Training programme for Police personnel begins

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

Transition Bill is to end acrimony - IDEG

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

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

Ga Mantse Caught

*.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

India celebrates ITEC day in Accra

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

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

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

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

FBI in Ghana for investigations

..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

"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

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

Passion for Needy supports Nsawam Medium Prison inmates

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

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

Africa Media Leadership Conference opens

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.

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

Three American Drug Suspects Picked at KIA

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

Land Survey Holds 2009 Annual Seminar

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

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

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

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

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