IGP commends NDC for peaceful demonstration
Torture by soldiers has incapacitated me
-Trader
Probe all divested companies - Effah-Dartey
Dagbon (Northern Region) 07 May 2003 - Government has relaxed the curfew hours imposed on Dagbon Traditional Area from 8 pm to 5 am with effect from Wednesday, 7 May. Hitherto it was from 6 pm to 6 am.
The Minister of the Interior, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang said: "the curfew imposed by this Instrument shall be for a period of seven days commencing 7 May 2003."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 07 May 2003 - The Ministry of Foreign Affair is to establish four centres throughout the country to facilitate the issuance of passports, to relieve the pressure on the headquarters of the Passport Office.
This is part of measures aimed at decentralising the issuance of passports, which is very high on the agenda of the ministry. The Passport Office issued 54,870 passports in the first quarter of this year, an average of 4,500 passports a week, the ministry said in written answers to a questionnaire submitted by the Ghana News Agency.
The statement said to obtain a passport was not difficult except that the processing of applications was being temporarily delayed due to the deterioration of the passport issuing machines.
The ministry explained that: "The state of the equipment has been the main obstacle to the processing of applications. There are currently only two machines serving the whole country."
The statement said under the circumstances, applications were being processed between six and eight weeks but gave the assurance that the situation would change for the better in the next few days. The ministry hinted that: "The Passport Office has imported nine new machines that have already arrived at the Kotoka International Airport, awaiting clearance. As soon as this is done by next week, the delays will be reduced to the minimum."
The statement admitted that middlemen were still involved in the insurance of passports but said this was "at a reduced level." The Ministry promised that: "The installation of the new equipment, which will enable the office to issue passports at a faster rate, coupled with the introduction of another window, which will expressly process applications at a higher fee for desirous applicants, will make the middlemen redundant."
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Balaclava (Mauritius) 07 May 2003 - President John Kufuor on Tuesday said the quality of leadership exhibited by the government of Mauritius had provided the best evidence for peace and stability resulting in phenomenal economic development.
He said because of the quality of the leadership, Mauritius, which was once a developing country had been turned into a modern vibrant export-oriented and investment attracting country with very respectable Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comparable to many in the developing countries.
President Kufuor said this when replying to the toast at a dinner held in his honour at the Maritim Hotel, Balaclava by Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius.
President Kufuor, therefore, called on African countries and other developing countries to emulate the Mauritian leadership through partnership, adding "we are convinced that such partnerships can provide examples to other developing countries".
He said his visit was to invite Mauritian industry, and investors to join hands with Ghanaian businesses to provide the fundamental kind of partnership that would be mutually beneficial to both countries.
President Kufuor said since the government assumed power it had tried to establish a very democratic country, encouraging full participation of the private sector in the economy. "We are determined to create an enabling atmosphere for direct foreign investment to be fully protected in Ghana", he added.
President Kufuor said he was hopeful that the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement to be signed during the visit to guarantee Mauritian investments in Ghana and Ghanaian investments in Mauritius.
He said both countries would continue to share their long-standing identity of views on vital issues whether on African Union-NEPADF negotiations, Commonwealth or the UN. Sir Jugnauth, proposing the toast said the pragmatic vision of President Kufuor his wisdom and exemplary management had not only raised the standard of living of Ghanaians but had also been a shinning example to other African leaders in their pursuit of economic prosperity.
"Through your sustained efforts, Ghana has been transformed into a modern state where democracy and the rule of law prevail", he added. Prime Minister Jugnauth said Mauritius fully supports Ghana in its initiative to accelerate the pace of the process of integration and good governance in line with the objectives of NEPAD to alleviate poverty and give dignity to the average African.
He said "as a partner in the African renaissance, Mauritius will stand by the side of its African brothers to restore economic and political stability, democratic principles and move the continent out of poverty".
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Plaisance (Mauritius) 07 May 2003 - President John Kufuor on Tuesday, arrived at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgloolam International Airport in Plaisance to begin a four-day State visit to the Island of Mauritius.
President Kufuor was met on arrival with a 21-gun salute and met at the gangway by Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius who decorated him with a garland while Lady Jugnauth presented a bouquet to the first lady Theresah.
The national anthems of the two countries were played after which they inspected a guard of honour. President Kufuor was accompanied on the visit by Yaw Osafo Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI), Kwasi Osei Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Kufuor Osei, Secretary to the President and Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman.
The programme for the second day of the visit includes an official courtesy call on the Prime minister and Bilateral talks and joint Economic Council meeting.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 07 May 2003 - Nana Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Tuesday commended the National Democratic Congress for the peaceful demonstration and rally the party held on Tuesday.
The demonstration was to bring to the fore the deteriorating living conditions of the citizenry under the ruling New Patriotic Party government and it was dubbed; "March for Survival", which was feared would lead to the breach of the peace.
The IGP in a congratulatory statement said he wished "to thank particularly the organizers of the demonstration for living up to their promise to marshal and monitor the conduct of their followers.
"Those who attended the demonstration and rally are also to be commended for their comportment." Nana Owusu-Nsiah also praised other political parties for their maturity in not interfering in any way whatsoever with the NDC programme.
He commended the discipline and professionalism of the Police and all other security agencies "who, in diverse ways helped towards the success of the demonstration and rally". The IGP extended his gratitude to the media for their role in propagating peace before, during and after the demonstration and rally.
He said he was hopeful that "all other political parties and civil society groups in other regions of Ghana will take a cue from today's event and organize their programmes in like manner with the full co-operation of the Police."
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 07 May 2003 - Madam Mary Dufie, a Kumasi trader, told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Tuesday that severe beatings she suffered from some soldiers in 1982 had left her incapacitated. Madam Dufie, who mounted the witness box in a wheel chair, said at the time of her brutal assault, she was five months pregnant.
Testifying before the Commission at its first public hearing held outside Accra at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Kumasi, she said she owned a store at Kejetia.
She said one day while selling her wares, a group of soldiers pounced on her and gave her a severe thrashing and took away three tons of iron rods she had in front of her store. Madam Dufie said four months after her ordeal, she gave birth to a baby girl and after the delivery she became crippled.
She urged the Commission to assist her get back the iron rods seized from her by the soldiers. When asked by Christian Appiagyei, one of the Commissioners, if she had earlier petitioned any authority for the treatment by the soldiers, she replied that she reported the matter to the police but no action was taken.
General Emmanuel Erskine (rtd), another Commissioner, said he was ashamed of the behaviour of the soldiers, adding that as a nation, it was important to resolve never to go through such experience. Nana Yaw Boakye, a goldsmith, sculptor and a transport operator, recounted the injustice he suffered in 1982.
He said his 2m CFA Francs, 650 French Francs and 2,000 cedis were confiscated. Nana Boakye told the Commission that he had travelled to Abidjan to buy tyres for his business but learnt that he could get them at cheaper prices in Nigeria.
He said he therefore decided to fly back to Accra to connect another flight to Nigeria. At the Kotoka International Airport, he said, he was arrested for not declaring the various foreign currencies on him.
The monies were subsequently confiscated and I was later put before a Public Tribunal then chaired by one Agyekum. "At the tribunal, I was denied representation by a counsel. I was asked the number of children I had at the time and when I said seven, they gave me seven years."
Nana Boakye said the seven years was in respect of the foreign currency and that he was jailed another three years for the 2,000 cedis found in his possession to bring the total sentence to 10 years. He said he was released after serving one year in prison on grounds of ill health.
Asked if he later petitioned against the confiscation of the monies, he replied "yes", saying, he complained to the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP). In another answer to a question by counsel for the Commission, as to whether he was told why he was given that treatment, Nana Boakye said, "they said I was trafficking in currency," a charge he vehemently denied.
He threw the large crowd at the public gallery into laughter when Nana Boakye, an ex-serviceman, remarked, "we fought for freedom and justice but not freedom and nonsense."
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Tourism has the potential as largest
employer
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 May 2003 - The Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, Jake Obestebi Lamptey on Tuesday said that the tourism sector has the potential to be the largest employer in the country apart from the Agriculture sector five years from now.
He said workers at the Ghana Tourist Board and other departments under the ministry should work hard towards the achievement of this plan. Obestebi Lamptey said this when he toured the various sectors under the Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the City.
The Minister visited the Ghana Tourist Board and the Ghana Tourist Development Company. He said the cost of hotels and airlines that affect tourism directly gives an impression that Ghana is expensive, especially in the hotel business.
He said places like Kwahu and Elmina could be developed into complete tourist towns in the country. "We need to develop Kwahu as a honeymoon capital of West Africa," he said. He said slave route sites needed to be developed since the slave routes have a long and interesting history that could help develop the sector.
He advised the management of the GTB to aim at the African Americans, Ghanaians living abroad and people from the Middle East in developing the tourism sector. Obestebi Lamptey said Ghanaians should be more hospitable and should change their attitude towards visitors to attract more tourists and investors.
He said those who deal with catering in hotels and restaurants should be educated to handle their foods hygienically, since the informal sector have a lot to do with tourists. He said there should be seminars and workshops on hygienic catering.
The Acting Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Martin Mireku said the board has started with the registration of all chop bars in the country in other to monitor their operations. He said the Food and Drugs Board has a law that ensures that chop bars, hotels and restaurants operate under hygienic conditions.
The Minister and his deputy also visited the Ghana Tourist Development Company, the commercial wing of the Ministry, where they held a meeting behind close doors.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 07 May 2003 - Capt. Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (Rtd), Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Tuesday called on Government to set up a probe to investigate all divested companies to ensure transparency and accountability.
He said there was the need for a searchlight to be thrown on activities of the Divestiture Implementation Committee to check who bought them, how much was involved, how much was paid and the balance to the state.
Capt. Effah-Dartey said this in hid contribution to a statement made by Seth Dankwa Wiafe, NPP-Akwapim South on "Post Harvest losses of agricultural produce in the Akwapim South District due to the closure of the Nsawam Cannery Company Limited."
The Deputy Minister said there was the need for government to reassess itself and withdraw from private participation, especially at this era of Golden Age of Business and to lend credence to activities of the State Enterprises Commission.
Wiafe said the Nsawam Cannery was the principal consumer of the produce of the area but was placed on the divestiture by the previous government even though it was a profit-making venture. He said immediately the new company, CARIDEM took over the equipment of the cannery meant for the production of alcoholic drinks were dismantled and sold out and the workforce reduced and eventually closed down.
Wiafe said the factory no longer produced anything and raw materials such as pineapples got rotten daily and called on the government to do something now because the closure of the factory was creating a problem of unemployment, loss of foreign exchange and post-harvest losses.
He said the factory could be converted to produce pineapple concentrates that could be exported and had the potential of canning fruits of all kinds since the retrenched workers were all ready to go back and work towards the revival of the factory.
The member said the opening of the factory would take a lot of the youth of Nsawam and the surrounding villages off the street because apart from selling bread, they had no means of livelihood.
Wiafe said the closure of the factory had also increased criminal activities in the district and appealed to the government to come to the aid of the people by re-opening the cannery within the shortest time to create jobs for the youth.
Isaac George Amoo, NPP- Ayawaso West Wuogon entreated the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) to take a second look at the divested companies and industries to find out how far they were functioning.
David Apasera, PNC-Bolgatanga said the manner in which the previous government went about divesting most of the companies raised a lot of questions but because of the conditions given by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund the exercise was allowed to continue.
He said people were used to selling and not manufacturing or processing and that had crippled most of the companies leading to their divestiture that could have been done gradually adding that government should find the needed funds to revamp the abandoned factories that were still viable.
Dominic Nitiwul, NPP-Bimbilla asked government to take a firm stand on the divested companies and questioned why it was not acting about the fate of the divested companies when they were not productive.
Osei-Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, NPP-Old Tafo Suame said there was the need for a second look to be taken at the disposal of national assets and for re-examining the principles of the divestiture of state companies.
J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister and NPP- Sunyani East said the problem of divestiture was the inability to manage state assets and utilise them for the benefit of the country. Eugene Atta Agyepong said the divestiture programme had brought in its wake unemployment and hardship to most people and asked for its review.
Charles O. Nyanor, Chairman of the DIC and NPP- Upper Denkyira said most of the divested companies were being investigated to streamline their activities and growth due to the complaints of dubious financing.
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