10,000 condoms distributed at festival
Phone Snatchers On Rampage
Govt to take over Aboadze Thermal Plant
Tema farmers doubt bird flu outbreak
10,000 condoms distributed at festival
The Project-Coordinator of the Charles Aikins Live and Let's Live Foundation, Mrs Josephine Boadi Danquah disclosed.
Mrs Danquah said the rationale behind the distribution was as a result of the alarming rate of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the area.
She appealed to the people especially the youth to change their sexual behaviour to avoid contracting the pandemic that is real and has no cure.
A Community Based Organisation (CBO) based in Winneba, the Assemblies of God Unisex Virgins of Faith also distributed leaflets on sexually transmitted diseases during the occasion.
Mrs Danquah said statistics from the District Health Management Directorate indicated that from January to November 2006, out of 562 persons screened, 61 made up of 52 males and 9 females tested HIV positive.
According to her 512 people who came for voluntary counselling and testing during the same period, 162 proved HIV positive.
She said it was in the light of the frightening figures that her NGO had intensified its campaign to prevent the disease from reaching crises levels by distributing the condoms but not to encourage immorality.
Mrs Danquah said the disease has left many orphans and vulnerable children in the District, whose care had become very difficult, adding that the plight of these children would be worsened when the Catholic Relief Services presently catering for them by way of supplying them with food relief items, faced out its programme in 2008.
She appealed to other NGOs and philanthropists both in the country and outside to come to the aid of the children.
Source: GNA
Phone Snatchers On Rampage
*Snatching dare-devils run amok
*Your next taxi ride could see you off without your phone
The criminal acts of mobile phone snatchers continue unabated across the country, with the prime targets of phone thieves on the prowl in the nation’s capital being expensive and luxurious Grade A phone models, this paper has gathered.
But the most intriguing act of cell phone thieves is the resort to taxi cabs to rob their vitims. Normally occupied by a gang of three, including a lady partner who normally occupies the front seat, the phone thieves pick up unsuspecting individual passengers who are then robbed of their phones, cash and pushed out of the cabs to their astonishment, GYE NYAME CONCORD can reveal.
Before the robbed passengers can recover to call for help, the gang would be far gone. A number of “store detectives” who love to trade stories about catching mobile phone snatchers putting cell phones down their pants or into bags they carry, also say the sneaky thieves prefer some top brands, including Sony Ericksson K800I, Nokia 6230I and Nokia N90 models.
Other cell phones mobile thieves now go in for are Motorola L7, Motorola LV, Motorola V8 and N9500I series. For Samsung, the sneak thieves go in for the D600I, K800 and EH40 models. But for majority of the thieves, any phone goes.
Checks conducted by the Gye Nyame Concord suggest that there are three types of mobile thieves; those who operate at Mobile Phone Stores, the zongo boys and other hoodlums, and the dare-devils who break into mobile phone stores and loot at night.
Sources say those who operate at the mobile phone stores are more often sleek and well-dressed ladies and gentlemen with sleight-of hand, whilst the zongo boys and other hoodlums operate on busy roads or quiet alleys on their own or in twos with or without motor-bikes. All three types cause big menace to the public, says the police.
Our checks revealed that these mobile phone rustlers target single ladies, working men and women, remedial schools class attendants deeply engrossed on their phones, and car drivers in traffic.
According to a number of victims whom this paper spoke to, hefty slaps, wielding of dangerous weapons like cutlasses and cudgels by the snatchers cow down victims.
Nii Lantey Ayittey, a victim, told this paper that “hand over your mobile phone” is normally the order, and refusal results in slashing the victims or instant shooting when you try to attract attention.
Mary Mensah, a student of a remedial school, Super Stars, at Accra New Town had her mobile phone snatched this way.
Emmanuel Ansong, another victim, told this reporter: “I had hardly finished making a call when two hefty-looking young men ordered me to hand over my mobile to them. And I did quietly”.
But the saddest case is that of Alhassan Abu, who after just buying a brand new Motorola V8 mobile phone was accosted by mobile phone thieves at Nima who made away with his new bride” without him ever enjoying its use once.
Sources say of the three types of thieves, the dare-devils are the hardened ones who operate at night, breaking into mobile phone stores and looting in the process.
These groups are said to operate at night, and like the zongo boys and other hoodlums, arm themselves with dangerous weapons, including pistols and sophisticated guns in their operations. They wer the type that struck at the popular Freddy’s Corner, a mobile phone operating store at Accra New Town, recently.
To off-set the break-ins, mobile phone store operators have started engaging the services of security guards to guard their premises, and this is slowing down the rate of break-ins at night.
Meanwhile, the snatching of mobile phones of individuals on the streets and dark alleys continues unabated. And in a very recent case of the phone-robbing taxi operators, two members of a gang who accosted and robbed a woman of her phone after a series of robberies of earlier victims were unluckey when they were apprehended at Mataheko, a surburb of Accra.
They were pummeleed and nearly lynched. They were saved by the presence of the Managing Editor of the Gye Nyame Concord and some bystanders who insisted on them being handed to the police.
For most of the crowd, “kill them” was the clarion call. The robbery group, included a beautiful lady who managed to outsmart and sneak out with another partner, leaving the arrested two to face the fury of the crowd.
Police from the Odorkor Police Station later told this paper that the two suspects have confirmed that the taxi was owned by their master, who was alleged to operate a mobile phone selling shop near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra.
The two, together with their two colleages who escaped, were on a picking and robbing spree where they had succeeded in depriving passengers of their phones and assets. By 9:30 am last week Monday morning when they were busted, they had succeeeded in robbing a woman paasenger of over ¢4 million and her phone after ealier opperations on 10 earlier passengers.
It was the determination of the lady passenger and her desperation to recover her phone and money which saw her shouting, compelling residents of the area to block the road and search the car only to discover over 10 cell phones, various assortments of items and monies, including ¢4 million under the driver’s seat.
Source:
GYE NYAME CONCORD
Govt to take over Aboadze Thermal Plant
Accra (Ghanaian Times) - The government is to take over the entire 100 per cent shares of the Aboadze Thermal Plant.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Government Spokesman on Finance and Economy, Kwaku Kwarteng, said the decision became necessary due to the manner in which CMS Energy, co-partners in the plant, had sought to sell its shares in the Takoradi International Company (TICO), operators of the plant, to TAQA, a Middle East based company, without informing the government.
"If that transaction had gone through, government would have been forced to partner an unknown company," it said and described that move as improper.
The statement said if TAQA had succeeded in buying the shares, it would have later sold them back to Ghana, adding that the consideration of such a scenario would have been different from those of Ghana buying the shares directly from CMS.
"We have advised CMS to hive off the Takoradi plant from their take-over discussions with TAQA," it said.
"Given that electricity makes a critical and strategic input into our economy, we view these matters with utmost seriousness," it said, adding that government had been compelled to seek purchase of the entire 100 per cent of the shares in the Aboadze Plant, and "we are taking steps to make that happen."
President J.A. Kufuor last month criticised CMS Energy for breach of the contract between it and the government.
Speaking at a meeting with CMS Energy Management at the Castle, he said that since Ghana had 10 per cent shares in TICO with an option to buy a further 40 per cent, it was appropriate for CMS to have consulted government before disposing of its shares.
President Kufuor described the company as "a partner who has taken the people of Ghana for granted" and emphasised that government would not allow that to happen."
He gave the indication that government would have nothing to do with TAQA unless the right thing was done.
The Aboadze Thermal plant was built by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and started operation in 1997.
The aim was for the plant to compliment the electricity supply from the Akosombo and the Kpong Dams.
The current installed capacity of the plant is 550 megawatt volts (mv) and it is expected to be upgraded to 660mv.
The Takoradi International Company (TICO) was formed by VRA and CMS Energy to operate the plant to achieve that target.
Source:
Ghanaian Times
Tema farmers doubt bird flu outbreak
Tema, May 06, GNA - Poultry and Livestock Farmers in Tema municipality say they doubt the authenticity of last Wednesday's reported outbreak of the H5NI Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Tema.
"Until the virus samples which is to be sent to the World Organisation for Animal Health Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory in Italy is in for confirmation, we the Poultry and Livestock Farmers in the municipality will not believe the outbreak of the bird flu virus", Mr Ellis Aferi,Chairman of Tema Municipal Poultry and Livestock Farmers Association and Farmers, Union told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Tema on Saturday. Reacting to last Wednesday's Press Conference held by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in Accra which announced the outbreak of the disease, he said if the Ministry intended going for confirmation it should not have come out with the announcement. According to him, currently there is no reliable equipment in the country to detect the virus.
He said the farmers heard the news with shock because if the report turns out to be untrue then panic had been created among the customers and consumers and this would take a long time to rectify thus bringing hardship to them and putting their business at risk.
Mr Aferi said the MOFA rushed into public announcement because it did not wait to collect inputs from the farmers which could have helped a lot to allay public fear.
To buttress his argument, he said all the 160 poultry and livestock farmers in the municipality meet once in a month to deliberate on issues confronting the industry, especially to find out if any of them had detected strange disease among their birds.
They also undertake periodic seminars to educate members on how to handle their birds to prevent contracting diseases. The Chairman said when they heard the news in the media, all members of the association were assembled and they all denied the detection of the disease on their farms.
Mr Aferi said if the MOFA has come out with the announcement then it could as well have exposed the farm in question to save the image of other farms because presently customers would not know which farm to patronize.
The Chairman however, said knowing that the disease and any others is a threat to life, they take precautionary measures on their farms by adhering to experts' advice and assured the public that chicken on their farms are safe to consume.
According to him the farmer on whose farm the alleged virus was detected does not even belong to the association.
Last Wednesday May 2, Mr Ernest Debrah Minister of the MOFA announced at a Press Conference in Accra that bird flu virus had been detected on a small scale farm in Tema but no life has been affected.
Source:
GNA
Take measures to replace ageing lectures
Kumasi, May 6, GNA-
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, at the Weekend said education delivery at universities in the country could suffer a major setback if comprehensive measures were not instituted to get timely replacement for ageing lecturers.
He pointed out that in order to address the problem, the authorities should brainstorm with stakeholders to evolve comprehensive measures to attract the youth to take up teaching appointments at the universities.
University education, he said, was crucial to Ghana's development and as such entreated the authorities to leave nothing to chance but strive to explore avenues to make it vibrant.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Baffour Dr Osei Tutu Amofa II, Kronkohene, at the maiden Ashanti Regional Education Sector Annual Review (ESAR) held in Kumasi. The forum, which was attended by stakeholders in the educational sector, sought to assess the overall educational status in the region, review achievements made during the previous years and also identify the challenges and actions to be taken in the coming years.
The Asantehene, who is Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), further called on corporate bodies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to make it a policy to always collaborate with university authorities in providing adequate residential facilities for students and staff since education was a shared responsibility.
Whilst emphasizing the importance of education in general, he expressed optimism that the ESAR would go a long way in strengthening the capacity of stakeholders in education management at the regional and district levels.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu was also hopeful that such review exercises would enable policy makers to track district and regional performance with the view to providing further assistance to those lagging behind in the implementation of national education policies and directives in respect of education generally.
Mrs Belinda Serwaa Addo, Regional Director of Education, indicated that all findings and recommendations made at the forum would be forwarded to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports as input for the National Review scheduled for June this year.
Dr Benjamin Kwesi Prah, Principal of Kumasi Polytechnic, who presided, noted that the single most important renewable natural resources is the human resource and stressed that, through dynamic educational programmes that it could be effectively harnessed and developed.
He implored the participants to critically assess the educational status of the region to consolidate achievements made and also identify the future challenges and actions to address them. Dr Prah was optimistic that the outcome of the review would strengthen capacity in education management and also enhance accountability and transparency. 6 May 07
Source:
GNA
Five Killed At Pre-Homowo Ritual
Five persons - three children and two women - died in a pandemonium that followed the performance of rites at the Gbese Mantse’s palace in Accra yesterday.
The rites were to usher in the annual Ga Homowo festival, according to unconfirmed reports.
The cause of the deaths could not be ascertained but police reportedly fired tear- gas to disperse the crowd as a result of a clash between two factions supporting two rival claimants to the Gbese Stool, who were at the palace to perform the rites.
The Times could not confirm the deaths as checks at the hospitals drew a blank because of the ongoing strike by health workers.
Police said there was firing of tear-gas but could not confirm any deaths. Deputy Inspector General of Police, K.K. Manfo, told the Times that the first reports reaching him indicated that there were no injuries. However, further investigations were being conducted, he said.
Dr. Manfo said Nii Okaija III, one of the rival chiefs, was said to have gone to the palace to perform the customary rites when people believed to belong to the faction supporting the other chief, Nii Ayibonte II, allegedly attacked them.
He said there was police presence at the palace initially but reinforcement was called in following the pandemonium and the situation was brought under control.
Nii Okaidja in a reaction, told the Times that he went to the palace with his team to perform the customary rites as the Gbese Mantse when supporters of Nii Ayibonte pelted them with stone and in the process broke the windscreen of his car.
He said he asked for police protection "knowing the sort of people Nii Ayibonte’s group are" adding that they did similar thing to him last Friday.
"In any case we have done it, we have another one, we will continue to do it, we are the legitimate," Nii Okaidja said.
According to him, Nii Ayibonte is not the Gbese Mantse and that he (Nii Okaidja) is the legitimate Gbese Mantse and had been accepted by the Ga Traditional Council.
But Nii Ayibonte said if the Nii Okaidja group claimed to have performed the customary rite, "why did they interfere with our performance of the rite?" adding: "we did not attack them."
Giving an account of the incident, a source at the Ardey Akwa We, one of the Gbese Royal Houses alleged that Nii Okaidja appeared at the palace in the company of a contingent of anti-riots police apparently to give him protection.
He said the firing of tear-gas ensued when people around tried to question the rationale for the performance of another rite by the rival occupant of the stool.
The youth in the area consequently vent their spleen on the police by hurling stones and other missiles at the police anti-riot vehicle.
The irate crowd went on to vandalise the palace apparently to register their anger over the occupancy of the palace by people believed to be loyal to Nii Okaidja.
Journalists covering the event had to run for cover in the midst of the confusion.
As the police left the palace, crowds of people gathered around in groups discussing the issue.
The palace area was strewn with stones, pieces of blocks, and rubber bullets and canisters.
Reginald Nii Ayibonte, a royal of the Gbese stool and former Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo constituency, showed to the Times documents supposedly affirming the legitimacy of Nii Ayibonte as the Gbese Mantse.
He questioned why there should be another chairman to the stool when all the court rulings were in favour of Nii Ayibonte adding "we are in a rule of law, why do people want to circumvent the ruling of the highest court of the land."
Nii Okaidja was installed Gbese Mantse last October, having left his job as a presiding Justice of the city of West Minister courts, London.
Nii Ayibonte, known in private life as Thomas Okine former Chief Executive of Accra Hearts of Oak, was installed on April 28.
Source:
Times
Tamale Girls gets 21 Billion cedis GET Fund assists
Tamale, May 5, GNA - The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has made available a total of 21 billion cedis to the Tamale Girls' Secondary School for infrastructure development and improvement. This would enable the school to be used as a model girls' secondary in the three northern regions.
Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, the Northern Regional Minister, cut a sod on Friday for the construction of phase one of the project at Wamale, the school's new site off the Tamale/Yendi road. The facilities are an assembly hall complex, a two-storey science block, a library, home economics block, kitchen and dining Hall valued at 13 billion cedis.
The rest are a 6-unit block of flats for teachers and two-storey 12-unit classroom block valued at eight billion cedis and the project would be completed in one-and-half years.
Alhaji Idris said education, particularly girls, was high on the agenda of the NPP government and it would do everything possible to ensure that there was adequate infrastructure to improve the quality of education in the country.
He said there was not a single government girls' school in the Northern Region and this was hampering the education of the girl-child in the north, hence the need for the GETFund to assist Tamale Girls Secondary for quality education.
Alhaji Idris said phase II of the project would include construction of access roads within the school campus, extension of electricity and water to the site and fence wall on the 73 acre land. Ms Mercy Amanquandoh, the Headmistress of the school, expressed appreciation to the GETFund and said she hoped more assistance would be given to the school to befit its status as a model girls' school.
She said the school was facing an acute water problem, infrastructure and inadequate staffing and this was leading to students dropping out of school and appealed to the contractors to speed up work so that students would move in as early as possible.
Source:
GNA
Dutch to invest more than €100m in water in C/R
Cape Coast, May 5, GNA - The government of the Netherlands has spent more than 80 million euros over the past five years to improve and expand water supply in the Central Region to help solve the perennial water problem of the Region, particularly Cape Coast and its environs. Ms Lidi Remmelzwaal, Netherlands Ambassador announced this at a durbar held in her honour as part of her three-day visit to the Region to inspect various water projects being funded by her government. She said the amount invested in the water sector in the Region would reach 100 million euros this year, stressing that that investment was a priority, because the lack of water in any community could contribute to poor sanitation practices.
Currently, five major water supply systems in the Region are being rehabilitated and expanded with funds from that government. They include the dredging of the Brimsu Dam in Cape Coast, rehabilitation and capacity expansion of Cape Coast water supply, rehabilitation and capacity expansion of Kwanyaku water supply system, Baifikrom water supply project and Winneba water works rehabilitation and augmentation. Ms Remmelzwaal urged residents to address sanitation problems and also ensure the sustainability of the water supply systems upon their completion.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur said the Region had benefited immensely from the Dutch government not only in the water sector, but also in the road, education and tourism sectors and expressed his appreciation.
He said the Dutch government through the European Union (EU) had also provided 24 million Euros for the dredging of boreholes for 20 small towns in the Region adding that the Winneba and Kwanyaku works had been completed, while those of Cape Coast and Baifikrom were progressing steadily.
The Minister said the Netherlands government was in addition funding the construction of six steel bridges in various parts of the Region and had provided the education and tourism sectors with six million and 300,000 euros respectively.
Nana Arthur said the Assin-Fosu water supply system also needed rehabilitation to fully solve the Region's water problem and said a feasibility study on it had been completed and appealed to the Dutch government to assist in its implementation. He further asked for assistance for the dredging of the Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast.
Nana Kwamina Ansah V, President of the Central Region House of Chiefs and the Omanhene of Eguafo traditional area who chaired the function, traced the existing relationship between the Netherlands and Ghana to the 17th Century and stressed that it should be further strengthened for their mutual benefit.
He recalled that sometime in 1872, the Dutch government paid an amount of 2,000 pounds to the people of Elmina for poverty alleviation when trading activities declined in the town and expressed the hope that the Dutch would further help boost the economic development of the Region.
Ms Remmelzwaal who was accompanied by her husband Mr Cortenberg later visited the on-going Cape Coast water expansion project at Sekyere Heman, the Brimsu water works and the Fosu Lagoon.
05 May 07
Source:
GNA
Mills helps Tamale rainstorm victims with 200 million cedis
Tamale, May 4, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday made a cash donation of 200 million cedis to the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly to help resettle the Tamale rainstorm disaster victims.
Twenty million cedis out of the amount had been donated as charity to immediately help the worse hit rainstorm disaster victims as a form of relief.
Professor Atta Mills, who paid a day's visit to the disaster victims on Thursday, May 3, said though the NDC was out of power and could not fully play the role of government, it was necessary for the party to sympathize with the victims of the rainstorm disaster.
He said though the money could not resettle all the people it would assist to lessen their burden and reiterated his call on the people to persevere since God would replace what they lost in the disaster. Prof. Mills described the donation as a little contribution from the NDC and advised that money's mobilised for the disaster victims should not be distributed along political or tribal lines to ensure that all affected persons benefited to improve their lives. Mr. Mohammed Baba, Tamale Metropolitan Coordinating Director, who received the money on behalf of the Assembly and the affected persons, expressed gratitude and indicated that the amount was the highest the Assembly had received so far.
Mr. Baba who is also the secretary to the committee set up to oversee the distribution of the relief items to disaster victims called on others to emulate Prof. Mills so that the displaced persons would be well catered for.
He gave the assurance that the money would reach the victims so that the Metropolitan Assembly and members of the committee set up to oversee distribution of relief items could win public confidence. Prof. Mills was accompanied the MPs for Tamale Central, Mr. Inusah Fuseini, Tamale South Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Tamale North, Alhaji Abubakari Sumani and Hajia Mariam Senari, deputy women's organizer of the party as well as regional party executives.
Source:
GNA
Belgian Journalist tells her experience in Ghana
Wa, May 4, GNA - A Belgian journalist, Miss Klaartje Van Rompaey, 25, said her first cultural shock in Ghana when her plane touched down at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra was to see people carry heavy loads on their heads.
"This is the first time I have seen this," Miss Van Rompaey, who reports for Mechelen State Television Station, the Ring TV, told the GNA in an interview.
Narrating her experiences Miss Van Rompaey said: " I have realized that here in Ghana, pedestrians care more about cars than drivers but in Belgiun drivers rather care more about the lives of pedestrians because they are considered the weaker side".
She said traffic news was the hottest news in Belgium, for community members to know about what was happening on a particular road.
"For instance, a dog or a goat can cause a traffic jam and no driver has the right to kill it. The traffic laws give equal protection to both animals and human beings", she said.
Miss Van Rompaey was in Wa to make a documentary about two Belgian volunteers at " Child Support Ghana" a Netherlands funded non-governmental organisation dedicated to maintaining street children in the region.
Miss Katrien Vanderneyden and Miss Kim Welman are also supporting the Wa School for the Deaf.
On the movement of buses, Miss Van Rompaey said bus drivers in Ghana waste time in their quest to get their buses full with passengers before they move. In Belgium, buses move according to time whether they are full with passengers or not.
Another experience she said shocked her was the indiscriminate manner traders sell their goods in the open market. " Everywhere in Ghana is turned into a market place and one can buy at any spot but in Belgium, goods are sold only at specific stores and shops", she said. Miss Van Rompaey praised the Ghanaian hospitality and said: "Ghanaians are peaceful and loving people, they care more about other people and this they express through greetings. I love this country".
Source:
GNA
Georgina Wood nominated for Chief Justice
Accra, May 4, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor in consultation with the Council of State has nominated Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood for appointment as the new Chief Justice of Ghana. A press release signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, the Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, said her name has consequently been submitted to Parliament for vetting and approval. If approved, she would become the first female Chief Justice in the country.
Mrs Justice Georgina Wood is presently a Supreme Court Judge having been appointed to that position since November 2002. She is the Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Georgina Wood, who was born on June 8, 1947 attended Bishop's Girls and Methodist Schools.
She had her LLB (Hons) from the University of Ghana, Legon in 1970 after completing Wesley Girl's High School, Cape Coast in 1966. She took a six-month Post-Graduate Officers Training Course at the Ghana Police College.
She joined the Judicial Service as a District Magistrate Grade ll and was later promoted to Grade l. She was promoted to the Court of Appeal as the presiding judge in 1991.
Mrs Justice Wood last year chaired the Georgina Wood Committee that conducted enquiry into the disappearance of 77 packets of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel on April 26, 2006, as well as the 588kg cocaine seized from some Venezuelans at Mempeasem, East Legon.
Source:
GNA
New Ghana Cedi Notes & Coins Launched
THE NEW FAMILY OF GHANA CEDI NOTES AND COINS AND GHANA PESEWA COINS
PRESENTATION TO THE PUBLIC
REMARKS BY DR. PAUL A. ACQUAH,
GOVENOR, BANK OF GHANA
ACCRA, MAY 3, 2007
1. Members of the Board, Managing Directors of Banks, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me welcome you to this short ceremony which we consider landmark in the re-denomination exercise. The introduction of the Ghana cedi notes and coins and the Ghana pesewa coins is a monetary measure to underpin the regime of stability observed for some time now.
2. In a sense this exercise should not be seen as just another currency exchange exercise but rather an important means of promoting efficiency in the way business is done in Ghana. The new currency will allow the domestic currency (the cedi) to assume its role as the means of exchange and store of value for all, both within and outside the banking system in a stable low inflation environment.
Guidelines 3. The Bank of Ghana has issued guidelines on the pricing of goods and services, exchange quotations, banking transactions and accounting systems to facilitate the smooth roll out of the re-denomination exercise.
Unveiling the New Currency 4. Ladies and Gentlemen, today’s event is a critical landmark of the public education programme on the currency re-denomination scheduled to commence in July 2007. This aspect of the education is dubbed “Know Your Notes & Coins and Security Features”. It will be pursued through visual presentations on television stations, posters as well as the Direct Community Contacts to allow for easier identification of the Ghana Cedi Notes and Ghana pesewa coins.
5. You would recall that since the announcement of the re-denomination exercise a public education campaign has been implemented aimed at sensitizing the general public. This has been followed by a countrywide distribution of advertising materials (flyers, posters, leaflets), as well as radio and TV broadcasts in different languages.
6. Bank of Ghana staff have participated in programmes such as Adult Education on the National Television Station and other similar programmes on other television stations in the country. The bank has also launched a special website on re-denomination and organized seminars. Under the Direct Community Contact program, the Information Services Department (ISD) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) have been undertaking direct contacts with the communities in all the 138 districts of the country to reach those in the rural areas.
7. Reports from these institutions indicate that significant progress has been made in carrying out the educational campaign. The N.C.C.E. has so far contacted all the ten communities selected from each district in the country with 20 visits each. The campaign strategy has involved community fora, talks with the opinion leaders including the chiefs, visits to the churches, schools, mosque and market through cinema vans and mobile vans and has worked according to plan. In most of the places visited, the people were eager to see specimens of the new currency and pamphlets which therefore adds to the importance of this day’s launch.
Note and Coin Design 8. The new family of notes and series of coins to be unveiled today have been designed to pay tribute to some key personalities for their contribution to the social, political and economic development of our great nation. They also reflect the historical significance of some of the national monuments and cultural values in our country’s development.
9. The pictorial concept/image on the front of all the notes, and the same design concept on the reverse of all the coins were chosen for the new notes and coins. These together constitute a unique family of notes and coins.
The Notes 10. The design of the notes involved the selection of dominant colours for each note, as well as some prominent national monuments and concepts for the back (reverse) of the notes. They all incorporate very robust security features to allow for easy and safe recognition and transactions. • The fifty Ghana cedi (GH¢50) depicts the Christianborg Castle, the seat of government at the back (reverse); and the twenty Ghana cedi (GH¢20) shows the Supreme Court Building representing the rule of law also at the reverse. The two together capture the importance of good governance in the Ghanaian society. • The ten Ghana cedi (GH¢10) shows the Headquarters of the Bank of Ghana at the back (reverse), which acknowledges the Bank as the sole issuer of currency as well as the significant role of the financial system in the overall development of the economy. • The five Ghana cedi (GH¢5) has the University of Ghana (the Premier University) at the back, representing the role of education in the social, political and economic development of our nation; • While the one Ghana cedi (GH¢1) has the Akosombo Dam at the back, recognizing its key role in generating electricity over the years for industrial and domestic use, which has been the back-bone of economic activity.
The Coins 11. The Ghana Coat of Arms is shown at the back (reverse) of all the new series of coins. This captures among other things the mineral and agricultural wealth of this country; the continuing link between Ghana and the commonwealth; the lone star of African freedom; and the national aspirations.
The front (that is the obverse) of each coin is a different image symbolizing some aspect of the Ghanaian heritage and tradition.
• The one Ghana cedi (GH¢1) has the image of the scale of justice which characterizes equity and fairness in the delivery of Justice and re-enforces the rule of law in Ghana. • The fifty Ghana pesewas (50Gp) has an image of a market woman, which symbolizes the significance of women in business and their contribution in building the Ghanaian economy and the society as a whole. • The twenty Ghana pesewas (Gp20) depicts the cocoa pod which represents the agricultural wealth of our country and economic importance of cocoa over the years. • The ten Ghana pesewas (Gp10) is devoted to a book, which also emphasizes the role education plays in a democratic society. • The five Ghana pesewas (Gp5) shows a horn blower, representing traditional mode of communication in Ghana; and finally • The one Ghana pesewa (Gp1) has an image of the Adomi Bridge, indicating the significance of infrastructure and freedom of movement of goods and people in a united Ghana.
In addition to these images, user requirements including fitting the wallet, ease of banknote automation and features for the visually impaired were incorporated in the design.
Security and Durability 12. The notes have strong safeguards with regards to security and durability. These include among others: • A watermark as an integral part of the notes. This carries an image of Tetteh Quarshie, the man who first brought cocoa seed into Ghana in 1879, from Fernando Po, off the West African Coast. The image of Tetteh Quarshie and Cocoa Pod appear in subtle areas of light and shade when held up to the light; • See through feature which allows the denomination of the banknote to be seen clearly when held up to light; • A latent image, which is not obvious to the observer when viewed normally but at a 45 degree angle the image of the denomination appears; • A Security Thread which when viewed in reflective light, bars can be seen which change colour from red to green when tilted (for the 20 and 50 Ghana Cedis), or shiny silver bars can be seen (for 1, 5, and 10 Ghana Cedis). A solid line appears containing the text Ghana and the denomination when held up to the light; • Each denomination is printed in intaglio Gold which combines the unique characteristics and the benefits of intaglio printing with a metallic golden coloured ink; • An iridescent band that has a colour-shifting property which makes the colour appear shiny from one angle and matt from another angle; and • A Hologram in the 10, 20 and 50 Ghana Cedis which incorporates numerous smaller images in two distinct sets, that is ‘BG’ and denomination.
There will be a detailed presentation on “Know Your Security Features” as part of the public education programme.
13. On the durability, enhancements have been introduced to extend the lifespan of the notes. Similarly, the coins were minted from metals and nickels, which are environmentally friendly.
14. Ladies and Gentlemen, you will realize that up till now I have not described the front (obverse) of the new notes. The unique thing about this family of notes is that all of them have one portrait at the front, comprising distinguished Ghanaians in the history of the country. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was a member of the United Gold Coast Convention (U.G.C.C). He was later arrested and detained under the Emergency Regulation in 1948 following disturbances, which led to the killing of three World War II veterans. He later became the First Prime Minister (1957-1960) and the First President of Ghana (1960-1966); Mr. Ebenezer Ako Adjei was a founding member of the U.G.C.C. and also instrumental in introducing Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to the political scene in Ghana. He was also arrested and detained together with Nkrumah under the Emergency Regulation; Mr. Edward Akufo-Addo, a founding member of the U.G.C.C. and later chief justice and then President of Ghana in the Second Republic (1970-1972). He was also arrested and detained together under the Emergency Regulation in 1948; Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah was a founding member of U.G.C.C. and the chief organizer of the U.G.C.C. He transformed it from a grassroots movement into a political party, which spearheaded the struggle of Ghana’s independence. As was the case with the other founding members, he was also arrested and detained; Mr. Emmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi-Lamptey was a founding member of the U.G.C.C.; and finally Mr. William Ofori Atta, a founding member of the U.G.C.C. and later became a Minister of Education and then Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Second Republic of Ghana.
These six gallant men who spearheaded the struggle for Ghana’s independence took a historic picture in a single file, which has been re-composed into a single oval portrait to form the “Big Six”. This is the portrait on the front (obverse) of each of the notes. And, they are the ones who are being honoured today in this Jubilee year.
Also on the front of each of the notes is the Independence Arch; the symbol of political independence of Ghana.
15. On this note, I have the honour and pleasure to officially unveil the new family of the Ghana Cedi notes, the Ghana cedi coins and the Ghana Pesewa coins. This also begins the education campaign on “Know Your Notes & Coins and Security Features”. The media is challenged to take this opportunity to help familiarize all and sundry with the new notes and coins.
Thank you for your attention.
Source:
BOG
HIV/AIDS pandemic on the increase in Birim South
Akyem Oda, May 04, GNA - A total of 470 HIV/AIDS cases were recorded at the Akyem Oda Government Hospital from 2004 to 2006, Dr Yaw Otchere, the District Director of Health Services, said in an address read on his behalf at the Eastern Regional Workshop of "HWE YIE" HIV/AIDS Education and Health Information Project held at Akyem Oda on Friday.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Awisa Apaaso Development Committee (AADC) a Non -Governmental Organisation (NGO), Ghana-Union, Umea, Sweden and the Akyem Oda Community Health Nurses Training School. Dr Otchere gave the breakdown of the pandemic as 152 cases recorded in 2004, 155 cases in 2005 with last year recording 163 cases and said that many of the victims were dead leaving behind orphans with their attendant socio-economic problems.
He said a sentinel HIV AIDS survey conducted on 100 pregnant women in rural communities in the district in 2005 put the infection rate at 3.4 percent while another survey conducted on 300 pregnant women last year was 3.6 percent, which he said was higher than the national average.
Dr Otchere said Counselling, Testing and Treatment (CTT) centre had been established at the hospital and pregnant women who tested HIV positive were being put on special drugs to help prevent the unborn child from being infected. Mr Sam Anyimadu Amaning, chairperson Ghana HIV Network said due to complacency on the part of stakeholders, the HIV/ AIDS disease was on the increase and called for concerted efforts from all to help fight the pandemic.
He called for care and support for HIV/AIDS victims and cautioned against stigmatisation.
Dr B.K. Benson, a Senior Lecturer, Red Cross University College of Nursing, Sweden said the aim of the "HWE YIE" project was to empower the communities through knowledge of and the ability to make informed decisions about their health to avert HIV infection. He said since the HIV infection rate was known to be highest among the female population in their productive ages as compared to men in the same age brackets, the project had taken steps to ensure gender balance at all levels of its implementation.
Nana Akua Asantewaa 11, queen of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area who chaired the function, said because some nurses were not abiding by their oath of secrecy, people felt reluctant to undergone Counselling Testing and Treatment.
She added her voice to advise to people not to stigmatise HIV/AIDS victims and urged the participants to educate communities to know that it was not only through sex that one could contract HIV.
04 May 07
Source:
GNA
Poultry exports stopped ...
... after H5N1 outbreak
Ghana halted poultry exports and began farm-to-farm checks around the capital Accra on Thursday, a day after the West African country announced its first outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu, its veterinary chief said.
"We've veterinary officers going from farm to farm to check for signs of the disease ... For now no birds are going in and no birds are coming out (of Ghana)," saidMensah Agyen-Frempong, director of veterinary services in Ghana
Source:
Reuters
Volta Region recorded 53.1 per cent passes in BECE last year
Ho, May 04, GNA - Volta Region recorded 53.1 per cent passes in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2006. Six out of the 15 districts in the region improved in their performance over 2005. They were Kpando, Krachi West, Nkwanta, Jasikan, Adaklu-Anyigbe and Kadjebi Districts.
These were contained in a report presented by the Volta Regional Technical Team on education at its annual review meeting held at Ho on Friday.
It said boys who obtained aggregate six to 10 in 2005 decreased by 1.3 per cent in 2006 while girls who obtained aggregate six to 10 within the same period decreased by 4.1 per cent. The report said enrolment in basic schools increased due to the introduction of the capitation grant.
It said 31.1 per cent of candidates presented for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) in the region in 2005 had aggregate six to 24.
Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister described the situation as worrying and called for concerted efforts from stakeholders in education in the region to arrest the "back sliding of the level of education in the region".
He said Government through the School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant and Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) provided the necessary infrastructure to improve quality of teaching and learning in schools. Mr Dzamesi was optimistic that the new education reforms would address the shortcomings in education to produce the right calibre of manpower needed for the country's development.
Mrs Olivia Sosu, Volta Regional Director of Education expressed concern about the poor performance especially in externally conducted examinations and appealed to stakeholders to renew their commitment to restore the region to its rightful position in education. Mrs Sosu called on them to play responsible roles in the implementation of the new education reforms to forestall the region's declining standards in education.
She commended teachers in the region for their hard work over the years and urged them to work harder to produce "relevant manpower" to meet expectations and needs of the country.
04 April 07
Source:
GNA
Teach Chinese language in schools -Minister
Kumasi, May 4, GNA- Mr Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, on Thursday proposed the teaching of Chinese language in tertiary institutions in the country.
He said this measure would deepen the Ghana-China bilateral ties especially in the area of trade, education and culture.
The Minister made the suggestion in a speech read for him when the sod was cut for work to commence on the construction of the Kumasi Youth Centre at Ahinsan in Kumasi. He said the Ministry was optimistic that the teaching of Chinese language in Ghana would facilitate the transfer of technical know-how to the country, and inculcate the Chinese attitude towards work into Ghanaians for accelerated socio-economic development. Mr Saddique noted that Chinese language was being increasingly taught and spoken in developed countries and other parts of the world, saying as an emerging economy, therefore, it behoved Ghana to commit resources to encouraging the youth to learn and speak the language for mutual benefit. He commended the Chinese people for their vision, hard work and patriotism, which had ensured the country's advancement in science and technology over the years. The Minister said it was gratifying that from nowhere and with virtually limited natural resources, China had been able to transform her economy due to the country's constant search for knowledge, stressing that it was about time that Ghana took a cue from their success story. Mr Saddique said in view of the fact that government recognized the youth's potential as the backbone of the nation's economy, it would continue to create opportunities and the enabling environment for the youth to realize their God-given talents. He entreated youth groups to form networks for regular interaction to disseminate information and to ensure the sharing of knowledge and to be engage in joint work on conflict prevention and resolution as well as education on HIV/AIDS prevention. Mr Saddique said these were important in view of the growing rate of youth violence and crime, passion for watching pornographic materials, sexual promiscuity, as well as substance abuse by the youth. Mr Zhang Keyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, re-affirmed his country's resolve to provide Ghana with the requisite support should there be efforts to teach Chinese language in Ghanaian schools. He said because Ghana adhered to good governance and the rule of law, the Chinese Government would continue to collaborate with Ghana, especially in the areas of road construction, education, energy, trade and industry. The Chinese Ambassador expressed optimism that when completed the Kumasi Youth Centre would assist in channelling the energies of the into productive activities. Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, thanked the Chinese Government for jointly funding the project and hoped the facility would be taken good care of when completed. The 1.3 million-dollar multi-purpose project was being funded by government in collaboration with the Chinese Government and was being executed by the Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction Engineering company Limited over a period of one year. The Centre when completed would be equipped with facilities for a variety of indoor games and have an ultra modern conference centre. 4 May 07
Source:
GNA