SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON PRESIDENT KUFUOR

The South African Foreign Minister, Dr. Nkosazane Dlamini Zuma, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.

President Kufuor explained that although South Africa gained its independence very late she had played a pivotal role in many continental initiatives, including those aimed at promoting peace and stability and the New Partnership for Africa?s Development (NEPAD).

The President said, ?South Africa is part and parcel of the entire psychology of Africa and Ghana in particular?, and stressed the need for the two countries to work together to strengthen their relationship.

Dr. Zuma said that South Africans had always been inspired by Ghana, since the time of its first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, adding that South Africa was playing a leadership role in Africa and assisting other nations because of the support it had received from other African countries during its long struggle for independence.

Dr. Zuma had earlier co-signed with her Ghanaian counterpart an agreement under which the two countries commit to becoming strategic partners, exchanging ideas and strengthening their co-operation in a number of areas.

In another development, President Kufuor granted audience to the Togolese Prime Minister, Mr. Koffi Sama, at the Castle.

GHANA, LIBYA CO-OPERATION

The Ghana-Libya Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation has begun translating the agenda of its eighth session into action.

The two countries are to effect the divestiture of City Hotel in Kumasi before the end of the year.

A release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra yesterday said the divestiture would take place upon the approval by the Ghana-Libya Arab Holding Company of a feasibility study.

In the area of agriculture, the two sides are to co-operate in the production and processing in Ghana of soya beans and maize for supply to Libya. Ghana has therefore submitted proposals for a primary feasibility study on the maize and soya beans project, as well as an oil mill and refinery.

The release said, the two sides had agreed to meet in Tripoli, Libya, not later than November 20 to sign the protocol on agricultural trade.

PARLIAMENT APPROVES DECEMBER 7 AS POLLS DATE

Parliament yesterday approved December 7, as the date for the conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections.

This followed the adoption of the Report of the Committee on subsidiary Legislation on the Public Elections (Presidential and Parliamentary Election Date) Instrument 2004 (C. I. 48).

The C. I. 48 was laid before the House on October 7 by the Electoral Commission and required 21 sitting days to mature and come into force.

BEST FARMERS GO ON TOUR

This year?s National Farmers Award Winners on Monday toured some factories in Tema as part of a special package prepared for them by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Their first point of call was at the Cocoa processing Company Limited (CPC) where they were briefed on the work of the company and later went round the processing units to see for themselves how the company operates.

They later went to the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority where they spent over an hour on the sea.

As part of this year?s Farmers Day celebration, the Ministry of Agriculture will organize competition for all past national best farmers to encourage them to improve upon their farming and fishing activities. The winner of the competition dubbed ?champion of champions? will take away a four wheeldrive vehicle as his or her prize.

POLITICIANS TOLD TO STAY OFF NORTHERN REGION CONFLICTS

The President of Northern Region House of Chiefs, Nayiri Na Bohagu Mahama Abdulai Sheriga, has advised politicians in the region to avoid acts that have greater potential of plunging the region into chaos during and after the December general elections.

He said, they should collectively work for permanent peace in the area for accelerated development, stressing that ?peace makes an individual healthy, unites families, enhances socialization in the local community and thus propels the development of that community.

Na Sheriga gave the advice at Tamale, when he met political party leaders, media personnel, security personnel and other stakeholders in the region to map-out strategies to secure peace during and after the general elections.

He therefore urged the politicians to stop accusing each other but rather concentrate on issues and what they would be able to do to improve upon the lives of the people.

Cardinal Appiah Turkson To Observe Jesus Image At Grotto

His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson is to visit the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at Dansoman Estate, in Accra, to see for himself the grotto, where the image of Jesus is reported to have appeared on a wall.

Cardinal Appiah Turkson told the Times yesterday that ?the catholic church will observe the image of Christ for some time before making a definite pronouncement of the church?s position on the matter?.

On Saturday, the usually serene atmosphere of the St. Margaret Mary Church premises were thrown into a state of excitement when the news emerged that the face of Jesus Christ could be seen on one side of the grotto wall.

Mr. Denis Fortey, who is now the caretaker of the site, told the Times that a bright light flashed across the grotto wall while some women were preparing the grotto for worship last Saturday.

He said that suddenly image of Jesus Christ and Mary appeared on the wall in small black spots, but that the image of Mary disappeared the same day.

Mr. Fortey stated that Catholics observed October as a month for reciting the Rosary, adding that all the parishes in Accra congregated at the Margaret Mary grotto to climax the recitation.