| 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 | | | | * 26.05.2010 | Kan Dapaah : “I Will Vote for Nana Akufo-Addo" * Source: Herbert Krapa | Sunday, May 23, 2010:- The Member of Parliament for Afigya Sekeyere West, and former Minister of Defense, Albert Kan Dapaah, has declared that “come August 7, when the election to the 2012 flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party is held, I, Albert Kan Dapaah will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo because I wish the NPP well”.
He was speaking at the Community Centre at Manso Adobea in the Amansie West constituency, where Nana Akufo-Addo, who is contesting the August 7 nomination of the NPP, met with delegates to sell his message of hope to them and to convince them to return him to lead the party in the 2012 general elections.
Mr. Kan Dapaah's endorsement, according to another MP, Isaac Asiamah, a parliamentary co-ordinator of Nana Akufo-Addo's campaign, is one more confirmation that 30 out of the 36 NPP MPs in the Ashanti Region have thrown their weight behind Nana.
This has been explained by Dan Botwe, MP for Okere, as the truest testimony that the 115,000 people to vote on August 7 will be acting as delegates in the truest meaning of the term - by opting for the candidate that the majority of their constituents want rather than voting as free agents.
Mr. Kan Dapaah explained that his decision to give his vote for Nana was based on an objective calculation that Nana Akufo-Addo, who needed some 21,000 swing of votes in the 2008 run-off to beat Mills, is the party's best chance for victory in 2012.
Boakye Agyarko, the national campaign coordinator for Nana Akufo-Addo, had earlier explained that while he was yet to meet any of the nearly 4.5 million who voted for Nana in 2008 saying they have regretted that decision, it is difficult to meet any of the 4.5 million who voted for Prof. JEA Mills admitting today to doing so in 2008.
Mr. Kan Dapaah also gave a personal testimony to Nana Akufo-Addo's loyalty and service to the NPP. He said although Nana Akufo-Addo is “a personal friend of mine, my decision to support him is borne out of principle and conviction, and not because of our personal relation."
He recalled how Nana Akufo-Addo came to his aid in 1994, when the then NDC government imprisoned him and Dr. Charles Wireko-Brobbey for setting up Radio Eye, Ghana's first pirate station, which eventually opened the airwaves for independent FM stations.
“Nana volunteered to be our lawyer, and fought for our release," he said, adding, “My friendship with Nana Akufo-Addo dates way back, but I will not vote for him because of our friendship, but because of the party’s future”, he stressed.
He added that both in Parliament (from 1996 to 2009) and Government (from 2001 to 2007), "I worked closely with Nana Akufo-Addo and I can confidently speak about his public life and his competence. He is very qualified for the job as President of the Republic."
"I remember how Nana Akufo-Addo mentored and encouraged me and my colleagues in our early days in Parliament, adding that Nana is both a teacher and politician."
He also recounted Nana’s efforts to develop young talents in the early days of the NPP, by forming the Thursday Club, which included members of the party, such as Cecelia Dapaah, Maj. Rtd. Courage Quashiga (the late), Baah Wiredu (the late), Christine Churcher, and Agyiri Blankson, among others.
"He used to teach us how to speak in public, in Parliament and what new ideas can help establish and position our party to win power. We met every Thursday. And, I can say in all humility that all of us who were handpicked by Nana to form that club went on to serve as senior public officials under President Kufuor."
Mr Kan Dapaah advised the delegates to vote for the candidate who has a proven track record for mentoring youthful talents to excel.
“Nana has always looked out for young prospects and encouraged them to reach their full potential”, he added.
Mr Dapaah reinforced the fact that his decision is one of principle, by recalling that he did not support Nana when Nana challenged Kufuor in 1998.
“In 1998, when Nana Akufo-Addo was contesting the flag bearer position of the NPP, he called me once to his house to solicit my support. I declined because I knew John Agyekum Kufuor had already been marketed and was the party’s obvious and best choice for the 2000 elections.
"Today, I stand here asking you delegates, to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo because he is the candidate who is well marketed amongst the five."
He stressed that "Nana has already been marketed, he got 49.8% of the votes, he lost narrowly" and “I believe anybody who means well for the NPP will vote to retain Nana as flag bearer and subsequently as President of Ghana."
The Victory 2012 team then moved to Jacobu in the Odotobri constituency where Mr Kan Dappah, who followed the campaign team, reiterated his earlier comments at Juaso. | | . | | . | | . | | . | | . | | ______________________ |
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| Latest Ghana News Tuesday, 25th May 2010 WEEK 21 - 2010 | * Tuesday, 25th May 2010 | African leaders pay tribute to Nkrumah on Liberation Day * Source: GNA | | Accra, May 25, GNA - Ghana on Tuesday led the rest of Africa in what is regarded as the climax a year-long centenary birthday celebration of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Founder of modern Ghana, with a solemn but colourful flag raising and wreath laying ceremony at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
The ceremony was addressed by Vice President John Dramani Mahama and attended by eminent persons from the African Union Commission, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Founding President of Zambia, Contemporaries of Dr Nkrumah, Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, as well as service commanders, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Traditional Rulers, Members of the Diplomatic and Diasporan Communities, students and a cross section of Ghanaians.
Vice President Mahama called on the African community to forge a strong commitment to synergise individual strengths into a collective whole to achieve the continent's economic emancipation.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (Accra)
He said: "Standing on our individual legs, the Continent will not see through the vision of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the leading lights of the liberation struggle who envisaged an Africa that will chart its own growth path and determine its destiny".
He observed that Africa had not gotten to the end of the 'emancipation journey' after independence and the political liberation of the continent. "We have succeeded in flying our flags but have we succeeded in flying the potential successes of the Continent's economic might?," the Vice President asked, and urged the continent to translate the beautiful documentations on economic emancipation to reality by giving more meaning to putting pen to paper.
The Vice President said nature's blessing of Africa with natural and human resources were well catalogued and what was left was for the people to "bless ourselves by charting an economic path that will protect our collective interests and bring meaningful development to our people". Vice President Mahama said Africa should take concrete steps to move away from being just producers of primary products whose prices were determined by other continents which pushed their processed materials on the continent at dictated prices which were not in the best interest of the continent and its people.
He called for a fierce war on the drug menace in addition to finding solution to wars, conflicts and famine that posed great challenges to the continent.
"We cannot allow this great continent of ours to be a subsidiary of the illicit drug trade. We need to protect our youth and their future. That is why we must wage a concerted war on the drug barons and chase them out of the Continent".
He wished Africa well in the forthcoming World Cup tournament and added that "the joy of Ghana will know no bounds if the Black Stars lift the cup."
Vice President Mahama expressed the hope that although the journey of the Continent was a long one, with determination and commitment Africa shall overcome.
Mr Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, who has been in Ghana to participate in the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Colloquium, eulogized Dr Nkrumah as a visionary leader, outstanding and selfless freedom fighter, and a true son of Africa.
Mr Mwencha said the OAU Charter was inspired to a large extent by the ideas of Dr Nkrumah, adding that he gave impetus to the liberation struggle even in the hostile environment of that era.
Dr Nkrumah's vision, he said, had stood the test of time many decades after his death and that his ideas were still fresh.
Mr Mwencha asked Africans and their leaders to rededicate themselves to the integrity of Dr Nkrumah and nurture peace and security in the interest of prosperity and development as a befitting tribute to Dr Nkrumah and his legacy.
He paid tribute to the government and people of Ghana for setting a special place for the man who has been described as the greatest African of the 20th century.
Wreaths were laid by the Vice President Mahama on behalf of the Government and People of Ghana; Mr Mwencha laid another on behalf of Africa; Dr Kaunda on behalf of Founding Fathers of the OAU and Mr Abdul Karim Hakib, Secretary General of the All Africa Students Union, on behalf of the Youth of Africa.
Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, hoisted the Flag of Ghana while Mr Mwencha hoisted the AU Flag. Muslim and Christian prayers were said for the progress of Ghana, unity and prosperity for Africa.
The AU last year honoured Dr Nkrumah by declaring May 25, as a continental holiday and marked September 21, the birthday of Nkrumah as a special day on the AU calendar. September 21 was also declared a national holiday in Ghana by the Mills administration under the National Democratic Congress.
| | > BACK to TOP < | Nangodi Children of school going age engaged in mining * Source: GNA | Nangodi, (UE) May 25, GNA - The Local Civic Coalition (LCC) group in Nangodi in the Upper East Region have expressed concern about the engagement of school children in mining activities in the Talensi Nabdam District. They explained that most of the school children in the communities were abandoning school and going into mining activities. They said apart from mining being one of the worst forms of child labour, it could jeopardize the education of the children if nothing was done now to avert the problem. Members of the LCC expressed the concern at a meeting, organised by GrassRootsAfrica.
The LCC group was formed by the Foundation for Grassroots Initiative in Africa (GrassRootsAfrica), a local NGO working in the areas of poverty reduction, strengthening political, economic and social rights of the poor and the marginalized. The Members of the LCC Group indicated that in 2007, Afrikids Ghana, a Child Right Protection Non-Governmental Organization, collaborated with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Department of Social Welfare to withdraw 155 school children from mining activities and reinstated in schools. They were supported from Afrikids Ghana.
The LCC group indicated because the support programme of Afrikids Ghana had ended, majority of these reinstated children were reverting to mining activities.
The members, therefore, stressed the need for the District Assembly, the GES, Department of Social Welfare and other Child Rights Protection Organizations to help fight the situation. The Members also appealed to the Government to help provide water to the Nangodi Community because the people relied only on one borehole. The LCC group complained about accidents on the Nangodi-Bawku Road as vehicles knock down pedestrians very often and urged the Regional Directorate of the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) to put speed rumps to check speeding vehicles.
The Members of the LCC Group appealed to the Government to assist the group, especially their women, with micro finance to undertake economic activities to enable them to support their families | | > BACK to TOP < | Ghanaian Times MD Punches Workers * Source: The Herald | *…For dragging him to SFO*
The Managing Director of New Times Corporation, owners of the Ghanaian Times Newspaper, Mr. Kofi Assuman, last week Thursday turned the precincts of the company into a boxing arena, landing hefty hooks and jabs to the body of a physically challenged staff, Mr. Emmanuel Kwandoh, in a non-title fight.
Mr. Assuman wanted to bloody Mr. Kwandoh’s face over an allegation of corrupt practices and mismanagement of the corporation’s resources he has leveled against him (the MD).
The MD, who could not hold his anger, violently pounced on Mr. Emmanuel Kwandoh whom he accused of writing an anonymous letter against him to the Office of the President and copied to some state institutions including the National Media Commission (NMC), Ministry of Information, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Castle among others.
According to an eyewitness, the New Times Corporation MD, apart from the physical attack also verbally abused his accuser, and frantic efforts made by other members of staff to restrain him from further assaulting Mr. Kwandoh, proved futile.
When he was eventually restrained, the MD who was not satisfied with his initial performance in the bout later laid ambush at the corporation’s security checkpoint to engage Mr. Kwandoh in a rematch.
The Herald is informed that Mr. Kofi Assuman, the MD, had set up a committee of enquiry to investigate Mr. Kwandoh for persuading the driver of one of the corporation’s newly acquired vehicles to teach him how to drive.
The source said in the process of the driving lessons, Mr. Kwandoh lost control of the steering wheel and run into a VRA high tension and damaged the car beyond repairs.
The drama unfolded when the MD in anger rush into the meeting of the committee he had set up to probe Mr. Kwandoh’s conduct, and accused him of being the brain behind a petition sent to the Office of the President about his alleged mismanagement and corrupt practices since assuming office as MD.
A case of assault has since being lodged with the Kaneshie Police against Mr. Kofi Assuman.
Meanwhile a copy of the petition sent to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the custody of The Herald alleges that the MD is engaged in fuel deals and within a year and half of running the company almost completed a mighty mansion with proceeds from the fraudulent act. He is said to have engaged in the act with Messrs Alhassan and Naah.
It said the MD has awarded a contract to a friend of his in Tamale in the Northern Region to renovate staff estate apartment without going through tender and the cost of the project is only known to him and the acting accountant of the corporation, the three page petition said.
The petition, signed by a concerned senior staff, said Mr. Assuman, since assuming office has bought himself two cars and that he destroyed the first one; Tata Safari and got a Ford Saloon car as a replacement from the board, chaired by Mr. David Newton who also doubles as the Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
Among other things, the petitioner accused the MD of collecting monies he is not entitled to, holding a doubtful educational certificate, cutting down his age to gain employment and receiving 10 per cent kickbacks from suppliers of the company. | | > BACK to TOP < | GCD workers demand payment of entitlements * Source: GNA | Akwatia, May 25, GNA - Workers of the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) Limited at Akwatia, have renewed their call on Government to pay them their salary arrears and severance benefits. The demand followed the sale of spillages at the company's abandoned number 12 treatment plant to a small-scale-miner, Ms. Evelyn Korang. Some of the aggrieved workers demonstrated outside the plant whilst workers of Ms. Korang were removing the spillages for washing, at the plant site at Akwatia. Spillages are gravels and tailing that fell off the conveyer belt of the plant.
There was heavy Police presence to protect the plant, Ms. Korang's workers as well as the demonstrators. Speaking to journalists, Mr. Raphael Wemang, Vice Chairman of the GCD Mines Workers Union, called on Government to as a matter of urgency ensure that the severance and other benefits of the employees were paid without further delay.
He said that since the partial closure of the mine in 2007, employees of the company had not been paid their severance and other entitlements as contained in their collective agreement. Mr. Wemang said that the situation had impacted negatively on the lives of the employees, their families and members of Akwatia community. He explained that the workers demonstrated against the sale of assets of the company including the spillages. The Akwatia District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nana Ekow Yawson, led the team of Policemen who ensured law and order at the plant site.
He said that last Thursday, he received a copy of a letter from the Union Secretary addressed to the management of GCD protesting the sale of spillages at the plant.
DSP Yawson said on Friday, Ms. Korang showed him a letter indicating that tailings and spillages within the plant site had been sold to her and she was authorised to remove them. The District Police Commander said that he organised a meeting between leadership of the GCD workers and Ms. Korang and her group to avoid any conflict when work begins.
DSP Yawson said that on Sunday morning he received information that the GCD workers were demonstrating and heading towards the site and he mobilised Policemen to maintain law and order at the company. Ms. Korang told journalists that she purchased the spillages for GHC 22,000 and had a permit to remove them. | > BACK to TOP < |
_____________________________________________________ ----- | | | Tuesday, 25th May 2010 | | Virgin Atlantic launches Ghana service | Access antivenoms for snake bites on website - WHO Self-styled medical doctor jailed 108 months | - African leaders pay tribute to Nkrumah on Liberation Day - Nangodi Children of school going age engaged in mining - Ghanaian Times MD Punches Workers - GCD workers demand payment of entitlements - Violence cannot solve the cause of Bawku Conflict -Deputy Minister of Education - Kan Dapaah : “I Will Vote for Nana Akufo-Addo" | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | Go to 24.05.2010 | News Page was last modified on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 21:25:44 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | | * Tuesday, 25th May 2010 | Violence cannot solve the cause of Bawku Conflict -Deputy Minister of Education * Source: GNA | Bawku (UE), May 25, GNA - Mrs. Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, Member of Parliament (MP) for Twifu -Atti Morkwaa Constituency in the Central Region, has told the warring factions in Bawku that, violence cannot be used to address their problems. Picture of the Hon. Deputy Minister of Education Mrs. Tetteh who is also the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Pre Tertiary Education, made the observation during the first congregation of the Gbewa College of Education in Pusiga, in the Upper East Region, at the weekend.
She appealed to the people of Bawku to use dialogue to address their differences instead of resorting to violence, and noted that during conflicts it was women and children who suffered most. "We the Women in Ghana are begging you the men in Bawku who are engaged in the conflict to stop," she stressed. She regretted that Bawku which used to play a major role in resource mobilization for the area and the nation as a whole had now been reduced to nothing as a result of conflict.
"At a point in time Bawku was a flourishing commercial centre unequalled in the Region. Today can we boast of anything? People engaged in the conflicts have thrown patriotism to the dogs," She said. She asked the people in Bawku to ponder over the kind of heritage they were banqueting to their children and the unborn generation, and stressed the need for factions to educate and sensitize one another on the need for peaceful co-existence. She indicated that nobody would invest in Bawku if the people were not committed to its development by leading in the process of peace building. | | Pwalugu Community appeal to Government to provide market for Sheanuts * Source: GNA | Pwalugu (UE), May 25, GNA - Communities in Pwalugu in the Talensi Nabdam District, have appealed to Government to reintroduce the policy that allowed purchasing clerks from the Cocoa Marketing Board to purchase sheanuts from communities. The Communities made the appeal through the Local Civic Coalition (LCC) group at Pwalugu in the Talensi-Nabdam District in the Upper East Region, at a meeting, at the weekend. The LCC group was formed by the Foundation for Grassroots Initiative in Africa (GrassRootsAfrica). GrassRootsAfrica is a local NGO working in the area of poverty reduction, strengthening political, economic, and social rights of the poor and marginalized. They explained that the lack of market for sheanuts was affecting the pickers in the area, and that they had to sell at cheaper prices in the open market. They explained that majority of the people in the area especially women, engaged in sheanut picking, which could have been one of the major businesses but for the poor market. The LCC Group on behalf of the community thanked the government for providing them with the support to go into soya bean farming during last season. They said they were prepared to undertake large scale farming this rainy season, but had no tractor service to prepare their farmlands, and appealed to the District Assembly to support them. They indicated that they appreciated the District Directorate of Agriculture for giving them technical advice during the last tomato season. They said they benefited from the advice of the technical persons. They appealed to Government to support them with micro finance to undertake economic activities. | Ghana to host business seminar for Africans in the Diaspora * Source: GNA | Accra, May 25, GNA - The managements of AFFORD and IntEnt Ghana are hosting the first business seminar for Africans in the Diaspora and Ghanaian entrepreneurs in Accra this Friday, May 28. The seminar under the theme, "Business in Ghana: Role of the Diaspora" would create a platform for participants to engage and build partnerships, as well as developing a network.
A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday and signed by Nadia Takyeawo-Mensah of EMS International Media said the seminar would discuss issues and challenges that Africans in the Diaspora face in transacting business in Ghana, and provide direction and support for entrepreneurs. "With the increasing number of Africans in the Diaspora returning to Ghana for business or employment, their efforts are revealing many disparities between themselves and local entrepreneurs," it added. The statement said reality of the Diaspora's presence had caused some resentment in the local business community, whilst many others embraced it and looked on how to build key relationships.
It said for some of the Africans in the Diaspora, there were serious hurdles that they faced which were difficult to overcome as they had the expectations and notions based on the West.
"The reality of living in a 'Third World country' with a 'Western mindset' is proving a challenge, and for some, too difficult," it added. The managements of AFFORD and IntEnt, have established an entrepreneurship development programme for the REMADE project, an EU co-funded project for people who want to start business or establish an affiliate of their business in Ghana.
The REMADE project is taking steps to assist Ghana meet her Millennium Development Goals and contribute to the eight million jobs identified by UNECA that are needed to create sustained development in Africa. The project offers business support in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ghana and aims at ensuring that new business start-ups have strong chance of succeeding. | | . |
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