Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-05-04
Focus On
Africa
BY EDDIE L. MADISON, JR.

The story of Mrs. Mary
Edusei's purchase of a gold
plated bed valued at $8,4O and
the subsequent firing of her
husband, Krobo (Crowbar)
Edusei, Ghana minister of in
dustries, was widely-publicized
around the world. Edusei's lot
worsened when attention was 70
cused on his palatial home said to
be worth at least $500, 900.
AS earlier AMP dispatches have
pointed out, the fate Of the erst-
while Ghana minister Of industries
is not an isolated case. Other top
ranking Ghanaian officials have
been forced to relinquish their gov
eminent offices for not falling in
line with President Nkrumah's aus
terity program, calling on all
Ghanaians to forego certain lux
uries.
Ministers, in particular, were
asked to surrender their excess
properties. Some acquiesed but
others apparently did not, such as
former Convention Peoples Party
stalwarts Ashie Nil1oi, Dzenkle
Dzewu, Bankole Renner, Nyemitei,
Kobla Gbedemah and Kojo Bot
siou. Gbedemah, former minister
of finance and minister of state
for presidential affairs lost his
seat in the national assembly and
has been out of Ghana for nearly
five months.
Botsio, former minister Of agri-
culture and minister Of state for
parliamentary affairs, was stripped
of his rights and privileges by the
ruling Opp.
Noise Tshombe, president of the
breakway Katanga Province in the
Congo, continues to battle observ-
ers who consider him a master of
the about-face technique.
Tshombe, who previously at
tackled the United Nations for acts
which he considered not in Kat
anga's interest, now has warm
words of praise for the world Or
ganization- Why?
When Central Government Of
ficials prevented Tshombe's plane
from taking off at Leopoldvi1le,
UN Congo Chief Robert Gardiner
interviewed and Nigerian UN troops
cleared the runway, allowing the
aircraft to leave. The explanation
seems simple enough. But on the
broader scale, some observers spec
ulate that the UN, by insuring
Tshombe's recent departure from
Leopoldville, introduced a new eli
mate of cordiaity in Elisabethville
between the United Nations and
the Katangan Government.
Kenneth Kaunda, president of
the United National independence
Party, has put before the United
Nations his party's demand for the
immediate independence Of North
ern Rhodesia. He said Africans
would never accept the Federation
which, he maintained, was imposed
upon them by their political mas
ters," Kaunda, addressing the ''UN
committee of IT," said the concept
of partnership was a high sound
ing phrase used to delude the
world.
Describing the separate worlds
of the Federation, Kaunda said:
There were four watertight COM
partments in the Rhodesias - the
area of the white settlers, the
second-class area of the Asians,
the area of the Eurafrican and fin
ally the compound of the Africans.
The only area where there is any
common meeting ground" Kaunda
said, "is at work, and there the /
white man is master and the Az
rican the servant"
Two actions have been filed In
the Federal Supreme Court of Nj
geria, challenging the constitution
al validity Of the act creating a
Midwest state which the Federal
Parliament passed earlier the same
week. Chief S. o. Ighodaro Of
Ibadan, the attorney general Of
Western Nigeria, filed the actions
Maurice Pate, an executive Of
the United Nations International
Children's Fund (UNICEF), said
in Lagos that his organization has
great respect for Nigeria and for
the high degree of intelligence Of
its people. Pete said that this was
the background for the choice Of
Nigeria as the UN Funds head
quarters for the sub-Sahara Re-
gion.
In Tankanyika, preparations are
already being made for the cleo
ton Of the first President Of q |
Republic Of Tanganyika. 1t is not
known when the country will be-
come q republic, but in case 1t Is
decided to go ahead this year prep
arations must be made, the state
ment said. A considerable amount
of work must be completed, in
GLIDING the printing Of five million
registration and voting forms for
the election Of a President directly
by universal adult suffrage. Julius
Nyerere, the first prime minister
of the acknowledgements East Az
rican state, resigned from the post |
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