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Preview: Stakes are high for teams in drop zone

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:49:20 +0000

Certainly, hours before the penultimate round of matches in the Glo Premier League kicks off on Sunday, clubs battling relegation are attracting lots of attention as their survival hopes continue.
The media’s spotlight is been focused on them with the pairings throwing up intriguing battles.
From the 11th placed side to the team rooted bottom of the 16-team standings, Sunday’s matches remain more than crucial.
While glory this weekend could be crucial, defeat to any side will certainly be disastrous and all but confirm the season’s relegation places.
Tema Youth, lying 11th need just a point [from 32-33] from their meeting with Wa All Stars at the Tema Park to guarantee them premiership safety and a place in next season’s league.
Positioned at 12th, Heart of Lions with 30 points have to win this weekend or prolong their survival battle to the final day. Lions will be at their home base, the Kpando Park, when New Edubiase turns up for their weekend game.
Though relegation will be disaster, it mirrors the poor performances of certain teams in the first round of the league.
Berekum Arsenal and Wassaman are two of such sides. The Gunners endured a difficult first round and continued into the second round but appear to be pushing up gradually though somehow late.
They take on relegation candidates, Wassaman, who are sitting 14th on the table and one point behind the Gunners at the Golden City Park. Wassaman have promised their players a 100 percent increment in bonuses if they win on Sunday.
Second from bottom side, Bechem United welcome Ebusua Dwarfs, knowing that defeat at the Bechem Park will see them all but bid goodbye to the Premier League.
Mighty Jets last season managed a final day miracle to avoid the drop. Now rooted bottom of the table, the Jets are faced with another relegation contest ahead of their meeting with city rivals, Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In other games, Liberty Professionals will be at home to in-form Berekum Chelsea at the Carl Reindorf.
Medeama could pose a threat to Aduana’s hopes of finishing second on the standings when both sides clash at the Tarkwa T&A Park.
The AshantiGold and Asante Kotoko clash at the Len Clay Stadium could have been the weekend’s top-liner but it’s given way to the many relegation battles.
Despite that, the game will still attract lots of attention as the rivalry between both sides seems not to die down to wrap up a busy weekend.
Source: Ghanafa.org

Referees named for penultimate round matches

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:45:41 +0000

The Referees Committee of the GFA has announced the complete list of match officials for the penultimate round of matches this weekend.

Below is the list of referees and assistants for match-day-29 of the Glo Premier League on Sunday.

Sunday, May 20

Match: Medeama vs. Aduana

Venue: Trakwa T&A Park

Referee: Charles Dowuona

Assistant 1: Ashitey Armah

Assistant 2: J. B. Smith

4th Official: J. A. Amenya

Match: Mighty Jets vs. Hearts of Oak

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Referee: E. R. Biney

Assistant 1: F. D. Ocansey

Assistant 2: Kofi Asare

4th Official: Sumaila Ibrahim

Match: Arsenal vs. Wassaman

Venue: Golden City Park

Referee: Franklin Cobbinah

Assistant 1: A. S. Malik

Assistant 2: David Laryea

4th Official: Samuel Sukah

Match: Heart of Lions vs. Edubiase

Venue: Kpando Park

Referee: Otis Oppong

Assistant 1: Joseph Sey

Assistant 2: Sulemana Abudu

4th Official: Samuel Quaye

Match: Bechem vs. Ebusua Dwarfs

Venue: Bechem Park

Referee: Reginald Lathbridge

Assistant 1: Dawood Quedraogo

Assistant 2: Eric Nantiere

4th Official: Musah Ali Plato

Match: AshantiGold vs. Asante Kotoko

Venue: Len Clay Stadium

Referee: William Agbovi

Assistant 1: David Agyin

Assistant 2: Emmanuella Aglago

4th Official: Sylvester Adjorku

Match: Liberty vs. Berekum Chelsea

Venue: Carl Reindorf Park

Referee: Samuel Gyasi

Assistant 1: Agyeman Dua

Assistant 2: B. A. Crenstil

4th Official: Daniel Laryea

Match: Tema Youth vs. Wa All Stars

Venue: Tema Stadium

Referee: Joe Baffoe

Assistant 1: Kennedy Bentil

Assistant 2: Abu Williams

4th Official: Daniel Offei
Source: Ghanafa.org

Adomah out of Ghana squad

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:40:41 +0000

Albert Adomah has been forced to withdraw from the Ghana squad ahead of next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zambia.
The Bristol City attacker is out after suffering a knee injury.
He has been replaced by debutant, Solomon Asante of Berekum Chelsea.
Asante will join the Black Stars when they start a non-residential camp in Accra on 21st May, 2012.
The squad will be pruned before the team departs to Kumasi on 27th May ahead of the match against Lesotho on 1st June, 2012.
Ghana face Lesotho in Kumasi for Appiah’s first game before they play Zambia on June 9 in Ndorla.

Ghana Squad

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Robert Dabuo (Wa All Stars), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea)
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Chelsea), Masawudu Alhassan (Genoa, Italy), John Boye (Rennes, France), Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbin, China), Daniel Addo (Zorya Luhansk, Ukraine) Rashid Sumaila (Dwarfs), Jerry Akaminko (Manisaspor, Turkey), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese ,Italy), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France) Richard Mpong (Medema) Solomon Asante (Berekum Chelsea), Christian Atsu (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ishmael Yartey, (Servette, Switzerland), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).
Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Ben Acheampong (Kotoko), Emmanuel Baffour (New Edubiase), Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea).

Source: Ghanafa.org

Debut call propels Akaminko to prove his worth

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:47 +0000

After being handed a place in the squad for next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Ghana defender Jerry Akaminko’s next task is to force his way into coach Kwesi Appiah’s first team plans.
Akaminko is one of the seven players being a handed their debut call ups as the 24-year-old defender prepares to prove himself.
“To be very honest with you, I am very happy to be in the team and hope to impress my new boss,” said Akaminko after being included in the Black Stars’ 30-man squad which will be prune later.
“There is no bigger pride than to play for your national team. The task ahead is huge but I believe we can go to high places.”
The defender will be coming up against more experienced players for a place in the central defence of the Black Stars.
And he is aware that he has to prove himself to seal a spot in the team.
“The players that have been called up are fantastic and surely everyone will be fighting for a place in the final squad.
“And so I will also do my best to ensure I get a place in the team with determination and focus.”
Akaminko, a former Heart of Lions player featured 27 times for Maniaspor this season in the Turkish league.

Source: Ghanafa.org

Princesses staying positive for final tie

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:22:42 +0000

A place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is almost certain for Ghana’s women’s U-20 team, who are chasing their second straight appearance.
The Black Princesses who won 3-1 in the first leg against Tunisia are 90 minutes away from becoming one of Africa’s two representatives for the World Cup.
Nervousness will not in says, Robert Sackey, coach of the Ghana team as they prepare to play the Tunisians at the Accra Sports Stadium at 3:00pm on Saturday.
“We are trying to stay positive and think positive, that’s the only way we can be positive,” Sackey told www.ghanafa.org on Friday.
“We are not nervous. Nervousness doesn’t in come here.

“They[Black Princesses] have been there [World Cup] before. They are very poised and have the experience to go about situations like this. That is what they are about.”
With a 3-1 lead and a tie away from reaching the finals in Azerbaijan, Sackey is confident of their chances but insists that the Black Princesses ‘will do what it takes’ to finish with a win.
“In a match like this, you don’t need to think beyond the game. They will do what it takes.
“It’s not about the goal margins. What matters most is doing what it takes to win.
Ghana made their World Cup debut in the Germany 2010 finals.
Source: Ghanafa.org

Health officials schooled on new vaccines

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:12:13 +0000

Health officials in Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality have been trained on the new expanded programme on immunization vaccines for children under one year.
The two vaccines, pneumococcal and rotavirus are additional vaccines being introduced in Ghana for the first time and will also be part of the health Directorates routine immunization schedule.
Briefing participants on some key issues on the vaccines, including techniques of administration and adverse reactions, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the municipal disease control officer said, deploying these vaccines will lead to a reduction in diarrhoea and pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths in the country.
He said diarrhoea and pneumonia are among the leading causes of death in children less than five years of age.
Mr Tetteh said the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is 36 % effective against x-ray confirmed pneumonia while clinical pneumonia is also 8% effective, whereas rotavirus vaccine is 30.3% effective against severe diarrhoea.
He said the vaccines was introduced nationwide in May this year but the Tarkwa Nsueam assembly will launch its programme on the vaccines on Thursday May 26.
The disease control officer appealed to Ghanaians to embrace the programme to help reduce mortality due to the high rate of pneumonia and diarrhoea cases recorded in the country.
Nana Esi Brew Monney

NDC Chairman denies 350 members’ defection to NPP

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:05:45 +0000

The Western Regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Nana Toku, on Friday discounted claims by the former NDC Sekondi Constituency Vice Chairman that 350 members of the party have defected to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, the former Sekondi NDC Vice Chairman, Alhaji Usumanu Mohammed left alone from the party and not 350 Zongo members of the NDC as he claimed.
Nana Toku told westerngh.com in an interview that Alhaji Mohammed left the party for his greedy, selfish and personal interest and not because of the petty wrangling between the ex-President Rawlings and the NDC executives.
The NDC Chair noted that Alhaji Mohammed requested that he should be given a KIA Kombo truck being distributed by the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP).
He added that Alhaji Mohammed also wanted to be given appointment by the government but upon assessment, he was disqualified hence his resignation from the party in March last year.
The NDC Regional Chairman indicated that Alhaji Mohammed had benefited from the NDC government immensely because he was sponsored by the NDC government to perform Hajj in Mecca. Again, Alhaji Mohammed’s son had been given a job through the help of the party.
The NDC Regional Chair questioned the essence of Alhaji Mohammed leaving the party because ex-President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, had not left the party but were still in the party.
Nana Toku said despite the defection of Alhaji Mohammed from the NDC to the NPP, a committee had been set up in Sekondi Constituency to bring him (Alhaji Mohammed) back to the party because in politics one person counts.
He added that very soon the NDC Sekondi Constituency would come out with a press statement on the alleged 350 members of the party defecting to the NPP.
It would be recalled that, Alhaji Osumanu Mohammed on May 15, this month, called a press conference in Sekondi, to announce his defection and 350 others to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)

250 0il seed farmers awarded

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:40:39 +0000

As part of efforts to encourage farmers benefiting from the Sustainable Community Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) programme, on oil palm farming, Goldfields Limited, Damang mine, has rewarded 250 farmers for their hard work.
The award winner’s received oil palm inputs such as fertilizers, spraying machines and weedicides as their prize.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Robert Siaw, the Sustainable Development manager of Goldfields Ghana said in November 2005, Gold Fields Ghana instituted a five-year community development programme dubbed “Sustainable Community Empowerment and Economic Development Programme (SEED)” under which primary stakeholder communities were assisted in various interventions with the primary objective of empowering these communities.
He said the strategic objective of the agricultural component was to provide economic development opportunities for individuals and groups in their catchment communities.
According to the sustainable development manager, early this year an assessment on the performance of the beneficiaries’ farms was carried out.
He said conditions on the plantations including well pruned, pest infestation, correct spacing and presence of weeds were used as indicators in the assessment.
Mr. Siaw said out of the 343 beneficiaries who were assisted in the Damang communities, farms between 6 per cent and 41 per cent were said to be in excellent or poor condition, while 1 per cent had stopped farming and the remaining 20 per cent were not inspected at all due to inaccessibility.
The sustainable development manager said those awarded this year represented 73 per cent had improved over last year’s figure of 57 per cent, adding that most farmers were putting the provision under the scheme to good use.
Mr. Christo Viljoen, general manager of Gold fields Ghana, Damang mine, said GHc97,000 was spent on the items distributed to the farmers.
He said the objective of the award scheme is to reward committed farmers for their efforts in the past year and also to motivate them to continue to excel.
The general manager said plans were underway to undertake training in harvesting, marketing and financing, and credit management for the beneficiaries since most of them had started harvesting.
Mr. Viljoen said an oil palm processing plant will be set up in the communities to process the palm fruits in order to generate higher income.
He said the company will continue to collaborate with the ministry of agriculture to improve on the provision of agricultural extension services in the communities.
The ceremony was used to donate items worth GHc9,0000 to the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) committee in Damang to enable them to work effectively.
Nana Esi Brew Monney

Falling tree kills Samartex Wood Company’s worker

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:39:31 +0000

Tragedy struck Samartex Wood and Lumber Company when one of its workers was killed by a falling tree while another worker was severely injured at Bodiawu.
Mr. Samuel Danso, the Company’s Forest Manager reported the tragic incident to the Sekondi Police on Thursday.
He told the police that he went with Yaw Aboagye,35, and Patrick Cobbina,32, both workers of the company to work in Yoyo Forest, near Bodiawu in the Prestea Huni Valley District on May 11.
He said while they were working the two were trapped by a falling tree and in the process, Aboagyie died and Cobbina was severely injured and admitted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi.
The police confirmed the tragic incident and are conducting further investigations.
Source : GNA

Four people die from cholera outbreak in Elubo

Nana Esi Monney- Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:36:03 +0000

Two more people have died from the Cholera outbreak in the Jomoro District of the Western Region, bringing the total number of deaths so far to four.
The deceased were identified as Peter Ackah, 45, and Sayika, 34, from Seikrom Norway near the border with Cote d’Ivoire.
The Assembly member for Seikrom Electoral Area, Mr. James Ewuah, made this known to the GNA in Half Assini on Thursday.
The cholera outbreak which health authorities attributed to pollution of the Tano River claimed two lives last week, with 33 people hospitalised in Elubo.
The health authorities have advised residents who use the Tano River as a source of drinking water to boil before drinking.

Source: GNA