Blame Energy Crisis On 1966 Coup - Pratt
The Publicity Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has blamed the current energy crisis confronting the country on the overthrow of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in 1966.
He said the government of Dr Nkrumah installed a Soviet-made nuclear plant at Kwabenya, near Accra, to provide an alternative source of energy but his dreams were cut short following the dismantling of those nuclear reactors by the leaders of the then United Party for the American Government.
Mr Pratt was contributing to the monthly Socialist Forum of Ghana debate in Accra. It was on the theme: “The Current Energy Crisis and the Way Forward.”
He said on February 24, 1966, Soviet engineers arrived in the country and moved to Bui to begin the construction of the Bui Dam but Nkrumah’s overthrow jettisoned all those plans he had for the country’s energy supply system.
“These very elements who are ruling the country today are the very people who toppled the Nkrumah-led CPP administration and yet they are pretending to be finding solutions to the energy crisis,” Mr Pratt said.
He said the seven-year development plan the CPP administration developed foresaw the problems that were likely to crop up in the energy sector and, therefore, decided to build several other dams on the Volta River.
He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government had mismanaged the energy sector so much so that if it were to lose power today, it would leave a debt in the energy sector which far exceeded the current debt incurred by the Tema Oil Refinery, which stood at about $535 million.
“This is a monumental policy failure and a manifestation of extreme recklessness on the part of this government,” he said.
He said a 2006 World Bank report which an Accra newspaper published indicated to the government a year in advance that the country would be generating less than 50 per cent of the country’s power requirements and yet the government refused to act on that report.
The CPP stalwart, who took a swipe at the government, said it was irresponsible for government functionaries to attribute the energy crisis to the lack of sufficient rains to feed the Akosombo Dam.
“Our intellectual class in this country are part of the problem. They are unable to stand up to our leaders to tell them the truth in the face,” he fumed.
“All this is happening because our so-called intellectual class are enjoying booties from this government and, therefore, speaking out would mean risking losing their luxurious cars, their numerous trips abroad, among other selfish benefits,” he pointed.
Mr Pratt, who is also the Managing Editor of The Insight, expressed surprise at a recent newspaper report that the government was considering a new transport policy for the country, asking, “Why should the government wait after six years before considering such a policy?”
While blaming the government for mishandling the energy crisis, he did not leave out the opposition National Democratic Congress which he accused of using the problem to score political points, instead of proposing cogent alternatives to resolve the crisis.
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Graphic
Atta Mills warns against any attempt to rig 2008 erlections
Accra, May 3, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned that the party would not allow all efforts it would put in the 2008 general elections to come to waste.
He said; "Anybody who has intentions of rigging the 2008 elections must advise himself," adding that, the party was not going to take chances this time round but would ensure that the rules of the game are followed to bring peace.
Prof Mills said this at the inauguration of Greater Accra Regional Women's Working Committee of the NDC in in Accra on Wednesday.
He appealed to the women to be more tolerant and not to be detracted by the negative criticism against the party but continue to work hard to bring NDC back to power. Prof. Mills said through quality leadership of the NDC, women are now recognized as social partners in development and urged them to unite and rally behind the party, come 2008 general elections. Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, National Women Organiser of the party advised the women to step up their activities to openly canvas for NDC by starting house-to-house campaign.
Miss Vivian Ankrah, Regional Women Organiser and Chairperson of the Regional Women's Working Committee also advised the women to be vigilant and mobilize themselves to champion the cause of the NDC. She assured Prof Mills of their unflinching support, especially as they prepare towards victory in the 2008 general elections, but admitted that the party needed to mobilize enough funds and secure the right logistics for effective campaign.
Mrs. Benyiwa Doe later swore-in a 27-member Working Committee comprising of constituency women organizers in the Greater Accra Region.
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GNA
Cedi exchange rates
Accra, May 3, GNA - The following are the average inter-bank exchange rate of the dollar and derived rates for the major currencies against the cedi as issued by the Ghana Association of Bankers on Thursday, May 03, 2007.
Currency Buying Selling
U.S. Dollar 9,207.27 9,307.27
Pound Sterling 18,341.80 18,545.67
Swiss Franc 7,601.24 7,682.86
Canadian Dollar 8,318.66 8,406.54
Danish Kroner 1,681.61 1,699.82
Japanese Yen 76.62 77.43
Swedish Kroner 1,371.31 1,385.72
South African Rand 1,317.01 1,330.56
Euro 12,533.69 12,666.94
CFA Franc 19.11 19.31
Naira 70.81 71.57
ECOWAS WAUA 13,017.19
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GNA
Educational performance still poor N/R
Tamale, May 03, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister has expressed concern that despite the massive capital and infrastructural interventions in educational in the region, enrolment continues to be low and supervision poor.
He said the teacher-pupil ratio was highly undesirable and indiscipline among teachers had worsened with poor and inadequate educational infrastructure despite injection of funds from the Getfund. Alhaji Idris brought these to light in Tamale on Wednesday during the opening of a three-day workshop and first ever Northern Regional educational sector annual review meeting.
The workshop is aimed at assessing education development in the region over the years with the view to evolving strategies and plans to address the problems associated with education.
The Ghana Education Service organised the forum with sponsorship from Japan International Development Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
District Chief Executives (DCE), NGOs and District Directors of Education from all the eighteen districts of the region, as well as other stakeholders are attending the workshop.
Alhaji Idris noted the myriad of problems facing education in the country and said it would require a multi-dimensional approach to propel education in the region to higher levels. He therefore called on all stakeholders in education to come out with useful and realistic recommendations for implementation to address these problems.
The Minister commended the efforts of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for teaming up with the districts to supplement government's efforts at providing quality education in the region.
Alhaji Iddrisu Adam, Deputy Northern Regional Director of Education, urged the district education offices to endeavour to meet the target of the new education reform He explained that the reform was a process of decentralising the delivery of education, which put a lot of responsibilities on the personnel in the directorate at the local levels.
He said District Education Offices under the District Assemblies, would be responsible for the planning, financial management, administration, monitoring the programme performance and human resource management at the grassroots.
Alhaji Adam said the primary enrolment currently stood at 344,974 as against the estimated population of 372,285 of six to eleven year-old children in the region, explaining that about 27,311 children in those years bracket were still not in schools.
He stressed that the region had the potential to blaze the trail of high education development "if at all actors, stakeholders and collaborative partners in education strategise appropriately for a combined effect". 03 May 07
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GNA
Murder Hoax: Boy found alive
Ho, May 3, GNA - The alleged murder of a 12-year-old boy at Juapong in April, this year, which had occasioned the vandalizing of the local Police Station by a mob, has turned out to be a hoax, as the boy has been found alive.
Maxwell Sodolo Goka, a pupil of the ARS Primary School was on Wednesday shown to journalists at the Volta Regional Police Command in Ho.
Goka told journalist that he escaped due to ill treatment by his aunt, who often denied him food and beat him mercilessly whenever there was a shortfall in the sales of doughnuts he sold for her.
He said he had had to throw away what was left of the doughnuts that day and with the 15,000 cedis sales he had made, embarked on a journey on foot, with the hope to get to his father, who was living in Accra or to his mother at Dzemeni-Togodo in the Volta Region. The mob had picked up a Michael Goza, a farmer and trader at Juapong and his wife Comfort Ativor, framed them up as having killed the boy for ritual purposes and were holding the two at the chief's palace when the police intervened and took them into custody.
The mob, claiming that the police were not doing enough to unravel the alleged murder, massed around the Police Station destroying anything they could lay hands on until police reinforcements arrived from Peki and Ho to save the situation.
Mr Godwin Geraldo, Chief Superintendent of Police in charge of South-Dayi Police District, who briefed journalists, said on April 12, this year Police at Juapong were informed that Goka had been missing since April 9.
He said the police sent messages to all stations to help trace the missing boy.
Chief Superintendent Geraldo said soon after that another security report alerted the Police that the couple had been picked up by a mob and was being held at the chief's palace and that the couple stood the risk of being lynched.
He said the police quickly moved to the palace and after a hectic struggle brought down the couple to the Police Station. The mob, led by Asafo groups massed-up around the Police Station demanding the release of the couple to them to administer "instant justice", the Police Commander said.
He said when the police refused to release the couple; the mob attacked the station destroying an impounded vehicle and also moved on to the couple's house where they damaged two vehicles belonging to the pair. "A police reinforcement had to drive through the missiles throwing mob to take the couple to safety at Peki", the Police Commander said. Mr Geraldo said investigations were still going on when Goka was found at Kpong, in the Eastern Region and brought to Juapong.
He said Goka, who had been living with a paternal aunt at Juapong had on two previous occasions escaped from home but was later found. Mr Bernard Dery, Volta Regional Police Commander ordered that the boy be handed over to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) as he had become "a juvenile in need of care".
He appealed to the public to develop confidence in the Police Service and to allow intensive investigations into cases they report. Miss Rita Narh, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Coordinator of the DVVSU at the Regional Police Command said she would collaborate with other social workers to assist Goka to resettle.
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GNA
I'll Shock Francis Poku - JJ
After charges of bribery against NDC MPs and Executives
EMERGING DETAILS of a recording of the "Family Meeting" held on April 3 at the Coco Beach Hotel, Nungua, procured by this newpaper has churned out further details of the meeting between the NDC Founder Jerry John Rawlings and members of the NDC not captured by earlier media reports.
GYE NYAME CONCORD can today reveal that the former president pledged at that meeting to soon shock National Security Minister, Mr. Francis Poku, whom he accused of having compromised the NDC MPs, compelling them to show an uneasy lack of committment to get the ruling Kufuor-led NPP out of executive office.
Without mincing words and without spelling out his thoughts in detail, the immediate past Ghanaian president said elements within the Ghana Armed Forces would soon embark on an operation that Francis Poku would not be able to thwart.
Rawlings cited a phone call-in by a man on Radio Gold that morning in which a caller who described himself as a serving soldier calling from Burma Camp, claimed that they were tired of NPP misdemeanours and would soon take action on their disaffection with the Kufuor administratrion, as proof of the action that would be taken without Francis Poku and his intelligence network being able to stop it.
In Rawlings' view, the National Security Minister was responsible for a lukewarm attitude on the part of NDC MPs who have been paid by him to slow down on the NPP.
Describing Francis Poku as a cunning man who sees himself as smart, Rawlings noted that one of these days "we would see who is smarter."
Rawlings’ attack on the National Security Minister is a far cry from his praise of the same man a little over a year ago at an ACDR meeting at Osu, Accra, during which he noted that Francis Poku was one of the few people in the NPP to whom he owes his life. At the ACDR meeting, he claimed many in the NPP wanted him dead and that their efforts have been thwarted by Francis Poku.
But in a sacrcastic statement at the “Family Meeting” at Coco Beach, Rawlings noted that he shares the frustration of the MPs and understands why they would resort to collecting money from the National Security outfit.
"Your salaries are meagre" he said, as if to say that this is why you are justified in selling your conscience, while reminding them at the same time that the NPP were not just political opponents, but sworn enemies.
He also did not hide his suspicion that the National Executives Committee of the NDC might be collecting their fair share of money from the Francis Poku-led National Security outfit.
Rawlings chastised the Kwabena Adjei-led Executive Committee and expressed worries over what he sees at the ineffectiveness of the Chairman, whom he accused of failing to lift the NDC from where former Chairman, Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, left it.
In Rawlings' words, he had always believed that Obed Asamoah was the real problem in the NDC, only to come to the new reaslisation that the NDC has equally found no better replacenent in Dr Kwabena Adjei. Strikingly, Rawlings turned around at this point and asked the National Chairman of the NDC, whom he had been criticising whether he was angry with him (Rawlings) over his views of leadership, insiders at the meeting told this paper.
Rawlings statements at the meeting, part of which were vastly carried by the media infuriated a significant number of NDC MPs after various indirect admissions by some NDC functionaries.
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central and Prof Mills' Campaign Manager, who was at the Coco Beach meeting, confirmed the attacks on them (MPs) on a Joy FM's News File programme whne the news broke out.
Baba Jamal, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, on Peace FM’s Krokrokoo programme also noted that the said meeting was an occasion where members were expected to confront each other on issues and bare their hearts out, and that what the Founder said was in the form of an advice, which the media should not take out of context.
In its official statement, however, the party expressed concern about a section of the media, which it said had taken bits and pieces of "what they might have heard" at the "second Family Meeting" of the NDC and added "their diabolical spin to suit their diversionary agenda".
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ALFRED OGBAMEY for GYE NYAME CONCORD
- 02.05.2007
Fishermen at Adafienu catch a rare big fish
Adafienu, May 02, GNA - A rare large fish measuring 4.2 metres long, 1.2 metres wide and a metre high was at the weekend hauled ashore in a net by a group of fishermen at Adafienu a coastal community near Denu in the Ketu District.
It has a broad head about 0.9 metres wide and was the fourth similar specie to be caught in the area in recent times. The others were caught at Amutsinu, Adina and Blekusu nearby fishing communities.
Looking mainly bluish, it has a rough skin, dotted black spots on its skin with its fins measuring 0.6 metres and tail 1.1 metres long. Mr Korku Mensah Dzuda, the net owner told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that his crew felt the weight in the net when they were pulling it ashore at the weekend and spotted the fish. He said the damage caused to the net by the fish was estimated at about five million cedis.
Mr Dzuda said no one had claimed seeing such a fish. The fishermen had released the rare fish for sale on the market. According to the fishermen, the country's deep coastline invites big fishes.
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GNA
Kufuor's Bodyguards on Rampage...
... they Maltreat Tamale MCE, Media Personnel, Others
SOME SENIOR Journalists in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, in their desire to exercise their professional duties were seriously maltreated and intimidated by some senior bodyguards of President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday April 28, 2007 at the Regional Minister's residence.
The victimized media personnel including eight state and eleven private newspaper journalists, after the embarrassment, had no other choice than to boycott their request for coverage of the President.
The Journalists, who became very angry, tried to educate the bodyguards, who at a point were spitting vicious words on the crowd, how they should behave professionally as bodyguards of the first gentleman of the nation.
But their apparent good intention came to naught as the guards kept on pushing them back into the crowd.
Other government officials including the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, some departmental heads, some NPP Regional executives and other respected personalities also had their share of the embarrassment.
One of the President's bodyguards, Lance Corporal Akwasi Yeboah, who arrogantly defied several pleas by some Police Officers and others, continued to heckle the Tamale MCE and CEPS Regional Commissioner until the MDC rang the Northern Regional Minister to intervene for their entry into the presidential lodge.
The entire media personnel, who could not tolerate the unprofessional behavior, packed their gadgets and boycotted the coverage. It took the Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris to calm tempers down but the Journalists insisted on boycotting the President.
Meanwhile, that was the third time such behaviour has been witnessed as far as President Kufuor's visits to Northern Region are concerned.
Some of the victimized persons questioned the President's bodyguards whether their colleagues in other international communities behaved similarly in their numerous trips with President Kufuor.
Many DCEs, departmental heads, NPP executives and contractors who had come from near and afar to visit the President were all abused and deprived.
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Chronicle
Only 408 pupils eat one free meal a day
Enquiries and follow up visits arising out of the persistent political propaganda both within and outside the country that school children throughout Ghana are provided and actually enjoy one hot meal a day has revealed that less than five hundred (500) pupils are benefiting from the program.
This is contrary to the intensified propaganda by some political commentators, and according to the Ghana School Feeding Program only “408 pupils are being fed with one nutritious hot meal a day” throughout the country.
“It is NOT yet accurate to say all school children in Ghana are being fed every day,” they added in an official response to a questionnaire administered to the Program.
Ghana’s primary school enrollment is currently pegged at over one hundred thousand (100,000), meaning that far less than 2% of the targeted beneficiaries are actually benefitting.
The direct beneficiaries of the program, according to the GSFP are “children in primary schools and kindergartens in government-controlled establishments.”
Over time, many have questioned the claims of a nationwide coverage and the reported increase in enrollment in schools occasioned by the free food for children and the 30,000 capitation grant.
In some of the schools where the pupils benefit from the feeding program, some parents have also complained about the quality of the food. A teacher in one of the participating schools however told the dailyEXPRESS that the food is nutritious and highly appreciated by the pupils who benefit, a view not shared by a senior lecturer of the University of Cape Coast.
The teacher noted however that they are not happy with the failure to provide (hand) washing bowls and the irregularity in delivering the food sometimes.
Government in 2005 introduced the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) on a pilot basis, aimed at encouraging parents, mostly in the rural communities, to send their wards to school.
GSFP officials explained to the dailyEXPRESS that the 408 pupils (only) being fed have been drawn from nine hundred and seventy- five (975) schools throughout the country.
Among the projected benefits of the Program are eradicating extreme poverty, promote gender equality, strengthen community food production, reduce short-term hunger and malnutrition, and increase enrolment into basic education.
Despite the low penetration of the Program, Emmanuel Abole of the University of Cape Coast says enrollment has been enhanced in the few schools benefiting from the Program.
Mr. Abole, a Senior Lecturer at the UCC told the dailyEXPRESS that in certain parts of the Central Region where extensive studies have been done by the education department of the University; there has been a study rise in enrolment.
He was however concerned about the quality of food, insisting that what is provided in some schools are not nutritious and can affect the health of the pupils.
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dailyEXPRESS Newspaper
Medical groups help two clinics
Accra, May 2, GNA - Two medical organizations, BD, a leading global medical technology company, and Direct Relief International, a humanitarian medical aid non-profit organization, have announced a joint volunteer initiative to strengthen healthcare in two areas of Ghana.
A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said working side-by-side for three weeks with clinic staff from Direct Relief partners at the Maranatha Maternity Clinic in the Ashanti Region and Motoka Clinic in on the Volta Lake, some 12 BD employee volunteers from around the globe will help build local healthcare capacity in the region. Over 100,000 people live in isolated villages in the Motaka Island area, a myriad of tiny islands and peninsulas, located off the northern shore of the lake.
The statement said this was the third company-sponsored service trip BD employees had made to sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2005 and 2006, BD employees volunteered at five clinics in Zambia to help strengthen the country's capacity to diagnose and treat infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
It said through training healthcare providers, constructing a new health facility, upgrading existing laboratory capabilities and incorporating clean water solutions at existing facilities, these volunteers in Ghana would bolster the clinics' ability to provide vitally needed services to their patients.
"This unique collaboration will strengthen health services for people in Ghana, where access to diagnostic and treatment services is scarce," said Direct Relief President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Tighe.
"BD has been a leader in sharing its healthcare products for humanitarian purposes, and we are honored that the company is sharing its most valuable resource - its employees' tremendous talent - toward the same end. These upgraded facilities will become major health resources for the entire region."
"The BD-Direct Relief collaboration in Ghana is natural, given the histories and missions of the two organizations," said Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of BD. "It could be a model for future private-nonprofit partnerships in the healthcare field. Both organizations strive to help address unmet global health needs in some of the most remote and underserved places in the world."
The Maranatha Maternity Clinic serves approximately 250 patients per month, of whom approximately 40 per cent are unable to pay for their medical treatment.
The rural Motoka Clinic, established in 1996, is the only source of healthcare for nearly 100,000 people in its district. Services offered at the clinic are complemented by regular mobile clinics conducted in villages that are only accessible by boat.
BD and Direct Relief have worked together since 1996, helping people in developing countries and disaster-ravaged areas, supplying and delivering specifically requested medical supplies to communities in greatest need.
BD and its associates are contributing money, products, talent and time to help people in Ghana treat disease and improve lives by raising health standards.
Direct Relief has assisted public and private healthcare facilities in Ghana since 1991 by supplying more than $5.5 million (wholesale) of critically needed medicines, medical supplies, nutritional products and medical equipment.
Limited access to clinical and laboratory health services is a major constraint to battling disease in developing countries. The majority of the disease burden exists in non-urban locations (districts and rural villages), and access to health services in these locations is often poor to non-existent. Malaria, tuberculosis, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS are primary health concerns in Ghana. 02 May 07
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GNA
Metro Mass Transport making Begoro drivers poor
Begoro, May 02, GNA - Drivers at Begoro have complained that, the introduction of the
Metro Mass transport buses to the town has put them out of business and made them poor.
As a result, the drivers have appealed to the Ministry of Transportation to reduce the number of buses from four to two as is being operated in other towns in the Eastern Region.
Making the appeal at the annual general meeting of the Drivers Union at Begoro on Sunday, the drivers complained that since the introduction of the Metro Mass Transport buses to Begoro, most of them drive their vehicles to the station at dawn and return home empty due to lack of passengers to patronize their vehicles. They said the situation has made livelihood difficult for them and their families.
They have therefore appealed to the authorities concerned to address their plight and reduce the number of buses in the town to enable them to operate at least one trip daily to fend for themselves and their families.
They also appealed to the authorities concern to remove the road ramps at Adjeikrom to prevent accidents.
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GNA
Moslems Celebrate Damba Festival in Upper East Region
Bolgatanga, May 2, GNA - Moslems mainly from the Dagomba, Wala, Mamprusi and Gonja ethnic groups in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region on Tuesday, celebrated the Dmaba festival with a call on Ghanaians to champion the cause of peace and unity for the accelerated development of the nation.
The call was contained a in speech read on behalf of Mrs Hazara Chirga Bawa, Chairperson of the Tiyumba Women's Association, the organisers of the festival.
She urged Ghanaians to work hard to maintain the current peace and unity in the country.
Mrs. Bawa appealed to political party leaders to conduct their campaigns without insults and rancour, especially in the forthcoming 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
"We must learn lessons and take stock of what happened in Nigeria during their recent election, leading to the death of about 200 people. Such a situation must be avoided in Ghana", she added. Mrs. Bawa appealed to Moslems to take advantage of the introduction of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme to enrol their children to become responsible.
She urged the Moslem Community to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to get access to quality and affordable health care.
Explaining some of the objectives of the Tiyumba Women's Association, Mrs. Bawa said it was aimed at uniting all Dagomba Women in the Bolgatanga Municipality and the Upper East Region. It was also meant to help revive Dagomba Culture and to collaborate with similar Associations to ensure the development of the Region. The Damba festival is celebrated in Northern Ghana and also in Zongo communities every year to mark the birthday of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Mohammed.
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GNA
Bird Flu scare in Tema
Tema, May 02, GNA - Officials at the Central Veterinary Service in Tema are investigating an alleged Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) outbreak within the municipality.
Some officials told the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday that, the Service had not recorded any Bird Flu outbreak as reported by some private radio stations in Accra.
According to them, they had sensitised poultry farm owners within the municipality on the symptoms and handling of affected birds. They contended that post mortem conducted on some dead fowls by the Service did not suggest an outbreak of the disease as speculated. The officials assured the public, especially those within the municipality not to be alarmed as investigations were still on going.
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GNA
Health personnel sensitized on treatment of leprosy and buruli ulcer
Kumasi, May 2, GNA- Dr Amankrah Otabir, National Co-ordinator in-charge of Leprosy Control, on Monday announced that Ghana recorded 505 cases of leprosy in 2005 as compared to 637 cases in 2006. He said this should remind health workers that they needed to work harder to minimize the spread of the disease.
Dr Otabir was speaking at a day's workshop on leprosy and buruli ulcer workshop, organized by the Kumasi Metropolitan Directorate of Health Services for about 70 health personnel and aimed at updating their skills and knowledge on treatment and control of the diseases, in Kumasi.
He reminded the public that leprosy was curable and advised those suffering from the disease to report to the hospital or health centre for treatment.
Mr. Edward Kwabena Brobbey, Ashanti Regional Officer in-charge of Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control, said the region recorded 84 cases of leprosy in 2006 and that the disease was endemic in the Amansie West, Amansie East, Atwima-Nwabiagya and Atwima-Mponua districts. He said the disease could cause bodily deformities and urged people who would detect any such defects to report early to the hospital for treatment and that the disease at the nodule stage could be treated through surgery.
Mr. Brobbey appealed to the Government to provide adequate funds for the treatment of leprosy and buruli ulcer. Dr Joseph Oduro, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, urged the participants to impart the knowledge and skills acquired at the workshop to their colleagues to help improve health delivery. 2 May 07
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GNA
Hohoe Tourism Committee appeals to Barclays to re-open branch
Hohoe, May 2, GNA- Mr Dennis Jordor, Chairman of the Hohoe District Tourism Development Committee (HDTDC) on Monday appealed to the management of Barclays Bank Ghana Limited to reconsider reopening its Hohoe offices to boost tourism in the district. He said the closure of the outlet at Hohoe last year was adversely affecting its tourism industry in the district since potential tourists especially expatriates could not access their visa, master and credit cards when they visit the area.
Mr Jordor told the Ghana News agency that Barclays Bank was operating in Ho, the regional capital, which is far from Hohoe and appealed to the management of the Bank to re-evaluate the situation. He noted that 30 percent of the over 300,000 tourists, who visited the district's 14 tourist sites, were foreigners who have said that they were not able to visit other tourist sites in the area, venting their frustrations on the inability to access banking facilities especially that of Barclays.
Mr Jordor explained that even though 350 million cedis was accrued to the district in 2006, the situation would have been different, had the about 90,000 foreign guest to the district stayed longer to explore the tourism potentials of the district. "Their hard cash would have remained in the local community, in other forms, create jobs and wealth", he intimated. Mr Jordor said another complaint and setback to the tourists was their inability to communicate from the sites within the district and appealed to Communication and phone operators to extend their services to such areas.
He said the district's tourist's sites have been extensively marketed locally and abroad on its website and that the HDTDC was an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the only district to have insured all tourists sites culminating in the current inflow of visitors.
The district's major sites include the Wli Waterfall, Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary, mountain Afadzato, Logba-Tota limestone, caves and the Gbi-Godenu Talking River.
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GNA
Refugee Camp receives reproductive health kit
Buduburam, (C/R) May 2, GNA - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday handed over eight sets of reproductive health kits to refugees at the Buduburam Camp to improve their access to services and reduce vulnerabilities of women and young people from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
The handing over, which was done in collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), was also to equip health workers to provide clean deliveries for women in their homes, reduce morbidity and mortality within the refugee community and facilitate the effective treatment of STIs.
This is because without appropriate diagnosis and treatment of STIs, it would impair fertility and increase persons' susceptibility to acquiring HIV infection.
Handing over the kits to the UNHCR, Dr Makane Kane, UNFPA Country Representative, said his outfit recognized the fact that refugees and persons in emergency situations had the same vital human rights, which included the rights to reproductive health and information to enable them to make positive decision just like any other person.
"As we work together to rebuild lives and promote rights, partnership remains key in all our endeavours and access to services a priority in all settings."
The reproductive health kit includes clean delivery kit for individual and clean deliveries at home, equipment for birth attendants, contraception, treatment for STIs and clinical delivery assistance to be used in health facilities during normal deliveries. Dr Kane noted that there was the need to put in place effective reproductive health programmes for especially women and young people to protect their human rights such as the right to health to enable them to freely decide the number and spacing of children as well as information, education and their freedom from sexual violence and coercion. "Young people in particular face fewer restricted choices, have many challenges and uncertainties as well as narrower future aspirations and life options and therefore need more attention and support." He commended government for the recent passage of the Domestic Violence Act, which was awaiting presidential assent, and called for its full implementation.
"Women and girls are an equal half of the society and need to be protected against violence and abuse in all aspects in order to develop their full potentials to support development of the society." Ms Aida Haile Mariam, UNHCR Representative to Ghana, commended UNFPA for providing the needed resources for healthcare workers caring for the refugees in Ghana.
She noted that the refugee camp in 2006 had about 97 per cent of its births attended to by skilled health workers and 71 per cent of deliveries took place within the health facility. "These are, of course, encouraging statistics which we can view as an achievement.. The reproductive health kits will further equip this health clinic and its staff with resources to better care for reproductive health needs for the community."
Dr Zelalam Birhann, Doctor-in-charge of the St Gregory Catholic Clinic at the Buduburam Camp, giving an overview of the health situation said teenage pregnancy was very high. A significant percentage of all the ante-natal attendance was girls under 20 years. He said the clinic attended to 400 deliveries annually with most of the deliveries occurring in the homes.
Acute malnutrition was very high with 150 malnourished children being attended to every month.
Dr Birhann said there was a UNHCR supplementary feeding programme underway supported by government but complained that children stayed for long periods at the centre due to other associated illnesses. He also complained of the difficulties in obtaining drugs for tuberculosis patients as this distracted the treatment course for patients thereby causing re-infection. The Buduburam Camp has a population of over 40,000, out of which 24,000 have dully registered.
Source:
GNA
Ghana@50 Secretariat Closed Down; Tarzan Fired?
According to the Accra-based radio station, JOYFM, President Kufuor has asked the Ghana @50 Secretariat to close down following concerns that the organization of the jubilee celebrations were fraught with problems.
The Secretariat was expected to continue its activities to the end of the year, including a key role in the organization of the upcoming African Union Summit due to be held in July.
However President Kufuor is unsatisfied with the organization of the jubilee celebrations and has therefore asked that the secretariat wind down its operations.
The President’s directive comes in the wake of concerns raised by the public, including some government officials, about the manner in which the Secretariat handled the organization of the jubilee celebrations and its finances.
The Secretariat was expected to play a key role in the organization of the AU summit, but the President wants to avert another embarrassment he and the country faced with the poor organization of the jubilee celebrations.
President Kufuor was reported to have personally gone looking for accommodation for some of his guests few days to the March 6 celebrations which attracted about 30 heads of state and government.
Despite the success of the 6th March parade itself; reports say there were several organizational challenges, which caused the country some embarrassment.
But the Chief Executive of the Secretariat, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobbey told JoYFM that he has not received any directive to close down.
“I don’t know where you heard the report from. Nobody is asked the secretariat to wind up for resources to be verified. Obviously in building up to the climax of 6th March there were numerous activities which required numerous hands to be on deck. And once we have passed the climax even though the celebrations are continuing…the pace of activities clearly is reduced,” he said.
Dr Wereko-Brobby continued: “Therefore we need to examine whether all the hands that were engaged are still required so without anybody prompting us we are looking at ways of optimising our resources – downsizing the secretariat. But it is not from any directive.”
Dr Wereko Brobbey said the Foreign Ministry is the main organizer of the AU summit. His outfit’s only role will be to provide transportation and accommodation for the visiting dignitaries.
“The secretariat has been involved in the development of an organisation of logistics for the celebrations and quite a bit of these logistics would be available for the Summit especially the vehicles that were bought and also the housing that are being developed at La and Ridge,” he stated.
He announced that the houses would be ready by the end of May 2007.
However, other jubilee projects such as the toilets the secretariat promised ahead of the March 6 celebrations are not so ready. Dr Wereko-Brobby said funding has been the main hindrance.
“The toilets are under construction. Unfortunately in Accra we ran into one or two problems with access to the sites. There were squatters who refused to move from the sites and so it delayed things a bit. But we expect that in the next two to three months all of these would be completed,” he stated.
Nevertheless, Dr Wereko-Brobbey believes despite the rough bumps the Secretariat has had to face since its establishment, it is still on course.
For him, the magnificent edifices at the various jubilee parks and the remodeling of the National Archives into a state of the art centre is a worthy legacy the Secretariat will leave behind even after it is closed down.
Source: jfm
Ghana increases exports to US
Data from the US Department of Commerce reveal that Ghana's exports to the US went up by 21.5% last year.
From US$158m in 2005, total exports from Ghana to the U.S. recorded a value of US$192m last year.
Trade between the two countries however fell by 9.9 percent from US$535m in 2005 to US$482m.
This was caused wholly by decreases in U.S. exports to Ghana which fell by 13.9 percent to US$290m last year, while Ghana's exports to the U.S. increased by 21.5 percent to US$192m during the period. Consequently, Ghana's trade deficit with the U.S. declined from $179m in 2005 to $98m.
Trade analysts attributed the upsurge largely to the favourable treatment Ghana, like other African countries, enjoyed exporting under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Ghana's exports to the U.S. include forest and agricultural products, minerals and metals, textiles and apparel, and petroleum-related products.
Apparel exports from Ghana, for instance, almost doubled under the AGOA last year, increasing from US$4.9m in 2005 to US$8.8m.
On the sub regional level, West Africa as a whole exported US$31bn in goods to the US of which US$29bn was registered under AGOA.
Ghana’s trade with the European Union (EU) however remains the largest compared with any other part of the world. As of 2004, it was US$3,012.6m representing US$1,613.3 of EU’s exports to Ghana and US$1,404.3 of Ghana’s exports to the EU.
AGOA, signed into law in 2000 amended in 2002, offers favourable duty and quota free market access of mining, agro-processed, tourist and textile products from Africa to the US markets.
Ghana will this year host the annual AGOA forum from July 16 to 19. 38 out of the 48 sub-Saharan African countries have AGOA status.
Source:
Business & Financial Times
BAT To Shutdown Ghana Operation
... delists from GSE today
... 180 Jobs to go
Accra (Business & Financial Times) -- Shareholders of the troubled tobacco firm, British American Tobacco Company Limited (BAT) are on Tuesday expected to give their assent to the formal delisting of the Company from the Ghana Stock Exchange.
At the Company's annual general meeting to be held today, shareholders will have no choice but to move a motion to delist the company from the local bourse.
The global tobacco group, British American Tobacco (BAT) Investment RV has already paid more than $15 million to its Ghanaian shareholders.
The pay-off, which started on February 6, saw BAT Investment paying for 30,652,820 ordinary shares priced at 4,266 cedis per share.
A letter from HSBC London, bankers for BAT Investment, written to the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2006 informing the regula¬tory agencies of its client's decision to pay off the Ghanaian shareholders due to the shut down.
The Board and Management of BAT in 2006, decided to quit its manufacturing activities after 44 years in Ghana citing unfair trade competition and government's failure to deal ruthlessly with the growing incidence of smuggling activities along the country's borders.
Smuggling of contraband cigarettes into the country cost the Government over US$3.5 million revenue every year.
Available figures indicate that five years ago, the smugglers controlled two per cent of the cigarette market; however, presently the figure has shot up to 15 percent.
Until the shutdown, the company paid 22 billion cedis in taxes to government every month from the sale of 1.5 billion sticks of cigarette a year.
The turnover of BAT in 2006 increased by 9.6 percent from the 237.8 billion cedis recorded in 2005 to 260 billion cedis.
However the cigarette manufacturer recorded a 3.4 percent decline in sales volume from 1.51 billion sticks in 2005 to 1.46 billion sticks in 2006.
BAT made a loss before tax of 19.3 billion cedis at the end of the 2006 financial year, comparing unfavourably with the profit of 40.4 billion cedis recorded in 2005.
Management has attributed this to the costs associated with labour redundancy that came along with the shut down of its operations. More than 180 workers have lost their jobs as a result.
Source:
Business & Financial Times
-01.05.2007
TUC boss blames health authorities for impasse
Accra, May 1, GNA - Trades Union Congress boss, Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwah has waded into the current strike action by health workers, saying the health authorities should be held responsible for the current impasse. Speaking at the Independence Square, where workers had gathered to observe this year's May Day celebrations, Mr Adu-Amankwah said the rights of the health workers had been abused for over a year now and the authorities must take the blame for the frustrations and restiveness on that front.
He therefore urged government to take every step to bring down the huge disparity in salaries between the doctors and the other health workers. Mr. Adu-Amankwah reiterated the need for the authorities to allow the Labour Act to work and government should also take steps to invest more in social dialogue in redressing labour issues.
He reiterated the commitment of organised labour to promote dialogue between it and the other social partners in the quest for decent work and improved service conditions for all.
Health workers across the country embarked on an indefinite strike from Monday to back demands for better salaries and working conditions. The day, which was marked on the theme: "Labour and Nation Building: 50 Years and Beyond," saw workers who had dedicated themselves to the cause of unionism in country receiving awards.
The award winners included John Brimpong, National Chairman, Public Utilities Workers Union, Joseph Boadu, 1st National Vice-Chairman, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union and Mr Samuel Kangah, General Secretary, General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU).
Each award winner was presented with a certificate and a 21-inch television set.
Source:
GNA
Unwholesome sugar pushed onto the market
Seven people have been arrested by the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for allegedly diverting a consignment of unwholesome/contaminated sugar meant to be destroyed.
The three, a Vietnamese and four Ghanaians were said to have connived to divert the sugar, part of a ship load which was to be discharged into the sea after being declared as unsuitable for human consumption.
Police named the suspects as Ngunyen Van Sun, (head of the vessel) "MV Si Gon 5", Nguyen Ba Tan, 38 and Tran Duc, Minh, both officers of the vessel.
The others are Esther Ashitey, 44, a canoe owner, Tetteh Ashikui, 34, the botswain, Joseph Mensah, 42, driver and Oko Annan, driver’s mate.
Briefing the Ghanaian Times in Accra, Deputy Director-General of CID, Patrick Timbillah, said the police had information on Saturday that some fishermen were sighted discharging goods in bags suspected to be drugs along the shores of Teshie. He said the police followed up and saw the four Ghanaians discharging the items from a canoe onto a truck. They were found to be contaminated by sea water.
He said the four suspects were subsequently arrested and they led the Police to their source of supply.
Mr. Timbillah said upon further enquiry, it was revealed that the sugar, totaling 93 bags, were rendered unwholesome as a result of coming into contact with sea water and were supposed to have been thrown into the sea.
He said the sugar was part of a consignment imported from Brazil and the owners of the vessel, were directed by the Navy and the Port authorities to throw them into the sea which they agreed to do.
However, instead of complying with the directive the three crew members arranged with the Ghanaians to divert the sugar.
He said the Ghanaian suspects alleged that they did a batter trade with the vessel by supplying them quantities of banana in exchange for the sugar. But this was denied by the Vietnamese who said the Ghanaians entered the vessel while it was docked, and stole the sugar.
Mr. Timbillah said the Police were conducting further investigation and appealed to the public to cooperate by volunteering information leading to the arrest of all the culprits.
Source:
Times
Princess Ann pays courtesy call on President Kufuor
Accra, May 1, GNA - Her Royal Highness Princess Ann on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu. She is in the country to attend a conference of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CITL), which opens at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Wednesday.
Her visit comes close at the heels of the recent historic state visit to the United Kingdom (UK) by President John Agyekum Kufuor on the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II.
President Kufuor said he was pleased to welcome her to Ghana, especially given the honour done him and the nation by the Queen as well as the entire UK Government during his recent state visit to London.
Source:
GNA
Princess Ann interacts with traders
Accra, May 1, GNA - Princess Ann, daughter of the Queen of England, on Monday interacted with petty traders at the Abgobloshie Market in Accra to learn more about their routine activities.
Briefing the media after the tour, Mr. Ekow Fletcher, West African Regional Project Manager of Transaid, an international development agency, said the Princess intended to support traders with transport and other logistics that would make movement easier for them. According to Mr Fletcher, the Princess opted to support the traders after a survey by Transaid in 2005 revealed the need to put in place effective transport management systems that would assist traders in their work.
He said an Italian transport agency, IVECO, had given the assurance to provide at least three vehicles to these traders for a start, adding that a driver's training programme would also be organised for those women who would want to manage their own transport.
The Project Manager said Ghana had, over the years benefited from Transaid support, adding that it had enabled Health Service workers to travel 70 per cent further using 13 per cent less vehicles at the same cost.
He said the agency aimed at making transport more available and affordable to developing countries and would expand its operations to Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Zambia in the next few years. Expressing her appreciation to the Exotic Vegetables Co-operative for presenting her with a portrait of a woman carrying vegetables with a baby on her back, Princess Ann expressed optimism that the transportation support would help improve their businesses.
"No business grows without transport and logistics," she said, and pledged to provide any other support where necessary. The Princess is in the country to attend the All African Transport and Logistics Conference in Accra scheduled for Tuesday
Source:
GNA
I'll ensure the socio-economic development of Ghana -Agyarko
Cape Coast, May 1, GNA- One of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants, Mr. Boakye Agyarko on Tuesday pledged to plan and work hard to put in place a government that would seek to improve upon the general well-being of Ghanaians if he was given the mandate on the ticket of the party to lead the nation. The 51-year old banker who was the former vice-president of the Bank of New York told newsmen at a press conference at Cape Coast that even though the Kufuor administration had made some significant successes within the past six years, there was still a lot of work to be done to improve the lots of Ghanaians.
Mr. Agyarko outlined some of the achievements of the Kufuor administration to include the stabilization of the cedi, the decline in inflation and interest rates among others and stressed that even though these are good ingredient for the growth of investment and businesses, the country need to battle issues that impede its progress such as, high debt rates, corruption and inefficiency on the part of public officials.
He pointed out that a lot of people in the country still lived below the poverty line and the common basic needs of life that include food, clothing and shelter elude them while unemployment rate particularly among the youth was still high and promised to work hard to ensure that the country overcame those problems.
"The economic and social reconstruction of our nation must be given the utmost attention" he declared adding that it was unfortunate that the country's market was still flooded with goods from the European Union and China at the expense of the local industries.
Mr Agyarko said he would also focus his attention unto "growth orientation" where he would ensure quality of life issues such as health, education, employment among others for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
He said he would promote transparency in official conduct and also deepen further the respect for the rule of law in the bid to advance good governance.
Source:
GNA
President rallies nation to face energy crisis
Accra, May 1, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday rallied the nation to face the current energy crisis with confidence as the Government pushes ahead with medium and long-term strategies to solve it.
He counselled that all should make a deliberate effort to conserve energy.
President Kufuor was addressing this year's National May Day Parade at the Independence Square in Accra, which was on the theme "Labour and Nation-Building: 50 Years and Beyond".
He announced that the Government was importing five million dollars worth of energy saving bulbs to be retailed at concessionary prices to the public, something that should enable the country to phase out high energy consuming bulbs.
"I must assure you that in the mean time, implementation of the medium to long-term policies are on-going. In the immediate term, the importation of thermal plants will improve the generation capacity substantially by August, this year."
President Kufuor outlined various strategies to address the shortfall in the country's energy requirement, mentioning among them the West African Gas Pipeline, which is expected to come on-stream soon, following the inauguration on last Friday of the Gas Terminal Pump at Itoki in the Ogun State, Nigeria, the Bui Hydro-electric Dam Project and the exploration of other energy sources like bio-diesel and solar.
He also touched on efforts being made reactivate the country's textile and the poultry industries, with the announcement of the planned inauguration of the revitalised Juapong Textiles Mill on May 11, 2007 and the establishment of a broiler processing factory in Kumasi with the capacity to process 16,000 birds a day.
President Kufuor said the Juapong Textiles Mill, a Ghana-China partnership, at the moment was employing 185 workers and at full capacity the factory would employ 800 workers.
He noted that Ghana could not survive better than going into partnership with China, as far as textiles were concerned and asked labour to be at one with Government on this so as to sustain the industry and jobs.
The President's Special Initiative on Garments and Textiles, he said, was making headway and had trained over 8,000 people in mass production techniques, using industrial machines. Currently 2,200 people have been employed under the PSI on Garment and this is expected to grow to 5,000 ultimately.
The Kumasi Broiler Processing Factory, is a collaboration between the Government and the Agricultural Development Bank and would be launched before the end of the month.
President Kufuor said there were plans to develop out-growers in the catchment area to produce for the factory. 01 May 07
Source:
GNA
