President Kufuor must visit Dagbon “ Minority demands”
My daughter never acted as my deputy -
Minister
German gov't to provide $30 million for Accra-Kumasi road
Tema factories under threat of flood
NPP youth ask Kofi Wayo to shut up
842 to contest District Assembly seats in Greater Accra
WHO boss arrives for three-day visit
Aliu holds discussions with WHO Africa Director
Medical students protest against poor conditions
Teacher arrested for dating pupil
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - More than eleven hours of rain hit Accra and its environs from Thursday night causing serious flooding in the low lying areas and considerable damage to property.
The rains which started around 11.30 pm and is still ongoing has left a number of people trapped at their respective locations. A number of bridges and culverts are also reported to have collapsed.
The National Disaster Management Organisation and other security agencies, which are on the ground, are assisting in the evacuation of the persons locked up by the flooding.
According Mr David Perry Osika, a senior official of the Meteorological Services Department, the services Airport station has recorded 119.8 mm of rainfall by mid-day of Friday, with the likelihood of it continuing into the evening. The heavy rains, is the second in less than a week in the nation’s capital after it experienced 123 mm of rainfall on Sunday.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - The security agencies of Ghana and Britain are investigating the circumstances under which a man believed to be a Ghanaian died in a British Airways baggage compartment at Heathrow Airport in an attempt to stow away to England. The body of Yao Kalam aged about 30 years was found in the baggage cabin in London on May 15, this year. The plane is said to have been in Ghana on May 12 and 13.
An identity card with the picture of Kalam embossed on it was the only identification document found on him. The ID was for a conference on Security Sector Reform and Democratisation held in Accra between February 27 and 28, this year. It was however established by investigators that Kalam did not participate in the conference and might have picked someone’s card and fixed his picture on it. There were no pictures on the original ID cards.
A source close to Interpol Ghana said in an interview that efforts to trace the relatives of Kalam have proved futile as no one has come forward to identify him. It said a team from Heathrow visited Ghana to conduct investigations into how and where Kalam might have boarded the flight. Information from Heathrow also indicate that the plane was in Jeddah and, therefore, uncertain where the victim might have boarded the plane. The investigations will also seek to establish who facilitated the victim’s access to the baggage cabin.
The Country Manager of British Airways, Mrs Esi Annor Sackey confirmed the story but declined further comments since the case was under investigations. The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service caused to be published a notice in June 1, issue of the Daily Graphic, requesting anyone with information about Yao Kalam to contact the CID. No one has as yet contacted the CID. - Daily Graphic.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002- Members of the Ghana Armed Forces have been reminded of their constitutional duty to remain loyal to the state and not to allow anyone or group of persons to deceive them.
Addressing troops from the Defence Signal Regiment, Signal Training School and the Armed Forces Printing Press at Burma Camp, on Thursday the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. General Seth Obeng, deplored military involvement in partisan politics, saying the practice would compromise the neutrality and loyalty of the Armed Forces.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Directorate of the Armed Forces in Accra, said the CDS was on a routine visit to the units to inspect installations and equipment to assess their efficiency.
He said the acquisition of vessels for the Navy, establishment of Rapid Response Units in all Garrisons, increment in UN allowances and the rehabilitation of some barracks were indications of the government's sensitivity to their needs and welfare. Members of the Armed Forces should reciprocate the gesture by rededicating themselves to defend the constitution at all times, the CDS said.
Lt. Gen Obeng noted that much as strides had been made in military-civilian relations, soldiers should see civilians as their "kin and kith" from whom they had emerged and would return one day and to desist from intimidating them.
He reminded military personnel of regulations making it mandatory for them to go on pension after 25 years of service and urged them to make judicious use of their allowances on UN missions by investing in housing to avoid accommodation difficulties while on retirement.
The CDS accompanied by Staff Officers and the Forces Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer James Cole expressed gratitude to those due for retirement after many years of service and wished them well.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - The Minority in Parliament has criticised Ghana’s president, John Kufuor for not visiting the Dagbon Traditional Area since the assassination of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II.
Minority Chief Whip, Doe Adjaho, told the House; "since March, the President and his Vice have not gone to the conflict area. We are not happy. He should put it on his agenda". The minority expressed the concern during the considering a request made by government for the extension of the state of emergency in the Dagbon Traditional area for another month.
Government first imposed a state of emergency on the Dagbon Traditional Area in March following clashes between the Andani and Abudu Royal Gates to the Ya-Na Skin that led to the death of Ya-Na Andani and many others. Majority Leader, Papa Owusu-Ankoma, said President Kufuor is given a daily briefing on the security situation in the area adding that he would make a public statement on the crises at the appropriate time. "Sometimes it is better not to do something that would unwittingly worsen the situation."
Earlier, Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni, NDC-Kumbungu, accused the security personnel in the area of molesting the people. "I and other MPs from the area have reports of brutalities and inhuman treatment. There are allegations of extortion and molestation of drivers."
He mentioned one Fatao Alhassan, who was arrested and detained, but was never published as demanded by law. The member said particulars of victims have been sent to the Ministry of the Interior for investigations. He accordingly asked government to reduce the curfew hours from 2100 hours to 0500 hours to 2200 hours to 0500 hours.
Alhaji Mumuni said market women and farmers, who travelled far distances to work, found the present arrangement very uncomfortable. "We believe that if this request is granted the people would appreciate the fact that somebody is appreciative of the sacrifices they are making to bring about peace in the area."
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My Daughter Never Acted As My Deputy -
Minister Submitted
Wa (Upper West) 14 June 2002 - The Upper West Regional
Minister, Sahanun Mogtari has described as "total falsehood" a
publication in a private newspaper that his daughter was acting as deputy minister
for the region. According to him, the story was an attempt to divert his focus
on development. "It is a machination by disgruntled opponents who seek not
only to undermine me but also divert my attention from the pursuit of
development for the region."
Mr Mogtari said this at a news conference at Wa to react to thepublications in
the June 3 and 4 editions of the “Independent” newspaper alleging that his
daughter, Atea Mogtari, had assumed the position of the regional deputy
minister and had been using an official car meant for that office.
The paper further wrote that he gave out an official car belonging to the
office of the Co- ordinating Director to the regional NPP Chairman, among
others. He challenged the newspaper to prove its allegation that his daughter
had been assigned a personal bodyguard and asked well meaning Ghanaians to
cross check the facts with the regional police command, saying it was its
(police) responsibility to assign official personal security.
Mr Mogtari said his daughter could not drive and if even she could, he would
not allow her to use official cars as was alleged. "I have never and will
never assign any official vehicle to my daughter or any member of my family for
use. The vehicle in question is government property and would be used as such
for that purpose," he explained.
The minister further denied that he gave an official car to the regional party
chairman saying, the vehicle being referred to was given to security men from
Tamale to maintain peace in the Wa township following last month (quote)s
chieftaincy dispute. "In fact the NPP regional chairman is a self-made man
and is known in the Upper West as one of the very few private persons owning a
fleet of cars.”
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Effasu (Western Region) 14 June 2002 - Construction work on the Effasu Power Generation Plant in the Western Region will begin next month. The plant, when completed, will produce 200 megawatts of thermal power from natural gas to raise the national power production capacity from 1,650 megawatts to 1,850 megawatts. The nation’s current electricity need is put at 1,200 megawatts. A highly-placed source which disclosed this in Accra said the new electricity plant at Effasu will be developed and produced by Tano Energy (Ghana) Limited, a subsidiary of the Scottish Oil Company, at the Tano oilfields offshore Ghana.
In fulfilment of the government’s desire to ensure that the project takes off smoothly, the Minister of Energy, Albert Kan-Dapaah, on Wednesday laid before Parliament for approval a petroleum production agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) on one hand, and Tano Energy on the other, for the conduct of developing and producing gas from the Tano oil fields offshore Ghana.
Although the source could not easily mention the cost of the project, it said the barge purchased by the GNPC at the cost of $10 million and which has been lying idle in Italy will be brought down before the end of next month to enable the project to begin.
The source said the project will help immensely to reduce the pressure on the Aboadze Thermal Plant, near Takoradi, whose operation has been found to be very expensive because its reliance on light crude oil. Both the Akosombo and Kpong hydro plants generate 1,100 megawatts, while Aboadze generates 550 megawatts of electricity.
The source explained that Aboadze is fired by expensive light crude oil whereas the Effasu plant will be operated by gas, which, together with the Akosombo and Kpong hydro plants, will make power generation in Ghana cheaper. It said the Effasu project will create several job opportunities for Ghanaians, particularly the people of the Western Region, and thereby reduce the level of unemployment and poverty in the country. We are determined to make the production of electricity in Ghana cheaper so as to attract investors and thereby create employment opportunities for the people, the source intimated.
The source expressed optimism that since natural gas from the Tano Basin will be used to fire the plant, Ghana will earn a new image among oil producing countries. It gave the assurance that the country’s strategic energy plan is on course because we want to make electricity very cheap in order to promote government’s programme of Golden Age of Business and make it a reality.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - The German Government is to provide $30 million for the construction of portions of the Accra-Kumasi Road. Negotiations to this effect are expected to be finalised by next week. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, announced this when he briefed the press at the Kotoka International Airport shortly after President J.A. Kufuor had returned from a two-nation official visit to Europe.
He was welcomed at the airport by the Vice- President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Service Commanders. The President was in Germany at the invitation of the government while he was in Italy to attend the World Food Summit. Mr Owusu-Agyeman did not disclose details of the support the German Government intends to give to Ghana in constructing the road.
He also said that the German Government has also agreed to cancel $6.5 million Ghana owed the former East Germany. The Foreign Minister described the trip as very fruitful, adding that a œfollow -up mechanism has already been arranged to concretise the decisions agreed on between President Kufuor and German leaders.
He explained that rules and procedures have been already worked out for collaboration with the German Government. Mr Owusu-Agyeman said a decision has been reached with European nations to remove tariffs imposed on imports from the developing world so as to provide a level playing field for globalisation to thrive.
He said the President also addressed the World Food Summit and called on the international community to reduce hunger by 50 per cent by the year 2015. He said the President noted that it is important for developed nations and other development partners to recognise Africa’s commitment to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative and good governance.
The President, on his part, described the criticism that richer nations boycotted the World Food Summit as unfounded and said the leaders who attended renewed their commitment to make food available on the table of every person on earth.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 14 June 2002- Strangers with a foreign accent were among the combatants from the Abudu gate who stormed the Ya-Na's palace, Nantogmah Alhassan Andani, son of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, told the Wuaku Commission sitting in Sunyani on Thursday.
Continuing with this evidence, which he started on Wednesday, witness said, "When the attackers entered the palace there were some people I saw amongst them who I never knew."
Nantogmah described the strangers as "energetic-looking and were in green T-shirts and knickers, with some of them wearing hats. "The late chief's son broke down in tears at a point in his evidence on Wednesday as he described how his father died in the attack. This compelled the Commission to adjourn proceedings abruptly at around 1pm instead of the usual time of 2pm.
Nantogmah replied in the negative, when asked by the Commission if he knew everybody in Yendi. He, however, insisted that the 'strangers' were not from Yendi when asked to justify why he described them so. "I guessed they were strangers as the type of Pidgin English they spoke was not of Ghanaian accent."
He alleged that the 'strangers' were using sophisticated weapons', which he described as those used by the police. Nantogmah denied knowledge about the existence of an armoury at the Ya-Na's palace. The Commission then asked: "will you be surprised that the police discovered an armoury at the palace?' "I will be astonished," witness replied.
When asked further by the Commission about how the attackers were repelled on Tuesday, 26 March, when firing was returned from the Ya-Na's palace, Nantogmah answered in the negative, saying, "I don't know."
He however, admitted that the Ya-Na had warriors at the palace and agreed that some seven names contained in his statement to the police were part of the palace warriors. But he disagreed with the Commission that one Asafo was the head of the warriors and rather mentioned one Nontangnam Kwaku Donkor as the leader.
Nantogmah replied in the affirmative when asked if he saw anybody in the palace in war apparel. He told the Commission in answer to another question that at a stage the warriors in the palace managed to repel the Abudus.
Nantogmah, who began his evidence from events on Wednesday 27 March, narrated that when their attackers intensified their firing, "some of us including one Shaibu, Imrana, Alhassan Yakubu and others became frustrated. "We therefore, scaled a short wall at the palace and sought refuge in an abandoned veranda at a nearby prisons quarters".
He said whilst at the hideout, they watched the actions of the attackers. At a point, he added, when Amadu, (one of those at the hideout) called their attention to look at one Idana holding the Ya-Na's hand, he (witness) was not surprised because of the way he had seen his father lying prostrate after being shot.
While this was going on, the Abudus were making a whole lot of noise at the precincts of the palace and I heard one of them saying, "whoever is a man enough should come forwards to face us".
Witness added that he heard one Yahaya saying that Yakubu (who was with them at the hide-out) was the next person they (Abudus) were going to burn. Nantogmah continued that he heard Mohammed Kyampong, one of the attackers give the order that Mohammed Achana Abdul-Salam, a warrior and a son in-law of Ya-Na, should be shot in front of the palace.
"All these events, he said, happened between 9 am and 10am whilst we held ourselves up at the hide-out till 1.00 pm before we left for the Yendi Hospital as some of us had been wounded."
Nantogmah added that Abudus, who were then in a jubilant mood, multiplied at the precincts of the palace. At this time, he said Mohammed Zei and Tinjani Zei, two of the attackers passed near where we were hiding, holding guns, to the Ya-Na's palace. The late chief's son narrated that they then heard the beating of gong-gong and drums by some of the Abudus approaching the palace.
Nantogmah said they heard some of the Abudus saying that they should go and bring their chief to come and dance. After those people had left for the Bolin-Lana (chief of the Abudus), "we heard the beating of a drum, its language interpreted as 'a hero has fallen', he added.
When the Commission at this point asked if the drumming was part of their history that he knew, witness replied in the affirmative. He explained that at dawn of festive occasions, the drummers assembled at the palace to beat such drums to extol the virtues of their past heroes and ancestors to remind the Ya-Na of the wars fought in the past.
Nantogmah said that after the beating of the drums for fallen heroes, they head the sound of another drum, 'tinpan', "which is beaten when a chief arrives at a place".
The sound of the tinpan drum intensified and it appeared that jubilant Abudus were dancing towards the Royal Mausoleum, which is near the palace, he added.
Witness said "at this time, I saw one Mohamadu Fushei dragging the Ya-Na's body to a point whilst two other men holding lorry tyres placed them on it and poured a liquid on it". When asked to mention those he identified, he cited the Bolin-Lana and his counsellor, the Zaligu-Lana, among others.
He alleged that they then saw a military Mowag passing by and when it reached where the Abudus were jubilating around the palace, one of its occupants advised them to disperse if they had accomplished their mission to avoid being fired on by soldiers from Tamale.
Witness said the Ya-Na had sent for military intervention to rescue him. Asked further if the Mowag was in the town that day, he replied that it was seen patrolling in the town.
In an answer to another question by the Commission, witness said the Ya-Na expressed dissatisfaction with the police and military protection for the Abudus during the celebration of the El-dul-Adha festival. Asked if during this festival the Gbewaa palace was given any security protection, he replied in the negative.
When Alhassan Sahadu, another witness was sworn in to begin his evidence, a Sunyani-based lawyer, Nana Obiri-Boahen announced his appearance for the Abudu Gate. Sahad who is the Guntengli-Na, a sub-chief of the Ya-Na, corroborated the evidence of earlier witnesses on the events on Sunday, 24 March.
He said when efforts by the Ya-Na to get the Yendi District Chief Executive, Mr Mohammed Habib Tijani, to explain the rationale behind the imposition of the curfew failed, they later got the ex-Regional Minister, Mr Prince Imoro Andani, who denied knowledge about the decision to impose the curfew since he (ex-Minister) was in Accra at the time that the decision was taken.
The ex-Minister, therefore, told the Ya-Na that he (ex-Minister) could not deprive him of his right to observe the Fire Festival. Shahadu, however, added that the ex-Minister lifted the curfew based on the assurance of the Ya-Na that the celebration of the festival would be peaceful. Witness corroborated the evidence of other witnesses, particularly the firing between the two gates on Monday and Tuesday.
He said on the Wednesday morning, they were in the palace when fire was set on it by the attackers, amidst a hail of bullets fired into the palace from outside, with some hitting the walls. Shahadu said when they could no longer contain the heat of the fire set on the palace and the intensity of the firing from the Abudus he fled by scaling a wall amidst bullets whistling past him.
When asked by the Commission why he did not sustain any injuries, he said he prayed to God at that time to protect him. He said he sought refuge at the police station and was helped to the barracks of the Yendi military detachment where he met the DCE.
At the barracks, he said, an officer asked him if the Ya-Na was alive, and quoted the officer as saying, "we wanted to impose a curfew but he (Ya-Na) refused". He continued that he was made to board a Mowag to the palace where only two young men, Alhassan Zakari and Kofi Wura were seen and together, they returned to the barracks.
Shahadu alleged that he and the two young men were ordered to remove their talismans and amulets to be burnt at the barracks in the presence of the DCE.
He said in answer to a question that on Tuesday, 26 March, he led the wives of the Ya-Na and their children out of the palace for safety somewhere. When the Commission questioned him about inconsistencies in his two statements to the police and his evidence, witness insisted that all that he had said was the true account of events during the crisis.
Justifying that assertion, Shahadu told the Commission that he did not believe that there were inconsistencies in the statements even though he was not of himself when he gave the statements to the police.
I even begged them (the police) to forgive me if they found any omissions, he added. Mohammed Achana Abdul-Salam, another witness, told the Commission that he is a warrior for the Kumbungu-Na, who owed allegiance to the Ya-Na.
As a warrior and a son-in-law of the Ya-Na, I went to Yendi on the morning of Tuesday, 26 March to see how the chief was faring, following an announcement on Radio Savanna in Tamale at 5.00 pm on Monday, 25 March, that due to some troubles in Yendi, a curfew had been imposed, he said.
Witness corroborated the evidence of earlier witnesses about the ordeal they went through from the Tuesday morning to about 10 am on Wednesday, when he was helped by a police officer, who he named as Inspector Ben, to Yendi Hospital for treatment. He told the Commission that when they were hemmed in at the palace on the Wednesday morning, he decided to face the attackers in front of the palace.
Abdul-Salam said in the process, he received gunshot wounds on the two elbows, on the head and in the belly, which he showed to the Commission. Witness denied knowledge of the existence of an armoury at the Ya-Na's palace when asked by the Commission.
Mr. Justice Isaac Newton Wuaku, chairman of the Commission, before adjourning proceedings, noted that unlike the previous days, the space interval between the two gates at the hall was too wide. He said that did not augur well for the efforts being made to reconcile the two gates. Sitting was adjourned till Friday, 14 June.
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University withdraws nine students
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 14 June 2002-Nine students pursuing various courses at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been withdrawn for forgery of Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) results presented for admission for the 2000/2001 academic year.
The KNUST, in the course of verifying the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination results submitted by the students for admission, detected that the students overstated their grades.
They are Bright Karl Tamakloe and Philip Ackah Mensah both studying Natural Resources Management, Godfred Asamoah, B.A.Arts, Miss Saiba Tanko, Biological Science, Miss Linda Akesse Frimpong, Chemistry, Albert Essel and Ernest Domie,both pursuing Publishing Studies, Isaac Afenyo, Industrial Art and Elvin Osei Owusu-Ansah, Mining Engineering.
A release signed by Mrs Quarshie-Sam, the Registrar said, investigations by the University confirmed that the SSSCE results presented by the nine students were forged. The students, the release, said have accordingly been withdrawn from the
University.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002- About, nine million Ghanaians lack adequate water supply, Mr Godfried Opong Kesse, a geological consultant, said in Accra on Thursday. He said the government would need about 1.2 billion dollars to extend coverage over the next ten years to remedy the deficiency.
Delivering a lecture on "The Role of the Private Sector" as part of activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Water Research Institute (WRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), under the theme "Water Research- The Way Forward," he said sourcing of funds for expansion was a problem for the government.
Mr Kesse who was a former Chairman of the Board of WRI said water supply could not keep pace with population growth because the government did not have the funds for expansion. "There is also the problem of deteriorating infrastructure due to inadequate maintenance, low tariffs, poor billing and collection, over staffing and unauthorised connection by workers to some consumers for consideration fees," he said.
The Geological Consultant said the consequences of inefficiency in a public operated utility were poor services consumers generally paid more for poor services and inequity in prices. "In order to supply sufficient water for all at affordable price, there is the need to reduce cost by improving the efficiency, with which services are delivered," he declared.
Mr Kesse said many governments in Africa were turning to the private sector for assistance to solve problems similar to that of Ghana. He noted that options for private sector participation in water delivery, from which the government could choose included service contract, management contract, lease concession and divestiture, which was politically and socially unacceptable in Africa.
Some African countries already involved with private sector participation were Cote d' Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Chad, Kenya and South Africa. "Experience with this model shows that the adoption of the private sector participation is far better in water delivery in these countries, from which Ghana could also learn," Mr Kesse added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - Part of the Accra-Kumasi highway is to be constructed at the cost of 30 million dollars under a German-infrastructure development package for Ghana.
A debt of 6.5 million dollars owed to the former East Germany had also been cancelled under the HIPIC initiative, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, who accompanied the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor to Germany and Italy for an official visit said in Accra on Thursday.
The President who was also accompanied by his wife, Theresa, the Minster of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Marfo and Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State held discussions with the German Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder on the NEPAD initiative, bilateral and international issues.
He also spoke at a symposium organised by the Afrika-Verein and the German-Ghanaian Association at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and met with a cross section of the Ghanaian community in the city and Berlin.
Mr Owusu-Agyeman said members of the Chamber promised to explore areas of potential investment in Ghana and to look for joint partnerships. In Italy President Kufuor had a private meeting with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and briefed him on developments in Ghana after, which the Pontiff prayed for Ghana and the country's leaders.
The President addressed the World Food Summit in Rome, during which he called on the international community to help in reducing hunger to about 50 per cent by the year 2015.
The Foreign Minister said Mr. Kufuor also focussed on what could be done to move agriculture and rural development forward in Africa and appealed for funds and tools for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for agricultural development in developing countries.
He also met the Ghanaian community in Italy who urged the government to reduce import tax and to review the banning of the importation of cars, which were more than 10 years old at least for Ghanaians who had abroad for long periods.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - Factories located in the heavy industrial area at Tema are seriously under the threat of floods due to the poor drainage system, should the rains set in heavily again.
Should the rains come as predicted by the Meteorological Services Department, most raw materials, finished goods and equipment stored in the various the factories are likely to be damaged by flood.
A tour carried out by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in parts of the city, particularly the industrial area in the aftermath of the recent rains showed that the big drains are choked with weeds and filth while developers, possibly factory owners have built structures and walls over some of the drains.
This practice prevents the free flow of water in the drains as it overflows and spreads to offices, stores and warehouses of the factories, destroying goods, materials and equipment. At the J. M. Products Ghana Limited, producers of hair products flood water which was at the waist level had broken the walls, leaving the factory exposed, while water damaged some of the equipment.
Mrs Margaret Blavo, Managing Director, who looked disturbed, had engaged the services of some persons to put things in order by removing the pieces of blocks and debris from the drains.
She said the company pays an annual fee of 1.2 million cedis to the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) for sewer maintenance, but the TMA failed to do any work on the drains, adding that, it would cost about 500 million cedis to re-build the walls and renovate the damaged areas.
The story was not different at the Nestle Ghana Limited (NGL), where management displayed their skills by arranging the goods on packed pallets, which prevented damage, which would have caused loss of billions of cedis.
Companies like the Japan Motors Limited had their fair share of the floods, while in the communities, particularly community seven some women had their clothing and some personal effects washed away by the flood.
When contacted, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipal Chief Executive who had earlier gone round the affected areas described the situation as serious and said he had asked the Engineers Department of the TMA to assess the situation for immediate attention.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002- The Ayawaso East Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday asked Mr Kofi Wayo, their parliamentary candidate in the 2000 general election, to stop his attacks against the government.
Mr Felix Amoah, spokesman for the constituency, told a press conference in Accra that he should rather redeem pledges of development he made to his constituents. He said Mr Wayo promised to create 750,000 jobs for Ghanaians within one year of NPP rule and change all pit latrines in Nima to water closets within the same period.
"His current strident attacks on the government, therefore, are clearly vain attempts to find a scapegoat for his failings, loose and empty talk and inability to deliver what he promised the people during the campaign." Mr Amoah called on Mr Wayo to either quit the party voluntarily or the national executive should kick him out, saying; "enough is enough."
Mr Wayo has recently hit media headlines challenging government's divestiture of the Tema Oil Refinery. He has also accused officials of malfeasance and mal-administration.
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842 to contest District Assembly seats in
Greater Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - A total of 842 candidates have filed nominations to contest 236 seats in the ten electoral districts of the Greater Accra Region for the 30 July district assembly elections. Statistics from the regional office of the Electoral Commission available to the Ghana News Agency indicate that only 64 of the candidates are women. Contestants in 10 electoral areas were declared unopposed.
Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa, EC Deputy Regional Director in an interview with the GNA in Accra on Thursday said the local government elections had attracted people across professions. She said members of some professional bodies, which did not want to be associated with the district assembly system, were now coming forward to contest even at the unit committee levels.
Ms Kpatakpa said the regional analysis of the professional qualifications of candidates, shows that they spread from holders of Basic Education Certificate through Diploma to Degree holders.
The figures show that the Tema District recorded the highest number of female contestants of 17, Ashiedu Keteke had no female candidate while Osu Clottey recorded one.The rest are Ga, eight; Okaikwei, three; Ablekuma, six; Ayawaso, two; Kpeshie, nine; Dangbme West, 10 and Dangbme East, nine.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002 - The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Samba on Thursday reiterated that an accelerated economic growth and development was the best way to promote good health.
"Poverty and poor nutrition in developing countries make it difficult to counter the scourge of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and related diseases," he said on arrival at the airport for a three-day working visit.
Dr Samba, therefore, urged developing countries to step up their economic development and the developed nations to scale up their financial assistance to poor nations to enable them to deliver good health services to its people. He described Ghana's health services as positive saying the authorities were aware of the health problems and were working hard to solve them.
The Regional Director said his visit would enable him to discuss Ghana's current health situation and how best WHO could assist. On the AIDS menace, Dr samba said WHO was collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to produce affordable anti-retroviral drugs to help prolong the life span of patients as well as try to prevent mother-to-child infection.
He said WHO was also collaborating with government and health-related agencies to remove the stigma associated with AIDS and to let people know that it was a disease that could be curtailed.
Whilst in the country he would visit Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as well as WHO sponsored projects including Bawjiase Orphanage in the Central Region. Dr Merville George, WHO Representative and Dr Kofi Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health met Dr Samba at the airport.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002- Vice President Aliu Mahama on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to make health care delivery more accessible to Ghanaians by eliminating the "Cash and Carry" system and upgrading health facilities.
Health insurance schemes to replace the Cash and Carry system are operational on pilot basis in 40 districts, Vice President Mahama said when he held discussions with the visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Malick Samba at the Castle, Osu.
Dr Samba, a Gambian, arrived in Accra on Thursday for a three-day duty tour, during which he would visit the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and a WHO-funded Orphanage at Bawjiase in the Central region.
Vice President Mahama told Dr Samba that the government had allocated funds to improve upon facilities at the Teaching Hospital, saying that President John
Agyekum Kufuor recently inspected facilities and announced a 77.3 billion-cedi rehabilitation package.
Fifty billion cedis of the amount would be used to rehabilitate and refurbish the Medical Block. The theatre at the Maternity Block would also be rehabilitated with 4.8 billion cedis, while 22.5 billion cedis would be spent on accommodation for staff.
Vice President Mahama commended Dr Samba for his immense support to Ghana's health sector, particularly in the treatment of malaria and onchocerciasis, saying the WHO and Ghana had enjoyed excellent relations. "You are working hard towards the development of the human race through health delivery and your efforts are appreciated," he said.
Dr Samba, who attended Achimota College and the University of Ghana, said he considered his support for Ghana as a token of appreciation for what he received from the country, adding that Ghana helped to make him what he was today.
He said the country sacrificed so much resource towards the liberation of other countries and Ghana deserved a pay back. "I was here and I saw the sacrifices. Perhaps what was lost can never be repaid," he said.
Dr Samba was first elected WHO Regional Director of Africa in 1995 and re-elected in 1999.The 60 year-old medical doctor, has received international commendation for his work in the control of onchocerciasis, having served as the Director of Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa from 1980 to 1994.
With him at the meeting were: Dr Merville George, WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health and other officials of WHO and the Ministry of Health.
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Medical students protest against poor
conditions
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002- The Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association on Thursday expressed concern about the prevailing difficulties under which it members studied and observed that it contributed to the desire go out in search of greener pastures after graduation.
At a press conference in Accra, Mr John Amuasi, the President of the association, said the poor conditions of under which they trained coupled with unattractive conditions of service of medical officers had bedevilled the profession.
He said since the inception of medical education in Ghana, in 1962 there had been more than 100 per cent increase in the admission of students into the three medical schools without any significant change in infrastructure.
Mr Amuasi said medical schools in Ghana were woefully understaffed, thus the dedicated lecturers, many of whom were underpaid were compelled to combine teaching with extra work thus affecting the quality of teaching and learning.
He also complained about the student's loan scheme that did not take into consideration the seven years duration of their training and the acquisition of expensive medical books and tools ranging from 300,000 to 600,000 cedis.
Mr Amuasi expressed dissatisfaction about the overstay allowance of 7,500 cedis per day proposed by the National Council for Tertiary Education to cater for medical students during the normal tertiary vacation period which they do not enjoy.
He said medical students constituted a major force for confronting health challenges through effective education and called for the transformation of their training. Mr Amuasi said the nation was currently training 600 medical students at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 726 at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and 79 at the University of Development Studies Medical Training School at Tamale.
He said the desire to pursue medicine in the country was waning due to the poor conditions whilst the ratio of a medical consultant to a student was 1:16 with class sizes ranging from 60 to 150.
The President of the association said the average age of consultants and lecturers was 55 and pledged the commitment of the federation to collaborate with government to find lasting solution to the problems.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 June 2002- This years' World Refugee Day will be observed on Thursday, 20 June, with other activities to highlight the occasion.
A press release issued in Accra on Thursday by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), said Muslims would pray for the refugees on Friday 14 June. There would be clean up exercises at various refugee camps in the country on the following day to be followed by Christian prayers on Sunday, 16 June.
Lectures on "The Refugee" shall be delivered at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Senior Secondary School on Monday, 17 June and on Monday, 18 June. As part of the celebration, members of the Diplomatic Corps, United Nations Heads of Agencies, senior government officials and other partners would visit the Gomoa Buduburam refugee camp, the release added.
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Akyem Oda (Eastern Region) 14 June 2002 - Kwabena Amoako, 24, who went to win diamonds illegally, popularly known as "galamsey", at 'Belgium' on the Akyem Oda Railway Line, drowned in the Birim River on Wednesday.
The Ghana News Agency at Akyem Oda reports a Police source as saying that the deceased and three others were digging for diamonds at the bank of the river when two of them got trapped. He said one of them was rescued leaving the deceased whose body was washed ashore the following day.
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Mampong (Ashanti Region) 14 June 2002 - The Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) of Asante-Mampong Saint Monica's Secondary School has expressed concern about the high level of deterioration of students' dormitories at the school.
The association's worry stemmed from the fact that the students clustered at the corners of their dormitories whenever it rained, thus putting their lives in danger. Expressing their concern at a meeting at Mampong, the parents appealed to the Ministry of Education to re-roof the dormitories to prevent them from total collapse.
They expressed concern about the health and safety of the students under such deplorable condition and asked the Ministry to take urgent measures to prevent a catastrophe. The association implored the school management to invoke its rules and regulations on rebellious students as a way of instilling discipline.
Dr William Owiredu, Vice-Chairman of the association, enumerated projects the PTA had executed in the school, saying it had also provided it with 20 new computers. He announced plans for the building of three more staff bungalows in addition to the two already provided by the association.
Mr Hayford, a parent and businessman in Kumasi, pledged to donate 10 wooden doors estimated to cost 4.5 million cedis for the bungalows.
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 14 June 2002 - The Obuasi Police on Tuesday arrested a Junior Secondary School teacher for taking one of his pupils to a hotel, Mr Samuel Kofi Okyere, Adansi West District Director of Education (GES), has disclosed.
He warned that the GES would neither defend nor shield teachers, who harassed and sexually abused school children from prosecution. Mr Okyere, addressing a meeting of the district branch of the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) at Obuasi did not give his name nor details.
He said irresponsible acts such as sexual abuses tended to create image problems for the teaching profession and that everything should be done to check them.
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