End-of-Service Benefit wasn’t abolished -
NDC
Research Institutions should be relevant to
industries - Kufuor
Atomic theories should be made practicable -
Kufuor
Independent Committee to investigate cyanide
spillage
Biah takes over as Commanding Officer of 4BN
Customs officials told to give job humane
face
Appoint only dedicated persons to local
govt. structures-Jumah
Post graduate medical college in the offing
Kufuor pledges assistance to dynamic chiefs
End-of-Service Benefit wasn’t abolished -
NDC
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 November 2001- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday said the End of Service Benefit (ESB) was not abolished but frozen based on common understanding between the Tripartite Committee.
"It was expected that any time the economy improved, then the payment could be restored. No law was passed to abolish it and it does not demand any parliamentary approval for restoration," it said in a statement by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of NDC, in reaction to the President's statement on labour's demand for restoration of ESB.
He said the party believed that the restoration of ESB should be based on the improvement of the economy and the willingness of the government to do so.
Alhaji Yahaya noted that recent pronouncements by President John Kufuor were "regrettable and unfortunate" and urged the government to rather respond to workers' demand instead of diverting attention by blaming the NDC.
He said the TUC did not confront the former government on the ESB because of the mature manner the NDC handled labour issues, which enabled a peaceful atmosphere to prevail in the country.
On the payment of ex-gratia awards to ministers of the former government, Alhaji Yahaya noted the current government has also stated in the appointment letters of all its appointees they were entitled to ex-gratia award at the end of their term.
"It surely amazes the NDC why the President is not bold enough to tell Ghanaians the truth, if he thinks that the payment of ex-gratia awards to former government appointees is wrong."
Alhaji Yahaya said there was no relationship between the payment of ex-gratia awards to the payment of ESB to workers. The NDC reminded the government of its electoral promise to restore ESB, which workers accepted and voted for.
"After having ridden on the back of workers to victory he cannot afford to turn his back on them."
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Research Institutions should be relevant to
industries - Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 November 2001- President John Kufuor on Friday asked the Board of Directors of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to ensure that research findings were brought into the mainstream of industries.
This would make it possible for the society to be aware of the potentials existing to be exploited for the benefit of the people.
He said when the research findings were made available and the various institutions and industries failed to take advantage of them, the Board of Directors should take the initiative and send the findings to them.
President Kufuor made the call when he administered the official oath and oath of secrecy to the 21-member Board of Directors for the CSIR at the Castle, Osu.
He said there was the need to well equip the research institutions because the CSIR was made up of people with the requisite knowledge and competence to push the country's industrial development forward. Unfortunately, however, their research findings had not been well utilised for the people.
"You should therefore spearhead the transformation of the society and utilisation of research findings to bring them into the mainstream of the various industries and society for the benefit of the people."
Professor E.S. Ayensu, a Consultant Scientist and Chairman of the Board of Directors, said the CSIR had not been able to achieve the objectives for its establishment and play its strategic role in the socio-economic development of the country.
He said about 90 per cent of the budgetary allocation to the council was used for salaries leaving a meagre 10 per cent for research.
Professor Ayensu called for a review of the CSIR Act of 1996 to make it more relevant to the private sector.
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Atomic theories should be made practicable
- Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 November 2001-President J.A. Kufuor on Friday asked the new board members of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) not to continue with the atomic theories that had characterised the Commission since its inception about 40 years ago.
They should rather apply the theories to practical terms to make the Commission beneficial to the people, he said when he administered the official oath and oath of secrecy for the seven-member commission at the Castle, Osu.
He said the commission had remained a dream and Ghana had not benefited practically from it although a lot of resources had been spent on it to make it relevant to the development of the country. President Kufuor said government expected the board to offer good advice to justify the huge investments made.
"If you convince us that it is a viable venture, government will continue to assist. On the other hand if there are no practical returns then we cut our losses and do not continue to invest," he added.
Professor Daniel Adjei Bekoe, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Chairman of the commission, said the members shared the sentiments expressed by President Kufuor and pledged to take up the challenges to serve the country.
In another development President Kufuor has administered the official oath and oath of secrecy to the nine-member Board of Directors for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the Castle, Osu.
He asked the members of the Board of Directors to preach to the conscience of the people in schools, churches and traditional councils and create awareness on the degradation of the environment.
President Kufuor called on them to accept the challenge that the country could now rely on them to work tirelessly to enable the people to appreciate the need to create a balance on the environment to sustain the society.
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyenhene and Chairman of the Board, said the members had accepted the challenge and the difficulties to work hard to serve the nation with dignity and honour.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 November 2001- Vice President Aliu Mahama is to begin a four-day official visit to the Ashanti Region from Monday, during which he would visit a number of districts and inspect some projects.
A statement issued from his office and signed by Mr Andrews Awuni, a Special Assistant, said Alhaji Mahama would present computers to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, his Alma Mater.
Projects he would inspect include abandoned structures of ABU Construction Company at Yawkwei in the Asante Akim District, the Urban Five Oyonso Road Project at Agogo, the Chirapatre Computer Centre and the Kejetia Rehabilitation Project.
The statement said he would also cut the sod for the OPEC Hospital Project, commission the Abore Gold Project and meet some Muslim and Zongo chiefs.
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Independent Committee to investigate
cyanide spillage
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 November 2001- The government has set up an independent investigative committee to establish the cause and extent of the cyanide contamination in the Huni and Asuman rivers near Tarkwa in the Western region.
Membership of the committee is made up of representatives from the Department of Environmental Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry of the University of Ghana and the Institute of Mining, Tarkwa School of Mines.
The rest are the Ministry of Health, Ghana Standards Board, a Social Scientist and a lawyer. Professor Dominic K. Fobih, Minister of Environment and Science, said this at a meeting with some environmental NGOs and newsmen to clarify the issues arising out of the cyanide spillage from Goldfields mines that polluted the two rivers.
He said the committee would identify measures to prevent such contamination in future and prepare strategic guidelines for the safe management of mining waste disposal, among other things.
Last month, wastewater contaminated with cyanide spilled into the two rivers, killing a number of living organisms in the water bodies.
The mining company claimed that the spillage was accidental and explained that the death of fishes and other organisms was due to detoxification and other measures taken to offset the impact of the cyanide.
Prof. Fobih said the committee, which has six weeks to complete its task, would submit an in-depth report and recommendations.
Mr. Jonathan Allotey, Acting Chief Executive of Environmental Protection Agency, appealed to the public to give out information freely to enable the committee to complete its work on schedule.
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Biah takes over as Commanding Officer of
4BN
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 November 2001- Lieutenant-Colonel George Ayisombo Biah, on Friday took over from Lt.-Col. Fuseini Iddrisu as the new Commanding Officer (CO) of the Fourth Infantry Battalion in Kumasi.
Lt.-Col. Fuseni who is being posted to the Army Combat Training School in Accra as Chief Instructor has been CO for the past four year.
A military parade was organised at the Uddara Barracks Square for the out-going officer, who inspected the parade, commanded by Captain Atsu Asem. The reading of a citation and the presentation of a plaque and a stool to the CO followed it.
Lt-Col. Iddrisu performed the handing over of colours and decorated the in-coming CO with the Unit Muffler and lanyard and the out-going CO was driven out of the barracks in a military jeep.
In an address, in which the promotions of five soldiers from lance corporals to full corporals and four with the rank of privates to lance corporals were announced, the out-going CO observed that discipline has improved tremendously.
He said the Unit's performance continued to reflect in their professional endeavours both at home and abroad, adding that the command in conjunction with the Police has brought peace to the region.
Lt-Col. Iddrisu said the Unit has continued to support the development activities of the people at Sokoban, Wamase and Nyankyenase and that the relationship between the people was cordial.
He called for the continuation of this mutual relationship between the military and civilians to ensure peace and development.
The out-going CO asked the men and women of the battalion and other workers there to support the in-coming CO to enable him work effectively.
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Customs officials told to give job humane
face
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 November 2001-Officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), have been told to display a high level of professionalism, patriotism and civility in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Harry Owusu, Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), noted that better results would be achieved and tax compliance raised with corresponding revenue increase, if all CEPS Officials work well without being intrusive and aggressive.
He was addressing the 11th annual national conference of the Senior Staff Association of the service at the Christian Village in Kumasi. The theme for the conference is; "Strategising CEPS Operations in the Information Technology Era".
Mr Owusu said, "as first line of contact at the ports and frontiers, it is imperative that you make a conscious effort to cultivate a positive image for your service so as to engender the required support from your business partners".
He identified the elimination of corruption, improving CEPS corporate image, the need to streamline procedures to attract foreign investment, effective revenue mobilisation in the face of falling commodity prices in the world market and combating sophisticated methods of smuggling as challenges facing the service.
Mr Owusu said one grave concern of the public is the escort of goods in transit to neighbouring countries by CEPS personnel.
"It is quite disturbing to find high dutiable goods such as cigarettes, wax prints, sardines and whiskies which are mostly imported and escorted in transit to neighbouring countries finding their was back to the country through smuggling and sold very cheap on the market with loss of revenue to the state ".
Mr Kofi Poku Ntiamoah, Commissioner of CEPS, announced that by the middle of next year, the service's operations would be automated with the adoption of an Electronic Data Interchange.
This, he said, would offer both the service and business community a good opportunity to minimise delays associated, especially with the clearance procedures which have been found to be inefficient, time consuming and arduous.
Mr Ntiamoah said the automation would limit contact with clients since documents and information would be transmitted electronically.
Besides, payments would be made electronically at selected banks and more importantly, the automation of revenue collection and accounting would ensure fast and accurate reconciliation and reporting.
The Commissioner of CEPS said, "our expectation from these initiatives is improvement in- service delivery and a minimisation of fraudulent practices so as to build a new image of the service".
Mr. George Adum-Kwapong, the National Chairman of the Association, said the refusal in the past to appoint career CEPS Officers as Commissioner was one of the key factors that bred frustration, apathy and lack of commitment on the part of personnel in the service.
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Appoint only dedicated persons to local
govt. structures-Jumah
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 November 2001-Mr Maxwell Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive has advised that only persons dedicated to the welfare of the people should be appointment to any of the local government structures.
He said those appointed to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies as well as Town and Area Councils and Unit Committees were expected to serve the people and not to lord it over them.
Mr Jumah gave the advice when addressing the Subin Sub-Metropolitan Assembly at its meeting in Kumasi on Thursday, at which members were briefed on the Social Investment Fund (SIF) and the state of roads in the sub-metro area.
Mr Jumah said the days when the assembly spent money recklessly were over and called on members to be honest and dedicated to work.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive said the decentralisation policy would be meaningless if the sub-structures were not allowed to work and said the sub-structures of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly would be equipped to operate effectively.
Mr Addae Acheampong, Chairman of the Subin-Sub Metro said since the establishment of the new sub-metro, there has been an improvement in revenue collection. He said the sub-metro had requested for two billion cedis to establish car parks and shopping centres in the metropolis.
Mr Acheampong said the sub-metro would launch a re-afforestation programme in January, next year and also ensure that every household provided toilet facility to help ease the pressure on the public ones.
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Post graduate medical college in the offing
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 24 November 2001- Mr Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Health said on Friday that as part of the government's human resource development within the health sector, plans are far advanced for the establishment of a post graduate college for further training of doctors.
A Bill to this effect, which has been approved by Cabinet would soon be presented to Parliament to be passed.
Mr Baah was contributing to discussions on human resource development and technical assistance in the health sector when the visiting Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, Ms Eveline Herfkens, met a government delegation in Sunyani.
The college, when established, would be a major step to check the brain drain in the sector since the desire to upgrade their professional skills in such institutions overseas has contributed to the phenomenon, the Deputy Minister said.
He said to make the project a reality the ministry would need huge foreign assistance in funding and trained personnel to teach at the college. A rector for the college had been appointed while funds for the take-off of the programmes would be included in the 2002 national budget.
The Deputy Minister said both specialists and general practitioners in district and regional hospitals would benefit from the programme, after which general practitioners would be made "family doctors".
Ms Herfkens assured the country of her government's support in the health sector, especially in the training and provision of equipment. She said in all cases, the government had the option to choose the type of assistance it needed and added that prudent spending would make assistance more effective.
She noted that a new partnership between donor countries and recipients was geared towards good policies that would eliminate waste.
"It is up to you to decide how donations must be used for the benefit of the people, but we must ensure that we do not put all our eggs in one basket," she cautioned, adding "we are only looking for effective partnership".
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs and leader of the delegation, spoke about the effects of brain drain of trained professionals, including personnel in the health sector, on the national economy and said the government would evolve measures to arrest the situation.
Dr Kofi Asare, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Health, said while it was prudent to channel assistance to the training of local doctors, there was the need to retain expatriate doctors until enough local ones had been trained.
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Kufuor pledges assistance to dynamic chiefs
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 November 2001- President John Kufuor on Friday reiterated his call for government's assistance to chiefs who initiate investment and other development programmes in their traditional areas.
He said most of the chiefs were dynamic and with their vital role in national development government would not hesitate to offer the needed assistance to give meaning to its policy of positive change.
President Kufuor made the call when Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, Dormahene paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, after a two-month
European tour.
The Dormaahene said his visit had been fruitful and some investors were expected in the country to begin feasibility studies in some areas. He appealed to government to rehabilitate roads within the Dormaa Traditional Area to give easy accesses to investors.
In another development, Nana Otu Pabi IV, Akuapem Mamponghene led a delegation of chiefs to officially inform the government of the death of Nana Asiedu Agyemfra V, Chief of Larteh-Kubease.
He said the final funeral rites would be observed at Larteh-Kubease from December 19 to December 23. Nana Pabi said the late Nana Agyemfra, 87, who ruled for 63 years, was a prominent chief in the area and contributed immensely to its development.
President Kufuor expressed his condolence to the chiefs and people of the area and said with his long reign, the late Nana Agyemfra had served the nation and should be accorded the due recognition from both the government and people.
Nana Agyemfra who died on April 22, this year, left behind three wives, 26 children, 40 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
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