Northern electricity department to check illegal power connections
Ministry of Agriculture signs pact with 11 assemblies
Book on the evolution of Parliament launched in Accra
Public Service Commission, universities reach understanding
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd February 2000
A number of chiefs have been implicated in visa racketeering, according to preliminary findings of the Visa Racketeering Committee set up by the National Commission on Culture (NCC) in September, 1998.
Barimah Adanse Akyem Omane, Chairman of the Committee on Wednesday told a press conference in Accra that the action of the chiefs is a disgrace to the institution of chieftaincy.
He said the chiefs used forged documents bearing the name and signature of Nana Akuako Sarpong, former Presidential Staffer on Chieftaincy Affairs, to embassies for visa.
He said the Committee's enquiries at some of the embassies revealed the activities of some of the chiefs.
He accused Nana Kweku Abu, Odikro of Agona-Mpobi, with passport number H0402739 and his wife Linda Nyarko with passport number H0180125 of being involved in such a deal.
Nana Abu was alleged to have applied to the French embassy for a visa to travel to Paris as part of celebrations to mark the seventh anniversary of his ascending the stool.
He said the Odikro's Secretary, Isaac Ofori and his wife, Abigail Osei Boakye, holders of passport numbers H0406015 and H0404067, assisted them.
Others alleged to have assisted were the palace attendant, Yaw Gyasi and his wife Felicia Adoma, with passport numbers H0406084 and H0406086 respectively.
Barima Adanse Omane said in November 1998, the chief and the others presented applications to the French Embassy for tourist visas with forged documents bearing the signature of Nana Akuoko Sarpong.
Nana Kwame Sarkodie, Odikro of Daboase in the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area holder of passport number H0405018 was also accused of leading another group.
He said in October 1998, Nana Sarkodie presented an application to the Embassy to travel to France with his wife, Mercy Obiribeh Sekyiamah holding passport number, H0344781.
On his entourage were his secretary, Martha Owusu, passport number H040286, linguist Eric Adu-Poku, H0387707 and his wife, Beatrice Odei, A474233.
He said that although the embassy rejected the applications, they were embarrassment to the country.
Explaining the delay in the presentation of the Committee's report, Barima Omane, a legal practitioner, blamed the committee's inability to subpoena people to appear before it and the limitations placed on it by its terms of reference.
Barimah Omane said a comprehensive report would be out by the end of the month.
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Northern electricity department to check illegal power connections
Tamale (Northern Region), 3rd February 2000
The Northern Electricity Department (NED) of the Volta River Authority has established a Loss-Reduction Gang (LORG) to check illegal connections of electricity.
It has also started a metre re-location exercise to minimise energy loss through theft, Mr. Frank E.K. Akligo, Area Manager of NED, said at a public education forum on the department's operations at Tamale on Wednesday.
He expressed concern about the proliferation of electrical contractors, some of whom do illegal jobs for unsuspecting customers using materials that are either stolen from or are of inferior quality and asked the public to report such contractors.
Mr. Akligo said the NED has embarked on the rehabilitation of its plant and equipment in the municipality to provide quality customer service and appealed to the public to give the department their active support.
Mr. E.Y. Keteku, Commercial Operations Manager, said the department makes 35 per cent loss on its power supply every month because units billed are not paid outright.
To correct this anomaly and ensure that the department operates on a sound commercial basis, a number of measures, including the introduction of pre-paid metres, have been taken to increase the number of bill collection points.
Mr. Nathaniel Baena and Mr. Thomas Agalab, Technical Operations Managers, took turns to explain the department's technical operations and tariff structure.
There were suggestions from the floor on the need for the NED to review its terms of extending electricity to new houses and to expedite plans to extend power to nearby communities.
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Ministry of Agriculture signs pact with 11 assemblies
Sekondi (Western Region), 3rd February 2000
The 11 District Assemblies in the Western Region and the Rural Infrastructure Co-ordinating Unit (RICU) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP).
The document is to enable the assemblies to have a clear understanding and agreement on the requirements of the VIP's credit agreement in terms of procedure guidelines and responsibilities.
District Chief Executives and Mr. Patrick Larbi, Zonal Co-ordinator of RICU, signed the memorandum on behalf of their organisations.
Mrs. Esther Lily Nkansah, Western Regional Minister, said the Zonal team had provided technical assistance to the assemblies in the region to prepare their two-year District Rural Infrastructure Development Strategies (DRIDS) under the VIP.
Mrs. Nkansah, who is also the Chairperson of the Regional Technical Steering Committee (RTSC) on the VIP, said the DRIDS have been prepared to provide an overview of existing agricultural and rural development problems, constraints, potentials and opportunities.
They are also to establish the development vision, goals and objectives of the districts in rural infrastructure development.
The strategies are to ensure that planning, implementation and management of sub-projects are systematic, well conceived, formulated, and offer all stakeholders the opportunity to identify, prioritise and implement their own sub-projects.
Mrs. Nkansah said the zonal team has been in touch with the district assemblies to consult with their project management teams on the selection of the first batch of prioritised sub-projects.
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Book on the evolution of Parliament launched in Accra
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd February 2000
Mr. Justice V. C. R. A. C. Crabbe, retired Supreme Court Judge, on Tuesday launched a book titled "The Evolution of Parliament in Ghana" co-authored by the late K. B. Ayensu and S. N. Darkwa, both past Clerks of Parliament.
The 184-page book, which is in two parts, covers the period 1850-1997.
Mr. Justice Crabbe said the book was relevant and worth having on any bookshelf, and called on all to read it, saying: "what we are doing today determines what will happen tomorrow".
In his welcoming address, Dr. George Apenteng, Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), said the "decisions of parliament affect every citizen in Ghana and as such public education on the system under which we are all governed is a necessity".
Dr. Apenteng said the knowledge of the history, functions, role and expectations of parliament was crucial, particularly for the youth, "if we are to inculcate and develop in them respect for democratic values".
Mr. Rex Owusu Ansah, Acting Clerk of Parliament, bought the first copy of the book for 750,000 cedis.
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Public Service Commission, universities reach understanding
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd February 2000
The Public Services Commission (PSC) on Wednesday said it had reached an understanding with the universities in human resources planning, development, mobilization and utilization.
The objective is to establish a working relationship between the PSC and the universities in the areas of Public Service recruitment, manpower planning and related research activities.
"This is to ensure that persons of the right calibre in relevant disciplines are available in adequate numbers to man the Public Service at all times."
A statement signed by Mrs. Rebecca Ackownu for the Secretary of the PSC said Act 482, 1994 of the Public Service enjoins it to collaborate with local educational authorities.
This is with the view to helping to increase awareness among the universities of changing trends in the manpower needs of the economy and to address these new demands through a periodic review of the universities' curricula, the statement added.
It said the universities will research into human resources management aimed at streamlining, improving and reviewing procedures in the system.
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