New transport fares announced
Accra, March. 16, GNA- The Ghana Road Transport Co-coordinating Council (GRTCC), on Saturday, announced new road transport fares, which take immediate effect.
This was contained in a press release signed by Nana Danso Atekoasa Agyemang, Acting chairman of GRTCC. The Intra-city fares (Trotro), has been increased by GP3 (3 Ghana Pesewas) on the existing approved fares. For inter-city (Long Distance), an increase of GP4 (4 Ghana Pesewas) on the existing approved fares, while fares for Taxi cabs has been increased by GP5 (5 Ghana Pesewas) on the existing approved fares. The release asked all road transport operators, commuters and the general public to co-operate for the success of these changes.
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GNA
We have not ordered Prez Jet, But .... Awuni
Accra, March, 15, GNA-The Office of the President on Saturday stated that the Presidency has not ordered any Presidential Jet for itself as being alluded to in the current debate on the issue.
A statement signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President said: "what the government has simply done regarding this matter is to put before Parliament an elaborate and comprehensive request from the Ghana Airforce for re-equipping its communications squadron.
"The request covers the purchase of about six military aircrafts including two Y121 military planes, two MA60 passenger planes, one Airbus Jet 319(pictured) and one Falcon 900.
It is for the purchase of these aircrafts that financial proposals have been laid before Parliament for consideration and approval in line with the constitution.
"Indeed, the recommendation in respect of the purchase of the Falcon 900 and the Airbus planes were made, as far back as 1997, long before, the Gulf Stream Presidential plane was purchased by the then government."
The release said; "Last year, Ghana Airforce Command, sent an urgent memorandum to the government, decrying the poor state of their equipment and warned that their current fleet of aircrafts will be grounded by 2010, due to old age.
"This request also made recommendations as to what measures needed to be taken to forestall the imminent danger that they face should the re-equipping process, suffer implementation difficulties. "Subsequent to this the Ministry of Finance has been working with, the Ministry, of Defence, and the Airforce Command to arrange the necessary credit facilities for the purchase of the equipment, subject to approval of the Parliament of Ghana.
"That said, the government would wish to re-emphasise that no payments have been made to any seller yet in respect of this proposal and the public must rest assured that due process would be followed accordingly.
"The request covers the purchase of about six military aircrafts including two Y121 military planes, two MA60 passenger planes, one Airbus Jet 319 and one Falcon 900."
- Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President
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GNA
"I would create a "new Ghana"- Nana Akufo-Addo
Cape Coast, March. 16, GNA- The Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday said, he would create a "new Ghanaian society, built on the principle of truth and value for human rights", when elected president.
He said the "new Ghanaian society" he would create, would also be built on a good foundation of good governance, freedom of speech and rule of law, laid by President John Agyekum Kufuor, adding that, he would transform the national economy into a more vibrant one. Nana Akufo-Addo said this at a rally in Cape Coast, where he was introduced to the public as the presidential candidate of the NPP. He was accompanied by most of the candidates, who contested him in the presidential primaries.
He said he was ready and committed to move the country out of poverty, corruption and injustices, "to a more democratic country, where there is rule of law and freedom of speech," and called on the supporters of the party to vote for him to achieve this dream.
Nana Akufo-Addo gave the assurance that he would be a leader, who would help improve upon the living conditions of the average Ghanaian and that he "would make history in the politics of Ghana, when President Kufuor hand over power from an NPP government to another NPP in January 2009."
Touching on the discovery of crude oil in the country, Nana Akufo-Addo said he would put in place a system that would effectively manage the revenue that would be accrued from the sale of the oil, stressing that, he would insist on transparency in the oil business so as not to create unnecessary problems for the country. Nana Akufo-Addo said his government would also go into the production of salt in large quantities, since the demand for it was high on the international market.
He appealed to those who have attained 18 years and those who have no voter identify cards to endeavour to register, to enable them to vote in the elections.
The other candidates, who contested Nana Akufo-Addo in the NPP primaries, also addressed the rally, and described Nana Akufo-Addo as a capable person, who could win the December elections and urged the supporters to vote massively for him.
They advised the supporters to remain resolute and committed to the party and not to engage in campaigns of insults and violence. Nana Akufo-Addo also visited the Zongo chief and the Omanhene of the Oguaa traditional area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, as well the University of Cape Coast (UCC), where he addressed the students. He commended the UCC students for their massive support for the NPP, stressing that it was their support, which won the NPP the Cape Coast constituency seat.
Osabarima Atta II, congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo for his election as the NPP flagbearer, and called on his supporters to close their ranks and emulate Nana Akufo-Addo by not engaging in politics of insults and violence.
Among Nana Akufo-Addo's entourage were, Ms Christine Churcher, MP for Cape Coast constituency and Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister.
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GNA
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"I shall provide exemplary and good leadership" - Osei-Owusu
Accra, March. 16, GNA- Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, Chief Executive Officer of the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA), has promised to provide an exemplary and good leadership, if given the nod by the constituents to become the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Amansie East Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Osei-Owusu made the promise at the launch of his campaign in Accra on Friday for the Amansie East constituency primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to elect a candidate to contest the general elections in December on the ticket of the party. The DVLA boss said he was overwhelmed by the attendance, majority of whom were from the constituency and well wishers from the Accra-Tema Metropolis.
He told them that it was only through a united front that they would be able to chart a new course for the area's development. He said his priority areas are Education, Commerce and Local Governance, and promised to reverse the falling standards in education, empower the people to engage in brisk economic ventures. "I would see to the proper planning of local government activities to ensure the judicious utilization of resources", he said. Mr Osei-Owusu, who is also the founder of the Osei-Wusu Foundation for Indigenous Business Development, a micro financing service, said when given the mandate, he would ensure that they benefited from financial assistance and engage them in socio-economic ventures. He said he would make available a package under the Foundation's micro credit facility, from which constituents, who are unable to raise the premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme, to access loans to enjoy the scheme.
Mr Dan Botwe, former General Secretary of the NPP, who launched the campaign, said he had every confidence in the parliamentary aspirant, and urged his constituents to give him the chance to serve them. "I know Mr Osei-Owusu, I have worked with him and he is a good material. I know he can do the job," Mr Botwe told the constituents.
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GNA
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Tema Mantse expresses concern about Manhean BECE results
Tema Manhean, March 15, GNA -- The Chief of Tema, Nii Adjei Kraku the second, has expressed concern about the poor performance of final year students of the Junior High Schools (JHS) in Tema Manhean in the last year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results. He noted that BECE results of students in general in Tema Manhean were appalling and called on the teachers to put in their utmost best to assist them excel in the examination as the continued poor performance impacts negatively on the image of the town. To address the issue, Nii Kraku expressed the willingness to visit all schools in the town to assess the situation with a view to finding solution to the problem.
The Mantse expressed the concern when the management of the Tema branch office of the Millicom Ghana Limited, operators of Tigo Mobile phones presented 500 pieces of mathematical sets to the Saint Peter's Roman Catholic and Saint Mary's Anglican JHS on Saturday at Tema Manhean. He received the items on behalf of the beneficiary schools. While urging students of the fishing community to eschew negative practices and rather be serious with their books, Nii Kraku equally entreated parents and guardians to institute strict supervision over their children and wards to ensure that they studied hard at home to complement the efforts of the teachers.
He asked the students to show seriousness during the formal academic classes to excel in the examination once rather than concentrating on attending remedial classes to write a second paper as that was not only time consuming but financial drain on parents and guardians. Presenting the mathematical sets, Mr. Mario Nartey, Managing Director of the Tema Tigo office said the company has since November last year supported a number of schools in Tema Metropolis and the Dangme West District with a total of 4,000 pieces of the math's sets as part of its social responsibilities.
Beneficiary towns include Tema, Ashaiman, Kpone, Dawhenya, Afienya and Sege, he said, hoping to cover more areas as according to him education of the youth was dear to the heart of the company. Mrs Anasthasia Donkor, headmistress of the Roman Catholic JHS promised to ensure that the students use the sets profitably.
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GNA
No electricity and potable water in Wa East District
Funsi (UW/R), March, 15, GNA- The Wa East District has no access to electricity, potable water and communication facilities to make the district functional to bring governance to the doorsteps of the people. Even a small water project at Funsi, the district capital has come to a halt because of the lack of electricity, whilst most workers posted to the town scramble for water from the few boreholes with the inhabitants.
The about 5,000 inhabitants depend on only five boreholes for their drinking water and other domestic use.
A visit to Funsi by the Ghana News Agency on Thursday showed that most workers only work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the offices and rush back to Wa for the rest of the week.
Official work cannot be done at Funsi because computers and other office equipment cannot be powered and workers have to carry out their official duties at Wa before returning to Funsi.
The Wa East District was created in 2004 and since then no community in the district had been connected with electricity denying the youth of any cottage industry to raise income.
Communication companies were skeptical about establishing networks in the district because they have to install generators for network services, which would cost them much more money to run. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Albert Bawa Sulley, Vice Chairman of the Sissala Union, said when the area was part of the Wa Municipality, it never benefited from any development projects and social facilities.
He said when the district was created the people in the area thought they had "escaped from the paws of the lion, but little did they know that they were rather going to be swallowed by the Python".
Mr Sulley said "Our district is an orphan district and the orphan is being strangulated to death. Our district can best be described as a state within the Ghana State."
"Imagine, for the past four years no effort had been made to bring electricity and communication facilities to the area", he said. Mr Sulley said people in the district would have wished that electricity was tapped from Sakai in the Sissala East District to Funsi to reduce cost.
He said Sakai is nearer to Funsi than Daffiama and urged the government to consider connecting the district capital with electricity from the Sakai line.
The Sissala Union Vice Chairman also appealed to communication companies to consider extending their services to cover the district to facilitate the free flow of information among the people and the outside world.
He called on the government to commit more resources to the district to catch up with the older districts to stem the uneven development pattern of the country.
Mr Sulley said: "We must learn from our past mistakes and avoid repeating them", he said, pointing out that the disparity in development between the north and south is a case in point. He appealed to the government to put bailey bridges on Kulun, Ambalara and Jullu Rivers to open up the area to people in other parts of the country.
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GNA
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¢165,000 lost annually through road accidents
Sunyani (B/A), March 15, GNA- The country loses an amount of GH¢165,000 annually, representing 1.6 percent of the gross domestic product, through road accidents.
Mr Noble Appiah, Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission, who disclosed this in Sunyani on Friday, said the amount covered medical expenses of victims, damage to vehicles and insurance cost among others.
He was interacting with members of the Brong-Ahafo Regional road safety committee and other stakeholders as part of a familiarization visit to the region.
Mr Appiah said statistics showed that pedestrians formed the majority of the country's population, who die through road accidents every year, adding that, 75 percent of them were men. The Executive Director said road safety promotion was a collective responsibility that should be tackled in a broader perspective and called for a national crusade for a massive public education on the need to minimize the rate of road accidents. Mr Appiah attributed the number of road accidents in the country to fatigue on the part of drivers and admonished them to rest in the course of their work when necessary. He said the commission was determined to ensure that Ghana becomes the safest transportation system in Africa with a single digit in road accidents by the year 2015.
Mr Appiah called for a collective responsibility between security agencies and the commission to put the necessary apparatus in place in helping to minimize road accidents and save lives. "There is no spirituality in road accidents", he said, and urged Ghanaians to dismiss such wrong perception and contribute their quota in curbing road accidents.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, Regional Police Commander and Chairman of the regional road safety committee said members had embarked on numerous activities to help reduce road accidents in the region.
DCOP Boanuh cautioned drivers to desist from unnecessary overtaking, speeding and overloading, and advised transport owners to ensure the regular maintenance of their vehicles in order not to expose the public to unnecessary dangers.
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GNA
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Government urged to make policies women development oriented
Wa, March 14, GNA-The National Union of Ghana Students Women's Commissioner, Madam Fummey Magdalene Sefakor has called on the government to make its policies and programmes women development oriented to push the country's development agenda forward.
She explained that for government to achieve the desire results in education, politics, health, economics and social development, its policies and programmes must convince women that their welfare and progress was guaranteed and protected.
"What matters is that Ghanaian women have succeeded in shedding off those inhibitions that make them have very little confidence in their own capabilities.
"Now they know what they are capable of and in that knowledge lays the essence of their liberation and it is now left to the government to make things work for their total well-being by initiating positive policies and programmes", she pointed out. Madam Sefakor made the call in a statement to commemorate the International Women's Day celebration in Wa on Thursday. "Women personified the whole society and therefore any policy or programmes that relegate them to the background would not be in the best of interest of society", she pointed out. Madam Sefakor urged policymakers to use the occasion to remind themselves of the fact that Ghanaian women had come a long way in their quest for inclusion into the global development agenda. She noted that, there had been several barriers and disparities between women's legal rights and their economic status as against their male counterparts.
She mentioned widowhood rites, female genital mutilation and Trokosi as some of the practices that had been impacting negatively on the total well-being of women, which needed to be addressed. Besides, women had not been adequately empowered economically because government's micro credit policies had been shrouded with bureaucratic tendencies at the regional and district levels, a practice that had been an obstacle for rural women to access the credit. Madam Sefakor said women had remained disadvantaged in education, ownership of land and entitlement to kingship due to traditional beliefs and cultural practices, while government's appointment of women to ministerial positions had been on the low side even though they formed about 51 per cent of the country's population.
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GNA
NDC Govt would ensure equitable distribution of resources
Akatsi, March 14, GNA - Professor Evans John Atta Mills, Flag bearer of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday said when elected President, he would allot resources equitably so that no part of the country became extremely deprived while others lived in opulence. He said "It does not make sense to asphalt roads which are solidly tarred and live out others which needed to be tarred," he said at Akatsi as part of his 10-day tour of the Volta Region.
Professor Mills said he would be guided by the social democracy philosophy of the Party in every decision.
He told chiefs and party executives from Ketu-North, Ketu-South, Anlo and Keta constituencies that his prayer was to see Ghana develop through honesty and humility and to prevent greed from taking over the country.
Commenting on the choice of Parliamentary candidates, Professor Mills said he was not supporting anyone and was prepared to work with the winner in any constituency.
"We are not going to tolerate the situation where any candidate would like to bend the rules," he said.
"It is easy to criticize but there could only be a candidate for every constituency, and the focus should be on what to do to improve the Party and society," Professor Mills added.
Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National Organizer of the Party said Professor Mills' health was a non-issue now because he had demonstrated during the tour that he had the energy to confront the task ahead of him.
He told party executives in the wards, constituencies and at the national level who were not ready to work hard to resign.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the Electoral Commission had a duty to Ghanaians to explain the reason for the bloated register in certain parts of the country.
He said the NDC's position was that public office holders must uphold morality since "anything short of that could destroy the country".
Professor Mills also held similar interactions at Ave-Dakpa and Soakage where he said he was not on a campaign tour but to show himself to the people that he was still alive and fit contrary to rumours that he was dead.
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GNA
NPP flag bearer stir-up hope
Accra 14 March, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday stir-up the hope of the party's teaming supporters to gear-up for victory at the December general electionS.
Wearing a short-sleeve smock over a black trouser, Nana Akufo-Addo aroused ecstasy the teaming supporters of the party who had jammed-up at the party headquarters to catch a glimpse of the flag bearer and know members of the Elections 2008 Campaign Team.
Fifteen out of the 16 losing presidential candidates of the party including disqualified candidate Mr Nkrabia Effah Dartey received thunderous applause from the party faithful as they slowly moved through the crowd to take their seats.
They were; Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo; Mr Kwabena Agyepong; Professor Mike Oquaye; Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman; Dr Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah; Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey and Mr Daniel Kweku Botwe.
Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; Nana; Papa Owusu Ankomah; Mr Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko; Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy; Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng; Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor and Mr Felix Kwesi Owusu-Adjapong.
Mr Alan John Kyerematen runner-up to the Nana Akufo-Addo at the December Special Delegates Congress could not attend as the party explained that he had traveled.
As the flag bearer mount the stand to address the press most of the supporters including the Greater Accra regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye was heard chanting NPP popular slogan "Naa nana naa shuw, eh!!! Naa nana naa shuw, agbenaa" literally meaning "this is Nana, this is the elephant, that is the NPP,s emblem".
The people stood up and chanted "Nana nie!! Osunu nie!! Yenim wo fri tete, eshie rado!! rado!!".
Mr Dartey also had his turn when he was called upon to offer the Christian prayers, he sung his popular song "matwen Awuradze anim" to commence the prayer.
Other members present were national executives, regional chairmen, and the party's foot soldiers.
Mr Peter Mac Manu, NPP National Chairman in his remarks said the NPP had confidence in the competence and fairness of the nation's Electoral Commission (EC) because it had gained international recognition and acclaimed for conducting transparent election over the past years.
"We do acknowledge that, the EC as a human institution, are bound to occasionally encounter errors or lapses, but such errors must not be given sinister interpretation that might degenerate into any nasty situation in the country. We condemn any attempt to undermine the EC by any individual of group", he noted.
Mr Manu said the NPP would not allow anybody to use unauthentic excuse to create unwarranted tension in the 2008 parliamentary and presidential election.
"We have also taken note of the fact that leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have stated a campaign of accusing the NPP of setting out to rig the election"
"The NPP have no doubt that the NDC has prepared a game plan whereby the y intend to discredit and demonize the EC by feeding lies to the public" he said.
According to him the NPP rejects that type political campaigning which had the potential of re-introducing civil conflict into the country and urged Ghanaians to shun such practice. Mr Manu said the party was convinced that President Kufuor would hand to Nana Akufo-Addo come January, 7, 2009.
He said to make this assurance come to pass the NPP had put together a formidable campaign team to plan and execute their strategies.Source:
GNA
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Vice President on a three nation tour
Accra, March. 14, GNA- The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, left Accra this evening on a three-nation investment tour.
The Vice President, who would be visiting India, China and Dubai, was accompanied by officials from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Customs Excise and Preventive Services, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Free Zones Board and other public services involved in the Gateway project.
Mr Yaw Boabeng Asamoah, Special Assistant to the Vice President, told journalists at the airport that the visit was expected to culminate in more investments from India and China, which were currently the first and second highest foreign direct investors respectively in Ghana. He said the visit was part of the World Bank sponsored Ghana Trade and Investment Project (Gate Way), adding that, its objective was to enhance the business environment in Ghana.
Vice President Aliu Mahama is expected to be away for two weeks. At the airport to see him off were officials from the office of the Vice President.
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GNA
Nyinahin Police Hunts for Dubious Pastor
Nyinahin (Ash) March 14, GNA- The Nyinahin Police in the Atwima-Mponua District of Ashanti has mounted a man-hunt for a self-styled evangelist who succeeded in duping several people in Otaakrom of their monies running into several thousands of Ghana cedis. The Evangelist known only as Pastor Isaac, together with his accomplice, Kwaku Tawiah, are alleged to have collected monies ranging between GH¢ 30 and GH¢ 60 from several inhabitants of the village under the pretext of praying to fortify them spiritually against evil spirits.
They are also alleged to have stolen a video deck, belonging to Mr. Kwasi Boakye, who offered a room for the suspects to offer prayers to the unsuspecting victims. A police source at Nyinahin told the Ghana News Agency that several people from Otaakrom had reported fraud cases against the suspects, who are currently on the run. Mr. Boakye told the GNA after making a report to the police that, "Pastor" Isaac came to the town with his assistant, Tawiah and started preaching from one church to another. He said he offered his room to Isaac and his accomplice to enable them carry on with their missionary work. Mr. Boakye said the suspects then began to collect monies from the local inhabitants in order to pray for them.
He said the people became alarmed and started murmuring over the behaviour of the "pastors". He said, while the people were contemplating what to do about the situation, the so called men of God vanished from the town with his video deck which was in their room.
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GNA
Replacement Voter ID Cards begins
Accra, March 14, GNA - The nationwide replacement of lost, defaced or badly damaged Voter Identification Cards started with the usual apathy on Friday as most of the centres in Accra recorded low patronage. The exercise, which runs from Friday, March 14 to Saturday, March 23 between 0700 hours and 1800 hours daily, including weekends, forms part of preparation by the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that every eligible Ghanaian participates in Elections 2008.
A visit to some of the replacement centres by Ghana News Agency revealed low turnout.
To ensure convenience, replacement centres have been located at least in each Electoral Area for all eligible voters who have these problems to appear personally and provide personal data to the Replacement Officer.
According to the EC after the collection of data on applicants, processing and preparation of the new voter ID Cards would take place at the Head Office of the EC. Appropriate measures would then be put in place to deliver the new cards to applicants before the Revision of the Voters' Register.
Applicants who would be unable to have their cards during that period would have the opportunity to do so during the Exhibition of the Voters' Register.
The rationale behind this exercise, according to the EC, is to discourage voters in that category from the temptation of double registration, which is a punishable offence, and offenders are liable for prosecution.
The EC said this arrangement did not constitute a transfer of vote. The EC will put measures in place later for voters who have moved residence to transfer their votes to enable them to vote where they are currently resident.
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GNA
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Eliminate Greed in body-politics - Mills
Sogakofe (V/R), March 14, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday ended his 10-day tour of eight regions declaring at a mammoth rally at Sogakofe in the Volta Region that greed should be removed from the Ghanaian body politic.
He said; "We have no moral justification to call ourselves leaders when we throw remnant food into the dustbin while others go hungry." Prof. Mills who had received rousing welcome throughout his tour during which he declared to the people that he was not dead as his detractors had proclaimed said he was ready to face challenges of leadership of the country and that good governance was predicated on the welfare of the people.
"Thus the NDC, which has its political philosophy as social democracy will ensure the equitable distribution of the nation's resources for the
welfare of every individual so that no ethnic group, region nor social groupings will feel discriminated against." Prof Mills said the hallmark of good governance was to seek the welfare of the people in which all human rights were embedded. The Presidential Candidate said; "society develops on morale basis and wealth was acquired through years of hard work, savings and over a period property was acquired but the country was seeing the reverse form of such values which was leading to cocaine business, falsification of accounts or get rich attitude.
He said such breakdown of values could also be attributed to the
New Patriotic Party's (NPP) philosophy of property owning democracy and it was a surprise how within seven years in power billions of cedis could be thrown about in the name of 17 presidential aspirants in their campaign.
"It is sad that water, which is life has been denied the people of Tamale, Accra and many towns and villages and some cases projects like the building of a presidential palace should take precedence over the people's health and well -being.
Prof Mills said the NDC would not cry wolf and it was a moral obligation for religious leaders, chiefs and opinion leaders to stand against or preach against those immoral practices.
He said; "peace is vital in the development of every society and Ghana needed peace the most to be able to accelerate its development but then for that peace to be maintained there must be justice, fair play, transparency and above all each trying to be another's keeper." Prof Mills said; "Politics should not divide us, it should not lead to antagonism to such an extent that no one sees anything good in his neighbour."
He told the people that the Aveyime Rice Project, which nearly sent him and Rawlings to prison would be reactivated, more factories would be established in the Volta Region when the NDC came to power.
Dr Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of NDC asked those who had attained the age of 18 years should register and that no one should render his or her voters or identity to any one for a loan. Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organizer of the party asked for unity among party supporters and those who might lose in the parliamentary primaries should not become hostile to the party. Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, National Women's Organizer asked the women to support the party because the NDC remained the only party that cared for the welfare of women at the grassroots.
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GNA
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Tomatoes sellers cry for help
Accra, March 13, GNA - The leadership of the Greater Accra Tomato Traders Association on Thursday, called on the Accra Metropolitan Authority, the Ga Traditional Authorities and the security agencies to help restore sanity in the trade and rid it of recalcitrant elements. Making the call at a meeting in Accra, Madam Lydia Afoley Anum, General Secretary of the Association, bemoaned huge financial losses being incurred by members due to activities of some sellers who flout deliberately the rules of the Association and city authorities in order to get supply on credit basis from Burkina Faso.
She explained that those elements usually engaged in crediting of the produce from farming communities in Ghana and Burkina Faso. Madam Aum alleged that, these sellers send younger traders to assist large scale tomato farmers on their farms in Burkina Faso in order to continue to have supply on credit. According to her, they managed to convince farmers to transport huge loads of tomatoes all the way from Techiman, the Northern regions and Burkina Faso to Accra to cause glut on the market, which eventually pushes the price down.
She also accused others as charging ground rent for off-loading of the produce without recourse to the laws of the AMA and traditional authorities.
She said there was the need to strengthen the national association in order to protect the tomato trade, adding that they have to weed out the intransigent ones so as to prevent the smooth running of the business.
Madam Aum advised members to adhere strictly to the schedule system of going and bringing tomatoes to the marketing centres to avoid glut and spoilage to their own detriment.
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GNA
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Cocoa farmers in the Volta warned against smuggling
Hohoe, March 13, GNA- Mr Isaac Osei, Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), on Wednesday warned cocoa farmers in the Volta region to desist from smuggling the commodity to Togo or lose all government's interventions towards increased production.
He said government would spray the cocoa farms for the last time to "see if the smuggling situation would be stemmed." Mr Osei who was speaking to farmers and other stakeholders in the cocoa industry at Hohoe said the region had recorded a decline in the production of the crop compared with other cocoa growing areas in the country.
He is on a three-day familiarization tour of the region to find solutions to problems facing the cocoa farmers in the region towards the development of the cocoa industry. Mr Osei said only 742 tons of the commodity were accounted for in 2007 despite government interventions such as mass spraying, increased bonuses to cocoa farmers and the provision of hybrid seedlings, to boost production.
He said smuggling was so grave in the region that Lolobi-Kumasi, which produced 2,242 bags of cocoa in the 1999/2000 cropping season, accounted for only 107 bags with Likpe-Kukurantumi area producing 112 bags in 2007 against 980 bags it sold to buying agencies in the 2003/2004 season.
Mr Osei said government was committed to improving the welfare of the farmers and that investment by government needed to be recouped. He said "We cannot keep on spraying cocoa farms while cocoa pods and wet beans continue to vanish like ghosts. Lets get serious." Mr John Peter Amewu, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive said government's support for the cocoa industry was aimed at reducing poverty by creating wealth and job opportunities for the youth and appealed to the people to stop smuggling the commodity. He urged COCOBOB to assist the municipality to fight smuggling in the area.
Nana Adjei Kramo, Chief Cocoa farmer, said prices of cocoa in Ghana and Togo are they same and did not understand why the commodity was being smuggled to Togo.
Mr Osei was accompanied by Mr George Anto-Boateng, Director of Scholarships, Mr Douglas Djabeng, Director of Special Services, Mrs Pauline Adobea Dadzawa, Public Affairs Manager, Mr Vincent Akumeah, Deputy Manager and Volta Regional Managers of Quality Control, Cocoa Swollen Shoot Viral Disease Unit, Produce Buying Company and Seed Production Unit.
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GNA
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Bushfire destroys plantation at Tafi-Agbome
Tafi-Agbome (V/R), March 12, GNA- A large portion of mango plantation inter planted with pineapples belonging to the Volta Integrated Agricultural Development (VIAD) at Tafi-Agbome in the Hohoe District has been destroyed by bushfire.
Mr Moses Kumah, Farm Manager for VIAD, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the bushfire started early in the morning on February 10th destroying and mango trees and pineapples estimated at GHc 250,000.
He appealed to government and financial institutions assist the company with planting materials, fertilizers, agro-chemicals and financial support to enable it rehabilitate the plantation. Mr Geoffrey Honu, Hohoe District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, told the GNA that the directorate would assess the impact of bushfires on agricultural production in the district. The GNA learnt that two persons, one at Nyagbo-Gagbefe and the other at Alavanyo-Kpeme both in the District who attempted to extinguish fires on their farms, died.Source:
GNA
Tafi-Agbome (V/R), March 12, GNA- A large portion of mango plantation inter planted with pineapples belonging to the Volta Integrated Agricultural Development (VIAD) at Tafi-Agbome in the Hohoe District has been destroyed by bushfire.
Mr Moses Kumah, Farm Manager for VIAD, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the bushfire started early in the morning on February 10th destroying and mango trees and pineapples estimated at GHc 250,000.
He appealed to government and financial institutions assist the company with planting materials, fertilizers, agro-chemicals and financial support to enable it rehabilitate the plantation. Mr Geoffrey Honu, Hohoe District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, told the GNA that the directorate would assess the impact of bushfires on agricultural production in the district. The GNA learnt that two persons, one at Nyagbo-Gagbefe and the other at Alavanyo-Kpeme both in the District who attempted to extinguish fires on their farms, died.
Source:
GNA
Liberia praises on Ghana for restoring electricity
Monrovia, March 12, GNA - Ghana's historic participation in the restoration of electricity to the Liberian capital, Monrovia, came to an end on Tuesday at a colourful ceremony to show appreciation to the Ghanaian Government.
The gratitude to Ghana and, in particular, to the officials of Volta River Authority (VRA) that implemented the project, was echoed in various speeches at the ceremony as well as at other functions held to host the Ghanaian delegation.
The Liberian Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai said: "The VRA has done a splendid job not only in installing new power generators and new distribution lines but also providing the manpower required for the Liberian Electricity Company (LEC) staff."
He said, two years ago when the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promised to bring back electricity in six months, little did she knew that the task was a daunting one, but hope was uplifted when President John Agyekum Kufuor promised to help and appointed VRA as the implementing agency.
Vice President Boakai said the 14 years of civil war left Liberia in total ruins, as installations of electricity equipment from transmission to distribution lines were completely destroyed in Monrovia and other parts of the country.
"Monrovia was indeed a dark city for many years, and now we have to rebuild everything from scratch," he said.
Vice President Boakai said power had been restored through the concerted effort of a people (Ghana) that was committed and loving. "This is truly a relationship with a meaning. Thank you for the African spirit of brotherhood. In fact VRA has become another regional example in the area of cooperation," he said.
The Vice President said the relationship between Ghana and Liberia transcended the VRA in the restoration of the generation of electricity adding, "Ghana has played a significant peacekeeping role from the days of the ECOMOG and up till now."
Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, Minister of Energy, who led the delegation to witness the closing ceremony, said the project, the first phase of the Emergency Power Programme (EPP) in Liberia, comprised the procurement, design and installation of four new diesel generating sets with a total capacity of 3.3 megawatts.
He said about 45 Ghanaians worked directly on the construction works in Monrovia with about 200 people in Ghana responsible for the engineering design, planning, logistics, consolidation and packaging of distribution materials and equipment used for the project. Mr Amporfo-Twuamsi said the EPP had created the platform for growth of the Liberian power sector and commended the Liberian government for initiating the development of a new energy policy.
He said Ghana was ever ready to lend its support in engineering, training and strategic policy to Liberia as it made efforts to rebuild its hydroelectric station, which was totally destroyed during the war. A visit to the station known as the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Station by the Ghanaian delegation showed that the plant has to be rebuilt with experts putting the cost at 250 million dollars. Mr Amporfo-Twumasi said: "We stand ready to share the lessons from our National Electrification Programme, and the Rural and Self-Help Electrification Programmes as well as our power sector reforms that have among other things led to the creation and institutionalisation of regulatory mechanisms."
The Deputy Minister urged the Liberian people to ensure that the beautiful ceremony lived beyond its symbolism.
"May it remind all of us that we have a duty to build upon what we have started and a duty to protect these critical infrastructure that are very central to the development and functional growth of any nation," Mr Amporfo-Twumasi said.
Dr Eugene Shannon, Liberia's Minister of Energy, Lands and Mines, described Ghana's role as an accomplishment which carried with it a clear showpiece of building healthy relationship that must be emulated by all to move the continent forward.
He announced that Phase II of the EPP, which involves expansion of electricity to other parts of the Monrovia, would end in July this year. Mr Harry T. Yuah, Managing Director of the LEC, said the cooperation between the VRA and LEC was widely known and appreciated by many in Liberia today.
Ms Abla Fiadjoe, Director, Corporate Services of VRA, presented gifts to President Sirleaf and Vice President Boakai. She also presented certificates of distinction to three LEC officials, including one woman, among the 21-member trainees.
Phase I of the EPP restored electricity to three main areas of the City of Monrovia, namely, Congo, Kru and Paynesville Towns. 12 March 08
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GNA
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VRA commended for restoring electricity to Liberia
From: Lawrence Quartey, GNA Special Correspondent, Monrovia, Liberia
Monrovia, March 12, GNA- The Volta River Authority (VRA) has earned great commendation and recognition from countries in the West African sub-region and other parts of Africa following its accomplished success in restoring electricity to the people of Liberia.
The VRA, which completed the phase I of the Liberian Emergency Power Programme (EPP) on Monday, March 11, 2008, received invitations from the governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea to assist them in restructuring their electricity sub-sector.
Some of the countries were requesting for a management contract with the VRA and other auxiliaries services. Major General Francis Adu-Amanfro, Ghana's Ambassador to Liberia, made these known in Monrovia on Monday, at the official closing ceremony to commemorate Ghana's participation in the EPP, organised by the Liberian Government.
He said "the interest demonstrated by Ghana speaks of us and the kind of expertise in Ghana as well as making Ghana a shining star in Africa."
Major Gen Adu-Amanfro said President Kufuor's commitment to the process, had greatly facilitated the programme. The Ambassador said "the beginning was not easy especially when it became so difficult to get the needed materials for work in Monrovia. "Initially most Liberians doubted that the VRA officials could execute the job and even meet the deadline of July 26, 2006 and bring light to Monrovia as promised by their President.
"But the joy of the first day of light in Congo Town in Monrovia is now a memory that many will cherish for a long time." Major Gen Adu-Amanfro said the Liberian Electricity Company (LEC)'s adopted slogan: "Small light today, bigger light tomorrow" had become a reality in Monrovia as it moved into the phase II of the EPP which would involve expansion of the power to other parts of the country. According to the Ambassador, the decision by President John Agyekum Kufuor to join President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson on July 26, 2006 to commission the first light, demonstrated Ghana's commitment to the Liberian rebuilding process.
Major Gen Adu-Amanfro said "Today any one who visits Monrovia would not only see the restoration of life in the people and businesses as a result of the electricity provided, but would also hear that the VRA has become a household name especially in the LEC."
The name of the VRA in Monrovia is often heard in expressions among the Liberians as: "Your people are too hard working, they like work too much. In fact Ghana has done so much for us."
The EPP, which began in 2006, was in fulfilment of the Government of Ghana's assurance to assist the Liberian government to restore electricity to that country after the people had lived in total darkness for 15 years.
Ghana through the VRA provided technical assistance with project design, the construction engineering for both civil and electro-mechanical works as well as the responsibility for the implementation of the construction phase.
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GNA
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5-Years In Jail For Nothing
*Sad tale of how the nation is abusing the rights of a 24-year old and how Ghana turns young folks into hardened criminals through a flawed justice system
EVEN THOUGH the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Hon. Joe Ghartey, promised imminent significant reforms in the Judicial Service in early 2007 and what he described as “Bail Alert,” to reduce the periods of suspects on remand, cases of long remand of accused persons with some running into years in Ghana’s prisons seem not to have any end as similar cases keep coming up.
A critical case which could best be described as bizarre and pathetic is that of Eric Osae, who has been on remand for the past five years without trial for alleged robbery, which human rights advocates describe as serious infringement of the fundamental rights of the victim.
Eric is 24 years of age and was a driver’s mate at the time he was arrested by the Police in 2003.
Even though Eric was never seen nor arrested by the Police at the scene of the said robbery, he has been languishing at the Nsawam Medium Term Security Prisons for half a decade for reasons best known to the Ghana Police Service and the law lords.
According to family of Eric Osae, who spoke to Gye Nyame Concord at their Teacher Mante residence in the Eastern Region, their son was arrested by police personnel from the Nsawam District Police while onboard a tro-tro from Nsawam to Accra way back in the year 2003 for robbery and has since neither been tried nor been released by those who arrested him.
The family said the police later told their son that he was seen in a group photograph with his friends who were identified by victims of the said armed robbery at Nsawam as the perpetrators.
According to the relatives, even though their son has once been arrested by the same police outfit and arraigned before a court for loitering only for him to be acquitted and discharged by the court, he has no criminal record and noted that the police have consistently refused to listen to the pleas of innocence by Eric Osae.
Family sources also confirmed to this paper that the health status of their son is seriously deteriorating by the day, claiming that they are not financially sound to meet the healthcare needs of their child since Eric was the one who used to partially support them financially.
What is most shocking and revealing is that not a single charge has been preferred against the accused person.
Currently, there is a blackout concerning his docket (if any) and there is little or no information about his ‘trial’.
Among the things, Mr Ghartey said was that the controversial remand situation will be coming under further scrutiny, revealing that “a remand alert is going to be created.”
“This new position would be used to monitor the status of remand prisoners on a bi-weekly basis with an eye towards cases which have dragged on for some time”. Hon. Ghartey promised early last year.
However, the situation on the grounds is far from what the Honourable Minister for Justice and Attorney-General promised as part of the judicial reforms in the country’s court system.
Reached for clarification on the delay of Eric Osae’s case, Superintendent Nyampong, Police Commander of the Nsawam Police District, told Gye Nyame Concord that he was still trying to find out why the long remand of the accused person.
Meanwhile, family sources told this reporter that the docket of poor Eric Osae is domiciled in the Attorney-General’s office at the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, at the mercy of dust.
This, according to the sources, came about due to a directive that came from that office to all police outfits in the region in 2003 to forward dockets of all robbery cases to that office where all such cases were going to be prosecuted from.
Currently, there are people who have been locked up for up to 10 years without trial. However, authorities maintain that the process to release those on remand for very long periods without any hope of a trial is on course.
The Country Report on Human Rights Practices (2002) released by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour in March 31, 2003 had this to say about Ghana’s judicial and prisons services: “Prison conditions remained harsh and life-threatening. Prolonged pre-trial detention remained a problem.”
Source:
gye nyame concord
Railway workers demonstrate in Sekondi
Ketan (W/R), March 12, GNA - More than 2,000 workers of Ghana Railway Company (GRC) on Wednesday embarked on a peaceful demonstration through principal streets in Sekondi to demand the dismissal of their Managing director, Mr. Rufus Quaye, from office. The demonstrators also demanded the payment of their salary arrears covering four months, as well as pay rise and a new collective bargaining agreement.
Sekondi-Takoradi
The workers, clad in red bands on their arm, hand and heads, danced and chanted war songs during the match. They later presented a petition to Mr Anthony Amoah, Western Regional Minister at his office in Sekondi. They said they were marching to let the public know the truth about the entire railway crisis and the poor management style of Mr Quaye and his team.
They carried placards some of which read, "Prof. Ekumfi is a failure to GRC," "Quaye must go," "we have suffered enough" and "pay us our salaries now".
The workers accused Mr Amoah of not intervening when the crisis started and had allowed it to deepen.
"We expected you to intervene as the father of the region when the crisis started but you were no where to be found," one of their leaders said when presenting the petition.
The workers have been on strike for almost a month, despite a directive by the National Labour Commission asking them to resume work. Receiving the petition, Mr. Amoah appealed to them to call off the strike and resume work while negotiations continue over their grievances. The workers will hold a press conference on Thursday March 13.
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GNA
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NGO warns of imminent danger on contaminated vegetables
Takoradi, March 11, GNA - Mr Alfred Biney, Director of New Blue Vision, a Takoradi-based NGO, has called for intensive education on the proper application of agro-chemicals to forestall health problems for the people. He said many farmers applied all sorts of agro-chemicals on their farms without adequate knowledge of their usage thereby posing health problems to consumers.
Mr Biney was speaking to Ghana News Agency in Takoradi on the trend that continued to be a major concern of the NGO. "Unsuspecting consumers buy these good-looking vegetables and food items only to compound their health problems," he said. Mr Biney called on the Ministries of Health and Food and Agriculture as well as other related institutions including importers and distributors of agro-chemicals to organise forums to educate farmers on the proper application of their products. He noted this would go a long way to reduce the national health bill since the consumption of unwholesome food items could be the cause of "many strange ailments that afflict the people these days". Mr Biney said some of the chemicals used to control weeds were highly toxic and did not only create health problems when applied wrongly but also affected soil fertility. He said since about 90 per cent of the urban population consumed vegetables daily, there was the need to ensure what they consumed were not contaminated.
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GNA
Curfew in Bawku extended to other towns
Accra, March 11, GNA - The Minister of the Interior on the advice of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has by Executive Instrument extended the imposition of curfew in Bawku to Pusiga; Zabugu, Binduri and Zoosi, all in the Upper East Region, with immediate effect. The curfew will start from 1500 hours and end 0700 hours each day, a press release Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of The Interior, signed on Tuesday said.
The extension of the curfew to these towns and their environs has been necessitated by the spread of violent clashes in the Bawku Municipality to these towns.
The release said: "The Military and Police presence is being beefed up in these areas as is being done in the Bawku area.
"The Government will like to remind the public that the ban on all persons in the Bawku Municipal Area; Pusiga; Binduri; Zoosi and Zabugu Townships and their environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon still remains in force and any person found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted. "The Government continues to appeal to all the factions to exercise restraint whilst Government looks at ways to bring peace to the area."
The reviewed of the curfew followed the killing of two men on Tuesday morning.
The two men, Lawal Muntala, 44 and Sulemana Moro, 44, were killed at the outskirts of the town, about four kilometres away from the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
Even though the real cause of the crime had not been ascertained, people attributed it to the conflict, whose embers were dying off, and therefore started rioting and causing mayhem in the town, Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, Upper East Regional Commander of Police, told the go and buy cattle and had some money on them.
The Regional Police Commander said four houses were burnt in the ensuing violence, adding that the occupants of those houses said the pillagers looted their houses before torching them. "As a result, the Security imposed an emergency curfew starting from 1500 hours to 0600 hours and have asked people to go into their houses," Captain Victor Abbey, Officer Commanding, Ghana Air Bourne Force, Bawku Detachment, told the GNA
He explained that the security had to act fast to stem off further violence and so thought it best to ask everyone to go indoors. He said the Police had arrested some suspects pending further investigations.
Government on Monday relaxed the curfew at Bawku and its environs from 1100 hours to nine hours following what it described as "the return of relative normalcy". 11 March 08
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Police avert clash on Kumasi Girls Senior High School land
Kumasi, March 11, GNA - The timely intervention of the police at Suame averted a clash between some trespassers on Kumasi Girls Senior High School land and workers of a construction firm putting-up a fence wall around the school.
Some private estate developers who were illegally working on the school land prevented workers of the firm from constructing the fence-wall.
Mrs Doris Bimpong, an Assistant Headmistress of the school in-charge of Academics Affairs, who led newsmen to inspect the project on Monday, expressed concern about the alarming rate at which the school land was being encroached upon.
Mr Benjamin Aning Antwi, head of the Science Department, said 15 hectares of 104 hectares of school land had been trespassed. Mr Ofori Kuragu, Managing Director of J.K. Otchere Construction Company, working on the project, said about 80 percent of work was completed.
He said on March 7 this year while workers were busily working on the project, an angry mob threatened them and asked them to stop working on the fence-wall.
Mr Kuragu said the school authorities reported the case to the police at Suame who immediately intervened.
He gave the assurance that the project would be completed within four weeks if the workers were offered adequate protection and security. Mr. E A Owusu-Ansah, the Ashanti Regional Minister and Mrs Belinda Serwaa Addo, the Regional Director of Education have visited the school and inspected the project.
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GNA
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Liberian Refugees Demand Repatriation
Liberian refugees, who escaped into Ghana at the height of the civil war in their country, have petitioned the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, with a tall order of demands.
The refugees, at the Buduburam camp, are against local integration into the Ghanaian society and are asking to be resettled in a western country or be paid to voluntarily repatriate to Liberia.
Some of them are reported to have forced the closure of all schools at the camp by intimidating and preventing children from going to school.
Minister of Interior issued a statement reminding the refugees that they have a duty under international refugees’ conventions to respect the laws of Ghana.
Peter Tetteh Korda, a journalist at Joy FM radio said the demonstrations started a few weeks ago when “the government of Ghana, with the agreement of the UNHCR decided to repatriate these refugees who have been here for 18 years.”
He said the UNHCR had rejected their demand to be paid “1000 dollars each in order to return to their homeland, and offered them “100 dollars per person, that is for every adult, and 50 dollars for every child.”
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Akwei Thompson (VOA)
Gomoa Akyempim and Ajumako chiefs endorse district capital
Accra, March 10, GNA - A delegation of Chiefs from Gomoa Akyempim and Ajumako Traditional areas on Monday publicly expressed support for the Government's decision to site the capital of the newly created Gomoa East District at Afranse. Led by Nana Ahomako Bonsu III, the Chief of Buduatta, they appealed for immediate inauguration of the district assembly.
This was when they called on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.
Inauguration of the Gomoa East District Assembly, which was among the 32 new municipal and district assemblies, was put on hold as a result of disagreement over the location of the capital.
Some traditional rulers in Gomoa Akyempim traditional area are said to be against the decision. Nana Bonsu, himself a chief from Akyempim traditional area, assured President Kufuor that majority of his colleague chiefs in the area fully endorsed Afranse as headquarters of the new district. He said they were therefore eager to see the assembly take off to help to hasten the pace of development in the area.
Responding, President Kufuor said he was happy that they had accepted to go with the Government's decision.
The assemblies, he said, were created to promote effective local government administration for good governance and development. He noted that with the establishment of a new district for Gomoa East, the size of the central Government's financial resources to the area for development was certainly going to go up and the benefit would be for all the people.
Regarding the inauguration, he said the Legislative Instrument (L.I) establishing the assembly would have to be laid before Parliament for 21 days.
Since Parliament was about to break for recess, the Government would have to wait until it returned and promised that as soon the House resumed, this would be done.
He said in the interim, the Minister of Local Government would meet with those resenting the location of the capital to help them to change their position.
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GNA
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Ghana and Netherlands sign treaty on double taxation
Accra, March 10, GNA - Ghana and the Netherlands on Monday signed a treaty on the avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion that would facilitate cross-border trade and investment through the elimination of tax impediment to cross-border flows.
The treaty, which is the eighth to be signed by Ghana and its development partners, is expected to take effect from January 2009 after approval from the Dutch Parliament. The Ghanaian Parliament has already ratified it.
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, signed for Ghana while Mr Jan Kees de Jager, State Secretary of Finance, Netherlands initialled for his country after which they exchanged the power of attorney.
Dr Osei explained that negotiations on the treaty started in December 2006 in The Hague while the concluding rounds were held in Accra in February 2007.
He said the treaty would enable the two countries to achieve the elimination of double taxation, prevention of fiscal evasion, elimination of discrimination against foreign nationals and non-residents in trading activities.
"The treaty is therefore meant to create an enabling environment for foreign direct investment inflows into Ghana and Netherlands. It is also expected to increase trade between the two countries for our mutual benefit and also broaden and deepen bilateral relations between the two," he said.
The Minister said Netherlands had been playing a pioneering role in donor harmonization activities and was a major contributor to the Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) facility.
Mr de Jager commended Ghana, a "relatively young country" for being able to conclude numerous double taxation treaties with countries all over the world.
"In my view it forms a great example of how a developing and a developed country are able to come to a solid agreement that does justice to the characteristics of both countries."
He said such a treaty was an important prerequisite for the promotion of mutual investments and trade between two countries. The Minister said a tax treaty not only helped to prevent double taxation and double non-taxation but also provided certainty to companies, organizations and individuals on the fiscal treatment of their income and capital gains from the countries involved.
Mr de Jager said Ghana and the Netherlands would benefit greatly from the treaty which they had signed, explaining that it would significantly reduce the administrative burden relating to the taxation of income and capital gains, both for taxpayers and respective tax administrations.
On the other hand, it contributed to creating the conditions for sound public finance which is vital for the economic growth of a developing country, he said.
He invited a delegation of the Ghanaian tax administration to visit the Netherlands to learn more about their day-to-day practice in the administration and customs departments.
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GNA
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Railway Workers Kidnap And Flog Bosses
... Railway Company on the verge of collapse
The impasse between the management and the workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) has taken a bizarre twist with the reported kidnapping of two top officials of the company by some of the workers in Takoradi.
The kidnappers took their captives to the company's compound in Sekondi and flogged them like schoolchildren. The officials, Mr Abaka Amoah, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), and Mr Paul Afful-Dadzie, the Deputy Financial Controller, had lacerations on their hands, backs and necks as a result of the flogging.
They reported the incident to the police and were later taken to hospital for treatment. The workers sentenced the two officials to that treatment for the simple reason that the PRO had gone to defend management on radio stations in the metropolis and made comments that did not reflect the true situation on the ground, while the deputy financial controller was accused of working, instead of joining the workers' strike.
After unleashing the unthinkable punishment on the two officials, the railway workers were said to have issued a threat to other top officials of the company, telling them to be ready for their turn anytime soon. The action of the rail workers comes at a time negotiations are ongoing between the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the leadership of the GRCL workers to resolve the impasse between the workers and the management over many months unpaid salaries and an upward adjustment of salaries.
According to Messrs Afful-Dadzie and Amoah, they were picked up by 12 strong men in a pick-up to a place called "Bottom Tree" within the Railways Location in Sekondi.
"I was in the house in the afternoon when I heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and some strong-looking men told me to follow them to the Railways Location in Sekondi. I asked them for the reason and the one who sent them but they asked me to hurry up and that their interim leaders, Joe Dadzie and David Amatakure, had sent them. For fear of being beaten and embarrassed before my neighbours, I followed them," Mr Afful-Dadzie told the Daily Graphic. He said on the way, they branched to the residence of the PRO and the kidnappers left him in the bucket of the pick-up with some of their colleagues to ensure that he did not escape. "In a few minutes, the group returned with the PRO and told us to sit in the bucket because we did not deserve to be in the second cabin of the pick-up," he said.
"They took us to a place and we met their interim leader, who told us to go and face the workers who were waiting under a big tree, popularly called Bottom Tree. There, we provided answers to the questions they posed to us," he added. However" he said, the workers were not satisfied with the answers. "We were heckled and whipped by some workers who were standing behind us with whips. They said we were also workers of railways and so they did not understand why we should be going to the office and making comments instead of joining them in the strike," he added. Mr Afful-Dadzie said had it not been for the interim chairman who went to their rescue, they would have suffered more brutalities in the hands of the workers. "After the flogging, they put us back into the pick-up and took us back home," he said. Asked whether or not he could make out the perpetrators, Mr Afful-Dadzie said because they were many, it would be difficult to identify them, "but we know the driver, who claimed he was forced to come for us".
Following the incident and the threat issued by the workers, the residences of some top officials of the GRCL had been placed under heavy security guard to avert another strike by the workers. When the Daily Graphic visited the offices of the company last Friday, the usual busy atmosphere was missing as the wagons were on the rails and the offices closed. Workers of the GRCL have been on strike for more than a month, demanding a 150 per cent upward adjustment in salaries, the payment of salary arrears and the removal of the management and the local union executive. When contacted, the Railways Police confirmed the story and said investigations were under way.
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Ghana Railway Company on the verge of collapse
Joy Online -- The Ghana Railway Company (GRC) is facing imminent collapse as its main patrons seeks alternative means of transport following the prolonged strike of the rail workers.
The Ghana Manganese company is reportedly planning to sign an agreement with a haulage company to cart its products.
But the Managing Director of the GRC, Mr. Rufus Quaye, says the industrial action by the railway workers could collapse the company.
He has therefore made a passionate appeal to the striking workers to resume work to save the ailing company from collapse.
He said the company needed to resume operations to prevent the manganese company from engaging the services of a haulage company.
The MD told Joy News that the grievances of the workers was being looked into and impressed on them to soften their stance.
Mr. Rufus Quaye gave the assurance that the workers would not be victimised.
Railway workers have been on strike for the past three weeks to back their demands for unpaid salaries and improved conditions of service.
They are demanding a 150 per cent salary increase as a precondition to go back to work.
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Daily Graphic
Commission meets on Railway workers strike
Accra, March 10, GNA - The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Monday directed workers of the Ghana Railways Company to immediately call off their strike action and return to work unconditionally. The management of the Company should also immediately pay all the outstanding salaries due to the workers.
These were the outcome of separate meetings held by the Commission and the Management of the company and the workers to resolve the impasse that had resulted in the strike action by the workers.
The workers, who were on strike to back their demands for the payment of outstanding salaries were also calling for a 150 per cent salary adjustment and the removal of their management.
The NLC, in a statement signed by Mr. Kwasi Danso Acheampong, Deputy Chairperson said members of the Railway Workers Union should constitute the appropriate leadership in accordance with their own constitution to prepare themselves to negotiate and also open negotiations with their management. The statement however dismissed the workers request for the removal of the management, saying the appointment, promotion and removal of management personnel were the preserve of the employer and/or the owner and therefore the issue had been referred to the sector Minister.
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GNA
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Over 800 youth seeking military recruitment in Volta
Ho, March 10, GNA- Personnel of the 66 Artillery Regiment, in Ho, on Monday screened over 800 youth from the Volta Region seeking recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces.
The short-listed applicants including about 150 young women reported at the Ho Sports Stadium as early as 0530hours to go through, body selection, basic medical screening, verification of certificates, age, height and general fitness.
Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kotia, Commanding Officer of the Regiment, told the Ghana New Agency (GNA) that successful applicants would be made to take aptitude test before final selection. Meanwhile, hundreds of applicants lined up outside the locked Stadium gate, said although they were not short-listed they were hopeful of being called to take the places of short-listed applicants who might fail to report for the exercise.
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GNA
Kumasi Stood for Atta Mills Colors
Yes!! You heard me right it happened right here in Kumasi the so-called no-go-area of the NPP, and you are not far from the truth to suggest that the region is gradually fallen in love with the NDC, haven been disappointed by the NPP over the years.
Pro. Mills in one of his regional tour dubbed “Me ti ase na me nwu ye” meaning I am alive and not dead, took him to the only garden city of the nation: Kumasi. The euphoria and the enthusiasm among the people of Kumasi about his coming was amazed and unusual of a town perceived to be the best bet of the bitterest rival of NDC.
The street of Kumasi was smeared with the colours of NDC with people from all walks of life struggling to have a glimpse of the professor, chanting and shouting “owue ye omo boa” meaning he is not dead it’s a lie, “Atta Mills come and save us” “asomdwe hene” second Jesus and so on. An old lady I spoke with has this to say “I don’t want to be told I want to see him myself. Others were seen holding gallons, kenkey and any item they could lay hands on to signify the high prices of goods and services beyond the affordability of an average Ghanaian.
At the Zongo Chiefs palace after he had earlier on paid a courtesy call on the king of the land Nana Osei Tutu, the security had a hell of time trying to control the crowd but to no avail as the number grew from bad to worse, making it impossible for both humans and vehicles to move freely. This delayed the arrival of Prof. Mills to the Prempeh assembly hall were he was to address a section of the NDC supporters.
After waiting for more than three hours, the humble professor arrive with his entourage and of course the crowd who had follow his convoy all these while to the space less rally ground. Responding to the crowd with his white handkerchief and showing the sign of victory, Prof. Mills was paraded into the assembly hall where he said a few sweet words to the party followers who had waited in the hall for more than 5 hours.
In fact if the crowd that Prof. Mills were able to draw in Kumasi, notwithstanding the fact that the traditional football team (Kotoko) which the people of Ashati see as a god they worship is playing at the same time then one can vehemently conclude that The region is turning its back on the NPP.
Paul Parker Atitsogbui Ghana
Source:
Paul Parker Atitsogbui
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