Foreigners outnumber Ghanaians at paragliding festival
Atibie, Kwahu, (E/R), April 8, GNA -
Mr Martin Mireku, Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) on Sunday said most people patronizing the Third Pepsi-Ferdinand Ayim Kwahu Paragliding festival were foreigners.
"This year, we expect about a hundred passengers and so far about 25 passengers have gone on the ride and are mostly foreigners, he said, as the festival was gathering momentum."
Mr Mireku therefore urged Ghanaians to be adventurous and patronize the sport, announcing that there was a 300 million cedis insurance package from the State Insurance Company for an estimated 100 passengers.
In an interview with the GNA, Mr. Mireku said there were about 20 professional pilots from different countries who are all able to fly together with a passenger, and assured of their safety during flights. Paragliding is an air sport, powered by light ultra modern aircraft that allows humans to fly like a bird.
Patrons fly with the professional pilots to ensure safety during flights.
Mr Mireku said safety measures have been put in place to rescue people should there be an unfortunate incident, in addition to the presence of the Red Cross.
He said the Ministry intends to develop training programmes to encourage more Ghanaians to take part in the sport and was in the process of identifying a suitable training ground. The current flying site, he noted was not suitable for beginners because of the height.
Mr Mireku said the lack of funds is hindering such training programmes in Ghana due to the high cost of the equipments needed and appealed for more sponsorship.
He said the Paragliding festival, which coincides with the Easter celebrations, attracts foreigners to the Eastern Region especially the Kwahu area.
Mr. Mireku said there was the need to support the programme to help boost the tourism industry.
Patrons who wish to fly pay 500,000 cedis at peak periods, 300,000 during off peak periods and 200,000 cedis for students.
Source:
GNA
NDC in the Netherlands Launches Radio Station
The NDC in the Netherlands last Wednesday with the support of the NDC EU Group launched the NDC Radio Station in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The main objective of the Station is to spread information on the Political Environment in Ghana amongst Ghanaians and the African Community in the Netherlands.
The Interim Chairman of the NDC in the Netherlands, Mr. Joe Baiden stated that one of the main objectives of the Station is to bring the NDC Party in Ghana much closer to Ghanaians in the Netherlands and Europe as a whole. He also stated that the Radio Station will spread news and information about the NDC Party and its programmes to Ghanaians in Europe and build close cooperation with all Africans and the main Political Parties in the Netherlands.
To help launch the inaugural session of the Radio Station was Mr. Christopher Addy-Nayo, a Representative of the NDC EU Group. He took the opportunity to brief listeners on the main objective of the NDC EU Group which is made up of a network of Europe based NDC Branches including Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands and Italy. He said one of the aims of the NDC EU Group and its Branch Chairmen is to help establish NDC Branches in all the Old 15 EU Countries, strengthen the weak capacities of the smaller Branches and to bring the political environment in Ghana closer to Ghanaians in Europe. Through their experiences they hope to strengthen the structures of the NDC Party in Ghana and by extension to enhance the Democratic structures of Ghana as a whole for the benefit of current and future generations.
Questioned on the organizational structure of the NDC EU Group, he said that it’s a network with decision making based on a consensus and in the hands of the various EU national Chairmen and Coordinators.
Mr. Joe Baiden encouraged listeners to tune in to make their contributions towards the strengthening of Democracy in Ghana. Not only would you listen to vibrant contemporary Political issues but also good Ghanaian Music, Cultural and Artistic Trends in Ghana and amongst the Ghanaian Community in the Netherlands. The Station can be listened to every Wednesday between 10.00pm -12.00pm on 104.6 FM Cable and 99.4 Ether. The Station can also be heard Online at the same time at www.salto.nl , and click on Luisteren Live.
Source:
NDC EU News
Tema Meridian Rotary Club supports Old Ningo Orphanage
Old Ningo, April 08, GNA -
Members of Tema Meridian branch of Rotary Club on Saturday put smiles on the faces of inmates at Hearts of the Father Outreach Orphanage at Old Ningo in the Greater Accra Region with the presentation of food and other items worth 10 million cedis. They were made up of bags of rice, cooking oil, used clothing and footwear, biscuits, soft drinks, toiletries, detergents and water drums. The members also feted the inmates as their contribution to celebrate Easter, the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago.
Mrs Gloria Moncar Tay, President of the Club, presenting the items said the gesture was in line with their motto 93Service above Self" and part of its social responsibility.
She pointed out that the resurrection of Jesus Christ brought joy and hope to mankind therefore, orphans and the destitute in society should be supported to participate in the joy.
Mrs Tay said the Club had assisted inmates of needy institutions including Sisters of Charity at Ashaiman, other orphanages and played a major role in Poliomyelitis immunization exercise. Mr John Gozo, House Father and Administrator expressed appreciation to the members for their gesture that had included them in the Easter festivities.
He appealed to other benevolent societies, churches and philanthropists to assist the management cater for the inmates and needy children.
Mr Gozo said the orphanage, established in 1996 by an American couple, Mr and Mrs Moritz has 26 inmates from the kindergarten to tertiary level.
Source:
GNA
Do not sabotage government's efforts-Minister
Shama-Komfueku (W/R) April 08 - GNA-
Mrs. Angelina Baiden-Amissah, Member of Parliament for Shama and a Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, on Saturday called on the people not to sabotage the efforts of the government to develop the country and improve living standards.
She made the call at a community fund-raising programme in aid of a drainage project at Shama-Komfueku near Takoradi.
Mrs Baiden-Amissah said the government is counting on the support of the people for the successful implementation of its development projects.
She said through her instrumentality, about 5,000 women in the Shama constituency have benefited from loans to undertake income-generating activities.
Mrs Baiden-Amissah noted that the loan recovery rate is low and this could make it difficult for other women on the waiting list to have their turn.
She advised the beneficiaries of the loans to repay them for others to benefit.
Mrs Baiden-Amissah said machines for processing garri have been given to women in the area for a garri project three years ago but the project has not materialized and nobody knows what has become of the machines.
She used the occasion to appeal to the women concerned to let her know the whereabouts of the machines and what has become of the project. Mrs Baiden-Amissah said kindergarten education would be compulsory under the new education that would be soon be launched by the President. She said children who do not have kindergarten education would find it difficult to gain admission to class one.
Mrs. Baiden-Amissah advised parents against taking their children along
to farm, instead of enrolling them in schools. Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief, said the Metropolitan assembly has designed a drainage master plan under the Phase Two of the Urban Environmental Sanitation Project for the area. He said the master plan is to combat drainage and erosion problems in the metropolis, adding that within five years time, the area would not have flooding and erosion problems.
Mr. Nkrumah said under the master plan drainages have been designed for all communities in the metropolis.
He said Shama-Komfueku and two other communities are to benefit from six classroom blocks under the GETFund.
Source:
GNA
Gov't to double electricity capacity ...
...of the country by 2012
Abetifi (ER), April 8, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor has announced government's intention to double the present national electric power supply from 2000 megawatts to about 4000 megawatts within the next five years to help resolve the electricity crisis facing the nation.
He said his administration was much concerned about the current electricity shortfalls and its likely impact on the economy and was doing all it takes to resolve the problem with concrete solutions that would ensure that the problem never recurs.
Addressing a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Kwahu at Abetifi in the Eastern Region on Saturday, President Kufuor dismissed claims that government was being insensitive to the electric power problem facing the people.
He said those peddling such claims failed to inform themselves about the facts on the ground and serious actions that have gone into procuring for the nation additional energy sources so as to resolve the problem.
President Kufuor said government has since 2001 initiated a number of projects among which is the West African Gas pipeline project to help shore-up the energy needs of the country in line with the decision for accelerated industrialization.
This efforts includes a recent loan sought from the Chinese government towards the construction of the Bui Dam, which he said, would start in June this year.
He said resolving the energy crisis was part of a larger effort being made by the government towards empowering the people for improvement in their standards of living.
Complementing this effort, was the huge investments being expended in the road sector, he said and asked the people of Kwahu to continue to have faith in the Government and assist in the implementation of projects such as the Millennium Challenge Account programme, which is expected to take off in the area soon.
President Kufuor commended the people for initiating an educational fund and expressed government's support in this regard. In response to an appeal by Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng, Omanhene of Kwahu, President Kufuor directed the Ministry of Local Government to start work on proposals to elevate the Nkawkaw Township to a municipal status.
To a rapturous applause, President Kufuor also announced government decision to upgrade the faltering water system on the Kwaku ridge and rehabilitation works to be carried on the Atibie Nkawkaw road. The durbar however, suffered a setback when rains accompanied by pounding winds that suddenly erupted midway into the President's speech thus sending invited guests running helter shelter.
The rain however, did not dampen the desire of the people to launch an Educational Fund with a target of two billion cedis to help support needy but brilliant students in the area and also help improve on educational facilities in the area as leading businessmen from the area had already pledged several millions of cedis by the time the rains set in.
In a welcoming address, Daasebre Boateng expressed the joy of his people to government for acceding to their request to change the name of Afram Plains District to Kwahu North.
While commending President Kufuor for the honour he has brought to Ghana for his sterling performance on the African landscape, he reiterated the request of the people for the water problem on the ridge to be dealt with expeditiously. 08 April 2007
Source:
GNA