Committee has no mandate to investigate Judiciary -
Wiredu
Kumawu (Ashanti Region) 02 October 2002-Clashes
erupted between supporters of the
New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Kumawu Zongo at the close of poll before counting of votes started in the Kumawu bye-election on Tuesday.
Police and military personnel had to quickly step
in to restore order. The cause of the incident was not immediately known but
there was no casualty. Meanwhile, huge crowds of party faithfuls had gathered
at the various polling stations to witness the counting of the ballot.
Results declared at some of the polling
stations in Kumawu showed a good start for the NPP. At the market square
polling station, the NPP recorded 125 votes, GCPP, two votes, DPP, zero, NDC,
22 and PNC zero.
The polling station at the Presbyterian Mission
recorded 247 votes for the NPP, NDC 15, DPP three, PNC one and GCPP zero. At
the Gyidi polling station, NPP had 175 votes, NDC 44, PNC one, DPP, PNC and
GCPP had no votes.
At the Benevolent Muslim Mission polling
station, NPP had 36 votes, NDC 290, DPP zero, PNC one and GCPP one. The NPP
recorded 359 votes at the Kumawu Roman Catholic polling station, NDC 23, DPP
one, GCPP three and PNC one. At the Kumawu Council polling station, NPP had 489
votes, NDC 44, GCPP four, PNC zero and DPP zero. Counting continues.
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Besoro (Ashanti Region) 02 October 2002- A
controversy over the location of a polling station at Besoro near Kumawu,
nearly marred the otherwise peaceful bye-election in the Kumawu constituency on
Tuesday.
Mid-way through the poll, Mr Emmanuel
Nti-Fordjour, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC),
protested against the location of a polling station close to the grave and
house of the late Reo Addai Basoah.
He argued that the closeness of the polling
station to the late MP's grave and house could influence the poll and should
therefore be relocated at a nearby school. At the time of Mr Nti-Fordjour's
protest, 203 out of the 558 registered voters at the polling station had cast
their votes.
Mr Nti-Fordjour argued that polling at the 2000
general elections was held at the school and saw no reason why it should be
changed and insisted that the polling station be relocated to its original
place.
However, Mr Samuel Boateng, the Presiding
Officer, saw it differently, saying that there was nothing wrong with the
location of the polling station. He argued that, that was where polling in the
recent district level election was held but nobody raised any objection and
therefore saw no reason why an objection was being raised now.
In the end, reason eventually prevailed and the
station was relocated at the local authority Junior Secondary School.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the various political parties contesting the
bye-election has hailed the poll as peaceful and well organised.
Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP,
described the poll as smooth and peaceful, a view shared by Alhaji Huudu
Yahaya, National Vice-Chairman of the NDC and Mr John Ameka, General Secretary
of the GCPP. Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC),
told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was impressed by the turnout.
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Kumawu (Ashanti Region) 02 October 2002- Voting
started in the Kumawu constituency bye-election on Tuesday peacefully with an
encouraging early turn out of voters to cast their votes.
Queues were formed at polling stations the
Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited before the polls started at 7 am, showing the
interest and enthusiasm of the electorate. Some 39,561 voters are expected to
cast their votes in 92 polling stations.
Five persons are contesting the seat, which
became vacant following the death of the incumbent MP, Mr Reo Addai Basoah on
30 July this year. They are Mr Yaw Baah, 43 and a lawyer for the New Patriotic
Party (NPP), Mr Martin Richard Osei, a 55-year-old educationist for the
National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr James Yaw Owusu, 51, a farmer for the
People's National Convention (PNC), Madam Rose Aboagye, 48, farmer, for the
Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and Mr Yaw Opoku Mensah, 40, farmer, for the
Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).
Mr Kwame Damoah Agyemang, Chief Director of the
Electoral Commission (EC), told newsmen at Bodomase that the election was well
organised. Some presiding officers expressed similar sentiments. They said they
were encouraged by the turnout and conduct of the electorate and the security
arrangements.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 October 2002-
Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere on Tuesday took the oath of office as the new
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon at a colourful induction
ceremony and promised to initiate pragmatic programmes to address the
challenges that confronted the University.
He called for positive innovations to enhance
the operations of the University to enable it to compete effectively in the
globalised economy and to win the confidence of the people. Prof Asenso-Okyere
said: "I am seeking your concurrence to initiate an institutional
programme to address problems and to transform the University to enable it
tackle the challenges that confront it,"
He appealed to individuals, organisations and
the government to support programmes aimed at improving conditions at the
University. Prof Asenso-Okyere said such a change should include expediting
decision making process, setting up effective and transparent administrative
and managerial system.
Others were enhancing the incentive structure
for all categories of hardworking staff, expanding information-communication
technology and making the University more responsive to the needs of the wider
society.
The Vice-Chancellor said the transformation was
necessary to ensure that the University was able to meet the stiff competition
that it faced from other public and private Universities.
Prof Asenso-Okyere said he would ensure that
the University became a center for training people in management and
administration. "The curricula of the University and mode of teaching have
to be tailored in such way as to provide the skills and competencies needed by
our graduates to solve the myriads of problems facing society today," he
said.
Prof Asenso-Okyere said a major difficulty in
the transformation process would be the willingness of people to change their
mindset. He noted that the development of every country depended on education,
and pledged to continue the good work of his predecessor.
Professor Addae-Mensah, the immediate past
Vice-Chancellor expressed his gratitude to the University Community for its
support that enable him to complete his six years administration.
The Chairman of the University Council, Dr
Ishmael Yamson praised the achievements and contributions of Professor
Addae-Mensah, saying they were beyond the normal call for duty. He asked him
not to abandoned the University but be actively involved in its activities.
Born 55 years ago, Professor Kwadwo
Asenso-Okyere had his Primary education at Dunkwa Catholic Boy's School,
secondary Education at Twenoboa Kodua Secondary School, Kumawu and Prempeh
College, Kumasi.
He graduated with a BSC (Hons) in Agricultural
Economics at the University of Ghana, Legon in 1973. He obtained his Masters
Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph, Ontario and a
PHD in 1982 from the University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, specialising in
Econometrics and Price Analysis.
Professor Asenso-Okyere had considerable
experience in research and advocacy on economic development issues such as food
and agriculture, health and nutrition and international trade policies.
He was until his appointment the Director of
ISSER. Professor Asenso-Okyere has authored/co-authored 115 publications,
papers, monographs, technical and consultancy reports. Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II,
the Chancellor of the University, administered the oath of office.
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Sekondi (Western Region) 02 October 2002- Mr
Justice Emmanuel K. Wiredu, Chief Justice on Tuesday said it was wrong for a
Parliamentary Select Committee being an arm of government to investigate the
judiciary.
"The executive, judiciary and legislature
are three distinct arms of government, who are empowered by the constitution,
to perform independently of each other and it is unfortunate that the select
committee, should trespass into the judiciary, to investigate ‘perceived
corruption.’" he added.
Speaking to Journalists as part of a day's visit
to the Western Region, Justice Wiredu noted that though the judiciary could set
aside many of the laws passed by Parliament, it does not interfere with the
work of Parliament, unless citizens bring for interpretation laws that need
technical expertise.
He noted that though Parliament might not have
had an ill motive, it should have been cautious about the issue adding,
"corruption is endemic in all parts of the national life of the country
and all efforts must be made to eradicate it". On the issue of death
sentence, Justice Wiredu re-affirmed that it should be maintained.
He explained that though many groups are
calling for its abolition, they have not as yet explained the rational behind
their proposal for abolishing it. "It is only the President who has the
prerogative to reverse or enforce the death sentence imposed on an
accused," he said.
"I am a Christian and I strongly believe
that if you take the life of someone, your life should be taken in turn",
he stressed. He said as part of his crusade against corruption and reformation
of the Judiciary, 43 lower court officials and a circuit court judge, had been
dismissed out of a total of 80 cases received on assumption of office.
Justice
Wiredu also reacted to suggestions for custodial sentences saying although it
was lawful he preferred the imposition of fines to jail terms adding that this
could, however, be solved if the increasing indiscipline in all spheres of
daily life is stopped. "Until then, we will have no choice, but to remand
and imprison unruly citizens," he stated.
He said so far, there was no law that allowed
judges to release mentally handicapped prisoners and "born again"
prisoners from any state institution. Justice Wiredu earlier paid a courtesy
call on Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo, Western Regional Minister.
The Regional Minister assured the Chief Justice
that he would do everything possible to ensure peace and harmony between the
Bench and the Bar in the region.
Mr Aidoo expressed his appreciation to Justice Wiredu
for the computerisation of all regional high courts. Mr. Justice Samuel A.
Afereh, Mr. Justice Jones Dotse and Mr Nicholas C. Agbeko, deputy judicial
secretary, accompanied Mr.Justice Wiredu.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- Many adolescents are at risk of the HIV/Aids epidemic because
parents, educators, counsellors, health workers or the media have not taught
them about the disease or about how to protect themselves and others from
infection.
Countries in Sub-
Saharan Africa have lost 10 to 20 years of life expectancy due to HIV/AIDS, reversing
years of investment in human capital and killing the most productive
generation, cutting food production and rolling back decades of development.
Prof. John K, Anarfi
of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana,
Legon said this in a presentation at the on-going three-day Sub-Regional
Conference on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) for West
African Parliaments.
The conference is
being attended by Parliamentarians from ECOWAS countries, European parliaments,
representatives of UNICEF and UNDP and experts from the region and organised by
Ghana's Parliament and the Association of European parliaments for Africa
(AWEPA).
Prof. Anarfi, who
spoke on the "impact of HIV/AIDS on the future generation of Africa,"
said a disquieting aspect of the HIV/AIDS pandemic was that of the over 60
million infected with the disease about half became infected between the ages
of 15 and 24.
"Traditional
ways of educating the youth about sex have diminished altogether, while some
Christian Missions have discouraged initiation rites that defined the passage
from youth to adulthood and as a result opportunities for telling young people
about sex were lost traditionally.
He said world-wide,
there was little chance of curbing the AIDS epidemic among the youth without a
comprehensive strategy and a full-scale campaign to end HIV infection, adding,
"the high levels of HIV infection among the younger people signals
society's failure to protect its children".
Prof. Anarfi said
because of the high mortality from AIDS, populations in some sub-African
countries would begin to shrink within the next three years and by 2010,
average life expectancy could decline to about 30 years in some countries hard-
hit by AIDS.
" As more and
more adults die of AIDS, younger adults would become responsible for managing
government, including such key services as civil security, the courts,
education and health care".
Prof. Anarfi said in
some communities many adolescents head their own households, raise children and
care for their parents who are dying of AIDS, and without immediate action what
is true of these communities today could become true of towns, cities and even
entire nations in the future.
He said for unknown
reasons, HIV/AIDS rates are extremely high among teachers and school
administrators, especially in Africa. In the Central African Republic, 107
schools have closed down because of teacher, shortages largely due to HIV/AIDS.
In Zambia in the
first 10 months of 1998, an estimated 1,308 teachers died - two -thirds the
number of new teachers trained annually and in Botswana, mortality among
primary school teachers has increased by 60 per cent in the last five years.
He said in 2000, an
estimated one million children in sub-Saharan Africa lost their teachers to
AIDS and the impact of teacher shortages on the future of young people is
likely to be felt in many ways, including lost opportunities for schooling and
larger class sizes.
Prof. Anarfi said the
loss of adults to AIDS probably would diminish productivity in countries most
afflicted while some economists expect that in the manufacturing sector AIDS
mortality would lead to a decline in revenue and result in slower economic
growth and likely lead to severe labour shortages in agricultural production.
In sub-Saharan
Africa, the annual direct medical cost of AIDS has been estimated at about 30
US dollars per capita, at a time when overall public health spending is less
than 10 US dollars for most African countries.
Prof. Anarfi said
apart from the economic implications, HIV/AIDS has the potential to undermine
the social fabric of affected communities because it targets those in the
productive and economically active ages and because its spread is a factor of
the way individuals relate to each other.
The increasing number
of adult deaths from HIV/AIDS in Africa leaves more children without either one or both parents and in Ghana it is
estimated that the number of maternal and double orphans would rise from 126,000
in 1999 to 252,000 in 2004 and to more than 603,000 in 2014 while in 10 Central
and East African countries there would be three and five million orphans by the
end of the century.
Prof. Anarfi
identified strategies such as advocacy and enabling environment, education and
communication, peer education, the mass media, access to condom and other safe
sex practices, voluntary counselling, testing and referrals and livelihood
approaches, involvement of parents and families to fight the HIV/AIDS.
He said HIV/AIDS in
Africa is not only a health crisis but also a political, social and economic
crisis which is turning back the clock of development and threatening political
stability and taking its toll in population, education, health agriculture and
economic and business.
Prof. Ben Turok,
Member of Parliament of South Africa who spoke on the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) said sustainable development was made inclusive
of social, economic and environment issues including the vital area of trade.
He said the summit
proved that it was possible for developing countries to unite and win with one
voice in the international arena and it is for this reason that the documents
on NEPAD which are new visions and better balanced than before need to be
embraced by all in the sub-region.
Prof. Turok said
NEPAD documents address needed concerns and it also confirms that is a
"socio-economic development programme of the African Union" which
needs political support and involvement
of the various Parliaments and the Pan African Parliament.
He said the Pan
African Parliament is to be deliberative and advisory and report to the AU
Assembly and also be the link to the public, including civil society and
non-governmental organisations.
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Kumawu (Ashanti
Region) 02 October 2002- The paramount chief of the Kumawu traditional area,
Barima Asumadu Sakyi, has appealed to the leadership of political parties
contesting the bye-elections in the Kumawu constituency to prevail upon their
supporters to maintain peace and order during the polls.
He expressed concern
about reported cases of hooliganism and confrontation among supporters of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in some
parts of the constituency in the run-up to the elections, saying it was high
time Ghanaians learnt to accept and tolerate the views of others.
Barima Asumadu Sakyi
made the appeal when the leadership of the NDC paid a courtesy call on him at
his palace in Kumawu on Monday to solicit support for Mr Richard Martin Osei,
its arliamentary candidate for the bye-elections.
Dr Obed Asamoah,
National Chairman of the NDC led the team, which included fomer Vice President,
John Evans Atta Mills, former Minister of Finance, Mr Kwame Peprah, General
Secretary, Dr Josiah Aryeh and the former Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr
Daniel Ohene Agyekum.
Barima Asumadu Sakyi
appealed to chiefs in the area to advise their people to desist from acts that
could mar the elections. He also appealed to the people in the area to go out
in their numbers to vote massively.
Professor Atta Mills
said the aim of every political party was to ensure the speedy development of
the country. It was therefore, regrettable that people who had different views
on how the nation should be governed engaged in acts that could breed hatred
and conflicts during electioneering campaigns.
Professor Mills
therefore, thanked the chiefs for showing concern about the situation and
appealed to the people to ensure peace during the elections. The National
Organiser of the party, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, appealed to the party's
supporters to comport themselves during the elections and ensure vigilance at
the polling station to prevent rigging. He also appealed to the Electoral
Commission (EC) to ensure that the elections were free and fair.
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Mampong (Ashanti
Region) 02 October 2002- A retired United Nations (UN) diplomat and
Assemblyman-elect for Kyebi, Nana Kofi Asante polled 62 out of the 64 votes
cast to be elected as the Presiding Member for the Sekyere West District
Assembly on Monday.
One person voted
against while the other abstained. Nana Asante was elected unopposed because
the other two contestants, Mary Barfi, an educationist and Mr Kwadwo Boadi, the
incumbent presiding member, stepped down in the run-off. The first round ended
in a stalemate.
Nana Asante expressed
his appreciation to the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and
pledged to co-operate with the District Chief Executive, Mr Thomas Edward
Atakorah to continue with development projects. He lauded them for their
maturity and the peaceful atmosphere, which characterised the election.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday, pledged government's
commitment to the activities of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana
(PPAG) to make Family Planning a cornerstone of the economy.
He said, "for
economies to function well, Family Planning should be made the cornerstone. The
PPAG should count on the government for its co-operation". President
Kufuor made the pledge when Dr M. Tewodros Melesse, International Planned
Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Regional Director for Africa led a four-man
delegation to call on him at the Castle, Osu.
He said the PPAG was
an important organisation in the socio-economic development of any country,
because an economy could not be planned well without making an input into
planned family.
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie,
Minister of Health said the Ministry has supported activities of the
organisation in Ghana, especially on sexual reproductive issues and urged the
PPAG to submit proposals on their activities to the Ministry for more
collaborative efforts.
Mr Jake
Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs said
population issues were more multi-sectoral and urged the PPAG to intensify its
educational programmes on the use of condoms and safe motherhood.
He said Accra has
been chosen as the African Sub-Regional Office of the Population Council and
government was willing to assist the IPPF to establish its African Regional
Office also in Accra.
Mrs Gladys Asmah,
Minister of Women and Children's Affairs appealed to the PPAG to undertake more
advocacy role on men who prevent their wives from participating in the use of
family planning methods.
Dr. Melesse said the
IPPF and affiliated organisations were social development partners of
government but had not received the necessary support from governments,
especially in Africa.
He said the
Federation was committed to work with the Regional groupings in Africa and the
New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Dr Melesse said the
Federation had initiated an action plan with the African Union (AU) to be
launched in December and appealed to President Kufuor to initiate contacts with
other African leaders to support the action plan and other activities of the
Federation.
Miss Ryoko Nishida,
Director of the International Programme Division of the Japanese Organisation
for International Co-operation in Family Planning (JOICFP) said the
organisation had been in collaboration with the PPAG in Ghana since 1987.
She said their
activities were mainly on community initiated and participation programmes on
Family Planning, which had been very encouraging based on results from two
pilot projects in the Awutu-Senya District in the Central Region and Birim
North District in the Eastern Region.
Miss Nishida said
with the prospects of the projects in Ghana, a workshop was held in Kumasi
recently, attended by participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi to
share their experiences.
Mr Justice George
Acquah, a Supreme Court Judge and Honorary Legal Adviser to the IPPF, who
briefed President Kufuor about the activities of the Federation said it is the
largest NGO after the Red Cross with branches in 183 countries, 44 of them in
Africa.
He said their
activities mainly centred on Sexual Reproductive Health had been funded by
donors and it was time governments in collaboration with agencies and
institutions involved in the health sector take a major interest in their
activities and assist from their own coffers.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- Dr Kweku Afriyie, Minister of Health on Tuesday said the
government has made arrangement for the delivery of 400 vehicles to all health
institutions in the country as part of efforts to improve upon health care
delivery.
He said the Ministry
of Finance has also given a positive response to arrangements to provide health
professionals with vehicles, especially those in the rural areas to stem the
brain drain in the health sector.
Dr Afriyie was
opening a seven-day Medical Exhibition, organised by the Trade Fair Company in
Accra to showcase new drugs and developments in the medical field. He said new
hospitals were being built all over, including those at Bimbilla and New
Edubiase as part of the government promise to improve the health system.
He urged health
workers to appreciate government's effort and use the right channels in making
demands for better conditions of service instead of resorting to strike
actions. On HIV/AIDS, the Health Minister said there was the need to hold regular
seminars and workshops for both the young and old on the disease.
Ms Esther Ofori, the
Chief Executive of the Trade Fair Company, said workshops on malaria, HIV/AIDS
and hypertension would be run along side the exhibition, as part of efforts
aimed at educating the public on preventive health care. Pfizer-Ghana, Astra
Zeneca and Janssen-Cilag were among some drug companies exhibiting their
products.
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Kumasi (Greater
Accra) 02 October 2002- Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister has
stated that estimates from the Ministry of Health (MOH) indicates that about 40
billion cedis is spent annually on the maintenance of AIDS patients in the
country.
He pointed out that
the sad aspect of it was that reports has revealed that 200 people on the average
get infected daily with the AIDS menace. This was contained in a speech read on
his behalf by Mr Michael Opoku-Nkansah, Deputy Director of Administration of
the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) at the opening of a Training
of Trainers Workshop on Effective Communication on HIV/AIDS Virus and the
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's) in Kumasi on Monday.
The five-day workshop
organised by Families Together, Ghana (FTG), a Non Governmental Organisation
(NGO) is being attended by 59 District Response Initiative (DRI) members from
sub-Metropolitan and District Councils of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
(KMA) and other District Assemblies in Ashanti.
Mr Boafo said the
implication would be the raising of funds since funds for the provision of
other critical health cases will be diverted to cure AIDS patients. He said
"Education must be vigorous, sustained and must involve all social
organisations and groups in the society in the fight against the disease which
has not known any cure."
Dr Peter Preko,
Physician at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and a representative
from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) said the Commission was creating enabling
environment for National and District Responsive Initiative to fight the
scourge.
He said it was time
parents and society realised that they were responsible for what the youth
should do at home to ensure the proper and positive development of the country.
Reverend Ammisshaddai Dei-Awuku, President of the organisation said it was
concerned about the cohesive development of families observing that the NGO has
involved itself in the education of AIDS because the campaign is not related to
where the problem originates.
He said there was the
need for parents and families to talk to children on the AIDS/HIV Virus because
if they fail to do that, the Television, peers billboards, and Radio will not
adequately send the correct message to the youth.
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Winneba (Western
Region) 02 October 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor would launch this year's
national "Safe Motherhood Education Programme" at Winneba in the Central
Region on 15 October.
Dr Nii Adjei Adjetey,
the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Director of Health, said this when addressing
members of the Winneba District planning committee of the programme on Tuesday
at Winneba.
Representatives of
the regional and national planning committees of the programme, who attended
the meeting, confirmed the date. According to Dr Adjetey, Winneba District was
selected for the launching because of its high maternal mortality rate, adding
that the Central Region had recorded the highest number of such deaths in the
country.
He said the programme
was aimed at sensitising pregnant women on the need to regularly visit hospital
and appealed to chiefs and other opinion leaders to ensure that the exercise
was successful.
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Senya-Beraku (Central
Region) 02 October 2002- Miss Felicia Mary Ghansah, headmistress of
Senya-Beraku Secondary/Technical School, at the Weekend commended the
government for completing the 450-million cedi block of classrooms for the
school.
The headmistress, who
received the keys to the facility, also praised Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi, the
Minister for Education for fulfilling his promise that work on the project
would be completed, during the school's 10th anniversary celebrations early
this year
She said the block
would enhance teaching and learning, adding that the school could now enroll
500 students instead of 240. Miss Ghansah, therefore, appealed to parents to
send their children to the school that had qualified and committed teachers.
She said plans were
advanced for the construction of a 600-million cedi girls' hostel, two
additional teachers quarters and a VIP toilet. Mr. R.K. Amponsah, the Finance
Officer of the school, appealed to parents to pay the school fees of the children
promptly to enable the authorities to provide adequate facilities for the
smooth running of the school. He also asked philanthropists and
non-governmental organisations to assist the school with educational materials.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- Mr K. B. Asante, a retired diplomat, on Tuesday urged African
governments to formulate policies that would ensure the socio-economic
well-being of their people.
"Sometimes the
actions of government are simply not wise and civil society groupings should
follow events, acquire the necessary knowledge to enable them to pressurise
governments to be more skilful."
Mr Asante was
speaking at a public lecture to commemorate the 12th International
Day for Older persons, organised in Accra by Help Age Ghana (HAG), under the
theme; "Planning for a better old age." He said: "We should be
ready to shout foul when we detect insidious moves as such reaction may open
the eyes of government officials towards the implementation of good
ideas."
Mr Asante said some
political and social activist were so ignorant that the slightest criticism of
government or institutions was taken out of context, adding that, "this is
not helpful for the growth of democracy and good governance."
He said individuals
should take advantage of insurance schemes to plan for their old age while the
state should provide minimum safety net for all. Mr Asante noted that
"With the improvement of the environment and medical science, people live
longer and we have to meet the challenges of old people, even if the economy
stagnates."
He urged workers to
scrutinise the operations of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust,
so that it would invest contributions of workers wisely. Mrs Alberta Ollenu,
President of HAG called on authorities to handle matters concerning old people
seriously and expressed regret that many of he dignitaries invited for the
programme failed to turn up.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- The Italian government on Tuesday presented 17 high capacity
buses worth over one million dollars to the Ministry of Roads and Transport to
support government's mass transportation programme.
The buses, which are
to distributed to the various district assemblies with each costing 70,000 US
dollars was presented through an Italian non-governmental organisation, "I
Care".
A four-man team made
up of mechanics and drivers from ACT V Bus Company of Italy accompanied the
buses to offer short and intensive training to the users. Two containers of
spare parts worth 100,000 dollars were handed over.
Receiving the buses
Dr. Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport told private transport operators
that the buses had come to complement their contribution and to make live
comfortable for Ghanaians and asked them to accord, whichever agency, that
would operate them, the needed co-operation.
He said government
was aware of transportation problems facing workers, traders, service providers
and school children and as was such looking for other avenues to
"flood" the nation more buses to ease the problem.
"We have been in
constant touch with our friendly nations through diplomatic channels to secure
additional assistance in the area of transport services and
infrastructure" he added. Dr Anane expressed his gratitude to the
government and people of Italy for lending support to the transport sector,
adding, "we hope this is just the beginning of greater things to follow
for our mutual benefit."
Dr Marcello Moro,
Consul designate in Italy said the presentation was in response to an appeal
made by Dr. Anane when he visited Italy. Mrs Alima Mahama, Deputy Minister of
Local government and Rural Development, who chaired the function re-echoed
government's commitment to establish a Mass Transportation Authority, an
umbrella organisation to handle mass transport system in the country.
Mrs. Mahama said
Metropolitan and Municipal Mass Transport system would also be set up to
oversee the activities of mass transport system in the regions.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations has
said that the past year had seen groundbreaking developments on issues
affecting the lives of older persons
This was contained in
a message to mark the International Day of Older Persons, which falls today. He
said the Second World Assembly on ageing in Madrid adopted an International
Plan of Action that called on the international community to address fully the
link between older persons and development and challenged society's
conventional perceptions of ageing.
The document made it
clear that ageing was not a problem but an achievement; and that it was not
merely an issue of social security and welfare, but one of overall development
and economic policy. And for the first, governments agreed on the need to
integrate ageing with other frameworks for social and economic development and
human rights.
"The challenge
before us now is to implement the Madrid Plan of Action, and place global
ageing firmly on the development agenda for this century. There is no time to
lose. The older population of the year 2050 has already been born. They will
occupy an unprecedented share of the world's total population," he noted.
He said; "The
Madrid Plan provides a broad spectrum of social, political and economic
recommendations to address the challenge of vastly improving the situation of
older people. Each one of us has a part to play in that effort. On this
International Day of Older Persons, let us resolve to work together to craft a
new era for ageing in the 21st century."
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
02 October 2002- Journalists at the Meet The Press series organized by the
Ministry of Information in Accra on Tuesday questioned the rationale behind
regional Ministers holding Meet The Press outside their regions.
They said it was
important that journalists in the specific regions were in a better position to
unravel government plans in their areas and how they were executed to be able
to put across "relevant and insightful questions" to the Ministers.
"They are in the
regions and they know what and how development projects are going on and would
be in the position to know any acts of impropriety if any."
The Meet The Press
event featured Mr. Kwesi Owusu-Yeboah, Volta Regional Minister, who indicated
that government was very much in touch with the development needs of the people
in the region and "issues of health, education, extension of electricity,
telecommunication and road construction are receiving due attention."
He noted that he
preferred doing things quietly than giving huge publicity to events that did
not correspond to situations on the ground. A senior journalist who spoke to
the Ghana News Agency said the matter came up for serious discussion several
times since no definite reason could be adduced for it.
Explaining, Mr Jake
Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs said the
decision to move the Ministers to Accra for the regional Meet The Press events
was to enable them receive the required publicity they deserved since,
according to him, sometimes when such events were held in the regions they were
no adequately disseminated throughout the country.
He noted that it did
not seek in anyway to play down on the intelligence or competence of journalists
in the regions. When the GNA pressed further, the Special Assistant to the
Minister of Information, Mr. Ferdinand Ayim said, "the regional ministers
will meet the press in their regional capitals later."
Outsiders present at
the conference and were mostly citizens of the region working in Accra took
turns to ask questions about developments in the region complaining
particularly, about condition of roads in the region.
Of paramount concern
were the Hohoe-Kete-Krachie road, Ho township roads and the Dambai-Nkwanta
roads, which they said were major food growing areas and needed urgent
attention.
Giving a summary of
data on all projects awarded from 2001 to the second quarter of this year, Mr
Owusu-Yeboah said a contract sum of 44.7 billion cedis has been awarded for the
re-surfacing, rehabilitation of roads and spot improvement, routine maintenance
of office and residential accommodation.
GRi…/
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