Wuaku Commission continues probe
UNDP launches Kofi Annan's initiative
Concentrate more on national development.. Abu-Sadat
African women urged to advance themselves academically
No contract signed on re-branding
UNICEF calls for action against child malnutrition
Report to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa launched in Rome
Delegates at World Food Summit call for international alliance against hunger
President Kufuor holds talks with UN Secretary General in Rome
Burkinabe arrested with weapons
Appointment of TOR boss terminated
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 12 June 2002 - Three witnesses of the Andani gate on Tuesday appeared before the Wuaku Commission probing the Yendi crisis and gave chilling accounts of how the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II was assassinated.
They are: Iddrissu Mutawakil, a former student of Vitin Secondary School, Tamale, Imrana Sayibu, a student at the Tamale Polytechnic and Bukari Amadu 27, a student at the Bagabaga Training College, Tamale It was the first appearance of witnesses from the gate before the Commission since they rescinded their decision not to appear before the Commission in Sunyani.
Led in evidence by a retired Chief State Attorney, Mr George Owoo, counsel for the Commission, all the three witnesses alleged that they saw one Idana holding the severed hand of the late Ya-Na tied with a rope and hanging on his neck on Wednesday 27 March, after he had been assassinated.
Mutawakil, 20, who testified first as Commission's 17th witnesses narrated events which took place from Sunday 24 March to Wednesday, 27 March in Yendi. He said whilst at the Ya-Na's palace on Sunday, news got to the chief about the imposition of a curfew and the ban on the celebration of the "Fire Festival" in the area.
Mutawakil said the Ya-Na, who was upset by the news questioned the rationale behind the action by the Yendi District Security Committee (DISEC) since, he as the overlord of the land, was not consulted. "When efforts by the chief to get the Yendi DCE, Mr Mohammed Habib Tijani to give reasons for the curfew failed, the Ya-Na managed to get the former Northern Regional Minister, Prince Imoro Andani on telephone".
Mutawakil alleged that when the ex-Minister, who came to Yendi was asked by the chief why he (Ya-Na) was not consulted before such an action was taken, he replied that he did not know anything about the action. Witness said after the late Ya-Na had assured the ex-Minister that there would not be any trouble if the festival was celebrated, he subsequently lifted the curfew and the ban on the festival.
Mutawakil told the Commission that hostilities between the two gates started in the morning of Monday when the Ya-Na was informed that some armed members from the Abudu gate were coming to attack them.
In an answer to a question that, "what were those men in the Ya-Na's palace doing when the Abudus started firing", Mutawakil replied that, the Andanis also retaliated. He said the exchanges resulted in the death of some men from the Andani's side.
Mutawakil stated that the Abudu fighters retreated around noon and came back towards the evening during which exchange of gunfire resumed till late in the night.
"On Tuesday 26 March, when the fighting intensified, I was in the Ya-Na's Palace when I saw a military armoured car passing by where the fighters from the
Abudu gate had gathered," he said. Witness added that although the armoured car went and came back for the third time, the soldiers did not stop the Abudus from firing towards the Ya-Na's palace till late in the evening when hostilities ceased.
Mutawakil recounted that around 6.00 am on Wednesday fighting between the combatants intensified when those in the Ya-Na's palace realised that the Abudus had set some houses around the palace ablaze. He said they later set part of the Palace on fire and when nothing else could be done, "the late chief advised us to find an escape route for our dear lives".
He added that some of the youth in the Palace jumped over the wall, while the chief, his elders and some men passed through the main gate. Mutawakil quoted the Ya-Na as encouraging his men to "go out and face their enemies since their fate was in the hands of God at that time.
Mutawakil continued that when they jumped over the wall, they escaped to a prison quarters behind the palace and it was while hiding behind a pack of wood that they saw Idana with the severed hand of the late Ya-Na.
He quoted Idana as boasting whilst some of his people were drumming and dancing that, "I am holding the chief's hand and anyone who thinks he is a man should come and retrieve it from me." Mutawakil said the hand was tied with a rope and was loosely hanging around the neck of Idana.
When asked by a member of the Commission how he was able to identify that the severed hand was that of the late chief, Mutawakil replied that he recognised it "because the wrist watch on the hand was that of the Ya-Na". He could not however, tell whether the hand was the right or the left one when the Commission asked him.
Witness told the Commission that between where they were hiding and where Idana and his men were jubilating was about 80 metres and the Commission at that point asked him to demonstrate the distance by walking from the hall to a point outside.
He replied to a question about how he was able to identify that the watch on the severed hand was that of the Ya-Na that, "I have lived with the Ya-Na for a long time and the gold-coloured watch was the one he was wearing before the tragedy. Mutawakil alleged that at a point, he managed to run to the police quarters, "but instead of providing me with security they rather assaulted me and left me to my fate".
He said as he ran towards the Yendi Post Office, he saw some members of the Abudu family in a group and was lucky when a police van appeared and picked him to the police station, where he alleged that policemen again assaulted him and drove him away. "I was hit by a bullet when I got to the Abudus, fired by one Osman alias Kupi after which I ran towards the palace, where some prison officials took me to the Yendi hospital for treatment and I was discharged the following day".
When leading counsel for the Andanis, Mr Charles Hayibor, asked witness why hewas beaten by the police and sent away, he replied, "I think because I came from the palace". At this point the commission told him that since his account implicated some personalities, he would be recalled to give further evidence when those people would be called to appear before the Commission.
Imrana Sayibu, a student of the Tamale Polytechnic and the 18th witness told the Commission that he was in the Ya-Na's palace on the morning of Tuesday, 26 March, to collect a satellite disk from one Andani, a friend for sale.
Sayibu, who corroborated most of the evidence of Mutawakil said he was at the palace holding some discussions with his friend when they heard gunshots outside the palace at about 9 o'clock in the morning and that continued till about 3.00 pm. He said in the evening he heard the sound of a helicopter approaching and those in the palace thought that a reinforcement had arrived to assist the Ya-Na but no such assistance came.
The witness said when the fight intensified the following morning and the Abudus started burning the palace, he smelt the scent of petrol whilst those in the palace had gathered at the main hall. He continued that when two men sent by the Ya-Na to seek assistance from the military to come to his rescue failed to return, he (the chief) ordered his people to go out and fight.
Sayibu recounted that after he had jumped over the wall, he later saw the Ya-Na lying prostrate but could not tell whether he was dead at that time .He added that he could identify one Baba Troga, who shot at him but was fortunate that the bullets missed him. Witness said he was later on shot in the right thigh by one Baba Zuahere, and Abdulai Jekre, which made him fall, but managed to ran away to join his colleagues, who were hiding behind a pack of wood near the Prisons Quarters.
"Whilst we were in our hideout, I saw the Presiding Member of the Yendi District Assembly and his little brother, dragging the body of the late Ya-Na', he said.
Sayibu said he also saw a photographer, called Kuums, holding lorry tyres whilst one boy, called Mustapha, poured a liquid on the tyres, which were later packed on late chief's body, and set ablaze. He alleged that afterwards an armoured car pulled by and the military men in it asked those burning the body: "have you finished with your mission," to which they replied in the affirmative.
Asked by the Commission how he was able to identify that it was the body of the late Ya-Na that was being dragged, Sayibu replied that he knew that from the chief's dress.
Another witness, Bukari Amadu, 27, a teacher trainee at the Bagabaga Training College, Tamale, said he was on Easter holidays at Yendi when the incident occurred. He alleged that on Saturday 23 March, whilst he was on a visit to a friend, who is from the Abudu's gate, he overheard some men saying that the DCE had assured them that some strangers would come to assist them to kill the Ya-Na.
He said on Tuesday, 26 March, there were exchanges of fire between the two factions during which many people including Naa Zo, Iddrissu Abdulai and one
Fusheni, all from the Andani gate died.
Amadu said the late Ya-Na requested that those shooting at the palace should stop for peace talks but when the Abudus heard this they rather intensified their shooting. He said the Ya-Na, therefore, sent men to the military to rescue him to vacate the palace for his pursuers, but they failed to come. Asked how he managed to run away without sustaining any injuries, he replied, "it was through divine intervention." Sitting continues on Wednesday.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with its development partners on Tuesday launched an 18-member advisory committee to provide an overall direction for the implementation of the Global Compact - Ghana, an initiative of Mr Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General in Accra.
The UN boss initiated the Global Compact in 1999 with the aim to bring private companies together with the UN agencies, labour organisations, non-governmental organisations and other parties to foster partnership and build on the equitable global market.
The wider universal principles advocated by the Compact falls under three main areas that require businesses to promote good human rights, labour and environmental practices at workplaces and in the society as a whole.
Under the human rights principles, businesses are expected to support and respect the protection of international human rights within their sphere of influence and make sure their own corporations are not complicit in human rights abuses.
They are to uphold freedom of association and eliminate all forms of forced and compulsory labour and abolish child labour among other requirements. Also, they are to support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges and undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibilities under the environmental principle.
Mr Alfred Fawundu, UNDP Representative in Ghana said since the launch of Global Compact in July 2000, over 70 companies and business associations including Ghana's Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited, have signed up to make the Compact meaningful. Ashanti was the first African company to join.
Mr Fawundu said the Global Compact is not regulatory nor does it impose any legal or financial obligation on firms that sign up. He said: "It asks us to treat people the way we want to be treated, doing business with an eye on human rights and adopting work processes that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
"It is about creating a safe environment for all partners to promote the growth and sustenance of business - sustainable business development, employers and labour can claim a stake in what is going on in our businesses because they see it as human, labour and environmentally friendly".
Members of the committee include Professor Alex Kwapong, Chairman of Council of State, Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development,
Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association and Mr Kwasi Adu Amankwah TUC General Secretary.
Mr Fawundu said in addition to the Council, Ghana has three technical committees on human rights, labour and environment as well as a co-ordinating committee responsible for the operational aspects of the Compact. He said in the next few weeks, members of the various committees would work on practical steps to make the Compact operational in Ghana.
Requirements to join the Compact are for a company's chief executive to write to the UN Secretary General to express its commitment to the principles, publicly advocate for the principles among workers, shareholders and other stakeholders and report annually on concrete steps taken on any of the nine principles.
Mr Bartels said the basis for the development of governance had assumed higher responsibilities in the form of contracts between rulers and the ruled. He said the principles of the Compact placed more responsibilities on rulers and also enabled the ruled to demand better treatment for the development of any society.
The Minister said there was so much merit in the vision of the Compact that warranted the full support of leaders of country. Professor Kwapong said the Compact posed a great challenge to the government and the business community and urged them to rise up to it saying: "If we commit ourselves to the challenge, we will be able to occupy our rightful place on the globe".
Mr James Kwamena Anaman, Managing Director of AGC's Corporate Affairs said the company has over the years promoted sound environmental practices and added that joining the Compact would urge them to do more in this direction. Nana Akufo-Addo launched the committee.
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Government would turn fortunes of Ghanaians by 2003
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002- Mr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako, an Assistant Government Spokesman on Tuesday stated that even though there are great challenges facing the country, the government is still determined to turn the fortunes of Ghanaians before the end of its term office.
"Government's aim is to leave an indelible mark in the memory of Ghanaians with regard to good governance and sound economic management so that the good people of Ghana would draw their own conclusions," he pointed out. Mr Amponsah-Bediako was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
He said the huge economic debts that had been accumulated over the years by previous governments have been drastically reduced due to avoidance of wastage and sound economic management by the Kufuor administration.
"As an indicator, roads and non-road arrears settled by the Finance Ministry before May this year, totalled 143.4 billion cedis and 217.4 billion cedis respectively" he stressed. Mr Amponsah-Bediako said government would not allow itself to be derailed from its focus through deliberate acts of distractions on the part of other political opponents.
He said despite obstacles on the government's way it was determined to start construction works on some major roads throughout the country. These construction works he said would include, the Circle - Achimota road, the Accra - Cape Coast road and the Accra - Aflao road which would be upgraded to first class roads in line with international standards.
He said in addition, some minor road networks would be carried out in the various parts of the regions including the northern and volta regions to upgrade the existing ones, adding that the government's stand on HIPC was meant to give the country a little time in the area of debt payment which has become an obstacle to development.
Mr Amponsah- Bediako said it has remained as a challenge for the country to use the HIPC status to work hard to turn the economy round. He said the government would still keep to the priorities as presented to the nation by the President as part of his state of the nation's address to parliament early this year.
These priorities he said include, infrustructural development, modernised agriculture based on rural development, enhanced social services with emphasis on health and education and good governance and private sector development. He therefore called on all Ghanaians to bear with the government and rally behind it in these difficult times to be able to meet the challenges ahead.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002- The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Tuesday saluted the founding fathers and mothers of the party which, it said, was the vanguard of the struggle for national independence and accelerated social and economic transformation.
In a statement signed by Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, general Secretary, to mark the 53rd anniversary of the party which falls on Wednesday, it hopes that people would rally behind the Nkrumaist agenda, "which remains the only viable progressive option for national reconstruction to bring hope, prosperity and joy to all. We are confident that our efforts to free Ghana, Africa and the black race will forever be crowned with success."
The CPP said the realisation by African leaders recently to work towards economic and political integration of the continent is a clear vindication of the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the party and first president of Ghana, and other progressive leaders.
"Ghana's respected role in African affairs is largely attributable to the far-sighted and progressive stand on continental issues by Osagyefo. "In furtherance of this, the CPP shall continue to project the dignity of the African people and all people of African descent through our support for the noble ideals of Pan Africanism and world peace and opposition of racism."
The statement said the achievements of the CPP are unparalleled in the socio-economic history of the country. "Ghana continues to subsist to a large extent on the basic infrastructure developed in all sectors by Dr Nkrumah's government of the First republic" he declared.
It said as the oldest political tradition, the party would continue to pursue policies that give real meaning to these ideals. The party said the major problems barring the merger of all Nkrumaist political parties have been overcome.
The statement noted that the unity talks have been largely successful and a common political platform has been adopted and a draft constitution would be finalised. "It is the expectation of the CPP that the rank and file of Nkrumaists will bear in mind that what unites us is far from greater than what divides us."
It said it is the responsibility of the current crop of leaders to forge closer unity and do all in their power to restore the CPP to power during the next election. The party aid it would continue to criticise policies that work against the interest of people, saying, that the party would maintain their collaboration with and intensify efforts to unite all progressive parties and organisations that are committed to these objectives.
The statement said as part of the celebration, a meeting of party functionaries would be held at Takoradi for members to interact with national leadership and leading members to identify strategies that would place the CPP in readiness for organisational activities in all its 19 constituencies.
Dr Abubakar Al-Hassan, National Chairman and Leader of the party, would deliver the keynote address, which would report on the unity talks and also outline activities leading to the National Congress by the end of the year.
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Concentrate more on national development..
Abu-Sadat.
Kasoa (Central Region) 12 June 2002-Alhaji Babalami Abu-Sadat, a former MP for Awutu-Senya, has appealed to Ghanaians to be concerned with helping the government build a virile economy rather than engaging in unconstructive criticism.
''There is a steady wave of criticism going on that seems to be a planned one to divert the attention of the government from its objectives. Since the country belongs to us all let us offer alternative suggestions that would push the country forward,'' he said, in an interview with the GNA.
He appealed to wealthy individuals to help in the development of their various communities. Alhaji Abu-Sadat urged the electorate to help their chosen candidates to win rather than making high demands from the candidate because the role of the
Assemblyman is sacrificial. He also appealed to the government to increase the sitting allowances of Assemblymen.
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African women urged to advance themselves
academically
Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002- The Former First Lady of Sierra Leone, and Director of the office of the International State University, Dr Adama J. Conteh, has called on African women to take up the challenge of empowering themselves by advancing their academic standards.
Dr Conteh, said that was one of the surest ways of breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and diseases that have plagued most parts of the continent for so long. She made the call in an interview with the GNA in Accra when she led a group of 19 university students from Chicago and Texas in the United States of America to Ghana on a summer study exchange programme.
The programme, she said, was aimed at exposing the students to the rich African and Ghanaian culture in particular to enable them to have first hand information about the continent that has been portrayed by sections of the Western media as a continent of doom.
Dr. Conteh said most of the students openly shed tears at the warmth and friendlines of the welcoming party that included regional minister of Greater Accra region, Sheikh I.C.Quaye.
The African woman, accordingly knows the prize of hunger, illiteracy and poverty very well and are in most cases better equipped than men to prevent it. She noted that the empowerment of women through education therefore, enhances their capacity to carry out their traditional roles more effectively, she noted.
Dr Contey, also a lecturer said together with Dr Elnora Danniel at the university said a capacity building programme to assist African female students pursue graduate courses in Chicago and Texas has been launched. She said five graduate students from South Africa have so far benefited from the programme and are pursuing courses in various disciplines in the states.
She said a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the University of Ghana to have similar exchange programmes to the US. Ghana qualifies under the US educational grant policy, which is an opportunity for a number of students to further their education in the US.
Dr.Contey said, she has written three books for publication including, the economics and politics of Cocoa in the Gold Coast, Ghana 1930-1966, United States commercial diplomatic interest in the Gold Coast, 1878-1966 and Kumasi, Kwame Nkrumah and the nationalisation of the Cocoa trade 1961-1966.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002- Police on Tuesday said that no casualty was recorded in Sunday evening's heavy downpour in Accra which lasted for about 10 hours. " We have so far not recorded any human casualties", Superintendent Alex Bedie, Regional Crime Officer told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
Some areas in Accra including Alajo, Dzorwulu, Sukura, Agege, Dansoman, Mataheko, Adabraka, Kwame Nkrumah Circle and East Legon were flooded as a result of the downpour. Most residents had their personal belongings including mattresses, carpets, furniture, and clothes soaked or damaged.
The victims appealed for assistance from NADMO and other relief agencies. The flood has left in its trail sand debris on some major roads and intersections while others have also developed potholes.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002- Nabanyin Pratt, Managing Director of the New Times Corporation (NTC) on Tuesday urged government and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, AMA, to deepen the two main drainage by the corporation and Awudome cemetery to save NTC from flooding.
"These two drains are so narrow that they cannot contain rain water which spills over and floods this place", he told Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs when he received the minister on a visit to the corporation.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey's visit was part of a tour of flooded areas following Monday's downpour in Accra. Mr Pratt said the flood damaged the motor of the printing machine, computer accessories, furniture, receipt booklets and other documents.
"Water pumps had to be brought in yesterday to drain the water at 12 noon after the rain had subsided before we were able to sort things out." He said NTC had suffered a substantial loss although he could not immediately give the cost of damage.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey commended the staff for coming together to contend with the situation and assured them that the ministry and AMA would co-ordinate their effort to find solution to the problem.
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London (United Kingdom) 12 June 2002 - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs has said that ‘no contract valued at £2m or any other amount of money or currency has been awarded to a British consortium to re-brand Ghana’.
In a statement in Accra in reaction to a story published in the INSIGHT newspaper VOL.9 No.43 of June 7th – 11th 2002, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey expressed ‘astonishment and incredulity’ about the claim that a contract had been awarded.
‘I have never stated, let alone confirmed, that a contract has been awarded to a British consortium. This is for the simple reason that no such contract has been awarded’, he added.
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UNICEF calls for action against child malnutrition
From: Patrick Firempong, Rome
Rome (Italy) 12 June 2002- The United nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday said global success in lowering child malnutrition could only be achieved through comprehensive action on numerous fronts and not only directly related to food.
Mr. Kul C. Gautam, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, addressing this year's World Food Summit in Rome, said child malnutrition must be fought through measures that include enhancing household food security, improving basic health care and ensuring safe water and decent sanitation for hundreds of millions of people who are still without these basic services.
He said efforts to reduce global malnutrition must start with children on whom poor nutrition had the most damaging and lasting effects. Mr. Gautam said the world produces enough food for consumption and hunger and malnutrition were not due to lack of food alone but also the consequences of poverty, inequality and misplaced priorities.
He said child malnutrition was best addressed by taking a holistic, life-cycle approach, ensuring that all children were born healthy and were properly cared for in their earliest years and that primary health care and basic education were provided in all communities.
The UNICEF Deputy Executive Director said significant gains could be made in human potential by tapping the power of simple micronutrients such as iodine, vitamin A and iron. "These key micronutrients are necessary for cognitive development, better school performance and work productivity," he added.
According to Mr. Gautam, while the past decade had seen progress toward universal salt iodisation to reduce iodine deficiency and the distribution of supplement to reduce Vitamin A deficiency in young children, reducing the dangerous effects of iron deficiency anaemia in women and children had lagged far behind.
He said iron deficiency anaemia was the single most prevalent cause of micronutrient malnutrition in the world, affecting more than two billion people. On activities of UNICEF, Mr. Gautam said the organisation also promotes integrated support to breast feeding, investing in girl, women and young people to strengthen their roles as providers of nutrition security.
UNICEF also contributes to efforts to address the critical nutritional needs of communities devastated by HIV/AIDS especially the triple burden of chronic food insecurity, a weakened labour force and the increased nutritional needs created by the pandemic.
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Report to reduce hunger and poverty in
Africa launched in Rome
From: Partick Firempong, Rome
Rome (Italy) 12 June 2002- A report to advocate for significant and sustainable increase in investments to strengthen the development of the agricultural and ruralsectors as the best way to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa was launched at the World Food Summit in Rome Italy on Tuesday.
The report, dubbed " Now is the time: A plan to cut hunger and poverty in Africa" was initiated by a partnership formed in 2000 between African and US public and private sector institutions to cut hunger and poverty in Africa.
Public and private sector institutions and international humanitarian organisations are working together to develop and implement a new long-term strategy for African and US efforts to cut hunger and poverty in Africa.
Africa's massive food and hunger crisis is the world's most challenging development problem and the partnership was formed out of the concern that the
US response to rising hunger and poverty in Africa was increasingly inadequate.
The partnership's initial focus was to formulate a Vision, strategy and action plan to significantly increase public and private investment in African economic development by 2007. It was also to ensure an increase in the effectiveness of US assistance to strengthen African agricultural and rural development by changing the way development business is done.
Mr. Peter Mc Pherson, President of Michigan State University and co-chairman of the partnership who launched the report said it marked the beginning of a new phase for the partnership. He said the partnership would now work aggressively to achieve the goals and objectives developed since it was formed two years ago.
Mr. Mc Pherson said some African countries were making solid progress in governance and economic reform, new markets were opening and new technology was becoming available that would allow grater growth in Africa.
"These factors offer renewed hope that we can reduce African hunger and poverty. Now is the time for all of us, working together to make that dream a reality" he added. Mr. Mc. Pherson said the Partnership working in collaboration with the USAID would address infrastructure development and increasing agricultural and rural productivity through rebuilding scientific research and human and institutional capacity building.
Mr. Andrews. Natsios, Administrator of the USAID, stressed the need and importance of agriculture and rural development. He said without sustained economic growth, poverty could not be eliminated and by focusing on the agricultural sector more efforts would be focused on eliminating poverty.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, in remarks said most people see poverty as a disease, which should be cured. To cure it, he said, the situation might get worse before it would get better, adding that many African leaders were working seriously to cure the disease of poverty in their countries.
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Delegates at World Food Summit call for
international alliance against hunger
From: Patrick Firempong, Rome
Rome (Italy) 11 June 2002- Delegates attending this year's World Food Summit in Rome have called on governments, international organisations, civil society organisations and the private sector to reinforce their efforts in an international alliance against hunger.
They said these efforts were aimed at ending the tragedy of more than 800 million people going hungry around the world, which required a rate of hunger reduction of more than 22 million per year on the average.
A release issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, on Tuesday said the call was made in a declaration unanimously approved by the delegates on the opening day of the four-day summit from June 10 - 13.
The release said the summit, held under the theme: "World Food Summit- Five years later" was attended by delegates from 182 countries, who renewed their commitment to reduce by half the number of hungry people in the world not later than 2015.
It said the delegates called on the council of the FAO to elaborate within two years a set of voluntary guidelines to support efforts of member countries to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food.
The release said to reverse the overall decline of agriculture and rural development in the national budget of developing countries in official development assistance and in total lending in international financial institutions, the delegates called for an adequate share for those sectors in budgetary allocations of developing countries.
The delegates said: "We urge developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts towards the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) as official development assistance to developing countries".
The delegates said the HIPC initiative provided an opportunity to strengthen the economic prospects and poverty reduction efforts of its beneficiary countries thereby increasing food security. They said speedy, effective and full implementation of the enhanced initiative, which should be fully financed through additional resources, was critical.
The delegates called on all countries to implement the outcome of the Doha Conference with regard to the reform of the International Agricultural Trading System. The delegates appealed to the international community to respond to the New Partnership in African Development (NEPAD) by financing programmes or projects, which reflect the NEPAD principles and commitments
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From: Patrick Firempong, Rome
Rome (Italy) 12 June 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor has held private talks with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan in Rome. Both leaders were in Rome to attend this year's World Food Summit organized by the FAO, which opened on Monday.
A government official briefing newsmen after the talks said President Kufuor updated Mr Annan on events in Ghana. The official said these included the initiatives undertaken by the government, a summary of the economic activities and progress made in the macro-economic sector and assessment of achievements made.
The officials said President Kufuor thanked Mr Annan for the continued support he had been offering to Ghana in diverse. He said President Kufuor officially invited Mr Annan to pay an official visit to Ghana, which Mr Annan readily agreed to honour sometime in August this year.
The official said Mr Annan thanked President Kufuor for the briefing and encouraged President Kufuor to continue on the path of progress made so far, particularly in the areas of good governance, maintenance of rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
He said Mr Annan pledged his continued support to Ghana and said' "if there were any areas UN assistance would be needed in Ghana, his office would be willing to consider any proposal submitted by the government to the UN. The official said Mr Annan also extended an official invitation to President Kufuor to attend next UN General Assembly in New York in September.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 12 June 2002- Professor Kassim Kasanga, Minister of Lands and Forestry has said that the government would pursue an efficient land administration system compatible with cultural usage and responsive to the needs of the people within a self-sustaining financing mechanism.
He has therefore called for clear hierarchy of customary land holdings and capacity to dispose of land, which will lead to a formal recognition of the rights of all categories of titleholders. This would also enhance decentralisation of records of holder's rights in land administration.
Professor Kasanga who was speaking at the inauguration of the Ashanti Region Lands Commission in Kumasi, charged the members to help reduce the number of land litigation before the courts through alternative dispute resolution. The commission was set up to manage public lands and any other lands vested in the President by law.
It is also to advise the government, local authorities and traditional rulers on the policy framework for the development of particular areas of Ghana to ensure a co-ordinated development of individual lands. Professor Kasanga said a request by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, to the President to divest part of Kumasi lands was receiving government's attention.
He said while the government considered the request, the re-constituted lands commission should seek the concurrence of the Asantehene before carrying out any transaction on the category of Kumasi lands identified as 'Part One'.
"Without his (Asantehene's) consent and concurrence, any transaction executed from now onwards will be invalid," he said adding that government was determined to redress all past injustices in the land sector.
Mr Sampson Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister said not less than 60 per cent of the total population engaged in the agricultural sector heavily depended on land for their livelihood. He warned against encroachment on public lands, waterways and natural reserves.
GRi…/
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Tamale (Northern Region) 12 June 2002- Sana Oumarou, a Burkinabe arms dealer, has been arrested at Fufulso barrier near Tamale when he attempted to smuggle 15 Russian made shotguns through the Dagbon Traditional Area where, the possession and manufacture of arms and ammunition is illegal.
Briefing the press at the Kamina Barracks on Tuesday, the Military Task Force Public Relations Officer, Captain Francis Ampobi, said Oumarou was arrested on 02 June carrying the weapons in a Kumasi-Bawku bound bus with registration number GR5748Q.
The weapons were concealed in a sack.Oumarou told the press that he was an arms dealer who regularly buys the arms in Kumasi and sells them in Burkina Faso.
Oumarou, who did not have receipts covering the arms, said no security personnel had ever checked the vehicles on which he used to carry the weapons to Burkina Faso. He alleged that most often they bought their way through the checkpoints.
In another development, six people have been arrested at Juanayili village hear Bimbilla, with various weapons in a Military/Police search. Captain Ampobi gave their names as Berfuni Najbeta, 60, Binda Beja 15, Nimobijam 30, Gyera Konja 35, Lambie Jaja, 20 and Nagbey Mede 30.
The suspects were handed over to the police for further investigations. Captain Ampobi appealed to drivers to be vigilant in order to prevent passengers from using their vehicles to convey arms into or through the Dagbon area.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 June 2002 - The government has
finally confirmed the termination of appointment of Dr Yaw Akoto as Chief
Executive Officer of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). Energy Minister, Albert Kan
Dapaah made this known when he met workers of the Refinery at Tema in the
Greater Accra Region. Dr Akoto who was engaged on a 5-year contract has been
given options of either becoming a National Director of Petroleum or Consultant
to TOR. A five-member management committee has been set up to steer the affairs
of the refinery in his place.
The workers in their usual solidarity mood, refused to talk to the press. Dr
Yaw Akoto confirmed the termination of his appointment but refused to say
whether he will take either of the two options. Dr. Akoto who was domiciled in
the United States of America was appointed Chief Executive of the Refinery in
the year 2000 by the NDC administration. JoyOnline
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