Accra, Jan. 19, GNA - Dr Abu Sakara, Presidential Candidate of Conventions People Party, in the 2012 General Election, has described as a shock, the death of Komla Dumor, Ghanaian Broadcaster with the BBC in London.“It came to me as a surprise and it was difficult to believe that the great broadcaster I saw just less than 24 hours on television is no more,” he said in a statement issued in Accra, at the weekend and copied to Ghana News Agency.“I wish to send my deepest condolence to the family of Late Komla Dumor, especially his wife and children. Also to the media in Ghana, Africa and the world at large. Indeed we have lost a great son of our land,” he said.Dr Sakara said Mr Dumor’s 41 years on earth was worth emulating since he lived for mankind and impacted positively on the lives of several millions of people in the world.“He focused on issues of importance and development to Ghana and Africa. He practiced journalism with decency and proved to the world that African journalists can also rise to the top.“Komla Dumor laid it all on the line in the pursuit of the common good. He gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life!“Such sacrifice for the common good is the single distinguishing feature that separates the great from the mediocre.“The late Komla Dumor was a great Journalist with full of promise,” he said.Dr Sakara said: “The echoes of his name have travelled the canyons of the world and back to await him in a silent grave. But the throb of our hearts will forever beat out a refrain in his memory…..Komla Damirifa Due, Rest is Perfect Peace.”GNA

Abu Dhabi, Jan. 19, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday arrived in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to begin a two- day official visit to the gulf country.Also at the oil- rich city with the President is Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, experts in energy, petroleum and environment among others.While in the Arab country, President Mahama would participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Conference, meet business partners and investors and hold bilateral discussions with others.The week would focus on renewable energy, water and environment.President Mahama is expected to build synergies with experts from the UAE to replicate some of their good practices in Ghana.It would also offer President Mahama and his entourage the opportunity to explore business opportunities and to establish the necessary rapport to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.President was received at the Royal Jet Airport by Major General Obaid Alh-elbi, Executive Member of the Abu Dhabi Council of the Police Service.From: George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Special Correspondent in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Kwahu-Fodoa (E/R), Jan. 19, GNA - Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Eastern Regional Minister, on behalf of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), has presented quantity of relief items to the victims of the Liquidified Petroleum Gas (LPG) fire at Kwahu Fodoa near Nkawkaw on Sunday.The fire occurred as a result of a leakage of the LPG from a gas tanker which was involved in an accident in the area.The items included 15 bags of rice, 15 bags of maize , a quantity of plastic bowls and cups, mosquito repellents and blankets.The Regional Minister said efforts are being made to assist the affected community with building materials to enable them to rehabilitate their buildings.Receiving the items on behalf of the fire victims, the Chief of Kwahu Besiase, Nana Owusu Kyere II, thanked the Regional Minister and NADMO for the donation and the compassion shown so far towards the victims of the fire incident.The Chief of Kwahu Fodoa, Nana Professor Agyarkwa Frimpong II, appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority to re-examine the effectiveness of the speed ramp at the town because according to him, the ramp had caused a number of road accidents in the area.It would be recalled that, on January 16, a gas tanker with registration number GE 6376-13 loaded with an LPG had an accident at Kwahu Fodoa when it veered off the road and fell into a valley.The gas in the tanker leaked and burst into flames at Kwahu Besease Zongo about 500 meters away from the tanker, killing a seven- month old baby with 28 other people sustaining various degrees of burns.The fire victims were rushed to Kwahu Praso Health Centre and Nkawkaw Holy Family Hospital and were later referred to Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for further treatment, during which eight of them died.GNA

Takoradi, Jan. 19, GNA - Christians have been entreated to remain steadfast and resolute and not allow political, religious and ethnic affiliations to divide their ranks.Brother Kweku Prah Ghartey, a Senior Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made the call during a sermon to mark the Church’s 10th Temple Anniversary, in Takoradi, at the weekend.He charged Christians to be united and live in peace with one another so as to become a shining example to others in order to propel the development agenda of the nation.Brother Ghartey admonished Christians to forgive those who had wronged them and purge themselves from all wrongdoings, saying; “enter God’s temple with sound hearts and mind so that your ordinances and sacrifices will be acceptable to Him”.Brother Richard Osei, First Counsellor to the Stake President, said the Church had achieved great success over the years, including frequent blood donation to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, to support the blood bank , clean-up campaigns at hospitals and special schools, as well as donation of stationery to pupils across the countryRecounting the history of the Church, Brother Joseph Kwame Dadzie, paid tribute to the pioneers of the church for their steadfastness’ despite persecution.The church, established in Ghana in1978, has more than 2000 members.Medals were presented to the pioneers of the church in appreciation for their endurance and perseverance.GNA

Accra, Jan 19, GNA - The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP), over the weekend held an annual management retreat to review activities for last year and planned for 2014.The meeting was attended by GRA management and EWP focal persons from across the country and other stakeholders.The GRA EWP established in 2006 has the objective to enhance the health status of GRA employees and their families and provide them with social protection.It also aims to educate the employees on their health needs as well as afford them the opportunity to be screened for some of the most common diseases.Mr Anthony Minlah, Commissioner Support Services, GRA, said the EWP had been expanded to cover three key areas of health, financial wellness and social protection, after a successful HIV and AIDS workplace policy.He said management of the Authority sees employees as the most important resource and therefore place staff wellbeing at the heart of the policy, which aims at increasing healthy and productive life of employees.Mr Minlah said the programme include social protection and financial wellness component since financial pressures could additionally trigger psychological problems and cause illnesses.He indicated that the provision of increase social protection through retirement benefit schemes, health insurance and other insurance schemes reduce pressure on employees and increase their well-being.Mr Minlah said commitment of staff had been on the high side as far as screening exercises had been scaled up as they are assured of confidentiality.He said the plan for 2014 is to scale up the screening exercises and increase training in financial wellness for staff to enable them prepare adequately for their retirement.He said the EWP is in the process of introducing an electronic health management system to make it easier for staff to access their medical records conveniently at major hospitals to be signed on to the programme across the country.Other programmes to be rolled out in 2014 include Business Continuity Plan under which all GRA Offices would be giving first aid kits with trained personnel to man them.Mr Yusuf Quainoo, National Focal Person GRA EWP, said the programme had been successful because of management support and involvement.GNA

Takoradi, Jan. 19, GNA - Journalists in the Western Region have expressed shock and sadness about the demise of ace broadcast journalist, Komla Dumor.Mr Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Regional Chairman of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Takoradi, shared fond memories about Mr Dumor.He described him as a personal friend who shared his experiences and ideas freely with young journalists.“I was supposed to meet him in Tanzania when I went for an international conference because I was supposed to return a book he gave to me on policy analysis, unfortunately his plane arrived late so I had to give the book to Akwasi Sarpong, who also works at the BBC”, he recalled.“When I was a student leader at the African Institute of Journalism, I use to invite him to share his experiences with us and sometimes people say I resemble him and Komla will say: “How!, then I’m not handsome at all,” and we all laugh and share jokes together, ” he added.Mr Emmanuel Opoku, Regional Correspondent of Daily Guide, described the top journalist as a genius who put Ghana on the world map in the field of journalism.“He is an inspiration to some of us because looking at where he came from and the point he reached in his career is amazing,” he said.Okyeame Amoako Darkwa, Morning Show Host of Kyzz FM, a Takorad- based radio station, said Komla was dedicated and passionate about his work and excelled in the field of journalism.“The name of Komla Dumor should be celebrated because he had done a lot for Ghana and Africa in general,” he said.Nana Adwoa Nstua of Radio Maxx described Mr Dumor as an astute journalist and up-and-coming journalists must take inspiration from him.GNA

Accra, Jan 19, GNA - The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has held an award ceremony for more than 120 workers, who retired from the Authority in 2013.The workers had served the organisation in different capacities between 10 and 42 years. They each received plaques and undisclosed sum of money.Mr George Blankson, Commissioner General of GRA, congratulated the retirees for their dedicated contributions to the Commission over the years, saying the body would miss their expertise and guidance.Commenting on the 2013 revenue performance, Mr Blankson said collections were 17 per cent below a target of about GH¢16 billion earmarked for the year.He said total collection for 2013 were 14 per cent over the collection of nearly GH¢12 billion in 2012, adding that it was not for the want of trying that the Authority failed to meet its target.Mr Blankson said key milestones had been achieved in the year in the areas of transforming the organisational processes while efforts at ensuring seamless transaction is at an advanced stage.Among key achievements are the integration of the revenue agencies and the populace transaction concept at the Takoradi Harbour and Kotoka International Airport.Mr Blankson asked the retirees to avail themselves of opportunities such as the health support that the GRA provided for them to make their retirement comfortable.GNA

Gomoa Dawurampong (C/R) Jan. 19, GNA - Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, says government should be commended for taking legal and other due processes to create a conducive environment in other to achieve the Better Ghana Agenda.He therefore asked people who are “sitting on the fence” criticising the government to put a stop to it, since it does not make them patriotic citizens.Mr Arthur, who was speaking with Ghana News Agency at Gomoa Dawurampong in the Central Region, said government is committed to the development of the country, saying his constituency last year, had its fair share of the national cake.He said the area received its fair share of the District Assemblies Common Fund and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Fund, to rehabilitate roads that were abandoned for more than 40 years ago.The funds were also used to complete school buildings, provide electricity to the communities, supply duel desk to schools and registered more than 600 aged for the National Health Insurance Scheme.Mr Arthur said he used a total of GH¢30,000.00 from his share of the funds to sponsor more than 100 students to school.He said part of the money was also used to supply tanks to communities without pipe borne water.GNA

Winneba (C/R) Jan. 18, GNA - The Winneba District Magistrate Court, has bonded Nana Ayirebi-Acquah alias Kofi Essilfie Taylor, to be of good behaviour for six months or in default go to prison for 12 months in hard labour.Nana Ayirebi- Acquah, who appeared before the court presided over by Mr Charles Owusu Nsiah, was charged with abetment of crime, causing damage and conspiring to commit crime.The court also convicted John Otoo alias Shine, Emmanuel Smith Mensah, Kobina Ebo and Nunoo, associates of Nana Ayirebi-Acquah, each to a fine of GH¢300 for abetment of crime, causing damage and conspiring to commit crime.All the accused persons changed their plea from not guilty to guilty when they appeared before the court with their Solicitor.Police Chief Inspector William Kwame Akannah told the court that, Otoo, Mensah, Ebo, and Nunoo damaged a fence wall at Gyeterkrom near Winneba Junction and took away all the tools of the people working at the site.The prosecution said when the accused persons were arrested they said Nana Ayirebi-Acquah engaged them to destroy the fence wall.GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Local Black Stars pivot, Yahaya Mohammed is keeping faith with his colleagues despite been ruled out of the team's final group game at the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in South Africa.Mohammed is suspended for card accumulation and will miss the final Group C tie with Ethiopia on Tuesday.Having scored Ghana's only goal and won the man-of-the-match accolade in the second group game against Libya on Friday, the Kotoko player remains influential to the Stars' campaign.The striker claims "Everybody can play. We have so many strikers including Seidu Bancey and Paul Asare who are capable of playing. I believe in them."Despite losing their first two games, Mohammed has respect for the Ethiopians ahead of their final group meeting on Tuesday." Ethiopia is a very good side though they have lost their first two games. We must go all out without underrating them."Ghana require a decent results off Ethiopia to progress to the last eight of the competition.GNA

Gomoa Adeintem (C/R) Jan. 18, GNA - Nana Asare Andoh I, Chief of Gomoa Adeintem, has appealed to the government rehabilitate the 7,302 square meter road from Gomoa Potsin to Adeintem which has been abandoned for years.He said since, works on the road was stopped the people in the area have gone through a lot of hell, including inhaling of dust which has led some of the people to contract diseases.Nana Andoh, also the Chairman of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area Judicial Committee made the appeal in an interview with Ghana News Agency.He said information gathered from the Central Regional Directorate of Feeder Roads indicated that the necessary documents for work to be commence on the road was forwarded to Accra for action for more than two years.Nana Andoh said if the road is rehabilitated it would go a long way to facilitate free movement of goods and services.He asked the people to tolerate each other and forge ahead in unity to facilitate the development of the area.GNA

Accra, Jan 18, GNA – The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has endorsed the decision by Braimah “Bukom Banku” Kamoko to part ways with his mangers and promoters Golden Mike Boxing Promotions.The GBA endorsed the decision at their Executive Committee meeting after engaging the two parties.According to information gathered by the GNA Sports, the promoters had no objection to the boxers request and gave the officials of the GBA the green light to terminate the contract.Though the contract was expected to expire in 2016, the boxer claimed his inability to secure fights outside the country had compelled him to back out of the deal.Kamoko claims he had secured a deal in Australia and the new managers were ready to get him opponents to realize his dreams of becoming a world champion.GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Local Black Stars Coach, Maxwell Konadu says his charges is staying focused on doing well at the ongoing Championship of African Nations (CHAN) underway in South Africa.Ghana has accrued four points of a possible six and Konadu who saw his side relinquish an early lead to draw one all with Libya in a second group game is confident his side will come good." We are concentrating on our next match, which is more important. We played one of the best games against Libya on Friday. We played better than our first game and that is a very positive thing."We have to draw inspiration from that and work harder for the next game. I am happy we are lifting our game. We just have to keep our calm and make sure that we play even better in the next game."Ghana will have to at least take a point off Ethiopia to pick a slot for the next stage of the competition.GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - The Dumor, Gbeho and allied families have expressed shock of the death of BBC Focus on Africa host; Komla Dumor, saying: “We are lost for words at Komla’s passing.”A statement issued by Esther Cobbah, on behalf of the families and copied to Ghana News Agency on Saturday said the families “with deep sorrow” announce the passing on of Komla Dumor today in London.Komla was well known in the media fraternity as “Boss Player” and has been BBC presenter since 2007 prior to hosting Joy FM Super Morning Show for about a decade.The statement said further information would be provided to the public in due course.GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA – Two top fishermen at the weekend, hailed President John Dramani Mahama, for appointing Dr Alphonse Kwao Dorcoo, as Acting Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).Nii Adjierteh, Mator III, Tema Chief Fisherman, and Nana Kofi Bentum II, Asafohene of Otuam Amanfro in the Central Region, told Ghana News Agency that when Dr Dorcoo was the Production Manager of TOR, he was very instrumental in ensuring that fishermen got pre-mix fuel for their business on time.“During his time as Production Manager, getting the product for fishing was timely and handy, Nii Mator said.Nana Bentum said Dr Dorcoo helped the fishing industry in diverse ways and would forever remain grateful to the President for his elevation.The Industrial experience of Dr Dorcoo, a Chemical Engineer with TOR, spans General Manager, Production, General Manager, Refinery Development and Training and General Manger, Commerce.GNA

Wenyiwaato (C/R), Jan.18, GNA - Four persons died on the spot on Saturday noon when a Mercedes Benz truck carrying timber boards somersaulted and landed with its tyres up.The incident happened at Wenyiwaato near Hans Cottage on the Cape Coast- Twifo Praso road in the Central Region.The bodies including the driver who has been identified as Sherif Ibrahim, 27 years- old, have been deposited at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Morgue while the remaining four occupants of the truck who sustained severe injuries are being treated.Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ofori, Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit told Ghana News Agency a tyre of the truck with registration number CR-124-10 got burst while heading towards Cape Coast from Jukwa.He said the truck veered off the road and somersaulted.GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA – Komla Dumor, a Ghanaian Broadcast Journalist with BBC, died on Saturday morning from cardiac arrest at his London home.Mr Dumor, on Friday evening hosted the BBC Focus of Africa programme, tweeted and wrote on his FACEBOOK Page that he was ” Looking forward to interviewing South Sudan ex -child soldier musician, Emmanuel JAL on Focus on Africa today at 1730GMT ”.Prior to his death, he was nominated to be the face of the BBC for the World Cup in Brazil this summer.Mr Dumor holds a BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Ghana and an MPA from Harvard University.He was also one of the lead presenters for BBC World News’ European morning segment.Mr Dumor joined the BBC in 2007 after a decade of broadcast journalism at Joy FM where he won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award.From 2007 and 2009 he hosted Network Africa for BBC World Service, before joining The World Today programme.In 2009 Komla became the first host of the African business news programme on BBC World News, Africa Business Report.Komla Dumor, who was born in 1972, was married to Kwansema, with whom he had three children.GNA

Tamale, Jan. 18, GNA – National Service Personnel have been advised to eschew all negative activities that have the tendency to compromise the patriotic values of the society.Alhaji Imoro Alhassan, Acting Executive Director of the Service who gave the advice in Tamale at the weekend during the National Terminal Congress of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA), said negative activities such as tempering with the scheme’s electronic system to manipulate postings must be stopped.The congress was on the theme: “Ghanaian Youth and Patriotism – the role of national service personnel,” and brought service personnel from all over the country, which would also accord them the opportunity to elect new executives.Alhaji Alhassan asked the service personnel to be patriotic to help fight corruption and device innovative ways of doing things.He said they should cultivate good habits, uphold societal values, and avoid laziness to propel them onto the job market.He said the service deployed 80,000 graduates for National Service in 2013, which posed a huge challenge to the scheme in terms of managing such vibrant and energetic youth for national development.Mrs Gifty Mahama Biyira, Chairperson of Board of Directors of the service advised the youth to stay away from any forms of social vices such as hard drugs, alcoholism, smoking, Internet fraud and armed robbery.She also called on the youth to work in partnership with the government to fight illegal mining (galamsey) and illegal chainsaw operations to save the country’s natural resources.Mr Tabbi Awotwi, Acting President of NASPA said the aim of the association is to bring personnel together to promote their welfare through various programmers and to work closely with the staff and management of the scheme.GNA

Aboadze (W/R), Jan.18, GNA - The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has started a sea defence project along the coastline of Aboadze and Abuesi to protect the Thermal Power Plant from heavy tidal waves.The first phase of the project covered a-two-kilometre coastline from the Thermal Power Plant through to Aboadze and ends up at Abuesi.The project is being undertaken by Xara Developers Limited and is expected to be completed in June this year.Mr Enoch Kojo Appiah, Shama District Chief Executive (DCE), told Ghana News Agency that the project was necessitated because of sand winning along the coastline of the two communities.He said in 2011, heavy tidal waves displaced some residents at Abuesi resulting in destruction of property and the Assembly had to spend scarce resources to resettle the affected persons.The DCE indicated that the project would create jobs for the people and relief the Assembly from spending huge sums of money to resettle people affected by tidal waves.In view of this, he said, his outfit is looking for new landing beaches for fishermen in the area.Mr Appiah said the contractors had promised to construct some social amenities in the two communities as part of their corporate social responsibility.GNA

Takoradi, Jan. 18, GNA – The Pentecost Takoradi Area Co-operative Credit Union, (PENTACCU) has increased its total assets by 104 per cent.The credit union also made a net surplus of 88 per cent while savings mobilisation went up to 105 per cent.Elder Charles Frimpong, Chairman of the Union at the third Annual General Meeting of the credit union, added that membership shares also shot to 76 per cent and loans increased to 98 per cent.The credit Union, has however suspended dividend payments to allow the strengthening of the capital base of the union.Elder Frimpong said the union is building a new office accommodation and had acquired a double cabin Nissan Navara to ease mobility among staff.On loan repayment, the Chairman said: “Many are faithfully discharging their responsibility of repaying. However, few are not keeping faithful, please be up and doing.”Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah, Area Head of the Church of Pentecost and the Special Guest entreated management to ensure optimum transparency in their operations as any negative move would go a long way to affect the image of the church.He tasked management to find innovative means to transform and grow the credit union.GNA