ISD News File - Tuesday, October 26

PRESIDENT KUFUOR ADDRESSES ANNUAL REVIEW CONFERENCE OF REGIONAL MINISTERS

President Kufuor yesterday addressed the annual review conference of regional ministers, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region.

The four-day conference, which is on the theme, “Peace and Stability – Necessary Tools for Development”, will access the stewardship of the participants as the first term of the mandate given by the people of Ghana draws to a close.

President Kufuor emphasised that inspite of all the efforts being put in place by the government to deal with corruption in all segments of the society, others did not see anything good in such commitment and were rather twisting the facts to discredit the NPP government.

He pointed out that under his administration the Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had been adequately supported to check corruption more than they were in the previous government, while laws had also been passed to fight the problem.

The President, therefore, urged the regional ministers and the MMDCEs to be abreast of the Internal Audit Law and all other laws that were geared towards checking corruption.

He announced that the government was institutionalising an apex body to be called the Internal Audit Authority, which would ensure that the day-to-day expenditures of state institutions were checked.

The Paramount Chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Martin Abilba III, who chaired the function, stated that under the NPP administration, the people had come to appreciate true democracy and expressed thanks to the government for the recognition offered to chiefs across the country.

'DON'T GREASE PALMS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS'

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, yesterday urged businesses and the executives of corporate bodies not to grease the palms of public officials for short cuts and undeserved favours.

Alhaji Mahama, who was speaking at the 2002/2003 awards ceremony of the Ghana Club 100 in Accra, urged them to uphold the fundamental principles of the rule of law by not bowing to any negative solicitations and advised them to pursue competition with vigour but in a healthy spirit.

The Vice President said good corporate governance, particularly in the areas of integrity, transparency and openness, should remain part of their corporate image.

Scancom Ghana Ltd, the Produce Buying Company, Guinness Ghana, Toyota Ghana, Nestle Ghana, Prudential Bank, Shell Ghana, Barclays Ghana, PZ Ghana and Coca Cola Bottling Company were adjudged the first top 10 companies for the year 2003.

In 2002, Scancom Ghana, Nestle Ghana, Guinness Ghana, British American Tobacco Company, KGMP Ltd, Ghana Commercial Bank, Prudential Bank, Taysec Construction Ltd, PZ Ghana, and Unilever Ghana were selected as the first top 10 companies.

They were adjudged based on profitability, growth, turnover and net assets.

VICE PRESIDENT AT SWAG AWARDS NIGHT

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged functionaries within the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to close their ranks for the good of Ghana football.

Expressing the government's displeasure at the differences within the national football association, the Vice President said “government is disturbed about the crisis engulfing the game due to the impasse between the Executive Council and the Chairman of the Management Board of the Football Association”. “We should avoid internal squabbles which adversely affect the game and incur the wrath of FIFA”, adding that sports thrives in an atmosphere of tolerance, inclusiveness, social cohesion, discipline and respect for individual dignity”.

In an address at the 29th SWAG Awards ceremony at the Alisa Hotel in Accra last Saturday, Alhaji Mahama said, a new national sports bill prepared by the sector ministry would be submitted to Parliament soon. That bill, he said, would lead to the establishment of the National Sports Authority, setting up of a Sports Trust Fund among others, as recommended by the Joe Aggrey Committee.

The event marked the enthronement of African long jump champion, Ignatius Gaisah, as the Sports Personality of the year. Margaret Simpson was crowned Female Athlete of the year.

Other award winners were: Team of the Year-men's 4 x 100m quartet, Coach-of the Year – Abdul Razak, Female Footballer of the Year – Adjoa Bayor, Discovery of the Year – Akosua Serwah, Dedication and Valour – Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor, Promising Star – Shaibu Yakubu, Cyclist of the Year – John Zormelo, Table Tennis Player of the Year – Nana Yaw Boateng, Top Scoring Club – Asante Kotoko.

ECLIPSE OF THE MOON

There will be a total eclipse of the moon on Thursday, October 28, 2004.

It will be visible in Ghana beginning at 1:14 am and ending at 4:54 am.

This was contained in a press statement issued in Accra and signed by Mensah Okang and Partners, land and hydrographic surveyors, photogrammeterists and remote sensing practitioners.

The statement said that the moon would be completely obscure between 2:23 am and 3:45 am.

COLLEGE OF RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES AFFILIATED TO KNUST

The College of Renewable Natural Resources in Sunyani, which is currently affiliated to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), is to be developed into a full-fledged university – the Brong Ahafo University.

The Principal of the college, Mr. Lawrence Botwe Antwi, who announced this at the college's sixth matriculation ceremony in Sunyani at the weekend said, as a first step, the college is to be made the third campus of KNUST from the next academic year.

A new degree programme in Renewable Natural Resources Management is also being developed to run alongside the existing diploma programme.

Mr. Antwi announced that 161 applicants applied for admission to the college this year, out of which 46, including six females were offered admission.

GOVERNMENT SPENDS ¢85.7 BILLION ON TEACHING, LEARNING MATERIALS

The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has announced that the government has so far spent ¢85.7 billion on the procurement of teaching and learning materials for the basic level and senior secondary schools (SSS) throughout the country.

Mr. Boahen Aidoo, who announced this at the handing over ceremony of the executive of the Takoradi Polytechnic chapter of the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy (TESCON) of the NPP in Takoradi at the weekend said, 769 three-unit classrooms, each with requisite sanitary facilities teacher's common room, a store and a library, have been built across the country, while 255,000 desks have been supplied to schools.

The Regional Minister said, there had been massive renovation and construction of infrastructure in tertiary institutions and for the first time in its history, feeder roads in the region were being tarred.

The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Madam Sophia Horner Sam, urged members of TESCON to go to the rural areas to educate the people on what the government had done to improve their living conditions.

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL CELEBRATES GOLDENT JUBILEE

The Sacred Heart Hospital (SHH) at Weme-Abor in the Keta District of the Volta Region has held a grand durbar at Weme to round off activities marking its golden jubilee anniversary.

According to the Administrator of the hospital, Mr. Bismark Dufie, the facility was started as a small infirmary by some Dutch Reverend Sisters in the 1950s. This was later expanded into a clinic and maternity home in 1953/1954, and by December 1997, the facility had gone through a massive expansion and development, both in physical infrastructure and human resource development, to become a hospital.

The ¢3.7 billion facility provides preventive and curative services, with a 24-hour service at the out-patients department and an HIV/AIDS counselling unit.

Due to its geographical position, 57 per cent of its clients are from Keta District, 25 per cent and 15 per cent from Akatsi and Ketu districts.

GHANA REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR UN

Ghana has reaffirmed her commitment to and support for the United Nations (UN) in its peace promotion initiatives and would lend every support in the UN's effort at translating into reality the charter obligation of fostering world peace and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

A press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 59th United Nations Day, added that the UN's commitment to the eradication of poverty, hunger, diseases and underdevelopment as reflected in its Millenuim Development Goals, offered hope to mankind, as it fought against racial and religious intolerance and the effort to overcome global warming, terrorism and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The statement said the UN, with dedication and support of all nations, could wage the peace throughout the world with the strength that would destroy nothing but the poverty, hate, distrust and underdevelopment that went into making war possible.

A statement from the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, said 59 years since the UN was founded, the world was now a better place, although too many people were still suffering, adding that nations needed governments that truly served their people and also an effective UN that reflected a more peaceful world.