Transparency is crucial to good governance
Tamale (Northern
Region) 24 March 2003- Security personnel had a hectic time controlling the
crowd in Tamale when Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama paid a brief private
visit to the Municipality on Sunday.
Thousands of people
made up of the youth and the elderly thronged the principal streets to give the
Vice-President a rousing welcome. The people in cars, buses and motorcycles
followed his convoy to the office of the Regional Co-ordinating.
The crowd mostly NPP
supporters, shouted a slogan in Dagbani, which translates: "some people
said he cannot come to Tamale again," in an apparent reference to the
Dagbon crisis.
Vice-President Mahama
who was in Tamale after a working visit to the Upper East Region in a brief
address to the crowd at his mother's residence, appealed to the people of
Dagbon to let peace prevail, adding that, "without peace, there can be no
development". He assured NPP supporters that the party would win the
Navrongo by-election on Tuesday.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Navrongo (Upper East)
24 March 2003- Vice President Aliu Mahama at the weekend said it is
Government's plan to promote all-year-round farming in the northern part of the
country through the provision of dams and dugouts.
This, he said, would
reduce rural poverty in addition to generating jobs that would prevent the
youth from migrating down south. The Vice President made the statement when he
inspected work on a 580-million-cedi dam being constructed for the people of
Akudugu-Dabo in the Kassena-Nankana district of the Upper East Region.
The dam, which is
being constructed by the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR), will serve
about 100 farm families when completed in about three months' time.
The Vice President
observed that water is central in every aspect of the lives of the people in
the Upper East. "You use water to raise you livestock, to cultivate rice,
dry-season farming as well as for domestic purposes" he said.
He added that it was
in regard that government had had committed itself to the rehabilitation of existing
dams and the provision of new ones in various parts of the region for the
benefit of the people.
The Vice President
also visited a number of communities within the Kassena-Nankana area to
interact with the chiefs and people and to acquaint himself with their
problems.
These include Dorba,
Nayagnia, Mayoro, Gani, Vonania, Kapania and Janania. Central in the theme of
his message to the residents was the need to give their children good secular
education, as it was the only way to fight poverty.
He also expressed his
condolences to the chiefs and people for the death of the late John Achuliwor,
Member of Parliament of the area. Vice President Aliu later addressed an NPP
rally in Navrongo town, where he introduced Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, the Party's
candidate for the Navrongo Central Constituency by-election to the electorate.
He urged the people
of Navrongo to cast their votes for Mr Adda on 25 March so he could continue
with the development projects their late MP had begun. Professor Christopher
Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Education, Hajia Alima Mahama, Deputy Minister of
Local Government and Rural Development, Dr G.A. Agambilla, Deputy Minster of
Finance, Clement Eledi, Deputy Minister of Mines, Mr Boniface Abubakari
Sidique, Deputy Minister of Trade and Dominic Netiwul, MP for Bimbilla, all
took turns to address the rally, citing various reasons why the people of
Navrongo should return an NPP candidate to Parliament.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
24 March 2003- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday called for the
removal of Mr Justice Kweku Entrew Amua-Sekyi, as Chairman of the National
Reconciliation Commission (NRC) for his open bias and grugde he had against the
AFRC/PNDC and the NDC governments.
The NDC said judging
from Mr. Justice Amua-Sekyi's demeanour, his posture, his hostile attitude to
witnesses who spoke in favour of the AFRC/PNDC eras, it was obvious that the
man has an agenda other than national reconciliation.
The party in a
petition sent to President John Agyekum Kufuor explaining why it was calling
for the removal of the Chairman of the NRC said for Justice Amua-Sekyi to have
said, "he has disgraced himself. He has made a fool of himself" after
Mr David Walenkaki, a retired Commissioner of Police had given evidence to the
Commission had proved his bias against the AFRC/PNDC.
The petition signed
by Dr Nii Josiah-Aryeh, General Secretary of the party on 21 March said Justice
Amua-Sekyi's utterances and especially from his over-heard whisper to Maulvi
Wahab Adam, a member of the Commission, which was picked by a live microphone
and which he had categorically stated that he stood by had removed all doubts
as to his bias against the AFRC/PNDC as far as witnesses appearing before the
Commission.
The petition said
Justice Amua-Sekyi's whisper "has gone to confirm fears that he should
never have been appointed to chair the NRC, and that having been so appointed,
he should not have accepted the position, being a person with so many axes to
grind against the PNDC and the NDC governments, the two governments the NPP has
targeted in its so-called reconciliation exercise."
It said, "Mr
Justice Kweku Entrew Amua-Sekyi is bitter against the PNDC Government that his
father was convicted and sentenced by a public tribunal. "He is aggrieved
with the NDC Government that his father's property was confiscated, property
that he tried unsuccessfully to have restored to him as a substitute appellant.
"He bears a
grudge against the NDC Government at nearly being disgraced through investigation
by the Constitutional Committee and thereby being compelled to retire
prematurely from the Judicial Service. He is embittered at the NDC Government
for the interdiction of his wife from the office at the Ghana Education Service
(GES)".
Copied to Justice
Amua-Sekyi himself, Members of the NRC, Chairman of the Council of State, both
the Majority and Minority Leaders of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic
Corps and to all media houses the petition said Justice Amua-Sekyi should have
been appearing as a perceived victim himself at the Commission, which he was
rather presiding over.
The petition said
Justice Amua-Sekyi was forced to retire prematurely from the Supreme Court in
order to avoid investigation by a Constitutional Committee set up in the NDC
era into his conduct as a judge following allegations of serious misconduct on
his part made by a member of the public.
"Justice
Amua-Sekyi also seriously compromised himself as a judge in the matter of his
late convict father's property that was confiscated to the state following the
father's conviction and sentence by one of the Public Tribunals.
"Justice
Amua-Sekyi's wife's appointment with the Ghana Education Service was terminated
following finding of impropriety made against her and others under the
government of the NDC, seen as the successor government to the PNDC."
It said: "a
petition dated 9 August 1995, was submitted to the President pursuant to
Article 146 of the Constitution by one George King Mensah of House No. C.17/16,
Alajo, Accra, that Justice Amua-Sekyi be removed as a Justice of the Supreme
Court.
"The petitioner
alleged that Mr Justice Amua-Sekyi misconducted himself by discussing a pending
case on which he was a panellist at the Supreme Court with a non-panellist and
a non-Supreme Court Judge, Justice Lamptey at the Labadi Beach Hotel, it being
a misconduct for a judge to discuss a pending case with a non-panel
member."
The petition said
Justice Amua-Sekyi was forced to retire prematurely from the Supreme Court in
order to avoid investigation by a Constitutional Committee set up in the NDC
era into his conduct as a judge following allegations of serious misconduct on
his part made by a member of the public.
"Justice
Amua-Sekyi also seriously compromised himself as a judge in the matter of his
late convict father's property that was confiscated to the state following the
father's conviction and sentence by one of the Public Tribunals.
"Justice
Amua-Sekyi's wife's appointment with the Ghana Education Service was terminated
following finding of impropriety made against her and others under the
government of the NDC, seen as the successor government to the PNDC."
It said: "a
petition dated 9 August 1995, was submitted to the President pursuant to
Article 146 of the Constitution by one George King Mensah of House No. C.17/16,
Alajo, Accra, that Justice Amua-Sekyi be removed as a Justice of the Supreme
Court.
"The petitioner
alleged that Justice Amua-Sekyi misconducted himself by discussing a pending
case on which he was a panellist at the Supreme Court with a non-panellist and
a non-Supreme Court Judge, Justice Lamptey at the Labadi Beach Hotel, it being
a misconduct for a judge to discuss a pending case with a non-panel
member."
The petition said:
"Mr Justice Amua-Sekyi was alleged to have, in the process, also made some
derogatory remarks about his colleagues including the then Chief Justice,
Justice P.E.N.K. Archer who were on the panel."
It said "Mr
Justice I.K. Abban, then Justice of the Supreme Court, who was particularly at
the receiving end of Justice Amua-Sekyi's vitriolic attack and who overheard
the offending conversation between Justice Amua-Sekyi and Justice Lamptey, then
a Court of Appeal Judge, quickly remonstrated, challenged, reprimanded and
castigated Justice Amua-Sekyi and pointed out to him that his behaviour
constituted a breach of the ethics of a judge."
"An obviously
but justifiably piqued Justice I.K. Abban filed a formal complaint against
Justice Amua-Sekyi. The then Chief
Justice, P.E.N.K. Archer, who was then statutorily retiring from office on 21st
February 1995, was unable to handle the complaint.
"The case of the
petitioner George King Mensah was that having read these facts of the case from
the Ghanaian Times under the caption, 'Judicial Scandal at Labadi Beach Hotel',
he was satisfied that a prima facie case existed against Justice Amua-Sekyi
which required a formal investigation in line with the demands of the
Constitution."
The petition said
Justice Amua-Sekyi's father had been convicted for deception of a public
officer, forgery and illegal acquisition of wealth. It said the petitioner
George King Mensah alleged that Justice Amua-Sekyi was sitting on a contempt
case against lawyer Mensah-Bonsu of B.J. da Rocha and Co. At the same time, Justice Amua-Sekyi was
using the law firm B.J. d Rocah and Co. to prosecute an appeal on his behalf in
respect of his deceased convict father in which he (Justice Amua-Sekyi) was
seeking to be substituted for his late father in the appeal.
"Justice
Amua-Sekyi was in constant touch with the lawyer for the contemnor and even as
the contempt case was still pending before him, swore an affidavit in the
chambers of the contemnor's lawyer's law firm of B.J. da Rocha and Co. in
respect of his late father's conviction and sentence by a Public
Tribunal."
George King Mensah
contended that Justice Amua-Sekyi's actions were dishonourable, disreputable,
reprehensible and amounted to misconduct. The case was referred to the Chief
Justices and when Justice I.K. Abban who, in August 1995 became the Chief
Justice was reluctant to activate the formal investigation but for the
mandatory constitutional demand from the petitioner and in line Article 146 of
the Constitution, a Judicial Council satisfied itself that the was a prima
facie case and in consultation with the Chief Justice appointed three Judges.
They were Justice
D.K. Adjabeng, Sureme Court, Chairman, Justice G.K. Acquah, and Mrs Justice
Sophia Akuffo, both Supreme Court Judges to join two members Dr Augustine
Balina Adda, Navro-Pio, Paramount Chief of Navrongo and Madam Regina Morrison,
Assistant Director, Regional Education Officer, Accra to investigate the
complaints George King Mensah raised.
The petition said as the
committee was ready to start sitting "Mr Justice Amua-Sekyi threw in the
towel on 25 June 1996 by submitting a letter to the ex-President, Jerry John
Rawlings that he had retired from the Judicial Service without giving any
reason.
It said it was on 5
July, 1996 that Amua-Sekyi was formally accepted to have retired as Justice of
the Supreme Court. The petition explained that the wife of Justice Amua-Sekyi
had her appointment as Director of Supplies with the Ghana Education Service
terminated following findings of impropriety made against her and five others
under the government of the NDC which was seen as the successor government to
the PNDC. It said Justice Amua-Sekyi has since borne a grudge against the
PNDC/NDC governments.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Navrongo (Upper East)
24 March 2003- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday expressed
concern about what they perceive as wrong use of the state apparatus by the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) in the run-up to the by-elections in Navrongo Central.
It said the behaviour
of the NPP amounted to rough tactics calculated to thwart the chances of the
NDC, describing such moves as politically irresponsible, unfair and unjust.
This concern was
raised by the party following a letter from the Navrongo District police
headquarters stopping the NDC from organising its rallies scheduled for 21-22
March in some selected communities in that constituency.
A letter dated 17
March and signed by the Navrongo District Police Commander, Superintendent D.S.
Sampana, in part read, "in view of the visit of the Vice President His Excellency
Alhaji Aliu Mahama to Navrongo on 21March 2003 and 22 March 2003 we wish to
advise that you kindly reschedule your planned rally at Azaasi, Nogsenia,
Animal market in Navrongo, Nimbasenia, Kapania, Daboren and Bavugnia on the
said 21 March 2003 and 22 March 2003".
The party apparently
had applied to the Police in Navrongo on 11 March to hold its rallies on the
stated dates. A leading member of the NDC in the region, and Member of
Parliament (MP) for the Talensi Constituency, John Tia, told the Ghana News
Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, that the move totally contradicts on-going efforts
at nurturing the country's young democracy.
Tia said the Vice
President's visit was used as an excuse to prevent the NDC, especially from
holding its planned rallies and added that the NPP had gone all out targeting
the NDC with state protocol excuses and state apparatus thereby preventing the
NDC from making inroads.
He said the order by
the police indicates that the NDC has only Sunday 23 March 2003 hold its
rallies adding that even with these hindrances the people still have confidence
in the NDC and would vote its candidate to win the seat.
When contacted by the
GNA for their side of the story, however, both the Regional Police Commander,
Bernard Dery, and the Navrongo District police boss, Sampana, dismissed the
NDC's allegation as ridiculous and untrue.
They explained that
the position taken by the police on the issue was in conformity with the
political party law, which prohibits two different parties from holding rallies
in the same locality at the same time, due to security reasons.
They said it was not
the business of the police to interfere in the campaign plans of the NDC or any
other political party for that matter, adding that the decision directing the NDC
to reschedule its rally dates was taken in good faith and in the interest of
public security.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Ada (Eastern Region)
24 March 2003- The Ada Traditional Authorities and Lagoon Owners Association on
Friday agreed to end all differences and disputes on the Songhor Lagoon and
allow the government to take active part in salt industry in the area.
The agreement would
give way for the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on salt to take off in
earnest. Nene Sorgbordjor Obuade, Development Chief of the Ada Traditional
Area, and Dr Sandy Pupulampu an opinion leader and a member of the Lagoon
Owners Association, reached the agreement at a forum at Ada on the Songhor Salt
Lagoon.
The over four-hour
meeting, characterised by occasional protests and outbursts from the youths,
opinion leaders and lagoon owners was held in the presence of heavy police
personnel
The meeting, said to
be the government's last move after previous ones, was attended by the
President of the Ada Traditional Council, Nene Kabu Akuaku III, and chiefs from
the Terkpebiawe, Lomobiawe and Adibiawe clans and the Ada youth organisations.
Papa Owusu Ankoma,
Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who led a high powered
government delegation, asked all the clans, the chiefs, lagoon owners and other
stakeholders to commit the agreement into writing through the Greater Accra
Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) by 15 April 2003, to the Ministerial
Committee on Songhor Lagoon as a basis for the President's Special Initiative
on salt.
Members of the delegation
were part of the Ministerial Committee, formed recently by the Cabinet to meet
the chiefs and people of Ada to see how best to end the wrangling on the
Songhor Lagoon and make way for investment for higher returns from salt
industry in the area.
Papa Ankoma said the
Ada community would also benefit from the PSI if it stopped the conflicts to
build investor-confidence for the development of salt industry for higher
economic returns.
He noted with regret
that about two months ago a legislative instrument, laid before Parliament, on
the development of the Ada salt industry had to be withdrawn because of strong
protests from representatives of some stakeholders, as government was not
seeing its way clear.
Papa Ankoma said
government believed in consensus, especially on initiatives that affect the
people, adding that lack of consensus would not sustain a program that would
last for generations.
He said only five
percent of the Songhor Lagoon had so far been realised, and despite the
interest of several investors in the industry they had to be directed to other
regions because there were no clear indications by the local people to accept
them.
Papa Ankoma stressed
that government was never interested in taking away the land and the lagoon
from the people, but was rather in to act as facilitators, adding that it was
important to recognise the traditional chiefs in its moves to develop the
industry.
Kwadwo Adjei Darko,
Minister for Mines said government would not repeal PNDC Law 287, which vested
ownership of the Songhor Lagoon to the Government until the real ownership of
the Ada lands was established.
Adjei Darko said a
total of 32.2 billion cedis were to be used to assist small-scale salt miners
this year. He added that salt miners at Elmina had received 3.2 billion cedis,
while 6.2 billion cedis were being processed for those at Nyanyano in the
Central Region.
Greater Accra
Regional Minister Sheikh Ibrahim Quaye and Presidential Affairs and Information
Minister Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey emphasised that the chiefs and people have to
get united to pave way for the massive investment to lift the Ada community
from the doldrums of poverty.
Obetsebi-Lamptey said
only 2,000 acres of the total lagoon surface was being exploited and called on
the chiefs and people to do away with their differences to move the President's
Initiative on Salt forward, saying it would bring mutual benefits by way of
taxes to the government, and the development of infrastructure to the community
when investors fulfilled their social responsibilities.
Nene Akuaku III said
it was necessary to understand the position of all the authorities concerned
before the issue on the Songhor Salt Lagoon could be resolved. He gave an
assurance that the chiefs and people of Ada would take serious steps to ensure
peace for the project take off.
The forum also
stressed the need to bridge a communication gap between the traditional
authority, the lagoon owners and the youth to ensure trust and transparency,
which were identified as the bone of contention between the stakeholders.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kumasi (Ashanti Region)
24 March 203- Dr Addo Sagoe, Medical Associate of Engender Health, a
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has advised men to change their lifestyles
to enable them live longer.
He also asked them to
discuss and plan their reproductive health with their partners. Dr Sagoe gave
the advice at the close of a four-day workshop on Men's Reproductive Health at
the Kumasi South Hospital at Kyirapatre.
The workshop was one
of four organised by Engender Health on a pilot basis for the introduction of
men's reproductive health services in hospitals sponsored by the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID).
It was on the theme
"Men, Partners in Reproductive Health" and was aimed at making both
men and women aware of each other's health needs and to encourage communication
between partners to promote family planning.
Dr Sagoe urged
fathers to share in the daily responsibilities of parenthood and to patronise
the hospitals with male reproductive health services. Dr Frank Abebrese,
Director of Health Services at the Hospital, said vasectomy costs less and took
only a short time to perform, explaining that, it did not affect or change a
man's sexual life but only prevented him from impregnating a woman.
He said vasectomy was
one of the few family planning methods for men who did not like to have
children but continue to enjoy normal sex life. Dr Abebrese, however, cautioned
men that vasectomy did not protect them from contracting sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) including HIV/AIDS and asked them to lead disciplined sexual
lives. Mrs Patience Darko, a Programme Officer of Engender Health, commended
the participants for their comportment and co-operation.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Mampong (Ashanti
Region) 24 March 2003-Hon. J.H. Mensah, the Senior Minister, has reiterated
that the ability of the government to attract foreign investors into the
country was linked to the ability of chiefs to maintain peace in their
traditional areas.
He therefore,
challenged chiefs to live up to expectation by being transparent in their
dealings with their people, pointing out that anything shrouded in secrecy
chilled imagination and affronted integrity.
Addressing a durbar
of the chiefs and people of Asante-Mampong traditional area on Saturday to
round off activities marking the 'Kontonkyi Akwasidae' festival, Mensah said chiefs
were expected to hold stool lands and other properties in trust for their
people as was done of old.
He regretted,
however, that the situation was quite different now as most chiefs held the
stool lands as if they were their personal property and pointed out that this
was the reason why the chieftaincy institution had lost its glory, giving way
to incessant lawlessness, violence and litigation.
The Senior Minister
said the way forward therefore for chiefs to redeem their image was for them to
follow the landmarks of their ancestors whose activities were oriented towards
the sustenance of peace and development.
It was against this
background that traditional rulers got hold of, encouraged and nurtured the
growth of the cocoa crop into the leading cash crop not only in Ghana but the
world over.
Dr Richard Anane,
Minister of Roads and Transport, said the Sekyere West District which suffered
total neglect in the past, had now been placed on high gear and announced that
about 60 percent of work on the rehabilitation of the 27-kilometre Domi-Oku
Blacke road had been done.
He said 65 percent of
work on the surfacing of the 7.5 kilometre Jamasi-Boanim road had also been
executed, while the reshaping of the 41-kilometre Nsuta-Beposo and Wioso road
and the maintenance of the 32-kilometre Achiase-Kyebi junction road had been
completed.
Dr Anane said
government had also earmarked 4.4 billion cedis for a number of road projects
under the Ghana Highway Authority in the district. Daasebre Osei Bonsu II,
Mamponghene, gave a brief history of the festival and said the maintenance of
peace and discipline among the youth were his targets and would therefore,
orientate the minds of the people in his traditional area towards these
objectives.
Individuals and
educational institutions, who distinguished themselves in the field of sports
and quiz competition were honoured. An appeal for funds for the Mampong Babies
Home and the Jamasi School for the Deaf yielded 65.2 million cedis.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kperiga (Northern
Region) 24 March 2003- The final funeral rited of the late Alhaji Mumuni
Bawumia, a former Member of the Council of State took place at Kperiga, a
village near Walewale in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region, on
Saturday.
The late Alhaji
Bawumia, who was chief of the Kperiga Division of the Mamprugu Traditional
Area, served in several positions in the various governments of the country and
played a key role in bringing the problems of the Northern Region to the
attention of governments.
Vice-President Alhaji
Aliu Mahama, in a tribute to the late Alhaji Bawumia, said he was a man of
substance and principled, adding that he served as a role model for the youth
of the country.
He said although, the
late Alhaji Bawumia was soft spoken, he was forthright in presenting his views on
issues of national concern. The Nayiri, Naa Gamni Mahamadu Abdulai I, Paramount
Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, in a speech read for him, appealed to
the people of Dagbon to let peace prevail in the area for the development and
progress of the Northern Region.
Naa Abdulai commended
the government for appointing a number of Northerners to key positions. The
Vice-President was accompanied by high ranking government officials including,
Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Education, Ben Bukari Salifu,
a member of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr Geyskiya Agambilla
Deputy Minister of Finance, Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister and
Hajia Alima Mahama, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
On behave of the
government; he presented four bags of maize, 15 bags of rice, two bags of
sugar, ten crates of minerals, six cartons of beer, a bull and three million
cash to the family.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Elmina (Central
Region) 24 March 2003- Kojo Asankoma (alias Kweku Bible), who had been in prison
custody for over 6 months for his alleged involvement in grave looting at
Ntranoa, near Elmina was acquitted and discharged, but was bonded to be of good
behaviour for 12 months by Elmina district magistrate's court.
Asankoma, who had
earlier pleaded not guilty later changed his plea to guilty. He will go to
prison for one year if be breaks the bond. Prosecuting chief inspect Keyward
Adjei told the court, presided over by Kwame Essel that on 9 October 2002 the
accused and one Egya Kow, now at large conspired and went to Ntranoa cemetery
to loot some graves but during the process they were chased by some youths from
the town.
He said Egya Kow
managed to escape but Asankoma was arrested and arraigned before the court on
23 October 2002 where he was granted court bail. The prosecution said the
accused person, who could not get anybody to bail him, was therefore, remanded
in prison custody.
He said Asankoma has
been in prison custody until last Tuesday 18 March 2003 when he was
re-arriagned before the court. The judge said he was giving a light sentence
considering that the accused had been in prison custody for a long time.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Tamale (Northern
Region) 24 March 2003 - Children from first and second cycle schools in the
Tamale Municipality in a message on Friday, called on all the people of Dagbon
to give peace a chance.
The children
numbering about 100 carrying placards some of which read: "Let's give
peace a chance", "no peace, no development", "fathers,
Mothers, we need peace" and "children of Dagbon need peace"
converged on the campus of the Tamale Secondary School, where they performed a
symbolic lighting of "the flame of peace and unity".
They also planted a
tree to symbolise the growth of peace in Dagbon. In their message, the children
said, "we are sounding the drum of peace and unity and inviting the people
of Dagbon to dance to it"
The children said
they were dedicating the two events to the memory of an innocent schoolgirl who
was killed in Yendi by a stray bullet during the Dagbon crisis. The message
said, "an innocent child who happens to be a girl in a school uniform,
full of hope to go to school and to be educated to be able to contribute to the
future development of Ghana, has her life cut short at Yendi".
"Our fathers and
mothers, as we dedicate these events to the memory of the innocent girl,
portray to us children that the people of Dagbon are one people belonging to
one family with a common destiny".
The message said,
"it is barely a year now since the crisis started and we have lived under
a state of emergency till today", adding, "the people of Dagbon have
not known peace ever since".
The children noted
that a lot of people have spoken about the Dagbon crisis, saying, "the
Abudu Gate has spoken. The Andani Gate has spoken. The government has spoken.
Today, the children of Dagbon are also speaking".
"We the children
of Dagbon totally condemn the circumstances that led to the death of the Ya-Na.
To us children, the indications are that peace is far from us. "Our
survival as children is threatened on daily basis. We are sounding the drum of
peace and unity and inviting the people of Dagbon to dance to it. We are
trumpeting liberty in Dagbon", the statement said.
The children said,
"we have requested for peace today. We are waiting to have the peace we
have requested for. Do not wait anymore. Do not argue any further. Let us
embrace peace. Let us give birth to unity".
Alfred Kofi Appiah,
Executive Director of Children's Right International, an NGO, which organised
the events, noted that Dagbon is confronted with two choices, peace or ethnic
strife.
In his view, peace
and unity have been compromised and sacrificed, saying, "this is because
where there is strife, instability and conflict of vision, the human and
financial resources, which could have been used to promote development are
channelled towards building peace and stability".
Appiah said the
children of Dagbon were sending a clear message to all people in Dagbon that
"we can no more continue to live under a state of emergency. What we need
is peace, liberty and freedom".
He said, "if
indeed, children are the future leaders of this country, then our actions
should be informed by the principle of the best interest of children".
Appiah noted that what the people of Dagbon are looking for is freedom and
justice, adding, "I believe the search for freedom and justice should
start from the deep conscience of the people of Dagbon and the nation as a
whole".
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
24 March 2003-Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Information and Presidential
Affairs, has observed that one ingredient needed for good governance was
transparency.
He said this was
because it enhanced the confidence that people have for their leaders, which in
the long term made governance much easier and successful. Obetsebi-Lamptey was
speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the first phase of the three phase
Ashale-Botwe /Nmai Dzorn Water Project in Accra on Saturday.
Speaking on the need
for good management of contributions of 500,000 cedis per resident towards the
project, he said it would be best for residents to be well informed on every
step concerning the utilization of the money.
The Minister said
this would enhance their confidence and also urge those who are yet to hand in
their contributions to do so. He commended the people for their spirit of
self-reliance and said it signified the re-awakening of people that they have
to be involved in activities aimed at enhancing the well being of themselves
and their communities.
In a speech read on
his behalf, Yaw Barimah, Minister for Works and Housing, said by the
development of new settlements, the capital kept expanding, which meant more
investment into urban water supply, adding that worn out pipelines also needed
replacement.
He said although the
government desired to solve the problem, that could not be fully achieved due
to financial constraints, hence the need for the participation of the private
sector in water distribution.
The Minister
congratulated the organizers of the project and said the Ministry of Works and
Housing would ensure financial assistance for the project. One hundred million
cedis have so far been received as contributions by residents towards the
project which is estimated to cost about five billion cedis.
Out of this amount,
90 million cedis have been used to purchase 155 eight-inch pipes to cover one
kilometer out of the entire eight kilometres of the project. The project, a
joint effort of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Ghana Water
Company Limited (GWCL), is to be completed by the end of the year.
GRi.../
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Mr Riad Hozaifeh, a confidant of ex-President Rawlings has confessed that he video-tapped the execution of some soldiers at the Airforce Base, Burma Camp, in Accra during the PNDC era. He explained that it was done because those in authority wanted it to be documented and kept in the archives.
He was reacting to comments made by the Editor of the Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Jnr at the National Reconciliation Commission that he filmed scenes and executions carried out during the PNDC era.
Riad explained further that he was instructed to film those scenes for posterity so that skeptics and doubters would have material evidence of the killings. The films, according to him, are available and the Reconciliation Commission can secure them if it wants to. Riad also expressed his willingness to appear before the Commission if invited.
He stated that when former President Rawlings’ buddies, Amartey Kwei and Capt Kojo Lee were executed, there were rumours that they were not killed, but set free so the authorities decided to film all future executions and he was assigned that task.
Even though Riad was fuzzy about the actual capacity in which he acted during the PNDC era, he intimated that he drew his powers from ex-Chairman Rawlings.
He was arrested a few days after Kweku Baako made the allegations at the Reconciliation Commission, for allegedly possessing illegal arms and is on bail.
Riad condemned the Police for the raid on his house and subsequent arrest saying that this is the third time that he had been searched since the NPP came to power.
GRi…/
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
London (United Kingdom) 24 March 2003 - Ghana EXPO 2003, an exhibition of Ghanaian businesses and products, scheduled to take place in London from October 15 to 18 this year, has officially been outdoored.
The exhibition, which also aims at promoting inter-regional trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, will cut across various sectors of the economy including agro-processing, transportation, mining extraction, non-traditional exports, building and construction and information technology.
The highlight of the exhibition will be a colourful durbar to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ghana. According to the organisers, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene will sit in state to receive dignitaries, exhibitors and visitors on the last day of the exhibition.
The exhibition, under the theme -"The Golden Age of Business - A reality In Ghana" is being organised by EXPO AFRICA LTD under the auspices of the Office of the President, Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Private Sector Development and the Ghana High Commission in London. Other collaborators include the British High Commission in Accra and other business associates.
Present at the launch were Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, who delivered the keynote address, Mr Kwame Opoku Afriyie and Mr. Kwabena Afriyie Asamoah, Chairman and Director respectively of EXPO AFRICA LTD.
Others included Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner; Mrs Marian Osei, wife of the Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK; Mr. Appiah-Donyina, Trade Counsellor at the Ghana High Commission; Mr. Rodger Slape, a member of British Executive Services Overseas (BESO) and representatives of British companies with links in Ghana.
Launching the programme, Mr. Isaac Osei, said "Ghana Expo 2003 captures the vision of the government of Ghana since it seeks to complement government's efforts to attract investments to Ghana".
He said the government had always had the conviction that the extensive involvement of the private sector in the economy of the country was very crucial to Ghana's development and added that it was within that framework that President J.A.Kufuor declared the Golden Age of Business during his inaugural address in January 2001.
The government, he said, was improving its institutional capacities through the building of the supporting infrastructure and the creation of an enabling environment to attract foreign direct investment as a complement to local investment.
He said the bold steps the government had taken so far in the pursuit of prudent fiscal and tight monetary policies had been guarded by the principle that there was an important linkage between good governance and the achievement of sustainable levels of economic growth and development.
Mr Osei said" the government is working very hard to ensure that democracy is strengthened in Ghana" and praised the media for its contribution in ensuring good governance.
" In exposing irregularities in the system and regularly discussing national issues, the press has become an important partner, helping government to apply the principles of good governance to ensure accountability," he said.
High Commissioner Osei also talked on various investment opportunities in the country and invited investors to take advantage of existing opportunities.
Mr. Owusu Afriyie said the exhibition would draw hundreds of exhibitors and business delegates to sample the best from Ghana and to explore the vast investment opportunities in the country.
He added that the event would also provide unique opportunities for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to meet with their counterparts from Europe, Asia and America for business transactions and interactions.
He said besides the exhibition there will be a series of business fora to address issues such as the Ghana Gateway concept, investment guarantees, incentives and benefits in Ghana, the internet development growth and its future potential for the country.
He was optimistic that Ghana Expo 2004 would achieve its objective of presenting Ghana as a trade and investment gateway to the West African sub-region.
In a message in a commemorative brochure for the launch, Mr Osei described Ghana Expo 2003 as " timely,"
"It is coming on at a time that the government of the New Patriotic Party has taken gigantic steps towards the creation of an enabling environment for the growth of the private sector in the country" the High Commissioner added.
He said the government was encouraged by trends in the private sector and would not relent in its efforts to make the sector the cornerstone for the overall development of the country.
In their endorsement messages, Dr. K.K. Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry and Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister for Private Sector Development affirmed their commitment and support for the noble ideals of Ghana Expo 2003.
The two Ministers congratulated EXPO AFRICA's initiative and expressed the hope that the exhibition would be a rewarding experience to all participants. - Ghana High Commission, London
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com