GHANA = GUINEA 2:1
Ghana:
Asamoah Gyan 55 pen, Sulley Muntari 89
Guinea:
Oumar Kalabane 65
Half-time: 0-0
Soccer fans go on carnival
Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - A late strike from Sulley Ali Muntari brought a massive sigh of relief to thousands of Ghanaian football fans when their national team, Black Stars met their Guinean counterparts in the opening match of the 26th MTN African Cup of Nations at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on Sunday.
Before the goal, most of the spectators at the fully-packed stadium sat on tenterhooks after the Guineans had equalised through a corner kick.
For once the trumpet and whistling fans could not believe what was happening to their idol team since they were not expecting any result besides a win to cushion it to fight to qualify to the next stage. It was, therefore, joy and jubilation as the fans poured out their hearts singing praises to the gallant team, when the winning goal came in the dying embers of the game.
President J.A. Kufuor, FIFA President Sepp Blatter; UEFA President Platini; CAF President Alhaji Issa Hayatou and other high level officials watched the match.
Thousands of football fans poured onto the streets singing amidst brass band music across the length and breadth of the country. Some media personnel from other African countries told GNA Sports that it was the maturity of the Ghanaian players that made all the difference. They praised the Black Stars for their performance. They mentioned, particularly, Junior Agogo; Michael Essien and Muntari and the rear men, who did a yeoman's job to hold the Guineans at bay. AMG/BDB 20 Jan. 08
Source:
GNA
Muntari's super strike wins day for Ghana
Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - Midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari set Ghana's campaign for a fifth continental glory on a smooth path when he delivered a "super strike" in the 89th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over Guinea in the opening match of the 26th Africa Cup of Nations at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra.
The strike threw the entire stadium into wild jubilation after the partisan crowd had sat on thorns for almost 30 minutes following the cancellation of Asamoah Gyan's opener.
It was a game the Stars should have sealed victory before the close of the first half but failed following the inability of Gyan and Junior Agogo to convert some decent scoring chances that came their way. Aside the near misses, the Stars were also denied an early lead on two occasions by the upright as Agogo and Micheal Essien watched in agony as their headers hit it in the 18th and 27th minutes, respectively.
Poised to make amends on resumption, the Stars ensured their efforts were rewarded with a penalty in the 53rd minute when Agogo was brought down in the vital area. Gyan made no mistake by shooting into the roof of the net for the opener with a thunderbolt of a shot that the Guinean Goalie had no answer to.
The jubilations was rather short-lived as the Guineans capitalized on a melee created in the Stars defence to fetch the equalizer through Oumar Kalabene in the 66th minute from a corner kick. Gingered by the equalizer, the Guineans found their rhythm and made serious incursions into the Stars area but the Ghanaian defence stood firm and dealt with the situation effectively. Determined to please the partisan home crowd with victory, the Stars never relented in their efforts to find the match winner and this nearly materialised in the 76th minute but substitute Andre Ayew's connection to Laryea Kingston's cross was given a perfect treat by the agile Guinean Goalie.
As the game moved closer to the latter stages, it was evident that both sides were heading for a draw, but Muntari ensured victory for the Stars with his super strike to end the day on a high note for the home team.
Line Up:
GHANA Richard Kingston, Hans Adu sarpei, John Painstil, Eric Addo, John Mensah, Micheal Essien, Laryea Kingston, Asamoah Gyan/Baffour Gyan, Junior Agogo, Sulley Muntari, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie/Andre Ayew
GUINEA Camara Kemoko, Feenoudou Pascal, Balde Dian Bobo, Correira Victor, Sylla Kanfory, Ishmeal Bangoura, Youla Souleyman, Camara Alsensy, Sakho Mohamed, Kalabane Oumar, Jabi Dauda.
Source:
GNA
Opening Ceremony - True Ghanaian culture on exhibition
Accra, Jan 20, GNA - Ghana once again exhibited her rich and unique cultural identity to the international world with a magnificent opening ceremony at the 26th Africa Cup of Nations at the Ohene Djan Sports stadium on Sunday.
True to the predictions of the organizers, the 45-minute well rehearsed ceremony staged by 2,500 people ensured that they left indelible marks on the minds of the nearly 40,000 people seated at the refurbished Ohene Djan Stadium as well as the estimated 4.5 billion viewers across the globe.
It was an afternoon of rich cultural display that commenced with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem sung by three beautiful ladies dressed in the red, yellow and green colours of Ghana. Followed by the diagonal entry of hundreds of horn blowers from the four openings of the inner perimeter and horse riders as well, soccer fans could not help but to greet them with a thunderous applause, amidst fire works.
Every aspect of the ceremony reflected the various Ghanaian culture, backed by sounds from fontonfrom drummers. The cheers emanating from the stands to the show of real treat of tradition and culture ensured the crowd had no option than continue clapping throughout the ceremony. Most foreign journalists present at the press tribune could not help but join in clapping and one journalist remarking, "It's good".
Source:
GNA
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Taxi registrations have decreased crime in Accra
Accra, Jan. 19, GNA - The embossment of Accra Metropolitan Assembly registration numbers on taxis in the metropolis has helped to decrease the crime wave in the city.
Mr Stanley Adjri-Blankson, Metropolitan Chief Executive, made this remark in Accra on Friday at the end of year get-together for assembly members and heads of departments of the Assembly. He said the Assembly under his administration had been able to chalk a lot of successes during which the Assembly purchased 20 pick-up vehicles and a bus for the staff.
Mr Adjri-Blankson further stated that barring any unforeseeable problems the Assembly would be able to finance itself by the 1st quarter of 2009 through its own revenue mobilization programme. He urged all the Assembly members and heads of departments to work very hard for the Assembly to achieve its set goals this year.
Source:
GNA
Kufuor urges Ghanaians to exhibit goodwill towards visitors
Tamale, Jan. 19, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged Ghanaians to exhibit goodwill towards the visitors and teams of the contesting countries of the Ghana 2008 tournament, which kicks off on Sunday. "Let's us exhibit goodwill and extend our Ghanaian hospitality that we are noted for towards participating teams, their supporters and other visitors during the CAN 2008", he said.
President Kufuor was addressing a large crowd at the newly constructed Tamale Sports Stadium on Friday when he cut the tape to officially commission it for the CAN 2008.
President Kufuor described as an "irony of fate" that Tamale was now getting a befitting Stadium after producing the country's greatest footballers, who gained laurels not only for Ghana but also for the continent.
He noted that a greater number of Ghanaian footballers who won Africa players of the year were of Northern extraction and expressed the hope that modern edifice would provide an avenue for more football talents to emerge from the area.
President Kufuor called for effective collaboration particularly between senior citizens from regions that had the new stadiums to ensure that they cultivated the culture of maintenance to preserve the monuments.
Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister said, "Posterity would judge us rightly if we refuse to maintain and preserve the facility" and that the Northern Regional Coordinating Council would collaborate effectively with stakeholders to ensure that the tournament was successful.
He expressed gratitude to chiefs and traditional leaders in the region for releasing the land for the construction of the stadium as well as lending their support for its successful completion.
Mr. Mark Chan, Manager of Shanghai Construction Company, contractors of the stadium observed that the early and successful completion of the projects had further strengthened the bond of friendship between China and Ghana.
He said China was proud to have assisted Ghana to host the CAN 2008 and expressed the hope that the future was bright for further cooperation between the two countries.
President Kufuor later took the kick-off for a friendly match between Real Tamale United (RTU) and Bolgatanga Catholic Stars, which ended 1-1 drawn game.
Source:
GNA
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Air Force recruits pass out at Takoradi
Takoradi, Jan. 18, GNA- Brigader-General Richard Debrah, Director-General of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, on Friday cautioned military personnel against negative behaviour and attitudes that could bring them into conflict with the civil society and the law.
He was addressing the passing out parade of 151 recruits of the Air force at the Takoradi Air Force Station. The recruits had undergone six months intensive training at the Air Force Training School at Takoradi.
Brigader-General Debrah said tendencies that members of the Armed Forces have to guard against include unsolicited civil Police duties, performing land guard duties, debt collection for individuals, acting as arbitrators in family feuds and extortion of money from civilians. He said one incident that brought the military into disrepute in recent times was the alleged attack on students of Takoradi Polytechnic by five military personnel.
Brigader-General Debrah said the five military personnel have faced the full rigours of military discipline adding that, "The military does not entertain miscreants and as such the Air Force would not countenance any act of indiscipline".
He told the recruits to "Be wary of miscreants who may wish to use you as pawns to perpetrate their own selfish interests and you must act swiftly by reporting them through the appropriate chains of command". Brigader-General Debrah urged them to give of their best to the Armed Forces and the country in whatever capacity they find themselves and always live above reproach.
Air Commodore Michael Samson-Oge, Takoradi Air Force Station Commander, administered the oath of allegiance to the recruits. Recruit Daniel Effah was adjudged the overall best recruit. Recruit Collins Ohene-Gyan received the awards for tactics and field craft and academics, whilst Recruit Emmanuel Asubonteng, who was the parade Commander, was adjudged the best in drill with Recruit Mumuni Memunatu as the best in weapon training. b
Court remands ex-convict for posing as a prisons officer
Nkawie (Ash), Jan. 18, GNA- The Nkawie Circuit Court presided over by Mr Noble Nkrumah, has remanded Emmanuel Quansah, an ex-convict into prison custody for posing as a prisons officer.
He pleaded guilty and would re-appear on January 29, this year. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector H.K Agyare, told the court that on January 11, this year, Quansah went to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Peter Ofori Donkor, Nkawie District Police Commander and introduced himself as a prisons officer attached to the Amanfrom prisons centre near Asuofua and that he needed a handcuff to effect the arrest of a suspect, who was believed to be hiding at Nkawie-Panin. According to the prosecution, ASP Donkor became suspicious after the impostor's story, and during interrogations and later a check at the Amanfrom Prisons Centre, where it was established that Quansah was rather an ex-convict and not a prisons officer.
Source:
GNA
Armed robber dies in cable theft
Tema, Jan. 19, GNA - One out of three armed robbers in the early hours of Saturday was killed in a shoot-out with Tema police who had laid ambush to cause their arrest for stealing high tension cables in the Tema heavy industrial area.
The two others who sustained bullet wounds managed to escape, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Kudalor told newsmen in Tema.
He said following continuous theft of cables belonging to the Ghana Telecommunications (GT) its management lodged complaint with the Police for assistance to track down on the culprits while some monetary offer has been set aside for informants of cable theft. He said as a result, the police had been on the alert, therefore acting upon a tip-off that some people were planning to steal some cables around the Sethi Brothers Limited and Tropical Cables Limited, police personnel were detailed to lay ambush. Between 0300 and 0400 hours of Saturday the armed robbers executed their plan and succeeded in cutting a quantity of the cables but on seeing the police they engaged in a gun battle that claimed one of them while the two took to their heels.
ACP Kudalor said the police would take the finger print of the deceased robber to the forensic laboratory to check if he was known before depositing the body at the morgue for autopsy. Two unused cartridges, two gun shots, a knife, torch light and pliers were found on the deceased who was wearing four different shirts and a coat, the Commander stated, adding that information indicated that the robbers sell the cables at cheaper prices. He appealed to the public to volunteer information on suspicious characters, especially those with wounds to the police, assuring them of not revealing their identities. In another development, armed robbers attacked the residence of the former Tema Regional Police Commander, Mrs Agnes Sikanartey at Sakumono Estates.
There were no casualties but the robbers perforated the building with gun shots and that of the neighbours, Chief Inspector Yaw Nketia-Yeboah, Regional Public Affairs Officer told newsmen. The buildings were also smeared with blood stains, indicating that the robbers were wounded in the attack.
Source:
GNA
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US government to support education in Ghana
Accra, Jan 18, GNA - The Ghanaian Embassy in the United States on Thursday announced that plans were afoot for the U.S government to help improve the Ghanaian educational system under the U.S President's Special Initiative on Educational Programmes. A statement from the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC said a US delegation would be travelling to Ghana by the end of January to follow up plans on the educational support. The statement quoted Dr Kwame Edusei-Bawuah, Ghana's Ambassador to the US as saying there would also be a trade mission from the US to Ghana from March 3 to 5, 2008, comprising representatives of the US Commerce Department and eminent Business Executives. "There will also be a US Agro-business mission to be organized by the US Agricultural Department with their Ghanaian counterparts to promote Agro business in a wide variety of areas from March 10th to 14th."
Dr Edusei-Bawuah said from May 7 to 9, the US State Department, in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Communications, will hold a Telecommunication Conference in Accra, which was expected to attract experts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) from West Africa and the rest of the world.
He recalled that there had been two separate US missions to Ghana earlier this month to evaluate the country's infrastructure and the cocoa industry, adding that those were some of the evidence of Ghana and the US bonding in business at a very high rate within the past 18 months.
"This has built relations between the two nations, promoting growth and mutual trust in all developmental areas," he said. Dr Edusei-Bawuah said the Mission in Washington used the 50th anniversary celebrations of Ghana to embark on commemorative business oriented visits to all metro areas of the USA. The visit, he said, has encouraged Ghanaians in the Diaspora to form Ghana business councils to facilitate international trade. He called on Ghanaian businesses at home and abroad to take advantage of the current trend of goodwill Ghana was enjoying on the international scene, to embark on aggressive initiatives to form partnerships for creation of business enterprises. our first transmission.
Source:
GNA
Oil Drilling starts on Sunday
Another oil rig, Songa Saturn, arrived in the territorial waters of Ghana on Wednesday morning to drill a second well and pave the way for the commercial production of oil in Ghana.
It is expected to be in the deep waters of Cape Three Points in the Western Region, where the well is to be drilled, today.
The rig, which was brought in by Kosmos Energy Ghana Limited, the explorers, will start drilling in the Odum Prospect on Sunday.
The Songa Saturn has arrived after the discovery of large deposits of oil in Ghana by Bedford Dolphin, the first rig that made the discovery for Kosmos Energy Ghana. Bedford Dolphin had been in operation for seven years but the discovery in Ghana was its first success story.
Songa Saturn, which arrived from Equatorial Guinea, is a deep-water floating drilling rig and it is expected to leave for Libya after a three-month expedition in Ghana.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Country Manager of Kosmos Energy, Mr George Yaw Owusu, said the company recently completed an appraisal of the Mahogany Field it discovered in June 2007 at the cost of $27 million.
He said Kosmos Energy would invest US$100 million to drill and evaluate six additional wells, including the Odum well, by the close of the year.
According to Mr Owusu, four additional wells would be drilled, beginning from the second quarter of this year.
He said the drilling of the appraisal wells would pave the way for production activities as soon as possible.
The Managing Director of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr M. O. Boateng, expressed the hope that more companies would invest in the petroleum sector for the growth and development of the country.
Kosmos Energy, which discovered oil in commercial quantities off Cape Three Points in June 2007, is expected to drill a total of six wells by the end of the year.
The discovery was announced to the nation by President JA Kufuor in June 2007. Experts say the oil discovered by Kosmos is of premium quality and one of the best in the world.
In a related development, Kosmos Energy has been named the Explorer of the Year 2007 in recognition of its discovery by the World Junior Oil and Gas Congress based in the United Kingdom.
The Senior Vice-President of Kosmos Energy, Mr Paul Dailly, received the award on behalf of the Kosmos Team in London recently.
The World Junior Oil and Gas Congress awards the outstanding achievements of leaders, innovators and pioneers in the junior oil and gas industry around the globe.
Source:
Daily Graphic
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CPP will remove politics of bitterness, anger - Nduom
Tamale, Jan. 18, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has said it was time to remove the politics of bitterness and anger in the country since 1992. Dr Nduom stated this at press conference in Tamale on Thursday to thank the Party's delegates, executives and supporters for electing him as their flagbearer for the 2008 elections.
He dismissed perception that the 2008 general election would be a straight fight between the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
"I have been to the field and have met many ordinary Ghanaian men and women who hold a different view and who are saying that they need the CPP to be the peacemaker".
Dr Nduom, who was on a three-day campaign tour of the three Northern regions, said Ghanaians were looking for a strong CPP which would make the democratic practice worth participating in. "This is the time for the CPP, which has for more than 50 years, preached and practised one nation, one people, and one destiny, to come and unite the country".
Dr Nduom said Ghanaians were yearning for a government that would provide them with the basic necessities of life such as jobs, shelter, good drinking water, quality education, health and "the freedom to choose to be".
He called on CPP supporters to encourage more Ghanaians to register in order to vote.
He announced that the Party was accepting applications from potential parliamentary candidates for the elections in December. On the impending Ghana 2008, Dr Nduom urged Ghanaians to be disciplined, keep the environment clean and above all, show the visitors the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality.
Professor Alhassan Abubakar, a leading member of the CPP, said the Party would not wait for any unity talks or go into any alliance or merger. Rather, it would focus on its campaign to win the elections. He said a CPP government would re-visit Nkrumah's Accelerated Development Plan for the North and reactivate all abandoned projects initiated by Nkrumah's government to promote the development of the North.
Source:
GNA
Ghana-Germany Association commissions Youth Hostel
Denchemuoso (Ash), Jan. 18, GNA- The Ghana-Germany Friendship Association of Munich, Germany has commissioned a GH=A2330,000 hostel facility for the Denchemuoso youth Training Institute in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (BAK) District of Ashanti.
The 200 room capacity hostel was commissioned at Denchemuoso during a durbar on Thursday to solve a perennial accommodation problem facing the students of the institution.
In a speech read for him, Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment said, the Institute, the second in Ashanti is among the eleven Leadership and Skills Training Institute facilities being run by the National Youth Council (NYC) throughout the country. He said the Ministry had established these Institutes in response to the country's quest for a disciplined corps of skilled artisans to enhance the growth of the industrial sector.
Nana Akomea added that, the ultimate goal was not only to train the youth, but to produce responsible young men and women who could be counted on to apply their training in a manner which would benefit the communities and Ghana as a whole.
"We believe that it is important for the youth to develop character traits such as diligence, honesty, integrity and selflessness, aside their acquired skills" he stressed.
The Minister re-iterated government's efforts to reduce poverty among the youth, especially those in the rural areas, under the New Educational Reforms Programme.
"They would be trained in Technical, Agricultural and Vocational Education as well as structured Apprenticeship training", he said. Miss Patricia Appiagyei, Metropolitan Chief Executive for Kumasi, who was the guest of honour for the occasion, suggested to the training institutes to teach Management Studies to equip the students who may want to set-up their own businesses after the training with. She said the country's development would need vocational training skills and advised parents and students to debunk the idea of choosing the course as their last resort.
Madam Patricia Appiagyei hinted that, the Ghana-Germany Friendship Association would soon establish a Day-Care Centre at Denchemuoso. Mr Albert Owusu, the founder of the school was full of praise, when he revealed that the institute, which started in 1991 with only eight students now, had 70 students.
He was however not happy that the community showed a lot of indifference, when they were told to offer communal labour, which led to an increase in the cost of the building.
Mr Owusu, who also a founding member of the Ghana-Germany Friendship Association appealed to the chiefs and people of the area to patronize the facility, since most of the students came from outside the community.
He appealed to government and philanthropists to contribute to the development of the school, especially when Plumbing, Masonry, Electrical works, Catering Carpentry, Textiles, Bicycle repairs and Dressmaking would soon be introduced.
Nana Agyeibi Kwadwo III, Chief of Atwima called on his people to be patriotic and also educate their children.
He appealed to the government to help complete the Techiman Junior High School to help boost education in the area. An exhibition of products made by the students including dresses, furniture, Batik, Tie and dye and repaired bicycles were on display.
Source:
GNA
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Historic and memorable opening ceremony expected
Accra, Jan 17, GNA - The African continent is expected to witness a historic and the most memorable opening ceremony of the 26th Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana from January 20-February 10. The 40-minute event put together by Global Media Alliance, (GMA) Executive Producers of the opening ceremony would portray the rich cultural heritage of Ghana to the over 4.5 billion viewers across the world.
About 2,500 people made up of students, professors and lecturers from the University of Ghana, professional Dance Groups across the country, acrobats, cultural troops and children from Primary Schools would exhibit a blend of cultural and gymnastic display on the day. The show would seek to tell and blend the unfolding story of culture in Ghana, the story of football and the Ghana 2008. Also on stage would be ace musician Amanzeba Nat Brew and 'Daughters of Glorious Jesus'.
Mr Edward Boating Chief Executive of GMA in a press release copied to the GNA Sports gave the assurance that the show would be one the best ever staged in the 25th year old history of the Africa Cup of Nations. He said the GMA in its effort to give the continent and the world a spectacular event, has assembled the best professional teams from Ghana, South Africa, United States of Africa (USA), Thailand and China to produce, engineer and choreograph the show. Among the professionals contracted for the show are include Penny Jones, a renowned Stadium Theater Producer, Godwin Kotei- Ghana's leading mass display choreographer and Professor Nii Yartey, Africa's leading cultural choreographer and Kofi Ansah - Africa's leading and renowned fashion designer.
The rest are Mike Amon Kwafo - Ghana's foremost and props designer and Professor Mike Anku, Dean of School Performing Arts, Legon. Mr Rex Brobbey - Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) said the opening ceremony would be unprecedented in the history of the continent. He said the LOC has put in place measures to involve each individual in the ceremony, since this year's tournament would be the biggest ever in its history and needs collaboration.
According to the organizers, the stadium would be closed to the public at 2:30 as part of security measures to make way for the opening ceremony at 3:30.
Source:
GNA
Children urged to report teachers who sexually assault them
Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - Pupils were on Thursday urged to report teachers who sexually assault them to either their parents or any leader in their community for prompt action to be taken since such an act was a crime.
Perpetrators of such inhuman act would be interdicted and prosecuted Mrs Hilda Eghan, National HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports said this on Thursday in Accra.
Answering a concern raised by a child during a day's Meet the Media and Policy Makers, which offered a platform for children of the Global Movement For Children (GMFC) to interact directly with the media and policy makers, Mrs Eghan expressed regret that there had been some cases in which parents of victims had come to plead to settle such cases out of court for fear of stigmatizing the family by the community. "Such teachers must be allowed to face the full rigours of the law and be punished for their inhuman act".
The interaction, which formed part of series of activities to increase children's participation and the right to advocate on HIV and AIDS prevention, care for AIDS related orphans and vulnerable children increase was organized by GMFC, Worldaids Campaign, Lesson for Life, Plan Ghana, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, World Vision International with support by UNICEF. It was under the theme; "Take the lead. Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise. The Time is Now". Mrs Eghan noted that not only the school girls were being sexually abused by such act were also on the ascendancy of boys and should not be ignored.
She noted that out the 2.22 per cent of the national HIV/AIDS prevalence, 30 per cent were of children and were between the ages of 15 to 24 years, which he described as very alarming and called for activities designed for the youth on HIV/AIDS to be intensified. "For us in the Ministry in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, we have trained all teachers to incorporate the teaching of HIV/AIDS into all subjects taught right from the Primary to the Junior High Schools and our next step would be to engage the children themselves in HIV/AIDS programmes and also empower the communities to be more responsible for these children".
The children drawn from 21 communities across the country raised concerns about lack of support for HIV and AIDS vulnerable children by the community and government, cumbersome procedure for adoption, indecent films being showed on various televisions, which they described as contributing to the spread of the virus among the youth and stigmatization against HIV and AIDS orphans.
The Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Mr Daniel Dugan pledged that the ministry would collaborate with the relevant ministries and agencies in addressing the concerns raised by the children. Mr Dugan called on Ghanaian children to exhibit high sense of morality during and after the Ghana 2008 tournament since morality when held up high could help sustain the efforts in reducing the prevalence. "It has come to our notice that some young girls are warming up to offer sexual services to visitors during this tournament and that I find very dangerous to the efforts we are putting to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS", he added.
Ms Akua Dansua, Member of Parliament for Danyi, who represented the policy makers pledged to consult on the cumbersome nature for adoption with the Department of Social Welfare and if it would be necessary to amend the law.
She advised to attend first to the needs of their children since their neglect sometimes led to prostitution. "Your little contribution to the success of your children in life will determine your future when you are aged". Professor Sakyi Awuku Amoa, Director-General of GAC, who presided said HIV and AIDS had been a serious problem facing Ghana with stigmatization being the major challenge and noted that the political leadership were not making much noise about the pandemic. The children earlier led by the Deputy Minister for Women and Children's Affairs presented food items to the AIDS victims at the Fevers Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. 17 Jan. 07
Source:
GNA
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Police bust cable stealing syndicate
Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - A combined team of officers of the Ghana Police Service, security personnel of Ghana Telecom and Electricity Company of Ghana have busted a cable stealing syndicate operating in the Sukura area of Accra West. Mr Teye Yohuno, Accra West Regional Manager of Ghana Telecom gave the estimated cost of the cables as in excess of 100,000 Ghana Cedis (1 billion Cedis).
The arrest of the syndicate members of seven was after several days of surveillance following a tip-off that some persons were undertaking some dubious activities in the neighbourhood. Briefing the media, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alex Yartey Tawiah of the Dansoman District said the police had been on the look out for such miscreants in the society and would go to all lengths to flush them out. He named those arrested as Musah Adams, 38; Abib Mohammed 20; Karim Ibrahim 40 and Abdala Taal 45. The rest are Dauda Unar, Ali Deri and Sani Abdulai all aged 50 years each.
DSP Tawia said when the police pounced on the cable thieves in the early hours of Wednesday January 15, 2005, they arrested only the driver of the vehicle, but the other members of the syndicate bolted. "However, two other persons showed up later with GH 200 cedis (2 million cedis) to bribe the police and were arrested for complicity. As if that was not enough, four others came forward with Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (5 million Cedis) just in case the earlier amount of Two Hundred Ghana Cedis was not able to convince the police officers who were handling the case." "I asked my men to feign interest and this led to the arrest of the others on the basis that they could be part of the larger syndicate." DSP Tawiah said it was strange that they could muster courage and come over trying to influence the police. Mr Yohuno explained that it was such nefarious activities that hindered GT's avowed drive to provide an efficient and uninterrupted service to its clients. "This no doubt dents the image of GT and reduces its competitive edge in the telecommunications industry. But we must all as Ghanaians rise up and resist cable theft by reporting strange activities of persons at the GT chambers that house the cables." Between 2005 and 2006 GT, the nation's top telecommunications industry service provider lost close to 1,000,000 Ghana Cedis in damages and cost from cable theft and destruction of its copper wires across the country. In 2006 alone, GT lost 460,000 Ghana Cedis (4.6 billion old Cedis)
Source:
GNA
GTB trains drivers in connection with "MTN Ghana 2008"
Takoradi, Jan.17 -GNA-The people, particularly taxi and other commercial drivers have been reminded of their roles to ensure adequate security for all during the upcoming "MTN Ghana 2008" soccer fiesta. Chief Superintendent Francis Ebenezer Doku, Officer in- charge of Police Operations in the Western Regional noted that since security is a shared responsibility, it behoves on the people to be extra vigilant and support security agencies to ensure incident free tournament. He was addressing a day's training workshop for taxi and other commercial drivers in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis at Takoradi on Wednesday.
It was organized by the Ghana Tourists Board (GTB) as part of sensitization programme for food vendors, drinking bar operators, drivers and those in car rental business and other service providers in the Western Region in connection with the soccer tournament that begins on Sunday.
They discussed topics including tourism, security, quality service delivery, and good driving skills and road safety, tour guiding, information dissemination among others. Mr. Doku gave the assurance that 500 personnel of the service had been given enough training and the required transport and other logistics to offer 24- hour protection to the people in the Metropolis. The Police, he said, had taken delivery of light armoured cars and horses to help quell any disturbances that may occur in any part of the city during the period.
Public utility services like power generating centres, water supply stations and also schools would also be guarded. A stand-by force would be provided to respond to emergency cases while other officers would be on patrol duties around the clock, he said.
Mr. Doku said the police operate more efficiently if given the needed support and cooperation from the general public by providing information on the activities of criminals. He advised the public to be wary of the tendency of criminals who may try to dupe them through the use of fake foreign currencies and report such people to the police.
The Police had secured hot lines from which the public can provide them it with vital information on crime and suspected criminals, adding that the service was arranging with Ghanatelecom and MTN telephone service providers to provide them with toll free lines. Mr. Doku gave the number of the hot lines as 031-46888, 031-46660, 020-8130095 and 0244-964121 and said the identity of all informers would be protected.
He advised taxi drivers to avoid the tendency to cheat foreign clients, and also behave gently towards them to boost the image of their profession and the country in the eyes of soccer fans and tourists. Mr. Doku warned that people who ride unlicensed motorbikes would be arrested and such bikes impounded.
Mr. Samuel Anderson of the Regional Secretariat of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) advised drivers to adhere strictly to road signs and regulations to avoid accidents. Drivers, he noted, were the first point of contact with foreign visitors, they must exhibit high sense honesty, responsibility and accord passengers the respect and courtesy irrespective of where they come from and at the same time be wary of the activities of "419" and other confident tricksters. Mr. Ebenezer Hammond, Regional Manager of GTB spoke about the immense financial and other benefits the country would derive from organizing the soccer tournament and urged drivers to portray positive image of the country. He said tourism is the third major foreign exchanger earner for the country apart from cocoa and gold, adding that the country earned 500 million dollars from tourism in 2007. Mr. Hammond said it is estimated that one billion dollars would be earned during the MTN Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta. More than 150 taxi and commercial drivers at Elubo have benefited from similar training organized by the GTB. In collaboration with Cook Art Ghana, Mr. Hammond said GTB had organized training programmes for a number of food vendors and other service providers in the region.
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GNA
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Tema records 2,779 marriages and 156 divorces in 2007
Tema, Jan 17, GNA -- The Tema Municipality in 2007 registered a total of 2,779 customary and ordinance marriages as against a total of 156 divorces. The Tema Municipal Marriage and Divorce Registry under the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) recorded 2,605 and 174 ordinance and customary marriages respectively. Mr. Stephen Nortey, Tema Municipal Marriage Registrar told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that there was an increase in marriages last year as the outfit registered 2,700 couples in 2006. He further said the customary divorce register also recorded an increase from 12 in 2006 to 32 last year. Meanwhile records made available to the GNA by the Tema Circuit Court 'A' indicated that 124 ordinance divorces were handled from January to August, 2007. Mr Nortey said incompatibility of couples and financial problems among others were some of the common reasons given by couples seeking divorces. He therefore advised would-be spouses not to base their marriage only on love and age but should acquire some knowledge about it before entering into it. "Just as we need proper education on our various professions, couples need to acquire knowledge of what marriage is all about before embarking on that journey", he added.
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GNA
Rainstorm destroys school building
Amasaman (G/A), Jan. 17, GNA - A rainstorm that hit Otweama near Amasaman has destroyed a six-classroom school block, which was built by Coca Cola Company for the community two years ago. The situation is affecting teaching and learning of about 160 school children who take their classes under palm tree structures and have to close whenever it threatened to rain. This came to light when Nii Tetteh Adjei, Chief and elders of Otweama took the Ghana News Agency (GNA) round to inspect the school building. Nii Adjei appealed to the Ga West District Assembly, the Ghana Education Service, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to come to their aid.
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GNA
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Upper West records food deficits
Wa, Jan. 16, GNA - Assessment of agricultural production in the Upper West Region this year indicates an overall average of 16 per cent reduction in yield of major crops as compared to last year. Details of the reduced production for the major crops grown in the region indicate that only cowpea yields showed a 13.5 per cent increased production over last year.
Figures received from the Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture indicates that maize production for 2006 was 48,128 tonnes as compared to 40,104.16 tonnes for 2007 recording a deficit of 20.0075 tonnes.
Rice recorded 5,124 tonnes for 2006 but registered only 4,744.053 tonnes in 2007, experiencing a shortfall of 8.00892 tonnes. Millet production for 2006 stood at 47,602 tonnes while yields for 2007 recorded a 43,760.3 tonnes, suffering a loss of 8.77896 tonnes. The figures showed that sorghum yielded 90,380 tonnes for 2006 but suffered a decrease of 68,452.77 for 2007 production period thereby registering a deficit of 32.0326 tonnes.
Yam production stood at 30,7065 tonnes, reduced to 25,5511.6 tonnes within the same periods and experienced a loss of 20.1765 tonnes. Groundnut suffered a deficit of 36.8074 tonnes, as it recorded 166,540 tonnes for 2006 as compared to 121,733.2 tonnes in 2007. Soyabean also registered a deficit of 15.535 tonnes as it yielded 12,336 tonnes in 2006 and drop off to 10677.28 tonnes for 2007. Mr. Emmanuel D. Eledi, Upper West Regional Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) said people in the region are predominantly farmers with about 86 percent of the population engaged in farming. He said the region produced a lot of grains, legumes, roots and tuber crops alongside food crops and industrial crops such as cotton, cashew, sheanuts and mangoes.
Mr. Eledi said livestock production has improved steadily due to various interventions introduced by MOFA to support the livestock sector while in the fisheries sector farmers had been introduced to fish farming recently in addition to the only fish capture technology practiced in the area.
With these new technologies, the region has been able to supplement the protein requirement of its people through the more than 300 fishing communities in the area.
Mr. Eledi mentioned post-harvest losses of crops, inadequate water resources to enhance an all year round agricultural production, resulting in food insecurity, poor road network, high cost of agricultural inputs that affects production as some of the challenges militating against agricultural performance. He said the erratic rainfall pattern continued to be unpredictable and no solution had been found to that challenge and mentioned last year prolonged drought and floods as worrying. Mr. Eledi called for the construction of more irrigation projects in valleys in the region to give advantage to farmers to produce all year round.
He said a new programme to be known, as the Northern Rural Growth Programme would be implemented in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions by the government in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and African Development Fund to address challenges confronting the agricultural sector. He said government had also instituted the Northern Development Fund (NDF) that would implement various development strategies to being sustainable solution to the poverty problem of the North.
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GNA
Poku is not under house arrest -Govt
.. Incident "unfortunate and uncalled for" -Poku
Accra, Jan. 16, GNA - The Office of the President on Wednesday stated that former National Security Minister, Francis Poku was not under house arrest as being speculated in a section of the media. A number of armed security personnel this morning were seen at Mr Poku's residence, but the mission of the security detail was unclear at the time.
A statement signed by Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation said the police detail that went to Mr. Poku's residence were to replace his former security detail that consisted of military personnel.
It described the exercise as a norm with all ministers, and "Mr. Francis Poku as a security professional himself is very aware of these routine procedures".
It said as the routine was, the National Security Council, in conformity with world-wide practice, initiated a process of "debriefing and completing a handing-over procedure".
The statement said, "surprisingly the detail met some press men at the premises who apparently misunderstood their presence and carried the news in an exaggerated fashion, calling the incident a 'house arrest.' The statement said, "This statement is to confirm that Mr. Francis Poku is NOT and has not been under house arrest, and that the events of this morning have been the routine workings of the National Security." "Government assures the entire nation that the ongoing events are the in the best interest of the country", it said. Mr. Poku had earlier expressed misgivings over the incident, describing it as "unfortunate and uncalled for".
"I have nothing to hide and I am collaborating with the authorities to ensure a smooth handing over. I would soon hand over my notes", he told some newsmen at his residence in Accra. "But my misgivings about this whole episode is the implication it holds for our national security, the numerous speculations being peddled around and especially as the country prepares to host the CAN 2008 and the impending elections", he said.
Many sympathizers, among them notable political figures and opinion leaders, trooped to Mr. Poku's residence to ascertain whether he was really under house arrest as reported in the media.
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GNA
Police awards GHC22,000 for information in Sakumono killings
Tema, Jan 16, GNA - The Tema Regional Police Command has set aside a 2,000 Ghana Cedis reward to be given to anybody that provides information leading to the arrest of the people who murdered a man and his son at Sakomono a fortnight ago. Assistant Commissioner of Police John Kudalor, Tema Regional Police Commander, said on Wednesday that the money was donated to the police by someone who wanted to remain anonymous.
Alhaji Mumuni Hamidu, 56-year-old blind pensioner, and his son Dawuda Hamidu a 20-year-old Computer Science student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) were on January 04 shot and killed by gun men at their residence at Community 18, Sakumono. Mr Kudalor said even though the motive for the killings had not yet been established, facts received from the scene indicated that the murderers jumped into an adjacent house, entered the victims' house and entered the room through the kitchen door. They requested for some money but were not given. They shot the two and left.
The Tema Regional Commander said the police needed information from the public to help unravel the mystery behind the killings. On security in the harbour city during the Ghana 2008 football tournament, Mr Kudalor said due to the proximity of Tema to Accra, the police and the military had put in measures to check criminals. He said his outfit would ensure that the period would be incident free and that the municipality recorded only one incident of car snatching during the Christmas holidays.
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GNA
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Fourteen drivers convicted for traffic offences
Kintampo (B/A), Jan. 16, GNA - A magistrate court at Kintampo presided by Mr. James Kugblenu on Tuesday imposed fines totalling GH Cedis 8,640 on 14 commercial drivers for committing motor traffic offences between January 6 and January 11 this year. Assistant Superintendent of Police Ansu Frimpong, Commander of Brong-Ahafo Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Union, told newsmen on Tuesday that Nahama Ousman was fined GH Cedis 600 and would serve six months in prison in hard labour in default for failing to stop when ordered by the police whilst Abukari Mohammed was ordered to pay similar amount or serve six months in prison for over speeding, failing to stop and driving a motor vehicle without a license.
Isaac Anokye was convicted to serve three months imprisonment for failing to produce a driving license but fined GH Cedis 720 for over speeding and failing to stop, whilst Mohammed Wanzam was slapped with a GH cedis 600 fine or serve six months imprisonment for over speeding. Ebenezer Akrofi was sentenced to a GH Cedis 720 fine or six months in prison for failing to stop and Alhassan Alidu was fined GH 600 for over speeding or go to prison for three months. Aziz Yusif was fined GH cedis 600 or serve six months in prison for failing to stop, while Yaw Owusu who drove without a road worthy certificate was ordered to pay a fine of GH cedis 600 or in default serve three months in prison.
Evans Yeboah was fined GH Cedis 600 for failing to stop or serve three months imprisonment, Abubakar Salifu was fined GH cedis 1,200 or a year's imprisonment in hard labour for over speeding, failing to stop and driving without a road worthy certificate. The court ordered Ousman Salim to pay a fine of GH Cedis 600 or in default serve three months imprisonment in hard labour for driving a vehicle not authorized by his class of driving licence and failing to pay vehicle income tax, Kwabena Yeboah for over speeding was fined GH Cedis 600 in default serve six months in prison and Solomon Nyamedoh who was fined GH Cedis 600 or in default serve six months in lard labour for over speeding.
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GNA
Minister inspects work on Tamale Airport
Tamale, Jan. 16, GNA- Mrs. Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Aviation on Wednesday inspected finishing touches being put to infrastructural works at the Tamale Airport as part of preparation towards Ghana 2008. The projects she inspected included the renovation of the arrival and departure halls, the ground marking of the runaway tarmac, which is being constructed by Consar Construction Company Limited.
Group Captain Kit Caesar, acting Garrison Commander, Mr. Stephano Ramela, Managing Director of Consar Limited and some officials of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Immigration and Customs and Excise Services accompanied the Minister on her inspection of the facilities. Also almost completed are the runaway lightening system and the precision path-finder, which is to help determine accuracy of flights. A flight test of the equipment would be carried out on Wednesday night. Mrs. Akuffo expressed her satisfaction with the works carried out so far, especially the work on the terminal grounds, which is completed and only, left with the fixing of fittings.
She commended the Air Force for their cooperation with the contractors and the Ministry of Aviation in carrying out the renovation works at the airport.
She said the rehabilitation being carried in the airport were part of a process to raise it to international standards and also ensure that it was "homely" to receive direct international flights due to Ghana 2008.
Mr. Lord Affrifah, Controller of Operations of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) said due to the likelihood that some international flights would be flown directly to Tamale because of the games the Service had set up an operational team at the airport to carry out its duties effectively and at the convenience of passengers. Group Captain Caesar said that the Air Force were prepared to hand over the Tamale Airport to the Ministry of Aviation if the Ministry could assist to relocate them by providing them with new administrative offices.Source:
GNA
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Govt on the murder of Ghanaians in Gambia
Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - The government on Tuesday reiterated its resolve to end investigations on the murder and disappearance of about 44 Ghanaians in the Gambia following the submission of a final report by a team of Ghanaian investigators.
The measure is to ensure that justice prevailed and that the perpetrators of the act in the Gambia were individually and collectively held accountable for their actions, a statement signed by Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation said.
The statement noted that after review of the report by Government, it had decided to refer the matter to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adding, "Ghana will also continue to avail herself of all other diplomatic and international legal means to ensure that impunity did not triumph over accountability".
"It would be recalled that during the last Commonwealth Heads of States and Government meeting in Kampala, Uganda, a joint statement was issued by the government of the Gambia and Ghana, calling upon the United Nations and ECOWAS to oversee the conduct of an independent investigation into the killings", it said, adding that, the Gambian authorities had agreed to a third-party independent authentication of the investigation by either ECOWAS or other international bodies. "Government reassures grieving family members who are justifiably seeking the truth concerning the murder or disappearance of their loved ones, and urges them to remain calm whilst a full-scale international investigation is conducted. Government fully shares their concern and is doing everything in their best interest to resolve the matter", it said.
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GNA
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Let's hosts Ghana 2008 alive - NRSC
Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), has called on Ghanaians to observe road safety regulations and practices religiously to ensure that Ghanaians stay alive during and after the Ghana 2008 football tournament.
AVOID OVERSPEEDING! SINGNBOARD IN WESTER REGION (c) ghana-net.com
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, Mrs. May Obiri-Yeboah, Manager of Education and Planning at NRSC said the Commission, in collaboration with its coordinating agencies had put in place a number of measures to ensure a road accident free tournament. "We have designed Ghana 2008 branded road safety stickers, flyers and posters to be distributed across the country just before and during the tournament in addition to the provision of road safety messages on the score boards in all the stadia," she said.
Mrs. Obiri-Yeboah said the commission had also contracted mobile phone companies, the Tigo and Onetouch to send road safety text messages to their subscribers during the tournament, adding that, the police had been provided with speed guns and alcohol meters to check excessive speeding and drink-driving as well as radio and TV commercials together in which a renowned Ghanaian footballer, a pastor and a driver would speak to the issue of road safety.
She said the focus of the road safety messages would be on drink driving, excessive speeding and fatigue, saying that the three had been identified as the major causes of road accidents in the country. Mrs. Obiri-Yeboah noted that, during the tournament, fans of winning teams were likely to jubilate over loaded cars, excessive speeding and blowing of car horns and motor bike display on the roads and asked jubilating fans to observe the road safety regulations even in their jubilant mood.
"Those on motor bikes must wear their helmets and be cautious of their speed while those in cars should wear their seat belts, avoid over loading and excessive horn blowing," she said.
Mrs. Obiri-Yeboah cautioned persons who would like to drive from one region to the other to watch the Black Stars play to do their best to avoid fatigue by resting after every two hours of driving. "The purpose of our campaign during this period is to ensure that we host the tournament alive and for that matter we urge everyone to report defaulting drivers and also refuse to ride on vehicles driven by drunken drivers," she said.
She said the message would be extended to election 2008 with the view to impress upon political party leaders to preach the road safety message during the electioneering period.
"In the cause of the year, we would hold separate meetings with all the presidential and parliamentary aspirants as well the executives of all the political parties and educate them on the need to ensure that their followers observed regulations on the road during the elections," she said.
Mrs. Obiri-Yeboah noted that besides, drink-driving, over speeding and fatigue, mobile phone use during driving was also identified as one of the causes of road accident during the 2006 - 2007 period. Mrs. Obiri-Yeboah said the commission was in the process of setting up a Call Centre that would make numbers available on all landline and mobile phone networks to enable report persons, especially vehicular road users who violated safety regulations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that annually road accidents accounts for at least 22.8 per cent of deaths, the highest of all causes of death, ahead of wars and armed conflict, which accounted for only 3.4 per cent of deaths.
Road transport accidents are also the ninth highest cause of injuries to humans and according to the WHO and likely to rise to the third position by 2020, if measures were not taken to stem it.
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GNA
8th Ghana Tourism Awards launched
Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) on Tuesday launched the eighth Ghana Tourism Awards 2008 with the introduction of innovative packages to reflect realities of modern day trends in the tourist industry.
The biennial event, which represents the highest accolade for hospitality service providers in the country, would, among other objectives, reward excellence, ensure competitiveness and promote Ghana as a top class tourist destination in Africa. Mr. Martin Mireku, Acting Executive Director, GTB, said the Board in consultation with stakeholders had decided to organize this year's event on zonal basis, instead of the previous 10 regional events and the national award.
He stated that the three regions in northern Ghana would be categorized into one zone with Tamale as the host. The award programme is scheduled for Saturday, April 28. Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions, he said, would also have one event on Saturday, May 10 in Kumasi, adding that Greater Accra, Western, Central and Volta regions would have their event at Ho on Saturday, May 24.
The National event would however take place in Accra on July 18. Mr. Mireku said a seven-member jury consisting academia, a representative from the Association of Ghana Industry and some tourist players had been set up to select nominees, adding that, the general public would this year participate in the selection process through SMS text massaging on mobile phones, which would be supervised by an Audit firm.
Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations said the award complemented government's effort in ensuring quality service delivery in the hospitality industry, saying, "to be truly competitive in today's tourism market place required world class performance".
He said the forthcoming African Cup of Nations, Ghana 2008, had brought the need for tourist players to meet the expectation of visitors by maintaining product quality. The Minister was optimistic that efforts made by various tourist sectors to ensure a successful Ghana 2008, would go a long way to make the awards ceremony very competitive this year. Guinness Ghana Limited is sponsoring the event that would be co-organised by Global Media Alliance and Dateline Marketing Services. The award would cover accommodation, Travel Services, International Airlines, Domestic Airlines, Night Clubs, Restaurants, Chop Bars and Waiters.
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GNA
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NPP would respect Election results - Kufuor
Sekondi, Jan. 15, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday assured the nation that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) would respect the outcome of Election 2008.
He said as law abiding as the party was it would go by the verdict of Ghanaians and expressed the hope that the other political parties would do the same.
"What we would not allow, is for anybody to use illegitimate means to usurp power", he said, in response to a question at the Seventh Peoples' Assembly held at the Sekondi High School.
One Dr Asemfofro had sought to know from President Kufuor, if the ruling party would readily accept to let go its hold on power in the event of defeat at the polls.
Attended by Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, some members of the Council of State and key Government Ministers and Officials, this year's Assembly, which was under the theme "Ghana After 50: Looking into the Future with Hope", attracted high patronage. President Kufuor, earlier in his opening address, allayed any suspicions about the openness and transparency of the elections, saying, there was no legitimate cause to expect any negative developments during the forthcoming polls.
He said the important thing was for the entire society to be alert to ensure that due process was adhered to at all times to make the results credible and acceptable to all.
The Peoples' Assembly, an innovation of President Kufuor's Government, provides the platform for Ghanaians to have face-to-face interaction with their elected Leader and to ask him questions on issues of governance bothering their minds.
Questions and concerns raised at this last edition of the Assembly ranged from the performance of the economy; the alleged sale of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB); need to improve the service conditions of the Security Agencies; administration of justice; investments; the killing of some Ghanaians in The Gambia; education to employment.
On the ADB, President Kufuor dismissed as untrue claims that it was being sold out, explaining that the Government was only arranging for partnership with investors to raise the capital base of the Bank. The negative twist and propaganda being bandied about, he said, was not helpful to the nation.
He said it was also important to appreciate that it was through the spread of investment that more jobs could be created and money put into the pockets of the people.
Responding to the Gambia killings, President Kufuor, said the two countries had agreed to submit the matter to the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) for thorough investigation.
This had been put on the agenda of the sub-Regional body at its meeting scheduled for Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, this week.
Touching on fuel prices, he said, a barrel of crude oil that sold at about 18 dollars in 2000 had now hit about 100 dollars and asked the people to accept to bear with the ex-pump price.
President Kufuor in an answer to another question this time, about alleged plans by Government to stop the mass cocoa spraying and the application of hi-tech fertilizers, said cocoa productivity was in national interest.
The Government was targeting an all time record cocoa production of one million tonnes within the next three years and without the mass spraying and fertilizer application, it was going to be difficult to achieve that target.
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GNA
Tema records 277 fire outbreaks in 2007
Tema, Jan 15, GNA - The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Tema Region recorded a one-point-five percent increase in fire cases in 2007, handling 277 fire outbreaks over 273 in 2006. The Tema Region covers the Tema Municipality, Tema Industrial Area, Ashaiman, Dodowa and Ada.
Mr Paul Enyonam Tamakloe, Tema Regional Fire Officer who gave the data to the Ghana News Agency at Tema, said three persons lost their lives and properties worth over 50,000 Ghana Cedis were destroyed. Out of the total fire outbreaks, the Tema Municipality recorded the highest of 215 while Ada recorded no incident at all through out the whole of last year.
The Regional Fire Officer gave the categories of the fire outbreaks as domestic, electrical, vehicular, commercial, industrial, bush and institutional.
Mr Tamakloe said despite the numerous fire safety educations organized last year, domestic fires topped the data with 98 while the service recorded no institutional fire. He attributed the cause of the domestic fires to the power crises as explaining that households resorted to the use of candles and mosquito coils during the period.
Careless attendance to gas cylinders also contributed greatly to domestic fires. Mr Tamakloe advised gas users to change the rubber seal inside the cylinder valve every three months as it causes the leakage of gas when it shrinks.
He added that the cylinders should be kept outside the kitchen and its tubes regularly changed to avoid the development of breaks in them.
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GNA
Artisans cleans Elmina Township
Elmina, Jan. 15, GNA - About 600 members of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District Artisans Association on Tuesday undertook a four-hour clean up exercise to beautify Elmina. The exercise, which forms part of preparations towards the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, was also supported by individuals from Elmina. A number of organisations including the district assembly, Kakum Rural Bank, Elmina Beach Resort and a number of guest houses provided logistics for the exercise. Led by Mr Abdulai Salifu, chairman of the association, the members de-silted gutters, swept ceremonial roads, beaches and removed piled garbage.
Addressing them after the exercise Mr Salifu thanked the members for coming out in their numbers to participate in the exercise. He said it would improve sanitation in the district to attract tourists to areas such as the Elmina castle, Dutch cemetery, Fort St Jago and the St Joseph Catholic Basilica museum. He appealed to concerned citizens of the area to provide the association with tools such as, wheel barrows shovels and rakes to enable it to embark on monthly clean-up exercises in Elmina.
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GNA
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EU to spend C1.32m on projects in Upper West
WA, Jan.15, GNA - The European Union has allocated 1,324,552 Ghana cedis for the implementation of various rural development projects in the Upper West Region within the next eighteen months, under the second phase of its sixth Micro-Projects Programme.
Additionally, it has introduced an income generating component under which it has earmarked 233,255 Ghana cedis to support youth and women's groups to go into agro- processing and other economic ventures such as corn milling, shea butter extraction, rice milling, cashew processing and construction of congenial working places for small scale businesses.
Mr. Kwabena Dankyi Darfoor, Programme Manager of EU-Micro projects said this at the launch of the second phase of the sixth Micro Projects and income generating projects in the region at Wa on Tuesday. Under the first phase, the region benefited from a total of 1, 220,359 Ghana cedis for the execution of 59 projects made up of three classroom blocks, CHIPs compound facilities, culverts, Vault chamber Toilet facilities boreholes, Nurses' and Teachers' quarters. Mr. Darfoor said the second phase of the sixth micro-projects programme has three components that were made up of capacity building of district Assemblies and communities, provision of infrastructure projects and income-generating activities.
This time, he said no approval would be given for the construction of boreholes since that has been catered for in another programme. He advised the beneficiary Municipal and District Assemblies against including boreholes in their list of selected projects. The Programme Manager said they would not hasten to withdraw support for any District Assembly, which went against the guidelines or sanction any staff whose actions contravened the guidelines. Mr George Hikah Benson, Upper West Regional Minister said the EU Micro Project Programme has made significant impact on the lives of many Ghanaians through the implementation of 3,743 micro projects through out the country at a total cost of 50 million Euros.
He called on Municipal and District Assemblies in the region to position themselves well so as to ensure the smooth implementation of all development projects.
"The Regional Coordinating Council would not hesitate to issue the first sanction to any Municipal and District Assembly on lapses detected in the said implementation even before the EU issues out its own sanctions", he warned.
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GNA
Three persons remanded for assaulting soldier
Kumasi, Jan 15, GNA- A District court at Ashanti New town in Kumasi, on Monday remanded three persons, who attempted to snatch a gun from a soldier and in the process assaulted him. They were Awudu Mohammed, 21, Abubakr Sadik, 22, and Iliasu Ibrahim, 24, residing at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Alaba and Moshie Zongo in Kumasi respectively.
They will re-appear before the Court on 25th January this year. Police Inspector Isaac Mensah Apenteng told the Court presided over by Mr. S. K Achina, that on January 9 this year, Sergeant Stephen Owusu, a soldier (complainant) was on duty at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi during the football match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Club de Ouagadougou from Burkina Faso. Prosecution said the soldier attempted to stop a post-match violence at one of the stands. Inspector Apenteng said the accused persons and others who managed to run-away, tried to take away the complainants gun and in the process assaulted. He said three policemen went to the rescue of the soldier the accused persons were arrested. 15 Jan 08Source:
GNA
Wa Municipal Assembly rejects President's nominee
Wa, Jan. 15, GNA - Wa Municipal Assembly on Tuesday failed to confirm President John Kufuor's nominee, Mr. Abdul Aziz Mohammed as Municipal Chief Executive.
The 24-member House voted 14 in his favour and 10 voted against him. He failed to obtain 16 votes to make two-thirds of the required votes needed for his confirmation.
The House is however, to reconvene within 10 days to reconsider confirming him as he has been able to obtain more than 50 per cent of valid votes cast.
The Wa Municipal Assembly has been without a Chief Executive for the past one-year and the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. George Hikah Benson has been acting.
Similar confirmation exercises would be conducted at Wa East and Sissala West Districts on Thursday to confirm President's nominees as District Chief Executives.
Source:
GNA
Residents of Akyem Swedru jubilate over creation of a District Capital
Akyem Swedru, Jan. 15, GNA - Residents of Akyem Swedru last Monday jubilated over the creation of the Birim South District with the location of the capital at Akyem Swedru. Led by the Akyem Swedru Youth Association, (ASYA) the people sang and expressed their profound gratitude to the government for considering Akyem Swedru Constituency worthy to be upgraded to a district and more so making the town the capital.
Mr Yaw Tweneboah, Chairman of ASYA, told the GNA that the town had enough lands to meet every need of the new capital. He said infrastructure development that suited the needs of a new district capital were already in place and that currently the town is home for the District Police headquarters, District Circuit Court and the District Headquarters of the Ghana Water Company among others. Mr Tweneboah assured the government and the general public that the town was fully prepared and ready in every facet of development to host the new district as its capital.
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GNA
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Why minister was fired
THE LATEST BBC - VIDEO / 18.30 PM / 14.01.2008
DEPORTATION - BACK to GHANA
WATCH NOW HERE!
... Poku owns cluster of plush mansions @Trasaaco
... Minumum Price $300,000 per house
... Poku defied President to resign
Pandemonium broke out between President J. A. Kufuor and the Security Minister, Mr. Francis Poku when the president asked him to resign as National Security Minister following a row which ensured between him and the president over series of accusations.
The Chronicle gathered that the emergency meeting to have him dismissed took place at the Airport residence of the President at 8:30am last Saturday where the Security Boss was reportedly defiant.
The Chronicle gathered also that the Minister frankly told the President that he would not resign, and that, he would report the matter to the press.
Present at the meeting were Ambassador D.K Osei, Secretary to the President, the Director-General of Police in Charge of Services, Mr. Adu-Gyimah, who represented the Police Boss, the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department, Mr. Adu Poku among other top security officers of the state.
Chronicle was told that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong was in Sunyani mourning with family of the police officer who lost his life during the controversial installation of the Awoamefia of Anlo while his Deputy Mrs. Mills-Robertson was said to be mourning with the former Director General of CID, Mr. David Asante-Apeatu over the death of his mother.
Our sources reported that President Kufuor asked the National Security Minister where he got the finance for the cluster of plush mansions at the Trasaaco Valley in Adjiringano, a suburb of Accra, within the short period of time he was appointed Minister of National Security.
Our sources further indicated that the president expressed dissatisfaction over the Minister�s constant use of the press to defame other security heads after quarreling with them, which could jeopardize national security.
The Heritage newspaper last year reported about how the security set-up was divided between two factions: the Francis Poku-led faction and the IGP Patrick Acheampong-led faction in a rivalry that lasted long before the publicized MV Benjamin cocaine scandal.
In rage, the President frantically ordered Mr. Poku to resign and hand over to his Boss, the Coordinator, Mr. Amoo Ghartey. "I won`t resign. I will go to the press," responded Mr. Poku, our sources said.
Therefore, the President vehemently asked Mr. Poku to walkout of his presence as quoted in local Twi: "fre ha, fri mi fie se wu tie die mi ka." When translated it means: "leave my house if you will not heed my advice."
The president then asked Ambassador D.K Osei to issue a Press Release that the Security Minister Boss has been relieved of his post with immediate effect.
The Chronicle contacted the National Security Minister via telephone but refused to pick the phone.
Source:
The Chronicle
Four huts burnt in Bawku, No Casualty
Bawku (UER), Jan. 14, GNA- Fire gutted four houses in the Bawku Municipality on Sunday night, damaging some properties before it was put off.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bawku, Superintendent Peter King Gyinae, Bawku Municipal Commander of Police said the fire was set to the houses at about 1130 hours but was quickly put off before it could spread. He said nobody was injured and there were no shooting incidents that night.
Police Supt. Gyninae said the Security Personnel had intensified surveillance in the area and assured all that peace was being maintained in the Municipality.
Source:
GNA
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Kweku Baako hospitalised
Ace Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has been admitted to the 37 Military Hospital over what close associates say are stress-related complications.
Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide newspaper and a regular member on Joy FM's panel on the news analysis programme, Newsfile, was rushed to the hospital on Sunday evening after complaining of stomach upset.
Doctors say he is responding to treatment but is not allowed any visitors whatsoever.
Doctors are said to be running a couple of laboratory tests on Kweku, however a source close to him told JOYONLINE that he is not 'very well.'
Kweku and indeed the entire Crusading Guide staff have been mourning the death of Adolf Kwesi Yamikeh, General Manager of the paper who also doubled as the Production Manager of the Daily Dispatch newspaper.
The 44-year-old Yamikeh was interred at the Osu Cemetery at the weekend.
Source:
JOY ONLINE
AFRC spokesman cautions against political violence
Sunyani, Jan 14, GNA - Osahene Boakye Djan, Spokesperson of the erstwhile Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), has said "victims of a next illegal political violence in the country will be members of the political class and not the ordinary people, as the history of our country clearly shows."
He appealed to political parties to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults and acrimony and in accordance with the electoral process to avoid chaos.
Osahene Djan was speaking at a public forum organized by Society of National Affairs (SoNA), a national think-thank, in Sunyani. The forum, which was attended by representatives of political parties, traditional rulers and other opinion leaders, was under the theme: "Towards Ghana @ 100, the New Vision and the Nation in Retrospect".
Osahene Djan said: "Ghana is neither Kenya nor Cote d'Ivoire and indeed any other country where disputes over electoral results are allowed to spill over and engulf only the ordinary people who get slaughtered in their numbers while members of the ruling class and their families escape untouched".
He said the price of politically motivated violence in the county for the past had been extremely costly, not only in terms of loss of lives, liberty and property, but that the momentum of development had also been slowed down.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Initiatives, said the government had expanded the economy from four billion dollars in 2000 to 14 billion dollars in 2007. He stressed the government's commitment and determination to change the landscape of the capital city and also to initiate laudable policies that would help alleviate the plight of the people. Mr. Manu said the country had seen development in the areas of health, education, road networks and human resource base within the past seven years.
He said the school feeding programme, capitation grant and the national health insurance scheme were introduced to relieve the burden on parents and called on Ghanaians to embrace and support policies that would benefit the entire nation.
Source:
GNA
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Support for 25,000 extremely poor household
Cape Coast, Jan 14, GNA- The Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, would from this year offer relief to about 25,000 extremely poor households in 50 districts in the country.
The programme would be implemented under the "Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty in the National Social Protection Strategy. Mrs Angela Asante-Asare, the coordinator of the Programme made this known at a day's sensitization workshop, organized for key implementers of the programme, in Cape Coast.
She said the scheme, which sought to create an all inclusive society through the provision of sustainable mechanisms for the protection of persons living in extreme poverty, vulnerability and exclusion, would be executed on pilot basis within the next five years. Mrs Asante-Asare said government was committed to ensuring the success of the programme because it believed that investing in people was a sure way of attaining the Millennium Development Goals. She said a scheme had been initiated to help reduce leakages and corruption that might occur during the implementation of the programme towards its sustenance.
Mrs Asante-Asare said the Ministry would soon resource the Department of Social Welfare, one of the implementing agencies to enable it work effectively.
She said it would require the concerted efforts of all Ghanaians to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the programme.
Dr Ellen Botei Doku Aryeetey of the Centre for Social Policy Studies, and a consultant to the programme, said even in the midst of widespread poverty, society needed some form of relief and services. She said "a responsible State supports the family for it to in turn take care of the family in order to have a peaceful and progressive society."
Dr Aryeetey, commended government for its efforts aimed at supporting the vulnerable, the extremely poor and those excluded. Those who attended the workshop included district coordinating directors, presiding members of the various district assemblies, officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Ghana Post. Under the programme, which commences this month, each extremely poor household to be identified, would be registered and given between eight and GH=A215.00 every two months to support their basic human needs.
They beneficiaries would also be assisted to access existing social services such as the mass transport as well as free health care to improve upon their socio-economic development. 14 Jan, 08
Source:
GNA
Upper West Region records 96 fire outbreaks in 2007
Wa, Jan 14, GNA- The Upper West Regional branch of the Ghana National Fire Service recorded a total of 96 fire outbreaks in 2007 as compared to 51 in 2006, Mr Douglas Koyiri, Deputy Regional Fire Officer has said. Divisional Officer Grade One Koyiri, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wa on Monday, attributed the rise in fire outbreaks in 2007 to the national electricity crisis the country experienced. He said as a result of the frequent electricity interruptions, many people most times forgot to put off their gadgets "and anytime the electricity was restored, the high initial current sometimes starts fires which accounted for the more fire outbreaks in 2007 as compared to 2006".
Mr Koyiri said although 2007-recorded more fire outbreaks than in 2006, only two casualties were recorded as compared to four during the same period in 2006. The Fire Officer said the estimated cost of damage to property stood at GH=A2266,000 in 2007 as compared to GH=A2126,000 in 2006. The Deputy Fire Officer warned against illegal electrical connections as it was identified as a major cause of fire outbreaks throughout the country and pledged the support of the service to carry out all necessary educational programmes to reduce the rate of fire outbreaks in the region.
Source:
GNA
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