Rawlings calls for help to stamp out corruption

President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday spoke out against corruption, its negative effect on development and appealed to the international community to help African countries to stamp it out. "The international community and the Commonwealth in particular must find ways to assist us unravel the webs of corruption which stretch from our natural resources through local individuals to international agents and banks."

Speaking at a banquet held for Queen Elizabeth II of Britain and her husband, Prince Philip at the State House in Accra, President Rawlings said the presence of the Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, provided him with an opportunity to expose some of the crimes that stall efforts at consolidating democracy and good governance.

"By helping us to wipe out this scourge and bring to book those involved, the Commonwealth will contribute to building a worthy legacy of transparency and stability among its members."

President Rawlings said Ghana has won praise for its economic achievements but these successes are undermined by factors beyond and outside its control. These are plummeting prices of its major exports, which are cocoa and gold, and a steep rise in world oil prices.

"We cannot under-estimate the challenges of maintaining a healthy democracy when our nation's precious resources are being siphoned off by unscrupulous individuals and big businesses, both here at home and abroad."

Zeroing in on the crisis in Ghana's gold industry, President Rawlings said the "other untold part of the story, indeed, points to a long history of manipulation of the resources from our gold industry, under various guises. Regrettably, this takes place with the active knowledge and involvement of some of our own so- called respectable, hard-working citizens."

President Rawlings thanked those outside who have tried on the quiet to help stop the destabilising, criminal business practices that have been going on for many years in the gold industry.

He said in the closely guarded world of corporate business, the evidence of how some citizens go about manipulating the opportunities that have been selflessly created for them is concealed. "Unfair business compromise economic stability and good governance which are both actively promoted by the Commonwealth."

President Rawlings told the Queen that since her last visit 38 years ago, many member-countries of the Commonwealth, including Ghana, had gone through a period of turmoil.

He said as much as coups must be avoided and condemned, they have sometimes prevented much greater threats to the social order that could have resulted in anarchy and national disintegration. The President spoke about Ghana's thriving democracy and said good governance cannot stand alone. It must be supported by sound economic growth and transparent administration.

"Without sound economic growth and transparent administration, political instability will be inevitable despite the mechanisms of multi-party democracy."

Also at the banquet were Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the First Lady, and several dignitaries, including Ministers, Chiefs, Members of Parliament, leaders of political parties and diplomats.

In a short response, Queen Elizabeth, who leaves on today, Tuesday, for Durban, South Africa, to open the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting later in the week, said she was pleased to be back in Ghana.

She said Ghana has made significant economic and political advances and had contributed immensely to the maintenance of peace and stability in the world. GRi

Ghana Staff College designated Centre of Excellence ****************************************** Accra (Greater Accra) 9 Nov. '99 The United Nations Security Council has designated the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFSC), as a Centre of excellence in peacekeeping operations.

Lt. Col. E.K.T Donkor, Minister of Defence, made the announcement at the commissioning of an 800 million cedis (680,000 Pounds Sterling) International Peacekeeping Library for GAFSC by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Present at the short ceremony was Nana Konadu Agyeman- Rawlings, Mr. Robin Cook, British Minister of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Service Commanders, Mr. Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. J.E.K Aggrey- Orleans, Ghana's High Commissioner in the United Kingdom.

Col. Donkor described the designation as a demonstration of confidence by the UN and the British government's in the college.

The library was built with funds from the British government to replace the old one built 23 years ago.

The college consists of a senior and junior divisions, a research and a development unit. It aims at training personnel to hold senior command and staff appointments and has trained officers from Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi.

Col. Donkor expressed Ghana's appreciation of Britain's continued support aimed at building sub-regional peace, "something, which other people in the region are taking for granted". He said the library, when completed would have a state of the art technology as well as internet facilities to facilitate distance learning.

The library would further enhance the international peace support operations of the Staff College. Prince Philip unveiled a plaque to mark the commissioning.

The library has sections on international relations, military science, economics, law, social science, guerrilla warfare, religion, philosophy and history of the first and second world wars.