GRi Newsreel 27 – 05 - 2003

Former President Jerry Rawlings’ legal team has described the evidence of Matthew Adabuga to the National Reconciliation Commission, as a pack of lies carefully fabricated to tarnish the image of the former president and his wife. The team led by Dr. Benjamin Kumbour says Adabuga’s testimony is false, baseless and calculated to create public hate against Rawlings and his wife.

Adabuga, a former corporal in the Ghana Army told the Commission that Jerry Rawlings gave the order for the murder of three judges and a military officer in 1982. Adabuga who described himself as one of the main architects of the December 1981 coup also alleged among others that Rawlings popped champagne to celebrate the murder of the four persons.

Dr. Kumbour told a news conference in Accra that the Commission’s failure to notify the former President about Adabuga’s appearance before the commission is worrying. The legal team is demanding transcripts of the ex-corporal’s evidence including both the audio and video copies for their study and subsequent reaction.

Dr. Kumbour says the team would also demand an opportunity to cross-examine Adabuga on behalf of the former President. Reacting to some specific allegations made by Adabuga, Dr. Kumbour said Rawlings was not resident nor was he operating from the Castle during the period ex-corporal Adabuga referred to.

''We will expose Mr. Adabuga for what he is. He must be exposed when for instance he claims the former President went to a refrigerator to take the champagne to drink on hearing of the murder of the judges. Mr. Adabuga claims this took place at the Castle. Yet the fact is that Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, the chairman of the PNDC was from 31st 1981, through the time of the cruel murder of the judges and long after, was at all material times at the Gondar Barracks in Burma Camp so it cannot therefore be true that Adabuga met the then Chairman of the PNDC after the murder of the judges at the castle''.

Dr. Kunbuor also described as false ex-corporal Adabugu’s claim that he works with the Red Cross office in Norway. According to him, it strongly suggests that the witness was not properly investigated.

The legal team has faulted the commission for not providing any prior information to the former President, although it had fore knowledge that the ex-corporal Adabuga would implicate the former President. ''The commission had prior knowledge of Adabuga’s allegations through an earlier statement he made to it.

This earlier statement implicated the former President and others. The obvious question then is why did the commission not write to the former President about the allegations for him to respond, if he chose before Adabuga was given the hearing in public''.

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The University funding debate

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - An educationist and social commentator, Mr K. B. Asante, has said that the state should continue to fund university education in so far as the courses offered by the universities promote the economic and social advancement of the country.

He said the fact that some private universities claim they are making cost recovery in their investments should not convince the government to slash the funding of public universities.

Mr Asante was reacting to a comment by the Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, that full cost recovery in the private universities is an indication that government funding of education in the public universities can no longer be sustained.

The minister’s comment, which was carried in yesterday’s issue of the Graphic, was made at the Congregation Banquet and Awards Night of the Central University College (CUC) last Friday.

Mr Asante said in a situation where workers are not adequately paid, the government has a moral, social and economic responsibility to ensure that the greater majority of Ghanaian children have uninhibited access to state-sponsored quality education, which is the bedrock of national development.

He said right from independence, workers accepted modest wages and salaries in return for the state to provide quality education for the people.

“Education is the key to economic development. We, therefore, need, as a nation, to put more resources into its funding,” he said.

He pointed out that any national debate on the funding of tertiary education should be based on facts which are convincing. He cautioned that any attempt to push the greater cost of university education on parents will not be welcomed by the greater majority of the populace and this might create a negative image for the government.

“We live in a free economy and the fact that other universities collect huge fees does not mean that the state universities should also do the same,” he stressed.

Mr Asante said the value of education should be factored into the economic policy of the government so that the state determines the value of courses offered by the universities.

He said the government should also place emphasis on the provision of Information Technology facilities in the educational institutions to enable the country to catch up with the rest of the world.

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Ghana aims to attract 1 million tourists a year

Ho (Volta Region) 27 May 2003 - The Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City is evolving strategies to attract one million tourists into the country yearly by 2007.

In this direction, it is intensifying both developmental and promotional activities through the streamlining of the roles and responsibilities of all key players who are required to spearhead investment in infrastructure across the country.

Mr Abubakar Siddique Boniface, the Deputy Minister of the sector, disclosed this at the launch of the third domestic tourism awareness essay competition in Ho in the Volta Region. It is aimed at creating awareness about the tourism industry among the youth.

He said it is the expectation of the ministry that all stakeholders in the industry will lend their fullest support to the development of the strategies and their implementation to ensure that tourism becomes the number one foreign exchange earner for the country in not-too-distant future.

He said Ghana abounds in natural, historical and cultural resources, which all the people must collectively help to develop and promote for both domestic and international markets, because tourism has the potential to generate more employment and income than many other sectors of the economy.

Mr Boniface said domestic tourism has the capacity to foster national cohesion and unity among Ghanaians through visits to various parts of the country and enable people to understand the socio-cultural backgrounds of fellow countrymen of different ethnic groups.

“By so doing, we are using domestic tourism to promote the elimination of ethnic conflicts, encourage inter-marriages and redistribute income from urban to the rural areas towards the alleviation of poverty”, he added.

He also announced that the ministry, in collaboration with some selected district assemblies, are constructing receptive facilities at major attraction sites in order to provide basic facilities that can be enjoyed by tourists, thereby enhancing their spending and stay when they visit such places.

The deputy minister commended the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) for organising the competition and urged it to develop affordable and marketable tour packages for all identifiable groups to ensure that they visit the various sites.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Kwasi Dzamesi, challenged the Ghana Tourist Board to devise means to involve schools, workplaces and villages to form tourist clubs as part of strategies to whip up interest in domestic tourism.

He announced that the region is specialising in eco-tourism and has started developing a number of sites, such as the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, and the Xavi Bird Sanctuary.

The President of TOUGHA, Nana Prempeh Annan-Bonsu, said the competition for JSS students is on the topic “What site or festival would you show a visitor to your area and why?.”

He said the first 20 students selected on merit will qualify to get awards and also visit tourist attractions in the Greater Accra and Central regions, in addition to prizes donated by major sponsors of the competition, including British Airways and Golden Tulip Hotel.

He added that Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) is also sponsoring the insurance cover for the winners.

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Ecowas to intensify war on drugs

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The Minister of the Interior Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman has called for a collective effort by ECOWAS member countries to fight the war against illicit drugs in the sub-region.

He said in the era of regionalization and particularly for a problem that has no bounds, it is imperative that member countries in the sub-region work more closely together than before in freeing the sub-region from the scourge of narcotic drugs.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman made the call in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mr Thomas Broni at the beginning of a five-day joint United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)/ECOWAS regional workshop on the co-ordination mechanisms of demand reduction projects in West Africa and the evaluation of the ECOWAS plan of action against illicit drugs.

The workshop, which is being attended by representatives from the ECOWAS sub-region, aims at creating a framework for information sharing and understanding between UNODC and its national counterparts and also evaluating the activities undertaken under the ECOWAS regional plan of action.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman said illicit drugs are affecting the health of nations in the sub-region, destroying societies, causing personal and family tragedies, promoting crime, violence, preventable accidents and death and undermining the economies of nations.

He said it is, therefore, necessary for nations to come together by pooling resources and sharing information for their mutual benefit, geared towards reducing the dangers narcotic drugs pose to member nations.

He stressed the need for member countries of ECOWAS to help reduce the demand for drugs by committing a lot of resources into the fight against drugs, since it has now been recognised that reducing the demand for drugs is an essential pillar in the stepped up global effort to combat drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman also called for a review of the sub-regional action plan to determine its relevance to the situation on the ground.

He said as they deliberate on the implementation of the plan, participants should be able to adopt a pragmatic approach and come up with simple but effective activities and projects that will help populations in the sub-region move away from drug production or trafficking into other productive and socially acceptable activities.

The Interior Minister commended the UN Office on Drugs and Crime as well as the ECOWAS Drug Control Unit for effectively spearheading the fight against drugs in the sub-region.

He reiterated the government’s preparedness to support the fight against illicit drug trafficking, adding that it is the aim of the government not to relent in efforts at finding a solution to the drug problem.

The Minister of Regional Co-operation and NEPAD, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, in a welcoming address, said marijuana is the most widely abused drug in the country and added that its ready availability and cheap price is a cause for serious concern.

He, therefore, called on all, including the churches, civil society groups and traditional authorities to join in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

He said most of these drugs, which are illegally imported from South Asia and South America for repackaging and re-export to Europe and America, eventually find their way into the community.

Dr Apraku asked ECOWAS countries to strengthen their efforts aimed at reducing drug trafficking and the effects of drug abuse.

The UNODC Representative, Ms C. D’Almeida, gave the assurance of her organisation’s preparedness to support the implementation of the action plan.

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NRC declares confidence in Dr Attafuah

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) at the weekend denied any act of dishonesty or wrongdoing on the part of its Executive Secretary, Dr Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, saying it has full confidence in his integrity and competence.

The NRC was reacting to a publication by the Ghana Palaver, a private newspaper, in its May 16-19, 2003 edition, that sought to portray Dr Attafuah as having dishonestly received two months' salary from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

A statement signed by Ms Annie Anipa, Public Affairs Director of the NRC, stated that though CHRAJ inadvertently paid the money, "it was Dr Attafuah who initiated the entire process resulting in the rectification of the error, which was not the making of either Dr Attafuah or the NRC".

"The Commission is convinced that Dr Attafuah acted with diligence and integrity in correcting the mistake and in refunding the money. The NRC has full confidence in the integrity and competence of Dr Attafuah as its Executive Secretary," it stated.

The statement said until his appointment as the Executive Secretary of the NRC in May 2002, Dr Attafuah was the Director of Promotion and Anti-Corruption at the CHRAJ, from where he was seconded.

It cited a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Public Services Commission (PSC) dated June 20, 2002 copied to the Secretary to the President, Chairman of the NRC and Dr Attafuah, informing the Commissioner of CHRAJ, among other things, that in cases of secondment, "the seconded officer retains his employee relationship with his parent organisation".

The letter also stated that the recipient organisation bears responsibility for the payment of the emoluments attached to the post held by the seconded officer at the recipient organisation.

"In effect, the parent organisation ceases to pay the seconded officer during the period of secondment," it said.

The statement said in a memo dated September 16, 2002, the Chairman of the NRC asked the Director of Finance and Administration at the NRC, Mr E.A. Cooper, to liaise with the Accountant at the CHRAJ to determine salaries and allowances paid to Dr Attafuah since May 2002.

"He was also to inform the CHRAJ Accountant that the NRC would 'take over the payment of salaries and allowances to Dr Attafuah from 1st November, 2002'."

The statement said in a letter dated October 17, 2002, the CHRAJ Accountant, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, provided the NRC with the computation of salaries paid to Dr Attafuah for the period May - September 2002.

It said on Wednesday, January 15,2003, Dr Attafuah formally informed Mr Cooper by memo that the CHRAJ had paid salaries into his personal account at Standard Chartered Bank, High Street, Accra, for the months of November and December, 2002, despite the directive from the PSC.

The memo partially ran: "As I informed you verbally, I detected these payments while reviewing my bank statements from the Standard Chartered Bank in early January, 2003. I understand that the NRC took over the payment of my salaries from the CHRAJ with effect from 1st November 2002."

"I am by this memo reiterating my verbal request to you to draw this situation to the attention of the CHRAJ in order to stop the payments and to enable the NRC or me to reimburse the CHRAJ for the payments as appropriate."

The statement said on January 17, 2003, Mr Cooper wrote to the CHRAJ Accountant drawing his attention to the fact that the NRC had been responsible for the full payment of emoluments of Dr Attafuah since November 2002.

Then on February 18, 2003, Mr Cooper, at the further insistence of Dr Attafuah, wrote again to the Commissioner of CHRAJ asking him to discontinue the payment of Dr Attafuah's salary, adding: "he is being asked ....to take steps to reimburse the CHRAJ for payments lodged in his account since November 2002.

The statement said on March 5, 2003, the NRC received a copy of a letter addressed to Dr Attafuah from the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Emile Francis Short, which referred to the PSC letter of June 20, 2002, and the NRC's letter of February 7m, 2003, requesting Dr Attafuah to refund the sum of 5,400,059.28 being salaries for November and December 2002, paid to him,

It said on March 7, 2003, Dr Attafuah forwarded to the CHRAJ two cheques covering the sum of 5,400,059.28 cedis, "being a refund of salaries paid (him) in error" by the CHRAJ for the months of November and December, 2002.

The statement said the CHRAJ Accountant acknowledged receipt of the cheques on April 18, 2003.

"In these circumstances, the detection of the error in payments was clearly not the result of the diligence of the CHRAJ or any other person at that institution as claimed by the Ghana Palaver; instead, it was Dr Attafuah who noticed the error and took steps to rectify it," the statement added.

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NPP primaries to begin in V/R by October

Peki-Avetile (Volta Region) 27 May 2003 - Primaries for the selection of New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates for the 19 constituencies in the Volta Region for the 2004 elections would be held before October, this year.

Mr Harona Esseku, National Chairman of the party announced this at the South-Dayi Constituency elections at Peki-Avetile on Saturday.

He called on prospective candidates to collect forms from their respective constituencies and announced that the party would hold its annual general conference at the end of October to take stock as the party in power.

The National Chairman advised members to learn to be disciplined and intensify their political campaigns to enable them win friends for the party. "It is our attitude, vision and hard work that will help us to win more people into our fold," he added.

On the way forward, Mr Esseku said the objective of the party was to win the 2004 elections massively and to develop the constituencies to enable tem retain power.

He said the party would win 10 of the 19 Parliamentary seats in the region, if the members extended their campaign to every corner.

Mr Esseku, however, warned members to be mindful of their negative utterances, saying, "Do away with envy, bickering, stop gossiping and think of how best you can help your constituency," he advised them.

At the elections conducted by the Electoral Commission and supervised by Mr Tommy Amematekpor, a Special Aide in the Office of the President; Mrs Agnes Okudjeto, National Vice Chairperson and Mr Kenwood Nuworsu, acting Volta Regional Chairman of the party; four persons were returned unopposed.

They were Mr George Awuah, Commissioner of Oaths at Peki as Chairman; Mr Augustus Osafo, First Vice Chairman; Mr Humphrey Amoaku, Secretary and Mr Freeman Ameyibor, Youth Organiser.

Those elected were Mr Emmanuel Denkyi, Organiser; Miss Woyram Boakye-Dankwah, Women Organiser; Mr Godwin Adu, Treasurer and Mr Theodore Akutse, Assistant Secretary. Mrs Okudjeto swore the new officers into office.

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Police team refuses ¢10m bribe

Amanten (Brong Ahafo) 27 May 2003 - A Team from the Police Narcotics Unit in Kumasi last Tuesday rejected a bribe of ¢10 million by two drug barons at Amanten in the Brong Ahafo Region, and arrested them during a swoop.

The suspects, 46-year-old Sulemana Alhassan alias Ghana Boy and Braimah Alhassan, 47, were arrested with a total of 14 bags of some stuff and quantities of seeds suspected to be cannabis.

The police said the two will be put before court after investigations. A police source said following a tip off, personnel from the unit arrived at Amanten at dawn on Tuesday and first arrested Sulemana in his house after a brief resistance.

Two bags of the stuff and quantities of the seeds were found in his house. The source said the team quickly moved to the house of Braimah who was also arrested for possessing 12 bags of the stuff and quantities of the seeds.

It was during their arrest that they offered to give the policemen ¢10 million to influence them to set free but the policemen rejected the offer.

The source assured the public that the police have an image to protect and would not compromise that for monetary gains. It appealed to the public to volunteer information about drug dealers, pointing out that the identity of informants will be protected.

Meanwhile, three drug dealers in Kumasi have been sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison. They are Baba Ali, 42, A. Grushie, 30, and Kwaku Sammy alias Aponkye Rasta.

Each of them was jailed 10 years by the Ashanti Regional Tribunal chaired by Mr Justice K.B. Anning. They were jailed for possessing various quantities of cannabis

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Gov't can't sustain funding in universities –Minister

The Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Elizabeth Ohene, has stated that full cost recovery in the private universities is an indication that government funding of education in the public universities can no longer be sustained.

She, therefore, called for a resumption of the debate on the cost recovery in the nation’s universities. The minister said this in a remark at the Central University College Congregation Banquet and Awards Night in Accra last Friday.

More than 50 pioneer serving individuals and lecturers received awards in various categories for their immense contributions to the development of the university. Ms Ohene said the economic situation in the country calls for a serious rethinking of cost recovery in the universities.

She expressed concern about inadequate facilities in public universities as against the ever-increasing population and called for collective efforts at reversing the situation.

Ms Ohene commended the founding fathers of the Central University College for “braving through thick and thin to establish the university as well as sustaining it. “To start a university like this where there is an ideology that all university must be free must have been a brave decision,” she said.

In a welcoming address, the Chancellor of the university, Reverend Dr Mensah Otabil, said the university has decided to recognise some of the people who made significant contributions to support it, adding that “the honour is not in economic value but in the spirit of gratitude.”

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Government committed to rural development - Edumadzi

Agona Abodom (Central Region) 27 May 2003 - Isaac Edumadzi, Central Regional Minister, on Sunday said the government was committed to rural development to raise standard of living of the people and was exploring all avenues to secure funding to support private sector to boost the economy.

Speaking at the graduation of 31 batik tie and dye trainers at Agona Abodom, he said the government inherited a shattered economy. He said it would take at least four years for the people to start feeling the impact of government's efforts.

The government would continue to tell the truth to the people. He said adding that, "it can not conjure magic within two and half years to reverse the devastated economy left behind by the previous government".

Edunadzi called on the people not to take the statement by the National Democratic Congress flag bearer, Professor Attah Mills, that that the NPP had made life unbearable for the people seriously since the legacy the previous government left "is nothing to write about after leaving office in 2000".

He said the increment in petroleum prices by the government was to halt the "50 billion cedis monthly debt that the government was incurring from borrowing from the Ghana Commercial Bank for the importation of crude oil and the service of ¢3.4 trillion debt owned by the Tema Oil Refinery".

Edumadzi said, "the NDC ruled the country for eight years and 12 by the PNDC but due to their bad policies and programmes they could not find lasting solution to the economic hardship people faced".

The Regional Minister urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint while the government put in place sound economic policies to free the nation from its present predicament.

Madam Theresa Ameley Tagoe, Deputy Minster for Land and Forestry, said the government had secured a loan under the Social Investment Fund (SIF) for groups of five to 11,000 dollars credit to purchase machines for food processing.

She said Ministry of Food and Agriculture had also sourced loans for poultry, rabbit and livestock farmers to expand their farms. Madam Tagoe who is also MP for Ablekuma South said the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) would provide funds for batik tie and dye production.

She gave the assurance that government would continue to support people with skills to establish economic ventures. Ms Margaret Haizel, Head of the Centre, appealed to the government and Non Governmental Organisations for financial assistance for women and school dropouts in rural areas to acquire skills.

She asked District Assemblies to use part of their common fund and other investment funds to support women who had acquired skills to establish businesses.

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PNC congratulates African leaders

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The People's National Convention (PNC) on Monday congratulated African Leaders for their contributions towards the transformation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU).

A statement in Accra signed by Dr Edward Nasgrie Mahama, Leader of the PNC, on the 40th anniversary of the Union, said, "much had been achieved by the dreams of previous leaders such as Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Salasie. These achievements include liberation of the entire continent and dismantling of apartheid".

It noted: "Transformation of OAU to AU had come along with a programme, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and we in PNC hope that this NEPAD is only a process to take AU to continental economic and political integration in the form of a union government."

The statement commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for continuing with the West African Gas Pipeline Project and urged the government to handle the economy in such a way that "we can meet the requirements by the target date for the West African single currency."

The PNC also commended Ethiopian artistes, who on Sunday held a benevolent concert to raise one million dollars for famine relief in their country.

It recalled that Michael Jackson and other artistes handled the "We Are The World Concert" that raised about $20m for Ethiopia. The statement asked artistes from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa to emulate the Ethiopian artistes to support efforts against famine.

"We are suggesting that our government in the spirit of the extended family concept of sharing should send part of our food reserves to famine stricken areas and then task our farmers to produce that deficit by offering them a guarantee on the prices. "This would be a stimulus to our farmers to produce more food.

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NDC accused of instigating VRA workers and Poly students

Akwatia (Eastern Region) 27 May 2003 - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of instigating workers of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to rise up against their Chief Executive Officer, Dr Wereko Brobby.

The party was also accused of instigating polytechnic students to demonstrate over their grievances to create crisis in the country. The National Organiser of the NPP, Lord Commey and the Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Nana Adi Ankama, made the allegations at a political rally at Akwatia in the Kwaebibrem District in the Eastern Region on Sunday.

According to Commey, some NDC top men were alleged to have gone to instigate students of the Cape Coast Polytechnic to go on demonstration over academic issues to embarrass the government.

He denied that the NPP had an agenda to break up the NDC, saying "it is rather the electorate who will do so by rejecting them through the polls, but we are out to ensure that democracy thrives in the country."

Commey, who is on a weeklong tour of constituencies in the region, said the government welcomed constructive criticisms from its opponents that would help promote national development but would not countenance destructive tendencies.

He said since the NPP is in power "there is nothing wrong if its members enjoy the fruits of their labour", noting that "if we say we are out to promote private sector-led economy, we must necessarily rely on those who believe in that philosophy to advance it."

The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Felix Owusu Agyapong, announced that the government would soon come out with a programme of extending telephone system to all Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) as part of its policy to make telecommunication accessible to all parts of the country.

He asked the people to take note of the many development projects going on since the NPP came into power and vote again for it in 2004 for more developments.

Alhaji Mariga, National President of the Nassara Club, a social club within the NPP, stated that "should the NDC collapse, it should not blame the NPP but be considered as a suicide due to their exposure over the lies they told Ghanaians about the NPP during the last electioneering campaign."

He said President J A Kufuor's administration did not discriminate against any section of the people based on religion or political affiliation, but was out to promote participatory democracy, freedom of speech and rule of law.

The Kwaebibrem District Chief Executive, Yaw Yiadom-Boakye, recounted a number of projects the District Assembly had undertaken within two years and said it had surpassed what the NDC did in eight years and assured that more projects were on-going in education, good drinking water, roads and electrification.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah and his Deputy, Gustav Narh Dometey, addressed the rally.

GRi…/

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Many travellers stranded at Togo Border at Aflao

Aflao (Volta Region) 27 May 2003 - The Ghana side of the Ghana-Togo border at Aflao is jammed with hundreds of travellers of different nationalities as Togolese officials enforced their government's decision to bar travellers without valid documents from entering that country.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the border on Friday, hundreds of travellers especially men, who neither possessed valid travelling documents nor Togolese voter identity cards, were being refused entry. Women traders from Aflao with head loads of foodstuffs for sale in Lome were, however, allowed entry after much difficulty.

As some of the travellers tried to force their way into Lome they were subjected to heckling, whipping and pushing by the Gendarmes. Some of the men, who managed to breakthrough into that country, alleged that they had to pay ¢30,000 (2,000 CFA) in addition to being made to sign several documents by the Gendarmes at the border.

Some residents of Aflao attributed the situation to the need to tighten security prior to the 1 June, Presidential elections in Togo. In a Press statement last week the Togolese Authorities advised travellers to carry valid travelling documents.

The statement said "until further notice anyone who enters Togo without valid documents risked being arrested by the authorities".

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Nurses Week celebrated at Yendi

Yendi (Northern Region) 27 May 2003 - The Nurses Week celebrations in Yendi District of the Northern Region has ended with clean-up exercises, monitoring of blood pressure free of charge and health education on Sexually Transmitted

Diseases (STDs) in second cycle institutions.

The theme for the celebration was: "Nurses fighting AIDS stigma, caring for all". Addressing the closing ceremony at the Yendi town park, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mohammed Habib Tijani announced that the District Assembly was working out an incentive package for nurses who accept posting to the district.

Tijani did not disclose the package saying that it might be taken as 'political talk'. He said all the issues being addressed by the activities of the Week are very relevant and dear to the life of the people in the area.

Tijani urged both health care personnel and other development partners to step up advocacy towards AIDS prevention since there is no known care. Chairman of the Yendi branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) Mohammed Ibrahim, said a total of a 1,050 people were captured during the free blood monitoring.

Ibrahim said 100 of them were found to be unfit and were referred to Yendi Government Hospital for medical examination and management.

He appealed to the Yendi District Assembly to provide staff accommodation for doctors and nurses to attract more health personnel to the Hospital.

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Asunafo and Asutifi Districts to have telephone facilities

Mim (Brong Ahafo) 27 May 2003 - The Brong-Ahafo Deputy Regional Minister, Yaw Adjei-Duffuor says the government had plans to extend telephone facilities to Asunafo and Asutifi Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region.

He has, therefore, urged the people to exercise a little more restraint while negotiations with Ghana Telecom were being concluded.

Adjei-Duffuor reiterated the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government's policy to evenly spread development projects and social amenities to the remotest parts of the rural areas to enable them to enjoy their fair share of the nation's cake.

The Deputy Regional Minister was reacting to a reminder from the Asunafo District Chief Executive (DCE), George Yaw Boakye to the government to speed up extension of telephone facilities to the two districts to guarantee them unfettered access to other parts of the nation and the outside world when the Deputy Regional Minister inaugurated the Asunafo, Asutifi and Tano District Health Committees at Mim in the Asunafo District.

Adjei-Duffuor reminded the new District Health Committees to be careful in their advisory role and not to usurp the powers of their District Directors of Health Services.

He noted that the Committee's role of social mobilisation; inter-sectoral collaboration and community participation drive demanded that they worked in consonance with their respective District Assemblies to extend good health care to their people.

Adjei-Duffuor urged all categories of health workers to place premium on environmental sanitation for the avoidance of epidemics and their attendant woes.

He charged the committees to immediately initiate programmes aimed at realising the government's dream to replace the "Cash-And-Carry" System with a more humane Community Health Insurance Scheme that encouraged cost sharing and easy access to medical care.

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Alhaji Abubakar Bin Ibrahim called for an enhanced partnership between the Ghana Health Service and all other stakeholders in good health provision and an endeavour to reduce the existing inequalities embedded in the health outcomes of individuals.

He expressed the hope that the new committees would work diligently to bring about positive changes to the existing health delivery status of people.

The Presiding Member of the Asunafo District Assembly and Chairman for the function, Nana Boakye Dankwah urged the committees to liase with the District Assemblies to re-define the health need priorities of the people. He said health programmes designed to benefit the people should be made to take care of their socio-cultural needs.

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Provide necessary permit to mining company - Council

Sefwi-Wiawso (Western Region) 27 May 2003 - The Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Council has urged the government to disregard all comments against the proposed mining in the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve under the traditional area and grant Chirano Gold Mines Limited the necessary permit to commence mining operations.

Addressing a press conference organised by the Council at Sefwi-Wiawso at the weekend, Nana Nkoa Okumdom II, Omanhene of Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Area and President of the Council, reiterated their unflinching support for the Chirano Gold Project.

He pointed out that the proposed mining activity would serve as springboard for the development of their deprived and impoverished communities, adding that he intended to put any royalties from the mining activities into a special development fund to be used for the development of the area.

Nana Okumdom said, "we can no longer continue to be producers of only cocoa for which my area is noted. I want to see my people branch into other areas of employment and that is what the mining project will provide".

The Omanhene said the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Paramountcy opposition to the mining operation in the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve stemmed from a chieftaincy dispute between the Anhwiaso Traditional Area and Chirano led by G.Y. Gyamfi, who is a Director of the Mining Company.

Nana Okumdom said: "The chieftaincy dispute between Anhwiaso and Chirano should not affect Wiawso which has about 99 per cent of the area on which the actual mining would take place.

He debunked concerns being put forward by the Anhwiaso Traditional Council and the Coalition Against Mining in Forest Reserves and said the concerns did not affect the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve.

He said the proposed mining activities would take place at its fringes. "All other mining infrastructure such as treatment plant, tailing sites, office and accommodation would fall outside the forest reserve which also falls substantially within the Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Area.

Nana Okumdom said the headwaters of the Ankobra River were not within the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve which lay about six kilometres away from the site of the proposed mining activity.

The Mamnao Creek, he said, did not lie within the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve and that the only river, which took it source from the reserve was the Suraw which communities down stream used as their source of drinking water.

"Due to the ephemeral nature of the Suraw river, the company has provided very deep boreholes fitted with pumps to these communities as part of its community assistance programme", he added, and queried for how long people could continue to take their source of drinking water from running streams in this era when there were modern methods of providing potable water.

Nana Okumdom pointed out that the Sacred Grove of the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Stool did not lie within the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve and would, therefore, not be affected by the mining project.

Mining within the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve would take place within the degraded areas which have been previously logged and which were classified by the Forest Services Division as Productive Forest Reserves.

He said: "The Management of Chirano Gold Mines Limited has continuously involved us in discussions on their operations that affect our interest and they also liase with us on future initiatives such as education and other social amenities."

The Omanhene said the Chiefs had also had interactions with Parliamentarians, Cabinet Ministers and Technical Personnel during their working visits to the Chirano Gold Project and "we have confidence and convinced that the company would operate in an environmentally friendly manner".

Nana Okumdom said gone were the days when chiefs were considered ignorant and did not, therefore, have knowledge or expertise in such matters and pointed out that now chiefs could hire the services of experts or consultants in such matters.

He said if he received the final Environmental Impact Assessment Report, he would together with his chiefs, elders, opinion leaders and people study it carefully with the help of experts to ensure that the decision that would be taken would be in their best interest and would not impact negatively on their lives.

Nana Okumdom, therefore, appealed to the government to continue to give support to the project so that the people within the proposed mining catchment area would see development.

Nana Frimpong Manso II, Chief of Paboase, one of the communities very close to the mining project, said the chiefs and opinion leaders in the area had been working hand in hand with the mining company and would, therefore, not allow the Company to mine outside its operational area nor would they allow the company to do anything detrimental to the people of the area.

GRi…/

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Africa needs God's intervention - Minister

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday said Africa has failed in its programmes because it failed to involve God in its affairs.

"There have been a lot of bilateral and multilateral relations, protocols and conventions and many other initiatives that African governments have engaged themselves in but yet still the continent has not made any progress.

This is because we have not sought God's intervention in our affairs. We have done many things we could to change Africa, but I am not sure how we have involved God in those things," he said.

The Deputy Foreign Minister was speaking at this year's Africa Day Church Service in Accra, as part of activities marking the 40th Africa Union Day, which fell on Sunday.

The annual service initiated six years ago by Brother Immanuel Enoch Agbozo, Leader of the Enoch Mission was to acknowledge and honour God and to call upon Him to redeem, heal, and bless Africa's efforts.

Osei-Adjei said God's intelligence was limitless, adding that, if African governments sought the face of God, the continent would overcome its problems.

He called on Africans to "free themselves from the mental slavery of the past" and to develop a sense of patriotism and love for the continent to achieve a united front for peace, stability and development.

Osei-Adjei criticised pastors who prayed for Africans to leave their countries for greener pastures instead of staying to develop the continent. He said the establishment of an African Parliament would go a long way to solve most of the problems of the continent by providing a platform to "jaw-jaw instead of war-war".

Preaching on the theme, "Is God relevant in the affairs of Africa," Brother Agbozo, who is also the Leader of the Evangelical Society of Ghana, blamed the continent's problems on the inability of the academia in finding answers to the "dilemma of independent Africa struggling in captivity, making meaningless the shouts of independence and sovereignty".

"The Dons of Academia Africa seem equally bewildered and confused as their political and economic counterparts," adding, "the brain drain is an eloquent testimony of the confusion," he said.

African governments must realize that the interplay of history, religion, culture, philosophy and ideology have brought nothing but pain to the continent.

"The question remains though whether the historical arrangements, spiritual powers, philosophies and ideological paths chosen have proved adequate and dynamic for the working out of the visions of the leaders and aspiration of the people as whole," he added.

The Church is also yet to assume full responsibility and commitment to the affairs of Africa with the total Gospel of Jesus Christ, he said. "Africa is sending out missionaries to other lands but the Church in Africa is yet to fully confront the African reality," Brother Agbozo added.

GRi…/

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Irate youth disrupt AU Day Service

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - A group of irate youth believed to have hailed from James Town on Sunday nearly halted a prayer and worship service in commemoration of the Africa Union Day celebration when they invaded the premises of the Ghana Legion Hall with stones and clubs to enforce the ban on drumming.

The group numbering about 15 between the ages of 15 and 30 scuttled into the premises at the time when worshipers from various denominations were gathered to celebrate the AU Day in Ghana to pray to God for peace, righteousness, justice and prosperity on the continent.

A swift defence put up by some worshipers and ushers outside and some pastors who engaged prevented the youth from invading the auditorium.

Outside, the youths stood and rained insults at the worshipers as they challenged the congregation as to whether they were not aware of the ban on drumming.

Some also threw stones on top of the auditorium and others angrily instigated members to wrestle with the worshipers in order to size their instruments of worship.

After about thirty minutes, the group left but promised to come back if they should hear the sound of the instruments again. They, however, did not return until the service dubbed "Africa Day Worship Service 2003" ended.

GRi…/

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Another fuel siphoning syndicate busted

Accra (Greater Accra0 27 May 2003 - About a hundred suspected illegal fuel dealers were on Saturday arrested at various locations in and around the Tema municipality and Ashiaman in a three-hour exercise mounted by a joint military/police team to clamp down on their activities.

The joint team, made up of 30 policemen and 150 soldiers, sprang a surprise attack on the illegal fuel dealers culminating in their arrest and seizure of dozens of drums and various sizes of plastic gallons filled with either diesel or petrol, as well as a number of fuel pumping machines, two pump-action rifles, arrows and gunpowder.

The exercise, which was conducted in three main areas: Ashiaman, Tema Fishing Harbour and around the Tema Oil Refinery, was coordinated from the First Battalion of Infantry (1BN) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Michel Camp near Tema.

At the Ashiaman Timber Market area, a walled premises belonging to a tanker service operator, who was not around, the team discovered two tankers and tanks filled with fuel.

A further search in the yard produced the two weapons as well as a substantial amount of money. There were six persons on the premises at the time of the operation.

One worker of the company who was quizzed by the police alleged that fuel that was meant for some filling stations were diverted there and sold to taxi drivers and some illegal dealers for less than the ex-pump price.

At another walled premises around the same area (Ashiaman Timber market area) one of the dealers spotted the team approaching and alerted his colleagues who were busily pumping fuel from a stationery tank into a tanker. They all took to their heels leaving behind two fuel pumps and the tanker with registration number GR 9215 F. The tanker was registered with the Southern Sector of the Tanker Owners Union.

Also at another tanker service yard near the Ashiaman roundabout belonging to one Edmund Nartey, the team arrested some persons who were transferring diesel from a long-haul tanker with registration number AS 1547 P into another tanker with registration number GR 670 F.

When a team of journalist got to two exercise areas around the Tema Oil Refinery, the team had seized a quantity of fuel and containers but the dealers escaped arrest.

Lieutenant Colonel Mathew Dakurah, Commanding Officer of the 1BN and operations officer for the exercise told newsmen that the objective was to clamp down on the illegal fuel dealers whose nefarious activities were sabotaging the economy.

He said the exercise was successful and would send smoke signals to others who were into that line of business, thus minimizing the loss of revenue to government from taxes paid on the sale of fuel.

Lt. Col. Dakurah said the owners of the seized items would be found and handed over to the police for prosecution.

GRi…/

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Health workers asked to stop the brain-drain

Begoro (Eastern Region) 27 May 2003 - The Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira on Friday appealed to nurses and para-medical staff to stop the brain-drain and rededicate themselves to the cause of improving the health of the people.

He was speaking at the launch of the Eastern Region Nurses Week celebration at Begoro in the Fanteakwa district on Friday, which celebration was under the theme: "Nurses fighting Aids stigma, caring for all."

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira said the region recorded 2,000 new cases of the HIV/AIDS last year and appealed to nurses and other health workers to assist people living with the disease.

He also asked the public to stop the stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and called on individuals and organisations to collaborate with health workers to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), Mrs Margaret Appiah-Tuffuor, observed that the stigmatisation the public attached to people with HIV/AIDS caused psychological problems for them.

She, therefore, urged health worker to keep in confidence personal information on HIV/AIDS victims.

The Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, commended individuals and organisations involved in the fight against the disease. He called on district assemblies, chiefs, Churches and opinion leaders to spearhead the fight against the HIV/AIDS.

The District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa, Ebenezer Ofoe Caesar, expressed concern about the negative perception of the public towards people living with the disease and call for public education on the issue.

GRi…/

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Church told to reconsider position on condom use

Bamang (Ashanti Region) Baffour Wiredu, Chairman of the Kwabre Number One Community-Based Organisation (CBO), appealed to the Church to reconsider its position on condom use to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

He said the perception held by some Christians that the campaign on condom use could encourage promiscuity must change. Wiredu was addressing a public forum to create awareness on HIV/AIDS among the people at Bamang in the Kwabre district. The forum was organised by the CBO and attended by parents, teachers and school children in the town.

Wiredu said: "much as we share the concerns of the church and appreciate the need to focus more on total abstinence, it is important we do not gloss over the safety and protection of people who are unable to control their sexual urge."

He said the fight against HIV/AIDS could be enhanced if people were encouraged to avoid unprotected sex. Wiredu said the CBO Chairman urged parents to break all cultural barriers that inhibited open discussion on sex with their children so as to help deepen the understanding of the youth about the dangers of pre-marital sex.

Wiredu appealed to the public to support, encourage and show love for people living with HIV/AIDS.

GRi…/

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Ninety-seven died out of suffocation

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - Col Jaswant Mante Wadhwani, a pathologist at the 37 Military Hospital, last Friday told an Accra High Court that the major cause of death among spectators of the 9 May Accra Sports Stadium Disaster was suffocation.

Giving a breakdown of the 106 bodies on which he performed post-mortem at the 37 Military Hospital, Col. Wadhwani said 97 died of suffocation, five died as result of chest injuries, while one died of spinal injuries.

He further stated that two other persons died as result of fracture on the lower limbs while the last person died of fracture in the rib.

He explained that the suffocation occurred as result of stampede and chemicals used in dispersing the spectators. Col. Wadhwani was testifying in the case in which six police officers are being tried on 127 counts of manslaughter.

John Asare Naami, Faakyi Kumi, Frank Awuah, Francis Aryee, Benjamin B. Bakomora, all Assistant Superintendents of Police and Koranteng Mintah, Chief Superintendent of Police, deny the charges and are on ¢20m bail each with two sureties.

Col. Wadhwani, who was led in evidence by Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, said on 9 May 2001, he was not on duty but his attention was drawn to the crisis at the 37 Military Mortuary.

Witness said he proceeded to the hospital and paid attention to those who were in critical condition before turning his attention to the dead.

Col. Wadhwani said relations and friends identified the bodies before he performed post-mortem on them with assistance from one Cuban doctor. Witness, who had earlier submitted a report to the Commission of Enquiry in Accra, tendered the report on 106 bodies to court.

During a cross-examination by Atta Akyea, a defence counsel, witness agreed with counsel that he examined all of the bodies. Col. Wadhwani agreed with counsel that there was no single bullet on them.

When counsel asked witness why the spectators died of suffocation, witness said they might have confined themselves to one area. Witness agreed with counsel that when tear gas was released, it made it difficult for people to breathe and also it created sight problems.

Agyeman Aboagye, the Cameraman of TV3, mounted the witness box following the orders of the court to appear before it or be forced to do so. When the court enquired from Aboagye why he failed to appear before the court, he said his schedules were tight.

The trial judge Justice Yaw Appau, said: "I don't think you are aware of the rules of the court, else I would have ordered for your arrest the case before the court takes precedence.

Led in evidence by Gyambiby, Aboagye told the court that on 9 May 2001, he was detailed to cover the football match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Witness said when the match was about to end, he saw spectators throwing plastic chairs onto the field. According to the witness he took shots of policemen firing "white smoke" into the atmosphere and spectators running helter-skelter. He said some of the spectators covered their noses while others were jumping from one part of the stadium to the other.

According to the witness, when he was about to leave the stadium, he was told by some of the spectators that some people had collapsed behind the goal post. Witness said he proceeded to the scene and took shots and handed over the cassettes to his producer.

During a cross-examination by Owusu Fordjour, a defence counsel, witness agreed with counsel that in his statement to the police he mentioned that he heard police officers telling the spectators to stop breaking the plastic chairs.

Counsel: Do you know the owner of the plastic chairs?

Witness: They belong to the state.

Hearing continues on 28 May.

GRi…/

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Partisan media is dangerous to democratic process

Cape Coast (Central Region) 27 May 2003 - The media have been advised to stick to their constitutional role, refrain from party politics and ensure objective, fair and balanced reportage that would help deepen democratic governance in the country.

The National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Iddrisu Haruna gave the advise at a symposium at Cape Coast on Saturday.

It was organised by the Tertiary Educational Institution Network (TEIN) of the University of Cape Coast branch of the party on the topic" the role of the student in democratic era."

Haruna said a partisan media was dangerous to the current democratic practice and urged the journalist not to do anything to undermine the process.

He said because the NDC believed in democratic governance it handed over power peacefully to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after the 2000 general elections. Haruna said the NDC did not believe in political vengeance but its focus was to develop the country and improve the lot of the people.

He said interfering with the work of the judiciary was most dangerous for the society and appealed to Ghanaians to ensure that the judiciary operated independently as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

Haruna said he was not happy that President John Kufuor, who is chairman of the ECOWAS was silent over the "abandonment of democracy in nearby Togo, where the ruling government has disallowed an opposition candidate to contest the forthcoming presidential election in that country."

Baba Jamal, NDC Deputy General Secretary, said the positive change that the NPP preached has "turned to a serious negative change and urged the people to forget a government that cannot fulfil his promise."

According to him, the NPP was not interested in the welfare of the people but its aim was to ensure that there was calamity within the NDC, despite the NPP's claim that it had the men capable of making the country better than what the NDC did.

Ofosu Ampofo, Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa urged Ghanaians to support the NDC "sankofa" programme.

Evils Afriyie Ankrah, Campaign Manager of the party urged members of the party to work harder to bring the party back to power, saying that this time round no candidate would be imposed on any constituency.

Later the out-going TEIN executives handed over to the in-coming executives.

Earlier, the NDC officials showed videotape on the Afenya and Afefe rice project to the people. The NDC officials said the project had been abandoned. Among those present were Professor Evans Atta Mills, NDC flagbearer and Dr. Obed Asamoah, NDC national chairman

GRi…/

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NDC would not be intimidated - Atta Mills

Cape Coast (Central Region) 27 May 2003 - Prof John Atta Mills, flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday said that members of party would not allow themselves to be intimidated, victimised and prosecuted by the government.

Prof Mill said there could not be "one law for the people in government and another for those outside."

He was speaking at a symposium organised by the Tertiary Educational Institution Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the University of Cape Coast as part of his ten-day familiarisation tour of the Central Region.

He was not happy with the government plans to victimise and prosecute NDC members to dismantle the party and pointed out that every efforts would be mobilised to resist that attempt.

The NDC flag bearer told the students that as future leaders they must come out from their shelves, be bold to point out wrongs and injustices in the society, and advised them to always stand for the truth.

The minority leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin expressed concern about the way some sections of the media had become the mouthpiece of the government against the minority.

He said such media houses were doing a lot of damages, which could undermine the growth of the young democracy in the country.

The National Chairman of the NDC, Dr. Obed Asamoah who chaired the occasion urged the government to provide subsidies that would alleviate the sufferings of Ghanaians.

GRi…/

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NPP against formation of splinter groups

Akropong (Eastern Region) 27 May 2003 - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has banned the formation of splinter groups within the party.

According to the National Organiser of the party, Lord Commey, the formation of such groups is against the constitutional provisions within which the party operates and no official of the party should encourage that.

Addressing polling station chairmen and executives of the Akropong Constituency of the party at Amanokrom in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, Commey mentioned some of such groups such as the Polling Stations Chairmen Association and the Young Elephants, which some members of the party have made moves to form.

He said “our party is a democratic one which was not founded on personalities”. Therefore no one in the party should encourage the formation of groups within it because they have no backing from the party’s constitution.

His meeting, which was the second leg of a week-long tour of the Eastern Region, took him to the Okere and the Upper Manya Constituencies also.

Commey explained that the decision to discourage the formation of splinter groups in the party is part of the purging process to get rid of destroyers in the party. According to him, the NPP has the target to capture four NDC parliamentary seats in the region of which the Upper Manya one is included.

He said the NPP is on track, adding that this could be proven by ongoing development projects in all parts of the country.

The Second Regional Vice- Chairman of the party, Sub Lt Christian Tettey, who chaired the meeting, charged the people to work hard to enable the party to win the seat so that Krobos would be counted among the winners.

GRi…/

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Aggudey urges CPP to be assertive

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 27 May 2003 - A former presidential aspirant of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Comrade George Oposika Aggudey, has said the party will not develop on the generosity of any political party in the country.

“Politics is a game of numbers and no party, however good its intention are, will be so magnanimous or take kindly to the development of the CPP at the expense of its own ambitions and future well-being,” he said.

Comrade Aggudey, who said this in an interview in Accra after a visit to the Ashanti Region, explained that no party would be charitable enough to strengthen the hands of the CPP to win the next presidential and parliamentary elections, while it wallows in the opposition.

“The CPP leadership must realise that the front of the party will witness further weakness, if it bows to the pressures of any political party to forge an alliance with it to contest the next election,” the former presidential aspirant said.

According to him, the time has come for the CPP to re-assert itself on the country’s political scene and work harder in the coming months to fight and win political power in next year’s elections.

He said there are all indications that the CPP stands a very good chance of winning political power or the worst becoming a power broker in the event of a run off in the 2004 presidential election.

“The electorate is looking up to the only party that showed considerable goodwill towards the development of Ghana to re-take the mantle of leadership and bring to a halt their sufferings and lamentations,” he said

Comrade Aggudey said the CPP will be contesting the next polls at half strength if it attaches its apron string to any other political party in the country.

He appealed to the rank and file of the party to be vigilant and not allow themselves to be influenced to betray the cause of the party to strive to win the next elections to rebuild the social and economic structures of the nation.

“I also implore our members to reject the approach and postures of other functionaries who are fronting for other political parties and are bent on derailing the efforts of the party to present a united front towards the next general elections,” he said.

GRi…/

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