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NEWS ARCHIVE 2007

NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 

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26th
AFRICA CUP of NATIONS
GHANA 2008

 Stars eliminate Eagles with 2-1 win

Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - Tenacity, resilience and total commitment on Sunday won the Ghana Black Stars a berth at the semi-finals of the ongoing 26th MTN

Africa Cup of Nations

at the expense of Nigeria Super Eagles...

Source:GNA

• 03.02.2007

NDC urges Ghanaians to continue to support Mills


Osiem (E/R), Feb. 3, GNA- The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo on Saturday described Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the party's flag bearer as a blessing from God to help Ghanaians achieve their laudable aspirations as a nation.

"Professor Atta Mills is alive and not dead as being peddled by some media houses in the country," he said and urged the "good people of Ghana to continue to pray for Prof. Atta Mills so that God would use him to achieve the good things that he has planned for the country." Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo was speaking at this year's annual general convention of the Saviour Church of Ghana at Osiem in the Eastern Region

on Saturday which was also attended by the National Chairman of NDC, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, the 2004 Running mate of Prof. Atta Mills, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Ms. Margaret Clerk Kweisi, National Treasurer of the Party and Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, a leading member of the party. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said it seemed some people did not want the country to achieve the blessings of God and urged Ghanaians not to sit down and watch, but to continue to pray for the wishes of God to prevail.

He congratulated the Saviour Church for its introduction of educational units and said the scholars that would be produced by the schools under the Church would help in sustaining the future of the Church and its doctrines.

The General Superintendent of the Church, Openin Abraham K. Adusei said the Church has started the construction of a hospital at Osiem to be completed by the end of the year.

The Church had so far spent over 300,000 Ghana cedis on the hospital project which was started last year through church offerings and voluntary contributions. He said God's wishes would prevail and no human being could change the arrangements and plans of God.

Source:
GNA 

Enforce ban on drugs adverts on radio stations


Kumasi, Feb 3, GNA- The assemblyman for the Kaasi electoral area in Kumasi, Mr Charles Oduro Acheampong, has called on the Ghana Pharmacy Council and the Food and Drugs Board to ensure that the ban on drug advertisements on radio are enforced to ensure that medications are not abused.

He also called on the security agencies to check the peddling of drugs in vehicles and other places to discourage self-medication, which is one of the greatest challenges to health care delivery in the country.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi on Sunday, he said certain individuals or herbalists had failed to abide by the law banning the prescription of drugs for diseases on the radio, saying, "It is being abused with impunity".

Mr Acheampong noted that the peddling and adverts on drugs, which started with herbal preparations had now gradually covered orthodox medicines as well, and as such the peddler often confused people to believe that one medicine could cure different diseases especially hypertension, impotency, diabetes and infertility.

"Innocent people have been made to have faith in these drugs, which are unlicensed so much that they refused to patronize health institutions for proper diagnosis of their ailments for an effectively cure without any side effects".

The assemblyman said so many people have had side effects after taking such drugs, resulting in much more critical conditions leading to them finally attending hospitals.

Mr Acheampong therefore stressed that if immediate steps were not taken to arrest the situation, their activities would have a negative effect on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) especially in the rural areas.

Source:
GNA

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• 02.02.2008

Brong-Ahafo to get mobile library service soon


Sunyani (B/A), Feb. 2 GNA- Mr. Frederic Noble Baada, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Librarian, on Thursday gave assurance that the mobile library service programme that would be operated on pilot basis in the region would commence during the first quarter of this year. He said about 50,000 people from 100 communities in 20 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies across the country would benefit from the programme.

Mr. Baada, who is also Chairman of the Committee on National Mobile Library Service Programme, was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani.

He noted that since 1980, the programme had become ineffective as a result of broken down mobile vans. Mr Baada said "This halted the smooth running of the programme and the acquisition of new mobile vans is to re-introduce the service to the general public."

He also expressed regret that the Library Board did not have enough information materials and only one van served the region, which he said, was not good enough.

Mr Baada said "We need more vans for the region as the Board intends to use the one available for the pilot programmes for any two districts in the region, based on the district assembly's commitment to run the programme and its deprived nature or status. The board also has plans to extend the service to any other two districts next year."

He said the Regional Library Board would confer with the Regional Minister and the Regional Director of education in the selection of the two districts to benefit from the programme this year. Mr Baada called on the district assemblies to support the programme to promote education in the region. He said the Regional Library Board in collaboration with the Non-Formal Education Division of the Ghana Education Service and the Information Service Department would provide books to beginner learners to enable them to inform and educate the public on issues on governance, assembly proceedings, tourism and culture. Mr Baada promised to collaborate with officials of the regional mobile library to promote education in the region and place Brong-Ahafo first in the mobile library service programme to serve as a model for other regions.

He said committees would be formed in the districts to monitor the programme to ensure its success. Mr Baada appealed to district assemblies, traditional authorities, companies, non-governmental organizations and philanthropists to support the programme.

Source:
GNA

Sheikh Basha recommends innovations in Hajj organisation


Tamale, Feb. 2, GNA- Government has been urged to assist the Muslim community to streamline the organisation of Hajj in the country to save Muslim pilgrims from hardship and psychological trauma they go through in performing the religious duty each year.

Consequently, government should ensure that the right people; faithful, sincere and committed Islamic scholars from all Muslim sects in the country took part in the organisation to foster problems associated with the pilgrimage. Sheikh Ibrahim Basha, General Overseer of the Masjidul-Bayaan Mosque in Tamale, made the appeal at a press conference in Tamale on Friday.

He noted that for some time now, Muslims who undertook Hajj went through difficulties adding but for the intervention of government, particularly this year the exercise would have been a total failure. Sheikh Basha suggested that pilgrims from the Northern part of the country could be air lifted from the Tamale Airport, saying the South African and Senegalese national teams currently in the country to participate in the Ghana 2008 flew directly from their countries to Tamale.

He also said in the 1970s, pilgrims' used the same airport on a number of occasions, adding that the facility was even better equipped now for monitoring air traffic than in 1970s. Sheikh Basha said such arrangements would also save aged pilgrims from the Northern part of the country and the Brong-Ahafo Region the ordeal of travelling between 14 and 16 hours to Accra before finally leaving for the Hajj.

He gave the assurance that aged pilgrims from the Upper East and Upper West Regions would be provided adequate accommodation while in Tamale awaiting their departure. Sheikh Basha urged government or any new authority that would be mandated to handle any Hajj activities to engage the services of experts in overseas travels to make the exercise a success. He said travel schedules could also be published in the media to avoid early trooping of pilgrims and those accompanying them to the Airports.

Sheikh Basha commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for his intervention, which made it possible for Ghanaian Muslims pilgrims to perform the Hajj last year and King Malik Abdallah of Saudi Arabia who agreed to extend the time of the closure of the Jeddah Airport to enable Ghanaian pilgrims land at there. Sheikh Basha prayed for victory for the Black Stars in their impending match against the Super Green Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday.

Source:
GNA

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Fake Doctor Exposed



The Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) has apprehended a 44-year-old fake medical practitioner, “Dr” William James Mayor Tony Blair, and handed him over to the Accra Central Police Command for investigations and prosecution. Blair is said to have used fake certificates to practise as a medical officer at the Siloan Mission Clinic in the Jomoro District of the Western Region between February and December 31, 2006, without registering with the GMDC, as prescribed by the Medical and Dental Council Decree 1972 (NRCD 91).

He is to face charges of illegal practice of medicine, possession of forged documents and false assumption of title as a medical practitioner. Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Greater Accra Regional Operational Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said last Tuesday, January 29, 2008, Mr Ben Ameleke, a retired Superintendent of Police currently working with the GMDC, arrested Tony Blair, who presented photocopies of two fake certificates he allegedly obtained from the University of Michigan Medical School.

Blair had gone to present copies of his certificates to the GMDC to enable him to write its certificate examination scheduled for February 23, 2008 after he had registered on January 13, 2008. Chief Supt Yohuno said Blair wanted to be registered as a member of the council, which is the regulatory body of the Ministry of Health (MoH), to enable him to practise in Ghana as a medical doctor. According to him, since the purpose of the GMDC was to prevent illegal practice of medicine in Ghana, it took pains to verify “Dr” Blair’s certificates and discovered that they were fake.

The Regional Police Operations Commander stated that “Dr” Blair, therefore, presented two separate certificates purported to have been awarded him by the University of Michigan Medical School to the council. He said one of the certificates stated that he studied medicine between 1988 and 1992 at the University of Michigan, where he was awarded a doctorate degree, while the other indicated that he was admitted to the Medical School of the same university to specialise in Neurology between January 12, 1995 and March, 1999.Chief Supt Yohuno stated that at the corner of the doctorate certificate was the inscription: “Ministry of Health, Washington, DC”, which strengthened the GMDC’s suspicion that the certificates were fake because Michigan and Washington, DC, were two different states in the United States of America.

He said during police interrogation, Blair confirmed that he had practised at the Siloan Mission Clinic on the Half Assini road between February and December 31, 2006 without registering with the GMDC, as prescribed by law.Chief Supt Yohuno said when Blair applied to the GMDC, he was booked to attend an interview on January 25, 2008 but he failed to show up.He said on January 28, 2008, the Registrar of the GMDC, Dr Eli Atikpui, certified that the two certificates the suspect had presented to the council were fake.According to him, the following day, the council invited Blair for the interview, during which he was arrested and handed over to the police.

Source:
Dayly  Graphic

Kufuor's AU Chairmanship Term Over...

... returns home from Addis Ababa

Accra, Feb. 2, GNA- The President, John Agyekum Kufuor, returned home this afternoon from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he attended the Tenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union from January 31 to February 2, 2008.

He was accompanied by some senior government officials. Briefing newsmen on arrival, Mr Andrew Awuni, Presidential Spokesperson, said President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania had been elected as the new Chairman of the African Union (AU).

He said this followed the ending of President Kufuor's one year term as chairman of the AU. Mr Awuni said Gabonese Foreign Minister, Jean Ping, had also taken over from Mr Alpha Konare as Chairman of the AU Commission.

Mr Awuni said two other meetings, namely the 18th session of Heads of State of the Implementation Group of NEPAD and the eighth session of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) were also held. Presdident Kufuor, he said, presented a comprehensive second annual report on issues bordering on democracy, governance, gender, land, among others, to the session, noting that, Ghana was the first signatory to the APRM.

He said President Kufuor also elaborated measures his government had taken to live up to the recommendations of the APRM. Mr Awuni said the implementation group at the 18th session of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD, agreed that NEPAD would become an agency under the AU and no longer remain an autonomous body. The presidential spokesperson said during the tenure of President Kufuor as AU Chairman, he proposed the setting up of a panel of five African Heads of State to prepare a document for the road map towards a Union Government in Africa.

He said when the road map was presented to the Executive Council of the AU; the council could not come to a consensus on the recommendations in it.

He said the issue came up again at the tenth session of the AU, and it was agreed that ten Heads of State and Government would be selected, as well as the AU Chairman, Jakaya Kikwete and the immediate past Chairman, President Kufuor.

He said these twelve eminent personalities would examine the road map and study recommendations and present a report to the AU during its next session expected to be held in July this year. Mr Awuni said a 13 member audit panel, which was instituted by President Kufuor during his tenure as AU Chairman to examine the various agencies under the AU, resented its report and was duly accepted. He said the 12 eminent personalities, who were to be selected as proposed at the tenth session, would examine the audit report and present it at the July session of the AU.

He said the Tenth Ordinary AU session also endorsed President Kufuor's initiative during his tenure to set up a three member panel led by Former UN Secretary Genneral, Mr Kofi Annan, to restore peace in Kenya following the post election violence in that country. Mr Awuni said the UN Secretary Genneral, Ban Ki Moon, who attended the opening of the session, pledged the UN's support to Mr Kofi Annan's panel.

He said President Kufuor had to break his trip to Rome, where he was to attend the Annual General Meeting of the World Food Program, in order to be at home to lend his support to the Black Stars of Ghana in Sunday's match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. President Kufuor was met at the airport by Ministers of State, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Patrick Acheampong and other senior Military and Police personnel.

Source:
GNA

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• 01.02.2008

Deaths in motor accidents in VR increase


Ho, Feb. 1, GNA - A total of 169 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents on roads in the Volta Region in the past three years. Some 13 died in 2005, 24 in 2006 and 132 in 2007, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) data available to the Ghana News Agency indicated.

A total 1,085 people were injured over the three years. This comprises 157 in 2005, 144 in 2006 and 784 in 2007. The data said 972 vehicles were involved in the accidents - 115 in 2005, 94 in 2006 and 763 in 2007. According to Police records captured by the NRSC data, Keta District recorded the highest deaths of 47, Tongu followed with 46, Ho, 21, Hohoe, 16 and Kete-Krachi, two.

Mr Elvis Gbesemete, Volta Regional Coordinator of the NRSC, listed causes of the rise in the accidents to include abysmal performance of traffic regulation enforcement authorities, poor standardization at the driver licensing authority, poor skills of drivers, bad roads and increase in vehicles on the roads.

He advocated for an increase in efficiency levels of Police road checks to improve the situation. Mr Gbesemete said the NRSC had provided Police with digital speed check equipment and that two Police officers from each region would be trained on their use.

He expressed worry about the low punitive actions against road users who infringe the laws, citing the Tongu area, which is part of the Trans ECOWAS Highway, where 120 vehicles were listed to be involved in accidents in 2007 with 46 dead but only 14 cases were sent to court. Mr Gbesemete observed that as the roads got better, drivers became more and more careless and often disregarded speed limits resulting. He attributed the high accident figures in the Keta area partly to the increasing number of vehicles using a detour to Accra through Anloga, because of the bad nature of the Aflao-Sogakope portion of the Accra-Aflao highway. "As the vehicles cram on that road, which is narrow and unmarked and passes through quite highly populated areas, and with drivers many from the sister West African countries exhibiting lack of discretion as a norm, the collisions and pedestrian knockings are many," Mr Gbesemete said.

He said there was need to establish high standards for drivers and suggested that the country should adopt a training programme that would in the near future grant driving permits to only people who had gone through accredited training institutions. Mr Gbesemete said while skills of drivers were not the best, many had refused to take advantage of training programmes. "We invited them to training sessions, where food is provided free and stipends for attendance given, but they refused to attend," he stated.

Mr Gbesemete also observed that the increasing numbers of vehicles on the roads, which show a trend a quarter every year, would definitely result in vehicular traffic control problems. He said number of cars had jumped from 750,000 in 2006 to over one million in 2007.

Source:
GNA

Couple attacked and car stolen at Bame


Ho, Feb 1, GNA - Francis Dunyo, 29, and his pregnant wife Rejoice Sakpaku were attacked by gunmen in the early hours of last Tuesday at the outskirts of Bame, near Kpeve and their Astra saloon car bearing registration number GT 24 U, seized.

Police reports said the two who had set off from Kete-Krachi on their way to Mafi-Kumasi in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, where flagged down by a man at the road side who feigned serious illness.

Joy Afagbedzi, Inspector of Police in charge of Public Relations at the Volta Regional Police Headquarters, said while the two good Samaritans were talking to the supposed sick person, three other men, armed with locally made pistols emerged to attack them. He said the armed men pulled Mr Dunyo and his wife out of their car, tied Mr Dunyo with a twine, dumped him in the boot of the car and drove off.

Mr Afagbedzi said the robbers seized Dunyo's wife's cell phone before driving off leaving her in the middle of the road. He said the armed men dumped Mr Dunyo somewhere on the road, who later managed to get back to his wife. The vehicle has still not been traced.

Source:
GNA

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Promote the unity of Asante and Ewe Kente weavers - AGI regional boss

Kumasi, Jan 31, GNA - Nana Asante Frimpong, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has suggested to the Ministry of Culture to bring both Asante and Ewe kente weavers together to form a national association in order for them to gain recognition.

He held that the cloth represents Ghanaian history as well as social values and political thoughts and that it was the only fabric that gives Ghanaians a distinctive identification abroad. Nana Frimpong said this on Thursday at the outdooring of a new kente design in honour of President John Agyekum Kufuor for his good works during his tenure as a president. Christened "Kufuor Apagya Ghana", the distinctly designed kente cloth, was developed by the Adanwomase Kente Weavers Association of the Kwabre District.

It was in recognition of President Kufuor's effort at raising the image of the country internationally and initiating programmes that had helped improve the living standards of the people. Nana Asante Frimpong, himself, a weaver, reiterated that kente had achieved a tremendous international recognition and evolved to one of the most tangible manifestations of ever growing sense of Pan African unity, hence encouraging the unity of the weavers is in the right direction.

Nana Frimpong appealed to the government to set a day aside in a year for the celebration of kente, whereby the entire weavers across the country could compete with their latest designs for prizes. He also proposed the establishment of a national kente museum to showcase outstanding weavers and their works. He called on government to make it mandatory for Ghanaian Ambassadors who present their letters of accreditation to foreign governments to put on kente. Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, outdoored the cloth made of one design but in four different colours. He noted that the initiative was in the right direction since President Kufuor had achieved a high degree of recognition in Ghana's history.

Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive commended the designers of the cloth. Dr Adu Gyamfi, a native of Adanwomase, bought the first cloth at GH=A25,000.

Source:
GNA

MP apologises for remarks on Mills' health


The National Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo has apologized for his comments on the health of the flag bearer of the NDC, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.

Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu said he was sorry for the comments saying they were born of ignorance of the actual health situation of the Professor.

Mr Nyaunu stated over the week that he was concerned about the fragile nature of the flag bearer of the party and advised his party to go for an early congress to elect a flag bearer fearing Prof. Mills was not medically fit to contest the 2008 general elections.

His comments were, however, not taken kindly by the rank and file of the NDC, culminating in an emergency meeting convened by the leadership of the party at which Mr Nyaunu made the apology.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the party had reprimanded the MP for his comments.

He added that Mr Nyaunu did not use the appropriate channel to address his concerns.

Evans Mensah of Joy News suggested to him that it meant the statements of the MP were true except that the channel used was inappropriate.

Responding, Mr Nketia disagreed, arguing the MP had simply violated the NDC`s Constitution, warranting the reprimand.

Meanwhile Prof. Mills returns to Ghana next week from South Africa.

Source:
jfm

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• 31.01.2008

AKWAABA...!

Journalists attacked and robbed at Nations Cup


Accra, Ghana - Three journalists covering the African Cup of Nations being held in Ghana were late Wednesday attacked and robbed of personal belongings. Mikael Blond of the Danish football magazine Tipsbladet and two other journalists were walking to their hotel in the Accra suburb of Tantra Hills after having supper at a nearby hotel.

"Suddenly a taxi stopped and five men jumped out and started screaming at us and told us to give them our phones and money. They also started hitting us," said Blond.

He said that they stole two mobile phones, a wallet with cash and credit cards, as well as a camera before jumping back in the car and leaving.

"Luckily, we suffered no injuries, just some bruising, a fat lip and a few scratches," he said.

The attack has been reported to the police and the tournament organizers.

Source:
eartTimes

La Beach Hotel Boss Busted


The General Manager of Labadi Beach Hotel, one of Ghana`s leading five star hotels, Mr Abraham Laudrell, is allegedly in police grips to help in investigating of the mysterious death of a Nigerian prostitute he allegedly had a fling with last week.

Report reaching the Crusade Guide newspaper indicated that Mr. Laudrell and the prostitute known as Kemi were spotted together a night before Ghana`s match with Namibia, and the next day as well.

The reports said that on Friday, Mercy (surname withheld now), a Ghanaian friend to Kemi, whose phone the latter used to call Laudrell before joining him two days earlier, called to find out whether her friend was still with the boyfriend.

Laudrell was said to have told Mercy that her friend (Kemi)was in the washroom. Two hours later, Mercy called Laudrell`s phone again wanting to talk to her friend. She was then told to come over. When Mercy arrived at Laudrell`s place later in the afternoon, she found that her friend was unwell and was foaming at her mouth. Laudrell then ask Mercy to fetch taxi and send her friend to the 37 military hospital, whilst he would organize himself and follow later.

But the Labadi Beach Hotel Manager reportedly failed to honour his word. Over the weekend, Kemi died prompting Mercy to go to Laudrell`s residence to report the matter, and find out why he (Laudrell) failed to turn up at the hospital as he promised.

Mercy, however, was turned away by the police guards at Laudrell�s residence as she tried to enter. Her attempt to reach Laudrell on phone also proved futile. She therefore decided to report the matter to the Cantonment police.

Laudrell was subsequently picked up by the police for questioning.

Meanwhile, the District Superintendent of police (DSP), Mr .Frank Addei, of the Cantonment police station, told journalists from this paper and The Daily Dispatch that Mr. Laudrell was invited in connection with some issues, but refused to give details.

He, however, directed the reporters to see Boi Bi Boi, The Greater Accra Regional Crime Officer at the Central police station. All efforts to get Mr. Boi Bi Boi proved futile as he was not at his desk; he was reported to have gone on Court rounds. Further checks at the Labadi Beach Hotel before press time revealed that since Mr. Laudrell was picked up, he had since not reported for work.

Source:
C. Guide

Questions Recur Over Mills' Health



If the unthinkable happens, and the imponderables become ponderable, then will Mr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah, now straddling the British capital as the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Company walk down the aisle with the NDC as its new leader after a whip-around endorsement?

That appears to be the latest in the series of political puzzles ebbing out of the body of the National Democratic Congress, as it lay like a doll, writhing, life's precious juices running precariously out of it, as stories about its elected flagbearer, Professor John Atta Mills, gained an adrenalin shot with a shuddering statement from a man, acclaimed to be the NDC's Maradona.

The party's acclaimed leading light and serial conqueror of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) contenders, put the question straight on the table with a sickening thud.

'Let us go to Congress and elect another flagbearer!', lets not behave like ostriches and pretend we don't have a problem .' thunderered the MP for Upper Manya Krobo, Michael Nyaunor, on the health status of professor Mills.

Nicknamed Maradona for his capacity to turn 360 degrees in a single flourish - in short he is full of electoral tricks, spoke the mind of many when he let the matter off his Atkpame chest.

And he attracted a good deal of feedback from the NDC!

Honourable Michael who is one of the of the big wigs of the NDC told The Chronicle in an interview in parliament categorically stated that his party should stop their ostrich way of living and get another flagbearer for the party.

"The Prof is sick as such we should concede".

He added that the Professor's health is such that the party must stand up and prepare for another congress so as to save the NDC from another shameful defeat in the December elections.

The outspoken NDC MP mentioned that the views that he is expressing is the view of a majority of the members of his party.

Hon. Nyaunor said he did not care about what his critics would say about him because they know that what he is saying is right.

In the process of the interview, the MP for Nabdam, Moses Asaga, in a loud voice said the interview the MP was granting the journalist was "his stupid candid opinion".

The MP for Ningo Prampram, E. T. Mensah, who fled from the chamber on hearing what was going on described his colleague as a foolish man who did not know what he was doing.

Other members of the party whom the chronicle spoke to said although their colleague had the right to express his views as an individual, he cannot call for a congress for the party.

Another NDC MP, Mahama Ayariga, mourning the carnage that has engulfed his constituents, not that it was unfortunate that scene had taken place but he is not shocked about what has been said about the Prof's health.

This he said is a reflection of the internal democracy and the freedom of expression in their party.

The NDC is in dire financial straits, and a congress is out of the question for now, but an executive council could be called and conjured by the founder to convene an emergency meeting which would then ratify the second runner up, Mr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah, to come down to come over to Macedonia, and save us.

Professor Atta Mills health problems have been showing even before he was elected a flagbearer, the bags and pouches under his eyes look like those of US screen goodess Elizabeth Taylor. But the NDC's propaganda have putit down as the 'new Fiifi look'.

He has himself given a fairly convincing account of his health, admitting that it has taken him to China, South Africa, as well as other countries, all to no avail.

Chronicle is now resolutely pursuing the Mills story as the nation demands the right to know the health condition of one of the country's potential Presidents.

Source:
Ghanaian Chronicle

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NDC condemns NDC MP for comments on Mills' health


Accra, Jan 31, GNA - The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned a comment made by one of its members in Parliament on the health status of Prof. Evans John Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the party.

Priest blames Christians for injustices in Africa


Kumawu (Ash), Jan 30, GNA - The Archdeacon of the Kumawu Archdeaconry of the Anglican Church, Venerable John Kingsley Mensah, has blamed Christians for the continuing injustices and absence of peace in homes, communities and among governments in Africa. In his New Year message which was made available to the Ghana News Agency at Kumawu in Ashanti, Venerable Mensah stressed that "If after 200 years of Christianity in Africa and in particular Ghana, there is no peace and justice among our governments, homes and communities, then we Christians must take the blame. We have not done enough evangelism to influence our society".

He observed that Jesus Christ, throughout his life, preached and taught peace and that it was his hope that the New Year would rekindle Christians to seriously pray for peace and justice in the country. Venerable Mensah charged Christians to make efforts to explain the significance of the birth of Christ to non-believers, stressing that his birth had great marriage with peace.

Emphasising that Christ was 'Prince of Peace', he said, "indeed the main reason for the birth of Jesus in this our world was to restore the peace and justice between God and humanity, broken by sin and consequently to bring brotherhood and understanding on earth among people".

He prayed that Christians would take up the spirit to change the world for the better through the propagation of the word of God.

Source:
GNA

Nkrumah's Only Daughter Joins Race



Samia Nkrumah, the only daughter of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is considering contesting the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem parliamentary seat on the ticket of her father’s Convention People’s Party (CPP), sources close to the party have told Daily Guide.

Samia, who is based in Italy, would be picking the party’s nomination forms the moment she arrives in Ghana by the end of February, the sources indicated. Samia is said to have confirmed her interest in the seat, seeing it as an opportunity to reconnect with her country, people and the land of her birth.

“It is true that as Nkrumah’s offspring, we would always stand as symbols of inspiration to people who admire Nkrumah, and believe in what he stood for. But facts are mere symbols if they are not translated into concrete ideas and actions. The decision to contest is not mine alone to make. It has to involve the party and other stakeholders,” she was quoted by sources close to her.The CPP has already opened nominations for its members who want to contest the parliamentary elections, and three people have so far gone for the KEEA forms. The sitting MP, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom would be contesting the presidential elections this year, and is reported to be scheming heavily to ensure that his party retains the seat.

Speaking to Daily Guide, Dr. Nduom said he was aware Samia had shown an interest in the KEEA seat. “It is welcome news that Nkrumah’s daughter wants to replace me as MP at a time I want to replace her father as President,” he said. He expressed the hope that she would formalize her intention and pick nomination forms to contest the primary.Dr. Nduom opposed the assertion that Samia is not a resident of KEEA, and that she is only capitalizing on her father’s name and fame to contest a parliamentary seat that had always been won by the CPP. He said that was far from the truth and that the late Osagyefo’s daughter only “wants to make a contribution to a community that had been helpful to her father in the past. It would be a competitive one, and she would have to contest the primaries like any other person that has an interest in the seat.”

The CPP presidential candidate explained further that the 1992 Constitution allows that anyone who “hails from” a constituency can legitimately contest and be elected as its Member of Parliament. “Nkrumah stayed in Elmina and actually lived there. That was where he met and married his first wife and gave birth to Francis, a half brother to Samia. Until recently, when the state made their mother’s house at Cantonments available, Samia and her brothers have always resided in their house at Elmina anytime they came home,” Dr Nduom said. He said Samia had always spoken publicly about her wish to settle in Ghana. Currently, she resides in Italy where she makes a living from lecturing, consultancy and journalism. So far, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has elected Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister as its candidate and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has also elected a foreign-based businessman to go in for the seat.

Samia and her brothers, Gamel and Sekou, were children residing with their mother at the Flag Staff House when the military overthrew her father in a coup on February 24, 1966. Their mother, Fathia, later left with them to resettle in Egypt. She has since stayed, schooled and worked in various parts of the world. The former first President’s children have frequently visited Ghana on countless occasions, and her younger brother, Sekou, who resides in Accra, quite recently caused a stir in political circles when he announced his decision to join the NDC.

Source:
Daily Guide

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• 29.01.2008

Ghana2008 : Where are the Million visitors?

READ ALSO OUR EDITORIAL FROM 30.DEC 2007!!!

Tourism ministry's ambitious expectations...

Less than 8,000 visitors have so far arrived...

Hotel owners feel deceived as their rooms remain empty...

Figures released by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have confirmed the view of critics who described the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Ghana 2008 and the Ministry of Tourism's projection of one million visitors during the tournament period, as unrealistic.
Total arrivals as at last week (January 23) has been put at only 7,094 but an industry analyst told the dailyEXPRESS that it is a good enough figure, considering that the country did not engage in any international tourism promotion activities prior to the tournament.

Critics had challenged and questioned government's basis for the 1m projection, but officials including Deputy Information Minister Frank Agyekum insisted that reports of hotels being overbooked is enough indication of the multitude that will be converging in Ghana.

With four stadiums that could take a maximum of 120,000 spectators, it was always a wonder whether the 1m visitors being talked about were going to be in Ghana to watch the game from TV sets. The projection was the more intriguing when it became clear that both the LOC and the tourism ministry had not activated any marketing campaigns outside of Ghana to promote the country?s tourism sites and the entertainment activities (if any) that visitors to the country can enjoy.

Akin to the worrying perception in 2007 that the mere fact that Ghana was celebrating its Golden Jubilee, tourists will flood the country, officials lived under the false impression that people would decide to come to Ghana just because there is a tournament.

The figures from the GIS may not shock those who never believed in the 1m projection like Professor Albert Bane of the Geography & Tourism Department of the University of Cape Coast. In an interview with the dailyEXPRESS, he wondered what benchmarks were used in determining the projection, noting that while there will be visitors, the 1m projection is ambitious.

According to him, the Department contacted the LOC to provide services relating to how the country can maximise the opportunity of hosting the tournament through tourism. But the LOC did not acknowledge the proposal submitted.

In the wake of the ?disappointing? arrivals, hotel owners who were made to believe that business will be booming, have started complaining about low patronage. Some hotel owners told The Chronicle newspaper in Kumasi that contrary to assurances given them, their facilities are not being patronised.

"Some of them were, therefore, forced to embark on massive renovations and expansions of their facilities, but indications are that their expectations might not be met, because most of their facilities were yet to be booked" wrote The Chronicle in its Friday January 25, 2008 edition.

Interestingly, the Ashanti regional manager of the Ghana Tourist Board Bernard Nsiah is reported that the hotel owners cannot blame the LOC because their responsibility was toward the provision of hotels for teams and officials.

The hotel owners are however arguing that but for the assurances given them and the workshops organised to let them know that there will be lots of people arriving; they wouldn?t have spent lots of money expanding their facilities.

It wasn?t only hotel and hospitality owners who rushed to take advantage of the expected 1m visitors, even the GIS got to work in readiness for the large number of people. The Controller of Immigration in charge of Operations, Laud Ofori Affrifah told the Daily Graphic that because of the projected arrivals, as many as 1,000 officers were mobilised for the operation.

Special clearance zones were set up at Aflao, Elubo, Paga and the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to facilitate swift entry of supporters, while a special games manifest was designed for people coming in specifically for the tournament. According to the statistics, 2,546 have come through the KIA; 1,815 through Elubo; 1,772 through Aflao; 767 through Paga; Tamale 102; Gonokrom 80 and Half Assini 12.

Out of the 1,815 who came through Elubo, as many as 1,420 all of whom were Ivorians returned after the Ivory Coast- Nigeria game. 76 Guineans are also reported to have left after the opening game.


Source:
Frank ADDO (frank.addo@dailyexpressonline.com )

Thousands celebrates Black Stars win in Cape Coast



Cape Coast, Jan. 29, GNA - There was wild jubilation on Monday night in the Cape Coast Municipality when Ghana's Black Stars beat the Atlas Lions of Morocco 2-0 in the 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations tournament in their "Group A" match played at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.
As soon as the referee blew his whistle to end proceedings, thousands of soccer fans including children, the aged and even some insane persons dressed in the national colours and carrying other paraphernalia poured into the streets to celebrate the victory. And as if it was planned, soccer fans at Kotokuraba, Aboom, Coronation, Kingsway and Tantri, all suburbs of Cape Coast went on a carnival through the streets amidst brass band music with drivers of vehicles honking.
many cars, both commercial and private as well as motorbikes displayed their driving and riding skills to the admiration of the fans while drinking bars and other entertainment centres, which were virtually empty during the match bounced back to business as they were filled to capacity with soccer fans to celebrate the victory. Mr George Tachie-Menson, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Coast Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs, described the performance of the Stars as splendid and appealed to Ghanaians to give the Stars the needed support to enable them to win the cup. Ms Constance Obeng, a nurse told GNA Sports, that the Stars had made Ghana proud and that if they maintained the standard, there was no way they would not win the cup for Ghana.


Source:
GNA

3,000 to be resettled for Bui Dam project



Sunyani Jan. 29, GNA - More than 3,000 people living around the Bui River in the Tain District are likely to be resettled following the construction of the Bui Dam, Mr Joe Danquah, Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency said on Tuesday.

The MP made this known during an interaction with executives and members of the Brong Ahafo Regional Student Union (BASU) at Bui as part of their familiarization visit to the area.

Mr Danquah said all the affected persons would be resettled in temporary structures at places of their choice and would later be transferred to the proposed Bui city.

He added that a task force had been formed by government under a steering committee to counsel the affected citizens before the resettlement in April this year.

The MP said more than 300 houses would be demolished and that only those structured, which were already in the area would be considered in the exercise.

Mr Danquah denied the allegation that the construction workers at the Dam site had been dominated by foreigners and explained that the contractors were now doing the engineering works and had not reached the actual construction stage.

He told the students that about 3,500 workers would be employed for the construction and gave the assurance that out of the number 2,900 would be recruited from the country.

Nana Benjamin Osei, Okyeame of Banda Bongase, thanked government for the project, saying it would help the unemployed youth to acquire jobs to stem the high crime rate in the District and urged the government to open a secondary school in the community. Nana Benjamin Osei promised that the chief and elders would not allow any confrontation between the youth and the workers on the dam site but would ensure that all problems, which would arise during the construction, would be settled amicably.

Source:
GNA

Libya eyes African Unity


Accra, Jan. 29, GNA - The out-going Libyan Ambassador, Mr Mohammed Al Gamudi, on Tuesday warned that without Regional integration, Africans could not outlive the countless problems confronting them. "Only unity can solve the problems of Africa," he stressed, when he paid a courtesy call on Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, to bid him farewell after nearly five years of duty in Ghana.

Mr Gamudi lauded Ghana for taking active stance with Libya on the unification agenda of the African Union (AU) and President John Agyekum Kufuor, in particular for bringing refreshing ideas on board as Chairman of the Pan African body to nurture the dream.

President Kufuor's tenure of office as Chairman ends at the 10th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the AU, which is underway in Ethiopia.

The Ambassador advocated the reactivation of the Ghana-Libya Joint Commission for Co-operation to encourage the two countries to clench unity of purpose.

Mr Gamudi who called Ghana his second home, said the West African State had become a model of security, transparency and accountability. Vice President Mahama embraced the call for the resurrection of the Joint Commission for Co-operation He also described the unification of Africa as the dream of Ghana, which must be achieved at the shortest possible time. Vice President Mahama acclaimed the role of Libya for the zeal to mediate in conflict stricken countries in Africa. He urged the oil-rich country to use its resources to push for more trade and investments with Ghana.

Source:
GNA

Government re-imposes curfew on Bawku


Accra, Jan. 29, GNA - The government on Tuesday re-imposed the curfew in the Bawku area amid calls by some Members of Parliament for a permanent standby military presence in the town and its environs to avert further conflict.

The members' call follows reports of dead bodies being found each day in some areas despite the deployment of security personnel. Mr Mahama Ayariga, (NDC Bawku Central) told Parliament that the situation in the area was still very tense, following the conflict, which broke out between Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups on December 31, leading to the imposition of the curfew.

"The security agencies should be vigilant in the next few days," Mr Ayariga said, warning of possibilities of renewed clashes. He said what made the situation worse was the fact that there were reports that the rival parties were threatening each other "not to make the mistake of crossing into the each others neighbourhood or territory".

Mr Dominic Azumah, (NDC-Garu/Tempane) had asked that the Ministry of Defence and Interior, should deploy a permanent standby military team or post at Bawku to quickly move in to avert any potential conflict. He said reconciliation among all stakeholders with the involvement of religious and political leaders be pursued to remove suspicion and fear.

In a statement on the floor of the House, the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamina Bartels, said the curfew had been re-imposed and would cover between 2000 hours and 0500 hours.

He said information available to his office indicated that there were 10 deaths while 104 houses and stores had been burnt. Mr Bartels said two new but unconfirmed deaths had also been reported and that 22 people had been arrested in connection with the violence.

Mr John Ndebugre, (PNC-Zebilla) said a military presence was not the solution, adding that dead bodies were still being found almost on a daily basis despite the presence of security personnel. Rather, there was urgent need to promote reconciliation between the feuding parties, he suggested.Source:
GNA

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