COMMONWEALTH SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT FIJI ISLANDS

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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