Atta-Mills joins the race for NDC presidential slot
Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002-Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General on
Tuesday said there could be no greater affront to the spirit and purpose of the
United Nations than the terrorist attacks of 11 September.
"Everything
that we work for - peace, development, health, freedom – is damaged by this
horror. Everything that we believe in-respect for human life, justice,
tolerance, pluralism and democracy-is threatened by it,” he declared.
In a
statement issued by the UN Information Centre in Accra to mark the one-year
anniversary of the terrorists attack on the United States, Mr. Annan said
terrorism must be defeated – by the world acting as one.
It said,
"a year has passed since the terrorist attacks on the United States and
yet time cannot separate us from the horror of that day, from our shock, our
grief, our compassion for the children, the spouses, the friends and families
of those who perished. We feel that shock still."
The
statement said on 11 September grief enveloped the globe - not only out of
solidarity with the people of the United States, but out of shared loss. "More
than ninety nations lost sons and daughters of their own – murdered that day,
for no other reason that they had chosen to live in the United States. Today,
we come together as a world community because we were attacked as a world
community," it said.
"There
have been and will be other occasions to explore the causes of the attacks; and
explored they must be. There will be other occasions to debate our response to
the attacks and debated it must be. There will be other occasions to consider
how best to maintain the global unity of that day-and considered it must be,”
it noted.
The
statement said “but today is a day for remembrance, for respect; a day to
recall the loss of those who died, trying to escape the fire, and the sacrifice
of those who died rushing into it.”
It said, it
was "a day to recall the lives of citizens from every part of the world
who met danger and death without warning, without cause, without a chance; a
day to recall the spirit of unity that seized the world that day-from New York
to Tehran to Berlin to Beijing-in the face of unimaginable horror," it
added.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002- Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, former Vice
President, on Tuesday declared that he would seek the nomination of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) as its flagbearer for the 2004 national
Presidential elections.
He then
threw a welcoming challenge to other contestants within the NDC who were
interested in the race to feel free to join the contest with him saying,
"I know there are several others who are also interested in the
flagbearership"
Professor
Atta Mills told a parked press conference, "No matter how many contestants
emerge, however, I am very confident that I will receive an overwhelming
mandate from delegates at the Party's Special National Congress for this
December this year."
He tendered
in his resignation as a member of the National Executive Committee last
Thursday in accordance with Regulations for the Election of the Party's
flagbearer. So far, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, former Minister of Finance, and
Economic Planning and Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama former Presidential aide have
declared their intention to contest the NDC primaries for the position of
flagbearer.
Professor
Atta Mills said he was confident that the open debate on matters of strategy in
the Party, some of which had been acrimonious, would ensure that the party
emerged stronger and more focused.
"Problems
there are and problems there will be. Solutions there are, and solutions we
will find. We would not be a political party if there were no differences among
us. But it is how we handle those differences, how we resolve those problems,
that will determine our maturity as a Party." He said.
Professor
Atta-Mills pledged that he would contribute to resolve differences and problems
in the party and said he would continue, "to preach the message of peace
and unity, the basis of which is love, tolerance and respect for one another in
the party and in the nation as a whole."
Referring
to a comment he made at a Party congress in Ho in April 2000, to the effect
that he would consult former President Jerry Rawlings if elected President,
Professor Mills said the issue was given a twist and stole the headlines.
"The
interpretations were many and varied, and on several occasions I had to explain
the context in which it was made,” he said adding “I still value consultation
in politics as in other spheres of life.
"I put
a high premium on consultation as a means for consensus building within the
party and the nation as a whole and I will give honour and recognition where it
is due. However, once elected the flagbearer, and ultimately the President, the
buck stops with me,” he stated.
"I
will make decisions and I will take responsibility for them," Prof
Atta-Mills said. On his vision for the country, Prof Atta Mills promised to
build on the democratic legacy of the NDC, be transparent in all they did and
accountable to Parliament and the people of Ghana.
He promised
to insist on bringing "genuine and true reconciliation and harmony
throughout the country" and would offer to the people what the party firmly
believed could be achieved. His priorities, Prof. Atta Mills said would be to
offer every Ghanaian, especially the Ghanaian youth education and opportunities
for self-advancement.
Professor
Atta Mills said he accepted past failures of the party and promised to take
inspiration from the party's philosophy of social democracy with a commitment
to succeed with new improved ideas.
He
expressed concern about the increasing political polarisation in the country
and said the acrimonious statements and publications were fuelling an already
tense situation. "Hatred and pettiness are taking this country nowhere. I
offer myself for the Presidency because I am concerned that something new must
happen in the life of this country," Prof Atta- Mills said.
Prof.
Atta-Mills promised that the party would pursue improved relations with the
press and establish closer links with the media. He asked the media for a fair
coverage of the emerging contests for the position of the flagbearer of the NDC
and for the 2004 elections.
Leading
functionaries of the party at the press conference were Mr J. H. Owusu
Acheampong, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Joshua Alabi, former
Greater Accra Regional Minister, Commodore (rtd) Steve Obimpeh, former Minister
of Health and Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, former Minister of Regional Co-operation and
Integration were present.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002-Professor Evans Atta Mills, former Vice
President on Tuesday said the people should be the best judges of the
performance of President Kufuor's administration. He said, "it is at the
end of President Kufuor's four-year term of office that it would be known
whether he succeeded in prosecuting the agenda his party had set itself."
Prof. Mills
was answering questions at a press conference in Accra where he declared his
intention to contest the primaries for the flagbearership of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) as to how he would rate the performance of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP), which has been in power for about 18 months now.
He said,
"I will not make any sweeping statement to condemn nor give a praise. We
should avoid sweeping condemnation of politicians. The NPP is prosecuting a
certain agenda it set itself. It is
when we take the totality of issues and avoid taking achievements in segments
that we would be able to determine failure or success."
On the work
of the National Reconciliation Commission, Prof Atta Mills, said he saw nothing
wrong with the Commission's work and that it would be at the end of its work
that one could judge it. He said there was too much intolerance in the country
and stressed the need to maintain dialogue between the ruling government and
the opposition to move the country forward.
He said the
NDC chalked notable successes and failures and the party machinery would not
hesitate to reconsider some of its strategies to get back power if it became
necessary, adding that the issue of forging an alliance with other political
parties might be considered after he got the nod.
Prof. Atta
Mills said the choice of a running mate would be based on full consultation of
the rank and file of the party and the selection would be based on excellence. On
allegations that Dr. Obed Asamoah, Chairman of the NDC was sponsoring Dr. Kwesi
Botchwey, a former Finance and Economic Planning Minister for the NDC
flagbearership, Prof Atta Mills registered his high regard for both Dr Asamoah
Dr Botchwey and said that there was no evidence of sponsorship.
Prof. Atta
Mills, who was also the NDC presidential candidate in the year 2000 general
elections, welcomed the open contest in the race for the party's presidential
candidate. He described Dr Botchwey as a "capable man" and said:
"I am not going to tear at Dr. Botchwey in the contest for the
flagbearership. We would rather pursue dialogue and join forces against our
opponent."
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002- The Kuwaiti government on Tuesday pledged to
support Ghana with over 100 million dollars in developmental assistance.
"We
hope Ghana would send project proposals which, would be 100 million dollars or
more to us, for immediate study and assistance," Mr Salem Al-Hamad,
Chairman of a Kuwaiti-Ghana Parliamentary Friendship Group said in Accra when
members called on the Speaker of Parliament and the Parliamentary leadership in
Accra.
Mr
Al-Hamad, who is leading a six-member Kuwaiti delegation on a two-day working
visit to Ghana, said Kuwait would seriously study Ghana's energy sector and see
in what way it could give immediate attention to.
The group
sought to re-establish and strengthen the cordial relationship with Ghana's
Parliament as well as learn Ghana's Parliamentary system. The Group has also
officially invited the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey to visit
Kuwait next Month to study their Parliamentary system.
Mr Al-Hamad
said Kuwaiti support to Ghana dates back to 1975 and pledged its continued
support to Ghana with projects that would benefit the poor people. He
mentioned, in particular the provision of good drinking water, health,
education, and the energy sectors.
Mr Kwabena
Adusa Okerchri, First Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Ghana's Parliament who
stood in for the Majority leader welcomed the group and said the relationship
between Ghana and Kuwait had been cordial for ages.
He said
government appreciated efforts by Kuwait to always support Ghana and that Ghana
would not hesitate to send proposals for immediate assistance. He gave the
assurance that the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament would positively respond to
the Kuwait's invitation. Mr John Agama, Deputy Clerk of Ghana's Parliament
briefed the group on the structure of Ghana's Parliament, including the
committee system and standing orders.
Other
Members of the Six-Member Group included, Mr Khaled Al-Oudwa, Vice Chairman, Mr
Mubarak A. Al-Ajmi, Member, Mr Mikhlid Al-Azmi, Member, Mr Abdullahtif
Al-Rizaihan, Secretary, and Mr Roshoud Shetit Raqdan, Secretary.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002- Mr. Kwamena Bartels, acting Minister of
Tourism on Monday said Ghanaians must have an attitudinal change towards
holidays in the country in order to contribute their quota towards domestic
tourism promotion.
" A
lot of Ghanaians are not even aware, left alone know certain important tourism
sites in the country but could tell you most attractive areas in the United
States they had visited, this attitude must change, adding "We want to see
a situation where Ghanaians will be encouraged and excited to visit local
tourism sites during holidays or casual leave," he said.
Mr Bartels,
who was speaking at the launch of this year's World Tourism Day, which falls on
27 September every year, said Ghana's main focus of the celebration would
centre on promoting nature conservation through development of activities that
would add to its natural resources.
He said
this year's theme: "Eco-Tourism: The Key to Sustainable Development"
was appropriate because the benefits that accrue from Eco-Tourism development
were immense and impact positively on the socio-economic activities of the
country.
The primary
purpose of the day is to foster awareness of the importance of tourism and its
contribution to development, International Corporation, and world peace. Mr.
Bartels said 70 million cedis have been estimated for the celebration, which
would be climax by a durbar at Wli Afegame in the Hohoe District of the Volta
Region.
He said Wli
Afegame was chosen in order to highlight the potential of the Wli Water Falls,
the highest in West Africa, to encourage both public and private sector
investment in tourism related facilities that would promote increase tourists
visitation in the area.
He
announced that the Ministry by the end of this year would begin the
construction of Visitor's Receptive facilities at Wli and nine other areas in
the country in order to enhance and promote patronage as well as to increase
revenue and generate employment for the communities.
Mr Edward
Dzoboku, Acting Executive Director, Forest Services Division noted that
eco-tourism development has much to offer in the areas of bio-diversity
conservation and research. He said presently, the Forestry Commission was
exploring ways of generating additional revenue through non-traditional sources
in the industry.
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Accra
Greater Accra) 11 September 2002- The Command Chalk of United Nations
Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Ghanbatt 6 leaves Ghana today, Wednesday
11 September for peace- keeping operation in Sierra Leone.
An official
statement from the Ghana Armed Forces said the troops, under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel J. B. E. Guyiri will be away for about six months.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002-Friends Against Global Terrorism (FAGLAT), a
local Islamic Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) on Tuesday described
terrorism as a blight that must be fought and opposed with all determination
and vigour. According to the FAGLAT "terrorism is a crime against humanity
and civilisation and must be condemned as such.
These were
in a statement signed by Alhaji Hamidu Chodi, President of FAGLAT to
commemorate the first anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks on
America's Twin towers and the Pentagon that claimed over six thousand lives.
The
statement expressed regret that, though Americans constituted vast majority of
victims of the tragedy, citizens from more than 80 countries died that day, who
were not only Christians and Jews, but also Muslims.
FAGLAT has
therefore, renewed its condolence to the grieving families who lost their loved
ones in that attack, "and to the American people, we repeat our
unequivocal condemnation of this despicable and unimaginable act."
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002- The Chiefs and people of Suman Traditional
Area have appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor and Parliament to protect
them from the "Western Regional Minister's undue harassment and personal
interference in their chieftaincy affairs".
They said
Mr Joseph Boahene Aidoo is using his political influence to interfere with the
work of the courts in the determination of a criminal case linked to a long-standing
chieftaincy dispute. They claimed the Regional has been misusing the Police and
the Military to harass citizens in the area.
The plea
was contained in a five-page petition signed by thirteen people including Nana
Armah Kofi III, Krontihene, Nana Adwoa Koramah II, Obaahemaa, Nana Kwadwo
Donkor, Abusuapanin and Nana Yaw Ankorah, II, Kyidomhene.
The
petition was first presented to the Office of the President after which it was
presented to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament. In Parliament the
Minority Leader Mr Alban Bagbin and Mrs Eugenia Kusi, Majority Deputy Whip,
representing the Majority Leader Papa Owusu Ankoma received the delegation in
audience.
The
delegation told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that they wanted the courts
to be left alone to do their job. "We are wiling to abide by whatever
verdict the courts give," they said. Mr Baffor Gyima, Counsel for the
delegation, in a telephone interview confirmed the delegation's allegation.
He said Mr
Aidoo is known to be a personal- friend of the leader of one of the factions
hence his action. Mr Gyima said the Chairman of the Western Regional Public
Tribunal once said in an open court that he (the Chairman) was under serious
political pressure in the case.
He said he
has a store of evidence to prove that Mr Aidoo was personally interfering with
judicial proceedings. Reacting to the allegations Mr Aidoo denied that a member
of one of the factions in the dispute was his friend.
He said he
had neither spoken to the tribunal Chairman nor had he sent anybody to him to
"influence his decision." The Regional Minister said he was preparing
an appropriate response to the accusations for presentation to Parliament;
"I am ready to submit myself for grilling by Parliament," he added.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002 - The Executive Director of the Association
of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Andrew Lawson on Tuesday urged companies in the
private sector to be proactive and improve their productivity by being more
competitive.
He said as
the engine of growth of the economy, "the private sector must take
advantage of the enabling environment by adopting the working smart system to
make them more productive." Mr. Lawson said this in Accra at the opening
of a three-day workshop on productivity improvement for members of the
association with representatives from the industrial sector.
The
workshop is being organised by the Development Management Associates in
conjunction with the AGI with support from the German Technical Co-operation
(GTZ). Mr Lawson advised the private sector to endeavour to package their goods
and services to meet the demand of consumers as well as the competitive world
market.
Mr.
Christian W. Potyka, GTZ Programme Co-ordinator said the project was a
bilateral technical co-operation between the governments of Ghana and Germany
to develop the capacities of the private sector entrepreneurs.
He said it
was the aim of GTZ to assist and support the government to improve the
industrial sector to be proactive adding that the goodwill and interest for
Ghana was good and it behoved on the private sector to take advantage to
improve their services.
Mr. Potyka,
who is also Head of the Promotion of the Private Sector expressed concern about
the problems of infrastructure, high cost of telecommunication, electricity and
water facing the private sector, adding, it was not healthy for the development
and growth of industries.
"This
type of behaviour by the administration is against the private sector" and
cited the high interest rate and difficulty in obtaining credit from the banks
and the demand for collateral before giving out credit.
Mr. Potyka
said the government should therefore gear up and have the political will to
change the situation and to reduce the numerous taxes and levies on production
to ensure there increased productivity in the private sector.
Activities
lined up include programme overview, process of management, productivity,
concepts and measurement, problem analysis, total quality process, strategic
planning, performance and process improvement employee involvement and customer
focus and quality assurance.
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Aflao
(Volta Region) 11 September 2002 - Personnel of the Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI) have arrested two suspected fraudsters at a hotel at Aflao
before they could sell a mixture of sand and brass as gold dust to a Ghanaian
businessman.
They are
Edward Dennis Norch, 61, and Ebenezer Aidoo, alias Kwegyir, 56. A BNI source
told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Aflao that the suspects offered to sell
gold dust to Mr Godfred Wotortsi, a businessman from Agbozume, for 40 million
cedis. Mr Wotortsi, who had been duped in similar circumstances, feigned
interest in the deal, fixed last Thursday to meet the fraudsters and alerted
the BNI.
He met
Norch and Aidoo at the hotel as planned and as he exchanged a briefcase
supposed to contain money with three small sacks containing the ''gold dust''
BNI operatives emerged and picked the suspected fraudsters. The source said
Aidoo, during interrogation, confessed to the crime and said he had duped two
white men under similar circumstances.
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Pipie
(Ashanti Region) 11 September 2002 - Two persons were killed when a landslide
swept through Odumase-Afrancho, a village on the bank of Lake Bosomtwe in the
Ashanti Region.
The
landslide occurred following persistent rainfall in the village and other
nearby communities along the Lake a fortnight ago. The victims who had since
been buried were identified as Yaw Opoku, 45 and his 12-year-old daughter,
Abena Bemah.
A team of
Ghana Armed Forces personnel and officials from the National Disaster
Management Organisation (NADMO) on Monday conducted an aerial survey in the
affected communities to assess the situation.
The team
was led by Colonel Nick Sowarty (rtd), Director of Operations, NADMO. Briefing
the team, Mr Daniel Asuo Afram, Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Co-ordinator
of NADMO, said the landslide affected six communities along the bank of the
lake.
He said
about 120 people had been displaced and had moved to other nearby villages to seek
refuge. Mr Afram appealed for relief items to assist the victims.
Meanwhile,
the World Vision Ghana in collaboration with NADMO, presented relief items
worth 100 million cedis to flood victims at Yakubu in the Sekyere East District
of Ashanti.
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Accra (Greater
Accra) 11 September 2002 - The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the
weekend uncovered a syndicate of foreign nationals that prepared forged
documents embossed with Ghana's Coat of Arms, to dupe people within and outside
the country.
Some of
the documents included those purported to have emanated from the Ministry of
Defence with the sector Minister's signature; Bank of Ghana; some financial
institutions in Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa; Internal Revenue Service;
Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United
Nations Headquarters.
Mrs Gifty
Anin-Botwe, Acting Director of the CID, told reporters that following a
tip-off, 12 persons were apprehended by the Police in a swoop at their hideout
at New Achimota.
Various
documents were seized from them, including four computers and accessories, a
fax machine and some electrical gadgets used in operating advanced crime
popularly called "419", ("But my God shall supply all your needs
according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ; Philippians 4:19).
The
documents seized from the syndicate included anti-terrorist certificates
purported to have been signed by Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor giving the go-ahead to
some foreign nationals to carry huge sums of foreign currencies out of the
country.
She said
after initial Police screening three of the suspects Dulee Moses Ekwonwa, Idika
Chinenye and Kelichi Udogwu were found to be the main suspects, while the
leader Mike Uchena was at large. They are all Nigerians.
Mrs
Anin-Botwe said Uchena rented the apartment in July and invited the other
suspects and after acquiring computers they forged and printed letterheads of
the various institutions. She said the letters were to be used to lure
foreigners and prominent Ghanaian businessmen into the country through the
Internet so as to defraud them.
She said
three terrorist-free certificates that were purportedly issued by the
Department of National Security, Ministry of Defence, Ghana, for huge sums of
money to be taken out of the country were among the documents seized.
One David
Lloyd of England was authorised to carry out of the country 45.5 million
dollars; Mr Richard Bill of United Kingdom, 15 million dollars; and Dr Zulkolie
Abbas of Indonesia, 52 million dollars.
The certificates
bore the forged signature of Dr Addo-Kufuor and stated that those monies were
free from terrorist activities and should be allowed at entry points without
any hindrance.
Mrs
Anin-Botwe said another document was purported to have been signed by one Mrs
Rose Green at the UN Headquarters in New York explaining that the money
consignments had been cleared as being free from illegal activities and should
be allowed entry into any UN member country.
She also
expressed concern that even though most of the suspects entered the country
using ECOWAS travelling certificate, the Ghana Immigration Service did not
indicate their days of departure and that left room for abuse.
Meanwhile,
the Accra Community Centre Tribunal, presided over by Kwadwo Owusu, has
remanded the three suspects in prison custody to reappear on 23 September, when
they made their first appearance in court on Monday.
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Fawohoyeden
(Western Region) 11 September 2002 - A 29-year old housewife, Abena Dagarti,
last Saturday allegedly shot herself dead with her husband's locally
manufactured pistol at Fawohoyeden village near Dadieso in the Western Region.
Police
Inspector George Awuku and Police Detective A. C. Ahiaku told reporters that
Dagarti, who was nursing a four-month old baby, allegedly stole 46,000 cedis
belonging to her mother-in-law.
The Police
said when her husband Kwabena Yeboah confronted her Abena admitted stealing the
money. Yeboah then asked her to refund the money and she agreed, but instead,
she entered their room, picked her husband's loaded gun and shot herself.
In another
development, a 28-year-old widow, Abena Martha of Nyamedoma, a village near
Akontombra-Nkwanta in the Aowin-Suman District, last Sunday committed suicide
by drinking an insecticide (DDT).
The
decease's father Togbe Gbehu, told the Police that Abena, whose husband died
about three years ago, stayed with her relative at Ahafo in the Brong-Ahafo
Region. She returned a couple of weeks ago and came to lodge with him. Togbe
Gbehu said Abena was alleged to have stolen a travelling bag belonging to the
relative at Ahafo when she left Nyamedoma.
He said on
hearing about the theft he advised her to return the bag. However, Togbe on the
night of the same day Abena drank the insecticide and was found dead the next
morning with a DDT container by her side.
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Ho (Volta
Region) 11 September 2002 - The Volta Region Zonal Office of the National
Reconciliation Commission (NRC) has so far received 29 petitions, complaints
and statements from the public since it started work one week ago.
Yao Dey,
the Zonal Manager, speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, gave the breakdown as 13
seizures of property/assets, 11 maltreatment, eight tortures, three detentions,
one unlawful killing and an unlawful imprisonment and dismissal.
He said a
woman petitioner, told the Commission that she was flogged 28 times by some
soldiers during the heat of the revolution resulting in her incapacitation. He
said there was the need create awareness among the general public about the
nature and presentation of cases to the NRC.
Mr Dey
said the exercise is not a judicial process, neither is it to find the
perpetrators of such crimes and punish them but rather to bring relief and
reparations to aggrieved persons.
Ms Kafui
A. Gunu, Public Affairs Officer of NRC, announced that the Commission would
soon move to the 11 District capitals (excluding Ho) of the region to receive
complaints and petitions after a "comprehensive awareness programme on the
local Volta Star FM station."
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor has directed
that all flags in the country should fly at half-mast tomorrow, 11 September,
from six in the morning till six o'clock in the evening.
A statement
from Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs
said the directive was in memory of all the victims of the tragic event of the
11 September 2001 in New York and Washington DC in the United States. The
terrorist attacks, which were said to have been carried out by the Al-Qaeda
group, killed thousands of people including 343 fire fighters.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 11 September 2002 - The New Patriotic Party would on Tuesday,
10 September, switch to a new membership card which has a security seal and a
serial number. The new card has a blue hard cover with the emblem of the Party,
the elephant embossed on it.
Stephen
Ntim, First Vice National Chairman, told a press conference that the new card,
which would bear the signature of only the General Secretary, would help the
party upgrade its membership drive and collation of reliable data.
He said it
would enable members to renew their commitment to the party. "Most
importantly, the issue of the new cards would start a process of ensuring a
sturdy source of income through party dues, registration fee, et cetera"
Ntim said:
"In the past, we had only the photograph, name and constituency of the
member concerned without his or her personal particulars but with the new card,
it would not be difficult to trace and have basic information on each
member."
Ntim said
the issuance of the new cards does not affect, in anyway the number of years
that the holder had been a party member. He said there was no deadline for the
surrender of old cards but "we anticipate a situation where the old party
card would eventually cease to be valid.
Mr Ntim
said the sale of each card at 3,000 cedis, would accrue to the party a profit
of 1,000 cedis. "The Constituency would take 500 cedis, Regional, 300
cedis and National Headquarters would take 200 cedis out of the 1,000 profit.
Haruna Esseku, National Chairman, Mrs Agnes Okudzeto, Second Vice Chairman,
were present.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 11 September 2002 - The Ashanti Region Executive of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed shock and deep sorrow about
the tragic death of Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, Brong-Ahafo Regional chairman of
the party, through a motor traffic accident at Suhum.
A
statement from the regional executive and signed by its chairman, Emmanuel
Nti-Fordjour in Kumasi, described his death as ''a terrible loss to the NDC.''
''His death has created a big political vacuum that would be difficult to
fill.'' The statement conveyed the heartfelt condolence of the Ashanti NDC to
the bereaved family and the entire membership of the party in Brong-Ahafo.
It wished
the wife with whom he was travelling when the accident occurred and is reported
to be on admission at the 37 Military Hospital in critical condition, a speedy
recovery.
Alhaji
Adam was returning to Sunyani from Accra after attending the inauguration of
the NDC Council of Elders when the pick-up he was using was involved in the
fatal accident. He would be buried today at his hometown, Bamire near Techiman.
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Kumasi
(Ashanti Region) 11 September 2002 - Isaac Opoku-Ntiamoah, Commissioner,
Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), has warned that his
administration would be ruthless with unscrupulous custom officials whose lack
of diligence and greed facilitate smuggling.
Rewards
would however, be given to those who excel in anti-smuggling duties,
Opoku-Ntiamoah told staff of the Service in Kumasi on Tuesday at the start of
his five-day tour of Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions. He said his
administration expects "nothing else but a new customs officer who will
turn on a new posture that is worthy of honour".
The
Commissioner told them to see themselves as vital players in the government's
drive towards growth and development, adding that, "our roles must be
performed in a spirit of dedication and sacrifice towards the national cause,
and in an impartial, objective and loyal manner".
He asked
them to see problems facing the CEPS in the general context of the issues
facing the whole nation, saying, "it is therefore imperative that our
attitude must reflect a general effort at solving the situation.''
''With
CEPS, our position becomes more crucial since we must perform creditably to not
only generate more national revenue but also to hit high levels upon which our
retention facility granted by the government would be based".
Opoku-Ntiamoah
announced a number of incentives lined up to motivate the staff and enhance
efficiency. These include improvement of its infrastructure nationwide, staff
training and promotions, introduction of new uniforms and accoutrements,
logistics and raising of staff levels.
He
announced that recommendations made by the committee set up to look into the
issue of out-of-turn promotions and concerns from the staff, have been accepted
by the management.
The
Commissioner said measures to be taken include retention of some of the
affected staff to remain at current grades, reversal of some of the affected
staff to previous ranks, that is one or two steps backwards, and withholding
and freezing of promotion of some of the staff .
GRi../
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