GRi Newsreel 10 - 09 -
2003
Let's re-forge our unity after Iraq war - Annan
Kufuor appeals for more support to peace in the Middle East
Take HIV/AIDS seriously - AIDS Commission
Churches and shrines are breeding grounds for infections
US Navy begins medical outreach programme in Sekondi
Pupil Teacher not paid for 18 months
Govt urged to give polytechnics a fair deal
A victim of human rights abuse lauds work of NRC
Let's re-forge our unity after Iraq war - Annan
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2003 - The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on Monday called on nations to re-forge their unity after divisions following the Iraq war. He said there is the need for countries to agree on what are the main threats facing humanity and not flinch from radical reform of the UN itself as well as other international bodies.
A statement issued from the United Nations Information Centre in Accra said Annan's call comes two weeks ahead of the annual General Debate in the UN General Assembly.
Annan said the development goals in the Millennium Declaration could be reached by 2015 deadline "if during the remaining 12 years we maintain and increase the momentum that has been generated".
However, Annan added that there remains grave doubts whether member states are sufficiently determined to act on the consensus reached.
"There is the danger that we may retreat from some of the important gains made during the 1990s as human rights come under pressure both from terrorism and from methods used by states to fight it," he said.
On peace and security he warned that the international security architecture must be able to adapt to the needs of the time and expressed concern about the lack of consensus about what those needs are.
"It is vital that the international community does not allow the differences of the past months to persist and that it finds unity of purpose around a common security agenda," he said.
Annan said there is the need for the Security Council to regain the confidence of states and of the world public opinion. He said this could be achieved if it is perceived to be broadly representative of the international community as a whole and of geo-political realities of the contemporary world.
Annan emphasized the need for developed countries to meet their commitment to
developing countries in the areas of trade, debt relief and aid. "The
success or failure of all the Millennium Development Goals hinges on this, and
the developed countries should agree on time-bound deadlines for fulfilling
their pledges, comparable to the 2015 target for outcomes such as the halving of
extreme poverty and hunger," he said.
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Kufuor appeals for more support to peace in the Middle East
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2003 - President John Kufuor on Tuesday appealed for more support to the efforts by the US in the implementation of the road map to peace in the Middle East.
He said more support was needed towards peace in the area in order that Lebanon was in the past acclaimed the "Switzerland of the Middle East" could take its place in the socio-economic development of the area. President Kufuor made the appeal when Charbel Aoun, out-going Lebanese Ambassador in Ghana paid a farewell call on him at the Castle, Osu after four years duty tour.
He said, "it is our wish that the efforts by the US to implement the road map to peace in the Middle East is supported by other developed countries to restore peace to the area and for Lebanon to resume its position as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" because of the Lebanese acumen for business activities".
President Kufuor referred to the major role played by Ghana in the political and military assistance to maintain peace in Lebanon, adding, "we are proud to contribute to restore peace in the area, the level of discipline of our armed forces had culminated in two Ghanaians being appointed United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commanders".
They were General Emmanuel A. Erskine and Lieutenant-General Seth Obeng, the Chief of Defence Stafff (CDS). President Kufuor said the relationship between Ghana and Lebanon as well as peoples from both countries had been in existence even before Ghana's independence and Lebanese were actively involved in many industrial, trading and agricultural activities. He said the economic co-operation between both countries could be lifted to a higher level through joint ventures among the people.
President Kufuor, however, appealed to the out-going Lebanese Ambassador to advocate for humane treatment to Ghanaians living in Lebanon because most Ghanaians had been maltreated. Aoun said although there had not been any financial assistance to Ghana by Lebanon through grants or loans, there had been tremendous co-operation in the economic and social life of people from both countries.
He expressed appreciation to Ghana in the efforts to restore peace in Lebanon
as one of the first countries to send troops to the area and continued to
provide troops and through their capabilities two UNIFIL Commanders emerged.
Aoun said although efforts were made in the past to ensure Ghanaians living in
Lebanon were treated in a more humanely and he pledged to assist to investigate
the maltreatment of Ghanaians in Lebanon to enable them to live in peace with
their hosts.
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Take HIV/AIDS seriously - AIDS Commission
Old Ningo (Greater Region) 10 September 2003 - Prof Sakyi Amoa, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, has warned that the impact of HIV/AIDS on human development and the economy would be too serious for the country if the pandemic is not handled seriously.
He said the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is seen mainly in three important areas - the economy, health and family and social interactions. Prof Sakyi Amoa said this at the launch of the youth farmers' HIV/AIDS education programme organised by the All-African Farmers Network (AaFaNet) at Ningo in the Greater Accra Region.
He said the losses of young adults in their productive years would affect overall economic performance in agriculture, industry and commerce. Prof. Amoa said the impact of HIV/AIDS on households and families needs no elaboration since the stigmatisation and discrimination may make households want to deny the existence of the infection of a member.
He said the AIDS menace may also result in increased number of orphans in the society and the future labour force may not be educated.
He said institutions, both private and public, are beginning to experience increased levels of absenteeism and reduction in productivity due to ill health arising from infections and subsequent death. He advised the youth to change the risky behaviour and lifestyles.
John Akwetey Kwao Benson, General Secretary of AaFaNet said most youth engaged in the agricultural sector in the Dangme West District are aware of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. However, they believe that HIV/AIDS cannot affects them and so engage in indiscriminate unprotected sex.
He said considering the alarming rate of the spread of the disease there is the urgent need for a programme that should result in the acceptance of the reality of HIV/AIDS by Ghanaians, especially the youth and adoption of safer-sex choices.
AaFaNet is an NGO that operates mainly in the Dangme West District with its
headquarters at Dodowa. Its aim is to promote modern and scientific agricultural
practice among farmers with the view to increasing production for the sustenance
of food security in Ghana and Africa as a whole
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Churches and shrines are breeding grounds for infections
Manso-Ayirebikrom (Ashanti Region) 10 September 2003 - Prayer houses and fetish shrines where most people troop to find cure for their 'spiritual ailments' paradoxically are also the place where people get infected with tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases, Dr Joseph Obeng-Baah of the Chest Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has said.
He said conditions at prayer houses and shrines such as poor hygiene, overcrowding make people susceptible to infection. Dr Obeng-Baah was speaking on tuberculosis at a day's seminar organised by the KATH branch of the Healthcare Fellowship International, non-governmental organisation.
He said the big hospitals could also be possible places to contract diseases but the risk at the hospitals is reduced since the chance of an infected person spreading diseases is minimised soon after treatment starts. Besides, he said, patients already receiving treatment or even those just diagnosed are taught the basic hygiene of spitting into a clean covered container to be disposed of in a hygienic way and muffling the mouth with a clean handkerchief in the event of coughing and sneezing.
Dr Obeng-Baah called on the general public who might have been coughing for more than two weeks to report to any nearby health facility for investigations.
Miss Esther Mensah, Programmes Director for the Fellowship, which comprised
Christian doctors, nurses and other health professionals, said the fellowship
aims to give a holistic approach to the sick by not only treating their diseases
but attending to their spiritual and physical needs as well.
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US Navy begins medical outreach programme in Sekondi
Sekondi (Western Region) 10 September 2003 - The West African Training Cruise (WATC) of the United States Navy arrived at the Sekondi Naval base on Monday to begin an eight-day medical outreach programme. Launching the programme Commodore C. B. Puplampu, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, said the exercise is meant to forge closer working relations between the two navies and some civilian organisations.
Seventy Ghanaians, 55 US Army personnel and some civilians would participate in the programme. He said their activities would cover eight communities in the Shama Ahanta East metropolis and cater for over a 1,000 people daily. Cdr. Puplampu said simple but very essential medical procedures, mass casualty drills and the provision of free medical care would be the major focus of the group.
Rear Admiral Jerry D. West of the Medical Service Corps, US Naval Reserve, said the State Department funded the medical outreach.
He said the WATC brought drugs and medical equipment valued at $100,000 for the exercise, adding that, most of the equipment would be donated to the Ghana Navy. Captain John S. Hughes, Leader of the team, said though the group are in Ghana to offer medical care for women, children and the aged, there is an educational programme attached to the exercise.
He expressed his appreciation to the government of Ghana for the opportunity
and said the programme would enhance both the safety and security of the two
countries. Capt. Hughes suggested that WATC should be divided into medical and
social services groups to make its work easier and beneficial to more
communities.
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Pupil Teacher not paid for 18 months
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2003 - Isaac Teye Addo, a 31 year-old
pupil teacher in the Eastern Region on Tuesday appealed to the Ghana Education
Service (GES) to probe the reason why some pupil teachers in the Region have not
received their salaries since April last year.
"I can at least speak for my self and five others at the Ehiamenkyene Roman Catholic Junior Secondary School at Begoro in the Fanteakwa District, where for 18 months now we have not received our monthly salary of ¢350,000 each," he told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
"Anytime I go the Regional GES office I am told by an officer that names of affected teachers are compiled in an IPDD forms and that we only receive our money if we influence those working on it."
Addo said he suspected foul play hence his decision to stick out his neck and speak to the media to be proved wrong by the officials involved and get a meaningful explanation. "I teach Social Studies at the school since I am a holder of Diploma in Business Administration I obtained at the Institute of Professional Studies. How can I live on charity? He asked.
Addo said his livelihood depended mainly on borrowing, adding, "this
cannot continue forever, I must get some money somewhere to service my
debts."
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Govt urged to give polytechnics a fair deal
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 10 September 2003 - Dr. Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, Principal of Sunyani Polytechnic, on Monday appealed to the government to address problems confronting polytechnics urgently for a lasting peace on their campuses.
He said strikes and demonstrations by students and the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) for improved conditions of services disturb the peace on polytechnic campuses.
The Principal made the appeal at the opening of the 26th annual delegates congress of the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) in Sunyani.
Dr Nsiah-Gyabaah said inadequate funding resulting in lack of physical and academic facilities, misconception about the roles of polytechnics in national development, lack of recognition of HND certificates and job replacement are some of the challenges facing polytechnic education.
Dr Nsiah-Gyabaah expressed regret that the polytechnics have not gained much recognition in spite of the important role they play in the provision of middle level manpower needed for the nation's socio-economic development.
Lack of information, inadequate understanding of programmes offered in the polytechnics and students' approach to issues that affect them have contributed to the poor image of the polytechnics, he said.
Dr Nsiah-Gyabaah appealed to the government to ensure equal conditions of services for both universities and the polytechnics "since poor conditions in the polytechnics do not attract qualified staff, whilst some leave immediately they are offered appointments."
He said to address the apparent confusion between universities and polytechnics the syllabus for senior secondary schools be reviewed so that courses would be designed and designated SSSCE-Technical and SSS-General. Those who opt for SSSCE-Technical should be admitted to pursue polytechnic education and those who choose the SSS-General should also be admitted to the universities, Dr Nsiah-Gyabaah added.
Joe Donkor, Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, advised the students to exercise restraint and give the government chance in finding lasting solutions to the numerous problems facing the polytechnics.
He said the government is doing its best to facilitate the success of youth education in the country, adding that about ¢2.7 trillion of the annual budget goes into education, representing a higher percentage than health and agriculture. The Deputy Minister said the future of the nation depends on the youth and government would not relent on its efforts to ensure that every youth received skills and vocational training to develop their potentials towards national development.
Issah Mohammed Ikilil, the National President of the union, urged the government "to review its attitude towards tertiary education as a whole and polytechnic education in particular since no effort has been made to improve conditions of services."
"Tens of thousands of polytechnic graduates are in the outside world confused and thousands will soon join them frustrated, as no meaningful avenues have been opened for them to pursue higher education and on the job market as public sector establishments do not know where to place the HND graduates."
Ikilil described as unfortunate a statement allegedly made by a minister that
government could no longer fund tertiary education and called on the government
to appreciate the benefits the nation gains from tertiary education. He said it
would make a mockery of Ghanaians if students are allowed to shoulder the full
cost of their education "under the current unbearable economic
circumstances, while some people contemplate state funding of political
parties."
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A victim of human rights abuse lauds work of NRC
Piase (Ashanti Region) 10 September 2003 - Opanin Kofi Adubofour, who claimed to be a victim of human rights abuse during the first republic, has lauded the work of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC). He said the Commission has succeeded in healing wounds and restored the confidence of victims of human rights violations under the various undemocratic regimes.
Speaking at a durbar organised by the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma Oistrict office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Opanin Adubofour said when people are given the chance to voice their ill feelings and traumatic experiences they become relieved.
He asked the various democratic institutions like the NCCE and CHRAJ to continue to educate the people on their rights. Atta Agyemang, a district officer at the NCCE, called on the people to bury their differences and not to take entrenched positions on issues.
He said, in this era of reconciliation, there is no need for harbouring
hatred or ill feeling against people who trampled upon their rights but should
take advantage of the opportunity to reconcile with their oppressors.
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