Breman Asikuma (C/R), Nov. 13, GNA - Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Regional Minister, has reiterated that the government has put in place measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections on December 7.          She said the National Democratic Congress has within three-and-half years in office, constructed 86 new school buildings in the region, some of them in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa district.0     Madam Benyiwa-Doe was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Breman Asikuma Traditional Area, to mark the their annual Odwira Festival, at Breman Asikuma.     She said government has built CHIP compounds  to help address the health needs of  people in the rural areas.     Madam Benyiwa-Doe commended the chiefs and people for celebrating the festival peaceful, and expressed hope that the feat would be sustained.         Odeefor Amoakwa Buadu VIII, Paramount Chief of    Breman Asikuma,  announced that the traditional council for the area has awarded scholarships to 25 students  to enable them to complete the Senior High School.      He said the council has also constructed an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at Breman Asikuma to enhance the teaching of ICT.     Odeefor Amoakwa Buadu thanked the government for bringing development to the area, and cited water supply, extension of electricity and provision of ambulances to health facilities .     He appealed to the government to as matter of urgency rehabilitate the Breman Asikuma-Agona Swedru road to facilitate economic activities.      Mrs Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, District Chief Executive for the area, asked the people to be mindful of  HIV and AIDS while celebrating the festival.     GNA ...

Gomoa Ekwamkrom, (C/R), Nov. 13, GNA - A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region, has dismissed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) claim that it would win Election 2012 because US President Barrack Obama has been retained in recent polls.      Mr Emmanuel Kofi Bruno said President Obama’s victory should not be linked to Ghana’s elections because socio-economic and political situations in American were entirely different from that of Ghana.      The NPP leading member, who was addressing a party rally at Ekwamkrom, near Agona Swedru on Sunday, cited that President Obama has been able to implement a new health policy and brought terrorism under control, by ensuring the killing of Osama Bin Laden.     Mr Bruno accused the NDC of economic mismanagement resulting in hardship, and appealed to the electorate to return the NPP to power on December 7 to enable the party to fufil its promises, particularly the free Senior High School education.     Mr Benjamin Otoo, Gomoa Central Chairman of the NPP, called on party members to intensify their house-to-house campaign and explain the party’s good message to the people.     Dr Edward Cudjoe, NPP parliamentary candidate for Gomoa Central Constituency, asked the people to vote for him and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, NPP presidential candidate for Election 2012, on December 7.    He warned the electorate not to vote for politicians who could not manage affairs of Ghana.   GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it seeks to ensure the expeditious enactment of the Affirmative Action Act to provide a framework for addressing gender related injustices as a bait to attract more vote in Election 2012.     Propounding its gender blue print as captured in its Election 2012 manifesto: “Advancing the Better Ghana Agenda,” and made available to the Ghana News Agency, the party pledged to work with political parties and Civil Society Organizations to take the provisions of the Affirmative Action Act into account in sponsoring candidates for elections.      It said it would enact legislation to cover women’s rights, including reproductive rights more comprehensively and ensure that all public institutions adopt gender policies including recruitment policies aimed at achieving a balanced human resourcing of their institutions in terms of gender.     The party stated that it would work with the sponsors of the Women’s Manifesto to ensure that all municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) incorporate mainstream gender into their programmes as well as strategic plans.     Under the next NDC government, policies of gender responsive budgeting would be adopted by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The government will also build on its record of women’s representation on all public Boards.     The party reminded the electorate that in 2008, the NDC then in opposition promised to review the mandate of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) in line with national development aspirations and work towards 40 per cent women in public service and at conferences and congresses of the party.      The NDC seeks to introduce major gender policy and legislation to mainstream gender issues in all aspects of national development; and to revise, update and implement its Affirmative Action Policy for Women issued in 1999.      It said the party now in government was able to appoint women to the positions of Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Minister of Trade and Industry, Commissioner for CHRAJ, and Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education.     The rest are Government Statistician, Chief Executive of the Ghana Youth Authority, and Chairperson of the Ghana AIDS Commission while women were retained in office: the Chief Justice, Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission, and Chief Executive of the National Insurance Commission.      It said the NDC Government was able to institute the “Women in Local Governance Fund,” in 2010 to support women participating in local government elections.    The NDC said the government also established the Domestic Violence Fund and the Constitution Review Commission had made extensive proposals for improving the status of women in Ghana, which the NDC Government accepted in its White Paper.    It said an Affirmative Action Bill had been drafted and Regional consultations conducted on the draft that is now being finalized by the Attorney-General’s Department.    According to the document, the NDC administration through Parliament is enacting the “Property Rights of Spouses” and “Intestate Succession (Amendment)” Bills which are now in advanced stages of consideration in Parliament.    Meanwhile a survey conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education ranked women and children issues as the number four out of 14 matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter in election 2012.     On regional ranking of women and children issues; the Western Region ranked  third; Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Central, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West considered it as the fourth highest priority in Election 2012; while Brong Ahafo ranked it fifth.      According to the survey, overwhelming majority of 71.6 per cent were females whilst 27.9 per cent were male.     The survey revealed that most people recommended that government should provide women with soft loans and that women and children issues should be given priority attention by the government.       Other issues raised in the survey are that government should educate women and children on their rights and privileges, government should give free education to children, create more employment opportunities for women, offer higher positions and appointments equal to men, and women and children should be given free health care.     GNA ...

Enyan Abaasa (C/R), Nov. 13, GNA-  Some 480 vulnerable children and their mothers from six communities in the Central and Greater Accra regions are to benefit from a Child Survival Programme (CSP) being undertaking by Compassion Ghana International.        The beneficial communities are Denkyira, New Ebu, Sankor, Enyan Abaasa in the Central region and Ashaiman and Adamrobe in the Greater Accra Region.     Mr Amos Sarfo, Communication Manager of Compassion Ghana International, said this at the official launch of the first phase of the programme at Enyan Abaasa in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District.     Under the programme, the NGO would bear the medical bills of the 240 children and also cater for their education until they attain age 22.      Mr Sarfo said the 240 mothers would be given between 50.00 Ghana cedis and 100.00 Ghana cedis each to do petty trading while being given skills training by the NGO.   He said the programme and a magazine for the child Survival Programme were launched at Enyan Abaasa due to high rate of teenage pregnancy cases, especially among school girls. Mr Sarfo said the children could not be blamed for any mistake their parents committed before they were born and therefore must be supported and appealed to the parents and church partners in the beneficial communities to do everything possible to ensure the success of the programme.       He said the NGO had take up the challenge to support the under-privileged children in the selected communities and to help them to become responsible adults.         Mr Padmore Baffour Agyapong, Country Director of Compassion Ghana, said the reason to launch the programme was to ensure the holistic development of the Ghanaian Child.    He said Compassion Ghana International had reached 45,000 poor and needy children nationwide.    GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – David Duncan has taken full charge of Accra Hearts of Oak ahead of the Phobians crunch Premiership top-liner with Asante Kotoko billed for the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, November 18.      Duncan, according to a credible source GNA Sports spoke with is expected to walk the players through preparation for the next few days though his contract is yet to be finalized.    Hearts and the former Great Olympics trainer, according to the source though have dotted and signed their respective portions of the contract; the tough talking trainer has yet to receive his 20,000 Ghana Cedis signing-on fee to enable him to commence work officially. The Kumasi game is expected to be his first in charge of the team barring any last minute development. Duncan has penned a two-year contract with the Phobians worth 4,000 Ghana Cedis monthly and is said to have learnt a first hand information about his charges having featured as an observer at the team’s training ground late Monday.       The contract according to information gathered by GNA Sports was devoid of a performance clause.        "The contract is a very comprehensive one with an open target. Both parties are committed to restoring pride to the team," said the source.       Duncan becomes Hearts' second trainer this season following the exit of Charles K. Akunnor a fortnight ago. The latter was shown the door with a year to run on his contract following a string of poor results.       He is credited with decent works at Great Olympics, Sekondi Hasaacas and AshantiGold, teams he turned into a force during his stay.       His last job was in charge of the national olympic team in 2011 where the team failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.     GNA ...

Gomoa Jukwa, (C/R), Nov. 13, GNA - Pastor Dr Chris-Annan Nunoo, Executive Secretary of the South Ghana Conference of Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), has cautioned politicians, education administrators and policy makers to stop politicising  education.      He said the continuous change of educational policies, particularly the duration of Senior High School SHS  by successive governments, could affect teaching and learning in the country.       Pastor Dr Annan Nunoo gave the warning at the 10th Anniversary celebration of SDA SHS at Gomoa Jukwa, near Agona Swedru on Sunday.     He called for a national forum on the SHS programme for Ghanaians to decide on the duration of SHS to avoid creating problem for  students.     Pastor Dr Annan Nunoo stressed the need for holistic approach to solve problems facing  education.     Mr Isaac Kingsley Ehunu-Armah, District Chief Executive for Gomoa East, said Ghana needed to have common educational policy that should be implement by successive governments.     He expressed concern about the lack of structures at the basic education level, and gave the assurance that government would build more classroom blocks.       Mr Ehunu-Armah pledged to donate 200 bags of cement and 1,000.00 Ghana Cedis to support the construction of teachers’ quarters and boys’ dormitory for the school.     Professor Yaw A. Ankomah, Director of Institute for Educational Planning and Administration of the University of Cape Coast,  asked school authorities to create conducive environment  for teaching and learning.        Mr Frank Bortse Ghartey, head master, appealed to individuals, non-governmental organizations and government to come to the aid of the school.     He said three-story building, made up of 27 classrooms and staff bungalow under construction would soon be completed to enhance teaching and learning.      Mr Ghartey said the school has excelled in academic work, sports and other disciplines.    Awards were presented to founding fathers of the school and teachers  and students, who  have excelled in various disciplines.     GNA ...

Accra, Nov 13, GNA - Queen Mothers in the Greater Accra Region have said they are displeased with the way some chiefs are involved in questionable land sales and some of these fraudulent transactions had created confusion and disputes. The queens said chiefs had not been involving them in land transactions and made it clear that they would fight for their rights as tradition and modernity demands in ensuring that there is sanity and fair play in land administration. They were contributing to a Capacity Building Seminar for Queens and female chiefs in the Greater Accra Region organized by the Project Coordinating Unit of the Second Ghana Land Administration Project (LAP-2) under the ministry of Lands and Natural Resources at Dodowa. The queens appealed to law enforcement agencies to arrest chiefs instead of land guards. They said the menace of land guards, especially in the Greater Accra Region, would be a thing of the past if chiefs who patronize the services of the land guards were arrested instead of the land guards. The queens spoke against customary and cultural practices that delegate more power to chiefs than queens in the administration of land and said the inheritance system also discriminated against them. Mrs Sarah Antwi-Boasiako, the Social Development and Gender Specialist of the Second Ghana Land Administration Project (LAP-2), said the Project is designed to empower women and to mainstream gender into the land administration tenure in the country. She said the current situation which denies title and ownership of land to women who produce over 80 per cent of food and also form over 51 per cent of the population ought to be reconsidered to ensure fundamental human rights and justice. Mrs Antwi-Boasiako said it was for these and other related reasons that LAP-2, with the active support of the World Bank, the Government of Ghana and the Canadian International Development Agency, has embarked on a major onslaught in bringing women up-to-speed on land administration.   GNA ...

Bolgatanga, Nov 13, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Monday wrapped up his three-day campaign tour of the Upper East Region with a call on NDC members to trumpet their achievements to assuage the lies of the opposition parties.   ”The opposition has constantly made noise that we have not done anything because they are refusing to recognize our development contribution and it is for us to keep reminding them of what we have done”, he said.   During the tour President Mahama visited all the constituencies of the region, inspected and inaugurated development projects, paid courtesy calls on chiefs and held meetings with party members in the Region.   He also addressed rallies and introduced parliamentary candidates of all the constituencies and appealed to the people to avoid voting ‘skirt and blouse’ as that could create problems for the Executive if the party did not obtain a majority in Parliament.   The President expressed confidence in the performance of the Electoral Commission in the past years and hoped that the Commission would once again conduct this year’s elections effectively to deepen Ghana’s democratic credentials among her peers and beyond.   Throughout the tour President Mahama repeated his call on Ghanaians to live in peace and unity to pave way for growth and development.     GNA...

Tamale, Nov 13, GNA - The Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has complained about the high rate of pregnancy among graduating nursing students in the region.   It said the phenomenon made such pregnant nurses, who were due for posting for a year's probation, to request for a maternity leave, which was contrary to the regulations of the GHS.   It argued that if such nurses did not serve their probation how, would they be assessed to qualify for a substantive appointment.   Dr Jacob Mahama, Deputy Northern Regional Director in-charge of Public Health of the GHS, expressed the sentiments at the second graduation of the Tamale Community Health Nurses' Training School in Tamale over the weekend.   In all, 112 students comprising 16 males graduated after a two-year period of study and were presented with certificates in community nursing.   Dr Mahama said out of a total of 240 nurses, who were posted two weeks ago to serve their probation at various health institutions across the region, about 170 of them were pregnant.   He, therefore, warned that the Regional Health Directorate would no longer post pregnant nurses for probation.   "First year nurses will not be granted leave, you will be required to go to deliver the baby before you are posted," he stated.   Dr Mahama congratulated the graduates for successfully completing their studies and asked them to accept postings to deprived communities where their services were mostly needed.   Madam Comfort Kona, Acting Principal of the Tamale Community Health Nurses' Training School entreated the graduates to let the discipline and the good training received reflect in their output wherever they would find themselves.   Madam Kona tasked them to act as agents of change to help redeem the good image of the nursing profession.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 13, GNA - Mr. Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, an independent presidential aspirant for Ghana’s 2008 polls, has declared his support for President John Dramani Mahama, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate.   "I declare my unflinching support and pledge my endorsement for His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, for President of the Republic of Ghana.”   Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said he had analyzed the pronouncements of all the presidential candidates over the last two weeks and had realized that candidate John Mahama was most likely to bring more inclusiveness to society.   He said the NDC presidential candidate would provide opportunity to all Ghanaians without regard to party affiliation.   Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said the December 7th polls would be a crucial event, which would determine the "forward movement" of Ghana's socio-political and economic development.   "In this regard, I find it of utmost importance to shun the convenience clutch of neutrality and take a selfless stand to make a declaration which is strictly calculated to advance the development interest of the Ghanaian people," he said.   Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said the solution to most of the country's problems required that "we have a stake in each other's prosperity and in the prosperity of the nation".   He said it also required that "we embrace a spirit of inclusion and embark on policies and programmes that seek to uplift all Ghanaians at the same time".   Mr. Amoafo-Yeboah said that required a shift in the political focus from putting the party at the centre, to laying more emphasis on the well-fare of the people.   GNA...

Aburi (E/R), Nov. 13, GNA – Resolving challenges confronting the educational systems should be a priority of every government, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has said.   He said, “Challenges confronting education should be given prominence before any politician can talk about making Senior High School (SHS) free”.   Mr Ofosu Ampofo said this at the campaign launch of Mr Ntow Boahene, National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Aburi Constituency in the Eastern Region on Monday.   The Aburi Constituency was one of the 45 newly created constituencies in the region by the Electoral Commission for the December 7th 2012 general elections.   The Minister said the current educational system needed quality and accessibility; therefore, it would be prudent for any government given the mandate to govern, to devise measures on how to provide quality and accessible education.   He said currently government basic schools were free in the country yet most parents prefer to enroll their children in private schools for quality tuition, stressing “education at the moment needs quality not free”.   Mr Ofosu Ampofo said if retained in power, the NDC government led by President John Mahama would establish 10 training colleges and enhance the Single Spine Salary Structure to boost the morale of all teachers.   He said although the free SHS policy was touted by the New Patriotic Party, explanations given to Ghanaians on how it would be achieved does not hold water therefore the electorates, especially women should not buy into that idea.   The Minister said government would provide the Aburi District Assembly with new four heel drives to enhance movement and improve development in the Assembly.   Mr Ntow Boahene said the incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah had failed on his promises to ensure utmost development in the area therefore he should not be given another chance to worsen the woes of the people.   He said the NDC in its first term had overwhelmingly developed the area and called on the electorates to vote out Mr Amoah in order to increase the speed of development in the area.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 13, GNA - Melcom Company says it has put in measures to ensure staff, who survived the deadly incident of its collapsed Achimota branch building, receive the needed psychological therapy to enable them resume normal duties.   “Our Human Resource Department is working on getting the services of psychologists who would offer counseling sessions to affected staff when they resume work to allay their fears and also ensure that the unfortunate incident would in no way affect their lives psychologically”, said Mr Richmond Oduro Kwarteng, Public Relations officer, Melcom Group of companies told the press on Monday.   He pledged the company’s commitment towards the wellbeing of the affected people, adding that its Human Resource Department was in constant touch with the bereaved families on how best the company could assist in making things easier and less stressful for them as far issues relating the death of their relations was concerned.   He debunked an allegation made by Nana Nkansah Boadu, owner of building, which used to house the Achimota branch of the company, that Melcom was using the place as a warehouse.   “We never used the building as a warehouse as we have six warehouse just two kilometers away from our Achimota branch, and would in no way use the place as a warehouse”, he said.   He said the company had contracted the services of engineers to ascertain the strength of all buildings used by Melcom but were not built by them.   On 7th November 2012, the six storey building, which used to house the Achimota branch of the company, collapsed suddenly around 0945 hours trapping an unspecified number of people.   A rescue team comprising, the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Ghana National Fire Service managed to rescue 68 people alive while 14 deaths were recorded.    GNA...

Kpando, Nov 13, GNA - Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, Chief Justice has reassured that the courts were more composed to deal decisively with election-related disputes that would emanate from the upcoming December general elections.   This, she said, had stemmed from upgrading the capacities of judges through effective skills-based judicial training and the review of the “Manual on Election Adjudication in Ghana,” first published in 2008.   Mrs Justice Wood made these remarks when copies of the Manual were distributed to agencies that promote good governance, rule of law and democratization during the inauguration of the Kpando Circuit and District Courts.   She said the new edition was an improvement over the maiden one and most useful and informative document for adjudicating election disputes.   The Chief Justice indicated the manual embodies the legal requirements related to the resolution of election disputes, statutes applicable to the conduct of elections, a digest of some latest decisions in the courts of appeal, supreme, high, circuit and district courts of adjudicature.       Mrs Justice Wood advised that the path to resolving election disputes did not lie in armed conflict but through peaceful means of either out-of-court settlements or use of the tried and time tested national courts.   She assured the people of Kpando and the entirety of the country of the judiciary’s preparedness and commitment to a fair, impartial, just and speedy resolution of election disputes.   Mrs Justice Wood said the focus of the world after the United States election was on Ghana, a country considered as beacon of hope for the rest of Africa.   “We should be proud of this recognition and build on it. We cannot afford to disappoint our many admirers and people of goodwill,” the Chief Justice says.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - The management of Melcom Group of companies, has reaffirmed its readiness to support the victims of the collapsed Achimota branch of the company, which 14 people lost their lives last Wednesday November 7th 2012.   The company said on Monday at a press briefing that since the sad incident occurred, it had redirected its resources to save as many lives as possible and take care of the survivors who have suffered various degrees of injuries.   Melcom Achimota six storey building caved-in suddenly at about 0940 hours trapping an unspecified number of persons.   Rescue team, which comprised the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police, the National Disaster Management Organisation, the Ghana National Fire Service and others, who were deployed to the scene, rescued 68 people alive with 14 deaths after several hours and days of rescue efforts.   Mr Richmond Kwarteng Oduro, Public Relations Officer, Melcom Group of Company, who expressed the company’s deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and speedy recovery for the hospitalized, said the company had taken over the medical bills of those who were hospitalized.   He added that Melcom had also provided them with the necessary drugs to carry on their treatment and check-ups until they fully recovered.   “Those still on admission are receiving the best of care in terms of medication and had been provided with welfare packages to make them as comfortable as possible”, he said.   He added that the company had sent out its representatives to the various hospitals and were in constant touch with all the medical teams to fully understand the scale of treatment required and the need to take things further if necessary.   Mr Oduro expressed appreciation to the rescue team for their efforts and all those supported in diverse ways to save the lives of the victims.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The Alliance for Reproductive Rights has launched a new website for the African Union’s (AU) Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) www.carmma.org.   The website, developed by a team in the Department of Social Affairs, is aimed at promoting maternal and newborn survival, and providing evidence on progress in achieving the targets African leaders have set.   A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency by Nii Sarpei Ankornu-Anorbah, media liaison officer, said the development of the website was funded by UK AID as part of the Evidence for Action (E4A) programme.   The five-year project aims at improving maternal and newborn survival in six Sub Saharan countries including Ghana.   It focuses on using better information and improved advocacy and accountability to save lives.   Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) together with the School of Hygiene are the implementers of the E4A project in Ghana.   Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU’s Commissioner for Social Affairs, who launched website said: “The Union continues to play a critical role in promoting issues of maternal, newborn and child survival and placing it high on the African political agenda”. He said the website was a culmination of the work of many African and international champions of maternal, child and newborn health.   He expressed the hope that the new platform would bring together in one place, evidence and information on maternal, newborn and child survival across the continent.   Dr. Mustapha said, “We also hope to showcase the champions that are working to give African mothers and their babies a future.   The AU Commissioner said the Union was aware of the many men and women, health workers, officials, community leaders as well as political leaders who work on a day-to-day basis, saving the lives of women and children.   “We hope to bring together an army of CARMMA champions across the continent, adding that Africa Cares: No Woman Should Die While Giving Life,” he added.   CARMMA was launched in 2009 with the aim to trigger concerted and increased actions to improve maternal and newborn health and survival across the continent. Currently, CARMMA has been launched in 37 African countries including Ghana.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - Vodafone Ghana Foundation is giving its customers the opportunity to show their support to the victims of the Melcom Mall disaster by activating its disaster fundraising platform dubbed: “Red Alert”.   Customers can donate to the hospitals treating the victims of this terrible incident by texting *133#.   A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday said the Alert was created by the company and it was an SMS platform specifically created for customers who wanted to support people in need by donating money.   It said the money collected through this platform would be added to a donation amount by Vodafone Ghana and its Foundation and present to the trauma and surgery departments of these hospitals.   “The trauma of the incident is still very raw and Vodafone Ghana wants to reach out and show its sympathies to the victims and their families,” it noted.   The statement said Vodafone would also donate to institutions which provide counselling to trauma victims to allow these disaster victims to access this service.   The company indicated that talking, sharing and going through the healing process was a beneficial process any victim of trauma needed to go through.   "Vodafone’s Corporate Social Responsibility plan on health has been focused and single-minded over the last two years to engage, educate and empower Ghanaians with information and provide various platforms to better health and long life."   Carmen Bruce Annan, Head of Corporate Communications of Vodafone Ghana, expressed the deepest sympathy to the victims and their families, saying “we can begin to understand their turmoil but hope with a little support from us; they will receive the support needed to get better.”   She said the company was shaken by the incident and expressed the hope that Ghanaian would come together to support the victims.    GNA...

Pusiga, (UE), Nov 13, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has announced that government would in the coming years eliminate the use of kerosene in communities by providing electricity that was affordable and accessible.   “In our manifesto, we have come out with the energy for all policy, where every community with a population of 500 and beyond will be provided with electricity and by the next four years most communities would have benefitted from the policy,” he added.   President Mahama announced this when he addressed students of Gbewaa College of Education at Pusiga in the Upper East region as part of his three-day tour of the region.   He said communities that would not be able to be connected to the national electricity grid would in the interim be provided with solar lighting system, adding “a chunk of the Chinese loan would be invested in the energy sector and hopefully by the end of the next four years, most communities in the country would have been hooked to the national electricity grid.”   President Mahama said the use of kerosene was expensive and detrimental to the health of humans and the elimination of its use would bring the citizens to another level of development.   On education, President Mahama was optimistic that by the next four years majority of the schools under trees would have been eliminated and urged the electorate to assess the performance of the NDC in the past four years and return them to power on December 7th presidential race.   He said government would continue to strengthen structures and institutions at the basic levels that would provide solid foundation for quality and affordable education at the second cycle and tertiary levels in the coming years,   President Mahama expressed satisfaction at the performance of teachers in the country over the years and promised to improve on structures at the training colleges that would further enhance the performance of teachers in future.   “In Ghana now over 60 per cent of our teachers at the basic levels are untrained and government will continue to improve on facilities that would brighten the chances of teachers and their students.”   Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for communications denounced the New Patriotic Party for what he described as ‘coming out with untenable promises to Ghanaians’ and called on the electorate to ignore such promises and vote massively for the NDC.   He said NDC as a democratic party was more sensitive to the plight of Ghanaians than any other party and it was therefore expedient for them to vote for the NDC for growth and development.   GNA...

Bawku, Nov 13, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has called on the people of Bawku to bury their differences and forge ahead and pave way for the initiation of massive development projects in the coming years.   He said: “Your continuous engagement in conflicts and other forms of misunderstanding will not only stall the development progress of the area, but will also stifle all government initiatives that could accelerate growth and development.”   President Mahama made this call on Monday when he addressed a rally at Bawku as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Upper East Region.   The president also addressed similar rallies at Garu, Tempane, Worinyanga, Pusiga, Binduri, Zebilla and Bolgatanga, where he outlined government’s development plans for the next four years.   He said conflicts were destructive and retrogressive and advised the people to ignore it and consider themselves as one people with a common destiny that could propel them to achieve their development aspirations.   The President said there was no difference between Mamprusis and Kusasis  in their daily endeavours and should therefore not perpetuate conflicts that could undermine peace and unity.   Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister appealed to the electorate to avoid voting ‘skirt and blouse’ as that could be tantamount to ‘tying somebody’s hands and sending him to a boxing ring to fight an opponent.”   He said the first four years of the NDC had been beneficial to all Ghanaians and the next four years would further bring about more development in all the regions.   GNA...

Kpando, Nov 13, GNA - Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, the Chief Justice (CJ), has appealed to public-spirited individuals, agencies and organisations to assist the Judiciary Service fight the ills that militate against the smooth administration of justice in the country.   She called on members of the general public to report those grave acts of misconduct that frowned on and threatened the rule of law to its complaints unit or directly to the CJ’s office for prompt action and redress.   Mrs Justice Wood said these during the inauguration of the rehabilitated and automated Kpando District and Circuit Courts with jurisdiction extending to Biakoye, North and South Dayi districts on Monday.   It was financed by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Good Governance and Human Rights Programme of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) with counterpart funding from the government.   She said it behooved all and sundry to help the Judiciary Service build a credible and trustworthy system that would guarantee judicial values and the fundamental rights of quality justice to all.   Mrs Justice Wood was optimistic the automation of the courts would lessen the delays arising from factors that impede justice delivery and entreated judges and staff to rise up to the challenge.   Mr Justice Jones Dotse, Supreme Court Judge with oversight responsibility for the Volta Region fingered members of the public for calling the shots for inducements and other corruptible and bribery tendencies to the judiciary.   He appealed to them to leave judges, magistrates and jurors alone to make them discharge their duties unimpeded.   Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Member of Parliament for North Dayi and Minister of Tourism, the initiator of the rehabilitation works during the era of the late Mr Justice T. K. Acquah in 2001, said her motivation stemmed from modernization of the courts to instill confidence in the public.   She said her tenure had witnessed lots of development projects with the last before retiring from Parliament being the construction of a bridge to link Kpando, Agbenohoe and Dafor.   Mr Francis K. Ganyaglo, Kpando Municipal Chief Executive, said the rehabilitation and automation of the courts would not only bring justice closer to the people, but justice delivery would be swift and prompt.   Togbuiga Dagadu VIII, Paramount Chief of Akpini Traditional Area, who presided, requested that the Kpando courts be upgraded to a High court status as the area was becoming a cosmopolitan in nature due to its catchment jurisdiction.   An emergency ambulance vehicle from the National Ambulance Service under the auspices of the Ministry of Health was inaugurated as part of the event.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 13, GNA - The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has singled out energy for special treatment because of its overwhelming importance to the economy and society.   “Our energy policy will in addition to increasing the production of electricity, promote the use of alternative sources of power. This will include clean and renewable sources as well as fuel of all types.   “Our ultimate objective is to ensure adequacy and security of supply at all times.”   The CPP stated in its Election 2012 manifesto obtained by the Ghana News Agency (GNA).   The party proposes to develop a modern and well-resourced energy planning system to ensure that enough energy is generated to keep pace with the country’s economic and social needs.   The GNA observed that for energy security, the CPP seeks to diversify the sources and location of energy production, especially to minimize the risk of failure or disruptions and supply resulting from a disaster or a catastrophe in any part of the country.   “We shall add between 100 and 150 megawatts of power every year until we reach sufficiency,” the CPP added.   The CPP Government if voted into power will encourage and support production and research into renewable energy resources like solar, wind and biomass as part of CPP Green Agenda.   Under regulation and ownership, the CPP manifesto states that, appropriate legislation will be passed to govern the production, distribution, and utilization of fuel and electricity in the country.   “While we will welcome foreign partnership in the generation and distribution of energy in Ghana, we shall ensure at all times that Ghanaians and their Government have a strategic ownership to preserve our control over strategic national assets.”   The CPP hopes to conserve energy using legislation, public education and physical policy in combination of transportation policy, to promote the efficient use by households, Government, and businesses of the energy that is produced.   On oil and gas the CPP said: “Managing the oil revenue will form part of the larger programme to include the overall public and financial management, in line with its sustainable economic agenda” CPP stated.   The CPP will ensure increased state participation in the ownership of the oil and gas industry as well as, better auditing of the cost of exploration and development as well to improve monitoring of output of the oil and gas industry.   “A CPP government will make Ghana the oil and gas hub of the West African sub region with large scale petroleum refining capacity providing the regions gasoline, jet or aviation fuel, diesel fuel and lubricating oils, with better compliance of the petroleum revenue management Act, (Act 815) and oversight of revenue generation and better resourcing of oversight institutions, the CPP manifesto has outlined”.   Meanwhile, a National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) survey on “Election 2012: matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter”, reveals that 489 responses received, the highest proportion of 289 (59.1 per cent) responses said power outages should stop.     A copy of the survey report made available to the GNA indicates that Ghanaians abhor the frequent power outrages, which they said was destroying electrical gadgets and also rendering some newly established industries dormant.     They also wanted the government to extend electricity to the rural area, whilst another 143 (29.3 per cent) respondents wanted government to have more subsidies on energy; other responses 27 (5.5 per cent) said that there should be uninterrupted gas supply for Ghanaians.     According to the NCCE survey, 17 (3.5 per cent) respondents agreed that oil and gas proceeds should be used to finance the economy, but 11(2.2 per cent) wanted government to create in the oil and gas sector for the youth.     Respondents mentioned that the rate at which expatriates were infiltrating the oil industry to compete with Ghanaian for jobs was quite alarming.     The survey said an insignificant number of respondents, two (0.4 per cent), said the youth should be trained to take up jobs in the oil and gas sector.   GNA...