Prez Kufuor urges increased efforts in monetary zone
Botchwey
launches campaign in Upper East
NDC to
faces its most difficult challenge
Minister
calls for measures for quality health services
Book
on diseases in the tropics for Pharmacists launched
Volta
Region chiefs to brainstorm on succession law
Trades
Union Congress still oppose water privatization
Women
urged to embrace Information Technology
Don't
bring insurance scheme with health problems - AFA
Counsel
questions client’s detention
Akuapem community in US
celebrates 18th Anniversary
Washington DC (USA) 08 November 2002 - The Akwapim Community in the Washington Metropolitan Area has celebrated its 18th Anniversary with a Fund Raising Dance.
The proceeds would go into the development of projects in Akuapem especially a Ghanaian Youth Language Laboratory, which will benefit Ghanaian children and those of other nationalities.
Seth Evans Addo, Trade and Investment Minister at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC told the community that, the language laboratory was a laudable project which will add to cultural development in Ghana and said that the Embassy which is also working on the creation of a cultural centre will collaborate with the Executives of the Akuapem Mma Fekum.
Evans Addo also acknowledged the healthy relationship between the Embassy and the various Ghanaian Associations in the United States and said it has become a policy hence His Excellency Alan Kyerematen's visit to Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Durham, Columbus and Austin in the last four months.
The Trade and Investment Minister reminded
them about other initiatives at the Embassy including the Ghana Skills Bank, The
Ghana Bank based on the Credit Union System, the Investment and Equity Project,
and the Save Your School Program. He advised that they visit the Ghana Skills
Bank site at www.ghanaskillsbank.org since the registration will serve among
others as a database for recruiting Ghanaian professionals, technicians and
trade men for various assignments in Ghana and beyond. - Public Affairs
Department, Ghana Embassy in Washington Dc
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Conakry (Guinea) 08
November 2002 - President John Kufuor on Thursday, called on member countries
of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) to redouble their efforts to meet the
convergence criteria for the establishment of the zone, which is an essential
component of the economic integration of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS).
He said it was only
such an integration that would offer the opportunity to transform their
economies, which had been too dependent on countries outside the Sub-Region.
President Kufuor made
the call when he addressed the Fourth Summit meeting of the Heads of State and
Government of Member States of WAMZ, in Conakry.
The countries are
Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The Convergence criteria was a
single digit inflation rate of about five per cent by April this year, Central
Bank Financing of government deficit of less than 10 per cent of the previous
year's revenue, Government budget deficit of five per cent Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and Foreign Exchange Reserve in three months of import.
President Kufuor said
although member countries could not meet the convergence criteria, it was still
worth pursuing for monetary integration. He explained that this would
progressively consolidate and effectively come to underpin the spirit and
letter of the common market, which was the basis for ECOWAS.
President Kufuor said
regional integration was imperative for the sub-region's development into the
African Union and the global market.
"Trade with our
current bilateral trading partners outside the Sub-Region might seem easier and
more beneficial for us individually for the moment but our future collective
and separate developments will prove more substantial and sustainable for
developing the regional market," he added.
President Kufuor said
monetary integration would facilitate trade, industrialisation and ensure
higher standard of living and bring the people together through trade, visits
and exchange programmes.
"If regional
integration is to have its full beneficial effects on output, modify the
nature, scale and geographical distribution of economic activity then it must
be underpinned with monetary integration".
President Kufuor said
"home grown" entrepreneurs and investors from outside were likely to
invest in the region with the removal of the restrictions normally imposed
through exchange rate adjustments.
He said integrating
the currencies more easily would provide such guarantees and have a direct
influence on investment decisions of private enterprise.
President Kufuor said
the pooling of resources in the region would be easier adding that, with people
being able to set up businesses in each other's country without impediments
"the advantages of the economies of scale will come with this".
He called on the West
African Monetary Institute (WAMI) based in Accra and the ECOWAS Secretariat to
inform member states of WAMZ on regular basis about the lapses and impediments
to integration and suggest solutions.
President Kufuor
stressed the need for member states to make it easier for goods to move from
one country to another without the impediments traders face at borders. He said
security personnel at the borders and the people must be educated about ECOWAS
free trade.
President Kufuor urged
member states to contribute resources required for the regional grouping
without the parochial interest of countries and to ensure peace in their
countries.
"Our brothers in
UMOA (the CFA Zone) have been able to use a single currency for quite sometime
now and we can learn lessons from them. It is certainly therefore not
impossible for us to achieve the same," he added.
Meanwhile, President
Kufuor returned home on Thursday after attending the Heads of State and
Government of the WAMZ summit. He was accompanied by the Foreign Minister,
Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Daniel Kufuor Osei, Secretary to the President, Alhaji
Moctar Musah Bamba, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs, Government
Spokesman, Kwabena Agyepong and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey,
Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs and the Greater Accra Regional
Minister Sheikh Ibrahim C. Quaye met him on arrival. Kwabena Agyepong told
newsmen that President Kufuor made a brief stopover in Abidjan on his way home
for private discussions with the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo.
GRi…/
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Botchwey
launches campaign in Upper East
Bolgatanga (Upper
East) 08 November 2002 - Dr Kwesi Botchey, a former Finance Minister, has
launched his Upper East campaign for his bid to be elected presidential
candidate of the National Democratic Congress in the 2004 elections at a rally
in Bolgatanga.
Addressing the rally,
Dr Botchey said he was capable of redeeming Ghana from HIPC as he did in 1982
when the economy was in total shambles. He said the only way out for Ghana was
to process its raw materials for export instead of relying heavily on external
donors.
He said, he would end
the misery currently afflicting the youth by creating employment avenues for
them. Dr Botchwey said he has a new vision to re-unite the NDC and to make its
structures respected right from the grassroots.
GRi…/
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NDC
to faces its most difficult challenge
Bawku (Upper East) 08
November 2002 - Dr Kwesi Botchwey, campaigning to be the National Democratic
Congress's presidential candidate for the 2004 elections, has said the party is
on the threshold of facing its most difficult challenge.
“The most difficult
challenge is how to win back political power in the 2004 general elections from
the New Patriotic Party.” Dr Botchway said this at a meeting of NDC executives
and supporters from the Bawku Central, Binduri and Garu-Tempane constituencies
at Bawku in the Upper East Region.
He said, he had
returned to the country not to divide the party but to “more than ever unite
it, strengthen its structures and bring back into its fold all those who have
left the party.”
Dr Botchwey told the
crowd that he is confident of winning the NDC nomination but with their
co-operation. At the palace of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, the Paramount
Chief of the Bawku Traditional Council, where Dr Botchwey and his team earlier
paid a courtesy call, the Bawku Naba advised the contestants to conduct
themselves in the way that would not disturb the peace in the country.
The team also visited
the house of the late Imoro B. Salifu, who until his death a couple of weeks
ago was the regional chairman of NPP to console the bereaved family.
GRi…/
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 November 2002 - The People's National Convention (PNC) on Thursday commended
the Wuaku Commission of Enquiry into the Yendi crisis and urged the government
to be mindful of the reservations of the Andani Gate, which boycotted the
sittings at the tail end of proceedings, in its white paper.
"The commission
as well as government need commendation for efforts to find lasting solutions
to the crisis at Dagbon that deprived the people of their chief and some of his
elders," Dr Edward Mahama, leader of the party, told the Ghana News Agency
(GNA) in Accra.
Fighting between the Andani
and Abudu Gates last March led to the murder of Ya-na Yakubu Andani II and
about 40 others. Dr Mahama said the Commission made every effort to uncover the
truth despite the last minute withdrawal of the Andani Gate adding that their
action should not affect the Commission's report.
However, he said, the
government should be mindful of their reservations adding that as the
government studies the report to come out with a white paper the PNC expects to
maintain the integrity that went into the deliberations of the Commission to be
reflected in the paper.
Dr Mahama said the
country was aware that the crisis has social, economic, legal and political
implications in the lives of the people of the area and urged the government to
go the extra mile to end the crisis.
He noted that the
people of the area did not vote in the District and Unit Committee elections
saying, "if nothing is done about it before the 2004 general elections, it
would further deprive the people of their rights to choose a leader of their
choice".
GRi…/
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Minister
calls for measures for quality health services
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 November 2002 - Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health on Thursday called on
hospitals to develop new strategies that will enable them to provide quality
service in an increasingly competitive environment.
He said Ghana is on
the way to a free market economy and reforms and the restructuring within the
sector are aimed at creating economically viable and socially acceptable
services.
In a speech read for
him at the Korle-Bu Donors' Conference, the minister said resources are very
scarce and are being moved to primary health care, health promotion and other
activities.
Dr Afriyie called on
board and management of Korle-Bu to be more proactive and source for additional
funds to support government's efforts in providing effective and efficient
health services to the public.
The donors'
conference, organised by the board and management of the hospital is aimed at
raising funds for the rehabilitation of the hospital and bringing both the
private and public key decision-makers to move Korle-Bu forward.
Korle-Bu, the nation's
referral hospital since its establishment in 1923 has not seen any major
rehabilitation. The hospital has a total bed capacity of 1,600 and 3000 members
of staff. The daily average outpatient attendance is 1,500 and 150 admissions.
The First Lady, Mrs
Theresa Kufuor, also in a speech read for her said the stretching of the
facilities at the hospitals without any renovations had caused the
deterioration of the infrastructure.
She appealed to the
board and management of the hospital to ensure the efficient and effective use
of the available resources. Ms Theresa Tagoe, a Deputy Minister of Works and
Housing and a board member of the hospital, said the current situation at the
hospital was not the best and needed a change.
"The hospital is
so congested that patients are seen lying on benches, floors and structures are
in a deplorable state". She however, entreated companies and individuals
to generously contribute to bring back the good image of the hospital.
Professor Kwabena
Frimpong Boateng, Chief Executive of the Hospital said the new management team
would not entertain interferences in the administration of the hospital. Prof.
Frimpong-Boateng said Korle-Bu needed to make a fresh attempt to improve itself
and its image adding that he was optimistic that the future of the hospital would
be bright.
"The need for
change has been recognised by both members of staff and the general public and
this encouraging expression of goodwill on the part of some individuals,
business and institution with regard to the supply of goods and services at no
cost to the hospital".
Work, he said, would
immediately start on the children's, medical, maternity and the surgical
blocks, as soon funds were available. The Prof. Frimpong Boateng said, already
measures were being taken to minimise corruption, stealing and pilfering,
improve the welfare of staff, and upgrade general security and rehabilitating
of infrastructure and equipment.
As a complete
departure from the old practice, the hospital would rely on its many artisans
at the maintenance department for construction and the general maintenance
work, when ever possible, he said.
Korle-Bu, he noted,
was putting its house in order to send a signal to the public that it could be
trusted to manage contributions towards the welfare of the hospital, which despite
its problems, was the first and the best in the country and one of the
outstanding hospitals in Africa.
GRi…/
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Book
on diseases in the tropics for Pharmacists launched
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 November 2002- A handbook for Pharmacists on diseases of common occurrence
in the tropics was on Thursday launched with a call on Pharmacists to limit
their practices to the level of their training and competence.
"It is the
responsibility of every Pharmacist to practice within the laws of this
country...and refer those conditions that are clearly beyond them for
appropriate medical attention," Professor David Ofori-Adjei, Director of
the Noguchi Memorial Scientific Research Centre, Legon, said when he launched
the book.
The 164-page book,
with green and white cover authored by Ted T.L. Bernasko, a local Pharmacist,
provided community Pharmacists with information on initial management of common
health problems.
Prof Ofori-Adjei noted
that recent efforts at improving home-based care of common illnesses would tend
to increase the role of community Pharmacists as a source of medication.
He said though the
book has provided them with opportunity to diagnose and prescribe in
circumstances beyond their training, it should be realised that adequate and
unbiased information was essential for safe use of medicines.
Professor Frempong
Boateng, Chief Executive of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital described the book
as a "literature of survival" and said it has fulfilled the principle
of nature because a Ghanaian has produced it with his own method.
Having read it, the
Chief Executive recommended the book to doctors as well saying, "It is a
book that must become part of every consulting room in all hospitals." Mr
Bernasko said he got his inspiration through his long years of practice as a
Pharmacist when he was burdened with the need to improve on the needs of
community health services.
He said the book
provided unbiased information on medicines; including a referral form, some
disease reporting forms of the Ghana Health Service and other relevant health
information.
GRi…/
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Volta
Region chiefs to brainstorm on succession law
Ho (Volta Region) 08
November 2002 - Chiefs, Legal Experts, Social Workers and other stakeholders
would meet in Ho on November 20 and 21 to discuss the impact of the Intestate
Succession Law, PNDC Law 111, on society since its promulgation in 1985.
The Workshop would be
organised by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in collaboration with the
German Development Cooperation (GTZ) Legal Pluralism and Gender pilot Project.
A release issued by
the GTZ said the Workshop would address the inadequacies of the law in view of
the continuing suffering of women, especially, after the death of their
spouses.
It said the workshop
would collate suggestions of Chiefs and other traditional authorities on the
issue toward an improved management of succession matters in the country. The
release said chiefs should have a role to play in the design and implementation
of laws that seek to change people's traditional way of doing things.
The workshop would
also discuss the law on the registration of customary marriages. Some of the
issues to be discussed include "Promoting the registration of customary
marriages- Problems and strategies" and "Promoting the enforcement of
the Intestate Succession Law in the Volta Region".
Resource persons
expected include Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Dean of the Faculty of Law,
University of Ghana and Mrs Hilary Gbedemah, also a Legal Practitioner and a
gender equality campaigner in Ho.
GRi…/
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Trades
Union Congress still oppose water privatization
Tamale (Northern
Region) 08 November 2002 - Kwesi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades
Union Congress, on Thursday renewed the labour movement's opposition to the
intended water privatisation by the government.
''The privatisation of
water is a deliberate policy choice by the government. As long as this is so, there are alternative
policy choices and we intend to submit a memorandum on the issue to
parliament.''
Adu-Amankwah was
addressing a Northern Regional Council of Labour meeting in Tamale, at which he
led delegates to discuss a draft document on poverty reduction to wealth
creation; building consensus on a vision for Ghana prepared by the National
Development Planning Commission.
The document sets out
long-term development planning policies and strategies including a new vision
for the country. The final draft would be presented to the President for review
and presentation to parliament.
Adu-Amankwah told the
delegates that ''there is room for us to let our voices he heard on water
privatisation. ''Members of the labour movement need to be educated to have a
complete understanding of the issue so that we can decide how much more we want
the government to hear on our stand on water privatisation.''
He added: ''if we
mobilise well it is possible for us to change this policy direction.'' The TUC
secretary-General said, however, that the members of the organisation reed to
inform themselves first to be able to make policy interactions.
Adu-Amankwah said in
an era of pluralism, the TUC must continue to attract members since the
organisation's strength lies on its members. He urged the members not to be complacent
with whatever gains they have achieved but to continue the struggle, as working
people, to promote their interests.
The Secretary-General
urged the District Council of Labour to open bank accounts as the regional
secretariats of the council have done to promote transparency and efficiency.
Daniel Laweh Freeman,
Chairman of the Regional Council of Labour, appealed to the tripartite
committee to give workers realistic wages next year. ''As we call on the
tripartite committee to give us realistic wages we should also play our part by
increasing productivity to justify our demand.''
Freeman called on the
various unions under the TUC to close their ranks and work towards merging into
bigger and stronger bodies to be able to stand up to the negative fall-outs of
globalisation.
He advised the five
groups that have formed another labour movement, the Ghana Federation of
Labour, to join hands with the TUC in the interest of trade union unity and
prosperity.
Presenting her report,
Mrs. Nadia Ibrahimah, the Regional Secretary, said the state of emergency in
Dagbon has adversely affected the work of the regional secretariat of the
council of labour.
GRi…/
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Women
urged to embrace Information Technology
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 November 2002 - Women have been urged to fully embrace the new Information
Communication and Technology (ICT) so as to benefit from the advantages and
opportunities it offers.
A senior official of
the National Council on Women and Development, said they could do this by
acquiring higher education and building their capacity in ICT, which is crucial
in improving the ability of girls and women in developing countries.
"ICT is a
forceful tool to improve governance and strengthen democracy," Mrs Marian
Tackie, Acting Executive Director of the NCWD said at a forum organised by the
Council for about 300 women.
"It (ICT) is
particularly powerful for giving a voice to women, especially rural women who
are often isolated, invisible and without a voice," she added.
Participants include women associations from the Ghana National Fire Service,
Immigration Service, Department of Lotteries and students.
The forum was one of a
series of monthly meetings organised by the NCWD for women groups to discuss
topical issues affecting women, ranging from health, economics to education and
politics.
Mrs Tackie said though
information technology has its own challenges and risks, the greatest risk was
for women not to be involved in it at all. She therefore, called for more
communication in areas where women live, especially in community centres, where
they could easily learn and have information.
Extension of
infrastructure like wireless and satellite communication to rural and
peri-urban areas should be encouraged, she added. Mrs. Tackie said efforts
should also be focused on increasing the number of girls and women studying
information technology- related subjects in formal education and providing IT
training outside school.
Professor Clement
Dzidonu, Chairperson of the ICT Development Plan, said 33 per cent of Ghana's
19 million population have never been to school, while only 11 per cent have
had secondary or higher education.
He described this as
very disturbing because it was hampering the development of ICT in the country,
which needed at least some level of education before one could access it. Prof
Dzidonu said unless ICT education was started and developed right from the
primary schools as was done in developed countries there was a little that
could be achieved since it played a key role in education in the world.
Dr Nii Quaynor, a
member of the UN ICT Taskforce, asked women to get involved in ICT issues so
they could move with current technological trends. Participants called for
training opportunities in ICT to be made available to women in both public and
private sectors.
GRi…/
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Don't
bring insurance scheme with health problems - AFA
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 November 2002 - The AFA Foundation International, a Christian NGO on health
and poverty reduction on Thursday asked the government not to tackle the
National Insurance policy without taking measures to solve problems facing the
health sector.
Kofi Lucas, President
and Founder of the Foundation said an attempt to replace the cash and carry
system with the scheme would fail unless problems such as shortage of health
personnel and Para-medics, unethical practices, the brain drain and others
receive much attention.
Speaking to the GNA in
an interview in Accra, Lucas said, "Since abject poverty is a threat to
health care delivery, it is important to factor into any insurance scheme,
poverty reduction strategies, education trust and other initiatives that could
help sustain it."
He said the full
participation of the Ghana Health Services (GHS) in the scheme formulation and
implementation was crucial for its success. "Any attempt to sideline the
GHS during the policy formulations may jeopardise the scheme, especially at the
implementation stage and this will be a big blow to government."
Lucas recommended that
the insurance scheme be graded at regional, district and community levels as
was done in hospitals and also stressed the need for government to call for
proposals from organisations and individuals to make the document a workable
and an acceptable one.
GRi…/
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Counsel
questions client’s detention
Ho (Volta Region) 08
November 2002- Jacob Jejitey, Counsel for Ntegyame Chikpah, 26, a farmer who
has been charged with the murder of five people in connection with the Nawuris
and Kokombas riots at Kitare in the Nkwanta District on Thursday told the
Circuit Tribunal that he would file a motion at a Ho High Court to challenge
the arrest and detention of his client.
The Tribunal presided
over by Lawrence L. Mensah did not take the plea of Chikpah who made his second
appearance at the Tribunal but was again remanded to reappear on 14 November.
Mensah asked the
police to ensure that the suspect was provided with decent clothing before the
next sitting as ordered by the tribunal at its previous sitting. Jejitey who
spoke to the Ghana News Agency expressed his displeasure with news reports,
which referred to Chikpah, as a murder suspect when he was only a "police
informant" together with the Assemblyman, who was not detained.
GRi…/
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