Tema Immigration registers 680 expatriate workers since January
Tourism Ministry to support organisations preserving environment
NDC hails media for good publicity
Poverty, greatest threat to global stability-Secretary General
World leaders renew commitment to children
Commonwealth to assist developing countries - McKinnon
Don't sponsor district assembly candidates
Commonwealth Secretary-General calls on Foreign Minister
Sickle Cell patients want free medical care
Two gates to Zaare skin clashes over land
Cholera breaks out in Central and Western regions
Mrs Kufuor calls for support for HIV/AIDS Orphans
Aliu holds discussions with Kofi Annan
Cuban Doctors have not deserted Yendi Hospital
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- A total of 2,069 names have so far been deleted from the government payroll, Mr Edward Dua Agyeman, Acting Auditor-General said on Friday. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have deleted 1,355 names as part of measures to rid government payrolls of "ghost names".
The Controller and Accountant-General further deleted an additional 714 names after the MDAs had submitted names from their various institutions. Mr Agyeman, who was addressing a press conference in Accra on the status of the special audit of government payrolls, said over 1.6 billion cedis had been recovered from an estimated 4.2 billion cedis that had been disbursed illegally.
The Department is currently working on another 1,200 names that were submitted at the end of April this year, the Auditor-General said. He said over 3,200 persons, who had left government service continued to receive their monthly salaries as well as their pensions over the years.
In November 2001, the government ordered the Auditor-General to carry out the audit of government payroll involving all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) with the view to eliminating the names of unauthorised persons and unearned salaries, which had come to be known as "ghost names".
Also included in the audit were the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Mr Agyeman said investigations had also revealed that there were over 2,700 duplicated or multiple names on both active and pension payrolls.
"This is costing the government 2.8 billion cedis per month in salary and pensions," he said, adding that investigations were in progress to delete the unauthorised additional names. Mr Agyeman said the service intended to recommend that government introduced an identification system such as national ID numbers or a credible Social Security number, which could not be duplicated nor transferred to another user to replace the current computer, generated staff numbers.
"This would prevent the multiplicity of names on payroll," he said. Mr Agyeman said there was an evidence of over 7,100 names on the payroll that were over 60 years and were taking a monthly salary of over 3.6 billion cedis.
"We are requesting the affected MDAs to provide documentary proof attesting to the correct ages of the affected persons, failure of which their salaries would be blocked," he said. He said the Audit Services had requested the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to refund all monies that had illegally been paid into the various ghost names contribution.
Mr Agyeman said the exercise of deleting ghost names had been segmented into three phases of which phases one and two were almost completed with about
70 per cent work done. The next phase that would begin in the first week of June would cover all organisations on subvention and Ghana Government Pension Payroll.
He said at the beginning of the exercise a request was made to all MDAs and MMDAs to submit the returns of their separated staff, " but we have received only 30 per cent of expected responses." Mr Agyeman reminded organisations that were yet to submit the required data on their separated staff to do so not later than Friday 17 May 2002.
"After that date we shall be compelled to request the Controller and Accountant General to block the salary of the Chief Directors and the Chief Executives of the respective organisation." He said so far those who had been found to be involved in issues related to the ghost names had been handed over to the Police for further investigations.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- The Tema Office of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has since January this year registered 680 expatriates working in various companies and industries in the municipality. The expatriates are mostly Koreans, Chinese, Germans and Dutch and are employed mainly in the fishing industry and factories.
Mr Michael Agblanya, Comptroller of Immigration told Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who was paying a working visit to seven government departments and one organisation at Tema. The departments included the Electoral Commission (EC); Public Tribunals; National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE); National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO); City Guards Department; National Service Secretariat and the United Nations Volunteer Project.
Mr Agblanya said GIS had established an enforcement unit to check employers, who engage foreigners without authority to work in their companies, adding; "we have started to liaise with hoteliers to send us reports to enable us to monitor the activities of illegal immigrants. He appealed to the MCE to provide the Service with additional offices since the three rooms they were using could not adequately accommodate the 24 members of staff including three officers.
Mr Narh accompanied by Alhaji Ibrahim M. E. Fusseni, Municipal Co-ordinating Director, called on the members of the service to support the Police to flush out immigrants with suspicious character. At the Community Tribunal, Nana Agyeman Badu II, Tribunal Chairman pledged to co-operate to ensure that residents obeyed the by-laws of the assembly.
He requested for copies of the assembly by-laws, so that cases that were brought before the tribunal were dealt with according to the laws of the land. At the EC, Mrs Philomina Edusei, Municipal Electoral Officer told Mr Narh that the office was ready for the District Assembly and Unit Elections, saying interested persons had started collecting nomination forms.
She appealed to the Information Services Department to assist them with vans to enable them to carryout public education. Mr Narh urged them to take their public education seriously, so that women would be encouraged to participate actively in the assembly elections.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- The Ministry of Tourism on Friday pledged its willingness to support individuals, groups and organisations whose activities are geared towards the protection and preservation of the environment.
Nana Akomea, Deputy Minister of Tourism, who announced this said, "The Ministry of Tourism pledges its support to all organisations and personalities that are working in preserving and protecting the environment". He made the pledge when launching the "Climbing of Mount Kloyo" in Accra. Climbing of Mount Kloyo, situated in the Accra plains and within the Yilo Krobo District is the first ever-national climbing race to be held in the country.
It has been scheduled for 1 July. The event, being organised by UNILIVER (Ghana) Limited seeks to bring together Keep fit clubs, Ladies clubs as well as other supporting clubs in the country to participate. Nana Akomea said ecological tourism could play a vital role in the country, because among other things, it would allow people to recover, protect and sustain the forests, wetlands, mountains and the entire natural eco-system.
Nana Akomea said, "Sadly enough, the rural folks fell down the trees for farming purposes, fire wood and charcoal, and the activities of chainsaw operators compound the effort to protect and preserve the environment".
He said despite the dependence of rural dwellers on the forests for their livelihood, they should have vested interest in preserving the forests and the environment. The Deputy Minister of Tourism said the climbing of Mount Kloyo is a boost for domestic tourism as people within the sub-region and different environment would find leisure on the mountain.
He said in view of the potential in domestic tourism, the Ministry of Tourism had drawn up a draft policy to create a huge domestic tourism industry to provide employment to the youth and promote economic growth. Nana Akomea said that the draft policy was before Parliament and would be passed soon.
Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports called on the Ministry of Tourism to collaborate with his Ministry for better co-operation between sportsmen and the hospitality industry in the country. He said whenever there were sporting events in the country, hotels, "chop bars" and artists compete for recognition, which was a boost in tourism in the world.
Mr Aggrey thanked the organisers for their initiative and called on all keep fit clubs to participate in the event. Nene Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, Paramount Chief of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area recounted the tourism potential in Mount Kloyo and its economic value to the people and nation.
He said the Yilo Krobo District has a rich culture which had been preserved for the past years and called on other ethnic groups in the country not to allow foreign culture influence them to change their culture. Nene Ologo appealed to the Yilo Krobo District Assembly to take a serious view of the tourism potentials in the district and make provisions in their annual budget to upgrade other tourist attractions in the district.
Mr David Dontoh, a member of the planning committee for the "Climbing of Kloyo" called on government, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourist Board(GTB) to consider the promotion of entertainment tourism in the country. He said most tourists often entertain themselves after an expedition and promotion of entertainment tourism would add extra boost to the country's economy.
Nene Tetteh Tuumeh Donkor, Twafohene of Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, who chaired the function called for proper protection for all tourist attractions in the country to attract more tourists.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) said it was overwhelmed by the media publicity during its recent National Delegates Congress held at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, Accra, to elect its party leaders.
"You gave us so much publicity that, there was no need for us to organise any press conference," it said. The remarks were made by Dr. Obed Asamoah, who was elected Chairman of party at the congress, at a reception organised on Saturday to thank journalists.
Dr Asamoah polled 334 votes whiles Dr. Mahama polled 332 votes. Dr. Asamoah mentioned the party's warmest appreciation to all journalists who gave coverage of the event, adding that "you slept in uncomfortable chairs and tables till the next day." He expressed satisfaction that the NDC was seemingly enjoying good press relation, saying, "I hope this will continue."
Nii Okaija Adamafio, former Interior Minister and now a Vice Chairman of the party, Dr Tony Aidoo, former Deputy Minister of Defence, now a Member of the party's Executive Council and Dr. Nii Armah Josiah-Aryeh, the party's General Secretary were among prominent party leaders at the reception.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- Mr. Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary General, on Friday noted that poverty in many parts of the world remained the greatest threat to global stability and said the development should be reversed to avert security problems.
He said: "Domestic instability, bad government, the debt burden and the inequitable terms of trade have contributed to a widen the gap between the affluent and poor countries of the world. Mr. Don McKinnon said if the situation was not revered it could result in uncertainties, mistrust, envy and jealousy, which could lead to more insecurity than we are facing today."
The Commonwealth Secretary General, who is on a three-day official visit to Ghana, was addressing a youth forum on the Commonwealth Youth for Future Programme at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Speaking on the theme "The Commonwealth in the 21st Century: Continuity and Renewal," Mr. McKinnon said smaller states were most vulnerable in the difficult international environment, and many others were staggering under the impact of globalisation."
He said such countries were unable to adjust to the demands of a global economy in which the economically powerful were dominating poor countries. Mr. McKinnon noted that globalisation was the most breathtaking and encompassing of the landmarks of the 21st century, adding that the barriers in communication linkages have disappeared, ushering in the Internet revolution thereby removing conventional theories in international relations.
Mr. McKinnon said the HIV/AIDS epidemic pose a serious threat to the welfare and future stability of many countries across the world. He said the Commonwealth played a key role in the international campaign for debt reduction, which resulted in the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
Mr. McKinnon expressed satisfaction with Ghana's qualification into the HIPC initiative and said the Commonwealth was involved in promoting a more equitable international trade system and a multilateral dialogue on taxation.
On the question of if Ghana's HIPC initiative would get Ghana out of poverty since other packages like the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) have failed, Mr. McKinnon said many developing countries got into huge debts because of improper handling of excess capital from international financial institutions for the developmental programmes.
He said though some international financial institutions were unwilling to write off debts, the Commonwealth would do so but subject to final approval from creditor institutions and nations. Mr. McKinnon said democracy could strive well in countries experiencing sound economic development than those undergoing austerity measures and structural adjustment programmes.
He noted that, "If democracy and economic liberalisation simply serve to increase the gap between the political and economic elite and the mass of the people, then the very basis for popular support for democracy-the belief that it would provide social justice could be fatally undermined."
He praised Ghana's close relations with the Commonwealth since its independence an said a considerable number of Ghanaians had lent their expertise across the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC), which has an annual budget of 21 million pounds.
Mr. McKinnon said the success of the general elections in the country has immensely enhanced its image and profile internationally. He said the Commonwealth would continue to work with the government and people of Ghana to ensure that it reaped maximum benefits in its new-found confidence and influence.
The Commonwealth Secretary General said the organisation has since 1974 dedicated a fund known as the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) to promote the interest of young people in member countries. Mr. McKinnon said since 1998, over 2,600 young people had benefited from the scheme, with a success rate of 80 per cent.
The Commonwealth Secretary General said member countries expressed their willingness to accept assistance from the organisation aimed at promoting democracy and human rights and to prevent conflicts. Mr. McKinnon charged the youth to contribute to a strong and vibrant Commonwealth by participating in its activities and by spreading the message about the political, economic and social work of the Commonwealth.
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From Kofi Tay (Courtesy GHPA)/ Beatrice Asamani
New York (USA) 11 May 2002- Heads of government and state and their representatives, at the end of the United Nations Special Session on Children, on Friday, adopted a new Declaration and Plan of Action, "A World Fit For Children," to put the interests of children at the core of political and business decision-making to improve their lives.
The Outcome Document of the Session sets goals and targets with specific time frame to address problems affecting children in the areas of Health, Education, Protection and HIV/AIDS for the next 10 years. The plan of Action enjoins the world leaders to combine political will, knowledge and resources to ensure that every child gets the best possible start life, have access to quality basic education that is compulsory and free, have adequate opportunity to develop his or her capacities in a safe environment.
"We will promote the physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional, cognitive and cultural development of children as a matter of national and global priorities," they pledged. More than 70 heads of state and government, representatives of 1,000 NGOs, 360 children, child rights advocates and representatives of the private sector attended the Special Session, which reviewed the achievements of the goals set at the 1990 World Summit on Children.
Vice President Mahama led Ghana's delegation, which included First Lady Theresa Kufuor, Women and Children's Affairs Minister Gladys Asmah, Chief Justice Wiredu and three children to the Session.
The leaders urged society to join hands with them to create a world fit for children through upholding their commitments to the principles and objectives of the Outcome Document and that of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant Human Rights instruments.
In the area of health, the leaders have committed themselves to reducing infant and under five mortality rate by at least one-third, over the next decade, in pursuit of reducing it by two-thirds in 2015. Due to poverty and the lack of access to basic social services, more than 10 million children under five years, die every year of preventable diseases and malnutrition.
In Ghana, the under-five mortality rate is about 108 deaths per 1,000 live births. Complications related to pregnancy, childbirth, anaemia and malnutrition kill more than five hundred thousand women and adolescents each year, and injure and disable some. Maternal Mortality remains high in Ghana, with about 538 per 100,000 live births, according a Ministry of Health survey in 1998.
Other targets set to achieve better health are in the reduction of malnutrition among children under five years of age by at least one third, with special attention to children under two years of age and a reduction in the rate of low birth weight by at least one third of the current situation.
More than 149 million children in developing countries are malnourished. The Ghana Demographic Health Survey of 1998 indicates a high incidence of Protein Energy Malnutrition, which manifests in severe stunting, wasting and underweight among children. According to the survey, 26 per cent of children are stunted, 31 per cent are underweight, while 12 per cent are wasted.
The leaders also pledged to work towards increasing access to affordable potable water and hygienic sanitary conditions. On Education, the leaders pledged to "accord high priority to ensuring by 2015 that all children have access to and complete primary education that is free compulsory and of good quality.'
Over the next decade, however, their commitment is to reduce the number of primary-school age children, who are out of school by half and increase the net primary school enrolment or participation in alternative, good primary quality education to at least 90 per cent.
More than 100 million children, 60 per cent of them girls, lack access to basic education. These are usually affected by disability, HIV/AIDS or conflict, children of poor families, ethnic minorities and in rural and peri-urban remote areas. In Ghana, According to the Ghana Education Service All Year Assessment, for 1999, 79.4 per cent of children of school-going age are in school, leaving 23.1 per cent of the 3.382649 out.
On HIV/AIDS, the leaders pledged to take urgent and aggressive action in line with goals set at the UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS to establish time-bound national targets by 2003 to achieve internationally agreed global prevention goal to reduce prevalence among young men and women aged 15 and 24 in the most affected countries by 25 per cent in 2005 and also by 25 per cent globally by the end of 2010.
By 2005, the leaders also seek to reduce the proportion of infants affected HIV by 20 per cent and by 2010 reduce it by 50 per cent, by ensuring that 80 per cent of pregnant women access ante natal care, have information, and HIV prevention counselling available to them.
AIDS has orphaned Thirteen million children, while nearly 600,000 infants are infected annually through mother-to-child transmission. On protection, the leaders pledged to protect children against abuse, exploitation, violence, armed conflict and other forms of abuses.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- Alliance For Change (AFC), organisers of the 1995 "Kume Preko" protest, on Friday called on the Police to bring to book those in the then NDC government who killed four innocent people during the protest. The protest, which was carried out on May 11, 1995 was against the first introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT), which the AFC thought would worsen the plight of people in the face of the then harsh economic conditions.
A statement signed by Mr. Kwaku Baako Junior, a member of the AFC in Accra said it is unfortunate that seven years after the crime was committed the perpetrators have not yet been brought to book despite the incessant calls on the former NDC government to institute an independent commission of enquiry into the matter.
It said, " to us, the task could be easy since the Police now know the identity of the 'Blackshirt,' who has admitted being the one who drove the killer vehicle on that fateful May 11. The Blackshirt can help identify his colleagues-in-crime". The AFC has therefore, urged the Police to ensure that justice is done and appealed to government to adequately compensate the bereaved families. "The search for the killers and their sponsors should continue, until they are brought to book", it added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- Mr Don McKinnon, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on Friday said the organisation was prepared to assist developing countries to have the same capacity in negotiations in the global market.
He said there was the need for globalisation but the negotiations had always been in favour of the developed countries, adding, " Commonwealth was prepared to undertake some productive work for developing countries to have the same capacity in negotiations in the global market". Mr McKinnon was speaking to newsmen after paying a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.
It was to provide an opportunity for President Kufuor and Mr McKinnon to exchange views on recent developments within the Commonwealth in the context of the Coolum Declaration adopted at this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Coolum, Australia.
The Secretary-General, who is on a three-day official visit to Ghana, would address a youth forum on the Commonwealth Youth for Future Programme at the University of Ghana, Legon on Friday and also visit the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Kumasi on Saturday.
Mr McKinnon commended President Kufuor for his commitment to Commonwealth activities in the West African Sub-region, adding; "he is one of the key leaders of the Commonwealth in this part of the world".
He said Ghanaians had contributed immensely towards Commonwealth activities especially at the Secretariat, in terms of consultancy services and the promotion of democracy in Commonwealth countries. He further mentioned the assistance of Ghanaians as electoral observers and the role Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Ghana's Electoral Commissioner, was playing in the electoral process in Sierra Leone.
The Secretary-General said the Commonwealth had remained active in the situation in Zimbabwe despite her suspension from the organisation because it wanted
reconciliation and land reforms in that country. Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who accompanied Mr McKinnon, said the effects of globalisation must be equally shared among all countries.
He said the Commonwealth had offered to assist Ghana to establish a training centre on production of jewellery and the handiworks of goldsmiths would be made available on the Internet for prospective buyers worldwide.
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Toase (Ashanti Region) 11 May 2002- The Toase Sub-Traditional Council has called on chiefs in the area not to sponsor or campaign for any person contesting forthcoming district assembly and unit committee elections.
Nana Asiama Poku-Afrifa, Toasehene and President of the Sub-Traditional Council, who made the call at the council's meeting at Toase, near Nkawie, said if traditional rulers stayed neutral, they would continue to gain the respect and confidence of their people.
He advised all aspiring assemblymen and women as well as unit committee members to disabuse their minds of the notion that the district assemblies were gold mines where they could make money. Nana Poku-Afrifa said being an assemblyman or woman was a sacrificial job and all those aspiring to become assembly members should, therefore, be ready to sacrifice their time and energy for the good of their people.
He suggested that out of the 30 per cent places reserved for government appointees, traditional rulers should be given 20 per cent and that the appointed chiefs should be those who have lands so that they could release some of them to the assemblies for development.
Nana Poku-Afrifa also asked that those chiefs who would be nominated and fall within the jurisdiction of the Kumasi Traditional Council should be made known to the council since it had authority over some divisional chiefs in Ashanti. The Toase Sub-Traditional Council commended Mr Ernest Berchie Donkor, the current assemblyman for Toase for his hard work, devotion and commitment.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Foreign Minister, on Friday urged the Commonwealth to use all conventions and laws available to fight terrorism, fascism and poverty as the world forged ahead with globalisation.
He touched on the need for the organisation to tackle poverty since it was a root cause of terrorism and always created an environment for extremism. Mr Owusu-Agyeman made the appeal during a courtesy call on him by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Don Mckinnon, who is on a three-day working visit to Ghana.
Their discussions focused on a number of issues including trade, conflict resolution, globalisation, the role of private sector, the youth and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) initiative. The Foreign Minister touched on emerging fascism in Europe and said such sentiments "serves as a source of discomfort to developing countries as we approach globalisation."
He called for tolerance adding that intolerance led to terrorism. Mr Owusu-Agyeman touched on stability in Ghana and the on-going conflicts in the West African sub-region and called for continuous support from the Commonwealth, saying, "Ghana does not want to be the only diamond in a sea of confusion around her."
He expressed his appreciation to the organisation on the assistance it had been giving to the mining industry in Ghana adding, "it is time the country started refining its minerals to add value to them". Mr Owusu-Agyeman Commended the Secretary-General for his dynamic role in the organisation
Mr Mckinnon urged the country to try to market her products through the electronic means on the Internet to reach a wider market. He said Ghana was playing an important role in the shaping of the Commonwealth, especially in her contributions towards various programmes including those of consultancy services.
He mentioned the current help being extended to Sierra Leone's forthcoming elections by Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Ghana's Electoral Commissioner. The Commonwealth is made up of 54 countries, which were mainly former colonies of Britain with about 1.7 billion people spread in every continent.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- Sickle Cell patients in Tema were on Friday, given free eye screening to mark this year's "Africa Day For Sickle Cell Disease". Dr Mrs Lydia Glover-Nyador, Ophathalmologist in charge of the Eye Department of the Tema General Hospital, who conducted the exercise urged sickle cell patients to have routine eye test since the disease was closely connected to the eye, which if neglected could create complications.
She advised patients insist on routine examination and not to wait till crisis before seeking medical attention. They should also eat balanced diet and undertake regular physical exercise to burn excess energy to ensure good health.
Dr Glover-Nyador gave the assurance that the Department would consider waiving consultation fees for them as a group. The patients complained about the high cost of medication and appealed for free medical attention in all government hospitals/clinics just like tuberculosis patients.
They commended Dr Tsease Kyemenu Caiquo, a private medical practitioner for releasing his clinic to be used as the sickle cell department in Tema and Major and Company, a pharmaceutical firm company for donating drugs.
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Zaare (Upper East) 11 Nay 2002- The Ayoore and the Anokobisi, the two main gates to the Zaare skin, near Bolgatanga, on Saturday morning engaged in a bloody clash over the rights of ownership to farmlands in the area.
At least four people from the Ayoore gate sustained serious injuries from cutlass wounds, while many others had minor injuries. The victims were yet to be sent to the Bolgatanga Central Hospital and the regional police emergency task force deplored to the area had restored law and order.
According to a source close to both gates, which pleaded anonymity, the Ayoore faction had received warning about two weeks ago from the Anokobisis not to work on farmlands in the area. The source said a complain was made to the police and people of the Ayoore gate were advised against preparing the land for farming activities until they were asked to do so.
It added that when the police asked the Ayoore faction to start farming, the Anokobisi attacked them. The source said those injured in the clash could not get access to medical treatment because the way to hospital was blocked. The two factions have been engaging in disputes in recent times, following the enskinned of a chief from the Ayoore gate.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 11 May 2002- The Ministry of Health has warned the public about an outbreak of suspected cases of cholera in parts of the Central and Western regions following an acute water shortage in the two regions.
A statement issued on Friday by the Ministry said fifteen suspected cases of cholera had been reported from British Komenda in the Edina Aguafo District of the Central Region with no deaths recorded since the outbreak on 5 May. It said isolated cases of diarrhoea had also been reported from the Jomoro District in the Western Region.
The Ministry assured the general public that it was embarking on control measures at the regional and district levels to bring the situation under control. "The public is encouraged to report all cases of diarrhoea to the nearest health facility for prompt management."
Meanwhile, the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly has called on the government to consider the water situation in the area as a national crisis and to mobilise the requisite resources to solve the problem.
It further appealed to the government to provide at least 10 more water tankers to augment the six supplied by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) as an interim measure to solving the water problem. The assembly said it was becoming difficult to sustain the supply of water since it was being obtained from outside the region.
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Wa (Upper West) 11 May 2002- The Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has asked all the 1,144 students of the Wa Secondary School who have been on suspension since March, this year to reapply for admission.
The directive followed the submission of the report of the committee, which investigated violent disturbances at the in March to the Regional Director. Mr Moses Donneyong, Headmaster told the Ghana News Agency on Friday that the students would be screened and those found to have spearheaded the disturbances, would not be readmitted.
He did not say whether the directive was one of the recommendations of the committee but said no date had been fixed for the re-opening of the school. The school was closed down in 19 March after a violent demonstration against a tutor by a section of the students made it difficult for academic work to progress.
During the disturbances, the tutor's bungalow, a motorbike, the school truck and part of the administration block were vandalised. A number of students were arrested and about 200 of their colleagues packed their belongings and left the school in solidarity.
They however returned to school two days later only for the tutors to boycott classes citing insecurity as their main reason and the Regional Directorate in consultation with the Regional Security Council closed down the school.
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From Kofi Tay (Courtesy GPHA) and Beatrice Asamani
New York (USA) 11 May 2002-First Lady Theresa Kufuor on Friday expressed concern about the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS on children and called for special attention to the plight of children orphaned as a result of the pandemic.
Mrs. Kufuor, who was addressing the First Spouses Forum on Women's Leadership for Children, at the 27th Special of the United Nations General Assembly on Children, said the situation of such children was very serious as they had been stigmatised by their communities.
She said the Government of Ghana, had formulated a National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework and established a National AIDS Commission under the supervision of the Presidency to deal with such issues.
The First Spouses Forum, hosted by Mrs. Nane Annan, wife of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Ms Carol Bellamy, UNICEF Executive Director, was aimed at exploring ways to advance children's priorities and sustaining support among families and communities. Mrs. Kufuor also briefed the forum on the establishment of the Mother and Child Community Foundation in Ghana, of which she is the Chief Patron, to improve the welfare of women and children in rural and deprived communities.
The foundation's two main areas of activities are early childhood care development, and counselling and vocational training centres for single disadvantaged women. It is, therefore, identifying deprived areas where it could establish pre-school facilities and vocational centres to empower mothers to undertake economic ventures for their financial empowerment.
Mrs. Kufuor noted that Ghanaian rural women, who on the average tend to have twice as many children as their urban counterparts, were active breadwinners for their households and, therefore, needed some support services to alleviate their difficulties.
She said the foundation would work in collaboration with UNICEF, other NGOs, and multilateral and bilateral donors as well as institutions with similar inclinations to help make a difference in the lives of children in the communities. Mrs. Kufuor is part of Ghana's delegation, which is headed by Vice President Mahama, attending the Special Summit.
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Kofi Tay/ Beatrice Asamani
New York (USA) 11 May 2002- Vice President Aliu Mahama had held bilateral discussions with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on the political and socio-economic development in Ghana at the Special Session on Children in New York. They also discussed plans to establish a UN regional office in Dakar, Senegal, to promote sub-regional peace and development.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Vice President Mahama said the Secretary-General was impressed with the progress made towards the Reconciliation Process and efforts being made to bring a permanent solution to the Yendi chieftaincy crisis
"I told him about the Commissions inaugurated to facilitate the peace process in both cases and he was happy to hear that," he said. Vice President Mahama said they discussed the economic progress made so far in reducing the rate of inflation, which is now at 16 per cent and measures being implemented to inject financial discipline to facilitate economic growth.
He said Mr Kofi Annan wanted to know efforts being made to prevent the Spread of HIV/AIDS and the treatment of infected persons, adding that, the Secretary General was pleased to hear that Ghana had established an AIDS Commission with the President as chairman and encouraged Ghana to be committed to its anti-AIDS programme.
The Vice President commended Mr Annan for his dedication towards achieving global peace and development and welcomed the opening of the UN office, which would become the first of its kind in any region. "The regional office will work with ECOWAS and other sub-regional groupings to bring peace and reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa," he said.
Vice President Mahama is leading Ghana's delegation, which includes First Lady Theresa Kufuor, Women and Children's Affairs Minister Gladys Asmah, Chief Justice E.K.Wiredu and three children, to the Special Session, devoted to the review of the goals set at the 1990 World Summit on Children and a renewal of commitment to create a World Fit for Children.
More than 70 heads of state and government, representatives of 1,000 NGOs, 360 children and private sector representatives are attending the three-day Special Session.
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Yendi (Northern Region) 11 May 2002- The five Cuban Doctors at the Yendi Government Hospital have gone on their annual leave and not deserted as was being speculated by some residents of the township. A source at the Northern Regional Health Directorate told the Ghana News Agency in Tamale that the doctors were on a short break.
Mr Mohammud Habibu Tijani, Yendi District Chief Executive, had told the Acting Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ernest A. Debrah that the rumours had created panic and fear among government workers, especially teachers and nurses, as well as farmers.
He appealed to heads of decentralised government departments to persuade their workers to stay and work and also encourage all those who had fled the town to return to post since peace had been restored to the area. Mr Tijani said as a result of the absence of the Cuban Doctors the District Director of Health Services Dr Sampson Aning Abankwah had taken up additional responsibility of attending to patients at the hospital.
Mr Tijani was briefing the Mr Debrah on the security situation in Yendi at a District Security Council meeting on Wednesday. Mr Debrah, who was accompanied by members of the Regional Security Committee, was on a familiarisation visit to Yendi to assess the security situation and also to introduce himself to the people.
Mr Tijani said the Regional Health Directorate had decided to rotate doctors at the Tamale Hospital to Yendi to help provide medical services to the people. Mr Tijani announced that inter-religious dialogue initiated by the Catholic Bishop of Yendi, The Most Reverend Vincent Boi-Nai would organise open-prayers for peace and also raise funds to aid the conflict victims.
He called on the press to help restore peace in Dagbon by being circumspect in their reportage. Mr Tijani appealed for tents, campbeds and raincoats for the security personnel at Yendi. Lieutenant Colonel Dela Sakyi, Commander of the Sixth Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, said troops had been deployed at Savelugu, Nanton, Yendi, Gushiegu and Bimbilla to maintain peace.
The Yendi District Director of Education, Mr Mahama Imoro said teachers, who had fled the area in the wake of the conflict had not returned. He appealed to the government to provide security for schools in the district when schools re-open to protect the students.
Mr Debrah said peace was an important ingredient for development and thanked the security agencies for the able manner they had handled the Yendi tragedy. He advised them to work as a team and pledged that the government would do all it could to get to the bottom of the Yendi tragedy and find a lasting solution to the chieftaincy dispute there.
He cautioned members of the District Security Committee and the Security Agencies to avoid making inflammatory statements. The Regional Minister also appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage about the situation in Yendi, saying "any negative report on Yendi could break the people apart and jeopardise the peace in the area." He asked the Yendi District Assembly to ensure that money meant for projects did not go into private pockets.
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