Akpafu (V/R), Feb. 24, GNA- About 50 supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from the Hohoe District who accompanied Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, NPP Presidential candidate to celebrate Iron Ore festival of the people of Akpafu Todzi on Saturday sustained various degrees of injuries when the Tata bus in which they were travelling back to Hohoe after the celebration of the festival plunged into an embankment between Akpafu-Todzi and Akpafu-Mpeasem. There were no fatalities and all victims are being attended to at the Hohoe District Hospital.
The incident was an anti-climax to the festival, which attracted people from all walks of life. The spot is noted to have claimed many lives through road accidents, including the members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Madina branch.
Source:
GNA
Akufo-Addo's dilemma
*As he ponders over Boniface, Alima, Idris and Jawula
IN THE AFTERMATH of the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) gruelling flagbearership contest, the debate over who will partner the party’s flagbearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, to contest the next general elections appears to have dissolved into semantics without dilating on the qualities of such a person, according to Mr Eric Agyemang, an NPP political stalwart in the Suame Constituency of the Ashanti Region.
He says now that the party has completed one assignment, “we should undertake another crucial assignment that is the selection of a running mate for Nana Akufo-Addo”.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter, he said over the years the party has had a tradition of selecting a Dagomba as a running mate for its presidential candidates.
However, he suggested that it is about time the NPP thought about a change of strategy since “the Dagomba man has ceased to have some appeal for us. These Dagombas have abandoned our party because of a certain perception about the unfortunate killing of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II”.
He intimated that if the party was to select an Andani it stood the risk of incurring the displeasure of the Abudus and vice versa and that it would be prudent for the party to make a radical shift and select a Gonja, stressing that “they constitute the next largest voting block to the Dagombas in the north”.
Again, in his opinion, the party should avoid the selection of a Mamprusi “because if we select a Mamprusi we alienate the Kusasis in Bawku”.
Therefore, according to him, the surest bet for the party is a Gonja. We have Lepowura, Alhaji MND Jawula and Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, as the two most seasoned politicians in the party who fit the bill.
For him, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique has a big edge over the Lepowura because of his lineage and support attraction.
He noted that Boniface has an appeal to the Ewes because his father is from Nkonya in the Volta Region and because he was raised up at Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region, he has an appeal that transcends the PRU constituency to the northern part of Brong Ahafo.
He said the choice of Boniface would also level up National Democratic Congress’ Hon John Mahama – MP for Bole Bamboi, whose mother is from Krachi in the Northern Volta and Bole in Gonja land, in case he is appointed to partner Prof Mills.
“If we appoint Boniface early we would take the wind out of the sail of NDC”, he noted, adding “if the NDC appoints Alhaji Mumuni, a Dagomba, his appeal would depend on the faction he comes from and Boniface would take the other faction”.
Judging by the calibre and quality of NDC’s Prof Mills and Nana Akufo-Addo, the 2008 contest is going to get down to two words: “Running Mate” and that the persons the two major political parties pick as running mates must have the popularity either to win floating votes and, or break into the other’s base, he related.
“This is why in my view, Hon. Boniface Abubakar Saddique fits the bill and I have every confidence in proposing him for consideration for his popularity”
His popularity in the Muslim Community is not limited to any part of the country unlike other Muslim politicians whose popularity is limited to their specific constituencies such as Ayawaso or Madina, but cuts across from Esiama in the Western Region to Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region as well all the Zongo communities in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Mr Agyemang believes this attribute helped Hon Boniface when he was appointed the Northern Regional Minister in 2005, by far the most complicated region to administer because of its sheer size and looming Dagbon crisis, to tackle the Dagbon crisis and succeeded in bringing the disputing parties together, first for the installation of a regent and then the burial of the late Ya-Na.
“This singular achievement has won him the admiration of many in the Northern Region, as he earned the trust of both sides of the aisle in the Dagbon issue”, he maintained.
He said whether the NPP likes it or not, the Dagbon and to some extent the Bawku issues would play a significant electoral baggage to the party, therefore, it is important to pick a running mate who is unaligned to any of the factions in this troubled spots.
He said of all the names making the rounds as possible running mates, it is only Alhaji Boniface Saddiqque who has had a clean run in all the portfolios he has served in under President Kufuor.
“His records as Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (as it was then), Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City (as it was then), Minister of Manpower Development Youth and Employment and now Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing is par excellent”, he pointed out, arguing that only few people would have the kind of round experience that the Boniface has had over the last seven years, with the last three years being spent as a member of cabinet.
About those who are suggesting that the NPP selects a woman as a running mate, he intimated that the fact that the 2008 battle is against a ferocious and unrepentant opposition, who have declared that being in opposition is hell; and are therefore going to come out firing on all cylinders, this is not the time to experiment; but to put the best foot forward, not just in terms of a running mate who can campaign for himself, but has the capacity to follow the opposition to their backyard, i.e. the zongo communities.
He said in Boniface one gets intellect, experience, expertise, charisma and on top of all you get popularity in the Zongo communities, and that this is not the time for blind sentimentalism about wanting a woman for running mate.
Finally, he warned the party against choosing anybody from any of the troubled spots in the Northern Region since the consequences may not bring the desired results the party needs to retain power in the coming elections
Source:
gye nyame concord
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Cocoa farmers appeal to COCOBOD
Duakwa (C/R), Feb. 23, GNA - Cocoa farmers at Duakwa and surrounding communities in the Central Region, on Saturday appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), to ensure that monies released to licensed cocoa buying companies in respect of bonuses reached the farmers.
Opanin Kwaku Mensah, a cocoa farmer, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Akim Oda that most of the farmers had not received their bonuses for cocoa beans sold at Duakwa for the 2005/06 and the 2006/07 main crop seasons.
He said though the system for the disbursement of bonuses was straight forward, the purchasing clerks (PCs) of the various societies (sheds), made it cumbersome for the farmers, especially the illiterates among them to understand the process for payments.
Opanin Mensah said in the end the farmer was totally cheated, or given only part of his bonus.
He explained that since the bonus was only meant for the farmer, the government had to ensure that such huge sums of money was not shared among officials who had not worked for it or who did not have any cocoa farms.
The farmer explained that funds released to the buying companies as bonuses to farmers were passed on to a District Officer (D/O) who also disbursed the bonuses to the farmers through the PCs.
He stated that between the DO and the PCs, some irregular activities occurred, thereby defeating the purpose of the disbursement of the bonus.
The PCs at this point normally found faults with the farmers and made some deductions against the share of his their bonuses, he stated.
Source:
GNA
Bush declines Ghana chocolate
US President George Bush on Wednesday declined an offer for a bar of Golden Tree Chocolates at an exhibition of Ghanaian products targeted at the North American market.
President Bush, on the second day of his visit to Ghana, was at the Trade Fair to see the exhibition of the products including garments, shea butter, handicrafts, jewellery, etc are said to be now selling in retail shops in the United States.
 Police covers Bush`s visit at Trade Fair |
When the President and his wife got to the Cocoa Processing stand, he picked up a bar of chocolate to admire. But when Joy News Israel Laryea asked him if would want to try it, he said, “you know something, I gave up candies and sweets for Lent(the forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter), so I’d try this in twenty-three more days, or whatever it is.”
Amidst chuckling from Israel Laryea and Mr. Bush’s aides and other officials he added, “one of these days I’d try it, but I’m being a disciplined person”, smiling and looking in the wife’s direction.
The story behind the incident however has it that some chocolates meant for the exhibition on the day was picked up by the US secret service and three days prior to the exhibition supposedly for screening.
According to Maxwell Aboagye, a Senior Sales and Marketing Officer at the Cocoa Processing Company in charge of the stand, the chocolates were returned just a few minutes before the US President was due to arrive at the stand.
He says, “I was also told to offer him that particular pack of chocolates that they came for”.
The CPC does not see the incident as a rejection of their chocolates though.
Maxwell says the company currently has its eyes set on a deal to supply the US military with chocolate and cocoa products and that though a deal has not been finalised yet, “plans are far advanced”.
The event was an exhibition of local products currently being exported to the American market under the African Growth and Opportunities Act, AGOA.
President Bush together with wife Laura and other members of the delegation interacted with the exhibitors, selected from amongst some 200 beneficiaries of the initiative which allows some 6400 products from Ghana to enter the US market duty free and quota free.
The Cocoa Processing Company, though already in the US market is being assisted by AGOA to find new markets.
The exhibition was organised by the West African Trade hub, which acts as a broker, seeking shops across America who want to buy from the African market. Between 2005 and 2007, the hub based in Accra and Dakar in Senegal facilitated more than 16 million dollars in exports and 3 million in investment.
Source: GNA
Cuba to import cocoa from Ghana
Havana, Feb. 21, GNA- Cuba has expressed interest to step up the importation of cocoa from Ghana to supplement the local production of the cash crop to boost chocolate production. Mr Alejandro Roca Iglesias, Minister of Cuba's Food Ministry made this known in Havana when he interacted with Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who is on a seven-day official visit to the country.
He said Cuba needed more cocoa beans for processing at a new plant that would be operational this year.
Mr Iglesias said his country had established an international school for chocolate production and asked Ghana to send students to the teaching facility that would impart the skill to produce hand-made chocolates.
He said so far Cuba had 10 of the novelty hand-made chocolate factories in the country.
Vice President Alhaji Mahama said the requests made by the Minister would be tackled when the two countries reactivate their Joint Commission for Co-operation this year.
He assured the Cuban authorities of the desire of Ghana to train its citizenry in cocoa production in the country, stressing: "Ghana does not want to go too far. We want to come to Cuba to get it."
Vice President Alhaji Mahama called for the assistance of Cuba to revamp Ghana's sugarcane industry.
He expressed disquiet about the high post-harvest losses in Ghana and called for joint ventures with Cuba to reverse the situation.
At another meeting, the Minister of Basic Industry, Mrs Yadira Garcia Vera said an energy revolution started by her country since 2006 had resulted in energy stability and efficiency in Cuba, thus utilising electricity for more productive uses.
She said Cuba had been the testing grounds for energy saving bulbs imported from China, leading to the changing of 60 million incandescent bulbs in Venuezuela alone.
Vice President Alhaji Mahama visited Labiofam, a research institute that deals in a variety of activities such as the biological control of mosquitoes and the production of pesticides and vaccines.
The Enterprise Director, Jose Antonio Castro said the institute was carrying out research to develop a vaccine for Bird Flu. Vice President Alhaji Mahama expressed the interest of Ghana to co-operate with the institute to eradicate mosquitoes, which, he said, had led to expending huge sums of money to treat malaria.
In another development, the Vice President visited the African National Heroes Park in Havana and laid a wreath on a monument built in honour of Pan-Africanists such as Ghana's first President; Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Amilcar Kabral, Patrice Lumumba and Edourdo Mondlane. He was also at the Revolution Square, where he laid a wreath at a monument in honour of Jose Marti, Cuba's National Hero.
Speaking at the 'Colon' cemetery, where the mortal remains of Cuban liberation fighters have been buried, he quoted the adage that any nation that failed to honour its fallen heroes was not worth dying for.
Source:
GNA
Cuba grants scholarship to 20 Ghanaian medical students
Havana, Feb.21, GNA- Gripped by the spirit of South-South Co-operation, the Communist authorities in Cuba on Wednesday offered 20 scholarship slots to Ghanaian medical students who want to study in medical schools in the coastal country.
The offer was the by-product of two separate meetings Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, had with his counterpart, Mr. Esteban Lazo Hernandez and
Mr. Jose Ramon, Minister of Public Health in Havana, where he is on a seven-day official visit.
Mr Hernandez had earlier pledged 10 slots during a close-door meeting with the Vice President. But after intense lobbying at the Health Ministry by Alhaji Mahama, the number was increased to 20. Justifying the gesture, Mr Hernandez said Cuba had always stood by the side of fellow developing countries.
He explained that his country had a heavy presence in Africa decades ago, not to grab human and mineral resources but to help in the resistance against colonialism.
"We counted the cost in the number of soldiers who returned home dead and not the number of mineral resources we looted." Mr Henandez lauded Ghana for being the first country in Africa to establish diplomatic relations with his country and called for a more spirited link.
The Public Health Affairs Minister depicted the medical strength of Cuba, which, he said, was achieved through practical and innovative ways of training medical students.
This, Mr Ramon said had led to the churning out of 70,000 doctors for a population of 11.2 million people.
Vice President Mahama called for increased trade and investments between the two countries to facilitate the deepening of bilateral relations.
At a visit to the Ministry of Education, he commended Cuba for assisting Ghana to train medical doctors and posting a number of medical personnel to the country, especially in the rural areas. The Minister, Mr Luis Gomez, noted that Cuba had achieved the highest literacy rate in the world through a National Campaign for Literacy started in 1961.
He said the country had attained 100 per cent enrolment level for basic school pupils in a learning atmosphere where 20 pupils are enrolled in a class to give room for effective teaching and learning. Mr Gomez said university education was universal for all Cubans in every part of the country, whilst Information, Communication and Technology was accessible to every student.
Vice President Alhaji Mahama later visited Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine, where the Head, Professor Gustavo Kouri described the high index of mortality in Africa as horrible. He elaborated the medical feat his country had achieved through the establishment of the Cuban National Health System in 1959, which had pushed the country's life expectancy rate to 77. The system had made Cuba the first country to eradicate poliomyelitis in 1962. Prof. Kouri said his country was able to eradicate yellow fever in 1902, malaria; 1967, Diphtheria; 1979 and measles 1993. He said the Institute had been listed to participate in the treatment of people suffering from Neglected Tropical Diseases such as river blindness and sleeping sickness.
Source:
GNA
Corruption in distribution of premix fuel
Accra, Feb. 21, GNA - Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper, on Thursday called on Government to institute a full-scale enquiry into corruption in the distribution of premix fuel and punish those who would be found to be corrupt in its distribution. Reviewing a book, "Premix - An Avenue for Political Corruption, Deceit, Lies and Petty Thievery" in Accra he said since the NPP government had stated categorically that it wanted evidence before investigating issues of corruption, the book was enough evidence to warrant full-scale investigation into the matter.
The 155-page book authored by Papa Kodwo Mbir, former member of the Ministerial Committee on Premix Distribution to Canoe Fishermen, brings to the fore the fraudulent deals in the distribution of the fuel.
Mr Pratt challenged President John Agyekum Kufuor to keep his promise of zero tolerance for corruption using the evidence that the book presents as a test case before he leaves office.
He said the book catalogued a chronological event of the genesis of the premix fuel, specially formulated to power only two-stroke engines such as outboard motors to be used by fishermen, and the fraudulent deals in its sale to the motoring public and the huge profits generated to the disadvantage of fishermen and the Ghanaian tax payer.
The book, he observed, paid glowing tribute to Ghanaian journalists, radio stations and all who stood to be counted in the fight against corruption and deceit perpetrated by the political elite. "What was felt after reading the book was the blatant attempt by the political elite to corrupt the system and siphon state funds which had been (generated) by the sweat and toil of farmers and fisher folks who still live in the stone world using outmoded methods in their fields and who most often do not even have access to medical care when the need arises," he said.
He commended the author for taking the risk to bring to light the corruption in the industry which negatively impacted on the fishermen during the major fishing season because fuel meant to enhance their work is diverted by "crooks" in the industry.
Mr Raymond Archer, Editor of The Enquirer Newspaper, who launched the book, said corruption was a canker, which neutralized a nation's forward march to economic prosperity and had been responsible for the overthrow and instability of several governments in Africa.
"In our own country, Ghana, governments have either been overthrown on the basis of corruption or voted out based on perceptions that they are corrupt.
"Almost every politician who aspires to power publicly acknowledges that corruption has devastating effect on the lives of the people they hope to govern. It is the canker that many politicians say they dislike and pledge to uproot if voted into office. Unfortunately, it is that, which they embrace with their hands, legs, mouths and stomachs when they assume power."
The book, Mr Archer said, was a "must read" for all stakeholders in the fight against corruption and for everyone who yearned to see integrity in public office.
"I salute your courage to fight against what is wrong and the resilience with which you have fought and continue to fight this issue. I did not just understand your frustrations as I read it but I shared them, because I have lived it. I know the prize you have and may pay for wanting to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of scarce public resources," he told the author.
Papa Mbir expressed the frustration in having the book published and sold but expressed the hope that well-meaning Ghanaians would buy it to make it reach many Ghanaians.
He said he did not write the book because he wanted to fight any particular government but he wanted to fight corruption and help check malpractices within the premix setup which led to the setting up of the Ministerial Committee on Premix by government.
The main function of this Committee was to organize premix distribution properly and thus help check the misuse of the fuel in addition to managing funds derived from the fuel to develop the fishing communities, he said.
Papa Mbir noted that the management structure of this Committee was what crooked politicians and oil magnates sought to destroy to make way for the continuation of their criminal activities and that led to its dissolution.
"As a member of this Committee, I tried to report all negative activities within the premix system which came to my notice to the powers that be, but they turned a deaf ear to my fight in getting the proper thing done," he said.
"This book is therefore an attempt to reveal to the public activities of these groups of people with the hope that better ways are found to manage this fuel which is so important to the nation's economy," Papa Mbir.
Source:
GNA
Bush turns Trade Hub into funfair
Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - When US President George Walker Bush and his wife, Laura, inspected a showcase of eight exporters of the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) eligible products in Accra, little did any one expect that he was going to turn the formal function into a funfair.
Hours before President Bush and his wife arrived on the mini fair grounds mounted at the premises of the Ghana International Trade Fair Company, a cross-section of chiefs and other highly reputed traditional leaders dressed in colourful apparel from their respective traditional areas and Ministers of State were seated while the eight exporters mounted their wares to receive President Bush.
 Bush is SAVE! |
The atmosphere was also characterized by heavy presence of US security detail and the strict screening process for local journalists covering the function, until President Bush and Laura stepped unto the venue dancing to Ghanaian Adowa drum beat.
Instantly, the otherwise tense atmosphere changed, with photo journalists running wild to capture the dancing moves of President Bush with ministers of state and other dignitaries having a good laugh.
President Bush moved from the dancing to inspect the exhibits, which included cocoa and cocoa products, wood carvings and artefacts, shear butter and shear butter products, kente cloths, cashew and baskets.
But his round of inspection was not without fun and humour, as he posed for the cameras with the Adowa drum players and with each of the persons manning the exhibits when he got to their stand.
President Bush was handed a bar of Kingsbite chocolate and was challenged to taste it but he refused, saying, "I gave up on candies long ago and even though I have a candy in hand I am determined to be a disciplined man."
To the amazement of everyone present, when President Bush got to the sheanuts stand, where a lady was pounding the sheanuts, he took the pestle and pounded the nut for the cameras.
He also danced with pupils from Kotoka Basic Junior High School, who sang a special Akwaaba song for him, singing his name in portions of the song.
President Bush continued his fun when he went round to greet the chiefs and traditional leaders, sharing very hearty pleasantries with them.
As if on purpose, he always took a bow when he greeted the female traditional leaders. A highlight of that session was the unusually long time he spent with Daasebre Oti Boateng, Paramount Chief of New Juabeng and former Government Statistician, who also presented his profile to President Bush.
President Bush also shared warm and friendly exchanges with the Ministers of State present and an even deeper fellowship with Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, former Ghana's Ambassador to the United States and Minister of Trade, Industry and PSI, who is credited for pioneering Ghana's involvement in the AGOA initiative.
Miss Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, who accompanied President Bush, also attracted a lot of attention when she arrived on the fair grounds in a separate entourage.
The eight products exhibited at the fair are just the tip of the iceberg compared to the several Made-in-Ghana AGOA-eligible products currently exported from Ghana to the US market.
In 2006 alone, out of a total of US$192 million worth of exports from Ghana to the US, US$45 million was under AGOA, a statement of the USAID said.
Under AGOA, thousands of locally made products from at least 21 African countries are exported to the US market under duty-free, quota-free system. The apparel sector for instance benefits from a duty-free cost advantage of 33 per cent.
To assist businesses wishing to take advantage of AGOA, USAID created four trade hubs, headquartered in Ghana, Dakar , Nairobi and Gaborone to provide technical assistance to would-be exporters and resources to regional governments to improve the climate for trade. "From 2005-2007, the trade hub facilitated more than US$16 million in exports, as well as US$3 million in investments," the USAID said.Source:
GNA
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