Two Ghanaians Rescued From Darfur
The pursuit of greener pastures has landed two Ghanaians in war-torn Darfur, Sudan, from where they have had to be repatriated after their arrest. They entered Darfur from Libya after a two-year unsuccessful stay. The two, Robert Teye Agbo and Nii Addo Ayi Mingle, entered Darfur through Chad but were immediately arrested by Sudanese Police for illegally entering the country.
Darfur has been the scene of a worsening humanitarian crisis, following fighting between forces loyal to the Sudanese government and rebel forces.
Over two million people have been displaced by the crisis, which has necessitated the United Nations/African Union positioning a peacekeeping force there.
In an interview with the Times from his Darfur base yesterday, Superintendent David Eklu, Public Information Officer, Civilian Police Component of the African Mission in Sudan, said the two men were arrested weeks ago in the Western part of Sudan, near the Chad border. He said the Sudanese Police consequently informed the Ghanaian Peacekeepers in Darfur who quickly went to their aid by providing money for their transport back through Chad, Nigeria and to Ghana.
The Sudanese Police explained that since the two had not committed any criminal offence, they could only arrange their deportation through the same route they entered which is through Chad.
Supt. Eklu said the two claimed they had spent two years in Libya but found life there very difficult, so they decided to cross the desert into Darfur to “seek greener pastures.
They have since left Darfur and are traveling by road with documents given to them by the Sudanese Immigration authorities to facilitate their movement across the Chad border. It may take them between one or two days to reach the Chad border and then to Nigeria, then Ghana.
Source:
Ghanaian Times
Don't withdraw children from schools to farm
Damanko (V/R), Aug 4, GNA- Mr Frank Donkor Wuladanye, Cape Coast University Branch President of the Kokomba/Basari Students Union (KOBASU) has criticized the attitude among farmers to engage their children on the farm instead of sending them to school. He said even if those children would take to farming when they grow they need to go to school to acquire the skills that could make them set up and manage their farms as businesses.
Mr Wuladanye who was addressing a "Go To School Campaign" organized by KOBASU at Damanko in the Nkwanta District said it was understandable for farmers to get their children to help them in their farm, but inexcusable for children of school going age to desert school permanently to engage in farming.
He blamed forced marriages, with many young girls as victims, for the poor enrolment of girls in schools in the area. Mr Augustine Kidisil, the newly elected national secretary of the union expressed his worry over the way widows were dispossessed of properties acquired with their late husbands and advised married men to prepare wills covering their wives and children to forestall any maltreatments.
A member of the union, Mr Anthony Bilandem Bililee, also expressed his concern about the craze for expensive funerals in the area, referring to a recent one where 27 cows were slaughtered.
Source:
GNA
Construction of Garu water project takes off
Garu (U/E), August 4, GNA- Construction works on a GH=A25.700,000 (5.7 billion cedis) water project for the Garu township in the Garu-Tempane district of the Upper East Region has taken off. The project, which would ensure the provision of 110,000 gallons of potable water a day is expected to be completed in April 2008. It is being constructed by China Hena Geo-Constructions Limited (C.H.G.C Ltd) a Chinese firm, with funds from the government and the World Bank, with the district assembly supporting it with 5 per cent of the total cost.
Under the project, four boreholes would be mechanized to supply water to a 200 cubic meter overhead pumping tank for onward supply to the township.
The Garu township project forms part of the Phase I of small towns water supply in the Upper East Region under the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
Other beneficiary towns included Bazua, Binaba, Bongo and Kusanaba. The rest are Paga, Sirigu, Sumbrugu, Tongo and Wiaga. Speaking to the press after an inspection of the sites and the signing of an agreement by the Assembly, consultants and contractors, Mr. Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri, District Chief Executive of Garu-Tempane, said the project was long overdue and has come at an opportune time for the people in the town.
He said the need for water has been a major concern to the district and called for the speedy execution of the project. Mr. Francis K. Brew, consultant to the project, appealed to the Assembly to acquire the lands to be used for the project and document them properly to forestall any impediments on the way of the contractors.
He called for the setting up of a community water Board to oversee to the effective running of the project when completed in order to sustain it.
Mr. Gao Yalg, Chief Executive Officer of C. H. G. C. Ltd, promised that the project would be executed on scheduled for the township to enjoy potable water.
Source:
GNA
Trouble over Quality Grain Rice
*Five families pull brakes on project
There is looming trouble over the reactivation of the defunct Aveyime Rice Project as five families, whose lands were compulsory acquired by the State through an Executive Instrument (EI. 15) of 1977 for the project, are heading to the law court to halt the new owners, Messrs Prairie Texas Inc, from developing the site.
The suit over the Accra plains site, which the State acquired through its agent, the Agricultural Development Company (ADC), is also against the Attorney General, the Lands Commission and the Land Valuation Board.
Investigations by this paper indicate that the Ministry of Agriculture has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with a foreign investor, Messrs Prairie Texas Inc, to develop the Aveyime Rice Project located in the North and South Tongu districts of the Volta Region.
The MOU entered by the Government of Ghana (GoG) and Prairie for the running of the Aveyime Rice Project involves a Joint Venture (JV) arrangement between the GoG and Prairie, with the following shareholdings: GoG - 30% Prairie - 70%.
Again, the JV is to be capitalized with $3,571,429 equity to be contributed by GoG and Prairie in proportion to their respective shareholdings as follows: GoG - $1,071,429 Prairie - $2,500,000.
According to documents sighted by this paper, GoG’s contribution will be the value of the assets (excluding the land) of the Quality Grains Company amounting to $8,145,336.
However, the compensation for the land will be separately negotiated by GoG and paid for by the JV.
Meanwhile, the difference between GoG’s total contribution of $8,145,336 and its capital contribution of $1,071,429, amounting to $7,073,908 will be loaned to the JV under a loan agreement between the parties.
And Praire’s contribution will be $2,500,000 cash injection to be paid or a commitment made by 30 days after the signing of the MoU, which was done on 16th May 2007.
The plaintiffs are Dr G A Kisseih, a representative of the Kisseih family, Mr Charles V K Ahiadzre from the Ahiadjie family and Mr Ernest Konu, representing the Konu family. Others are Mr Emmanuel Aho from the Aho family and Mr Ben K Dzre, representing the Dzre family.
In the statement of claim, the families allege that they own a total of about 4,276.33 acres of land, which the State compulsory acquired in 1977 and that prior to the compulsory acquisition, their families were in possession and controlled their respective lands using it for farming, building and other social activities.
They are contending that the lands were acquired for the purpose of establishing a State-owned agricultural company and questioned why the project was abandoned and why the State intends to sell the land to some other persons.
What bothers the five families is the fact that despite their shrill and loud cries, no compensation was paid for the land when it was given to the private developer under the Quality Grain Company umbrella.
The land owners said that the defendants (the State) have shown by their conduct that they would not obey the law or do what is required of them by law and instead would continue to trample on the rights of the plaintiffs and their families with impunity.
They are therefore praying for the protection of the Court and to prevent the defendants from abusing their rights.
They also pray the court to declare that they (plaintiffs) are entitled to compensation for their land, and to declare that the non-payment and continuous non-payment of compensation for their land is in breach of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
They further prayed the court to order the 1st Defendant (Attorney General) to permit the plaintiffs to exercise their rights under article 20 (60) of the 1992 Constitution and for damages for abuse, infringement and contravention of their rights to be awarded them.
Early this year, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest Debrah, informed Parliament that Cabinet had referred proposals and recommendations of two firms that evaluated the Aveyime Rice Project to its sub-committee for study and advice.
The two firms, Messrs Integrated Rice Company Limited and Messrs Prairie Texas Inc., were among six companies that submitted proposals for the reactivation of the project on October 26, 2006.
Meanwhile, prior to the announcement of government on its selection of Messrs Prairie Texas Inc, a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens Association of the former Quality Grain Project made up of residents in the project area, had called on the government to select the Integrated Rice Company Limited, a local company to take over the management of the Aveyime Rice Project at Bator in the Volta Region.
According to the group, they had decided to support the bid of Integrated Rice Company because of past misfortunes the community has had to go through as a result of past governments decisions in entrusting the rice company in the hands of foreign firms.
Meanwhile, after the signing of the MoU, this paper has gathered that Messrs Prairie has returned to the negotiating table with the following issues, which they claim are conditions for investment by their prospective investors:
They have accepted the valuation of the assets of the Quality Grain amounting to $8,145,336 to be contributed by GoG.
They have also accepted the GoG loan of $7,073,908 with the following conditions:
That the loan will attract an annual interest of 8%
That the loan will be repaid over a 12 year period with a 2-year moratorium
That the annual debt servicing amount should not be more than 15% of the project’s previous year’s net profit, and that at the end of the 12-year period, if the loan is not fully paid, the balance will not be paid.
Again, Messrs Prairie has placed a cap of $300,000 as compensation to be paid for the land with the payment terms for the land being in three equal instalments as follows:
First $100,000 when funding is in place; Second $100,000 on the 18th month after the first payment; and Third $100,000 on the 36th month after the second payment.
Source:
GYE NYAME CONCORD
Communities urged to help sustain development
Twifo Praso (C/R), Aug 4, GNA- Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the central region benefiting from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency projects have been urged to pay their counterpart funding to ensure the sustenance of the programme. Ms Leticia Ackon, Extension Service Specialist at the Central Regional Secretariat of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) made the call at a day's workshop to brief assembly members and heads of department in the Twifo-Hemang lower-Denkyira district about the Agency's programmes, at Twifo-Praso.
She expressed regret at what she described as some communities "luke warm attitude" in the payment of their contribution towards the provision and maintenance of social amenities like hand dug wells, boreholes and places of convenience. She said various communities in the district, were indebted to the Agency to the tune of GH=A215,100 (151 million cedis) and warned that beneficiary districts that fail to pay would not be considered for future programmes.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Agyeibie-Kessie, commended development partners, such as the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), European Union (EU), World Vision Ghana and the International Development Agency (IDA) for assisting to provide a number of social amenities for the district. During an open forum, the assembly members appealed to the assembly to 'bail out' the defaulting communities, while they intensify the education on the need for the people to honour their obligations towards the projects.
Source:
GNA
Tomato paste importation to be banned
Following unfair trade practices associated with the importation of tomato paste and concentrate into the country, the government has moved to temporarily ban the importation of the products into the country, with effect from November 1, 2007.
Consequently, it has directed all importers of the products to note the grace period, saying "it is meant to provide sufficient delivery time to ensure customs clearance of all pipeline imports of tomato paste and concentrate".
A notice to importers sighted by the Daily Graphic at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiatives (PSIs) in Accra yesterday warned that "any importer who imports tomato paste and concentrate, contrary to the notice, commits an offence and shall have such imports confiscated to the state" .
The notice comes barely a week after a news publication report on the negative effects that under-invoicing of tomato paste and concentrate into the country was having on the economy and local producers of such products.
The unfair trade situation in the industry has forced the only local tomato processing company in the country, Trusty Foods Limited, an Italian investment, which buys its raw material from the resuscitated Pwalugu Tomato Factory, now Northern Star Factory, to threaten a drastic cut down on its demand from the factory.'
It is anticipated that should the threat be carried out, the numerous farmers in the northern part of the country who depend on the factory as their largest market will lose out, while the huge investment by the government to revive the factory will also go to ,waste.
"Importers are advised to comply strictly with the notice," the Trade Ministry's notice warned, adding that "this directive is intended to curtail unfair trade practices associated with the importation of tomato paste and concentrate".
Sources at the ministry said that apart from the problem of under-invoicing associated with the importation of tomato paste and concentrate, there were fears that starch dominated what had been canned as tomato paste.
Source:
Daily Graphic
Power crisis getting worse -IRIN
ACCRA , 3 August 2007 (IRIN) - Ghana is undergoing it worst power crisis since 1998. People here currently have an average of only 12 hours of electricity a day, and, with insufficient rain to keep its hydropower stations functioning, the situation is likely to deteriorate, affecting individual livelihoods and the economy as a whole.
The water level of Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in West Africa, which normally supplies 60 percent of Ghana's energy needs, is at an all-time low, 234.96 ft below the critical minimum.
The lack of water in the lake has created a 300 MW power shortfall
Weather forecasters predict drought in all three northern regions of Ghana where the sources of the rivers that feed Lake Volta are located.
"The masses are suffering." John Atipoe, an electrician and father of four, told IRIN. "The frequent power cuts destroyed my refrigeration system and I had no money to repair it," said 51-year old Juliet Adjoa Serwah who used to make money selling food and drinks. "Now I have to resort to basket weaving to look after my three kids."
Economic warning
According to Ghanaian economist Nii Moi Thompson, "It's almost certain now that low productivity due to the crisis will block the attainment of the 6.5 GDP growth forecast for this year."
The impact of the power cuts have already been huge for small and medium scale enterprises, which, according to Ghana's finance and economic minister, account for about 90 per cent of all businesses in the country.
Big industries are also feeling the pinch: The mining industry is currently spending 8.6 million dollars a month to make up for the shortfall from the national grid. In March, Ghana's only aluminum smelter company, VALCO, shut down due to the inadequate supply of power, laying off 500 workers.
Energy conservation
In the offices of the Ministry of Energy posters encourage people to save energy. The ministry said it was importing 6 million energy-saving bulbs to be distributed to the public free-of-charge.
"Conserving energy is the best way to deal with this crisis," Energy Minister Joseph Adda told IRIN. "We expect to save up to 200 MW of energy with this approach."
The government said it was also encouraging independent power producers to assist in meeting the energy shortfall. The Wood Group, a private company from the UK has agreed to provide 50 MW; mining companies in Ghana have come together to create an 80 MW plant.
In the meantime Adda said the government was setting up emergency thermal plants that are expected to generate up to 126 MW.
But the costs of power from fossil fuels are high. The government said it has been spending close to US $42 million a month to fuel the generators. "The consumer must be prepared to pay more if we are to run these emergency plants at full capacity," Adda said.
The ministry is commissioning additional power plants to be installed in the next 12 to 18 months. "This forms part of the plan to have an installed capacity of over 3,000 MW by 2010," Adda told IRIN. But switching from renewable hydro power to power fueled by gas and diesel is also likely to have negative environmental impacts
Political fallout
The government has started construction of another hydro-electric plant which is expected to be completed in 2012, providing 400 MW. But leaders in the main political opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have criticized the move, questioning why the government thinks it can successfully build a new hydro plant given the on goings problems with the old one.
Political analysts say the handling of the power crisis could determine whether the ruling New Patriotic Party wins or loses next year's general elections.
Source:
IRIN (http://www.irinnews.org )
Ex-SCANCEM top shot defends PV
We Signed Consultancy Contract With His Company In Early 1997! – He Reveals
Mr. Jacobsen, one of the former financial bosses of SCANCEM in a telephone conversation with the Editor-in-Chief of The Crusading GUIDE, Kweku Baako Jnr., yesterday corroborated claims by Mr. P.V. Obeng, one time Presidential Adviser to Mr. Rawlings’ government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that he (P.V. Obeng) had entered into a Consultancy Agreement with SCANCEM in early 1997, after he (PV) had left public office.
According to him, SCANCEM, a Norwegian cement manufacturing company, in early 1997 signed a consultancy agreement with Mr. Obeng’s consultancy company.
“Mr. P.V. Obeng has asked me to confirm that I did infact arrange and sign a consultancy agreement with him in 1997. That agreement was signed in early 1997 though I can’t remember the exact month but I can only confirm that the information is correct”, disclosed he.
He, however, declined to react to further questions on the on-going case of bribery allegations by some ex- SCANCEM officials against Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings and Mr. Obeng in a court in Norway.
Mr. Jacobsen, on the basis that he was no longer in SCANCEM’s employment also refused to answer questions on a house belonging to Mr. Obeng, that was rented out to SCANCEM in Tema.
“The former head of finance, Per Gerhard Jacobsen, together with Tor Egil Kjelsaas, had authorised the majority of the payments to banks in Luxembourg and Switzerland. Jacobsen did not like the thought of a public trial with Kjelsaas where the subject was major bribes. In the autumn of 2005, he traveled to the Heidelberg group’s head office where he met with the group’s Chairman of the Board and expressed how invidious such legal proceedings would be”, stated a Norwegian newspaper that covered the court proceedings.
Mr. Paul Victor Obeng has since vehemently denied reports that he had conceded taking money from SCANCEM as consultancy payments while in office.
“I wish to state here and now quite categorically that I have never ever made any admissions or any statement, to any person, in whatever shape or form which can even be remotely interpreted as an admission of receipts of any sums of money as consultancy payments from SCANCEM whilst in public office. Indeed, I could not have made any admissions to matters which simply did not happen”, Mr. Obeng stressed.
According to him, his brief interaction with a reporter from The Crusading GUIDE (which was hampered by poor connection) on the SCANCEM court matter and the subsequent publication of the interaction, was being misinterpreted as an admission that he received millions of dollars for consultancy payments.
According to Mr. Obeng, he had told the said reporter that his “company did some consulting work for the Norwegian Company SCANCEM, AFTER I LEFT PUBLIC OFFICE IN DECEMBER 1996 and had been paid for its services but that the total sum paid cannot be in any way compared to the substantial payments made to the Bank account I know nothing about”.
He noted that just as he ended his answer on the lack of knowledge of “Bank accounts”, the line went off, and unfortunately his interviewer never called back, and since he (Obeng) “did not know his telephone number I could not call either to complete the account of any company’s relationship with SCANCEM”.
Clarifying the Weekend Crusading GUIDE’s report that he admitted having rendered consultancy services to SCANCEM for which he received payment while in office, Mr. Obeng said he left his position in public office in December 1996 and in 1998 formed a consultancy firm.
He said SCANCEM entered a retainer agreement with his company in mid-1998; this agreement, however, expired in December 2006.
“I reiterate for the record that I did not work as a consultant for SCANCEM and SCANCEM never engaged me to work for them in any manner while in public office”, said Mr. Obeng, stressing that his company did some consulting working for SCANCEM after he had left public office and that “the contract could not be older than my consultancy company”.
He affirmed that he knew nothing about some payments made to him as reported by the Weekend Crusading GUIDE, by officials of SCANCEM.
“I know nothing of the alleged payments whatsoever and certainly nothing about the alleged Bank accounts in Switzerland or elsewhere”, P.V. Obeng underscored.
He indicated that it would have been wrong if he had worked for SCANCEM while in office, adding that being aware of the implications involved, he never even accepted service on the board of any company.
P.V. Obeng said given the gravity of the publications made against him, he had reported them (publications) to his lawyer for immediate action in order to redeem “the damage done to my image and reputation and certainly to assert the true state of affairs and specifically to circulate this matter to the Ghanaian Press”.
He promised to return to Ghana from London where he is currently, to pursue the matter further.
The Weekend Crusading GUIDE last Friday, July 20, 2007, carried a story on P.V. Obeng as having in an interview, admitted receiving money from SCANCEM in the mid-1990s for consultancy services he rendered to it.
Read the Weekend Crusading GUIDE this Friday for the full text of the rejoinder Mr. Obeng wrote to the media.
Source:
Crusading Guide
US Senator Enstooled
THE AKWAMU Traditional Council in the Eastern Region of Ghana has enstooled New York State Senator, Ms Ruth Hassell-Thompson, their Mpuntuhemaa (Queenmother for Development).
Her enstoolment as Mpuntuhemaa was to bring development to the people of Akwamu, taking into high consideration, children's education and the area at large.
Ms Hassell-Thompson, whose stool name was given, as Nana Addobea was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2000, bringing years of public service, community and business-related involvement to her post as the Senator of the 36th Senatorial District.
According to her biography, Nana Addobea currently represents parts of the Bronx as well as the Westchester counties.
Also a retired nurse of Mount Vernon Hospital (1963-1998), she specialized in pediatrics and assisted women with substance abuse issues. As part of her humanitarian endeavours, Nana Addobea was honoured with the "Unsung Heroes" award, presented by the AIDS Related Community Services (ARCS) organization due to working with "persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS".
Others included the "Joseph P. Gavrin Memorial Award for Personal Achievement and Contributions to the community by the Westchester Co-Op"; the "Sojourner Truth Racial Justice Award"; the Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Achievement Award" and many more.
Furthermore, she became an "ardent advocate and successfully, persuading members of both the public and private sectors to increase economic participation with minority and women owned businesses".
Addressing a durbar on Wednesday at the Akwamufie grounds, Nana Addobea stated that it would be her aim to ensure that children of the area get quality education since the educational system "here is not working for our children", pledging to adopt at least a school for the well being of the children.
"I hope I can bring the kind of energy that others will want to adopt a school as well to make sure that all the children have a good chance of better education", she noted.
In his address, the outgoing Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey emphasized that it was important to establish a platform which would "allow people abroad to workout exactly, from which villages they came from in Western Africa".
He said it was in this vein that the Joseph Project (JP) was instituted in 2002 by the Ghana government to help reunite African people, everywhere in the world, noting "until we are reunited, we can't bring all our powers to bare". "We need to do that if we are going to make the 21st, the African century", he stressed.
Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey stated that to become a "big man, we must learn to be ourselves, we must elevate ourselves and the way to do it is to reunite our families so that we can gather strength from each other".
He noted that there was a "concerted effort by the colonial masters to make us forget the past but the truth is surfacing" since "we have been able to find ourselves together again".
The outgoing Minister congratulated the traditional authority for welcoming the whole concept of having durbars that would "educate our citizens and the relationship between we who are still in our homeland and our anyemimei".
In a speech read for him by Nana Osae Nyampong VI-Kamenahene of the Akwamu Traditional Area, the Acting President of the Akwamu Traditional Council -Nana Amo Bekae IV stated that "we in Akwamu have given a written assurance to our siblings in Virgin Islands, our readiness to carve out portions of land for any project that they may want to undertake".
He mentioned that they were very important and essential part of "our collective future and civilization".
He emphasized that to an African family head, he was responsible to "protect the people or human resource and to protect our property which is mainly the land our forefathers left us", adding if "we failed in the first instance to protect our people during the era of slavery, then on their return, we should and will open our hearts and arms to welcome them".
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He cautioned the people of the area not to exploit their brothers and sisters (Anyemi) who had come home.
The District Chief Executive of Asuogyaman, Mr Emmanuel Ntow Bediako said in an interview with The Chronicle that the flame of unity signifies oneness among the people of Africa, Ghana, Akwamufie and the brothers and sisters from the Diaspora. "It is my prayer that the flame of unity will burn in our hearts and live with us", he added.
Also present to grace the occasion were the Omanhene of the area, Otumfuo Ansah Sasraku VI who has ruled for 15-years; the Queen mother Nana Afrakoma II; Nana Semanhyia Darko II-Gyasewahene of the Akwamu State.
Source:
Ghanaian Chronicle
New Seat of Govt, Residence Near Completion
CONSTRUCTION WORK on the new seat of government and presidency, the $45 million President's Office and villa project, a symbol of Indo-Ghana friendship near the Flagstaff House in Accra, is progressing steadily as the days roll by.
The Government of India has been funding the project with USD 30 Million, soft loan with considerable amount of grant.
A facility visit to the site yesterday revealed that the ground plus four-storey tower being constructed by an Indian construction firm, Shapoorji Pallonji and Co. Ltd will be completed ahead of the 8th December 2007 deadline.
"My confidence in completing the assignment before schedule stems from the fact that my men, I mean every single worker is committed to the assignment given to them and have what it takes to deliver," Mr. S.K. Singh, the project Manager told The Chronicle at the site.
President's office comprises of, Block-A (known as President's Offices), Block-B (known as Vice President's office) and Block-C (known as Banquet Hall).
The fourth floor of Block-A tower will be used as the office of President. Third floor will be used as office of Chief of Staff and cabinet rooms.
Block-C First floor will be for the media briefing room and the ground floor will be for the conference room, banquet hall, kitchen, dining and Directors and Deputy Directors.
All these three blocks will be interconnected by covered corridors.
For a better maintenance purposes a service tunnel has been provided below the bldg. from where all the services are running through and can be easily access for the maintenance without any diggings.
Located on the same compound of Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's residence, the project includes an ancient ground plus one storey building to house the President's visitors situated a few metres away from the tower.
The edifice cost of the work is far below the normal market cost charged by the other construction firms, the Indian construction firm, which has been in business for last 140 years, does not compromise quality.
And with quality work as its hallmark in its mission statement, Shapoorji Pallonji has constructed unaccountable projects worldwide and are determined to give their best examples.
"We believe in adopting to changing times and have accelerated the momentum of our growth by using modern management skills with state-of-the- art technology,' the project manager Mr. S. K. Singh said.
The project has secured the services of 800 Ghanaian labour forces in addition to the 223 Indian expatriates who Mr. Singh indicated would impart their knowledge to their Ghanaian counterparts.
"Because we don't compromise quality most of the materials we are using for the project are imported from India, the pipes we are using for instance, are not the usual PVC pipes that are commonly used in Ghana, what we are using is a PPR pipe, the advanced type of PVC," Mr. Sign stated.
According to Mr. Sigh, many were those who doubted his outfit's capability to complete the project on scheduled during a visit by Members of Council of State and Hon. Members of Parliaments, left here a few weeks ago convinced and were impressed with the progress of work," he revealed.
There are some essential works like road, landscaping, external security and lighting systems, interior, IT solutions/equipments, furniture's and furnishing, services connections needs to be finalized by the Clients to ensure the completion of Presidential complex in totality and make it functional fully. There are some military/police officials are still occupying the complex premises and need to be relocated immediately to start some essential structures works to ensure 100% completion of the complex.
Mr. Singh pointed out that his outfit would renovate the house of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which has been left unattended.
Sharpoorji Pallonji, among other projects, constructed the World Trade Centre, the Rabat Stadium, Skoda Auto factory, the most recent and prized automobile project, the Volvo project in India, among other projects.
The construction firm is also into commercial, automobiles, hospitals, industrials, hotels and other ventures.
Source:
Chronicle
Protect creditability of cedi - BOG urged
Agona Swedru (C/R), Aug 3, GNA - The Bank of Ghana has been urged to take measures to protect the creditability of the new Ghana Cedi introduced last month.
Mr Derrick Owusu Ambrose, Senior Pharmacist of the Agona Swedru Government Hospital, noted that the rate counterfeit notes of the currency had begun circulating called for a national exercise to arrest the situation before the Ghana Cedi was discredited.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Agona Swedru, Mr. Owusu-Ambrose, who is also a member of the Assign South District Assembly said reports of two arrests in Takoradi and Tema for printing fake notes of the currency should make the people wake up to help in arresting culprits.
"Considering the huge sums of money spent in printing and education on the re-denomination of the cedi, all Ghanaians should constitute themselves into a watchdog over the currency," the Pharmacist said and called for the day trial for those caught engaging in the practise.
"If we do not nib this unpatriotic activity in the bud, our neighbouring countries would not recognize our currency," he stated, saying, "In such a situation trade with countries around us will suffer and affect the economic wellbeing of the sick in Ghana.
Source:
GNA
Going Nuclear: Can We Even Manage Domestic Waste?
THE COMMITTEE of experts set up by the government to look into Ghana's prevailing energy crisis has identified nuclear energy as the only long-term panacea. Among other things, the committee has called for immediate steps to be taken in pursuit of nuclear energy as an alternative source of power.
The recent energy crisis has caused us to look beyond the narrow confines of our hydroelectric and thermal power for generation of electricity. Now today, our experts are calling for nuclear energy as the last bastion against any energy crisis.
These recommendations are enough to bring a relief to a nation sweltering under the heat of energy crisis, which has crippled the economy, but before we are consumed to believe that Ghana going nuclear energy would solve our problem let us look dark side which nuclear energy brings. The committee report seems to be silent on this. We can get electricity 24/7 as results of going nuclear but other set of problem will emerge. The solution of one problem brings into face the emergence of another one.
In this present world, the emphasis has been producing a clean energy and not just any energy. The recent G8 Summit in Germany sought to reduce carbon emission and the potential of a nuclear fall out from new emerging nuclear nations like India, Pakistan and Iran.
Some few years ago, there were two imperatives driving energy policy - affordability and security of supply. There is now a third right up there in lights alongside them. It is the need to stop poisoning our atmosphere with carbon emissions and other harmful gases and thereby contributing to the rise of global warming.
Perhaps the nuclear age is winding down in the global scale. The gap between the cost of nuclear and other technologies like solar and wind is narrowing. Indeed, some energy experts say in certain places, high-tech windmills are already cheaper than atomic power.
Concerns about global climate change have led many nations to join together in an effort to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. As part of an international treaty signed in Rio de Janiero in 1992, the industrialised nations agreed to voluntarily cut emissions back to 1990 levels.
First, it is too expensive to set up a nuclear plant. Second, nuclear power lacks broad-based public support. And third, the long-term safe management of nuclear waste is far from being resolved. Among the major sources of electricity generation, nuclear power is the most expensive. A new nuclear power plant costs three times as much to build and run as a new natural gas-fired power plant.
In fact, nuclear power is now even more expensive than many renewable energy technologies, including wind, biomass, and geothermal power. The only way that this trend could be reversed is if taxpayers subsidize nuclear power. That seems unlikely, since public support for building new nuclear power plants has all but evaporated.
Money wasted on nuclear power would be unavailable for other, more effective ways of preventing global climate change.
Source:
Chronicle
ECOWAS hosts ECOSAP Meeting
Accra, Aug. 3, GNA - The second Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Small Arms Control Programme Steering Committee takes off in Abuja, Nigeria on August six to review progress on the process for ratification of the Convention on Small Arms in the Sub-region. The ECOWAS Small Arms Control Programme (ECOSAP) is a capacity building programme aimed at establishing a sustainable system for the control of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in West Africa. In an electronic mail to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday, Mr. Oluwafisan Bankale, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Officer, Policy Unit of ECOSAP said the uncontrolled proliferation of SALW has been identified as a major fuel of the conflicts in West Africa. "As a result of these conflicts, the rate of development in the sub-region has suffered set-backs which ECOWAS Commission was working with partners including governments, donor community, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) was poised to combat.
He explained that the Abuja Conference would be chaired by the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and attended by representatives of stakeholders, including the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) regional officials from Mali, Senegal and the Africa Division in New York and civil society.
Other participants are from the Africa Union, the European Union representatives of donor countries namely, Canada, Finland, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.
The Steering Committee is made up of donor countries, the UNDP, European Union (EU) and ECOWAS. Its primary objective is to exercise oversight functions on programme planning and implementation.
Source:
GNA
Manhyia Clash: Police arrests two
Kumasi, Aug. 3, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with Thursday's clash in front of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi which involved two factions in the Atwima-Agogo chieftaincy dispute that left three people injured. A Police source told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Friday that the suspects, who are both drivers, were believed to have been hired to the Palace by the cutlass-wielding youth, who visited mayhem on the three injured people - Kwadwo Broni, Kwaku Nsiah and Kwaku Mensah. The source, however, did not disclose the drivers' names but said they were being interrogated.
With the exception of Mensah, who is at large, Broni and Nsiah are currently receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after initial treatment at the Manhyia District Hospital. The personal bodyguards of Nana Okyere Poku II, chief of Atwima-Agogo in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District of Ashanti clashed with some youth of the town in their attempt to forcibly destool the Chief, who was attending a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council. The Chief was, however, whisked-off into safety.
Information pieced together by the GNA indicate that Nana Poku had in recent times been at loggerheads with some youth of the town following accusations that he had failed to fulfil a promise he made to reward the youth for their immense support that saw his enstoolment last year.
Meanwhile, the Security Unit of the Palace is collaborating with the Police to nab the perpetrators of the atrocities that nearly resulted in a tragedy.
"We are optimistic to close in on those perpetrators, arrest and bring them to book", a source at the Unit told the GNA. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, who was preparing for the meeting at the time of the incident, came out to preside over it.
Source:
GNA
New Fuel saver software introduced ( <<< N E W ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - OLD RRR U B B I S H ! ! ! *GHANA-NET.COM )
Accra, Aug. 02, GNA - An international company on Thursday introduced a new fuel saving software chip onto the Ghanaian market. The chip, known as ECO fuel saver chip or BIOPRO QX-3 which costs 1.5 million cedis (GH 150), is designed to reduce emissions and increase mileage on both diesel and petrol engine vehicles. The Bio-Pro Chip, introduced by ARRMCON/AMI, influences fuel molecules in the fuel tank by opening them up and allowing them to hold more oxygen.
This results in cleaner burning of fuel in the combustion chamber and, therefore, less emissions and better engine preservation, Mrs. Florence Hymore, Executive Secretary of ARRMCON, the Eco Savers Afrique project who introduced the software said at a press conference in Accra. She said the chip was helping to process fuel in a programmed way in most vehicles, adding that it was not only good economically but environmentally, as it helped the engine to perform better. She said the chip gave fuel savings of up to 30 per cent and reduced emissions by up to 80 per cent and enhanced engine performance, combustion and power sound.
Mrs. Hymore said tests conducted in Italy, Austria, Germany and the US confirmed that ECO-Fuel savers not only increased engine-power output but also reduced key emissions.
She said by this those who used the product reduced pollution and saved money.
Source:
GNA
THE BIGGEST EVER RUBBISH !!!!!!!!!!!!!! CLICK HERE TO SE GOOGLE GERMANY ... !!! NOT EVEN A SINGLE PAGE
ABOUT BIOPRO QX-3 IN GERMAN OR ABOUT TESTS IN GERMANY !!!!! " Mrs. Hymore said tests conducted in Italy, Austria, Germany..."
DONT TRUST THAT PRODUCT ! SAVE YOUR MONEY !!! * GHANA-NET.COM
Sunday, > February 12, 2006 <
Dubious product of the month
And the award for "Most irrational operating principle for a questionable gas mileage enhancing gadget" goes to...
The Bio-Pro QX-3 Econo Fuel Chip by Fuel Chief!
It's hard to start about what is wrong with this explanation - I haven't seen such a bizarre butchery of physics since I found Dr. Gene Ray's Time Cube. They are claiming that it provides energy by sending photons into the gas tank. Now, photons are the carriers of light waves, so whether it emits photons should be easily tested. Two obvious questions:
1. Does the Fuel Chip emit light if you put it in a darkened room?
2. Does the light shine through a gas tank?
Even if its operating principle didn't break so many laws of physics, the product they sell doesn't even seem to match its own operating principle! If you wanted a device to supply your fuel with photons, I'd think a light bulb and a clear stretch of fuel line would be the way to test out this theory. Not putting stickers on an opaque gas tank!
But I think this may be my favorite line about these products:
"While the QX-3’s adhesive is strong, we recommend using super glue to securely attach the QX-3 to the gas-tank."
So they didn't even bother to make them with the right glue to stay in place for their intended use.
I've seen dozens of websites pedaling dubious automotive products, but this takes the cake.
# posted by Mad Scientist Matt @ 8:39 PM 2 comments links to this post
SOURCE : CLICK HERE
Security officers receive training in narcotics
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - Thirty-one officers from security agencies have undergone a training programme to sharpen their skills on basic drug enforcement techniques to enable them to adopt innovative strategies in the prevention and detection of illicit drug trafficking. Representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, Narcotics Control Board and the Prosecutor's Office of the Attorney Generals' Department attended the two-week course sponsored by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Presenting certificate s to the trainees at a ceremony in Accra, Mrs. Naana Amprutwum, Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, said Government would continue to enforce its policies and intensify surveillance on drug peddling to make the venture unattractive. She said equipping security officers with more techniques on areas such as counter narcotics, sea and port enforcement operations and border inspection was therefore crucial to augment Government's efforts to track down the peddlers.
Mrs Amprutwum said societies in recent times were not only concerned with the implications of drug peddling on economies, but also on difficulties encountered by the families of such culprits who were bread winners.
She therefore commended the US Embassy for sponsoring the programme and called for more collaboration between Ghana and US to strengthen security.
Nana Egyin Buadu, Chief Collector in-charge of the Narcotic Unit of the Customs, Excise and Prevention Service (CEPS), told GNA that the trainees had benefited a lot from the programme.
He identified closer collaboration between governments globally as the only means to rid countries of hard drugs.
Mr. Al Czerski, an Instructor for the Drug Enforcement Administration, commended the trainees for hard work and dedication during the course and urged them to impart the knowledge to other colleagues. 2 Aug. 07
Source:
GNA
Ghana, Germany to increase co-operation
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - Ghana and Germany on Thursday renewed their commitment to deepen bilateral co-operation. The two countries have had diplomatic relations for 50 years and German Foreign Minister, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, says it is time to look forward to the future together and intensify their shared socio-economic and political interests.
"We have to discuss fields we could increase our co-operation," he said during bilateral talks with President John Agyekum Kufuor on the first day of his two-day visit to the country. He made reference to Ghana's energy challenges and said Germany could help the country out with its broad spectrum of technology in this area.
Education is the other critical area that needed to be focused on, he said. Dr. Steinmeier said he would be discussing country projects they could develop for co-operation.
President Kufuor expressed appreciation to the German Government for the concern and care it had been showing to the country. He said there could not have been a better time to review the relations between the two nations than in a jubilee year. Ghana and Germany have related well and the friendship should continue to grow.
"You are here to see things for yourself and advice your Government that Ghana is the country to partner with." President Kufuor said human resource development was one of the key priorities of the Government and Ghana welcomed the support Germany would extend to the country.
Many Ghanaian medical professionals were German-trained and had proved to be capable and competent, he said adding that more could be done in this area. The Foreign Minister's visit is at the invitation of President Kufuor. 02 Aug. 07
Source:
GNA
German Foreign Minister visits Ghana
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Accra on Thursday afternoon from Nigeria for a-day's official visit.
A 30-man entourage accompanied him.
During a press briefing, Dr Steinmeier said the visit was timely since it marked 50 years of Ghana-German relations. It would also afford the two countries to reflect upon their past relations and forge ahead towards deeper partnership. The German Foreign Minister said his visit was a follow up to a meeting he had held with President John Agyekum Kufuor during the just ended G8 Summit.
Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei, Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that Germany had been of immense help to Ghana in the past. Briefing journalists on a closed-door meeting he had held with the German Minister soon after his arrival, Mr Osei Adjei said the two discussed ways in which Germany could be of assistance to Ghana to solve the current energy crisis facing the country.
He said other issues on the continent, such as the Darfur crisis and the political situation in la Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone were also discussed.
Mr Osei Adjei said Dr Steinmeier was expected to meet President Kufuor during his visit.
The visit formed parts of a two-state African tour that began with Nigeria.
Dr Steinmeier is expected to leave Ghana for Germany on Friday.
Source:
GNA
Irate youth waylay their chief at Manhyia
Kumasi, Aug. 2 GNA - Irate youth from Atwima Agogo in the Atwima Nwabiagya District on Thursday waylaid their chief, Nana Okyere Poku as he arrived at the Manhyia Palace to attend a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council.
The youth attacked Nana Poku in front of the Palace and forcibly tried to strip him of his traditional cloth and sandals to customarily signify his destoolment but his bodyguards were able to whisk him away to safety.
In the ensuing confusion Kwaku Mensah, 19, sustained cutlass wounds on his hands and scalp; while Kwaku Nsiah, 20, and Kwadwo Broni, 27, sustained various degrees of injury.
The victims were sent to the nearby Manhyia Hospital. However, Broni was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. An official of the Hospital, who pleaded anonymity, told GNA that Mensah absconded after treatment without settling his bill of GH=A2 50. The incident has been reported to the Police.
The attack, which occurred before Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, came to sit in state, did not in anyway affect the Traditional Council Meeting, Mr G.B. Osei Antwi, Communication Director at the Palace, said. Inspector Yussif Mohammed Tanko of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Unit confirmed the incident and said an intensive man-hunt for those involved had been mounted.
The attempted destoolment of Nana Poku, according to some of the youth, was triggered by his failure to fulfil earlier promises he made to reward the youth for the immense role they played in his enstoolment about a year ago.
The Chief was also said to have further provoked the youth by branding them as hooligans and "wee-smokers".
Source:
GNA
Probe Ghana@50 expenditure - NDC challenges Kufuor
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - Two leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to probe the huge expenditure of about 315.1 billion cedis spent on the Golden Jubilee commemoration by the Ghana@50 Secretariat.
"The call is in fulfilment of Government's own commitment to accountability and we plead that it should not degenerate into partisan bickering.
"If there is anything, we as Ghanaians must resolve to do on the occasion of our 50th Anniversary celebration, it should be to commit to fiercely resist unaccountable governance," Mr Mahama Ayariga and Mr Victor Smith stated at a press conference in Accra.
Mr. Ayariga who is the NDC MP for Bawku Central said the call was consistent with Article 41(f) of the 1992 Constitution; which mandated Ghanaians to expose and combat misuse and waste of public funds and property.
"In that regard we are calling for nothing less than a comprehensive probe into the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat...we would demand a disclosure of the details relating to every project undertaken in the name of the celebration.
"We demand for full disclosure of the companies and type of project executed, the bill of quantities relating to the project and the process for the selecting these companies," he said.
Giving statistics to support the call, Mr Ayariga alleged that Parliament on two occasions approved a sum of 188 billion cedis and 110.1 billion cedis, whiles contributions from corporate bodies amounted to about 22 billion cedis.
He explained that the Secretariat spent 6.815 billion cedis and 4.713 billion cedis on printing diaries and calendars respectively; 319 million cedis to create anniversary website; and 30.631 billion cedis on services.
Other expenditures were; 19.858 billion on furnishing the African Union housing even though 17.489 billion cedis was spent on putting up the house; 24.363 billion cedis on the VVIP lounge at the Kotoka International Airport; 24.349 billion cedis on restoration and rehabilitation of the Independence Square.
Mr Ayariga called for non-partisan condemnation of "gross display of financial recklessness and abuse of trust by the Ghana@50 Secretariat."
He alleged that Members of Parliament especially the minority were handicapped in their attempt to hold the Secretariat accountable on the premise that: "The framework for accountability does not allow MPs to question government appropriations until the submission of the Auditor-Generals financial report.
"This is not an effective mechanism for protecting the public purse, loss of funds to the state would have been occasioned...we therefore call for a more pre-emptive approach to protecting the public funds," he stated.
He also described as outrageous, the expenditure on the Presidential Palace and called for prudent financial expenditure by the government.
Mr. Smith, Aide to the former President Jerry John Rawlings, reiterated the position for non-partisan probing of the Ghana@50 Secretariat to ensure that public officials spent public funds judiciously. 02 Aug. 07
Source:
GNA
Minister urges unity of Africans for development
Assin-Manso (C/R), Aug 2, GNA - Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Wednesday called on Africans, including those in the Diaspora to use the celebration of Emancipation Day and PANAFEST as vehicles to pull the African race together towards the continent's development.
He observed that this could be achieved if Africans are able to change the tragedy of the slave trade into opportunities that would lead to real emancipation in the homeland and elsewhere in the world. Alhaji Abubakar made the call at durbar of chiefs organised to mark this year's Emancipation Day at Assin-Manso in the Central Region. It was under the theme: "Emancipation, our Heritage our Strength". Participants, included delegates from Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Cameroon, Barbados, Surinam, Virgin Island, the Caribbean, Jamaica and United States.
Alhaji Saddique said until Africans adopted their own "African personality", which recognizes them everywhere as one people, there was nothing that their governments will do that will lead to sustainable growth.
He said the government of Ghana was committed to facilitating the return of "brothers in the Diaspora" through the Joseph project to enable them know their roots and their history. "The moment of truth has finally come for Africans to re-write their own history and go back to their roots," he reiterated and called for "spirit of tolerance and accommodation of one another". "It may take us a long time to adjust but let us use the opportunities created by Emancipation day and the Joseph project to know more about ourselves and learn to become brothers and sisters in the real sense," he added.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, former Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, lauded the large Diaspora representation at this year's celebration and said it was a sign of many good things to happen. He suggested that they find time to interact with the local communities as part of the process of learning about their past and also bridging the gap between them after long separation. Barima Kwame Nkyi XII, Omanhen of the Assin Manso, tasked African scholars to re-write the continent's history to bring out the facts about the slave trade.
Respective representatives laid wreaths on the tombs of enslaved ancestors, including, Crystal, a Jamaican, and Samuel Carson, from the US, whose remains were re-interred at Assin Manso in 1998. The delegates also visited the Donkor Nsuo "Slave river" where slaves reportedly had their last bath before they were conveyed to the Elmina Castle to be shipped.
Source:
GNA
Ghana High Comission UK Relocation
NOTICE REFURBISHMENT OF THE BELGRAVE OFFICE AND TEMPORARY RELOCATION TO 104 HIGHGATE HILL
The general public is hereby informed that with effect from Tuesday, 7 August, 2007 the main office of the Ghana High Commission will re-locate from 13 Belgrave Square London SWIX 8PN to 104 Highgate Hill, London N6 5HE, the property that currently houses the Passport and Immigration Section, to make way for the renovation works to be carried out at the Belgrave Office.
Meanwhile, the Mission’s working hours will remain the same, i.e. from 9.30 – 12.30pm and from 1.30pm – 5.30pm Monday to Friday while the Passport and Immigration Section, which will continue to be at Highgate Hill, would retain its working hours of 9.30 am to 1.00pm.
All telephone numbers used at 13 Belgrave Square will similarly continue to be applicable at the new location.
MANAGEMENT GHANA HIGH COMMISSION, LONDON
Source:
GHANA HIGH COMMISSION, LONDON
Police swoop on copyright pirates
Accra, Aug. 1, GNA - The Copyright Office and the Nima Divisional Police Command have arrested two dealers in pirated copyright works and seized items valued at over two billion cedis. Thousands of pirated works made up of CDs, DVDs and VCDs of foreign music and movies and works of some local artistes and producers were seized in the dawn swoop from a warehouse at Sukura, a suburb in Accra. A statement issued by the Copyright Office said the Nima District Police Commander and the Crime Officer led the joint exercise, which lasted four hours. Some of the local works confiscated were various album titles (both
video and audio) and special compilations of artistes such as K. K. Fosu, Kojo Antwi, Esther Smith, Daddy Lumba, Ofori Amponsah, Barosky, Obour, Kwaku Gyasi, Ama Boahema Mama Esther, Castro, the late Bishop Michael Osei Bonsu and Maame Pokua. Others are local film producers such Danfo B.A Production, A.A. Production, Miracle Films, Venus Films, Movie Africa, Harry Laud Production and O.J Productions.
The statement said the inlays of most of the local works found were scanned together with the adhesive labels. "The outlook of the works therefore to a layman on the street appeared to be genuine works." The Nima Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Mr Awuni Angwubutoge, expressed disappointment at the increasing rate at which copyright works were being reproduced and sold at reduced prices at the expense of owners.
"Pirating deprives many composers, performers and their producers the right to enjoy the fruit of their labour", he said. He said two Nigeriens - Muntari Issaka and Iddrissa - who were arrested during the swoop would be arraigned as soon as investigations were completed. "I am informed these pirated works are imported from the neighbouring countries. I therefore call on the law enforcement agencies at the borders and the police patrol teams at various checkpoints to look out for such pirated works being imported into the country," the Divisional Police chief said. C/Superintendent Angwubutoge advised the public to examine the type of audio and audiovisual works they buy to ensure that they are genuine. He called on the public to report such people to the law enforcement agencies for appropriate actions to be taken.
Mr Alfred Kumi-Atiemo, an Assistant Director in-charge of Public Relations at the Copyright Office, bemoaned the influx of pirated works and improper importation of copyright works into the country. Mr Socrate Sarfo of Movie Africa, a film producer, expressed surprise at the large quantities of copyright materials seized. "These guys are killing us; the cost of film production is over 500 million cedis. It is difficult for any film producer to break even today as result of piracy," he said.
Source:
GNA
C/R HIV/AIDS prevalence rate drops
Cape Coast, Aug 1, GNA- Dr McDamien Dedzo, Central Regional Deputy Director of Public Health on Tuesday announced that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the region had dropped further to 2.5 percent in 2006. He said the region, with a population of more than two million people recorded a rate of 3.5 percent in 2004, which dropped to 2.9 percent in 2005. Dr Dedzo said the region by 2006 recorded a cumulative number of 7,168 HIV/AIDS cases from 1,844 cases in 1988 and that 730 new HIV/AIDS positive cases were detected last year.
Dr Dedzo, was giving an overview of the AIDS situation in the region, at a 'mid-year regional review meeting on HIV/AIDS control programme', attended by more than 80 participants drawn from the Ghana Education Service (GES), NGO's, Ghana Health Service (GHS) and district assemblies at Cape Coast. It was among others, aimed at reviewing the performance of all stakeholders and to deliberate on issues concerning HIV/AIDS in the region with the view to finding a lasting solution towards achieving quality and better health care. He said last year, 99 health staff in the region were trained in the management of opportunistic and sexually transmitted infections (STI's) 60, for visiting, counselling and testing (VCT) services, whilst 30 midwives were trained in the use of the rapid test kids for HIV and to effectively control the spread of the menace.
Mr Ebenezer Koomson, regional HIV/AIDS Coordinator, in his presentation stated that during the first six months of the year, a total of 881 clients, comprising 489 females and 392 males were counselled out of which 627 made up of 363 females and 264 males were tested. He said 242 of them comprising 69 females and 73 males were found to be HIV positive. He said some of the challenges militating against the control of the disease were how to reduce stigma and accept AIDS as a chronic disease and the provision of anti-retroviral treatment and care in every district.
Mr Ishmael Nana Ogyefo, regional monitoring and evaluation focal person on HIV/AIDS also mentioned some of the challenges encountered during the first half of the year as lack of support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs), weak linkages among the implementing agencies and over reliance of funds from Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC). He observed that the region was making progress in its fight against the pandemic as evidenced in its prevalence rate and that the trend can be sustained if stakeholders strengthen their collaboration at all levels. Mr Michael Essandoh, Chief Director of the Regional Co-Coordinating Council (RCC), in a welcoming address, commended the region for its achievement in the reduction of the prevalence rate, but cautioned the stakeholders not to be complacent. "You must rather continue working hard to become the region with the lowest prevalence rate in the country". Dr Aaron Offei, Regional Director of GHS, who presided, noted that everybody was still vulnerable to the disease and stressed the need for a collaborated effort to deal with the menace.
Source:
GNA
Pilgrims hold vigil to remember former slave ancestors
Cape Coast, Aug. 1, GNA- Pilgrims made up of mainly Africans in the Diaspora, on Tuesday night, held a 'reverential' ceremony in memory of the former slave ancestors at the Cape Coast castle to herald the declaration of Emancipation day, at Assin Manso on Wednesday.
The solemn ceremony, which is held as part of PANAFEST/Emancipation Day celebration, was characterized by wailing by majority of the pilgrims who turned out in their numbers for the occasion. They had initially gone on a candle light procession before getting to the gates of the castle, where libation was offered before they entered the castle.
Libation was again offered at the 'Nana Tabiri shrine' beside the male dungeon, after which wreaths were laid in memory of the ancestors. Among those who laid the wreaths were Nana Kwabena Nketia, Omanhen of Esikado traditional area, Dr Leonard Jeffries, an academia from the United States, on behalf of the government of Ghana, chiefs and Africans in the Diaspora and those in Africa, respectively.
Professor James Small, one of the leaders of the Africans in the Diaspora in a speech to herald Emancipation Day, cautioned Africans and those in the Diaspora to ensure that "what happened to their ancestors never happened again to their children." He said there was nothing good about slave trade and that the motivating factor of the perpetrators of this heinous crime was to "selfishly" take away Africa's human and material resources to develop Europe and the Americas. He said as a result, he does not wear "gold or diamond ornaments" because it symbolized the blood of the ancestors that were spilled to extract the minerals.
Dr Jefferies, urged Ghanaians to open up to those in the Diaspora who want to come and settle in Ghana, and said the development of Africa was a duty incumbent on all Africans, including those in the Diaspora and urged all to contribute their quota to ensure the socio-economic development of the continent. Ms Bridget Katsireku, Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, said most of "our ancestors taken away from us" during the slave trade were the talented and skilled ones who could have helped in the development of Africa but were whisked away to develop Europe and the Americas. According to her, despite the pain and sadness which Africans often experience at the remembrance of the slave trade, Africans and those in the Diaspora still derive inspiration from the fact that "we have in the end realized that we are one people with a common destiny".
The Chief Director stressed that Ghana was still committed to hosting PANAFEST/Emancipation Day, notwithstanding, the desire of some African countries to also host the event. In a welcoming address, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, also urged the Africans in the Diaspora "to put into action" whatever plans they had to accelerate the development of Africa. He stated that from every indication the next PANAFEST/Emancipation day celebration was going to be bigger, considering that the festival has become popular and has attracted many Africans in the Diaspora.
Source:
GNA
Parliament takes 3-months long break
NEW. Watch live television from Ghana plus the latest Ghanaian movies.
Accra, July 31, GNA - Parliament winded up business on Friday until October 23 when the House would re-convene for the third and last session of the year.
A number of bills, including the Anti-Money Laundering, Bui Power Authority and the Protection of Personal Information Bills were introduced in the House during this session.
The House was able to work on the Bui Power Authority 2007,Transfer of Convicted Persons and the National Accreditation Board Bills and passed them into law.
Some Legislative Instruments and 20 loan agreements were also approved among a number of businesses considered during this meeting. Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader, in his closing remarks said the leadership of the minority in parliament had observed that some agreements, particularly loan agreements, were introduced to parliament for approval a few days before recess.
"This phenomenon makes it extremely impossible for Honourable Members to subject these agreements to scrutiny. As a result little or no critical appraisal is done before these agreements are passed." "Mr Speaker, it is the duty of parliament to ensure that sufficient time and attention is spent on these agreements and not to succumb to the overbearing pressure of the executive," the Minority Leader said. He touched on various issues including the energy crisis and called for a quick solution.
Mr Felix Owusu-Agyepong, Majority Leader, said parliament was gradually moving towards stable and sustainable democratic governance. He said the next meeting of the House would witness new faces of ministers on the floor to answer questions because of the ministerial re-shuffle.
"I am particularly happy about the number of females who have been elevated or introduced into government. I believe that this is as result of the relentless efforts of our female counterparts in fighting for women's rights and empowerment," the Majority said.
Mr Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes, the Speaker, thanked members, staff and the media for making the session a success.
Source:
GNA
Parliament blocks nomination, defers two others
Accra, July 30, GNA - Parliament on Monday declined the approval of three nominees of President John Agyekum Kufuor for Deputy Ministerial appointment citing reasons ranging from financial impropriety, integrity, inconsistency and loyalty to the nation.
The House after a heated exchange between Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader and Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim, Chief of Staff decided that it would defer the nomination of Mr Ken-Wuud Nuworsu and Ms. Victoria Bright who had been nominated for Deputy Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment and Deputy Minister at the Office of the President respectively. The was after Mr. Freddie Blay, Chairman of the Appointments Committee had presented the report of the Committee to the House indicating that they had disapproved the nomination of Reverend Dr. Akwasi Owusi Bi, Deputy Minister Designate for Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI. The House however, approved 11 other nominees presented by the President.
Mr. Blay called the House's attention to the fact that Mr. Nuworsu was the only one whose nomination was approved by a majority vote. However, when the House was called to adopt the report, Mr Bagbin said he should not be given the nod until the Committee had been supplied with enough information on the nominee.
"We must wait till we have been fully furnished with information from the Serious Fraud Office, which should be given the opportunity to testify and their report on allegations against Mr. Nuworsu made available to the Committee. The same should be for CHRAJ and the Auditor-General's Report that made serious negative report on the nominee."
Mr. Bagbin said the Committee would not fight personal battles for any husband, but noted that the report before the committee showed that the nominee, when given the nod to serve the nation was found wanting in many respects.
"We should not be seen rewarding such disfunctionality and Parliament should be giving the signal that when individuals are given the opportunity, they must serve with a high degree of responsibility."
"We therefore should not give approval for Mr Nuworsu. We must go back to the Appointments Committee and go further into the report and confront him on the findings," he said, arguing: "There are precedents in this House where the Chairmen of Political parties were called in to testify."
Mr. Mpianim, who tried to talk on behalf of Mr Nuworsu, was halted on the point of locus standi.
Ms. Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children Affairs also tried in vain to argue that Mr Nuworsu had been approved by consensus, but other members said it was clear that the nominee only got a majority vote.
"As for Victoria Bright she is already in the President's Office, But she would not have the tag of a Minister," the Minority Leader said, pressing home that it was important for her nationality to be properly clarified.
He said he was of the opinion that, "there must be a further check up on Ms. Bright, noting that it was not enough for one to have denounced his or her citizenship just by filing a renunciation document."
Mr Bagbin said it was also found out that Ms. Bright filed her renunciation of British citizenship on July 16 and not 17th as she told the committee.
"I think there is a whole procedure to follow before you renounce citizenship. The Committee did not have the opportunity to access the nominee and when the Committee sought to know if she was even a registered voter, her initial reaction was a show of arrogance that sent the members very peeved.
"It is proper we re-examine the nominee," he added.
On Reverend Owusu-Bi, the Committee by a majority vote disapproved his nomination citing untruths and inconsistencies in his submissions. Mr. Bagbin, in seconding the motion said he had problems with the nominee since, "it is important for us to know the kind of pastor we are dealing with."
Parliament approves 11 out of 14 Presidential nominees
Accra, July 30, GNA - Parliament on Monday approved 11 out of 14 nominations sent to it by President John Agyekum Kufuor last week. The Appointments Committee however, blocked the nomination of Reverend Dr Akwasi Owusu-Bi and deferred the nominations of Ms. Victoria Bright, Deputy Minister Designate at the Office of The President and Mr. Ken-Wuud Nuworsu, Deputy Minister Designate for Manpower, Youth and Employment.
They cited reasons ranging from financial mpropriety, integrity, inconsistency and loyalty to the nation.
Moving a motion for the House to adopt the report of the Committee, Mr. Freddie Blay, Chairman of the Appointments Committee said they approved the 11 after they had met its requirements by consensus according to Standing Order 172, Section 4.
Mr. Alban Kingsford Bagbin, Minority Leader, in seconding the motion said it was important for the House not to be seen as rewarding wrongdoing by nominees when they were entrusted with public office. The nominees approved are Mr. Abraham Ossei-Aidooh, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah, Minister Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Godfrey T. Bayon, Minister of State at Ministry of Transportation and Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.
The others are Mr. Samuel Obodai, Deputy Minister, Central Region, Mr. Ofosu Asamoah, Deputy Minister Eastern Region and Mrs. Agnes Chigabatia, Deputy Minister, Upper East Region.
The rest are Mrs. Winifred Assibi Dy-Yakah, Deputy Minister Upper West Region, Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment and Mr. Frank Agyekum, Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Mr. Nuworsu and Ms. Bright's nomination were deferred in order to enable the Committee make further findings on them.
The Committee blocked Rev. Owusu-Bi nomination because he, among other issues proved to be inconsistent and untruthful in his submissions to the Committee.
He also told the Committee that he called himself reverend even though he had no formal training in theology. He said he was however, ordained by a church in the USA.
Source:
GNA