People, Places and Events
GHANA
PNDC member quits
Mrs Susan Alhassan has resigned from the Provisional National Defence Council on health grounds, according to an official statement. Mrs Alhassan was quoted as saying that she would have liked to serve longer in the government but is unable to do so because of deteriorating health. She was one of the first women to have been appointed as a Minister by the late President Kwame Nkrumah, and after the First Republic she operated a popular eating place in an annexe to her home in Accra. She was appointed a member of the PNDC a year ago.New certificates to avoid impersonation
With effect from this academic year, photographs of successful examination candidates will be embossed on all certificates issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Mrs S.A.M. Boye, Examinations Co- ordinator of the WAEC, who announced this at a seminar organized for private second-cycle schools administrators in Accra by the Ghana National Assocication of Private Schools (GNAPS), said the council had taken that decision to avoid impersonation.For the purpose, Mrs Boye said the WAEC had sent out circulars to all heads of educational institutions presenting candidates for this year's Middle School Certificate Examinations to submit three passport-sized photographs of all candidates.
She announced that the council, at its 33rd annual meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, gave approval to present candidates for the June School Certificate/General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level)
examinations, on the proviso that they satisfy certain guidelines approved by the council. Some of these guidelines, according to Mrs Boye, were that the schools should provide accommodation furniture, supervisors and invigilators for the examinations.
They should also submit names and qualifications of teachers, the facilities for teaching examination classes, and a copy of the school's time-table to the WAEC and the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Clamp down on currency trafficking
A joint police-military exercise to clamp down on currency trafficking took place in Accra on January 17. The exercise took the form of a house-to-house search and the main target was "the Cow Lane". Among those arrested were Ghanaians, Nigerians and Malians, who were found in possession of US dollars, sterling, naira, deutsche marks and CFA francs.Increase in air fares
The Ghana Airways has raised its Accra-London fares following the recent devaluation of the cedi from sixty to ninety cedis per the American dollar. The new rates are 185,862.00 cedis for a first class seat, 119,878.20 cedis for economy ticket and 78,630.00 cedis for excursion travel.Common entrance examination
The Director of Secondary Education of the Ghana Education Service, Mr Nicholas Asante, has advised preparatory schools to shift from the Common Entrance-oriented syllabus to that of junior secondary schools system because plans are afoot to discontinue the Common Entrance Examination.He said entry into higher institutions, like the junior secondary schools, would be based on one's performance in the classroom, instead of the common entrance.
Mr Asante was opening a two-day seminar organised by the Ghana National Association of Private Schools, for administrators of second-cycle schools. He said every effort was being made to phase out all middle and continuation schools in the education system, to ensure that the goals set for basic education were achieved. These, he said, included the development in students of qualities of leadership that would prepare them adequately for positions of responsibility in all sectors of society.
Mr Asante stressed that private schools supplemented the work of the government in the educational development of the nation and should be encouraged.
Concern over gold smuggling
Mr Kwesi Renner, Secretary for Lands and National Resources, has expressed concern over the volume of gold and diamonds smuggled outside the country recently. He was delivering the opening address at a two-day seminar code-named "Save the Mines", organised by the Ghana Mine Workers Union at Tarkwa.Rawlings' trail of death and destruction
In all Ghana's chequered history, there has not been a regime that has unleashed such terror on Ghanaians as the regime of Jerry Rawlings.The true extent of this terror in the loss of human life, limb and property may not be fully known while the regime clings on to power.
The Ghana Democratic Movement, formed in London by members of Ghana's two major political parties - PNP and PFP, who were able to escape the Rawlings dictatorship, has, however, published a booklet, "Rawlings trail of Death and Destruction" which contains a list of Ghanaians who have been killed victims. by agents of Rawlings since 1982.
The publishers acknowledge that the list is not complete since it does not take account of the thousands who have been maimed, have been dispossessed of their properties in the name of Rawlings revolution or whose deaths have not been discovered. All the same they hope that the world community who believe in freedom and democracy would feel challenged by the list to help do something about it..
The Ghana Democratic Movement expressed its gratitude to the Association of Recognised Professional Bodies of Ghana and notably the Ghana Bar Association for compiling and authenticating the list of murdered The publication of this booklet followed the release of the Movement's programme for 1986 in another pamphlet.
SIL negates creativity
The Special Import Licence (SIL), besides being unproductive, also encourages the consumption of foreign goods which in turn negates creativity, hard work and local production.This view was expressed by an industrialist who is convinced that the operation of the SIL is to blame for the high rate of gold and diamond smuggling, as well as the increase in incidences of robbery at the banks.
Mr Kwame Nyanteh, the industrialist, based at Somanya, commenting on the Secretary for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwesi Renner's concern that the volume of gold and diamond smuggled out of the country was equal to the quantity produced officially.
He appealed to the Government therefore to take immediate steps to review the provision under which the SIL was operating, in order to make it more relevant to the Economic Recovery Programme.
Mr Nyanteh explained that the negative effects of the SIL had come about because the only criterion required to import goods under the provision was for importers to establish at the Ministry of Trade that the importers had foreign exchange, the source of which was never questioned.
Economic achievements
Ghana's debt servicing appears to be on the increase because the country's earnings are low, the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr John Addo, has said in Accra."We are not exporting enough... if our export earnings increase, the proportion will decrease," he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
Mr Addo said Ghana's export earnings which peaked to one billion dollars only a few years ago, dwindled to about 500 million dollars in the early 1980s, and had only just begun rising again.
Statistics, he said, indicated that exports had been rising steadily since the PNDC embarked upon the rehabilitation of the export programme under the Economic Recovery Programme, which has just ended, but stressed that these should not make people complacent.
"From where we started off, some achievements have been made but we need to move forward so that we do not erase these achievements" he said. Turning to the banking system, Mr Addo admitted that confidence in the banks had been undermined due to historical factors, namely the freezing of accounts above C50,000, the withdrawal of C50 notes in 1982, and the making public of frozen accounts.
He said the activities of the black market which required its patrons to hold huge sums of money on hand and the partial rejection of the banks of the wealthy had hindered the use of savings for development.
Cultural agreement with Iran
A cultural agreement between Ghana and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been signed in Accra. The Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Dr Ben Abdallah, and the charge d'affaires of the Iranian Embassy in Accra signed the agreement. Before the signing ceremony, Dr Abdallah noted that Iran, like Ghana, has come to realise the potential of culture to draw peoples and nations together.GUINEA
French gift of two patrol boats
The French navy has presented to the Guinean navy two 300hp patrol boats. The presentation ceremony, which was performed by the French Ambassador, Henri Rethore, took place in the presence of Lt-Col Sory Doumbouya, Mini- ster Delegate at the Presidency in charge of national defence.In connection with the occasion the French Ambassador said: "This gift falls within the framework of our military cooperation agree- ment which also covers 1985. This gesture testifies to the solidarity of France and our desire further to strengthen our relations - the historical relations which we have established. It also demonstrates our desire to contribute to the national recovery effort of the Military Committee for National Redress.
We hope this gift will be of particular assistance to the Guinean navy in its operations to the benefit of Guinea and to the benefit of the development of this country."
Death of Soviet visitor
Forty-eight hours after his arrival, the leader of the delegation of the Soviet committee for solidarity with Asian and African countries died in Conakry. Mr Manaseryan, candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia, arrived in Conakry on January 11. It is believed that he died of a heart attack.A Guinea government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs has presented to the Soviet Embassy in Conakry the condolences of the Guinean government and that of President Lansana Conte.
TOGO
Prisoners are generally well treated
A government-ordered inquiry into conditions in Togo's prisons, requested by Amnesty Inter- national amid allegations of torture, said that prisoners were being generally well-treated in a report issued in Lome on January 14. But the main finding of the government-appointed commission, was that suspects were being held well beyond legal time limits at police stations.Security and police chiefs confirmed the charges, but said the long detentions were necessary to police investigations. The cases involved people alleged to have distributed subversive leaflets, after a series of unclaimed bomb blasts began last August.
The government has announced that the last of 15 people it said were detained in connection with the leaflets had been released, though French lawyers who recently travelled to Togo to interview detainees challenged the government figures and said that up to 50 people had been detained.
One of those freed, prominent defence attorney Kwami Occansey, was held for 48 days from late August and then released to become a member of the inquiry committee itself when the government set it up in October. He testified he had not been tortured in any way.
The inquiry report was dated November 5 though it was only released on January 14. Its release followed a government refusal early this month to allow a delegation from Amnesty International, the London-based human rights group, into the country on New Year's eve.
In addition to Mr Occansey, the commission included a doctor, defence lawyers and a leading member of parliament, Banabo Nangbog. In the prisons themselves, the inquiry found lawyers' and families' visits were regular and unhindered, food was supplied properly, and medical attention available as required.
The main complaint was about the heat, and the inquiry recommended that inmates be allowed to shower at least three times a week.
BENIN
French gift to Benin's armed forces
During a ceremony at Guezo camp France donated an important consignment of engineering, radiological and radioscopy equipment in the context of its direct assistance to the People's Armed Forces.The consignment includes two large public works machines worth more than 120,000,000 CFA francs, together with 10 tonnes of spare parts, three radioscopy units and six tonnes of medical and laboratory equipment.
IDB finance for projects
Two agreements relating to the financing of two projects have been signed in the conference hall of the Ministry of Planning and statistics between Zulkifouli Salami and the Ambassadors of the Islamic countries accredited to the country who acted on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).The first project concerns the construction of the 415km Djougou-Porga highway. The road, which starts from Savalou, will link Zou and Atakora provinces, thus enabling a permanent link between the central region and Atakora province on the one hand and Benin and Burkina Faso and Mali, on the other. This project will cost 32bn CFA francs.
The second project concerns the proposed harnessing in the Niger river basin of a significant volume of water, which is being wasted, in order to make rational use of it for the promotion of agriculture and stock-breeding in that part of the country.
OAU
Committee discusses famine warning system
The first meeting of the steering committee of the OAU has discussed direct actions to be taken at the regional level in combating food emergencies and rehabilitation of African agriculture. The steering committee was established by the assembly of heads of state and government last July.The meeting is deliberating on actions to be taken at the regional level to promote the actions envisaged at the national level, within the framework of the OAU summit declaration, which aims at giving greater responsibility to regional and sub-regional groupings in the monitoring and implementation of the priority programme. Also being discussed are actions to be taken at international level in support of regional and national actions.
A paper presented to the meeting examines the present situation with regard to the establishment of the early warning system at national and sub-regional levels. It says that with the assistance of the Food and AgriculturalOrganisation (FAO) projects have been prepared for eleven countries Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, and one sub-regional grouping (Southern African Development Coordination Conference) has also been benefiting from the organisation's assistance in this connection.
The meeting was informed that of these, four country projects (Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia and Somalia) and the SADCC sub-regional project have already been funded. In addition, projects are underway for seven countries Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Guinea Bissau and Zaire.
The SADCC project is fairly well-advanced and it is expected that an early warning system will be in place in the sub-region in 1987. The experience of SADCC could provide a useful model for the establishment of other regional or sub-regional early warning systems, as no other region or subregion is as close to the establishment of such a system, the paper said.
Continue support to Africa
President Abdou Diouf, who is current Chairman of the OAU, has appealed to the inter- national community to continue supporting African countries' efforts in rehabilitating their economies, particularly their sub-regional plans of action. President Diouf made the appeal in Jibouti, at the opening ceremony of the first assembly meeting of the six eastern African countries affected by drought.He appealed for donor countries to give substantial assistance to the realisation of the regional programme which he said was a great contribution to Africa's struggle for development.
Underlining the effects of drought, the Senegalese President pointed out that the 1983-84 drought devastated the socio-economic structures of 27 African countries affecting 182,000,000 people which represents 32 per cent of the continent's total population.
He said the situation has not since improved and it was incumbent upon the international community to continue assisting countries affected by drought and desertification until they do away with the "plague", which he said was the main cause of the African crisis.
President Diouf added further that attaining the balance between environment and population required solid strategies for the exploitation of land resources, good management of the environment and utilisation of alternative sources of energy. He thanked donors and the UN organisations for providing emergency and long-term assistance to African countries affected by drought.
He described the establishment of the eastern region Inter-Governmental Authority for Drought and Development (IGADD) as a good example that should be followed. Experts describe the structure of IGADD which was adopted by experts in February last year, as simple, efficient and functional.
The OAU Chairman commended President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Siyad Barre of Somalia, Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia, Abdul Rahman Siwa al-Dhahab of Sudan, Al- Haji Hasan Gouled of Jibouti for their timely initiative which he said was in line with last year's resolution encouraging sub-regional co-operation among member states.
He also called for solidarity with liberation movements in the continent and to make the year 1986 the year for liberation until the evil system of apartheid in South Africa was dismantled.
In his opening address, Jibouti President, Al- Haji Hasan Gouled, said that the presence of the xi heads of state and governments at their first assembly meeting signified their common will which united them to improve and conserve their common heritage. "The foundation base we are laying today is an historical event, the fruits of which the coming generations will benefit from," he said.
Stressing that misery and suffering know no boundaries, the Jibouti President expressed the need for member countries of IGADD to continue formulating strategies and implement the decisions in order to minimise the effects of drought. President Gouled noted that the awareness which the member states share must arrest the advancement of desertification but this, he said, required maximum mobilisation of all resources. He appealed for international support to complement the efforts being made by the six countries.
LIBERIA
President Doe's new cabinet
President Doe has appointed a new cabinet which includes former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, J. Bernard Blamoe, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and George S. Boley as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs. The Defence, Interior and Finance. ministers also retained their portfolios.The President also made the following appointments: Hon. James N. Nagbe, Chief Justice of Liberia; Hon. Elwood L. Jangaba, Associate Justice; Hon. Patirick K. Biddle, Associate Justice; Hon. Frederick K. Tulay, Associate Justice; and Hon. George Henries, Associate Justice.
The full list of ministers is as follows: Major General Gray D. Allison, Minister of National Defense; G. Alvin Jones, Minister of Finance; Jenkins K.Z.B. Scott, Minister of Justice; Edward K. Sackor, Minister of Internal Affairs; Yudu S. Gray, Minister of Public works; Charles Roberts Jr., Minister of Postal Affairs; Paul Jeffy, Minister of Planning; S. Gblozuo Toweh, Minister of Agriculture; Martha Sandolo Belleh, Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Mcleod Darpoh, Minister of Commerce.
Others are: William Freeman, Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy: George S. Boley, Minister of State; John N. Kolleh, Minister of Rural Development; John Beh, Minister of Youth and Sports; Dr Mary Antoinette Brown Sherman, Minister of Education; J. Bernard Blamo, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Carlton A. Karpeh, Minister of Information; John C.L. Mayson, Minister of Labour; Hon. Patrick Minikon, Minister of National Security; and Peter L. Naigow, Director-General of the Cabinet.
Call by chiefs for a one party system
A spokesman for the Chief's Association of Liberia has explained that the association's recent petition to the Liberian government to reinstitute a one-party system in the country was designed to achieve total unity and national reconciliation.The spokesman, Bong County Paramount Chief, James Kponga, said since the institution of the multiparty system in the country, Liberians had been faced with many problems including political unrest. He observed that Liberia was a very small country to have more than one political party because, he said, the multi-party system has brought about serious ethnic conflict and disunity among our own people. Paramount Chief Kponga, who was speaking in an interview with Liberian News Agency at the chief's compound in Monrovia, said he hopes that when the legislature begins normal business, it will deliberate on the petition. Chief Kponga said Liberians should work together to create a better future.
He then assured government of the chiefs' co- operation in implementing the green revolution recently launched by government.
Reopening of borders
Liberia's borders with the Republic of Guinea and the Ivory Coast have been ordered reopened by the President of Liberia, Dr Samuel Kanyon Doe. According to an Executive Mansion release, the action to reopen the borders was taken by the President in order to facilitate the continued flow of commerce and the free movement of people between Liberia and the two countries.All of the country's borders were closed in the aftermath of the November 12 abortive coup.
Meanwhile, Liberia's border with the Republic of Sierra Leone remains closed.
Former minister charged with treason
Justice Minister Jenkins Scott has announced that former Finance Minister, Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf has been charged with treason for her alleged involvement in the November coup plot. Sources cited the New Liberian newspaper as saying that Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf was being detained by the authorities and that an indictment against her had been filed with a grand jury.IVORY COAST
Albanian embassy in Abidjan
On the proposal of the Foreign Ministry and the report of Simeon Ake, who is responsible for the Ministry, the Cabinet has given its consent for the following countries to appoint ambassadors to Ivory Coast: Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia, the DPRK, People's Republic of Hungary, Socialist People's Republic of Albania, Republic of Philippines, Republic of Columbia and Republic of Zambia.Casualties in ANAD helicopter crash
Four Ivorian soldiers met their death in a helicopter accident while they were on a peace mission on behalf of ANAD (Non-aggression and Defence Aid agreement) in the area of the conflict between Mali and Burkina Faso.They were charged to check the effective implementation of the ceasefire signed on December 30. The statement issued by the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said that the date and the venue for the funerals will be made known at a later date.
MALI
Libyan aid for irrigation scheme
Libya has given a cheque for 10m dollars to the people of Dire. This amount will be used in constructing an irrigation canal for agricultural work. The presentation ceremony took place at the conference hall of the Ministry of Agriculture.The Libyan Ambassador to Mali said he was impressed by the hard work of the people of Dire during his visit to that area, and that the present donation is aimed at further encouraging them.
SIERRA LEONE
Black market rate falls
The Government's Gold and Diamond Office (GGDO) has lodged 4.5m dollars in the Central Bank as proceeds from its first shipment of gold and diamonds, the Daily Mail has reported. Quoting Finance Minister Joe Amara Bangali, it said the money would be allocated to the local brewery, a tobacco company, the water supply service, insurance companies and 50% state- owned oil refinery.The GGDO was set up under Mr Bangali to buy gold and diamonds at competitive prices for export in a bid to boost the government's credit- worthiness abroad and remedy its actue shortage of foreign exchange. Formation of the office ended a monopoly by the Precious Minerals Marketing Company. The Minister also told the Mail that the black market rate has been reduced from 15 leones to the dollar to 11, with a further decrease expected within the next week or so. The official rate is six to the dollar. Gen. Momoh
NIGERIA
Burial of crash victims
Victims of the recent Presidential aircraft disaster near Kaduna were expected to be given official burial at the military cemetery, Kaduna, next Friday.A statement from the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said that the next of kin of the victims had been notified about the burial plans.
Attempt to stop panel fails
A frantic but fruitless attempt has been made by the prosecution to stop the Uwaifo Special Panel to make their decision public on the allegations made againt Alhaji Shehu ShagariMaking the observation before the ruling was delivered, Mr Ayo Osholake, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, said the terms of reference of the panel stipulates that they should make their recommendation in writing to the President.
But he was quickly faulted by the chairman of the panel who told him that he had not raised any objection on other decided cases. which were made public soon after the prosecution had closed its case.
Mr Justice Uwaifo reminded the prosecution that whether they made their views public or communicated in writing to the President, it made no difference.
He said that the panel had noted that the allegations against the subjects generated a lot of interest and that it would serve no useful purpose not to announce their views or keep the public in suspense. Osholake also repeated his former sub- mission when the case for Ekwueme was mentioned for ruling.
Akinyemi calls for regular contacts
Nigeria has proposed a consultative forum to enable her and the United States to discuss matters of mutual interest on a regular basis. The Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, made the proposal in Washington while addressing the United States Council on foreign relations.Prof. Akinyemi stated that there was the need to reopen all avenues for discussion between Nigeria and the United States to help minimise areas of disagreements as well as maximise understanding. The Minister said that available statistics show that the American market was important to Nigeria.
He therefore called for an increase in the purchase of Nigerian crude oil by the United States to further demonstrate the healthy relations between them.
Prof. Akinyemi stated that Nigeria had taken deliberate measures to maintain a balanced budget while efforts were being made to reduce waste, trim public spending, cut and streamline bureaucracy. The Federal government, he said, required infusions of capital to enable it to rehabilitate industries, restore industrial production to full capacity and allocate more resources to the productive sectors.
Prof. Akinyemi said the government would give incentives to American companies wishing to help transform rural communities while promoting modern farming techniques, processing, preservation and marketing of agricultural produce. He said Government would also welcome American companies to invest in the manufacture of industrial raw materials and intermediate capital goods.
Jawara visits Nigeria and UK
The Gambia Head of State, Sir Dawda Jawara, was in Lagos on January 14 for a two-day official visit. After this visit, which is the first by a Head of State to Nigeria since General Ibrahim Babangida came to power on August 27, the Gambian President was expected in London for an operation after which he will stay there to recover until mid-February. Official sources did not specify the nature of the operation.THANKS FOR SYMPATHY
LATE MRS. COMFORT DWAAH
Mr. Peter Dwaah, former Ghana News Agency's London correspondent, and children and the entire Asona family of Adansi Fomena, Ghana, wish to thank all friends and sympathisers in Ghana, England, America, Canada and France, who in diverse ways mourned with them during the tragic passing away in Swindon on September 24, 1985, of their beloved, Mrs. Comfort Dwaah (nee Comfort Amoako-Agyeman).May she have a peaceful rest.
PETER DWAAH
