According to the paper, the Ministry of Energy has directed all energy institutions to provide by October 10, 2003, specific plans to reduce cost and improve customer service.
It said such plans must include specific cost reduction targets, assignment of responsibilities and completion dates.
The institutions are GOIL, TOR, ECG VRA and Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation.
The rest are GNPC, Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company, Energy Foundation and Energy Commission.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the Sector Minister, who gave the directive, said the measures were to improve performance to enable the sector to make positive contributions required of it to the economy.
He reminded the institutions that the ministry had embarked on a reform programme to improve the performance of the sector and stressed that the ministry was committed to the goal of becoming a net exporter of fuel and power within the next five years.
2. PAYMENT OF COCOA FARMERS AKUAFO CHEQUE UNDER REVIEW – PGS. 1 & 3
The paper reports that, government has initiated a special programme to improve the Akuafo Cheque system and eliminate fraud in its use.
The arrangement would forestall the use of counterfeits to purchase cocoa and also ensure prompt payment to farmers.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, announced this when the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, interacted with the chiefs and people of Ntotroso in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He referred to the arrest of some cocoa clerks for allegedly issuing dud cheques and fake cedis to some farmers and cautioned those responsible for such illegal deals to stop them before the law caught up with them.
He gave the assurance that the new arrangement would eliminate the numerous cases of dishonoured cheques issued by bank clerks.
3. EC WORKERS PROTEST POOR SERVICE CONDITIONS – PG. 3
Workers of the Electoral Commission (EC) embarked on a demonstration in Accra yesterday to protest against their poor service conditions.
Earlier on Tuesday, the workers had called on the government to correct the inherent distortions and disparities in the placement of staff with respect to job descriptions, qualifications and skills.
According to Mr. Anthony Ekpedzor, Chairman of the E C branch of the Public Service Workers Union of the TUC, the intention of the workers should not be misinterpreted as an attempt to sabotage multiparty democracy, neither was it an attempt to undermine the government but, a legitimate constitutional right to demand a fair remuneration for their services.
4. FOUR PRESENT LETTERS OF CREDENCE – PG. 20
Four envoys from Denmark, China, Greece and Sudan accredited to Ghana, yesterday presented their letter of credence to President Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.
The ambassadors of Denmark and China are based in Accra but those of Greece and Sudan are resident in Abuja, Nigeria.
They are:-
Mr. Bjork Pederson, Denmark
Mr. Zhang Keyuan, China
Mr. Abdelrahim Ahmed Khalil, Sudan
Mr. Constantine Glova, Greece.
According to the paper, curfew in some districts in the Dagbon Traditional Area were yesterday lifted by the government.
The districts are Tolon-Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, Gushegu-Karaga and Zabzugu-Tatale.
The curfew will continue in the Tamale Municipality and Yendi District from midnight to 4 a.m.
Official statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, said, “it has to be emphasized that the State of Emergency still remains in force in the whole of the Dagbon Tradional Area.”
Meanwhile government has also lifted the curfew in the Bawku East District with immediate effect.
2. Tourist Spreads Hiv/Aids. Aflao, Keta, Accra – PGS. 1 & 3
Mr. Rudolf Vanden Hoven, 53, a Dutch tourist, has been arrested by the Police for criminally infecting several Ghanaian ladies with HIV.
Hoven, who started visiting Ghana in the late 1980’s is said to have had affairs with several ladies at Aflao, Keta and Accra, one of whom is known to have died of the disease in 1992.
According to the paper, he lodged in hotels in Accra and Togo with his girlfriends whenever he arrived from Holland on holidays.
The suspect usually lured his victims with money and promises of marrying and sending them to Holland.
After infecting them, he would either give them money or take them to Holland as compensation.
At least, he is known to have sent a lady from Keta to Holland after performing her marriage rites.
But his latest victim would have none of that. The 38 year-old hairdressers reported him to the police.
3. BoG SEEKS CHANGE IN EXISTING BANKING LAW – PG. 3
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is seeking to replace the country’s existing banking law with a new one to address emerging supervisory challenges in line with international standards of supervision.
When passed, the new law will provide greater autonomy for the BoG in supervisory matters and actions as provided under BoG Act 2002 (Act 612) and facilitate easy entry of banks and mandatory exit of problem banks.
Mr. E. Asiedu-Mante, first Deputy Governor of BoG, announced this at the 9th annual meeting of the Committee of Banking supervisors of West and Central Africa, which opened in Accra yesterday.
The two-day meeting is being attended by about 100 delegates from 14 countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia.
4. GHANA LISTED FOR AFRICAN GENDER DEVT. PROJECT – PG. 1
Ghana has been selected among 12 other countries for field trials in the development of an African Gender and Development Index (AGDI).
The AGDI is to measure the extent of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa.
Mr. Kofi Poku Adusei, Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, announced this at the inauguration of the National Advisory Panel for the project in Accra.
The paper says, perhaps the tour of the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, to the Asunafo District in the Brong Ahafo Region on Tuesday, this week, would be one of his tours he would never forget in his life, since he assumed the second highest office of the land.
The journey that was supposed to take about one hour lasted for almost three hours in the thickest forest of Asumura area.
According to the paper, the many hours spent in the thick forest by the Vice-President and his entourage arose because the whole convey following him lost its way to Goaso, when he was returning from Tetekwao, after he had inspected a bridge under construction on the “suee” river at the village, near the Western border of the region.
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the former First Lady, is said to be at cross roads regarding her political career.
Does she respond to calls by her admirers for her to contest the Klottey-Korle constituency on the ticket of the NDC in the 2004 Parliamentary elections? Or should she wait awhile, for, perhaps an invitation to be the running mate of the NDC’s flagbaerer, Prof. Atta-Mills in the 2004 Presidential elections.
According to the paper, on reports regarding being a running mate to Prof. Mills, Nana Konadu denied that she had been approached to fulfill that role.
In a recent interview, she said the choice of a running mate, was the prerogative of Prof. Mills.
The paper has gathered that over 300 workers of Pioneer Food Cannery (PFC) Ltd, producers of “star Kist” tuna are currently suffering from various debilitating ailments as a result of alleged dreadful working conditions at the Tema-base factory.
Most of them have been complaining of severe neck pains, chest/breast pains and excruciating aches in the limbs as well.
According to the paper, both the affected and non-affected workers are precariously apprehensive of their state of health since the pathetic passing away of their colleague, thus bringing the number of deaths at the factory to 18, over the last two years.
The paper reports that, the Trade Union congress (TUC) will demonstrate on Wednesday, September 24 against government’s intention to deduct 2.5 percent of workers SSNIT contributions for the NHIS if government refuses to dialogue with the congress on the scheme.
The TUC has therefore given the government an “ultimatum for a dialogue before the eve of the day of the intended demonstration”.
Mr. Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of the Timber and Wood Workers Union (TUC), issued the warning on Tuesday when he addressed the Cape Coast District Council of Labour.
2. NCA WOULD NOT BE “STAMPEDED BY ANY OPERATOR” … AS THE WAR OF THE AIRWAVES CONTINUES – PGS. 1 & 6
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has said that, it would not allow itself to be stampeded by any operator to lose sight of its statutory responsibilities to be fair to operators, customers and the nation as a whole.
“For this reason, the NCA will not deviate from the declared balanced approach which, we consider to be the optimal pathway to maximize the interest of all stakeholders”.
This was contained in statement signed by Major J. R. K. Tandoh (Rtd), Acting Director-General of NCA, on the dispute between Ghana Telecom and Spacefon on interconnectivity rates and tarrifs.
According to the paper, a labour unionist has expressed indignation at government’s attempts to play the general public against organised labour over labour’s opposition to certain provisions of the National Health Insurance Bill.
Mr. David Dorkenoo, Head of the Education Department of the TUC said it was wrong to vilify the TUC when all they were doing was to ensure a health insurance scheme that would not jeopardise the interest of workers.
According to the paper, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary to the President, has said that nothing will stop the President from assenting the NHIS Bill.
“The President will go ahead to give his assent to the Bill which has already been approved by Parliament”
According to him, Parliament is the representation of the people, adding that its approval of the bill showed its acceptance by the people.
He said the health of the people is so important to the government that it would not allow any individual or group of people to distract the government’s focus from it.
He was reacting to an appeal made by the NDC that, President Kufuor should not rush to give his assent to the bill.
The paper’s investigations have revealed that admissions of SSS graduates into first class SSS’s in the Kumasi metropolis has been turned into what can be described as “admission for sale”.
Parents are made to pay amounts ranging from ?1.5m to ?4m as bribe before their wards gain entry into some of these schools.
Any candidate who scored aggregate between 07 and above wishing to enter into the so called top schools in town will have to pay the said amount otherwise he/she is refused admission.
Prempeh College, Opoku Ware Secondary School (OWASS), Kumasi Academy (KUMACA), Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School (YAASS) and St. Louis Secondary School were schools mentioned to be guilty of this scandal.
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