| News Home (Main Page) |  | | LATEST WORLD NEWS | | | | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2009 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2007 | | PHOTO REPORTS | | VIDEO REPORTS | | ARTS in GHANA | | Food & Drinks in Ghana |  | | Africa Cup 2008 | | Ghana Hotels | | Links / Websites | | Ghana Districts | | Ghana Tourism | | Ghana Adinkra | Names in Ghana | | | | * 4.05.2010 | USAID to spray 141,621 households in Northern Region * Source: GNA | Accra, May 4, GNA - The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in collaboration with the US Embassy in Accra is expanding its indoor residual spraying from five to eight districts in the Northern Region, covering 141,621 households with over 708,000 people. Under the PMI, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is also providing 955,000 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) for distribution in the Northern and Eastern Regions.
Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, Minister of Health, announced this when he received a quantity of items valued at 5.7 million dollar donated by the USAID through the U.S. Embassy on behalf of the Ghana Health Service on Tuesday.
The items included Insecticide Treated Nets, microscopes, rapid diagnostic test kits for the improvement of diagnosis and treatment of ailments, Maternal and Child Healthcare guidelines and other health education materials.
Dr Kumbour praised the Agency for helping the Ghana Health Service to scale-up the implementation of the Community-based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) initiative.
He called for closer collaboration with the USAID for the expansion of its health programmes and services to other deprived areas in the country.
Presenting the items, Mr. Donald Teitelbaum, US Ambassador to Ghana, reiterated the Embassy's commitment towards the fight against diseases and the prevention of malaria in the county. "This presentation represents a broader commitment on the part of the American people to help to improve the health status of the Ghanaian People", he said.
Mr Teitelbaum said the USAID provided the Western Region with 350,000 ITNs for distribution last year and urged Ghanaians to adopt the habit of sleeping under treated nets. | | . | | . | | . | | . | | . | | ______________________ |
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| Latest Ghana News Tuesday, 04th May 2010 WEEK 18 - 2010 | * Tuesday, 04th May 2010 | Freedom of Press: Ghana Ranked No. 1 In Africa * Source: The Ghanaian Times | | Ghana has been ranked first in Africa in 2009 by Reporteur Sans Frontiers (RSF) and 27th in the world, as a country where press freedom is upheld, with journalists going about their duties without any hindrance from the government, says John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information.
The minister also gave an assurance that, President Mills’ administration is fully committed to passing the Freedom of Information law, because the constitution of Ghana guarantees the people, freedom of information.
Mr Tia Akologu was delivering a keynote address yesterday at a symposium and flag-raising ceremony in Accra to mark the World Press Freedom Day celebration. It was under the theme ‘Freedom of information: The right to know.’
“President Mills administration is convinced that a good right to Information Law will be a critical tool that enhances media professionalism and ethical journalism. That, ultimately, will strengthen the role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability,” he said.
He said Ghanaians must be proud that, today, our country is a popular case study for major media organizations such as Reporteur Sans Frontiers and the developing world in particular, on how accountability and transparency could be enhanced by improving the legal regime and accommodating press freedom.
The minister said the World Press Freedom Day, sought to remind governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as civil society of the crucial role a free press plays in strengthening democracy and fostering development around the world, adding that, it serves as a reminder to both government and the governed of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom.
He reminded all that it was imperative to reflect on the past, present, and future trends of the journalism profession. “We can recall that, several members in the media fraternity have suffered from various degrees of attacks which ended even in their deaths all over the world,” he said.
He affirmed that, when the “Right to Information Bill is passed into law, it would inspire media practitioners to qualitative journalism and spur the media in Ghana to even greater heights that promote truth, good governance, freedom, justice, peace, and democracy.
“It is only when people are well informed that they can engage in effective monitoring and assessment of their leaders’ performance, as well as for their meaningful engagement in public debate and decision making processes that impact their lives,” he said.
The chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, who chaired the function, said Ghana could lose her number one position as a press freedom country if the high standards set for ourselves were not maintained.
He said the public is concerned about the publication of pornographic materials by some newspapers and urged them to put a stop to it. Mr Blay-Amihere pledged the NMC’s commitment to protect journalists from governmental interferences, but cautioned them also to perform their duties in a more professional manner.
He said if they do this, they would naturally be recognized by the world’s leading figures like President Obama did for Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the Crusading Guide’s investigative journalist.
Mr. Blay-Amihere also cautioned journalists not to be the footnotes in the ambitions of politicians, who might only use them to foment trouble and polarize the nation.
Dr. J. Kamil, acting UN Resident Co-ordinator in a remark, said it was unfortunate that some journalists risk losing their life because of what they say or write.
Solidarity messages were read from the Private Newspapers Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG); Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA); Network of Community Radio Stations; Institute of Public Relations; and the Coalition on Right to Information. | > BACK to TOP < | Official says wrangling in NPP cannot disintegrate the party * Source: GNA | Koforidua, May 4, GNA - Dr Samuel Annor, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said wrangling in the party regarding the election of a presidential candidate was a normal phenomenon and not a platform for disintegration of the party. He said the NPP would come out more united and solid after the election in August as never before to shame its detractors. Dr Annor said the NPP was firmly rooted in democracy and that the party would prove to Ghanaians that it was the cradle of democracy and therefore the only solution to the country's economic issues. Addressing the opening of a GHC 20,000 office for the New Juaben South Constituency in Koforidua, he urged all to close their ranks and work in unity to achieve victory in 2012.
Dr Annor told the hundreds of supporters at the ceremony that what was needed were hard work and unity of purpose to realize their victory dream of 2012.
He said the need for the NPP administration had been felt more than before as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in it's almost two years in power had proved not equal to the task.
Dr Annor called on the leadership and the rank and file of the party to stop any blame game on the perceived internal wrangling of the party and to resolve to unite for a common front and purpose. Ms Beatrice Boateng, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, said the NPP could only win through hard work and commitment to the ideals of the party.
She urged women to move from playing the back role to the frontiers to ensure that they would not be left out in the 2012 victory that was destined for the party. Mr Samuel Awuku, the spokesperson for Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), said after two years in power, many NDC supporters had regretted that they voted for the party. He said that was a good signal for the NPP victory in 2012 and urged the supporters and leaders of the party to close their ranks for victory in 2012. | > BACK to TOP < | Volta Basin Oil To Follow * Source: The Ghanaian Times | As the various stakeholders are making final preparations and putting finishing touches to production and other facilities ahead of the coming on stream of the offshore oil and gas industry that comprises 16 wells under the first phase of the Jubilee Field Development Programme, information reaching your favourite, The Heritage, is that a number of foreign oil exploration and production companies have also expressed initial interest in the onshore Voltaian Basin.
The Voltaian Basin, which is being marketed by the GNPC and open for license alongside the offshore sector, comprises a total land area of 103,600 sq km that stretches from mid country to the northern sector and believed to be a potential source for commercial onshore oil and gas resources based on earlier seismic survey studies conducted by a Soviet Geological team in the 1960s.
The Geological Survey Department (GSD), with the support of the European Union (EU), conducted a gravity survey in the Voltaian basin under the mining sector support programme in 2008 against the background of an earlier 50km seismic survey carried out by a Soviet Survey Geological Team in the Tamale area that encountered traces of hydrocarbon.
A total of 208 km 2D seismic survey had so far been done in the Voltaian basin as at 1971 with oil stains found in 10 boreholes that were being drilled for water and also, bitumen impregnation in limestone deposits were found. These came to light during the ongoing Policy Fair when the technical staff members of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) were interacting with the general public at its stand yesterday in Accra.
Following the persistent unwillingness of the technical staff to be quoted by the press because they said they had not been authorized to speak to the press, your authoritative, the Heritage, got the Exploration and Production Manager of the GNPC, Thomas Manu, in a phone interview and he collaborated with the staff had earlier said, adding that a number of issues were still being taken into consideration regarding the companies who have so far expressed interest in the offshore Voltaian basin.
He said the financial, technical competence of the companies and what model they are going to use are all still being critically evaluated and what is more,” a company could today express initial interest and later abandon their interest for one reason or the other and that is why the GNPC has not been hasty in going public to announce the names of the said companies for now.”
The much smaller onshore Keta basin in the Volta region prospects is also being seriously being looked at and would be promoted alongside the Voltaian basin.
According to onshore oil industry experts, the cost of exploration and production onshore is said to be less capital intensive as land rigs could be used as against drill ships which cost about one million United States dollars a day for drilling during exploration in the offshore industry. | > BACK to TOP < | Govt to build shelters for victims of human trafficking * Source: GNA | Accra, May 4, GNA - The government would soon build two shelters in Accra and Kumasi to accommodate victims of human trafficking, Madam Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) disclosed on Tuesday. She said this in a speech read for her at a three-day workshop in Accra organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana, with the theme; "Protecting People on the Move in the ECOWAS Space." The workshop was organised by International Labour Organisation in partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, High Commissioner for Human Rights and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
About 16 participants from four countries including Ghana are expected to participate. Madam Gariba described human trafficking as a crime which needed to be eradicated in the society and that women and children were the most vulnerable victims. She called for collective efforts in the fight against the menace and said government was committed to caring for the victims of human trafficking.
Madam Dyane Epstein, Chief Mission of the IOM, said the purpose of the workshop was to bring together a wide range of key stakeholders in the area of protection of migrants in order to build their capacity. This, she said, would enable them to work in unison to implement the recommendations from previous meetings and strengthen mechanisms in place for nationals in the implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol. Madam Epstein said since 2000, IOM had worked with the ECOWAS secretariat to pilot various initiatives aimed at building the capacities of both the secretariat and member states.
"These activities reinforced the ECOWAS response to the challenges posed by migration in the region," she said, adding that the co-operation had resulted in the organisation of a large regional conference on protection in the framework of mixed migration flows. Mr Eric Boakye Peasah, Field Manager, Counter-Trafficking and Irregular Migration of IOM, Ghana, said a common approach on migration management was adopted during the 33rd Conference of Heads of States and governments of ECOWAS held in Ouagadougou in January 2008.
He said subsequently, on 3rd April 2009, the member states adopted a policy that would provide the region with the legal mechanism for protecting and assisting victims of trafficking.
"This policy seeks to establish and maintain a supportive and friendly environment that would provide victims with equitable access to facilities as well as to facilitate their integration and enable them to become functional members of society," he said.
Mr Peasah added that the regional policy on protection and assistance to migrants marked a significant shift towards a more protection-focused response to mixed migration flows in the sub-region. | > BACK to TOP < |
_____________________________________________________ ----- | | | Tuesday, 04th May 2010 | Freedom of Press: Ghana Ranked No. 1 In Africa Official says wrangling in NPP cannot disintegrate the party Volta Basin Oil To Follow Govt to build shelters for victims of human trafficking VRA in US$665m crude oil dilemma Five Jail Breakers Grabbed USAID to spray 141,621 households in Northern Region | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | Go to 03.05.2010 | News Page was last modified on Friday, 07 May 2010 12:15:17 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | | * Tuesday, 04th May 2010 | VRA in US$665m crude oil dilemma * Source: B & FT | The Volta River Authority (VRA) needs US$665 million to enable it to generate power up to the end of the year.
The Director of Engineering of the Ghana Grid Company, (GRIDCo), Norbert Anku, said the VRA will therefore need the assistance of government to purchase the crude oil it requires if the Authority is to meet energy demands.
He explained that the money will be needed to procure 19 cargoes of crude oil to power the thermal plants that VRA operates.
He said the generation of the 3,945 gigawatts thermal complementation would require approximately 19 cargoes of crude oil. With each cargo containing 405,000 barrels and the price of fuel estimated at US$87 per barrel including incidental charges, the total amount required per cargo is approximately US$35 million.
"Hence for the total 19 cargoes required for 2010 an amount of about US$665 million would be needed by VRA to meet their thermal generation target for 2010."
Already VRA's inability to purchase light crude oil to run the, Tema Thermal Station One, about 30 megawatts of electric power had to be shed earlier this year.
Mr. Anku said the estimates made by GRIDCo indicate that about 10,305 gigawatts of power will be consumed this year, of which 6,360 gigawatts is to be produced from hydro and the remaining from thermal generators.
"Considering the current low levels of tariff and the precarious financial conditions of the utilities, some financial support from the government will be required to ensure energy security for 201 0," he said.
Mr. Anku said the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) could also help to save the government purse by ensuring that tariffs charged by the utilities are raised to their real economic levels to enable the companies generate enough revenue to run their operations.
Currently, the utility companies have laid a proposal before the PURC for a 150 percent increase in tariffs charged on consumers; a proposal consumers, especially the
Association of Ghana Industries, have kicked against claiming the increment will kill domestic manufacturing industries.
"Whenever VRA is not able to secure the required financing to purchase the required quantity of fuel, or if for any reason the delivery of fuel is delayed, there will be supply deficit and some load will have to be shed," he said. | Five Jail Breakers Grabbed * Source: Daily Guide | Five out of the 10 convicts who managed to escape from the Sekondi Prison last Sunday in Hollywood style, have been arrested by the police.
The Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Hamidu Mahama, told Daily Guide that the police had launched a manhunt for the other jail breakers. DCOP Mahama gave the names of the arrested escapees as Kalibi Amadu, a Beninois who was jailed 60 years for robbery, Kweku Abeiku, jailed 20 years and Mohammed Gariba, a Nigerian who got 60 years for the same offence.
The rest were Raphael Laweh and Ebenezer Okole Tetteh alias Rasta who were jailed 40 years each for robbery.?
The Regional Police Commander disclosed that two of the jail breakers, Kalibi Amadu and Kweku Abeiku, were arrested at the gate of the prison yard when they attempted to escape. He said the other three were arrested in the early hours of Monday around the Beposo toll booth near Sekondi when they purportedly decided to travel to Accra.
A police source told Daily Guide that the three convicts who were in an Accra-bound bus from Takoradi jumped through the windows of the vehicle on seeing the police at the Inchaban Barrier but the security agents gave them a hot chase and with the help of some members of the community, managed to arrest them at Beposo.?
The source noted that the prison officers were collaborating with the police at the various check-points and border posts in the region in an effort to arrest the other jail breakers at large.?
Last Sunday, at about 12:30 pm, 10 prisoners serving various jail-terms at the Sekondi Prisons managed to escape from jail after attacking warders at the prison.
?Daily Guide gathered that an unidentified visitor went to the premises of the Sekondi prison yard to visit three convicts who were arrested in October last year for attempting to rob a cocoa purchasing clerk at Gwira Banso and were sentenced to 120 years some weeks ago.
Information had it that at the time of the visit, two prison officers were on duty and as one of them decided to go and call the three convicts, the visitor stabbed the other prison officer at the gate of the yard with a knife.
The three prisoners also attacked the officer who went to call them and started to beat him up. Seven other convicts who saw the ‘action’ also managed to come out from their cubicles to join the three to beat up the officer. The convicts then entered the prison’s armory and took eight ‘G 3’ rifles, broke the main gate and came out.
According to sources, when the prisoners came out, a tro-tro bus carrying passengers had packed in front of the yard.
The prisoners shot the driver in the right arm and ordered the passengers to get down.The prisoners then got on board the tro-tro and sped away but were given a hot chase by a combined team of the military and police who managed to arrest two of the jail breakers and retrieved five of the rifles.
The tro-tro driver, Daily Guide learnt, was admitted to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi for treatment, | | . | | . | | . |
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