Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - The contribution of agriculture to the country's economic growth continues to be significant, despite Ghana's oil find.   "For the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), such as the eradication of poverty and hunger, Government is taking steps to increase agricultural production, food security and income," Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, said this at the Third National Farmers' Forum, held in Accra on Monday.   The forum on the theme: "Grow More Food: Strengthening Farmer Based Organisations for Market Place Bargaining Power,” was to herald the 28th National Farmer's Day Celebration, which comes off on November 2nd 2012 at Abokobi, in the Greater Accra Region.   Mr Ahwoi said the strategy for the development of the Agricultural sector in Ghana, hinged on the Medium Term Agricultural Investment Plan (METASIP), which runs from 2011 to 2015.   The Minister said under the plan, the government sought to expand irrigation infrastructure, subsidize fertilizer and seed cost, encourage the youth to take on farming as a profession among several others.   He said the most important resource for "this task is our farmers."   Mr. Ahwoi noted that if farmers were assisted to have easy access to information on best practices, and building their capacities, their production and incomes would in effect also be increased.   He said one effective way of "achieving these" was through facilitating the establishment of sustainable Farmer Co-operatives or Farmer Based Organizations.   Speaking on the theme for this year's Farmer's Day Celebration: "Grow More Food: Strengthening Farmer Based Organizations For Market Place Bargaining Power,” he said it reflects the role Farmer Based Organizations (FBO) are playing in agricultural production in the country.   He said the importance of FBOs as economic development institutions within the country, had led to the government developing a policy to promote FBOs, register and train 5,658 active FBOs in Enterprise Development, among several others.   Mr. Ahwoi cited some good works of FBOs as the Rubber Out Growers and Agents Association in the Western Region, which had built their own office and were able to negotiate competitive prices for their members.   He also mentioned the Ejisu-Juaben Pig Farmers Association, which had trained members, given soft loans to members and even non-members, and provided three bore-holes for their community.   The Minister said there was a general consensus that the production of small holder farmers would increase if farmers came together for easy access to inputs, training and market linkages, among others.   "It is therefore the policy of the government to continue supporting the development and strengthening of Farmer Based Organizations, as a means of supporting farmers to become more competitive, cost effective in their operations and have stronger bargaining power in the market place," said Mr. Ahwoi.   The forum was organized by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA -Parliament on Monday passed the Internal Revenue (Tax Amnesty) Bill, 2011, granting reprieve to tax defaulters, and seeking to widen the income tax net to improve Ghana’s revenue inflows.      The introduction of the Bill is expected to motivate liable tax payers to voluntarily regularise their tax position with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), grant amnesty to certain categories of persons as stipulated by the law, from paying penalties and interest on outstanding taxes due the State.     The Bill stipulates that persons, who duly register with the GRA or the Registrar General’s Department submit or amend their tax returns or pays assess and outstanding tax within a certain time frame could benefit from the Amnesty.       The new law widens the scope of the amnesty to include persons who had previously registered with the GRA but have not renewed their registration, and those who have registered with the Authority but have not submitted returns or disclosed their incomes as required for a specific period, as well as persons liable to pay tax but who have previously not registered with the GRA.      The Law also preserves the prerogative powers of the Commissioner-General of the GRA to remit tax under section 158 of Act 592 and provides interpretation of the terms used in Act.      At the consideration stage of the bill earlier in the year, the Minority showed uneasiness, stating that the country stood to potentially loose significant revenue if the bill was passed into law, citing inherent flaws in the document.      But the Majority insisted that the tax reprieve in the Bill would enable a significant number of liable tax payers a break to start afresh in fulfilling their tax obligations that would result in the widening of the tax net to generate more revenue for the country.        The side also noted that the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product demanded that government took deliberate measures to improve tax collection, touting the waiving of penalties and interest for tax defaulters as a panacea to tax evasion.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29 GNA – Mr Jones Quaye, a contractor who defrauded a businessman by selling a plot of land at new Bortianor to two different developers for GH¢12,000.00 and GH¢15,000.00 respectively on Monday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.   The accused has been charged with defrauding by false pretences contrary to section 131 at Act 29/60.   He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢ 20,000.00 with two sureties to be justified. The case has been adjourned to November 19, 2012.   The Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Samuel Sarkwa said the complainant, who is a businessman lives with the accused at Aplaku, a suburb of Accra.   He said in March 2012, the complainant met the accused and during conversation, the accused informed the complainant that he has a plot of land at New Bortianor for sale, which the complainant expressed interest in it.   He said the accused took the complainant to identify the land and negotiated the cost of the land at GH¢ 12,000.00.     Chief Inspector Sarkwa said the accused showed the complainant an indenture bearing the name of one Joshua Obuobi as the one whom he purchased the land from.   He said a full transfer had not yet been made into his name.   He said to show his commitment to purchase the land the accused demanded that the complainant must make part payment of GH¢ 5,000.00 and wait for the documents to be prepared for him.   Chief Inspector Sarkwa said as the complainant was waiting, he had information that the said land was being developed by someone. He rushed to the scene and met a (lady) developer who claimed ownership of the land.   He said when the complainant confronted the lady; she informed the complainant that the accused person sold the land to her at cost of GH¢ 15,000.00 and has since prepared documents for her.   He said the complainant confronted the accused about the issue and accused admitted re-selling the same land to the (lady) developer.   Chief Inspector Sarkwa said a complaint was made to the Police and accused was arrested.   He said during investigation it was revealed that the accused had re-sold the land but failed to refund the complainant’s part payment to him.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - IBM’s Corporate Services Corp (CSC) team to Ghana has made an immediate, medium and long term recommendations to help the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly’s to streamline processes and harmonize operations across departments.   The recommendations will see the assembly deploying its operational processes and technology assets in an innovative way to support and supplement departments and units of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly’s existing programs in the area of internally generated revenue collection, data management and planning, process and workflow management.   Other areas include internal and external customer service delivery, community engagement, communications, skills / knowledge transfer and capacity for enhanced services delivery.   The CSC team, which spent four weeks in Tarkwa, worked and provided consulting services to authorities on a new ICT enabled district assembly plan for revenue management; setting up a database management system & training of officials; strategy development for rolling out micro enterprise programmes and firms and change management, customer satisfaction, and Human Resource process improvements.   The team of IBM specialists told the media in Accra that the comprehensive set of “Smarter Services” recommendations and solutions would help the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly to improve its capacity to manage revenue and ICT infrastructure, deliver education, healthcare and social services to citizenry.   The IBM CSC team said it identified gaps and developed recommendations, plans, and tools which would ensure that government agencies, businesses and citizens of the Tarkwa Nsuaem area benefit from IBM’s Smarter Planet concept, which seeks to promote the use of cutting edge technology solutions, services and ideas in Business and Governance.   One key issue tackled by the CSC team working with the Department of Community Development in Tarkwa was the issue of economic empowerment for women and youths.   The CSC team developed a blueprint document, which identified the problems and challenges facing this section of the Tarkwa population and suggested a series of skills development ideas and programmes for implementation.   The blueprint also explored external funding options to support the Community Development department’s economic development programs.   The key recommendations of the CSC team are that the Tarkwa Nsuaem Community Development team should be empowered to support communities, there should be increased knowledge sharing, awareness and coordination with other government agencies to leverage existing programs and educate communities about them.   Design an end-to-end training package, which, in addition to skills training, includes benefits of group formation, basic business skills etc.   Key Deliverables of the CSC team to the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly include a database management tool and the training of staff on how to use it, a manual on the processes for future training and detailed report containing recommendations.   Over the last four years, IBM has sent eight teams to Ghana to work with various public and private sector bodies as part of its corporate citizenship programme.   Several Corporate Service Corps (CSC) and Executive Services Corp teams have through their interactive leadership consultancy programs in Ghana have delivered high quality problem solving for communities and organizations in a number of sectors including health.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA – The European Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs will on Tuesday October 30th meet with Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe  Amissah-Arthur  to discuss Ghana’s democratic development.   They would also discuss the modalities which ensured a smooth political transition after the death of President John Evans Atta Mills.   A statement issued in Accra on Monday to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said Commissioner Piebalgs will announce EU’s additional support to Ghana’s efforts in tackling maternal health.   The support will also help improve the role of local authorities to accelerate the achievement of the Millennial Development Goals.   Commissioner Piebalgs will take part in a high level forum: “Towards Sustainable Energy for All in West Africa,” which is expected to result in the adoption of a regional renewable energy policy and an energy efficiency policy.   The policies are one of the first steps towards the implementation of the United Nations (UN) initiatives to promote sustainable energy for all by 2050.    According to the statement Commissioner Piebalgs acknowledges Ghana’s democratic and economic achievements, describing them as role models in the Sub-Saharan Region.   The statement said the Commissioner would be discussing how the EU and Ghana would deepen political dialogue and ensure Ghana’s sustainable and solid development, an area the EU said it would be a “steadfast partner in that endeavour”.   The Commissioner will sign funding agreements, which would help Ghana to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and consolidate governance.   One of its priorities was to promote the development of sustainable energy in Africa, with Ghana as one of its most committed partner.   The EU, the statement added, has already mobilized more than 500 million Euros  this year for the UN initiative for Sustainable Energy for All and would also support West Africa, firmly in line with the its objective to provide access to energy to 500 million people in developing countries by 2030.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - The Asomdwe Memorial Park in Accra will be re-opened to the public on Friday, November, 2, 2012 following the completion of the first phase of construction works, a statement signed by the Deputy Minister of Information, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, said on Monday.   The Park, near the Independence Square in Accra, is a presidential mausoleum which currently holds the mortal remains of President John Evans Atta Mills.   It was opened to the public after his funeral on August 10, 2012.   The park was originally planned to be re-opened to the public at the end of September 2012, but construction works took longer than anticipated, the statement said.   GNA...

Tema, Oct 29, (Laudia), GNA --- Mr John Alex Hamah, National Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Veterans Association of Ghana (TUCVAG) has urged leadership of Ghana’s Organized Labour to immediately commune with all labour unions, especially at the district level to sensitize workers about the present political situation in the country.   Mr Hamah noted that the present political atmosphere in the country which is characterized by “political mistrust, insults, threats, suspicion, character assassination, corruption and hypocrisy, does not auger well for the continuous peace , stability, cohesion and beneficial development of Ghana”.   In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tema on Monday, the National Secretary indicated that “with the upcoming crucial presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 7, 2012, it is very important to note that if these negative political trends and developments do not stop or abate considerably, there is the possibility of destabilization of Ghana, turning the country into utter confusion, chaos and political violence which could turn Ghanaians into helpless refugees”.   He therefore called on Ghanaians to  become active and functional agents of peace before, during and after the December elections and to resolve to preserve Ghana’s peace come what may.   He stressed that workers of Ghana should know and understand that should there be any chaos, civil strife and political violence in the country, “it is workers and their families who will suffer most, they will become the immediate and direct victims of hunger, hate, rape, violence, displacement and even untimely death, while the affluent Ghanaians escape to other countries”.   Mr Hamah stated that as a veteran trade unionist, he fully supported the patriotic stand of organized labour on the present political situation in the country and its repercussion on the future peace, unity and stability of Ghana.   He further encouraged organized labour to stick to its pledge to remain non-partisan which was made in a speech read by Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) at this year’s May Day celebration parade at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region under the theme, “The role of workers in securing peaceful and fair elections”.           He reiterated that the GTUC must remember to keep to its promise that it would  “not fail to organize and resist attempts by any group or persons that intend to subvert the current democratic dispensation or threaten the peace and stability we currently enjoy”.   GNA...

Apam (C/R), Oct 29, GNA – The Local Entrepreneurs and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) has trained 200 youth in Gomoa West in entrepreneurial skills to help them to start their own businesses.   LESDEP has also provided the trainees with tools and equipment to enable them to set up their own businesses.   Mr Cosmos Amissah, Gomoa West District Coordinator of LESDEP announced this at the passing-out of 50 trainees at Apam. They were also presented with work tools and equipment including sewing machines and hair dryers.    Addressing the trainees, Mr Amissah admonished the youth to take advantage of LESDEP and other skills training programmes instituted by the government to help them to acquire skills.   He said white-collar jobs were scarce to come by these days, hence thousands of jobseekers were found roaming the streets of the cities and the commercial towns.   The LESDEP Coordinator advised the youth to put their training to good use not only to benefit themselves but also their brothers and sisters and even their parents.   He cautioned them against selling their tools and equipment only to go back to join the white-collar job seekers.   “We are going to monitor your performances on the field,” Mr Amissah stated.   “The appreciation that you can show to the government for what it has done for you is to use the tools judiciously to enable you to be self-reliant and will not depend on the government to provide you with jobs,” he said.   Some of the recipients the GNA talked to expressed profound gratitude to the government for making the programme possible and gave the assurance that they would use the equipment judiciously not only to benefit themselves but others as well.   GNA...

Mankessim (C/R), Oct. 29, GNA – Mr Isaac Bainin, Manager of the Mankessim Rural Technology Facility (RTF) a component of Rural Enterprises Programme has appealed to the youth to take advantage of the facility to acquire skills.   Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Mankessim, Mr Bainin expressed regret at the low patronage of the RTF despite the fact that the facility had every equipment to transform the lives of the teeming unemployed youth for the better.   He said the RTF was equipped with fabrication and welding machines for making agro-processing tools such as cassava grater and oil-palm processing machines, as well as  machining for making bolts and nuts.   The Manager said RTF had heavy and light reboring machines for relining of engine blocks.   He said the facility prepared students for the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) examination.   Mr Bainin said the facility was designed to develop the rural communities by offering them the opportunity to acquire technical training skills to facilitate accelerated growth.   He said RTF was prepared to collaborate with government agencies and non-governmental organisations to develop the rural areas.   “Currently RTF is moving towards establishing agro-based industries,” he said, and called for support to make their dreams a reality.   He appealed to parents to send their wards to the facility to enable them to acquire skills to make them self-supporting.   Mr Bainin said they were determined to help the government to achieve its vision of making the private sector the engine of growth by training the youth to acquire skills to enter the private sector.   GNA...

Navrongo(U/E), Oct 29, GNA - It has been established that many children of school going age in the Upper East Region are not attending school.      This came to light when the “Convenient Learning and Strategic Solution on National Education (CLASS ONE) project” at the weekend graduated 1,220 “out of school” children at separate functions at Navrongo and Kayoro Saboro both in the Kassena-Nankana East and Kassena-Nankana West districts.      The CLASS ONE project is a local NGO that aims at providing out-of-school children with basic literacy and numeracy skills to integrate into formal school for self development.     The children went through eight months of learning and were handled by facilitators on how to read, write and to do simple calculations in the Kassem Language. They are expected to be assisted to re-integrate into formal education.     Speaking at Cycle three graduation ceremonies at separate functions, the Project Director of CLASS ONE, Mr Dennis C Chirawura, said the case of the two districts was just a tip of the iceberg, stressing, “this problem cuts across all the Districts in the Upper East Region and must be addressed”.   He said with support from the School for Life and DFID since the project started in 2009, over 600 children aged eight to 14 had benefited from the project.     Mr Chirawura said  those who passed through the project over the years were excelling in the schools they had integrated in.     He appealed to District Assemblies to show interest by supporting the project to make a meaningful impact and to also provide more classrooms for the reintegration of the children to the formal education.     Mr Adafula Aiden and Mr Abalori Atio, Assembly Members of Namolo and Wura- Nangaliania respectively commended the management of the project and the sponsors and said it would boost the morale of the children to be reintegrated into formal school.   GNA...

Effiduase, Oct. 29, GNA - Mr Isaac Asamoah Livingstone, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for New Juaben North, has launched his campaign at Eddiduase, with a pledge to work towards the development of the youth in the area if vote into Parliament.      He said because the NDC government was committed to seeking the progress of the youth it had introduced interventions such as the Local Enterprise Skills Development Programme, to equip them with employable skills.       Mr Asamoah Livingstone said since the NDC came to power, it had ensured that the constituency was not left out in the sharing of the national cake.   He cited the building of dormitory blocks for the Pope John Senior High School and Koforidua Technical School, and the construction of the Oyoko Community Help Planning and Services Centre.   Mr Asamoah Livingstone called on the electorate to give him the mandate to implement more develop in the area and to ensure free, fair and violent-free polls.       The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Edward Omane-Boamah, said the NDC government would connect all communities with a population of 150 people to the national electricity grid by 2016, if retained in power.      He appealed to the electorate to vote massively for Mr Asamoah Livingstone and President John Dramani Mahama, NDC presidential candidate, since the New Patriotic Party had taken the people for granted for so long.      Mr. James Agyenim Boateng, Deputy Minister for Information, Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, Deputy Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, and Mr. Felix Ofosu Kwakye, a member of the NDC communication team were present at the launch.   GNA...

Accra, Oct 29, GNA -GNA- Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Monday moved office from the State House office to the Flagstaff House to continue working from there as his permanent office.    He was conducted round by Commodore Steve Obimpeh (rtd), Senior Presidential Staffer and Chairman of the committee set up by President John Mahama to oversee the phased movement of the presidency from the Castle, Osu, to the Flagstaff House.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur expressed satisfaction with his new office and expressed the hope that other offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same premises would be completed by February next year.   GNA...

Accra, Oct 29, GNA - The Ghana Environmental Journalists Association (GEJA), a group of journalists that advocates for environmental sustainability, on Monday said political parties seemed to have no policies on environmental sustainability.   A statement issued by GEJA and signed jointly by Hannah Awadzi and Isaac Kaledzi, President and Secretary respectively of the Association, noted that so far no political party seemed to highlight its programmes and plans on the sustainability of the environment.   GEJA expressed concern about illegal mining, pollution of water bodies, plastic waste menace, electronic waste at the Agblogblosie market among other environmental concerns and challenged political parties to come out clearly with policies and programmes towards future environmental sustainability.   The statement cited a recent report by the World Health Organization which stated that more than 6,500 lives are lost annually in Ghana as a result of exposure to air pollution caused by use of inefficient cook-stoves and fuels. “Eighty-seven per cent of the three billion people worldwide who annually rely on such inefficient traditional energy source to cook, are adversely affected by air household pollution,” it added    The Association said it was not against the use of education as a major campaign message but asked “of what use is it to have a free education or a progressively free education when we cannot guarantee our sustainability on this land called Ghana because of the degradation of the environment.”    GEJA therefore called on Ghanaians to pay attention to environmental issues and demand answers from politicians since environmental issues affects our lives in all aspects.   GNA...

Akropong, Oct 29, GNA - Professor Samuel Sraku-Lartey, President of the Presbyterian University College (PUC), has urged its students not to get involved t in any political violence in the run up to the December elections.     He said in as much as the school could not restrain them from politics, they should be mindful of the fact that violent acts in the name of politics was inimical to the institution and the nation’s democratic credentials in general.     He said the school has sanctions for any indiscipline act either on campus or outside the school’s premises and political violence involving any of its students would not be an exception.     Speaking at a Church service to mark the PUC Day at the Akropong Christ Presbyterian Church, he said the Presbyterian Church had a tradition of discipline and it was expected that every student within its institution exhibited such values.      The PUC day was instituted three years ago by the Akuapem Presbytery to support the Akuapem campus of the university and had since been used to raise funds for developmental projects for the school.     This year, the focus of the day was to raise funds for the stocking of the school’s library and continuation of the school’s projects such as a hostel facility.     In a sermon to mark the day on the theme “Christ Opens the Eyes of the Blind”, Reverend Isaac Adu-Okoree, a lecturer at the University, said Christ was the centre of the world and without him every life venture, be it politics, business or education was worthless.     He said it was high time that people recognized that without God, nothing could be possible and urged all persons irrespective of their background to be conscious of God to guide them in all their endeavors for the benefit of humanity.     Rev Adu-Okoree in reference to the blind Batimeaus in the Bible, said as a nation, Ghanaians ought to be specific in asking what they wanted from God and must demonstrate their trust in him.     He urged the students to desist from all violent acts and not allow any person to use them to foment trouble.   GNA...

Kumasi, Oct 29, GNA – Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has appealed to workers of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) to uphold best practices and do more to ensure quality service delivery.     He said productivity in terms of positive attitude to work, teamwork, elimination of bureaucracy and the reduction of the amount of time customers spent in the banking hall should be their primary concern.     Dr Agyemang-Mensah said this in an address read for him at the opening of the third quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Professional and Managerial Staff Union of the GCB in Kumasi.     The three-day meeting was held under the theme “Essence of the transformation process in the bank, its impact on productivity and staff development”.     The Regional Minister acknowledged the major role the GCB had and continued to play in the nation’s economic transformation through the creation of opportunities for the lower and middle classes to access banking services anywhere they found themselves in the country.     He appealed to the management to organize regular seminars and workshops for the employees to enhance performance.     Mr Simon Donu, Managing Director of the Bank, said improving productivity through a change of employees’ attitude to work was a priority agenda and that GCB’s transformation was to reposition and make it the preferred brand in the banking industry.        Dr Fritz Gockel, the Board Chairman, said GCB was endowed with the skills and expertise to transform its fortunes and urged the employees to boost productivity.     Mr Kofi Davoh, General Secretary of the Union of Industry Commerce and Finance  of the Trades Union Congress , called for a review of the labour law to properly protect the Ghanaian worker.     He accused some employers of beginning to show bad faith by proceeding to the courts anytime they had a ruling going against them at the National Labour Commission and said that should not be allowed to continue.   GNA...

Kumasi, Oct 29, GNA – Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has appealed to all Ghanaians to be vigilant and be bold to expose any clandestine moves likely to plunge the nation into chaos.     He said it was important for them to collectively share in the responsibility of protecting the country’s peace and security before, during and after the December 7 polls.     He was addressing employees of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) in Kumasi at the weekend.           Dr Agyemang-Mensah said people could not afford to become refuges in foreign countries and there was therefore the need for all to join the national peace campaign to make sure that the coming presidential and parliamentary elections passed off without incident.     He said the devastation caused by election violence in some African neighbouring countries should provide useful lessons to the people to avoid going down on that path.            Dr Agyemang-Mensah said Ghana had made improvement in its socio-economic and infrastructure development and there was the need to guard these achievements.   GNA...

Accra , Oct 29, GNA -The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has protested the exclusion of other political parties from the presidential debates being organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), saying the move negated the spirit and letter of the 1992 constitution.   "This stance by the IEA is greatly disturbing, discriminatory and highly prejudicial and the issue needs urgent discussion with entities that fund the organization because such distinctions contradicted Ghana’s 1992 Constitution".   A statement issued in Accra on Monday by the PPP and signed by its General Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, said the insistence of the IEA’s to give that platform to parties that have representation in Parliament negated the essence of the debate because other political entities that wished to govern must be given equal opportunities to explain their policies and programmes to enable the electorate make informed choices in the 2012 elections.   The presidential debates come off tomorrow on October 30 in Tamale. Presidential candidates of the National Democratic Congress, the New Patriotic Party, the Convention People's Party and the People's National Convention are billed to take part in the debates.   The statement said the PPP is a serious political party working to win the mandate of the people of Ghana, and so, as required by the Constitution, the PPP is fully represented in every Region of the country with active membership in every district.   “Those who want to provide a platform for serious political discourse, must look beyond representation in Parliament and abide by the Constitution and the pronouncements of the EC to determine which political parties should participate”.    “Any other method of selection is counter-productive to what the IEA claims it stands for, and for which reason it derives its funding. The IEA should remain fair, transparent and relevant in order to deserve its claims and funding”, the statement said.   The PPP urged the IEA to review its selection criteria in consonance with the 1992 Constitution, the Political Parties’ Law and the changes in Ghana’s political landscape to ensure equity and fairness.   The Party said whilst it recognized the role of the IEA to promote and strengthen democracy in Ghana, the IEA “needs to be reminded that Ghana is a multi-party democratic State and that it must be guided by this principle in the selection of parties for its formal and informal engagements”.   “This country is led by a President whose election is not based on how many seats he or she has in Parliament. Indeed, the President does not need to have even one seat in Parliament to be elected.   This feature of the Constitution safeguards the people from tyranny of the majority.   The statement said the IEA cannot ignore this fundamental constitutional imperative and yet claim to promote Ghana’s Constitutional democracy.   It said the undue focus of the IEA on selected political parties has a tendency to derail the efforts of Ghana to sustain a multi-party democracy and give Ghanaians a broader spectrum of ideologies and approaches to governance to choose from. “Interestingly, some of these "IEA-select" parties have on many occasions boycotted the IEA platforms when they (the parties) were given the opportunity”.   “This has decimated the excitement and interest that this otherwise important presidential encounter and debate would have generated.    More importantly, it has denied the people of Ghana the opportunity to assess ALL the 8 presidential candidates and their parties’ policies and to make informed choices in the December 2012 elections”, the statement said.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - EPIC Global Media, USAID and collaborating partners from Ghana's public and private sectors launched the Ghana Multimedia Branding Campaign at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Friday evening.   The campaign’s objective is to inform potential investors, business partners, tourists and the Ghanaian Diaspora about recent developments and new opportunities in Ghana.   Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism was special guest at the red carpet event which was climaxed by the screening of a half-hour documentary production and a 60-second television commercial both produced by EPIC, a creative agency specializing in television production.   A release made available to the Ghana News Agency by USAID said the productions will air on television to millions throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States, and would also be incorporated in an extensive online distribution campaign employed to reach an even wider audience.   The release quoted EPIC's Director, Tiffany Steeves, as saying: "After many months of work on this landmark campaign, EPIC, USAID, and all project partners are delighted to showcase this film to Ghana's leaders and influencers … prior to presenting it worldwide."   Ms Dorothy Gordon, Director General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT was guest speaker for the evening.    She commended USAID and other co-organisers of the event for their efforts and urged all stakeholders in both public and private sectors to broadcast the story about Ghana’s favorable investment climate to their overseas partners.   Celebrated Ghanaian vocalist, Ofie Kodjoe, electrified the event with a live performance. There was also a raffle draw whose  prizes included a night's stay at the Villa Monticello Hotel.   Collaborating partners for the project include Brand Ghana, USAID/Ghana, Cirrus Oil Services, EPIC Global Media, Ghana Free Zones Board, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority,  Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and The Ministry of Information.   The rest are Golden Beach Hotels, IBM, Intercom Programming and Manufacturing Company (IPMC), National Information Technology Agency (NITA), The African Regent Hotel, Ghana Tourism Authority, The Villa Monticello Hotel, Tullow Oil Ghana and Volta River Authority.   GNA...

Kumbungu (N/R), Oct 29, GNA - Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Kumbungu Constituency has assured the constituents that he would work assiduously to advance their interest at the legislature.       The Minister, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, gave the assurance at a rally to officially launch his parliamentary bid campaign at  Kumbungu D/A Primary School at  Kumbungu on Sunday.      The campaign launch of Alhaji Mumuni, affectionately called "Lawyer Mumuni", was graced by some NDC executives from both national and regional levels, including Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, Sorfo Azorka, Acting Northern Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Imoro Issifu Alhassan, NDC Northern Regional Secretary, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, some Deputy Ministers of State as well as some NDC parliamentary candidates in the region.        Alhaji Mumuni said: "I will be your true ambassador at parliament" and that his experience as a former parliamentarian and minister of state for various portfolios made him an ideal candidate to better represent the people in Parliament.      He said the NDC government had done a lot for the country in terms of development projects and added that Kumbungu had received its first share of the national cake, the reason it should keep faith with the party.      Alhaji Mumuni said despite this, a lot more needed to be done, and promised the people that the next NDC government would continue to deliver on its pledge to improve their standards of living.      Mr Asiedu Nketia told the constituents that NDC was a party of equal opportunities for Ghanaians, and would not discriminate against any one on ethnic considerations.      Mr Asiedu Nketia said: "this is the time for the north" and called on the electorate to massively vote for President John Mahama and Alhaji Mumuni for the development of the region.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA – The much awaited judgement on the agency deal of the Globacom sponsorship of the Premier League is expected to be pronounced on December 14.   Abraham Boakye Nimo (ABN) Marketing Limited, led by ace supporter Abraham Boakye has sued the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for receiving no legal credit as brokers of the sponsorship partnership between the telecommunications outfit and the football governing body.   After months in court, Bright Akwettey, counsel for Abraham Boakye prayed the court to subpoena personalities including the Director of Ghana Immigration Service since it was relevant to the determination of the case.   The actions of Akwettey seek to challenge the veracity of a supposed minute of a meeting tendered by Kofi Nsiah, immediate past General Secretary of the GFA, held on October 14, 2008; and had in attendance the likes of Randy Abbey (then GFA Spokesperson), Welbeck Abra Appiah (Chairman, Premier League Board), Renee Williams (Chief Executive, Afrisat) and Fred Crentsil (GFA Executive Committee member).   According to Akwettey, his checks has proved that Abbey and Williams were not in the country at the time of the meeting whilst Abra Appiah and Crentsil were neither present.   The counsel for ABN prayed the court to grant an application to call the Ghana Immigration Service to tender evidence in the case of Abbey and Williams, who he claims were out of the country at the time of the supposed meeting.        However, to their dismay, Presiding Judge Richard Adjei Frimpong on Monday told the court that the motion failed to form a sufficient ground that the alleged minutes were forgeries, thus “devoid of merit and accordingly dismissed.”   Akwettey told GNA Sports that the dismissal of the application paves way for the pronouncing of the judgement on the case before the court on December 14; whether ABN brokered the partnership between Globacom and the GFA or otherwise.   The GFA insist Midsea Company Limited secured the deal with the Nigeria-headquartered outfit.   The football governing body penned a five-year sponsorship deal worth 15 million dollars with the telecommunication giants as headline sponsor of the premier league in December 2008.   GNA  ...