Robbers Strike During Rains In Sunyani
Armed robbers in Sunyani have taken advantage of a cloudy weather and struck the Nana Bosoma Wednesday Market.
They subsequently made away with several millions of cedis, sending most traders into shock. No injuries were recorded in the attack.
It was all tears at the yam section of the market as yam sellers were the most affected in an operation which lasted less than thirty minutes and carried out by few unidentified young men.
It all started around 4:30pm on Wednesday when the weather became cloudy with strong winds. The market women therefore started to pack their stuff to avoid the rain.
The robbers then took advantage of the helter, skelter situation and easily made away with the cash.
An eye witness Nana Ama Boahemaa Yeboah told brongahafoweb.com that “the robbers came in when it was drizzling and the women were busy packing their yams. They were rushing all over, so the robbers just took the monies and ran away”.
She added that “the whole incident was like a movie”
Another woman said “it’s unbelievable, it’s shocking, the robbers came at a time we were rushing to avoid the rain and nobody saw anything apart from the fact that all our monies are gone”.
A yam seller who lost millions of cedis could only shed tears when our reporter approached her.
As at the time this reporter got to the scene, efforts were being made to contact the police.
Meanwhile, the heavy down pour in Sunyani on Wednesday, left several destructions behind.
The rains which lasted about four hours, ripped off some roofs and uprooted trees in and around Sunyani.
The bill board for the Brong-Ahafo regional hospital was blown apart while other structures in the city were carried away by the strong wind.
Drivers had a hectic time driving through the rain while passengers struggled for some time before getting home.
The worst part of the day was when the entire Sunyani experienced a black out for the whole of Wednesday night. No official reason was given for the black out.
Source:
brongahafoweb.com
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Brazil opens agricultural research office in Accra
Accra, April 20, GNA - Ghana and Brazil on Sunday ushered in a landmark strategic partnership to spearhead agricultural revolution in Africa with the inauguration of a Regional Office of Brazil's famous Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Accra. Ghana made available 500,000 dollars towards the establishment of the Office.
President John Agyekum Kufuor and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is the country to attend the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development meeting, jointly performed the ceremony.
The Accra Office, among other things, would facilitate technical co-operation activities for agricultural development, technology transfer, ensure availability of research findings to industry and enhance human resource capacity building.
Additionally, it is designed to help to deepen South-South co-operation through collaboration of Ghanaian and Brazilian scientists to the mutual benefit of Ghana and other African countries. EMBRAPA, established in April 1973, has developed into a major world player in agricultural research and technology development, contributing an estimated 40 billion dollars to Brazil's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
President Kufuor said the expectation was that close collaboration with the Brazilian institutions would result in the sharing of knowledge, transfer of appropriate technologies and best practices for radical transformation of agriculture in Ghana and other African nations.
"The goal is to achieve food security and make Africa a net exporter of agricultural produce," President Kufuor said. He said in the past, increase in agricultural production in Africa was achieved by putting more land under cultivation. However, with the present climatic changes and emerging environmental concerns, maximization of production must come through irrigation, use of fertilizers and application of biotechnology.
President Kufuor said the hope of the Government was that EMBRAPA would complement the country's efforts to stimulate national economic activity through agriculture.
President Lula da Silva said he was confident that with the inauguration, Ghana was going to make a big difference by way of its contribution to the transformation of agriculture in Africa. "Ghana would be a different country from today," he declared. He described the inauguration of the Accra Office as a fulfilment of his commitment to the Region.
Brazil, he said, wanted to engage in more projects that would bring it closer to the Continent.
He said their priority was to give technical training and support the Office with the tools to build its own future.
Source:
GNA
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UN Sec-Gen urges UNCTAD XII to address climatic change
Accra, April 20, GNA - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, at the beginning of a West African tour, has asked the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII), to use the Accra meeting to address issues of climatic change.
Mr. Ban, who is in Accra to open the Conference on Sunday, commended Ghana for its active role in the African Union and peacekeeping efforts in trouble spots of the world.
The Secretary General, during a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, praised Ghana's Parliament, which, he said, had promoted good governance. Mr Ban observed that Ghana was making progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and urged the nation to plug all holes for better performance.
The Speaker said, "it is our expectation that the UNCTAD XII will make headway for developing countries to set themselves on a more sustainable course".
He said the economic circumstances of developing countries continued to be weak due to the continued skewed trade and investment flows in favour of the richer nations of the north.
Mr. Hughes said Ghanaians knew and cared deeply about poverty, and Parliament, through its committees and debates, was working hard at ensuring that the Millennium Development Goals were achieved in order to reduce poverty levels within social strata.
The Speaker paid tribute to the UN and its agencies, notably the UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and the UNFPA, in capacity building on poverty reduction and governance.
He said trade, democracy and development were linked in the modern era of globalisation, but noted that "for a number of years now, the inputs of the Legislature, which is the microcosm of the people, have been left out during global discussions on trade and development". Mr. Hughes said the trend was slowly, but hopefully changing, and representatives from the Legislature were now being involved in some of these discussions.
Mr. Ban is scheduled to address the opening of the UNCTAD XII on Sunday and hold discussions with President John Agyekum Kufuor. He will also visit Liberia, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire.
Source:
GNA
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More jobs for Ghanaians- Nduom
Accra April 19, GNA - A Convention People's Party (CPP)government would ensure that adequate support is given to both public and private sectors to enable them to provide more jobs for Ghanaians, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the party's presidential candidate, has said.
He said the support would include the provision of tax incentives, money, expertise, revitalization of state farms, factories and the creation of local markets for their products. Dr Nduom said this on Friday at a mini rally organized by the Osu Klottey constituency to introduce the party's presidential candidate. He said CPP was the only party that could bring economic prosperity to the country and therefore called on the electorate to vote for it to solve the country's economic problems.
Dr Nduom said "CPP is 'Adwumawura" (that is a party that creates jobs) and therefore could create jobs and would go with good wages. He said many Ghanaians are ready for a change but are not prepared to vote for just anybody. "They can look at us as the alternative."
"I want to be a leader who will implement policies with a sense of urgency," he said and expressed regret that the country had delayed in implementing policies. Dr Nduom said he was confident the CPP would win the December election. "CPP has a track record and that we are working to win. If there is going to be a run-off, CPP will win."
He advised CPP party supporters to register with the electoral commission when the registration opens next month. Madam Suzzy Adu-Amankwa, Grater Accra Regional Chairman of CPP, said the nation had witness the work of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) so it was the turn of the CPP to liberate Ghana from hardship.
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GNA
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Ghana and Brazil sign four agreements to reinforce cooperation
Accra, April 19, GNA - Ghana and Brazil, amidst growing economic partnership on Saturday, signed four agreements to boost technical cooperation in the areas of agro-energy, health, bio-diversity of cassava and the fight against HIV-AIDS infection. Added to this was a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation in the energy sector.
This followed bilateral talks held between President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Brazilian counterpart, President Inacio Lula da Silva, who is in the country to attend the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), at the Castle, Osu.
Ghana's Foreign Minister, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei and Mr Celso Amorim, External Affairs Minister of Brazil, signed the agreements. Speaking before going into the closed session talks, President Lula da Silva said his country has made Africa a priority in its international relations.
He said he was convinced of the support they could provide to transform agriculture on the Continent to enable it to achieve food security.
He made reference to Brazil's savanna agricultural land, which 40 years back, was considered as waste land but through technology had now been transformed and become very productive.
"The same can be done in Ghana and other parts of Africa." President Lula da Silva said in the 21st Century, developing nations did not want to rely on aid from the rich countries but that what they required was access to technology and funding.
He called for more flexibility to give market access to agricultural products from the poor countries and the removal of agricultural subsidies by the rich countries.
President Kufuor said Ghana wanted to maintain strong links with the South American nation to benefit from its advanced agricultural technology to attain self-sufficiency in food production.
Brazil, he said, was seen as a leader of the South and that they looked up to it to provide guidance and leadership to enable them to mainstream themselves into globalization.
He said he was confident that the Brazilian President would give leadership they expected at the UNCTAD for a fairer trade between the developing and developed countries.
President Lula da Silva, earlier, received a warm welcome on arrival at the Jubilee Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport. President Kufuor, Ministers of State and Members of the Diplomatic Community were on hand to officially welcome him when the Presidential Jet carrying him touched down at 0940 hours.
After exchange of pleasantries at the foot of the gangway, he was escorted to a saluting dais, where the national anthems of Ghana and Brazil were played by the Military Band as the deafening sound from the traditional 21-gun salute filled the air.
He later inspected a Military Guard of Honour and was treated to some beautiful cultural display.
Meanwhile, the Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure left Accra for home on Saturday morning after his three days state visit. A joint communiqu=E9 issued at the end of the visit reaffirmed Ghana and Mali's renewed commitment to deepen bilateral and economic partnership.
Source:
GNA
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Akufo-Addo promises to tap wind potentials to support energy sector
Kumasi, April 19, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that his administration would forge a closer collaboration with the private sector to develop wind resources to complement the traditional energy supply sources.
He said studies conducted by the Energy Commission showed that Ghana has ample wind resources that could be exploited for energy purposes.
"This calls for serious attention to be given to tapping this potential to enhance sustainable energy supply." Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking at the energy seminar series organised by the Energy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Friday. It was on the theme "Flagbearers on Energy". He was the last to deliver his paper at the seminar that aimed at giving the candidates the opportunity to highlight to the public their vision for the energy sector if given the mandate in the December polls.
Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Mr John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took turns to share their vision with the public.
Nana Akufo-Addo said besides, his administration would also work hard to further develop the energy potentials inherent in solar, bio-fuels, fuel cells and nuclear as alternative sources of renewable energy.
Touching on solar for instance, he said though with current technology it was not the cheapest source of energy, in terms of generation and transmission on the national grid, the nation needed to stay and engaged in the evolutionary process of this technology and benefit from it in the years ahead.
"Every Region in Ghana receives an average of 1,900 hours of sunshine a year", he said and added that there was therefore an abundance of solar energy ready to be tapped.
He said in furtherance of advancing this technology his administration would apply economies of scale and advancements in technology to ensure that prices of solar technology dropped sharply to make solar energy practical and affordable to benefit the nation. "We could for example require by regulations that from 2015 all new buildings must be solar dependent. For existing buildings, we will consider providing tax incentives to convert them into solar sufficient buildings by 2020", he noted.
On his plans for northern Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that he was committed to ensure that the availability of energy from the Bui Dam complemented by the establishment of the Northern Development Fund provided tremendous opportunity for the massive and rapid transformation of the northern sector of the country. administration in view of the deprived conditions in the north.
Nana Akufo-Addo said his administration will also be committed to a stronger public-private partnership to provide an alternative approach to financing major public sector projects in respect of the energy sector.
To this end therefore, the NPP government would seek to develop the small and mini hydro potentials spread over various locations on the Black Volta, White Volta, rivers Oti, Pra and Tano to allow for free flow of power.
Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, commended the various presidential candidates for honouring the invitation of the university to share their views and vision on energy and hoped they would put into practice these ideas when given the mandate.
Source:
GNA
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EU to support cultural sector in Ghana
Cape Coast, April 19, GNA- The European Union (EU) has made available two million Euros under the European Union Development Fund (EDF) to support the cultural sector in Ghana.
Mr Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, coordinator of the Cultural Initiatives Support Programme (CISP), made this known at a day's workshop for technical theatre production personnel at Cape Coast on Saturday. He said the CISP was established to transform the cultural landscape of the country because it was beset with many shortfalls and weaknesses.
Mr Apenteng mentioned the lack of training for technical staff and financial constraints as some of the problems and said they prevented people with ideas and talents in culture from realizing their dreams. He urged government to invest in culture to generate income to support the economy.
Mr Apenteng said so far the CISP had received over 1500 applications from individuals and organizations for financial support. Mr Emmanuel Quao, regional director of the Centre for National Culture, thanked the EU for supporting cultural initiatives in the country, which would help in tapping the potentials in that area.
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GNA
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Fifteen Ghanaians Deported from Spain to Ghana
Bolgatanga, April 18, GNA - Fifteen Ghanaians, with ages ranging between from 17 and 34 years, were on Thursday deported by the government of Spain to Ghana for illegally entering the country. They are Mr. Alex Antwi, 28, Mr. Kwasi Appiah, 23, Mr. Kwame Alex, 25, Mr. Thomas Boateng, 26, Mr. Kojo Antwi, 25, Mr. Kwasi Obeng, 25 and Mr. Kojo Yakubu 29, all from Teacheman.
The rest are Nana Kofi 34, from Kwahu, Mr. Kobi Bright, 30, Cape Coast, Mr. Jojo Kwame, Cape Coast, Mr. Kofi Otu 30, Mankessim, Mr. Kofi Akwa 34, Kumasi, Mr. William Ayaba, 23, Sunyani, Mr. Fifi Kojo, 20, Berekum and Mr. Agyei Kwabina, 17 Berekum. Narrating their ordeal their leader, Mr. Alex Antwi, said they travelled through Mali, Algeria to Morocco and to Spain but were deported to Algeria where they served one month in prison before they were released.
He said there are about another 100 Ghanaians deported from Spain and are in Algerian prisons. Mr Antwi said after their release by the Algerian authorities they travelled to Mali where they met a Catholic priest who assisted them to enter Ouagadougou.
In Ouagadougou they met a Ghanaian articulator truck driver who transported them through the Paga border to the Upper East Region where they decided to seek assistance from the Regional Coordinating Council to enable them to get to their hometowns.
Addressing them Mrs. Agnes Chegabatia, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister who received them in the presence of Mr. Daniel Taabazuing, Commander of Immigration in charge of Upper East Region, told them to take lessons from what they had gone through.
Most of the deportees GNA spoke to vowed never to travel to look for greener pasture outside Ghana and that the hardships they went through had taught them lessons.
Mr. Antwi said he used more than 25,000 Ghana Cedis from his poultry farm for the journey and that he would go back to his poultry business. Mr. Taabazuing said the deportees, who are in the custody of the Immigration Service, would be screened to find out whether they are Ghanaians after which they would be counselled and re-integrated into their communities.
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GNA
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UNCTAD boss arrives in Accra
Accra, April 18, GNA - Mr Supachi Punitchpakdi, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), arrived in the country last night to participate in the 12th meeting of UNCTAD scheduled for April 20 to 25, 2008. The Heads of State of Brazil, Nigeria, Finland, El-Salvador, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and Turkey are expected to participate in the meeting The conference which is on the theme; "Addressing Opportunities and Challenges of Globalisation for Development," would be attended by about 4,500 representatives of UNCTAD's 193 states, including participants from other international bodies, non-governmental organisations, businesses and the academia.
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Asantehene holds durbar for Malian President
Kumasi, April 18, GNA- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, on Friday organized a durbar at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi to welcome the Malian President, Amadou Tourmani Toure, who is on a three-day state visit to Ghana.
Accompanied by President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr Toure was greeted with tumultuous cheers from the crowd and sounds from the Fontomfrom drum were heard on their arrival at the durbar.
President Toure noted that there was an improved relation between Ghana and Mali stressing that the long historical and commercial trade connection between Ghana and Mali was growing from strength to strength. The Malian President said he was happy to be in Kumasi to greet the Asantehene and the good people of Kumasi, the town where he grew from infancy and hoped that the social and commercial activities between Ghana and Mali would continue to improve.
President Toure asked God to give Otumfuo Osei Tutu long life and President Kufuor and the people of Ghana success. The Asantehene in an address read on his behalf by Oheneba Adusei Poku, the Akyempemhene of Kumasi, commended the Malian President for his efforts to promote democracy in his country.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II called on Malians in the Ashanti Region to construct warehouses at the Boankra inland port to promote trade in the West African sub-region.
He also urged President Toure to ensure effective business transactions among the people of the sub-region adding that language or administrative barriers should not be a hindrance to economic activities.
The occasion, which was also attended by chiefs, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and diplomats witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on economic cooperation, cultural exchange and ideas to enhance cordial relations between the people of Kumasi and Mopti in Mali.
Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, signed on behalf of Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolis, while Mr. Mahmoud Ben Labrat, the Malian Ambassador signed for the Mayor of Mopti.
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GNA
The changing image of 66th Artillery Regiment
Ho, April 18, GNA - Mr Ken Devia (not his real name) was brought to the Ho Polyclinic writhing from snakebite. He could be dead any moment as the facility had no anti snakebite serum.
Then the idea came. Why should we not ask the Military Medical Post at the 66th Artillery Regiment for help? Presto, an emissary went, not far at all, arrived back with the serum, to save Mr Devia.
The Polyclinic replaced the serum when its supplies arrived. Perhaps years ago, it would not have occurred to the Nurses at the Polyclinic to dash to that Military Camp - to the bullies - for help. Today the 66th Artillery Regiment is the newest 'suburb' of Ho. Suburb? Yes. Because though it remained an enclave (military camp)with all the accoutrements including regulations for its specialized mission it has built bridges between it and the rest of Ho. And passage is fluid That is to say, relations between the soldiers and civilians is so good that, that dreaded noise of military boots against the stones of the grounds of Ho, no longer means trouble for anybody but the footsteps of just any other passer-by.
"For the past three years we have not had reports of a Soldier from the Barracks molesting anybody," Regiment Commander, Lt Colonel Emmanuel Kotia told Journalist recently at a briefing. Besides helping civilian institutions on security matters, joining the police to quell inter-ethnic unrests in the Volta Region and fighting armed robbery, that Regiment has a comprehensive corporate plan with a big room for social responsibility programmes.
On its 42 anniversary this year, the Regiment dispatched 40 soldiers to Mafi-Anfoe in the North-Tongu District to help to build a community library there. Team Leader Lt Richard Cobba-Eshun said the project would cost GHC 54,000. The library project is being funded by some units of the US Army under the aegis of Major Mathews M. Battison, Military Attach=E9 at the US Embassy in Ghana.
Ten US Sailors in the HSV 2 Swift, on a two-week visit to Ghana also joined their colleagues from Ho to work on the project, recently. A potable water project for Kpenoe, near the Barracks; blood donation; cleanup exercises at the Municipal Hospital in Ho are among activities planned to highlight the anniversary.
Already the chiefs and people of Kpenoe are rejoicing over the ability of their green uniformed neighbours to stop the illegal sand winning there. "If any recalcitrant environmental polluter with a tipper truck comes indiscriminately fetching sand. They call us and we deal with them like the good neighbours that we are;" Lt Col Kotia stated.
The biggest news is that the "suburb's" clinic would be rehabilitated 'totally and completely'. It would have more beds, sharper laboratory equipment, and bigger staff, among other things.
When that happens, the sick in Ho and environs might have difficulty choosing which facility to go when sick. There is the 37 Military Hospital in Accra serving everybody. Another is about to be opened in Ho "Our heavy guns are turned on enemies and no one else, come visit us in organized groups to know more about us. We would show you our kraal with 200 cows and 70-acre mango plantation," Lt Col Kotia said.
"And when you take leave of us, I do not have to tell you 'who won the war; you know Artillery did," he touted.
A GNA Feature by Sepenyo Dzokoto
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GNA
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Developed countries urged not to undermine UNCTAD's role
Accra, April 18, GNA - A call has been made to developed countries to stop undermining the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in issues of global trade and development. Mr Aftab Alam Khan, International Coordinator, Stop Corporate Abuse and Trade Justice Campaign of actionaid, said it was high time UNCTAD assumed its proper position as the body set up to help developing countries to manage their trade globally.
Addressing journalists ahead of the launch of a study on Commodity-Dependence and Development, Mr Khan said the pursuit of deliberate policies by the developed world through institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund over the years had relegated to the background UNCTAD's role of working to secure better prices on the world market for developing countries.
"These bad policies of the IMF and the World Bank have meant that developing countries are now far behind in trade, facing problems in the food sector while the poverty gap has widened," he said. Mr Khan said commodity producers were being squeezed out by the strong influence of the international financial institutions, "which gospel of liberalization had spelt the doom of poor farmers". The farmers are being out-competed in their domestic market through importation of cheap products and therefore unable to get fair prices for their produce.
Mr Khan said the beneficiaries of the exploits were the profit-driven trans-national corporations and stressed the need to take action to reverse the situation by working to change trade policies at the national, regional and international levels.
The study by actionaid and South Centre held that political will was essential in order to bridge the gap between promises and actions of the developed countries in dealing with the commodities problem. There is also the need for effective poor farmers' participation to ensure that response to the current commodities crises contributes to poverty reduction.
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GNA
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Nduom urges peace in upcoming elections
Bawku (UE/R), April 17, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Flag bearer of the Convention's People's Party (CPP) on Wednesday toured all five constituencies in the Bawku Traditional Area with a call on Party members to remain law abiding and avoid acts likely to trigger violence during the upcoming general election. He made the call during courtesy calls on the chiefs and CPP supporters, during which he underscored peace as a prerequisite for development.
Addressing the chiefs, elders and CPP members at separate functions, Dr Nduom pledged to conduct a clean campaign, devoid of insults and abusive language and called on other aspirants to do same to promote peace and stability. He emphasized that it was the CPP that spearheaded independence for Ghana in its quest for development and would not do anything that would create trouble for the elections. "CPP wants peace, and with peace there would be stability and with stability there would be more development," he reiterated and urged Party supporters to concentrate on preaching the good message of the Party, being the creation of more jobs for Ghanaians.
Dr Nduom said although there were other areas that needed to be developed, the Party attached more importance to more jobs creation, adding that a survey conducted by him showed that majority of Ghanaians had no jobs and were yearning for them. He held that the CPP left behind good legacies of job creation which were thrown overboard after the overthrow of the CPP in 1966. He said if the CPP is given the mandate it would revamp industries such as the jute factory, shoes factory, meat factories and the farming brigade. Dr Nduom visited Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of Bawku, Regent of Mamprugu, Ibrahim Adam Zangbegu, Naba Aboya Ndago the III, Zabilla Chief, Naba Amadu Awuni, Binduri Chief and Naba Akwaka Ayuma, Pusiga Chief.
In addition to the Bawku Tradional area, Dr Nduom also visited Nangodi in the Talensi Nabdam District and called on the Regent of Nangodi, Alex Kofi Bagnaba who commended him and asked the "gods of the land" to bless him. Regent Bagnaba however expressed worry about the high drop out rate of school children in the Nangodi area, which he blamed on poverty. He said the area abound in gold and appealed to government to create the necessary environment to attract investors to the place.
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GNA
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Prison officer calls for review of law banning employment of ex-convicts
Ankaful (C/R) April 17, GNA -A Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) and Central Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr Oppong Tweneboa-Kodua, on Thursday called on the government to consider repealing laws that ban the employment of ex-convicts in the public sector. He said this was to enable them to realize their potentials and full benefits of training programmes made available to them during their incarceration.
Mr Tweneboa-Kodua, made the appeal at the inauguration of a pilot project of an "open schooling" in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), for prisoners at the Ankaful Main Prisons, near Cape Coast. Under the project, an 'open university' would be established through the setting up of 'centres' at some selected prisons, to provide inmates as well as other needy and vulnerable students the opportunity to improve upon their literacy and numerical skills, as well as acquire skills in catering, concrete and block-laying. He observed that the tendency to relapse into crime after serving prison terms in the country's prisons was caused mainly by the nation's inability to properly rehabilitate and re-integrate ex-convicts into society.
"If ex-convicts feel rejected by both the society and the laws of the land, there is the likelihood of them trying to get back to prison no matter the training they have acquired", he stressed. Mr Tweneboa-Kodua therefore expressed the hope that the government as well as all social partners, society, the family, churches and all stakeholders will begin to think of how they can help to rehabilitate and re-integrate ex-convicts into lager society, adding, "this is the only way to reclaim the lives of the inmates".
Mr Oppong Tweneboa-Kodua noted that the Services' mandate to provide formal education for inmates had been hindered by inadequate budgetary allocation and the lack of interest in these programmes on the part of its social partners. He, in this regard, commended the government for the initiative, and pledged the Services' support towards making it a success, since it would go a long way in improving the welfare of the inmates, while at the same time, providing the necessary training and counselling towards their reformation and re-integration into the larger society.
Mrs Abena Agyakoma Kwarteng, National Co-ordinator of the Presidential Special Initiative on Distance Learning (PSI-DL), who launched the project, said the inmates would also have the opportunity to sit for the BECE, WASSCE and other examinations to enter the 'open university' that would afford them the opportunity to pursue their future when they were released. She said more than 1,000 students have been targeted, with seven study centres made up of public and private vocational and technical institutions and five prisons nationwide, namely: the Nsawam, Kumasi, Tamale, Wa and Ankaful Prisons. She presented books and other learning materials, a colour television, DVD, and about 600 VCDs that contain over 1,280 hours of lessons from the Junior and senior high schools, and urged the inmates to avail themselves of the opportunity to upgrade themselves.
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GNA
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Demo Rocks NPP Vetting
The vetting of New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirants in Greater Accra, taking place at the Regional Secretariat of the party, was greeted with protests by angry supporters of some of the aspirants who besieged the venue, expressing one reservation or another.
The placard-carrying demonstrators mostly came from Ablekuma North, Okaikoi South and Ayawaso West Wuogon among other areas of the metropolis.
As early as 6.00am the demonstrators had taken positions with various inscriptions on the placards.
The Ablekuma North demonstrators were calling for the disqualification of Kofi Ofori, popularly called Bella, who until recently was the constituency chairman.
Bella resigned his position to contest the seat being vacated by Kwamena Bartels, Minister of the Interior, who is not seeking re-election after three terms in office.
The furious party supporters chanted war songs and threatened to vote “skirt and blouse” should the party executives allow the former constituency chairman to sail through the vetting.
They accused Bella of being corrupt and having a questionable character which could dent the image of the party during the December elections.
But the man at the centre of the storm and one-time Chairman of the Ablekuma Sub-Metro, Mr. Ofori, accused Hon. Bartels of masterminding the demonstration against him in order to settle on one of the four other aspirants for the seat.
Bella alleged that the incumbent MP held a secret meeting with the other four aspirants in the persons of Dr. Albert Adomako, David Nana Yaw Asare, Isaac Kwakye Gyasi, and Justice Joe Appiah as well as a few other selected party members last Sunday in his office, where he mapped out strategies to thwart his political ambition of representing the constituency in Parliament.
Bella claimed that the demonstrators were not from Ablekuma North and could not recognise him if he passed by them and that they were ferried from other areas to serve Hon. Bartels’ interest.
The Constituency Chairman for the area, Charles Amoah Kodom also shared these sentiments, accusing the Interior Minister of orchestrating the demonstration and described the incident as unfortunate and uncalled for.
He said the NPP needed people who could unite the party members and that attempts by some to foment trouble in the constituency would not be accepted, adding that it would be proper for anybody who had something against Bella to present it at the vetting and not resort to activities which could disintegrate the party.
Meanwhile the vetting of aspirants for the eight constituencies took place amidst the earlier protests, with most of the expected “hot seats” being the Ayawaso West Wuogon and the Okaikwei North constituencies, where the chairman, John Owusu-Afriyie and others are challenging the incumbent, Elizabeth Sackey.
The most anticipated hot seat would be the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, where the incumbent, Hon. Frema Osei Opare, is likely to battle it out with the former NADMO Boss and immediate past MP for the area, George Isaac Amoo and one Abraham Amoakohene.
Supporters of Hon Frema Osei were all over the place in her T-shirts to rally support for her.
Vicky Bright, deputy Minister at the Office of the President who had earlier denied nursing ambition for the Okaikoi South seat, is challenging Nana Akomea, Minister for Manpower Development and Employment for the seat, seen as a safe one for the ruling party.
Vicky also came with supporters who described her as ‘Obaatan Pa’, in apparent reference to the sewing machines she reportedly dished to some polling station chairmen.
Source:
Daily Guide
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Prof. Mills will not take part in energy debate
The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. John Atta Mills will not participate in Friday’s energy debate in Kumasi.
Instead, he will be represented by his running mate, Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi Mr. John Dramani Mahama.
The debate is being organised by the Energy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology for presidential aspirants to spell out their plans for the energy sector of the country’s economy.
Prof. Mills and the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo were billed to take their turn on Friday, April 18, 2008 but Koku Anyidoho of Mills’ campaign team said Prof. Mills had other engagements to attend to.
He said the NDC presidential candidate was not participating in the debate for good reasons.
Mr. Anyidoho told Joy News that the NDC flag bearer will be adequately represented.
The provost of the College of Engineering of the KNUST, Prof. F. W. Y. Momade, however said he was disappointed with Prof. Mills’ absence from the debate.
He said the debate nonetheless will go on as planned.
Meanwhile the Communications Director of Nana Addo’s campaign team, Dr. Arthur Kennedy has confirmed to Joy News that the NPP flag bearer will be at the debate.
Already the presidential candidates of the Convention Peoples’ Party and Peoples National Convention, Drs. Paa Kwesi Nduom and Edward Mahama respectively have taken their turn.
Source:
JOY FM
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There is food surplus in the regions to offset recent price hike - Debrah
Accra, April 17, GNA - The Agriculture Sector Minister, Mr. Ernest A. Debrah on Thursday gave the assurance that there were enough food surpluses in most of the regions to cater for the current food price increase in regions that recorded deficits. He said apart from the Greater Accra Region, which recorded deficit in all the major food supply and demand, all other regions have enough food reserve to be transported to fill the gap.
Mr. Debrah, who was briefing the press in Accra on the food situation in Ghana, said apart from rice, millet and sorghum the country produced in excess of the national demand in the major staple foods. He said however, the surplus or deficit was not evenly distributed in all the regions, adding there was the need to move surplus food from the producing regions to other regions with deficits.
The world food situation has been worsening in recent times with rising food prices, especially for cereals. In 2007 for instance, there was an average of about 35 per cent increase in prices of major foodstuff over 2006 prices. The Minister explained that increasing prices were mainly the result of the supply and demand factors, which were made up of climatic changes, competing demand for land for the production of bio-fuels and increasing prices of agro inputs, particularly fertilizers. He also attributed the situation to increase in population and demand for cereals, especially maize for bio-fuels.
Mr. Debrah said some experts have predicted that the current food situation would persist for at least another decade and there was the need to initiate medium and long term interventions to ensure food security. He said for immediate interventions, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was interacting with the market women and transport owners to find ways of minimizing the effect of transport costs on food prices. "We are also collaborating with the security agencies to ensure that food is not smuggled out of the country," he said. He said the Ministry was proposing legislation to make the flour mills incorporate 20 per cent of high quality cassava flour into bread and pastry flour.
"MOFA is also looking at the possibility of producing maize flour for corn bread and also intensify the production of now widely accepted NERICA rice, especially in areas where it has a comparative advantage over maize production," he added. He announced that feasibility studies were on-going to turn Accra-Plains to farmland under the Peri-Urban Agriculture Project to boost agriculture production in the Greater Accra Region. The Ministry would also encourage both inland and low land rice production to meet the current demand for rice. Mr Debrah, therefore advised Ghanaians to shift their taste from imported food to locally produced ones and cultivate the habit of keeping a backyard garden to cater for some of the vegetable needs and thereby minimize the effect of the rising prices on the domestic budget.
Source:
GNA
Personnel of Ghana National Fire Service to rehabilitate water hydrants
Tema, April 16, GNA -- Personnel of Ghana National Fire Service in Tema on Wednesday began a two-week mapping out exercise to rehabilitate water hydrants in the metropolis for easy accessibility during a fire outbreak. It was realised that most of them were sealed with laterite and others had structures on them.
Mr Jones E. Sarpong, Tema Regional Fire Safety Officer, who led the exercise, explained that acute water shortage in the metropolis to fight fire in inaccessible areas posed a problem to their operations. He said the metropolis had more than 100 water hydrants but had no records on those that were functioning effectively. Mr Sarpong blamed road contractors for the sealed hydrants because they covered them during construction of projects and laying of cables. He said a report would be submitted to the management of Ghana Water Company and Tema Metropolitan Assembly for action on the hydrants. Mr Sarpong appealed to estate developers to involve fire service personnel in their operations for expert advice on the location of water hydrants for easy accessibility.
Meanwhile, the personnel had given a gas cylinder repairer who operates closer to a mechanic shop two days ultimatum to stop operation to protect lives and property. It was realized that the repairer who failed to give his name did not have operation permit.
Source:
GNA
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Ghana - China relations is based on mutual respect - Ambassador YU
Accra, April 16, GNA - Ghana - China relations are based on mutual respect and dates back to the First Republic, when Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah established the fraternal relations based on mutual respect, Chinese Ambassador Yu Wenzhe said on Tuesday. He said President Nkrumah and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung developed the friendship because they had a common cause since both were heads of developing countries that shared common aspirations.
Mr Yu, who was speaking at a dinner he hosted for the Ghana - China Friendship Association (GHACIFA) in Accra, said the diplomatic relations between Ghana and China had the added dimension of people to people relations in addition to the government-to-government relations. Referring to the impending Beijing Olympic Games, Mr Yu said Chinese separatists were moving heaven and earth to embarrass the Chinese Government by trying to interrupt the journey of the Olympic Torch, adding that he was appalled when the separatists attempted to take the torch away from a physically challenged person, who was carrying it. He said that singular action showed the level that the separatists had sunk and urged all peace-loving people of the world to condemn the anarchists, who are working for the Dalai Lama, the Traditional High Priest of Lamaism.
Mr Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, President of GHACHIFA and Former Ghana Ambassador to China, recounted how a large delegation from Ghana led by Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah went to China to establish the Association on 18th August 1961 in Beijing. He said Ghana stood by China during the period the West attempted to ostracise her, adding that President John Agyekum Kufuor was incidentally the person who cast Ghana's vote to make China a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 1971. Mr Amoo-Gottfried said Ghana and China believed in championing the cause of the underprivileged and there was every reason for the two countries to forge ahead together.
Source:
GNA
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Two top officials of Barclays discharged
Accra, April 16, GNA - Two top officials of Barclays Bank Ghana Limited who were cited for contempt of court were on Wednesday discharged by an Accra Fast Track High Court.
The court noted that, the plaintiffs in the case could not prove the contempt charge levelled against Ms. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Managing Director, Barclays Bank Ghana Limited and Ms. Laureen Lokko, Head of Human Resource. It noted that salaries of plaintiffs had been paid by the bank as at February this year, adding that if the bank had dismissed them, their salaries would not have been paid. The court did award cost.
The court further urged the parties to exhaust provisions of the bank's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) before taking any action. Eight employees of the bank, all executives of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), on February 4, this year, filed an interlocutory injunction against the defendants not to prevent them from going into their offices and withholding their salaries, allowances and other benefits pending the determination a substantive matter before the court.
While the matter was pending at the court, management dismissed the entire executives. The applicants were seeking damages for breach of the provisions of the bank's Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA). They were also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from carrying out any acts of victimization of trades union leaders or interfering in their duties and performance of their functions as union leaders. They said, the defendants flouted this and issued a letter of summary dismissal, which was in contravention of the CBA.
Source:
GNA
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Ghana doing better with food prices
Food price hikes hit the world; but Ghana doing better, says analyst.
Empty shelves in Zimbabwe; food riots in West Bengal, Haiti, la Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Mexico; warnings of hunger in Jamaica, Nepal, the Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa, generally. The Committee for Joint Action has taken note that sky-rocketing prices for basic foods are triggering political instability, forcing governments to step in to artificially control the cost of bread, maize, rice and dairy products.
But, in an interview with the Trunk News Agency, Ouborr Kutando, a Harvard-trained Public Policy analyst of the Danquah Institute believes Ghana's economy has "performed exceptionally well” to withstand the massive hikes in food prices that have gripped the rest of the developing world. Food inflation in Ghana were felt more in the months of January, February, April, and 2007. The increases averaged 1.48% and 1.92% respectively in the first and second quarters respectively compared to the increases of 1.21% and 1.44 % for the same periods in 2006. That not withstanding, a comparison of food prices within the sub- region shows Ghana as having lower retail prices compared to most of its neighbors. Among the food items compared,
Mr Kutando said, for example, “3 pieces of plantain costs $0.40 in Ghana, better than our neighbours in the West African region. In Nigeria, for instance, it costs $0.74 and in Togo, it costs $1.68. On top of that, teachers and nurses are paid better in Ghana than in those countries.” The policy analyst at the Cantonments-based think tank added, "Even though the price of rice has shot up by 70% on the commodities market in the last year, imported rice costs $1.00 in Ghana, $1.16 in Nigeria, $1.02 in Togo and $0.84 in la Cote d’Ivoire." He continued, "Yam costs $0.32 in Ghana but costs $0.74 in Nigeria, $0.96 in Togo and $0.18 in Benin. Also, chilies cost $1.49 in Ghana but $1.80 in Benin, and $1.71 in Nigeria. Oranges cost $0.12 in Ghana, $0.85 and $0.48 in Nigeria and Togo respectively. Prices may still be high here but we are doing far better than the developing world average."
Mr Kutando stressed that UN Food and Agricultural Organisation figures indicate that record world prices for most staple foods have led to 18% food price inflation in China, 13% in Indonesia and Pakistan, and 10% or more in Latin America, Russia and India, according to the. "The price of wheat has doubled in price, maize is nearly 50% higher than a year ago, while other staples such as corn, maize and soya are trading at well above their 1990s averages. I think the facts support the reality that the Ghanaian economy has become a lot more resilient in recent years," he said.
The policy analyst attributed the global food price hikes to several factors, including, "rising energy costs which has increased transport and storage costs. The spike in oil prices, which hit $103 per barrel in recent days, has pushed up fertilizer prices, as well as the cost of trucking food from farms to local markets and shipping it abroad." The rise in food prices is also partly because of other uncontrollable and controllable forces such as spiraling population growth across the globe combined with a lack of growth in the agricultural sector.
"The world is growing at the phenomenal rate of at least 200,000 people a day, or 75 million a year. Unless the rate is checked, this planet’s 3.9 billion inhabitants will double in number within 35 years. India’s 1.6% annual growth rate will double the country’s current population of 1.1million by the year 2030," he quoted from available figures. He commended Ghana on taking the lead in dealing with some of the environmental pressures encompassing climate change. But called for "a lot more consciousness here."
Mr Kutando added, "Considering that Ghana’s yam harvests have been seriously disrupted by flooding, we have done exceptionally well because other countries in West Africa that faced similar floods are not doing as well." He identified "the main losers" as "poor people who live in cities in developing countries, who are facing higher prices for imported food on low incomes." Though the World Bank says that the high price of food could lead to developing countries missing international poverty targets, Mr Kuntando is confident that Ghana would meet her targets. "Let us also not forget that some poor farmers are also benefiting from higher prices," he added.
Source:
TNA / Statesman
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Ghana must ratify Convention on Torture now - CHRAJ
Accra, April 15, GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Tuesday reiterated its call to government to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) to boost Ghana's strong record of upholding human rights in Africa. "In order to remain a leader in the international community and continue to lead other African countries by example, Ghana needs to take more proactive measures towards ratifying the OPCAT and protect the rights of freedom from torture for our citizens", Ms. Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner, CHRAJ said.
The OPCAT is a treaty brought into force on June 22, 2006, in an effort by the UN to reaffirm that freedom from torture is a right that must be protected in all circumstances. It is the first international instrument that seeks to prevent torture and other forms of ill treatment through the establishment of a system of regular visits to places of detention carried out by independent international and national bodies in the form of sub-committee on the prevention of torture.
Addressing a workshop, the third in series, that sought to heighten the hopes of action by the government of Ghana towards the ratification of the OPCAT, Ms. Bossman said in spite of various interventions by the Commission to impress on Government to ratify the OPCAT, which she signed to on November 2006, the state remained hesitant to do so. Ghana remained among a longer list of signatories that also include Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Togo who were yet to ratify it. Ms. Bossman explained that the workshop would enable CHRAJ to create awareness and reinforce advocacy efforts towards the ratification of the OPCAT as well as encourage government to take immediate steps to ratify the convention. On Ghana's experience of visiting mechanism in preventing torture,
Ms Bossman said the Commission had started periodic visits to prisons to check on sanitation, accommodation, feeding and recreation facilities to ensure there was no torture, cruelty and degrading treatment meted out to inmates. This, she said had contributed to the improvement in the living conditions of prisoners in the country. Mr Nicholas Lang, the Swiss Ambassador explained that the idea of abolition of torture and cruelty was proposed by Switzerland in the late 1980s to end all forms of inhuman treatment to mankind to protect their dignity. He said unfortunately, torture was still being practiced in about 150 countries either out of revenge or to degrade the dignity of mankind.
Professor Kenneth Attafuah, a Human Rights Activist explained that torture meant severe pain or suffering that is intentionally inflicted on a person and that freedom from torture and inhuman treatment was fundamental human rights that must be ensured and respected by all states. "The optional protocol is a novel and compelling convention that deserve urgent ratification. It is an urgent law that the state must not hesitate to ratify at all".
Source:
GNA
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Presidential candidates agree to debate
Accra, April 15, GNA - Candidates of four main political parties contesting the 2008 elections have agreed to participate in Presidential Debates under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). A statement signed by Mrs Jean Mensa, Administrator of IEA, said Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP) had confirmed their participation in the debates.
The IEA said it sent out invitations to the presidential candidates in January this year to debate and dialogue on key policy issues confronting the country, as part of as part of its efforts to meaningfully contribute to the consolidation of multiparty democracy. "The IEA is of the view that Presidential Debates are an effective way of invoking the electorate in the political process of the country," it said, adding that debates also provided a platform for the electorate to analyse the diverse plans the flagbearers had for the people to enable them to make informed choices on Election Day. The Institute congratulated Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi for his election as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Freedom Party and intimated that a formal invitation would be extended to him to participate in the debates.
Source:
GNA
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Anglogold accused of discharging raw sewage into water bodies at Teberebie
Accra, April 15, GNA - FoodFirst Information and Action Network, Ghana (FIAN), an International Human Rights Oganisation, on Tuesday accused Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem of discharging raw sewage from the company's bungalows into water bodies at Teberebie, a farming community in the Western Region and its surrounding villages.
Mr Mike Anane, Co-ordinator of FIAN, Ghana said based on reports received from people of Teberebie, they organized international fact finding team to the area and samples of the discharge was taken to Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Water research Institute for analysis. Other villages affected include Mile 5, Mile 6 and Mile 7. He said the analytical report indicated that the effluents from the pipes at Mile 5 bungalows and Mile 6 bungalows and offices were not bacteriologically safe to be discharged into the environment as they are heavily contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and possibly other micro-organisms.
Mr Anane said the report also stated that it was important for those effluents to receive pre-treatment before being discharged into the environment and that the current state could only be used to irrigate crops, sports fields, public parks and trees but not crops likely to be eaten uncooked. He said that action on the part of the company violated the right to water of the communities that relied on the water resources in the area and "we are calling on the government to stop the irresponsible gold mining operations of Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem. "We are also calling on the Government to start an independent investigation into the increasing concerns expressed by the people of Teberebie and its surrounding villages and also conduct an environmental audit to enable the people know how the mine has impacted their water bodies," he said. He said another case was the dumping of waste rocks close to the community and the dust that it generated posed grave consequences for the health of communities in the area particularly Teberebie.
"The indiscriminate open air dumping of heaps of waste rock by Anglogold and their subsequent exposure to atmospheric conditions pose a potential problem. The possibility of acid drainage in the area and its impact on the quality of both groundwater and surface water is indeed disturbing," he added. Mr Anane said Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, which Ghana is a signatory enjoined all States parties to recognize the rights of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and family, including adequate food, clothing and housing and to the continuous improvement of living conditions.
"FIAN is particularly concerned about the apparent violations of the human rights to food and water and to health. These rights are guaranteed in the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which was signed by Ghana in the year 2000. "As a signatory to this covenant, the Ghana government is obliged under the international law to protect these rights and to ensure an adequate standard of living for people affected by Iduapriem's mining operations and also hold Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem for violating these rights," he added. According to him government has to act according to its obligation under the international law to protect the rights of the residents of Teberebie and to enforce environmental regulations regarding gold mining.
Source:
GNA
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Pupils in B/A benefiting from School Feeding Programme
Sunyani, April 15, GNA- About 77,867 pupils in 183 schools in the Brong Ahafo Region are benefiting from the Ghana School Feeding programme.
The programme was introduced by the government to help reduce extreme hunger and poverty among school children. Mr Ansu Kumi, Regional Co-ordinator of the School Feeding Programme, disclosed this in Sunyani at a one day workshop, to help caterers acquire more knowledge in food preparation to ensure that children are provided with the right nutrients. The workshop was also aimed at sensitizing participants to conform to the health, nutritional and sanitation standards of food preparation. He advised the caterers to ensure that food was prepared in a very hygienic environment to promote the physical and academic growth of the children.
The Regional Co-ordinator cautioned the participants to abide by the rules and regulations of the programme to sustain it, adding that, any worker caught engaging in any negative act would be dealt with accordingly.
Mr Kumi asked the participants to purchase local items to create ready market for peasant farmers, which he said, was an objective of the feeding programme.
He denied allegations made by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) that the Wenchi Municipality is owed by the Regional Secretariat and asked the Committee "to check their facts well" since the said Municipality was among areas where the programme had been successful.
Mr Charles Kwakye Siaw, Regional nutritionist, took the participants through a nutritional plan to ensure that the children were provided with sumptuous, decent and well balanced food.
Source:
GNA
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Ghana's High Commissioner to UK receives award
London, April 14, GNA - Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Annan Arkyin Cato, has been presented with the "Freedom of the City of London Award" for exemplary leadership and tremendous contribution to the growth and strengthening of Ghana-UK ties.
Relations between the two countries, is now at all time high culminating in President John Agyekum Kufuor's historic State Visit to the UK, the first ever by a Ghanaian Head of State at the invitation of the British Monarch, in March 2007.
The award conferred on Mr Cato by the Mayor of London is reserved for royalty, statesmen and philanthropists.
Former recipients include Former South African President Nelson Mandela; Theodore Roosevelt and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, both Former Presidents President of United States; Florence Nightingale, Mother Nursing; and Prime Minister Winston Churchill Britain. Alderman Sir John Stuttard, who presented the award on behalf of the Mayor, paid tribute to the High Commissioner for his role in deepening Ghana-UK bilateral relations and partnership.
Mr Cato dedicated the honour to the entire Ghanaian Community. He said Ghana cherished its relations with the UK and conveyed appreciation for the development support towards the country's socio-economic transformation from the British.
He used the occasion to woo the business community of the City of London and the British public to put their money into Ghana's economy saying, they should see Ghana as an attractive country for investment and relaxation.
The High Commissioner said he was happy with the positive response to President Kufuor's appeal to the financial sector in the City, by pledging amounts far in excess of the 750 million pounds sterling, which Ghana had hoped to raise by floating bonds on the London Market.
Referring to the President's state visit, he noted that its significance ran deeper than the glamour put on display, saying: "It represented the depth of the uninterrupted 50 years of friendship between Ghana and the UK and equally important was the resolve of the two countries to continue to work together in the interest of greater world peace."
Source:
GNA
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Chiefs call for sustained peace in Bolgatanga Traditional Area
Bolgatanga, April 14, GNA- The Chiefs and people of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area in the Upper East Region at the weekend celebrated their annual "Adakoya" festival with a call on the people to help maintain and sustain the current peace in the area. The "Adakoya" Festival is celebrated every year to express appreciation to God for His abundant blessing for a successful farming season and to solicit His guidance and protection for the ensuing season.
The occasion was also used to take stock of what had been achieved during the past year and to fashion out strategies to overcome constraints and challenges impeding development. The Paramount Chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Martin Abilba the III and the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Alhassan Samari, explained that without peace, development could not thrive and appealed to the people to continue to maintain and sustain the current peace the Municipality and its environs were enjoying. Despite the ethnic diversity, various religious, groups, including numerous Moslem sects, Christians and Traditional worshippers, they operated among themselves without any provocation of conflict, they said.
Mr. Samari appealed to Traditional Authorities to use their powers to influence citizens from the area, who were residing in the Diaspora to invest in the Region to help create more jobs for the people, especially the youth who often migrate from the area to the south in search of non-existence jobs.
"Chiefs should not be seen as mere custodians of our culture, traditions and practices, but should above all, champion the socio-economic development of their people", he emphasized. He entreated citizens from the area to ensure that their children were sent to school, saying the best legacy they could bequeath to their children was education saying, poverty in the north could be curtailed if parents send children of school-going age to school.
Mr. Samari expressed dismay about the way and manner farmlands were seriously being degraded as a result of bad agricultural practices, resulting in impoverished soil and low crop yields and appealed to chiefs to help put in place mechanism to curtail the problem.
"I am afraid if this trend should continue unchecked, we shall in not too distant future be unable to celebrate the Adakoya festival and other festivals since the degraded land would not be able to sustain crops and livestock production", the Regional Minister stressed.
Mr. Samari asked traditional rulers and organizers of festivals in the Region to catalogue the various festivals in the National Calendar for tourists to know and attend such festivals as that would help boost the tourism industry in the region.
Naba Abilba III, narrating some of the achievements chalked through the annual celebrations of the festival, indicated that certain negative cultural practices which were dehumanizing, such as female genital mutilation, widowhood rites and tribal marks, among others were on the decline.
He announced that plans were far advanced by traditional authorities and the Municipal Assembly to review the requirement for customary marriages to make it possible for many young men and women to easily contract marriages and live decent lives. He advised people who farm along river beds and those who build along water ways to desist from that since they would be affected when it rained heavily like it did last year.
The Paramount Chief also urged people in the area to help maintain environmental cleanliness, saying the assembly alone could not do so and appealed to communities, religious bodies and traditional rulers to join the crusade to maintain environmental cleanliness.
Source:
GNA
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Nursery schools in Wa East District are closing down
Tinniabelle (UW/R), April 14, GNA - Day Nursery schools in the Wa East District are closing down due to the withdrawal of Catholic Relief Service (CRS)'s School Feeding Programme in its affiliated beneficiary schools. The Catholic Relief Service is closing down its Food Assisted Child Survival (FACS) and School Feeding Programmes in the districts by September 2008.
As a result, it no longer distributes food to the schools on regular basis. This has led to children dropping out on daily basis due to lack of food to retain them in class. Speaking at the launch of the Wa East District Health Community Child Survival Campaign Activities at Tinniabelle, Mr Alidu Baforko, Wa East District Head Teachers Adviser, bemoaned the situation and mentioned Jumo Nursery School as one of such schools that had already closed down. He said efforts to get the children back to school was becoming difficult as their parents whose farms were devastated by floods last year, did not immediately have the means to keep them in school.
The campaign was on the theme: "Breast feeding, the best way for a healthy child and mother". He said the Take Home Food Rational programme initiated for girls by the CRS had helped to increase girls' enrolment in schools. "The gains that we have made in enrolment and retaining of children in schools would be eroded. Illiteracy rate in the district would also continue to be high if prompt attention is not given to address the situation", he said.
Mr Baforko suggested to the government to dialogue with the CRS to at least cater for the feeding of school children at the nursery level. He also suggested to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to establish school farms to produce food to feed the schools.
Source:
GNA
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