A 21-year old Nigerien, Abdul Fatawu, is in the grips of the police for allegedly having sex with a sheep in an uncompleted mission house. The suspect was arrested on November 2 by Pastor Joel Bedding of the Church of Pentecost at Mentukwa in Elubo in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.   The Jomoro District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police John Ferguson Dzineku, confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency. He said Fatawu would be arraigned and charged with having unnatural carnal knowledge. Supt Dzineku said Pastor Bedding visited the uncompleted mission house and heard a strange noise emanating from one of the rooms and when he entered he saw Fatawu having sex with a sheep. He said Fatawu was caught just when he had ejaculated with some of the semen sprinkled on his thighs and some of the furs of the animal were on his penis and pubic hair.   The pastor reported the incident to the Elubo police and he was arrested.

Sixty youth, made up of  57 females and three males, have undergone a four- week training in entrepreneurial skills development at Effiduase in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region. Sponsored  by World Vision Sekyere East Area Development Programme (ADP), the training was expected to prepare the beneficiaries to set up their own businesses.   The training covered batik tie & dye, screen printing, manufacturing of cosmetics, soap making, as well as pastries preparation among others. Speaking at the graduation ceremony last Saturday, the acting manager of World Vision Sekyere East- ADP, Nii Abaitey, said his outfit was pursing programmes to empower community members to earn a living. He stated that World Vision Ghana was dedicated to working to transform the lives of children, families and their communities. According to  Nii Abaitey, these factors motivated WV Sekyere East ADP to assemble the graduates for the training. The acting manager expressed the hope that the skills acquired by the graduates would enable them to set up their own businesses. The graduates were trained by facilitators from Christian Line Entrepreneurial Development, an NGO based in Accra.  Madam Baaba Appiah Mends, the leader of the facilitators enumerated a number of products taught at the four-week training periods and expressed the hope that beneficiaries would take advantage of them. Madam Mends was hopeful that the graduates would put to good use the skills they acquired to help them generate income to support themselves and their families.  Mr Charles Ofori Nyarko, accounts officer of WV Sekyere East ADP, indicated that with the success of the training programme, his outfit would soon start another training session for other youths. The Course Prefect, Miss Benedicta Oppong, on behalf of her colleagues thanked WV Sekyere East ADP for sponsoring them to acquire employable skills. She also appealled to individuals and other organisations to compliment the efforts of WV by  helping them to set up their own businesses. The ceremony was chaired by Nana Sefa Kanto, Nifahene of Asokkore Traditional Area, who said since the NGO started operations in the area, they had done a lot of interventions especially in the areas of health and education.    

Dr. Kweku Anin Karikari, Acting Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, said on Tuesday that the phenomenon where “Men sleep with Men” is gradually gaining grounds in the Western Region. He said this had serious health implications and attributed the practice to the influx of foreigners as a result of the oil industry. “All manner of unsafe health practices are going on in the Region. We are not safe at all as a Region,” Dr Karikari told the GNA in an interview. He said there was the need for the Region to go back to the ABC method of HIV prevention which is Abstinence, Be Faithful and Condom use and that this could help save the Region from serious health consequences and its resultant economic burden on the government. Dr Karikari said some people had even formed clubs where indiscriminate sexual activities were conducted and appealed to practitioners to keep the “ABC” method of HIV/AIDS prevention in mind to avoid further spread of the virus. “The Region’s Health Directorate is also working hard to minimize the effects of the virus if not to completely eradicate HIV/AIDS from the Region,” he said.

The new Board of Directors of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on Tuesday assumed office under the chairmanship of Brigadier General I. B. Quartey, for a three-year term.      Members of the Board are Mr Rudolph Beckley, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Authority, Mrs May Obiri-Yeboah, CEO of the National Road Safety Commission, Rosetta Olympio, Representative of Road Users, Lawrence Kumi of the Ministry of Transport, Lieutenant Colonel Ajibadeck, Ghana Armed Forces, Frank Imoro Adam, Customs Division of the Internal Revenue Authority, and Joseph Bentor, National Insurance Commission. The rest are Andrew K. Kwakye, Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinatinating Council, Francis Agbozo, Ghana National Association of Driving Schools, Robinson K. Martey, Ghana National Garages Associations, Francis Amegayibor, Ghana Automobile Distributors Association, Assistant Commissioner of Police Angwubutoge Awuni of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department, Ghana Police Service. Addressing the Board in Accra, Brig. Gen. Quartey said though the objective of the DVLA was to promote good driving standards and ensure the use of roadworthy vehicles, they must not lose sight of the fact that the Authority had a duty to generate and collect revenue on behalf of Government. “We will, therefore, pursue this agenda very aggressively, making sure that all loopholes are plugged to enable us to achieve and even exceed given targets. “To be able to achieve set targets, therefore, calls for rebranding of the Authority, continuing from where our predecessors are leaving off. “Our efforts at rebranding must continue to focus on the automation of our activities to weed out completely the activities of middlemen,” he said. Brig. Gen. Quartey said a glance at the report on the mid-year performance conference held in July, this year, also pointed to the need for more investment in the area of human resource of the Authority by way of recruitment, training, equipment and motivation. He said the Board would take up this challenge to ensure that personnel always displayed very high standards of professionalism and excellence in the discharge of their assigned duties. Brig. Gen. Quartey said: “The image of the DVLA out there on the civil street is not that palatable. Our image as an Authority must change and we will, therefore, have to embark upon an aggressive public relation to inform and educate the public on our new ways of doing things.” He commended his predecessor, Mr David Adom, Dr Justice Yaw Amegashie, immediate past CEO, the former Board and the staff of the Authority for an excellent work done. “I want to promise them that we shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that the vision of the DVLA is attained in the not too distant future,” he said. Mr Adom, in his report, said a new ultramodern Head Office Complex was being constructed in Accra, while regional and district offices had either been built or renovated. He said in order to fulfill the Authority’s mandate the Board approved the purchase of modern Vehicle Testing Equipment for the Authority. Mr Rudolph Beckley, Acting CEO, said the DVLA, in line with its Five Year Strategic Plan, was no longer under Government’s subvention.

An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced Abubakari Osumanu, 21, to two years imprisonment and 100 penalty units for possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.       The convict, who has been in custody for five months, pleaded not guilty and the case went through the full trial until he was convicted. Detective Inspector Isaac Agbemehia told the court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, that the convict was an apprentice designer living at Kasoa Zongo. He said on July 18, the Narcotic unit of the Criminal Investigations Department embarked on an anti narcotic drug operation to clamp down on drug peddlers and users.  He said the personnel visited a notorious spot near the Kasoa market where the convict was met holding a black polythene bag, where he was arrested. Prosecution said a search of the bag in his presence revealed 93 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis and nine smoking foils. He said that during interrogation, Osumanu claimed ownership of the substance and stated that he bought some for GH¢ 10.00 from one Kpeketey for re-sale. “The exhibits have been forwarded for examination and report,” Detective Inspector Agbemehia said.

The Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) has asked the Trade Union Congress (TUC ) not to tolerate and listen to any “monkey” tricks of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the government any longer. The TDCL and the Tema Organized Labour were surprised about the lukewarm attitude of the PURC and the government at an emergency meeting held last Friday to discuss the deadline given by the TUC and Organised Labour in respect of the utility tariff increase. A statement issued by Mr. William Agana, the Chairman of TDCL and copied to Ghana News Agency on Tuesday stated that the TUC And the Organised Labour had shown more than enough maturity in tolerating the multi-faceted tricks and delay tactics of the PURC and the Government in addressing their concerns of reducing the upward tariffs adjustment to the levels that the ordinary poor worker can pay. It added that, the TDCL and the Tema Organised labour were in full support of all decision and multiples of actions taken by the TUC in order to compel the PURC and the government to reduce the unbearable tariff increase to levels that can be tolerated by the masses. The TUC would continue its strike scheduled to commence from the 18th of November if the government and the PURC fails to address their concerns.

The Seventh ECOWAS Trade Fair that aims at providing a one-stop platform for the display of goods produced locally by West African countries is underway at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre at La in Accra.   The event which started on October 31 will end on November 11, 2013. It is on the theme: "Regional Integration through Trade”. More than 100 traders and companies in the manufacture and sale of various goods such as clothing, shoes, artifacts, fabrics, assorted drinks, herbs and household items from 12 countries from the West African sub-region are taking part in the biennial event. This is the second time Ghana is hosting the fair, having hosted it in 1999. The fair was hosted in 1995 by Senegal while Togo hosted it in 2003 and 2011. Nigeria hosted it in 2005 and Burkina Faso, 2008. Uniqueness This year’s fair is unique with various conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings what have been scheduled to discuss African trade and related issues. In addition, some days have been designated as national days have for the various countries to share with other participants what they have in trade and investment. ECOWAS market ECOWAS has a huge market with a population of 300 million people. The fair was instituted to boost intra-community trade which presently hovers between 11 and 15 per cent, and also to facilitate the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) as well as empower local producers and stimulate regional economy. Opening At the official opening of the fair, the Vice President of Ghana, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, called on African leaders to remove artificial bottlenecks that hinder trade among their respective countries. The removal of the bottlenecks, he said, would go a long way to ensure effective regional integration. “The participation by a mixture of economic operators is an indication that the private sector to play a lead role in our economic revival. As a sub-region, we owe it to the future generation can make sure that factors that inhabit free trade among ourselves are removed. It is only when we remove such barriers that we can reap from the integration,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by a former Inspector General of Police, Mr Christopher Korbla Dewornu. Complex challenges The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo charged West African counties to gear up for the challenges of globalisation and development process by coming together to maximize the benefits of regional cooperation and integration. He said in speech read by Vice President of the commission Dr. Toga McIntosh that national and regional policies would have to be harmonised and coordinated. For him, while countries in the developing world were struggling for inclusion, some other countries were strategising to keep them out of business, adding that “appropriate and adequate public and private will-power and involvement are required.” Platform for networking The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said aside enabling countries to showcase their goods, the fair would provide the platform for networking. “I, therefore, challenge African leaders that we no longer have any excuse to defer or postpone our efforts at regional integration. “With a population of 300 million, 54 countries and an emerging vibrant private sector, we certainly cannot postpone having a common currency and a common market within the ECOWAS region,” he stressed. Visit to stand Following the initial speeches and the cutting of tape and official opening of the Pavilions, dignitaries including Messrs Mcintosh, Dewornu, Iddrisu and the ECOWAS Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Mines, Free Movement and Tourism, Mr Hamid Ahmed, accompanied by the Acting Director of Trade Dr. Gbenga Obideyi, visited a number of stalls to interact with the exhibitors. Daily Graphic/Ghana

The Seventh ECOWAS Trade Fair that aims at providing a one-stop platform for the display of goods produced locally by West African countries is underway at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre at La in Accra.   The event which started on October 31 will end on November 11, 2013. It is on the theme: "Regional Integration through Trade”. More than 100 traders and companies in the manufacture and sale of various goods such as clothing, shoes, artifacts, fabrics, assorted drinks, herbs and household items from 12 countries from the West African sub-region are taking part in the biennial event. This is the second time Ghana is hosting the fair, having hosted it in 1999. The fair was hosted in 1995 by Senegal while Togo hosted it in 2003 and 2011. Nigeria hosted it in 2005 and Burkina Faso, 2008. Uniqueness This year’s fair is unique with various conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings what have been scheduled to discuss African trade and related issues. In addition, some days have been designated as national days have for the various countries to share with other participants what they have in trade and investment. ECOWAS market ECOWAS has a huge market with a population of 300 million people. The fair was instituted to boost intra-community trade which presently hovers between 11 and 15 per cent, and also to facilitate the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) as well as empower local producers and stimulate regional economy. Opening At the official opening of the fair, the Vice President of Ghana, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, called on African leaders to remove artificial bottlenecks that hinder trade among their respective countries. The removal of the bottlenecks, he said, would go a long way to ensure effective regional integration. “The participation by a mixture of economic operators is an indication that the private sector to play a lead role in our economic revival. As a sub-region, we owe it to the future generation can make sure that factors that inhabit free trade among ourselves are removed. It is only when we remove such barriers that we can reap from the integration,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by a former Inspector General of Police, Mr Christopher Korbla Dewornu. Complex challenges The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo charged West African counties to gear up for the challenges of globalisation and development process by coming together to maximize the benefits of regional cooperation and integration. He said in speech read by Vice President of the commission Dr. Toga McIntosh that national and regional policies would have to be harmonised and coordinated. For him, while countries in the developing world were struggling for inclusion, some other countries were strategising to keep them out of business, adding that “appropriate and adequate public and private will-power and involvement are required.” Platform for networking The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said aside enabling countries to showcase their goods, the fair would provide the platform for networking. “I, therefore, challenge African leaders that we no longer have any excuse to defer or postpone our efforts at regional integration. “With a population of 300 million, 54 countries and an emerging vibrant private sector, we certainly cannot postpone having a common currency and a common market within the ECOWAS region,” he stressed. Visit to stand Following the initial speeches and the cutting of tape and official opening of the Pavilions, dignitaries including Messrs Mcintosh, Dewornu, Iddrisu and the ECOWAS Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Mines, Free Movement and Tourism, Mr Hamid Ahmed, accompanied by the Acting Director of Trade Dr. Gbenga Obideyi, visited a number of stalls to interact with the exhibitors. Daily Graphic/Ghana

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has started using a new model, the public-private partnership (PPP), for the financing, construction and management of roads. Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, the Minister of Roads and Highways, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said already a consultant had been engaged to undertake a feasibility study on the dualisation of some roads to be financed by the PPP model. Taking his turn at the meet-the-press series in Accra, Alhaji Sulemani said the Accra-Takoradi road, the Accra-Tema Motorway, the Accra-Kumasi dualisation and the Western corridor roads Phase l (Elubo-Sunyani) were among some of the projects being considered under the PPP model. He said the PPP contract for the financing, designing and construction of an overpass on the Motorway at the Teshie link was currently ongoing.Preliminary designs have already been completed, while detailed design of works is in progress. The minister said when the project, estimated at $15 million, was completed, residents and motorists would be able to cross over the Motorway without going through the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange. Actual construction of the overpass is expected to commence in 2014 and completed in 24 months.  “Road transportation remains one of the strategic sectors of Ghana’s economy. It forms an important part of the social safety net facilitating the distribution of wealth through trade and employment opportunities in both urban and rural communities. It also facilitates the movement of people, goods and services in all sectors of the economy, including tourism, mining, health, trade, education and agriculture,” he said. Alhaji Sulemani said part of the China Development Bank’s $3 billion loan would be used for the construction of various roads. As much as $112.74 million had been earmarked for the oil enclave roads in the Western Region, he said, adding that $234 million was being committed to the completion of the La Beach road (Accra-Tema) project and the Accra Intelligent Management Traffic System. The La Beach road represents a critical corridor that links Accra to Tema. Currently, the road has reached its limit in terms of traffic and pavement capacity. Maintenance of Roads Alhaji Sulemani said by the end of August this year routine maintenance had been undertaken on 9,522km of the trunk network, 3,900km on the feeder road network, while 945km of grading works and pothole patching had been done on the urban road network. He said under the same policy, the ministry was vigorously implementing a programme, with the assistance of the European Commission, to regulate and control overloading and improve and expand transport sector indicators and database for policy formulation and better management of investment in the sector. Challenges In spite of what had been achieved, the minister named challenges facing the sector to include the inability to raise enough funds from other sources to support road maintenance programmes, long delays in honouring payments to contractors and the low delivery capacity of local and some foreign contractors, a development that affected the early completion of road contracts. On the outlook for 2014, Alhaji Sulemani said the main focus would be on completing the large portfolio of ongoing projects being funded from the Consolidated Fund, with the support of development partners. Daily Graphic/Ghana

Six envoys yesterday presented their letters of credence to President John Dramani Mahama and pledged their commitment to deepen trade, political and cultural relations between their respective countries and Ghana. They also lauded Ghana for its economic growth and stable democracy. The envoys are Dr Hans Docter from The Netherlands; Ms Traore Some Clemence, Burkina Faso; Dr Senturk Uzun, Turkey; Mr Christopher Thornley, Canada; Dr Joachim Oeppinger, Austria, and Mr Jean-Marie Mowelle, Congo Brazzaville. Welcoming the Ambassador of The Netherlands, President Mahama said Ghana and The Netherlands had enjoyed bilateral cooperation for decades. He said The Netherlands had been proactive in supporting Ghana in the areas of education, water and sanitation. The President said trade between the two countries had been good but called for an increase in the volume. Responding, Dr Docter said the government of The Netherlands was ready to increase support to Ghana in the area of agriculture. For instance, he said, his government would want to support Ghana in the areas of palm oil production and irrigation in the three northern regions. Shared values  Receiving the Ambassador of Burkina Faso, President Mahama said Ghana and that country shared common political, cultural and social values. He said Ghana was committed to expanding and decongesting the Tema Port to make it easier for business people from Burkina Faso to clear their goods from that port. Ms Clemence said Burkina Faso was more than willing to increase trade and diplomatic relations with Ghana and mentioned the expansion of the Tema Port as an important project for her country. Welcoming the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, President Mahama said since the establishment of the Turkish Embassy in Ghana in 2010 and the reopening of the Ghana Embassy in Turkey this year, trade relations between the two nations had soared. Ghana centre of trade and investment For instance, he said, the volume of trade between Ghana and Turkey stood at $500 million, while there were between 40 and 50 Turkish companies in Ghana. Dr Uzun said since President Mahama's visit to Turkey early this year, Ghana had become the centre for trade and investment for the people of Turkey. He said Turkey was ready to share its experiences in the areas of infrastructure development with Ghana. Receiving the letters of credence from the Canadian High Commissioner, President Mahama said Canada had been supportive of Ghana in the areas of education, water and health care. He said Ghana wanted to increase energy generation, with focus on renewable energy, and asked Canada to support it in that regard. Mr Thornley said his country’s investment in Ghana had shown "solid returns" and stressed that Ghana was a beacon of stability. He lauded President Mahama and Ghanaians for the peaceful outcome of the 2012 election petition, saying that Ghana's democracy was stable and reliable. Austrian Ambassador Welcoming the Ambassador of Austria, President Mahama called for more efforts to increase trade between Ghana and Austria. Dr Oeppinger affirmed the resolve of the government of Austria to strengthen trade and diplomatic relations with Ghana. Congo Brazzaville Receiving the letters of credence of the Ambassador of Congo Brazzaville, the President called for the exchange of goods and services between the two countries for their mutual benefit. Mr Jean-Marie Mowelle said his country was willing to increase trade, political and cultural ties with Ghana. Daily Graphic/Ghana

The Network for Persons Living with HIV/AIDs (NAP+ Ghana) has appealed to the government to purchase locally manufactured anti-retroviral (AVR) drugs to reduce shortages in the country.   At a news conference in Accra, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NAP+ Ghana, Mr Raymond Ahorlu, said procurement processes and delays in the clearing of consignments from the harbour to the medical stores resulted in shortages in the various health centres. That situation, he explained, did not help persons living with the disease. According to him, the government relies on Danadams Pharmaceutical Limited only when there are shortages in the system, and thinks that resourcing the company to handle all of Ghana’s supply is appropriate. “Our neighbouring countries such as Togo, Ivory Coast and Benin get their AVR drugs from the local manufacturer in Ghana. We, therefore, do not understand why AVR drugs are made in our own country and we continue to suffer,” Mr Ahorlu added. Benefits Speaking on the benefits of purchasing locally manufactured AVR drugs, Mr Ahorlu said the locally manufactured drugs could help  achieve the zero HIV-related death project by the UNAIDS, since inclusion of the local AVR drug on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) could be made possible for persons who could not afford to pay the GH¢5 to access treatment. “Because it is also available here, the supply system will be very quick and easy to deliver to the regions,” he said.Besides, he said, it would facilitate job creation. Effects of shortage Mr Ahorlu said persons living with the disease suffered dire consequences when the drugs were not available, adding that some of them had lost their jobs as a result of constant permission from work to visit the hospital, while others had developed resistance and had died as a result. The NAP+ Chairman called on all civil society groups and stakeholders to advocate that the drug be locally manufactured. Daily Graphic/Ghana

Hundreds of traders along the popular Tip Toe Lane at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra were yesterday forcibly ejected in what the police said was the beginning of a widespread exercise to pave the way for the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange.   Container shops, a prayer space for Muslims, kiosks and other wooden structures were all pulled down, while their owners salvaged their property. But the exercise left in its trail bitter comments between the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso Central, Mr Henry Quartey, and the Greater Accra Regional Police Director of Operations, Chief Superintendent Mr Sylvester Bayuo. The MP accused the police of using needless force to carry out a politically motivated exercise targeted mainly at supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), while the police boss, in turn, accused the MP of inciting the agitated traders against the police and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), necessitating police reinforcement. Mr Bayuo told the Daily Graphic that the AMA had, through letters, requested police protection to evict traders and squatters illegally occupying the Tip Toe Lane, noted for its thriving mobile phone business, to make way for the construction of the interchange, the sod for which was cut by President John Dramani Mahama only last week. He said the police, numbering 30, had arrived with officials of the AMA and that the exercise was progressing smoothly until Mr Quartey appeared on the scene to incite the anguished traders. His incitement, the police boss said, made him call for reinforcement to avert any untoward scenes. But Mr Quartey refuted the allegation of incitement, saying he only waved at the people who are his constituents and proceeded to plead with the police and the AMA to give the traders time to relocate. His branding of the exercise as a politically motivated one, a claim supported by the assembly woman for the area, Madam Elizabeth Adomako, he explained, was because the area earmarked for the eviction exercise was mainly occupied by NPP supporters. The MP said the Tip Toe Lane was dominated by NPP supporters and that the AMA had specifically chosen to drive them out of business by directing countless decongestion exercises there when a more serious situation in the same vicinity – the space adjoining the lane and directly opposite the Ghana Telecom head office – which he claimed was inhabited by supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress never saw the needed decongestion. He called on President Mahama to intervene for an amicable solution, wondering if Ghanaians could no longer have some peace even in their own land. But a member of the Ayawaso Central Sub-Metro and executive member of the Ayawaso Central Constituency of the NDC, Mr Johnson Akey, who expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the MP, told the Daily Graphic that the MP was wrong in his claim that the exercise was targeted at NPP supporters. He said the decongestion had nothing at all to do with political partisanship but that it was long overdue as a result of the overflow of trading activities which regularly led to the blocking of the busy roads. Daily Graphic/Ghana

German-born international evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, is set to rock Accra with life-changing and transforming messages as he mounts the huge dais erected for a four-day crusade, starting on Thursday.   It is dubbed, the “Greater Peace Gospel Crusade”. The gospel crusade will be the evangelist’s last in Ghana, as he has indicated he will be retiring after 39 years of ministry after the Ghana crusade. In view of his retirement, he will use the crusade to introduce his replacement, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, whom he trained in ministry work. Evangelist Bonnke will also seek to use his final crusade to draw many to Jesus Christ, the foundation of Christianity, and, as it is with his crusades, heal many afflicted with various diseases through the power of the Holy Spirit. For a last crusade, it is expected that there will be greater fireworks as have not been seen before in the evangelist’s ministry.Incidentally, from Thursday, the crusade is scheduled to begin with a leadership conference dubbed, “Fire Conference”, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Independence Square. Already banners, posters and billboards dot Accra’s landscape heralding the power-packed crusade which will end on Sunday. Some of Accra’s radio stations are also awash with announcements and adverts publicising the never-to-be-forgotten gathering of Christians and non-Christians in Accra. All major churches in Accra are taking part in the crusade under the umbrellas of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Association of Independent Churches, and the grounds for the event, the Independence Square, is already set to receive the hundreds of thousands that will throng the venue each day as the crusade progresses to have various spiritual needs met. Members and pastors of the churches taking part in the crusade have already gathered at the Independence Square to offer preparatory prayers for a very successful convocation of believers from Thursday. While the crusade is expected to be one of the greatest Christian gatherings in Ghana, with the potential to increase economic activities in the country, President John Dramani Mahama is expected to chair the event. According to the Chairman of the crusade planning committee, Rt Rev Samuel N. Mensah, a number of dignitaries, including investors, were expected to accompany the German evangelist to the country. Addressing the media at the launch of the crusade in Accra last week, Rt Rev Mensah said, “Many people have heard so much about this country and they want to take the opportunity to explore its potential during the crusade.” Rt Rev Mensah, who is the Bishop of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI), disclosed that over 50 churches and associations would be participating, with 2,000 ushers and pastors, as well as 20,000 security personnel to maintain law and order. He said the crusade would not only strengthen and build Christianity but also serve as an avenue for national cohesion, unity and peace after the Supreme Court verdict on the 2012 election petition. Rev John Darko, the Africa Director of Christ for All Nations (CFaN), said Ghana was chosen for the crusade because of the peace and political stability the country enjoyed and also for the fact that it was the gateway to Africa. “God is about to cause a revival in Ghana that will spread to the whole world,” he stated.He noted that the 39 years of Evangelist Bonnke’s ministry had been marked with glorious performances of miracles and deliverance of God to the nations of the world which Ghana was privileged to experience for the second time since his first visit in 1988. Rev Darko said the crusade would bring immense benefits to Ghana by bringing churches together and that millions would gather for the first time without political affiliation.   Daily Graphic/Ghana

The conversion of a giant tanker vessel for the country’s second floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platform for additional daily production of 80,000 barrels of oil has begun in the Jurong Shipyard in Singapore.   The vessel known as the Centennial Jewel, originally a bulk oil trading tanker, was bought by the TEN Project Partners to be converted into the FPSO for the Tweneboa, Enyira and Ntomme oil fields development known as Project TEN. When completed, the Project TEN would become the country’s second commercial oil and gas project which would push daily production to 200,000 barrels per day. Currently, the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah produces a total of 110,000 barrels of oil per day and hopes to ramp up to a plateau of 120,000 barrels per day. The jubilee project is said to have so far produced more than 84 million barrels and shipped to the international market. The Centennial Jewel is similar in size to the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, it is about 340 metres long, 56 metres wide and has a nameplate capacity of 80,000 barrels. The vessel is expected to arrive in the country in the last quarter of 2015 and will be moored to the TEN field to begin the hookup to the subsea structures for testing and completion. The completion of the FPSO would prepare the Project TEN field for first oil from the second commercial production in 2016. Local content It will be recalled that during the development of the first oil fields from the Jubilee Project, which was fast tracked, there was no involvement of Ghanaians in the conversion of the first oil tanker into the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah. The entire project was executed in Singapore and moved to the country. In a bid to transfer skills and ensure local participation, the contractor, MODCE, in collaboration with the TEN Partners has opted for the construction of most of the components in the country. As a result, the TEN Project Partners are investing in the refurbishment of the Tema Shipyard for the local fabrication of the components locally. The project is expected to build the structures, rehabilitate and take the staff through an up-skilling or training programme that will enhance their capacity in various areas – welding, mechanics, engineering, electronics, environmental health and safety. The TEN Project Partners have also indicated that building most of the components locally would ensure skills and technology transfer. The partners are of the view that local participation in the industry in the areas of contracts and service provision under the Project TEN will be greatly enhanced. That would ensure employment generation and enhance the capacity of the shipyard to bid for and win other oil and gas related contracts in the sub-region. It said there were several opportunities within the sub-region and if skills were enhanced and improved, management systems and processes were put in place, the shipyard would be in a position as one of first choice. The cost of the development of the TEN Project is estimated at more than $6bn and major contracts have been signed with the contractors that will be providing various forms of services to ensure the timely completion of the process for the first oil by 2016. Daily Graphic/Ghana

The University for Development Studies (UDS), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Desert  Research Institute (DRI) for the establishment of a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) centre at the university.   The centre which will be based at the Navrongo Campus of the university, aims at fighting desertification, while conducting action research on WASH. It will collaborate with players and stakeholders in the sector to find sustainable solutions to the numerous problems confronting Ghana and the WASH sector in West Africa. When established, the centre will undertake capacity- building activities on sustainable WASH services and environmental management issues focused specifically on challenges in Ghana and West Africa. It will also develop and run academic certificate, diploma and degree programmes to train middle and high-level manpower to manage the WASH sector. Speaking at a ceremony at the university in Tamale to formalise the agreement, the Pro Vice Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, said UDS recognised that that DRI, a research institution based in Nevada, USA, had a wide range of basic and applied research expertise in atmospheric, earth and ecosystem and hydrological science. He said with the DRI also recognising that the  UDS had a wide range of experience in disciplines such as agricultural and environmental sciences, “the parties mutually recognise that it is in their best interest to develop a long-term collaboration to strengthen research capabilities, broaden research opportunities, enhance faculty expertise and provide basic and applied research and educational opportunities for students, staff and community transformation at both institutions.” According to him, the centre will also develop appropriate and affordable technologies for rural communities, jointly conduct basic and applied research and run short courses on WASH for NGO and government workers. The President of the DRI, Dr Stephen E. Wells, said he had been working with the World Vision and Hilton Foundation, both humanitarian organisations in Ghana, for more than 20 years and are therefore, abreast of the challenges confronting the water, sanitation and environmental sector in the country. He said grants would be sourced to conduct researches not just in water and sanitation but also in environmental issues. A development communication expert and Dean of the Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences of the UDS, Professor Amin Alhassan, said Ghana lagged behind in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water and sanitation. Daily Graphic/Ghana

The 2012 Vice Presidential Candidate for the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Akosua Frimponmaa II, has called for a ceasefire between the Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, and her deputy, Miss Rachael Apoh. The two have recently been attacking each other following a misunderstanding that has ensued over the rescuing of a child whose mother is purported to have been suffering from some form of mental disorder. A statement signed and issued by Nana Frimponmaa stated that it believed both the minister and her deputy ‘‘were motivated by the right reasons in taking that position in the interest of women and children.’’ The statement  also expressd the belief that the discretion exercised by the deputy minister was genuinely informed by the life-threatening situation of the child, and   understood how deep affection and care could drive any responsible adult to provide immediate security and help to a child in danger. According to the statement, she also appreciates the sensitive nature of the case and the minister demanding that due process be followed. The statement said most people would agree that due process was the backbone that every institution in Ghana required. The statement further acknowledged that the problem was a leadership challenge and  appealed to the  ministers   to quickly take up the mantle of selfless dedication to duty and stop that unnecessary tug-of-war. According to the statement, the issue at hand clearly shows the lapses and ineptitude in the system, with regard to addressing life-threatening concerns of children who are the most vulnerable in any society. The statement expressed the hope that  the ministers  would, as soon as possible, channel all their energies into engaging all stakeholders to find an enduring solution to this problem. The statement pointed out that the concerned women of Ghana wanted the creation of more outlets and places outside the Osu Children’s Home as a temporary shelter for children, and a hotline that one could contact in the event of similar situations.  According to the statement, currently when the life of a child is in any form of danger, there is no available number to call for swift action to be taken to rescue the child, as has clearly been demonstrated by this saga. ‘‘So please let this rather be a responsibility we must commit ourselves to fix immediately,” the statement stressed.  The statement observed that there were a lot of children in the  neighbourhood loitering during school hours, whose parents were the ones that must be sanctioned. The statement urged that these were the people who definitely needed to be arrested and put through the due process to enforce the “compulsory” free education at the basic level. ‘‘There is a lot of work to be done at the  ministry that you have been entrusted with and all of us are ready to help you achieve your goals of a better Ghana. So, put  programmes and policies in place that will  engage the general public, especially the women and children who look up to you as their role model,’’ the statement emphasised. The statement appealed  to Nana Oye Lithur  not  to feed into the negative perception that women were their own enemies. Therefore, for the sake of all women and  young girls in the country, it urged the Minister to  bury her  personal ego and commit herself selflessly to do the job she  has been entrusted with to improve  the lot of women and children.Daily Graphic/Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has refuted claims by his critics that he has not shown leadership in the fight against corruption and indicated that those criticising him do not know him well.   He said those who disagreed with him and were anxious to see his back should be patient because 2016 was not too far away. In apparent response to criticisms of him by some people, including the recent one by Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin, a former Majority Leader in Parliament, President Mahama said many comrades had questioned his (President’s) ability to fight corruption. "I dare say they don't know me well," he said to deafening applause from metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) at the opening of an orientation programme for them at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Accra yesterday. The three-day orientation programme is being held on the theme: "Re-Energising Local Governance for the Attainment of the Better Ghana Agenda". "For those who disagree with me and are anxious to see my back, not to worry; 2016 is not too far away. I will urge them to be patient,” the President said. In the difficult job of Head of State, he said, the least one expected was comradeship and solidarity. "Leadership is a difficult and lonely task and it will not only stress you but also require all your talent and skill," he said. President Mahama said the government had passed many pieces of legislation to enhance the fight against corruption, noting, however, that many loopholes existed which some people took advantage of to perpetrate corruption. He said in the next few days he would announce new measures to tighten the system, ensure more transparency and make corruption more difficult to undertake. Alban Bagbin Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin, a former Majority Leader in Parliament, early this week expressed concern over corruption in the country, saying he was yet to see a semblance of political leadership and a commitment to fight the canker. He particularly expressed dissatisfaction at the government's handling of the findings in the report on the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA). In apparent reference to some of the criticisms, President Mahama said people expected central and local government officials to demonstrate that they were able to deal with the canker of corruption decisively. That fight, he said, should be both in terms of putting in place the system that made it difficult for corruption to thrive and also dealing decisively with cases of corruption wherever they arose. "I send you to your posts with my full backing to do everything you can to stamp out corruption," the President charged the chief executives. He again tasked them to exhibit a high sense of responsibility and diligently execute their mandates to meet the needs of the people in their respective districts. President Mahama said he had continued to promote an open system of governance which allowed for the citizenry to follow what the government was doing. "At the national level, and through my various social media platforms and a special platform, ‘Ask the President’, my website, thousands of Ghanaians are eager and willing to join the governance process through contributions, suggestions, feedback and complaints," he said. He, therefore, urged the MMDCEs to replicate that by engaging chiefs and communities in constant interaction, seeking their views on projects. Street naming/jobs President Mahama told the chief executives that their continuous stay in office would be dependent on the success of the street-naming and house-numbering exercise. He tasked them not to only create opportunities for investment and employment generation but also make sure that people were engaged in decent work. Minister The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwasi Opong Fosu, urged the MMDCEs to work with their presiding officers, coordinating directors, security chiefs, traditional rulers and leaders of political parties. Daily Graphic/Ghana

An easy calm is hanging over the otherwise peaceful town of Seikwa, in the Brong Ahafo Region, following the murder in cold blood of the Paramount Chief of the area, Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II, on Monday night.   Consequently, residents of the Seikwa Traditional Area have been thrown into a state of mourning and shock. The police have also begun a major man-hunt for the perpetrators of the gruesome murder of the overlord of Seikwa. So far, no arrest has been made and extra police hands have been deployed in the area. A day after the incident, many of the residents, clad in black and red mourning cloths, were wailing the death of the chief who had been shot in his chest at his private residence at 8.30 p.m. on Monday. Some residents were, in the morning of yesterday, seen trooping to the palace and the private residence of the chief to mourn and express their sympathy with the Seikwa Traditional Council and the bereaved family. The motive for the killing of Nana Ankoana, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Soapem Company Limited, a construction firm, is not immediately known. The residents wonder what the reason could be for the murder, since they claim there is no chieftaincy dispute in the area. The situation in the town is said to be volatile, a development which has prompted the police to beef up security to prevent any reprisal attacks. The incident occurred when the chief was said to be relaxing in the porch of his private residence, just two houses from the palace at Seikwa, after he had returned home from a function to climax the annual festival of the traditional area. Shortly after the shooting, some family members raised alarm and Nana Ankoana was rushed to the Seikwa Health Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body has since been deposited at the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital in Sunyani for autopsy, pending further investigations into the matter. The Berekum Municipal Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Asare Bediako, told the Daily Graphic that investigations were underway to bring the perpetrators to book. He said a team of policemen had been deployed in the town to maintain law and order and prevent any possible reprisals. According to sources, the chief received some death threats some time ago from some unidentified persons. Again, it was gathered that some time ago unidentified people on board an unlicensed 4x4 vehicle came to serve the sub-chiefs of the Seikwa Traditional Area with letters demanding the Omanhene to account for his stewardship or destool himself. Two months later, similar letters were found on the streets of Seikwa. After the distribution of those letters demanding his stewardship, his 4x4 vehicle was set ablaze in front of his private residence. Nana Ankoana was enstooled as the Omanhene of the Seikwa Traditional Area about 17 years ago. Side Bar The Seikwa Traditional Area is one of the urban communities within the Tain District and one of the three paramountcies in the district. The other two traditional areas are Badu and Nsawkaw, the district capital, as well as two divisional areas, namely, Nasana and Debibi. The Seikwa Traditional Area has a population of 9,196, comprising 4,331 males and 4,865 females, according to the Tain District Assembly Database. The area shares a common boundary with Berekum to the west and Odumase in the Sunyani West District to the south, as well as the Badu Traditional Area in the Tain District to the north and the Nasana Division to the east. The people of Seikwa are believed to have migrated from Cote d'Ivoire to their present place.  The language spoken by the people is Nkoran. The traditional area has a senior high school (SHS) called Nkoraman  SHS and a health assistant training school. The people of Seikwa are predominantly farmers and some of the food crops they produce are maize, yam, plantain, as well as pepper. Although the town has a semblance of an urban area, the link roads from Berekum and Nsawkaw are in a deplorable state, making it very difficult to ply. The sod was cut for the construction of the road from Berekum through Seikwa to Nsawkaw in 2009, but works have been halted as a result of lack of funds. Some prominent personalities and politicians who hail from the traditional area are Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia, the current General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Member of Parliament for Wenchi, and the late Lawyer Yaw Obeng Manu of the New Patriotic Party. The Tain District became popular in the 2008 presidential run off because it determined the winner of the 2008 presidential election. Daily Graphic/Ghana

The Accra Circuit Court has remanded five suspects in prison custody for their alleged involvement in three separate robberies in Accra and Kumasi. Their pleas were not taken and they would reappear before the court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, on November 8, 13 and 15, 2013. They are Alidu Dauda, Ebenezer Appiah and John Kofi Agbleke.The others are Samuel Bortey and Alex Ametepey Tetteh. First robbery Presenting the facts of the first robbery, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr C.K. Abadamura, said about 9.30a.m. on July 30, 2013, three young men, including Dauda, armed with a pistol, stormed  the Juaben Rural Bank, attacked the workers and robbed the bank of GH¢81,273.55. He said before leaving the bank’s premises, they attacked and subjected the security man to severe beatings and injured him on the forehead, after they had collected his pump action gun from him. The prosecutor said while escaping with the booty, a police patrol team from Kumasi had information and chased them. The robbers exchanged gun fire with the police and two of the robbers (Yusif Jibril and Baba Usman) died in the exchanges but Alidu escaped with the booty. He said on October 25, 2013, personnel from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ashanti Regional Police Command had a tip-off that Dauda was hiding at the Kokomba Market in Accra, and was arrested for investigations. On October 29, 2013, Dauda was brought to the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit at the CID Headquarters in Accra to assist the police in their investigations into the robbery case. Second robbery In the second robbery case, the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr P.A Morkeh, said the complainants were an ex-soldier and an internal auditor residing at Agblezaa, near Accra, while the accused persons were unemployed men residing at Nungua.  At about 1 a.m. on September 30, 2013 , six young men armed with a locally manufactured pistol, machetes  and an iron bar broke into the premises of the complainants, subjected them to severe beatings and made away with GH¢500 cash, two laptops, jewellery and four mobile phones. He said on October 24, 2013, a young man who was a witness in the case was found using one of the stolen mobile phones. When he was confronted, he mentioned Samuel Bortey as the person who gave it to him and led the police to arrest him. In his caution statement, Bortey admitted the offence and mentioned Alex Ametepey, Baba, Akwadaa Mako and another  person as his accomplices. The prosecutor said on October 26, 2013, Ametepey was also arrested. In his caution statement, he also admitted the offence, and after investigation, the two were charged with the offence and brought before the court. The prosecutor said efforts were being made to apprehend the other accomplices, who are at large. Third robbery Prosecuting the third robbery case, an Assistant State Attorney, Ms Annette Barnes, said the complainant was a driver and a resident at Tesano, while the first accused, Ebenezer Appiah, alias Nana Kwame, 22, and the second accused, Johny Kofi Agbleke, alias Danjuman, 25, were both unemployed and resident in the same neighbourhood at Nima in Accra. She said on November 4, 2012, Appiah and Agbleke hired the complainant’s Toyota Corolla taxi-cab from Abeka Lapaz to Accra New Town. Appiah sat at the back of the taxi with Agbleke seated in the front passenger seat. The prosecutor said upon reaching Kokomlemle, Appiah and Agbleke orderd the complainant to stop the vehicle in front of a provision shop near the Challenge Bookshop. Appiah alighted from the vehicle and stood beside the driver’s side of the vehicle, preventing the complainant from coming out of the vehicle. Agbleke, who was still in the car with the complainant, pulled out a knife and threatened the complainant with a knife. He then stole his cash of GH¢350.00 and a Samsung dual sim mobile phone valued at GH¢150. The prosecutor said the accused struggled with the complainant in their attempt to snatch his taxi-cab from him but were not successful. Subsequently, they took to their heels. The complainant chased the accused persons in his taxi-cab and in his bid to prevent them from escaping, he knocked down Agbleke. She said the complainant raised an alarm and, with the help of residents in the area, they arrested Appiah. The two were arrested and taken to the Nima Police Station, and a search conducted on Agbleke revealed that he had a sharp knife in his pocket. Due to the injuries sustained in their bid to escape, the two were taken to the Police Hospital for treatment. Appiah was treated and discharged, while Agbleke was transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for surgery and is currently on admission there. Daily Graphic/Ghana

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) launched Gilbey’s Gin, an international quality spirit that has more than a century-and-a-half of existence, at Alisa Hotel on Monday, November 4, 2013. This is in line with its commitment to delight consumers with fantastic new premium drinks rooted in identified consumers’ insight. Already enjoyed in many countries in the world, Gilbey’s Gin will now be locally produced in Ghana at the Achimota brewery and distributed throughout the country. Gilbey’s Gin is a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of the founding fathers, Walter and Alfred Gilbey, who in 1857 used their ambition and determination to create a silky-smooth quality spirit that would be enjoyed by a wider group of people the world over. They sourced the finest ingredients and combined them with painstaking attention to detail to produce a unique tasting beverage named Gilbey’s Gin, which is best enjoyed over ice or neat only by persons aged 18 and above. A number of exciting marketing and sales activities will be used to introduce the brand to target consumers. The Managing Director of GGBL, Mr Peter Ndegwa, who together with the brand team launched the product, expressed delight that GGBL produced this quality spirit here in Ghana and was hopeful that it would be enjoyed by a wider group of people in the country. The Marketing Director of GGBL, Agnes Essah, said: “Thanks to its refreshing and smooth taste, Gilbey’s Gin will be appreciated by young male Ghanaian consumers who are looking for premium quality spirits at a price point that they can afford. And this is absolutely in line with the ultimate desire that prompted the Gilbey brothers in 1857 to extend the consumption of quality spirits to the middle and wider class population in England at that time.” With 40 per cent alcohol content, Gilbey’s Gin will be available in two different pack sizes of 750ml and 200ml and sold in bars at GH¢2 and GH¢6.5 respectively, and 60p per tot. Daily Graphic/Ghana