Supreme Court rules on Tsikata's suit on 27 May
Alleged serial killer did not offer voluntary statement - Counsel
Minority wants govt to clarify Major Sulemana’s position
Oguaa Tribunal grants bail to 'Doctor' Akuffo-Addo
Archbishop Sarpong condemns use of condoms
Reconsider decision on BECE results - Omanhene
PNC reiterates subsidy as the only solution to reduce poverty
African leaders must be committed to democracy-Konare
Visit by Nelson Mandela postponed
Scouting, another means of promoting tourism - Hawa
O'Neill donates computers to Akwei School
Corruption is Very Expensive - Pianim
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 23 May 2002- The Brong Ahafo Police is investigating a case in which Mr Kwadwo Okai Welbeck, a 43 year old driver, is alleged to have assaulted her 21-year old daughter for denying him sex. The daughter, Stella Dansuah, told newsmen that she was staying with her grandmother at Anumboso in the Eastern Region after her parents had divorced until she died.
She moved to stay with the father two years ago at Chiraa in the Brong Ahafo region. Dansuah said the father started having sex with her and threatened to drive her away from the house if she ever informed anyone about it. "I felt something heavy on me one night in my sleep and woke up to find my father having sex with me".
Dansuah said she became fed up with the father's shameful acts so she informed her aunt about her ordeal but she told her not to mention it to anyone because it would bring disgrace to the family. ''Because of that I travelled with my boyfriend to Nkoranza for a month and on my return, my father tried to have sex with me on the same night but I refused.''
Stella said the father since that day ceased catering for her and regularly assaulted her. She said she escaped to the aunt but the father followed up to the place and beat her with a broom, destroying some properties including a refrigerator and glasses belonging to the aunt.
The aunt, who had then gone to the market returned and settled the matter amicably for her to return to the father's house. ''I returned one day from my aunt's place to meet my clothes and things thrown out from our room and the door locked whilst my father was standing in front of it.'' She said on 30 May the father came to her work place and assaulted her again so she reported to Chiraa police station with her blood-soaked and torn dress and was issued a medical form to attend hospital.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002-Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) will on Tuesday, 27 May, seek the Supreme Court's ruling in a case in which he is challenging the Chief Justice's legal authority to empanel 11 judges to sit on the review of the constitutionality of the Fast Track Court (FTC).
The five-member panel of the court, presided over by Mr. Justice A K B Ampiah announced the date at its sitting on Wednesday after listening to submissions from Tsikata's counsel and the Attorney-General, who has been joined to the suit. The other members of the panel were Mr Justice George Acquah, Mr Justice Williams Atugubah, Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo and Mr Justice George Lamptey.
Professor Emmanuel Victor Oware Dankwa, counsel for Tsikata argued that a true and correct interpretation of Article 133 (2) of the 1992 Constitution does not provide any constitutional requirement to empanel 11 justices of the Supreme Court to hear a review of its decision by a nine-member panel.
Counsel stated that except in the case of a decision by a panel of five judges of the Supreme Court, there is no requirement for the Chief Justice to add two additional justices to hear an application for the review of the court's earlier decision.
Prof Dankwa submitted that the 10 January, 2001 Practice Direction of Mr Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, Acting Chief Justice (as he then was), should be declared null and void since it contravened Articles 128 (2) and 125 (4) of the 1992 Constitution.
On the appointment of one more judge to the Supreme Court to bring its number to 11, counsel contended that there was neither a constitutional requirement nor a judicial practice for the Chief Justice to empanel a large bench other than the nine-member panel who sat on the original case.
Counsel argued that in view of the clear interest shown by the Chief Justice that his dissenting view in the suit should become the majority decision upon the review, the empanelling of two additional judges would not only be "a way of increasing the chance of a reversal of the majority decision", but would also be a violation of Article 296 of the Constitution.
Prof Dankwa referred to a press release issued on 11 March 2002 by the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs on the appointment of Mr Justice Kwame Afreh which, he said, sought to enable the Chief Justice to meet the requirement to empanel 11 judges instead of the nine who heard the original case.
Counsel contended that Mr Afreh's appointment "does not confer on him a constitutional right to sit, where practicable and especially in constitutional cases, or on the review as the Information Minister's statement seemed to suggest."
Replying, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice stated that the said Practice Direction in no way contravened Articles 128 (2) and 125 (4) of the Constitution. Nana Addo submitted that Article 125 (4) "gives the Chief Justice the discretion administratively to empanel judges to sit on cases in the Supreme Court.
Article 128 (2), he said, "provides that the Supreme Court shall be duly constituted for its work by not less than five justices of the Supreme Court, while Article 133 (2) also provides that when reviewing its decisions, the Supreme Court, shall be constituted by bot less than seven justices."
Counsel argued that since the import of those provisions is that to carry out its work, the Supreme Court shall be duly constituted by five judges or more, empanelling all available judges where practicable, cannot be said to be contravention of Articles 128 (2) and 125 (4) of the Constitution.
Nana Addo stated that in view of this, the Practice Direction could not be a fetter on the discretion of the Chief Justice, because it was to be resorted to only where practicable, and to only "serve as a guide to enable him to exercise his discretion in appropriate cases when and where practicable."
He argued that since the power or right to empanel judges to sit on a case have by convention, use and practice become the exclusive preserve of the Chief Justice, he is always dutybound under Articles 128 (2) and 133 (2) of the Constitution to increase the number of judges on a review panel.
This, counsel recounted, had been the practice in the Supreme Court since the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution, adding, "review panels have always been increased, at least, by the addition of two more judges."
Nana Addo cited instances in previous cases, and said, in the case of Nana Kofi Tabiri versus Nana Oppon-Gyarbeng at the Supreme Court on 26 February this year, two additional judges were added to the original seven-member panel to hear the review application.
It is clear that it is a constitutional requirement and accepted practice to add more justices of the Supreme Court to the original panel that sat on the case when it comes to a review application." For this reason, counsel saw Mr Justice Afreh's appointment to enable the requirement of adding to the original panel on review to be met as not only perfectly constitutional, but as also conforming to accepted practice in the Supreme Court.
Earlier, the court overruled a preliminary objection raised by counsel for Tsikata against the panel on the grounds that since the Chief Justice was the defendant in the case, he would be wrong for him to empanel the court. The court, however, deferred its ruling on another preliminary objection raised by counsel as to why the Attorney-General should defend the Chief Justice, to 27 May.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002- Mr Joseph O. Amui, Counsel for Charles Ebo Quansah, the self-confessed serial killer, on Wednesday objected to an assertion by a prosecution witness that his client offered a voluntary statement before an interrogation team.
Counsel argued that there was no paragraph in the summary of evidence supplied to him, which indicated that it was Detective Inspector Hanson Gove, the sixth prosecution witness, who wrote the caution statement himself. He said it was Superintendent Ken Yeboah of the Crime Unit, Police Headquarters, who wrote the statement and not Detective Inspector Gove or Quansah who was at that time severely beaten by interrogators with the view to extracting the truth from him.
Mr Amui raised the objection when Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, was leading Chief Inspector Gove in evidence at the trial of Quansah for murder. The court presided over by Mrs Justice Agnes Dordzie, with a seven-member jury, had earlier heard the evidence of five of the 11 witnesses that the prosecution intends to call.
Mr Amui said when the purported statement was taken the accused had broken down, as a result of severe beatings which forced him to confess that he killed Akua Serwa. Replying to the objection, Mr Gyambiby explained that the summary of evidence did not entail all that happened and that Superintendent Yeboah assisted Detective Gove to take the statement of Quansah.
According to the State Principal Attorney, the summary of evidence by Superintendent Yeboah stated that "a statement was taken," and he did not say he took down the statement. He referred to the phrase "broken down" in counsel's objection and explained that it does not mean that the accused was beaten up and had "broken down".
He said Quansah indeed felt sorry for the murder that he had committed and so broke down to confess. The prosecutor also announced that supplementary evidence had been filed, but he did not disclose the content.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - The Minority on Wednesday called on the government to formally clarify the position of Major Abubakar Sulemana in the national security apparatus. A statement signed by Minority Chief Whip, Mr Doe Adjaho said "conflicting statements by Major Sulemana himself and various government officials have left Ghanaians confused as to his status in the security service."
It said Major Sulemana has been carrying himself as a member of the national security and recently granted an interview to the Ghanaian Chronicle that he would not resign from his position. The minority said top government officials were reported to have contradicted that claiming that Major Sulemana held no recognised appointment with the national security apparatus.
"It is shocking that a person whose status is not clear and not bound by any formal code of appointment should for such a long while have access to the very top echelons of the security agency, including access to sensitive national security reports.
The minority thus called on government to clarify the situation and questioned "how many more Sulemana's do we have parading in the security apparatus without clearly defined appointment from the government".
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 23 May 2002- Samuel Akuffo-Addo, the 51-year-old man, who allegedly posed as a gynaecologist, dispensed restricted drugs to a woman and later raped her was on Tuesday granted 10 million cedis' bail by a circuit tribunal at Cape Coast.
Akuffo-Addo pleaded not guilty to practising medicine without authority and dispensing restricted drugs, while the charge of rape against him is being referred to the Attorney General's Department for advice since the tribunal has no jurisdiction to try it.
He is to make his third appearance before the tribunal on Tuesday, 4 June. The case for the prosecution was that in February Akuffo-Addo was introduced to one Madam Emelia Aziabul by one of her church members as a very good gynaecologist. Madam Aziabul, who wanted to get pregnant, began taking treatment from the ''Doctor'' at his ''clinic'' at Ankamu, near Apam Junction.
The Prosecution alleged that during one of such treatment sessions on 27 April, Akuffo-Addo asked Madam Aziabul to strip naked and lie on a wooden bed in his 'clinic'. He inserted some drugs into her genital organ and injected her that made her unconscious.
When Madam Aziabul regained consciousness she saw her 'Doctor' having sex with her. She lodged a complaint with the Police in Accra. In another development, the tribunal again remanded in custody two men, who allegedly seized a taxicab at gunpoint at Ajumako and attempted to sell it off at Bolgatanga.
The two, Kwesi Koomson, 25, and Gado Akoogo, 27, whose Policeman father exposed their act, are to be re-arraigned on 4 June. Their pleas on the charge of robbery were not taken. Prosecution said on 21 April Koomson and Gado, in the company of two others, now at large, went to Ajumako armed with a locally manufactured pistol, with an intention to rob.
Their accomplices laid an ambush while the two allegedly went to town the town and hired a taxicab to take them to Essakyir. On the way they pulled a gun on the driver and robbed him of his vehicle. They took the vehicle to Bolgatanga, where they attempted to sell it but Akoogo's father tipped off the Police there and he and Koomson were arrested.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 23 May 2002-The Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, has condemned the importation and use of condoms which he said encouraged adultery and fornication.
Archbishop Sarpong said this at the Eucharistic celebration of Saint William's Catholic Chaplaincy of the University College of Education Winneba (Kumasi Campus) at Tanoso. He said getting HIV/AIDS could be avoided if couples stayed faithful to each other while the unmarried refrained from casual sex.
He advised the students to stay clear of drugs, immorality, indiscipline and questionable dressing and behaviour, saying, "God is God because He is holy" and his followers should lead decent and holy lives. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Principal of the university, commended the Catholic Archdiocese for the 10 billion cedi students' hostel under construction for the university.
Professor Anamuah-Mensah said the block would accommodate 710 students of the university without any discrimination. He expressed satisfaction with the partnership that the university and the Catholic Archdiocese had forged for the infrastructure development of the campus. Mr George Mawuli Damen, President of the International Movement of Catholic Students of the university, expressed his appreciation for the Archbishop's pastoral visit.
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Hwidiem (Brong Ahafo) 23 May 2002- A traditional ruler has appealed to the Ministry of Education to reconsider its decision to cancel this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). He said re-sitting the examination would create inconvenience to teachers, parents, students and the nation as a whole.
In a statement, Osuodumgya Barima Kwame Bonsu, Omanhene of Hwidiem in the Brong Ahafo, suggested that the cancellation should affect schools in the urban centres because those in the rural areas "might not have access to the leakages".
The Omanhene, who is a member of the Police Council, said the decision for the re-sitting of the examination would cause inconvenience since some of the students might have travelled outside the country after the examination. Osuodumgya Bonsu blamed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the printing house and urged the Ministry to ensure that those found responsible for the leakage were punished.
"Individual headmasters, teachers, students or candidates as well as anybody found associated with the leakage should also not be spared if proved as accomplices," he said, adding that, this would serve as deterrent.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare on Wednesday reiterated his call for regional integration and urged African countries to commit themselves to making the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) a reality.
President Konare was quoted by the Acting Dean of African Diplomatic Corps, Mr Emmanuel Tanoe Amon as telling a close door meeting with African ambassadors in Accra that African integration was an important ingredient for realising the ideals of NEPAD.
Ambassador Amon told journalists that Mr Konare urged African nations to remove barriers to regional integration. President Konare, who expressed delight at the opportunity to meet the ambassadors for the last time before leaving office, said the borders within countries and regions on the continent should not be barriers to integration but rather bridges for regional cohesion and development.
Mr Amon said the meeting underscored the responsibility of African nations to manage the NEPAD, try their best to keep and make it successful and make it open to all nations that would be interested. He said the meeting also discussed the issue of a common currency for the sub region, and congratulated Mr Konare on his decision to respect the Malian constitution by leaving office when his term of office expired.
He said Mr Konare paid tribute to Ghana's first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah for the links he established between Ghana and Mali and further expressed gratitude to successive governments and people of Ghana for maintaining the fine links between the two countries. Mr Konare also expressed happiness at his meeting with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, and urged African countries to adopt traditional rule as the basis for development.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - The People's National Convention (PNC) party on Wednesday called for the provision of subsidies on farming and fishing inputs to significantly reduce the level of poverty in the country.
A statement in Accra signed by Dr Edward Mahama, Leader of the Party, said farmers and fishermen formed about 60 per cent of the workforce adding that "this workforce bears the brunt of bad government policies such as removal of subsidies, increases in petroleum prices with the corresponding increase in transportation costs and higher tariffs on water and electricity".
The statement was to welcome the visiting Malian President Alpha Konare, Former South African President Nelson Mandela and Mr Paul O'Neil, United States Secretary of State for the Treasury.
The statement noted that farmers in the United States formed only five per cent of the workforce, yet in considering their plight, the American government had provided a hefty 190 billion dollars Subsidy Farm Bill even against the objection of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and World Trade Organisation.
"We urged our President to follow suit to provide the much needed relief to Ghanaian farmers and fisher folks," it said. The statement said the PNC would pursue a divestiture programme that would build national self-reliance in the context of an integrated African economy adding; "in the case of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), PNC would divest first to its Ghanaian management and workforce and all other Ghanaians interested in owing a piece of TOR."
"We believe that a sound programme to build a self-reliant economy relieves our so-called development partners of the Donor fatigue, hence their recommendation for us to declare ourselves bankrupt; HIPC," it said. The statement urged the US Treasury Secretary to use his enormous American influence to expedite the flow of the donor committed funds to enable Ghana government to lighten the economic burden of its people.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - Ghana would mark the 39th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to be observed as "Africa's Day" under the new Africa Union (AU) on 25 May as a Statutory Public Holiday.
A statement signed on Wednesday for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman named activities for the celebration as a flag-raising ceremony at the State House and prayers by the Christian and Muslim communities for the continent and its leaders for the success of the AU.
Others are a press conference on 24 May and drama and choral performances at the National Theatre. The statement said; "the Republic of Ghana is determine to work in tandem with all 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 occasion offered the opportunity to soberly reflect on the achievements and shortcomings of the OAU to serve as guidelines for future endeavours and also to reaffirm the commitment to the economic upliftment of the continent and her people through the AU. The statement recalled the commitment African leaders made in July 2000 when they approved and adopted the Constitutive Act of the AU to serve as the framework for accelerating the integration of the economies of African countries.
It said with the entry into force of the Act, the OAU was at present in a transitional phase within which member states were working towards the practical operationalising the Union, particularly with regards to the establishment of its institutions and structures.
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African leaders must be committed to
democracy-Konare
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare on Wednesday, called on African leaders to be more committed to the establishment of democracy in their countries. He said it was not an easy task but they had to come to terms with the fundamental conditions that would ensure the existence of democracy in their countries such as respect for human rights, rule of law and good governance.
President Konare was speaking at a pre-departure interview in Accra at the end of his three-day official visit to Ghana at the invitation of President John Agyekum Kufuor. President Kufuor saw him off to the gangway after the Armed Forces Central Band had played the national anthems of both countries and a 21-gun salute, which boomed in the background. Mr Konare inspected a guard of honour mounted by a contingent from the 48 Engineers regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
President Konare said African leaders should at every forum push ahead the need for democracy in their countries and not yield to pressures from those who would oppose them through violence. "We should have the conviction to tell the truth and respect our people because in Africa the way we see things is better manifested than how we say them and from what we say democracy on the continent is inevitable", he added.
President Konare described the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as well grounded in Africa and efforts were being made to make it popular. He said there were strong waves for the success of NEPAD, adding that the initiative would not be hijacked by anyone because African leaders were conscious that it took into account democracy and good governance as the basis to ensure social development.
President Konare said with such a commitment, the leaders would not open up the continent for capitalists and other forces to continue with their exploitation, adding "we need integration on the continent both from the sub-regional to the regional levels".
President Kufuor described the relationship between the two countries as "superb" and President Konare as a focused leader who was totally committed to ensuring a successful sub-regional integration. He said President Konare performed creditably in his dual leadership role as President of Mali and Chairman of ECOWAS and "this sterling leadership role is worthy of emulation".
While in Ghana, President Konare and his host participated in the two-day meeting of the Sahel and West Africa Club meeting in Accra, the first to be organised in Africa and outside the headquarters of the Paris-based Club. They also participated in the Ghana-Mali bilateral talks and at a state banquet held in his honour President Konare was honoured with the highest state honour, "Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana", while he in-turn honoured President Kufuor with the "Great Cross of Mali" the highest state honour of Mali.
President Konare, accompanied by Vice President Aliu Mahama travelled to Kumasi to attend a mini-durbar held in his honour by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene. He held a meeting with African ambassadors, the Malian community and laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum.
This was the second time President Konare had visited Ghana since President Kufuor assumed office. The first was in October last year during which Ghana and Mali reviewed their political relations. The second visit offered the two countries another opportunity to have fruitful exchange of views on issues of common interest at bilateral, regional and international levels.
In particular, Ghana and Mali reviewed ways of implementing the recommendations reached at the 10th Session of the Ghana-Mali Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation held in Bamako in October last year. The two countries agreed to co-operate in the scientific, technical and commercial fields. President Konare, 56 was first elected President of the Third Republic of Mali in 1992 and was re-elected in 1997 and had just completed his tenure of office.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Malian counterpart, President Alpha Oumar Konare, on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the recent general elections held in Sierra Leone and urged the parties involved to respect the wishes of the people.
In a communiqué issued in Accra at the end of the three-day state visit of President Konare to Ghana, they urged the leadership of the parties involved in the election to remain committed to the consolidation of democracy, peace and security. The 29-point communiqué was jointly signed by the Foreign Ministers of both countries- Hackman Owusu-Agyemang of Ghana, who also read it, and ModiboSidibe of Mali, at a pre-departure press briefing.
The communiqué expressed the commitment of both leaders to work for the attainment of peace, security and socio-economic development at the bilateral, regional and international levels. "Both Heads of State stressed the urgent need to safeguard peace and security in the sub-region without which there could be no harmonious sustainable development," the communiqué said.
On Liberia, President Kufuor and Konare, expressed concern about the armed rebellion of the Liberians United For Reconciliation and Development and the humanitarian crisis it was creating. They consequently welcomed the decision taken at the Third Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council held in Yamoussoukro on 16 May and called for an unconditional cease-fire and the appointment of a facilitator for the cease-fire.
The leaders, who re-affirmed their belief in democracy, the respect for human rights and rule of law, stressed the need for the continuation of internal dialogue in Liberia. On the situation in the Mano River Basin, Presidents Kufuor and Konare urged the heads of State of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea to implement the measures adopted at the Mini-Summit held in Rabat, Morocco, on February.
They were also happy with the peace initiatives in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo and appealed for more international support for the mediators facilitating the process. The leaders expressed concern about the heightening of violence in the Middle East and called on the International Community to work for a permanent, just and global solution to end the long conflict.
Presidents Kufuor and Konare condemned terrorism and advocated a joint international action to stem the scourge. Among those present were Vice President Aliu Mahama, Senior Minister Joseph Henry Mensah and other Minister of State and officials of both sides.
President Konare arrived on Monday for a three-day visit at the invitation of President Kufuor. During the period, he participated in the Sahel and West Africa Club meeting in Accra, held bilateral talks with President Kufuor and attended a State banquet at which he was honoured with the highest State honour, "Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana".
President Konare also travelled to Kumasi and attended a mini-durbar held in his honour by the Asanteman Council and held private talks with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene. He also laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra. This is the second time President Konare is visiting Ghana since President Kufuor assumed office. The first was a day's visit in October last year during which Ghana and Mali reviewed their political relations.
President Konare, 56, was first elected President of the Third Republic of Mali in 1992 and was re-elected in 1997. He hands over power to a new government within the next 16 days.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - The visit of the former South African President, Mr. Nelson Mandela, scheduled to begin on 23 May 2002 has been postponed.
It had been rescheduled for a date to be announced later, a statement issued from the Office of the President said on Wednesday. The statement said all functions planned in connection with Mr. Mandela's visit have regrettably been cancelled.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002- Ms Hawa Yakubu, Minister of Tourism, said on Wednesday that the ministry has plans to organise an international camping for boy scouts and girl guides to help in exposing the country's tourist centres to the outside world. Ms Yakubu said scouting and guiding were being noted for their camping and other exciting activities and it would be a good idea to bring these people together in one country from time to time.
Meeting six foreign students from the US who are on a two-week visit to Ghana, she mentioned places like the Mole game reserve, waterfalls in the Volta Region, the crocodile pond at Paga, the Larabanga stone and other forest and game reserves, which could be visited.
The students will instal computers in various laboratories including the Cocoa Research Institute, Kumasi Secondary-Technical School and Kyirapatre Library in Kumasi, Nkwatia Secondary School and Kwahu-Daa Junior Secondary School.
Ms Yakubu said there are a lot of places in the rural areas, which could be developed into tourist attraction centres. She said although information on a country could be accessed from the Internet, it would still be better to see it and have a feel of the place. The minister said school exchange programmes would also be encouraged to enable other students to spend their holidays in the country and have time to move round areas of interest.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002- The US Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Paul O'Neill on Wednesday presented two computers and accessories and eight sewing machines valued at 6,000 dollars to Richard Akwei Memorial School in Accra.
The equipment, which was donated to the school by the Academy for Education and Development and the Washington Leland Initiative, are to help expand and equip the students with vocational skills, especially in sewing and graphic designing.
The Richard Akwei Memorial School management initiated the vocational project to address the high rate of youth unemployment. Funds came from the government of Ghana, the African Development Bank and the United States Agency for International Development. It is aimed at equipping Junior Secondary School pupils and school dropouts with employable skills to enable them to gain employment or start their own businesses.
There are currently more than 8,000 pupils from nearby schools and 15 school dropouts undertaking courses in leatherworks, needlework and food and nutrition at the institute. Mr O'Neill expressed the hope that the equipment would help the children to develop their creative ability. Paul "Bono" Hewson, who accompanied the Secretary, said aid could be a factor in speeding up development.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - Government has described
criticisms by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as
trivialities. The NDC has criticized government for using the Aveyime Rice mill
despite its allegations that the project caused financial loss to the state and
the subsequent prosecution of former government officials. The NDC has also
called for changes in the National Security apparatus and the clarification of
the role of Major General Sulemana of the National security outfit.
But the NPP government says it will not allow its focus on revamping
the economy, maintaining peace and stability and enhancing the quality of the people
to be distracted by the actions and demands of people who are only bent on
scoring political points.
Government Spokesperson Kwabena Agyepong said the government,
in sending the Quality Grain (Aveyime Project) matter to court did not intend
to criminalise the NDC as a party but to hold individuals in the former
government connected with the project accountable for allegations of fraud and
other forms of malfeasance levelled against them.
It also has to do with how due to the laxity on the part of officials
of the former government, a foreigner, specifically, Mrs Cotton frittered away
substantial amounts of money in dollars for her personal benefits and to the
disadvantage of the ordinary Ghanaian taxpayer. He said that the Aveyime Mill
is the property of the people of Ghana and that government on behalf of the
people has the right and indeed the duty to put it to good use in the service
of the nation.
On the issue of national security, Mr. Agyepong expressed dismay at what he termed as the minority’s attempt to make national security issues a partisan political matter. We find it inadmissible that demands such as these are made, seeking to put important matters of national security which affect the security of the state in the open.
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Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002 - The Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Ghana has announced that the Catholic University of Ghana in
Fiapre near Sunyani will open in September 2002. Initially the University will
offer four-year degree programmes leading to a BA/BSc in three faculties:
* Information and
* Communication
Sciences and Technology (ICST);
* Economics and
Business Administration (E&BA), and
* Religious Studies
and Education (RS&Ed).
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates
for admission to any of these three faculties.
1. Application Procedures:
a. Applications may obtain application forms for ¢ 200,000 from
the National Catholic Secretariat (Accra), the Secretariat of any Catholic
Diocese, or the Office of the Catholic University of Ghana in Sunyani or Accra.
b. Completed application forms together with the specified documents
are to be submitted to any of the offices or sent by registered mail postmarked
not later than 28 June to the Office of the CUG in either Sunyani or Accra.
c. Successful applicants will be notified by 1 August.
Students will register in Sunyani at CUG offices August 28-30.
2. Entry Requirements:
a. Secondary school certificate with certified results;
b. Completed application form with a short statement
(150-200 words) hand-written by the applicant indicating her/his career goals,
the reason for wishing to obtain a University degree, and why the applicant
wishes to study at the Catholic University of Ghana;
c. Identity card or letter of identification from
applicant's school, with three passport size colour photographs certified by applicants
parish priest or headmaster of Senior Secondary School which the applicant
attended.
3. Tuition and other fees:
a. Tuition fees will be the equivalent of US$ 1,000 per semester
and $2,000 per year. Fees will be paid at time of registration (Aug 28-30,
2002).
b. The Diocese of Sunyani and the Office of the Catholic University
will try to assist students in finding suitable housing. Students will however,
be responsible for their own lodging and other living expenses.
c. The CUG does not provide any bursary or scholarship
funds. However, dioceses, parishes or other institutions are encouraged to
provide such assistance to students who require financial assistance. While
permanent facilities are being constructed at Fiapre, the Catholic University
will, in the meantime, use the Catholic
Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Sunyani for lectures and administration.
The Catholic University of Ghana has linkages with Catholic and other
Universities in different parts of the world.
Further information may be obtained from:
The Ag. Registrar
Catholic University of Ghana, Fiapre
P. O. Box 363
Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region
Tel: 061-27379/061-24805
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Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2002- Mr. Kwame Pianim, an Economist,
has said corruption has reached its highest level and the Government must use
the necessary tools to minimize it. "Corruption is expensive and needs to
be minimized," he said. Mr. Pianim said the President has accorded the
fight against corruption, has necessitated bringing constitutional watchdog institutions
such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ),
Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition into the
centre of the reform agenda.
He said the involvement of these watchdog institutions equipped
with adequate resources will make it possible to operationalize the
"zero-tolerance for corruption" concept of the President. "The
capacity to monitor, evaluate and detect financial malpractices in the public
sector will bring an important weapon into the fight against corruption."
Mr. Pianim was delivering a lecture at the Public Services Commission
Fifth Annual Lecture dubbed, 'Public Sector Reforms - The Strategic Role of
Information in the Implementation Progress' in Accra last Wednesday. Speaking on
the topic: Transforming the Ghana Public Sector into a Business-Oriented Entity:
Challenges and Prospects", Mr. Pianim said the deterrent effect of a high
probability of being detected, prosecuted and punished has been identified as an
important element in controlling acts of corruption. He said the involvement of
civil society will add an invaluable and independent monitoring agent.
Mr. Pianim said the push to establish the Golden Age of Business
is already bringing additional pressures for corruption and conflict of interest
situations. "These make "zero tolerance" for corruption begin to
sound like a take on the old "probity and accountability" refrain of
the NDC days." He said the attainment of the vision of the Golden Age of Business
requires a very strong and focused role for the state and must be articulated
and implemented in a disciplined and transparent manner.
"Procurement procedures should be clear and implemented
in a transparent manner and divestiture of public assets should be effected on
highest bidder basis without room for other non-commercial
considerations." Mr. Pianim said the challenge is how to transform the enormous
goodwill of the international development partners, and the continued prayers
of the good people of Ghana into sustained and accelerated growth.
"One thing is for sure; the Golden Age of Business will not materialize without significant injection of foreign capital and technical and managerial know how," he said. He said a fully networked public sector with improved Statistical Service would help provide critically needed information for the monitoring and evaluation of performance as well as to provide information on the economy for interested investors.
A former Chairman of VALCO, Mr. J.V.L. Philips said the Public
Service and the Civil Service in particular, in former days was praised for its
exemplary credentials. It is now often lambasted for incompetence and poor
performance; for perpetuating outmoded bureaucratic practices, for the
lassitude of its officers and for various insensitivities towards the public.
"Why is it that the superb image of earlier days has become so
denigrated?" he asked.
He said if public servants perform their duties competently,
as they are capable of doing, and if they implement the policies of the
government of the day zealously and loyally in order to achieve the desired
results, this adverse perception would be dissipated.
GRi…/
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