Let us adhere to fiscal discipline
May Day nearly marred by confusion
Non-Resident Ghanaians Secretariat launched
Saudi Prince promises to build a hotel in Accra
"We will Unite for Development"
CPP has much stake in Ghana's development
NPP reacts to allegations made against them
Make Constitution examinable subject
Civil society urged to help northern crisis
Police told to define operational terms
Court adjourns Tsikata's trial
Reform calls for investigation into the conflict
NDC salutes workers
Ghana to host World Alliance of Reform Churches'
Government to review all anti-business laws
Saudi Prince donates $1 million to 3 institutions
Sugri and Gyanfo's
trial to begin on 7 May
Cabinet accepts draft bill
Professor Sawyerr takes over AAU
Let us adhere to fiscal discipline
That way whatever increases in income achieved would be real
and not undermined by high inflation, he said. President Kufuor
made the call when he addressed this year's May Day Rally of workers at the
He said it was government's interest that workers were well
paid because dividends for good governance were measured in the spread of
wealth among the people. "That is what this government works at everyday;
so please keep faith with us and let us reach our goal together. This way it
will be sooner rather than later," he said.
The Day celebrated worldwide as workers' day of solidarity,
represents a unique symbol of achievement for workers. It is being observed
locally under the theme: "Democratic Workers' Participation And Improving Incomes: Dividends Of Good Governance."
President Kufuor paid homage to Ghanaian workers for
the admirable way in which they had responded to the very difficult decisions
government had to take. He said government was aware of the harsh economic
conditions that existed in the country and it was its belief that people were
putting up with the ardent difficulties because they believed that the harsh decisions
would ensure a better future for all.
President Kufuor said government had accepted that this had placed great responsibility on it to conduct the affairs of the nation competently and as transparently as possible. "Thus as far as is humanly possible, government has kept faith with the people and would continue to do its level best to keep to this path."
President Kufuor said the proof of
the good faith of the government was in its determination "to grab the
bull by the horns" and to pursue harsh but necessary policies when many
other governments would have opted for easier and more convenient ones.
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May Day nearly marred by confusion
There was jostling and bustling for about thirty minutes as
they strove forward towards the platform of the VIP where President John Agyekum Kufuor, the Special Guest
of Honour and Vice president Aliu Mahama
were seated.
The swift arrival of the security personnel save the
situation when they displayed utmost caution and professionalism by appealing
and begging the crowd to move back to their respective positions as a sign of
respect to the President and also allow sanity to prevail.
Some of them said, "We want to come forward for people
to see who we are and know what we have to tell the President". Identified
by respective unions Tee Shirts, the thousands of Ghanaian workers carrying
company goods and products used the occasion to make known their grievances and
demands for government and their respective managements.
Arriving at the Square as early as 0700 hours, the workers
started making known their grievances and demands in the form of songs amidst
dancing. Some of the placards mainly directed at the President read:
"Positive Change must reflect in our pay",
"Mr President four years is like four seconds", "How do
we fend and educate our children with 9,200 cedis?"
and "Insufficient wages lead to corruption President."
Those that were geared towards some prominent organisations
included, "Aye Fe Notse, Notse
Nfo at Volta River Authority" (literally
meaning, real owners are crying whiles others enjoy), "Stop using casual
workers as slaves", "Privatisation of utility services will kill
us" and "Save Ghana Commercial Bank from privatisation".
The workers saw the match past, which started soon after the
President's address, as the crucial and best moment as they matched beautifully
with their placards pointing directly at the VIP podium. The President, the
Vice and other Ministers of State cheered the workers.
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Non-Resident Ghanaians Secretariat launched
It would also provide a central point for the co-ordination
of programmes and activities between Non Resident Ghanaians and the country
with a view to harnessing the global Ghanaian resource potential for
accelerated national development.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the office of
the National Economic Dialogue established the secretariat to be headed by Kwabena Antwi, one of the
initiators of the Homecoming Summit 2001.
Kwasi Abeasi,
Chief Executive of GIPC, said one of the key recommendations in the five-point
action plan developed at the Homecoming Summit in 2001 was to establish a
secretariat to meet the needs of Non-Resident Ghanaians.
He said the secretariat, which would be permanently located
at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, aimed among other things to
collaborate with International Organisations like the Commonwealth Business
Council in their "Africa Recruit" programme which seeks to work with
African Governments to remove obstacles and create incentives to attracting
skilled African personnel back to
It would also collaborate with the International
Organisation For Migration in their "Migration
For Development In Africa Programme, which seeks to assist in strengthening the
institutional capacities of Africa Governments to manage and realise their
development goals through transfer of relevant skills, financial and other
resources of Africans in the Diaspora to develop
Abeasi said the establishment of
the NRGs at the GIPC had come after a long period of
consultations and discussions among key stakeholders in Government notably the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Economic Planning, the Interior,
Information and National Economic Dialogue Secretariat, as well as the GIPC.
As the lead investment promotion agency of the country, and
the initiators of the Homecoming Summit Programme, the GIPC was committed to
the successful implementation of all the recommendations and action plan agreed
on at the
He announced that the GIPC would organise a mini conference
in July 2003, in
Dr Nii Noi
Ashong, Minister of State in charge of Finance, said
a secretariat of this nature was very important to send the right information
to the residents living abroad and stressed the need to fully resource the GIPC
to achieve the goals.
He stressed the need for the financial sector to maintain
low and stable lending rates to promote trading activities and as well
encourage the residents outside to invest in the country. Steven Asamoah-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, said
although the previous government initiated the Homecoming Summit, its
successful organisation demonstrated government's preparedness to work with
ideas irrespective of their origin or political affiliation. He said there were
plans to issue "Homecoming Bonds" to residents abroad as a way of
mobilising funds for programmes such as revamping railway system.
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Saudi Prince promises to build a hotel in
Accra
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- The visiting Prince of Saudi Arabia, Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Alsaud, has expressed the
desire to undertake reconstruction of Ambassador Hotel and another hotel at the
airport city project site in Accra.
President John Agyekum Kufuor who announced this in
President Kufuor announced this
when speaking at a luncheon held in honour of the Saudi Prince at the Castle, Osu. "Although the visit was
short, it has augured well for the cordial relationship between the two
countries."
Prince Alwaleed expressed
confidence in the government under the leadership of President Kufuor. "With the dynamism through which things were
conducted within the short visit, it was full of achievements." Prince Alwaleed is expected to leave
The 48-year old Prince, who is leading a 22-member business
delegation on a three-day exploratory investment visit, is also the Chairman of
the Saudi-based Kingdom Holding Company. His business holding cover banking,
estate development, hospitality, telecom, agriculture, information technology,
broadcasting, media, entertainment, travel, automotive manufacturing and other
businesses.
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"We will Unite for Development"
Bolgatanga (Upper East)
In attendance were sister security agencies, including
Regional Heads of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Ghana
Immigration Service (GIS) and the Air Borne Force (ABF) detachment stationed at
Bawku.
Addressing the party representatives, Dery
said multi-party democracy worldwide recognized existing tenets of the system,
with a common goal of ensuring national development. He said the region
naturally was disadvantaged and deprived. "What is
crucial and important is for us all to be united and lobby government to bring
development programmes capable of reducing poverty significantly in the
region" he emphasised.
Dery denounced petty rivalry and
"dubious tactics" being employed by some groups and individuals to
disturb the peace prevailing in the area, and said, "if
we do these things we send negative signals of disunity and apathy to
stakeholders."
He warned that his outfit would not countenance situations
where some people deliberately put impediments in the way of ongoing projects
in the area, be they politically motivated or otherwise, saying, "such
people when caught would be dealt with ruthlessly by the law".
The Regional Commander said the police administration would
not discriminate against anybody, adding, "when
and where the law should be applied, so shall it be done without fear or
favour. Even the President who is the Chief Executive of this Country admits
that he is not above the law, so who then should be above the law?"
Dery noted that most of the
offences in the region are related to motor traffic and said in April alone
there were 104 of such offences with 14 accidents. The situation does not paint
a good picture of the region, he added.
He called on the political parties to advise their followers
to ensure that their vehicles are road worthy before they ply the roads, adding
that an ongoing police patrol exercise against motor traffic offenders was not
targeted at any political party but in the interest of the people.
The Regional Director of BNI, Samuel Amponsah,
said security agencies were poised to fostering the needed peace in the area
and urged party representatives to volunteer information and contact
any of the agencies when the need arises.
The Regional Commander of Immigration Service, Eric Quartey, called on the people to take a cue from the
disturbances in Dagbon and examine the inconveniences
that sanctions may bring to them. He appealed for peace in the area.
The ABF Detachment Commander in Bawku,
Lieutenant Donald Hooper, advised the people to be circumspect in dealing with
one another, adding that they are all one people with different political
persuasions forging to build one nation.
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CPP has much stake in
Anyinam (Eastern Region) 02 May
2003- The acting Eastern Regional Chairman of the Convention Peoples Party
(CPP), Nana Owusu Sekyere,
has said the party achieved a lot in the development of the country because it
was the architect of Ghana's independence in politics.
He said the CPP, under the leadership of Osagyefo
Dr Kwame Nkrumah, created employment avenues and
manpower development through a fee-free education and health system. Nana Owusu Sekyere was speaking at the
Atiwa Constituency branch meeting of the party at Anyinam, during which new executives were elected.
He assured Ghanaians that if elected to power, the CPP would
revamp the abandoned industries set up during the
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NPP reacts to allegations made against them
Tamale (Northern Region) 02 May 2003- The Executive of the
New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale have condemned allegations by the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) that the NPP was leading security personnel to arrest
and harass NDC members after recent violence in Tamale.
They said it was unfortunate that Iddrisu
Harruna, the National Youth Organiser of the NDC and
John Mahama, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole, who
are both citizens of the area should accuse the security agencies of arresting
only NDC members suspected to be perpetrators of the attacks on NPP supporters.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Regional
Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Salifu
Abdulrahmani. It said the two stalwarts of the NDC
should have visited Tamale to "ascertain the extent of damage and the
gravity of the atrocities committed rather than sitting down in
The statement said the NPP had facts to buttress its point
that the Tamale riots was not political as being speculated but rather related
to the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis. It said since the
crisis began last year, NDC flags had replaced those of other political parties
in Dagbon, creating the impression that only NPP and NDC exist in Dagbon.
The statement said during the recent riots no non-Dagomba NPP activist was attacked or had his property
vandalised. ''Even NDC members who are
believed to members of the Abudu Gate were attacked
and had their properties destroyed'', the statement said.
The statement said the party was of the view that the attacks on the NPP activists was a calculated plan by some
politicians to frustrate the efforts of the government and the international
community at seeking a lasting solution to the Dagbon
crisis.
He, however, appealed to the government, as a matter of
urgency, to resettle the displaced families and foot their medical bills whilst
arrangements are made to compensate those who have lost their property.
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Make Constitution examinable subject
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- Justice George K. Acquah, a Supreme Court Judge, has called on the Police
Administration to make the 1992 Constitution an examinable subject in its
Officers Training Course to ensure that they appreciated the need to
consolidate constitutional democracy.
"It is important that you have sufficient knowledge of
the provisions of the 1992 Constitution to avoid its contravention and also
ensure the protection of individuals' liberties and fundamental human rights
and guarantee constitutional stability," Mr Justice Acquah
stated.
Justice Acquah, who was speaking
on: "Constitutional Stability - The Role of Security Services," at
the Police Headquarters in Accra as part of activities marking the Third Annual
National Constitution Week, reminded Police Officers of their constitutional
mandate to maintain law and order.
"In maintaining law and order, you have a
responsibility to ensure that you do not trample on the fundamental rights and
freedom of the individual," stressing, "every individual has rights
and freedom, which our Constitution elaborately sets out and mandatorily directs everybody, institution and agency to
respect and uphold."
He said "the stability of constitutional democracy
depended largely on respect and adherence to the provisions of the
Constitution, recognition of the limits of our respective roles and duties".
The Supreme Court Judge said "as an institution
responsible for the maintenance of law and order, you and the other security
agencies are kingpins of our national security, any
lapse on your part in the performance of your duty is a threat to the stability
of our Constitution".
There is, therefore, the need to thoroughly understand
constitutional provisions especially articles that borders on fundamental human
rights and liberties. Justice Acquah said Police
Officers were also duty-bound to respect and uphold the fundamental human
rights and other freedoms enshrined in the Constitution as well as other
international rights, freedoms and declarations subscribed to by the
Government.
He said the rule of law in its simplest meaning, requires
that all citizens from the commonest man in the street to the President of the
nation were subject to the Constitution and that none was above the law.
It, therefore, required that everyone must obey the law and
be held accountable if they violated it. "Our constitutional democracy
demands that the law must be equally, fairly and consistently enforced,"
he said.
There was also the need to protect the peace of the people
from armed robbers and other criminals bent on making life unbearable for the
people, the Supreme Court Judge, emphasised.
Laary Bimi,
NCCE Chairman called for vigilance and respect for the rights and liberties of
individuals, stressing: "Ghanaians should not be complacent that since we
have had 10 years of peaceful constitutional rule, everything would continue to
be all right and, therefore, no need to take steps to consolidate this peaceful
civilian rule."
He said the Commission put premium on consolidation to
ensure that "no adventurist once more take us by
surprise to terminate democratic governance". Bimi,
therefore, appealed to the security agencies to clearly define their roles in
the preservation and sustenance of constitutional stability as well as adopt
institutional strategies to guard and preserve constitutionalism.
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Civil society urged to help northern crisis
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- The Socialist Forum of
Ghana (SFG) on Thursday called for a "democratic solution" to the
crisis in Dagbon and Tamale, saying civil society
should be involved in the peace process to ensure fairness and transparency.
A statement signed by Grandfadaa Ayitomeka for the SFG in
"We call on like-minded individuals and civil society
groups active in promoting peace, human rights, and democracy or who have a
special interest in Dagbon or the Northern Region to
convene a round table conference to discuss and launch such private
enquiries."
The statement said the violence in Tamale a few days ago was
closely linked to the Dagbon crisis and could plunge
the country into a crisis similar to that of neighbouring
The statement called for a prompt judicial enquiry into the
violence in Tamale and punishment on those found guilty. The Forum said the
violence in the town, which resulted in loss of life and property, represented
"a migration or spread of conflict from Yendi to
a more heavily populated and cosmopolitan area where the potential for further
chaos is necessarily greater".
"The danger of exportation to other cities in
It said majority of Tamale citizens now regarded the
military and police with deep-seated fear and hostility. "The credibility
of government and state and their ability to serve as agents for reconciliation
has been drastically weakened. This is a dangerous level of social
polarisation", the statement said.
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Police told to define operational terms
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003-Justice George K. Acquah, a Supreme Court Judge has called on the Police
Administration to clearly define in operational terms, "an invitation and
an arrest," saying most often police personnel confuse invitation, for
arrest of a suspect and violate his fundamental human rights.
Justice Acquah said it is
important for the police to realize that a person invited to the police station
may not have necessarily committed an offence. The person may be invited if it
is reasonably believed that he was an eyewitness to an event or crime and
likely to have useful information necessary to assist the police in their
investigation.
Or the person believed to have knowledge or information
likely to lead to the arrest of an offender, or suspected to be involved in the
commission of a crime or required to assist in any other way. Justice Acquah was addressing Officers and Men of the Ghana Police
Service in
The Week is aimed at creating an increased and sustained
interest and participation of all Ghanaians in the new democratic dispensation
for the achievement of good governance, social and political stability for
national unity and development.
It would also be used to assess 10 years of constitutional
rule, pitfalls and challenges with a view to strengthening good governance
through effective and resourceful democratic institutions and civil society.
Justice Acquah said "even if
the person invited is believed to have committed an offence, once the policeman
is not prepared to charge him with any offence there and then, he cannot
forcibly drag him to the police station.
"Yet day in and day out policemen and women sent out to
invite persons to police stations, handle the invitees as if they have been
arrested and charged with an offence. "To invite
is to invite, and to arrest requires the person to be arrested to be informed
in the language he understands, that he is being arrested for a particular
offence", Justice Acquah said.
He scolded some Police Officers for constant violation of
individual's rights and liberties even under democratic governance stressing
"this is a threat to the stability of constitutionalism in the
country."
He said "little drops of water, as the saying goes,
makes a mighty ocean, such acts of cruelty and high handedness by some police personnel
gradually mop up into popular discontent and are likely to afford an ambitious
adventurer the excuse to destabilize the peace of the nation."
Speaking on "Constitutional Stability - The Role of
Security Agencies," Justice Acquah said Police
record in upholding and respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the
citizen is not one to be proud off.
The Supreme Court Judge spoke against some policemen who
arrest a relation in place of a suspect adding "there is no law mandating
the police and other Security Agencies to arrest a son, daughter, wife, husband
or other relations in place of a suspect until the suspect is
apprehended."
He said although every citizen by article 41(1) of the
Constitution, is obliged to cooperate with the police in maintaining law and
order, the police are obliged in ensuring that the fundamental rights of the
citizen are respected and upheld whenever it becomes necessary to call upon any
citizen to assist them in investigations.
He cited the case of (Hemans vrs Cofie SCGLR 596) tried by the
Supreme Court in which the police arrested the son of a suspect, unlawfully
detained him for four days until the father was apprehended.
The father was thrown into cell for two months, threatened
and pressurised to sell his house to pay off debts he owed a complainant. He
said the police, acting as debt collectors, again refused the father bail to
enable him to raise a loan to pay off the complainant and other creditors,
denied him medical treatment despite his age of 68 years and his failing health
and was only taken out of cells under police escort to find prospective
purchasers for his house.
Justice Acquah said the Supreme
Court in concluding its judgment observed, "we
cannot conclude this case without commenting on the reprehensible conduct of
the police in this matter, we do not know of any law, which reduces the police
to debt-collectors instead of protectors of life and property of the
citizenry."
The Supreme Court Judge said: "such acts of cruelty and
high handedness by some police personnel gradually mop up into popular discount
and are likely to afford an ambitious adventurer the excuse to destabilize the
peace of the nation".
Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson Deputy Inspector General of
Police (IGP) (Administration) who chaired the durbar noted that there were some
operational hindrances in enforcement of the law on maintenance of peace and
liberties of every individual.
She, however, appealed to security officers to adhere to
Constitutional provisions and exercise the greatest professionalism in law
enforcement. The Deputy IGP also suggested that compensation of victims should
be attached to the criminal aspect of defilement cases to serve as incentives
for people who report cases.
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Court adjourns Tsikata's
trial
The FTC, presided over by Mrs. Justice Henrietta Abban, an Appeal Court Judge, sitting as a High Court judge,
on April 19, this year granted a motion for a stay of proceedings, which was
tabled by the accused person's counsel, Professor E.V.O. Dankwa.
The "stay of proceedings" contained in the
interlocutory appeal filed on 28 March this year, and granted by the FTC was to
enable Tsikata to pursue an appeal at the Court of
Appeal.
Tsikata, who is also charged with
another count of intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section
1(2) of the Public Property Protection Decree 1977 (SMCD140), has denied the
charges. The court has admitted him to a 700 million-cedi self-recognisance
bail.
When the case was mentioned on Wednesday, the accused was
present, but the trial judge pointed out that it was proper to stay
proceedings, till the determination of the appeal which was pending before the
Court of Appeal and therefore, adjourned proceedings.
Arguing the motion for stay of proceedings earlier,
Professor Dankwa drew the attention of the court,
particularly to paragraph four, five and six of the supporting affidavit,
saying important matters have been raised.
Tsikata has filed an appeal at the
Court of Appeal to challenge the FTC's ruling asking
him to open his defence in the case. He is seeking a relief from the Court of
Appeal to quash that decision and order and also to uphold his submission of
"no case."
He said the judge, in calling on him to enter a defence,
erred when it was clear from the evidence adduced by the prosecution, that none
of the ingredients of the alleged offences had been established.
The Prosecution Team comprised Ms. Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General, Osafo
Sampong, Director Public Prosecution, Augustines rpt Augustines Obuor, Assistant State Attorney. The court was virtually
empty.
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Reform calls for investigation into the
conflict
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- The National Reform Party
(NRP) on Thursday suggested that civil society groups should send fact- finding
missions to Tamale to investigate the causes of the recent conflict and the
conduct of the security services.
A statement signed by Kyeretwie Opoku, General Secretary of the party, said there are
several private legal or human rights organisations like Ghana Bar Association
(GBA), Amnesty International, FIDA, and Legal Resource Centre with the
professional ability and credibility to conduct such investigations.
The statement said such an intervention will strengthen the
role of civil society in pursuing a solution to the wider problems of Dagbon and expressed the hope that government would
co-operate with such initiatives. It said the eruption of the violence in
Tamale last week reflected the country's failure as a nation to respond effectively
to the Yendi crisis.
"Tamale is a warning. Without decisive action now, we
cannot check the spiral of violence in Dagbon, its
destructiveness or its spread," the NRP said. "In the national
climate that Tamale represents no meaningful process towards national
reconciliation is possible."
The NRP said there were credible reports of indiscriminate
arrest and detention of young men of a particular ethnic identity or political
affiliation. "There are credible reports of systematic abuse of the
constitutional and human rights of detainees. The military and police command
must act swiftly to restore the credibility of their services in Tamale and
indeed
The NRP said the country needed to address the rising level
of intolerance and communal violence. The Party also called on government,
military and police to respond with greater sensitivity to the violent
situation in both Dagbon and Tamale, saying there is
no possibility of a violent solution to Dagbon's
problems.
The NRP said: "We have not done enough to counter the
polarisation of Dagbon, the perception of official
and political bias in the handling of Dagbon affairs
and above all the widespread sense that justice has been denied."
The Party said no one should underestimate the threat to
national integration. "We must address the rising level of intolerance and
communal violence in our country," it said, citing the violence in Weija in
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NDC salutes workers
NDC said the party: "shares in your commitment in
building the nation and encourages you to do more to lift the image of the
country". It said the NDC appreciates the hard economic conditions the
country was going through and the accompanying low salaries, poor working
conditions and the high cost of living.
It however, urged workers to rededicate themselves to the
service of the nation since there was hope for the future. "Once again, we
wish you happy May Day and may the good Lord bless us all", the statement
added.
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Ho (Volta Region) 02 May 2003- The Reverend Dr Setri Nyomi, General-Secretary of the World Alliance of Reform
Churches (WARC), on Tuesday said the Church could not afford to renege on its
duty to speak out forcefully as the conscience of a world that was assailed by
worsening conflicts, misery and moral turpitude.
Rev Dr Nyomi made this point when
he led a delegation to meet the Leadership of the Evangelical Presbyterian
Church, Ghana as part of preparations towards WARC's
24 General Council to be hosted by the E.P. Church, Ghana and the Presbyterian
Church of Ghana next year.
He said since the Church offered the only anchor for humanity in its struggles against the rising tides of world crises it needed to commit itself to its task of rekindling hope and respect for human values.
"In the midst of such challenges the youth of the
church need to be groomed to understand the import of Christian values to
reflect in their service to humanity." He said issues pertaining to the
youth would accordingly receive attention by the General Council.
Rev. Dr Nyomi told Boys and Girls
Brigade of the Ho-Bankoe Parish of the Church to be
imbued with discipline and selfless devotion to duty both in the church and in
society where they should be beacons of hope for the future.
The Right Reverend Dr Livingstone Buama,
Moderator of the
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Government to review all anti-business laws
He said, "the Golden Age of
Business" is not meant to be the era where people succeed because they are
given monopolies, which allow them to take undue advantage of competition. In a
speech read for him at the Regional conference of the Ghana Electrical
Contractors Association, Bartels said the government would put in place a level
field where all companies could exploit the numerous opportunities for wealth
creation.
He urged the Electrical Contractors to acknowledge the
importance of electricity to industrialisation and to form joint-ventureship to strengthen their capital base and to win
bigger contracts. "There is no doubt that without entrepreneurs working to
bear risks, our dream of achieving Golden Age of Business will be
elusive", he added.
Bartels urged them to establish a formidable association to
enable them to benefit from programmes initiated by government. Shiek I.C. Quaye, Greater
He advised them to set up a system to ensure effective
monitoring of electrical installations to avoid the recurrent of hitches, which
destroyed life and property. The Minister said, in view of the changes in
technological trends, there was the need for the members to upgrade their
skills to meet the realities of the time.
Samuel Quansah, National President
of the Association said their primary aim was to monitor all electrical
installations in the country to avoid rampant fire outbreaks. He said in line
with this the Association has notified Electricity Company of
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Saudi Prince donates $1 million to 3
institutions
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Alsaud of Saudi Arabia on
Wednesday donated one million dollars (8.6 Billion Cedis)
to three institutions in the health and education sectors of the country to
promote their activities. Six hundred thousand dollars of the amount goes to
the health sector for research into malaria, malnutrition in children and
HIV/AIDS.
Three hundred thousand dollars for
Pre-School education of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and 100,000
dollars for the Otumfuo Education Fund. Jude Bucknor, an Investment Banker and representative of the Citi Bank Group in
The donation was made at a luncheon held in honour of the
Saudi Prince by President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.
President Kufuor shook hands with Prince Alwaleed after the presentation in recognition of his
appreciation to the gesture.
The donation was in response to an appeal made by President Kufuor when the Prince called on him at the Castle, Osu last Tuesday to assist
pre-school education and research institutions in the health sector.
The 48-year-old Prince, who is leading a 22-member business
delegation on a three-day exploratory investment visit
is also the Chairman of the Saudi-based Kingdom Holding Company. He has since
left
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Sugri and Gyanfo's trial to begin on 7 May
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- An Accra High Court will on 7 May begin hearing the case of Yidana Sugri and Iddrisu Gyanfo who were implicated in the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of the Dagbon Traditional Area.
When sitting resumed on Wednesday, the trial judge Justice Yaw Appau announced that he would not be available until Friday as result of a meeting he would be attending in the Volta Region. Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney and Nana Obiri Boahene defence counsel agreed on the court's adjourned date.
Yidana Sugri
and Iddrisu Gyanfo, both
farmers, have pleaded not guilty conspiracy to commit murder and murdering the Ya Na. The Ya Na and some 30
others were killed in March last year when a chieftaincy dispute between the Andani and Abudu Gates
degenerated into fighting.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 May 2003- The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama
on Wednesday said cabinet had received and accepted the provisions of the draft
bill on Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and has given directives for its
implementation.
Alhaji Mahama
said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Former
Minister of Manpower and Employment when she launched the 40th Anniversary
Celebration of the Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB) in
The Anniversary is under the theme: 'Participation and
Inclusion as means of integrating the blind and partially sighted into
society'. Alhhaji Mahama
said it has been recommended that the relevant agencies such as Ministries and
other public and private service providers including banks and hospitals will
be charged to implement parts of the bill that are pertinent to their
operations.
He said it was considered that this would facilitate
compliance of the bill when it is passed into law. The Vice President said the
Ministry has already taken steps to ensure the integration of Persons With Disabilities in all its vocational training and
rehabilitation institutions.
He commended GAB for its contribution over the years to the
improvement in the lives of the blind and partially sighted Ghanaians. B I Koray, President of GAB said the association has plans to
begin eight more community-based rehabilitation projects within the next four
years under the Mobile Community-based rehabilitation programme. He expressed
appreciation to the Danish Association for the Blind, Sight Savers
International and the Barclays Bank for funding their projects.
GRi…/
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Professor Sawyerr takes over AAU
Accra (Greater Accra)
A statement from AAU on Thursday said Prof. Sawyerr took over on April 14 following the resignation of
Professor Francois Rajaoson, who had been
Secretary-General since September 2000.
Until his appointment, Prof Sawyerr
was Director of Research at AAU. The statement said Prof. Sawyerr
takes over at a time when the AAU Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and
Presidents, which convened in
"A major task assigned to Prof. Sawyerr
by the Executive Board of the Association is to restructure and revitalise the
Secretariat in order to facilitate the attainment of the objectives of the
strategic plan."
The statement said the new Secretary-General would be working closely with a special Executive Committee appointed by the Board for the purpose. It is made up of Prof. Ahmaou Lamine Ndiaye, Vice President of the AAU, Chairman and Prof. John Ayim, Member of the Executive Board.
Prof. Sawyerr, a lawyer by
profession, was Vice Chancellor of the
GRi…/
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