Happenings - People - Places - Events
Ghana
Afrc Convicts
The office of the coordinator of investigation, vetting and tribunal has set up a special sub committee of the National investigation committee to which AFRC convicts could vindicate themselves.Affected persons are those who left the country to escape AFRC decisions, those who were called to appear before AFPC special courts but failed to do so and those convicted in absentia. Another group are the 23 currently in prison and also self imposed exiles.
Asafo Company Storm Office
Work came to a standstill at the Ministry of Health when an ASAFO company from Ahyiresu Yeboakrom in the Adonten division of Akuapem traditional area stormed in to take away the principal secretary, Mr. W.K. Djan.The principal secretary was carried out shoulder high by a member of the ASAFO group while others sprayed his body with powder and stuck herbs in his mouth.
At the throbs of drums and the beating of gong-gong, workers rushed out of their offices to watch the merry-making group take away the new chief.
A spokesman for the group said that Mr. Djan has been selected to become Aburi Werenpehene of the Adontenhene of Akuapem.
Asante Mampong
More than 600 Ghanaians attended the inauguration of the Asante Mampong State Citizens Association at St. Olive Church Hall, Manor House in London. The guest of honour was the Mayor of London Borough of Haringey; Counsellor, Iris Woodter.Nearly £2000 was raised following appeal for funds launched by Mr. Mark Adu Gyamfi, Managing Director of Roshview Shipping Forwarding Company Limited.
Weight Of Bread
Bakers in Ashanti region found baking under-weight bread will have their ovens demolished, their names removed from the bakers' list.Mr. F.A. Jantuah, Ashanti regional secretary, announcing these new measures at a meeting with bakers said a pound weight of bread could, however, continue to sell at 20 cedis throughout the region.
A pound weight of bread in the south sells for 14 cedis He assured the bakers of adequate supply of flour up to March next year, and urged them to form defence committees to check abuses in the system.
Such committees should not be seen to serve as protective walls for your illicit deals, he pointed out.
Mr. Jantuah also asked dough-nut and pastry makers to increase sizes of their products or have their flour allocations cancelled.
"It does not matter if you buy your flour from a middleman or from the neighbouring countries. The approved prices must obtain, and we will see to it that the law ensures this" he added.
Private Schools
The Ghana National Association of private schools (GNAPS) has appealed to the Ministry of Education to stop the discriminatory practice of allowing higher intake of pupils with lower marks from public schools into secondary schools.Mr. P.A. Dowetin, National Chairman of the association who made the appeal said the practice had led most parents whose children are in private schools to register them with public schools in order to gain admission into secondary schools with lower marks.
Mr. Dowetin said the recent national delegates congress of the association in Kumasi took far-reaching decisions which have bearing on the role of private schools in the educational development.
He said the association had learnt with dismay that the ministry of education was still implementing its previous decision of dividing Ghanaian children into two.
Rawlings Visits Upper Volta
Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana's Head of State and Chairman of the ruling Provisional National Defence Council has paid a friendly visit to Upper Volta, at the invitation of Captain Sankara, President of the National Revolutionary Council (CRN).He was accompanied by Captain Kojo Tsikata, Special Adviser to the PNDC, Mr. Kofi Djin, Secretary for the Interior, Dr. Obed Asamoah, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Hamidu, Deputy Secretary of the Upper East, Col. J.M. Ewa., Chief of Staff, PNDC Office, Mr. D.Q. Ocran, Charge d'Affaires of the Ghana Embassy in Upper Volta and Mr. J.A. Ruby, Acting Director of the African Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Quainoo Promoted
The PNDC Government in Ghana has promoted its Force Commander Brigadier Arnold Quainoo to the rank of Major General.Brigadier Quainoo, a leading figure in the regime of Flt.-Lt. Rawlings, graduated from the Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dun in 1962. He served in the UN Peacekeeping Force in Zaire, until 1963.
Myth Of Arms
The Ghana army would be democratised "to kill the myth around the arms they carry."According to Dr. Austin Asamoah Tutu, Volta Regional Secretary who stated this in an address to 38 cadres in training in Ho also pledged that Ghana would not discriminate against any country but that any nation that attempts to sabotage the economy would be repulsed.
He warned the cadres to be wary of imperialism which he claimed is at its apogee through monetary capital, especially in the developing nations.
Franco African Summit
Twenty seven African Heads of state have met with President Mitterand in Vittel for the 10th annual Franco African summit.Notable participants were Mr. Hisséne Habre of Chad, Captain Thomas Sankara of the Upper Volta, who reportedly arrived in Vittel wearing fatigues and a pistol. Other familiar leaders like Houphouet-Boigny of Ivory Coast, Oumar Bongo of Gabon, Sekou T oure of Guinea and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, were at the summit.
In an opening speech, President Mitterand stressed the preservation of territorial integrity and the exercise of legitimate sovereignty as the first and paramount principle in solving disputes such as the crises in Chad, Namibia and the Western Sahara.
The French President sought support for his peace plan in Chad by reaffirming support for colonial frontiers which is a cornerstone of the OAU Charter.
Mr. Mitterand announced to his audience that French aid to the developing countries had risen from 0.3 percent of gross national product in 1981 to 0.5 per cent this year.
He expressed the hope that France would reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP next year.
Last year's Franco-African summit was hosted by Zairean President Mobuto Sese Seko.
Chad-Cameroon Ties
The 16th session of the Chad-Cameroon joint commission for co-operation has ended in Yaounde with Chad expressing her gratitude to her neighbour for the hospitality accorded Chadian refugees in Cameroon.A joint communique emphasising the end of deliberations said the two parties hailed the cooperation ties which result from the fraternal links between the two Heads of State, Paul Biya of Cameroon and Chad's Hissene Habre.
Chad and Cameroon agreed to sign a treaty of friendship, cooperation and good neighbourliness.
A meeting of experts is scheduled for the Chadian capital N'djamena to review among other things lists, contingents, and values of exportable products from one country to the other.
The leader of the Chadian delegation, Ali Djalbord Diar, called for a rapid examination of the cultural agreement by Cameroon to pave the way for the admission of Chadian students registered in the various faculties in Cameroonian institutions.
Mr Aminou Oumarou, leader of the Cameroonian side said the nine points on the agenda emphasised the extent of the cooperation possibilities open to Chad and Cameroon.
Liberia To Buy Israeli Planes
A purchase agreement has been signed between the government of Liberia and the Israeli Aircraft Industries following two days of intensive negotiations in Monrovia.The signing of the agreement brings into fruition the air services stipulation contained in a joint communique signed in Jerusalem between Head of State Samuel Doe and the Israeli Prime Minister during his visit to that state in August.
According to the sales purchase agreement the Israeli Aircraft Industries will supply the Republic of Liberia with four aircraft at the total cost of 10,000,000 dollars.
Three of the aircraft, according to a release from the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia, will be used by Air Liberia while the remaining one will be utilized by the armed forces of Liberia.
Nigeria
Fight Against Apartheid
Nigeria will continue to collaborate with friendly countries in order to eradicate racism in apartheid South Africa, and all forms of colonialism and racial discrimination in all parts of Africa.The Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Mr. E.G. Dimka, said this while addressing a group of women who were attending a workshop on Africa at the Denman College, Abingdon.
Mr. Dimka also emphasized Nigeria's firm belief in the objectives of the United Nations Organisation, the Commonwealth, the Organisation of African Unity and the Economic Community of West African States.
He said that Nigeria believed that the resolutions adopted by these organisations, especially the United Nations, should be respected in order to ensure world peace.
Tourism Development
The Federal Government is pre pared to invest in viable tourism projects in cooperation with State Governments and other organisations that are willing to contribute to the development of tourism, the Minister of Commerce, Alhaji Bello Maitama Yussuf, has announced.This was contained in a message to mark the World Tourism day.
The Minister said that as part of the efforts of the Nigerian government to make tourism attractive, 44 games reserves and 17 major waterfalls, among other attractions, have been identified for development in the country.
Art Exhibition
President Shehu Shagari has given assurance that the Federal Government would continue to provide the necessary infrastructure and facilities for training of artists and promoting the arts.He gave the assurance while declaring open an art exhibition in Lagos as part of the activities marking this year's National day celebrations.
The President said that his administration would continue to sustain the artistic excellence for which Nok, Ife, Benin and Igbo-Ukwu bronzes and terra cottas were known.
President Shagari also said that the government would continue to promote cultural exchanges at the National and International levels to promote unity and to ensure progress and development through reciprocation of ideas and ideals.
Items on display at the exhibition include wood carvings, metal works, fibre weaving and ceramics.
