| HOME | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2009 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2007 | | PHOTO REPORTS | | VIDEO REPORTS | | AUDIO REPORTS | | EDITORIAL | | LATEST WORLD NEWS | | | | Ghana Districts | | ARTS in GHANA | | GET FREE STUFF | | Food & Drinks in Ghana | | Africa Cup 2008 | | Ghana Hotels | | Links / Websites | | Ghana Districts | | Ghana Tourism | | Ghana Classifieds | Names in Ghana | | | | | | * 20.03.2009 | | Vice Admiral Owusu-Ansah buried at Antoa | Antoa (Ash), March 20, GNA - Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Osei Owusu-Ansah (rtd), former Chief of Naval Staff, was buried in his home-town, Antoa, in the Kwabre East District of Ashanti, on Thursday. Vice-Admiral Owusu-Ansah, 66, died in Accra on January 18, this year, and was laid to rest at Antoa on Thursday with full military honours.
A government delegation led by Mr Kofi Poku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, presented assorted drinks and a donation of GH¢2,500.00 to the bereaved family.
The Ministry of Defence also donated GH¢2,500.00 while the Ministry of Transport presented GH¢2,000.00 Ghana cedis. Among the thousands of mourners at the funeral were, Brigadier-General J. Nunoo-Mensah, National Security Advisor, Lieutenant-General Joseph Henry Smith (rtd), Minister of Defence, Mr Oteng Agyei, Minister of Energy, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister.
The Late Vice-Admiral Owusu-Ansah was appointed the interim Minister of Defence by President J.E.A. Mills, when he assumed office in January. | Two Nigerians in court for fraud, stealing | Accra, March 20, GNA - Two Nigerians who allegedly lured a Spaniard to Ghana under the pretext collecting eight million dollars worth of property allegedly bequeathed to him by his deceased business counterpart appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra on Friday. Augustine Dife and Gelige Morrison, who posed as solicitors, managed to collect 2,750 Euros from the victim to facilitate transfer of the property.
Charged with defrauding by false pretences and stealing, the two accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The court remanded them into prison custody to reappear on March 31. Chief Inspector R.K. Dogbeti said Ripolles Viciedo, a fruit and vegetable farmer resident in Spain, had a business partner in Zimbabwe to whom he had been supplying his farm produce. In January this year, Viciedo received a mail that his counterpart in Zimbabwe died and left property worth eight million dollars to be inherited by him (Viciedo). The accused managed to lure the complainant to Ghana on March 4, so that documents on the inheritance could be processed at the High Court of Ghana.
The prosecution said Viciedo, who was then residing at Coco Beach Hotel, checked out and joined the accused persons who introduced themselves as solicitors Brain and James. They managed to collect 1,600 Euros and 1,000 Euros on two different occasions to process the said documents. On March 16, the accused persons collected another 150 Euros he had cashed from the bank. Further, his palm top computer which he left in their room also disappeared. Viciedo therefore reported the matter to the Police. | | * 19.03.2009 | | Rawlings informed of ex Captain Huppenbauer's death | Accra, March 19, GNA - The family of Captain Hugo Benzin Huppenbauer (Rtd) has called on former President Jerry John Rawlings to formally inform him of his passing away.
The delegation, led by Fletcher-Dzoleto, brother of the deceased, included the widow, Mrs. Carol Huppenbauer and his children. A statement signed by Koffi Adams, special aide, said former President Rawlings paid glowing tribute to Huppenbauer, saying he had an amiable character which endeared him to many officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces.
"He was a nice gentleman for the young soldiers to look up to," Ex President Rawlings was quoted as saying.
The former President said everyone looked up to Capt Huppenbauer as the standard and counsellor adding that he conducted himself in such a manner that he was accepted by all who came into contact with him. Former President Rawlings described his passing away as a great loss to the nation and urged the family to take heart and rejoice in the fact that he paid his dues to mother Ghana.
Captain (Rtd) Huppenbauer passed away at the intensive care unit of the 37 Military Hospital in Accra on March 4, 2009. Funeral arrangements have been tentatively fixed for April 16 and 17 but detailed funeral arrangements would be announced shortly. | | | | * 19.03.2009 | State Funeral held for the late Edward Salia | A state funeral for the late Edward Kojo Salia, former MP for Jirapa constituency in the Upper West Region was held this morning at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra. Present at the service were President John Evans Atta Mills, Vice President John Mahama, the Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina wood, the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Banford Addo, the Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Wood, the Chairman of the Council of State Professor Kofi Awoonor, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries.
In a tribute read by the Minister of Transport, Mike Hammah, President Mills recounted the numerous projects Mr Salia initiated while he was a Minister of State and his contribution to the NDC’s success.
President Mills noted that the late Minister served his country to the best of his ability and hoped others would emulate his hardwork.
The Catholic Bishop of Wa diocese, Most Rev. Bamile in a sermon noted that death is inevitable, but the most important thing is for one to know Christ before death. He added that life is not about how much wealth one has or how far one’s name travels.
The Most Rev. Bamile expressed the hope that the election to be conducted in the Jirapa constituency where the late Minister served would be peaceful, stressing that, the scramble for the constituency should not be a do and die affair.
Tribute were read for the wife, Mrs. Mary Salia, the Chairman of the NDC, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, the Speaker of Parliament and the youngest daughter Emmanuella Salia for the children.
| | | | * 16.03.2009 | | Fire guts Anloga Wood Market | Kumasi, March 16, GNA - Fire has gutted the Anloga Wood Market destroying property worth thousands of Ghana cedis. About eight stores containing plywood, beams, packets of nails, louver blades and quantities of hardware got burnt in the process. Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a tour of the market, Togbui Mawufeame Fugah, Life Patron of the Anloga Wood Workers Association, said the fire broke out at about 0200 hours on Sunday and that the cause of the outbreak was not known.
"I was informed of the outbreak immediately the fire started and when I arrived at the scene, I saw the affected stores on fire", he said. He said no casualty was recorded and commended the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for their swift response, adding that without the GNFS a lot more damage could have been caused. The Oforikrom police confirmed the incident and said they were collaborating with the GNFS to investigate the incident. | | | | ______________________ |
| Please note: Some links may open in a new window! | * 22.03.2009 | Go to WEEK 13 / 2009 | | Disabled unhappy at disbursement of disability fund | The Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) has expressed dissatisfaction about the way some Metropolitan and District Assemblies disburse the disabled fund.
The Bongo district branch of the federation made this observation at a press conference it organized jointly with the Bongo District Civic Union (BODCU).
The objective of the press conference, which was attended by officials from the District Coordinating Council, Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Health Service, and Community Development among others, was to focus on the plight of the disabled especially in the area of disbursement of the disability fund.
It was also to inform the public that the federation in the district had received a grant of 7,000 Ghana cedis from the European Union through Legal Resource Centre to monitor the disbursement and utilization of the 2 per cent of the District Assembly Common Fund allocated to persons with disabilities in the district.
A statement read by, Mr. David Ania, the Finance and Administration Officer of the project stated that it was regrettable to note that most of the Assemblies did not disburse the fund meant for the disabled according to the laid down procedures, adding that others do not also disburse it to the disabled at all, but rather used it for a different purpose.
According to the statement, the guideline for the Assemblies Common Fund for the disbursement of the 2 per cent to the disabled, specifically stipulates that "the fund shall be utilized to support initiatives created by the physically challenged in the district. The fund is meant to assist people with disabilities (PWD) to organize programmes to create awareness about their activities, their rights and obligations and should not be used as a micro credit fund".
The statement indicated that in 2006 the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment upon realizing that some assemblies were not disbursing the disability fund issued a directive to all metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives to ensure that the fund was disbursed as stipulated.
It noted that upon this directive majority of the assemblies had not followed it, and appealed to those who had not abided by the directive to comply with it to ensure that the disabled benefit from the package due them.
Responding to the concerns raised by the federation, the Bongo District Coordinating Director, Mr. Thaddeus Zaasan, explained that the Bongo district assembly had been operating according to the regulations for the disbursement of the disabled fund.
He disclosed that the assembly had in the past been sponsoring a lot of disabled students even up to the tertiary level, through the 2 per cent of the fund, and indicated that the assembly had also secured a plot to initiate the building of a resource centre for the disabled.
Mr. Zaasan however, indicated that there were some instances where the federation in the district had approached the assembly to demand monies from its 2 percent fund at which time the assembly had not received its share of the common fund.
He appealed to the federation to come out periodically with concrete initiatives since the fund was specifically meant for initiatives embarked by people who were physically challenged.
Mr. Zaasan said in the event that they failed to come out with pragmatic initiatives, the fund would be directed to other sectors, which the assembly considered would be beneficial to the entire community, including the disabled.
Mr. Kamaldeen Ibn Abdallah, patron of the Upper East Regional Federation of the Disabled, appealed to the district assemblies to be transparent in the disbursement of the disability fund by informing the federation about how the fund was being disbursed.
This, he noted, would help prevent any speculations raised by the federation and help restore confidence between the Assemblies and the federation of the disabled.
He commended the Bongo district assembly for its immense support to members of the Federation, especially students who would not have been able to complete their education.
The Regional Manager of Action on Disability and Development, Mr. James Brown, commended the European Union for the grant given to the disabled and assured that it would be used for its intended purpose.
He appealed to other donors to support members of the federation to enable them to realize their dreams and contribute their quota to national development.
Source: GNA
> BACK to TOP < | | GCB boss declares 2009 "critical for Ghana" | Ghana Commercial Bank has cautioned that this year is critical for Ghana, as the financial crisis which has hit the US and Europe is having repercussions on the country.
“The fall or threat of collapse of some big financial institutions, mortgage and insurance firms in developed countries makes operations in the banking sector more challenging,” Mr. Lawrence Adu-Mante, Managing Director of the Bank, said at a media soiree on Friday.
He said GCB had been monitoring the situation in the international financial sector and had put in a number of measures to sustain its gains and safeguard investment.
“We have strengthened our internal control and monitoring systems. We are also collaborating effectively with Bank of Ghana, the regulator of banks in Ghana, in its initiatives to enhance banking and to avert any disaster in the banking sector,” Mr Adu-Mante said.
He said the Bank would soon open its 150th branch when the new branch on the Spintex Road in Tema Municipality begins operations. This is up from 138 a year ago.
During that period also, Mr Adu-Mante said, GCB introduced new services and products like Royal Banking, the Bank’s version of the private banking, Commernet Plus, their enhanced internet banking service, and Mastercard.
“We are currently upgrading our banking application software as well as some hardware equipment as part of efforts to improve our services for the benefit of our customers, investors and all stakeholders.”
Mr Adu-Mante said as a Bank, they would like to operate in a country with a peaceful and stable macroeconomic environment that would guarantee investment and robust naming.
“You can also support local industries and banks by continuing to devote some of your pages and spots to promote our initiatives, growth and success stories,” he said.
Source: GNA
> BACK to TOP < | | * 21.03.2009 | | Dog Meat Now "Delicacy" | Dog meat is the new delicacy in town, according to investigations discreetly conducted round the county the last few weeks. Our studies further revealed that the delicacy, which a few decades ago, was not popular in typical urban centres in Ghana in the South, has today gained wide acceptance among the nation’s over 20 million people, particularly the productive youthful population, including our unemployed youth, fishermen and land guards in indigenous Accra.
Soldiers in the barracks, who man the nation’s gates on land in the sea and in the air are also major players in this developing industry, according to our research. The trend is raising concerns not only about markets, the industry and employment generation, but also funding and monitoring.The hitherto rare delicacy, popular then among the Kassena-Nankana and other communities in the largely Christian North and others in the Eastern region is now relished in parts of our fishing communities in Accra, with La, Teshie, Chorkor and James Town, key among the consuming class. Ashaiman and Nima are also typical areas where the delicacy is a norm. From some nooks and crannies in Teshie through La. Chorkor and indigenes Accra Central, exclusive joints are popping up where the meat is served in hot pepper and sauce – at rates that meet the pockets of customers.
Particularly during weekends, in the fishing communities and Accra’s turbulent communities like Bukom, James Town and Ashaiman, young men spend their weekends bingeing on the hot delicacy spiced with pepper and ginger. Whether smoked, roasted or sauced, it is taken usually with gari or hot kenkey over tots of local gin (akpeteshie), keba shoo, alomo gin bitters, ginseng liquor, mandingo, rosso rosso and other alcoholic beverages mixed for addictive purposes. In an exclusive outdooring parties in James Town and Bukom, too, the delicacy finds expression on the tables of boys-boys clubs and their teenage girl toys. The Statesman’s treks through some of these communities in the last several weeks also gave credence to the need to bring the matter into the open to ensure that there are not abuses in the industry.
For example, at the Chorkor fishing beach, it took some prodding for The Statesman to get butchers, connoisseurs and breeders to open up to speak uninhibitedly on the matter. Nii, a skilled butcher, who complained about the cudgel-and-pestle mauling of the animal to numb it before it is opened up dressed, described it as the greatest delicacy he has ever changed upon since his birth. Nii is a fisherman of all sorts, but earns some money botching and dressing dogs for dealers who come to him for his service to enable them meet demands for the khebabs or sauce market. “Yea, I love the delicacy. It is rich, affordable and appetizing. It gives me enough strength and energy for my difficult endeavours as a fisherman”. He believes the greatness of the dog as delicacy is a story yet to be told.
Apart from the uniqueness of the meat as a delicacy, Nii also intimated that he gets spiritual nourishment from the meat. “It gives me some sort of spiritual energy too. Before I began taking the delicacy, I suffered attacks in my dream. I found myself in my dreams being perpetually chased. Today, insha Allah, I am now the predator instead of the hunted. I no longer wake up battered and bruised spiritually. I chase my enemies now…”
Reacting to the development, Cecilia Ankrah, a senior official of the Dietherapy Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, said it is the democratic right of the consumer since frogs, snakes and lizards, for instance, are consumed by certain communities and nations. She would, however urge the appropriate authorities to monitor the industry to avoid health risks. “Eggs, fish and animals provide us with a rich source of protein, so I don’t believe there can be any legislation against it. However, because rabies is a particularly dangerous dog disease and infectious, there is the compelling need to monitor the industry.
> BACK to TOP < | Waakye seller appointed as a member of the Council of State | A well-known 'waakye' seller at Ashaiman, Hajia Hajara M. Aliu, has been appointed by the Mills government as a member of the Council of State.
She appealed to women and girls to aim high in all their endeavours and chosen profession no matter the level of education they have attained.
The 'waakye' seller who is also the National Women's Organiser of the People's National Convention was speaking with The Ghanaian Observer (GO) in an exclusive interview at her home at Ashaiman few days after she was appointed to that high office by the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
She has also appealed to men, especially Muslims not to force their daughters into early marriages but allow them to further their education to the level they want to.
She used the opportunity to thank President Mills for the appointment and also some member of the PNC, notably Dr. Edward Mahama, Scott Pwamang and Bernard Monnah as well as some members of the NDC who supported her to get this far, not forgetting her husband Mr. Ali, her six children and the Almighty Allah for his blessings.
Source:
The Ghanaian Observer |
> BACK to TOP < | | * 20.03.2009 | | Govt resolves to unravel deaths of Ghanaians in Gambia | Accra, March 20, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday re-echoed the commitment of government to work towards unravelling the circumstances that led to the death of 44 Ghanaians in the Gambia. Meeting with a joint United Nations - ECOWAS Commission Mission which is investigating the incident at the Osu Castle, Vice President Mahama stated that in as much as Ghana would like to improve her relation with its West African neighbour, it would, nonetheless, not gloss over alleged killing of her citizens.
A known advocate for the victims, dating back to his days as a Member of Parliament, Vice President Mahama reiterated the desire to work towards ascertaining the reasons that led to the death of the victims so as to assuage the pain of the distraught family members. Ghanaians woke up to the unpleasant news on July 23, 2005, of the alleged killing of 44 of their compatriots and nine other West African nationals in the Gambia.
The news generated a national furore against The Gambia, compelling the then government to press the ECOWAS Commission and the United Nations to conduct an independent investigation into the case, so as establish the complicity or otherwise of the Gambian security apparatus in the melee. Subsequently, the two institutions did set up a joint mission on August 15, 2008, tasked with investigating the issue under the chairmanship of eminent Jamaican diplomat, Ambassador Curtis Ward.
The presence of the mission in the country was to enable the team interview some surviving victims and collate additional information from other sources that might help to shed some light on the incident. Vice President Mahama expressed government's confidence in the expertise of the team, assuring them that Ghana would respect their verdict, although he also conveyed the anxiety of the generality of the Ghanaian populace over the issue.
He said Ghana wants the "unfortunate" incident investigated so that those found culpable for the dastardly act would be brought to book and also allow for a thawing in the relationship between the two countries. Vice President Mahama also expressed delight about the cooperation received from Gambia, which he said, would enable a successful closure of what he described as a "sad chapter" in the relation between the two countries.
Ambassador Curtis Ward told the Vice President that some headway had been made in forming some conclusions as to what happened, although he conceded that it would still take some time before a definite report would be issued. Ambassador Ward said the team had received cooperation from the two countries and has received similar support from surviving persons, and families of some of the victims. Other members of the mission included Justice Ariranga Pillay, President of the South African Development Community Tribunal, Justice Albert Redhead, a retired Appeal Court Judge and Mr Morie Lengor, a security expert with the ECOWAS Commission. > BACK to TOP < | | NIB boss faces fresh charges | ...as AG's Department takes over prosecution Accra, March 20, GNA - The State on Friday preferred fresh charges against Daniel Charles Gyimah, Managing Director of the National Investment Bank (NIB), as the Attorney-General's Department took over prosecution from the police.
Gyimah is now being held on charges of attempting to commit crime, to wit, causing financial loss to the State and forgery of documents. He has pleaded not guilty and the court has ordered him to be on his former bail, that is, GH¢500,000 with four sureties one to be justified.
The circuit court judge, Mr D.E.K. Daketsey ordered Gyimah to be reporting to the Police every fortnight. Gyimah was earlier held for wilfully causing financial loss to the State.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) P.K. Frimpong took leave of the court to withdraw the charges and substituted them when the case was called.
Colonel Alex Johnson (Rtd) who led the team of three defence lawyers expressed surprise that the prosecution could not give them any notice with respect to the changes made in charges against Gyimah.
"As at now we do not have copies of the charges," defence counsel pointed out.
Col Johnson decried the way and manner his client was being tried by the media although he had pleaded not guilty.
He said they were ready for the trial, noting that at the opportune time they would prove their innocence.
The prosecution in response to the submissions of the defence said they were at a loss, saying accused was not being tried on indictment. Prosecution said Gyimah had been cautioned on the amended charges adding, that was a notice.
Reading out the new facts, the prosecution told the court that on May 7, 2007, in an attempt to wilfully cause financial loss to the state, Gyimah unilaterally entered into an agreement with Eland International Limited Ghana in which he used the bank as a guarantee.
Based on that Gyimah issued 30 promissory notes valued at 60 million United States dollars to Eland, whose secretary is his son. The prosecution said Eland contacted Iroko Security Company Limited within the period and quickly discounted the 60 million dollars and the promissory notes for 45 million dollars.
On January 29, this year, the International Bank Section of NIB received a swift message requesting the bank to confirm payment of the promissory notes.
The prosecution said Gyimah was therefore notified of the irregularity of the message by head of the bank's International Banking Section. Gyimah on receipt of the notice ordered the Department to confirm and it was complied with.
Meanwhile, the prosecut ion said, the document on the deal between NIB and Eland cannot be traced, as Gyimah claims the documents were missing from their records.
In statement to the Police, Gyiamh admitted having guaranteed on behalf of NIB adding he made a mistake by not informing the bank's Board of Directors.
Investigations revealed that several documents including a report on goods under the control of NIB for Eland as at December 1, last year had been detected as forged by Gyimah. > BACK to TOP < | | Armed robbers invade Agona Swedru | Agona Swedru, March 20, GNA - Mr Kojo Asomani 27, was on Wednesday shot and killed at Nsusuoso, a suburb of Agona Swedru when six armed robbers invaded the premises of Mr Kwame Eyison, a photographer. They made away with a DVD player, cameras, mobile phones and 2,300 Ghana Cedis from the house.
Agona Swedru Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Owusu Donyinah, disclosed this to Ghana News Agency at Agona Swedru on Thursday.
He said after they had shot Asomani, they dumped him in one of the rooms, locked him up and entered the house of Mr Kweku Adu, a mobile phone dealer.
Police Chief Superintendent Donyinah said when Asomani heard the warning shots and noise from Mr Eyison's house, he went came out from his room in another house and in the process was shot in both legs by one of the armed robbers and died at the Swedru Government Hospital shortly after admission.
He said the armed robbers took away mobile phones and a DVD player from the house of Mr Adu and the police were investigating the robbery. Police Chief Superintendent Donyinah said police night patrols in the municipality and its environs would be intensified, while the Police Taskforce would continue its work begun since November last year. He said the Agona West Municipal Assembly had provided four mobile phones for personnel of the taskforce and the numbers were 0285283850, 0285283851, 0285283853 and 0285283854. Police Chief Superintendent Donyinah said the municipality had been zoned into four and each zone allocated a mobile phone for the public to inform the police of any crime and urged the residents to be interested in their own security and be conversant with the mobile phone numbers. > BACK to TOP < | * 19.03.2009 | German Embassy worried about cyber fraud involving Ghana | Sunyani, March 19, GNA - The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ghana has expressed concern about the recent number of cyber fraud and business scams originating from West African countries. A release issued by the Embassy stated that in cases of cyber fraud reported to the Embassy, suspects posed on the internet as persons seeking friendship and love.
It said suspects specifically target individuals in Germany and other European countries, adding that after establishing trustful relationships on the internet, money is demanded for various reasons, to be sent to West Africa through the Western Union. Typical reasons given for claims are medical emergencies, which are sometimes backed with fake certificates from local doctors and hospitals, it said.
The released recalled the agony of a victim in one of the fraudulent activities, which resulted in the abduction of a German woman lured into the country.
After the arrival of the woman in Ghana, she was abducted and her family in Germany was asked to pay a ransom but with the quick intervention of law enforcement authorities, the victim was located and freed leading to the arrest of the suspects. It commended the law enforcement authorities of Ghana in fighting the rising number of cases, saying as result of the close relationship between authorities of the two countries several arrests were facilitated and suspects were assisting in investigations. The release expressed the hope that the unfortunate number of such incidents would be successfully curbed through the continued cooperation with the Ghanaian authorities and awareness campaigns in both countries. > BACK to TOP < | | Mills: The carnage on the roads must stop | Accra, March 19, GNA -President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday directed the law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in the road transport sector to adopt effective and ingenuous but legal means to force drivers to obey traffic rules to prevent the carnage that had hit Ghana's highways in recent times.
In a forthright discussion with stakeholders in the road transport sector, President Mills condemned the scourge on the roads, and called for well-coordinated efforts and skills among the stakeholders, pledging Government's support, and increase in resources to bring the carnage under check.
The President gave the direction at an emergency meeting of the stakeholders in the road traffic sector, attended by the executive of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Vehicle and Driver Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Motor Traffic and Transport Union (MTTU) and the Ghana Road Safety Commission.
The meeting followed a resurgence of road accidents, the latest of which occurred at on Wednesday at dawn in a tanker explosion at the Winneba Roundabout in the Central Region, in which 15 persons were reported dead and others with serious burn injuries admitted at the 37 Military Hospital. President Mills earlier in the day visited the patients and commiserated with them.
On the same day on the Accra Pokuase Road in the Greater Accra Region, four persons died on the spot in another accident.
The President told the meeting that Ghanaians were worried about the carnage that affected both road users and non road users, including those with houses and buildings along the roads.
President Mills asked: "Can we say we are building a better Ghana if the people are losing their lives?", and charged the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, to play a leading role in the co-ordination of efforts of the stakeholders.
He said the accidents that had been occurring showed a trend of reckless driving, and added that, the Accra-Winneba Road had become a nightmare for road users.
President Mills underscored the essence of time, and stressed the need to prevent further loss of lives, since the carnage presented both economic and health problems.
Mr Gidisu observed that about 85 per cent of the accidents emanated from human error, and announced that there would soon be an audit of all accident spots in the country as a way of addressing the carnage. He said the Ministry had directed the Ghana Highway Authority to construct speed ramps and put visible road signs on the Winneba Road.
Mr Noble Appiah, Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission, said on the average, six persons died through road traffic accidents in Ghana every day, and 65 per cent of the victims being vehicle occupants.
Some causes of the accidents, apart mechanical faults are speeding and fatigue, he said and advised motorists to take a rest after four hours' driving.
He said despite the attribution of some accidents to spirituality, every accident was preventable. Mr Daniel Avorgah, Commander of the MTTU bemoaned the absence of legislation on the carriage and transport of hazardous materials as well
as the testing of fitness of vehicles at the stations before they embarked on trips. Alhaji Eesah Tetteh, called for thorough training, with experience alongside age, before licenses were issued. He also stressed the need for proper supervision of drivers. 19 March 2008
> BACK to TOP < | | Techiman to punish people who break taboos | Techiman (B/A), March 19, GNA - Techiman Traditional Authority is to revisit its customs and punish any person caught breaking taboos and flouting the laws of the area.
Nana Opoku Fosu Gyeabour II, Mawerehene and Koasehene of Techiman Traditional Area, said this at a durbar of chiefs and people at the Ohene Ameyaw Palace at the weekend.
The burbar, organised by Techiman Traditional Council and attended by divisional chiefs, sympathisers and representatives of political parties, was to dispel a rumour that Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, the Paramount Chief of Techiman Traditional Area, had died. Nana Gyeabour said the traditional council would not deal leniently with anybody who would spread false information relating to the gods and the people of the area, more especially about the paramount chief. A chicken or a fowl would be hanged in the mouth of culprits and paraded through the principal streets of Techiman.
Addressing a large crowd at the palace who poured there to see their paramount chief and to ascertain the truth, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw, said the rumour that he was involved in separate accidents on Techiman/Tamale and Techiman/Winneba roads was a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and the people of Techiman. He said he had continued to receive international calls from friends and this had prompted him to convene the emergency meeting to disabuse the minds of the people.
The chief said because of the rumour business and farming activities in the municipality had come to a standstill. He called on the media to help refute such rumours so that the economic activities would bounce back for accelerated development, saying "I am still alive and nobody should fear". The traditional authorities later offered a ram and two bottles of schnapps to the Omanhene's stool. > BACK to TOP < | Regent of Dagbon commended his people for incident-free festival | Yendi, March 19, GNA - The Regent of Dagbon Kampakuya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani has commended the chiefs and people of Dagbon for celebrating the Damba festival peaceful and incident free. He expressed his appreciation for the way adequate security was put in place throughout, for a peaceful celebration of the festival. He indicated that for the past seven years, Damba festival has not been celebrated in the area. 
Kampakuya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani stated that, the people nearly lost the Damba festival which is part of their custom and tradition. He said the whole Damba festival was peaceful in Dagbon because the people cooperated with the security forces and ensured that the festival was celebrated without any breach of the prevailing peace in Dagbon and Northern Region as a whole. He made the commendation when he met some of his chiefs and elders at his Gbewaa Palace in Yendi. Kampakuya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani stated that customary and traditional rites for the festival which began on Sunday was performed in grand style with people coming from Kumasi, Accra, Tamale, Techiman, Babatukuma and the surrounding districts of the Eastern corridor of Dagbon.
He said this year's Damba festival indicated that the people of Dagbon are proud of their customs and traditions and also love peace. He said he was amazed about how visitors came in their numbers to Yendi, the traditional seat of Dagbon to join them to celebrate the festival. He said this shows the way the people cherish their culture. The Regent called on the people of Dagbon and Northern Region as a whole to use festivals to promote peace and also to attract tourists to the region. According to Kampakuya Na, he appreciated the way the Damba festival, which is a merger between Islam and tradition which is celebrated by majority of Muslims in Dagbon and some parts of Northern Region was successful. He expressed the hope that next year's festival will be more successful. He called on the youth to be disciplined because they are the future leaders and without peace there cannot be plans for development for their future.
He said their way of life are always measured by people, and will either affect or favour them in future when they are seeking positions. Kampakuya Na reminded the people of the area that since the Damba festival is to mark the birth and subsequent out-dooring of Prophet Mohammed, and to offer sacrifices to show appreciation to Allah and also chart a new course for the coming year, there is also the need for a peaceful celebration of the festival annually to show appreciation to God for what He has done for them. > BACK to TOP < | * 18.03.2009 | | Robbers resort to putting victims to sleep | Aflao, March 18, GNA - Late night travellers on the Accra-Aflao route have become the targets of robbers disguised as travellers and use chemicals suspected to be chloroform to put their victims into deep sleep before robbing them.
Mr Ahmed Issah Yakubu, Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of Aflao revealing the new robbery strategy to the Ghana News Agency said, a passenger was robbed of 1400 Ghana cedis in that manner last December and in January this year an Engineer was robbed of his laptop computer.
He said the latest incident occurred on Friday March 13 this year, when Mr Muniru Yussif, 37, a farmer from Kwae in the Eastern Region, and Mr Yaw Nkrumah, 40, a mason from Eseman Kumasi were robbed of money and cell phones.
The two were found sound asleep when the vehicle they travelled on with 13 others arrived at Aflao at 0500 hours and they were taken to the Aflao District hospital where they were revived and observed for three days. Mr Yakubu said Yussif said he lost CFA 200,000 and 40 Ghana Cedis, while Mr Nkrumah said he also lost 700 Ghana cedis and three cell phones.
He said Yussif said a gentleman sat between him and Mr Nkrumah on the back seat during the course of the journey. Mr Yakubu said Yussif recounted that he was awake up to the end of the Motorway after which he could not say what happened until he found himself in hospital. Mr Yakubu therefore urged passengers to be alert against those who shared seats with them as they travelled. He said the police are investigating the case. > BACK to TOP < | * 17.03.2009 | | Battle for NPP flagbearership | Barely twenty-four hours after arriving from his holidays in Europe, the 2008 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo is reported to be in a fix as to whether he should contest the party’s flagbearership or not.
According to our information, the 2008 Presidential candidate, who received a rousing welcome at the Kotoka International Airport on Sunday, has told party bigwigs who visited him yesterday at his Nima residence that he believes in unity as the underlying principle for him to contest the 2012 elections
. A reliable source close to the former flagbearer told this reporter that he was not interested in leading a divided party to contest future elections.
“He is not ready to impose himself on the party, he is not ready to lead a divided house and he is basically concerned about the unity of the party. He wants a party that is united to fight the ruling party,” the source who was at the meeting told The Chronicle.
“He has not ruled out running for the flagbearership race, but he thinks that he does not want to impose himself on the party.
The fact is that he is not ready for any big tussle within the party. He needs a very strong party leadership to fight for the party’s victory, but should any cracks appear on the front of the party, then he is likely to back out,” the source said. Reports from the meeting indicated that Nana Akufo-Addo, the former Foreign Minister and the ex-legislator for Abuakwa North constituency in the Eastern Region, was emphatic that he was not afraid of losing the primary, but was concerned about how to unite the party for future elections.
Nana Akufo-Addo was also reported to have expressed disgust over the bitter struggle for leadership within the party, which according to him could split the party to the advantage of its opponents.
The 64-year old politician received party legislators, regional executives across the nation, some members of the council of elders of the party and a host of others, including serial callers like Appiah Stadium to his house on Sunday.
He has been under serious pressure from the rank and file of the party to lead the NPP in the 2012 elections, since his name has become a household one in the country, but some opponents are kicking against his retention.
The Chronicle can report that regional executives from the three Northern Regions, Greater Accra, Western region, Eastern and some from the Ashanti region have declared their intention and support for the retention of Nana Akufo-Addo.
Unfortunately, the hopes and aspirations of most party gurus, who have been pressurising him to run for the presidency have been dashed, because of his conditional position to contest, only if there was unity in the party.
Meanwhile, this paper has learnt that some top NPP leaders met last week to deliberate on whether to accept Nana Addo as their flagbearer on consensus basis, or to organise a congress to elect the party’s leader.
Chronicle sources at the said meeting came to an agreement that Nana Addo should be declared as unopposed.
> BACK to TOP < | * 16.03.2009 | Mills Warned | President John Atta Mills has been asked not to turn a blind eye to the recent cases of harassment and unmannerly treatment being inflicted on former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his family.
Leaders of the Brong Ahafo Patriotic Caucus (BAPAC) have noted that the recent harassments against Kufuor and his family had made it difficult to accept President Mills’ rhetoric of “being a father to all and uniting Ghana”.
Speaking to journalists at the Airport West residence of the ex-President, Stephen Ntim, a former National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a leading member of BAPAC, said the group would not sit unconcerned as Kufuor is treated in a way that is demeaning and not acceptable by law.
He said John Kufuor is a pivotal backbone of the NPP and the party would not allow his name to be unfairly dragged into the mud.
“Recent developments on the political playground give us cause to worry especially when a man, who has distinguished himself so well, is being harassed unnecessarily,” Mr. Ntim noted, and added that his group would explore every means to halt the said harassments.
Mr. Ntim said it could be that President Mills is still oblivious of the unfair treatment being meted out to John Kufuor, thus BAPAC would be holding a number of activities including a media encounter and peaceful demonstrations to draw his attention to the issue.
The group, on Saturday morning, called on John Kufuor at his residence to show solidarity to him and his family and also to pledge their support for him.
“BAPAC condemns in the strongest terms, the illegal way your vehicles which were part of your entitlements were retrieved and now the unwarranted brouhaha over your Ridge office building.
“BAPAC will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in these difficult times; we are ever prepared to offer our assistance as and when it is needed and will do everything within our means to make sure our fledgling democracy is sustained and developed in freedom,” the group noted in a statement to the ex-President.
Other members of BAPAC that called on John Kufuor included Madam Ama Bame Busia, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Mr. K.T. Obeng and Mr. Buafour Awuah.
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___________________________________________________________________ | LATEST GHANA NEWS 16.03.2009 - 22.03. 2009 WEEK 12 - 2009 | | | * 22.03.2009 - Disabled unhappy at disbursement of disability fund - GCB boss declares 2009 "critical for Ghana" - Most maternal deaths are preventable - Gynaecologist | * 21.03.2009 - Dog Meat Now "Delicacy" - Waakye seller appointed as a member of the Council of State - Tarkwa Police arrest four suspected armed robbers - Dutch to return Ghana king's head | * 20.03.2009 - Govt resolves to unravel deaths of Ghanaians in Gambia - NIB boss faces fresh charges - Vice Admiral Owusu-Ansah buried at Antoa - Two Nigerians in court for fraud, stealing - Armed robbers invade Agona Swedru - Five more bodies retrieved from Gomoa Bewadze accident - At least Seven die in accident near Winneba JunctionWinneba - Swedruman Traditional Council bans expensive funerals | * 19.03.2009 - German Embassy worried about cyber fraud involving Ghana - Mills: The carnage on the roads must stop - Techiman to punish people who break taboos - Regent of Dagbon commended his people for incident-free festival - Rawlings informed of ex Captain Huppenbauer's death - State Funeral held for the late Edward Salia - Chief who battled a lion making fast recovery in hospital - Tengzug Celebrates "Golob" Festival in Talensi Naddam District | * 18.03.2009 - Robbers resort to putting victims to sleep - Civil Servants to march to Castle - Space FM Resumes Internet Broadcast | * 17.03.2009 - Battle for NPP flagbearership | * 16.03.2009 - Mills Warned - ISODEC commends government on free School uniform - Fire guts Anloga Wood Market | | | Your REPORT Your STORIES * Your PHOTOS PUBLISH NOW! |  | | All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | |  |  | | | | * 22.03.2009 | | Most maternal deaths are preventable - Gynaecologist | Dr Sylvia Deganus, an Obstetrician Gynaecologist at the Tema General Hospital, has noted that most maternal deaths are preventable when managed promptly.
“Profuse bleeding two hours after delivery can result in death if the woman is not attended to,” she added.
Dr Deganus said this at the close of a three-day maternal, newborn and childbirth conference held for health care providers, queen mothers and market queens in the Western Region at Takoradi.
She was speaking on the topic: “Clinical Care and Reducing Maternal Death of the Millennium Development Goal five”.
Dr Deganus mentioned poor staff attitude, cumbersome organisational set up, inadequate facilities, equipment and supplies as well as blood shortages as some of the factors that caused delays leading to maternal death.
She explained that as these delays get worse, the task of saving a woman’s life becomes difficult.
According to her, if the woman survives, she has a higher chance of residual long term complications, which were costly adding “it is our responsibility to ensure that complications during child birth are avoided”.
She said poor staff attitude, poor supervision, inadequate staff, insufficient amount of drugs, equipment and other supplies are some of the challenges to quality maternity care in health facilities in the country.
Dr Deganus recommended that there was the need to design policies which would focus on improving quality of maternity care received by women.
She said the focus of these policies must involve community people, particularly pregnant women.
She added that health institutions that maintained high level of quality maternity care services must be rewarded.
Dr Isabella Sagoe-Moses, the National Child Health Coordinator of the Ghana Health Service said several new born babies could be saved if existing interventions reach at least 90 percent of newborns and mothers.
She mentioned insufficient knowledge, skills and brain drain as some of the factors contributing to child morbidity and maternal mortality.
She called for the strengthening of new birth care as a catalyst to achieving the Millennium Development Goal five.
Dr Linda Vanotoo, the Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service said it has been recognised that if pregnant women received good antenatal care, positive outcome were achieved.
“We could do far well than what we have been doing and therefore we are committed to make a difference,” she told health care providers.
She said psychological and spiritual support for victims of stillbirths and maternal deaths were critical and more attention was required.
“Let us study what we can do to bring the needed intervention,” she advised.
Source: GNA
| | * 21.03.2009 | | Tarkwa Police arrest four suspected armed robbers | Tarkwa (W/R), March 21, GNA - The Tarkwa Police has arrested four suspected armed robbers, who mounted a road block on the Tarkwa Bogoso road and took passengers of their mobile phones and money. They are a 33-year old Indian hemp (wee) seller, Kofi Iddrisu, alias Lucky Dube, unemployed, Francis Quasi, 22, a taxi driver, John Amihere Somnia, 34, galamsey operator and Peter Blaise, 22, a driver.
ASP Nelson Asamani, Tarkwa Divisional Crime Officer, who told the press on Friday, said all the four resides at Prestea. According to him, on Wednesday, 19th March at dawn, between 0100 hours and 0200 hours, three of the suspects, Iddrisu, Quasi and Amihere wore masks on their faces and mounted a road block at a spot near Awudua junction on the Tarkwa-Bogoso road. He said the three wielding guns, ordered passengers on board vehicles which arrived there to lie down and collected their mobile phones and money.
The robbers, ASP Asamani said, ordered one of the drivers to drive them in one of the seized vehicles (a KIA Sportage) to Abosso near Tarkwa but stopped on the way and asked the driver to run away. According to the driver, he went to hide in the bush but later saw that the three had abandoned the vehicle leaving the ignition key, so he drove it back to where they were robbed. ASP Asamani said upon a tip-off, the police quickly rushed to the scene followed a taxi cab with registration number AW 2692 Z which the robbers boarded. He said when they saw the police following them they stop the tax cab and ran into a bush.
ASP Asamani said through radio announcements, the owner of the tax cab called the police after the driver had gone to report matter to him (owner). He said the police found out that the robbers earlier had used the fourth suspect, Peter Blaise's taxi with registration number WR 956 X for their operation. ASP Asamani said the Police was still investigating and called on the victims who wee robbed to report at Tarkwa Police Station to help in the investigation. | | Dutch to return Ghana king's head | The head of a Ghanaian king executed by Dutch colonists in the 1830s is to be returned to its homeland for burial, say authorities in the Netherlands.
Badu Bonsu II, leader of the Ashanti tribe, is believed to have been decapitated in retaliation for the killing of two Dutch emissaries.
The Leiden museum, which has been storing the head, said it hoped it could now have a dignified burial.
Ghana had said the king would not be at rest if the head remained where it was.
King Bonsu is thought to have been executed after the two officials were killed during a rebellion against European rule in the country, hanging their heads on his throne as a trophy.
At some point, the king's head was taken from Ghana to the Netherlands, and has been kept in a jar of formaldehyde at the Leiden University Medical Centre ever since.
Author Arthur Japin told Dutch media last year that he once saw the head while researching a historical novel.
"He's got a little ring beard, his eyes are closed as if he's sleeping," said Mr Japin.
"My first thought was, this is not fitting."
After hearing of the head's location in 2008, Ghana filed a request for its return, saying if it remained unburied the king would be incomplete and therefore "hunted in the afterlife".
'Good thing'
Now, a Dutch culture ministry spokesman has said the museum has decided to "restore the head to Ghana" as a matter of dignity.
"This is a king," Freek Manche told the AFP news agency, emphasising its importance.
The museum said in a statement that officials had been in contact with Ghana to arrange for the careful return of the preserved head.
They said they had not allowed any photographs to be taken out of respect for the human remains.
The BBC's Will Ross in Accra says respect for the dead has huge cultural significance in Ghana.
Ghanaian historian Prof Addo-Fening told the BBC that the museum's decision was "very, very important".
"When people die and their bodies are not found and buried, it leaves a lingering fear that they will not find rest with their ancestors until this is done," he said.
"As he was a king, putting his head on display would amount to some form of humiliation for his people - but they now have an opportunity to show some reverence to their late king before they bury him."
"I imagine that this will be a a good thing for the psyche of the community," he said.
Museum spokesman Marleen van't Oever told AFP that no date had yet been arranged for the return but it was "likely to be in the long term".
The museum's move follows decisions by other western museums to return items taken during colonial times or explorations.
In 2006, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland returned to New Zealand the preserved heads of nine tattooed Maori tribesman seized in the 19th Century.
The same year, Britain's Natural History Museum returned the remains of 18 indigenous people taken from Australia.
| | | * 20.03.2009 | | Five more bodies retrieved from Gomoa Bewadze accident | Gomoa Bewadze (C/R), March 20, GNA - The driver of the gas tanker which exploded after colliding with a salon car near Winneba Junction, has surrendered to the Winneba Police. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Nana Ofori of Efutu Municipal MTTU commander, told the Ghana News Agency in Winneba that Isaac Krampah, 40, is being held in Police custody to assist in investigations.
He said five more bodies had been retrieved from the accident scene, bringing the death toll to 12. He said about 35 people who received severe burns and were rushed to the Winneba Government hospital, had been referred to Korle-Bu and 37 Military hospitals in Accra. ASP Ofori said the accident occurred when the tanker and a salon car collided at about 2030 hours on Wednesday. He said the tanker later exploded into flames and caught two other vehicles near it. 20 March 09 | | Seven die in accident near Winneba JunctionWinneba | (C/R), March 19, GNA - Seven people died, one on the spot and six others soon after admission at the Winneba Government Hospital from severe burns they sustained when a Gas Tanker and three other vehicles were involved in an accident near Gomoa Bewadze on Wednesday evening.
According to the Police a fully loaded Gas Tanker heading towards Takoradi had a head-on collision with an Opel Passenger vehicle, which was coming from the opposite side of the road, resulting in the two vehicles igniting. The police said two other vehicles that were following the Opel and the Tanker closely, were immediately caught by the fire and burnt beyond recognition.
According to the Police a total of 35 passengers from the affected vehicles were rushed to the Winneba Government hospital, but six died soon on admission at the hospital.
Meanwhile reports from the hospital indicate that people who received "deep and multiple burns" have been rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching and 37 Military Hospitals in Accra for further treatment. Four persons whose conditions are stable are receiving treatment at the Winneba Government hospital, while the unidentified bodies have been deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital. In another development the police said they have discovered three badly burnt bodies at the accident scene this morning and have deposited them at the Winneba Government Hospital mortuary. The police are investigating the cause of the accident.
| | Swedruman Traditional Council bans expensive funerals | Agona Swedru, March 20, GNA - Swedruman Traditional Council has banned organising expensive funerals in Agona Swedru Municipality with immediate effect. It has also banned the use of ambulances with siren and long convoy of vehicles following corpses through the principal streets of Agona Swedru.
Nana Ogidigram Odiowusiew Aseidu Kobina Botwe II, Chief of Agona Swedru announced this at the council's meeting at Agona Swedru in the Central Region on Thursday.
He warned that offenders would not be spared. Nana Botwe announced the ban after the family of Mr Emmanuel Smith also known as Fantasy appeared before the council and ordered to pay 200 Ghana cedis, three bottles of schnapps and a sheep for flouting the bye-law after the final funeral rites of his mother at Agona Swedru. He cautioned family heads in Agona Swedru Municipality to abide by the ban. 20 March 09 | | | | * 19.03.2009 | | Chief who battled a lion making fast recovery in hospital | Ho, March 19, GNA - Togbe Dzamesi II, Chief of Adaklu-Wuakpe who battled a lion in a 45-minute duel in the jungle at Wuakpe near Wumenu, is recovering from multiple wounds the beast inflicted on his left arm and left thigh.
This was contrary to rumours that the 51-year-old farmer had died from his wounds at the Volta Regional Hospital. When the Ghana News Agency called at the hospital on Thursday to verify the rumour, Togbe Dzamesi was seen praying on his hospital bed. He told the GNA, "I'm feeling much better than ever. The pains are less, I eat and sleep well."
Togbe Dzamesi said he was grateful to hospital personnel who attended to him and expressed gratitude to all sympathizers. Ms. Margaret Appiah, who is in charge of the male surgical ward, told the GNA that the Chief was responding fast to treatment. She said he is now able to visit the washroom unaided. Ms Appiah appealed to the public to desist from spreading false information about the health of patients because of the psychological effect that could have on such patients. | | Tengzug Celebrates "Golob" Festival in Talensi Naddam District | Tongo (U/E) March 19, GNA - The chiefs and people of Tengzug in the Talensi-Nabdam District on Wednesday celebrated their annual "Glob festival" with a call on Ghanaians to co-exit peacefully to help promote peace, unity, love and development. The Chief of the Tengzug Traditional Area, Naba Zotentaar Suhba Zaa, explained that the main purpose of the festival, which is usually celebrated prior to the onset of rainy season, was meant to drum home the need for peace and to thank God for the previous year's bountiful harvest and to ask for blessing in the ensuing season. He said during the festival the gods of the land are invoked for peace, prosperity and blessing not only for the area but the nation and the world over.
Naba Zotentaar Suhba Zaa said two cows and two donkeys were sacrificed and traditional prayers offered before and during last year's election to ensure that peace prevailed. He said apart from the merry making during the festival, songs are composed to be sung against immoral acts including rape, murder, stealing and wife battering among others.
Naba Suhba Zaa appealed to the departmental heads in the district to get into partnership with the traditional council to contribute towards building the young district, especially in education. The heads assured the chief and his elders that they would work together to move the developmental agenda of the area forward. Mr. Shariff Billy, a Deputy Director at the Regional Coordinating Council who spoke on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Wayongo, thanked the chief and his elders for organising the festival since it is meant to prompt people to shun away from immoral and indiscipline. He assured the people that the government was committed to creating jobs especially for the youth and that was why it had granted mining concession to people in the area to engage the youth in employment. The government would also expand the agricultural sector in the region.
During the celebration of the "Golob" festival, a ban is often placed on marriages, funerals, fighting and shedding of blood, and people caught in such acts are made to pay a fine for the pacification of the gods. | | * 18.03.2009 | | Civil Servants to march to Castle | Accra, March 18, GNA - The Civil Servants Association (CSA) on Wednesday said members would be compelled to suspend work on Friday to march to the seat of government to demand answers to why their six-month (January-June 2008) salary arrears have not yet been paid.
The Association is also questioning the rationale behind the decision of the Controller and Accountant General to make recoveries of overpayment on their January to June 2008 salary arrears as well as their March 2009 salary
At a press conference in Accra, Mr Evans Dzikunu, Chairman of the Greater Accra branch of the CSA said all recoveries relating to overpayment were made as far back as October last year.
Mr. Dzikunu said a meeting between the management of the Controller and Accountant General's Department and the CSA on Monday March 2, this year in Accra concluded that, there were no further recoveries of overpayment of salaries to be made from their salary arrears.
He therefore, called on the Controller and Accountant General to cancel the intended recoveries in order to forestall industrial unrest. Meanwhile, the national executives of the CSA are currently locked up in a meeting with the Controller and Accountant General to resolve the issue.
| Space FM Resumes Internet Broadcast | Sunyani based Space FM, has resumed its internet broadcast on spacefmghana.com
Space FM, operated by Global Media Partners,(GMP) stormed the Ghanaian airwaves in May 2003 and has since been a force to reckon with.
The station has over the years treated listeners to quality programmes and tranformed many lives in its catchment areas.
The station was at a point in time the only radio station in Ghana broadcasting live on the internet and won several listeners around the globe.
Space FM swept most of the awards during the Maiden Media Awards in the Brong-Ahafo Region in 2006. It also won the National Third Best Sports Station of the Year Award in 2004.
The team at Space FM consists of very young, talented determined journalists who are giving competitors a tough time in the radio business.
For a feel of what it takes to listen to Space FM, you only have to log on to www.spacefmghana any where in the world and .....Warren Gee, ABY, DeKay, Nana Kas, KOD among others would be live dishing out good music and useful information.
Alhaji Yahaya and his sports team would also feed you with the freshest sports news while the news team has all the breaking news.
| | * 16.03.2009 | | ISODEC commends government on free School uniform | Bolgatanga, March 16, GNA - The Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), a civil society organization, has commended the government on its intention to provide school uniforms to deprived communities and to increase the capitation grant in basic schools. Mr. Jonathan Adabre, Upper East Regional Manger of ISODEC, told the school enrolment, thereby enhancing the human resource development. Mr Adabre said for the past five years, ISODEC had been implementing a similar programme in some districts in the Upper East Region and Walewale in the Northern Region.
Under the ISODEC programme school uniforms, exercise and textbooks, school bags, bicycles and a bag of corn is given to each child every academic year through the Ambassador Girls Scholarships funded by United State Agency for International Development (USAID).
Mr. Adabre suggested that a suitable structure and method must be instituted in distributing the package to reach those it would be intended for.
He said under the ISODEC programme chiefs, assemblymen, school authorities, opinion leaders in communities are constituted to identify and select the most deprived children to benefit from the package. Mr. Adabre suggested to the government to adopt the ISODEC criteria by involving chiefs, opinion leaders, assembly members, and School authorities in identifying and distributing the government package. He said so far ISODEC, through the America Girls Scholarship Programme, had been able to sponsor over 1,000 students since its inception five years ago.
He appealed to the government to extend its package to students who might complete basic schools but could not go further due to other reasons and provide them with capital to enable them to establish themselves in businesses. | |
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