Ethno-Net Database: Ghana

The following section is consisted of part, full or summaries of articles from diverses sources (newspapers, newsletters, etc...).
La section suivante est constituée d'exraits, de la totalité ou de résumés d'articles provenant d'origines diverses (journaux,bulletins, etc..).

At least nine people died and several others were injured in communal clashes last week in Ghana's eastern Volta Region and northeastern Upper East Region.

Eight of the victims were killed in fighting sparked by a disagreement over a hoe between two people belonging to the Nawuri and Konkomba ethnic groups. The clashes took place at Kotaki-Zongo in the Volta region. The town was later deserted by both communities.

News organisations quoted Volta Region's police commander, Kofi Atta, as saying the regional security committee had dispatched 66 armed police and 13 soldiers to restore law and order in the area. Five bodies had been discovered by 30 October, he added.

Atta appealed to elders of the two groups to ensure that the conflict did not spread to other areas. He also said a number of arrests had been made and the suspects were assisting with investigations.

Later in the week, one person was killed and several others wounded in a clash between Kusasis and Busangas in Bawku East District. Military personnel brought the situation under control.

The conflict broke out when Kusasis accused Busangas of stealing their goats, which the Busangas denied. A policeman told IRIN the denial did not convince the Kusasis and the clashes ensued. He said guns were used in the fight and that people had fled the affected village, Dega, for fear of reprisal attacks.

09 / 10 / 2002

The Andani clan involved in the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute in northern Ghana told a United Nations mission at the weekend that it had withdrawn cooperation from a government commission of inquiry because that inquiry had lost its original focus.

Briefing a three-member UN team assessing the Dagbon crisis on Sunday, the regent of Tamale, naa Ziblim Abdulai, said the Wuaku Commission, had failed in its purpose when it shifted from investigating the murder of the King of Dagbon to "portraying to the world that there was a conflict between the Andani and the Abudu clans".

The UN team is currently on a fact-finding mission in the Dagbon traditional area to investigate the circumstances surrounding a crisis which led to the killing of the Dagbon king and 29 others on 27 March.

The visit followed an appeal by the Ghanaian government to the UN to help find solutions to the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis and other conflicts. An "uneasy calm" has prevailed in northern Ghana since the March killings, according to local sources.

Abdulai told the UN team that the Andani clan had written a memo to President John Kufuor on 26 August to say it would not cooperate with the commission of Justice Isaac Wuako until "certain issues" were addressed.

It had also sought an audience with the president to "draw his attention to the shift in focus, but the president turned down the request," Abdulai added.

He said the Andani would cooperate with the commission if their concerns were addressed, and appealed to the government to give them permission to reconstruct the royal palace - burned to the ground during clashes in March - to pave the way for the burial of the king, whose body has been lying in Yendi mortuary since.

Abdulai also appealed to the UN team to prevail on the government to release 14 people who were arrested for demonstrating during a visit to Tamale by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 20 August.

The UN mission team, led by Dr Elsadiq Abunafeesa, is expected to explore appropriate means by which to arrest the proliferation of small and large weapons in parts of Ghana, particularly in the Dagbon area.

On its way to Tamale from the Ghanaian capital, Accra, the mission stopped in the central city of Kumasi for discussions with the king of the Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu. He is chairman of the government's mediation team on the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis.

The team also visited Yendi, seat of the Dagbon kingship, and held discussions with the leadership of the feuding factions, from the Andani and Abudu clans, who fell out over details of a rotation system for accession to the kingship.

ACCRA MAIL (Ghana)

The article:"Kufour unopposed as NPP's candidate" (Kent Mensah & Isaac Essel)

The New Patriotic Party has given the first indications that the President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor may be returned unopposed as the party's candidate for Election 2004. This hint was given at the party's first major political rally in Accra since the party won the December 2000 elections.

At the rally which took place at Mantse Agbonaa in Accra, last weekend, the President, in ebullient mood assured Ghanaians that his government is laying the foundation for sound social, economic and democratic development. In this regard it would not tolerate anybody or group of persons who would try to destabilise the newfound sound political environment in the country. "We are laying the foundation for a democratic and prosperous social development. We do not want trouble, Ghanaians are peace-loving people but anyone who under the cover of darkness would disturb the peace would not be spared."

The rally was held to round off activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). President Kufuor said the government would not renege on its electoral promises and asked Ghanaians to exercise patience and restraint since their "thumbs" would judge the achievements of the government come election 2004.

Underscoring some of the programmes and strategies underway to transform the country President Kufuor said success can only be achieved in an atmosphere of law and order. In this regard he said the Ghana Police Service would by the end of this year equipped with about 600 vehicles to help maintain law and order.

He said: "When the NPP assumed power the Ghana Police Service had less than 100 vehicles. It is unfortunate for some one to say this party is the worse Ghana has ever had."

Mr. Agyekum Kufuor said government would not only ensure that the rule of law thrives in the country but would also provide economic development.

"We did not only come with freedom and democracy. It was accompanied by economic development. We can not use only a year to achieve all [our promises] so Ghanaians should be patient."

He said education is the key to progress and therefore by the end of this year about twenty Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) in some selected districts would be upgraded to Grade A level and this would be replicated in other districts before the four-year term ends.

The Senior Minister, Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah in an optimistic mood said government would embark on more development projects to enhance the living standards of the populace. For instance, he said detractors of the government have been shamed when government started disbursing the fruits of HIPC.

On the political scene, the Senior Minister let drop a major hint about what the party may decide on in its congress to select a presidential candidate. He said while the other political parties were struggling to nominate their flag bearer, the NPP already had a candidate in the person of President Kufuor.

He said the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) was dying; "they are killing their own party, which would be dead by 2004."

He said the party would not be cowed by who ever emerges as the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which is the largest opposition party in the country since the NPP has a more refined and experienced leader.

FREE PRESS
Page 9: "Kente is Still the pride of Ashanti Nation . Don't twist history"

GHANAIAN CHRONICLE 7, 17
Page 6:"Ewes in Ashanti not opposed to Prof. Mills"

FREE PRESS 16, 47
Pages 1 & 6-7: "S. G. Antor Tells His Story and warms Akans to alert"

MOST ETHNO-NET AFRICA DATABASE

GHANA