People, Places and Events
LIBERIA
Doe orders soldiers to resign
Members of the Interim National Assembly (INA) who are holding military ranks have been ordered to resign from the army if they desire to seek political offices in the civilian government. Head of State Gen Samuel Kanyon Doe, who gave the order said such resignation would qualify the military INA member to participate in the electoral process for political offices in the Second Republic. Gen Doe said the resignation of the military officers in the INA was also necessary so that opposition candidates who are not military personnel would not feel threatened by the uniforms and ranks of the competitors.He said we cannot promote free and fair elections when in fact we have aspiring politicians with guns on their sides and dressed in camouflage uniforms at the polls. Gen Doe said he deemed it expedient and appropriate that all military INA members resign their military ranks so that the Liberian people could be assured that the elections would be free and fair.
Warning against election violence
Head of State, Gen Samuel K. Doe, has warned that the leader of any political party or grouping who attempts to promote violence during the electoral process would be dealt with in keeping with the law. He said the Government is trying to return the country to genuine civilian rule through the ballot box and would not tolerate disturbance from leaders of political parties or groupings intended to thwart a smooth transition.Gen Doe sounded the warning during a fundraising dinner at the Unity Conference Centre in Virginia, in support of his candidacy as standard bearer of the National Democratic Party of Liberia.
Gen Doe hinted that security reports reaching him indicated that certain proposed political parties were claiming that they would cause chaos in the country if the parties did not register. Head of State Doe, however, assured the Liberian citizens and residents that the army and police were ready and prepared to protect peace and the nation's stability.
Gen Doe regretted how certain politicians in the country were accusing government of being responsible for delays in the registration of the political parties and said Government had done everything possible, politically and financially, to ensure a multi-party race during the elections yet were being accused of blocking other parties.
He noted that the executive branch of government has no power over the judiciary, adding that if any political party went to the court and encountered obstacles, it was the duty of that party to re- examine itself to find out where it had gone wrong and not to accuse the others. The Head of State said: I want to assure the Liberian people that I had no objection to any political party, and that is why I have made appeals to the citizens of this country to drop objections against political parties to ensure the participation of more parties in the ensuing elections.
Liberians fast
July 24 was observed as a national holiday of fasting and prayer for guidance in dealing with the political and economic difficulties facing the country.The prayer holiday, declared by Head of State Samuel Doe was in line with Liberia's tradition of turning in reference and humble contrition to God "for guidance in the face of political, social and economic uncertainties facing Liberia", a government release said.
It said prayers offered throughout the country were also to seek help in combating drought, famine and epidemic diseases ravaging many parts of the world particularly Africa.
IVORY COAST
Cooperation agreement with Italy
Mr Simeon Ake, Foreign Minister and the Italian Ambassador to Ivory Coast have signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement. The agreement will boost the development of ties, particularly in the sectors of scientific research, food and agricultural production, energy, mining, wood industry, textiles, and transport and telecommunications. Among other advantages, the agreement provides for the granting of loans for development projects, the sending of Italian experts to finalise the feasibility studies, and scholarships for training courses in Italy.For the agreement to be viable and meaningful, the Foreign minister stressed that facilities must be made available on the administrative level, particularly with regard to the free movement of persons in conformity with the texts and regulations existing between the two countries.
The agreement is the extension of the fiscal agreement signed in 1982 which cancels the double imposition of taxes. At the same time, through this agreement, Italy, a member of the Paris Club has given its backing to the country for the the consolidation of its external debt.
NIGERIA
Buhari's experience as Head of State
After 572 days as a Head of State, General Buhari is of the opinion that whoever knows Nigeria would not wish to be Head of State because, "if you look around how many former heads of state are at peace now?"Gen Buhari has six predecessors, three of whom are alive. These are Yakubu Gowon, living in exile in Britain, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, a farmer in Otta, and Alhaji Shehu Shagari, president of the ousted Second Republic, now in detention.
Gen Buhari recalled their times and present state of mind to assure the nation that he understands the trappings of power and its transitory nature.
The statement was prompted by a question on the fate of detainees, several of whom charges had not been brought against since they were held about 18 months ago. There are also some who have been cleared of charges by tribunals one or two times but are still being detained.
Gen Buhari re-emphasised that they would not be released until all pending investigations proved them guiltless.
Buhari "not concerned with political time limits"
The military governors of the States are to remain in their present positions for as long as they are performing well. But any one of them found to be performing below expectation will be promptly removed. This was made clear by Head of State, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, in a special interview broadcast on Radio Nigeria. He said he was fully convinced that the military governors were up to the task before them and this included the rebuilding of the nation's economy which was battered by the ousted civilian government. General Buhari emphasised that the military regime was not concerned with political time limits but with the recovery of the economy and the restoration of law and order in the society. He declared: We will continue until the economy of the country has been returned to a stable footing and law and order restored before thinking of how many years we will serve."The Head of State stressed that any talk about elections or democratic representa- tion would have to wait until Nigerians had made substantial economic progress which would give them a feeling that they had earned the confidence of their leading trading partners and other international bodies.
Debate on civil rule to stop
Federal Military Government (FMG) has ordered an immediate stoppage to public comments on the future political posture that the nation should adopt.A statement from Cabinet Office in Lagos to this effect, said on-going debate on the issue "tantamounts to violation of the ban on politics". It also said that any further violation of such a ban by the news media "will be treated as an act contrary to public interest".
The statement maintained that the primary objective of the military regime since its inception "is to revive the nation's economy and instil a sense of discipline in the body politic".
Govt to monitor private newspapers
Head of State Gen Buhari says the Federal Military Government (FMG) is watching all privately-owned newspapers in the country, and if they overstep their bounds, such newspapers will be closed down.This was the reaction of the Head of State, to a question from a panel of interviewers.
The interview, which was conducted in English and Hausa languages at Abuja, was broadcast on the network of Radio Nigeria. A member of the panel has asked the head of state: "You said that no single individual would be allowed to own the medium of television. But there are people who own and operate private newspapers, it could be observed that their ownership is heavily in favour of a section of the country, and consequently their exclusive views on public Issues seem to predominate.
"Is there any plan by the government for every section to ensure that the newspaper industry is not affected by this provision of indigenisation decree, and that is why people from the southern part of the country, a few of them of course, own newspapers.
"We are aware of the views they express, either those of their proprietors or otherwise. But we are watching all these with deep interest. If they over-step their bounds, we will close down their papers. We will not allow irresponsible views, capable of creating trouble or instability in whatever form, to be published by these private newspapers".
He added: "For other sections of the country which have no such private newspapers, they should have nothing to worry about since we are not going to allow these papers to publish news and views against public interest".
No immediate release for detained politicians
Most of the detained politicians still have cases to answer, the Head of State Major General Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed.He said whoever was detained was being thoroughly investigated on account of the office he held concerning money or security matters.
Major-General Buhari made this affirmation while answering questions from a panel of interviewers on Radio Kaduna yesterday.
He said the FMG felt it was necessary to investigate properly before the matter was taken to court for prosecution, adding: "It is not enough to say that one had been detained for one and a half years without justification, therefore he should be released".
He said however, that any detainee who had no charge against him would certainly we have no be released, "but now guarantee that, if they are released with a case to answer they would not run away".
Students take university to court
An expulsion order by the University of Port Harcourt on two students union leaders of the institution is now a subject of court litigation.The students Mr Godfrey E. Dale who, until the expulsion, was President of Students Union and Mr Samuel I. Woka, vice President (special duties, National Association of Nigerian Students NANS), have taken the university and its vice-chancellor to court over the order.
They were expelled by the institution's vice-chancellor on July 8, for their alleged roles in the July 6 and 7 students unrest in the institution.
The unrest was sparked off after the police arrest and subsequent detention of students' leaders from various institutions, National Association of Nigerian Students meeting at the institution.
In a four point declaration filed by the students' lawyer, Mr Femi Falana of Alao Aka-Bashorun chambers, the students want the Port Harcourt high court to declare that their expulsion was wrongful, null and void, in that it negated the rules of natural justice.
ASUU reacts to purge move at ABU
Teachers at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria claiming that the institution lost more than 200 teachers in the last two years, have described as provocative announcement by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Ango Abdullahi that retrenchment was imminent.A statement signed by the chairman of the university's branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Dr Abdullahi Mahdi and the Secretary Mr Tony Alabi said retrenchment could not solve the country's problems.
The vice-chancellor had said that retrenchment would be carried out in response to a Federal Government directive.
NLC boss accuses press
Newspapers in the country have been accused by the NLC leader of being responsible for all headaches since he took over leadership of the unions. Alhaji Ali Chiroma, told a gathering of its union members in Kano that he was being misquoted in all his utterances in order to discredit him as the leader of the NLC.He referred to the statement credited to him that there could be no strike in the country any longer, and that the military should continue to rule forever, which he described as fictitious aspects of journalism in the country.
"There was no time", he maintained, "I made such statements to the Press anywhere in the country".
"Strike", he said, "would continue to happen in the country except the government found solution to the socio-economic problems of the nation". He told his members that union leaders in the country were not afraid of going to prison, provided such imprisonment was for the welfare of the workers.
Tax relief sought for working wives
Women labour leaders have asked for tax relief for working wives and their husbands. The existing tax structure grants relief for family upkeep, wife, children and elderly relativesBut a seminar organised by the women's wing of the Lagos State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) said women bear equal responsibility.
Mrs Rebecca Kayinene Oliseh, leader of a group spoke of her personal experience.
"The tax system has been so unjust to me like others, because I am a woman. No relief is granted for the children, dependents and other burdens that I bear. Even when I indicated in the tax form that I lost my husband, I was asked to bring his death certificate which was difficult".
What the women request for, according to the secretary of the wing, Mrs Cecy Olajumoke is "equal consideration for both men and women in granting tax concessions".
Petroleum imports to the US drops
Crude petroleum imports by the US from Nigeria at 358 million dollars (about N320 million) in the first quarter of this year, dropped in value by 51.4 per cent compared with 738 million dollars (N666.6 million) in the same period last year, according to trade figures released by the US embassy in Lagos.The figures also show that heavy fuel imports by the US from Nigeria dropped to N24 million during that period, when compared with the N31.3 million worth of imports in the first quarter of last year.
Donation by Soviet workers
Soviet citizens working at the Ajaokuta steel complex have made a donation of 30,000 naira to the Kwara State industrial development fund. The cheque for the amount was presented to Governor Latinwo in Ilorin by the outgoing Soviet Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Vladimir Snegyrev, on behalf of the workers.Envoys for seminar at Kuru
A ten-day seminar for all Nigerian heads of diplomatic missions has begun at the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) Kuru, near Jos.It was declared open by the Head of State Major-Gen Muhammadu Buhari with the Minister of External Affairs Dr Ibrahim Gambari as chairman.
Senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and some federal permanent secretaries are also participating in the seminar.
The seminar, one of the major highlights of the 1985 calendar of the external affairs ministry, focuses mainly on a review of the recovery programme of the new administration and underlines the progress so far made. It will also review Nigeria's relations with the various countries to which the envoys are assigned.
Before the seminar ends on August 10, the envoys will visit the new federal capital Abuja and the Iron and Steel complex at Ajaokuta.
MAURITANIA
French aid for agricultural project
Lt-Col Anne Amadou Babaly, Minister of Finance and Commerce and acting Minister of Planning and Territorial Management, and the charge d'affaires of the French Embassy have signed an agreement concerning the Gorgol valley hydro- agricultural development project.The amount of the agreement - 3m French francs, about 24.8m ouguiyas - is France's contribution in the form of subsidy to the country. On the occasion, Lt- Col Anne Amadou Babaly expressed satisfaction with the relations between Mauritania and France, and the interest that France attaches to the development of the country.
Ministers approve reform programme
The Council of Ministers has met for an extraordinary session chaired by Col Maouya Ould sidi Ahmed Ould Taya, Chairman of the CMSN (Military Committee for National Salvation) and Head of State. The Council studied and approved the draft of the economic and financial reform programme for the period 1985-1988.This programme became imperative as a result of the worsening of the imbalance in the economy.
The budget was characterised by a large deficit, which reached 4,085m ougiya, while the deficit on the balance of payment reached 13bn ougiya at 31st December 1984. This was due to the huge size of the country's foreign debts, which reached 1.7bn dollars in that period. It was also due to the fast growth of imports and the stagnation or deterioration of exports. Among the reasons for this balance problem were the continuous drought; the economic crisis; unsuitable choices and mismanagement in the field of investment.
MALI
President sworn in
Moussa Traore, the President-elect, has been sworn in before the members of the National Assembly. On arrival at the National Assembly, the Head of State and the First Lady were welcomed by the Speaker of the National Assembly.GHANA
CIA interference morally unjustifiable - Sarpong
Mr Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, PNDC Secretary, has said that in his opinion, it is not a Ghanaian national who is on trial in America, but the principles of democracy, freedom and justice upon which that great nation has built her present stature.Speaking to a reporter of the Ghanaian Times he said he had heard people in various walks of life ask how the US could find moral justification for her interference in Ghana's internal affairs.
Some Ghanaians, he said, were angry at the disclosures of CIA activities and continuing manoeuvres seeking to put Ghana, rather than the US on the defensive, adding that many people who admired the achievements of the US felt sadness and disappointment rather than anger.
Mr Akrasi-Sarpong asked the correspondent: "Can she find that help within herself among US citizens who have become increasingly disillusioned by the manipulation of developing countries carried out in their name? Or does America need the help of the rest of the world to examine herself?"
"It is a trial between the arrogance and irresponsible provocation of a big powerful and wealthy country and a much smaller and poorer country," he remarked.
"Handle CIA affair with care"
The PNDC has been urged to continue to handle the disclosures of CIA destabilizing activities against it in the level-headed manner with which it has handled the affair so far.In a message delivered to the PNDC Secretariat cadres of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Secretariat of the CDRs it said "the CIA is not that stupid to disclose to the world that they have been behind attempts to sabotage Ghana's efforts to overcome its problems. Therefore we must look at the hidden motive behind this confession, because they are certainly playing some kind of game with us".
The message said that there are lessons to be learned from the case of Nicaragua. It said that until recently, public opinion in the United States was against American interference in Nicaragua, and this was evident in the vote by Congress against any aid to the CIA-funded dissidents in that country.
However, rumours have been orchestrated through official circles of the American Government in Washington saying that the Nicaragua election of late last year, which Ghanaians have reasons to know were as clean as any elections ever held anywhere in the world, was rigged, the message said.
NDM asks PNDC to show its teeth
The New Democratic Movement (NDM) has advocated stronger political and diplomatic measures against the latest United States interference in Ghana.It noted that the admission by the Reagan Administration that the CIA was illegally meddling in the affairs of Ghana was yet another example of offensive arrogance of the United States Government.
Increase in hospital fees
Hospital fees have been increased to reflect what according to the PNDC will be an improvement on the quality of services and care in government hospitals.According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health in Accra, all hospitals, health centres and health posts should retain fifty per cent of all revenues to be generated by them to operate as revolving funds.
In the Teaching hospitals adults and children will pay 200 and 100 cedis respectively to consult a specialist; Non- Ghanaians will pay 400 cedis. For general consultation in the teaching and regional hospitals an adult will pay 75, children 40, and non-Ghanaians 200 cedis. In urban and rural health areas and posts the fees are 50 and 30 cedis respectively for adults and 30 and 20 cedis for children.
The fee for various laboratory investigations ranges from 10 to 250 cedis while those for medical and surgical treatment range from 100 to 500 cedis.
NUGS condemn new hospital fees
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has condemned the new hospital charges announced by the government and made an urgent call for review.In a statement signed by Mr Pius Dakora, National Secretary on behalf of the National Executive Committee, the NUGS viewed the increase as "yet another attempt to deprive the people of their right to good health." The statement continued: "In a situation where most people are living on subsistence economies (sic) where salaried workers received ridiculously low wages and where many more are either unemployed or have been declared redundant we consider it most cruel, unfair and disgraceful for anyone to conceive of Putting such high prices on the most basic right of man - the right to health.
The statement further described as "a daily admission fee at a price far above sick, miscalculation", the decision to peg a what it would take the average worker a whole day's toil to earn". It also registered the student body's "utter disapproval of all other anti-people policies such as the laying off of workers, increase in school fees and higher transportation costs".
The NUGS statement ended by drawing the attention of the NDC "to its initial promise of liberating the people from the shackles of poverty, disease, ignorance and hunger and preventing the hospitals from becoming graveyards".
New appointments
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) has made the following new appointments and changes. Air Commodore F. W. K. Klutse, retired, takes over as a new Regional Secretary for the Volta Region; Alex Antwi assumes the post of PNDC Secretary for Brong Ahafo; while Mr W. A. Thompson has been appointed Regional Secretary for Greater Accra. The former secretaries for the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions Col Anable and Kofi Asari-Sawiri are to be redeployed.A government statement said Miss Doris Ocansey has been appointed Executive Secretary, Committee for the Defence of the Revolution national headquarters; Mr Ibrahim Adams, current Deputy Secretary for agriculture to Northern Region, has been appointed Deputy Secretary in charge of crops at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Two other new portfolios have been created - one for livestock and the other for fisheries. The statement announced the appointment of Alhaji Salisu Bio as the district secretary for Kete Krachi district. The following persons have been retired from the public service: Mr S. T. Opare- Ayree, now with the Ministry of Agriculture but formerly of Greater Accra regional administration, and Mr B. N. Lahr, deputy Greater Accra Regional administrative officer. The statement said Mr Opare- Aryee is to appear before the national investigations committee on his assets.
Akrofi redeployed
Mr Kwame Akrofi PNDC Under Secretary for Industries, Science and Technology has been redeployed to the Secretariat of the National Mobilisation Committee.An official statement issued in Accra said Mr Akrofi ceases to be an Under Secretary for Industries Science and Technology.
Free legal aid for needy soon
The General Legal Council (GLC), the statutory body which oversees the legal profession in the country, is to introduce a national free legal aid scheme later this year or early next year. The Chief Justice, Mr Justice F. K. Apaloo who announced this explained that the scheme is to help the poor and less fortunate of the society who need but cannot afford to pay for legal services.Mr Apaloo, who was the guest speaker at the 17th annual Presidential charity Ball of the Rotary club of Accra at the Ambassador Hotel in Accra said the Ghana branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers Ghana had already begun offering such free legal aid to women in need.
The Chief Justice therefore called for the support of the general public, especially the Rotary Club which offers scholarships and awards for higher education to help train more lawyers, stressing that a close look at these awards reveals that awards for the humanities have been left out.
Kojo Tsikata in Iran
Captain Kojo Tsikata, member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) has ended a one-week visit to Iran at the head of a three-man delegation to review bilateral issues.Dr De Graft Johnson meets the press
Dr De Graft Johnson, Ghana's former Vice President in the administration which was overthrown by Flt-Lt Rawlings in December 1981 will hold a press conference on August 6, 1985 at the Africa Centre, London.Dr Johnson arrived in London in March this year after being detained for over 20 months without any specific charges. At the news conference, Dr Johnson intends to talk about the recent CIA affair in Ghana which has put the lives of many innocent Ghanaians in danger. This is because the CIA story has given an opportunity to the Rawlings regime to harass its imaginary opponents under the guise of their being informants and CIA agents.
The former Vice President will also talk about the anomalous relationship between the Rawlings regime and Western nations which have continued to prop up a dictatorial Government. Dr De Graft Johnson will touch on the issue of constitutional rule and the determination of Ghanaian exiles to restore democracy in Ghana.
Inflation is down in Ghana
The rate of inflation in the country fell from 122.8 per cent in 1983 to 39.6 per cent in 1984 and there are indications that it will decline further towards 20 per cent this year.The downward inflationary trend is due to the improvement in the supply situation and the monetary, fiscal and other measures introduced by the government.
These were contained in a keynote address read on behalf of Dr Kwesi Botchwey, Secretary of Finance and Economic Planning at a two-day workshop on the National Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) at the University of Cape Coast.
Dr Botchwey said in the next few years, the government should be able to consolidate its position and shift from mere "salvage works" to optimal policies which would lead to substantial growth and development.
