Canadians seize stolen vehicles headed for Ghana
Montreal police have recovered four stolen high-priced vehicles - including two from the United States - in crates at the port, and they're on the hunt for more.
Police located the four late-model vehicles at the port July 8 after receiving a tip about the shipper, a Canadian export firm, Det.-Lt. Bob Laplante, of the Montreal police crimes against property unit, said yesterday.
He would not provide details about the company, but said there could be more arrests and more stolen cars may be found.
Port of Montreal officials halted the shipment, which was headed for Ghana, Laplante said. The cargo containers with the crates in them were later opened and the vehicles were transported to a secure car lot Thursday.
The recovered vehicles include two Canadian-owned SUVs - a Hummer and a GMC Yukon - and two pickup trucks with U.S. registrations: a Toyota Tacoma and a Ford F350, Laplante said.
The Ford belongs to Dave Marricco, the man featured in a July 10 Gazette story about car thieves targeting U.S. tourists.
Thieves look for high-end cars with U.S. plates - especially in hotel parking lots - because they tend not to have functioning tracking systems, Laplante said.
"That's why they target the American cars," he said.
(LoJack, a tracking system found in some high-end U.S. cars, does not work in Canada.)
Cars from other provinces are also targeted because they take longer to report as stolen than Quebec ones, Laplante said.
"Mainly the cars end up in the United Arab Emirates," he said, adding it is cheaper to pay thieves to steal a car here and have it shipped than to purchase such vehicles over there.
Source:
MAX HARROLD, The Gazett
Credit-package disbursed to 17 farmers groups
Tamale, July 28, GNA- Under the Livestock Development Project (LDP) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) over 284 million cedis has been disbursed to 17 livestock farmer groups in the Tamale Metropolis to increase livestock production.
Under the package, the beneficiary farmer groups, who are mainly ruminant farmers each received 30 million cedis which would be paid over a period of time with an interest rate of 24 per cent.
Mr. Sylvester Adongo, Northern Regional Director of MOFA said this in a speech read for him at a day's sensitisation seminar organised by the Northern Livestock Farmers Association (NORLFA) in Tamale on Saturday.
The forum was under the theme: "Advocacy for regulatory policy to check Fulani herdsmen in the North" and was sponsored by the BUSAC Fund.
Mr. Adongo said under the LDP, 10 districts in the Northern Region, namely: Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Tolon/kumbungu, Central Gonja, West Gonja, East Gonja, Karaga, Gushiegu, East Mamprusi, Bunkurugu/Yunyo and Saboba/Chereponi Districts had been selected to benefit.
Mr. Adongo said under the breed improvement component of the LDP, the Pong-Tamale centre had been renovated and restocked with improved breeds of small ruminants from which farmers in the Tamale Metropolis were benefiting from.
The Regional Director of MOFA said the Farmer Project had also been able to support four nucleus sheep farmers to establish nucleus sheep farms in the Metropolis.
He however expressed disappointment that under the stock water development component of the LDP under which eight communities in the Metropolis were selected to benefit from, up till now, none of them had benefited from either a borehole or a dugout.
Mr. Adongo called for a policy to check the harmful activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country.
Mr. Sumaila Seidu Hudu, Northern Regional Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS)-in-charge of alien registration said the Service had started to introduce the Alien Registration Card (ARC) to Fulani herdsmen to help check their movement in the country.
He said their efforts were however been hindered by the uncooperative attitude of cattle owners and some chiefs and appealed to the other security agencies, the district assemblies and opinion leaders to assist the GIS enforce the laws on the Fulani herdsmen.
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GNA
Lebanese Company Snubs National Security Orders
INTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS conducted by this paper into activities of a Lebanesse Company, Lewadis, revealed a chilling account of how the company has managed to continue with its operations at a site designated as a security zone close to the Ghana Cote d' Ivoire boarder in Elubo in the Western region.
The company, which was registered under the Free Zones and had its ten-year tax holiday period expired last year, has incorporating another huge duty free shop, DIPLO FZ, which is located within the same security zone to deal in the same items that their first company traded in raising eyebrows about a possible ploy to fold-up the former company as a way of avoiding the payment of tax to the state.
Lewadis has the same directors as DIPLO FZ and the former was due to start the payment of corporate tax this year. The establishment of the new company is something that is attracting the anger of some officials at the Ghana Free Zones Board to the extent that the authorities of the Board have refused to grant a new license to the company.
This information came in the wake of activities of the Lebanese Company ignoring directives of National Security to suspend the project until certain conditions were fulfilled.
Following the agitations and complaints of officials of Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Customs Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Immigration and Security Officials at Elubo about the location of the warehouse.
Sources within the Ghana Free Zones Board raised suspicions of a possible underhand dealings to compromise state security officials to the advantage of the Lebanese Company hence the continued operation of the company at the zone.
Independent checks conducted by this paper at Elubo Boarder revealed that agitations among some security officials had reached its peak among the residents of the area following what they asserted as total disregard of the orders of National Security by the Lebanese Company.
This paper can reveal that top officials of CEPS, BNI, Immigration and other security officers at the boarder are also not happy at the rate at which, huge warehouse belonging to DIPLO FZ within a security zone is being established.
Residents whose livelihood mainly depend on retail businesses, have threatened not to vote for the ruling NPP in the 2008 general elections with the assertions that the government had granted permit to foreign companies to put a warehouse at a security zone to ostensibly 'kill' their small retail businesses.
One official lamented that, "If CEPS and Immigration did not have land to put up their offices as claimed by estate department, then how come the Lebanese company was still putting up their structures in such a security zone."
The officials at CEPS, Immigration, BNI and others, who were tight lipped on the matter.
This paper gathered that the anger from the local security officials and that of the residents were as a result of an earlier decision taken by a three-member committee which was set up by the National Security Minister, Mr. Francis Poku to go into the case but was said to have been reversed.
The Foreign Company DIPLO FZ limited owns Forewin and Lewadis Ghana Limited.
The Chronicle can report that currently the Ghana Free Zones Board is refusing to grant license to DIPLO and the decision is based on the position of the National Security that the project should be abandoned until further notice.
According to some officials, they have vehemently opposed the building of the structure and raised various objections but could not understand the source of power and authority of the Labanese Company in establishing a duty free shop in a well-known security area.
The Managing Director of the DIPLO FZ, Mr. Ghassan Yared, admitted not complying with the directives of the National Security but was quick to say that though his building was almost complete, efforts were being put in place to satisfy the conditions.
Speaking to this paper on telephone a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Yared said, "From the beginning we had problems with the authorities but I can tell you that the project is ongoing. The work is in progress and when we finish, we shall let the public know," he said. But when he was contacted again later on phone, he said he was out of Ghana and that his lawyers were around to discuss matters relating to his company.
The CEPS boss, Mr. Emmanuel Doku, declined to comment on the matter and directed this reporter to the Estate Manager, who also said he could not speak but directed this paper to the Public Affairs Manageress, Mrs. Anni Anipa, who could not be reached for her comments.
The Assistant Commissioner of CEPS at the Boarder, Mr. Baafour Dzumor, also declined to give details of the matter. According to him, the project had been in progress before he assumed office in six months ago.
He told this paper that though there were some complaints, the matter was jointly being discussed by the National Security and BNI, adding that the Estate Manager at CEPS would be in position to give further accounts.
He said the National Security had set up a committee with one Col. Yahaya as Chairman to investigate the matter and the committee had been at the site on three occasions.
The Former Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Akwerh, also refused to speak on the matter when contacted.
Ms Elizabeth Adjei, the Commissioner for Immigration expressed knowledge about the hullabaloo of the project but stated that her outfit did nothing wrong, when this paper contacted her.
Mr. Francis Poku, the Minister of National Security, told this paper that his outfit had set up a three-member committee chaired by Col. Yahaya to delve into the troubles and agitations to ensure that the security at the area was not breached.
He said his outfit would be monitoring all the activities of the company to ensure that nobody takes the security of the state for a ride.
He promised to take a trip to the area to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the report.
One Mr. Hyde, Officer in charge of Immigration at the Elubo told this paper that his outfit was opposed to the building of the warehouse but could not understand the reasons behind the rapidity with which the building was being put up.
Our investigations revealed that in 1999, a Ghanaian company acquired a plot adjacent the Lebanese's interest for commercial purposes.
It began the construction of a retail outlet (Duty Free shop) but was compelled to stop by the National Security. The building was therefore not completed and has since been abandoned.
It is also on record that the Lebanese-owned company was also asked to stop construction of the building by the National Security, citing security concerns.
At a top-level meeting, it was determined that the CEPS had no right to have given the land to the Lebanese-owned company and that whatever transaction had been entered into by any state institution with respect to any parcel of land within the security zone be reversed.
Source:
Chronicle
Parliament approves nominations of 12 Ministers
Accra, July 27, GNA - Parliament on Friday approved the nomination of Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD and Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie as Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The House also approved the nominations of 10 newly appointed ministers after the Appointments Committee of Parliament presented its report to the House after vetting the nominees.
The Ministers are: Mr Ben Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications, Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment and Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative.
Others are: Mr Samuel Owusu-Agyei, Minister of State in- Charge of Public Sector Reforms, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Nana Obiri Boahene, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior and Ms Cecilia Dapaah, Minister of State at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing. The rest are: Mr George Benson, Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister and Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister.
The House later approved an increase in the District Assemblies' Common Fund from the current five per cent to 7.5 of the total national revenue. It takes effect from January 1, 2008.
Increasing demands on the assemblies by government institutions such as the Police Service, the creation of new districts and the implementation of the National Youth Employment Programme are some reasons for the upward adjustment of Fund.
Members of Parliament called for effective monitoring and oversight responsibility over the Assemblies to ensure the proper utilization of monies sent them.
They said the monitoring role of Members and auditing by the appropriate agencies must be strengthened.
Meanwhile, the House is expected to rise next week Tuesday after an address by former UN Secretary-General, Busumuru Kofi Annan, at a special meeting to be held in his honour.Source:
GNA
9-12% of Ghanaian women underwent FGM
Kumasi, July 27, GNA- Rural Help Integration, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) providing reproductive health care services, has estimated that between nine and 12 per cent of Ghanaian female population had undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The finding was as a result of a recent study by the NGO to assess the impact of FGM practice on Ghanaian women.
The research which was funded by the UNPF further established that the practice was mainly motivated by traditional beliefs and misconception about women.
It indicated that the practice which could result in excessive bleeding and death of infant victims, also affected victim's sensitivity to sex in adult life.
Madam Renee Bernard, a Human Rights Activist, disclosed this at a sensitization workshop on Women's Rights organized by Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), an NGO for media personnel in the Ashanti Region, in Kumasi on Thursday.
She said the FGM was most prevalent in the Upper East and Upper West Regions, particularly communities with the Northern extraction. Madam Bernard said in the practice was also prevalent among migrants from the North-Eastern and North-Western parts of Ghana, Mali, Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso.
She expressed worry that in spite of the amendment of the criminal code to criminalise FGM, many women continued to be subjected to the outmoded practice.
Madam Bernard, therefore, appealed to the media to campaign against FGM and other abuses against women in order to raise their self-esteem. Madam Alice Botchway, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Women of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, said there was the need to ensure the participation of women at all levels of decision-making and implementation of development policies and programmes to raise their standards of living.
Mr. Ernest Owusu-Dapaah, Executive Secretary of the Centre for Human Rights and Advanced Legal Research, called for the integration of gender sensitization and human rights education at all levels of education towards the improvement of the country's human rights.
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GNA
MP urges govt to avert rapid spread of guineaworm
Accra, July 27, GNA - Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, Member of Parliament for Savelugu has called on the Government to take immediate steps to eradicate the guineaworm disease in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region.
She said the disease had become so endemic in the area that if urgent measures were not taken to curb its spread, the whole population would be infected and would affect economic activities leading to poverty.
Hajia Boforo made the appeal when she briefed newsmen in Parliament on the thre tening health condition of the people in Savelugu/Nanton District. The MP noted that even though organizations such as the World Vision, UNICEF and other non-governmental organizations were playing their part in the provision of potable water in the area it was just not enough to arrest the problem. "I wish to congratulate World Vision, UNICEF, and the other groups in the area that are providing potable water for the people," she said. Hajia Boforo appealed to the government to expedite work on the Tamale Water Project, for the benefit of the people in the district. She urged the people to boil and sieve their water before using it.
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GNA
Guns destroyed in Ho
Ho, July 27, GNA - Some 446 guns were destroyed in Ho on Thursday to mark the United Nations Weapons Destruction Day, commemorated every July 9.
They included cap, short and long barrel guns many of which were clandestinely manufactured locally. Lieutenant Frank Kusi-Darko of the 66th Artillery Regiment Ho who commandeered the destruction exercise, said the guns were seized in joint military/police exercises at conflict zones, busted armed robberies and swoops.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Deputy Minister of the Interior who torched the pile of guns mounted at the Police Depot and Training School in Ho, said it was hoped that the legislation on small arms which also set up the National Commission on Small Arms would curb the desire to possess illicit guns and document those in use. The UNDP and DFID-UK supported the day's activities, which were under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior with the theme, "Ghana's Development Through the Campaign Against the Proliferation and Misuse of Small Arms".
The National Commission on Small Arms organized the activities, which included a route march of school pupils and students, a durbar and an informal interaction with the media. Mr Agyeman-Manu told the durbar attended by the security services, pupils and students and chiefs that preceded the destruction of guns that the proliferation of illicit small and light weapons had serious implications on human security as profoundly manifested in West Africa. He said the phenomenon "fuels human rights violations, escalates conflicts and intensifies poverty".
Mr Agyeman-Manu said it had been "empirically established that small arms kill more than half a million men, women and children on average each year globally".
He blamed the recent spate of robberies and the premeditated murders and domestic tragedies on the proliferation of arms. Mr Agyeman-Manu advised that "let he who has no small arms desire not to own one for it can bring a family tragedy. Let he who has illicit small arms to the police to regularize it, for it can send you to jail".
He added, "let he who possesses small arm(s) legally use it responsibly, for it make you regret keeping one for the rest of you life".
Dr. Kofi Kesse Manfo, Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) in charge of operations, said the police were progressing steadily to get the perpetrators of the recent murders.
He said it was however to early to release facts or say whether the people were contracted to carry out the killings.
Mr Daouda Toure, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in a statement read on his behalf, said Ghana joining in the worldwide observance of the day mirrored the country as a peace loving one and ready to work to stop the proliferation of small arms. Sarah MacGregor, a Representative of DFID, said the project to curb the proliferation would help reduce conflicts.
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GNA
Ewe Associations in North America arrive for convention
Accra, July 27, GNA - Members of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) arrived in Accra on Friday to participate in a convention aimed to stimulate the development of the Volta Region. The convention, which is usually held in the US and Canada, has been shifted to Ghana this year as part of the country's golden jubilee celebrations.
About 500 people, including traditional rulers, entrepreneurs and professionals, would take part in the 10-day convention to discuss the state of development of Ewe communities across Africa. The convention, under the theme: "Educational Development in Eweland; Focusing on Infrastructure Improvement," would also brainstorm on ways of speeding up integrated development of the communities through collaboration with development partners.
At a press conference on arrival, Mr. Wallace Setranah, President of CEANA, told journalists that the convention was being held at Ho this year to allow the Diaspora community to interact and strengthen cooperation among the people.
He said members would also use the occasion to provide communal labour to help build a 20,000-dollar three-unit classroom complex for a junior secondary school at Sovie in the Kpando District. There will also be sod-cutting for construction works on another three-unit classroom block for Tanyigbe Primary School, near Ho, and other community services.
"We hope that by sharing our time and resources with our people, this effort will ignite a renewed sense of citizenship among our people to move them to engage in self-help projects that will enhance and enrich the development of Eweland and ultimately the lives of the people," Mr. Setranah said.
He said CEANA had in the past undertaken various activities, including a donation of about 3.4 million dollars worth of medical equipment to nine hospitals in the Volta Region and Republic of Togo. The organisation also donated an Electro-Cardiogram and large quantities of hospital supplies to the Cardiology Centre at Korle Bu Hospital.
Mr Setranah said the group had also instituted a scholarship programme for brilliant but needy students pursuing secondary education in the Volta Region and Togo.
Ms. Ivy Quarshie, Executive Director CEANA, said the group was doing all it could to bring investment into key areas of the region to generate employment and development.
CEANA is an umbrella group of all Ewe associations and organisations in North America. The association's membership comprises all Ewe-speaking people of Ghana, Togo and Benin. It has over 2,000 members.
Some of the activities lined up are courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of Asogli Traditional Area and the Regional Minister.
There would be a lecture by Major (Rtd) Courage Quashigah, Minister of Health, on Ghana@50 - The State of Volta Region, as well as an excursion to Notsie in Togo, Kpetoe Kente Weavers and Aflao Cement Factory.
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GNA
Children of cocoa farmers should benefit from scholarship
Kumasi, July 27, GNA - Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, has appealed to License Cocoa Buying Companies (LBCs) to ensure that children of cocoa farmers benefit from scholarship schemes instituted in the name of the cocoa farmers. She said it was regrettable that scholarships meant to support the children of cocoa farmers were diverted to benefit those whose parents had no cocoa farms.
In an address read for her at the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Kuapa Kokoo Limited in Kumasi on Thursday, Madam Appiagyei urged the LBCs to educate their farmers on scholarships to enable them to take advantage of them and sent their children to school. She said cocoa farmers had played significant roles in the socio-economic development of the nation and there was the need for them and their families to benefit from initiatives by the government. Madam Appiagyei said the government wished to attain a million tonnes of cocoa production and that was why it had introduced a number of measures such as the mass spraying exercise, high tech cocoa seedlings and fertilizers.
She commended Kuapa Kokoo for providing social amenities in their areas of operation.
Mr P.C.K Buah, National President of the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union, said members would, for the first time, receive a dividend of 47,379 pounds this year from the Divine Chocolate Company in London. He urged members to increase production to ensure that the company obtained higher tonnage next season. Mr Alexander Balfour, Board Chairman of Divine Chocolate Company, said the company, which is owned by members of Kuapa kokoo, had been able to stand on its feet, hence the ability to declare that dividend to members who had the majority share in the company. He urged the management of the company to ensure that each of the 600,000 members received his share of the dividend.
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GNA
Ministry urges media to exercise caution in juvenile cases
Accra, July 27, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs on Friday urged the media to exercise "the necessary caution" in matters relating to juveniles pointing out that the laws give them privacy during arrest, investigation, trial and at any other stage of the matter.
A statement issued in Accra on Friday by Ms Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, noted with regret that newspapers openly gave the identity of two juveniles involved in suspected drug case, saying this contravened the law.
She quoted the Criminal Justice Act (Act 653) as saying: "A juvenile has the right to privacy during arrest, investigation of the offence, at the trial of the offence and at any other stage of the cause or matter.
"A person shall not in the course of arrest, investigation or trial of an offence connected with a juvenile or at any other stage of the case or matter release any information for publication that may lead to the identification of the juvenile."
Hajia Alima added that the Children's Act (Act 560) also states: "No person shall publish information that may lead to the identification of a child in any matter before a Family Tribunal except with the permission of the Family Tribunal."
She said it would be prudent on Ghana's part, if the media exercised the necessary caution in this respect, in recognition of the law.
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GNA
PV Obeng denies ever taking bribe from SCANCOM
Accra, July 27, GNA - Mr P.V. Obeng, a former top advisor under the Provisional Defence Council (PNDC) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) administrations, on Friday de nied claims that he took bribes from Norwegian cement giant, SCANCEM.
"I know nothing of the alleged payments whatsoever and certainly nothing about the alleged Bank accounts in Switzerland or elsewhere," he said in a statement emailed to GNA from London.
"I wish to state here and now quite categorically that I have never ever made any admissions or any statements, 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."
An official of the Company who is in court in Norway for embezzlement has said he paid bribes into two separate accounts allegedly owned by Mr Obeng and former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Nana Konadu has also dismissed the allegations. Giving his side of the story he said he received and completed a questionnaire for a Norwegian newspaper and then received a phone call whilst in London from a journalist in Ghana.
"In the very brief conversation the reporter sought to know if I knew about a court case in Norway involving Mr. Tor Kjelsaas and his former employers, Scancem.
"The very poor connection did not allow for any lengthy conversation, which was in any case terminated when the line got cut off. It appears my simple reply to his queries is now what has been twisted or misinterpreted as my alleged admission to the receipt of millions of dollars for consultancy payments."
Mr. Obeng said his Company did some consulting work for the Norwegian company SCANCEM after he left public office in December 1996 and had been paid for its services.
He said he registered his consultancy company in the middle of 1997 after leaving public office in December 1996, and began a search for clients.
He said in 1998 his consultancy firm was retained by four companies; two from Norway one from the United Kingdom and the other from the United States of America
"One of the Norwegian companies was SCANCEM with whom my company entered into a retainer agreement which began in mid 1998 and expired in December, 2006.
"The monthly retainer fees paid by the company was exceedingly low even by local standards but we continued to work for them with the view of building the necessary foundation for the company and to build a good corporate profile." Mr Obeng said he did not work as a consultant for SCANCEM and SCANCEM never engaged him to work for them in any manner while in public office.
"Indeed I can emphatically say that during my long stay in pubic office I did not accept to serve on boards of companies, whether public or private, foreign or local because I am acutely aware of the conflict of interest situations I might be placed in. It obviously will defy logic to place myself in such a position in relation to SCANCEM".
He said he had referred the matter to his solicitors "with firm instructions to take immediate, necessary and prudential steps 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".
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GNA
MP Slaps MP
..Later Apologizes
Minority condemns incident as "unparliamentary"
Accra, July 26, GNA - Mr Ibrahim Tanko Rauf, the MP who slapped his colleague on the floor of Parliament just before the Speaker came in on Thursday, has apologised to his colleague, the nation, Parliament and all MPs for his "act of indiscretion".
"I wish to unreservedly apologise to my colleague friend, Hon. Sampson Ahi for the unfortunate act of indiscretion on my part towards him this morning. I particularly apologise to his constituents, the hardworking citizens of Juaboso constituency," he said in a signed statement in Accra.
Mr Rauf, NDC MP for Yagaba/Kubori, wrote: "I further apologise to my colleague Hon. Members of Parliament, Parliament as an institution, my party and the nation as a whole....I sincerely regret it." He said as mortal, he was not infallible and therefore admitted his conduct was unparliamentary and sincerely regretted it.
The Minority in Parliament had already condemned Mr Rauf who was seen slapping Mr Ahi, NDC MP for Juaboso, on Thursday just before proceedings began in the House.
In a statement signed by Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader, the Minority described it as "an unfortunate incident" saying it wished to "express its indignation at the unparliamentary conduct of Hon. Ibrahim Rauf Tanko towards Hon. Sampson Ahi...following a misunderstanding between them".
"The Minority wishes to condemn the conduct of the honourable member outright," it said.
"(However) the conduct is being investigated by the leadership as a matter of urgency," the Minority added.
Mr Tanko was seen slapping Mr Ahi on the floor in the Chamber when proceedings were yet to begin. But for the timely intervention of colleague MPs from the minority NDC side, what appeared like an exchange between the two could have escalated into a fight.
Members of both the majority and minority sides were waiting for the arrival of the Speaker when all of a sudden the sound of a slap was heard from the direction of the minority NDC side.
Shortly after the incident, Mr Ibrahim got up went out of the House accompanied by some NDC MPs.
A number of the MPs have expressed utter shock at the incident.
Source:
GNA
US Embassy not recruiting Ghanaians to work in the U.S.
Accra, July 26, GNA - The US Embassy in Accra on Thursday denied that that it was recruiting people to work in the US. A statement issued in Accra by the US Embassy said: "It has come to the attention of the United States Embassy that certain individuals are disseminating erroneous information about job opportunities in the United States.
"The flyers that have been posted in the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area contain the following information: 'Work in United States: An American Consular Requires 90 Ghanaian workers urgently to be employed in our new Industries....'"
The Embassy said it wished to inform the public that it had no knowledge of any on-going recruitment exercise and that persons who dealt with such individuals did so at their own risk. The Embassy said it was working closely with the Ghana Police Service on this issue.
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GNA
Tema Educational Directorate accused of discrimination
Tema, July 26, GNA- The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) branch in Ashiaman has accused the Tema Municipal Educational Directorate of asking for operational license fees from them before being given text books.
"Refusal to pay the operational license fee to the Educational Directorate means exemption from the provision of text books even though the books are supposed to be free to all Ghanaian children of school going age' he said.
The Zonal Chairman of the GNAPS, Mr Ebenezer Amanor, made the accusation at the 9th Annual Zonal Conference of the Association held at Ashaiman under the theme, '50 years of education in Ghana, the role of the private schools'.
He said the GNAPS cannot afford to pay two operational license fees to the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) and GES in addition to other taxes paid to other institutions including the TMA.
Mr Amanor explained that, the GNAPS apart from paying tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), property rate among others to the TMA, which also demands payment of an additional operational license fees for the usage of a land in the municipality.
The Zonal Chairman stated that, the only benefits private schools could receive from the Ghana Educational Trust Fund (GETFUND) for contributing their quota to the educational sector was the provision of the textbooks, which they were being denied. Touching on the theme, the Zonal chairman mentioned that, Ashaiman has only one Senior Secondary School and one cluster of basic schools provided by the government despite its densely population noting that, without the private schools, children in the Ashaiman township would have been left to their fate.
The capitation grant implemented by the government has created problem for the GNAPS as the children left without paying their fees to the already choked public schools.
The Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi in a speech read on his behalf urged members of the association to unite while encouraging operators of less endowed schools to seek advice from the well endowed ones for an effective administration of their institutions. He also called on all stake holders to help in diverse ways to accelerate the development of private schools, as according to him it has been recorded that, 22 out of 50 schools in the municipality, which performed well in the last Basic Education Certificate Examination were private schools.
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GNA
Kufuor calls for more public support for police
Accra, July 26, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday called for more public support for the security agencies to clamp down on the disturbing upsurge of violent crimes in the country.
"We have been suffering violent crimes at a rate we are not used to," he said, citing recent killings of some individuals, handbag and mobile phone snatching by young men on motorbikes and narcotic drugs trafficking.
He said while the Government was making every effort to bring law and order under firm control, the people should do their bit by being more alert, observant and to report without hesitation, all suspicious characters to the security agencies. President Kufuor said this in opening remarks at the third quarterly meeting with members of the Council of State at the Castle, Osu.
He said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service was being empowered and encouraged to break the back of those crimes.
At the same time, the Government was reinforcing itself through alliances with powerful partners to turn the tide in the drugs menace. President Kufuor used the occasion to convey to the nation, his personal thanks for the harmony and the way all Ghanaians contributed to make the Accra Summit of the African Union a landmark success. The mood of the nation was so harmonious and the leaders who attended the meeting were amazed that what they saw could happen in Africa. "All Ghanaians should be proud of this," he said.
The Accra Summit, the President noted, was one of the best attended in the history of the Union as almost all the Heads of State, who rarely made it to such meetings, were present and they all left happy and fulfilled.
President Kufuor described the year so far as "very eventful" and urged the people to have hope and confidence in the country's future. He said Ghana had struck oil at a time when it was facing dire energy crisis and this should send out a message to the people that self-doubt and cynicism should give way to optimism.
President Kufuor said the Government would use cautious optimism to guide its steps as the nation awaited the final proof that it had oil. Touching on the current energy situation, President Kufuor informed the Council that they had done all that they needed to do in the short term, given the country's power transmission capacity.
He said the emergency power plants they were putting in place, according to expert advice from the Volta River Authority (VRA), were adequate. Thermal plants were also being installed. Reports coming in also speak of an increase in the water level at the Akosombo Hydro-electric Dam, an announcement that drew applause from the Council members.
"The future for the energy sector is good. From what we have been doing, within the next five years, the nation would be generating about 5,000 megawatts of electricity."
Professor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, Chairman of the Council, said with the discovery of oil, there was the need to carefully work out a national energy strategy.
This should take into account all sources of energy, the security of supply, relative costs, safety and environment as well as social implications.
He noted that when the nation resolved its energy problems once and for all the Council was in no doubt that the combination of the ALCAN's bauxite refinery and the VALCO smelter should re-launch Ghana on the path of an integrated aluminium industry, such as was anticipated even before independence.
Source:
GNA
Court takes pleas of UK 'drug' teens
Accra, July 26, GNA - A juvenile court on Thursday took the pleas of two 16-year-old British girls arrested on July 2 at the Kotoka International Airport for attempted smuggling of narcotic drugs, as their trial began.
Mr. Gary Nicholls, Press Officer of the British High Commission, told reporters that he could not disclose what their pleas were.
Mr Nicholls said the charges of the teens, namely attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and possession narcotic drugs without authority, had now been formalised.
According to him the prosecution opened its case before the Juvenile Court made up of a three-member panel.
The juvenile court is expected to sit again at 1500 on Thursday today.
One of the girls is said to be of Nigeria-descent with a British passport, while the other is a British of Cypriot-descent. They were about to board a British Airways flight when they were arrested. In Ghana the maximum sentence for juveniles is a three-year jail term.
According to sources at the Narcotic Control Board at the Kotoka International Airport, one of the girls had 3.1 kilogram of the substance while the second had 3.15 kilogram. The drugs were hidden in their hand luggage.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Romanian woman, Rotariu Florina, who was arrested as she went through departure formalities to board an Alitalia flight, was also brought to court on Thursday. NACOB sources said Florina had six kilogram of substance suspected to be cocaine in her hand luggage.
Source:
GNA
Floods hit Kwaebibirem District
Akwatia, July 26, GNA - Over 400 persons in four towns in the Kwaebibirem District lost cash and property in devastating floods at the weekend.
Parts of Akwatia, Boadua, Topremang and Apinamang were flooded last Saturday and Sunday when River Mmo, which flows through the town, burst its banks and unleashed a disaster said to be the worst in living memory.
People lost television sets, sound systems, video decks, CDV's, fridges and other household appliances. Assessment made by the District National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) showed that at Akwatia and Boadua over 30 houses were flooded. Poultry farmers Mr Kwadwo Akawaho of Akwatia lost 345 birds out of 400, Mr Abdul Wahab lost 490 out of 500 birds and Mr Ebenezer Koranteng lost 300 out of 800 birds.
Mr Koranteng also lost 60 grass cutters and 10 goats. The District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Yiadom-Boakye and officials of NADMO led by the District Co-coordinator, Miss Veronica Dzakey, visited some of the flooded areas on Saturday and Sunday.
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GNA
"Wired man-of-God" to be repatriated
(Kampala) -- PASTOR Kojo Obiri Yeboah's troubles are far from over, writes Herbert Ssempogo.
Before the dust raised by the electric touch machine he allegedly imported settles, The New Vision yesterday learnt that he would soon be extradited to Ghana.
Police spokesman Asan Kasingye said Kojo was on Ghana's list of wanted people. According to Kasingye, Kojo defrauded an unidentified woman of 39,000 Dirham (over sh17m).
Dirham is the currency for the United Arab Emirates.
Recently, Interpol Ghana asked their Ugandan counterparts for help over the matter.
Kojo, of 'We Are One Ministries', a Kampala based church, has already been interrogated by detectives over the matter.
Arguing that deportation was different from extradition, Kasingye refuted reports by sections of the media that Kojo would be deported. "Extradition occurs when a person is wanted over crime in their country of origin, while deportation occurs when a person is in a given country illegally."
He said the extradition involves the Attorney General, courts of law, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, immigration officials and the Police."
However, Kojo on Monday dismissed the claims, saying they were being fuelled by his enemies.
Source:
New Vision
EPA will hinder African countries' progress
Tema, July 26, GNA - Three non-governmental organisations (in Tema have appealed to African governments not to bow to European Union (EU) pressure to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as it has the potential to hinder African countries' progress. Agreement on the EPA, which is to be signed in December, would allow free trade with the EU.
Mr Kwabena Okai Ofosuhene, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Abibimann Foundation called on African leaders to subject the matter to public debate and seek views of the masses before giving it the green light. Speaking on behalf of the African Youth Coalition, the Ghana Trade and Livelihood and the Abibimann Foundation, he said he was of the view that the EPA could lead to shortfall in revenue since tariffs on EU goods would be waived.
Mr Ofosuhene said while the move would lead to collapse of industries because they would not be able to withstand the competition from the EU, the poverty level would be high due to labour redundancy. The EPA would also hinder government and regional integration, aggravate regional segmentation and erode economic gains made by countries.
Mr Ofosuhene appealed to West African countries to take interest in the negotiations in order to save the citizenry because it would mean selling national sovereignty.
He appealed to Ghana government and other governments to openly declare their stand on the EPA and allow the public to express their views.
Mr Ofosuhene suggested to African leaders to emulate the governments of Nigeria and Cape Verde whose leaders have objected to the EPA.
He said NGOs concerns have heightened because of the outcome of the just ended ECOWAS Ministerial Monitoring Committee on the EPA in Accra.
"It became obvious that our leaders are looking forward to signing the EPAs to satisfy the quest of the EU come December 31, 2007".
Source:
GNA
Satellite transit tracking system for trucks
...begins on August 1
Accra, July 26, GNA - The Satellite Tracking System to monitor operations of transit vehicles would become fully operational by August 1, 2007, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) said in Accra on Thursday.
It said in a statement signed by Ms. Annie Anipa, Assistant Commissioner/Public Relations, that under the new system, which was in line with CEPS' modernisation and reform programme, devises, known as Satellite Tracking Units (STUs), would be attached to all transit vehicles to monitor their movement along the approved transit routes.
"Each transit vehicle will be required to attach a tracking unit to the roof of the vehicle using its magnetic mounting and wire strip," CEPS said.
"Vehicles without a normal horizontal metal roof will be required to have a horizontally welded metal plate of at least 25 cm x 25 cm attached to the top of the vehicles," it added. CEPS told transit vehicle operators that the attachment of an STU would be a pre-requisite for the vehicle to embark upon a transit journey through Ghana.
It said the administrative fee per vehicle for the STU was GH=A2 50 (50,000 cedis), adding that any breach of the directive would constitute an offence punishable under the laws of CEPS. CEPS said with the operation of the Satellite Tracking System now in place, its transit escort would be disengaged from accompanying vehicles on their journeys.
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GNA
Legon Lecturers live in boys' quarters
Accra, July 26, GNA - The acute accommodation problem at the University of Ghana, Legon, has compelled some lecturers to live in boys' quarters.
Professor Kwesi Yankah, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University, said this on Thursday at a ceremony to formally hand over 11 bungalows at Kisseman in Accra acquired from the defunct Ghana Airways.
Professor Yankah said out of about 800 lecturers, the University had been able to accommodate only 330, adding that the rest were still living with friends and families with some facing possible ejection from their landlords.
He said the concerns showed by the public on accommodation problems of students must equally be demonstrated in the plight of lecturers' accommodation to help boost their morale in the discharge of their duties.
Professor Yankah said the acquisitions of the bungalows were some of the steps taken by the University towards alleviating lecturers' accommodation problems on campus to enhance service delivery.
He said the ability of the University to attract young lecturers to replace the ageing ones was dependent on the provision of decent housing units for them and thanked government for its support towards the acquisition of the bungalows.
In a related development, a delegation from the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) in Saudi Arabia, paid a courtesy call on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor to look at the possibility of areas of cooperation with the University.
Professor Khalid Alujaimi, leader of the delegation, said WAMY had offered to sponsor three students to the doctorate level to any University in the world to enhance the study and teaching of Arabic. Professor Alujaimi said WAMY had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with over 20 universities in Africa.
He added that any cooperation with UG would help afford its students to interact with other sister-universities on the continent and beyond to sharpen their Arabic skills.
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GNA
Public education seminar on Disability Act ends
Kumasi, July 26, GNA - A day's public education seminar on "Promoting and Protecting the Rights of People with Disabilities (PWDs)" in Ghana was on Wednesday held in Kumasi.
The seminar was aimed at educating the public, particularly service providers and heads of ministries, on the sections of the Disability Act that could be implemented immediately. It also sought to stimulate reflections on some of the difficult tasks and questions that could impede the effective implementation of the law as well as creating awareness in the public for a positive attitudinal change towards the disabled. The seminar, organized by Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and Ghana Federation of the Disabled with the support from USAID, was attended by heads of educational institutions, traditional heads, some law-enforcing agencies, Ghana Employers Association, hoteliers, journalists and the judiciary from Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions.
Mr Peter Owusu-Donkor, Deputy Head of Programmes of CDD, said discrimination against the disabled was grounded in the cultural beliefs and attitudes of Ghanaians.
These, he said, were among some of the factors that hindered the smooth integration of the physically challenged to the broader society thus making it difficult to secure their civil rights. Mr Owusu-Donkor said provisions in the legislation had a potential of enabling PWDs to fully enjoy the rights enshrined in the constitution.
He said, "Now that we have credible and fairly progressive disability legislation, we must address the challenges of implementation. The Centre certainly hopes that all stakeholders are poised to make every effort to implement the Act. But we also recognize that there will be many challenges to implement a law of this nature". Mr Charles Gyamfi-Danquah, Ashanti Regional Director of Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, said it was not by accident that the constitution devoted its Article 29 on the rights of the disabled persons.
He said it appeared society had turned a blind eye on the problems of the disabled, adding, "We do not even talk much about them as far as national issues are concerned".
"It is the responsibility of the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary, state institutions, non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and civil society to work in harmony to achieve results," he said.
Source:
GNA
Govt seeks $15 million more for Presidential Palace
... Debate Stalls In Parliament
Accra, July 25, GNA - Ghana's legislature on Wednesday revisited the loan agreement on the construction and rehabilitation of the Flag Staff House, which was to house the Presidency but lack of quorum stalled a final vote on the motion.
The motion is seeking an additional funding of 15 million dollars to be agreed upon by the Government of Ghana and the Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, for the construction and rehabilitation of the Flag Staff House.
It was moved by Nii Adu Darku Mante, Chairman of the Finance Committee and seconded by Mr. Paul Collins Appiah-Ofori, NPP-Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa who called for the support of members for the approval of the loan agreement.
Mr. Appiah-Ofori argued that if Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President had bowed to criticism not to take a loan, which was considered colossal in the 1960's to put up the State House the nation would be spending higher sums of money today to construct such an edifice.
However, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, NDC-Tamale South vehemently opposed the motion arguing that nobody knew the actual cost of the contract sum for the project for which an additional funding was being sought.
"Nobody including the Minister of Presidential Affairs knows the actual cost of the project," he said and rejected the explanation by the Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani that the cost of the construction and rehabilitation could not be known until the project was completed.
Mr. Mpiani however, maintained that he had told the House when he appeared before it that the cost of the project at its initial stage was 36.9 million dollars but the total cost could only be known after completion.
Mr Iddrisu however, said the full cost of other construction projects like works on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, the Tamale Water Project and other markets had never been shrouded in secrecy.
When it became apparent that the House had to vote on the agreement, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader invoked Standing Order 48(1) and (2) and reminded the House that a quorum was needed before a vote could be taken.
Mr. Adjaho said he had counted the number of members present and they were 70.
Total membership of the House is 230 but Standing Order 48(1) states: "The presence of at least one-third of all the members of Parliament besides the person presiding shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the House."
The House consequently suspended proceedings for 10 minutes but there was still no quorum and therefore adjourned sitting for the following day.
The House had earlier approved a loan agreement of 15 million dollars between Ghana and the International Development Association to finance the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The project has three components, namely enabling environment for implementation, financial and operational management tool and financial and operational management training.
It has a grace period of 10 years and repayment period of 40 years, and would be used to strengthen policy adaptation and implementation capacity of the National Health Insurance Scheme; improve purchasing function of the scheme as well as the billing function by the service provider through moving the billing and claims process from paper base to an electronic base system.
The House also approved 123.44 million dollar loan agreement amongst the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company Limited (BOST), Citi Bank, NA and Export-Import Bank of the United State of America with Ghana as guarantor for the purchase and construction expand the storage capacity of BOST.
Despite the approval there was an earlier tussle mainly from the largest Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the legal formality of the agreement and requested that all documents were completed before the agreement was approved. Mr Adjaho, Mr Afred Kwame Agbesi, NDC-Ashiaman and Mr Mahama Ayariga, NDC-Bawku Central suggested that all document should be completed and the House agreed to take the agreement as provisional. 25 July 07
Source:
GNA
Editorial: Stop The Diversion, Find The Killers
Ever since the NDC flagbearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills made his rather insightful statement on the recent unexplained and yet unsolved brutal and cold-blooded killings that have rocked parts of the country, we have noticed that a very deliberate effort is being made to divert attention of the public mind away from the very salient issues that he raised in his statement.
This deliberate effort at diverting the public mind from the issues that the good Professor raised has taken the form of deliberately focusing the public mind on whether or not these killings were contract killings while deliberately misinforming the good people of this country it is because Prof. Mills has conclusively categorised these killings as "contract killings" that is why the debate has focused on whether or not these were contract killings.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Nowhere in the release that Prof. Mills gave the media did he categorised the killings as "contract killings".
What Prof. Mills stated, and which he has repeated umpteen times, was "the recent slaying of Mr. Rokko Frimpong, Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, has undoubtedly accentuated the belief that we are now in an era where people are engaging the services of Contract Killers, to either settle scores or for the pursuit of their very selfish interests" (emphasis our).
How anyone could read the above statement as a conclusive categorisation of the killings as "contract killing" could only be explained by realising that those engaged in that kind of disingenuous misrepresentation would rather that the good Professor had not spoken out on the matter so that they could continue to pretend to the general public that all was well.
Indeed, barely days after Prof. Mills released his statement on this matter to the press and called for heightened security so as to restore hope and confidence of the Ghanaian people, a retired public servant was cold-bloodedly executed in his house in circumstances that were not unlike the circumstances under which Mr. Rokko Frimpong was executed, bearing ample testimony to the fact that Prof. Mills’ statement was most timely and well-thought out.
In fact, there is a school of thought that holds the view that if the NPP, both as a political party and as a government, had not been focused on diverting attention from the issues raised by the good Professor, but had concentrated on implementing his advise for heightened security measures, perhaps, just perhaps, the murdered retired public servant, Mr. Kotei, would not have met his death in the manner that he was slain.
Another issue raised by those seeking to divert attention from the issues raised by Prof. Mills dwell on is the fact that he stated in his release that "Ghana is no longer the safe country and investment destination that it used to be…", which statement some of them try to get the public to believe that the Professor was playing partisan politics with the matter.
While we unreservedly respect the right of others to hold differing opinions on any matter, including whether of not Ghana is still the safe and investment destination that it has always been for the last fifteen years and beyond, we nonetheless are hard put to understand the logic behind the thinking that Prof. Mills was playing partisan politics with the killing of people merely by stating that "Ghana is no longer the safe and investment destination that it used to be…"
Did the Professor at any point suggest that he meant that Ghana is no longer safe because it is the NPP that is in power? Did he at any point suggest that if the NDC were to be in power these killings would not have taken place? Did he at any point suggest that the NPP has proven incompetent in handling matters concerning security of the citizens of the land while overly concentrating on the security of the government?
No. the Professor never made any such suggestion.
Indeed, those of us on the Weekly Standard believe that Prof. Mills deliberately use the phrase "Ghana is no longer…" so as to avoid unnecessary politicisation of the issues while drumming home the fact.
This is because the period preceding the time Ghana became "no longer safe" could be just prior to the advent of the killings, couldn’t it? And, it is the NPP that has been in power in the last six to seven years, including the period preceding the advent of the killings, isn’t it?
So why would anyone deliberately read that statement to mean that Prof. Mills was playing partisan politics with the killing of innocent Ghanaians?
Obviously, this was just another totally hogwash of an argument that is being used to focus the public mind away from the salient issues.
The issues are the fact that our dear country has become a key hub and major transit point for the illicit drug trade or not, as a result of which the sheer magnitude of ill-gotten wealth that the drug trade makes available to the barons, allows them to use money to buy almost anything – including buying the services of hit men, while the drug itself serves to destroy our youngmen and women, leaving them as easy preys for the drug barons.
Our concern, as a nation, should be on how to fight the drug menace and bring it under control, if not totally eradicate it.
We therefore call on the good people of this country to speak out and get the government to act to protect the nation and its people from the dangers that these drug barons pose to our society.
Source:
Weekly Standard
GES declares 6,776 vacancies in second cycle schools
Ejumako (C/R), July 25, GNA - A total of 6,776 vacancies have been declared in second cycle schools across the country but the number of teachers returning from study leave with or without pay are 3,826. This means only 56 per cent of the vacancies would be filled with the remaining 44 unattended to.
Ms Naana Biney, Deputy Director General of Ghana Education Service (GES) made this known when she opened the fifth annual workshop for posting of GES staff returning from study leave for the year 2007 in the Central Region on Tuesday.
The workshop brought together participants from GES offices in the various regions to ensure that teachers returning from the tertiary institutions were equitably distributed to all the 10 regions. Ms. Biney said most teachers refused posting to the rural communities and remained in urban schools that already had more than their teacher requirement, while rural and deprived schools continued to suffer lack of trained teachers.
" I therefore entreat you not to let this workshop be just one of those we attend annually but please help GES to extend quality teaching and learning to the deprived schools by posting at least 80 per cent of teachers to the rural communities."
Ms. Biney called on the participants to follow the posting guidelines and ensure that teachers who wanted to relocate from the regions and districts of posting were not accepted in any other region. " Adhere to this caution to avoid imbalance in the distribution of teachers as well as thwarting the efforts of the GES to achieve equity in its distribution of teachers", she added.
Mrs. Nancy Opoku, Director of Human Resource Management and Development said the workshop was also aimed at ensuring that teachers got to know the regions and schools to which they had been posted to enable them report at post by September when the academic year begins. Ms Rosemond Blay, Central Region Director of Education who chaired the meeting said teachers played an important role in the new Education Reform and therefore called on teachers to accept and stay at post to enhance quality education delivery.
Source:
GNA
Man with mass cocoa spraying chemicals arrested
Tepa (Ash), July 25, GNA - The Tepa Police have arrested a man who was allegedly found with sachets of 'Ridomil' and 'Nordox', some chemicals for the mass cocoa spraying exercise at Achawkrom and Bosikese in the Ahafo-Ano North District.
The chemicals supplied free of charge by the government should be in the custody of only the gangs.
The suspect, Augustine Akwasi Amankwaah, 42, a trader at Manfo, was arrested last Thursday at Achawkrom by some concerned citizens led by Nana Kwame Manu, Chief of the town. According to a Police source, the man had been visiting the town since the mass cocoa spraying exercise started. The source said the people of the town who were mostly farmers suspected him of secretly collecting some of the chemicals from some gang leaders for sale.
On July 19, when he was about to leave the town after his usual visit, the people confronted him and after searching his bag at the back of his motorbike, found 105 sachets of Ridomil and a sachet of Nordox. When the people asked him how he came by the items, he could not explain and so they arrested and handed him over to the Police. According to the Police, he confessed buying the items from two gang leaders at Achawkrom and Bosikese. The two are on the run.
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GNA
Radio Stations Promoting Democracy in Brong Ahafo Region
Space FM, Sunyani, July 25 - Mr Raphael Ahenu Jnr, the Chief Executive Officer of African Media Aid, a non governmental media organisation in Sunyani, has observed that the proliferation of independent radio stations in the region has enhanced decision making thereby promoting democracy. He said radio stations have also helped to ensure proper understanding of government policies and programmes.
Speaking at a meeting to review the performance of radio stations in the region, the CEO noted that stations such as Space FM, Sky FM, Radio BAR, all in Sunyani, Shalom Radio at Berekum, Classic FM in Techiman, Dormaa FM and Gifts FM both at Dormaa and Royals FM at Wenchi, have greatly contributed to the enhancement of public participation in democratic governance. “Some radio stations have through their programmes enhanced participatory democracy”, he said.
Mr Ahenu however noted that in spite of the positive contribution to democracy, the medium of radio has sometimes been used to foment crisis.
He said sections of the public are of the view that interactive radio programmes, including phone -ins, should be properly managed.“Phone-in programmes should not be condemned but attempts should be made to educate hosts of radio programmes on how to regulate discussions to forestall insults”, he said.
He reiterated the call on government to establish more community radio stations throughout the country to facilitate vertical and horizontal communication, between the people and their leaders.
Source:
Space FM,Sunyani
Barclays Bank to open more branches
Accra, July 25, GNA - Barclays Bank Ghana Limited is set to double its branches to 64 from the current level of 31 by next year in a bid to capture a big chunk of the industry's market share. Similarly, the bank is also working to augment the number of Automated Teller Machines to about 80 as against 28. Branches would be opened at Bolgatanga, Swedru, Aflao, Kasoa, Techiman and Asafo, among others.
Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe, Managing Director of Barclays Bank of Ghana who announced this at the commissioning of the Spintex Road Branch of the Bank on Tuesday, said these were in line with the bank's expansion programme and aimed to position the bank to become the leading contributor to the country's economic growth and development. Mrs Mwanakatwe said this vision would only be achieved through expansion and presence in key commercial centres as well as increasing access to banking facilities.
"We will not be able to play that role if we remain lean and thin on the ground, if we stay out from key commercial centres in the country and if we do not take our financial inclusion agenda to another level by increasing access to our banking facilities, irrespective of which corner in the country one stays," she said. Mrs Mwanakatwe said the bank was responding positively to the challenges in the industry through offering customers diverse superior products and services.
Mr Van Lare Dosoo, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, said banks were taking advantage of the level playing field created in the industry through years of reforms to expand and introduce innovative products unlike the past when they relied only on short-term government securities.
He underscored the need for extension of financial access to the communities, saying only about 20 per cent of the economically active population had access to financial services. "We should not be comfortable with 80 per cent of the population without access to one financial service or the other," he said. Mr Dosoo commended Barclays' drive to take financial services to the community.
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GNA
Lens: Rawlingses Know Nothing About Scancem Bribe
…They Call On Transparency International To Unearth The truth
…And Dare Kufuor and NPP To Nail Them If Case Can Be Proven Against Them
The former first lady, Mrs Konadu Agyemang Rawlings yesterday categorically denied having ever received any bribes from any official of Scancem, the parent company of Ghacem.
Speaking on interviews on Radio Gold Paper Review and Joy Midday news yesterday, Mrs Rawlings described as absurd, reports that during the 1990s she benefitted from kickbacks amounting to millions of dollars from Scancem through Tor Egil Khelsaas, who was at that material time the Director in charge of Africa.
"I do not even know the man, Tor Egil Khelsaas," she said.
The Crusading Guide and The Statesman have been busily repeating libelous reports concocted by a Norwegian newspaper that claimed that the bribes were paid into two bank accounts belonging to Mrs Rawlings- a Barclays Bank account in Geneva and a Unibank account in Luxembourg.
"Where is the money and who collected the money," Mrs Rawlings queried.
She emphatically stated that she does have any such bank account and knows nothing of such payments.
She explained that the issue first came to their attention when the Norwegian newspaper first published the scurrilous accusations back in April, 2007.
Mrs Rawlings said that while efforts are being made to seek the necessary financial support to launch a legal suit against the Norwegian newspaper, the Rawlingses are also preparing a full fledged document meant to be widely circulated to international anti corruption agencies like Transparency International as a way of urging them to actively investigate the issue and bring the truth into the open.
Mrs Rawlings also stated that the judge who presided over the case involving Tor Egil Khelsaas threw the case out of court because the Scancem officials involved failed to substantiate the allegations.
"The new owners of Scancem want the issue back in court to re-investigate the officials involved and we fully back that action," the former first lady said.
"We would not be backing that course of action if we had something to hide. If the Scancem officials actually did pay any such monies, then the investigations would surely show that we have nothing to do with that case."
She explained that the 31 st December Women Movement had several times in the past written to Ghacem requesting support for some of the Movement's projects.
"They have never supported even such small projects. If I had such a relationship with them, why will they not have readily financed projects of the movement," she asked.
Mrs Rawlings had a word for NPP media guard dogs like Kweku Baako who are swooning all over and publishing the libelous claims of the Norwegian newspaper.
"Why don't the NPP government and people like Kweku Baako who claim they have investigative abilities also take up the mantle to unearth the truth behind the allegations," she wondered.
Describing them as people who do not care about the blatant thievery going on under the Kufuor regime, Mrs Rawlings said: "It will be our truth against their lies".
She also stated that she and President Rawlings never knew of any relationship between Mr P.V. Obeng (who incidentally was just recently honoured by the NPP government) and Scancem.
"That is for P.V. to answer. I will not speak for any anyone else because I am not in a position to know what relationship he had with them but if he says he provided them with consultancy services, then it is for him to explain. We never had any relationship with them."
Source:
Lens
New residential policy for Legon students
Accra, 26 July, GNA - Authorities at the University of Ghana, Legon, have reversed their revised residential policy that triggered demonstrations at the end of the last semester saying it would offer residential facilities to first year and final year students as well as the physically challenged; hall executives, sportsmen and sportswomen. "After an exhaustive discussion with the student Leadership on the residential options available, the University of Ghana has decided to offer all its own residential facilities to first year and final year students, as well as the physically challenged, sportsmen, sportswomen and hall executives", a statement signed by Mr A. T. Konu, Registrar, and Ms Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor, Student Representative Council President, said.
This means the University has reverted to its "in-out-out-in" residential policy instead of the "in-out-out-out" policy it sought to implement that would have given residential accommodation to only first year students.
The statement said the new residential policy would give priority to freshmen and fresh women and then to final year students who had not been in residence since the first year. The statement said the prioritized category excluded students, who would be changing from the diploma programme to degree and postgraduate law students.
"In the case of final year students - that is Level 400 students there will be balloting for places available."
The statement mentioned Legon Hall; Akuafo Hall; Commonwealth Hall; Volta Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall as the University's own residential facilities.
The rest are Jubilee Hall, President's annexe, International Students' Hostel (A&B).
The University appealed to the student body, Alumni and the general public to support this residential policy as it sought the assistance of commercial banks to augment the stock of residential facilities on the campus.
The students staged demonstrations and presented a petition to the Government to intervene in the dispute with the University Authorities on the revised residential policy.
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GNA
Minister expresses disappointment at guinea worm resurgence
Tamale, July 25, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the country's inability to eradicate the guinea worm disease. "I am inwardly shaken and highly disappointed that we cannot yet announce a break-through in our eradication effort.
"When we were parting after our meeting last year, we expressed the hope that we would break the transmission this year but unexpectedly, we have had a major outbreak in the Savelugu/Nanton District," he said. Alhaji Idris expressed these sentiments at a mid-year review meeting of the Ghana Guinea Worm Eradication Programme in Tamale. Health experts, donor agencies, DCEs and other stakeholders from the endemic districts of the region were attending the two-day meeting, which among other things would explore areas of collaboration to contain the disease.
Alhaji Idris said the resurgence of the disease in Savelugu/Nanton and other parts of the region, in spite of the various interventions, had impacted negatively on the socio-economic development of the country and called for "real commitment" to eradicate the disease. He said the region recorded 98 per cent of all guinea worm cases in the country, a situation, he described as "unacceptable". Alhaji Idris announced that the government would increase its budgetary allocation for guinea worm eradication from GH(550,000 (5.5 billion cedis) to GH(1 million (10 billion cedis) in the 2007/2008 fiscal year.
Dr Elias Sory, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, urged stakeholders to intensify their efforts to help eradicate the disease. He called on them to remain transparent in their activities so that government and donor agencies would appreciate their work. Dr Andrew Seidu Korkor, National Coordinator of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, commended the Parliamentary Select Committee on Government Assurances for its commitment to help eradicate the disease. He was optimistic that with closer collaboration, commitment and zeal from the guinea worm communities, the country could eradicate the disease.
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GNA
Accra-Tema railways begin operations in September
Accra, July 24, GNA - The Accra-Tema railway transport for passengers would begin by the end of September of this year.
Briefing the media at the Meet-the-Press series on Tuesday, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railway said the rehabilitation of the line was progressing steadily saying, "We are on the verge of commencing test-runs on the line.
"A host of technical and engineering problems have compelled us to review the date for the commencement of full passenger operations," he said.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said 20 coaches and a locomotive at the main yard of the Ghana Railway Company at Takoradi, which were refurbished, had been moved to Accra Railway Station awaiting a test run on the rehabilitated Accra-Tema line.
The sector Ministry has also initiated arrangements to procure two set Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) to also ply the line. This means that the commuter services would be operated using the DMUs where each unit or train would consist of a diesel engine with normal transmission for the wheels for traction and trailing coaches. Comparatively, the DMUs have certain inherent advantages over locomotives and coaches such as the built in system to allow frequent stoppage at short intervals, provision of quick acceleration and deceleration.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said government's intensive effort aimed at attracting investors had started yielding fruits.
He announced that cabinet had approved for the Ministry to negotiate an agreement with M/S Kampac Oil of the United Arab Emirates for the rehabilitation and extension of the Western Corridor Railway lines.
He said the project involves 800-kilometre rail line from Takoradi to Hamile in the Upper West. It would also include a new standard gauge line to start from Takoradi through Manso, Tarkwa, Huni Valley, Dunkwa Awaso, Nyinahin, Sunyani, Techiman, Bole, Sawla and Wa to Hamile.
For the Eastern Line, the Minister said the agreement which was signed a few months ago with M/S Peatrack Limited to cover the design, building, operating and transfer for the reconstruction, expansion and operation of a modern rail network between Accra/Tema and Paga had a concessionary period of 35 years.
He said Atlantic Companies Incorporated; an engineering group from the United States had also expressed interest in the Sub-Urban Railway system in the metropolitan areas of Accra-Tema, Sekondi-Takoradi under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
When arrangements were finalised the group would construct, supervise and operate the suburban Railway System in the metropolis. 24 July 07
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GNA
Lufthansa to resume flights to Accra
Accra, July 24, GNA - Lufthansa German Airlines is to resume daily flights between Accra and Frankfurt "within the next few days" after the resolution of problems that led to the suspension of the flights, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and Lufthansa announced on Monday. A joint statement by the two parties said a mutually beneficial resolution of the pending issues involving Ghana Airways, the defunct national carrier, had been agreed. "Lufthansa will do its utmost to start operating again between Ghana and Germany within the next few days to the benefit of its customers," the statement said.
Lufthansa Airlines said it was looking forward to celebrate its 40 years of long and dedicated commitment to Ghana in grand style. Reliable sources told Ghana News Agency that flights between Accra and Frankfurt would resume on Thursday.
Lufthansa Airlines last week said it had been forced to suspend flights between the two cities after the Ghanaian authorities refused to approve a license securing daily flights, citing technical difficulties. However, Ms. Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Aviation :
"Lufthansa's withdrawal and the manner in which it was executed smacks of bad faith which the Ministry regards as rather unfortunate," she said in a statement issued in Accra."
She stressed that the Ministry of Aviation did not order either the stoppage or withdrawal of Lufthansa's operations into Accra. A number of business travellers and holiday makers the Ghana News Agency spoke to at the Kotoka International Airport and some travel agencies expressed delight at the news.
They said they were happy that the situation had been resolved and flights were going to resume.
"I am glad that our authorities, who were not happy initially, have now been able to smoke the peace pipe. But we must make sure that we do the right things at the right time to ensure we are not overtaken by events," Mark Asante a traveller said.
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GNA
Jomoro District names street after Nkrumah
Half Assini(WR), July 24, GNA - Jomoro District Assembly has decided to name some principal streets at Half Assini, after Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's First President and his father Gorkeh. Mr Martin Ackah, Jomoro District Chief Executive, who announced this at the third ordinary meeting of the first session of the assembly at Half Assini at the weekend said it formed part of the Golden Jubilee celebration of Ghana's Independence.
He said the assembly would in addition, undertake a jubilee school project comprising a six-classroom block and a kindergarten. Mr Ackah said the assembly was looking for investors and partners to exploit large lime deposits at Takinta, Tikobo Number One and Kabenlasuazo to create employment for people.
He said 52 people had been trained in grasscutter rearing and soap making at Adsuazo, Mpasem and Half Assini.
Mr Ackah said 386 people had been employed under the National Youth Employment Programme and 3,072 pupils were benefiting from the School Feeding Programme in the district.
He announced that so far, 34,928 people had registered with the Jomoro District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme and had realised about 614 million cedis from premiums.
On revenue generation, Mr Ackah said the assembly realised GHc 59,930 (599.3 million cedis) from internally generated revenue from January to May this year, and received GHc 150,000 (1.5 five billion cedis) as its share of Assemblies Common Fund for the first quarter of the year.
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GNA
"Wired man-of-God" wanted by Ghana police
Kampala -- THE International Police (Interpol) in Ghana has notified Uganda that it wants the Ghanaian-born city pastor whose “electric touch” gadget was recently impounded by local detectives.
Pastor Obiri-Yeboah Kojo is wanted in Ghana for “jumping bail” in an alleged financial fraud case, Police Spokesman Asan Kasingye said yesterday.
“He was taken to court, jumped bail and they were not aware of his whereabouts until they heard that he was in Kampala,” Mr Kasingye said. “Interpol’s national central bureau in Ghana has asked that we hand him over.”
Local police are investigating Mr Kojo, 42, over his intended use of an electric gadget described by its makers as a miracle machine.
“Without a doubt, you will shock people,” says an advert on yigalmesika.com, the gadget maker’s website.
Entebbe Airport security personnel confiscated the gadget on July 5 as Pastor Kojo of 'We Are One with Christ' ministry attempted to clear it into Uganda. It has been widely speculated that the pastor would have used the gadget to shock unsuspecting church-goers into believing that they are experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.
The gadget, which can be worn like a corset on the body or under the sole of a shoe, can generate up to 12 volts, enough current to “pleasantly” shock to the ground dozens of people at a time.
According to the users’ manual, “once your body is charged, you are able to transfer this electricity to other objects that are grounded or people”.
It appears local police will wait to see if a strong case can be built against the pastor so that he can be prosecuted before the deportation process begins.
Mr Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, a Ugandan lawyer, said the pastor could be charged with disturbing religious assemblies, stupefying in order to commit a misdemeanour, or even assault “depending on the facts available”.
All these are misdemeanours and he could serve up to three years for each case if found guilty.
Pastor Kojo leads the We Are One with Christ ministry, an itinerant church whose current address is a large tent in the compound of his Old Kampala home. Pastor Kojo, who denies any wrongdoing, told reporters yesterday at his headquarters that he has just realised “how things are getting worse and worse”.
He claimed he is being witch-hunted by Mr Samuel Kakande, the Kampala pastor who was once a protégé of “Prophet” John Obiri-Yeboah, Pastor Kojo’s deceased father.
“Somebody is trying to destroy the work of God and the family of Obiri-Yeboah,” Pastor Kojo said. “Whatever is happening now is the work of Kakande.” He said that Pastor Kakande’s work “is not the practice of Christianity” and promised to provide photographic evidence of “cultism”.
According to Pastor Kojo, who has claimed the gadget was a gift for his teenage twins, Pastor Kakande had unsuccessfully tried to talk him out of starting his own church in Kampala.
“It was not a gospel; to me it was something else that Kakande was practicing,” Pastor Kojo said, adding that he was giving his fellow pastor 60 days to repent or face a misfortune he did not reveal.
Pastor Kakande said he would not return fire with fire. “I am not fighting him, I have nothing against him,” he said. “I know that I am a born-again Christian. I am waiting for the 60 days to expire.”
Pastor Kojo’s father John came to Uganda to preach the word in 1972 and stayed until his death in July 1987. He ran Redeem Church based in Katwe in Kampala. About 200 people usually attend Pastor Kojo’s Sunday sermons.
Some of them were present at the press conference and they occasionally clapped their hands whenever their pastor said something, as if to demonstrate their faith in his ministry, which is only six months old.
“Tell them the truth,” someone shouted.
Few pastors have come to Pastor Kojo’s defence in the wake of his troubles; and the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches has already disowned him.
Reports of Pastor Kojo’s alleged impropriety have stoked cynicism over the activities of the Pentecostals or balokole, including suggestions that miracle healings witnessed in their churches are dubious.
There are 6 million Pentecostals attending 20,000 churches in Uganda, according to the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches. Yet only 1,020 churches subscribe to the born-again umbrella body.
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Monitor
5.3 million-dollar to revamp the VLTC
Accra, July 24, GNA - Ports, Harbours and Railway Ministry is accessing a 5.3 million-dollar fund from the Millennium Challenge Account to procure ferries to revitalise the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC).
Mr. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the sector Minister who announced this on Tuesday at the Meet the Press series said part of the funds would be used to provide training for some staff to enhance their technical expertise to operate the new ferries.
To double the company's capacity for fuel shipment from Akosombo to Buipe, the Minister said the VLTC in collaboration with the Bulk Oil and Storage Transport (BOST) would introduce two additional tanker barges soon.
He said plans were also far advanced to construct a fuel pipeline from Dedre to Link Buipe Port to enhance a year round shipment of petroleum products from Akosombo to the north irrespective of the lake level.
This project is estimated at 15 million pounds. Mr. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the two main challenges facing the VLTC were inadequate finance for rehabilitation of over-aged vessels and equipment and unstable lake level leading to the disruption of operations during drought periods of the year.
"VLTC requires re-capitalisation in order to ensure the company's uninterrupted and continuous operations...
"A fuel shipment operation from Akosombo to Buipe usually stops when the lake level is low (that is below 240 feet above seal level) with vessels unable to cross the Dedre shoals to the Buipe Port," the Minister explained.
"These and other reasons account for the Ministry's request for a multi frontal policy approach to revamp the VLTC's operations and prevent it from total collapse," the Minister said.
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GNA
African Human Rights Commission reviews Tsatsu decision
Accra, 24 July, GNA - The African Commission on Human and People's Rights (HCHPR) "has decided to review its decision on the admissibility of Communication 322/2006 - Tsatsu Tsikata / Ghana, taken at its 40th Ordinary Session held from 15th - 29th November 2006, in Banjul, The Gambia".
The Commission in its earlier decision ruled that a petition Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, Former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), sent to it was inadmissible because he had not exhausted all the legal avenues available to him in Ghana.
However, Mr Tsikata made documentary submissions to the Commission during its 41st Ordinary Session held in Accra, Ghana from 16th to 30 May 2007 after which the Commission has found it necessary to review its earlier decision.
A letter from the Commission made available to the GNA on Tuesday said: "This latter decision is in line with 'Rule 118 (2) of its Rules of Procedure'.
It said: " For this purpose, the African Commission will need to receive and consider fresh or additional submission on the admissibility of the Communication from both parties, and hereby request you to submit any additional new facts, which may support the admissibility of the Communication."
Mr Tsikata had sent a petition to the Commission alleging that the Government of Ghana was manipulating the Judiciary to find him guilty of causing financial loss to the State at all cost without regard to due process.
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GNA
Ghana's Home Decor furnishing products are unattractive
Kumasi, July 24, GNA - Mr Lawrence Prempeh, General Manger of the Ghana Export Promotion Council, has said mainstream gift and home d=E9cor furnishing products were not attracting higher prices. He said it was against this backdrop that the council had embarked on uniqueness, originality of designs and materials in product development and branding as a way to promote higher end product line to attract higher prices.
Mr Prempeh was speaking at the close of a day's seminar and workshop organized jointly by the council and the Trade Facilitation Office of Canada (TFOC) in Kumasi on Monday.
The course that over 30 handicraft groups and firms in the region involved in home d=E9cor and accessories attended was to prepare them towards their participation in May 2008 edition of the Montreal SIDIM Interior Design Show in Canada.
The seminar and the workshop presented trends in the North America market, branding and new product development. It selected companies to participate in the Design Africa 2008 programme.
The facilitators of the course assisted with the selection of the best products that included woodcarving, ceramics, brass works, Kente and Adinkra cloths for development to ensure conformity with market needs.
The facilitators advised on packaging, labelling and export pricing.
Mr Prempeh said the non-traditional export sector had witnessed growth in the last five years due to pragmatic policies and programmes by the GEPC. Earnings from the non-traditional exports increased from 460 million dollars in 2001 to 893 million dollars in 2006, a growth of 94 per cent.
Mr Prempeh said the Council had projected that the sector would earn over one billion dollars in 2008. Ms Kathleen Holland, a consultant of TFOC, urged the participants to take interest in raw materials that are environmentally friendly.Source:
GNA
Buy Ghana First campaign launched
Accra, July 24, GNA- The national passion to promote made-in-Ghana goods was given a push on Monday, when the out-going Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development (PSD) and President's Special Initiative (PSI) outdoored a high powered committee to implement the vision.
Mr. Alan Kyerematen, who unveiled the 13-member National Campaign Committee at a pre-launch press briefing in Accra, slammed the sentimental attachment of the citizenry to imported goods. He said Ghana could fulfil the dreams of becoming a middle income economy if Ghanaians buy goods manufactured locally. The Committee, chaired by Mr. Sandy Osei Agyeman, an entrepreneur, comprises representatives from the Ministry of Trade, PSD and PSI, Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Advertising Association of Ghana.
The rest are the Chartered Institute of marketing, Ghana, Institute of Packaging, Ghana Standards Board, Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC), Ghana Employers Association and Association of Small Scale Industries. The terms of reference of the Committee include the implementation of a well structured, comprehensive and well-focussed programme to promote products manufactured in Ghana, in order to stimulate demand for the made-in-Ghana label.
Members are also expected to consolidate and effectively co-ordinate public and private sector initiatives and programmes, to promote made-in-Ghana goods.
Mr Kyerematen said the National Campaign, which would be launched in September this year, would oversee the establishment of National Product Gallery, the implementation of National Friday Wear, Consumer Credit Scheme and Industrial Sub-Contracting.
He said the Campaign would also be preoccupied with Public Procurement, Exclusive Made-in-Ghana Trade Fairs and Exhibitions in Regional and District capitals, Export Trade Houses and Foreign Trade Representatives Programme.
Mr Kyerematen expressed the need for national consciousness and pride to promote made-in-Ghana products. "It is a national commitment and a contract that we are all signing," he said.
Ms. Esther Ofori, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTFC, said buying made-in-Ghana goods was a call to patriotism. Mr Tony Oteng Gyasi, President of AGI implored Ghanaians to show commitment to local products by patronising them even if the quality is poor.
He said it was through such patronage that manufacturers could gain the necessary capital and experience to improve on their products.
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GNA
Lebanese businessman arrested for refusing VAT payment
Accra, July 24, GNA - Malik Hassan, a Lebanese Assistant Director of Viva Pal Foods Limited, suppliers of assorted food has been placed in Police Custody and his assets and passport confiscated for refusing to pay his VAT returns and allegedly attempting to abscond with the debt of 365,000 GH Cedis or 3.6 billion cedis.
The VAT Service ordered his arrest on Monday. Mr Henry Brandford Sam of the Enforcement and Debt Management Unit of the Service told newsmen that the company had refused to honour its VAT obligation in spite of persistent notices. He said when the Service that had been following the operations of the Company based at Tesano in Accra and Kumasi for sometime informed Viva Pal Foods of their indebtedness it decided to operate at "obscure" hours.
According to him the Service would be compelled to auction his property if he refused to settle the debt.
Mr Anthony Ewereko Minlah, VAT Commissioner, also told GNA that Hassan's Lawyers were arranging bail for him and would be expected to report to the Police twice a day until the company's debt, penalties and the cost of the distress action were paid in full.
He stated that the Service would apply the use of distress action or any other mechanism by the law to ensure that they retrieved all debts. The Commissioner said the Service was cautious with people who defaulted, adding that, it did not enjoy confiscating the property or embarrassing any company and appealed to the public to pay their VAT returns for the government to generate more revenue for development.
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GNA
Trader remanded for using fake currency
Cape Coast July 24, GNA - A circuit court at Cape Coast on Monday remanded Frank Obeng, a 25-year-old trader, for allegedly using fake new Ghana cedis.
His plea was not taken and he would reappear on August 3. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that on July 5 Obeng travelled to Abura-Dunkwa from Accra and made a call from a 'space to space' mobile phone operator and paid for the call with GH=A25, with serial number LC 9802476.
A friend of the phone operator advised him to take a critical look at the money because he knew Obeng to be someone who dealt in fake currency.
He said when the money was checked it was detected to be fake and Obeng was arrested and a check on him revealed four more of the GH=A25 with the same serial number like the one he used in paying for the phone call. 24 July 07
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GNA
Visits to the Kumasi zoo increases
Kumasi, July 23, GNA - Tourists arrival at the Kumasi zoo has increased since the relocation of animals from the Accra zoo to that place this year.
About 51,000 tourists had visited the zoo as at June this year, yielding a total of GH=A215,800 to the state, as against 49,000 visitors in the whole of 2006, which accrued GH=A216,400.
Mr Emmanuel Nimo, Kumasi zoo Manager, made this known on Monday, when the parliamentary select committee on Lands, Forestry and Mines paid a working visit to the zoo to acquaint themselves with the situation since the transfer of the animals from Accra to Kumasi.
He said the rehabilitated zoo currently had about 58 species of animals, which has attracted more visitors.
Mr Nimo mentioned the lack of cold storage facilities, a veterinary officer and a Van for educational purposes as some of the challenges facing the zoo.
He called for the establishment of a breeding centre, quarantine, receptive centre, restaurant and the upgrading of most of the cages at the zoo.
The manager also called for capacity building and training for the staff to cope with the challenges as a result of the increase in the number of animals.
Mr Andrew Agyei Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, said the country needed about 9 million dollars to establish a modern zoo in the country.
He said the government was doing everything possible to improve conditions at the Kumasi zoo, which was the only one in the country and called on the members of the Committee to assist in that direction. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, Chairman of the Committee, said the visit was to see the situation on the ground after the transfer of the animals from Accra.
He pledged the Committee's unflinching support in all programmes to improve conditions at the zoo to make it more attractive to the public. Mr I.K Boateng, second vice chairman of the Kumasi Zoo Advisory Board, called for the improvement of the drainage system at the zoo as well as an appropriate landscaping and the construction of a new entrance, all in a bid to make the place look beautiful and attractive to the public to increase patronage.
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GNA
Two suspected armed robbers arrested at Bibiani
Bibiani (W/R), July 23, GNA - Two armed robbers who mounted roadblocks and snatched mobile phones and money from people have been arrested and placed in police custody at Bibiani.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Felix Toya, Bibiani District Police Commander, told the GNA in an interview that on Friday police had a tip-off that a gang of armed robbers had mounted road blocks and were robbing passengers at gunpoint.
He said since the district police command had no vehicle at their disposal, an alternative arrangement had to be made to track down the robbers.
Mr Toya said before the police could mobilize forces, a policeman who was on duty at the Bibiani branch of the Amanano Rural Bank arrested the two suspects while the rest managed to escape. He said during a search on them the police retrieved a number of mobile phones and money from them. Mr Toya said two people who sustained injuries through gunshots by the robbers had been treated and discharged at the Bibiani Government Hospital.
They are Mr Augustine Appiah, a businessman from Sankore, and Miss Comfort Gyasi, a teacher at Kwapong in Brong-Ahafo Region.
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GNA
"Preacher" Killed By Mob
A man who posed as a dawn preacher was yesterday lynched at Dansoman Estate, in Accra, when he and two accomplices allegedly attempted to rob someone who had stopped to listen to the preaching. He was found dead in the morning in a pool of blood at the "Sharp Curve" junction with his Bible and a pen placed on his chest.
According to eyewitnesses, a taxi driver who conveyed one of the robbery victims to hospital yesterday at dawn, returned to tell them the tricks of the robbers. They said the victim told the taxi driver that the "dawn preacher" captured his attention with his preaching when he was passing by. As he attempted to answer a question from the preacher, his accomplices emerged from the dark to attack and rob him.
However, luck ran out for them when another victim they were attacking at the junction near the Wesley Grammar Secondary School in Dansoman raised the alarm which attracted a mob.
The robbers took to their heels but the mob pursued them and apprehended the supposed preacher. He was lynched. When the Times got to the scene around 8.30 a.m., a large crowd of residents had gathered around the body, discussing the incident.
Apart from the Bible and pen placed on the body, there were big stones and sticks reportedly used to assault the man believed to be in his 20s.Plain-clothed policemen from Dansoman Police Station were there to examine the body which they later conveyed to the morgue. The Times newspaper also learnt that the victim of the attack was taken to the hospital with a cut on his hand. The police said many complaints of mobile phone robbery and bag snatching had been reported around the area. Residents said robbery has become rampant in the area, as a result of which their movement is restricted especially at night.
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Times
EDITORIAL: Where Are the Energy-Saving Bulbs?
Over two weeks ago the Energy Commission and Energy Foundation commissioned the energy-saving fluorescent lights project at Suhum in the Eastern Region. It's been quiet ever since.
We are rather concerned because it is one project we are told would help to considerably bring down our electricity consumption thereby reducing the strain on the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam.
We have been reliably informed that all or most of the 6 million or so energy-saving fluorescent lights ordered to replace the power hungry incandescent ones are in, so why are we wasting time?
We are in an electric energy crisis and must therefore act with the kind of dispatch needed in crisis situations. The Volta Lake looks like it is being disappointed again by the rains so it's not likely that it would fill up this season to improve things.
We are, it already looks like, in for the long haul. The Bui Dam and the nuclear energy projects put forward by the government are long term programmes, but what we need now are short to medium projects hence our interest in these energy-saving initiatives.
Whilst we are at it, we must also say that we are rather disappointed that there is no sustained public education on energy conservation. We still leave lights on when we do not need them, air conditioners whirr day and night often conditioning nothing, our road sides are taken over by so called home second hand electric energy sapping gadgets that have been discarded in Europe, the US and elsewhere, etc.
There is a lot to be done to get a handle on this electricity problem - much of it would depend on just how much social animation there is, so let us not tarry!
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Accra Mail
Size of government getting too big
Member of Parliament(MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has reignited the debate on the requisite size of government as President Kufuor releases a third list of deputy ministerial nominees.
He is also questioning the motive behind some of the nominations.
According to the latest list of nominees released yesterday, Mr. Fredrick Opare-Ansah will go to the Ministry of Communications as a Deputy Minister; MP for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah is heading to the Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development whilst Spokesman on Governance, Frank Agyekum has been nominated Deputy Minister for Information and National Orientation.
There are indications that more nominations may come out soon.
But speaking to the Accra-based FM station, JOYFM, Ayariga suggested that the President is using the recent reshuffle to perpetuate his hold on the NPP without assessing the cost to the state.
He said since the state, and not the President pays for the remuneration and facilities provided for the appointees to do their work, it was not enough to leave the president to appoint as many as he wants without the rest of society raising questions.
He said “We have an interest in the numbers so we can’t just leave it to the President to decide how many people he wants to appoint. We have to constantly be on the watch to find out; do you really need this size of government to run this country. And the matter hasn’t died, we have to constantly be on the watch. So let’s figure out how many people at the end of the day will come out as ministers of state and deputy ministers. Do we need that number, apart from all the technical people we have at the ministries to run this country and how much we as a nationa paying for it?”
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jfm