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Veep officially launches presidential bid
Mankessim (C/R), GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend officially launched his bid to be the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Election 2008, with "Empowerment and Prosperity" as his agenda.
Flanked by his wife, Hajia Ramatu and his campaign Manager, Mr Ben Annan at Mankessim in the Mfantsiman District of the Central Region, Vice President Mahama declared in front of a large number of cheering supporters dancing to highlife and traditional music eulogising his candidature, that he represents the best of the Danquah-Busia tradition. "My friends, I believe I represent the best of the Danquah-Busia Tradition- a tradition that does not discriminate; a tradition that respects justice and the rule of law; a tradition that has room for all, including the less privileged to aspire to the very top." He staked a claim for the major assignment of winning a third term for the NPP, warning that without his candidature that mission would be a mirage.
He asked: "Now we have the power. But are we going to toy with it for our opponents to snatch it away from us when victory is more or less assured with Aliu Mahama's Candidacy?"
He lauded the efforts of the pioneers of the Danquah Busia Tradition who, he said, sacrificed everything they had to promote true freedom to Ghanaians.
"Now we are about to make history again. In the closing days of the Jubilee Year, the NPP is set to make a triple election victory, which will cement the Danquah-Busia Tradition in power for a long time, but only if the right decision is made at Congress. The Vice President is among the 19 candidates who would vie for the presidential slot of the NPP at the December 22, 2007 Delegates Congress.
Focussing his attention on his supporters, many of whom were dressed in T-shirts embossed with his portrait, he asked them to make the right choice at congress.
" To those of you who would be selected as delegates to our congress next month, God and country expect you to do the right thing. In your hands is the decision that would determine whether our blessed homeland would succeed or fail. You have only one month left for that decision. I wish you God's guidance."
Vice President Mahama used the ceremony to launch his website: www.aliumahama08.com and a Mission Statement that seeks to create the African example of a buoyant prosperous economy and a proud, disciplined and industrious people at peace with themselves and their neighbours. Dr Amoako Tuffour, Chief Advisor to the Vice President said it was only Alhaji Mahama who could pull floating voters from the Zongo's, Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions.
He said Vice President Mahama had all the qualities that the NPP could market to win the 2008 General Election.
Mr Annan said the numerous candidates contesting the flagbearership of the NPP was unacceptable.
He said Vice President Mahama was the only candidate who could lead the NPP to victory and make Ghanaians happy and proud.
Source:
GNA
GTB trains 300 Hospitality Personnel
Kumasi, Nov.18, GNA - The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has so far trained over 300 hospitality personnel nationwide to inject professionalism in their work ahead of the African Cup of Nations tournament scheduled for next year in the country.
Miss Beatrice Appiah-Kusi, Human Resource Development and Training Manager of the Board, said the training involved front office, food and beverage as well as house keeping services She was addressing the closing session of a crash-training programme organized by the Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations for some 120 tourism industry practitioners in Kumasi on Saturday.
The six-day programme was designed to upgrade the skills of the participants drawn from the Ashanti region to ensure excellence in their service delivery.
Miss Appiah-Kusi urged operators of tourist facilities to adhere to the operational requirements of the GTB before, during and after the tournament to retain the nation's image. Mr Ekow Sampson, Chief Architect and Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of GTB said his outfit intended to organize skill training workshops and sensitization programmes for Traditional Caterers and taxi driver to enhance decency and discipline in their work. He said the training, was a continuation series planned to help improve the hospitality industry at all levels in the country. The Regional Manager cited insufficient logistics and personnel as some of the challenges hampering the development of the tourism industry.
Source:
GNA
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Appiagyei advocates Contingency Dev't Plan for Kumasi
Kumasi, Nov.17, GNA - Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), has advocated for a Contingency Development Plan to address the deteriorating scenic beauty of the Metropolis. The Metropolis, she said, was initially planned and built to cater for 250,000 people and that it now had a population of over two million, saying however that it was unfortunate that there had not been any systematic, consistent and comprehensive plan to cater for the growing population over the years.
She said this had resulted in the mass congestion and over-stretching of social amenities as well as facilities with their attendant consequences on the socio-economic development of the Metropolis.
Madam Appiagyei was speaking at the Second National Delegates Congress of the Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Society of the Roman Catholic Church in Kumasi on Saturday.
It was held on the theme, "Creating the Culture of Peace at Home, Workplace and in the World".
The MCE warned residents of the Metropolis to abide by the by-laws of the KMA to ensure that the city was always kept clean devoid of communicable diseases, which were caused by filth. She further urged landlords and ladies to endeavour to paint their houses ahead of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) tournament to give the city a face-lift and to retain its image.
Madam Appiagyei reminded women groups of the crucial roles they played in the nation's development and said it was time they shunned unhealthy practices and become committed to instituting programmes that would improve upon the living conditions of women and their children. The Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, took a swipe at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports as well as the Ghana Education Service for striking out Religious and Moral Education studies in the syllabus at the basic level of education.
He indicated that this was a recipe for disaster in view of the important role such education played in national development. Most Reverend Sarpong entreated religious bodies to wage a serious campaign against this policy since religious and moral education had the potential to inculcate into the youth the need for them to lead morally and upright lifestyles for the benefit of the nation. Madam Veronica Nancy Amevinyah, President of the National Council of the Society, admonished the members to lead exemplary lives worthy of emulation by the younger generation.
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GNA
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Blind Women Association appeals to govt
Kumasi, Nov.17, GNA - Blind Women in the country has called on the government and other benevolent organizations to extend financial support to them to enable them to improve on their socio-economic status.
Madam Cecilia Batholomew, National President of the Women's Wing of the Ghana Blind Association made the call particularly to the First Lady, Mrs. Theresa Kufuor to extend the support being offered by her civil society organization to the members of the Wing to undertake economic ventures.
She made the call at the Annual Forum of the Women's Wing of the Association in Kumasi on Friday.
The forum was held under the theme; "The Role of Women's Ministry towards the blind and partially sighted Women and Girls at Ghana @50". It was sponsored by the Disabled People's Organization of Denmark and brought together 35 blind women drawn from all over the country to brainstorm and discuss issues affecting their welfare and development. Madam Batholomew pointed out that, women, including the blind contribute immensely to the socio-economic development of the country and should therefore not be discriminated against in any way. She expressed dissatisfaction about the attitude of some prominent people who refuse to attend programmes organized by the blind and said that behaviour made the blind not accepted in the society. Miss Alice Botchway, Ashanti Regional director of the Department of Women assured the members that the Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs was providing micro-financial assistance to all women groups in the country, including blind women.
She asked the members to identify some of their members who have excelled in their fields of endeavour and send their names to be included in the women achievers of the country.
Mr. Yaw Ofori Debrah, National President of the Ghana Blind Association appealed to the district assemblies to assist disable persons in their areas to prepare project proposals to enable them to obtain the two per cent allocated to them from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
Source:
GNA
Ghana signs two contracts with EU
Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - The European Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning have signed two works contracts worth 2.6 million GH cedis for the construction of the Headquarters and Range Camps in Ankasa and Bia Conservation areas, both in the Western region. A statement issued by the Delegation of the European Union in Ghana on Friday said the projects were part of the activities of the Protected Areas Development Programme Phase II (PADP II) being financed under the ninth European Development Fund.
It said, the project was aimed at ensuring the long-term conservation of the Ankasa and Bia Protected Areas through the implementation of the Management Plans, strengthening of capacity of the Wildlife Division and supporting preparatory concepts of sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources in off-reserve areas to empower civil society and reduce poverty. It explained that the PADP II was designed to consolidate and extend on and off-reserve achievements of the first phase of the PADP project, particularly securing long-term management prospects for the protected areas.
This would be achieved mainly through further improving the conservation and management capacity of the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Lands and Forestry and by complementing park infrastructures for administration and tourism.
It said off-reserve conservation was expected to centre on expansion of the preparatory concepts developed during the first phase to a wider area surrounding the target areas, while programme for eco-tourism development and income-generating activities would also contribute to reduced poverty in the surrounding rural communities. "The phase II of the PADP is therefore designed to ensure the effective management of both the Ankasa and Bia Conservation Areas as well as the Krokosua Hill Forest Reserve and ensure long-term prospects for raising substantial revenues, including the development of appropriate tourism attractions among others," the statement said.
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GNA
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Flood victims still in need - Minister
Bolgatanga, Nov. 17, GNA - Victims of the recent flood disaster in the Upper East Region are still suffering from their loss and the situation is more challenging than it earlier on appeared to be, Mr Alhassan Samari, Regional Minister said on Friday.
He said even though the response of many people and organisations to the plight of the victims has been very good, much more help was still needed as the victims still had six dry months to live through without producing food on their own.
Mr Samari said this when he received 100 pieces of cloths valued at 35 million cedis from the Bolgatanga branch of the Ghana Textile Print (GTP) for the victims.
He thanked GTP for their help and said it was very comforting for the victims and the people of the region to receive so much help and to know that many people were concerned cared during their time of difficulty.
He also thanked all the organisations and individuals that gave their help and appealed for more, saying, "we still have a long way to go."
Mr Kwesi Baden, Bolgatanga Municipal Manager, GTP who presented the cloths said it was the company's contribution to lessen the pain of loss for the victims.
He said the cloths were designed for the anniversary year and asked the beneficiaries to let the remembrance of the special year bring them happiness that would take away their sorrow. The Senior Staff Association of the Northern Electricity Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA) earlier on donated four million cedis to the victims.
Mr Thompson Agalab, who presented the money on behalf of the association said even though the VRA, as a corporate body had earlier made a donation of relief items to the victims, the association was giving their quota to help.
Source:
GNA
Chief, 49 others remanded for disturbances at Princes Town
Takoradi, Nov. 17, GNA- Fifty people including Nana Kwasi Kpolley Arde III, chief of Akatenkyi near Princes Town in the Ahanta West district have been remanded in police custody when they appeared before the Takoradi Magistrate's court on Friday.
Nana Arde was charged for organising the celebration of a festival without Police permit contrary to Act 491 of the Public Order Act. The rest were charged for murder, rioting with offensive weapons, causing unlawful harm, and causing unlawful damage.
The pleas of Nana Arde and the other suspects were not taken and would reappear before the court on November 30, 2007. The Prosecutors, Inspector Juliana Essel Dadzie and Inspector Michael Ahiadzu prayed the court to remand the suspects in custody to enable the Police to complete investigations into violent clashes during the celebration of the Kundum festival at Princes town on Monday. Two people were shot dead, and many others received various degrees of injuries while 22 houses were burnt during the clashes. In a related development, Princes Town and nearby Aketenkyi had virtually been deserted, and had been described by Mr Robert Azu, acting Western Regional Police Commander as "ghost towns".
Briefing the Ghana News Agency on the security situation in the town, he said all the men in the town had taken to the bush leaving behind women and children.
He said when members of the Regional Security Committee visited the area on Thursday, it was realised that all schools had been closed-down and teachers have taken refuge at Agona-Nkwanta, the district capital. Mr Azu said the security situation was still volatile and the presence of security personnel in the town towns would be maintained, "as long as it is necessary".
Source:
GNA
Disabled women to be screened of breast cancer
Kumasi, Nov.17, GNA-The Women's wing of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), in conjunction with the Breast Cancer Centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is organizing a breast cancer screening exercise for its member in Ashanti Region in Kumasi on Saturday November 24.
The exercise is aimed at reducing breast cancer among the disabled following the death of one of its members from breast cancer in March this year.
A release signed by Miss Wilhemina Aggrey, Secretary of the Association and issued to newsmen in Kumasi expressed appreciation to Dr. Baffour Awuah and his team for accepting to do the screening free of charge.
It said women from other disability Associations and organizations such as the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) and the Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB) could take advantage of the exercise to improve on their health status.
Source:
GNA
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FFP to promote indigenous arts on Internet
Accra, Nov 17, GNA- The Foundation of Female Journalists (FFP) on Saturday organised its "2007 Street Art Festival" aimed at improving the artistic and creative industry in the country. The programme, which was under the theme; "Artists on the Internet, Build Your Image" was this year focus on encouraging artists to use the Internet to improve their packaging and marketing.
Ms Mardey Ohui Ofei, President for FFP said using the internet to improve creative works and market Ghanaian artistry had become necessary in today's world of information technology in order to compete effectively in the globe.
She said the programme was to encourage, especially women and young people to project their various skills and creativity in arts and to assist the participants to develop their profiles on the internet. Ms Ohui said the Ghanaian artistic industry had, over the years been challenged with weak writings which had accounted for poor packaging and marketing of the arts.
She said there was also the need for artists to explore other opportunities within the industry such as photography, videography and the use of arts for social work instead of confining themselves to only painting.
Ms Patience Dzormeku, Cooridnator for the programme also expressed worry on the limited number of females in the industry, saying lack of self-confidence was preventing more women from bringing out their creativity.
She said the FFP was therefore, providing websites that would have profiles of all artists in order to have a common platform for promotion of creative arts.
Source:
GNA
Lack of water at Apam hospital hampering its operation- Dr. Ameka
Apam (C/R), Nov. 17, GNA- Lack of water supply to the Apam Catholic Mission Hospital is hampering the smooth operation of the health facility, which is the only hospital in the Gomoa district. This has resulted in the hospital spending about 1,600 dollars on water every quarter, a situation that was draining its finances. An overhead water reservoir installed since December 2006 has become a white elephant, because water does not reach the hospital area. The medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Ebenezer Ameka made these known when welcoming a delegation from the General Electric (G.E) Health Care team from the United State of America to the hospital on Friday.
He called for the extension of water to the hospital to alleviate the water problem facing the institution. The Medical Superintendent said the hospital was the only District Hospital in the Central Region equipped with an Internet facility as well as the latest X-ray machine in the country. Later Mr Alex Confer-Dunas, leader of the delegation presented items including 30 mattresses, 30 pillows and 30 bed sheets to the hospital improve its operation. The chief of Apam, Nana Effrim X, receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, thanked General Electric for it assistance to the hospital. He said he had released a 3-acre plot of land to the hospital for the construction of an accommodation flat for the staff and appealed to the Gomoa District Assembly to ensure that water gets to the hospital.
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GNA
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Policemen Fled As Their Colleague's Throat Is Slashed
Three policemen fled for their lives when a man wielding two knives slit the throat of a fourth policeman on Wednesday.
Constable Moro Zakaria, whose throat was slashed in Al Qaeda-style and the three cowardly policemen were responding to a distressed call from the operator of De Gray Spot, Madam Bertha De Gray at Asylum Down when the unfortunate incident occurred.
According to eye witnesses Yaw Dotse, the assailant arrived at the spot in the blazing sun wielding two knives and threatening to kill one of the sons of Madam De Gray, who made a distressed call to the police.
The eyewitnesses said the four policemen were probably on an errand and when the distressed call came they decided to act on the spur of the moment. At the scene, Dotse who is believed to be mentally deranged was seen dangerously wielding two knives.
Constable Moro who had a pistol on him stepped forward to persuade Dotse to hand over his knives to him. In the process Dotse rushed on Moro, who after taking a few steps backwards lost balance and fell heavily with his pistol flying in the opposite direction. Dotse then took advantage of Mora's weakened position and drove one of the knives into the constable's neck.
The eyewitness said when the other three policemen saw their colleague in that helpless situation; they outpaced each other in an Olympics styled 100 metres final race in a bid to escape from Dotse's knives. Moro was pronounced dead on arrival at the Police Hospital.
Dotse also took to his heels after realizing that the other three Police Officers had abandoned their colleague in the pool of blood. He took refuge in his house at Kokomlemle.
Friends of the alleged killer fought back attempts by some public-spirited people to arrest him at his Kokomlemle base. It took reinforcement from the Nima Divisional Police Station to arrest him.
In an interview with Gladys Agba, a senior sister of the alleged killer, she said her brother has been mentally sick for the past two years and has since been undergoing treatment at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
Questioned whether her brother was admitted at the hospital she answered in the negative but said he was only given some medicine and discharged from the hospital and therefore begged the police to be lenient with the brother.
When this paper made efforts to talk to Dotse at the cells he pleaded with these reporters to beg the police not to harm him although he accepted the fact that he slashed the throat of the police officer.
A close friend to the late Police Officer told this paper that Constable Imoro had a fiancee who is currently pregnant and had made plans to go and perform all necessary marriage rites after her safe delivery.
Some curious residents who besieged the station expressed shock at the behavior of the three Police Officers who bolted when their colleague was under attack but were quick to say that the inability of late Moro to use his gun was because of recent public outcry against indiscriminate shooting by the police.
In an interview with Junior Police Officers at the station they expressed shock at the death of the Police Officer in the course of duty and called on the public to appreciate the good work of the police instead of attacking them in the discharge of their legally mandated duties.
Source:
Public Agenda
Driver involved in President's accident in court
Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - Thomas Osei, the driver who crossed President John Agyekum Kufuor's convoy on the Liberation Link, near Opeibea House, last Wednesday, was remanded into Police custody until November 30 when he appeared at the Accra Motor Court on Friday.
Osei, who spots a plaster above his left eye, is being held for dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to the presidential convoy.
The court, presided over by Mr Samuel Diwuoh did not take his plea but asked that the facts and charges be read to 56 year-old baldhead. Osei, dressed in a red, black and white stripped T-shirt and a pair of black trouser with a brown pair of slippers, sweated as he waited for the case to be called.
Chief Inspector Dora Seiwaah prayed the court not to take the accused person's plea because investigations were still going on. "We want to investigate other aspects of the case," Chief Inspector Seiwaah added.
Chief Inspector Seiwaah said at about 1030 hours on November 14, Osei, who was driving a Mercedes Benz SE 500 saloon car with registration number GT 2989 W was driving in the inner lane along the South Liberation Link from AFGO towards 37 Military Hospital. When he arrived at the Opeibea traffic light, he ignored the siren of the presidential convoy, and drove straight into the rear offside portion of the President's Mercedes Benz 550 saloon car.
The prosecution said the impact forced the President's vehicle to spin around and hit a light pole on the central reserve.
The president's vehicle finally fell on its right side and landed on a VW Golf saloon car with registration number GW 8750 K driven by Pastor Ken Joe Osei Kuffuor who was driving from 37 Military Hospital. Chief Inspector Seiwaah said all the vehicles were damaged and the drivers who sustained injuries were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment.
She said the accused was also admitted at the same hospital but the President escaped unhurt. The prosecutor said further investigations revealed that Osei was driving under the influence of alcohol as when he was tested with an Alco Sensor it read 0.41 per cent content of alcohol in his breath instead of the legal limit of 0.08 per cent.
Source:
GNA
Veterinarians unhappy with predicament
Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - The Ghana Veterinary Medical Association on Friday bemoaned the relegation of the profession to the background, blaming the Ministry of Agriculture and the Unified Extended Policy for the anomaly.
It said the policy, which was meant to decentralize operations of the ministry and merge all institutions affiliated to it, had done them more harm that good.
At a press conference in Accra, Dr. Kwasi Darkwa, Vice President of the Association, noted that the profession, which should be autonomous, was rather relegated to the background, making veterinarians work under District Agriculture Officers. "Putting agriculture and veterinary in one basket and making professionals work under agriculture officers is unacceptable," he said and added that it was unfortunate that the contributions of veterinarians and animal scientists to national development had not been duly recognised.
He also noted that remuneration of veterinarians compared to other allied health professionals was very low. The press conference, which was meant to present a communiqu=E9 the Association issued at their 33rd Annual General Meeting, turned emotional when some of the veterinary doctors poured out their frustrations at the unfair treatment meted out to them and appealed to the media to fight their cause.
Dr Darkwa likened their situation to that of an orphan who had no one to defend him and said in an effort to call for redress some of their colleagues were thrown out of their offices and bungalows and their official vehicles also taken from them. He said all efforts to meet the Minister of Agriculture to deliberate on the issue had proved futile but they would continue till justice and fairness was done. Cataloguing some achievements chalked by the Association, Dr Darkwa noted with satisfaction the eradication of the highly contagious and fatal cattle disease-Rinderpest, which had earned Ghana a rinderpest-free status.
He listed other successes as the control of poultry diseases, including Gumboro, Newcastle, fowl pox, African swine fever, and the avian influenza (bird flu), which had boosted the country livestock production.
Dr Darkwa, however, noted with concern the upsurge of rabies as well as other zoonotic diseases (diseases that spread from animals to humans) and emerging diseases like avian influenza and tuberculosis, which needed to be addressed.
He therefore called on government to restore the rabies campaign that was previously organised by the service. Dr Darkwa called for improved conditions of service and logistics, adding that all facilities taken over by the ministry during the implementation of the Unified Extension Policy should be rehabilitated and handed back to the service.
It also asked government to, among other things, create an autonomous Ghana Veterinary Health Service within the MOFA to enable them to perform their core functions of animal care delivery effectively and efficiently.
Source:
GNA
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Curfew at Anloga extended
Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - The government announced on Friday that the curfew in the Anloga township and its environs has been extended for another seven days with immediate effect.
A statement signed by Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation, in Accra said the duration of the curfew remained 8 pm to 5 am (2000 to 0500 hours).
"Government appreciates that calm and tranquility have since returned to the area and also acknowledges the cooperation of the elders and people of Anloga and surrounding areas," it said. However, the government said, the extension had become necessary to ensure that the present state of security and the peace was sustained. The government warned that anyone who contravened the directive would face the full rigours of the law.
The government imposed the curfew following clashes between the police and youths who were opposed the installation of Togbi Sri III as Awoamefia.
At least five people died in the clashes.
Source:
GNA
Ghana and Togo pledge to co-operate
Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - Ghana and Togo on Friday pledged to deepen bilateral co-operation and to stand by each other in times of difficulties and challenges.
This followed talks between President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Togolese counterpart, President Faure Gnassingbe at the Castle, Osu. The Togolese leader was in Accra for a day's official visit. President Kufuor described the two West African countries, which have a common border dividing tribes from the coast to the north, as "virtual twins."
Their peoples have related and interacted since time immemorial. He said it was on account of this that Ghana did everything to support and stand by the Government and people of Togo in its journey towards constitutional democracy.
President Kufuor congratulated his counterpart on the electoral victory of his political party in the recent Togolese parliamentary election and said, "You are destined to be a good and great political leader of your country".
President Kufuor thanked President Gnassingbe for a message of sympathy and solidarity conveyed to him by President Gnassingbe on behalf of the Government and people of Togo after last Wednesday's car crash involving his convoy.
"How I escaped the danger could only be assigned to God," he added. The Togolese leader had spoken of how worried and deeply touched the people in his country were on hearing of the accident and said they were happy and thankful to God that he came out well. President Gnassingbe also expressed appreciation to Ghana for accompanying Togo through its heady political days in 2005, and the subsequent travel on the path to constitutional democracy. He said the support Togo received from Ghana and other nations helped them to go through credible democratic elections, which won international admiration.
The successful conduct of the recent parliamentary poll was not due only to the role they themselves played but the support and solidarity of neighbouring countries and the international community. President Gnassingbe said the poll was a step forward in efforts at promoting genuine national reconciliation adding that they would continue to be inspired by Ghana's leadership for development. The two leaders later held discussions behind closed doors.
Source:
GNA
Mosquito nets for mothers and children
Accra, Nov.15, GNA- The Ghana Health Service has projected that by the end of the jubilee year and beyond all children and pregnant women will be sleeping under insecticide-tested nets. It also estimated that all children under five would be free of worms and protected with polio vaccine and vitamin A supplements while children under one would be registered for birth to ensure the good health of mothers and their children.
At a press briefing on this year's maternal and child health campaign, which is on the theme: 'Healthier mothers and children In Ghana's Golden Jubilee Year and beyond', Dr. Isabella Sagoe-Moses, National Coordinator, Child Health Programme said the aim was to reduce maternal mortality and under-five morbidity and mortality by increasing awareness on known cost-effective interventions.
Maternal death is the death of a woman, while pregnant or within the 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not accidental or incidental causes. She said most life threatening complications in pregnancy could not be predicted or prevented adding " About 15 per cent of pregnant women will develop a complication" and that, deaths resulting from the situation could be averted. Dr. Sagoe-Moses said the service had adopted social mobilisation and delivery of key messages, service delivery at static points and use of volunteers as strategies to meet the challenge. She said the launch of the nationwide campaign starts November 19 the provision of services till November 30. Minimum interventions packages included vitamin A supplement for children and lactating mothers, polio vaccines, provision of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), de-worming and birth registration.
Dr Sagoe-Moses mentioned some of the key messages to be used in campaign as 'Take your child for weighing', 'seek early care', 'birth spacing improves the health of mothers and children', 'immunise and protect your child against childhood diseases' and register your baby before his first birthday.
Dr Patrick Aboagye, National Reproductive Health Coordinator named teenage abortion, bleeding, obstructed labour, anaemia and malaria as some causes of maternal deaths.
He said a total of 957 maternal deaths were recorded in 2006 and urged women to seek early antenatal care to control the cases. About 16,000 women die each day from pregnancy complications and childbirth globally. About 90 per cent of such deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa with 10 per cent in developing regions.
Source:
GNA
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Ghanaians rescued from kidnappers in Nigeria
Two Ghanaian businessmen who were kidnapped by armed men in Nigeria have been rescued through a collaborative effort between the security forces of Ghana and Nigeria.
The two, Francis Awuzah of Rapid Oil Company Limited in Cape Coast and his cousin, Felix Doku, were in Nigeria to inspect eight companies which had applied to supply palm oil to Rapid Oil's mother company in Germany. On arrival in Lagos, however, they were allegedly kidnapped and taken to Benin City, from where their captors demanded a $100,000 ransom from their employers in Ghana before their release.
But after two weeks in captivity, they were rescued by the coalition of Ghana-Nigeria forces.
Police sources said when the Ghanaians were captured, they called their employers, who in turn informed INTERPOL in Accra. The organisation informed its counterpart in Lagos and last Sunday the kidnapped men were traced to Edo State in Nigeria where they were rescued.
The suspects, however, managed to escape but one of them, who gave his name only as Friday, was arrested and he is currently assisting the police in their investigations.
The two have since returned to Ghana and been re-united with their families.
According to the Deputy Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, ACOP Ken Yeboah, directors of the mother company in Germany established a business contract with eight Nigerian companies which were to supply the company with palm oil.
The German company requested the Ghana office to send a representative to Nigeria for feasibility studies before the contract with the Nigerians would be sealed.
He said on October 23, 2007, Mr Awuzah was asked to proceed to Nigeria and he also asked his cousin Doku to accompany him. On arrival in Lagos, they called the contact person who directed them to pick a vehicle to Benin City where they would be met by a gentleman called Sam.
The two managed to get to their destination and were taken to a house where they were informed that they had been kidnapped, so they should call Ghana for a ransom of $100,000 to be paid or be killed.
Source:
Daily Graphic
British sodomite to be deported
The 63 year old British Photographer who was arrested for sodomising a 19 year old Ghanaian is to be deported after payment of fines imposed on him by an Accra circuit court.
The deputy director general of the criminal investigations department of the Ghana police service, ACOP Ken Yeboah, told the daily Graphic that in order that John Ross Macleod would not return to the country, the police had sought a deportation order from the court to deport him and this was eventually granted.
Macleod and Emmanuel who pleaded guilty to unnatural canal knowledge were both fined 6 million cedis each, or in default would serve six months imprisonment.
Macleod paid the fined for both of them and additional 3 million cedis for possessing obscene pictures. He said when the two made the first appearance in the court, they were charged with two counts of unnatural canal knowledge of each other and possessing obscene pictures.
They pleaded guilty and were convicted on their own guilty plea to 6 million cedis or serve six months imprisonment.
Mr. Yeboah said Macleod pleaded not guilty to possessing obscene pictures and was granted a 50 million cedis bail with three sureties, but later changed it to guilty and was thus fined 3 million cedis.
Macleod, who was arrested at the Kotoka while going through departure formalities, had concealed in a compartment of his suitcase. International Airport
The two established an online relationship and after exchanging mails, Macelod proposed love to the boy and on October 2, 2007, he arrived in the country for a visit during which period he sodomised Adda and took pictures of their acts
Source:
Daily Graphic
Million Children Work Under Harzadous Conditions
About 1.2 million children of school-age in Ghana are believed to be working under conditions that are hazardous to their health.
Mrs Stella Ofori, a Senior Labour Officer at the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment announced this at a durbar on “Combating Child Labour Through Education” at Moree in the Central Region.
The durbar was organised by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) as part of activities marking this year’s GNAT Week and World Teachers Day.
She explained that although the figure was quoted from the Ghana Child Labour Survey of 2003, very little had changed despite the numerous educational programmes on child labour.
Mrs Ofori noted that the effects of child labour impacted negatively on society. She therefore stressed the need for all to join the campaign against child labour.
She underlined that parents had a crucial role to play in reducing the figure by enrolling and helping their children to stay in school.
She advised children to be obedient and make sure that they attended school regularly.
The General Secretary of GNAT, Mrs Irene Duncan Adanusah, observed that the increasing incidence of child labour and child trafficking could threaten the success of the educational reform and the future development of the country.
She, therefore, impressed on those involved in child trafficking and forcing children into labour to desist from doing so, adding that children must be enrolled and kept in school to ensure the success of the new educational reform.
The Central Regional Chairman of GNAT, Mr Frank Eshun, also urged parents to educate their children to the highest level possible since education is the best inheritance they could bequeath to them.
Pupils from the Methodist and Catholic schools at Moree treated the gathering to cultural dances and sketches on child labour and trafficking respectively. Source/Credits: Daily Graphic
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Graphic
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Shops protest foreign invasion of retail trade
Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - A protest rally held by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in Accra on Wednesday against the invasion of the retail trade by foreigners attracted almost all trading associations leading to the closure of almost all stores in the capital. The traders, wearing red bands around their wrists or heads, converged at the Opera Square in Accra around 1000 hours amidst drumming, dancing, ringing of bells and blowing of whistles.
The presence of the Police did not deter them from freely expressing their opinions on issues that bothered them. The rally attracted the Abbosey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, the Odaw River Spare Parts Dealers Association, the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association and the Ghana Electronics Dealers Association.
The rest are the Fishing Nets Traders Association, Kantamanto Hardware Traders Association, Kantamanto Second Hand Clothes Dealers Association, Sawing Accessories Sellers Association among others. Some department stores such, as Melcom, which is owned by foreigners, were not open for business.
The protestors carried placards some of which read "Retail trading not for foreigners", "Foreigners taking over our trade - no way," "No VAT, foreigners taking over our shops" and "This is no hate campaign - no foreigner in the retail business."
The rally, which lasted for about one hour was described as one of the biggest meetings of all members in recent times, indicating the seriousness of members about their plight and to have their voice heard. Mrs Hagar Acheampong, a second hand clothes dealer at Kantamanto, told the GNA that due to the participation of foreigners in the retail trade, shop owners had started charging rent in foreign currency thus depriving many Ghanaians of owning shops.
Mr Kofi Safo, an electronics goods seller at Zongo Lane, also told the GNA that some Nigerian friends who had been supplying him with goods had now set up stores in Accra.
"This has slowed down my business and I wish that the government would ensure that the Nigerians would venture only into the wholesale of electronics goods."
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GNA
Fire razes building in Sunyani
Sunyani, Nov 14, GNA - Assistant Divisional Officer Francis Gaisie, Deputy Sunyani Municipal Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, on Tuesday advised the public to refrain from keeping gas cylinders in their bedrooms.
He gave the advice when briefing the GNA on a fire out break that destroyed property in a house at Penkwasi in Sunyani. The Fire officer explained that gas cylinders should always be placed at a ventilated area so that in case of leakage it could not spark fire.
"Gas cylinders explode in fire out break and increase the rate of fire leading to massive destruction", he said and appealed to land lords to always provide kitchens for tenants and not to convert kitchens into bedrooms.
He said the GNFS had a telephone call at about 1300 hours about the outbreak and rushed to the place.
On reaching the scene, he said, it was detected that the first floor of the two-storey building was engulfed in fire but their vehicle could not gain access as the exit was very narrow and therefore had to use a ladder.
Assistant Divisional Officer Gaisie said because of the extent of the fire they called for assistance from the station at Berekum. He said property worth billions of cedis was destroyed and 15 bedrooms were completely burnt as all the occupants in the house were out on their day-to-day activities.
ADO Gaisie said tenants on the first floor of the building who got information on the fire outbreak rushed to move some of their belongings out but thieves took advantage and stole most of the items. He said the cause of the fire was not yet known but two gas cylinders were found in two of the rooms and that might have caused it.
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GNA
Defence Minister commends the military
Sunyani, Nov. 14, GNA - Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaa, Minister of Defense, has commended the military for its good and dedicated work towards national security and urged the personnel to keep up the spirit. "The work of the military has improved tremendously as compared to other security services over the past decades", he said. Mr. Kan-Dapaa was interacting with officers and men of 3 BN Garrison in Sunyani during a visit to the Liberation Barracks in Sunyani.
He said there were numerous challenges facing the military and appealed to the officers and men to adjust themselves to the situation whilst the Ministry tried to solve their problems. The Defense Minister advised the officers and men to consider raising funds to complement the government's efforts in addressing their problems.
Mr. Kan-Dapaa commended the military for their efforts in sustaining the "Operation Calm Life", a joint military/police patrol exercise to clamp down on crime.
He visited the military hospital, sewerage treatment plant and the on-going renovation works at the barracks and pledged to help enhance the living conditions of the soldiers.
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GNA
Work on James Town harbour begins next year
Accra, Nov. 14, GNA- Construction of an ultra modern fishing harbour at James Town beach in Accra would begin by March next year to harness government's efforts to boost revenue and the fishing industry. The Chinese Government is funding the 120 million dollars project, which would be constructed along with other harbours along the coast. A sample of the architectural design was presented to residents of James Town on Wednesday to explain the essence of the project and invite inputs from the local people.
Mr Kofi Poku Adusei, Deputy Minister of Fisheries said government considered the fishing industry as an important sector, which should be developed to generate more income, considering the fact that about 10 per cent of the population was engaged in it. He said Ghana was fortunate to be the only country along the Atlantic Ocean to have tuna, and promoting this species alone could go a long way to assist the country.
Mr. Ben Reeskamp, Manager for Ports and Harbours, DHV, Holland, consultants for the project explained that the harbour would include a break water to ensure safety and easy offload of fishes, an ice plant, a net mending centre and an administration block. He said it would also have a petrol filling point; a paved area and other facilities that would provide strict hygienic conditions to enable fishermen export to meet the European market standard. Mr Reeskamp said DHV had also involved an environment assessment team to ensure that the project was undertaken within environmental requirements and standards. Nii Teiko Tagoe, Project Director for Old Accra Project called on the people to cooperate with government and relocate when the time was due.
He said the beach was not a personal property but that of the country which would be beneficial to all. He said the project could also help boost tourism revenue, since there would be hospitality services within the facility to provide the needed services to tourists who would like to live along the beaches. The resident recommended the establishment of storage facilities, a health centre, shops for petty traders as well as an early childhood development centre.
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GNA
NPP Presidential aspirant forgery scandal
ALIU MAHAMA UNMASKED!
Vice President Aliu Mahama has finally been unmasked as the NPP Presidential candidate aspirant who has had his party documents forged for him.
Ghana Palaver, which has been carrying the running story for some time, had been careful not to mention his name but Emmanuel Ato Sam’s ‘New Punch’ and the ‘Independent’ newspapers have directly fingered the Vice President as the culprit.
Ghana Palaver can confirm that the Vice President is indeed the culprit. All the documentation in our possession – the Dade Kotopon NPP Membership Register and Aliu Mahama’s NPP Membership Card – bear witness to the forgery.
Unfortunately, the Vice President’s spin doctors have been making things worse for him by telling untruths about the documentation.
For example, according to the ‘Independent’ of Thursday November 8, 2007, a source within the Vice President’s Campaign Team disclosed that the Vice President applied for a new card through the Dadekotopon NPP where he resides, and that he filled the application form on 27th September 2007. But the Dadekotopon NPP Membership Register shows that Vice President Aliu Mahama was registered on 22nd July 2007, meaning that the Vice President was registered before he applied to be registered!
Ghana Palaver has also learnt that the Vice President’s application forms were collected by “Folio 48”, formerly a columnist of the ‘Statesman’ newspaper, identified as Anas Arimiyao Anas, currently of the ‘Crusading Guide’ newspaper and the 2006 “Journalist of the Year”. If this information is true, then Anas can best tell the Ghanaian public exactly when it was that he collected the forms.
This is important because Ghana Palaver has learnt that the forms were collected on 22nd September 2007, the very day that the NPP nominations opened. But whether the 22nd or the 27th September, what it means is that Aliu Mahama’s registration was backdated to 22nd July 2007.
The ‘Independent’ newspaper earlier referred to also reported that the Vice President’s Membership Card was issued “within two hours” of his handing in his completed application forms. An NPP executive member who spoke to the Ghana Palaver stated that such express order is most unusual.
Ghana Palaver has learnt that it was these inconsistencies that decided the NPP Vetting Committee to do a “Houdini act” and disappear so as to avoid vetting the Vice President on that day thereby avoiding an embarrassing scenario. This was to give him time to see whether he can put his documentation in order.
The Vice President has now been scheduled to reappear next Thursday.
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Palaver
Regional capitals to benefit from ambulance stations
Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - All regional capitals are to have ambulance stations by the end of next year as government also plans to procure more ambulances to initiate an expansion process to the district capitals.
Dr. Gladys Ashietey, Deputy Minister of Health, said the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has moved into full-scale operations during 2006, having graduated from the pilot phase, which covered 2004 and 2005.
The Minister was responding to a question in Parliament on when the Karaga District Health Centre in the Karaga Constituency would be provided with an ambulance to cater for the communities surrounding the district capital.
Dr. Ashietey said demand for ambulance services have grown rapidly among the public and other health institution and there was now "an aggressive community demand for the establishment of NAS stations all over the country.''
"In the specific case of Karaga, the district would be considered during this expansion phase which would cover a three-year period. In response to another question, the Minister said construction works on the Nsawora-Edumafua Health Centre in the Western Region have been suspended because during the course of construction, the scope of works had to be reviewed to make the project more responsive to the growing demands of the community.
She said this resulted in an increase in the cost of the project from the original figure of over two billion to over four billion cedis. She said the Ministry had made provision in its 2008 budget for the completion of the project.
Later, Dr. Kwame Ampofo, NDC-South Dayi, asked the Minister for Fisheries, Mrs. Gladys Asmah, when the landing facility for Dzemeni in the Volta Region would be constructed as promised in the 2006 budget. The Minister said the ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Harbours and Railways to construct modern landing facilities, which could be used by both traders and fishermen in the area. She said currently, Messrs DHV of Holland, which was commissioned to survey, conduct feasibility studies and design the project, had submitted its report together with drawings and the cost of constructing the facilities.
"Funding arrangements have proceeded satisfactorily and are far advanced. It is envisaged that after the completion of the funding arrangements, the project will be started, possibly by the beginning of the second quarter of next year.
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GNA
I thank God I am in one piece - Kufuor
Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - "I thank God, I am in one piece", President John Agyekum Kufuor told newsmen after escaping unhurt in a motor accident involving his convoy at a crossroads on the Airport - 37th Military Hospital Road in Accra, on Wednesday.
He was on a normal drive from his Airport Residence to work at the Castle, Osu, when a blue black Mercedes benz elegance saloon car with registration number GT 2989 W, being driven at top speed, overtook a line of vehicles that had stopped for his motorcade to pass and rammed into his car. The impact was such that the armoured black benz classic carrying the President, fell on its side landing on a golf saloon car parked on the other lane.
Giving his account of what happened, he said, all traffic had stopped as the motorcade passed and "all of a sudden there was a flash and I saw this vehicle".
He said his driver quickly swung the vehicle and "I heard a big bang. Before I knew my car was on its side with the wheels up". President Kufuor, who looked well composed and showed not the slightest sign of shock or pain, said people around helped to turn it back on its wheels and forced the door opened to enable him to come out. Asked about the condition of his health, he responded, "I should think I am fine", a viewpoint, shared by medical experts, after examination.
The Minister of The Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels said the tragic accident showed the kind of carelessness, irresponsible conduct and negligence on the country's roads.
He said if the driver had heeded the siren and stopped, this would not have happened.
"I hope we would all learn a lesson from this and obey traffic regulations," the Minister said.
On speculations that there could be a sinister motive behind the accident, Mr Bartels said the police were investigating the accident and did not think there was any basis.
A test conducted by the police with a Breathalyzer on the driver just after the accident showed his alcohol in-take at 1.8, which is well beyond the permissible level. He has been placed in police custody.
Meanwhile, President Kufuor continued with his normal routine, granting audience to two delegations from the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area and Birem North District.
The chiefs of Wassa Fiase led by the Omanhene, Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil IV, conveyed their appreciation to the Government for the construction of the Agona Nkwanta - Tarkwa road; the upgrading of the Tarkwa School of Mines into a University; elevation of Tarkwa into a Municipality and the creation of the new district for Bogoso.
They appealed for the establishment of a Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of Mines, saying, this had become necessary with the discovery of oilfields at Cape Three Points.
President Kufuor said the Agona - Nkwanta - Tarkwa road was of immense economic importance to the economy in view of the huge volume of natural resources transported on it, hence Government's decision to put it in good shape.
He said the elevation of Tarkwa into a municipality and the creation of a district for Bogoso would enable the area to earn more resources for development.
The Birim North delegation said they were at the Castle to show their gratitude for the appointment of their Member of Parliament, Madam Esther Obeng-Dapaah, as Minister of Mines, Lands and Forestry. They complained about the slow pace of work by the contractors on the Ayirebi - Ofoase - Kotoku road.
President Kufuor warned that non-performing contractors would have their jobs terminated. 14 Nov. 07
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GNA
Diabetes among children on the rise- expert
Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - Eighty Percent of diabetic children who visited the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital over the past five years came in very sick conditions due to late detection of the disease, Dr Loma Awo Renner a Paediatrician of the hospital said in Accra on Tuesday. Speaking at the World Diabetes Day in Accra, she said children with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) usually came with several weeks history of classic symptoms of frequent passage of urination, excessive thirst, eating a lot and weight loss but however, noted that this was absent in some children.
He said the hospital had registered 215 diabetic children over the past two years.
Late detection, she said, resulted in rapid breathing, dehydration and altered consciousness and sometimes loss of life and added that it had become necessary to test children who report sick due to high increase among children and adolescence.
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin, or where insulin does not function properly but not the over intake of sugar. The offending organ in the body when attacked by the disease is the pancreas.
The day, on the theme; "Diabetes in children and adolescents" is the first to be celebrated globally and was made possible due to a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly to increase awareness on the disease.
Dr. Renner said genetic predisposition interacting with environmental factors such as cow milk protein exposure and chemical toxins in children were also a cause of the disease in children and advised that mothers take exclusive breastfeeding serious and adopt healthy lifestyles.
Children with diabetes, she said should be well catered for at home and school and added that there was the need to train teachers on the management of the disease to enable them give children with the disease the needed care.
She noted that the health sector needed a multidisciplinary team of dieticians, social workers and clinical psychologists to ensure that children and adolescents with diabetes were given the opportunity to live long, healthy and productive lifestyle.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama said the increasing numbers of diabetes in children and adolescents was worrying because their daily routine is disrupted by the need to monitor glucose level, take medication, meal, balancing the effect of activity and food.
She said those who did not have the luxury of purchasing equipment such as glucometers are affected academically and sometime drop out of school.
Government, she said, would support the preparation, production and distribution of educational materials to facilitate awareness programmes and also emphasised the need to train school personnel to help in the fight against the diseases.
She called for a parliamentary diabetes support group to lobby favourable policies such as reducing high taxes on insulin, regulating wanton advertisement of unhealthy food and beverages that would help reduce diabetes, disability and deaths in Ghana.
Mr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament who chaired the function pledged his support to the fight against the disease and said he would lobby for its inclusion in the National Health Insurance Scheme. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Diabetes is the number four leading cause of death. About 240 million people are diabetic (out of which 70 percent are children under 15 years) and it is expected to rise to about 50 percent in the next 10 years. Globally, over a million people die of the disease annually while the same number of people get infected with it.
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GNA
Minister inspects progress of work at Kumasi Airport
Kumasi, Nov. 14, GNA- Miss Gloria Akuffo, Minister of State, Aviation Ministry, on Wednesday inspected progress of work at the Kumasi Airport.
She was accompanied by Mr. Simon Allotey, Acting Director-General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mrs. Esi Annor Sackey, Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company and Mr G.K.Scott, Chief Director of the Ministry.
Workers were seeing busily working on the various structures of the Airport including the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service block and the Meteorological offices and the control tower when the Minister and her team arrived at the place.
Conducting the Minister and the team round, Mr. Stefano Ramella, Managing Director of Consar, contractors working on the project, said old structures would not be destroyed because they looked solid and strong instead they would be repaired and painted. Mr. Issac Addai, a representative of the of Consultant to the project, who took the Minister and her team to the runway, said the first phase of work would involve repair works to be followed by over-lay of asphalting.
Mrs. Akuffo told newsmen that the project would be implemented in phases. The Minister and the Team earlier paid a courtesy call to Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, the Asantehene.
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GNA
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Owusu Ankomah has failed us - Sekondi residents
Residents of Sekondi in the Western region have vowed to set the records straight with regard to the quest of their Member of Parliament to be president.
They insisted that as custodians of the legendary "Bottom tree" that fought for the independence of the country, they should champion the accountability and integrity of politicians who continue to take the people for granted.
They therefore dared Papa Owusu Ankomah to explain to them why he should not be rejected, having failed to make any meaningful contributions towards bettering the lives of the people he represents in parliament and also explain to them whose bidding it is for him to become president of the Republic of Ghana.
While Paa Kojo, renowned musician of Hossana Hill who describes himself as a hustler demanded from his MP, an account of his stewardship in the past ten or so years, Madam Araba Tagoe, a well known figure in the dying town told Network Herald that it should not be possible for Papa to offer himself to be president at this time.
According to her, it is unimaginable that someone who cannot boldly account to the people of the Sekondi Constituency his stewardship in terms of projects executed since becoming their MP can attempt vying to lead the country as a president.
"What do they take us for, uneducated simpletons?" she charged.
Mad. Tagoe who is also the Deputy Western Regional Women's Organizer of the NDC called into the offices of the Network Herald at Takoradi to condemn the MP for reneging on all his promises to the people of Sekondi and wondered how he could imagine himself ruling the country when he could not ensure any development project in his constituency for almost eleven years.
According to her, as a Member of Parliament with the then minority between 1996 and 2000, Papa Owusu Ankoma criticized the Albert Bosomtwi Sam Fishing Harbour at Sekondi as an unnecessary project and promised to undertake bigger and better projects for Sekondi when his party assumed power.
However, after seven years, Papa Owusu Ankoma has not provided any meaningful physical project for the people of Sekondi apart from a moribund Post Office Project for which he cut sod but which is yet to see the light of day.
She also questioned how a caring Member of Parliament could part with ¢250 million as a filing fee and spend billions on his campaign when almost all school buildings in his constituency were crying for help.
Mad. Tagoe also condemned the handling of the vetting of the Vice President which she said was a calculated attempt to destroy his chances of winning since he is seen as a threat to the perceived favorites of the powers that be.
On rumours making the rounds that the Vice President has no identity card as a member of the NPP, she said if it should be taken as the truth, then NPP as a party should explain to Ghanaians how he became a Vice President but cannot be President.
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Network Herald
Three-year-old girl gives evidence
The evidence of the three-year-old girl who was alleged to have been indecently assaulted by a 57-year-old British national has been taken in camera at the Accra Circuit Court.
The evidence of the girl (name withheld) was taken at the judge's chamber according to law in order to protect her identity.
Thomas Alan Tichler, a consultant, who was alleged to have inserted his fingers into the victim's private parts, resulting in the girl bleeding, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of causing harm and indecent assault.
He was alleged to have committed the offence at the residence of the victim on October 13, 2007, barely a week after he had arrived in the country for a three-month attachment.
The evidence of other prosecution and defence witnesses would be heard in open court once the evidence of the girl had been taken.
At the court's sitting in Accra Monday a State Attorney, Ms Barbara Sackey, prayed the court to hear the case in camera because the victim was a minor.
However, counsel for the accused person, Mr Ellis Owusu Fordjour, said apart from the need for the victim to testify in camera, he did not see the justification for the evidence of other people being heard in camera.
He said the case had received bad publicity and it was, therefore, only fair that the public was made aware of the other side of the story.
Ms Sackey then agreed that the other witnesses in the case should be made to testify in open court.
The court, on November 2, 2007, granted bail to the accused person. It also refused an application to order the police to hand over Tichler's passport, which contained security features, to the British High Commission for safekeeping.
The facts of the case are that Tichler visited the victim's father at North Legon, near Redco Flats, on October 13, 2007 and on reaching there, the victim's father left the victim and her two siblings in the care of Tichler in order to purchase some items from town.
Tichler engaged the victim and her two siblings, aged eight and six, at the sitting room but later managed to engage the victim alone and succeeded in inserting his fingers into her private parts.
Not quite long after the incident, the victim's mother arrived from town and just as she entered the kitchen, Tichler followed her and requested for water to wash his hands.
Later, the victim went to her mother and said she wanted to urinate and while helping her, the mother noticed that her panties had blood stains in them.
The victim mentioned the accused person as the one who had inserted his fingers into her vagina when she was questioned by her mother. Tichler was arrested and handed over to the Legon Police.
The victim was later taken to hospital where she was examined, treated and discharged.
Source:
Daily Graphic
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Please execute me -Suspect
The 35-year-old palm Wine tapper who is alleged to have butchered his one-year-old son and severely disfigured other members of his family pleaded to be executed when he was captured at the crime village over the weekend.
Kwabena Azumah is alleged to have murdered his one-year-old son, severed the right hand of another, inflicted deep machete wounds on his wife and another child at Akotikrom near Akyem Swedru in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region.
Azumah, a Togolese ex-convict who returned from the Obuasi Prison about three years ago for stealing a sheep, was arrested by a combined team of the Apoli community police and the youth of the village last Saturday night when he sought refuge with the Togolese settlers there.
The suspect, who looked dejected, Monday told the Akyem Swedru District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Paul Aduhene, at the Akyem Swedru police cells, in the presence of newsmen, "Papa Police, my offence is so grievous that I should be killed, instead of being tried in the law court and jailed."
The District Police Commander, however, retorted, "We cannot kill you; if you want to die, you should have committed suicide when you fled into the bush."
Throwing more light on how Azumah was apprehended, DSP Aduhene said after he had butchered his one year-old son, Kwabena Agyei, severed the right hand of another son, Nana Yaw Junior, 5, wounded a third son, Nana Yaw Ohene, 5, and his wife, Madam Akosua Apiaduaa, 28, on November 7, this year, Azumah fled into the bush to escape arrest.
The three injured persons have been admitted at the Oda Government Hospital in critical condition, while the body of Agyei has been deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital awaiting autopsy.
According to DSP Aduhene, in the afternoon of Saturday, November 10, this year, Azumah travelled on foot through the bush from Akotikrom to a hamlet near Apoli, a distance of about eight kilometres, to stay with the Togolese community at the place who had not heard about the incident.
He said in the evening of that day, somebody hinted the people that Azumah was being sought for murder so they sent for the community police personnel and some of the youth at Apoli to effect his arrest.
DSP Aduhene stated that the volunteers had it pretty tough capturing the suspect between 7.00 and 8.00 p.m. that evening, to the extent that he bit some of them several times.
He said when they kept Azumah in a room at the Apoli palace while waiting for the Akyem Swedru Police who had been informed to convey him to the police station, he was able to remove the iron bars and the wedge from the window, jumped through it and escaped.
According to DSP Aduhene, the people at the palace had to run as fast as their legs could carry them in pursuit to recapture him.
He said Azumah, who was, behaving as if he was possessed, had to be tied in the hands and legs and his 'powerful' ring removed before they could put him into a hired Nissan mini bus and sent to the Akyem Swedru Police Station. But he still managed to break the vehicle's windscreen on the way.
According to the District Police Commander, if the police had not met the people on the way and transferred the suspect into their Land Rover, a different thing might have happened on the way.
Telling his own story to the Daily Graphic at the Akyem Swedru Police Station, Azumah said about five years ago he and his wife needed another child but all their efforts proved futile so they contacted a Mallam at Oda, on the advice of his wife, and he helped them to get Nana Yaw Ohene, who is now five.
He said for some time now Ohene had not been well so on November 7, this year, they contacted the same Mallam to treat him.
Azumah said the Mallam gave them herbs for the entire family to have purification baths to drive away the evil spirits tormenting them. He stated that on reaching home that evening, he decided to take the bath first around 6.00 p.m. before the others could do so.
Azumah said since he had his own juju, no sooner had he completed the purification bath than the two deities struggled within his body.
According to him, he could not see whatever he did until he realised that his shirt was soaked with blood and he was roaming aimlessly in the bush.
According to him, if he had money, he would have escaped to his home town, Galave in Togo, to avoid being arrested and imprisoned.
At the police station, drama unfolded when Azumah saw his first son, Obeng Bella, also known as Kwame Doctor, for the first time since the incident happened. When he asked Obeng where his mother was, the boy replied that she was on admission at the Oda Government Hospital as a result of the deep machete wounds he (Azumah) had inflicted on her.
To another question as to the whereabouts of his herbs, Obeng said his grandmother had thrown them away because they were the cause of the murder.
Meanwhile, the Akyem Swedru Police will soon arraign Azumah.
Source:
Daily Graphic
Gov't-Police Compicit In Anlo Bloodbath
Smoking gun in correspondence
The riddle of who to blame for the carnage which occurred during the attempt to install Mr Francis Nyonyo Agboada aka Togbui Sri III as the Awoamefia, has now produced a smoking gun in the form of official correspondence between The Royal House, the Police and the Minister of Cheiftaincy Affairs, Hon S.K Boafo.
One letter which is in the possession of The Chronicle clearly shows that unless by some acts of sorcery, the letter did not reach Hon Kwamena Bartels, one of them show that the Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for North Ablekuma was economical with the truth when he addressed his colleagues in Parliament on the chieftaincy riots in Anlo.
On Wednesday, November 7, Mr Bartels told Parliament, "On 31st October, the Anlo Traditional Authority notified the Ghana Police Service, in accordance of the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491), of their intention to organize a five-day 'Cultural Festival'."
He continued that the police after satisfying themselves that there was no legal and security basis for refusing the request took the necessary steps to provide security for the function.
He insisted, "later security intelligence indicated that kingmakers of the faction, supporting the candidature of Togbui Sri III, as the substantive Awoamefia, had initiated process towards the installation of Togbui Sri III as the new Awoamefia during the course of the Cultural Festival celebrations.C
Nothing could be further from the truth as documents available to The Chronicle have revealed that Mr Bartels was privy to the intentions of the Togbui Sri faction to execute his installation, though in a telephone interview yesterday, he said he was not privy to any such plan.
According to a letter dated October 22, and signed by the Awoamefia Stool Secretary, Napoleon Agboada, which was written to the Divisional Commander of Keta and the Minister, they were all notified on the plans for the installation of Togbui Sri.
The letter stated "The Royal Adzorvia clan has decided to consummate the installation process of the Awoamefia by confirming Regent Togbui Sri III as the new Awoamefia.
The necessary customary rites are being performed before the outdooring.
We shall require police assistance during the ritual performances at Anloga as and when requested."
Informed sources who spoke to The Chronicle have raised questions that if the Togbui Sri faction indeed did not seek permission but went ahead to do the installation why have the authorities refused to arrest them.
"The Minister has not been truthful to both Parliament and Ghanaians since everything points to the fact that he was aware of the installation,installation," one of the concerned citizens o
They dared the government to show its neutrality by setting up an independent committee to go into the allegations against Mr Bartels and the Volta Regional Police command.
The Chronicle gathered that notwithstanding the volatile situation in the area, the Anlo Traditional Council made attempts to hold a traditional council meeting. Letters to that effect were served on the police.
When the paper contacted Mr Bartels, he insisted that he was not aware of the letter, which was purportedly served as notification to the security agencies of the installation.
He said as soon as they became aware of the planned installation they ran to court to seek injunction to halt the process.
Mr Bartels said as far as the law was concerned nobody had been installed as the Awoamefia.
He noted that everything associated to the dispute happened before the court injunction adding that after the injunction nothing had been done by any of the factions associated to the installation.
The Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. S.K. Boafo pleaded with The Chronicle to come to his office to be updated on what action his outfit had taken against the Togbui Sri faction who took the law into their own hands to organize the installation.
Source:
Chronicle
Police Arrest 120 Motorbikes In Upper East Region
The ongoing operation in the Upper East Regional Capital, Bolgatanga in which the police have so far impounded about 120 motorbikes for alleged various offences is a complete fearful battle between them (police) and motorbike owners and riders in the township.
While the police are impounding motorbikes based on alleged offenses such as riding of unregistered motorbikes, riding without crash helmet and fake registrations, the civilians were of the view that the mode of operation used by the police was too hash and barbaric.
In an interview with this reporter, the Upper East Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Kweku Bempah, said the operation which has been going on for sometime now was intensified last week as a result of the death of 3 people last Sunday and Monday respectively. Many others sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga regional hospital. Among them was a young lady who broke one of her arms and legs.
Mr. Bempah said the operation was a collaboration between the MTTU and the Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS). Checking of licenses and other particulars of riders was also part of the exercise to rid the city of stolen motorbikes. He said there would be screening parade to inspect all documents of owners and riders of the impounded bikes. Those who would be found culpable would be put before court.
To this end, the MTTU boss has appealed to the general public to be calm and come to the MTTU office in Bolgatanga with all their documents so that the police and the custom officers would inspect them and release their bikes to them if they were not found culpable of the traffic rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, all the victims of the operation who spoke to this reporter have vehemently lambasted the police and the custom and said they were only interested in extorting monies from them. Others also said the police were harassing and assaulting them both verbally and physically. " If you watch them carefully, they either embark on this operation when Christmas is drawing near, or when they need money", a victim remarked in pain.
Last Friday at one of the scenes that this reporter witnessed an attempted arrest, the deputy MTTU Commander, Seth Tay and his men had it tough in their attempt to arrest a motorbike rider who had gone to bring his child from school. He was riding without a crash helmet. While the police contended that the rider attempted to escape upon their order signaling that he should stop, eyewitnesses at the scene said the police used a cruel means to stop the rider by crossing the road with their Land rover vehicle. There was exchange of both verbal and physical assaults by the police and the eye witnesses on the spot.
This reporter later learnt that one person was arrested by the police and put behind bar as a result of this hot confrontation but was released on that same day.
Source:
www.northernghanas.com
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2 Die In Kyeremanten's Convoy
Two persons died on the spot when the convoy of New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen was involved in an accident at Ayeasu, a town between Techiman and Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region. However, Alan was in good condition.
The accident was said to have happened when one of the vehicles in Alan`s convoy had a head-on collision with a truck loaded with charcoal, leading to the death of the presidential aspirant�s driver.
The other deceased was a woman, whom unconfirmed reports said was a passenger in the truck.
Five persons who sustained serious injuries were said to be in critical condition and receiving treatment at the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman.
Mr. Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade, Industry and PSI, described as a front-runner in the NPP presidential race, was on a campaign visit to the Brong Ahafo Region ahead of the December 22 congress of the party.
An Nkoranza South meeting which the aspirant was scheduled to address was called off because of the mishap. The accident which occurred at about 2.30pm yesterday was said to have shocked the aspirant.
Vice President Aliu Mahama, another front-runner in the NPP race, also in the region on a similar mission, on hearing the unfortunate incident, immediately called his counterpart and expressed his condolences.
The Vice President had adjusted his schedule in the region so that he could visit the injured persons at the Holy Family Hospital today.
In November last year, the Vice President`s convoy was involved in a fatal accident in the same region.
Source:
Daily Guide
Snakes threatens flood-hit areas
Yagaba (U/E), Nov. 12, GNA - Two victims have so far lost their lives whiles 28 have received medical treatment from snakebites at Yagaba and surrounding communities in the West Mamprusi District, following the recent floods in the northern part of the country. The incidence is being compounded by the absence of an ambulance and the long distance in conveying the victims for early medical treatment in nearby health centres.
Mr. Zuah Zakaria, the nurse in-charge of the Yagaba Health Centre told newsmen on a visit to the centre that the only option at its disposal was to use a motorbike as an ambulance to dispatch serious cases to Sandema Health Centre, which was 60 kilometres away. The visit was organized by the UNICEF to check on the situation and well-being of children in the communities in the wake of the floods which had a devastating effect on the communities. He said the floods had forced the reptiles out of their hideouts into the homes and farms.
He said there have also been increases in malaria and upper respiratory infections such as pneumonia since the floods occurred. According to Mr Zakaria the centre, which had no beds, had only two nurses employed under the National Youth Employment Programme. Mr Zakaria said as a trained nurse, he had to volunteer to work at the centre to assist his community but his sacrifice had not been enough to meet the health needs of the Yagaba community with a population of over 4000.
He therefore called on government to urgently provide the centre with medical equipment and other logistics to serve the needs of the communities.
Source:
GNA
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39% of children in north severely malnourished
Savelugu (N/R), Nov. 12, GNA - Thirty nine percent of children in nine communities in the northern part of the country are severely malnourished, according to a nutritional report. The report said 34 per cent of the children are stunting and 43 per cent are underweight as a result of the floods in the three regions in August and added that, the situation could worsen if the problem was not remedied.
Some of the communities were: Kanshegu, Guntingli, Bunglung, Kpalung, Kpalan Nambagla, Yemo, Langa and Tarikpaa according to the report which said, a nutritional assessment for children less than five years was ongoing to ensure that the medium and long-term effect of the disaster on the nutritional status of children were minimised. Mr Sofo Muntaru, Savelugu District Nutrition Officer made this known to newsmen who had visited Savelugu in the Northern Region on a UNICEF sponsored project to check on the situation and well-being of children in the communities in the wake of the floods which had a devastating effect on the communities.
He stated that UNICEF was supporting the assessment exercise and providing anti-malaria drugs and other nutritional supplements to boost the nutritional levels of children.
Mr Muntaru said the Ghana Health Service, UNICEF and other partners were also educating mothers on timely and appropriate complementary feeding and consumption of iodated salt. He said nursing mothers were also being encouraged to adopt exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and consume food based macronutrients rich in vitamins C.
On guinea worm infections, Mr Foster Soley, in charge of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene at the UNICEF, said the UNICEF, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other development partners had provided filters at banks of streams and ceramic filters in households to ensure the consumption of clean water. He stated that that UNICEF had also employed guards to ensure that those who fetched water from the streams used the filters to help reduce guinea worm infections.
Source:
GNA
Flood communities ask for more food, accommodation
Zanwala (U/E), Nov. 12, GNA - Communities affected by the recent floods have called on government and other donor agencies to support them with more food since the disaster has deprived them of their source of livelihood. The communities also called for immediate measures to provide accommodation to those whose buildings collapsed during the floods. Alhassan Saaka, 45, a blind man, told newsmen at Koubouri in the Builsa District in the Upper East Region, that although he lost all his properties, his family of 17 had received only one blanket and half a tin of maize since the disaster occurred.
He said the floods had destroyed their farms and they could not cultivate again until the onset of rains in June next year. Another victim, Haruna Latifa, 20, also told newsmen at Boamasa in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region that the community received its relief items on October 15 and had since not been supported.
Mr Haruna Wuni, Unit Committee Chairman for Boamasa, said school enrolment within the area was still high after the floods although the schools lacked trained teachers and other education facilities. He stated that the introduction of a Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) functional literacy programme "School for Life" had also helped education in the community. The programme helps school dropouts and children who could not enrol in normal school, to attend nine months evening classes. Abdul Aziz Sallah, a native of Yabaga, also called on government to construct a bridge on the Seseli, White Volta and Black Volta rivers in order to make it easy for them to travel to Tamale within 30 minutes instead of using the Walewale route which took them two hours.
Source:
GNA
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Rawlings Blames Govt For Anlo Disturbances
Ex-President J.J. Rawlings yesterday waded deep into the Anlo chieftaincy affair and accused the government of creating the bloody disturbances which characterised the installation of Francis Nyonyo Agboada as the Awoamefia of the area.
“There are no factions in Anlo land; it is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government which is rising against the people of the Anlo State,” he said.
He was addressing a rally at Akatsi to outdoor new membership cards for the Ave-Avenor Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The former President described the recent happenings in Anlo as “the most primitive thing” of the century.
He accused President J.A. Kufuor of being the brain behind the mayhem at Anloga recently, saying it was an illegal act by the Kufuor administration to install someone who was nowhere near the stool.
He described it as an attempt to “desecrate the spirituality of the stool”. On the 2008 general election, he entreated party faithful not to think that there was going to be any free or fair election, saying it was incumbent on them to work hard and remain vigilant for the NDC to win the elections.
He charged them to be careful in their choice of candidates to stand on the parliamentary tickets of the party and said they must choose people who were capable of winning the elections decisively.
Mr Rawlings warned that because the NPP knew that it would not win next year’s elections, it had planned to resort to violence as a means of holding on to power.
He said in the 2000 elections, the NPP did not have any money but it succeeded in winning the elections through lies, deceit and “the pollution of the people’s minds”.
In 2004, he said, the NPP was aware that the NDC was going to win the elections by 70 per cent and it, therefore, resorted to all fraudulent means to rig the elections.
The only way for the party to be well placed to fight towards returning to power in the 2008 elections, he said, was through proper resourcing of the party and called on members of the NDC to be committed to the payment of their party dues.
He reminded them that the party belonged to them and that they should not allow anyone to take it away from them.
He called on the people to remain resolute in the face of the recent disturbances.
“If we lose our integrity, we will fail to protect this country from fraudsters and dubious characters,” he said.
Mr Rawlings said the government had succeeded in corrupting the police and the military and was now shifting its attention to the chieftaincy institution.
He said that the chieftaincy institution was the embodiment of the souls of the people of Anlo, adding that the government, therefore, could not use the police and the military to illegally install a chief for the people of Anlo or anywhere in the country.
On the recent pronouncement by the former Minister of Defence, Mr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, that he (Rawlings) had no vision, he said the police and the military he left behind were of high integrity and would not have allowed the recent disturbances in Anlo land to take place.
“I’m a retired soldier and I know what is going on now,” he said. Earlier, the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Modestus Ahiable, had called on the government to heed calls to set up of an independent judicial committee to bring out the truth in what occurred at Anloga on Thursday, November 1, 2007 when the youth of Anlo clashed with the police over attempts to install Francis Agboada as the Awoamefia of the Anlo Traditional Area.
The clashes led to the death of three civilians and a police constable. One other person, who was arrested as a suspect, later died in police cells.
He said the Anlo Kingdom was indomitable and that no government or person would succeed in subverting it.
Mr Ahiable assured the teeming supporters of the NDC who patronised the rally that God had not forgotten about them and that with hard work and industry, they would take over the reins of power in 2008.
For his part, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ave-Avenor Constituency, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, reiterated calls by independent bodies for the removal of Mr Bernard Dery as the Police Commander in charge of the Volta Region.
He also made remarks regarding the “hell” they went through in securing police permit to go ahead with the rally because the NPP had also planned a counter rally.
Mr Adjaho called on members of the NDC to endeavour to win members of the NPP who had become disillusioned by their party’s policies and programmes into the NDC because the NDC stood for all and the truth.
Source:
Graphic
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Ghana's Golden Jubilee, a blessing for CPP
Saltpond (C/R), Nov. 12, GNA - Some of aspirants of the Convention People Party (CPP) leadership positions have described the celebration of Ghana's Golden Jubilee as a blessing for the party. A number of the aspirants who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the Central Regional delegates' conference of the party at Saltpond at the weekend said the anniversary had boosted the chances for revamping the CPP.
Dr Kwaku Osafo who is aspiring to be a flag bearer said the role played by Dr Kwame Nkrumah's CPP in achieving independence for the country that was echoed during the anniversary had waken the party from its slumber.
He said the anniversary had brightened their chances of winning the 2008 general elections.
Dr Osafo appealed to the leadership of the party to create a level field for all the aspirants.
Mr Serchen Komba, who is aspiring for the position of General Secretary, said the anniversary had revealed the truth about CPP, which was suppressed by its opponents.
Mr Komba who is an Assembly Member for the Duapompo-Buamadumase electoral area of the Ejisu Juaben District of the Ashanti Region said revamping and sustaining the party's structures would be his priority. He noted that political parties in the country did not take measures to sustain their structures hence they panicked when it was time for elections and adopted all kinds of means to win. Mr Kosi Dedey, a Mechanical Engineer who is also contesting the position of the General Secretary disputed the perception that the party was for oldmen and women. He said in the 2004 general election about 60 per cent of the party's parliamentary candidates of which he was one, were below the age of 40.
Mr Dedey said for the party to win elections it must change that perception and involve the youth in key positions. "People must know what the party stands for, hence the need to establish unique identity and ideology to differentiate it from the NDC and NPP", he stated.
Mr Iddi Egala who is contesting for the National Chairmanship said presidential candidates won elections on the strength of the parties they represented and not their own popularity. He said when given the nod, he would use December to June to build a formidable party, adding that, when the structures were grounded they would not need more than three months to campaign and win the elections. Mr George Aggudey, a presidential candidate was very certain of winning saying he was going to the conference to renew his mandate to be the flag bearer.
He advised the delegates to take commitment, loyalty and dedication into consideration when voting.
Source:
GNA
Accept the citing of capital for Gomoa East - MP
Apam (C/R), Nov. 12, GNA - The Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, Mr Joe Kingsley Hackman, has appealed to the people of Gomoa to accept the decision of President J.A. Kufuor to site the capital of the newly created Gomoa East District at Afransi. "The President knows what is good for the district and knows why he has decided to site the capital at Afransi and not at Potsin the choice of the majority", the MP said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Apam.
He said what was important was the splitting of the district into two to accelerate development.
"This", he said, "the President has done and we should be grateful to him rather than fight over where the capital should be". Mr Hackman said even though the paramount chiefs and some of their sub chiefs, the two MPs, the Presiding Member and District Chief Executive had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to site the new capital at Potsin, no one knew the President's thought, which compelled him to reject the MOU. Where the district capital should be should not be an impediment to the development of the area, he said and urged the chiefs and the people to forge ahead in unity to develop the area. In a related development Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II, the Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, has expressed surprise at the utterances of his counterpart at Gomoa Ajumako Traditional area, Okatakyi Nyanful Krampah X.
Obrifo said he was not against the capital being at Afransi but what surprised him was for Okatakyi Krampah who was a signatory to the MOU to turn round to accuse the people of Akyempim of enslaving their counterparts at Ajumako. "We should be sincere in all our actions as we have sworn an oath to be faithful to our people at all times", he said. The Paramount Chief said Gomoa District comprised 197 communities out of which 151 belong to Akyempim and 46 to Ajumako. He said in the new Gomoa East District Akyempim had more communities than Ajumako so he had a say in its affairs. "We want the capital to be accessible to all communities hence the decision to suggest Potsin, which is more central, he said.
Source:
GNA
SSNIT owed 100 billion cedis by organizations
Agona Swedru, Nov 12, GNA - A total of 3,070 establishments in the Accra Area comprising Agona Swedru, Breman Asikuma, Weija and other places owe the Social Security and National Trust (SNNIT) 100 billion cedis.
Mr Theodore Ohene, Area Manager, stated this at a workshop organized by the Trust for employers at Agona Swedru in the Central Region. He said the defaulters would pay 5.4 million Ghana cedis as penalty on the amount, adding that from January to September this year 652 establishments had been prosecuted for the non-payment of the contributions of their workers. The workshop was under the theme" Building and maintaining quality data on members- the role of the employer" Mr Ohene said some of the cases were pending at courts, adding that, SNNIT would assist establishments that were facing difficulties in the payment of the contributions with genuine reasons. He said SNNIT had decided to start publishing names and court proceedings of the defaulters in the national newspapers to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Area manager noted that SNNIT had put in place measures to retrieve huge sums of money owed by the employers to sustain and enable the scheme to render quality services to its clients. Nana Ama Serwah Adusei, Swedru Manager of SNNIT said the scheme recognised the employer as a partner to make the Ghanaian worker satisfied with the services of SNNIT after retirement. She noted that if the Ghanaian worker was content because of the hope being guaranteed by the employer it would enhance productivity, build confidence and trust and deepen the relationship. Nana Adusei noted that when the employer discharged his or her obligations by making available reliable and quality data to the Trust, SSNIT would be able to generate complete, accurate and acceptable statement of accounts for members. The Swedru Manager said if this were done it would ultimately address problems that emerged at the point of processing benefits and claims.
Source:
GNA
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Weija Dam under threat of run-over
Weija, Nov. 12, GNA - Weija Dam, which supplies potable
water to over two million people in Accra is said to be under serious threat of run-over that could cause
destruction of lives and property because of illegal activities by
developers and stone winners. Encroachment on the Dam area has taken a different
dimension in recent times as developers and stone winners now
resort to the use of explosives (dynamites) to detonate the rocks
that served as protection to the dam. Water experts have therefore warned of possible danger and
predicted that the extent of destruction could spread and
submerge areas such as Odorkor and Dansoman which are
about 10 to 15 kilometers away from the dam, should the
run-over occur.
Briefing the press on the situation on Monday during a tour, Mr Michael Amuakwa, Plant Manager at the Weija Water
Treatment Plant explained that the explosives, besides breaking
the mountains, also weakened the foundational structure of the
dam.
He said people have defied several warnings not to build or
carry out any form of human activity within the catchment zone
despite the fact that they were aware that the land was the
property of the Ghana Water Company which belonged to the
government.
Mr Amuakwa said because the stone quarrying had now
reached close to the banks of the dam, a lot of foreign materials
have entered it, which made it difficult to determine the level
and volume of water in the dam. He said the situation called for an immediate radical
intervention by all interested stakeholders to save the dam. "It is not just an eyesore, but a catastrophe. The unfortunatething is that the people living here do not even know the serious
health threat they are in case of a chlorine gas leakage," Mr Amuakwa said. Mr Ronald Abrahams, Programme Coordinator of the Water
Resources Commission said, "there is no substitute anywhere to
the Weija Water Treatment Plant therefore everything must be
done to protect it."
He said so far, government had invested about three billion Ghana Cedi in the plant operations, which supplied water tostrategic areas such as the Castle (seat of Government), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital.
Source:
GNA
No Death Recorded From Measles For Four Years
Ghana has not recorded any death from measles for the past four years, due to pragmatic interventions adopted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).
As a result of the immunisation exercise carried out by the GHS and the MOH, the number of measles cases continues to decrease. From over the 13,000 suspected cases recorded in 2001, only 420 cases were recorded in 2006, with 81 cases being laboratory confirmed.
Out of 457 suspected cases reported from January to September, this year, only five were confirmed positive.
The Deputy Director of the Public Health Division (PHD) of the GHS and the Head of Diseases Surveillance, Dr Lawson Ahadzie, gave these statistics when he opened an eight-day National Integrated Mid-Level Management Course for about 60 managers and co-ordinators of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Surveillance, Vitamin A, Malaria and the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The overall objective of the workshop was for the participants to manage and improve immunisation services within the context of the Global Immunisation Vision and Strategy (GIVS) and Reaching Every District/Child (RED).
Dr Ahadzie further stated that about a fortnight ago, Ghana’s complete documentation for certification of polio eradication was accepted by the Africa Regional Certification Commission, saying, “It is important that we sustain our achievements as far as immunisation is concerned.”
He said in order to do that, knowledgeable and motivated staff were needed at all levels of the healthcare delivery, especially at the district and sub-district levels.
The deputy director stated that despite the achievements, there were some challenges in the area of quality of services and thus the training would provide the participants with the necessary tools to be able to overcome challenges and, above all, be in the position to impart the knowledge to the staff in the districts and sub-districts.
The training programme, he said, would also offer them other opportunities to learn a lot not only on EPI, since they would be updated on such programmes as malaria control strategies, Tuberculosis (TB), integration of Vitamin A into EPI and IMCI strategies, while there would also be training on the forthcoming Maternal and Child Health campaign.
He, therefore, urged the participants to fully participate in the workshop and note points that they would like to apply to improve on the health of Ghanaians, especially children.
Dr Ahadzie specifically charged the participants to put in more efforts in three areas, namely, analysis of data, monitoring their performances and facultative supervision, since those areas were closely related.
“I can assure you that if we target and strengthen these three areas, our health service delivery will improve,” he stressed.
The Course Director and Programme Manager of the EPI, Ghana, Dr K.O. Antwi-Agyei, noted that vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) were still the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa, and that measles remained the leading cause of vaccine preventable childhood mortality in Africa.
He said all stakeholders had agreed that effective and sustainable VPD control, especially measles control, and effective new vaccines introduction needed a strong routine immunisation system to be adequately integrated into primary healthcare services, especially at the district level.
Source:
Graphic
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France joins the Joint Visa Reception Centre
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The French Embassy in Ghana on Monday said it would on November 15, this year, join the Joint Visa Reception Centre which currently was operating for Germany, Spain and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
A statement issued in Accra said the Centre would be ran by VFS Ghana Private Limited on behalf of the Embassy which is under the roof and at the premises of the Joint Visa Reception Centre with the aim to further improve the service to the Ghanaians seeking either a transit or a short stay non resident visa.
The Joint Visa Reception Centre provides counselling services to visa applicants and also operates as a Call Centre for information on Schengen visa rules and regulations.
It said Centre pre-screens documents submitted by the applicants together with their visa applications and offers advice which additional documents need to be obtained, thus enabling the applicant to attend an interview at the respective visa section with a well prepared visa application.
The Centre offers a range of opportunities to applications for short term non resident visas to France as well as transit visas which should be submitted to it
Applicants do not have to submit their applications in person but may choose to send a representative to the Joint Visa Reception Centre instead, to submit their documents and to arrange interview appointments at the respective visa section. It said for the interview itself every applicant without exception will continue to be required to come personally to the respective visa section after which applicants would be given appointment for an interview.
The VFS Ghana Private Limited will collect a service charge of 17,USD plus VAT or its equivalent in Cedis for their services. Any questions for further details and questions concerning types of visa needed or visa rules and regulations can be addressed to the call service of the Joint Visa Reception Centre or via e-mail. Detailed information would also be available on the following website: www.vfs-fr-gh.com.
The Joint Visa Reception Centre
is located within a short drive from the French Visa Sections and is signposted from Ring Road Central and Kanda Highway.
Address:
Joint Visa Reception Centre, No. 19, 2nd Crescent, Asylum Down, Accra
Opening hours:
Monday through Friday, 08-12 am Contact:
Tel/Fax 021-22.92.75,
e-mail: info@vfs-jvrc-gh.com
Source:
GNA
Accra to host HIV/AIDS conference
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - Over 150 representatives of National AIDS Commissions, NGOs working to fight HIV/AIDS, researchers, Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PWHAs) and media advocates from across Africa are expected in Accra for a three-day international African conference next week.
There conference scheduled for November 20-30, under the theme: "Strengthening Interventions Towards the Elimination of HIV/AIDS in Africa," is expected to identify effective strategies for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa and make proposals for policy change and harmonisation across the continent. A statement on Monday by the Woyome Foundation for Africa (WOFA), an international charity organisation, hosts of the conference, said the conference was in furtherance of the Foundation's commitment to a more direct approach to achieve universal accessibility to treatment, therapy and care for those infected and affected by the disease.
It said Africa was the worst affected by the pandemic, with statistics showing that sub-Saharan
Africa accounted for over 70 percent of prevalence globally. Though the various countries on the continent had been addressing the menace through their different policies and strategies the causes and effects of the pandemic had been the same in almost all these countries, it said.
According to Mr Vitus Nanbigne, Project Coordinator of WOFA, "while the policies seem to have worked in some countries, the results have swung to and fro in other countries, leaving a cause for concern". He said there was the need to identify, learn best practices and work towards harmonizing these national policies into an African approach and common policy to fight the pandemic.
Mr. Nanbigne said the conference would over the three days reflect and digest the issues of HIV/AIDS in Africa; evaluate the various country policies and strategies to reduce infection; boost access to treatment and eliminate stigmatisation; share and compare success stories, best practices, the difficulties and challenges faced and adopt common positions towards a possible advocacy for an HIV/AIDS law or laws for Africa.
Source:
GNA
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