The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Joseph Yileh Chireh, says President Mills will soon announce for the local assembly heads who were sacked last week.

He said the process to replace district and municipal heads is already underway.

President Mills on assumption of power directed the DCEs and MCEs who were appointment by the Kufuor government to remain at post until directed otherwise.

The local assembly heads have however say government erred in carrying the message of their replacement to them, as it was sent through the media.

But Mr Chireh said the assembly heads have not been directed to leave their posts as per the message in the media.

He however indicated that formal letters have been dispatched to the various municipal heads to inform them of his ministry’s decision.

Source: GNA

Tamale, Feb. 20, GNA- A joint military and police patrol at Lamashegu, a suburb of the Tamale Metropolis has led to the interception of a private car that contained 33 cartridges. The car, which was been driven by one Bombande Sulemana in the company of Zakaria Abdul-Halik, was stopped at a check point and during a check a bag containing the cartridges was found.

Mr. Ofuso Mensah-Geaybour, Northern Regional Police Commander, told newsmen on Friday that he suspected that the ammunition was being smuggled in to further arm factions involved in the recent conflict between NDC and NPP supporters in the metropolis. He appealed to the public not to politicize the work of the security services but to cooperate with security personnel deployed in the metropolis to ensure that law and order prevailed. Mr. Mensah Geyeabour said 18 suspects had been arrested in connection with the disturbances and charged with illegal possession of arms, rioting and causing damage. He said they have been remanded and would reappear on March 4.

Tamale, Feb. 20, GNA - The Northern Regional Branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills, to call to order supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tamale Metropolis to prevent further violence and the loss of lives and the destruction of property.

The party hierarchy said they were ready to co-operate with the security agencies and other stakeholders, to ensure that normalcy was restored to the Metropolis.

Mr Issahaku Faisal Gbangili, Acting Regional Secretary of the NPP, who made the call at a press conference in Tamale, on Thursday, also appealed to the police to arrest all the perpetrators of the violence and let them face the due process of the law. On Tuesday February 17 and following day, violence broke out between supporters of the two parties' in the Metropolis, which led to the death of one person and the destruction of property worth several millions of cedis.

The clashes were said to have been sparked off by utterances of a guest talk show programme at a local FM Station. Mr Gbangili expressed concern about reports carried by some sections of the media which created the impression that it was NPP supporters who instigated the recent violence and appealed to the media to be fair, balanced and circumspect when reporting on cases of political violence.

The acting NPP Regional Secretary said the aftermath of the two days of violence had led to the burning of over 20 houses belonging to known NPP loyalists and the displacement of about 120 NPP supporters.

Accra, Feb. 19, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday delivered his maiden State-of-the-Nation address to Parliament, emphasizing teamwork and consensus building in the process of rebuilding the nation.

He told 228 Members Parliament, made up of four different parties and four independent members, that consensus building was very vital and time was very precious in the pursuit of true collaboration in the House.

"We must work together to fashion out the requisite legislation that will help this country face and overcome her many challenges in this time of domestic and global uncertainty," the President said. President Mills reminded the Members of Parliament of the obligation of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to keep faith with the people at all times and never to forget the "men and women whose worries stretch from pay day to pay day."

The address touched on governance, challenging global economic environment, private sector development, agriculture, cocoa, housing and infrastructure, health, education, sports, energy, debt of the Tema Oil Refinery, power, information technology and foreign affairs. The President stressed national unity and urged the House to serve as a model to Ghanaians who would see their teamwork as a prime example of peaceful and productive co-existence.

He asked: "Can we build a unified country where all citizens have the opportunity to give of their best to Mother Ghana while earning a good education and dignified standard of living?

"Can we all live under the Rule of Law, whereby we are all governed by the same set of laws and are equal before the Law? "Can we all build a better and prosperous Ghana that works in the interest of all Ghanaians?"

President Mills urged the citizens to put the past behind, and team up to build a better Ghana underpinned by honesty and integrity. He observed that the message of change promised by the NDC began with the realization that there was a new way to look at national problems and use political power as an instrument to shape the future of the nation.

"I am determined to restore a sense of community in this country; a community in which we all shall share in the responsibility of shouldering the common good.

"I want us to be kind and generous to each other. I believe it is possible to bring back smiles to the faces of all Ghanaians, that even if the economic prosperity is slow in coming, Ghanaians will say of this Government that we are truthful, honest and sincere."

President Mills said the Government would hold itself and all other public office officials strictly accountable. ".That principle will not be negotiable."

"I will be an example to the nation. I will be an example by being time-conscious. And because it is hypocritical to exhort people to sacrifice for the common god when we are not prepared to do the same, I will lead by example."

President Mills paid tribute to his two predecessors, former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, who sat at different places in the public gallery with their spouses, for their services to the nation and for moving democracy forward and further along the path to maturation.

The President acknowledged Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, for his selfless service. He observed that this year was the first President's 100th birthday and announced that the Government intended to honour Dr Nkrumah's memory with a National holiday to be known as Founders' Day, adding that, Government would be sending legislation to that effect to the House.

Commemorative books produced to mark Ghana's 50th anniversary celebration in March 2007 are still locked up at various locations across the country.

The Ghana @ 50 Secretariat mandated to supervise activities for the Golden Jubilee published books and produced souvenirs for sale to the public.

But two years after the celebration, the books remain locked up.

One of the stores which is located at the Greater Accra regional office of the Information Service Department stockpile of 2,181 boxes of the books under lock and key

An official of the department, who led the Times into the store, could not explain why the books had been locked up.

According to the official, the books were delivered into the department's custody in July 2007. The investigations conducted by the Times revealed that a total of 12.9 million dollars was spent on the publication of books and production of souvenirs for sale but available records show that so far, only 378,000 dollars have been realized from the sales.

At the moment, 32,965 units of hard-cover commemorative books and 81,332 units of soft cover version have been stored at the Ministry of Information and the Information Service Training Centre near the French Embassy in Accra.

Unconfirmed information hinted that many copies of the books could also be found at some bookshops and other locations across the country.

The Times learnt that patronage of the books has been very low because of the high cover price and the fact that they were delivered long after the celebration.

A cover price for the hard cover is GH¢15,

while the soft cover is GH¢7.

When contacted, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff whose office oversaw the activities of the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat, expressed surprise that there were books and souvenirs still in stock. He remembers that they were given to the ministry to sell.

However, he thought aloud, "that is where I have a problem. If we take a decision and somewhere along the line, its implementation becomes a challenge, we ought to have been informed. For all you know, it could be that the prices were high. In that case, that is, if we had been informed, we could have taken a decision to reduce the prices, perhaps for school children and the many tourists who came in at the time."

Mr. Mpiani said though he does not have the authority at this time, he would still contact the secretariat to find out why the books are still locked up.


Source: Ghanaian Times
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Ho, Feb. 18, GNA - Two teenage sisters were allegedly defiled at the Vakpo Police Station, in a report to the Kpando branch of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative justice (CHRAJ). The report also said a policeman, identified as Samson Asare, then on duty, allegedly looked the other way, the father of the sisters had told the CHRAJ.

The sisters, who were then in Police cells over a scuffle with another woman, were detained for three days in the cells, after they were defiled.

Mr Kenneth Asamoah, father of the children said his daughters reported the incident to their mother, who came to visit them. He, in turn, reported the incident to the "Kpando District Police Commander, who gave a hospital form to the children to be examined at the hospital".

"The report of the Doctor indicated that the children were defiled. Mr Asamoah said in his report that in the night of the incident whiles her daughters were in the cell, two men called at the police station and asked the sisters to follow them to another room, where a Police uniform was hanging on a wall.

He said his daughters were given a mattress to sleep on, whilst sleeping the two men came to lie by them.

"In the thick of the night the two men jumped on the children tore their dresses and had sex with them", Mr Asamoah's report indicated. He alleged that "though the children shouting the name of Asare, he refused to assist. The two men after defiling the children sent them back to the cells".

Mr Asamoah alleged that when he drew the attention of Inspector Agbenyegah, officer in charge of the Vakpo Police Station to the incident, he retorted that "the children were disrespectful so anything can happen".

When contacted Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Joseph Ellis Agbevade, Kpando District Crime Officer confirmed the incident and identified the two men involved as friends of Sampson Asare.

He said the two men have been arraigned before court.

Mr Joseph Nuertey, Assistant Legal Officer at the Volta Regional Office of CHRAJ said the Commission was doing its best to ensure that the two girls were compensated by the police for their negligence.

Details of an audit report commissioned by the Auditor General and obtained from the House of Parliament last week; contain a horrific account of the underbelly of a man who has just been nominated as the Foreign Minister by President Mills. It is so loaded with bile that Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, who is expected to be representing Ghana as the embodiment of this proud and beautiful Republic, cannot hold himself out without legally extricating himself from any wrong doing. 

Accra, Feb. 18, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education has directed authorities of University of Development Studies (UDS) to stay further action on the intended closure of the Wa Campus. He has also directed the students to resume lectures on Thursday, February 19, in a statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Ato Essuman, Chief Director at the Ministry.

It said "The Minister has noted with great concern, the impasse between the authorities of UDS and the Students' Representative Council (SRC) at the Wa Campus over the suspicious of the SRC President and the Secretary."

The statement said given the circumstances and in the absence of the University Council, the Minister gave the directives and in the meantime, the Ministry was taking steps to ensure that the impasse was resolved amicably to enable normal academic work to resume.

We need to put Ghana on the world tourism map...

- Minister

Accra, Feb. 17, GNA - Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, the new Minister of Tourism, on Tuesday asked the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to help Ghana conduct a study to establish why it was not yet on the tourism map of the world. She said for Ghana to be on the world tourism map would means it would be one of the countries in the world that a tourist would like to visit once in a lifetime.

Mrs. Azumah-Mensah said Ghana had all it took to attract millions of tourists as it had peace and a stable democracy, but had not been able to attract tourists as it should. She said these when Mr. Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, visited her to discuss this year's World Tourism Day celebration, which would be hosted by Ghana.

World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 every year to draw attention to tourism potentials and how countries could use tourism to alleviate poverty.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah said: "Our people are hospitable; we are rich in diverse culture and history which should attract visitors. Even though we cannot compare our wildlife to that of East African countries like Kenya, Ghana also has some wildlife and natural beautiful scenery worth seeing. With all these and other attractions, it is difficult for me to understand why Ghana receives only a few thousand tourists in a year." She added: "I need the UNWTO to assist in finding out the causes of Ghana's inability to attract tourists."

Mrs Azumah-Mensah explained that Ghana was not advocating for mass tourism but needed to attract more tourists to help create more jobs and also eliminate poverty especially in the rural areas. She commended UNWTO for choosing Ghana as one of the countries to benefit from the Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) programme, which was currently being implemented in the Western and Northern regions.

The ST-EP programme introduced by the UNWTO was aimed at using education and tourism to eliminate poverty and it had so far established eight libraries in eight communities to encourage education and also create awareness about tourism.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah urged UNWTO to assist the Ministry to review training standards in the hospitality industry to ensure that Ghana acted in line with the international standards.

Mr Frangialli narrated the history of the establishment of the UNWTO and said it was a full fledged organization like UNESCO committed to using tourism as a tool to eliminate poverty. He said UNWTO paid more attention to poor and developing countries and it was prepared to work with Ghana to make it a preferred tourism destination.

"Tourism is like a chain with links, when one link is broken it does not work," Mr Frangialli said, and explained that the tourism sector needed other sectors to make it work successfully. He said when a tourist visited a country, he or she did not only need the services of a hotel and restaurant but also good taxis or transport system, good security, stable economy, among other things, to make a person enjoy a country.

Mr Frangialli, therefore, urged the Minister to work with other sectors of the economy to enable the tourism industry to work properly. He also commented on Ghana hosting of this year's World Tourism Day event on the theme: "Tourism Celebrates Diversity," and urged the ministry to prepare well since doing that well could put Ghana on the tourism map.

As part of the preparation towards the celebration on the World Tourism Day, the Ministry set up a committee last year to plan and draw programme that would draw the attention of the world to Ghana. Mr. Charles Osei Bonsu, Deputy Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, who chairs the committee, said they were still preparing the programme and pointed out that they would hold forums in every region, have a National Tourism Exhibition and organize other activities that would showcase Ghana as a good destination.

Some beneficiaries of the ST-EP programme also shared their experiences and urged the Ministry to set aside a month that would be used for tourism awareness where tourism programmes and activities and as well as benefits would be highlighted to get the general public interested in tourism.

Mrs Bridget Katsriku, Chief Director of the Ministry, hoped that tourism would be decentralized to ensure that every region developed their tourism activities to suit its people.

Tema, Feb. 16, GNA - A French naval vessel "La Foudre" on Monday berthed at the Tema Port for a three-day goodwill visit to the country. Briefing newsmen on arrival at the port, the Commander of the Ship, Captain Emmanuel Gue said the visit is to reinforce the existing cordial relation between the French and Ghanaian naval forces.

He said while in the country the crew members would have exchange programmes, such as exercises at sea, alongside training on the use of modern equipment with their Ghanaian counterparts.

Captain Gue said while they wish to impart their rich knowledge to their counterparts they also intend learning from them as well. The Captain said the French navy ship's main role is to carry out amphibious operation and training at sea.

He said the crew on board the vessel is composed of 17 officers, 205 petty officers and seamen of which 20 percent are women, adding that, it can take 470 passengers. Earlier, Captain Gue paid a courtesy call on Nii Osonga Adjei Kraku, the chief of Tema at his palace to announce their arrival in the country.

The Mantse appealed to the French government to deepen the existing relations between Ghana and France by assisting to develop the city. The two exchanged gifts with the Captain presenting a carved wooden frame with the symbol of France and assorted drinks to the Tema Traditional Council while Nii Osonga Kraku also gave out a miniature stool with the symbol of Tema embossed on it and a sash.

The Ex-Gratia of “Prof. Mills as a Vice-President

from 1996-2000

        Picture taken at Tamale-Bolgatanga road (December 2008)

 Edward Salia is dead

Accra, Feb. 16, GNA - The death is reported in Accra on Monday of Mr Edward Kojo Salia, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Jirapa in the Upper West Region and former Minister of Transport and Communication.

Sources close to the NDC said Mr Salia died shortly after a delegation sent by President John Evans Atta Mills had visited him in his house at Adjiriganor in Accra.

The sources said the delegation prayed with him and his wife and three of his children before departing. However, when they arrived back at the Castle, there was a telephone call that Mr Salia had passed away. Vice President John Dramani Mahama has visited the widow.

Mr Salia was born to Bajeluru Salia, a farmer and Habiba Yiringsaa, a housewife on June 20, 1952 at Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region. He was married with four children.

Mr Salia attended the University of Ghana, Legon. In 1977, he furthered his education at I.S.S. in The Hague, Netherlands after which he attended Carleton and Ottawa University.

He proceeded to Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) from 2005 to 2007.

He had knowledge in administration, planning, analysis and business.

In 1977, he acquired professional training in project planning and management and in 1987-88 in public administration (Lester Peason Fellowship).

Accra, Feb. 16, GNA - The Ministry of Transport on Monday expressed

regret at road traffic crashes resulting in several deaths and injuries over the weekend in parts of the country.

The Ministry has therefore, instituted a full-scale investigation to ascertain the causes of the crashes with the view to improving the existing road safety strategy and reducing the occurrence of such carnage on the roads.

A release signed by Mr. Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport, said it shared in the sorrow and sentiments expressed by the general public on the disturbing phenomenon, and advised road users that road safety was a shared responsibility and expected that passengers took full interest in their safety by demanding desirable road safety practices from drivers. The Ministry assured road users that it was not oblivious of the challenges and was committed to empowering the National Road Safety Commission as the lead agency to deliver on its mandate of promoting best practices and influencing the change in attitude that was required to making roads safer.

Cape Coast, Feb. 16, GNA - Three people lost their lives, in two separate freak accidents, involving two articulated trucks and two saloon cars, along the University of Cape Coast's (UCC) east and west gates on Thursday 12 and Saturday 14 February.

In the first accident, which happened on Thursday at the east gate junction, at about 1500 hours, a DAF flat body articulated truck with registration number AS 4129 Y, loaded with empty bottles and travelling from Takoradi to Kumasi, on reaching the junction adjoining the University new site, run into a ford saloon car, which had stopped to observe traffic to the left to branch to UCC.

According to ASP Frederick Asare Mensah, the second in command at the Central Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU,) who briefed the GNA, the truck dragged the saloon car from a distance and they both fell into a ditch causing extensive damage and seriously injuring the three occupants of the saloon car, who were rushed to the Central Regional Hospital, where one was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but died on admission. The driver of the truck, Kyeki Issah has be en placed in police custody pending further investigations into the accident. In the second accident, which occurred on the night of St Valentine's Day at about 1930 hrs, a man who was driving his family, died instantly while five others including his wife and a baby, sustained various degrees of injuries. They were rushed to the Central Regional Hospital where his 10-year old son also died on admission.

The accident occurred when a MAN Diesel flat body articulated truck with registration number GN 1482 Z, travelling from Takoradi to Accra, being driven by Solomon Kwasi Korley, veered off its lane in an attempt to avoid running into a taxi cab that had crossed it, and run into an on-coming saloon car with registration number AS 2432 X at the West gate of the University.

ASP Asare Mensah said the mother, baby and another girl were in the intensive care unit of the hospital, while a seven year old girl of the family had been referred to Korle Bu and was responding to treatment. He appealed to the Ghana Highways Authority to as a matter of urgency; decorate with reflectors, the numerous pavements along the East and particularly the West gates, to help curb avoidable accidents in the night.

ASP Asare Mensah also advised drivers to avoid over-speeding and overtaking especially on reaching towns and junctions, and charged drivers of bigger vehicles to respect other road users. He expressed the hope that in future the bigger vehicles would have different routes to help avoid some of such accidents. On wrecked vehicles that have been left on the shoulders of the roads in the metropolis, the commander said, the Unit had no towing vehicle and appealed to the authorities to make it a priority to provide it with one to enable the Unit to clear the roads of such wreckages.

Kumasi, Feb. 16, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has cautioned residents of the Kumasi Metropolis to take pro-active measures to protect lives and property as the rainy season draws near.

A statement signed by Mr Richard Antwi -Boasiako, Acting Regional Co-ordinator of the Organization and issued in Kumasi on Monday, stated that the Secretariat had received information from the Meteorological Agency that the metropolis could have continuous rains with strong winds from Monday February 16 to Friday February 20, which could cause havoc. "It is therefore advised that residents who live along flood-prone areas in Kumasi and its environs to take the necessary precautions to forestall any disaster".

The statement indicated that in case of emergency or any unfortunate occurrences during the rains, residents should not hesitate to call the Police, NADMO, Fire Service, Army or the Regional Co-ordinator of the Organization for assistance.