People, Places and Events
GHANA
Dr Abbey presents credentials
Ghana's High Commissioner in Ottawa, Canada, Dr Joseph Abbey, has paid tribute to Canada's contribution to Ghana's economic development and promised to work towards expanding the relations between the two countries.Presenting his credentials to the Governor-General of Canada Madame Jeanne Sauve, Ambassador Abbey said his major task would be to promote and facilitate mutually beneficial Canadian investment in and technological transfer to Ghana, especially in the areas of mining. energy and timber"
We can produce all our rice
The Chairman of the PNDC, FM-Lt. J.J.. Rawlings, has said that Ghana is capable of producing its own rice and maize for consumption and for export because the necessary conditions are available for their increased productionThe Government is therefore determined to cut down the large sums of foreign exchange utilized for the importation of the two items, he said. He was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Western Nzema Traditional Area.
Rains at last
Seven rainfalls were recorded at Kwamikrom in the Volta Region between February 26th and March 6th, this year compared to the same period last year when there was no rain at all. After the second and heaviest rainfall, jubilant women and children jumped into the fields to gather hailstones.Farmers predict that hail-stones accompanying rainfall Indicate favourable weather during the year. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavier rains this year.
Dud cheques for school fees
An audit check on the accounts of the Adisadel College revealed that cheques for more than 42,000 cedis issued by parents and guardians in payment of school fees for their wards have been dishonoured by the banks.This was disclosed by the headmaster of the college, Mr R. K. Ayittey, at the 74th annual speech and prize-giving day of the school in Cape Coast at the week-end
Ghana organisations to Co-operate
The Ghana Congress of USA and Canada and the Ghana Democratic Movement have agreed to work jointly in the restoration of democracy in Ghana and to co-operate in all areas of mutual interests.A joint communique signed by Dr Jude Aidoo and Mr J.H. Mensah after their meeting in Baltimore on March 17th pledged their determination to defend democracy and oppose any military or autocratic rule in Ghana.
The two US and UK-based organisations expressed sympathy with the hungry, the tortured, prisoners of conscience, political prisoners, and with all those who are languishing in Rawling's jails.
They demand that the PNDC immediately lift the curfew that has been imposed on Ghana for more than two years and appealed to the world community to refrain from assisting the oppressive regime of Rawlings.
They condemned the PNDC's imposition upon Ghana of unworkable socio-economic and political concepts enunciated in the Green Book of Muammar Gaddafy and demanded that Rawlings should hand over power to a properly constituted national government.
Diplomatic cooperation with Cuba
Ghana and Cuba have signed an agreement for cooperation in the information sector of their diplomatic services. This will mean that where one of them has diplomatic missions and the other has not, the one with the mission will supply information relating to the other country to nationals seeking such information.Under the agreement signed by Ghana's Foreign Secretary and his visiting Cuban counterpart, Mr Isidoro Malmierca, the countries' Foreign Ministries may also exchange information in areas of mutual interest.
Rawlings urges on O.A.U. attendance
Head of State Jerry Rawlings has urged African leaders not to boycottthe forthcoming OAU summit because of the Western Sahara issue.Fit-Lt. Rawlings' plea reported by Accra Radio came at a meeting with Egypt's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Boutros Ghali. Flt Lt. Rawlings who said that OAU was threatened with disintegration, asked the 21 year-old organisation to follow the examples of the UN where "the worst of enemies" still meet to air their differences.
UPPER VOLTA
Striking teachers dismissed
A meeting of the National Council of the Revolution has dismissed all teachers who took part in the strike order by the leadership of the SNEAHV...The meeting studied the modalities for recruiting revolutionary teachers to replace the dismissed ones. It discussed in particular the criteria for recruitments in order to transform the teaching corps into an army of revolutionary militants capable of building up a new educational system that would strengthen the democratic and popular revolution and help build a new Upper Volta...LIBERIA
Don't blame military
The holding of the referendum and voters registration has been rescheduled from March 28th to April 8th, 1984. But there are fears that the timetable would still be delayed if the 90 days requested by the advisory assembly is granted.Commenting on the issue, the Head of State observed that the timetable was in fact designed to make the People's Redemption Council, PRC, appear ridiculous. Many Cabinet Ministers expressed the view that the delay in the timetable was inevitable considering the issues raised by both the advisory assembly and the elections' commission..
Meanwhile, Dr Doe has appointed a seven-member committee, drawn from the People's Redemption Council (PRC), Cabinet, the Constitutional Advisory Assembly, the Elections Commission, as well as the public, to review the request of the commission for an extension of 90 days to conduct an education campaign on the new constitution.
Those appointed are Mr Moses P. Harris, Chairman; Rev. Victor Stryker, Co-Chairman; Major Tombakai Jangaba, Advisor, People's Redemption Council, Member; Major Fodee Kromah, Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Member. Others are, Major Patrick Minikon, Minister of National Security, Member; Counsellor Isaac Nyeplu, Member of Elections Commission, Member; and Mr Archie Bernard, Secretary, Constitutional Advisory Assembly, Member. According to Dr Doe, the matter is of such urgency that the committee must submit its report to him within one week.
UNESCO
Investigation into Unesco operation to commence
Mr Fred Layton, head of the General Accounting Office of the US congress has arrived in Paris to commence an unprecedented American investigation into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).A formal letter from the US administration requesting the inquiry was handed to Mr Amadou Mathar M'Bow, UNESCO's director-general. The GAO is looking into allegations of misappropriation of funds and other malpractices.
The investigation, which has been accepted by Mr M'Bow, follows the US decision to serve notice last December of its withdrawal from UNESCO at the end of this year.
The US, which contributes about a quarter of the organisation's annual budget, has been angered by what it feels has been an increasingly anti West and anti-American attitude by UNESCO.
NIGERIA
Tactics of 'Fugitive' Politicians
The Federal Military Government has again reaffirmed its determination not to be diverted from its set objectives by various tactics currently being employed by runaway politicians. In a statement in Lagos the Administration said it was aware of the various attempts by the fugitive politicians to malign the present Government by employing gross forgery as their weapon.As part of the grand design, the fugitives' plan to forge statements of accounts purporting that the Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen Ibrahim Babangida, had millions of pounds in British banks.
In the case of the Head of State, a mischievous plan was organized to show that he collected the purported amount when he was the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum. The runaway politicians also plan to discredit Maj-Gen Babangida with 65,000,000 pounds supposedly representing kickbacks which he allegedly received in the purchase of armoured vehicles.
The FMG, however, stressed that nothing would deter it from correcting and reforming the social and economic structures of the country.
No Nigerian political refugees
Use the British courts to recover the assets of convicted fugitives, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Hamilton Whyte, has said to the Federal government.Speaking at a luncheon organised by the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce in honour of a trade mission from the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Mr Whyte said that reciprocal arrangements, through which extradition of such fugitives could be dealt with also existed.
He said "No request for extradition has so far been received, and no Nigerian has sought political asylum in Britain.
America will support Nigeria
The United States of America says it will assist the Federal Military Government to overcome the economic difficulties now facing the country.The promise was made in Lagos by the United States Ambassador Mr Thomas Smith while presenting his letters of credence to Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. Earlier during the ceremony, General Buhari had expressed the hope that the new American envoy will promote better understanding between Nigeria and the United States.
Soyinka unhappy about blanket condemnation
Professor Wole Soyinka has described as unprecedented the blanket condemnation of everyone who had the misfortune of being in control of public funds.In a statement Professor Soyinka said the interpretation that could be made out of the actions of the present military government was that it was a crime to have served in whatever public capacity in an ousted civilian regime.
He said he spoke to some detainees who had never been asked one single question about their past activities and added that if it was true, it would be that a hidden travesty of justice was going on under the technique of blind fishing.
He impressed it upon the military that unless it wished to declare any effort to overthrow former administration by any civilian grouping was in itself a criminal act, it must be seen to adjudicate with political intelligence, the methods used to obtain the resources necessary for such a universally desired end.
Ojukwu's pardon stays
The Federal Military Government has no intention of reversing the pardon granted Mr Odumegwu Ojukwu by the last civilian administration over his past secessionist activities.Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters told the New Nigerian that Mr Ojukwu's present detention had nothing to do with his past role as Biafran leader.
Brigadier Idiagbon, who stressed that the present administration 'still upholds that pardon', pointed out that his present detention stems from the fact that after his pardon, he engaged in political and other activities which may be criminal.'
He declared 'specifically, his role in the founding and running of Ikemba Front, requires further investigation'.
Suppression of press would be resisted
Any attempt by the government to muzzle the Press will be resisted by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, according to its secretary, Mr Jola Ogunlusi."The Press as the mirror of the people, the watchdog of the downtrodden, should be free to perform all the functions", Mr Ogunlusi said.
He was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria NUJ chapel officers.
Call for a ban on rice importation
The Federal Military Government has been urged to ban the importation of rice and other food items and revamp the productive aspects of all river basin authorities in the country.The call was contained in a communique issued in Lagos at the end of the meeting of all state commissioners for finance in the federation. The Federal Minister of Finance, Dr Soleye was chairman of the meeting. The communique did not however list the other food items that should be banned.
River basin authorities were set up to boost local food production in the country. So far they had contributed to the increased production of such local foodstuff as garri, yam and cassava etc.
Pledge to boost agriculture
Nigeria will concentrate on reviving agriculture and providing raw materials for local industries in the country.This was restated by Head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, while receiving the Yugoslav Minister of National Planning, Mr John Srbovan, in Lagos. The Head of State also reiterated that the government was now taking stock of the nation's resources and re-ordering its priorities.
General Buhari said although there was world wide economic recession, Nigeria's problems could have been minimised if its leaders had managed its economy with prudence.
Replying, Mr Srbovan pledged his country's preparedness to help Nigeria in its efforts to re-activate the nation's ailing economy.
Pilots dismissed
All the 287 pilots and flight engineers of the Nigeria Airways who withdrew their services on March 23rd have been dismissed.Also dismissed are the cabin crew (flight stewards and stewardesses) of the airline who were alleged to have abandoned their duties along with the pilots.
The sack order was handed down by the management of the airline after a 12 hour meeting.
A statement issued by the airline management said that it viewed the refusal to return to work by the sacked employees as abandonment of duties "the consequence of which is summary dismissal".
Nigeria Airways has re-scheduled its flight services following the dismissal of its pilots and flight engineers.
The airline in a statement said that its four Boeing 737 aircraft leased from Air Tara of Ireland are now fully engaged in domestic flight services. The airline normally operates an average of 34 domestic flights daily.
Warning to Bendel students
The Bendel Police Command has said that it will not tolerate any form of students' demonstration. The Command said in a statement in Benin on Friday (March 16th) that it was aware that students in the State were planning to demonstrate against the Government's decision to reintroduce school fees. The Command said that a delegation of the students ought to discuss their grievances with the State Military Governor. It appealed to the students to heed the warning in their own interest.War against economic sabotage
A national campaign aimed at waging a fierce war against indiscipline, economic sabotage, ostentatious living, corruption and disorderliness has been launched by the Federal Military Government in Nigeria. The campaign will also deal with the question of national unity, stability and national security.The campaign, which was formally launched by the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Tunde Ibiagbon, in Lagos is aimed at mobilising all Nigerians of all ages to action in order to bring sanity to the nation's public life.
The campaign will be conducted by the national Consciousness and Enlightenment Committee which will be established at the federal, state and local government levels. Channels to be used for the campaign include the mass media, government information services, community leaders, trade unionists, traditional rulers, clergymen, women's organisations, youth leaders and other special interest groups.
Sokoto expels illegal aliens
The Immigration Department in Sokoto has deported 343 illegal immigrants arrested in the state capital. The state Assistant Director of Immigration, Mohammadu Dan Mallam, told newsmen that the immigrants were nationals of some neighbouring countries. He said that the people were arrested during joint operations of the Immigration Department, the police and the Nigerian Security Organization.The director said that reports were being expected from Gusau and Argungu sectors where similar operations were going on. Mr Dan Mallam said that the operations would continue until April 7th.
The director suggested that the Federal Government should promulgate a decree which would make it possible to punish Nigerians aiding and abetting illegal immigrants.
