Talking Drums

The West African News Magazine

People, Places and Events

BURKINA

CEAO probe

Capt. Blaise Compaore, Burkinabe Minister of State in charge of Justice, is the head of a probe into alleged mismanagement of funds from the West African Economic Community (CEAO) by former Ivorian Planning Minister Mohammed Diawara.

Mr Diawara, a former official of the community, was detained in a Bamako hotel where the CEAO's 10th annual summit was being held. He was transferred to Ouagadougou where he is likely to face trial once a commission of inquiry has finished work.

Former CEAO officials go on trial

The Ministry of Justice of Burkina Faso has been directed by Capt Thomas Sankara, current chairman of the CEAO (West African Economic Community), to investigate the alleged financial scandal involving billions of CFA francs. The gendarmerie have also admitted that investigations into the embezzlement and other fraudulent practices at the CEAO has already begun.

Five persons have been called for questioning, and these persons, who have been placed under house arrest, will be heard by the technical investigation commission created by the last Council of Ministers, and will eventually answer charges preferred against them before competent courts in Burkina Faso, the headquarters of the Community.

Rivers authority created

Following two days of talks between ministerial delegations from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger it had been agreed that a special administrative body should be set up to coordinate development efforts in the shared region of Liptako-Gourma, which incorporates Niger river basin areas common to the three countries.

The newly formed Niger River Basin Committee would meet before 15th November to draw up a plan of action for submission to a ministerial meeting which should take place before 15th December.

Report action against two former ministers

The Cabinet has suspended two former ministers from the civil service, following their arrest. They are Arba Hama Diallo (Foreign Affairs) and Adama Toure (Information), who were ministers in the first revolutionary government .. when the military seized power in August last year.

A Cabinet communique said Mr Toure had been suspended for mounting a "campaign of disparagement" against the Government's recent abolition of a tax on peasant farming, and Mr Diallo for trying to deter people from committing themselves to the ambitious people's development programme unveiled last month.

The ex-ministers belong to the Marxist- Leninist Patriotic League for Development (Lipad), which supplied a number of ministers in Capt Thomas Sankara's first administration. The past year has seen a number of policy clashes between Lipad and the military members of the Government.

Lipad's secretary general, Philippe Ouedraogo, also a former minister, has been proposed for the vacant mines' engineering post in the Liptako-Gourma regional development schemes, the Cabinet communique added. Burkina Faso has just taken over the chairmanship of the Liptako-Gourma integrated development authority. Mali and Niger are the other members.

Diplomatic relations with Iran

Burkina Faso has decided to establish diplomatic relations with Iran. The agreement to establish these relations was signed at the UN headquarters in New York.

Congolese aid

Col Dennis Sassou-Nguesso, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Congolese Labour Party and Head of State, in response to the tragedy of the flood that hit Gorom Gorom, has on behalf of the people of Congo donated a sum of 75m CFA francs.

This amount was handed over to the Minister of Family Welfare and National Solidarity by Ayime Emmanuel Yoka, Congolese Minister at the Presidency in Charge of General Inspection of Tax, who was visiting Burkina Faso. This amount will be allocated for the housing programme in Loudala province.

Implied criticism of the USSR

The Burkinabe official daily newspaper, 'Sidwaya', has criticised the USSR and its aid policy, without naming it, in an editorial entitled "The proletarian spirit". "No matter how often we sing the Internationale", the paper writes, "the policy of 'nothing for nothing' always gets the upper hand in every field". "If Lenin were still alive, he would have come to our aid in Oudalan or Seno (two provinces of the extreme North Sahel part of Burkina Faso where drought, famine and cholera are raging)" "Sidwaya' continues.

"If Lenin still lived", it continued, "he would have sent us tractors for the Sourou (a plain along one of the tributaries of the Volta river developed by Burkina Faso) and then combine harvesters, and he would have sent us engineers for the Bagre and Kompienga dams along with agronomists to develop our farms."

The newspaper adds: We shouldtherefore rely on our own strength, because to rely on a 'big brother' or big brothers or similar ideological affinity nowadays no longer constitutes a guarantee. "Under these circumstances" 'Sidwaya' concludes, "we are taking our own route, and on the way we will find small sincere friends of similar ideological affinity in order courageously to confront the wolves that lay along the route. And as for Lenin, he would have proved us right."

IVORY COAST

Meeting on economy

President Felix Houphouet Boigny says that he would soon call a national council meeting to examine the social and economic situation in the country. President Houphouet-Boigny was speaking at Abidjan International Airport on arrival from Europe where he spent the past two months on private visits.

He did not specify what issues would be discussed but observers in Abidjan noted that during his sojourn in Europe, the implementation of certain government policies, which resulted in a cut in the salaries of some public servants and the re- trenchment of certain categories of workers, had caused some anxiety among workers.

FRG loan for development projects

The Federal Government of Germany has decided to grant the Ivory Coast a loan of more than 17bn CFA francs at the end of the fifth meeting of the German-Ivorian joint commission for co-operation in Abidjan. The loan will enable the Ivory Coast to implement several projects.

About 2.19bn CFA francs will be used in cultivating in the north of the country and in building rural centres to improve the standard of living of rural populations. Feeder roads between villages and electricity and hydraulic projects will be implemented.

Under the loan, about 15bn CFA francs of the total amount will be used for the development of the Ferkessedougou industrial agro-pastoral complex in the north of the country. By 1985, Ivorians will be in complete control of the cattle-raising complex, but the Germans will continue to provide technical assistance until 1987. A programme to fight tsetse fly will be instituted and a veterinary laboratory will be established in the northern town of Korhogo.

In addition to this loan, 10 scholarships were offered to the country for the current year, while another 10 scholarship packages have been granted for next year within the framework of technical co-operation. The next meeting of the German-Ivorian joint cooperation commission will be held in 1985 in Bonn.

NIGERIA

Economic down turn

A combination of economic downturn in the nation and Government's economic stabilisation measures brought noticeable declines in major areas of industrial activity manufacturing output, investment expenditure by industries, energy consumption, construction activities and the flow of goods in and out of the ports in the first half of this year, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) half-year report.

The report showed that manufacturing output declined by 1.7%, construction by 59.9% and the value of net sales by trading companies by 44.4%. The CBN report said the figures came from a survey of about 40 selected business establishments in the Lagos area in addition to information obtained from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce.

The report showed that imports of industrial raw materials, which account for 65% of total raw material requirements, went down in value by 12.8% compared to the first half of 1983. Imported merchandise sold by trading stores fell by 79% making up only 44.5% of all goods sold by the merchandising sub-sector, the report said.

Capital expenditure by the manufacturing sub-sector in the first half of this year declined by 52.4% and capital expenditure by trading enterprises dropped by 33.7% in the same period over the corresponding period of 1983.

The construction sub-sector made no investment at all during the period, the report said, adding that construction activities declined substantially especially in the public sector, owing to lack of funds and the government's order temporarily halting all projects worth three million naira or more.

The number of people employed by manufacturing industries covered by the CBN survey also fell substantially with most job losses occurring among factory hands, artisans and technicians. Energy consumption dropped, with total use of petroleum products, natural gas, hydro- power and coal standing at 14.1m tons of coal equivalent.

Bring-down syndrome of the press

Group Capt Emeka Omeruah, Minister of Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, has said in Lagos that the press in Nigeria had not changed from the bring-down syndrome of the pre- independence era before the military administration came to power. Group Capt Omeruah, who was speaking on a television programme to mark the 25th anniversary of television in Nigeria, expressed regret that even after independence, the Nigerian press still looked at the government as something that should be brought down.

He said that while the system employed by the founding fathers of the press in Nigeria could be justified under a colonial government, the same situation could no longer be justified now. The Minister said that before the promulgation of Decree 4, the press was in a riotous situation, but that with the law an element of maturity had emerged because people had started to respect what was printed on the pages of Nigerian newspapers. He said that civil servants were not barred from speaking to the press or giving their views on any issue, and that it was not true that even when journalists publish the truth, it is still punishable if it embarrasses a public official, pointing out that if truth is printed you have no case to answer.

On the broadcast of commercials by radio stations, he said that it had been agreed that only state radio stations should continue to handle advertisements. The Minister said that no private individual had come forward to ask for licence to operate a television station and reiterated Government's willingness to consider such a request on its merit.

Group Capt Omeruah said that since independence, no leadership in Nigeria had been called upon to give account of its stewardship, adding that the present Administration was the first to introduce accountability by the leadership. The Minister said that Nigeria could produce a workable political system if the commonality in its citizens was developed. He commended what he called the vanguard role played by the press in the WAI (War Against Indiscipline) campaign and urged the press to take the war to the grassroots.

Relations with neighbouring states

Nigeria would host a meeting of heads of state from Togo, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria later this month, and that Nigeria would be attending the forthcoming ECOWAS summit in Togo. On 1st November, radio Nigeria reported reinforced security at border posts, aimed at curbing smuggling. It also cited the Minister of Information as referring to reports that "thousands" of nationals from Niger and Chad had crossed into Nigeria, and saying that while Nigeria was willing to "assist" neighbouring countries whenever possible, "the security of the nation was foremost."

The Governor's worry

Governor Bamidela Otiko of Ondo State has expressed regret that all his efforts at promoting unity, love and understanding among his people have not yielded any fruitful result.

He made the observation in Akure while swearing in the state acting Chief Judge, Mr Justice Solomon Adeloye.

Commodore Otiko said it was sad that Ondo State was gaining avoidable notoriety for frivolous rumour mongering and destructive petition writing.

He said "these vices cause dissension rather than unity, promote hate rather than love and they perpetuate mutual distrust rather than understanding".

Execution order

An order has gone out to all police commissioners in the country to arrange the execution of 828 condemned persons on death row within two weeks.

Informed sources told the Sunday Concord that there are 22 females on the list awaiting the hangman or firing squad as at the end of last May.

According to the sources, the order for the nationwide execution of condemned prisoners was issued by the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.'

The order was believed to decongest the prisons. The nation's jail houses which are designed to hold about 23,600 inmates are almost bursting at the seams with 50,000 inmates who are either awaiting trial or serving prison terms.

In Ikoyi Prison, one of the most hard hit by congestion, about 80 men reportedly are kept in a cell measuring 480 square feet.

Up north in Maiduguri Prison, 2,350 prisoners are in cells designed for 720 persons. Recently in Ilorin Prisons, there was a reported outbreak of chicken pox and scabies among prisoners.

Tie and dye exhibition

An exhibition of "Adire" (tie and dye) cloth has been held in Lagos by Mrs Belty Okuboyejo, a Scot, who has been in Nigeria for 21 years.

The show was opened by Mr Mukhtar Ahmad, general manager of ICON Limited, at the National Gallery of Craftsand Designs, Iganmu.

Mr Ahmad said the time had come for Nigerian businessmen to "exploit the export potential of this unique Nigerian cloth and in so doing revive the Adire technique to the greater glory of Nigeria".

Mrs Okuboyejo, who titled the exhibition "Adire: An endangered tradition", said: "I found Adire and became interested. Its beauty appealed to something in me, you can say I'm partly married to it.'

Bar rejects interference claim

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) after an executive meeting said it had not found any form of interference with the judicial functions of Mr Justice Yaya Jinadu, the Lagos judge who retired from the Bench last month.

Its verdict on the judge's claim, which arose from the trial of federal permanent secretary John Oyegun for contempt of court, was one of two major issues they discussed.

The other is its decision on Mr Gani Fawehinmi, who had defied an NBA order that no lawyer should defend any accused being tried by military tribunals. NBA President, Mr Bola Ajibola, reading the findings and decisions of the association said on the former judge:

"After an exhaustive discussion of the report of a 10-man committee, evidence showed that there was no interference with the judicial function of Hon. Justice Jinadu either by the executive or the Advisory Judicial committee (AJC), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) or the Chief Judge of Lagos State.'

Buhari on Defence Policy Objectives

Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has enumerated the nation's defence policy objectives. He said these include the maintenance of a strong defence system, a proper balance in arms and men to ensure internal and external security and keeping the armed forces in a state of high preparedness at all times. Others include the improvement of conditions of service and the welfare of all members of the armed forces.

General Buhari was addressing troops at the closing session of the combined arms exercise of the armed forces at Katsina in Kaduna State. The Head of State, however, assured the troops that all positive steps were being taken to solve various problems and constraints that face them while in training and in the conduct of their assignments.

He stated that while this was going on, the Government would continue to count on the understanding of the soldiers in the present economic situation in the country in developing a high sense of improvisation so as to reduce these problems.

Commenting on the military exercise, General Buhari praised the high level of performance, operational discipline and style of tactical manoeuvres. He also commended the organisers of the exercise and expressed the hope that the high standard would be maintained and improved upon.

Speaking earlier, the Commander of the Artillery Corps, Brigadier M. G. Nasco, said the exercise was designed to demonstrate the capability of the armed forces.

Army's contingency plan

The Nigerian army has formulated a contingency plan to check incursions and safeguard the nation's territorial integrity, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen Ibrahim Babangida, disclosed in Ibadan. Addressing the closing session of the 2 Mechanised course for officers of Division, Maj-Gen Babangida said that the plan would be formally launched during the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff's conference.

Details of the contingency plan were not given, but the Chief of Army Staff said that the "respective and collective responsibilities" of participants would be enlisted when the plan was due for implementation. He however, warned that there would be no room for mediocrity. "You are therefore advised to gird your loins and be prepared for the task ahead to build an army worthy to be proud of" he said.

He said that a research and development cell was being established at the Ministry of Defence to look into the nation's military equipment and weapons development. "This cell will work closely with the Defence Industries Corporation in Kaduna which is under-going reorganisation in readiness for added responsibilities and greater expectations in future", Maj-Gen Babangida disclosed.

The course, which was declared open by the Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, was attended by senior army officers and some university lecturers.

Clamp-down on "illegal aliens"

Nigerian immigration officers have been directed to monitor the movements of aliens in the country. They have also been asked to stem the influx of illegal immigrants into Nigeria. The directive was given by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Brig Mohammed Magoro, while addressing a conference of senior immigration officers in Calabar, Cross River State.

The Minister said in order to do their jobs effectively, immigration officers must demonstrate a sense of patriotism by exposing illegal aliens, denying them employment and preventing them from smuggling out essential commodities from Nigeria.

CHAD

French General decorated

Hissein Habre has decorated General Bechu, commander of the French Manta operation in Chad, with the National Order of Chad; Habre expressed Chad's gratitude for the Manta operation troops' presence in the country and deep regret at their withdrawal.

French radio reported General Lacaze, the Chief of the French Armed Forces, as saying in Ndjamena that "France was not leaving Chad totally since a certain number of military technical assistants were remaining at the Chad army's disposal and at its request.

GUINEA

Possibility of joining CEAO

Conakry radio has broadcast an interview with President Lansana Conte in which he said that he had been invited to attend the West African Economic Community summit as an observer. He said that as a result of the discussions held in Bamako during the summit Guinea would make a decision about whether or not to apply for membership.

In answer to a question, Conte said he believed that ECOWAS and the CEAO could live together as a result of mutual understanding between member states.

Meeting of joint fisheries commission

The eighth session of the Soviet-Guinean joint commission on fishing has opened at the Palace of Nations, under the chairmanship of Capt Fode Momo Camara, Minister of International Cooperation.

In his opening address Camara said that fishing has a prominent place among the priority programmes of the Military Committee for National Redress. He went on to say that the Guinean Government wants to benefit from Soviet experience for the development of water resources. The Minister recalled that the nation's fishing potential is between 300,000 to 400,000 t annually, while the domestic needs stand at 75,000 t annually.

He added that 12 fishing companies currently operate in the country and that 70 ships belonging to these companies are fishing in Guinea's territorial waters.

GHANA

Hospitals are disused cemeteries

The exodus of Ghanaian professionals in search of better working conditions outside the country has reportedly infected the ranks of the most senior doctors, the consultants at the Korle Bu hospital.

Their departure rate is such that there are fears that it might lead to the closure of the University of Ghana Medical School, where most of them are lecturers.

Many of the consultants who have served the hospital for over 20 years and above and who have contributed to making the medical school what it is now are leaving for places like Saudi Arabia. A report in The Mirror says that one medical school in Saudi Arabia has as many as 11 Ghanaian lecturers on its staff.

According to Prof. Pobee, the Vice-Dean of the Medical School, the causes of the exodus of the medical lecturers are varied. He mentioned poor conditions of service, lack of equipment and tools to work.

Asked to confirm the story that Britain's Royal College of Surgeons had written a report about the unsatisfactory state of the Medical School after a recent visit by eir representatives, Prof. Pobee said in their report although they were alarmed by the state of the staff and equipment, their main concern was the library which they felt was far behind time and needed to be upgraded. Prof. Pobee warned that many will continue to leave until such time that the Government decides to do something about the state of affairs of the hospital.

And to sum up Prof. Pobee remarked that the state of the Medical School is hanging in the balance. "To some of us, the hospitals are becoming deserted, desecrated and decimated like disused cemeteries."

Order to retrieve illegal firearms

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr S.S. Omane, has ordered all regional, divisional and unit commanders of the police service to conduct a special exercise to retrieve all firearms and ammunition from all personnel who are unlawfully keeping them.

The order was contained in an address by the IGP to police personnel at the start of a four-day visit to the Eastern Region. Mr Omane noted that despite an earlier order from his office, some members of the service continue to ignore the regulation.

He regretted that some senior officers do not exhibit confidence in enforcing directives and this has resulted in the indiscriminate use of firearms by police personnel. The IGP also stressed the need for discipline, smart turnout, cleanliness, as well as improvement in the relation with the public. He again warned against the unauthorised erection of checkpoints.

Rawlings gives thanks

Flt-Lt J. J. Rawlings, has offered a national prayer of gratitude to God for the rains this year that have led to the rise of the Volta Lake to the minimum operating level.

Flt-Lt Rawlings offered the 90 seconds prayer just before he addressed a parade of 45 graduating officer cadets and supporting platoon at a passing out ceremony at the Prison Officers Training School in Accra. He begged the Creator through "our noble departed ancestors" to help infuse into the people of Ghana the ethics of work to "enable us chalk development progress."

He praised the Creator who had always done his side of the assignment when it came and said, "we are the ones who consistently let our ancestors down. "We want to eat without producing. We want to enjoy without toiling.

He expressed no doubt that "the irresponsible ones in our midst who cannot appreciate the science of how and what creates and sustains life will foolishly start burning our bushes and forests again when the harmattan sets in" and appealed to Him to put some sense into the heads of such people.

Graphic reports easing of petrol problem

The petrol problem in the country is now reported by the Graphic to have virtually been overcome now.

The "Graphic" came to this conclusion after a survey in Accra and other towns up country.

The survey revealed that the meandering petrol queues which were a common sight in Accra and elsewhere a few weeks back had vanished.

Motorists, don't buy petrol at the 'kalabule' price of between C150 and C300 now.

Some unauthorised petrol dealers who hoarded petrol to sell at 'kala' prices now have the problem of how to dispose of it since the supply of petrol has greatly improved, the "Graphic" survey added.

Seminar on Grenada

The acting Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Miguel Martinex-Moles has said that progressive countries in the Third World countries have a lot to learn from last year's United States attack on Grenada. "A thousand lessons in politics could not teach them any better." he said. He was speaking on Imperialist aggression in the Caribbean and Latin America" at a symposium organised in Accra.

Mr Yao Graham, a member of the NDC, who spoke on 'World Solidarity' noted that with the upsurge of revolutionary struggle the world over, imperialist manoeuvres had been intensified, a situation which called for world wide solidarity to counter it.

Mr Graham recalled the "barbaric, unprovoked and unjustified" US invasion of Grenada and urged all revolutionaries to rededicate themselves to the noble cause of fighting for their dignity and preventing the recurrence of the Grenadian example.

Sawyer is U.G. Vice Chancellor

Professor G.F.A. Sawyer, a law lecturer has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the nation's premier university in Legon.

Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, Chairman of the PNDC has approved this appointment in conformity with the University of Ghana Act of 1961.

Professor Sawyer recently led the government in negotiations with the VALCO. He is Junior to a number of lecturers in the University including Professor Adu Boahen, an eminent historian and Dr Senanu of the English Department who had been acting as Vice Chancellor.

Soviet aid to liberation movements

The Soviet Ambassador, Mr Semenov, has stressed his country's commitment to assist liberation movements in Africa, financially and materially. At a news conference in Accra, he said 67 years after its advent, the influence of the great October Socialist Revolution on the destiny of mankind has not grown weak. It has rather led to the freedom of many nations in Africa.

Mr Semenov said the revolution has created a new way of life based on all that is honest and progressive. The Soviet people, according to him, cherish the radiant future of mankind. They believe in the creation of conditions conducive to free and fruitful labour of all nations.

Referring to the arms race, Mr Semenov said the Soviet Union will not be the first to use nuclear weapons and called on all nations to join in efforts to ensure world peace.

Ghana regrets Morocco decision

Ghana has described the apparent decision by Morocco to withdraw from the OAU if the SADR (SADR-Saharan Arab Democratic Republic) is seated at the next OAU summit as unfortunate. In a radio comment, Ghana said this move, coming from a founding member, is to be regretted because if Morocco goes ahead to translate her intention into action, it will create a very bad precedent. In effect, any member that has some quarrel with a neighbour will think it has sufficient reason to withdraw from the OAU. Morocco's attitude perhaps shows what scant regard some members have for the OAU.

Nor is it a realistic proposition the suggestion put forward some time ago by President Mobuto of Zaire, that sub- Saharan African countries should abandon the OAU and form their own separate organisation because, according to him, Arab and North African problems have been allowed to dominate the affairs of the OAU.

Upon this assumption, it can be a fair idea for the OAU Secretariat and concerned members to solicit the good offices of Colonel Qadhafi to prevail upon King Hasan to drop the idea of leaving the OAU. It must be impressed on King Hasan that the path he is now choosing in his relationship with the OAU is wrong. It is all right for Morocco to belong to the Arab League, but membership of the OAU also offers attractive possibilities for her.

GABON

Austerity budget

The Government has announced a budget for 1985 totalling $1.09 billion, a continuation of its austerity programme started in 1978. Earnings for the coming year are put at $960 million about $604 million of this being income from oil.

Planned spending is split between the national debt, which stands at $217 million, an operating budget of $360 million and investments totalling $525 million.

The budget, up by about $18 million over the current year, shows a fall in oil income of about $16.1 million, but this is compensated for by increases in taxation totalling $30 million.

This is the first time since 1978 that earnings from oil have decreased, and a government spokesman said this marked a turning point in the national economy.






talking drums 1984-11-12 tribalism versus nationalism - Nigerian press - PNDC economic plan