I am yet to decide – Prof Hagan
Causing financial loss law should stay
Ghana Earns $14m from Handicraft Exports
Upper West receives support from HIPC Fund
VRA workers reject 100% salary increases
Prof
Hagan said in a telephone interview with “The Ghanaian Voice” on
Prof
Hagan reacted to a report in “The Voice” newspaper of last Monday in which Dr
Abubakar Alhassan, National Chairman of the CPP was quoted by a radio station
late last week as challenging at a press conference at Tamale the loyalty of
the CPP members who have accepted post in President J.A. Kufuor government. Dr
Alhassan reportedly asked those CPP members to declare their stand.
Sounding
a little unhappy with the way the media misrepresented him to be preparing to
vie for the CPP flagbearership and the medium through which the CPP chairman
issued his challenge, Prof Hagan noted; “I do not respond to such statements.
The Chairman is my good friend but there is no occasion that he had addressed
any message to me in connection with what they say he said about those of us in
the government.
“If
there is issue, I think it is the responsibility of the Central Committee of
the party to deal with it. The central committee has not questioned me since I
accepted this position. I do not want to pay football in the media. I have not
at anywhere declared my intention to contest the 2004 elections.” – The
Ghanaian Voice
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 08 May 2003 – Plans are far advance to sell off some prisons locate in the commercially viable areas of the country to some investors in order to acquire more funds to construct modern ones. The Maamobi Prison Complex that houses James Camp, the Borstal Institute and the Prison Training Schools are among some of the institutions that would face the trade-off venture.
“If
all goes well, the benefit to the government in this venture would include the
relocation of the James Fort Prisons to Kasoa in the Central Region.” This was
announced by Rev Prof Andrews Seth Ayettey, chairman of the Prisons Council, at
the inauguration of the Bronag Ahafo Prisons’ Committee at Sunyani.
Delivering
a speech on behalf of the chairman, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, a member of the council
and president of the BrongAhafo Regional House Chiefs, said the council was
also recommending to the government to trade off the Kumasi Central Prison, the
female prison also at Kumasi and the Adum barrack for their possible
relocation.
Prof
Ayettey, said if all these are realised they can put up more modern prisons in
a most cost effective way. On James Fort prison in particular, the chairman
lamented about the weak condition of the structure, which, he said, posed as a
death trap to both the staff and inmates. He said there is therefore the need
to evacuate the prisons as early as possible, adding that the council had
linked it up with the relocation of the Maamobi prison complex.
The
chairman appealed to the authorities to expedite action on the document for the
relocation exercise. On overcrowding of the country’s prisons, Pro Ayettey said
the council was seriously considering the plea from several organisations, the
Press and individuals for the introduction of non-custodial sentencing.
“Apart
from overcrowding, the government,” according to Prof Ayettey is spending ¢1bn on
feeding inmates. Other costs include healthcare, utilities and maintenance of
security systems. “In the view of the council, it is not prudent to continue
imprisoning people with minor offences who can offer community service to the
country.
“Another
option the council is taking to ease overcrowding is Presidential pardon for
convicts who have reformed and are considered ready for integration back into
society.
The
Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, who is the chairman of the
committee said there is the need to offer full support and corporation to the
prison authorities in the quest to make the country’s prisons fit for human
occupation. Nana Seinti called for decongestion of the prisons by liasing with
the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to encourage more non-custodial
sentences for minor offences, including fines and community service. – Ghanaian
Chronicle
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 – The President of the Ghana Bar Association, Paul Adu Gyamfi has stated that the conviction of one or two persons does not mean that the law on causing financial loss to the state should be changed. He was of the view that the fact that the law had failed some high profile people should not be the basis for asking for a repeal of it, noting that the same law had earlier sent some other people such as Mallam Isa and Victor Salormey in without much eyebrow being raised.
Adu-Gyamfi
said this in Accra on Tuesday in an interview with “Chronicle” in reaction to a
section of the public’s view that the law on causing financial loss to the
state should be amended.
He
explained that article 31 of the Constitution stipulates that all property of
the state should be protected and it was in the light of this that in 1993 the
law on causing financial loss was passed and so if the citizenry thinks that
there is no need to protect public property as a result of one or two
convictions, then it is left to Parliament, which passed the law to review it.
He
was of the view that Parliament is mandated by the Constitution to pass law and
anyone who passes law can repeal them. So, if in the light of what happened,
Parliament feels that the conditions under which the law was passed do not
exist, then it is entirely entitled to have a second look at the law.
Adu-Gyamfi
noted if 10 years after the law was passed the issue, which they sought to
address have been remedied then they can have a second look and exercise their
right to pass new one. On the recent ruling, he said since the Judge had
expressed his opinion it is the right of every citizen that once judgement is
delivered a person could appeal if he thought the judgement was wrong.
He
said although he had not seen a copy of the judgement he still thought it is
right so nobody should deny the convicted former public officials the right to
appeal since they have that right under the Constitution. – Ghanaian
Chronicle
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 - The paper reports that, the Korle Gonno Roman
Catholic (R/C) Basic Boys School in Accra has been besieged by squatters who
have turned it into their place of abode for the last two years.
The
squatters, mostly fisherfolks around the area, have taken over the compound and
engage in all manner of social vices even when school is in session.
According
to the paper, several efforts by the school authorities to stop their
activities have failed. The 17 teachers of the school have therefore thrown
their hands into the air in despair. The school has a student population of
about 450 with nine classrooms, which have all suffered vandalisation by the
intruders. – Ghanaian Times
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 - Prof Edward K. Akaho has been appointed the new
Director General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC). A statement
issued in Accra by GAEC said the appointment took effect from April 2003 for a
5-year term.
He
took over from Prof J.H. Amuasi who retired this year. Prof Akaho was the
immediate past head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Material
Science and the Reactor Manager of Ghana Rector – 1 of the GAEC. – Ghanaian
Times
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Ghana Earns $14m from Handicraft Exports
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 –0 Ghana earned $14m from the export of handicrafts
last year as against $12m in 2001. The increase was attributed to the waiving
of collateral security by banks to exporters of handicrafts which encouraged
them to go for more loans for their businesses.
The
General Manager of the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC), Kwaku Adu-Mensah
announced that a high-tech Ghana Export Trade Information System to provide
one-stop information to all stakeholders in the export industry will be in
operation by October this year.
He
said the system, which is being constructed by the government will enable the
GEPC’s and its development partners, collected disseminate trade information at
both national and international levels. He added that based on networking of
information on different stakeholders in the industry, the system will create a
database and facilitate E-commerce for exporting companies to link up with
producers, facilitators and other operators within the export sector.
Adu-Mensah
said the system will be linked to the systems of the Association of Ghana
Industries, of Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, of the
Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters and of those of other local and
international export-related support agencies.
He noted
with concern that most goods leaving the shores of the country do not meet
international classification, and in this direction the Ghana Standards Board
(GSB) has established reference enquiry points through, which exporters can get
technical assistance to meet international standards.
He
also announced that government has made available ¢1.6bn for the development,
production and export of products such as mangoes and soya beans.
Representatives of all the banks took their turn to brief the participants
about the various products they have for exporters. - Daily Graphic
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Upper West receives support from HIPC Fund
Kpazie
(Upper West) 08 May 2003 - The Upper West Region has received a total of ¢5bn
from the HIPC fund for development projects. The projects are in the education,
water and sanitation sectors. The Regional Minister, Sahanun Mogtari, disclosed
this in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of a self-help fund, poverty
alleviation and an advocacy programme for the region at Kpazie in the Nadowli
District.
The
Centre is implementing the programme, with sponsorship from the Royal Embassy
of Denmark for the Development of People (CEDEP), a non-governmental
organization. Mogtari said the government, in its determination to reduce
poverty in the country, has formulated a number of strategies.
He
said under the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSP), the government is
committed to providing and improving basic infrastructure including roads,
electricity and telephone faculties. He commended CEDP for its initiative and
support for the region; Mogtari expressed the hope that the programme will
achieve the desired goal of developing local capacity for community resources
and leadership development.
He
urged beneficiary communities to participate fully in all activities related to
the programme and to demonstrate transparency, accountability, ownership and
management of projects. The Executive Director of CEDEP, Edward Ntifo-Siaw,
pleaded with the people of the region to be united to ensure the successful
implementation of programme.
He
said CEDEP’S presence in the region is to demonstrate that NGOs can work in collaboration
with the government so that the limited resources available can be harnessed
for the effective socio economic growth of the country.
On
his part, the Programme Manager in charge of the Northern office of CEDEP, John
Yelevielbarie, said since 1995, the NGO has spent ¢2.7bn on various development
projects in the region. - Daily Graphic
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 - According to the paper, it has received a release
from CHRAJ noting with dismay and great concern a story on the front page of
6-8 May 2000 edition of the “Ghana Palaver” alleging that Emile Short, Chairman
of CHRAJ, has walked off his job as Chairman.
It
described the situation as a malicious falsehood adding that the newspaper
published the story without crosschecking its information with the Commission,
contrary to the ethics of the profession of journalism. The release said
because Short has earned the reputation as one of the best performing human
rights Commissions in the world today, he is short listed to attend the 2nd
Ministerial Conference on human rights in Kigali, Rwanda upon the invitation of
the UN. – Accra Daily Guide
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 - The paper’s opinion advocates that any
respectable former head of state, such as ex-President Rawlings after 20 years
of rule, would have bowed out with respect and dignity and not go about
pretending to still be a “revolutionary” youngster out to change the world
through a demonstration.
It
said, it was pertinent for ex-president Rawlings to ask himself why no
respectable international organization is ready to associate with him, adding
that even when the ECOWAS Chairman was looking for a special envoy, it was the
Nigerian former head of state, General Abdelsalami Abubakar he had to fall on.
Right
now, he keeps darting from one country to the other in search of something to
do, the paper said. If he wants that to change, he should grow up and exit the
scene gracefully like bonafide presidents and heads of state normally do and
allow new and fresh ideas to flow. – Accra Daily Mail
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 May 2003 - The paper reports that, at a time that all public
sector workers have to contend with recently approved salary increases of
between 20-28 per cent, investigation conducted at VRA have revealed that the
staff of the authority have rejected outright, proposed salary increases of
over 100 per cent by the Authority’s management.
The
development also comes at a time when electricity consumers are struggling to
contend with 72 per cent increase in electricity tarrifs approved by the Public
Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) since August last year.
According
to the paper, sections of VRA staff, especially those at the electricity sites
are seriously considering disrupting electricity supply to the nation to back
their demands for higher salaries. Sources say the Board of Directors of the
organization under the chairmanship of Dr. Jones Ofori-Atta will meet today, 8
May 2003, to resolve the matter. - Chronicle
Send
your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com