"Venue for inquiry into Yendi crisis will not change", Government
Commission on Yendi conflict starts work in Sunyani
Ghana Trade Fair Company to organise
Presidential Award
Second National Economic Dialogue takes
place in Accra
Ghana may host the CNN Africa Journalist Awards
Lack of lawyers hampering opening of new
courts
Force Commander happy with Ghanaian troops
Ministry of Youth and Sports to adopt Kofi
Annan Centre
Casual workers disrupt activities at port
Non-Formal Education Directors to report for
re-posting
Ghana Journalist Association congratulates
award winner
Joint anti-robbery exercise not to abuse
people's rights - CDS
"Negative Change in Ghana" launched
Central Region CPP endorses unity with National
Reform Party
Customs impounds 12 vehicles with uncustomed
goods
"Venue for inquiry into Yendi crisis
will not change", Government
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The Government on Wednesday stuck to Sunyani as the venue for the three-member commission probing the Yendi tragedy and said the decision would only change if there were compelling reasons to do so. Mr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako, Assistant Government Spokesman, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that Sunyani was chosen because of its proximity to the north and general suitability for the security of members of the Commission and people who might want to testify.
Mr Amponsah-Bediako was reacting to a petition by the Dagbon Traditional Council and the Andani family to the President to change the venue to Tamale, Damongo, Nalerigu or Kumasi, citing security reasons. "The Northern Military Command and the Police Service are on high alert to provide security to all stakeholders in the inquiry and no one should entertain any fear.
"Damongo and Nalerigu are within the Northern Region and the emotions of the parties to the conflict can come into play in these areas. Kumasi is also very far away from the conflict area. Sunyani was, therefore, chosen after serious consideration," he said. Mr Amponsah-Bediako said government was not down playing the immense threat of the Yendi crisis to national security, hence the huge expenditure to ensure peace and order.
"These monies could have been used to improve the socio-economic development of the north. I, therefore, appeal to people with vital information about the crisis to provide it to the Commission so that the truth would be unveiled to help avoid recurrence.
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Commission on Yendi conflict starts work in Sunyani
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 30 May 2002- Mr Justice Isaac Newton Kwaku Wuaku, Chairman of the three-member commission probing the Yendi tragedy, on Wednesday pledged that members would perform the task with transparency and open mindedness. "My colleagues and I assure all those who will come forward to testify before us that we shall deal with all facts and information we receive with open mind.''
Mr Justice Wuaku, who was speaking at the commencement of the Commission's work in Sunyani, gave the assurance that his team would deal with all persons with fairness to be able to come out with findings devoid of bias or prejudice against or in sympathy for anyone.
Other members of the Commission, set up by the President John Agyekum Kufuor on 26 April, are Professor Kwasi Yankah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, and Mrs Florence Brew, an educationist. Counsel for the Commission is Mr George Owuoo, a retired Chief State Attorney with Mrs Regina Abotsi, as secretary. The Commission has one month to complete its work.
Mr Justice Wuaku, a retired Supreme Court judge, emphasised that the Commission, according to its terms of reference, was not to conduct a trial of any person but to gather facts by listening to all persons, who have relevant information to assist with its work. ''The mandate of the Commission does not extend to delving into the long standing Yendi Ya Na Skin dispute or the respective claims of parties to that dispute.''
He said any person, who would appear before the Commission to testify would be doing so as a witness. Mr Justice Wuaku appealed to all persons with information or facts to assist the work of the Commission to freely come forward and testify. He said any witness wishing to be represented by a lawyer was entitled to do so, adding that the counsel for the Commission would assist any witness, who could not afford a lawyer but wished to have one.
Mr Justice Wuaku said witnesses would be examined first by the counsel for the Commission, the witness's own lawyer may also examine the witness. Indeed unlike in a trial, a counsel could cross-examine his own witness. He appealed to the people of Dagbon to exercise maximum restraint and allow tempers to cool down for reason to prevail.
The Chairman further appealed to witnesses appearing before the Commission to tell the facts and information within their knowledge but not tell deliberate falsehood or misinformation. "We are to enquire into a matter of great importance not only to Dagbon but also to the whole nation," he said.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said the Commission was one of the most important bodies in the country's history. He expressed the hope that the Commission would work assiduously, in a transparent manner and come out with objective, sound and accurate findings about the crisis.
Mr Ernest Akubuor Debrah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and Acting Northern Region Minister, urged all those invited to appear before the Commission and those genuinely committed to bringing about reconciliation in Yendi to be very honest and sincere with their submissions to the Commission. Among those present were Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Northern Region Minister, members of the Brong Ahafo Region Security Council and Mr Mohammed Habibu Tijani, District Chief Executive for Yendi.
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Ghana Trade Fair Company to organises
Presidential Award
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The third edition of the Presidential Award instituted in 1995 to recognise and honour achievements made by corporate bodies by way of services to the civic community would be held on Saturday, 20 July. The award is being organised by the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC) under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
A statement from the GTFC said the award would cover the entire business community and all corporate bodies in the civil and public services, private sector, NGOs, religious bodies, trade and professional associations, voluntary organisations, among other institutions.
The statement said umbrella organisations such as the Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ghana Journalists Association, among other associations, have been requested to submit three nominations from corporate bodies to the Chief Executive of the Trade Fair Company for consideration.
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Second National Economic Dialogue takes
place in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- President John Kufuor on Wednesday said it was time Ghana began to get its self-confidence back with the stabilisation of the macro-economic environment. He, therefore, asked all stakeholders to join hands to make Ghana a confident, free and prosperous country. "We are on the right path; we must stick together to have the courage to stay the course."
He said: "With discipline and focus, Ghana will reach the goal of the Golden Age of Business. There is nothing mythical about this." President Kufuor was speaking at the Second National Economic Dialogue initiated by the government to build consensus with stakeholders for accelerated national development.
This year's dialogue, reviewed recommendations and submitted an annual report on the first dialogue. It is under the theme: "Ghana - Work in Progress". Politicians, civil society organisations, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other identifiable groups were in attendance. The first NED was held in May last year in Accra.
President Kufuor said nowhere in the world had business blossomed by chance adding that wherever a nation had boomed it had invariably been through "practical, hard-headed, sound socio-economic policies on the part of government and calculated risk taking on the part of the private sector and a committed and disciplined workforce".
He said such a combined force, taking advantage of the market opportunities that existed in its territory, the sub-region and the world at large led to successful business explosion that led to a golden age of business. President Kufuor said the legal framework was also being examined to make sure that the atmosphere and speed of conducting business was not cumbersome. He said within the few months that the Fast Track Court was allowed to function, more than 60 commercial cases were dealt with.
"Hopefully, the Fast Track Courts will be allowed to continue to dispense justice expeditiously to strengthen the faith of the business community in the judicial system," he said. On the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, President Kufuor said about 250 million dollars savings were made last year and a similar saving was expected this year. The country reached decision point in February this year.
He said when the completion point was reached in the first quarter of next year the economy would gain the maximum benefit in the form of donor support. President Kufuor said members of the G-8 countries, Ghana's biggest creditors would be expected to write off 100 per cent of the debts owed them and the other creditors would write off at least 67 per cent of all debts owed to them.
He said the total savings were expected to be about three billion dollars over 20 years. President Kufuor said government had began the process of disbursing the initial debt relief benefit of 96 million dollars to provide skills training for the unemployed, improve schools and upgrade health care facilities.
He said a scheme to provide small businesses with micro-credit had taken off throughout the country and under the Emergency Social Relief Programme
(ESRP), small-scale fishmongers; farmers and traders were being given credit to help them expand their businesses.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation, said if Ghana were able to implement all the recommendations made during last year's dialogue within the next three to five years, Ghana would become a unique, prosperous and forward-looking African country.
He said all stakeholders in the dialogue had a duty to work diligently to implement the recommendations made because a consensus was reached to put in place a structure and a process to monitor the implementation of the recommendations. Dr Nduom said the implementation of the recommendations was the responsibility of all the stakeholders and not the government alone. "We must make the effort together and share in the results together. This nation belongs to all of us."
He said under the National Economic Dialogue annual review meetings, all stakeholders would continue the process began last year to determine the requirements to build more sound foundation that could be relied upon for accelerated growth and development.
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Ghana may host the CNN Africa Journalist
Awards
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- Global Media Alliance (GMA), a network of media organisations, on Wednesday said it was discussing with its collaborators to stage the CNN Africa Journalist of the Year award in other African countries besides South Africa.
Mr Edward Boateng, Managing Director of GMA told the GNA, after an interaction with the media in Accra, that the organisers of the award would assess how media friendly a country is, available physical structures, technical facilities and environmental concerns among other considerations before making a decision.
He mentioned Ghana, Tanzania and Nigeria as among countries being considered but would not say how soon a decision would be taken. Mr. Boateng spoke highly about the contributions of journalists in Africa to the development of their countries and said despite the numerous hardships and sometimes the risky circumstances under which they worked they were poorly remunerated and hardly recognised. He said in Africa, the journalism profession was often maligned, journalists unjustifiably thrown into jail while others were exposed to untimely deaths in the discharge of their duties.
In spite of the difficulties, Mr Boateng urged African journalists to establish credibility and strive for perfection and excellence to make their voices heard.
He said the CNN Africa Journalist Award was established seven years ago to help journalists in Africa to bring out the best in them. The competition has 12 categories of awards. These include Environment, Francophone General News, Radio News, Radio Journalist, Business-e-commerce, Arts and Culture and Sports.
The others are the Mohamed Amin Photographic, Free Press, Television General News Feature, Health/Medical, Print Journalist and Television News Bulletin. Mr Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, a freelance journalist and two times Ghana Journalists ssociation (GJA) Best Journalist of the Year, said it was necessary for Ghanaian journalists to contest such competitions.
He decried the politicisation of news reports and said hardly was any of the entries in the CNN competition political. Mr Manfred Ashiboi-Mensah of GBC Radio and Mrs Loretta Vanderpuije of GTV, winners of the awards, recounted the conditions that they went through in producing their programmes and the opportunities that the awards had brought to them. Madam Foussena Djagba, General Manager of GMA said her outfit would liaise with the GJA to organise training programmes for journalists.
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Lack of lawyers hampering opening of new
courts
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- Ms. Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister of Justice on Wednesday said the lack of lawyers was hampering the opening of new magistrate courts or community tribunals. She said the Ministry would very much appreciate the efforts of District Assemblies, which would provide suitable accommodation for magistrates who would be asked to run the courts.
Ms, Akuffo was answering a question Mr. Samuel Nkrumah-Gyimah (NPP Odotobri) asked in Parliament as to what plans the Ministry of Justice has to establish a court at Jacobu-Ashanti to avoid the inconvenience to the people who travel long distances outside the constituency to attend court in Obuasi and Bekwai.
The Deputy Minister said despite the lack of lawyers the provision of suitable accommodation would influence the Judicial Service to extend judicial facilities to Odotobri. She therefore, asked the MP for the area to liaise with the district assembly for the facility.
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Force Commander happy with Ghanaian troops
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- Major General Mountaga Diallo, Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) on Wednesday commended Ghanaian troops' (GHANBATT) contribution to peacekeeping in that country. He praised the professionalism exhibited by the soldiers, saying, "I am very satisfied with the performance of the Ghanaian battalion".
Maj-Gen. Diallo said this when he called on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant-General Seth Obeng at his office in Burma Camp, Accra, to discuss the current situation in Congo and Ghana's contribution to peace in that country.
The Force Commander was on a day's visit to Ghana to give a lecture on "Force Commanders' Perspective on Peace Support Operations" at the International Peace Support Operations Course presently on-going at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) at Teshie near Accra. He said the peacekeeping operations in the DR Congo was moving "quite well" and that the prospects for peace was high, except for political issues which needed to be tackled seriously.
Maj.-Gen. Diallo said MONUC was receiving the co-operation of the Congolese government in their quest for peace and that the only incident was the recent demonstration by the Congolese people who wanted the mandate of the UN force, which went into that country on peacekeeping, to be changed to peace enforcement.
He said although the force's strength of 3,600 peacekeepers was inadequate, measures were taken to increase it to 5000 by the end of this year, depending on the political process. Lt. Gen. Obeng pledged the continued support of the GAF and the government to the pursuit of peace and security in the DR Congo.
The three-week International Peace Support Operations Course (IPSO) was organised by the GAFCSC for selected senior military officers in the sub-region. Participating countries were Ghana, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Sierra Leone and the United States.
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Private Schools condemn attempts to link
them with BECE leakage
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) on Wednesday expressed regret about comments by officials of the Ministry of Education seeking to link private school proprietors to the leakage of the recent Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).
"We deem it a betrayal, an insult and an act of frustration and displacement for high placed authorities to link up school proprietors to the scandal, in the manner they have so done", Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Sekyere, General Secretary of GNAPS said at a press conference in Accra.
The GNAPS said various statements given by both students and teachers clearly showed that they all obtained the question papers from the "open market". It was therefore unfortunate that the committee's report lacked the courage to put the blame at its proper place.
GNAPS said the report of the committee set up to investigate the leakage, failed to give detailed statistics of the schools and the subject papers involved, the manner in which the circulation was done, the circulating agents or the perpetrators. It therefore called on the Minister of Education to make such statistics available as a means of checking any future occurrence.
The association said the leakage of the BECE questions had for the past two weeks or more tortured the minds of authorities, parents, pupils and government bodies into whose hands Ghanaians had entrusted the whole exercise of education, evaluation, standardisation, measurement and certification. It said none of its members had a hand in or knowledge about the process that brought the question papers out of the security rooms where the handlers had kept them.
"No private school proprietor was involved in the circulation process because we believe that, the only way to make the highest grade is good supervision, committed teachers, high teacher-pupil ratio, motivation, prompt and regular supply of teaching aids, regular and serious involvement of parents in the education process and judicious use of contact hours."
GNAPS has therefore asked Ghanaians to hold the Ministry of Education and its agencies responsible for what had happened. "We charge them for lack of concentration, for lack of firmness of purpose and focus."
It assured parents and guardians that members of the association would not charge any extra fees to prepare the pupils for the re-sit and advised parents to report any proprietor who would ask their children to pay fees. GNAPS suggested to WAEC to have its own printing press to enable it to maintain the confidentiality of its questions or be put in the hands of trusted security personnel.
It also said that the security system at the WAEC should be overhauled to weed out corrupt personnel and motivate the hardworking ones to protect the hard won reputation of the council as the best examination body in Africa.
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Ministry of Youth and Sports to adopt Kofi
Annan Centre
Ajumako Afranse (Central Region) 30 May 2002- Mr. Edward Osei Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports, has said that the Ministry will adopt the Kofi Annan Technical and Vocational Training Centre at Ajumako for Youth Leadership Training.
Mr. Osei Kwaku who was speaking during the commissioning of the centre over the weekend at Afranse said the training would serve the Central Region, which alongside with Western and Northern Regions, do not have a Youth Leadership Training Institute to offer employable skills.
Retired members of the International Federation Philanthropists Building and Woodworkers Union (IFBWW) in the Netherlands provided funds for the building under an exchange programme with their Ghanaian counterparts. Mr. Osei-Kwaku said government would find money to procure equipment and other facilities to prepare the youth for the future.
In addition, the Ministry is also considering the institution of a Youth Fund, for which the government would provide seed money and seek financial assistance from philanthropists, Institutions and benevolent organisations. The fund, he said, would serve as a source of capital for trainees to set up their own businesses.
Mr Osei-Kwaku said the Ministry would give due attention to youth development, which hitherto, had not received focus and had lacked requisite skills for absorption into the formal sector. Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister, commended the Dutch sponsors saying, they did not consider wallowing in their wealth but decided to help people they did not know.
He said the gesture should inspire citizens working in foreign lands to do same in order to better the living conditions of their own kinsmen and women. He added that the Regional Administration would also assist the Centre to achieve its objectives.
Mr. Edumaze also commended the Ghanaian union of philanthropists for its work to support government's policy and programmes on poverty reduction. Mr Pius Quainoo, General Secretary of the Construction and Building Workers Union (CBMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said it was the policy of the CBMWU to play a more pro-active role in enhancing the skills of Ghanaians to contribute meaningfully towards improved living standards.
It was in line with this that the union invited its Dutch counterparts to assist the youth, who are deserting their villages to urban centres in search of non-existent jobs. He particularly commended three Dutch nationals, Mr. and Mrs Jan Schullar and Mr. Peter Van Der Aa (ed correct) for their active role in mobilising funds for the centre.
Mr Quainoo appealed to the Ministry of Education and the National Vocational and Technical Institute to bring the Centre into the mainstream of national education programmes. Nana Kwa Numa the 1V, Chief of Ajumako, commended the Central Regional Minister and Mr. Kenneth Obrempong for their commitment and assistance to the project, especially for allocating some of the District Common Fund to the project.
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Casual workers disrupt activities at port
Tema (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- About 500 casual workers at the Tema port who received their end of service entitlements last week besieged the port on Wednesday to demand more money. The action, which they started on Tuesday, is said to have disrupted activities at the port, making the government to lose millions of cedis.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Agnes Sikanartey, Tema Division Police Commander, told GNA that the casual workers reported in their numbers this morning to disrupt work at the port. 'They wanted to block the main gates to prevent port workers, CEPS officials, importers and exporters as well as other stakeholders from going to the port to transact business.''
ACP Sikanartey said the Police had managed to push them out of the gate to enable port workers, CEPS officials and other port users to go about their normal duties. A source close to the port officials told the GNA that following the privatisation of a number of port activities, a large number of port workers including casual labourers have been laid off, and special packages, negotiated with their unions, were paid to them. When the casual labourers heard that some of the workers received bigger packages than them, they went back to the port to demand more money.
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Non-Formal Education Directors to report
for re-posting
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002 - Education Minister, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, on Wednesday directed all Regional and District Directors of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED), who are staff of the Ghana Education Service, to report to the service for re-posting.
A statement issued in Accra said the directors are to comply with the directives by 14 June. The Minister said the decision was part of the restructuring exercise being undertaken by government to make the NFED more responsive to the national strategy for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi reiterated government's determination to continue polices aimed at "reducing waste and maximizing output" in the education sector.
Affected NFED directors in the districts are to hand over their offices to the Metropolitan and District Chief Executives. The directive also requests regional and district directors who are not staff of GES to report to the Human Resource Division of the ministry, the statement added.
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Ghana Journalist Association congratulates
award winner
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002 - The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) on Wednesday congratulated Loretta Vanderpuje of the Ghana Television, for winning the 2001 Cable News Network (CNN) Best Environmental Journalist of the Year Award.
A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said, "GJA is delighted that one of its young and promising members has attained such great height that has projected the potential of Ghanaian journalism. "Loretta has also proven the point that women in the media are capable of distinguishing themselves". It said her achievement is an indication of the courage and determination of Ghanaian journalists to infuse good quality into their work and attain excellence.
In another development the NDC women caucus in Parliament have also congratulated Mrs Vanderpuje for the award. ‘We share in your honour as women also fighting for the advancement of women. While congratulating you for a good performance, we would also take this opportunity to encourage you not to rest on your oars, but soar high like an eagle in your quest to achieve excellence in journalism."
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Joint anti-robbery exercise not to abuse
people's rights - CDS
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 30 May 2002- Lieutenant-General Seth Obeng, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Tuesday stated that the current joint police/military exercise to flush out criminals and social miscreants is not intended to abuse the rights of Ghanaians.
The main objective of the exercise, he said, was to rid the whole country of undesirable elements who disturb the peace of citizens and to create an atmosphere of stability in the nation. Lt. Gen. Obeng said this when he paid a day's working visit to the Fourth Infantry Battalion of the GAF at Kumasi to acquaint himself with recent developments there and to discuss issues of national interest with the officers and men of the Garrison.
The CDS said though people have expressed concerns about the human rights violations of the exercise, it (exercise) is not aimed at arresting and harassing innocent Ghanaians but to rid the society of criminals. He commended the troops for their performance at ridding the society of social misfits to give Ghanaians their well-deserved peace and freedom. Lt. Gen. Obeng exhorted them to remain vigilant in their operations in the Tamale/Yendi areas to restore peace to the people of Dagbon.
He later visited the headquarters of the Northern Command of the GAF where he was briefed by the General Officer Commanding the Command, Brigadier George Ayiku and his staff officers. The briefing also covered progress made in the anti-armed robbery exercises and on the Yendi crisis.
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Environmental Impact assessment to be
decentralised
Takoradi (Western Region) 30 May 2002- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to decentralise the Environmental Assessment Procedure (EAP) to the regions and districts.
Mr Yaw Amoyaw-Osei, Head of the Environmental Assessment Unit of the EPA, announced this at a four-day's workshop for members of the Western Regional Environmental Network in Takoradi. He said to make the decentralisation effective, regional and district Environmental Networks were going to be formed to oversee the EAP.
He said the networks would facilitate the conduct of environmental assessment, take part in the review of the assessment and help monitor projects after permit was given. In this way, the networks would facilitate development and investment and also help communities to understand the projects better, he said.
Mr Amoyaw-Osei said the workshop formed part of a Dutch government funded Environmental Assessment Capacity Project to equip members of the networks to work effectively. He said Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ensures sustainable development, social acceptability and environmental, economic and financial viability of projects. Mr Amoyaw-Osei said the EPA played impartial role in environmental assessment but took the final decision to approve or disapprove it.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The closure of the Prestea underground mine is to enable studies to be conducted on its viability, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister told a press conference in Accra on Wednesday. He said the Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) has been given two years to assess the viability of the underground mine and submit its report for further study.
Mr Aidoo was briefing the press in Accra on the situation at Prestea in the Western Region, in the first of a series of press conferences by regional ministers. The conference was to allay the fears of the Prestea community that had planned to demonstrate against the closure of the underground mines to be replaced with a surface mining.
The closure, which had already displaced some workers of the mines, is causing the agitation in the town leading to the plan to demonstrate. The Regional Minister said the Administration and the Regional Security Council were not against any demonstration in Prestea per se, "but if the demonstration is going to be tainted with violence and planned mayhem as regional intelligence has learnt, then those elements must think twice because security measures have been put in place to arrest and prosecute offenders".
He said he had been misreported and misquoted that the people at Prestea, who wanted to stage a demonstration in protest against impending surface mining in the area were going to be arrested and prosecuted, adding "this misinformation is unfortunate".
Mr Aidoo said investigations into the performance of Prestea Gold Resources Limited (PGR) over the years had revealed that the underground mining was no longer viable since the cost of producing one ounce of gold from the underground mine was higher than the world price for an ounce of gold.
Citing instances, he said in 1999, when the world price of gold was around 260 dollars per ounce, the average production cost per ounce at PGR was 325 dollars. The production cost per ounce in 2000 and 2001 were 358 dollars and 566 dollars, respectively.
"For certain months within the period, production cost per ounce was even higher than 600 dollars when the price of gold was less than 290 per ounce, " he said. Mr Aidoo said the unprofitable business translated into huge losses which amounted to 1,291,379 dollars in 1999; 1,820, 155 dollars in 2000 and 4,585,875 dollars in 2001, leading the management of PGR to solicit funds from BGL for the payment of salaries for certain months.
"PGR negotiated investment agreement with BGL which paid 2.1 million dollars to enable PGR refund the severance money to the workers as well as settle some debts of the company, in return for 35 per cent of PGR interest in respect of the surface mining lease," he said.
In 1998 the entire workers union of Prestea Gold Mines operated by Barnex decided to take-over the management and operations of the mines after it had folded up. Prestea Gold Resources Limited (PGR) was accordingly formed with the Ghana Mines Workers Union as 100 per cent shareholder. But it was the workers of the Prestea Gold Mines, who used their severance money as working capital.
Mr Aidoo said though the underground mine had proved to be economically unprofitable since 1994, BGL, was to ensure the care and maintenance of the facilities to make it functional for future use.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 30 May 2002- A total of 898 candidates have filed their papers to contest next mouth's district assembly elections in the Northern Region. Figures from nine out of the 13 district of the region that the Northern Region Electoral Office in Tamale released to the Ghana News Agency showed that only 43 of the candidates are women.
The records also show that 34 candidates are standing unopposed in the nine districts. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, the Deputy Regional Director of the
Electoral Commission, Mr Sylvester Kanyi attributed the low participation of women to traditional and cultural beliefs and high illiteracy rate among women in the region.
He said reports received from some of the districts spoke of men threatening to divorce their wives if they dared to contest the election. "The few women in the show are mostly unmarried. It will take us time to change the trend." Mr Kanyi said the Electoral Commission and some women-related agencies campaigned for women participation in the elections.
He, however, noted that their efforts to persuade and encourage them to participate in the elections had been thwarted by married men, who did not want their spouses to assume public positions. The Deputy Director called on men in the region to see women as partners in development and not as their property.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament on Tuesday launched "Negative Change in Ghana", a book that seeks to tell the public about the negative aspects of the government.
The book, authored by Kwasi Sarpong, a social commentator based in the UK, has chapters such as: "The President versus Tsatsu Tsikata", "The Quality Grains
Affair", "Zero tolerance for corruption", "Declaring Ghana HIPC", "Abolition of Vision 2020" and "The Presidential jet saga".
The book also catalogues "atrocities" meted out to non-sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after it assumed power in January 2001. Mr Asiedu Nketia, the Minority Spokesman for Agriculture, in an address said some Ghanaians had considered the slogan "Positive Change" to mean the best only to realise that the change was for the worst.
He said since the NPP assumed office, corruption, discrimination and "proceed on leave" had been a norm hence the need to write the book. Mr John Mahama, former Minister of Communications, advised Ghanaians not to judge the book as an attack on government but see it as a means of enlightenment in the political development in the country.
He described the book as "a parody" of the positive change that was coined by the NPP, which, he said, preached virtue and practised vice. Mr Mahama called on members of the NDC as well as the public to work tirelessly to reclaim power in the next elections to improve the life of Ghanaians.
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PNC celebrates 10th anniversary
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The People's National Convention (PNC) celebrated its 10th anniversary on Wednesday with a call on all Ghanaians who are willing to provide sincere, honest and selfless stewardship to Ghana to join the party.
A statement signed by Mr David Nibi, Chairman of the Party's Publicity Committee, said: "The PNC promises Ghanaians that it is a party that is sensitive to their woes and would pursue policies that would allow (them) to capture the commanding heights of the economy."
It said the party, established on May 29, 1992 by the late President Dr Hilla Limann was to create a political platform that would provide sincere and honest national leadership and democratic culture.
It said that, even though, the party threw its weight behind the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the presidential runoff during the 2000 elections, it differed from the NPP in certain policy situations such as the divestiture programme and water privatisation. "Against public protestation the water privatisation programme of the NPP is being pursued with uncompromising zeal."
The statement said electricity and water rates were likely to go up threefold without a corresponding increase in workers' remuneration. "The nation is so donor dependent that we do not want to do anything by ourselves. Happily, it is beginning to dawn on Ghanaians that the PNC is a party to watch."
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The Central Regional branch of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has unanimously endorsed the party’s unity pact with the National Reform Party (NRP).
A statement signed by Mr Kwesi Pratt, Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the party, on Wednesday said the agreement was reached at the Regional Executive Committee meeting at Cape Coast.
It was attended by a delegation of the National leadership led by Dr Abubakar Alhassan, National Chairman and Dr Nii Noi Dowuna, General Secretary. The statement said delegates urged the leadership of the two parties to speed up the integration of their structures at the ward and constituency levels.
It also commended the leadership of the CPP and NRP for agreeing to merge the two parties as part of the effort to mobilise the masses of Ghana for the resolution of the political, social and economic problems confronting them.
GRi…/
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Customs impounds 12 vehicles with
uncustomed goods
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 May 2002- The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the weekend arrested and impounded 12 vehicles suspected to be carrying uncustomed goods in a special operation at the eastern borders spanning Aflao-Ho highway.
Lt. Col. Samuel Anane Ashiagbor (RTD), Deputy Commissioner in charge of Special Duties, who briefed the press on the operations in Accra on Tuesday said the seized goods comprising textiles, soap and canned mackerel are being examined to determine their value.
He said traders who are found to have avoided the payment of duties would be duly levied and penalised. Col Ashiagbor said the operation was in line with a pledge by the Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Isaac Ntiamoah to widen the scope of operations.
GRi…/
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