2002- Mr. Kodzo Afari, Press Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday said squabbles among government and party officials could affect the fortunes of the party. He said it was wrong for members of the party to pressurise government officials for "quick fix solutions to their problems".
Mr Afari, who was addressing District Chief Executives (DCEs) attending the Southern sector review meeting at Ho said essentially, the bad blood was as a result of party members seeking recognition of patronage by government appointees.
He cautioned members of the NPP to desist from conniving with others to the detriment of the party. Mr Afari called on them to check corruption and to do away with what he called "wrong tenders".
He said DCEs were expected to meet with party executives to bridge the gap of mutual suspicion between the two. Mr Afari said party constituency offices all over the country must open in July to facilitate the registration and issue of membership cards.
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 03 July 2002- The Centre for Development of People (CEDEP), a Kumasi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has drawn up a training programme to build the capacities of aspiring assemblywomen in the Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions. GTZ, a German NGO involved in social community development, is sponsoring the training through the National Institutional Renewable Programme.
Opening one of such training workshops at Obuasi for 55 aspiring assemblywoman drawn from Adansi West, Amansie West and Amansie East districts, Miss Rita Damoah, programme officer in-charge of training and research of CEDEP, said efforts to build the capacities of women to take up leadership roles in decision-making needed to be sustained.
She said the training programme was designed with five main objectives towards building the capacities of the women to enable them contest and win the forthcoming district level elections. "The idea is to improve women participation in local level governance", she said, adding that topics like campaign strategies, lobbying and how to manage provocative questions on platform would be discussed.
The Ashanti region had been grouped into four zones namely Obuasi, Konongo, Kumasi 'One' and Kumasi 'Two' to enhance the effectiveness of the workshops. Prominent on the list of topics for the workshop were the decentralisation process and the role of unit committees and assembly members.
Ms Edwina Thompson, a facilitator, expressed the hope that the aspiring assemblywomen would show eagerness to learn to enable them meet the challenges a head. Some of the participants were optimistic that the programme could assist them to win the elections.
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President Compaore lays a wreath at Nkrumah
Mausoleum.
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- The visiting Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore on Tuesday laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana.
President Compaore later signed the visitor's book and was conducted round the Mausoleum by Mr Alex Amankwaa-Winns, the Museum Educationist. This was after a one-hour state ride through some of the principal streets of Accra with his host President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The ride which began from the Airport immediately after President Compaore had returned from Kumasi and took them through the main Airport Road to the Sankara Over-Pass, Ring Road Central to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Nkrumah Avenue to Wato Club and the High Street to the Mausoleum. School children lined up the streets waving miniature flags of the two countries cheering the two Heads of State, who rode in an opened Range Rover. President Kufuor accompanied his guest to Parliament House to address the House before he finally leaves for home.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 July 2002- President Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso, has asked traditional rulers to ensure that they used the rich African cultural traditions to advance national peace and social progress. He cautioned that any misuse of traditions could negatively impact on national cohesion.
President Compaore was addressing a colourful durbar of chiefs of Asanteman held in his honour by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi on Tuesday. He was in Kumasi as part of his three-day visit to Ghana on the invitation of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Chantal, his wife, Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and the wife, Rahmatu, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Mustapha Idriss,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and some Burkinabe Ministers of State accompanied president Compaore.
He said chiefs could play positive role in the drive towards national reconstruction and paid tribute to the Asantehene for his tremendous efforts at bringing peace, stability and progress to people of Ashanti.
He said his visit to Ghana had strengthened the commitment of the two neighbouring nations to work in closer co-operation and partnership. President Compaore said the governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso were now poised to work to bring their peoples together than in the past, adding; "you can count on us".
Otumfuo Osei Tutu praised President Compaore for what he said was the key role he was playing to promote political stability, peace and democracy in the
West African Sub-Region in particular and the entire African continent. He touched on the festering Kumasi Moshie chieftaincy dispute and made it clear that he would not permit any of the feuding factions to create confusion and bloodshed in Ashanti.
The Asantehene stated that there was no place in Ashanti for troublemakers. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was said the Manhyia Palace was not an extension of the
Castle and that the Asante Kingdom had existed and thrived long before the coming into power of President Kufuor. He said his tours and initiatives had always been for the good of the Ghana and not only Ashanti, adding, "I am for the whole nation".
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- Ghana and Burkina Faso on Tuesday called on ECOWAS States to intensify efforts towards peace, stability and economic development of the West Africa sub-region. They also agreed to co-ordinate their efforts and experiences in playing a leading role in the achievement of the objectives of ECOWAS.
These were contained in a joint communiqué issued in Accra at the end of a three-day official visit to Ghana by President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso at the invitation of President John Agyekum Kufuor. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry who read it and Mr Benoit Ouattara, Minister of Trade, Promotion of Enterprise and Handicrafts of Burkina Faso signed it after talks between officials of the two countries.
They reviewed political relations between the two countries and the work of the Ghana-Burkina Faso Joint Commission for Co-operation.They also discussed development in West Africa especially the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Mano River Basin and the African continent, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, NEPAD and the African Union.
Other issues were sub-regional economic integration within the framework of ECOWAS and global issues such as international terrorism and the Middle East.
The communiqué expressed the appreciation of the two sides to the efforts being made to maintain peace and security along the common borders of the two countries and called for increased co-operation in border administration. They agreed to hold consultations with President Gnassingbe Eyadema for the early demarcation of the triple-point border between the two countries and Togo.
The communiqué recommended the education of herdsmen on their responsibilities towards the people of areas they graze their cattle and called for collaboration between the sectors responsible for animal husbandry and resources to find lasting solutions to the problems.It called for joint private sector commercial and industrial activities crucial to the economic growth of both countries.
Ghana and Burkina Faso praised the efforts by international mediators to bring peace to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo and called for continued support for the initiatives. They appealed to the international community to provide the necessary humanitarian and economic assistance for the reconstruction of Sierra Leone. The communiqué said the two countries condemned terrorism and called for international action to fight the scourge.
President Compaore met African Ambassadors in Accra and the Burkinabe Community at Kumasi.He visited the Akosombo Hydro-electric power station and participated in a Republic Day durbar of Chiefs at Somanya, in the Eastern Region.
President Compaore and his entourage also visited Kumasi and held discussions with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the request of the Burkinabe leader. He addressed Parliament and laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.
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President Compaore leaves after three-day
visit
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 July 2002- Relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso have moved to a higher level and should serve as a spring board to step up co-operation among the ECOWAS community and the African Union, President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Tuesday.
"There should be no turning back to this new level of co-operation and irrespective of the obstacle, we do not have to fail our people since the future looks promising," he said. He was speaking at a news conference before the departure of Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore in Accra after a three-day official visit to Ghana.
President Kufuor said trade among ECOWAS member states had been hindered by "the self-centredness and arrogance of its leaders," however, "with the current wind of good neighbourliness now blowing within the sub-region more opportunities would be opened for its people," he added.
He called for education on the proposed monetary union of ECOWAS States to ensure that it worked and accelerated development in the sub-region. President Kufuor accepted an invitation to visit Burkina Faso. President Compaore expressed satisfaction with the visit and said he was encouraged by the level faith in the relations of the two countries.
He said Ghana and Burkina Faso had a task to ensure the development of the sub-region and to contribute towards the building of the African Union. President Campaore said he travelled around the country and was happy to note that a large number of Burkinabes lived in Kumasi. Ghana and Burkina Faso should work to improve the living conditions of their people and to ensure that their governments remained people centred, he said.
The Burkinabe leader accompanied by his wife, Chantal and a 30-member entourage was also seen off by Mrs Theresa Kufuor, wife of the President, Vice President Aliu Mahama and his wife Ramatu, Ministers of State, the Diplomatic Corps, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen Seth Obeng and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ernest Owusu Poku.
President Blaise Compaore held talks with President Kufuor, visited the Akosombo Hydro-electric power station, attended a Republic Day durbar of Chiefs in the
Eastern Region at Somanya, visited Kumasi and held talks the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace at his own request and met the Burkinabe community during the visit.
He was also taken on State Ride through some principal streets of Accra by President Kufuor, visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and addressed Parliament.
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