People, Places and Events
IVORY COAST
New investment code
The Ivorian government has approved a new investment code confirming the country's liberal economic policy and encouraging small and medium-sized enter prises, job creation and industrial decent ralisation, the Financial Times has reported.The long-awaited legislation replaces an outdated 25-year-old code and is part of a series of industrial reforms recommended by the World Bank.
These include a revision of import duties on semi-processed and finished products - food excepted - giving an average protection rate of 40 percent import quotas and licenses have been abolished and replaced by temporary surtaxes. Subsidies are being offered on certain manufactured exports. The country's fiscal regime has also been revised.
The previous investment code was designed mainly to attract large scale foreign investment and ignored small, labour intensive enterprises, many of which are now Ivorian-owned.
Enterprises of economic interest to the country can benefit from priority status lasting from seven to 12 years. Such enter prises are likely to be small scale, labour intensive agro-based or other local processing industries located in the interior of the country, away from the commercial capital, Abidjan.
Incentives are offered both for the establishment and operation of businesses.
LIBERIA
Exchange of media staff
An agreement for the exchange of media personnel and programs between Liberia and Senegal has been reached "in principle" between the two countries.According to Information Minister, Alhaji G.V. Kromah, as a result of the agreement, the Senegalese Information Minister, Djibo Karr has "agreed in principle" to provide Liberia with an expert in the repair of pneumatic television cameras at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS). Minister Kromah who was member of the official delegation of the Liberian leader to the Senegalese capital, Dakar was involved in discussions between Liberian Ministers and their Senegalese counterparts.
The Ministers of Finance and Planning and Economic Affairs also held discussions with their Senegalese opposite numbers on common economic problems affecting their two countries.
Messages of congratulations
Head of State, Dr Samuel Kanyon Doe has sent two messages of congratulations to the Presidents of Mozambique and Madagascar on the occasion of the independence anniversaries of their respective countries.In the message to President Samora Machel of Mozambique on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of his country's independence, Dr Doe said "On this occasion, we remain confident that our two countries will intensify our efforts to achieve greater African Unity and the emancipation of our brothers in Southern Africa who are still victims of racism and oppression".
In the message to President Didier Ratsiraka of Madagascar, Dr Doe hoped that the cordial relations which exist between the two countries and peoples will be further strengthened, and that the people of Madagascar will continue to enjoy progress and prosperity.
Joint commission with Senegal
Liberia and Senegal have agreed to create a commission to expedite the implementation of cultural and technical agreements signed between the two countries in 1962.The decision to set up the "Liberian Senegalese Commission' was reached during a visit by Dr Samuel K. Doe to the Senegalese President, Abdoul Diouf in Dakar, Senegal.
According to the 1962 Agreement, the two countries in their effort to foster cooperation between them, agreed on the exchange of scientific, technical as well as educational materials and expertise, especially in the field of culture and art.
The commission would also ensure the implementation of a commercial agreement signed between the two countries on May 30, 1962
Dr Doe went to Dakar at the head of a Liberian government delegation for a working visit at the invitation of President Diouf.
A "press communique" issued after the talks said the discussion between the two leaders "were characterized by an atmosphere of cordiality, brotherhood and reciprocal confidence."
GABON
President Bongo denies report
President Omar Bongo has denied reports from Australia that his wife, Josephine Bongo had applied to visit Australia to participate in an In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programme for couples who have difficulty conceiving children.An Australian immigration official said that Mrs Bongo had applied for an Australian visa to visit the IVF clinic at Melbourne's Flinders Medical Centre.
However, a spokesman at the clinic refused to confirm whether Mrs Bongo had applied to visit the centre.
Mr Bongo told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the reports were "false and completely unfounded." Mr and Mrs Bongo have four children.
GUINEA
Rumoured recognition of Israel
Conakry radio has reported that at a meeting on 29th June with representatives of Arab and Islamic diplomats who had expressed concern at Guinea's rumoured possible recognition of Israel, the Foreign Minister, Facine Toure, expressed surprise that the diplomats had credited media reports rather than the concrete acts of the Ghanaian Government.CAMEROON
More face trial
The latest in a series of trials linked to the failed coup last April, is currently underway in the Camerounian capital, unofficial sources said in Yaounde.The trial, involving approximately 20 accused who are mainly civilians, began at the military court in the Cameroon Land Forces' headquarters.
Legal sources said the offences being tried were relatively minor, and the trial could well be the last of those linked to the coup attempt.
Several people charged on similar minor offences have already been acquitted.
On 16 May, Radio Cameroon announced that 46 people had been sentenced to death, two jailed for life and 183 sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to 20 years by the military court.
GHANA
Sale of lanterns
The Ghana National Trading Corporation in Kumasi has started selling a consignment of 66,720 lanterns estimated at €1.6 million to workers and farmers in Ashanti.Mr Stephen Asabere-Kyei, sales supervisor of the corporation, said the sale of the lanterns in the city would not extend to the rural area under a three-phase allocation programme.
According to him, districts in the region have been divided into zones to facilitate the easy distribution of the lanterns. He said plans were far advanced for the supply of the lanterns to inhabitants in areas such as Barniekrom in the Nkawie District, Praaso-Ejisu in the Asante-Akim District and Donyina in the Duasi area.
Food for relatives allowed
The Ministry of Trade and the Department of Customs and Excise have reaffirmed that rules and regulations governing the importation of foodstuffs are still in force. An official of the ministry told a Radio Ghana correspondent in Accra that where one intends to visit a relative of a friend outside the country, the law allows only a sizeable quantity of foodstuffs.Permission is however needed from the Ministry of Trade and the Bank of Ghana before the foodstuffs in commercial quantity can be taken out of the country.
No more crabs and snails
Ghana Airways will no longer carry cardboxes containing food items to foreign countries.Mr J. J. K. Agbenu, acting commercial manager of the corporation disclosed this to the Peoples Daily Graphic in Accra. He said the corporation had been receiving complaints from London and Rome airports about difficulties encountered by airline officials in handling such cargo.
The commercial manager said the British Airways which handles Ghana Airways aircraft in London had been complaining bitterly that most of the time when the cardbox containers got torn "crabs and snails are let loose in the arrival halls."
Mr Agbenu said some of the cardboxes contain palmnuts, smoked fish and kenkey which are very difficult to handle due to their odour.
List of imports expanded
The list of specified items which travellers can bring into the country after six months stay overseas has been expanded.The items are rice, sugar, flour all not exceeding 50 kilogrammes in weight, 12 tins of milk, other food items not exceeding 20 countries. kilogrammes in all, 18 cakes of toilet soap, six bars of pale soap and five kilogrammes of detergents.
Other commodities include four pieces each of outer covers and tubes, one piece of battery, motor vehicle spare parts of single items or sets not exceeding C825.00 in value, two quarts of brake fluid, one gallon of engine oil, two pieces of matchets, 12 boxes of matches, one piece of wax print and a piece of khaki. These commodities are additional to infants food which is already exempted from customs duty.
Petrol to help fishermen
The Ministry of Fuel and Power has mounted a special operation to supply regular petrol in sufficient quantities to all filling stations along the coast.The operation is aimed at helping fishermen to have an unimpeded fishing
According to a release from the Ministry, arrangements have been completed with all Regional Administrations along the coast for the supply of special lubricants to fishermen for pre-mixing with regular petrol for use in their outboard motors.
The release advised fishermen's associations, not yet registered with their Regional Administrations, to do so to enable them to benefit from the supplies.
'Plot' to attack tribunal officers
The sitting of the Public Tribunal in Obuasi on June 22 heard a report from the tribunal's chairman of a plot to attack officials of the tribunal and other allied organs.Mr George Agyekum, the chairman alleged that the plot had been scheduled for Friday, June 29 during which a section of the workers of the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) and an unknown group of confusionists were to attack the premises of the tribunal, residences and vehicles of its officials with dynamite and other lethal weapons.
He said that the planned violent demonstration by the miners was to be sponsored by some peeved illegal gold dealers.
Mr Agyekum said traps had been set for all those caught to face the rigours of the law.
Ghana's armed forces to train in Jaji
Ghana, which last year refused to send some of its armed forces personnel for training at Nigeria's Command and Staff College, Jaji, is expected to send some students of the 7th Combined Staff Course opening in August this year. A report in the 'New Nigerian' said Ghana's decision followed a thaw in the strained relations between the two countries.There exists an exchange training programme between the armed forces of the two countries, but last year, Ghana did not send any students because Nigeria's relations with Ghana were very cold and almost hostile under the ousted Shagari Government following Flight Lt. Jerry Rawlings's second coup which overthrew the civilian democratic government of President Hilla Liman in December, 1981.
Co-operation with Bulgaria
A 29-member Bulgarian delegation has ended a visit to Ghana. The leader of the delegation was Grisha Filipov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria. Mr Filipov held talks with Ghanaian officials on priority areas in the country's economy, namely agriculture, timber, mining, cocoa and agro-based industries. They also discussed possible areas of future co-operation.Rice seed arrives
The first of four airlifts of emergency rice seed from the Philippines under the USAID and UNDP-sponsored programme has been delivered in Accra.The consignment was flown in at the request of the government to offset the seed crop shortage in the country.
According to a statement issued by the United States Information Service in Accra, about one-third of the seed would go to seed growers for multiplication for the 1985 seed crop season.
CHAD
EEC reconstruction aid
The Minister of Planning and Reconstruction, Joseph Yodoyman has signed an agreement with the EEC concerning repairs to administrative buildings damaged during the recent fighting in Ndjamena. The aid, worth 1,250,000 European Currency Units (approx. 1,000,000 US dollars), would also be used to finance the purchase of vehicles for various hospitals.EEC-ACP talks collapse
Three days of talks between the EEC and 64 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries on a new five-year trade and aid pact has ended inconclusively. But, despite blockages in almost all key sectors, Mr Claude Cheysson, the French President of the EEC Ministers, claimed the negotiations are "in the home straight."The two sides are now preparing to resume talks in the early autumn, when, it is widely believed, pressure for agreement will force sufficient concessions to push through a deal.
This would clear the way to formal signing in Togo, in November, in time for the pact to come into force at the expiry of the current five-year Lome Convention next March.
NIGERIA
No favouritism from tribunals
Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon claimed that it is not true that a section of the country is being favoured in the ongoing trials by the special military tribunals.He said that the Enabling Decree setting up the tribunals clearly stipulated uniform application.
According to him, although the tribunals were set up on the same day, they could not all commence hearing at the same time owing to problems peculiar to some centres. He also said that the tribunals were so important that proper arrangements were necessary for their smooth take-off in every location. Brigadier Idiagbon attributed the difference in the commencement of the tribunals to judicial processes whereby thorough investigations had to be conducted on individual detainees.
The chief of staff said that the Federal Military Government had noted with dismay the resumption of trafficking in Naira currency in London.
He stressed that the government considered the situation very serious and was taking steps to stamp out illegal trading in Naira once and for all.
69 more years for Bakin Zuwo
Former Kano State Governor, Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo was given another 69-year jail term for corruptly enriching himself and the proscribed People's Redemption Party (PRP) while in office.He was sentenced along with his deputy and a permanent secretary in his government by the Kaduna zone of the Special military tribunal.
Alhaji Bakin Zuwo is already serving a 22-year jail term passed on him by the same tribunal for receiving N100,000 from the project manager of a Bulgarian firm between October and December last year. This time they were found guilty each on a five-count charge of demanding and receiving N100,000 as a kick-back from a businessman, Mr Michael Ihundu.
'If I die in prison...'
Alhaji Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo, the ex governor of Kano State, wants his grave close to that of Malam Aminu Kano 'If I die in prison'.Alhaji Sabo made the request in Kaduna in a plea before the special military tribunal which found him guilty of receiving a kick back of 100,000 Naira when he was governor. He was jailed a total of 44 years for the offence.
Mrs Akinloye has heart disease
The wife of the former chairman of the NPN, Mrs Ukpa Ewewewa Akinloye, currently facing charges of illegal currency trafficking, is suffering from a heart disease.The Exchange Control and Anti Sabotage Tribunal was told last week that as a result of this, she could not be produced to continue her trial.
At the resumed hearing of the trial, the defence counsel, Chief F. Akinrele produced a medical report which indicated that Ukpa had high blood pressure and vomiting.
NLC declares stand
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it will not allow itself to be used to destabilise the country by "Discredited figures who messed up the economy of the nation". The Congress was reacting to a statement credited to the Minister of school Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, Group Capt. Solomon Omerua, that the fugitive in their plot to overthrow the Federal Military Government, wanted to encourage "demands and ultimatums by workers".The Congress however stated that it would continue to make genuine demands and take legitimate industrial actions to support demands for better working conditions.
On the recent call by Catholic bishops for a return to civil rule, the NLC said that a national debate should be set in motion on how to organise and run a just and democratic society. The NLC said that the last civilian administration was not any more democratic than the previous 13 years of military rule, "if the arbitrariness and repressive character of the police, the role of the courts and other organs of the state are anything to go by."
Surrender official passports
Federal Military Government has directed all former politicians and government functionaries in the defunct civilian administration who are in possession of diplomatic and official passports to surrender them to the nearest police station within the next week.A statement by the Supreme Headquarters said that the continued possession of diplomatic and official passports by the former politicians and public officers was illegal and "a serious violation of the law".
It stated that failure to comply with the directive within the stipulated period would attract stiff disciplinary action. According to the statement, those affected by the directive include former state governors, ministers, special advisers, special assistants, commissioners, party officials, former government officials, political appointees and members of their families. The statement said that diplomatic and official passports are only to be held by individuals who were still functioning as government officials.
Students to feed themselves
Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon has announced in a radio programme in Lagos that students in Federal institutions of higher learning will make private arrangements for their feeding from October this year.He explained that the decision followed recommendations of a committee set up to harmonise educational system in the country.
'Illiterate' soldiers go to school
Brigadier Sani Abacha, general officer commanding the army's second mechanised division has ordered illiterate soldiers to go to school. They are to be taught how to read and write under the army's adult education programme starting on July 9. The drive is to eliminate illiteracy before 1987.Brigadier Abacha, a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), told the press at the launching of the mass literacy campaign and the "Army Day" celebration in Oyo State that there were about 3,000 illit erate soldiers within the second mechanised division in Ibadan.
He said the adult school would be open from 8.30 to 10.30 a.m. every day from Monday to Friday, with instruction in subjects ranging from English Language, mathematics, current affairs and national awareness to basic sciences.,
Nigerians pray for peace
Thousands of muslims in some parts of Nigeria have offered prayers for peace, progress and stability in the country as part of celebrations marking this year's Eid-El Fitri end of the holy month of Ramadan.Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was among thousands of muslims who worshipped in Lagos.
With him at the Obalende praying ground, one of the venues for the prayers, were the chief-of-staff, Major-General Ibrahim Babangida, the Minister of Internal affairs, Brigadier Mohammed Magoro, the deputy inspector-general of police, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, and the Lagos State police commissioner, Alhaji Mamman Nasarawa.
Central Bank to issue travellers' cheques
The Nigerian Central Bank has taken control of the country's travellers' cheques system to ensure prompt payment abroad.All commercial banks and authorised dealers are effectively forbidden to act as direct agents for this purpose, and banks have been warned that they would be penalised if they failed to provide "proper and adequate" documentation.
Efforts to protect good image
The Federal Military Government will resist any attempt by the foreign press to tarnish the image of Nigeria. The Minister of Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, Group Capt. Emeka Omerua, said Nigerian missions, especially in Europe and America, were doing their best to protect the good image of the countryHe announced that all films entering the country would be vetted by the Nigerian films census board in a bid to the importation of indecent films. The minister said the crusade against indiscipline should also be extended to indecency in moral behaviour and pornographic pictures being imported into the country.
On Decree No 4, Group Capt. Omerua explained that the decree was promulgated to bring the press and the Government together so that none of them could misquote the other. He said the Federal government was trying to reactivate the Nigerian press council and the Nigerian Press organisation for this purpose.
Liverpool mission to close down
The deputy Nigerian high commission in Liverpool is to be closed down, the Nigerian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Major-General Haldu Hananiya has announced.Major-General Hananiya made the announcement when he called on the chairman of the Liverpool City Council, councillor Hugh Dalton, in Liverpool.
He said that the closure was necessary in view of the present economic situation in Nigeria adding that when the situation improved the deputy high commission would be re-established.
Replying, Councillor Dalton regretted at the high commission, which had provided a vital link between the people of Liverpool and Nigeria, was being closed
Universities reduced from 7 to 3
Three of the seven universities of technology in the country are to remain as fully fledged universities while the others would be merged with older universities as campuses. Announcing this measure in Lagos, the federal ministry of education explained that the action was necessary in view of the human and material resources now available in Nigeria.The federal universities of technology in Minna, Owerri and Akure are to remain while the ones in Bauchi and Abeokuta would be merged with the Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria and the university of Lagos respectively.
The university of technology in Yola will be merged with the university of Maiduguri.
Export products increase
The country's export of cocoa, palm kernel and rubber increased by 63.6 per cent over the last year figures, the Minister of Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, Group Captain Emeka Omeruah, has said.Speaking at the monthly press briefing in Lagos, Group Captain Omeruah said that the federal military government had offered farmers attractive producer prices and inputs at subsidised prices.
On the recently concluded currency exchange exercise, the minister said that over £2.6 billion new notes were now in circulation in the country while over £3.4 billion old notes were recovered from the public at the end of the currency exchange exercise.
He was sure that if the new naira notes were allowed to circulate through the normal commercial banking channels, there would be no scarcity of notes in circulation.
Intensified oil search in Chad Basin
The Federal Military Government is to step up its search for oil in the Chad Basin. The Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Professor Tam David-West explained that the Government was embarking on the venture because experts from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and an international consultancy group believed that major pretroleum finds could be made there.Chad and Niger had already discovered oil in their own sectors of the Chad Basin. The Minister said the drilling in the Basin was an important project for the Federal Government because it wanted to extend the scope of petroleum exploration beyond the Niger Delta.
Open-door policy on Lake Chad
The General Manager of the Chad Basin Rural Development Authority, Alhaji Bunu Musa, said that the authority had realisd over 1,000,000 naira from the sale of wheat between March and June.He said that the authority's use of Lake Chad was not intended to prevent Chad from developing its water resources. The Authority maintained an open-door policy with all the countries which shared the lake and any attempt by any of the countries to dam the lake would violate the Chad Basin Commission's international treaty on the use of the lake. He urged Chad to adhere to the treaty.
