Electricity and water tariffs go up
Shape perception of electorate - Action Forum tells NDC
Incumbent assemblyman contest with father-in-law
Teachers union to advise itself on salary negotiations
New Apex body for cotton industry
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has approved new electricity and water tariffs with effect from 1 August, a statement signed by Mr Stephen Adu, Executive Secretary of PURC on Monday said.
Electricity tariffs would go up as follows: For Domestic consumers: Block charge of 50 units at 7,800 cedis would be up to 14,000 cedis an increase of 79 per cent. Between 51 units and 150 units price, per unit would be up to 400 cedis from 242 cedis an increase of 65 per cent.
Between 151 units to 300 units the price per unit would be up to 400 cedis from 304 cedis an increase of 32 per cent. Above 300 units the price per unit would up to 960 cedis from 570 cedis an increase of 68 per cent.
Non-Residential: Between 0 to 300 units the tariff would be up to 750 cedis per unit from 436 cedis per unit an increase of 72 per cent. Above 300 units the tariff would be up to 980 cedis per unit from 645 cedis an increase of 52 per cent.
The service charge would go up to 20,000 cedis from 10,000 cedis an increase of 100 per cent. Industrial Small-Scale (Low Voltage) Cedis per kilowatt-hour are down to 360 cedis from 362 cedis a reduction of minus 1 per cent.
Capacity Charge cedis per kVA/month would be up to 130,000 cedis from 34,000 cedis an increase of 282 per cent. Service charge cedis per month would go up to 60,000 cedis from 40,000 cedis an increase of 50 per cent.
Medium Voltage: Energy Charge cedis per kilowatt-hour remains at 350 cedis. Capacity charge cedis per kVA per month would be up to 82,000 cedis from 30,000 cedis an increase of 173 per cent. Service charge cedis per month would be up to 60,000 cedis from 40,000 cedis an increase of 50 per cent.
High Voltage: Energy charge cedis per kilowatt-hour would remain at 340 cedis. Capacity charge cedis per kVA per month would be up to 74,000 cedis from 28,000 cedis an increase of 164 per cent. Service charge cedis per month are up to 60,000 cedis from 40,000 cedis an increase of 50 per cent. Water tariffs from 1 August 2002 would be:
Domestic: Between 0 litres to 10,000 litres would be up to 54 cedis per bucket from 18 cedis per bucket an increase of 203 per cent. Between 10,000 litres and 20,000 litres the tariff would come down to 54 cedis per bucket from 65 cedis per bucket a reduction of 17 per cent.
Above 20,000 litres the tariff would be up to 82 cedis per bucket from 65 cedis per bucket an increase of 25 per cent. Standpipes would dispense water at 54 cedis per bucket from 18 cedis per bucket an increase 200 per cent.
Commercial/Industrial Flat rate of 100 cedis per bucket from 73 cedis per bucket an increase of 37 per cent. Government Department and Institutions would pay 91 cedis per bucket from 65 cedis per bucket an increase of 40 per cent.
From 1 March 2003 electricity rates would be:
Domestic
0 unit to 50 units;(Exclusive) block charge would move up to 18,000 cedis from 14,000 cedis an increase of 29 per cent. 51 units to 300 units would move up to 550 cedis per unit from 400 cedis, an increase of 38 per cent.300 units and above would remain at 960 cedis per unit.
Non-Residential tariffs between 0 to 300 units would move up to 800 cedis per unit from 750 cedis an increase of 7 per cent. Above 300 units the tariff would remain at 980 cedis per unit while the service charge would also remain 20,000 cedis.
Industrial Small-Scale
Low Voltage Energy charge cedis per kilowatt-hour would move up to 380 cedis from 360 cedis an increase of 6 per cent. Capacity charge cedis/kVA/month would move up to 135,000 cedis from 130,000 cedis an increase of 4 per cent. Service Charge per month would remain at 60,000 cedis.
Medium Voltage:
Energy charge cedis per kilowatt-hour would move to 360 cedis from 350 cedis an increase of 3 per cent.
Capacity charge would move up to 92,000 cedis from 82,000 cedis an increase of 12 per cent. Service charge would remain at 60,000 cedis.
High Voltage:
Energy charge cedis per kilowatt-hour would move to 350 cedis from 340 cedis an increase of 3 per cent. Capacity Charge would move up to 84,000 from 74,000 cedis per kVA/month an increase of 14 per cent. Service charge would remain at 60,000 cedis.
The tariff for water from March 1, 2003 would move up to 64 cedis per bucket from 54 cedis per bucket for those consuming less than 10,000 litres per month, an increase of 18 per cent.
Consumption between 10,000 litres and 20,000 litres would move to 64 cedis from 54 cedis per bucket an increase of 18 per cent. Consumption above 20,000 litres would move up to 87 cedis per bucket from 82 cedis per bucket an increase of 6 per cent. Standpipes would dispense water at 64 cedis per bucket from 54 cedis per bucket an increase of 18 per cent.
Commercial/Industrial:
Flat rate 109 cedis per bucket from 100 cedis a bucket an increase of 9 per cent.
Public Institutions;
Would pay 98 cedis per bucket from 91 cedis per bucket an increase of 8 per cent.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Police intercepts truck with ammunition.
Yendi (Northern Region) 23 July 2002- The Yendi police have intercepted Benz articulator vehicle with registration number AS 2100 P at Yendi-Tamale barrier at 8.30 am on last Friday. The Benz articulator, which was on its way to Chereponi in the Saboba/Chereponi District was intercepted by the police on barrier duties.
Briefing newsmen at Yendi on Monday, the Yendi District Police Commander, Superintendent James Bruce said when the truck was arrested, a search was conducted on it and it was detected that four packets of cartridges were concealed in some bags of maize.
Mr. Bruce said a further search revealed 94 packets hidden in a large quantity of bags of sugar, flour, coconut, baskets of fish, and roofing iron sheets.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Dodo Amanfrom (Volta Region) 23 July 2002- Cocoa smugglers, mostly aliens operating in the cocoa growing areas of the Volta Region, have resorted to buying wet cocoa beans in addition to dry beans on cocoa farms using buckets and tins (olonka).
A survey by the GNA in cocoa producing areas of: Dodo, Mempeasem, Dzindzi, Menusu, Pampawie in the Kadjebi District and Kate, Akjpafa, Braka in the Jasikan District showed that the smugglers buy a tin of wet cocoa for 12,000 cedis and size 34-bucket full at 50,000 cedis. A farmer, who did not want to be identified, told the GNA that the smugglers roam the farms enticing farmers with attractive bargains.
He said the smugglers were not concerned with the quality as any beans, be it wet, fermented or dry was bought at the same price adding that the farmers also saw it as the quickest and the easiest way of selling their produce.
The farmer said while dried cocoa sells at 387,000 cedis a bag in Ghana the smugglers pay as much as 540,000 cedis per bag, which they carry through unapproved routes to their destination. The smugglers use the proceeds from the sale of the smuggled cocoa to buy goods from Togo, which they smuggle back into the country, hence their ability to pay higher prices for the beans.
Available statistics indicated that the Produce Buying Company (PBC) bought about 34,000 bags of cocoa during the 1999-2000 Cocoa-Season from the Volta Region; however, it bought only about 17,000 bags in the 2001-2002 season.
Mr Kwesi Bediako-Addey, Volta Regional Manager of the PBC, said the Executives of 78 cocoa societies in the region were being educated constantly on the socio -economic effects of smuggling.
He said the farmers had also been reminded during durbars that apart from benefiting from payment of bonuses they also had the opportunity to apply for Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) Scholarships for their wards as incentive for their efforts in helping to boost the cocoa industry in the country.
"We have advised purchasing clerks of the PBC to open up to the farmers. We have warned them that we would not hesitate to dismiss any purchasing clerk found engaged in the adjustment of weighing scales to cheat farmers," Mr Bediako-Addey said.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) activists from the Volta Region resident in Accra on Sunday presented a life-sized effigy of an elephant, the symbol of the party to President John Agyekum Kufuor at a ceremony in Accra.
A faxed message received by Ghana News Agency from the Office of the President on Monday said the presentation, which was made by the group calling itself "Volta Region Resource Group," was to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the party, which was formed on July 22, 1992.
The group led by Major Courage Quashigah, Minister of Food Agriculture, said the metal elephant was meant to represent the symbol of office for NPP Presidents and would be passed on to successive Presidents, who would come from the NPP.
The message said the President was amazed and impressed at the size of the artwork and praised the craftsmanship of the artist, who used scrap metal to construct the elephant. He thanked the group for the gesture and gave the assurance that he would strive to live up to the good attributes of the elephant and pass on the symbol to the next President.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Mankranso (Ashanti Region) 23 July 2002- Mr Fred F. Antoh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has told Ghanaians to be wary of what he described as the "political mischief and diversionary tactics" adopted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to create disaffection for the government.
He said it was quite amazing that "those who for close to two decades supervised the loot and rot of the country's economy should remain unrepentant and persist in a campaign of falsehood to pull wool over the eyes of the people".
Mr Antoh was addressing a get-together organised for NPP supporters in the Ahafo-Ano South constituency at the instance of the Member of Parliament (MP),
Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado-Manu at Mankranso on Sunday. He noted that clearing the mess left behind by the NDC was not an easy job and that the government's achievements within its 18 months in office had been remarkable.
The NPP Regional Chairman asked supporters of the party to go on the offensive to explain government's policies and programmes so as to expose the lies, misinformation and distortions peddled by their opponents. He called for internal peace and harmony within the party to enable it to focus on winning the 2004 Presidential election in round one and capture more parliamentary seats.
Mr Balado-Manu said people in the constituency had already started seeing signs of the positive change promised by the NPP, citing the construction of the Mankranso-Beposo-Tepa road at a cost of 39 billion cedis and the employment of over 10,000 people for the mass cocoa spraying exercise.
He announced plans by the government to introduce Valley Bottom Rice Project in the area and called on the people to organise themselves into co-operative so as to benefit from credit facilities for the project. Mr Balado-Manu asked beneficiaries of credit facilities to expand their economic activities to pay back such loans to avoid prosecution.
The MP for Tano-South, Mr Adjei Yeboah, urged Ghanaians to bear with the government as it pursued pragmatic policies to turn the economy round. He said they should remain solid in their support and faith in the NPP, adding that the government's achievements within its four-year term would convince and win the admiration of even its opponents.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 23 July 2002- Action Forum, a group that claims to be associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but had been disowned by the party, has advised the NDC to work towards shaping the perception of the electorate on the quality of its frontline leadership.
The Forum said any attempt to bluff and pretend that the party was made up of saints and angels and, therefore, could use the perceived non-performance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government, as a major campaign tool would spell absolute doom for the party.
This was contained in a release issued in Kumasi and signed by Nana Agyei Baffour, interim Leader of Action Forum, Mr Augustine Kyei-Ababio, Ahafo-Ano South representative, Miss Comfort Nuro, Ahafo-Ano South Women's representative and Mr E. Y. Agyei, Asante-Mampong representative.
Action Forum noted that analysis of factors that led to the defeat of the NDC in the 2000 elections included the leadership style of the party at different levels of its administration. The Forum said many NDC members simply did not vote for the party or participate in the polls at all.
The group said it had, therefore, become clear from its on-going outreach programme that the NDC supporters would adopt the same style they adopted in the
2000 elections if some leaders perceived to be part of the reasons for the party's defeat were still given leadership roles to play as if there was shortage of high calibre persons in the party.
The group said it was of the view that one of the campaign strategies of the NPP was to make, as many NDC personalities appear unmarketable in the eyes of the electorate as possible. "This fact is known to all. After 20 years in office, it will be a miracle to have former office holders without a single blame," it disclosed.
Already the Forum said there were a few cases pending before the courts against some NDC members and that there would be an avalanche of such cases next year and in the election year.
"The Action Forum is not saying anybody is guilty or not. What Action Forum is saying is simply that the National Executive Committee (NEC) should not consciously or unconsciously push such people in frontline roles otherwise, the NDC will find itself spending precious time and resources mapping out damage control strategies instead of concentrating on pre-emptive and productive strategies".
The group said in spite of congress decisions which put some former ministers and appointees on the NEC it would not serve any meaningful purpose to keep some of these former leaders on the NEC.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Baah-Wiredu urges electorate to vote for
dedicated people
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- Mr Kwadwo Baa-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, at the weekend asked Ghanaians to contribute meaningfully to the decentralisation policy by voting for dedicated people in next week's local government elections.
He expressed the view that it was only dedicated people, who could initiate development in their communities. Mr Baa-Wiredu was speaking at the 26th Graduation Ceremony of the Ghana Christian College and Seminary, a non-denominational ministerial training institute, at Amrahia on the Dodowa road. Forty-three graduates were awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Mr Baah-Wiredu announced that a proposed Tema Rural Water Project would take off "in a few months time" and expressed the hope when completed it would bring relief to Amrahia and surrounding communities. He said telephone facilities would also be extended to the area.
The President of the Seminary, Professor Christian Pat Adjei bemoaned the rising spate of armed robbery in the country saying it was only the Word of God that could change the situation. He therefore called on the graduates to reach out to the people with the Word of God and help change the hearts of the criminals.
The Seminary, which started off in 1966 from Nima, later moved to Abeka until three years ago when the management acquired the Amrahia site. It offers Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Diploma and Higher Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. So far it has turned out 643 graduates since its establishment.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002 - The Reverend Doctor Joseph Du Bois, grandson of Dr W. E. B. Du Bois on Monday commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for making it possible for Africans of Ghanaian parentage to benefit from Ghana's dual Citizens' Act.
Rev Dr Du Bois, who is the founder of Joseph Organisation Systems and Economic Plans for Humanity (JOSEPH), said he was delighted to be a Ghanaian after so many years of research into his ancestry.
"There is no place like home, especially here in Ghana after tracing my roots and getting to know that my grandfather also played an important role in Ghana's political development, he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.
Dr W. E. B Du Bois is well remembered for the part he played with enormous zeal in the emancipation of the black race. The Du Bois Centre in Accra is a fitting tribute to the memory of a great Pan-Africanist, whose life and work had a lot of influence on many African writers.
Rev Dr Du Bois, whose visit to the country coincided with the launch of Ma Afrika Contest 2002, said in a typical American slang: "The President is right on time and we are also right here on time. The President had opened doors to other nationals, who can become citizens and who can help build Ghana."
Apostle Izell Crump of the Christian Temple Faith Church in Baltimore, USA, also had this to say when asked about how he felt about the institution of dual citizenship: "My wife and I are extremely happy to be citizens after working in Edumfa in The Central Region bringing humanitarian relief of the people of the area since the past six years".
His wife, the Reverend Elaine S. Crump said: "We are happy to be in the forefront of dual citizenship." The Crumps have also constructed a 16 kilometre-feeder road for the people of the area. The African Americans said they were in Africa to fulfil the charge given to them by W. E. B Du Bois, that "I charge you. As you live, believe in life. Human beings will live and progress to greater, broader and fuller life. The only possible death is to lose belief in this truth, simply because the great end comes slowly as time is long."
GRi…/
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- The Royal Embassy of the Netherlands on Monday donated 1,020 assorted history books valued at 4,500 dollars to the Ministry of Education for distribution to some libraries in the country. The beneficiary institutions are the universities, colleges, secondary schools and the Regional Public Libraries.
Mr Alexander Heldring, The Netherlands Ambassador, donating the three sets of books titled, " The Two Hearts Of Kwasi Boachi", "The Saga Of A Slave" and
"Merchants, Missionaries and Migrants" said they dealt the history of Ghana and the Netherlands over the past 300 years. He said two of the books were written by Africans and were not technical or boring.
The books played a part in the commemoration of the 300 years of diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Netherlands. "The Two Hearts Of Kwasi Boachi" was adapted and into a play and performed at the National Theatre of Ghana in
Accra.
Mr Heldring said although the Internet was indeed a great tool for the dissemination of information worldwide, the book still beats the computer as it could be taken and read anywhere at anytime and provided the reader with immense pleasure and excitement.
Ms Christine Churcher, Minister for Basic, Secondary and Girl Child Education, said the donation would go a long way to improve the relationship between Ghana and The Netherlands.
She said Ghanaian libraries have been starved of books for far too long and commended the Dutch for their efforts. Ms Churcher said Ghanaian history books would also be donated to the Dutch to read and to understand the people better.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Katamanso (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002 - A university lecturer has said the Battle of Katamanso that was fought 176 years ago determined the course of the Gold Coast history when Ashantis were forced to renounce their claim of lordship over any of the southern states.
The Reverend Dr Samuel Sackey Quarcoopome of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, said the Ga-Adamgbe won the war and prevented Ashantis from dominating the coast. He was speaking on: "The Slave Routes And The History of Katamanso" at Katamanso at the weekend as part of the Pre-Emancipation Day celebration.
"At a period in time, Ashantis were collecting taxes from castles and forts along the cost, while the Assins, the Denkyiras and the Akwamus were also paying rent to them." But this was stopped when the Ashantis were defeated at Katamanso.
"Events after the war gave the British great influence in the Gold Coast and forced other European powers, especially the Danes and the Dutch, to leave the castles and the forts," he claimed.
Dr Kojo Gavna, Senior Lecturer at Archaeology Department of the University of Ghana, Legon commended succeeding chiefs of Katamanso for protecting the sacred forest where the battle of Katamanso was fought and the entire Katamanso land by not selling portions to developers to make Ghana lose a tourist attraction.
He said he had led final year students of his Department to study the pre-history of Katamanso and the battlefield, adding that what they had discovered are a number of artefacts that were vital for tourism.
Historical evidence at the National Archives classifies the Battle of Katamanso as one of the "Anglo-Asante Wars". The British used rockets for the first time in that war. Indeed it was the British firepower that won the war.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- Mrs Ernestina Naana Hagan, President of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) on Monday applauded the bold steps taken by some women to contest the forthcoming District Assembly Elections.
She said taking such a decision was not easy, especially by women, who had had little exposure in politics and among a society that saw women as housekeepers. Mrs Hagan, who was addressing participants at a day's sensitisation workshop FIDA held for women candidates in the District Assembly elections, urged them to be bold in executing their duties when elected.
The candidates, who were drawn from Ashanti, Eastern and the Greater Accra Regions, were taught effective communication skills, how to handle embarrassing questions and how to maintain self-confidence. Mr Hagan said most of the time women candidates, who faced great challenges, including verbal intimidation and other forms of harassment tended to withdraw from such races.
She charged the contestants not to succumb to such forms of intimidation, but to be bold in their final campaign to ensure that they won enough seats to close the cap between men and women at the District Assembly level.
Mrs Gloria Ofori-Boadu, Executive Secretary, FIDA, said the 981 women, who were contesting in this years District Assembly Elections against 13,160 men, is about seven per cent and showed an improvement on previous figures.
"This figure is encouraging, though not enough as compared to the number of women, at least we know that more women are now getting interested and involved in decision-making at the top levels," she noted.
"I hope this trend will continue so that come the next elections more women would be seen striding their way to the Assembly halls in our districts, to talk for us," she added. Mrs Ofori-Boadu urged all women to rally behind their counterparts to ensure victory for the women candidates.
Most of the candidates, who shared their campaign experiences, alleged that they were often sabotaged by their opponents, who removed their posters and made a lot of noise to prevent others from listening to their speeches during their platform presentations. The women were, however, confident that they would win in their various electoral areas and contribute their quota to the development of their areas.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Elmina (Central Region) 23 July 2002- A female candidate vying for the Akotobinsin Electoral Area seat at Elmina, in next week's district level elections, Ms Emelia Garbrah, was on Saturday quizzed over her use of the slogan 'Positive Change' for her electioneering campaign.
Ms Garbrah, a 36-year-old housewife, was questioned during the last of platforms mounted by the Electoral Commission for the area, at the SSNIT flats compound in Elmina to enable the candidates to interact with the electorate.
She explained that the inscription 'Positive Change' on her posters had no political undertones. ''I view my position as the only female candidate, as a 'positive change' to dispel the notion that only men are good to be elected,'' she pointed out. Other candidates for the area are Messrs Stephen Thompson, 45 and Emmanuel Boham, 31, a teacher and a butcher respectively.
Earlier, unveiling their plans for the development of the area, the candidates had pledged to improve education and environmental sanitation and to oversee the formation of community watch committees to enhance security in the area.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Salaga (Northern Region) 23 July 2002- Mr R.B. Adams, the incumbent assembly member for the Wagasi-Tutu Electoral Area in the Salaga District is contesting the impending District Level Elections against his father-in-law.
Mr. Mohammed Saani, the Salaga District Electoral Officer, said the mounting of platforms for the contesting candidates started about a week ago in the East Gonja District and everything is going on smoothly. Most of the candidates, he said, have their manifestoes centred on education, health, water and environmental cleanliness.
He said 133 candidates are contesting 48 seats in the district, adding that 12 of the contestants are women, while 8 are standing unopposed.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoin@ghanareview.com
Kwabenakwa electorate to boycott election
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- The people of Kwabenakwa Electoral Area in the Adansi West District have threatened to boycott the forthcoming District Assembly Elections if the Electoral Commission's cancellation of Mr Edward Gyimah's nomination was not revoked. The EC on 16 July, this year, cancelled Mr Gyimah's nomination for allegedly campaigning on partisan lines.
A letter to the Chief Director, Electoral Commission, copied to the Ghana News Agency, dated 20 July and signed by 143 voters with their voters' registration numbers against their names said; "failure to resolve the issue will generate the people of Kwabenakwa Electoral Area to boycott the forthcoming District Assembly Elections."
The letter said, "we the people of Kwabenakwa Electoral area hereby declare that an aspiring assemblyman of the area, Mr Edward Gyimah did not display his party (NPP) certificate of honour during the platform mounting of Mampamhwe, Domeabra, Asankore, Nyamesomyede/Nyameforase, in that order after the warning at Kwabenakwakrom.
"The Returning Officer, Mr S. Y. Darko will bear him out of this allegation. In Kwabenakwa, it was not his intention to show the NPP Certificate of honour to the electorate and claimed to be supported by NPP," he explained.
The letter said Mr Gyimah showed his certificate to buttress a point he was making while answering a question on his previous political experience. "It is sad to note that the District Electoral Officer was not present at all the above mentioned villages and towns except Kwabenakwa.
"In view of this the one who informed him the story should be known by the entire public. It said according to the tone of EC's letter using of the words "went ahead" and "repeated action" tarnished the image of Mr Gyimah who is starting a career both in the private sector and government business,” he said. The letter appealed to the authorities to investigate the allegation made against Mr Gyimah with immediate effect.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Aflao (Volta Region) 23 July 2002- The Electoral Commission (EC) is to decide on the position of unit areas which failed to put up the maximum 10 candidates in next week's local government elections and have automatically become unqualified to form unit committees.
Mr. Emmanuel Ashiadey, the Ketu District Electoral Officer, was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the last platform was mounted for aspiring assemblymen in the district at Abediakofe, a suburb of Aflao last Saturday. He said a data is being compiled nationwide on such unit areas.
Mr Ashiadey explained that the unit area section of the Local Government Act was emphatic that where candidates in an area falls below the required number of 10 candidates, such an area shall be deemed unqualified to form unit committees and government also cannot appoint representatives to those unit areas.
Mr Ashiadey, who could not immediately tell the possible focus of the decision to be arrived at, has, however, maintained that it would not be out of line with the Local Government Act. He said out of 161 unit areas in the Ketu District, 49 of them failed to get the maximum number, 13 of which failed to get a single candidate.
Mr Ashiadey blamed the problem, which he said seemed widespread in the Volta Region on interested but impoverished persons, who could not mobilise funds for the photograph required in the filing of nominations.
He also blamed the district assemblies in the region for flouting the Ministry of Local Government directives to assist such candidates to register after the EC had notified the ministry about the problem. He cited the Krachi District Assembly as the only one, which acted on the directives.
Earlier, all the seven candidates contesting the district assembly position in the Aflagatigorme Electoral Area, speaking on a common note, asked the electorate to vote them into office to improve their social needs.
They are: Mr. Kofi Atatsi, an Urban Council Chairman, Mr. Nicholas Agorbia, a teacher, Mr. David Axovi, Mr. Kofi Dordzro, Mr. Ben Vedzesu, Mr James Atisu, and Mr. Michael Henyo, all businessmen. Mr. Patrick Sodzinsi, 70, a farmer has criticised the EC for the poor publicity and said the people have not been sensitised enough on the elections.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- Mr Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, on Monday asked African Trade Unionists to develop appropriate responses to changes in the world of work that would suit the African condition. They should also provide relevant frameworks to champion the interests of young workers.
Opening a five-day West Africa Sub-Regional workshop on organising and recruiting young workers in Accra, Mr Adu-Amankwah said globalisation had tilted the balance of forces decisively in favour of capital against labour and that the youth's response to the challenges posed by the African condition was important for the continent's future.
"The two underlying challenges that face young workers and other youth, who have the greatest stake in the future, are to understand our situation on the one hand and on the other hand, to organise to change this situation", Mr Adu-Amankwah said.
A total of 23 trade unionists are attending the skills development workshop organised by Union Network International (UNI) in conjunction with the Friedriech Ebert Foundation. Drawn from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Gambia, the participants would be equipped with new skills for organising and recruiting young workers into trade unions.
The workshop is also focusing on new ways of organising unions to rebuild their falling membership as a result of massive retrenchments associated with the privatisation process in Africa and form a Sub-Regional Youth Committee for English speaking West Africa to prepare an action plan for young workers in the region.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said trade unions were grappling with the challenge of organisation and urged unionists to organise workers, especially the young ones into their ranks and renew their recruitment campaigns with vigour. He asked trade unions to seek support from other sectors of the community, and added: "working constituency should extend outside the formally employed."
Organising and recruiting young workers means reaching out to students in the universities, polytechnics and other institutions of learning to 'catch them young'". The TUC Boss said the youth should be the nerve centre of unions' organisation aiming to reform social responsibility, transparency, democratisation and the acceptance of consultation rights of trade unions and other civil society organisations.
He asked young persons to seek guidance from their leaders and also question the status quo in their unions. They should be prepared to assume leadership positions where necessary. Mr Zakari Koudougou, UNI Projects Manager, said by the year 2003, a Regional UNI-Africa Youth Committee would be formed to address issues affecting young workers in Africa.
Mr Napoleon Kpoh, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), of the TUC, who is also the Chairman of the Ghana Liaison
Committee of UNI, said the work of the trade union movement would only be successful if it were steadfast and effectively carried out its plans.
He asked trade unions to integrate the youth into their plans and make conscious efforts to make them to understand trade union concepts to fight for their rights in the working world.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareviewe.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- Prosecution in the case of Sri Yogi Ram Beckley, a medical practitioner and occultist, charged for assaulting and kidnapping a class three pupil on Monday told the Adjabeng Community tribunal that it was still awaiting advice from the Attorney General's Office (A-G's) to commence with trial. Beckley had pleaded not guilty to the charge and is on a five million cedis bail.
At today's sitting the tribunal asked the Prosecution the charges levelled against Beckley and asked: "Do charges of kidnapping go to the A-G's office?" Superintendent of Police, Mr Patrick Sarpong replied that it was the A-G's Office that requested for a duplicate docket.
Mr Sarpong, therefore, asked the tribunal chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Akomah to give them a three-week adjournment. The tribunal obliged after both Prosecution and Defence Counsel, Mr Akwasi Bosompem agreed on 12 August.
The facts as presented by the Prosecution were that on 12 April, Beckley lured a girl to his house under the pretext of buying some vegetables she was selling. In the house, he tied the girl to a tree overnight without water and food, until her stepfather was informed and he raised the alarm.
Beckley was arrested on Saturday 13 April after Police received a complaint from a parent that her daughter was abducted by the accused on Friday evening. An angry mob set ablaze his residence and property at New Gbawe in Accra.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- Government has been called upon to politically commit itself to restructuring the educational system and make enough budgetary allocation to the development of technical education.
Mr Napoleon Kofi Kpoh, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), who made the call said despite the beautiful programmes over the last 20 years to develop technical education, there had been very little success because there was no political commitment to them.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the opening of a five-day West Africa Sub-Regional workshop on: "Organising And Recruiting Young Workers" underway in Accra, Mr Kpoh noted with concern that poor infrastructure, equipment and machinery for practical work in technical and science education institutions up to the university level had not helped the development of technical skills needed in industry.
He cited the lack of adequate computers in the Computer Science Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi and said this did not augur well for the development of computer science knowledge in that university to meet industrial needs.
Mr Kpoh said part of the present high level of youth unemployment was the result of the failure of educational planners to foresee and develop a proactive educational system with emphasis on Information Technology and modern languages to meet global market needs.
He, however, indicated that it was not too late to reverse the trend and asked that emphasis should be shifted from theory and paper qualification to skill providing systems backed by strong political commitment.
The ICU General Secretary asked working people to organise and put up a common front to respond to the challenges of globalisation and urged the trade union movement to make a conscious effort to make the youth to understand the movement ideologies and effectively fight for their rights in the working world.
A highly placed source from the Science Faculty of the University confirmed to the GNA that the Department should have at least 250 computers for effective teaching and learning. The Department currently has 120 computers for about its 500 students, creating a ratio of one computer to four students. The ideal situation is one computer to one student.
The source said these computers were provided through deductions from students' academic user facility fees and donations from some computer firms and welcomed further assistance to equip the Department.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viepoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 July 2002- The Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Monday said it would advise itself if by the close of work on Friday August 2, the government had not given the mandate to the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of Universities in Ghana (CVCP) to negotiate for a review of salaries of members.
A resolution adopted by the Local Union of the Committee of Universities in Ghana and signed by Mr Michael Nyame and Mr D. Ayim Antwi, Chairman and General Secretary, respectively, and made available to the Ghana News Agency, said the issue of the ultimatum had become necessary because negotiations between the CVCP and TEWU/Federation of University Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG) scheduled for July 4 was called off since the CVCP did not have the mandate.
It said having deliberated on a proposal for salary review under the provisions of the wage opener in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and having waited for 51 days instead of the mandatory 14 days notice, it had no option but to advise itself after the given date if nothing was done about the situation.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Wa (Upper West) 23 July 2002-A new organisation that brings together all the stakeholders in the cotton industry under one umbrella has been formed. Known as the Ghana Cotton Inter-Professional Federation, it would function as an apex body for cotton farmers, cotton companies, research and financial institutions in the cotton industry.
Kuoro Buktie Limann, National Chairman of the Cotton Farmers' Association, told the Ghana News Agency at Wa that the association had been formed with the support of a French firm interested in promoting cotton development in West African. He said the establishment of such a body had become very necessary to end the annual wrangling between cotton companies and farmers over the fixing of prices of seed cotton.
Kuoro Limann, who is also Paramount Chief of Gwollu Traditional Area and a private legal practitioner at Wa, said the organisation, whose documents were being processed by lawyers for eventual registration, was non-profit making.
It would seek to promote inter-professional management of the cotton sub-sector and development mechanisms to facilitate dispute settlement among the stakeholders. The organisation's other responsibilities would include regulation of the sub-sector through voluntary negotiations and execution of agreements between the stakeholders on matters of common interest. Kuoro Limann appealed to the government to encourage the new body and facilitate it to live up to expectation to reverse the steep decline in cotton production.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com