Woyome for court – report

A Daily Graphic report says this morning February 6, 2012 that there are indications that Alfred Agbesi Woyome and a Chief State Attorney Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh who were arrested last week over the long running GH¢ 51 million judgement payment saga will be put before court today.
The report suggests that the police will seek to remand the two persons in custody to enabe the police continue investigations until charges are pressed against the them.
It also suggests that the probability of the State going to court is to forestall the possibility of Woyome’s lawyers going to court to seek bail under the 48-hour custody rule.
Woyome, the businessman who is embroiled in a GH¢51 million judgement debt payment saga in connection with the 2008 African Cup of Nations, was arrested February 3, 2012 and is being held in detention at the Police Headquarters in Accra.
Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh however, was arrested following the release of a report after investigations into the matter by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) which showed that Woyome has paid an amount of GH¢400,000 into his wife, Mrs. Gifty Nerquaye-Tetteh’s account.
Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh is reported to have advised the former Attorney-General in the matter before court, when Woyome sued the state seeking the judgement debt.
Nana Esi Brew Monney

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Kwarasey delighted with his growing confidence at AFCON

Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey says he is happy to be regaining his form after his nervy start at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 24-year-old shot stopper, who is making his tournament debut in Africa’s flagship competition, has been criticized for his role in conceding a goal against Guinea in the final group game.
Some have also questioned the Norway-born keeper’s aerial judgments.
However, Kwarasey saved Ghana’s blushes in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over Tunisia on Sunday and says he is getting to grips with the system.
“It’s normal. This is my first big tournament so it would take time for me to get into the system and today [Tunisia match] was good,” the Ghana goalkeeper said after the game at the Stade de Franceville.
“It was nice to get a good game again because I haven’t felt that I have been on top. Today, it felt good, something is coming back again, so it’s nice.”
He made his debut for the Black Stars in September last year in a Nations Cup qualifier against Swaziland and has gone on to make the number one jersey his own.
The goalkeeper admits that he is a bit baffled with the criticisms leveled at him but accepts them in good faith.
“It takes time but you just have to be bold and jump into it. Today, it was no nonsense and I just had to play well. It was good. I can’t accept certain things but it’s football,” he said.
And he believes the only way to answer his critics is to ensure that he continues to perform well for the Black Stars.
“You have to accept certain things. The only thing I can do is to answer them on the field and I think today, what I did for me is normal and I think I can do much, much better.”

Ghana captain Mensah hopes to be fit for Zambia clash

John Mensah prays he recovers from an aggravated injury to lead Ghana in the Nations Cup semi final clash against Zambia on Wednesday.
The Black Stars captain who missed days of training after sustaining a thigh injury in the opening game against Botswana had to come off in the second half in the 2-1 win over Tunisia after feeling pains in the same area.
The 29-year-old who gave Ghana a lot of stability at the back against Tunisia and has even added goalscoring to his attributes at the tournament now emerges a major doubt for the potentially explosive game against the Chipoloplo.
However the Olympique Lyon defender is keeping positive of his playing prospects and says his fate will be determined after sessions with Ghana’s medical team throughout the night.
“I felt something at the same place in the first half and I struggled to finish the game,” he told GHANAsoccernet.com.
“But the more I continue to defend some balls, the more I felt the pain so I told the coach who knows my condition so I had to come out.
“Now I can’t tell (if he will be fit for Zambia) but I am going to see our special physio throughout the night to make sure I will be fine for the next game.
“I however still feel some pains there (thigh) so I can’t risk it for us to concede some goals so I am sure we will have a suitable replacement if I am unable to make it.”

Ayew marveled at strong mentality of bereaved Annan

Andre Ayew is amazed at the strong mentality displayed by Anthony Annan despite the death of his mother, Sophia Sampson.

Annan, 25, was informed late Thursday night of the passing away of his mother ahead of Ghana’s crucial Nations Cup quarter final tie with Tunisia.

But the Vitesse Arnhem player managed to pick himself up from his sorrow to help the Black Stars secure a priceless 2-1 over the Carthage Eagles to secure passage into the semi final where Zambia awaits.

And his teammate, Ayew who is part of a team that has resolved to play to honour the memory of the departed is in awe at the manner in which the diminutive holding midfielder had conducted himself so far.

“In this world what is the most important thing is the mum,” he said.

“And for somebody to lose his mum in such a tournament and at such a stage is very difficult.

“He has proved so much mental strength, look at the game he played today. He was everywhere; I think we should give him thumps up because he had shown a lot of character.

“And we dedicate this victory for him and hopefully he is going to continue like that and we will get the cup for him and his mother.”

Disabled students want LI to enforce Disability ACT

Disabled students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), have appealed to Government to put in place a Legislative Instrument to enforce the National Disability ACT (ACT 715) of 2006 to enable them access free education.
Mr. Mark Akubire Attia, President of the Association, made the appeal when he addressed a forum to celebrate the world Disability Day at Winneba last Friday.
It was under the theme: “Together for development for Better World including persons with disability on development.”
They also appealed to the Government, political parties and the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that this year’s elections were conducted in a transparent, free and peaceful manner chaos.
The President said when conflict erupted, it was person’s with disability who suffered the most and stressed the need for a peaceful elections devoid of any trouble.
Mr. Attia also emphasized the need for the Government to employ sign language interpreters in all agencies and departments, especially in the law courts, Police stations and health facilities for their counterparts, the hearing impaired to access proper and fair judgement.
Source: GNA

Tunisia coach names three Black Stars players to mark out of the game

Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi says Andre Ayew, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan as the major threats to his team and he will map out strategies to neutralise them when they clash on Sunday.
Tunisia are hoping not to be outdone by the individual brilliance of the Black Stars of Ghana in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in Franceville.
A magical long-range effort by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu ensured Ghana drew 1-1 with Guinea on Wednesday to finish top of their group.
Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi, who watched the game, picked Andre Ayew, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan as the major threats to his team.
“Ghana have (Andre) Ayew, Muntari and Gyan. We have to be mindful of these players,” warned Trabelsi Saturday during a press briefing at the team’s training base in Bongoville, about 40 kilometres from Franceville.
“I know them very well as I know the other players in their squad. But I’m also sure that (Goran) Stevanovic, the coach of Ghana, also knows all my 23 players because today in football nothing is hidden.
“We play as a team, while they often rely on the brilliance of their individual players to make the difference for them.”
He added: “Ghana boast of a very rich and proud tradition in football and we respect this, but Tunisia too have a pedigree.

“We therefore expect a keen contest on Sunday with both teams having an equal chance of advancing to the next stage of this competition.
“But we are ready for this match and we hope to make the people of Tunisia proud.”
Tunisia last reached the semi-finals in 2004, when they hosted and won the tournament.
They were stopped in the quarter-finals of the 2006 and 2008 competitions by Nigeria and Cameroon respectively and failed to go past the first round at Angola 2010.

UNCTAD to train Ghanaian officials

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will train 28 middle port managers in Ghana under its Module 4 TrainForTrade programme starting February 6-10, 2012.
The training programme which is in collaboration with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) will focus on the future challenges to Ghanaian ports.
According to the UN trade agency, the Module aims to “improve trainees´ understanding of strategies to create new competitive advantages for the port; reinforce port safety and improve the health of staff members; put into place environmental protection policies and implement quality management.”
The training will be delivered by local instructors – many of them successfully trained by the UNCTAD/TrainForTrade during the previous cycle of the programme, it indicated.
The training, funded by the Iris Aid, will be held in Takoradi.

PNC expels Dr. Somtim Tobiga

Two members of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Somtim Tobiga and Mr Bernard Bame-Ime, have summarily been dismissed by the National Executive Committee of the party for persistent misconduct.
The expulsion follows resolutions adopted by the party’s congress at Sunyani to dismiss members whose actions bring the image of the party into disrepute based on Article 14c of the PNC constitution.
“These persons and their agents and associates have consistently defined the collective decisions of the party, disregarded the internal organs, refused to submit to the arbitration, and ignored several decisions of the law courts of Ghana,” chairman of the congress Dr Sule Gariba announced.
“The two, Dr Somtim Tobiga and Mr Bernard Bame-Ime, have consistently perpetuated activities that have brought the party into disrepute including seizing by force the party’s headquarters, locking out the party’s legitimate offices and staff, unlawfully installing an interim management committee, and action unwarranted and unrecognized by the constitution of the People’s National Convention (PNC),” he declared and prayed to delegates to adopt the decision, and it was unanimously supported by the party’s congress.
Other resolutions adopted by the congress included the rights to vote at elections and be elected into office which was amended and expanded.
Persons who vie for positions at the constituency level must have at least spent 12 months in the party, 24 months for regional executives and 48 months for national offices – one must also be in good standing to be eligible.
The constitution also allows the NEC to appoint persons to unelected positions.
The congress also adopted a resolution which combined the post of a national chairman with that of the party leader. The flag-bear who used to be the leader of the party will now perform duties leading to his or her election as the president of the Republic of Ghana.
Congress also agreed to have two deputies for the following national positions: General Secretary, National Organiser, Treasurer, Women’s Organiser and National Youth Organiser.
The chairman of the party’s congress would now have additional powers to act as the returning officer and endorsed candidates elected at congress, and liaise with the EC on behalf of the party.
Source Myjoyonline.com

MAXAM donates video conferencing equipment to UMAT

MAXAM, an internationally renowned provider of blasting products, services, and technical assistance for the global mining, quarrying and construction sectors, has donated video conferencing equipment worth 75,000 dollars equivalent of GHS120, 000 to the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) in Tarkwa.
The CEO of MAXAM, Jose Sanchez-Junco who was supported by other MAXAM executives and workers to commission the facility, said it formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility as a mining service company in Ghana.
According to the Chairman and Group CEO of MAXAM, excellent service to their clients is the company’s hallmark globally, and this demands a high calibre of professionals to deliver the service.
“It is for this reason that MAXAM invests in the development of human resource through support to training institutions. It is our expectation that the equipment donated will go a long way to enhance the quality of learning in the University and advance the exchange of knowledge via video conferencing with other higher institutions of learning”.
MAXAM also runs a programme known as the Young Engineers & Scholarship Programme (YESS Programme). The programme, which is structured to encourage University education for future professionals within MAXAM by training them to become international operations engineers, has so far benefited three Ghanaian mining engineers from the University.
Mr. Sanchez-Junco noted that aside the support to educational institutions and health facilities, specifically the Tarkwa Government Hospital, MAXAM, has contributed immensely to Ghana’s economy. He aid between 2009 and 2011, MAXAM paid taxes to the tune of US$ 5,685, 715.34 to the Government of Ghana. Maxam last year saw a revenue of 30.7 million dollars.
Nana Prah Agyinsem V1, the Chief of Assin Kushea in the Central Region, and one of the Directors of MAXAM Ghana, a subsidiary of the Maxam Group, urged students of the leading Science University in the sub-region to take advantage of the opportunities provided by MAXAM to become better in their various fields.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) Professor Jerry Yaw Kumah expressed University’s profound appreciation to MAXAM, stating that the video conferencing equipment will play a key role in the transfer of knowledge to enhance academic work.
“Anything that will lead to education where we may not have the person we want to talk to directly on campus, then obviously we are going to make use of this facility. When it comes to conferences, one can contribute to it wherever in the world through the equipment. When it comes to distance education, this unit can also be very instrumental in getting lectures to students. For instance, a lecturer here can deliver a lecture to students in Spain. In all, any aspect of education where you would want to relay information to another destination where there is distance between you, this equipment will make it possible and easier” he explained.
Professor Kumah however appealed to MAXAM to assist in the installation, maintenance and running of the equipment since its internet cost would be higher due to the quality of speed required for its usage.

MAXAM has been present in Ghana since the early 1990s. In 1994, MAXAM Ghana Limited (also known as MAXAM Ghana), was established as the local subsidiary of the MAXAM Group. It employs over 140 highly-skilled professionals.
In Ghana, MAXAM runs a state-of-the-art facility at Iduapriem, which provides products to AngloGold Ashanti Mine in Tarkwa.
On the wider African continent, MAXAM has number of subsidiaries in other mining countries, and operates in more than 40 countries and sells its products in over 100 countries.

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Three children succumb to lethal bacteria

Three of five children infected by staphylococcus aureus, a lethal bacteria, have died at the emergency block of the Children’s ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The two surviving children are responding to available treatment.
Prof Afua Hesse, Director of Medical Affairs at the hospital, said on Friday it was still not clear what caused the bacteria infection as the infected children came from outside the hospital.
This was made known when the Parliamentary select committee on Health visited the ward and also interacted with the management staff of the hospital.
According to the Professor, measures had been taken to limit the spread of the infection to other children.
She noted that the ward was being fumigated to ensure that all the germs were killed as the bacteria was an environmental bug.
“There is no cause for alarm because the Out- Patient clinics are running except that we are not admitting patients at the moment.”
Prof Hesse said postmortem would be carried out to ascertain the cause, adding that “this particular infection does not respond to any anti-biotic”.
Prof Nii Out Nartey, CEO of the hospital, said a new emergency centre for children is to be constructed soon, adding that the National Health Insurance Scheme had given GH1.5 million for the project scheduled to start in three month.
He said the emergency block could cater for only 15 patients but now the number had increased to about 50 that called for a new centre.
Rev. Prof Andrews Seth Ayettey, Board Chairman of the hospital, said research was not keeping pace with the disease’s resistance, saying since 1948 that anti-biotics were developed, there had not been any research into the causes of new infections and the type of anti-biotic treatment to be used.
Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka-Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Asawase and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, said the issue had been a worry to members of Parliament hence the visit for first hand information.
Source: GNA

Ban on politics at campuses of tertiary schools unconstitutional

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), on Friday said the call for a ban on the formation of political groups in tertiary institutions was unconstitutional.
“The NCCE considers the comments by a civic educator, Mr Stephen Agyei-Yeboah, Acting Agona East District Director of NCCE as a very distressing exposure of the poor knowledge of the Constitution.
“The 1992 Constitution grants every citizen of Ghana the right to join a political party of their choice and take part in the legitimate activities of their chosen political party,” Paapa Nketia, NCCE Director of Communication and Corporate Affairs, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.
Paapa Nketia, who was reacting to the call, said the Commission considered it as unfortunate and dissociated itself from the pronouncements of Mr Agyei-Yeboah.
Paapa Nketia said the NCCE since its establishment had worked hard, particularly with the youth of Ghana to ensure that all Ghanaians were politically engaged and conversant with their civic rights and responsibilities.
Indeed, “Our 850 civic education clubs (active in the many second and third tier institutions throughout Ghana) and many of our programmes are aimed at creating active and politically engaged youth who can sustain and promote Ghana’s democracy now and the future”, he said.
Paapa Nketia said the Commission was currently undertaking various programmes to build capacity of the Commission’s approximately 1800 staff.
“We wish to assure all Ghanaians that we are committed to delivering on our constitutional mandate. We will continue to work towards ensuring that all Ghanaians are aware of their civic rights and responsibilities.
“We will continue to work towards sustaining and promoting democracy in Ghana,” he said.
A GNA report indicates that during the inauguration of Agona East Inter-Party Dialogue Committee, recently, Mr Agyei-Yeboah, called on Parliament to ban the formation of political groupings in tertiary educational institutions in the country.
He explained that student political groupings such as TESCON and TEIN were encouraging indiscipline in Ghanaian tertiary institutions.
Mr Agyei-Yeboah said as students whose education was being taken care of by their parents or relatives, they should not be allowed to participate in active partisan politics, because it could affect their academic performance.
Source: GNA

University of Ghana cautions public on admissions

The authorities of University of Ghana, on Friday said some individuals were issuing letters purporting to offer admission to students into some programmes at the University, for an academic year that begins on January 25, 2012.
A statement issued by Mr J.M. Budu, Registrar of the University said, “It should be noted that the University of Ghana does not admit students into its undergraduate programmes at the beginning of the Second semester.”
“The general public and all those desirous of seeking admission into programmes at the University of Ghana, are asked to be vigilant, so as not to fall prey to such fraudulent acts.”
It said information on admission programmes at the University of Ghana, could be verified at the website: www.ug.edu.gh.
Source: GNA

Community Police appeals for payment of allowances

Twelve members of the Jomoro district Community Police Unit of the National Youth Employment Programme have appealed to the authorities of the programme to quickly pay their five months’ outstanding allowance to alleviate their suffering.
Mr Patrick Asabie Amihere, a member of the Unit, told westerngh.com that their counterparts in the Nzema East and Ellembelle districts were paid all their allowance before going for Christmas.
He said the delay in payment of their allowances allowance from September last year had imposed financial difficulties on them.
Mr Ezekiel Bomah, Jomoro District Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme, told westerngh.com that the Community Police Assistants had been removed from the NYEP and could not comment on the situation.
Chief Inspector J. A. Bortse, In-charge of Administration at the Jomoro District Police Command, confirmed that the Community Police Assistants had not been paid for five months.
He said the District Police Administration was writing to the authorities on behalf of the Unit.
Nana Esi Brew Monney

Drastic shortfall of gas supply leads to power ration in Ghana

The Volta River Authority (VRA), has announced that there would be an indefinite reduction of power supply by 100 megawatts, during the peak periods every day from 6.00 pm (1800) hours to 10.00 pm (2000).
This is due to the drastic shortfall in the supply of gas from Nigeria through the West African Gas Pipeline, to power the Thermal Plants.
A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday said, the VRA had therefore requested the Electricity Company of Ghana to undertake a load management exercise in various parts of the country.
Discussions are ongoing with suppliers of the gas to increase supply from the current 40 million standard cubic feet per day (mscf/d) to the contractual volumes of 100 mscf/d, to run all the thermal facilities.
“We assure our valued customers and the …public that VRA is committed to ensuring the supply of adequate power to all its customers, and regret any convenience caused,” the statement said.
Source: GNA

Golden Star to reopen oxide plant at Ghana mine

Canadian miner Golden Star Resources is set to restart its oxide plant at the Bogoso/Prestea gold mine in Ghana, according to a Reuters news report January 31, 2012 after the plant stopped operating in 2008 due to lack of oxide ore.
Citing a statement issued by Golden Star, the news wire said the plant is expected to generate up to 70,000 ounces of gold this year.
The company now expects 2012 output between 350,000 and 370,000 ounces of gold, up from 301,000 ounces it recorded in 2011 with full impact of the mill on production expected in 2012 second quarter, according to Reuters.

Source Reuters

HIV/AIDS cases increase in Prestea Huni/Valley

Mrs. Caroline Otoo, Prestea Huni/Valley District Health Director, said in 2011 the area recorded 120 cases of HIV/AIDS.
She said that out of the figure, 98 were women, 17 men and 5 children.
Mrs. Otoo, who was speaking at the 2011 Annual Review meeting on health situation in the district, said though the disease continued to increase in the area, the rate declined in 2009 and 2010.
He said increase in HIV/AIDS cases was due to sexual promiscuity, mainly by “galamsey” operators.
Mrs. Otoo expressed worry that some men for economic reasons sexually abused women, who did not protect themselves.
She said the district directorate was planning to organize educational talk on HIV/AIDS to help prevent the spread of the disease in the district.
Mrs. Otoo appealed to Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to use condom and abstain from casual sex, to prevent the spread of the disease.

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Nations Cup to hold minute’s silence after Egypt deaths

A minute’s silence for the victims of Egypt’s stadium disaster will be held at this weekend’s Africa Cup Nations quarter-finals.
Seventy four people died and at least 1,000 were injured when supporters invaded the pitch at a match in Port Said on Wednesday.
Most of the deaths were among people trampled in the crush of the panicking crowd while others fell or were thrown from terraces.
“African football is in a state of mourning,” said Issa Hayatou, president of the Cairo-based Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a message of condolence to the Egyptian Football Association.
The quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup are played in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon on Saturday and Sunday.
Egypt, who won the last three tournaments, failed to qualify for this year’s edition.

Andre Ayew claims shoulder injury not serious

Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew claims he is fit for the quarter-final clash against Tunisia despite struggling with a shoulder injury.
The 22-year-old was on two occasions aided by his teammates and the medical team to fix a dislocated right shoulder during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Guinea.
Ayew had to be substituted in the 87th minute by Charles Takyi as a precautionary measure.
It is feared that his long-standing shoulder problem could rule him out of Ghana’s next match but the Olympique Marseille ace says he is fit.
“I am fine, it was nothing really. This tournament is a tough competition so expectations that we would be hammering teams are off the mark,” Ayew said.
“We have qualified for the quarter finals from a tough group but we made it and topped the group too.
“We now focus on the challenge ahead and we still want to win the title and you will see that our play will show our commitment and determination to do that.
“Our games so far have been tough and we knew we would be facing up to tough teams but that’s why it is a tournament for the best 16 teams in Africa.”
Ayew scored a beauty in Ghana’s 2-0 win over Mali and was named Man-of-the-Match.

Gyan relishing difficult Tunisia test

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is envisaging another difficult game against Tunisia at the quarter finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Star drew 1-1 in their final Group D game against Guinea which saw them through as group winners to set up the tie with the 2004 winners.
The Ghanaians who were coming from the back of an impressive 2-0 win over Mali in their second group game failed to live up to expectations against the Syli Nationale.
And Gyan who admits he played against the stiffer side so far in the competition against Guinea believes Tunisia will be a much tougher side to beat.
“It is another difficult match for us,” Gyan said.
“The Tunisians are one of the best in the tournament although they lost to Gabon.
“We have seen them play and for me they are favourites for this competition so we really have to be on top of our game in order to beat them.”
Ghana who aim to end a 30-year wait for an African title have looked very inconsistent in their performance, casting doubts over whether they really are title contenders.
The Black Stars will play their quarter final match on Sunday evening against the Carthage Eagles who hosted and won the CAN in 2004.

Agyemang-Badu revels in historic Nations Cup goal

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has revealed he was oblivious that he had made a piece of history by scoring Ghana’s 100th Nations Cup goal but expressed his excitement.
The 21-year-old scored a goal of the tournament contender when he blasted home a classy volley from 20-yards after 28 minutes for the opener-his debut Nations Cup goal.
But the celebrations were cut by a first half extra-time equalizer by Razzagui Camara in the 1-1 draw on Wednesday night.
It was his fourth international goal for the Black Stars as an offensive midfielder.
Badu was excited to know he had etched his name in Ghana’s history books.
“I didn’t know anything about it. I’m very happy to score this 100th goal. I have to continue like this and focus on Tunisia,” Badu said.
I’m really really happy and I thank God it (goal) came.”
Wilberforce Mfum scored Ghana first Nations Cup goal at the 1963 finals on home soil.

Ghana will come better against Tunisia-Stevanovic

Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic has promised a better performance against Tunisia in the quarter-final of the Nations Cup.
The Black Stars have been criticized for an unconvincing display against Guinea on Wednesday which however earned them top spot in Group D.
Ghana’s title winning credentials are in doubt and must dust themselves off before their knock-out stage clash on Sunday.
Stevanovic admits his side were handed a reality check by the Guineans who failed to qualify.
“It was a very tough game,” Stevanovic said after the game.
“It was a very nervous game because Guinea needed to win and that complicated the situation.
“We started to win 1-0 but after one strange goal [Guinea equalizer] we continued to play and tried to win. We qualified but not practically [performance].
”The only thing on our head is maybe not too much ambition, not too much intensity. We would be better in the next game.”

“Okada business” on the rise – DSP Abdullah Mumuni

Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdullah Mumuni of the Odorkor Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) has raised concerns about the increasing number of unregistered motor cycles popularly known as the ‘Okada business’ in the city.
He said motor cycles were not to be commercial vehicles but many young men in the city had turned their bikes into such vehicles risking the lives of passengers.
DSP Mumuni said using motor cycles for commercial purposes could be very fast but also had several problems associated with it.
He said in 2011, there were 856 cases of road accidents reported in Accra out of which 73 was related to such motor accidents.
DSP Mumuni said most “Okada” riders did not use helmets making it unsafe for passengers, and did not adhere to traffic regulations leading to confusion on the roads.
He called on those engaged in the practice to immediately end it else the laws of the country would soon catch up with them.
Source: GNA

Dr Dzisah appointed Vice Rector of GIJ

The Governing Council of Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has appointed Dr Wilberforce S. Dzisah as the new Vice Rector of the Institute with effect from Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
A statement issued by Mr David Newton, Rector of the Institute, said the new Vice Rector was an alumnus of GIJ.
Dr Dzisah holds a PhD in Communications and Media from the University of Westminster, U.K,. and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from University of Wales, Cardiff.
He attended Keta Secondary School for his Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates, and until his appointment, Dr Dzisah was the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Social Science at the Institute.
Source: GNA

Damang gets community clinic

To help enhance access to good quality health care services, Gold fields Ghana Limited, Damang mine has constructed a community clinic for the people of Damang and its neighboring communities with a two-unit nurses quarters.
An amount of 286,000 thousand Ghana cedis was spent on the project which was funded from the Gold fields Ghana foundation programme.
Delivering a short address at the commissioning ceremony which took place at Damang on Thursday, vice president of operations in charge of Gold fields Ghana, Mr. Alfred Baku explained that the Goldfield Ghana foundation was established by the company with a commitment to contribute towards the socio-economic growth and development of Ghana with the emphasis on their primary stake stakeholder communities.
He said their intervention in the health sector has not been on infrastructure development alone but on human resources development aspect as well.
According to him, community health facilitators who play the role of nurses in the communities have been trained to provide first aid and health education in their respective communities.
Mr. Baku said in order to include the young and upcoming generation in their health programmes, abstinence clubs has been formed in their primary stakeholder’s communities to educate the children on sexual reproductive health issues.
The vice president of operations assured the Prestea Huni/Valley health directorate that their suggestion of upgrading the clinic in to a health center by adding a maternity block and an additional unit nurses quarters will be implemented this year.
The Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni/Valley constituency, Mr. Francis Adu-Blay Kwofie on his part Commended Damang mine for taking keen interest in the health service of the people in the community they operate in.
He entreated the district health directorate to protect and manage the facility effectively to ensure that the communities attain optimum benefit from it.
The Western regional director of health services, Dr. Linda Vanotoo added that health issues should be apriority to the entire Ghanaian citizenry.
She said the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services cannot deliver good health care services without the support of the private sector.
Dr. Vanotoo, charged health personals who will be working at the community clinic to give out their best to ensure that more lives are saved.
The chief of Damang, Nana Amoakwa III thanked the company for the gesture. He was however hopeful that the facility will save his community the hazard of traveling for several miles to seek for health care.

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Goldfields devotes 4.3 million dollars for community developments

Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mines, has devoted 4.3 million dollars for community development programs this year.

Among the areas to benefit are agriculture, education, health, water and sanitation and micro enterprise.

Acting General Manager, of the Company, Mr. Caspher Dzomeku said the company had estimated the production of 760,000 ounces of gold and a profit of 76,000 dollars to support development projects in its catchment communities.

Mr. Dzomeku said this at a consultative committee meeting at Tarkwa, which brought together departmental heads and assembly members from the Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipality and Prestea Huni-Valley District.

Acting Community Affairs Superintendent, Mr. Razak Yakubu said on agriculture, the company would monitor farms under the Sustainable Empowerment and Economic Development Programme (SEED) and also adopt strategies to hand over agric businesses to community members to ensure sustainability.
On education and health, he said, infrastructure would be constructed at the eight catchment communities adding that inter school quiz competition, support for teachers, scholarships and bursaries would be made available to brilliant but needy students.

Mr. Yakubu recalled that for the past Six years, Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mines, had spent 15.7 million dollars on projects covering education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and micro enterprise.

He said the company spent 3,209 million dollars on education, which topped all the other sectors representing 31 per cent with the health sector taking 1,145 million dollars representing 12 per cent.

He said 140 students have benefited from the scholarship scheme of which 66 students have completed.

With the bursary, Mr. Yakubu disclosed that out of the 235 beneficiaries, 164 were from Senior High School, 10 from vocational schools and 62 at the tertiary level.

Community Affairs and Public Relations Manager of Goldfields Ghana Tarkwa Mine, Lawyer Mubashir Dari noted that 18 people from the communities have been trained in auto mechanics, electrical, hairdressing and bulldozer operation under the community apprenticeship programme

Lawyer Dari said some of the projects the company executed includes the construction of new water systems at New Atuabo Abekoase, Huniso, Brahabebom and the extension of existing systems at New Atuabo and Samahu

Lawyer Dari noted that community projects earmarked for the year also includes the provision of refuse dumps for the two assemblies and construction of community centers for Akoon and Tebe.

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Food and Drugs Board to storm Senior High Schools

 
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) will soon embark on a comprehensive exercise in public Senior High Schools to ensure that the preparation of food for students is done under good hygienic conditions.
Mr Matthew Gyan Nkum, Brong-Ahafo Regional Officer of the Board, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Wednesday, said their personnel would be deployed to inspect the kitchens of the schools.
He said the exercise is to guard against food poisoning and guarantee the total well-being of boarding students.
The board will give recommendations if the need arises to ensure school managements comply with the directives, the regional officer said.
Mr Nkum said legal sanctions would be taken against institutional heads who fail to comply with such recommendations.
The regional officer said two years ago some boarding students in one of the country’s senior high schools nearly died after eating a meal due to food poisoning.
Mr Nkum said these and other reasons had compelled the board to take such measures to help guard against a recurrence.
He expressed worry that when the board paid visits to some schools last year the environment in which food was prepared was “very bad”, saying that, rodents and other pests that could easily contaminate foodstuffs were found in some kitchens.
Mr Nkum admitted that “no matron or cook will have the intention to poison anybody” but the exercise had become necessary due to the fact that utensils, vegetables and other foodstuffs used could be contaminated.
He deplored practices such as plaiting of hair, nose picking, chewing, smoking and conversing during food preparation by the kitchen staff, which he said, could also lead to food contamination and poisoning and advised matrons and cooks to desist from that.
The regional officer said the board would draw a comprehensive follow-up programme after the exercises to check and ensure that kitchens are clean at all times.
Mr. Nkum said in pursuance of the FDB objectives, the regional office in Sunyani recently organised a sensitization seminar for 120 members of the Association of Domestic Bursars and Matrons in second cycle schools on food safety.
Personnel of the board took the participants through topics such as good handling of food, cleaning and maintenance of cooking equipment, good storage and acquisition practices, he added.
The regional officer advised matrons to always buy fish from cold stores and also to ensure that their mill machines were clean at all times to avoid contamination.
Mr. Nkum emphasized the need for women and matrons to refrain from buying vegetables displayed on floors and also to buy wholesome meat and fish.
Source: GNA

Chirano Gold fumes at Anas’ ECG exposé

The Management of Chirano Cold Mines Limited (CGML) has learned with shock recent publications in some newspapers and on some internet sites imputing connivance and default in the payment of electricity bills due to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
In a statement signed by Mr. John Seaward, General Manager of CGML and copied to westerngh.com, the management commended Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his team for their tireless efforts at unravelling crime and corruption in some sectors of the country, we wish to state that a factual error has been done to the image and credibility of CGML for default in the payment of electricity bill as at November 2011.
It however stated that it was a loyal company that complied with stated rules and guidelines in its operations and will not cheat the state in utility payments.
The statement attributed the anomaly to the undue delays by Electricity Company of Ghana in crediting its customer’s accounts with payments.
The statement said the September and November 2011 electricity bills were presented to CGML on Nov 14 and Dec. 20 respectively while cheques covering the two bills were issued on Nov. 22 and Dec. 30 for the respective amounts totalling 509,241.622 Ghana cedis.
These figures can be verified from the Sefwi Wiawso ECG office where all our payments are made.
Management wishes to state once again that we have not and will not connive with any individual or institution to deprive the government or any state institution any entitlements due them.
“We wish this factual error will be corrected and the records set straight” the statement added.

Nana Esi Brew Monney

STMA:Mayor urges political parties to be tolerant 

In order to promote peace and unity among political parties in the area, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly Boss, Captain Anthony Cudjoe (Rtd), has inaugurated a 9-member committee to steer the affairs of the Inter party Dialogue Committee in the metropolis.
The committee which has been charged with the responsibility of promoting political, economic, tolerance and resolution of conflicts in the General Election has members including Godfred Nyanney (Chairperson), William Akyeampong, Alhaji Abubakar Sani, Irene Sherifatu Ackon, Arthur-Mensah, Frederick Afful, Anthony Owu, Edna Adoko and Mary Donkor.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Captain Cudjoe called on the political parties to tolerate each other and pay particular attention to political parties’ code of conduct to ensure a clean electioneering period.
“We are one nation, one people with one common destiny and must therefore ensure peace, safety and security of Ghana,” he intimated.
The STMA Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alphonsus Arthur noted that the aim of the committee is to create a platform for fruitful deliberation of issues towards the promotion of smooth electioneering.
He however implored the political parties to desist from using abusive and intemperate language in their submissions.
Meanwhile the executives are expected to steer the affairs of the Inter Party Dialogue committee for the next four years.

About 50 cocoa farmers in Western Region ejected from their homes 

About 50 settler cocoa farmers at Cocoase, in the Mpohor Wassa East District of the Western Region, were on Tuesday evicted from their homes for failing to honour an agreement with the chief of the town.
The Spokesperson of the farmers, Mr Saviour Kwabogyie told the media in Takoradi that, they had an agreement with the Chief of Brofoyedur, who is the custodian of the land that, they would give out 45 kilograms of cocoa beans to him annually for releasing his land to them to cultivate the crop.
However, since 2009, the cocoa farmers had failed to honour the terms of the agreement hence the ejections.
The Chief of Brofoyedur, Nana Kwamina Damoah III, confirmed the story when he was approached by journalists on the issue.
Nana Damoah said the action was an enforcement of a ruling by the Tarkwa Circuit Court on March 26, 2011, which authorised the security agencies to eject the farmers for failing to honour the agreement they reached with his predecessor.
After almost three years of litigation in court, the court ruled in favour of the chief last year and impressed upon the farmers to pay GH¢14,000 to the chief as damages.
However, the farmers refused to carry out the court orders hence the decision to evict them.
Source: GNA

Reducing maternal deaths – Oxfam holds dialogue with TBAs, religious bodies

The rate of maternal deaths in Ghana currently stands at 350 deaths per 100,000 births, a very high rate by all standards.
Compared with other countries, available statistics indicate that the likelihood of a woman dying during child birth in Ghana is 1 in 66, while it is 1 in 100 in South Africa and 1 in 4700 in the United Kingdom.
Further, it has been noted that about 75 women in Ghana, die every week from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, most of which are preventable.
It is to help address this high incidence of maternal deaths in Ghana, that Oxfam, an international non-governmental organisation, together with its partners, Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) and Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA), held a dialogue Friday, January 27, 2012, with traditional birth attendants (TBAs), the Ghana Health Service and leaders of religious bodies in Accra.
Numbering about 24, participants at the dialogue identified the lack of enough qualified health workers, unprofessional attitudes of some doctors and nurses as well as long distance of health facilities from expecting mothers, as contributory factors to Ghana’s abysmal performance in maternal healthcare.
Also identified was the ignorance of pregnant women that they are entitled to free healthcare and if they know, their lack of understanding of the package and the reliance on traditional birth attendants, which comes with its own complications.
As part of the dialogue, the participants broke into three work groups, where they listed the roles of religious bodies and leaders in reducing maternal deaths.
These they outlined as identifying ante-natal care of pregnant women in congregations through mosque and church groups, organising sensitisation outreach programmes in communities of local churches and mosques, use of the pulpit to educate the congregation on ante-natal and post-natal issues and the encouragement of retired doctors and nurses in the churches to form voluntary groups to assist selected facilities.
Other roles they assigned were the use of the media by religious leaders who preach on radio and television to educate on maternal healthcare issues, common messages on maternal healthcare in local churches and mosques, the inclusion of messages on maternal healthcare in the annual communiqués of faith based organisations (FBOs) and targeting of women groups in churches to lead sensitisation on maternal healthcare among others.
Largely, the role of FBOs was grouped into advocacy, lobbying, education and sensitisation.
The dialogue also included the sharing of moving but pathetic stories on maternal healthcare by the participants, as well as the showing of a documentary on the situation prevailing in selected areas in Ghana and Liberia.
At the end of the dialogue a lobbying group was formed and stakeholders that will be involved, such as the Ministry of Finance, Chief Imam, Christian / Pentecostal councils and FBOs and traditional leaders among others, listed.

Nana Addo urges Electoral Commission to be transparent in 2012 elections

Nana Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to organize the December elections in a transparent manner for a clear-cut winner to be chosen.
He made the call when speaking on “Our Yearning for Peace” at the National Interdenominational Prayer Service of the NPP at Essipong near Takoradi on Sunday.
The prayer service was on the theme: “Setting forth through the hand of the Lord”. Nana Akufo-Addo said the EC had to ensure that the election was conducted without manipulation and coercion from any quarter so that “the winner would be the victor”.
He said the NDC was declared the winner of the 2008 election with a small majority in the history of the country.
Nana Akufo-Addo said under normal circumstance, there should have been a run-up but the NPP did not press for this. The party considered national interest, peace and prosperity to be paramount.
Nana Akufo-Addo said this year, the people would have to make a choice between corruption and integrity; stagnation and progress.
He said the NPP stood for peace and that peace is not negotiable.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the party organized the church service to ask for God’s blessing so that the electioneering campaign and the 2012 would take place without any disturbances.
It was also meant to pray to God to give the NPP flag bearer compassion and courage to carry out his responsibilities.
In a sermon, Apostle Dr. F. E. Antwi, Area Apostle of the Church of Pentecost, said peace is an important prerequisite for the prosperity and development of the country.
He asked the people to be peacemakers by being peaceful in their conduct and actions.
Apostle Antwi said the country and its leaders had not always done what God expected of them.
He said people should therefore repent from their sins, adding “True repentance is an essential step now to peace”.
Apostle Antwi was hopeful that God would give the country the right leadership in 2012.
Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman of the NPP, read the first scripture reading while Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, read the second and Nana Akufo-Addo, the third.

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Appiah: Ghana has no preference on who to play at quarters

Akwasi Appiah insists Ghana has no preference when it comes to opponents at the quarter finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars depending on how the final round of group matches pan out could face co-host Gabon at the first knockout stage.
Many Ghana supporters however are uncomfortable with this prospect especially knowing playing Gabon will almost be like coming up against a whole nation with the absolute support they enjoy.
But the Black Stars assistant coach says the quality of his team is too rich to be bothered by preference of who to play in the next round and then the team will be going all out for a win against Guinea.
“I believe that we have got quality players and we really don’t care which team we meet,” he said.
“We will go all out to try and get a win over Guinea and whichever team comes second (in Group C) we will be prepared to play them.”
The Black Stars will play their final group match against the Syli Nationalon Wednesday at the Stade de Franceville.

Adam Kwaresey admits to a tough competition

Black stars Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey has admitted his performance in the opening two group games of the ongoing Cup of Nations has disappointed himself and hopes to improve in subsequent games.
Adam Kwarasey has been heavily criticized for failing to impress so far in the tournament as his aerial control, composure and overall goalkeeping skills is been called into questions by football fans known for their high expectations.
The 24 year old who has replaced the experienced Richard Kingson told Joy Sports times are tough for him in Gabon.
“I’m not satisfied with my own performance and I hope to improve upon it as the tournament goes on”. Said Kwarasey
“I’m kind of new to the African terrain but is good we didn’t concede any goal and I think I should have done better”
Adam Kwarasey has not conceded any goal so far but concerns have been raised about his likely performance in the big games.
Some of these fans are already criticizing the dropping of Richard Kingson ahead of the tournament.

Barclays Bank wins ‘shame award’

Barclays Bank has been adjudged the world’s worst company at the Public Eye ‘shame award’ for speculating on food prices as a result of which about 44 million people worldwide were pushed into extreme poverty in the second half of 2010.
The award, organised by Greenpeace and the Berne Declaration (BD), was held January 27, 2012 on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.
Barclays’ activity is fuelling hunger and poverty worldwide, says the World Development Movement, which nominated the bank for the shame award.
“Barclays is gambling with the price of food, and therefore with people’s lives. Speculation benefits a tiny minority in the financial sector, and at the same time fuels food price spikes which force millions of people to go hungry. Governments must take urgent action to curb this reckless practice,” Amy Horton, campaigner at the World Development Movement, said on its website.
It is estimated that the bank is making up to £340 million a year from speculating on food ‘futures’ markets.
Brazilian construction giant Vale also won the People’s Award for its involvement in the construction of the controversial Belo Monte dam in the Amazon in which 40,000 people are likely to be forced from their land if the dam goes ahead.
The awards are organised each year to shame global firms whose activities are seen as irresponsible.

Andre Ayew hopes Ghana critics will eat humble pie

Ghana midfielder Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew is hoping that Black Stars critics will eat humble pie as they swept past Mali at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars were tagged by critics like Mamadou Gaye of SuperSport as incapable of excelling at the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
The Ivorian controversial commentator predicted that Ghana would not go beyond the group phase of the tournament.
But following the emphatic 2-0 victory over Mali that effectively qualifies the team to the quarter-final stage, Ayew says the critics must re-think.
“I hope our victory today will put to rest all the question marks that was raised against us after our first game with Botswana,” Ayew told GNA Sports after the victory over Mali.
“We came out here to prove we are a united front and out here to fight to the end. The first half was very difficult but we stayed together all through.
“We worked hard so that we do not concede a goal, make a comeback from the break to execute our Coach’s tactical instructions and in the end, proved that we can fight all the way.”
Ghana will qualify for the qualify for the quarter-final if they avoid losing 4-0 to Guinea on Wednesday.

Jomoro Youth demonstrate against re-location of gas Project

A large number of the youth in the Jomoro District of the Western Region on Friday went on a two-hour peaceful demonstration at Beyin, to register their protect against the relocation of the Domunli Gas Project.
The demonstrators dressed in mourning clothes with red bands held placards some of which read:“ Jomoro friendly for Gas Project”, Ghanaians know of only Domunli Gas Project”, “No conflict between farmers and Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) ” and Let the Gas flow Jomoro”.
Mr Mark Asmah Arthur, President of the Jomoro Youth Association read GNPC technical geodetic report calling for the re-location of the project.
The Omanhene of Nzema; Awulae Annor Adjaye III, said a source on the internet indicated that plans are far advance in re-locating the project from Jomoro to Atuabo in the Ellembelle District.
Awulae Adjaye, who is also President of the Traditional Council, said the people of Jomoro would not agree on the re-location of the project.
He said excuses being given by stakeholders of the Gas Project that the Domunli area is sandy and not suitable for the project would never be accepted by the chiefs and people of the area.
The Omanhene said the Geological Survey conducted feasibility studies some years ago at Atuabo and Domunli found the area ideal for the project.
The District Chief Executive for Jomoro, Mr Sylvester Dadieh said he had no information from the President or the Regional Minister on the relocation of the Gas Project.
He therefore appealed to the people of Jomoro to exercise restraint over the issue.
Dr Sipah Yankey, Chief Executive of the Domunli Gas Project, said on assumption of office five months ago, he found a GNPC document recommending the re-location of the project from Jomoro to Atuabo.
He said he has ordered fresh feasibility studies to be conducted at Atuabo and Domunli to determine the final site for the project.
The MP for Jomoro, Madam Samia Yaba Nkrumah in a report read for her said moving the project from one Nzema community to another without proper reasons, would bring conflict.

STMA:Six deprived schools get books, pens

Six deprived schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have received assorted items worth GHs 27,000, which includes 3,000 pieces of exercise book and 1,500 ball pens.
The schools are Kansaworodo, Nkroful, Adientem, Mampong, Diabene and Akroma Krom Primary and Junior High Schools.
The donation was made by the Sekondi-Takoradi Rotary Club yesterday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Reverend Gustav Dedjoe-Djokotoe, the President of the club, said the donation was part of the club’s responsibility towards the promotion of education in the country.
On his part, the Reverend entreated the pupils to make good use of the donated items.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education, Nana Kofi Mbeah, thanked the Rotary Club for the gesture.
He said the government is doing its possible best to provide the needed infrastructure and materials for the promotion of education but it cannot do it alone, hence the need for a joint intervention by both the public and the private sectors.

President Mills to deliver State of the Nation address in February 2012

Mr Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader in Parliament said on Friday that President Evans Atta Mills would deliver the state of the nation address in February 2012 and that the house may take two week to debate it.
He also announced that the House may rise on March 23, 2012 to enable members to support the forthcoming registration Exercise to be carried out by the Electoral Commission aside other statutory commitments at the international level scheduled for the fourth week of March 2012.
The exact rising date is yet to be determined by members as it is still not clear whether it should be earlier than March 23 or not.
Mr Avoka said this when he read the business statement for the second week ending Friday February 3, 2012.
He said 21 Ministers would be expected to appear before the house to answer questions, including Energy, Roads and Highways, Government and Rural Development, Finance and Economic Planning Ministers.
As usual, bills, papers and reports may be presented to the house for consideration and those already before the house may be taken through the various stages, papers and committee reports may also be presented to the house as well as motions debated and their consequential resolutions taken, if any.
Mr Avoka noted that having regard to the issues enumerated above, the Business Committee proposed that extended sittings be introduced by the third week of February, 2012, adding that this arrangement would enable the House expeditiously dispose of Business before it rose.
He noted that it was envisaged that the debate to thank the President on the message of the state of the nation may be taken in the morning of each sitting day while the afternoons dedicated to other public business before the house particularly Bills.
Mr Avoka, urged the Committees with referrals to expedite work on same and submit their reports for consideration by the House.
The business committee congratulated all members who won in their primaries and also encouraged those who lost not to despair but to look ahead with optimism.
Meanwhile, papers on the Ghana Maritime Authority (Fees and Charges) Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2009), and Ghana Shipping (Protection of Offshore Operations and Assets) Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2010), as well as the report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the subscriber Identification Module Registration Regulations, 2011 (L.I 2006) were presented.

President Mills to play key roles at 18th AU Ordinary Session

The 18th African Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, which officially opened last Monday, has assigned Ghana’s President John Evans Atta Mills major roles during the session of heads of State and Government.
Aside delivering the keynote address, which is on the theme: “Boosting Intra African Trade,” President Mills, who leaves Ghana for the meeting on Friday, would also be the Guest of Honour at the unveiling of the statue of Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah at the forecourt of the newly constructed AU building.
The conference centre project, fully-funded by the Chinese government and constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), within Sino-African relations, is China’s largest-scale aid project for Africa in decades.
The building would be inaugurated next Saturday in the presence of all the Heads of State and Governments at the meeting.
The centre covers a construction area of some 50,000 square meters, and will house a 2,550-seat big conference hall, a 650-seat medium conference hall, five press conference rooms and two VIP rooms, among many other facilities.
According to Mr Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Office of the President, President Mills had invited Dr. Francis Nkrumah; and Madam Samia Nkrumah, Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), who are both children of the first President to join in the unveiling of the statue in honour of their father.
Dr Nkrumah, who also played a leading role in the African liberation struggle, was a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity, now the AU, as well as the Pan Africanist Movement.
High on the agenda at the summit would be the voting to elect new leaders to the continental body.
While the AU typically promotes regional diversity in its leadership, some observers have opined that it would be better to favor countries that have best adhered to AU protocols.
The Heads of State and Government as usual at the first meeting in the year, would elect a new chairperson, likely to come from West Africa for a one-year term.
The new chair is usually selected on a rotating regional schedule, with leaders from North, South, East and West Africa getting a fair shot at the top seat.
Meanwhile, a tough diplomatic battle has taken shape at the Union ahead of the Presidential session to elect the Chairperson of the AU Commission.
The AU Commission Chairperson Dr Jean Ping, elected to the position on February 1, 2008 and seeking re-election, is facing South Africa’s Interior Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is vying on a platform of change to the continental body, which her country blames for failing to prevent conflicts.
Dr Ping’s supporters say their candidate is almost certain of an absolute majority when the elections come on 29 January, but Dlamini-Zuma’s backing from the Southern African bloc is not being ruled out.
South Africa has proposed to delay the elections of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson during the AU’s ministerial meeting on 26 January, but a counter proposal to delay the election of eight other commissioners had also been tabled.
Ghana’s candidate for the post of Political Affairs Commissioner has been withdrawn in favour of Aisha Laraba Abudulai, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea.

Ghana in talks with CNN to film country’s tourism potentials

Ghana’s Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday directed, Akua Sena Dansua, Minister for Tourism to conclude arrangement with the Cable News Network (CNN) for a documentary on the tourism potentials of the country.
The Vice President in a meeting with the Minister and a team from CNN at the Castle, Osu, mentioned the potentials of the tourism sector and said if properly harnessed could move up from its current position as the country’s third largest contributor to the number one spot.
According to Mr. Mahama, Ghana was making strides in the new oil industry, which needed a credible media platform like CNN to project its potentials to attract businesses and investors across the globe.
The Vice President commended the Minister for initiating the project and gave the assurance that government would support to develop the tourism sector to its fullest potentials.
He appealed to other corporate organisations and individuals to support the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism to market Ghana at the highest platform.
Madam Dansua explained that at a World Tourism Organisation meeting held in Korea last year, it became imminent that Ghana’s tourism sector needed a boost and therefore the CNN became handy as the bigger platform to project its image.
She further explained that at another meeting held in London in November last year, the details and modalities of the discussions were laid.
“The CNN team then came down to Ghana to hold stakeholders meetings with all those who matter in the tourism business and it was very fruitful,” the Minister said.
Madam Dansua noted that the decision is to re-promote and re-market Ghana as the destination in West Africa in particular and Africa in general in terms of both political and economic stabilities.
She mentioned that with the vast experience of the Vice President as a media person and public relations acumen, the project was bound to market Ghana at the highest level.
Madam Dansua, therefore, commended the Vice President for supporting the project and pledged to work with the CNN team to ensure its success.
The CNN team comprised Reme Al-Saiegh, Vice President in charge of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Celine S. Decarlo, Account Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa and Anita Mendiratta.

Health Directorate poised to address future challenges

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Health Directorate is positioning itself to meet health challenges envisaged as a result of the oil find, Dr. Teddy Avotri, the Metropolitan Director of Health Services has said.
He said at the opening ceremony of a two-day Annual Performance Review Conference of the Metropolitan Health Directorate at Takoradi on Thursday.
Dr. Avotri said the Directorate had factored some infrastructural projects at selected health facilities including the Takoradi Hospital and the New Takoradi Health Centre in its medium term development plans.
He said challenges envisaged included health hazards arising from oil spillage, burn accidents, HV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies.
Dr. Avotri said the Directorate had divided the Metropolis into 16 health zones and each zone has a Community Based Health Service (CHIPS) compound.
He said presently 11 CHIPS compounds had been established with nine in operation.
Dr. Avotri said CHIP compounds are to bring health care closer to the people and there was the need to upgrade them for urban areas to benefit from the project.
He said all health facilities in the Metropolis are running diabetes clinics and plans were underway to establish hypertension clinics at the facilities.
He said drug abuse was on the increase and that more women were involved than men.

Fisherman stabs colleague to death

The Half Assini Police is searching for a fisherman from Abrebeano near Komenda in the Central Region who stabbed his colleague at Effasu near Half Assini, resulting in his death.
A police source told the Ghana News Agency at Half Assini on Wednesday that the deceased and the suspect whose names were being withheld for security reasons were both fishermen at Effasu near half Assini in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
He said the suspect gave his fish to the deceased’s wife whose name was not immediately known to sell for him with the consent of her husband.
The source said somewhere along the line the deceased suspected the suspect of having an affair with his wife and warned them to stop that relationship but they failed to adhere to the warning.
On January 21 this year, the deceased confronted his wife over the issue and later went to the suspect who was mending his net at the beach and attacked him.
According to the source the confrontation degenerated into a fight during which the suspect now at large used the knife he was using to mend the net to stab the deceased three times on the chest.
He said the deceased who bled profusely died on arrival at the half Assini government hospital.
His body has been deposited at the mortuary at the same hospital while police investigations continue.

Caf clears John Mensah to play in final group game

John Mensah will be eligible to play in Ghana’s final group game against Guinea, Caf has confirmed.
The Black Stars captain was sent off in the opening Group D win over Botswana at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
It was initially feared that the 29-year-old will be missing the remainder of Ghana’s group campaign but Caf says one of the two-match suspension has been served in the game against the Zebras.
It therefore means the Olympique Lyon defender is eligible to play in the final group game against Guinea on February 1st in Franceville.
Ghana currently leads Group D despite having the same number of points with Mali but are ahead on the alphabetical order rule.

Deputy US Secretary of State to visit Ghana on bilateral relations

US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will lead a high-level United States Government delegation to visit Ghana, officials at the US State Department say January 24, 2012.
The delegation which is on a five-day African trip starting from January 26-30 will also travel to Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.
“In Ghana, Deputy Secretary Burns is scheduled to meet with President Mills to reinforce the U.S. commitment to building strong ties with one of Africa’s leading democracies,” the Department said in a statement.
“The visit will highlight the United States’ continued commitment to presidential initiatives such as the Partnership for Growth and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Deputy Secretary Burns will also meet with alumni of U.S. exchange programs,” it added.
Officials at the US Embassy in Accra tell westerngh.com that the delegation will touch down in Ghana today January 26, 2012.
The delegation will also attend the 18th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Tullow Oil launches $6 million Scholarship Scheme

Tullow Oil has launched a scholarship scheme worth more than $6million to support 110 young scholars from nine developing countries including 50 from Ghana.
The Tullow Group Scholarship Scheme would benefit university graduates with second class upper or first class degrees, and HND holders with distinction drawn from Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mauritania and French Guiana.
Out of the 50 spaces allotted to Ghana, 10 have been reserved for the Western Region, another 10 for government institutions and the remaining 30 are open for public competition.
Each qualifying candidate stands to gain at least $60,000 a year covering tuition, travel, warm clothes, monthly allowances and baggage allowance for training in selected European countries including the UK and France.
Vice President of External Affair and Corporate Social Responsibility at Tullow Oil, Rosalind Kainyah said Tullow has already sponsored 24 Ghanaians on pilot basis to top universities in the UK to study and this comprehensive one comes on the back of the success of the pilot.
She said over time the scholarship to study overseas would give way to scholarships to study locally because Tullow has plans to support internationally recognised institutions in the selected countries to train the scholars instead of making them travel overseas.
“The in-country institutional strengthening programme will complement the scholarship scheme and will mean that the need for scholarships in overseas institutions phases out over time and is replaced with scholarships to these internationally recognised in-country institutions,” she said.
Tullow has appointed the British Council to manage the selection of candidates for the scholarship and Director of the British Council Ghana, Moses Anibaba says they will start receiving applications from March this year.
He also announced that the British Council will also take care of all pre-departure issues like visa and flight arrangement for the selected candidates.
Part of the British Council’s responsibility is to ensure that beneficiaries of the scheme would return home after their training and help with national development and Mr. Anibaba said the council will notrenege on that responsibility.
Minister of Energy, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei who launched the scheme lauded Tullow for the initiative and noted that if the scheme continued at the pace it is going, Ghana and Africa would have lots of world class experts within a short time.
He however appealed to Tullow to increase the number of scholarships for Ghana, saying “if you give 50 scholarships at a time when you are drilling 85,000 barrels of oils per day in Ghana then I pray for you to get 120,000 barrels of oil in Ghana per day so you can give us about 80 scholarships every year. ”
The minister also urged beneficiaries to return home and help with national development saying that if anyone fails to return he will personally organise a prayer session and pray until the person returns home.

Three ministers lose their jobs in ministerial reshuffle

The much anticipated ministerial reshuffle has finally been done with three ministers losing their jobs.
Health Minister, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe and Information Minister John Tia have lost their jobs.
Acting Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Kunbour has been made the substantive AG, while Works and Housing Minister Alban Sumana Bagbin takes over the Health Ministry.
ET Mensah goes to the Works and Housing Ministry while Mr Lee Ocran is taking over the Education Ministry.
Mr Fritz Baffour is heading to the Information Ministry with Mr William Kwesi Aboah takes over from Dr Kunbour as Interior Minister.
The Upper West Region gets Alhaji Amin Sulemana as the new regional minister while Mr Dominic Azembe Azumah goes to the Presidency as a Minister of State.

Black Stars begin preparations for Mali tie

The Black Stars held a light training session at their camping base in Ngouoni.
The morning session which started at 10 am local time involved a little jogging and stretches before some ball work as coach Goran Stevanovic watched on.
The Ghana team is just coming off the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win over tournament debutants Botswana.
The mood in camp this morning appears a bit subdued as the players feel they should have offered more during the Group D opener on Tuesday in Franceville.
They are however happy they at least managed to get the vital three points and are looking forward to an improved performance on Saturday against Mali.
Ghana currently top Group D only on alphabetical order as they are pegged on similar number of points with Mali going into the second round of matches.

Asamoah Gyan in injury scare for Ghana

Striker Asamoah Gyan was spotting a heavily strapped ankle during Wednesday morning’s training session.
The on-loan Sunderland hitman at Al Ain suffered the knock during Tuesday’s win over Botswana in their opening Group D fixture at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
However the Black Stars medical team are sure the injury is not serious and that the 26-year-old will recover in time for Ghana’s second group game against Mali on Saturday.
Ghana and Mali are tied on three points but the Black Stars lead Group D on the alphabetical order rule.

John Mensah injury blow for Ghana 

Defender John Mensah was conspicuously missing in Wednesday morning’s training session as we are being told he has suffered a thigh strain.
The Black Stars captain was said to have suffered the injury before being sent off in Tuesday’s opening Group D win over Botswana.
This means Mensah, 29, was playing through the pain barrier throughout the game against the Zebras and only got some relief when he was red carded.
Team doctors will seek to get further hypothesis on the injury by taking Lyon defender to the hospital later in the day after which diagnosis will be made.
“We will take John Mensah to the hospital this afternoon for MRI scan to find out the severity of the injury,” Ghana team doctor Percy Annan said.
“He has some pain in this lower left thigh and that is why he is not training today.”
Mensah’s injury record in recent times has been very poor but hopefully he will recover in time to return to action for Ghana at the quarter final stage where he will be eligible to play if the Black Stars qualify.

Dr Sakara joins CPP flagbearership race

Dr. Foster Abu Sakara, the running mate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 2008 elections on Wednesday picked up a nomination form at the Party’s headquarters to contest the flagbearership slot of the CPP.
A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra by him said the decision was to contest for the privilege to lead the CPP into the 2012 general election campaign as its candidate to become the President of the Republic of Ghana.
Dr Abu Sakara, an Independent Consultant, is a specialist in Agriculture and Rural Development with a stellar career in international agricultural development.
It explained that Dr. Abu Sakara’s political affiliation with the Party dated from his late father Mr. S. S. Sakara, who served as a CPP Regional Party Secretary.
It also noted that his father served in Ghana’s first republic as a District Commissioner and Member of Parliament for Damongo-Daboya, West Gonja.
“Dr. Abu Sakara following the tradition of his father has also served the CPP as its Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2008 General elections, first National Vice Chairman and chairman of Organizational Committee from 2007 to 2011,” it added.
The statement said Dr Abu Sakara was passionate about the renewal of the CPP to its restoration to government to transform the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.
It said the vision of Dr. Abu Sakara for Ghana was for it to be “the jewel in Africa’s crown of achievement” giving inspiration to all Africans everywhere to reach their full potential.
This, he claimed could be achieved in the lifetime of his generation if Ghanaians commit themselves to pragmatic choices for good governance, economic growth and social development based on sound time tested principles of freedom, justice for all, equal opportunity and right to work.
According to the contender of the CPP flagbearership the country needed fundamental changes to some systems of governance to empower ordinary people to effectively hold politicians accountable at every level of government in real time and not after the fact.
The 54 years old, said the mistakes of economic policies that lead to unacceptable gaps between rich and poor with all of the attendant social vices must be avoided now.
Dr. Abu Sakara, is married to Mary-Lily Kafela Tigenoah, an Economist and Business Administrator with four children.
Source: GNA

30 dual desk for Nyametsease JHS

The chief of Nyametease, a community in the Prestea Huni Valley District, Nana Kwesi Appiah and her Queen Nana Yaa KwartemahI, have donated 30 dual desks to Nyametease Junior High School at a cost of two thousand, five hundred Ghana Cedis.
This is to augment government’s effort in improving education in the school.
Speaking to the media, Nana Kwesi Appiah noted that he has education at heart, that’s why he keeps on doing everything possible to ensure that education improves in the area.
He stated that, currently, he pays the rents of seventeen teachers of the school. This he said is to motivate the teachers to teach very well.
He noted that, formerly, a teacher was teaching two classes, because the school lacked teachers, but since he adopted the strategy of paying rents for teachers, it has attracted more teachers to the school.
He has also promised in collaboration with the Omanhene of Wassa Fiase, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamena Enimel to provide the school with ten computors to help in the teaching of ICT.
According to Nana Kwesi Appiah, he is doing all these to motivate pupils and teachers of the school to do their best.
Nana Esi Brew Monney

Ghana to begin second dose measles vaccination

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health will from February 1, begin a second dose measles vaccination for children of 18 to 30 months to offer them better protection and maintain reduction in the incidence of death.
The introduction, which would be integrated into the routine schedule of child immunisation, is also aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which is to address infant mortality.
Briefing the media in Accra on Tuesday, Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) said though Ghana had been successful in achieving high routine measles coverage of over 85 per cent with zero deaths recorded for the past nine years, the current measles vaccination schedule allowed susceptibility to piled up every four years, hence, the need for the second dose.
He explained that measles was a highly infectious viral disease which had humans as the only reservoir. It has no cure and transmission is primarily from person to person via aerosol via droplets with an average incubation period of 10-12 days.
Complications of Measles could lead to death, lifelong disability, blindness, brain damage, pneumonia, malnutrition and deafness.
Dr Antwi-Agyei noted that measles control had contributed to the reduction of under- five mortality from 111 per 1000 live births in 2008 and had given hope that the MDG 4 may be achieved in 2015.
“But with the second dose, the older the person, the better the immunogenicity or protection of the child,” he added.
He entreated mothers, and care-givers to send their children of 18 months and above to any child welfare clinic for the second dose, which would be given in addition to Vitamin A and an insecticide treated bed net, adding, “for effective monitoring, children should be sent to the clinic every six months afterwards for Vitamin A and weighing”.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chiereh Minister of Health who presided over the occasion urged mothers not to argue that their children had taken the measles vaccine and therefore would not be part of the second dose exercise, saying, “it is for the best interest of the children who will be the future leaders of the our dear country”.
Source: GNA

Police officers urged to take interest in road accident investigations

Assistant Commisioner of Police ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, Commanding Officer of the National Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), has tasked officers to make road accident investigation a major priority to avoid numerous petitions that were directed to the Headquarters for redress.
“I have observed with so much concern the laxity with which some of our accident investigators go about their duties. They either do not visit accident scenes or fail to take appropriate statements from relevant victims or witnesses”, he said.
ACP Awuni was speaking at the maiden meeting of all commanders of the Unit throughout the country in Accra on Tuesday.
He said it was important for officers to communicate directly with victims of road accidents and explain to them the status of cases to help address misunderstandings that erupt due to the absence of direct contact.
“We all know that some cases deserve to be forwarded to the Attorney –General’s Department for advice, there is no reason why victims should not be made aware of this action” he said.
The Commander entreated the officers to caution their subordinates to exercise restrain when dealing with motorists to prevent confrontations that sometimes occurred on the highways.
“Some of our men tend to be so impatient that they end up picking up quarrels or engage in physical confrontation with motorists. This kind of attitude is unacceptable as far as the ethics of the Police Service is concerned. It amounts to misconduct and therefore punishable” he stated.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCOP John Kudalor, and Director General of Police Operations, asked the commanders to constantly monitor the conduct of their officers and carefully educate them before they go out to their duties.
“We are much in the public view more than any other unit, you must try to carry yourselves like officers, and being in the police service is a calling so you must be ready to endure the challenges that come with it”, he said.
DCOP Kudalor assured the unit of the provision of vehicles and other logistics by the middle of the year to help in discharging their duties.
Source: GNA

Black Stars to unveil new azonto dance at AFCON

The Black Stars will on Tuesday unveil a uniquely choreographed dance to be displayed when they score against Botswana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The celebratory dance which has been a regular feature of the Ghana team during tournaments takes a new dimension.
The newly designed dance includes hopping on one limb while moving three steps to the left and then same on the right.
Ghana aims to win its first African title in 30-years at Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, meaning the dance will be displayed several times enroute to the final and subsequently done after the trophy presentation if everything goes according to plan.
The Black Stars play Botswana on Tuesday to open their Group D campaign after which they subsequently take Mali and Guinea in the 2nd and 3rdgroup fixture respectively.

Gyan: I thought Serbian healer Mariana was a witch

Asamoah Gyan says he thought renowned Serbian therapist Mariana Kovacevic was a witch after she ensured his quicker-than-expected return from injury.
The Ghana striker was originally diagnosed to be out with a hamstring injury for four-weeks, putting his 2012 Nations Cup participation in jeopardy.
But the Al Ain ace was declared fit after just four hours of treatment by the Serbian traditional healer.
He returned to full scale training following a therapy session with Kovacevic during the Black Stars’ training camp in South Africa.
And now, Gyan, 26 has revealed his amazement at the healing power of Kovacevic and says he thought the fast rate of his recovery was due to some sort of witchcraft.
“When she administered the concoction I thought she was going to allow me some days to recuperate,” Gyan said.
“To my surprise she told me to start sprinting after just four hours and I said to myself, ‘this lady must either be crazy or a witch.
“I hesitantly started to sprint and I couldn’t understand how I managed to do it without any difficulties.
“Derek Boateng who was nearby couldn’t believe what he was seeing, but I must admit I’m really grateful to this woman.”

Incompetent ASKY airline leave Ghanaian journalists stranded at AFCON

Several Ghanaian journalists who traveled with Ethiopian ASKY Airline have been left stranded in Gabon.
Though the journalists have arrived to cover the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, their luggages are nowhere to be found.
This means affected persons are yet to change dirty and smelly clothes since arrival about five days ago.
Their presence at the Stadium’s Press Center is increasingly coming under threat with growing complaints from other distressed users.
The most irritating thing about the whole issue is that officials of the airline cannot even hazard a guess as to when this embarrassment will end.
Meanwhile,westerngh.com understands that due to the inconsistencies and incompetencies of the airline, other journalists and supporters will not be able to make Ghana’s opening game due to flight problems.
The affected persons are thus calling on relevant authorities to press upon the airline to discharge their duties as expected of.

I feel embarrassed and humiliated by Anas’ findings – ECG boss

The Director of Customer Service at the Electricity Company of Ghana, Dr N. K. Smart Yeboah says he is scandalised, embarrassed and humiliated by the sheer scale of corruption and inefficiencies at the state power distributor.
He said he was even more disturbed by the realization that both male and female employees of the company are guilty in equal measure of the shameful practice of extorting money from customers.
The Head of Public Relations at the ECG, Mrs Gloria Dua-Sakyi, agreed.
Eight months’ investigations by Crusading Guide reporter Anas Aremeyaw Anas uncovered meter tampering, stealing and selling of meters at exorbitant prices, power diversion, stealing of cables, juicy allowances for ECG Board members (some of who take as much as GHS9,000 a month), closed accounts and company indebtedness to the tune of almost GHS400 million, amongst others.
Dr Yeboah, speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Tuesday, conceded the issues captured in the investigative piece are largely accurate.
The list of companies owing the ECG he said, “fairly represents” the true situation on the ground but explained that “it’s a dynamic list; it changes.”
As of November ending last year, Dr Yeboah said the ECG was owed GHS384 million – private companies and organizations owed 67 per cent with the government holding the remainder.
According to him, the ECG cannot be faulted much for the situation because with respect to the Ministries, Department and Agencies, it is the responsibility of the government to pay their bills and if for some reason the government is unable to do so, much cannot be done.
As regards the large companies which are owing, Dr Yeboah stressed that ECG has a duty to help businesses stay in business “because our continuous existence depends upon the continued existence of businesses,” and as a result such companies and the MMDAs are given a certain dispensation even when their bills are piling up.
How fair is this arrangement given that domestic consumers do not enjoy such compensations,? he was asked. “That is a difficult question,” he conceded.
Ghana, he said, allows a 42-day credit period for utility consumers but conceded that is exceptionally generous because in a country like Kenya, the credit period is seven days.
The reference to the 42-day credit period almost brought the architect of the investigation, Anas, to his feet. “I don’t have issues with the 42-day rule, it has always been there but when you look at the analysis and the investigations that have been done, we are not talking 42-day rule. These are people who owe consistently; somebody is owing GHS5 million and we are talking about 42-day rule? What are we talking about? At the end of the day, the unfortunate part is that it would be passed onto the consumer to pay for and then we say we are being business friendly. He should tell me in the world where this is practiced.”
He didn’t end there, Anas took on Dr Yeboah on the question of closed accounts insisting “If it was as nice as Mr Smart Yeboah wants it to look, then we wouldn’t have Closed Accounts. Tell him to tell us about Closed Accounts; companies which have run million of cedis and have closed their companies and have gone home and the debt is on the Ghana Government, is in the tax payer to pay, he should comment about closed accounts. Why do we have closed accounts”? he asked.
“Well if your business has gone out of business obviously the account has to be closed,” he supplied, but Anas replied, “Yes it went out of business because nobody went for the money, the person found a smart way and went out of that business and formed another one. …Tell me the million cedis of debt that has been accrued as a result of closed account and what ECG as a company has done; the legal department, what have we done with regard to closed account”?
Responding, Dr Yeboah said some companies were being prosecuted.
An unconvinced Anas said if the ECG did due diligence, it would know companies that are capable of settling their bills and will not wait only for companies to consume power, pile up debt and fold up.

I did not have sex with Becca and Eazzy – Rodney Quarcoo

A photograph of sexy songstress Rebecca Acheampong also known as Becca and renowned photographer Rodney Quarcoo have surfaced on the internet.
But the subjects in it say there is nothing to the sexually suggestive photograph.
Some faceless individuals distributed the image on the internet, claiming it was released by Quarcoo who sought to use it to blackmail Becca and make some cash. They said Quarcoo had threatened to release a video of a sexual encounter with Becca and another songstress, Eazzy, if they fail to pay an amount of GHS20,000.
But Rodney Quarcoo, the man at the centre of the controversy has dismissed the reports as laughable, saying it is a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image and that of the songstresses.
Narrating his side of the story, Rodney told Myjoyonline.com there was nothing lascivious about the photograph.
“It’s not something that is being hidden, [it's] not like this person found it somewhere … I wasn’t hiding it. It’s on my blog … that’s where they found it and decided that they will write all those [stuff] that they wrote. I saw it; I thought ok fine, I mean, this is what somebody has time to say about me…I am flattered that somebody has the time and energy to write all sorts of nonsense. If it was true, obviously I won’t be walking around here laughing about it … just the fact that it’s not true,” he said.
While denying the existence of a sex tape, Rodney said “I had a photo shoot with Becca at the studio with her manager and her assistant on Tuesday. Threatening to release a sex tape of Becca and I and Eazzy, and then I am asking for GHS20,000. If I want money, it’s not GHS20,000, [that can't solve] my problems. We were all fully clothed; there were people in the room. I know it’s not true, she [Becca] knows it’s not true.”
When Myjoyonline.com contacted Eazzy for her side of the story, she also denied it adding she has only heard the name of Rodney Quarcoo but has never met him.
“I don’t know him, I haven’t met him before but I heard his name. I think he is a photographer … but I haven’t met him in person … I don’t know what he looks like so I guess this answers the whole calling and the whole intimacy … if I don’t know what he looks like then I obviously haven’t met him before to even have an intimacy with him or have a tape like that with him,” she denied.
“I don’t know where this is coming from seriously it is really funny,” the bubbly songstress said stressing, “nobody has called me to demand any amount of money, not even one pesewa. My management team, they are so not even aware of what is going on.”
All attempts to reach Becca and her manager for their side of the story proved futile.

Two die, 13 others severely injured in motor accident

Two persons died on the spot while 13 others sustained injuries in a motor accident early Monday morning at Ewusiejo in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
The dead included one of the drivers, Kofi Atta, 32, and a 40-year old woman, Madam Joyce Akweitey.
The Kwesimintsim District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ayamga Aklogo Yakubu confirmed the accident to westerngh.com in an interview.
He said a Nissan bus with registration number WR 849U was heading from Agona Nkwanta towards Takoradi while another bus with registration number WR2551-09 coming from Takoradi to Agona Nkwanta.
Upon reaching Awuseijoo, there was a head-on-collision between the two vehicles resulting in the death of the two and the 13 injured persons.
DSP Ayamga said the dead had been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital morgue while the injured are also undergoing treatment at the same facility.
The Police is investigating to ascertain the cause of accident.

Ghana Medical Association to meet on salary distortions

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Council will this week meet and declare its official position on the distortions created following the migration of doctors and other health professionals onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
The meeting, which is one of its usual Council meetings, will among other issues discuss the problems erupting from their migration in December 2011, resulting in more distortions.
Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, President of the (GMA) told the Ghana News Agency on Monday when responding to comments by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) that it was not responsible for the distortions.
The FWSC advised the GMA to trace the shortfall in its members’ salaries at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).
The Commission said it should not be blamed for the shortfalls but urged the pay roll outfit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to liaise with the CAGD to address the anomaly.
Dr Opoku-Adusei explained that the GMA had a meeting with FWSC, which was attended by the Ministry of Health and the CAGD, and that the distortions did not come from the GHS’s pay roll office.
“After our Council meeting, we will then decide on this matter and will make it known,” he added.
The GMA last Wednesday told the GNA in Accra that the migration of health personnel onto the SSSS had created irregularities, which had attracted serious concerns.
According the GMA, the migration had resulted in professionals receiving lower salaries than what they were previously earning, hinting that the development might result in another battle between the GMA and the FWSC this year.
Dr Opoku-Adusei explained that the National Labour Commission (NLC) had ruled after the compulsory arbitration meeting that the matter should be resolved by the Ministry of Health and the GHS Council.
He said the NLC had no jurisdiction over the matter and letters written to the Council had not attracted any response.
The doctors, in October 2011, staged a 14-day nation-wide strike over the inability of the FWSC to provide unequivocal evidence of migration of doctors onto the SSSS and the ambiguous stance of the SSS Secretariat on the position of District Directors of Health Service and Medical Superintendents.
The inability of GMA and FWSC to resolve the problem compelled the Commission to refer the issue to NLC to apply the compulsory arbitration as provided for under Section 162 of the Labour Act.
The NLC ruled that the CAGD should pay the doctors their SSSS whilst that of District and Medical Superintendents should be settled by the GHS Council.
Source: GNA

National Media Commission cries for assistance

Some parts of the Offices of the National Media Commission (NMC) was gutted by fire over the weekend, Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary of NMC, said in Accra on Monday.
He attribute the cause of the fire to power outages experienced during the weekend and said the fire affected ceilings on the corridor of the building and spread to the roof of an office but did not affect any equipment.
When Ghana News Agency visited the NMC offices, they had no power and debris from the ceiling were being collected.
Mr Sarpong said it was not the first time that the NMC had experienced such fire outbreaks however, this was a major one which required the attention of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
He attributed the situation to the old dilapidated building, saying, “The building is too old and weak, there are too many rodents in the building that chew the electrical wires and insulators”.
Mr Sarpong said some fire service experts had suggested the pulling down of the structure to construct a new one but the NMC did not have substantial budgetary support to undertake such a project.
“In the past we managed to undertake some re-wiring of the building and some renovations but the building is too old and such renovations did not improve the situation,” Mr Sarpong said.
He said most of the offices leaked badly when it rained and did not auger well for good working environment.
Mr Sarpong said “With Election 2012 drawing near, there is the need for these concerns to be addressed to enable the Commission work efficiently especially in media monitoring”.
“In an era where there are concerns for professionalism in the media, the NMC need the tools and the right atmosphere to be able to effectively monitor the media especially during this period,” he added.
Source: GNA

Engage chiefs in crusade against mining in water bodies – EPA

Mr Ali Sandow, Municipal Director for Environmental Protection Agency in Tarkwa Nsueam, has said chiefs should be engaged in the crusade against mining in water bodies and forest reserves.
He said considering the important role played by chiefs in the Ghanaian society, they would be an effective tool in solving this menace which is ongoing in most communities in the Western Region.
Mr Sandow told westerngh.com in an interview that though the government and the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipal Assembly had engaged the services of the military to check illegal miners, the miners went back to their illegal activities.
He said the activities of the illegal miners had become a burden on the government as it spends huge sums of money to stop such activities but without any effect.
Mr Sandow said with the traditional rulers on board, the stage would be set for the protection of water bodies and forest reserves and appealed to chiefs to refrain from allowing illegal miners to operate in their areas.

I have never been without panties before – Efya

Sexy songstress Efya has waded into the controversy of the unnamed Ghanaian female musician who was captured by News-One cameras without any underwear during a public performance.
The artiste’s unfortunate choice of wardrobe – clothes without underwear – left her naked sex organ exposed, but mostly to the sharpest of eyes, including News-One cameras.
According to Efya, it would be hypocritical to say she was not aware that some girls now found it trendy to get all dolled up without wearing panties. News-One has gathered that the girls call that type of dressing ‘ready to fight’.
Efya said it would be difficult to explain why her fellow ladies chose not to wear panties when they dress up because she had never tried that in her entire life. “Sometimes girls don’t wear panties but I haven’t done it before though it is not a big deal. Many girls do it,” Efya added.
Putting it on record that she had never dressed up without wearing panties suggests that Efya could not be the unnamed female musician who went on stage and captured exposing her naked vag**na. When News One asked what her opinion on the issue was Efya noted: “Maybe there was a situation but I don’t think it was intentional.
I have not tried it before and I will not do so in the future because now everybody will be looking out for which artiste is wearing panties and who is not because it has happened to someone.”
Various reasons have been given as to why several Ghanaians girls in recent times dress without wearing panties and the most common of reason seems to be that panties make them feel uncomfortable, depending on the type of clothing they wear.
The section of Ghanaian girls who dress up ‘underwearless’ mostly do so when they put on jeans trousers or any other light trousers. The explanation is that the outline of the panties through the trousers is distasteful.

78,691 tourists visited Cape Coast Castle in 2011

Mr Stephen Korsah, the Principal Museum and Monument Education Officer, said 78,691 people visited the Cape Coast Castle in 2011 as compared to 11,681 in 2010, representing 11.96 per cent.
The Education Officer, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Cape Coast on Thursday, said out of the last year figure, 10,231 were foreign students, 1,463 foreign children whiles14, 827 adults and 33,259 Ghanaian children also visited the castle with very important personality and Ghanaian students recording 251 and 6,979 respectively.
He expressed concern about the low patronage of the facility lately, and called on the public to visit the castle since it is one of the well-acclaimed tourists’ attraction in the world.
Mr Korsah said Ghanaian adults were charged GH¢2.00 and non-Ghanaian adults paid $7.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis and non-Ghanaian students paid $4.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis.
He said non-Ghanaian children paid $2.00 and Ghanaian students in the primary and Junior High School were charged 20p each and Senior High School students paid 30p whiles tertiary students with ID cards paid 50p.
Mr. Korsah said plans were far advanced to undertake research, documentation and programmes to train interested individuals and groups and added that participants of the training would be expected to pay GH¢200.

Students in Western Region forming prostitution rings – Education Director

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of Education (MDE), Nana Kofi Mbeah on Thursday expressed disgust over the formation of social clubs by some junior high school female students to practice prostitution and other social vices.
He alleged that some of clubs have been christened “Wetlands and “Blue Girls” and the members operate at a spot called Viena City, a suburb of Takoradi where they watch pornographic movies and engage adults in illicit sex.
Nana Mbeah expressed the concern when Papa Owusu Ankomah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi presented 24 computers to the Essaman St John the Baptist Junior High School in Sekondi.
The MDE charged parents to be vigilant on their daughters to avoid being misled into such social clubs.
He noted that knowledge in Information Communication Technology (ICT) had become relevant hence the need for every student to be computer literate.
Papa Owusu Ankomah said he would do everything within his means to ensure that children in his constituency get quality education and access to ICT education.
He appealed to parents to invest in their wards’ education instead of spending on frivolous things that would not bring much benefit to them.
The MP expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for providing the computers as part of the government’s Basic School Computerisation Programme of ensuring one laptop per child.
He charged the school authorities to take proper care of the computers and report any fault to the rlg Communication since the government had signed service agreement with the company to repair defective computers.
The Headteacher of the school, Ms Mercy Pobee Orleans, expressed appreciation for the computers
Source: GNA

Assembly unveils plans to facelift oil-city

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) says it is determined to give a facelift to the Metropolis to befit the status of an oil production city.
The Mayor of the STMA, Captain (RTD) Anthony Cudjoe gave the assurance on Thursday at a press soiree organised by the Assembly for journalists working in the Metropolis at Sekondi.
He commended the journalists in the Metropolis for distinguishing themselves in their work and urged them to continue to collaborate with the Assembly to achieve accelerated socio-economic development.
The mayor admonished the media to desist from acts that would derail the development efforts of the Assembly and rather give constructive criticisms that would better the lives of the people.
Captain Cudjoe stated that the Assembly had completed a number of projects including an engineered landfill facility at Sofokrom at the cost of GH¢2.536 million; Shippers Roundabout jointly funded by the Assembly; Tullow Oil Company and its Jubilee partners at the cost of $500,000 as well as a Kraal and slaughterhouse at Whindo as a safe haven for cattle and butchers.
The provision of the slaughterhouse would put to an end indiscriminate roaming of herdsmen and their cattle that had been a nuisance to vehicular and pedestrians for many years.
With regard to the projects penciled down for the facelift of the twin-city, the mayor stated that, the Assembly had developed a spatial development plan for construction of a modern township at Assakai and Whindo, both suburbs of Sekondi-Takoradi with an assistance from a South African company.
The Assembly’s officials would soon embark on a trip to South Africa to study the renaissance of that country’s cities, he revealed.
Captain Cudjoe said the Assembly was talking with Energy Investment to put up on-shore oil facilities to accommodate the conglomerate of oil companies and their equipment and installations at a safe location.
He assured that, the Assembly had not reneged on its plans of re-developing the central business district of the city, especially Market Circle into a modern market befitting the status of an oil-city in ensuring efficient use of land and space.
The Assembly had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two companies for the construction of the Takoradi market. Captain Cudjoe said flyovers would be constructed to link the central business area to ease vehicular and human traffic.
Captain Cudjoe revealed that the Sekondi market would also be re-developed into a modern market and assured that, procurement process had been completed and asked for support of all the stakeholders in the Metropolis.
He appealed to the media to set an agenda that would promote good governance and socio-economic development.
“The media must partner the Assembly to change public behaviour and attitude from indiscriminate littering of waste in the Metropolis because development is participatory,“ he observed.
Touching on this year’s elections, the mayor admonished journalists to be guided by the principles of truth, fairness and balanced reportage.
Fact is sacred and that the truth shall always remained afloat even if it was pressed down in water, he said.
The Dean of the press, Mr. Mark Essein, urged colleague journalists to be guided by the Ghana Journalist Association’s code of ethics in ensuring fairness, objectivity and balanced reportage of the coverage of the elections.
“This year is an election year, in this regard, as journalists you should not allow yourselves to be swayed and induced to compromise your integrity and credibility,’ he advised.
Source: GNA

Nigerian vessel pays fine to Ghana government for dumping toxic waste 

A Nigerian vessel, Spirit River, that dumped toxic waste at an engineered landfill site at Sofokrom in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis last year, has paid a penalty of $220,000 to the Ghana government.
The Public Relations Officer of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Mr Opoku Boateng told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sekondi.
The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) spearheaded the move for the compensation.
Mr Boateng noted that since the toxic waste was deposited within the territory of the Metropolis as well as a facility constructed by the assembly, the people in the twin-city must benefit from the compensation given to the government.
The assembly had officially petitioned the MEST for a portion of the amount for a project that would benefit the people in the metropolis.
In March 2011, the vessel berthed at the Takoradi Port for a special operation, contracted a Takoradi-based waste management company to the dump toxic waste without authorisation from the government and STMA.

Thieves accidentally steal occupied toilet

A couple of thieves stole a public toilet in the Belarus city of Gomel with a man still locked inside.
The thieves reportedly loaded the portable toilet on the back of a tractor trailer acting as if they were supposed to do that so passers-by wouldn’t suspect anything and call the police.
The man inside was startled when he felt the portable toilet move. He was lifted in the air and next thing he knew he was being carried through town on the back of a tractor.
The 45-year-old was trapped inside because the thieves had put a rope around the toilet and he couldn’t get out until the rope loosened because of the bumpy ride.
When he was finally able to open the door he jumped off the tractor and broke his collar-bone. He later reported the incident to the police who later tracked down the stolen toilet at a local resident’s house.

Source mariira.com

Navy has responsibility to protect oil installations – Retired Naval Officer

A retired Naval Officer, Rear Admiral Jonathan Yanful Adoko, has said that the Ghana Navy has the responsibility to protect the oil installations at the Jubilee Oilfields at the West Cape Three Points in the Western Region against piracy and illegal bunkering.
He said as sailors they would be deployed on these operations and that they should remember that they had sworn an oath to protect the national interest.
He, therefore, asked naval personnel not to go out there and connive with anybody to commit any crime against the nation, since any complicity in this regard would have dire consequences for them.
Real Admiral Adoko was addressing the passing-out parade of 95 naval recruits at the Western Naval Command in Sekondi at the weekend.
He said the navy had the constitutional task of ensuring Ghana’s territorial integrity and protecting the national assets at sea.
“Even though the navy has continued to perform her assigned roles constantly, this has been accomplished under numerous severe constraints,” he said.
To address the situation, as well as other military challenges, he said the government and the Military High Command had been making frantic efforts to improve the lot of the Ghana Armed Forces in general and the Ghana Navy in particular.
Real Admiral Adoko said the young sailors were very fortunate indeed because they were joining the navy at a time that the efforts had begun to bear fruits.
He said four new ships for the navy, namely GNS BLIKA, GNS EHWOR, GNS GARINGA and GNS CHEMELE, acquired from China arrived in Ghana during the last quarter of 2011 but they were yet to be commissioned into the navy.
“My understanding is that an intensive work-up is currently underway and hopefully by next month they will be commissioned for operational deployment,” he said.
Real Admiral Adoko said additional platforms were also in the process of being acquired from Korea and Germany, adding, “All these ships will boost the operational capacity of the Ghana Navy fleet and greatly enhance the fighting capacities against illegal and related criminal activities at sea”.
He said that the vessels had been provided at a great cost to the nation when considered in the context of the general economic situation in the country.
“My admonition to you is that, you look after these equipment jealously, adhere strictly to the maintenance regime of the platforms and equipment in order to have good returns for the investments made by the Ghanaian taxpayer,” he stressed.
Touching on this year’s general election, he said the aim was to continue to enjoy our peace before, during and after the elections
He, therefore, entreated those security personnel who would be deployed for election duties to perform their duties in a professional manner.
Real Admiral Adoko urged them to maintain their neutrality and that at all times should remember that their actions must reflect their credibility.
He reminded the security officers that they were guided by rules and regulations such as the Armed Forces Regulations, the State Secrets Act 1962, the Constitution of Ghana and their Unit Standing Orders and other instructions or directives that might be given from time to time.
He urged them to read and understand these rules and regulations and ask questions when in doubt and that they should also learn from their seniors.
From these sources, he noted, they would get to know their responsibilities, rights and privileges in their career, and abide by these regulations and instructions in.
Source: Daily Graphic

Reflecting on Christmas

Nana Esi Brew Monney

I have loved Christmas celebration since my childhood days but must admit that Christmas celebration has changed tremendously over the years. Some years ago, the changes in weather provided the early signs of an approaching Christmas and that reminded parents of their responsibilities to their families especially children.

When we were children, Christmas brought us a lot of joy and we looked forward to the approaching Christmas with great expectations and anxiety, recognising that it was the most important thing that happened to us in the year.

It was common for every child to have a new dress, shoes, Christmas hat and goggles to match. We built Christmas huts with friends and enjoyed some gifts from other relatives who had travelled home from big cities for Christmas celebrations.

There was a lot to eat and drink during Christmas festivities. Neighbours exchanged gifts that were normally delivered early in the morning in the season and the gifts were arranged and covered in special ways to fit the importance of Christmas.

Family members who were expected to spend the Christmas at home were hailed with a big “ Akwaaba” when they arrived, whilst children rushed to collect the luggage of our uncles and aunts from the big cities in the hope that their bags contained some Christmas gifts for us. There was joy in hailing our relatives who had come home to celebrate Christmas and if they came with their children, that added to the joys of children.

It was a common practice for families to breed fowls at home in the year purposely for Christmas and children enjoyed the sport of chasing homebred fowls that attempted to escape being slaughtered for Christmas meals. We knew the importance of these homebred fowls in the Christmas celebration and we hunted for these fugitive fowls with zeal until we caught them.

We engaged in communal eating during the Christmas season and food was shared among families, which helped all of us to enjoy the Christmas meals equally. The celebration of Christmas was joyous, special and beautiful. Christmas was real fun with people, children, relations and the people-to-people contacts helped us to build strong social bonds, peace and harmony which are the very principles underlying the celebration of Christmas.

The Christmas we used to enjoy was people centred. An approaching Christmas can be felt by the cold, dry, foggy weather and most importantly, the Christmas carols that heralded Christmas.

For us children, Christmas was the season for us to enjoy sumptuous meals, especially rice and chicken stew. In those days , rice and chicken was special food ate on special occasions and the fowls used in preparing the food were mainly home bred ones or broilers purposely raised for the Christmas season by local Poultry farmers.

These days of imported Chicken parts, rice and stew is no longer a special meal associated with Christmas. In a country where regulation is weak, consumers of the imported chicken have no idea about how long the imported chicken might have stayed on the shelves in their home countries. Those were the days when the poultry business flourished and poultry farmers were highly respected business people in Ghana. Companies such as Darko Farms were highly respected local businesses that provided Day Old Chicks to feed the poultry industry in Ghana.

Things have changed for the worse and we unashamedly import chicken parts and Day old chicks from other countries. We do not seem to know why we could produce our poultry needs in the past but have supervised the death of the poultry industry even as we boast of technological advancement.

Just check your Christmas meals this season and you would be surprised about the extent of foreign control over your meals. Your Christmas meal may be prepared with imported chicken from Brazil, onions and tomatoes from Burkina Faso, corned beef from Egypt, Rice from Thailand and fruits such as grapes from Europe.

The Christmas celebration would increase the profits of farmers in foreign countries and provide jobs for their people. Christmas celebration has pecuniary consequences. This is an era of foreign control of everything good in Ghana. No wonder the people who feed us want to attach the most bizarre condition to aid even when for each dollar they give us they take away $6.

During the Christmas festivities, we constructed Christmas huts from palm fronds. Children competed among themselves in the construction and decoration of the Christmas huts and sung folk music in the huts accompanied by accoutrements made from bamboos.

The elders in the neighbourhood visited our Christmas huts to encourage us and the most well organised group earned more pesewas than others did. As we played together and performed tasks, we learnt lessons of team building and social networking.

Our childhood friends have been able to sustain a certain support network. The memories of constructing Christmas huts together and the childhood pranks have knit us together as brothers and sisters to date.

Looking back, I could not imagine that Christmas celebration would change so much in our lifetime. Communal and person-to-person celebrations of Christmas have been replaced with technology such as Skype, text messages, telephone calls, Facebook etc.

We no longer deem it necessary to travel home to be in contact with our people during Christmas. Even when we live in the same city with relatives and friends, it is just enough to text a Christmas message to many people or call to wish them Merry Christmas. In most cases, the same Christmas message would be sent to hundreds of people no matter the variations in social relations.

The change in the Christmas is not only about the celebration, but also the foggy, cold dry weather that had long been associated with the Christmas season has changed. Is it a confirmation of the much talked about climate change caused by our poor stewardship of the environment?

How about the Christmas carols that filled the atmosphere with sweet music, which is unique to the Christmas season. In days gone by, Christmas carols filled the atmosphere with a Christmas message of the birth of the Prince of Peace from October and the music was incessant throughout the Christmas season.

Our children no longer have the opportunity to enjoy the communal celebration of Christmas. We cannot blame them much because our society is gradually becoming a hi-tech society and people communicate more through mobile phones, iPad, SKYPE and Facebook than personal contacts.

We are drifting more and more to automation and individualism. The lack of exposure of our children to other dimensions of life makes it difficult for the youth to fit into the real world situation of multidimensional challenges. No wonder that our children lean towards the Western individualistic life, which we ignorantly believe is a more superior way of life.

My late mother did something remarkable that had a lasting influence on my life. When she realised that we were becoming too urbanised, she sent us to our grandfather’s village located in a thick forest to spend long vacations and Christmas holidays.

On the first day of our arrival in the village, we had a horrendous night of screams and hoots of the owl, which made us to shiver throughout the night. The nightmare with the owl nearly sent us packing off to the city the next day.

Christmas affords us the opportunity to think about our folks in the village, the poor, underprivileged, widows, and the aged. We have lost our communal spirit that ensured that both the haves and have-nots had a taste of the joy that Christmas brings. Let us bring back the communal celebration of Christmas by sharing with others. It is only by sharing with others that Christmas becomes meaningful.

As has always been the case, we have had good times and bad times in the year. In good or bad circumstances, the year has gone full circle to meet us and we should be thankful to God. Let us extend the joy of Christmas to other people, especially those who may not be privileged like us. Above all, let us use Christmas to reflect on our actions that have worsened the poverty of the underprivileged in the past year and then resolve to make amends in the coming year.“Afehyiapa”.

25 persons fined for non payment of property rate

Nana Esi Brew Monney

The Tarkwa Nsueam revenue department at the end of the second quarter of this year sued 25 people in court for non-payment of property rate.

Most of the defaulters who were indebted as far back as 2007 till date were fined by a Tarkwa Magistrate court in the sum of GH¢1,264.00.

Mr. Niii Okia, municipal revenue officer disclosed this in an interview with westerngh.com.

He said the refusal of citizens to honor the payment of property rates had contributed to the low performance of revenue generation in the assembly, adding that the continuous failure to pay such taxes promptly will slow down development in the municipality.

He said his outfit will put up measures that will intensify the collection of property rates in the coming years.

Mr. Okia encouraged Ghanaians to pay their property rates without delay to enable their leaders to initiate more projects in their respective communities.

Parliament approves €50.5m Fortis Bank loan to procure logistics for Ghana Police Service

Parliament on Monday approved a Mixed Credit Facility between Government of Ghana and Fortis Bank NV of the BNP PARIBAS Group for €50,520,601.93 to finance the procurement of logistics for the Ghana Police Service.

The credit facility is to finance the acquisition of vehicles and other security equipment to resource the Police to effectively promote security and manage security issues relating to Election 2012.

The facility has a buyer credit agreement of €14,362,840.93 and a commercial facility of €36,157,761.

The buyer credit agreement attracts a grace period of a year-and-a-half, with a repayment period of seven years, a maturity period of eight-and-a-half year and an interest of 3.53 per cent per annum.

The agreement attracts a commitment fee of 0.5 per cent per annum and a flat arrangement fee of 0.75 per cent.

The commercial facility of €36,157,761 has a-year-and-a-half grace period, a repayment period of five years, a maturity period of six-and-half year, attracting an interest rate of 5.58 per cent per annum.

It also draws a commitment fee of 0.5 per cent per annum and a flat arrangement fee of 0.75 per cent.

The total contract amount comes to some 49,288,901 Euros and an insurance premium of €1,231,700.93.

Mr James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ketu North, who moved a motion for the adoption of the Committe’s report on the facility, underscored importance of the facility to the maintenance of law and order in the country, especially during Election 2012.

He explained that there was an urgent need to improve the logistical and operational capacity of the Ghana Police to ensure that they were positioned to combat crime and maintain law and order.

Mr Avedzi noted that with the discovery of oil, it was important that the Police was adequately resourced to face challenges that came with the resource.

He said the acquisition of equipment and other accoutrements under the supply contract would increase the physical presence, enhance mobility and operational effectiveness of the Service.

Members of the House urged the Police to take the repair and maintenance of its vehicles and equipment serious to ensure that Ghana obtained optimum benefits from the procurement.

Ghana acquires technology to process bamboo into wood

A technology to process bamboo into wood has been introduced in the country.

Mr Samuel Nyantakyi Agyepong, an Assistant District Manager at the Western Regional Office of the Forestry Services Division announced at weekend during a day’s sensitisation and training workshop for 27 plywood millers, timber contractors and personnel of the Forestry Services Division organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Takoradi.

Mr Agyepong urged plywood millers and timber contractors to take advantage of the technology to stay in business in view of the country’s dwindling wood resources.

He said wood processed from bamboo is more viable and the technology is labour intensive.

Mr Agyepong said bamboo is abundant in the Region while several varieties of it are being planted in the Mpohor Wassa East District.

He said bamboo takes about five years to mature as against trees, can be harvested over 20 years.

Mr Agyepong said wood is becoming scarce in the country and this has forced some timber contractors to acquire the product at Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and other countries to meet their export contracts.

He said the law does not allow the importation of wood products into the country.

Mr Agyepong said Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President, established bamboo factories at Assin Fosu and in the Wassa Amenfi area as well as a Rattan factory at Enyirisi in the Eastern Region.

He said these projects were abandoned when his government was overthrown.

Takoradi Polytechnic presents HNDs to 2,688 graduands

The Takoradi Polytechnic on Saturday awarded Higher National Diplomas (HND) to 2,688 students who completed their courses six months ago at its 11th Congregation.

In an address read for her, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Minister of Education, said it was imperative that polytechnics which are earmarked for the training of middle level manpower adopt and teach appropriate technology so that products could live up to the task of transforming the country.

She said technology education has proven to be a transformational device to be taken advantage of in the quest of development in societies and communities.

Mrs Mould Iddrisu said the Government would continue to support science and technology education in the country.

As a step, the Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology, has introduced Mathematics, Science and Technology Scheme (MASTESS) at the tertiary and pre-tertiary levels since 2009.

She said records from the MASTESS Secretariat indicate that 24 students who are pursuing various science and technology programmes at the polytechnic have benefitted from the scheme.

Mrs Mould Iddrisu said construction of additional lecture halls at the Polytechnic was in the pipeline.

This and other projects yet to take off would empower the Polytechnic to play a leading role in the emerging oil and gas industry and also build the human resource base of the country, she said.

Dr. George Oduro, chairman of the Takoradi Polytechnic Council, said the graduands included 14 students who for the first time in the history of the polytechnic have completed a hands- on programme leading to the award of an International Professional Certificate in Logistics and Transport.

He thanked the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Ghana (CILT, Ghana) for collaborating with the Department of Purchasing and Supply to deliver the programme.

He appealed to the Minister of Finance through the Ministry of Education to expedite action on the migration of senior members of the Polytechnic onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

This appeal is critical because the delay in enrolling lecturers onto the scheme has created anxiety among staff and is adversely affecting their performance, he said.

Reverend Professor Daniel Nyarko, Rector, said the Polytechnic has acquired a 155-acre plot of land at Akatakyi in the Ahanta West District for a new School of Petroleum Studies.

He said the Polytechnic would take advantage of its proximity to the oil fields and train the critical mass of technicians needed in the merging oil and gas industry.

Professor Nyarko said his office has received a list of projects from the African Development Bank (ADB) through the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COVEAT) that the Bank hopes to implement for the polytechnic.

He said the bank’s assistance include projects such as a three-storey lecture theatre, library, playground and various workshops and laboratories.

MTTU to wear white uniform nationwide – ACP Awuni

Officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service would soon be wearing an all white uniform to distinguish them from the other units of the service so as to minimize corruption and extortion on the roads.

Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) Agwunbutoge Awuni, National Commander of the MTTU, said the white uniform was to ensure that personnel of the unit were not unnecessarily blamed for the wrongs of other policemen and women who he said were not in the unit yet commit offences that had been blamed on the MTTU.

He noted that because the MTTU personnel were noted to be performing their duties on the roads, anything negative deed that any policeman commits on the road is often been blamed on the MTTU.

ACP Awuni disclosed this in Tamale on Sunday during his tour of the area to raise the morale of his men and women to perform their duties diligently.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the VVIP Transport, Taxi Drivers Union and other unions operating in the Region were equally represented in the meeting by their leaders where they were advised to ensure road sanity and safety.

ACP Awuni reminded the police personnel to be duty-bound to safe lives by ensuring that drivers comply with road regulations stressing that the Police must not hesitate to prosecute any driver who refuses or disobeys road and traffic regulations.

He expressed disappointment at the rate of interference in the work of the Police in the Northern Region and asked his men and women to be duty conscious and not give in to unlawful demands.

ACP Awuni also called on the transport unions to sensitize their members to abide by driving rules and urged pedestrians to be very careful when on the road saying “40 per cent of the casualties on the road were pedestrians”. Majority of road in Ghana do not have pedestrian paths.

The Northern Regional Commander of the MTTU, Deputy Superintendant of Police (DSP) Godwin Blewushie Cashman, observed indiscipline was high does making the work of the police very tedious.

He also blamed the Attorney Generals Department’s docility for the woes of the Police in the Region.

DSP Cashman stated that despite the numerous challenges facing the personnel such as logistical and personnel, they had done a lot of public education on road safety and were present at all corners to ensure that drivers do the right thing.

He however appealed to the Police high command to resource the unit with logistics.

Golden Star Bogoso Prestea Limited awards 201 employees

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Two hundred and one employees of Golden Star Bogoso Prestea Limited (GSBPL) have been awarded for their long service to the company.

Employees who have severed for 10 years received 10 bags of cement and a packet of roofing sheets while those who have served for 5 years received a table top fridge.

All the award winners were also presented with certificate in addition to their prize.

Speaking at the ceremony in Bogoso on Saturday, Mr. Jerry Agala, acting general manager of the company said this year the long service award scheme has been held twice to show appreciation to their employees who have contributed to the survival of the company to date.

He said an amount of hundred thousand United State dollars was spent on the awards which was on the theme dubbed: “sustaining the organization: the role of employees”.

Mr. Agala recalled that two of the companies employees lost their life this year while attending to their official duty at work.

He therefore assured the employees that since they are the most valuable assets to the company management is prepared to put up appropriate measures to ensure that their welfare is secured.

Mr. Agala expressed his gratitude to the award winners and appealed to all other employees of the company to put in their best to enable them achieve their targeted goal.

Mr. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, District Chief Executive of Prestea Huni/Valley added that the assembly is concern with the sustainability of the company because they paid various taxes to the government as well as the district.

He said the assembly will always ensure peace exist between the company and the communities in which they operate in.

Mr. Cudjoe said the company should also consider promoting such long service employees in addition to the prices they will receive to motivate them in working hard to obtain more profit for the company.

Mr. Mark Aganda, one of the award winners on behalf of his colleagues thanked the company for the gesture.

Anglogold launch road safety campaign

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Health and Safety Mnager for Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited, Mr. Samuel Dapaah has called for stern attention to be given to road traffic issues.

He said the rate at which lives were being lost through road accidents, and the repercussive effects like the devastation of families and skilled manpower required urgent national attention.

Mr. Dapaah was speaking at the launch of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited’s Christmas road safety campaign

He called for care and concern for one another by all road users.

With the carnage through road traffic accidents in Ghana in recent times, Mr. Dapaah called for constant education.

Municipal License Officer, Mr. Lawrence Adom on his part advised that road safety crusade and campaigns should not be limited to festive periods or important occasions alone, but should be all year round.

He noted that bad workmanship, use of imitation spares, bad and incorrect alterations, coupled with inefficiency on the part of the technicians are the lead causes of the killings.

He said most of the road crashes are caused by tyre burst, brake failures, vehicle fires and part failures, which are remotely traceable to bad workmanship and ill advice to mechanics.

Mr. Lawrence Adom said bad driver behaviour and attitude contributed about 75 percent of road traffic crashes.

CHIEFS INVOLVED IN GALAMSEY TO BE ARRESTED

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Omanhene of Wassa Fiase traditional area, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Enimil , has affirmed his resolve to halt illegal small-scale mining in the Bonsa river with a call for the arrest and prosecution of any traditional ruler in the area suspected to be promoting the practice.

According to him, any chief who would be found to have collected money and given out land to the illegal miners to operate in the area should be made to face the full rigours of the law without any fear or favour.

He said if the laws of the country were to be respected and promoted, then those found guilty of flouting them, such as chiefs and members of royal families, including his own children, should not be spared but be made to face the law.

Osagyefo Dr. Enimil also advised citizens of the area to refrain from joining the illegal mining, warning that those found involved should not be spared.

According to Osagyefo Dr. Enimil, the ability to subject chiefs, members of royal families, citizens of Wassa Fiase and outsiders to the full rigours of the law, without any favour, fear or political interference, will serve as a deterrent to others who are bent on destroying river bodies in the pursuit of their selfish interests.

Addressing the end of year meeting of Wassa Fiase traditional Council, Osagyefo , said, if chiefs, allow poverty to compel them to give out land to selfish individuals to destroy forest reserves, water bodies and the ecology, at the expense of the people and posterity, then they must be made to be accountable for their selfish actions by facing the laws of the land.

According to him, the incessant and blatant depletion of more than 80 per cent of forest-reserves in Wassa Fiase and its environs and the heavy pollution of the Bonsa River, which is the main source of drinking water for the people over the years, by a syndicate of illegal chainsaw operators and illegal miners were seriously undermining efforts to protect the forest and other natural resources in the area.

He acknowledged that while the youth needed to be provided with jobs, the manner in which the land was being degraded and abandoned posed a serious threat to people.

Yet another award for Gold Field Ghana

Coming right on the heels of the Ghana Club 100 Awards, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa mine has proudly received recognition for its corporate social responsibility programmes in its stakeholder communities. The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industries – Western Regional Chapter, for the second consecutive time has awarded the company at its annual Corporate Responsibility Awards night.
The event which was held at the posh Akroma Plaza Hotel in the Oil City of Takoradi was under the theme: “Creativity in CSR to Accelerate Economic Development”. In attendance were oil industry gurus, mining conglomerate giants, traditional leaders, academics and other movers of the Western Regional Economy.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the event, the Omanhene of Esikado Traditional area, Nana Kwabena Nketsia V challenged industry leaders to assist in the development of the communities they operate in. In his humor filled but emotionally charged speech, the traditional leader who is also a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast condemned the practice of some multinationals who transfer all their profits outside the country and do very little to develop the communities that host them. He referred to such practice as irresponsible and called on all to assist the state in bringing socio – economic advancement to the people of Ghana and in particular the Western Region.
Present at the function, to receive the Award on behalf of Gold Fields were, Alfred Baaku – Executive Vice President, Operations; William Empeh – Acting Human Resource Manager, Tarkwa; Yaw B. Opoku – Public Affairs Superintendent, Tarkwa; Samuel Mireku – Unit Manager, Cost and Management Accountant, Tarkwa and Abdel – Razak Yakubu, Community Affairs Officer also of the Tarkwa mine.
In presenting the award, Mr. Ato Van Ess – Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce pointed out that the event was not just put together to adjudge projects done by companies in the region. The main focus was to measure the impact that such projects have made in the lives of the community folks.
Gold Fields received the highest award of the year for the impact of the Sustainable Community Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) Programme as well as the Small Town Water Supply System (STWSS) constructed in its stakeholder communities. The company was also commended for properly documenting the impact of its projects in the communities.
Mr. Baaku in his acceptance speech informed the gathering that, Gold Fields is considering increasing its allocation to the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation in order to carry out more projects in its stakeholder communities. “The Award is not going to make us relax, but instead, it will encourage us to do more for the development of the Western Region” he added.

By Abdel-Razak Yakubu

Consumers cautioned on expired goods and Christmas bonanza

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has cautioned consumers to be more vigilant against unscrupulous businessmen who would take advantage of the holiday rush to sell expired or defective Christmas delicacies and other items to them.

The Board said some retail establishments or individuals were likely to sell or distribute pre-packaged or processed foodstuffs some of which might be stale or whose ‘’consume before’’ tags had expired.

Head of Communications of FDB, Mr James Lartey said that those products which were mainly stored and sold in unhygienic places may get contaminated and could compromise their safety to the detriment of the consuming public.

“This is the period of the year when unwholesome products especially consumable goods spring up under the pretext of ‘Christmas Bonanza’, he said.

He urged consumers to avoid patronising cheap food products, regardless how attractive the packaging would be.

“Consumers are advised to remain vigilant by checking on the expiry dates, batch numbers as well as the manufacturers of products such as biscuits, toffees, drinks and poultry products and other food products for consumption at this crucial period of the year,” Mr Lartey said.

“Parents must also endeavour to constantly monitor what their children buy for consumption from stalls or supermarkets as well as what they would be served at parties during the celebrations,” he said.

Mr Lartey recalled a recent situation where his outfit during its normal duties intercepted 100 boxes of biscuits infested with live maggots which were ready to be sold at reduced prices.

He called on consumers to avoid buying from hawkers whose products were exposed to the sun and unidentified companies that dealt in products which could be inimical to their health.

Another worrying phenomenon, Mr Lartey said, was the killing and dressing of fowls in the markets and noted that it could be very hazardous because the water used could be contaminated.

Consumers who would want imported dressed poultry should look out for expiry dates before buying, he insisted.

Mr Lartey gave the assurance that the FDB would always remain committed to the health and safety of consumers and urged them to report any product, especially drinks and meat suspected to be unwholesome to the Board.

Ghana to get first mobile music streaming service

Ghanaians will for the first time have the pleasure of listening to music on their mobile phones as a new music streaming service is to be launched by the end of December 2011.

The service is known as Streemio.

The mobile streaming service, provided by Streemio Technologies, a Ghanaian-owned company, will be delivered via a mobile application that can be downloaded for free on most mobile devices with Internet capability and decent multimedia features.

When launched, Streemio will provide a very good platform for Ghanaian musicians to interact with their fans and also be able to track information on their fans.

According to officials of the company, the service will be launched December 8, 2011 where details of the service will be giving before it begins streaming.

A source at Streemio, tells westerngh.com that Ghanaians will start using the service by December 23, 2011 as the company’s technical team is working feverishly to meet the deadline.

Adiyiah, Kingson dropped from Ghana’s AFCON squad 

Turkey-based striker Dominic Adiyiah has been dropped from Ghana’s final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Karsiyaka player has been placed on a three-man stand-by list to be unveiled by the Serbian coach when the squad is released on Thursday.

Experienced goalkeeper Richard Kingson was also dropped from the final squad to be officially unveiled during Thursday’s press conference.

South Korea-based striker Derek Asamoah was a surprise inclusion in the Black Stars final 23-man for next month’s tournament.

Just two home-based players made the final squad list. Goalkeepers Daniel Agyei and Ernest Sowah will make the trip to the tournament.

Stromgodset duo of Mohammed Abu and goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey will make their maiden appearance in Africa’s flagship tournament.

All the key players in the Black Stars will make the trip to the Nations Cup apart from Kingson who has fallen out of favour with coach Goran Stevanovic.

According to insiders, John Mensah, Jonathan Mensah, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, Daniel Opare and Samuel Inkoom made the cut.

Other key players are Derek Boateng, Agyemang Badu, Andre Ayew, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asmaoah, Asamoah Gyan and Prince Tagoe.

Ghana will be seeking to win their fifth continental title and Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic presented his final squad to the Ghana FA over the weekend.

STMA makes strides in development

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Opoku Boateng has said the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis stands tall among other Districts and Metropolis in the country in terms of infrastructural development.

He said the assembly has over the past few years undertaken a number of projects in various sectors including the health and education.

In the educational sector, he noted that aside the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects, which sought to provide educational materials and infrastructural facilities for schools in the country, the Sekondi Takoradi Assembly has also initiated a number of school projects which are worthy of praise.

He said the Assembly has provided pavilions as well as permanent structures to various schools in the Metropolis which use to operate under trees.

In an interview the PRO noted that in the health sector, the Assembly through the Metro Health Directorate has undertaken educational and sensitization projects across the metropolis and has constructed number of CHPS compounds for communities in the area.

He highlighted some areas that had benefited from the construction of Community Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) as Diabene, Mampong, New Takoradi, among others.

Investment inflow into Ghana’s mining sector hit $770m in 2010  

Investment inflow into the country’s mining sector hit $770 million in 2010, up from the 2009 figure of $726 million.

This brings the total money pumped into the sector within the last 10 years to approximately $6.4 billion.

The investments came from companies that are engaged in gold production, exploration and support services.

Dr Toni Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who made this known at Etwebo in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District of the Western Region, said during the period, the mining industry returned 68 per cent of its gross revenue into the economy.

It also paid $364 million to the Ghana Revenue Authority, representing 23 per cent of the authority’s 2010 total collections, Dr Aubynn said at the National Mine Safety week celebration hosted by the Chirano Gold Mine.

He said corporate tax, withholding tax and levies stood at $170 million.

Dr Aubynn said to underline its commitment to society the industry contributed $17.6 million to its host communities and the public in support of various social responsibility programmes.

This, he said, showed the enormous contribution of the mining industry to the growth of the economy.

The interest of the companies in their operation areas has expanded to include social investment projects.

These are implemented through collaboration with the beneficiaries in identifying and funding projects that yield both social and economic returns to the communities, he added.

USAID begins grants disbursement in W/R

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Ghana) has begun the disbursement of over US$416,560 as small grants to about 14 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from all the 17 Districts and Municipalities in the Western Region.

The disbursement is the first batch of grants, out of a total of US$1,050,000, set aside for disbursement under USAID’s Local Governance and Decentralization Program (LOGODEP), aimed at increasing citizen’s participation in local governance, and to improve service delivery in the education and health sectors.

In a press release copied to westerngh, it said out of 79 applications received and reviewed, only 14 CSOs had been captured in the first phase of the disbursement programme, which is expected to end in May next year.

The grantees are United Civil Society Organizations of Nzema East District (UCSOND), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Action for Rural Education, African Women International and Berea Social Foundation, Green Earth Organization (GEO), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC).

Others include Action for Rural Education Advocates and Trainers for Children and Women Advancement and Right (ACTWAR), Life Relief Foundation, Media Foundation for West Africa and Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD), Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF), Daasgift Quality Foundation, and Mercy Foundation International.

USAID’s Local Governance and Decentralization Program (LOGODEP) is managed by Management Systems International (MSI), and has three main areas of focus including expanding public participation in local governance, Increasing internally generated funds of targeted local districts and achieving comprehensive development planning for local districts

Gold Fields claims unfair playing field

The world’s fourth-largest gold producer, Gold Fields is unhappy with the Ghana government over what it describes as the unfair level grounds in the payment of taxes and royalties.

According to the Johannesburg-based miner, it pays more taxes and royalties than any of the major mining firms in Ghana.

Gold Fields is complaining that beginning 2012, the Ghana government wants to raise the corporate tax on mining from 25% to 35% as well as introduce a windfall profit tax of 10% despite the company’s stability agreement with government.

“There isn’t a level playing field on taxes and royalties. We are paying higher royalties than the other major producers in that country. That’s not sustainable,” Chief Executive Officer Nick Holland told to investors December 5, 2011, according to a Reuters report.

“And we will be subject to these taxes despite the fact that we have had a stability agreement in draft form with the government for many years. So that’s also not sustainable. There has to be a level playing field created, Mr Holland was quoted as saying.

But the CEO disclosed that the miner is in talks with government about the proposed tax hikes and negotiations so far have been promising.

Earlier, Gold Fields said it is yet to advise shareholders over the proposed Ghana mining tax increment.

“We require more details of the proposed tax changes to further assess their potential impact. Accordingly Gold Fields is not yet in a position to advise shareholders on implications for the Company,” said Gold Fields in a brief note on its website November 18, 2011.

Already, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has stated that government’s proposal to increase the mining taxes will lead to low investments in the sector.

$1billion investment projects in Ghana to be abandonded

Gold Fields Chief Executive, Nick Holland, says planned projects that can bring $1 billion in investment to Ghana were at risk because of looming tax changes outlined in the 2012 budget last month.

Ghana plans to raise the corporate mining tax to 35 per cent from 25 per cent and introduce a 10 per cent windfall tax as well.

Mr. Holland’s comments at a presentation to investors in Johannesburg on Monday were the strongest to date by a mining company on the issue and came amidst a wave of resource nationalism across Africa.

Gold Fields is the world’s fourth-largest gold producer and regards West Africa as key to its global growth strategy.

In response to a question about planned expansion of the group’s Damang operation in the Western Region, Mr. Holland said: “The tax situation is a big concern to us, and frankly, unless we are going to see some flexibility on the tax situation, I don’t think we will be building the project in the form that is being described today, if at all.”

The miner also has a major expansion planned for its Tarkwa mine, also in the Western Region.

Mr. Holland said a $1 billion project pipeline in Ghana was now uncertain.

“Both of those projects represent incremental investment of$1 billion into the country…There needs to be a better dispensation for us to proceed,” he contended and said the playing field in Ghana was unfair.

“There isn’t a level playing field of taxes and royalties. We are paying higher royalties than the other major producers n that country. That’s not sustainable.”

“And we will be subject to these taxes despite the fact that we have had a stability agreement in draft form with the government for many years. So that’s also not sustainable. There has to be a level playing field created,” he said.

Mr. Holland said company executives visited Ghana last Thursday to raise their concerns and that the government had agreed to enter a dialogue with Gold Fields.

Peet van Schalkwyk, the company’s head of the West Africa region, earlier said talks had been promising.

But there is uncertainty in other areas and he said in his presentation that there was still no mechanism to work out how the windfall tax would be imposed.

Other mineral-rich African states that have recently raised mining taxes or royalties include the region’s top copper producer – Zambia and Zimbabwe – which has the second-largest known platinum reserves in the world.

Several analysts have said the wave of resource nationalism, which coincides with sky-high commodity prices, is one of the biggest political risks to the mining sector.

For Gold Fields, the stakes are high.

In 2010, about 20 per cent of the company’s production of around 3.5 million ounces came from Ghana, and that percentage is rising as it has since bought out minority stakes in its operations there.

The group is targeting an increase in its output in West Africa to 1.25 million ounces in 2015 from just under one million now, making the region key to its goal of raising the amount in development or production to five million ounces by 2015.

Water treatment plant in danger-as galamsey activity covers pump with sand

Mr. Daniel Muomaalah, General Manager of Ghana Urban Water Limited, a subsidiary of the Ghana Water Company Limited has called on stakeholders in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality of the Western Region and the country as a whole to come out with alternative jobs for galamsey operators who have made it a habit to mine in the Bonsa River basin.

Speaking at a press briefing at Bonsa on Monday, the General Manager expressed worry that, the point where the water treatment plant’s pump will take the water was currently covered with sand due to the uncontrolled activities of the illegal miners.

Mr. Muomaalah said the plant was originally designed to produce one million gallons of water a day, but the activities of galamsey operators in the river had made it impossible for the company to produce up to that target.

Currently, the plant produces between 750, 000 to 800,000 gallons of water a day, he said, adding that this was inadequate to serve the entire municipality.

Mr. Muomaalah cited power supply, out-dated pumps and equipment, water source and distribution network limitations as some of the challenges that prevented the company from supplying water to Tarkwa regularly.

He said to address the water crisis the Company had planned to drill three mechanized boreholes in Tarkwa to serve as supplement to the current treatment plant in the short term.

In the long term, Mr. Muomaalah said, the company was in consultation with an American company for a packaged plant that could treat four million gallons of water a day to replace the present old system.

The general manager appealed to all to help protect the Bonsa River and other water bodies across the country from pollution and extinction.

Philanthropist donates to flood victims

By Nana Esi Brew Monney

Touched by the plight of the flood victims in Accra on October 27, 2011, a philanthropist today donated clothing, shoes, bags, toiletries, and other undisclosed items to the the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) towards their upkeep.
The philanthropist Linda Naa Oyoo Quartey said the donation dubbed The Project Help Black Wednesday Flood Victims is a project she initiated provide relief to Ghanaians who lost their properties due to floods, most especially to those who lost their loved ones and properties to the Accra floods
Explaining the rationale behind the donation, Naa Oyoo said she created a Facebook page (Project Help Black Wednesday Flood Victims) to publicize the cause so as to have a higher number of donations. A further communication was sent via the Facebook page that all items would be donated to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).
The page she added was well-liked by many Ghanaians on Facebook and many applauded the initiative.
According to Naa, she wanted to bring together friends and family to donate clothing, shoes, bags, toiletries, books, and any item which would bring some form of relief to the flood victims.
The road to achieving her success story as she made the donation was not smooth.
I however faced many challenges especially with some organizations requesting letters before a drop-box could be placed at their establishment; this led to a major delay to donations. It’s unfortunate that bureaucratic procedures become priority over providing humanitarian aid. Since initiating this project it has been interesting to see people’s attitude towards providing aid. However, I did not allow this to perturb me from completing what I had started, she stressed.
However Ms Quartey managed to collect clothing for men, women and children, shoes & books, bags and toiletries.
Whilst expressing her appreciation to those who contributed to the donation, she encouraged individuals especially Christians, who have the resources to help people in need during disasters to rise up and perform their duty as it pleases God to give to those who need to be watered.
The Deputy National Coordinator, NADMO, Mr. Sylvester Azantilow who received the items thanked the philanthropist for the gesture and said the items would be given to the flood victims.
Mr Sylvester Azantilow, said many of the floods were caused by filth, choked gutters and building on waterways.
He noted that negative practices by a section of the public including throwing garbage into drains had aggravated the problem of flooding.
Mr Azantilow explained that children suffered most when disasters occurred and that NADMO Officials were working toward involving disaster management in the school curricula to enable children to learn the causes and prevention of disaster.
He noted that the donation by Naa Oyoo Quartey is overwhelming and commended all those who had donated in bringing smiles back on the faces of the victims.

Fitness walk, vital for promotion of unity among youth.

By Nana Esi Brew Monney

Mr. Koduah Dapaah, Health, Safety, Environment and Corporate Affairs Manager of Chirano Gold Mines Limited said fitness walk, was a major health related activity that should be promoted in all communities.

He said it has a positive impact on the health of the youth, promoted unity caused less injuries and did not pollute the environment.

Mr. Dapaah said these at the close of a health walk organized jointly by Chirano Gold Mines and the Sunshine Keep fit Club at Sefwi Etwebo on Sunday.

The health walk formed part of activities marking this year’s National Safety and First Aid Competition which is on the theme “Safe Mining, Yes we can”.

The eight kilometre walk started from the Chirano Mine site through Sefwi Akoti and Paboase and ended at the Chirano Mine Village.

He commended the youth within the community for responding to join the mine in the exercise and said such partnerships should be promoted in the interest of peace and development.

Mr. Dapaah said as part of the week, a road safety and fire management talk would be organized for commercial drivers at Subri Nkwanta and Ntrentreso, while a Cleanup would be undertaken at the Chirano health centre and an Inter-Community Gala would take place on Thursday.

He said the weeklong activities would be climaxed with the Inter-Mine first aid and safety competition.

Among the participating mine teams are Chirano Mines, Noble Gold, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi and Anglogold Ashanti, Iduapriem Mine, while the community’s teams are from Chirano, Noble, Ghana Manganese, Newmont and Anglogold Obuasi Mine.

Era of military brutality is gone forever – Group Captain Nagai tells new recruits

The Takoradi Air Force Base Commander, Group Captain Maxwell Mantsebi Teye Nagai, on Friday stated that the days when the military brutalized the civilian population are over.

He said the Military is there to protect and defend the people and the territorial integrity of the nation at all times.

Group Captain Nagai said this at an Inter-Squadron Steeple Chase competition held at the Takoradi Air force Base, to test the endurance and physical fitness of new recruits.

It also aimed at inculcating a sense of team spirit, discipline and cooperation among the recruits.

In all, 136 recruits took part in the competition made up of 124 males and 10 females after 18 weeks of intensive training.

They covered 16-kilometer routes, scaled a 10 foot wall, walked in “water ditch” as well as clearing several obstacles in various terrain before crossing the finishing line.

Group Captain Nagai charged the recruits to eschew laziness, indiscipline, idle attitudes so that the Military values of discipline, loyalty to country, dedication to duty and selfless sacrifice to national duties would be firmly imbued in them.

“You are being trained physically, mentally and psychologically to be able to protect and defend your brothers and sisters in your communities and the nation at large”, he stressed.

At the end of the competition, Falcon Squadron came first followed by Fokker Squadron in second place whiles MI 17 Squadron placed third.

Recruit Michael Ndombe was adjudged the overall best recruit while recruit George Asamoah and recruit Dominic Fiabedu came second and third, respectively.

25% of female sex workers are HIV positive – Ghana AIDS Commission

Twenty-five per cent of female sex workers (prostitutes) in the country are HIV positive, a latest survey by the Ghana AIDS Commission has revealed.

The commission has consequently cautioned men against patronising their activities as they face a high risk of infection.

At a media briefing in Kumasi Friday in connection with this year’s national celebration of the World AIDS Day at Obuasi on December 1, the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El-Adas, said, “If you match the national prevalence rate of 1.6 per cent to that of the commercial sex workers, you can see that there is a real problem at hand.”

Globally, individuals who sell sex have been found to be at a very high risk of getting the disease.

It has been found out that generally, sex workers operate with a high number of sexual partners, a situation which meant that on becoming infected with the disease, they could potentially pass it on to multiple clients.

That is why in Ghana, the AIDS Commission had made the prevention of HIV infections among those involved in the sex trade an instrumental part of its activities.

Dr El-Adas said the commission had, for instance, made some sex workers peer educators as a way of preventing infections.

The theme chosen by UNAIDS for this year’s celebration of the World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero”. This was adopted from the UNAIDS’ global vision of zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Dr El-Adas touched on Ghana’s current national strategic plan (2011-2015), which emphasised among other things the unique challenges the nation faced in tackling the epidemic and said achieving the objectives should be a concerted effort.

She stated that the 2011 World AIDS Day report issued by the UNAIDS showed that Ghana was among the five countries in the sub-region whose HIV prevalence had declined by more than 25 per cent.

The decline was attributed to factors including changes in sexual behaviour, especially among the youth, and the increase in condom use.

The Director General said even though the report was encouraging, it should not leave anyone to sleep, stressing, “We should rather work hard to bring the rate further down.”

She said the overall focus was to reduce infections by 50 per cent in the next five years accompanied by the virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission as well as scaling up the proportion of people living with HIV who were on treatment.

She stressed the need for the elimination of stigmatisation and discrimination of persons living with the disease.

Dr El-Adas commended the media for the work they were doing in the fight against the disease and urged them to work even harder in the years ahead to help meet the set goals.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nana Yaw Osei, pledged the continuous support of journalists in the region for the nation’s quest to address the challenges in all sectors of the economy.

Gold Fields to advise shareholders over proposed Ghana mining tax hikes

Gold Fields Limited says it has noted this week’s 2012 budget announcement by Ghana’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, which includes proposed changes to the tax regime for the country’s mining industry.

“We require more details of the proposed tax changes to further assess their potential impact. Accordingly Gold Fields is not yet in a position to advise shareholders on implications for the Company,” said Gold Fields in a brief note on its website November 18, 2011.

Once we have completed our assessment we will provide shareholders with further information, the miner added.

Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor reading the budget in Parliament November 16, 2011, said “Beginning in the fiscal year 2012…following established practice in the extractive industry, and in the oil and gas sector, the corporate tax rate for mining companies will be increased from the current 25% to 35%.”

The government also said a windfall profit tax of 10% will be collected from all mining companies and “a uniform regime for capital allowance of 20% for five years for mining, as is the case in the oil and gas sector.”

Government explained that environmental degradation resulting from mining operations also imposes additional costs on the country.

Already, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has stated that government’s proposal to increase the mining taxes will lead to low investments in the sector.

“It will not encourage investments…lead to cost of production. These are business entities and they operate on demand and supply,” Dr Toni Aubynn told ghanabusinessnews.com exclusively on phone November 17, 2011.

Ghana is Africa’s second-biggest gold producer.

In a related development, the Bloomberg reports November 18, 2011 that Ghana will by 2012 establish a publicly traded company to manage revenues made from gold, including profits from the windfall tax and higher corporate tariffs.

The Ghana Gold Company, according to the publication citing Mr. Newman Kusi, an adviser to Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor will be majority owned government and will list shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) after it is established.

Ghanaians assured of 100% security

The vice president, John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians of maximum security in the country.

He said the security agencies are on top of issues.

The Vice President disclosed this when the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim, Awulae Attibrukusu III, led a nine-member delegation to the Castle, in Accra, to honour the Vice President for attending the Kundum festival, some few weeks ago.

The Vice President announced that a new police station would be established in Axim, come next year 2012.

Mr. Mahama was confident that the police station would bring sanity to the community adding that the station would also be provided with a vehicle.

The Chief and his delegation on their part expressed their gratitude to the Vice President.

Western Regional Minister outdoors 65 motorbikes

The Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, has outdoored about 65 motorbikes for the assemblymen of the Bia District in the Region.

The motorbikes is expected to enhance the activities of the assembly members in the district.

The Regional Minister was assisted by the Chief Executive for Sefwi-Wiawso, Lawrence Ackah Santana, and the Chief Executive for the Bia District, Kwabena Tweneboah-Kodua.

According to Mr. Tweneboah-Kodua, the motorbikes were part of the government’s vision as stated in the Better Ghana agenda.

As part of the ceremony about a 100 wheel-barrows, 100 dustbins, brooms were also distributed to enhance sanitation in the assembly.

Expatriate companies on Air Force enclave to relocate

Expatriate companies operating within the restricted Ghana Air Force enclave in Takoradi are to vacate the premises within the shortest possible time to prevent the security and independence of the military from being undermined, a senior official of the Ministry of Energy has stated.

The ministry is now fine-tuning details of the relocation process with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to pave the way for the companies to move to new locations.

The companies currently operating in the restricted area are Tullow Ghana, Kosmos Energy, WEBB Construction, Crane Mobicrane, NHV Aviation, I.A.S. International, Hess Ghana Exploration and Vanco Oil Ghana Ltd.

Two of these companies operate aircraft services from the Takoradi base to the rigs and back and could continue to operate from there until a public airport is built.

According to the official of the Ministry of Energy, the relocation had become necessary because expatriate companies had the potential to interfere with the security of the military.

The directive to the companies came on the back of reports that a number of oil and service companies located in the restricted enclave had illegally been using electricity and water without paying bills for the past seven years.

In addition, supply vessels serving offshore oil operations are also reported to be drawing potable water from the Home Port of the Western Naval Command free on the government’s account.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) have, consequently, bared their teeth at those practices and threatened to head for court.

The oil and service companies are using the premises of the Air Force in a leasehold but have refused to pay for the utilities because the military, as a government institution, is not required to pay for those utilities directly.

Officials of the ECG and the GWCL told the media that when they dispatched their field officers to the premises to demand payment, the officers were verbally assaulted and chased out.

According to the Ministry of Energy official, the continuous stay of the companies at the military installation after commercial production of oil had several implications, such as corrupting the military, intercepting sensitive national security information and diverting the attention of the military from performing its core function of protecting the interest of the nation.

He said currently the Ghana Air Force had been retooled to protect the country’s interest to ensure that the operations of those oil companies conformed to acceptable standards.

“Therefore, if these companies are located within the premises of the same institution that is supposed to monitor them, it will amount to a conflict of interest,” he said.

He said another dangerous aspect of the situation was that the offices of those oil companies were close to the conference room of the Ghana Air Force.

“Therefore, any sensitive information exchanged by the national security could be monitored or intercepted by anybody standing by the building, a situation which is not the best,’’ he said.

The decision to relocate the oil and service companies from the military enclave, he said, had been on the table for some time now, but recent developments had prompted the ministry to hasten the process.

The official, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the best thing to do now was to allow the companies to pool their resources to establish a dedicated shore-base facility to serve the oil industry and not allow those foreign companies to turn the country’s security post into a shore-base facility.

PNC National Delegates Congress postponed

The Peoples National Convention (PNC) National Delegates Congress to elect a Flag bearer for Elections 2012 and other national officers slated for November 25th to 27th has been postponed.

The postponement was necessitated by failure of the party to organise all constituency and regional conferences to elect officers, which were mandatory for a national congress.

The National Executive Committee of the party would therefore meet in Accra on November 22nd to deliberate on the current development and mop-up strategies to fast track the process in the other five regions to pave way for the national delegate’s congress, Mr Anbataayela Bernard Monnah, PNC General Secretary told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Monday.

The PNC Congress is expected to review the party’s constitution, to strengthen it to deal with the exigencies of current political trends, and also to consider whether or not the presidential candidate of the party should continue to be its leader at every point in time.

Other issues on the table of the Congress committee are whether or not to make the youth wing autonomous and also change the General Secretary’s position as the electoral returning officer of the party at every congress.

So far, two people are contesting the flag bearer position of the party.

Meanwhile the party has officially endorsed two contestants for the flag bearership slot – Mr Hassan Abdulai Ayariga is challenging Dr Edward N. Mahama four time Presidential candidate of the party.

For the chairmanship slot, four aspirants are contesting against the current Chairman Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan – They are Mr David Nibi, Dr Somtim Tobiga, Dr Edward Gyader, and Mr Thomas Akumyoung.

Mr Monnah is facing stiff challenge from Mr Henry H. Asante, and Mr Atik Mohammed for the General Secretary position, whilst David Apasera and Peter Teye Batsa are contesting for the National Treasurer positions

For the position of the National Organiser, Mr Omar Ahmed Bekure, Mr Emmanuel Wilson Jnr., and Mr Abubakari Sadiq Ebla are contesting.

The National Women’s Organiser position is being contested for by Elizabeth Amedekanyu and Janet Nabila, and National Youth Organiser by Abubakar Ramadan, Colson Akanbasiamand and Abass Nuhu.

STMA: Assembly to take over ultra modern landfill site

All is set for the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to
officially have full control of an ultra modern landfill site.

The long awaited landfill site has the facility to process both solid and
liquid waste materials as raw materials for the manufacturing and the
agricultural sector respectively.

Previously, what the assembly used to do was to dispose the liquid waste
into the sea but residents along the coast complained about the stench
which they claimed made life uncomfortable for them.

The assembly in their quest to bring sanity to the area decided to
construct the ultra modern landfill site to bring relief to the people.

The Public Relations Officer for STMA, Opoku Boateng, who disclosed this in
Accra, observed that the assembly spends huge sums of money to hire the
services bulldozer operators to compress the waste at their old landfill
sites to make way for new waste materials.

This situation, Mr. Opoku described did not benefit the assembly since
those huge sums of money could be channeled into other development projects.

He noted that, not only would the new landfill site be of maximum benefit
to the assembly but would also serve as a disposal site for the
oil-drilling companies to dispose off their waste.

Mr. Opoku was hopeful that the facility would help generate enough revenue
for the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to undertake enough
development projects in the area.

“Holistically, the rest of the landfill site is expected to be completed
before the year 2011 ends,” he intimated.

Subject: Ghana Immisgration Service records 3876 cases of document fraud between 2008 and 2010

Mr Peter Wiredu, Director of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) said 3876 cases of document fraud were reported while 1017 persons were intercepted at the Kotoka International Airport for various immigration offences between 2008 and 2010.

He said undocumented migration had risen in the past ten years with migrant smuggling and trafficking becoming part of the profitable branches of organised crime.

Mr Wiredu disclosed this at the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop on Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking for 50 trainees from the GIS, Bureau of National Investigations and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority in Accra.

The workshop which was organised on Tuesday in Accra, was sponsored by the European Union, the United Nations outfit on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the GIS.

Mr Wiredu said smuggling involved the facilitation of illegal border crossing or residence in another country with the complicity of the migrant.

He noted that there had been reports of cases of migrants drowning in unsafe vessels or suffocating to death in overcrowded truck compartments and ships or being victimised for revealing information about smuggling gangs.

He explained that the phenomenon did not happen in isolation but linked to other international organised crimes such as drugs and arms trafficking, Human Trafficking, terrorism and money laundering.

He expressed appreciation of the fact that experts of the UNODC had begun equipping the Service and its stakeholders with knowledge, skills and tools to deal with the menace of human smuggling and related irregular migration.

Ms Morgane Nicot, Associate Expert for UNODC said the goal of the workshop was to effectively disrupt organised irregular migration activities and smuggling of migrants in the country.

Ms Nicot said the trainees underwent practical training on the UNODC Basic Training Manual and In-Depth Training Manual on Investigating and Prosecuting migrant smuggling in the country.

She said the fight against migrant smuggling needed to be combined with evidence-based knowledge for policy-making, adequate legislation, inter-agency coordination and international cooperation.

Ms Nicot noted that criminal justice was only one facet of the response to migrant smuggling, adding that effective action required a comprehensive approach which meant addressing the underlying issues of migration and development.

Tullow Schools Contractors and Suppliers

Tullow Ghana has held a seminar for contractors and suppliers aimed at building their capacity to enable them become part of the supply chain.

The schooling of the suppliers and contractors, according to Mr. Kennedy Noonoo of Cooperate Affairs  Tullow Ghana, will promote long term relationship through local business development, maximize the use of local goods and services, as well as promote real and effective partnerships.

Briefing the contractors and suppliers who came from diverse sectors at the Raybow hotel in Takoradi, at the two day seminar Mr. Nunoo, said only Tullow contractors and suppliers have the authority to negotiate and enter into contracts with Tullow

Bridge the Gap Seminar Participants

The seminar is to inform the corporate social responsibility department, suppliers and contractors based in the western region about the importance of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and quality management in their operations as well as increase the efficiency and international competitiveness of the suppliers and contractors

The positive outcome of the seminar, Mr. Nunoo said, would enable the suppliers meet international standards, requirements and best practices.

This, he believes, can better position them to set targets to grow their businesses and employ more Ghanaians for shared prosperity.

In November 2010, two seminars were held in Accra and Takoradi for some suppliers. The seminars were attended by senior managers of 90 contractors and suppliers of Tullow Ghana’s facilities department.

A similar seminar was held on the 14th and 15th of Sptember, 2011 in Accra for 23 contractors and suppliers of the Tullow Ghana business and systems department

The topics covered included marketing, exploration of business opportunities advantages of partnerships and mergers, financial awareness, market analysis, contracts and procurements.

The Tullow tendering process and the steps leading up to the award of contracts were explained. Tullow safety rules were also introduced to the contractors and suppliers.

Tullow Oil Plc recorded record half-year sales of over $ 1 billion dollars in revenue.

Tullow

Apewosika Assemblyman appeals for more street lights

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Mr. Abass Korsah, the Assemblyman for Apewosika electoral area in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region has appealed to government and other development agencies to speed up the development of the community.

Apewosika, he said did not have street lights which make it uncomfortable to travel or walk in the evening thereby increasing fear of evening attacks in the community, adding that the community is growing at a fast rate and was therefore necessary to extend basic amenities to the area.

However the Co-ordinating Director for the municipality John Owoo disclosed in an interview that the municipal assembly has supplied more than 200 street lights to communities within the area including Apewosika though more is left to be done.

The assemblyman added that the community needed a sea defense facility as the sea often rises into the homes of people when it rains destroying life and property.

The community he noted is largely involved in fish farming as a major occupation.

According to him, some children in the community are very reluctant when it comes to education, stating that the children are more interested in the fish farming than the knowledge they are likely to acquire from the classroom.

He urged government to do more to encourage education in the area.

On the health front, he called on government and other concerned agencies to help provide some health post in the area since the closest health facility is about one and half miles away.

Ghana Manganse donates towards Farmers day

By Nana Esi Brew Monney

Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) has donated GH¢ 5000 towards the celebration of this year’s farmer’s and Fishermen’s day in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality

Community Affairs and Public Relations Manager of GMC, Omar Timtey who presented the money, said the company, since the inception of the farmer’s day, had identified itself with the laudable idea to encourage farmers to promote agriculture in the country.

He said Ghana Manganese recognises the role agriculture plays in the development of the country’s economy, and that, the company was committed in assisting to boost agriculture.

Mr. Timtey noted that last year the company donated general farm inputs to the assembly and was hopeful that the items would go a long way in helping the assembly to honour the award winners.

Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mrs Christina Cobbinah was grateful to the company for their assistance to the assembly.

She gave the assurance that the items would be given to the beneficiary farmers.

Cocoa porters demonstrate over poor salaries

About 700 cocoa porters at the Cocoa Commodity Village at Beahu in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region have demonstrated against the Cocoa Marketing Board for the payment of poor allowances.

They said the money paid them was not commensurate with the work they do hence their resolve to go on demonstration.

Speaking to the GNA in an interview, Mr Kwasi Kwakye, a cocoa porter, said a gang of 16 carry 288 cocoa bags per day and each person is paid only GH¢13 per day.

He pleaded with the authorities to increase the daily payment from GH¢13 to GH¢30 daily in view of the difficulties associated in carrying the cocoa beans.

They warned that any group of people who would attempt to carry the cocoa loads as a result of the demonstration would be attacked.

Mr Joseph Dofoyena, the District Chief Executive for Ahanta West, appealed to the demonstrators to end their action but this yielded no results and thus promised to take the matter up to the authorities concerned to help resolve the issue.

Some cocoa haulage truck drivers also joined the demonstrators saying that because the cocoa porters had laid down their tools, their goods were not being offloaded and this had created some inconveniences for them.

The demonstrators burnt car tyres in front of the cocoa village to show their displeasure.

Diabetes on the increase in the western Region

By Nana Esi Brew Monney

Statistics available to the Western Regional Health Directorate indicates that diabetes is on the rise in the region.

The Western Regional Health Director, Dr (Mrs.) Linda Vanotoo has expressed worry that the disease, one of the incurable non-communicable diseases, was now affecting younger persons.

The Regional Health Director, however, could not readily give figures of the number of people affected in the Region.

Dr. Vanotoo made this known at the regional launch of this year’s World Diabetes Day celebration at the Sekondi Nurses and Midwifery Training College on Saturday.

The theme for the celebration is: ”Act on Diabetes, Now,” and would be marked with medical screening, public lecturers, clinics, medical education campaigns and quizzes.

Dr. Vanotoo advised persons, who experienced signs such as dry throats, vaginal itching, strange sore and regular urinating, to visit health facilities for medical checkup.

She admonished people to exercise regularly, eat balanced diets, control temperament, ensure personal hygiene and have positive attitude towards life to avoid contracting the disease and added that some persons might contract diabetes for genetic reasons.

Diabetes is not infectious, it can occur in children and adults alike, it has no cure, but can be controlled.

“Take control of your own life if you have diabetes. Let us encourage a healthy lifestyle for our generation and the future generations”, she stressed.

Mr. Nicolas N. Dadzie, the Regional President of the Diabetes Association, said the Association was formed in 1997 to educate the public on the need for efficient diabetes management.

He added that the Association also intended to eradicate public misconception about diabetes and encouraged diabetic patients to live a healthy and normal lives.

World Diabetes Day takes place on November 14 every year.

PRESTEA : More schools benefit from school feeding programme

By Nana Esi Brew Monney

The Chief Executive for Prestea Huni Valley in the Western Region, Robert Wisdom Cudjoe has hinted that about 20 schools in his district have so far benefited from the school feeding programme.

He said this has become necessary due to government plans of making education very attractive in the country.

He narrated that previously, after the pilot project which capture only two schools in his district, the number was extended to five before the end of 2009.

According to him the enrolment at the schools increased from 1,431 to 1,856 pupils by the subsequent year.

Mr. Cudjoe said although four more schools have been captured recently onto the programme bringing the total number to 20, he was hopeful that more schools would be added next year.

SHIT BOMBS IN CLASSROOMS AT DOMPIM

ByNana Esi Brew Monney

Pupils and teachers of the Dompim Seventh Day Adventist Basic School have demonstrated against the smearing of human excreta in their classrooms. As a result they have presented a petition to the chiefs and elders of Dompim, Unit Committee and the assembly member for the area to as a matter of urgency do something about it.

In the petition by the concerned teachers of the school, the teachers appealed to the chiefs, unit committee members and the assembly member to help find a lasting solution to the problem, otherwise they will advise themselves. They also stated in the petion that if the school remains at the piggery, then proper rehabilitation should be done and the necessary action should be taken to stop the smearing of human excreta in the classrooms.

The school children matched through the principal streets of Dompim, with red bands on their heads and hands in addition to placards with inscriptions; we are fed up, stop smearing our school with toilet, the toilet is too much among others.

Receiving the petition, the chief of Dompim Nana Kweku Nkrumah IV said some steps have been taken but does not know why the act is still on going. When Westerngh.com visited the school, human excreta had been smeared on the black board, teachers’ tables and desks. The classroom which was formerly a piggery was converted into a classroom due to increase in enrollment is in a bad state with poor roofing.

In an interview with the headmaster, Mr. John K Appiah, he disclosed that the whole place gets flooded when it rains which affects classes for some days not to talk about the health implications this sanitation problem causes. He added that five pupils sit on one desk which makes teaching and learning very difficult.

He disclosed that the performance of the final year students keeps dropping from 92% to 60% to 20% in the just ended BECE. According to the headmaster, all efforts to solve these problems have proven futile. Mr. John K. Appiah appealed to the government and Non-Governmental Organisations to come to their aid to help solve these problems.

WASSA FIASE HONOURS ITS HEREOS

Nana Esi Brew Monney

Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni Valley, Francis Adu Blay Kwofie says homosexuality is an absurdity in the highest level.

Mr. Adu Blay Kwofie said it baffles his mind that a man will have sex with his fellow man, adding he can hardly understand why people will engage in such act.

He is the latest to jump into the frail to condemn homosexuality in Ghana.

The MP said this when he represented the Western Regional minister at a gathering of chiefs of Wassa Fiase to honour heroes of the land.

He wondered why a man will choose a fellow man over a woman, adding it is not a proper thing to be tolerated at all.

Apart from biblical condemnation of homosexuality, Mr Adu Blay Kwofie said homosexuality causes a lot of diseases.

He noted that if homosexuality practice goes on for a certain period in the country, it could affect population growth.

Three prominent personalities were honoured by the Wassa Fiase Traditional council for their meritorious efforts towards the development of Wassa Fiase Ghana and as a whole.

The three personalities include two prominent men from Wassa Fiase and one who is not from Wassa Fiase but has contributed immensely to the development of Wassa Fiase.

They are Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Daniel Mireku Gyimah, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Tony Aubyn and the CEO of Tobinco Pharmacy, Mr. Samuel Tobin.

Professor Daniel Mireku Gyimah was given a citation, a piece of gold and kente cloth, whiles a street in Tarkwa will be named after him and a statue to be unveiled in his honour.

Dr Tobbin Receiving Award from Osagyefo

The CEO of the chamber of mines Dr Tony Aubyn was equally given a citation, a piece of gold and kente cloth, while the CEO of Tobinco pharmacy was given a citation, a piece of gold, kente gold and crowned the Nkosuohene of Awudua under the stool name of Nana Kweku Gyebi.

The Omanhene of Wassa Fiase Traditional area, Osagyefo Dr Kwamina Ennimil presided over the grand ceremony that took place at the Awudua Park.

Explaining the rational for the institution of the award, Osagyefo Kwamina Ennimil said it was the duty of every society to honour its heroes so that they would know society is worth dying for.

The Omanhene noted that the event is to create the awareness in the citizens on the need to honour heroes and give them due recognition to urge the younger ones on to go and die for their communities adding those who have created the path for us to follow must be praised and honoured” and “by honouring them, we will be creating a tradition for others to follow.”

He appealed to the awardees to lead Wassaman to a brighter future by placing their collective expertise and knowledge at the disposal of Wassa Fiase.

Dr Toni Aubbyn

Speaking on behalf of the awrdees, CEO of Ghana Chamber of mines Dr Tony Aubyn stated that a community that does not recognize its heroes is not worth dying for hence the decision by the chiefs of Wassa Fiase is a step in the right direction.

Dr Aubyn appealed to Wassaman professionals to support the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council with monthly financial contributions to enable it rollout more socially sensitive programmes to benefit the people.

BARCLAYS BANK TARKWA CLEANS CHILDRENS WARD OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL

By Nana Esi Brew Monney

The Tarkwa branch of Barclays bank, over the weekend undertook a three hour clean up exercise at the children’s ward of the Tarkwa Government hospital to tidy its environment.

The staff of the bank together with their manager swept the drains, desilted the gutters, and cleaned the louvers and the ward and scrubbed the entrance to the ward as well.

The exercise forms part of the bank’s annual event dubbed ‘Make A Difference Day (MADD) which the bank selects a place to do social service.

After the exercise the bank donated assorted beverages at the cost of ¢1, 200 to the hospital

Manager of the bank, Mr. Alex Paintsil said the exercise was part of the bank’s social responsibility and promised that it would be a regular activity to help improve on the sanitation situation at the hospital.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Senior Nursing Officer in charge of the children’s ward, a principal enroll nurse, Mrs. Victoria Amegah thanked Barclays bank for embarking on the clean up exercise

She hoped the bank would continue to partner with the hospital in other areas so that together they could provide better health service delivery to the people in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

NGO TO RECRUIT 5000 YOUTH TO ASSIST HEALTH SECTOR

Nana Esi Brew Monney

The Western Regional branch of the Team Of Popular Youth (TOPY), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has promised that by 2015 it will provide about 5000 youth to help in the health sector.

The association also aims at encouraging the youth to take up farming to earn a living.

Speaking at the inauguration of the NGO, which was on the theme: “Empowering the youth for a better Ghana,” at the Tarkwa in the Western Region, Mr Raymond Tettevi, Regional Chairman of the Association said TOPY would ensure a turning point in the socio-economic life of the youth.

Mr Tettevi noted that some of the youth have decided to join the progressive minded people of Ghana to exploit their God given talents and facilitate the abolishment of poverty while others have developed unruly behaviours like “the seizing of public toilet keys and closing down government departments”.

He said members of the association have committed themselves to a new culture of introspection, which is the do it yourself attitude.

Mr Marcus Garvin, Leader of TOPY said the organisation would give hope to the youth and attract voters for the ruling National Democratic Congress Party in Election 2012.

Mr Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah, Chief Patron of the NGO said TOPY has supported more than 3000 people across the country and is planning to help the needy in the society.

STATESMEN The “New Face” in Gospel Music

The Ghana music industry has witnessed a significant growth since the  introduction of ACAPELLA music.

One such group is THE STATESMEN ACAPELLA who has over the years effectively made a fruitful impact in the Ghanaian music industry.
Since joining the musical train in June,1997, Their music does more than just sound sweet–but it literally moves its listeners.Above all, their unique way of composing their songs makes it more interesting for everyone to pay attention whiles they slowly deliver ACAPELLA in their own way and many listeners freeze up when thеу hear them sing.

STATESMEN happens to be a group consisting of five (5) energetic young men, their first album OUR WORLD received massive radio airplay inside and outside Ghana and also landed them with a lot of interviews on several radio stations in Europe and the United State of America.

From smooth sounds of church music to native folklore, THE STATESMEN ACAPELLA is by far Ghana’s finest male group.
Since the release of their first album a few years ago, the silky-voiced group has been on the quiet for some time.

However STATESMAN will soon return onto the scene with a boom. They are presently in the studio putting finishing touches to their latest album which is expected to hit the market soon, titled “MENOPAUSE”, have all variety of songs on the album and beautiful videos to.

Statesmen Acapella – I need U Remix

THE STATESMEN ACAPELLA has ambitions of taking over the country’s music industry by storm in the coming years since the album is likely to cause a major stir on the market and the airwaves once it is released.The sound of ding dong rings telling you that Christmas is near, let’s celebrate this Christmas with creativity from minds that spend moments for ideas to immerse into the soul.

Go grab your copy to hear Men sing to touch the FATHER’S HEART.

Ellembelle district improves in BECE score

The Ellembelle District recorded 76 per cent this year as against 68 per cent last year in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

This is as a result of a number of interventions put in place by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and the District Assembly.

The District Director of Education, Mrs. Caroline Diana Gyimah disclosed this at the District Education Oversight Committee meeting at Nkroful on Thursday.

The meeting sought to strategize on the challenges confronting the basic education sector and how they could be improved upon.

Mrs. Gyimah noted that the district improved in examination score in the BECE and attributed the performance to the efforts of Mr.Buah and the Assembly who jointly organized two separate mock examinations district-wide ahead of the BECE.

Touching on the challenges facing the sector, Mrs. Gyimah said it was confronted with teacher inadequacy, adding that 64 per cent of teachers in the district were untrained.

She appealed to the Assembly to assist the untrained teachers to upgrade themselves to complement the efforts of those being sponsored in the teacher training colleges to improve education in the area.

Mrs. Gyimah also expressed worry about the refusal of teachers to accept postings to the Northern part of the district and urged the Assembly to introduce measures to entice teachers to the remote parts of the district.

This, she observed, would improve the examination score in the area tremendously since the lack of teachers in those parts of the district was a major cause of non-performance.

The Director also appealed to government for a pick-up van to allow for effective monitoring since the only car could not take them to the remotest parts of the district.

Mr Dominc K. Nyanzu, Presiding Member of the Assembly, proposed that an award scheme be instituted for teachers, workers, circuit supervisors and students to serve as motivation to improve education in the area.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr Daniel K. Eshun reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to lend the required support to the education directorate to improve the standard of education in the district.

He said the Assembly would use part of the District development Fund (DDF) to complete an abandoned structure to serve as offices for the Education and Health directorates and urged them to exercise restraint.

Western Region registers 7,500 adult learners for literacy classes

A total of 7,500 adult learners, including prison inmates, have registered for the Functional Literacy Programme in the Western Region.

Out of the total, 4,500 are females.

Mr Sam Awortwi, Regional Coordinator of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) of the Ministry of Education, said apart from helping the learners to read and write they were also being assisted to acquire skills to venture into income generating activities.

He was speaking at the regional celebration of this year’s Literacy Day at Bibiani.

“Literacy – Our Peace and Strength for Development” is the theme.

He invited all illiterate adults and school drop outs to take advantage of the programme to broaden their outlook.

Mrs Susana Berdie, Deputy Director of the NFED, said there was a strong correlation between development and the level of literacy among the people.

It is for this reason that the nation needed to step up the fight against illiteracy, which is not just a constraint to socio-economic progress but also a hindrance to national unity and integration.

She encouraged the facilitators to show commitment and enthusiasm in the job they were doing.

Mrs Berdie appealed to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to be more supportive of the Adult Literacy Programme.

Stowaway cases on the rise at Takoradi Port

Stowaway cases are on the rise at the Takoradi Port following an increase in the number of ships berthing at the port, particularly oil vessels, necessitating the need to tighten security at the Port.

The Takoradi Port has in the past recorded many stowaway cases long before the discovery of oil.

Jobless and overambitious youth have successfully gotten onto vessels undercover and sometimes with the connivance of crew members aboard, in their quest to seek greener pastures in Europe.

Some unlucky ones have either being detained at the Port or overseas and deported home, whilst others have arrived safely and lived their dreams.

Port authorities believe this menace is being perpetrated again due to the movement of more oil vessels within the Port.

The Security Coordinator at the Takoradi Port, Col. Kaku Korsah, who will not give details on the intensity of the crime, says there has been an increase in the practice this year, compared to the previous year.

He however says stringent security measures are in place to nip the act in the bud.

“There are issues of people daring to use bamboo sticks and other things from boats to get onto some of the vessels. We have sounded alarm to captains of vessels to assist us by calling on the Harbour Master and his outfit to enable us respond more promptly. But I don’t think that it’s as rampant as it is being portrayed,” he noted.

On the issue of piracy, he said: “We have a divisional police command at the Port, we have the Harbour Mast, and my responsibility is to coordinate these organisations to liaise effectively with the Ghana Navy for the patrols of those boats. For now, we are keeping close watch on all vessels at anchorage so that issues of piracy will be dealt with. I won’t say it’s rampant but of course when you have a thriving economy you have other social issues that go with it.”

Col. Korsah said Port authorities anticipate a rise in crime due to the oil production, and is prepared to combat it, with the help of the Ghana Navy and the Marine Police Division of the Ghana Police Service.

Essipong residents criticise dumping of liquid waste at sea

Residents of Essipong, a suburb of Sekondi, are angry with officials of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, for continuously dumping liquid waste directly into the sea in the area.

They said the practice, which has existed for nearly seventy years, has serious health implications on the fisher folks of Ngyiresia, whose boundary with Essipong has been the dumping ground of untreated human excreta generated in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

A driver of a truck belonging to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, who was spotted dumping the waste, said he does that many times in a day.

“When the toilets at the Port are full, we have several places where we collect them and discharge over here. Even now, we are going to the Fishing Harbour and three other places before we close. This is where the whole Sekondi-Takoradi dumps its liquid waste. They say they are opening a new site at Sofokrom which is not ready,” he said.

The waste discolours the seawater around the dumping site, and along the coast where the people of Ngyiresia have been carrying out their activities. According to the fisher folks, several complaints to the STMA have yielded no results. The pungent smell in the area is unbearable, but residents have had to bear this for many years.

“I have been here for more than a year and the way they dump the thing here is very bad. We are suffering a lot because sometimes they come ten times in a day” a security guard at a Quarry site close to the area lamented.

Passersby and motorists, who use the road on daily basis, have to cover their noses or hold their breath.

The Chief of Essipong, Nana Kofi Abuna the fifth, told Maxx News the dumping has been done for seventy years. She said she has made several attempts to get authorities to address the situation but to no avail.

She disclosed that she recently threatened to lead a peaceful demonstration against the Assembly, but had to call it off because of some assurances made by the MCE to solve the problem.

Meanwhile, the Head of Waste Management at the STMA, Glory Agordzo, said that a stabilization pond for the treatment of human excreta into fertilizer at the Sofokrom Landfill site near Sekondi is almost complete and will be handed over to the Assembly anytime soon.

This is a World Bank project that started many years ago but the authorities are convinced that by the end of September this year, those dumping sites will not be used any longer.

Sekondi-Takoradi Metro to set up sanitation courts 

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is to re-introduce sanitation courts to prosecute people who degrade the environment.

Captain Anthony Cudjoe (Rtd), Metropolitan Chief Executive, announced this at the first meeting of the fifth session of STMA in Sekondi on Thursday.

He said this is the only way Sekondi-Takoradi could regain its status as the cleanest city in the country, adding: “We have done it before and we should be able to do it again.”

Captain Cudjoe said the Assembly has not dared very well in the area of sanitation and waste management.

He said the assembly must be committed to provide quality service so that the public would support its efforts at maintaining a clean environment.

Captain Cudjoe said a number of zones would be created in the Metropolis in collaboration with waste management firms in the private sector to improve on services.

He said the award of the contract would be based on the critical technical and financial proposals of the operators.

Existing service providers would also be subjected to rigorous checks to ascertain their ability to deliver before new contracts are signed with them.

Captain Cudjoe said the “Pay as you dump” system would be encouraged in communities and expressed the need for the public to be educated educate the public to support the initiative.

He said challenges facing waste management in the Metropolis included obsolete equipment and vehicles, improper accounting of monies accruing from service provision, poor road network and absence of a waste management plan.

Captain Cudjoe said government released more than GH¢1,000,000 this month for payment for the services of some waste management contractors in the Metropolis.

He said Sekondi-Takoradi engineered landfill and septic treatment facility which is on- going at the cost of GH¢2,536,024.81 and being sponsored by the World Bank, would be completed by the end of the year.

Pesticides found in breastmilk

A comprehensive analysis of pesticide contamination in Ghana has found the presence of organic chlorine pesticide residues including D.D.T. in the breast milk and blood of vegetable farmers in the country.

The study, which was conducted in November, 2010.also revealed that some women farmers had accumulated pesticide residues in their breast milk above the tolerable daily intake guidelines beyond which they have adverse health effects on their children.

These revelations were contained in a speech read on behalf of Dan Kolbila, Director for Development and Social Services, Upper and Northern presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at the launch of a Pesticides Mis-use Campaign at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. It was under the theme: “Mis-use of pesticides in Ghana, the time to act is now.”

He said the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1-5 million cases of pesticides poisoning occur every year, resulting in 20,000 fatalities among agricultural workers, most of them in developing countries.

He cited the death of fifteen farmers last November from suspected pesticide poisoning in the Upper East Region as a result of poor storage of pesticides, which allowed the poison to seep into food stocks consumed by the victims, to buttress his point.

Mr. Kolbila indicated that senior health officials in the country believe that some supposedly natural deaths might partly be related to pesticide use, since poisonings are hard to diagnose. As well, there are anecdotal reports of impotency among male farmers using pesticides in Ghana.

He noted that farmers are misusing pesticides by spraying too close to harvest thus contaminating the crops before consumption; over applying the dosage; applying pesticides intended for cash crops to growing food crops or applying pesticides intended for growing crops onto stored crops; using obsolete or expired pesticides; and mixing different chemical pesticides together.

The harmful effects of pesticides use in Ghana today go beyond the ordinary farmers but include the food consuming population. Academic studies in the past years show the presence of pesticides residues in fish, water, sediment, fruits, vegetables, meat and human fluids (blood and breast milk) in Ghana.

Worried about the unsafe use of pesticides by most farmers in Ghana, Mr. Kolbila urged all stakeholders to work towards reducing the misuse of pesticides, because banned or restricted chemical pesticides like, D.D.T, endosulfan, lindane, aldrin, dieldri, endrin, methylromide and carbofuran are still being used by some farmers.

Other dangerous chemical pesticides that the government has cleared for use and failed to ban are also being used, such as atrazine, paraquat and chlorpyritos.

Wikileaks – Raw Notes On Ghana

1997 – 2010
1. Embassy was approached by two advisors to National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Atta-Mills, Edward Nunoo and Sylvanos Tamakloe, who told Political Office that Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was being pressured by the ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP) to announce false results that would be supplied by the NPP. The EC Chairman told Ambassador that the allegations were “utter nonsense.” #WIKILEAKS

2. Ivor Greenstreet said that Nduom’s campaign is entirely self-financed, and that money goes only to Nduom and his chief campaign strategist, David Ampofo, who receives about $5,000 a month to keep Nduom’s name and image front and center in the media. Although Nduom can’t win, he hopes to establish long-term viability for himself through media recognition. #WIKILEAKS

3. When the Political office pointed out that the rumor mill had consistently put the Libyans in the NDC camp, Pratt said that Akufo-Addo’s funding did not come from Qaddafi, but from the Libyan foreign minister, with whom Akufo-Addo had established a close relationship during his days as Ghana’s foreign minister. He added that President Kufuor controlled most of the NPP party money that would normally flow into Akufo-Addo’s campaign, and that “he hangs on to a lot of it.”

4. If the NDC wins, Pratt is convinced, Rawlings will no longer have a political voice that resonates with the people, and the victory “will put an end to the Rawlings factor forever.” In the case of an NPP win, however, Pratt fears that Rawlings could gain a new lease on life in national politics, re-emerging as a redemptive figure hailed by an army of disillusioned and disenfranchised youth. #WIKILEAKS

5. Pratt said that he has a long-standing personal relationship with both Akufo-Addo and John Atta-Mills that goes back at least two decades. He felt that Akufo-Addo had been unfairly tarnished by the assumption of corruption because of the high-level positions he has held within the Kufuor administration, but that he was in fact much cleaner than most of those around him. #WIKILEAKS

6. However, while President Mills has struck the right rhetorical tone regarding his commitment to combating narcotics, Akrasi Sarpong said that the Mills Administration has so far failed to provide adequate resources to NACOB. He underlined that the force is understaffed, underfunded, and underresourced. (COMMENT: Sarpong implied that police are open to corruption because of their personal financial situation.

END COMMENT). #WIKILEAKS
7. In reaction to Prof Mills claims about a sinus infection and his radiotherapy in South Africa, Foreign Service Health Practitioner at post notes that MRIs are usually not required to diagnose sinus problems unless a physician is concerned about tumors. He also notes that radiation therapy is not usually used to treat sinus infections (usually antibiotics or surgical repairs are used), but that such therapy is more likely used to treat some form of cancer. #WIKILEAKS

8. In a January 17 meeting with Political Chief and visiting AF/W Desk Officer (reftel), Mills claimed to know about a recent plot to assassinate former president J.J. Rawlings. When asked for more details in the January 26 meeting, Mills said some colleagues informed him about one month ago that some members of the Govt and ruling NPP party had sent professional assassins from the United States to assassinate Rawlings in Ghana. #WIKILEAKS

9. We have heard from other sources that Grace Coleman is seriously ill, but PolChief has affirmed to Ghartey that an illness would not exempt Coleman from extradition. Our understanding is that Members of Parliament are not immune from criminal prosecution except on their way to and from work while parliament is in session (although the definition of “work” has been debated). #WIKILEAKS

10. Prof Mills traveled to China and South Africa in the past few months for medical check-ups, which stirred media speculation about his health. Several well-informed contacts have told PolChief Mills has/had throat cancer. Other NDC sources close to Mills insist he only had sinus problems which developed as a result of his regular swimming. PolChief saw at the convention that Mills had lost weight but appeared energetic. #WIKILEAKS

11. Rawlings may have some medical problems — he trembles slightly and loses his thoughts frequently. He called on his colleagues for opinions and then insulted them in front of us. His raw outbursts and scattered ideas are typical, and as bizarre as ever. His views of a coming violent convulsion contrast with the much more moderate, democratic views of many others in