• 30.11.2008

Truck kills two highway robbery victims at Breku

Breku (Ash), Nov. 30, GNA - An early dawn highway robbery at Breku near Asankare in the Asante Akim South District on Saturday morning, resulted in the death of two of the victims who were ran over by a "Man Diesel" truck minutes after the robbery.

Four others, who sustained various degrees of injury, together with the bodies of the dead, were taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

The robbers, numbering six, snatched a Nissan pick-up with registration number GV 116 V, belonging to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi and bolted with it. The robbers, who blocked the Breku Forest portion of the Accra-Kumasi highway with large beams, made away with monies and valuables running into several thousands of cedis from passengers on board the cars caught up in the blockage.

Mr Simon Yaw Boribah, Assistant Registrar at the Students Affairs Office of the KNUST, who was driving the Nissan Pick-up told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that, the robbers took away GH¢740 and two mobile phones from him and three others on board. He said they were on their way to the funeral of a student at Peki in the Volta Region and on reaching the spot they were compelled to stop by the roadblock.

According to him six armed men emerged from the bush and asked them to surrender all their monies and mobile phones and also seized their vehicle.

"They then turned their attention to other vehicles coming from Accra and robbed the passengers of their monies before bolting with our car", he explained.

Superintendent Francis Aggripa Oppong, Acting Konongo Divisional Police Commander, when contacted confirmed the incident and said, the police had information about the robbery at 0330 hours and rushed to the scene, but the robbers had already escaped. He said, while some passengers were standing by the roadside counting their losses, a "Man Diesel" truck loaded with cement with registration number GE 4029 W heading towards Kumasi had a brake failure and ran through them, killing the two instantly. He said the Police were making efforts to trace the robbers.

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Prof. Mills To Run Government Of Fairness

Koforidua, Nov. 30, GNA - The needs of every Ghanaian and not that of only a privileged few would be catered for under a Professor John Evans Atta Mills' presidency, which will begin on 7th January 2009. "My government will not allow a situation where a few become filthy rich while the majority wallow in poverty to persist," Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC), told an Eastern Regional Rally held at the Koforidua Jackson Park on Saturday.

Prof. Mills pledged to offer Ghanaians honest and fair government to all when elected President of the country. He promised Ghanaians, who were disappointed and saddened by the poor performance of the present Government, of better time ahead and called on such people to support the change for a better Ghana slogan by voting for the NDC.

Prof. Mills promised to improve upon the National Youth Employment Programme to help to create employment, promote better health care and offer better quality education.

He urged Ghanaians to question the New Patriotic Party (NPP) why they did not introduce some of those things they were now promising during the past eight years that their government had been in power. Prof Mills, who had a hectic time getting to the rally grounds as the milling crowd surged forward to catch a glimpse of him, appealed to members of the security services, who would be voting soon, to vote for the NDC, and pledged that his government would provide their needs to enable them to offer their best to the country.

Dr Ekow Spio-Gabrah, Former Minister of Education in the NDC Government, said NPP Government found it wise to establish special courts to try and jail drivers but did not find it wise to establish special courts for armed robbers and cocaine dealers. He criticised the NPP for selling Government bungalows and almost every asset belonging to the State and warned the electorate that if they made a mistake to vote for the NPP, after selling all the assets of the country they would start to sell the people.

The General Secretary of NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia observed that the change in Ghana has already occurred but what was needed was for the members of the NDC to work hard to actualise the change on the voting day.

He told workers of the country that when elected into power, the government of NDC would not only improve upon their service conditions but would also guarantee their right to speak their mind on important national issues. 

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• 29.11.2008

I will prosecute any member of my govt engaged in corruption- Atta Mills

Somanya (E/R), Nov. 29, GNA-The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has given the assurance that he would call for the prosecution of any member of his future government found to have engaged in corruption. He was speaking at a mini-rally at Somanya on the third day of his four-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region, which also took him to Asesewa, Akosombo and Nuaso

Prof. Atta Mills said his government would put up a strong fight against the use of the country as the transit base for banned drugs and check the consumption of those drugs in the country. He thanked the people of the Krobo area for their loyalty to the NDC and assured them that a future NDC government would never turn its back against them but would continued all the uncompleted development projects, which it started in the area.

Prof. Atta Mills called on the people to ensure a peaceful election and be vigilant to ensure that their collective will on the Election Day is protected.

Ms. Ama Beyniwa Doe, the Women Organizer of the party expressed regret that due to the bad economic policies of the government, farmers in the Krobo area could not buy a gallon of kerosene, salt and fish after selling a basket of cassava as it used to be.

She said the economy of the country was so poorly managed that, the country was a now the second of the worse countries in Africa hit by guinea worm and also the second dirtiest in Africa. Ms. Doe said a government that had performed well needed not to be distributing cloth and money to the electorate under the cover of darkness to buy their votes.

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Ghana has less than 150 Dentists

Kumasi, Nov.29, GNA- Ghana currently has less than 150 Dentists with the ratio being one doctor to 130,000 patients (1: 130,000). This is due to the high cost of dentistry training and the complex nature of the profession.
Dr. Eric Asamoah, President of the Ghana Dental Association (GDA) made this known during the launching of Four Fruits and Silver Care Oral Care products by the Media Pharmacy limited in collaboration with Piave Oral Care in Kumasi on Friday.
Silver Care Oral Care Products are oral products that are active in fighting bacteria infection in the mouth and are patronized by 45 countries.
Dr. Asamoah further noted that several regions in the country do not have dentists, adding that Western, Central and Volta regions have less than five dentists each.
Kumasi and Accra, he said have 80 per cent of dentists in the country, lamenting that Ghana is not doing well as far as oral health is concerned saying that 80 per cent of Ghanaians have gum diseases one form or the other.
He mentioned some oral diseases as tumors cancers, mouth odour, tooth decay among others, and outlined the importance of the mouth and called for prevention by reducing sugar intake and brushing twice daily. Dr. James Amoateng, Secretary for the GDA also gave an overview of oral health in Ashanti region and said more school children have periodontal diseases and caries and advocated for the strengthening of oral health education in schools.
He also called for further studies to determine the oral health status and treatment need among children. Alhaji Dr. Muhammed Ben Ibrahim, Regional Director of Health Services, also indicated that technology has affected consumer preference and called on Piavi Oral care to manage strategically to move with the times and be competitive.
He also called on Food and Drugs Board to regulate the influx of fake tooth paste in he country. Mr. Ben Laryea, Country Manager of Media Pharmacy limited, said some of the products were, silver Care Sensitive Gum tooth paste, Silver Care Dental Floss, Silver Care Gifts Pack, Mouth Wash, Tongue Cleaner and intra dental brushes. He called on all Ghanaians to patronize their products.

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NDC to revitalise CEDECOM

Komenda (C/R), Nov. 29, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will revitalise Central Regional Development Company to additionally take on agriculture and fisheries as part of its operational activities. Mr John Dramani Mahama, NDC Vice Presidential Candidate told a bubbling rally at Komenda in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Ebrem in the Central Region that CEDECOM should not engage in tourism activities alone.

He said the NDC would ensure that CEDECOM was involved in agricultural and fisheries development in the area to guarantee a permanent job for the people and to better their livelihood. The NDC would also reintroduce premix fuel distribution by the fishermen themselves to avoid diversion and corruption that existed in the trade while it would also provide fishing gears to fishermen at subsided prices.

It would also build "blast freezers" for the storage of fish, especially during the bumper harvest while it would also abolish per trawling in Ghanaian territorial waters to ensure that local fishermen also get their catch.

Mr Mahama urged the people to vote for the NDC during the December 7 election and if they do that they would be electing Professor John Evans Atta Mills as president who has impeccable leadership qualities. He said the attempt by the opponent of the NDC to run it down would fail because what the NDC has achieved during its eight years in office was impressive and that they would build on it for a better Ghana. Mr. Mahama thanked the people for giving him such rousing welcome "which is an indication that if the turn out would be converted into votes, then victory of the NDC is assured."

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NPP will return to power- President Kufuor

Tamale, Nov. 29, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed optimism about the ruling New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) victory in the December 7 poll, no matter the threats and falsehood by its political opponents.

"NPP will return to power and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo wil be leading our government", he declared, drawing prolonged cheers from an enthusiastic crowd of party supporters at a rally in Tamale on Friday. President Kufuor urged the Northern Region to be on the side of the winners and vote massively for the NPP's Presidential and Parliamentary candidates.

Ghana was rediscovering itself and must stay the course of progress and prosperity, the President said. He said the broken down economy had been fixed and that, an Akufo-Addo-led NPP administration would lead the nation into solid industrialization.

President Kufuor advised people in the region to be law abiding and ensure that the election passed off peacefully. The area, he noted, has got everything going for it, citing the increased level of infrastructure development. Among these are the constructions of a 500-feet bridge to span the White Volta at Kpansenkpe to open the area popularly referred to as overseas, the Tamale Stadium, and Tamale Water Supply Rehabilitation Project and School structures.

He announced that funds had been secured to refurbish the Tamale Government Hospital into a Teaching Hospital. President Kufuor introduced the NPP's parliamentary candidates in the region at the rally.

Earlier in the day, he inaugurated a 45 million Euro Tamale Water Project to supply 9.6 million gallons of water to a population of over 500.000 people in the Metropolis and beyond.

He also inspected the bridge over the White Volta at Kpasenkpe, which is being funded through the French Government's support. It is almost completed and would shorten the travel distance from Kpasenkpe to Navrongo in the Upper East Region by 50 kilometres.

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• 28.11.2008

Vehicles Disappearing from State Pool

LOOTING & DESTRUCTION GALORE!

… … Ministers Changing Official Documents into their names

Last week, we reported the destruction of some confidential documents by the presidency in anticipation of an electoral defeat of the NPP. This singular act, we are told has not abated as our intelligence has shown that the act is still on-going. We find these acts very reprehensible and uncalled for by a government, which rode to political office sounding very high on the rhetoric of ‘zero tolerance for corruption’. As it turned out to be, it was an ironical statement by the ‘Chief Priest’ signaling the people of Ghana ahead of his commitment to endorse, legalize and preside over NPP mega corruption as well as superintend over the looting of the treasury.

According to our intelligence, there is a deliberate destruction of documents on the expressed orders of the presidency. Documents being destroyed are those which deal with questionable transactions. Besides, inventory of vehicles bought for Ghana @ 50 are being shredded while some of these vehicles are being shared among ministers, NPP functionaries and their cronies. True Democrat intelligence can reveal that some vehicles belonging to State Protocol Department (SPD) have started disappeared from the pool. The documents covering these vehicles have either been destroyed as per the instructions from the presidency or being altered at the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Discreet checks by our intelligence sources has showed that between 2001 and the third quarter of 2008, vehicles imported into the country by the NPP government under various guises was unprecedented. These vehicles have been diverted into private hands, a development which is not only criminal, but also fraudulent. In an attempt to prevent a future NDC government from uncovering these diabolical acts, the presidency is moving heaven and earth to ensure that any traces of such purchases are destroyed.

What is more criminal is the attempt to gain access to the importation log of major vehicles companies such as Japan Motors, Toyota Ghana and PHC Motors. Aware of the ability of any investigative body to trace their transactions from these firms, a criminal gang has been put in place to use unorthodox methods to retrieve and destroy such documents. As for the data captured on the systems designed for the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), they are being cleverly deleted.

As if this was not enough, the Ministry of Finance has been the beehive of activity in locating documents with incriminating evidence for destruction. What we can report is that one major area of interest has been millions of dollars diverted through national security for onward transfer into private accounts of the inner cabal in the presidency. Huge sums of money were said to have been siphoned and used to promote certain presidential candidates during the NPP primaries while the same resources ended up in the purchase of fleets of houses both here in Ghana and abroad.

The True Democrat has been informed of the destruction of documents in respect of a contractural agreement signed on behalf of the government of Ghana by one of the children of President J.A. Kufuor. It has to do with the Spanish government. J.A. Kufuor’s son is not a member of government but he chose to sign an agreement on behalf of the people of Ghana. The financial loss caused to the tax payer is huge and incalculable. Afraid that these criminal acts could come to light, the presidency chose to destroy all documents containing their nefarious activities. We shall return to this particular issue in due course.

The recent information trickling in concerning the looting of vehicles from the SPD pool and the altering of documentation of vehicles from one major ministry using DVLA is further confirmation of the dubiousness going on in the presidency. With the destruction team busily at work, some concerned civil servants working in key departments and agencies have alerted us to the clandestine removal of very confidential documentation from their files. They suspected some chief directors and directors with deep partisan roots in the NPP as being those in charge of the devious agenda.

Meanwhile we want to serve notice that the looting and destruction of documents of transactions which were done using the country’s resources will be pursued to their logical conclusion. We shall start mentioning names of those who have stolen official vehicles and forcefully destroying official documents and replacing them with private documentation using the DVLA. The diversion of funds for national security operations into the purchase of residential properties both within and without would be taken to another level. As for the huge stealing of funds from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) under the bogus scheme of under recovery and the shredding of documents in that regard, we assure readers to be on the stand by.

More anon!

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Mills calls for further reduction in petroleum prices

Amanase (E/R), Nov. 28, GNA - The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has called on the government to listen to the genuine complaints of the people and implement policies to reduce their suffering. He said when crude oil prices were rising on the world market; prices of the product in the country were constantly adjusted upwards to march the world market price.

Professor Mills said yet when the world market price of the product fell to almost half the highest price that it rose to, the prices of petroleum products in the country had not been adjusted to correspond to current market price, making life unbearable to ordinary citizens. He was speaking at a mini rally at Amanase in the Ayensuano constituency on Thursday as part of his five- day tour of the Eastern Region, which started on Wednesday. He assured teachers in the country that if by the "Grace of God" he becomes the President of the country after the December general elections, he would improve their service conditions and enhance their dignity in the society.

Earlier at a similar rally at Suhum, he assured the people that if voted into power, he would provide the security agencies with all the needed equipment that would enable them to stop the serial killings going on in the town.

Prof Mills said he had worked with many of the security agencies in the country and assured that many of the personnel were prepared to lay down their lives for the good of the country, but was lacking the necessary equipment and motivation to enable them give of their best. He said the country could not move forward with high corruption, dishonesty, arrogance and promotion and usage of cocaine as the country was being witnessed in recent times.

Prof. Mills assured the people of Ghana of hard working, honesty and humble leadership if elected President on December 7. Prof Mills and his entourage also visited Begoro, Kwabeng and Nkyenoa.

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PRA Poll: Akufo-Addo leads

A nationwide opinion poll, conducted by the Primary Research Associates (P.R.A.), indicates that the 2008 presidential elections be decided by a first round victory.

The P.R.A. poll conducted between October 23 and November 2, 2008 puts the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akufo¬-Addo at 50.6%.

According to the polls, the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. John Evans' Atta Mills, will get 35.6%; Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP) - 7% and Dr. Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC), 2.l %.

With about 4.3% of voters undecided, the- remaining four presidential candidates will, according to the polls, be expected to get a total of 0.4% (less than 1%).

A breakdown of some results in the region indicates that in the Central Region, Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to get 55%, as against 24% by Prof. Mills. In this region, Dr. Nduom had 13%. In Eastern, Nana Akufo-Addo had 66.2%; Mills ¬21.7% and Nduom-6.7%.

In Greater Accra, Mills had 48.1 %; Nana Akufo-Addo - 35.3% and Nduom - 8.3%. In Ashanti, whilst Nana Akufo-Addo had a huge 76.4%, Mills was credited with only 14% and Nduom - 5.8%. Mills had an overwhelming 76.3% in the, Volta Region, followed by Nana - 15% and Nduom-2.3%.

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• 27.11.2008

Atta Mills receives rousing welcome

Boadua [ER], Nov. 27, GNA - The Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has received a rousing support in the Eastern Region where he is on a four-day push for votes in his bid to become the nation's next leader.
Confounding assumption by some political pundits that the Eastern Region is under the belt of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Mills hauled large crowds, the highlight being the thousands who clogged the Boadua Ridge park to hear him stump, despite an overcast of rains.
At Kade, supporters actually defied a late downpour to welcome the NDC Flagbearer to the heartland of the dense forested community, appropriately called the Kwaebibirem District.
Initially from Nsawam where he commenced his drum up of support to Nyanoa, Adeiso, Asamankese and Boadua, Prof. Atta Mills enjoyed an emotional welcome with some communities putting road blocks at some vantage points to compel him to address them.
The thematic concern of Prof. Mills' campaign message was the need for political entities to demonstrate that party politics, rather than generating enmity among the people, should be used as a trajectory to instigate ideas, which can form the basis of national development. He said, in line with that ethos, the NDC would strive to galvanize its supporters to observe the peace and also to ensure that the polls were conducted in a manner that represented the true aspirations of the voters.
Prof. Mills said NPP supporters had nothing to fear if he was elected President because he would be president of all Ghanaians, and would not pursue any retributive goals.
He said under his watch, the NDC would not engage in wanton pillage of the national kitty for private gains, but would use the resources available to embark on projects that would place ordinary people at the centre of its programmes.
In particular, Prof. Mills said he would not encourage his family members to become mired in looting national resources as this would be a betrayal of the confidence the people reposed in him. He said those in political leadership should at all times try to engineer projects that helped solve the myriad difficulties faced by the people rather than seeking their own comfort.
He said the concerns of farmers, fishermen and other trade would be tackled holistically in line with modern agricultural dictates to enable them to realize the fruits of their toils.
Prof. Mills said any minister or state official who would engage himself in sleaze would be dealt with as the NDC wanted to champion a government not tainted by corruption and other corruptible practices such as drug-dealing. On the status of his health, which has been a subject of public discussion, Prof Mills said he had disappointed those who wanted him dead and was at the moment in a sound state of well-being. Prof. Mills' tour, which will take him to other constituencies in the region ends on Saturday with a rally at the Koforidua Jackson's Park to be addressed by his Vice-Presidential candidate, Mr. John Mahama, former President John Rawlings and other stalwarts of the party.

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"NPP government best managers of economy" - Ofosu Asamoah

Asuom (E/R), Nov. 27, GNA - The Member of Parliament for Kade, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, says it is only a government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that can effectively and efficiently manage the affairs of the country to ensure the well-being of the people. He said the government had proved through its track record during its reign that, it had lived up to its motto of "Development in Freedom".

Addressing party faithful at Asuom as part of a campaign tour to retain the seat in the upcoming elections, Mr Asamoah said since the NPP government had so far delivered on its promise, the people of Ghana should vote it back to power to continue its good works. He said "the face of Ghana" was increasingly changing with numerous projects completed or springing up everywhere in the country, and if the party was given additional mandate in December, the country would see tremendous transformation in four years.

Mr Asamoah said if with the scarce resources, so much had been achieved within so short a time, Ghanaians should rest assured that when the oil revenue started flowing into the national coffers, much more could be achieved to provide for the basic needs of communities. The MP said God loved Ghana and waited for a "God-fearing government" to rule the nation before opening "the floodgates" of the oil deposit, so that the life of the average Ghanaian could be made richer and happier.

He gave the assurance that the NPP being good managers of the economy would put the oil revenue to good use for the benefit of all but not a few.

Mr Asamoah said the NPP would live up to its promise to give every Ghanaian child attending high or technical school free education and prove the "doubting Thomas's" wrong. He said those unable to proceed further after Junior High school, would be given free apprenticeship training to equip them with skills that would make them marketable.

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• 26.11.2008

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Fire breaks out at Cedi House

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - Fire gutted parts of Cedi House at dawn on Wednesday forcing a postponement of trading on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) which is located in the building.

The Bank of Ghana and GSE, in a joint statement, said the fire outbreak occurred at about 0350 hours. It said the Ghana National Fire Service was called to the scene and they responded promptly and put out the fire.   There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is being investigated. The statement said top officials of the Bank of Ghana, the GSE and Securities and Exchange Commission have visited the scene to assess the situation.   Meanwhile, trading for Wednesday has been delayed and would be conducted between 1330 and 1430 hours at the Ghana Export Promotion Council Auditorium, opposite Cedi House, Liberia Road.   The GSE said it expected to revert to operations at the Cedi House by the close of the week. Source: GNA     - The Cedi House in Accra -   Picture  (c)  EventPicture.co.uk / ghanaweb-news.com

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• 25.11.2008

Ghanaian "Illegals" Locked Up in Cameroonian

Takoradi, Nov. 25, GNA - Government has been urged to take urgent steps to rescue eleven Ghanaians reported to be languishing in police cells in Duala, Cameroon, for not possessing resident permits.

The eleven are among other foreign nationals, who set-off from Nigeria to Gabon about three months ago, when their canoe capsized at the southern coast of Cameroon.

They were rescued by personnel of the Cameroonian Navy and transported to Duala.

Mr Kojo Asamoah Gyimah, a 28-year-old Ghanaian Marine Engineer in Cameroon who arrived in the country last week, narrated the ordeal the Ghanaians were going through to the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi on Tuesday.

He said the stranded Ghanaians made their first appearance in court last Friday and would re-appear tomorrow Wednesday November 26, 2008 to know their fate.

Mr Gyimah said other nationals involved in the accident have already been rescued by their respective countries' missions in

Cameroon. But Ghana has no mission in that country. He said because his father, Mr Kwame Gyimah, a building contractor is the head of the Ghanaian community in Duala, the eleven Ghanaians were brought to their house where they had catered for them for past three months.

Mr Gyimah said sometime last week, his father travelled to Nigeria and during his absence the Cameroonian authorities came to their house and took the Ghanaians away to a welfare centre.

He said at the centre, they were accused of planning to escape so they were arrested and placed in police custody.

He said in Cameroon it was considered a very serious offence for not possessing resident permit and the penalty is six months jail sentence if found guilty. Mr Gyimah also indicated that many Ghanaians were currently in jail in that country for similar offences.

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday spelled out its industrial relations agenda, saying it would invest more in genuine social dialogue and collective bargaining to ensure that peaceful industrial relations and the orderly and speedy settlement of disputes were achieved.

It said it was an NDC government that initiated the major law reform process to overhaul, update and codify the country's labour legislations culminating in the passage of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

"With the passage of the Act the expectation of all the social partners was that the necessary flexibility will be injected into the labour market and that industrial relations will move away from the fire-fighting model to a more proactive system aided solidly by bipartite and tripartite co-operation and collaboration," Mr John Mahama, vice presidential candidate of the party said in an address to civil servants and other labour unions in Accra. He said an NDC-led government would work with organized labour and other social partners to actualize the vision of the Labour Act and to deepen, refine and fine-tune its provisions, if necessary, to give it more impetus and vitality.

On the National Labour Commission (NLC), he said the party was aware of the difficulties it faced such as, inadequate budgetary allocation and human resource constraint; the limitation on its ability to enforce legitimate labour decisions for instance, on the arbitrary termination of appointment of workers. Mr Mahama said there will be minimum delay in establishing the full complement, both in quality and quantity, of commissioners of the NLC and employees, pointing out that the present situation, where there was only one legal expert serving on the commission was grossly unacceptable.

"The establishment of structures of the Commission at the Regional level will receive early attention and will be carried out in phases." Mr Mahama noted that the District structures will take a while to establish due to the expected large financial and human resource commitments the exercise will require.

"Just as the NDC found time-tested mechanisms during its tenure, to alleviate extreme difficulties associated with the funding of education, road construction and maintenance, and export development so shall it find the means to help the NLC resource itself to enable it exert its independence and deliver on its mandate without fear or favour." On a strategic public sector wage policy, Mr Mahama said, in line with its social democratic ideology the NDC was committed to social justice, equity and the constitutional principle of equal pay for work of equal value.

It would therefore work expeditiously with labour towards the formulation and adoption of an agreement on a strategic wage policy framework covering all labour groups in the public sector. "While taking on board as appropriate the new reforms initiated by the NPP government, we will ensure the introduction of a unified single spine salary structure for all workers in the public sector." Mr Mahama said an NDC government would "promote a new order of salary administration whose hallmark shall be rationality, consistency, equity, social justice and the constitutional principle of equal pay for work of equal value".

He said the party was committed to the setting of minimum daily wage as a way of providing a safety net for the vulnerable and a guide to employers.

"The ultimate aspiration of our party, indeed, is to achieve a living wage for working people. The inability of the economy to meet this commitment has always been cited as the black spot. "I do not believe that this country is too poor to meet this commitment if we manage our resources in a more rational manner and pick our priorities right.

"The NDC shall do well to harness revenues from cocoa, gold, and non-traditional value added exports as well as the anticipated oil export to motivate workers to increase productivity and grow the economy for the benefit of all."

On Housing, the NDC said available data indicated that the housing deficit was in excess of 500,000 units, whilst housing supply growth varied between 25,000 and 40,000 units per annum, against annual requirements of about 100,000.

He said the NDC intended to introduce a number of interventions that will accelerate shelter provision, particularly for low-income earners.

These include granting of tax credits and other incentives for private estate developers who would explore the production and use of improved local materials and appropriate technology in the built industry to bring down the cost of buildings.

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• 24.11.2008 

NDC wants no political gimmickry peace talk - John Mahama

Kumasi, Nov 24, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) said it would accede to a talk that would lead to peace based on fair and just move, which would not be only a political gimmick. Mr John Dramani Mahama, Vice Presidential Candidate of the NDC told a forum at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi that peace is built with fair play, justice and trust. "We all want peace during and after the December seven election, but the New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s call on the NDC to meet it to have peace talk, looked like a ploy and if the NDC failed to respond to that call it would be surprising that the NPP would use it as a propaganda to call NDC names," Mr Mahama said.

He said that Professor John Evans Atta Mills NDC Presidential Candidate's agreement to have peace talk with any institution was welcomed and that any talk the NDC would engage in with the NPP, it was necessary that there should be a third party as a moderator, which the two parties would agree to.

Mr Mahama told the forum organized by the UST Tertiary, Educational Institutions Network (TEIN) that impunity, selective justice and impartiality that was being given to them were not anything that would encourage and promote peaceful co-existence.

He said "What is wrong is wrong. But that to have a situation when one Red Bashiru was involve in a shooting incident in Tamale could be released by the Regional Minister, those who engaged in the arson and killing of innocent people in Gushegu in the Northern, could be moving freely and that for an NDC parliamentary candidate who was involved in double registration could be jailed in less than 48 hours, whilst an NPP constituency chairman of Ejura-Sekyeredumase caught with over 700 Voters ID cards was resting in bosom of the police for over two months now then one begin to be careful of peace talk,".

Mr Mahama said "the December election was about issues that give alternative choice to the electorate and that for any one who has the love of the country at heart would be engaged in telling lies or producing a manifesto that was unattainable, then the one which was not more attractive and could be implemented should appeal to the voter to decide".

He said he has on three public occasions challenged the NPP to show any single public housing unit that it has established any part of the country.

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Mallam "Insha Allah" Isa roots for NDC

A former Minister of Youth and Sports under the Kufuor Administration, Mallam Ali Yusuf Isa has declared his unflinching support for the National Democratic Congress flag-bearer Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, after defecting from the People’s National Convention.

Mallam Isa, otherwise known as Insha Allah, was drafted into the Kufuor Administration as part of the latter’s all inclusive government from the People’s National Convention. He was later convicted and imprisoned for stealing and wilfully causing financial loss to the state.

He was granted amnesty by the president after serving part of his term and has since been on the quiet.

Announcing his sudden defection at the NDC Headquarters shortly after addressing a press conference in Accra to rebuff what he said were allegations and lies perpetrated by President Kufuor and New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, Mallam Isa said the NDC was the only human-centred party worthy of voting for.

He said Professor John Evans Mills, NDC presidential candidate, was a better candidate to be trusted to lead Ghana out of her current economic hardships and he has decided to throw his weight behind him and the party.

In brief remarks to party officials led by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General Secretary, Mallam Isa said he had been with the NPP before and was convinced they are at their wits end on the problems confronting the country.

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah welcomed Mallam Isa and said even though the NDC was not a party of riches and bounty, it was sensitive to societal needs and places much premium in meeting the needs of the people. In that vein, Mallam Isa would equally share in the national cake just as any Ghanaian.

Describing Mallam Isa’s defection as a qualitative one, Asiedu Nketiah said usually defectors joined the ruling government as a result of persecution or monetary baits, “but here is someone who has been with them but has seen the worth of the NDC.”

He asked Mallam Isa to discharge his obligations as a party member responsibly and avail himself of all opportunities in the party, adding, the NDC is the party of choice.

Asiedu Nketiah asked party members to support the new convert as he puts his shoulders to the wheel for a change in government come the December Elections.

Mallam Isa had during his press conference accused the NPP of planning his incarceration, and said a recent claim by President Kufuor during an interview with the BBC convinced him the NPP was behind his incarceration.

President Kufuor in an interview with the BBC on November 14 cited the imprisonment of Mallam Isa as a classic demonstration of his political will to fight corruption.

Mallam Isa said during the recent IEA Presidential Debate in Tamale, Nana Akufo-Addo also claimed his (Mallam Isa’s) incarceration was ample proof that he, Nana Addo, discharged his office creditably as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in fighting corruption.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I know this meeting will not stop President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo from continuing on this path of lies and character defamation that they hatched, executed and continue to propagate against me.

“At least, I hope to prove to the good people of Ghana and the world at large that the NPP administration has not fought corruption. Indeed corruption and or incompetence smells right from President Kufuor, through Nana Akufo-Addo to the lowest member of the NPP administration. One wonders why none of them has been pencilled for prosecution.

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Ghana's economic bankruptcy exposed -PNC

... deteriorating since 2006 and continued in 2007.

Accra, Nov. 24, GNA - The Peoples' National Convention (PNC) on Monday commended the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) for exposing the true state of the economy, which the institute said was deteriorating since 2006 and continued in 2007.

Mr Anbataayela Bernard Mornah, PNC General Secretary in an electronic mail to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, described the IEA's "Annual 2007 Economic Review and Outlook," document as a bold independent identification and diagnosis of the ailing economy. He therefore called on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stop white washing the "economic sepulchre," they have created over the past eight-year through misrule and immediately convey a bi-partisan economic think-tanks forum to analysis the true state of the economy.

Mr Mornah said the IEA report also exposes the deception captured in the NPP Election 2008 manifesto, which the NPP trumpeted as classic benchmarks of success in its stabilization of the economy.

The PNC General Secretary said the PNC manifesto dubbed economic prosperity on the other hand have catalogued economic stimulus that would lead Ghana out of this quagmire by growing the economy at 10 percent annual rate through agriculture.

He said the Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama led Government would also enhance the quality of schools from basic to tertiary, re-aligning courses offered in the universities to reflect the needs of the labour market and industry.

The NPP in its manifesto had claimed a restored macroeconomic balance, low and declining rates of inflation, lower interest rates and a stable currency that has held its own for six straight years. According to the NPP the interest rate front, the Bank of Ghana rate now stands at a mere 17 percent while the 91-Day Treasury Bill rate has declined to 24 percent. This has made it possible to expand total credit to the private sector from 12.5 percent of GDP in 2000 to 28.4 percent of GDP in 2007.

The NPP claimed that with the cost of borrowing reduced significantly, the private sector is now in a better position to access credit to expand their businesses. We have been able to improve our external reserve position as at December 2001, from US$ 253 million equivalent of three weeks import cover to US$ 2.3 billion equivalent of three months cover as at year end 2007.

"The ultimate proof of our superior management of the Ghanaian economy has been our ability to grow the economy, in nominal GDP terms, from US$ 3.9 billion in 2000 to US$ 16.3 billion in 2008," the NPP stated.

The PNC General Secretary said: "IEA has exposed the deception in the NPP manifesto as the report shows that the real GDP, the economy grew at a rate of 6.2 per cent down 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."

The IEA survey also revealed that 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.

The Cocoa sub-sector declined drastically in 2006 and this decline continued in 2007. The growth rate of 3.5 percent achieved in 2007 was below the projected target rate of 6.0 percent stated in 2007 budget. The forestry and logging sub-sector did not grow as expected, falling marginally from 2.6 percent in 2006 to 2.5 percent in 2007. The fishing sub-sector performed badly with its growth rate declining sharply in 2007.

The growth rate of the industrial sector in 2007 was 6.6 per cent, about one-third reduction 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 in recorded in 2006.

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. Overall there was deterioration of the performance of the economy in 2007 continuing the deteriorating trend started in 2006 despite the achievement of growth rates of slightly above six per cent, the IEA report indicates.

Mr Mornah said these statistical findings shows that NPP have hit the end of the road and must be voted out of government, for fresh ideas to revamp the economy.

"We need change of government to restore hope to the economy, NPP cannot offer any hope for the future. This is the time for real change to restore real hope. We must vote for Dr Mahama as the next President of Ghana". DA

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Thumbprint is only legal symbol for voting - NDC

Kumasi, Nov 24, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday said the thumb printing on the ballot paper was the only legal symbol that was acceptable in voting in Ghana.

It said according to section 31(a) of the Constitutional Instrument, it was stated specifically that a voter was to thumbprint on the ballot paper and that for the Electoral Commissioner, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan to come out to say that any of the fingers and that of the marking against a political party's symbol was unconstitutional. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, National Youth Organiser of the NDC told a forum organized by the Tertiary Educational Institution Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, that the practice of democracy involved the use of the law through proper channels to avoid dictatorship.

He said that if Dr Afari-Gyan wanted to change the law it should pass it through Parliament, and that it was unconstitutional for him to arrogate the powers of voting to himself without resorting to the due process of the law.

He said the NDC says no to pen-marking and any other mark besides the thumb.

Mr Iddrisu said the NDC would not submit to any fraudulent manipulation and intimidation of the electoral process during the election.

He said every Ghanaian wants peace and that the clamour for peace must be predicated on just and fair play.

He said those who seek the highest office of the nation must not only look for the excitement that it generated, but rather the fight for it must be seen in the welfare of the people who should not be discriminated against.

Mr Iddrisu said Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC Presidential Candidate, has an impeccable records of being a Vice President for four years and a Commissioner for Internal Revenue for more than eight years and has imparted knowledge to more than 85 per cent of Ghanaian lawyers for teaching as a law lecturer at the university for than more 35 years. Mr Moses Sedem, President of TEIN said the students at the university have to struggle for chairs at lectures because of their inadequacy and that it hoped if the NDC came to power it would be able to solve that problem and many others that confront the students.

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