Supreme Court rules on Tsikata's Review on 26 June
Dagbon Traditional Council calls for change of
commission's venue
Render treatment to the poor - Dr Afriyie
Canadian High Commission gives to Medical School
Media asks not to focus on government statements
Ghanaian CNN award winner presents award to
President
Supreme Court rules on Tsikata's Review on
26 June
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002 - The Supreme Court would on 26 June rule on the review application filed by the Attorney- General on the constitutionality of the Fast Track Court (FTC). The court announced the date at its sitting on Tuesday, 28 May after counsel for Tsatsu Tsikata had drawn the court's attention that he had not been served with a copy of a supplementary application filed by the Attorney-General (A-G).
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, therefore, asked the A-G to serve Professor Emmanuel Victor Oware Dankwa, counsel for Tsikata, with a copy to enable him to respond to it within seven days. The Attorney –General had earlier filed a review application, praying the court to reverse its decision on the constitutionality of the FTC.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has dismissed the case in which Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the GNPC was challenging the Chief Justice’s legal authority to empanel 11 judges to sit on the review of the constitutionality of the Fast Track Court.
In a unanimous decision, the five-member panel of the court presided over by Mr Justice A. K. B. Ampiah, held that the Chief Justice (CJ) had the discretionary power to empanel all available judges of the Supreme Court to sit on the case, without proclaiming this in a practice direction.
The other members of the panel were Mr Justice George Acquah, Mr Justice William Atugubah, Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo and Mr Justice George Lamptey. The court stated that when the CJ used his discretionary powers to empanel all available judges of the Supreme Court to sit on a case, he would be within his constitutional right to do so.
Consequently, the court found the application as frivolous and unmeritorious and dismissed it accordingly. It awarded a cost of five million cedis against the former GNPC boss. Earlier, the court over-ruled the preliminary objection Mr Tsikata raised on the grounds that the Attorney -General was a party to the suit and could, therefore, not defend Chief Justice.
The court was of the view that the President in consultation with the Council of State appointed the Chief Justice as the Head of the Judiciary and since he was not sued in his individual capacity, the A-G being government's advisor on legal matters, was the right person to defend him.
Tsikata had gone to the court, to seek certain relief, which included among others things, a declaration that the January 10, 2001, practice direction by Mr Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, Acting CJ (as he then was); "is null and void, contrary to the 1992 Constitution."
The former GNPC boss also sought an order of injunction directed to the CJ to restrain him from acting on the basis of the said practice direction of 10 January 2001, in empanelling justices of the Supreme Court for hearing of cases. He also sought a declaration from the court that on the true and correct interpretation of the 1992 Constitution, "there is no constitutional requirement for a panel of 11 judges of the Supreme Court to hear a review of a decision by a panel of nine judges of the same court."
Tsatsu submitted further that on the true and correct interpretation of the Constitution, except in the case of a decision by a panel for five judges of the Supreme Court, " there is no requirement for the CJ to add two additional judges of the SC to hear an application for review of the court's decision."
The former GNPC boss contended that in view of the clear interest shown by the CJ, that is, dissenting view in the suit should become the majority view upon the review, the empanelling of the two additional judges would be a way of increasing the chance of a reversal of a majority decision.
Nana Akuffo Addo, Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecution and Mr Samuel Y. Anim, a Chief State Attorney represented the state, while Professor Emmanuel Victor Oware Dankwah appeared for Tsikata.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 29 May 2002- The Dagbon Traditional Council and the Andani family have petitioned the President to change the venue of the commission of inquiry into the Dagbon crisis from Sunyani to Tamale, Kumasi, Damongo or Nalerigu.
The commission, headed by Justice Isaac N.A. Wuaku, was due to sit at Sunyani to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani and 40 others. Kubun-Naa Abu Yiri II and the regent of Gulkpegu, Naa Tiblim Abdulai, signed the petition dated 17 May 2002, citing insecurity and lack of accommodation for witnesses and chiefs.
"The fact that this element of insecurity is likely to tell on the composure of our witnesses is an issue that worries us a lot.'' The petitioners expressed concern about rumours being peddled that they would be attacked at Sunyani during the period of the investigation, saying they would not dismiss the rumours ''because of the lessons we have learnt from the massacre of our people in Yendi from 25 to 27 March, 2002.''
''The events that recently occurred in Yendi culminating in the appointment of the commission of inquiry have taught us to identify a potentially dangerous situation. We dismissed rumours of a possible attack on the late Ya-Na's palace that turned out to be true,'' the petition said.
The petition said since the situation in Tamale and its environs was now calm and being a more familiar place for all parties involved in the crisis, it would be a more suitable venue than Sunyani. The Dagbon Traditional Council mentioned Kumasi, Damongo and Nalerigu as alternative venues because they are the homes of members of Otumfuo Mediation Committee and that each of the three members of the committee could be prevailed upon to offer assistance if any one of the three venues is chosen.
The council appealed to the President to give a sympathetic consideration to their request and pledged its full cooperation to bring lasting peace to Dagbon. It also expressed appreciation to the President and the government for the appointment and inauguration of the commission.
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Render treatment to the poor - Dr Afriyie
Wa (Upper West) 29 May 2002 - The government said it has allotted adequate resources to the health sector under the exemptions policy to cater for poor and needy patients who cannot afford to settle bills at various health facilities.
Consequently the authorities of all health facilities have been directed to strictly adhere to standard treatment guidelines and remove all bottlenecks that impede the smooth running of the programme. Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, who announced this at Wa on Tuesday when he opened the 10th annual District Directors of Health Services conference said there was is still some reluctance on the part of health workers to grant exemptions to the poor and needy.
The minister said such an attitude was not only a misinterpretation of government intentions but undermined its policies. Dr Afriyie said the government would repackage and take health services to the doorsteps of the people most of whom still shy away from hospitals and health facilities no matter how accessible they are.
He advised the directors to work closely with the district assemblies, saying the government was considering integrating the two to be able to work effectively at the district level. Dr Afriyie said the ministry would soon take delivery of about 50 vehicles to be distributed to the health facilities.
Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister, called on the Ministry of Health to organise frequent training programmes for workers to upgrade their knowledge. He said the ministry should also introduce incentive packages for health workers in rural areas to attract more qualified staff there.
Mr Mogtari commended doctors, nurses and Para medical staff in the region for their sacrifices in working with limited resources. Dr Fulgence Sangber-Dery, Chairman of the District Directors of Health Services Association, said the conference would review health policies for the government's consideration, delve into diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and issues like the community health insurance scheme. He said the failure of health authorities to give incentive to workers in the rural areas was partly responsible for their refusal to accept posting to those areas.
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Canadian High Commission gives to Medical
School
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002 - Proceeds of the sixth Terry Fox Marathon of Hope worth 50 million cedis was on Tuesday presented to the University of Ghana Medical School to support the Burkitt's Tumor Project in Ghana.
The money, raised through corporate donations, pledges from runners, proceeds from raffles among other things would be used for research on Burkitt's Lymphoma, a type of cancer prevalent among children in Ghana Mr Jean-Pierre Bolduc, Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, presented the cheque and said the donation brings to over 270 million cedis the amount raised from the first Terry Fox Run held in Accra in 1995.
Mr Bolduc said Canada believed strongly in supporting medical research, adding, "research must continue for many years and should be supported with great dedication by scientists and physicians to develop cures and improve the treatment for conditions such as cancer."
Professor Julius A. Mingle, Principal Investigator of the Burkitt's Tumor Project in Ghana, said donations to the project were used to care for children affected by cancer while the rest go into research in other related cancers. He recounted the numerous supports by other organisations and foreign individuals, who have contributed over the years to maintain the project and expressed his appreciation to the Canadian High Commission for its continuous assistance.
The Reverend Professor Andrew Seth Aryittey, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, said since the establishment of the Project, it had been able to train more researchers to contribute to the research work. Professor Clifford N. B. Tagoe, Dean of Ghana Medical School, received the donation and thanked the High Commission for the gesture.
He called for the participation of children in the walk to sustain it.Terry Fox an 18-year old Canadian lost part of his right leg to bone cancer. In 1980, Terry decided to run across Canada from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic in a "Marathon of Hope" to raise funds for cancer research.
On September 1, 1980 after 143 days and a 5,373-kilometre walk, he was forced to stop the walk when the cancer spread to his lungs. Terry died from cancer on 28 June 1981 at the age of 22 years.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002 - The Media has been asked not to only highlight statements from government or public officials but to thoroughly examine the issues and to encourage the people to assert themselves and develop critical assessment.
In a speech read for him at a forum on the role of the media in national development in Accra on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh said the media could be an instrument to promote assertiveness or timidity depending on the issues they focus on and people whose voice or views they project.
The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) organised the forum to address issues about the role of the media as the watchdog in promoting good governance, economic and social development in the new democratic dispensation. It also examined existing systems that inhibit the media in its role to ensure national progress.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh noted that a free media was a defence against corruption and oppressive governments and also protected and safeguarded the rule of law. According to him the objectives of democracy would be realised if meaningful information to enhance human development was provided, adding that any obstacle to freedom of speech was unproductive since the absence of dissent created credibility problems for the media.
"In a society where there are restrictions on information flow, the people can not hold their leaders accountable, because they would not know what is happening or the basis of evaluation," he stressed. To adequately fulfil this role, he said, the media should be given the necessary resources.
Professor Ato Ghartey, the former Controller and Accountant General said the media was a key player in issues of governance and poverty reduction at the global, regional, national and community levels.
"It can have an influential role in shaping public and policy makers' attitudes toward peace, accountability, transparency and good governance," he said but added that these roles were best played and effective in the atmosphere of truth, fairness and mutual respect for human dignity.
Professor Ansu Kyeremeh, Director School of Communication Studies asked the media to explore the social relationships and other non-traditional issues that had a bearing on productivity in various communities in the country.
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Ghanaian CNN award winner presents award to President
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002- The Ghanaian CNN award winner, Ms Loretta Vanderpuye on Tuesday presented her award to President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu. Ms Vanderpuye, a journalist of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), won the Environment Category of this year's CNN African Journalists Award Competition, with her story "Dangers of Exhaust Emission."
The prize consisted of a plaque, a laptop, modem and printer and cash. President Kufuor said the country required journalists who were knowledgeable and could inform the people on issues about themselves and the world. Such opinion leaders should ensure they tell the truth but not pollute the minds of the people with misinformation", he said.
President Kufuor commended her and said her award was an honour to Ghana and a great achievement on a topic that concentrated on cleaning the atmosphere to purify the air for people, showed her concern for mankind. He said professionals in other fields should also aspire to excel to bring more honour to the country.
Ms Vanderpuye said her award indicated that journalism was critical to national development and urged her colleagues to take their work seriously to contribute their quota towards the country's development. She called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders on the environment to assist eradicate dangers posed by exhaust emission in the country.
The top prize of the CNN Journalist of the year, went to Susan Puren from "Carte Blanche' of MNET/DSTV, South Africa. Ms Puren was chosen from among entrants from 26 countries across Africa for her story, 'China, war Child." The overall CNN Journalist of the year received a trip to CNN Centre, Atlanta, with complimentary flights, courtesy of South African Airlines and a cashprize.
The CNN holds the annual competition, which is now in its seventh year in partnership with South African Broadcasting Corporation. There were also awards for Sports, Business and Commerce, Art and Culture and Health.
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