Ghana Airways is renegotiating debts
JSS girl dies from gun shot wounds in Wa chieftaincy
clash
Wa Court remands 21 opinion leaders in custody
Government adopts initiatives to streamline
land system
Department of Feeder Roads gets world acclaim
Ghana, Burkina Faso holds bilateral talks
Government forms committee on NEPAD
Too early to assess NPP's performance - DCE
Minister urges support for increased agricultural production
Election Commission clarifies designations
Move to address needs of rural school child
Ghana Airways on Saturday 1st June 2002, reached an
agreement with one of its trading partners to have a winding up petition which
had been served on the London office of the airline dismissed and provisional
liquidators’ appointment terminated.
With this development, Ghana Airways is free to resume
normal flights into UK and conduct its business as usual.
As part of an ongoing dispute, one of Ghana Airways’ trading
partners, A J Walter Aviation of UK, had obtained a court order in London last
week appointing provisional liquidators over the airline’s assets in UK and also
served a winding up petition on the airline’s office in UK.
Speaking to GRi in London, Roger Allottey, Ghana Airways Manager
for UK and Ireland confirmed that the resolution reached with A J Walter Aviation
is indeed welcome news for the airline. The management would now intensify its
efforts with the ongoing debt rescheduling to enable the airline offer uninterrupted
services to its customers.
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Ghana Airways is presently renegotiating some of its debts with a view to rescheduling them to ease off the pressure of the airline’s indebtedness. sBy reason of the 11 September incident and its untoward world-wide economic and technological effects on carriers a number of airlines have had to take steps at reducing their losses to remain afloat.
Ghana Airways, like virtually all going concerns, has been through its share of problems and is currently renegotiating some of its debts with creditors with a view to rescheduling payment terms. The Government of Ghana, the sole shareholder of the airline, is guaranteeing the payment of most of the debts and is determined to assist the airline come out of its current financial situation.
While the negotiations were ongoing, one of the airline’s creditors – A J Walter Aviation of UK, secured a court order in London and impounded, a DC10, which should have been ferried to Rome, Italy for an engine refit. The order caused the appointment of a provisional liquidator and further prohibited the airline from dealing with its assets up to the amount stated in the order.
Speaking to GRi in London, Roger Allottey, Ghana Airways Manager for UK & Ireland, confirmed that negotiations are far advanced to have the order lifted and it is anticipated that flights will resume in a few days. Allottey expressed regret at the inconvenience caused to the travelling public.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor begins a three-day visit to Germany on 4 June at the invitation of the German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. A statement issued by the German Embassy in Accra said President Kufuor would hold talks in Berlin and Hamburg with German officials.
Chancellor Schroeder will host him for lunch in Berlin on 6 June and meet Federal President Johannes Rau. President Kufuor would also meet the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Whiles in Berlin, the President would be a guest of honour at "Africa Evening", which is the cultural highlight in a series of events being held in connection with NEPAD ahead of the G 8 Summit in Canada in mid-June.
Under the slogan "Africa for the future - Africa works", the evening focuses on the continent's potential - the wealth of innovative and creative approaches and initiatives within Africa itself for shaping its own future.
The statement said in Hamburg President Kufuor would hold talks with the Lord Mayor and participate in a symposium organised by the German Africa Association (Africa Verein) where he would deliver a keynote address on "Ghana - Gateway to Africa".
President Kufuor will also meet Ghanaian communities in Berlin and Hamburg. Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance will accompany President Kufuor.
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JSS girl dies from gun shot wounds in Wa
chieftaincy clash
Wa (Upper Region) 31 May 2002- One person was killed and two others sustained serious gunshot wounds when factions in the Wa chieftaincy dispute clashed on Wednesday evening. A stray bullet killed Majida Abubakari, a second year female pupil of the Falahia Islamic Junior Secondary School in Wa, while she was preparing bread flour in her house.
Those injured are on admission at the Wa Regional Hospital. They are ex-Police Sergeant Darimani Wala and Daudi Wanabile, a tradesman. Tension had been building in the Wa Township since the Supreme Court on May 28 heard a motion filed by the Yijihi, Maheri and Jonywohi Gates against the National House of Chiefs' ruling in the Wa chieftaincy dispute.
The ruling favoured Alhaji Yakubu Seidu of the Nakpaha Gate. After the Supreme Court ruling both sides in the dispute claimed victory with the Nakpaha Gate going ahead to celebrate the annual "Damba" festival which had been put on hold due to the absence of a substantive Wa-Na.
Eyewitnesses said Alhaji Seidu and his supporters were celebrating the festival on Wednesday evening when some members of the other three gates allegedly fired shots at them. An elder of the Nakpaha Gate told the Ghana News Agency on condition of anonymity, that they received information from Accra that the Supreme Court had dismissed the three gates' application for appeal so they sought permission from the Regional Security Council to celebrate the festival.
The three gates, however, maintained that the court had granted their application for appeal and it would be contemptuous of the court and a breach of the peace in the area if Alhaji Seidu performed functions as Wa-Na while the appeal was pending.
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Wa Court remands 21 opinion leaders in
custody
Wa (Upper West Region) 31 May 2002- A Circuit Court at Wa, on Thursday remanded 21 opinion leaders from the two factions in the Wa chieftaincy dispute, including Naa Seidu Braimah, a former District Chief Executive for Wa for alleged breach of the peace.
The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of 24 others who were absent. They all pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on 3 June. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector James Venu told the court presided over by Mr Gibson Adzagli that the suspects applied for a permit to celebrate the "Damba" festival but were refused.
He said they ignored police orders and went ahead to celebrate the festival, which eventually turned violent and a young schoolgirl was shot dead while six others received gun shot wounds. Inspector Venu pleaded with the court to remand the accused persons to enable police to conduct thorough investigations into the matter.
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Ho (Volta Region) 31 May 2002- The Government has set in motion a number of initiatives aimed at restoring confidence in the country's land administration system. This has led to the formulation of a 15-year Land Administration Project (LAP) to address land ownership conflicts, legal contradictions and institutional and human failures in land administration.
These were contained in an address read on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Forestry, Professor Kassim Kasanga at the inauguration of the Volta Regional
Lands Commission at Ho on Thursday.
He said this change process requires a lot of commitment and sacrifices and therefore, charged the regional lands commission to help reduce land disputes in the courts, promote the use of alternative means of resolving land disputes, tap the expertise of the staff of the commission and provide land advisory services to traditional land owners.
Prof. Kasanga called on traditional authorities to be transparent in exercising their authority over land matters, be accountable for revenue generated from land and respect customary rites and seek the services of professionals in land administration.
Prof. Kasanga gave the assurance that, "once these are done, government on its part would have no legal and moral justification for interfering in how traditional authorities manage their lands". He hoped that members of the commission would not abuse their membership to "enhance their private land transactions and act as lobbyist for specific interest groups or individuals".
In his remarks, Mr. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, the Volta Regional Minister urged the commission to focus attention on crucial areas and adopt proactive measures to stem land disputes and promote development in the region. He said members should aim at bringing credit to the institutions they represent and put the interest of the region foremost.
Mr Justice Paul Gyaesaeyor, Supervising High Court Judge in the Volta Region who swore in the members urged them not to divulge the outcome of their deliberations to the public. Members must also not dissociate themselves from the decisions of the commission even if they disagree with majority decision, he added
Mr Justice Gyaesaeyor appealed to the commission to help work out a simple efficient and cheap land acquisition and documentation processes. He said the cumbersome and costly land documentation processes are largely responsible for unplanned development in the country.
The 18-member commission under the chairmanship of Mr Zewu Glover, a legal practitioner is made up of representatives from the Ghana Bar Association, the
Regional House of Chiefs, Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Town and Country Planning Department, Lands Commission, Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen and the 12 district assemblies in the region. The commission, which is the third for the region since 1995 will be in office for four years.
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Kufuor commends Boateng on elevation
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday congratulated Mr Paul Boateng on his elevation to the post of Chief Secretary to the Treasury of the United Kingdom.
A message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the President had learnt with joy and pride the cabinet appointment of Mr Boateng, the first black to rise to that level in British politics.
"We in Ghana are fully aware of the challenges that lay ahead of you in your new position and wish to renew our confidence in your dedication and hard work, which will not only serve the British interest but further enhance our bilateral relations." Mr Boateng, who has Ghanaian and UK parents, is a member of the British Parliament.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 31 May 2002- The Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) has been adjudged one of the best managed rural road institutions in the world, Mr Alex Seidu Sofo, Deputy Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport said on Thursday.
He said Ghana's membership of the Rural Travel and Transport Programme (RTTP) in February 1999 was, therefore, considered a welcome decision for those member countries that were yet to establish separate institutions for rural roads development.
Mr Sofo, who was speaking in Sunyani at the opening of the second zonal RTTP workshop in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo said the experience gathered by DFR had already been shared by a number of countries.
The latest in that experience sharing were the recent visits by teams from Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Guinea, he added. The RTTP is a multi-donor initiative, which provides a collaborative framework for assisting African countries to improve accessibility to transport in the rural areas.
The two-day workshop, organised by the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the DFR in collaboration with the Sub-Saharan African Transport Policy (SSATP), is sponsored by the World Bank. In attendance are 90 participants including district chief executives, members of the GPRTU, farmers and market women.
The workshop is aimed at improving the planning and maintenance of rural roads, bridge tracks, paths and footbridges and also promoting cost effective methods through the use of local resources and small contractors to improve the rural transport network. The participants would discuss topics including gender issues, feeder roads standards and prioritisation.
Mr Sofo noted that building of a comprehensive rural road network was just part of the solution to the problems of the rural transport sector. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, noted that the lack of effective rural transport services was a major obstacle to economic and social development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Two-thirds of Africa's population live in rural areas and spend about 70 per cent of their time in travel-related activities to obtain basic needs like water, firewood, education and health services, he added. Mr Boafo lauded the RTTP as a significant intervention as it fitted into the government's poverty reduction strategies for employment generation and job sustainability, particularly for the urban poor and people in rural communities.
Mr Martin Mensah, Director of DFR, said the workshop would also identify ways to strengthen the rural road sub-sector, based on "the four main building blocks of ownership, funding, management and responsibility.” In a welcoming address, Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, said the workshop was very important, because out of about 22,700 kilometres of feeder roads in the country, only 40 per cent were motorable.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - Ghana and Burkina Faso on Thursday ended two days of bilateral talks on Regional Co-operation aimed to exchange ideas and experiences in finding solutions to problems that hinder smooth implementation of protocols of the Economic Community of West African States.
The technical level discussion was also to explore avenues for consensus building on ECOWAS issues as well as on how to facilitate trade between the two countries in order to raise the living standards of the people.
The delegates from the Ministry of Interior, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, and the Immigration Service deliberated on the protocol of free movement of goods and persons, the use of the Ghanaian ports for Burkina Faso imports and joint border checkpoints.
In a joint communiqué, the two countries expressed concern about harassment of people by officials of the security services at the various border posts, saying they were a breach of individual rights to free movement under the protocol.
Noting that cross border trade between the two countries was very essential, the communiqué took note of the non-application of the protocol relating to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme. It called on the custom authorities of the two countries to explore ways in the shortest possible time to agree on admitting ETLS goods at zero rate and to also train and sensitise custom officers to apply the protocols.
The two delegations recognised the need for collaboration in the use of the Ghanaian corridor, but the Burkina Faso Delegations was unhappy about the high level of transit fees, as the result of increased charges for escorting goods.
Both delegations also agreed to establish joint border posts and together pledged to ensure that a proposal on joint pilot checkpoints Ghana submitted to the ECOWAS secretariat received the necessary attention. There was also a consensus on the establishment of a joint Commission, which would meet regularly to look at the modalities for the implementation.
In an address, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Cooperation said a key area of concern to Ghana was how to increase trade levels between the two countries and emphasised that improved trade relations was the surest way to give meaning to economic development and the ideals of ECOWAS Ghana, he said, was, therefore, interested in opening its borders on a 24-hour basis and asked the Burkina Faso delegation to examine the proposal, which he said was necessary to enhance trade and free movement of people between the two countries.
Dr. Nduom said the idea of one border post and check point would require a change in procedure and building of the necessary infrastructure, but said the two countries could still exchange personnel on their sides of the borders to ensure that the ECOWAS protocols were observed.
Mr Jonny Quangraou, Technical Adviser to the Burkina Faso Minister of Integration said countries in the sub-region needed to integrate to give meaning to the protocols, saying integration was not an issue of choice but an imperative for all the countries.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday announced that an inter-ministerial committee has been set up to co-ordinate the activities of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which seeks to take Africa from political and economic doldrums.
The committee comprises the Ministries of the Foreign Affairs, Finance, Trade, Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation and that of Private Sector Development. The committee would be expanded to include other Ministries, Departments and Agencies as might be appropriate.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang making a statement in Parliament on NEPAD said the committee was to ensure that Ghana's input to the initiative was properly co-ordinated to achieve maximum results.
He said the UNDP has provided a consultant whose office would be in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to enable him to co-ordinate NEPAD initiative in Ghana. "These institutional arrangements would ensure the involvement of all segments of society, including the public and private sectors, civil society and the media in the NEPAD process and to strengthen the concept of African ownership at the grassroots level."
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang said although many laudable initiative for the development of Africa have been developed in the past such as the Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty they did not achieve the desired objectives due to so many factors.
He said however, NEPAD promised to secure the development of the continent since it was "African developed, managed and owned; it brings the concept of new partnership; and Africa is undertaking certain commitments and obligations in its own interests, which are not externally-imposed conditions."
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Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 31 May 2002- Mr Isaac Osei-Antwi, District Chief Executive for Techiman, has stated that it was too early for people to thoroughly assess the performance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. For only sixteen months in office, the government has made significant gains in the economic development of the country, he added.
Mr Osei-Antwi, who was addressing members of the Nasara club of NPP in Techiman, however, conceded that it had not been easy for the government to effect drastic changes in the economic and social conditions in the country in view of dwindling resources.
He, therefore, asked the people to exercise restraint for the government since the social and economic conditions could not be changed overnight. Mr Osei-Antwi called on members of the club to fight against rumour mongering and to defend the party at all times.
The DCE said out of 400 million cedis disbursed for poverty alleviation in 1998, only 120 million cedis had been retrieved, adding that 3,500 people had applied for loan under the fund in the district this year. Alhaji Adamu Mohammed, Assemblyman for Hansaline Electoral area, called on members of the club to bury their differences and support the government in developing the nation.
Abdel-Hamid Awuley-Quaye, Chairman of the club, appealed to the Techiman District Assembly and the government to offer credit facilities to members of the club who are mostly traders and farmers, in support of their economic activities.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - Japan and the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF on Friday exchanged notes on a six billion-cedi Japanese grant to Ghana for the immunisation of almost eight million children against poliomyelitis and measles.
The grant, which is under the "Project for Infectious Diseases Prevention for Children", would be used to purchase 4.5 million doses of oral polio vaccine, 2.8 million doses of measles vaccines, syringes and safety boxes.
Mr Motoyoshi Noro, Charge d'Affaires at the Japan Embassy and Dr Ramesh Shrestha, UNICEF Representative in Ghana signed. Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Health, witnessed it. Mr Noro said the Japanese government had noted the achievements Ghana, through the Ministry of Health and its field workers with the support of UNICEF staff and volunteers, had made so far in polio eradication efforts.
He said Japan, as the largest contributor to the polio eradication programme over the last five years was pleased to be associated with the achievements. Mr Noro said the cumulative contribution of Japan since 1997 to date was 53 billion cedis and praised the success of the National Immunisation Days (NID) programmes, which, he noted, is reflected in the overall national oral polio vaccination coverage increasing from 50 per cent in 1996 to about 79 per cent in 2001.
He, however, said that there were six districts where oral polio vaccination is less than 70 per cent or NID coverage of less than 80 per cent. Mr Noro added that 54 districts, including the six, would be the target during the next NID exercise from October 4-6 for the first round and 1-3 November for the second.
He said Japan would support the accelerated measles control programme, which is part of a five-year Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) strategic plan. Mr Noro said a success rate of 98 per cent coverage of mass measles campaign achieved in the Central Region in 2001 provided an encouraging background to extend the programme to the other nine regions.
He said Japan would provide funds to procure vaccines and injection materials for the supplementary immunisation activities. About eight million children between nine months and 15 years are to be immunised in the exercise, which comes off in 9-15 December.
Mr Shrestha said Ghana was getting close to becoming a polio-free country and that attention would now be focused on other infectious diseases. Mr Baah described the signing of the agreement as another milestone in the relations between Ghana and Japan and said the Ministry of Health would organise massive campaigns against measles.
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Twifo Praso (Central Region) 31 May 2002 - Food and Agriculture Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) on Thursday urged district assemblies in the country to ensure food security by using part of the poverty alleviation fund to assist farmers and fishermen.
They should also link them with financial institutions for more assistance. Major Quashigah made the call when he addressed small-scale farmers at Twifo-Praso in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District as part of a four-day tour of the Central Region.
The Minister explained that the budgetary allocation to the ministry was not enough to meet the needs of farmers and fishermen and appealed to District Chief Executives, as local representatives of the government, to use their initiative and ingenuity to assist in increased food production.
He commended Mr Abraham Odoom, DCE for the area, for prioritising investments in agriculture as well as exploring marketing avenues for the sector. Major Quashigah lauded Mr Odoom's action as a step in the right direction and "a sign of good leadership" and should be copied by his colleagues to enhance agricultural production to create more employment avenues for the youth.
He suggested the formation of agricultural sub-committees in the districts to address problems facing farmers and fishermen. Major Quashigah also visited association farms belonging to 'Nkansakrom farmers' at Kushea and 'Assin farms' at Dompim, both in the Assin District. He told the farmers that the government had to divest the properties of the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation because it was no longer viable.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - Professor John Bonaventure Kubongpwa Kaburise, Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Tamale, was among 19 newly qualified lawyers who were enrolled at a ceremony in Accra on Friday.
The lawyers, including a 42-year old American, Edward Deignan, underwent between two and four years' legal training. After a successful training, section seven of the Legal Profession Act, Act 32 of 1960 mandates the General Legal Council (GLC) to call to the Bar newly trained lawyers to enable them to qualify to practise their profession.
Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, Deputy Chairperson of the Council who performed the function on behalf of the Chief Justice, reminded the new lawyers that the challenges in their chosen career make it very hazardous. Mrs Bamford-Addo urged them to brace themselves up for those challenges if they want to be successful in their profession.
She advised them not only to do much research, but also learn to be very articulate and conversant with the rules and procedures as well as the Code of Ethics of the profession. "Make the code the constant guide in your career", she stressed and urged them to be courteous and respectful to members of the bench and stand for the truth at all times.
"You should eschew anger, hatred and any unacceptable manners which are likely to bring the profession into disrepute. "You should be so disciplined that your comportment, style of living and contributions to the society should be worthy of emulation by the community in which you live." In an undertaking, the new lawyers pledged their determination to abide by the code of ethics of the profession so as to maintain its honour and dignity.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice attended the cereomy and also were other members of the Council including Professor Akua Kuenyehia of the Law Faculty, University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Bar Association and Mr Justice Francis Yao Kpegah, a Supreme Court Judge.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002 - Mr. Reda Belete, Ambassador Designate for the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Mr. Valery Orlov, Ambassador Designate for the Russian Federation, on Thursday presented their open letters of credence to Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Foreign, Affairs in Accra.
They are expected soon to present their formal letters of credence to the President, John Agyekum Kufuor. Mr. Owusu Agyeman welcomed the Ethiopian Ambassador Designate and acknowledged the long-standing relations between the two countries saying, "Ghana is one of the first African countries to have set up a mission in Ethiopia."
He said transition in Africa was now becoming the norm rather than the exception and urged the Ethiopian government to continue with its efforts to develop and transform the country. He also hoped that Ghana and Ethiopia would collaborate with each other to their mutual benefit.
The Foreign Minister told the Russian Ambassador designate that Ghana was determined to deepen her relationship with Russia during his stay in Ghana. He said Russia had been of great help to the developmental efforts of Ghana and noted, that several Ghanaians had received various kinds of training and education in Russia. "We hope that your assignment here is the catalyst that would take us to a higher plane of co-operation," he said. The Ambassadors designate take over from their predecessors, Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung and Mr. Pavel Pavlov for Ethiopia and Russia respectively.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002- Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday commended the government and people of Cuba for the training offered to over 1,000 Ghanaian youth in pre-university, university and technical education in Cuba.
He said Ghanaians also appreciates the services rendered to Ghana, by the 848 medical personnel from the Cuban Medical Brigade under the Ghana Cuba Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation.
Alhaji Idris who was speaking at a luncheon he hosted in honour of Mr Jose Armando Guerra Mencherro, the visiting Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said the ratification by Parliament of the Bilateral Trade Agreement between his country and Ghana should help start trading in a number of commodities in both countries.
Ahaji Idris reiterated President Kufuor's assurance that his administration is committed to strengthening of the existing warm and cordial relations that have been nurtured and nourished over two decades now. He said Ghana highly regarded her bilateral co-operation with Cuba, which dates back from post independence
In response, Mr Menchero said efforts would be made to increase the economic co-operation between the two countries. The Cuban Minister said he was happy to see that Ghana was progressing economically, and thanked the government for its hospitality towards the Cuban Doctors. Mr Menchero said he had learnt from the Doctors the experiences they had gained during their stay in the country. Mr K. B. Asante, a Diplomat, called on members of the Diplomatic Corps to work hard to improve the economic conditions of their respective countries.
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Multi-million cedi clinic commissioned
Odomase (Brong Ahafo Region) 31 May 2002- Dr. Chester Williams, Executive Director of Inner-City and African Ministry (ICAM) on Thursday commissioned a 105-million cedis health clinic at Odomase, near Sunyani in Brong-Ahafo Region.
The clinic, built by the Sunyani branch of ICAM, a non-denominational Church, was jointly funded by 17 individual sponsors in United States of America (USA). The USA funding agents, mostly religious-minded philanthropists included Mr Arthur Tabb, a 90-year-old blind Black-American.
In an address, Dr Williams paid glowing tribute to the Late Nana Kwasi Appraku II, Omanhene of Odomase No.1 for releasing land for the project before his death last year. He said even though his contact with the late Omanhene was short-lived, he found him (late chief) to be a courageous leader, who had vision for his people.
Dr Williams, himself a Black-American with 15 years experience in Africa, expressed regret that Nana Appraku could not live to see the completion of the clinic, which has an outpatient department, consulting room, dressing room and a store. Ms. Juliana Mork Duut, Ghana Director of ICAM, said the clinic, expected to start operation on Monday 3 June, has six administrative staff namely, a nurse, health attendant, two watchmen and a cleaner.
The clinic, which took a year to complete, was named after American philanthropist, Louis Banks Griffin. Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffour, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister said the government's ability to bring about socio-economic development in the country would depend on a healthy population.
He, therefore, welcomed the efforts of ICAM in providing the people of Odomase which a clinic, adding that, the government would continue to extend open hands to religious bodies for provision of the spiritual and material needs of their followers.
He commended the exemplary conduct of ICAM of North America and Sunyani for coming to help the people of Odomase. The Deputy Regional Minister called for a strong hand of partnership and co-operation between the chiefs, people of Odomase and ICAM, to pave the way for health co-existence.
He assured ICAM that the government would continue to cherish its partnership for the good of the community. Nana Abena Boatemaa, Queenmother of Odomase No. 1, who presided, commended ICAM for the foresight, sacrifices and immense contribution to actualise their dreams.
"Whilst we accept that the clinic tends to immortalise the name of Nana Kwasi Appraku II of blessed memory, I believe that the good people of Odomase will always pray for ICAM," she said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002- The Electoral Commission (EC) on Thursday said it has noted with concern the erroneous impression on the minds of Ghanaians and the international community that there exists a National Electoral Commission.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Henry Wellington Okyne, Director of Public Affairs explained that Article 43 of the 1992 Constitution statesthat "there shall be an Electoral Commission, which shall consist a chairman, two deputies chairmen and four other members".
Consequently, an Act of Parliament (Act451) providing for the establishment, membership and Functions of the "Electoral Commission" was enacted in July 1993. The statement said the title of Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan should be "Chairman, EC and not Electoral Commissioner as he is usually referred to.
Mr. David Adeenze Kangah and Mr. Kwadwo Sarfo Kantaka are deputy chairmen of the Commission not Deputy Commissioners. Other members of the Commission are Professor Ernest Dumor, Madam Elizabeth Solomon and Mrs Theresa Cole.
The position of the fourth member, the statement said has been vacant since the death of Dr. Tuffuor Puni and added that the vacancy has not been filled. It therefore, entreated all concerned especially the media to take note of the observation and concerns expressed.
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Move to address needs of rural school child
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 May 2002-Miss Christine Churcher, Minister of Basic, Secondary and Girl Child Education has said a new project would be launched in June to address the needs of the rural school child.
Under the project, called the "Dorcas Room Project", used clothing, shoes, books and food items would be gathered from public spirited individuals and food companies to be distributed among the poor rural school children to ease their sufferings and make life "a bit comfortable for them." The first phase of the project would cover the Western, Central and Northern regions of the country.
Miss Christine Churcher, Minister of Basic, Secondary and Girl Child Education announced this when she presented 250 library books, four computers with accessories worth 100 million cedis to the Social Advance Institute (SAI) on Thursday.
The items were presented on behalf of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Institute. Miss Churcher commended the PTA for the assistance given to the school and advised the students to make good use of their time by studying hard to become useful citizens.
She said education is important and an equaliser to life opportunities that is why the government has been trying to ensure a free qualitative compulsory education for all children of school going age. She therefore, urged the students to abstain from pre-marital sex so as achieve their aims in life.
She also called on Ghanaians to correct the young ones when they go wrong to have a more disciplined society, adding, "we still belong to the extended families, we must therefore, do things right". Miss Rosa Sam, Principal of the Institute said, it "was high time gross indiscipline was uprooted from schools because as parents and teachers, we would be failing in our duties of preparing the youth for tomorrow if we fail to discipline these young ones.
She also appealed to the Minister to help procure for the institute, old and discarded typewriters from both the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service. Mr. James Owusu-Mensah, the PTA chairman cautioned students against the destruction of school properties because it caused a great loss to the nation.
He therefore, called on the government to bridge the gap in the educational standards by putting in place the needed structural materials and human resources at all levels of education.
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Ho (Volta Region) 31 May 2002 - Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, has asked women to take the initiative to ensure that rights and freedoms enshrined in the 1992 constitution address their specific interests.
She, therefore, appealed to women to be front liners in the developmental process by being assertive and critical of issues affecting their emancipation and empowerment. Nana Konadu was addressing members of the Movement at Ho, as part of activities marking its 20th anniversary under the theme, ''Women and Children's Rights: Everybody's Right.''
She however, called for constructive approaches to putting across their case in order that their intensions are not construed as arrogance and anti male, adding, ''Men are our development partners.'' Nana Konadu called on women to take advantage of all communication channels to inculcate discipline and moral uprightness among the youth. ''This is the only may we can bring peace, growth and development to society.''
Nana Konadu advised the womenfolk to play active role in reproductive health issues as well as the education of their children. She called for the extension of the police Women And Juvenile Units (WAJU) throughout the country as a sign of commitment and enforcement for laws affecting women and children.
Nana Konadu said the movement had chalked many strides in the fields of health, agriculture economic and social empowerment education, food processing and handicraft as well as environment and afforestation.
Mr George Hornuvor, a director of the CHRAJ, noted that tackling unemployment and poverty among the youth would stem the current spate of crime, armed robbery and other social vices. He deplored the imprisonment of pregnant women, arbitrary detentions, extortion of money before granting bails, arbitrary arrests and mob action as infringement on the constitution.
Miss Rejoice Kasu, Volta Regional Organiser of the Movement, appealed to the Ho District Assembly to see the movement as its development partner instead of an opponent. She alleged that the assembly has stopped work on the Movement's day care centre at the Ho Central Market and is apathetic to Movement's development activities.
"We seize this opportunity to appeal to the Ho District Assembly to see the Movement as development partners. We will do all within our ability to lift high the banner of women and children.'' Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho District Chief Executive, told the GNA in a telephone interview that it was the market women who revolted against the sitting of the day care centre in the market, resulting in its relocation to the OSA market before he assumed office.
He said the assembly is about to re-plan the market and this would include a day care centre to be constructed through private sector involvement. There is no application on my table from 31st DWM applying to build a day care centre, he said. ''The assembly is willing to promote the activities and programmes of any groups, provided such programmes and activities will serve larger interest of the general public.''
GRi…/
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