Jake launches tourism capacity initiative
World’s largest gold coy on the cards
750,000 ghost names on voters register
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - When the Electoral
Commission (EC) sets out to compile a credible voters’ register for next year’s
general elections, one major hurdle it will be confronted with would be how to
weed out or prevent the re-emergence of at least 752,000 ‘ghost’ names that
corrupted the year 2000 electoral roll.
That year’s voters’ registration exercise yielded 10,698,908
names in a country of 18,912,079 people – representing 56.57%. But the Ghana Statistical
Service (GSS) which conducted a national population census that very year,
2000, determined that the total adult population of Ghana (18 years and above)
was 9,946,846.
The 752,062 excess names, therefore, constituted 7.029% of
the figure on the voters’ register and 7.56% of the total adult population.
Chronicle can actually say that the figure of fake names and
those rejected more than once in the register will be more than a million. This
is because the 752,062 number presupposes that all foreigners, lunatics and
ex-convicts in Ghana who were 18 years or above were eligible to register and
vote in 2000, which in reality, was not the case.
The figure also takes no account of people who were otherwise qualified to register but for religious and personal reasons abstained.
To clean the register of the fraudulent names or prevent
their re-occurrence on a completely new one – as the EC is contemplating
drawing up – the commission and the entire nation will need to know the
distribution of the million or more ‘ghosts’ across the country.
The Volta region tops the list, a situation which prompted
us to do a story exclusively on that region’s bloated register on April 23,
this year.
The south-easternmost region has at least 124,202 excess
names on the electoral roll. Its adult population at 2000 was 859,386 but the
registered voters numbered 983,588. (It is the total adult population of
859,386 that the excess 124,202 formed 14.45% of, and not the 983,588
registered voters as mistakenly published in the April 23 story.)
In fact, the bloating of the Volta region register is seen
to be more serious in view of the fact that it constituted 16.51% of the whole
excess figure of 752,062. Brong Ahafo, with an adult population of 919,265
places second on the ladder of ‘ghost’ names with a 122,658 figure.
Its registered voters numbered 1,041,923 making the bloating
13.34% of the adult population, and 16.3% of the national bloated figure.
Eastern region recorded 1,096,646 adults in the population census; the total
number of people registered to vote however shot up to 1,187,573.
The difference of 90,926 means 8.29% bloating of the adult
population and 12% of the national figure of 752,062.In the Western region, the
adult population in the year under review was 996,236; 1,076,778 people
registered to vote there, however.
The 80,542 extra names translate into a bloating of the qualified voters by 8% and also makes 10.7% part of the overall figure of 752,062.
The capital region, Accra, with the second largest
population after Ashanti, had an adult population of 1,845,889 voters. Excess
was 91,167, which equaled 5.1% of the adult population and 12.12% of the
overall bloated figure.
But Ashanti region that had the largest adult population
(1,883,763) came up with a relatively cleaner register. It, in fact, registered
1,976,962 resulting in an excess of 93,199.
The excess in relation to the adult population is 4.9%.
Though ‘ghost’ names in Ashanti formed 12.39% of the national total, the fact
that that region is the most populous must be taken into account.
In the Northern region, people aged 18 years and above were
871,645 at the time of the year 2000 registration. But names that got onto the
electoral roll rose to 931,211; the extra was 59,566. At least the register got
bloated by 6.83% and the Northern region is responsible for 10% of the 752,062
figure.
The Central region’s adults numbered 807,241 but 870,826
people got enfranchised in the region. The 63,585 more people made 7.8%
increase in the maximum voters possible there and 8.45% of the overall
inflation.
Four hundred and sixty-six thousand, eight hundred and thirty-eight (466,838) adults were in the Upper East in 2000; 480,894 registered to vote, however.
The surplus figure was 14,056, which meant 3% of the
region’s maximum figure, and 1.8% of the national excess figure. Another
relatively clean register is the one compiled in the Upper West region.
Those aged 18 and above there were 291,103; those who
registered were 303,264.The 12,161 meant 4% bloating of the region’s electoral
sheet and 1.6% of the national.
To make a re-registration or cleaning effective, some EC
officials, political party leaders and teachers engaged in the previous
registrations have suggested to Chronicle that several malpractices will have
to be guarded against.
Among those who register illegally are some people below the
mandatory age of 18 years. Some foreigners – notably from the West African
sub-region – register illegally too.
And family members and other relations fail to report to the
EC, their kith and kin who die for their names to be spiked from the register,
they said. - AC Ohene reporting. - Ghanaian Chronicle
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - The Geological Survey
Department says Sunday’s earth tremor that hit parts of the capital- Accra
measured 3.8 on the Ritcher scale. It is the first such tremor after three
occurrences in 1997, hitting Dansoman, Weija, Legon, the Ghana Broadcasting
House area at Kanda, East Legon, Madina, Sakumono and other environs of Accra.
Acting Director of the Geological Survey Department Philip
Oduro Amoako has called for calm, explaining that the tremor is a normal
occurrence. The entire coastal belt of Ghana is said to be an earthquake-prone
zone. Sunday’s early morning tremor came in a flash but scared many including a
visiting Fulbright Guest lecturer at the University of Ghana, Jonathan Blakley.
Mr. Oduro Amoako told JoyNews that the department has been
advising developers to adhere strictly to building regulations to enable them
mitigate the impact of an earthquake. According to him, estate developers in
the Dunkona, Fetteh, Nyanyano, Weija, McCarthy Hills and Shai Hills, in particular,
must be cautious because these are the most prone areas.
The March 6th 1997 earth tremor measured 4.8 on the Ritcher
Scale, and came less than a month after an earlier tremor that measured 4.1.
The first for that year occurred on January 8th measuring 3.8. The worst
experience ever recorded in the country was in 1936 at Axim, which caused lots
of damage.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - A leading member of the
Convention People’s Party Alhaji Asumah Banda has invited other well-meaning
members of the party to join the quest to revive the party back to life.
The CPP, once a vibrant party has lost its bite, and
according to him it is unthinkable that the CPP is now a laughing stock. Unable
to meet the challenges of the political activity, the CPP was unable to contest
the recent by-elections.
Alhaji Banda says the leadership of the party has also
contributed to the current image of the CPP, speaking on JoyFM’s Super Morning
Show, he however made it clear that the solution does not necessarily lie in
the changing of the leadership.
Alhaji Banda, a former chairman of the People’s Convention Party,
which was later changed to the CPP, says he would provide the needed support to
revive the party. He explained that he has no interest in leading the party or serving
in a leadership position and invited all party members to deliberate on the direction
for the party.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - A top government
official has disclosed plans by government to hike the processing fees of
passport by July this year.
Though the source did not disclosed how much was to be
increased, the BUSINESS & FINANCIAL TIMES' investigations have revealed
that people seeking to have fresh passports would be required to pay ¢100,000
instead of ¢50,000 currently being charged.
In addition, the operations of the passport office and its
sister institutions would undergo major restructuring in line with the public
sector reform programme to free government from huge annual subsidy it pays to
keep Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Passport office running.
The official told BUSINESS & FINANCIAL TIMES in an
interview that an outline of the reforms has already been discussed and placed
before Cabinet and that it would soon be made public. - Business &
Financial Times
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - Ato Sackey, a Ghanaian
domiciled in the US, has declared his intention to contest the presidential
slot of the CPP, scheduled for late this year.
In a letter to the Central Committee of the CPP, Ato Sackey
noted that his “main reason for wishing to contest for this highly venerable
position is that I see the CPP today as uniquely positioned to take over the
reins of power in December 2004”.
Contrary to the general perception that the CPP will not file for the presidential race in the 2004 elections, the party’s General Secretary, Dr. Nii Noi Dowuona told party activists in Tema last week that the party will elect a flagbearer to contest the 2004 presidential elections. - The Independent
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - Parts of Accra yesterday morning experienced an earth tremor with the magnitude of 3.8 on the Richter Scale.
The Dansoman, Weija, Ashalley Botwe, Madina, East Legon, Trade Fair and Sakumono suburbs of the metropolis and their adjoining areas were the places, which experienced the tremor at about 6:54 a.m.
Philip Oduro Amoako, the acting Director of the Geological Survey Department (GSD), who confirmed this in an interview, explained that the tremor was a normal occurrence. He said the tremor was not a build-up to an earthquake and urged the people not to panic.
He explained that the entire coastal belt of Ghana is an earthquake prone zone and that the GSD has always advised people putting up buildings in these areas to adhere strictly to building regulations so that in case of any earthquake, its impact could be mitigated.
The last time an earth tremor hit Accra was in 1997 when within three months, the national capital experienced three earth tremors. The first tremor which was experienced on 8 January, measured 3.8 on the Richter Scale, the second on 15 February, recorded 4.1 and the third on 6 March was 4.8 on the Richter Scale.
Amoako cautioned estate developers in the Dunkona, Fetteh, Nyanyano, Weija, McCarthy Hills and Shai Hills to be cautious in their building activities because these are the most prone areas. He said the continued provocation of the ground may affect the structures being put up since these areas are heavily prone to earthquakes.
He said the worst experience ever recorded in the country was in 1936 at Axim, which caused a lot of damage. According to Amoako, the country has experienced a series of tremors since then.
He advised crowds at indoor meetings not to panic and rush out during the occurrence of tremors or quakes since the stampede could lead to deaths or serious injuries. - Graphic
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - The Minister of Communications and Technology, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has urged operators in the telecommunication sector to redouble their efforts to ensure effective and efficient service delivery in the country.
He said the challenges of interconnections and poor customer service must become issues of the past. The minister said this in an address to mark the 35th anniversary and flag raising ceremony to mark World Telecommunication Day in Accra at the weekend.
It was on the theme, " Helping all of the World's People to Communicate''.
Kan-Dapaah stressed the need for quality service to be the driving concern of all stakeholders in the industry, adding that the government expects a lot more from the players in the telecommunication industry to help extend their services to all hamlets and villages.
The minister said currently, national penetration rate of telecommunication connectivity is roughly 3.5 per cent, which is forecast to reach 6-7 per cent by the end of 2003. He noted that the cherished aim of the government is to provide affordable communication services to all.
“ Government believes that affordable communication should be close to a birth-given right in all corners of this country,’’ he added. He entreated the operators to explore all affordable technologies that can accelerate the expansion of communication facilities, access and services through our nation.
In a speech read on his behalf, the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said the role of communication in all areas of human endeavour cannot be over-emphasised.
Annan said information and communication technologies must be used to bridge the digital divide and accelerate progress in the poorest corners of the world. He noted that ‘’press freedom and pluralisation of content can, and must, go together in our information society’’.
The Deputy Director of the National Communications Authority, Bernard Forson Jnr, in a welcoming address, urged competitors in the mobile arena to bring about greater efficiencies and expansion in the sector through licensing mechanisms and the expansion of roadways. - Graphic
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - A Tourism Capacity Development Initiative (TCDI) project has been launched in Accra. The $4.8m project, which is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with technical support from the Georgia State University, aims at strengthening the capacity of stakeholders in the tourism sector as a means to attract tourists to Ghana.
The Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, who launched the project, said although the 15-year National Tourism Development Plan has chalked up a number of successes, there is the need for a redirection in the tourism sector to enable the sector to meet new trends in the global tourism sector.
Consequently, he announced that the government has set new targets for the tourism sector to make it the leading economic sector by the year 2007.
He mentioned some of the targets as increasing annual tourist arrivals to one million by the year 2007, making tourism the leading employment industry in the formal sector as well as the second leading foreign exchange earner for the country.
Obetsebi-Lamptey, therefore, cautioned the management of TCDI against re-inventing the wheel and to avoid over-ambitious tasks that will not make the project sustainable.
“Our priority is implementation, our focus is results,” he said. He expressed gratitude to the USAID for its continued support for the tourism sector in the country.
The Mission Director of the USAID, Ms Sharon Cromer, said the objective of the project is to provide technical assistance and training to improve the capacity, quality and performance of the tourism industry.
She said the TCDI project, which is scheduled to last for 16 months, will facilitate the building of a public/private partnership that contributes to tourism-led economic growth as part of Ghana’s ongoing poverty alleviation and wealth creation efforts.
Ms Cromer observed that Ghana has tremendous tourism potential, which, if developed, can create thousands of jobs for the youth as well as earn foreign exchange for the country.
The Associate Dean of the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, Fenwick Huss, said Ghana is endowed with a magnificent natural beauty, rich culture and beautiful festivals, which are valuable assets that can earn handsome returns.
He pledged the university’s full support and commitment to the project, adding, “We want to make Ghana one of the world’s most sought for tourist destinations.” - Graphic
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 – The Head and Limb of the late Ya Na, Yakubu Andani II, have finally been located. The head and limb were dislocated from the body by some unscrupulous persons.
Readers may recall that in 2002, people with devious intentions in the Dagbon Traditional Area killed 30 people and beheaded the late Ya Na, cut off one of his limbs and charred the body.
Ever since the incident, government has to been able to tell Ghanaians whether the head and limbs of the Ya Na has been found or not.
But today, “The Ghanaian Voice” Newspaper can say the head and limb of the late Ya Na have been found. They were deposited near the door mouth leading to where chiefs are often buried at the Gbewaa Palace three days after the abomination.
How the head and limb got to the Gbewaa Palace without the security noticing it is equally a myth. This revelation is supported by the Wauku Commission’s report, which was released quite recently.
It stated that a head and a limb were found at the Gbewaa Palace three days after the King and 30 other people were murdered in cold blood. The report recommended to government to conduct DNA test on them to establish that the head and limb were indeed those of the late Ya Na.
Meanwhile, the two gates are to enter fresh negotiations at Akosombo to reignite the peace process. In the first peace deal at the same venue, the Andanis boycotted the process complaining that their demands were not met. – Ghanaian Voice
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields said they were in talks for a merger, which, if consummated, would create the world’s largest gold producer as measured by capacity.
AngloGold, South Africa’s largest gold miner and currently the world’s second-largest, confirmed its board was in talks with that of Ghana’s Ashanti on a proposed merger at a ratio of 26 AngloGold shares for every 100 Ashanti ordinary shares or global depository securities.
“These discussions may or may not lead to a proposal being made for the entire issued share capital of Ashanti,” AngloGold’s board said.
If completed, the merger would give the companies combined capacity of some 7.3 m oz, putting them on a par or slightly ahead of America’s Newmont Mining, which expects to produce between 7.1 and 7.3 m oz this year.
The two African companies already operate a 50:50 joint venture at Tanzania’s Geita mine. A deal would allow AngloGold to diversify away from deep-level mining and South African exposure.
AngloGold had been in the market for a partner since last year, when it lost a long and bruising battle for control of Australia’s Normandy Mining to Newmont.
“It makes sense,” said James Wellsted, gold analyst with JP Morgan in Johannesburg.
“It’s probably a cheaper option for them than looking for growth in a place like North America or Australia, where the multiples are a lot higher than for Ashanti.”
Lonmin, the London-based South African platinum company, also confirmed it was in talks with AngloGold concerning its 32 per cent share in Ashanti on Friday.
However, details of the planned deal are sparse. Analysts pointed to a possible risk factor in the Ghanaian government’s ownership of a 20 per cent share of Ashanti, the country’s largest company.
“There can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached,” AngloGold said. “Consequently, shareholders of AngloGold are advised to exercise caution when dealing in relevant securities until a further announcement is made.”
Ghana’s government also has the right to veto the disposal of assets via its ownership of a “golden share” of the miner. However Sam Jonah, Ashanti’s chief executive, told the FT earlier this year that if Ashanti wants a merger “the government cannot and would not interfere.”
AngloGold’s shares closed at 233.8 rand on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange on Friday, down 4 per cent. The Ghanaian company’s London-listed American depository receipts closed up 10 per cent at £7.75. – Chronicle
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Tema (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 Drama is unfolding at the Tema port, following the presence of two groups described by the head of security, Major (rtd) Asamoah Duodo, as thugs from Ashaiman and Nima, as both are trying to control the premises of the stevedoring company, Express Maritime Services (EMS).
The head of security disclosed this at a meeting last Saturday with Ports and Railways Minister, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi. Present at the meeting, which was held at the offices of the director of Port, Tema, were officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Police and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
According to him, some lapses at the port contributed greatly to this situation, which is now a big headache to the port authorities.
The modus operandi adopted is to obtain daily harbour passes for workers by some fishing companies under the guise of going to work on their fishing vessels, which are moved to the main harbour from the fishing port because of space and sometimes draft.
Instead of going to the specified destination, these people ended up regrouping at the gate of EMS thus posing a security threat at the port. The presence of the minister at the port about 15.00hrs GMT was occasioned by a report of a possible clash by the ‘thugs.’
According to the minister, after the stevedoring operational license of EMS was withdrawn by the GPHA as a result of boardroom difficulties, reports got to him that the problems were resolved. Upon that he, considering the plight of the workers, asked that the suspension of the license be lifted.
A letter dated 15 May, this year signed by the director general, GPHA, Ben Owusu Mensah, reference D/G/Conf/V.43/064, was addressed to the managing director, Express Maritime Services, Tema.
Captioned ‘Suspension of license,’ it stated: “This is to inform you that the suspension of your stevedoring license has been lifted, following a review of the situation by the authorities’ board.
The directors of port are by a copy of this letter to allocate vessels to EMS to start work. Please arrange to clear your indebtedness to the authority and also ensure that your license is renewed by the end of May this year.
Meanwhile, whilst you are trying to solve your boardroom problems, we hope peace will prevail in the port as far as your operations are concerned.”
Express Marine Services on 15 May, this year, reference EMS/MDO/GPHA/008 despatched a letter to the board chairman of the GPHA, attention Alhaji Asoma Banda, under the caption ‘Committee to Steer affairs of EMS.’
The letter stated: “We the undersigned make reference to the meeting called at the instance of a three-man committee of the board of GPHA, made up of Alhaji Asoma Banda, Nana Asafo-Adjei and Richard Deih to discuss the restoration of the stevedoring license of EMS Ltd and at which meeting all the parties to the EMS court case were duly represented and confirm the following:
* It was accepted that pending the determination of the suit in court and to ensure that work of the company is in no way impeded, the day-to-day administration of the company be handled by the management staff.
*· It was accepted also that the said management team is to work under the direction of a committee of directors consisting of Messrs Kofi Dolphyne, Samuel B. Ackah and Steven Adjei-Acheampong.
* It was agreed further that any two of the said committee of directors shall be the signatories to the existing bank account and any yet to be opened.
For the avoidance of doubt, we confirm that the above decisions were arrived at without prejudice to the outcome of the suit pending before court.
Signatories were Samuel Bewell Ackah, Kofi Dolphyne, Dr. Michael Yaw Boateng, Nana Ofei-Nkansah (lawful attorney for Akuba Dolphyne) but Stephen Adjei-Acheampong’s signature was missing. On Friday, the offices of EMS was reportedly opened by the Ackahs and the workers went in to service their equipment in readiness for jobs that are to be allocated as directed by the director general’s letter.
Soon after, another group, led by Mrs. Adjei Acheampong also converged at the gate trying to enter the compound.
Information got to the director general of the security threat and so by 5pm he informed the minister about the happenings and Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi gave an order for police to assist the GPHA security to maintain peace in the EMS yard.
The Railway & Ports police commander, Supt. Victor Adetor, told the minister that the head of security at the port, Major Asamoah, informed him the previous evening of GPHA management’s intention to have police sack the workers from the yard close to the place and take over their equipment. A
According to him, he also informed the regional police boss but it was late, so the boss asked that the two groups be put before her.
When on Saturday they appeared and the authority’s directives were relayed to them, the Ackahs said they could not depend on any verbal directives. At about 2.30pm, the head of security operations, Prince Quashiegah, went to the yard of EMS to deliver a letter from GPHA to the Ackahs but they did not receive it for reasons not disclosed.
Just about the same time, a number of young men were dropped outside the port fence wall, opposite the offices of EMS, singing and hurling abuses at the Ackahs.
That was when the minister arrived at the scene and went back to the office of the director of ports for the meeting. The Ackahs, when reached, claimed that some officials of the GPHA were behind the confusion on Friday and Saturday.
According to them, the group that was at the main gates of EMS allegedly used the Western gate, an unapproved route to enter the port.
They want an investigation to be conducted into the role some officials at the GPHA allegedly played in the presence of thugs at the Tema port. Meanwhile, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi is scheduled to meet the two factions today in an attempt to resolve the issue.
A few years ago, armed private security personnel in a similar fashion entered the Tema port, which is a high security area, and took over the premises of the Atlantic Port Services Ltd (APS). – Chronicle
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - Ghana Telecom (GT), the market leader in communication services in Ghana, has adopted Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO)’s Group Comprehensive Plan for the welfare of its employees.
The comprehensive cover was outdoored at a simple but impressive ceremony last week in Accra. Speaking at the function, the chief executive officer (CEO) of GT, Oyestein Bjorge, said the company is interested in the lives of its employees even after retirement and is desirous to see its employees living a fruitful and rewarding retirement.
“GT is proud to be seen as a caring organization and we would do all we can to build on this quality, Bjorge stressed.
The CEO explained that, the policy which is to care for all its human resources, covers all employees (executive and non-executive personnel) in the event of death, terminal illness, accidents or incapacitation and was hopeful that it would transform the staff of GT from a well-motivated force to a highly motivated one.
Outlining the benefits under GLICO’s group comprehensive plan, the marketing director of GLICO, Eric Adane, revealed that any employee of GT who dies or becomes permanently incapacitated (naturally or accidentally) shall benefit two times his/her annual salary as compensation.
Again in the event of a terminal or dreaded diseases such as illness, the employee as having been diagnosed shall enjoy the full sum assured i.e. two times his/her annual salary as benefit. He said the policy shall also provide GT workers with a twenty-four hour cover in the event of accident.
Mrs. Stella Appiah Nkansah, general manager, Human Resources management, in a remark stressed, that the twenty-four hour death and accident cover plus the deaded disease were key points which won cover GLICO the offer among a pack of bidders.
Mrs. Appiah Nkansah was convinced that workers of GT would live up to expectation with the adoption of the GLICO comprehensive policy.
The MD of GLICO, Kwame Acheampong-Kyei, assured GT management and staff that GLICO will honour its promises on time. GT is the latest company to join the GLICO Comprehensive Plan.
Already, Trust Bank, Fan Milk, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), among others have been hooked to the policy.
Present at the ceremony were the deputy chief executive officer of Ghana Telecom, Dickson Oduro-Nyaning, Svein Oskarseim, chief Finance officer and D. K. Clottey, chairman of Communication Workers Union who was full of praise to GT for taking the policy.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 - Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, minister of Energy, on Friday noted that the energy sector is beset with difficulties, which “can be disincentive to investors.”
He said, “I have come to the Ministry to work for only 12 months and we have to make sure that many of the problems that are disturbing consumers are identified, and solutions found within the next few months.”
Dr. Nduom who was speaking at a meeting with ‘major power consumers’ at Tema said reforms would soon begin in the sector.
Urgent issues include the thermal power generation at Aboadze in the Western region and placing the two existing plants under one management to help make their running more cost effective, adding, “we are trying to get a joint venture on the ownership.”
Dr. Nduom said the Volta River Authority (VRA) was constructing power lines from Prestea to Obuasi for power from the thermal plant to be easily tapped, adding, “I want the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to make some improvement about generating enough power to satisfy consumers.”
He said it was for this reason that the government would make $13m available to ECG to improve power supply.
There is also the need to improve upon management practices as well as consumer services, so that ECG could go the extra length to know from their station, which area that fault has occurred, he said.
Some of the consumers complained about the monthly flat rate of ¢13m charged under infrastructure facilities by ECG, whether the company was working or not and said that was not an incentive for industrial consumers.
Concern was also expressed about small-scale industries that had to spend huge sums before getting connected with power and other utilities including water and roads, especially when no bank would offer loan facility for the provision of these services.
Ishmael Yamson, chairman of Unilever Ghana Limited who
chaired the forum said as service providers, the complaints should serve as a
guide to make Ghana more competitive in the industrial sector. - Chronicle
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 – The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the decision of President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo to stand for another five-year term describing it as a “serious set-back to the Peer Review Mechanism of the NEPAD.”
“President Eyadema’s decision to stand for another term after 36 continuous years in office will impact very negatively on the wind of democratic change that has been blowing across the continent over the last few decades,” Kofio Attor, International Affairs Director of NDC, stated in a statement.
President Eyadema is the longest serving African Head of State, having served for about 36 continuous years. If re-elected in June, Eyadema would be serving 41 years.
The party expressed disappointment at the action, saying this is in spite of the close relationship ECOWAS Chairman President John Kufuor enjoys with the Togolese leadership.
The statement called on President and other ECOWAS leaders to exercise their influence on Eyadema to dissuade him from pursuing this ambition. It cautioned that the present protests and demonstrations being reported from Togo could result in humanitarian crisis that would affect Ghana in the form of refugees spilling across the country.
Meanwhile, Dr Nii Josiah Aryeh, the party’s General
Secretary, in another statement has expressed concern about current political
development in Togo, especially the policy of exclusion from participating in
presidential elections. The statement reminded President Eyadema of the
consequences of such actions as happened in Cote d’Ivoire. – Public
Agenda
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May 2003 – Pensioners will from the end of this month receive a 50 per cent increase in the pensions.
This follows the recent adjustment of salaries by the government. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, Moffat Akwei, confirmed these to the “Times” in Accra during an interview on the long delay in releasing the increment.
He confirmed that the Ministry of Finance had authorised the payment of the increment to be calculated and paid to the corresponding rank of an incumbent officer’s salary, using the salary on which the pensioner retired.
But this has not been possible, drawing persistent appeals from the pensioners with the latest one coming from Richard Akwei Brown, a retired Assistant Director of the Department of Social Welfare, who called at the “Times” head office in Accra last Thursday.
Moffat Akwei explained that the delay was due to some inconsistencies in the figures as some of them retired on levels while others were on ranges. So there was the need to really take time to make sure that all the discrepancies were removed to ensure a smooth operation in the system”.
Akwei told the “Times” that the arrears of the increments,
which took effect from 1 October 2002, would be worked out and paid soonest.
Commenting on the latest decision, a pensioner said it “was very long overdue
as what we already were taking was woefully inadequate. “At least this will do
us little good but still the bills are too high”, he stated. – Ghanaian
Times
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