Cape Coast police arrest more than 60 drivers
Cape Coast, May 6, GNA -
...Some of the drivers had tilted their number plates such that it becomes impossible for the police to read the numbers in the night. He said the drivers involved would be screened and those with minor offences cautioned to do the right thing while grievous offenders would be processed for court to serve as a deterrent to others. Mr Mensah advised drivers and car owners to secure the correct documents for their vehicles.
Chief Inspector Emmanuel Cudjoe Holornu of the Cape Coast MTTU said car owners who failed to provide their vehicles with documents such as roadworthiness certificates and insurance would be jointly prosecuted with their drivers.
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GNA
Introduce fruits, vegetables into the school feeding programme - Dr.Sory
Karaga (NR), May 4, GNA - Dr. Elias Sory, Directory General (DG) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has advised authorities of the School Feeding programme to introduce fruits and vegetables into the diet of the children to ensure their healthy growth.
They should also adopt the use of unadulterated local food to feed the children and stop resorting to foreign foods full of chemicals, so that children would not fall prey of malnutrition to affect their growth and academic work.
Dr. Sory was speaking at this year's national launch of Child Health Promotion week at Karaga at the weekend. The programme was on the theme: "Good nutrition a key to child growth and development" and was meant to emphasise the need for Ghanaians to avoid the patronage of oily foods and eat locally grown ones to improve their health.
Dr. Sory, who deputised for the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd) said children, by nature were vulnerable and needed good nutrition for a firm foundation for their survival to "cross the red border line" of five years and stress the need for parents to monitor the eating habits of their children.
He said the school-feeding programme was a good concept, but expressed fears that the right food supplements might not be given to the children saying; "It would be necessary to give the children fruits and vegetables on constant basis to improve the health status of the children."
He said infant mortality was on the ascendancy in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and parts of the Volta Regions due to malnutrition and called for an affirmative action to reverse the trend.
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GNA
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EC urges political parties to deploy highly educated polling agents
Koforidua, May 4, GNA- Political parties have been asked to deploy their influential members such as university professors and polytechnic lecturers as polling agents so as to bring about dynamism and vigilance in electoral policing and monitoring.
A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr David Kangah, made the suggestion at an inter-party dialogue at Koforidua at the weekend and said more often than not, political parties deploy polling agents who had no knowledge about the electoral process and therefore were less vigilant in protecting their party's interests.
According to him, roping in educated people into the system will serve the parties well as the integrity of this group of highly skilled professionals cannot easily be called into question. Mr Kangah said although elections are mainly fought and won at the polling stations, some political parties have not attached much attention to that and only turn round to complain when results did not go in their favour.
He proposed to the political parties to use services rendered at the polling station as a yardstick when rewarding party activists after winning power.
He said often, many people who lobbied for posts after the party had won elections played marginal or insignificant roles when the party was in difficulties.
Such category of persons, he said, often included the highly learned and those interested in governance but were unwilling to play their part in bringing about victory.
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GNA
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GES begins "Schools-Under-Trees" project
The Ghana Education Service (GES) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) have initiated a programme to provide classrooms for areas where pupils hold classes under trees.
The Director in charge of Supervision at the East Akyem Municipal Education Directorate, Mr Owusu Mireku announced this when the East Akyem Municipality Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene inaugurated three different projects at Tontro, Nobi, and Abodan. Mr Mireku said the project dubbed "Schools-Under-Trees" seeks to provide decent school block and accommodation for teachers to help improve the standard of education especially in the rural areas.
At Tontro and Nobi, Mr Asihene inaugurated a three classroom-block with stores, office and computer centre for each community at the cost of GH¢35,000 each and four units teachers quarters at Obodan at the cost of GH¢52,000 all funded from the GETFUND.
The Municipal Chief Executive addressing separate durbars said, Government was committed to the welfare of the people and rejected claims by the opposition parties that, Government was insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.
He said Government had put in place a lot of programmes to improve the welfare of the people and cited the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant as some of measures.
Mr Mireku urged the people to have confidence in Government and continue to vote for the NPP to continue the good works it had started. Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North said the Constituency had benefited from a lot of development projects such as electrification, school buildings, and clinics roads to improve the welfare of the people.
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GNA
Kwame Owusu Ansah Is Dead
One OF Ghana’s finest actors, Kwame Owusu Ansah, yesterday died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after sustaining serious injuries in a fatal accident on the Accra-Tema Motorway.
Doctors had worked around the clock to save the actor’s life, but to no avail. He passed away around 4.00 pm yesterday.
A source close to the late actor told BEATWAVES that the accident occurred during the wee hours of yesterday when his new Camry car traveling towards Tema allegedly run into a cargo truck that was being chased by the police on the highway.
The actor, who also featured in many Nigerian movies, was said to have sustained serious head injuries and was first admitted to the Tema General Hospital in a critical condition from where he was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Kwame Owusu-Ansah, before his untimely death was lending support to the Ghana music industry to attain higher heights. He was part of Madhaus Incorporation, a new music label, which is a subsidiary of FNT Group of Companies.
He was the Media Director of the company, which has already signed artistes like Tinny, Bandana and Kwabena Kwabena on its label.
Source:
Daily Guide
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Kumasi Hospital faces water and feeding problem
Kumasi, May 3, GNA - The Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Kumasi is facing acute water shortage especially at the labour wing, following the leakage of its overhead reservoir.
Dr. Christoph Debre, a Medical Superintendent and member of management of the hospital, said the Hospital was also grappling with the feeding of malnourished children at its Out-Patient Department. He was speaking to newsmen when members of the Saint Mary's Guild of the Roman Catholic Church at South Suntreso in Kumasi, presented food items, detergents, beddings and cleaning tools valued GH¢300 to the Hospital in Kumasi.
Members of the Guild also spent hours to tidy up the hospital's compound by sweeping and weeding open spaces as well as scrubbing gutters.
Dr. Debre commended the Guild for its contribution to enhance the survival and welfare of the children, stressing that the support was timely.
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GNA
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Two injured in shooting incident at Anloga
Aflao, May 3, GNA - Two young people are on admission at the Keta Hospital after they had been injured in a shooting incident at Anloga early Saturday, eyewitness reports, corroborated by the Municipal Chief Executive have said. The reports said a 17-year-old girl, Awenam Agboada, was hit in the right ribs while Eli Tagbor, a young boy, was hit in the left arm. It said the police have picked up four people, Walter Dzatagbo, 45, Mawuli Seglah, 33, Amartey Addo, 28 and Klutse Borlugui, 34 for questioning.
An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on telephone that at around 0730 hours, one Eda Sofahu, pursued a young man who ran into a house. The eyewitness said Sofahu invited others who joined him and started shooting indiscriminately ostensibly to flush the boy out of the house. The witness said another group which had perceived those firing to be rivals, also mobilized to counter what they considered, the nuisance of that faction.
However, the police arrived in time to quell any serious confrontation and were guarding the area. The Police Divisional Command confirmed the incident but declined to give details. Mr Kofi Ahiabor, Keta Municipal chief Executive also confirmed the incident, adding that the police were in firm control of the situation.
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GNA
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Alan Kyerematen makes 'U' turn
Mr. Alan Kyerematen, former aspiring flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday rescinded his decision to resign from the party.
A statement signed by Mr. Kyerematen and issued in Accra said: "I acknowledge receipt with thanks, your letter dated April 25, 2008, on the above subject.
"Following your appeal to me to reconsider my decision to resign from the Party, and with the personal assurances you have given in your letter to address in a timely manner, the concerns I have raised on various matters and also in consideration of the passionate appeal from His Excellency the President, the flag bearer, the elders, as well as the rank and file of the party, I write to rescind my earlier decision to resign my membership of the NPP.
"I hope this decision will contribute to the further strengthening of the party".
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GNA
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NDC to take advantage of "declining fortunes" of government to win power
Hohoe (V/R), May 2, GNA - Mr Kwasi Aboagye, Volta Regional Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has held that the goodwill that greeted the government when it assumed office has "evaporated" as a result of an "economic quagmire" in which the citizenry have found themselves currently.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Hohoe, Mr Aboagye said the country's fortunes, which had seemed to be moving into higher gear, have now been drawn two steps backwards.
Mr Aboagye alleged that there was corruption and cronyism in high offices, adding that this development placed the NDC in a strong position to win this year's elections. He therefore urged NDC activists to re-engineer their campaign and deepen the house-to-house crusade initiated by Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the party's Presidential candidate.
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GNA
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Get rid of "Yellow Police" - NCCE Forum participants
Accra, May 2, GNA - Some military personnel on Friday called on the government to get rid of community police under the National Youth Employment Programme as their operations may pose security problems during the December elections. The military personnel, made up of senior and other ranks from Ghana Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police explained that the mandate of the community police personnel popular known as "Yellow Police" was unconstitutional and must be scraped immediately. The Officers noted: "These uncoordinated masses are a potential force for manipulation by unpatriotic politicians to subvert the democratic process, especially on election day."
The Military Officers made these observations at a civic education lecture organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for the Ghana Army as part of activities marking the 8th National Constitution Week celebration. The Military Officers also expressed concern about apparent suspicion among the security agencies and called for closer collaboration to erase these sentiments which have the potential of undermining the country's democratic gains.
Speaking at the lecture on the theme; "The Sovereign Will of the People and Election 2008; The Role of Security Agencies," Mr. Laary Bimi NCCE Chairman challenged politicians to genuinely demonstrate their concern for the ordinary man. He said: "it has become a political platitude for politicians to trumpet it at the roof top of fighting for the interests of the people, but in truth, the man or woman is fighting for the betterment of his or her own condition. "Months after winning political power, the once ordinary person's attitude changes, he or she moves into a different apartment to suit his or her new status and places 'beware of dogs' warning at the entrance to ward off the same people who voted for him from coming to disturb him."
Mr. Bimi therefore tasked the electorate to use the political environment to seriously scrutinize all politicians to ensure that, "we vote for selfless personalities into positions of trust. "This Election should not be just party, party, party but we must challenge the politician to show how best the party or the individual can champion the interest of the nation.we are tired of self seeking politicians." He described Election 2008 as a test case for the nation as almost all the leading four political parties have tasted power before, unfortunately governance era of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) is fading into oblivion.
But the era of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is fresh as these two political blocs have tasted power and stayed in opposition before. "They know and appreciate the goodies of governance as well as the frustration of African opposition parties, they are therefore desperate to either maintain or regain power, through fair or foul means," the NCCE Chairman stated. He therefore tasked the military to maintain their neutrality, respect the military command structures and follow lawful orders to ensure that the nation goes through election 2008 and come out united. He cited electoral events in Togo, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe to expose the desperation of politicians to cling on to power or fight for power. The NCCE chairman also appealed to all democratic stakeholders to maintain their neutrality and adhere to their constitutionally mandated role as the international community is keenly watching Ghana.
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GNA
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Number of children out of school increasing in Brong Ahafo
Sunyani (B/A), May 1, GNA - Children of school-going age of between six and eleven years in the Brong Ahafo region, numbering about 1,560, were found either not in school, dropped out of primary school or could not make it to the Junior High School during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 academic years.
This was revealed at a three-day annual review workshop of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Education Sector for stakeholders in Sunyani to discuss the achievements and challenges of the sector. Participants included representatives of Municipal and District Assemblies, National Commission for Civic Education, Ghana Education Service, the regional House of Chiefs and religious bodies. In a resolution at the end of the workshop, the participants noted that the inability of parents to cater for their children, intimidation by some teachers and the distance from communities to schools, were problems affecting the education of the children. Mrs Akua A. Debrah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Education said the enrolment figure declined as pupils progressed from the kindergarten through primary to the Junior High School and that most of the children who dropped out were girls.
She attributed the situation to mothers engaging their daughters to baby-sit whilst they attended to their jobs, denying such girls the opportunity to go to school. The regional director expressed regret that parents and guardians were moving their children from schools that were not included in the school feeding programme to beneficiary ones. She appealed to the government to expand the school feeding programme to cover more schools to curb the practice and asked heads of schools to supervise their teachers to help control the intimidation of the children. Mrs. Debrah called for the establishment of more special schools for the physically challenged, which should be sited close to communities.
She appealed to churches, communities, Non Governmental Organisations and philanthropists to support efforts to equip the technical institute in Nkoranza, establish science resource centres and provide accommodation for teachers among other things. Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, Omanhene of Sunyani traditional area, urged municipal and district directors of education to support each other to address challenges confronting the sector. He pledged his maximum support towards any project that would promote education in the region.
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GNA
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Schools in three Northern regions to get support
Bolgatanga, May 1, GNA- Schools that were mostly affected by floods that hit the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern Regions (the three Northern regions) last year, are to be reconstructed by the government. The initiative, which would be funded by the World Bank under the Northern Flood School Project, is expected to be completed by the next academic year.
This came to light at a meeting organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, at on Wednesday at Bolgatanga, to brief stakeholders including municipal, district chief executives, co-coordinating directors and engineers and district education directors drawn from the Upper East and Upper West Regions on the mode of execution of the project.
In all, 13 affected schools in the three Northern Regions are expected to benefit from the package out of which five are from the Upper East Region and one from Upper West Region. The beneficiary districts in the Upper East Region are the Bawku Municipal, Kassena-Nankana District, Bongo District, Builsa District, Talensi-Nabdam and the Jirapa Lambusi District in the Upper West Region.
Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister, welcoming the people, urged the assemblies and other stakeholders to take the project seriously to enable government achieve its aim of availing every child of school going-age the opportunity to have education.
He explained that the reconstruction of the damaged schools by government was a clear indication of its commitment to education. Mr Samari warned that he would not hesitate to sanction any official whose action would be a threat to the successful implementation of the project.
He urged chief executives of the assemblies to initiate encourage tree planting and other friendly environmental practices in their various areas.
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GNA
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NPP will win elections based on hard work - Dan Botwe
Koforidua, May 1, GNA - Mr Dan Botwe, Chairman of the Electoral affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Campaign has said that the party would win the coming elections based on its track record of hard work and good campaign messages.
He told the GNA in Koforidua that "in consistency with the NPP tradition, we have always worked hard to achieve our victories and have never been complacent about any thing because we understand elections and know that anything can happen".
Mr Botwe disclosed that for the party to have a convincing victory in the coming election, it had started a voter education programme for party operatives and also preparing them for the registration exercise in that area.
He indicated that so far, 2,300 party officers had been trained including 280 constituency officers drawn from all the 28 constituencies in the Eastern Region to ensure a successful monitoring of the registration programme.
Mr Botwe said he was sure of NPP's victory because of measures being put in place adding "these are all part of oiling our machinery, spreading message and sharpening skills for the campaign" he added. He explained that the NPP was interested in monitoring the registration process, because it was being projected that about one million people may register this year. Mr Botwe urged all party members to work hard and be vigilant to ensure a resounding victory for the NPP in the December elections.
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GNA
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Figures in Ashanti Region voter's register incredible - EC
Accra, April 30, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday said figures in the alleged bloated voters' register of the Ashanti Region are incredible and thorough investigations were needed to clear the discrepancies.
"Provisional analysis of the figures revealed that between 2004 and 2006 the voter population of some of these constituencies doubled. This cannot happen.I don't think we should concentrate our efforts in propounding conspiracy theories but rather we must all unite to find out how it happened," Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the EC, said at the Greater Accra Region Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in Accra.
The regional IPAC meeting is on the theme: "Building Confidence in the Outcome of the 2008 Elections." It is aimed at offering a platform for the political parties to have insight into the work of the EC and for explanations on any issues of concern.
The meeting organized by the EC with support from Friedrich Ebert Foundation and KAB Governance Consult would discuss topics, including: In-built Integrity of Ghana's Electoral Process; Results and Challenges of the Replacement of Lost Voter ID Cards; Revision of the voters' Register - Challenges and Expectations; Expectations of the Commission from Political Parties Towards Credible Elections in December 2008.
On the operations of the special Independent Investigative Committee set up to examine the discrepancies in the voters register, Dr Afari-Gyan explained the commission had initial problem with its formation. He said the Ghana Statistical Service, which was part of the original institution suggested to be part of the committee, declined to participate and this affected the inaugural timetable.
The Independent Investigative Committee is to examine the discrepancies in electoral figures of about 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region. The EC on April 11, this year announced the establishment of a nine-member Independent Investigative Committee to analytically scrutinize the voters' register to establish the legitimacy or otherwise, of the alleged bloated register in the Ashanti Region.
The Committee is made up of two EC Officials, four representatives of the political parties and an official each from the West African Examinations Council, and the Bureau of National Investigations. The Committee had a two-week mandate from the day of inauguration to complete the task of delving into the NDC's complaints of the bloated register.
The Committee was also mandated to scrutinize the source of the discrepancies and how to prevent its occurrence and make the appropriate recommendations to the Commission.
Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the NDC, expressed concern about the bloating of the voters' register in 13 constituencies in the Ashanti Region. He said the figures in the 13 constituencies were so outrageous that there was the need for proper investigations to set the records straight, adding that any political party that believed in democracy should find out why the register was bloated in the 13 constituencies. Professor Mills stated that the issue should not be the worry of the NDC alone but all the political parties in the country.
The party claimed that they got information on the bloated figure from the EC on a CD Rom after writing officially to the Commission.
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GNA
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Fishing industry losing over 12 billion cedis annually
The fishing industry loses 12 to 15 million Ghana cedis revenue annually because of lack of interest in developing inland fishing.
A statement issued by the National Inland Canoe Fisherman Council (NICFC) in Accra on Wednesday called on the Ministry of Fisheries and financial institutions to therefore help develop the sector. It said an estimated 95 per cent of the fish consumed in the country were imported at an annual cost of 250 million dollars, thus investment in the Volta Lake alone could result in huge economic benefit.
The statement said this was revealed through a research and sensitisation programmes undertaken by the Council and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC) in fishing communities along the Volta Lake.
The fishermen, it said, have proposed the setting up of a five to ten year plan to revive fishing along the Lake and more investment in inland fishing, since the impact of pond fishing was little. Mr Samson Mahu, General Secretary of the NICFC expressed regret that despite various interventions to draw attention on benefits of inland fishing, little had been done to tap the potential. He said fishing in the Lake across the Northern, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta regions had almost collapsed.
Mr Kofi Kukubor, Consultant for NICFC said the investment was necessary to create wealth in rural communities, minimise rural-urban drift and address child labour prevalent in those communities along the Volta Lake.
Mr Mayor Agbleze, a cage fishing expert, said the country had enough expertise to undertake modern fishing and called on the sector Ministry to adopt policies to improve the industry.
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GNA
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All hands on deck on sanitation - Aliu
Accra, April 30, GNA- Ghana's Sanitation Campaign Strategy was on Wednesday launched in Accra with a call on public and private sector, development partners, traditional rulers and civil society to reawaken their concerns towards addressing sanitation challenges in their various communities.
Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who made the call noted that sanitary conditions in the country were nothing to write home about, pointing out that the situation was deteriorating each day with its attendant public health consequences.
"Data available in our health facilities indicate that over 60 per cent of all morbidity and mortality cases are water and sanitation related, especially those affecting children and other vulnerable people in our society," he added.
Alhaji Ahmed Awudu Yirimea, Deputy Minister off Local Government, Rural Development and Environment launched the strategy on behalf of the Vice President.
The United Nations has declared 2008 as International Year for Sanitation.
The primary objective of the campaign strategy is to have one national coordinating body, one national plan and one transparent monitoring and evaluation framework and the need to repackage sanitation as an essential component of poverty reduction and national development. The programme dubbed; "Sanitation for All" is under the theme: Re-packaging sanitation for accelerated national development," was organized by Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Water and Sanitation in collaboration with WaterAid Ghana.
Sanitation problems in the country's cities range from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places, including drainages.
Ghana is said to have ranked 48th position on a good Sanitation Chart for 51 countries on sanitation situation in Africa, according to UNICEF sources.
Alhaji Mahama noted that clean water and sanitation were not only about hygiene and disease but dignity.
"Many examples show that self-esteem begins with having a safe and proper toilet facility."
The Vice President announced the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Environment (MLGRE), which has the mandate for sanitation has prioritized sanitation as a key area of action in the short, medium to long term plans and programmes.
"This is as a result of government's recognition that improving environmental sanitation was critical to the achievement of the socio-economic development of the nation," he added.
He said the Ministry has therefore set the pace by initiating number of programmes aimed at reversing the downward trend in the sanitation situation in the country.
These, he said included, revising the National Environmental Sanitation Policy, upgrading the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit at the Ministry to a directorate, provide logistics such as transport, increase staff strength to reach out to all communities with education and enforcement of laws and regulations.
He therefore called on all to put hands on deck in funding sanitation services, which he said was capital intensive, adding that government alone could not tackle the problem.
Mr Stephen Ntow, Country Representative, WaterAid, Ghana said the event was to draw the attention to the plight of about 65 per cent of Ghanaians who did not have access to basic sanitation and needed to mange waste in all forms.
He said 2.6 billion people representing 40 per cent of world's population did not have access to sanitary facilities that provided with safety and dignity adding that, by 2004, only 65 per cent of Ghana's population had access to sanitation.
Quoting United Nations Sources, Mr Ntow mentioned that half of hospital beds at any time were occupied by persons suffering from water and sanitation related diseases worldwide and Ghana was not an exception. "Studies show that simply washing the hands at critical moments can reduce diarrhoea diseases by 40 per cent. The avoidance of health related care cost and lost of man hours also come as extra economic benefits," he pointed out.
The Country Representative for WaterAid therefore appealed to government, presidential aspirants and other persons seeking votes to occupy offices to priorities and invest reasonably in sanitation. He said WaterAid would continue to campaign locally and internationally to change policies and practices to ensure that water and sanitation's vital role in reducing poverty was recognized.
Mr. Demedeme Naa, a Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation Division (EHSD), MLGRDE said the sanitation issues posed the biggest challenges to government, and that by December last year the Accra Metropolitan Assembly alone owed waste contractors 10 million Ghana cedis.
Mr Kweku Quansah, a Director of EHSD, said the public should see sanitation as key determinant in improving their standard of living.
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GNA
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Driver fined GH¢150.00 for picking passengers at unauthorized place
Cape Coast, April 30, GNA- Nana Kwesi Ampem, a 33 year-old commercial driver, was on Wednesday fined GH¢150.00 by a circuit court at Cape Coast for picking passengers at unauthorized place. Ampem, who pleaded guilty, would go to prison for six months in default.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Oheneba Amoako-Boateng, told the court presided over by Mr Richard Asiedu-Badu that, last Saturday, officials of the Cape Coast Motor transport and traffic unit (MTTU) were on their usual patrols when they intercepted Ampem, who had packed his vehicle in the middle of the road at Tantri a suburb of Cape Coast to pick a passenger.
He said Ampem was arrested and his offence pointed out to him. In a related development, two other drivers, Samuel Adjah Torgbor, 38 and Ebenezer Henry Brew Riverson Jnr, 45, were granted a total bail of GH¢2,000 for careless and inconsiderate driving.
They both pleaded not guilty and would reappear on Friday May 16, 2008.
The prosecution said, Torgbor was driving from Accra towards Cape Coast and on reaching a spot at Eguase near Moree Junction and without due care and attention run his vehicle into the rear portion of vehicle, which was in front of him.
He said Riverson Jnr, who was also closely following Torgbor run his vehicle into Torgbor's, resulting in extensive damage to all the three vehicles.
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GNA
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EC uncovers plot to register minors
The Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday disclosed that it has uncovered an electoral plot by a political party to register masses of minors during the limited voter registration exercises.
The plot involves moving the organized minors (under 18 years) to some registration locations in constituencies the party considers strategic and ensure their registration, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan EC Chairman stated at the Greater Accra regional Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting.
Dr. Afari-Gyan warned the minors and the political party of the consequence of committing an electoral offence - impersonation; "We are collaborating with the Police Administration to ensure that anybody who attempts to impersonate or commit any electoral offence at any stage of the process faces the law."
He explained that the limited registration exercises is an opportunity for people who are 18 and 19 years to register, those beyond the 19 years would have to convince the registration officials reason why he or she failed to register either in 2004 or 2006.
The regional IPAC meeting is on the theme; "Building Confidence in the Outcome of the 2008 Elections," aimed at offering a platform for the political parties, media and democratic stakeholders to have insight into the work of the EC and for explanations on any issues of concern. The meeting was organized by the EC in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and KAB Governance Consult discussed: Inbuilt Integrity of Ghana's Electoral Process; Results and Challenges of the Replacement of Lost Voter ID Cards; Revision of the voters' Register - Challenges and Expectations; Expectations of the Commission from Political Parties towards Credible Elections in December 2008.
The EC Chairman also educated the participants on the electoral process which involved the demarcation of a constituency, registration, nomination of candidate, conduct of elections, collation of results and declaration of the results.
Dr. Afari-Gyan explained that until the filing of nomination forms with the EC in September, no one qualified to be classified as Presidential candidate, at best all the flagbearers are prospective Presidential candidates.
Responding to questions from the participants, Mr Hubert Akumiah, EC Director of Information Technology and Data Processing said the Commission would adopt biometric system of capturing electoral information of voters during the next general voter's registration.
He explained that the biometric system is an effective means of automatically deleting double names from the voter's register, "but that notwithstanding the current system have inbuilt structures to detect and remove double names."
Mr. Akumiah also explained that due to logistical difficulties, the Commission would use only 2,500 cameras (one camera to two electoral areas) for the limited registration exercises across the nation.
Mr. Mohammed Adoquaye, EC Greater Accra Regional Director who gave statistics on the recent replacement of lost Voter Identification Cards said the region replaced 59,410 cards.
Tema recorded the highest number of 12,962 whilst Dangbe East recorded the least 1,148. The gender statistics indicates that 35,240 male replaced their cards whilst 24,170 female did same.
About 4,106 applications were rejected. Representatives of the ruling New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention People's Party, Ghana National Party, People's National Convention, EGLE Party, Great Consolidated Popular Party, and the Democratic Freedom Party attended the meeting.
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GNA
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Endangered Primate Centre opened at Achimota Forest
Accra, April 30, GNA - The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission in conjunction with West Africa Primates Conservation Action (WAPCA), a wildlife society in the West African sub-region, on Tuesday inaugurated a centre at the Achimota Forest to preserve two species of the monkey family which are now threatened with extinction.
The centre known as the Endangered Primate Centre has been set up to promote the awareness and public education on the need to conserve endangered primates and other wildlife.
Speaking at the inauguration, Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, said the focus of the centre would be on the breeding of two species in West Africa known as the White-nape mangabey and Diana monkey.
According to him the centre which was previously located at the Accra Zoo had made remarkable progress in the management and breeding of mangabeys to the extent that it now had the largest collection of the species in the world.
He said the centre was collaborating with 12 European zoos, including Paris and London zoos, within the context of an International Breeding Programme for Endangered Species thus giving it an international reputation.
He said plans were underway to give the Achimota Forest a facelift which would include a zoo, primate centres and other facilities which would be suitable for the image of a capital city.
Mr. Ahmed Bin Salih, Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, said the Ministry would continue to pursue policies that would safeguard the habitat of these endangered monkeys and other species adding that zoos would continue to play major roles. He expressed his appreciation to WAPCA for the support it had given to the Wildlife Division since its inception.
Mr. Marius Haas, German Ambassador in Ghana, said the increased consumption of bush meat as well as dangerous hunting methods such as the use of chemicals and sophisticated firearms had led to the diminishing of wild animals at a fast pace.
"Only 500 chimpanzees are left in Ghana's forest. Three of Ghana's 10 forest monkey species are critically endangered and are listed among the world's 25 most endangered primates," the Ambassador said.
According to him, the former Accra Zoo was housing only two Roloway monkeys and 10 white-nape mangabeys representing 20 per cent of all white-nape mangabeys that are kept worldwide.
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GNA
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Foreigners warned
The Ministry of the Interior has cautioned foreign nationals working in Ghana without the requisite resident and work permits to take steps to acquire them or face the consequences.
The Minister of State at the Ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, who gave the warning in an interview, said “a lot of them do not have both resident and working permits and yet are working”.
He said the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) would take immediate steps to deal with the problem.
“We want to ensure that the law does not exist just in the statute books. The laws must be operationalised,” he said.
He explained that Ghana had with some of the best laws that were beautifully couched but the issue of implementing them had always been a major problem.
He, however, said the time had come for law enforcement agencies and all organisations responsible for the implementation of any law to live up to their responsibilities.
Nana Boahen reminded foreign nationals that both resident and work permits were subject to renewal but some of them had unfortunately taken the law for granted.
He also urged employers to endeavour to study the Immigration Act (Act 573) and ensure that they abide by the provisions enshrined in the law.
Section 24 of Act 573 states that, “Subject to this Act a person shall not employ any foreign national in Ghana except in accordance with a permit granted by the Immigrant Quota Committee established under Section 25 of this Act.”
Nana Boahen said officials of the GIS had the powers to arrest, detain and search individuals and organisations in situations where they suspected a breach of the immigration laws.
Nana Boahen said it was an offence to put impediments in the way of an officer and, therefore, advised both employers and foreign nationals to take note of that.
He said there was enough evidence for the ministry to believe that there were a lot of foreign nationals working without the requisite permits.
“There are some who would want to hoodwind us into believing they are not working. But they should blame themselves if they are caught,” he warned.
Nana Boahen said any Ghanaian who also engaged foreign nationals that did not have the requisite permits would have himself or herself to blame.
Source:
Graphic
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Scrap dealer arrested for stealing railway metal
Tema, April 30, GNA - Abdul Rahman, a 26 year-old scrap dealer was on Tuesday arrested by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) security officers for stealing steel sleepers from a railway behind the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) in Tema.
Rahman who is in police custody was spotted by TOR's two security men unscrewing the sleepers on April 28 at about 1500 hours. Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Regional Police Public Affairs Officer told the Ghana News Agency that, the suspect said he sold the sleepers at nine GH cedis to the security men who feigned interest to purchase the sleepers.
A sleeper cost over $200, currently on the market. Inspector Turkson said Rahman later when he sensed danger denied stealing the sleepers and saying he is a cobbler. This was the second day on April 29 when the security men saw him again at the place around 0730 hours.
Inspector Turkson said, the security men apprehended him and informed railway officials who handed him over to the police.
According to him, the police was currently hunting for culprits noting that sleepers covering over four kilometres have so far been stolen. She, therefore, called on the general public to report people who buy such metals from scrap dealers to curb the stealing of state properties.
When later railway officials went to inspect the number of sleepers stolen, two other persons who were seen carrying a sleeper each on their heads dropped the metals upon seeing officers and bolted.
Source:
GNA
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Tema Traditional Council bans video games to promote education
Tema, April 30, GNA -- The Tema Traditional Council has banned the operation of video and board games in Tema Manhean as part of measures to improve the poor performance of students in the town. Children of school going age are often seen gathered around these games popularly known as 'sune pete sune' at the expense of their education.
Nii Adjei Krakue, Tema Mantse who disclosed this to Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the Council had observed that activities of the game operators were the major cause of poor academic performance of students in the community.
He regretted that even though basic education was free, children in the community preferred the games to their future. Nii Krakue noted that some of the children spent their pocket money on gambling at these places whiles others stole money to patronise them. He disclosed that the Council had seized five of the game boards to serve as a deterrent to others after issuing several warnings to the operators.
In another development, the Council has instituted measures which include the seizure of faulty bicycles and towing of vehicles parked on the road to curb accidents in the community.
It has so far seized about 50 bicycles most of them had no lights and brake as well as registered numbers.
Nii Krakue explained that owners of the bicycles were asked to install lights and functioning brakes and in addition, obtain licence from the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) before they would be released to them.
He said the council had appealed to the police for assistance to stop drivers from parking and washing their vehicles on the road. Nii Krakue said most often children and the aged were knocked down by oncoming vehicles when crossing the road from behind parked vehicles. He noted that drivers in the community had been directed to park their vehicles at 'B' park and pay a token to security men provided by the Council.
The park could accommodate about 500 vehicles.
Source:
GNA
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CPP Condenms Conduct of Minister of Trade
28 April 2008
The Honourable Minister
Ministry of Information and National Orientation
Accra
Dear Hon. Minister,
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has noted with grave concern the menacing and unprofessional behaviour of the Minister of Trade, Industry, Presidential Special Initiatives and Private Sector Development, “Honourable” Joe Baidoo-Ansah, on the 24th April 2008 edition of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana, towards the CPP’s spokesperson on the economy, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, who was an invited guest on the programme.
We consider the minister’s public outburst on live television against Dr. Thompson who was discussing legitimate national issues as unwarranted, a threat to freedom of speech (the bedrock of our democracy) and an embarrassment to the public office that the Minister holds in the name of all Ghanaians. The Minister’s tantrums, which were broadcast to millions of viewers outside of Ghana as well, were all the more serious because he was not even an invited guest on the programme; he trespassed upon the set and in effect promoted lawlessness at the highest level of governance.
This unfortunate behaviour by our minister was at variance with the NPP government’s constant proclamations of “good governance” and the “rule of law.” We therefore call upon the minister to do the honourable thing and apologise to Dr. Thompson, Metro TV, the other two invited panellists (including an official of UNCTAD), and the people of Ghana for behaving in a manner that needlessly threatened and unsettled others while bringing Ghana’s good name into disrepute. If he fails to do that, we urge the President to terminate his appointment before he does an even greater harm to Ghana , possibly at an international forum, when it would be too late to salvage the image of the country.
For the record, it must be stated that the issues raised by Dr. Thompson, and which appeared to have angered the minister, are nothing new to Ghanaians or the world at large. Ghana ’s excessive dependence on donors for its budget and the recent controversy over the purchase of the presidential jets have been discussed extensively at home and abroad. Indeed, these discussions can easily be accessed on the internet.
In comparing the proposal to purchase the presidential jets to the fact that 63.0% of Ghana ’s 2008 agricultural budget will come from donors, Dr. Thompson was simply stating what the public already knows – at home and abroad. Indeed, the president himself has spoken time and again about the need for us to reduce our dependence on donors and set our priorities right. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot expect to be respected by anyone.
Lastly, we wish to condemn in no uncertain terms the government’s intimidation of Metro TV into not re-broadcasting Good Evening Ghana the following day – as the station always does. We view this as an unwarranted interference by the State in private media and a contravention of the 1992 constitution. If our democracy is to thrive, the government should refrain from such blatant intimidation and interference in media work.
Sincerely,
Ladi Nylander
Chairman and Leader
CC:
UNCTAD - Geneva
Office of the President
Council of State
Council of Elders, CPP
National Commission for Civic Education
National Media Commission
Management, Metro TV
All media houses
Source:
Convention Peoples Party-CPP
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Korle Bu suspends admissions at Accidents Centre
Accra, April 29, GNA - The authorities of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Tuesday said admission to the Accidents Centre had been suspended for the next 48 hours.
A statement signed by Mr. Mustapha Salifu, Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, said the measure had become necessary in order to allow the Centre to decongest.
It said resumption of admissions would begin on May 1. The statement said patients who required emergency medical care should visit other health facilities in their communities while those with minor conditions can visit the Centre for treatment and discharge on the same day.
Source:
GNA
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Election 2008, a Great Challenge for Ghanaians
Accra, April 29, GNA - Ghanaians would go to the polls in December this year to elect the next President and Members of Parliament to steer the affairs of the country.
Election 2008 is significant because it would offer the people another opportunity to test the democratic process, deepen and sustain the political gains made since the inception of multi-party democracy in 1992.
With the election of flag bearers for the People' National Congress (PNC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Convention People's Party (CPP), all is set for the polls.
The activities of some political parties, especially the NPP and NDC, the two dominant parties, have caused a rise in the country's political temperature. This is not surprising!
Since 1992, the NDC has had two four-year terms in office while the NPP is also expected to accomplish an equal number of years of tenure in December.
Recently, there was a confrontation between supporters of the NDC and NPP at the residence of Sheikh Uthman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, at Fadama in Accra. The Flag bearers of the two parties, Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the NDC, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP, had gone there to express their solidarity with the religious leader and the Muslim community during the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
The NDC has already expressed fears of vote rigging and abuse of incumbency by the NPP, accusations the NPP has dismissed. The NDC has also alleged that the voters' register for some constituencies in the Ashanti Region had been bloated, resulting in accusations and counter-accusations by the two dominant parties.
These developments have occurred even when not a single ballot has been cast, suggesting that this year's polls would not be a child's play.
It would require tact, tolerance, and respect for rules and regulations by all Ghanaian to ensure credible elections. It is heart warming to note that to prevent confrontations like the one at Fadama, the Ghana Police Service and representatives of some political parties met in Accra and agreed on the ground rules for the electioneering campaign process.
Leaders of the various contesting political parties, in their electioneering trails, have also pledged to contribute to free, fair and peaceful elections.
Seminars, workshops and meetings being organised by State institutions and non-governmental organisations to sensitise security personnel, leaders of political parties, electorate, journalists and other stakeholders on the need for trustworthy polls are good omen for the process.
Electoral problems should not be oversimplified since all individuals, groups or parties have the potential of rigging the electoral process or engaging in an electoral fraud.
An election can be marred by varied circumstances such as undue influence by political parties in their strongholds, location or remoteness of polling stations and the time for dispatching electoral materials to the stations.
Others are bad weather, poor transportation network, and the lack of adequate information on the electoral process, intimidation of voters and negligence during vote counting, among other things.
Political parties are obliged to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure absolute transparency and honesty during and after the polling activities as required by the parties' code of conduct.
Political parties would be expected to restrain their supporters from taking the law into their hands before, during and after the polls. They should also avoid attacks on personalities, acrimony and animosity that could create confusion and violence during the polls. Instead, the parties should educate the electorate on how their manifestoes and programmes best represent solutions to the country's socio-economic and political problems. Thomas Jefferson once said the best defender of democracy is an informed electorate. Even though the ultimate objective of every political party is to win political power, they should rise above parochial interests and forestall election violence.
Political parties should continue to make good use of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), which is a forum for parties to meet with the Electoral Commission (EC) to discuss ways of improving the electoral system.
Political parties should avoid announcing their own results even though they could monitor and collate results to ensure transparency. They should avoid corrupting the electoral process by influencing voters with cash and gifts.
Leaders of the political parties should impress upon their supporters to exercise tolerance during the election and to restrain them from embarking on any violent behaviour.
Parties should resolve to use the legal system to resolve any impasse that might occur before, during and after the elections. The promise by the EC to conduct credible election in reaction to President John Agyekum Kufuor's appeal to the body to ensure free and fair elections, in his address to mark Ghana's 51st independence celebration, is worth mentioning.
But the Commission should accept criticisms and suggestions that might come from the public and parties in good faith and to investigate complaints and allegations to create a level playing field for all the contesting parties.
The EC's efforts to work with all political parties to resolve the NDC allegation of bloated voters' register, particularly in the Ashanti Region, is encouraging.
Even though traditional rulers and religious leaders are expected to refrain from party politics because of their unique roles in society, they should sensitise their followers to the need for free, fair and peaceful elections.
The Judiciary must be well equipped and staffed to enable it to expedite action on electoral disputes that might be brought before the courts to forestall tension, confusion and violence.
Government should adequately resource the EC to enable it to discharge its duties effectively and distance itself from the institution to ensure its independence, transparency and integrity. Undoubtedly, the EC is obliged to produce a reliable voters' register, acquire sufficient expertise, structures and materials required for the polls.
The media's role in an election is very vital and this would largely depend on the effectiveness of journalists. They would be expected to work objectively, respect the code of ethics of their profession and to avoid misinformation, tensions and confusion.
Media outlets should announce only election results that would come from the EC and not from the various political parties. The state-owned media in particular have a constitutional obligation in ensuring free and fair elections. Article 55 (11) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana states that "the State shall provide fair opportunity to all political parties to present their programmes to the public by ensuring equal access to the State-owned media".
The Constitution also guarantees that all presidential candidates shall be given the same amount of time space on State-owned media to present their programmes to the people and every candidate for election to Parliament has the right to conduct his or her campaign freely and in accordance with the law.
It is refreshing that the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has assured all political parties contesting the elections of a platform to propagate their programmes and manifestoes. According to the GBC, activities to be covered by Radio Ghana and Ghana Television would be national and regional rallies and a proposed presidential debate. All the political parties shall also have the opportunity to participate in Talking Point, Breakfast Show and Adult Education programmes on Ghana Television.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) would be expected to intensify the training of media personnel on electoral coverage to avoid drawbacks, tension and chaos during the elections.
The establishment of guidelines for journalists for the 2008 Elections and the organisation of programmes to enhance their capacities by the GJA are commendable.
The National Media Commission should investigate all complaints that might be lodged against the media and apply the right sanctions where necessary against those who violate the GJA code of ethics. The GJA should call its members to order in case of any professional misconduct but must protect them from intimidation from politicians and other powerful members of the society.
The public should criticise the media positively to keep journalists on their toes during the election but the media should be offered the opportunity to operate freely, impartially and objectively. The Ghana Police Service and other security agencies should put in place a special security arrangement to enable them to deal quickly and positively with incidents, riots and disturbances that might arise during the election.
Considering the crucial nature of this year's election, the political parties, the Judiciary, security agencies, and electorate and, of course, all Ghanaians would be expected to collaborate with the EC to ensure a free, fair and peaceful polls.
Election 2008 poses a big challenge to Ghanaians and they should be guided by lessons from post-election chaos and violence that engulfed some African countries.
Political violence, once it starts, becomes difficult to stop and carries along everyone, resulting in the loss of human lives and destruction of property and infrastructure that are extremely difficult or impossible to restore.
Source:
GNA
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Pump more money into marketing Ghana's tourism potential
Accra, April 29, GNA - Dr. Mike Fabricius, an international tourism consultant working in Ghana on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, on Tuesday urged government to pump more money into the marketing of Ghana's tourism potentials.
He said countries that spent more on marketing their tourism potentials always attracted more tourists and had vibrant economies. Dr Fabricius, who also works for the Dutch NGO, the SNV and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), showed a chart by the UNWTO which listed the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and China, among other countries that spent more on marketing their tourism potentials compared to most African countries. Ghana was not on the list. He was speaking at a day's seminar organized by the sector ministry to discuss marketing strategies that the tourism industry could use to attract more tourists and make Ghana known world-wide.
The seminar on the topic: "Towards a Tourism Marketing Strategy for Ghana," brought together private tour operators, hoteliers, officials of the Ghana Tourists Board and tourism consultants who shared ideas about the way forward for the tourism industry.
Dr. Fabricius said: "Tourism brings a lot of economic benefits and has huge opportunities for everyone in the country."
He noted, however, that the industry could also have negative effects on the economy if everything was imported for the benefit of the tourists.
Africa, he said, attracted only three per cent of global tourism out of which West Africa attracted only 10 per cent of tourists arrivals.
Narrowing on Ghana, he said the country had the third largest tourism share in West Africa but her performance had not been the best between 2000 and 2005. He also noted that Ghana attracted more business travellers than leisure travellers.
He thus called on tour operators to come up with strategies that would enable business travellers to spend more time in the country to experience Ghana's tourism attractions.
Dr. Fabricius cautioned that mass tourism where thousands of tourists from a particular destination trooped into a country just to leisure at the beach resorts was not the most suitable for Ghana since the country's tourism resources were not suitable for it.
Ghana could position herself to attract selected tourists who would spend more money, he said, rather than encouraging mass tourism. Mentioning some challenges he had identified in the tourism industry in Ghana, he said the essence of making a difference in terms of tourism as a country did not depend on the kind of products or services that were available as a country but the kind of people and how they received tourists.
He asked: "What are people's perceptions about Ghana? What perceptions have people in the industry created in the minds of their customers? It does not depend on the architecture, lifestyle, food, hospitality, it is the people.
"Being different means being true to yourself but refining your offer as a tourism destination," he added.
Dr. Fabricius advised the industry players to improve the value for money for tourists who visited the country.
Ghana, he stressed, needed to improve access to the country in terms of air ticket, accommodation and encourage more investments because a tourist who had a choice between Ghana and Kenya could chose the latter because of the low air fare.
Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, outgoing sector Minister, called for a more creative approach to tourism where man-made activities could be used as tourism attractions and said a lot more needed to be exploited in a more sustainable way.
"There is a huge potential of creative tourism attractions which have not been exploited at all."
Mr Asamoah-Boateng expressed hope that participants would come up with innovative ideas and measures that could help move Ghana's tourism marketing strategy forward.
Mr Joe Nyarko, a private tour operator, urged other participants to be practical in their discussions.
He also called for an education programme to educate people in the industry about their attitudes and behaviour which sometimes drove tourists away.
Source:
GNA
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Calls for inquiry into School Feeding programme
Accra, April 29, GNA - The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Tuesday called on the government to urgently conduct an inquiry into the alleged mismanagement plaguing the School Feeding Programme (SFP).
"Allegations are rife about the mismanagement, corruption and conflict of interest within the entity managing the SFP," CHRAJ's stated in a document submitted to the United Nation Human Rights Council, as an input into the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Ghana, slated for May 5th and made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
The Commission called on government to immediately extend to the SFP and the Capitation Grant scheme to cover every Ghanaian child and to translate its good intentions and commitment to human rights and the rule of law into action.
CHRAJ disclosed that there are 1.357 million children of school going age who were not attending school either as a result of unavailability of schools within easy reach, or that parents were unable to bear the extra cost.
The UPR created in 2006 by the new UN Human Rights Council review will assess the human rights record of Ghana for the past four years, the nation's adherence to Charter of the UN, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Commission also expressed concern about the inability of the government to fulfil the constitutional guarantee for basic education in the country.
CHRAJ explained that Government's introduction of the Capitation Grant Scheme in the 2005/2006 academic year is limited in scope as it did not cover all the cost of education at the basic level.
Others are observance and application of international humanitarian law and Human Rights Instruments to which Ghana is a party, voluntary pledges and commitments, especially those the nation undertook during a presentation for election to the Human Rights Council.
The CHRAJ document also urged the government to ensure the speedy passage of the Freedom of Information law to enable individuals, civil society organizations, and particularly, the media to access information from public officials more easily.
The Commission urged government to adequately resource key governance institutions, exhibit greater political will to fight corruption and also ensure ratification of international instruments and harmonize its provisions with domestic laws.
CHRAJ reiterated the call for decoupling of the position of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and suggested the appointment of an independent non partisan public prosecutor.
On human rights record in the country, the Commission said it was given a hard blow by the Supreme Court's ruling that the commission could not on its own motion investigate human rights violations, abuse of office and conflict of interest.
According to CHRAJ, the Supreme Court relied, in part, on the opinion of the Attorney General in that regard, "this unfortunate decision has the effect of dampening our proactive stance which has earned us much credibility and had indeed allow the commission to conduct its own investigations triggered by allegations in the media.
"CHRAJ has a critical role to play in promoting and protecting human rights and integrity, therefore it must not be inhibited in any way, particularly in doing investigation of human rights violations from credible sources including newspaper reports," the reported stated.
The Commission also noted that Police brutalities seemed to be on the increase as case of death of suspects while in police custody was rising.
On the right to health care, the Commission noted that in spite of the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the cost of health care was beyond the reach of many people.
Whilst some health institutions, including government hospitals were illegally detaining patients, especially nursing mothers and babies, for their inability to pay their medical bills.
Source:
GNA
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Rawlings reshuffles
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has carried out major changes in his team as he appoints James Out to replace his dismissed special assistant, Victor Emmanuel Smith, a veritable source close to the Boom Junction residence at Ridge told Daily Guide.
Like Victor Smith, Otu was a political aide under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and was actively involved in Mills' botched presidential bid in 2004.
Sources said Otu was part of an advance team of the Mills campaign in 2004 which he lost to President John Agyekum Kufuor.
He is said to be a confidante of Mr. Rawlings but has a career as an events and protocol manager.
The former President has also formalised the appointment of Kofi Adams, NDC Deputy Youth Organiser as head of Public Affairs and spokesman for Rawlings, a role played by Victor Smith, while Dr. K.A. Ceasar stands in as head of administration.
Mr Adams has already settled in his new office as he was in charge of the media during last week's visit to the Rawlingses by the boxing legend, Azumah Nelson.
Ceasar is to be assisted by a certain Dr Hannah, a Veterinary doctor.
However, the old horse Valerie Sackey and Fiifi Kwetey, NDC Propaganda Secretary are still hanging around at the office of the former President as support staff.
Further information indicates that Hannah Tetteh, former MP for Awutu Senya has been appointed to replace John Mahama as Director of Communications of the NDC, after his elevation to vice-presidential candidate to the flagbearer.
Her deputy is Seth Ofori who has bounced back to the Mills campaign team after a year in school. Seth read Political Communication at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom.
Victor Smith was sacked through an SMS text message from his boss asking him to draft his own dismissal letter following the acrimony that characterized the selection of a running mate to Prof Mills.
Victor supported John Mahama against the wish of his boss and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who rooted for Betty Mould Iddrisu, wife of veteran politician Mahama Iddrisu.
"Thanks for your services to my Office, Mr Victor Smith. Draft a press release relieving you as staff of my office to enable you continue your political career hopefully in the office of Prof Mills. Press announcement to be prepared right away. Thanks and God guide you.-JJR," the message read.
Mr Smith has since joined the Mills campaign team and was part of John Mahama's entourage to Kumasi recently.
Source:
Daily Guide
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AIDS Test Reduces Police Hospital Attendance
The mandatory HIV-AIDS test instituted by the top brass of administrators at the Police Hospital in Accra, has drastically reduced the patronage of pregnant women to the medical centre. Instituted just a little over a month ago, the mandatory HIV-AIDS test is to determine the status of all pregnant women and their unborn babies, so as to help check the spread of the deadly disease.
But while the Police administrators look to have the best of intentions, pregnant women out-patients think otherwise. THE SUN has learnt that ever since the institution of the mandatory test, nearby hospitals such as SSNIT HOSPITAL, LA GENERAL HOSPITAL and the 37 MILITARY HOSPITAL have announced increases in out-patient intake by between 30 and 48 per cent according to reliable hospital sources. THE SUN gathered that over there unless specifically requested, no HIV-AIDS test is conducted on pregnant women. It will be recalled that a little over a month ago all pregnant women in attendance at the Police Hospital were required to undergo an HIV-AIDS test, which nurses explained away to be mandatory as a new policy.
That Tuesday morning, many heavily pregnant women escaped into their waiting cars and drove off, insulting the Hospital Staff including Dr. Amo Mensah, who had encouraged them to undergo the test. For the brave number who ventured to undertake the test in groups of four each, several of the numbers were told to invite their husbands or a Pastor or a close relative, which gave the game away that they had turned positive for the judgment-day-like test. But despite the frightening nature of the test, a smiling bunch came out of it walking chest-high even with their protruding bellies, thanking God Almighty and singing Christian hymnals and Islamic tunes in adoration.
Source:
THE SUN
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Government eases Bawku curfew
Accra, April 28, GNA - The government has eased the curfew imposed on the Bawku Municipality and its environs citing continued peace and stability in the area.
The curfew will now be from 12 midnight to 4.00 am instead of 10:00 pm to 4.00 am.
"In the light of the continued peace and stability in the Bawku Municipality, the Minister of the Interior has, on the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), by Executive Instrument, re-imposed the curfew on the Bawku Municipality, Zabzugu, Binduri, Pusiga, Zoosi and their environs with new curfew hours," a statement signed by Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of the Interior, said on Monday.
The statement commended the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders and all stakeholders in the Bawku Municipality and its environs for the improved security situation in the area.
The government again appealed to all the factions to help consolidate the peace by exercising maximum restraint and tolerance and to partner government to bring permanent peace to the area.
The statement said the government further believed that the reduction of the curfew hours would serve as an incentive to help maintain and consolidate further the peace in and around Bawku.
The government reminded the public that the ban on all persons in the Bawku Municipal Area, Zabugu, Binduri, Pusiga, Zoosi and Garu townships and their environs from carrying arms, ammunitions or any offensive weapon still remains in force, and any person found with any arms or ammunition would be arrested and prosecuted.
Source:
GNA
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