Police grab 24 people for BECE leakage
Archer’s death creates vacuum on Council of State
Emil Short appeals for more humane ways in punishing children
Committee on Mines and Energy visits Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)
Cancellation of BECE has psychological implications on students - Headmistress
Ghana needs hydrological map - Minister
Sunyani applies to be made metropolis
Malian President calls for continuous bond of friendship
Two visually impaired to contest district assembly elections
Mali to establish a consulate in Kumasi soon
Speaker in Rome for conference
US Treasury Secretary commends Ghana for
political stability
Ghana to be pacesetter in development in
West Africa - Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May 2002 - Medical professionals
were on Monday reminded that they had a responsibility to provide equal care to
all patients in need regardless of race, colour, nationality, or political
belief or for "any improper reason."
Mr Emile Short, Commissioner of the Commission on Human
Rights and Administrative Justice, (CHRAJ), said "suspects, even armed
robbers and prisoners are entitled to equal health care." He was speaking
at a day's seminar on the theme: "Human Rights, Ethics And The Legal
Responsibility In The Medical And Dental Profession" in Accra.
It was organised by the Medical and Dental Council and CHRAJ
and attended by over 50 health professionals. Mr Short explained that the right
to health care, as found in 25 Article of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and in Ghana's Constitution, rested on the notion of survival, which was
the most fundamental of all human rights.
He, however, noted that poverty, callousness, inconsideration, rudeness and acts of administrative injustice perpetrated on patients by some hospital personnel had often violated the patients' rights to health care. The Commissioner cautioned health professionals never to "participate, directly or indirectly, in physical or psychological torture."
Citing cases, in which Police suspects were found to have
been chained to their hospital beds while on admission, he said, "health
professionals must not turn a blind eye to any form of human rights violation
by the security forces, such as torturing people to admit being responsible for
unsolved crimes..."
Mr Short explained that even though confidentiality required
that a doctor must not disclose the medical history of a patient, public
interest would, however, require disclosure, where for instance, someone
continued to drive despite fits and blackouts "or when someone with
HIV/AIDS continues to have unprotected sex and the partner does not know about
the infection".
He said no child should also be deprived of any medical
treatment by reason of religious belief of parents or guardians, adding that
doctors were to be mindful of the constitutional rights of the child, which superseded
the parent's religious belief. The Commissioner mentioned hygiene and a safe
environment, sufficient knowledge and thoroughness in all aspects of work as
being some of the obligations of health professionals in the discharge of their
duties.
Nana (Dr) S.K.B. Asante, an international legal consultant
and a Member of the Medical and Dental Council, noted that the business of
delivering health services was so compelling and engrossing that there was the
temptation of glossing over pertinent but troublesome ethical and legal issues.
"Yet medical and dental treatment cannot be
meaningfully divorced from ethics, human rights and legal responsibilities, even
in our circumstances which are characterised by severe constraints on the resources
and facilities available in our health sector."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002 - The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) said on Tuesday that the fire outbreak outside the perimeters of the refinery on Tuesday did not affect its processing units and there was no cause for alarm. There was no injury to any person, a statement signed in Accra by Dr Yaw Akoto, Managing Director, said. It said the plant had been temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure to enable inspection and repairs to any damaged offsite facilities.
"The refinery has started its normal delivery of petroleum products to the market. TOR management will like to assure the general public that there are adequate stocks and there should be no cause for alarm." The fire, which started at dawn on Tuesday, threatened facilities of the refinery. It took a combined team of TOR, Ghana National Fire Service, VALCO, Aluworks and Ghana Armed Forces Fire brigades under two hours to contain the fire.
The statement said the TOR Board, Ministry of Energy officials, parliamentary Sub-committee on Energy and Mines and heads of security agencies at Tema visited the refinery to assess the situation. The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr K. T. Hammond was taken on a guided tour to assess the extent of damage. Investigations are continuing but the fire is said to have started at about 4am from a gutter that contained oil sludge and travelled along it to the pipes that carry fuel from the Tema harbour to TOR. Fire fighters used seawater stored at the plant for the cooling of the boilers to fight the fire.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002 - The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police has so far arrested 24 persons for their alleged involvement in the leakage of question papers of the annulled Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organised by the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC). They include two typesetters and three security men of Commercial Associates, printers of the examination papers and five personnel of the WAEC Security Printing Division.
The rest are a teacher and 13 candidates from various schools in Accra. Mr Ernest Owusu-Donkor, Officer in charge of the Rapid Response Squad of the CID, told the Ghana News Agency in an exclusive interview that the students and teacher were found with photocopies of the exact question papers before the commencement of the examinations.
Some of the schools involved in Accra include North Ridge Lyceum, SNAPS JSS, PRESEC JSS, Legon, Independence Avenue JSS and Presby Primary JSS at Nii Boye Town. The rest are Institute of Divine Education, Korle Gonno, Additrom Preparatory School and Kinbu JSS.
Mr Owusu-Donkor said that the leakage, according to preliminary Police investigations, were on a massive scale across the country. "As many as six students were apprehended in SNAPS JSS alone," he said. Some of question papers retrieved included Pre-technical Skills, Mathematics, English Language, Religious and Moral Education and Science.
Mr Owusu-Donkor said the Police would interrogate heads of the institutions that had been implicated while an intensive search was underway for the prime suspect whose name was being withheld for security reasons. Mr Owusu-Donkor, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said that the Police had closed in on the perpetrators adding that after thorough investigations dockets on the case would be forwarded to the Attorney-General's Department for advice.
The Ministry of Education last Friday cancelled the results of eight out of 10 subjects in this year's Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE). Candidates are to re-sit the affected papers in early July at the expense of WAEC and the designated printing firm.
Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Education told a press conference that the ministry had to take "this harsh decision in the face of overwhelming evidence of leakage of the examination questions." He said Mathematics, English Language, General Science and Social Science, which are the core subjects, would have both the written and objectives sections re-sat.
However, only the objective papers of Pre-technical and Vocational Skills, Agriculture Science, Religious and Moral Studies would be re-written. He said the results of the French and Ghanaian language papers were however, to remain as they were.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said there was enough evidence that the papers leaked in the Greater Accra, Western, Ashanti, Volta, Central and Eastern Regions. "The decision to order a general re-sit stems from the fact that the other regions could access some of these papers. We can not rule that out." Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said marks gathered from the normal continuous assessment in school would not be affected.
Other measures taken by the Ministry include the review of contract between WAEC and the designated printing company. "Security personnel with WAEC are to be interdicted immediately, while certain key officials of WAEC would have their appointments reviewed."
He said the committee that investigated the issue would submit its recommendations on Tuesday. The nation first learnt of the leakage in the media on 24 April 2002 but this was denied by WAEC. Two hundred and sixty five thousand, nine hundred and fifty six students sat the 2002 BECE from 22 April to 26 April.
Six thousand, Seven hundred and ninety-five basic school registered for participation while 958 centres took care of the candidates. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) on Tuesday welcomed the decision by the government to cancel the 2002 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) following widespread leakage of eight subjects.
In a statement signed in Accra by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, President of GNAPS, said the decision taken by the government was the best option "under the peculiar circumstances to repair the serious damage to the credibility of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002 - A High Court in Accra on Tuesday swore in a seven-member jury to begin hearing a case in which Charles Ebo Quansah is accused of murdering one Akua Serwa, a 24- year-old hairdresser in Kumasi.
The Prosecution led by Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, told the court presided over by Mrs Justice Agnes Dordzie that it intended to call 11 witnesses in the trial. Five of them gave evidence at Tuesday's proceedings.
They were Mr Salifu Busanga, a labourer of National Sports Council in Kumasi, Miss Cynthia Nyarko and Miss Adwoa Brah, both sisters of Akua Serwa, Mr Philip Kwabena, a barkeeper and the ex-boy friend of the deceased and Detective Inspector Kwadwo Fordjour, Investigator in the case, formerly of the Buffalo Unit of the Police in Kumasi but now stationed at Tarkwa.
Led in evidence by Mr Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, Mr Busanga said on 20 January 1996 at about 0800 hours he reported at work and decided to inspect a newly constructed kiosk behind the Kumasi Sports Stadium, where he found the deceased lying on the ground. He said he reported the matter to his officers, who accompanied him to the Asokwa Police Station to lodge a compliant.
Miss Nyarko and Miss Brah said that their sister left home on 19 January 1996 at about 2030 hours with her friend, Miss Adwoa Agyeiwa but she did not return, until five days later that they heard rumours that a beautiful lady had been murdered and dumped around the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
They said they went to the Asokwa Police Station where their sister's name was mentioned. They also went to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where the mortuary attendant showed the body of the deceased to them and they identified her as their sister.
Mr Kwabena said on 19 January 1996 at about 2200 hours he was at the Beiginia Spot near the Sport Stadium, where he worked as a barkeeper, when Serwa and Agyeiwa visited him. He said he was then busy attending to customers so he could not pay attention to them so he rather set a table with food for them and that they later requested for bitter lemon drink.
Mr Kwabena said at that time a funeral was being held nearby so after the drink they informed him that they were going to the funeral grounds. They returned later and Agyeiwa informed him that Serwa wanted to go home.
He said he rushed from the counter and called the deceased three times, but she snubbed him and left Agyeiwa behind. Mr Kwabena said Agyeiwa waited until he closed at 5:30am and both of them left the bar. He went to Serwa's house and he was told that she did not return from town. He said some days later he heard from Miss Nyarko that Serwa was dead.
The fifth prosecution witness, Detective Inspector Fordjour said on 20 January 1996, he was on duty at the Asokwa Police Station, when Busanga came to report a case of murder and the Station Officer referred the case to him for investigation. He, therefore, invited Constable Tetteh, a photographer of the same station, to accompany him to the scene of the murder.
He said when they got to the scene, he saw a beautiful lady lying supine. She was wearing a yellow blouse with a skirt and lying by her side were a torn pants, T-shirt, an empty Schnapps bottle, a pair of rubber slippers and cloth. Inspector Fordjour said he instructed Constable Tetteh to take pictures of the deceased. They later conveyed the body to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Detective Inspector Fordjour said in the course of his investigations he took statements from the witnesses. He said Dr O. T. Owusu, a pathologist, who performed the post-mortem declared that the deceased's death was unnatural.
Quansah is alleged to have confessed to murdering eight women in Accra and Kumasi. On 15 March, an Accra Community Tribunal committed Quansah to stand trial at the High Court for murdering Serwa, a 24 year-old hairdresser in Kumasi. The Prosecution said the accused befriended Serwa in 1996, while in Kumasi, where he strangled her after a drinking spree at a drinking bar, near the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
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Archer’s death creates vacuum on Council of
State
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- The death of former Chief Justice Philip Neequaye Archer has created a vacuum for a position of a retired Chief Justice on the Council of State. This is because the only other living former Chief Justice, Justice Azu Crabbe, is also ill and not strong enough to be on the Council, an official of the Judicial Service told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday.
The Constitution stipulates that there should be a former Chief Justice on the Council of State. "If Justice Archer had been alive, he could have been on the Council of State," Mr Yaw Amoah-Owusu, Personnel Manager of the Judicial Service, told the Ghana News Agency.
Mr Amoah-Owusu said nine out of the 10 Chief Justices Ghana had ever had since independence were dead. Former Chief Justice Archer, 77, died in Accra on 10 May after being hospitalised at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for about one month. Sheba Elizabeth, his widow, five sons and two daughters and a number of grandchildren survived him.
Justice Archer was the Chief Justice of Ghana from 1 April 1991 to 22 February 1995. He joined the judiciary as a temporary clerical assistant in 1945 after working in the administration section of the judiciary. In 1948 he passed the Inter BSc (Economics) Parts II & I. He read law and graduated in 1953 with LL B after which he worked in England for a while. In 1956, he passed the Law Society's final examination and was called to the Bar in 1957.
He returned to Ghana on the eve of Ghana's independence and was appointed Assistant Registrar General. He was promoted Judicial Secretary in March 1964. In April 1964, he was promoted as a High Court Judge and later an Appeal Court Judge in October 1969.
In September 1980, he was promoted to the Supreme Court. He went on voluntary retirement in September 1983, but was named the Chief Justice in 1991. Funeral arrangements would be announced later.
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Emil Short appeals for more humane ways in
punishing children
Cape Coast (Central Region) 22 May 2002- The Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Mr. Emile Short, on Tuesday appealed to parents and teachers to resort to more humane ways of punishing children other than the use of the cane. This is because canning could cause injuries and also have long-lasting psychological effects on children and impinge on their effective development.
Mr. Short, made the appeal at a day's seminar organised by the Komenda-Edina -Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) district health administration as part of activities of its 'first district health week' celebration, at Elmina. The institution of the week, is to help the district annually select and focus on key health-related issues and mount education on them, and to promote multi-sectoral collaboration and private participation in heath care delivery.
It is under the theme " protecting tomorrow's leaders today". Mr Short, who spoke on the rights the 'rights of the child', suggested the use of dialogue in solving issues that may result in punishment and stressed that it is not only the cane that could be used to discipline a child. He also deplored the tendency of some parents to deny their children health care on religious grounds, while others forced their religious beliefs on their children and described this as a serious violation of their rights.
The CHRAJ Commissioner, was unhappy about the upsurge of abuses against children such as child trafficking, labour and defilement, and regretted that although a lot of laws and measures have been put in place to protect their rights, not much has been done to ensure their effective implementation.
Mr. Short, particularly made reference to the just -ended UN special forum on children, where the participants called for concrete actions towards ensuring adherence to their rights, and stressed the need for implementing agencies such as the police and the department of social welfare and all organisations concerned with the welfare of children in the country to be given the requisite logistical support.
He enumerated the various rights of children such as the right to health and education and further tasked all parents to live up to their responsibilities and also to allow children to express their views on issues pertaining to their welfare. Mr. Short, however cautioned children against using the need to enforce their rights to indulge in indiscipline.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- Ghana on Tuesday asked African leaders to use the occasion of Africa day which falls on Saturday to soberly reflect on the achievements and shortcomings of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
It said the occasion should also "serve as guideposts for future endeavours and to reaffirm its commitment to the economic upliftment of the continent and her people through the Africa Union. "The Republic of Ghana is determined to work, in tandem with all sister African countries, towards the realisation of the attainment of the lofty objectives we have set for ourselves in the Constitutive Act of the African Union," it said.
The day marks the 39th anniversary of the founding of the OAU. A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said a weeklong programme of activities has been planned to commemorate the day that would also continue to be observed as "Africa Day" under the new Africa Union.
African leaders in July 2000 approved and adopted the Constitutive Act of the African Union to serve as the framework for the realisation of the objective to accelerate the integration of the economies of African countries and to enhance socio-economic development. Consequently the Africa Union came into effect on 26 May 2001 following the deposit of the instruments of ratification of the Constitutive Act by member states of the OAU.
With the entry into force of the Constitutive Act, the OAU is presently in transitional phase within which member states are working towards practical implementation of the operationalisation of the union, particularly with regards to the establishment of its institutions and structures.
Activities lined up include the offering of prayers for the continent and its leaders and for the Africa Union by the Christian and Muslim communities, and a photo exhibition from 20 to 24 May, at the Ministry of Information.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps would address a press conference at the Information Ministry followed by a drama and choral performance at the National Theatre. The climax would be a flag hoisting ceremony at the forecourt of the State House at 9:30am on Saturday 25 May.
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Committee on Mines and Energy visits Tema
Oil Refinery (TOR)
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- The Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy on Tuesday visited the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to gain first hand information on the extent of damage an early morning fire caused to the refinery. Intense fire this morning run through a drainage just behind the refinery but was extinguished by a combine team of the Military, TOR and Aluworks Fire brigades.
The delegation, led by Mr Boadi Mensah, Chairman, included Mr Prince Oduro-Mensah, NPP-Techiman North, Mr Abraham Kofi Asante, Ranking Member and Dr John Abu, NDC-Amenfi Central. Dr Yaw Akoto, Chief Executive, TOR, told the delegation that word reached the shift leader around five O'clock in the morning that fire was raging towards the refinery through the drain that run behind it.
He said TOR's own firemen were joined by other colleagues to fight the advancing fire until it was extinguished around 6:45am. Dr Akoto said investigations are going on to ascertain extent of damage and the cause of fire. He assured the delegation that the refinery has enough stock to meet market demands in the foreseeable future. Mr Boadi asked TOR to improve the safety environment around the refinery and seek the immediate expulsion of squatters around the refinery. TOR is to present a comprehensive report on the issue and other sensitive matters to Parliament within two weeks.
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Cancellation of BECE has psychological
implications on students - Headmistress
Takoradi (Western Region) 22 May 2002- Mrs Maud Bentsi-Enchill, headmistress of the Bethel Methodist Junior Secondary School has noted with concern the mental and psychological effect that the cancellation of this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) papers would have on the majority of students who did not see the leaked papers.
She has therefore called on the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to reinforce its security system and adopt additional mechanism that would forestall future examination leakages with their attendant frustrations, disappointments and embarrassment to hard working and honest students and teachers.
Mrs Bentsi-Enchill was commenting on the nationwide cancellation eight examination papers that were leaked to some students ahead of the examination day in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Takoradi. They were written and multiple-answer question papers in Mathematics, English Language, General Science and Agricultural Science.
She said authorities of the school in collaboration with the Parent Teacher Association and the School Management Team were working to prepare the affected students adequately to re-write the examination as directed by the Ministry of Education.
Mr Timothy Ampah-Mensah, Assistant Head Teacher of the Chapel Hill Junior Secondary School, in a separate interview, said the staff the Schools' Board of Directors and the PTA would meet soon to plan how best they could assist the students to write the examination successfully.
He disclosed that two students of the school have travelled out of the country and may not be available to re-write the examination. Mr Ampah-Mensah urged the Ministry to intensify its investigations and bring to book all those connected with the leakage.
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Ghana needs hydrological map - Minister
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing on Tuesday said the country needed a hydrological map to facilitate the sinking of boreholes and to determine how rivers and rivulets being dried up were influencing the environment. He said the absence of such a map was a hindrance to expanding the use of groundwater, which was a preferred option for meeting the demands of water supply systems.
Mr Barimah was answering questions posed to him by MPs on the water supply systems in their various constituencies. Miss Akua Sena Dansua (NDC-North Dayi) wanted to know when the water project meant to tap water from the Volta Lake at Kpando Torkor to Kpando Township and its environs would begin.
Mr Barimah said there were two water expansion proposals for Kpando and the first one was to redevelop the existing boreholes and mechanising them with submersible pumps with the provision of three additional boreholes to meet the year 2005 demand of the area. He said; "technical and financial proposals are currently being sought from interested investors for the execution of the project on turnkey basis."
He said the second proposed scheme for the year 2020 would involve the expansion and extension of the year 2005 components to provide additional system capacity of 1,400 cubic metres per day to meet the demand of the population that required an investment of 2.6 million dollars.
Mr Barimah said; "the new district scheme based on abstracting water from the Volta Lake at Kpando Torkor can be considered only after the year 2005 when the capacity of the ground water system to sustain the demand has been exceeded.
"It is only at this time that supply from the surface water source, which is a more expensive option, can be justified." Mr Barimah said the current supply system at Kpando was inadequate and, therefore, needed an expansion, adding; "Continuous expansion of ground water sources is the preferred option for meeting the year 2005 demand."
Mr Barimah answering another question, which stood in the name of Mr Albert Abongo, NDC-Bongo as to how soon the people of Bongo would be provided with water from the Vea Water Treatment Works said; "it is intended to transfer the Bongo Water Supply System to the community for management under the district assembly."
He said the Bolgatanga Water Supply System pumps water to Vea and Gowrie both in the Bongo District and in 1996 and 1999 additional works of connecting customers were carried on the project at the cost of 427 million cedis. "There are at present 19 connections within Bongo town. However, water flow is erratic because of lack of storage and frequent burst and tampering of fixtures on the transmission mains," he explained.
Mr Barimah said the Ghana Water Company Limited planned to construct a ground level concrete reservoir to improve the supply of water to the Bongo Township and 150 million cedis that was earmarked under the 2001 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) programme was not released. He said after the Bongo Water Supply System was transferred to the district assembly "distribution network expansion will be covered under future development budgets."
To a question Mr Samuel Nkrumah-Gyimah, NPP-Odotobri, posed as to what plans the Ministry had for the rehabilitation of the water pumping station at Jacobu-Ashanti, which had been out of order for about 10 years, the Minister said that the water supply system was being considered for rehabilitation during 2002/2003 planning year.
Mr Barimah said the Ashanti Regional Office of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) was expected to have initiated discussions with the Amansie East District Assembly. He said; "the onus is on the Assembly to initiate action for Jacobu community to come on the project."
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Sunyani applies to be made metropolis
Sunyani (Eastern Region) 22 May 2002- Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Sunyani District Chief Executive, said the district assembly has made a request to the Ministry of Local Development and Rural Development to raise Sunyani from its urban council status to a municipality. He said in a local radio programme that documents to justify the request were sent to the ministry about three months ago.
Mr Baffour-Awuah said roads in Sunyani had not been asphalted because the urban council status of the district did not make it eligible for asphalt roads. He said the assembly was sponsoring 60 teacher trainees so that they could contribute to the programme of giving quality education to children in the district.
The assembly has spent 15 million cedis on teachers' awards and provided 600 school uniforms to be distributed to basic schools at Chiraa, Nsoatre, Koduakrom and Nkrankrom among others. Mr Baffour-Awuah said there was a delay in commissioning the new regional hospital at Sunyani because some essential items were yet to be procured.
He did not mention the items, but said everything possible was being done to procure them to complete the project. He said the assembly was spending 28.1 million cedis on public health with emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness programmes.
The DCE said the Regional Coordinating Council, the Ghana Water Company Limited and the assembly had taken some medium to long-term measures to curb the perennial water problem in the district.
The measures include the construction of 10 boreholes at Estate Residential Area, Airport residential area and Penkwase. Mechanised boreholes haven been constructed at the Abesim Water Works to pump water into the reservoir in case of shortage.
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Malian President calls for continuous bond
of friendship
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 22 May 2002- President Alpha Oumar Konare, Malian President on Tuesday reiterated the strengthening of the historical and political bonds between Ghana and Mali. This, he said, would not only create an atmosphere of peace, unity and security between the two nations but could be extended to all African countries.
President Konare was speaking at a durbar of chiefs organised by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in his honour when he visited Kumasi as part of his three-day visit to Ghana. The President, who was accompanied by Vice-President Aliu Mahama, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and six ministers of the Malian government, lauded the cordial reception accorded him.
He told the Asantehene his visit to Kumasi gave credence to the confidence, brotherhood and friendship he had for President John Agyekum Kufuor and the people of Ghana. Vice President Mahama said the cordial relations between Ghana and Mali dated back to the empire days.
He said; "immediately after independence, Ghana had a pact with Mali and since then the relationship has grown from strength to strength". The Vice President commended President Konare for the political developments currently taking place in his country due to his astute statesmanship and asked other heads of states should emulate him.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu observed that Ghanaians have followed both the academic and political life of President Konare and "we are proud to acknowledge the erudite intellectual that you are". He noted that the bilateral relations between Ghana and Mali had remained cordial over the years, saying; "we can say that it was as a result of the warm relationship that Mali threw her might behind the candidature of Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas to become the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS.
The Asantehene said it was about time a trade agreement between the two countries was concluded and structures that would enhance economic growth in both countries put in place. He suggested to President Konare the need for Mali to take advantage of the inland port that was going to be built at Boankra, near Kumasi adding, "the government of Mali could build warehouses where Malian imports could be stored before they were transported to Mali.
The Asantehene said he was committed to all citizens in the region especially Malians and called on them to be law-abiding. Mr Boafo and Mr Maxwell Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, were at the Kumasi Airport to receive President Konare.
He inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment from the Fourth Battalion of Infantry and later rode through the principal streets of Kumasi responding to cheers of a large number people and school children, who had lined up along the route to the Residency at Ahowdwo.
Welcoming him to Kumasi, Mr Boafo said the large number of Malians in Kumasi was an indication of the strong bonds existing between Mali and Ashanti. He said Ghana and for that matter Ashanti would continue to work hard to create the necessary environment for the people of the two countries to live peacefully together.
Mr Boafo said it was unfortunate that President Konare's tenure of office would soon end and would take a back stage as one of Africa's revered statesmen for his immense contribution towards enhancing democracy in Mali. President Konare in response noted that the presence of a population of Malians in Kumasi made him feel the scent of Mali and that brings to the fore the cultural manifestation of Ashanti and Mali history. "We can maintain this peaceful and cordial relationships so long as we live as one people with a common destiny."
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Two visually impaired to contest district
assembly elections
Bawku (Upper East) 22 May 2002- Two blind men are among the 150 contestants vying for the 54 seas of the Bawku East District Assembly in the forthcoming District Assembly Elections. Mr. Edward Akuka, the acting District Electoral Officer told the GNA in an interview at Bawku that the blind candidates are Mr Musah Alale Bananga, a teacher at Tempane Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Mr Samuel Issah Ayaag, a farmer and a volunteer craft instructor at Nati Primary School.
The two physically disabled persons are contesting for the same Pialogo electoral area seat alongside two other contestants, he added. Mr Akuka said out of the lot, Mrs. Lucy Awuni and Mrs. Georgina Awudu both teachers are the only female candidates in the district.
Mrs. Awuni is contesting for the Binduri electoral seat while Mrs. Awudu is vying for the Tubong-Kukomada Electoral area seat, she said. Mr Akuka said more candidates have filed to contest in the elections this year than in the previous one that was held in 1998.
Unlike in 1998 when many candidates stood un-opposed, this time about only three candidates are un-opposed candidates. He attributed the increase in the number of the contestants to the impasse in the present assembly over the endorsement of the President's nominee for the position of the District Chief Executive.
Mr Akuka expressed regret that although the district assembly concept is non-partisan in character, it is assuming a serious political dimension in the Bawku West District. The Bawku East District Assembly is the only one out of the 110 district assemblies in the country without a District Chief Executive.
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Mali to establish a consulate in Kumasi
soon
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 22 May 2002- Mali has instituted measures to establish a consulate in Kumasi soon to cope with the large number of Malians resident in the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country, President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali has announced. He said consideration for the setting up of a consulate in Kumasi was also in acknowledgement of how united Malians resident in Ashanti were and also their sustained efforts at contributing to the development of Mali while in Ghana.
President Konare announced this when he interacted with the Malian community in Kumasi on Tuesday as part of his one-day visit to Kumasi. He told the community that the Malian government was fully aware of their basic problems and was, therefore, making all efforts to help resolve such problems.
President Konare urged them to reciprocate the warm hospitality accorded them by Ghanaians by being law-abiding and respecting the customs and values of their host at all times. He made it clear that now that the elections in Mali were over, it was crucial for them all to bury their differences and rally behind, whoever has been elected to lead the country so as to accelerate the development of Mali.
Mr Charles Diarra, Spokesman of the Malian Community in Kumasi, observed that Malians in Ghana enjoyed all facilities and were accorded the needed protocols without any discrimination whatsoever. "Even though there has been a change of government, this has not in anyway affected the cordial relationship that Malians enjoy in the Ghanaian society as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has also come to build and strengthen the relationship", he stressed.
Mr Diarra commended the Konare government for its laudable foreign policies that had made Malians resident outside their home country to vote in the recent elections and to also contribute their quota to developments back home. The women's group of the Malian community in Kumasi later presented President Konare with a wooden stool and a portrait of the President himself. Among the dignitaries present at the forum were Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and Mr S. K. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister.
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Speaker in Rome for conference
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, on Tuesday left Accra for Rome, Italy to participate in an International Parliamentary Conference being organised by the Italian Parliament. The Conference under the theme, "Parliamentary Development and Italy/Africa Relations," would be attended by a number of Speakers from African Parliaments.
The conference would discuss an Italian proposal on behalf of Africa to be placed before the G8 summit. The Speaker who would be away for a week was seen off by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay and Mr Ken Takyi, Clerk of Parliament.
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US Treasury Secretary commends Ghana for
political stability
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- The visiting US Treasury Secretary, Mr Paul O'Neill on Tuesday commended Ghana for her political stability and called on Ghanaians to remain steadfast and contribute their quota to the development of the country.
He said with the stability and the good leadership the country was enjoying, she was going forward in her economic development and the people should feel good about their economic undertakings and work hard to bring the country to a higher economic pedestal.
Mr O'Neill made the remarks after touring the offices of Allied Computer Systems-Business Process Solutions (ACS-BPS), the largest US information technology company in Ghana, as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana. After interacting with the employees, he described them as beautiful people, who were equivalent to any information technology clerks anywhere in the world.
He called on corporate entities to treat their employees with dignity so that they could realise a broad-based improvement in their performance. On the payment of taxes on the operations of the company to the government, Mr O'Neill said the company was operating in the free trade zone.
The company, therefore, does not pay any taxes but was contributing to the overall development of Ghana through offering employment. Mr Tom Blodget, President of ACS, said the company employs over 900 people and pays a total of about 250,000 dollars monthly in salaries since it was established 20 months. It hopes to double the number of employees within the next 18 months.
Mr Blodget said with the operations of the ACS-BPS, Ghana might lead the continent in electronic commerce within the next few years. He urged the West to change their perception of Africa, saying; "the people of Africa are pretty great." The star musician Paul "Bono" Hewson, who said he was willing to learn from all quarters, accompanied Mr O'Neill.
Mr O'Neill is scheduled to meet President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Government Economic Team and tour various African Development Fund Project in Jamestown, Accra and view a display of USAID and Peace Corps projects at the US Embassy Warehouse in Accra.
The Treasury Secretary would also visit Tamale and tour Oxfam in Wamali. His visit forms part of two-week four-nation African tour that would take him to South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia.
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Ghana to be pacesetter in development in
West Africa - Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 22 May 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said for Ghana's socio-economic development efforts to become the pacesetter in West Africa and among its neighbouring countries required the support and assistance of such developed countries as the United States.
"Our country and the West Africa sub-region are ready to take off in socio-economic development and all we need is a country like the US to be an advocate for us to the developed countries," he added. President Kufuor made the call when Mr Paul O'Neill, US Treasury Secretary, led a 16-member delegation to call on him at the Castle, Osu.
Mr O'Neill is in Ghana on a three-day official visit at the start of a two-week African tour that would also take him to South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia to meet key business, trade and government leaders. His wife, Nancy and daughter as well as Paul "Bono" Hewson, a renowned musician, accompanied Mr O'Neill.
The tour will give Mr O'Neill the opportunity to highlight efforts to enhance the effectiveness of development assistance, the importance of increasing productivity through investment in human capital and the role of the private sector as an engine of growth in Africa.
It will also highlight and enhance the effectiveness of treasury department's policies. President Kufuor said government was determined to make Ghanaians manage their own destiny through democratic principles, good governance and rule of law. "We will do the best for the country and ourselves and develop Ghana to be the pacesetter in the West Africa Sub-region."
He noted that most countries in the sub-region were best with civil strife, coups d'etats, poverty and diseases. Ghana, the President added, wants to break loose and join the countries of advancement in socio-economic development and information technology.
President Kufuor said such achievements required the support and assistance of countries, which had much concern for humanity such as the US.
"We need to lay the foundation and infrastructure for development. We have the natural resources for development and to attract investors; we have to put ourselves in position and prepare the grounds for development partners to come and assist us."
Mr O'Neill said the US government had confidence in the capability of the Ghanaian to assist the government to make the country prosperous. He said he was convinced that when people realised that their government had the potential through transparency in governance and effective fiscal and monetary policies, they would take the necessary steps to ensure such policies succeeded for their development.
Mr O'Neill said efforts would be made to enable Ghana have access to the five billion-dollar "Millennium Challenge Account" established by the US government this year. Mr Paul "Bono" Hewson said the delegation was in the country to listen and learn from people on the continent how they could be assisted with the idea on debt cancellation.
He explained that the idea was to offer developing countries in the new millennium the chance to begin a new process of development worldwide. He said Ghana was seen as the country that had initiated policies and programmes "with a light at the end of the tunnel". Mr O'Neill has already toured the offices of Allied Computer Systems-Business Process Solutions (ACS-BPS), the largest US information technology company in Ghana.
He would visit African Development Bank-funded projects at Jamestown, Accra and various USAID and Peace Corps projects. Mr O'Neill will visit Tamale and tour an Oxfam sponsored project at Wamali on Wednesday.
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