Koforidua, Nov. 22, GNA- The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, has asked parents whose under-aged children registered for the December polls not to allow them to vote to ensure free and fair elections.        She said though voting is fundamental human right the casting of ballot by minors was an offence.        Mrs Wood was speaking at the 11th Chief Justice Forum,  on the theme: “Access to justice, a tool for peace and stability”,     in Koforidua in the Eastern Region on Thursday.   The Chief Justice reminded Ghanaians that the 1992 Constitution mandates only persons who are 18 years and above to vote, and appealed to the people to observe electoral rules to ensure free and fair polls on December 7.      Mrs Wood said measures have been initiated to deal with electoral disputes and that ‘’ the Judicial Service has increased the number of high courts dedicated to hear and determine electoral disputes by including all courts in the regional capitals and in Accra.”      She said Judges would be required to sit on electoral cases at weekends and public holidays to ensure speedy adjudication.      The Chief Justice said the Judiciary, which is not above the law and accountable to the people, had a responsibility to promote peace and stability.   Professor Kofi Kumado, of the Faculty of Law, the University of Ghana, who gave an insight into the role of the Judiciary, and an election manual for judges, cautioned that minors, who would cast their votes in Election 2012, could be prosecuted.     He said in adjudicating electoral cases, ‘’judges must be guided by the long learning of the law at the law school, the judicial oath they had taken and their conscience to ensure that judgment would be acceptable and rational to all parties involved.”      Prof. Kumado asked the public to bear with Judges in the discharge of their duties because Judges exploit the law and the constitution to arrive at their decisions, coupled with the fact that most courts are not automated and Judges have to write judgments.      Mr Kwasi Amoako Adjei, the Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association, said the association would assist in the adjudication of electoral cases.   He, however, urged politicians to explore other means of resolving electoral disputes, other than the court, which often leave people in some constituencies without parliamentary representation for long period.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - A technical committee of the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee has been inaugurated to consider all post migration issues of the Single Spine Salary Stucture (SSSS), except those related to the grading structures of institutions.   The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffour inaugurated the Committee on Tuesday, which is also expected to provide all technical details necessary to guide negotiations of the base pay, pay point relativity and allowances in the Categories 2 & 3 allowances.   A brief statement from the Public Affairs Unit of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on Thursday said, “This is in furtherance of the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure, which is a major component of the Single Spine Pay Policy.”   The Committee is made up of representatives from the Organized Labour and Government. The members from Organized Labour include Dr. Yaw Baah (Deputy General Secretary, Trades Union Congress (TUC); Mr. B.K. Osei, Head Compensation & Working Conditions, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT); Dr. Kwarteng, Ghana Medical Association; and Alexander Dakuso Kakraba, University teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).   The members from the government team include Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP); Mr. Oku Afari, MOFEP; Mr. George Smith-Graham, FWSC; Mr. Andrews Kingsley Kwadwo Kufe, Controller and Accountant General Department, (CAGD); Mr. Joseph N.K. Gadikor, FWSC; Mr. Simon Kyei, Director of Budget, MOFEP; Magnus Ebo Duncan, Ghana Statistical Service and Edmund Siaw Akugbey, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare (MESW).   GNA...

Kumasi, Nov. 22, GNA –      Kwame Boateng, a 23-year -old trader has is standing trial at the Kumasi Gender Court for abducting a 16-year-old female junior high school student.      He was granted a bail of GH¢5,000.00 with two sureties in the court presided over by Mrs Rita Agyemang-Budu and he is to reappear on December 13.   Police Chief Inspector Philip Yao Bebli told the court that Georgina Tabi, the mother of the victim, lives together with her at Abrepo, in Kumasi.      Boateng also resides at Hiawu-Besease in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District, and carries out his trading activities at Kejetia-Morocco.      On October 24, the accused met the girl and proposed love to her and followed it up by buying her food and two pairs of slippers.      The prosecution said the accused convinced her to follow him to his house where he kept her for six days, during which period he had repeated sexual intercourse with her.       The worried mother, who did not know the whereabouts of the daughter, made a formal report to the Suame police and caused announcements to be made on various FM radio stations.        The girl returned to the house on November 2, and was sent to the police station, where she gave out Boateng.        She led the police to the accused person who was arrested.   GNA...

Kumasi, Nov. 22, GNA – Three suspected robbers, who attacked a taxi driver and snatched the car at gun point at Akasasi, a farming community in the Ahafo-Ano South District have been arrested.     Steven Ali, Peter Abokyi alias “Rasta” and Fuseini Iddrisu are being held by the police at Mankranso.     Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vitus Napen, District Commander, who confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency, said the alleged robbery happened on Friday, November 16.     Ali had engaged the services of the driver, Mohammed Dauda, to carry him from Mankranso to Akasasi at about 1800 hours.      Midway through the journey Ali pulled a pistol and ordered him to stop and switch off the engine, which he did.      The Police Commander said all of a sudden the two other suspects, emerged from the bush, also holding locally made pistols, to join their colleague.      They forcibly seized from Dauda, his cellular phone and daily sales of GH¢56.00. They also tied his hands and legs, blindfolded and sealed his lips with a tape and dumped him in the bush.       They attempted to flee with the taxi but the engine did not start.       DSP Napen said the alertness of a driver belonging to the local taxi union led to the arrest of the three.        He noticed the robbers running as he approached the scene with his vehicle and quickly informed the police.          The police swiftly responded, freed Dauda and recovered the vehicle.          A manhunt was launched by the police and people in the area for the suspected criminals and this paid off as they were apprehended before they could escape in a commercial bus.          Dauda identified them as those who attacked him and a search on them uncovered screw drivers, pliers and kitchen knives.          He said the police believe they might have hidden the guns, phone and money in the bush.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA- The Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG), has expressed outrage against Israel for the latest aggression against the people of Palestine in Gaza which has resulted in many innocent people losing their lives or getting wounded.   At a press conference organised in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Kwasi Pratt, a member of the SFG said the continues aggression by Israel against Palestine is an evidence of the impunity of the Jewish State, which is hell bent on defying world public opinion and international law in its brazen attempt to violate the political, economic and social rights of Palestinians.      He said, since the attack some few days ago, more than 100 Palestinians, mostly innocent women and children had been murdered by Israel with 1000 more seriously wounded.   Mr Pratt said Israel would stop at nothing to enforce its harsh colonial rule on the people who have been dispossessed of their land.   He said the 22-day war of aggression in 2008-2009 Israel code-named “Operation Cast Lead”1,400 Palestinians were killed and more than 5,000, fitting perfectly into “a pattern of assassinations, imprisonment without charge or trial, sabotage of the Palestinian national economy and thievery of Palestinian resources”.   According to Mr Kwasi Pratt, Israel has over the years achieved notoriety as the world’s prime threat to peace.   He said apart from supporting apartheid in South Africa and annexing Arab lands in Syria and Lebanon, it has continued to subvert the national security of Sudan by bombing the country in an unprovoked aggression a couple of weeks ago.   He claimed that, in spite of its war mongering and aggressive attitude, some western countries especially the United States have assisted Israel to stockpile nuclear weapons, adding: “Israel is the only country in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf which has a stock pile of nuclear weapons even as it refuses to sign international treaties guarding against the proliferations of such weapons.”      As part of measures to safeguard the peace and security of the people of Palestine and that of the world at large, Mr Kwasi Pratt called on the international community to take steps to inspect and control Israel’s nuclear arsenal.   He said the world should insist that Israel accept the United Nations resolutions on the rights of the Palestinian people including the right of refugees to return to their homelands and also hold the Israeli authorities responsible for crimes committed against humanity including crimes it has executed in Iran, Lebanon, Syria and many other places.       “The SFG is also calling on the government of Ghana to bring pressure on Israel through the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Union to abide by the norms of decency in international relations and to refrain from acts of aggression against other states.   “We are also calling for an immediate end to the aggression against Gaza and the blockade of the coastal strip,” he added.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has fumed over the deliberate attempt by political parties to relegate the issues of sports to the background in the run up to the 2012 general elections.   In a statement copied to GNA Sports, the Association said it has observed with keen interest, how the flag bearers on all platforms including the recent Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) presidential debates relegated issues of sports to the back ground.   It said a study of the manifestoes of the two leading parties political parties; National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) demonstrates that though they both captured issues of talent identification and grooming, education and sports, as well as sports infrastructure development, they have failed to use various platforms to further elaborate on those policies, with regards to timing and funding.   “Having observed the political discourse over the last few months, SWAG has noted with great concern the absence of sports related issues from the various political parties, a situation we consider fatal, considering the significant role sports has played in the country over the past years.   “Indeed, sports has over the years served as an instrument for peace and unity; it has also gone beyond its status as an instrument of entertainment but serious business with countries making lot of money from player transfers, participation and organising international events as well as enhanced economic progress of millions of individuals, who engage in sports.   “It will interest the political parties to note that, the Ministry of Sports in Brazil has projected a whopping 105 billion dollars into their economy after hosting international events such as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.   “Out of this, 78 billion dollars is expected to come from indirect investments; that is recirculation of money from the event and 710, 000 jobs are expected to be generated from the events.”   It added; “It will be great interest for the politicians to note that, Argentina is largest supplier of football talents to Europe having deliberately developed a policy to groom and nurture talents for sale in Europe.   “Argentina, has now taken over from Brazil as the largest supplier of talents to Europe and statistics indicated over 1,716 footballers were groomed and sold in  Europe by Argentina and they made 117mliion dollars from such transfers according to Sports Marketing Company; Euroamericas.   “With barely two weeks to go for the elections, we are convinced that they can still do a better job by making sports part of their agenda,” it concluded.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA – Mr A. B. Adjei, Chief Executive Officer of Zoom Alliance, on Thursday said a national sanitation taskforce, supported by Zoom Alliance, is clearing filth through anti-littering advocacy and  distribution of household waste containers,   larger public waste containers, and trash bags.   He said: “Refuse is scattered across most cities and this seriously impacts on the environment hence the need to organize a sensitization programme for drivers and passengers and the entire public to help reduce the spate of littering on our streets and lorry stations”.   Mr Adjei said these during the launch of the national sanitation campaign song entitled “Ofunkyi”, by Nicholas Omane Acheampong (Zaphanet Panea), at the Neoplan Lorry Station in Accra on Thursday.   The event that was under auspices of Pro-image Communications in collaboration with Zoom Alliance, formed part of activities aimed at deepening awareness on sanitation, and increasing the involvement of major stakeholders in the campaign.   Mr Adjei said: “Filth is created by man and man has to handle its management, we have to educate the people on their shared responsibilities to keep their environment clean,” he said.   He said Zoom Alliance would provide mobile toilets and waste bins at the Neoplan Station, Accra, to improve sanitation there.   Mr Adjei said a sanitation task force would also be set up to enforce sanitary practices at the Neoplan Station.   He presented music- video on “Ofunkyi” to drivers at the Neoplan Station, and charged them to show it on moving vehicles to educate passengers on sound environmental practices.   Mr Adjei also distributed dust bins to the drivers and asked them to place the bins inside their vehicles for waste collection, to present passengers from throwing rubbish from vehicles.   Mr John Awuah, Welfare Officer of the Neoplan Station Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), received the items on behalf of the Union.   Mr John Tetteh of Neoplan Number Four branch of the GPRTU, pledged that the drivers would support the Zoom Alliance to make Ghana clean.   Zoom Alliance is a new waste management company created to work with existing waste collection companies to improve upon sanitation in the country.   GNA...

Teacher-Mante (E/R), Nov. 22, GNA – Nana Mbeah, Prophet of Guankorbea Prayer Ministry of Teacher-Mante in the Eastern Region, has launched his maiden musical album with a call on political leaders to avoid using ethnicity to divide the people.   Nana Mbeah said politicians should send the message of love and peace to Ghanaians to unite them rather than the propagation of hate speeches and insults.   He made the call during the launch of his first musical album, which have six tracks namely: “Mara ne mara,” “Nkenyan Nsi,” “Yefre woa ya bra,” “Ye me kradow”and“Yeni bebi ko,” at Teacher-Mante.   Nana Mbeah who is also the Mponoanohene of Akyem Abuakwa State said the political   should dwell on the message of peace to win the hearts of the electorate instead of ethnicity.   He said: “Let us all unite as one people to perform our civic responsibility by voting on December 7 in peace and tranquillity to make the election violent-free.”   The Prophet stated that David of old in the Bible used music to praise and invoke the spirit of the Almighty God to soothe broken hearts and that his music album is aimed to inspire Ghanaians to put their hope and aspiration in the Lord during trying moments such as the upcoming election.   Nana Mbeah appealed to the government to help the youth who are interested to take music as a career.   He urged the youth to refrain from alcoholism, smoking and other vices that could ruin their future.   GNA...