Ten People Reported Killed in Bawku
Bawku (U/E), June 22, GNA - Ten People were on Saturday killed and seven others injured in Buabula, near Sabongare, in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region in a retaliation bid after a Mampurisi man was allegedly killed by Kusasis. The seven injured have been transferred to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital for medical attention.
The event happened when one Mr Abugre Zakaria alias Amengo, a Mamprusi man lost his horse and went together with two colleagues to search for it at Buabula, near Saboogare on Saturday at about 1700 hours.
While in the process of searching they were kidnapped by some people believed to be Kusasis. Amengo's colleagues managed to escape but he was killed.
In retaliation it was alleged that some group of Mamprusis disguised themselves and also marched to the area where their compatriot was murdered and also killed the 10 people, who were mostly women, children and the aged.
Mr Peter Mawong, Divisional Police Commander of Bawku, confirmed the story to the GNA.
Mr Emmanuel Abanga, District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Area, said the situation was under control and that those who would be found culpable would be arrested and dealt with.
Meanwhile at the time of filling this report the Upper East Regional Security Council was holding a meeting on the issue. There is a dusk to dawn curfew in the Bawku Municipality and the National Peace Council has been holding peace talks with the feuding factions. Source:
GNA
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Car loaded with drugs plunges into River Ochi
Breman Asikuma (C/R), June 22, GNA - Drugs costing 1,000 Ghana cedis and 150 Ghana cedis cash are still under River Ochi at Breman Asikuma when a BMW saloon car with registration No. AS 7353 P carrying the items plunged into the river on Wednesday.
Chief Inspector Gershon Awuyeeh of the Asikuma Police told the GNA that the driver of the car belonging to an Accra Pharmacy Company was on its ways to supply drugs to some chemical shops in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District when the incident happened. He said the driver, Godwin Darko and Mr. Charles Huno, a store assistant, who were on the vehicle, got out of the car before it submerged.
The driver was avoiding some school children when it veered off the road and plunged into the river that had over flooded its banks. Some scrap workers near the spot rescued them, sent them to the police station and later to Our Lady of Grace Hospital where they were treated and discharged for minor injuries.
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GNA
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Akufo-Addo promises bridge over Volt Lake
Kete-Krachi, (V/R), June 22, GNA- A government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party would build a bridge across the Volta Lake at Dambai in the Krachi East District to link the Krachi-West district.
His immediate pre-occupation as President, would be to provide two pontoons on the lake to provide safe transportation between the two districts under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), Nana Akufo-Addo said
He gave the promise when he paid a courtesy call on Nana Mprah Besemunah III, Krachiwura during his campaign tour of the Krachi-West District on Saturday.
He said those two projects were vital to promoting socio-economic activities between the two districts and the rest of the Volta Region and the country as well as ensuring safe transportation on the lake.
Nana Akufo-Addo expressed concern at the level of development in the district and pledged to ensure equitable allocation of resources to address development lapses in the district.
Nana Besemunah commended all the political parties for carrying out their campaigns devoid of insults and expressed the hope that they would continue to campaign on issues affecting the development of the country.
He appealed to the government to post a resident medical doctor to the district hospital at Kete-Krachi.
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GNA
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Ghana has reserves to last four months -Apraku
Sekondi, June 22, GNA - Ghana has enough foreign reserves to cater for the nation's expenditure for four months, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, National Campaign Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said. He said this achievement had been made possible as a result of the prudent micro and macro economic management of the NPP government under President John Agyekum Kufuor from 2001-2008.
Dr Apraku said this when he addressed the TESCON of the Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Sekondi.
He said the economy had been managed well by the government, adding that, the current fuel and food crisis had not hit Ghana alone but a global phenomena caused by a worldwide recession.
Dr Apraku said the economy was capable of containing the setback that might occur and urged Ghanaians to give their mandate to the NPP in the December 2008 general election to continue the good work of President Kufuor.
He said when NPP took over the administration of the country in 2001 the foreign reserves could cater for only three weeks of the nation's expenditure and said the bad economic management of the previous government had been reversed.
He urged the TESCON members to spread the good message of the NPP to the people in the Western Region to vote massively for the party in the December general election.
Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the NPP, assured the TESCON members that the ongoing rumpus in the party with regard to the primaries would soon be over to ensure a landslide victory for the party.
He said many people declared their intention to contest for the parliamentary slot of the party because the NPP cherished freedom adding that members were free to speak their minds on divergent views without hindrance.
Mr Mac Manu said the leadership of the party had moved swiftly to resolve the impasse in the various constituencies to ensure peace and stability in the party.
The National Chairman dismissed the perceptions attributed to the NDC that the NPP was a violent party and saying it was unfortunate since the party believed in true internal democracy instead of stopping members from speaking their minds. Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Minister for Trade and Industry and MP for Sekondi, assured the nursing trainees that the government was working fast to improve the working conditions of nurses and would improve facilities as well.
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GNA
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Five policemen injured during attack at Subri junction
Bibiani, (W/R), June 21, GNA - Five policemen from the Bibiani police station were injured when a mob from the Sefwi Subri Junction in the Western Region attacked them while rescuing an alleged murder suspect from being lynched. The policemen were dispatched to the town when they got information that one Kwabena Charles, whom the people suspected to have murdered an 11-year-old pupil of the local Anglican Primary School, Kwame Peter, was being pursued by a mob.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Sampson Appiah Anane, Bibiani Police Commander, told the GNA that police had information that the deceased had been murdered for ritual purposes. He said the police detected the deceased neck was strangled before his blood was sucked. Mr Anane said the father of the deceased, Mr Kwadwo Nyame, alleged that he saw his younger brother, Charles, with the boy on that day and that he suspected he had killed the boy for ritual purposes. He said on Thursday when Charles returned to Subri Junction from Kumasi the deceased's father mobilized the youth in the town to lynch him.
Mr Anane said when the police got information that Charles had been taken hostage, a detachment was detailed to rescue him but when the mob saw the police they turned against them and threw stones and other missiles resulting in the injury of five of them. He said the police saved Charles from the mob and took him to the Bibiani police station where he was placed in custody. Mr Anane said a BMW saloon car belonging to Charles was burnt to ashes. He said no arrest had been made.
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GNA
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Six victims of the Dompoase motor accident still on admission
Cape Coast, June 21, GNA - Six out of the 38 people who were injured in the Dompoase motor accident near Komenda Junction on June 12 and taken to the Central Regional Hospital are still on admission. The victims, made up of three men and three women, are in stable condition and responding to treatment.
Four have also been transferred to Koforidua St Joseph's Hospital for orthopaedic care, whiles the rest including a seven- month-old baby girl who was travelling with the grandmother who died on the spot, have been discharged. This was made known during a visit by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes and his wife Agnes, to the hospital on Saturday. They were accompanied by the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive and Mrs Joyce Addo, Gomoa District Chief Executive.
Mr Sekyi-Hughes commended the doctors, nurses and the hospital administration for the effort and commitment with which they handled the situation and urged them to extend the same support to other patients on admission. He presented beverages and fruits to the victims. Mr Adjei Frimpong, the hospital administrator, thanked the Speaker for the visit and said the patients would be discharged by the end of the week.
Seventeen people died, 15 on the spot and two later in hospital, when a tipper truck loaded with chippings collided with an intercity STC bus at Dompoase near Komenda on June 12. Three final students of St Mary's Vocational School in Elmina are also on admission with serious burns on their faces, necks, arms and abdomen following a gas explosion when they were doing their practical work in the school on Friday.
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GNA
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Ghana Wildlife Society organizes route march
Accra, June 21, GNA - The Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) on Saturday organized a route march as part of its 21st anniversary to remind the public on the need to act responsibly towards the environment. Dr. Eraramus Owusu, Executive Director of the society, said the march was aimed at training the youth to appreciate conservation and environmental issues. He said this year's anniversary, which is under theme: Wildlife clubs! 21 years of conservation education in Ghana, impacts and prospects, takes cognizance of the fact that the issues that led to the setting up of the wildlife clubs 21 years ago are as relevant today as they were then.
Dr. Owusu said GWS had organized a number of activities for its members including field trips to conservation sites, training of club leaders and the production of educational materials to awareness creation. "All these actions are necessary in response to the numerous challenges confronting environmental management and conservation issues which have stimulated most debates and discussions" he said. Dr. Owusu called on corporate partners and supporters for more support which should be seen as an opportunity in helping them meet their social responsibilities.
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GNA
DCE worried about evasion of taxes by telecommunication companies
Cape Coast, June 21, GNA - The District Chief Executive of Awutu-Senya, Mr Solomon Abam Quaye, on Saturday expressed concern about the evasion of taxes by telecommunication companies operating in the districts and said this had resulted in low revenue generation. He said MTN, Tigo, One Touch and Kasapa are operational in the district but do not pay the relevant taxes to the assembly. He said immediately the companies receive their licenses from the National Communication Authority (NCA) they begin to operate without performing their social responsibilities such as paying of property rates and other taxes to the assemblies.
Mr Quaye, who said this at a press briefing in Cape Coast, said his office had met with the companies to prevail upon them to pay their taxes but to no avail and that apart from MTN which has paid "something small" the rest have refused to pay. He said letters and bills have been sent to the companies informing them about the need to pay their taxes to the assembly but none had responded. Mr Quaye called on the companies to pay up their taxes and that the assembly would have no option but to take legal action against them. He said it was unfortunate the companies were only paying their taxes to the assemblies in Accra but not at the district level and called on the other district assemblies to also take up the matter seriously.
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GNA
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VALCO is now 100% State-Owned
...Govt buys final 10% shares from ALCOA
... No Foreign Investors?
Accra, June 20, GNA- Government on Thursday bought over the final 10 per cent shares of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), from ALCOA to become the sole shareholder of the flagship industrial company set up by Ghana Government and Kaiser of USA in the immediate post-independence era.
A statement signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesperson, said the transfer of the shares to Ghana Government was done in the Castle at a short ceremony during which the Director-General of ALCOA, Jens Kallmeyer presented the share certificate to Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning.
Mr. Baah-Wiredu in turn presented a Banker's Advice for two million dollars being the total cost of the 428 ordinary shares to Mr. Kallmeyer. Among those present at the ceremony were the Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chief Advisor to President Kufuor, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey and Dr. Charles Mensa, Chief Executive Officer of VALCO
The statement said, at its meeting held on Tuesday June 17, 2008, Cabinet considered the offer from ALCOA to sell its 10 per cent shares in VALCO and decided to purchase the shares to add to the 90 per cent shares Government of Ghana already had.
The Government has proposed a concept of an integrated Aluminium industry in which the country's bauxite will be mined, refined and processed to near-end or end products in Ghana. The statement said the concept was also linked to the Railway system in Ghana which depended largely on the transport of bauxite for sustainability.
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GNA
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Elections are not battles - NCCE
Accra, June 20, GNA- "Elections are not battles to be fought but only contested to be won fairly," Mr Kwaku Baah Owusu, Director of Public Education at the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), said on Thursday.
He made the remark at a symposium organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) on the theme: Ensuring Democratic Participation in Africa. He spoke on the role of the NCCE.
He noted that as the time for the December polls approached, tension kept building up in the country around issues of the influence of money, political vindictiveness, perceived abuse of incumbency and others, creating the impression that Ghana was heading for a battle in December.
Mr Owusu said elections was nothing more than a platform for the electorate to decide who they would give the mandate of government to, having in mind that they the electorate are the masters and those elected are the servants.
"Elections give the voters the choice to alternate between being rulers or subjects. But that does not change the fact that the vote is always the master and the elected is always the servant," he said. He said to that extent, the electorate needed to approach the December polls with the attitude that sovereignty lied with them and not with the politicians and political parties, which usually sought to influence the electorate in ways that did not necessarily serve the interest of the masses and the country.
Mr Owusu reminded the electorate that money in po litics and other means of influence could not be avoided, but the electorate had a choice to make informed rather than influenced choices at the December polls. He said there was the need to draw a line between what is an unfair political advantage to the incumbent and what was a necessary executive function, in order to disabuse the minds of the electorate about abuse of incumbency.
Mr Owusu called for a re-visitation of the issue of reviewing the voting period from 07.00 hours to 17.00 hours, to 06.00hours to 16.00 hours, to avoid any breaches in the electoral process when night falls during vote counting and the movement of ballot boxes to collations centres.
He however asked the voters to look beyond the negative issues played up in the public domain and rather critically examine the campaign promises of the various political parties and decipher the possibility and probability of those promises before voting. He said whereas voting is a right of every constitutionally qualified citizen of voting age, that right would better be exercised when the voter is well informed about how and why to vote for whom. "On that account the Electoral Commission has a duty to educate the voters on how to vote properly, the NCCE has the mandate to show the people why they must vote and the political parties have a duty to articulate their vision properly to make the people decide wisely on whom to vote for," he said.
"The right to vote is meaningless without enforcement and enforcement begins with the education of the citizens on how and why to exercise it," he said.
He said the EC should also ensure that every qualified citizen of voting age was registered and given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the December polls. "We at the NCCE would do our part by educating the public on why they must vote, especially the youth, who tend to easily yield to the negative influence that inflame undesirable passions during elections," he said.
Mr Owusu noted that many Ghanaians of voting age had refused to vote in the past and some are still considering not voting in the December polls because political parties had not articulated their aspirations. He said, whereas not everybody could be in government, everyone could be part of the governance process by voting and it was therefore necessary for all qualified citizens of voting age to vote. "We must understand that every single vote is of equal value. No one vote is different from the other and that is why all our individual votes are necessary for the decision as to who will be our leaders," he said.
Mr Owusu asked voters and all persons mandated to be present at polling stations to avoid actions that would deny any qualified voters from exercising their right. "Do not sell your votes, do not prevent other qualified persons from exercising their right and do well to keep the peace - security agents must also play their role effectively in maintaining peace and order at polling stations," he said. Source:
GNA
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Scrap dealer on bail for allegedly stealing cannonballs
Cape Coast, June 20, GNA - A 24-year old scrap dealer in Cape Coast, who allegedly stole 45 cannonballs on display at the Cape Coast castle, was on Friday granted GH¢500 bail by a circuit court in Cape Coast. Kofi Thompson, the accused, pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on Friday July 11, 2008. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo said on June 17, 2008, authorities of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) at the Cape Coast Castle detected that 45 cannonballs displayed for tourists at the castle were missing. He said they conducted their own investigations and had a tip-off that, Thompson was seen carrying one of the cannonballs around the vicinity of the castle.
Chief Inspector Azasoo said the authorities of the GMMB went to Thompson's house as a result and found all the missing 45 cannon balls in his room, with a piece of cloth covering them. He said Thompson denied stealing them and claimed that he had bought them from someone, but could not identify or provide the name or whereabouts of the said seller. He therefore arrested and put before the court.
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GNA
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Professor Atta Mills begins door-to-door campaign in Kumasi
Kumasi, June 20, GNA - Thousands of enthusiastic supporters of the NDC in the Suame Magazine and its surrounding communities in the Kumasi metropolis on Friday offered a tumultuous welcome to their Flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and his running mate, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, when they visited the largest auto-mechanic industrial centre in West Africa. The supporters, clad in party T-shirts and other paraphernalia, also carried NDC placards and banners adorned with posters of the Flag bearer and the running mate amidst drumming and dancing. The visit to the Suame Magazine was to herald the three-day door-to-door campaign of Professor Atta Mills to Kumasi to galvanise support for the party towards the 2008 general elections.
Professor Atta Mills, who was accompanied by some leading members of the party, including the General Secretary, Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organiser, among others, also visited the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the GPRTU and was expected to also visit some markets in the metropolis to interact with the market women and sell his campaign message to the people. Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that, the decision to meet specific trade associations and unions in the metropolis was part of a strategy to get first hand information from them on the problems confronting their smooth operations and discuss with them initiatives to be taken by Professor Atta Mills to solve some of the problems when voted into office. He said the door-to-door campaign had proved to be an effective means to reach out to specific groups and individuals to interact and know their problems and discuss how they could be solved.
Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said the development of Suame Magazine into a modern industrial hub was one of the priorities of Professor Atta Mills' government adding that, there was the need to develop the entrepreneurial skills of the artisans and tap their ingenuity for national development. He said looking at the enthusiasm from which the people in the metropolis welcomed the Flag bearer and the campaign team and the firm assurances from the people, NDC was convinced that it would break the myth that Ashanti Region was an NPP stronghold in the 2008 elections. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said the party was deepening its campaign efforts to ensure that each group of individuals or associations received the message of the party and vote for it in the elections.
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GNA
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Intervene to reduce price of meat- Chief Butcher
Accra, June 20, GNA- The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has been urged to intervene to reduce the prices of cattle and meat down. The call was made by the Greater Accra Regional Chief Butcher, Alhaji Zakaria Sofo, at a meeting of the Ghana National Butchers Co-operative Association, in Accra on Thursday.
Alhaji Sofo, who is also president of the Butchers Association, noted that the prices of cattle and meat had been escalating throughout the country. He noted that meat, which was selling for GH¢ 1.20 a pound at the Wholesale had jumped to GH¢ 1.80 a pound. Alhaji Zakaria Sofo said meat was selling for between GH¢ 2 and GH¢ 2. 20 on the market. He said government could act to bring the prices down just like its intervened to cut the prices of some food items such as grain.
Alhaji Sofo said the intervention would not be felt by consumers unless there was a correspondent decease in the price of meat to ensure affordable meals on the dinning tables of Ghanaians. He said all efforts should be made to ensure that the people had affordable balanced diet to remain healthy to contribute their quota to national development and economic wellbeing. Alhaji Sofo stressed the need for a national programme for livestock development to guarantee regular supply of livestock and meat at the market and at prices the average Ghanaian could afford to meet their daily protein requirement.
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GNA
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"Africa future lies in Green Revolution"-Kofi Annan
Koforidua, June 19, GNA- Former UN Chief, Mr Kofi Annan, says the most critical question for Africa's future is a 'Green revolution' that would ensure that African farmers "dramatically increase their output so that Africa can feed itself and not be dependent on food aid." "I think no question is more important for the future of our continent" than to "enable African farmers to dramatically increase their output, so that Africa can feed itself and not be dependent on food aid, that is what the Green Revolution is all about." Fielding questions from a section of the world's media on the global food crises, its impact and solutions in Africa recently, Mr Annan demanded a set of actions that includes aid to the hardest hit and "a pro-poor approach to raising productivity and food security in Africa."
In the long term, however, he proposed that a coalition of African governments together with researchers, civil society, the private sectors and donors be formed with the aim of instigating food security on the continent.
Ghana News Agency was assisted by the International Institute for Journalism, Berlin, to submit questions on-line to the Institute of Development Studies, UK and the Future Agricultures Consortium, who jointly organized the event under their Salzburg Global Seminar platform.
Mr Annan, who is Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said there was the need for the right "pro-poor policies that encourage rural development" in order to turn around the agricultural situation in Africa.
Critical for the sustainability of agriculture in Africa, Mr Annan observed, is the need to focus on the impact of climate change, and help build capacity so as to "increase the resilience and reduce the vulnerability of the people for them to be able to maintain their livelihood." Dr Akinwumi Akin Adesina, Vice-President of AGRA, urged African governments to see the food crisis as an opportunity to invest more in agriculture, raise agricultural productivity, and get a Green Revolution that would really address the problem at its roots. The General Coordinator of the Conference of Ministers of West and Central Africa, Mr Baba Dioum, said in addition to climatic concerns, African governments should also spare soil fertility and water management, since those two components were critical for agriculture development.
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GNA
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Autoimmune diseases on the rise in Ghana
Accra, June 19, GNA - Health experts say autoimmune diseases are becoming prevalent in Ghana and there is the need to give sufferers adequate care and support.
The disease has been found to affect more women in Ghana (about 70 per cent) than men due to the role of sex hormones with the estrogen being speculated to promote the production of auto-antibodies. It is known to be the fourth largest cause of death in women worldwide.
Autoimmune diseases result when the body immune system begins to attack normal tissue cells and organs thereby causing chronic acute disease like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosis and certain types of diabetes. This came to light at the launch in Accra on Thursday of Sharecare Ghana, a non-governmental organization, which is made up of a group of people with rare neuro-immunological diseases. The organization, which started in 2006, now includes people with autoimmune conditions such as transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, neuromyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
At the launch, Dr Ida Kuwornu, a physician specialist at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in a lecture named symptoms and signs of the disease as malaise, fatigue, rashes, hair loss, febrile illness, recurrent miscarriages, visual impairment, joint swellings, memory loss, strokes and limb weakness.
She said there was no known treatment for the condition as it could only be managed through various tests, treatment and physiotherapy. Dr Michael F. Ofori, Immunologist, Nogochi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, said though the availability of data on the prevalence and incidence was lacking in developing countries, physicians and scientists had so far identified over 80 different autoimmune diseases including less known ones like autoimmune hepatitis, Sjogren's syndrome and pemphigus.
He said economically, majority of individuals with the diseases experienced poor quality of life since the cost of health care was high. Dr Albert Akpalu, one of the only two Neurologists in active service in Ghana, advised anyone who experienced unexplainable blurred vision twice on separate occasions to quickly report to the hospital for possible investigations since it could lead to an autoimmune disease. He stressed the need for training more neurologists and rheumatologists, so they could help treat such patients in the country. Nana Yaa Agyeman, Coordinator, Sharecare Ghana, said being a sufferer herself, she decided to form the support group to share experiences, create awareness among the public about diseases and advocate for subsidized long-term drug treatment. She said as a result of the disease, many of them had become disabled so there was the need for the early inauguration of the National Council on Persons with Disability "so it could start taking some long over-due decisions". She also called for the inclusion of autoimmune conditions and care system under the national health insurance scheme. Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd) in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Musini, Deputy Director at the Ministry, said though there was no current separate policy and programme specific to autoimmune diseases, government policy on such disorders fell within the overall policy goals and strategies. He said autoimmune disorders as a group were not specifically covered by NHIS, but most of the associated illnesses were covered by the health insurance.
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GNA
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Akufo-Addo Returns To ‘Conquer’ Volta
| The campaign office of the 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate was overran by party activists from the Volta Region, who came to pick up posters and campaign t-shirts in preparation for Nana Akufo-Addo’s second phase tour of the region which begins on Saturday, June 21 at Dambai, Krachi East.
At yesterday’s national campaign committee meeting attended by the flag-bearer and others, the buzz was obvious as various research findings show that Ghanaians’ unhappiness with rising food and fuel prices has not translated into increased support for the opposition National Democratic Congress.
“This is because the people simply do not trust the alternative. They know they would have been worse off under the NDC. They know we have done much better and they believe we can do much more, and that under Akufo-Addo we can bring the change that will bring about the new Ghana that our people desire,” said Mustapha Hamid, the Spokesperson for Nana Akufo-Addo.
The second phase of the Volta tour is aimed at “conquering the myth” that the region is “untouchable”, said Hamid.
The Volta Region, going by the 2006 voter register, has 882,524 voters. “There is no reason why the NPP cannot attract 300,000 of these votes,” said a source at the Asylum Down campaign office of the NPP.
In the Volta Region alone, 830,432 people are on the National Health Insurance Scheme. That represents 50.7% of the total population of 1,636,462.
Nana Akufo-Addo, the only Presidential Candidate known to be an NHIS cardholder, on his earlier trip to the region promised that the NPP was looking at extending the health insurance scheme freely to children under 18. This has since been approved by the government. During his previous visit, he also spoke of extending free education to the secondary school level. President Kufuor has since announced that the capitation grant is to be extended from the basic to the secondary level.
Between 2005 and 2007, over 300 million Ghana Cedis was spent on health infrastructure in the area. Nurses’ flats were rehabilitated; Keta District health Administration building was completed. A Regional Health Directorate Complex is already under construction.
By December 2005, the Volta Region had 3,093km of feeder roads, out of which 2,245km, representing 73% had been engineered, with another 547km having been partially engineered.
Among the major projects undertaken in the last seven and a half years, the NPP has also constructed three major bridges in the Akatsi, Kadjebi and Nkwanta Districts.
On Saturday, Nana Akufo-Addo and his team will attend a durbar of chiefs and people at Dambai. On Sunday, there will be another durbar at Krachi, and mini rallies at Osramani and Tutupkni.
On Monday the Akufo-Addo team moves to Nkwanta North, for a durbar at Damanko, a mini rally at Kpassa and ends the day with a durbar at Nkwanta.
On Tuesday, June 24, the team moves on to Kadjebi, stopping off at Brewaniase and Panpaw/Papase. This will be followed by a grand durbar at Kadjebi before the team departs for Accra to continue with the third and final phase of this particular regional tour from Monday July 7 – Tuesday July 8.
This third phase will take the NPP Presidential Candidate to Central Tongu, South Tongu, Anlo and Keta on the first day.
The Tuesday will see the team travelling to Aflao, Denu, Penyi, Dzodze and Akatsi. The team then returns to Accra in preparation for the mammoth rally.
See tomorrow’s edition of The Statesman for more details of this rally.
Source:
The Statesman
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Minister concerned about deforestation
New Abirem(ER), June 19, GNA - Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines on Thursday expressed concern about the continuous decline of the country's forest and wildlife and its impact on livelihood of the people.
She therefore, called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to redress the situation.
Ms Dapaah expressed the concern at the national launch of Greening Ghana Day programme at new Abirem in Birim North District. The programme was to create awareness about environmental issues and encourage the public to embark on massive tree planting, especially during the rainy season to improve on the environment. She said forestry played an important role in the national economy and firmly integrated into the rural economies, therefore, any programme that sought to enhance the socio economic development of rural communities would of necessity address problems facing the forestry sector.
Ms Dapaah said the annual loss of timber, cash and food crops to wildfire alone was estimated currently at three per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). "Wildfire has therefore severely reduced not only the productive capacity of the forest but also had negative effects on the other benefits of forest cover including water supply, soil fertility and wildlife," she said
Ms Dapaah said the devastating effects of forest degradation, especially during the past two decades were beginning to manifest themselves in the extinction of premium timber species such as Odum, Mahogany and Sapele, loss of biodiversity, drying up of water bodies and loss of tourist sites and other natural resources that were important sources of revenue and livelihood support for the rural people. Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, Chief Executive Officer of Forestry Commission, said the commission in conjunction with Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines had designed many programmes to address problems of forest and wildlife resources depletion and environmental degradation. Some of the programmes are, securing the natural resources base, developing the natural resources and optimizing the flow of benefits from the resources to the country and particularly to resources owners.
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GNA
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Busia's statue to be unveiled
Sunyani June 19, GNA - A statue of the late Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, Prime Minister of the Second Republic of Ghana, will be unveiled at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani on Friday, July 11.
Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who disclosed this to newsmen in Sunyani, said President John Agyekum Kufuor is expected to attend the unveiling ceremony. He said distinguished personalities including Ministers of State, MPs, academicians and others will also attend.
The Regional Minister stated that, a symposium on the life and works of Dr Busia as a citizen of Wenchi, an academician, a royal, politician, statesman and a devoted Christian would he held on Thursday, July 10.
The Regional Coordinating Council and the Busia Foundation are jointly organizing the events.
Mr. Baffour-Awuah added that excerpts of a film produced by Akosua Busia, one of the later Premier's daughters, on the life and works of her father would be screened, as well as a photo exhibition. The Regional Minister said the ceremony would be held to honour Dr Busia for his immense contributions to the development of the region and Ghana.
Source:
GNA
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Contractor pays insurance premium for 280 orphans
Agona Nsaba (C/R), June 19, GNA - An Accra based contractor, Mr Sampson Abrokwa, on Thursday paid GH¢2,000 as health insurance premium for 280 orphans and underprivileged persons in the Agona East District to enable them register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Speaking at a ceremony to make the payment to the officials of NHIS at Agona Nsaba, Mr Abrokwa said lauded the introduction of the Health Insurance Scheme, but noted that most people could not register to enjoy its full benefit due to poverty. He said orphans and indigents at Agona Nsaba town, predominately a farming community, found it difficult to pay the GH¢20 under the Scheme, hence his intervention to assist. Mr Abrokwa said the move would enable the beneficiaries to enjoy quality health care to help them contribute their quota to accelerate the growth and development of the country. He said the GH¢2,000 was to cover the first phase of his assistance and that second one would come n four months time. Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive for Agona East, said the NHIS had come to eliminate the cash and carry system and assured the people in the District that the Assembly would foot the bills of the aged and indigents who had been exempted by the law. He commended Mr Abrokwa for his patriotism and love shown towards the people and appealed to other citizens from Agona Nsaba to emulate his example. Nana Kofi Ayekum II, Adontenhene of Agona Nsaba Traditional Area, said the initiative taken by Mr Abrokwa to pay for underprivileged people in the town should be a yardstick for other well-to-do natives of the area living elsewhere to also come and assist the community. He said the payment of insurance premium for 280 people by Mr Abrokwa, would be an indelible mark in the Nsaba Traditional Area. Mr Oclu Isaac Nelson, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Agona Municipal Health Insurance Scheme, said the Health Insurance Council has introduced a new Identification Card (ID), which would lessen the burden of the members who go through difficulties in visiting health facility. According to him, the District office at Agona Swedru has stopped issuing the old cards for paid-up members because of the new one expected to come out within the next three months.
Source:
GNA
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Women MPs call for demolition of "Ashawo" Bar
Accra, June 18, GNA-The Parliamentary Caucus on Population has asked Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to initiate actions to demolish without any further delay Soldier Bar, a notable brothel and hostelry for child prostitutes at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
The Caucus took the Assembly to task over its delay in the demolition of the structure, which it visited last February following media exposure of the despicable practice of child prostitution in that wooden structure behind the former Lido Night Club at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
As a result of that exposure, the Caucus undertook a visit to the Soldier Bar to have a first hand knowledge on what was happening at the place and formulate appropriate policies to address the problem of child prostitution which is on the ascendancy.
Following a statement by Ms. Theresa Tagoe, MP Ablekuma South, contributions from members condemned the despicable act of child prostitution and invited all hands on board to nip the horrendous practice in the bud.
Ms. Tagoe told the House: "the place operates as lorry-park and a brothel. A tour of the place revealed that it had 12 cubicles, mattresses, but no windows. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 often patronize the place at night and sometimes wit the assistance of pimps.
"The Caucus noted that a practice fee of GH¢3 was charged for a duration of three minutes and one could attend to as many as 20 men at night.
"Each prostitute was required to pay GH¢2 to the proprietor and the rest of the money kept to herself."
Before the time of the visit, the AMA had earmarked the place for demolition, and the Caucus wondered why the AMA had still not taken action on the structure.
"It would be appreciated if the Executive would initiate appropriate actions through its relevant agencies to have the structure demolished," Ms Tagoe said.
She attributed the rise in child prostitution to the proliferation of lewd scenes on the movies and newspapers, negative adult influence who lured children into sex for money, with the resultant health risks, contraction of sexually transmitted infections.
"Perhaps all the noble efforts to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS would be a mirage if this practice is not stopped.
"This is because most of the children, who are found in this practice, constitute part of those Ghana AIDS Commission describes as 'Window of Hope'"
Ms Christine Churcher (NPP-Cape Coast) poignantly bemoaned the lack of parental love and show of care and concern that led to the practice of child prostitution.
Describing child prostitution as human rights issue, Ms. Churcher implored parents to express love to their children to prevent them from falling in evil arms of men who pretend to love only to end up abusing young females.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC-Wa West) commended the media for exposing the "devilish practice."
Source:
GNA
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More women accept wife beating - Survey
Accra, June 18, GNA- The final report of the Ghana Multiple Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006 has revealed that a higher percentage of women said wife beating was justified.
The survey indicated that 47 per cent of women between 15 to 49 years believed that a husband is justified in beating his wife. "This belief is held among a higher proportion of women in rural areas (57%) than urban areas (36%)", Professor N.N.N. Nsowah-Nuamah, Deputy Government Statistician said at the launching in Accra on Wednesday.
Describing the situation as "very surprising", Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said on the other hand, 36 per cent of men believed wife beating was justified. The belief is also held among a higher proportion of men in rural areas (44%) than those in urban areas. The MIC is an international household survey initiative developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring human development in general and the situation of Children and women in particular.
Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said MIC survey data was focussed on determining whether Ghana was on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said in Ghana, government had taken full responsibility for the fine-tuning and implementation of the MICS Survey that has been implemented every five years since 1995 through the combined effort of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Statistical Services (GSS), with Macro International, USAID and the Dutch Embassy providing support. The report, which covered a total of 5,939 households in rural and urban areas across the country, considered key parameters like nutrition, immunization, use of mosquito nets, household use of adequately iodized salt, access to improved water resources and sanitation.
Other issues covered also included the use of contraception, school attendance and education gender parity, violence against children and domestic violence and perception and knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The report indicated that acceptance of domestic violence was highest in the Upper West region (76%) and lowest in Greater Accra region (28%) while 34 per cent of children five to 14 years were engaged in child labour with 48 per cent of them coming from poorest quintiles. Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd), Health Minister said commended UNICEF and other partners for conducting the survey and coming out with such important data, which fell in line with the Ministry's five year programme of work.
He recommended that all presidential aspirants should be given copies of the report "for them to tell the masses how they would tackle those issues".
Dr Yasmin Hague, UNICEF Country Representative said despite the serious issues revealed by the survey, some of the highlights were very positive in that more than three quarters of all children between 12 and 23 months had received the appropriate immunizations as well as more than three quarters of the population had access to improved sources of drinking water.
She said more than 90 per cent of pregnant women aged 15-49 years have received medical care at least once from skilled provider and 52 per cent of children aged 36 to 59 were attending pre-school. Gender parity at both the primary and Junior High School levels have almost been established with nearly the same number of girls attending school as boys. Source:
GNA
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Mankessim's 16 year old Chieftaincy dispute settled
Mankessim (W/R), June 18, GNA- The re-gazetting of Nana Amanfo Edu VI and Nana Ama Amissah III as Paramount Chief and Queen Mother respectively of the Mankessim traditional area, brings to an end, 16 years of chieftaincy dispute at the Paramountcy. The National House of Chiefs at its first meeting in 2008 in Kumasi on 5th June 2008 re-registered the Paramount chief and the Queen mother of the Mankessim traditional area in the National Register of Chiefs and reinstated their gazettes, which were quashed by a Cape Coast High Court in 1998.
The ruling of the Cape Coast High court in 1998, led to the deleting of the names of Nana Edu and Nana Amissah from the National Register of Chiefs, pending the determination of the destoolment case, which was initiated at the Judicial Committee of the Central Regional House of Chiefs (JCCRHC) by the four Divisional Chiefs of the Mankessim traditional area.
Nana Amanfo Edu said this at a Press Conference held at Mankessim at the week-end.
Nana Edu said "It must be put on record that he and Nana Amissah were duly gazetted and their names inserted in the National register of Chiefs as paramount chief and Queen mother respectively by the National House of Chiefs on 3rd April 1997".
But, he said the Ebusuapanyin (family leader) by name Ebow Imbeah dissatisfied with their gazetting; applied to a Cape Coast-High court presided over by Justice Heward-Mills (Mrs), to quash the gazette. He said on 28th August 1998, the judge ruled in favour of Ebusuapanyin Imbeah of Pakasedo House by quashing the gazette, on the grounds that the Central Regional House of Chiefs (CRHC) erred on a question on the Chieftaincy Declaration (CD) form which read - IS THERE A CASE PENDING?
The CRHC ticked "NO" to the question on the CD form instead of "YES".
Secondly, he said the trial Judge asserted that the CRHC and the NHC "assisted in the registration and gazetting of a person, who has not been installed as a chief in accordance with the customary law as mandatory required by article 277 of the constitution.." Again, he said Ebusuapanyin Imbeah applied to the same Court at Cape Coast presided over by Justice Heward Mills (Mrs) for orders of CERTIORARI and PROHIBITION, which the court granted in favour of Ebusuapanyin Imbeah.
Nana Edu said "we had no option than to obey the orders of certiorari and prohibition and did not in any way exercise the functions as Paramount Chief and Queen mother from Tuesday 9th June 2000 to November 2007, when the final appeal on the case was dismissed at the Supreme Court".
He said "the re-gazetting, indeed is a landmark in the history of Mankessim traditional area. It has set records straight that, the Mankessim Paramount Stool does not belong to Pakesedo house alone but rotates between the Edu Royal House and the Pakesedo house". Giving a brief background history, Nana Edu said there are two houses namely, the Edu and Pakesedo houses, which rotates in respect of ascending the Mankessim Paramount stool when a chief abdicates, dies or destooled.
He said prior to their enstoolment, the last two successive chiefs, Nana Adoko IV and Nana Adoko V, who was destooled in 1979, came from the Pakesedo House.
Nana Edu said the Pakesedo house wanted to nominate for the third time and this triggered the dispute, when the stool became vacant after Nana Adoko V was destooled in 1979.
He said the 16 year old litigation started on 14th February, 1992 by Ebusuapanyin Kwame Ababio, on behalf of the Edu Royal House and the other four royal houses, which instituted an action against Ebusuapanyin Imbeah and one Ibrahim Gyasi of the Pakesedo Royal House at the Judicial Committee of the Central Regional House of Chiefs (JC/CRHC). Nana Edu said the action sought whether or not the Mankessim Paramount Stool belongs to the Pakesedo house alone and for that reason, if the Ebusuapayin of the Pakesedo house was the only one who can nominate candidates for the stool as Paramount Chief and Queen mother. He said both JC/CRHC and Judicial Committee of National House of Chiefs (JC/NHC) ruled in favour of the Edu Royal House, meaning Mankessim Paramount Stool rotates between the Pakesedo and Edu Royal Houses.
The Pakesedo House appealed against the ruling of the JC/NHC at the Supreme Court and lost with the Supreme Court upholding the decision of the JC/NHC.
Nana Edu said "in every litigation, one is bound to win and the other lose, and that the victory now realized, is considered as a victory for the Mankessim traditional area and extended an invitation to all the citizens of the community to join hands in developing the area".
He said it was a fact that in the heat of the litigation, development projects were relegated to the background, which plagued the area. "It is time for us to unite as one people under my leadership for our fair share of the national cake", Nana Edu added.
Source:
GNA
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Collapse building kills school girl
Agona Mankrong (C/R), June 18, GNA - Mr. Dennis Armah-Frimpong, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Agona East has urged people in the area to pull down all death-trap buildings during the raining season to avoid calamities. Mr Armah-Frimpong said there was need for them to bring down those houses which could cause disaster because they can collapse at any time. He gave the advice when he visited the family of the late Pricilla Yamoah, a five-year-old Kindergarten pupil of the Agona Mankrong District Council School who died on the spot after part of their house collapsed on her at Mankrong in the Central Region. He said, it would be advisable for the people in the District whose buildings had developed cracks and can collapse to repair them without delay, instead of waiting for disaster to occur. The DCE on behalf of Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, MP for Agona East and his own behalf expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and gave the assurance that the Assembly will continue to assist them in time of need. Mr Kweku Yamoah, father of the deceased said the disaster struck when Yamoah was taking her bath in front of their building at about 1730 hours. Mr Kwesi Esuon, Supi of Agona Mankrong said many buildings in the town had become weak while others had developed dangerours cracks which needed to be pulled down, but the people had ignored such warnings. He noted that many people also wished to repair them but they could not, due to the high cost of building materials, especially cement and roofing sheets and appealed to the government to reduce the prices to enable farmers to reonovate their houses.
Source:
GNA
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NDC celebrates 16th anniversary
Accra, June 17, GNA-
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday, extended its best wishes to all those who continue to support the party, both in and out of government, promising that, it has them at heart and would always cherish their interests and welfare and that of the nation.
A statement signed by Ms Hannah Tetteh, Communications Director of the party to mark the 16th Anniversary of the NDC said, it had left a legacy by handing over power peacefully following the December 2000 elections.
| "President Rawlings peacefully handed over to President Kufuor and an orderly transition process to the new government took place. "This was the legacy of a party that is "Always for People, Always for Development", the statement said.
It said 16 years ago on June 10, 1992 the NDC was founded to contest elections that ushered Ghana into the Fourth Republic. "The party, under its first National Chairman, Alhaji Issifu Ali-and with former President Rawlings as its first Presidential candidate and Founder, decisively won the 1992 elections and, subsequently, the 1996 elections."
The statement said "as the December 2008 elections approach, the NDC, under Professor John Evans Atta Mills, is preparing to resume the reins of government and to take Ghana to new heights. "The NDC is ready to solve decisively, the energy crisis and to ensure that the benefits that Ghana can obtain from the blessing of having significant production of oil and gas in the future would be fairly distributed.
"The NDC is determined to bring to an end the shame of massive cocaine trafficking, which has destroyed the image of the country internationally and threatens the future of many of our youth and even some older people", it said.
"With the help of the Almighty, what the locusts have eaten from the wealth of our nation these last seven years would be restored under the next NDC administration."
The statement pledged the NDC preparedness to ensure democracy thrived in Ghana saying, "in this election year we are firmly committed to ensuring that we play our part in safeguarding the democratic process, and will use all legal and legitimate means at our disposal to make sure that the electoral process is credible, free, fair and transparent and that the will of the Ghanaian people prevails." It said the NDC would work with Ghanaians to create "A BETTER GHANA" that would cater for the well-being of all its citizens, not only today but for generations to come.
The statement recalled that the NDC "brought together people from different traditions in Ghana's political history: people from the Nkrumaist tradition, people from the Danquah-Busia tradition, people from the UNC, and independents, all committed to ensuring that the political and economic recovery that Ghana had achieved under the Government of the Provisional National Defence Council, PNDC, would be sustained under the new democratic Constitution that the PNDC bequeathed to the country.
The NDC was a social democratic party with a focus on the welfare of Ghanaians as a whole and not on the wealthy and privileged few. |
The NDC ensured the deepening of the democratic process in Ghana and established key institutions that were essential under the new Constitution for the development of democracy, including the District Assemblies, the National Commission for Civic Education, the Electoral Commission, the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice. "Also, a vibrant Parliament, under the leadership of the late Justice D.F. Annan as Speaker".
The NDC put in place the necessary legislation for the creation of an environment where the media could flourish, enabling numerous FM radio stations and newspapers to be established.
The statement said, "The NDC has continued to act as a responsible opposition to ensure probity and accountability as was amply demonstrated in the recent sittings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. "As a result of the vigilance of the NDC, the country was saved from such disasters as the "IFC" loan and the "CNTCI" loan." In the midst of a crisis such as the one on energy, the NDC had sought to be constructive and offered specific proposals for addressing the critical national situation. 17 June 08
Source:
GNA
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GNA: Stars coach to earn $30,000/month
Accra, June 16, GNA - Ghana's new coach, Guido Buchwald would earn 30,000 dollars monthly.
An unimpeachable source at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) told GNA Sports on Monday that the German "will not earn a thing more than what former coach Claude Le Roy had."
Coach Le Roy was reportedly earning around 30,000 dollars monthly, the highest ever paid for a trainer in the history of Ghana football. This is contrary to media reports that most supposed Licensed "A" coaches that the GFA had contacted demanded not less than 50,000 dollars.
The source was categorical that "what a lot of people do not understand is that when you are coaching a good team, much of the money is made out of match bonuses."
Le Roy earned twice what the players' took for every win. The source said the GFA has concluded contractual terms with the coach who is expected to arrive in Ghana later in the week ahead of the Black Stars World Cup and African Cup of Nations joint qualifier with Gabon slated for the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra on Sunday.
The GFA is expected to outdoor the new coach on Monday, June 23. Capped 74 times for Germany, the former defender previously managed Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds and Alemannia Aachen in his native country.
As a player his best career game was probably the final of the 1990 FIFA World Cup final when he effectively marked the Argentine creative genius Diego Maradona, earning him the nickname 'Diego'.
Buchwald who succeeds French coach Claude Le Roy was also part of Germany's disappointing 1994 World Cup squad.
The GFA head-hunted for the French's successor in a move that drew names including Klaus Toppmoller and former trainer Ralph Zumdick close to the vacant position.
Source:
GNA
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NPP In Crisis?
The pockets of crises threatening the stability of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will soon be a thing of the past as party flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President John Agyekum Kufuor step in to address the issue.
Daily Guide has been reliably informed that ahead of a scheduled meeting at the Castle today, the NPP presidential candidate met the national executive of the party yesterday to have a first hand information about the crises rocking the party.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who returned from a two-week tour of Canada and the United States on Sunday night, immediately launched into action to assuage all restless nerves regarding the fallouts from parliamentary primaries in some constituencies.
Nana Addo, according to sources, was briefed by the national executive, after which he expressed his desire to resolve all the problems by the close of the month.
According to him, the NPP leadership should endeavour to finish with all the parliamentary primaries by the close of June so that the party would enter the new month "with a common purpose and unity".
Immediately after the encounter with the national executive, Nana-Addo followed it up with another closed-door meeting with the Council of Elders headed by former IGP, I.K. Deku.
Unconfirmed reports also indicated that the NPP flagbearer, who is desirous of seeing the parliamentary primaries to an early completion to allow the party to swing into full electioneering campaign by July, held another meeting with B.J. da Rocha, first National Chairman of the party at his residence on the way forward.
Today, Nana Akufo-Addo is meeting President Kufuor and some elders of the party at the Castle to address the crises rocking the party.
Daily Guide learnt that the meeting is at the instance of the President who had earlier held a similar engagement with the elders last week.
At last week's meeting attended by former Chairmen, Peter Ala Adjetey, Samuel Odoi-Sykes and former Vice Chairpersons, Madam Amma Busia and Prof Alhassan Wayo Seini, the President was said to have expressed concern about the handling of the primaries by the party's leadership.
The President, sources said, was particularly not happy with the spate of agitations occasioned by the unsatisfactory handling of the primaries, especially regarding disqualifications.
He therefore suggested a follow-up meeting today in which the flagbearer would be in attendance. Nana was not available for the previous meeting because of his outside engagements.
Even though the party had indicated that by the close of last week, all the unresolved primaries would have been completed, as at yesterday, some constituencies in tile Greater Accra, Eastern and Western Regions were yet to hold theirs, with fresh petitions flying from defeated parliamentary aspirants.
Effia Kwesimentsim in the Western Region, Tema West, Ledzokuku and Okaikoi North in the Greater Accra Region and Suhum and Okere constituencies in the Eastern Region are gradually becoming albatrosses, with North Dayi in the Volta Region trailing.
Unconfirmed reports said former party General Secretary, Dan Botwe would be presented unopposed for the Okere constituency while Tema West is a duel between Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Abraham Ossei-Aidoo and Deputy Ambassador to the US, Irene Naa Korshie Addo.
Daily Guide learnt that the ground is not too good for the incumbent, Hon OsseiAidoo, putting the party in a very tight corner. Just as the party was struggling to address concerns from hotspot constituencies, then emerged reports of a petition filed by the incumbent MP for Abuakwa North, J.B. Danquah-Adu, who raised issues with his conqueror, Prof Samuel Amuako of City University, New York.
JB, a former Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs was thrashed by 35-31 votes at the primary held in Tafo.
However, upon reflection, the defeated aspirant is raising objections saying the university teacher was not qualified because he was holding an American citizenship.
But Prof Amoako is nowhere to be found, let alone be served \~th the petition for him to answer- a situation that has made the incumbent very hot.
The professor is gone back to the US, leaving JB in limbo.
JB, this paper learnt, has therefore decided to embark on a campaign to smoke out Prof Amoako from his hideout in New York.
Source:
Daily Guide
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More victims Dompoase accident discharged
Cape Coast, June 17, GNA - Two more victims of the Dompoase accident which claimed 17 lives last Thursday have been discharged from the Central Regional Hospital.
This brings to five the number of victims so far discharged. In all, 33 passengers were admitted at the hospital.
This was made known on Monday when the Central and Western Regional Ministers, Nana Ato Arthur and Mr Anthony Amoah respectively, presented an amount of GH¢3,000 to the victims at the Hospital.
The amount was to fulfil a pledge they made to victims when they visited them at the week-end. It was to enable the victims buy fruits, beverages and credits for their cellular phones.
Mr Amoah called on other organizations and philanthropists to also come to the aid of the victims. Nana Ato Arthur lauded the management of Coastal TV, a local television station for donating food items, toiletries and detergents worth GH¢200 to the victims. Mr Agyei Frimpong, the Hospital Administrator told the Ministers that, another victim was also likely to be discharged that evening. 17 June 08
Source:
GNA
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"Mental Patients" To Vote
Accra, June 17, GNA - The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and other stakeholders are exploring the possibility of persuading the Electoral Commission (EC) to uphold the right of psychiatric patients who are capable of voting to exercise their franchise during elections. Dr. Akwasi Osei, Acting Chief Psychiatrist of GHS who made this known in Accra on Tuesday explained that not all mental illness render patients incapable of taking decisions and this should be appreciated by all in order not to breach the rights of anybody.
Dr Osei, who was speaking at the launch of Ghana Mental Health Association (GMHS) noted that, it is only the psychiatrist who can determine the mental well-being of a person, "therefore the EC must register those who are capable and therefore eligible to vote as judged by their attending psychiatrists".
The launch on the theme: "Mental Health in a Challenging World" seeks to embark on massive public education and health promotion in schools and churches to advocate the respect of the right of the mentally ill.
Dr. Osei said people had over the years misinterpreted the clause in the Constitution, which said any body of sound mind was eligible to vote and to be voted as a blanket statement and thereby denying mentally ill patients the opportunity to exercise their civil responsibility.
He urged non-governmental organisations and associations working in the area of mental health to come together to ensure an active campaign.
Mr Abraham Dwumah Odoom, Deputy Minister of Health said the sector Ministry recognised mental health needs of the country and had therefore placed intervention programmes on its development agenda. "Mental health is one of the priority areas in the ministry's five year policy objective.
"The ministry's contribution towards the creation of a wealthy society is to make people healthy," he said. Rev. Godson Akpalu, Interim President of GMHS said the association would work to promote the welfare, vocational training, care and counselling on opportunities for suitable employment for discharged patients.
He said about 90 per cent of reported mental health cases were among the youth.
"The situation is becoming alarming" and called on individuals, families and organizations to contribute to providing the necessary resources and facilities to enhance the associations' work. Interim Executives of the association included: Rev. Godson Akpalu, President, Dr. Augustina Appau, Vice-President, Mr Owusu-Mensah, Secretary
Source:
GNA
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Ghana Debt: 57.72 Trillion Old Cedis
Ghana’s total debt as at the end of June 2007 stood at 57.72 trillion old Ghana cedis. The amount is made up of domestic debt of 34.84 trillion old Ghana cedis and external debt of 22.87 trillion old Ghana cedis.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, George Gyan Baffour announced these in parliament today when he answered a question by Hon. Paul Evans Aidoo (NDC MP for Setwi-Wiaso). According to the Minister, the country’s external debt as at the end of June 2007 was made up mainly of medium to long term debt.
No Decision Taken On Government Shares In ADB
Government has still not taken any firm decision on whether it should divest it shares in the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) or not, even though Stanbic Bank of South Africa and other institutions have expressed interest in the shares. The Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Professor George Gyan Baffour announce this in parliament when he answered some questions in the house.
He said as a result of government’s concern about credit to the agricultural sector and those in the fishing industry, government is looking for a credit model that will enable farmers and those in the fishing industry have access to credit. Professor George Gyan Baffour explained that the credit model being operated by the ADB doesn’t fully meet the expectation of government. Presently, he said government holds 52 per cent shares whiles the bank of Ghana hold the remaining 42 per cent shares in the ADB.
Minister Explains 2007 HIPC Allocation
Total HIPC allocation by government to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) in 2007 amounted to 177.88 million Ghana cedis. The MDA’s under social sector were allocated a total amount of 38.1 million new Ghana cedis while MDA’s under the public safety sector also received a total of 9.7 million Ghana cedis.
The Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Prof. George Gyan Baffour made this known in parliament in response to a question by the NDC MP for Tamale South Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. Prof. George Gyan Baffour said MDA’s under the economic sector had a total allocation of 36.8 million Ghana cedis while MDA’s under the infrastructure services sector were allocated an amount of 22.2 million new Ghana cedis. MDA’s under the administration sector were given a total of 70.7 million new Ghana cedis.
Source:
GNA
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Ashaiman MTTU police scared to check drivers
Tema, June 17, GNA -- Two weeks after the clash between the Ashaiman Police and Commercial drivers over traffic offences, personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the municipality are scared to enforce traffic and motor regulations due to threat of death issued to them by some unidentified drivers.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ransford Ninson, Deputy Tema Regional Police Commander on Tuesday said at Tema that the drivers, in a handwritten letter have threatened to kill five police officers,. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting between the Tema Regional Command and the executives of the various Ashaiman transport unions, he said the threat has created fear among the personnel who have withdrawn from checking activities of the drivers in the municipality. The meeting was organized by the Command to enable the stakeholders to air their grievances and suggestions to improve upon the frosty relationship between the police and the drivers. Commercial drivers on June 3 demanded the release of four of their colleagues, who had been arrested by the police for parking at an unauthorized place at the roadside thus causing traffic jams instead of a parking lot provided for them.
In the ensuing encounter, the drivers were joined by a mob which besieged the Ashaiman Police station and caused mayhem by throwing stones, sticks and other missiles which was responded by the firing of bullets by the police, resulting in the death of Moses Kassim, 11-old pupil of Ashaiman Governmnet School and Moses Ofori, 22 a driver. He noted that law and order would break down in the municipality should the police refuse to enforce the country's laws. He therefore, called on the police personnel to ignore the threat and fulfil their responsibilities to the State.
The Deputy Tema Commander further urged the police to collect particulars of drivers who commit traffic offences and book them for court at a later date instead of locking them up in cells. He explained that apart from congesting the cells, it was inappropriate to detain offenders of minor crimes such as traffic and motor offences. ACP Ninson also appealed to the executives of the unions to educate their members on the laws governing their sector and to cooperate with the police in ensuring the safety of passengers and other road users. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) John Kudalor, Tema Regional Police Commander opening the meeting advised the Ashaiman police not to shirk their responsibilities with the excuse of waiting till the problem between the Service and the drivers was fully solved. DCOP Kudalor further said it was unacceptable for society to suffer due to misunderstanding between drivers and the police stressing that, it was the duty of the police to maintain a peaceful environment for all workers in the country.
Encouraging the unions to create a cordial relationship between them and the Command, he urged the union executives to contact the Regional MTTU Commander and himself with their complaints should the local police fail them.
On the issue of the interdiction of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Timothy Dassah, Ashaiman MTTU Commander and others, the Regional Commander said those interdicted were expected to explain why the arrested drivers were locked up in cell even though minor offences do not merit detention. Mr Albert Boakye Otchere, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive on his part said the incident should serve as a lesson for stakeholders in the transport sector in order to formulate measures aimed at preventing a recurrence in other parts of the country. Stating measures the Assembly was initiating to decongest the streets, Mr Otchere said his outfit would in the near future clamp vehicles that parked on the road as well as emboss vehicles that ply the municipality. Mr Francis Gorni, Vice Chairman of the Ashaiman branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Unit (GPRTU) called for proper enforcement of traffic regulations, stating that floating drivers were more to blame for the congestion on the roads. Other executive members of the transport unions expressed their appreciation to the Commander for the opportunity and suggested that drivers of tipper trucks, harbour trucks and other vehicles should be included in such stakeholders meeting.
Source:
GNA
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Buipe-Wura concerned by violence on enskinment
Accra, June 17, GNA - Buipe-Wura Jinapor II has expressed worry over the violence that characterized his enskinment as paramount chief of the Buipe Traditional Area leading to the death of one person and injuries to others. In a press statement signed in Accra by Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, spokesperson, Buipe-Wura Jinapor II said it was unfortunate that such violent chieftaincy disputes engulfing the northern part of the country could be allowed to catch up with the people of Buipe who until now had shown a high sense of maturity and lawfulness. He noted that what was more worrying was the fact that the protracted dispute would have been laid to rest following the pronouncement of judgment by the Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs on the June 11, 2008 in favour of the Jinapor Gate and the subsequent enskinment of Buipe-Wura Jinapor II. The release said as the overlord of the Buipe Traditional Area, the Buipe-Wura's family believed that it was his responsibility towards his subjects and the people in general to work tirelessly in restoring peace and tranquillity in the area of his jurisdiction. "The Buipe Wura Jinapor II wishes to use this opportunity to passionately and humbly make an urgent appeal to all factions involved in this dispute to give peace a chance and resort to dialogue towards resolving any grievance." The Buipe-Wura said he was, however, happy that calm had been restored and expressed his condolence to the bereaved family and to those who were affected in the violent clash. He thanked the Government, the Minister of the Interior, the Northern Regional Minister, the District Chief Executive, security agencies and the Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu for their swiftness and impartiality that brought the situation under control.
Source:
GNA
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Two arrested over recruitment for companies in Tema
Tema, June 17, GNA -- The Tema Community One Police have arrested two suspected fraudsters who allegedly defrauded 67 people of more than GH¢1,600 under the false pretence of recruiting them for employment in some reputable companies in Tema.
John Christian Fiano 32, Managing Director and Enoch Kwame Boateng 32, Personnel Manager of Rogital Agency Company collected between GH¢25 and GH¢30 from each applicant as registration fee. Speaking to Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, Superintendent of Police Cephas Bediako, Community One Police Commander said the suspects pasted notices of employment on walls in Accra and Tema to recruit people for Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA), Nestle Ghana Limited and PZ Company. He said the suspects claimed that managements of the companies had contracted them to recruit accounts officers, marketing officers, office assistants, purchasing clerks, secretaries, storekeepers and caterers for their companies.
Police Superintendent Bediako said some of the victims informed the police about the activities of the company that operated from a room at Community One Site 16. He said 67 application forms and curriculum vitae with passport pictures were retrieved from them when they were arrested on June 12. Police Superintendent Bediako said 30 of the victims had so far reported to the police and appealed to the remaining 37 to assist the police complete its investigations. He said the suspects would appear before court on Wednesday, 18.Juni.
Source:
GNA
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CEPS make largest cannabis seizure for 2008
Accra, June 16, GNA-
As the war on the illicit trade and consumption of narcotics rages in the country, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the weekend intercepted a 20-foot cargo truck fully-laden with substances suspected to be marijuana.
The substance, extremely compressed to the form of notebooks, and packed in over 100 maize bags, were stacked in the truck and barricaded with maize to outwit the security agencies, officials of the CEPS said on Monday. The manner in which the substance was packaged belied the intention of what was being exported. The street value is yet to be determined. Briefing newsmen on the seizure in Accra Mr. Africanus Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Commissioner of CEPS in-charge of Preventive, said the institution was on a collision course with people who were denting the image of the country.
"Customs is now very serious. We are up to the task...and those who intend smuggling should take a cue from this and desist from such acts. Anyone caught dealing in narcotics would face the law," he said. Mr. Owusu-Ansah appealed to government to resource CEPS and all other security agencies to enable them to effectively fight the narcotics menace.
He said, the issue was being investigated thoroughly to unmask those behind the trade.
The owners of the consignment are yet to be known, but two persons, who describe themselves as the "mates" of the driver of the truck who absconded when the vehicle was seized by CEPS personnel at Atimpoku in the Eastern Region, are being held for investigations.
The truck, with registration number GR 7231 Z, which, according to inscriptions on the sides, belongs to one A.K. Asare of House Number 126 A of Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region, is being detained with the substance at the CEPS headquarters in Accra pending investigations. 16 June 2008 Source:
GNA
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Phone snatcher lynched at Tema
Tema, June 16, GNA -- An unidentified man was on Sunday evening set ablaze and one other seriously wounded for allegedly snatching a mobile phone from a man. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Hospital Morgue while the injured man is on admission at the Tema General Hospital.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Regional Police Public Affairs Officer said the police had information that two people have been lynched at Tema Community 10 near the Nyaniba Nursing Training College at about 1900 hours.
She stated that information gathered by the police at the scene indicated that one of the two lynched, snatched the phone from the victim and passed it on to a third person who escaped. Inspector Turkson further said a mob was attracted to the scene when the victim shouted for help leading to the lynching of one, adding that the one wounded was in critical condition.
Source:
GNA
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Kufuor gives assent to removal of import duties
Accra, June 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor last Friday gave assent to the amendment of the Custom and Excise (Duty and other Taxes) Act 2008, to remove import duties on rice, wheat, yellow maize and crude vegetables for soap and food manufacture to become law. A statement issued in Accra on Monday and signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman said "With this law now operational, it is expected that importers would benefit from the removal of duties and other taxes and subsequently pass on such benefits to the end consumers."
"Importers are reminded that it should be criminal for anybody to re-export these duty-free items," it added.
The statement said removal of the taxes was aimed at reducing prices of these commodities on the market to inure to the benefit of consumers in the face of rising food and fuel prices globally. President Kufuor on May 23, announced measures to mitigate the hardship on Ghanaians resulting from the global food and fuel crises. The measures also included the reduction of excise duty and debt recovery levy on gas oil, kerosene and marine gas oil, which have already been implemented and operational.
In announcing the reductions, President Kufuor asked all Ghanaians, particularly the importers to cooperate to make the benefits felt by all.
Source:
GNA
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NDC extends olive branch to NPP supporters
Accra, June 16, GNA - The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday assured members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and all other politicians that it would not be vindictive when it wins the December elections.
"NDC Government under Professor John Evans Atta Mills as President and Mr John Dramani Mahama as Veep would not be vindictive. No one should be afraid of any politically motivated harassment or intimidation," Mr. Danny Annan, NDC Greater Accra Regional chairman, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. "Ghana is for all Ghanaians and an NDC Government would reach out to all, irrespective of political persuasion for accelerated development of the nation," he added.
Mr Annan dismissed as propaganda statements by some leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) that suggest any change of government in Elections 2008 would be a disaster for the nation's socio-economic development.
He stressed that it was not the nature of the new NDC, especially Prof. Mills and Mr Mahama, to be violent.
"Prof. Mills has always advocated peaceful politicking, which our opponent rubbished and denigrated in the past.
"Prof. Mills will remain the focus for the development of the country, instead of wasting national resources to hunt for alleged political opponents.. May be it's rather the NPP Ghanaians must guard against if the bitter infighting within its ranks are anything to go by. "We know the calibre of people who would take over the reigns of government should NPP win again and it would be catastrophic for these people to form a government in Ghana again."
Mr. Annan said Ghanaians should not lose sight of the bitter personality attacks, sacking of perceived opposing government officials and the mayhem that was leashed out on opponents during the NPP's December Congress to elect a flag bearer.
"Now the same habit is being exhibited across the country at their parliamentary primaries, these are dangerous signs for the deepening of the nation's democratic credentials," the NDC Regional Chairman stated. He therefore urged party activists to focus on the general strategy for winning power and work to attract more supporters from other parties, especially NPP sympathisers.
Mr Annan said the NPP was now faced with effect of the property owning democracy they practiced which had led to the neglect of masses of its supporters who sacrificed a lot for the party to win power. "The effect is that, these foot soldiers feel disenchanted for not enjoying anything for the past eight years that NPP has been in government whilst only a few enjoy everything."
Mr Annan urged encouraged NDC supporters not to allow self-centred spirit, pettiness and jealousy to destroy party unity and cohesion, which the NDC needed to win the December polls.
He advised party executives, former ministers of state and members of parliament to take active part in the campaign and assist activists to move around and do the house-to-house campaign of the party. Mr Annan reminded NDC activists that Election 2008 would be a difficult battle and that, "to win it we require the support of every member on board".
On developments in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Annan said it would soon launch Phase Two of its campaign strategy to win majority of seats in the region and win over 60 per cent of votes for the presidential candidate.
He urged all losing parliamentary aspirants not to take the back seat but join forces with the winning candidates to fight for total victory. "It is winning the seat and maximising our presidential votes that would give us the key to the flagstaff house on January 7, 2009."
Source:
GNA
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