Non-traditional exports to cross the billion Dollar Mark
Accra, May 9, GNA- Officials of the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) were optimistic that the value of non-traditional exports will cross the one billion dollar mark this year. The Council set the target in its strategic plan some three years ago but returns from exports had fallen short of estimates to attain the goal.
The renewed confidence stemmed from the excellent performance of the sector in recent years, which had seen it register an average annual growth of 14.3 per cent.
During the same period, export values of exports rose from 705.4 million dollars in 2004 to 893 million dollars in 2006. The figure showed about 26 per cent contribution of the sector to the country's total exports value of 3.4 billion dollars for 2006. Mr Lawrence Prempeh, General Manager of GEPC attributed the improved performance of the sector to macro-economic stability and hard work of entrepreneurs in the sector.
He was addressing a reception to acknowledge the support of sponsors to the success of the National Awards for Export achievement over the years.
Mr Prempeh said there were currently over 383 different non-traditional export products categorized into agricultural, processed/semi-processed and handicrafts.
He said the GEPC had a base of over 3,000 registered private sector exporting companies organized into 15 Product Associations. Mr Prempeh underscored the importance of diversifying the economy through the exports of other products apart from the traditional ones including cocoa, gold and timber so that the country would be able to contain any shock that might occur in the external market. Mr Prempeh said the European Union market continued its influence as a major destination of Ghanaian NTEs products recording 419.9 million dollars for 2006, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) been ranked second with 242.7 million dollars.
On country-by-country basis the United Kingdom is the leading market for NTEs, followed by France, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Mr. Prempeh emphasised the need for countries within the West African sub-region to intensify intra trade, saying it was a major way of sustaining the economy of these countries.
Nana Asante Frimpong, a member of the Board of GEPC, said the positive results of the sector's performance in recent years called for support to achieve set targets.
Some previous award winners, including Tongu Fruits Limited and the Export Development and Investment Fund were presented with plaques for last years award.
The 2006 awards will be held in September this year. 10 May 07
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GNA
30% of pupils dropout of schools in Bolgatanga
Bolgatanga, May 10, GNA - Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region is faced with 30 per cent dropout of pupils as it embarks on education for all by 2015.
Mr Ibrahim Musah of Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives, a Bolgatanga based non-governmental organisation disclosed this at a community durbar on quality basic education at the 2007 Global Action Week celebration in Bolgatanga.
Mr. Musah said a mapping exercise on quality education in two towns in the municipality revealed that three out of ten or 30 per cent of school-going age were still out of school.
He said 66 houses in Azinsum were mapped where 176 children were found to be out of school. Eighty-four of the children were girls and 92 boys. A total of 378 children were however in school. He said in Zongo in the heart of the town, 22 houses were mapped producing 293 children of school-going age made up of 151 boys and 142 girls. Of these numbers 133 boys and 129 girls were in school while 18 boys and 13 girls were out of school.
Mr Musah said data gathered revealed that some of the dropouts in the two communities engaged in tomato farming in Azinsum and truck pushing and petty trading in Zongo.
He said the study revealed some difficulties teachers faced in their effort to promote quality basic education.
He mentioned inadequate school infrastructure, furniture, inadequate teaching and learning materials, parental negligence and weak school Management Committees and Parent Teaching Associations. Mr Musah said the study recommended that more classroom accommodation and teaching and learning materials be provided to meet the increased enrolment and the capitation grant increased to 60,000 per child per term to meet the basic cost of quality education in the North. He commended the sponsors, Northern Network for Education Development for sponsoring the durbar with support from Oxfam, GB, IBIS and Commonwealth Education Fund.
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GNA
Teenage pregnancy, a major problem in Mfantseman and Gomoa
Saltpond (C/R), May 10, GNA - Teenage pregnancy continues to be a major problem facing adolescents in Mfantseman and Gomoa Districts despite some measures put in place to curb it. Investigations conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) into the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) conducted about a fortnight ago indicated that 28 girls in Mfantseman, who registered for the examination did not write it because they were pregnant.
Three of the six girls who gathered courage to write the examination brought forth during the process. Both the District Chief Executive, Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur and the District Director of Education, Miss Vivian Etroo, who spoke to the GNA expressed disappointment about the situation and blamed it on lack of parental control.
Mr Quainoo-Arthur attributed the problem to a break-down in "our extended family system which has made others not to care to correct children of other family members when they find them going astray."
Miss Etroo said, a "time with grandma," a programme introduced by Ghana Health Service to make adolescents to seek guidance from selected mentors and Plan Ghana's camp meetings for girls and other programmes could not turn the tide. "I thought my presence in the district as a director of education will make girls see me as a role model and aspire to higher academic laurels", Miss Etroo stated. The situation was not different in Gomoa whose director of education is also a woman.
Efforts made by GNA to get the number of girls who did not write the exams failed as the officers of the district directorate were evasive and refused to co-operate with the reporter, who had earlier exposed the zero per cent score for 15 JSS students in the district. A source indicated that the number of the pregnant girls were higher than that of Mfantseman.
10 May 07
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GNA
Rainstorm destroys school in Brong Ahafo
Nkrankwanta (B/A), May 10, GNA - A rainstorm that hit Nkrankwanta near Dormaa-Ahenkro has caused extensive damage to property worth millions of cedis. The worst hit was the town's Presbyterian Junior Secondary School that was in a bad shape before the storm.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Charles Adomah, said pupils of the school were often asked to go home whenever it threatened to rain. He said the situation could impact negatively on academic work of the school and appealed to the Dormaa District Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), well-meaning persons in the area as well as the Nkrankwanta community to come to the aid of the school for academic work to continue.
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GNA
Ghanaians urged to preserve their culture
Lolobi (V/R), May 10, GNA- Mr William Addo, Volta Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) on Wednesday called for cultural resurgence to stimulate national cohesion and uniqueness of Ghanaians with a common destiny.
He said anything short of this would be like selling our collective birthrights for foreign cultures with its negative socio-cultural effects.
Mr Addo was addressing the maiden Hohoe District Zone 'A' grouping of drumming troupes dubbed "Peace Concert" at Lolobi in the Hohoe district to select groups to represent the region at the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC 2007) slated for Kumasi in November. Besides, it is also a platform to affiliate the troupes and artistes to the CNC to enable them to benefit from the varied developmental programmes and a voice to fight for their rights.
He said cultural renaissance was redefining the political and economic landscape of China, India, United States of America and Europe, and Ghana could no longer wait to promote and preserve the dynamics and the uniqueness of the Ghanaian culture.
Mr Addo said the anticipated economic growth of the country could be threatened if efforts were not made to sustain the cultural heritage bequeathed to the nation. He advised groups in the arts and music industry to collaborate and have a united front. Mr Kwami Avega-Kamabla, Presiding Member of the Hohoe District Assembly said cultural displays should not be limited by drumming and dancing alone but should be made to permeate all the social activities at the household levels.
He said the diverse culture bequeathed the country epitomizes peace, unity, identity, conflict resolution, worship and food, stressing that its adulteration with western stereotype lifestyles would only erode the revered values and dignity of Ghanaians. Mr Avega-Kamabla called for a safe interplay between religion and culture to avoid unwarranted distortions, which usually become volatile, veering into bloodbath and to conflicts.
He urged the Ghanaian public to pay attention to the lyrics of traditional music, as it was a databank and food for thought, which should not be glossed over or wished away just for the beats. Mr Frikson B. Avokey, Hohoe District Cultural Officer appealed to District Assemblies to offer scholarships to pupils and students who play active part in the culture and the arts.
Have Unity '2' Band and Have Miawoewoanyo Cultural Group emerged first and second respectively with Lolobi Milenovisi Cultural troupe placing third in a competition of seven groups. They all received certificates of participation.
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GNA
GPA Awards 2007 Nominations End 31st May
The search is still on for Ghana’s Top Professional and Business people to be recognised at The 7th Annual Gala Dinner and GPA Awards event on 7th July 2007, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, W2 2TY. Closing date for the nominations is 31st May 2007.
From humble beginnings of showcasing talent and networking in 2001, the GPA awards have emerged as an unparalleled annual calendar event for Ghanaians in the United Kingdom. It is regarded not only as a prestigious and “cutting-edge” event cutting across the divide, but also a platform highly sort after by Ghana’s UK professionals and entrepreneurs. Dubbed as the forum for “bridging the Gap” between Ghana and British citizens with Ghanaian Heritage The GPA, is engineering a paradigm shift for, innovation and dedication and excellence in its community.www.gpaawards.com
Eligibility
Any professional, organisation or business you deem has attained excellence in their field as well as contributed significantly to their community in any shape or form. International participants can enter for the GPA International category and may not normally reside in the UK. Closing dates for nominations is 31st May 2006. Interested parties can either log on the GPA website and fill an online nominations form or email the GPA office for forms. Former winners cannot be nominated for the same category unless there is been significant change in status quo or entering for a different category. As always the organisers are encouraging more participation from young people this year who have a special award designated to them. Email info@gpaawards.net
GPA Ghana@50 & African Excellence Award
In line with the Ghana@ 50 theme, ‘Championing African Excellence’, The GPA this year, introduced the Special Award GPA African Excellence Award. This category recognises an individual or group of African descent, not necessarily Ghanaian, for their distinguished contribution in the area of: Business & Commerce, Professional Leadership, Politics & Diplomacy, Science & Technology, Sports & Culture and Non-governmental work (NGO’s). The person selected for this award has significantly contributed to the positive image of Africa.There are three main Categories: Professional. General and Special with 21 individual awards for grabs this year. Details of the various award categories and criteria can be obtained from the website www.gpaawards.com GPA Awards Ghana @ 50 Conference and Cocoa Dinner
In line with Ghana’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations this year was marked by an unprecedented show of nationalism and goodwill by Ghanaians in the United Kingdom. To maintain the goodwill and pioneering role, The GPA Awards as part of the Ghana@50 UK celebrations is convening its début Conference with the theme: ‘Ghana- The next 50 years Carving a better & prosperous Future’. The aim of the conference is to provide a forum to outline the key policy changes for the next 50 years and to provide a platform to mobilise support from Diaspora for investment and contribution.
Special Guests earmarked for this years awards & Conference include Former UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan, His Rt. Hon. Paul Boateng, British High Commissioner to South Africa, HE Mr Annan Cato, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Chairman of the Council Of State, Professor Adjei Bekoe, Hon. Alan Kyerematen Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Industry & Special Presidential Initiatives, Hon. Kwamena Bartels, Ghana’s Minister for Information & Information and National Orientation, John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, Alderman John Stuttard, Rt. Hon Lord Mayor of London, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, CEO Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, HE Isaac Osei, CEO Ghana Cocoa Board, Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fair Trade Foundation, Dawn Butler MP for Brent Mr Kwesi Abeasi CEO African Business Roundtable (ABR), Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay CEO Ghana Investment Promotions Centre and Sir Sam Jonah, President of Equinox Explorations
About GPA Awards™
The Award wining GPA Awards is a Professional Development organisation Targeting Ghana’s UK professionals & Business people for positive contribution. Through dynamic projects and Leadership Development Programmes, they contribute to harnessing business and professional skills leading to capacity building and growth. From impacting and initiating the UK community with excellence, the GPA offers a platform for identifying positive role models for aspiring young people of the African Diaspora. The awards have been instrumental in identifying Diaspora investors and professionals for building sustainable capacity and investment links back in their country of origin.
Through promoting excellence, the awards have gained mainstream UK support. Led by Founder and Executive director, Emelia Bartels the awards continue to grow from strength to strength. Now in its seventh year, The GPA awards have emerged as an unparalleled calendar event for the community.
Website: http://www.gpaawards.com
For Nominations & Conference contact Cassandra Campbell Nominations & Conference coordinator email: c.campbell@gpaawards.com
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info@gpaawards.net
Prabiw Traders Association inaugurated at Saltpond
Saltpond (C/R), May 10, GNA - The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative (PSI) is supporting salt manufacturing companies to increase their current production level from 150,000 metric tons to three million metric tons. The Ministry is also promoting community-based artisanal production units at Gomoa Nyanyano and Elmina both in the Central Region to increase their output.
Mr Alan Kyeremanten sector minister announced this in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of Prabiw Traders Association at Saltpond.
Speaking on PSI, the Minister said 15 companies have been established to produce garments mainly to the US market under AGOA and 12 factory units have been provided on lease to 11 local companies and one foreign company.
The Minister said orders secured from six major buyers had been successfully executed.
Mr Kyeremanten said there was a growing demand in the local and regional market for cassava starch produced by Ayensu Starch Company Limited (ASCO) at Bawjiase from the pharmaceutical, food, textile and wood processing industries and added that a long-term order from Nestle Worldwide operations had been secured for the product. He said even though production was on hold, an effluent pond was being constructed for operations to resume soon.
Mr. Kyeremanten said 30 nurseries have been established to produce about four million seedlings per annum for the PSI on Oil Palm.
He said new nurseries were also being developed and hoped 200,000 hectares of land would be cultivated this year and 2008. Modern Oil processing plants would be installed in at least five strategic locations.
The Minister noted that increased production would be meaningless without adequate outlets provided by traders to market the products. "A scattered and piece meal approach to the provision of markets for what we produce would not be in the right direction," he stated and added that what we need is a well co-ordinated and consolidated approach in our market activities."
He commended Prabiw traders for coming together to form an association and assured them of his support.
Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, in an address read on her behalf said the ministry had disbursed over 10 billion cedis to a number of fishmonger associations since its establishment in 2001 and had also distributed 600 outboard motors costing 13.5 billion cedis to fishing groups.
Mr. Lord Mintah, Central Regional Director of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs who spoke on rights of children called for establishment of Family Tribunals in all districts in the country to hear complaints about children's welfare.
Child panels should be established in the districts and children should have easy access to institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Legal Aid Board. Mr Francis Ejaaku Donkoh, Assembly Member of Nkubem electoral area of Saltpond and founder of the association said it was formed to promote unity and co-operation among members and to seek financial assistance from micro-finance institutions to support their businesses. Nana Gyan Ankwanda VI, Chief of Saltpond commended the founder and members of the association for coming together and urged them to use it to promote cleanliness in the town. 10 May 07
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GNA
Examination progressing steadily in Ho
Ho, May 10, GNA - The on-going West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSEC) in the country is progressing steadily in the Ho municipality.
All the examination centres visited by the Ghana News Agency were full with the students busily writing their papers. At the OLA Secondary School centre, all 327 candidates reported 30 minutes to the start of the exams with the exception of one girl who was reported to have travelled outside the country.
Mr Asamoah Ochoga, Supervisor at the centre told the GNA that all materials came in early and that the exams started on time. At the Mawuli School Centre, Mr Ernest Nuglo, Supervisor of the Centre commended the candidates for their conduct so far and said all 421 and 79 candidates from Mawuli School and Dora Memorial Secondary School were present with only two absentees, one from each school. Mr Walter Kuda, Supervisor in charge of Mawuko Girls Secondary School said everything was going smoothly at the centre and expressed the hope that no incident would be recorded during the exams.
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GNA
Police arrest two suspected armed robbers
Akyem Oda, May 09, GNA - A combined team of police personnel from Koforidua and Akyem Oda last Sunday arrested two suspected armed robbers at Nsawam following a tip-off.
The suspects Ebenezer Mensah 37 and Lawrence Bonnah 28 were alleged to be members of armed robbers that robbed the Mponua Rural Bank at New Abirem in the Birim North District of 68 million cedis during the morning of last Wednesday, May 2.
The well-built robbers who received gunshot wounds after exchange of fire with the police and on admission at the Akyem Oda Government hospital would be transferred to the Police hospital in Accra. A police source told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that following the robbery the police mounted an intensive search to arrest the culprits until the suspects were arrested at a drinking bar at Nsawam. The source said an accomplice whose identity was not known managed to escape after a fierce struggle with the police.
Police Chief Superintendent Ben Atadana, Akyem Oda Divisional Commander told the GNA that the police were investigating the robbery.
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GNA
People changing cedis into CFA at Aflao
Aflao, May 9, GNA- With just a month and a half away from the re-denomination of the cedi, skeptics, in anxiety are rushing to change their cedi notes into CFA in Aflao and parts of Lome in anticipation of the change.
Some Togolese and other nationals mainly Nigerians resident in Lome who are having cedi holdings in banks in Ghana mainly at Aflao were also said to be withdrawing their savings and buying CFA notes. Dealers in currency in both Lome and Aflao confirmed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday that they have since the beginning of this month witnessed an unusual high demand for CFA notes in exchange for cedis.
A shortage of CFA notes blamed on the demand hit the area on Monday, but some dealers believe their colleagues were intentionally creating the shortage to push the exchange rates up.
The CFA hit its highest rate of 20,200 cedis and 20,000 cedis to a 1,000 CFA in Lome and Aflao respectively on Monday after it hovered between 18,000 and 18,500 cedis for months.
A dealer who refused to give his name told the GNA that in their interaction with the customers they got the feeling that the rush was out of fear of losing the value of their cedi holdings during the re-denomination exercise or lose it all together.
"Many Togolese are withdrawing their cedi accounts to avoid losing their money and changing it into cedis to the extent that we are short of CFA notes," the dealer said.
Mr. Atsou Ahorlou, another Lome based dealer said they know how to handle the re-denomination exercise and are not worried about the cedi notes they are receiving now.
Mr. Alfred Kpeglo, a staff of the Darrah Forex Bureau at Aflao confirmed the unusual high demand for CFA notes but said he could not attribute it to the impending re-denomination exercise. "We have noticed a sharp increase in the demand for CFA notes but we cannot assign the re-denomination as the cause," he said. Mr. Kpeglo said it was unusual seeing a high demand for CFA notes after the celebration of major religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter.
"With Easter just having been celebrated we expected the usual recession in trade and demand for CFA notes here," he said. Mr. Kpeglo said education on the re-denomination had been very poor and cautioned that complacency could jeopardize the exercise. He also noted that the design of the note with the portrait of the Big Six on each of them could create identification problems for the illiterate class.
Meanwhile sources close to local banks said they have not taken note of any unusual high withdrawals 9 May 07Source:
GNA
Tema records third bird flu outbreak
Tema, May 9, GNA- The Tema Municipality within one week has recorded the third outbreak of avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, at a poultry farm at Adjei Kojo, near Ashaiman. The disease that killed a number of birds, might have spread from a near by poultry farm, which had about 12,000 birds, 323 crates of eggs, and 375 kilogrammes of feed that was destroyed.
Dr. Darlington Owusu, Head of the Avian Influenza Surveillance team, who disclosed these to journalists in Tema on Tuesday, said several crates of eggs at were destroyed and about 500 birds burnt and buried at Adjei Kojo.
He gave the assurance that the team would work hard to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the country. Dr. Owusu advised poultry farmers to ensure that they fed their birds with uncontaminated feed and to cooperate with the team in efforts aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.
He advised Ghanaians against eating dead birds and urged consumers to cook poultry products for a long period in order to destroy any possible virus.
Dr. Owusu also advised that strange death among birds should be reported to the Veterinary Services Department. He said the Government was paying compensation of between 50 to 90 per cent of the market value of birds, eggs and other items destroyed upon detection of the disease, to affected poultry farmers.
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GNA
Armed robber killed in shoot-out with police
Fomena (Ash), May 8, GNA- Armed robbers numbering more than six last Thursday night engaged the Fomena police in a shoot-out leading to the death of one of them.
The robbers who had already attacked and robbed a number of innocent drivers and passengers of their monies and mobile phones before the police arrived at the scene of the operation scene at the Kusa scarp near Fomena on the main Kumasi-Yamoransa highway around midnight. The body of the deceased armed robber had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after the police had retrieved from his pocket 10 live cartridges and some mobile phones. One expended ammunition and a short gun was also found on the ground.
Mr Philip A. Gamiah, the Fomena District Police Commander who briefed Mr P. Adusei-Sarpong, the Obuasi Divisional Police Commander and the Ghana News Agency, said around 11 pm on that Thursday, information got to the Fomena police on snap check at Asokwa-Junction that armed robbers had barricaded the Kumasi-Yamoransa highway at Kusa scarp and robbing drivers and passengers.
The police then quickly mobilized themselves to the scene and found that four articulated vehicle drivers were under attack. The District Police Commander said on seeing the police one of the armed robbers fired at them. The also police also returned fire leading to the death of one of the robbers, whilst the rest escaped into the bush.
Mr Gamiah said the identity of the deceased was yet known, but he was believed to be of Fulani descent of about 22 years of age. He added that no arrest had been made, but the police was in the process of searching the bush for the rest of the armed robbers. Mr Adusei-Sarpong advised neighbouring communities to look out for strange people and report them to the local heads who would intend inform the police for their arrest.
Mr Peter Kwabena Ameyaw, the Adansi North District Chief Executive, commended the Fomena police for their efforts in assisting the district assembly to improve security in the area.
He said the police recently arrested some cable thieves at Asokwa and their last encounter with the armed robbers was commendable. The DCE encouraged the police to continue to exhibit such dedication to duty to help promote sound security in the district. 8 May 07
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GNA
LONDON (AFP) -
Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan will address members of both houses of parliament on Tuesday to commemorate 200 years since the country outlawed the slave trade.
The event, which will take place in parliament's Royal Gallery, is an extremely rare honour bestowed on only 31 world leaders since 1939, including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and former American presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
"I am delighted that Kofi Annan will address both Houses of Parliament as part of our commemorations of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade," said Baroness Valerie Amos, the leader of the House of Lords.
"I hope that his words remind us as parliamentarians of the mantle of responsibility we bear today, as we tackle the slave trade's legacies of poverty, racism and people trafficking."
Britain officially marked the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in March, with a service at Westminster Abbey attended by Queen Elizabeth.
The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed on March 25, 1807, imposing a 100-pound fine for every slave found aboard a British ship.
The 1833 Slavery Abolition Act outlawed slavery itself throughout the British Empire. However, some slaves did not gain their final freedom until 1838.
Source : yahoo-afp
