Tema, Oct 16, GNA – The Tema Police Regional Command  has identified 62 electoral flashpoints in the Tema Region as part of the Command’s security preparations towards the December 7 general election.   The flashpoints are in the Ashaiman District, Community One, Community Two, New Town District and Sakumono.  Others are in Prampram, Dodowa, Kpone and Ada districts.   Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Maxwell Atingane, Tema Regional Police Commander, said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Region’s Joint Election Security Task Force.   The Task Force comprises personnel from the Police, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Electoral Commission, National Security, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Armed Forces.     DCOP Atingane said the Command and the Task Force had resolved to provide adequate security for a smooth electoral process in the Tema Region.   He said each flashpoint would have two or more security officers stationed at the polling station and standby teams would also be located near them for any emergencies.   He said all the 468 polling stations in the eight constituencies under the region would have adequate security before, during and after the elections.             DCOP Atingane said a political investigation desk has also been put in place to investigate any alleged political offences during the period. Day and night patrols would also be carried out by a joint police and military patrol teams.   DCOP Atingane called on the general public to help the security agencies to maintain the country’s peace as peace was a shared responsibility and cautioned the public against fomenting trouble, during, before and after the election as the security agencies were well prepared to deal with such miscreants.               The security, he said, would not tolerate insulting behaviours, defacing of party posters, acts aimed at disrupting the electoral process, snatching of ballot boxes, provocative acts and disturbing public peace.   Motorbikes and other vehicles, as well as unaccredited persons, he noted, would not be allowed 50 meters radius of a polling station and appealed to drinking spot operators located within 50 meters of any polling station not to open it to the public on the day of election.   He said rechargeable lamps would be provided at the all the collating centres to cater for any blackouts.   GNA...

Bibiani (W/R), Oct 16, GNA - The Bibiani Circuit Court has sentenced an 18-year old mechanic,  James Ofori, to 24 months imprisonment,  for breaking into a room and making away with items valued at GH¢936.00.         He pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing.         Chief Inspector Emma Mma-Abotsi told the court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ankamah, that the crime was committed on Sunday, October 7.         The complainant, Naomi Serwaah, had left the house at about 0500 hours and detected the burglary on her return.   Chief Inspector Mma-Abotsi said the personal belongings of the complainant, valued at GH¢936.00 were all gone.         She said Serwaah made a formal report to the police and the convict was arrested following a tip off.   Ofori confessed to the crime during interrogation and led the police to retrieve the stolen items from where he had hidden them.   GNA...

Nkroful (W/R), Oct. 16, GNA – The people of Ellembelle constituency in the Western Region, have been asked not be swayed by rumours, calculated to destroy the image of Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, a Deputy Minister for Energy and Member of Parliament (MP) for the area.   Mr. Daniel Adea-Kaku, National Democratic Congress (NDC) propaganda Secretary for Asasetre Zone in Ellembelle, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), at Nkroful.   He said democracy in Ghana has advanced, and politics of blatant fabrications to dint the character of political opponents to win votes, must be strongly condemned.   Mr Adea-Kaku appealed to the people to vote massively to retain Mr. Buah in Parliament, in the December polls, because he has worked hard to bring development to the constituency.   Earlier, a group demonstrated to express its displeasure over allegation by political opponents of the MP that he had an affair with a married woman.   They group said it was a desperate attempt by some politicians to blemish the character of the MP.   GNA...

From: Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA Special Correspondent, Hyderabad, India (Courtesy, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, Global Environmental Facility and Internews). Hyderabad (India), Oct. 16, GNA - Ms Sherry Ayettey, Minister of Environment Science and Technology is expected to join other ministerial delegations of other countries at High Level Segment (HLS) of the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known as COP 11, in Hyderabad. Already a three-member technical team led by Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Chairman of the National Biodiversity Committee is participating in the various plenary and group deliberations. HLS provides an opportunity for Heads of States/ Delegations to facilitate the discussions and the adoption of a set of far-sighted decisions by COP that reflect the urgency of the issues facing the implementation of the Convention. The Minister of the Environment of India, Jayanthi Natarajan,  as host of the meeting, had identified four key issues, namely the Implementation of the strategic plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020, Coastal and Marine Biodiversity, Biodiversity for Livelihood and Poverty Reduction for discussion. Ghana as part of the HLS is expected to moderate a section on issues including Biodiversity for Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction on Tuesday. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the progress made by the African group, Prof Oteng-Yeboah said the African Group Delegation had finalized key issues including the Implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Convention and the Achie Biodiversity Target for 2011-2020 and Financial Resources Mobilisation, to support the conservation of biodiversity which would be submitted to the HLS for consideration. He said in line with the aims of the Biodiversity Conventions, Ghana’s strategic plan would be finalized by the end of the year and sent to Parliament for final review. “We have done the majority of the work that is documentation, consultations and stakeholder’s discussions in all the regions where the public were allowed to make inputs”,” he said. Shedding light on the Strategic Plan, he said the first feature was the creation and strengthening of the management of protected area systems. “This includes initiatives like the creation and rehabilitation of permanent protected forests, the creation of Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs), the implementation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) which use birds as indicators of habitat quality, and the establishment of biodiversity corridor,” he said. Professor Oteng-Yeboah said the plan would help the creation and strengthening of management of ex-situ conservation systems while the thirdly characteristic of the plan dealt with the incentive measures and sanctions for the conservation, and the sustainable utilization of biological diversity, including economic and social incentive measures and sanctions. GNA...

Accra, October 17, GNA – The Ark Foundation, Ghana, on Tuesday launched a documentary dubbed: “Grandmothers Speak for Peace,” as part of its efforts to ensure peace before, during and after elections 2012.   The 15 minutes documentary features 20 grandmothers with ages ranging from 59-89 years, sharing their views on the importance and benefits of peace.   This is to sensitize the general public on the dangers of conflicts, particularly to women and children.   The documentary also seeks to bring to the fore creative ways in which women could work to prevent electoral violence and enhance peace in the society, and admonishes politicians and the youth not to engage in activities that would result to violence and confusion.   Ms Esinam Horsoo of the Ark Foundation, said the documentary was to heighten the awareness on the high cost of civil strife and war which could result from election violence and encourage citizens to collectively work towards ensuring violence free elections.   “The Ark is optimistic that through policy advocacy, public education and engagement with active civil society groups and members of the general public, it would help members of the public to begin to understand the root causes of violence and the need to free society of attitudes, beliefs and practices that perpetuate abuse and violence of all forms against all persons, particularly women and children,” she said.   Madam Eugenia Ayabigah of Star Ghana, said it was important for Ghanaians to develop peace and goodwill within their homes, their communities, societies and then the general public.   She lauded the initiative of the Ark Foundation, saying it was very important for space to be allocated to the elderly in society to mentor and train the youth to gradually develop the habit of maintaining peace wherever they found themselves.   Madam Ayabigah urged the youth to develop the zeal for patriotism that could help them develop and eliminate all forms of difference that could cause confusion or violence.   Madam Caroline Akrong, representative of the grandmothers, said peace was something that could not be over emphasized and the backbone of every development and it was important for the public to endeavour to speak the language of peace in the forthcoming election.   She appealed to politicians and supporters to maintain the current peace in the country and urged the youth to desist from being used as tools for electoral violence.   The documentary is being funded by STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism (by DFID, DANIDA, EU and USAID), to increase the influence of civil society for a peaceful elections.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA – The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to all loan beneficiaries who have defaulted in the repayment schedule to redeem it or face legal actions, Mr. Henry Nii Dottey, Public Relations Officer, said in a statement.   The SLFT said “we are ready to pursue all defaulters of the scheme, especially those who have completed their courses of study but have failed to repay the loans."   “These monies if not recovered, would put the loan scheme under pressure and that would cause a constraint and its ability to support other eligible students,” Mr Dottey stated in the statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.   He said SLTF is using the first option of appealing and reminding all defaulters to pay back or face the necessary action that the fund may employ to redeem the money.   As part of the measures to redeem the money, Mr. Dottey said, the Fund Administrators are collaborating with government departments and agencies as well as the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to start monthly deductions at the end of November from the salary of defaulters on government payroll.   He reminded all employers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies of their obligations under section 24 of the SLTF Act 2011 Act 820 to deduct and remit monthly repayment amounts to the SLTF.   Mr. Dottey assured Ghanaians that the SLTF would not renege on its responsibilities but would seek to pursue and recover all such monies paid as loans to borrowers in order to sustain the scheme to enable other eligible students pursuing tertiary education to also benefit.     The scheme is a government social intervention aimed at providing financial support to Ghanaian tertiary level students and all efforts must be made to ensure the sustainability of the fund by recovering loans due it.   GNA...

Bolgatanga, Oct 16, GNA - Eight communities in the Upper East and Northern regions have identified and proposed to adapt high priority climate change adaptation strategies to help meet the challenges of climate change.      The most important strategies they are proposing to adapt include, dry season farming, livestock rearing, tree planting, preparation and use of organic manure and income generating activities.   These, they explained, would not only help the people to supplement their income as a result of poor yields from rain fed agriculture but also build up soil fertility and protect the environment.      The communities are Tariganga, Farfar, Kugri, and Akara in the Garu-Tempane District and Zambulugu, Saamin, Jawani and Dimia in the Mamprusi East District.      They are being led and supported by the Adaptation Learning Programme (ALP) under CARE International-Ghana, in its five year programme to work with poor and vulnerable communities to help them identify and adapt positively to the challenges of climate change.      The communities that had earlier identified and validated potential adaptation strategies at various community-wide meetings, were holding a workshop in Bolgatanga, organized by ALP, to analyze the feasibility of the adaptation strategies and adapt those that they needed most.      Other strategies they proposed to adapt were; early maturing and drought resistant crops, forming savings and loan schemes, encouraging the youth to learn vocational skills, advocating for good road network to connect communities to nearby big markets and building reinforced, strong foundation houses to withstand floods and wind storms.      Mr Romanus Gyang, Manager of ALP, explained that the process involved many steps, the first being a climate vulnerability capacity assessment (CVCA) conducted in the communities which documented the hazards and coping strategies, then the potential adaptation strategies were identified, and the possible challenges and ways of finding solutions to them also discussed.      The criteria covered the feasibility, sustainability, how beneficial and how environmentally friendly each proposed strategy was.      “All that was geared towards helping the communities to select strategies that are resilient for implementation so as to avoid the possible situation of mal-adaptation,” he said.      Mr Gyang said the communities, which were selected on pilot basis, were involved in every stage because it was important that they did most of the preparation and work on their own so as to sustain the programme.   GNA...

Baare(U/E), Oct 16,  GNA - A 46- year-old Medical Assistant, Mrs Georgina B Bansarigya, has been en-skinned as Queen Mother for the Baare Traditional Area in the Talensi District.    En-skinning the Queen Mother in his palace, the Chief of the Baare,  Naba Naba Nyaakora Mantii, said it took a broad consultation of elders and opinion leaders from the area to enskin the Queen Mother whom he noted was much focused and development oriented.   He appealed to the people, particularly women, to give the Queen Mother the maximum support to enable her bring more development to the area.   He said the decision to en-skin a Queen Mother for the area was a directive from the National House of Chiefs.   The Queen Mother whose skin name is “Pognaba Nemalteng”, meaning development oriented One, said one of the major problems she helped address in the community was to ensure that people in the area practiced family planning, by sensitizing both women and men.     She said the issue of malnutrition was a setback to the community and explained that it was not that there was no food in the area but lack of knowledge on how to adopt the practice of good nutrition.   “I will embark upon a vigorous education programme to school mothers on good nutrition so as to help curb malnourishment of people especially children in the area”.    She expressed regret at dropout rate of female students in the community and said most of them stopped school because of teenage pregnancies and early marriages.   The youth Chief,  Bisnab Asampana Anangton who was also en-skinned by the Chief, pledged to eoganise peace talks among the various groups in the community to pave way for development.   GNA...