• 19.10.2008

Pastor in visa fraud

A 33-year-old self-styled pastor, Paul Ambek has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding Mr. David Nartey Addetey of GH¢45,000.

He is alleged to have collected the money to secure United States of America (US) and United Kingdom (UK) visas for Mr. Addetey.
The court, presided by Mr. C.A. Wilson remanded him in custody to reappear at a later date.

Paul was granted bail by an Accra circuit court but jumped bail until last week when he was spotted by Mr Addetey and was arrested.

Prosecuting, Inspector John Nyatuamey said Paul had introduced himself to Addetey as an agent of the United Nations and who had been given a contract to recruit prospective students from Africa to the UK to further their education and also work.

Inspector Nyatuamey said Paul managed to convince Addetey to give him GH¢195,000 to be used to subsidize Mr. Addetey’s trip to the US.
The prosecutor said the suspect later told Addetey that the US trip had been cancelled.

Inspector Nyatuamey said Paul, however, collected GH¢225,000 from Mr Addetey and gave him some documents, ostensibly from the UN, for a trip to the US.

The prosecutor said Paul later left his house and also switched off his mobile phone.
Mr. Addetey made a report to the police arid Paul was arrested.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Confusion over use of name of Afigya-Kwabre district

Kumasi, Oct. 19, GNA - There has been confusion over the new Afigya-Kwabre District and its constituencies since the creation of the assembly this year.

Mr. Kwaku Osei-Poku, the Afigya-Kwabre District Coordinating Director, said due to this problem important correspondence had been missing and others wander through many districts before finally reaching the district when messages contained in them might have expired. Mr. Osei-Poku said in a statement that the name sometimes goes out as Afigya-Kwabre West District Assembly, Kwabre West District Assembly, Afigya-Sekyere Kwabre, or Afigya-Kwabre East District Assembly.

He said the new district has its name as Afigya-Kwabre District, with its district headquarters at Kodie. The district has two constituencies which are Kwabre West constituency with Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah as its Member of Parliament and Afigya-Sekyere West constituency with Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah as its Member of Parliament and the district capital is Boamang.

Mr. Osei-Poku said the district was created from part of Kwabre District and Afigya-Sekyere District and that Kwabre District still retains its name with Mamponteng as its capital. He said "what was formerly called Afigya-Sekyere District no longer exists. That area is now called Sekyere South District with Agona as the district capital. Interestingly, it also has only one constituency called Afigya-Sekyere East with Mr. David Yeboah as the MP.''

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

NDC supporters granted bail

Sunyani, Oct 19, GNA - A circuit court in Sunyani on Friday granted a total bail of 45,000 Ghana cedis with a surety to each of eight NDC supporters who allegedly threatened the life of the campaign manager of the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Atebubu. Sulemana Muhammed, George Ohene Asante, Tanko Ibrahim, Samari Abdulai, Hamidu Issa, Mamudu Yussif, Haruna Iddrisu and George Kyere Mensah, pleaded not guilty to charges of threat of death, being on premises for unlawful purposes and using unregistered motor bikes.

They are to reappear before the court on November 5, 2008. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi told the court presided by Mr Kwame Ohene-Essel that at about 1630 hours on October 8 this year the complainant, a tutor at Atebubu Training College, went to the district office of the Electoral Commission during the display of the voters' register exercise.

He said as soon as the complainant entered the office Sulemana hurled insults at him without any provocation and threatened to kill him during the forthcoming elections.

Chief Inspector Baafi said the complainant left the place and reported the matter to the police. He said later in the day Sulemana and the other seven accused went to the campus of the Training College riding unregistered motor bikes in search of the complainant, but were arrested by a joint police cum military patrol team.

The case was subsequently transferred to the regional police headquarters in Sunyani for further investigations. Nana Osei Gyan Ababio, Kyidomhene of Atebubu, who represented the Omanhene of Atebubu in court pleaded with the court to allow an out of court settlement of the case, but the presiding judge asked the chief to seek the consent of the complainant before the court could grant that permission.

The judge ordered the accused to register their motor bikes and those without licenses to acquire them so that their seized motor bikes could be released to them after the out of court settlement.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 18.10.2008

NDC to ensure transparent governance - Mills

New Edubiase (Ash), Oct 18, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured Ghanaians that it would ensure transparent governance when given the mandate in the December elections. "This will help ensure the accelerated socio-economic development of the country since multi-party democracy thrived on a government that had the social welfare of the people at heart and also believed in accountability," Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, the NDC flagbearer, told party supporters at a rally at New Edubiase in the Adansi South District on Friday.

The rally formed part of the flagbearer's campaign tour of the Ashanti Region to solicit votes to enhance the Party's chances in the upcoming polls. He said the NDC had a very good track record of sustaining Ghana's democracy when it was in government, and that when given the mandate the Party would work hard to consolidate this enviable record for the benefit of the nation.

Prof Mills indicated that as part of measures to alleviate the hardships that Ghanaians faced currently, an NDC government would institute vibrant tax policies, especially ensuring tax relief on some essential goods to enable the citizenry address some of the socio-economic challenges that confronted them. He cautioned Ghanaians not to be flattered by the "camouflage manifesto" of the NPP, which had been designed to give the impression that it was the panacea to the nation's economic plight, saying during the past seven years that the Party had been in governance it had failed to accomplish its sweet promises.

The NDC flagbearer cited among others the high rate of poverty among the citizenry especially those in the rural areas and the high utility bills as some of the factors that Ghanaians should critically look at and reject the NPP since it had nothing good to offer the nation.

On the New Edubiase seat, which is currently being occupied by the NDC, Prof Mills said the constituency will continue to be the stronghold of his party and that the time has come for the party's leadership to step up their campaign to retain the seat. Whiles introducing the parliamentary candidate for New Edubiase, Mr Kofi Yakah, he urged the electorate to vote massively for him and the presidential candidate for the come back of the NDC to power. Prof Mills was accompanied on his tour by some leading members of the party including Mr Ato Ahwoi and Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Child-related concerns on the ascendancy in Ghana

Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - Ghana Media Advocacy Programme (G-MAP), a civil society organisation, has expressed worry that a research it carried out in Ghana recently revealed that child-related concerns, including child labour, child trafficking, child labour, child abuse and child migration were on the ascendancy.

It said some children of school going age were taken from their homes in semi-urban and rural areas to urban centres with the promise of improving their conditions and that of their families. A statement signed by Abdul-Kudus Husein, Communication Executive Of G-MAP, made available to Ghana News Agency (GNA), said " These children can be seen on farmlands in the Northern Regions, seashores along the coastal belt, cocoa and the forest areas of the middle belt as well as homes of well-to-do families."

It stressed that along the country's coast in particular, children worked in hazardous and life-threatening conditions at the expense of their education for fisher folks who were desperate to make ends meet. The statement said the study indicated that 68.7 of Ghanaians did not know that engaging children as domestic helps was illegal. It said "Some people usually acting as agents pick children from their parents and guardians promising them education, heaven and earth. These children end up as domestic helps, prostitutes, street hawkers and labourers. This exposes them to all dangers including rape, diseases including sexually transmitted diseases, and accidents etc."

The statement said findings also revealed that ineffective child protection mechanisms resulted in high child mortality. It recalled that between 2001 and 2007, African leaders through the African Carter, pledged their support to help end all child-related abuses with a call on the international community to protect and maintain the welfare of children in Africa.

The statement said G-MAP believed that the challenges facing the continent's children with regard their survival, protection and development deserved the commitment and support of all sectors of the global society.

It urged "Political and social actors to ensure that every child in Africa is given a good start in life, grow in a friendly and nurturing environment of love, acceptance, peace, security and dignity."

The statement said G-MAP would through communication continue to advocate the improvement of the welfare of children to ensure a bright future for them.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 17.10.2008

People of Leklebi-Lavie institutionalize Agbonuto Festival

Leklebi(VR), Oct. 17, GNA - The Chiefs and people of Leklebi and their kinsmen from Lavie in the Republic of Togo have re-invented their ancestral common bond by institutionalising the bi-annual Agbonuto (festival) for accelerated development.

Addressing a press conference at Leklebi, Mr Morris A. Fie, Chairman of Joint Festival Planning Committee said the essence of their gesture was development-oriented, to re-strengthen and re-integrate their past ties for mutual benefits.

Mr Fie recounting a historical antecedent said the people of Leklebi and Lavie (formerly known as Tsamenyiawo) formed part of the Ewes who migrated from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) through Ele-Ife (Oyo) to ancient Ketu and other places before settling at Notsie (Glime) in the 15th Century.

He said both kinsmen moved together from Notsie resulting from the cruelty of the then King Agorkoli and finally settled at Lakledzi, where Lavie is currently situated.

Mr Fie re-affirmed that the Leklebi's decided to move westward but the Lavie's declined and opted to stay awhile, hence the "Miawo Mia Lala Vie" becoming the adopted name, which literally meant "We shall wait". He said the separation of the two sides for over 500 years and the visit of the Chiefs and people of Leklebi to pay homage to their kinsmen at Lavie in 1929, by a strong delegation of 305, was the driving force for the reciprocity in instituting the Agbonuto festival.

Mr Fie said the dawn of renewal and re-integration of affiliation of people from a common descent was being harnessed for socio-cultural and economic development as was experienced by the Gbis and Pekis.

Gas renewed their ancestral ties with Notsie, Abutia and Fodome as well as Gbledi and Battor in Ghana and Kpele in Togo. "It is imperative that Leklebis and Lavies tap into their ancestral common bond and heritage by institutionalising the Agbonuto festival slated for November 6, this year, with a grand durbar of Chiefs and people from both sides to climax the celebration," he said. Togbega Agboka VI, Paramount Chief of Leklebi Traditional Area said both sides were separated for 500 years by an imaginary boundary line but their spirit and soul bound together by ancestry.

He was optimistic that their rebirth would re-ignite the ancestral cultural and religious ties, to be harnessed for development. Togbega Agboka said as part of the integration process, the teaching and learning of Ewe, English and French would be institutionalised between them.

Togbega Agbeli Gbaga VIII, Paramount Chief of Lavie expressed concern about the Ewe language, being spoken in Ghana, Togo, Benin and parts of Nigeria, but not being encouraged as a subject even though it was a subject in some German Universities.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

No political party owns monopoly over any area - Atta Mills

New Edubiase (Ash), Oct. 17, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday kicked-start his eight-day campaign tour of the Ashanti Region declaring that the intelligence of the Ghanaian cannot be underrated. He said, the rousing welcome given him showed that no political party could claim monopoly over "any strong hold".

Addressing a massive rally at New Edubiase, Prof. Atta Mills said the will of change that was blowing over the country showed that the hardship in the country had engulfed majority of the people, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or geographical location. He said another four-year term for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will be yet another stretch of failed promises, divisionism, corruption and parochialism which would bring in their wake suffering and incompetence.

He said every group of worker would have its working conditions improved through tax relief and efficient management of the resources of the nation.

"I continue to say that, I was once a teacher and I know what it takes to develop the human resource of the teacher and I was also as a former Vice-President and being the chairman of the Police Council know the inner workings of the Police.

"As contained in the NDC manifesto, we will develop the efficiency and professionalism of the Police and I sincerely sympathise with those on peace keeping missions and will not turn my back on them."

Prof. Atta Mills said; "it is one thing having efficient tax system and another thing increasing tariffs without prudent management of revenue collected from the people and corporate bodies."

He said he would ensure that the unity of the nation was preserved and justice which is a basis of peace endured.

Prof. Atta Mills said, one way of destroying the people's morale was to preach one thing and practising the opposite and that his government will be truthful, transparent and accountable to the people.

He said the NDC abhorred double standards and that his government will deal swiftly with any official in his government who will see his or her appointment as an avenue of making illegal wealth. Among those accompanying Prof. Atta Mills were his brother, Dr. Cadman Mills, Ms. Ama Benyiwa Doe, National Women's Organizer, Yaw Boateng Gyan, Deputy National Organizer, Ato Ahwoi and other leading members of the NDC.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Ministry to assist prostitutes

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) is to assist prostitutes with alternative livelihoods. This followed a Ghana News Agency (GNA) publication which brought to light the willingness of some prostitutes who operate within the Accra Metropolis to quit the age-old "profession".

 Mr. Kuuzume commended the church for the initiative taken to complement government's efforts by helping make better people out of commercial sex workers and other social misfits and expressed MOWAC's interest to work with the church.

He said the Ministry would organize a bigger forum where all stakeholders would be invited to find a lasting solution to the problems of prostitution, among others.

The meeting which would be held in about a month's time would have representatives from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and other women's rights protection agencies, among others.

He said the request for a rehabilitation centre was a future project as the bigger forum would discuss it, but added that these came with their own challenges as some of the inmates could be stigmatized and discriminated against.

Mr. Kuuzume appealed to GONEMI to collaborate with other churches, faith-based organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to continue with the good work.

Earlier at a meeting with representatives of the Church and the ministry, Rev. Akpalu said GONEMI has a special calling to reach out to people such as prostitutes, armed robbers and drug addicts to transform them to become useful beings to themselves and society. He expressed regret that despite their efforts to go into the ghettos and "reach out to our unfortunate brothers and sisters, we do not have enough resources to accommodate and rehabilitate them". He said this militated against their efforts to bring them out totally from their past lives as most of them went back to the ghettos. Rev. Akpalu therefore appealed to the Ministry to complement the church's effort by establishing a rehabilitation centre for them. This centre, he explained, would afford them to reach out to a larger number of people who they would be in constant touch with.

He noted that only four out of the over 225 prostitutes who expressed their willingness to stop their trade during their mission week celebration were with the pastor while the rest had gone back.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Fire destroys over 80 structures and properties at Agbogbloshie

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA - Over 80 structures at Agbogbloshie in Accra were razed by fire on Friday morning rendering over 500 residents homeless. The fire, which was suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault at one of the structures whose occupants were not present at the time of the incident, also destroyed properties worth thousands of new Ghana cedis.

Some of the residents, who were trying to come to terms with the loss, told the Ghana News Agency at the scene of the incident that Fire Service personnel arrived at around 13:20 hours GMT when all their properties had been burnt to ashes. However, the news team that visited the area gathered that the place was inaccessible and that might have been the cause of the late arrival of the Fire Service to the area. Residents said the police had visited the scene to ascertain the extent of damage and to maintain law and order. Looking frustrated because of the unfortunate loss, the residents appealed to government to come to their aid.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 16.10.2008

Mills Reacts To Health Allegations

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday, responding to cheers arrived to a rousing welcome at the Okai Koi North Constituency and declared that offensive wealth would not find place in his government.

He said in Ghana now those who did not have money in their pockets were those who could not deal in cocaine, sell government lands and collect bribes. Traditional values appalled illegal wealth but with time because of decay in the socio-economic set-up and abject poverty such situation was rather being adored.

The NDC, Prof. Mills said, would honour productive honest hard work that generates wealth through the sweat that was gratifying. Addressing his teaming supporters at the Abeka Market, Freepipe areas all suburbs of Accra after calling on Nii Boi II, Chief of Abeka, he said he would restore pride and dignity into the presidency if he won power. "As a man aspiring to the highest office of the land, I must not descend into loose talk to demean the status of a president."

Prof. Atta Mills defied the scorching sun and walked about hundred metres from the Chiefs Palace and the Queen mother's palace at Abeka to the market and later joined his open car to respond to the cheers of the people. At a whistle stop at the Free Pipe area, Prof. Mills said he had forgiven all those who make mockery of his health adding, "It is God that gives and takes life and as far as I am alive I will do the will of God."

He reiterated that the NDC would be a caring government that will not be blinded to the suffering of the people and that the recently launched manifesto of the party would be implemented to the latter if the NDC won power. He said every aspect of the manifesto was attainable and that with honesty and hard work from his government he did not see how those policies outlined in the manifesto could not be achieved. These are qualities that created the environment for innovation, creativity and investment, resulting in the generation of genuine wealth and not wealth acquired through dubious and most questionable means.

Prof. Mills thanked the Chiefs and Queen mothers of the areas, chiefs and imams of the Muslim community for giving him such a warm welcome and urged the people to vote for the NDC on December 7 to form the next government. He addressed similar rallies at Achimota and Ashawo market and climaxed it with a rally at La Paz/Nima Lorry Park. He also toured Nungua, in the Krowor Constituency where he paid courtesy calls on the Chiefs and Queen Mothers of the area.

Mr Ekow Spio Garbrah, a leading member of the NDC urged the people to vote for the NDC since the ruling NPP government has failed to fulfil numerous promises it made to the people. He said the NDC would not deceive the people and turn round to accuse them for being lazy. Mr Kweku Eshun, NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Okai Koi North urged the people to vote for him and Prof. Mills to wrest the seat from the NPP.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

NDC given two weeks to withdraw allegation against President

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA- Government on Thursday, gave the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), a two-week ultimatum, to prove an allegation that President John Agyekum Kufuor owes more than five billion dollars to Kuwaiti Oil suppliers.

Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, who announced the decision at a press briefing at the Osu Castle, said a lot of options were opened to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), including legal action after the ultimatum had elapsed.

He said an official statement from the NDC, which was carried by the media, alleged that the President was being dragged to the International Court of Justice in The Hague while his personal possessions were being appropriated to defray the debt.

Mr Awuni described the allegations as a wicked lie and a smear campaign against the President and the NPP in the run-up to the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

"In a similar fashion as the Kuwaiti oil lie, some mischievous propagandists have produced and are circulating a so-called list of government officials, their account numbers and amounts to their names. "The amounts listed in this document are so huge that their sum total will exceed the sum deposits in all banks in Ghana put together. That is how disingenuous the originators of the documents are." Mr Awuni alleged that the documents are being distributed to the public including military barracks, in order to provoke ill-feelings of the Army against President Kufuor and the citizenry.

He said the international that was better equipped to find out what President Kufuor was doing in any part of the world. "The high recognition accorded President Kufuor worldwide is not only unprecedented in our political history but is indeed a fine proof of his hard won reputation, which cannot be easily tainted by these baseless lies."

The Press Secretary accused some opposition politicians of deliberate decision to use the vehicle of deception, falsehood and even violence to achieve political power, stressing that on daily basis, they manufacture lies and publish them in their sponsored newspapers or even print them on ordinary sheets of paper for distribution. Mr Awuni said these politicians had decided on deception as a means to political power and would repeat these lies irrespective of how many times they were confronted with the truth.

"For instance, we are reminded of the numerous times that the Electoral Commission (EC) has said that government has met the Commission's budget request in full, yet these propagandists insist that government has refused to give the EC their budgetary request." Mr Awuni said what Ghanaians wanted to know from those seeking to lead them was what they did with the opportunities they had and what they would do if they were given yet another opportunity.

"The evidence of what these leaders did with their opportunities is available for all and that will be the bottom-line for an electoral judgment in December and not the high level deception we are witnessing today," he said. 17 Oct. 08

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Birth and death registration is compulsory - official

Tema, Oct. 16, GNA - Every any birth or death that occurs within the borders of Ghana is requested by law to be registered, the authorities have said.

Mr Stephen Amoah, Greater Accra Registrar of Birth and Deaths, said registering births and death was important for better national development planning, adding that the process was not tedious to warrant any resort to the use of backdoor services. "Birth certificate contractors only prey on the ignorance of the public and succeed in producing fake certificates," he said at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly Birth and Death Registry. He said currently, the Registry has attached officers to Passport Offices to identify fake certificates, adding that Embassies in Ghana were also equipped to detect such counterfeits and would accordingly reject them.

He said a nationwide Community Birth Registration Programme, which was being piloted in 21 communities in the Upper West, Upper East and Central Regions, would soon take off subject to the availability of funds.

Currently, birth and deaths registry are operating in 138 districts, with 394 registration centres nationwide, including offices at health centres. "As such it should not be difficult for parents to register their babies," he said, adding that registration of children aged up to one year is free while the same incentive goes for death registration within seven days of occurrence.

He called on Parliament to review the relevant legislation to make it obligatory for employers and educational institutions to insist on birth certificates of prospective applicants. Mr Kingsley Asare Addo, Senior Assistant Regional Registrar said Ghana would have a universal register of births and deaths by the year 2015, adding that the process had already started. He urged the public to desist from burying their deceased without registering them. Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse, who chaired the launching, presented himself for his birth records to be taken. 

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

First breast cancer symposium held

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - Speakers at a symposium on breast cancer in Accra on Thursday bemoaned the late presentation of the disease in hospital, warning that this reduced the survivor rate of the patient. They contended that early detection translated into early diagnosis and early treatment which was more affordable and increased survivor rates.

Cancer is an abnormal or unbridled proliferation of cells of the body with potential for local extension and very often distant spread, bringing in its wake, untold suffering to victims and families. The symposium was attended by international delegations from the Susan G. Komen for Cure based in the USA, HopeXchange Catholic university of Rome, Breast Health Global Initiative, Seattle, USA and the University of Michigan, USA.

Representatives from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), The Peace and Love Clinic and the Breast Care International, all involved in the fight against breast cancer, also attended.

The symposium is to be followed by the commissioning of the HopeXchange Medical Centre in Kumasi by President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday, to reach out to breast cancer patients. Dr. Riccardo Masetti, Chairman of Ghana Breast Cancer Alliance (GBCA), said it would create a powerful synergy by combining the vast resources and expertise of some of the world's premier breast cancer facilities and organisations with the knowledge and experience of leading Ghanaian experts.

He explained that the collaborative approach would enable them to achieve far greater results than what an organisation could achieve on its own.

Ms Hala Moddelmog, President of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Dallas, USA, said Komen had made a grant of 250,000 dollars, its largest ever, to support the activities of GBCA.

"We are confident that the Ghana Breast Cancer Alliance will open the way to significant results, and we are proud that our commitment in Africa can start with such promising perspectives," she added. Dr. Beatrice Wiafe, Executive Director, Peace and Love Hospital and Breast Care International, said widespread and harsh social stigma surrounding breast cancer led many women who hide their symptoms, to avoid being shunned or divorced by husbands.

She blamed the situation on lack of awareness, inadequate or bad treatment, lack of support and cost involved and called for demystifying some myths and misconceptions of it being not curable and fate. She suggested that all hospitals should be provided with screening mammography and counsellor to reduce the rate of patients absconding. Dr. Baffour Awuah, Head of Oncology, KATH, said breast cancer formed 24 per cent of all cancer recorded at the hospital with the age distribution of 40-49.

He said the diseases should not be seen as one for women and noted that the hospital recorded 455 men and 538 women in 2007 and observed that late presentation was a challenges that needed awareness creation to stem the tide.

Dr Joe-Nat Clegg Lamptey of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital said breast cancer was the third most common causes of hospital admissions after cardiovascular diseases and poisons related diseases. It constituted 15.4 per cent of cancer recorded in the hospital with the incidence doubling every decade, he said, and also expressed concern of the late presentation of the disease to the hospital. He commended the survivor groups for their support and encouragement to women with the disease saying they made the work easier.

Mrs Glady Boateng, Director, Reach for Recovery Ghana, a breast cancer support group and counselling centre, and a breast cancer survivor for nine years, said her experience encouraged her to replicate in Ghana what the NGO did for her when she received treatment in South Africa.

She said with an encouraging number of survivors in the group their mission was to bring hope for survival to all who had been touched by breast cancer by providing a source of information, strength, support and encouragement and that every women touched by it would sacrifice her time, effort and skill to bring comfort, hope and relief to breast cancer sufferers and their families.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 15.10.2008

NR records 115 maternal deaths in 2007..

..and 45 as at June 2008

Tamale, Oct. 15, GNA - Dr Akwasi Twumasi, Northern Regional Director of Health Services has advised husbands in the region to pay more attention to the health of their pregnant wives to ensure that maternal deaths were reduced in the region.

He said experience in the region had shown that some pregnant women were always left to bleed to death because of the fear of people to send them to health facilities when their husbands were absent due to strict orders some men give to their wives. Dr Akwasi Twumasi said this on Tuesday during an interaction with the media on this year's 'Integrated Maternal and Child Health' campaign.

The aim was to interact with media personnel on the challenges of maternal and child health, and to adopt strategies to meet those challenges and how to work to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. He said women in the region continued to loose their lives during child bearing, citing instances of some 115 pregnant women dying in 2007, while the region recorded 108 in 2006, and 45 as at June this year.

He attributed the problem to excessive bleeding, late arrivals at health centres, prolonged labour and infections, which he said needed to be addressed.

Dr Twumasi said there was the need for health personnel to collaborate with the media for a vigorous campaign to reduce under-five morbidity and mortality by increasing coverage of known cost-effective interventions. He said the region had procured enough Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets for distribution to the districts for all children less than four years and pregnant women as a means of fighting malaria.

He said Wild Polio Virus (WPV) was another concern of health workers in the region and expressed the hope that the region was prepared to address any eventuality in polio adding, "Zero recording of polio does not mean that we should sit down unconcerned." Dr Twumasi appealed for a stronger collaboration between the media and health personnel in the region so that together they could overcome maternal and infant mortality.

INFO about NEXANS:

The plant of Nexans Kablemetal (Gh) Ltd. was opened on July 31, 1970 after a feasibility study conducted by a German company Planunggruppe Juergen Ritcher, with the backing of the National Investment Bank.

Manufacturing in more than 20 countries, Nexans is a global expert in cables and cabling systems and a leader in this business.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

NDC appals offensive wealth - Mills

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday, responding to cheers arrived to a rousing welcome at the Okai Koi North Constituency and declared that offensive wealth would not find place in his government.

He said in Ghana now those who did not have money in their pockets were those who could not deal in cocaine, sell government lands and collect bribes.

Traditional values appalled illegal wealth but with time because of decay in the socio-economic set-up and abject poverty such situation was rather being adored.

The NDC, Prof. Mills said, would honour productive honest hard work that generates wealth through the sweat that was gratifying. Addressing his teaming supporters at the Abeka Market, Freepipe areas all suburbs of Accra after calling on Nii Boi II, Chief of Abeka, he said he would restore pride and dignity into the presidency if he won power.

"As a man aspiring to the highest office of the land, I must not descend into loose talk to demean the status of a president." Prof. Atta Mills defied the scorching sun and walked about hundred metres from the Chiefs Palace and the Queen mother's palace at Abeka to the market and later joined his open car to respond to the cheers of the people.

At a whistle stop at the Free Pipe area, Prof. Mills said he had forgiven all those who make mockery of his health adding, "It is God that gives and takes life and as far as I am alive I will do the will of God."

He reiterated that the NDC would be a caring government that will not be blinded to the suffering of the people and that the recently launched manifesto of the party would be implemented to the latter if the NDC won power.

He said every aspect of the manifesto was attainable and that with honesty and hard work from his government he did not see how those policies outlined in the manifesto could not be achieved. These are qualities that created the environment for innovation, creativity and investment, resulting in the generation of genuine wealth and not wealth acquired through dubious and most questionable means. Prof. Mills thanked the Chiefs and Queen mothers of the areas, chiefs and imams of the Muslim community for giving him such a warm welcome and urged the people to vote for the NDC on December 7 to form the next government.

He addressed similar rallies at Achimota and Ashawo market and climaxed it with a rally at La Paz/Nima Lorry Park. He also toured Nungua, in the Krowor Constituency where he paid courtesy calls on the Chiefs and Queen Mothers of the area. Mr Ekow Spio Garbrah, a leading member of the NDC urged the people to vote for the NDC since the ruling NPP government has failed to fulfil numerous promises it made to the people. He said the NDC would not deceive the people and turn round to accuse them for being lazy. Mr Kweku Eshun, NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Okai Koi North urged the people to vote for him and Prof. Mills to wrest the seat from the NPP.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Cable maker Nexans expresses concern about influx of substandard wires

Tema, Oct 15, GNA - Dr Emmanuel K. Annan, General Manager of Nexans Kabelmetal Ghana Limited on Tuesday expressed concern on the influx of substandard cable wires in the Ghanaian market. He advised the public to be careful in patronising such products considering its threat on life and property due to their low copper and insulation capacity. Dr Annan was speaking to newsmen in Tema after a media tour of the company's plant to mark Nexans Press Day.

He also warned distributors and importers to desist from repackaging substandard wires as Kabelmetal products for sale, adding that such practices amounted to fraud. He asked the public to properly maintain electrical systems in their homes in order to stem fire outbreaks.

Dr Annan said Nexans had repositioned itself to provide cable system solutions and services for the country's emerging oil and gas industry and that it was developing its capacity to improve standards to meet the high quality demand of the sector. He used the occasion to announce a new product by Nexans, an anti-robbery cable system and expressed hope that it would help stem cable theft in the country.

Dr Wolfgang Bedorf, Nexans' Executive Vice President for Middle East, Russia and Africa, said the African continent would become one of the most dynamic markets in the world. He said as a result, Nexans was working at improving its operations in the continent. Nexan's production sites in Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco with sales and support offices in eight other African countries, contributed 312 million Euros to Nexan's total 7.5 billion Euros sales for last year.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Varsity sacks 12 foreign students

 Twelve foreign students of the All Nations University, Koforidua, have been dismissed for alleged criminal acts and poor academic performance.

A letter signed by the Registrar, E.K. Oware, said the students were fired for "engaging in gang-related crime, violent activities and poor academic performance."

The affected students were reading various courses from Computer Science, Business Administration, Electronics and Communications Engineering, as well as Computer Science.

The university said many of these students were arrested about three weeks ago when the Eastern Regional Police Command mounted an operation on the hide-out of suspected criminals within the New Juaben municipality upon a tip-off.

Among the items found during their arrest were a pistol and laptop computers.

The Regional Police Commander, George Anko-Bil, told the Times that the police operation did not target foreign students but "a swoop on areas where criminals were hiding and attacking people in the night."

Mr Anko-Bil advised the public to embrace the neighbourhood watch committee concept to help curb crime.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Atta-Mills begins tour of Ashanti Region on Thursday

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, Flag bearer of National Democratic Congress (NDC), begins an "intensive tour" of the Ashanti Region on Thursday after filing his nomination papers at the Electoral Commission in Accra. A statement signed by Mr Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications of Atta-Mills Campaign, said Prof. Atta-Mills would remain in the Region for at least a week.

"Spending not less than a week in the Ashanti Region, Prof. Atta-Mills would roll out his better Ghana agenda of investing in people, job creation, infrastructure expansion and how the new NDC Government would operate in an open, honest, humble, truthful and transparent manner," it said. Meanwhile, Prof. Atta-Mills on Wednesday toured Okaikoi North and Krowor Constituencies in Accra, the statement added.

15 October 2008

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Publish Voters Register on website -Opposition

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - A number of opposition political parties has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to publish the Voters Register with photos on its website and provide political parties with copies two weeks before the December polls.

The votes of security officers, who would vote before December 7 2008, should also be counted on the same day to forestall rigging, Dr Kwabena Adjei, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Spokesperson for the opposition parties, told a press conference in Accra on Wednesday.

The other opposition political parties were the People's National Convention (PNC), United Renaissance Party (URP) and the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) represented by their Chairman, Leader and Youth Organizer in that order.

Dr Adjei said the parties had intercepted a document that detailed plans by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. However, he could not provide concrete proof that the document was prepared by the NPP.

He accused the EC of collusion and complicity in the stratagem, saying: "The document betrays the cosy relations between some senior officials of the EC and the NPP and speaks volumes about the attitude and the impunity of the EC, confirming our suspicion that the NPP is manipulating the electoral process and supports our growing lack of confidence in the EC."

He listed 28 points, which the NPP was supposedly planning to implement before and during the elections to ensure that they were returned to power.

The points included plans to connive with EC officials at the polling stations to intentionally use the just ended limited registration exercise to bloat the Register in NPP strongholds and to intentionally create shortage of electoral materials in NDC strongholds. The document also contained plans to replace legitimate ballot boxes with fake ones containing ballots that have been thumb-printed for NPP, the use of inferior inkpads in NDC strongholds to ensure that most ballots in those areas were soiled with ink and, therefore, declared as spoilt ballots during counting.

"Our men in the EC came out with this new plan since the previous one may fail," he quoted the document as saying. Dr Adjei also noted that the document pointed to the use of violence to intimidate agents of the opposition parties at polling stations and the use of power cuts and interruptions in telephone communications, especially in areas such as the Central, Western, Northern and Volta Regions as well as the Zongos, during the elections. He said part of the plan was also to get NPP members to occupy positions in the EC and if not possible, influence EC officials with money and other gains to get them to play game.

"They also intend to infiltrate NDC ranks and occupy many polling station agents' positions with the view to compromising NDC position - they also plan to bring fake ballot boxes containing ballots thumb-printed for NDC to use as evidence to claim that it is the NDC which is trying to rig the elections," he said. Dr Adjei accused the EC of gross arbitrariness during the recent limited registration, photo taking and exhibition exercises, saying, that all that went to confirm the contents of the document intercepted. He noted that the Register as it stood now was dirty and was, therefore, not a credible document for elections.

Dr Adjei said at the end of the limited registration exercise 1,835,417 names were added to the Register, while the estimated growth in population of 18 year olds indicated that between 2004 and now, only about 500,000 people turned 18 years in Ghana.

"This represents an addition of 1,335,417 which cannot be properly accounted for by any stretch of imagination," he said.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Very poor households receive emergency funds

Nyamebekyere, (Ash), Oct.15, GNA -   The government has began the payment of emergency relief funds to some selected very poor households throughout the country to mitigate the effects of the global food crisis as well as drought and floods, which had affected the food production of these people. The programme dubbed Emergency Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) is expected to benefit about 21,000 households in twenty districts in seven regions of the country. Each household would receive GH¢15 per month for a period of seven months.

Mrs Angela Asante Asare, National Co-ordinator, Social Protection at the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment made this known at the beginning of payment to beneficiaries in five communities in the Amansie West district of Ashanti on Tuesday. 210 households from each of the communities would benefit from the fund. The beneficiary communities were Nyamebekyere, Nnipankyeremia, Pakyi number five and six as well as Nnipanhandan. Mrs Asare said the LEAP programme was a mainstream government policy for the protection of the extremely poor, who finds it difficult accessing quality food, education and health.

She said the Emergency LEAP programme was to support the needs of the very poor to enable them to access basic social services. This, according to Mrs Asare, would relieve them of extreme poverty and help them to use part of their meagre incomes to engage in income generating activities to improve their living conditions. She said the programme, which is being supported by the World Bank, would help mitigate the social and economic hardships faced by the very poor households in disaster prone areas.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

NDC Laughs At NPP's Plagiarism Claims

"They Are In A State Of Panic"

The National Democratic Congress last Friday restated the superiority of the policies embodied in its manifesto and treated with scorn any claims that it had copied policies of the NPP.

These submissions were brought to the fore at a press conference of the party addressed by Hon Lee Ocran, the Chairman of the NDC Manifesto Committee.

NDC's Superior Health Plan

The NDC underscored the fact that way back in the year the party had already made adequate provision in its manifesto to address the problems confronting the health sector by the use of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

'In our 2000 manifesto, we stated that "health insurance will be a major strategy for mobilizing additional resources and for ensuring financial access in time of need. The pilot work already carried out will form the basis for insurance schemes, both public and private, national and local, to cater for salaried employees, the self-employed as well as both urban and rural communities"

The NDC wondered how it could be copying this idea in 2008 when as far back as year 2000 the party had already indicated the importance of the scheme after successfully piloting it.

In the view of the NDC, it is ironic that the NPP, which vehemently opposed the NHIS at the time, is rather accusing the NDC of plagiarism. Quoting the NPP minority in the year 2000, the NDC explained how the then opposition opposed the NHIS proposed by the NDC, pointing out that billions of cedis were being wasted on a scheme that was not practicable in view of the large proportion of the people living below the poverty line, the seasonal nature of the incomes of many rural farmers and the fact that only 10-15% of the population are salaried workers.

Highlighting the uniqueness of the NDC health policy, the party explained that its current position is that to the extent that every Ghanaian pays 2.5 National Health Insurance Levy, healthcare should be free for all the listed diseases on the schedule including mental health care. "

"We have proposed to cancel the payment of premiums on annual basis. Our programme calls for a once-in-life-time premium. That premium will be solely used to capture and store data electronically and link all health care centres nationwide via the internet to make access to healthcare truly national in character and in scope."

NDC's Matchless Educational Policy

The NDC also explained that NPP's 30,000 cedis capitation grant was a woeful attempt to address the constitution requirement that there should be by 2005 a programme for the provision of "Free, Compulsory and Universal Basic Education following NDC's submission of a bill in parliament in 1994, under the title, 'Basic Education – A Right'.

The NDC explained that although the constitution did not define the "free" element of FCUBE, the party in its 2004 manifesto, at the time that NPP had no clue what to do about FCUBE, had indicated that "free education" will include free tuition, free textbooks and exercise books, free infrastructure such as school building, writing desks, chairs, free uniforms for specified categories of students and no fees for sports and culture.

According to the NDC, the NPP in 2005, without any acknowledgment, tried to adopt NDC's programme but ended up bungling the whole thing by introducing a so-called "Capitation Grant" under which the government pays only ¢30,000 per pupil.

The NDC is emphatic that the capitation grant does not meet the requirements for free, compulsory and universal basic education as defined by the 1992 constitution. The party derided NPP's plagiarism claims and claims how that could have been possible since the 2008 manifesto is built on the 2004 manifesto and clarifies what the NDC means by FCUBE.

The NDC in 2004 had indicated the following measures as part of its proposal for "Free education"- Tuition at the second cycle level, progressive introduction of a free textbooks scheme at the second cycle education, the examination of the high boarding fees at the SSS level and the need for government to take over responsibility for the payment of water and electricity costs at secondary second cycle boarding institutes.

In this current manifesto the party says there has been a slight departure from the 2004 position because of the abysmal performance of the NPP in the provision of educational infrastructure over the last eight years.

"Due to fact that the NPP after 8 years in government has built only 19 new secondary schools, as against the 264 we built in eight years, we have realized that with only 40 per cent of JSS students progressing to the SSS level, the imperative now is to widen access and allow as many Ghanaians as possible to benefit from secondary school to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty."

The following is NDC's new emphasis as captured in the 2008 manifesto- the building at least one secondary school in each of the constituencies. This clearly means that in underserved constituencies, more that one new secondary school will be built.

"In what context could this have been lifted from the NPP Manifesto which seeks to create a class society by providing a so-called free education for all second cycle students, when the majority of JSS students cannot access secondary education?" the NDC queries.

NDC's Tertiary Education Blueprint

This is what the NDC plans to do- "Discontinue NPP's policy of full cost recovery- and continue the policy of free tuition at the tertiary level". The party also proposes to provide scholarships and bursaries for brilliant but needy students and special incentives for students pursuing science and technology at the tertiary level. Specifically, the party proposes to set aside 2 percent of the GETFund to provide bursaries and scholarships for students who study pure and applied mathematics, science and technology.

"Has the NPP ever adopted this position?" the NDC asked sarcastically.

NDC's Unsurpassed Commitment To The North

In response to NPP's farcical claim that the NDC had copied its Northern Development Fund, this is what the NDC had to say: "The National Democratic Congress has been more committed to the social and economic development of the North than any political party after the Nkrumah regime. To us, addressing the historical and current imbalances between the North- including the northern parts of the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions- and the South is an article of faith."

The NDC re-emphasised that its proposed Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) will be overseen at the Office of the President and goes to underscore the party's continued belief in the balanced and even development of every region in the country, the same commitment that inspired the NDC to send energy and massive road infrastructure to the north in addition to the establishment of the University of Development Studies.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Mental ill persons attack market woman in Sunyani

Sunyani, (B/A), Oct. 15, GNA - Traders in the Sunyani Municipality have appealed to the authorities to help relocate all lunatics in the area to protect the general public.

A section of market women the Ghana News Agency (GNA) interviewed stated that the lunatics, especially the violent ones, attacked them with stones and sharp objects.

Madam Akua Manu, a Trader, said the market women had to run for their lives when the lunatics with sharp objects visited their sheds. She expressed concern about the increasing rate of attacks on sellers and customers by the lunatics saying "it posed a threat to our lives as well as the general public". "Some of the lunatics tried to pick items we sold in the market but in our attempt to stop them, they become offended and attack us with offensive objects," she said. Madam Manu identified a particular lunatic who was dumb as the one noted for several attacks on traders and sellers. She said whenever the lunatics entered the market and started misbehaving traders had to run leaving their wares and money to save their lives.

Madam Manu narrated how a lunatic chased a lady who was in the market to buy foodstuffs, hitting the back of her head with a stone. She said it was the timely intervention of some traders that saved her adding that they took the victim, who was bleeding from the cut, to the hospital for treatment. Madam Manu said the mad man was nearly lynched by some young men but was rescued by the same market women that he was chasing. Madam Yaa Aseiduwaa, a Storekeeper, told the GNA that she was nearly attacked by the same dumb lunatic sometime ago when she stopped him from removing some of her stationery and appealed to the authorities to help relocate the lunatics.

Superintendent Charles Botwe, Municipal Police Commander, when contacted said the police was not responsible for the removal of mad people from the streets.

He explained that in such situations the police liaised with the Social Welfare Department to ascertain the background of the mad person to be able to locate their family members. Superintendent Botwe said it was the responsibility of the relatives of lunatics to send them to the psychiatric hospital and appealed to the public to report such matters immediately for the necessary action to be taken.

16 Octtober 2008

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Upper East Region receives emergency relief package

Bongo (UE), Oct. 15, GNA - The World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP) are disbursing 157,500 Ghana cedis cash transfer to 5,250 people in five districts in the Upper East Region as an emergency relief package to mitigate their plight. The beneficiary districts, which were affected by the flood and the drought last year are Bongo, Talensi-Nabdam, Builsa, Garu-Tempani and Kassena-Nankana. 1050 people from each district are to benefit from the package.

Mr Christopher Babooroh, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare said the emergency relief package, which was being implemented by the Department through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) would last for six months.

He said each household would receive 30 Ghana cedis for two months at the commencement of the programme with the remainder to be paid in subsequent months. Mr Babooroh said the Bongo District was the first among the districts to receive payment that would be administered by Ghana Post.

He said the programme was targeted at meeting the Millennium Development Goals and would be converted into the LEAP programme to benefit the poor in future. He said the money was not to buy votes and entreated the beneficiaries to use it judiciously to meet the needs of their families.

Ms Victoria Natsu, Leader of the monitoring team from the Department of Social Welfare Headquarters emphasized that the cash transfer was not given on political grounds but meant to help the poor.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Right to anonymity for HIV positive persons could be revoked

Ho, Oct. 15, GNA - People, who are HIV positive and yet engage in indiscriminate and unprotected sex, may lose their right to anonymity.

Dr Anthony Ashinyo, Specialist in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV at the Volta Regional Hospital made this point at a three-day sensitization workshop for fresh students of the Ho Polytechnic on Monday. The workshop under the theme,

"Skills knowledge and attitude improvement for behaviour change"

is in line with the Polytechnic's HIV/AIDS policy. Dr Ashinyo hinted that information reaching him was that, some HIV positive patients, whose physical appearances have improved due to the special medications they were taking, were intentionally engaging in unprotected sex.

He said because such people were said to be "hunting for people and transmitting the disease" they risk losing their right to anonymity when caught.

"Yes, if you deliberately transmit the virus to your partner you can be prosecuted",

Dr Ashinyo warned. Dr Ashinyo said those managing the disease in the region were following the activities of such persons closely and would not hesitate to make their identities public, if the allegations against them proved to be true.

He said such people were clearly out to sabotage the country's costly efforts at confronting the disease. Dr Ashinyo therefore cautioned the fresh students to be wary of persons who would be willing to offer anything just to have sex with them.

Dr Ashinyo told the fresh students that they constituted the country's future human resources base and should therefore take the workshop seriously and avoid being careless with their lives.

He said the spread of the disease could be reduced to its barest minimum and even curtailed if the young and most sexually active people could learn and adopt the lessons regarding the prevention of the disease. 15. Oct. 08.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 14.10.2008

NPP is scared of our campaign strategy - NDC

 Accra, Oct. 14, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Monday said the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was finding it difficult to keep pace with its three-pronged-campaign strategy.

A statement signed by Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, NDC Deputy General Secretary in charge of operations, and made available to GNA, said " the campaign strategy where we have Professor John Evans Atta Mills, leader and flag bearer leading one team to various parts of the country, his running mate, Mr. John Dramani Mahama leading another team whilst the founder of the NDC, Mr. Jerry Rawlings leads yet another team was posing problems for NPP."

It cited that speaking at NPP regional rally at Madina, Accra, President John Agyekum Kufuor said a vote for Prof. Mills would be a vote for ex-president Rawlings and that the ex-president and the running mate were more prominent on the campaign trail than the flag bearer. The statement said this was a deliberate attempt to misinform the public because the NDC flag bearer has been on his feet touring every part of the country for almost one and-a-half years, whilst his running mate joined the campaign trail less than 6 months ago and the founder of the party started campaigning barely 3 months ago.

It said the NPP was having difficulty in finding antidote to this superior strategy of the NDC.

"If the NPP cannot find men with the stature, image and influence of Professor Mills, Mr. John Mahama and Mr. Jerry Rawlings, to fire up their flagging campaign, that is their own problem. We in the NDC recognise, appreciate and understand the role of running mates and vice presidents", the statement said.

It urged President Kufuor to pre-occupy himself with the fact that Ghanaians were fed up with the terrible state of affairs and do not want a third term of the looting, corruption and suffering meted out to them by the NPP.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Over 2,000 perished in road accidents last year

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA - Available statistics indicate that 2,043 people perished in road accidents in 2007 compared to 1,858 people who died in 2006.

The increase was due to indiscipline on the part of drivers. "Our roads have become slaughterhouses where we are butchered in great numbers. We all know that most of these accidents could be prevented with little effort, discipline and respect for other road users," Mr Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary, Ghana Trades Union Congress(GTUC) said in Accra on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the 2008 International Road Transport Action Week to mark this year's Federation of Transport Unions (FTU) celebrations. FTU action week, which runs from October 13-19 is on the theme: "Organizing Globally, Building Union Power, Eradicating the Carnage on our Roads, Addressing the Undue Delays at our Frontiers, Correcting the Indiscipline on our Roads, Minimizing HIV/AIDS among road Transport workers."

Placards bearing messages such as "Drivers, respect the right of other road users", "Fatigue Kills", "Drivers, observe your mandatory rest stops," and "HIV/AIDS has no known cure, do not contract it" were used to create awareness on the need to ensure road safety. Mr Asamoah noted that between January and June 2007, 744 people were killed and 4,904 sustained various degrees of injuries from road accidents.

"A more detailed analysis of the road accidents statistics shows that 42 per cent of persons killed annually were pedestrians. Over 60 per cent are in the economically active age group of 18-55 years and 70 per cent are men."

He said the statistics showed that speeding was the major cause of road accidents, accounting for over 50 per cent of reported cases. A significant number of accidents (16 per cent) occurs on Fridays and Sundays while April and December also register the highest occurrences.

"A critical look at the causes of these accidents show that they were primarily due to the responsibility of drivers, impatience, gross disregard for human life, wrong parking, over speeding, drunk-driving, overloading and poor state of vehicles," Mr Asamoah added. He therefore called on all transport unions to organise themselves well, bring on board floating drivers and standardize their working conditions to prevent reckless practices.

Mr Emmanuel Mensah, Coordinating Secretary, FTU, called on government to expedite discussions on a national transport policy to regulate activities in the sector.

He cautioned against negative attitude of drivers saying most of these negative behaviours by the bad nuts in the driving profession, often caused a huge loss in investments made by transport companies, owners and individuals.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

War Drums Beat In Mampurugu

…As Council of State Man Prof. Nabila, Yunyoo Rana, Plot Destoolments

IF the National Security and the Interior Ministry do not take prudent but prompt steps to address security concerns at Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district in the Northern Region, the fragile peace in the area would sooner than latter be turned into a war zone.

At the heart of the problem is a list of chiefs namely, Na Golbila Nakpanduri Naba, Chief Kansuk M. David, Yun-yoo-Rana Yamyia Tooka II, who, informed sources have accused of flirting with the National Democratic Congress Party, as well as Prof. Nabilla who is said to have his apron strings tied to the People National Convention.

The Yunyoo Rana was a cadre in the PNDC days who turned into a deputy Regional Secretary and later metamorphosed into a deputy regional Minister under the NDC and is said to have authored a letter accusing other Chiefs of flirting with the ruling government.

The issue pricking the concerned chiefs and creating confusion in the Area is that, the Yunyoo Rana’s political leaning is so glaring, and the fact of pointing accusing fingers at targeted chiefs makes it appear a hypocritical stance.

Worried indigenes of the Traditional Area say their worry stems from the fact that in as much as these leaders have a responsibility to play a father-figure’s role of protective cover, they feel it in their bones that the chiefs in question fear the real situation on the ground which very much favours the New Patriotic Party.

The information available to THE SUN indicates that tension in the district has reached its zenith point, following some strange decisions taken by the Mampurugu Traditional Council during it’s meeting on October 2 and 3 last week at Nalerigu.

THE SUN gathered that during the Council’s meeting at Nalerigu on the said date chaired by Wulugu Naa, Prof. Sebiyam John Nabila following the absence of the president of the Council Nayiri Mahami Sheriga, the Over-Lord of Mampurugu, some questionable decisions were arrived at which did not sit well with a majority of the people in the district.

The paper gathered that during the meeting, the Council decided to elevate some minor chiefs who have no land jurisdiction such as (Zongo chiefs) to paramount status. What must have raised eye-brows was the claim by the Council to the effect that Naaba Alhaji Abuba Nasimonu was not the paramount chief of Bunkpurugu.

According to observers this decision had sinister motives and seen to be a clear attempt to ‘de-skin’ the Bunkpurugu chief, and rather promote some unqualified chiefs of minor clout to paramount status.

Reacting to the concerns of the public, Prof. Nabila who is a member of the Council of State as well as a leading member of the PNC debunked the claims and said, no attempt was made to either remove the Bunkpurugu Chief or promote minor chiefs to paramount status.

“Our area is a flashy point and some people are trying to create trouble for reasons best known to themselves”

he stated and added that, he did not want to comment on the Bunkpurugu chief’s affair because he has a case pending before the Northern regional House of Chiefs Judiciary Committee.

However when THE SUN reached the Bunkpurugu Naba Alhaji Abouba Nasimonu for his comments, he confirmed that the pronouncement was indeed made by Prof. Nabila who chaired the Council’s meeting on the said dates.

He also admitted to the effect that a letter had been written by Yunyoo Rana accusing him of having a soft spot for the present government, and rallying support for it in the upcoming elections and so every effort will be made to de-skin him. Alhaji Abouba Nasimonu said, the spiteful remarks by Prof. Nabila has brought in its wake mounting tension which nearly turned into bloody confrontation at Bunkpurugu.

THE SUN gathered that before the meeting could take off, Nayiri Mahami Sheriga who was not comfortable with the developments decided to stay away from it, which then allowed the chiefs to have a field day to carry out their plans. THE SUN gathered that Yunyoo Wura Naa James Dawuda Tooka Yamyia II, a deputy Northern Regional Secretary in the PNDC regime, Nakpanduri Naa David Kansuk and Bankoni Naa or Chief have allowed their political affiliation to supersede the reality of the time all for political favours.

A concerned resident of Yunyoo who spoke to THE SUN on condition of anonymity and was privy to the deliberations at the meeting, called on the Nayiri to stop the chiefs before they set the district ablaze.

“They want to turn Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo into a war zone, looking at how they are handling chieftaincy issues with funny submissions,” he said.

“Some chiefs have all of a sudden realised that political power was going to switch this time around at the district, and because of this they are trying to foment trouble so as to defeat the actuality on the ground,” the concerned resident told THE SUN.

Independent reports hint of the provision of infrastructure in the shape and form of schools, the upgrading of the district health post into a district hospital, first class roads and a host of other utility services.

In a related development a letter spotted by THE SUN dated December 10,2007 by chiefs and people of Konkomba to the National House of Chiefs, the Northern regional Minister, Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs and the Regional Police Command kicked against the appointment of the Yun-yoo Rana to oversee their affairs as such, already the Area is boiling real hot.

The Yun-yoo Rana, a Veterinary officer by first trade who graduated from the University of Ghana is said by worried Konkombas to be the real gentleman fomenting trouble. The district is a heterogeneous society that consists of many ethnic groups and religions. The main ethnic groups are Bimobas, the Kokombas and the Mamprusis. They speak Moar, Komba and Mampruli respectively.

Other groups found include Moshi, Talensi, Hausa, Fulani, Dagombas and Chokosi. Additionally, there are five urban settlements with population of 5,000 and above. They are Bunkpurugu, Nakpanduri, Binde, Bimbagu and Nasuan.

The people in the urban settlement constitute about 18.1% of the total population of the District. Thus, the District is mainly rural of about 81.9% of the total population.-

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Man arrested for forging KNUST admission letter

Kumasi, Oct.14, GNA - Security personnel at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have arrested James Opoku, a 21-year-old disabled man, for allegedly forging admission letter of the Medical School of the University.

The suspect, who was dismissed from the Kumasi High School in 2006, was arrested when he tried to acquire a student identity card at the Great Hall of the University.

Mr. Kwame Yeboah Jnr, Assistant Registrar in charge of admissions at KNUST, told the GNA that the suspect was arrested when another person's picture appeared on the University database after his (suspect) name and particulars on the admission letter were typed into the University folder.

Captain Moses Gedzah (rtd), Deputy head of KNUST Security, on Wednesday in Kumasi, told GNA that Opoku was granted bail and asked to report to his office on Monday but failed to do so and was re-arrested on Wednesday at the lecture hall of the Medical School.

The head of KNUST security said investigations revealed that Opoku dropped out of school in 2006 due to a protracted illness. According to Captain Gedzah, the suspect said he wrote the November Remedial Examinations and also obtained a 8.A, which he claimed was used in securing admission. Opuku has been handed over to the KNUST Police and were carrying out further investigations into the case.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Ho Polytechnic to introduce HIV into curriculum

Ho, Oct. 14, GNA - The Ho Polytechnic would soon introduce HIV studies into its curriculum for all levels of students in the institution.

The initiative is in line with the Polytechnic's HIV/AIDS policy. Mr Ametepe Normanyo, the Polytechnic's HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency at a sensitization workshop on HIV/AIDS for fresh students at the Polytechnic on Monday. The workshop under the theme, "Skills knowledge and attitude, important for behaviour change", would also involve voluntary testing for HIV.

Mr Normanyo said 250 fresh students last year opted for voluntary testing when a similar workshop was held. In his opening remarks, the Rector of the Polytechnic Dr Komla A. Dzisi told the students that they were privileged to have the opportunity to be educated on all aspects of HIV/AIDS. "If you are clean of HIV before coming here you will go out clean of it and if you have it before coming here you must keep it to yourself", Dr Dzisi said.

Dr Anthony Ashinyo, Specialist in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV at the Volta Regional Hospital assured the students that "if you have it (HIV), there's hope for you, it's not a death sentence". "By the time we finish a lot of you will be washed clean", he said. The 16-page policy document said, "Although there is no known case of HIV at Ho Polytechnic, the general scare of the disease and the fact that most of its nationwide victims are between the ages of 15 and 49, makes it a matter of great concern to the Polytechnic". It noted that a majority of staff and students of the Polytechnic are within the vulnerable age bracket and that the "very purpose of establishing the Polytechnic could be defeated if efforts are not made to prevent the spread of the disease".

The document said education on HIV in the institution would take the form of lectures, seminars, debate, drama, video documentaries and field visits.

It said emphasis, would be placed on avoidance of personal infection, as well as the legal, social and professional implications of HIV/AIDS on the individual, including training in relation to HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

The workshop would apprise the students on the current situation on HIV worldwide and in Ghana as well as the Volta region, the immunology and virology of HIV, the basic facts and why know one's status. Other topics to be treated would be sexually transmitted diseases, opportunistic infections, psychiatric manifestation, nutrition, condom use, stigma and institutional HIV Policy.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Eastern Region launches "Know your HIV Status" campaign

Koforidua, Oct. 14, GNA - The Eastern Region, on Tuesday launched a campaign programme dubbed: "Know Your HIV Status" to encourage more people to undergo Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) of HIV/AIDS. Under the campaign, a new device, which uses saliva to test and know peoples' HIV status within 20 minutes, was introduced to the people.

Speaking at the launch, the Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram-Asiedu, called on service providers in the region to adopt strategies to make VCT services accessible to many people, especially those in the rural areas.

He said going for the HIV counselling and testing would enable a person to take better care of him or herself but noted that unfortunately due to fear, many people were not willing to go for the test.

Mr Afram-Asiedu said to ensure that the services provided were the best quality the region had trained 200 counsellors and 64 VCT and prevention of mother to child transmission centres. He explained that such facilities could even be accessed in private maternity homes and clinics in the region. The Eastern Regional Focal Person for the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), Mr Sampson B. Ofori said the 2007 National HIV prevalence rate survey indicated that, about 97 per cent of the population of Ghana were not infected with the AIDS virus. He added that the best way for one to know if he is one of them is by undergoing VCT. Earlier, the Acting Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Labi Addo, said the region had the highest HIV sentinel surveillance rate of 4.2 per cent as at 2007 saying "This we should not be proud of."

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 13.10.2008

Mills is not fit to be president - Kufuor

President J.A. Kufuor has taken a swipe at Prof. J.E. Atta Mills, flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), describing him as unfit for the presidency due to his health status.

“The election is about presidential election and not vice presidential election. It is the vice presidential candidate touring all over the country; so where is their candidate? Is John Mahama their candidate?” President Kufuor asked.

The President made the remarks when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) organised a rally at Madina to roundup its campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region to win support for its presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The President said Prof Mills is too weak to stand the test of the processes leading to the December elections; he alleged the flag-bearer's failure to campaign in certain regions is a testimony that he does not have the capacity to withstand the physical demands of the campaign season.

“Candidate who cannot even go to the North of Ghana how can he represent Ghana?” the President asked and noted “our candidate is touring the whole of Ghana; this is why we must vote for Nana Addo.”

He also criticized the NDC for allegedly wishing for power sharing. He said for the NPP “we are not seeking power for the sake of power; we want the power to transform our nation”.

However, his comment on Prof Mills’ health has attracted sharp criticism from a section of the public, who believed the President’s outburst is way below the belt, in the midst of calls for campaigns devoid of personal attacks.

The Convention People’s Party parliamentary aspirant for Takoradi, Mr. Eustace Haizel, said the President was not fair to Prof. Mills and called for issue-based campaign.

“For me, I don’t think it is a fair comment. What Ghanaians are interested in is to talk about issues which should help enhance their lives. I do not think making insinuations about a person’s health and whether he can campaign should be a big problem.

“Of course, there are certain persons who were healthy and nobody expected them to die, but they died.”

Mr. Jacob Marlon Annan, the NDC parliamentary candidate for Takoradi said, “The president should be condemned without reservation. It shows the double standard of the NPP; they preach virtue and practice vice.”

The NDC campaign coordinator, Alex Segbefia, queried President Kufuor for joining the campaign trail of Nana Addo, if that of a vice presidential candidate is not necessary.

In an interview with Joy News, he challenged the President to leave Nana Addo alone to campaign, if he is fit and competent to do so by himself.

“If we the NDC, you believe are concentrating in the wrong direction, allow us to concentrate in the wrong direction, because you want to win an election, there are a lot of things the NPP is doing which are wrong, we in the NDC don’t talk about because it is to our benefit.”

The health of Prof. Atta Mills engaged the nation after he underwent a surgical operation in South Africa.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

NDC targets more seats in Ashanti Region

Ahwiaa-Ashanti, Oct. 13, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of National Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed its resolve to intensify campaign to win more Parliamentary seats in the Region. The Party currently has three out of the 39 seats in the Region, these are Asawasi, Ejura-Sekyedumase and New Edubiase. Alhaji Mohammed Sani, Ashanti Regional First Vice-Chairman of NDC, made the affirmation when inaugurating Kwabre East Zongo Caucus of the Party at Ahwiaa at the weekend.

He noted that NPP which claimed the Region was their stronghold had disappointed their members and coupled with prevailing conditions in the Region the electorate were yearning for a change. "As a result many of them have threatened to vote the NDC back to power to improve their living standards," he said. Alhaji Sani said acute water shortages in many communities, high utility bills, poor infrastructure development and neglect of the youth resulting in high unemployment rate were some of the issues the NPP failed to address during its tenure of office in the past seven years. He stressed the need for activists of the Party to explain its manifesto to the electorate since it was the panacea to the nation's socio-economic problems.

Mr Yaw Adu-Ansere, Kwabre East Parliamentary Aspirant of NDC, urged executives of the Party in the constituency to bury their differences and intensify their campaign to win the seat. Alhaji Badaru Abdulai was elected Co-ordinator of the Caucus with Mr Taluta Adam as Secretary, Mr Anyars Sorodogo, Organiser, Mr Bahsah Ibrahim, Treasurer and Madam Bailau Ibrahim as Women's Organiser.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A) Oct. 13, GNA - The Dormaa Traditional Council in the Brong-Ahafo Region has decided to re-introduce puberty rites in the area to enhance moral chastity among young girls. Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, Paramount Chief, disclosed this at a fund-raising durbar at Dormaa-Ahenkro in aid of Dormaaman educational endowment fund.

He said the programme would be under the supervision of queenmothers who would also monitor and offer occasional direction and advice to inmates.

The Omanhene said the council had plans to reward abundantly any girl who successfully completed the process. He said among other things, candidates would enjoy financial and material support from the council in the performance of marriage rites, as well as plots of land for development projects. The Dormaahene said the council would later publish details of the tradition as well as the numerous benefits young girls stood to derive if they agreed and complied with the tradition.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Parents protest over unauthorized collection of monies

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - Some parents have appealed to the Ghana Education Service to investigate unauthorized collection of monies by the authorities of the Christianway International School at Anyaa, a suburb of Accra.

Mr. Kweku Arthur, a spokesman for the parents, told GNA that when they went to collect the placement form of their children whose Basic Education Certificate Examination computer selection had been released, the school authorities demanded GHc7 from each student before the form could be released to them to enable to seek admission to senior high schools.

Mr. Arthur said they had been paying such unauthorized monies without complaining because the only two public schools at Ablekuma and Anyaa could not admit all children from the area and "we are compelled to send them there".

"We think the authorities are exploiting us for too long and we should not allow it to continue any longer," Mr. Arthur said. When contacted Mr. Jonathan Adu Acheampong, the Proprietor of the school, explained that though the forms were free the money they were demanding was to meet the expenses they incurred in getting them signed at the District Education Office at Amasaman.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Former child slave to embark on anti-child slavery project

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - Mr James Kofi Annan, winner of the Frederick Douglas Award for 2008 at the recent Freedom Awards in the United States, has earmarked his prize money to intensify efforts at contributing to and saving more Ghanaian children from slavery, trafficking and other worse forms of child labour (WFCL). Mr Annan, who was himself a child slave from age of six to 13, won the award for distinguishing himself as a single individual, who survived the scourges of child trafficking and slavery and had been working to contribute towards the freedom of other children. He had since his freedom, been assisting even parents and guardians of other freed children to improve upon their knowledge in child-trafficking and to have improved lives.

As part of his award, Mr Annan, who is the Founder and Chief Executive of Challenging Heights, an anti-child slavery Non-Governmental Organisation, was decorated by the South African Human Rights activist and Nobel Laureate, Bishop Desmond Tutu, at a breathtaking ceremony in Los Angeles, USA in September.

He was also presented with an amount of US$10,000 specifically for training and capacity building and to expand his work in saving and helping child slaves and their guardians.

He would also be presented with another US$10,000 to be delivered over a period of two years for a project of his choice. Mr Annan told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he had chosen to use the money to deepen his effort at what had become his passion, saving and helping trafficked children and child slaves, adding that part of the money would be invested in deepening awareness for action on child trafficking issues across the country. He said he would also improve upon his organisational capacity and logistics, adding that another very important aspect for Challenging Heights was to provide more learning and teaching aids to assist in stimulation at the kindergarten level of their school for deprived children.

Again, Mr Annan said part of the money would go into a number of meaningful motivational packages for volunteers, who work with Challenging Heights, to work towards improving networking and alliance extension with other relevant organisations as well as stakeholders to enable him learn and share.

Mr Emmanuel Otoo, West Africa Regional Coordinator of Free The Slaves (FTS), organisers of the Freedom Awards, told the GNA that Mr Annan was among other winners in various categories, including the William Wilberforce Award for an individual, who had played a leadership role in moving other institutions, including corporate organisations to join the fight against trafficking and slavery.

He said other awards he had received included the Harriet Tubman Award for a community-based organisation working directly within communities to make the most significant and transformative contribution to ending slavery as well as the Anne Templeton Zimmerman Award of two fellowships to two young adult anti-slavery activists.

Mr Otoo noted that even though lots of individual Ghanaians and organisations had been involved in making important and laudable contributions toward the progressive and sustainable elimination of human trafficking and modern day slavery, not many Ghanaians filed for the Freedom Awards, which acknowledged winners globally and provided exposure as well as financial and technical support to undertake specific trafficking and anti-slavery interventions.

The Frederick Douglas Award, which Mr Annan won, came with US$20,000, the Harriet Tubman Award came with came with US$55,000 for an organisation, the William Wilberforce Award had a financial package of US$10,000, whiles the Anne Templeton Zimmerman fellowship afforded the winners one year fellowship with US$35,000 salary and other training and travelling packages.

Mr Otoo, therefore, called on individuals and organisations focusing their attention, time and resources on trafficking and anti-slavery, to take advantage of Mr Annan's honour this year and file for their nominations in subsequent awards, beginning from next year. "Each award has its own requirements and nomination form, which can be found on the awards web pages, www.thefreedomawards.net or by emailing us at freedomawards@freetheslaves.net," he said. He said the deadline for nominations was Monday December 1, 2008, adding that nominations received after that date would not be considered for the 2009 awards.

Mr Otoo noted that FTS created the Freedom Awards to celebrate today's anti-slavery heroes and to catalyse additional innovation and resources to end slavery once and for all, saying that the scheme was carefully designed to define what successful, sustainable anti-slavery work looked like and also build a vision of freedom for change-makers to adopt. He said the benefits to the Award winners themselves, were expected to expand capacity and reach people at the grassroots, promote anti-slavery programmes, proliferate creative and transformative leadership, strengthen the infrastructure of modern anti-slavery movements and also to provide inspirations and hope to fuel anti-slavery movement.

Mr Otoo, therefore, urged all stakeholders such as governments, charitable institutions, communities, the private sector/businesses, traditional authorities, faith-based organisations, research institutions, individuals among others to make a commitment and work towards the sustainable elimination of human trafficking and all forms of child labour in Ghana and in West Africa.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

More jobs for all - Nduom

Bolgatanga, Oct. 13, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Flag bearer of Convention People's Party (CPP), on Sunday said his Party's priority would be to revive and expand the few abandoned factories in Upper East and Northern Regions to create jobs to the people and reduce poverty situation in the Regions.

He mentioned the meat factory at Zuarungu near Bolgatanga in Upper East Region that had been abandoned for about two decades which National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Governments constantly paid lip services to revamp. Dr Nduom said the area abounds with cattle and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali could serve as additional source for cattle supply to feed the factory.

Addressing an Upper East Regional rally at Bolgatanga, Dr Nduom said when voted into power, the CPP would ensure that the Tomato Factory at Pwalugu also near Bolgatanga, which was currently operating was expanded, because it had a low capacity and therefore could not make adequate impact at reducing poverty in the area considering the number of farmers engaged in tomato farming during the dry season. He said similar efforts would be employed to revamp the groundnut oil-extracting factory in the Northern Region that was established during Dr Nkrumah's regime but was abandoned immediately after his overthrow.

Dr Nduom justified the essence of establishing factories throughout the country and ensuring that they functioned effectively and said it was to create jobs for the citizenry, saying that a CPP government would not toy with the people's ability to work and earn good income.

Dr Nduom said CPP had a successful track record for the development of Northern Ghana and was determined to bring the needed development to the area. He therefore, called on the electorate not to give audience to the NPP and NDC and vote for the CPP, saying, "don't waste your votes on these parties, they make more promises, no delivery." Dr Nduom said job creation was a priority area the CPP would not relent on because Ghanaians were ready and willing to work. "They however, need an honest, peaceful and diligent government such as the CPP, which is committed to ensuring that Ghana becomes a prosperous nation with a healthy people," he said. Dr Nduom noted that access to tourist attractions was vital considering the vibrant nature of the sector and its contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product and promised to construct a road linking tourists' attractions in the three northern regions including Mole.

"I shall within 100 days in office as the President provide an airstrip to attract tourists to the Mole Park as part of efforts at reducing poverty in Northern Ghana," he added. Dr Abu Foster Sakara, CPP Running Mate said the CPP would take the challenge to emancipate Ghanaians from economic tantrums by implementing the ideal policies and programmes of Dr Nkrumah. He noted that CPP was not daunted by the past because it stood for social justice and peace and would continue with that philosophy when given the mandate to administer affairs of the country. Dr Sakara said CPP belonged to Ghanaians and would continue to foster a sense of belonging at all times to maintain peace in the country. Dr Nduom later introduced CPP Parliamentary Aspirants in the Region at the rally.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Kufuor Aborted Trip: More Information

Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufuor mid-air Saturday aborted his flight to Equatorial Guinea for an official engagement when the presidential jet conveying him and his delegation developed a technical problem.

The Fokker 28's air pressure system began failing 20 minutes after take-off from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, PANA reports, quoting the Ghana News Agency.

"This led to heat in the cabin, a condition aviation experts say could be disastrous," it was reported.

It said the pilots, Air Commodore Michael Sampson-Oje and Group Captain Emmanuel Obeng, on detection of the problem, quickly informed President Kufuor about it.

The only option was to return the aircraft to the ground.

The plane therefore made a detour and in 20 minutes, it landed safely in Accra.

Kufuor was invited by the government of Equatorial Guinea for the celebration of the country's 40 years of political independence and was billed to have returned to Accra Sunday.

The F-28 was bought in the late 1970s.

Former President Jerry Rawlings acquired a G3 presidential jet but Kufuor refused to use it, saying the acquisition was murky.

However, years of investigation for financial impropriety by the government were futile as no criminal act against the Rawlings administration was found and the plane was later disposed off by the government.

Kufuor's government has placed an order for two new jets, an action that has drawn the anger of Rawlings' National Democratic Congress which said the new planes were too expensive, among other criticisms.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <