Volta tolink Northern regions with first class road
Kadjebi (V/R), Aug. 26, GNA- Vice President Aliu Mahama at the weekend said government has plans to link the Volta Region to the Northern region by a first class road network to facilitate mobility, trade and commerce.
He said the European Union was ready to finance the project as soon as feasibility studies and designs were completed for actual construction work to commence.
Alhaji Mahama made this remark at an interaction with Chiefs, Elders and people of Kadjebi in the Volta region.
The Vice President said government, under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor would equitably distribute development projects, irrespective of voting patterns or the availability of natural resources.
He said this stance had resulted in the springing up of many development projects in all sectors of the economy, since the government assumed the reigns of political power.
On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Alhaji Mahama announced that government was fine-tuning the scheme by removing all bottlenecks and bureaucracies, which hitherto undermined its smooth operation.
He said the Scheme had come to stay and urged the public to embrace it.
On the second oil discovery, Alhaji Mahama said what was needed now was peace as "we can see prosperity steering in our face. Let us work together as a people with one destiny, let us grasps it". He said Kadjebi district was a recipient of government's numerous development projects, including the upgrading of the Kadjebi Secondary School to an endowed status, which was hitherto left unattended to, since its construction in the 1960's. He promised that the bridge over a tributary of River Oti at Dodo Fie would soon be awarded on contract.
Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister said work on the district capital roads was progressing steadily including the Kadjebi town roads with the Jasikan-Bodada road network being tarred.
He cautioned contractors working on projects in the region, especially roadsworks that, his administration would not compromise on quality work and would sanction such recalcitrant ones.
Mr Dzamesi praised Ogyeabour Akompi Finam, Omanhene of Kadjebi for his leadership qualities, which had won him national honours, including the Order of the Volta.
Ogyeabour Finam, commended government for its revolve to develop every part of the country, irrespective of political affiliation, adding that the district had witnessed unprecedented construction of school infrastructure.
He said at least 40 school blocks had been constructed and expressed optimism that the Kadjebi-Nkwanta stretch of road, which had been awarded on contrct would be completed in earnest.
He appealed to government to construct a district hospital in the area to rationalize the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as patients usually sought medical treatment from neighbouring districts and called for the expansion of telecommunication facilities in the area. The Vice President's entourage included Mr. Isaac Edumadze, former Central Regional Minister, Togbe Kpankpadriku II, Member of the Council of State and Mr. Kenwuud Nuworsu, Volta Regional Chairman, New Patriotic Party.
Source:
GNA
Pastors to benefit from new insurance scheme
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA- Through the initiative of the International Council for Clergy (ICC), an affiliate of the US-based Council of Black Clergy, Ghanaian Christian clerics, would be enjoying an insurance scheme that would offer them end-of service packages. The insurance scheme, which would embrace the spouses and children of the beneficiaries, is part of a five-year development plan of the ICC, which kicks start before the end of the year.
Rt. Rev. Dr. George Slezer Ofori-Atta, Presiding Archbishop of the Council, who made this known in Accra at the weekend, during an ordination service to admit 20 members to the global body said other components of the plan include the establishment of an Information, Technology and Communication Centre to train the youth and an orphanage. He said the Council, in collaboration with the Ixthus Church Council in London had already established a health clinic in Ghana.
Rt. Rev. Ofori-Atta asked journalists not to arrogate to themselves the role to interpret the Bible to the public.
He noted that there are men of God who have Philosophy degrees in Theology and could offer their expertise to any journalist who seeks to know any aspect of the Bible.
" No man of God could tell Journalists what journalism is about. In the same vein journalists should be humble enough to approach people who know the Bible better in the course of the work," he said. Apostle Daniel Kwame Saforo, 81, the only surviving founding member of the Ghana Pentecostal Council, took a swipe on members of the clergy, who he said had been blinded by the love for money and thereby undermining the work of God.
"The commitment is not there these days and so people are not preaching Christ but rather seeking to project themselves." He said the salvation of Ghana lied in the hands of dedicated and committed Christians who were ready to pray to reverse the moral degeneration confronting, especially the youth such as drug abuse and armed robbery.
"Only prayer can change the destiny of Ghana. Prayer is powerful than an atomic bomb."
Rt. Rev. Dr. Simon Asore, past Head of the Assemblies of God Church, told the new members of the ICC that they would meet challenges in their missionary work, hence the need to remain disciplined and seek the face of God.
The newly ordained members of the Council comprised Pastor Love Hammond husband of the gospel musician; Christiana Love, who and teamed up with ace gospel artistes; the Tagoe sisters, to treat the large enthusiastic congregation at the Faith Evangelical Church to a variety of gospel songs.
They were presented with certificates, after undergoing three months training in church administration, Bible theology and sociology. Members of the ICC are exposed to international assistance in ecclesiastical assignments, Bible school education; participate in international conferences, seminars and conventions The Council is affiliated to the International Ministerial Independent and Word Council of Independent Christian Churches and Independent Assemblies of God International. Membership of the ICC is on corporate, associate or individual basis.
Source:
GNA
Energy crisis over by end of year -Veep
Hohoe, Aug. 26, GNA-Vice President Aliu Mahama on Saturday said the energy crisis that had plagued the country for sometime now would be curtailed tentatively by the close of the year where all arsenals would have been deployed.
He said it was no wonder as the energy jigsaw continues to attract lots of investors to that sector, all aimed at ameliorating the crisis. Alhaji Mahama said this during a courtesy call on Chiefs, Queens and Elders of Gbi Traditional Area at Hohoe.
He also inspected work on the GHC 1,170,000-million three-kilometre Hohoe town roads under construction.
Alhaji Mahama urged traditional leadership to take keen interest in development projects in their areas, even though they were not the authorizing institution.
He said government was concerned about the poverty levels in the country and was poised, together with development partners to reverse the trend.
The Vice President appealed to cocoa farmers in the area to revamp their farms as government in consultation with the Cocoa Board was rolling up attractive schemes for prospective farmers. Alhaji Mahama said the farmers would not only be creating wealth to boost the incomes of their families and communities but help to increase the foreign earnings of the country.
Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister said it was gratifying to note that under the government of President John Agyekum Kufour, the Bui Hydro Dam has finally taken-off after several years of neglect by successive regimes, noting that Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Lieutenant-General Ignatius K. Acheampong constructed the Akosombo and Kpong Hydro Electric Dams respectively.
He said government has thus fulfilled its second major projects it envisioned as campaign messages to Ghanaians before assuming political power adding, "NPP government was redefining governance, rule of law and democracy".
Togbe Adzofofu II, Chief of Gbi-Atabu on behalf of Chiefs, Queens and people of Gbi Traditional Area commended government for redeeming its pledge of awarding roads projects for construction in the area and making a follow-up to assess progress of work.
He appealed to the contractor to speed up work as the "potholes were becoming manholes on the roads, which was affecting mobility". He praised government for the many development projects including the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) under which the district was a beneficiary and its quest to turn-around the potential of tourism into a number one foreign exchange earner.
Mr. Castro Dela Ahorsu, Chief Executive of Survivors Construction Company, contractor on the Hohoe roads disclosed that cement shortages in recent time, a core ingredient in the construction industry affected progress on the job but promised to work harder to complete the road by February 2008.
Later, at the Hohoe Zongo, Alhaji Mahama, during a courtesy call on Alhaji Mohamed Tarudeen Meiriga, Sariki Zongo and his Elders urged Zongo communities to do away with the perception that they were strangers but collaborate with the indigenous people to facilitate development. He told them to bequeath to their children quality education as a pre-requisite for social advancement and growth.
Source:
GNA
GHANA : COLOMBIA = 2 - 1
Ghana qualified for the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007 with a 2-1 victory over Colombia in their last Group F match at the Ulsan Sports Complex on Sunday 26 August .
NDC Supports Bui Dam Project
Space FM, Sunyani, August 24 - NDC Asutifi South Parliamentarian, Hon. Collins Dauda, says his party fully supports the Bui Dam Project, Ghana's second biggest hydroelectric dam after Akosombo, because of the magnitude of its importance to the nation.
He added that the NDC is not like the UP which opposed Dr Kwame Nkrumah when he initiated work on the Akosombo dam.
He explained that though the NDC has been opposing the ruling NPP on several projects, the party knows the benefits the dam would bring to the nation and would do every thing to ensure its completion.
Hon. Dauda was speaking to Space FM at Banda Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo region, shortly after president J.A. Kufour cut the sod to commence work on the 622 million dollar hydro electricity project at Bui on Friday. The Dam, which will be constructed on the Black Volta over the next five years, is expected to generate 400 megawatts on completion and would create direct employment for 2,900 Ghanaians.
He pointed out that before the NPP took over the reigns of government, the NDC had actually started the Bui project by signing a memorandum of understanding with Brown and Roads Company.
The MP said in 1998, the NDC was advised by energy experts to suspend the Bui project, because it was also hydro, and rather concentrate on the then energy crises the nation was facing.
“Energy experts advised that we suspend the Bui project because of the then energy crises and rather construct a thermal plant instead of a second hydro plant”, he said.
He continued that based on that advise, the NDC went ahead to construct the Aboadze thermal plant hoping that if NDC won the 2000 elections, the Bui dam would have been revisited to further improve the country’s energy capacity. But the NDC lost the 2000 elections. Hon. Dauda said the NDC would support any good projects of the government but would oppose projects such as the construction of the presidential palace which is intended to provide comfort for only the president.
Source:
Space FM, Sunyani
Ghanaian chefs win international laurels
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), Minister of Health has said about 250 diseases discovered and recorded by American Scientists were food borne diseases.
He said this called for critical thinking in terms of the selection of food items and vegetables that one consumed in order to prevent diseases.
Major Quashigah said this when he received members of the Ghana Chefs Association who went to Kenya to participate in an International Culinary Competition in July 2007.
The 10 chefs, who were engaged in a five-round cooking competition with their Kenyan counterparts brought home three silver and three bronze medals with a total score of 440, while Kenya took the first position with 480 points.
He said, very soon chefs from the association would visit restaurants to educate their colleagues on good cooking practices. Major Quashigah lauded the association for its innovative skills that won members the laurels and asked them to work harder to improve the general diet of the Ghanaian society.
Mr. Garry Lane, Manager of the Team and Chef at the Labadi Beach Hotel said people did not live longer due to the food they ate and cautioned Ghanaians to be very particular about thei eating habits, especially eating in the night.
He commended the Ministry for the support given to the Association since its inception and said that the Association would work harder to win the next competition to be held in South Africa in December. The Association, in appreciation presented a certificate and a uniform to the Minister.
Source:
GNA
Court grants seven people bail for rioting at Apedwa
Nsawam, Aug. 25, GNA - The Nsawam Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Ankumah, last Thursday, granted bail in the sum of 40 million cedis and a surety each to seven persons for rioting at Akyem Apedwa.
The accused persons, Barima Obenakwa Kwarifa the second, 62, businessman, Nana Asentewa Aboagyewaa, 50, Queen of Apedwa, Emmanuel Asare, 66, Secretary, Kwadwo Asare, 75, Kwaku Antwi 69, Kofi Akyiriefi, 69 and Kwaku Buabeng, 70, all farmers will reappear on August 30. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector David Adrah told the court that the accused persons and some others now at large on August sixth attacked the Apedwa Royal Family in the Fanteakwa District with offensive weapons and caused damage to properties, which value was yet to be determined by the police. He said all the accused persons belong to the same Royal family and were residing at Apedwa. Mr Adrah said for some years now, there had been a chieftaincy dispute between Nana Addo Gyekye, Chief of Apedwa, the complainant and Barima Obenakwa Kwarrifa, a businessman who is also aspiring for the stool.
The prosecution said in the morning of August sixth, the accused persons returned from Kibi and armed with offensive weapons attacked and vandalized part of the Apedwahene's palace and caused damage to properties belonging to Nana Gyekye. He said the police went to the scene and arrested the accused persons for investigations. Mr Adrah said in the evening of the same day, four other accused persons who were earlier on granted bail by the court in the sum of 20 million cedis and supporting the chief also armed themselves and attacked the queen in her house and shot through her window in an attempt to kill her but missed.
Source:
GNA
J.H. Mensah Slams Government Critics
Space FM, Bui, Aug. 24- Former Senior Minister, Hon J.H, Mensah, has taken a swipe at those who critise president J.A. Kufour for his frequent trips abroad, saying one of his visits to China four years ago, has resulted into the construction of the 622 million dollar Bui Hydro-Electric Dam.
The project which is expected to generate 400 megawatts on completion in 2012, would also give direct employment to 2,900 Ghanaians during the construction phase.
"If the president had stayed at home and eaten banku and green leaves, would Ghanaians have had the Bui Dam?", he asked the gathering.
Hon. J.H. Mensah was speaking during the sod cutting ceremony by the president to commence work on the Bui Dam at Banda Ahenkro in the Brong-Ahafo region.
He noted that those who complain about the president's trips abroad are of little minds and imagination and urged Ghanaians to support the government in transforming the nation.
Hon. J.H. Mensah said the construction of the dam,which has been on the drawing board since the 1920's, needed a visionary president like J.A. Kufour to the bring project to life adding that the project is also in fulfilment of a promise the government made to the nation.
"Its now nearly seven years ago that his excellency came to the Brong-Ahafo region and he promised that if the people gave him power, the 90- year old dream of the Bui Dam would be realised", he recalled.
Apart from hydropower generation, the project has irrigation, fisheries and tourism components and the construction of a nucleus of a metropolis to be called Bui City that is expected to provide impetus to the economic and social transformation of the area.
Source:
Space FM,Sunyani
Use ICT to reduce poverty - Prof Anamuah-Mensah
Winneba (C/R), Aug 25, GNA - Information Communication Technology (ICT) should be used to harness potentials and reduce poverty. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba made the call at the closing of a five-day International workshop on ICT at Winneba for over 20 participants from Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, The Gambia, Sierra Leon, Kenya, Mauritius and Ghana.
It was organised by the Winneba Open Digital Village Project with sponsorship from the Commonwealth of Learning and United Nation Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the support of the University. Prof Anamuah-Mensah said the university had been operating the Winneba open Digital Village (WODIV) project to train teachers in sustainable development for the past 12 months. He stressed the hope that the project, the first to be established in Africa would provide low cost ICT tools such as wireless connectivity, Linux and Web portals to enable teachers and other personalities to benefit.
The Vice Chancellor said the facility would assist the Winneba Community Health Nursing Training School and other nursing training colleges to educate nurses in the use of computers and spreadsheets. He stated that WODIV would promote the exploration of Geographic Information System (GIS) to show variations in soils, ecology, weather patterns, human development and national resources to ensure long-term productivity. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah later launched the WODIV owned by the University and other partners. Mr Kafui Prebbie, WODIV Project Coordinator of the University, said small-scale industries within the vicinity would be placed on the Internet to promote business.
He noted that it would also afford the opportunity to prepare graduates and other school leavers for the job market on the Internet. Professor Asabere-Ameyaw, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, urged the participants to make use of the knowledge acquired at the workshop for the benefit of their people. He observed that in Africa, training workshops were organized on daily basis yet the continent remained under developed with hunger, war, diseases and poverty. Prof Ameyaw noted that most of the resources of the continent had not been tapped due to lack of implementation of policies and programmes, adding that, the materials and reports of such workshops are allowed to remain in the shelves.
Source:
GNA
People of Lambussie appeal for new district
Lambussie (UW), Aug.25, GNA - The Chiefs and people of Lambussie Traditional Area in the Jirapa/Lambussie district of the Upper West Region on Thursday appealed to the President to create a new district for them to speed up the development of the area. Making the call during the maiden working visit to the area by Mr George Hikah Benson, the Upper West Regional Minister, Kuoro Iddrisu Bamie, Paramount chief of the area regretted that the Jirapa/Lambussie District Assembly was not being fair to them in the distribution of development projects although the area constituted about half the size of the district.
He said before the country's independence, the native authorities of Lawra, Nandom and Lambussie constituted the Lawra Confederacy District Council as equal partners with fairness and equity in the distribution of projects.
Since then Lambussie has been tacitly considered a minority group in terms of ethnicity and population under Lawra district.. The people urged the government to repair the bridge at Piina that spans the road used by vehicles from Nandom to get to markets at Fielmuo, Samuo, Suke and Tumu and speed up the processes that would see Piina community and the Piina Senior Secondary School provided with electricity.
Mr. Benson, who was accompanied by Mrs. Winifred Dyaka, the Deputy Regional Minister urged the people to live together in peace devoid of ethnic sentiments, which he noted, did not promote orderly development. He said the area has been earmarked to benefit from one of the Jubilee Schools precisely a Jubilee Secondary/Technical School and reiterated the NPP government's commitment to ensure that no area was neglected in the distribution of the national cake. The Regional Minster inspected a three-unit residential facility that has been constructed by the District Assembly to accommodate some of the Police Personnel in the town.
Source:
GNA
CPP elects executive committee at Biakoye
Kwamekrom (V/R), Aug. 25, GNA - Mr. Samuel Dzorkpe Nartey, Proprietor of Gameli International School at Kwamekrom has been elected Biakoye Constituency Chairman for the Convention Peoples Party at a constituency conference to elect a 13 member executives to run the affairs of the Party for the next four years. Mr Nartey polled 59 votes to beat Mr Eric Dogbaza, a Teacher who polled 11 out of 70 eligible votes. Mr Michael Kwame Darko took the first vice position unopposed with the second vice going to Mr Harrison Adjei. Mr Kudu Fred was elected Secretary with Miss Valeria Ametepe as his Assistant.
The Constituency Organiser went to Mr Oheneba Konadu to be assisted by Mr Charles Aklate. Madam Elizabeth Boateng and Beatrice Assam were elected Women Organiser and Assistant respectively with the Treasurer going to Madam Doris Odori. The rest are Mr Fianu Gilbert, Youth Organiser, Mr Safui Abudakar, Assistant Youth Organiser and Mr Baffour Ankamah, Constituency Education Secretary. Swearing the Executive Committee into office, Mr Vincent Norgbedzi, CPP Volta Regional Organiser advised the members to work hard to win more people especially youths into the Party.
Source:
GNA
Tema Motor way accident claims one life
Tema, Aug. 24, GNA - A passenger died on the spot with his head and right shoulder crushed, when a Mercedes bus on which he was travelling from Accra to Tema, crashed on the Tema Motorway on Friday. Others on the bus sustained various degrees of injuries. The vehicle somersaulted and veered off the road when its rear left tyre burst.
Eye witnesses told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the deceased got trapped in the window in an attempt to jump out. A KIA mini-bus which was following the Mercedes bus ran into a ditch after the driver swerved to avoid collusion with the bigger vehicle.
District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Timothy Dassah of the Ashaiman Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) confirmed the death, stating that the injured had been sent to the Tema General Hospital. In an unrelated development, the Tema MTTU has impounded a Subaru Ibiza taxi cab, carrying two mini sacks of leaves suspected to be marijuana.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prosper Amoah Ayisi of the Tema Regional MTTU, said officials of the Unit were on a routine traffic check on the Afienya road on Friday when they spotted the vehicle. He said the officers chased the cab to a nearby toll booth after the driver refused orders to stop. DSP Ayisi said on reaching the Afienya toll booth, the cabbie abandoned his vehicle and fled into the bush. He said police retrieved two sacks from the trunk of the taxi.
Source:
GNA
CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WINNING
From: lotty africa (lottyafrica755@hotmail.com)
Sent:
24 August 2007 11:47:45
To: ALL FOOLS
from : Lotto Manager . South African
2010 World cup lottery online 2006
Lottery Headquarters: 210-211 Universal Building
Parkhaust, Balfour Unit 1440
Johannesburg, South Africa
Batch: ( 18/006/1094/LIPDA/SL.)
REF : (GFA/MMS/HWEAS/SA)
CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WINNING:
We happily announce to you the draw of South African 2010 World cup Bid lottery Award International programs held in Zurich, Switzerland. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: (7017-4162-1018) with ! Serial number (MH4710019)Drew the winning NO: (80, 35, 11, 72, 90, 41 and Bonus number and Insurance number (KISCS433/2010SNLP/2005) which subsequently on you the lottery award in the 2nd category.
Your name have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$2,100,000.00 (Two million, One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cash credited to file Number (KPC/9030108308/03). This is from a total cash prize of US ($200,000,000.00)shared among the first 200 Hundred and lucky winners in this category world-wide. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our lottery booklet representative office in South Africa as indicate in the play coupon.
In view of this, your U.S ($2,100,000.00 (Two Million, One Hundred United States Dollars) would be released to you by the bank immediately he commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact us.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web-site through computer draw system and extracted from over (100,000,00) companies and individual emails address. The lottery programe took place to promote south africa (2010 world cup award).
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims are processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements (Please be warned) .
To file for your claim, please contact the Zonal Co ordinator immediately for verifications of your winning, for quick and urgent release of your fund, his conatct information is as follow.!!!
Name: Mr. Abraham Adams
E-mail : profabrams240@yahoo.co.uk
Mobile:27-73-307-2272
Please be informed that all winning Prize must be claimed on or before 30 days of this notification. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference /batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent. Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program that has succesfully won this competition.
Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
signed: President Nelson Mandela (chairman)
Molefi OLIPHANT (President)
Chief Operations Officer
Albert MOKOENA
Chief Executive Officer
Danny JORDAAN.
N.B/email the Zonal co ordinator for urgent verification of your cliam, The name is Mr Abraham Adams
Thank you for your co-operation
JOYCE HENZ (MRS)
(P R O)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
PLEASE VISIT THIS LINKS : ( TIPP from GHANAWEB - NEWS . COM )
http://www.urgentmessage.org/highlyconfidential/_n?filter=2010%20World%20Cup
419 er Watch
Being an examination of the scams and frauds that come in to my inbox(es)
Nkrumah lays foundation for atomic reactor... in 1964
First published in Ghana Review International, Issue No 120, March 2007 Casting my mind back to 50 years of Ghana’s independence and comparing the development strides the country had chalked with peer countries like Malaysia and Singapore, I believe there is a lot Ghanaians can be proud of.
Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah who led the country to wrest political independence from British colonialists had a great vision for the country, a vision that transcended the immediate development trappings of his time.
Long before Ghana hit the road to power crises, Dr Nkrumah was looking beyond hydro-electric power to the realms of atomic energy where sustainable power supply is not a dream but a scientific reality.
LINDA ASANTE AGYEI reproduces Nkrumah’s full speech, which he delivered when laid the foundation stone for the construction of Ghana Atomic Reactor at Kwabenya, on 25 November 1964.
“We are gathered here this afternoon to mark the beginning of Ghana’s Atomic Reactor Centre. This Centre, when completed, will enable Ghana to participate in the developments now taking place in Atomic Science. In this way, we shall be equipped with the greater knowledge and the means to give richer service to our people and to Africa.
Nearly three years ago, we decided to build an Atomic Reactor in Ghana. We were fully aware then that our motives might be misconstrued, for the setting up of an Atomic Reactor is the first practical step to building an Atomic bomb. We have always stood for the use of fissionable material exclusively for peaceful ends. We have consistently stood against the unnecessary proliferation of weapons of mass destructions, and with equal consistency for the abolition of such weapons.
Our sole motive in reaching the decision to build the centre, which you now see, rising before you, is to enable Ghana to take every advantage of the decisive methods of research and development, which mark our modern world. It is essential to do this if we are to impart to our development the acceleration, which is required to break even with more advanced economies. We have therefore been compelled to enter the field of Atomic energy, because this already promises to yield the greatest economic source of power since the beginning of man. Our success in this field would enable us to solve the many sided problems which face us in all the spheres of our development in Ghana and in Africa.
We know that doubts have been expressed concerning the wisdom and practicability of our decision. Many important but inconclusive reasons have been advanced to persuade us to abandon this project, but we are not persuaded.
Let me say that, in the age Science & Technology, in this age of Atomic Revolution, neither Ghana nor Africa can afford to lag behind our nations, or to ignore the scientific development of our time. Indeed, we start with certain definitive advantages over many nations, which have preceded us in the scientific revolution.
Allow me to remind you of the metaphysical problem of the flea. You know that some key people have wondered with some concerns, whether assuming that there is a flea on our back, there is on the back of that a minor flea, and there is on the back of that minor flea, and upon on that back of the minor flea yet another mini-minor flea and so on, add infinitum. A similar problem was expressed in the history of science about matter.
We, however, have not had to prove for ourselves that the atom can be split. We have not had to discover that steam can produce energy or that water power can be used to generate electricity.
Indeed, we begin where many ended. We make our start from the great body of scientific and technological attainment, which is the common heritage of mankind. Beginning as loftily as we do, there is no reason for us to be timid in joining the forward march of knowledge.
We have a second reason in the field of Atomic research; it is known that the development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy can bring about a profound transformation in the life of mankind. A socialist society more than any other, needs to bring about such profound changes in order to produce for all.
We in Ghana are committed to the building of an industrialized socialist society. We cannot afford to sit still and be mere passive lookers. We must ourselves take part in the pursuit of scientific and technological research as a means of providing the basis of our socialist society. Socialism without science is void.
Already, the residential sites where the many Ghanaian scientists and engineers who will be engaged in this project would live, has been completed. These young men and women who have received their specialist training in the Soviet Union and elsewhere would provide the basis for our corps of skilled specialist in nuclear science. We are sending more Ghanaians abroad to acquire this specialist knowledge in training.
We have now embarked on the second stage of the project. This will include the construction of the reactor itself and the construction of a monitoring station to ensure that no harmful radioactive substances are released or disseminated. Radio-chemical laboratories are to be built where the elaborate procedures for processing radioactive substances will be carried out. There will also be the many other ancillary buildings, which such a project calls for.
By 1966 the reactor itself should be in operation, and the Research Centre will start on the extensive programme of research for which all these elaborate and intricate preparations are being made.
Every stage of this complicated preparatory work has been carried through the aid of specialists and scientists provided by the Government of the Soviet Union. At all stages there has been the closest and most friendly co-operation between Ghana and the Soviet Union. The friendly relations between our two countries have been strengthened by the success of this common endeavor.
In 1961 I caused the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission to be established to guide and direct this enterprise. Our Atomic Energy Commission now operates in close relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Only recently the Director and the Deputy Director of the Agency visited Ghana, and commented favorably on the breadth of vision of our plans.
We believe that the amount of energy, which can be generated in Ghana, can play a decisive role in the development of our industry, agriculture, health and other services. Certainly, the foundations for the effective and rapid industrialisation of our country must rest on the provision of cheap and abundant power.
This is why we have placed our faith in the Volta River Project, which, perhaps, might never have been started without the personal interest of the late President Kennedy and the assistance of the United States Government. Without the friendly relations between Ghana and the United States of America, this project would not have been possible.
As I speak, the Volta Lake has risen to two hundred and sixty feet (260), and it is confidently expected that power can be generated at Akosombo by the end of 1965. The biggest consumer of this power will be the Aluminum Smelter, which is to be established by the Volta Aluminum Company at Tema. I am glad to announce that the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of work will take place in ten days time, on Saturday, 5th December.
I have also recently directed the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission to investigate and expand research on the possibilities of solar energy, which is already going on at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. It is estimated that even-one-tenth of the solar energy falling on the earth’s surface would be enough to produce an amount of energy several times the amount generated at present. In Africa we have no lack of sunlight, and the development of solar energy should, be one of our main scientific preoccupations.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Science can be applied for good ends, for the betterment of the human race, or for bad ends, for the making of weapons of destruction. In no field of science is the contrast between these two aspects so great as it is in atomic energy. The hydrogen bomb, that instrument of mass destruction which we all fear and dread so much, is based on the same source of power.
Scientists hope that, in the very near future, thermo-nuclear reaction will release unlimited resources of power for industrial use.
If the world can survive the threat of annihilation posed by the hydrogen bomb, and other agents of mass destruction, then the peaceful application of thermo- nuclear energy, which is at present predominantly turned to warlike purposes, will bring about an unprecedented release of the human race from drudgery and fear, starvation and poverty, which is now the lot of so many.
It is in this important field that the peaceful uses of nuclear energy can play such a major role. The greatest happiness of the greatest number is only possible by the purposeful application of science to peaceful ends.
One of the most urgent tasks before us, therefore, is to secure worldwide, total and complete disarmament and the banning of all nuclear devices of mass destruction. This process is rapidly becoming more urgent and more difficult as the number of nations, which have access to these weapons increase. That is why we support wholeheartedly the efforts by the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations to make Africa a Nuclear Free Zone.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Scientists the world over have recognized the urgency and danger of our nuclear predicament, their own special responsibility and involvement in it.
The scientist is a social being and can effect an idealistic concern for the destiny of mankind. The scientist can, by his specialized knowledge, affect our whole fate. He must, for this reason, accept a proportionate obligation in public affairs.
Many issues can be resolved only on the basis of scientific and technical knowledge. For this, the public and the government turn to the scientist for advice. It is the scientist’s duty to serve them well, conscientiously and scrupulously, without regard for personal ambition, or the natural wish to say what is pleasant to hear.
The scientist must also explain to us the consequences of our acceptance of his advice. He cannot accept credit for the great advances in medicine, agriculture, and industry, and at the same time disclaim responsibility for the consequences of weapons of mass destruction. Here the scientists have an obligation to make the governments and people of the world fully aware of the dangers facing them, and to give sober and disinterested advice.
We must unite in our fight for peace and complete disarmament. People of all nations must bend every effort towards the development of science and technology, which would herald a new and happy future for mankind. We in Ghana propose to set a forceful example by restricting our efforts in the field of atomic research to exclusively peaceful uses. To advance science in the service of man, is to advance socialism, is to abolish imperialism, in all its forms and manifestations.
The Ghana Atomic Energy Programme is destined for peaceful purposes and Ghana was one of the first countries to sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in Moscow. Though the provisions of that treaty are incomplete, we intend to abide by its terms. Neither this Reactor nor the laboratories attached to it will be directed to the development of devices for war.
This Reactor is designed for experimental work in the field of nuclear and atomic physics, including the study of the properties of materials and how they are affected by radiations and radiochemistry. It will serve as a focal point for scientists and research workers from various institutions of the Ghana Academy of Sciences, from our universities and from government laboratories all over the country. Here they will be provided with facilities for investigations involving nuclear techniques in biology, agriculture, medicine, physics and chemistry. It will be a centre for the training of Ghanaian scientists in nuclear science and technology.
A heterogeneous nuclear research reactor, as well as an up-to-date radio chemical laboratory and the development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy in Ghana will be centered around the Nuclear Research Institute to be established here.
A Radio Isotope Centre is assisting five agriculture centres of the Ghana Academy of Sciences and the University of Ghana in the application of radioisotope techniques in the study of plant protection from weeds and insect pests, and the uptake of fertilizers by plants under local conditions.
Among other uses of nuclear power, it is hoped to develop peaceful uses of nuclear explosives for excavation, mining and recovery of gas and oil.
The Atomic Reactor Centre will provide experimental channels for the study of radiation genetics.
Through these researchers it will become possible to find a way of inducing genetic changes in plants and animals to provide better crops and better meat.
In point of fact, we are not entirely newcomers to this field of endeavour. For some time now the Ghana Academy of Sciences has been pursuing a programme of research work in which radioactive materials have been applied to many problems in agriculture and medicine.
During the coming year, the scope of this work will be greatly increased. It will provide the wide range of facilities needed to train many more research workers and technicians for this programme.
In planning this Centre, we have been painfully aware of our limitations in men and material, and the variety and complexity of the research problems, which face Africa as a whole. Until we in Africa come together, and establish a Union Government for all Africa, we shall be forced to tackle our problems in isolation, hampered by our disunity and many disabilities. Progress will be slow, and we shall deny ourselves the advantages of well-integrated and commonly executed planning.
This is another of the many compelling reasons why we in Ghana have made a persistent appeal for the early establishment of Continental Government of Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The basis of our whole programme of socialist development must be the application of Science and Technology. For the implementation of our Seven- Year Plan, for the success of our agricultural industry, for ensuring increased output in industrial production demand, we must apply the latest scientific techniques. We, especially our young men and women, must acquire and master these new techniques.
We are already making every effort to raise both the number and the quality of the scientists who come from our Universities and to raise the standards of the science teaching in the schools. We have made great progress in this field. Much more remains to be done. There are not nearly enough Ghanaians scientists and Ghanaian technicians of all kinds for the work we have on hand. Even the finest laboratory, the best equipment or, indeed, the best reactor, will not produce scientific work of their own accord.
Only men and women can do that, and only after long and highly specialised training in scientific techniques. Hence we need to press on with the greatest urgency the scientific and technological training of young Ghanaians. Every boy or girl who shows talent in this direction must be encouraged and helped, because such talent is especially precious to us and we must foster and guard it. Our Universities, the various Institutes of the Ghana Academy of Sciences, the University College of Science and Education in Cape Coast, our newly established Medical School and the proposed University College of Agriculture, will help in providing this training.
We need also to reach out to the mass people who have not had the opportunities of formal education. We must use every means of mass communication- the press, the radio, television and films.
Last year, as part of the Academy’s anniversary celebrations, there was a science exhibition in Accra. This year there has been another one in Kumasi. Similar exhibitions have been held in our Universities in Kumasi and Accra. The enthusiastic response to these exhibitions and the eager way in which our young men and women studied the exhibits was most encouraging.
The projected National Science Museum, when completed, next year, will provide this kind of exhibition in a permanent form. This is a major project which will play a great part in exciting public interest in science and conveying in a direct and vivid way the impact of science on everyday life.
It is important that our people should not only be instructed in science but they should take part in it, apply it themselves in their own ways. For science is not just a subject to be learned out of a book or from a teacher. It is a way of life, a way of tackling any problem which one can only master by using it for oneself. We must have science clubs in which our people can develop their own talents for discovery and invention.
I expect the Ghana Academy of Sciences to play a leading role in all this. To that end, I have asked the Academy to prepare a first seven-year national programme for the promotion of science in Ghana. This plan, which is ready for implementation, will ensure that within the next seven years, science becomes part and parcel of the life of our people.
In order to provide the necessary physical facilities, and also to make for the maximum co-ordination of efforts, I am contemplating the creation of a special scientific community where scientists of the Academy from different fields will live and work.
The scheme will enable the scientist to share common facilities, and also increase personal communication between scientists working on related problems. I have proposed the name “Science City” for this scientific community. It will have a main central building to be known as the “ Palace of Science”, containing a whole range of laboratories and other facilities.
The Science City will accommodate a number of special research institutes and will be a centre where the Academy will undertake pilot industries based on its discoveries, so that when the Academy recommends the setting up of any full scale industry, it will be in a position not only to give expert advice on the type of industrial plants to be established, but to make the necessary economic appraisal of the proposed industry.
One of the most important projects planned for the Science City is a National Bureau of Standards where the testing of the quality of both imported and locally manufactured products will be undertaken to ensure that they conform to acceptable standards.
The Ghana Academy of Sciences should not be just a body of learned men elected for their distinction and eminence. It should be part of our national life, serving the people of Ghana, working with them and helping to bring science and scientists into the closest possible relationship with their lives.
It is only through this practical union of theory and action that the life of man can attain the highest material, cultural, moral and spiritual fulfillment in the service of his fellow men. This ultimately is the only justification for the pursuit of knowledge and the discoveries of science.
And now Ladies and Gentlemen, let me turn to the historic business before us today. I dedicate this Reactor to the progress of true science, to the application of science to the well being of man, to the enlargement of his spirit and to the promotion of peace.
I have great pleasure in laying this Foundation Stone of Ghana Atomic Reactor Centre.
Thank you.
Source:
Ghana Review International
BECE results released
The results of this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have been released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
A statement issued in Accra yesterday by WAEC and signed by Mrs. Agnes Teye Cudjoe, Senior Public Affairs Officer, said 446 candidates had their subject results cancelled, whilst 103 others had their en¬tire results cancelled.
"The affected candidates were involved in various examination irregularities such as bringing foreign materials into the examination hall, impersonation, collusion and seeking/receiving help from non-candidates including invigilators, teachers and supervisors," it explained.
Source:
Ghanaian Times
Human rights annual advocates training
Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in collaboration with the West and Central Africa Human Rights Institute (WACAHRI), is organising the second human rights training programme on the theme: Human Rights and Development: The UN Millennium Development Goals. The two-week programme to be held in Accra, will bring together, 30 participants from Benin, Burundi, Chad, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau, D.R. Congo, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Liberia and Ghana. Renowned human rights experts and advocates from international and regional human rights institutions will take trainees through four of the eight MDGs namely, Health and Human Rights, Environment and Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and the Rights of Children.
The WACAHRI's annual human rights advocates training programme is the product of deliberations between the Centre for the Study of Human Rights of the Columbia University in USA, and the MFWA, Ghana, to strengthen the capacity of human rights advocates, and leaders of various human rights NGOs in West and Central Africa through advanced training. Founded in 2004, WACAHRI has its office in Accra, Ghana.
This year's programme starts on August 27 to September 7
Source:
GNA
NPP Man Turns On Own Gov't
AFTER HELPING the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to secure political power in the year 2000, Professor George Ayittey has descended heavily on his government for not being proactive.
He doubts whether the Kufuor-led NPP administration is indeed fighting corruption and practicing the rule of law or is practicing selective justice.
If the administration is committed and is to succeed in its avowed fight against corruption as evident in the government's open declaration of 'zero tolerance for corruption' he says there is need to arrest and prosecute people like Mr. Paul Victor Obeng, former Special Advisor to ex-President Rawlings for his alleged multiple complicity in the Scancem scandal.
He believes the former Advisor to the PNDC government has lots of questions to answer regarding his role in the ongoing investigations. Professor Ayittey, who is also President of the Washington D.C-based Free Africa Foundation which criticizes corruption, oppression, and mismanagement in government's wonders why all this while, P.V Obeng is walking a freeman though his name has been mentioned as being one of the recipients of the US$4 million bribe from Scancem, mother of the Norwegian company Ghacem.
"If Victor Selormey was arrested and jailed for embezzling US$1.5million of World Bank funds intended for the computerization of the court system, why hasn't P.V Obeng been arrested and prosecuted?" he asked rhetorically.
This according to him makes a whole mockery of the NPP's fight against corruption with its avowed 'zero tolerance of corruption'.
Already, he says people have started asking lingering and prodding questions why people have been left of the hook.
According to him, some are beginning to whether it's because of his tribe, the school he attended or the church he attends.
He believes it could also open the floodgates for speculation since people are going to ask whether government is not being able to prosecute him because some of its own members are neck deep in corrupt practices and hence are afraid to be exposed.
For him, the whole thing is disgusting considering the fact that a Special Advisor to President Rawlings would allow a foreign company to monopolize cement trade and reap monopoly profits.
This he described as despicable since in his opinion, "it's a betrayal of the trust reposed in him by Ghanaians", saying "he betrayed that trust, he was suppose to protect the people against this foreign exploitative tendencies but he didn't, he tried to aid and abet that kind of exploitation of the Ghanaian people".
Professor Ayittey thus noted that what he did was morally and fundamentally wrong.
He relates the case of the late Victor Selormey who happened to be a former Deputy Minister to that of P.V Obeng who is accused of receiving bribes though he claims to have performed some consultancy services for the Norwegian company.
"In the case of P.V Obeng he engaged in a serious reprehensible crime by perpetrating an act of sabotage against the Ghanaian economy, so he should be arrested and prosecuted".
"In the interest of this administration, I think they have to totally disassociate themselves from this scandal", he noted.
Meanwhile, the former Special Advisor to Jerry Rawlings has called off the bluff of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The SFO on July 31 this year wrote to Mr. Obeng to the effect that he was being investigated for conflict of interest and abuse of power for private benefit.
Mr. Obeng was expected, as per the SFO letter, to furnish them with documents on his consultancy contract with Scancem.
On the scheduled day of appearance, Mr. Obeng did not show up but was rather represented by his attorneys, namely, Messrs Larry Adjetey and Samuel M. Cudjoe both of the Accra-based legal firm, Law Trust Company.
The duo, who were expected to spend much time on behalf of their client to answer questions, rather held officials of the SFO dumb-founded when they presented their stand in a letter.
Source:
Ghanaian Chronicle
Oil discovery: Ghanaians cautioned
Ho, Aug. 24, GNA - Barely 24 hours after news was broken about the discovery of another oil field in the country, Mr Kwesi Pratt Junior, a member of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), on Thursday cautioned Ghanaians not to be overexcited about news of the discovery of "world class" oil in the country.
He said getting barrels of oil alone would not solve the country's numerous problems if the funds accruing from the sales would not benefit the ordinary person in the street.
Mr Pratt said this at a public forum organized by the CJA on the theme:
"The economic situation in Ghana" in Ho, which attracted youth groups, students and political activists in the Municipality. Mr Pratt said Ghanaians needed to be guided by the "bad experiences" that had characterized many oil rich countries in the sub-region and not be over joyous about the discovery. He stated that the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the country was not a new thing adding that thousands of barrels had ever been exploited under the Acheampong regime.
Mr Pratt observed that conflicts in most oil rich countries in the sub-region could be traced to the exploitation of oil in those countries and said: "Our discovery is not the end of our problems". He blamed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for the country's energy crisis and warned that if care was not taken, the country could face major energy problem in the future. Mr Pratt criticized government on its policies, especially on education and health and said conditions in the country's health facilities were more deplorable than ever.
He noted that the country's general economy was in total turmoil and said it was improper for the government to think of selling the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). Mr Pratt argued that the ADB was making profits and could stand on its own without political interference.
He intimated that the ADB supported farmers and fishermen whom Stanbic Bank would not help once it took over the ADB. Mr Pratt called on the public, patriotic individuals and other pressure groups to rise up to their civic responsibilities and speak against bad policies and initiatives of the NPP government. Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Women Organiser, said it was not enough for Ghanaians to only queue to cast their votes every four years but also show concern about the governance of the country and ensure that the right thing was done for the good of posterity.
She said the NPP government had become power drunk and needed to be held accountable to the electorate.
Mr Ato Ahwoi, former minister in the NDC government said the present energy crisis in the country was as a result of incompetence by the NPP government, which had led to the collapsed of many industries. Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwah, former president, National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), urged the youth and students not to allow their rights to be trampled upon by any politician. He asked them to constantly fight for their rights and review their carefree attitude towards issues of national concern.
Source:
GNA
Elections 2008: Let the electorate breath fresh- CPP
Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) on Friday called on politicians to ensure that Elections 2008 should be non-antagonistic and devoid of tension so that the electorate would breath fresh air to survive and keep the country's democracy stable. "Cynicism about politics and politicians is dangerous and could subvert the very foundations of our democracy.
"Elections 2008 must therefore be fought on core values, issues and principles to provide direction and inspiration to bind the country together...Politicking after attainment of 50 years of nationhood has to be more than the pursuit of power," Dr Edmund Delle, CPP Chairman told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.
He explained that Ghanaian politicians have to rediscover a higher sense of moral content and social purpose, going beyond mere political talks, empty promises and shouting of slogans.
"It must, as it was once, all about service and sacrifice. It must attract and retain the best and the brightest. It must not only offer hope that gets renewed from time to time but it must also fulfill the expectations and aspirations of the people," the CPP leader stated. Dr. Delle said Elections 2008 offers, politicians, civil society activists, electoral administrators, media a crucial responsibility to ensure that; "our politics provide level field for representation, give voice to new groups and communities, forge new social alliances and alignments and tender new confidence to old identities". All of us in public life have a great responsibility to change the nature and course of our politics by ensuring that the spark of nationalism that made Ghana a unique country continues to burn bright.
The CPP Chairman expressed concern that there were so much deprivation around yet; so many government functionaries talk of the poor, while engaging in conspicuous consumption, ostentatious display of wealth and outright wastage.
"We, who derive our inspiration from the great Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah cannot indulge in such double standards. Ultimately, our conscience must guide us to adopt norms of public conduct that stand out for simplicity and integrity," he emphasis.
Dr. Delle therefore, called on Nkrumaists to forge ahead and think innovatively, rejuvenate the politics of protest and agitation, to make the people aware of their entitlements. "We must all recognize that there is more to politics than elections alone, as social democrats we must, spearhead the campaign for the enforcement of legislation relating to women's rights and child welfare, violence on women, atrocities on weaker sections, child marriage, and . foeticide.
"CPP must reactivate itself and take on social security concerns of scores of workers in the informal sector."
Dr. Delle urged Nkrumaists to resolve to launch and sustain the spirit of volunteerism in which every capable individual undertakes specific tasks in less developed villages, towns and cities. He noted that CPP's electoral fight with other political parties was not just to conquer and annex electoral power. "Our fight with other political parties is based on ideology. "It is, at its very core, a clash between two diametrically opposing visions of Ghana's past, between two conflicting visions for the nation's future.
"CPP was born out of nationalism and its foundations established on the best of Ghanaian traditions and culture, a secular, pluralistic, liberal, all-inclusive nationalism and pride of the nation. "Our opponent's brand of nationalism is based on divisiveness, hate, bigotry, and rejection of what Ghanaians has always stood for and cherished.
"This is the essential message that we have to propagate. There can be no let-up in our fight against the destructive ideology of our opponents.
"While our founding fathers were fighting for the freedom of our country, they were busy spreading the virus of division in our society to denigrate our party and our leaders. "While our leaders immersed themselves in nation-building, they did their best to undermine them and their efforts and weaken the bonds of amity and harmony".
Dr. Delle therefore called on all Nkrumaists to forge together in unity sacrificing their personal interest, differences and other tendencies that would defeat our mandate to liberate Ghana once again. "This is a clarion call from the masses who had suffered under both the ruling New Patriotic Party and the eight year rule of the National Democratic Congress; we must not fail them," he emphasised.
Source :
GNA
Construction of Bui Dam begins
Bui (B/A) Aug. 24 GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday cut the sod to mark the start of work on the 622-million-dollar Bui Hydro-Electric Dam Project at Bui in the Brong Ahafo Region. The construction of the Dam, which has been on the drawing board for decades, would add 400 megawatts to the national electricity generation mix on completion.
Apart from hydropower generation, the Project has irrigation, fisheries and tourism components and the construction of a nucleus of a metropolis to be called Bui City that is expected to provide impetus to the economic and social transformation of the area.
The construction phase is projected to give direct employment to 2,900 Ghanaians.
Speaking at the ceremony President Kufuor gave a firm assurance that its implementation would be kept consistent with internationally accepted environmental standards and best practices. A comprehensive environmental monitoring and mitigation plan, he said, had been incorporated in the Project's design to minimize its negative impact.
Additionally, the Government would ensure that compensatory plans for resettlement of about 2,000 people, who would be affected by the Project, would draw extensively on experiences from earlier re-settlement schemes undertaken during the construction of the Akosombo and Kpong Hydro-Electric Projects.
President Kufuor said the Project, programmed for completion in early 2012, was part of the overall strategy to triple the country's energy supply capacity from the current 2,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts by 2015.
He called on the nation's engineers, technicians and managers as well as both skilled and unskilled labour to take full advantage of it to help to promote the necessary technology transfer that would enable the country to execute similar projects on its own in the future. Sino-Hydro, Chinese Company, reputed for the construction of China's biggest hydropower dam is constructing the project. President Kufuor spoke of plans to build small dams on the Ankobra, Pra, Tano and the White Volta.
He said "to look ahead to the next 30 years, to forestall the current energy shortage problems that currently confront us, and in anticipation of increased population and widespread industrialization, it is hoped that planning ahead for increased energy supply will become part of the national culture".
President Kufuor conveyed the country's appreciation to China, which is providing 562 million dollars towards the Project. The remaining 60 million dollars is from the Government of Ghana.
"The (Bui) Hydro-Energy Project is yet another addition to the list of collaborative ventures," he said.
Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, Energy Minister, described the Project as a 'dream that has become a reality'.
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Finance Minister, asked the business community to seize the opportunity offered by the Project to create more wealth and jobs.
China's Ambassador, Mr Yu Wenzhe said Ghana and his country were both developing and that it was important for them to cooperate and to assist each other in times of need. He said China would continue to support Ghana as well as encourage its entrepreneurs to invest and set up joint-ventures in the country. Mr J.H. Mensah, a Statesman, who presided, said the project was in fulfilment of a promise the Government made to the nation. 24 Aug. 07
Source:
GNA
Govt will ensure affordable electricity tariffs - Kufuor
Bui (B/A) Aug. 24, GNA - The Government would ensure that energy tariffs were realistic and affordable, President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Friday.
He said a fact that the nation needed to face was that energy, which was the most basic infrastructure for socio-economic development, did not come cheaply. "We must, therefore, resolve to pay higher tariffs for its sustained development and enjoyment." President Kufuor was performing the ceremony to signal the beginning of construction work on the 622-million-dollar Bui Hydro-Electric Dam Project in the Tain District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The Project, which on completion would add 400 megawatts to the national electricity generation mix, is being funded with a Chinese loan of 562 million dollars.
The Government of Ghana is providing 60 million dollars. Apart from the hydro-power generation, the Project has irrigation, fisheries and tourism components and the creation of a major metropolis to be known as the Bui City that is expected to economically and socially transform the area.
The Project has been on the drawing board for decades and the construction phase is projected to give jobs to 2,900 Ghanaians. The site was discovered in the 1920s.
President Kufuor announced that 1,000 megawatts of power would be added to the nation's existing capacity by 31st December 2007. This would include the installation of 126 megawatts of Emergency Power Plants - 80 megawatts by a Mining Consortium; 50 megawatts by Wood Group; 185 megawatts by Balkan Energy; 220 megawatts by Alstorm, while Merepower and Shenzen Group would produce 200 megawatts each. He said the Government's overall plan was to triple the country's energy supply capacity from the current 2,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts by 2015.
He spoke of plans to build small dams on Ankobra, Pra, Tano and the White Volta rivers. President Kufuor said to forestall the recurrence of the current energy shortage and to take care of the anticipated increase in population and widespread industrialization, planning ahead for increased energy supply should become part of the national culture.
Source:
GNA
Trade Fair site to become multipurpose centre
Accra, 23 Aug. GNA - Mrs. Esther Ofori, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Trade Fair Company on Thursday said work on the new multi-purpose International Trade Fair Centre would begin by January 2008 when negotiations would be completed.
As a result, occupiers of the trade fair site had been asked to vacate the site by December 31 for the demolishing of the existing structures to start.
Mrs. Ofori who was addressing a meeting between the tenants of the trade fair site and the executive members of the company in Accra said the company was negotiating with a strategic investor and that a deal was close to be clinched.
She said the new master plan, which was intended to facelift the Centre to match others across the globe, would be completed between 24 to 30 months.
Mrs. Ofori stressed that to ensure the smooth implementation of the master plan, the company served the tenants a notice to terminate their old tenancy agreement and renewed them on yearly basis, adding, "those who were given lease for some years were all abrogated and renewed". "To avoid complications and other technicalities, the tenants were advised not to put up or undertake any major developments involving huge financial resources to facilitate easy demolishing as and when the company is ready", she added.
The CEO pointed out that the new plan had taken into account, the occupancy of present tenants who would be made to reapply for consideration before other applicants were invited. Mrs. Ofori indicated that the new development was in order because pieces of land at the site were given to companies to develop temporary structures to facilitate business because the original plan had not been able to be implemented due to changes in government coupled with lack of funds.
She said companies and individuals who were allocated places were asked to raise structures which did not require huge financial investment to enable them to give way, once the master plan was ready for the reconstruction of the fair.
"Exhibition grounds are not permanent, individuals and companies only rent places and move out after the exhibition but unfortunately most people developed magnificent edifices and are not comfortable to leave, in fact, they took us for granted but now they have to move", she added.
Mrs. Ofori stated that one of the clauses in the legal instrument that established the Trade Fair Company indicated that facilities constructed at the site were not removed after seven days became the property of the Company.
"Structures such as the NAYAK building, Association Ghana Industry (AGI), Unilever were all built by other companies but they have lost their claim to the facility and has become the property of the Trade Fair Company till date", she added.
Mrs. Ofori discounted allegations that the site had been sold out at a cost of 85 million dollars, saying, it was completely false since the government did not own the trade fair land because the compensation issues were not resolved with the custodians. "Government is now working out modalities for the payment of compensation to the owners of the land to ensure unimpeded development of the site," she said.
Source:
GNA
THE GHANAIAN INTERIOR MINISTER HAS LOST IT
By David Sambou,UK.
I was browsing through the allafrica.com when I came across a story that was posted from the Ghanaian chronicles, which is a Ghanaian newspaper. On was an interview they had with the interior minister who goes by the name kwamena Bartley [Kwamena Bartels]. Mr Bartley was some how appealing to the Ghanaians to be patient whiles assuring his compatriots that the government was doing all it could to uncover the mystery surrounding the gruesome murder of 44 Ghanaians execution style in the Gambia. I entirely agree with him on that, since the government of the Gambia is suspected to play a part in the murder in one way or the other.
READ MORE ABOUT HERE :
http://www.bloggernews.net/1category/regional-news/african-news/
"Canning does not reform minors"- Educationist
Koforidua, Aug. 24, GNA - The Coordinator of the Early Childhood Development Project of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Kofi Nyiaye, on Thursday described as a "misnomer" a traditionally held norm that caning helps in reforming aberrant minors. Mr Nyiaye said the maxim 'spare the rod and spoil the child' was now understood as having a debilitating effect on minors who are between the ages of one and 8.
He said for most of such punishments, there was evidence to show that the punishment did "more harm than correct" the child. Giving an expose on the need for investing in early childhood care and development (ECCD) to members of the Eastern Regional Committee on ECCD in Koforidua, Mr Nyiaye said spanking of erring children was most likely to result in severe psychological and physiological pain. Mr Nyiaye said there were cases whereby children suffered vein eruptions and other forms of physical injuries when spanked. "Because this age (0-8) is critical for the cognitive, emotional and social development of the child, we need to be extra careful." He said the moulding change could not be done by use of force but rather by means of imbibing in the child values that when he committed an offence, that child would come to appreciate the consequences of his or her act and refrain from it subsequently.
Mr Nyiaye expressed worry about the duress being put on this category of children to be fluent in the English Language saying that the practice could create emotional problems for the child. He said cr=E8ches helped minors to socialize and through that learn to tolerate one another and significantly assisted in removing ethnic barriers among children, which is lacking among the adult population. Against this backdrop therefore, children should not be pressurized to be well versed in verbal recitations that they might not even understand.
Mr Nyiaye said there was information to show that socialization helped children in adjusting well in life and it as well equipped them sufficiently to avoid engaging in delinquent behaviours.
Source:
GNA
HIV/AIDS cases increase in Techiman
Techiman (B/A), Aug. 23, GNA - Fourteen out of 230 people screened at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital died of HIV/AIDS between January to June this year.
Mr. Peter Takyi-Acheampong, HIV/AIDS Coordinator of the hospital, said this at a 3-day workshop for 40 queenmothers, religious leaders and the media on HIV/AIDS counselling at Techiman.
The workshop themed: Classic FM Radio Station organized "The Role of Queenmothers In Combating HIV/AIDS, The Community Home Base Approach" in conjunction with the Ghana AIDS Commission. Mr. Takyi-Acheampong said within the period, 46 males and 57 females were infected with the disease.
He said out of 1,205 people screened, 106 were HIV positive and gave the breakdown as out of 1,128 males who reported at the hospital 92 were having HIV/AIDS, while 14 out of 77 females screened were having the disease.
He said 31 out of 2,060 pregnant women who were screened were found to be HIV positive.
Mr. Takyi-Acheampong deplored the high rate of cases of children between the ages of zero to four(0-4) years having HIV in the municipality and said the pandemic in Techiman had been on the increase.
Mr. Stephen Agyemang Basu, Techiman Municipal Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, said the Municipal AIDS Committee had made strives in HIV/AIDS activities in the Municipality in forging partnership with NGOs, and Community Based Organisations but added that lack of funds had posed a challenge to the AIDS committee.
Source:
GNA
NDC will win in 2008 -NDC
Agona Swedru (C/R), Aug 23, GNA - The Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Valis Akyianu, on Wednesday stated that the Party would win massively with next year's general election.
He said Ghanaians had now realised that life under the NDC administration was better than that of the ruling New Patriotic Party. Mr Akyianu made this assertion at Swedru during the vetting of two candidates who had filed their nominations to contest the Agona West Constituency parliamentary seat.
The two aspirants were Mr Samuel Kweku Tetteh, 65, a Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba and Mr Ibrahim Zubero, 31, a Financial Consultant and Lecturer at Accra Polytechnic. Mr Akyianu called on all organs of the NDC to work harder than before to enable the Party win back power.
"The inscriptions are clear on the walls that NDC would emerge victorious in next year's general election, but we need hard work, dedication and commitment to achieve such feat," he said. He said held that Ghanaians would massively vote for NDC presidential candidate Professor John Evans Atta Mills in 2008 because he possessed the qualities to manage and lead the nation towards economic success.
Mr Akyianu cautioned constituency executives of the Party not to meddle in the campaign of the two candidates.
Source:
GNA
GIPC registers more projects in second quarter-Report
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA- The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) registered 95 projects at an estimated value of 78.95 million dollars for the second quarter of this year
Five of the projects are Ghanaian owned, 42 joint ventures and 48 foreign owned, making the number much higher that the average number normally registered within a quarter.
It was also much higher than the 70 projects registered during the same period last year. A GIPC Quarterly report signed by Mr. Robert Ahomka-Lindsey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, and issued to GNA on Wednesday, indicated that the amount included Foreign Direct Investment component of 88.9 percent and a local currency of 8.61 per cent.
The report said Chinese and Indians continued to top the list of countries from where a greater number of projects originated during the period.
The others included the UK, Lebanon, Germany, USA, South Africa, Korea, La Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, the Netherlands, Austria, Bahrain, Sweden and Cyprus.
All the 10 regions of the country benefited from the projects with the Greater Accra recording 81 being the highest of number projects. By way of employment, 5,449 job openings were to be created from the number of projects with 4,634 expected to be Ghanaians. The report indicated that the registration of fully owned Ghanaian projects was a decision taken by the Centre to help build a data base for local companies.
It said the data base would look at the sectors that the companies operated in, level of employment and other details to enable the Centre to perform its advocacy role.
Sectoral composition of projects was: manufacturing, 26, Service, 16, tourism, 12, building and construction, 14 and export trade, 6, agriculture, 4, and general trading, 16.
Source:
GNA
NPP win 26 seats in E/R -NPP
Koforidua, Aug. 23, GNA - The Eastern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, has said the party would maintain all the 22 parliamentary seats that it won at the 2004 elections and win extra four seats in the region at the 2008 elections. He was speaking at a press conference organized by the party on Wednesday to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the party at Koforidua.
Mr Amoabeng said it was the wish of the regional executive of the party that the presidential candidate of the party for the 2008 election should come from the Eastern Region but that decision rested with members of the party throughout the country and not only the delegates of the region.
He advise delegates to the congress at which the presidential candidate would be elected not to see the congress as their cocoa season and elect the highest bidder. They should elect a candidate who could win the confidence of the Ghanaian electorate and has the capacity to manage the country's complex problems.
Mr Amoabeng appealed to the presidential aspirants of the party to base their campaigns on issues and desist from abusing the rights of other candidates.
Mr Alecs Agobo, the Eastern Regional Secretary of the party, said most of the people claiming to be foot soldiers of the party and making the greatest noise were people who recently joined the party from other political parties.
Source:
GNA
Fuel levy and other road charges to increase
Koforidua, Aug. 23, GNA - The Minster of State at the Ministry of Transportation, Mr Godfrey Bayon, has said increase in fuel levy and other road user charges was necessary if roads were to be maintained and sustained according to standard.
He said though revenue accruing into the road fund had consistently increased over the years, the funds could support only 60 per cent of road maintenance needs.
Mr Bayon was speaking at a public forum on road funds on Wednesday at Koforidua and gave the figures accruing into the road funds since the year 2000.
These are 248 billion cedis in 2000, 377 billion cedis in 2001, 409 billion cedis in 2002, 682 billion cedis in 2003 and 765 billion cedis in 2004.
In 2005 and 2006, the funds accrued 1,050 billion cedis and 1,087 billion cedis respectively and it is expected that this year, about 1.4 trillion cedis would be accrued by the fund.
Mr Bayon said the 40 per cent gap left in the road fund meant each year, the same percentage of roads were left unattended to and the cumulative effect was the reason for bad road network in the country. He said in addressing the problem government was considering other financial methods such as the issuing of bonds on the stock exchange but the "inevitable decision of increasing the levy on fuel as well as road and bridge tolls to make the road maintenance a collective responsibility still remain an option."
A board member of the Ghana Road Fund, Dr Mohamed Salifu, said matters of road maintenance should be discussed devoid of political lineage because it was a major aspect in the development of the nation. Describing the road fund as a state mechanism that had the tendency to survive any political rule, Dr Salifu called on politicians to consider the benefits of a realistic levy that would make the fund sustainable.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said despite the existence of the fund, most feeder roads in the country were in deplorable state.
He said any poverty reduction strategy required availability of good feeder roads to link highways for the movement of goods and services.
Source:
GNA
Mobile thief defies orientation
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA - A young man was caught for stealing a mobile phone from a lady's bag just after Ghanaians were urged to be law abiding and to consider themselves as one another's keep at the launch of the National Orientation sensitization programme at the Accra International Conference Centre on Wednesday
The man whose identify was not immediately known was properly dressed for the occasion and looked like an official on assignment at the event.
The sensitization programme aimed at educating Ghanaians more on the need to re-orient our selves and be more patriotic while upholding ethical and moral behaviour.
According to an eye witness who is a staff of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, during refreshment when people had queued to have a snack the man slipped his hand into the lady's bag and picked the phone.
He said immediately the lady felt that something was wrong and demanded from the man to inspect his phone but he showed her one which was not hers.
The scene drew people's attention so the lady searched the man's pocket against his will and the phone was found on the well-dressed man.
The man was immediately handed over to the police at the Conference Centre and later taken to the Police station for further interrogations. Mrs Oboshie sai-Cofie at the launch advised that: "In our everyday life, we should be courteous to one another. We should respect time and its values. We should learn to take pride in local dress and cuisine."
She said the kind of Ghanaian the programme envisaged was one who holds dear to his or her positive cultural and traditional values.
"There are other areas in which we should show our special pride and togetherness as Ghanaians. We can learn to focus on and respect the symbols that unite us as a nation such as the National Flag, National Anthem, Coat of Arms, the National Pledge and the National Currency and attach importance to them."
Source:
GNA
Fire Service closes down three companies
Tema, Aug 22, GNA- The Tema Regional Fire Service, assisted by the Police, on Wednesday closed down three companies operating without fire certificates in the Municipality.
The affected companies were the Ghana Aluminium Products Limited (GHANAL), INDGHA Packaging Industries and TOTAL Mr Paul Tamakloe, Regional Fire Officer who led the two-day enforcement exercise, told the management of the three companies that their closures was to ensure compliance with the Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations, 2003, Legislative Instrument (LI) 1724. A fourth company, Maersk Ghana Limited, which indicated that it was in the process of acquiring a certificate, was however, given a one-week ultimatum, or have it closed down.
When the operations team visited the Ghana Cement Works Limited (GHACEM), the story there was different, because the company had acquired a fire certificate.
Mr Morten Gade, Managing Director of GHACEM, told the team that by obtaining the certificate, the company was being alive to its civic responsibility of taking precautionary measures to prevent accidents. Mr Gade assured the team that GHACEM would live up to all its social obligations as long as it continued to operate in the municipality. The LI requires premises such as public residential accommodations, factories, shops, offices, banks, cafes, hospitals, orphanages, remand homes, community homes, mental health clinics and others, to obtain fire certificates to ensure accepted fire safety measures.
Source:
GNA
Another "significant" oil find in Ghana
Source : ghanaweb / Reuters
Another Scandal Rocks GIA
Reliable information reaching The Chronicle indicates that Mr. Albert Vitale, former Vice-President, Operations, of Ghana International Airlines (GIA), has absconded with vital computer system information.
He is also reported to have left an eight-week hotel bill in London for GIA to pay.
The GIA former Board had earlier given Mr. Vitale a notice to leave the Airline for ‘unsatisfactory performance’ but the management sidestepped that directive and was retained after the ‘Mpiani Coup’ Some members of staff of GIA who pleaded anonymity told The Chronicle that they could not locate the whereabouts of Albert Vitale since the latter part of last year.
Frantic efforts to reach Albert’s OneTouch cell phone line proved futile as it was switched off or ‘out of coverage area’.
Latest information indicates that his wife was in the country a few weeks ago to pick the remaining family property in Ghana.
The Minister of Aviation, Ms. Gloria Akuffo, told The Chronicle in a telephone interview that all she knows about Albert Vitale is that he is on assignment abroad to lease an aircraft for the Airline. She said she did not know anything about Albert Vitale absconding.
Chronicle learnt that GIA had reported “missing” Albert Vitale to Ghana’s Interpol for them to trace his whereabouts. Head of Interpol Ghana, Frank Cofie, when contacted denied that GIA had reported Vitale to them.
Albert Vitale under the old GIA Administration was alleged to have fraudulently used the Radix Reservation System to issue tickets to people and caused the Company thousands of dollars in losses. He was alleged to have hacked into the reservation system and fraudulently issued a ticket to one David Gyawu, a former Deputy Minister of Communications.
David was taken off the GIA flight and the matter was reported to the Airport Police. It is also alleged that he was under suspicion for fraudulent activities with aircraft leasers. Based on this information, the then CEO, Brian Presbury stopped him from leaving Ghana and a notice of his termination was approved and given to him. He resigned thereafter.
However, a school of thought believes that Mr. Vitale, fearing that he would be exposed by an Audit conducted into the activities of GIA, joined forces with the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani and engineered the forceful removal of the CEO and other top management members from office.
GIA-USA had warned GIA about Albert Vitale for consolidating the whole company under him and giving him all the opportunities to cover his tracks.
It is learnt that Mr. Albert Vitale is the only person that has access to certain sections of the GIA computer system.
A three-member Interim Management Board (IMB) that was formed to run the affairs of GIA following the dismissal of the first Board and headed by Mr. Azu Mate appointed Mr. Albert Vitale as Vice President in charge of Operations.
The top four executives of the IMB comprising the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Brain Presbury, the Vice-President, Operations, Mr. Sammy Crabbe, the Special Assistant to the CEO, Mr. Sean Mendis, and the Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. K. K. Apeadu, were summarily dismissed barely 17 months into the operations of the new national carrier.
Insider sources disclosed to The Chronicle that the four officials were sacked by the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, after what tipsters said was a heated argument between him and the management of the Airline.
Source:
Chronicle
No compensation for boat victims
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways on Wednesday said the government could not offer any compensation package to the victims of Dingya Boat disaster.
He said considering the findings or the report of the committee that looked into the disaster, the victims could have been covered by insurance only if the boat owner had insured his boat. "Government is of the view that, the fact that the Committee found the boat unregistered required some penalties and the relevant authorities will be charged to investigate these and institute such action as is appropriate", he added.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi who was making the report of the committee known, noted that Government was on course to develop the lake traffic regulation to train boat operators and said the ministry was collaborating with other agencies such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and district assemblies to ensure implementation of the committee's recommendations. He stated that the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines would also ensure effective protection of the Digya National Park to avoid further encroachment.
Over 100 people perished onboard a boat on the Volta Lake, about twelve miles from Abotoase in the Jasikan District of the Volta Region when the boat was submerged by tree stumps.
The Committee of Enquiry's Report on the Volta Lake Disaster said the Wild Life Division personnel who were evicting settlers out of the Digya National Park, along the Volta Lake could not be blamed for the accident.
According to the report, it was untenable to allege that the personnel forced evictees into the boat involved in the accident disaster, as findings revealed that they neither forced the people into the boat, nor followed it with their speedboats as alleged. The report said the cause should rather be attributed to the crew who took advantage of the eviction exercise and the absence of other boats, to overload 103 persons, including livestock and other personal belongings instead of the required number of 64 persons. "The four man crew had no formal training in navigation and their on-the-job training did not equip them with the necessary skills to respond to such emergency", it added.
It sated that:" The Wide life Division personnel could not have reasonably foreseen that the eviction exercise would lead to a boat disaster... If overloading contributed to the accident then the crew of the boat, "604" acted negligently and should be help responsible". The Committee's report also revealed that passengers on boat were evictees rather than traders going to the market at Tapa Abotoase as said.
"On the morning of 8th April, 2006, the day of the accident, the Wild Life Division personnel left Gborkope where they pitched their camp at Hokpedzi en route to their various camps in the Brong Ahafo region. They left the area after announcing the arrival of the boat in all the settler communities and saw it leaving to Digya on 8th April, 2006", it added.
The report recommended for legislation that would include the new lake traffic regulations, establishment of a lake Traffic Monitoring and Surveillance Unit, certification of boat builders and operators by the Ghana Maritime Authority.
The Committee also called for the setting up of boat owners associations to facilitate training and control of boat crew and encourage them to set up local rescue and search teams. It said there was also the need to construct a landing station at Tapa Abotoase.
Source:
GNA
Concern over unlicensed sub-standard private hostels
Kumasi, Aug. 22, GNA - The local branch of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has expressed worry about the proliferation of unlicensed facilities operating as sub-standard private hostels in the vicinities around the campuses.
The phenomenon has culminated into a situation where the owners of the so-called hostels with low-standard facilities take advantage of the accommodation problem in the university to extort monies from students by charging cut-throat rates while ignoring security, safety and welfare of residents, the local NUGS said.
This was contained in a statement issued in Kumasi on Wednesday and signed by Mr Prosper Hoetu, President of the KNUST branch of the NUGS. Owing to the teeming student population in the tertiary institutions, the government has welcomed private participation in providing accommodation for students. The situation has given rise to the proliferation of hostels in peripheral communities of the university campuses, the operations of some, which leave much to be desired. The NUGS expressed disgust and disappointment for the inaction of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) which is enjoined by a Legislative Instrument (NRC Decree 224) to regulate, classify and license these hostels charging exorbitant fees between GH=A2350 (3.5 million cedis) and GH=A2900 (Nine million cedis) per student, four of them sharing a room.
"We are calling on the GTB to as a matter of urgency, perform its lawful duty to regulate and sensitise the activities of the hostel operators to safeguard the security and welfare of the students", the statement said.
When contacted, Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy Ashanti Regional Manager of the GTB, said his office had taken due cognisance of the situation and that plans were far advanced to harmonise the criteria for grading as part of measures to regulate hostel operations. As a first step, he said, a revised budget to facilitate an inspection tour had been forwarded to the GTB head office in Accra for action.
Mr Sampson assured the students of the GTB's readiness to bring the situation under control very soon, adding, "it is unfortunate that the hostel operators have outpaced us in our move because the universities have re-opened for the year's academic programmes.
Source:
GNA
Two people attacked on KNUST campus
Kumasi, Aug 22, GNA- Two people including a first-year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi sustained injuries after being attacked by some unknown assailants on the university campus on Tuesday night. Lieutenant-Colonel William Addo (rtd), Head of the Security Unit of the KNUST, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, said the incident occurred at about 2030 hours during a blackout on the campus.
He did not disclose the names of the two victims, but added that the student was currently receiving treatment at the KNUST hospital whilst the other victim, who is a staff of the university, had been referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after initial treatment at the university hospital.
The student, he said, was stabbed on his right arm whiles the other victim on his left arm in two separate attacks, stressing that the two also lost their mobile phones and unspecified amount of money. Lt-Col Addo said the two sustained the injuries when they tried to struggle with their assailants in their attempt to rob them. He said the suspected armed robbers bolted after the incident, adding that the KNUST security unit in collaboration with the police had mounted a manhunt for the culprits.
He advised students of the university to exercise restraint and be calm since the security unit had put into place adequate measures to ensure the protection of lives and property on campus.
Source:
GNA
Court stops sales of Kasapa shares
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court on Wednesday restrained Hutchison Telecommunication International Limited (HTIL) and Certwell Limited from disposing of its shares in Kasapa Telecom Limited. This was after it had granted an ex-parte application for an interlocutory injunction filed by Kludjeson International Limited (KIL), a company registered under the laws of Ghana and a shareholder of Celltel Limited, operators of Kasapa Telecom.
Moving the application, Mr Attah Akyea, counsel for KIL, sought the orders of the court to restrain the defendants in the name of their associates, HTIL acting through HSBC Bank PLC in Johannesburg, South Africa or any other entity from disposing of their share in Celltel Limited until the determination of the case.
The defendants are to be served with notices within 10 days after which they would respond to the application. In an affidavit in support of the motion, Mr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, who represented KIL said he was a shareholder of the Celltel Limited which name had purportedly been changed to Kasapa Telecom Limited. Plaintiff further stated that he incorporated Celltel Company Limited in 1993 as a hundred per cent shareholder. Plaintiff averred that HTIL was a company incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong and a purported shareholder of the company, which also carried out telecommunication businesses.
According to the plaintiff, the second defendant was a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwata Limited also incorporated in the British Virgin Island. Quoting a share purchase agreement and a shareholder's agreement both executed on March 30, 1998, he said the plaintiff and HTIL agreed that HTIL would purchase 80 per cent of the company leaving 20 per cent for Plaintiff.
"To induce the plaintiff to enter into agreement with HTIL, HIL represented in the said agreement that it would hold shares in the company beneficially or through its associate."
According to the plaintiff, to induce them to finalise the said agreement that would transfer to HTIL a vast equity of the company, HTIL by a Shareholders' Resolution on June 1998 disclosed that it was nominating Certwell Limited, which HTIL falsely represented as its subsidiary to hold the shares in the company on its behalf. The plaintiff averred that in reliance on the said disclosure and false representation, it agreed to transfer 80 per cent of the shares in the company to HTIL.
Thus by the said disclosure and false representation, the plaintiff was led by the HTIL to believe that it was at all times dealing with HTIL through Certwell Limited.
Plaintiffs averred that the share offer was done clandestinely under the confidential cover. Plaintiffs were of the view that unless the court swiftly restrained the defendants, their agents and assigns they would dispose of the shares in contemptuous ways as they were carrying out and the plaintiffs would suffer irreparable damage.
Source:
GNA
Surveyors kick against new Lands Commission Bill
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) on Wednesday kicked against government's attempt to put the Survey Department under the Lands Commission. Under the new Lands Commission Bill, which is before cabinet, the government seeks to restructure land administration by bringing all its land-related organisation under one body to be regulated by the Lands Commission Bill.
"That attempt is not only technically ridiculous but also poised to stifle the work of surveyors in the country," Mr Samuel Ofori-Offei, President of the GhIS, told the GNA in Accra after the opening ceremony of a two-day seminar of the Land Survey Division of the GhIS. The seminar is under the theme: Ghana@50: Reshaping the Land Surveying Role to Enhance National Development.
Mr Ofori-Offei said land-related activity of surveyors had got to do with only land registration, beyond which surveyors undertook several other activities such as minerals survey, international boundary demarcations, mapping, hydrographic survey, engineering survey and special survey.
"Moreover, historically, the Lands Commission was formed out of the Survey Department and it would therefore ridiculous for the child to now adopt the mother," he said.
Mr Ofori-Offei said when the Survey Department is placed under the Lands Commission as the new bill proposed, budgetary allocation to the Department would be limited and that would impact negatively on the work of surveyors.
He said private surveyors did about 80 per cent of government survey works and already the government owed private surveyors a lot of money.
"We propose that the Lands Commission should encompass all other land-related institutions in the country but work with the independent Survey Department as a collaborator and not a sub-set," he said. Dr Benjamin E. K. Prah, Principal of Kumasi Polytechnic, in a lecture on the theme, said placing the Survey Department under the Lands Commission would do the country more harm than good. He therefore called for a critical look at the proposal before the Bill was placed before Parliament.
Dr Prah also urged his colleague surveyors to form partnerships to raise adequate capital and take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the industry across the sub-region, especially in the post-war countries, where rehabilitation works abound.
Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, assured surveyors that the ministry would ensure speedy payment of their contract fees and asked them to be a little patient with the government. The minister said in spite of the immense contribution of surveyors to national development, some recalcitrant surveyors defied the Town Planning documents and facilitated the location of buildings at places earmarked for waterways, roads, steep slopes and on government acquired lands.
"I therefore challenge the institution to be up and doing and ensure that their members comply with all the regulations that are currently in force."
"If there are quacks among the surveying profession the Institution must take steps to deal with them. You must expose them rather than condone with them by signing plans prepared by them," she said.
Source:
GNA
First Health Fair opens
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - The First Ghana International Health fair aimed at showcasing preventive and curative health alternatives to Ghanaians opened in Accra on Wednesday with high patronage from the public, corporate institutions and health specialists. The fair, expected to encourage Ghanaians to practice healthy lifestyles would be an annual affair that would promote the preventive benefits of regular exercise, proper dietary choices and showcase products and services which would provide an opportunity for corporate bodies to reach out to the public.
The fair on the theme; "Health Productivity and Development; staying Fit for Life and a Better Ghana" and dubbed: "Fit For Life 2007" was opened by President John Agyekum Kuffour.
The event, which started as early as 0800 hours saw children from selected schools, keep fit clubs, Banana Sellers Association, Makola Women Association, tailors and dressmakers associations and some nursing training institutions engaging in a health walk from the El-Wak stadium to the trade fair site.
They carried placards, some of which read, "exercise is medicine, know your HIV statues, reduce your meat intake, let keep our environment clean, avoid alcohol and take lots of water, watch your weight, brown sugar is better for you and good health is medicine." Mr Goza Elikplim, a poet from Ada, entertained and educated the gathering on the dangers of alcohol, the nutritional values of local foods as compared to exotic ones and called on pregnant women to eat healthy foods in order to produce healthy babies.
The poem urged Ghanaians to adopt preventive health rather than curative which was expensive, time consuming and unreliable. In his poem on HIV/AIDS Master J. B Danquah noted that the disease was causing more damage to the country than good and urged all to be more cautious by taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Exhibitors from the various pharmaceutical companies, herbal clinics, fashion houses and dieticians had their wares on display, whiles seminars would be held for the publics as well.
Supplementary, herbal, nutritional drugs were displayed by Kinapharma, Capital O2 and Healthy Living Foundation, among others. The Ghana Health Service was also there to offer voluntary testing and counseling sessions on HIV/AIDS.
The fair, which is expected to end on Sunday, would be crowned with a quiz competition for students, with a trip to Dimona in Israel as the prize for the overall winner.
Source:
GNA
Court burns cocaine found on British girls
Accra, Aug 22, GNA - A juvenile court on Wednesday destroyed the six kilograms of cocaine alleged to have been found on the two 16-year-old British girls currently on trial for attempting to smuggle the substance out of the country.
The court adjourned the case to Wednesday, August 29. The girls were arrested on July 2, 2007 at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) when they were going through formalities to travel on a British Airways flight to London.
The substance believed to be cocaine was found concealed in two laptop bags they were carrying.
They have since been charged with two counts of possessing and attempting to traffic illegal substance out of the country. If convicted, the girls faced at least three years imprisonment each.
During interrogation, the girls alleged that one Farham Timothy, alias Fire, sent them to Ghana to meet two men Kwame and Emmanuel for the bags containing the substances to be brought to him for a fee of 6,000 pounds.
Police are still searching for those persons as well as one Jay, also resident in the UK and was allegedly involved in the deal.
Source:
GNA
Aircraft missing after take off in Accra
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - A single engine US registered flight aircraft with a lone crew member has gone missing after refuelling at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on the evening of Friday August 17, this year.
Search and rescue operations have been activated by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in coordination with neighbouring flight information regions to locate the aircraft.
A statement from GCAA to Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the aircraft, a Beechcrafk (BE36) with registration number N306DB operated by Wings Eagle that originated from Grand Canary Island off the coast of Senegal and en-route to Windhoek, Namibia, failed to respond when contacted by Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC) at KIA.
It said another aircraft, that was ahead of the Beechcrafk and heading for the same destination was requested by ATCC to contact the plane but it could not.
The ATCC at KIA had tried to make contact with the aircraft, which took off at 7:44 pm, about one hour 15 minutes after it had taken off. The statement said investigations were continuing.
Source:
GNA
Apremdo Military Land Saga
... Under fire Addo Kufuor defends himself
Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, MP for Manhyia, who wants to become the President of Ghana on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has challenged a news report which suggested that he does not deserve to be President.
Dr. Addo Kufuor, the former Defence Minister, told this paper in an interview that the said story was ‘below the belt’ for him and that the issue at stake had nothing to do with his presidential ambition thus, the linkage was unfair.
The story was that a group of deprived families whose farm lands had been seized without compensation and used for the construction of a military buffer zone at Apremdo near Takoradi in the Western Region, had unleashed their anger at Dr. Addo Kufuor, accusing him of dishonesty.
According to the landowners, Dr. Addo Kufuor, in his capacity as the then Defence Minister, held an official meeting with all the stakeholders and promised that the money for the compensation was ready and would be paid to them (owners). They said two years after the promise, the money had still not been paid to them and that Dr. Addo Kufuor was completely unconcerned about his promise, and so was likely to do same, should he become President of Ghana. According to them, he would make promises he could not fulfill.
Dr. Addo Kufuor on his part, maintained that when he made the said promise two years ago, the money was indeed ready and could have been dispatched for immediate payment by then.
He explained that the said money was a public fund and that time was needed for a meticulous investigation and due diligence to ascertain the rightful owners of the land in order to prevent wrongful payment.
The Manhyia MP explained further that the said lands were not taken by the NPP government but rather by the First Republic, under President Kwame Nkrumah, whiles the NDC government, under President Rawlings, also seized some of the said lands.
He rationalized that the NPP government should be given some credit for making arrangements to compensate the land owners, something all past governments had failed to do.
Addo Kufuor said he very much deserved to be President of Ghana because he had not taken anybody’s land and had not made a promise he could not fulfill.
He urged people to judge him by his record as a politician, both as a Parliamentarian and Defence Minister.
He promised that the people of Apremdo would have their compensation paid them as soon as the issue of documentation was properly settled.
Source:
Crusading Guide
Ghana intensifies investigation into the Gambian killings
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - A seven-member government delegation will depart Accra for the Gambia on Friday, August 24 this year as part of the continuing investigations into the murder of eight Ghanaians and disappearance of about 44 (forty-four) others in July, 2005 whilst en route to Europe through Senegal, a statement in Accra said on Wednesday. The delegation comprising experts from the criminal Investigations Department, the Ghana Police, The Attorney Generals Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Information are working in close collaboration with the Ghana Mission Dakar, Senegal and other contacts in the Gambia on the matter.
The statement signed by Mr. Jefferson Kwamina Sackey, Media Relations Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the final phase of Ghana's investigations is due for completion in September, 2007 after which a final and comprehensive report would be presented to the Government.
It recalled that President John Agyekum Kufuor, in receiving the report in 2005 sent a high level fact-finding Mission to the Gambia to meet with the Gambian leader, President Yahyah Jammeh and other high-ranking Gambian security officials on the matter.
It said during their first visit to the Gambia, the Ghana fact-finding mission proposed a joint Ghana-Gambia investigative effort to unravel the circumstances leading to the murder/disappearance. The proposal was accepted by President Jammeh, who pledged his country's full co-operation to unearth the truth.
Subsequently, a number of visits were undertaken to the Gambia, underscoring the Ghana government's commitment to pressurize the Gambian government's to consider all means available to deal with the matter, the statement added.
Source:
GNA
Ghana celebrates works of Amu, three others
Accra, Aug 22, GNA - A jubilee music concert was held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Tuesday night to celebrate the works of four Ghanaian accomplished composers as part of the activities marking the country's Golden Jubilee.
They are Dr Ephraim Amu, Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia, Dr Gyima Labi and the Reverend Robert Gaddiel Acquaah, icons of African Classical Music, whose works helped to position the culture and personality of the African internationally.
President John Agyekum Kufuor and Mrs Theresa Kufuor were among the personalities at the concert.
The programme was jointly organised by the International Centre for Music and Dance, the Winneba Youth Choir, the National Symphony Orchestra, African Chorus Incorporated of the United States (US) and the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat.
It featured the trio of virtuoso instrumentalists, Rachel Barton, Dr Wendy Hymes and Rodger French from the US. Ghanaian internationally acclaimed concert pianist, currently domiciled in the US, Dr George Francois and 10 string instrumentalists from Nigeria were also on hand to thrill the audience with scintillating classical music performance.
Source:
GNA
NIB manager arrested for allegedly smoking Indian hemp
Sunyani(B/A), Aug. 22, GNA - Mr Adarkwa Dwamena, Manager of Kintampo Branch of National Investment Bank was last Saturday, arrested by Kintampo Highway Police Patrol team for allegedly smoking Indian hemp in a bush near Kintampo Water Falls.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Ansu Frimpong, Unit Commander at Brong Ahafo Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) disclosed this to GNA in an interview.
He said the patrol team led by Police Inspector Simon Ayewuba during one of their routines spotted the suspect who was driving a Mercedes Benz car with registration number GR 9920 C suddenly parked it and entered the bush.
ASP Frimpong said the police personnel who became suspicious because he had kept long in the bush followed up and to their dismay, saw the suspect who pretended was attending nature's call, smoking some substance suspected to be Indian hemp. He said the suspect was arrested and during a search on him, three wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were found in his pocket.
ASP Frimpong said while the suspect was being escorted to the police station, he attempted to offer the police personnel GH=A225 (250,000 cedis) to release him, but they refused and handed the suspect, dried leaves and the money to the Kintampo District Commander of Police. He said the police were investigating the matter.
Source:
GNA
Suspect robs fuel station in Sunyani
Sunyani (B/A), Aug. 22, GNA - A suspected armed robber wielding two guns on Tuesday attacked a cashier of the National Investment Bank (NIB) at the Tyco fuel station in Sunyani and single-handedly made away with GH=A219,000 (190 million cedis) being the week-end sales. Disclosing this to the GNA in an interview, Chief Superintendent Christian Tetteh Yohonu, Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, said on Monday August 20, at 10:30 hours, an announcement was heard by the police on one of the local radio stations that an armed robber had attacked the Tyco Filling station compelling him to quickly dispatch 20 police officers to the place.
He said upon arrival, the police detected that one of the tyres of a van belonging to the Sunyani branch of the National Investment Bank (NIB), had been shot at and deflated.
Upon questioning, the policemen were told that a cashier of the bank, Mr Frank Obeng who had gone to the filling station to transfer the station's weekend sales to the bank as a routine, was descending a staircase when a man armed with two guns suddenly attacked and shot him in the leg.
Chief Superintendent Yohonu stated that, the robber snatched the money from him in the process and ran away amid shooting. He said the police combed the vicinity going as far as to Nkrankrom, a suburb of Sunyani but failed to trace the suspect, adding that some masons working in the village told the police that they saw somebody holding a bag and two guns but because he was shooting indiscriminately, they hid for their lives.
This is the second time the filling station, which also has a bar, a restaurant, a swimming pool among other facilities has come under robbery attack with the first happening in October last year, few months after its opening.
Meanwhile, the police have mounted a search for the suspect while a worker at the filling station has been picked for questioning.
Source:
GNA
Farmer jailed 15 years for defiling a 13-year-old girl
Kumasi, Aug. 22, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court on Monday sentenced Osei Kwabena 37, a farmer to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour on his own plea for defiling a 13-year-old girl. Assistant Superintendent of Police George Appiah-Sakyi, prosecuting told the court presided over by Mr Kwabena Adutwum Mmorosah, that the victim lives with her senior sister and a neighbour of the accused at Buokrom, a suburb of Kumasi. He said the victim fetched water each morning from a well close to the accused's house and on August 10 this year, the accused took her into an uncompleted building and defiled her. The prosecution said the accused threatened her not to disclose her ordeal to anyone and victim obliged. He said the accused repeated the act the following day, the victim who was in pain resisted but after a severe beating she gave in. ASP Appiah-Sakyi said victim's senior sister who noticed a change in her movements questioned her and she confessed. He said a report was made to Manhyia police where a police medical form was issued to the victim and accused was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.
Source:
GNA