Hohoe, Nov 22, GNA - Action on climate change needs to be scaled-up and accelerated without delay if the world is to have a running chance of keeping a global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius this century.   The Emissions Gap Report, coordinated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Climate Foundation, and released days before the convening of the Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Doha, shows that greenhouse gas emissions levels are now around 14 per cent above where they need to be in 2020.   Instead of declining, concentration of warming gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) are actually increasing in the atmosphere—up around 20 per cent since 2000.   If no swift action is taken by nations, emissions are likely to be at 58 gigatonnes (Gt) in eight years’ time, says the report which has involved 55 scientists from more than 20 countries.   This will leave a gap that is now bigger than it was in earlier UNEP assessments of 2010 and 2011 and is in part as a result of projected economic growth in key developing economies and a phenomenon known as ‘double counting’ of emission offsets.   Previous assessment reports have underlined that emissions need to be on average at around 44 Gt or less in 2020 to lay the path for the even bigger reductions needed at a cost that is manageable. The Emissions Gap Report 2012 points out that even if the most ambitious level of pledges and commitments were implemented by all countries—and under the strictest set of rules—there will now be a gap of 8 Gt of CO2 equivalent by 2020.   This is 2 Gt higher than last year’s assessment with yet another year passing by.   Preliminary economic assessments, highlighted in the new report, estimate that inaction will trigger costs likely to be at least 10 to 15 per cent higher after 2020 if the needed emission reductions are delayed into the following decades.   Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said: “There are two realities encapsulated in this report—that bridging the gap remains do-able with existing technologies and policies; that there are many inspiring actions taking place at the national level on energy efficiency in buildings, investing in forests to avoid emissions linked with deforestation and new vehicle emissions standards alongside a remarkable growth in investment in new renewable energies worldwide, which in 2011 totalled close to 260 billion US dollars”.   “Yet the sobering fact remains that a transition to a low carbon, inclusive Green Economy is happening far too slowly and the opportunity for meeting the 44 Gt target is narrowing annually,” he added.   “While governments work to negotiate a new international climate agreement to come into effect in 2020, they urgently need to put their foot firmly on the action pedal by fulfilling financial, technology transfer and other commitments under the UN Climate Convention treaties. There are also a wide range of complementary voluntary measures that can bridge the gap between ambition and reality now rather than later,” said Mr. Steiner.   The report estimates that there are potentially large emissions reductions possible—in a mid-range of 17 Gt of CO2 equivalents—from sectors such as buildings, power generation and transport that can more than bridge the gap by 2020.   Meanwhile, there are abundant examples of actions at the national level in areas ranging from improved building codes to fuel standards for vehicles which, if scaled up and replicated, can also assist.   Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said, "This report is a reminder that time is running out, but that the technical means and the policy tools to allow the world to stay below a maximum 2 degrees Celsius are still available to governments and societies”.   The report looked at sectors where the necessary emissions reductions may be possible by 2020.   Improved energy efficiency in industry could deliver cuts of between 1.5 to 4.6 Gt of CO2 equivalent; followed by agriculture, 1.1 to 4.3 Gt; forestry 1.3 to 4.2 Gt; the power sector, 2.2 to 3.9 Gt; buildings 1.4 to 2.9 Gt; transportation including shipping and aviation 1.7 to 2.5 Gt and the waste sector around 0.8 Gt.   The report points out that some sectors have even bigger potential over the long term—boosting the energy efficiency of buildings, for example, could deliver average reductions of around 2.1 Gt by 2020 but cuts of over 9Gt CO₂ equivalent by 2050.   “This implies that by 2050 the building sector could consume 30 per cent less electricity compared to 2005 despite a close to 130 per cent projected increase in built floor area over the same period,” it says.   The report concludes that if this is to happen, “state of the art building codes may need to become mandatory in the next 10 years in all of the major economies such as the United States, India, China and the European Union”.   Further emission reductions are possible from more energy efficient appliances and lighting systems. The report cites Japan’s Top Runner Programme and the Ecodesign Directive of the European Union which have triggered household electricity consumption savings of 11 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.   It also cites Ghana’s standards and labelling programme for air conditioners which is set to save consumers and businesses an estimated 64 million US dollars annually in reduced energy bills and around 2.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over 30 years.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 22, GNA - The Ghana Open Data Portal (GODP) has been officially opened to the public to enable them access government data from Ministries, Departments and Agencies.   A statement by GOPI copied the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the portal was built on the Open Government Platform, a cataloguing platform jointly developed by the United States and Indian governments for open government data.   It said the platform was deployed by the GODI technical team with the Web Foundation as advisors.   The statement explained that the portal showcased over 80 government datasets from the Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Education,   National Communications Authority, National Road Safety Commission, Public Procurement Authority, Ministry of Finance and many others.   It stated that the GODI project began in January 2012, after the late President John Atta Mills signed Ghana on to the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in September 2011.   The statement said Alhassan Azong, Minister of State at the Presidency responsible for Public Sector Reform chairs the National Steering Committee for OGP – Ghana.   “As a member country of OGP, Ghana is expected to produce an Action Plan by December 2012,” it said.   The statement said three zonal public consultations were held in October 2012, in the Northern, Ashanti and Central regions, which culminated in a National Forum held in Accra, on November 7, 2012 to validate the draft Action Plan.   It said the GODI project was one of the thematic areas being considered in developing Ghana’s Action Plan under the OGP -Ghana.   The statement cited Dr. Nii Quaynor, co-chair of the GODI Steering Committee, as saying; “government is focused on creating an ecosystem of open data where government, civil society and software developers will interact continuously to ensure that information on both demand and supply sides of the open data is optimized.   “The portal will help Ghana improve upon its policy-making ability and help government provide better services to the citizenry,” he added.   The statement said GODI, in collaboration with the World Bank Institute, Google and the African Media Initiative, organized a Data Journalism Bootcamp, in Accra, to train journalists, software developers and civil society to develop applications on open data ahead of the official launch of the Portal by December 2013.   It said Mr. William Tevie, GODI Project Director and Director General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) said the portal was a Beta version which would enable the public to download government data for re-use and that the   GODI Technical Team would continuously improve the portal by introducing instant visualization of data and user-friendly applications that would make it easy for citizens to understand government data and send feedback.   GNA...

Tel Aviv/Ramallah, NOV. 22 (dpa/GNA) - Israeli forces arrested 55 Palestinians in the West Bank overnight, Palestinians and the Israeli military said.   The arrests follow a wave of protests in the West Bank over Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.   Those arrested included militants from the Islamic Jihad, as well as from Hamas. GNA  ...

Accra, Nov 22, GNA -The second MTN Pumpkins Kids Day Out has been launched with a call on society to support underprivileged children.   Personality of the yuletide edition, actor John Dumelo, challenged children themselves to help support their own.   Mr Dumelo lauded efforts by the organizers and the team of sponsors for the show of love to children in need, while encouraging healthy lifestyles as well as child learning through recreation.   The programme which takes off officially on December 15 in Accra is aimed at promoting family bonding where members can enjoy themselves and learn together, while supporting children in need by ensuring the rights, wellbeing and education of all children.   After attaining a huge success at the maiden edition, management of Pumpkins Company Limited announced the yuletide edition of the MTN - Pumpkins Kids Day Out, with focus on less privileged children.   Media liaison Whitney Boakye promised an event jam-packed with the very best in family entertainment, games, competitions, interactions, food, music and more.    Boakye encouraged children to donate their slightly used items to be auctioned, out of which proceeds and all others including a gate fee of Ghc 5.00 would go to the John Dumelo Foundation, a body that supported the rights, wellbeing and education of all children.   Programmes Director of the MTN-Pumpkins Kids Day Out, Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond, said the event would also bring together a team of experts including Mr Victor Tandoh of the National Road Safety Commission, Dr Maame Yaa Nyarko of the Children’s Hospital as well as Broadcaster Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to speak on various issues such road safety, healthy living and the significance of giving.   She said a grooming expert, Ekuba Cudjoe, would take the children through party etiquette.   Mrs Dowuona-Hammond said “it could not have been a better time for family bonding where members can laugh and learn together, while supporting a good cause”.   She challenged parents and their families to join hands with organizers and their team of sponsors to put smiles on the faces of voiceless children.   Beneficiary orphanage from ‘The John Dumelo Foundation’ and five others would be catered for in the second edition slated for December 15, 2012 at the Aviation Social Centre in Accra.   The event would feature some of Ghana's finest performers including Kwaw Kese, Okyeame Kwame, D Black, Trigmatic as well as Awal, Cartoon, Enoch the comedian and more of the child stars the country has seen in recent times.   Representatives of sponsors of the event such as MTN, rlg,  Alisa Hotels, the Aviation Social Center, Indomie , Muscatella, Voltic Mineral Water, Nestle Milo and Nido, pledged their commitment to ensure a better livelihood for the Ghanaian child.   GNA...

Abora (C/R), Nov 21, GNA- Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Wednesday underscored the need for an effective national program for qualitative education for world class marketable skills, competencies and professionalism.   He said it was necessary that all levels of the education were well catered for to ensure maximum development of the human resources.   Consequently, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) would see to a gradual and steady approach to the education sector, by ensuring universal access.   Speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of Abora and Abora Dunkwa, Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the government would build more schools and that the NDC had demonstrated its commitment to qualitative education by constructing more structures to replace schools under trees, giving free uniforms to Basic Schools pupils, expanding the School Feeding Programme and providing of free exercise books.   The Vice President said the NDC was development oriented and urged the people to retain it in the next polls for a continuation and completion of the progress it had started in the last three and half years.   He inaugurated an 18-unit classroom block built with financial support from the Ghana Education Trust Fund at the Aburaman Senior High School at Abura Dunkwa.   GNA...

New Delhi, NOV. 22 (dpa/GNA) - Authorities in a central Indian state Thursday warned that men who sexually harass or taunt women will not be issued driving licenses and passports, or lose their documents.   Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the move at a public meeting, while urging people to oppose harassment and violence against women, officials said.   "We are all set to implement the project to control Eve-teasing in the state," government spokesman Rakesh Srivastava said, using a South Asian euphemism for the sexual harassment or taunting of women.   "Police is already preparing a database of such offenders."   "Men against whom police investigations confirm such offences will not be given passports or driving licenses. Offenders who already hold licenses or passports will lose them," Srivastava said by phone from state capital Bhopal.   Madhya Pradesh is geographically the second-largest state in India and has a population of about 72 million.   Women's rights groups say harassment is a major problem in India, which is also considered one of the most unsafe countries for women, with high reported rates of rape and abductions. GNA  ...

Accra, Nov 22, GNA – Mr James Owusu, a businessman, on Thursday heaped praises on the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and said the second debate it organised for presidential candidates of parties with representation in parliament was excellent.   He said IEA made significant changes to its “modus operandi” and this contributed hugely to the success of the event. Mr Owusu, who was among people the GNA interviewed on their reaction to the debate, said what impressed him most was the presidential candidates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Convention People’s Party (CPP), People’s National Convention (PNC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) sat comfortably and answered questions a two-member panel fired at them.   The first debate held at Tamale drew flak from people the GNA interviewed because President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC, Dr CPP’s Dr Abu Sakara, Mr Hassan Ayariga of the PNC and the NPP’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were made to stand for four hours. He said the lady professor on the panel was hard on the audience and made sure the debate venue was as quite as a university lecture hall.   “The first debate was a four-hour torture session. The future presidents - the youngest, 40 years old and the oldest, 65 years old - were on their feet for four hours and these gentlemen have been going round the country campaigning,” he said. Mr Owusu said the second debate seemed shorter than the first and this is another big plus for the IEA, adding “Last night’s event was different and I score 100 per cent for IEA.”   A public servant who wants to remain anonymous said the lady professor was at her “motherly and wifely” best and allowed the audience to give expression to their emotions. She said the audience, made up very important personalities including the top brass of the political parties whose candidates took part in the debate, clapped and laughed in reaction to points the candidates made.   She said the lady professor did nothing to stop them and it was good because it made the event lively and people did not fall asleep. “I am sure audience reaction served as a catalyst for the candidates and they were excellent. It was a political event and there was nothing wrong allowing people to make noise because politicians love noise,” she said.   A banker, Mr Kwaku Ansah, told the GNA that the candidates looked presidential in their seats unlike the first debate when they stood for four solid hours answering questions from Prof and Kojo who were comfortably seated. He said he watched the programme from the beginning to the end and learnt a lot.   GNA...

Sydney, NOV. 22 (dpa/GNA) - Some Australians see roadside memorials to traffic accident victims as tacky encroachments on public space that impertinently parade a grief best kept private.   To others, the assemblies of photos, flowers, trinkets and testimonials are to be celebrated as a triumph of the human spirit over a senseless death.   They see in the flourishing makeshift shrines, sacred, secular and sometimes profane, a refreshing cultural shift in the way we mourn.   "It's what has been called the disenfranchised grief - people who don't feel they belong to the rules and regulations of the state or the rules and regulations of the church," University of New England historian Jennifer Clark said.   "It's a post-1960s view that people respond to their own conscience. They decide what is right and wrong and good for them. There's a lot of autonomy being practised in this exercise."   The collapse of protocols that kept shows of grief to black outfits at funerals and bunches of flowers in the graveyard is proving a challenge to authorities.   They have to set new rules, limit the infringement of private demands on common land and either turn a blind eye to the modern practice or codify it.   The state government in New South Wales, which has responsibility for highways, insists shrines be no more than the size of a suitcase but sets no time limit, saying "roadside tributes should be removed after an appropriate period of mourning."   In contrast, Queensland state officials are more accommodating, allowing memorials to be "in place indefinitely, provided they are regularly maintained by family and friends and do not become a road safety hazard."   Town councils, which maintain local roads, vary in their approach. Mark Gardiner, of Sydney's Marrickville Council, said there was no set policy and officials "let things take their course."   In Rockingham, a Perth suburb, the bereaved are limited to small white, wooden crosses and informed that "one roadside memorial shall be allowed per life lost for a period of up to 14 months only."   The state of South Australia is even more prescriptive, insisting that roadside shrines be gone in "a maximum of six weeks from the date of the accident."   Just as the bereaved are now taking more liberties with the common land, those against what they see as personal grief intruding into public space are rising up to keep memorials within bounds.   In Bendigo, a town in Victoria, when an aggrieved mourner offered a reward for the names of those who defaced a roadside memorial, the local paper erupted in a war of words.   One anonymous letter-writer complained that while "knick-knacks like teddy bears, skateboards and other memorabilia might be special to the person who put it there, it's all rubbish to the rest of us!"   At a busy Sydney road junction a bicycle sprayed white and chained to a traffic light is being colonized by the undergrowth. A white cross nailed to a nearby power pole suggests the deceased was called Konrad.   A dip into police records notes that a cyclist died at that spot at approximately 3:30 pm on November 16, 2010.   "Police have conducted extensive inquiries at the scene and spoken with a number of witnesses," the archive entry reads. "No charges are expected to be laid."   According to Clark, a world authority on roadside memorials, the ghost bike serves to shift awareness from a statistic in a ledger to a morgue near you.   "One thing it's done is made a difference to the way we look at road trauma," she said. "It's been a hidden form of death, a statistic at the end of the year. But there was never much attention paid to the individualism of those people." GNA  ...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - Council of Women Traditional Leaders (CWTL) has appealed to all stakeholders in the coming elections to conduct themselves in a manner that would guarantee peaceful elections, declaring: “We don’t want war, we want peace.”   Nana Amba Eyieba, Queen Mother of Oguaa and Coordinator of CWTL, made the appeal on behalf of queenmothers at a durbar in Accra to celebrate the achievement and progress of CWTL for its 10 years existence.   She said Ghanaians could not afford to lose the peaceful atmosphere currently prevailing in the country because when there is war it is women and children who suffer the most.   She called on the security agencies, the electoral commission, political parties, the media, and the entire citizenry particularly the youth not to engage in acts that would mar the current peace in the society.   Nana Eyieba said the theme for the durbar: “From peace in the home to the nation and to the world”, was most appropriate because Ghana was in another critical stage of its democratic process of proving to be the beacon of peace in the sub region.   She said Queenmothers served as symbol of peace who occupy unique place in society to play leading role in consolidating peace at all times.   Nana Eyieba said CWTL has been able to engage the Electoral Commission to carry out electoral sensitization exercises and assist in undertaking capacity building activities for the media.   In her welcome address, Mamaga Amega Kofibra I, President of CWTL and Queen Mother of Peki, said that women commanded influence at all levels of society and thus should be at the forefront of promoting peace.   She added though the 1992 constitution defines and guarantees the role of Queenmothers, they were still not visible as their male counterparts until 2001 when the idea of forming CWTL was conceived at a conference on chieftaincy, culture and governance held in Accra.   Professor Irene Odotei, Executive Director of Institute for Research and Advocacy Training, highlighting on peace during and after Election 2012 advised Ghanaians to protect the integrity of the electoral process by conducting themselves well.   GNA...

Brussels, NOV. 22 (dpa/GNA) - British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday vowed to negotiate "very hard" for a European Union budget that reflects the austerity being implemented nationally, ahead of what is expected to be an acrimonious summit on the 2014-20 spending plan.   "I'm not happy at all," Cameron told reporters in Brussels as he arrived for a meeting with EU president Herman Van Rompuy ahead of the two-day summit.   "Clearly, at a time when we're making difficult decisions at home over public spending, it would be quite wrong, it is quite wrong for there to be proposals for this increased spending in the EU," he added. "We're going to be negotiating very hard for a good deal for Britain's taxpayers and for Europe's taxpayers."   Cameron also said he would fight to "keep the British rebate," a reduction from EU budget contributions that former premier Margaret Thatcher had secured for Britain in the 1980s after an epic battle with European partners.   Cameron is seen as the biggest obstacle to an agreement on the EU budget at the summit - although nine other member states have also threatened vetoes over various issues, according to a count by eurosceptic group Open Europe.   London has advocated for the most cuts, arguing for a real-terms budget freeze that diplomats say would require about 200 billion euros (257 billion dollars) to be slashed off the 1.09 trillion euros in spending commitments proposed by the European Commission.   As a compromise, Van Rompuy has proposed cutting 80 billion euros off the EU executive's proposal, but the plan has drawn fire from all sides. He is expected to present a new draft after his pre-summit so-called "confessionals" with all of the EU leaders throughout Thursday.   The 2014-20 budget - technically known as the multi-annual financial framework or MFF - will set maximum spending limits, as well as define where the money should go and where it should come from.   Most of the funds flow back into member states for everything from road-building projects to support for farmers. GNA  ...

Beirut, NOV. 22 (dpa/GNA) - Syrian government troops have killed dozens of what state television Thursday termed as "terrorists” near the capital Damascus.   Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus, has been the scene of some of the worst violence in Syria’s 21-month conflict.   "The Syrian army managed in an operation that lasted two days in the area of Daraya to eliminate a terrorist group and liberate civilians who had been used by terrorists as human shields," reported the broadcaster, referring to rebels fighting to oust the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.   Mortar shells were Thursday fired at a government facility and a private building in the district of Mezze in Damascus, said the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It gave no casualty figure.   Elsewhere, rebel fighters have taken control of a government artillery base in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour and killed at least six government soldiers, reported opposition activists.   At least 39,000 people have been killed in Syria since an uprising started in March last year against al-Assad's rule, according to the opposition. Independent verification of reports coming out of Syria is hampered by government restrictions on the movement of journalists. GNA  ...

Islamabad, NOV. 22 (dpa/GNA) - At least 25 people were killed and 77 injured in three bomb attacks targeting the Shiite minority in Pakistan, police and rescue officials said on Thursday.   A bomber in a suicide vest attacked a religious procession in Rawalpindi near Islamabad just before midnight on Wednesday, said Muhammad Haroon, an official with the office of the city police chief.   Deeba Shehnaz, spokeswoman for the Rescue 1122 service, told dpa that "23 civilians were killed and 62 people injured, including eight children and four policemen."   Haroon said the bomber, aged around 18, tried to enter the Muharram festival procession and detonated his explosive-laden vest when he was stopped by volunteers deployed at the entry point.   "We have found the head of the attacker and we are investigating to identify him," he said.   Another two people were killed Wednesday in two more bomb attacks in the southern city of Karachi. Both attacks targeted Shiites, Hashim Raza, the Karachi police commissioner, told dpa.   A motorbike rigged with explosives was detonated near a Shiite mosque in Orangi Town, killing one person and injuring seven. In the second incident, a bomb was planted in the wall of a mosque in the same locality, killing one person and injuring eight.   Taliban militants Thursday took responsibility for all three attacks, while admitting that the target was the Shiite gatherings.   Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani militant outfit, said the Shiites were targeted as they "insult" the Muslim prophet Mohammed and the Koran, their holy book.   "We take responsibility for the attacks at both the places (in Rawalpindi and Karachi)," Ehsan said in a statement.   "We will continue to achieve our targets, irrespective of security measures taken by (the Pakistani Interior Minister) Rehman Malik," he said.   Shiite Muslims make up around 20 per cent of Pakistan's population. They are often considered heretics by the majority Sunni Muslims and frequently targeted by extremists.   The government has increased security where Shiites meet to observe their Muharram festival in which they mourn the death of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.   The bombing came on the eve of a summit meeting of eight developing Muslim countries in the capital Islamabad. GNA  ...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA – Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Presidential Candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has described the Ghanaian media as a double edged sword – “power to build and destroy”.       In order to ensure that the media lives up to expectation, Dr Sakara called for adherence to ethical standards within the media and the strengthening of regulatory mechanisms for journalistic practice.       Dr Sakara was contributing to debate on media excesses at the second Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate involving four of Election 2012 Presidential Candidates.       The debate is limited to only Presidential Candidates of political parties with representation in parliament was on the theme: “Upholding Electoral Accountability”.        The CPP Presidential Candidate expressed concern about the many politicians owning media houses and advised young journalist to learn from seasoned journalists.           Mr Hassan Ayariga, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention, appealed to the media not to sell bad news at the expense of the nation...”.       He also expressed concern about politician owning newspaper which only see things through the eye of the politician saying “we need a newspapers that are not partisan, newspapers that would serve the nations interest”.             Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, called for a self-regulatory mechanism within the media as an external regulation may be detrimental to freedom of the press.       He called for a review of the mandate of the National Media Commission adding that the media had greater role to play in purging itself, adhere to professional standards and also ensure that State Owned Media does not become propaganda wing of the government.         GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA – Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, has said revenue accrued from oil would be used to fund the proposed “Free Senior High School,” when elected to form the next government.       Responding to a question on “how to use the country’s oil resources for the benefit of the people, Nana Akufo-Addo said “the most equitable manner in which Ghanaians would benefit from the oil revenue is to ensure that they are used on the two most critical aspects of our national life – education and health care.     “We would use the oil revenue in these critical areas of our lives such that at the time the oil resources run out, we would have transformed the Ghanaian population through education and good healthcare.     “We now have the basis to sustain the development of our nation, not for one year, not for two years but for generations to come”, Nana Akufo Addo stated at the second Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate in Accra.     The IEA debate, which was limited to Presidential Candidates of political parties with representation in parliament, was on the general theme: “Upholding Electoral Accountability”.     The NPP Presidential Candidate said the oil revenue offers Ghanaians an opportunity to transform the economy.     On how to ensure that Ghana gets the best deals out of contracts relating to our natural resources, Nana Akufo Addo explained that under the previous NPP Administration the parameters was to attract investors to field, but now that we are producing oil the parameter are different.     Mr Hassan Ayariga Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (CPP) blamed past and present governments for signing contracts that have deprived the nation from enjoying the fruit of its natural resources.     “Under my Presidency, I will review all such contracts...taking inspiration from former President Jerry John Rawlings, a Hassan Ayariga led government would review all contracts to ensure that the nation and generation unborn benefits from our natural resources”.     Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, CPP Presidential candidate, said a CPP government would pass the local content law, build the technical capacity to deal with the knowledge gap in the field.       On how to make science and technology the core of Ghana’s economic development, Dr Sakara said a CPP government will set up a 10 million cedi Research and Development Fund dedicated to innovations.     This, he said, was aimed at moving “ideas from the shelf to the factories” and to drive the economy forward.     Dr Sakara explained that the “science and technology gap is reflected in the poverty gap saying “if we do not have science and technology driving the economy, then you will find that we are not able to close the income generation and the other measures that we need to take to improve people’s lives.”    He also pledged to improve the quality of technical and vocational institutions.    On his part, Nana Akufo-Addo promised that institutions offering science and technology as core subjects were going to be made to refocus to boost their effectiveness.   Mr Ayariga on his part said a PNC government will totally change Ghana’s educational curricula to “start with science and technology rather than free education" because science and technology is core to Ghana’s economic development.   “Our government will re-emphasize and change the curricula of education rather than making it free,” he said.     GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA – Mr Hassan Ayariga, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) on Wednesday said a government under his leadership would review the existing fishing laws to bring dynamism into the fishing industry.    “A PNC government would work closely with stakeholders in the fishing industry including Ghana National Association of Fishermen to revive and revamp the sector,” Mr Ayariga stated at the second Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate in Accra.     The IEA debate was limited to Presidential Candidates of political parties with representation in parliament was on the general theme: “Upholding Electoral Accountability”.     Mr Ayariga said fishing and farming would also become key component under the National Youth Employment Programme to attract the youth into the sectors.    On his part Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster Presidential Candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), noted that Ghana needs to promote and take greater advantage of our geographic location on both latitude and longitudes “zero degrees” to attract tourism.    He said: “a CPP government would introduce an electronic tracking devise into the marine sector to know the weights of ships as it enters and leaves our territorial waters”.    Contributing to the marine debate; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, said “the problems associated with the fishing industry are mainly the involvement of politicians.   He said the next NPP government would deal with large scale invasion of the nation’s territorial waters.      GNA  ...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA – Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Presidential Candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) on Wednesday said when elected his government would champion the cause of women in nation building.    He said “politicians must practice what they preach, and walk the talk..., as the CPP has demonstrated with its commitment to gender mainstreaming by electing a woman as the Chairperson of the party.    “Our first and second Vice Chairperson are all women and above all nominated a woman as potential Vice President of Ghana, this is a firm demonstration of a party’s stand for promoting gender issues”, Dr Sakara said.     Dr Sakara, who was answering questions at the second and final Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) debate for Presidential Candidates of political parties with representation in Parliament at the Banquet Hall of the State House, commended Ghanaian women for their tenacity and fortitude to serve as beacon of hope to the society.    He said a CPP government would roll-out programmes that would allow women to increase their representation in national decision making processes saying it would also promulgate affirmative action legislation as a basis for monitoring and ensuring that public organizations adhered to its stated objectives.     Dr Sakara said a CPP government would make institutional arrangements at all levels to achieve gender mainstreaming such that both men and women would equally attain and occupy positions without any bias.    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said “as a father of five girls who have worked with women across board will make sure that women play key role in governance”.    He said “I have promoted gender mainstreaming even within our party structure, been advocate of affirmative action and would continue to promulgate policies that will empower women.”     Nana Akufo Addo acknowledged that women form over 51 per cent of the national population and therefore issues relating to gender mainstreaming must be tackled holistically. Mr Hassan Ayariga Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) said “empowering women and providing support at the grass root would be paramount under his administration, when elected.”    He said a PNC Government would identify career women and empower them, implement affirmative action and continue other gender policies of the current administration.     An added innovation at the second debate was the sitting arrangement as the Presidential candidates were comfortable seated which is in sharp contrast to the first debate where the candidates were made to stand for hours.    Most of the dignitaries who attended commended the organisers for the innovation and reduction in duration.    The second debate concludes series of debates and interventions initiated by IEA to promote issues based campaign and promote democratic governance especially as the nation prepares for Election 2012   GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - IFS Financial Services, as part of its fifth anniversary celebrations, has presented a cheque of GH¢10,000.00 to Centre Aid, a Non Governmental Organisation, in Accra.     The donation was to support the improvement in living standards and educational scholarship programs of the Centre which is the social arm of the International Central Gospel Church.     Mr Kojo Ohene-Kyei, Chief Executive Officer of the IFS Financial Services, said the company believes in helping to transform the lives of people in the communities it operates.   He said the IFS Financial Services had over the period of its operation donated various health delivery support funds and initiated educational and religious programs in the society.  Mr Ohene-Kyei said the company was established to deliver innovative financial services to grow the businesses of the cherished customers and positively affect their lives.     “As we celebrate the achievements of our past we are even more poised to position our company as the preferred financial partner through our quality service delivery, endearing relationships with clients and stakeholders and increased access points,” he said.     Mr Ohene-Kyei used the occasion to thank the shareholders, the board of the Directors, Management and Staff of the company for their immense contribution towards the development in the company.     Madam Akuan Adjei, Board member of Centre Aid, who received the donation on behalf of organization, said Centre Aid is a human development-oriented and not for profit organization, which was establish 20 years ago to provide support to the needy in the society to enable them develop their spiritual intellectual potentials.     She said Rev Dr Mensah Anamoa Otabil established the Centre to help the youth whose educational attainment could be hindered by financial constraints and that currently about 322 students have benefitted from the scholarship scheme.        Madam Adjei thanked IFS Financial Services for their donation saying it would facilitate the work of the Centre. GNA ...

Kpong, (E/R) Nov. 21, GNA – Two weed harvesters and two transport barges for harvesting water weeds were on Wednesday commissioned at Kpong in the Eastern Region to assist in reducing the spread of invasive water plants.     The commissioning formed part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s initiative dubbed “Ghana Integrated Management of Invasive Aquatic Weeds Project” which is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).     It aims at controlling water weeds which include hyacinth, water lettuce and Kariba weeds in Tano and Volta rivers.     Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, said it was government’s desire to transform the water weed menace into an opportunity for enhancing livelihoods and income generation.     “We will expand the initiative and create the value chain that would attract investment to transform harvested weeds into compost to boost agriculture”, she said.     Ms Ayittey said government was in discussions with the European Union to assist the country to enhance the capacity of the private sector to utilize the water weeds to improve the competiveness of the banana sector on the international market.     Mrs Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Resident Representative of the AfDB, said the Bank had supported Ghana with a concessionary loan of $2,588,000 and a grant component of 323,500 dollars.     She said the five-year project had positively influenced and contributed to changes in social setting in areas that border on the welfare of the women and youth.     Mrs Akin-Olugbade said “women were part of and involved in the Community Water Weed Committees especially in Volta District where more than 50 per cent of their memberships were women”.     Mr Daniel Amlalo, Acting Executive Director of the EPA, noted that water weeds had invaded water bodies especially in the Lower Volta, Kpong Head pond, the Oti and Tano rivers and Lagoon complex.     He said the estimated weed coverage in the rivers with the exception of Oti, stood at 6,066 hectares in 2006.    Mr Amlalo said the infestations had obstructed water supply, river transport, fishing and threatened hydropower generation and also increased the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as Bilharzia.    He said the project was also done in collaboration with seven riparian districts, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, University of Ghana and other stakeholder institutions.       Mr Amlalo expressed confidence that the District Assemblies would provide support to the Community Water Weeds to maintain the areas cleared so as to sustain the gains made under the project.     GNA ...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - Avaya, a global provider of business collaboration and communications solutions, on Thursday announced its entry in the Ghanaian market with a promise to offer quality services, at an event organized to outdoor the group.     By the launch, the Group has started its official operations in Ghana to sell directly to their customers, provide unified communications services, contact centers, networking and related services to companies of all sizes around the world and through their local partners.  This was contained in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra by Cynthia Boamah, Media Relations Officer for the Group in Ghana.     The statement said the management of Avaya sees tremendous opportunities in Africa and in Ghana in particular, adding it would support the initiative with world class communications and collaboration solutions.     “Ghana is a key market for Avaya because it harbors a number of new businesses and organizations, the capital Accra alone has a population of 2 million, which also houses a growing number of international businesses and organizations” it said.     The statement said Avaya’s main function in Ghana would be to market and direct sales as well as to ultimately bring the company closer to local African customers and partners.     “Avaya believes technology should enable collaboration such that as organizations in Africa move towards a more geographically dispersed workforce, they would have access to the proper tools to enable their users quickly solve business challenges”, it said.     The statement quoted Mr Hatem Hariri, Managing Director for the North, West, East and Central Africa, for Avaya as saying: “Africa continues to remain a key market for Avaya, and expanding our presence into West Africa, by opening an office in Nigeria and eventually Ghana only reinforces our local support to customers as well as partners.”     “Ghana is a growing market and a strong driver for new technologies, an example of the wider regional IT market. This is why Avaya is committed to supporting the countries growth by enabling organizations in all sectors to gain with our world-class collaboration and networking solutions”, he added.     The statement said Avaya group was investing in local partners to help them identify and “crack new opportunities” and thereby expand their regional customer base.     “With a growing number of small and medium size businesses developing throughout the continent, Avaya is also able to meet communications challenges facing small and medium enterprises with their award winning Avaya IP office”, it said.     GNA  ...

Cape Coast, Nov.21, GNA - A  Cape Coast  Magistrate court on Wednesday remanded Ato Kwamena, a 19-year old fisherman  from  Ola  a suburb  Cape Coast  into  police custody  for stealing. Kwamena who pleaded not guilty on three counts of unlawful entry, unlawful damage and stealing would reappear on  Thursday November 29. Prosecuting Sergeant Charles Effah, told the court presided over by Mr Ohemeng Mensah that, on August 26  the complainant madam Gifty Adu Antwi, a resident of Ola travelled to Saltpond  and when she  returned she detected that an intruder had entered her room and taken away some possessions. Sergeant Effah said some of the items stolen included, a tape recorder, two pieces of cloth, a  bag, sauce pans and some dresses, and thereafter lodged a complaint at the Police station. He said on November 11, Madam Antwi bumped into Kwamena in town  wearing one of her shirts, she confronted him and sensing danger, Kwamena removed the shirt threw it at Madam Antwi and took to his heels. Sergeant Effah told the court that Kwamena was arrested last Monday on another case and was identified by Madam Antwi who happened to be around the police station on the day of the arrest. He said on his caution statement Kwamena denied all the allegations but after police investigations, he was charged with offences. GNA ...