PPAG agents commended for family planning
programmes
Police Administration comments on
extradition
Judiciary responsible for indiscipline -
Effah-Dartey
Companies and individuals awarded for
protecting the environment
Two persons injured in a rainstorm at Fufuo
Public advised against indiscriminate
disposal of waste
Potential drivers to pass written
examination
NPP bags ¢18m at a fund raising rally
NRC gets vehicles and equipment valued at $220,000
Events in Liberia overshadow Akosombo Peace Talks
Dead witness suffered from cardio-myopathy - NRC
Media urged to play positive role in Liberia crises
LURD: We're disappointed at Ghana's inaction on Taylor indictment
South-Tongu NPP elects executives
ECOWAS urges compromise at peace talks
Liberia political parties react to Taylor's indictment
Japanese Govt donates $100,000 for Peace Talks
NRC to begin sitting in Tamale on 17 June
Liberia women demonstrate for Peace
Environment urged institutions to sit up - FEJ
Stop promoting tobacco use - Minister
Students to lead campaign against HIV/AIDS
Five more UG students dismissed
The Majority Leader and Minister
of Parliamentary Affairs, Felix Owusu-Adjapong announced this when he presented
the Business Statement for the sixth week ending
Francis Agbotse, NDC-Ho West,
would want to know from the Minister the causes of the numerous conflicts in
the Volta Region, especially in areas like Nkonya/Alavanyo, Nkwanta,
Peki/Tsito, Abutia Kpota and Abutia Agordeke.
Dr Kwame Ampofo, NDC-South Dayi,
would also like to know what necessitated the beefing up security in the Peki
and Tsito area and what the Minister was doing to reduce the tension and bring
about peace in the area.
Owusu-Adjapong said during the
week the following Minister of Mines, Minister of Health, Minister of
Education, Youth and Sports and Minister of Roads and Transport would come to
the House to answer questions.
The National Reconstruction Levy
(Amendment) (No.2) Bill, Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, Postal Services
Regulatory Commission Bill, Financial Administration Bill and Juvenile Justice
Bill would be taken through their various stages of passage.
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A statement signed by Benjamin
Bediako, National Organizer and Publicity Officer said as a registered
political party such major decisions could only be taken in accordance with the
Party's Constitution at a National Delegates' Conference and not by a single
individual in any capacity.
The statement said that Danny
Ofori-Atta, who announced the merger, was not a member of the National
Executive Council and that the position he had assumed as Chairman of the
Council was only an honorary and advisory one following the death of Sheikh
Ibrahim Armatey.
It added that the role did not
bestow on him the legal right or moral authority to single-handedly enter into
an alliance or speak on behalf of the Party.
The statement, therefore, asked
the public to ignore any announcement and urged the Leadership of the PNC to
respect the Constitution of the Party as it also recognised its mandate and
respected it as a political party.
Meanwhile the Eagle Party would
hold its National Delegates' Congress to discuss the external and political
relations of the party and constitutionally approve any decision taken.
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Fufuo (Ashanti Region)
Nana Owusu Ansah, chief of
Fufuo, Godfried Paul Nti, the assembly member Richmond Nti, the unit committee
chairman and Osei Asibey Bonsu, an opinion leader, said these at an emergency
meeting at Fufuo.
''Drivers have refused to ply
the road and large quantities of foodstuffs and other cash crops are left to
rot because the farmers cannot cart them to the marketing centers.'' Economic
activities including farming have virtually halted and the people carry their
loads to board vehicles at Barekese to other destinations.
They said appeals to the
Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council, Atwima
District Assembly and the Member of Parliament for the area yielded no positive
results.
Nti showed to the newsmen a
document that indicated that the Barekese-Fufuo-Adugyama feeder road was
awarded on contract to M/S Limakma Construction firm in August 2002 at the cost
of over ¢2.3bn for re-shaping but nothing has so far been done on it.
Bonsu alleged that Fufuo had
been neglected and denied of its fair share of the national cake due to its
political stand and expressed surprise and shock that the current government
should also abandon the town. Nana Owusu Ansah appealed to President John
Agyekum Kufuor to ensure that the road was rehabilitated.
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PPAG agents
commended for family planning programmes
Mankranso (Ashanti Region)
She said a report by consultants
from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on
assessment of the agents commended the standard of training and education given
to them.
Mrs. Ayeh was addressing a
meeting of the Association and the agents at Mankranso in the Ahafo-Ano South
District of Ashanti on Thursday.
The community-based service of
the association is helping the communities in the prevention of unwanted
pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, she said. The Zonal manager
announced that agents of non-traditional community-based services would be
employed to distribute family planning items.
Mrs.Ayeh urged the participants,
as technical personnel in family planning practices, to continue to work
diligently to improve the programme. Nana Yamoa Afrifa, Chairman of the agents,
stressed the importance of the PPAG and urged Ghanaians to support its
activities.
He said Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STDs) HIV/AIDS "can cause infertility, mental illness, blindness
and other severe illnesses" and advised the participants to educate the
people to refrain from unprotected sex.
Nana Afrifa said using
spermicides, injectables, norplant and female sterilization did not protect a
person from getting STD and the HIV/AIDS.
He appealed to the public to use
male and female condoms in addition to other family planning methods to protect
themselves against STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Abdul-Aziz Muawiya, secretary
of the agents thanked the PPAG, for providing them with
He promised that he and his
colleagues would continue to give of their best.
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Police
Administration comments on extradition
The statement is in reaction to
local accusations that Interpol Accra did not honour its obligation in
arresting President Charles Taylor of
A Police sources told the Ghana
News Agency that it would have taken sometime for the request for
The source said normally such
requests were made through the embassy of the suspect's country of origin,
which would later inform the Police Administration or it was channelled through
Interpol which would informed its counterpart in Accra.
The source said even after
receiving such a report from either the embassy or Interpol, the Police would
then inform the Attorney General's Office which would assess the request and
then give directives to the Police.
The source said where a warrant
of arrest was issued for any suspect, such procedures would also be applied,
adding that in some specific cases the Attorney - General would have to request
from a local court whether such an arrest was within the legal limits before
any action was taken.
The source said the local courts
would determine whether an extradition or warrant of an arrest was proper or
not. It said in those circumstances, arresting suspects for extradition would
take time especially in fulfilling the legalities associated with it.
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"All these materials are
raw history, which the government and the people of
The Minister said this when he
met the Management of the Agency at its Headquarters in
Nana Akomea said the agency had
the advantage of location with a vast infrastructure, which could be turned
into an asset to increase its revenue base instead of relying solely on
government.
"Use your huge
infrastructure base to generate additional income in supporting yourself. You
only have to modernize it and make it more viable."
He said: "Impressions so
far about the Agency in government circles point to a non-performing asset that
lived only on donor support. But GNA can do better."
Nana Akomea promised to get an
architect who would help the Management to come out with some modalities to
make the Agency viable. "Get investors like SSNIT to develop spaces that
are not in use into modern offices and you would give yourself new offices
too," he said.
The Minister urged the Agency to
follow the CNN model in its operation to enjoy the monopoly it so desired,
adding, "concentrate on how you want to revamp
your operation".
He also charged the Management
of GNA to dialogue with the subscribers to get them to pay realistic fees for
the services that they were enjoying, adding:
"Show them the basis of the cost and rationalize your operations
and they would come to terms with it."
The General Manager, Kafui
Johnson said the Agency had been trying to rent out its excess space but had
been faced with problems of refurbishment since it was cash strapped.
He appealed to the Minister to
help the Agency acquire a new server with accessories, which cost from $250,000
and above. He also appealed to the government to assist the Agency with some
vehicles because it only had a few old ones to work with.
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Nkawie (Ashanti Region)
The MP said the package covered
the payment of the school fees and boarding fees of beneficiaries, who were
students from the Toase SSS, Osei Tutu and the Nkawie SSS /Technical schools.
Adusei-Sarkodie told the Ghana
News Agency that the initiative was towards the promotion of education in the
area.
He said a beneficiary from
Kyereyase, a deprived farming community in the Atwima District, who dropped out
of school but went back to the classroom because of the award of a scholarship,
was pursuing a degree course in Administration at the
Gabriel Agyei, who was a student
at the
The MP said he was also
supporting three teacher trainees from the constituency with part of the Fund. Adusei-Sarkodie
said building materials were supplied to Abuakwa, Nkawie-Panin and Ahodwo and
other towns for the maintenance of schools infrastructure.
He said he had secured computers
for distribution to some basic and second cycle schools in the area to enable
the pupils and students keep pace with the computer technology.
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Judiciary
responsible for indiscipline - Effah-Dartey
He said it was imperative to
revamp the judicial structures to efficiently and speedily execute justice to
serve as a deterrent to offenders. Captain Effah-Dartey made the remarks when
he launched a 50-page book entitled: Final Destination: Heaven Or Earth?
The book seeks to answer the
controversial question of the actual destination of man after death and the
steps one is expected to take to guarantee being at such a destination.
He said religious bodies, which
previously ran educational institutions, inculcated values into individuals and
brought a lot of discipline into the system.
Captain Effah-Dartey said there
was discipline in the country when religious organisations were in charge of
schools. He acknowledged that freedom of expression was not a guarantee for
indiscipline saying: "It is important as Ghanaians not to abuse the laws
of the country."
The Reverend Lovejoy Codjoe,
author of the book, noted that it was time for Christians to search for the
truth and pursue it to chart their course to eternity.
He said various interpretations
had been given to scriptures in the Bible but it was the responsibility of
Christians to test them to ascertain the obvious path to God.
Rev. Codjoe said inheriting the
final destinations as Christian, depended largely on how righteousness was
pursued. He called on Christian to seek the spiritual meaning of the Bible than
relying on the letter.
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Companies
and individuals awarded for protecting the environment
Akosombo (Greater Accra) 06 June
2003 - Fourteen companies, institutions and individuals including school
children have been presented with awards at this year's World Environmental Day
celebration on Thursday.
The award winners, who included
Guinness Ghana Limited, Ghana Textile Printing Company Limited, Ghana Manganese
Company Limited, Volta River Authority, Adventist Development and Relief Agency
and the Green Earth Organisation received national awards
in the form of certificates and citations.
The regional level awards went
to the
For excelling in a quiz
competition as part of the celebrations, Master Yaw Asare of the Pentecost JSS,
Koforidua, Master Ezra Blasu of the Bethel JSS, Somanya and Master Francis Ofoe
of the Mount Mary Demonstration JSS, Odumase-Krobo, received certificates and
parcels.
The Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia
Ofori Panin chaired the function and joined other dignitaries to plant trees to
mark the day.
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Two persons
injured in a rainstorm at Fufuo
Fufuo (Ashanti Region)
They were hit by flying objects
during the storm. About 14 buildings had their roofing ripped-off and more than
122 persons were displaced. Godfried Paul Nti, assembly member for the area,
said damage caused to property was estimated at more than ¢49m.
The displaced persons, he said, were putting up with friends and relatives and appealed to
the government, the Atwima District Assembly and organisations to assist the
victims.
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Public
advised against indiscriminate disposal of waste
Efiekuma (Western Region)
He made the appeal when speaking
on water and sanitation at a lecture organised by the Efiekuma branch of the
United Nations Association of Ghana (UNAG) to mark World Environment Day at
Efiekuma New Site, near Takoradi on Thursday.
Okyere said such indiscriminate
dumping of waste affected human health and polluted water bodies. Ha said acts
of lawlessness had reached high levels thus making people to think that it was
normal to dispose of waste anywhere without taking into account the
consequences on the environment.
Okyere said indiscriminate
dumping of refuses increased siltation, dwindling and drying up of rivers and
other water bodies as runoffs carry waste into them. He said sanitation
problems in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis included indiscriminate defecation
and dumping of refuse and droppings of livestock into drains.
Okyere suggested the
establishment of companies to recycle polythene bags and waste as a means of
solving sanitation and environmental problems. He spoke against the use of chemical
for fishing because it could cause cancer and tumour in consumers.
Isaac Badu Nkansah, Assemblyman
for Effiekuma East suggested the establishment of an Environmental Police to
enforce environmental and sanitation laws to complement the EPA and District
Assemblies.
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Potential
drivers to pass written examination
Joe Osei-Owusu, Chief Executive
Officer of DVLA, who said this at the annual lecture of the Ghana Medical
Association (GMA) in
This year's lecture is on the
theme: "Carnage On The Roads - Impact On The
Health Of The Nation". It seeks to address the serious concerns of deaths;
maiming and cost associated with road traffic accidents.
Osei-Owusu said the written
examinations would begin in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Western and Central and
Volta Regions. He said vehicles were issued with road worthy certificates
although no test had been conducted on them because of inadequate staffing at
DVLA.
He said the DVLA received about
700 applications for vehicle examination and road worthy certificates daily. Osei-Owusu
said the DVLA would soon contract the private sector to undertake the
inspection of vehicles under the supervision of the DVLA, which is facing a
host of problems including lack of equipment.
Osei-Owusu said it was sad that
very little resources was committed to the training of
drivers, who had the responsibility of carrying huge numbers of people to
safety at a time.
Charles Rhabbles, Principal
Engineer of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), said there was the need for the
country to adopt the safety audit technique in road construction since the
technique majored in preventive strategies.
He explained that the safety
audit depended on examining the type of road users, their behaviours and
features before a road is constructed.
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NPP bags
¢18m at a fund raising rally
Twifo Praso (Central Region)
Agyeman Poku, chairman of the
party, said the amount would be used to build a party office and purchase a
pick-up vehicle for the constituency. Poku commended the government for initiating
a number of agricultural projects including the mass spraying of cocoa farms.
He expressed optimism that the
party would massively win the 2004 general elections and appealed to the
constituency executives to step up their education campaigns to enable NPP win
more supporters.
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NRC gets vehicles and equipment valued at $220,000
The
equipment includes computers, video cameras and binding machines. A statement
issued in Accra and signed by Ms Annie Anipa, Director of Public Affairs of the
NRC, said the grant, which was made through the Access to Justice Initiative of
Legal and Justice Programme (AJILJP) would enhance the commission's capacity to
conduct public hearings in the regions.
Making
the presentation, Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, Executive Director of the
Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDDG) said the donation shows OSIWA's
confidence in the Commission.
He
called for more international support for the NRC aimed at addressing past
human rights violations. Prof Gyimah-Boadi commended the Commission for its
"diligence, openness and integrity that has characterized its work."
The
Commission's Chairman, Justice K E Amua-Sakyi, received the vehicles thanked
OSIWA for the support and urged other organizations to emulate it.
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Events in
Akosombo
(Eastern Region)
Actual
negotiations for peace at the ECOWAS sponsored peace talks expected to start on
Wednesday at the three-star Volta Hotel at Akosombo, where a number of
Liberians and other stakeholders had gathered, have been delayed for more than
24 hours.
President
Charles Taylor's indictment by the
Meanwhile,
the facilitators are working hard to get the Talks off the ground. Some local
and international guests for the Talks, including politicians, peace activists
and Journalists have been shuttling between Akosombo and Akuse.
"I
am not sure whether this meeting will take place," a Liberian Journalist
told the GNA. Ijoma Flemister, Chairman-elect of the Union of Liberian
Associations in the America (ULAA) told the GNA that the indictment of
President Taylor would have no adverse effect on the peace process.
He,
however, appealed to the UN court to give enough details about the indictment,
and the called for the arrest of the Liberian Leader in
"We
must be conversant with our free humanity and that humanity is that
"Arguments
about
Rev Russ,
who is the President of African Missionary Foundation in
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Dead witness suffered from cardio-myopathy - NRC
His
body has since been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital Mortuary,
Dr Ken Agyemang Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the Commission told the Ghana
News Agency (GNA).
He said
the
He said
Ampah, domiciled in
Dr
Attafuah confirmed there was no stand-by doctor for the Commission.
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Media urged to play positive role in
Charles
D. Bennie, Political Adviser, National Executive Committee for Liberians United
for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), said the media should be responsible
and should not be biased in their reportage since they served as communicators
between the government and the people.
Bennie
was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the role the media
in
He said
the media played a very powerful role as far as development and peace were
concerned because a whole lot of people depended and acted on information from
the media.
Bennie
said the media was the only organization that could work on the corrupt
behaviour of the people in
He,
therefore, advised that they used their medium to achieve "the peace we
want in the world." Bennie said people in the media should not be harassed
for the things they wrote and about their reportage but should rather be
encouraged to do more of positive writing for national development.
He said
there should be a law to guard Journalists in every country since some
governments used them for their selfish interest. Bennie said the main aim of
LURD was to achieve national security for all Liberians and ensure that
Liberians abroad could return to lead a happy life in their own home country.
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LURD: We're disappointed at
Charles
D. Bennie, Political Adviser, National Executive Committee of LURD said:
"The directive is from an international court under the mandate of the UN
and all governments of the world are to respect and comply with UN directives.
It is, therefore, unfair and a bad precedent to escort
The
Court on Wednesday urged the Ghanaian Government and the international
community to take a decisive action on the matter. The Court that is trying
people for war crimes in
The
Political Adviser, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in
Bennie,
therefore, called on President Taylor to hand over himself to the court
"or progressive forces of
He said
The
grand strategic plan of President Taylor, he said, was to destabilise the whole
Sub-Region, irrespective of past relationship, from
On the
alleged coup attempt in
Bennie
also called for the resignation of President Taylor, stressing, "we cannot
negotiate with an internationally recognised criminal". He also accused
President Taylor of political executions, corruption, electoral fraud and other
social vices against Liberians for which he must resign.
Bennie
said LURD remained committed to ensuring a peaceful settlement of the crisis in
their country. He said the Liberian people had faith in LURD to achieve a
peaceful resolution of the conflicts in
Bennie
also thanked the international community and ECOWAS for convening the meeting
and pledged their outmost cooperation.
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South-Tongu NPP elects executives
Ho
(Volta Region)
Glover
replaced Daniel K. Eworyi, District Chief Executive. Kosi Mark-Boye is the
first Vice-Chairman, Emmanuel Agama, second Vice-Chairman, Nana Kornu Abacha,
Secretary and Jokeman Dzotefe, Assistant Secretary.
Thomas
Agbo, Treasurer, Joppa Klogo, Organiser, Awudu Mohamed, Youth Organiser and
Madam Edem Agbodaze, Women's Organiser.
Glover
pledged to work towards a resounding victory for the party in the 2004
elections. Kwame Atta, Regional Secretary, urged the supporters "to work
hard for absolute victory for the party in the 2004 elections".
Obed
Okudzeto, Regional Patron of the Party, swore the Executives into office.
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ECOWAS urges compromise at peace talks
In a
statement signed by Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, in
"Although
the timing of the indictment of President Taylor is ill-timed and a dampener on
the talks at Akosombo, ECOWAS urges all sides to the conflict to take advantage
of the window of opportunity offered by President Taylor's statement to bring
an end to the war and to reach a comprehensive peace agreement."
President
Taylor said he was prepared to step aside if he was the obstacle to peace. The
UN War Crimes Court in
The
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Akosombo
(Eastern Region)
A joint
statement issued by representatives of the political parties, described the
action by the United Nations War Crime Tribunal as "a gross miscalculation
with dangerous implication".
"The
parties believe the purpose of the talks is to seek a genuine resolution of the
Liberian crisis through sincerity of purpose with the help of the international
community and not tendencies that would complicate an already precarious
situation."
The
statement called on the international community, especially the International
Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) to redouble its efforts in finding "an
amicable peace for the suffering people of
The
political parties also commended the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) for its support and solidarity towards the Talks. The statement urged
ECOWAS to remain resolute and steadfast in bringing peace to
The
parties are the True Wing Party (TWP), the Reformation Alliance Party (RAP),
All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP) and Progressive Peoples Party (PPP).
The rest
are the National Democratic party of Liberia (NDPL),
the Peoples Democratic Party of Liberia (PDPL), Liberian National Union (LIND),
the Labour Party of Liberia (LPL) and Liberia Equal Rights Party (LERP).
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Japanese Govt donates $100,000 for Peace Talks
The
talks, which is through the initiative of President J A Kufuor and being
mediated by General Abdulsalami Abubakar are expected to bring about an
agreement for a comprehensive peace process and a lasting ceasefire, electoral
reforms and respect for fundamental human rights in Liberia.
A
statement issued in
Dr
Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West
Africa States (ECOWAS) in a press briefing commended the
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NRC to begin sitting in Tamale on 17 June
The
hearings would focus mainly on statements filed in the Northern, Upper East and
Upper West Regions. A statement issued in
The
statement said petitions from petitioners would continue to be registered at
all zonal offices up to the end of August this year. The Commission, therefore,
urged all who want to petition it at its zonal offices in Bolgatanga, Tamale,
Ho, Tarkoradi and
The
statement said meanwhile, its headquarters at the Old Parliament House in
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Akosombo
(Eastern Region)
"Women
of Liberia are tired of war and we hope the Akosombo Peace Talks will give us
the peace we want so that our children can have a bright future," Miss
Leymah Gbowee, the National Co-ordinator of the Network, told the Ghana News
Agency (GNA) at Akosombo in the Eastern Region.
Gbowee,
who led 25 members of the group to the Volta Hotel, venue of the talks, said
Liberians were tired of war and it was time to give peace a chance.
She
said about 1,000 women were offering intercessory prayers at the Action Faith
Chapel in
Madam
Zaratu Abdulramen, leader of Women in Peace building in
She
told the GNA that women and children were the most vulnerable groups during war
hence the need for the organization to support the peace efforts in
The
women who were dressed in white have expressed their determination to be at the
hotel for as long as the talks would last as a show their seriousness towards
the peace initiative.
Some of
the placards they displayed read: "Women of Liberia say peace now", "We want peace not war" and "Put the guns
down, talk peace". Meanwhile there is uncertainty as to when the peace
talks would begin, following the indictment of President Charles Taylor of
There
is no official explanation for the delay of the talks scheduled to have started
on Wednesday. Some delegates for the talks are in the hotel. What is visibly
absent is a secretariat to coordinate activities for the talks.
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Environment urged institutions to sit up - FEJ
The
Federation said such mining would only deplete the forests and impoverish the
people. This was contained in a statement signed by Severious Kale Dery,
Director of Communications, to mark this year's World Environment Day, which
fell on Thursday.
The
Federation said it was disappointed in the Environmental Protection Agency,
Forestry Commission, Ghana Wildlife Division and the Ministries of Forestry,
Mines and Environment and Science for not doing enough to enforce policies and
laws to protect the environment.
"Some
mining, brewery, oil, agro-processing and manufacturing companies in the
country continue to discharge toxic waste and faecal matter into rivers and
other water bodies," it said.
It said
rivers like Tano, Densu, Offin, Kakum, Pra, Ankobra, Subin, Birim and Susan and
the Chemu and Korle Lagoons were either dead or polluted.
This
had resulted in the scarcity of clean water for people living in mining and
farming communities. The Federation tasked government to strengthen state
institutions and non-governmental organisation to help to stem the destruction
of the environment.
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Stop promoting tobacco use - Minister
"Many
people, especially the youth see film actors and fashion models as their role
models and imitate whatever they see them doing on the screens as the right
thing".
Dr
Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, said this in a speech read for him at the
launch of this year's World No-Tobacco Day in
Dr
Afriyie said that world-wide, smoking in movies by Stars was a major tobacco
influence for teenagers since the two help to establish and reinforce norms,
beauty, fun and success which helped to shape the dreams and fantasies of their
fans.
He said
tobacco posed a serious health threat to users as well non-smokers, who inhaled
the second hand smoke, adding, "the non-smokers, who
inhale tobacco products suffer many of the diseases of the active
smokers".
Statistics
showed that five million people globally die each year of tobacco related
diseases, which could have been prevented, and the majority of the deaths
occurred in the developing countries which accounted for 800 million of the 12
billion smokers globally.
"This
figure is expected to double in two decades if serious action is not taken to
free the world of tobacco", the Minister said. Dr Afriyie said tobacco
contained 4,000 chemicals that destroyed almost every part of the human body
right from the hair to the toe and it was time for people to see the importance
of preserving their health for the development of the nation.
He
noted that several directives had been given since 1989 prohibiting smoking in
public places, all West Coast flights and health facilities, "but the
unfortunate thing is that these directives had no legal backing, thereby giving
room for some people to violate them".
The
Health Minister said a bill would be submitted to Parliament this year to
prohibit all forms of advertisements on tobacco. Dr Melville George, World
Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, said the responsibilities of
fashion stars and actors as role models and the influence they wielded on young
people should be harnessed in the protection of public health.
He
urged the government, non-governmental organisations and civil society to join
the crusade in creating a genuine tobacco free environment for the general
public especially the youth and support the World Health Assembly's adoption
and ratification of a framework convention for tobacco control.
Dr
Joseph B. Asare, Head of the
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Students to lead campaign against HIV/AIDS
He said
young people were a major ally in the campaign to end the stigma and
discrimination against People Living With (PLW)
HIV/AIDS and students should, therefore, reach out to people with the disease
and in addition, lead exemplary lifestyles.
Professor
Sakyi Amoa said this at the launch of the "Stop AIDS" Students
campaign, organized by EcoMedia Network for 16 Senior Secondary Schools (SSS)
in the Accra Metropolis.
In a
speech read for him, Professor Amoa said students have an important role to
play in the national response against HIV/AIDS by serving as peer educators,
forming anti-AIDS clubs in schools and participating in community
interventions.
He said
the youth account for more than 50 percent of new HIV infections, yet most
young people do not consider themselves to be at risk.
Prof
Amoah said the youth have a potential to turn against the HIV/AIDS by refusing
to engage in high-risk activities such as unprotected sex, alcoholism and drug
abuse and urged parents and teachers to teach the younger ones to abstain form
sex.
He
commended the Ministry of Education, for working in partnership with the GAC to
train teachers for the HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases added
to the national curriculum.
Ato
Amoaning-Annan, Executive Director of EcoMedia Network and the Director of the
African Institute of Journalism, said the objective of the campaign was to help
engender HIV/AIDS-free behaviours and attitude, which he said is the major
weapon to fight the pandemic.
He
said: "The focus on students is because they are the future leaders and we
can not look at our future to be destroyed". He said HIV/AIDS is
destroying the Ghanaian economy and students were strong agents for fighting
against the menace.
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Five more UG students dismissed
Legon
(Greater Accra)
They
are Miss Evelyn Kojovie, Joshua Kwasi Botchway, Anthony Gyabaah, Ahmed Kamal
and Abukari Dawuni.
A
letter dated 30 May 2003 and signed by the Deputy Registrar of Academic
Affairs, T. Tabi, instructed the students to hand over their ID Cards and leave
the University premises immediately.
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Speaking
to the Ghana News Agency at her office at the Ministry of Justice in
Mrs
Apotsi said allowances at the old rates had been paid and the difference would
be met in due course. She stressed that every effort was employed to satisfy
the State Attorneys and the Attorney -General appealed to them to sympathise
with the Department for the shortfall.
She
said the Attorney -General had promised to improve on their conditions of
service. The Chief Director said the Attorneys' decision to call off the strike
action was based on their maturity, adding that this would enhance the
dispensation of justice.
The
Association of State Attorneys withdrew their services on 26 May to back
demands for payment of arrears of allowances due them since the beginning of
the year. As a result of the strike action, criminal cases at the High Courts
and the Regional Tribunals had to be adjourned.
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At a
press briefing in
The
main aim of the Council he said was to win recognition for
Humpreys
noted that the Council had worked in the area of education, the arts and also
involved in society-based programmes. He said as a sign of confidence the
The
modern, multi-cultural Centre was designed for younger Ghanaians establishing
their careers. It also has self-access computers providing access to a range of
electronic resources including Internet, applications programme and online
journals.
Humphreys
said the British Council was assisting thousands of students, who failed to get
admissions into universities and others institutions to access courses in the
Some of
the activities marking the celebration include workshops for community peer
groups, training of new journalists for the Virtual Newsroom Project, launch of
commemorative stamps and a public forum on the judiciary.
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Sekondi
(Western Region)
Nana
Kwesi Amo, System Consultant for National Health Insurance Scheme, said this at
the second session of the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly.
He said
the government would give every Ghanaian the opportunity to benefit from the
scheme. Nana Amo said the government was committed to setting up the scheme
despite the cost involved. He said children under-18 years whose parents
contribute and the very poor would be exempted from paying premium on the
scheme
Nana
Amo said communities would own the scheme under the supervision of a community
health insurance committee. He appealed to district assemblies to have an
oversight to facilitate the scheme.
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Elubo
(Western Region)
Joseph
Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said the Regional Coordinating Council was
collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and
the Jomoro District Assembly for assistance.
He said
this when he led members of the Regional Security Council to assess damage and
console the victims of the disaster allegedly caused by an electrical fault
developed by an Ivorian registered car.
Apart
from the original fuel tank it had a faulty fuel compartment and two gas
cylinders. Aidoo said the Elubo market would be relocated and park space for
heavy trucks and passenger vehicles built to ease congestion.
He
advised them not to be discouraged by the disaster but work hard to acquire
what they had lost. Aidoo also assured the victims that while security
personnel at both sides of the border were working around the clock to arrest
the driver suspected to have started the fire they should not take the law into
their hands since this could mar relations between the two countries.
John
Adu, spokesman for the traders, thanked the government for its sympathy.
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