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                    NEWS ARCHIVE 2008

• 08.06.2008

Petrol Cheaper in USA than in Ghana


Comparing petrol prices across nations is always difficult, but despite daily headlines bemoaning record crude oil prices, Ghana is actually one of the expensive places to fill up in the world.

Ironically, out of 155 countries surveyed, US petrol prices are among the cheapest in the world, according to a recent study from AIRNIC, a research firm that tracks cost of living data.

The difference is staggering. As of early May, US petrol prices averaged $3.55 a gallon. That compares to over $5.50 a gallon in Ghana.

According to the AIRINC survey, some African countries where petrol sells cheapest include Swaziland (54 cents per gallon), Egypt (89 cents) and Seychelles (98 cents).

The US has always fought to keep petrol prices low, and the current debate among presidential candidates on how to keep them that way has been fierce. On the other hand, the Ghana government argues that it cannot subsidize the cost of petroleum products on the market since the revenue is needed to fund development projects in the country.

Although Ghana expects to start its own crude oil production within two years, President Kufuor says the oil import bill had leaped from $500-million in 2005 to $2,1-billion at the end of last year and was now moving to $2,5-billion, as prices kept rising.

Critics have persistently called on government to reduce the accumulation of huge taxes on the ex-pump prices of petrol, but this has often been dismissed. The argument from government is that ongoing projects would have to be suspended to be able to provide subsidy for fuel prices to cushion Ghanaians as advocated by a section of the public.

Gasoline (as the Americans call petrol) costs roughly the same to refine, no matter where in the world it is produced, according to John Felmy, chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute. The difference in retail costs, he said, is that some governments subsidize petrol while others tax it heavily.

In Ghana, the tax element of the retail price of petrol is about 13 different items.

In the US, the federal tax on petrol is about 18 cents a gallon, pretty low by international standards.

Many governments are under pressure to make tax cuts to offset the inflation associated with the high crude oil prices. That is why President Kufour’s recent announcement of a reduction in the tax component of some petroleum products has been hailed as a timely intervention to ease the pains of the vulnerable. Parliament Tuesday passed into law two bills presented by President Kufuor which are intended to provide tax reprieves to ameliorate the effects of rising global commodity prices.

Specified excise duty on gas oil was reduced from 9.1Gp to 6.2Gp; duty on kerosene from 6.4875Gp to 4.5375Gp; duty on marine gas oil from 6.4945Gp to 3.9945Gp, while the current duty of 5.1456Gp on premix fuel is being completely removed.

The World Bank Country Director, Ishae Diwan thinks the soaring prices of food and crude oil attracted the right response from the government, though subsidy measures announced by the President should not be the long term solution. The Bank itself has announced an additional US$20 to Ghana to be split 50-50 to cushion the vulnerable against soaring food prices and short term investment in agriculture.However, the European Commission says there is not much it can do about the rising oil prices and their knock-on effects. It leaves it to individual countries to decide how much tax they put on oil.

Countries across Africa, including Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, have reported inflation swelling alarmingly under the food and fuel price pressures. Some countries, such as Ghana, have moved to raise interest rates to try to control inflation. Others, in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mauritania, face strike threats from unions pressing for salary increases to compensate the price hikes.

As indicated earlier, it is always difficult to compare petrol prices across nations. For starters, the AIRNIC numbers don’t take into account different salaries in different countries, or the different exchange rates.

The dollar has lost considerable ground to the euro recently because oil is priced in dollars, rising oil prices are not as hard on people paying with currencies which are stronger than the dollar, as they can essentially buy more oil with their money as the dollar falls

Source:
Public Agenda

Mining Company sacks 1,000 workers



Bibiani (WR), June 8, GNA- "Ekom Ye Ya", a small scale mining company at Bibiani in the Western Region has sacked a 1,000 of its workers following the company's inability to obtain power from Bibiani to Donkoto Lineso, the mining site, a distance of about six kilometres. The initial work force was 1,500 but has reduced to 500 since the company was finding it difficult to purchase four drums of diesel a day to fill the company's generator.

Mr. Adu Gyamfi, the Executive Chairman of the mining company disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Saturday at Bibiani.

He said the generator was too weak to pump water from the underground to support its operation. The Executive Chairman said if electricity were provided, the Company would recall the workers and employ more. He expressed regretted that the laid-off had affected commercial activities at the mining site. Mr Peter Juben, Secretary of the Company, hinted that the situation had also affected production. He stressed that armed robbery, rape and defilement as well as theft cases were resurfacing in the area as more than 1,000 youth were out of employment.

Mr Juban, therefore, appealed to the Government to grant loans to small- scale mining companies to improve on their operations.

Source:
GNA

Wa East people want electricity


Funsi, (UWR), June 8, GNA-The people of Wa East District of the Upper West Region, have appealed to government and communication companies to make their services available to link the area to the rest of the world.

They said the district was a State within Ghana because it has not been connected to the national electricity grid and no communication company had extended its services to the area. The appeal was made at the people's assembly at Funsi, the capital town of the distinct by participants at the forum. Participants said government workers did not accept transfer to the district while those who were working there spent much of their time in Wa to carry out official duties due to the lack of electricity to power office equipment such as computers. They said the small town water project for Funsi was still on the drawing board due to the lack of electricity to the area and a theatre established for operations of patients at the District Hospital had also been abandoned.

Participants called on the government to build permanent bridges on Kulun and Ambaalara Rivers to facilitate economic activities in the Funsi and West Mamprusi in the Northern Region. Some of the participants commended government for rehabilitating the Yala/ Kulun portion of the road and Wahabu/Funsi road as well as providing feeder roads and potable water for people. The participants appealed to government to make farm inputs such fertilizers and tractors available and at affordable prices to farmers to enable them to increase food production.

At Tumu in the Sissala West District, some farmers appealed to government to introduce the "cloud feeding technology" which was being practiced in Burkina Faso to address the perennial deficiency in rain fall in the Northern part of the country to boost food production. Participants said the construction of dams for irrigation was likely to fail because of erratic rainfall pattern as a result of change in climate and other environmental conditions. The President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Mr Mohammed Nasiru appealed to government to launch the Presidential Special Initiative on Cotton and Guinea Fowl in the Northern part of the country.

He also urged the authorities to give equal attention to sheanut production as was being done for cocoa industry. At Gwollu in Sissala West, the people asked for good drinking water, dams for irrigation, schools, electricity and roads to help improve their living conditions. The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. George Hikah Benson, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Clement Eledi, the Minister of State in charge of transportation, Mr. Godfred Bayon Tangu and the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Madam Asibi Winifred Bawa Dy-Yakah attended the fora at Sissala and Wa East districts. They answered questions from participants and explained government policies and programmes to them.

Source:
GNA

Mahama tells Ghanaians change incompetent governments


Wa, June 8, GNA - Mr. John Dramani Mahama, running mate to Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said on Saturday in Wa that Ghanaians should not fear changing any incompetent government.

He said if a government is unable to meet the development expectations, needs and aspirations of the majority of Ghanaians, the people should not hesitate to change that government for a better one. He said the cost of living in the country is high and the people were finding it difficult to make ends meet and urged Ghanaians to turn to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for salvation Mr. Mahama was interacting with media practitioners in Wa after a tour of some parts of the Upper West Region to introduce himself to the people and to canvas for votes for the NDC.

He said the NDC has the alternatives to address the problems and challenges in agriculture, health, education and security of the nation to create an enabling environment for a better Ghana. Mr. Mahama said an NDC government would restructure the subsidy system and protect it from being abused by other people. "We will put in a structure that will provide agriculture extension services, give farm inputs such as fertilizers, tractor services and improved seeds to farmers and not cash in hands", he said. The NDC would also review the Leap system and make it more beneficial to the people, pointing out that the current system was discriminatory because it only gives assistance to 93 poor households within a community while it could mean that people in that whole community were poor.

"The NDC will help people to produce crops and government will buy them off and not to give cash to people as it is being done by the NPP", Mr. Mahama pointed out.

Mr Mahama said an NDC administration would give good price to sheanuts to encourage producers to pick more of the crop that was always left out to rot in the bush while educational campaign would be put in place for Cocoa Board to educate the women on the processing of the crop.

On conflicts, Mr. Mahama said the NDC would incorporate early warming system into the national security to stem the spread of conflicts.

Government would also remain neutral on conflicts, saying, "It is only when the people get to know that government is neutral that they will be prepared to listen to the government." Mr. Haruna Iddrissu, National Youth Organiser of the NDC said an NDC government would make itself accountable to the media, operate a transparent government and improve on the national economy.

Source:
GNA

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American firm to build refinery in Ghana


Barclays Gerdi Group Incorporated (BBG), a US-based company, has expressed interest in establishing a $1.7 billion oil refinery in the country.

The group is currently holding talks with government agencies to pave the way for the smooth take off of the project.

When established, the refinery is expected to process 100,000 barrels of crude oil a day, almost twice of what the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) produces presently.

The company is also expected to establish a $350 million cement plant to process 50,000 tonnes of white cement a day.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the local representative of the group, Mr Hamid Moomen, said the refinery and the cement plant would provide permanent employment for more than 3,000 Ghanaians and temporary employment for 4,000 local and foreign workers during the construction stage.

According to him, employees would be provided with accommodation while the country's railway sector would also benefit due to the plans of BGG to construct modern railway lines to carry its products.

Another benefit to be derived from the refinery is the generation of electricity for the refinery's operations out of which the excess electricity generated would be fed into the national grid.

Mr Moomen, who is also Chairman of Moomen Group in the USA, said BGG would begin construction works before the end of the year immediately it received permit, from the appropriate authorities to operate in the country.

He further explained that the minimal design and construction time period would be four years after all arrangements had been finalised.

He said the, company would acquire a 6,000 hectare land most preferably in Takoradi for the establishment of the refinery and cement plants while a college of technology would be constructed to train employees locally in refinery operations.

Facilities to be provided include a modem satellite city fitted with potable water and sewage systems, shopping malls, schools, a clinic, pharmaceutical shops, supermarkets, fire fighting stations, banks, playgrounds, parks, fuel filling stations, a library, cinemas and other needed facilities that would help employees and their families not to travel too far for their regular daily needs.

He was particularly grateful to the Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, who he said had been very instrumental in assisting the BGG to invest in Ghana.

BGG, which operates in Gabon, Angola, Algeria and Tunisia has to its credit the installation of water, sewer gas and oil pipelines, the construction and development of cement plants, satellite cities, roads, shopping malls, oil refineries and the distribution of security equipment.

Source:
Daily Graphic

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President Kufuor returns from World Economic Forum


Accra, June 8, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor, returned home on Saturday night after attending the 18th World Economic Forum in South Africa and the 4th Tokyo International Conference on Trade and Development (TICAD) in Japan.

President Kufuor who was away for two weeks, was met on arrival by Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, senior military and police personnel.

Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman briefing journalists on arrival said the conference in Japan threw some light on global challenges, particularly those facing Africa. He said the Japanese Government pledged to increase its assistance to Africa, adding that an Action plan was declared to ensure that development projects around the world and particularly in Africa were tackled with specific guide lines, including well laid rules on the role of each stakeholder.

Mr Awuni said a Time Action Plan was also adopted to ensure that these projects were carried out within specified periods. He said Ghana was selected by the Japanese Government among three other countries on its priority list in the area of assistance, based on good governance, economic growth as well as the potential of the countries in social, economic and political growth.

Mr Awuni said the forum in South Africa deliberated on how to capitalize on investment activities in Africa and climate change and sought ideas from the Heads of State on the way forward concerning issues of global concern, especially in Africa.

Source:
GNA

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• 07.06.2008

Ghana cannot remain half poor, half rich-Mahama


Tumu (UWR), June 7, GNA- Ghana cannot afford to remain half poor and half rich in the midst of plenty because the resources could not be applied to the benefit of all, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, running mate to Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said on Friday at Tumu. He said the slogan, "One People One Nation" would remain a mirage if the gap between the southern and northern parts of the country continued to grow wider.

Mr. Mahama said if steps were not taken to bridge the gap, the country could not achieve the Millennium Development Goals. He was addressing the chiefs and people of Tumu in the Upper West Region after touring the Northern and Upper East regions as part of the party's electioneering campaign for the 2008 Elections. Mr. Mahama said the NDC would bridge the southen-northern poverty gab through accelerated and comprehensive education plan, revitalisation of agriculture and investment in the health of the people. He said; "The area, though a deprived one was endowed with vast and fertile land, hardworking people and with a planned investment in irrigation the supply of fertilizers accompanied with good health, the people would laugh poverty to scorn."

Mr. Mahama said, "the migration of the youth to the south to pound fufu and carry load would seize and if the area was developed those who left would come back home and those at home would stay, "to give meaning to the slogan "one people one nation." He said the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Development Studies has collapsed following the appalling situation at the Tamale Government Teaching Hospital.

Mr. Mahama said the NDC would not derogate the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for not doing anything when they were in office. He said, "We will not be like them to say that the NPP did nothing whilst it was in power but the people would have to refer to NPP's slogan in 2000 that urged them to look at their condition of life and vote accordingly."

Mr. Mahama said Ghanaians who cannot be taken for a ride and noted for their intelligence would be able to separate the seeds from the chaff and consider their lifestyles before voting." He asked the people to vote for their NDC parliamentary candidate for Tumu area, Hajia Rafatu Dubie in December.

Source:
GNA

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Glaucoma, predominant among children- Wood


Tema, June 7, GNA- Glaucoma, a ailment of the eye, which normally affected adults aged 40 and above was now predominant among children, Mr George Wood, a Programme Officer, Christian Eye Centre said on Friday. He said an ongoing research by the centre on 6,000 persons revealed that children at the age of 16 were having advanced glaucoma. He made this known when Mr Bob Godwin, Chief Executive Officer, International Aid, USA, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), visited the centre in Tema, as part of a familiarisation tour of International Aid projects in the country.

Mr Wood asked people to go for regular eye check-ups for early detection of eye problems and that glaucoma if not treated could lead to blindness.

On activities carried out by the centre, Mr Wood mention outreach programmes in communities in some selected regions in the country, especially in schools adding that it would soon mount satellite clinics to improve its services to the public. He said one of the objectives of the centre was to provide sustainable and affordable care to the people as well as offer excellent services.

Mr Wood said "We hope to become of the referral centres in the country."

Mr Godwin said the health of people was of paramount importance to the NGO hence its support for the centre. He urged the pubic to under take regular checks on their eyes since the eye was the light of the body.

Glaucoma is the lost of vision caused by elevated pressure within the eye and it is associated with old age, high blood pressure, family history, diabetics, eye injury, and nearsightedness. Symptoms include severe eye pain, headaches, nausea, and vomiting and blurred visions.

Source:
GNA

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Western Region tilts towards NDC


The NDC’s dream of recapturing power in the December 7, 2008 elections has received a major boostin the Western Region. Intelligence reports from filed from the central belt of the region point to Prof. John Evans Atta Mills making serious incursions into the strongholds of the NPP. Places like Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Amenfi Central, Amenfi East, Prestea-Huni-Valley and Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituencies.

The communities included Amenfi Agona, Manso Amenfi, Bawdie, Nananko, Wassa Akropong, Opon Valley. Bogoso, Prestea, Awudua, Huni Valley, Tarkwa and Nsuaem. where the NPP enjoys some leverage went agog as the crowd milled to hear the NDC leader’s message.

New National Democrat intelligence sources at the BNI and National Security Secretariat (Blue Gate), have sighted reports which are said to be creating some panic among the NPP security advisers. Sideline straw polls normally conducted by the BNI based on the grievances and general economic conditions indicate that there is a swing in favour of the NDC.

Commenting on the reports, the sources further hinted of counter strategies being plotted by the regional security co-ordinator and his lieutenants on the ground. One major recommendation leaked to our intelligence is for the government to make changes to the security personnel in the mining enclaves. Their activities, the report noted has alienated most people from the NPP. They are said to brutalise the residents without cause while they extort money from innocent people who have brushes with the law.

Another issue seriously on the cards being discussed by the security and NPP party chiefs is how to compromise the opinion leaders in the central belt as to reverse the losses. But the intelligence on the ground has made it clear that the general high cost of living and land disputes have compelled the scores of NPP faithful to switch to the NDC. What has rubbed salt into the wound, they revealed is the calm and humble disposition of the NDC leader. Most of the youth in the area showered praises on him for focusing on job creation and how to make life better for them.

Touching on his better Ghana message, the intelligence said it is sinking very fast and attracting the unemployed youth. With most youth in the area concentrating on ‘galamsey’ operations to eke out a living being harassed on daily basis, the youth they revealed see Prof Atta Mills, as a man of practical experience and truth to deliver on his promises. Most of the chiefs in the Wassa area, the intelligence added are quietly rooting for him.

Meanwhile, New National Democrat intelligence has hinted of the NDC fever gripping the southern belt. Places like Axim, Half-Assini, Essiama and Shama are growing impatient to receive the NDC presidential candidate. In the Ellembele Constituency for example, quarterly reports normally prepared by the BNI on political activities for analysis by their bosses in Accra paints a very promising picture of the NDC winning this seat, come December 7, 2008.

In the Evalue-Gwira constituency, which is a mixture of large and small settlements and dotted islands, the battle is said to be a straight fight between the NDC and the CPP with the NDC tipped to tilt the scales in its favour because some of the opinion leaders claimed the CPP is not in poll position to win the general elections. Shama, the New National Democrat gathered is already shifted in favour of the NDC. The only snag, they pointed out is the strong presence of the National Reform Party. Emelia Arthur is said to command a huge following and if she contests on the ticket of the NDC or a kind of trade-off is arranged for the Reform Party to contest with NDC backing, the NPP will be dead in the water.

From the Jomoro constituency, the situation in favour of the NDC is even higher. The reports stated that there is a swing in support for the NDC. The also gave strong indications of the CPP giving the NDC a run for its money. It is NDC’s for the taking with the narrowest of margins though.

According to the intelligence, the NDC has made electoral gains in the foothold of the NPP in the Sekondi and Takoradi constituencies. Takoradi in particular could go to the NPP but with the margin of victory being considerably slim. Our sources said, there is hard security data to confirm the growing popularity of Atta Mills and the NDC in the southern belt as well and believe that the swing is a pointer to his journey of destiny to the Castle.

Source:
National Democrat

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• 06.06.2008

Appeals for funds for 4-year-old ailing boy


Kumasi, June 6, GNA - The Department of Social Welfare has appealed to the public to come to the aid of a four-year-old ailing boy, Master Bright Agyare-Gyasi to under go an emergency hydrocephalic operation at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

A statement signed by Mr. Pascal Osei-Twumasi, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department and issued to the Press in Kumasi on Friday said, the cost of the operation was estimated at GH¢4,000 covering medical and other miscellaneous expenses.

Hygrophilous is a condition characterised by abnormal increase in the amount of fluid in the cranium, especially in young children, causing enlargement of the head and deterioration of the brain. The statement said, the parents of Agyare-Gyasi were unable to meet the cost because of financial constraints arising from commitments already made on the child.

The statement emphasized that, donations from the general public, were more particularly necessary since the boy's condition was not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Meanwhile, a related statement on the health conditions of Agyare-Gyasi signed by Dr. Kofi Vowotor, a Neurosurgeon at KATH and attached to that of the Department of Social Welfare, indicated that the ailing boy was diagnosed at the Child Health Department on April 11, this year, where he was identified with his current condition. The statement said, Agyare-Gyasi had been unable to walk since birth as a result of the disease and said this had also led to the swollen of his head.

It said his present condition needed to be corrected surgically by implanting a ventricular-peritoneal blunt as soon as possible to help improve his health.

Source:
GNA

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Thousands patronize Upper West People's Assemblies

Jirapa (UW), June 6, GNA - Delays in the release of feeding grants to Senior High Schools, poor performance of road contractors and lack of irrigation facilities to promote dry season farming, dominated issues raised at this year's Peoples Assembly in the Upper West Region. The various Districts' Assemblies held saw thousands of people in the region interacted with ministers of state, District Chief Executives and heads of key departments and agencies demanding answers to the issues, which also included the lack of electricity and delays in the payment of personnel of the National Youth Employment Programme.

Jirapa, Nadowli, Lawra and Lambussie Districts took their turn to hold this year's people's assemblies on Wednesday and Thursday. At Jirapa two people demanded answers why Mr Edward Salia, Member of Parliament for Jirapa Constituency has failed to utilize his Common Fund of about 86,000 Ghana cedis, but the MP was not around to answer. Reacting to the questions, Mr Clement Eledi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture explained that the event was not meant for MPs to answer questions and therefore all questions at the People's assemblies ought to be directed to the DCEs and Ministers of State who were representing the President.

Mr George Hikah Benson, the Regional Minister explained to the people that the rising oil price and food prices were responsible for the recent challenges in the world economy and must not be seen as if it was the doing of a single country. He said they should, therefore, not allow themselves to be deceived by those who were trying to use it as a political weapon to make political gains.

Mr Hikah said the government was sensitive to the plight of the people which explained why the President announced the mitigation measures against the harsh effects of the global problem. Mr Godfred Bayon Tangu, Minister of State at the Transportation Ministry enumerated a number of measures that the government was taking to develop roads in the region to catch up with those in other parts of the country.

He urged the people to acknowledge the good work that the Government has done for the region.

He told the people that, "positive change did not mean that the Government would print money and doled to people," and added the introduction of the Metro Mass Transit buses, which have made travelling in the region easier as an example of that change.

Source:
GNA

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GIFEX 2008 launched in Takoradi


Takoradi, June 6, GNA - Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, said on Thursday that current trends in the country's timber industry required strategic innovations including the pooling of resources in order to remain competitive on the global market.

He as a result, he lauded the rebirth of the Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Industry Exhibition (GIFEX) which aims at showcasing products that would propel the Ghana timber industry to the level of fully utilising forest resources through increased utilisation of diversified wood species. Prof. Kotey said these at the launch of the 12th GIFEX at Takoradi.

This year's GIFEX is scheduled to take place at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in Accra between 17th and 26th October, 2008 on the theme: "100 years of Forestry in Ghana: Networking partnership for sustainable development".

GIFEX, a yearly exhibition introduced in 1985 to highlight activities of the furniture and woodworking industry came to a halt in 1997.

Prof. Kotey said the rebirth of GIFEX among others was an opportunity to bring key stakeholders in the industry together for networking with relevant partners to share knowledge and experience in order to make individual concerns more competitive in the world wood products trade.

"Local industrialists would also have the opportunity to see and learn new developments in the industry in line with the changing dynamics in the industry," he said. Prof. Kotey said Western Region had been the largest producer of logs for the industry and urged companies in the region to participate in the forthcoming exhibition.

Mr. Alexander Kingsfred Dadzie, Vice President of the Ghana Timber Association (GTA), mentioned loggers, millers, furniture producers, real estate developers, and bamboo and rattan furniture producers as among main target groups of GIFEX 2008.

He said GTA, Ghana Millers Association and some individuals were engaged in reforestation programmes in depleted areas to provide sustainable raw materials for the industry. Mr. Dadzie urged stakeholders in the industry to join hands to save the forests from depletion and also asked those in the industry to participate actively by registering for stands and the forthcoming exhibition.

Mr. Kwesi Blay, Deputy Western Regional Minister said Government has demonstrated its commitment to preserving the country's forests through constant interaction with key stakeholders. He said Government continues to encourage the Forestry Commission to preserve the nation's forest and wildlife resource and ensured their judicious and efficient use.

Mr Blay said it was a delight to see the revival of GIFEX and said it must be used a vehicle for the promotion of tertiary wood processing in the country.

Mr Henry Coleman, Acting Executive Director, timber Industry Development Division of the Forestry Commission, recalled the successes and achievements of GIFEX, which he said, significantly transformed the timber industry and gave it a big boost. He commended the Forestry Commission for spearheading the rejuvenation of GIFEX as part of its support to develop the timber industry.

Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado who presided said the abundant natural resources of the region must be made to benefit its people through development programmes.

Source:
GNA

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Kenyans express appreciation to Kufuor


From: Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, June 6, GNA - Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga has expressed appreciation to President John Agyekum Kufuor, for hisleadership and personal efforts in brokering a peaceful resolution of the EastAfrican nation's post-election crisis.
"You proved to be a true African brother at a time when Kenya was torn apart and was on the brink of disintegration."
Premier Odinga expressed the sentiments when he called on President Kufuor in his suite at Cape Sun Hotel in Cape Town on Thursday. Both of them are attending the 18th World Economic Forum on Africa. Kenya has been considered one of the most promising countries in Africa - an oasis of stability in a turbulent region, but it spun into chaos after theNational Election Commission declared President Mwai Kibaki winner of aclosely contested election in December last year, over Premier Odinga, whoinsisted, he won most of the votes. The polls fall-out violence left more than 1,000 people killed and displaced over 300,000 others.
President Kufuor who was Chairman of African Union (AU) during the crisis, did not only travel to Nairobi to talk to the feuding parties but set up a three-member Committee of Eminent Africans, chaired by Ghana's most celebrated Diplomat, Mr Kofi Annan, that eventually succeeded to mediate a peaceful solution, culminating in the signing of a power sharing deal.
Premier Odinga said "you did not only get us to talk to each other but brought a message of hope to our country by your intervention." President Kufuor advised the political leaders to keep faith with the agreement they had signed and work together to heal and reconcile the nation. He said they should see themselves as one people and go the extra mile tosecure lasting peace by providing for themselves an enlightened Constitution that would ensure equal rights for the citizenry.


Source:
GNA

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Chieftaincy Bill passed


Accra, June 6, GNA- Parliament on Friday passed the Chieftaincy Bill after 37 years of its introduction.

The Bill, when it receives a Presidential assent into law, would consolidate all the existing chieftaincy laws and give traditional rulers an enhanced status in their adjudicating, arbitration and conflict resolution roles.

The Bill is divided under different sub-titles and 79 sections. The sub-titles are the National House of Chiefs, Traditional and Divisional Councils, Chieftaincy Matter, Jurisdiction and Judicial Committees, Proceedings in Chieftaincy Matters, Stool Property and Customary Law, Chief and Miscellaneous Provisions.

According to the Memorandum of the Bill, the Bill would bring amendments of the Chieftaincy Act (370) to bring the Act into conformity with the provisions on the subject in the Constitution and to include new proposals, and consolidates eight pieces of enactments which are amendments to the Act.

Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Chieftaincy Affairs Minister, told journalists that the Bill would give legal backing for the development of the capacity of traditional rulers to be abreast with new trends in traditional governance and evolving global trends.

He said the Bill would guarantee the arbitration powers and customary roles of chiefs.

He said the Research Department of the Chieftaincy Ministry is to begin examining where traditional rulers need capacity. These, he said included Information, Communication and Technology, legal and business education to enhance their skills in the handling of customary issues, land and boundary disputes, succession issues as well as better skills for negotiating deals with investor, citing the oil find as an instance.

Source:
GNA

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Thugs invades Tamale Girls Inter. School


Tamale, June 6, GNA - The Tamale Girls International School Complex (TAGIS) in the Tamale Metropolis is being invaded and harassed by thugs who disturb the peace and disrupt teaching and learning. Mr. Albert Atutiga, Proprietor of the school told the GNA in Tamale on Friday that the presence of the thugs was impacting negatively on the school's academic work and education in the area. He said though the school was fenced, the activities of the thugs who had been engaging in "wee" smoking and other anti-social activities had burnt one of the dormitories and a store room last week, which were still under police investigations.

Mr. Atutiga said, "because we are a girls' school and in the middle of the town, we are very strict about boys entering the campus during odd hours. I believe that is why some of the boys around are not comfortable with the measure and had to resort to harassment." He said because of the current harassment, management had increased and intensified both its daily and night security, which included police personnel and expressed the hope that the situation would improve.

Meanwhile, unapproved kiosks invade the entire school, some of which are even on pavements constructed by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for school children and other pedestrian crossing and nothing was being done about.

One of the kiosks is very close the school's gate and making entrance to school difficult and was also used as a ploy base for men to lure girls out of the campus. Though the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Mohammed

Amin Adam, said early this year during the Veterans Day celebrations that the Assembly would demolish all authorised kiosks around the Kaladan area, nothing had been done about it.

Source:
GNA

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"Ghanaian Voice" reporter wins award


Shama (W/R), June 6, GNA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday adjudged Mr Edmund Smith-Asante of the Ghanaian Voice, the 2006 Best Environmental Journalist. The ceremony took place at the celebration of this year's National World Environment Day at Shama, in the Western Region. Mr Napolean Kittoe of Ghana Television was adjudged the Best Television Environmental Journalist, whilst "The Independent Newspaper" won the Best Environmental Newspaper award.

The Upper West Radio picked the Best Environmental Radio award and Plan Ghana, won the Best Environmental Non-Governmental award. Okyeame Ampadu Adjei, a member of the Presidential Commission on Lands and Mines was adjudged the Best Environmental Personality. Mr Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Azu, Acting Western Regional Police Commander and the Ahanta West District, ZoomLion Ghana Limited and Care International were honoured for their protection and enhancement of the environment.

The Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) also received an award for winning an environmental quiz competition for Senior High Schools to mark the National World Environment Day.

Awards were also presented to Sekondi College, which placed second in the competition and the Shama Senior High School for the third position. Earlier, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, launched the 2007/2008 Environmental Journalist of the Year Competition.

Source:
GNA

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Greed and exploitation led to Slave Trade


Accra, June 6, GNA - Professor Irene Odotei, President of the Historical Society of Ghana, on Friday said greed and exploitation could have led to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. She stressed that for people to have conceived the idea of selling human beings as slaves they must have seen others as less human beings than the others and said, "the slave trade is therefore a problem for the world".

Professor Odotei expressed these concerns when she launched this year's Emancipation Day celebration which would be climaxed on August 1, 2008.

The occasion was also used to launch a book on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade titled: "The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Landmarks, Legacies and Expectations."

Prof. Odotei said factors that led to the slave trade were no different from the number of ethnic group disparities in the country and the world at large which made some people see their ethnic groups as superior to others and some people in some countries see themselves more important than others.

She condemned greed and exploitation these days and pointed out that those were the very factors that might have led to the abominable Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

She asked: "Why would a black person who finds himself in the midst of white people travelling to perhaps Europe or America be isolated for questioning at Immigration because perhaps a black person is not supposed to be qualified to attend workshops and other academic programmes in Europe or America?"

Prof. Odotei said emancipation was an on-going process and until we achieved a situation where human beings found themselves to be equal and thus free to operate we must continue to repeat the message of emancipation. Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, pledged government's commitment to celebrate Emancipation Day.

She said government had a special interest in all matters relating to the African Diaspora hence her ministry's policy objective to encourage the development of special links that bound Africans living in the homeland and those in the Diaspora.

Ghana, she said, was a major exit point for slaves on the West Coast of Africa during the slave trade hence the claim to position the country as a gateway for those in the Diaspora.

The Tourism Minister said the government was committed to the complete eradication of child labour and child trafficking. "Within Ghana, there has been intensive education on the menace of forced labour and movement of people. Government has also implemented awareness-creation programmes about some cultural practices that go against the freedom of individuals in Ghana."

Commenting on the book: "The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Landmarks, Legacies and Expectations," the Minister said the full story of the slave trade remained untold and expressed the belief that the book would attract global attention and interest because of its bold attempt to close a yawning gap.

The book written by a team from the UNESCO Slave Route Project is also to encourage research in the area of history in order to bring out in full what actually happened during the slave trade era. Prof. James Anquandah, Chairman of the National Slave Route Project Committee, said the book was to provide literature for schools and the general public interested to know about the slave trade. He noted that until recently, there was no significant literature on the slave trade.

Prof. George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture who reviewed the book, said much would have been lost if Ghana decided not to uncover the history of the slave trade.

Emancipation Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the final abolition of slavery in the British colonies.

This year's celebration would include a wreath laying ceremony to honour three Pan-Africanists - Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, W.E.B Du Bois and George Padmore and there would also be a re-enactment of the crossing of the River Pra at Assin Praso where captured slaves had their last bath. There would also be durbars to be held at selected regions to re-trace the slave route.

The celebration would be climaxed on midnight of August 1, where people of African descent would meet at the Cape Coast Castle for a reverential night.

Source:
GNA

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UNDP donates vehicle to Northern Peace Council


Accra, June 6, GNA - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its collaborating partners are donating one million dollars towards the promotion of peace in the country this year. "This donation will also help to strengthen the capacity of the National Peace and Regional Councils to promote debates, dialogue and tolerance in public discourses, as well as to effectively mediate in potentially violent conflicts in the country," said Mr. Daouda Troure, UNDP Resident Representative.

Speaking at the presentation of a Toyota Hilux pickup valued at 24,000 dollars to the Northern Regional Peace Council (NORPAC), he said the money would also be used to build the capacity of the Electoral Commission to facilitate consensus building among political parties and also enable tertiary institutions to include peace education on their curricula.

He said the presentation of the vehicle demonstrated the commitment of the UNDP to peace, stability in the country and development of Northern Ghana.

"It is my conviction that this vehicle will empower the NORPAC to play a lead role in ensuring peace and human security, as well as sustaining the various peace initiatives in Dagbon," said. He urged the National and the Regional Peace Councils to stand up to the challenges of this year's election and also create the needed platforms for the engagement of stakeholders in the peace of the nation to dialogue on electoral challenges.

Nana Obiri Boahene, Minister of State, Ministry of the Interior, who received the vehicle on behalf of the Council, expressed his appreciation to the UNDP and called for the maintenance of absolute peace in the country.

He thanked the UNDP, which has already donated a vehicle to the National Peace Council, and appealed to them for the provision of vehicles to the other Regional Peace Councils.

Source:
GNA

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Yawhima is to benefit from Metro Mass buses


Yawhima (B/A), June 6, GNA - Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday told the chief and people of Yawhima, near Sunyani, that he would ensure the Metro Mass Transit and Ghana Private Road Transport Union extended their services to the community.

This was in reaction to a question someone asked at a People's Assembly about the apparent lack of transport services, a lorry park and a community clinic in the area.

The questioner said as compared to other parts of the municipality the situation at Yawhima often led to loss of lives during emergencies. Another questioner complained about failure of his ward to gain

admission into any school in the municipality even though he had good grades

The Regional Minister promised to assist him to get admission for the ward after counselling and assessment had been done. Mrs. Amankwah Adu Crabbe, a teacher, wanted to know if access to Cocoa Marketing Board scholarships was limited to protocol to which Mr. Baffour-Awuah explained that the facility was "open to all Ghanaians but only on merit".

Mr. Yaw Abrenya, a teacher at Sunyani Senior High School, cautioned traditional authorities against the sale of all lands in Yawhima "so some can be reserved to undertake development projects in future".

Mr. Raphael Cubagee, Assembly Member, questioned why an award of GH Cedis 200,000 contract that needed to be perused by the Financial, Executive and the Works and Development Committee before approval was given, as stipulated in the assembly's standing orders, was not being heeded to.

Responding, Mr. Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, said the allegation was "unfounded and completely untrue".

"Standing orders do not regulate the award of contracts but rather the assembly's proceedings. Things are done within the confines of budgetary allocations and based on the specifications available in the Financial Procurement Act and a commitment to due process".

He promised to extend the School Feeding Programme to Yawhima on completion of school blocks as well as the extension of electricity from Kotokrom to the area.

Ansering a question on the allocation of funds to the physically challeged in the municipality, Mr. Twumasi-Awuah said Parliament had to change the guidelines regulating the disbursement of loans from the District Assembles Common Fund for people with disabilities because of the failure of some of them to repay loans granted them. He appealed to such persons to take advantage of MASLOC, which had been launched in the region, to access loans.

Adenu Martin, a resident, expressed worry that none of the youth at Yawhima was employed under the National Youth Employment Programme and attributed it to political affiliation. Mr. Alfred Annye, municipal coordinator of the programme, rejected the claim and said one's employment under the programme was not dependent on political inclination.

Responding to a question on the provision of a community clinic at Yawhima, Dr. Opare, Municipal Director of Health Services, said a proposal had been submitted for the construction of the facility. Answering a question on delays in the release of health insurance cards and problems of networking, Mr. George Oppong Danquah, Public Relations Officer of Sunyani Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, said people who had such problems should contact their field officers.

Source:
GNA

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• 05.06.2008

Attack on me was masterminded - Minister

Ho, June 5, GNA - The botched attempt by an intruder to attack the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi at his official residence last Monday was said to be masterminded, intelligence reports suggested.

"It was part of a grand design to destabilize the region," Mr Dzamesi who was not at the residency at the time of the incident told newsmen at a briefing after an emergency Regional Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

He maintained that, intelligence was aware of plans to attack all political heads and heads of departments in the region and create an atmosphere of insecurity in the region.

The intruder identified as Dzikunu Agbale, on Monday night broke into the Minister's residence by defying orders of the security and enters his apartment by breaking the main door to his seating room where he attacked and inflicted wounds on the Minister's son and two drivers. Agbale who was eventually killed in a confrontation with the Police allegedly shot and stabbed the Ho Municipal Police Commander, Mr Theophilous Tetteh-Nartey in the abdomen and the shoulder in an attempt to overpower him (Agbale).

Mr Tetteh-Nartey was rushed to the Volta Regional Hospital in a very critical condition and later transferred to the 37 Military Hospital on Wednesday at the instance of Mr Dzamesi.

Mr Dzamesi said the attack on his residence was just "a tip of the ice-berg".

He said for Agbale to come as far as his apartment that night indicated that security around the residency is weak adding, "this is an eye-opener".

Mr Dzamesi said the incident would be thoroughly investigated to be able to get to the bottom of the matter.

Mr Dzamesi said adequate security measures have been taken and these would be updated regularly to ensure maximum security in the region in the run-up to and after the December 2008 general elections.

Source:
GNA

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Minister Survives 'Assassination' Attempt



The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi survived an assassination attempt on his life by one Dan Agbale, believed to be a native of Dekpor near Dzodze in the Ketu-north District of the Volta Region.

Dan forcibly entered the Regional Minister's residence through the main gate in spite of the refusal by the police security to allow him in, at about 9:30pm on the 2nd of June 2008.

Speaking to The Chronicle, the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Bernard Dery confirmed the story and said the man was holding dangerous implements like hammer, knife, with certain substances believed to be Indian hemp and talisma.

Commander Derry said after the intruder made his way into the residence he was spotted and the security men, including the residency staff of the Minister embarked on a search for him. The Ho Municipal Police Commander arrived at the Minister's residence later to assist the search party.

DCOP Derry explained that the police gave warning shots aimed at scaring the intruder to make him come out from his hide out. The suspect suddenly appeared from his hide out and pounced on the senior police officer who was holding a riffle.

The suspect, believed to have fortified himself for the mission defied all the gunshots and over powered the police and took over the riffle. Another police officer then shot him in the leg and the hand, but the man was still standing on his feet to fight on. Sensing danger, the police then aimed the shot at the suspect's stomach and killed him instantly.

Commander Derry said the man was at the Minister's house to assassinate the Regional Minister, as he earlier broke into his hall and destroyed everything on sight.

The Ho Municipal Police Commander, who got wounded during the exchanges, is currently on admission at the Volta Regional Hospital where he has successfully undergone surgical operations. The body of the deceased has been dumped at the mortuary.

The Regional Minister who was away at the time of the incident told news men at the regional Hospital in Ho that he knew the deceased who was apparently in the house to assassinate him. He said he even enrolled him at a driving school just to enable him have a trade that he could practice to survive.

According to him the deceased promised to come to his house to thank him for the help he had extended to him, but he did not hear anything from him again until he surfaced at his residence apparently to assassinate him.

Source:
Ghanaian Chronicle

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Minister visits accident victims


Tamale, June 5, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister has visited the Tamale Teaching Hospital to sympathise with the victims of the accident, which occurred last Saturday when Mr John Mahama, running mate for Prof. John Atta Mills of National Democratic Congress visited the area.

The victims were on their way to meet the party's running mate, at the outskirts of Tamale on Saturday when the accident occurred. The Regional Minister also sympathised with the families of the victims and extended his condolences to the family of the late Ms Baba Suweiba 19, who died in the accident and has since been buried. Alhaji Idris presented bags of rice, sugar and quantities of Milo, cooking oil, bread and biscuits and GH¢500 to the families of the victims.

He commended the staff of the hospital for the prompt attention they gave to the injured and encouraged them to continue to render such services to save lives. The Regional Minister said to prevent similar accidents in future, the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) would soon meet to discuss the issue with the various political parties to educate their supporters to conduct themselves when welcoming their leaders. Dr. Ken Sagoe, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital who conducted the Regional Minister and members of the Northern Regional Security Committee, (REGSEC) round the wards, said 14 of the victims were on admission with one in a critical condition. He said majority of the victims had severe head injuries and broken legs adding that, one of them was expected to have a leg amputated, whilst three whose conditions were critical had been referred to Accra.

The CEO thanked the Regional Minister for his gesture and assured him that the donation would be distributed directly among the families of the victims.

Source:
GNA

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Assemblies, Chiefs, Fulani herdsmen to establish cattle ranches


Asakraka (ER), June 6, GNA- The Kwahu South and East District Assemblies, in collaboration with Fulani herdsmen and chiefs in the two districts, would establish cattle ranches to confine cattle belonging to the herdsmen to prevent the destruction of crops by the animals. Nana Onwona Asante, Kwahu South District Chief Executive, said this when some farmers wanted to know government's efforts at stopping the destructive activities of the Fulani cattle in the area, at this year's people's assembly jointly organised by the two assemblies at Asakraka. The farmers complained that the cattle had destroyed large hectares of maize, yam, cassava, and vegetables, while the herdsmen also set fire to bush for greener pasture during the dry season resulting in the destruction of the vegetation.

Nana Asante said the assembly would register all herdsmen and their cattle and ensure that the animals were confined ranches, which some chiefs had promised to release land for their establishment. He said the assembly, the European Union, the Ghana Education Trust Fund, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Fund and the Community-based Rural Development Project, had constructed a number of classroom blocks, teachers' quarters, boreholes, places of convenience and roads to improve the living standards of the people in the two districts. Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, said the government had put up pragmatic measures such as the creation of more districts, the introduction of the Capitation Grant, and School Feeding Programme to enhance the socio-economic development of the people. He said most of the roads in the area would be rehabilitated before the end of the year to facilitate the movement of goods and services. The Chief of Kwahu Tafo, Nana Ameyaw Gyensiamah III, commended government for introducing the people's assembly concept that enabled people at the grassroots to ask questions about developments in their area.

Source:
GNA

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Cape Coast drivers say MMT buses killing their business


Cape Coast, May 5, GNA - Some station masters of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Cape Coast on Thursday appealed to the government to reduce the number of Metro Mass Transport (MMT) buses plying long distances to save the business of the union from collapsing.

Between 11 and 13 MMT buses ply between Accra and Cape Coast daily and three between Cape Coast and Kumasi.

The station masters told the GNA that the introduction of the MMT buses in the metropolis for long journeys had resulted in the low patronage of the union's vehicles. Mr. Atta Essiam, station master of the Ford station at Bakaano, a suburb of Cape Coast, said each of the 12 vehicles at the station used to make at least three journeys to Accra daily before the MMT buses came in November last year.

Since then, this had reduced to just once in a day and that the reduction in the number of MMT buses would enable them also "get a little money to support their families". He registered his displeasure that the MMT buses had resorted to loading in front of the station though they had a designated station and called for a halt to the practice.

Mr Robert Mensah of the Tantri station also expressed concern that the situation had led to some vehicle owners of the union selling their vehicles.

He said before the MMT buses came, a maximum of 30 buses at the station were on the road daily, but this had reduced to just six. Mr Mensah said if the situation persisted, the private transport business would soon be wiped out in Ghana. He said the low patronage of GPRTU buses was due to the fact that the MMT buses charged GH¢3.00 to Accra while the union's buses charged GH¢3.50, and Ford vans, GH¢5.50, and dismissed the notion that the union's vehicles were not being patronized because they were rickety and uncomfortable.

The Central Regional Traffic Officer of the MMT, Mr Daniel Owusu, told the GNA that the fares charged by his organization were based on the price of fuel and not on market competition. He also accused the union's drivers of loading their vehicles at the MMT designated station. Mr Owusu said more buses would be added soon to the Cape Coast/ Kumasi and Cape Coast/Accra routes and new long distance routes introduced.

Three passengers the GNA spoke to said they liked to travel on MMT buses because they were safer, the fares were relatively low and they were also more comfortable.

Source:
GNA

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NGO condemns rise in child labour


Winneba, June 5, GNA - The Executive Director of Rescue Foundation, Ghana, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Mrs Sylvia Hinson-Ekong has expressed concern about the alarming rate of child abuse in the country.

She has, therefore, called on policy makers to ensure that those who violate the laws and conventions on child rights are made to face the full rigours of the law.

Mrs Hinson-Ekong was opening a three-day training workshop on child development, child rights and protection at the University of Education, Winneba.

Fifty participants made up of thirty men and twenty women who are students of the University of Education, attended the workshop. They were taken through topics such as child development, child labour, laws in Ghana on child development, human trafficking, verbal and non-verbal communication.

Mrs. Hinson-Ekong noted that, the workshop would equip the participants who are student teachers and would be opinion leaders and role models with effective communication skills in order to assess the behaviour of the children they would be teaching. She reminded parents to give love and care to children in order to enhance their physical and psychological growth. She condemned all forms of child abuse with special reference to child labour, child trafficking, child soldiery, among others going on in some African countries.

The project officer of Rescue Foundation, Ghana, Mr Edward Kwesi Nyamekye said the child labour and child trafficking were prevalent in the Effutu Municipality. Mr. Nyamekye said his outfit would organize seminars and workshops for parents to sensitize them on the need to help in combating child abuse.

Source:
GNA

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Six vehicles involved in accident at Kasoa


Kasoa (C/R), June 5, GNA - Kwesi Opoku, the 35-year-old tipper truck driver who bolted after his truck had been involved in an accident with five taxi cabs resulting in the death of one of drivers, has surrendered to the Kasoa police. The Kasoa area Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Assistant Superintendent of Police Michael Roland Nayaaba said this to the Ghana News Agency at Kasoa on Thursday. He said on June 3, Opoku's truck crashed into five taxi cabs near the Old Police Station at Kasoa one of taxi drivers, Seth Insabotey, was killed on the spot. Opoku took to his heels but reported himself with his car owner on June 04 and has been placed in custody.

Source:
GNA

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• 04.06.2008

Rawlings reminds Ghanaians of June 4



Kumasi, June 4, GNA-Former President John Jerry Rawlings has called on the security services to remember the import and significance of June Four and uphold its principles.

He said; "it is in the keeping to these principles and ideals that generations to come will learn and avoid the pitfalls that led to the uprising".

The former President said this in a statement read on his behalf by Dr. Stephen Opuni, a member of the Ashanti Regional Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the 29th anniversary celebration of the June Four Uprising in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The occasion, which was under the theme; "Liberating the People through the Ballot Box-the Impetus of June Four Action" was also used to inaugurate the Ashanti Regional Branch of the Youth for Leadership, a youth wing of the NDC.

He said the June Four uprising was a day that cannot and must not be forgotten in the history of the country, stressing that, after almost three decades, much has been said about the events leading to, as well as the actual events of that day, and its aftermath.

"Some have chosen to tell the truth about these events, whilst others have chosen to distort and fabricate the events that happened on that day. Still others, the truly dangerous ones, have chosen to attempt to eradicate the meaning and spirit of the June Four."

He pointed out that, the true spirit of June Four was rooted in the concepts of truth, probity and accountability saying; "no amount of lip-service to democratic good governance as prescribed by our self-appointed Western mentors and executed by gentlemen in three-piece suits, can satisfy the dwindling hopes of the disadvantaged and suffering people. The only way to engage their trust and confidence is to be honest, open and transparent".

Former President Rawlings indicated that, the patience of the suffering majority would sooner or later boil over, if government flaunts personal wealth, power and ambition in the face of the poor. He said; "it does not matter how nicely such governments cloak their actions under the external measurers of democratic practice, or secure the approval of world powers in their bid for respectability, the poor and deprived may be apparently apathetic and powerless for long periods, but sooner or later they will react".

"If only the elite, the influential and the wealthy of our dear nation had absorbed, in all sincerity, the lessons of June Four, our dear country will be far ahead of the dismal situation which now prevails."

For all those, who were personally involved in the highest moral motivation of June Four, it is a cause for deep regret that in recent years, the ideal of true democracy has been crowded by a fa=E7ade of procedural excuses by functionaries with fat allowances of the present government", he added.

Former President Rawlings emphasized that, "the spotlight of June Four must not be turned only on the government but also on ourselves; in our desire to seek power, we must look at ourselves in this light. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but losses his own soul." 04 June 08

Source:
GNA

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Food prices to go down on completion - MInister


Accra, June 4, GNA - The Minister of Information Stephen Asamoah-Boateng has assured Ghanaians of reduction in prices of imported food items as soon as the Parliamentary processes were completed. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the government has had fruitful discussions with importers and the concern regarding old and new stock of the affected food items have all been addressed.

"Therefore, the reductions in the food items will be immediate in our markets and shops," he told journalists at the Meet-the-Press session. The Minister reiterated government's commitment to boost local food production to ensure security.

It is in this direction that the mitigating measures announced by government included the amount of 11 million Ghana Cedis towards the provision of subsidy on fertilisers to all farmers.

Besides, local farmers cultivating the New Rice for Africa are given seeds free of charge which cost 50 GH Pesewas per kilo Mr Asamoah-Boateng said government has also imported into the country 400 new tractors at the cost of 24,000 GH cedis each with government absorbing GH¢ 8,000 as subsidy.

The farmers will pay the remaining 16,000 by a down payment of 50 per cent and the remainder paid over three years with no interest. "The irony of the rising food prices on the world market is that we can also take advantage to produce more for export as the world demand for natural food increases and as consumers shift from genetically modified foods," he said.

The Minister said while the measures taken by government would involve slowing down some development projects, the social welfare policies designed to protect and assist the vulnerable would continue. On the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme (LEAP), Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the second round of cash transfer to beneficiaries under the programme had been effected. He said the number of beneficiaries has increased from 2,000 in March to 3,200 in June. The LEAP grants range from GH¢ 8 cedis to GH¢ 15 cedis, depending on the number of eligible persons in the household. On premix fuel, he said, extra efforts were being made by the Ministry for Fisheries and the premix committee to ensure that fishermen had enough of the fuel in good time. There are also checks been carried out along the coastal area to check the invasion of foreign vessels that make life difficult for the fishermen.

Source:
GNA

EAT  GHANAIAN  RICE!

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Over 447,000 pupils benefiting from school feeding programme



Accra, June 4, GNA - A total of 987 schools with a pupil population of 447, 714 are benefiting from the School Feeding programme in 138 districts as at December 31, last year. The Greater Accra Region has the highest number of schools benefiting from the programme with 239 schools and a pupil population of 112,272.

The Ashanti Region has 251 schools, the Brong Ahafo, 167 and Upper East and Upper West regions have the lowest number of schools with 18 and 17 schools respectively. Mr. Kwadwo-Agyei Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment said these in Parliament when responding to a question on the number of schools benefiting from the programme as at the end of December last year.

When questioned whether few schools in the three northern regions, areas known to be relatively poor, were benefiting from the programme, the Minister said there were other organisations such as the Catholic Relief Services and the World Food Programme currently running similar feeding programmes in the three regions.

In response to another question on why the North Tongu constituency had been left out in the creation of district assemblies, Mr Agyei-Darko said an attempt was made in 2004 to create the North Tongu constituency as a district but problems were encountered with the choice of Juapong as the district capital.

"I wish to state that the Ministry is still studying the whole situation so as not to encounter what happened in 2004 again," the Minister said.

Source:
GNA

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Peace at James Town at last

Accra, June 4, GNA - After decades of a protracted chieftaincy dispute in James Town, Accra, dividing the beach community on royal clan fragments, there now appears to be high hopes on the horizon as a result of the recommendations of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee set up by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III, which brokered a deal between the feuding factions.

Residents of the old settlement, which is frequently referred to "British Accra", are now in ecstasy and jubilation, waiting for the implementation of the peace plan, which would bring them together to forge a common front towards the development of the area and the opening of opportunities for their youth and generations yet unborn. The Truth and Reconciliation Committee, which was chaired by Nii Tetteh Ashong II, Ga Seitse (Stool Owner) and had the Reverend Cannon Hansen Addy and the Reverend Aflah Sackey as members emphasized the need for peace among the feuding factions in the long standing chieftaincy dispute.

In the opinion of the Committee, by a ruling delivered at the Ga Mantse Palace last week, the Committee entreated the feuding factions to resolve the matter peacefully with the involvement of all stakeholders. It also urged them to renounce a destoolment procedure instituted by the Adanse Mantse, Nii Sackey Akomia VI and his King Makers against Nii Kojo Ababio V, James Town Alata Ngleshie Mantse. They said in achieving the objectives of the Committee, Nii Kojo Ababio V, who initiated the move for the peaceful settlement, culminating in the setting up of the Committee, must "restore all Kingmakers and others having capacity in the chieftaincy matters in the dynasty and allow all, who submitted their names through the Truth and Reconciliation Committee".

The Committee lauded the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah III for having the foresight to set up the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. It recommended that its ruling should be "honoured by both the dislodged and the incumbent sides for the immediate implementation by Nii Kojo Ababio V, to bring about the peaceful and harmonious settlement of issues.

Also, he must uphold "the resolution of all matters between himself and the other parties he dearly cherishes for the manifestation of the peaceful understanding." The verdict was received by both sides with applause, as they smiled, hugged and exchanged pleasantries before departing the Ga Mantse Palace.

Commenting on the ruling, Nii Sackey Akomia, Chief of Adanse and Head of Wetse Kojo Ruling House, praised King Tackie Tawiah III for succeeding in putting them on the path to peace. He said he could only equate his sense of judgment to that of the late former Chief Justice, Justice Nii Armah Ollenu, whose landmark ruling in 1967 forestalled a similar situation, a decision, which led to peace and tranquillity in the Ga State.

The Chief said the attainment of a peaceful society must be the primary objective of every leader, so he and his kingmakers would abide by the recommendations of the Committee to the letter in order to unite the people and mobilize them to undertake positive endeavours.

Source:
GNA

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Committee to investigate Ashaiman clash

Ashaiman, June 04, GNA - A three-member committee was on Wednesday formed by the Ashaiman District Security Committee (DISEC) to investigate circumstances that led to Tuesday's riot between commercial drivers and police at Ashaiman that claimed two lives and injured many others.

The committee, made up of representatives from the Ghana Police Service, Bureau of National Investigations and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (AMA), is to submit its report in three days. The three-member committee is chaired by the Coordinating Director of the AMA, Mr Kwamina Akwa, Mr Albert Boakye Okyere, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, told the GNA in an interview.

Mr Albert Boakye Okyere, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive who is also the chairman of the DISEC, appealed to residents of the town, especially drivers, to exercise restraint while a lasting solution is found to the problem to avert re-occurrence. The Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, expressed disappointment in the way the police handled the situation and called for an independent body to look into the matter and bring those responsible for the shooting to book.

He told the GNA in interview that the committee must comprise a member of parliament, a judge and a social worker and urged the government to immediately reshuffle the Ashaiman Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) or cause the transfer of the Commander. The drivers were demanding the release of four of their colleagues who had been arrested for parking at the roadside thus causing traffic jam instead of a parking lot provided for them. In the ensuing encounter the drivers were joined by a mob that besieged the Ashaiman Police Station and threw stones, sticks and other missiles at the police who responded by firing shots that killed the two people. The dead were identified as a nine-year-old boy who was selling iced water and a driver. 04 June 08

Source:
GNA

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Maternal deaths on the increase in Northern Region

Tamale, June 4, GNA- The Northern Region recorded 115 maternal deaths in 2007 as compared to 92 in 2006. There is also lack of skill personnel to man the 178 health facilities including 16 hospitals available, especially doctors, technicians and midwives.

Dr. Akwasi Twumasi, Regional Director of Ghana Health Service made this known in Tamale during the inauguration of a private clinic provided by one Haj Adams, a retired health official to serve Tamale Metropolis.

"We have only 35 medical assistants in the Region instead of the required number of 232.We have a total of 297 midwives instead of 390. Out of this number 88 would be retiring in the next five years." Dr. Twumasi said out of the 817 general nurses needed only 251 were currently at post.

He noted that the inadequate number of midwives in the Region was likely to hamper the country's progress towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals.

He said out of the total of 49 doctors, 25 are members of the Cuban Medical Brigade, explaining that in general the Region was operating at staff strength of 36 per cent. Dr. Twumasi said the nutritional status of children under five years was also bad contributing to a high rate of stunted growth. Environmental sanitation is also a problem especially diarrhoea, which continu e to be among the 10 cause of Out-Patient Department attendance. He said in 2007 alone, a total of 40,339 diarrhoeal cases were recorded.

Typhoid fever is on the increase with its associated typhoid perforation and death. On a positive note, Dr. Twumasi said the region, which was a Guinea worm highly endemic area had recorded the lowest level in 2007. The Region recorded a total of 3,237 cases last year as compared to 3,679 in 2006.

As at April 2008, 215 cases had been recorded as against 2,417 in 2007, representing a reduction of about 91 per cent. "We need everybody on board to give the Guinea worm disease the last push," Dr. Twumasi said.

Source:
GNA

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NDC would not witch-hunt, when in power


Kumasi, June 4, GNA- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) would not harass those in opposition for political gains, when voted into power, Mr Joseph Boure Salifu, Asawasi Constituency Secretary of the Party, has said.

He said the Party believed in freedom of speech, rule of law as well as democratic principles and tenets, saying, "they had resolved to adhere to these principles and also tolerate dissenting views when given the mandate in the 2008 elections".

Mr Salifu was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the vision of the Party for the Ghanaians in Kumasi on Tuesday. "We are not going to witch-hunt anybody perceived to be in opposition to the NDC's policies", he stressed, and said it was not true that the NDC would dismiss public officials perceived to belong to the NPP.

The Constituency Secretary charged NDC supporters and activists to be wary of some rough tactics, which he alleged, the NPP was adopting in order to upstage the NDC in the December polls. Mr Salifu said one of these tactics, according to NDC research, were plans by their opponents to bribe hard core members of the Party to switch camp.

He indicated that since such offers impeded effective democratic dispensation, the supporters should reject these offers and firmly stand behind the NDC.

Mr Salifu said the NDC would not abolish the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) and other development projects initiated by the current government, since they were in the best interest of the nation. He appealed to NDC party agents to be very vigilant on the day of the polls to forestall the situation where the under-aged would be allowed to vote, saying that, there was the need for those who have attained 18 years and above to register to enable them to exercise their franchise. He affirmed the commitment of the NDC to retain the Asawasi seat for the second time and said his outfit was working hard to achieve this objective.

Source:
GNA

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Two armed robbers jailed 30 years


Sunyani, June 4, GNA - Two Kumasi-based armed robbers arrested by the police in Sunyani last Friday while on their way to Techiman to sell a stolen Opel Astra taxi cab were on Tuesday sentenced to a total of 30 years imprisonment by a circuit court at Fiapre, near Sunyani. The robbers, Alhassan Malik, 37, driver and Rockson Arthur, 28, carpenter both pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery and were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each in hard labour. The two snatched the taxi cab from the driver at knife point at Antwikrom, near Sunyani.

Chief Inspector Alex Fosu told the court presided by Mr. John Owusu that at on May 30 the robbers hired the taxi driven by one Kwaku Edward in Sunyani to be taken to Antwikrom where they alleged their KIA vehicle had broken down.

He said on reaching Antwikrom they instructed the driver to branch off the main Atronie road to where the said KIA was. The robbers asked the driver to stop and ordered him to hand over the vehicle's key to them and when he refused Malik drew a knife and attempted to stab him while Rockson removed a rope from his pocket and tied the driver's neck.

The robbers dumped the driver in the bush and sped away in the taxi but the driver crawled to the road side and got an oncoming vehicle that took him to the police station in Sunyani where he reported the case. Chief Inspector Fosu said the police sent messages to all police barriers in the region as well as local FM radio stations for the public to be on the look out alert for the stolen taxi. The prosecutor said the police at Yawhima barrier near Sunyani intercepted the car with the robbers as they headed towards Techiman. They told the police they were invited by one Malik, a resident of Sunyani, to come and assist him in robbery operations.

Source:
GNA

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• 03.06.2008

Navy patrol team arrests fishermen operating near oil rig


Sekondi, June 3,-GNA-

Source:
GNA

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NDC would improve living standards- Atta Mills



Wassa Akropong (W/R) June 3, -GNA-Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Tuesday said what the people need at the present time is meaningful change in their standard of living.

He was addressing separate community durbars during the second phase of his campaign tour of the Western Region. The four-day tour took him to about 14 communities in the Amenfi Central, Amenfi East, Prestea-Huni-Valley and Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituencies.

The communities included Amenfi Agona, Manso Amenfi, Bawdie, Nananko, Wassa Akropong, Opon Valley. Bogoso, Prestea, Awudua, Huni Valley, Tarkwa and Nsuaem.

Prof. Atta Mills said the concept of positive change cannot hold because of the rising cost of living in the country. He said an NDC government would see to it that the people enjoyed appreciable standard than they are now doing. Professor Atta Mills urged the people to give the NDC a chance to continue its good works.

He said the forthcoming elections were crucial to the development of the country because of the difficulties the people are going through and because the country was moving backwards.

Professor Atta Mills advised those who have decided not to vote because of the failure of the NPP to keep its electoral promises to rescind their decisions.

He said all Ghanaians, including those who have lost hope in politicians should make it a point to vote as that would decide the future of the country.

Professor Atta Mills further urged the people not to sell their votes and to decide on who to vote for based on their standard of living. He said the resources of the country belonged to the people and should be used to improve their standard of living.

Professor Atta Mills said some politicians are setting bad examples and are using insults to score political points.

He said the country could be well governed through brotherly love, peace and God-fearing principles without resorting to insults. He said members of the party were being discriminated against in some circles, adding that some, who are contractors were not being awarded contracts and some were at the risk of losing their jobs. Professor Atta Mills said he would be a President for all Ghanaians and national resources would be equitably distributed, irrespective of political affiliations.

Dr. John Frank Abu, Western Regional Chairman of the NDC said Prof. Atta Mills would live up to the task when he is elected president, adding that he is humble, loving and hardworking and would be the people's President.

Source:
GNA

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Child labour still persists in Ghana - FIDA


Accra, June 3, GNA - Mrs. Jane Quaye, Executive Director of Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Ghana, on Tuesday warned that the menace of child labour and child trafficking, which undermined human dignity, social and economic development still persists in Ghana. She noted that, despite the passage of the Human Trafficking Act, Children's Act and Juvenile Justice Act the level of awareness in the society was still low.

Mrs. Quaye said this at a workshop organized for teachers, GPRTU and CEPS officials, as well as human rights institutions in various communities to raise awareness on laws protecting the child and child trafficking.

The workshop is part of FIDA/ILO programme to support legal literacy programme in 12 districts in the country. Mrs. Quaye said the causes of child labour vary from economic to social difficulties in the country and explained that most families were not able to feed, clothe and educate their children from the very day the child was delivered.

"Recommendations from research studies on child labour and trafficking have placed greater emphasis on extensive public education to be carried with all actors dealing with children due to the high level of ignorance of the laws by various partners in regular contact with children."

Mrs. Quaye said FIDA, which is an organization made up of a group of women lawyers that advocates for men, women and child rights issues with education as their main tool, had formulated the child labour campaign in such a way that it cut across the seven forms of child labour. The seven forms of child labour are: Child domestic work; small scale artisan; mining and quarrying; fishing; commercial sexual exploitation of children; trafficking and head portage activities.

The FIDA boss called for the enforcement of laws governing child labour in the Children's Act and urged agencies such as the police, customs and immigration to train and sensitize their roles to ensure promotion and protection of children from rights violations. "The capacity of parents needs to be enhanced to encourage them to report cases to law enforcement agencies," she said, and further advised parents to allow their children to speak their minds especially on issues concerning them.

"We need to change the attitude and beliefs that children are seen and not heard. Children are not robots; they need to be allowed to be developed properly."

Mrs. Quaye urged key partners working with children as well as local government and law enforcement authorities to work in partnership to ensure that cases of child labour were reported and appropriate sanctions applied to eliminate the menace.

Source:
GNA

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Cocaine seized at airport destroyed


Accra, June 3, GNA - Fifty-nine kilogrammes of cocaine retrieved from the Duty Free Shop at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on March 14 last year was on Tuesday destroyed at the premises of the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal.

Based on the orders of the court, the substance with street value of 180,000 Ghana cedis was set on fire after they had been tendered in evidence by prosecution at a sitting at the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal.

The event was witnessed by the Registrar and officials of the court, prosecution and officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB). Kwame Owusu Yelbert, a security officer at the Kotoka International Airport, is standing trial, for conspiracy and abetment. His accomplices, namely Felix Edusei, a driver, Daniel Sanja Nimako, a security personnel and Emmanuel Boakye, a sales officer, are at large. Yelbert is said to have facilitated the movement of 59 kilogrammes of cocaine into the Duty Free Shop at KIA.

His accomplices are being held for possessing narcotics drugs without lawful authority.

Yelbert, who has pleaded not guilty would re-appear on June 17. The prosecutor, Mr. Augustines Obuor, State Attorney, said on March 14, last year, personnel of NACOB stationed in KIA had information from aviation security that some people were hiding narcotic drugs within the Airport.

The prosecution said a search was therefore conducted within the Airport and at the Duty Free Shop where two polythene bags containing whitish powdery substance were found concealed at two different locations.

The State Attorney said investigation revealed that Nimako and Boakye removed the bag in which the drugs were from a vehicle being driven by Edusei and sent it to the Duty Free Shop.

The prosecution said the Commander of Aviation Security viewed the CCTV on March 13, 2007 which revealed that Yelbert was at the entrance of the arrival hall moments after which Nimako and Boakye were also captured carrying the bag through the hall to the entrance of the Transit Shop which is also part of the Duty Free Shop.

Source:
GNA

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Police Gun Down Civilians

... 9-year-old boy & ice water seller killed

Ashaiman, June 3, GNA- Three people are reported dead and several others, including police personnel injured, in a clash between the Ashaiman Police and commercial drivers over wrongful parking at Ashaiman, on Tuesday morning.
The drivers had refused to park within a parking lot provided for them, and rather parked by the roadside, thus causing traffic jam. The drivers were demanding the release of their colleagues, who had been arrested for parking at a "no parking" area.

The two, who were killed by stray bullets were a nine-year old boy, an ice water seller and a driver whose name was given as Alhaji, believed to be in his twenties.

The third had not been identified.

Early Tuesday morning, the drivers blocked all roads leading to Ashaiman and burnt lorry tyres to express their displeasure at the arrest of their colleagues by the Ashaiman MTTU.

As at 1020 hours a few soldiers from the First Battalion of Infantry, Michel Camp come to assist the over 200 police personnel from Ashaiman and Tema to bring the situation under control.

The drivers, joined by a mob also threatened to burn down the police station and journalists who were trapped in the attack had to take cover, while the Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) John Kudalor who had rushed there to quell the situation was also not spared as he was injured on the forehead. The Ashaiman Divisional Commander, of the Motor Transport and Unit (MTTU) ASP Timothy Dassah said commercial drivers at Ashaiman had ignored several warnings by the Ashaiman Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTT) to stop parking wrongfully by the road side and rather use the parking lot meant for them.

To enforce this, about 0600 hours the MTTU personnel arrested four drivers and this infuriated the others who started throwing stones and other missiles at the police to demand the release of their colleagues. At this juncture the crowd increased and a clash ensued between the police and drivers who were joined by the mob and in the process, the three lost their lives.

ASP Dassah expressed surprise that officials of the Ashaiman branch of the GPRTU did not dialogue for the release of their colleagues but rather resorted to violence.

At the time of going to press sporadic shooting was over-heard in the background apparently to disperse the mob but they would not budge.


Source:
pfm

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Police superintendent shot in the stomach

Ho, June 3, GNA-

The Ho Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Theophilus Tetteh-Nartey, is on admission at the Volta Regional Hospital, with serious injuries incurred, when he attempted to arrest an intruder, who entered the Volta Regional Minister's residency on Monday night.

The Regional Minister's son and two drivers, who were attacked by the intruder, have been treated and discharged. The Surgeon on duty at the Regional Hospital, who pleaded anonymity, told the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi and the Regional Police Commander Bernard Dery that, Superintendent Tetteh-Narttey was brought in bleeding profusely.

The Surgeon said Supt. Tetteh-Nartey's "was badly wounded in the stomach and his intestines perforated by bullets" and that, "we will do our best".

He said Superintendent Tetteh-Nartey was lucky his liver was not damaged and was optimistic that he would be fine. The Surgeon said Superintendent Tetteh-Nartey lost so much blood and had to be transfused with three pints of blood.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Mr Dery said he had a call from Superintendent Tetteh-Nartey at about 0930hours on Monday night that an intruder known as Dzikunu Agbale had attacked the Regional Minister's Residence and was attacking people and destroying properties. He said he (Commander) quickly arranged for reinforcement and rushed to the scene himself.

The Commander said upon reaching the entrance of the Residency, he was told Agbale had been overpowered, but Superintendent Tetteh-Narttey was rushed to the Regional Hospital.

He said he learnt Agbale arrived at the main gate of the Residency and requested to see the Regional Minister, but was told the Regional Minister had travelled. The Commander said Agbale then requested to see a driver called Adjei Mensah, also known as "Para" but before the Police could answer him; he (Agbale) punched one of them and forced his way through the main gate into the residency.

Mr Dery said Agbale then rushed to the Regional Minister's apartment, broke the glass door, entered the seating room and destroyed a wall clock, wall pictures and later went to the kitchen, where he took a kitchen knife and chased the Minister's son. The Regional Commander said the Police then arrived, gave some warning shots and Agbale, who had then taken cover, emerged and attacked a policeman, resulting in a struggle.

He said during the struggle, Agbale held the rifle of one of the policemen and pressed the trigger, hitting Superintendent Tettey-Nartey in the abdomen and the arm. He said Agbale also attacked Superintendent Tettey-Nartey with a crowbar and a hammer he was yielding until he was subsequently shot by the police, killing him instantly.

Mr Dery said a quantity of Indian hemp, a talisman with four keys and porcupine spines were also found on Agbale. He said the Police was still trying to establish the true identity of Agbale, but "suspects an assassination attempt" in view of recent developments in Ho and Dzodze area". Meanwhile, Agbale's body has been deposited at the Volta Regional mortuary.

Source: GNA

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Disabled in Upper East asked to Patronize NYEP


Bolgatanga, June 3, GNA - Mrs. Agnes Chigabatia, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, on Tuesday advised disabled youth in the region who have skills to patronize the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP). She assured them of the support of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) saying, "the RCC is very happy about the efforts you have made individually to live independent lives and would continue to support you to achieve your desired aspirations." Mrs. Chigabatia said this when she inaugurated the Regional Federation of the Disabled Youth made up of the blind , deaf and physically challenged in Bolgatanga.

She said the government, in its quest to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities, had introduced programmes and policies that would help make life bearable to the disabled. "The various youth leadership training institutes, craft centres, special schools for the education of the visually impaired and the deaf and dumb had been established throughout the country to cater for the educational and training needs of people with various forms of disabilities", she said.

She said the RCC, through its Municipal and District assemblies, was supporting disabled young people in their education through sponsorship packages that include payment of school fees and their transport needs.

Mrs. Chigabatia urged those in schools to study hard and aim at achieving the best education could give them.

She told them that the country's universities and other tertiary institutions were opened to all who had the right qualification regardless of their physical structure or sight. The federation elected a new Executive with Mr. Mark Akubire as the Chairman, Jamilo Osman, Vice Chairman and Mr. Ania David, Secretary. Mr. Akubire appealed to people not to discriminate against the disabled and see them only as beggars or nuisance but accord them the respect due everyone.

He appealed to the politicians and the public to avoid conflict during the political campaign period as well as the voting day as the vulnerable suffers most when there is violence. Mr. Akubire appealed to NGOs and kind people to help their new office in Bolgatanga with stationary and means of transport.

Source:
GNA

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Kufuor Travels From Japan to South Africa


....arrives in South Africa for World Economic Forum

Accra, June 3, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday to participate in the four-day World Economic Forum which opens on Wednesday.

An official statement issued by Mr. Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, said the forum would discuss, among other topics, "Africa's response to the Economic Partnership Agreements", "Taking control of global partnerships" and "Political transitions: Africa's Achilles heel".

The World Economic Forum is a private meeting of heads of state and government, senior government ministers, heads of regional organisations and select private sector representatives.

Among other leaders that would participate in the form are, Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Umar Yar'Adua of Nigeria, Paul Kagame of Rwanda; Jacob Zuma, leader of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya and several chief executives of the world's major corporate entities.

The statement said there would be a special session on; "The growth, prospects and potential of Ghana" on Wednesday with President Kufuor as the lead discussant and Mr. Neville Isdel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coca Cola Company, as Chairman.
President Kufuor in Cape Town for 18th World Economic Forum
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, June 3, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday arrived in Cape Town, South Africa to join about 800 other decision-makers from 50 countries for the 18th World Economic Forum on Africa.

They would focus on ways of addressing challenges facing the continent to enable it to become a more reliable and competitive partner in the global economy.

"Capitalizing on Opportunity", is the theme for the three-day high level discussions whose core pillars would be built on "Re-engineering growth, Innovate or Perish, Partnership without Borders and Licence to Lead."

President Kufuor, accompanied by senior government officials, is expected to use the platform to highlight Ghana's economic growth prospects and potential.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, President Umaru Musa Yar'Dua of Nigeria, Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika, President Paul Kagame Of Rwanda, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Mr Neville Isdell, Chairman and Chief Executive of Coca Cola Company, Mr Douglas Alexander, British Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Donald Kaberuka, President of African Development Bank and Jendayi Frazer US Assistant Secretary of State for

Africa, are among key figures, taking part in the panel discussions.

Meanwhile, President Kufuor, during a stop-over in London, en route to Cape Town from Japan, where he addressed the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), granted audience to the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, who updated him on the activities planned by the Secretariat.

Source:
GNA

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• 02.06.2008

Ghanaians in China Cry for Help

A few weeks after the Government of Ghana spent thousands of dollars to airlift so-called stranded Ghanaian tourists from Trinidad and Tobago, another set of Ghanaians, this time in far away China is calling on government to save them from Chinese detention camps.

"I wish to send this information from China to you concerning the rampant arrests and detention of Ghanaian citizens in China", Mike Adom, one of the stranded Ghanaians in China alleged in an email to Public Agenda on May 27.

"In one of the cities in China here called Guangzhou there are a lot of Ghanaians in prison just because of over staying.

The current number of Ghanaians being held, including men and women is over 80, the letter further stated. Adom alleged that the Chinese immigration office is no longer interested in visa validity and is subsequently arresting both those who have overstayed and those who have valid visas."

You could have a valid visa but when policemen meet you and request for your passport and you give it out, they run a pen through the visa and bundle you into a waiting vehicle. If you are lucky to be released and another police man meets you with the canceled visa you would be arrested and jailed."

Adom disclosed that they are compelled to pay over $1200 penalty for overstaying and must be locked up for months after which they buy their own tickets to fly home." Please I hope the government of Ghana will come to our aid and help us all out of this place back home."

The question that comes to mind is, are they victims of circumstances or bad nuts bent on soiling the relations between Ghana and China?

During a dinner he hosted in April this year for the Ghana-China Friendship Association (GHACIFA) in Accra, the Chinese Ambassador in Accra, Yu Wenzhe said Ghana-China relations are based on mutual respect and dates back to the First Republic, when Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah established the fraternal He said President Nkrumah and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung developed the friendship because they had a common cause since both were heads of developing countries that shared common aspirations.

Mr Yu, said the diplomatic relations between Ghana and China had the added dimension of people-to-people relations in addition to the government-to-government relations.

China and Ghana established diplomatic relations on July 5 1960. The founding fathers of the two new-born republics laid a solid cornerstone for the development of the bilateral ties.

Zhou Enlai, Premier of the Chinese State Council, visited Ghana in 1964. President Kwame Nkrumah paid two visits to China in 1961 and 1966 and struck a deep personal friendship with former Chinese leaders Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai.

Source:
Public Agenda

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We are going to vote for NDC - NPP members


Fifty-three angry polling station chairmen of the New Patriotic Party in the Okaikoi South Constituency of the Greater Accra Region have threatened to defect to the opposition National Democratic Congress.

They have accused the party’s chairman, Peter Mac Manu, of manipulating processes leading to a constituency primary on Sunday that saw the acclamation of incumbent MP, Nana Akomea, after he was declared the sole candidate.

The aggrieved party men say their preferred choice, Mrs Vicky Bright, was unjustly disqualified from the race, and they point accusing fingers at the party chairman and other party officials as those responsible for employing unconstitutional means to scheme her out.

They also blamed the chairman for the numerous altercations that have attended the party’s primaries around the country and said since the party hierarchy was working for its demise, they will help speed up the process by campaigning for the NDC to win the December elections unless a proper primary is held.

On Sunday, only the timely intervention of the police averted what might have been an unpleasant situation as several irate party followers charged to destroy the primary.

National Organiser of the NPP, Lord Commey told Joy News that Mrs Vicky Bright’s application was rejected but her supporters produced documents from the party’s regional headquarters directing that the primary be held on Wednesday.

Mr. Mac Manu also told Joy News that Vicky Bright’s disqualification followed her rejection by seven polling station chairmen because she did not meet basic constitutional requirements, including nurturing a constituency. Listen to Mac Manu.

According to the party chairman, the leadership of the party even sought to grant her a waiver, but again she failed to receive the approval of the majority of the executives hence her disqualification.

He denied that the party hierarchy was undermining the party’s constitution and said none of the accusations levelled against him and his colleagues was true.

Source:
jfm

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Two cedis per day for Police at Bawku


There is widespread agitation among Police personnel tasked with restoring peace at Bawku in the Upper East Region, over daily remuneration of GH¢2.00 per day.

The concerns of the Police personnel stems from the fact that, while they had put their lives on the dangerous block to salvage and quell the insurgency at Bawku, the state is poorly remunerating them.

THE SUN gathered that Police personnel who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were given a daily wage of GH¢2.00 (¢20,000 old Ghana Cedis) for all their risks. The personnel therefore described the amount as woefully inadequate, going by the extreme factors on the cards.

THE SUN gathered that initially, the Police personnel where given GH¢3 as daily allowance which was thought to be woefully inadequate, as a result of which personnel were praying so authorities upped it, only for one cedi to be slashed off it to bring the figure to 2 GH cedis.

“We all know that the state’s budget is already over-stretched but since we cannot compromise on security matters and throw peace out of the window, we need to be rewarded appropriately”, a top ranking Police man told THE SUN in chat.

According to the personnel, if prompt steps are not put in place to address the problem it would affect their operations.

“How can you give GH¢2.00 per head to responsible people like us who have left our wives, children and family behind to help maintain peace in the area,” an aggrieved officer asked THE SUN.

“I am not surprised that some disgruntled members attempt to sell their weapons for cash. The Police administration must sit because it seems they care less about the welfare of the personnel who have been sent to the war zone to maintain peace,” another personnel complained.

A number of policemen and soldiers were recently dispatched to Bawku following the ethnic conflict between the Kusasis and Mumprusis. As a result of the clash, several lives and property have been lost hence the use of a back-up Police enforcement team to maintain peace in the area.

Source:
THE SUN

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Huge populations in Africa still without access to water


Accra, June 2, GNA - Huge populations in Africa do not have access to improved water supply, Mr Minta Aboagye, Head of the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing, said on Monday.

He said about 340 million people on the continent were in this category, although about 86 per cent of urban population had access to good drinking water while 48 per cent of rural dwellers could boost of improved water systems.

Mr Aboagye said this at the opening of a three-day International Symposium on Household Water Management and the Fourth Annual Meeting of the International Network to Promote Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage underway in Accra.

He said in 2006 the quality of urban water declined by one per cent while rural supply improved by 56 per cent in Ghana. "There has been increasing support for interim measures to improve household drinking water quality through home management." Dr Bonifacio Magtibay, Technical Officer, World Health Organisation (WHO), said the symposium would consolidate effective strategies for addressing barriers in introducing and scaling up household water treatment systems at the country level and how it could be applied in African regions and other developing countries. Country representatives at the symposium would also discuss innovative strategies and practices for introducing and scaling up implementation, provide updates on key developments with key partners, identify barriers, drivers and key action points for implementation and scaling up household water in Ghana.

Dr Magtibay said participants would also be equipped with the technology and practices on safe drinking water storage and how to apply emerging technologies in their respective country. Kenya and Ethiopia shared their success stories. Kenya, to avoid the high level of cholera cases, has adopted the distribution of purifiers, community sensitization, strengthening water quality surveillance, research and collaboration as some interventions. Ethiopia recorded an increase of 51 per cent in 2007 as against 20 per cent in treated water supply.

Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), Minister of Health, stressed the need to properly handle treated water adding that about 40 per cent of treated water was used for WC, 15 per cent for laundry and five per cent for the kitchen. He said the practice must be halted to facilitate expansion works to rural areas.

The network also works to improve the health of vulnerable populations through improved point-of-use water management in contributing to the reduction of waterborne disease, promoting household water treatment and safe storage as a key component of water, sanitation and hygiene programmes.

Source:
GNA

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Ghanaian Teens Serve As Sex Slaves In Gambia



Reports reaching the Gye Nyame Concord newspaper indicate that the authorities in the Gambia last week questioned a group of 23 Ghanaian girls who have been trafficked into that country for use as ‘sex slaves’ and domestic servants. This follows a swoop on a child trafficking ring that has been sending the teenagers into the country illegally to work along the coast where a lot of Ghanaian fishermen live with their families.

The rescued girls, aged between 12 and 18, were made possible by the joint operation of the Gambian Immigration officials and some child rights activists. Our information indicate that this is not the first time such an operation had been undertaken to rescue Ghanaian children and that in 2006 a similar operation was done where a total of 63 children were also freed. An official of the Gambian Intelligence Agency, who spoke to this paper on condition we would not name him, said ‘the children can neither speak English nor any of the local languages. They speak Ewe and Twi’.

He said lately Gambians have been shocked at reports in the local media about teenagers being used as sex slaves, citing the closing down of a foreign-owned motel in the capital, Banjul, some few months ago by authorities because its owners were indulging in child sex abuse. According to him, most of the children being questioned have been identified to be coming from the Central and Volta regions of Ghana and that as at now no arrangement have been made to return the children to their families.

The 23 girls, this paper gathered, were discovered in a fishing community 25km south of Banjul, locally known as ‘Ghana Town’, because it is populated entirely by Ghanaian fishermen. ‘They are forced to satisfy the sexual desires of the older men (masters) who can be their fathers within the strong 5,000 Ghanaian community” he added. The Gambian authorities say they also found out that the girls were made to work long hours smoking fish caught by their masters and selling gari, a common staple food made from cassava. Apart from working for long hours and serving as sex slaves for their various masters, the girls are prevented from going to school while their masters’ own children went to school.

The girls told the Gambian officials they had been forbidden to contact their parents back home. The Gambian officer told this reporter that after the successful operation, they have adopted the house to house approach and have already rescued a dozen Ghanaians, including many found in single rooms. One thing he said they are trying very difficult to understand is whether the girls were offered for sex to tourists since sex tourism in The Gambia is very alarming.

According to our sources, parents are often duped into sending their children with traffickers on the pretence that the child would be given a better life or education with a host family oversees and that “they are told their children will be able to send back remittances to ease the family’s grinding poverty”. Contacted, officials at the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs {MOWAC} declined knowledge of the case in question, but said they also have knowledge of 12 girls who were trafficked into the Gambia and have since been rescued and brought back to Ghana. Marilyn Amponsah of the International Desk at the Ministry said “we’ll be working in collaboration with our partners in the Gambia to get the girls released to their parents”.

Source:
gye nyame concord

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Government with the support of the -JICA- working towards competency-based technical education


Accra, June 2, GNA - Government with the support of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has started a programme aimed at introducing competency-based training in Technical and Vocational education.

The programme seeks to build the capacity of the Technical and Vocational Institutions to train students to suit the needs of industry. Mr Stephen Turkson, Technical Officer at JICA, said at a workshop for trainers in Technical and Vocational Institutions that government established the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), an umbrella body for all the institutions, to help seal loopholes in the industrial sector.

"We realize that there are gaps between what is taught in the classrooms and what is done on the job." Mr. Turkson said the workshop would address the problems that created gaps in the training and how they were related to the field. The programme would incorporate all technical and vocational institutions including NACVET, NVTI and other technical organizations to have a standard training at various levels and at different categories in industry.

Mr Kenji Kimura, Chief Advisor for the Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET), reforms said the workshop, which was the second in a series, would help deepen the understanding of the trainers to enable them to use appropriate methodology in enhancing occupational standards.

Source:
GNA

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Tears In NPP


The rejection of incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) by New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates across the country is growing by the day, with the affected MPs nursing their painful exit from the next Parliament.

The traumatized legislators have been shedding tears for their loss since they were dealt the electoral blows.

Another MP, Nii Adu-Mante of Korle Klottey, Osu was given the marching orders last Saturday at the constituency primary held at the Teachers’ Hall, Accra.

Coming few days after similar defeats were handed down to Ishamael Ashitey, MP for Tema East and Isaac Edousar Edumadze, former Central Regional Minister and MP for Ajumako /Enyan/Essiam, the list of defeated MPs is expected to grow with its attendant pains. Edumadze, who could not contain the agony of defeat, allegedly vent his spleen on a Daily Graphic reporter, who was beaten to a pulp.

Daily Guide has learnt about the intermittent sobbing by a female loser anytime her colleague MPs attempt empathizing with her in Parliament for the “loss”.

With the likelihood of the statistics changing further, there is no end in sight yet for the sobbing of MPs who would fall to the electoral sword of delegates. The NPP still has a number of primaries to undertake across the country. Lawyer Adu Mante, representing the Korley Klottey constituency, joined the unusual long list of his colleagues who must bid adieu to the august House of Parliament at the end of December. Adu-Mante and Ishmael Ashitey, former Fisheries Minister are joining Abraham Laryea Odai, Krowor; Samuel Nii Aryeetey Attoh, Trobu/Amasaman; and Victor Okuley Nortey, Ablekuma Central in the league of fallen MPs.

For now, the political pendulum has swung to the delegates, and they are using it with maximum effect to decide who represents them and who does not.

Not even Lawyer Adu Mante’s promise that those who did not benefit from his stewardship in the past seven years would have a chance if he wins this time around, could change the minds of the delegates. He was drowned by a young blood, Nii Tackie Tawiah, a social scientist turned businessman who polled 81. The incumbent polled a paltry 20 as Mr. Abankwa Yeboah, the man who is dragging the party to court to have his name included in those vying for the seat thus delaying the polls for about a week, polled 11.

Akuffo Mensah, aka Nee Gezu, a former Assemblyman for Tudu who attracted the most thunderous applause when he stepped into the hall, earned a zero. It was difficult to tell who the underdog was going to be when each of the four candidates took their turns to deliver their last campaign speeches to the delegates, because each of them received thunderous applause.

There is no denying the fact that something has changed in grass-root politics, underscoring the fact that taking delegates very seriously is the best way to stay unscathed in Parliament. Although democracy can be said to be at work, observers have expressed worry at what for them is the exiting of experienced legislators, some of who have put in about eight years of consistent legislative work. While some have been booted out, other MPs have just thrown in the towel after many years of service.

The Ashanti and Eastern Regions have suffered the most electoral casualties in the ongoing primaries, and more are expected to follow. So far, some 21 MPs from both the NPP and NDC across the country have lost the opportunity to wear their party colours when the bell is tolled for the December 7 parliamentary election.

The Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern Regions share five lost MPs each. The Volta Region has lost three while Central and B/A regions shouted the marching orders to two including Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, MP for Berekum and Anna Nyamekye, MP for Jaman South. The man who sought to lead the NPP as a flag-bearer, Hon Effah-Dartey, suffered a devastating slap by delegates in his Berekum constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, a development which made the headlines. The former military officer is also leaving with two terms of legislating experience. The NPP tops the list of rejected MPs with 18, and we could still be counting, while its counterpart, the NDC lost three.

Yaw Barimah, who has been MP for three consecutive times and held the Works and Housing portfolio, was one of the first to be fired by his constituency, New Juaben South in the Eastern Region. In the Ashanti Region, the list contains such popular names like Hilda Josephine Addo of Kwadaso, Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah for Akrofuom, Nana Yaw Ofori Kuragu for Bosome Freho, Kwame Owusu Frimpong, Ahafo Ano North and Peter Sarkodie of Mampong. In the Eastern Region, the casualty list includes J.B. Danquah Adu, Abuakwa North; Godfred Okyere, Ayensuano; and James Apeatu Ankra, Lower West Akyem.

Source:
Daily Guide

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Irish aid worker dies in Ghana

A 24-year-old aid worker has died in a drowning accident in Ghana.
Natalie Higgins from Abbeyknockmoy near Tuam in Co. Galway had travelled to Ghana just over a week ago.
She and two companions went swimming; she got into difficulty and drowned.

Her two companions survived.
Fr Joe O'Brien, Parish Priest, said the community was deeply shocked by news of the tragedy.
He said Natalie was a wonderful person who always gave of herself so freely and the community was finding it difficult to come to terms with her tragic death.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is helping the family.

Source:
RTE

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Winners Chapel Ghana swindled

: Accountant 'steals' GH¢2m offering, submits doctored accounts to Statesman; Police unconcerned?

Even though the Ten Commandments admonish one not to take what belongs to another, the former accountant of Winners Chapel Ghana, Daniel Opoku, is alleged to have embezzled at least GH¢11,200 from Heritage Academy, a school belonging to and run by the church, as well as several thousands of cedis pilfered from church coffers, usually after church service, when the offertory had not been properly sorted and counted.

In separate operations, Daniel Opoku is accused of forging the signature of the head of the church, Bishop George Agyeman, and that of his Associate Pastor, Maxwell Tweneboa-Kodua, to withdraw GH¢15,000 from the church's account at Prudential Bank. That incident is still under investigation.

Again, Daniel Opoku, who is also the General Manager of Daniops Limited, a marketing firm, is alleged to have embezzled some undisclosed amounts of offertory or collection, and, allegedly, with the help of Beatrice Emmanuel and Felix Cyril Doko diverted funds from the school into their personal accounts.

The accountant is further alleged to have created an unsigned copy of the auditor's report that uncovered his alleged crimes, changing the figures in the report to indict Cyril Doko, whose name is also mentioned in the report. The Statesman, has laid hands on signed original copies of the auditor’s report.

Whole columns are missing from the Opoku document, with most figures manipulated to cast a greater burden on Cyril Doko. And, while the copy of the report he sent to us is dated May 7, 2008 and printed on ordinary A-4 sheets, the date on the original document is March 3, 2008. The original version is on the letter head of Dhekhab Associates, Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants.

A source close to the church has hinted The Statesman that funds suspected to have been pilfered directly from the offertory box after normal church service is over GH¢2 million (¢2 billion).

But church authorities are tight lipped about all the amounts involved, fearing that, it might draw the name of the church into disrepute. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior church official told this paper the church receives on average over GH¢40,000 as offertory every Sunday.

However, the Commercial Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service appears reluctant to pursue the case, even though a report has been made to it.

Mr Opoku, was appointed as the Accounts Officer of Winners Chapel, Ghana on 18th August, 2003 and promoted to Acting Head of Accounts from 6th November the same year.

After his appointment as the Head of Accounts, the church administration discovered some discrepancies in their accounts when he was the Accounts Officer, as well as a noticeable down turn in monies recorded as offertory.

As a result of the persistent discrepancies, a forensic audit was conducted into the financial activities of the church and it was realised that a huge some of money could not be accounted for.

Upon investigations, it was initially discovered that Mr Opoku allegedly forged the signature of Bishop George Agyeman, and Pastor Maxwell Tweneboa Kodua on a cheque with the sum of GH¢15000.

According to our source, the cashed cheque from Prudential Bank was paid into a bank account of a fictitious company operated by his private secretary at Daniops Limited, whose name was given only as Edith, with the Adabraka branch of Merchant Bank.

It was based on the interim report of the auditors that a formal complaint was made to the Commercial Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

When Mr Opoku was contacted, he told The Statesman that though the matter is still under investigations, he had an agreement with the church’s administration that he will pay the cheque worth GH¢15,000 and cash of GH¢1,900 in installments to the church and that the church has written to the police to that effect.

But again, a close source to the administration of the church denies ever having that discussion with Mr Opoku, saying that although he has proposed an idea like that at the Police Headquarters, the church is yet to take a position on that proposal.

"My sister, this is a criminal matter so it is the police who have to deal with the matter. We have not taken any decision like that, the only letter we wrote to the police was the one requesting them to take action on Mr Opoku and his accomplices for their involvement in the fraud and embezzlement."

"In any case, how can we make such a suggestion when the final audit report that will specify the real amounts involved is not ready, we have not done any such thing," the source added.

When The Statesman contacted Mr Opoku, he admitted that some amounts of money got lost from the church account when he was the accountant but he does "not remember the exact amount." He denied the forgery charge.

According to him, when he used to work with the church, he made some unauthorised payments which the administration did not agree to. "It is the unauthorised payment that I have been asked to pay by the church."

Meanwhile his secretary and alleged accomplice, Edith, told this paper that she was in the office last year when her boss, Daniel Opoku called and asked of her account number which she willingly gave to him.

According to her, Mr Opoku later called to inform her that he has deposited some money into her account. She said three days later, her boss asked her to withdraw the money he paid into her account for him.

"After withdrawing the money, I asked him why he decided to deposit such huge sum of money into my account and the response was that he was trying to build my account".

Edith said, some months later, Mr Opoku invited her and Mrs Daniel Opoku to the police headquarters where she was interrogated by a police officer about the issue.

She told this paper the two were detained from 7:00am till 8:00pm before they were discharged. She said two cheques bearing her name were shown to her. "I told the Police Officer of what I knew about the case and was cautioned by the officer to be careful of such things".

Source:
Statesman