Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - The Minister for the Interior has, on the advice of the Volta Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument, renewed the curfew imposed on the Alavanyo and Nkonya Township with effect from Friday, January 17.A release signed by the Minister, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, on Friday said the curfew hours remained from 8:00pm to 5:00am.Government continues to urge the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders and the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them and use non-violent means to resolve conflicts and differences.“Meanwhile, Government will like to reiterate that there is a ban on all persons in the two towns and its environs from carrying arms, ammunitions or any offensive weapon,” the release said.It said any person found with any arms or ammunition would be arrested and prosecuted.GNA

Beahu (W/R), Jan.17, GNA - Cocoa loading boys at the Cocoa Marketing Company warehouse at Beahu, near Apowa, in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region have finally resumed work.The aggrieved cocoa couriers stopped work about two weeks ago in protest over low wages and poor working conditions.Mauvi Mawuto, spokesperson of the workers, told the media in Takoradi on Friday that they resumed work on Thursday, January 16.He said Mr Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, held a meeting with the aggrieved workers and had agreed to increase each bag of cocoa offloaded from 10 pesewas to 30 pesewas.The CEO of COCOBOD also agreed to impress upon the contractors who employed the cocoa porters to register them under the Social Security and National Insurance Trust and the National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Mawuto said.In addition, COCOBOD had assured them of potable water and a vehicle to convey cocoa porters to and from the Commodity Village warehousing facility at Beahu every day.The cocoa couriers are made up of gangs of sixteen and each gang offloaded 2,880 bags of cocoa from the haulage trucks to the warehouse every day.GNA

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - A market survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency in various parts of Accra on Friday showed that prices of most commodities remained unchanged despite the fuel price increase announced on Thursday, January 16, 2014.This trend was explained by the fact that so far, the cost of transportation had generally remained unchanged.At the Osu Night Market, most food commodities continued to maintain the old prices.Maize sold at GH¢2.50p "Olonka" tin measure while a small bottle of palm oil is also sold at GH¢2.00, with the big bottle selling at GH¢7.00.An olonka of fresh palm-nut was sold at Gh¢3.00, four fingers of plantain for GH¢4.00, two tubers of cassava for GH¢2.00 and four tubers of cocoyam also went for GH¢5.00.According to Mrs. Esther Aryeh, a trader at the market, “Petrol is very essential in every social activity and therefore the increase would affect cost of the food stuffs when transport charges go up soon".Commodity prices at Nima market also remained the same on Friday as compared to last week, the GNA survey revealed. For instance, the price of an “olonka” of dried pepper remained stable at GH¢10.00 over the past week.An olonka of 'gari' went for GH¢3.50p, while an olonka of beans sold at GH¢5.50P and the same measure of maize remained at GH¢2.40P.An olonka of wheat was sold for GH¢ 9.00; with local rice going for GH¢ 8.00. A bowl of tomatoes (Navrongo variety) sold at GH¢ 6.00 on Friday while onion sold for GH¢7.00. Five fingers of plantain sold at GH¢ 2.00 while a tuber of yam went for GH¢3, GH¢4, and GH¢5 depending on the size. An olonka of local rice sold at GH¢ 8.At the Makola market in Accra, foodstuff prices also remained unchanged on Friday compared to last week.Prices of items such as gari, yam, palmnut and maize have maintained the same level as last week. Auntie Naana Kumiwaa, a trader, said an olonka of gari sold at Gh¢4.50 for the past week.A big sized tuber of yam sold at Ghc4, the same as last week. An olonka of palmnut still cost Gh¢ 3.00, while that of maize which went for Gh¢ 2.50 last week still sold at the same price on Friday.At the Madina Market the prices of foodstuffs showed the same trend as in the other centres. An olonka of millet sold at GH¢3. 50p and maize for GH¢ 3.00, the same as last week.The price of an olonka of groundnut which was sold at GH¢ 10.00 last week remained the same on Friday. Four fingers of plantain which went for GH¢ 2.00 last week, also remained unchanged. Other market centres including Tema Station in Accra, and the La Mini market reflected the same trend. Prices of millet, beans, yam, groundnut, maize, garden eggs, tomatoes and okra were generally stable on Friday relative to last week's prices.However, the prices of some commodities at La mini market showed a slight upward movement as at Friday.The prices of beans, yam, smoked fish, palm nut oil, vegetable oil, fresh palm nut and plantain had witnessed a marginal increase over the past week.Madam Mary Addo, a plantain seller at the market said the cost of five fingers of plantain had gone up to GH¢ 3 from its initial price of Gh¢ 2.00.An Olonka of garden eggs which sold at Gh¢5.00 the previous week had increased to Gh¢ 6.00 A gallon of vegetable oil which sold at Gh¢ 7.80 had also gone up to Gh¢ 8.00, while the mini-gallon of palm oil which was sold at Gh¢ 18 the previous week had gone up to Gh¢ 20.00 as at Friday.Similarly, the prices of yam.smoked fish (salmon), tomatoes and onions witnessed slight upward movements as at Friday, the survey maintained.Mary Kottey, a palm nut seller said the prices of both the local and hybrid palm nut fruits had moved from Gh¢4.00 to Gh¢ 5.00 in the past week.An olonka of tomatoes which went for Gh¢9.00 the previous week had increased to Gh¢ 10.00 on Friday, whiles an olanka of onion went up from Gh¢7.00 last week to Gh¢ 8.00 as at Friday.GNA

Accra, Jan 17, GNA – The Armed Forces Children Association of Ghana (AFCAG) on Friday appealed for support for all children, especially the less-privileged, to enable them to develop to their full potential.Mrs Marina Kingsley-Nyinah, AFCAG President, said the era of depending on government to provide the needs of children, particularly those living in orphanages, was over and, therefore, urged Ghanaians to support orphanages to ensure that the needs of the children were provided.She said children, as future leaders, needed education and better nutrition in order to develop their fullest potential and to be adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.Mrs Kingsley-Nyinah made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency during a donation to the Veteran Association of Ghana for subsequent distribution to the Veterans Children’s Village and other orphanages in the country.She said the AFCAG was made up of children of both serving and retired officers of the Ghana Armed Forces and aimed at helping to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged children in society.She said children had potentials which had to be unearthed and harnessed for the nation’s development and urged parents not to neglect their children but to give them the needed support.“You don’t have to be rich before you can give your children the support they need,” she said, and advised parents to be good role models to their children at all times.Mrs Kingsley-Nyinah appealed to the media to be mindful of the content of their programmes which might have grievous impact on the lives of children.She said the media must also provide an educative platform to help children in their studies.She bemoaned the politics of insults on the airwaves, saying “it does not provide good examples for children to learn from”.She lauded the efforts by the Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council for the re-sit opportunities starting 2015 for Basic Education Certificate Examinations candidates who could not make it at the first attempt.GNA

Accra, Jan 17, GNA - The Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) on Friday provided assorted vocational training tools to the Mampong Akuapem Senior High Technical School for the Deaf to reinforce its skills training.The donation made up of Sewing machines, two welding machines and helmets, five hair dryers, and a box of carpentry tools including its accessories were presented to staff of the school in Accra.Mr Yaw Offori-Debrah, GFD President, said the items had been donated to the Federation by Mrs Rebecca Akuffo-Addo, wife of former New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo.But the Federation was happy to share with an institution engaged in offering skills training to empower younger ones for improved economic lives, he said.He expressed the hope that beneficiaries would put the tools into efficient use for their upkeep and become self-dependent to contribute meaningfully to their communities.Receiving the items, Mr Nathan Pecku, Headmaster of the school observed that the school was a gateway to the world of work but had been neglected in many ways, reducing it to depending largely on donations.He said the school, with a population of 352, lacked operational tools and store, and appealed to individuals and organisations to support it.The current rental premises were meant to house 70 students, however, the number has grown astronomically over the years. Last year, the school was threatened with an ejection notice prompting individuals and organisations to move swiftly to assist it.Mr Pecku said the school is faced with numerous challenges; untimely release of feeding grants, lack of stores and overcrowding in classrooms and dormitories among others.He called on the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to act swiftly to relocate the school and equip it with the requisite machines.GNA

Adidome (V/R), Jan. 17, GNA - Women in the Central-Tongu District have been urged to use the new female condom as it enables them to be in charge of their reproductive health.“The male condom is popular and widely used but we believe the new female condom will soon overtake it,” Dr Winfred Ofosu, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Public Health, said at the launch of the female condom at Adidome in the Volta Region on Thursday.The female condom and male condom are, however, not to be used at the same time during sexual intercourse.It is alleged that some men often punched holes in the male condoms and succeeded in impregnating their partners or infecting them with sexually transmitted diseases.Dr Ofosu said like the male condom, the female condom is pre-lubricated and made of strong soft rubber and works by lining the vagina to create a barrier against pregnancy and germs that caused sexually transmitted infections.He said the condom had a small ring at its base and a larger ring at its opening and encased in a lubricated rubber which is much larger than the male condom.Before the packet is opened it must be squeezed gently between a clean palm and fingers and torn gently from the point of blue arrow at the top right corner.Dr Ofosu said: “The smaller ring at the base of the condom must be squeezed into an eight-shape using the thumb and the fore finger and inserted into the vagina with the larger outer ring placed well over the outer skin of the vagina.”After each round of sex the opening of the condom is closed by being twisted and gently pulled out of the vagina to prevent the spillage of semen.A fresh condom must be used during each round of sex.Ms Justine Alornyo, Central Tongu District Director of Health, said: “Women let us take charge of our lives and have the number of children we want at the right time”.Each female condom sells at three pesewas.GNA

Accra, Jan 17, GNA -The Accra Polytechnic on Friday held its 21st Matriculation ceremony to admit 3,454 fresh students into various programmes offered by the institution for the 2013/2014 academic year.The Matriculants were introduced by the Deans of the various schools run by the Institutions to the Registrar of the Accra Polytechnic, Mrs Rita Kaine, who in turn led them to swear the Matriculation Oath and Declaration of Obedience.The students were further led by the Registrar to sign the covenant of admission, which enjoins each student to be of acceptable behavior, in keeping with good taste and propriety.Professor Sylvester Achio, Rector of the Polytechnic, later made a declaration after receiving the list of freshmen and women from the Registrar, to signify their official admittance to the various programmes that had been awarded them by the Institution.He congratulated the fresh students for turning out in their numbers to grace the occasion, which also symbolised their acceptance as junior members of the Accra Polytechnic.Prof. Achio explained that out of the total number of 6,887 applications received for admissions into the various programmes, only 4,546 applications, representing 66 percent qualified, however the Institution was able to offer admission to 3,454 of the qualified applicants.He further explained that out of the admitted students 1,794 received unconditional admissions, while the remaining 1,660 were based on a conditional term that required a pass in a special three-month access course run by the Polytechnic.The Rector said the Polytechnic operated three major Schools, namely: The School of Business and Management Studies, School of Applied Sciences and Arts and the School of Engineering, with each school having five departments.He said although the Polytechnic’s programmes range from technician certificate, Diploma in Business Studies (DBS), Higher National Diploma (HND) to Bachelor of Technology (BTECH) degrees, it was in collaboration with other higher educational institution outside the country, as well as local business entities to ensure practical skills training and also to expand its programmes.He indicated that the year’s admissions had been very challenging to the Polytechnics, owing to directives by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTC) and the National Accreditation Board, to abide strictly by the A1-C6 requirements.According to him, applicants, who met the minimum requirements with aggregate 36 or better in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (WASSCE) and 24 or better in the Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education (SSSCE) with mixed grades of D7 and E8 in any of the three core areas, were not admitted.He however stated that it was after sound arguments put up by the various Rectors and other stakeholders that applicants with the D7 and E8 were admitted on condition that they passed a three-month special access course programme.He therefore advised those applicants to study hard and pass the access course examinations in order to make a stronger case for government to hasten the process of streamlining the admission criteria into the Polytechnics.Prof. Achio also urged the new students to be of good behavior since the Polytechnic would not countenance behaviors such as alcoholism, narcotics, indecent dressing, obscene language and other deviant attitudes and asked them to be humble, respectful, disciplined and ready to accept divergent views of others.He encouraged them to make good use of the facilities provided by the institution to ensure quality returns for the investments being made by their benefactors.Mr Cornelius Dzikunoo, a Member of the Governing Council of the Accra Polytechnic, who represented the Council’s Chairman, Professor Joshua Alabi at the ceremony, congratulated the students and encouraged them to be obedient and respect the school authorities to ensure peaceful co-existence and harmony.GNA

Koforidua, Jan. 17, GNA - Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, the Second Lady, has broken grounds for the construction of a GH¢ 1.5 million cedi Hospice, in Koforidua on Friday to serve as care centre for the terminally ill and the sick in society till their death.The facility which is an initiative of Monsignor Bobby Benson, the founder and Director of the Mathew 25 House, an HIV and AIDS Care center, is the first of its kind in Ghana and the whole sub-region.The Hospice is a Home where sick and dying persons would be cared for in the comfort of caregivers and their relatives creating an environment for solidarity in the end of life so that people irrespective of their backgrounds would die in dignity and peace without the usual emotional pain that both patients and their families go through during those moments.Mrs Amissah-Arthur in an address said the Hospice would in no doubt be of help to many Ghanaians weather rich or poor to care for their dying relatives after they had been discharged from hospitals and women would be the ultimate beneficiaries.She said often people in dying moments were taken care of by women who were wives, sisters or daughters and hoped that people would see the importance of treating their dying relatives in dignity than celebrating their funerals.The 2nd lady said she was touched by the passion of Monsignor Benson when she came into contact with the Mathew 25 House and noticed the sacrificial work of caring for People Living with HIV and AIDS and their children as well those who had been orphaned by the disease.She therefore, called on all Ghanaians to support the programme because it was a worthy cause and hoped that within the shortest time the project would be completed to serve its purpose.The Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Dr Damien Dedzo, extolled the importance of the project, indicating that, ideally it was part of health service delivery but unfortunately Ghana and many parts of Africa lacked it.He therefore commended Monsignor Benson for such a laudable initiative and pledged the full support of the GHS in constructing the project as well as managing it after completion.Most Reverend Joseph Afrifa-Agyekum, Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Catholic Church said the end of life must not always be an experience of pain, fear and anguish but rather be seen as a transition and that could be possible when in that state, there was love and care.Bishop Afrifa-Agyekum said the story of Mathew chapter 25 and that of the Good Samaritan were reference points for every human being to be compassionate to one another and especially Christians and not to neglect relations in pain and suffering.Monsignor Benson said even though the Hospice would be an extension of the Mathew 25 House, where HIV patients and their orphans had received medical care, shelter, food and education for their children over the past ten years, it would serve others suffering from terminal ailments.He urged all Ghanaians to support the project to come to fruition and thanked the Catholic Church for the support, especially the past and present Bishops of Koforidua, the 2nd Lady, who had been a friend of the House and the many organizations and individuals who had supported him all along.During an appeal for fund, the 2nd Lady donated an undisclosed amount with the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) supporting with Ghc1,000 and 30 bags of cement, Reverend Father Campbell on behalf of the Christ the King Parish gave Ghc5,000, Antarctic construction Ghc5,000 and the Hospice of the Sea in the USA donated 23,000 US dollars.GNA

Accra, Jan. 16, GNA – The National Theatre of Ghana has been closed temporarily till January 30 for scheduled maintenance works, Mr Welbeck Tamakloe, the Assistant Estate Manager told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday.The minor works would include vacuuming, overhauling, painting and other face-lifting groundwork to keep the facility in good condition.Mr Tamakloe explained that the yearly maintenance would also involve repairing and replacement of old equipment, changing of worn-out carpets and improvement of the interior décor.“Art and entertainment is about creativity and to maintain our accolade as the citadel of theatre, we must always keep the place attractive,” Mr Tamakloe stated.The GNA observed that workers of the theatre were busily scrubbing the floor, servicing machines and clearing the stage.Mr William Ashong, the General Stage Manager said the team was currently cleaning the back stage and will later polish the stage for artistic effect during performances.The National Theatre was built through a technical co-operation Agreement signed on September 18, 1985 in Beijing between the Governments of the Republic of Ghana and the People's Republic of China.The construction of the Theatre was completed on December 20, 1992 and currently houses resident performing companies; namely the National Dance Company, National Theatre Players (Abibigromma) and the National Symphony Orchestra. It also has youth groups such as the Dance Factory, Indigen Afrika and the Vision BandThe elegant and imposing National Theatre has a complicated construction moulding and novel exterior features and has served as an ideal place for events such as Conferences, Seminars, Awards night, Workshops, Artistic Presentations, Receptions, General Meetings, and Parties with an uninterrupted supply of electricity.GNA

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA – Mr David Osafo Adonteng, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) on Friday identified billboards mounted at wrong locations as causes of some major road accidents in the country.He said billboard mounted should not distract a driver or impede the view of pedestrian as well as block directorial signs, traffic signals and other traffic control devices or to obscure information about road alignment.“But unfortunately some of the billboards across the country are mounted without due regard to the law,” Mr Adonteng made this known at a stakeholders meeting organised by NRSC to outline Ghana’s specification for outdoor signs and advertisement in relation to road safety in Accra.The stakeholders included the Ghana Highway Authority, Ghana Advertisers Association, Department of Urban Roads, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Safety Ghana, Road Safety Advocates and the Ghana Standard Authority.Mr Adonteng said billboards must be designed to ensure that roadside advertising does not create a road safety hazard or confuse drivers in any road environment, or compromise bicycle and pedestrian safety.He said billboard must not be in a position that has the potential to give incorrect information on road alignment.He said NRSC would in June this year prosecute anybody who would break the law on billboard mounting, adding that, “any billboard which does not meet the standard of the law would be dismantled and the offender prosecuted”.He called for removal of all wrongly mounted billboards to avert accidents.He said the NRSC objectives were to promote best safety practices for all categories of road users including pedestrians so as to reduce accidents on roads in the country.The stakeholders assured NRSC of their full support and promised to make sure safety is improved in the country.GNA

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA – The World Blind Union with its local partner, the Ghana Blind Union has urged government to speed up action on the ratification of published works treaty to facilitate accessibility for blind persons.The Union leaders say, out of the world published materials, less than five per cent are made available in accessible format to blind persons while the cost of re-engineering the works is too high.Last year, Ghana signed onto the ‘Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.’Addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Accra to discuss the road-map on expediting action to ratification, Dr Peter Obeng, Executive Director of the Ghana Blind Union said government needed to seal the deal by ratifying the treaty.Currently, government textbooks for public and private schools are not in audio or brail or any accessible format for blind students, a phenomenon Dr Obeng said reinforced inequality and breached equal opportunity principle.Later he told the Ghana News Agency, that the present copyright laws restricted transformation of books into accessible format for blind persons but with the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty, published works could be transformed even without prior permission of the publisher and made available to beneficiaries.The Treaty would allow cross-border sharing of published materials and pave way for blind persons to actively participate in the daily discourse of national and family life, said Mr Christ Friend, Technical Advisor of the World Blind Union Right to Read Campaign.He observed the autobiography of former President of South Africa Mr Nelson Mandela is confined to South African borders, unavailable to blind persons, and had to be re-engineered at a cost of 5000 dollars for persons with print disabilities.He called on government to prioritise and fast-track the ratification process to ease access to public information otherwise available in inaccessible format for beneficiary persons.Ms Yaa Atafua, Acting Copyright Administrator said a road-map towards ratification would be put in place to facilitate smooth approval of the treaty.She said, for a good road-map, broader stakeholder consultations would be carried out to create awareness and elicit ideas to put the treaty in a balanced and comprehensive dimension.She urged Members of Parliament to fully support the ratification bid when the treaty was finally laid before itGNA

Tema, Jan. 17, GNA - Mr Lemuel Quarshie Martey, 2012 National Best Farmer, has called for the intensification of irrigation to protect farmers from the vagaries of rain-fed agriculture.“Let us take another look at the vision of Kwame Nkrumah and use the volumes of water which freely flow into the sea and other sources of water to irrigate farmlands throughout the country which is a sustainable way of cultivating the food we desperately need throughout the year,” he said.Mr Martey, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Afienya on Thursday, said rainfall pattern for the year 2013 was not favourable, especially to small scale farmers that solely depended on rain.He asked government to show keen interest in the work of urban farmers as well as those in deprived communities because they played complementary roles to ensure food security in the country.Mr Martey therefore called for a farmers' fund that would afford farmers soft loans during planting and harvesting seasons to meet market demands.He also appealed to government to support mechanized agriculture by subsidizing farm implements such as the plough and combine harvesters, to reduce drudgery in farming which most young men and women would want to avoid.GNA

Supresu (E/R), Jan. 17, GNA - Mr Ebenezer Adjei Mante, a prominent farmer has been sworn in as the new chief of Supresu, near Akroabo in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region.The 64-year-old chief, whose stool name is Baffour Addo Kwata Titiriku I, succeeded Baffour Larbi, who died eight years ago.Titiriku was the secretary of the Justice and Security Sub-Committee (JSSC) of the then Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Assembly in 1989 to 1990. He was re-elected as assembly member for two terms from 2000 to 2008 and became the chairman of the JSSC.Baffour Titiriku, a native of Akwapim Larteh, is married with 10 children. His grandfather, Nana Addo, was a traditional ruler of the area around 1900.Before his installation, the new chief told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that chiefs were front-line agents of good governance and that, “a chief is an agent of local or community development.”He was grateful to the chiefs and elders of Nankese for accepting him and appealed to the elders of the Supresu community to endeavour to release lands for social amenities to open up the area.Baffour Titiriku was later led by Queenmother Akua Agyeibea to swear the “oath of allegiance and secrecy” to the Nankesehene and Adikrofo sub-chiefs, and stool elders of Supresu.The Nankesehene, who is also the Paramount Chief of Nankese Traditional Area, advised the new chief to use his expertise to help to improve the living conditions of the people and also lead an exemplary life for his subjects to emulate.GNA

Sefwi Kaase (W/R), Jan.17, GNA - A 60-year-old farmer, Yao Kuma, committed suicide after defiling a 14-year-old student to avert punishment and shame.The corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the Presbyterian Health Post morgue at Dormaa, pending autopsy.The District Police Commander for Bia West and Bia East, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Wiafe confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday.He said both the victim and Kuma resided at Sefwi-Tema Cottage, near Sefwi-Kaase in the Bia West District of the Western Region.ASP Wiafe said two weeks ago, Kuma sneaked into the victim's room and defiled her.He said the victim later reported the act to her parents and Kuma was summoned to appear before the elders of the town on Tuesday January 14.However, to avert punishment and shame, Kuma took a concoction suspected to be poison, collapsed afterwards and died shortly on arriving at the hospital.ASP Wiafe said the incident occurred on January 14, when the deceased was supposed to appear before elders of the town.GNA

Elmina (C/R), Jan.17, GNA - Colonel Seth Ohene Asare, Chairman, Ghana National Commission on Small Arms (NACSA) has pressed on parliament to endorse the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to ensure safety in Ghana.According to Col. Asare, about 90 per cent of weapons used in crime scenes were locally manufactured, whilst illicit trade thrived because the weapons were sold across borders and this, he said, raised cause for concern.He made the call when he chaired the opening ceremony of the planning meeting for the ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.The two-day workshop attended by representatives from the ECOWAS region including the Gambia, Ghana, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Togo and Benin was sponsored by the British Government.Col. Asare said the safety of citizens was paramount to every country and therefore the law making body of Ghana must ratify the treaty since smuggling of small arms into the country and its misuse was a threat to national security.Currently, between 250,000 to 500,000 small arms and light weapons are in circulation in the country.He said to ensure the total eradication of these arms, government must resource the NACSA to enable it to intensify its sensitization and educational campaigns to fight the illegal manufacturing of such arms.Col. Asare commended the ECOWAS, West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA), the Kofi Anann International Peacekeeping and Training Centre (KAIPTIC), the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (UNREC), the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), for their collaboration to eradicate the spread of small arms and weapons.Dr Kwesi Enning, Dean of Research at KAIPTIC said it would take the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to eradicate the illegal manufacturing and the circulation of small arms and light weapons.Mr Baffour Dokyi Amoa, President of WAANSA commended the Ghana Police Service for their vigilance and alertness in combating illicit weapons, adding that, even though the war against smuggling and misuse of small arms was gradually reducing, more efforts must be made to eradicate it entirely.The Arms Trade Treaty is a United Nations multilateral agreement that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons, including small arms, battle tanks, combat aircraft and warship, aimed at preventing arms-flow to conflict regions.GNA

Mozano (C/R), Jan. 17, GNA - Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, Gomoa West District Chief Executive, has called on citizens to support the government in its efforts of ensuring better education to the Ghanaian child.He said the government’s dream of better education could only be achieved if every Ghanaian played his or her part towards their children’s education.Mr Aidoo-Mensah gave the advice when he presented 25 computers to the Mozano School of Music at Mozano near Gomoa Eshiem in the Central Region.He urged parents to provide basic necessities needed for their children’s education, adding, “the child must be encouraged to study at home.”Mr Aidoo-Mensah had earlier presented 40 computers each to the Apam Senior High School, Dawurampong Senior High/Technical School and Mozano Senior High School, and to some 15 individual students.The presentation was done on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Environment and the Ministry of Education to assist in teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).The DCE advised teachers and students to attach great importance to ICT education since it controlled everything in the modern world, adding; “education without computer literacy means nothing in this world.”Rev. H.K. Baah, Headmaster of the school who received the items expressed gratitude to the government and assured that the computers would be put to good use to serve the purpose for which they were donated.GNA

Takoradi, Jan.17, GNA - The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Enimil VI, has destooled the Chief of Ayiem for insubordination, thereby denigrating his status as the overlord of the area.Nana Amponsah Panyin, IV, was destooled by his paramount chief last Wednesday, January 15, after a sheep was slaughtered to perform the necessarily rituals to conclude the destoolment process at Ayiem.Osagyefo Dr. Kwamina Enimil confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency on Friday in an interview.He said in September last year, the former chief permitted illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey in the Subri River, a source of drinking water for the people and some surrounding communities in the Mpohor District of the Western Region.He said some youth in the town therefore protested against the move, however, Nana Amponsah Panyin caused the arrest of the youth and later sent them to court.However, the Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase withdrew the case from the court and amicably settled all the differences and concerns of the feuding factions.After amicable settlement, Osagyefo Enimil said, he dispatched his Linguist to the town to perform a ritual to seal the matter, however, Nana Amponsah Panyin refused to accept the staff of the paramount chief, the symbol of authority.In view of this, Osagyefo Enimil directed Nana Panyin to step aside and asked the chief of Nsueam to take over as a Caretaker chief, while preparations were underway to unveil a new chief.GNA

Koforidua, Jan. 17, GNA - Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, has called on the media to support development efforts of government.Speaking at a soiree for media personnel in the Eastern Region, Ms Ntoso noted that the media was relevant to national development and therefore must cooperate with the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for development.She said activities of illegal mining and the Fulani herdsmen were challenges that confronted the region last year, and pledged the RCC’s resolve to fight those negative issues for the benefit of the people and called for the support of the media.Ms Ntoso hinted that District Assemblies with challenges of Fulani herdsmen were creating fodder banks for cattle.She said when completed, the Fulanis would be made to move their cattle to graze there, to prevent the destruction of farms. She also assured that as head of the region, she would ensure that illegal mining was drastically reduced in the Eastern Region.The Regional Minister disclosed that this year, government was bent on improving infrastructure particularly in the roads sector; indicating that 23 feeder roads and 14 major roads in the region had already been given on contract.She promised to liaise with the Municipal Assembly to provide the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), with a permanent office accommodation to facilitate their professional output.Earlier, Mr George Larbi, Eastern Regional Chairman of the GJA appealed to the minister to provide the association with a permanent office accommodation to enhance their work.GNA

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - Noca Instrument, the manufacturer of Tablet PCs, Smartphones NocaTab and NocaFone, has announced ProMobile GH as its supplier.ProMobile GH, a software provider will support the company in supplying its hardware solutions in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Uganda.A statement issued in Accra by Mr. Chinedu Amadi, the Company’s group President for East and West Africa, made this known on Friday.It said Noca planned to launch its Operations in Ghana during the first quarter of 2014, signaling the association with the software provider was to foster the company’s image and visibility in the aforementioned countries.Commenting on the new partnership, Mr Daniel Antwi, President of ProMobile GH said, “We are very pleased to be working with Noca Instrument.”He said the company’s products had excellent quality, premium features and cost effective pricing and expressed the hope that Noca’s products would better the lives of Ghanaians.Mr. Felix Achibiri, the Chairman of Noca Instrument West Africa, said ProMobile GH was a perfect partner for the brand and distributing the products in Ghana and on the Africa continent.He said the company’s goal was to empower young Ghanaians to stay ahead with technology in order to remain competitive in today’s global market.GNA

Accra, Jan 17, GNA – The Armed Forces Children Association of Ghana (AFCAG) on Friday donated cloths and assorted food items worth GH¢3, 000.00 to the Veteran Association of Ghana for distribution to the children of the Veterans’ Village and orphanages.Mrs Marina Kingsley-Nyinah, AFCAG President, said the group made up of children of both serving and retired officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), aimed at helping to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged children in society.She said children were made by two individuals but their upbringing was the responsibility of society as a whole, adding that “our parents have done their part for us, and it is now up to us to help the less privileged children in society to develop their full potential”.She said prospects for 2014 looked very bright, and assured the group’s continued support to the children of the Veterans’ Village and other orphanages.Mrs Kingsley-Nyinah, who is a daughter of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall John Odaate-Barnor, also urged children of both serving and retired officers of the GAF to join the group to help provide care, love and support for unfortunate children in society.Receiving the items on behalf of the children, Colonel Chris Nutakor, Executive Director of the Veteran Association of Ghana, expressed his gratitude to AFCAG.GNA