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NEWS ARCHIVE 2008

Ghana Police Service

26th
AFRICA CUP of NATIONS
GHANA 2008

     Vote parties out when they fail to deliver. . .  -Kufuor

The President, John Agyekum Kufuor has said politicians who fail to meet the expectations of the people should be voted out of power.

The President said this when a delegation of chiefs from newly created Ketu North and Nkwanta North districts of the Volta region paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.
On a TV3 evening news bulletin telecast Wednesday, March 19, 2008, he advised the chiefs to vote out of power political parties whose leadership fail to deliver on their promises.

“When parties come into power, and their leaders fail to measure up to good leadership, vote them out,” he advised.
He told the chiefs that in other democracies like in Europe and America that is what they do. He said in these democracies, parties that fail to deliver are voted out and other parties that can deliver on their promises are voted into power.

“You should not vote for parties or someone, because they come from the same place with you, or because you speak the same language,” he said.
The chiefs were at the Castle to show gratitude to the President for creating the two new districts in the Volta Region.

Source:
jfm

• 23.03.2008

UNHRC calls upon the Ghana to stop deportation of Liberian refugees


Accra, March 23, GNA-- The UN Refugee Agency has urged the Ghana Government to cease any further forcible removals following the deportation on Sunday, March 23 of 16 Liberians, 13 of them registered with UNHCR as refugees.

UNHCR has also issued another strong call to the refugee population at large at Buduburam refugee settlement, from which 70 individuals were arrested on Saturday March 22 by the Government authorities in response to an ongoing demonstration, to desist from any other unlawful actions, including the disruption of humanitarian operations and threats and intimidation which have been made against other refugees and humanitarian workers.

These were contained in a press release issued by the UNHCR in Accra on Sunday.

The statement said, the Director of International Protection Services, Mr George Okoth-Obbo, speaking at the Organization's Headquarters in Geneva, stated; "It is very unfortunate that the unacceptable actions of a few have led to this situation. Refugees of course have the duty to respect the laws of the country of asylum established for good public order. Any further sit-ins, demonstrations or other unlawful acts must cease unconditionally.

"At the same time, while fully understanding the frustration of the authorities, I would like to reiterate UNHCR's call to the Government not to make any further deportations and to work with us to address the situation through other mechanisms available within the laws of Ghana. Unfortunately, the victims in all of this are the innocent majority of Liberian refugees who call Ghana home".

The sit-in and demonstrations started in February when a group calling itself the "Liberian Refugee Women with Refugee Concerns" started behaving aggressively in their demands to be resettled to third countries. Alternatively, they demanded for the grant being provided to Liberian refugees returning home to be increased to $1,000 from the current figure of $100.

Following an initial hunger strike which included some 100 women, the group, which now had been joined by other mainly male ring leaders, escalated its instigations to a full-fledged demonstration early last week at a football compound in front of the settlement.

They also disrupted several aspects of the refugee programme, including the on-going voluntary repatriation of Liberian refugees back home or self-sufficiency activities for those remaining in Ghana. Refugee children were blocked from going to school and forced to take part in the demonstrations. Humanitarian workers were threatened, making it impossible for UNHCR to visit the settlement because of security concerns.

The Refugee Agency's pleas with the refugee leaders to work with UNHCR in addressing their concerns peacefully, and warnings by the Government that their actions were breaching the laws of Ghana all went unheeded.

On March 17, the Government's law enforcement agencies moved in and arrested some 630 of the group demonstrating at the football grounds, who were detained at a youth centre at Kordiabe, near Accra. On the morning of Saturday March 22, another 70 individuals, including the 16 deported on Sunday March 23, were arrested. The arrested included neighbourhood leaders within community who, according to the Government, had a duty to stop the demonstrations, Since the deportation, the remaining 54 have been released.

UNHCR, which has worked closely with the Government since the sit-in started, has echoed that it recognizes the Government's duty to enforce its national laws. It has however, appealed for it to be proportionate and measured in its response and, particularly, to uphold the humanitarian principles of refugee protection the adherence to which Ghana has a long and stellar history.

The Refugee Agency also drew attention to the situation of some nearly 90 among the group arrested on March 17 who have various vulnerabilities, including separated minors, pregnant and lactating mothers, and others living with disability or serious medical conditions.

The statement said: "UNHCR was pleased that the Government agreed to allow this group to return to the settlement on the evening of 21 March 2008. Another 35 persons also allowed to leave the centre and return to the settlement however decided to remain there. "Following the arrests on Saturday, UNHCR had made a request to the authorities to be granted access to the group. This request was still pending when it came to the Refugee Agency's attention that 16 of the group had been deported. While reiterating its wish that a different solution would have been found, UNHCR will continue its efforts to work vigorously with the Government of Ghana on the best way forward for all those still in detention at Kordiabe and for the solution of the on-going situation at the settlement.

The Refugee Agency is confident that, notwithstanding the deportation, the Government will remain steady in its established record of hospitality and adherence to the humanitarian principles of refugee protection.

"Together with all concerned parties, the Refugee Agency will continue its efforts of taking advantage of the opportunities which exist to drive forward the finalization of the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of the Liberian refugees remaining in Ghana and other asylum countries in the region.

"There are 26,967 Liberians registered formally and officially as refugees with UNHCR and the Government of Ghana, most of whom reside in Buduburam refugee camp. There is also an unknown number of Liberians living in Ghana, including in Buduburam settlement, who (were) not formally registered as refugees," the statement said.

Source:
GNA

Ferdinand Ayim Paragliding Festival opens at Atibie

Atibie, March. 23, GNA- The Minister for Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng has said that, inspite of the many infrastructural, legal and service problems that bedevil the tourism industry, it was gradually assuming its rightful place in the economic development of the country.

He has assured that his Ministry would not relent on its efforts in developing all tourist sites to an appreciable standard to attract more tourists into the country.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said this a t the opening of the Fourth Ferdinand Ayim Paragliding Festival at Atibie in the Kwahu South district on Easter Friday.

The paragliding festival was introduced by the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora relations in collaboration with the Tourism Development Board and the Kwahu South District Assembly in 2005 at Atibie. It is held during the Easter festivities and has become an annual festival, which attracts people from all walks of life. Mr Asamoah-Boateng said if the tourism industry is well developed, it would serve as major source of revenue and urged district assemblies to partner with companies and individuals to develop their tourist sites to generate more revenue to undertake development projects.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, who was the special guest of honour, said tourism arrivals saw an increase of 16 per cent in 2007 over 2006, as inflows in 2007 hit a little under one billion dollars, adding that, Ghana's strides however still had a long way to go compared to other popular destinations in Africa.

He observed that, the diversification of tourism products would go a long way to enhance the nation's ability to attract the appropriate levels of tourists that would propel the country to reach the height others have reached.

Mr Dapaah said it would also help to reduce poverty, create jobs and wealth and also accelerate the nations desire to become a middle income country by 2015.

Mr Dapaah urged tourism operatives to seize the opportunities provided by government in the tourism sector to increase their income. He observed that, the achievements in the tourism industry over the years was as a result of peace, political stability, freedom of movement and the economic development process under the New Patriotic Party(NPP) government and assured that the security apparatus in the country would put the necessary security in place to protect tourists, who visit the country.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram-Asiedu said the region was endowed with immense tourism resources such as the famous Aburi Botanical Gardens, Bunso Arboretum, the Atiwa forest, the Volta Lake, the mountains of Akuapim and Kwahu and the Boti, Begoro and Akaa Waterfalls.

The Regional Minister paid tribute to Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, former Minister of Tourism, the late Mr Ferdinand Ayim and the former District Chief Executive for Kwahu South, Mr Raymond Osafo Djan, through whose initiatives the paragliding festival came into existence. This year's festival attracted 25 pilots from South Africa, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, United States of America, Togo and Canada.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw took part in the flight.

Source:
GNA

No Fraud in prez jet purchase -Dapaah


Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister for Defence has dismissed as unfounded claims by some people in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the proposal by Government to refurbish the Air Force aircraft fleet is an opportunity to fleece the country of its hard-earned revenue.

According to him, the proposal to buy six planes was made by the Ghana Air Force Command based on the fact that the existing fleet made up of seven planes would by 2010 be grounded because they would by then not be airworthy, having attained 30 years in service.

He said there was the need to commence the preparation for the acquisition of the planes now before 2010.

He indicated that the supposed presidential jet, in this case Airbus Jet 319ER, is always part of the Air Force aircraft fleet as obtains in every country including the United States of America.

According to him, since planes are not bought off the shelf, “it is important that we placed the orders in time so that by the time the existing ones are grounded, we would have at least one or two of the new ones ready to be of service”.

“And this is just what we are doing”, Hon. Kan-Dapaah told The Crusading GUIDE yesterday in an interview in view of the debate the proposal for the acquisition has generated.

He emphasized that the purchase of the planes would be done in a very transparent manner that would leave no room for anybody to suspect any foul deal.

“Remember we are buying directly from the manufacturers after we have finished with the negotiation, signed an agreement and paid for the aircraft”, said the Minister, stressing that all the details of the transactions would automatically be posted on the internet for all to see.

He said it was not possible for the Kufuor Government to get any commission on the purchase of the aircraft because their prices can be easily accessed on the internet.

“There is every transparency about purchase of the new aircraft – if you go on the internet today, you can find out how much it costs to buy a new airbus”, the Minister explained, adding that it was not the same as buying a secondhand plane like what happened in the case of the Gulfstream Jet that was purchased by the NDC.

He said that the argument that the Government should have used the Gulfstream Jet instead of going in for a new one was untenable in view of the limitations it had.

According to him, the Gulfstream was 13 years old and its range of flight could not go beyond Africa without refueling, but the Falcon 900 could fly straight to the Americas and Europe without stopping.

He also noted that the purchase of the Gulfstream Jet was not transparent in that, it passed through so many hands before being taken over by the Ghanaian authorities finally.

Mr. Dapaah also observed that it (Gulfstream Jet) was not the aircraft the Ghana Air Force requested for and that it was bought against its recommendation.

The Minister also dismissed suggestions that the acquisition of the aircraft was not the nation’s priority now, in the face of the acute water shortage that has hit the country, and other pressing developmental needs.

According to him, plans and procedures to solve those pressing needs were on course and that the proposal to acquire the aircraft, which is mainly a programme of equipping the military, would not in anyway be at the expense of addressing the provision of water, as a necessity for example, for Ghanaians.

Dr. Osei Akoto, Deputy Finance Minister conceded having signed a purchase agreement for the aircraft, but explained that the validity of the agreement was based on the Parliamentary approval of the proposal to purchase the aircraft.

He dismissed claims that signing the agreement meant the aircraft had already been acquired, and the Parliamentary approval was just a hoax.

Stay tuned for more in our next issue.

Source:
crusading guide

Don't preside over the collapse of GRC


Essikado (W/R) March 23,-GNA- Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area in the Western Region has added his voice to the call on both workers and management of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) to depart from their entrenched positions and cooperate to find amicably resolve the current impasse that is gradually collapsing the company.

He reminded both the workers and management that the future of the Company was in their hands and they should not let it collapse while they looked on.

"The people had always and rightly so, associated the economic growth and development of the area and the country as a whole in the railways industry, hence our interests in its affairs" he said, adding, "To us "railways is Ghana and Ghana is railways; we cannot afford to let it collapse".

Nana Nketsia was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Essikado on efforts being made by the Traditional Council, on the quiet to get the striking railways workers to resume work as soon as possible. He said the Traditional Area was not only associated with the country's independence struggle it had over the years also taken much interest in the growth and development of other institutions, including the GRC that operates from the area. The fortunes of GRC had had direct or indirect impact on the people in the community, Nana Nketsia said. He said the Traditional Council was working tirelessly behind the scenes to complement efforts to find lasting solutions to the misunderstanding between the workers and their management. Nana Nketsia disclosed that he had convened a first round meeting with the "parties" with the exception of Government and made a proposal for an independent body that would go into the grievances and complaints of workers and management.

This, he said, would form the basis for working out a settlement that would then involve Government and other parties. Nana Nketsia said the problems confronting the GRC were a "historic one" that was compounded by the removal of subvention for the company in 1977 and therefore would require short and long term solutions. "The problems of the GRC are not of today, it is believed both management and workers had contributed in no small way to the present predicament and I hope all concerned will understand", he said. Nana Nketsia also questioned the wisdom in the "systematic neglect" of the railway system that was used for bulk haulage of timber, bauxite, cocoa, manganese and petroleum products that was more efficient and economical.

He said the social and economic cost of transporting these items by road was enormous and added that those who benefit from the later would work to discourage the effort to revamp the railway system and urged the authorities to sit up.

Source:
GNA

203 Togolese refugees go home


Aflao, March 23, GNA-A Total of 203 Togolese refugees living in the Aflao and Denu areas of the Volta Region were on Thursday evacuated to their country under a voluntary repatriation programme being undertaken by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with the consent of the refugees. This brings to 2,800 Togolese refugees repatriated by the Agency so far from the Volta Region within the past three months.

UNHCR Ghana officers assisted by Ghanaians officials led the refugees in a convoy of vehicles to the Aflao border where they were handed over to the Togolese officials and the UNHCR representatives in that country. The refugees, including children were earlier treated of minor ailments.

Mr. Anicet Ndayisaba, Head of Field Programmes of the UNHCR in Ghana told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that another batch of the refugees in the Aflao and Denu areas would be repatriated in two weeks. Regarding payment of repatriation grants, he said the UNHCR in Ghana provided some food and soft drinks as well as transport to convey the refugees to the frontier.

Mr Ndayisaba said the UNHCR in Togo would pay each adult refugee 60,000 CFA francs and 30,000 CFA franc to each child in addition to a food package expected to last two months and transport to convey them to their final destinations.

He said the refugee Agency would be assessing whether any of the refugees would opt to remain in Ghana, explaining that if any so whished, the Agency would assist with input for them to go into income generating activities to enable them to live on their own and integrate into the Ghanaian society.

He said any such plans would have to be discussed first between the Ghanaian authorities, the Agency and other stakeholders.

Source:
GNA

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• 22.03.2008

Prez Jet: How the Loan Was Debated


The debate began in Parliament with the Minority protesting that they had not been furnished with a copy of the 32 page Sales Agreement concerning the acquiisition of the six aircrafts.

They went further to lament that they had access to only excerpts of the agreement adding that a senior member of the House, Mr. J.H. Mensah, who belongs to the Majority did not even have a copy, quizzing about how to approve an agreement which they do not know the details.

Six in 10 Africans are without access to proper toilet facilities


Accra, March 22, GNA - Sixty-two percent of Africans do not have access to an improved sanitation facility such as a proper toilet facility that separated human waste from human contact. "If current trends continue, there will still be 2.4 billion people without basic sanitation in 2015, and the children among them will continue to pay the price in lost lives, missed schooling, disease, malnutrition and poverty".

A statement jointly issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nation's (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation said in Accra on Saturday. The data was contained in a preliminary report issued to mark the World Water Day 2008, celebrated on the theme: "Sanitation Matters," It said although WHO and UNICEF estimate that 1.2 billion people worldwide gained access to improved sanitation between 1990 and 2004, an estimated 2.6 billion people - including 980 million children - had no toilets at home.

The statement reminded the public on the need for hand washing with soap to prevent the transfer of bacteria and its related diseases such as diarrhoea, which was the second biggest killer of children in developing countries.

According to Ms. Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, the absence of adequate sanitation had serious impacts on health and social development, especially for children, adding, "Investments in improving sanitation will accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and save lives."

She stated that safety issues were particularly important for women and children, who otherwise risk sexual harassment and assault when defecating at night and in secluded areas.

The International Year of Sanitation 2008 aims to raise the profile of sanitation issues on the international agenda and to accelerate progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal target of reducing by half the proportion of people living without access to improved sanitation by 2015.

Within the United Nations system, the focal point for the International Year of Sanitation is the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the UN-Water Task Force on Sanitation.

Source:
GNA

Mills Under Pressure ...


Over NDC Running Mate Palaver

*Choice of woman running mate dominates regional tours
*Chief Imam too calls for woman Vice President

THOUGH THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) has adopted a deliberate policy not to name their running mate until the New Patriotic Party has named theirs, information trickling to GYE NYAME CONCORD from the corridors of the leading opposition party indicates that much as the party hierarchy would want to shelve the issue for now, pressure from various interest groups in the party for the naming of a running mate is becoming unbearable.

Usually reliable sources at the Ridge residence of the former President and other independent sources at Harry Sawyer’s Kuku Hill campaign bunker of Professor Evans Atta Mills, says his recent campaign tours during which he met various interest groups reveal a yearning on the part of such groups for a quick decision on the personality of the running mate.

Sources say the majority of members of the various traditional authorities and prominent chiefs in the Ashanti region have pitched camp with Betty Mould-Iddrisu; and so have the majority of regional chairmen of the NDC, who met over the weekend at Sunyani to discuss various party issues.

According to our sources, the influence the North wields on the party because of its electoral clout is informing a tilt towards the gender activist lawyer and leading member of the party.

Her Muslim background and strong links with Ga and Ashanti opinion leaders and senior citizens is a clout that no leading member of the party can ignore.

Most of the groups and leading personalities in the party, Gye Nyame Concord was told, are only restraining themselves in coming out in the open to support the female lawyer, because she has humbly advised that caution should be taken in such matters for purposes of party unity.

Betty Mould-Iddrisu is also seen as the unifying force in the political equation that may cause cracks in the party, if the running mate issue is not well-managed to satisfy the various blocks, according to our Kuku Hill sources in the NDC.

The names that have so far popped up as favourites to partner Mills are John Mahama, who has been rather evasive on the matter, Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni and Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu.

So far, gender advocacy, which has become a matter of national agitation and concern was seriously being considered by the leadership of the party.

Meanwhile, the National Chief Imam, Shiekh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has joined the debate on the flagbearers of the various political parties to consider females as their running mates for this year’s elections.

He noted that a lot of women had acquired great knowledge and training, making great impact on the society and therefore there should not be any objection to their taking up such a responsibility.

According to him, if a woman seeking to become Vice President is qualified and capable, she should be encouraged by all and that Islamic religion does not discriminate against people because of their gender.

He noted that the Islamic Religion does not frown on women taking up leading positions and roles in the governance of the country and that he supports the idea of a woman assuming the position of the Vice President of the country irrespective of the person’s religion.

Again, the tertiary students’ wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned Prof Mills to choose Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu as his running mate.

The students say Mrs Iddrisu was a marketable candidate who could partner Prof Mills to win the December general elections.

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) branch of the students’ wing said the decision to recommend Mrs Iddrisu was informed by the results of a survey conducted in Kumasi.

The group presented the petition to the presidential candidate of the NDC when he visited the Ashanti Region as part of his recent eight regional campaign tour.

The group added that Mrs. Iddrisu came first in their survey among the several names that have come up for consideration as the running mate to the NDC flagbearer.

Source:
gye nyame concord

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• 21.03.2008

People fuelling the Bawku crisis advised to stop


Koforidua, March 21, GNA - The Eastern Regional Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev Alex Ofori-Amankwaa, has called on all people who for political reasons are fuelling the clashes in Bawku to reflect on the sacrifice of Easter and stop. He advised politicians to see themselves as one people seeking the welfare of Ghana and that without unity of purpose and effective decision on the nation's direction, political bickering could not help solve the problems confronting the people.

Rev Ofori-Amankwaa, who was addressing an Easter Convention on Good Friday at Koforidua, said Easter in Gods perspective stood for reconciliation and redemption. He expressed regret that Easter has now been reduced to merry-making, relegating the essence of reconciliation and restoration to the background while ethnic clashes are becoming the order of the day. He hoped that as the world reflects on the occasion, broken homes and marriages would be restored and reconciled as the trial of Jesus reconciled Pilate and Herod who were long time enemies.

Source:
GNA

 Ghana Prepares to Expel 45 Liberian Refugees


Ghana plans to repatriate 45 Liberian refugees who were arrested earlier this week at a refugee camp outside the capital, Accra.

Authorities say the refugees found their way illegally into the Gomoa Buduburam Refugee Camp. They are among the 600 refugees rounded up for fueling tensions in the camp with a month-long protest.

The refugees had refused to stop the demonstration against a United Nations-funded program that provides refugees with a free trip and $100 to resettle in Liberia. Many refugees say they would rather settle in another country because they fear persecution at home.

U.N. officials have said large-scale resettlement outside Liberia is not an option, and that these refugees should make an effort to help rebuild their country.

Ghana says 40,000 Liberian refugees remain in the country, even though the Liberian civil war ended in 2003.

Source:
VOA

Man arrested for poisoning river


Sunyani, March 21, GNA - Mr Peter Asante, Assembly Member for Bofookrom in Sunyani Municipality and some residents have arrested one Kwaku Biesia for allegedly poisoning River Bisi in the area. Biesia has been handed over to the police. Chief Superintendent Christian Yehonu, Sunyani Municipal Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency that Biesia and five other residents of Nyanprase village in the Wenchi district, who are on the run, went to fish in the river.

He said Biesia allegedly poured a chemical called Rewreko '2.5 EC' into the river with the intention of killing the fishes and that the Assembly Member got wind of the act and mobilized people to help effect his arrest.

The Commander said five other suspects on seeing the group advancing towards them escaped into the bush, but Biesia who was wielding a locally manufactured pistol on guard was arrested. He said Biesia was brought to the police station together with the gun, a bottle containing chemicals and a dead mud fish, which apparently died of the chemical poisoning.

Chief Superintendent Yehonu said the police had alerted the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the chemical content in the river and if possible to warn people down stream to avoid drinking the water.

Source:
GNA

Muslim Academy calls for investigations into death of student


Accra, March 21, GNA - The Ghana Muslim Academy has appealed to the government to investigate circumstances that led to the death of Mr Abdul Gafaru Muastapha, a student of the Adisadel College, Cape Coast. The student reportedly jumped to his death from a fourth floor in an attempt to escape punishment for not attending a Christian morning devotion held in the school.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, Mr Seth Ibrahim Owusu, president of the Academy, also appealed to the government to promote dialogue between leaders of the major religions in the country and stakeholders in education to find a peaceful approach to addressing situations that tend to bring chaos.

He said the Academy had received several reports on restrictions and imposition of one religion over the other in educational institutions in the country, including training colleges and that the sudden death of Mustapha was just one out of a lot of such cases. Mr Owusu said in some cases in well-known senior high schools, Muslim students are reportedly being denied their basic human rights of the Islamic prayer and fasting during the Holy month of Ramadan. He called on the Ghana Education Service to clearly indicate the difference between school gatherings and church service and also to allow students the right to practice their religion within the confines of the law.

He said the academy would work with the leadership of the Ghana Muslim Students Association to institute an annual forum on the 16th day of every March "to monitor the situation on the ground so as to spare the nation this unfortunate situation in the future." Mr Owusu expressed the hope that the government would take steps to arrest the alleged religious bias in schools and forestall any future occurrences.

Source:
GNA

Eighteen-year-old girl butchers friend's face with blade

Kumasi, March 20, GNA - Rashida Abudu, 18, was on Wednesday remanded into prison custody by a Kumasi Circuit Court for cutting the face of 14-year-old Shaida Salifu with a razor blade during a fight. Rashida pleaded guilty with explanation to causing harm but her explanation was not taken and will be brought back to the court on April 10 for sentence.

Police Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei said the two girls resided in a kiosk at Kronum in Kumasi. On March 13, an argument ensued between them culminating in a fight but some onlookers intervened to stop the two. Rashida, who was not satisfied, bought a razor blade and used it to cut across the right cheek and forehead of Shaida several times. Shaida was taken to the hospital and Rashida was handed over to the police.

Source:
GNA

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• 20.03.2008

Parliament  Approves  Presidential  Jet  Purchase



Accra, March 19, GNA- Parliament on Wednesday after more than a four hour's debate approved by a majority vote of 118 to 63 the loan agreement for the acquisition of jets to facilitate air transportation.
The aeroplanes (Chinese-made) would be financed with a soft loan from the Chinese Government to be paid over a period of 25 years, while the other two (French-made) would also be financed with a loan from Societe Generale.

Two of the aircrafts are a-12-seater Falcon 900 and another Airbus for the Ghana Air Force.

The motion called for the approval of US $43.15million to be financed by Societe Generale and US$62 from the Government of Ghana. During the debate the Minority raised concerns that papers on the agreement had not been laid for members to make comprehensive contributions to the debate and called for the rejection of the motion. A Committee meeting finally amended the discrepancy in the motion and committee report and finally settled on US$ 31.15 in respect of the value for the US$43.15million Meanwhile the House rose on Wednesday and it will resume on May 20, 2008.



Source:
GNA

Kufuour's Travel to Europe Cost $390,000/trip


According to the Minister of Defence, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah it takes the President and his entourage about $US390,00 (250,000 Euros) to fly from Ghana to Europe. He however refused to state the total amount the state has spent so far on the President’s numerous trips abroad.
Justifying why the two presidential jets must be purchased, on a programme on Metro TV last Tuesday night, the minister revealed that his ministry had done cost and benefit analysis and had come to the conclusion that it was better for the Presidency to own and fly by a presidential jet than going by commercial airlines.

The Minister also told parliament, during the heated debate for the approval of a $101 million loan, for the purchase of what has been described as “executive jet”, that the then opposition New Patriotic Party kicked against the purchase of the Gulf Stream G3 jet because the plane could not do long haul travels besides, the plane was 13 years old and was going to be phased out by the manufacturer.

According to the minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Affigya Sekyere West, the Gulf Stream was meant to replace the old Fokker 28 jet, which could not travel long distances, but the replacement too was suffering from the same problem. In addition to this the financial agreement covering the purchase was also cumbersome and that it was very complicated. He noted that it was based on this that they objected to the purchase of the jet.

At the floor of the house, the minority would not buy the idea insisting that there are so many ambiguities associated with the agreement for the purchase of the two jets. The minority spokesman for finance, Hon. Benjamin Kumbuor, who gave cogent expose’ on the matter, noted that the minority were not clear about the whole loan agreement because not all the documents covering it were made available to the house. He noted that whilst the loan agreement was talking about a firm price, the committee’s report was also talking about escalating price. He further noted that even though the name of the President has not been mentioned as one of the people who would be using the plane, the Defence minister kept referring to it as presidential jet. The ranking member on finance could not also fathom why the majority should push for approval of only two jets when the military had requested for more than that number, including the Airbus.

Kumbuor submitted that the House should not adopt the motion because it was not good for the country. The Member of Parliament for Adenta, Hon.Kwadwo Opare Hammond, contributing to the debate recounted the trauma President Kufuor went through when he traveled from Accra to Portugal recently to attend a conference with the European Union. He said because the plane delayed here in Accra, they had to hurry from terminal four at Heathrow airport in London to terminal one to board Air Portugal to Lisbon.
According to him, because the President was in a rush, his luggage could not accompany him to Portugal and that he had to make do with only one clothing for more than a day before the luggage finally arrived. The situation, which he described as an embarrassment to this country, could have been avoided if the President had traveled on a state owned jet. He therefore supported the purchase of the two jets. The minority, however, maintained their stand on the grounds that the whole loan agreement was not clear to them, therefore, until the right thing was done they would not support the motion.
After the debate had come to an end, the chairman of the committee that drafted the motion sought to amend portions of the motion, but the minority again kicked against it because the chairman could not do that without due consultation with other members of the committee.


Source:
The Chronicle

Four armed robbers jailed 200 years


Sekondi, March 20, GNA- A high court in Sekondi, on Wednesday sentenced four suspected armed robbers to a total of 200 years imprisonment in hard labour.

Salifu Musah, 23, a farmer from Walewale and Wedrago Adama, 21, national of Bukina Faso received 50 years each while

Ibrahim Issah, 20, cattle dealer from Bawku, was given 40 years and Mohammed Gariba, 30, a headsman from Sokoto in Nigeria had 60 years.

All the convicts pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime, robbery and assault.

Madam Patience Klinogo, a Principal State Attorney, told the court presided over by Justice Clemence J. Honyenugah that between July 30 and 31 last year, the four accused persons wielding pistols, mounted illegal road blocks at Apemanim on the Tarkwa-Takoradi highway at around 0100 hours and stopped vehicles plying that road.

She said the armed robbers compelled their victims to lie on the ground and took away their mobile phones, wrist watches, various sums of money and other personal belongings and beat those who resisted the action.

Madam Klinogo said when the accused saw a vehicle approaching from Tarkwa with a policeman on board they fled into a nearby rubber plantation.

She said the policeman organised a patrol team to the trouble spot but could not apprehend the armed robbers. Madam Klinogo said on July 31 at about 0500 hours the accused on board a Takoradi bound bus from Agona
Nkwanta, were arrested at the Apremdo barrier. Madam Klinogo said 9,920,000 cedis, several mobile phones
without chips, talisman, rings and bracelet were found on them. She said Gariba was involved in a similar robbery case in August 2005 but managed to escape arrest. Passing judgement, Justice Honyenugah said the accused
were "criminally matured and needed to be given deterrent
sentences to stop others from engaging in similar acts." He ordered that Gariba should be deported to his
country after completing his sentence. Justice Honyenugah also instructed that all the items and
money seized by the robbers should be returned to the owners
while some clothes, bag and talisman that the convicts were
carrying should be destroyed.

Source:
GNA

 Agreement signed for acquisition of land for Bui project


Jama (N/R), March 20, GNA - The Bui Development Secretariat and major stakeholders on Wednesday signed documents for the acquisition of land for the Bui Development Project.

The event, which took place at Jama in the Northern Region, would pave the way for the government and its development partners to have access to a 443,000-acre land needed for the project.

The government is expected to make adequate and prompt payment of compensation to the chiefs and people in the affected areas. The chiefs from the Bole Traditional Council, however, expressed dissatisfaction about the non-inclusion of their representation on the Bui Dam Board to keep them abreast with events concerning the project. Naa Jama Kooro, Nana Kwadwo Pambo II, chief of Jama, told the delegation led by Nana Osahene Kwaku Atekyi II, a member of the Bui Dam Secretariat, that the inclusion of persons from the traditional council on the board should not be an afterthought since the people had to represent their interest.

He said gone were the days when scholars came to traditional councils with already prepared documents to compel chiefs to append their signatures only to regret afterwards. The chief said there were a lot of environmental problems associated with the project, adding that it was therefore necessary for them to examine the environmental impact report on the project and its effects on the people.

Nana Pambo said the council was not only concerned about compensation but also interested in matters that would have major consequence on the lives of the people. "We are going to trail you to make sure that our interest in the project is well protected," he emphasised. Bolewura Amankwa Gbeyeadese II, Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area, said the government had acquired large tracts of land for the Mole Game Reserve and the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Assembly project, for which compensation had not been paid. "I wonder whether the Bui Dam project would be made a special case," he said.

Mr Charles Abas, Northern Regional Coordinating Director, who represented the Regional Minister, appealed to the chiefs and opinion leaders to create a peaceful and congenial atmosphere for the smooth implementation of the project.

Nana Atekyi promised to convey the concerns of the chiefs to the President for consideration.

Source:
GNA

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• 19.03.2008

Presidential Jet: Minority Hoists Red Flag



... Contract already signed and 5% cost already paid before parliament informed

The Minority Caucus in Parliament, fuming with anger and rage, yesterday, registered their protest against the whole arrangement of government’s purchase of two presidential jets describing it as unconstitutional, lacking clarity and insensitive to the real needs of the country. The minority therefore urged the press and other civil society partners to continue to pursue the issue as a constitutional duty and a national commitment.
Addressing the media in Parliament House yesterday,

the Minority leader, Hon. Alban Bagbin, said it was ironic that the very same people, who raised objections in 1999 when the National Democratic Congress(NDC) acquired the Gulf Stream 111 on grounds of misplaced priority, were now asking Parliament and the nation to approve the acquisition of two luxurious Presidential Aircrafts whose costs were exorbitantly higher than that of the Gulf Stream 111. He stated that the quality of life of most Ghanaians today was worse than it was in 1999-2000 as shown by the UNDP 2007 human development index.

“Water is now a scarce commodity; common kerosene is now priced out of the reach of the ordinary Ghanaian. Many workers, particularly teachers, the youth in menial engagement and railway employees are not paid because of lack of funds. Students are charged exorbitant fees because government cannot shoulder the cost of education,” he ranted.

“Yet the same government can commit a colossal amount of US105.150.000 dollars to buy two luxurious Presidential jets for the comfort of a President,” he added.

According to him, the Minority in Parliament has no objection in principle to the re-equipping of the Ghana Air Force with aircrafts because they have approved a number of facilities to equip the Ghana Air Force, however, what was before Parliament was not an application for the acquisition of aircrafts for the Ghana Air Force per se but the acquisition of two luxury aircrafts for ‘Presidential comfort’ whose cost was to be financed from loans and budgetary contributions. Bagbin mentioned that reasons for their outright rejection of the move by government to purchase the two luxury aircrafts was because these aircrafts were not acquired for the strategic operations of the Ghana Air Force.

“The reality is that these 2 luxury aircrafts are for ‘Presidential comfort,” he fumed.

He added that in 2003, Parliament approved a US$55,000,000 Barclays loan from which four transporter helicopters were purchased, again the Gulf Stream 111 was exchanged for four K8 Chinese made trainer/light attack military jets and one flight Simulator for the Ghana Air Force.

According to the Minority, they are reliably informed that as at today, government has failed to procure the Simulator aircraft from the suppliers and as a result the four K8 trainer jet aircrafts could not be put to use because of the lack of the simulator which was to be deployed in the training of the pilots and technicians on the use of the aircrafts.

He alleged that the Sale contract between the Ghana Government and Dassault Aviation, S A, was signed on February 13, 2008, by Hon Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning on behalf of the Ghana Government and the Deputy Vice President, Sales, for Dassault Aviation S A.

Mr. Bagbin elaborated that the payment schedule of the contract stipulated that 5% of the price due must be paid upon signature. The payment of the deposit he stressed involved the withdrawal of money from the consolidated fund without Parliamentary approval, contravened Articles 178 and 181 of the 1992 Constitution.

“The payment is therefore unconstitutional and unlawful,” he said. The report of the joint Parliamentary Committee creates uncertainty in the prices of the aircraft. The report they quoted “the prices of both aircrafts are subject to escalation up to actual delivery month.” Mr. Bagbin challenged that in effect, the report meant that Ghana would be called upon in the future to pay more money since the Aircrafts were due to be delivered in 2010.

The minority leader asked that in looking at the matter, it was important not only to look at the legalities or otherwise of the transaction, but also to examine the issue of how trustees of political power used the resources of the society for their personal interest in preference to the interest of the disadvantaged members of our society.He insisted that the government had created the impression that the aircraft was to be financed with a loan from Societe Generale, however, the truth was that only 85% of the total cost of US $43.14million was to be financed from the Societte General, whilst regarding the remaining 15%, 5% had already been paid and the remaining 10% was to be financed from the consolidated fund of Ghana in fifteen months time.

Earlier before the Minority’s press conference, the Defence Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah confirmed the government’s move to acquire two executive jets and stressed that it had become important for the country to take such a decision. He elaborated on Peace FM Morning Show that the move was as a result of a recommendation by the Ghana Airforce that the existing ones might be worn out by 2010 hence the need to acquire fresh ones. He indicated that the sub-committees of Finance and Defence of Parliament had approved a loan of $100 million to re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces. Mr. Kan-Dapaah further mentioned government’s intention to acquire four more aeroplanes in addition to the two controversial ones for the Communication Squadron of the Army.

Meanwhile reports indicated that the Majority in Parliament was planning to marshal all its members to vote massively in support of the acquisition of the two aircrafts and the additional four when the issues comes to the point of voting.

Source:

NDC / GNA

Water Shortage Affects Markets in the Capital


Ahead of the International Water Day celebration, on Saturday, a severe water shortage has hit the various markets in the metropolis, leaving a bad odour permeating the air

A trip to some markets revealed that, due to the shortage of water, most wele sellers cannot wash the hides, which are the delicacy of many Ghanaians properly, but rather keep it in a small amount of water.

Fofo Boye, a trader at the Teshie Satellite Market, disclosed that wele, Ga for cowhide, needs a lot of water during processing, to make it safe for consumption.

She said after the butcher had supplied the wele, in its raw state, the retailer then has to clean it, using water and a knife to scrap the burnt particles off it.

Fofo further said water was then needed again to store the meat, to keep it fresh.

She noted that if enough water is utilized in the washing and cleaning of wele, it can turn out to be very poisonous, due to the butchers using vehicle tyres to singe the cowhide. Fofo said due to this shortage of water, sales of wele has reduced drastically, because people prefer to find alternatives, rather than buy unwashed wele.

Aafio Mansa a trader, who sells cassava at the La Satellite Market, recounted that since the problem of water shortage begun, her wares have been going bad.

She said the inability to get water to soak the cassava to preserve it, has caused her to loose thousands of cedis, because she has to sell the dry cassava to chop bar operators, to use for kokonte powder, at a very low price.

A gallon of water, which cost between GH25p-30, weighs heavily on profits and it also was not easy to find, as you have to walk miles before acquiring the gallon of water.

She lamented that since the shortage begun, she has been making a loss, and therefore appealed to the government to help solve this water crisis, in time to save her business from collapsing, since is was her only source of livelihood.

Source:
Ghanaian Chronicle

Kufuor Off to France


Accra, March 19, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor leaves Accra on Wednesday night for Paris, France, to launch "The Alliance for Africa Foundation", an organisation dedicated to the sustainable development of Africa.

The Foundation, which is being promoted by a number of world leaders, would identify and provide resources to support specific projects in capacity building, agro-food industry and public services. A statement issued in Accra by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President said Accra and the Italian city of Milan would host the legal and operational headquarters of the Foundation respectively.

President Kufuor is expected back home on Saturday, March 22.

Source:
GNA

Foreign Affairs Minister leaves for Libreville


Accra, March 19, GNA - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, left Accra on Wednesday for Libreville, Gabon, to attend the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) scheduled for May 28-30, 2008.

A statement issued in Accra by the Ministry said the Libreville meeting would build on the results of earlier preparatory meetings and work towards achieving consensus on the political declaration to be known as the Yokohama Declaration for the TICAD IV Summit.

The statement said the areas of discussion agreed in previous preparatory meetings include infrastructure, trade and investments, agriculture, energy access, education, health, consolidation of peace and governance and adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. Mr Osei-Adjei is expected to address the Ministerial Meeting on the progress so far made by Ghana in her development efforts as well as the people and depth of Asia-Africa cooperation under the theme: "Expanding Partnership."

Source:
GNA

Three regions record high deaths in TB


Wa, March 19, GNA- The Brong-Ahafo, Upper West and Central Regions accounted for more than one-third of 697 deaths caused by tuberculosis in the country in 2006, according to the National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme (NTCP) records.

Dr Frank Adae Bonsu, programme manager of the National TB Control Programme, who said this, indicated that the trend indicated a slight improvement on the 702 deaths recorded in 2005.

He was giving an overview of the Programme at the launch of this year's national tuberculosis week at Wa on Tuesday.

Dr Bonsu noted that if TB deaths recorded in the Komfo Anokye and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals were taken into consideration, the Ashanti and Greater-Accra Regions would account for more than 50 per cent of the total deaths recorded in nation wide.

He said activities of the NTCP in the last decade had resulted in the protection of 1.4 million people from acquiring new infections of the disease while 67,000 deaths were averted.

Dr Bonsu said within the past three years, the TB incidence rate had levelled to 57 per every 100,000 people, and expressed optimism that the target set for it under the Millennium Development Goals would be achieved.

He stated that "As a country we are only 8.5 per cent points below the global TB treatment success of 85 per cent."

Dr Gladys Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Health, who launched the week, said in the past two years, government with support from the Global Fund, had sponsored TB control activities in the public and private sectors to the tune of 13, million US dollars. She said this intervention, together with an expanding economy and a reduction in poverty had led to a slow down in

TB infections in the country. Dr Ashitey said government was holding discussions with the world Heath Organization to conduct studies to confirm that  positive development.

She said government renovated 96 health care facilities in
both the public and private sectors last year for use by patients receiving treatment at a total cost of about 500,000 US dollars. Mr George Hikah Benson, Upper West Regional Minister, said the region had not yet met the TB reduction target because of the detection of the disease especially with people living with HIV/AIDS.

He observed that stigmatization against TB patients was undermining the fight against the disease and suggested

that the TB/HIV policy must integrate treatment and public education against stigmatisation and discrimination.

Dr Elias Sory, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said the current HIV prevalence rate of 5.8 in the Wa
Municipality was too high. He called on stake holders, especially district chief executives and traditional rulers to assist health workers to fight HIV/AIDS.

The week is organized annually to commemorate March 24 1886, the day Robert Koch discovered the Tuberculosis Bacillus that subsequently led to discovery of a vaccine to contain the disease.

Source:
GNA

Rawlings Growls

The former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has stated that the nation is back in bondage following the demise of Cardinal Peter Dery. According to him, the late Dery had a passion for the nation and above all had a history of priesthood accompanied by human sacrifice for the spirit of nationhood. “He is a true man of God who has left us to another world. With the demise of this great man of God, the nation is back in bondage,” he said.

The former President, who doubles as the founder of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress(NDC), made this disclosure yesterday when a delegation from the late Dery’s family paid a visit to him, to officially inform him about the burial arrangements. Mr. Rawlings admonished the government not to use the state burial announced by it to whitewash its image after the unfortunate murder of the King of Dagbon, Ya-Na and forty others. According to him it was unbelievable to hear that a party that supervises the murder of Ya-Na without bringing the perpetrators to book till date would still seek the mandate of the victims to rule the nation.

Mr. Rawlings, who was given moral support by Mr. James Victor Gbeho, former ambassador, Hon. Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Minority spokesperson on Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. S.K Alban Bagbin, the minority leader and Mr. Kofi Adams, the deputy national youth organizer of the NDC, said the restoration or the discovery of destiny to hold the members of this country together through the late Cardinal Dery, has now been thrown into the dustbin, warranting divide and rule tactics. “It is on record that some people cannot stand the posture of a united nation and that is why they need to sow seeds of discord among Ghanaians and embark upon divide and rule tactics. This must stop,” he said. Commending the late archbishop for his roles as a member of the Council of State under Hilla Limman regime, he said he has demonstrated the true values of a preacher as against others today.

‘I commend him for distancing himself from the National Reconciliation Committee (NRC) while some prominent persons like Bishop Palmer Buckle would sit there and behave as if they don’t know what is happening.’ In his tribute, the ex-President described the late Dery as brave, pacesetter in priesthood and a man of passion, of humanity and a man who is against injustice. He also recounted how the late Bishop gained his respect, and how June 4, that he underscored as cleansing process came up. According to him, the nation today is still looking for leaders but not rulers as it happened in the last days. He pledged to be at the funeral of Cardinal Dery to pay his last respect provided no assignment takes him outside the country. He also called for unity among the family members to make sure that a befitting burial was given to a true priest.

Mr. Rawlings also took the opportunity to call on the clergy to emulate the brave and bold nature of the Arch-bishop, to help disseminate the gospel accordingly. The NDC founder was equally not enthused with the way and manner some pastors have turned the church into money making ventures. Dr. Ben Kumbour, the NDC MP for Lawra Nabdam, Hon. S.K Bagbin, all MPs from the Upper East region, eulogized the late Dery and recounted their encounters with him.

To them, the late Dery was a source of inspiration to them and that his homecall was a big blow to both the nation and christiandom. James Victor Gbeho, who indicated that he had not met with the man one on one, recounted accounts he heard from some people to prove that indeed the man was a man of peace, pious and an inspirer.

The delegation included, Dr. Edmund N. Delle, the immediate past national chairman and leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr. Mathias Ainbeng, head of family, Mr. John Vianney, an official from CEPS, Ernestina Porekuu, Daniel Pimi, Ms Sidonia Ainbeng and Ben Assorow. The delegation was introduced to the former President and his team by Mr. Ben Assorow, whilst Dr. Delle gave an overview of the funeral arrangements and a brief account of the deceased.

Source:
The Chronicle

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• 18.03.2008

Ghana to deport naked protesters


A group of Liberian women refugees who have held naked protests by the roadside are to be deported from Ghana, a minister has told the BBC. Hundreds of the women were arrested on Monday and taken away from a refugee camp in 10 buses, witnesses say.
They were protesting at plans to send them home with $100 - they demand $1,000 and to be resettled in the West.

Stripping naked is a traditional form of protest amongst poor and powerless women in Africa.

Interior Minister Kwamena Bartels said that the Liberian war had ended. He denied it was forced repatriation.

He said they had broken local laws by not informing the police of their protest.

"When women strip themselves naked and stand by a major highway, that is not a peaceful demonstration," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

He said they would be deported later this week.

Some 27,000 Liberians are in Ghana after years of conflict at home.

Liberia's civil war ended in 2003

But the civil war ended in 2003.

Some of the refugees told the BBC they had been beaten by the Ghanaian police at Buduburam camp, west of the capital, Accra.

They refuse to be integrated into local society and say they will continue protesting at the UN refugee agency's offer.

"$100 is not anything you can start life with. We are all lost," one woman said.

Source:
BBC

 Domestic tourism generates more income than international


Accra, March 18, GNA - Mr. Owusu Amoakohene, Research Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, on Tuesday said domestic tourism in Ghana generated more income in the communities than international tourism.

He said data collected from 33 tourists attraction sites in 2007 showed that 413,440 Ghanaian tourists visited various tourists sites within the country generating about GHc 428,489. Data from international tourists arrivals for 2007 could not be collected because the Ghana Immigration Service changed the embarkation cards filled at the airport on arrival, Mr Amoakohene said. He was speaking on the theme: "Tourism and Community Development" at a day's seminar organized by the sector ministry for managers of Tourists' Receptive Facilities in the country.

He mentioned the Kakum National Park, Cape Coast and Elmina castles, Manhyia Palace and the Aburi Botanical Gardens as five topmost visited places during the year under review.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a tourist is any person outside his or her normal place of residence for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose of visit is other than engaging in an exercise that would earn him/her income from within the community.

Mr Amoakohene noted that the tourism industry was government-led, private sector driven and community-based and said there was the need for all the three sectors to work together to ensure the success of the industry.

He said the Ministry was trying to create an enabling environment that would facilitate 20 per cent growth in the tourism sector, adding that, the industry currently employed 220,000 people out of which 45 percent were women.

Mr Amoakohene advised managers of the facilities to put in place mechanisms that would encourage tourists who visited sites in their communities to stay longer so that the communities could make more money.

Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, said the ministry wanted people on the ground to share with them any challenges faced in the course of their duty. Pledging the Ministry's support he said: "We will do our part to create an enabling environment to enable private sector tourism practitioners to explore the full potentials in the tourism industry especially in the communities."

Mrs. Bridget Katsriku, Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, said tourism had the potential to transform the economies of various communities and to help in poverty alleviation. She urged participants to share their ideas and experiences and not hesitate to make any suggestions to the Ministry. Participants expressed concerns about the condition of most beaches in the country and urged the Ministry to put in place policies that would ensure that beaches were clean and attractive.

Source:
GNA

Ghanaian Chocolate Is Dangerous -Dr


The Executive Director of Newstart For Health, Oheneba Ntim-Barima, has faulted the National Chocolate Day instituted by the government two years ago to encourage more Ghanaians to consume the product. Contrary to claims by Government that the consumption of the product would promote good health among the populace, Mr. Ntim-Barima said it would quicken their journey to the grave, adding, “It is going to kill our people”.

Addressing a fully packed auditorium of the Ghana International Trade Fair last Saturday at a health crusade, the Director of Newstart For Health explained that the chocolate being sold on the local market contains only 35% of solid cocoa,” while the other 65% is made up of chemicals that militate against good healty.Instead of the National Chocolate Day, he expected government to make it a National Cocoa Day when the citizenry would be encouraged to consume as much as possible of the bean in its natural form. He added, even though chocolate was made from cocoa, “it loses its potency when chemicals are added to it.”

In the same vein, he condemned the mass consumption of iodine through the promotion of iodated salt concept. According to him, too much of everything is bad. He explained that, although iodine was necessary for a healthy life, not everyone needed supplements through the consumption of the iodated salt. He said iodine could be found in see weeds, vegetables, mushrooms and even breast milk. He therefore, warned the government of a possible showdown, if it went ahead to make the consumption of the iodated salt compulsory. “Some of us don’t need iodated salt and will continue to take in ‘Ada salt,” he warned.

Ntim-Barima urged Ghanaians to desist from the eating of fast foods, which have become the norm now. He said studies had shown that diseases such as hypertension, diabetes such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disorders were due to the western lifestyles acquired by Ghanaians in recent times. He urged the participants and Ghanaians in general to revert to the olden days when “our fore fathers ate fresh fruits and vegetables and exercised a lot by walking long distances to their farms.Dr. Abdul-Samed Tanko, cardiologist at the National Cardio thoracic Centre, Korle Bu, corroborated Ntim-Barima’s arguments. Dr. Tanko bemoaned the low cocoa content in the chocolates being promoted by the government, whereas those sold in Belgium “contain as high as 65% solid cocoa though Belgium does not produce cocoa”.

He also attributed most of the heart problems in the country to unhealthy lifestyles. He prescribed the consumption of locally grown foodstuffs, which, he said, were more nutritious than the imported beef burgers. He further urged Ghanaians to check their drinking and smoking habits and to exercise regularly.

Source:
The Heritage

Buying Presidential Jet is a priority - Minister



Defence Minister Albert Kan Dapaah says the government is acquiring two executive jets, not one, as has been suggested in ongoing public debate over plans to re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces and said the acquisition is not only necessary but also a state priority.

He said the Joint sub-committees of Finance and Defence of Parliament has unanimously approved a loan of 100 million dollars to re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly the Army. The Ghana Armed Forces comprises the Army, Navy and Airforce.

Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah was speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Morning Show on Tuesday.

He said government’s decision to acquire the executive jets (commonly referred to as Presidential jets) was informed by a technical recommendation of the Ghana Airforce that the current fleet of aeroplanes (7) must be grounded by 2010 as a result of old age.

He said in all the government intends to acquire six new aeroplanes, including the two presidential jets for the Communication Squadron of the Army.

Kan Dapaah said an order for the planes must be placed now to ensure delivery by the 2010 deadline, unlike off the shelf items that could be bought over the counter, debunking claims that the government was rushing into committing a future president or government to an unnecessary contract.

He said if the government failed to place the order now, there will be no plane available to the Army by the deadline, and also argued that the presidential jets are not for the use of the president alone but is part of the military’s fleet for executive use.

He said the norm since independence has been that ‘presidential jets’ have been provided as part of the Army’s stock and that First President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah even had more than two.

He said four of the aeroplanes (Chinese-made) would be financed with a soft loan from the Chinese Government to paid over a period of 25 years, while the other two (French-made) would also be financed with a loan from Societe Generale.

Source:
JOY ONLINE

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• 17.03.2007

Akuffo Addo given rousing welcome in Winneba

Winneba (C/R), March. 17, GNA- The flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, has stated that Ghana's democracy is gradually being consolidated as a result of good governance and the rule of law being practised by the government.

He has therefore urged Ghanaians to return the party to power during the December general elections to enable it to continue building a healthy and prosperous nation for the people Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo said this when he addressed members of the Tertiary Education Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party, TESCON, of the University of Education, Winneba on Sunday as part of his campaign tour of the Central Region.

Some senior members of the party and some members of his campaign team accompanied him.

He said the NPP government has laid the foundation to propel the nation into a middle-income status and hoped that members of the confederacy would continue working hard and support the government to retain power during the elections.

Nan Akuffo Addo said with the oil find in some part of the country, the nation is on the verge of accelerated economic growth.

He said education plays a key role in the development of a nation, hence the government policy to offer opportunity for all to attend school.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Mr. Yaw Osaafo Marfo, Dr. Frimpong Boateng, Mr. Owusu Agyapong and Mr Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, who were with the Presidential candidate, all appealed to Ghanaians to vote massively for the party in the December elections.

The President of TESCON, Mr David Nortey said TESCON had been contributing to the success of the party in the Central Region, but their activities have been constrained, due to inadequate supports.

He therefore appealed to the party hierarchy to support them with logistics to enable them to achieve their vision for the party.

Earlier, Nana Akuffo Addo and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Effutu traditional area, Neenyi Ghartey VII and the Zongo chief, Sulemani Saligah IV. Neenyi Ghartey appealed to Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo to help reduce the number of chieftaincy disputes in the Central Region, if he becomes president.

A large crowd, made up of party supporters and

sympathizers, amidst brass band music, followed the entourage

as they paraded some principal streets of the town. 17 March. 08

Source:
GNA

Persons engaged in human trafficking to be imprisoned


Kete-Krachi (V/R), March 17, GNA - Mr Mark Dundaa, Human Trafficking Programmes Coordinator of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, on Monday said any person found engaging in human trafficking would serve a prison term of not less than five years. He was speaking at a day's workshop on Human Trafficking for 25 volunteers in Krachi. Participants were from Krachi West District and Sene District in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The workshop was to sensitize the volunteers to help tackle human trafficking in the two districts which were noted to be the destinations for trafficked persons.

Mr Dundaa said the ministry had provided temporary basic material support for the care and protection of rescued victims of trafficking and called on stakeholders to support the victims in their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Mr Dundaa said rescued victims were also being trained to acquire skills to enhance their socio-economic development. Mr George Achidre, Executive Director of Partnership in Community Development (PACOD), a local human trafficking non-governmental organization, which organised the workshop, urged the public to provide the police with information to help fight the menace. He advised volunteers to be vigilant and attach seriousness to the work to curb the menace.

Source:
GNA

Adisadel College closes down indefinitely



Cape Coast, March 17, GNA - Adisadel College in Cape Coast has been closed down indefinitely to stop further destruction of school property by students following the death of a final year science student who jumped to his death from the fourth floor of the school's new storey building.

Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister, said on Monday that the decision to close down the school was after a meeting with the school's authorities, Ghana Education Service and the Parent/Teacher Association. He said considering the large number of students on campus and the destruction they had caused in two days, it would be difficult for the police and school authorities to effectively maintain order and that it was better for the students to go home to ensure some calm.

Earlier in an interview the Headmaster, Mr Herbert Graham, said they were doing everything to calm down the students and that the police were brought in to help restore order and not to harm any student. Mr Graham said the family of the late Mustapha Abdul Gafaru had visited the school and everything about his death had been explained to them.

When the GNA visited the school at 0800 hours students, who were supposed to be in class and final year students who were to write their mock examination, were seen in groups outside their classrooms. Some were in their Friday wear instead of school uniform whiles others wore red bands on their head. They poured away their breakfast and threw the doughnuts at the police.

Some of the students expressed their displeasure about the situation and suggested that students be sent home immediately to avoid further destruction on campus.

Gafaru died on Sunday when he jumped from the fourth floor of a new storey building to escape punishment from the Senior House Master. He landed on his head in a gutter near the block and died instantly.

Source:
GNA

  Minister advises residents against bushfires


Agyemankrom(B/A), March 17, GNA - Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiatives, has advised fire-prone communities in Dormaa Municipality to take a cue from the recent fire disasters and help prevent future recurrence. He gave the advice at separate meetings with three communities in the municipality who suffered severe fire damages early this year. The affected communities were Atesikrom, Agyemankrom and Dabaabi. At Atesikrom where 14 families lost their entire personal effects to bushfire on February 18, 2008, Mr. Agyemang-Manu, donated blankets, cutlasses, Wellington boots, four bags each of rice and maize and plastic buckets, all worth GHC 2,000 to the victims. He urged the families not to subdue to the trauma but to gather courage to ensure their early rehabilitation.

The Deputy Minister, who is an aspiring New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Dormaa West constituency, presented similar packages of items to the fire victims at Agyemankrom and Dabaabi. Mr Agyemang-Manu appealed to the people to handle fire cautiously to avert fire outbreaks.

Residents in the two cocoa growing communities expressed disgust at the negative activities of some Taungya farmers, whom they said had diverted from tendering economic trees on the plots allotted and were engaged in acts that could guarantee them perpetual access to the land. The residents claimed one of the tactics being adopted by some of the farmers was constant burning of the plots to retard the growth of the economic trees into fully-fledged forests. This way, they said, the farmers could cultivate the plots for as long as they wished since the economic trees were not allowed to grow to render the land inaccessible to them.

Both communities therefore appealed through the Deputy Minister to the government to consider the immediate suspension of the Taungya system in the area so that cocoa farms could be protected against bushfires.

Mr Agyemang-Manu assured them he would carry their appeal to the appropriate quarters for redress.

Source:
GNA

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