SIAKON MEDIA

Accra, May 24, GNA - Professor Ablade Glover, Director of the Artist Alliance Gallery, an Accra based Arts exhibition Centre, said on Monday that the arts and culture industry had tremendous economic potential for Ghana.

He said, "Arts and Culture as a store of wealth brought to the fore the great potential as a means of investment in Ghana when its potential is harnessed.

"Art has often been overlooked in Ghanaian culture, with more attention focused on drumming, dancing and dressing".

Prof. Glover was speaking at a cocktail reception held in Accra by Quintessentially Ghana Limited, one of the world's leading private members' club that provides a 24-hour global concierge services.

The event, jointly organised by the Artist Alliance and Quintessentially Ghana Limited, sought to create a common platform for networking among the elite in the Accra metropolis.

Launched early this year, the company enables members to enjoy a collection of the best luxury services in opera, travel, music, art, food, drink, hotels, clubs, spas and restaurants.

Ms Eunice-Sylvia Yamson, Chief Executive of Quintessentially Ghana Limited, said: "Quintessentially does not only endeavour to alleviate life's stresses, but does its part to provide access to an extensive cultural network of luxury suppliers, events, benefits and experiences".

She said the company aimed at giving its members convenience, social recognition and access to exclusive experiences.

The Quintessentially brand has been in existence for 10 years and has over 10,000 members across the globe.

GNA

NCCE calls on public officials to be punctual to events

Ho, June 16, GNA - Mr. Fidelix Attor, Volta Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), has asked public officials to be punctual to work and other events so that they could demand the same from other people.

He said "social auditing" required that people especially those in leadership respected time.

Mr. Attor made the comment when the main speaker, the Ho Municipal Director of Education, kept participants at a "Project Citizen Ghana" event in Ho on Tuesday waiting for well over

one-and-half hours before his representative showed up.

"Project Citizen Ghana, the brainchild of the NCCE, seeks to groom students for leadership by engaging them in identifying problems in their communities and solving them through democratic participation.

Teachers, students, pupils, journalists and chiefs and other opinion leaders were kept waiting with intermittent information that the event would start as soon as the official turned up.

Five minutes into the programme, some of the participants who had travelled from outside town and had been waiting since 0800 hours were seen dozing off apparently from tiredness.

A second year Senior High Student who spoke to the GNA expressed disappointment at the late start of the event, saying the period wasted could have been used profitably in the classroom.

The event was under the theme, "Consolidating democracy through youth participation."

Mrs Fanny Judith Kumah, Co-Director of Project Citizen called on Ghanaians to be alive to their civic responsibilities.

GNA

Chiefs should be made to account for stool and land revenue

Nsuta (Ash), June 9, GNA - The people in the Sekyere District have suggested the introduction of a clause in the constitution that would make it mandatory for chiefs to account for royalties on stool lands paid to them.

They said the situation where traditional rulers keep all monies from stool lands, denying the communities of their share for development must stop.

They found it difficult to understand why revenue from lands held in trust for them should benefit only individuals.

This was at a consultative forum on the review of the 1992 constitution held at Nsuta.

Contributors to the discussions also asked that the present system where 30 per cent of the members of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies are appointed by the government should be scrapped.

All assembly members and District Chief Executives (DCEs) must be elected through the ballot box.

On the tenure of a President, they said the current four-year term should be maintained to avoid complacency by any President.

They also called for the removal of the indemnity clause in the constitution and said it runs counter to the principles of the rule of law and social justice.

Mr Ernest Owusu-Dapaah, a constitutional lawyer and legal advisor to the Commission, appealed to all Ghanaians both home and abroad to participate fully in the on-going review process.

He said whatever recommendations are arrived at should represent the collective will of the people to enhance the unity and cohesion of the nation.

The forum was attended by chiefs, heads of departments, representatives of political parties, religious bodies, assembly members and representatives of trade associations.

GNA