• 16.11.2008

More road accident in 2008

Winneba, Nov 16, GNA - The number of vehicles involved in accidents in the Effutu Municipality increased from 98 in 67 accidents in 2007 to 113 vehicles in 84 accidents in 2008.

The number of accident deaths reduced from 53 in 2007 to 17 in 2008, the Effutu Municipal Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Assistant Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Nana Ofori told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Winneba on Friday. He said in 2007, 224 passengers were injured with 148 people sustaining injuries in 2008 and most of the accidents occurred on the Winneba Junction/Kasoa/Accra road.

Nana Ofori attributed the accidents to over speeding, wrong overtaking, fatigue on the part of drivers plying long distances and the lukewarm attitude of most pedestrians crossing the roads. He said broken down vehicles left in the middle of roads were also a contributing factor to road accidents and urged drivers of such vehicles to park well to prevent accidents.

Nana Ofori said his outfit in collaboration with the drivers' unions had decided to undertake an exercise to educate drivers on the need to reduce accidents on the road.

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NPP "moving forward" is a motion into chaos - Mahama

Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - Mr John Dramani Mahama, Vice Presidential Candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Saturday said the New Patriotic Party's slogan of moving the nation forward would be a motion into chaos.

He said the slogan would lead the country into chaos because the force being applied to the object "move" was being miss-directed. Addressing the Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Mahama said for the NPP to use parliament to sign international agreements, which only turned to be '419' transactions were immoral and the erosion of the nation's respectability.

He said the Volta Aluminium Company's (VALCO) sales agreement was bulldozed through parliament recently only for those who were supposed to be the buyers to deny any knowledge of the agreement. "This is the extent to which the NPP was taking Ghana for a ride and moving it on a disastrous journey," he added.

Amidst shouts from the students, Mr Mahama said before the VALCO Agreement there was the IFC loan fiasco and CCNTI loan scandal which made a mockery of Ghanaian parliament and was a challenge to the sovereignty of the country.

Mr Mahama told the students to find out from the NPP government how the GETFund the NDC introduced was being used and noted that the judicious application of the Fund would have solved the loan, accommodation and textbook problems of all schools in the country by now. He said the NDC in its manifesto had promised to build two universities in the Volta Region and the Brong Ahafo Region within its four year term in office.

Mr Mahama asked the students to question those political parties that were promising to give one billion cedis fund for numerous projects as to how they planned to come by those funds, adding "we politicians should not be the people who destroy the moral fibre of society by giving them Utopian promises only to turn round to give them inexplicable excuses".

Ms Hannah Tetteh, NDC Communication Director said the party remained a responsible opposition party and have never created any ungovernable situation that the NPP unleashed on the people of Ghana, when it was in opposition.

She said the very axis that the NDC had introduced like the VAT, which led to "Kumepreko" and "Siemepreko" demonstrations where now funds that the NPP was using and claiming undeserved honours. Ms Tetteh urged the students to ensure that peace prevailed during and after the elections and that they should be vigilant at the polls to avoid any cheating and unfair electoral practises.

Mr Iddrisu Harruna, Member of Parliament for Tamale South said there would be peace if the Electoral Commission, t he security services remained impartial in the conduct of the election. This, he added would ensure that a looser accept his defeat honourably because the winner has won through fair means. Other speakers included Mr Fiifi Kwetey, Propaganda Secretary of the NDC and Squadron leader Clend Sowu, Chairman of the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency of the party.

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Dutchman grabbed for 419 scam

A 41-year old Dutch national, Joseph Maria Schryen, is being held at the National Police Head Quarters for Advance Fee Fraud (419).

Joseph Schryen, who was arrested together with a Ghanaian accomplice, Douglas Frimpong, 35, confessed to committing the crime during an interrogation saying he has since last year involved himself in about nine successful fraud cases.

Briefing journalists on Thursday in Accra, the director general of the Criminal Investigation Department, DCOP Frank Adu Poku, noted that the arrest of the man was a great relief for him since a Whiteman has been linked to almost all the fraud cases which have been reported to his office.

He emphasised however that he was not linking all the 419 cases to Schryen but suspects he would be involved in most of the cases.

The Dutch man has been living in Ghana for the past 20 years and is married to a Ghanaian.

He lives in Akim Asafo in the Eastern Region, where his wife operates a shop but occasionally comes to Accra to meet clients and bolts away with his booty to Asafo.

Narrating the incident that led to the arrest of the two suspects, the CID boss said the suspects approached a forex bureau operator in Accra via telephone and presented Mr. Schryen as a London based medical officer, with the intention of acquiring ten plots of land for the construction of a private hospital.

Later in their subsequent conversations, suspect Schryen, who told complainant that he had just arrived from London discarded the idea of purchasing the land and rather wanted to sell gingo seeds to his potential victim claiming the seeds were potent in curing cancer.

The complainant feigned interest and bought a sample of the said seed at the cost of $350.

It was scheduled that the real consignment would be brought to Fiesta Royal Hotel in Dzorwulu at the cost of $3000.

The complainant reported to the police and the suspect and his accomplice were arrested on the appointed day.

The CID boss narrated an incident which was again reported by someone he described as a person of high repute but was duped of GH¢190,000.00.

He said though anybody could fall victim to this scandal it is usually the greedy ones that end up being the hardest hit.

He appealed to the public be conscious of the fact that most roaming and private number users tend to convince people that they were foreign investors.

These fake investors or businessmen succeed in luring some members of the public into dubious transactions and eventually rob them of their hard earned money.

He appealed to persons who might have been victims of the suspects' activities to come to the police head quarters to identify them.

Items labeled as gingo seeds, vagina powder, wacaga seeds among others were retrieved from the scene and has been kept as exhibits.

When the issue of the influx of Nigerian fraudsters was raised the CID boss said the problem was beyond them as some of them are able to acquire Ghanaian passports and parade themselves as nationals. He wondered how in the first place they are able to enter the country with fake documents.

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Ghanaians have lost confidence in NDC - Akufo-Addo

Kojokrom (W/R), Nov. 16, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that it would be a misplaced judgement to entrust the destiny of Ghana into the hands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) again.

Speaking at separate rallies at Daboase, Abuesi, Kojokrom, Adiembra and New Takoradi during his two-day campaign tour of the Southern Sector of the Western Region, he said the NDC let the country down and would give the people sorrow and economic hardship when given power. He said Ghanaians have lost confidence in the NDC to develop the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo said his government would continue from where President Kufuor would leave-off adding his government would focus on industrialization.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the oil revenue would be judiciously used and hoped to make Senior Secondary School free. He said his government would construct a District Hospital at Daboase and sea defence wall along the coast to stop erosion and enforce the law to protect sea resources.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the NPP does not endorse tribal politics and the claim that it was an Ashanti party was unfounded because its' membership are drawn from every tribe.

He said he is not in politics to enrich himself but rather to protect human rights and promote the rule of law.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Marfo, a former presidential aspirant of the NPP said the party inherited 235 million dollars in the national coffers, an amount that could cater for the needs of the Ghanaians for only three weeks.

He said with only few weeks to the December 7, 2008 elections the NPP government had 2.6 billion dollars in the national coffers.

Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of NPP, said the party had trained about 50,000 polling station agents to ensure that the electoral laws were obeyed on the day of election. He said Ghanaians have understood democracy and there was no need for electoral violence.

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• 15.11.2008

NPP lies win floating votes to NDC

 Accra, Nov 15, GNA - The more lies the New Patriotic Party (NPP) continues to tell about the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the more floating voters swing to the party, Mr John Dramani Mahama, running mate of the NDC presidential candidate, told an NDC rally on Friday at Adenta near Accra.

He said "the Ghanaian electorate is analytical and able to shift the chaff from the seed".

Mr Mahama, flashing a document titled 'NPP 2008 Campaign Guide' quoted from page 13 of the book which said "in 20 years the (P)NDC failed to reform the housing system, allowed houses to be built in water ways and unsuitable areas and created a chronic under supply of housing."

He said it was sad "the NPP which never added a single housing unit to the public housing system could have the audacity to say such a thing."

"Through out the history of Ghana Dr Kwame Nkrumah brought the state housing scheme, Busia and Acheampong undertook low cost housing projects while the NDC introduce the SSINT housing scheme and built houses all over the country."

He said the NPP is saying in that book it has committed GHC 3 million for the construction of affordable houses across the country and by calculation there should be about 1 million housing units. "What the NDC is saying is that the people are witnesses to the work that the we did during our tenure of office that is why we insist the comparison theory is be a recipe for mediocrity." He said the NDC would implement the universal health insurance scheme and all premium holders would pay once in their life time. Mr Mahama appealed to the people to vote for Mr Kojo Adu-Asare, the party's parliamentary candidate for Adenta and for Professor John Atta Mills.

Other speakers included Ms Hannah Tetteh, Director of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South and Hajia Marian Sinare, Deputy National Women's Organiser.

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Retain the NPP in power for continuity - Aspirant MP

Kumasi, Nov. 15, GNA - Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Manhyia, has called on electorates to consider the good policies of the Kufuor administration and retain the party in power.

He said if Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo emerged victorious in the December 7, 2008 election, he would continue with the sound economics of the NPP Government, which had been recognized world-wide. Dr Opoku-Prempeh said this at an NPP rally at Santos Park at New Tafo in Kumasi last Friday.

He advised the electorates to critically examine the manifestoes of the various political parties, noting that the manifesto of the NPP and the message of its flag bearer gave ample hope to Ghanaians to make informed choices.

Dr Opoku-Prempeh enumerated the NPP programmes such as the Metro-Mass Transport programme, the School Feeding Programme, and the National Health Insurance Scheme and said they had reduced the burden on Ghanaians.

Commenting on NPP campaign, he noted that it had gathered momentum and that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would "crush under the weight of the great elephant".

Dr Opoku-Prempeh said Ghanaians should not take former President John Jerry Rawlings serious because a vote for NDC or Prof. Atta Mills, the flagbeaerer of the party meant a vote for Rawlings. He said Ghana is very dear to the heart of NPP and therefore the party would ensure that the election was devoid of violence, mayhem, and destruction of lives and properties. 15. November 2008

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DFP members defect to NPP

Kumasi, Nov. 15, GNA - Madam Esther Serwaah, Treasurer of the Manhyia Constituency of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and four other members of the party have defected to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

They were introduced at an NPP rally at Santos Park in Kumasi on Friday.

Madam Serwaah said, she opted for the NPP because of the good policies of the government and the relative peace the nation enjoys. She observed that the NPP had good prospects to win the December presidential and parliamentary elections and called on Ghanaians to vote massively for the party.

Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, the NPP parliamentary aspirant for Manhyia formally welcomed them into the NPP fold saying "they have made a good choice".

Mr Frederick F. Anto, former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP said "it is gratifying that the DFP defectors have seen the light for it is an ample evidence of the good deeds of the NPP".

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• 14.11.2008

Ghana's debt is US$ 7.65 billion

Ghana's debt, including contingent liability from COCOBOD, at the end of last September stood at US$ 7,652.46 million, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance has told Parliament.

The debt, he said, was made up of US$3,990.38 for external, including that of the COCOBOD of US$ 118.75 million, and a domestic debt of US$ 3,662.

Dr Osei gave the figures on Thursday on the floor of the House as he answered an urgent question asked by Mr Abuga Pele (NDC-Chiana Paga), in the name of Dr Benjamin Kumbuor (NDC/Lawra Nandom) on what was the total debt portfolio as at October 31, 2008.

Amidst heckling, attempts were made by some Members of the largest Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) to get the breakdown of the debt, how much of the national debt the ruling and majority New Patriotic Party (NPP) had paid since it came to power in 2001. However, both Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker who presided and the Minister advised that the questions be posed "properly" for answers to be provided.

The House also approved the power granted the Minister responsible for Finance by Parliamentary Statute waive such stamp duty on receivables-backed Trade Finance Facility of US$ 1 billion for cocoa purchases by the Ghana Cocoa Board for the 2008 /2009 crop season.

Source:
GNA

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Parliament goes on break for December polls

Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - Parliament on Friday before it began a break in readiness for the December polls, reminded the Electoral Commission (EC) that it had a crucial role to make the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections peaceful.

The leadership of the House in separate statements before adjournment till December 16, observed that the success of the elections would depend on the forthrightness of the Commission and its ability to ensure transparency.

Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker, who sat in the chair, thanked members for their hard work, and urged them to endeavour to avoid violence at the polls.

He said the nation had reached a critical stage in her democracy, and called on contestants in the elections to accept the election results without any resort to violence. "There would be losers and winners. Let us try to avoid any excesses, because we are all striving to serve this country," Mr Blay said.

Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said the success of next December polls and a smooth transition would be an indicator of the establishment of democracy in Ghana.

He noted that a lot of the success would depend on the Electoral Commission as well as the goodwill of the candidates. Deputy Minority Leader, Doe Adjaho called on the security agencies to be alert to nip any violence in the bud.

Earlier the House, which approved an amount of GH¢2,218,506,931 to carry out services and expenditure of Government from January to March 2009, also passed the Education Bill 2008.

The Education Bill seeks to incorporate the lessons learnt from over 50 years of state control and management of educational reforms and give substance to Ghana's constitutional provisions, which enjoins Government to 'provide educational facilities at all levels and in all regions' and make those facilities available to the citizenry. With its 31 clauses, the Bill gives legal backing to the New Education Reforms and streamlines activities of the teaching profession in line with international best practices. Thus, under Clause 9 of the Bill, there would be established a National Teaching Council to regulate, register and issue license to professionally qualified teachers.

A Report from Parliamentary Select Committee on Education Committee held the view that "this would go a long way to safeguard and protect image of the teaching profession like other professions". The House also passed the Railways Bill, which proposes the establishment of Railways Development Authority and infusion of private sector participation into the railways sector.

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Kufuor & NPP are nation wreckers -Nana

The president of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has descended heavily on President J.A. Kufuor and the leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party, describing them as nation wreckers. She lamented the refusal of the government to abide by the ruling of the court over he movement’s cocoa processing factory at Kpone, in the Kpone-Katamanso Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.

Addressing a mammoth rally at Tema New Town, in the Tema East Constituency, last Tuesday, to round off her campaign tour of the area, nana Konadu said the NPP, under President Kufuor, has demonstrated great disrespect for judiciary decisions.

“President Kufuor is traveling around the world with our money, claiming he is looking for investors to set up a factory to process cocoa, while we have one deteriorating, we have a factory that can create more than 2,500 jobs for our people,” she asserted.

According to Nana Konadu, who is also the former first lady of the republic, even though the court has ruled in favour of the movement, the government has failed to abide by the decision. She told the rally that the court, in its ruling, has asked the government to refurbish the broken down machines at the factory site, for the role the Kufuor-led administration played in the deterioration.

She added that the government is still hold funds belonging to the movement at the Bank of Ghana, even though the judgment tasked the government to release the said fund, to enable the factory to start production.

“As a movement, we will continue to fight for the common good of our citizens, especially women, we will continue to empower our women to enable them to support their children’s education and the whole family,” she added.

Nana Konadu advised the people to give their votes to Prof John Evans Atta Mills and the NDC, so that the company can take off and create jobs for the youth of Kpone and its catchments areas, such as Ashaiman and Tema.

She described nana Akufo Addo and the NPP as not having the country at heart, but instead are only interested in the welfare of themselves and their families.

“They tell you they believe in Ghana, and yet all they do point to the fact that, they are only in power to enrich their friends, girlfriends, and relatives. Their ‘Believe in Ghana’ slogan is only to deceive you vote for them,” she claimed.

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Begoro (E/R), Nov. 14, GNA - A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP), supporters with clubs and cutlasses in two party pick-ups attacked some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who were on their way to Begoro to have their votes transferred to the Fanteakwa constituency on Wednesday.

Five of the NDC supporters who received various degrees of injuries were issued with police forms and sent to the Begoro Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

The NPP members, led by Kwabena Nkansah, a brother of Mr Amankwa Asiamah, Parliamentary Candidate of the NPP for the Fanteakwa constituency for the 2008 elections, was said to have led the assault on the NDC supporters, where they were searched and their voters identity cards, mobile phones and various sums of money taken away from them. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Begoro, Mr Abass Fuseini, Campaign Co-ordinator of the NDC, explained that the supporters who were attacked were citizens of the constituency who are now working in Accra but decided to transfer their votes because by December, they would be engaged in farming activities at Dedeso in the Fanteakwa constituency and so would wish to transfer their votes to the area. He said the group approached the former constituency Chairman of the NDC, Mr Christopher Narh, who decided to facilitate the process to have their votes transfer effected.

Mr Fuseini said he was at Begoro when he received a call that the group on their way to the transfer centre was accosted by a vehicle and the occupants of that vehicle were making threatening gestures to them and so he decided to use his motorcycle to meet them on the way. He said he met the two 207 Benz buses, in which the group were travelling at the Ehiamankyene junction and within a few minutes the pick-ups filled with the NPP supporters arrived to attack them. Mr Fuseini said he could identify those who attacked them and said one of their attackers, Kudzo Ayirepey, was holding a short gun during the attack.

Reacting to the allegations, Mr Kwame Appiah Kodua, NPP Constituency Organizer for Fanteakwa and campaign manager of the party in the constituency, denied that his party members did attack the NDC supporters.

He said the NPP heard that the NDC was transporting supporters from Accra, Tema and Ashaiman to transfer their votes to the constituency and his party members who were on their way to Bososu intercepted the two vehicles. He denied that the NPP supporters took anything from the NDC members.

Mr Kodua explained that because of the bad intention of the NDC supporters, immediately they saw the NPP pick-ups they started jumping through the windows of their buses. He said the NPP leadership would not support any bad behaviour on the part of its members, adding that, the case had been referred to the police for investigations. The Begoro police confirmed the story and said the case was under investigations.

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• 13.11.2008

Anyinamso No 2, (Ash), Nov. 13, GNA - Thirty-one people died on the spot while twenty-nine others sustained serious injuries when two 207 Benz buses collided head-on at Anyinamso Number Two, near Mpasatia in the Atwima-Mponua District of Ashanti on Thursday morning. The injured who are in critical conditions, had been admitted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, while the dead are also at the mortuary of the same hospital.

Both the dead and the injured are yet to be identified at the time of filing this report.

However, the drivers of the two vehicles escaped death. One of them, Ebenezer Adu Atta was injured and receiving treatment at Nkawie government hospital, while the other whose name was not immediately known, is said to be on the run.
An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency at Anyinamso that, the accident occurred at about 7 am when the drivers of the two vehicles which were travelling in opposite directions on the Kumasi-Bibiani road crashed head-on near a stationary articulated truck, which had been parked on one side of the lanes.
He said instead of one driver giving way to allow the other to pass, they failed and in the process the vehicles, which were both on top speed crashed head-on.
The Nkawie police confirmed the accident and the deaths but said they were still investigating to know the actual cause of the accident. Meanwhile, Mr Thomas Ofori Donkor, Atwima-Nwabiagya District Chief Executive had visited the accident scene and expressed shock at the occurrence.
He appealed to drivers to exercise restraint and take utmost caution while on the road.
Mr. Donkor also consoled the families of the dead persons and wished the injured speedy recovery.

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Sincerity of Leadership would resolve conflicts - Mills

Tamale, Nov.13, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, on Wednesday called for the separation of the criminal aspect of conflicts from the traditional dimensions in order to deal with such situations effectively.

He said most importantly, the Political Leadership must be seen to be applying adequate measures to deal with people involved in the perpetration of conflict to win the confidence and trust of the people. Prof. Mills was addressing the question as to how a government led by him would resolve the number of conflicts that currently plagued certain parts of the country, during the second and final session of the 2008 Presidential Debate in Tamale.

Presidential Candidates of parties with representation in Parliament took part in the event that was hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), under the theme: "Strengthening The Pillars Of Democracy."

They were Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of Convention People's Party (CPP) and Dr Edward Mahama of People's National Convention (PNC).

Prof. Mills said: "Perception is very important. When you give people a reason to believe that those at the helm are not demonstrating enough commitment in their efforts to deal with criminals involved in violent conflicts, it will be difficult to achieve peace." He said that for a Leader to be seen as a peacemaker, he or she must be seen as impartial or trustworthy.

Prof. Mills noted that chieftaincy disputes constituted one of the major sources of conflicts in the country.

He said that since the 1992 Constitution prohibited Government from interfering in chieftaincy affairs, an NDC Government led by him would entrust the responsibility to the appropriate authorities to handle such matters.

Prof. Mills said: "Most importantly, I will ensure that those involved in stirring up conflicts faced the full rigours of the law without any discrimination."

On tackling corruption, the NDC Presidential Candidate said when voted into office, his administration would apply what he termed leadership by example, adding that in addition to declaring their assets, members of his Government, who were proven to be corrupt, would be made to face the full rigours of the law.

Prof. Mills said the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and other State institutions mandated to deal with corruption would also be well resourced to enable them to discharge their mandate satisfactorily.

On bridging the development gap between the Northern and Southern sectors of the country, Prof Mills said he would target educational development and the improvement of social infrastructure, among other things.

"I will make schools in the North to receive their grants regularly; find lasting solutions to the problems confronting the University for Development Studies (UDS); extend electricity and water to all the rural communities and open up the North for investment," he said.

On the question of whether there was the need to amend the 1992 Constitution after 16 years of democratic rule, Prof. Mills said he would open a national debate on proposals for amending certain parts. Areas to be involved include a ceiling to the number of Supreme Court Judges; whether to maintain the Office of Vice President or change it to the position of a Prime Minister; whether Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives should be elected or appointed and the requirement of appointing Members of Parliament as Ministers.

On measures to deepen Ghana's decentralisation system, Prof. Mills said getting qualified personnel to man the various district assemblies; making the assemblies accountable to the people regularly and giving the assemblies the requisite resources to operate efficiently were issues that he would consider implementing if he were given the mandate by the people of Ghana in Election 2008.

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Building collapses at Kejetia Terminal

Kumasi, Nov. 13, GNA - Pandemonium broke out at Kejetia Terminal in Kumasi on Thursday when the middle section of a two-storey building suddenly collapsed The incident which happened in the afternoon affected 40 stalls and shops but there were no casualties but all merchandise in stock were destroyed.

The terminal which is the hub of business and commercial activities in the metropolis has around it two-storey buildings housing shops and stalls. Mr Amankwaa Gyawu, Member of Kejetia Store Owners' Association and an eye witness told Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi that the cause of the disaster was still uncertain.

However, he said cracks on the walls and floors of the building and the impact of a heavy metal bill board on the roofs of the building could be a possible cause.

Mr Gyawu said executives of the association after detecting the cracks notified Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) who had oversight responsibilities over the building but alleged that no action was taken until the disaster occurred.

Meanwhile, the affected traders have appealed to the public, philanthropists, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and government for assistance.

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Heavy Security Presence At Second Presidential Debate Grounds

Tamale, Nov.13, GNA - There was heavy security presence at the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literary and Bible Translation (GILLBT) Training Centre at Tamale during the Second 2008 Presidential Debate organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Wednesday. The details executed their order so meticulously that it came as no surprise to the audience when Brigadier Francis Agyemfra, a Consultant to the IEA, commended the Northern Regional Minister, Mustapha Ali Idris and the Regional Coordinating Council for the excellent security arrangements.

At exactly 17:55 hours, the four Presidential Candidates - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of New Patriotic Party (NPP); Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of Convention People's Party (CPP); Professor John Evans Atta Mills of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Edward Mahama of People's National Convention (PNC), were ushered into the hall amidst drumming by a cultural troupe.

When they took their seats, the Presidential Candidate appeared more relaxed than when they appeared for the first debate in Accra, apparently they might have gained enough confidence from the earlier encounter.

After a formal welcoming address and a statement by Mrs Jean Mensa, Administration at IEA, and Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, Chairman of IEA Presidential Debates Committee, respectively, the Moderators, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and Mr Israel Laryea, a Broadcast Journalist, took the Presidential Candidates through three sessions of questioning. In all, the candidates answered 13 questions on governance, human and social issues during the session, which was held under the theme: "Strengthening The Pillars of Ghana's Democracy."

They had two minutes each to answer a question, a minute for rebuttal, if any and three minutes to address the people of Ghana and to pledge to work towards ensuring free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful elections.

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• 12.11.2008

NDC challenges Akufo-Addo to condemn violence at Kyebi

New Abirem (E/R), Nov. 12, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to condemn the alleged acts of brutalities being meted to NDC supporters at Kyebi by NPP supporters.

The NDC said Nana Akufo-Adfo must condemn such acts if he truly believes in the tenets of multi-party democracy. The Eastern Regional Organizer of the NDC, Mr Tawiah Boateng, who threw the challenge at a rally at New Abirem on Tuesday, said by condemning such acts which resulted into the burning of the NDC party office at Kyebi and manhandling of NDC members, then Nana Akufo-Addo would have demonstrated to the whole world that he truly believes in democracy.

The rally was organized as part of a campaign tour of some parts of the Eastern Region by Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings of the NDC. Kyebi is the maternal ancestral home of Nana Akufo Addo and referred to as the "Mecca of Democracy in Ghana" but Mr Boateng said the town was fast gaining infamy as a place where divergent views were not being tolerated.

Kyebi is also the capital town of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area and the Abuakwa North Constituency where Nana Akufo Addo is a royal and had been the Member of Parliament (MP) since 1996. Other allegations levelled by the NDC include the removal and desecration of posters of its candidates at Kyebi.

Mr Boateng said although Nana Akufo-Addo had often professed to be an adherent of human rights, yet he had failed to condemned violent acts being committed against his opponents at Kyebi. The NDC Regional Organizer said at the moment it was almost impossible for any other party except the NPP to campaign in Kyebi while Nana Akufo Addo looked on unconcern.

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Miss Ghana promotes use of seat belt

Accra, Nov 12, GNA - Miss Ghana 2008, Mawuse Appea is embarking on a campaign to educate drivers on the need to wear seat belt. The campaign dubbed; "Seat Belt Campaign," began with retraining of Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) officials with help from Toptech Drive Consult, a road safety and transport consulting company. As a road safety ambassador, Miss Appea said speeding over the speed limit, driving under the influence of alcohol, talking on phone while driving, lack of vehicle maintenance, lack of road safety education, running red lights, overloading and indiscipline on the part of drivers were some of the main causes of road accidents.

She said most drivers and passengers did not wear the seat belt, a condition that also contributed to serious fatalities during accidents. Ms Appea said; "It does not kill to wear seat belt, I hope Ghanaians will wear the seat belt regularly to save drivers and passengers from fatal accidents". "As a nation we must protect ourselves from road accidents especially in the month of December," she added.

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Independent committee to investigate fatal accident

Sunyani, Nov. 12, GNA - An independent committee would be set up to investigate the fatal accident that occurred at Twimea Nkwanta in the Techiman Municipality at the weekend, in which 23 persons perished. Mr Noble Appiah, Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission disclosed this to newsmen in Sunyani on Tuesday, after he had visited the bereaved families to console them.

Twenty persons died on the spot and three others later at the Holy Family hospital in Techiman, when a 207 Mercedes Benz bus on which they were travelling collided with a KIA truck that was loaded with sawn timber.

The accident was reported to have occurred at about 1700 hours last Saturday, when a task force of the Forestry Services Division (FSD) that included some soldiers chased the KIA truck with registration number AS 1627 V.

Mr Appiah said the committee, which would consist of a psychologist, mechanical engineer, an engineer of the Ghana Highways Authority and a member of the Commission would take about a month to complete its investigations.

He explained that the report of the committee would help in policy making and public education on road safety. The Executive Director stated that the constitution of the Commission demanded an independent investigation into any tragic accident that would claim about five lives. Mr Appiah urged the police to check and arrest vehicles that plied the roads without reflectors and warning triangles, saying that, on his way from Accra to Sunyani, he counted about 47 broken down vehicles that had not erected warning triangles. These are some of the avoidable mistakes committed by drivers that result in loss of lives and properties, he said. The executive director cautioned the media to avoid publishing speculations about the Techiman accident, but to leave the matter to the security to conduct their investigations and come out with a professional report.

12. November 2008

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Country Has No Building Codes

Even though, there are buildings springing up at all corners of the country, which suggests that, the economy is robust and resilient, experts in the building industry have observed that, most buildings erected in the country are not strong enough to withstand shake ups as well as having infective electric systems.

According to the experts, electrical systems such as air conditioners, lighting, heating and ventilation in homes and offices are not of required standard to conserve energy, but rather they consume beyond the required consumption of power.

The experts believe that this is as a result of the fact that there are no building codes to guide Engineers and Designers to enforce the right electrical equipment.

Information made available suggests that the country is wasting energy to the tune of 200 mega watts annually.

It would be recalled that in the year 2006, the country experienced power crisis with the economy recording power loss to the tune of 200 mega watts. Ironically, this is the same amount of power which is being wasted through obsolete electrical items in the country. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Energy Foundation (EF) in collaboration with Ministry of Energy, dubbed "Increasing Profitability through Energy Efficiency," Mr. Andrew Lawson, an official of EF disclosed that 60 percent of the rain water annually goes to the Akosombo Dam for power generation in the country. On his part, the Technical Director of the EF, Mr. Kofi Asante said buildings in the country should be well structured to conserve energy, adding that "Every building should be built on the bases of an environmental comfort and energy efficiency."

Mr. Asante suggested that lighting, ventilation, heating and air condition systems should be moved from manual control to an automated control with minimal human access to the systems within every building in the country. He called on the industry players in the country to enforce the use of power analyzers to be installed in every building to check the amount of power being consumed by the electrical appliances.

Mr. Asante urged tertiary institutions to harness the use of organic waste management in generating energy for use by Ghanaians.

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Economic growth declined in 2007

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Tuesday stated that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2007 fiscal year dropped to 6.2 per cent from the 6.4 per cent recorded in 2006.

"The 6.2 per cent economic growth rate recorded for 2007 was also slightly below the government's target of 6.5 per cent documented in the government budget statement for 2007," IEA stated in its annual 2007 Economic Review and Outlook documents made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The Economic Review presents an overview of the performance of the economy of Ghana during the calendar year 2007 and outlook for 2008 and beyond based on provisional data released by the Ghana Statistical Service.

The IEA report attributed the economic decline to a combination of factors, which included the nation-wide electricity energy rationing that ended at the end of September 2007 and increases in the world market prices of crude oil.
The IEA 2007 Economic Review and Outlook Survey was conducted by a team of economist including, Dr Kwabena Asomanin Anaman, IEA Head of Economic Centre and Director of Research; Professor Alhassan Wayo Seini, IEA Senior Fellow; Prof John Asafu-Adjaye, IEA Senior Fellow and Mrs. Charity Osei-Amponsah, IEA Research Assistant.

The rest are Dr. Daniel Bruce Sarpong, Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana; Dr. Kofi Marfo Mrs Abigail Abandah-Sam; Mr Matthew Armah and Mr Martin Esan Benjamin, all Seniors Executive Officers of Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Accra.
The Report said the 6.2 per cent marginal growth in 2007 was largely achieved on the back of the services sector, the construction and mining industries.

The provisional fiscal outturn in 2007 showed that the total government expenditure was 5,701.5 million Ghana cedis as compared to total revenue of 4,508.2 million Ghana cedis. The government budget deficit for 2007 was 1,193.3 million Ghana cedis, which was about 8.5 per cent of the GDP based on commitments. The overall budget deficit for 2007 including divestiture sales of government assets was 1,132.2 million Ghana cedis equivalent to 8.1 per cent of GDP.

The IEA Economic Review Document said the deficit was higher than the 7.8 per cent recorded in 2006. The deficit figure for 2007 was just over two-and-a- half times the target budget deficit of 3.2 per cent contained in the 2007 government budget statement. The domestic primary balance deficit was 6.7 per cent of GDP and this was substantially higher than the target 0.6 per cent of GDP set by the government.
Total government domestic revenue as a proportion of GDP increased from 22.3 per cent in 2006 to 25.8 per cent in 2007, which was the highest since 2002.

The total revenue and grants as a share of GDP also increased from 27.8 per cent of GDP in 2006 to 31.8 per cent of GDP in 2007. The total size of grants in 2007 was 857.2 million Ghana cedis, representing about 19 per cent of the total revenue.

In general, fiscal management deteriorated considerably during the 2006-2007 period. The economic growth over the two-year period (averaging 6.3 per cent) was generated partly due to excessive fiscal deficits.
According to IEA the government deficits over the last two years (2006 and 2007) and the high deficit for the first six months of 2008 raise concerns about the sustainability of financing government projects.

On the Agricultural Sector, the IEA Economic Review document noted that growth in the industry was far below the target while there was a decline in the growth of the manufacturing industry continuing the trend over the last decade of shrinkage of the manufacturing industry during a period of continuous economic growth.
In 2007, the agriculture sector grew at a rate of 3.1 per cent lower than the revised growth rate of 4.5 per cent achieved by this sector in 2006. The growth rate of the agriculture sector was also significantly below the government's target of 6.1 per cent contained in the government 2007 budget statement.

Contrary to the IEA figures, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its Election 2008 manifesto dubbed: "Moving Ghana Forward; Building a Modern Ghana," said the sector has recorded massive and real growth. The NPP figures indicate that the agricultural sector's growth rate increased from 2.1 per cent in 2000 to 4.4 per cent in 2002 and 6.5 per cent in 2006.
The IEA Economic Review document also recorded decline in the industrial sector, recording 6.6 per cent from the 9.5 per cent recorded in 2006.

The services sector, however, grew at an annual rate of 10.0 per cent recorded in 2007, much higher than the 6.7 per cent recorded in 2006. In 2007, the services sector became the largest sector of the economy outstripping the agriculture sector of its dominant role. The relatively weaker performance of the agriculture and industrial sectors (especially the continuously shrinking manufacturing industry) is of some concern as it indicates lower ability of the country to produce essential goods and commodities in the agriculture and industrial sectors for consumption and the sustainable development of the country, the IEA report states.

Under monetary developments, the IEA Economic Review analysis confirmed that money supply growth was the major driver of the inflation in the Ghanaian economy.
The broad money supply, which is the total liquidity in the economy, grew sluggishly at an average monthly rate of 4 per cent from January to December 2007.

The ratio of foreign currency deposits to the broad money supply was about 22 per cent indicating that there was moderate but not strong evidence of "dollarization" during 2007.
However, since 2007 and over the period, April to July 2008, there has been significant increase in the dollarization of the economy coinciding with the depreciation of the Ghana cedi.

The ratio of currency outside banks to broad money supply declined in the early parts of 2007 increasing slightly from May 2007 indicating a slight deterioration in the financial intermediation of the economy. Reserve money grew at a monthly rate of 7 per cent in 2007. On a year-on-year basis there was a 48 per cent increase over the 2006 amount. This growth could be attributed to the growth in the net financial assets of the Bank of Ghana.
The prime rates were maintained at 12.5 per cent during the most parts of 2007 by the seed to 16.0 per cent in May 2008 and 17.0 per cent in July 2008 to tame surging inflation.

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Return NDC to power to continue country's development- Tetteh

Winneba(CR), Nov.12, GNA - Ms Hannah Tetteh Communications Director of National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked the electorate to remember the numerous developmental projects undertaken by NDC and return it to power for a better Ghana.

She said during the NDC regime, about 60 per cent of communities throughout the country were connected to the national electrification grid while a number of school buildings were built and rehabilitated. Ms Tetteh made the call when addressing an NDC rally at Winneba in the Effutu Constituency on Tuesday during which Mr Mike Allan Hammah, NDC Parliamentary Candidate, launched his campaign and manifesto. Earlier in the day, supports of the Party clad in the party's paraphernalia danced through the principal streets of the town amidst brass band music.

She said the NDC constructed and rehabilitated most trunk and feeder roads and bridges and an NDC Government under Professor John Evans Atta Mills would create jobs for the people to be economically sound and contribute their quota towards the country's socio-economic development.

Ms Tetteh advised Ghanaians and the electorate in the constituency to vote massively for Prof. Atta Mills and Mr Hammah on December 7, "to liberate them for their hardships".

Mr Allotey Jacobs, NDC Central Regional Propaganda Secretary urged the members to campaign vigorously for more votes to win Election 2008. He appealed to them to be vigilant at the polling stations. Mr Hammah pledged to lead the people to undertake development projects to improve their living standards when elected. He pledged to open up the area to attract investors and construct a fishing harbour and modern market at Winneba junction for improved economic activities. 

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Frema Busia launches campaign for Manhyia seat

Kumasi, Nov. 12, GNA - Nana Frema Busia, daughter of the late Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, Prime Minister of the second republic, on Wednesday launched her campaign to become a member of parliament for the Manhyia Constituency in Kumasi as an independent candidate.

She also announced her desire to launch a new political party top be named Revived Progress Party, for which she would stand as the flagbearer in future elections.

Speaking at the launch, Nana Busia said the decision was to raise an issue of an abuse of her human rights and threat to her life by some government officials.

Nana Busia alleged that she had suffered a lot of injustices in the hands of the present government, adding that she had not been paid for the past six years as a legal advisor to National Security.

She alleged that there are a lot of injustices currently going on in the country and appealed to Ghanaians to stand up against abuses and discrimination.

Nana Busia said she stood for peace and security of the nation that was why she had worked hard over the years to prevent and control the proliferation of small arms, which were used in ethnic conflicts and armed robbery in the country.

She pointed out that what she wanted was for justice to prevail and reiterated her call on President Kufuor to come out and act on the numerous petitions and letters she had sent to him concerning the way she had been treated by officials of government.

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"Mad Cow" outbreak claims 10 lives

Yaw Bronya (Ash), Nov. 12, GNA - Ten persons have been confirmed dead following an epidemic of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) at Yaw Bronya, a farming community near Ofoase in Asante Akim-South District. Nine of the deceased, all of whom died in a spate of two weeks, have been buried, while three others are on admission at the Juaso District Hospital.

The body of the tenth person was, however, conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for autopsy to determine the cause of death, the result of which confirmed the outbreak as CSM. The disease, which broke out on October 25 this year, was said to have killed victims shortly after they were attacked. The person died on November 9, this month.

The sudden increase of the death toll was due to the late arrival of victims to health facilities. Meanwhile, the people in the area hold the belief that the outbreak was the result of the wrath of a fetish god, which had been offended.

Following the rising incidence of death, the District Chief Executive (DCE) together with the District Directorate of Health services had joined in the efforts to augment the services of the health personnel at the Ofoase Health Centre, the nearest health facility in the area. Emergencies cases were referred to Juaso.

A combined team of health experts from the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) were also dispatched on Tuesday to complement the effort of the District Directorate to stem the outbreak. The team led by Dr Joseph Akwasi Amankwah, Director of Public Health and Dr Lawson Ahadzi, Head of Surveillance Unit of the GHS was also tasked to investigate and identify the exact bacteria that caused the outbreak to ensure its effective control.

The team, therefore interacted with residents of Yaw Bronya and Effakrom, a nearby community to collect views on how the deceased were attacked and the symptoms identified.

They also went through records at the Ofoase Health Center. Miss Christiana Aidoo, District Director of Health Services at a public sensitization later entreated the people to report any sign of the disease to the nearest health facility for treatment. She further asked them to allow enough ventilation into their rooms and avoid overcrowding especially in enclosed areas. Mr Abdul Karim Boakye-Yiadom, the DCE urged them not to hesitate to seek treatment in the event of an attack, assuring them that the assembly would bear the cost of treatment of victims whether one was insured or not.

He announced that a makeshift camp would be set up at Ofoase where a team of health workers would be on standby to attend to fresh cases. The DCE admonished the people to discard the notion that the outbreak was a curse and commended the team of experts for their swift response to bail them out of their plight.

Dr Ahmed Habib, Medical Superintendent of the Juaso District Hospital said the bacteria was commonly found in the meningitis belt in the three Northern Regions, suggesting that it could have been imported into the area, which is a settler community.

He said the Health Directorate was scheduled to embark on a mass immunization exercise on Wednesday in the community having identified the cause of the outbreak.

Dr Habib noted that the situation was under control and urged the people to co-operate with health workers to ensure that the disease was completely eliminated from the area. Meanwhile, the three on admission at the Juaso District Hospital are responding to treatment.

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Tipper truck runs into  Keep Fit Club

Apowa (W/R), Nov. 12,-GNA- A fully loaded tipper truck with registration number GR 3028X fully on Sunday run into children during a keep fit exercise, killing Ekow Obbowe, a 12-year old Primary One pupil and injuring several others at Apowa in the Western Region.

Mr. Jones Joseph Amoah, the Ahanta West Constituency NDC Parliamentary Candidate told the Ghana News Agency at Apowa that the accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. when the members were dancing to a brass band music.

He said the deceased had since been buried while the injured were treated at the Kwesimintsim Hospital and discharged. Mr Amoah expressed his condolence to the bereaved family and said the activities of the Keep Fit Club would be reviewed to prevent such accidents in future.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Magnus Reindent Sam, Kwesimintsim District Commander of the Ghana Police Service who confirmed the accident said the driver of the tipper truck, Jacob Noah, had been remanded in Police Custody to re-appear in court on November 17.

ASP Sam said the police are investigating the accident. He advised motorists and the general public to carefully observe road safety rules and regulations to avoid preventable accidents that could result in loss of lives and properties.

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• 11.11.2008

Opposition Parties 'Blast' Presidential Palace

President John Kufuor is coming under intense criticism after Monday unveiling a presidential complex named the Golden Jubilee House, which is expected to serve both as office and official residence of the president and the vice president. The parties say the government demonstrated its insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian by using more than 30-million dollars to build a palace for the president.

 "The structure is built with the cooperation of the government and the people of India and Ghana government money. So it is a very imposing edifice, which is a national pride and honor, and when every nation becomes as republic and even when you are not a republic or even a monarchy or whatever, you would need something that shows as a nation your pride and your honor at where your first family is housed. And we are very happy to see to it today," he said.

Asamoah-Boateng denied the complex, which would serve as both the residence and offices for the first and second family, would not pose a security challenge in the future.

"We've done enough with the security arrangement at the compound. It is a 20-acre land, so you can imagine. It's not a small place piece of land. It is huge. And where the first family is, is separated from where the second family is by a huge stretch of land as well. But also they both work in the administrative block, so it makes sense to put them together. But when obviously those two are together, then the security arrangement changes and it becomes tighter," Asamoah-Boateng noted.

He said Ghanaians have unanimously welcomed the era of democracy rather than the subversion of the country's constitution.

"I believe that as a nation, we have gone beyond the time of adventurism of military takeovers, we've gone past it. I'm fairly sure that even if we house the speaker (of parliament) in the same compound," he said.

Although Asamoah-Boateng declined to reveal specifically when President Kufuor would move into the new office building, he admitted his staff would begin moving in today.

"Today we did the unveiling or the christening and also the naming of it, but the work is not complete. What we've completed is the administrative block for the offices to run. What I know is that some sections of the staff of the president from the castle would start moving in today. They were packing away from the castle last night and they would be there from today. So we need to have a gradual movement of the staff. But of course, the staff would have to settle down to know where everything is and then the president also moves in. I know he would move in but the time I cannot tell you. Sometimes, President Kufuor keeps things to himself for a while, so I think I would give him that as the president to keep those things close to his chest. But we've discussed it and I know he would move in," Asamoah-Boateng pointed out.

He said the new complex would provide more room for the office of the first and second offices.

"The other key thing is what this new building brings to us is the efficiency of work. Here, we have enough space and in most of the offices there are stretches of room where there are only small partitions where at least managers or directors would see their staff and work with them. It brings that kind of culture of togetherness and every office or organization needs that culture to hold people together," he said.

The decision to construct the complex generated robust national debate tainted with partisan sentiments, which sought to suggest the timing as wrong, and as not taking into account the hardships the nation was experiencing.

Meanwhile, while Inaugurating the phase one of project, President John Agyekum Kufuor said the Government at every stage of the construction had been sensitive to the financial implications of the venture as well as the conditions of life of the society.

The project was originally estimated to cost 36.9 million dollars but with the provision of added facilities to enhance external and internal security as advised by the Security Services, it is now expected to go up. It was undertaken with an Indian concessionary loan that has a 50 per cent grant element and an interest rate of 1.75 percent, repayable in 25 years, including a five-year moratorium. Indian contractors Shapoorji Pallonji undertook the project. The construction works started in 2006.

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Govt Hiding Real Cost of Presidential palace?

Although the yet to be completed presidential complex has been inaugurated, the cost involved has been ‘hidden’ from Ghanaians for the time being.

The project, initially pegged at $36.9 million was later estimated, by the Chief of Staff, to cost more than the amount quoted; Ghanaian taxpayers are at lost as they wait upon government to confirm how much of the their money was committed into the luxurious edifice, creating room for astonishing speculations.

The Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, John Mahama, who doubles as the running mate of the opposition National Democratic Congress, claimed the government has spent a whooping $70 million on the Golden Jubilee House.

“You hear people say that nothing has suffered by spending almost $70 million on a presidential palace and that commitment to social services have not stopped,” he wondered.

Speaking on a wide-range of issues on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show (SMS), Mr. Mahama said government have to set its priority right.

“A government loses its way when it loses it sense of priority. I don’t think if we had $70 million to spend, we will spend it immediately on building a presidential palace, we probably could even phased it over a period,” he said.

Mr. Mahama also refuted claims by President Kufuor that the palace was constructed due to an “irresistible” offer made by the Indian government.

“The Indian government said this year we have $60 million available for you and Ghana government decided that they wanted to use 50% for rural electrification and 50% for a presidential palace. They sent a proposal of the presidential palace to the Indian government,” he explained.

This is how he summed up his overall thought over the Golden Jubilee House: “One, I don’t think that at this time in our national life it is an extreme priority to have built that complex; two, I don’t think it should have been named Golden Jubilee, I don’t think that was necessary; three, I think the government has not been forthcoming, open and transparent in terms of the costing and the expenditure that is taking place on that complex.”

He said the name should have remained as Flagstaff House.

While speculations are rife over the cost of the project, Ghana’s Information and National Orientation Minister has not even been abreast with the cost of the project. He struggled in vain to reject an estimated $30 million extra cost as put to him by the SMS host.

“Government responsibilities are going, everything is being tackled as we should…as I said yesterday and the Chief of Staff repeated it, I would not be able to give you the figures today.

Right now there are some few activities taking place there especially in the residence part and everyday you know things might happen in terms of cost; so let’s relax, it is not something we wouldn’t tell you…”

Meanwhile, the BBC's correspondent in Accra has projected the cost at $45-50m.

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Rawlings "electrifies" crowd at Oda and Swedru

Akyem Oda Oct. 11 GNA- Former President John Jerry Rawlings, on Monday received a rousing welcome from hundreds of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), literarily poured into the Akyem Oda and Akyem Swedru Constituencies during his visit to the area as part of his campaign tour of the Eastern Region.

Former President Rawlings addressed separate rallies at Akyem Akroso, Akyem Manso, Akyem Oda, Akyem Swedru Zongo, Akyem Aperade and Akyem Achiase where he was cheered by large crowds who earlier in the day defied the scorching sun to "invade" the streets amidst singing and dancing waiting for his arrival.

He advised the electorate not to repeat the mistakes of 2000 and 2004 and to vote out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government out of power, come December 7.

"After imposing hardships on you for almost eight years now, they had the audacity to come to you to renew their mandate but be steadfast and reject them in the up-coming polls".

Mr. Rawlings told the enthusiastic crowd that a vote for the NDC is "a vote for you and not Rawlings and urged them to vote massively for the party to enable them to live meaningful lives once more.' He accused the NPP government of massive corruption and said because of their bad deeds they were afraid of losing power and therefore resorting to dubious means to cling on to power.

"They are afraid of the power of the people that demands accountability; December 7 should be seen as a day of freedom and justice".

He told the supporters that the NPP used lies and deceit to win power in 2000 and 2004 and were now using state machinery to lie again and urged the supporters to be able to counteract those lies. Mr Rawlings said the government had imposed so many hardships on Ghanaians that people were dying prematurely of non-communicable diseases such as hypertensions and stoke and urged that it should be shown the exit in the December polls.

Mr Bismarck Tawiah Boateng, Eastern Regional Organizer of the NDC, accused the government of cheating cocoa farmers and said an NDC government would ensue that they were paid good prices for their produce.

He appealed to the people not to vote on tribal lines but rather to look at the qualities of an individual before entrusting power into his or her hands.

Mr Kojo Attah-Krah, NDC Parliamentary candidate for Akyem Oda, enjoined the electorate to vote for a party that would bring about improvement into their living standards and not for those whose aim was just to amass wealth at the expense of the people. Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, NDC Parliamentary candidate for Akyem Swedru, appealed to party supporter to work hard and close their ranks towards victory in the December polls.

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Korle Bu begins kidney transplant

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - Korle_Bu Teaching Hospital has successfully performed the first kidney transplanting in the country. The surgery was performed jointly by a team of medical doctors from Queen's Hospital in the United Kingdom and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Three renal patients will have their kidneys transplanted within the week.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, said such operations were usually replete with privacy and other complicity. He said it was revealed that each operation would have cost 30,000 GH¢ but the Ghana Kidney Foundation was assisting each patient to take the bill.

"Relatives are also contributing massively in the kidney transplanting. The first donation was done by a sister to a brother, the second by a father to a son and the third by a wife to a husband," he explained.

Kidney problems are on the increase and the four kidney centres that the country currently had are inadequate to cater for the increasing number of people suffering from kidney-related problems. He therefore appealed to other corporate organizations to support the Foundation in its efforts to establish the centre at Korle Bu.

Source:
GNA

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NPP manifesto, litany of unattainable promises - Haruna Iddrisu

Tamale, Nov. 11, GNA - Mr Haruna Iddrisu, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, has described the manifesto of the New Patriotic Party as "a litany of unattainable promises".

Mr Iddrisu, who was launching his political campaign to canvass for votes for his re-election in Tamale on Sunday, said the NPP in its manifesto claimed certain development projects it had not undertaken as initiatives of the NPP.

He said it claimed to have built the University for Development Studies (UDS) and the two Polytechnics in Bolgatanga and Wa in the Upper East and Upper West Regions respectively. Mr Iddrisu said those claims could not be true as the UDS was the brainchild of the NDC under the leadership of former President Jerry John Rawlings, while the two polytechnics were also constructed by the same regime.

He said the NPP was also confused since the vision of President John Agyekum Kufuor for the country and that of Nana Akufo-Addo, the party's flag bearer, were contradictory. Mr Iddrisu said while President Kufuor was talking of Ghana becoming a middle income country by 2020, Nana Akufo-Addo had a vision of making the country a first class nation.

He called for a thorough search on all party agents for possible arms on polling day, explaining that this was necessary because Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, and Diplomats of the European Union had conceded that there were a lot of illegal arms in the system.

Mr Iddrisu called for the release of the names or identity numbers of all the security agents who would be on duty during the elections to ensure that they were held accountable for any violence at the polling stations.

Mrs Hannah Tetteh Kpoda, Communications Director of NDC said the party was poised to win this year's elections and assured the people of the Northern Region that the party would reward them for their steadfast loyalty to it over the years.

She promised that the NDC would develop the Tamale Airport into an international one to facilitate the airlifting of Hajj pilgrims to Mecca when the party came to power. Mrs Tetteh said the Tamale Hospital would also be upgraded to the status of a teaching hospital.

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Ghana still grappling with waste management

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - Lack of public awareness in waste management, weaknesses in its management and access to land for the disposal and treatment of waste are the main problems in the management of waste products in the country.

"If we, as a nation can overcome these hurdles, then we are on the right path as far as preventing preventable diseases is concerned. This can also lead to the reduction of the high mortality rate in the country," said Professor (Mrs) Esi Awuah, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geomantic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Speaking on the theme: "Sustainable Sanitation Delivery in Ghana" at a seminar organised by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing for stakeholders in waste management, she noted that the quality of every man was determined by his or her environment hence the need for all to propagate cleanliness.

Prof. Awuah condemned the deplorable manner in which public toilets were managed saying they contributed a lot to the outbreak of preventable diseases.

She noted that every ideal toilet should be have less dependency on water, be both odour and flies-free and must not pollute underground water.

Prof Awuah called for a critical assessment of an area before a toilet was introduced for the inhabitants to benefit from it. "Some water closets are given to communities which do not have ready access to water. This does not in any way stop people from defecating anywhere," she added.

She called for the promotion of eco-sanitary water closets, which separate the urine from faeces for use as manure on farms. Prof. Awuah appealed to people not to make boreholes close to pit latrines or KVIPs since the liquid waste from the latrine could sink into the borehole, which could be very harmful to health. "We should also desist from burning of plastic waste in the open because the dioxide it released could be injurious to our health if inhaled."

She condemned instances where some communities did not have toilet facilities and appealed to them to at least allocate part of their land for the construction of toilet facilities for their own benefit. In an open forum, the participants called for the introduction of a system where importers of plastic products would be made to pay levies to help clean the environment.

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Economic growth declined in 2007

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Tuesday stated that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2007 fiscal year dropped to 6.2 per cent from the 6.4 per cent recorded in 2006.

"The 6.2 per cent economic growth rate recorded for 2007 was also slightly below the government's target of 6.5 per cent documented in the government budget statement for 2007," IEA stated in its annual 2007 Economic Review and Outlook documents made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The Economic Review presents an overview of the performance of the economy of Ghana during the calendar year 2007 and outlook for 2008 and beyond based on provisional data released by the Ghana Statistical Service.

The IEA report attributed the economic decline to a combination of factors, which included the nation-wide electricity energy rationing that ended at the end of September 2007 and increases in the world market prices of crude oil.
The IEA 2007 Economic Review and Outlook Survey was conducted by a team of economist including, Dr Kwabena Asomanin Anaman, IEA Head of Economic Centre and Director of Research; Professor Alhassan Wayo Seini, IEA Senior Fellow; Prof John Asafu-Adjaye, IEA Senior Fellow and Mrs. Charity Osei-Amponsah, IEA Research Assistant.

The rest are Dr. Daniel Bruce Sarpong, Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana; Dr. Kofi Marfo Mrs Abigail Abandah-Sam; Mr Matthew Armah and Mr Martin Esan Benjamin, all Seniors Executive Officers of Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Accra.
The Report said the 6.2 per cent marginal growth in 2007 was largely achieved on the back of the services sector, the construction and mining industries.

The provisional fiscal outturn in 2007 showed that the total government expenditure was 5,701.5 million Ghana cedis as compared to total revenue of 4,508.2 million Ghana cedis. The government budget deficit for 2007 was 1,193.3 million Ghana cedis, which was about 8.5 per cent of the GDP based on commitments. The overall budget deficit for 2007 including divestiture sales of government assets was 1,132.2 million Ghana cedis equivalent to 8.1 per cent of GDP.

The IEA Economic Review Document said the deficit was higher than the 7.8 per cent recorded in 2006. The deficit figure for 2007 was just over two-and-a- half times the target budget deficit of 3.2 per cent contained in the 2007 government budget statement. The domestic primary balance deficit was 6.7 per cent of GDP and this was substantially higher than the target 0.6 per cent of GDP set by the government.
Total government domestic revenue as a proportion of GDP increased from 22.3 per cent in 2006 to 25.8 per cent in 2007, which was the highest since 2002.

The total revenue and grants as a share of GDP also increased from 27.8 per cent of GDP in 2006 to 31.8 per cent of GDP in 2007. The total size of grants in 2007 was 857.2 million Ghana cedis, representing about 19 per cent of the total revenue.

In general, fiscal management deteriorated considerably during the 2006-2007 period. The economic growth over the two-year period (averaging 6.3 per cent) was generated partly due to excessive fiscal deficits.
According to IEA the government deficits over the last two years (2006 and 2007) and the high deficit for the first six months of 2008 raise concerns about the sustainability of financing government projects.

On the Agricultural Sector, the IEA Economic Review document noted that growth in the industry was far below the target while there was a decline in the growth of the manufacturing industry continuing the trend over the last decade of shrinkage of the manufacturing industry during a period of continuous economic growth.
In 2007, the agriculture sector grew at a rate of 3.1 per cent lower than the revised growth rate of 4.5 per cent achieved by this sector in 2006. The growth rate of the agriculture sector was also significantly below the government's target of 6.1 per cent contained in the government 2007 budget statement.

Contrary to the IEA figures, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its Election 2008 manifesto dubbed: "Moving Ghana Forward; Building a Modern Ghana," said the sector has recorded massive and real growth. The NPP figures indicate that the agricultural sector's growth rate increased from 2.1 per cent in 2000 to 4.4 per cent in 2002 and 6.5 per cent in 2006.
The IEA Economic Review document also recorded decline in the industrial sector, recording 6.6 per cent from the 9.5 per cent recorded in 2006.

The services sector, however, grew at an annual rate of 10.0 per cent recorded in 2007, much higher than the 6.7 per cent recorded in 2006. In 2007, the services sector became the largest sector of the economy outstripping the agriculture sector of its dominant role. The relatively weaker performance of the agriculture and industrial sectors (especially the continuously shrinking manufacturing industry) is of some concern as it indicates lower ability of the country to produce essential goods and commodities in the agriculture and industrial sectors for consumption and the sustainable development of the country, the IEA report states.

Under monetary developments, the IEA Economic Review analysis confirmed that money supply growth was the major driver of the inflation in the Ghanaian economy.
The broad money supply, which is the total liquidity in the economy, grew sluggishly at an average monthly rate of 4 per cent from January to December 2007.

The ratio of foreign currency deposits to the broad money supply was about 22 per cent indicating that there was moderate but not strong evidence of "dollarization" during 2007.
However, since 2007 and over the period, April to July 2008, there has been significant increase in the dollarization of the economy coinciding with the depreciation of the Ghana cedi.

The ratio of currency outside banks to broad money supply declined in the early parts of 2007 increasing slightly from May 2007 indicating a slight deterioration in the financial intermediation of the economy. Reserve money grew at a monthly rate of 7 per cent in 2007. On a year-on-year basis there was a 48 per cent increase over the 2006 amount. This growth could be attributed to the growth in the net financial assets of the Bank of Ghana.
The prime rates were maintained at 12.5 per cent during the most parts of 2007 by the seed to 16.0 per cent in May 2008 and 17.0 per cent in July 2008 to tame surging inflation.

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• 10.11.2008

20 die in motor accident near Techiman

Sunyani Nov. 9, (Solomon Naambir/credit Adu Simon) GNA - Tragedy struck Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo capital, when 20 residents returning from a funeral at Akuma in the Nkoranza South District perished in a motor accident at Wiaso, near Techiman on Saturday. Grief-stricken relatives could be seen wailing whilst other residents were seen in groups late Saturday and Sunday morning, discussing the tragedy.
Eighteen of the dead were on board a 207 Benz bus with registration number BA 6656 X and the other two being the driver and another occupant of a KIA truck with registration number AS 1726 V. All the dead were removed with the assistance of personnel of the Ghana Fire Service and some volunteers, who had to saw through the mangled vehicles to get the bodies, which were sent to the Holy Family hospital in Techiman.
Four survivors on board the bus were also sent to the hospital in critical conditions. The dead are yet to be identified.
An eye witness told the Ghana News Agency that the accident occurred when the KIA truck loaded with sawn timber and being pursued by a military task force crashed into the on-coming hired bus belonging to the Greater Grace Chapel in Sunyani. Most of the occupants of the bus were said to be members of a benevolent society of Nkoranza citizens based in Sunyani. Meanwhile an appeal has gone to the general public to come forward to identify the victims and collect the bodies. 9 Nov. 08

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Journalists must be empowered to market Africa- Veep

From Nana Kodjo Jehu-Appiah, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Mahama at the weekend, expressed the need for African journalists to be paid handsome salaries to empower them to project the image of Africa. He said Europe should also create the platform to listen and tell the story of Africa in positive light, in order to dispel the prejudices Europeans had about Africans. Alhaji Mahama was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Abuja, Nigeria at the end of the Fourth Africa Forum of the Partnership with Africa initiative, which aimed at fostering development and co-operation between Africa and the industrialised nations.

The three-day conference, which was hosted by the German President, Mr Horst Kohler, and his Nigerian counterpart, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, was on the theme: "Barriers to Partnership and how to overcome them." He said the flow of information would boost the sinking image of Africa and improve on the fragile security situation in parts of the continent. Alhaji said the numerous conflicts in Africa were creating a bad picture about Africans hence "the need for Africans to put their house in order".

He said the forum came out with good conclusions to deal with the social, political and economic barriers that were running down partnership between Africa and Europe. Speaking at a press conference to bring the forum to a close, President Kohler called on Africans to use the various regional bodies to tackle conflicts on the continent. He asked Europe to help to boost the security of Africa to reciprocate the safety of Europeans.

President Kohler said the global financial crises called for a common international platform to dialogue on the way forward. He said Africa and Europe must evaluate the global fight against terrorism and deal with the irregularities associated with migration in order to forge mutual policies to divine the future. President Kohler observed that while Europeans apply double standards in regard to trade issues, African leaders must also stop using the same tactics by declining to criticise their colleagues when they go wrong.

President Yar'Adua, whose country is chairing the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, said the necessary recommendations ought to be made to the union to sanction personalities who are perceived to be undermining the efforts of Zimbabwe to form a unity government.

Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission said the international financial crises was likely to affect the huge remittances from the Diaspora to Africa and reverse the progress made after most countries on the continent were hit by food and energy problems.

He said the crises could also reverse the forward march of Africa to attain the Millennium Development Goals. More than 50 selected eminent persons with background in politics, business and civil society used the forum as a platform to look at the barriers that Africans and Germans see as stumbling blocks in forging genuine partnership. Heads of State from Burkina Faso and Ethiopia were part of the forum. The maiden conference took place in Germany in November 2005, the second in Ghana in January 2007 and the third in November 2007 in Germany.

In a related development, Mr George Kumi, Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria has challenged Ghanaian entrepreneurs to forge partnership with their Nigerian counterparts to rake home the available dividends. He said most Ghanaians were seated on the fence due to prejudices they had about doing business in Nigeria. Mr Kumi who was speaking to the GNA in Abuja said Ghana should learn from the initiative taken by Nigerians to invest in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

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Election success depends on security agencies - EC official

Cape Coast, Nov. 10, GNA - The Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Samuel Tettey on Monday charged security agencies in the Central Region to be on their guard since the success of the December election depends largely on them. Speaking at a workshop organized by the EC for the regional election security taskforce dubbed "Exercise Peace Angel", Mr Tettey noted that security men are to escort election materials to polling stations, keep order at these stations and arrest electoral offenders. He told the security personnel not to get involved in the electoral process, stressing that "you can't take part in counting and application of indelible ink, you only act upon instructions from the Presiding Officer".

He also told the participants that candidates and their spouses have the right to be present at the polling stations and should not be driven away, adding that, accredited media personnel are also eligible to be present for observation and reportage. Mr Tettey urged them to endeavour to be punctual to duty on the day of the election, and also beef up their numbers at the collation centres where the results are going to be declared. He reiterated that a special voting day had been scheduled for security personnel on December 2 and asked those who have to transfer their votes to do so because the process was underway. The Regional Security Coordinator, Air Commodore Richard Awuku also charged the security men to be alert and stay focused, to avoid being influenced by politicians, particularly in the face of accusations that the EC was on the side of government, and accusations that the voters registers is bloated.

He called on other security agencies such as the prisons, fire, immigration and the customs, excise and preventive services, to assist the police in ensuring a smooth conduct of the election. The Chairman of the Regional Election Security Taskforce, DCOP Akayire Kamparah, who is also the regional police commander, stressed that, the main purpose of the workshop was to help the security agencies rehearse on how to maintain law and order before, during and after elections. He however assured Ghanaians that, the security agencies do not envisage for any problems, but will rise to the task in case of any eventuality.

Source:
GNA

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Invest more in child education and less on funerals

Manso Kwabenaso (Ash), Nov. 10, GNA - Nana Owusu-Yamoah Bediako III, chief of Dome Kwankyeabo, has deplored the attitude of parents, who spend lavishly on funerals and other personal effects to the detriment of their children's education.

He regretted that, some parents either had little value for education or were ignorant about its importance and contributions towards the socio-economic development of society. Nana Owusu-Yamoah was speaking at the launch of a GH¢10,000 Manso Kwabenaso Educational Fund at Manso Kwabenaso in the Amansie west District last week.

He also expressed concern about the inability of some parents to control and supervise their children at home but rather allowed them to patronize video shows and games, trading and other activities, which he said, did not promote quality education.

Nana Owusu-Yamoah advised parents, religious leaders, teachers and other meaningful resident citizens to help educate the teenagers on the dangers of sexual promiscuity and other social vices.

Mr Gabriel Owusu-Afriyie, an Assistant Director of Education in-charge of supervision said the acquisition of personal materials, including mourning clothes by some parents instead of investing in their children's education, had become a fashion in the area. He, therefore, noted that the practice was a great disservice to the future of the children and advised parents to visit schools regularly to acquaint themselves with their children's academic progress.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie noted that the efforts of the government to offer quality education would not achieve the desired impact if parents and guardians failed to provide them with their basic needs including exercise books, uniforms and other teaching and learning materials. Nana Ofori Nsiah Ababio, chief of Abirem, who chaired the launch, stressed the need for the elderly to lead lives worth of emulation by the youth adding "good and moral virtues were the best qualities that a parent can bequeath to the child".

Source:
GNA

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Our "Rubber Stamp" Parliament Exposed!

.. They approve without investigating/analyzing

The Majority Leader in Parliament Benjamin Osei Aidoo says the house is not to blame for ratifying the deal that offloaded 70% government share in Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO).

“For us, we were mandated to approve of an agreement [between] two parties, one of them being the Ghana government.

“If it turns out that the other party or the person or agent ... did not have the mandate, that’s a matter between the Ghana government and that other party.

“We have done what we were supposed to do under the constitution,” he maintained.

The Majority Leader was responding to questions on parliament's position on the reported denial of two foreign companies mentioned to have bought the 70% share in the agreement.

Parliament approved the $175-million-dollar sale for 70% of the VALCO last Friday but the Reuters news agencies reported that both foreign companies mentioned in the agreement said they had no plans to buy the stake.

According to a Joy Fm news desk report, Ghana’s foreign ministry had indicated in a memorandum to Parliament that Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL) and Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale/CVRD) (VALE5.SA) had agreed on August 8.

The document also stipulated that the two companies which made up the International Aluminium Partners, the consortium which signed the deal with government, would invest some $4.7 billion in Ghana’s aluminium industry.

The less-than-two-scores chamber approved the deal by acclamation with little debate, despite a stiff opposition by some members of the opposition.

Although the agreement describes the document as legally binding between the government of Ghana and the consortium, it is now unclear if it still stands.

The chairman of VALCO Dr Charles Mensah witnessed the agreement for the group whiles forestry minister Esther Obeng Dapaah witnessed for trade minister Papa Owusu Ankomah who signed on behalf of the government of Ghana.

Since reports of the non-existing deal broke on the international media, government officials have declined to comment.

The trade minister who took the document to Parliament for approval directed Joy News to the chairman of VALCO, who has also declined comment.

VALCO with a capacity to produce 200,000 tonnes of aluminium a year has been inactive since March 2007 due to power shortages caused by low water levels in the Volta hydropower dam.

Under the terms published by the Ministry, Vale and Norsk Hydro would pay an initial $25 million to the Ghana government, with the remainder due only when VALCO resumed production with two pot lines running and power guaranteed from the Volta dam.

The minority leader in Parliament, Harun Idrissu had described the deal as a “giveaway” because it would take some time for VALCO to run two pot lines.

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