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Toyota Ghana tops 2009 edition of Ghana Club 100

2010-09-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

Toyota Ghana Company Limited (TGCL), a leading automobile dealer, has been adjudged the overall best company for the 2009 Edition of the Ghana Club 100 Awards in Accra on Tuesday. Nine other companies that made it to the best 10 category include Auto Plaza Limited, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, Ecobank Ghana Limited, UT Financial Services and Dan Adams Pharmaceuticals Limited. The rest were The Trust Bank Ghana Limited, Scancom Limited, All-Ship Logistics and Amalgamated Bank Ghana Limited.

"The Ghana Club 100 Awards" instituted in 1998, is an annual event to celebrate the top one hundred (100) companies in various sectors of the country's economy.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) organised the event on the theme: "Enhancing Partnerships between Domestic and Foreign Investors for Sustained Economic Development". This year's awards, which were ranked, based on three factors of the competing companies, such as size, return on equity and growth was unique because rural banks put up a strong showing, sweeping a substantial amount of the awards.

Mr Takahiko Takabayashi, Managing Director of TGCL received the award on behalf of the company and promised to continue to do more to ensure customer satisfaction, which he said, is a core objective of the company. Ms Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry urged companies to continue to focus on what they do and even do it better to enable them to grow. Ms Tetteh said government was aware of the problems confronting the business environment assuring that it would continue to implement reforms to improve the sector. She appealed to the private sector to embrace and sustain the Ghana Club 100 Awards, calling on members to impress on other private firms to join it.

She also congratulated the GIPC for maintaining the momentum in the annual event. Mr Ishmael Yamson, Board Chairman of the GIPC observed that Ghana was experiencing interesting times; oil discovery and its attendant benefits among others, adding that the revenue from the sector should be used to create jobs

Mr Yamson called on the award winners to fashion out measures to ensure that they continued to be amongst winners in subsequent years. Mr George Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of GIPC congratulated all companies that have participated in the event since its inception in 1998.

Mr Aboagye reiterated the importance of the private sector to the country's economic growth and realization of the government's Better Ghana Agenda, adding GIPC would continue to facilitate its improvement. He announced that GIPC would hold interactive meetings with corporate organizations on their perceptions about the awards and how to improve upon it.
Source: GNA

Training programme for Police personnel begins

2010-09-15T01:38:00.000-07:00

A three-day training programme for 45 police personnel on international policing, marine law, human rights and how to combat criminal syndicates in the oil find zone opened at Takoradi on Tuesday.

Opening the training programme, Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, Western Regional Police Commander, said the programme was the first in a series being organized by the Regional Police to equip policemen to handle criminals when the drilling of the country's oil begins in the last quarter of the year. He said majority of policemen in the region would benefit from the training programme.

Alhaji Mahama, who is a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said those, who would be trained would form the nucleus of a special taskforce to patrol the oilfields with the Ghana Navy and other security agencies. He said the taskforce would be adequately equipped with the necessary logistics and equipment to ensure effective and efficient policing. The Regional Command would also establish police stations at Half Assini and Aiyinase to provide maximum security to oil installations and the entire citizenry. Alhaji Mahama said the Regional Police Command was gearing up to deal ruthlessly and swiftly with miscreants that might disturb the peace and harmony in the region.

He said in this regard, the Regional Police Command was re-strategizing, upgrading and equipping police personnel to meet international standard of policing.
Source : GNA

MTN's George Andah moves to Bharti Airtel (Zain)

2010-09-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Mr George Andah, the multi-award winning Chief Marketing Officer for Ghana's leading telecoms operator, MTN (Ghana), is moving to Bharti Airtel, owners of Zain Telecommunications Limited.

George Andah who was formally at Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited was last year awarded Marketing Man of the Year, along several other awards he has picked up for his marketing acumen.

He has also been credited as having played crucial roles in MTN Ghana's growth and huge success as a market leader in Ghana.

His move could be part of Bharti Airtel’s plan to capture the Ghanaian Market and also make it a leading brand as he has done with MTN and Guinness Ghana Limited.

Andah attained his first degree in Bsc Biochemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah Science and Technology..

He is also an old Student of Achimota College.

Source: Joy News

Transition Bill is to end acrimony - IDEG

2010-09-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), has said the Presidential Transitional Bill was to end acrimony that had characterised transitions.

"Transition is not about handing over presidential baton from an out-going regime to an in-coming regime; it has a broader and greater impact on socio-economic progress of the nation and generates uncertainty among District Chief Executives, government appointees in the assemblies.

"Insecurity of heads of boards and institutions creates loss of managerial time, anxiety among public and civil servants.the list is endless, the disjointed way of handling Transition in the Fourth Republic is destructive. The Transition Bill is an attempt to deal with the problem...," Dr Akwetey said.

Dr Akwetey was speaking at Akosombo at the weekend at the project launch and methodology workshop on the UNDP 2010 National Human Development Report (NHDR) for researchers, media practitioners, political economists, security experts and gender advocates. The report on the general theme: "Democratic Political Transition and Human Development," focuses on seven main thematic clusters. These state machinery, governance institutions and security establishment, the economy, social development and national cohesion, public and private corporate sector, general human development and theoretical and analytical framework.

The Presidential Transition Bill 2008 was launched by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) to end polarisation and acrimony that has greeted transition in the Fourth Republic.

The Bill is aims to make smooth transition from one government to the other and institutionalising a multi-partisan framework and ground rules and regulations to govern and guide transitions. Dr Akwetey said transitions should be viewed in a broader perspective affecting the social life of all Ghanaians irrespective of political persuasion.

He said the lack of a governance political transitional structure had over the years contributed to the increasing rate of corruption among public officials.

Speaking on the 2010 UNDP Report, Dr Kamil Kamaluddeen, UNDP Country Director, said the 20th anniversary edition of the HDR would examine decades of HD data trends, refine the original HD Index with new databases and methodologies and introduce new measures adjusting the Index to reflect gender disparities and other internal national inequalities.

He said the 2010 HDR also featured the multidimensional poverty index (MPI), which was developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) with UNDP support. This new index is designed to provide a fuller and more accurate picture of acute poverty on the household level than traditional "dollar-a-day" formulas. Dr Kamaluddeen said since 1990 the HDR had published the human development index (HDI) which looked beyond GDP to a broader definition of well-being.

He said the HDI provided a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity (PPP) income). Dr Kamaluddeen said HDI also provided a broadened prism for viewing human progress and the complex relationship between income and well-being.

The report would seek to give a coherent and cogent expression to concerns about the impact of democratic political transition on contemporary human development programmes and bring to the fore the need for radical changes for institutionalization of structures to handle the problem adequately.

Source: GNA

International Literacy Day celebrations commemorated with a National symposium and exhibition

2010-09-14T09:06:00.002-07:00

The 2010 International Literacy Day Celebration has being commemorated with a Grand National Symposium and Exhibition. The program which was put together by the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) of the Ministry of Education brought together key stakeholders such as Prof. Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, Director, Institute of Continuing Education and Distance Learning, University of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana and Mrs. Gifty Baka, a Program Manager of Action Aid, Ghana who presented papers on the theme of the celebration “Functional Literacy – A Key to Job Creation and Poverty Reduction” and gave a profound insight into what Functional Literacy can do to create jobs and reduce poverty.

Speaking at the symposium in Accra last week, the Minister of Education Alex Tettey-Enyo said his ministry Ministry will support the establishment of a computer literacy and ICT Centers in the districts for the training of graduates of the NFLP as part of its post-literacy Program in order to open up job opportunities for the productive youth and especially women and girls seeking ways of creating wealth to improve their socio-economic conditions. This is in view of the fact that computer literacy itself provides thousands of job opportunities and is also a caveat for poverty reduction. “This era of information technology, literacy has gone beyond reading, writing and numeracy to include the use of ICT to identify sources of information in the global information super highway, the internet”.

“Am happy that plans are far advanced for the commencement of the NFED Vocational English Literacy Project in dress making and hairdressing which is expected to provide a building bridge for the professional development of learners in their requisite trades. If it proves successful, which I know it will, more trades such as masonry, carpentry, auto mechanics, joinery will be added” he said.

Mr. Tettey-Enyo said “it was virtually impossible for them to confidently lead the crusade to sweep illiteracy out of dear country and wish to confidently affirm that m, in order to construct a smooth road for our socio-economic development, it is imperative for all and sundry to put our shoulders to the wheel to ensure that the burden being exerted on the country’s economy by illiteracy is reduced if not totally eliminated. The pace of the NFLP in ensuring the eradication of illiteracy in Ghana is too slow and need to be accelerated a bit faster. I have noted with serious concern the current inadequate budget allocation to the NFED which is making y Ministry will take a critical look at increasing the budget allocation to NFED. In addition, my Ministry is in the process of sourcing external donor funding for the implementation of the Third Phase of the NFLP. We therefore invite all donor agencies interested in the development and progresses of this country to take up the challenge of funding the Third Phase to enable us reduce illiteracy to single digits and also to empower women.”

Talking on some achievements, he said it was gratifying to note that the NFED has provided functional literacy in 15 major local languages in Ghana in addition to English . “Through the development activities of literacy classes, several communities have benefited from the resourcefulness of adult literacy learners. Learners have been able to provide hand dug wells, constructed schools, nurseries, markets and planted trees in their communities in order to facilitate development in their areas of abode. It is reassuring that learners have not kept the skills they have acquired to themselves but used them to the benefit of their communities. Through Functional Literacy, women participants have contributed to family incomes.”

The Minister commended the management and Staff of the NFED, other providers of literacy in Ghana as well us collaborators of the NFLP for their immense contribution to the reduction of illiteracy in our dear country. “I want to extend special felicitations to the numerous volunteer facilitators, chiefs and other opinion leaders and district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies in the country for the contribution they have made towards improving the living conditions of their non-literate brothers and sisters”.

Functional literacy is indispensable in modern society. There is virtually nothing that could be done by an individual without utilizing reading, writing and numeracy skills.

To be literate is to be intellectually empowered. Intellectual empowerment leads to freedom and people who possess individual freedom have been able to discover their own identities and worked towards achieving them.

Functional literacy is the catalyst for realizing dreams, achieving goals and attaining objectives. Without Literacy, the world around us will be static, without promise and hope. There will be no cracking power to spark the engine of individual growth and development. There will be no key to open the door to development and achievement. The whole world will be locked up in a prison of underdevelopment and backwardness.

Countries with high illiteracy rate are at the cross roads of development and have become helpless and powerless to push the agenda of development forward.

BY: Michael Amedor

Cold war at GT Bank

2010-09-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Trouble is brewing at one of the emerging banks in the country, Guaranty Trust Bank (GT bank) Ghana Limited, over the alleged unfair treatment of workers by management.

The situation has led to a state of uneasiness among junior and mid-career workers of the bank who feel insecure at the hands of management.

This follows the dismissal of one Kwame Osiang Adjekum, an assistant banking officer with the bank.

A dismissal letter jointly signed by the bank’s head of Human Resource, Susan Okine and Group Head of Corporate Services, Iris Richter-Addo dated September 7, 2010, did not state the reason for the termination of Mr. Adjekum’s appointment.

It only said “your services are no longer required by the bank.”

The bank has since asked him to arrange to have his identification card, lapel pin, credit policy guide and all other documents belonging to the bank returned to the human resource department.

They have also resolved to communicate their indebtedness to Mr. Adjekum and whatever entitlements due him, including a month’s salary in lieu of notice by 30th September 2010.

His dismissal has sent threatening signals to workers of the bank since they feel insecure at the developments.

Several of these workers have been speaking with DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity about the cold treatment being meted out to them at the bank.

Public Relations Officer of the Labour Commission, Mohammed Affum, says the Commission has waded into the ‘strange’ circumstance under which Mr. Adjekum was dismissed from the bank, after he filed a petition at the Commission.

In his petition, a copy of which is in the possession of DAILY GUIDE, Mr. Adjekum stressed the belief that he was dismissed for the wrong reasons.

He narrated the circumstances leading to his dismissal following a complaint to his bosses by the Managing Director of Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company (ACPL), Carlo Dagnino.

Dagnino was said to have visited the bank on Friday, September 3, 2010 without a scheduled appointment and on arrival called Mr Adjekum’s personal mobile phone.

The petition indicated that the victim had then left his phone on his desk and gone to the washroom.

Thinking that Mr. Adjekum was avoiding him or his calls, Mr. Dagnino proceeded to lodge a complaint with the MD of GT bank, Dolapo Ogundimu.

Dolapo then invited Mr. Adjekum to his office and demanded his mobile phone in the presence of the General Manager, Jamiu Yussuf and the Group Head of Consumer banking, Anthony Mensah, which he respectfully gave out.

He followed it up with the submission of his itemized bill indicating the call traffic between him and the client which indicated that he had been in touch with the said client.

Despite this fact, Mr. Adjekum said that Dolapo called for his resignation before close of day on Friday or have his appointment terminated. Dolapo went on to make allegations that he took this action because a customer had called him 10 times in two days without answering the calls.

This, Mr. Adjekum described as erroneous since he had visited the customer’s office on the previous Thursday with the Head of Risk Management, Daniel Gaikpah, who saw the number of times he spoke with the customer, both on the way to and from the customer’s office and factory.

Mr. Adjekum thus believes that he was wrongfully dismissed and thus asked the Labour Commission and whoever might be concerned to intervene in the matter.

When contacted, GT bank’s Head of Human Resources, Susan Okine, she said she was at a meeting and could not talk.

Even though she promised to call back, she never did.

Guaranty Trust Bank was registered in Ghana in October 2004 and obtained its universal banking licence from the Bank of Ghana on 23rd February, 2006, thereby paving the way for the commencement of operations.

The bank is a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria Plc which owns 95.72% of the issued share capital of the bank with Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO) holding 2.14% and Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, a Ghanaian business entrepreneur, holding the remaining 2.14%.
Source : Daily Guide

Sawla-Tuna-Kalba DCE Dead

2010-05-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

Information reaching peacefmonline.com indicates that the District Chief Executive(DCE) of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Northern Region,Hon. Alhaji Shakour Bukari Alhassan has died.

He died when the vehicle he was travelling with from Bole to Sawla was involved in an accident in the afternoon of Saturday May 22.

According to reports received from Peace Fm’s Northern Regional correspondent,Kwabena Ntow,the DCE had his car somersaulting three times after he failed to control his steer at a top speed in a sharp curve.

The 32-year old DCE died with two(2) other National Democratic Congress(NDC) activists in his official ford vehicle on their way to his district on official duty.

His body has since been deposited at the Sawla Government Hospital Mortuary.

Tullow To Begin Massive Exploration

2010-05-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

... Oil giant seeks more black gold in Ghana, rest of world

Tullow Oil plc (Tullow), Operator of the Jubilee Field in Ghana, is set to commence a new round of massive oil exploration campaign with up to four wells in the company’s Deepwater Tano license in Ghana. The search for the black gold due to start in June this year follows the company’s successful work at the Tweneboa-2 oil well.

Tullow’s fresh exploration will not be limited to Ghana. Significant wells are also planned in Liberia, Sierra Leone, French Guyana and Guyana to test the extension of the Jubilee play in the Equatorial Atlantic region.

Tullow goes into these massive exploratory works, while looking forward to its first oil flow from Ghana’s Jubilee Field in the last quarter of this year. The company sees the expected oil flow in Ghana as a landmark event for itself, its partners and the people of Ghana.

According to Tullow, besides the Jubilee Field programme and plans for an accelerated basin-wide development to significantly enhance the value of the Lake Albert Rift Basin in Uganda, “a high-impact drilling campaign is planned for the second half of 2010.”

Given the extent of this activity, Tullow's Board believes the outlook for 2010 is very positive.

In an Interim Management Statement released on May 12, 2010, the Group said it would announce its half year Trading Statement and Operational Update on 6 July 2010. The release said Tullow has continued to perform very strongly in 2010. Tullow said it has also strengthened its balance sheet by completing a £925 million equity placing. GHANA Giving an Operational Update on its activities in Ghana, Tullow cited the commissioning of ‘FPSO Kwame Nkrumah MV21’, named after Ghana’s first president. The official Commissioning of the FPSO was performed in Singapore on May 1, 2010. The vessel will set sail for Ghana at the end of May, to be connected to subsea equipment which have since been installed on the seabed. According to Tullow, the drilling phase of the project was finished in February 2010 and completion equipment are now being installed in the wells with production scheduled to commence in late 2010, while ongoing well completion work continue for a further three to six months. During this period, facilities will be commissioned and production will be steadily ramped up to an expected plateau rate of 120,000 barrels of oil per day, Tullow announced. They disclosed that in January, the Tweneboa-2 appraisal well in the Deep Water Tano license proved Tweneboa to be a major oil and gas-condensate field. The potential of this expansive 200sqkm turbidity fan system will be evaluated with an exploration and appraisal drilling campaign scheduled to commence next month. According to Tullow, drilling will start on the high-impact Owo-1 exploration well, which will test the upside potential of the greater Tweneboa resource range in the West of the structure. “This will be followed by a well on the Onyina prospect, which lies between the Jubilee and Tweneboa fields. The rig will then return to the Tweneboa field to drill further exploratory appraisal wells. In parallel, conceptual field development planning is in progress with the aim of completing an assessment of field commerciality in mid-2011. “In April, the Atwood Hunter rig drilled the Dahoma-1 well, in the southeast Jubilee area, some 11 km down-dip from known oil. Water bearing reservoirs were encountered below a possible oil-water contact. “Indications of oil migration in the reservoirs suggest potential for oil trapped up-dip. The rig is now drilling Mahogany-5 to test up-dip oil accumulations east of Mahogany-3,” the statement revealed. Uganda In Uganda, Tullow announced that it has made significant progress towards aligning equity interests across the Lake Albert Rift Basin. According to Tullow, on 17 January 2010, it exercised its right of pre-emption on the Heritage Oil Plc asset sale to acquire a 50% interest in Blocks 1 and 3A for a consideration of up to US$1.5 billion. Tullow said on 2 February 2010, a formal request was submitted for consent from the Government of Uganda for the assets to be transferred to Tullow, and the government has indicated its intention to approve this transaction in the next few weeks. Tullow said it has been working closely with the Government of Uganda to farm down a proportion of its interests in the Basin and has selected two partners, “CNOOC and Total, and each partner will acquire a one-third interest in each of the three blocks.” Tullow said the move “will result in a unified partnership with considerable technical, operational and financial capability. In addition, it will enable Uganda to become a significant oil producing nation with the potential to produce at rates significantly in excess of 200,000 bopd. The new partnership arrangements will be finalised and approved shortly after the pre-emption”. Tullow disclosed that “in Block 2, the Kasamene-2 and Kasamene-3 appraisal wells were drilled in January and March respectively. The wells successfully delineated the upside potential of this field and provided essential reservoir data for the future development project. Extended well testing on the Kasamene field is expected to commence in the second half of 2010, and the crude oil produced will be trucked to local industry. The ultimate objective of this appraisal programme is to support the development of the field with first commercial oil production targeted for the fourth quarter of 2011. “In April, the Kasamene-3A well made a further oil discovery adjacent to the Kasamene field in the Wahrindi North fault block. The rig has now moved to drill the Nzizi-3 appraisal well as part of the Nzizi gas development project, and the well is expected to complete later this month. First commercial gas production is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2011. “To facilitate an accelerated Exploration and Appraisal programme, a second rig is due to commence drilling in Block 1 in June 2010. The programme will include appraisal of the Ngiri (Warthog) discovery and a comprehensive exploration campaign, east of the Jobi-Rii field, including the material Mpyo (Crocodile), Bbegeri (Leopard) and Jobi-East prospects, before year end. Additional rig capacity is currently being procured for later in the year.” Rest of Africa Production performance from the African portfolio is in line with expectations. In April, Tullow completed the first of two planned wells in the Ruvuma Basin in southern Tanzania. The Likonde-1 well, located in the Lindi block, encountered thick sands with hydrocarbon shows which are encouraging for the future potential of the basin. In Gabon, drilling in the Onal licence area has yielded the Maroc Nord OMOC-N-1 discovery where Tullow has a 7.5% interest. Further wells are planned to appraise this discovery and additional prospects are being drilled in the region where Tullow has back-in rights. In addition, the Noix de Coco-1 well in the Azobe exploration license commenced drilling in April and is expected to reach total depth later this month. In the Equatorial Atlantic area, plans for four high-impact wells in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mauritania during the second half of the year are well advanced. Europe Gas production in the UK is ahead of expectations. A well performance optimisation campaign on the Schooner and Ketch fields yielded excellent results and the Thames fields have performed strongly. An infill well on the Ketch field is expected to commence in May with drilling operations forecast to take approximately three months, with first production expected by year end. On 25 March, Tullow exited its exploration interests in Portugal. South Asia

In Bangladesh, production remains steady at 120mmscfd, the maximum processing capacity of the facilities. In March 2010, a hydrocarbon dewpoint control system was commissioned which has resulted in a considerable increase in condensate recovery from the gas stream and delivery of gas to the main pipeline. In Pakistan, drilling operations on the Shekhan-1 well are ongoing with results expected later this month.

South America

Activity has focused on the transform margin from Guyana through Suriname to French Guiana where the Group is seeking to replicate its success in Ghana. Acquisition of a 2,500sqkm 3D seismic survey in French Guiana was completed in March and initial interpretations are very encouraging. Plans are progressing for drilling operations to commence in both French Guiana and Guyana around year-end.

By J. Ato Kobbie/The Business Analyst

I stand for party's unity – Prof Frimpong-Boateng

2010-05-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Flagbearer aspirant of New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Wednesday declared: “I stand for unity of our party, a pre-requisite for victory in Election 2012”.

He said NPP must reduce intra party antagonism, bickering and any negative tendencies that had the potential of derailing the party’s quest to regain power by electing a candidate who cut across any perceived divide.

“I am offering to lead our great party not because it is my turn but in order to secure a platform to transform the fortune of Ghana and Ghanaians,” Prof Frimpong-Boateng stated in Accra, as he officially launched his bid to contest for the Presidential primaries of the party for Election 2012.

He tagged the campaign as; “Forging Unity in the NPP Family in the Service of Our Great Nation; A Mission for Modernisation”.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said: “ I want young people to have the education that would equip them with skills, vocation, knowledge and experience to enable them manufacture, fix and repair things as well as solve problems of this 21st Century”.

On ethnocentrism, he said his leadership would unite and work with all ethnic groups to help their rapid development to enhance livelihood of the citizenry.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng urged delegates to elect him as a flagbearer since he had the required technical skills to transform the nation’s economy in the fight against poverty, ineptitude, disease, drug abuse, filth, crime, indiscipline and incompetence.

“I am offering to lead our great party because I am passionate about healthy food, potable water, affordable housing, and reliable electricity and transport accessible to all,” he added.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng promised to encourage women to participate more seriously in the socio-economic development of the country.

He said when given the mantle issues relating to corruption that cost the African continent about 148 billion dollars a year would be a thing of the past.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said “If we are unable to deal with corruption in all its shades and sizes then we should as well forget about any dreams of achieving economic breakthrough.

“Ghanaians entrusted me all these years with their ailing heart. Surely you can trust me with the heart of our great party and the heart of our nation at a time when we all need healing”.

Ga Mantse Caught

2010-05-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

*.Asks Security Agencies To Disrespect Supreme Court *

*.But Ga Chief Say He Should Rather Be Blacklisted *

Days after launching a vile attack on President Mills and some of his advisors, labeling them as "standard seven boys," because he and some Ga chiefs feel unimportant to the president, the Ga Mantse has been caught setting a vicious trap which could stir up trouble in an already volatile environment.

The Herald has laid hands on a letter purportedly authored by the Ga Mantse, Nii Tachie Tawiah III, asking the security agencies to disrespect a Supreme Court ruling on the Gbese chieftaincy dispute, and give his man, Nii Tetteh Quaye II, protection to enable him celebrate the forthcoming Homowo festival.

This is in spite of a decision by the highest court of the land on April 27, this year, that Mr. Thomas Okine of Accra Hearts of Oak fame should occupy the Gbese palace as the lawful Gbese Mantse under the stool name Nii Ayi Bonte II. This was after a protracted legal battle between the Ga Mantse’s favourite, Nii Okaidja III and Mr. Thomas Okine.

But the Ga Mantse insists that although the Ga Traditional Council is aware of the decision by the Supreme Court on the occupation of the Gbese Palace, it has decided to set aside all contending parties in Gbese and place the performance of rites and ceremonies under the supervision of Ga Dzasetse, Nii Tetteh Quaye II, to prevent any public disturbance.

Nii Tackie Tawiah III in his letter dated May 10, 2010 attributed his call to disregard the Supreme Court decision to what he claimed are opinions expressed in the media on aspects of the matter thus sparking “grave uncertainty”, hence the Ga Traditional Council has resolved to take control of the Homowo celebration in order to minimize any incidental conflicts.

Nii Tachie Tawiah’s letter which was served on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Greater Accra Regional Minister, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture as well as all media houses demanded all security agencies to co-operate fully with the council on this decision.

When reached, the Gbese Mantse was utterly shocked at the letter especially when the Supreme Court has declared him the proper custodian of the Gbese Mantse Palace, and described the Ga Mantse, known in private life as Dr. Jo Blankson, as a fraudster and a lawless person.

In an interview yesterday in his pharmaceutical office near the Rawlings Park in Accra, Nii Ayi-Bonte, threatened to drag the Ga Mantse to the Supreme Court on contempt charges for what he called “his blatant disregard for the highest court”.

According to him, the Gas currently have no king and “whoever is claiming to be the king of the Gas is a fraud” and must not be entertained by the public especially the security agencies. Present at the interview was Nii Bi Ayi-Bontey, former Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo and one other person.

Brandishing, a copy of the Supreme Court judgment, Nii Ayi Bonte, told The Herald that he has been given the authority to perform the necessary traditional rites and ceremonies towards the celebration of the Homowo, and he has since taken over the palace and performed some of the rites.

He warned the security agencies not to offer any form of protection sought by Dr. Blankson to celebrate the annual Homowo festival, adding “when the Supreme Court gives a ruling even the president must obey. He is a trouble maker and the security agencies must watch him”.

The Gbese Mantse maintained that Dr. Blankson was not customarily nominated, elected and installed as Ga Mantse and even the Abola Kpiam Royal Family which he claims he hails from, has disowned him, therefore, he is not recognized and must henceforth desist from holding himself out as Ga Mantse.

Another person who identified himself as the Ga Dzasetse, in a separate interview, asked that the Ga Mantse who prefers to be called Dr. Jo Blankson, must be ignored.

Nii Yartey Otoga, described Dr. Jo Blankson as a provocative person who the security agencies must keep on their radar else he would cause trouble.

He advised Dr. Jo Blankson to deal with all the numerous cases filed against him before the Greater Accra House of Chiefs by all the royal families; Nii Amugi We, Teiko Tsru We, Tachie Kommey We and the Abola Kpiam We and get himself gazetted before holding claim to Ga Stool.

Both The Gbese Mantse and Ga Dzasetse denied knowing who Nii Tetteh Quaye II is, and his connection to Ga Mantse?

Meanwhile, documents obtained from the Supreme Court by this paper revealed that the court has by majority decision ruled in favour of Mr. Okine to take control of the Gbese Mantse’s Palace in Accra.

The Supreme Court judges who sat on the case include Justice Sophia Akuffo, Justice Mrs. S.O.A. Adinyira, Justice Sule Gbadebge, Justice Mrs. V. Akoto-Bamfo with Justice William Atuguba, the Deputy Chief Justice presiding.

Nii TackieTawiah III whose status as Ga Mantse has consistently been challenged recently openly criticized President Mills for ignoring him and other Ga chiefs by refusing to invite them to state functions since he took office in 2009. But government insists Nii Tackie Tawiah II must first be gazetted before he will be officially recognized.

However, the Ga Mantse insists it was time President Mills discards the notion that he (the GaMantse), was installed by the NPP government; therefore his administration will never be associated with him. He accused the Mills' administration of deliberately sidelining him and sought to remind the president that Ga chiefs are not fools to be sitting in Accra and not be invited to state functions.

"The President of the Republic of Ghana is so fully persuaded that the NPP had installed the Ga Mantse, the least he can do is provide evidential proof. He must be able to tell us how this manifested. He more than anybody else knows that this is impossibility. Additionally, we're not fools sitting in Accra, because the President cannot proceed on the basis he is doing," he averred.

A visibly angry and highly agitated NiiTackieTawiah opened up to what he perceives as injustices being perpetuated by the Mills' administration against the Ga State during an exclusive press briefing held after a durbar of chiefs at the GaMantse's palace recently.

By Larry-Alans Dogbey

Africans look up to Ghana as a toast - Bagbin

2010-05-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

Mr Alban Kingsford Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Tuesday observed that the rest of Africa was looking up to Ghana as a toast to move the continent forward. He said in order not to fail people on the continent, Ghanaians should strive to live on values and principles, and work hard to improve the lives of majority of the people.

Mr Bagbin made the observation when he paid his maiden working visit to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) in Tema to interact with management and staff of the Corporation. He pointed out that the country would not develop if the citizenry continued to live in the culture of corruption. The Minister, therefore, advised Ghanaians to reflect soberly on their lives, and strive to lead upright lives devoid of corrupt practices. Mr Bagbin advised management of TDC to guard against gluttony and greed in the allocation of lands, since they were major drawbacks on the country's development efforts.

On encroachments, he pointed out that they were part of insanity and indiscipline in society, and appealed to the law enforcement agencies to assist TDC to enforce the laws on its encroached lands. He advised management and staff of the corporation to help reduce land litigations at the law courts, by ensuring that the right thing was done at the right time.

Mr Joe Abbey, Acting Managing Director of TDC, expressed worry about regular encroachments on the corporation's lands at Communities 23 and 24 by land guards, and urged the Ministry to help abate the encroachments. Mr Abbey suggested that a ministerial intervention was the only possible way of bringing an end to the impasse between the Corporation and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly on the issuing of land permits.

Kasa Organises Financial Management Workshop for CSOs in the Natural Resource and Environment Sector

2010-05-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Kasa, a civil society support mechanism operates within the natural resource and environment sector in Ghana with the main objective of supporting civil society, research and media organisations to advocate in a concerted manner for transparency and accountability in the natural resource and environment sector.

The project facilitates strengthening of civil society engagement in natural resource and environment sector through supporting of research and evidence-based advocacy, provision of grants to aid organisations in their work and facilitate information-sharing platforms between stakeholders in the sub-sectors of forestry, mining, environment, oil and gas, etc in various national forums bringing together state and non-state actors.

Capacity building support is another core tenet of Kasa’s work through which learning events are organised to meet capacity building needs of partners. In line with this, a financial management training workshop is being organised for fifty-two (52) financial staff of partner civil society organisations working in the sub-sectors of mining, environment, land, forestry, the media and others. These organisations have a national spread from the north to the south of the country.

The three day programme which is being held in Noda Hotel, Kumasi from May 17-19, 2010 has the objective of assisting participants to enhance skills in financial management and to ensure that partner financial officers have a clear understanding of the basic financial books and records that need to be kept to present a complete true and fair view of the financial activities of their organisation. Some of the areas for the training include general principles of Donor Funds Management, Budget and Budgetary controls, Roles and Responsibilities of Finance and Programme Management, etc.

At the opening session, the Kasa Project Manager mentioned that, the Financial Management Workshop is important because Kasa provides grants to partners to facilitate their in their different sub-sectors and this brings into sharp focus the essential point of providing grantees with the current trends in financial management principles in order for funding to be well utilised and to upgrade the skills of partners to be able to source for funding from various organisations and manage it well in order for continuity in their work in the sector.

Participants’ expectations cut across learning on internal controls, managing risks, the role of budgets, basic accounting principles and budgetary controls, financial transparency and the issue of fraud both perceived and real.

In the first session of the workshop presentations on the issues of Corporate Governance and General Principles of Donor Funds were made and a discussion session followed to clarify some issues. Under general financial management the issues to be highlighted during the workshop are issues of accountability and internationally acceptable financial standards, budgets and financial planning, internal controls, book-keeping and accounting, Financial Reporting etc.

At the end of the workshop it is expected that participants would have enhanced their knowledge and skills in the concepts of financial management and review of financial reports and also be exposed to donor guidelines for grants.

Nigerian Pirates Seize Ghanaian Captain

2010-03-31T04:11:00.000-07:00

Pirates have demanded a one-and-half-million dollar ransom for two sailors they seized at the weekend off the coast of Cameroon but close to Nigeria, a Nigerian navy officer said on Tuesday.

A Ghanaian captain and his Cameroonian engineer were attacked on Saturday off the restive Bakassi peninsula and taken from their vessel, Nigerian Navy spokesman commodore David Nabaida told AFP.

The yet-unidentified pirates "have asked for a ransom of 1.5 million dollars (1.1 million euros)," said Nabaida, adding the seamen are being held in Abana. Abana, a major town in oil-rich Bakassi peninsula, was part of Nigeria before the territory was ceded to Cameroon.

"MV Seagull was coming from Cameroon when it was attacked very close to Bakassi peninsula in the Cameroonian waters," he said.

"They (the pirates) didn't find anything valuable to steal, so they took the captain and the engineer off the ship," added Nabaida.

The ship, which is believed to be used for general trading along the west coast of Africa, has been towed to Nigeria's southern coastal city of Calabar, capital of Cross River State.

Seven Chinese fishermen were this month freed by an armed gang in Cameroon's southwest Bakassi region after a six-day hostage ordeal.

Several groups, mostly armed, are active in the Bakassi peninsula, which was handed over to Cameroon by Nigeria in August 2008 under an international court settlement of a border dispute between Douala and Abuja.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) identified Africa as a piracy hotspot following an increase in attacks in 2008, with Somali and Nigerian waters the most dangerous for seafarers.
Source:AFP
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India celebrates ITEC day in Accra

2010-03-31T04:04:00.000-07:00

The High Commission of India in Accra has formally celebrated the Indian Technical and Economic Corporation program (ITEC) day over the weekends at the residence of the High Commissioner in Accra.

The program was launched by the Government of India on September 15^th, 1964 as a bilateral program to assist developing countries like Ghana.

Speaking at the event, India High Commissioner to Ghana said, ITEC program has really benefited thousands of students and professionals from Africa including Ghana. Her Excellency Ruchi Ghanashyam said “Government of India bears the entire cost of the program and since its inception in 1964, spends over Rs 500million annually on ITEC activities and provided technical assistance of more than $2billion to developing countries”.

Since the commencement of the program, over 1100 Ghanaian students and professionals have been trained in India. They have also benefitted from other existing schemes such as annual scholarships awarded by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to Ghanaian students to pursue undergraduate/post graduate and higher courses in India such as United Nation Peacekeeping courses, professional courses for Foreign Diplomats and ‘Know India Programme’ for Ghanaian Citizens of India origin among others.

Her Excellency Ghanashyam further reiterated that, India’s initiatives such as “Focus Africa Policy”, TEAM-9 and ITEC have strengthened cooperation between the two countries which today extends to key sectors of agriculture, rural electrification, infrastructure and human resource development.

“I commend the two personnel from the Ghana Narcotic Control Board who have returned to Ghana with their two Indian dogs, Sunny and Fame after receiving training in narcotic dog training course at the National Training Centre for Dogs, Border Security Force Academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.” She said this training will help the Government of Ghana fight vigorously against narcotic trafficking in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional integration of Ghana, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni commended the high Commission and the people of India for the long fruitful relationship between the two countries. He also commended the Indian Government as a whole in offering great assistance to Africans especially Ghanaians in diverse fields of human development which has contributed positively to the Ghanaian economy. “I pledge Governments total support to these programs anytime the need arises”.

Source: Michael Amedor

Passion for Needy pays tribute to the recent past commanding officer of Nsawam prison

2010-03-31T04:02:00.000-07:00

Passion for Needy, a local Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has paid tribute in memory of the recent past Commanding Officer of the Nsawam medium prisons, DDP Alexander Ansong-Agyepong.

This was at a short ceremony during which the organization took the opportunity to donate items worth GH¢1,201 to the inmates of both the male and female prisons at Nsawam.

Mrs. Janet Torgbor El-Aschker, chairperson of Passion for Needy said that the news of the incidence came as a shock to the organization members. She lamented that the nation cannot continue to loose the needed human resource through road accident.

Finally, she appealed to drivers to ensure safety on our roads since nothing can replace human life.

Superintendent of Prisons, Richmond Adiaba who received the items on behalf of the inmates, thanked the NGO for their continuous

Some items donated included, washing powder and soap, ladies under wears and pressing iron.

Source: Isaac Ametepe

Ghana and Germany Joining Forces to Promote the Agric Sector

2010-03-31T02:49:00.000-07:00

The Government of Ghana and KfW, the German Development Bank acting on behalf of the German Government signed on Monday a loan and financing agreement for a 10.0 million Euros loan and a 1.0 million Euros grant for the establishment of an “Outgrower and Value Chain Fund” (OVCF).

The Agreement was jointly signed by Honorable Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Dr. Klaus Mueller, KfW First Vice President in the presence of Mrs. Harriet Ludwig (Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy), Mr. Martin Mueller (GTZ Director West Africa and Pan-African Programmes), Dr. Helmut Schoen (KfW Country Director, Accra), and Mr. Fred Brandl (GTZ Country Director, Accra).

The ceremony was attended by Hon E. T Mensah (Minister, Employment and Social Welfare), Mr. Okyere-Nyako (MoFEP Director Bilateral) and other officials from MoFEP.

Agriculture is one of the three focal sectors of German Development Cooperation with the overall goal to improve the income of the rural population by supporting value chain approaches and strengthening small scale commercial farmers.

Access to finance is a major problem for the development of the agricultural sector. This problem is specifically addressed by the Outgrower and Value Chain Fund which will provide improved access to medium to long term financing of investments by small scale farmers and will contribute to the development of outgrower schemes and the integration of small holder farmers into market oriented agricultural development.

To further underline the importance of the agricultural sector for Ghana the German Government announced on the same day the new commitment of an amount of 3 Mio. € for technical assistance for this sector. This is additional to the 130 Mio. € envelope already committed to Ghana in December 2009.

The visit of two high ranking officials from the Headquarters of two of the major implementing agencies of Germany’s support - from KfW Development Bank and GTZ -demonstrate the joint approach in the sector.

The ceremony was attended by Hon E. T Mensah (Minister, Employment and Social Welfare), Mr. Okyere-Nyako (MoFEP Director Bilateral) and other officials from MoFEP.

PR Section/ German Embassy,Accra

Silverbird Watch & Fly Promotion Flies Vera Armah to Kenya

2010-03-31T02:35:00.000-07:00

“This must be a joke; you don’t mean I’m going on a trip to Nairobi with my partner this Easter holiday, for just shopping at the Silverbird Lifestyle stores?” Vera Armah, winner of the month long Silverbird Watch & Fly Promotion asked, when she was called on the phone by officials of Silverbird and Kenya Airways in the presence of the press and other shoppers with the good news after the grand draw today at the Silverbird Lifestyle Store.

The watch & Fly Promotion was organised by Silverbird in collaboration with Kenya Airways to reward loyal customers of both companies. The lucky winner and her partner will go to Nairobi on a pleasure trip with Kenya Airways. Vera and her partner will have the unique opportunity to experience Silverbird in Kenya and also go on a Safari at the Nairobi National Park which is home to beautiful African animals.

General Manager Albert Mensah said, “We are delighted that we bring so much joy to our customers. Silverbird is all about entertainment and total entertainment means enjoying exotic and out-of-the-ordinary experiences such going on a trip to interesting places. This is what we have done. We just gave out a car to a lucky customer to commemorate our first year anniversary in Ghana. There is more to come in the basket because for Silverbird, the limit is not yet defined”.

Launched in February 2010, customers had the opportunity to enter the Silverbird ‘Watch & Fly Promo’ by only spending Thirty Ghana Cedis (GHC30) or more at the Silverbird Cinemas or at the Silverbird Lifestyle Store. Vera Armah, the lucky winner spent Eighty-eight Ghana Cedis, Fifty Pesewas (GHC88.50) at the Lifestyle Stores and will fly to Kenya for the fun-packed all-expense paid trip.

Kenya Airways is one of the leading and most respected airlines in Africa; flying to the most popular, leisure and business cities in Africa and the world. Silverbird Entertainment Ghana Limited a joint venture between the Silverbird Group and Global Media Alliance (GMA) and is one of the leading entertainment companies in Africa with major holdings in major cities in Africa. The Silverbird Group boasts of excellent locations in Kenya with 18 screens at five premier shopping centers.

Source : Brooke Nuwati

Bench Warrant for Anane, Others If…

2010-03-31T02:25:00.000-07:00

The prosecution in the case in which the former Road Transport Minister, Mr Richard Anane, and three others are accused of causing financial loss to the state may request the Fast Track High Court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of three of the accused persons if they fail to appear before the court today.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Gertrude Aikins, made the prosecution’s intent known following the inability of Dr Anane, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, a former Chief Of Staff, and Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, to appear before the court yesterday.

The fourth accused person, Sammy Crabbe, a former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was, however, present in court with his lawyers.

The four are expected to be charged with stealing, causing financial loss to the state and fraud regarding the roles they played in the formation of Ghana International Airlines (GIA) and the subsequent liquidation of Ghana Airways.

When the matter was called around 9.15am, only Crabbe stood up when his name was called, prompting the trial judge to enquire of the whereabouts of the other accused persons from the prosecution, but Ms Aikins could not explain their absence and further indicated that the three had been duly informed that they were expected to appear before court yesterday.

Counsel for Crabbe, Mr Kwame Boateng, said he and his client did not know which specific court was scheduled to hear the case and for that reason, they had to roam from one court to another before they finally got to know that the matter was before Mr Justice Bright Mensah.
Replying, Ms. Aikins reminded counsel that the matter was a serious one, especially when the accused persons had duly been informed about the court, which was billed to hear the matter.

According to the state, Dr. Anane allegedly misrepresented facts on GIA, which was then not in existence, to Cabinet and misled the then government to pay shares into a fraudulent company.

His action, according to the state, also led to the liquidation of Ghana Airways. Dr. Osei allegedly signed a loan agreement committing the government to a financial obligation of paying GH¢15 million to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The SSNIT gave the said amount to the GIA as a loan, without parliamentary approval and at a time when the minority shareholders of the airline had abandoned the company.

Mr Mpiani is alleged to have authorized the release of funds into the GIA, without parliamentary approval. According to the prosecution, which is yet to read the facts of the case to the court, Crabbe, who represented minority shareholders in the company, on June 27, 2005 withdrew $1.9 million from the government of Ghana’s account, without approval from the government (majority shareholder).

It said Dr Anane declared that four companies had expressed interest in the then Ghana Airways and later presented a letter of intent which was signed between the government of Ghana and the GIA to form a new company called the New Ghana Airways (NGA), although the GIA was at that time not in existence.

It said although Prince WaterhouseCoopers had rated the NGA, which had signed an agreement with the government to form the GIA, third beneath KLM and Ghanaair, two companies which had also bid for Ghana Airways, the NGA won the bid.

It said although the memorandum Dr Anane presented to Cabinet to sign was dated September 9, 2004, the GIA was not in existence as of September 9, 2004. It said GIA-USA-LLC was formed in Utah, USA, on September 10, 2004 and further pointed out that Dr Anane misrepresented those facts to Cabinet and fraudulently misled it to pay for shares into a fraudulent company.

According to the state, Mr Mpiani, on June 2, 2005, wrote to the chairman of the government task force on Ghana Airways Limited authorizing the task force to take all necessary steps to put the airline into formal liquidation. The GIA was subsequently formed as a joint venture between the government of Ghana and had its maiden flight on October 29, 2005.

Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana

Government Absorbs Fuel Increase For 2 Weeks

2010-03-31T02:19:00.000-07:00

The government has decided to absorb the expected increase in fuel prices in the country for the next two weeks. Government subsidy on fuel between March 16 and April 15, this year amounts to GH¢12million,according to the acting Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Alex Kofi Mensah Mould.

He told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the government decided to absorb the expected increase when the NPA informed it of the rise in the price of oil by 10 per cent since October last year. “There is not going to be any increase in fuel prices. The government has decided to absorb the fuel price,” Mr. Mould said.

He said the price of oil hovered between $75 and $80 per barrel. He said the NPA was still monitoring the market and indicated that if the increase was temporary, the NPA would not recommend any increases in the prices of fuel. He explained that that was to curtail any increases in transportation fares, since transport owners increased transport fares whenever fuel prices were increased but refused to reduce the fares if fuel prices went down.

Mr. Mould said if the price of oil hit above $80 per barrel or the increases in fuel prices remained permanent, the NPA would recommend an increase in fuel prices. In the same way, he said, if the price of oil went down to between $65 and $70, the NPA would recommend a reduction in fuel prices. He said the government was sensitive to the effect of fuel prices on consumers. Mr. Mould said the NPA had held a stakeholders meeting with the Ministry of Information, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU and the Ghana Transport Association on how to protect consumers.

Source: Daily Graphic

N.G.O Donates to Nsawam Medium Prison Inmates.

2010-02-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

Passion for Needy Association, a Non –Governmental Organization (NGO) established by prophet T.B Joshua has donated goods worth two thousand, four hundred and seventy-four Ghana cedis (GH¢2,2474) to inmates of the Nsawam Male and Female medium prisons at Nsawam in the Eastern region.

The items donated includes, drugs, sanitary pads, slippers and printed T-shirts for the “Redeemed singers” of the female prisons. This was donated in response to an appeal made by the authorities of Nsawam prison and inmates.

Presenting the items, the chairperson of Passion for Needy, Mrs. Janet Torgbor El-Aschkar said, the organization will continue to meet the needs of people as to when it is called to do since it forms part of the organizations objectives.

Deputy Director of Prisons and the officer-in-charge of the Nsawam Prisons, AlexanderAnsong Adjapong who received the items on behalf of the inmates thanked the NGO for their kind gesture, especially for the quick response to the appeal made.

A short church service was held after the donation to encourage the inmates and the need to develop their spiritual lives.

Present at the presentation were Maame Araba Dadson, Mrs.Irene Nuama Donkor, Mr.Samuel Sackey, Anthony Haick, executives and other members of the NGO.

Source :Isaac Ametepe

MP apologises for 'wild' sex allegation

2010-02-03T10:32:00.001-08:00

MP for Evalue-Gwira, Catherine Afeku has apologized for wrongfully accusing a section of women of being sexual appendages on sports trips.

In an interview with Joy News’Sammy Darko on Wednesday, the embattled MP said her assertions were to help curtail the exploitation of women in the country.

Mrs Afeku on the floor of parliament Tuesday alleged that one of the criteria for selecting the women delegation to Angola to support the Black Stars in their game against Egypt was their ability to provide sex to their male counterparts.

The women were part of some 440 government sponsored supporters who went to Angola on Sunday to lend support to the the Black Stars.

Even though she was made to retract the allegations for failing to provide evidence, the Evalue-Gwira MP has been heavily criticized for what is said to be an unguarded comment.

She told Sammy Darko after siting today that her comments have been misconstrued.

“It was a platform to bring to the fore the issue of sexual exploitation. The Angola incident that was attached and made the focus of my statement is quite unfortunate and the apology for those who travelled on the trip is easily rendered. I have absolutely no qualms at all.”

She hinted that some women have in the past agreed to travel with high profile personalities based only on their ability to offer sexual favours, adding her comments were targeted at those women and not at those who made the Angolan trip.

“I got up to speak as a woman that young women who are intelligent, bright and can travel [must do so] on their own merit without giving any sexual favours,” she explained.

She intimated that the issue of sexual exploitation is a reality and the earlier the nation addressed it the better.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Germany increases support to Ghana by 60%

2010-01-13T01:47:00.000-08:00

The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has made a commitment to Ghana of 130 million Euros (approximately GH¢275million ) for financial and technical cooperation for the period from 2009 to 2011. This new pledge represents an increase of more than 60%.

In making this increase, the German government is realising its aim of giving particular support to partner countries that succeed in practising good governance. The new commitment raises the total German development cooperation support to Ghana since independence to more than GH¢ 2400 million (1180 million Euro).

This was agreed at the governmental negotiations between the Republic of Ghana and the Federal Republic of Germany on 17 and 18 December 2009 in Bonn (Germany).
The intergovernmental dialogue highlighted the strong commitment of the Republic of Ghana to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and to promoting broad-based growth. The German delegation acknowledged the successes in reducing poverty as well as Ghana’s leading role in regional stability and democratisation. Both delegations stressed the importance of oil and gas for Ghana’s sustainable growth and the consideration of international best practice for the processes.

The Ghanaian-German bilateral development cooperation is based on Ghanaian strategies and implemented within the framework of the “Ghana - Joint Assistance Strategy”, signed by all principal development partners. In this context it was agreed to continue the German assistance in the existing focal areas of sustainable economic and financial development, agriculture and decentralization. Additionally, Germany scaled-up its commitment for direct budget support in the framework of the Multi Donor Budget Support (MDBS); new commitments were already made in September at 55 Million Euro (more that 130 Million Ghana Cedis) and reconfirmed at the negotiations.

At a meeting with the participants at the negotiations, Gudrun Kopp, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, emphasized: “We will continue to direct German-Ghanaian cooperation towards future-oriented areas. By strengthening market orientation and performance-based incentive systems, we will continue to contribute to sustainable economic growth that will benefit large sections of the population.”

SOURCE :Ruth Mensah- German Embassy,Accra

FBI in Ghana for investigations

2010-01-05T09:29:00.000-08:00

..to probe botched US plane attack

Agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation are in Ghana to find out about the sojourn in the country of a Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a US airliner, a Ghanaian minister said Monday.

"The investigation will allow the FBI agents to gather more information on the suspect's stay in Ghana," Deputy Information Minister James Agyenin-Boateng told AFP.

He did not say when the FBI team arrived in Ghana and how long the agents plan to stay in the west African country.

It is Ghana's first known official comment on the allegations by Nigerian authorities that the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, arrived in Lagos on December 24 on a Virgin Nigeria flight from Ghana.

Nigerian Information Minister Dora Akunyili had said on Thursday that the suspect, after arriving from Ghana, spent less than 30 minutes at the Lagos airport before boarding his next flight for Amsterdam.

Abdulmutallab allegedly bought the ticket for the bomb targeted flight in Ghana where his journey began.

The director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, had explained on December 26 that Abdulmutallab "boarded KLM flight out of Lagos on the 24th December, enroute Detroit, Michigan, USA, via Amsterdam." "The e-ticket was purchased from the KLM airport office in Accra on 16th December 2009," he said.

The suspect personally checked in at 20:35 pm (1935 GMT) and he went "through a normal checking process. His passport was scanned, his US visa was scanned and the APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) returned with no objection," he said.

His multiple US entry visa, issued in London on June 16 last year, was not due to expire until June 12 next year, he added.

Agyenin-Boateng said Ghana was unhappy about not being informed of concerns about Abdulmutallab whose father had reported the young man's radical views to the United States and other foreign security agencies.

"Fighting terrorism is a collective responsibility of every country and it is therefore important that we share security information of this nature if we are to fight terrorism," Agyenin-Boateng said.

"If we have heard this information (given to the US embassy in Nigeria) from our Nigerian counterparts, the suspect would have been subjected to a more thorough screening," he said.

Nigeria and Ghana are both members of the 15-nation regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Agyenin-Boateng also said that Ghana has purchased a full body scanner to be installed at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the nation's biggest airport, where security has been beefed up.

"The scanner, when installed, would ensure that travellers go through full body scanning and find out if they are carrying any weapons or drugs," he said. US authorities have accused the Nigerian suspect of trying to trigger an explosion on a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day with chemicals that had been stitched into his underwear. He is currently being held in a Michigan prison.

Washington said Monday stricter measures will be compulsory on flights from 14 nations, including Nigeria, while random "enhanced" checks will be carried out on all planes landing at a US airport.

All travellers from the targeted countries would be subjected to extra body pat-downs and advanced screening of baggage, a US official said. Imaging and explosive detection technology might also be used.

Source: AFP

Man impregnates daughter

2009-12-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

"Your Worship, I thought I was sleeping with my wife, as the room was dark," pleaded 49-year-old Kwaku Otu when he appeared before the Akyem Swedru Circuit Court for allegedly impregnating his 19-year-old daughter.

The court, presided over by Mr Kofi Aktowiah; dismissed Otu's plea of guilty with explanation and remanded him in prison custody to re-appear on January 14, 2010.

Presenting the facts of the case at the crowded court last Tuesday, Detective Inspector Kwaku Appiah of the Oda Divisional Police Command, said about six months ago the victim's mother, Madam Amma Tenadu attended a funeral at her home town, Gomoa Potsifi in the Central Region and spent some time .there.

He said on her return, the woman noticed some changes in her daughter, indicating that she was pregnant, and questioned her about the man responsible for it. To her surprise, her daughter mentioned Otu, a farmer of Asibrim, near Akyem Akroso in the Eastern Region.

The prosecutor stated that Madam Tenadu did not believe the news so she informed her brother, Kobina Otabil about it.

When the two confronted the victim on the issue, she confirmed that her father had impregnated her.

According to him, Otabil said it was a taboo in their tradition for a father to put her biological daughter in the family way so they reported the matter to the Akrosohene, Nana Kwabena Ofori II, who is the owner of the land.

Inspector Appiah stated that the Akrosohene arbitrated the case at his palace and fined Otu GH¢400 and two sheep to pacify the victim’s family and the defiled land.

He said the chief gave Otu two weeks to pay the fine, but as he could not do so at the appointed time, he was given two more weeks to pay it.

Inspector Appiah stated that media practitioners had a hint of the case and went to the Akrosohene's palace that day to see what was going on.

He said for fear that the reporters would make the outcome of the case public, the chief . advised that the matter be sent to the Akroso Police Station.

According to him, realizing that case was very serious, the Akroso police referred the matter the case to the Oda Divisional Police Command for further investigations and the necessary action.

After thorough police investigations, Otu was put before the Akyem Swedru Circuit Court.

In his explanation, Otu said as he slept in the same dark bedroom with his wife and his daughter, he thought he was sleeping with his wife, not knowing it was rather his own daughter.

Source : The Mirror

Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners Mark International Gender Activism Week

2009-12-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

The society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners has marked the annual 16 days of gender activicism with a call on all stakeholders to unite and and totally eliminate all forms of gender based violence.

This year's event which was marked with a procession and a talk was done in collaboration with the wives associations of the Police,Prisons and the Armed Forces.The annual international event is aimed at highlighting gender base issues globally.

Dr.Mabel Aboah ,the president of the society advised women to consult women groups such as theirs,FIDA among others to help address some of their grievance on domestic violence.

She added that,the society's decision to mark this year's celebrations with the wives associations of the security services is to help address the many forms of gender violence that goes on in the various barracks.

The society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners was established in 1965 after the woman medical practitioners was trained. The organization is mainly involved in activities such as medical outreach and advocacy on gender based issues.

Notably among their contributions to National development is the establishment of the Womens World Clinic at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for screening of women and the drafting of the domestic Violence Bill which has now been passed into law.The society is an affiliate of the Medical Women International Association.

Source: Isaac Ametepe

Mills works from Jubilee House for first time

2009-11-10T16:17:00.000-08:00

President Mills is working from the Golden Jubilee House for the first time today.

He is receiving letters of credence from various diplomats assigned to Ghana.

This will be the president's first official use of the palace since assuming office ten months ago.

And it follows several criticisms that the edifice built at the cost of $80 million was being left to go waste.

Joy News' correspondent at the presidency, Steve Anti, says the president is likely to return to the Osu castle once the ceremonies to receive the diplomats are over.

Meanwhile, the president has indicated he wouldn't mind sharing the Golden Jubilee House with staff of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The presidency was reacting to suggestions that President Mills may never relocate to the new edifice after it was allocated, albeit temporary, to the Foreign Affairs Ministry whose official offices were gutted some three weeks ago.

Presidential spokesperson Mahama Ayariga explains that the residence is big enough to accommodate both the presidency and the ministry.

"The use of that wing [at the palace] does not disturb the future decision to use that facility. In fact the edifice is so huge that the ministry can operate from there even whilst the president is there. The fact of the minister being there does not in any way preclude the president moving in there as and when he deems it fit," Mr Ayariga said.

Mr. Ayariga also dismissed concerns that the number of people visiting the Foreign Ministry while it operates from the Jubilee House may pose a security threat to the presidency.

Joy News sources at the presidency suggest some aspects of the president's operation might soon be transferred into the Presidential Palace.

Source : myjoyonline.com

Passion for Needy supports Nsawam Medium Prison inmates

2009-11-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

Goods worth GH¢4,142 have donated by Passion for Needy Association a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) to the inmates of the Nsawam male and female medium prisons at Nsawam in the eastern region.

The items donated by the NGO formed by senior Prophet T.B Joshua as part of his objectives of reaching out to the needy in society included, two plasma television sets, two satellite dishes including installation equipments and quantities of bar soap, washing powder and sanitary rolls.

Mrs. Janet Torgbor El-Aschker, chairperson of Passion for Needy Association who made the presentation on behalf of Prophet T.B Joshua said the donation was in line with the organization’s aim of supporting Government’s efforts in addressing the needs of the inmates.

DSP Samuel Adzewodah, Staff Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, who received the donated items on behalf of the inmates, thanked the NGO for their benevolence. He commended the NGO for their kind gesture and most especially remembering the inmates.

Present at the ceremony were Co-chairpersons of Passion for needy Maame Araba Dadson and Divine Edem Manche. Others included some members of the NGO.

Source: Isaac Ametepe

Passion for Needy Association supports two visually impaired with GH¢ 500

2009-10-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Passion for Needy Association Non Governmental organization (NGO), formed by Prophet T.B Joshua paid an amount of five hundred Ghana cedis GH¢ 500 for two visually impaired persons to pursue a study in reflexology at Parliament House in Accra.
The donation forms part of the organizations objectives of training the physically challenged was made by Mrs. Janet El-Aschkar, the Chairperson of Passion for Needy Association. The beneficiaries, Ruth Aguure and Franklin Osei Opoku thanked the organization for their kind gesture and promised to make good use of the opportunity to the benefit of others in society.
Alhaji Ibrahim Gombila, Deputy Clerk of Parliament of Ghana also thanked the NGO for their benevolence. Present at the donation ceremony was Maame Araba Dadson, Co-chairperson of Passion for Needy Association.
In a related development, an amount of five hundred and ninety-three Ghana cedis GH¢ 593 was presented to Maame Ewura Abena, a student of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) Legon, to persue a program in Diploma and Business Studies(DBS).
Passion for Needy Association, as part of its plans will soon start the construction of a training centre on 50 acres of land donated to them by Nan Ofori Okoh, Chief of Anomabo Pra-Ewusi to train the youth and physically challenged in society.
Source: Isaac Ametepe

Standard Bank wins ‘Best Investment Bank from Africa’ Award

2009-10-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Standard Bank reinforced its credentials as a leading emerging market bank, winning the prestigious ‘Best Investment Bank from Africa’, award in The Banker’s Investment Banking Awards 2009.

The Awards, held at London’s Waldorf Hilton Hotel, recognizes excellence in investment banking around the world.

Standard Bank (20% owned by ICBC, the biggest bank in the world) - is the largest African banking group ranked by assets and earnings and operates in 17 countries in Africa, employing more than 50,000 people.

Commenting, Brian Caplen, Editor of The Banker magazine said: "We are very pleased to recognize Standard Bank's achievements in building up an investment banking presence across Africa and especially in some of the frontier markets. The bank has also been in a strong position to take advantage of international opportunities such as purchasing a stake in Troika Dialog in Russia. It's a successful formula that will be watched with interest in the months ahead."

Rupert Boyd, Managing Director, Global Head of Investor Coverage, Standard Bank, Corporate and Investment Banking said: “Standard Bank has an unparalleled depth of personnel and expertise in Africa and has been actively involved in the continent’s economic fortunes for over 145 years. While this award recognizes this fact, it is also a reflection of some of the innovative and unique deals that the team have been involved in over the past twelve months; whether that be acting as Joint Issuing House/Arranger and Primary Dealer to the N275 billion Lagos State Debt Issue or as the Lead Mandated Arranger of the USD240 million Tanesco Limited loan. Furthermore, our strategic partnership with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has laid the foundation for significant expansion of trade and investment between China and Africa, and has been a defining milestone for Standard Bank.”

Standard Bank is a leading African banking group focused on emerging markets globally. It has been a mainstay of South Africa's financial system for over 145 years, and now spans 17 countries across the African continent. Its international expansion has taken it to 16 countries outside Africa

Standard Bank Plc in London is the bank's principal international subsidiary. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, and is a member of the London Stock Exchange, the London Bullion Market Association, the London Metal Exchange, the London Platinum and Palladium Market and the New York Mercantile Exchange (COMEX Division).
Source: Esi Johnson/platformghana.com

ECOWAS considers citizens in decision making

2009-10-12T07:16:00.001-07:00

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has started a process that aims at encouraging citizens' participation in ECOWAS decisions and activities. The programme, called: "Community Development Programme," hopes to transform West Africa into a borderless region where ordinary citizens can enjoy free movement and trade amongst themselves. Mr Traore Kalilou, Director at the Ivorian Ministry of Regional Integration, said there was low level involvement in ECOWAS activities by non-state actors in the region hence the need for the CDP programme to make the ordinary ECOWAS citizen enjoy the privileges of ECOWAS. He said this at a workshop organized by ECOWAS for civil society organizations within the sub region to share ideas on the structure of the CDP and make inputs where necessary. The workshop brought together about 50 civil society actors and media personnel from Nigeria, Cote D' Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cape Verde and Senegal The CDP, which is still at the planning stage, when established, would facilitate the creation of a region where people can live in dignity and peace under the rule of law and good governance in each of the member states. Mr Kalilou said regional integration was one of the solutions to the development problems in Africa. Mr Ken Ukaoha, a civil society actor from Nigeria, said after 38 years of ECOWAS, the region appeared not to have moved closer to development and integration as was originally envisaged. Comparing ECOWAS to the European Union he said in Europe people, even non citizens who have a visa are able to move freely from one European country to the other, however, the story is not the same in ECOWAS. "Even travelling from Ghana to Cote d'Ivoire, can take people two days because of immigration demands," Mr Ukaoha said. He said civil society organizations could help get the ordinary person integrated into ECOWAS since they are usually in touch with people at the local level. "The Community Development Programme aims at realizing the ECOWAS heads of States and government's vision 2020 of a transition from ECOWAS heads of states to ECOWAS of people," Mr Ukaoha said.

Source:GNA

Africa Media Leadership Conference opens

2009-10-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

African Media owners are meeting in Accra to examine how they can harness and "monetise" the continent's growing youthful audiences heavily reliant on digital media channels as their sources of news, information and entertainment.The three-day Annual Media Conference (AMLC) on the theme "Learning from the Future: Africa's Media Map in 2009", would examine efforts by African media institutions to tap the youth market and the 'digital natives' and what they could learn from other parts of the world. It is jointly sponsored by Rhodes University's Sol Plaatjie Institute for Media leadership (SPI) and Konrad Adenaur Foundation (KAS).In a speech read for Vice President John Dramani Mahama, Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said African governments must soon learn that the media was a partner in governance and not an opponent and should allow the provision of appropriate legislation that would create avenue for freedom of expression and proper training for journalists to improve their professional standards on the continent. He said government would continue to create an enabling environment where journalists could report freely, critically and responsibly to support the goals of democracy, economic development and human rights. Media owners and publishers, he said, had a critical role in assisting society to face challenges such as political intolerance, election mal-practices, cyber fraud, women and child abuse, and charged them to dramatically redefine media business and journalism. Vice President Mahama enjoined the media to eschew irresponsible journalism and to be agents of development and progress rather than agents of conflict, retrogression and destruction. Mr Francis Mdlongwa, Director of Rhodes University's Sol Plaatjie Institute for Media leadership (SPI) said the conference was a sequel to the one organised last year that broadly examined how Africa's media was embracing new media platforms as a source of additional audience reach and revenue.He said the conference would also examine challenges facing long established newspaper, radio and television stations for survival in the face of the proliferation of digital media platforms. "Listeners, viewers and readers are increasingly agitating for their own specific news content at their own time and place, and using preferred media platforms. Today's media audiences are not just producing, selecting and customising their news and information content, but they are also essentially re-defining the role, identity and purpose of journalism and media companies, "he said.Mr Klaus Loetzer, KAS Country Representative, said the conference was launched in 2002 as a strategy for formulation, networking and sharing of ideas and experiences by African media practitioners.

GNA

Editor speaks on Nkrumah in London via telephone.

2009-09-25T03:44:00.000-07:00

The Editor of Ghanaianreactoronline.com,Michael Father Amedor will be speaking on Press TV,London today at 14:30 GMT to voice out his view on the topic "whether Nkrumah’s vision for Ghana was able to be achieved, or was power used to serve other purposes?" through a telephony interview.

The Editor recieved the invitation yesterday via email and can be confirmed. This interview will be granted by Sarah Khalil a Tv producer at Africa Today for Press TV, (www.presstv.com) who is currently producing a show in the light of the Nkrumah@100 celebrations.

The intended interview is expected to last several hours. Other topics to also incude the interview are "commenting on Ghana’s current development status" among others.

Source: Ghanaianraectoronline.com

Outstanding Arrears Choke NHIS

2009-09-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

¢115m 2008 OUTSTANDING ARREARS...

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are reeling under a shocking GH¢115 million arrears left behind by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party government (NPP). The National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration had from January to June this year released a whopping GHÂ¢ 142,483,546.60 to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). This represents 96.2 per cent of governmentâ€™s budgetary obligation for the period. Regrettably, this releases have gone into clearing of the arrears of the 2008, thereby generating an indebtedness to healthcare providers for the period March 2009 to date to the tune of GH¢120,933,849.The huge indebtedness to healthcare providers, is currently crippling the scheme nationwide. A letter dated August 23, 2009 and intercepted by The Heritage, detailed the cry of the scheme's boss, Mr. Sylvester Mensah to government. The letter reveals a very sorry situation that can collapse the rather laudable health policy which has and continues to save the lives of thousands of Ghanaians. According to the NHIA boss, the scheme urgently 'requires a minimum of GHÂ¢75million within the next 24 hours, to avert a looming massive withdrawal of healthcare service delivery to NHIS subscribers, a situation that would cause a major setback to the NHIS programme.' Amongst the many challenges that are also threatening the existence of the scheme the letter stated, is the headache of how to clear an outstanding debt of GHÂ¢115,567,612 owed the scheme as at the end of December 2008. As the Acting Chief Executive puts it, 'the precarious state of the National Health Insurance Fund, and the impending threat this poses to the NHIS as a programme to secure affordable healthcare services to residents of Ghana.' Mr. Mensah further laments that the current situation of the National Health Insurance Scheme and its resultant effect is that 'healthcare providers across the country have run out of essential logistics to provide healthcare services to our subscribers; most providers are turning away NHIS subscribers whilst others have threatened to close down, situations which have consequences for the government.' According to the acting chief executive, 'any further delay in advancing funds to the NHIA would severely damage the confidence that people have in the NHIS and derail Government's policy of a one-time premium payment expected to commence late next year.' 'We also urge that urgent mechanisms are put in place to settle all outstanding payments owed to the NHIA, whilst ensuring prompt transfers of all future funds due to the NHIA, Mr. Mensah appealed to the sector ministry in a distress letter dated August 23, 2009.

Source: The Heritage -Ghana

Without a coherent supply chain strategy Ghana will not become a middle income status country…. Dr. Douglas Boateng

2009-09-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

Introduction
The failure of governments since 1966 to develop and implement a coherent supply chain and logistics strategy in support of the country’s gateway initiative continues to be a major impediment towards Ghana’s goals of becoming a middle income country.
Abundance of resources yet still relatively socio-economically poor!

Ghana is one of the few countries in the world to be endowed with much needed resources that can easily serve as a catalyst for major long term socio-economic growth. …..Gold, Cocoa, Industrial diamonds bauxite, manganese and now oil! ……In addition the country is blessed with one of the most fertile agro soils in the world….Yet the country’s unemployment rate among the 18-35 years has remained among the highest in the world since 1970. In tandem with this, the country’s infrastructure is among the least developed in the world.

Having benchmarked the country’s development and economic growth with other developed and emerging economies one realized that the relative underdevelopment is mainly due to amongst others our inability to use simple supply chain principles to harness the enormous wealth at the country’s disposal.
Since the late nineties one has had the opportunity to have both formal and informal discussions with our politicians and decision makers. In most cases they are proud to pontificate about countries like Singapore Malaysia, USA, Chain India and even more recently South Africa….and how they are able to add value to imported commodities, plus move goods from various points of production to points of need within and outside their respective countries. Yet when it comes to Ghana it seems they are content to export the country’s raw materials to other countries for processing and then import it back at premium to sell locally in the regional market!

Supply chain management and Ghana’s Gateway Initiative

Ghana’s gateway initiative in theory is a resplendent model if supported by the right modus operandi. Successive governments have pontificated about the status of the country as the potential gateway into the sub region. Yet when one looks at the policies of government to date, no where has one seen any concrete long term plans to harness the potential vantage position of Ghana as a sub regional country. As a country that is supposedly the gateway into the sub region aero logistics connections is not only poor but among the most expensive in the world!!
What puzzles ordinary citizens like myself is why our leaders continue to accept that value added to our resources can only take place outside Ghana……..!!! The time has come for our leaders to rather look at Ghana as a sub regional workshop where companies with interest in marketing their products to 250 million regional inhabitants will use the country as it decoupling point.
Could Ghana have benefited more from Cocoa with a coherent supply chain strategy?
Like most economies, Ghana could have easily used cocoa to sustainably transform the economy if there was a strategic supply chain blue print. More recently one has been hearing about Cocoa Board ambitions to produce 1 million tons per annum. What difference will it make to graduate students looking for a job if most of the beans are going to end up in Europe where value adding will take place?”
Would Ghana benefit from the OIL?
There seem to be a propensity for our leaders to pontificate that the recently discovered oil is the panacea for all Ghana’s economic woes. The sad reality is that jobs are not created from the crude oil. Rather it is from the supply chain services that are associated with crude oil….!
Govt must have a supply chain and beneficiation strategy for each of Ghana’s major commodities
Through out history countries that depend on the exportation of raw commodities have relatively failed to achieve major long term socio-economic growth. The shortism in economic policies coupled with governments’ lack of strategic thought vis-à-vis supply chain management and local beneficiation continue to be an impediment for socio- economic growth. The time has come for our elected leaders to be more strategic and start thinking about:

1. How Ghana can use supply chain management as a weapon for competitive advantage
2. Positioning Ghana as sub regional workshop and decoupling point
3. Branding Ghana as a source of quality products, i.e. proudly Ghanaian,
4. Empower Ghanaians through supply chain related services
5. Creating real and much needed jobs through local beneficiation of minerals and agro commodities
6. Laying a solid socio-economic foundation for future generations
7. Thinking seriously about harnessing the potential of the gateway initiative…..d leaders to be more strategic and start thinking about:

In so doing we will be laying a solid foundation for future generations. After all, Ghana’s resources do not belong to the current generation……Rather we are just custodians (irrespective of local tribe or party affiliation) collectively tasked to harness these resources to build a better and sustainable socio-economic future for the next generation!

Dr. Douglas Boateng is the Founder, President and CEO of PanAvest International a 5PSCM niche business advisory, education, training, coaching and mentoring company. Dr Boateng’s goal is to assist companies to profitably extend their market reach through the application of long term innovative, Business Development Logistics and Supply Chain Management solutions. Dr Boateng is a FELLOW of the (a) Institute of Directors-UK & Southern Africa (b) Chartered Management Institute -UK (c) Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport-UK and the (d) Institute of Operations Management-UK

VAT Taskforce gets tough on importers for evading taxes

2009-09-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Reverend John Buabeng, head of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service Taskforce has tasked traders, who import goods into the country, to supply their tax identification number to the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) or have their goods impounded.He said it was a crime to import one item and label it differently or in some cases, one item could be registered using different names and with the quantities reduced to evade the payment of the appropriate taxes.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, Rev. Buabeng said a combined taskforce from the VAT Service, National Security and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have impounded five vehicles in Takoradi. The vehicles were carrying 1,310 bags of rice with one of them loaded with a quantity of shirts and other clothing, he said, adding that, "The taskforce could not trace the invoice to the supplier of one of the vehicles and this is a lost of revenue to the state" he said. He said the impounding of the vehicles was part of an ongoing nationwide exercise to arrest defaulters of tax.He said importers should endeavour to register and obtain tax identification number before importing goods into the country. "Tax evasion and smuggling of goods is a heinous offence, which is tantamount to prosecution and some times jail sentences", he said. He advised importers to give correct information of their businesses to make tracking easier for VAT officials. He warned people who serve as agent of importers to desist from such acts and register with the service.
Source:GNA

New global alliance to increase access to financial services

2009-09-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Nearly 100 central bankers and other financial policymakers gathered in Nairobi on Monday for the official launch of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), a coalition of countries from the developing world committed to making savings accounts, insurance, and other financial services available to millions of people living on less than $2 a day.A statement from AFI received in Accra on Monday said research had shown that better access to financial services can fuel economic growth by raising national income via increased savings and investments in poor households as well as in small and medium enterprises."This access also enhances financial stability by injecting formal savings into the system, diversifying the capital base, and providing stability during global downturns. Yet, an estimated 2.5 billion people - over half the world's adult population - do not have access to savings accounts and other financial services," the statement said.AFI said its global network would enable developing countries to share knowledge so they can more effectively develop and implement policies designed to expand access to financial services. It brings together central banks and others representing nearly 70 percent of world's unbanked and the network will develop and implement policies to reach millions across developing world.It said while many of the smartest policies to expand financial access had come from developing countries - such as mobile phone money transfer services in Kenya and agent banking in Brazil - knowledge of these solutions was scattered in pockets around the globe. "The unique aspect of AFI is that it puts us members in the driver's seat to identify and create solutions to increase the availability and choices of financial services in our own countries," said Tarisa Watanagase, governor of the Bank of Thailand and AFI member. "Since we understand our countries' circumstances better than outside organizations, AFI creates an exceptional forum for us to share policies that work and learn from other policymakers about solutions that work for them," Watanagase said.AFI members have chosen to focus on six policy areas to increase financial inclusion for their respective countries - agent banking, diversification of financial products and providers, state bank reforms, financial identity, consumer protection and mobile phone banking. Based in Bangkok, Thailand, AFI is managed on behalf of its members by the German development organization Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH and supported with a $35 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation."AFI's peer-to-peer knowledge exchange model is playing a key role in amplifying policy solutions that work," said Alfred Hannig, Executive Director of AFI. "The most realistic and successful solutions for including poor people in the formal financial system are being innovated among our members in developing countries," He said. This grant is part of the Gates Foundation's Financial Services for the poor initiative, which is working with a wide range of public and private partners, to harness technology and innovation to make safe places to save and other financial services accessible to poor people in the developing world.AFI is a global network of central banks and other policymaking bodies in over 60 developing countries. AFI provides its members with a learning platform for peer to peer knowledge exchange on financial inclusion policies that work, and grants to help implement them.

Source:GNA

Ras Wayo out of Big Brother Revolution

2009-09-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

In a surprise announcement, Ghana’s representative to the just started Big Brother Africa Revolution, Ras Wayoe became the second Housemate to leave the BBA House during the show's first Eviction Show!
Wayoe entered the stage to a crowd chanting his name to a Reggae tune. Wayoe told IK he was not surprised to have left the House and does not think his Rastafarian way of life played a part in viewers not voting for him.
The first Housemate to leave the BBA: The Revolution House was Teddy from Kenya. Teddy leaves the House much to his and the crowd's surprise because he was on of the strongest personalities in the house. IK, the host, asked him if he regrets sitting on the fence with making up his mind about The Smokers' Alliance. Teddy leaves with the $2500 in his kitty.

Source: gna

Ghana charms Busta Rhymes at live concert

2009-09-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

International hip hop icon, Busta Rhymes, nodded repeatedly Saturday night at the Accra International Conference Centre, left in no doubt his industry and dexterity has affected so many Ghanaian lovers of hip hop.Taking the stage in a Busta Rhymes Live in Ghana Concert, an initiative of CharterHouse and sponsored by telecoms giant MTN, the ace musician thrilled the crowd with several of his favourite hits, including It's a Party, I Know What You Want, Blessed, Gimme Some More, Make It Clap, Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See, Woo Hah Got You All in Check and Arab Money. “I love this”, “I made a great decision to come to Ghana” and “I love your beautiful city” were some of his confessions as the overflowing main auditorium of the Conference Centre virtually wrenched lyrics of the over a dozen songs he performed, including the latest and controversial ‘Arab Money,’ from him and rendered it perfectly.“You will definitely see us again” was his emphatic promise after what he described as “a most wonderful and successful show” that charmed the enthusiastic crowd to abandon their seats and wriggle the night away.And so powerful was his performance, supported by Spliff Star, that the joyous crowd was almost overflowing onto the stage, barred only by crash barriers thoughtfully planted there for the purpose.An enchanted fan threw him a piece of kente cloth, which he strapped over his shoulders.

Source: Isaac Yeboah

Bagbin backs calls for ministerial reshuffle

2009-09-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has told Citi FM that a reshuffle in the nine-month old Mills administration will do the young Government a lot of good.He says there are weak links in the government which need tightening. Earlier, rumours of an impending reshuffle by President John Mills were brushed aside by government officials.The widely speculated reshuffle found footing in an earlier indication but nine months into the Mills administration, the Majority Leader tells Citi FM a ministerial reshuffle is critical towards strengthening the Mills administration.“There are weaknesses here and there…so I think there are areas that we need as a government to look into and maybe try and invigorate them with some new faces that could assist to get things going,” he said.Mr Bagbin also lent a limb to former President Jerry Rawlings’ open criticisms of the Mills administration.Mr Rawlings spares no punches anytime he gets the opportunity to lash at President Mills. He has on several public platforms attacked President Mills, accusing him of lacking what he terms “the revolutionary zeal” in his government.He has numerously questioned the reasoning behind President Mills’ decision to maintain some carry-over appointees from the Kufuor-administration.Mr Bagbin says there must be more of such criticisms from Mr Rawlings to put the Mills administration on its toes.“I think that it is good for the country, and I want to encourage the former presidents whether Kufuor or Jerry to keep coming up with criticisms because they have a store of experience and knowledge that is needed for the country.”
Source:Citifm

UniBank joins Moneygram Transfer Services

2009-09-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

UniBank, financial services provider, has teamed up with Global Payment Services provider MoneyGram to offer money transfer service at the bank's 13 branch locations in the country. An agreement to that effect was signed on Thursday between the Management of uniBank and the West African office of MoneyGram International.There are currently 12 agents offering money transfer services across 1,600 locations in Ghana. "Our collaboration with MoneyGram Transfer Services represents a vast opportunity to deliver our commitment to provide safe and reliable Money Transfer Services to beneficiaries," Mr Clifford Mettle, General Manager Sales and Client Services, UniBank, told journalists at the launch of the initiative in Accra On Monday. Mr Mettle said the bank would leverage on its branch expansion programme and the relationship with Ghana Post Company to scale the competition and meet the expectations of customers. He said UniBank was using the expansion in the money transfer service as key growth strategies to enable it grow its non-funded business.Mr Mettle assured all users of the service of good and quality customer care, saying that the bank would deliver on its core values of flexibility, caring, vibrant and teamwork. Ms Funmi Omitowoju, Regional Director MoneyGram International (Anglophone West Africa), said uniBank's impressive performance was a major strength in the collaboration.She said MoneyGram had put together English-Speaking countries in West Africa to enable it address peculiar needs of the people in the region and to also build strong relationship. Ms Omitowoju said despite the global financial meltdown, the money transfer business was still robust and doing well and lauded Ghana as one of the dominant forces in the business. She pledged MoneyGram's continuous support to uniBank in meeting the goals of the collaboration for the mutual benefit of the two institutions.MoneyGram is present in 190 countries with over 18,000 agents.
Source:GNA

Journalists to benefit from GETFund

2009-09-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ghanaian journalists can now access the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for overseas training, a government minister said on Thursday. "Even though government does not wish to interfere with the work of the media, we have made it a policy to allow individual journalists to access the GETFund for overseas training if they so wish," Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, told journalists in Accra.He made the announcement at a press conference dubbed "Matters Arising" during which he spelt out the achievements of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in the areas of education, youth in agriculture and the fight against narcotic drugs trafficking. As per the theme of the press conference it was to keep the public updated on what government has been doing over the past eight months on matters of concern to the public.Mr. Ablakwa said government would, from a distance, continue to assist both the state and private media to develop their capacities in order to ensure that the "fourth estate of the realm" remained dynamic and independent in the country.He said government preferred a strong and independent media to a praise singing one, adding "we do not want the kind of media that will sing our praises only for the public to tell us something different about ourselves at the elections".Touching on the substance of his address, the minister observed that the perception that powerful people in government may be collaborating with drug barons was now a thing of the past due to effective measures put in place by the government to stem the drug menace. Over the past few weeks some arrests have been made both at the air and sea ports, with various quantities of narcotics drugs seized, and the minister said structures had been strengthened to ensure that those seized exhibited did not either vanish or metamorphose into "kokonte" overnight.On education, the minister recaptured some of the measures mentioned in either the recent Supplementary Budget or in other addresses by sector minister in the Meet the Press series. Some of the achievements, he reiterated, included 50 per cent increase in the capitation grant per pupil, GH¢13 million for the School Feeding Programme, and over GH¢11 million for free exercise books and school uniforms.Mr. Ablakwa said government had also decided to pay full tuition fees for all teachers who would be pursuing further studies through distance learning, adding that the decision was to ensure that teachers stayed in the classroom to teach while learning. "Government has also confirmed its commitment to science and technology education with the introduction of 41,000 scholarships accessible by mathematics and science students across the country," he said.The previous government dissolved the Ministry of Science and Technology and made science and technology an addendum of other ministries, a move that the minister criticized as negligence that led to the near collapse of the sector. Concerning youth in agriculture, the minister said GH¢10.7 million had been invested into the sub-sector to ensure the cultivation of some 14,000 hectares of land and jobs for more than 20,000 people in seven selected regions - Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Central, Ashanti, Volta and Brong-Ahafo.Mr. Ablakwa said to ensure food security and poverty reduction, government was investing heavily in irrigation in strategic parts of the country. The irrigation projects include 5,000 hectares of land in the Accra Plains Project and rehabilitation of 70 dams in the northern regions to irrigate 360 hectares of land, adding the part of the irrigated land would be used for rice cultivation in the north. "In the fishing industry, government has also approved the construction of two fishing habours and 12 landing sites at the total cost of US$200 million," he said He added that six cold stores would be built in selected fishing communities with seven million euros Spanish government loan. Mr. Ablakwa said six speed boats had also been ordered, out of which two had been paid for and due to be delivered in December 2009 to assist the navy to protect the country's marine domain, protect fishermen and stem the activities of pair trawlers.
Source:GNA

Ghana to host Africa Regional Capital Market Development Conference

2009-09-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Ghana will host a special five-day Africa Regional Capital Market Development Conference in Accra from Monday, September 14, according to a statement issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Conference, being organised by the SEC in collaboration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, is under the theme, "Towards Effective Regulation and Development of an Efficient Market in Africa". It is being supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).The statement said the Conference was being organised in the wake of the global financial credit crisis, which is not only having serious resource mobilization constraints on the economics of most African countries but also a negative impact on stock markets in Africa. Areas to be examined at the conference include current capital market development issues; building blocks needed to establish and develop efficient equity and bond markets in Africa; capital market integration and regulation in Africa; development of a viable commodities market in Africa; and challenges of securities regulation in emerging markets.
Source:GNA

Sir Paul Reeves Concludes Visit to Fiji

2009-09-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

Sir Paul Reeves, Special Representative of Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma to the Republic of the Fiji Islands, departed Suva early on 11 September following a two-day visit to the Republic of the Fiji Islands.

At the invitation of the Interim Government, Sir Paul visited Fiji to explore opportunities for continued Commonwealth engagement with Fiji. The objective of his visit was to support the early restoration of constitutional democracy in the country, in line with Commonwealth principles.

Speaking on the eve of his departure, Sir Paul said his discussions with the Interim Prime Minister, members of Cabinet and others had been cordial, frank and informative.

“While I do not wish to pre-empt my report to the Secretary-General, I can say that I depart Fiji with a clear understanding of the Interim Government’s plans for Fiji following the abrogation of the Constitution in April. I welcome the importance Fiji attaches to its relationship with the Commonwealth, and the willingness of the Interim Prime Minister and his government to remain in discussions with me.

“I reiterated to Commodore Bainimarama and his Ministers that the Commonwealth stands ready to support an inclusive and time-bound national political dialogue, to facilitate the return of constitutional democracy. I also emphasised the importance Commonwealth members place on the fundamental principles that underpin our organisation, including representative government, respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

The Interim Prime Minister conveyed to Sir Paul his government’s intention to implement the “Strategic Framework for Change” announced by him on 1 July 2009, which entails elections being held in 2014. “I reminded Commodore Bainimarama that such an extended timeframe for the restoration of democracy was not one the Commonwealth could support”, Sir Paul said. “In particular, I expressed my view that it is vital to re-start broad-based dialogue on electoral and constitutional issues as soon as possible, rather than delay this important work until 2012.”

Sir Paul said he was disappointed that he had been unable to meet with leaders of other political parties during this visit to Suva. “In deference to the Interim Government of Fiji as my host, I complied with its specific request not to meet with other political leaders. I remain convinced, however, that an inclusive national dialogue which recognises and respects the voices of all major political players is the only way Fiji can find its way back to a sustainable democracy. The Commonwealth will continue to listen to the viewpoints of all sectors of Fiji’s community and political life, in its efforts to assist Fiji resolve the current situation and find long-term solutions to its significant challenges.”

Sir Paul will provide a report to the Secretary-General on his discussions and findings, which will inform the Secretary-General’s briefing of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), and his consideration of the Commonwealth’s ongoing engagement with Fiji.

During the visit Sir Paul met with Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, other members of the Interim Cabinet, government officials, and selected representatives from the private sector, civil society and the diplomatic corps. Sir Paul was accompanied by two senior officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Source:Commonwealth Secretariat

Three American Drug Suspects Picked at KIA

2009-09-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Three Americans were yesterday arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking. Two of them, Abena Serwah, 19, and Shadrack Ntiamoah Bamfo, 23, are of Ghanaian parentage while the third, Joanne Gabriel, 21, is an African-American.Besides concealing the suspected drugs in the three pairs of snickers they were wearing, Abena and Joanne had stuffed their private parts with four large lump-sized drugs. Joanne alone carried three of the four lump-size drugs in her private parts. Also found on Abena Serwaa was a talisman believed to have been secured to protect them against arrest.For his part, Shadrack also concealed 19 pellets of the suspected drugs in his underwear. They were arrested while going through departure formalities to travel to New York. The three suspects had arrived in Ghana on September 2, this year, on the sponsorship of someone identified only as Alhaji Saibu. The suspects were allegedly sent to Ghana by the boyfriend of Abena Serwaa, whom they identified as Abubakari Issaka, who is based in Bronx, New York.Interestingly, Abu, as the suspects called him, is also the former boyfriend of Joanne. Confirming the arrests to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the acting Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board, Mr Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, said Abena and his boyfriend, Abu had earlier visited Ghana in May this year. He said information gathered by NARCOB indicated that Abena and Shadrack knew they were coming to Ghana for the drugs.Joanne, he said, was, however, convinced by Alhaji Saibu and one Black Sunday while in Ghana to carry the drugs along. Mr Akrasi-Sarpong said efforts were underway to apprehend Alhaji Saibu and Black Sunday. He explained that Alhaji Saibu and Black Sunday met the suspects on arrival, booked a hotel for them and also provided them with the drugs.
Source:Daily Graphic

"Galamsey" operators at Kenyasi to be licensed

2009-09-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

An office of the Minerals Commission is to be opened at Kenyasi to allow illegal miners (Galamsey) to register and obtain licenses to regularize their activities. The commission has an office at Bibiani in the Western Region that gives licenses to small scale miners.Mr. Nelson Ahedor, Senior Mining Engineer of the Minerals Commission, said the commission would provide technical assistance on mining to the licensed "galamsey" operators. He was addressing the chiefs and people of Kenyasi and Nkaseim, mining communities in the district, at separate forums on Tuesday. The forums, organised by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC), was aimed at negotiating with the operators in finding ways to bring their activities under control.Mr. Ahedor said the government recognized the important role small scale mining played in the growth of the economy and it was against this background that the commission had demarcated 44 mining concessions across the country for its operators.He said since galamsey was illegal its operators worked sometimes during the night to outwit security agencies and this often resulted in some of them getting trapped in pits and loss of lives.He appealed to the operators to go through the procedures and obtain licenses so that they would operate in an atmosphere of peace. Mr. Eric Opoku, the Brong-Ahafo deputy Regional Minister, said the government had no intention to clamp down on "galamsey" operators but was worried about the dangers associated with their activities. He said the rate at which galamsey was gaining prominence in the Asutifi District since the advent of Newmont Ghana Gold in the area was alarming and there was the need to educate operators to obtain licenses to regularize their activities.Mr. Opoku said unemployment and poverty were the major contributory factors that led the youth to go into galamsey in mining communities. He assured the people that the government had initiated some policies such as the youth in agric programme to create job opportunities for the youth.Mr. Haruna Seidu Aboagye, Chairman of Sakamraso Galamsey Committee at Kenyasi, said the committee's membership of 4,000 in 2006 had jumped to 10,000 operators.He said members were not violent and appealed to the government to negotiate with the management of the Ahafo Project of NGGL so they could obtain concessions. At Nkaseim Nana Adjei Danso Ababio, the chief, said because of the poverty level in the area most families depended on galamsey for their survival and any attempt to collapse the industry would bring extra burden to the people. Mr. Kwadwo Bosea Kese, spokesman of the illegal miners, appealed to the district assembly to extend electricity to their operational sites.
Source:GNA

Ghana cannot achieve Roll Back Malaria targets

2009-09-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

Ghana would be unable to achieve the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) target of reducing the disease morbidity and mortality by 50 per cent in 2010. Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Country Director of the Voices for Malaria Free Future, Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) made this known at Apam, in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region on Thursday.He said although the country had made some progress to reach the target, malaria still accounted for 19 per cent of deaths of all ages with 22 per cent of the mortality rate among children under five. Ghana adopted the World Health Organisation's RBM strategy in 2000, and was expected to have reduced malaria deaths to at least 7.5 per cent in all ages and 11 per cent in children under five. Mr Fiagbey said this at a forum organised by the NGO for stakeholders in the fight against malaria.According to the RBM Country Needs Assessment report in 2008, Ghana's malaria morbidity ratio stood at 120 per 1,000 cases for all ages instead of meeting the target of 86 per 1,000. Malaria was also responsible for 35 per cent of morbidity in children under five, which fell short of the RBM target of 23 per cent. Mr Fiagbey noted that the country had however made some significant progress in the management of severe malaria, preventive treatment of expectant mothers and the use of insecticide treated nets by pregnant women and children under five.He therefore called for more government and public commitment for the adoption of interventions that would help to scale up the country's progress in meeting the RBM goals. He indicated that the heavy rains experienced in the Sub-Saharan Region this year, would likely increase malaria cases, adding that, this calls on all African government to commit more resources to fight the pandemic instead of solely relying on the Global Fund. Mr Fiagbey appealed to government to consider allocating a percentage of the country's oil revenue to interventions that would help reduce malaria cases.He also urged the district assemblies to ensure that they commit the mandatory 0.5 per cent of their share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund to fight the disease. Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, District Chief Executive, expressed worry about malaria deaths and its impact on the national economy and entreated all stakeholders to do more to eliminate the disease. He noted that malaria accounted for more than 40 per cent of all Out Patient Department cases in the district hospital and appealed to opinion leaders at Apam to facilitate the fight against the pandemic.
Source:GNA

Wereko-Brobby's counsel protests against procedure

2009-09-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Counsel for Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana @50 secretariat, Mr Akoto Ampaw, Wednesday told the Commission of Inquiry probing the activities of the secretariat that the procedure by which a witness gave his evidence-in-chief did not follow laid-down rules.He, therefore, appealed to the commission to ensure that the right thing was done.He said the commission gave witnesses the opportunity to rehash their evidence-in-chief after they had made their submission and had been cross-examined by counsel present.Mr Ampaw said the commission did that when it got to its turn to cross-examine the witnesses, a situation he said made him worried about the deliberations at the commission's sitting Wednesday.But the Chairman of the commission, Mr Justice Isaac Douse, quickly rebutted, saying that the probe was not a courtroom and that they had to play some advocacy role for witnesses who had some difficulty.The case in reference by Mr Ampaw was that of the Manager of Dorotpress Engineering Ser-vices, Mr Theophilus Pesseh, a witness, who submitted memoranda to the commission on an outstanding balance of ¢62.4 million in respect of work he had done for the secretariat.Mr Justice Douse said the memoranda submitted by Mr Pesseh was not clear because the language could not be read and understood so he was given an opportunity by the commission to submit his case in a local language of his choice.Mr Pesseh said he was .given an initial payment of ¢10 million by Dr Wereko- Brobby at the AU village while the remaining ¢62.4 million was not paid.He said Dr Wereko-Brobbey, through a contractor, called Arikamah and gave him contract to undertake plumbing works at the village.Mr Pesseh said he completed plumbing work on 13 houses at the village but Dr Wereko-Brobbey personally paid him only ¢10 million, which he took out of a polythene bag when he visited the site.He said Dr Wereko-Brobbey often visited the project site personally with polythene bag containing money to pay workers.Mr Pesseh said the workers including masons and carpenters normally formed long queues to receive their money on daily basis from Dr Wereko-Brobbey at the village. The witness was cross-examined by Mr Ampaw.On whether he had any document to show that he had entered into a contract with his client to render services to the secretariat, Mr Pesseh said he had no document to that effect but stated that orally he had a contractual agreement with Dr Wereko-Brobbey and that it was based on that that he (Dr Wereko-Brobbey) paid him ¢10 million.Mr Ampaw maintained that his client had no business with Mr Pesseh because he did not contract him to undertake any work for the secretariat.He, therefore, directed Mr Pesseh to contact the said Mr Ankamah for his outstanding balance.A member of the commission, Madam Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, told the witness that he had a serious difficulty because he did not have any document to prove the fact that he was contracted by the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat to work for the secretariat.She, therefore, asked Mr Pesseh to provide the commission with names and contact addresses of witnesses, if he had, to enable them to ascertain the truth of his assertions.Mr Justice Douse told Mr Pesseh that if he could not provide witnesses to corroborate his claim then he had to contact Mr Ankamah who sublet that work to him for his balance.The Chief Executive Officer of Starship Ventures, Mr Felix Quartey, said he had obtained judgement in his favour against the Ghana @50 Secretariat to pay him his outstanding balance with interest totalling GH¢120,159.27.He said the outstanding balance was GH¢72,538, which the secretariat defaulted in paying, a situation which compelled him to seek relief at the court of law.The Manager of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Mr Kwaku Manu-Asiamah, told the commission that the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat owed two companies, Novotec and Adhro, that undertook the work at the park.He said Novotec provided air conditioners which were fixed at the memorial park but had not been paid his ¢ 150,300,000 while Adhro had an outstanding balance of ¢721,934,275 to be paid.
Source:Daily Graphic

West Africa flooding affects 600,000

2009-09-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Torrential rains and flooding since June have affected 600,000 people in Ghana and 15 other West African nations, the United Nations has reported.The worst hit have been Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ghana and Niger, said Yvon Edoumou, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. So far, 159 people have died, he said. Sierra Leone has also been hard hit, according to the UN.The UN has not yet received reports of waterborne diseases, but a real threat exists of diarrhea or, worse, cholera.The UN World Food Programme said on September 8 that it has begun distributing food to tens of thousands of homeless flood victims.WFP has set a goal of feeding 177,500 people, mainly in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, where 150,000 people have been affected and key infrastructure - including a central hospital, schools, bridges and roads - has been damaged.
Source:CNN

Forestry Commission gets new Board

2009-09-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, on Wednesday inaugurated an 11-member Board of the Forestry Commission and tasked it to preserve the nation's natural resources by dealing urgently with the activities of illegal timber operators.Alhaji Dauda congratulated the new Board members and said they were being ushered into office at a time when the forestry sector was facing serious challenges pertaining to the sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources.Members of the Board, chaired by Mr Yaw Boamah, a businessman, swore the oaths of allegiance and secrecy. Other members are Mr Attah Nantogmah Alhassan, Osahene Kwakui Aterkyi II, a representative National House of Chiefs, Mr Owusu Amankrah, a representative of timber trade and industry, Mr Gerald Boakye, a representative of the wildlife trade and industry and Dr. Kwame Asamoa Adam, a representative Ghana Institute of Foresters. The rest are Mr Ofori Frimpong, a representative, NGOs involved in forestry and wildlife management, Dr Wordworth Odame Larbie, a representative Lands Commission, and Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Amoah, Mr Siisi Crentsil, and Mr Samuel Kwasi Appiah, all Government Appointees. Alhaji Dauda said current records indicated that the existing forests estimated to be about 1.6 million hectares, would be gone within the next 23 years, if adequate measures were not put in place to stem the high deforestation rate of 65,000 hectares per annum. The Minister attributed the alarming situation to the upsurge of illegal forestry activities, particularly chainsaw operations, wild fires and encroachments in the forest reserves and, in some instances, wildlife protected areas as a result of illegal farming activities. Alhaji Dauda said the situation called for serious efforts to conserve the little that was left and embark on vigorous re-afforestation through large-scale plantation development to restore what had been lost.He charged the Board to, as a matter of urgency, tackle the unrelenting siege mounted on forest reserves by illegal operators. They should do this by involving the local fringe communities in protecting the resource and encouraging them to preserve commercial timber trees in off-reserve areas and also protect wildlife resources in these areas. Alhaji Dauda said dwindling forest resources had affected the finances of the Forestry Commission, particularly internally generated funds that in the past accounted for more than 60 per cent of the Commission's financial requirements. He added that the wildlife sub-sector had a lot of potential for eco-tourism development to generate revenue and foreign exchange for development and poverty reduction. The Minister also mentioned the issue of climate change and global warming, which had negative impacts on forest conservation, and urged the Forestry Commission to explore avenues for appropriate benefit sharing schemes for all stakeholders. Mr Yaw Boamah, Chairman of the Board, said it would ensure that the challenges facing the sector were given urgent attention and tackled with much expertise to save the depleting forest reserves and other natural resources from further exploitation and distraction.

Source: GNA

Government to give up stake in GCB

2009-09-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Rumors are rife in media circles about government’s intended decision to sell off a significant portion of its stake in the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), to raise badly needed revenue and to offer the bank full autonomy to run its operations.Government is expected to at least reduce its share holding from the current 2..% to aA Financial Intelligence source close to government relate that the issue has been topical within cabinet, and has come up for discussion at the Economic Advisory Council level.Even though the Finance Minister tells the FI there is no such intention, with Professor Kofi Afful, a member of the Economic Advisory Council denying any knowledge of this intent in an interview, evidence keeps mounting in support of the intended sale.Unusual price appreciations in the share price of the nation’s largest commercial bank on the Ghana Stock Exchange has raised eye brows that some insiders may be privy to some privileged information.From an all-year low of GH¢ 0.48, the price of GCB led a pack of recoveries in the past two weeks hitting GH¢ 0.82 before receding to GH¢ 0.81 at the close of trade last Friday. The stock has also been one of the most actively traded.There is also a corresponding attempt by government to clean up the debt sheet of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), and this is expected to be a move to free GCB’s loan portfolio of huge TOR debts to prepare the grounds for the intended offloading.As to the sale strategy, it has been speculated that government will trade off its stake in bits, in order not to violate the stipulation for the regulator’s approval before such trades in excess of 10% of total holdings are executed.It has also been said that government might off-load its stake to a strategic partner, a move that would require the bank to call for an extraordinary General Meeting before it is carried through.Should the intended offloading occur, many believe the bank could now be more profitable.Even though the bank is tauted as the country’s most widely networked bank with over 152 branches and agencies dotted all over the country, it has not returned much to its owners.Some industry experts however claim lending to government and governmental institutions has been one of the most secured investments for the bank since risk of default is low.Speculations are also rife that the unknown strategic investor could be using proxies in the current buy offs of GCB shares on the bourse.If this happens, the regulator could still find a lee way of reversing the trades if there is evidence of circumvention of any of the trading regulations.
Source:Financial Intelligence

Land Survey Holds 2009 Annual Seminar

2009-09-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

The land surveying Division of the Ghana Institute of surveyors has held this year’s annual seminar in Accra. The 2009 Seminar was under the theme “Using geospatial technology to promote peaceful and sound environmental management”. The seminar witnessed 500 professional surveyors across the country.

Speaking at the 2009 annual seminar, president of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors called on surveyors to have a meticulous knowledge of algebra, basic calculations of geometry and trigonometry. K.H. Osei-Asante said “It is very important for us to know the law that deals with surveys, property and contracts”.
He finally told them to also be smart in using delicate instruments with accuracy and exactitude.
The Chairman of the Land Surveying Division said surveyors are required to direct, regulate and standardize the practice of all the various special aspects of the land surveying profession. Edwin Adoo-Tawiah said his outfit intends examining the best practices in terms of government policies, technology, institutional and financial approaches and their ultimate effect on the advancement of the country and improve the quality life of citizens.
At the seminar 13 technical papers were presented for discussion. Some issues accessed included the current Spatial Data Infrastructure initiatives, Geographical Information System (GIS) among others.
Source: Ghanaianreactoronline/Michael Amedor

e.tv Ghana now available on your TV Screens

2009-09-09T08:41:00.000-07:00

Without any fanfares, bells or whistles, e.tv Ghana, the newest television station in Ghana quietly hit the airwaves with a sneak preview of the programming viewers can expect to see during the final test transmissions.

Says Mr Akwasi Agyeman, CEO: “We had to check the quality of the programming lined-up for broadcast and in the process those viewers who are already tuned to e.tv Ghana, got a sneak preview of some of our programmes that we have been running.”

Viewers who still are not tuned to e.tv Ghana, here are the quick and easy steps to follow.

Tuning in to e.tv Ghana – quick and easy

Test transmissions for the free-to-air commercial channel e.tv Ghana is now available on your television sets.

How to tune in to e.tv Ghana – 4 easy steps

.Select the channel on your remote where you would like e.tv Ghana to be

.Press Menu and go to “Set-up”

.Select “Manual Search” on the UHF band and scan

.Keep scanning till you reach frequency 687.25 MHZ. e.tv Ghana is Channel 48.

This however does not mean the channel number for e.tv Ghana displayed on your screen must be 48. It could be different.

The management of e.tv Ghana would also like to appeal to viewers to bear with us if there are any breaks in transmission during the test transmission period. This is to enable our technical team to resolve any minor adjustments that still need to be done to ensure a perfect picture when we officially go on air on 1 October 2009.
Source: Brooke Nuwati/GMA

Bundestag elections: press centre for foreign journalists

2009-09-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany has the honour to inform the distinguished media houses in Ghana that for the 17th German Bundestag elections the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government will set up a press centre for foreign correspondents.

In this way, the Press and Information Office aims to support the foreign journalists who will travel to Germany specifically to report on the Bundestag elections and who have no other workspace in Berlin.

The press centre will offer work stations (with wireless internet, telephone, fax and a limited number of PCs), a television broadcast of the results on the evening of the election and shuttle service to the German Bundestag and the different party headquarters.

The press centre, located in the press and visitors centre at the Press and Information Office, will open at 1.00 p.m. on 27 September 2009.

On Monday, 28 September 2009 leading opinion pollsters will present their analysis of the election results at the Press and Information Office. Foreign correspondents are also welcome to attend this event. Further details will follow.

Correspondents will need to obtain a separate accreditation to access the press centre on election night and to attend the election analysis event on 28 September (with the following exception: access to the election analysis event is also possible for those who have a standing accreditation from the Press and Information Office); please note the included information regarding registration.

Media registration information

Registering for access to the press centre at the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government for the German Bundestag elections on 27 September 2009 and the election analysis event on 28 September 2009
.Where to register: Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, Berlin or Bonn accreditation office

.Deadline: Registration with the Press and Information Office’s accreditation office must be completed by Monday, 21 September 2009 at 4.00 p.m.; please submit the attached form when registering.

.Badges will be distributed beginning at 1.00 p.m. on 27 September 2009 at the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, located at Reichstagufer 14, 10117 Berlin. Please note that it will not be possible to pick up badges on Saturday, 26 September 2009.

.To receive a badge, you must present a valid passport or identification card and the original editor’s letter of confirmation that were submitted with the registration.

. This accreditation is valid only for accessing the press centre on 27-28 September at the Press and Information Office, located at Reichstagufer 14, 10117 Berlin.

.The accreditation ceases to be valid at the end of the day on 28 September 2009.

Source : German Embassy /Ghana

e.tv Ghana available on Sky TV

2009-09-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

e.tv Ghana, the latest free-to-air television channel, with very exciting and scintillating programming has entered into a broadcasting agreement with Sky television network, a pay-television provider in Ghana.

This agreement adds e.tv Ghana to the Sky TV bouquet. This means that viewers outside Accra with a Sky TV set-up box will be able to enjoy e.tv Ghana in the comfort of their homes.

CEO Akwasi Agyeman says “we are very happy to be involved in this venture with Sky TV.
e.tv Ghana stands for quality and true entertainment. We believe Sky TV channel is a good partner who also does not compromise on quality. Together with Sky TV, we hope to reach every home in Ghana with all the stimulating programmes on the e.tv Ghana menu”.

“We’ve had a lot of complains ever since etv was taken off our bouquet. This new development with e.tv Ghana will be of great joy to our numerous viewers across Ghana. They have been spoilt with e.tv’s quality programming and cannot accept anything less” says Mr. Wilson Arthur, CEO of Sky Digital TV.

Source: Brooke Nuwati/Global Media Alliance

Exopa busted with Cocaine @KIA

2009-09-09T02:58:00.000-07:00

Mr Ibrahim Sima, Chief Executive Officer of Exopa Model Agency in Accra, was arrested on Monday evening just before he boarded a Lufthansa Airline at the Kotoka International Airport, for attempting to carry five kilogrammes of cocaine onto the plane.Security officials who briefed journalists, said based on suspicion during random checks on passengers, Mr Sima was invited for a urine test by security operatives but could not produce any urine.The security operatives said Mr Sima's luggage was ordered to be off-loaded and a check revealed that it contained four tubers of yam that had been sliced and re-fixed making them look as a whole.They said when the tubers were detached, holes were found in each of them containing substances which proved to be cocaine following a field test. When interrogated, Mr Sima said one Salifu at Nima gave them to him to be given to someone.The security officials are investigating the case.
Source:GNA

Paga Crocodile Pond In Danger

2009-09-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

Paga is a very small town with its own market North of Navrongo right on the Ghana/Burkina Faso border. It is noted for its sacred pond, which is a sanctuary for crocodiles.The crocodiles are said to be totems for the people of Kassena who reside in Paga and the surrounding communities. It is believed that each native of Paga has a corresponding crocodile representing each person's soul.To this day there are plenty of crocodiles in the Paga pond and crocodile meat is forbidden. At the Paga pond you can see people collecting water or doing their wash very close to crocodiles. Local tradition THE SUN was told by a caretaker has it that, there have been actual instances when deaths of important personalities in the community coincided with that of some crocodiles.The reptiles are normally enticed out of the pond by the whistling of the caretaker and the brandishing of a fowl, which the crocodiles quickly snatch with their snouts. If you are courageous, you can sit on, or hold the beast's tail for a good camera pose.The caretaker charges a fee for the fowl and basic interpretation. On the more commercial side of things the crocodiles have brought a sort of road-side tourist attraction to Paga. The caretakers of the Paga crocodile pond have said that if the place is not distilled it may ruin the existence of the tourist attraction.Speaking to THE SUN in an interview one of the guards MR. Salifu Awewozem said that the existence of the pond is because of the torrential rains experienced for the past three years. One of the crocodiles which he said is ninety years old and many other of it type needs special feeding to keep them alive. Mr. Awewozem said the only source of feeding the crocodiles is when visitors buy fowls to attract them which he noted is not enough. He therefore appealed to government, friends of animals and other organizations to assist keep and sustain the existence of the crocodile pond.
Source:THE SUN

NON-FORMAL EDUCATION DIVISION-CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY, 2009

2009-09-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

Yersterday, September 8th was International Literacy Day. The Day was set aside by the UN to sensitize the world generally about the problems and challenges posed by illiteracy to personal growth; community development; national progress and global advancement.

The platform has been used every year to roll out the debilitating effects of illiteracy and its ramifications to development into the public domain Through this the public is informed about the dangerous effect of illiteracy which is subtly eating deep into the social, economic and political fibre of our society.

Illiteracy is not a respecter of persons, communities and nations. Its striking effects could be seen wherever it shows its ugly head. It is the main cause for ignorance, poverty, disease, squalor and underdevelopment. Nations that bear the brunt of illiteracy have often shown visible signs of underdevelopment. It has been established that literacy has undeniably very strong links with development. Nations with high levels of literacy are found in the top echelons of development.

THE POWER OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Literacy is the diagnosis for addressing the problems and challenges created by illiteracy. There is certainly an invisible power in literacy that can overturn the gloomy picture created by illiteracy. It has the power to turn ignorant persons into knowledgeable people; poverty stricken families into economically sound ones and dependable economies into independent ones. The theme for the 2009-2010 biennium of the United Nations Literacy Decade is “Literacy and Empowerment”.

This year’s International Literacy Day therefore puts the spot light on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development.

THEME

Flowing from the above, the theme for this year’s International Literacy Day Celebration in Ghana is “Functional Literacy-Key to National Participation, Good Citizenship and Social Development” There is no doubt that the three core areas of this year’s theme are heavily dependent on functional literacy. Functional literacy is an indispensable means for ensuring sound human development which is the main tool for expressing good citizenship, national participation and social development.

ACTIVITIES

The Week long celebration is being commemorated with clean-up exercises at the national, regional, district and community levels. In Accra, the clean-up exercise was undertaken at the Maamobi Polyclinic. Special Christian and Moslem Thanks Giving Services were also held to thank the Almighty God for His support for literacy work as part of the celebration. Learners from adult literacy classes, staff of the NFED and other stakeholders will participate in the exercise. There will also be radio and TV discussion programmes on the significance of the day.

ACHIEVEMENTS

It is widely accepted that literacy skills are basic necessities for informed decision- making and personal empowerment. It is an undeniable fact that the National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP) being implemented by the Non-Formal Education Division of the Ministry of Education has contributed immensely towards ensuring good citizenship, national participation and socio-economic development.

It has provided graduates with the essential life, civic and occupational skills which are prerequisites for participation in national development programmes. Its civic awareness component has prepared learners to actively and effectively take part in governance programmes at the community levels and accept the views of others as necessary ingredients for deepening democracy and community participation.

The infusion of income generating projects as part of the overall literacy delivery of the NFLP has given thousands of adult learners the impetus for their economic liberation and that of their families. In addition, learners have also contributed towards the direct socio-economic development of their communities through the empowerment received from the discussion of the pictures in the primer. Some have led their communities to provide market sheds, wells, schools and other social facilities to improve the living conditions of their people.

The NFLP has also churned out literacy graduates into the mainstream formal educational sector and have through that opened wider opportunities for climbing to further heights in life. Some of the learners have also taken-up responsible roles in their communities such as Traditional Birth Attendants, Pastors, Deacons, Assemblymen and Women, Catechists, Businessmen and Unit Committees members.

As we celebrate International Literacy Day today, September 8th, 2009, we extend warm felicitations to all who have contributed towards the success of the NFLP, especially, facilitators, supervisors, district, regional and national staff as well as collaborating agencies, community based organizations, donors and other adult literacy providers.

We want to take the opportunity to call on all stakeholders of literacy not to relent on their oars but to continue to strive to ensure the reduction of illiteracy to single digits in the not too distant future. To achieve this vision, we want to urge each literate person to teach one adult learner.

ISSUED BY THE NON-FORMAL EDUCATION DIVISION
OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

GH¢5million Used On tea cups

2009-09-09T02:35:00.000-07:00

Common Fund Administrator testifies at Ghana@50 Commission of Inquiry Accra, Sept. 8, GNA - Mr Joshua Magnus Nicol, Administrator of the Common fund on Tuesday said the "huge deductions" that District Assemblies claimed were deducted from their Common Fund allocations was on the instructions of the office of the President.Testifying at the Ghana@50 Commission of Inquiry, Mr Nicol said:"My Lord, I was only acting upon instructions from the Minister of Local Government, who received a letter from the Office of the President stating that the cost of the Ghana@50 plastic cups supplied to the Assemblies should be deducted from their Common Fund allocations".Coordinating Directors of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, who appeared before the Commission, complained of huge deductions made from their respective Common Funds in respect of the anniversary souvenirs.While some of the Assemblies claimed the deductions did not correspond to the quantity of items received, others said although they did not receive such souvenirs, deductions were made from their Common Funds.The allegations by the Assemblies compelled the Commission to subpoena the Administrator of the Common Fund to appear before it to offer explanations.Mr Nicol said his outfit received a letter from the Office of the President instructing him to deduct GH¢5,160,000 from the Assemblies' Common Funds in respect of 5.4 million anniversary plastic drinking cups with a unit price of GHp97.The cups were to be distributed to school children in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDs) in lieu of the Jubilee celebration.He said acting on the directive, he wrote to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to make available the number of beneficiaries in each district after, which deductions were made in respect of the number of children per the unit cost of the cups.Mr Nicol told the Commission that payment was to be spread in four quarters and that after the deduction from the third quarter, his outfit, received complaints from the various Assemblies about the deduction.He said, the Assemblies were therefore asked to submit letters stating their grievances adding "But as I speak now My Lord, none of the Assemblies have done so. It is only Gonja West, which submitted a letter indicating that they had not received any cups".When the Commission's counsel asked Mr Nicol whether he sought the consent of the MMD's before the deductions were made, he said that he assumed the former Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani had discussed the issue with them since the directive came from the Office of the President."My Lord, it was not my duty to do so. I was only acting on the directive from the Minister of Local Government," he said. When asked about what he intended to do with Assemblies that had not received the cups but saw deductions made to their Common Funds, Nicol said when confirmed that the Ghana@50 Secretariat did not supply the cups, government would give them (Common Fund Secretariat) the authorization to refund the monies.Mr Willie Odoi, Managing Director of F.Malawi Engineering Company Limited, said the company supplied to the Ghana@50 Secretariat the public address system that was used at the Independence Square on the day of the celebration.He said the company received part payment of GH¢44,137.45 from the Secretariat on February 4, 2007 leaving an outstanding balance of GH¢44,137.45.Sivnesh Kumar, General Manager of Interplast Limited, who also appeared, told the Commission that the Ghana@50 Secretariat owed it 49,687 dollars for windows it supplied for the 60 presidential houses built by the African Union Development Consortium Limited (AUDCL) projects at Ridge and the La AU village at Cantonment.The company was, however, asked to demand such claims from the AUDCL and not the Ghana@50 Secretariat since AUDCL contracted them to supply the windows.
Source:GNA

Silverbird Rewards Theatre Goers – Young Girl Wins Tickets to Chicago, USA

2009-09-09T02:20:00.000-07:00

Silverbird Cinemas, the number one movie theater complex in Ghana has honoured its promises of granting an opportunity to a lucky theatre goer to go see where the blockbuster Harry Potter 6 (Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince) was made.
The promotion, which started a few weeks ago when the movie was released, attracted thousands of movie lovers to the Silverbird cinemas. This resulted in Silverbird cinemas topping all cinema rankings across East and West Africa including Nairobi and Lagos.
"The movie pulled a lot of people to the cinema. We were amazed at the huge turn-out which was also an indication that Ghanaians like quality and would always come to the cinemas to see a good movie. We are very delighted and for that matter would want to encourage more and more people to come and see movies on our gigantic screens in our world-class beautiful theatres" says Mr. Albert Mensah, MD of Silverbird Ghana.
The winner of the draw, fifteen year old girl, Darley Ofosu Dorte has the singular opportunity to travel to Chicago, USA with an adult partner to visit the site where the Harry Potter movie was shot and also an opportunity to see President Barack Obama’s hometown.
"I am very happy to be the lucky winner. I can’t believe I’m going to Chicago and more especially to the Harry Potter movie set. Maybe I’ll go with my mum or daddy" says young elated Darley who has just completed Corpus Christi Catholic School (JHS) in Sakumono, Accra,
This draw is in line with Silverbird’s commitment to rewarding loyal customers and also to serve as an incentive for customers to return to watch latest blockbuster movies at their plush cinemas.
Silverbird Entertainment Ghana Limited is a joint venture between the Silverbird Group, a full service media entertainment and real estate Company with holdings in radio, television, retail malls and cinemas and Global media Alliance an integrated pan African media and entertainment company with offices in South Africa and Kenya and affiliate offices in Nigeria and the UK. Silverbird with its wide and excellent product offering offers premium advertising opportunities such as branding of popcorn cups and fliers, and on-screen advertising where advertisers are able to capture their audiences in a relaxed and receptive mood as they sit glued to their seats for their movies.
Souce: Brooke Nuwati/Global Media Alliance

Zita testifies in Asabee's case

2009-09-09T02:14:00.000-07:00

Mrs Zita S Okaikoi, Minister of Information, on Tuesday at a Fast Track High Court in Accra, testified for the prosecution in the case involving Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former Minister of Information and National Orientation, his wife Zulieka Lawria, six other officials and a legal non-entity.They are being tried for allegedly conspiring to defraud the state of GH¢86,915.85 as a result of renovation works carried out at the Ministerial Block of the Ministry during Mr Asamoah Boateng's tenure. The other accused persons are Frank Agyekum, former Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation and Dominic Aloysius Yaw Sampong, former Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Kofi Asamoah Boateng, Chief Director of the Ministry, Kwabena Denkyira, former Director of Finance and Administration of the Ministry and Yasmine Domua and Prosper Arku of Supreme Procurement Agency Limited.The non-legal entity firm is Supreme Procurement Agencies Limited (SPAL).The officers are being tried for various counts of conspiracy to defraud the state, contravening the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, forgery of documents and uttering forged documents and deceit of public officer.They have pleaded not guilt at the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist, which has admitted them to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 each with a surety each.In her evidence in chief, Mrs Okaikoi said when was going through some files on assumption of office as a minister on June 5, she came across documents signed by Sampong requesting payment to Phlexicom Ventures for renovation works carried out at the Ministerial Block of the ministry. The minister said she quizzed Sampong as to why he should sign a letter for the release of funds without her consent and the knowledge of the two deputy ministers at the ministry.Mrs Okaikoi, who is also a legal practitioner, said out of her amazement over Sampong's conduct, she wrote a letter to the Ministry of Finance on June 8 halting any payment.The minister said she also sent a memorandum to the Chief of Staff informing him about the developmentAt a meeting held at the ministry, she said issues concerning Phlexicom ventures came up and Sampong apologized for his conduct. Mrs Okaikoi said Sampong told her that the renovation included the tiling of the offices of the Minster and Deputy Minister. According to Mrs Okaikoi, Sampong said the minister in 2008 could not effect payment because, Mr Lawrence Dzakpa, the Principal Accountant of the Ministry, refused to approve the payment for the renovations works. Mrs Okaikoi said Mr Dzakpa in his explanation stated that he (Mr Dzakpa) had two requests on his desk.The requests, the minister said, were payment in respect of renovation work to Phlexicom Ventures and payment for three vehicles acquired from PHC Motors.Mrs Okaikoi said Mr Dzapkpa told her that he had signed for the payment for the three vehicles from PHC but declined to pay for the renovation works because it lacked proper documents to facilitate payment.The Minister said she asked Mr Sampong whether he had rectified and regularized the contract.The witness said she was concerned about the payment of the GH¢86,915.85 because the Ministry had been given a ceiling of GH¢50,000 cedis for renovations under the Public Procurement Act. Mrs Okaikoi said soon after the management meeting, she expressed her displeasure over the signing of the documents and wrote letters to the Chief of Staff with copies to the security agencies. She said Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information, handed over the letters to the Bureau of National Investigations for further investigations.The minister said later Sampong came to her office to apologize for his conduct.The minister said while she was on admission at the SSNIT Hospital, she received a phone call from Sampong informing her about his (Sampong) retirement.According to the minister, she told him that he would call him to inform him about who he should hand over to.Meanwhile, lawyers of all the accused persons have responded to the charges preferred against their clients.Nene Amegatcher, who represented Asamoah Boateng and his wife, said the story of the prosecution was unsustainable and that could be seen in the way and manner the charges were withdrawn and substituted. Nene Amegatcher said Asamoah Boateng on assumption of office in May 2008 paid working visits to the Ministry's regional and district offices to find out the prevailing situation on the ground. During his visits, defence counsel said, one of the major problems he found was the poor and bad state of offices.This, counsel said, posed danger to workers of the Ministry. The problems included worn-out carpets, noisy air conditioners and poor urinal and toilet facilities.Counsel said it was Asamoah Boateng's vision to see to it that workers of the Ministry of Information worked in a "conducive environment".According to the lawyer, there was nothing criminal about Asamoah Boateng leaving a "lasting legacy" when he dealt with unhygienic conditions at the Ministry.Nene Amegatcher disclosed that it was at a directors' meeting that they unanimously agreed to improve conditions at the Ministry. Counsel denied that his client appointed Kofi Asamoah Boateng to the Ministry explaining that it was the Head of Civil Service that transferred Kofi Asamoah Boateng to the Ministry of Information. He also denied that Asamoah Boateng suspended all investment programmes and re-directed funds to the renovation of the Ministerial Block of the Ministry of Information (MOI).Nene Amegatcher said Asamoah Boateng did not fabricate any invoice or documents.In the case of Zuleika, Nene Amegatcher said she did not rob the state of the GH¢86,000 cedis because she was a self-made business woman.Mr Egbert Faibille, who represented Agyekum, said his client signed the letter so that government could not be sued. Mr Attah Akyea who represented Denkyira noted that charges preferred against his client were anaemic adding it was difficult for a contractor to conspire with Asamoah Boateng and Agyekum.Mr Daniel Asare Mintah, who represented Kofi Asamoah Boateng and Denyira, said they were dedicated civil servants who discharged their duties well.He said they were only waiting for what the prosecution would put across.Mr G.S.K. Babanawo, who represented Supreme Procurement Agency Limited and Proper Arku, said the agency since 2006 had successfully conducted consultancy businesses with some Ministries and Agencies without any hitches. According to him they had not conspired with anyone to defraud the state. The matter was adjourned to September 17.
Source:GNA

May’s Day Care holds 20th anniversary graduation, speech and prize giving day.

2009-09-08T02:03:00.000-07:00

May’s Day Care and Educational Centre has held its 20th anniversary graduation, speech and prize giving day in Accra. The event which took place over the weekends at Dansoman was under the theme “Linking fun with learning, the dawn of a new era”. Students at the graduation put up displays to entertain parents and visitors who trooped in.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Women and Children Affairs congratulated the proprietors of the school for its enormous achievements over the past 20 years and encourage them to take higher steps to realize the objectives of the school. Gariba Hawawu-Boya said education of the child is an important investment and therefore challenged parents to invest more in education. “When you educate your child it’s a good sign of giving hope to your child therefore this should always be at the heart of every parent”.
Government will also play an effective role in providing citizens with good formal and non formal education through the provision of subsidies including effective programs such as school feeding and free uniform among others “said Hawawu-Boya. Nevertheless we appreciate the efforts of the private sector in terms of education and pledge high support towards their good works in the country.

The Minister further charged private school operators to make their school fees more moderate to help the less privilege in society to also enjoy education and join the literate train for better socio-economic developments. She challenged students to take extra interest in their studies to help them achieve their aims in life and also emulate good behaviors of high profile personalities in society to help them in realizing their dreams.

The Director of the school also called on parents to visit the school at all times to ascertain the performance of their children. Mrs.Efua Bram-Larbi also added that children play a lot through playing and therefore parents should adhere to these methods even when they are home.
The Head of Academics of May’s Day Care and Educational centre said the general performance of the students are encouraging and most students make excellent grades during their basic certificate examinations due to the professional methods of teaching adopted by her outfit. Ewuraba Bram-Larbi encouraged students to read more and make story books their friends. Some dignitaries at the event included Prof. Badu Akosa of Ghana medical School, Stephen Adongo from the Departments of Social Welfare, Ato Ahowi and Rev.Laryea-Adjei among others.
Source: Ghanaian Reactor Online (GRO)

Compulsory insurance cover for commercial buildings is imperative

2009-09-08T01:53:00.000-07:00

The Executive Secretary of Ghana Insurers Association (GIA), has disclosed that owners of commercial buildings and those under construction were obliged to take compulsory insurance cover against natural hazards such as fire, earthquake and flood. Mr. Gabriel Glover made this call last week during the closing ceremony of a two-day information session organized the GIA for the media in Accra. Journalists were taken through the basic law and importance of insurance in the country from all categories and most relevantly the media role in promoting insurance. “Insurance Act 2006 which established the Fire Service Maintenance Fund required owners of such buildings and those under construction to contribute a percentage of their gross premium received by each insurer into the fund” he added. The Act stipulates that "every commercial building shall be insured with an insurer against the hazards of collapse, fire, earthquake, storm and flood and an insurance policy issued for it".
Mr. Glover reiterated that the fund would be used to equip state institutions assigned with fire fighting functions and other organizations determined for the purpose of fighting fires. He said the law preferred drastic actions against insurers who failed to comply and these included actions such as the revocation of the insurance licenses of recalcitrant companies among others. Participated Journalists were awarded certificates.

Source: Ghanaianreactoronline (GRO)

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY COMMEMORATES WITH A CLEAN UP EXERCISE.

2009-09-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

This year’s international Literacy Day of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) commemorated with a clean up exercise at the Maamobi Polyclinic in Accra. The main theme of the celebration which falls tomorrow 8th September 2009 is “Functional literacy –Key to national participation, Good citizenship and social development”. The clean-up exercise which took place over the weekends witnessed huge number of workers of the division who weeded, cleaned, swept and fumigated the entire clinic with anti- mosquito ides to make the hospital malaria free with the help of some workers from Zoom lion Ghana Limited.

Speaking to Journalists at the event, the Director of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) said the main idea behind the cleaning on Saturday was because Tuesday which is a working day will not be appropriate for the activity. Mr. Samuel salifu Mogre stated that the clean-up exercise signified the achievement of the National Functional Literacy Programme’s (NFLP) which spelt’s out clearly the empowering beneficiaries to maintain a clean environment and indeed all Ghanaians should apply that in their communities at all times. “Undoubtly a clean environment is a necessary ingredient for creating a healthy society which is also a key requirement for socio-economic development.”

Mr.Mogre further called all to address the sanitation problems in the country especially a quite substantive number of illiterates who are unaware of the damaging effects of filth on the their health. Any society that is not health conscious is bound to face challenges with its socio-economic development.

“I call on Ghanaians to contribute to the reduction of illiteracy in the country in order to bring our illiterate ones into the train of development” said Mogre.This call is very important because the country can never meet its desire when large number of population is denied participation in the national developmental efforts through illiteracy and ignorance. He thanked all stakeholders who contributed fervently towards the success of the NFLP program.

Source:Ghanaian Reactor Online (GRO)

University of Ghana introduces Masters Degree in Petroleum

2009-09-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

The University of Ghana, Legon, has introduced a Petroleum Geoscience course as part of the university's new post-graduate programmes to respond to the high professional demand in Ghana's petroleum industry.The new master's degree programme was developed in collaboration with the university's Geology Department and supported by the Ghana National Petroleum Company.Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University announced this on Saturday in Accra at the matriculation ceremony held for students admitted for the 2009/ 2010 academic year.Other newly introduced programmes include a master's degree in Clinical Trials, mounted by the School of Public Health and higher degrees in Biotechnology and Plant Breeding.The university had also introduced a Graduate-entry programme in the Medical School aimed at giving science graduates the opportunity to pursue medicine over reduced duration.Prof. Tagoe said the university had introduced bachelor's degree courses in Adult Education and Sign Language as well as professional programmes in Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine. He said the university had made conscious efforts to revise the course curricula to meet national demands and added that more than 130 courses had so far been revised.Prof. Tagoe said the university had put in place scholarship schemes to complement the 10 scholarships, sponsored by a US charity organisation, for bright but needy students admitted this year at an average amount of GH¢ 2,000 per year.Speaking on the issue of accommodation he expressed the hope that the construction of the university's hostels complex would facilitate the accommodation of some 3,000 students in order to ease the stress. He said the university authority would start investigating the several allegations of students who sublet their beds to their counterparts."Let me say that those caught to have indulged in this as well as the so-called tenants will be summarily dismissed," he said. He cautioned students against the flippant use of the media in resolving matters that could otherwise be amicably addressed, through dialogue with the university authorities and stressed the use of institutional channels available on campus to solve complaints and other concerns.Prof. Tagoe told the matriculants to take advantage of other activities such as seminars, studio performances and sports to enrich their life on campus."While developing your intellectual capacities, do not forget to also develop your spiritual life by devoting some of your time to worship and serve God," he said.The university offered 16,943 applicants admission to pursue either the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes out of which 9,361 so far have enrolled.
Source:GNA

Palestinian group protest Israeli Foreign Minister Visit

2009-09-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and its allies in Ghana have condemned the visit of Israeli Foreign and Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Avigdor Liberman to Ghana on Monday. A statement issued by Dr. Yao Graham, a member of the group described Liberman as a man whose actions and pronouncements stokes racist violence."He is a leading promoter of apartheid in Israel against non- Jews. Such is his hatred of Palestinians that he once offered to help drown the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails in the Dead Sea. That Ghana, a country that prides itself on being a model of democracy in Africa and has been in the forefront of anti-racism, anti-colonialism and peace in the international arena should host such a man raises questions about the principles guiding the foreign policy of the National Democratic Congress government," the statement said.The statement said Liberman's visit to Ghana was part of an offensive by the Benjamin Netanyahu- led government to find friends and allies at a time that Israel was facing pressure to respect international resolutions for supporting the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state.It said Liberman was bitterly opposed to the key principles, which have been recognised by the United Nations and International bodies as basic elements towards the possibility of a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people.It claimed that in May 2006, Liberman called for the killing of Arab members of the Israeli parliament who met the members of the Palestinian authority which was then led by Hamas. The statement urged all democratic and peace loving Ghanaians to denounce Mr. Liberman's visit to Ghana and communicate their displeasure to the government of President John Evans Atta Mills.

COMMONWEALTH SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT FIJI ISLANDS

2009-09-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sir Paul Reeves, Special Representative of Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma to the Republic of the Fiji Islands, will arrive in Fiji on 8 September for a two-day visit.
“I welcomed Commodore Bainimarama’s invitation for a Commonwealth delegation to visit Fiji, and fully support this opportunity for my Special Representative to engage with the Interim Government to promote an early restoration of constitutional democracy in the country in line with Commonwealth principles”, Mr Sharma said.
Sir Paul’s visit follows an invitation from Commodore Bainimarama in early August for a Commonwealth delegation to visit Fiji. Sir Paul will explore opportunities for continued Commonwealth engagement in support of an inclusive and time-bound national political dialogue, to facilitate the return of constitutional democracy.
Sir Paul’s visit follows the full suspension of Fiji from the Commonwealth on 1 September 2009, in accordance with the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) of 31 July. The visit is a reflection of the Secretary-General’s and CMAG’s stated commitment to continue engaging with Fiji to promote the restoration of Commonwealth principles, and enduring adherence to them.
Sir Paul will meet with the Interim Prime Minister and other senior functionaries of the regime. He hopes also to meet other key stakeholders.
Sir Paul will be accompanied by two senior officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Source: Commonwealth Secretariat

Don't discriminate in the sale of Pre-mix fuel, committees told

2009-09-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Premix committees at the landing beaches have been cautioned against refusal to sell the product to Ghanaian fishermen who have migrated to other areas on fishing expedition. Mr Kwaku Nicol, National Chairman of the Premix Distribution Committee, gave the caution, when he inaugurated the Gomoa Dago landing beach committee at Dago in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region.He said it had come to his notice that some committee members were denying migrant fishermen of the product and pointed out that the fuel had been subsidized by the government with the tax payer's contributions, therefore no Ghanaian, who is a legitimate fisherman, must be denied the fuel. Premix is not for the committee members or the landing beaches alone but for all Ghanaian fishermen, Mr Nicol stressed. He, however, cautioned against indiscriminate selling of the product.Mr Nicol warned against selling of the fuel to people in drums, which are conveyed in trucks. He assured fishermen of the regular supply of the fuel and advised them to deist from panic buying, saying, it is an offence to hoard the fuel. Mr Nicol said only the landing beach committees were mandated to sell the fuel and urged them to report any problem with regard to the sales to their respective district chief executives. He advised the committees to open accounts with the banks and save the profit that accrue from their daily sales, adding that, they can then consult with the chiefs and the general public on how to utilise the money.Mr Theophilus Adioo-Mensah, District Chief Executive asked the committees to work diligently to help the fishermen and to promote their business. Similar committees have been inaugurated at Apam, Mumford, Fetteh Nyanyano and Dampase near Kokrobite.
Source:GNA

15- year old Ofosu-Dorte Dartey wins Harry Potter draw in Ghana.

2009-09-07T02:22:00.000-07:00

After silver birds premiere of Harry Potter 6 in Ghana some weeks ago which attracted thousands of movie lovers to the Silver bird Cinemas in Accra, the company has awarded an individual to visit the site where the movie was shot in Chicago in the United States of America.
With the company’s pursuit of fulfilling its promise, a draw was held last week Friday together with seasoned Journalists and a lucky teenager won the mouth watering prize. Winning with receipt number 0000024 bearing a telephone number of 021-820252, 15- year old Ofosu-Dorte Dartey emerged a winner.

Speaking to journalists, the Managing Director of Silver bird Ghana disclosed that, the winner would have the opportunity of traveling with another person since Ofosu-Dorte Dartey was under age. “Silver bird will pay for both to have a nice time in America”.
Albert Adomako-mensah further added that, Sony studios in America will be the main host of the winner and his outfit was sponsoring with a package of $ 5,000 to enable an enjoyable stay. “Nevertheless the main Visa acquisition will be done by the winner and Silver bird will support with all necessary documentations”.

The manager said such important and entertaining movies will continue to be premiered at Silver bird to continue awarding and showing much love to movie lovers. In view of this silver bird will start with a promotion this month of September to ward customers who come to watch movie every Mondays in the every week. The promo titled “Monday movie Madness” will involve giving away of free drinks and pop corns among others to keep movie lovers who come to Silver bird have fun.

Talking to the Ghanaian Reactor online, Albert said most people prefer coming to silver bird cinemas due to its enclosed buildings and modern facilities compared to open top cinemas of the past scatted around town with little security and entertainment for viewers. We also have equal responsibilities of promoting our local Ghanaian movie and silver bird has already started premiering some. “All local movie lovers can also join the happy train of movie entertainment with us”. He urged Ghanaian movie producers to bring up high quality movies to make it sell easily.

Story:GRO

Rawlings Congratulates Stars

2009-09-07T02:19:00.000-07:00

Former President Rawlings has congratulated the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars for their qualification to the World Cup.The former President who is in Oslo, Norway attending inaugural activities of NDC Norway said he was delighted after hearing that the Stars had clinched the single slot from their group.³The current group of Black Stars players have remained focused since they first appeared at the World Cup in 2006. Though there have been significant additions to the team, the level of discipline and dedication to duty has not waned and today¹s result is due simply to hard work.²President Rawlings however cautioned against complacency, saying Ghana was now being watched carefully by all, meaning there would be tougher opposition in South Africa next June.³The journey has just started and I enjoin, the players, their technical staff and all Ghanaians to pool their energies and resources together to ensure that Ghana performs creditably at the World Cup.³The tournament is on our continent and we have to ensure that we prove that bringing it to Africa was no favour to us. Me ma mo Ayeekoo,² President Rawlings stated.

Visit Former President Rawlings¹ blog site - http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/
Source:GHP

Course on non-conventional ships and fishing vessels for surveyors and maritime inspectors ends

2009-09-07T02:06:00.000-07:00

The five days national training course for surveyors and inspectors of non-conventional ships and fishing vessels which started last week Monday has ended. The workshop which was put together by both the Ghana Maritime Academy (GMA) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) was much centered on the implementation of the new Inland Waterways Regulation Bill. This new bill has drawings and plans of new crafts and vessels that would have to be approved before construction could take place. Reading out the final resolutions of the workshop, experts in the marine field recommended the acknowledgement of useful tools for national regulations of improvement that, the content and relevance of the draft of the IMO model regulations to be used during this workshop for ship safety and certification and for technical requirements applicable to non-convention ships and fishing vessels as further reviewed and revised, recommend GMA to carefully review and evaluate these regulations with the view to developing the appropriate national law, promote with the framework of Abuja memorandum of understanding, the adoption of port State control (PSC) procedures for cargo ships and small passenger ships and fishing vessels not covered by provisions of the IMO safety related conventions. The meeting also tasked IMO to promote similar approaches and a concurrent use of the model regulations by the Maritime administrations of other countries in the region, develop a set of model regulations for fishing vessels of more than 24metres in length, publication of IMO model regulations in French language and development of training modules for short courses for surveyors in relevant areas such as small ships stability and determination of their maximum permissible among others. Speaking at the closing ceremony last week Friday in Accra, the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Academy, expressed gratitude to the IMO for their endless support. Mr. Issaka Azuma tasked all participating countries to adhere to the new developments to help keep our marine and it works safe. Participants were presented with certificates and awards were presented to three consultants of the workshop.

By: Michael Amedor

Tourists pour into Kpetoe for Agbamevorza

2009-09-07T01:59:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of local and foreign tourists on Saturday tasted the cultural and artistic elegance of the chiefs and people of Agotime Traditional Area at a grand durbar to climax this year's Agbamevorza (Kente Festival) of the Area. Donned in various distinct Kente designs and prints, the people; old and young, including chiefs performed artistic and warrior dances all day to showcase their rich culture as hordes of people scrambled to capture the spectacle on their digital and mobile phone cameras. A procession of chiefs dancing in palanquins heralded the occasion drawing crowds to the durbar grounds where all business activities had shifted to.Two chiefs in separate palanquins danced into each other to exchange copies of the New Testament to symbolise and act out the theme of the festival: "Unity in Development" All the 37 communities forming the Traditional Area displayed distinctive cultural style and skill to portray the diversity of the area.The town was virtually bathing in music, dance, arts and culture with the people demonstrating high levels of tolerance and hospitality as locals and strangers mixed and interacted with glee.Mr Alex Asum Ahensah, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, who represented the Vice-President, commended the people for initiating the festival and expressed asked the youth to uphold the nation's cultures to protect their diverse identities for posterity.He however warned communities especially those with tourist potentials against child trafficking and child labour. Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for the Area, who was clad in a sophisticated Kente design tailored to perfection said kente originated from Kpetoe. She urged communities all over the country to identify and develop tourist potentials in their areas to attract government support and investment from local and foreign interests.Nene Nuer Keteku III, Konor of Agotime Traditional Area, appealed for a facelift of Kpetoe to befit its status as a tourist destination and home of Kente.He also called on government to adopt the Kente Festival as a national event to bring communities in weaving and artefacts together through activities such as inter-cultural exchange programmes. Funds were raised to start the construction of a "Kente Market and Village"
Source:GNA

Government to absorb teacher's tuition fees for distance learning

2009-09-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, on Thursday said government would absorb the tuition fees of teachers pursuing distance learning programme from next year. "About 3,000 teachers have been approved to benefit from study leave with pay to participate in the programme this year," he said. Mr Agyenim-Boateng announced this in an interaction with the Ghanaian public on the programme, Facebook, under the topic, "Ghanaian Education System".This is the second time the Minister has appeared on the programme since its inception on Friday, August 28. The programme was initiated by the Ministry of Information to interact with Ghanaians to ensure accountability and transparency in governance. Mr Agyenim-Boateng said the gesture was an evidence of government's efforts to improve the educational qualification of teachers that would in turn improve standards of education.He said government valued Science and Technology education and would provide the necessary logistics to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools through-out the country."Education remains the government's priority, because we believe in developing and improving the quality of the human capital," he said. Mr Isha Sidiq, a contributor to the programme, called on government to provide vehicles for the schools to ease their transportation problems and mentioned the Prang Senior High School, in the Pru District of Brong Ahafo as an example. Mr Sidiq also appealed to government to pay attention to Visual Arts, Home Economics and Technical education, which he said, were equally important as science education.
Source:GNA

Fiji Island Suspended from the Commonwealth

2009-09-04T02:11:00.000-07:00

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, today announced that the Republic of the Fiji Islands stands fully suspended from membership of the Commonwealth with immediate effect.

“This is an announcement I make with deep regret -- it is a step the Commonwealth is now obliged to take, and one that it takes in sorrow.”

“Since Fiji was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth following the military overthrow of civilian government in December 2006, sustained efforts have been made by the Commonwealth to engage the Interim Government, so as to promote a return to constitutional democracy, and to encourage a national dialogue aimed at tackling the underlying issues that led to this and past coups.”

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) last met on 31 July, some two and three quarter years after the military overthrow. At that meeting, CMAG urged the Fiji regime to reactivate immediately the President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF) process, facilitated by the Commonwealth and the United Nations, in a manner that was independent, inclusive, time-bound and without any pre-determined outcome, and that would lead to credible elections in the country by October 2010. CMAG had sought a firm commitment from Fiji to these terms by no later than 1 September 2009, failing which it would be fully suspended.

“Although I received a letter from Commodore Bainimarama on 21 August reaffirming his commitment to the principles of the Commonwealth, his response did not meet the terms set out by CMAG on 31 July I informed him of this in writing on 24 August. Accordingly, Fiji has today been fully suspended from the Commonwealth. I have informed the Interim Prime Minister of Fiji of this decision. I have similarly informed Her Majesty the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth, and all Commonwealth governments.”

Elaborating on the implications of “full suspension”, the Secretary-General said the following provisions would apply with immediate effect;

. representatives of the Interim Government of Fiji will be excluded from
participation at all inter-governmental Commonwealth meetings; likewise,
nominees of the Interim Government will not be able to take part in other inter-governmental Commonwealth activities.

. Fiji will not be able to participate in Commonwealth sporting event

.no Commonwealth technical assistance can be provided to Fiji, with the
exception of assistance aimed at facilitating the restoration of democracy,

.while Fiji will remain a member of the Commonwealth, all emblematic
representation of Fiji at the Commonwealth Secretariat, at Commonwealth
meetings and all other official Commonwealth events will cease; and
. contact at professional and non-governmental levels with Fiji counterparts will
be left to the discretion of individual pan-Commonwealth organisations.

The Secretary-General emphasised that the Commonwealth remained open to engaging with the Fiji Interim Government towards the restoration of constitutional democracy in the country. “I welcome the invitation from Commodore Bainimarama to meet my Special Representative in Fiji in September, and look forward to continuing my good offices engagement to promote adherence to Commonwealth principles and the welfare of the people of Fiji”, Mr Sharma said.

The Secretary-General concluded by expressing the hope that Fiji would take the necessary steps to restore its full participation in the Commonwealth. “We will continue all possible efforts to promote the restoration of Commonwealth principles and enduring adherence to them. We will also continue to bear fully in mind the welfare of the people of Fiji.”

Source:Commwealth secretariat

Glo Mobile Ghana unveils 17 Ambassadors

2009-09-04T02:02:00.000-07:00

Glo Mobile Ghana, one of the latest entrants in the country's mobile telecommunications industry, on Tuesday unveiled 17 personalities as ambassadors to promote their brand. The ambassadors drawn across the music, movie, sports and entertainment sectors is in line with the cellular outfit's corporate policy of recognising outstanding achievements and encouraging enterprise.They include Black Stars striker Manuel Junior Agogo, Ayigbe Edem, Nii Addo Quaynor 'Tinny', Amakye Dede, Paapa Yankson, George Kwabena Aidoo (Kwabena Kwabena), Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Jackie Appiah. Others are Van Vicker, Irene Logan, Nadia Buari, Nana Wiafe Asante Mensah (ASEM), Pat Thomas, Reggie Rockstone, Sherifatu Gunu and Wutah. At a media briefing, Mr David Naji, National Sales Coordinator of Globacom, the parent company of Glo Mobile Ghana, said the signing of the ambassadors adds up to the company's objective to roll out excellent and innovative telecommunications services that will transform the telecoms sector.He urged the ambassadors, made of personalities who have made their mark in their respective fields, to continue to be positive role models and good ambassadors of the iconic Glo brand wherever they go in the world.He emphasized Glo Mobile Ghana's commitment to encouraging best talents in the entertainment, music and sports industries, while urging the younger ones on in their quest to succeed to the level of their mentors.Mr Naji announced that the signing-on of the ambassadors forms part of the countdown to the launch of Glo Mobile Ghana operations in the country.He added that within the next couple of days, the Glo-1 submarine cable, which will carry data and internet traffic between West Africa and the rest of the World, will land in Accra.

VRA warns of flooding along banks of White Volta

2009-09-04T01:59:00.000-07:00

The Volta River Authority (VRA) on Thursday warned of possible flooding along the banks of the White Volta when the Burkina Faso authorities, as expected spill water from their Bagre and Kopienga dams.A statement signed by Ms Abla Fiadjoe, Acting Director of General Services, said its Burkinabe sister company, SONABEL, was expecting heavy rainfall in September, which could lead to possible spilling of water from the two dams in the next few days. "The spilling of water may cause the White Volta River to swell and overflow its banks which is likely to cause flooding." The statement advised residents and communities along the banks of the White Volta and Black River in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions to take precautionary measures to avoid being adversely affected.It said areas likely to be affected are: Widana, Pusiga, Kulungugu, Bazua, Binduri, Nakoliga. Natinga and Voko in the Bawku East District ; Gogo, Saka and Sapeliga in the Bawku West District; Bukperi and Tako in the Gambaga District and communities along the fringes of River Sissili, Wahabu and Kulun in the Upper West Region. In another development, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in a statement signed by Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Co-ordinator on Thursday advised communities living in the catchments of the Black and White Volta, the Sisala and Kulpawn rivers to relocate to avoid being flooded by the water spillage.The spillage, expected to occur from Friday, September 4, when the Bagre Dam is opened by the Burkinabe authorities, could destroy lives and properties if the affected communities did not relocate. "NADMO, therefore, appeals to all communities living in the catchments of the Black and White Volta, Sisala and the Kulpawn River to move away from areas likely to be flooded due to the spillage to avoid any disasters," it said."Equally, people in communities along the Volta Lake and other tributaries are reminded to take precautionary measures to avert any disaster likely to pose by the spillage from the dam, "it added. The statement, however, gave the assurance that management of NADMO had put its monitoring team on the ground to respond to any emergency situation that might arise as a result of the spillage.
Source:GNA

Ghanaian embassy shut due to budget pressures

2009-09-04T01:57:00.000-07:00

GHANA HAS decided to close its embassy in Dublin due to pressures on the country’s national budget amid the global downturn.The Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs was informed of the decision in July. It is understood that the embassy, on Clyde Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin, shut its doors last month.Kodjo Wadee, chief director of Ghana’s foreign ministry in Accra, told The Irish Times the embassy had opened last November. Prior to that, Ghana was represented by an honorary consul here, and diplomatic relations came under the aegis of the Ghana High Commission in London.The embassy was staffed by four diplomats, but Ghana had not formally accredited an ambassador prior to the decision to shut the mission.Mr Wadee would not comment on the reasons for the closure, but The Irish Times understands that it was related to efforts by the Ghanaian government to offset the impact of the global financial crisis on the country’s economy.Diplomatic relations with Ireland will again be the responsibility of the Ghana High Commission in London.Ireland does not have a diplomatic mission in Ghana. Diplomatic representation for the country is handled by the Irish embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.The cost of maintaining Ireland’s own diplomatic service has also come under scrutiny in recent months. In July, the McCarthy report on public expenditure recommended that the State’s network of embassies and consulates be reduced from 76 to 55.
Source:Irish Times

Germany supports KAIPTC

2009-09-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

The internationally renowned Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra has been established with German support since 2002 and since then has received regular support in the form of personnel and funding. Today, still with German assistance, the centre continues to offer courses for military and civilian personnel that are not restricted to the member states of the West African regional organization, ECOWAS. The commitment to the KAIPTC and other West African training centres represents a key element of German support to the strengthening of West African peacekeeping capabilities under the G8 Africa Action Plan and the relevant EU strategy. The German government declared its willingness to assist KAIPTC in overcoming present financial constraints by allocating additional funds for specific measures. Germany plays a major role as lead donor of the KAIPTC and intends to continue doing so in the future, even in times of severe national budget restrictions caused by the international economic crisis. The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is disposed to finance an upcoming West African Police Course at the KAIPTC and supports the upgrade of the KAIPTC website. These contributions amount to GHC 225.000 and GHC 35.000 respectively. In addition Germany shows its ongoing commitment to KAIPTC by contributing to the personnel budget with an amount of GHC 155.000. Germany's support in 2009 includes as well the rehabilitation of the Gerhard Schroeder-Auditorium, named after Germany's former chancellor under whose tenure Germany's support of KAIPTC started. Germany makes available GHC 80.000 for this measure.

Source:German Embassy/Ghana

Family, celebrities say final goodbye to Michael Jackson

2009-09-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson was mourned by his family and celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Barry Bonds and Macaulay Culkin at a private funeral service held Thursday night outside the elaborate mausoleum where the King of Pop will be entombed.
The funeral began about an hour and a half late because of the tardy arrival of his parents, Joe and Katherine, and other family members. They included the singer’s three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris Michael, 10, and Prince Michael II, 7, known as Blanket.
The invitation notice indicated the service would begin promptly at 7 p.m.; it began closer to 8:30. The 77-year-old Taylor and about 200 other mourners were left waiting in the late summer heat, with the temperature stuck at 90 degrees just before sunset. Some mourners fanned themselves with programs for the service at Forest Lawn Glendale.
A vivid orange moon, a mark of the devastating wildfire about 10 miles distant, hung over the cemetery.
Police had escorted the family’s motorcade of 31 cars, including Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs, from Encino to Forest Lawn, with the hearse bearing Jackson’s body at the end.

A large, blimp-like inflated light, the type used in film and television production, and a boom camera hovered over the seating area placed in front of the elaborate marble mausoleum. The equipment raised the possibility that the footage would be used for the Jackson concert documentary “This Is It.”
About 250 seats were arranged for mourners over artificial turf laid roadside at the mausoleum. Nearly double the number of media credentials, 435, were issued to reporters and film crews who remained at a distance from the service and behind barricades.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who gave a rousing eulogy at Jackson’s public memorial two months ago, posted on his Twitter account — while the service was still under way — that he made a repeat performance Thursday night.
“I just spoke at the conclusion of tributes,” Sharpton wrote. “Gladys knight sang her heart out. Now we prepare to lay him top rest.”
The few clusters of fans who gathered around the secure perimeter that encircled the cemetery entrance struggled to see much. Maria Martinez, 25, a fan from Riverside, Calif., who was joined by a dozen other Jackson admirers at a gas station near the security perimeter, gave a handful of pink flowers to a man with an invitation driving into the funeral.
“Can you please put these flowers on his grave?” she told him. Martinez said she picked them from a nearby park.They were small and ugly, but I did that with my heart,” she said. “I’m not going to be able to get close, so this is as close as I could get to him.”
The man consented, adding, “God bless.”
Glendale police said all was going smoothly early in the evening and there were no arrests.
Jackson will share eternity at Forest Lawn with the likes of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and W.C. Fields, entombed alongside them in the mausoleum that will be all but off-limits to adoring fans who might otherwise turn the pop star’s grave into a shrine.
After the burial, the closest the public will be able to get to Jackson’s vault is a portion of the mausoleum that displays “The Last Supper Window,” a life-size stained-glass re-creation of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. Several 10-minute presentations about the window are held regularly 365 days a year, but most of the building is restricted.
Lisa Burk, who blogs about celebrity graves at www.gravehunting.com, said the Jackson family chose well for his final resting place if it was privacy they were after.
“It’s impossible to get in there,” Burk said. “It was before, and it will be worse now.”

By late afternoon Thursday, media tents had cropped up all along the boulevard across from the wrought-iron gates that serve as the main entrance to Forest Lawn. That vantage point offered no view of any mausoleum — just a fountain and a building containing the gift shop.
The Jackson family had booked an Italian restaurant in Pasadena for a gathering Thursday night, said Alex Carr, assistant operations manager at Villa Sorriso, in the city’s Old Town district. She wouldn’t specify the menu or number of people, but said the entire restaurant, which can accommodate 200 guests, had been reserved for the event and that security would be present.
The ceremony ends months of speculation that the singer’s body would be buried at Neverland Ranch, in part to make the property a Graceland-style attraction. An amended copy of Jackson’s death certificate was filed Thursday in Los Angeles County to reflect Forest Lawn as his final resting place.

Source:Associated Press/MSN

Govt should begin the anti-corruption drive from within- ICC

2009-09-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

The International Council for Clergy (ICC), at the weekend called on the government to start the crusade against corruption from its ranks, in order to have the moral authority to stamp out the national canker without fear or favour.Archbishop Dr George Slezer Ofori-Atta, Presiding Archbishop of the ICC, who made the call in Accra, said corruption was inimical to the development of any nation."When allowed either conscientiously or inadvertently to operate in a free environment at whatever level, it becomes very destructive," he stressed.The Archbishop was giving a keynote at the 14th Public Ministerial Ordination and Consecration of nine members of the clergy. The ICC, which is an Association of Independent Ministers and Churches, is affiliated to the Council of Black Clergy in Philadelphia, USA.Archbishop Ofori-Atta's speech touched on five thematic issues covering Democracy, Corruption, Education, Justice and the Church. He noted that democracy is about the welfare of the people and so the overnight acquisition of wealth by politicians tends to raise a lot of public concern.Archbishop Ofori-Atta noted that democracy goes with leadership and accountability, adding that good leadership reflects the quality of life of the people and not necessarily policies. He appealed to the government to respect the independence of the Judiciary and strengthen institutions like the Ghana Police Service, the Bureau of National Investigations and the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice to improve on the country's justice system. "We (ICC) pray the government therefore to let equity, justice and fair trial for everybody thrive in our society."We have been witnesses of situations in this nation where the Executive arm of Government was seen getting involved in issues of the judiciary."Archbishop Ofori-Atta condemned the violence that was associated with the Akwatia parliamentary run-of and asked people aspiring to leadership positions not to entertain fisticuffs to achieve their political ambitions."The politician as a leader must be seen dong what is right and that means setting good example and not inciting people to fight."Touching on education, he said the current reforms of the educational system should be devoid of partisan politics. "The back and forth issue on the three or four years Senior High School (SHS) education should be devoid of any political colourisation." Archbishop Ofori-Atta said the debate should not be based on the duration of the SHS system but rather the viability of the reforms. He asked the government to motivate teachers to give of their best in order to arrest the poor academic standards, citing the abysmal performance of students of the recent Basic Education Certificate Examination as example.Archbishop Ofori-Atta expressed concern about the practice of some ministers of the gospel, who out of ignorance or sheer negligence append their signatures on marriage certificates and other government documents when they are not gazetted or authorised to do so. He said the sanctity of the Church was being undermined by members of the clergy who championed material acquisition and engaged in demonic activities to perform miracles.Bishop Floyd Hills of the US-based Advocate Give of Life Ministries, said no force on earth could stop ministers of God from fulfilling their divinely ordained mission on earth and asked them to move on if their calling is of God.Dr Richard Lewis of the Marvellous Light Church, also in the US was consecrated as Bishop at the ceremony. He observed that a minister of the gospel was greater than the President of the US and charged them to be truthful to their call.
Source:GNA

Course for Surveyors and Maritime Inspectors opened

2009-09-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

The Minister of Transport has disclosed at a five-day national training course for surveyors and inspectors of non-conventional ships and fishing vessels with the necessary tools to help implement the Inland Waterways Regulation Bill. “This new law, drawings and plans of new crafts and vessels would have to be approved before construction could take place. The Minister, Mike Hammah speaking in Accra reiterated that the regulatory framework of the International Maritime Organization as enshrined in the SOLAS did not generally apply to island water and non-convention fishing vessels, and commended the IMO for the support to train personnel to set safety and security standards for fishermen and women. “It is in this view that this workshop is taken place particularly in Africa in view of the type of vessels operating on the continent, including pleasure craft and island water craft.
The regulation, being finalized by the Attorney-General's Department for presentation to Parliament, would provide a framework for marine surveyors to effectively inspected. The Minister further added that these crafts have a number of characteristics which make them unique. They are many, most of them are locally constructed and their design and construction may not meet rules and standards of the recognized classification societies," he added."The survey and inspection of such vessels call for a certain level of expertise, a crucial issue which until recently had been taken for granted."The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Academy, expressed gratitude to the IMO and Ghana navy for their collaboration with the GMA to reduce the spate of accidents on the Volta Lake, and urged the participants to be actively involved in discussions to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge and skills to ensure the safety of navigation and seaworthiness of vessels operating in the country's and enforce the safety of non-conventional vessels, including water crafts.
Mr. Issaka Azuma, the GMA boss said, Non-Convention Vessels refer to those vessels which are not covered by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974.
By; Michael Amedor

Ghana to ratify two Conventions on small arms

2009-09-02T02:41:00.000-07:00

Ghana is to ratify the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Convention on Cluster Munitions to quell robberies and armed-violence in the West African sub-region.Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Interior, gave the assurance at the opening of a two-day workshop organized by government and co-supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ghana, and the ECOWAS Small Arms Control Programme (ECOSAP), in Accra on Saturday. The Interior Minister, who did not disclose when the Conventions would be ratified, said preparations were far advanced for cabinet to consider the issue.Mr Avoka said the ratification could enable Ghana to play a leading role in regional and sub-regional initiatives on small arms control, peace building and security sector governance. He reiterated government's commitment to improving the enforcement capacity of security services as well as offering alternative livelihoods to the local manufactures of small arms and to undertake other legitimate and viable businesses. Mr Avoka said "We as a nation have resolved to ensure that the right environment is created so as to make committing crimes less attractive to our people".He expressed the hope that the workshop would address the menace of exchange of illegal small arms for goods and services across borders and within ECOWAS states as well as to curb incidence of smuggling of arms through the ports.Dr Kwasi Apea-Kubi, Deputy Minister of the Interior, called for concerted efforts, especially among people in West African countries where small arms and light weapons were easily trafficked across borders, in order to combat and eradicate the illicit trade. "It is when concerted efforts are harnessed from national, sub-regional, regional and the international community that the small arms menace can be effectively tackled on a sustainable basis," he said. Mr Baffour Amoa, President of the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA), expressed concern that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons could stifle African governments from meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015."How can we attain the MDGs when conflicts in Africa continue to be fueled by small and light weapons," he asked.Mr Amoa called on the participants to brainstorm in order to "produce workable ideas that would improve control strategies and policies on illicit arms."Mr Mohamed Coulibaly, Programme Manager of ECOSAP, lauded government's efforts at providing border surveillance equipments for the Ghana Immigration Service as well as supporting the Ghana Police Service in recovering illicit arms to strengthen security in the country. The workshop, under the theme: "Capacity Building for a Better Control of Small Arms," is expected to help participants produce an annual action plan as well as to identify projects aimed at reducing armed violence and proliferation of illicit weapons among ECOWAS member states.
Source:GNA

NDC demands $1.5 Billion from BOG

2009-09-02T02:39:00.000-07:00

News available to The Statesman indicates that the National Democratic Congress is putting pressure on the Bank of Ghana to print extra money in excess of 2 billion Ghana cedis. This was contained in an unusual letter from the Minister of Finance to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana. But, The Statesman can report that outgoing Governor, Paul Acquah, is resisting every pressure to print such high amounts of cedis to worsen the countryâ€™s already bad inflationary pressures. Year-on-year inflation was 20.5 percent in July and government has even revised its end-of-year inflation target upwards by 2 percentage points to 14.5 percent.But, officials of the BoG are nervous that Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, who takes over Tuesday, September 1, as Governor may succumb to the pressure from his party. He was a campaign aide to President Mills during his presidential bid.Ironically, he also served as Deputy Minister of Finance in 2000 when Kwabena Duffuor was Governor of the Central Bank. That year ended with Ghanaâ€™s macroeconomic indicators seriously destabilised, with inflation at 40 percent and interest rates at 50 percent, and the cedi losing its value to the dollar by 97 percent.The letter, requesting for the money, explains that Government is under pressure to pay off arrears owed to contractors and money is urgently sought for that purpose. In the past eight months alone, the NDC government has sourced out contracts valued at half a billion Ghana cedis. Checks made by this paper raise serious issues about the integrity of many of these contracts.Already, there were some one billion Ghana cedis worth of contracts performed but payments of which were suspended by the Mills administration. Reading his supplementary budget last week, Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor made a controversial claim that Ghanaâ€™s budget deficit for last year has to be revised to 24.2 percent of gross domestic product. He got this figure by including debts of 1.7 billion cedis ($1.16 million).The compares with an earlier estimate of 12.1 percent (including divestiture receipts) and comes after â€œarrears and commitments had been taken into account,â€ Duffuor told Parliament.However, deficit is calculated as the difference between the money government takes in, called receipts, and what the government spends, called expenditure, each year. Debt, on the other hand, is an accumulated flow of deficits. Thus, whereas deficit is a flow, debt is a stock.When there is a deficit, the Finance Ministry must borrow the money needed for the government to pay its bills, usually by selling Treasury Bills or bonds. Yet, the NDC, by the letter to the Governor, seeks to have more money printed.
Source:Statesman

Denmark supports Ghana's anti-child trafficking efforts

2009-09-02T02:38:00.000-07:00

The Danish Government on Tuesday pledged its continued support to Ghana's efforts at eliminating all forms of human trafficking and illegal migration in the country. So far about $600,000 has been spent on anti-child trafficking campaigns over the past two years, and it is expected that the programme would be extended for another year.Ms Vibeke Gram Mortensen, Counsellor at the Danish Embassy in Ghana, made the pledge at the annual meeting of Law enforcement agencies, the Judiciary, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) on Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration in Ghana in Accra. The meeting under the theme: "Assessment of Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration in Ghana: The General Overview and The Way Forward", was to appraise the various programmes and campaigns initiated by government and CSOs over the years to address the issues on human trafficking and illegal migrations in the country.Present were representatives from the Attorney General's Department, the Police, the Judiciary and NGOs who would deliberate and evaluate the various campaign strategies put in place to reduce child trafficking and illegal migrations.Ms Mortensen said as a result of the campaigns, many people were now aware of the issues on human trafficking and illegal migration. She said compared to other countries in the Sub-region, Ghana's efforts were encouraging in terms of measures to curb the incidence of children being used for fishing and other forms of hazardous work. Ms Mortensen expressed the hope that the knowledge acquired from the meeting would encourage stakeholders to work effectively to reduce human trafficking in the country.
Source:GNA

Four nursing mothers currently at Nsawam Prison

2009-09-01T03:08:00.000-07:00

Four nursing mothers are currently serving their various jail terms at the Female Prisons of the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons. The four, after weaning their babies off breast milk, would have their babies sent to the Osu Children's Home in Accra. Mrs Charity Araba Magnusen, Assistant Director of Prisons in charge of the Prison, announced this on Monday when she received Mr Emil Short, the Commissioner, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice and her deputy Ms Anna Bossman and other officials at the prison. The visit was to ascertain conditions prevailing at the prisons and see how best those problems could be improved or solved. Mrs Magnusen said the Female Prisons has 182 inmates with 85 year old woman being the oldest among them.She complained about inadequate imprest offered to inmates saying that was creating difficulties in feeding them. One of the nursing mothers, Tracy Aku Kaedabi, was found with her 13-month old baby in prison.Tracy said she was serving two and half years jail term adding she arrived at the prison two weeks ago for stealing 1,000 dollars from her mistress.She did not have anyone to take care of her baby hence brought her 13-month baby along.Akosua Nimo, the 85 year old partially blind woman, who spoke with journalists, appealed for amnesty and said she was suffering from waits pains and chronic sour after a snake bit. She was convicted by a Kumasi Circuit Court for a narcotic offence. According to her she was transferred to the prisons five weeks ago but had to be aided by a 65 year old Agnes Gyewunu who is on the condemned list.Akua Agyekoma, a 70 year old could not hide her tears when she spotted the cameras and asked journalists to help her. Agyekoma said she was convicted for murder and has since served 26 years.At the moment, Agyekoma said no relations had ever visited her. Celina Mensah, a mother of two now serving five years for attempted suicide, appealed to donors to come to the aid of inmates. Mr Short said the Commission had take note of the problems confronting the inmates and promised to take necessary steps to address them.
Source:GNA

TOR Crisis: Government Intervenes

2009-09-01T03:05:00.000-07:00

A four-man team comprising the Chief of Staff, two ministers and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has been set up to rescue the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) from its huge indebtedness and ensure regular supply of crude to the refinery.Mr John Martey Newman, the Chief of Staff, and Dr Paul Acquah, the central bank governor, would work with Dr Kwabena Duffuor, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and the Energy Minister, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, in restoring the balance sheet of TOR in order to reduce its huge debt, as well as managing its crude oil supply.Over the past four month, TOR has been facing some serious challenges with respect to financial capacity and procurement of crude oil in addition to internal agitation from its work force. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the acting Chief Executive of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo admitted that the refinery was indebted to the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) alone to the tune of GH¢900 million, rendering it impossible now for the refinery to establish new letters of credit to procure crude oil.The Chief Executive was reacting to concerns raised by some TOR workers about management’s inability to import crude oil since the beginning for the year, thus allowing major suppliers to procure finished products at exorbitant prices for the refinery. He said the debt portfolio, which some financial analysts said could cripple the largest commercial bank in the country, was the main challenge confronting the company.And to address the urgency of the situation, the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, told the Daily Graphic that ht presidential team, set up two weeks ago to salvage TOR form its predicament, had held talks with officials of TOR and GCB to discuss how the refinery could clear its indebtedness to GCB without derailing its (TOR’s) normal function.He said with respect to the financial challenge, the team was holding discussions with two banks, whose names he preferred keeping close to his chest, “because when you are in the process of negotiation, you don’t want to mention names.”On the regular supply of crude oil for TOR, Dr Oteng-Adjei said for now the team had three main options, namely, Nigeria, Libya and Venezuela, from where the product could be sourced. He said the idea was to ensure that if one of them was unable to supply crude oil to TOR, the refinery could always fall on the others for supply, thereby reducing the probability of non-availability of crude oil.
Source:Daily Graphic

Review of water tariff is essential-GWCL

2009-09-01T02:59:00.000-07:00

The Chief Manager, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), in-charge of Planning and Development, has really expressed the need for a review of the tariffs paid by commercial consumers of water. “Public Utility Regulatory Commission should ensure that consumers especially the industrial setups pay economic tariffs to the State.”

Ebenezer Kobina Garbrah, who disclosed this last week at a at a day familiarization tour of the Weija Head works and alternatively interact with Management of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) and GWCL in Accra. “The provision of potable water which is very essential is being affected by poor planning and lack of adequate consideration by the authorities in- charge coupled with cumbersome process of land acquisition and the protection of water resources.” He also called for attitudinal changes both among water staff and consumers. The Managing Director of AVRL critically outlined some activities of his outfit and said “AVRL was competitively awarded a five-year funded contract, spanning November 2006- 2011 as operator in the Urban Water Sector, with GWCL as the grantor. As part of the contract AVRL, was mandated to make the sector financially viable by improving water distribution and revenue collection, cutting down on non-revenue water, reducing chemical usage and cost as well as energy consumption. AVRL, which is a joint venture between Vitens of Holland and Rand Water of South Africa, is operating on non-profit basis. The company therefore did not make any investments in Ghana to mandate it to determine tariffs.”Andrew Barber further reiterated that, contract sum of $103 million grant was acquired from the World Bank, $12 million counter-funding from the Government of Ghana and $5million from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) and the NDF went directly to AVRL for minor repairs, replacements and rehabilitation during the five-year contract period. And on the other hand GWCL who served as a grantor managed the $103 million of the World Bank grant for the purposes of major capital investments, regarding the large scale expansion works on the water production system. Journalist was also introduced to AVRL’s competitive Geographical Information System (GIS) which help management capture all activities of water from supply to consumer through a through a computer-base data Eunice who did the presentation said, “this was the best effect way in monitoring water user activities because the system detects illegal connections of water and help adequately in solving water delivery problems.”

Source: Michael Amedor

New Director for NCA

2009-09-01T02:57:00.000-07:00

Ben Forson Going, William Tevi Coming, As Light Finally Topples Darkness

The calamitous reign of terror, victimization and economic malaise at the National Communications Authority (NCA), has finally grinded to a halt with President JEA Mills piercing that long-overdue dagger at the heart of the horrific happenings, with the announcement of new board to be followed by a new CEO.Interestingly the new kid on-the-block is the in-coming CEO William Tevi, a member of Thursday's newly-inaugurated board of directors who is thought by Communications think-tanks, as heaven's gift to Ghana's communications industry.Ice-cool Tevi, a former Mfantsipim School product who has climbed the academic ladder a little too high, is expected to carry the moral broom that should sweep all the hellish goings-on during the Major (Rtd).John R.K Tandoh and Ben Forson tenure into the incinerator basket, from where the tax-payer has to begin to question how exactly these happy-spending-go-lucky gang utilized resources for close to a decade.Forson, the outgoing director general found his name in the board's list for reasons of the fact that he is on his way out but even that, gave cause for his supporters to celebrate last Thursday, as they raised glasses while daring some co-workers rather sarcastically to go and report to THE SUN. Almost assuredly, his services will be required to help trace a few things as time peels away. But playing the piper, the President has gone on ahead to roll on the amusing tune naming a six-member board of directors including Dr. Padmore Korankye who had acted as director-general in early 2001 for just four days, only to be booted out of office by the incoming NPP administration.The doc is expected to be fixed elsewhere as director general, having failed to convince established authority that he is still the man for the job, some eight years after he was removed from office by the NPP. The 40-something year old Mr. Tevi won the heart of the panel, having roamed the world over including institutions in Europe and the Americas, as far as Japan and the Far-East lecturing on deep insights into computing.At 1pm when news of the change of guard broke hot from the Osu Castle coal pot, NCA's director-general Bennard Forson who virtually lives on the lap of luxury most often at the ALISA HOTEL, had suddenly back-tracked from on-high to the base of the tree of life rather uncharacteristically, sharing warm pleasantries with personnel he had stifled all these years. Even those personnel were shell-shocked, for they had believed it was below Mr. Forson to come down from above. One such personnel, an engineer with a brain full of efficiency was victimized and set aside as the backside of the goat that need not be added to the rest of the meat, en route to dancing in the soup on the coal pot while cooking time was up.Like some others who have all along felt like a mother kangaroo in the midst of pickpockets just because they would not be party to the hell, scholarships normally reserved for personnel to travel abroad to update their knowledge on changing trends in the industry, were denied him under the tenure of Major (retired) John R.K. Tandoh and Forson.Instead, fresh geography and biochemistry first degree graduates whose academic direction had nothing to do with the Authority, benefited in a warped organization that haboured just too many relatives and friends of past Ministers of the Communications Ministry from the last dispensation."Even if today's first degree supersedes a Master's degree, experience alone should have edged out these lads because straight from University they are obviously shaded green with inexperienceâ€, one such cheated Masters degree holder who has worked for years complained to THE SUN.As fate would have it, the President's decision arrived a shade late but when it eventually arrived it punctured the NCA atmosphere and deflated bloated egos that had trusted and believed that, a lean on the shoulders of Communications Minister Haruna Iddrisu, was a double-digit assurance to retaining their cozy positions.Well, as it has now turned out, that was not to be for just like traditional folkloric proverbs play out, when the old man finishes bathing, the pool of water dries out. The President spoke from the Osu Castle and that was it. Forson and his people had to tumble downwards from on-high."Their per diem allowances during travels and other fringe benefits had been stretched a little too taut for comfortâ€, yet another relieved complainant whose promotion has been muffled for a decade told THE SUN.THE SUN gathered that with the heat so much on their nefarious activities, the Forson administration drafted an OATH OF SECRECY ACT which was foisted on every middle and top-level personnel to sign. Today, with the dirge finally sounded from the flute of the President, CEO Forson and his cabal should be looking elsewhere to bury their heads for some relief of some sort.A developing hint likely to metamorphose into a huge story pretty soon is that a Mercedes Benz car supposed to have been imported for the Authority's work, has turned out to be different parts in make. What a calamity of inexplicable proportions!Heralded as the gentleman's gentleman, Tevi had helped the NDC with logistics just when it mattered most back in the campaign days and it is widely believed he will deliver as expected, well above legacy of Forson, who, once-upon a-time rehabilitated his state-of-the-art office with the colossal figure of Â¢500 million, left behind.With Mr.Kofi Totobi Kwakye, as the chairman of the board, a searching probe into the Authorityâ€™s cash operations and employment procedures and records for the last 10 or so years ought to be the next line of action. Skin-on-head personnel at the NCA swear that, should that be done horrific findings worse than what coffins hold of human remains, would be unearthed in a manner that should shock the nation to its foundations.The past few weeks has seen a constant barrage of news reports from this paper and after the initial amplifying on much bigger networks, THE SUN has had to suffer the unpleasant experience of a stifling of its NCA front page reports being trumpeted on bigger platforms on electronic webs. As to why this should be the case, only the NCA and whoever can tell for sure.All the same lurking just an arm's length away is that old major, JRK Tandoh, the former Campaign Manager for ex-sector Minister Professor Mike Ocquaye, who is now making a second living using his old connections as former director-general, somewhere around the confines of the African University College of Communications in mainstream Accra.Tandohâ€™s heap of hell, the Voice of Internet Protocol (VOIP), his clandestine visit to President Mills ostensibly to test his pulse over his past misdeeds and the carting away of two Toyota Land Cruisers, Audi S 80 and two other luxurious cars all for a shameful Â¢95 million, have been documented in heaven for action to be taken on JUDGMENT DAY. Interestingly, land cruisers were not supposed to be part of the parting gifts to senior officers yet, Major walked home with them claiming he had worked extremely hard for the nation and therefore merited them. The news on the ground at the NCA today is that the departing clique has prepared a legacy so it could be present, even if they and their remnants are chucked out, which is why late employments are taking place under the cover of darkness with some employment dates fixed or backdated to January 1st of all days.According to a highly-placed administrative source, if indeed thorough work is undertaken by the incoming administration even seemingly well-covered deals would be uncovered come what may and this is just the area Mr. Tevi stands tall. One of his major pluses is that all around the world from the North Pole to the South, he has a deep insight into retrieving files on precisely these cover-ups. THE SUN is still high-up scorching like hell, all in the service of mother Ghana despite mounting threats.
Source:THE SUN

Germany identifies Africa's peace and security topmost priority

2009-09-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Federal Republic of Germany on Monday stated that peace and security should be viewed as the topmost priority for accelerated development in Africa.Mr Hans Christian Winkler, Deputy German Ambassador to Ghana, said: "Germany's policy towards Africa is value-based; its principles are respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law and peaceful resolution of conflicts."Yet Germany also has clearly defined interests. As a major exporting nation we need a reliable and well-functioning world trade system, which cannot exist without peace, security and stability." Mr Winkler stated this during the opening session of a three-week training on "Paradigms in Peacebuilding, Trends of Conflict and Mechanisms for Conflict Transformation" organized by the West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI). About 40 participants from West Africa, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Italy and Lebanon are attending the session being sponsored by the German Embassy and GTZ Accra.Mr Winkler said although the continent had become safer as many parts of the continent were now enjoying the benefits of stability, conflicts and strife existed in places such as the Sudan, Chad, the Congo and the Horn of Africa. Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior, said peace and security were cardinal ingredients for the development of any nation, therefore West Africa civil society activists and governments must collectively work together to identify early warning signals and deal with them. Mr Avoka also expressed concern about the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the sub-region and called on civil society activists to collaborate with governments to combat the trend. The Executive Director of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Mr Emmanuel Bombande, said the training would empower participants in conflict prevention, early warning and early responses and transformation processes.He said WAPI used unique methodology that combined local knowledge of peace building with case studies from the sub-region, drawing on specific experiences and expertise. WAPI is essentially a forum for peace building practitioners from all over West Africa and beyond, to network, coordinate and share experiences, best practices.Mr Bombande said the West African sub-region had been confronted over the last three decades with violent and destructive conflicts with grave lingering consequences.He said the loss of life and destruction of infrastructure as a result of violent conflicts did not only create instability but threatened the sustenance effort of promoting human security. Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, an international security expert, said conflict over the past decades had retarded the development agenda of the founding fathers of Africa."The basis for the formation of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, has been eroded through mismanagement, governance and greed," he said.Dr Aning called for a paradigm shift to deal with conflicts that undermined human security.He also urged African countries to focus on the new challenges of conflicts, which included proliferation of arms, drugs, human trafficking and managing of the continent's huge resources. WAPI was established to provide specialized, intensive, and culturally sensitive training in conflict transformation and peacebuilding for individuals, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Policymakers and other relevant actors from West Africa and beyond.
Source:GNA

Day of the Ghanaian Child marked in Accra

2009-09-01T02:44:00.000-07:00

A Project Assistant of Right To Play, an international humanitarian non-governmental organization has called on parents to support their children to learn to keep the environment clean to enable them stay healthy at all times.Miss Abenaa Anim-Adjei said environmental cleanliness plays a very important role in the socio-economic development of every nation and it was therefore necessary that children should learn from the grassroots. She made the call at the end of a two-hour Walk in Accra as part of activities marking this year's 'Day of the Ghanaian Child' on Saturday. The Day which is celebrated throughout the country, was aimed at sensitizing children on the need to keep the environment clean and was under the theme 'Cleanliness, Key to Survival'.Participants of the Walk, which started from the Mamprobi Salvation Army School, went through the Tuesday Market to St. Mary's Senior High School and back to the starting point.The placard-bearing children engaged in various sporting activities and other games termed 'Keep it Clean', 'Wash your Hands' and 'Garbage Collection' after the Walk.Miss Anim-Adjei expressed the hope that the children would imbibe the messages and impart them to their colleagues and parents to maintain a sound environment to stay healthy.
Source:GNA

Telecom stakeholders in Africa to discuss way forward

2009-09-01T02:41:00.000-07:00

Telecommunications operators in Africa would meet with investors and regulators in South Africa from September 1-3, 2009 to discuss a wide range of issues on the way forward for the industry on the continent.Ghana would be represented by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFTEC) among 80 other participants, mostly telecom operators, dubbed Telecom World Africa 2009 (TWA 09), organised by the South African-based Terrapinn Limited, a business media company. The conference, under the theme: "Opportunity, Innovation and Strategy for Fixed and Mobile Operators and Investors", would focus on investment opportunities for operators; investors in Africa; investing in Africa's telecoms; reforming regulation; convergence; optimising operator performance; mobile broadband and innovation. Some time would also be dedicated to discuss West Africa, East Africa and North Africa's regional updates in the telecom industry. "There will be case studies of various aspects of the industry, chief executive panel, investor panel sessions, as well a few companies with stands displaying their offerings," Terrapinn said. As at June 2009, Africa recorded 390 million mobile phone subscribers, representing 39.2 per cent penetration of the estimated 997 million people on the continent.Pre-paid subscribers make up about 80 per cent of mobile cellular users on the continent and some prepaid subscribers own more than one simcard, making real penetration even lower than estimated. Ghana hosts six multinational telecom operators - MTN, Tigo, Zain, Vodafone, Kasapa and Glo, five of which command an estimated 14.74 million mobile cellular subscribers, representing 67 per cent penetration in the first half of 2009. Penetration is expected to reach between 70 to 80 per cent next year. Glo is yet to begin operations.The giant of Africa, Nigeria, hosting MTN, Glo, Zain, Vodafone and other leading brands in emerging markets, recorded some 67 million mobile cellular subscribers in June 2009.African Telecom Market Report, 2008-2009, posted on www.marketreportchina.com, said with an overall mobile telecom penetration of less than 45 per cent, Africa still had great potential for development in the sector, even though economic growth rate of the continent was expected to drop from 5.7 per cent in 2008 to 3.2 per cent in 2009 as a result of the global economic downturn.Investors are confident in Africa because it is one region where the telecom industry develops most rapidly, and the report said mobile communication in Africa was progressing exceedingly fast. Statistics on internet penetration in Africa also indicated that between December 2008 and June 2009, internet users on the continent increased from 4,514,400 to 64,153,900, representing 6.4 per cent penetration and 3.9 per cent of the number of global internet users, which stood at 1,663,770,408.Even though Ghana was the first to launch internet in West Africa in 1993, it is now the 28th out of 56 African countries in terms of internet penetration, with an estimated 800,000 internet users. Investors and operators to be represented at the TWA 09 conference would be looking out for investment opportunities in new generation technology and convergence between telecom and internet, particularly voice over internet protocol (VOIP), and co-location. In Ghana, government is encouraging co-location of masts, and the National Communication Authority (NCA) said it was working on getting third party investors to erect towers for the purposes of co-location. Already, GIFTEC has mounted 40 telecom masts in un-served and under-served communities where operators have co-located their antennae to serve their respective customers.Individual operators are also implementing co-location agreement on more than 150 cell sites.In terms of investment, Millicom Ghana Limited, operators of Tigo, reported $500 million capital investment in Ghana; MTN Ghana invested $400 million in 2008 and is expected to invest in excess of that amount this year; Vodafone bought Ghana Telecom for $900 million and has so far invested $120 million; Zain also reported some $450 million capital investment; and Glo has also invested huge sums in the Glo-One sub-marine landing station.Ghana is also one of the landing stations of the Main-One sub-marine cable as well as the West African Cable Systems (WACS). Executive Director of Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Ghana, Alhassan Umar, told the GNA that with the number of sub-marine landing sites, Ghana presented a huge investment opportunity in the area of convergence technologies in voice and data communication as well as business processes outsourcing (BPO). Operators, investors and regulators on the continent will be represented at the TWA 09 conference.

Source:GNA

GhiPSS launches electronic cheque clearing system

2009-09-01T02:34:00.000-07:00

The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GhiPSS) on Monday launched an electronic cheque clearing system dubbed "Cheque Codeline Clearing with Truncation" (CCC) which will ensure clearance within a day from September this year. The system that would enhance efficiency, reliability and timeliness in the clearing of cheques, is aimed at eventually phasing out the current manual paper credit clearing system. Currently, cheques to be cleared are transported to clearing houses and physically exchanged among member banks, which makes their handling and processing costly, insecure and time consuming lasting for a minimum of three days in Accra and Tema Metropolis. Outside the Greater Accra, clearing currently takes about ten days.Speaking at the launch of the system in Accra, Mr Fred France, Chief Executive Officer of GhiPSS, said payments were core to banks' profitability that accounted for up to 35 per cent of revenue, a reason which necessitated the CCC system to further encourage growth of banks in the country.Mr France said the new system would ensure that there was only one clearing house instead of the current 11 clearing houses to save cost and lower operational expenses. He said alongside the CCC service, GhiPSS was also implementing a parallel system for managing non-cheque interbank transfers through an Automated Clearing House system, which would soon be launched as banks developed their capacity to use it. He assured that GhiPSS would live up to its mandate to develop and manage required payment infrastructure that supported interoperability among financial institutions as well as continued to look for ways to provide practical innovation to enhance operations of banks. Dr H.A.K Wampah, a Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), charged the banks to take advantage of the new facility to improve payment system in the country and make it impact positively on economic development.He said in a highly competitive and globalised economic environment, it was incumbent on the financial sector to promote efficiency and speed in economic activities, the reason for which the CCC system was relevant.He said this was why the BoG had continued to take measures to improve the financial sector especially security and efficiency of payment systems bringing it up to international standards. The CCC system was financed by the Millennium Development Authority, which hoped to use the platform to reach out to rural populations that are under-served in terms of banking services as well as widen access to savings, credit and cash transfer services.
Source:GNA

“National Drivers’ Academy” to be established

2009-08-31T02:08:00.000-07:00

A consultative workshop has been held in Accra to dialogue among stakeholders within the transport industry on the establishment of a National Drivers Academy. The proposed drivers’ training school is aimed at providing formal and structured training for commercial vehicle drivers to improve competence, professional ethics and general good conducts on the road to prevent possible road accidents.

The school to be known as the “National Drivers’ Academy” is an initiative of the National Road Safety Commission in collaboration with the Driver and vehicle licensing authority (DVLA) and Government Technical Training Centre(GTTC) . In the management of the school, GTTC will be the solitary managers of the institute and shall be responsible for the registration of participants, resource mobilization, training and development.
On the other hand, examination and certification will be done by the NSRC and other relevant stakeholders in accordance with the national vocational training framework and regulations. Students are to taking through vocational oriented courses and will be centre on professional ethics and road safety by seasoned road safety practitioners.
Speaking at the workshop last week, the minister of Transport commended the three institutes for their enormous initiative especially in support to road safety in the country. Mike Hammah said, “Studies revealed that human errors during driving is a major cause of road crashes representing 60% of all road accidents and also a contributing factor in over 90% of accidents, if its for these and other related reasons I commended you all for your efforts”.
Mr.Hammah urged all transports operator, union and drivers to take advantage of the opportunity of the academy to help upgrade their knowledge, skills and road user behaviour.
The Chief executive officer of the National Road safety Commission said the multi-disciplinary nature of road safety problem requires that all stakeholders should show concern and commitment. Mr. Noble Appiah reiterated that, “the multi stakeholder and multi disciplinary characteristics of road safety creates a platform for all of us to show commitment and passion towards road safety as nobody is immune to road traffic crashes” . Let’s all support programs and activities of the NRSC to enable the country achieve its strategic objectives for road safety.
Story by: Michael Amedor

Ghana steps up measures to ratify ECOWAS Small Arms Convention

2009-08-31T02:04:00.000-07:00

Government on Friday charged the newly constituted Board of Ghana National Commission on Small Arms (NATCOM) to end the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the country. "The re-constitution of NATCOM Board is an encouraging sign of Ghana's readiness to work closely with other member states of ECOWAS to reduce the proliferation of small arms, which has stifled the economic and political development of the sub-region for almost two decades," Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior, told the new board of NATCOM in Accra."You are mandated to put in place programmes of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW, educate and sensitise the public and provide information on the dangers of small arms in order to discourage their production," he added.Mr Avoka also charged the Board to ensure that deliberations under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Small Arms Programme were complied with, including the ratification of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW.The Board, among other functions, is to advise the Minister on the formulation of policies and strategies as contained in the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and other relevant international conventions to which Ghana is a party. The Commission will receive and study periodic reports from the Ghana Police Service on the registration and licensing of arms. The Minister said the inauguration of the Board was a demonstration of the country's readiness to join forces with other sub-regional institutions and countries to collectively address the small arms menace.The 14-member Board is chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Ohene Asare (Rtd) and includes Colonel K. Appiah Agyapong and Lt Col. Charles Agyemang Prempeh both of the Ghana Armed Forces. Others are Mr Baffour Dokyi Amoa, President of the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA); Ms Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr Kwaku Ohene Agyei, Ministry of the Interior; and Ms Gertrude Aikins, the Attorney General's Department. The rest are Mr John Dogbe, National Security Council; District Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Frank Adu Poku and DCOP John Kudalor, the Ghana Police Service; Mr Moses K. Gyamfi Ghana Immigration Service and Major Nicholas Darbo (rtd) CEPS. Squadron Leader Atta Egyir Fynn Mends and Commissioner of Police (COP) Mrs Jane Donkor (rtd) are Government's nominees.
Source:GNA

Vodafone: New dismissal list on Tommorrow

2009-08-31T02:01:00.000-07:00

JUDGMENT DAY AT VODAFONE

Workers of Vodafone Ghana are living in fear and anxiety as Tuesday,1st September, 2009 approaches.The day, tagged â€˜Judgment Dayâ€™ by the workers, would see the release of the list of the next batch of workers to be affected by the compulsory redundancy package put together by the management of the company.At almost all the offices of the telecommunication company, workers could be seen discussing the likely outcome of the release, the people likely to be affected and the effects of being unemployed.The facial expression depicts a combination of fear, anxiety and despair, with some of them praying for the day to come quickly for them to know their fate. What makes the day more dreadful is the fact that no criteria have been set for selecting those to be affected; as a result, it is difficult to predict who is to be affected.It is therefore at the whims and caprices of the top management members to determine who qualifies or not, as there are not performance assessment modalities in the company to evaluate the contribution of individual workers to the overall output of the company.In despair, some of the workers have started preparing themselves for the worst, even though they donâ€™t know who is going to be on the list. To them, it is better to prepare for the worst, that when it comes, one does not get shocked; if the best comes, then one has to thank his God.Less than a year after taking over the ownership of the only state-own communication network, Vodafone Ghana, finding the number of workers too high for the achievement of set targets, has through high-handed compulsory means succeeded in sending home 1,900 workers.Initially, 864 workers were disposed of under a voluntary package of three-month salary for each year of service in the company. An additional 78 workers also found their way out through the same package.However, having failed to convince more workers to follow suite, Vodafone is now applying rough tactics to forcefully retire more members of staff under a compulsory redundancy scheme. Some staff have been targeted and barring any last minute intervention, more workers would exit Vodafone in next few months. However, a section of the workers and the public believe that the exercise is aimed at ensuring the comfort of some top management members, some of whom are lodging in hotels and taking home fat salaries at a high cost to the company, which could not make profit last year.The Daily Democrat can state categorically that the Villagio Hotel at the Airport Area, close to the house of former President Kufuor, is host to some of them. Stay tuned.
Source:Ghanaian Democrat

CRIG to facilitate poverty reduction in cocoa growing areas

2009-08-31T01:51:00.000-07:00

The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)on Saturday said it would facilitate poverty reduction programmes among populations in cocoa growing areas. It is therefore facilitating the promotion of more profitable ways of preparing "alata samina" also called "alata soap, throughout the cocoa growing areas.Dr Jemmy Takrama, Senior Research Officer of CRIG, said this at a workshop for women groups in the Kadjebi, Jasikan and Akpafu areas of the Volta Region, on new ways of making "alata samina." He said the new ways which was an improved version of the traditional method would help the women make more profits. The Rural Enterprises Project of the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) collaborated in the programme, which is funded by the World Cocoa Foundation.Dr Takrama said similar workshops had been organized for women in the Western, Brong-Ahafo and Central Regions and that the aim of CRIG was for people in the cocoa production areas to put cocoa by-products to good use. Dr Takrama, who is also the Project Coordinator, said the women were being trained in packaging and costing too.
Source:GNA

NPP stalwarts exchange blows

2009-08-28T03:16:00.000-07:00

Blows were exchanged between two New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwarts at the studios of Asempa FM on the station’s current affairs program, Ekosii Sen, yesterday, when tempers flared on certain pronouncements that bothered on the recent delegates conference of the party where major portions of the party’s constitution were amended.Michael Ampong, a youth activist of the party, had strong reservations about an article written by Mahama Haruna, a former presidential correspondent of the Statesman Newspaper, published on Ghana Web and the Thursday August 27, 2009 edition of the Ghanaian Lens Newspaper.The article, which became the subject of controversy, alluded to the fact that former President Kufuor and Alan Kyeremanten sponsored some supporters of the NPP to vote against the amendments of the NPP’s constitution.According to Mahama Haruna, those who lost that vote were not in tune with the pulse of the party.Michael Ampong, on the other hand, replied that Huruna's assertions were irresponsible.This incensed Mahama Haruna, resulting in a confrontation between the two NPP members; Haruna therefore threw a blow at Michael Ampong who had then held his shirt.Producers and other staff of Asempa FM had to rush to the studio to stop what had then degenerated into hefty fist cuffs.Listeners will recall events prior to the emergency conference of the NPP were characterized by sharp opinions on whether the party had to adopt the then proposed amendments which were ultimately accepted by the delegates.
Source:Kwadwo Asare-Baffour Acheampong/Asempa FM