GRi Newsreel
25 - 09 - 2002
US
Military Troops & Planes Arrive in Ghana
'Nigeria, Ghana, Togo won't condone illegal Government'
Vessel carrying containers runs aground
Lack of depots affect cocoa spraying exercise
IT needs facilities for accelerated Rural Development
CPP Volta Caucus says it has confidence in leadership
You cannot take unilateral decisions - Minister tells Assembly members
Ivorian
crisis affects drivers at Elubo
Workshop on Reproductive Health opens in Kumasi.
European Union assist in provision of infrastructure
Ghanaians asked to show appreciation to God
Five communities benefit from HIPC initiative
Reconstituted Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council inaugurated
US Military Troops & Planes Arrive in Ghana
ABIDJAN (Ivory Coast) - The
first of four U.S. military planes landed Wednesday in the West African nation
of Ghana, on a mission to protect
Americans
amid fighting in neighboring Ivory Coast, airport officials in Ghana said.
Around 100 American
children, as well as U.S. staffers and other nationals, are pinned down in a
boarding school in Ivory Coast's second largest city, Bouake, which has been
held by rebels since Thursday. Government troops are moving in, vowing to
retake the city.
The United States announced
Tuesday it would be sending just under 200 troops to aid Americans pinned down
in Ivory Coast's bloodiest-ever military uprising — particularly, a school in
an Ivory Coast central city threatened by growing fighting.
The first U.S. military
plane arrived just before dawn at Ghana's Kotoka International Airport in
Accra, officials there said. Ghana Foreign ministry officials here have said
they expected four U.S. military aircraft in the deployment, including 3
C-130s.
French troops were also
moving closer to Bouake, ready to rescue their nationals and other Westerners
if it appears they could be caught in a cross fire between government troops
and renegade forces who launched a coup attempt Thursday.
"A very welcome
development," said a relieved James Forlines, director of Free Will
Baptist Foreign Missions, a Nashville, Tenn.-based church group that had sent
calls for help overnight for the mission school in the cut-off city after
rebels breached the school's walls, firing from its grounds. 
"It has been a very
trying day. It has been a very trying five days," mission official Neil
Gilliland said, speaking by telephone from the United States.
The scrambling to safeguard
Westerners in the Ivory Coast came amid clashes and growing tensions after the
failed coup, which has left rebels holding just two cities. At least 270 people
have died so far.
The uprising — with a core
group of 750-800 ex-soldiers angry over their dismissal from the army for
suspected disloyalty — poses Ivory Coast's worst crisis since its first-ever
coup in 1999.
The U.S. State Department
issued a travel warning for Americans and urged those in Abidjan, Bouake and
Korhogo to remain close to home, to observe government curfew restrictions and
to remain in close communication with the American Embassy.
An American expeditionary
force and British troops already were on the ground in Ivory Coast, Ghanaian
and French military and government officials said. "The U.S. European
Command is moving forces to be in a closer position to provide for the safety
of American citizens," a statement from the command said.
More U.S. troops headed to
Ghana, to be used as a staging area for any evacuation, an official at Ghana's
Foreign Ministry said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"There's fighting
going on now in the area near where this school is located. That's what our
concern is," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher explained in
Washington about the children and staff of Bouake's International Christian
Academy. 
Tensions were "understandably high" at the school, Boucher added, but
all students and staff are believed safe. No general evacuation was planned of
Americans, Boucher said.
One hundred French troops
moved up from their own staging area at Ivory Coast's capital, Yamoussoukro,
where helicopters and trucks were standing by to ferry out foreigners.
"We want to get closer
so that if the belligerents — whoever they are — attack our nationals, we can
intervene very quickly," said French army Col. Charles de Kersabiec.
France is Ivory Coast's former colonial ruler.
A new convoy of French
reinforcements rumbled into the capital after dark, at least a dozen in number.
A regional summit planned for this week in Morocco to try to restore peace in
the Ivory Coast has been postponed until it is certain Ivory Coast President
Laurent Gbagbo can attend, a top Moroccan official said Tuesday.
Gbagbo has pledged
full-scale battle to rout the rebels from two cities taken and held since the
uprising: Bouake, and Korhogo, a northern opposition stronghold. Military
leaders say only concern for civilians has stalled the assault. Tense residents
in Bouake reported an hour of heavy-gun and artillery fire Tuesday afternoon.
The Ivory Coast army
claimed already to be on the streets of the city. A journalist reached by
telephone in the besieged city said he saw what he believed to be loyalist
troops wearing government badges speeding through the town in military
vehicles.
The night before, heavy
gunfire rang out across the pinned-down city, 220 miles north of the commercial
capital, Abidjan. Rebels climbed the walls of the boarding school for
missionary children, home to about 200 foreigners, most of them Americans,
church officials say.
"It really was a cross
fire, not shooting at the children but a whole lot of ammo going, scaring the
kids to death," said Forlines, whose mission has ties to Bouake's
International Christian Academy.
In the other rebel-held
city, Korhogo, rebels firing automatic weapons into the air began ordering
people out of the town center and back into their houses, a resident said by
phone. No loyalist soldiers had been seen in the town, the resident added.
A lagoon-side city of high
rises and multilane highways, the commercial capital, Abidjan, had been the
region's anchor of stability and prosperity until a 1990s economic downturn,
followed by the shattering coup. About 20,000 French and thousands of other
Westerners made their homes there. None are yet known to have been hurt in the
five days of fighting.
Far more exposed are
immigrants from neighbouring Muslim countries, many of whom have already been
attacked, arrested or seen their homes burned by paramilitary police, as the
uprising sparks deadly rivalries between the mainly Muslim north and the
predominantly Christian south. 
A key opposition leader
with a strong northern Muslim following, hiding out in a foreign embassy, told
The Associated Press on Tuesday that security forces tried to kill him on the
day of the coup attempt.
"It's clear they are
using this situation to try to liquidate and eliminate people in my
party," Alassane Dramane Ouattara told the Associated Press by telephone
from the French Embassy, where he fled during the uprising.
Ouattara's supporters have
clashed frequently with Gbagbo's mostly southern Christian backers since the
country's 1999 coup.
The ex-soldiers behind the
latest coup attempt are believed linked to Gen. Robert Guei, the former junta
leader who took power in the 1999 coup. Guei was killed in the uprising's first
hours. - Associated Press
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
'Nigeria,
Ghana, Togo won't condone illegal Government'
Abuja (Nigeria) 25
September 2002 - The Federal Government and the governments of Ghana and Togo
have reaffirmed their commitment to rejecting any action that would lead to
unconstitutional change of government in any part of West Africa.Speaking
yesterday in Cote d'Ivoire, President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented by
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia, noted that all
political forces should remain firmly committed to the process of national
reconciliation so as to restore peace and stability to Africa.
The special envoys of the
three countries were in Abidjan to convey messages of support, solidarity, and
compassion from their presidents to the government and people of Cote d'Ivoire
on the recent violence, in Abidjan.
They later issued a
communiqué‚ reaffirming commitment to peace in the West African sub-region.
Reacting to the recent outbreak of violence in Abidjan, Obasanjo stressed that
the priority of the government and people of Cote d'Ivoire was to restore peace
and stability, as well as safeguard the lives and property of residents in
Abidjan.
Obasanjo appealed to
President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire to open an avenue for peaceful
negotiations and dialogue both inside and outside the country. Gbagbo expressed
gratitude to the delegations for their concern and said he felt betrayed by the
actions of those behind the aggression. He appealed to his colleagues from the
three countries to assist in putting an end to political terrorism in West
Africa.
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Return to top
Vessel carrying containers runs aground
Tema (Greater Accra) 25 September 2002- A vessel loaded with cargo ran aground last night when it attempted to berth at the Tema Port. MV Linea Messina arrived at about 0400 hours on Tuesday and the Captain was expected to wait for a Pilot from the port to send her to berth.
Sources close to the port alleged that the Captain, in his bid to get to the port, swerved close to the fishing harbour near the canoe beach, making the vessel to partially run aground.
Mr Gordon Anim, Director of Tema Port, told GNA that the Harbour Master and his team of Pilots are working round the clock to save the vessel, adding they are waiting for high tide in the evening to enable the vessel to sail on her own.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Lack of depots affect cocoa spraying exercise
Akwapim Number Two (Brong Ahafo) 25 September 2002 - Lack of depots at Kwakuanya and surrounding villages in the Dormaa District has affected the distribution of inputs for the mass cocoa spraying exercise in the area.
Mr Benjamin Kwaayie, Chairman of the Unit Committee at Akwapim Number One, said private companies buy the produce in the area and store them at Gambia and Kasapin in the Asutifi District where there are depots. Mr Kwaayie said this when Mr Emmanuel Duku, Dormaa District Chief Executive, visited the affected communities: Akwapim Numbers One and Two, Beposo, Coffekrom, Kortokrom and Nkwantaso.
He appealed to the District mass cocoa spraying task force to ensure that more inputs were made available to the spraying gangs in the area for the success of the exercise. Mr Duku said the government had invested in the mass cocoa spraying exercise against the black pod disease and warned the farmers to stop smuggling their produce.
The DCE assured them that all the roads in the area had been awarded on contract, adding that their completion would facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs to the marketing centres. Mr Akwasi Amanfo Bio-Frimpong, the District Cocoa Officer, later told Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Dormaa-Ahenkro that 7,000 farmers were registered in 1995 under the cocoa tree stock survey conducted by the Cocoa Services Division.
He explained that it was upon this survey that the inputs were supplied to the gangs for the on-going spraying exercise. The Cocoa Officer said most farmers failed to register their farms during the 1995 exercise and "it is expected that most of the farmers will not be covered in the exercise." He suggested the re-registration of cocoa farmers to ensure the success of the exercise.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Return to top
IT needs facilities for accelerated Rural Development
Assin-Foso (Central Region) 25 September 2002- The Proprietor of a computer training institute 'Peeshads Computers', at Assin-Foso, Ms Priscilla Mensah, has said poor telecommunication, inadequate supply of potable water and frequent power interruptions have contributed to the low level of investment in rural areas.
She appealed to the government to take urgent measures to ensure that such facilities are provided and made reliable to speed up investment in rural areas. Ms Mensah made the call at a graduation ceremony for the Institute's first batch of students.
''Because of the absence of these facilities I am experiencing a lot of problems in running the institute.'' Monsignor Gabriel Dadzie Mensah of the Cape Coast Archdiocese of the Catholic church, appealed to parents to show love for one another.
Monsignor Mensah likened a family set-up to the workings of a computer, said each and every component was important to render it whole and function well, and urged parents to desist from acts that break families. An Assistant Director of Education, Mr. Emmanuel Odei, urged the graduands to use the skills they had acquired to increase their output.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
CPP Volta Caucus says it has confidence in leadership
Ho (Volta Region) 25 September 2002- The Volta Region Steering Committee of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) said it has confidence in the National Leadership of the Party and is in agreement with its efforts to "consummate unity among Nkrumahist parties"
A statement signed by Mr Eli Kotoku Elikem, Regional Vice Chairman, after a meeting last Saturday, however, expressed disappointment over the delay in concluding the unification talks for the party to plunge into action.
The meeting was to review activities in the past year and commemorate the 93rd birthday anniversary of its founder Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. "The Region is worried about the delay on the part of the National Leadership in releasing a programme of activities for the organisation of the party.
"Consequent to the consummation of the unity, a programme should be drawn as early as possible for the holding of congresses at various levels of the Party leading to the election of a flag bearer and national officers", the statement said. It, therefore, called on the National Leadership to expedite action because any further delay would not be in the interest of the Party.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
You cannot take unilateral decisions - Minister tells Assembly members
Tema (Greater Accra) 25 September 2002- Sheikh I. C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Monday warned assembly members against taking unilateral decisions on matters concerning the assembly in their various electoral areas.
"You should not take it upon yourselves to directly act to redress what you see as irregular or not being in order; such as going to pull down a structure or lotto kiosk simply because you think it is wrongly sited, neither can you write "stop work" order on a physical development nor impose fees or collect taxes".
He said assembly members should always address such irregularities through the forum of the assembly or directly report to the Chief Executive for the appropriate department to take a decision or action.
The Regional Minister was addressing the 80 assembly members of Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) at the beginning of a five-day orientation workshop aimed at equipping them with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively.
He appealed to assembly members to be conversant with the assembly's byelaws, duties, and legislation to be able to discharge their duties perfectly and show interest in revenue sources of the assembly, the constraints, and measures taken to address them.
"Notwithstanding, you are not expected to meddle in or interfere with the execution or implementation of decisions of the staff of the district bureaucracy, thus the office of the Chief Executive and departments of the assembly."
Sheikh Quaye urged them to involve the electorates in the identification and prioritisation of all community projects since they would be judged by the improvement achieved in their areas.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Ivorian crisis affects drivers at Elubo
Takoradi (Western Region) 25 September 2002- Drivers who ply the Takoradi-Elubo-Abidjan route, have noted with concern the low patronage of transport service by travellers to Cote D'Ivoire or to Ghana. They noted that since the "attempted coup" was announced in Cote D'Ivoire, they had never done brisk business as it used to be, but hoped the situation would soon normalise.
Mr Thomas Eghan and Mr Thomas K. Arthur, Western Regional Chairman and vice Chairman respectively of the Takoradi-Elubo-Abidjan branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Takoradi.
They said though there is insecurity in Cote D'Ivoire, their counterparts in that country, have not requested for assistance in terms of transport to convey the displaced persons to their countries of origin.
"We in Takoradi have been assisting in various ways and are on the alert to dispatch vehicles to evacuate our brothers and sisters, safely home if things become worse." The Western Regional Directorate of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) told the GNA that the Commission would provide shelter for Ivorians, who seek asylum, but stressed that any Ghanaian returning home, would not be accommodated as a refugee.
The UNHCR, assisted by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), is monitoring the situation at Elubo and Jaway Wharf Borders, the Commission said.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Workshop on Reproductive Health opens in
Kumasi.
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 25 September 2002- A weeklong Africa Sub-Regional Workshop on advocacy for the promotion of community-operated sexual and reproductive health programme has commenced in Kumasi.
The workshop is being organised by the Japanese Organisation for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) in collaboration with UNFPA and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Africa Regional Office.
Thirty participants from five sub-Sahara African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia are taking part in the workshop which aimed at strengthening advocacy activity to promote sexual and reproductive health at the community level.
In an opening remarks, Mr Moses Mukasa, UNFPA Representative in Ghana, said the provision of adequate health service including sexual and reproductive health services to all was one of he key steps towards the improvement of the quality of life of the citizen.
He said it was in that context that the five-year review of the implementation of the programme of action of the international conference on Population and Development (ICPD), advised all governments, civil societies, including NGOs, Donors and the United Nations Organisations, to give priority to reproductive and sexual health reforms.
Mr Mukasa suggested the expansion of the Integrated Parasite Control Projects (IP) in countries in which it currently operated and introduce mechanisms that would strengthen partnership with governments and other agencies, which adopted community-based approaches in health delivery.
He further urged the participants to adopt advocacy strategies that would consider the role of community leaders in community advocacy activities in support of sexual reproductive health programmes. He commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin for their support in reproductive health activities.
Mr Ryoko Nishida, JOICF Director of International Programmes, said his organisation had been promoting community sexual and reproductive health projects integrated with nutrition and parasite control in sub-Saharan Africa since 1980s. He said the project was currently operating in Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Mr Nishida said the challenge now was to ensure universal access to quality reproductive health services to every one in need, particularly, those under-served in rural areas. In a speech read for him, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, said one of the priority areas of Ghana government was to maximize health delivery services, including reproductive health to the productive sectors of the economy.
He said with the advent of HIV/AIDS pandemic on the African continent, reproductive health should be the prime responsibility of all governments to ensure that the youth were protected from the disease.
Mrs Joana Nerquaye-Tetteh, Executive Director of PPAG, said her organisation had been piloting various health intervention programmes in the rural areas. She said these had been successful due to the support and cooperation from various organisations including district assemblies and donors.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
European Union assist in provision of infrastructure
Bekwai (Ashanti Region) 25 September 2002- Five projects estimated at 550 million cedis have been completed to improve education infrastructure in the Amansie East District of Ashanti under the European Union (EU) micro-projects programme.
Briefing the press at Bekwai, Mr Richard Aboagye, Amansie East District Chief Executive, said 101.3 million cedis was spent to construct a block of three classrooms, an office and store and a four-seat KVIP place of convenience for the local primary school at Huu.
He said the EU also funded the construction of a similar project at the cost of 124.3 million cedis at Aframasie while a block of three classrooms, an office, store and four-seat KVIP estimated at 109.3 million cedis was also constructed for the Anyaasu local junior secondary school.
Mr Aboagye said the EU spent 115 million cedis in completing a block of three classrooms for the Apitisu local JSS while 58 million cedis was spent on three-room nurses quarters at Numeresu.
He said at Ansanso, the EU constructed a three-classroom-block, office and store as well as four-seat KVIP at the cost of 104 million cedis. The DCE appealed to the people to pay their taxes promptly to supplement the common fund and commended the EU for funding the projects.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Ghanaians asked to show appreciation to God
Agona Swedru (Central Region) 25 September 2002- The Spiritual Head of the Agona Swedru branch of the Musama Disco Christo Church (MDCC) Prophet Henry E.Y. Gyasie has called on Ghanaians to always show appreciation to God for the favour of peace the nation continues to enjoy.
He said: "As Christians, we shall be doing a great disservice to God if we do not always pray and say thanks to God for what and how we are." The Spiritual Leader was speaking at the close of a three-day special fasting and thanksgiving service, organised by the church in appreciation of a successful "Peace Festival" held at Mozano.
He said there was always the need for thanksgiving and appreciation, adding that it stirred up the gift of prophesy, fought the battle of life, drove away sorrow, served as spiritual weapon, made us humble and also made God happy as was shown in the parable of the 10 cured lepers.
God was very happy about the one cured leper that came back to give thanks to his maker. Prophet Gyaise charged Christians to learn to forgive and advised Ghanaians to contribute meaningfully to support government's call for national reconciliation with constant and unceasing spiritual backing.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Five communities benefit from HIPC initiative
Akim Manso (Eastern Region) 25 September 2002- A 20-seater modern toilet each would be constructed in five towns in the Birim South District under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) relief funds to help improve upon sanitation in those areas.
The towns are Akim Manso, Oda-Agona, Akim Swedru, Akim Aduasa and Akim Akroso. The Dstrict Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Yaw Amprofi told separate meetings with the beneficiary towns to discuss the implementation of the projects.
Under the programme, the people are required to choose from Clinics, Schools, Water and Toilet facilities, and they opted for toilets. At Akim Manso, the Chief of the town, Obrempong Sintim III said the benefits of the HIPC initiative to be enjoyed by the towns had proved wrong those who criticised the government for opting to join HIPC.
He appealed to Ghanaians to put party affiliations aside when it came to the discussion of policies which were geared towards the improvement of the living conditions of the people especially those in the rural areas. The Assembly member for Akim Manso, Mr Yaw Antwi Boasiako said the projects had come at the right time when the town was faced with the problem of inadequate toilet facility.
He appealed to the government to consider the rehabilitating the 1.2 kilometre road leading from their junction to the town. Mr Amprofi said the assembly would initially receive 500 million cedis out of the one billion cedis promised from the HIPC funds.
He said joining HIPC was not a bad idea adding that there were more benefits to be derived from the initiative to help accelerate the pace of development in the communities.
GRi…/
Send your comments viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Reconstituted Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council inaugurated
Tamale (Northern Region) 25 September 2002- The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Issah Ketekewu, has said that until the Abudu and Andani gates of Dagbon move away from their entrenched positions, no internal or external committee or commission could succeed in bringing peace and reconciliation in the area.
He said both sides would have to agree to bury their differences and make compromises before any peace initiative could succeed. Mr Ketekewu was inaugurating of a 16-member reconstituted Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in Tamale on Monday.
He said "it appears that people in this region always succeed in displaying the negative and divisive characteristics of the area to the exclusion of the many positive features that identify us as one people."
The Deputy Minister said, "currently the Region needed a strong and cohesive body that could pull the pieces together and give a beacon of hope to the distraught people," and urged members of the council to help build mutual trust among them.
Mr Issah Ketekewu said the government had demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that it wanted truth to come out so that the perpetrators in the Dagbon crisis would be made to face the law. He was of the view that some people are politicising the crisis to reap political advantage adding "the government has no intention in taking sides in this unfortunate crisis."
The 16 members were made up of District Chief Executives and Presiding Members of the assemblies in the region. Mr Justice Victor Doegah, the Supervising High Court Judge of Tamale, swore them into office.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com