People, Places and Events
IVORY COAST
Joint military exercises
Joint French-Ivorian military exercises code-named 'Comoe 84' will take place in the country from 25 to 30 November, 1984. Details of the exercises have been presented to the Minister of Defence in the presence of the defence committee members and the French ambassador to Ivory Coast.The exercises are to enable the country to implement the defence agreements that have existed between the two countries since Ivory Coast achieved its independence.
Debt rescheduled
The government has rescheduled its 5.2 billion CFA francs debt to West Germany following an agreement signed in Abidjan. Ivory Coast's Minister of State Seri Gnoleba and West German Ambassador Rudolf Koppenhofer, initiated the accord for their respective governments.Rice imports reduced
Rice imports have been reduced from 450,000 t in 1983 to 280,000 t this year. As a result, Ivory Coast will spend 28bn CFA francs instead of 44bn for imports of rice this year. The Commerce Minister, Nicolas Kouandi Angbe, who made the decision, indicated that this considerable reduction of imports was fully justified if one com- pared the real needs of the people to the stock of rice existing in the country. The reduction will help to encourage the local production.MALI
Worsening drought
The Interior Minister has told representatives of the country's major donor countries and international organisations that the country's situation was worse than last year, which had been considered the worst of all drought periods. Estimates put the country's cereal deficit for 1984/85 at 441,000 t; water levels of the main rivers, the Niger, Bani and Senegal, were the lowest ever recorded and the levels had continued to fall in September; and Mali's co- operation with specialized organizations would centre on the policy of food security and the building of emergency food stocks at strategic points.Cholera threatens Sahel region
Several countries in the West African Sahel region are threatened by an outbreak of cholera which has already killed 196 people in Mali, a doctor working for a major French medical aid organisation has said in Paris.Mr Alain Moren of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) organisation said the epidemic had travelled up the Niger River since the first case was reported in Mali on July 7. Some cases were reported from neighbouring Burkina Faso in June.
In the last one month, 838 cases had been diagnosed in Mali and the death rate had been 23 per cent of those affected, he added.
The disease has also been reported fromNiger and is now threatening Mauritania.
CHAD
Goukhounni boycotts Brazaville meeting
The main Chadian opposition group has refused to attend the planned meeting in Brazzaville with representatives of the N'djamena Government.Their refusal has dealt a fatal blow to the latest attempt to end Chad's decade-old civil war.
The Transitional Government of National Union (GUNT) said in a communique that it would not attend the meeting because of the presence of rival opposition factions.
BURKINA
Sankara and Abdeleziz to confer
Capt Thomas Sankara, and his Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) counterpart, Mr Mohammed Abdeleziz, in Ouagadougou have agreed to set up a consultative mechanism for the achievement of the total independence and the social and economic well-being of their respective peoples.In a joint declaration, made available to newsmen at the end of Mr Abdeleziz's two- day visit to Burkina Faso, the two leaders pledged to work toward the "recovery by the SADR of its sovereignty from the expansionist and hegemonic Moroccan forces."
The two leaders also condemned Morocco's rejection of the peace plan adopted at the 19th summit of the OAU, saying that Morocco's intransigence was the only obstacle to peace in the Western Sahara.
French loan for telecommunications
Head of State, Thomas Sankara, has presided over a Cabinet meeting which adopted a report relating to a loan agree- ment for the financing of the telecommunications project at Liptouqouz Gourma. The French Central Fund for Economic Co-operation will grant the country a loan of 550m CFA francs to enable the establishment of reliable communication links between Ouagadougou and the towns of Mopti, Niamey and Gao.The meeting also adopted a report and a draft decree authorising the Burkinabe government a 5bn CFA franc loan from the Central Fund for Economic Co-operation. The money will be used to finance Konpienga dam.
Famine in Burkina
Famine has affected areas of northern Burkina Faso. According to Ouagadougouradio the people of Yatenga Province, bordering Mali, were eating only leaves and that 70 families had left their villages in search of food, adding that local authorities had asked the government to send urgent food aid.The government newspaper, Sidwaya, recently estimated Burkina Faso's food grain deficit this year at 250,000 tonnes following a prolonged drought which affected most African states in the sub- Saharan.
GHANA
Reopening dates for Universities
Dates have been announced for the opening of the University of Ghana, Legon. A statement issued by the University Authorities said freshmen and JCR (junior common room) executives were to report on Wednesday, 24th October, while continuing students were to report on Friday, 26th October. Lectures will begin on Monday, 29th October.The statement reminds all students that they are required to register at their halls of residence; freshmen require two passport photographs, 700 cedis in the case of those doing arts subjects, and 900 cedis by science students...
In addition to their usual personal effects, students are advised to take along with them plates, cutlery, bucket and pillow for their own use. Students are also to note that they will be provided with breakfast and one other meal daily.
Ghanaian Times condemns Amnesty
The Ghanaian 'Times' has condemned the attitude of Amnesty International to the revolutionary process in Ghana, particularly the new organs of justice, the public tribunals. Last month Amnesty circulated letters condemning the tribunal system for not allowing the right of appeal. The 'Times' says Amnesty's hypocrisy on the question of justice has been beyond doubt. It has shown its double standard in writing letters to the PNDC (Provisional National Defence Council) and other leaders of the revolution asking for fair trial or clemency for only selected people and invariably these are the high class people. Amnesty never expresses concern for the ordinary people among those accused.The Times' says Amnesty is a political organ set up and controlled by world counter-revolutionary forces to oppose people's revolutions throughout the world. Ghanaians, continues the 'Times', are fortunate to know that Amnesty International is making no secret of its opposition to the revolution going on in Ghana.
They also know that Amnesty is not prepared to see any merit in the process or in the operations. It is not even interested in asking itself why the public tribunals have become so suddenly popular that virtually all Ghanaians want to send all kinds of cases to the tribunals.
Security agreement
Ghana and the Republics of Nigeria, Benin and Togo have drafted three documents aimed at strengthening co-operation and security within their sub-region. The documents are an extradition treaty, police co-operation and customs.This was announced by the Togolese Foreign Minister, Mr Amegah, while addressing the second meeting of Internal and External Affairs Ministers of the four countries in Lome. The Minister thanked experts who prepared the document and he hoped that the final copies would be ratified by the heads of state.
Officials from the ministries of justice, immigration, police and customs of the four countries attended the two-day con- ference. The first meeting, held in Lome last August, discussed currency and drug trafficking, arms smuggling and the activities of illegal aliens.
Canadian assistance for timber industry
Ghana is to import equipment and trucks from Canada for the rehabilitation of the timber industry. This was announced by the Under-Secretary for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Ohene Kena, on his return home after leading an eight-man business delegation to Ottawa.He said as a follow-up officials of the Canadian International Development Agency would soon visit the country to finalise negotiations and find out how best to help Ghana revitalise the timber industry.
Bingo prize winner
Juliana Blankson, a Ghanaian State Registered Nurse, Midwife has won £40,000 on the Sun Bingo. According to a publication in the newspaper, Juliana Blankson who lives in Camberwell Green, South London and won the amount on Game 197 was overjoyed at the news. As part of the prize, she was also given the Sun golden key which will enable her to play for the £1 million prize game.She told the paper that she intended to Hold a champagne party on her forthcoming 44th birthday and then pay a visit to Ghana to see her mother. "I have not seen my mother for 10 years, not since I left Ghana, I will therefore take a plane and land right at her doorstep. I am sure she will be shocked and we shall both burst into tears of joy." Juliana who is reported to be a mother of two daughters, aged 10 and 2, said she had not worked since the birth of her last child. "Things have not been easy since I came here but this is a wonderful country" she told The Sun.
Pay more attention to ECOWAS
Secretary for Economic Planning, Dr Kwesi Botchway, has said that some members of ECOWAS pay lip-service to the organisation.Speaking in Accra after discussions between Flt-Lt. Jerry Rawlings, and Major Sidi Keita, a Guinean special envoy, sent to deliver a special message from President Lansana Conte of Guinea, Dr Botchway made particular reference to nations constituting the three-nation Mano River Union (MRU), of which Guinean is one, as some of those paying lip-service to ECOWAS. The other members of the MRU are Liberia and Sierra Leone, which houses the organisations secretariat.
The secretary also named the six-nation Francophone West African Economic (CEAO), as the second sub-regional organisation playing the same role as the MRU.
The CEAO, with headquarters in Ouaugadougou, is made up of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Niger and Mali in whose capital the organisation's 10th summit meeting is expected to be held by the end of this month.
Tree-planting exercise
The Department of Forestry is to plant more than 500,000 trees around the Volta Lake to limit evaporation of water and boost hydro-electicity supplies.The project should enable the lakes's Akosombo Dam, which generates most of Ghana's electricity, to guarantee year- round supplies.
LIBERIA
Sawyer denies allegation
Dr Amos Sawyer, leader of the Liberia People's Party, has denied that he had in the plotted against the Head of State, Gen. Samuel Doe.Dr Sawyer and nine other people, including four army officers accused of a coup plot, were freed two weeks ago after seven weeks in detention without trial.
The professor said that security officers interrogated him just once, 10 days after his arrest on August 19.
Contempt charge against Justice Minister
Justice Minister Jenkins Scott has been held in contempt by the civil law for allegedly releasing two suspects detained by the court in connection with a debt case.According to the writ, Mr Scott is to appear before the court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt proceedings for releasing the two detainees without valid bonds. The sheriff's returned file to the court said that the Justice Minister refused a summon to appear in court, and threatened to close down the civil law court if the judge proceeds with his contempt proceeding against him..
Meanwhile Judge Pearson has said that he will take a series of actions against Minister Scott for what he termed as gross disrespect to the court, but he did not elaborate.
Dismissal of case against former Minister
The special theft court in Monrovia has dismissed the case involving former Justice Minister, Chea Cheapo. According to the Liberian News Agency, the case was dismissed following a motion by the prosecution asking the court to dismiss the matter.Pan-Am to manage airport
A four-year contract between the Pan- American Airways Corporation, Pan-Am, and the Liberian Government for the management of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Marshall territory is to be renewed.Commerce minister Mrs McCleod Turkett-Darpoh said that under the contract the Pan-Am management is to take full control of RIA including maintenance of its existing facilities as well as for training Liberians to take over the airport after the four-year agreement expires.
According to Mr Ohene Kena, the delegation held talks with officials of the Canadian Ministry of Trade and External Affairs, the Exporters' Association of Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency.
Mrs Darpoh said the board of directors' delegation of the Pan-Am International Airways Corporation is due in Liberia in two weeks' time to conclude the contract.
Mano River Union Budget approved
The 1984-85 budget of the Mano River Union, totalling 2.7m dollars, has been approved during an extraordinary session of the union in Freetown, Sierra Leone.In a joint communique issued following the meeting, the Ministers representing Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone appealed to member states to contribute 700,000 dollars each to the nominal budget to enable the secretariat to continue its operations until the steps for streamlining personnel are completed.
Foreign travel restrictions
The Government has announced a restriction on foreign travel by its public officers.Only travels for essential missions, such as board meetings and conferences or trips at the invitation of foreign governments and those not sponsored by governments would be allowed.
It has also been reported that the 10-dollar-across-the-board deduction in public servants' wages and the compulsory five-dollar health tax to be paid by nationals and aliens announced by Gen Samuel Doe on September 28, are to take effect this month. Similar sacrifices made by public servants in the past resulted in the reduction of the government's monthly wage bill from about N10.1 million to about N7.1 million. Meanwhile, the Liberian leader has said that he will, from now, allow citizens easy access to him.
Gen Doe said that he would devote two days every week to discussing state matters with ministers whom he has warned against shifting their responsibilities.
He cited instances when certain top government officials had recommended the sacking of subordinate staff and later turned round to blame the actions on the office of the head of state.
Unite to free Azania
Head of State, Gen. Samuel K. Doe, has expressed the hope that African Leaders "will not succumb to the machinations of those who are determined to divide and destroy the Organization of African Unity (OAU)Gen. Doe said, while preparations were being made for the convening of the OAU in November this year, he had no doubt that decisions made at that summit will "significantly affect the direction of the African Continent."
Gen. Doe's statement was contained in a speech he handed to the Tanzanian Ambassador to Liberia, Mr Norman Adriano Kiondo, when he presented his letters of credence to the Head of State at the Executive Mansion.
Gen. Doe who expressed concern about "heightening tension in Southern Africa, said, "when African countries should be marshalling the support of the International Community for the Peoples of Namibia and South Africa, the OAU appears to be immobilized and divided over the Western Sahara issue."
TOGO
Canadian loan agreement
Togo and the Canadian University Service have signed a 4.8m Canadian dollar loan agreement for the construction of a project to provide drinking water to the rural populations in the prefectures of Yo and Yoto in the maritime region.OAU
Egypt will attend OAU summit
The Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Butrus Ghali, following his meeting with President Moi has announced banks. that Kenya and Egypt would be attending the OAU summit at head of state level. He said the two Presidents were determined to preserve the OAU despite the sharp divisions over the Western Sahara. Meanwhile Nigerian radio has commented that: "The estimate in some quarters is that the SADR (Saharan Arab Democratic Republic) now enjoys the support of about two-thirds of OAU members.NIGERIA
Oil price slashed
Nigeria has reduced the price of Bonny Light crude oil from $30 per barrel to $28 per barrel. This new price took effect from October 18.A statement signed by the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Professor Tam David-West, said this action was necessary "in order to arrest a fall in our oil production and erratic decline in oil revenue."
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the 13 oil ministers of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries has been fixed for October 29 in Geneva, Switzerland. It will discuss the latest threat to its crude oil price structure.
Sources close to the Vienna Secretariat said a definite decision would be taken to counter the raging war.
Oil cut is justifiable
Petroleum and Energy Minister Professor Tam David-West has justified the country's oil price cut and said Nigeria has made enough sacrifices to sustain the existence of OPEC.He said Nigeria's action was therefore not 'a stab in the back of OPEC'. Professor David-West explained in an interview in Lagos that Nigeria had obeyed all cardinal OPEC decisions "and these even in the face of our well-known economic predicament."
He said for instance, Nigeria had never sold oil at discount. Secondly, he said Nigeria had never traded oil on a barter basis.
Decline in foreign reserve
The level of foreign reserve last July fell by N51.9 million to N978.1 million compared with the level of June when the reserve level was N1 billion.According to the Assets and Liabilities report of the Central Bank just published, the reserve was made up of N19 million in gold, N886.3 million in foreign government securities and balances with foreign banks, N56.5 million in gold franche, N16.3 million in special draawing right (SDR).
The decline in July reserve is mainly as a result of a decrease in balances with foreign banks.
Naira circulation increases
Currency in circulation for the month of July increased to N4.7 billion, according to. the assets and liabilities report of the Central Bank just published. This figure represents an increase of N800 million or 17 per cent compared with the level in the previous month.The level of money in circulation now has almost reached the level of N4.8 billion collected by the Central Bank during the currency exchange exercise which ended on May 5.
In spite of this level of money in circulation, some people still find it difficult to come by money.
The real Mrs Obasanjo
Two newspapers - The Guardian and The Punch-have in the past two weeks carried stories in which two ladies are claiming to be Mrs Obasanjo, wife of the former Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.The Guardian issue of October 17 carried the picture of a lady identified as Mrs Stella Obasanjo. This promptly angered another lady who told The Punch in an interview that she is the real Mrs Obasanjo. She said, "there may be other mistresses, but I am the legal wife".
She said, "I was married to Captain Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo on June 22, 1963 at the Camberwell Green Registry, South East London.
"The marriage was an aftermath of seven years of courtship in Nigeria. After the marriage and at the end of his course, Gen. Obasanjo, then Captain, returned to Nigeria.
"I returned to Nigeria to join him in Kaduna on July 15, 1966. By the time he became the Head of State, I had five kids for him. I was shocked when I saw the picture of somebody in the Guardian claiming to be Mrs Obasanjo. "That is the point I want to correct. She is not the Mrs. I am." she concluded.
Gen Hananiya reposted to Ethiopia
Maj-Gen Halidu Hananiya is now Nigeria's new ambassador to Ethiopia. Maj-Gen Whyte who Hananiya was until his reassignment, Nigeria's High Commissoner to the United Kingdom. The Ethiopian Government has accepted the appointment of Maj-Gen Hananiya and he is expected to resume duty after the next summit meeting of the OAU in Addis Ababa. With the reassignment of Maj-Gen Hananiya, the Federal Military Government says it expects the British Government to also reassign Mr Hamilton who was the British High Commissioner in Lagos. The two envoys were recalled in the wake of a diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and UK over an abortive attempt to kidnap Umaru Dikko to Lagos.Forty-two years for Bola Ige
The former governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, and his deputy, Adebisi Akande, have been sentenced to 42 years' imprisonment each on a two-count charge of conspiracy and corrupt enrichment of the proscribed Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).The sentences will run concurrently. The Ibadan zone of the special military tribunal on the recovery of public property directed that the sum of 589,400 naira which was paid from the contingency votes of the then local government councils to the State secretariat of the UPN be refunded to the Federal Government within one month of the confirmation of the sentences.
Teachers sacked in Bendel
A total of 9,444 teachers in the Bendel State have been relieved of their appointments. Disclosing this during a press briefing in Benin the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Abel Guobadia said that the affected teachers were sacked to raise the standard of education in the state by utilising the services of qualified teachers. Dr Guobadia told newsmen that the removal of the teachers had now, however, created a serious shortage of teachers in many schools.Axe falls on senior NET officials
More than 200 senior staff of the Nigerian External Telecommunications Company (NET) have been served with retrenchment letters.More imports to create employment
The Federal Military Government plans to reactivate the nation's industries to create employment for retrenched workers. To achieve this it has issued import licences worth over 2.5bn naira for the importing of essential raw materials, spare parts and machinery,This was stated on a Nigerian radio public affairs programme by the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, Brig. Tunde Idiagbon.
Creation of "border Outposts"
The Federal Military Government is to create border outposts to provide adequate security all over the country, Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari has announced in Ibadan.Addressing the opening session of the two Mechanised Division training week at the start of a three-day visit to Oyo state, Maj-Gen Buhari said that the border out- posts would provide timely information, assess intelligence reports and maintain constant surveillance. He said that army units located near the borders had been upgraded as priority units.
He said that the use of force to resolve issues all around the world had made it necessary for the country to seek a new status of national power to influence, deter or contain all forms of threat. He also said that the Government was determined to pursue vigorously the accelerated modernisation of the army.
Lagoon disaster
More than 100 people are confirmed dead in a lagoon disaster in the riverine area of Ondo State. They were among passengers in a commercial boat which capsized near Aiyelala confluence in Ilaje-Eseodo Local Government area of the state.Gov. Mark's recipe for increased productivity
Governor David Mark of Niger State has suggested that permanent secretaries at federal and state levels should serve not more than five years. He said it would improve productivity and make room for fast changes and development.Lt-Colonel Mark said at the eleventh ministerial meeting of the National Council of Establishments in Minna that what negates productivity was the vantage point of the higher cadre in the civil service.
He said, "inexplicably, when people rise to the pinnacle of their careers in the civil service, they relax" adding that to curb this situation, the fate of permanent secretaries and top executives in the civil service must be tied to the success or failure of the policies of their ministries.
Fela has case to answer
The Port Harcout zone of the Foreign Exchange (Anti Sabotage) Tribunal has ruled that Afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo- Kuti has a case to answer. Fela's leading counsel, Mr Kanmi Ishola Osobu had made a no case submission but was opposed by the prosecution.Dismission the submission, the Chairman of the tribunal said the tribunal was satisfied that the proper procedure under Decree No. 7 had been followed by the prosecution for the purpose of the trial.
Fela, who is in custody, is facing a two-count charge of currency trafficking before the tribunal. He was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on September 4, allegedly carrying 16,000 pounds sterling on him.
Federal government urged to fund education
The Nigerian Union of Teachers has suggested that the Federal Government should bear 75 percent of the cost of funding education in the country.This suggestion was contained in a memorandum submitted by the union to the Federal Government study group on the funding of education in the country. The state and local governments, the union suggested, should contribute 20 and five per cent respectively.
An alternative suggestion is that five per cent of the national revenue should be set aside for funding education.
In addition, profit-making organisations in the country should be made to pay one per cent of their profits as education rate to the government.
Also, the union suggested that an equitable amount should be paid by all taxable adults in the country as education levy while multinational corporations should be made to contribute an equivalent five per cent of their profits before tax, as education rate.
Students condemn newsprint import restrictions
The President of Students Association has noted that the allocation of N200,000 import licences to some newspapers for newsprint importation by the Federal Military Government (FMG) is meant to achieve what Decree 4 failed to do.Mr Lancre Arogundade the President of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) said most of the newspapers would be sent to the "doldrums", adding that this move was a direct insult on Nigerians.
The union president said in as much as the people like their counterparts the world over have an inalienable freedom of expression, such freedom would not be there without newspapers.
He called on the Federal Military Government to make provision for adequate newsprint for the newspapers and stop "petty blackmail".
