Kufuor says reconciliation law would fasten unity
Five Hundred hectares of Atwima depleted forest for re-planted
Ensure free assembly elections- Minister
Ashanti region branch of CPP commends leadership of the party
Policy on Reproductive Health for Women launched
Irrigation dams necessary for Ghana’s Agric sector
Africans should be proud of Ghana
School Authorities are collecting fees from BECE re-sitters
Aliu Mahama criticises Muslims for indiscipline
Do not kill suspected criminals- Police
Government to deal drastically with trouble makers
Rome (Italy) 10 June 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday said the national reconciliation law was promulgated to fasten unity and to promoted a sense of belongingness, which had dwindled and eluded the Ghanaians as a result of atrocities meted out to some people in the country.
Under the law, the spirit of belonging to one background would be pacified, rekindled and everyone would be happy, President Kufuor said, adding that the law marked the beginning of unity for Ghanaians and not to help people seek revenge or retribution.
He was addressing the Ghanaian community in Rome, Italy as part of as three-day official visit there. President Kufuor, who called on Pope John Paul II, in the Vatican City, would attend World Food Summit being organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome.
President Kufuor promised that his government would impact qualitative leadership on Ghanaians and noted that about most of Ghana's 45 years of independence had been under dictatorship and the country's development was negatively affected by military intervention in politics.
He said Ghana was at the cross road of losing its socio-economic and political gains when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over power. President Kufuor said multiparty democracy would eliminate enmity among the people, adding that it was through trials and errors that good governance had flourished in some parts of the world.
He said: "We look forward into the future with confidence and pride that we can build our country." President Kufuor commended the Ghanaian community in Italy for establishing a fund for development in Ghana and urged other Ghanaians living outside the country to emulate them.
Miss Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State said the legacy that the NPP would bequeath to Ghana at the end of its tenure of office would be the culture of tolerance, which is now prevailing in the country.
Major Courage Quashigah, Minister of Food and Agriculture noted that prosperity of Ghana depended on agriculture but according to him past governments had overlooked this. He said this had resulted in the importation of 180 varieties of agricultural produce and other food items into the country hence Ghana's food import bill of about 400 million dollars annually.
Major Quashigah said government was determined to promote agriculture indicating that that aspect of the economy did not involve the production of farm produce alone, but the establishment of ware houses, creating market and the processing of farm produce.
Mr Jonas Opoku Forson, President of the Ghanaian community, in Italy appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in the country to reduce accidents. He said government should take adequate measures to revitalise Ghana's oil refinery and mentioned that Ghanaians in Italy have instituted a fund towards development in the country. There are about 30,000 Ghanaians living in Italy.
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Five Hundred hectares of Atwima depleted
forest for re-planted
Nkawie (Ashanti Region) 10 June 2002 - A total of 500 hectares of depleted forest lands in the Atwima forestry district had been earmarked for re-planting this year, Mr Acheampong Boakye, the District Manager of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission, has announced.
Already 350 hectares out of those lands had been replanted with tree seedlings including ofram, cidrella and ceiba, Mr Boakye reported by the Ghana News Agency as saying in an interview at Nkawie in Ashanti. He said the local communities were engaged in the re-planting with the FSD supplying them with the seedlings and technical support.
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Kumasi (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - A professor of science has strongly advised Ghanaians against the temptation to assume that the existence of electrons, the planets and other particles was a mere illusion.
Professor Keshaw Singh of the Department of Physics of Faculty of Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), stated that "almost everything we know through the scientific methods and theories can be found in reality and should not be doubted".
Professor Singh gave the advice when he delivered the KNUST Golden Jubilee second inaugural lecture in Kumasi on Friday. His topic was, "The concept of energy and information in the origin and evolution of life in the universe".
The lecture was attended by deans of faculties, heads of departments, directors and staff as well as students of the university. Professor Singh explained that the existence of electrons and similar particles could not be denied, "otherwise systems based on scientific theories and ideas will never have worked".
Radio, television, computers and radar which have been developed based on scientific theories work as expected and were ample examples to testify to the fact that electrons exist in reality, he stressed.
Professor Singh acknowledged that even though science initially started and was considered as a human adventure, today scientific discoveries show that it has become one of the principal components of life.
Professor John Sefah Kwadwo Ayim, Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, who chaired the inaugural lecture, stressed the need for the intensification of science education and its application to bring the desired growth to bear on the nation.
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Wenchi (Brong Ahafo) 10 June 2002 - Mr. Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister on Friday urged District Chief Executives (DCEs) to collaborate with Electoral Commission officials to ensure free, fair and peaceful district assemblies elections.
To ensure that the elections are violent-free, DCEs must contact Electoral Commission staff to know the problems and challenges facing them in their preparations, he said.
The Deputy Minister, who was speaking at the opening of the monthly meeting of DCEs in Brong-Ahafo in Wenchi also appealed to the public to show a high sense of discipline and maturity before and after the elections.
Any provocative statements and disturbances likely to breach the peace in a district should be quickly reported to the District Security Council (DISEC) without delay, he advised. Mr Adjei-Duffuor said if necessary such conducts could be reported to the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for assistance.
Mr Adjei-Duffuor entreated the DCEs to support security agencies to clamp down on the crime wave in the region. He commended the police and the military in their recent special operations at Techiman and Kintampo where some suspected criminals and illegal teak fellers were arrested.
The Deputy Minister expressed the government's determination to reduce the crime wave in the country. He announced that the Women's and Children Ministry had disbursed 1.3 billion cedis to the Brong Ahafo Region as part of the poverty reduction fund, adding that gari processing machines would soon be provided as well as some funds to ensure enough raw materials for the gari processing project.
The Deputy Minister urged the DCEs to liaise with the various banks for the speedy release of the funds to beneficiaries in their districts. Mr Adjei-Duffuor advised them to focus on afforestation programmes, mainly along the banks of river Tano, to help solve the perennial water problem in the region.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 10 June 2002 - The Ashanti regional branch of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has praised the national leadership of the party for their efforts to bring all the Nkrumaists under one umbrella to form one strong political party.
It has therefore, asked the national office not to rest on its oars until all "men and women of the Nkrumaist family have been grouped together to move forward ever and backward never once again".
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Kwadwo Tweneboah and Alhaji Mohammed Yakubu, first and second regional vice-chairman of the party respectively and issued to the press in Kumasi at the weekend.
The regional branch appealed to all genuine Nkrumaists to bury all differences and personal ambitions and join the unity crusade, which would open the way for the ultimate goal of winning power in future.
It said there is no way that a new name other than the CPP could be adopted as being suggested in certain quarters since the only legacy the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah left was the CPP, which spearheaded the struggle for independence for the country and was the "beacon of the many development projects."
The statement urged all constituency executive members in Ashanti to visit its regional branch office at Aboabo regularly for information and direction on the unity process and the way forward. "A tentative programme has been drawn for the regional officials to tour the various constituencies in the region to interact with members", the statement said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health on Friday said Ghana had identified reproductive health as a priority area for health development and investment.
He said in consonance with the global initiatives adopted in Cairo, Beijing and Copenhagen, a policy on reproductive health services and standards for the delivery of reproductive health care had been developed.
"These policies clearly outline, among others, the Ministry's position on issues related to harmful traditional practices and the need for improved access to basic health care for women and children'', Mr. Afriyie said at the launch of the 2001 Progress Report for Anglophone Africa titled Women of the World: Laws and policies Affecting Their Reproductive lives.
The 175-page report presents a snapshot view of progress achieved towards ensuring women's reproductive health and rights in seven Anglophone countries. Women's organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana are the real engines behind the report that challenges their governments to adopt and implement appropriate laws and policies to ensure reproductive health and equality in society.
It was facilitated by the Centre for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP) of the United States and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana. Mr. Afriyie said though gender issues were not only women's issues, the disproportionate impact of many policies made it imperative to allow a little more focus on women.
"We must be able to identify important gaps in our current policies, which do not make our services gender friendly and find ways of closing them without creating more gender imbalances."
Ms. Kathy Hall-Martinez, Director of CRLP said many countries in Africa still lacked laws to protect women's reproductive rights. "While many governments have adopted policies intended to improve women's reproductive health and rights, few have made concrete budget allocations to support these policies."
Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama, wife of the Vice President who launched the report said the primary cause of death of women between ages 15 and 44 was maternal mortality resulting from complications due to illegal and unsafe abortions. "In Ghana it is established that unsafe abortion is the largest single contributor which is 1,000 maternal deaths for every 100,000 births."
Mrs. Ernestina Naana Hagan, President of FIDA said Ghana in collaboration with other human rights organisations was carrying out a number of awareness and sensitisation programmes to make the laws a living and practical tool for the promotion of women's rights. The Report was an effective advocacy resource tool to promote and defend women's reproductive rights.
Mrs. Virginia Ofosu Amaah, Chairperson of the National Population Council, who chaired the function said a lot more work remained to be done to address women's reproductive issues. "Addressing these issues is the surest way to open up opportunities for women" she added.
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 10 June 2002 - Mr Mahami Salifu, the Upper East Regional
Minister, at the weekend said though the construction of irrigation dams was expensive it was necessary because it had proved to be a successful means of poverty reduction.
The unavailability of water was affecting agricultural activities in the region, Mr Salifu stated and charged development planners such as the Town and Country Planning and the Ministry Of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), to explore water-harvesting techniques for more water to augment regular sources of water towards enhancing socio-economic activities.
He was opening a workshop to discuss a draft agreement between the MOFA, district assemblies and Water Users Associations on the regularisation of lands acquired for the land conservation and smallholder projects at Bolgatanga. The workshop was meant to epitomise the need for public and private sector collaboration to ensure the sustainability of irrigation facilities under the project.
Mr Salifu called on development agencies, beneficiary communities and district assemblies to address the problem of land litigation, land tenure and the improper acquisition of land for irrigated farming.
The Deputy Regional Director of MOFA, Mr Roy Ayariga in a welcoming address said nagging land litigations frustrated potential investors, preventing them from investing in viable ventures that could benefit the people. He expressed regret that there was no proper documentation covering legally acquired sites in the area, where 44 rehabilitated dams under the project were sited.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Ghana has been described as a country which Africans should be proud of due to its rich history, heritage and respect for democracy
The Director of the office of International Programmes of the Chicago State University, Dr. Adama J Conteh, who make the observation added: ' If one has to select a country in Africa, it should be Ghana and it should continue to be the shining example to Africa and the world. Dr Conteh was speaking when students from the State Universities of Chicago and Texas visited the Greater Accra Regional Minister in his residency.
The 19 students are on a summer study programme being an exchange programme funded by the US government at cost of 50,000 dollars. The students are studying economics, business, herbal medicine, history medicine, mental health, sociology, Ghana legal system, tax collection, education and research programmes in various disciplines at the University of Ghana, Legon
The one month programme would be exposed them to African culture and traditions would visit the Asantehene, Cape Coast Castle, Takoradi and other places of interest and interact with families. Dr. Conteh said Ghana needs to invest in the development of its human resources as that were its greatest assets.
Sheikh I. C. Quaye, the Regional Minister said Ghana has become a pace-setter in the whole of Africa and said that there is every hope that by the end of the four years, the government would be able to move the economy out of its current state.
He the economy was in tatters, but since the current government took over power, Ghanaians are now happy it has been able to move the out of former state as debts on contracts have been paid, it has also adjust workers salary and is exporting rice and starch.
Asked whether Ghana could achieve economic progress by itself, he said despite the country's riches it still need support in order to build the foundation. On structural the adjustment programme, Sheikh I.C Quaye said management in the past government never worked well and so it has been a failure.
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Mpraeso (Eastern Region) 10 June 2002 - Some basic school authorities in the Kwahu South District are collecting tuition fees from Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) candidates whose results were recently cancelled due to leakage of some of the examination papers.
The school authorities are demanding the fees from the candidates despite the directives from the Minister of Education to school authorities not to charge such pupils any tuition fees.
The Ghana News Agency reports that its investigations revealed that the private schools in the district were collecting between 40,000 to 60,000 cedis as extra classes fee, while the public schools were demanding that the candidates pay between 16,000 to 20,000 cedis or five hundred cedis a day for the one month revision classes before they re-write their examination this year.
Authorities of some of the schools the GNA visited explained that the normal revision classes period from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. were free but charge something minimal for the three to five hours extra classes they organise for the candidates.
Mr Obuadum Banahene, the District Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) said some schools didn't collect the third term fees from the candidates since they wrote the examination before the commencement of the third term and were therefore, collecting them as revision classes fee.
When the District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service was contacted, Mrs. Nicholina Amissah, an Assistant Director of Human Resource Management and Development said they were not aware that some school authorities were collecting fees from the candidates and promised to send the monitoring team of the directorate to check it.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Education, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi at a news conference in Accra, directed that all candidates of the 2002 BECE should rewrite the four main subjects, which leaked during the examination at no cost to the candidates. The directive stated that all expenses involved would be borne by the printing houses that printed the papers and the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Saturday criticised Muslims for the spate of indiscipline in their communities and said it contradicted the tenets of Islam.
He, therefore, asked them to emulate the lifestyle of Prophet Mohammed, and to abide by his teaching, which extols respect for authority, humility and tolerance. The Vice President was addressing Muslims from all over the county and ministers of state at a durbar to mark Maulib Nabiyi, the birth and life of Prophet Mohammed.
He said though the Prophet was an embodiment of righteousness, holiness and divine power, he was disciplined and submitted to earthly authority. "Unfortunately, the opposite attitude is prevalent in many Muslim communities. Indeed, to some of us it amounts to pride and rebellion against lawful authority.
He noted that the disregard for building regulations had resulted in slums in most Muslim communities. Alhaji Mahama asked Muslims to tolerance each other and to ensure peace and harmony towards development.
He said: "We fight at the least provocation because we are intolerant of each others' views and beliefs," resulting in lost of lives and destruction of properties. Alhaji Mahama expressed concern about the proliferation of Islamic sects in the country and called on Muslim leaders to demonstrate truthfulness, self-sacrifice and perseverance.
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Gomoa-Achiase (Central Region) 10 June 2002 - The Agona Swedru Divisional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Mr J.K. Asante, on Friday reminded Ghanaians that it is an offence to kill criminals when they are arrested.
Instead, such people should be handed over to the police for further investigations and prosecution if the outcome of the investigations adduced that he or she must be made to face the full rigours of the law.
Mr Asante gave the reminder when he swore in a 29-member neighbourhood watch committee for Gomoa-Achiase, neat Agona Swedru. He advised the group to discharge their duties wi0th a high sense of patriotism and dedication to enable them to provide credible service to the community and the nation.
Mr Alex Addae, Agona Swedru District police commander, assured the chiefs and people of the town that the police would give the required support to ensure the success of their work, because their move is a commendable one, which needs to be commended.
Nana Okru Baah, chief of Gomoa-Achiase, promised to provide effective supervisory control over members of the committee so as to prevent them from over stretching their powers in the course of their duties.
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Zabzugu (Northern Region) 10 June 2002 - Mr Ernest Debrah Acting Northern Minister has warned that, the government would not sit ideally and allow people to hide behind chieftaincy to derail its development plans or destabilise society.
The Government does not enstool or enskin chiefs, he said, but would only intervene when there is a threat to the breach of peace. Mr Debrah gave the warning, when he addressed separate durbars of chiefs and heads of departments at Zabzugu and Tatale to introduce himself to the people.
He appealed to Ghanaians not to allow themselves to be divided along Chieftaincy, political, religious and ethnic grounds. The Regional Minister said, the Wuaku Commission currently investigating the Yendi Chieftaincy crisis is a fact finding one and assured the people that the government would do nothing to shield any person found to be involved in the conflict.
Mr Debrah said the government would also leave no stone unturned to unravel the mystery behind the violence and cautioned people to avoid jumping to conclusions at this early stage of the Commission's sitting. He said the government's pre-occupation was the development of the country, adding that in this direction, civil servants had a vital role to play to achieve the government's objectives.
"The government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption is not for government officials alone and while we do not require you to belong to us, we certainly demand discipline and commitment to the state and the people of Ghana", he said.
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....Even as the party feels the heat of his public ridicule
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Is Kofi Wayo showing disloyalty to his
party, the New Patriotic Party or simply exercising his freedom of expression?
The opposition NDC's criticisms of the NPP government, pale besides the bashing
the government gets from Mr. Wayo. Not only that, he attacks individual
ministers, especially Energy Minister, Kan Dapaah, with such savagery that is
often as surprising as it smacks of personal animosity between the two.
Last week the Minister had had enough and took his plight to the court of
public opinion in a press conference. Whether the Minister's strategy would
work or not would be seen in the course of time. In responding to Mr. Wayo, he
came out with revelations of his own that paint Kofi Wayo as a shady character
with dubious credentials. He cast doubt on the integrity of owners of the
company which Mr. Wayo says is interested in buying the Tema Oil Refinery and
which he says he is a "silent investor" in and owns 10 per cent. The
battle, as is often said in the Ghanaian media, is now joined. And not just
between the two men, but other interested parties.
The New Patriotic Party, the party, which the protagonists are supposed to owe
allegiance to could do without pointless squabbles, especially at this time when
the government is pre-occupied with major security concerns. The Accra Daily
Mail took this up with party General Secretary, Dan Botwe, last Friday, 07 June
2002, a day after the Minister's press conference.
Every organization, the General Secretary said, has rules and NPP is no
exception. He said the party believes in freedom of speech and the practice of
internal democracy, therefore comments from any member of the party or indeed
any Ghanaian is allowed.
However, he said no organization would also countenance conduct, especially
from members that would go to put it in a bad light. Since Kofi Wayo turned his
guns on the NPP not long after the election victory of 2000, some members of
the party have been calling for sanctions against him, ranging from suspension
to dismissal from the party.
Last weekend, the NPP Youth Wing of the Greater Accra Region said in a release
"we wish to express our utmost dismay at the high level of hypocrisy and
corruption being exhibited by Kofi Wayo who claims to be a leading member of
the New Patriotic Party. We wish to condemn Wayo's behaviour and attitude
toward the NPP, which manifests in his numerous and unnecessary attacks and
condemnations of the party's policies."
At the time of the interview with Dan Botwe there was no indication that he was
aware of the above though he quoted article 3(d) of the party's constitution on
what is expected of each party member: "A member shall abide by and
publicly uphold the decisions of the party, protect and promote the good name of
the party and to protect the unity of the party". He said even if a member
disagrees with the party's policies he still has to see to it that the unity of
the party is protected.
Given the regularity of Mr. Wayo's attacks against the party, sometimes even
touching on the President, The Accra Daily Mail wanted to know from the General
Secretary whether Mr. Kofi Wayo would be sanctioned or at least asked to face a
disciplinary committee. His reply was another quotation from the party's
constitution; article 3(f), which states, "a member may be suspended from
membership of the party or holding any office in the party pending an enquiry
into his/her conduct by a disciplinary committee". And also "...any
decision to suspend a member shall not be taken unless the nature of the
complaint has been communicated to the member in writing, and disciplinary
proceedings have been initiated against such a member."
For now, he said, no formal decision had been taken at the national level about
Kofi Wayo. If any disciplinary actions were going to be taken, it would not be
because it is Kofi Wayo, but if the party is convinced that the conduct of any
member merits sanction; the party will go ahead according to the strictures of
the party's constitution.
Though party insiders are very displeased with Mr. Wayo's media antics, no one
has made a formal complaint to the party's national executive council that
could have necessitated an inquiry at least. Party members squirm and grouse,
but no one wants to be seen to be stifling the freedom of expression.
The Accra Daily Mail has learnt from a highly reliable source that it is
unlikely that Mr. Wayo would be sanctioned. "Dismissal is out of the
question," he said. Another told The Accra Daily Mail that they had
information about how Mr. Wayo is using "some Nima boys against us".
He may have been exaggerating but he said, "Mr. Wayo may eventually ditch
us and even try to run against the President."
On the hate-hate relationship between Mr. Wayo and the Energy Minister, party
General Secretary Dan Botwe described as misguided and petty the attacks
mounted on Mr. Kan Dapaah by Mr. Kofi Wayo and said he would wish the Minister
of Energy would ignore the attacks. He said the party is ready to take such
decisions on indiscipline as the constitution says.
But would the party field Kofi Wayo again as parliamentary candidate in
Election 2004? Couching his words carefully, he said if by the time of
nominations Mr. Wayo were still a member of the party, then he would be fully
qualified and could go to constituency congress to be elected to contest the
elections. With an air of "there is a limit to everything" to his
voice, Dan Botwe concluded, "...the party will not sit back when things
are going bad".
For the time being therefore, it seems things have not gone bad enough and Kofi
Wayo can direct his barbs at his party as much as he wishes, much to the
delight of the opposition NDC, which is in the process of compiling Wayo's
negative statements against the NPP and its ministers into a major anti-NPP
campaign material.
And where does that leave Kofi Wayo's long-suffering Kan Dapaah? He would
probably have to take his party's General Secretary's advice and ignore the
attacks! And what of Mr. Wayo's future with the NPP? We can only keep guessing
but nobody should be surprised if in a final flurry of words Kofi Wayo calls a
press conference and announces his "resignation" from the NPP. – Accra
Mail
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Should Rawlings have been arrested for what many observers consider an incitement to mutiny in his latest June 4 speech? Should Kofi Wayo be sacked from the NPP for his attacks on the party and some leading individuals of the party, which sometimes border on defamation?
Should President Kufuor have said no to the calls from the "Andani Gate" to General Hamidu to resign?
On the first question, Rawlings was not arrested. The Minister of Defence held a press conference to explain the official position on the accusations leveled by Rawlings. Rawlings is walking a free man.
On the second question, the party has said it has not taken any decision yet and any action it would take would be based strictly on what the party's constitution says. Kofi Wayo is still hopping from one radio station to the other speaking his mind against every civil institution, but more so, his party the NPP.
On the third question, the President accepted the resignation of the General when the latter bowed to pressure from the Andani Gate, the Bar Association and sections of the media.
In the three cases cited above, the NPP has played by the book. But is that a sign of weakness or strength. Some people are arguing that the NPP government would have to be more robust than that. If Rawlings has been in breach of the law, they argue, he should be made to face the music, and not be met with a "feeble" press conference.
In the case of Kofi Wayo, they argue that it is a sign of great disloyalty for him to be attacking the party he belongs to in the way he has been doing. His disloyalty would not be accepted by any political party, so why should the NPP, they ask.
And on General Hamidu, the argument is that, even if he had to resign it should have been on the grounds of failure of intelligence, but not due to the accusation of complicity as was being pushed by the Andani Gate and others.
The NPP is certainly living up to its liberal democratic traditions by exercising great tolerance and sensitivity to public opinion. But could this not be taken as a weakness, especially by those who are chomping at the bit waiting to destabilise the system?
Our opinion is that the NPP should not compromise on its
liberal democratic values, but it MUST use all the legitimate constitutional
forces available to it to keep at bay all those who would want to sabotage
Ghana's democratic and constitutional dispensation. That is what the President
swore to do and in the name of God Almighty, that's what he MUST do to
safeguard the state. – Accra Mail
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Italy (Rome) 10 June 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor is in Italy to attend the four-day U.N. World Food summit starting today, 10 June. The president will join global leaders gathered in Rome for the Summit, against the backdrop of looming famine in southern Africa and heated debate over genetically modified foods.
The summit will open today with an address by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. It is expected to end on Thursday with a declaration recommitting governments to promises they made to cut hunger in 1996, at the first food summit. During that meeting, delegates pledged to reduce the number of hungry people in the world from 800 million to 400 million by 2015. So far, however, there has been no significant reduction.
Kufuor arrived in Italy from Germany, on Friday. He had a private audience with John Paul II at the Vatican on Saturday.
The president completed a three-day official visit to Germany where he met, Chancellor Schroeder, the Ghanaian community in Berlin and attended an award ceremony for a Ugandan lawyer and UN-Under Secretary General, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflicts, Mr Olara A. Otunnu.
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20 real estate companies showcase their
products in London
London (United Kingdom) 10 June 2002 - Twenty (20) Ghanaian real estate companies have taken part in a two-day Housing Exhibition in London to showcase their latest housing designs being constructed in various parts of Ghana. The models on display cater for all categories of clients, from the executive types to the simple moderately priced houses for the lower income brackets.
Present at the exhibition were Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK who officially opened the exhibition, Mr Nii Ayite Boafo, a Presidential Aide; Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner; Mr Sam Antwi, Chief Executive of Regalon Estate who organised the Exhibition; Mr William Opare, Chief Executive of Ghana Real Estate Development Association, executives of the association, officials of the High Commission and a cross section of Ghanaians living in the UK.
Opening the exhibition, Mr Isaac Osei commended Regalon International for the initiative and for instituting the exhibition as an annual affair to market the housing industry in Ghana. He said the involvement of the Government in the exhibition demonstrated the importance it attached to housing development in particular and the housing industry as a whole.
To accelerate housing delivery and safeguard home-buyers’ interests, Mr Osei announced that the Government would facilitate the construction of 20,000 and 90,000 housing units for rental and ownership respectively.
Towards this end, Mr Osei stated the Government would step up its facilitation role with emphasis on land acquisition and provision of basic infrastructure facilities to support the development.
High Commissioner Osei urged Ghanaians abroad to work hard and save sufficient funds to purchase houses as a demonstration of their investment in the growing housing sector. On problems such as land acquisition, funds, road, infrastructure and utilities plaguing the sector, Mr Osei said the Government is taking measures to address them.
Companies which took part in the well-attended Housing Exhibition, the second to be held in London by the Ghanaian-owned Regalon International based in London are Regimanuel Gray, Damax Construction, Devtraco, Manet Housing, Emmarcarlton Estates Ltd, State Housing Construction, African Concrete Products (ACP), Tempo Estates, WDP Estates, Coastal Estates, Bonsu Brothers Group, Medium Dwelling Company, Taysec Construction, Akuaba Estates, Tekoa Estates/Kemprust Ventures Ltd., Tracoaf Estates and Emefs Construction.
Other Allied Services companies such as the Home Finance Company, Unity Link Money Transfer, Ghana International Bank, Engineering Maintenance Ltd of Sierra Leone, Ankamah Gunn and Co. a housing and legal firm also participated in the exhibition.
The African Concrete Products (ACP) was adjudged the best exhibitor during the exhibition with Manet Housing and Regimanuel Gray taking the second and third places respectively. They were presented with engraved plaques of recognition at a late evening reception, following the closing.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Workers of the Tema Oil Refinery have resumed work after a five-hour sit-down strike action on Thursday. The workers were protesting the alleged removal from office of the Chief Executive, Dr. Yaw Akoto and explanation for the action.
The sit-down strike was called off after a meeting between management and executives of the local union. Though work has resumed, the workers are clad in red, doubting the assurances from the deputy Managing Director Robert Forson that the reports are false.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Two dead bodies have been recovered from the Korle Lagoon in Accra. They are believed to have fallen into the lagoon in their bid to escape alleged military brutality during a dawn swoop at Sodom and Gomorrah on Thursday. Residents of the slum have alleged that they were brutalised by the military, which conducted the swoop.
They told JOYFM that thousands of people were rounded up during the raid while others fled across a narrow bridge spanning the Korle Lagoon and fell in the process.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Government has approved the admission of 156 Ghanaian companies into the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme. The companies produce steel, rubber, cosmetics among others.
Products of these companies will circulate freely and are exempted from import duties and taxes. "They are not subject to any quantitative or qualitative restriction," Economic Planning and Regional Cooperation Minister, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom said.
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 10 June 2002 - The Dagbon Traditional Council has decided to appear before the Wuaku commission in Sunyani, but says it will be doing so under protest. The council said in a letter to the President and the Chairman of the three-member commission that government and the Wuaku Commission would be jointly and severally responsible if any member of their family suffers any attack during their travel to Sunyani or after.
The council and the Andani gate had protested against the use of Sunyani as venue for the hearing, because of fears for their security.
GRi…/
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 10 June 2002 - The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive Maxwell Jumah is being accused of campaigning against sitting members of the assembly.
Some sitting Assembly Members told radio stations in the metropolis that Mr. Jumah was frustrating their re-election bids and supporting their rivals against them. But the KMA boss has denied the allegations, which he describes as part of a smear campaign by a section of the Assembly Members to cause disaffection against him.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - An inter-ministerial memo sighted by the Ghanaian Chronicle suggests that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is sitting on tenterhooks, as it has been alerted of waves in the military that can lead to an insurrection.
Reeling from the looming disruption, the government proposed some pre-emptive measures way back in January this year, and some observers say the retirement of 250 old military personnel has been planned ostensibly to diffuse the tension.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - Twelve years old vehicles could be imported into the country without attracting any penalty, when a bill that government is preparing comes into effect.
Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo announced this when President John Agyekum Kufuor met the Ghanaian Community on the second day of his three-day official visit to Germany at the invitation of the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said government's economic policies and programmes were geared towards an improvement of the current growth rate of 4.5 per cent to five per cent.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 June 2002 - The Social Security and
National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has agreed to foot medical bills of pensioners
when the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme takes off.
Senior Industrial Relations Officer of the Western Regional
branch of the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) Emmanuel P. Ofori, told a
delegates (quote) conference of the Western Regional Pensioners Association at
Takoradi that the government was also working around the clock to make life
bearable for pensioners.
Mr
Ofori noted that pensioners had rendered valuable services to the nation and
therefore deserved better treatment. High cost of living has made life
unbearable for pensioners who receive meagre monthly pensions. – JoyOnline
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