25.06.2007
Star Beer Full Of Garbage
”Stars, Ghana’s Favourite beer Brewed from the finest quality of malted barley, sugar, maize grits, hops, water and yeast. Star Larger beer not only offers every drinker the richest and smoothest taste in beer, but also unlocks the joy of life with sparkling brightness”.
Behind this advertising façade comes the fact that the so-called premium STAR BEER is infested with debris and foreign particles.
After weeks of complaints from consumers of Star that they have been noticing foreign particles in their drink, The Enquirer has finally obtained a sample which contains debris such as the plastic remains of Tom Tom toffees. Sample of the much favoured Star beer in possession of The Enquirer is full of debris.
A drinking bar operator (name withheld) for now, told the Enquirer that, this is the second time he has come across such debris in firmly sealed bottles of Star beer. He said the first incident was in December 24, last year when he found cockroach in a bottle o star but took it as an ordinary issue and threw the drink away.
But alas, on June 18, this year, he procurred some stock and fouund out that a bottle, firmly sealted was full at debris. Stay tune.
Source:
The Enquirer
Mobile thieves slashes fingers of student
Accra, June 25, GNA- The two fingers of Miss Rosemary Klutse, a 17-year-old former student of Accra Girls Secondary Schools, were slashed with a sharp knife by two mobile phone snatchers at the Adenta SDA Junction last Tuesday.
Miss Klutse had gone to the junction in the evening to buy units for her mobile phone. When she was returning home, the two young men dressed in black and wearing sunglasses stopped by her on a motorbike and asked her to surrender the phone.
She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that she refused to hand over the phone and instead threw it into a nearby bush.
Miss Klutse said her action infuriated the thieves who used the sharp knife to slash two fingers on her left hand and escaped. She bled profusely and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital by onlookers where her fingers were stitched and bandaged. The Adenta District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Yao Tettegah confirmed the story to the GNA and said efforts were being made to apprehend the culprits and asked the public to co-operate by giving out the needed information.
He said last month, his outfit arrested a taxi, with multiple registration number plates, which was used in snatching mobile phones at Adenta.
The culprits were sent to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters where they were sent to court prosecution.
Source:
GNA
I will help protect Constitution - JJ
Former President, Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings, has reiterated his commitment to help protect the country's Constitution.
He added, however, that he would continue to speak against the ills in society.
Former President Rawlings said this at a reception organised in his honour by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday night at the State House in Accra to mark his 60th birthday.
The ceremony was attended by Oheneba Adusei Poku, the Akyempemhene of Kumasi, who represented the Asantehene, traditional rulers, friends, former ministers of the NDC regime and a cross-section of the public.
Also in attendance was the 35-member Renaissance School Varsity Chorus of Detroit, Michigan, .USA.
Former President Rawlings called for a collective effort, particularly from the main opposition party, at restoring what he described as sanity in the country.
He commended the NDC MPs for their role in maintaining their stance as a credible opposition and protecting the interests of Ghanaians from being abused.
He also spoke about the need to preserve role models in society and mentioned in particular Dr (Mrs) Mary Grant, a former member of the Council of State in the NDC regime, adding that those role models had a lot to contribute towards the country's growth and development.
He further paid tribute to his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor and others for their support and contributions in his life.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, commended the former President for his contribution towards restoring democracy in the country.
He urged him not to be deterred by the attitude of his detractors, saying that "there are a lot of people ready to die for you".
"I want to assure you that there are a lot of people who are ready to die for you. We will continue to die for you. Nobody can erase you from memory," he said.
He commended Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings and her children for their support for the former President.
Mr Tsikata described former President Rawlings as a man of integrity and courage who worked for the good of the country.
He said even as a young man in his 30s, Rawlings had not been scared of losing his life for the good of the people.
He attributed the former President's ability to withstand the lies from his detractors to the Creator and His love for the truth.
A legal practitioner, Mr Tony Lithur, said one remarkable thing about former President Rawlings was his compassion for the ordinary people.
Mr Kweku Sintim-Misa (KSM), a satirist, said although he, like many others, had been very critical of the Rawlings regime, he had come to the programme to pay homage to Rawlings for the good work he had done for the country.
Dr Ezanetor Rawlings, daughter of the former President, said the Rawlings children had not received any preferential treatment as the children of a President, adding, "Our father did not abuse power."
Source:
Daily Graphic
One Million Energy-Saving Bulbs Arrive
The first batch of energy-saving lamps imported by the government as a measure to deal with the energy crisis has arrived in the country.
Times learnt that one million out of the expected six million compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) arrived at the Tema Harbour a couple of days ago.
CFIs consume about six times less, the power consumed by incandescent bulbs, which are widely used in the country.
A source told the Times that the consignment will be cleared from the Tema Harbour by Monday for distribution.
It said the first batch of lamps will be distributed among the military, police, Prison Service and secondary schools, and added that another batch of 3 million is expected by the end of the month to be made available to the public.
The source said the services of the National Youth Employment Programme and the district assemblies will be engaged to ensure quick deployment of the lamps.
The source said by the end of July the entire package would be in the country which is expected to impact significantly on the energy consumption level of the country in the wake of the power crisis.
Among other measures, the Energy Minister, John Kofi Adda, mentioned the importation of six million energy efficient bulbs to help deal with the crisis.
learnt that one million out of the expected six million compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) arrived at the Tema Harbour a couple of days ago.
Source:
Times
Winneba to benefit from library complex
Winneba, June 25, GNA - The Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, and Rev. Dr. Christopher Hamlin of the Tabernacle Baptist Church Birmingham, USA, on Sunday jointly cut a tape for the construction of a 200,000-dollar library for Winneba. The project, being financed by the Tabernacle Baptist Church Birmingham, USA, would enable people in Winneba, especially school children, to access the Internet.
Speaking at the ceremony Rev. Dr. Hamlin said 15,000 dollars had been advanced to the project implementation committee to enable work to start immediately.
He expressed the hope that by next year June work on the project would have reached an advanced stage.
Neenyi Ghartey expressed appreciation to Rev. Dr. Hamlin and members of the church in the USA and assured them of a purposeful utilization of the money allocated for the project. Neenyi Ghartey also extended gratitude to leaders of the Winneba branch of the World Miracle Church, especially Mrs. Atta Bison, a senior lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba for their role in making the project a reality.
He appealed to wealthy Effutu citizens, companies and other donor agencies to contribute financially and materially toward the speedy completion of the project.
Neenyi Ghartey expressed regret that although Winneba is an ancient town blessed with a number of institutions including the University of Education, Winneba, the Police Training Depot and the Community Health Training School the community lacks a modern library to help these learners.
Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei, the Deputy Minister of Health and MP for Effutu, expressed gratitude to all those, through whose efforts, the project is being implemented.
Source:
GNA
Prison Officers Extort Money
THERE is confusion among the rank and file of the Prisons Service in Tamale over last Sunday’s jailbreak by a hardened criminal from the local prison.
An inside source told the Times on Friday that there were widespread allegations that some officers were involved in the jailbreak which has created suspicion both among officers and other ranks.
The jailbreak is being linked to allegations that some prison guards sold prohibited items including Indian hemp to convicts in the yard of which top officers were aware but did nothing to stop.
"It is becoming a gold mine for the senior officers and the junior ones are encouraged by that to join the bandwagon," the source alleged.
It is said that anytime a Fulani man was sent to prison custody, there was some kind of jubilation by officers.
Prison officials here were tight-lipped when this reporter contacted them on the issue. Rather than react to the accusations officials blamed each other for the leakage about the jailbreak and other activities of the service, which were supposed to be kept secret.
The Regional Prisons commander, Mr. Adjei Koreah could not be reached either for his comments.
On several occasions, guards at the prison gates refused to let in reporters to speak to the commander saying that they were acting on directive from a higher authority. Last Sunday afternoon a convict, Seidu Isahaka serving a 30 year sentence broke jail just two weeks after his conviction.
The Northern Regional police commander, Ephraim Brakatu told the Times that district police stations have been notified to look out for the fugitive.
Reacting to the allegations that prison officers sold prohibited items like "wee" to inmates, a top official at the Prisons Service was unaware of those activities.
The source admitted that "in an organisation like ours, there are bound to be bad nuts. If what is being told proves to be true we will deal drastically with the culprits."
Source:
Times
Man storms church service with machete
Pandemonium broke out in a packed church of the Fire Chapel International at Oforikrom, a suburb of Kumasi, last Friday afternoon when a man who had been sent there for healing broke free from a secured room and entered the main church hall with a sharp machete threaten¬ing to kill the pastors.
For about 20 minutes there was confusion all over as the church members and pastors ran for their dear lives, while the man, who later gave his name as Bismack Abanga from Nabdam in the Upper East Region, brandished his machete and dared any of the pas¬tors to come forward.
Abanga, before the incident, had his hands and legs bound up and placed in a room by the church members but some 15 minutes later he managed to untie the rope.
He then picked up a machete in the room, broke the door and headed towards the pulpit, cutting short the prayer session as everybody, including the pastors, ran for cover.
As the panic-stricken congregation and pastors fled in all directions, it took a machoman church member to gather courage to overpower the man, believed to be in his late 20s.
According to the Daily Graphic account of the incident, Abanga said he was an agent of the devil sent to kill not only the pastors of the church but also others in other parts of the country.
"It was a horrifying sight and it was by the act of God that nothing serious happened that day," Rev Abraham Cudjoe, the Founder and Leader of the church, told the Daily Graphic in an interview.
Showing the Graphic reporter the machete that the man wielded, Rev Cudjoe expressed surprise at the way Abanga managed to untie the rope.
He said they had wanted to call in the police but had a second thought because the whole issue was spiritual. They, therefore, prayed for the man.
Rev Cudjoe said a woman had brought Abanga to the church that day, claiming that he suffered from epilepsy.
He stated that since he behaved abnormally, he was tied with a rope and locked up in a room, awaiting the healing session. That was to ensure that he did not misbehave.
While prayers were going on, Abanga was seen entering the main church hall naked, having removed his clothes in the room, and holding a machete.
Frightened pastors and church members took to their heels, leaving behind a visually impaired man who sat on a chair near the pulpit.
Rev Cudjoe said Abanga went close to the visually-impaired man, pointed the machete at his head "and as I watched agonisingly I thought that was the end of the innocent man.
"But, thank God, after about five minutes, the man put the machete on the seat I sat on, before the machoman went to overpower him from behind," Rev Cudjoe said.
He insisted that the man was, indeed, an agent of Satan who had been sent there specifically to disgrace him and his church but the power of God reigned supreme.
He indicated that Abanga later came back to his senses after he and the congregation had prayed for him and he was later sent away by his relative.
Source:
Daily Graphic
Do not defecate at the beach - Assemblyman
Winneba (C/R) June 25, GNA- The Assembly member for Penchey Electoral Area of Winneba in the Effutu constituency Mr. Asmah Bondzie has appealed to the people in the area not to defecate along the beach to avoid outbreak of diseases.
He said it was not hygienic for the people to defecate at the beach that serves as a fish landing spot where the fishermen stock their catch for sale to the public.
Mr. Bondzie made the appeal at a general meeting with his people on how best the place could be made neat to prevent a possible outbreak of epidemic in the area. Mr. Bondzie, who is also the chairman of the Effutu constituency branch of National Democratic Congress said, if the practice was not stopped, punitive measures would be put in place to deal with offenders. "As a leader of the area, I will ensure that the people live in good condition of health and also improve their living standard," he said. The Assembly member expressed regret about the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the area instead of sending them to designated refuse points where containers have been provided by the district Assembly.
He said the beaches if kept clean could serve as recreational spot and tourist attraction to generate funds for the assembly and income for the people.
Mr. Bondzie advised them to avoid polluting the environment and must ensure environmental cleanliness to prevent diseases, adding that monies that would be used to attend hospital could be saved to improve their lot. Meanwhile, the people have formed a Committee to arrest children below 18 years seen at funeral grounds after 1900 hours and those found on the streets and beaches during school hours.
25 June 07
Source:
GNA
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Child labour victims to acquire formal education
Breman Essiam (C/R) June 24, GNA. The Centre for Rural Enterprises Development (CRED) Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has enrolled 77 children withdrawn from worst forms of child labour in the area to acquire formal education.
The NGO undertook the project in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour and the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district Assembly. Breman Essiam, Ajumako Bisease, Enyan Maim, Eyan Apaa, Okuadze, and Kookwado were some of the communities where children were engaged in commercial agriculture and quarry projects, Mr. James Ampiah the Deputy Executive Director of CRED disclosed this at a durbar to celebrate World Child Day by the Ajumako District at Breman Essiam.
He said the children, aged between the ages of five and fourteen have been supplied with school material including books, pens, pencils, sandals, bags and school uniforms. Mr. Ampiah said a memorandum of understanding have been signed with the school authorities to show particular interest in the welfare of the children.
Mr. Ampiah said, 23 of the children have been enrolled as apprentices in hairdressing, auto-mechanics, electronics, dressmaking, adding that the NGO has procured equipment, including sewing machines, driers, electrical tools and other materials for the beneficiaries to open their shops after training. He said, with funding from Danish International Development (DANIDA), Government of Ghana and technical support from Community Water and Sanitation, CRED is providing training for Water and Sanitation Committees in 12 communities in Ajumako District.
Mrs.Abena Serwa-Opare the focal person for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the district said, any work that was hazardous or interfered with children education or harmful to the health of the child contravened the children Act 560 of 1998. She therefore urged parents and guardians to eschew the habit of using children, who are future leaders, as labourers for economic gains, but rather mobilize their resources to educate them to be useful citizens in society.
24 June 07
Source:
GNA
SIC presents a cheque to UEW
Winneba(C/R), June 24, GNA- Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has appealed to financial institutions and organisations to assist in the development of education in the country.
He said such assistance would develop and improve infrastructure in to admit more students to educational institutions to train the required manpower needs of the country. Professor Anamuah-Mensah made the appeal when receiving a cheque for 100 million cedis from the Management of State Insurance Corporation (SIC) at Winneba.
The two institutions are jointly constructing eight bungalows for lecturers of the university at an estimated cost of 920 million cedis out of which the company is contributing 500 million cedis. Professor Anamuah-Mensah noted that Ghana could not develop without quality education to ensure quality human resource base for accelerated development.
He expressed appreciation to the management of Sic for the gesture and called on authorities of tertiary institutions to collaborate with corporate institutions to improve their infrastructure. Mr Asafo Agyei, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration of SIC presenting the cheque said as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Ghana's independence, management had decided to assist public universities in the country.
Source:
GNA
Physically challenged jailed for stealing goats
Begoro, (E/R), June 24, GNA- A 33-year-old physically challenged person at Nkankama, near Begoro, Tetteh Akweitey has been sentenced to six months imprisonment in hard labour by the Begoro District court for stealing two goats.
He pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecuting, Police Detective Inspector Jonathan Amoh of Begoro told the court presided over by Mr Owusu Nsiah that, the Unit Committee at Nkankama on May 25, this year, had a tip-off that the accused person had stolen and tethered two goats in the bush. He said when the Unit Committee members confronted the accused, he admitted the offence and led the Committee members to the bush to where he had kept the goats.
He together with the goats was sent back to the village where the owners identified and collected their goats.
Detective Inspector Amoh said the Unit Committee members then escorted the accused person to the Begoro Police station where he was processed for the court.
Source:
GNA
Birim North District awards teachers
New Abirem (E/R), June 24, GNA - 25 basic and second cycle school teachers and non-teaching staff in the Birim North District have been honoured for their hard work and dedication to duty at the 2005/2006 best teacher awards ceremony held at New Aberim at the weekend. They received items ranging from gas cookers, television sets, tabletop, refrigerators to wall clocks. The Ghana Education Service (GES) also presented 60 bicycles for distribution to male and female teachers teaching in the deprived communities in the district.
Teachers who came first in the Primary, JSS and SSS categories were presented with tabletop refrigerators while those who came second received 14-inch colour television sets. Those who came third had gas cookers and its accessories. Six staff at the district education office also had wall clocks for long service.
The awards were sponsored by the Ntiamoah Foundation, an NGO, the District Assembly, the Members of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase /Ayirebi and Abirem constituencies, Mr David Opong Kussi and Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah respectively and the GES. In an address read on her behalf, the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Akosua Adu called on the district assemblies and other educational stakeholders to assist the GES to organize the awards annually.
She said awards would motivate teachers to work hard to improve the standard of education in the country. She commended the district for honouring 236 teachers and non-teaching staffs since the award scheme started and suggested that a workshop should be organized for the various award winners with the view of tapping their resources for the benefit of other teachers and the district.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Nana Acquah Frempong urged the award winners to cooperate with the teachers to improve the standard of education in the district.
He advised teachers to take advantage of the distant education programme to upgrade their knowledge to enhance their performance. The District Director of Education, Mr George Diko said the district had 47 per cent in the 2006 Basic School Certificate Examination as against 39 per cent in 2005 and appealed for the construction of teachers' quarters in the communities to provide accommodation for the teachers.
He said teachers play a significant role in the training of the nation's human resource development and therefore needed motivations and learning materials to enhance their performances Mr Diko said the main duty of a teacher was to help pupils and students to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills and attitude as prescribed in the school curriculum for them to become responsible citizens.
He explained that apart from teaching in the classroom, teachers perform various social duties such as visiting pupils at home, offering guidance and counselling services as well as participating in public health education.
24 June 07
Source:
GNA
Bank supports Breman Asikuma Police
Breman Asikuma (C/R) June 25, GNA- The Brakwa Breman Rural Bank on Friday presented a cheque for five million cedis to the Breman Asikuma District Police Command to enhance the running of their administration and ensure effective patrol duties in the District. Mr Fifie Essel, Breman Asikuma branch manager of the bank made the presentation on behalf of the bank.
He said, the move followed a request made by the command to them and other institutions, including NGOs in the district to come to their aid to enable them to maintain and fuel their patrol vehicle for effective patrol duties in the district. Mr. Essel said, there was the need for the bank, as part of its social obligations to assist the police to protect the people who owned the bank to go about their business without fear.
Superintendent Mike Avadetsi in-charge of the Breman Asikuma district Police Command received the cheque on behalf of the Service and thanked the bank for responding to their appeal. He expressed the hope that such assistance would be forthcoming periodically to enhance their duties.
He appealed to other organizations in the area to emulate the bank.
Source:
GNA
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Former President to be honoured
Accra, June 23, GNA- Former President Jerry John Rawlings is to be honoured by NiteShift Coliseum, a prominent events and entertainment organization in Nigeria. A statement from the Office of the Former President said he will be a special Guest of Honour at the 2007 Grand House Reception in Lagos on Sunday June 24.
In the past few years, the Coliseum has hosted a number of eminent Nigerians, including Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar and the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled 1993 elections in Nigeria as well as diplomats and captains of business and industry in the country. Former President Rawlings, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday June 22nd, will be accompanied by his wife Nana Konadu and children.
Other members of the delegation will include Mr Ato Ahwoi, Nii Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso and Special Aid Emmanuel Victor Smith. The Former President is expected back on Monday, June 25.
Source:
GNA
Residents of Old Tafo to establish police post
Kumasi, June 23, GNA- The residents of Kwantwoma East at the Ahenbronum Electoral Area at Old Tafo in the Kumasi Metropolis, have planned to establish a Police Post to help check criminal activities in the area. They have therefore, appealed to the Ashanti Regional Police Command to provide them with personnel as soon as offices were provided. Mr. Francis Ampadu, assemblyman for the Area, announced this at a meeting with the Kwantwoma East Landlords Association at Old Tafo in Kumasi on Friday. He said the people have also agreed to form Community Neighbourhood Watchdog Committee in the area to assist clamp down on criminal activities and appealed to the residents to become members of the committee.
Mr. Ampadu commended the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Constituency, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei for ensuring the provision of infrastructure, rehabilitation of roads, toilets, classroom blocks, electricity to improve their living conditions. He said most of the schools in the area also had benefited from the government feeding programme and advised parents to reciprocate the gesture by sending their children to school. Mr. Ben Athur Duncan, Interim Chairman of the association, said effort was being made to revive the association to enable them initiate more development programmes to enhance their living conditions. He appealed to the members of the association to meet periodically to deliberate on issues that would promote their welfare.
Source:
GNA
Over 5,900 children benefiting from school feeding programme in Adansi
North
Fomena (Ash), June 23, GNA - More than 5,900 primary school children in the Adansi North district are benefiting from the government's school feeding programme. In all, 15 schools had been hooked onto the programme with two of them, Asokwa local authority and Kwapia Catholic benefiting in 2006. Mr. Peter Kwabena Ameyaw, the District Chief Executive, who was addressing the ordinary meeting of the assembly at Fomena, named the other school as Adomanu Catholic, Patakro L/A, Bobriase L/A, Old Edubiase Methodist and Medoma Catholic. Others included Brofoyedru Catholic, Hwiremoase L/A, Aboabo Number Two Methodist, Akrofuom L/A and Ansa L/A.
Mr Ameyaw said so far 572.2 million cedis out of 896.3 million cedis received for the programme had been spent. He said nine out of 12 schools started feeding in January this year whilst four other schools also started the feeding in February due to delays in the works of the kitchen construction. On school projects, the DCE said a six-unit classroom block at Bodwesango Secondary School funded with GETFund had been completed and handed over to the school administration. He said another six-classroom block with ancillary facilities at Saponso was also completed to enhance basic education delivery in the area.
Mr Ameyaw announced that the assembly spent 100 million cedis for the award of scholarships to needy but brilliant students as well as the payment for the remedial classes organized to adequately prepare private students to re-sit their examination.
Source:
GNA
Obuasi NDC celebrates 15th anniversary
Obuasi, June 23, GNA - Mr. George Adu-Mensah, former District Chief Executive for Obuasi has said, as an opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had a role to play to ensure good governance in the country. "We have to see to it that the NPP government does what is right for the nation", he said. Mr. Adu-Mensah was speaking at a seminar organized by the Obuasi constituency of the NDC to mark the 15th anniversary of the Party at Obuasi, He said the government's Golden Age of Business had become a mere political slogan as businesses were collapsing because of power shedding in the country.
The ex-DCE urged the government to tell Ghanaians the truth about the real situation of the energy crisis instead of "announcing daily promises of solving the problem". On the re-denomination of the cedi, Mr Adu-Mensah wondered why an economy like Ghana should have two legal tenders at the same time within a period. He called on the government to take steps to ensure that people did not take undue advantage to enrich themselves as the existing arrangement would give room for fraudulent deals.
Mr. Clement Sangaparee, an activist of the NDC expressed worry about the seeming indifference of the clergy, who had not send any pastoral letter to the government in the event of current events in the country. He cited the increasing spate of armed robbers were killing innocent people and the inconveniences and sufferings the energy crisis had visited on Ghanaians, among others acts, which, he said, needed pastoral concerns. Mr. Sangaparee, noted that the clergy had been quiet over the nation's problems because it had taken a "position in the government".
Source:
GNA
Minister urges fishermen to invest in education
Adina (V/R), June 23, GNA- Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister has urged fishermen to invest their gains in their children's education as a future security.
Mr Dzamesi said this while addressing the maiden "Layiyi Za" or smoked fish festival of the chiefs and people of Adina, a coastal community in the Ketu District, which had the theme "Promoting the Fishing Industry in Ketu". Lauding the birth of the festival as a means of promoting the development of the town, he asked the people to eschew bickering so as to reap the full benefits of the fishing industry, which he said employed about 90 percent of them. Togbe Gbemu II, Dufia of Adina, appealed to the government to assist with inputs to expand the fishing and salt industries in the area.
Mama Nuhepe II, Queen of Adina, who won a number of district and regional fish smoking awards, also urged the government to construct a fishing harbour with storage facilities at Adina to offset the perennial post harvest loses and to create jobs. Mr Samuel Quartey, a Deputy Director at the Fisheries Ministry said as an income earner, reaping 120 million dollars for the country last year and giving employment to 10 percent of the Ghanaians, the fishing industry was dear to the heart of government and is working hard to eliminate problems impeding the growth of the sector. He said seven million Euros had been secured and a Dutch Firm contracted by government to do feasibility studies and build a pilot fishing bay with storage facilities for replication in a number of coastal communities including Adina.
Mr Quartey said an Indian Firm was also in the process of constructing fibreglass boats on pilot basis, under a plan to face out the use of wooden boats in the industry. "Another Indian company would be assisting in the supply of safety gadgets to reduce accidents in the industry". Madam Comfort Ablormeti of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, advised women to access available micro-credit facilities to enhance their businesses.
Toghe Sri III, Regent of Awomezi, who was represented, appealed for the control of activities of major foreign fishing vessels in the country's waters so that they do not deplete Ghanaian waters of fish to the disadvantage of the national economy.
Source:
GNA
Man, 20, jailed 16 years for sodomy
Kumasi, June 23, GNA - A circuit court in Kumasi on Thursday sentenced Kwame Faka, a 20-year-old labourer to 16 years imprisonment for having anal sex with a 12-year-old junior secondary school boy. He pleaded guilty to a charge of sodomy and was convicted on his own plea.
Passing sentence, the presiding judge, Mr Richard Mac Kogyapwah observed that the animalistic instinct in unscrupulous individuals such as Faka had led him to have unnatural intercourse with the victim and said people like him were just like animals and needed to be quarantined from society for a very long time. He expressed the hope that by the end of the sentence, the convict would have erased such tendencies from his behaviour. Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Appiah-Sekyi told the court that the convict had been accommodated by the victim's father (complainant in the case) and shared a room with the victim. He said on June 9 this year, Faka jumped on the victim while he was fast asleep and after tying him with a rope to the bed had anal sex with him and threatened to kill him if he dare tell anyone about his ordeal. ASP Appiah-Sekyi said the victim who could not stand the pain he was going through disclosed the matter to his parents and they made a report to the police.
Source:
GNA
Al Sunni Muslim sect gets new leader
Tamale, June 23, GNA - The leadership of the Anbariyy Islamic Institute in Tamale has unanimously elected Sheikh Saeed Abubakr Zakaria as the spiritual leader of the Al Sunni Muslims in the country. Sheikh Zakaria succeeds his late father Sheikh Yussif Sualih Ajura (Afa Ajura) who founded the Al Sunni Muslim Sect and was the spiritual leader and guardian of the Anbariyya Muslim community. He died in December 2004.
Addressing faithful after his outdooring, Sheikh Zakaria, who now goes with the spiritual name Afa Seidu, called for unity and understanding among Muslims to win more souls for Allah. He said Allah in his wisdom created mankind to love one another to promote peace and urged all Muslim brethren to see themselves as one people with a common destiny to promote lasting peace in the country. Sheikh Zakaria gave the assurance that he would work tirelessly to promote unity in the Al Sunni family and that he would continue with the development agenda that his late father had initiated. He called on all to cooperate with him to ensure that what was due "The Muslim brethren" was achieved.
Alhaji Issah Moodoo, a Muslim elder, who chaired the function advised Sheikh Zakaria to live above reproach to sustain the unity within their ranks. "Always try to make consultations and take decisions that would be in the interest of the congregation but not at the expense of Islamic tenets," he said. Sheikh Zakaria is one of the pioneers of the Anbariyya Islamic Institute established in 1950 by the late Afa Ajura to give Islamic education to Muslim children. At the moment, the Institute combines Islamic and secular education and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had provided funding to construct a two-storey classroom block to facilitate teaching and learning.
Source:
GNA
Cabinet Ministers agree to 'step aside' after AU Summit
Accra, June 23, GNA - Cabinet Ministers who intend to contest the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have agreed to 'step aside' from Government after the African Union (AU) Summit in Accra in July. A statement issued in Accra on Friday and signed by Mr D.K. Osei, Secretary to the President said "after frank and open discussions, an understanding was reached that the Ministers would step aside from Government soon after the AU Summit." It said "this is to enable them concentrate on their individual efforts to win the Party's nomination and also enable Government continue with its work without any distraction throughout the hectic period ahead."
The statement said President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday, June 20 met with National Executives of NPP and Ministers of his Cabinet who intended to contest the flag bearer position of the Party when nominations open in September in accordance with the Party's Constitution. It said the meeting chaired by President Kufuor, was aimed at ensuring effective continuity of Government's work and programme whilst ensuring sufficient space for the Ministers to pursue their laudable ambitions.
The statement said President Kufuor therefore, accepted their offer to resign and expressed his gratitude for their immense and invaluable contribution to the development of the country during their tenure as Ministers. It said the Ministers in turn committed themselves to the continued success of the party and the Government and pledged to work hard to ensure NPP retained power in the 2008 elections.
The Ministers in contention are Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Professor Mike Ocquaye, Minister of Communications and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, NEPAD and Regional Cooperation. The rest are Mr Alan Kyeremanteng, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI, Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing and Mr Felix Owusu-Adjepong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader.
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GNA
Tema office of ECG replaces obsolete machines
Tema, June 23, GNA - The management of Tema Regional Office of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has replaced 90 per cent of its obsolete equipment to ensure stability of power supply to consumers. In addition, it has started the installation of SCADA facilities to detect faults or problems confronting consumers and disconnect power to defaulting consumers automatically.
Dr Nicholas Smart-Yeboah, Managing Director of Tema Region of ECG announced these at a meeting in Tema on Friday. He was briefing political heads, traditional rulers, security personnel and heads of establishments on efforts to bring the power outages to normalcy. Dr Smart-Yeboah said Tema being the industrial nerve of the country should not be plunged into darkness but have uninterrupted power supply for increased production. He said the projects being undertaken were estimated to cost about 14.1 million dollars.
"Internally Generated Funds is contributing 11.8 million dollars and 2.3 million dollars from the World Bank, " he added. Work on the completed power stations are at Asutuare, Kpong, Tema "A" near the TDC, Tema "D" near PSC Shipyard, Tema "E" at Ghana Textile Manufacturing Company, Tema "H" ranging between 11 and 33 kilo volts (KV) switchgears. Dr Smart-Yeboah said emergency power plant was also being installed but warned that it would not change the load shedding exercise but rather control it. He said the equipment described as faster and cost effective were imported from Malaysia and had been tested and proven to be reliable with lifespan between 30 and 35 years.
Dr Smart-Yeboah said plans were advanced to extend the services to Dawhenya, Kpone, Katamanso, Community 25 and Mobole. He said the obsolete equipment would be dismantled and sent to the various universities and Regional Maritime Academy for studies. Dr Smart-Yeboah later led the team to inspect newly installed machines at some of the transmission stations. However, the road to the VRA power station is untarred and has become unmotorable as the vehicles stalled in the mud. The meeting was attended by Mr David Quaye Annang, Tema Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Tetteh Out, Kpone Mantse and President of Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs. Others were, Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse, Ms Mansah Banson, Managing Director of Tema Development Corporation and Commanders of First Battalion of Infantry, Naval Eastern Command and Bureau of National Investigations.
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GNA
Still Pure Water and Wybal Limited donates to NADMO
Accra, June 23, GNA- Still Pure Water and Wybal Limited on Saturday donated 100 cartons of bottled Savannah Spring water and three tricycles valued at 40 million cedis to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) as part of the company's corporate responsibility. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Adjei Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of the company said, his outfit was moved by recent appeal by NADMO to corporate bodies to contribute to help alleviate the suffering of victims of the recent floods in the country.
Mr Boateng said his company presented tricycles to the Ministry of Agriculture to help in the rural areas for multi-purpose activities such as the conveying of pregnant women to the hospitals and also for use on farms. Mr George Isaac Amoo, National Coordinator of NADMO said water formed an important part of the human system and that it was in the right direction that the company had heeded to the call by NADMO to help mitigate the sufferings of victims of recent floods in the country. Mr Amoo thanked the company for the kind gesture and expressed the need for future partnership between NADMO and the company.
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GNA
Open Cast Mining Cost Outweighs Benefits - Research
Bolgatanga, June 23, GNA - A research finding on Open Cast Mining carried out by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and the Department of Geology of the University of Ghana has revealed that the cost of Open Cast Mining outweighs its benefits.
The research conducted by, Dr. Goerge Botchie and Dr. Thomas Akabzaa, both lecturers of the university was conducted in the Wassa West District, one of the largest mining areas in the country. The research findings were presented at a day's Regional Dissemination Workshop on Land Tenure System in Bolgatanga on Friday aimed at sharing the findings of the research and educating participants on the new Land Reform policies. It attracted personnel from the Land Agencies, Heads of Department, Traditional Authorities and "Tindambas" or Landowners.
Presenting the findings, Dr. Botchie, stated that the average annual cost between 1990 and 2004 on the foregone value of crops stood at 34 billion cedis, timber valued at 3.3 billion cedis, lost of nutrients of plants and Genetic materials stood at 9.4 billion cedis, loss of houses 2.6 billion cedis, Environmental Services 7.6 billion cedis and cost of illnes 9.1 billion cedis.
Stating the average annual benefits in the same period, the findings indicated that 4.7 billion cedis was accrued from taxes and royalties, employment 33.3 billion cedis, compensation 1.9 billion cedis and other social and economic benefits stood at 5.3 billion cedis.
Comparing the costs and benefits, the findings showed that the Wassa West District accumulated a negative average net nominal benefit of 21.8 billion cedis over the period 1990-2004 representing a loss of about 0.09 per cent of average nominal Gross Domestic Production. The findings noted that the situation with Open Cast Mining in the Wassa West District was not different from the other mining zones in the country. It suggested that the inhabitants of mining areas needed to be adequately compensated, taking into cognisance the loss of farmlands, land degradation, displacement of local communities, health impacts, air, water, noise pollution, high cost of living, inadequate housing and employment.
The findings recommended that the Mineral Rights Acquisition procedures needed to be reformed to ensure a win-win situation for all stakeholders, and a Polluter-Pays Principle be enforced in all mining areas to minimize the cost of negative environmental impacts. It also recommended that a sufficient proportion of royalties be returned to the districts where most of the minerals came from and where the negative impact of mining was felt most.
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GNA
NPP to prove sceptics wrong in Upper West
Kojokpere (UW), June 23, GNA - Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Abubakari, Upper West Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party on Friday said the political terrain in the Region was becoming less difficult for the party and gave the assurance that it would prove all sceptics wrong by winning all the ten parliamentary seats in the 2008 election. "The NDC's perennial dominance in the Region is crumbling as evidenced by the mass defections that we are witnessing in all constituencies, fuelled by the good works of the government which the people are seeing on the ground and we are sure this will be translated into massive votes for the party in 2008".
Alhaji Abubakari was addressing a rally organized by the Kojokpere community youth wing of the party in the Nadowli East Constituency during which 120 people who had defected from the NDC were welcomed into the party. Two weeks ago, about 500 members of the NDC in the Nandom area left the party and joined the NPP. He urged those who were still in the NDC to compare the 19 years rule of PNDC/NDC to the six and half years of NPP in power to see which of them had performed better in meeting their aspirations.
"Within the six years you have been provided with good access roads, a school block and boreholes in Kojokpere and surrounding communities and we need your support to bring more projects including the extension of electricity to your community". He urged the defectors to canvass more support for the party saying, "the NPP is not a political organization that discriminates against new members but rather we respect each other and treat both old and new as equals".
Mr Stephen Engmen, Special Assistant to the Upper West Regional Minister said the NDC was fantasizing victory and assured the defectors that the NPP would retain power in 2008 and urged them to be bold to embrace their new party wholeheartedly. He put the frequent armed robberies being experienced in the country at the doorsteps of the PNDC, which he blamed for the proliferation of arms during its eleven-year rule. Mr Haruna Bagolin, a spokesman for the defectors said they had been influenced in their decision to quit the NDC by the good work of the government including the relatively stable and cheap prices of commodities like wax prints on the market. He said there was no turning back and assured the NPP that over 90 per cent of voters in the Kojokpere area would vote for it in the next elections.
Source:
GNA
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