"Kufuor buses" in trouble
...As TOR cuts fuel supply The Tema Oil Refinery(TOR) has ceased the supply of fuel to Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) for its operations.
The transport company owes huge sums of money to TOR for the supply of fuel.
Accordingly, the two big tanks installed by GOIL at the Kumasi terminal to receive consignment of fuel are currently lying idle.
MMT, according to The Chronicle sources, are now buying fuel from "other sources," explained to mean petrol filling stations from the open market to service its buses at much inconvenience to the traveling public.
Of late, the MMT popularly known as “Kufuor buses” has incurred huge losses from pilfering of fuel, irregular procurement practices and plain looting.
The situation has been aggravated by the burning of three Yaxing buses, including a double-decker, on April 1, 2007 under strange circumstances.
The management of MMT is shying away from The Chronicle’s attempts to enquire about the burning of the buses and other related issues, including low salaries of workers.
“Some of us work 16 hours a day but lamentably our salaries are nothing to write home about," bemoaned a worker.
The highest paid driver at MMT-Kumasi receives ¢1,300,000 with the minimum at ¢900,000. Salary range for conductors is between ¢700,000 and ¢1,000,000.
An MMT source confirmed the burning of the buses initially, but declined further comments on realizing that he was talking to a media man and directed this reporter to the manager but the security man would not allow him entry for two days.
Source:
GhanaianChronicle
Roof of Round Pavilion at Trade Fair collapses
www.gitf-europe.de
Accra, April 17, GNA - The roof of the Round Pavilion at the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited has collapsed.
The roof, which gave the pavilion a magnificent look, went down on Tuesday morning at about 1030 hours without any storm. Ms Esther Ofori, Chief Executive of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the roof had probably outlived its lifespan since it went down by itself.
She said the roof, which was over 40 years old, was not nailed but only had its joints clipped with nails, adding that it was just an artificial skyline that beautified the main structure.
Ms Ofori said the immediate steps to be taken were to clear the debris and engage experts to quantify the cost of putting back the roof. "It will cost real lot of money. It is a peculiar design but in the meantime we will use the main structure which is still solid."
Source:
GNA
Sunyani celebrates cultural festival
Sunyani, April 17, GNA -
Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, has said it was important to appreciate ethnic cultural practices to help enrich cultural fertilization.
This, he noted, would bring a unifying factor that could help the pace of the country's reconstruction.
Mr. Ampofo-Twumasi was speaking at the opening of the 6th national second cycle schools festival in Sunyani.
The five-day festival is on the theme, "indiscipline and intolerance in our schools, a challenge to our culture". Mr Ampofo-Twumasi expressed concern about "the dying customs, moribund social practices, ideas and behaviour, which do not portray the country's image positively" and stressed the need for rapid institutional changes in order to modify and reconstruct outmoded social arrangements that did not benefit society.
"This can be done with substantial cultural knowledge by acquiring a correct understanding of contemporary Ghanaian beliefs and practices and to adopt them to the relevant principles needed for developing moral and political ideas as well ads practices for a country like ours", he said.
He said it was important to wear Ghanaian traditional attire on Fridays to promote a high sense of belonging, pride, national patriotism and identity.
The minister cited nations such as Germany, Japan and neighbouring Nigeria that had been rebuilt after great calamities and upheavals through the use of arts and called on Ghanaians to let partisan feelings yield to patriotism through arts and culture.
Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, said the country was endowed with abundant cultural values that could be taped for accelerated national development.
He expressed concern about the adulteration of Ghanaian culture particularly among the youth and reiterated the importance to revisit some abundant traditional norms and values that could help instil a sense of discipline.
Nana Kwame Korang IV, Omanhene of Awuah Domase who presided, expressed concern about the use of profane languages and indecent dressing among students.
He called for an intensive study of culture in educational institutions to promote the country's cultural heritage.
Source:
GNA
The Children Cry for School
Accra, April 16, GNA -
A tune was struck, the flute responded in the tropical morning sunrise with brightness and the assembly ground broke into a brisk march with the music blending, arms swung, heels hit one another and the pupils marched into their various classrooms with joy and giggles to begin their lessons.
Such was the joy of going to school in those days and in almost all schools in the villages, towns and cities; children yearned to go to school especially when they saw their play or age mates going to school whilst they were not.
So Kofi at the age of seven years, who accompanied the mother to the village market on that day seeing his friends smartly dressed to school under the captivating music; cried 93Mama, I will also go to school. Mama, take me to school, I also want to be like those children." He sustained his cries and his parents eventually had to send him to school but the fact was that Kofi and the parents lived in a farming cottage, which was about two kilometres walk through the bush path to the school. Kofi's parents had to look for someone in the town with whom Kofi could stay to attend the school.
Initially, things worked out well but along the line complications set in, Kofi got to know knows what hunger was. He had to do house chores and run errands, things he did not see in the beautiful 93we are marching to our classes".
Kofi's right to education, his own enthusiasm to go to school and his cleverness began to suffer. Thus the right of the child to education had so many limitations depending on the social standing of parents, geographical location, stability and peace in an area. Hence adults and especially politicians owe it to society to ensure that the rights of the child to education is enhanced and promoted removing all obstacles that impeded a child's right to education. No one doubts the importance of education and the often repeated axiom that the Government alone cannot provide for education is not only true but goes deeper and contains critical issues and that analysing it could continue ad infinitum since so many factors contribute to the achievement of 93Education of All" clich=E9.
With that in mind it should be right to say that success can only be achieved within a certain socio-economic environment and society as a whole has the responsibility to be involved in ensuring that this Millennium Development Goal was achieved.
UNESCO estimates that at least 80 million children are still out of school and many more are dropping out before they complete primary school and that progress needed to be accelerated 93if we are to reach the goal of having all children complete primary school by 2015". It regrets that 2007 is the midway point for the Education for All policy and at current rates of progress these are not going to be met and leaders are being requested to begin to do something about it now before it is too late.
It is in this context that the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), a non governmental organization plan to network with other civil society organizations to jointly celebrate the Global Action Week for 93Education For All" (EFA) should be seen as a practical demonstration of an organization that is willing to support the Government and society to achieve the tenets of the Dakar Declaration at the World Education Forum in 2000.
That Declaration among other things states that; 93all children, young people and adults have the human rights to benefit from education that will meet their basic learning needs=85 ensuring that by 2015 all children=85have access to and complete free and compulsory primary education of good quality."
According to Mr Michael Ansa, Coordinator of the GNECC, specific steps were being taken to celebrate this year's Global Action Week to support the Government in that respect and to add meaning to the Global theme: 93Join Up for Education Rights Now!"
He said the coalition has tasked researchers to conduct investigation into some specific areas why some schools in some particular districts could score zero in their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and that a community durbar would be held at Ankamu School Park, Gomoa on April 20, 2007 for children and parents to tell their own stories as far as education is concerned. To ensure that Ghana joins the world to celebrate the Big Chain Reaction a procession would be held from the GNAT Headquarters, Accra through the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and to Parliament where the research material collected and documented in the Central Region will be presented to the Speaker of Parliament.
The research aimed at looking at the state of educational resources in the community as a way of highlighting their inadequacy in terms of access and quality. To provide explanation for some of the dismal performances registered in the BECE in some schools in the District and to help to awaken the consciences of all those who matter in civil society that in spite of the best efforts, there is much more to be done to fully elevate education to the status of a right.
Source:
GNA
Serial Killers Hit Ho
*Three bodies found, three people arrested
*Voodoo, juju, black magic suspected
LUME IN THE Ho District of the Volta Region is in the grip of hysteria sparked by serial killers, following the discovery of three murdered people last Thursday in a manner reminiscent of the recent murders at Suhum in the Eastern Region, plunging the town into perpetual fear.
The discovery of the murdered persons came as a result of a High Court order, directing the Keta Police to search and exhume the body of one Wilson Kodjo Tenu, a teacher, allegedly murdered by three suspects, Xove Apalloo, Mauvi Alixey and Koblaga Question, a chief priest.
After the news of what could aptly be called serial killings at Lume broke out Thursday, reports gathered by this paper indicate that the whole town went into a frenzy, demanding the blood of the suspects who led the police on the exhumation exercise and to scenes of their heinous crimes.
A huge crowd gathered at the site where the team of policemen together with personnel from the Keta District Health Service and the Ho District Environmental Office dug out the bodies from their crypts after news spread that the killers involved in the killing of the missing teacher had been arrested.
Narrating the facts of the matter to this reporter, the Assemblyman of the area, Mr Nelson Denu, intimated that Mr Nelson Kojo Tenu went missing from the town on September 9, 2006, under very strange circumstances when he received a call on his cell phone to meet some people at a nearby location.
According to him, the elders of the town reported the case of the missing teacher to the Anloga Police on October 6, 2006, when nothing was heard of the missing Kojo Tenu.
As fate would have it, on the 27th day of the same October, one of the missing teacher's relatives called the cell phone number of the deceased only for Xove Apalloo to answer, claiming to be speaking from a nearby town, We Abanyakope.
With the help of the Regent of Lume, Mr Fiangor, and some elders of the town, the Assembly man said they managed to arraign Mr Xove to Lume where he confessed before the elders that he bought the cell phone from Koblaga Question.
Accounts corroborated by the Regent, Mr Fiangor, other informants and the Assembly man indicated that due to the inaction of the Anloga Police, the townfolks referred the matter to the Ho Divisional Police Command, who moved to quickly arrest Mauvi Alixey, Koblaga Question and Xove Apalloo for investigation.
According to the Assembly man, they believe the suspects kill people for juju and other magical practices and that there is the possibility that they (suspects) might have more hidden killings that need to be unravelled.
Again, he suggested that the townsfolk are contending that if the order for the search of one body could lead to three people in just a day, then the Court should give the police more powers to search for more bodies, especially in the homes of the suspects, since the police have allegedly claimed that they couldn't do so because the Court has not ordered them to.
Meanwhile, teachers in the district have given a unilateral ultimatum to boycott the classroom if the body of their missing colleague - which sources say was not among those found so far - is not found immediately.
Mr Nelson Denu told this paper that though nothing concrete has been found in terms of the identities of the victims, the final word would be out only after laboratory tests are conducted on them, saying that the bodies have since been transported to Accra for examination.
"A thorough search must be undertaken to find out if some bodies have been buried inside their houses as well", he added, believing that that is the only move to placate the angry townsfolk.
Source:
MICHAEL ANTWI-AGYEI (GYE NYAME CONCORD)
Refusal to enrol disabled an offence - Lawyer
Wa, April, GNA -
It is an offence to refuse admission to students because of disabilities, Heads of Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) have been reminded.
They should rather assist the parents of such students to gain admission into the right schools.
Mr. Jeduah Mahama Abudu, a Legal Practitioner, speaking at a seminar on the Disability Law in Wa on Monday, organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD)-Ghana with USAID sponsorship said should also not discriminate against them.
In a presentation on Post Enactment Activities of the Disability Act 715, he said under the law derogatory names on persons with disabilities should be discouraged to avoid legal action.
It was equally an offence for people to exploit such persons or using them to front for making money, he pointed out.
The Legal Practitioner appealed to the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) to advise its members to stop begging on the streets since it was an offence to do so and said they should rather establish a Fund into which public-spirited individuals and corporate bodies could donate.
Mr. Abudu called on the National House of Chiefs to play a leading role in ensuring the needs and protect of the rights of persons with disabilities by abolishing customary practices and acts that either dehumanised or caused disabilities to people.
He stressed the need for the training of health and the law enforcement personnel in the proper handling of persons with disabilities.
Mr. Nicholas Halm, Chairman of the Advocacy and Publicity Committee of GFD, said the passage of the law should not be seen as the end and called for the commitment of members of the Federation and other stakeholders to ensure its smooth implementation.
He said the Federation had declared June 23 as a Special Day its members to sit with government officials and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting persons with disabilities Father Aloysius Nuolabong, Coordinator of the Satellite Peace Building Centre, a Catholic NGO, called for educational programmes to empower persons with disabilities.
"It is only through the provision of training and skills acquisition that would make them self-sufficient and responsible in society", he said, adding that, "persons with disabilities become 'alive' when society recognizes them but feel 'dead' when they are dehumanised".
Source:
GNA
World Health, International Women's Day marked at Kokrobite
Kokrobite (GAR), 17 April, GNA -
A combined celebration of World Heath and International Women's Day was held at Kokrobite in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region at the weekend. It was organised by the Women's Health and Advocacy International (WHAI) and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Accra. The theme for the public education forum attended mostly by women was "The Role of Women and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Society".
Addressing the participants, Miss Joanna Sackeyfio, a Midwife of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), advised future couples to seek certain health information before marriage.
She said they should know their blood groups and ailments, which could be a source of worry in future for treatment. Miss Sackeyfio counselled the youth against early pregnancies and urged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinic for screening to detect diseases especially anaemia, which could lead to bleeding for early treatment before delivery.
The midwife urged couples to practice family planning and to bring forth the number of children they could afford to support, adding that, "Many births weaken women".
She also asked women to undertake income-generating ventures to support their husbands to care for their children and household.
Mrs Naa Dedei Adjei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WHAI, noted that even though women played key roles in the nation's struggle for independence, their sacrifices had never received the necessary appreciation and recognition.
She stated that in spite of their important role in society, women had been relegated to the background but said they could get better treatment by being productive in all spheres of life. CEO WHAI stressed the need to promote the rights and dignity of women and called on the participants to sensitise especially members of their family and people they interacted with including church members on their role in society.
Mrs Adjei commended United Nations for promoting international efforts for women's rights and participation in the social, political and economic development.
She stressed important role of advocacy groups in ensuring justice and equality for women and encouraging an appreciation for their specific feminine gifts.
Mr Abraham Kweku Nunoo, National Information Officer of UNIC, stated that since its establishment the United Nations (UN) had been instrumental in improving the status of women by creating awareness about their situation worldwide.
He noted that even though the equal rights of men and women have been enshrined in the Charter of the organisation as fundamental human right discrimination against females had been entrenched in deep-rooted cultural beliefs and traditional practices.
UNIC National Information Officer, said appreciating the global importance of women's issues the UN proclaimed 1976 - 85 as the UN Decade for Women leading to the establishment two world bodies for women. Mr Nunoo explained the Domestic Violence Law to the participants.
Source:
GNA