GRi Newsreel 23 – 05 - 2003

London (UK) 23 May 2003 - Ghana was among over 30 African countries which featured in the recent International Social Service Spring Fair 2003 held in London. The other African countries included Nigeria, The Gambia, Algeria, Botswana, South Africa, Cameron, Lesotho, Tunisia and Morocco.

Ghana’s stand featuring exotic display of handicrafts, textiles products, beverages and assorted drinks attracted hundred of visitors including HRH Princess Alexandria, Honourable Lady Ogilvy, The Grand Commander of the Victorian Order, a patron of ISS (UK).

Mrs. Marian Osei, wife of Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK and Stand Director at the fair said she was happy with the level of patronage of Ghanaian goods as well as general enquiries on the displayed items. She thanked Ghanaian companies for generously making their products available for display at the fair.

The companies are the African Art and Culture Development Ltd., EPPL Cocoa Processing Co. Ltd., GIHOC Distilleries, Nestle Products Ltd., Haynor Natural Cosmetics, Ginatu Exclusive, Lardge Enterprise, Winglow Clothes, Asonaba Kente and Adinkra.

The others are Nnuro Kente Ltd., Awurade Nsa Daso, Crocodile Matchets, Latex Foam and Bright Hair Herbal Products. The ISS (UK) is a unique organisation which for 79 years has been helping children and families across national borders.

A percentage of proceeds from sales of participating countries are donated after each year’s fair to ISS (UK) for its activities. - Ghana High Commission London

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Accra Central Business roads to be rehabilitated

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - Procurement processes have been initiated for the construction of 10 kilometres of roads in the Accra Central Business area.

The roads would be reconstructed with buried drains, pedestrian walkways and associated traffic signals and street lighting and it is expected that by December 2003, the contract for the works would have been awarded for construction to start.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, said this in Parliament on Thursday when Nii Adu Darku Mante, NPP- Klotey Korle, in an urgent question asked what steps the Ministry was taking to ensure that the 28 February Road and the High Street in Accra were put in a condition to benefit their present ceremonial status.

The Minister said the 28th February and High Street formed part of selected roads to be reconstructed under the Accra Central Business Roads Development Project.

The other roads included the Barnes, Zongo Lane/Asafoatse Nettey Street, Pagan/ Club/ Thorpe, Commercial Street/ Okaitey Nettey Kinbu, Selwyn Market/Amonakwa Derby Avenue and Feron roads.

Dr Anane said at the moment, the consultant to review the design had been selected and negotiations completed for the consultancy contract to be signed by the end of May 2003.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC- Fanteakwa, in another urgent question asked the Minister of Roads and Transport whether he would consider as a matter of urgency the construction of rumble strips at Osino on the main Accra-Kumasi Highway to forestall the numerous accidents that have taken the lives of many pedestrians and wayside traders at Osino over the past few months.

Dr Anane said Osino Township lies on the Bunso-Anyinam section of the Accra-Kumasi road that was currently under reconstruction but the Ministry had no immediate plans of constructing of rumble strips there.

He, however, gave the assurance that appropriate safety measures including signalisation and road-line markings would be incorporated in the works to forestall the incidence of accidents on that section of the road.

Dr Anane said in the meantime, the Ministry through the National Road Safety Commission was collaborating with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to enforce the speed limit in towns including the Osino corridor.

He said in addition Government would introduce a Bill before Parliament to empower the MTTU to impose spot fines on traffic offenders to ensure that motorists adhered to traffic regulations.

Ofosu-Ampofo in a supplementary question said since the area over the past year had recorded over 10 deaths through accidents with many others sustaining injuries, if the Minister would reconsider and ensure that speed rumps were put on the road to save the lives of especially the traders in the town.

Dr Anane, however, said Highways were not expected to have rumble strips and the Ministry would not encourage it but added that the Police would be expected to strengthen their patrols and also ensure the erection of road signs.

Ofosu - Ampofo asked whether the construction of rumble strips was done on selective basis since some towns on some highways such as Suhum and Ejisu on the Accra - Kumasi road and on the Accra-Akosombo road had speed rumps.

Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains South, asked whether communities could put up their own road strips and the Minister said it was unfortunate that the communities did not seek expert advice before doing so adding that it was illegal to do so.

Alhaji Amadu Ali, NDC- Atebubu South, asked what measures were being put in place to discourage the haphazard construction of speed rumps and the Minister said the National Road Safety Commission was to educate the public on traffic regulations.

Dr Kwame Ampofo, NDC- South Dayi, asked whether the Minister was aware that some of the speed rumps did not have warning signals on their approaches thus posing a danger to motorists and the Minister said in areas where they have been constructed by the requisite agencies the warning signals have been installed and that the Ministry would ensure that all other rumps had warning signals.

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Wa Assembly urged to justify its Municipal status

Wa (Upper West) 23 May 2003 - Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister, on Wednesday appealed to the Wa District Assembly to explore all possible avenues for resource mobilisation in order to justify its status as a municipal authority.

He said the assembly had the potential to generate adequate revenue to expand its development programmes but not much was being done to get the citizens to meet their financial obligations.

"I am particularly worried because there are a lot of untapped revenue sources in the district,'' Mogtari said when he addressed the second ordinary meeting of the Assembly. He called on the assembly members to contribute their quota towards moving their communities from poverty reduction to wealth creation.

Mogtari appealed to the assembly to speed up the implementation of their HIPC projects since it was lagging behind other districts in the Region. Dodfred Bayong Tangu, the Wa District Chief Executive (DCE), said reports indicated that some chiefs and opinion leaders were bringing back alien herdsmen.

He told the assembly members to report the activities of the Fulani herdsmen to the police. "We cannot allow selfish motives of some few unpatriotic individuals to use their influential positions in the communities to ruin our environment."

Mohammed Jagiere, Presiding Member of the Assembly, appealed to his colleagues to monitor development projects that were being executed in their areas to ensure that quality work was done. "If we do not help in monitoring work on the projects, the contractors would continue to cheat us," he said.

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Three NDC Members of Parliament to resign

Asesewa (Eastern Region) 23 May 2003 - The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, Lord Commey says he has information that three members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would be resigning from Parliament before the end of the year but declined to mention their names.

Commey said this at a meeting with polling station chairmen and executive members of the NPP at the Upper Manya Constituency on Wednesday as part of his one-week tour of the Eastern Region.

Commey also met polling station chairmen and executives at the Akropong and Okere constituencies at Amanokrom and Adukrom, respectively. He called on Krobos, the people of Volta and the two Upper Regions to join the victory story by voting for the NPP in the 2004 elections.

Commey appealed to members of the party who had applied for the various poverty alleviation schemes but have not received any positive reply to be patient for their turn because the NPP government was going to stay in office for a long time.

He said the recent bye-elections proved that the NDC had not got the large following that it claimed to have but had won elections through fraud. Commey said the NPP was not interested in destroying the NDC. ''All that the NPP is doing is to cut the NDC to its proper seize.''

He said the government would need another 20 years to put the country's economy that was destroyed by the previous government back on track.

Commey said the NPP was coming out with a format that would ensure that all applicants to contest the party's constituency primaries were qualified and were true members of the party, who had contributed to its growth and development.

Gustav Narh Dometey, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, said the government would award a contract for the rehabilitation of the roads around the Asesewa Market.

He called on the executives of the party at the Upper Manya Constituency to work hard to ensure that the party won the Parliamentary seat in 2004.

At Amanokrom the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Nana Adi Ankama told party members that it ''seems party politics is making the Akwapims to loose their traditional values, which made them to be respected for their discipline'' and called for discipline among members of the party.

Dr (Mrs) Eugenia Danquah Quist, Akwapim North District Chief Executive, called for unity and love to prevail in the party. The Member of Parliament for Okere, Bradford Adu, said an Okere citizen has donated a double cabin pickup to the constituency branch of the party.

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Policy needed to fight outbreaks of diseases

Navrongo (Upper East) 23 May 2003 - The Kassena-Nankan District Director of Agriculture, Joseph Amiyuure, has called for a national policy to fight anthrax, army worm and other animal and pest borne diseases prevalent in the Upper East.

He said the phenomenon affected food security almost every year, adding that due to the absence of a policy, the region continue to suffer a lot.

Amiyuure, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, said as part of efforts to prevent the diseases, his office had held a workshop for commercial farmers, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) NGOs and members of the District Assembly.

He called for the formation of surveillance teams in the various communities in the region as part of efforts to detect the outbreak of diseases in their early stages.

"The assemblies can also buy airtime on the local radio stations to intensify education on the diseases." ''Anthrax is a killer and does not only affect the healthiest animals that can bring in income to the people but also has the potential to wipe out a whole household'', he said.

The Director said his office is constraint in terms of logistics to do mass vaccination and spraying. "We do not have enough sprayers and agro-chemicals to combat the disease", he said.

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Pre-Schools to be part of education system

Bolgatanga (Upper East) 23 May 2003 - Pre-schools are to become an integral part of the education structure with effect from September 2003, Oscar Darko, Bolgatanga District Deputy Director of Education, has said.

Addressing a general meeting of Pre-School Teachers' Association he said children in their formative period needed to be given all the best habits and behaviour traits.

Darko said the current indiscipline in society could be traced to the total neglect of the pre-schools, and commended the government for making the sector part of the formal education structure with a lot of incentives to boost the morale of teachers in that sector.

He urged professional pre-school teachers to up-grade their knowledge by pursuing degree courses through the Distance Education programme.

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Government would pursue national interest

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - Government said on Thursday that it would pursue the national interest in unravelling the mystery surrounding the acquisition of the Gulf Stream jet by the previous National Democratic Congress Administration.

Speaking at a press conference following concerns expressed by the public on the jet, Nana Akomea, the Minister of Information, said the process had so far been slow because the arrangements for the acquisition of the jet were so murky that enough time was required to settle them.

Besides most of the documents, including the loan agreement, covering the transaction could not be traced, thereby stalling the process to expedite action on the disposition of the jet.

The Minister said preliminary investigations had so far indicated that the previous Administration bought the plane for 20 million dollars from a Swiss based Company, Trans Air Trade; sold it to Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HSBC), from which the government later leased it.

"Extremely bizarre as this arrangement was, the former government would also not release documents covering the deal so that the new government could see its way clear on the matter," he said.

The only document released so far was the Lease/Hire Purchase one, which was brought to Parliament eight months after it had been signed.

Nana Akomea said the lease agreement, which the previous Administration entered into also put the onus of disposing of the plane on the government contrary to the norm in such transactions. He said during investigations to establish all details of the deal, HSBC owned up to being Gallen Limited and owners of the jet.

An agreement was, therefore, reached with the government for the plane to be sold but bottomed out market after the event of 11 September had delayed the sale of the plane. "So we had to sit it out to wait for the market to pick up, if we were to make any decent recovery for the Ghanaian taxpayer."

The Minister said the Gulfstream Limited; the manufacturers of the plane were assisting the government to secure a buyer now that the market seemed to be picking up.

Explaining why President John Agyekum Kufuor was not using the plane, Nana Akomea said the President believed that it was morally wrong to spend 20 million dollars to acquire a jet at that time. He said he was of the opinion that the money could have been used to provide social infrastructure in the areas of health, education and roads.

Again the jet was also not suitable for Presidential travels because it could only take 11 people. "A typical presidential travel, including the President, Ministers, security, press, staff will be hard pressed to be accommodated by this plane," he said, and added that record indicated that not even President Rawlings used the jet in his travels but rather relied on Fokker 28 plane, which takes more than 20 people.

On the question of the President causing financial loss to the state by using commercial flight, Nana Akomea said that decision was saving the country a huge sum of money because using the jet for such trips would have cost the state more in fuel cost, landing fees, flight operation and servicing.

"So the President by travelling on commercial aircraft is actually bearing a lot of inconveniences and discomfort, but saving this country a huge sum of money, and deserves commendations," the Minister said.

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ADB offers 20,000 dollars sponsorship for CHS

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) is to provide 20,000 dollars sponsorship package for five graduate students of the College of Health Sciences (CHS) of the University of Ghana.

A statement signed by Daniel Koomson, Public Relations Manager, said the ADB had decided to provide assistance to the College in its graduate training programme for five students per year for four years, payable in four instalments.

The statement said the Bank's attention was drawn to the plight of the College when the Provost, Professor A. S. Ayettey spoke publicly about it. Prof. Ayettey spoke about the dwindling intake, especially the need to step up the training of Basic Science Teachers and Researchers.

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Journalists urged to play their watchdog roles

Tamale (Northern Region) 23 May 2003 - Ibrahim Adam, a Tamale legal practitioner, has appealed to journalists ''to pursue government officials to ensure that they do not siphon national resources for their selfish gains.''

''Journalists should also bring to the public domain, the number of houses a minister or District Chief Executive (DCE) has put up since assuming office''.

Adam said this at the Northern Region World Press Freedom Day celebration in Tamale on Tuesday by the regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

Speaking on the topic "For the Reflective" Mr Adam called on journalists to refocus their attention on the way and manner state vehicles and equipment were being auctioned to ensure transparency. Students and government officials and the public attended the Day under the theme "10 years of Media and Public Accountability,"

Adam, who is also the Regional Head of Valued Added Tax (VAT) in Tamale, appealed to journalists to compel politicians to deliver on the pronouncements and promises they make to the electorate.

He called for the scrapping of the Ministry of Information while the boards of state owned media are given free hand to operate the way they deemed fit. Adam advised journalists to constantly protect the press freedom they had enjoyed during the past 10 years.

He appealed to editors to advance the cause of national interests and public morality adding, "it will be sad if for our own press freedom and other freedoms should escape us once again. It is only in vigilance and self discipline that our safety lies.''

Madam Janet Adama Mohammed, Northern Sector Director of Christian Council of Ghana, said any attempt to gag the media should be condemned by all and that any attempt by the media to misinform the public and assume tyrannical characteristics should be equally condemned.

She called for the review of the contempt of court law to reflect the demand for good governance and respect for the rule of law. Madam Adama1 expressed unhappiness about news blackout on certain events in the north by the media either because they were tired of such news items or of no interest to the public.

She cited the conflict in Northern Ghana and the recent Bugri conflict as some of the events that had not been given the prominence they deserved by the media.

She said, "reporting on these events could bring public attention to make enquiries and the perpetrators brought to book and this by itself would have forestalled a degeneration of the conflict situation".

She appealed to journalists to assist the people to monitor the use of Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) funds and the District Assembly Common funds to ensure accountability and judicious use of the funds.

Mr Alhassan Imoru, Chairman of the Northern Region Branch of the (GJA) said since 1990 to 2000, there had been 23 conflicts in the Northern, Upper East and West regions, with Northern Region recording 17 of them.

He said in view of the insecurity situation in the region, it was important for the media houses in Accra to compensate their reporters to boost their morale.

The GJA Chairman commended journalists in the region for their courage, integrity and devotion to duty under dangerous conflict situations, especially working in a state of emergency and curfew in the Dagbon State.

He urged media houses in Accra not only to be interested in the number of stories they receive in a day from their reporters in the region but should also be concerned about their welfare.

Mr Imoru appealed to private radio stations and editors of private newspapers in Accra to give accurate reports on the Dagbon conflict and not to rely on hearsay since that was inflaming passions in the area.

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Court orders TV3 cameraman to appear in court

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - An Accra High Court trying six Police Officers for their complicity in the 9 May Accra Sports Stadium Disaster on Thursday ordered S. G. Asare, Head of Human Resource of TV3, to ask a TV cameraman with the company to appear before it.

The court order followed the failure of Agyeman Aboagye, the Cameraman, to appear before it to testify in the case. The trial judge, Justice Yaw Appau warned that the Court would apply force if the Witness refused to appear before it.

It further asked the Courts' Registrar to notify the Head of Human Resource before 1400 hours on Thursday so that Witness would appear in court on Friday, 23 May.

Justice Appau expressed regret about the behaviour of the Witness saying such attitudes prolonged cases before courts and apologised to the accused persons for the adjournments.

When sitting resumed on Thursday, Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, told the court that the TV3 Cameraman had failed to attend court.

"I am constrained to apply for a court summons on Aboagye since he has failed to heed our calls. He has since been served with a subpoena but has not heeded to our call. I think Witness is trying to be recalcitrant."

When the Court sough details from Hanson Gove, the investigator in the case, he said he had been to Witness' office to invite him to court. The officers on trial are John Asare Naami, Faakyi Kumi, Frank Awuah, Francis Aryee, Benjamin B. Bakomora, all Assistant Superintendent of Police and Chief Superintendent of Police, Koranteng Mintah.

They have been charged with 127 counts of manslaughter. All the officers, who have denied the charges, are on 20 million cedis bail each with two sureties. Hearing continues on 23 May.

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Monday declared public holiday

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - The President has declared Monday, 26 May as a public holiday as part of Africa Day, which falls on Sunday, 25 May.

A statement signed by Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of the Interior, said: "In view of the fact that 25th May, which is Africa Day falls on a Sunday, The President by Executive Instrument has declared Monday, 26th May, 2003 a public Holiday and it should be observed as such."

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TOR gets new CEO for five months

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - R. Forson, Deputy Director (Operations) of TOR, has been appointed the Chief Executive of the Company. His appointment was communicated to the workers on Friday 16 May 2003 through the refinery’s notice board.

His appointment took effect from May 1, 2003 and would last until 30 October 2003. The short period giving the new CEO is because he is due for retirement in June this year.

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New CEO for Ghana Airways

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - A former Ghanaian World Bank official, Philip Owusu is the new Chief Executive for Ghana Airways. Owusu who is also a board member of Ghana Telecommunications Company is expected to take over the beleaguered airline by next week.

He will take over from William Panford Bray who has been acting for sometime now. Owusu who was appointed long before the recent reconstitution of the airline’s board, has not been publicly introduced for unexplained reasons.

Government and company sources however told myjoyonline.com that the former World Bank official would assume duties by next week. Owusu, who acted as Managing Director of Ghana Telecom prior to the management takeover by the Norwegians joins a rather long list of CEO’s over the last two years.

The national airline, which is suffering from lack of working capital, equipment and worsened by poor worker attitudes, has had its problems compounded by government’s constant meddling and change in management. Owusu is the fourth Chief Executive since January 2001, coming after the reign of Captain Kofi Kwakwa who headed a management taskforce and William Bray who at a point was also Chairman of the Board.

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Coups are not things of the past - NCCE Metro Director

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - Eric Bortey, Accra Metropolitan Director of the National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE) on Thursday cautioned civil society not to be complacent about the looming threat to constitutional rule.

"People who think there is no turning back should rethink", referring to issues like poverty, illiteracy, disease, tribal wars, corruption, mismanagement, nepotism, religious and political intolerance, which he said were major threats to democratic governance.

"There may still be red herrings in the security services that cannot pay the school fees of their children and can put their lives on the line," he said at a symposium organised by the NCCE to wrap up activities marking the third annual Constitution Week in the Metropolis.

He expressed the need for the sensitisation of the citizenry to appreciate the fact that a developing economy like Ghana could not meet all its aspirations.

"The theme for this year's celebration: 'A Decade Of Constitutionalism -Strategies For Consolidation' is very appropriate not only because it offers the opportunity for a comprehensive assessment of 10 years of constitutionalism in Ghana, but also because it is an opportunity for all Ghanaians to resolve to further entrench democracy," he stressed.

Bortey said although the NCCE had come under public criticisms for the zeal with which it was carrying out its official mandate, the Accra Metro Office managed to organise 230 civic and public education programmes in 190 communities with a meagre budget, last year.

He said only ¢1.7m was released during the period under review for civic education for a population of about three million. "No NCCE office in the country was ever given any money to organise public education during the recent bye-elections. "Only 400,000 cedis is made available to each NCCE District office for the District Assembly elections and an imprest of ¢100,000 each every month to run our offices when in the Accra office alone we spend ¢780,000 for newspapers alone."

Kwesi Pratt (JNR), Managing Editor of "The Insight" called on civil society to be wary of people fanning ethnic sentiments to achieve their parochial interests.

Speaking on: "The Responsibility Of Civil Society To Guard And Entrench Constitutionalism In Ghana," he expressed amazement how people arrived at the conclusion that the Rawlings' Administration was Ewe inclined while the present Administration was pro-Ashanti.

He said it was only politicians, who had no answers to the development needs of the country who resorted to ethnicity, which would eventually have serious repercussions, especially for the less privileged in society.

Pratt said the most important consideration of Ghanaians should be leaders, who had the capability to provide them with three square meals a day, access to health care and social amenities. He said Journalists, who focused on ethnicity and other trivial matters by giving political twist to their stories were undermining national cohesion.

Pratt said there was the need for absolute tolerance for differences in opinion, but explained that such differences should not degenerate into conflicts. He said the rule of law by itself could not be the panacea to social injustice and called on Ghanaians to be outspoken against any form of abuse and to resist policies likely to undermine the interest of the nation.

Mrs Doris Acheampong, Greater Accra Regional Director of NCCE, who chaired the function, expressed the need for the NCCE to strive to redeem its low public image.

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HIV/AIDS seminar for National Service Personnel opens

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), on Thursday called for commitment and sustained action by all to stem the further spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

He said while there was no cure for HIV/AIDS some of the effects of the infection could be mitigated by equipping the community with knowledge, to help avert further spread of the virus. Ketekewu was speaking at a two-day workshop organised by the MLGRD, to equip volunteer national service personnel, with a deeper knowledge on the current global as well as national prevalence rates of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The 30 participants, who were drawn from the various districts in the Eastern Region, would be equipped with the requisite skills to enable them to help with the prevention of the spread of the disease and care for people living with HIV/AIDS in their communities.

Ketekewu said the rate of the spread of the infection did not only pose great dangers to the economy, but it was drastically impeding the development of the nation in the area of human resource development.

He said that out of the 40 million people infected with the virus worldwide, 28 million were in 15 countries in Africa. "The pandemic is increasing death rates, lowering life expectancies, decreasing family incomes, decreasing school attendance, increasing orphans and generally destroying normal community life", he said.

The Deputy Minister said the MLGRD had designed a system known as the District Response Initiative (DRI), to broaden the spectrum of HIV/AIDS activities from a vertical health sector focused approach, towards an integrated, multi-sectoral and development oriented approach at the district level.

"This will ensure that people at the local level have the benefit of making informed decisions for themselves." Ketekewu said the role of the youth in HIV/AIDS educational programmes were crucial, since they constituted the most vulnerable group and the active working force.

He urged participants to ensure that they did not only concentrate on prevention alone, but must also focus on care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Dr Morkor Newman, HIV/AIDS Programme Officer of World Health Organisation, urged the participants to translate their zeal into achieving positive results in behavioural change at the community level.

She said the HIV/AIDS pandemic concerned all and the need for all persons to act responsibly was crucial to the success of the fight against further spread.

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HIV/AIDS should be an issue of national concern

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 23 May 2003 -The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr. Francis Osafo- Mensah, has stated that the consequences of HIV/AIDS pandemic should not be seen as an issue for the victim and his family alone, because of the implications it has for the Health Care delivery system, the Community and the Government as well.

The situation, he noted, is however, compounded by the problem confronting the Health Sector due to the "consistent exodus of scores of doctors, nurses and other Health Sector workers", and called for the adoption of a rational and pragmatic measures to fight the pandemic.

Dr Osafo-Mensah was delivering a speech at the closing of a three-day Capacity Building Workshop for Pharmacists in the Eastern Region, at Koforidua on Wednesday. He said the disease is still a challenge to the development of the country since records have it that 90 percent infected people in Ghana are between the ages of 15 and 49 years which implies that the country's labour force are the worse victims.

The Regional Minster however, urged Pharmacists to use the accessibility of their services to health service seekers as an opportunity, to offer qualitative information, education and counselling to members of the community whenever they consult them for advice on their health problems.

He also assured them of Governments preparedness to support institutions, individuals and communities in their efforts to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira called for a good remuneration for pharmacists in the country to help curb the "professional exodus" syndrome.

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Amend Local Government and Civil service Acts

Kumasi (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - A proposal has been made to the government to take a more critical look at the Local Government and Civil Service Acts, with the view to amending them, to pave way for co-ordinated and smooth administration of the Metropolitan/Municipal and District Assemblies.

Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, who made the proposal explained that the current Local Government Act 462 and the Civil Service Act 327 were full of numerous contradictions which impede proper control and effective management of the Assemblies, including recruitment, training, postings and dismissals.

The proposal was contained in an address read on his behalf at the Ashanti Regional Conference of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), held in Kumasi on Thursday.

The one-day conference, attended by 54 delegates, was used to deliberate on issues that affect the growth and progress of the Association in the region and also for the election of a Regional Representative to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NALAG for 2003-2005.

Jumah noted, for instance that while the Local Government Act provides that the District Assemblies, and for that matter the District Chief Executives will be responsible for the development and progress of the staff they work with, the Civil Service Act, on the other hand mandates the Head of Civil Service/Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) "to perform virtually the same role".

"The Head of Civil Service/RCC is empowered by the Civil Service Act to effect inter and intra regional postings and transfers of civil servants in the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA's)", he observed.

Jumah also suggested that Metro/Municipal/District Assemblies should be made to have full control over the finances and budgeting of the decentralised departments, rather than the centralised financial accounting and control system. He was of the conviction that efficiency could be injected into the system if the Assemblies controlled the finances and budgeting of decentralised departments.

In an address read for him, Akwasi Asare Ankomah, President of NALAG, commended the out-gone Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu and expressed the hope that with his experience at the Local government ministry, he will speed up the full integration of education, youth and sports sectors into the district Assembly system.

Kwasi Karikari Akyemfo of the Afigya-Sekyere District was later elected as the Ashanti Regional Representative on the NEC of NALAG. Akyemfo polled 13 votes out of the 15 votes cast, while his sole contender, James Addai Agyepong of Amansie-West District got one vote, with one ballot rejected. The Regional Office of the Electoral Commission conducted the election.

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Police to make inventory of firearms

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - A five-member committee has been set up by the Police Administration to make inventory of weapons and ammunitions at the various Police stations.

This follows the recent incidents of Policemen issuing arms to criminals, Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police, announced on Thursday.

Addressing the first Regional Police Commanders Conference for the year in Accra, he said: "We are going to closely monitor the control of firearms and any Police Officer, who is found to have given out firearms to unauthorised persons would be charged and sent to court.

"In an event of any Police Officer getting involved in this scandal, the armourer at the particular station would be sent to court as an accomplice if the weapon was supposed to be under his care." He charged Regional Police Commanders to supervise the various Police projects in their regions, adding; " you should always liase with contractors on the projects to make sure that the right things are done."

Nana Owusu-Nsiah urged the Officers to build healthy relations between the Police, the Public and the Media and take active steps to encourage the formation of neighbourhood watchdog committees. He said the current constitutional dispensation called for creative leadership with vision and integrity.

"It is time to put our house in order if we were to succeed in our fight against lawlessness in the country. Leadership involves decision making, problem-solving, creative thinking and communication."

He urged them to wage war on indiscipline and offer sound leadership to win the hearts of their subordinates and the civilians in their communities.

GRi…/

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Religion should be used to improve people’s lives

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - President John Kufuor on Thursday said religion should be used to improve the living standard of the people. He, therefore, commended the Church of Pentecost (COP), which had combined religion with practical living, adding: "You make people feel that the Good Lord made religion to improve the lives of the ordinary man and woman."

President Kufuor was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 34th Session Of The General Council Meeting of the Church and the inauguration of the Pentecost University College at Sowutuom, in Accra. The Church has a membership of 1,060,685 made up of 716,809 adults and 343,876 children in 543 Pastoral districts or parishes in Ghana.

He said he was amazed by the industry, initiative, and the achievements of the Church and described the inauguration of the College as epoch that any government should be proud to be associated with.

President Kufuor said the Leadership of the Church had been very supportive of any government that pursued the right cause in the national interest. He called for divine guidance for the government to govern well because Ghana was a small country and very much in need of socio-economic development.

President Kufuor said because the people did not appreciate the difficulties confronting the government in its efforts to improve their living standards, any church that was supportive should be commended.

He, however, appealed to the Leadership of the Church not to concentrate on seeking the material well being of their congregation but strike a balance in their moral and religious development.

On the Pentecost University, President Kufuor appealed to the authorities to be considerate with the quality of facilities available and courses offered and to manage affairs there in such a way that the average student could afford the cost.

Apostle Dr Michael Kwabena Ntumy, Chairman of the Church, appealed to Parliament to debate national issues from a national perspective but not along partisan lines. He called on government to find a speedy resolution to the Dagbon crisis and an end to the activities of some Fulani herdsmen in the Afram Plains area of the country.

Apostle Ntumy said the University of Ghana, Legon, had offered an affiliation status to the College. He said the College would begin with two faculties, the faculty of Theology and Missions and the Faculty of Business Administration and Information Technology.

The second faculty would have three departments of administration and management, information studies and information technology and a department of languages.

Apostle Ntumy appealed to the National Accreditations Board (NAB) to facilitate its accreditation as a University College to contribute its quota to national development. Work on the College, which began in 1996, was completed at a cost of ¢7.5 bn while cost of access road was ¢2.7bn.

The College has two three-storied halls of residence, 27 classrooms, an auditorium, administrative block and a cafeteria.

GRi…/

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Women urged to strive to reach to the top

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), on Thursday urged women to strive to reach high levels wherever they found themselves.

She said leaders should always expect criticism at anytime but they should not give up, adding that it should rather urge them on. They should, however, learn from their mistakes.

"There will always be emotional stress, depression, rejection or even temptation but you should be firm, Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie said. She was speaking at the end of the First Annual Young Women's Leadership Conference organised by the Ark Foundation, an advocacy-based human rights non-governmental organisation.

The conference attended by university and polytechnic students and young women workers was under the theme: "Empowering Young Women For Leadership Prospects And Challenges."

Topics discussed included: "Opportunities And Challenges For Women In Leadership And Politics In Ghana" and "Poverty, Politics And Prospects For Women Economic Development In Ghana.

Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of the Foundation, said the organisation had been training young women from across the country in leadership skills, deepening their understanding of gender theory and human rights of women and children. She said women were also provided with the opportunity for networking and given support for training activities.

GRi…/

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Crash criminals out of the rural area – Minister

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 May 2003 - Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of the Interior has charged the Police to flush out criminals hiding in the rural communities due to the anti crime operations in the cities.

" Please go after them wherever they are, smoke them out and have the law take its course. This way, Ghana would be made a peaceful and safe place for both law abiding citizens and the investment community."

The Minister was speaking at his first Regional Police Commanders conference for the year after his appointment as the Sector Minister. About 20 scheduled officers from the Headquarters and Regional Commanders drawn from all the Regions are taking part in a day's conference, which would evaluate the security situation and initiate new strategies to improve upon it.

Owusu-Agyeman noted a remarkable improvement in the security situation across the country and commended the Service for the resilience that had outflanked and outsmarted criminals.

"Today, the confidence of the average Policeman and Policewoman is increasing and the mention of the Police is certain to strike fear into the most hardened criminal."

He, however, cautioned the Police not to be complacent since the criminals might be re-strategising to come back with more sophisticated ways. He said the Police should play its rightful role as guardians of law and order, adding: " Let us aim at putting on our streets and in charge office, a Policeman and a Police woman who is caring and compassionate to the law-abiding citizen, but firm and resolute in the enforcement of the law by combating crime within the ambit of the law."

On discipline, Owusu-Agyeman said that the Police should be synonymous with discipline to erase certain perceptions that had dented the image of the Service.

"The public perception was that of a force into whose confidence it was difficult to entrust one's safety and or achieve a just and fair action without dipping into the pocket." He called for the regeneration of the self-help spirit to redeem and beautify barracks to enable landlords to be forthcoming in releasing houses for accommodation, adding that problems of housing, communication and transportation were being tackled seriously.

The Sector Minister urged the Police to be loyal to the State and improve upon their professionalism with a high degree of commitment and dedication to duty. He said, " by all means, Police personnel have to bear firearms, but adequate training, education and discipline need to be built into the officers and men, who wield them, such that these firearms do not become liabilities for the Police and the Nation."

Nana Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police, urged Regional Commanders to adopt effective strategies to combat crime in their respective Regions.

"In doing this you have to motivate your personnel in order to keep their morale high and propel them to achieve the desired results for the Service."

GRi…/

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