Government
recognises importance of IT - Debrah
Professor
Mills arrives from Canada
ECOWAS
Youth and Citizens League summit ends
Meet-the-Press
series begins on 1 October
Call for alternate forms of punishment to de-congest courts
Head
of Greek Orthodox Church calls on President Kufuor
Five
to contest Kumawu bye-election
NRC
senior staff sworn into office
Tsatsu Tsikata to appear in
court 9 October
United Nations refugee
office in Ghana in tatters?
First batch of kids trapped in
the Ivorian standoff evacuated
Government
recognises importance of IT - Debrah
Tamale (Northern Region)
27 September 2002 - Mr Ernest Debrah, Acting Northern Regional Minister has
said that the government recognised the importance of Information Technology to
development. "It is in this vein that the development of Information
Technology in the country has become one of the major objectives of the
government," he said.
This was contained in
an address read on his behalf at the commissioning of an Information and
Documentation Resource Centre at the Tamale campus of the Institute of Local
Government Studies (ILGS).
"In this era of
globalisation, a country that does not address the problem of information
accessibility and dissemination would not only be marginalised but would also
be left in economic doldrums," Mr Debrah said.
Equipped by the UNICEF,
the Centre with an Information Technology Unit and a Library is housed in a
rehabilitated building of the Institute. Mr Debrah noted that the Centre was
strategically located to make information on the three northern regions easily
accessible to researchers, development partners, investors and tourists.
"It is therefore
our expectation that those who will have access to the Centre, would make good
use of the people and contribute significantly to its sustainability. Indeed, it is my hope that when we come
again to visit the Centre in future, we would see significant development based
on a new culture of maintenance," the Minister added.
There is a big
technological gap between Northern Ghana and the rest of the country, which
must be bridged, he said adding that, the commissioning had come at the most
appropriate time. "I appeal to the district assemblies, NGOs and public
spirited individuals to assist the Centre to achieve the purpose, for which it
was established," he said.
Mr Isaac Banyeh,
Director of the Tamale campus of ILGS, noted that the Institute was uniquely
placed to promote capacity building to enhance decentralisation especially in
the northern regions. This was not only due to its "geo-centric"
position in the northern sector but also because of the well-structured skill
based courses it offered for local government staff.
The Institute intended
to organise a conference to explore ways of strengthening local governance, he
said adding that, it would also identify professionals in various disciplines
who could help improve the staffing position of deprived district assemblies,
he said.
Mr Banyeh commended
UNICEF for contributing to the development of the Institute.
Dr Kamesh Shrestha,
UNICEF Resident Representative in Ghana, in a statement read on his behalf,
urged the Tamale campus of ILGS, to strengthen its role in co-ordinating
capacity-building programmes for district assemblies to eliminate duplication.
The Institute, he said
should also ensure leadership in linking capacity development to improved
service delivery. He gave the assurance UNICEF would work closely with the
Institute to improve the capacity of members, professional and administrative
staff of district assemblies, community-based organisations and NGOs.
GRi…/
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Professor
Mills arrives from Canada
Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Former
Vice-President,
returned from Canada on Thursday, after formally ending his one-year contract
with the University of British-Columbia.
He told newsmen at the
Kotoka International Airport in Accra, that he had returned for good and would make
a formal statement after he had been briefed on the situation in the country.
Prof Mills said he benefited a lot from his stay in Canada and taught many
students on Africa, its government, and development.
The Former
Voce-President said he also developed a mutual relationship with students and
authorities of the University, adding that, he would miss them dearly.
Professor Mills who returned to Ghana about a month ago, returned to formally
complete his contract.
GRi…/
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ECOWAS
Youth and Citizens League summit ends
Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - The first ever Peoples' Summit for ECOWAS Youth and Citizens
League (EYCL), a non-governmental and non-partisan voluntary association of
West African Youth and citizens to know economic values of West African States
was held in Accra on Thursday with a call on Africans to develop a strategy to
solve their own problems.
Colonel John Sharpe
(Rtd), the National Patron of EYCL, who made the call said: "The solution
to Africa's problem need not to be imported but should be designed by the
Africans themselves."
He said selfishness,
dishonesty, lack of productivity, indiscipline and misuse of political power
were some of Africa's diseases and called on the leaders to develop the strong
will to overcome them to give relief to their citizens.
He said the League had
no political ambition but it had a vision, which it would pursue vigorously to
ensure that by the next five years, all borders in West Africa would be opened
and people and goods would freely move across them.
The Reverend Joshua
Kingly Boson, Founder and President of the EYCL, said the League had a voluntary
auxiliary contingent of professionals and craftsmen at stand by to provide
civilian refugee support, offer emergency relief service and give direct
assistance to the reconstruction of any member state of the community affected
by natural disaster, civil wars or ethnic conflicts.
He announced that from
January next year, the League would start the registration and computation of
all West African citizens leaving in Ghana to enable Embassies to know the
number of their citizens in the country for proper monitoring.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom,
Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation, said in spite of the
modest achievements of ECOWAS since its inception, it still remained a divided
entity in terms of language.
"While we
continued to divide ourselves, the Europeans, who originated our divisive
labels have been uniting and integrating into an European Union. After 27 years
of establishing ECOWAS we should by now be speaking with one voice of
integration", Dr Nduom said in a speech read for him.
He said: "If we
are to be taken seriously, we must aim to produce a different story in 10 years
time. We must begin today and move away from all divisive tendencies and must resolve
to move ECOWAS forward with full commitment to establishing a viable ECOWAS
that would be a major force for progress and development of our
Sub-Region."
Mr Kofi Konadu Apraku,
Minister of Trade and Industry, in a speech read for him, said various policy
implementation bottlenecks and non-co-operative attitude of some ECOWAS member
states had deprived Ghanaians of the benefits of the ECOWAS Trade Liberation
Scheme.
He mentioned
difficulties in obtaining compensation for loss of revenue in granting the zero
duty rate, existence of parallel UEMOA Trade Liberalisation and compensation
scheme, with different rules and origins and the harassment of traders at the
borders as the three major problems impeding implementation of the scheme.
He urged Ghanaian
businessmen to shift from importation to exportation of Ghanaian products to
take advantage of the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF).
Dr Kwaku Twum-Baah,
Acting Government Statistician, speaking on "Computerisation of West
African Citizens - Why the Need", said such data might be useful for
ongoing or planned social and economic development projects.
The EYCL would
organise a non-governmental Parliament in March 2003, to formulate plans for
the West African Paramount Chiefs' Parliament for implementation.
GRi…/
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Meet-the-Press
series begins on 1 October
Accra (Greater Accra) 27
September 2002 - The Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs has
initiated a comprehensive programme to sensitize the media and the public on
government activities.
A statement issued by
the Ministry and signed by Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Sector Minister in Accra
on Thursday, said the first in the series would begin on Tuesday, 1 October
with the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu Yeboah. The statement said the
venue would be the conference hall of the Ministry at 1000 hours.
It said the programme
envisages a Presidential Press Conference on a quarterly basis as well as
monthly interaction of Ministers with the media interspersed with regular
weekly media encounters with Regional Ministers and ad-hoc briefings by Sector
Ministers. The statement said the format for Regional Ministers would be a
30-minute presentation followed by question and answer sessions for 30 minutes.
GRi…/
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NDC
trains 93 polling agents for Kumawu bye-election
Kumawu (Ashanti
Region) 27 September 2002 - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National Organiser of the National
Democracy Congress (NDC) has told the party’s polling agents for the Kumawu
constituency parliamentary bye-election to be vigilant to prevent malpractices.
He asked them to call
attention to all forms of irregularities and expose to the Presiding Officers
those who would attempt to engage in multiple voting. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was
addressing the opening of a one-day training workshop for 93 polling agents of
the NDC at Kumawu on Wednesday.
He reminded them that
together with the election officers they are responsible for ensuring that the
election was conducted according to the rules.
"You must therefore, carry out your duties with absolute honesty
and integrity.
If you have an
objection to make against any person in relation to the election, do so through
the Presiding Officer.” Mr Bede Ziedeng, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC,
called on political parties contesting the bye-election to observe responsible
conduct to make the polls clean and transparent.
GRi…/
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Call
for alternate forms of punishment to de-congest courts
Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - Dr Seth Twum, an Accra-based Legal Practitioner has called
for alternate forms of punishment for minor offences as a form of prison reform
and to de-congest the courts.
He said there was the
need to look at other areas of reducing back-logs of cases and suggested
recordings of court proceedings, summary judgement of cases, the construction
of more prisons and making them more friendly as well as the provision of
educational facilities to reform prisoners.
Dr Twum said this when
he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament as the fifth of the
nominees for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana. He said
another way to do-congest the courts should be to follow up on the registrar
summons system to ensure that cases were speedily disposed of instead of allowing
the cases to pile up.
Dr Twum's academic
qualifications include Chartered Accountancy in Company Law, Senior Lecturer in
Law and Associate Professor and Dean, Faculty of Law Bendel State University,
Nigeria and Lecturer in Law, South West London College.
His publications
include "Labour problems in Ghana", "Banking Law", and “The
Development of the law of Collective Bargaining in Ghana” and “Consideration
and General Theory of forbearance in Contract Law".
Dr Twum stressed the
importance of passing the Labour Bill so that the National Labour Commission
would ensure the insulation of Government from labour unrest and deal with
tripartite issues, arbitration and other schemes to iron out frustrations of
workers.
Dr Twum said under the
proposed Bill some category of workers whose services were essential would be
provided with special incentives to prevent them from joining in strikes while
the Commission would also insulate the labour market from politics and labour
unrests.
On the perception of
corruption in the Judiciary, he said efforts should be made to give incentives
to judges to insulate them against falling into temptation to accept any form
of bribes.
Dr Twum expressed
regret that the Ghana Bar Association had no power to discipline its members
who misconduct themselves and said it should be empowered to bring their
members to book when they faulted in the performance of their duties.
On his views about the
death penalty, he said life was too precious to be allowed to go waste
explaining that the penalty of death for a crime could not be reversed if it
was later found to be incorrect and suggested reforms in the prison system and
improvement of the prisons to make them more habitable.
Dr Twum said justice
should not be cheapened just because of numbers, adding that the Supreme court
had five jurisdictions such as constitutional, appellate, supervisory, review
and residual matters to handle state security, which required more experienced
persons to handle.
He said the Supreme
Court should be empowered to take decisions, adding that it was too early for
any amendments to be made to the constitution about the number of judges
otherwise there would be frequent amendments.
Dr Twum noted that the
Interstate Succession Law was a good one and that it was morally right for
everybody to have the right to the wealth of one's parents whether the children
were born out of wedlock saying if such children were denied, they could become
liabilities to society.
GRi…/
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Head
of Greek Orthodox Church calls on President Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - The visiting Head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Pope and
Patriarch, His Beatitudes Petros VII, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on
President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.
His Beatitudes Petros
who is on a week's visit to Ghana would also consecrate the Church's Cathedral
at Abeka Lapaz, a suburb of Accra on Sunday, 29 September.
President Kufuor
called for partnership between the State and the church because both of them
work towards the improvement in the living standards of the people. He said while activities of the state were
geared towards the physical and material needs of the people the church
complements it with the spiritual needs and "without the support of the
church, the state would be saddled with a heavy burden to improve the standard
of living".
President Kufuor
commended the church and other religious bodies in the country for their
co-operation, which he said, "had not created any extremism in their
activities but had lived together in peace and harmony."
Professor George Hagan,
Chairman of the National Commission on Culture (NCC) said with the visit of the
Pope and Patriarch would serve as a catalyst for the social transformation
being embarked on by the government.
His Beatitudes Petros
said the Orthodox Church had always supported dialogue between the various
Christian doctrines, which had brought nations together, adding " all must
learn to live in harmony with the love of God among each other to build the
society of God".
He said the church,
which was established about 2,000 years ago and 25 years in Ghana had assisted
in the provision of social amenities such as schools and clinics in areas where
they operated.
His Beatitudes Petros
is the leader of the church in Africa and one of the Primates of the Universal
Eastern Orthodox Church, which is the second largest Christian church after the
Roman Catholic Church.
He is considered to be
the direct successor of Saint Mark, the Apostle and Evangelist as St. Mark
established the Orthodox Church in the Greek City of Alexandria in Egypt in 43
A.D. The Greek Orthodox Church is considered to be the first Christian Church
on the African Continent established by an Apostle of the Jesus Christ.
GRi.../
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Five
to contest Kumawu bye-election
Kumasi (Ashanti
Region) 27 September 2002 - Five candidates representing five political parties
will contest the Kumawu bye-election scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 1
October 2002.
They are Mr James Yaw
Owusu, 51, farmer, representing the People National Convention (PNC), Miss Rose
Aboagye, 48, of the Democratic People's Party (DPP), Mr Yaw Baah, 43, a lawyer,
for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Richard Martin Osei, 55, teacher, for the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr Yaw Opoku Mensah, 40, farmer, for the
Ghana Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).
The seat became vacant
following the death of Mr Reo Addai Basoah, the NPP Member of Parliament for
the Constituency. Mr Samuel Yorke Aidoo, Ashanti Regional Director of the
Electoral Commission (EC), announced this on Thursday to outline preparation
and coverage of the Kumawu Constituency bye-election in Kumasi.
He said contesting
political parties have been given copies of the list of all polling staff for
their perusal and comments. Mr Aidoo said a constituency inter-party advisory
meeting is to take place at Kumawu before the election.
He said in spite of
the impressive relative peace, adequate provision has been made for a joint
police and military security operation, saying, about 72 police officers will
be deployed to the Polling Stations while the military will mount two Mobile
Patrol Teams.
Mr Aidoo said the
collation and declaration of the final constituency results will take place at
the Dining Hall of the Tweneboah Kodua Secondary School at Kumawu.
Mr Aidoo said three
zones -Bira/Owam, Kumawu/Bodomase and Afram Plains have been created to ensure timely
distribution of election materials and that election materials for four sectors
of Afram Plains will be conveyed from Kumawu on Sunday, September 29 while the
materials for Biram/Owam and Kumawu/Bodomase will be kept at the designated
Centres and distributed at dawn on Tuesday.
GRi…/
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NRC
senior staff sworn into office
Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - Mr Justice Edward K. Wiredu, the Chief Justice, Thursday
swore the senior staff of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) into
office and cautioned them to be careful of information leakage in the course of
their work.
The 11-member senior
staff swore the oath of allegiance and secrecy. Mr Justice Wiredu asked them to take the oath seriously and not
to reveal any information without using the proper channel.
Mr. Justice Wiredu
reminded the staff that the violation of the oath carried sanctions, adding
that the revelation of information without due process has negative
consequences on the work of the commission. "Be guided by the rules and
regulations of the NRC Act 611 and ensure not to fall victim of the rules and
regulations," he said.
He congratulated them
and urged them to put their expertise at the disposal of the Commission and
ensure the success of its work. Dr. Ken Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the
NRC thanked the state on behalf of his colleagues and assured the Chief Justice
that the Senior Staff will live up to expectation.
He pledged their
commitment to the task ahead, saying that they will work hard for the
Commission to achieve the desired results. The other senior officers include,
Mr. E. A. Cooper, Director, Finance and Administration; Mr E. A. Mingle,
Director, Legal; Ms. Annie Anipa, Director, Public Relations; Dr. Mrs. Araba
Sefa-Dedeh, Director, Counselling.
Others are Mr. E. C.
S. Y. Dey, Zonal Manager, Ho; Mr. Johnson Abudu, Director, Investigations and
Research; Mr. Sampson Amofa-Kra, Zonal Manager, Kumasi; Mr. D. N. Loriba, Zonal
Manager, Tamale and Mr. G. A. Punguse, Zonal Manager, Bolgatanga.
GRi…/
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Tsatsu Tsikata to appear
in court 9 October
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 Sept 2002 - Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, the Former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) would appear again before an Accra Fast Track High Court on 9 October to answer charges of causing financial loss to the state.
This follows a review by the Supreme Court on 26 June that the Fast Track High Courts are constitutional and has the jurisdiction to try him after the Court's earlier decision by a majority of Five to Four that it was unconstitutional.
Reliable security sources told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Mr. Tsikata was served by the Attorney General's office through the police in August this year, but due to the Legal Vacation, the case was scheduled for 9 October.
Tsikata, a Lawyer and a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing charges of causing financial loss of about 2.2 billion cedis to the state.
The offence was detected through forensic auditing of the GNPC. He pleaded not guilty when he first appeared before an Accra Circuit Tribunal and was granted a 500 million cedis self-recognisance bail.
Earlier, the prosecution told the tribunal that a forensic audit ordered by the government found that Mr Tsikata had "circumvented laid down corporate objectives of the GNPC."
He allegedly by-passed the Board of Directors of the Corporation and committed GNPC to guarantee a loan of 5.5 million French francs and another 1.4 million French francs with interest inclusive to Valley Farm, a private cocoa growing company of which GNPC held an initial share of 17.39 percent.
The loan, totalling about 2.2 billion cedis was from the Caisse Francaise de Developpement, a French aid agency. Valley Farm was said to have used the loan to rehabilitate three cocoa farms located at Assin Manso in the Central Region, Dadieso and Nyakoman in the Western Region.
The Prosecution said Valley Farm went distressed and defaulted in repaying the loan, compelling Mr Tsikata, without prior approval of the Board of Directors, to pay the loan as well as interest totalling 6,919,123 French francs out of GNPC funds.
Mr Tsikata caused a constitutional stir when he challenged the legality of the Fast Track Court at the Supreme Court after the case was transferred from the Circuit Tribunal to the Fast Track High Court (FTC).
He won a majority decision of Five to four that the Fast Track High Court was unconstitutional, but the Attorney General applied for a review of the first decision, which was later overturned by a majority of six to five that the FTC is constitutional. This would be his first appearance after the review, which upheld the legality of the Fast Track Court.
GRi.../
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United Nations refugee
office in Ghana in tatters?
Washington, DC (USA) 27 September 2002 - A letter to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Rudd Lubbers, regarding the current condition of UNHCR Ghana, following the management and allegedly fraudulent activities by the former Head of Office, and of the formidable challenges before the agency.
Mr. Rudd Lubbers United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Case Postale 2500 CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt Switzerland
Dear High Commissioner Lubbers,
We write to you on behalf of the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) to discuss the refugee situation in Ghana. During July and August, a two-person USCR team conducted a mission to Ghana, where we know UNHCR has struggled with its operations. It is in this spirit that USCR offers the following observations regarding the obstacles confronting UNHCR/Ghana as it attempts to provide refugees and asylum seekers the dignified protection and assistance they deserve.
USCR is impressed with the dedication and energy the current acting UNHCR Representative in Ghana, Mr. Thomas Albrecht, has brought to the job. Mr. Albrecht has made improvements during his short time in Ghana and fully recognizes that much difficult work remains to be done. We hope that UNHCR/Geneva will give Mr. Albrecht all necessary support as he undertakes difficult reforms.
As you well know, the current condition of UNHCR programs in Ghana presents formidable challenges. During the tenure of the former head of office, UNHCR/Ghana's protection and assistance programs deteriorated to the point of neglect. Mismanagement, including allegedly fraudulent activities by the former head of office, reduced UNHCR/Ghana's refugee resettlement program to a dysfunctional state.
During USCR's site visit to Ghana this summer, we found that the cumulative decline of UNHCR/Ghana had damaged relations with Ghanaian governmental officials and implementing partners. Because UNHCR/Ghana failed to provide leadership for many years, local officials had dramatically reduced, suspended, or discontinued many critical refugee-related programs. For example, Ghana's Ministry of Interior has failed to maintain an active Refugee Board mandated by Ghanaian Refugee Law, resulting in the suspension of refugee status determinations. This continues to endanger the lives of refugees and asylum seekers that the Ghanaian government and UNHCR are responsible for protecting. The failure of UNHCR/Ghana to maintain and implement proper registration procedures has further compromised the refugee resettlement program.
During USCR's site visit, many refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana expressed the view that UNHCR has abandoned them. It will probably take years of hard work and reforms to reverse that unfortunate perception. With that in mind, USCR respectfully offers the following recommendations to properly rebuild UNHCR/Ghana: Ø UNHCR/Ghana should overhaul management and administrative procedures and assistance and protection programs simultaneously. UNHCR/Ghana should undertake all efforts to ensure that the ongoing needs of refugees and asylum seekers are met during this transitional period.
UNHCR/Geneva should officially upgrade UNHCR/Ghana to the status of Branch office. This will raise the profile of the Ghana program with UNHCR/Geneva and increase the potential that UNHCR/Ghana will receive adequate financial and human resources, and requisite technical support.
UNHCR should conduct a thorough demographic census of all refugee and asylum seekers in Ghana. Currently, UNHCR staff in Ghana is unable to identify who is a refugee and who is not.
UNHCR should register all refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana, utilizing the most cost effective and innovative technology available for identification purposes. Implementing identification methods that incorporate digitized photos and biometrics can expedite and streamline the registration process, while at the same time help combat fraud.
UNHCR should conduct a thorough needs assessment of refugee and asylum seekers in Ghana. Once a thorough census is completed, UNHCR/Ghana can develop and implement targeted assistance programs.
UNHCR/Ghana should strive to restore and maintain a transparent and collaborative relationship with refugees and asylum seekers. Relations between UNHCR and refugees and asylum seekers have been damaged. Establishing open lines of communication will better enable UNHCR to meet the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana.
UNHCR/Ghana should regularly share pertinent information with its implementing partners, regional resettlement partners, and governmental officials. UNHCR/Ghana should consider developing a joint database with the support and input of implementing partners.
UNHCR should officially designate UNHCR/Ghana as a Regional Resettlement Hub and provide the newly established office with adequate financial and human resources, and requisite technical support. Ghana is a strategically located, peaceful West Africa nation with a well-established international refugee resettlement infrastructure in Accra that has the potential to process resettlement cases properly and efficiently.
UNHCR, in close cooperation with regional resettlement partners and Ghanaian government officials, should conduct a resettlement information campaign for refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana. Most refugee resettlement problems are rooted in misinformation.
UNHCR/Ghana and its implementing partners should strive to ensure that the Ghanaian government reactivates its Refugee Board and recommences refugee status determination activities without further delay.
USCR strongly believes that the foundation exists for UNHCR to restore its institutional integrity, regional credibility, and dedication to refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana. With committed support from UNHCR/Geneva and the international community the potential exists for a properly rebuilt UNHCR/Ghana to serve as a model for refugee programs worldwide.
USCR will work to persuade U.S. and Ghanaian government officials and UNHCR partners to support UNHCR's reform efforts as a crucial component to the future success of UNHCR/Ghana. We at USCR welcome the opportunity to discuss with you further any of the above matters, as well as any additional issues regarding Africa's uprooted people.
Sincerely,
Lavinia Limon Joel Frushone
Executive Director Policy Analyst
U.S. Committee for Refugees U.S. Committee for Refugees
CC: David Lambo, Director, UNHCR Africa Bureau
Zobida Hassim-Ashagrie, Deputy Director, UNHCR Africa Bureau
Abu Musa, Director, UNHCR Western and Central Africa regions
Guenet Guebre-Christos, Representative, Regional Office for the United States
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 – The Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie said his sector
has identified fifty-six Districts as being at high risk of Maternal and
Neonatal Tetanus Infection. He said all women within the fertile age group of
12-49 years, in those districts would be given three doses of tetanus as part
of immunization programme between the year 2002 and 2003.
Dr Afriyie disclosed
this when he received 1.7 billion cedis worth of 960,000 doses of Tetanus
Toxoid Vaccines, Automobile Syringes, Safety Boxes, and Refrigerators donated
by the Japanese Government to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Accra.
The donation was under
the Japanese grant for Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus elimination activities in
Ghana. The Minister noted that about 100 cases of neonatal tetanus were
reported every year in the country with a significant number of them resulting
in death.
He recounted that in
1998, a study conducted by MOH showed that only 5-8 percent of Neonatal Tetanus
cases were reported with other unreported cases. As a result of this, the
Minister said the MOH in 2001 with its health partners drew up a five year plan
for the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus by the year 2005 through
the use of well known and tested strategies.
He mentioned criminal
septic abortion and use of unhygienic pessaries during the post natal periods
as some of the causes of maternal tetanus, adding that in Ghana, neonatal
tetanus were caused by unclean delivery and cord care practices.
Dr Afriyie said
vaccination campaigns have started in two districts-Juabesobea and Wassa Amenfi
in the Western Regions with 400,000 dollars worth of vaccines from the Japanese
government. He said WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA have also recommended strategies such
as promoting clean delivery services to all pregnant women and ensure early
case detection to eliminate neonatal tetanus.
Mrs Kazuko Asai,
Japanese ambassador to Ghana pledged Japan's continued support to ensure the
elimination of maternal neonatal tetanus and hoped that the vaccines would
enhance health delivery in the country, especially among children.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - The prosecution in the case in which Amina B. Abubakari
Sidiq, a businesswoman, is standing trial at a Regional Tribunal at Accra for a
1.5 million dollars deal, on Thursday said the accused person's claim of right
to the amount was in bad faith.
Mr. Anthony Gyambiby,
Principal State Attorney, told the tribunal chaired by Mr. Isaac Duose that a
claim of right "is a claim of right in good faith", but that the
accused also known as Baby Ocansey, did not show any good faith in her claim
and that "a person without a claim of right, becomes an essential element
of dishonest appropriation."
He said "where
there is a claim of right, it must be supported by evidence and that the
accused has no claim of right whatsoever, in the collection of the 1.5 million
dollars from the Bank Of Ghana (BOG)".
Mr. Gyambiby was
addressing the tribunal after Mr. Godfred D.A. Laryea, counsel for Ocansey, had
closed his case. Ocansey, 61, is charged on four counts of causing financial
loss to the state, stealing, possessing and altering forged document.
She had pleaded not
guilty to all the charges and is on a 500,000 dollar bail, with a surety to be
justified. Mr. Justice Duose adjourned the case to Monday, October 21 for
judgement. On Tuesday, 13 August 2002, the tribunal acquitted and discharged
three others, two former officials of the BOG and a businessman who had been
charged jointly with Ocansey.
The tribunal ruled
that the prosecution had failed to establish prima facie cases against Mr
Sebastian Gavor and Mr. Justice Larbie, the two former employees of the BOG and
Alhaji Sidiq Gimala.
Mr. Gyambiby said, as
at December 17, 1999, the bank draft from the Chase Manhattan Bank in the
United States, was not a good instrument for payment, since it had no
supporting funds, and that the draft turned out to be forged.
The prosecution said
looking at the totality of evidence before the tribunal, there was so many
pieces of circumstantial evidence, which had led to the conclusion that,
Ocansey misappropriated the 1.5 million dollars and wilfully caused financial
loss to the state. The Principal State Attorney submitted that Ocansey
appropriated the money, which she did not deny and that the appropriation was
dishonest, since the accused had an evil intention.
Mr. Gyambiby wondered
how the name of an official of the BOG could be written on the face of the
cheque in question as a beneficial, and added that it was to influence payment.
He said this was a clear test case to show that the whole exercise was a syndicate.
The prosecutor told
the tribunal that unless the defence put up credible evidence beyond reasonable
doubt, it should fail leading to the accused person's conviction. He said the
"prosecution has been able to establish its case on all the four charges,
and called on the tribunal to convict Ocansey".
The Principal State
Attorney had earlier told the Tribunal that in the latter part of October 1999,
Gavor called one Mr E. D. Donkoh, Manager of the Budget and Accounts Department
of the Bank into his office and asked him to furnish Ocansey with the Account
Number and address of the Ghana International Bank in London. Mr Donkoh,
complied with the request, which enabled Ocansey to transact business with the
bank.
Mr. Gyambiby said on
November 11, 1999, Ocansey presented a bank draft purported to have been issued
by the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, dated 5 November 1999 with the face
value of 1.5 million dollars to Gavor for encashment, after which Gavor
instructed his secretary, Mrs. Lucy Sasu to send Mr. Donkoh to send the draft
to one Mr. Ashie Djanie to process for collection.
The draft whose
maturity date was December 12, 1999, was given to Mr. Djanie for processing
after which it was despatched by the BOG on 26 November 1999. On 1 December 1999,
Citibank, New York, confirmed by a swift message having credited 1.5 million
dollars to the BOG's account, but with the following proviso; "subject to
the rules governing cheques and their clearings", adding that, "this
message was received the following day."
On 16 November 1999,
Mr Gavor asked Mr. Djanie, who worked in the Banking Department of the BOG, to
use his (Gavor's) IDD to confer with the BOG's contact personnel at the City
Bank to know the status of the bank draft and he was informed that, the BOG had
been credited with the bank draft.
Irrespective of this
caution about the clearance of cheques and banking procedures, Mr Larbie
instructed Mr Djanie to process the draft for payment and subsequently approved
the payment schedule, which was prepared by Mrs. Nyarko and Mrs. Kessie, both
workers of the BOG. The process went through and the amount was paid to Ocansey
and Gavor whose names appeared on the cheque in the office of Gavor.
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo)
27 September 2002- Military personnel are patrolling all the five entry points
at the Ghana-La Cote D'Ivoire border in the Brong Ahafo Region to forestall the
infiltration of armed insurgents into the country. The frontiers are Gonokrom
and Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa District, Sampa, Kwameseikrom and Atuna in the
Jaman District.
Major Richard Deku,
Officer Commanding (OC) the Third Battalion of Infantry in Sunyani told the
Ghana News Agency on Thursday that the security situation in the Region in the
aftermath the attempted coup in Cote D'Ivoire "is calm".
He explained that the
essence of the military patrols at the frontiers was to disarm any of the armed
men from the neighbouring country who might want to infiltrate into Ghana.
The Security Services
in the Region were in touch with the Regional Office of National Disaster
Management Organisation (NADMO), which is putting measures in place in
anticipation of any influx of civilians into the country, the Officer
Commanding said.
"In case
civilians infiltrate into the country NADMO would accordingly screen them and
ensure that they are settled in camps for their upkeep and safety."
Explaining the
presence of a military helicopter hovering in the skies of Sunyani and its
environs since Monday, which many residents linked to the situation in La Cote
D'Ivoire, Major Deku said the aircraft "is on routine flights that are
connected with the inspection of Volta River Authority's power lines".
Meanwhile reports from
Gonokrom border post indicated that in spite of the opening of the Ivorian side
of the border, which was closed at the onset of the attempted military putsch,
there had not been any mass movement of vehicles or people as was expected.
Mr Emmanuel Opata,
Immigration Officer in charge of the post told Ghana News Agency that both
Ivorians and Ghanaians entertained fears for their safety because of the
volatile situation in the neighbouring country.
Asked if he had heard
of maltreatment of Ghanaians in that country, he replied that he had not heard
anything like that but there were unconfirmed reports that some Burkinabes had
been maltreated.
Mr Thomas Nyarko, Base
Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) confirmed the
re-opening of the Ivorian side of the border and described the situation at the
border post as normal.
About 20 vehicles
carrying goods on their way to Guinea, Liberia and La Cote D'Ivoire were parked
at the post. The drivers said they were afraid to proceed because of the
worsening situation in the war-torn country. The Customs Officials at the
Baggage hall were seen glued to their transistor radio sets probably either
monitoring events in that country or whiling away the time as there was no work
for them to do.
At Takyikrom at the
other side of the border, Ivorian soldiers were also seen patrolling. Mr Kakou
Konan, Head of Customs, confirmed that he was instructed by the Ivorian
authorities to close their side of the border and was instructed again to
re-open it on Sunday.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002- The Abudu Gate on Thursday accused the rival Andani Gate in
the Yendi conflicts of efforts to undermine the government through the
destabilisation of the Dagbon state.
Mr Amadu Kaleem,
Spokesman for the Gate, told newsmen in Accra that in pursuit of the scheme,
the Andani Gate this week planned to attack Abudu's living in Tamale to further
aggravate the confusion to heighten tension in Dagbon and create a state of
insecurity in the country.
Mr Kaleem said the
political agenda of the Andani's was recently exposed by Dr Yahuza Gomda,
Spokesman of the Andani Gate, on an Accra FM Station where he was alleged to
have stated that "they (Andani's) were praying to a superior being for the
removal of the Kufuor Administration, just like was done to the Busia
government in 1972."
The Abudu Spokesman
also noted that the recent call for the resignation of Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Mr Jake Obetsebi
Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs were part of the
clandestine scheme to destabilise the government.
Mr Kaleem alleged
further that the boycotting of the Wuako Commission's sitting at the eleventh
hour by the Andani's clearly exposed their hidden agenda and subversive
machination.
He questioned the
rational for the boycott by the Andani's after they had insisted on the
establishment of a commission of enquiry in the heat of events alleging that
they had facts about the involvement of certain respectable members of the
government and the Abudu Gate.
However, they failed
to establish the facts before the Commission "as they had promised the
nation." "The truth caught up with the Andani's about lies and deceit
they had perpetrated and peddled with justice not only being done, but manifestly
being seen to be done, hence their boycott," Mr Kaleem stated.
Mr Kaleem emphasised:
"The motive, ulterior is political, pure and simple...the Yendi conflict
is being whipped up into a crisis in order to undermine the New Patriotic Party
government."
The other obvious
reason according to the Abudu Gate Spokesman was that the Andani's fled from
the Commission to avoid exposure as the instigators, architects and brains
behind the conflict in Yendi and attempt to slaughter the Abudus that
backfired.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - The Abudu Gate of Yendi has challenged the legitimacy of
the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, as the king of Dagbon State and staged their
claim to the throne.
"The Mion-Lana
Andani, who later become the King of Dagbon under the title Andani III father
of Yakubu Andani II was not properly en-skinned and recognised as the
legitimate King of the land, how could his son claim title to the throne",
Mr Amadu Kaleem, spokesman for the Abudu Gate stated at a press conference in
Accra.
Mr Kaleem said in
spite of the illegal occupancy of the Dagbon throne by the Andanis, we
accommodated the situation till Yakubu Andani's death now. "As far as the
Abudu Gate is concerned, the Andani Gate has had its turn at the slot for the
Ya Na, and the next chance should go to an Abudu.
On that, there is no
compromise, since to do so will be to sacrifice fair play, equity and
justice." Mr Kaleem urged the government to intensify efforts at finding
the killers of the Late Yakubu Andani II, as well as those who instigated the
conflict.
He said the Abudu Gate
distances itself from the gruesome murder, adding, "We of the Abudu Gate
have never plotted to kill anybody and we shall not stand in the way of the law
taking its course if any body is properly found involved."
Recently, the Andani
Gate also laid legitimacy to the throne alleging that the assassinated King
Yakubu Andani II did not serve his full term.
They enumerated a ten
point measures to rectify the conflict, which included; the rehabilitation of
the palace and other customary houses, which were destroyed by the criminals,
restoration of family houses and that the government should appease the custom
of Dagbon for desecrating it in announcing the death of the Ya Na without due
process of traditional protocol.
The Andani Gate
maintained that the presence of the elders was a customary prerequisite for the
burial of a Ya Na. They also called for the performance of the final funeral
rites of all chiefs - the Gulkpe-na, the Tolon-na, the Gushie-na, Yo-na, who
according to the Dagbon traditions have roles to play in the performance of the
funeral rites of the Ya Na Yakubu Andani II.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002- Mba Sakpare, Senior Elder of the Nayiri, Paramount Chief of
the Mamprusi Traditional Area on Thursday, led a delegation to inform President
John Agyekum Kufuor about the death of Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, a legal
practitioner and former Chairman of the Council of State, at the Castle, Osu.
Alhaji Bawumia, 75,
who died at the Tamale Regional Hospital on 22 September after a short illness
had already been buried according to Muslim custom.
Mba Sakpare said the
funeral rites and installation of a regent in the place of Alhaji Bawumia who
was also the Kperi-Naa and Paramount Chief of Kperiga Traditional Area, in the
Northern Region since March 2000 would be performed on 4 October. President
Kufuor said the late Alhaji Bawumia was in the frontline in the struggle for
Ghana's independence and served as a public servant with distinction.
He said Ghana had lost
a worthy son because of his distinguished service to the nation and the
acknowledgement of his contribution to the state by the government should
encourage the youth who aspire to serve the nation with distinction.
Alhaji Bawumia was a
founding member of the Northern People's Party (NPP) in the early 1950's during
the struggle for independence and was instrumental in the success of the
Convention People's Party (CPP), which made inroads into Northern Ghana.
He was appointed a
Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region and later Minister of Local
Government in the first republic and during the third Republic was appointed
Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
During the PNDC era,
Alhaji Bawumia was appointed Ghana's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, after which he
returned to Ghana and was elected representative of the Northern Region to the
Council of State. He was elected Chairman of the Council from 28 April 1993 to
2000.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - The Kintampo District Council of the Trades
Union Congress has
urged government not to privatise water because it would bring untold hardships
to ordinary Ghanaians.
A resolution adopted
at its general meeting noted that if the management of water went into private
hands, especially foreign multi-nationals, their over-riding concern would be
to maximise profits to the detriment of the poor in society.
The resolution said:
"To privatise water is like handing down death sentence to majority of the
ordinary people in Ghana because they cannot afford to pay economic rate for
water in view of the dismally low income levels in the country."
The statement signed
by Mr. Mike Atiadevey, Public Relations Officer, Trades Union Congress, noted
that should the government go ahead with its plan to privatise water, the price
would be such that it would aggravate the living conditions of the people.
In another
development, the Asonafo District Council of Labour at its meeting held at
Goaso in the Brong Ahafo Region, also expressed concern over moves to privatise
urban water management in Ghana.
It said, "water
is life and government should not do anything that will deprive ordinary
Ghanaians of this important life sustaining resource." The council called
on the government to open a national debate to discuss all options available in
the reforming of the water sector.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
27 September 2002 - The first batch of 18 students of the American Baptist
International School, including a Ghanaian, who were evacuated from Bouake, in
the Ivory Coast, have been flown to safety in Accra.
The kids were caught
up in clashes between insurgents and government forces, following what the
government said was a failed Coup launched last Thursday. The evacuees, mostly
Americans, aged between eight and 18 years, some Koreans and a male Ghanaian,
arrived on a US Air Force C-130 plane.
Mr David Queen, Public
Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Accra told newsmen that more evacuees were
expected in Accra. "We still have some more people back there to be
evacuated but I cannot tell whether they will be taken to Abidjan or brought
here to Accra," he said.
In Accra, officials
from the US Consular Section are expected to take records of the evacuees with
a view to linking them up with their parents or relatives. It is believed their
parents should be working in the Ivory Coast or neighbouring countries.
Arrangements had been
made to accommodate some of the evacuees with the American society in Accra,
while efforts are made to locate their relatives.
The evacuees were
among some 200 children trapped in the basement of the school and were rescued
by French troops on Tuesday and handed over to US Special Forces Team in the
political capital, Yamoussoukro.
Aid workers said
nearly 4,000 people, mostly immigrant workers, had been displaced in the bloody
uprising that left, at least, 250 people dead. The dead included former
military ruler Robert Guei and the Interior Minister, Emile Bongo Doudou.
GRi…/
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