People, Places and Events
GHANA
Rawlings Helped Me To Power - Sankara
According to a report in the national Concord of Nigeria the Upper Voltan President Capt. Thomas Sankara, has said that the Ghanaian leader Flt-Lt. Jerry Rawlings, gave secret backing to his plans to seize power last year. Addressing a public meeting attended by visiting Flt-Lt. Rawlings at Bob Dioulasso, 360 kilometres west of Ouagadougou, Capt. Sankara said that there were frequent secret contacts between the two leaders, particularly after May 17th, when he was ousted as Prime Minister by President Jean Baptiste Ouedraogo.The Upper Voltan Leader, who overthrew Maj. Ouedraogo in August, said that Flt-Lt. Rawlings "supported us with all his military, political and diplomatic strength. He fought personally at our side, assisting us with his counsel and effective support," he concluded.
Krobo Edusei is dead
Mr Krobo Edusei, Ashanti Region Chairman, and member of the Central Committee of the erstwhile Peoples National party has died at the age of 70.A report by the Ghana News Agency said Mr Krobo Edusei died on February 13th without giving details. He was one of the country's controversial politicians who, as a founding member of President Kwame Nkrumah's Convention Peoples Party, member of Parliament and Minister of State, hit the international headlines with his purchase of a 'golden bed'. He was dismissed and re-instated as minister by the late President Nkrumah.
After the military overthrow of the first republic, the late Krobo Edusei was disqualified from active politics on account of adverse findings made against him.
He re-surfaced in the third republic as a powerful member of President Limann's party and was jailed after the coup of 1981 by Flt-Lt Rawlings tribunal for taking bribes.
New maize and rice prices
The Government has revised the consumer prices for maize and rice. A statement issued by the Ministry of Trade said: With immediate effect, a maxi bag of maize will sell at 2,400 cedis; a mini bag at 1,200 and a kilo at 24 cedis.The statement said that a maxi bag of rice will sell at 4,000 cedis; a mini bag at 2,000 cedis and a kilo at 40 cedis. In December 1983, prices of these commodities were increased as an incentive for farmers and also to cover the overhead costs, including transport costs of the Food Distribution Cor- poration. The statement emphasized that although the December prices were realistic, the Government had decided to review the prices to lighten the burden on consumers.
The new prices will involve a cost to the Government, since the Food Distribution Corporation has already paid the new farm-gate prices and has also incurred certain overhead costs; the Government will have to pay a subsidy of over 33,000,000 cedis.
The statement reaffirmed the Government's commitment to paying farmers remunerative prices as an incentive for increased production and urged workers to increase productivity to create the conditions for improving the quality of their lives.
British assistance
Ghana and Britain have agreed that priority should be given to the timber and mining industries in line with the emphasis on Ghana's economic recovery programme. This is the result of discussions in Accra between Ghanaian officials and experts from the British Overseas Development Administration.British bilateral assistance to Ghana in 1984-85 offered at the consultative group meeting in Paris last November amounts to 7,250,000 pounds sterling.
103 killed by meningitis
An outbreak of meningitis has killed 103 people in the Upper east region of Ghana. According to Radio Ghana at least 1,500 cases have been detected.Military exercise in Ahafo
A four day exercise code-named 'Brave Patriot' conducted for 54 officers drawn from all units of the Ghana Armed Forces, has ended at the Tain Tributary Forest Reserve near Nsoatre in the Brong-Ahafo Region.The exercise was conducted from February 1st to February 4th under the direction of 15 officers.
Brazil offers help
Brazil has offered to assist Ghana to develop her economic potential under the technology transfer agreement reached between the two countries.To this end, three Brazilian irrigation experts are expected in the country before the end of this month to help in the construction of irrigational infrastructure to revolutionise the country's agricultural sector.
This was disclosed to newsmen by the acting Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Charles K. Annan (Jnr.), when he returned home from a 10 day visit to Brazil.
Aninakwa heads GNTC
The PNDC has re-organised the GNTC to play a more meaningful and effec- tive role in the import-export sector under a three year economic recovery programme.Accordingly, the existing interim management committee has been replaced with an executive board and Mr David Aninakwa, retired General Manager of Kingsway stores has been appointed executive chairman.'
He will be assisted by three deputies, one middle level management staff, three workers representatives and four persons appointed by the PNDC.
Meanwhile the PNDC has terminated the appointments of six senior officials and retired twenty eight others.
New procedures for passport
The Central Revenue Department has adopted a number of measures to lessen congestion and speed up work on the flood of applications for tax clearance certificates to enable them to obtain passports.The Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr Arnold Prah, mentioned that the measures adopted are to forestall any lapses in the acquisition of the tax clearance certificate by unwarranted persons, and also to prevent officials of the CRD from extorting monies from applicants before issuing the certificate to them.
One of the measures is that not more than 100 tax forms are issued daily. Also, an applicant shall be interviewed by scheduled officers to ascertain the true nature of his income, and when it comes to the issuing of the certificate three senior officials are charged with the signing.
With regard to students, Mr Prah disclosed that they are required to produce a letter from their schools indicating that they do not earn any income.
A few applicants a correspondent of the GBC talked to expressed their dissatisfaction with the slow pace with which officials of the Central Revenue Department go about their work and it was feared that their attitude to work would frustrate the new measures and give way to bribery and corruption at the office.
The applicants alleged that some of the officials have already started selling the forms to some of the applicants who are so bent on getting the certificate at any cost. When contacted, a senior official of the department, who is also one of the signatories to the certificate, refused to comment on the allegation.
Soviet experts expected
Soviet experts are expected in the country by next month to assess the immediate needs of the national nuclear research centre to enable the Soviet Government to help reactivate the centre.A front page story of the People's Daily Graphic said the experts, who were originally scheduled to visit the Tema machines building and engineer- ing centre, will now visit the nuclear research centre as the result of the visit of the Soviet economic counsellor, Mr Grigoriy Milyakov to the centre.
A member of the interim coordinating committee of the Atomic Energy Commission who took the delegation round, appealed to Mr Milyakov for assistance in training about six technicians to man certain machines at the centre. He also called for assistance to replace two reactor transformers which were destroyed by fire three years ago. Mr Milyakov assured him that when the experts come these will be considered and a second team is going to undertake a study of the details for the assistance needed.
African freedom fund
A member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), Mr Ebo Tawiah, has suggested the establishment of an African freedom fund under the Organization of African Trade Union Unity to speed up trade union and working class action in the struggle against imperialism. Ebo Tawiah was addressing the closing session of the regional conference of the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) in Accra.The PNDC member repeated Ghana's rejection of the withdrawal of freedom forces from Angola as a condition for Namibia's independence.
The delegates adopted what they described as the Accra declaration which, among other things, denounced the imperialist powers for going against the UN Security Council mandatory arms embargo imposed on apartheid South Africa. Speaking to newsmen later, the administrative secretary of the financial committee on southern Africa declared that intensified armed struggle is the only option to force racist South Africa to grant independence to Namibia. He said SWAPO and other liberation movements the world over need all the support they could get in their struggle.
Refugees welcomed
Ghanaian refugees living in Togo will not be allowed to subvert the government of Flt-Lt Jerry Rawlings, Mr Nampouguini Lare, the departing Togolese ambassador, said in Accra."Refugees resident in Togo are not only Ghanaians," he told reporters. "We have refugees from all Africa and we welcome them on purely humanitarian grounds, and a close watch is kept on them."
At least 250 Ghanaians have political refugee status in Togo, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) told Reuters.
Flt-Lt Rawlingss government is concerned about the activities of opponents in exile in Togo, Ivory Coast, Britain and elsewhere.
CHAD
War in Chad is against Libya
The Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Quaddafi has claimed in a speech broadcast by Tripoli radio that the war in Chad is directed against Libya.In a speech to the Libyan General Peoples' Congress Col. Qaddafi said, "as far as Libyans were concerned, we defend ourselves and we fight with our backs to the wall".
He called on his countrymen to be prepared to fight in Chad with their forces or to support Goukouni's forces because most of the war in Chad is against Libya.
Among the decisions arrived at by the congress was one to freeze relations with Zaire and Liberia.
LIBERIA
Minister dismissed
Gen. Samuel Doe has dismissed a government minister and the country's envoy to Guinea for criticising his ruling People's Redemption Council (PRC) while abroad, a government statement said.Gen. Doe wrote to the deputy Finance Minister, Mrs Henrietta Koenig and the ambassador, Mr David Konoe Wright, accusing them of betraying trust by criticising his government during a conversation at a Liberian embassy reception in Conakry recently, the statement said.
It added that Gen. Doe accused Mrs Koenig and Mr Wright of lying about conditions in Liberia during their conversation, whose details were not given.
Newspaper closed
Liberian military government, the People's Redemption Council (PRC) has once again ordered the closure of the country's independent Daily Observer newspaper.Vice-Head of State, Major-General Nicholas Podier, in a recent statement said the paper had printed "Scandalous articles patently intended to denigrate government officials and poor citizens".
He also accused the paper of creating faction, separation, a sectionaslist ideology, and similar negative attitudes. Podier maintained that the Observer "has done everything humanly possible to dissuade potential investors from coming into the country as a consequence of its inimical and derisory articles against government development schemes.
Refugees arrive from Sierra Leone
The Immigration Commission in Monrovia says over 500 refugees from Sierra Leone have entered Liberia by way of the Freetown border. Speaking to ELWA news Deputy Immigration Commissioner, David G. Bachir, said the refugees had reported that there was political upheaval between tribal groups in Sierra Leone.The Commissioner said the refugees have been held up in the border region and will not be allowed in the city. It can be recalled that last year over 6,000 refugees entered Liberia.
IVORY COAST
Fires raging
Bush fires are raging in eastern Ivory Coast, destroying cocoa and coffee plantations, according to the government-owned daily Fraternite Matin.In a report from the eastern department of Adzope, it said more than 100 hectares (347 acres) of cocoa and coffee plantations had gone up in smoke in the past few days.
With the arrival of the dry harmattan wind blowing from the Sahara no day goes by without a farmer reporting that his plantation has been set ablaze, Fraternite-Matin added.
Agriculture Minister Denis Bra Kanon said last month the Ivory Coast had lost 500 million dollars worth of cocoa, coffee and timber through drought and bushfires.
He added that the government had worked out a nationwide strategy to fight the seasonal scourge which cocoa industry sources said destroyed between 50,000 and 60,000 hectares (135,000 to 150,000 acres) of plantations last year.
The programme, which included setting up fire brigades and requisition- ing villagers, has apparently had little effect, industry sources said.
UPPER VOLTA
Minister jailed
A former Upper Volta government minister was sentenced to seven years in jail by a revolutionary tribunal in Ouagadougou.Leonard Kalmogo, a finance minister in the 1966-80 regime of General Sangoule Lamizana, was found guilty of embezzling 184 million CFA francs (420,000 dollars).
His personal assets and properties will be confiscated to an equivalent of the money he embezzled, the tribunal, whose proceedings were broadcast live on radio, ruled.
NIGERIA
Decree on alcohol sale
A decree to fix official hours of sale and drinking of alcohol in public places is to be promulgated by the Federal Military government. Steps are also being taken to ban the use of gaming machines throughout the country.List of economic saboteurs
A list of foreign firms and individuals who might have defrauded the country in business deals is being compiled.'According to a report in the New Nigerian the list is expected to contain the names of foreign firms and individuals who must have defaulted in contract performance and engaged in questionable deals involving foreign exchange.
Buhari frowns upon press freedom
Head of State General Buhari has told the Concord that he would check what he described as the excesses of a certain section of the Nigerian press. In an interview with the paper Gen. Buhari stated that the Nigerian press was capable of abusing its freedom to the extent of endangering the stability of the country.Gen. Buhari was asked whether the provisions in the suspended constitution guaranteeing the freedom of the press and fundamental human rights would be preserved when the constitution was reviewed.
No, he said and affirmed that he was going to tamper with that. Gen. Buhari also dismissed as untrue and unrealistic reports of a loss of 2.8 billion naira worth of oil money at the NNPC.
No creation of new states
The Federal Military government will not contemplate the creation of more Relating this to the Concord, Gen. states. Buhari stressed that his country would not do anything that the economy could not sustain.He said that the only state in the federation that was viable is the Lagos state but even then that state was in debt to the tune of more than 150 million because of its commitments to the metroline project.
Warning against political meetings
The army in Lagos has warned against meetings with political intentions being held under the guise of religious gatherings or social parties. In a statement the army public relations department said that it had observed that social parties to which former politicians were invited, provided a forum for political regrouping.The statement therefore reminded Nigerians that the ban on political parties and meetings was still in force and warned that violation of the ban would not be tolerated. The statement, however, pointed out that religious worship at recognised places and bona fide social gatherings were not affected.
Three aircraft seized in Kano
Three private aircraft have been impounded in Kano by officials of the Nigerian Airport Authority (NAA). This is in compliance with the Federal Government directives banning the operation of private aircraft in the country.Task force on Chad
Nigeria has set up a task force to monitor developments in Chad. The Minister of External Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, says his Ministry will conduct a workshop on Chad next month. He said the workshop, which will be organized by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, will feature experts drawn from his Ministry and the institutions of higher learning in the country.He said the measures were part of the Federal Military Government's desire to bring about a lasting peace in Chad. The Minister also said the Federal Government was watching with interest the developments in the Western Sahara and that it would like to see a quick return to peace in that territory.
Governor denies caning order
The Ondo Military Governor, Commodore Bamidele Otkio, has said it was not true that he ordered the caning of some employees of the NTA (Nigerian Television Authority), Akure. The Governor told a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in his office that he did not also order the termination of the appointment of a messenger of the authority, Remi Adesunloro.The general manager of the Authority, Dele Angulu, who was also invited to the Governor's office, said before the Governor that he had rescinded his decision to terminate the appointment of Mr Adesunloro. The Agency carried a report that the Governor ordered the caning of 35 employees of the NTA and the State Broadcasting Corporation who reported late for duty.
Decree on constitutional modifications
The Federal Military Government has released a Gazette explaining the details of the Constitutional Suspension Modification Decree 1984. The decree states "no question as to the validity of this or any other decree or of any edict shall be entertained by any court of law in Nigeria". It empowers the Federal Military Government to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the country on any matter.It says that the Military Governor of a State shall not make any law on matters included in the exclusive legislative list and, except with the specified by him. prior consent of the Federal Military Government, the Governor shall not make any law on any matter on the concurrent legislative list relating to the Federal legislative power set out in the second column of part two of the second schedule of the suspended constitution.
The decree says that the question whether there had been any consultation with the Supreme Military Council (SMC) on the exercise of the executive authority of the country shall not be challenged or questioned in any court of law.
It provides for the establishment of an advisory judicial committee, headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, with powers to advise the SMC on the appointment of justices of the Court of Appeal, chief judges and judges of the high courts of the States, the Federal Capital Territory, the Grand Khadi and other khadis of the Sharia court of appeal of the States, the president and other judges of customary courts of appeal.
The degree stipulates that all laws, other than any law to which section 15 of this decree applies, which was in force before the commencement of the decree, shall until it is repealed be effective.
The Decree was signed by the Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, on February 9th.
No suit against detention
A Federal Military Government Gazette explaining the State Security Detention of Persons Decree 1984 states in part: "No suit or other legal proceedings shall commence against any person for anything done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Decree".The Gazette, released in Lagos by the Cabinet Office, stipulates that any person detained between December 31st, 1983 and the date of the Decree shall be deemed to have been detained under the Decree.
The Decree says: "If the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, is satisfied that any person is or recently has been concerned in acts prejudicial to the state security or has contributed to the economic adversities of the nation, or in the preparation or instigation of such acts, and it is necessary to exercise control over him, the Chief of Staff may, by order in writing, direct that the person be detained in a civil prison or police station or such other place
It shall be the duty of the person or persons in charge of such place or places, if an order made in respect of any is delivered to him, to keep that person in custody until the order is revoked," it explains.
The Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, according to the Decree, "shall not later than three months after the date of an order made by him under this decree and every three months thereafter, review the case of every person detained, and if satisfied that the circumstances no longer require the continued detention of the person affected, may revoke the order."
African refugees number four million
A United Nations report estimates there are about four million refugees in Africa and lists 128 projects, costing 18th. 362 million dollars, needed to strengthen the economic infrastructure of host countries.It says the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is expected to spend about 155 million dollars in Africa this year, somewhat more than in 1983.
But additional funds are also needed to build and repair social and economic facilities in those countries that have received the refugees and returnees, defined as refugees who have been repatriated voluntarily.
The report was prepared for the second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, known by the Acronym ICARA II, to be held in Geneva from July 9th to 11th. The first conference took place in 1981.
"Refugees and returnees have placed a considerable burden on the social and economic infrastructure of affected countries" the report said. "Additional facilities must be built and those components that have deteriorated because of increased demands must be rehabilitated."
