Ho, Jan. 23, GNA - All is set for the election of new Volta Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ho as part of regional elections being held simultaneously by the Party in all regions across the country on Saturday.Seth Tsikata, Office Manager, NPP Volta Regional Office told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Thursday that all arrangements including accommodation for officials and participants were complete.He said venue for the election was the Ho Polytechnic Auditorium and that the Electoral College was made of 415 party members, holding the relevant positions stipulated by the constitution.Mr Tsikata said results should be known by 1400 hours the very day after the election.A total of 32 members of NPP in the Volta Region are vying for various positions including Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, a legal practitioner and former Volta Regional Minister as Regional Chairman.Two others in the race for the Regional Chairmanship are Julius Kwame Ametepe, a former Volta Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and John Peter Amewu, a consultant.GNA

Kejebil (W/R), Jan.23, GNA — More than 200 youth of Kejebil in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region Thursday morning barricaded the Apowa/Mpohor main road to protest against excessive emission of dust.The angry youth, who wore red arm bands, burnt car tyres in the middle of the road amidst chanting of war songs.The blockade created heavy vehicular traffic for over four hours, thus preventing motorists from plying the route, especially cocoa haulage trucks from off-loading cocoa beans at a Cocoa Marketing Company warehouse at Kejebil.The youth complained that road construction had stalled for almost six weeks while the contractors had refused to sprinkle water on the road to reduce dust emission.They said the dust had caused respiratory infections to residents and made life unbearable.Assembly Member for Kejebil Electoral Area, Mr Kojo Dekwaw said he had spoken with the youth to stop the demonstration and advised them to use lawful means to address their concerns.He said the road was being constructed by JASMOL Construction Limited and indicated that he would make every effort to bring the contractors on site.When the District Chief Executive for Ahanta West was contacted, Mr Joseph Dofoyenah said it was unlawful for the youth to block the road and assured that he would inform the police to remove the blockade.GNA

Sekondi, Jan. 23, GNA - The Western Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service has recorded a marginal increase of seven in defilement cases recorded in 2013.Rape cases also went up by three, assault decreased by four, stealing increased by eight, failing to produce evidence cases reduced by 121 and abductions increased by 13.Acting Director of DOVVSU, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Olivia Ewurabena Adiku said the trend may be attributed to awareness creation and public education.She said in 2013, the directorate sent 78 cases to court out of which 10 were convicted, 11 acquitted and discharged, while 57 were still awaiting trial.According ASP Adiku, in 2012 her outfit recorded nine rape cases, defilement 66, assault 222, abduction 17, stealing 14, while 261 cases had no evidence.She said cases recorded in 2013 were rape 12, defilement 73, abductions 30, assault 218, stealing 22, while 140 cases did not have evidence.GNA

Juaso (A/R), Jan. 23, GNA - The Asante-Akim South District Assembly has set up a nine-member committee to investigate the payment of unapproved registration fees by candidates preparing to for the 2014 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).This comes amid growing reports that some head-teachers of some junior high schools had asked students to pay in excess of the government’s approved fees.In some instances school heads are said to have included transport fares in registration fees charged on candidates.The decision to probe was taken at the Assembly’s first ordinary meeting of the year held at Juaso.Mr De-graft Forkuo, Asante-Akim South District Chief Executive (DCE) gave the assurance that any unauthorized money collected from parents would be refunded.He said the assembly would not accept situations that unnecessarily overburden parents.The Assembly also agreed to organize two separate mock examinations to adequately prepare the candidates ahead of the final examination scheduled for June.GNA

Juaso (A/R), Jan. 23, GNA - An 18-year-old senior high school student has been remanded into prison custody over mobile phone theft by the Juaso Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Alex Obeng Asante.This was after he had pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing. Cephas Boakye’s punishment for the crime was deferred to Friday, January 31.Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ofori told the court that the convict broke into the room of Ms Doris Agyapong at Bompata and made away with two mobile phones and cash of GH¢31.00 on January 10.He said the complainant, who operates a “chop bar,” had left the house to carry out her routine business that day but discovered on her return that her room had been broken into and her phones and money stolen.She therefore made an announcement on a local information centre about her missing phones and followed it up with a formal report to the police.The prosecution said three days on, Boakye’s mother informed the complainant that her son had the phones and that they had been sent to the information centre.The complainant rushed to the information centre and identified the stolen phones, while Boakye was consequently arrested and confessed to the crime in his caution statement.GNA

Kumasi, Jan 24, GNA – The University of Education Winneba (UEW) is to install video conferencing facilities in all of its 24 distance study centres nationwide.Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, the Vice Chancellor, said this would enable lecturers to have simultaneous tutorial sessions with the students.Coming with these are tablet devices and SIM cards for students on the distance education programme to help connect them directly to the university’s electronic services, engage in group discussions, contact their lecturers at all times and submit assignments.He was speaking at a matriculation ceremony for 4,264 fresh students on the distance education module in the Northern Sector in Kumasi.They are pursuing courses in Diploma in Basic Education, Diploma in Education, Post-Diploma in Basic Education, Bachelor of Science and Post-Diploma in Technical Education and Master of Education in English, Mathematics, Science and Mentorship.Prof Asabere-Ameyaw said the university was determined to serve as the pacesetter in the promotion of quality distance education.He spoke of plans to introduce new programmes by distance from the next academic year, including Diploma in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education, Diploma in Accounting Studies, Diploma in Management Studies, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting Studies and Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management.He said in its quest to remain the premier university in distance education, it was constructing permanent structures at its study centres, starting with Techiman, Sogakope, Ejisu, Kukurantumi and Cape Coast.The goal was to assist decongest over-populated centres and provide accommodation for centre coordinators and administrators.There would also be creches and day care centres to take cater for children of nursing mothers, attending the tutorials.The Vice Chancellor said the university was living up to its mission of nurturing teaching and administrative competencies and appealed to teachers to take advantage of the distance programme to upgrade their skills and improve on teaching and learning in the classrooms.GNA

Juaso (Ash), Jan 24, GNA – The Asante-Akim South District Health Director, Mr. Danso Yeboah, has appealed to people to report suspected cases of guinea worm in their communities to the health authorities.The call comes ahead of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) assessment - a process leading to Ghana’s certification by the specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) concerned with international public health, as “guinea-worm free”.The last case of the disease was seen in the country in year 2010 and the WHO’s assessment is expected to be done in June.Mr. Yeboah said it required the collective effort of all stakeholders to make sure that the disease had indeed been completely eradicated before the international team arrived.This was important because they were going to randomly visit communities to convince themselves of the real situation on the ground.He was contributing to discussions on health matters at the first ordinary meeting of the district assembly held at Juaso.Mr. Yeboah urged the assembly members to sensitize people in their electoral areas to help them to appreciate the need to be on the lookout for the disease.He announced cash reward of GH¢200.00 to anyone who reported one confirmed case of the disease.The district has zero record of the disease but he said that should not make the people complacent – they should be vigilant since it could be imported from outside the area.GNA

Nkawie (Ash), Jan 24, GNA – A farmer who, without provocation, attacked and inflicted deep cutlass wounds on a woman at Seidi in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District has been sentenced to three years imprisonment in hard labour by the Nkawie Circuit Court.Kwame Yeboah, 25, pleaded guilty but asked to be dealt with leniently because he had been suffering from mental illness.The court presided by Mr. William Boampong would, however, not be swayed and questioned why he did not slit his throatt or cut himself with the cutlass when he slipped into the state of mental disorder.Police Chief Inspector Lawrence Hanson said the incident happened on January 10 at about 1000 hours.The victim, Ms Cynthia Amoabeng, a hairdresser, was busily preparing food in the house when all of a sudden the convict entered and began slashing her with a cutlass.Her scream caught the attention of some people in the neighbourhood who rescued her, overpowered Yeboah and handed him over to the police.The victim went on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for three days.GNA

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – Second-hand clothes’ dealers at the Kantomanto market on Friday said they were now cautious following last year’s fire outbreak that consumed stalls and displaced scores of traders. They told the Ghana News Agency that the fire outbreak taught them lessons and had compelled them to desist from engaging in illegal electrical wiring and connections as well as storing combustible materials close to fires or potential fires. A 55-year old curtains seller, Awo Akosuah, said she lost 23 bales of used clothing with a unit price of GH₵750.00 and could not afford to lose more through negligence. Though the traders have reconstructed the stalls many of those stalls are left unoccupied, a phenomenon, Ms. Awo attributed to lack of funds to cushion owners’ come-back, abysmally low patronage by customers and soaring cost of bales. She said the current unit price per bale of clothes ranges from GH₵400.00 to GH₵1,800.00 and in some cases more, saying: “this is too expensive and many people cannot pay for them”. Forty-seven –year-old Vida Darko said though the amount given to the traders by the government was not enough, it went a long way to relieve them of some parental burdens including payment of fees. She said with the reconstruction and regular public education, many of the traders had become disciplined, particularly with the way they arrange their wares as well as the layout of structures. Other traders who expressed similar sentiment also appealed to the government to take steps to curb soaring prices of foreign currencies and review downwards tax on the used garments. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), after the last fire outbreak at Kantamato Market last year, warned of more fire outbreaks at the Kantamanto market due to congestion and illegal electrical connections and that lack of access paths to the market thwarted efforts by fire fighters anytime there was an outbreak. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Kwame Kwarteng said failure by assemblies to comply with fire safety standards was responsible for some of the fires. He said wooden materials used by traders to erect structures and widespread illegal electrical connection coupled with indiscriminate mix of explosive and non-explosive materials posed serious threat to lives and property in the market. Dr Albert Brown-Gaisie, GNFS Director of Operations, said most of the fire outbreaks were due to delay in reporting and non-compliance with fire safety standards by the assemblies. He also mentioned bad attitudes, ignorance, apathy and carelessness as some of the things that spark off fire at various places.GNA

Assakae (W/R), Jan. 24, GNA - Final year students of Zion Preparatory School at Assakae may not write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) because the headmaster has squandered their registration fees.Sources said Mr. John Bruce, the proprietor of the school, collected monies from the 12 final year students to register them but failed to do so. The students on Friday thronged premises of the Metropolitan Education Office in Takoradi to report the conduct of Mr Bruce.The students told the GNA the man collected 600 Ghana cedis from each of the 12 final year students.GNA

Kpando, Jan 24, GNA-Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Minister of Youth and Sports, on Thursday said the government would build a multi-disciplinary sports-inclined senior high school in each region as part of its programme to deliver 200 new second-cycle institutions.He said such schools would be a one-point state-of-the-art school that would encompass all sporting disciplines including football, baseball, basketball, handball and not too familiar ones like rugby.Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said this at Kpando at the start of a two-day inspection tour of some sporting facilities in the Volta Region that took him to the Anfoega SHS and the dilapidated Kpando Stadium.He said the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) had handed over designs to the Ministry for study.The Minister said major stakeholders including the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and members of the general public were to make inputs into the designs and the curriculum.Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said it was President John Dramani Mahama’s view that this would revive the dwindling fortunes in sports at that level which, until recently, was a reservoir for unearthing and nurturing talents.On the Kpando Stadium, Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said the government was committed to rehabilitating and upgrading the facility to acceptable levels.He said the contractor who built the handball court at the Anfoega SHS should return to site and complete other components of the project.Togbuiga Dagadu VIII, Paramount Chief of Akpini Traditional Area who accompanied the Minister and some technocrats from the National Sports Council to inspect the facilities, said several correspondence and follow-ups between the traditional authorities and the management of the Kpando Municipal Assembly in the past yielded no results.He said the Municipality continued to be the bastion of sports in the Region since 1920 but teams operated from a deplorable stadium with sub-standard structures.Togbuiga Dagadu said fencing of the inner perimeter of the playing field to quality the venue for premier league matches was depriving the SHS from using the facility which has broken fence walls, uneven and sometimes grassless pitch and no seats for spectators.He said a 26-acre land was available for development into a modern stadium and encroachers were fast prying on the land and that a modern stadium in the area would revive sporting activities. Mr Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, urged the people to rally their support behind government as it delivers on its promises.GNA

Kpando, Jan 24, GNA – The government is working to strike the right balance between raising adequate sponsorship packages and lifting the numerous supporters’ unions to the World Cup in Brazil, Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, the Minister of Youth and Sports, has said.He told the GNA in an interview at Kpando as part of a two-day tour of sporting facilities in the Volta Region that it would be expensive for the government to sponsor supporters to the tournament. He said it was not difficult to sponsor supporters to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa because of overwhelming support from many sources including corporate Ghana and organizations but it would not be easy for Brazil because of the distance. Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said there was a direct relationship between the playing body and the presence of supporters and that “Government does not intend to curtail this symbiotic bonding though our hands are becoming tight.”He said it was clear there would be limitation on the government sponsoring groups and individuals considering the prevailing unfavourable economic situation in the country.“Government is looking at several options to raise the necessary sponsorship and decide on what numbers to deal with,” Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said adding that the Ministry was still computing round trip expenses per head and this would be made available to all soon.GNA

Tarkwa, Jan. 24, GNA - Two fraudsters on Thursday snatched 20,000 Ghana cedis from a 21- year-old student at the Tarkwa Roman Catholic School park.The victim, Miss Clarita Affum, told the Ghana News Agency in tears that her father sent her on Thursday to withdraw the amount from the Tarkwa branch of the Ghana Commercial bank at Nzemaline.She said when she got to the banking hall she contacted his friend, one Kenneth, who worked at the bank to assist her cash the money.She said while packing the money into her hand bag she realized that some costumers who had come to transact business were staring at her.The victim said she got frightened and informed his friend that she would hand over the money to his father at home and go to the clinic to seek medical treatment as she was not well.Miss Affum said when she got out of the bank to board a taxi at the GOIL filling station, a young man approached her and claimed he had been sent by his father from Akwatia to deliver a parcel to one Mr. Owusu and asked her to assist him to locate the said man.The victim told him she did not know of any such person and when she was about to leave another man came over and pleaded with the victim to escort him to the Tarkwa Roman School as he was stranger in town.Miss Affum said after some few minutes she realized was alone at the Tarkwa Roman Catholic School without her bag containing the money. Chief Superintendent Ernest Kuukure Mayeeb confirmed the incident to the GNA and said investigations are going on.GNA

Tamale, Jan.24, GNA- Prices of onion in the Tamale Metropolis have increased sharply from the last week’s GH¢11 to GH¢20 this week while that of yam decreased from last week’s GH¢10 per three tubers to GH¢5 per the same size this week.Some other major commodities such as pepper, maize, beans and local rice have all had their prices decreased in the two main Aboabo and the Tamale Central markets where the GNA conducted a survey on Friday. For instance maize, which was sold last week at GH¢2.00 is now being sold at GH¢1.50, groundnut is being sold at GH¢6.00 instead of GH¢6.50 while local rice has also been reduced from GH¢6.00 to GH¢4.00 and the price of tomato remained stable.Units Measured in "Olonka" Commodities                           Current Prices                         Last week (Dec.) PricesMaize                                          GH ¢ 1.50                                 GH ¢ 2.00Tomatoes                                  GH ¢ 7.00                                 GH ¢ 7.00Millet sorghum                          GH ¢ 2.50                                GH ¢ 2.50Beans                                         GH ¢5.00                                 GH ¢ 8.00Yam                                             GH ¢ 5.00 (3-tubers)             GH ¢ 10.00Groundnut                                  GH ¢6.00                                 GH ¢6.50Wheat                                          GH ¢9.50                                 GH ¢9.50 Soya beans                                GH ¢3.50                                 GH ¢3.50 Onion                                          GH ¢20.00                               GH ¢11.00Pepper                                        GH ¢4.00                                 GH ¢ 4.50Local Rice                                  GH ¢4.00                                  GH ¢ 6.00Kontomere                                 GH¢ 1.00                                 GH¢ 1.00Foreign Rice                              GH ¢ 9.00                                GH ¢ 9.00GNA

Accra, Jan.24, GNA- The Local Black Stars will face the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the knockout stage of the Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN) at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa on Sunday. The Stars are bracing up for a difficult challenge against the former champions for a place in the last four. The Leopards defeated Burundi 2-1 to confirm their place in the quarter finals from Group D whilst the Local Black Stars beat Ethiopia 1-0 to advance. Maxwell Konadu's charges have came under massive criticisms for their output thus far and must be yearning to win their critics over. The return of Yahaya Mohammed from suspension for card accumulations should act as a boost for the team against the Congolese. Without doubt, the Stars will have revenge in mind having come second best in their previous clash in the maiden edition of the tournament in 2009 where DR Congo won 2-0.GNA

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA- The Black Princesses seek to overturn a 0-1 deficit as they engage Equatorial Guinea for a place in the finals of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) U-20 women’s World Cup in Canada later in the year. The game billed for the Accra Sports Stadium remains Bashir Hayford’s side only hope of making the global gathering in August. The Black Princesses, chasing a third consecutive appearance at the World Cup lost 0-1 to Equatorial Guinea in the first-leg in Malabo a fortnight ago and require more than a lone victory to pick one of Africa's three slots for the Canada event. The Princesses will have no excuse than to rack in a result following the Ghana Football Association's (GFA) decision to throw the gates open. The team will be counting on the discipline of captain Beatrice Sesu and hardworking striker, Jane Ayieyam to carry the team through.GNA

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – Local Black Coach, Maxwell Konadu’s selection for Sunday’s quarter final game with the Democratic Republic of Congo has received a major boost following the return of Yahaya Mohammed. Yahaya who has finished serving a one game suspension following card accumulation would be available for selection when Ghana seek revenge over the Congolese at the Free State Stadium on Sunday. Mohammed had emerged Ghana’s best performer at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) underway in South Africa and his return is expected to provide Konadu options upfront. Konadu started Asante Kotoko striker, Siedu Bansey in attack in the absence of Mohammed on Tuesday when a second half penalty gifted Ghana all three points in the final Group C game with Ethiopia. Mohammed’s return gives Konadu an option of playing two tops or leaving the former as the sole attacker. The Local Black Stars have set their sight on a win against the Leopards. The last time both sides met was in 2009 when Ghana lost 0-2 in the finals of the maiden edition of the championship in Cote de’ Ivoire.GNA

A GNA feature by Morkporkpor Anku Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – There is clearly a value in converting former prisoners into successful taxpayers, and equipping them with employable skills through effective trade training programmes is crucial in ensuring public safety. Training to ensure that ex-convicts are economically independent with decent living standards and capable of contributing their quota to national development is critical in lessening the tendency of re-offending to go back to prison. Prisoners are equally endowed with enormous talents, however, these energies and creativity can only find purpose that benefits the society when their hidden talents are uncovered, polished and engaged productively for national development. Although Ghana Prisons Service has enjoyed public respect for ensuring the safe custody of prisoners, little strides have been in training the inmates. However as a security agency, it has a dual role of performing security and social functions. Its operational scope is explicit in the NRCD 46, 1972, which includes ensuring the safe custody of prisoners and their welfare needs as well as undertaking their reformation and rehabilitation requirements. Training workshops which were established years ago to give inmates skills training such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring, are now dormant. This suggests that the reformation function of the Service is adversely affected. One can therefore conclude with a degree of certainty that very soon offenders who will be released back into the society will not receive any skills training. They will probably return into our communities as they went into prison. It was estimated that about 6,219 prisoners, with a monthly average of 267, were released in 2011. Out of the 14,128 prisoners for the year, 3,580 were within the age group of 18-25, which constituted 50.1 per cent of the total prisoner population for the period. This category of prisoners, some of whom had their education truncated as a result of incarceration should have the opportunity of either continuing their education or taking to trade training in the prisons. It is heart-warming to state that these options are available in the country’s prisons but are unable to make the expected impact because of numerous challenges. The training equipment which were procured for the prison workshops decades ago are now out-dated with some in irreparable shape. The need for government, corporate entities public-spirited individuals and organisations to support in revamping these workshops is non-negotiable. It is the only way by which value can be added to the lives of inmates for their complete reformation. This, undoubtedly, will make them better and safe to live with in our communities. Much can be learnt from other jurisdictions where public involvement in the training of prisoners has brought hope to inmates. An example of such public interventions is the founding of the St Giles Trust, a charity organisation, in the United Kingdom, which trains ex-offenders and tasks them to use their skills and first-hand experience to assist others through peer-led support. The impact of the Trust has won it corporate sponsorship from numerous financial institutions such as Barclays, Global bank Nomura, HSBC, etc to enable it continue to run its training programmes for offenders. This can be emulated in Ghana to support prisoners to change their lives. The Prison Ministry of Ghana which is made up of churches including the Presbyterian Church, International Central Gospel Church, Perez Chapel international, Vine Church, Assemblies of God, Pentecost church, Light House, Royal House Chapel, among others with their Muslim counterparts have been complementing the efforts of the Prison Administration by assisting in various ways. However, training for their effective resettlement into the society is equally needed and deserves attention. Without this, the devil will find work for the idle hands. Records from the Prisons Service reveal that the functional days of prison workshops produced some success stories. The masonry unit has to its credit the construction of the multipurpose sport courts including the volley, basketball and handball courts of the St Thomas Acquinas Senior High School and a two- storey dormitory block for the Ordorgonor Senior High School in Accra. The tailoring shop which also relies largely on trained prisoners currently has sewing contracts with reputable institutions with the Security Units of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Judicial Service and the Reibee securities as the latest contractual beneficiaries. These trade training workshops which are mainly meant to equip inmates with employable skills can do better with the support of the public and corporate bodies. Some of the workshops could even be adopted by reputed companies such as MANTRAC Ghana Limited, Melcom Ghana Limited to say the least about the numerous possibilities. Ghana is held as a beacon of hope for Africa, with enviable democratic credentials and upholding these commendable strides in the areas of good governance and respect for human rights, requires a reflection of the already achieved dividends in the country’s prison system too. That is, offering prison inmates a better option that promises bright prospects which will discourage them from going back into crime. There must be clear-cut focus and attention on equipping the Prisons Service with the necessary training equipment and logistics. George W. Bush, former President of the United States, in signing the Second Chance Act of 2008 for a complete take off of the re-entry programmes for inmates of Alaska Prison admitted that the was the need for the American society to help offenders reintegrate properly into the society. He acknowledged the limitless potential that inmates are endowed with, which could be tapped for the betterment of the American society.

Adamorobe (E/R), Jan. 24, GNA – The youth and elders of Kwaakwah-Asiampong Asakyere family of Adamorobe near Aburi, on Thursday demonstrated against the chief, Nana Osei Boakye Yiadom, for allegedly leasing out their 600-acre land without the knowledge of the family.They have, therefore, petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Alhassan, to intervene in the matter for peace to prevail in the area.The demonstrators who were in red attires and arm-bands, claimed that the land was leased out to one Stephen Owusu, a businessman and has been registered.When the Ghana News Agency spoke to Madam Mercy Kwaafi, an elder of Adamorobe on the matter, she said, if the selling and the leasing of the land did not stop, the people would be deprived of farm lands, and some spaces for small-scale businesses.She said the people need development, but the chief has no right to single-handedly give out the family land without consultations with the head of the family, the Abusuapanin and the elders.When the Queen-mother, Nana Afua Asantewaa, was contacted on phone, she said the youth and the elders of Kwaakwah-Asiampong Asakyere family have the right to demonstrate.“Because one cannot lease out or sell somebody’s family land without their knowledge, whilst they have not received a dime and all of a sudden they see people working it. There are a lot of issues about this land when it was given out to one Stephen Owusu which we cannot talk on phone,” she said, adding that “but for now this is what I have to say.”The Ghana News Agency could not reach the chief, Nana Osei Boakye Yiadom on phone for his side of the story.GNA

Madina, Jan 24 GNA - Sexually active females have been advised to use female condoms as a short to long term protection against diseases and unwanted pregnancies.“Female condoms also give pleasure, save lives as it is safe, reliable, cheap and easily accessible”, Madam Lucy Mensah, Executive Member, Society for Women and Aids in Africa (SWAA)-Ghana, told market women at Madina on ThursdayThe Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in collaboration with SWAA on Thursday organized a public forum at the Madina Market to sensitize the market women on the need to protect themselves from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's).Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Madam Mensah said the promotion of female condoms among the market women would empower them to make crucial life choices.She encouraged both men and women who doubt the fidelity of their partners to have protected sex in order to avoid both emotional and physical problems.According to her, condoms are used by people who care for the well being of their partners, and called on them to muster the courage to purchase anytime they want to.She said there were a lot of misconceptions about the female condom, but said such ideas were borne out of ignorance.Some of the market women told the Ghana News Agency that it was their first time of seeing a female condom, but that they have been adequately informed, hence their readiness to use it.They called for the availability of such life-saving objects at places where women gather often, such as markets, churches and even bus terminals.GNA