Compel government to pursue more developments
Apathy of some people to risk of getting HIV/AIDS
Communities angry about exorbitant lorry
fares
Pretoria (South Africa) 12 May 2003 - President John Kufuor on Sunday, reiterated that the government's major concern was to unite the country for progress in its socio-economic development efforts.
He said: "Our concern is to unite our country for progress. This is the only way to develop and make Ghana a true gateway to the West African Sub-Region."
President Kufuor was addressing the Ghanaian community in Pretoria, South Africa, where he made a stopover on his way back home after a four-day state visit to Mauritius. He gave the assurance that the government would play its role as expected of a true democratic government.
Dr Samuel Yaw Annor, President of the association of Ghanaians resident in Pretoria, appealed to the government to prove sceptics who perceive the NPP administration as that of vindictiveness and vengeance wrong. He, however, said, reports received from Ghana indicated that there has not been much tension in the country since the government assumed office.
He commended the government for the achievements made so far, and told President Kufuor that, "as 'Father' of the nation, we hope you will lead Ghanaians to a prosperous nation." President Kufuor is expected back home on Monday with his entourage, who included Yaw Osafo Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade, Industry and Special Presidential Initiatives.
The rest were Akwasi Osei Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Kufuor Osei, Secretary to the President, Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman and the First Lady Mrs Theresah Kufuor.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 May 2003 - Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, has urged supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to exert pressure on the government to undertake more development projects.
He said: "Kufuor's government is susceptible. His government is prepared to listen the people in to enable it to deliver." Obetsebi-Lamptey, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP, was addressing members of the Okai-Koi North Constituency of the party at a day's forum at the weekend in Accra.
It was organised to explain issues relating to government's achievements and to correct what was termed "some misinformation" among some people.
Obetsebi-Lamptey said if pressure was exerted on the government, because it was prepared to serve the people, it would endeavour to achieve its objectives. Concerning criticism that the government was exploiting incumbency advantage, Obetsebi-Lamptey said if the only means available to win an election was to bribe the electorates by ensuring developments, then the NPP government would continue to use that means to remain in power.
He said: "We will continue to bribe the people by continuing to supply them with their needs because that is why we are in power." Obetsebi-Lamptey said the NPP government within two years has proved itself of having the capacity and ability to administer the country.
He said: "Do not let anybody make you feel that we are not performing well because the NPP has done more in two years than what the previous government did in 20 years."
Joseph Darko Mensah, Member of Parliament for the Okai-Koi North, said plans were far advanced for the replacement of the cash and carry system with the National Health Insurance Scheme. He appealed to Ghanaians to support the initiative to ensure an effective health delivery system in the country.
John Owusu-Afriyie, the NPP constituency Chairman, urged members of the party to stand firm and not to allowed their political opponents ''to throw dusts into their eyes'' by saying, Ghanaian were suffering.
He said misinformation has been peddled about the government and called on party members to dispel those wrong impressions.
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Ghanaians are committed to Democracy -
Antwi
Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 12 May 2003 - An official of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has said the endorsement of the 1992 Constitution represented Ghanaians' commitment to democratic governance as well as unity and stability of the nation.
E.K. Antwi, Adansi West District Director of NCCE, who said this stressed, "eleven years ago, we embarked on a historic journey of vision and hope and we voted and solemnly declared our commitment to freedom, justice, probity and accountability as well as the unity and stability for our nation".
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at a forum on the 1992 Constitution as part of the National Constitution Week, Antwi was happy that both the Constitution and the practice of democratic governance have survived over the past ten years.
He was of the view that Ghanaians would resolve to guide against any act that would erase the democratic history. "It is our prayer that Ghanaians would resolve to maintain the practice of democracy, and the rule of law that has characterised the political environment for the past ten years", the district NCCE boss said.
Antwi further urged Ghanaians to resolve to bequeath a strong, united and economically sound country to future generations. The District Director referred to the theme of the Constitution Week -"A decade of constitutionalism in Ghana, strategies for consolidation", and said it is important for all Ghanaians to examine their performances in relation to the 1992 Constitution and resolve to abide by it, maintain and defend it at all times.
Antwi reiterated the need for the people to demonstrate their strong commitment to the defence of democracy in the country.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 12 May 2003 - Fred Fredua Antoh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP on Saturday, retained his position at a special delegates congress, in Kumasi.
He polled 57 of the valid votes cast to beat Yaw Amankwaa and Kwame Agyei, who polled 44 and 40 respectively. Sam Cudjoe had 96 votes as against 45 by Isaac Peprah to retain his position as Secretary.
The position of first Vice-Chairman went to Osei Asibey-Antwi, who had 87 votes to beat Akwasi Acheampong and Kofi Asamoah, who obtained 31 and 22 votes respectively.
Ohene Boubi-Ansah received 61 votes to beat Nana Agyin Tawiah, who received 60 votes and Daniel Acheampong Kusi, who polled 21 votes, to take up the second Vice-Chairmanship position.
Miss Georgina Osei Tutu retained her position as the Regional Women's Organiser, receiving 66 as against 60 votes by Miss Kaakyire Asante and 15 votes by Miss Rebecca Mensah.
Ben Abdalla was elected Regional Organiser with 104 votes to beat Agyenim Boateng, who had 20 votes and Philip Oppong who received 17 votes.
The position of Regional Youth Organiser went to Kennedy Kwasi Kankam with 67 votes while Fiifi Eshun, had 46 and Nana Kusi Abayie, 38. Patrick John Atiemo and Patrick Acheampong, were elected unopposed as the Regional Treasurer and Assistant Secretary respectively.
Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the party urged members to unite and work extra hard to ensure victory in the 2004 elections. The National Treasurer, Michael Dugan, swore them into office.
Dignitaries at the congress included the National Chairman, Haruna Esseku, Defence Minister, Dr Kwame Addo Kuffuor, Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Interior Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, Communications Minister and Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister.
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Ho (Volta Region) 12 May 2003 - The Volta Regional Executive Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has annulled the Ho-Central Constituency elections held on 29 March this year.
The Council has fixed Saturday 31 May, this year for constituency elections in the region. Ken-wuud Nuworsu, acting Regional Chairman made this known to the Ghana News Agency in a telephone interview.
He explained that the Regional Executive Council on 22 March this year directed that all constituency elections should be suspended until recent bye-elections in the country were over.
Nuworsu said the organisers of the 29 March constituency elections in the Ho-Central flouted the directive. He said the constituency elections were open to all qualified under the Party's Constitution.
Nuworsu said the Executive Council meeting on Saturday also deliberated on constituency reports and selection of Parliamentary candidates for the 2004 general elections. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Regional Minister, Kofi Dzamesi, Deputy Regional Minister, Kofi Boateng, Special Assistant, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, MP for Akan, Tommy Amematekpor, Presidential Aide, District Chief Executives and constituency chairmen attended the meeting.
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Aburaso (Ashanti Region) 12 May 2003 - Dr Joseph Kwaku Oppong, a Medical Officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has expressed dissatisfaction about the apathy of some people to the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS through unprotected sex.
He said though many Ghanaians were awareness of the prevalence of the disease, there had not been any significant change in the sexual behaviour and lifestyles of some people.
Dr Oppong was launching the Kwadaso-Aburaso HIV/AIDS Committee, a Community-Based Organisation (CBO), engaged in the fight against the disease, at Aburaso near Kumasi at the weekend.
He suggested that HIV/AIDS education campaign in the country should focus on encouraging people to change their sexual lifestyles and avoid casual sexual.
Dr Oppong said: "It is time we accepted to become more responsible in our attitude towards sex and remained faithful to our sexual partners." He asked the CBO to intensify its education campaign, especially among the youth who are most prone to contracting HIV/AIDS.
Dr Oppong called on individuals, religious bodies and other organisations to help the government in the fight against indiscipline. Oheneba Kwame Kyem, Co-ordinator of the CBO, said, "Volunteers of the organisation would visit homes, Churches and market places to help deepen the understanding of the people about the HIV/AIDS."
He said the country could not afford to lose the fight against the pandemic and called on all and sundry to collaborate with the government to prevent the spread of the disease.
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Communities angry about exorbitant lorry
fares
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 12 May 2003 - The people of Nkwabeng, Brahoho and Akuma, farming communities in the Nkoranza district have denounced the exorbitant fares charged by drivers plying in the area.
The drivers charge 500 cedis more than the approved fares on routes in the area. Andrew Kwadwo Antwi, a headteacher and citizen of Akuma told Ghana News Agency at Nkoranza that even though the authorities of the District Assembly had cautioned the drivers, they had remained adamant.
“The drivers have taken the law into their hands and the people are mad about such indiscipline," he said. Antwi asked the district branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) to intervene.
Without the passengers, drivers would not work and so they must respect them and not to infringe on their rights, he said. He expressed the fear that there could be a confrontation between the people and the drivers if steps were not taken to bring the situation under control.
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Government to ensure fair distribution of
projects
Akrofuom (Ashanti Region) 12 May 2003 - Capt. (RTD) Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has said the government will continue to pursue its agenda of ensuring fair distribution of development projects.
"The government is distributing its projects all over the country, including even the remotest villages", he said. Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Akrofuom as part of his working visit to the Adansi West District at the weekend, Capt. Effah-Dartey said it is as a result of the fairness of the government in developing the country that the NPP has so far won all the parliamentary by-elections.
The deputy Minister assured the people of the government's desire to serve them in the spirit of honesty, truthfulness and openness stressing, "we are prepared to serve the nation and not to amass wealth."
"It is in this spirit that the government will also not spare any past and present government official who is found to have caused financial loss to the state".
Capt. Effah-Dartey encouraged the electorate to continue to use their democratic rights to vote for responsible people who could serve them better at both the local, district and national levels.
The deputy Minister stressed on local development and appealed to the people to pay their taxes regularly to enable the district assembly to undertake more development projects.
Joseph K. Boampong, the District Chief Executive announced that it is part of the assembly's programme to extend telephone facilities to all the five area councils in the district.
Nana Owia Akora, Regent of Akrofuom praised the government for responding to its promises to the people in the area, including the tarring of the 11.6 kilometre Obuasi-Akrofuom feeder road.
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Berekum (Brong Ahafo) 12 May 2003 - The Rev Prof Emmanuel Adow Obeng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast has called for an improvement in moral education to minimize the social evils in the Ghanaian society.
It is my belief that with an improvement in moral education in our homes, churches, mosques, schools and universities, the current state of sexual promiscuity, drug addiction, carelessness on the roads, embezzlement of state funds, misappropriation, corruption would be minimized, he said.
The Vice Chancellor was delivering his address as the guest speaker at the golden jubilee celebration of Berekum Training College at the weekend. The celebration was under the theme, "Moral Degeneration in Ghana: A challenge to Education".
Rev. Prof Obeng noted that moral degeneration is an issue that has to be tackled with all seriousness if this country is to make progress" and for the Vice President to declare a crusade against indiscipline was an indication that the canker had assumed such epic proportions that it could no longer be ignored.
He said from the beginning of statehood, morality was considered crucial to the sustenance of the country that it was factored into the educational process.
"Some 50 or 60 years ago, conscious attempts were made to inculcate the sense of morality into the citizens and through informal ad formal methods, the individual was made to develop intellectually, socially, vocationally and physically so that he or she would become a useful and acceptable member of the society".
The Vice Chancellor emphasized that all the missions - Basel, Wesleyan, Anglican and Catholic, laid strong emphasis on moral education in their curricula, thus one of their policies was the insistence on high moral values with special emphasis on character training.
In the setting up of training colleges by the Christian missionaries for example, he said, the inculcation of moral values into the teacher trainees was paramount and religious and moral education formed part of the curriculum of these institutions.
The Prof said to produce a teacher, attention was placed on the inculcation of moral values as well as acquisition of professional knowledge and the award of certificate was based on academic performance as well as the moral character of the student.
"Let me stress here that so much importance was placed on the moral uprightness of the teacher because of its multiplier effect. The teacher, a trainer of trainees would be able to produce morally upright citizens if he or she had high moral values.
"This multiplier effect would be reflected in good schools, dedicated teachers, honest people, both in private and public business, trustworthy public servants, God fearing people, caring and selfless leaders," he said.
Rev. Prof Obeng stressed that moral degeneration then "is a reversal of all the values that we cherish in our society. It connotes fallen standards in our behaviour".
If there is moral degeneration in Ghana, he said, it means we are a people with low standards of behaviour, a people with no sense of decency, a people who have lost the values they have, regarding sanctity of life, marriage, filial relationships, education, tolerance and community living.
The Vice Chancellor said moral degeneration was evident in a number of ways including violence and hooliganism among the youth, armed robbery - sometimes with the connivance of those who are supposed to prevent it, disregard for environmental issues, pursuit of selfish goals to the neglect of the communal good and commercialisation of the name of Jesus Christ and falling educational standards.
He said the visible effects of moral degeneration in our society include the loss of revenue to the state, economic, social and political instability and damage to national property.
Rev Prof Obeng said the informal and formal education that children received at home and in established institutions, respectively, would greatly help to counteract moral degeneration.
"If parents are committed to their responsibilities, provide proper care for their children, show them humility, love and concern and inculcate in them moral values as love for one another and respect for authority and hard work, the children would grow into responsible adults.
"Let us remember the Biblical adage that, 'teach the child the way it should go and it will never depart from it'. This saying still holds true today". He said parents need to lead exemplary lives for their children to emulate and religious leaders, chiefs, political leaders and all people in authority must have an attitudinal change towards the way they conduct themselves at work place, market, on the roads and to ensure that all actions are directed towards arresting the moral decadence in society.
The Prof emphasized that education should be refocused to produce a total person, noting that, "at present we treat education as a package of things that one acquires or attends as a means to secure a job, keep industry going or improving one's social standing."
Education then becomes a reference to the set of institutions one attended or a collection of certificates and qualifications received - nothing more, he said. He said this type of education fails to change the person in any central way as it placed emphasis on academic attainment to the neglect of morality.
"We need to realize that a first class honours university graduate with very weak moral values can be worse than an illiterate armed robber. A first class trained teacher without moral values is like a poisonous gas, which can destroy a generation".
On the issue of sexual abuse and drug addiction, Rev Prof Obeng said the health education unit of the Ghana Education Service should be resourced to carry out its functions effectively.
The re-activation of extra or co-curricular activities in schools will help to provide opportunities for students to explore new roles, work in a team and develop leadership skills, he said, adding that it could also serve as a way of easing academic tension.
He suggested that students/pupils involvement in school disciplinary issues and governance of the school would also help promote transparency and trust among students/pupils on one hand and teachers/management on the other.
The Vice Chancellor appealed to the teacher trainees not to allow the low levels of salaries, poor conditions of service, coupled with the verbal and physical assaults on teachers, deter them, but to live up to their call to enable the society to realise their worth.
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Berekum (Brong Ahafo) 12 May 2003 - Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports at the weekend lauded the collaborative partnership of organizations and individuals towards the growth of Berekum Training College.
This is the kind of collaborative partnership that the government has been stressing in the last couple of years, he said, adding that education was expensive and therefore, required the support, co-operation and participation of stakeholders.
Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Berekum Training College, the Minister said no one could deny the fact that the entire educational system of the country needed a complete overhauling "if we are to face the challenges of the modern world". The celebration was under the theme, "Moral degeneration in Ghana: a challenge to education".
He said it was in this direction that the Ministry had embarked on an "Educational Recovery Programme, which could take the country onto the information highway to compete with the rest of the world."
The country's dream is to see a pupil from any local school hooking up unto the internet to access information from all corners of the world by the press of a button, the Minister added.
Baah-Wiredu said the government had taken steps towards the realisation of this dream, including an increase in the number of training colleges, adding that 12 new ones had been proposed to add to the current number.
He said to help bridge the gap in standards between schools in the rural areas and those in the cities, "it is the desire of the government to establish a first class school in every district.
The Minister urged District Assemblies to re-position themselves to take up the challenge by building the capacities of the Ghana Education Service (GES) at the district level.
"The social services committee must be proactive in this direction as teachers would have to be motivated to remain in the districts to offer their services there. "The enterprising teachers must be encouraged to pursue further courses that will enrich education in the districts, which must learn to retain quality teachers".
Baah Wiredu said routine meetings of stakeholders of education, youth and sports in the districts, including directors of education, inspectors, youth and sports co-ordinators would be vigorously enforced.
He said under the programme, which would take of next month, head teachers, and their staff at the primary, JSS and SSS at the district level would meet periodically to plan, share ideas, experiences and good practices to push the goals of the new Ministry forward.
In addition to these meetings, Regional Directors of Education, Youth and Sports are also to meet at the regional level to co-ordinate affairs of the new Ministry.
Baah-Wiredu said to ensure effective supervision of delivery of services in educational institutions, "we plan to organize more surprise and unannounced visits this year throughout the country". Visits to schools, inspection of projects and environments within which teaching and learning take place are part of our management style and we shall pursue this style with vigour, he added.
The Minister warned students to desist from alcohol abuse, promiscuity and criminal acts such as robbery and drug abuse and advised them to seek redress to their grievances through laid down procedures.
"The current democratic dispensation imposes on us the responsibility of being tolerant and respectful to authority," he said. Baah-Wiredu said the government was pursuing all legitimate means to make the teaching profession a real noble one and to let teachers reap the greater part of their reward on earth, not only in heaven.
Yaw Adjei-Sarkodie, Principal, said the College had produced 6000 "disciplined and dedicated teachers who have contributed greatly o national development" in its 50 years in existence.
He lauded the good leadership of the Students Representative Council and teamwork of members of staff, whose efforts continue to sustain the high level of discipline in the college.
The Principal appealed to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, NGOs and the general public to assist the college to establish a computer centre with internet facilities.
He also appealed for assistance to enable the college to acquire more relevant reading and other teaching/learning materials, as well as provision of more accommodation facilities for the staff.
Adjei-Sarkodie called on the government to assist the college to complete its Home Science block, which was started about 30 years ago and a dining hall annex.
Certificates and awards were presented to some individuals and organizations for various contributions of the development of the college. They included Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and MP for Berekum, Ms. Anna Nyamekye, deputy Minister of Agriculture and MP for Jaman and Ernest Apraku Managing Director of Asuo Bomosadu Timbers and Sawmill (ABTS) of Berekum.
Deserving students and staff also received prizes. Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister was chairman for the occasion.
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Assin Fosu (Central Region) 12 May 2003 - The Principal of the Fosu Teachers Training College, James Mensah on Sunday appealed to NGOs, philanthropists and the Assin District Assembly to help complete two abandoned semi-detached bungalows to help solve accommodation problems facing the college.
Mensah said the project, which reached lintel level and fun0ded by the college's PTA was abandoned some years ago following Ghana Education Service's directive to proscribe PTA activities in teacher training colleges.
Mensah who made the appeal in interview with the Ghana News Agency at Fosu said due to accommodation problems, most of the staff are staying outside the college in unsatisfactory conditions.
He said there is also the need to re-gravel the college's roads to facilitate smooth and comfortable movement, adding that this project is estimated at ¢15m, which is beyond the financial capacity of the college.
He expressed his gratitude to Sammy Otoo, a past student who has promised to paint the administration block at cost of over ¢1.2m and also construct a communication centre at the college.
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Dodowa (Greater Accra) 12 May 2003 - The Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on Friday upheld the ruling that the installation of Nii Ayitey Agbofu II as Gbese Mantse is null and void.
J. Ayikoi Otoo, Counsel for Nii Ayitey Agbofu had argued that at the time of the judgement the defendant had died, which flouted the rules of natural justice, adding that, when a party to suit dies before the conclusion of hearing, the trial should stop until a substitution was made.
He said a court could not enter judgement against a dead man and urged the committee to set aside the judgement. However, Counsel for the petitioner, Nii Tetteh Ahinakwah II, Head of the Naa Onidin Akua We and Akote Krobo Saki We, W. N. Adumuah Bossman, said the death of a chief required "very solemn customary rites".
Adumuah Bossman pointed out that the stool elders of the first defendant should have informed the court of his death and said it was wrong for the counsel for the defendants to say, "this court should have known this because they were chiefs and without being formally and customarily informed".
Bossman said, the defendant kept the court in the dark because as late as August 2002, a cousin of Nii Agbofu, one John Ayitey Aryee, deputised for him and sprinkled Kpokpoi during the Homowo festival.
He argued that the impression that Nii Agbofu was alive but sick "should not be permitted to take advantage of their wrong doing". Counsel said, "to the merit of their case the signing by the stool family of Nii Agbofu, of the 1941 deed of agreement on rotational succession stopped him from saying contrary".
The counsel for the Committee, E. O. Komatsi, described the application as "frivolous, unmeritorious and an abuse of the process". The Committee held that the elders of the first defendant were aware of the case involving Nii Agbofu and should have taken prudent steps of informing the court of his death.
It continued that the first defendant died on 27 June 2002 and as late as August 2002, the public was made to understand that he was sick. The Committee continued that the elders of the Gbese Stool entered into an agreement stipulating that occupancy of the stool should rotate and that the provision enshrined in the 1941 agreement had been breached.
It was of the view that the defendant and co-defendant have no defence and that no useful purpose would be served when the case is reopened. A letter from the counsel for the defendant calling for an adjournment had been read to the Committee, but the panel said the case had dragged for 22 years and "at a point in time there should be an end to the litigation".
It therefore proceeded and dismissed the motion awarding ¢4m cost against Nii Agbofu. Members of the panel were Nene Nagai Kassa VII, Chairman, Nene Kanor Attiapah III and Nii Ofosu Oblie IV with E. O. Komatsi as member-counsel.
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