Nsawam, Nov. 23, GNA - The National Youth Authority (NYA), on Friday organized a peace rally for youth in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality to educate them on their contribution to a peaceful election.       The rally drew members from youth organizations, senior high and junior high schools and political parties.       Mr Emmanuel Ofosu Anim, the NYA Coordinator of the area, observed that the youth had an important role to play in the elections, especially as they constitute about 40 percent of the national population.       He said any role played by the youth, being it positive or negative, will have far reaching consequences on the development and the betterment of the nation, hence the need for education so as to make good decisions.      “During times like these, some of our politicians tend to influence our youth with monetary inducement or offers to get them engage in electoral fraud such as double registration, impersonation, tearing of posters and taking away ballot boxes.”      Mr Anim said those activities could affect the credibility of elections and also create unnecessary tension and anxiety in the country.      “The time has come for the youth to stay away from these negative practices and see themselves as future leaders of the country” he said.      He said it was for that reason that the NYA organized the rally to sensitize the youth on their role in the upcoming election and the need for them to desist from all forms of violence and conflicts before, during and after elections.      Mr Patrick Asiedu, Municipal Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), observed that the role of the youth in the upcoming election was very important since they were susceptible to politicians because of the zeal they had.      Mr Asiedu, therefore, advised the youth to see themselves as agents and ambassadors of peace to educate the citizenry to avoid conflict before, during and after the general election.   GNA...

Adjena (E/R), Nov. 23, GNA - Mr Gordon Amevor, a social commentator, has urged the youth not to allow their differences in opinions to create divisions among them.       He asked them to desist from any form of vandalism and hooliganism as the December polls drew near.       Mr Amevor was speaking at a peace rally organized by the National Youth Authority (NYA) at Adjena in the Asuogyaman District on Friday.       He reminded the youth that they could not fulfill their dreams in a political hostile environment.       Mr Amevor noted that the political and social climate in the country did not ensure unity and constructive engagement that were required to sustain society.       “Our sense of commonality has been destroyed by disunity, social stratifications, tribalism and bad journalistic practices” he said.       He urged them to take whatever they did seriously and never engage ignorantly in any political arguments.        Mr Cephas Atido, District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice said the youth, when well educated, would not be easily influenced by any politician.       He, therefore, commended the NYA for organizing the rally to educate the youth on their roles during elections.      Mr Atido advised the youth to discard the “get rich quick” attitude as it would make them fall prey to people who could influence them with money.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Nov. 23, GNA – A  Cape Coast  Magistrate court  on Friday  fined  Ebenezer Dickson  a driver GH¢300.00  for careless and inconsiderate driving.   Ebenezer who was convicted on his own plea would go to prison for one month in default.   Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Samuel  Addo told the court presided over by Mr Ohemeng Mensah that at about 2300 hours on May 17 a  police patrol team  spotted the convict who was driving a tipper truck  on  a section of the Cape Coast- Takoradi Highway near the Aggrey Memorial Senior High School  without due consideration for other road users  and caused his arrest.   He said  after police investigations the convict was charged with the offences.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Transport, has expressed concern about road traffic crashes which claim at least six lives daily and 1,800 a year living with a number of injuries and incapacitation.   “The estimated cost of crashes to the economy is 1.6 per cent of the National Gross Domestic Product, valued at about 419 million dollars as at 2009 whilst it is established that, 60 per cent of the victims of road traffic crashes are between 15 and 55 years,” he said.   Alhaji Dauda said within a period of 10 years, Ghana had recorded a total of 125,857 road traffic crashes, 20,503 deaths, and 63,384 serious injuries.   The Minister of Transport made this known at a workshop organised by Nestle Ghana in collaboration with Zurich and Activa International Company, to create an open, honest, “sales free” forum where participants could share good practices, processes and outcomes.   It also laid the foundation for developing a long term sustainable programmes for work-related road safety policy and practice; served as a platform for exchanging ideas on the effective work related road risk management process and steps for implementation within African nations.   Alhaji Dauda said despite the seemingly bad situation, the intensive road safety programmes being undertaken by the National Road Safety Commission and other stakeholders has led to decrease in the fatalities.     The Transport Minister said the National Road Safety Strategies and Action Plans have significantly improved on the road safety situation.   He said the forum would serve as an opportunity for transport organisations with fleet risk exposures in the area to discuss and implement effective fleet safety programmes for the future.   “We should all endeavour to help deliver on the vision to make Ghana’s road transportation system the safest in Africa,” he said, adding that road safety issue is a shared and collective responsibility and we all are at risk.   From January to September 2011; 1,713 fatalities were recorded, representing nearly 4.51 per cent increases whilst injuries increased by 4.68 per cent.   There was two per cent drop in fatalities in Tema, one per cent in Central Region and 25 per cent in Ashanti Region.   Significant reductions in fatalities were recorded in road user classes such as  car occupants, seven per cent; pick-up occupants, 16 per cent; bicyclists, 12 per cent and other road users, 27 per cent.   There was a five per cent increase in pedestrian fatalities, six per cent in heavy vehicles, 31 per cent in bus/mini bus occupants and 49 per cent in motorcyclists.   The Managing Director of Nestle Ghana, Moataz El Hout said  Nestle considered safe driving a priority, hence, the role of the company as one of the initiators and main organisers of the conference along with its partners in Zurich and Activa.   He said the conference is expected to offer an opportunity for participants to deliberate on safe driving measures and policies that could be practically adopted.   Mr Tawia Addo-Ashong, Programme Coordinator, Global Road Safety Facility, World Bank said the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2001 to 2012 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety whilst 02 countries co-sponsored the UN Resolution.   The main goal of the Decade is to raise awareness of the impact of road crashes on global public health and to promote interventions in order to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in road deaths by 2020. GNA  ...

Kibi,(ER), Nov. 23, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama on Friday condemned the  political clashes that had over the months been registered in the Akyem Abuakwa area in the Eastern Region.   He said the area is the home of democracy since political stalwarts such as J.B Danquah, Sir William Ofori Atta and former President Edward Akuffo Addo hailed from there.   He said creating political tensions could indict the people and the political history of the area.   President Mahama condemned the clashes, when he addressed a rally as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Region.   Before the arrival of the President at the rally grounds, supporters of both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party allegedly engaged in verbal and physical clashes that led to the destruction of party posters and other paraphernalia.   President Mahama said political campaigns are about trading of issues, ideas and programmes and therefore, the use of verbal attacks is detrimental to progress and development and should therefore not be tolerated.   He  promised the people of Akyem Abuakwa that would receive their fair share of development projects and appealed to them to vote massively for the NDC to acquire all the development projects of their choice.   “The next time I am coming here as the President of the republic of Ghana, then we would have fixed the Kibi- Koforidua road, which I have seen today in a very deplorable state,” he added.   President Mahama promised to support Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin to establish the university he is embarking on at Bonsu, adding: “In our next four years we shall establish a new public university in the…Region.”   Mr Victor Smith,  Regional Minister said Ghana is a democratic country and every person had the rights and freedoms to belong to one political party or the other, and people who interrupt the peace of the area would dealt with according to the laws of the land.   “Whether you are NDC or NPP, all you need to know is that you all belong to Okyeman and therefore need to forge ahead for development,” he said. GNA...

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA – The 340 megawatts (MW) Kpone Independent Power Project at Kpone near Tema at the cost of 600 million dollars, has taken off.   The power plant which has a nominal capacity combines cycle gas turbine technology using GE frame 9E gas turbines, will operate on both natural gas and liquid fuel to ensure high and continuous power supply.   Cenpower Generation Company Limited, a Ghanaian Company is undertaking the project, the Ministry of Energy said in a statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday.   The Ministry described the project as a significant milestone in a journey which began in 1999, when the initial preparatory work started towards the construction of the thermal power plant at Kpone by a Ghanaian Independent Power Producer (IPP).   Rand Merchant Bank, a division of First Rand Bank Limited has been appointed as the mandated lead arranger of the debt funding for the project with support from the export credit Insurance Company of South Africa under the Department of Trade and Industry.   The statement said Africa Finance Company (AFC), Infraco Limited, and Cenpower Holding Company limited (CHL) are shareholders of the project.   The 76 per cent ownership by AFC and CHL makes the power plant one of the largest African Private Sector owned power project.   A 20 -year power purchase agreement was signed between Cenpower Generation Company limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana.   Group five of South Africa and the consolidated power of South Africa are the contractor’s handling the project.   The implementation of the project “guarantees technology transfer from the foreign technical experts and ensures domestic participation and therefore local content which will result in job creation for many Ghanaians, while adding on to Ghana’s generation capacity for enhanced development”.   According to the Ministry of Energy, the project implementation guarantees technology transfer from the foreign technical experts and ensures domestic participation and local content which would result in job creation for many Ghanaians.   The project will also add up to Ghana’s energy generation capacity to enhance national development.  GNA  ...

Winneba (C/R), Nov. 23, GNA – Nana Ofori-Owusu, Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Candidates for Effutu, has called on members and supporters of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) to halt the animosity among them.   He noted that winning political power is not war hence the need for the two parties to smoke the peace pipe for the best interest of Effutu State.   “Effutuman is the only town that we have and we must not allow politics to divide us. Let us unite as one people, forge ahead to contribute our quota towards the proper growth and development of the area,” he stressed.   Nana Ofori-Owusu made the call when he addressed the chiefs and people of Winneba Zongo.   He said the engagement of the two parties in clashes would not determine their electoral victory.   He said the PPP as a party has come to ensure that Ghanaians irrespective of colour, ethnicity or political affiliations enjoy the peace of the country.   Nana Ofori-Owusu said the party would not be part of any violence in other to win power.   He said it is about time people change their voting pattern and vote the PPP to free them from the hardship the NDC and NPP have brought on them.   He appealed to the people to go out in their numbers on December 7 and vote for Dr Papa Kwesi Ndoum as president and he as Member of Parliament for the area.   Alhaji Subeamana Salagah, Chief of the community also appealed to NDC and NPP supporters in the area to stop fighting and embrace peace for the sake of the development.   He called on the law enforcement agencies to bring to book people who would involve in any act that could disturb the peace to serve as deterrent to others.   “Ghana needs peace, Winneba needs peace and we should let the interest of the country be our top most priority.   “We can forge ahead and there is the need as people to use amicable means to resolve our differences to achieve total peace during and after the elections,” he said.   The chief urged the people to advise their children to stay away from anything that could contribute to violence and not allow themselves to be used by politicians to create confusion to enable them achieve their political ambitions. GNA  ...

Kumasi, Nov. 23, GNA – The Sociology and Social Works Students Association of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has presented gifts valued at GH¢2,000.00 to the Kumasi Children’s Home in support of the upkeep of the kids.        The items included bags of rice, edible oil, used-clothing, sachet water, toiletries and plastic chairs.        This comes on the heels of the celebration of this year’s Universal Children’s Day.         Mr Adusei Amponsah, President of the Association, said it was their contribution towards helping to make life a bit comfortable for the children.        He promised regular visits to the home.        Mr Anthony Agyemang, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, thanked the students for the gesture and appealed to individuals and organizations to emulate it.        He called on all to share in the responsibility of taking care of orphans, the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged children in the society.   Members of the Association feted, played games and had fun with the kids.   GNA  ...

Kumasi, Nov. 23, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has urged the government to do more to upgrade the infrastructure and facilities of the health training institutions to expand enrolment and achieve quality.       He said he found it both disheartening and shameful the situation where the university, this year, had to turn down over 60 per cent of qualified applicants who gained admission to programmes of study at its College of Health Sciences.       This, he said, gave the cause for concern considering the fact that the country had signed up to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which, among other things, sought to provide health for all by the year 2020.         The Asantehene was addressing the Founders’ Day Special Congregation of the KNUST in Kumasi on Friday.       In all, 1,253 students from the School of Graduate Studies and Institute of Distance Learning graduated, 13 of them were awarded Doctorate degrees by the university.       The day is commemorated in November every year to honour the memory of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyemang Prempeh II, for their singular contribution to the institution.      Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the university was making plans to build a 70-bed Medical Centre and that acting together with the Ministry of Health, they had secured funding for the project which is awaiting cabinet and parliamentary approval.       He appealed to the government to act quickly to enable them to access the funds.      The centre, on completion, would serve as a tertiary referral facility and teaching hospital for the university’s medical, dental and other health professional schools and faculties.       The Asantehene said city campuses of the KNUST were to be established in Kumasi and Accra to give many people access to science and technology education.       Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, said they would continue to liaise with the appropriate bodies to come out with demand-driven programmes to strengthen industry. GNA  ...

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA – The Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), in collaboration with National Peace Council (NPC) and Asanteman Council on Friday, declared its intention to convene a joint high-level meeting with Presidential Candidates of Election 2012 on November 27.   The meeting to take place at the Great Hall, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in Kumasi is aimed at getting the presidential candidates to publicly take a collective stand against "electoral violence, impunity and injustice", which is a recurring problem of elections in Ghana.   Participants to the meeting includes Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, Chairman of the NPC, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Chief Justice, former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, Professor John Nabila, President of the National House of Chiefs, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, and Inspector General of Police Paul Tawiah Quaye.   Also invited are leaders and representatives of political parties and their youth wings, representatives of civil society, business and trade associations, security agencies, relevant organs of state, members of the Diplomatic Corps and media organisations.   In a statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, IDEG Executive Director said review of the many commendable interventions so far has pointed to the need for a high level meeting with the Candidates.   He said the historic meeting in Kumasi would provide a public space within which the Presidential Candidates as political leaders would openly and collectively take a stand against all acts of electoral violence, impunity and injustice during and after the December 2012 elections.   Dr Akwetey said a public manifestation of a unified stand by the political leaders against a serious threat to peaceful elections had been lacking. GNA  ...

Kumasi, Nov. 23, GNA – Mrs Rebecca Odua Akita, Ashanti Regional Librarian, has appealed to individuals and organisations to assist the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) to enable it to effectively operate, particularly its children libraries, established in various communities.   She appealed to teachers and parents to encourage children to read story books to broaden their outlook and develop their writing skills.   Mrs Akita was speaking at the closing ceremony of a quiz and essay writing competition, organized by the GhLA for 19 selected basic schools in the Kumasi Metropolis, as part of this year’s International Children’s Book Day celebration, in Kumasi.    She said the Ashanti Regional Library has acquired computers for some community libraries that had been connected to the Internet.   Martyrs of Uganda Junior High School (JHS) emerged winner of the essay writing competition and received assorted books, a beautifully designed shield and “T” shirts.   Saint Louis Demonstration JHS and Salvation Army JHS took second and third positions, respectively and were also presented with books “T”-shirts and certificates.   Fregina Learning Centre came first in the primary schools quiz competition, with Glory of God International and State Primary, taking the second and third places.   They carried away books, “T”-shirts and certificates and gifts were presented to the best child library user. GNA  ...

Tetrefu (Ash), Nov 22, GNA – Hajia Ajara Rafai, a member of the National Commission for Civic Education, has urged all to act with responsibility on voting day to prevent trouble. She said anything likely to stoke tension and confusion must be avoided and invited chiefs and religious leaders to help persuade the youth, not to hang around the polling centres, after casting their ballot.    Hajia Rafai was speaking at separate durbars held by the Commission to highlight the need for peace at Kuntanase and Tetrefu in the Bosomtwe District.    The durbars were held under the theme, “Promoting peace in December 2012”.    Hajia Rafai called for political tolerance and asked the people not to allow themselves, to be divided on the basis of party affiliation.     Mr Alhassan Yakubu, the NCCE Ashanti Regional Director, drew attention to the need to respect the electoral rules and regulations to avoid prosecution.    He advised the electorate to refuse to be influenced with money and gifts to vote against their conscience.    Nana Anthony Boateng, Regional Coordinator, Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills (ICCES), appealed for more resources to aid the NCCE to effectively carry out its mandate of helping the people to have better understanding of the civic responsibilities.   GNA ...

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  ...