Infighting between Tema Oil Refinery boss and board of
directors
Call for action on hunger and AIDS
Participants urge action on Alternative Disputes Resolution bill
Children’s Forum present resolution to Parliament
Africa Students summit under way in Accra
Bishop urges Voltarians to speak out
Heads of news agencies to meet in Nigeria
Government congratulates stakeholders on ban
I have overall responsibility over Education Ministry - Prof.Ekumfi
Fobih on need to commercialised research results
Andani witness falls sick during hearing
Tema Oil Refinery Union, senior staffs resist
CEO's removal
President Kufuor returns home today from Italy
Private Schools commend govt on Cape Coast
water crisis
Let's value time - Prof. Yankson
World day against child labour observed
Ghana’s envoy in the UK warns staff against
inefficiency and indiscipline
Tema (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002
- The Minister of Energy, Mr Albert Kan- Dapaah has cited a rift between Dr Yaw
Akoto, Chief Executive of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the company's board
of directors as one of the reasons for his removal.
Mr Kan- Dapaah, who disclosed this
to the GNA on Wednesday, said this had affected the board. Reacting to a statement
by the senior management staff demanding the reversal of Dr Akoto's transfer,
Mr Kan Dapaah repeated that it was the government's prerogative to fire and
hire, saying the workers position was untenable.
"In as much as we want
stability in the form of fuel distribution in the country, we must look at
other considerations beyond that which will make the refinery function properly
with good management practices". He gave the assurance that when it was
time for appointing a CEO, it would be done transparently to eliminate doubts.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said the reasons for
Dr Akoto's transfer would be made known at the appropriate time, adding,
however, that he (Dr Akoto) could come out if he so wished. When GNA contacted
Dr Akoto, his answer was: "I cannot talk to you", saying it was for
the minister to assign reasons.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002 - The United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Wednesday, said hunger and AIDS were threatening sub-Saharan Africa on two fronts.
It said they were endangering the lives of millions and drawing back development, adding that, "where lack of food is greatest, HIV prevalence is alarmingly high".
In a statement issued in Accra, Dr Marika Fahlen, Director of Social Mobilisation of UNAIDS said, "The two emergencies are not mutually exclusive," but should not be handled separately.
Addressing the World Food Summit in Rome, she said AIDS had killed seven million farmers in Africa, cutting labour productivity on the continent by up to 50 per cent. "Because of AIDS farming skills have been lost, agricultural extension services have declined, rural livelihoods have disintegrated, productivity capacity to work the land has dropped, household earnings are shrinking while the cost of caring for the ill skyrockets," she said.
Dr Fahlen said, "the worst food shortages in a decade in Southern Africa are hitting countries with particularly high HIV prevalence," adding that, the links between agriculture and AIDS are clear. Each day, close to 14,000 people become infected with HIV, most in their most productive years.
"With 20 million deaths since the early 1980s and 40 million people now living with HIV or AIDS - more than half in sub-Saharan Africa, it is clear that the demographic pyramid as we once knew it has been redrawn," Dr Fahlen said.
UNAIDS said the goals of the 1996 World Food Summit and the Millennium Development, to eradicate poverty and hunger would not be met without effective multi-sector HIV/AIDS programmes.
Welcoming the reference to HIV/AIDS in the draft resolution of the summit, Dr Fahlen called for action consistent with the UN General Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted unanimously by governments in June last year.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- Participants at a round-table discussion on Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) on Wednesday urged the Ministry of Justice to expedite action on the ADR draft bill for it to be passed into law to give legal backing to the practice in the country.
According to them, ADR as a mechanism would help free the courts of cases, which could otherwise be tried by arbitration or mediation and also give the judges time to concentrate on other important cases and in the process reduce the time and cost of trials. Besides the ADR law would help to institutionalise the practice and promote the credibility among practitioners in the country.
The Ghana Association of Chartered Mediators and Arbitrators and the United States Department of Commerce and Commercial Law Development Programme organised the discussion to examine how ADR could promote trade and investment in the sub-region.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood said the absence of a law currently to back Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) was making it difficult for the judiciary to take a definitive position in the use of the mechanism.
Mrs Justice Wood said although ADR was currently not part of the legal system, it had carved a niche for itself as a good way for resolving disputes in a fair, quicker and cost-effective manner. "ADR does not only make judgement easier and quicker but also saves money and time," she said.
According to her, judges would begin to apply the mechanism to redress cases once the ADR act was promulgated, adding that the judges were resolved to encourage other means of settling issues instead of litigation.
Mr Nene Amegatcher, a legal practitioner and Co-ordinator of the discussion said a slow and over-burdened judicial system, ill equipped to handle commercial disputes in most countries was an affront to financial investment in the sub-region.
According to him, the fear of most investors on how they would resolve disputes in the course of doing business had resulted in their reluctance to locate their business ventures in the region. Such Commercial operators seek a quick, fair, and cost-effective mechanism for the resolution of disputes arising out of commercial transactions, he said.
Mr Amegatcher said a regional approach to the use of ADR would ensure consistency in the resolution of commercial disputes and also instil confidence in investors to direct investments in the countries in the sub-region. "Operators from one country would be confident about being able to obtain a quick, fair and cost-efficient process for dispute resolution irrespective of the country in which the investor is doing business."
Mr Sal Amegavie, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry said investors were often unhappy about the slow process in dealing with commercial disputes. He said his organisation always encouraged Ghanaians operators to put arbitration into their contracts documents.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002 - National Children's Forum on Wednesday presented a far reaching resolution that would promote the rights of children and make them useful citizens, to the Leadership of Parliament.
The Forum comprises pupils and students from selected schools in the Central, Northern and Greater Accra regions with UNICEF as their sponsors, while they are being organised by Children Rights International a Non- Governmental organisation.
The resolution emanated from a forum the children held at Cape Coast from the 10th and 11th of this month in view of the government's institution and initiation of several policies and programmes directed to national development such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, the policy on Free, Compulsory, Universal Basic
Education (FCUBE), passage of the Children's Act (Act 560) 1998 and the new bill on Juvenile Justice, which is being considered in Parliament.
The resolution read on behalf of the Forum by Master Peter Ndoor, 15, of Bongo JSS, Upper East, Ms Phyllis Kodi, 17, Holy Child School, Cape Coast and
Master Kwaku Afrifa Nsiah-Asare, 16, Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast called on Parliament to enact laws which, would make children better leaders of tomorrow.
It said there should be a national debate on the Juvenile Justice Bill and effort should be made to disseminate its contents among members of the general public before it is passed into law.
Steps should be taken to prevent the detention of juveniles in adult cells and as much as possible children who commit offences as a result of poverty and neglect should not go through the juvenile justice system but should be supported to engage in meaningful activities. The resolution said babies who live in prison as a result of an offence committed by their mothers should be transferred to appropriate homes, foster care or alternatively their committed mothers should be given community service.
Master Ndoor presented the resolution to Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker and those present included Papa Owusu-Ankomah, and Mr Alban Bagin, Majority and Minority leaders respectively.
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Africa Students summit under way in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoom, Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Integration, on Wednesday called on African-American students to explore avenues that would help them champion the development agenda of Africa.
He was opening a three-day "Africa Students Summit" in Accra for about 60 African-American students with their Ghanaian counterparts to foster sustained socio-cultural relationship among them to enable them to develop Africa.
The summit, which is taking place at the University of Ghana, is under the theme, "Finding a Common Ground" and it is being organised by the A Breed Apart Foundation, of the United States of America and the Sankofa Educational Foundation of Ghana.
He said as students and Africans, they ought to think of what they could do for their continent even at school, adding; "Africa has two sides, opportunities and challenges and by looking at both sides they can help achieve its dream."
According to him poverty in Africa is pervasive and has hampered its development for years, noting that, "presently about 40 per cent of Ghanaians live on less than a dollar a day," adding that economic factors such as manufacturing and exporting of primary goods, lack of access to foreign markets due to trade restrictions were challenges to Africa and hence her inability to compete at the international markets.
Dr Ndoom, noted that with the current wind of democratisation sweeping across the continent and the new initiative by African leaders of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, there was the hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Mr Earl N. Cardwell, the Founder of the summit said the purpose was to facilitate an annual gathering of African-American students, African students and other students from the Diaspora to enable them to examine, debate, discuss issues of Africa interest. He said the Africa students' summit was a natural progression and the continuation of the on-going effort to remember and reconnect Africans with
Africa.
Mr Cardwell said, the symbol "Nkonsonkonson" as a sign of unity has been chosen to represent the spirit of the summit while acknowledging the importance of Africa's past and future, which found a link between life and death. Those who share common blood and relations never break apart." He announced that in 2003, the summit would adopt the name "Pan African Student Summit".
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Ho (Volta Region) 13 June 2002- Right Reverend Francis Lodonu, Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church on Wednesday urged the people of the Volta Region to come out of the shell of silence and speak out forcefully on matters affecting their development. He said it was the only way the region could be taken seriously.
Bishop Lodonu made the call at a one-day seminar on the Role of Civil Societies in effective decentralisation and good governance. It was organised by the Ho Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission and sponsored by the Konrad Ardenaur Foundation.
Bishop Lodonu observed that the Region's development had suffered serious setbacks in the past and warned that the status quo would be maintained unless a united and assertive voice emerged in the region. He said the benefits of good governance and effective decentralisation could only impact positively on the life of the people if they seized the opportunities available to make their voices heard. He said unless there was qualitative involvement in governance by the people, they risked being marginalized and taken for granted.
In a keynote address delivered on his behalf, Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho District Chief Executive (DCE) said the lack of positive involvement of the citizenry in the governance of the country accounted for the socio-economic problems that had plagued the country since independence. He said the citizenry now had opportunities through the local government structures to make their voices heard.
Mr Goh said the country had come a long way in fashioning out a decentralised administration that would recognise the rights of the people to be involved in determining the course of the country's socio-economic and political development.
Mr Goh said it was, however, important that capable people drove structures of governance at the district level, if democracy and development should be firmly rooted. Mr Daniel Bartidam, Programme Officer of the Konrad Ardenaur Foundation, urged women to participate actively in all the structures of governance at the grassroots level to put an end to their 'marginalisation' in decision-making.
During an open forum, participants expressed reservations about lack of strong commitment by the people to champion its development. They blamed the situation on disunity and called for self-assessment and
conscientisation.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- Nigeria will host a meeting of heads of news agencies in the Economic Community of West African States due to open on 24 June. Editors in Chief and Directors of Technical Services of the various news agencies would attend the meeting.
A statement in Accra and signed by Mr Wada A. Maida, Managing Director of Nigerian News Agency, said the meeting is expected to come out with an agreement aimed at harnessing member countries' resources towards creating a news pool in the sub-region. The meeting would also enable agencies to co-operate in the field of training, technology and marketing, the statement said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- The government on Wednesday commended residents in the Accra Metropolis for their comportment and discipline during the recent ban on drumming and noise making.
A statement signed by the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, specifically mentioned Ga Chiefs, the Wulomei, the Ga Adamgbe people, religious leaders as well as residents of Accra and said, "it was the collective commitment of all these stakeholders to a peaceful co-existence, that ensured no incident or flagrant breaches of the peace were recorded during the period of the ban."
It stated further that the government placed on record its satisfaction with the handling of the issue by the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Greater Accra Permanent Conflict Resolution and Management Committee.
It said the peaceful nature of the exercise was yet another demonstration of the maturity of the Ghanaian and his ability, to rise to the occasion when the situation demanded, noting that "It is the hope of the government that the achievement of this year will be built upon in successive years, in the spirit of unity in diversity."
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I have overall responsibility over
Education Ministry - Prof.Ekumfi
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Education, on Wednesday denied any form of power struggle at the ministry, admitting though, that "the present arrangement may have confused many people".
He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that; "in the Ministry we all have our schedules, Ms. Christine Churcher is in-charge of the Basic, Secondary and Girl-Child Education which presumes that she is for pre-tertiary but I am tasked with the over all responsibility of the Ministry".
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi was on Thursday heckled by the Minority during a Parliamentary question time on his status with some doubting his "first among equals" status at the Ministry.
The short drama started when members started arguing among themselves whether he could answer one of the questions directed at Ms Churcher. Papa Owusu Ankoma, the Majority Leader, said Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi could answer since the house dealt with substance and not with form.
He said the question was not properly put because there was a Minister at the Ministry in-charge of Basic, Secondary and Girl Child Education but there was no Ministry of Basic and Girl Child Education.
The Leader said since there was a Ministry of Education and "the Minister is here I believe he can answer the question". Mr Modestus Ahiable, NDC-Ketu North, said he could not understand the arrangement at the ministry and asked whether "Ms Churcher was a person hanging like a bat." Speculations on the rivalry at the ministry have made the rounds lately but government sources blamed the opposition for the rumour.
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Fobih on need to commercialised research
results
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- Professor Dominic Kweku Fobih, Minister of Environment and Science, on Wednesday urged civil society to join the government in making science and technology the cornerstone of the country's development efforts.
He said if Ghana were to achieve sustainable economic development, there was the need to step up effort at commercialising science and technology research results to achieve progress.
"One of the policy thrust areas of the ministry is the commercialisation of science and technology research output for increased productivity and accelerated growth," Prof Fobih said. Prof Fobih was speaking at the fifth anniversary celebration of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Water Research Institute (WRI).
The celebration is on the theme: "Five Years of Water Research Institute-Quality Research for Sustainable Development" The WRI started operations in December 1996 after the merger of two former CSIR institutions, the Institute of Aquatic Biology and the Water Resources Research Institute.
The merger came about through the recommendations of the then Ministry of Environment Science and Technology. They sought among others things to reduce duplication of efforts and improve efficiency in the operations of CSIR. Prof. Fobih said government expected the scientific community to master and extend technologies to all levels of society to influence progress, particularly in the rural areas.
He called the attention of the CSIR and other institutions to the need to devote more attention and resources to facilitate the promotion of indigenous small and medium scale enterprises, which accounted for a significant share of economic activities in Ghana.
Prof Fobih said with the backing from the scientific institutions, the indigenous small and medium scale enterprises would be able to play the role of providing employment for the growing population, provide local consumer goods and establish export products and stimulate foreign investment.
Professor Fobih pledged government's support at enhancing the welfare of all science and technology institutions. He noted that as the private sector develops and generates more wealth for itself, the government's revenue base will be enhanced and allowed greater support for science and technology development".
Prof. A. Ayensu, Acting Director-General of CSIR, said despite the CSIR's mandate to undertake contract on demand driven research, "it has been extremely difficult to attract the necessary resources from the private sector, especially the multinationals and big corporations.
He said a large segment of the population was yet to fully appreciate the relevance of scientific research or science in their daily life. Dr Charles Biney, Director of WRI, said the three-day celebration was for the institute to take stock of its activities, assess its achievements, challenges and consider the way forward.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- The Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Wednesday asked media practitioners not to be swayed by press freedom to pursue their commercialised interest to the detriment of their social role as development facilitators.
Mr Seth Agoe Adjetey, Director-General, who was addressing a press conference in Accra to deny media reports about administrative malfeasance against the GBC said; "excesses by a section of the media is creating doubts and controversy especially about awards of contracts".
The Director-General flanked by heads of departments, said series of stories with headings such as: " GBC to lay-off 1,000 workers" and "Tension mounts at GBC" imputed irregularities in a contract between GBC and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over the establishment of a monitoring zone in Ghana.
Mr Adjetey said such stories were unpleasant and unprofessional since the publishers decided to attack personalities without cross checking their facts with them. He said the corporation was currently benefiting from the contract with the BBC by way of news compilation, staff training, provision of equipment and the commercialisation drive of the management.
"BBC has nothing to benefit by paying bribes to GBC as alleged by the various publications," he declared. Meanwhile, Mr Adjetey has disclosed that the Management of GBC has protested to the Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association as well as the National Media Commission, about such publications.
He asked Journalists to be mindful of the strategic importance of the GBC in the area of security and dissemination of news by desisting from such reports.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 13 June 2002 - A 36-year old farmer from the Andani Gate, who was giving evidence at the Wednesday's sitting of the Wuaku Commission probing into the Yendi crisis in Sunyani suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the Sunyani Police Clinic for treatment.
Zakari was the fourth witness of the Andani gate to testify before the Commission. The Commission had drawn the attention of Zakari to certain inaccuracies in the statements he gave on 30 March and 13 April on one hand and the evidence he was giving.
It, therefore, reminded him that the main aim of the Commission was to establish the truth about what actually happened during the crisis and that witnesses had to tell exactly what they know about the incident.
The Commission noted that in his statement to the Police on 30 March, Zakari said that a busload of people was despatched from Tamale to assist the Andanis to fight the Abudus. But in his evidence, witness denied that statement, insisting that those, who were sent to Yendi were to ascertain how the Ya-Na was faring.
He also denied ever saying in his statement to the Police that many people died from both gates when the fight intensified on Wednesday 27 March. It was at this point that Zakari started sweating profusely and began to feel uneasy in his seat.
He, therefore, bent down and complained to the interpreter that he was feeling dizzy and when the Commission was informed, the Chairman directed the police to send him to the clinic for treatment. Earlier, Zakari told the Commission that the Ya-Na told the Abudu fighters to stop the shootings and burning of houses since he was prepared to vacate the palace.
When asked how the Ya-Na managed to speak to Abudus in the heat of events, witness replied that some of the Andanis in the palace risked their lives and stood on the wall to relay the chief's message.
Zakari stated that when the fight intensified on 27 March, an explosion set ablaze the main hall of the palace, where the chief and his people had gathered. The Ya-Na ordered his men to go out and said, "I am prepared to go out and face any consequences than to be left here to be burnt to death", he said.
Zakari said when the Ya-Na got out he was followed by some of his elders and one of them Mba Dogu, was immediately shot in the legs. Zakari recounted that when the Ya-Na got out of the palace, he heard the Abudus shouting "Nayiri na, Nayiri na', meaning "the chief has come out, the chief has come out".
Asked by the Commission if he could identify some of the men, who died in the fight, he mentioned Mba Abramani, Fusheni and 'old man', all from the Andani gate as those whose bodies he saw. Responding to another question, Zakari stated that there were only seven people in the Ya-Na's palace who had guns.
When the Commission wanted to know why the Ya-Na could not seek the assistance of the military on Monday when the palace was attacked thrice, witness replied that they could not do so due to the intense tension around the palace.
Zakari also alleged that the Abudus only burnt houses around the Ya-Na's palace that belonged to the Andani's, adding that his own house was also burnt in the heat of events.
When it came to his turn, Nantogmah Alhassan Andani, son of the slain Ya-Na broke down in tears as he narrated how his father fell down in a hail of bullets. The sad moment made the Commission to adjourn proceedings till Thursday. Nantogmah, a student of Tamale Polytechnic, was giving evidence as the 21st witness of the Commission.
He told the Commission that on Wednesday 27 March, the Abudus started sporadic shooting towards the palace and houses around it. Witness corroborated the evidence of Zakari that when they could no longer contain the heat in the main hall of the palace after it had been set ablaze, the Ya-Na and his elders resolved to go out instead of remaining in the palace to be caught in by the blaze.
At that time it became clear that whoever passed through the main gate of the palace would be shot, he added. Nantogmah recounted that two elders, who were leading his father, were instantly killed when they stepped out. It was at this point that he broke down in tears as he told the Commission how his late father fell and lay prostrate on the ground after he was shot.
Mr Charles Hayibor, leading counsel of the Andanis, therefore, pleaded with the Commission to adjourn proceedings till the next day since the witness could not continue with his evidence. The Commission upheld his plea and adjourned proceedings at about 12.55 PM, about an hour earlier than the usual closing time.
Nantogmah, who gave his evidence in English, told the Commission that he preferred giving background information about events from June 2001 towards the end of March, to limiting himself within the Yendi crisis period.
The Commission said in as much as it would not prevent him from doing so, it was rather interested in ascertaining what actually ensued between the two gates on 25, 26 and 27 March, this year. The deaths, casualties, the perpetrators, who saw whom and what, who attacked and killed whom, are our concerns, the Commission added.
Witness continued that tension began to mount between the two gates as far back as 10 June 2001 when the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama visited the area to take part in the Damba festival.
He said the Ya-Na informed the DCE, Mr Mohammed Habib Tijani, about preparations being made by the Abudus to also celebrate the festival on the same day (10 June). The DCE, after consultation with the District Security Council (DISEC) advised the Abudus not to go ahead with their celebration, witness added.
Nantogmah alleged that the Ya-Na expressed his displeasure at the attempt by the Abudus to celebrate the Damba festival and other festivals like the Id-ul-Fitr and the Id-ul-Adha, when the Vice President called on him.
The Ya-Na complained that their action could lead to violence and chaos in the area in future, he stated. Witness said the Ya-Na complained that it was not proper for the Veep to call on the Bolin-Lana as had been indicated on the programme for the visit.
Nontogmah narrated that in late March when news reached them about the imposition of a curfew, as well as the ban of the fire festival, they (Andanis) inferred that move by the DISEC as a manipulation by the Abudus to prevent the Andanis from the celebration.
He explained that the Abudus expected that if they would not be allowed to celebrate the festival, then the Andanis must also not be allowed. Witness said hostilities began on Monday morning when as part of the fire festival many people had gathered at the Ya-Na's palace.
The fight became intense the following day that nobody could even go out of the palace, he said, adding that it they even made sure that those sent on errands were unfamiliar to the Abudus.
Nantogmah confirmed that around 4pm, the palace was surrounded by combatants who could not be recognised. "In the evening, one Iddrisu was seen setting fire to a house around the palace by a woman called Mariama Alhassan (E.K.A 'Control'), and he (Iddrisu) warned her to keep mute and leave the scene for her dear life.
"During this period, I saw one Mohamadu Kyampong, giving firing orders to the combatants, while Alhassan Zakari, Zibila and others, all Andanis, fired back from the palace. Witness said around 6am on Wednesday, one Alhaji Abubakar, an electrician, phoned the palace to inform them that the Abudus had decided to resume hostilities at 10am.
When the Commission asked him to explain the possibility of the call at that time since it had earlier been told that the telephone lines had been cut, he explained that it was possible to make internal calls but not trunk calls.
Nantogmah told the Commission that the intensity of the firing by the Abudus created tension at the palace, adding that at a point, they (Abudus) came close and set it ablaze.
When the Commission asked if he could recognise any of the attackers, he replied in the negative, saying, "since we were not outside, we could not recognise them as they were unfamiliar to us". Meanwhile a witness, Zakari, who was rushed to the police clinic due to dizziness and profuse sweating returned later but was not called to continue with his evidence.
Zakari had earlier admitted that there were guns in the palace and they had been using them. To a question by the Commission whether the Ya-Na had an armoury at the palace, he responded in the affirmative but denied knowledge that it had exploded.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002 - The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) senior staff and the local union have teamed up to fight against what they termed the government's undue interference in its management, by the removal of the company's Chief Executive, Dr Yaw Akoto.
A source close to TOR said while the workers agreed that the government had the right to hire and fire members of management, it should also give them the opportunity to contribute to some of the decisions pertaining to such acts.
Some workers, who spoke on anonymity to GNA, cautioned the government not to use the 1990 crude method that led to the dismissal of all the junior workers at the refinery when they wanted to get Mr William Parker, then CEO, removed.
"This time round, both senior staff and junior workers have come together to fight the wrongful decision of government, and any calculated mistake can create problem at the refinery." The workers said: "We have kept our cool because we are aware that the government has not as yet issued any proper document about the removal of our CEO."
They said they were surprised at a statement by the Minister of Energy that the government could not assign reasons for the removal of the CEO in public and wondered if that did not go contrary to its acclaimed policy of transparency.
The workers held that if the CEO was inefficient, it should be the workers who would complain to the authorities for a change and warned that they would drive out any government official, who would not perform in their interest.
In another development, a 13-member committee has been inaugurated to investigate circumstances that led to the 21 May fire outbreak at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), the second since the one in July 1997.
The committee chaired by Dr. Kwame Ampofo, NDC Member of Parliament for North Dayi, has also been charged to assess and evaluate the readiness, adequacy, responsiveness and appropriateness of the refinery's employees and relevant plant equipment to deal with fire and other related emergencies at the premises.
Mr. Kan Dapaah, Minister of Energy who did the inauguration charged the committee to unearth all possible fire outbreaks that would help check future occurrences. "The refinery at the moment is in financial distress and is grappling to come out of it. Another fire outbreak is therefore, the last occurrence we need at the refinery, considering the feverish efforts being made by the government to improve the its financial position and performance."
Mr Dapaah urged the committee, which was expected to present its findings on 12 July to ascertain how directives given by the government following the fire outbreak would be implemented. He said the government has as matter of urgency also asked TOR to get its security network to take control over the environs at the refinery. The Energy Boss said the committee would be expected to make recommendations including disciplinary measures necessary to forestall any such incident.
He explained that the government was determined to ensure adequate security for the refinery due to its strategic nature to the country's economy. Meanwhile, the Ministry has reassigned the Managing Director of TOR, Dr Yaw Akoto to the ministry as director of Petroleum, a statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr S. Q Barnor, Acting Chief director said.
It said a five member Interim Management Committee has been appointed to manage the refinery pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director. The members of the IMC are Mr Richard Forson, Deputy Managing Director for Operations, Dr Ali Abugri, Administrative Manager, a representative each of the senior staff, Workers union and a government nominee.
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Chambas calls for co-ordinated strategise to curb hunger
Rome (Italy) 13 June 2002- Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS on Wednesday called for a Regionally Co-ordinated Strategies for poverty reduction and food security as measures to reduce hunger.
He said most of the strategies to reduce poverty and hunger in most developing countries were nationally based targeting specific countries and not on regional basis. Dr Chambas made the call when addressing the on-going World Food Summit (WFS) in Rome, Italy.
Dr.Chambas said the key issues affecting agricultural production in developing countries which should be addressed are increases in investment, release of at least 20 per cent of budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector to improve on infrastructure, roads and irrigation facilities to reduce the dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
He said access to marketing centres should be increased with low prices for farm produce as an incentive to increase production with the provision of subsidies on farm inputs. Dr Chambas appealed to civil society and the private sector in developed countries and the multi-national financial institutions to allow governmental developing countries offer subsidies to their farmers to boost agriculture production.
He urged delegates at the summit to be more committed to implement measures that would help reduce poverty and hunger in developing countries Dr Chambas said, "now we need concrete action to accelerate the reduction of poverty and hunger in developing countries". The Executive Secretary of ECOWAS said within the sub-region, a programme has been adopted to eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers to intra-regional trade.
Dr. Chambas said this was to ensure that West Africa could become a free trade area for all products, which would meet the ECOWAS rules of origin. He disclosed that, ECOWAS has also adopted a strategy for the harmonisation of economic and fiscal policies of member states. He said a number of sectoral policies were also being reviewed for harmonisation these include statistics, customs, trade and agriculture.
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Rome (Italy) 13 June 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday ended his three-day official-visit to Italy.
While in Rome, Italy, President Kufuor attended this year's World Food Summit organised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and visited the Vatican City where he held talks with Pope John Paul II and toured the Saint Peter's Basilica. He also held talks with the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan who accepted an invitation by President Kufuor to visit Ghana in August.
President Kufuor also held private talks with Dr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA). Briefing newsmen later he said President Kufuor had discussion with him on many issues including efforts being made by the government to lay solid foundation for economic growth and improve the living standards of the people.
He intend briefed President Kufuor on the activities of the Commission and benefits Ghana could realise from such activities. On the Summit, Dr. Amoako said Africa faced many challenges but there were determination from most governments and countries to ensure the establishment of democratic role, good governance and rule of law to accelerate their growth.
Dr. Amoako said it would allow both developing countries and the donor agencies to re-focus their attention especially on investments in Agriculture. He said support to the agricultural sector should improve on basic infrastructure such as roads marketing and storage facilities.
He appealed to donor agencies for more assistance to the NEPAD Initiative to achieve its objective. President Kufuor is expected to leave Rome on Wednesday to Frankfurt, Germany enroute to Ghana on Thursday.
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Private Schools commend govt on Cape Coast
water crisis
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002 - The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) on Wednesday commended government for adopting pragmatic plans to solve the perennial acute water shortage in the Cape Coast municipality by pumping water from the Pra River.
A statement signed by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, First Vice President of the association said; "such an ideal programme was long overdue to provide Cape Coast and its environs with abundant reliable water throughout the year," adding, government's proposal to seek donor assistance to execute the project was also laudable.
The statement said the early and successful completion of the project would enable the academic calendar of second cycle and tertiary institutions in
Cape Coast to run fully undisrupted throughout the year and also prevent the annual ritual of temporary closure of the schools.
"Cape Coast is the home of some of the country's leading educational institutions and the solution to the annual water scarcity would go a long way to conserve the huge money being spent on the provision of water by the schools."
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Class for BECE exams is free – Private
Schools
Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002- The National Secretariat of Private School (GNAPS) on Wednesday reiterated its earlier position on the issue that preparatory classes for the re-sit of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) should be absolutely free.
The association advised its regional and district chairmen to get in touch with the National Secretariat in case of doubt about directives on any national issue to avoid confusion and embarrassment to the general public and GNAPS as a whole.
A statement signed by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, First Vice-President of the association said that its attention had been drawn to news reports that schools in the Kwahu South District (Nkawkaso area) were charging students extra fees before allowing them to attend classes to prepare for the exams.
"We, however, want to explained that notwithstanding these free preparatory classes, any of the affected cancelled BECE Candidates owing terminal fees should make every effort to settle those debts", the statement said.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 13 June 2002 - Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Kobina Yankson has called on Ghanaians to value time and learn how to manage it effectively.
Prof. Yankson noted with dissatisfaction that there was too much waste of time in the Ghanaian culture and added that the wastage should be quantified into monetary terms to expose the heavy loss the country had incurred over the past as a result of disregard for time.
"Let us do away with the "African Punctuality" syndrome and be serious with time," he said, while addressing the Cape Coast University branch of Gomoa Students Union at Cape Coast.
Prof. Yankson commended the union for offering free tuition to Junior Secondary School Students in the Gomoa District as their contribution to the improvement of the standard of education in the area.
He urged the students to be serious with their studies and appealed to them to accept postings to their home districts after their course. The union appealed to the Gomoa District Assembly and chiefs in the district to institute education endowment fund to support needy but brilliant children to further their education.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 13 June 2002 - The first-ever world Day against child labour was observed on Wednesday with a call on parents and the society to ensure that the rights of children were protected.
The day, which was proclaimed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is to observe the massive international child labour problem and the determination of the global community to combat it.
Mrs Sylvia Hinson-Ekong, National Programme Manager of ILO and International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), regretted that a lot of children are dropping out of school to join the labour force.
She said others are being trafficked by unscrupulous adults and traded in, as mere commodities and put to hazardous work. She stated that despite significant global efforts by the ILO and its affiliates to abolish child labour, it remains a massive problem that needs to be tackled with urgency.
Mrs Hinson-Ekong said the problem is now on the ascendancy in Africa and indeed Ghana, adding, "if Africa and for that matter Ghana must develop then children must be given the opportunity for education and not forced to join the labour force at a time when they must be going through proper childhood development."
She said about 246 million children between the ages of five to 17 years world-wide were involved in child labour, meaning one out of every six children world-wide was engaged in labour.
She noted that these children were engaged in jobs for which they are too young or jobs that would endanger their health and well-being. She said though the IPEC has chalked some success in moving the battle against child labour from denial to awareness, there was more to be done to liberate others that were still in debt bondage, slavery, prostitution and pornography.
Mrs Hinson-Ekong called for a transformation of the awareness created into action, globally, nationally, locally and at community levels to ensure that the unfortunate children on the streets get education and better training to enjoy a proper future.
Mr David Dorkenoo, Head of Education Department of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said child labour must be seen as a waste of the human resource of the country, which could have a negative implication on the its future development.
He said the TUC has collaborated with its 17-affiliate organisations to ensure that cases of child labour were not tolerated, but were reported immediately to the appropriate quarters for immediate action.
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London (United Kingdom) 13 June 2002 - Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner in the UK has warned the passport and immigration staff of the Ghana High Commission that the Mission would not countenance traits of indiscipline and inefficiency in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Osei gave the warning at a one-day seminar held for members of staff of the Section in London. The seminar was aimed at re-orientating the staff for better service delivery.
The theme of the seminar was “The Customer is King”. Resource persons at the seminar included His Excellency Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner in the U.K. Mr Yaw Konadu-Yiadom, Minister/Head of Chancery; Mr Martin Quansah, Minister/Political & Economic; Mr Sam Afari, Minister/Passport & Immigration; and Mr. Peter Wiredu, Counsellor/Passport & Immigration.
He assured the public that the old habits of indiscipline, rudeness and insentivity to the needs of customers were gone forever and urged them to report all cases of malfeasance to the Mission for appropriate action.
To the public, Mr Osei said that despite the fact that “the Customer is King” there was also the overriding need for them to exercise restraint, decorum and courtesy in their dealings with staff of the section.
Mr Konadu-Yiadom urged the staff to be patient and understanding despite extreme pressures which might arise out of the behavioural patterns of few customers. He said as ambassadors of the country, they should endeavour in such tight circumstances to avoid approach confrontation which might dent the image of the Mission and the country.
Speaking on the topic – “Issuing travelling documents, the requirements and use of discretion in emergencies”, Mr Afari said “a Ghanaian travel document issued to any person remains the property of the Government of Ghana and may be withdrawn in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law”.
He added that “the law also empowers the Minister of Foreign Affairs in certain circumstances to invalidate, withdraw and cancel a travel certificate/document which had been issued and paid for by the holder”.
Mr Quansah addressed the security concerns in the passport processing mechanism. Defining security as any action aimed at safeguarding the supreme interest of State or the protection of State and its citizens against acts by individuals or groups likely to compromise the integrity of state, Mr Quansah noted that the “acquisition of Ghana passport by unwarranted persons could pose a security problem and cause embarrassment especially in cases where holders, posing as Ghanaians, indulge in illicit activities like drug peddling and prostitution”.
Mr Quansah called on passport officers to endeavour, in the discharge of their duties, “to uphold the interest of the country by ensuring that only true and genuine Ghanaian nationals acquire Ghanaian passports”.
The forum provided the opportunity for frank exchange of views on issues affecting the section and the way forward towards furthering and consolidating the achievements of the section since the assumption of office by the High Commissioner.
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