Accra, Nov, 24, GNA- The Ghana chapter of the Association of Certified Chartered Economists (ACCE) on Saturday held its maiden induction ceremony and professional development seminar in Accra.   In all, 31 students including a fellow were inducted at a colourful ceremony at the Coconut Groove Hotel after taken an oath administered by Mr Henry Adusei, the Administrator of ACCE.      Mr Vincent Joseph Dela Selormey, Former Head of Banking Supervision, Bank of Ghana said, the economic crunch that the world is experiencing currently once happened in the year 1930 with the name ‘the great depression’ and it lasted for 10 years.      He said even though the western world had been hit hard by the current economic crunch, Ghana was not experiencing any big impact with the reason that its exposure to the global financial system is not very deep.      Mr Selormey advised the government to ensure a strict regulation on the financial system of the country while putting in place measures to further ensure that banks were well capitalized to be in the position to absorb losses if they occur.    He, however, noted that like the great depression of 1930, the current economic crises is likely to end in 10 years but not very soon as some economists are predicting.      In his acceptance speech after being conferred with an award of a fellow member, Mr John Gatsi, thanked ACCE and American Academy of Financial Management for admitting him into the pinnacle of professional attainment in the association.      He appealed to all members of ACCE especially the chartered members to use their acquired certificates to contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the various organizations, private businesses and national development.      “Passing as a chartered member alone is not sufficient to fully contribute your best but should be seen as the beginning of more focused learning period to become experienced to provide faultless professional service devoid of emotions and sentiments.    A chartered economist must be professional, objective and critical to be able to contribute effectively to national discourse and development”, he advised.   Mr Gatsi said chartered members need to consider mentorship in order to fast track their experience and confidence building, adding that they should adhere to professional code since ethical requirements are meant to ensure that they practice professionally and objectively.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 24, GNA - Samsung Electronics West Africa has been recognised by the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce for investments made in communities and for corporate social responsibility activities it implemented in 2011 and 2012, at a colourful ceremony held in Accra.   A statement to the Ghana News Agency said receiving the award, Corporate Marketing Manager of Samsung West Africa, Tracy Kyei expressed Samsung’s gratitude to the organisations for their recognition.   She stressed that “Samsung will continue to make meaningful impact in the community in which they operate.   Our success will ultimately be measured by the lives we touch with the things we do. We have always been driven by a passion to impact lives and this we will do wherever we operate”.   The awards ceremony was also used to outdoor the second edition of the Ghana CSR Diary, a free CSR magazine that catalogues corporate social responsibility activities of companies in Ghana.   The star-studded event was under the theme: “Ghana CSR Diary and Awards, making CSR more meaningful and impacting”.   Samsung Electronics is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 24, GNA – The African University College of Communication (AUCC) on Saturday held its 9th graduation ceremony with the call on graduates to make a change not only in their world view but in the lives of others.   The ceremony on the theme: “Education in an era of globalization and convergence”, saw 77 students, 27 Diploma holders and 50 Degree holders graduating after satisfying the stated conditions of the college.   Mr Kojo Yankah, President of the college, said the ceremony also marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of the institution.   He said the institution over the years has achieved a lot, including the introduction of various programmes for degree and diploma courses, received re-accreditation by the National Accreditation Board, introduced internet radio, and received post graduate scholarships from Ohio University and Clark Atlanta Universities.   He said between 2008 and 2010, the AUCC also signed various memoranda of understanding to collaborate with a number of universities abroad including the University of the Bahamas, Morehouse College, Atlanta, Simmons College, Boston, Clark Atlanta University, and Ohio University.   Mr Yankah said the College, guided by a strategic plan, had put all the necessary structures in place to meet the challenges and expectations saying the institution would not compromise on their pursuit for excellence.   “We have been taught that excellence was risking more, dreaming more and expecting more than others think it’s possible”, he added.   He said the College has also acquired new sites in various parts of the country for their major expansion drive, saying that all their new sites were on hills, depicting their confidence and growing stature.   He urged graduates not to take mediocrities as a norm, but when everything seems to be going against them, they should remember that the airplane takes off against the wind and not with the wind.   Mr Fritz Baffour, Minister of Information, said education was very crucial to development, and Ghana could not stay isolated since whatever occurs in the global world affected us.   He said we need to raise the standards of our education system, in order for our level of education to be compared to what happens in the global world.   Mr Baffour congratulated the graduates and called on them to make a positive impact where ever they found themselves, since the world of work was a more competitive and challenging one.   GNA...

Sakumono (GAR), Nov 24, GNA – KFC-Ghana on Friday opened its first Drive-Through Restaurant in the country at the Community ‘18’ Junction on the Spintex Road at Sakumono.   The restaurant is the third to be opened by KFC-Ghana after its flagship restaurant on Oxford Street at Osu in August 2011 and the one at the North Industrial Area in October the same year.   Speaking at the function, Mr Ashok Mohinani, Executive Director of KFC-Ghana, said introduced in Ghana by Masco Foods, a Mohinani Group Company, the company serves over 3,500 customers daily.   Mr Ashok paid growing tribute to Col Sanders, an enterprising chef from Louisville in Kentucky who, he said, in 1938 developed secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices to fry his chicken and have the whole of America eat out of his hands for generations.   Mr Ashok said with the opening of the Drive-Through Restaurant, KFC had created yet another element of convenience in food service to Ghanaians. He said KFC is already operating in 12 countries on the African continent, and had provided economic growth and phenomenal job opportunities for the youth and upcoming workforce of Africa.   The Executive Director assured Ghanaians that KFC would provide them with an opportunity “to enjoy chicken that is so good in a premium atmosphere backed with the culture that is built on speed with service.”   GNA...

Asamankese (ER), Nov. 24, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday reminded politicians that the use of violence and other forms of intimidations would not attract people to vote in their favour.   Instead, he urged them to campaign peacefully and avoid any form of violence that could dissuade people from voting massively for the National Democratic Congress in the forthcoming general election in December this year.   President Mahama said this when he addressed separate rallies as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region.   He said: “The NDC is a party for all, and it will be useful on our part to campaign peacefully and ignore those preaching war to go their separate ways.”   President Mahama in his last day of the eastern Region held similar rallies at Nsawam, Kraboa Coater, Adeiso, Boadua, kade and Akyem Sewdru.   The President said winning elections should be based on issues, ideas and programmes and therefore the use of violence and intimidations would rather scare potential voters adding “we need to distance ourselves from those things in order to maintain the confidence of the people.”   He appealed to the leaderships of other political parties to constantly educate their supporters against the use of violence and intimidations since that could mar the hard won reputation of the country, due to their feat in organizing five successful elections.   President Mahama promised to adequately resource the Electoral Commission and security Agencies to effectively ensure yet another successful election next month and appealed to all stakeholders in this year’s elections to play their roles professionally and effectively to maintain the international recognition the country had gained over the years.   The President earlier in Koforidua inaugurated a multi-million Cedi Regional office of the National Health Insurance Scheme.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 24, GNA – University of Ghana (UG) through the Government of Ghana has sourced a loan facility of US217 million dollars from the Israeli Government to construct a 600-bed teaching hospital at Legon. When completed all the University's constituent institutions would be relocated from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital at Mamprobi to the new hospital.   The project will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for trauma and emergency service with a heliport and internal medicine including Surgery, Obstetrics and gynecology, paediatrics, cardiology, heart surgery and medicinal imaging.   Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor, UG, speaking at the ground breaking ceremony to commence the construction work, said the project would be a model of the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel. He said the facility would provide specialized medical service, which would afford Ghanaians and the people in the sub-region the opportunity to access quality medical care in Ghana.   He said there would be a skill training unit for undergraduates and residency training.   “It will also provide additional opportunity for inter-disciplinary research and teaching which ultimately enhance the quality of facilities available for modern medical and health science education,” he added.   Prof Aryeetey noted that the project marked the beginning of relocating the Korle Bu of the University where a 400 acre parcel of land had been waiting for years to be occupied.   Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, said every government strove to make life comfortable for its citizens, noting that education and health were of much concern to citizens.   He said the project would ease the current pressure on the Korle Bu Teaching hospital because it has the potential of being expanded into a 1,300 bed facility.   The Deputy Minister expressed the hope that when completed it would be self-financing and be opened to the public and citizens from the West African sub-region and beyond.   He said the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel had agreed to provide all the assistance required to ensure that the facility provides the most efficient health care that would measure up to global standards.   He assured the University community of Government’s commitment to provide the needed support in health service and education institutions to help make available health for all.   “Plans are underway to replicate this at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and indeed in the other Medical Public Universities that train health professionals in the country,” he added.   Justice Dr Samuel K. Date-Baah, Chairman, University Council, said if the country needed a healthy nation then it was time to put together all the identified strategies and policy for implementation. He commended the management of the University for the foresight to provide its student quality health care education.   GNA...

Wa, Nov. 24, GNA – Zongo Youth for President Mahama in the Upper West Region have pledged to work round the clock to secure victory for President Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December elections.   The group said President Mahama, having risen through the ranks as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 12 years, a Deputy Minister/Minister for Communications for four years and Vice President for three and half years put him at a higher pedestal than all his competitors.   Mr Issah Aduah, Patron of the group, said this at the launch of the group in Wa on Friday.   Zongo Youth for Mahama is a volunteer group whose membership is national in character and open to all well meaning Ghanaians who share in the vision of building a Better Ghana.   Mr Aduah cited the introduction of circular education to Arabic Schools, the amendment of the Public Holiday Act to give Muslims two Public Holidays and the establishment of the Hajj Village to provide comfort and dignity to would-be pilgrims by the first and second NDC administrations as very remarkable examples of the party’s commitment to the wellbeing of Muslims in the country.   He again commended the NDC for committing GH¢200,000,000.00 to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in fulfilment of the promise made by the party in its 2008 manifesto.   He noted that SADA had already created over 5,000 jobs for some youth and was looking ahead to doubling the figure if the party retained power.   Mr Aduah said for the first time in the country, the NDC government had put in place a guaranteed price for shea nuts to improve the livelihoods of women working in the business as it is done for cocoa farmers.   He said under the NDC government, the Wa Central Zongo Community can boast of getting its fair share of infrastructural development ranging from improved infrastructure in their schools, provision of boreholes and construction of better drains among others.   He called on all in the Wa Central Constituency to vote for President Mahama and the Parliamentary Candidate, Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo for them to continue with the strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to serve the health needs of the people.   Mr Aduah pledged on behalf of Zongo youth that they were committed to peace and would not allow themselves to be used by any cheap and war-mongering politician to carry out any diabolical agenda in the coming elections.   Alhaji Pelpuo called on the people to sell the NDC success story properly to ensure a one touch victory for President Mahama.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA – Fourteen Ghanaians are to participate in strategic communication for development and advocacy training at the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), Arusha, Tanzania from the November 25 to December 7, 2012.   The training being sponsored by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the DANIDA Fellowship programme will focus on how to plan, design and manage communication interventions and advocacy communication campaigns.   The participants were selected based on their working with information, communication and advocacy in public service, development programmes, and NGOs in Danida partner countries.   The Ghanaian participants are: Ms Ethel Doris Lawson and Mr Gideon Selorm Hosu-Parbley from STARGhana; Mr Francis Ameyibor of Ghana News Agency; Mr Mahamud Mohammed, IBIS Ghana; Mr Francis Xavier Andoh-Adjei, National Health Insurance Authority; and Ms Winnifred Nafisa Mohama, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.   Those from the Ghana Immigration Service are - Mr Francis Yaw Palmdeti, Ms Maud Anima Quainoo, Ms Emelia Afua Martey, and Mr Amoateng Ennin; and Mr Theophilius Teeteh Teinor of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.   The rest are Mr Kofi Asare, Mr George Ferguson Laing and Mr Frank Agyei-Owusu, all from the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training.   The participants will be equipped on how to use strategic communication as essential elements in all development interventions and change processes, building the learning community and unwrapping strategic communication.   Other topics are tools for analysis, planning and monitoring; development communication planning and design.   The module is crafted to strengthen the capacity of participants to plan, design, and manage effective development communication interventions and advocacy communication campaigns, set out and expound contemporary strategic communication concepts, and monitor and evaluate communication and advocacy communication activities.   The course will be run by a Danish consultancy, Danicom in cooperation with ESAMI.   The DANIDA Fellowship Programme seeks to support capacity development in developing countries, primarily, but not solely, in Danida’s priority countries.   “We organize and or implement capacity development support in terms of courses, studies, research, study tours, seminars, in Denmark as well as in developing countries both nationally and regionally,” a DANIDA statement obtained by the Ghana News Agency indicates.   The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs defines the framework for the fellowship activities, while Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC) is in charge of all educational, administrative and practical issues.   GNA...

Hohoe, Nov 25, GNA - Ten beneficiaries in hairdressing under the Trades and Vocation module of the now Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneur Development Agency (GYEEDA), have been presented with kits to commence business.   Other individuals received drink dispenser, out-board motor engine, corn mill and tricycle dump car, all totalling GH¢ 25,489.   The training was in partnership with Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) and Asongtaba Cottage Industry and Exchange Programme, a private company, which specializes in creating job opportunities for the youth.   Mr Darlington Emmanuel Drayi, Volta Regional Coordinator of LESDEP said the concept was government’s response to wealth generation and job creation, which focuses on training and re-training viable skills towards self-reliance.   He, however, indicated LESDEP is non-political and urged unemployed youths to take advantage of the scheme to make life better for themselves.   Mr Drayi urged the beneficiaries to refocus attention on employing others, which calls for change in attitudes and hard work.   Mr Moses Yao Kumah, Hohoe Municipal Coordinator of GYEEDA, said the name change was to deepen the relevance of the scheme towards wealth creation and generation.   He enumerated the different modules being undertaken in the area including those in auto-mechanics, forestry, sanitation and ICT.   Ms Selase Dzidzornu, a beneficiary of a hair-dryer pledged to put the kits to good use to employ more apprentices and create wealth.   All beneficiaries received certificates.   GNA...

Hohoe, Nov 25, GNA - Professor Audrey Gadzekpo of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, has asked the media to ward-off interference and inducements from political actors in the run-up to the December general elections and beyond.   She urged media professionals and managers to accord fair opportunity to all parties contesting the elections and set issue-based agenda to guide publics to make informed decision.   Prof Gadzekpo made the remark when she addressed the Gbi Traditional Council meeting last Thursday.   She said the time had come again for media professionals to demonstrate the highest journalistic standards in order to chart an issue-base and incident-free election, urging the media to “avoid making their good work become undone through negligence and partisanship.”   Prof Gadzekpo said she expected the coverage of the upcoming elections to be an improvement over that of 2008 general elections, which registered some professional deficiencies including unexplained and complex processes, turning rumours into facts and un-qualification of provisional results.   She said multiplicity of radio stations and the inability to monitor their operations towards the build-up to the election, media ownership by politicians and the absence of broadcast law constitutes some of the challenges of the National Media Commission, Ghana Journalists Association and the Media Foundation for West Africa.   She praised the Lorlornyo FM, a Hohoe-based radio station and others for maintaining the ethical standards and not allowing their mediums to be used as a platform to propel hate-speech and instigate violence.   Togbega Gabusu, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area, said the forum was to create awareness on the impending elections among stakeholders and tighten all loose joints towards making the elections a master-piece once more.   He said the seemingly heightening of political tension would be abated when candidates continued to preach peace and assured their supporters that the contest was about supremacy of ideas and not hostilities.   Togbega appealed to political parties to prevail on minors, who found their names onto the biometric electoral register not to visit the polling station on voting day since their conduct was a recipe for violence.   Mr Francis Dusey, Hohoe Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), appealed to registered voters to come out massive to exercise their franchise on Election Day.   He appealed to the voting public to guard against exchanging their voting sovereignty for temporary benefits.   Representatives of the Electoral Commission and the Police pledged their neutrality and discharge the task with professionalism, fairness and in transparent manner.   GNA...

Seth Okai (C/R), Nov 25, GNA - The chiefs and people of Seth Okai, a village near Agona Nsaba, have appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to help construct classrooms, especially a Junior High School (JHS) structure in the area.   Nana Okai II, Chief of the town, made the appeal on behalf of the people after conducting the Ghana News Agency (GNA) round to inspect the existing school structures.   He said currently students in JHS “2” and Primary “6” are studying under a hut due to lack of adequate classrooms. Those in JHS “1” are studying on the veranda of the existing classroom for Kindergarten.   The chief said the people at Seth Okai are predominantly small scale farmers and therefore had not enough money to put up school building themselves.   Nana Okai said school children in the village had suffered by walking long distances to Agona Nsaba and other areas to attend school.   He said several appeals had been made to the Assembly for the construction of the classrooms but no concrete response had come.   Nana Okai commended the National Democratic Congress government for putting up the four classrooms in 1995, but expressed regret that the same government had refused to assist them to construct additional classrooms.   Mr Kwesi Fosu, Assemblyman for the area, confirmed that letters had been written to the Assembly for assistance to build more classrooms.   He appealed to the Minister of Education and other Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) to come to the aid of the town.   GNA...

Seth Okai, (C/R), Nov. 25, GNA-The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has intensified its nationwide education on proper voting to reduce the incidence of ballot paper rejection or spoilt ballots in the December 7 polls.   Ms Abena Offe, a Commission Member, made this known at a durbar organized by the Agona East District branch of NCCE at Seth Okai near Agona Nsaba in the Agona East District of the Central Region at the weekend.   She said the Commission had been organizing seminars, durbars and fora to demonstrate to the public the correct procedure of voting and also to collate views and other relevant information that could help reduce the spoilage of ballot papers by voters.   Ms Offe said during the education the NCCE had also allowed Persons With Disability to voice out their problems. She said similar programmes were taking place in all 10 regions across the country, adding that it was being organized in the local dialects to enable the people to understand the importance of the education.   “The Commission is doing everything possible to educate the electorate on the correct voting procedure to avoid plenty ballot papers spoiled as was seen during previous elections”.   Mr Cletus Abang, Central Regional Director of NCCE, said research conducted by the Commission revealed that voters were very much interested in voting for candidates who had prioritized education, quality health care and employment.   He said the NCCE had also been able to reach out to communication teams of various political parties in all the 23 constituencies of the Central Region and educated them on the dangers of elections violence.   The Regional Director said the NCCE had been organizing film shows on war-torn countries such as Liberia, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, DR Congo and others to enable the people to see the devastating effects of wars.   Mr Sackyi Sam, Agona East District Director of NCCE expressed gratitude to the European Union (EU) for sponsoring the Commission to organize such education programs. He charged Ghanaians to ensure that democracy in the country was sustained while the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in the country was also maintained.   Mr Sam urged political parties going round poisoning the minds of Ghanaians with propaganda and other vain promises that could not be fulfilled to put a stop to it.   GNA...

Ho, Nov. 25, GNA - A nation with a reliable statistical base develops faster than others, Dr Louis Munyakasi, Head of Mathematics and Statistics Department of Kumasi Polytechnic has stated. He said in that fast developing country, development programmes and implementation modules were often evidence-based.   Dr Munyakasi was speaking at the 2012 Celebration of African Statistics Day held in Ho on Saturday. It was organized by the Ghana Association of Statistics Students, whose membership is mainly statistics students in polytechnics across the country on the theme,   “Making Every Woman and Man Count: Engendering Statistics for Better Development Outcomes”. Dr Munyakasi mentioned Japan as an example where data on every aspect of development was so reliable to make policy programming and interventions fluid. He said statisticians were in fact the “voice of the voiceless,” who normally would not come out to state their circumstances.   “You collect that data that speaks for them to be put correctly in development programming,” Dr Munyakasi added. He regretted the low numbers of people wanting to pursue careers such as statisticians, saying perhaps teaching methods and historical references were scaring people, especially women, from mathematics and statistics.   Mrs Augusta Ocantey, Volta Regional Director of Statistical Services Department, said Africa should improve gender-disaggregation in their reporting to make planning more responsive to the needs of the different segments of society.   Mr Michael Nelson, President of Ghana Association of Statistics Students’ Alumini (GASSA) said “statistics must not be seen as an isolated field at all, as it cut across traditional fields such as economics, agriculture, health and employment”.   On account of the low numbers offering statistics in schools, he called on students of Junior and Senior High Schools to take mathematics-related subjects with great interest to enable them to study statistics as programmes at the tertiary level.   The Day was initiated in 1990 by the Subsidiary Body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Joint African Conference of Planners, Statisticians and Demographers to be celebrated every November 18 to highlight the role of statistics in social and economic development.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA - Mrs Akosua Frema Opare, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, on Saturday said for genuine peace to prevail in this year’s general election the Electoral Commission (EC) and all stakeholders must sit up.   She made this observation in Accra during the “Family Day and Culture performance celebration” of the Northern Outreach Programme (NOP) of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). It was under theme: “Peace, Unity and Development before, during and after the 2012 general elections."   The event which aimed at promoting peace, unity and tolerance among all the political parties in the constituency, was patronized by some parliamentary candidates, namely Mr Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko of the NPP, Mr William Dorkpor of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and Mr. Kwame Awuah-Darko of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).   Mrs Opare said there was a lot of anxiety in the minds of many people, that needed clarification from both government and the EC, and it was only when such issues were dealt with that peace could prevail. “The government must uphold the rule of law, the EC must be up and doing and must endeavour to fulfil its mandate as spelt out in the constitution so that all parties would be satisfied at the end of the day,” she emphasized.   She stated that all the political parties must play the game by the rules, and advised her fellow politicians to watch their language, saying; “politicians would do the nation some good if they avoid inflammatory language.   “We can express our diverse opinions without violence or insults; it is your message or ideas that would win votes for you, not violence,” she added. Mrs Opare said the clarion call for peace before, during and after the elections had been very intense this year than ever before in the history of Ghana and warned that these calls would be in vain if the EC and the political parties refused to play the game by the rules.   “It takes more than a person or a group to engage in a conflict, we need to look at all sides to be sure that we are not doing things that would derail the peace in the country,” she said. She noted that the numerous calls for peace was largely due to a number of violent incidents that took place early this year in the country, saying: “Ayawaso West Wougon has been spared such political violence over the years and all the political parties in the constituency deserve some commendation for this.   ” Mrs Opare cautioned the mass media against planting falsehood and negative sensational headlines with the aim of breeding conflict, and urged them to promote developmental issues in their agenda setting.   She called on all institutions involved in the electoral processes to live up to their tasks, especially the security services, in order to ensure free and fare elections this year. She appealed to the EC to print enough and genuine ballot papers to forestall any unforeseen circumstances.   “Let us all uphold the good name of Ghana. If democracy succeeds in Ghana, it is due to the fairness of all the stakeholders,” she stated. She said it was her prayer that the best candidate emerged victorious in the constituency. The Reverend John Bosco of the NOP, Akweteyman Congregation of PCG in a homely message said the beauty of Ghana lay in the diversity of her people.   He called on all and sundry to ensure that there was peace before, during and after the elections, and urged Ghanaians to rally behind whoever emerges winner in the December polls, because leadership was from God.   The Rev. Dr. Mrs Ivy Drafor-Amenyah, Associate Pastor of the Covenant Congregation, Dzorwulu branch of PCG, in a welcome address said the Presbyterian Church had spread from the coastline of Ghana to the north, and that they were all one people. Pastor Samuel Ayamga of the NOP, Covenant Congregation, Dzorwulu branch of PCG, who hosted the programme said Ghanaians were one people with a common destiny and advised all to endeavour to maintain the peace, unity and stability of the nation.   “Come December 7, let us all do it peacefully, for Ghana is God’s nation,” said Pastor Ayamga. All the three parliamentary candidates present pledged to do all within their powers to ensure peace before, during and after the December 7, elections in the constituency.   The programme was chaired by Mr Peter Agolma and in attendance was Naba Doo Kan Wekure, a sub-chief of Sumbrungu near Bolgatanga, among other dignitaries. There were cultural performances by some traditional troupes.   GNA...

Wa, Nov. 25, GNA – Zongo Youth for President Mahama in the Wa Central Constituency of the Upper West Region have pledged to work round the clock to secure victory for President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December elections.   The group believes that President Mahama having risen through the ranks as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 12 years, a Deputy Minister/Minister for Communications for four years and Vice President for three and half years put him at a higher pedestal than all his competitors.   Mr. Issah Aduah, Patron of the group said this at the launch of the group in Wa on Friday. He said "Zongo Youth for Mahama" was a volunteer group whose membership was national in character and open to all well meaning Ghanaians who shared in the vision of building a Better Ghana.   Mr. Aduah cited the introduction of circular education to Arabic Schools, the amendment of the Public Holiday Act to give Muslims two Public Holidays and the establishment of the Hajj Village to provide comfort and dignity to would-be pilgrims by the first and second NDC administrations as very remarkable examples of the party’s commitment to the wellbeing of Muslims in the country.   He again commended the NDC for committing GH¢200 million to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in fulfilment of the promise made by the party in its 2008 manifesto. He noted that SADA had already created over 5,000 jobs for some youth and was looking ahead to doubling the figure if the party retained power.   Mr. Aduah stated that for the first time in the country, the NDC government had put in place a guaranteed price for shea nuts to improve the livelihoods of women who engaged in the shea butter business as done for cocoa farmers.   He said under the NDC government, the Wa Central Zongo Community could now boast of getting its fair share of development ranging from improved infrastructure in their schools, provision of boreholes and construction of better drains, among other amenities.   He called on all in the Wa Central Constituency to vote for President Mahama and the Parliamentary Candidate, Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo for them to continue with the strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to position it better to serve the health needs of the people.   Mr. Aduah pledged on behalf of Zongo youth that they were committed to peace and would therefore not allow themselves to be used by any cheap and war-mongering politician to carry out any diabolical agenda in the coming elections. Alhaji Pelpuo called on the people to sell the NDC's success story properly to ensure a one touch victory for President Mahama.   GNA...

Essikado, Nov. 25, GNA - A Government delegation led by Vice Presdent Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Saturday attended the funeral rights of Nana Prof Kwabena Nketsiah, late Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area in the Western Region.   Nana Nketsiah died in 1995 at the age of 79 after having ruled for 47 years. The funeral of the late Nana Nketsiah was jointly held with that of Nana Aba Asafuaba, Queenmother of the area. In a tribute Prof Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of State, eulogised Nana Nkestiah, and said he played a prominent role among traditional leaders in Ghana’s fight for independence.   He said Nana Nketsiah made a lot of sacrifices to the benefit of his people and Ghana as a whole. The Council of State member recalled that the late Nana Prof. Kobina Nketsia was a nationalist and played key roles in the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention, the Convention Peoples Party, as well as the Ghana Trades Union Congress.   On the forthcoming general election, Prof Awoonor who spoke in immaculate Fante language, repeated the call on all Ghanaians to make the elections peaceful. The Government of Ghana made a donation of GHC70,000 and a quantity of assorted drinks towards the funeral celebration.   Also in attendance at the funeral was Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and other prominent members of the New Patriotic Party. Vice President Amissah-Arhtur is scheduled to attend the funeral rights of the late Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama in Tamale on Sunday.   GNA...

Abirem (ER), Nov. 25, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday concluded his three-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region with a call on supporters of the National Democratic Congress to tolerate their political opponents.   “Political campaign is not about the number of insults you can churn out, neither is it about attacking your political opponents, but it is all about how you package your ideas and issues to make them acceptable to the electorate”, he said.   President Mahama who was addressing a rally at Abirem, said victory in the 2012 general election was already staring the NDC in the face and that there was no need engaging in fruitless attacks and violence that could destabilize the peace Ghana was enjoying.   “It is often said that in every football match, it is normally the weaker teams that create troubles to end the match, but we in NDC are already winners and there is no need engaging in activities and tendencies that can derail our smooth democratic dispensation,” President Mahama added.   During his three-day tour of the Eastern Region, President Mahama outlined the development plan of the NDC for the next four years, inspected and inaugurated development projects, interacted with party supporters and held meetings with the party hierarchy in the region.   The President called on Ghanaians not to allow elections to serve as a divisive activity, but to rather unify them to fight against poverty, illiteracy, disease and hunger.   “There is no need to continue pointing out that we are Gonjas, Dagombas, Ashantis, Fantis or Ewes, but what we need now is to see ourselves as Ghanaians with a common destiny ready to fight the ills of society such as poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger,” he reiterated.   President Mahama gave the assurance that he would do everything under his purview as the President of the Republic to ensure a peaceful and successful election, just like the five previous ones the country had gone through.   GNA...

Takoradi, Nov.25, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said on Saturday that the country cannot wait for another 20 years before implementing a free Senior High School (SHS) Education Programme.   Speaking at a regional rally in Takoradi, he said the fact that some people were doubtful about the policy did not mean that it could not be implemented.   He said those who could not implement the programme should give way to those who could do it.   Nana Addo said basic education alone was not enough for Ghanaian children and that free Senior High School (SHS) would make it possible for as many children as possible benefit from education.   He said he would ensure that the country's revenue from oil and gas was used judiciously to develop the Western Region and the nation as a whole. Nana Addo said young people in the region would be encouraged to get involved in the oil and gas industry.   Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, said the December 7 election was an election for the youth who were the country's future leaders.   He said the NPP’s proposed free SHS programme was to make the country’s youth competitive in a “Global Village where economies are now driven by knowledge." Former President Kufuor called on the youth to vote Nana Addo into office as President to make the country experience a great transformation.   GNA...

Sandema (UE), Nov. 25, GNA - The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has presented cheques of GHc8,000 each to two separate traditional councils in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. The presentations were meant to assist in the celebration of this year’s Feok and Kakube festivals of the chiefs and people of the Builsa and Nandom Traditional Councils respectively.   The Builsa Traditional Council received a cheque for GH₵5,000 and 50 branded NLA anniversary T-shirts, while the Nandom Traditional Council got a cheque for GH₵3000 and 50 branded NLA anniversary T-shirts.   The donation formed part of the NLA's 50th anniversary celebration and its contribution in the development of the country through games and economic growth. Making the donation at a meeting with some members of the two Traditional Councils at Sandema and Nandom respectively, Mr George Gyamfi-Osew, Director of Special Projects at the NLA noted that as part of his outfit's mandate to develop the country through games, it had supported festivals in most parts of the country to promote cultural heritage.   He said the NLA as part of its corporate social responsibility was focusing on investing in education and alleviating poverty in the country with special attention on the northern parts of the country.   He expressed satisfaction at the unity and cohesion that had existed in the Builsa Tradition Council and said that peace was a pre-requisite for development in society. He called on the chiefs and people of the two tratitional areas to embrace peace for the continuous development of their areas even as this year's elections fast approached.   Nab Apig-Jiak Afulang, Siniensi–Nab who received the cheque and NLA anniversary T-shirts on behalf of the Traditional Council, indicated that the Feok festival would be celebrated in December in memory of the victory of their ancestors over slave raiders in the 18th century, and as a thanksgiving for a good harvest in the just-ended farming season.   He said the celebration of the festival was further intended to bring the people of the traditional area together to deliberate on developmental issues like the falling standards of education and the economic transformation of the people. Mr Norbert Awulley, Builsa District Chief Executive thanked the NLA on behalf of the chiefs and people for the kind gesture and pledged they would use it for the intended purpose.   The Chief of Nandom, Naa Dr. Puoure Puobe Chiir VII, commended management of the NLA for the gesture and pledged to educate his subjects against patronising banker-to-banker lottery. He indicated that the gesture would contribute immensely towards the proper organisation of the festival which was meant to re-awaken the people to appreciate their tradition and culture and also give the people the opportunity to thank their ancestors and ask them to bless the soil and protect them during subsequent farming seasons. The Kakube festival is celebrated from the last week in November to the first week of December.   GNA...

Wa, Nov. 25, GNA – Dr Clement Apaak, Director of Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) has observed that violence and the promotion of violent behaviour is the greatest threat to Democracy as a form of governance.   “Without peace, unity and stability all our dreams, our wishes, our hopes and our aspirations as enshrined in the constitution, even though loudly espoused by political parties and their candidates, will never see the light of day”.   He said this at a workshop held under the theme: “Peace, unity and stability a watch-word for election 2012” organized for the youth to promote peace during the upcoming elections in the Upper West Region. FGJ is a non-governmental organization that is committed to influencing the growth of democratic culture and delivery.   Dr Apaak stated that voting in an election was an important civic duty for all citizens but they should listen to the views, pronouncements and positions of different parties and candidates before deciding whom to vote for.   Mr. Mumuni Sulemana, Regional Director of the National Youth Authority urged the youth to recognize themselves as one though they might belong to different political affiliations.   He stated that for peace to reign in the country even after the December 7 elections, every citizen had a crucial role to play to ensure the attainment of that objective. Mr. Sulemana called on all to contribute their quota to the development of the region since it was still young, with poverty being its greatest enemy.   Alhaji Dawd Yahaya, chairman of the Regional Peace Council noted that there could not be justice without peace and everyone should ensure that peaces reigns in the country before, during and after the election.   He reminded the youth that the recent post-election violence in Ivory Coast should be a lesson for all Ghanaians and therefore urged all to preach peace during and after the elections.   GNA...