Accra-Cape Coast road accident-prone areas identified
Winneba (C/R), Aug. 12, GNA - The Police has identified three accident-prone areas on the Kasoa-Winneba-Mankessim trunk road. The new Winneba District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jonathan Quaye, identified the areas as a point near Gomoa Okyereko junction, Gomoa Otsedze near Apam Junction and a spot close to the Christ Asafo farm near Gomoa Mpota.
He said a recent accident at the spot near Gomoa Okyereko junction claimed 40 lives and asked drivers to extra careful at such areas. ASP Quaye was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Winneba on Friday when he visited the office as part of his familiarization tour of some departments at Winneba.
The Police Commander said the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) would extend their patrols to the areas to help prevent accidents there.
He said that the accident spot at Okyereko was "very tilted" posing a danger to vehicles with high heavy loads while the stretches at Gomoa Osedze and the Chirsto Asafo farm was "very smooth and straight-forward", which encouraged speeding and overtaking. ASP Quaye said drivers would be educated on the dangers at those points to be extra careful.
The Police Commander who was accompanied by Chief Inspector Williams Jabialu, Sergeant Kwame Nyanteh and Corporal Ernest Agbobeda later visited the Radio Peace and Radio Windy Bay at Winneba. He appealed to journalists at the two stations to be circumspect in their reportage to avoid confusion in the area. They should also avoid sensational news and to always cross check their information with the appropriate quarters to ensure peace in the district.
Source:
GNA
> BACK TO TOP < Ghana holds first ICT Awards
Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - The first ever Ghana Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Awards was held at the weekend in Accra, with a call on people in the industry to improve their innovative and creative capabilities for the nation's benefit.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, who made the call in a speech read on his behalf at the ceremony, said there was room for improvement and further collaboration with government to provide better access to ICT to many Ghanaians.
He urged stakeholders in the industry to initiate social responsibility programmes that would address the needs of the disadvantage and physically challenged.
President Kufuor noted that ICT provided the competitive edge for businesses and the socio-economic development of the country.
"In recognition of this, government continues to invest in world-class information technology systems to attain a leadership status in the West African."
President Kufuor said the pervasive ICT high-speed networks were no longer a luxury but an essential infrastructure for socio-economic development.
He said "We must prepare the infrastructure for the current needs as well as future needs and we will also have to do cost-effective work and in an efficient manner."
President Kufuor said it was necessary to have easy and affordable access to resources that would enable businesses especially local small medium scale enterprises to provide new services to the citizenry. He said as a result, Government was committed to enhancing the bandwidth availability to promote efficiency in ICT services at affordable cost.
President Kufuor said the construction of the National Fibre Communication Backbone Infrastructure had commenced and urged all businesses to explore and harness its potential and that the first phase of the project would start by the close of the year.
He explained that the project would open the doors to new business opportunities in software and hardware development and create new jobs for the youth.
President Kufour said that as the ICT industry strives for peaks of excellence by global standards, the challenge for Ghana would be to work hard to be among the world's best countries in the industry.
Dr. Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communication, said the awards which was championed by the Ministry of Communication in partnership with people in industry was designed as a catalyst for the Government and private sector to drive the programme of using ICT for accelerated development.
Mr. Ntim said the objective was to evaluate and recognize standards of excellence in the quest for growth and development, encourage public and private institutions to use ICT for development and to ensure that ICT professionals were provided a benchmark for recognizing and validating outstanding contributions.
He said the event, which saw 17 companies and institutions receiving awards would be an annual affair. Soft Tribe Company received an award for being the pioneering software company that has promoted and stimulated the growth of software development in the country.
Network Computer Services received an award for been the first Internet Service Provider, ACR Company, was adjusted the first major outsourcing company and NCR Company as the pioneer in hardware trading in computers.
Kasapa, Tigo and MTN were awarded for their being the first companies in implementing CDMA, provision of mobile telephones and GSM in Ghana respectively.
One Touch of the Ghana Telecom Company received the award for its pioneering role in the provision of ICT in remote parts of Ghana whilst Ghana Telecom took the award for its pioneering role in implementing international gateway via undersea cable.
Business Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and IPMC were adjudged the pioneering companies in establishing cyber cafes and ICT training University in the country respectively. Clydestone Ghana received an award for been the first to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange and Ghana Commercial Bank as the first company to be computerized.
University of Ghana was adjudged the first in providing leadership in the creation of academic research network in ICT. The pioneering role in the use of ICT tools for employment award went to the Ghana Society for Blind.
The only lifetime achievement for ICT development award went to Professor Clement Dzidonu, who provided leadership for the development of Ghana's ICT for accelerated development policy.
Source:
GNA
> BACK TO TOP < Govt urged to improve basic school education
Kasoa, Aug. 12, GNA- The Government has been urged to improve the conditions in basic schools in the country to enable them function effectively under the new Education Reform, expected to begin next month.
The improvement was necessary since for a long time to come, the schools would remain the only source for the acquisition of basic knowledge for many Ghanaians.
Reverend Father Samuel Batsa, Director of Catholic Institute of Business and Technology in Accra, made the appeal at the maiden Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Star of the Sea JSS at Ngleshie Amanfro near Kasoa on Saturday.
He said some schools, especially those in the rural areas needed more teachers, classrooms, furniture and other infrastructure to ensure effective teaching and learning.
Rev. Batsa said " The success of any educational set up depended on good and committed teachers, quality administration, regular supply of teaching inputs, good supervision, remuneration of teachers and sustainable training programmes for them."
He advised school children to learn hard enable to enable them to pass their examinations to justify the huge investment being made in their education by their parents and government.
Rev. Batsa asked children to take their destiny into their own hands, saying, "if you do not help your self you cannot be where you want to be."
Mrs Mary Nkelenbie, Headmistress of the School, appealed to individuals, organisations and government to assist the school with funds to enable it function effectively adding that the school was facing irregular supply of government textbooks.
She said the school was constructing a three-storey classroom block, modern laboratory and library.
Nana Kobina Akwanu I, Chief of Gomoa Adzintem in the Central Region, appealed to the Ghana Media Commission to regulate the showing of films in the country, especially those that portray violence and immorality.
The Chief, who is also the Managing Director of Bockso Company Limited at Kasoa, attribute the current spate of robbery, murder, rape and other crimes in the country to such films. Master Zenobia Yormekpe, a JSS two student of the School, was adjudged the best student.
Source:
GNA
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Church urges Police to find killers
Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - The Global Evangelical Church on Sunday called on the Police Service and other security agencies to intensify efforts to combat the spate of unexplained killings that had hit the country in recent times.
In a communiqu=E9 issued at the end of the 66th synod in Accra, the church further asked the police to provide security for all citizens of the country. The communiqu=E9 also touched on the 2008 elections and urged all political parties and politicians to exhibit the best democratic qualities of tolerance and transparency in their campaigns. They should also avoid attacks on each other to sustain the peace and stability the country had been enjoying.
The synod also commended government's educational reform programme and resolved to set up and strengthen the church's education unit to cater for basic and tertiary education as a modest contribution to human resource development of the nation.
On the energy crisis, the Church appealed to the government to move towards implementation of an energy policy that would involve using all available means of power generation such as hydro, nuclear, solar, biomass among others.
Besides government should facilitate and encourage corporate bodies and organisations that have the capacity to develop their own energy supply to supplement the country's efforts at energy production. The church held that these actions would go along way to provide electricity security that the country needed to put it on the path of sustainable development.
In a sermon to round off the synod, Right Reverend Emmanuel Gbordzoe, the Moderator of the GEC asked Christians to avoid the wicked and shameful vices of homosexualism, lesbianism, armed robbery, rape and bribery, among others.
He commended the government for its bold stand against the practices of homosexualism and lesbianism in the country. Reverend Gbordzoe encouraged the government not to relent in its efforts of punishing both foreigners and Ghanaians who indulged in such practices.
The Moderator, Rev. Dr Gbordzoe was re-elected for another four-year term while Reverend Prince Tefe became the new Synod Clerk.
Source:
GNA
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Marginal increase in crimes reported in Ho.
Ho, Aug. 12, GNA - Reported crime cases in the Ho Municipal Area increased from 107 in June, to 159 in July this year. However, no armed robbery was recorded within the period. According to records made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) by the Municipal Command of the Police on Friday, assault resulting from interpersonal misunderstanding and squabbles accounted for majority of the cases, recording 38 in June and 61 in July.
Stealing rose from 34 in June to 37 in July with other categories crimes including fraud, causing damage, unlawful entry, causing harm, unlawful entry and offensive conduct, forgery recording less than 10 reports for both months.
Threatening, however, rose from nine in June to 23 in July while there were no robbery cases in June but two in July. Mr Joseph Nakoja, Detective Sergeant told the GNA that the police were on the heels of suspects who broke into the residence of a medical officer when he had been called for duty in the night. The thieves took away two mobile phones, two laptop computers, cash and other valuables totalling 460,000 Ghana Cedis or 46,000,000 Cedis. He said the police were also investigating another break-in and theft of a laptop at the residence of another Doctor at the medical village.
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GNA
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VRA explains power situation
Accra, GNA - Consumers of electricity and the general public in several parts of the country might have noticed that since late last week, they sometimes have power supply even when they are supposed to be off.
"We wish to confirm that we are beginning to realize the benefits of the emergency generation and other measures put in place to resolve the power supply deficit and therefore have been supplying power to customers during the day.
"During our last press briefing on July 25, 2007, we noted that significant injection of new emergency generation plants will become operational in Tema. We are pleased to inform the general public that we are also beginning to receive power from our Ivorian partners to augment our supply capability," the statement said.
It said an additional 20 MW of capacity, located in Kumasi and the 80MW Mines Reserve Plant located in Tema will be ready for power generation within the next two weeks and yet another 25MW in Tema by the end of September.
The 126 MW thermal plant also located in Tema and the 125MW Osagyefo Power Barge located at Effasu-Mangyee in the Western Region are expected to be operational by the end of the year.
The sum total of these plants and imports has enabled us to partly bridge the supply gap, mainly during the daylight hours between 6am and 6pm. Hence, to the extent possible, the VRA jointly with ECG have been embarking on a relaxation of the load shedding schedule, first to planned industrial areas and then to other customers. So far, whenever it has been possible, we have gone further to extend the relaxation of the schedule to customers at night as well.
The statement stressed that, relaxation of the load management programme did not yet mean an end to the programme, adding that, the schedule remains unchanged.
"We also wish to stress that with respect to the Volta Lake, the water level is still low and therefore the Authority will continue to operate under its two-unit strategy at the Akosombo Hydroelectric Generating Station.
"Whilst not promising an immediate end to the Load management Programme at this time, the Authority wishes to assure consumers and the general public that the situation is incrementally getting better with the addition of more generating units.
"We therefore, emphasize that it is the Authority's expectation that consumers will continue to see improvement in the electricity supply situation.
"The Authority wishes to reiterate its appeal to consumers to contribute towards managing the current energy situation by intensifying their own energy-saving measures. The savings we achieve through this mechanism can also translate into more energy available for the benefit of all consumers.
"We count on consumers' continuing support and understanding whilst the VRA, with the support of ECG, manages the power situation.
Source:
GNA
United Nations Systems award 7 journalists
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA-The United Nations Systems on Friday awarded seven journalists for promoting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Ghana for the year 2006.
The award winners who were presented with assorted books, journals and undisclosed cash include Mr. Lovelace Opoku Agyeman who wrote an article on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and Mrs. Clare Banoeng-Yakubu who also did a story on contraceptive use in Ghana. Others were Mr. Kingsley Obeng-Kyere, host of a radio programme which discussed the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
The rest from the print media, who were given consolation prices were Phyllis D. Osabutey, Mr. Yao Aduana, Leonard Ackon and Mr. B. A. Adom.
The award, second in a series was instituted by the United Nations systems to encourage local journalists to be interested in the Millennium Developmental Goals, write and discuss more about them to give adequate publicity and whip up public interest in the goals. Mr. Daouda Toure, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in an address, said that the purpose of organizing such awards were geared towards making the MDGs a focus in the national development agenda, first getting people to align their priorities and also helping to mainstream the MDGs into the national development framework. "The UN system recognizes that it is only when the capacity of media personnel has been built in the MDGS that they would be in a better position to raise public awareness and understanding and build local support for timely attainment of the MDGs," he said. He encouraged journalist to put in more efforts in monitoring trends in the achievement to the target of the goals, and bring out suggestions to assist stakeholders help communities in their efforts to patronize their needs.
Mr. Toure said UN's effort to achieve MDGs had also looked at the provision of safe drinking water, affordable housing, decent and productive work for the youth and new technologies especially information and communication technology.
He noted that statistics from the Ghana Living Standards Survey had shown that poverty levels had declined from 52 percent in 1992 to 28.5 percent in 2006.
If the trend continues, Ghana will be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the first MDG of reducing poverty by half before 2015, he said.
Mr. Kojo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said that the awards ceremony on the MDG had come at an opportune time when government had strengthened its efforts in implementing actions to speed up the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. "The awards ceremony is therefore timely, since it will energize efforts by the media as they assist the development process of this country...by documenting and sensitizing our citizens of their roles and responsibilities," he added.
Source:
GNA
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Do not to play politics with energy crisis -Veep
Awutu (C/R) Aug.11, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday asked Ghanaians not to play politics with the current energy crisis, which, he said, was a serious national issue that should demand the attention of all.
"We should not do cheap politics with the energy crisis," he stressed when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of Awutu Traditional Area, at the start of a three-day official visit to the Central Region.
He said Government had adopted a holistic approach in solving the crisis, including options such as thermal, solar, renewal energy and the construction of smaller dams.
Vice President Mahama said next week President John Agyekum Kufuor would cut the sod for the commencement of work on the Bui Hydro-electricity Dam.
"It is good news that the water level in the Akosombo dam is rising," he observed.
He said Government had introduced contingency measures to tackle the crisis such as the installation of generators to supply power to the business community.
Vice President Mahama expressed concern about the spate of motor accidents on the highways, which he said, was claiming precious lives and asked drivers and pedestrians to be extra cautions to prevent the phenomenon.
Nenyi Kwakorabi of the Awutu Tradtional Area, appealed to the government to improve on roads in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya area to facilitate the carting of foodstuff and the promotion of tourism. He also called for the demarcartion of the area into a District, saying the size and population of the locality merit the request. Nenyi Kwakorabi commended the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for promoting good governance and appealed to supporters and members of the party to throw their weight behind the Vice President in his bid to lead the NPP to the 2008 General Election.
"Vice President Mahama has served the President very well, which has led to peace and stability," he noted. The Vice President earlier, inaugurated a three-classroom block at the Kasoa Akwelle-Nkwanta Anglican Primary and Junior Secondary School (JSS), built by Government at the cost of 360 million Ghana cedis.
He also inspected works on a 1.7 billion-cedi-six classroom block of the school. The money also covers the provision of a fence wall and renovation of a five classroom JSS block.
At Winneba, Vice President Mahama paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief, Neeyi Ghartey, where he described chiefs as great partners in development.
He complained about the numerous conflicts bedeviling the chieftaincy institution and called on chiefs to use their wise counsel to address such problems.
Vice President Mahama appealed to chiefs to release lands to investors to promote wealth generation.
Neeyi Ghartey asked Government to streamline the operation of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which, he said. was being hampered by mal- administration.
Vice President Mahama also interacted with the Winneba Muslim community, where he asked them to embrace secular education to promote their personal development. He inspected works on the multi-million-cedi Awutu- Effutu-Senya District Assembly office complex.
Source:
GNA
"Yewe" cult members granted bail for alleged torture
Aflao (V/R), Aug. 11, GNA - Three fetish cult leaders alleged to have captured and tortured a nursing mother for refusing to pacify a cult member she had supposedly wronged were on Monday granted bail in the sum of GH=A2 5,000 (50 million cedis), with one surety each by a circuit court at Aflao.
Midao Avorkpo, a cult priest at Adrume, his wife, Bosu Agbeko, 48 and Hede Avorkpo, 54, his brother, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, assault, indecent assault, causing unlawful harm and will re-appear on August 28.
Police Inspector Josephine Azukah, told the Court presided over by Group-Captain Martin Obeng-Ntim that the three and five others now at large detained a nursing mother in a shrine at Dekpor near Dzodze overnight, denying her access to her baby, stripped her naked and indecently assaulted her in public.
The court during its first sitting on the case ordered the arrest of six others including Dali Kushitor, 80, the chief priest of the cult at Dekpor and his five assistants to face the law. Inspector Azukah said Rejoice Atisey, 33, a petty trader lived with her husband and in-law Midao and Hede at Adrume. Miss Azukah said sometime early this year, Madam Atisey engaged Bosu, Midao's wife in a quarrel during which she allegedly used filthy language, considered a taboo for members of the cult on Bosu. Miss Azukah said as a result of the alleged insults, Bosu vacated the family home to take refuge in a bush and was to return only after Madam Atisey had performed some rites to cleanse her and pacify the cult.
She said for refusing to perform the rites to cleanse Bosu and also pacify the cult, the accused persons captured Madam Atisey, brutalised and stripped her naked and detained her in their shrine overnight. Miss Azukah said police stormed the shrine at Dekpor and rescued the victim the following day following a report by her husband.
Source:
GNA
> BACK TO TOP <
146 pregnant women tests HIV/AIDS positive
Kumasi, Aug 10, GNA- One hundred and forty-six pregnant women out of 4,841, who opted for HIV/AIDS test under the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission programme in Kumasi were found to be with the virus. Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive who gave the hint said the three Anti Retroviral Treatment centres operating in the Metropolis, which includes the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital are currently treating about 162 out of 387 patients, who are doing very well.
She said this at the opening session of an international course on HIV/AIDS epidemiology with emphasis on children and nutrition in Kumasi on Thursday, which was supported by MASHAV (an Israeli Centre for International Cooperation).
The course organized by the Millennium Challenge Initiatives (MCI) in collaboration with the government of Israel, targeted healthcare teams including medical doctors, nurses and nutritionists from public and private health institutions in the metropolis.
The course is to build the capacity of the health staff to provide quality care and efficient health services to the people.
Madam Appiagyei said she was happy that additional strategies have been put in place to address the HIV menace by the expansion of voluntary and counseling tests centres to include some private and maternity homes and clinics as well as VCT for all pregnant women at anti-natal clinics. The Metropolitan Chief Executives said training on HIV/AIDS for heath teams has been a matter of concern in the world today due to the high rate of infections.
She said "it is somewhat encouraging to note that there was a drop in the number of new cases from 3.7 per cent prevalence rate in the first eight months of 2006, to 3.2 per cent for the same period in 2007. The drop in number could be attributed to the fact that strategies adopted to address new infections are effective, which is an encouragement for all stakeholders to press on and not to give up the fight against HIV/AIDS", she added
Madam Tali Tal, Information Department Coordinator for Ghana at the Embassy of Israel said MASHAV stands at the centre of Israel's activities to share her experience and expertise around the world. She said the course was another important step in advancing the cooperation between Israel and Ghana and hoped it would continue to expand for the benefit of the two Nations.
Madam Tal said the programme was the latest addition to the list of health programmes between Israel and Ghana.
She said the collaboration also involves the establishment and maintenance of a trauma care unit at the Komfo Anokye Hospital as well as the training of trauma emergency medical staff. She said she was looking forward to the completion of a maternity care unit at the Kumasi South Hospital, currently under construction and to facilitate more courses in Israel for medical and Para-Medics in the country.
The Information Coordinator indicated that her country actively engaged in agriculture and aquaculture programmes with the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and hoped to launch a programme for organic farming in Ghana very soon. 10 Aug 07
Source:
GNA
NPP strongman's son busted for drugs
Information reaching the Chronicle newspaper from Kumasi indicates that the Ashanti Regional Police Command is currently preparing to hand over Mr. Andrew Appiah Menkah, son of an NPP strongman, Mr. Appiah Menkah to the Police headquarters in Accra for allegedly dealing narcotics.
A highly place police source at Kumasi told The Chronicle on Tuesday that Appiah Menkah’s son was arrested in April this year in Kumasi following a tip-off when he was undergoing operation at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after swallowing 22 pellets of substances suspected to be cocaine. But the source could not state the actual day and time he was arrested.
According to the source, Andrew Menkah went to a private hospital in Kumasi to remove the pellets after he had tummy disorders but the doctor was afraid and referred him to the KATH where after being operated upon and the 22 pellets removed, he was chained to his hospital bed until he recovered from the operation. He was arrested and placed in Police custody in Kumasi pending investigations. The source said Andrew Appiah Menkah, a businessman is aged about 40 years.
However, another Police source at Accra Police headquarters hinted that Andrew Menkah has been handed over to the Police in Accra for further investigation and subsequent prosecution. This is not the first time a person linked to NPP has been arrested for drug-related offences. First was Eric Amoateng, former Member of Parliament of Nkoranza North, who is currently languishing in US jail after being busted in November 2005 for trafficking substances suspected to be heroine with estimated street value of US$6million.
Source:
The Chronicle
> BACK TO TOP < Chief State Attorney unhappy with attitude towards corruption
Koforidua, Aug. 10, GNA - A Chief State Attorney in charge of the Eastern Region, Mr Anthony Gyambiby, has expressed worry with the Ghanaian society's tolerance for corruption and corruptible practices. Mr Gyambiby said tolerance for corruption in Ghana was so endemic that "society tends to respect the affluent without finding out the background of such people" while ironically, "the diligent, honest but poor people are relegated to the background."
Addressing participants at a democracy and good governance workshop in Koforidua on Thursday, Mr Gyambiby called for a new attitude and thinking towards fighting the canker especially one that would question the source of wealth of the affluent in society.
"By so doing, we will be setting a grand agenda or crusade to promote democracy and good governance so that the needs and aspirations of the poor millions in Ghana will be fulfilled."
Mr Gyambiby's views were corroborated by Miss Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Programmes Officer of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, organizers of the workshop, who also faulted society for failing to question how people came by what they had or how they acquired their wealth.
In addition to Miss Ofori-Kwafo's submissions, the State Attorney said parties involved in corruption must only be blamed "but we must also seek to understand the structural character of the phenomenon as well as how it is embedded in the relationships among individuals and organizations."
Such an undertaking would help in the "launching of a great war against corruption while promoting and nurturing our young democracy."
The Chief State Attorney was speaking against the backdrop of the debilitating effects of corruption, especially the attitude of the corrupters to misallocate state resources, foster misguided and unresponsive policies and regulations, lowering of productivity and the exacerbation of poverty.
Mr Gyambiby also spoke on the need for the state to enhance the capacity of institutions such as the media and the legislature, given their oversight responsibilities in the fight against corruption to enable them discharge their responsibilities well.
He argued that because corruption could lead to the weakening of democratic processes and public order and thus impede development, it was important that the executive arm of government took the lead in combating and preventing it.
Miss Ofori-Kwafo called on the government to incorporate into existing laws an elaborate definition of corruption to reflect the internationally accepted definitions of corruption, which clearly criminalizes the offence. She appealed to the government to expedite action on the passage of a credible freedom of information bill to facilitate public access to information about the activities of government, including budgetary allocations, revenues and expenditures and thereby enhance accountability and transparency and increase trust in government. The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Adjei Boateng, said the fight against corruption should not be a job for one person or one organization. It should be done with the concerted effort of all stakeholders.
Source:
GNA
Inflation Rate falls to 10.1 per cent
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA- The annual rate of inflation dropped 0.6 percentage points from 10.7 per cent in June to 10.1 per cent in July, the Deputy Government Statistician, Professor Nicholas Nuamah-Nsowah announced on Friday.
At a press briefing to release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month, Prof. Nuamah-Nsowah said given the trend in the rate of inflation there was strong indication that a single-digit inflation could be within reach, unless there was a drastic change in current government policy and strong influence of exogenous factors. Government has projected in the 2007 budget an annual inflation target of 8.8 per cent.
Prof. Nuamah-Nsowah attributed the fall in the rate to stable food prices over the period.
The monthly rate of inflation between June and July was 1.2 per cent. The Food and Beverages group contributed 1.15 points to the change in the national index while the non-food groups together contributed 1.41 points.
Within the food and beverages group, fish recorded the highest upward movement of 0.72 points to the change in the national index. The vegetables group had 0.19 points and plantain 0.22 points and yam 0.52 points were the largest positive contributors. Within the non-food group, health 0.55 points contributed the highest followed by clothing and footwear and furnishing household equipment and routine maintenance with 0.6 points each.
The housing, water, electricity, gas and other utilities group had 0.21 points.
Prof Nuamah-Nsowah said none of the non-food groups had a negative effect on the change in the national index while education and communication groups did not contribute anything to the change in the index.
On regional basis, four regions - Western, Volta, Brong Ahafo, and Northern recorded single-digit inflation, with the Western region having the lowest of 5.7 per cent due mainly to very low price changes in food and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest inflation rate of 14.7 per cent followed by eastern region with 12.9 per cent. The high rate of inflation in the Greater Accra Region was caused by the food and non-alcoholic beverages, which went up by 21.6 per cent.
The CPI and inflation are published monthly using the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) while the old series are published using the Central Product Classification (CPC).
Source:
GNA
> BACK TO TOP < Ghana Standards Board is 40
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA - Mrs. Gifty Ohene-Konadu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative on Friday called for the strengthening of the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to become a world-class standards setting institution. She said standard was a fundamental and common acceptance to success of every country's development and that was what GBS should be helped to achieve.
Speaking at the launch of the 40th anniversary of GSB in Accra, the Deputy Minister explained that ensuring product and service specifications underpinned international trade and that enabled trillions of dollars of goods and services to flow across borders regardless of language barriers of business parties. The 40th anniversary is under the theme: "Setting the Pace for Standards and Quality" and it recognises standards as the linchpin of the country's effort at industrialization and integration into global economy.
Mrs. Ohene-Konadu recognised the achievements of GSB since its establishment in promoting standardisation to local enterprises by introducing standards and specifications and indicated that despite their achievements there was more to be done, especially at the moment that Ghana was implementing programmes and projects aimed at launching Ghana into the league of agro-industrial and middle income countries. She said the Ministry was promoting and enhancing the application of standardisation and had developed a national five-year strategic plan for standards and that required institutional upgrading of the GSB to enable it become internationally competitive.
There was the need to enforce standards in domestic market to protect the health and safety of consumers through the effective development and enforcement of standards and promoting the use of weighing scales for trading activities.
Mrs. Ohene-Konadu noted that the Ministry would soon undertake a nationwide sensitization and educational campaign on the use of bar codes by exporters in planning and execution of their export orders. The campaign, she said would also target consumers, owners of supermarkets and the general public on the use of bars when importing and their significance in consumption patterns. She noted that these interventions by the Ministry were to improve the efficiency of GSB to promote standardisation and assured GSB of the Ministry's support in ensuring that they achieve their dream. Mrs. Ohene-Konadu unveiled GSB's new logo and anniversary poster.
Mr. Adu Darkwa, Executive Director of GSB said standards and standardisation remained one of the priorities in the efforts to achieve economic growth and sustainable development. He said the Board's vision was to become the leading national standards body in Africa to complement the goal of Championing Africa Excellence and contribute towards the enhancement of quality of life of Ghanaian.
He said the Board was undergoing re-engineering to promote greater awareness of the usage of Ghana standards, improve the involvement in regional and international standardisation activities, timely delivery of Ghana standards to meet current future needs of stakeholders and ensure wider adoption of Ghanaian standards in technical regulations. "For our 40th anniversary, we should champion the necessary building blocks of efficient technical infrastructure that facilitated trade through increased market access in metrology, standardisation and conformity assessment".
Mr. Darkwa called on regulators, government industry, consumers, professional bodies, and researchers and technical bodies to assist in enhancing awareness and promote activities on the importance of standards.
Seven past executive directors who were chairpersons of the Board since its establishment were acknowledged for their contribution to the success of the Board.
Activities lined up for the celebration include a float, radio and TV programmes and lectures.
Source:
GNA
Cocoa farmers urged to invest in children's education
Breman Kuntanse C/R, Aug 10, GNA - The Central Regional Chief Farmer, Nana Tutu, has reiterated the call on cocoa farmers to invest in their children's education, saying that was the best legacy they could leave their offspring.
He said gone are the days when cocoa farmers used all their earnings to marry more women and lined their rooms with material things. Speaking at a farmers' rally at Breman Kuntanse in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District organized by the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Division of Ghana Cocoa Board (CSSVD) Nana Tutu said the only way farmers could reduce poverty was to educate their children. He told the farmers to desist from sending their children to work in the farms at the expense of education.
Mrs Faustine Asamany, Deputy Central Regional Manager of the division, appealed to the farmers to assign children roles that would be commensurate with their age.
She said since the campaign against child labour was launched in Sefwi Dabiso, the problem had gone down and appealed to chief farmers and opinion leaders to step up education on the dangers of child labour. Nana Odoom Kweku Essilfie III, Chief of Breman Kuntanase, appealed to the division to create additional spraying gangs in the town. He said the division created 40 spraying gangs between 2003 and 2006 in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District but Breman Kuntanase was given only one gang and that was not sufficient to spray numerous farms in the town.
Nana Essilfie said the farmers were of the view that they had been sidelined and discriminated and this is affecting cocoa production in the area.
Mr Godfred Mnfodjo, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Manager of the division, said the district could not create spraying gangs without approval from Accra and that their concern would be forwarded to headquarters.
Source:
GNA
> BACK TO TOP < Frustration Galore At University Of Ghana
Thousands of frustrated first-year students yesterday besieged the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon, in a desperate endeavour to secure residential accommodation. Students, some of whom had travelled long distances, had to go through a lot of hassle to register, because the process was being handled with only few computers.
A number of the students started queuing as early as 4.30 a.m., although the process was to start at 7 a.m.The first signs of trouble emerged at the computer room, where the breakdown of a printer delayed the process for a while. However, the real crisis struck at the second stage of the exercise where the taking of pictures for the students’ identity cards was delayed because of a problem with the equipment.
For about two hours, the students remained in the queue without any word from the officials on what had gone wrong. By the process, the allocation of rooms to the students was dependent on the production of identity cards.Because of the difficulties encountered, the university authorities decided to provide temporary accommodation for those who could not secure their identity cards.
Furthermore, some of the students said an affiliation fee of GH¢20 (¢200,000) was indicated on their admission forms, though they thought affiliation fee should be paid by only non-resident students. And that when they arrived yesterday they were asked to pay the affiliation fee at the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB). They said when they went to the GCB to pay the money, the bank authorities told them that they were not aware of any account into which the money should be paid. Responding to the students’ grievances, the acting Director of Public Affairs at the university, Mrs Stella A. Amoa, said the registration exercise had been spread over a period of 10 days to last till August 18, 2007, although orientation for the students would start from August 13 to 17, while teaching commences on August 20.
She said students who came from afar and could not register by the close of the day, which, she said, was 8 p.m. would be temporarily admitted into their assigned halls for registration the next day.She, therefore, appealed to the students to exercise restraint with the promise that they would all be catered for. Mrs Amoa stated that the university would accommodate the 5,000 fresh students before giving the remaining rooms to level 400 students based on balloting. She said priority accommodation would also be given to level 400 students who had never stayed on campus before.
Source:
Dayli Graphic
Fish processing factories to get raw materials
Tema, Aug. 10, GNA - Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister for Fisheries, has assured fishing companies in the country that the ministry was determined to provide them with basic raw materials. This, she said, would enable them to continue to stay in business.
Mrs Asmah gave the assurance when she paid working visits to three fish processing factories in Tema on Thursday. The companies were Continental Fish Processing Company Limited, Ghana Agro-Food Company Limited (GAFCO), and the Pioneer Food Cannery Limited in Tema.
The visits were to enable the minister to acquaint herself with the problems facing companies in the fishing industry and to see how best to help solve them.
She assured the companies that the ministry would collaborate with them to enable them to live up to expectation.
Mrs Asmah said Ghana, being the fourth biggest tuna-producing country in the world, everything possible would be done to improve the operations of fish processing companies to enable the country to maintain this enviable position.
She appealed to the companies to ensure that Ghanaians became the first beneficiaries of their produce before the surplus was exported. The three companies pledged that the workers would give off their best to help improve the fishing industry.
Source:
GNA
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Water project commences in Kwabre district
Ankaase (Ash), Aug 10, GNA - Alhaji Akwasi Yeboah, Kwabre District Chief Executive on Wednesday cut a sod for the commencement of work on the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) scheme in the district.
The project which being sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with the District Assembly would be implemented in three communities namely Ankaase, Ejuratia and Mpobi. A total of 124 boreholes, 4,000 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines and 40 KVIP latrines would be provided for the beneficiary communities under the scheme.
At the sod cutting ceremony at Ankaase near Mamponteng, Alhaji Yeboah said the total estimated cost of the projects was about GH=A238,000.
He said the projects would go a long way in giving residents of the beneficiary communities access to potable water and also promote good hygiene.
The DCE said that a 12-member committee for the Water and Sanitation Development Board had been inaugurated to supervise the successful execution of most of the projects under the scheme. He said the board, which was accountable to the District Assembly would among others, be expected to initiate and enforce byelaws in water management whiles sustaining the scheme.
Mr Ofori Boadu, Chairman of the Board, urged Ghanaians to make sanitation issues a priority to help the nation achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of access to potable water for all by 2015.
Source:
GNA
> BACK TO TOP < Agroyesum hospital receives 3,000 dollars support
Agroyesum (Ash), Aug 10, GNA -, A Spanish Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Anesvad, has since 2003, supported the Saint Martin's Hospital at Agroyesum in the Amansie West District of Ashanti. It has so far spent about 3,000 dollars towards the improvement of facilities at the hospital for the prevention and control of Buruli Ulcer.
The amount went into the construction of a theatre, the purchase of a vehicle, computer and its accessories, bicycles and the training of health personnel.
Mr Joseph Adomako, Amansie West District Director of Health Services, said this at the opening of a five-day workshop on the treatment of Buruli Ulcer at Agroyesum on Wednesday.
The workshop organized by the District Directorate of Health Services and sponsored by Anesvad, was aimed at equipping the 17 participants made up of doctors, midwives, nurses and other health personnel with skills towards the treatment of the disease. He said the District Directorate of Health Services has since 1993 recorded 3,000 cases of Buruli Ulcer.
Mr Adomako said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that two anti-biotics namely Streptomycin and Rifampicin should be used in treating the disease and appealed to the participants to adhere strictly to the directive.
He said the disease could be treated when it is at the nodule stage and advised people to report cases early at health centres and hospitals for treatment rather than waiting for a long period, which could result in a surgical procedure on the victims.
Mr Adomako expressed concern about the inadequate number of doctors and medical assistants at the hospital and health centres in the district and appealed to the government to remedy the situation to improve health delivery.
Dr Richard Phillips, a physician specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), who was the resource person, said the disease if not treated early could results in complications including ulcers, cancer, eye problems and disability among others. He appealed to the participants to use their skills and knowledge acquired at the workshop to promote health delivery. Dr Kingsley Asiedu, Global Co-ordinator for Buruli Ulcer of the WHO in Geneva, said he was impressed with the facilities at the hospital, saying it has improved considerably and appealed to the people in the community to report cases early for treatment. 10 Aug 07
Source:
GNA
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Crusading Guide: Konadu received the cheque
Reports reaching The Crusading GUIDE on the missing $17 million being payment for the off-loading of the remaining Government of Ghana (GoG) shares – 35% - in Ghana Cement Works Ltd., (GHACEM) in 1999, by SCANCEM of Norway, indicate that Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings allegedly received the cheque representing the amount.
According to the report, the former First Lady was allegedly personally handed the chegue by an official from SCANCEM.
As professionally required, this paper last Monday, attempted to cross check the information with the Special Aide of former President Rawlings, Mr. Victor Smith.
Very, very affable at the time we talked to him via phone, Mr. Victor Smith, who did not deny or confirm the story, demanded to know who handed over the $17,000,000 cheque to the former first lady so that he could also ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of the allegation.
However, the paper did not provide the name of the SCANCEM official/messenger who delivered the cheque.
With a tone of disbelief in his voice, Mr. Smith asked if Mrs. Rawlings was the Finance Minister at the time or represented the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) to be handed a cheque representing such amount?
The Special Aide eventually told the paper that he knew nothing about the matter, and since the former First Lady was not in the country, he could not answer the question as to whether she (Nana Konadu) had taken delivery of a $17 million cheque from SCANCEM or not.
This paper’s findings show that in 1992, Government sold its 2,800,000 shares in GHACEM to SCANCEM, under a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, which was dated August 5, 1992. The amount (US$4,074,000) which accrued from the sale, was lodged at Ecobank.
A letter acknowledging receipt of the money was dispatched by Mr. E.A. Agbodo, Executive Secretary of the DIC, to Capt. Kojo Tsikata, member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and Chairman of the Economic Review Committee. Copies of this letter were sent to Mr. Ebow Tawiah, PNDC Member/Chairman – DIC, Mr. P.V. Obeng, PNDC Member/Chairman, Committee of Secretaries and Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, PNDC Secretary/Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
However, there are no traces of the $17 million which payment has enabled SCANCEM to take full control of GHACEM.
Reports say a letter was dispatched from the Auditor-General’s office to the President indicating that there were no records on the $17 million payment.
Officials of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) are also reported to have dispatched a search team to the headquarters of GHACEM in Tema to look for evidence of the payment of the money.
GHACEM at 1999 was undoubtedly a State property – 75 percent shares belonged to the State and 24.5 percent was for SCANCEM. However by 1999, GoG had offloaded all its shares in the company.
Source:
CRUSADING GUIDE
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Health Workers take new pay at end of September
Accra Aug 10, GNA - The leadership of the Health Workers' Group (HWG) on Friday gave the assurance to its members that the combined salary structure would be paid by the end of September 2007 as scheduled.
In a release signed by Mr Abu Kuntlo, Secretary of the Health Workers' Group (HWG), a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed as a follow-up to a meeting held between the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Workers' Group (HWG) to facilitate its implementation. The leadership also stated that efforts were being made to address major issues concerning its members to ensure industrial peace and harmony.
The statement urged the workers to carry on their professional services and to remain resolute as they awaited for their new pay structure.
It acknowledged the patience, tolerance and goodwill demonstrated by the workers during the distressing moments of negotiations with the Ministry of Health (MOH). 10 Aug 07
Source:
GNA
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ISODEC launches Regional Advocacy Initiative
Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - The Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) and civil society organisations from six countries in West Africa have launched a sub-regional Rights-Based Advocacy (RBAIII) Programme to enhance better coordination of efforts.
They also outdoored the West Africa Rights-Based Advocacy Network, a group of like-minded non-governmental organisations, interested in the use of right-based approaches to enforce citizens' rights.
Mr. Bishop Akolgo (Ed: correct), Executive Director, ISODEC, said on Thursday that the RBA III would focus on three key themes of economic justice, essential services and gender advocacy in the next three years. Key issues to be dealt with include the use of appropriate tools and methods for monitoring poverty and inequality, poverty reduction strategies and the Millennium Development Goals.
In addition, citizens in the sub-region would be mobilised to resist the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) and work towards trade justice and regional integration as alternatives to free trade and fair trade.
Mr. Akolgo said RBAIII sought to build on the achievements of RBA II by consolidating and expanding the social spaces opened up for ISODEC and its constituents.
The maiden edition (RBA I) of the programme resulted in the establishment of the Centre for Pubic Interest Law (CEPIL), a leading public interest litigating and human rights body in the sub-region, the Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA), a pioneer in pro-poor budgeting in sub-Saharan African and the National Coalition Against the Privatisation of Water (NCAP), which led a successful campaign against privatisation of urban water in Ghana.
Mrs. Magdalene Kannae, Gender Policy Advisor, Institute of Local Government Studies, who launched the programme said although it was ambitious, there was no doubt that the aims could be achieved. "We encourage all concerned with the equitable and sustainable development of this country and the West African sub-region to show interest in and support this programme in every way they can." Mrs. Kannae lauded ISODEC's contribution to the country's socio-economic development since its inception in 1987 through support to the poor, marginalised, underserved and disadvantaged in all parts of the country.
"Over the past period, ISODEC has turned its attention to the sectors and targeted groups that require its services," she noted. Professor Ademola Ariyo, Director, Centre for Public-Private Cooperation, called for partnership among civil society groups, saying it was the only way they could wield stronger competitive power. He said it was time civil society organisations focused more on the effect of underdevelopment instead of always giving the reasons for the trend. Selected organisations from Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone would be the focal points for the implementation of RBAIII in those countries. 09 Aug. 07
Source:
GNA
Gambian Prez ordered massacre of Ghanaians
Ghanaian Times / 09.08.2007
Two years after 44 Ghanaians and 10 other ECOWAS nationals were reported killed in The Gambia, evidence is emerging that The Gambian President, Yahaya Jammeh, ordered their execution.
The Ghanaian Times newspaper, quoting Ghana Police sources, said on Thursday that the order for execution came apparently because Jammeh was made to believe that they were dissidents preparing to overthrow his regime.
“Intensive investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police in The Gambia and Senegal, have established that all the victims were butchered at the command of The Gambian Head of State,” the paper said.
Still quoting top officials of the Police CID, the paper said a full report has been submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD which requested the investigation.
At the CID head office in Accra on Wednesday, the paper learned that at least one Ghanaian survived the massacre and has given a detailed account of what happened on July 22, 2005. His name was given simply as 'Kyere' and he is said to be currently living in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
The Ghanaians and their colleagues, according to the police, were using The Gambia as a transit point, possibly for migration, to Europe in search of greener pastures.
Mr. Kwasi Osei Adjei, Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the report has been submitted to his office. "I will study it and take the necessary action," he told the Times.
"I was asked about the murder of the Ghanaians during my vetting in Parliament. It is a matter of serious concern to Ghanaians that innocent countrymen could be cruelly murdered simply because they have been found in a fellow ECOWAS country," he said.
Information linking the murders to the Gambian President began to make the rounds in The Gambia recently, when a top Gambian police officer broke ranks with the administration and went public with details of the atrocities in a report to Freedom Newspaper, Gambia's premier online publication. He termed it "state-sponsored genocide" against "innocent Ghanaians."
The Internet publication was reproduced by a Ghanaian newspaper, Public Agenda on Monday, July 9. It alleged that the Gambian officer, who identified himself as Sekouba Jadana, gave vivid account of how the Ghanaians and other nationals were summarily executed by state security guards and dumped in a bush.
"The debate on the issue has been going on for sometime now and I believe that it is time for the whole world to take note and prepare ways and means of bringing His Excellency, Dr Alhaji Yahaya to justice. Jammeh should face the International Criminal Court since he spearheaded the 'Ghanaian genocide' in the Gambia," Jadana said in his statement.
"The Ghanaian Government should ensure that justice is seen to be done in this high-profile crime against humanity. Sincerely, I was not present when the gruesome murders of the Ghanaians took place on that fateful night in the Gambia, but I was involved in the investigations at the preliminary stages," Jadana added.
Giving the background, Jadana alleged that President Jammeh and a host of his ministers were at a cultural jamboree in Banjul, the national capital, organised as part of activities marking the country's independence anniversary, when a telephone call came from an official of the National Investigation Authority. It said that some West African nationals had been arrested and that their motives were to destabilise the anniversary celebrations and that there was an imminent security threat.
An order was allegedly given for their arrest with further instructions from the Head of State to deal with them. "His Excellency was advised to return to the State House immediately and walahi (swearing) he ran, and was saying deal with them! deal with them! and he was trembling while going home."
Jadana further alleged that even though the ferry over the Gambia River had closed at the time, an order was given for it to transport the captives across the river and head towards Brufur, a town at the other side of the river.
"Our investigation team went to Brufur and discovered that the bodies were scattered all over the bushes with deep cuts from heads to eyes and broken noses."
According to Jadana, who allegedly dispatched his findings from the Police headquarters in Banjul, there was news blackout on the discovery of the bodies. 'The news of the brutal murders was not covered by the national radio and television at all," he said.
President Jammeh failed to turn up in Accra for the Summit of African Heads of State and Governments held in Accra on July 1-3. Observers believe the murder of the 44 Ghanaians and other nationals was the principal reason why he failed to turn up.
Source:
Ghanaian Times
> BACK TO TOP < Programme to eliminate child labour by 2011
Cape Coast, Aug. 9, GNA - Government has embarked on a long-term project to completely eliminate child labour on cocoa farms in all the 46 cocoa producing districts of the country by July 2011.
Mrs Joana Annan, of the Department of Child Labour at the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, announced this on Wednesday at a day's workshop at Cape Coast, to sensitise cocoa farmers and other stakeholders on the harmful effects of engaging children as farmhands. She explained that the practice, denied such children education, or did not allow them the full benefits of school when they attempted to combine education with heavy work for long hours.
Mrs Annan defined child labour as work performed by persons below the age of 18, which deprived such persons of basic human rights and was abusive, hazardous, exploitative and harmful to the health, safety and development of the kids.
She noted, however, that children between 13 and 15 years could be occupied to assist in light work on the farms but not at the expense of their education and cautioned that such children should not be made to undertake risky jobs that could cause injury.
Mrs Annan urged the farmers to avoid all forms of child labour to ensure the survival and proper development of children to enable them to grow into responsible citizens.
She also cautioned them against using trafficked children on their farms and stated that anybody found culpable, would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
In a welcoming address, Mr Peter Dery, Municipal Co-ordinating Director, underscored the importance of the workshop and advised the participants to impart the knowledge they had acquired to others. Police personnel, representatives of NGO's and personnel from CHRAJ, Ghana Education Service and the Department of Social Welfare, as well as assembly members attended the workshop.
Source:
GNA
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Muslim Society congratulates Sidiku Buari
Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - A delegation of Muslim chiefs and elders of the Samsondeen Benevolent Society of Ghana, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Alhaji Sidiku Buari to congratulate him on the recent national honour conferred on him by President John Agyekum Kufuor. Abdul Awal, General Secretary of the Society, said by the award Alhaji Buari, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), had brought honour to the Muslim community and musicians in general. He said the Grand Award conferred on him was no mean achievement, saying only few people could attain such feat in their lifetime. The General Secretary described Alhaji Buari as a role model for the youth, whose leadership of the music fraternity had brought dignity to the industry.
Source:
GNA