Accra (Greater Accra)
24 October 2002 - The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Journalist
Association on
Wednesday met with Haruna Atta, Editor of the Accra Daily Mail over the
publication of the $125,000 bribe story in the 7 October 2002 edition of the
newspaper.
A statement released
to the media Haruna declared himself willing to disclose the names of the
persons relevant to the story, provided the committee regarded the disclosures
as confidential and did not pursue the information given.
His reasons were that
a person's life may be jeopardised and that the story was under investigation.
The committee was unable to accept that condition pointing out that an Ethics
Committee operates on its ability to act on information received.
It said the committee
therefore, decided that the matter of the $125,000 remained a rumour. Haruna
had, however, indicated his willingness to meet the committee again when his
investigations were concluded.
The committee had
accordingly advised him that in the interest of the public and that of the
profession of journalism, he should come out as soon as possible with an
acceptable conclusion to end the speculation about the story.
GRi…/
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Abidjan (Cote d'
Ivoire) 24 October 2002 - The Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) has pledged to contribute more than 2,000 soldiers to monitor the
ceasefire agreement brokered between the Ivorian authorities and rebellious
soldiers, who attempted to overthrow the government on 19 September.
The ECOWAS has,
therefore, appealed to the international community to provide logistics,
technical and humanitarian assistance for the implementation of peace
initiatives and to replace the 1,200 French soldiers trying to maintain order
in the troubled country.
These were contained
in decisions of the ECOWAS six-member Contact Group, at a news conference in
Abidjan, following its summit on Wednesday. The group comprising Ghana,
Nigeria, Togo, Niger, Guinea Bissau and Mali was established by ECOWAS last
month to establish links with the rebels and to prevail on them to cease
hostilities towards restoration of normalcy to Cote d'Ivoire.
Vice President Aliu
Mahama represented Ghana while Sule Lamido Nigeria's Foreign Minister was there
on behalf of his country. Presidents Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo and Amadou
Toumani Toure of Mali, Mamadou Tandja of Niger represented their countries but
Guinea Bissau was absent.
The Secretary-General
ECOWAS, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas read the 20-point communiqué on behalf of the
Contact Group. The Chairman of the African Union, President Thabo Mbeki of
South Africa, Patrick Hayford, Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
and Miguel Travoada of the African Union were also at the Summit.
The summit stressed
that the Ivorian government needed to regain control of the entire country for
order, normalcy, security and stability to prevail. In pursuance of this, the
rebels, who controlled two major cities; Bouake and Kohrogo would be prevailed
upon, through negotiations, to disarm.
The summit urged both
the government and rebels to co-operate with the Contact Group finding lasting
solution to the problem. It also cautioned against actions that could result in
the deaths of both citizens and non-citizens as well as in the loss of
property.
The summit said:
"In furtherance of the necessary reconciliation efforts, the Contact Group
appealed to the government of Cote d'Ivoire to adopt a spirit of forgiveness
and tolerance, whilst the insurgents were asked to exhibit moderation in their
demands."
The meeting said the
grievances of the insurgents that were of a professional and political nature
should be identified and considered through negotiation and dialogue. The
summit designated President Eyadema as Coordinator of the Group to consult with
other members and the Chairman of the African Union, to facilitate the
day-to-day management of the mediation.
President Eyadema, who
chaired the Summit, stressed that solutions should be sought to the problems
facing Cote d'Ivoire to save the sub-region from possible chronic conflicts and
political instability.
In an interview with
the GNA after the Summit, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Ghana's Defence Minister, said
the country whose soldiers were lauded for their excellence in peacekeeping
across the world, would contribute 260 soldiers.
He said the high level
commitment on the part of both the Ivorian government and the insurgents to
seek peace was unprecedented. The minister expressed the hope that professional,
political, religious and ethnic problems that have been mentioned as causes of
the mutiny would be addressed.
Dr Kufuor said:
"The usual attitude of governments towards mutineers was to crash them
without negotiations while insurgents are usually reluctant to lay down their
arms to negotiate.''
He, however said in
the Ivorian situation, both sides of the conflict were willing to compromise
with the Contact Group which was positive attitude that must be encouraged.
Dr Kufuor, who is a
member of the Ministers of Mediation and Security Council on Cote d' Ivoire,
said ECOWAS, with its experience from the conflict in Liberia and Sierra Leone
was determined to prevent the Ivorian situation from degenerating into a civil
war.
A cross-section of
Ivorians, including traditional rulers, public and private sector
representatives attended the opening ceremony of the Summit. The Mediation and
Security Council would meet on Saturday after Defence Chiefs meet on Friday to
consider the deployment, mission and the structure of the ECOWAS monitoring
group.
GRi…/
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Tema (Greater Accra)
24 October 2002 - A new labour law that will allow the formation of more than
one union in an organisation will come out soon, Kofi Asamoah, Deputy General
Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said on Wednesday at Tema.
However, to avoid
discrepancies and confusion at workplaces, multiple certificates would not be
issued to individual unions though workers are free to join any of the unions
of their choice.
Addressing the general
meeting of Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL), Asamoah described a 15-page
labour bill, before parliament, as flexible, which allows pluralism.
When passed into a law
there will be in place a Labour Commission comprising all the social partners-
the government, employers and the TUC - to deal with grievances and resolution
of conflicts among others.
Asamoah said under the
law, while legal strike action will attract payment of workers salaries,
illegal strike would amount to dismissal of workers. For a strike action to be
legal workers should have to give a week notice to management to inform them of
their intended action.
He said with the
exception of Acts governing factories, shops and offices, all fragmented labour
laws such as the Cap 30 and others would be incorporated into the law to avoid
duplication.
The Deputy-General
Secretary said the security agencies are exempted from the law and called on
parliament to come out with procedures through which the security agencies
could channel their grievances.
He referred to an
instance where personnel of the Prisons Service had to resort to demonstration
for better conditions of service because there was no avenue for them. There
would also be the establishment of a Fee Charging Employment Centre to look for
employment for the jobless without being exploited.
The Deputy
General-Secretary said casual labourers should not work beyond six months else
they would be regarded as permanent employees. Asamoah said consultants have
been engaged to collate views on casual labour throughout the country and would
soon come out with their findings.
While the bill is before
parliament, Asamoah appealed to workers to show interest during deliberations
on it and speak out on matters that will affect them. Touching on the
re-introduced End-of-Service Benefits (ESB), he commended the government for
yielding to the request of workers.
He said workers have
the responsibility to ensure that a better ESB is put in place at their
workplaces and urged them to make realistic demands that will meet the accounts
of management.
On the Social Security
Scheme, the Deputy General-Secretary said the TUC is working against agitation
for the privatisation of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust
(SSNIT) because the nation needs a national pension scheme.
The TUC would,
however, ensure that any ruling government does not spend the SSNIT
contribution to pursue its selfish and political interests. He admitted that
the nation needs a supplementary pension scheme, either through insurance or at
workplaces to ensure workers security.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 24 Oct 2002 - Ghana Police and Norwegian counterparts break big syndicate involving Ghanaian girls.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service and the Police in Norway, have uncovered a syndicate of foreigners who lure unsuspecting Ghanaian teenage girls, have sex with them, and take nude pictures which are sold abroad.
The girls who are between the ages of 12 and 14 are mainly from Agona Swedru, Kwanyako, Akroso, Cape Coast and Afransi all in the Central Region, appear on the Internet as sex dolls looking for partners overseas.
Patrick Kwesi Acheampong, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) confirmed the story to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and said police in Norway had arrested a Danish based in Norway, Mogens Riber Nielsen, 59, in connection with the case.
The Deputy IGP said pictures of 12 teenage girls were found among over 3,000 films the suspect had produced, using mainly Ghanaian teenage girls. Chief Inspector Idar Grotle of Interpol, Oslo, who is in the country as part of the investigations told the GNA that the Norwegian government was concerned about the incident.
He said the government in Oslo was determined to clampdown on foreigners who take advantage of the poverty situation in developing countries to abuse unsuspecting persons to enrich themselves.
Chief Inspector Grotle said "We want to send a clear message that Europeans cannot come and take advantage of the poor in another country with impunity and go scot-free, we will trace and prosecute them."
He said properties of Nielsen have been confiscated and the government has decided to compensate the girls who were lured and abused by him and his cronies. He therefore, appealed to girls who have fallen victim to Nielsen's escapades or anyone who might know any of them to call 024-638620 or 024-254089 for assistance.
" The compensation could give them new life after such ordeal", he added. Chief Inspector Grotle said most of the victims are often enticed with a meagre sum and due to their financial situation, succumb to such immoral activities.
He said the police, is also investigating another syndicate who pretend to be correspondents seeking for pen pals who are girls and later demand nude pictures of them with a promise of financial reward or finding them partners for marriage.
He said most of people correspond with the girls for their own financial benefits by selling pictures of their victims.
Deputy Superintendent of Police in-charge of Interpol, Frank Kwofie told the GNA that following the discovery that most of the girls come from the Central Region, the Ghana Police is helping a Norwegian police delegation to the area to trace the victims.
Acheampong said the CID has over the past few months, been working with sister police organisations to clampdown on child pornography and trafficking within and outside the sub-region.
"This would be at the fore of discussions when Nana Owusu-Nsiah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who is attending the 71st General Assembly Session of International Police Organisation (Interpol) in Cameroun returned.'
"The Police have no intention of arresting any of victims but rather needed their cooperation so that they could be adequately compensated", Acheampong added.
GRi…/
London (United Kingdom) 24 Oct 2002 - Scotland Yard detectives have arrived in Nigeria as investigations continue into the death of a young boy whose torso was found in the River Thames last year.
The dismembered body of the five-year-old - named Adam by police - was found wearing only a pair of orange shorts near Tower Bridge in September 2001. It is believed to be the UK's first ritual murder.
Accompanied by a Nigerian forensic expert, the detectives will visit Southwest Nigeria, the inland capital, Abuja, and two other cities in the northern region as the inquiry continues.
Nigerian police spokesman Chris Olakpe said the detectives are attempting to determine the boy's country of origin. Police have already visited South Africa where Nelson Mandela made a public appeal for information.
They may go on to Ghana from Nigeria. They have been unable to find out who Adam is, despite extensive inquiries and a £50,000 reward. British police believe he was killed in London but that he originally came from Africa.
Scotland Yard discovered seven half-burned candles wrapped in a white sheet washed up on the southern shore of the Thames. A name Adekoye Jo Fola Adeoye was written on the sheet and Fola Adeoye was inscribed on the candles. Both names are common among the Yoruba of southwest Nigeria.
Detectives have not linked the sheets and candles to the death, but are now looking at whether the death was a ritualistic murder.
Ritualistic murder is common in parts of Nigeria, where many believe witchcraft involving the use of human body parts can awaken supernatural forces to make them instant millionaires.
The hunt for the killer of the boy dubbed Adam began when a businessman looked down from Tower Bridge one sunny September afternoon last year. Below, he saw the torso of a tiny boy wearing orange shorts, floating in the Thames. Police scooped the headless, limbless body from the water and began the unusual investigation.
Detective Superintendent Adrian Maybanks, then leading the inquiry, said: "I have not come across anything like this in my career."
Thirteen days after discovering the body, which it is thought had been in the river flotsam for up to 10 days, candles and a sheet were found upstream.
Adekoyejo Fola Adeoye, a Nigerian name, was written three times in blue ink on the sheet, which was bound with brown binding. Fola Adeoye was also written on the candles.
Examination of the body added to the sinister theme. It suggested the boy's head, arms and legs had been severed after his throat was cut. It seemed likely the child had been beheaded while still alive.
The link to African witchcraft drawn early in the inquiry gained weight and references to ritualistic muti murders were made. These killings are used by African witch doctors for body parts required to make medicines considered to bring good fortune.
Henrik Scholtz, a leading South African pathologist and expert on muti, was flown to London to conduct a fresh post-mortem examination and brief 50 detectives, Home Office officials, and criminologists.
All were desperate to understand the possible motive for such a gruesome killing of an apparently well cared-for boy, thought to be just five years old. However, by April this year, despite the offer of a £50,000 reward, Adam's real name and background were still unknown.
Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, agreed to make a worldwide appeal for help in piecing together his story.
Speaking in Johannesburg, Mandela said the case had left him with "sadness and a deep sense of tragedy", adding: "The post-mortem revealed that he died in a very violent manner.
"His neck had been cut in a very unusual way and he died of loss of blood. It may be that we are dealing here with what is often referred to as a muti murder."
Mandela then asked African villagers to come forward if they knew of a missing child. He said: "Scotland Yard informs me that early indications of their investigations are that the boy comes from somewhere in Africa, so if anywhere, even in the remotest village of our continent, there is a family missing a son of that age who might have disappeared around that time ... please contact the police."
At the same time, scientists in the UK were carrying out a series of ground-breaking tests to pinpoint the area where Adam lived.
Traces of pollen in his stomach led detectives to conclude he had been in Africa until shortly before his death, and evidence of cough linctus also suggested he had been well looked after.
It was hoped by using new bone-mapping methods, which deduce from the hydrogen, sulphur, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen present where someone is from, more could be discovered. In May, detectives attended a meeting at Europol, the European Union's fledgling police agency, to seek advice.
Adam's death appeared to be the first of its kind in Britain, but French and Belgian police have reported ritual killings. Following the bone tests, officers were able the rule out the possibility he had been brought up in London.
The chilling theory established was that Adam was sold as a slave in West Africa and smuggled to Britain solely to be killed.
The idea of a muti murder, to make medicine, was put aside. Instead, it appeared the young boy was sacrificed to a form of god, his body splayed out and dismembered in a crime that will continue to horrify. - http://www.itv.com/news/ - http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/archive/10-7-19102-0-12-36.html
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 Oct 2002 - Vice
President Alhaji Aliu Mahama is alarmed at the rate of increase in the incidence
of HIV/AIDS in the country. Speaking at the opening session of an Economic
Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)’ Ministers of Education conference on
HIV/AIDS in Accra, Alhaji Mahama described
the situation in the country as alarming. He lamented the fact that currently 200
people become infected daily and about 3% of the population aged between 15 and
49 have already been infected with the virus.
Speaking at the conference, organised under
the theme 'Mobilizing the education sector in the fight against HIV/AIDS', the
Vice President said available statistics indicate that 125 people will die
daily by the year 2009 if the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the country
continues at the current trend.
Already there are 160,000 children orphaned
by AIDS in the country, a 6.3% growth on 2001. The number is likely to rise to
236,000 by the year 2014. About 63% of HIV/AIDS cases recorded in Ghana are
females and this has serious social and economic implications on the nation. And
with the upsurge of HIV in the country, there has been a rapid rise in
Tuberculosis (TB).
Last year, 4,328 commercial sex workers in
Ghana’s capital Accra and the Port City of Tema, representing 75% to 80% were
known to be HIV positive, according to the Nationals
AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
Adding its voice to the cry the Ghana
Medical Association (GMA) has advised Pastors and other Church Leaders to encourage
prospective couples to accept voluntary HIV/AIDS tests to complement efforts to
control the spread of the disease. At an AIDS forum marking the Eastern
Regional Celebration of the Annual health week the GMA asked couples to avail
themselves of pretest counselling in order that both parties would be able to
appreciate the results of the test.
It expressed concern about the use of
unsterilised instruments to make scars for certain rites especially girls
undergoing puberty rites among the Krobos. At Cape Coast in the Central region,
the Association advised the public to check on the expiry dates of condoms. The
World Bank has granted a $5million loan to the government for the establishment
of a support fund for HIV/AIDs prevention and control programmes. The Ghana AIDS
Response Fund (GARF) is to support ministries, departments, agencies and NGOs
involved in the care and support of AIDS patients.
World Vision Ghana has integrated the HOPE
initiative as a major programme in ADP work. A pilot programme on HIV/AIDS
education and prevention has started in several projects in collaboration with
Family Health International, an NGO that concentrates on generating behavioural
change among Ghanaians. World Vision projects have held peer education and
community meetings to sensitise the people on the causes and prevention of the
dreadful disease and participated in national programmes.
The picture of over 50,000 AIDS cases in
Ghana is gloomy and a national disaster. The cumulative 46,000 of reported cases
as of December 2001 is just 40% of the actual number of people affected by the
disease. Despite massive education on the use of condoms, the usage is very
low, with only 16% of males using condoms and 6% of women using contraceptives.
Unfortunately, at this time, 58% of males don’t perceive themselves as being at
risk, which has serious implications for the nation due to the high risk
behaviour among the youth. - World Vision International - http://www.wvi.org/home.shtml
London (United Kingdom) 24 October 2002 - A three-day exhibition of African textiles, fashion, arts and music has been held in London as part of the Black History month celebration.
Opening the exhibition, Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ag. High Commissioner observed that the exhibition fell in line with the Ghana Government’s policy of expanding the country’s frontiers of trade both locally and externally.
He spoke about the President’s two special initiatives in garments and textiles; cassava starch production and indicated that the Mission’s support for the event underscored the determination of the Government of Ghana to support firms and individuals who are determined to succeed in enhancing the economic fortunes of Ghana and Africa as a whole.
He urged friends of Africa who attended the exhibition that they should not only continue to patronise African textile products, but spread and disseminate information about the quality of the products that they found there wherever they might find themselves.
The event featured a collection of the popular Yoruba Aso-Oke – Kente-Oke, rich Kente products of Ghana, sculptures and carvings, hand-made jewellery, contemporary paintings and drawings by some creative African artists.
The side attractions of the event organised by Mrs Adelaide Olagbaju’s African Majesty, the creator and exclusive dealer in Kente-Oke which combines the aesthetic excellence of the royal Ashanti Kente, were workshops by traditional Ghanaian Kente weavers, fashion shows, drumming and dancing.
The Pan African Dance Ensemble, the Abrempong Cultural Troupe, notable Ghanaian and South African musicians including Sonti Ndebele, Alfred Bannerman and Lord Eric entertained viewers with some vibrating music.
In all over 25 firms and individuals participated in the exhibition overwhelmingly described by those who patronised it as highly successful and encouraging.
Mrs Janet Boateng, wife of the Hon. Minister, Chief Secretary to the British Treasury described the exhibition as a wake-up call to the UK market that African textiles, fashion, drumming and dancing, arts and music have come of age and needed the financial patronage of Western countries.
Mrs Beatrice Kolade, wife of the Nigeria High Commissioner in the UK in an answer to a question said there was the need for African designers, artists and musicians to keep up the momentum and think of methods to mass produce their products which are in high demand world-wide.
Mrs Marian Osei, wife of Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK commended the African Majesty for organising the exhibition and described it as a resounding success. She appealed to the organisers to make the show an annual affair in order to consolidate the gains recorded during the exhibition.
In their contributions, the participating firms, companies and individuals endorsed the view of Mrs
Osei and pleaded with the organisers to make it a “real big” African family affair for the benefit of the continent.
The Director of the exhibition, Mr Gabby
Asare Otchere-Darku had comforting words for all the exhibitors. He urged them to learn from the new experience
gained from the exhibition and think of ways of improving their products for
the next fair. - The Ghana High Commission, London
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London (United Kingdom) 24 October 2002 - The Government of Ghana has commended Britain for its efforts towards the promotion of good race relations.
The Government particularly noted Britain’s adoption of the Amended Race Relations Act which, among other things, gives public authorities a new statutory duty to promote race equality and to help them with facilities which will assist towards providing fair and accessible service and equal opportunities.
The commendation was contained in an address delivered by Mr Martin Quansah, Minister (Political and Economic) on behalf of Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ag. High Commissioner to the UK, at a special conference on race relations as part of Black History month celebration at the Bansfield College, Luton.
The conference attracted a large number of dignitaries including local MPs, writers and opinion leaders among the Black and Asian communities.
Mr Baah-Duodu further commended Britain for introducing measures to entrench greater understanding in race relations in the UK and for championing race issues not only at home but also in Europe and the world at large.
Arguing about the inclusiveness of today’s world, Mr Baah-Duodu stated irrespective of race, colour, religious beliefs, the focus should be put on building a cohesive integrated international community rather than creating divisions.
He stressed that in an inter-dependent world of today, it was necessary for each nation, race or individual to play a complementary role in a collective search for survival and the survivor of the human race.
Ag. High Commissioner emphasised that as
more and more countries embrace the people of different races and cultures,
there would be greater understanding among races, and the world and the people
who inhabit it would benefit from that level of cohesion. - The Ghana
High Commission
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