Omanhene advises residents

Techiman (B/A) March 20, GNA - Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, has advised residents of Abanim to desist from dumping waste into Afiaso stream and its surroundings.

He gave the advice when he led a clean-up exercise in Abanim No. 2 electoral area to desilt gutters and the stream.

Several divisional chiefs including Nana Kaako Asamoah, Nifahene, Nana Ayiso, Akyeamhene, Nana Kofi Adum, Benkumhene of Krobo, Nana Badu Kaakyire, New Techimanhene, Nana Apenteng Fosu Gyeabour, Baamuhene, Nana Baffour Asare Twi Brempong, Adontenhene and Nana Owusu Gyare II, Akwamuhene accompanied the Omanhene. Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw explained that it would cost less to keep the environment clean than to create dirt and filth in surroundings.

The people of New Krobo, a new settlement in the Municipality, led by Nana Datiakwaa Agyarko, regent, participated in the exercise and removed refuse and cleaned surroundings. The chief appealed to the Municipal Assembly to provide the area with refuse containers.

Mr. Pierre Kwabena Ankomah, Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education remarked after the exercise that he was impressed with the massive turn-out and the enthusiastic response of the people in the exercise.

He called on politicians to harness the exuberance of the youth towards such activities rather than mobilizing them for violent and unproductive practices.

"It will be better to wash, clean and disinfect the minds of the citizens to avoid the wrong things rather than to wash and clean the gutters and streets, which may be made dirty again just a few days after the exercise", he said.

Ministry to launch National Strategic Plan to deal with small arms menace

Accra, March 20, GNA - The Ministry of the Interior is to launch a National Strategic Plan to combat the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons that threatened national security. Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Darteh (rtd) told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Monday that the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms would also meet on March 23 2006 to review the outcome of the National Strategic Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons held in Accra last week.

He said the use of unregistered weapons remained an offence and that the Commission would hold a donors' get-together to source funds to assist to save the situation.

Captain Effah-Darteh, who is also the Chairman for the Commission, said: "We are expecting to raise not less than two million dollars across two years from our collaborators such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF)."

Two members of the Commission said the fire arms bureau at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service would be computerised to facilitate information on arms. The Commission would also encourage local manufacturers to divert to alternative livelihood programmes such as manufacturing of handcuffs and hospital beds.

The Commission has extended the registration period which started in September 2005 to encourage the general public to register their arms.