Accra, Jan 9, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday remanded three persons in police custody for rioting with offensive weapon contrary to section 199 of the criminal offence Act 29 (1960).The accused persons were Freeman Aryee, Driver, Emmanuel Armah, Labourer and Tijani Osman; Painter pleaded not guilty and are to re-appear on January 20.Police Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka, told the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri that the complainants are policemen stationed at the Regional Headquarters.He said the accused persons are land guards residents at Adenta, a suburb of Accra.He said on October 17, 2013, the Government realised that the Aviation land at Adenta which was secured since 1958 has been encroached by squatters and through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources sent several warnings to the chiefs and squatters to vacate the land but they blatantly refused to comply.The Prosecution said on December 4, 2013, the police received a letter from the Government through the two Ministries to assist in the demolition of structures on the said land at Adenta.He said on the January 6, this year, 25 policeman under the command of the Police Superintendent were detailed to assist in the demolition exercise.The Chief Superintendent said while executing the assignment Aryee and one Adei Akpor now deceased went in for three machetes, with the inscriptions “Village 4” and “Village 5” respectively and distributed to the land guards including pump action guns and clubs.“The group on receipt of their weapons moved to the site where one of the bulldozers was working and attacked and smashed the windscreen of the bulldozer,” he added.Chief Superintendent Duuti said Akpor, advancing towards the policemen brandishing his machete and chanting “blood will flow, human being will die today” ignored police warning to shots and persuasions to retreat.“One of the policemen fired and the bullet hit Akpor and he died,” he said.He said the irate land guards increased in their numbers to attack but the police called for re-enforcement and the accused persons were arrested and the three cutlasses seized from them but others managed to escape.GNA

Koforidua, Jan. 9 GNA - The former Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Mr Kinston Akomeng Kissi, has decided to contest the Eastern Regional Chairmanship position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.Mr Kissi who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Koforidua on Thursday, said the current position of the NPP as a party in opposition needed a leader who would be a unifier to bring all members on board to work as a team and a family to secure victory for this party, come 2016.He said he had never turned his back on the party and was always at its service to the extent that in 2000 when nobody was prepared to contest the Akwatia seat for fear of losing, he took up the challenge contested, won and retained it in 2004.Mr Kissi, a businessman, pledged that he would devote his entire life and time, energy and attention to securing victory for the party in the region in 2016.“I want to say that NPP is the only party that can bring hope to the good people of this country’’He expressed optimism that it was the NPP that had the propensity to solve the economic problems that the country faced, to ensure the economic well-being of the citizenry.He called for unity among the rank and file of the party adding that with unity, hard work, peace and harmony on their front, victory would be theirs come 2016.The former Akwatia MP said he had decided to offer himself as a contestant for the chairmanship position, after careful consideration of the party's position in the region.He said the Eastern Region which is considered as the stronghold of the NPP, is gradually losing that position, election after election, and added that ‘‘the party must get someone with a proven track record to work very hard with the rank and file to arrest the dwindling fortunes of the party in the region.The exuberant Kissi said he knew the political terrain of the region very well and I am the right person to prescribe solutions to solve the numerous problems confronting the party in the area.He recalled that by dint of hard work he was able to win the Akwatia seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2000.Mr Kissi said he had the political experience and temperament to make the party safe and secure in the 2016 elections in the region.He assured that he would fashion and roll out pragmatic policies and programmes to propel the party to win convincingly in the region.’’The aspiring regional chairman appealed to the distinguished delegates to vote for him as the regional chairman of the NPP, to steer the party to victory in Election 2016.He called for unity among all the aspirant for the various positions, in order to keep the party united before during and after the elections.GNA

Ho, Jan 9, GNA - Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, a legal practitioner, on Thursday filed to contest the chairmanship position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region, promising to reverse the Party’s ebbing fortunes there.‘There is the urgent need for re-branding of the NPP in the region, and that is what I am set to superintend as Party Chairman, working with my lieutenants,” he stated in an interaction with journalists before moving to the Party office to initial filing papers.Mr Owusu-Yeboa who was the Volta Regional Minister for four years during the Kufuor regime, said it appeared people of the region “have not responded positively to our message.”He said while it was true that political parties everywhere had their support bases and areas where following was weak, that proverbial bad performance of the NPP in the region must be scientifically confronted and tackled.Mr Owusu-Yeboa said one way his administration could reach the people better was the strategic re-zoning of the region to make message penetration easier and networking more practicable.He said this way, more and more Party people could be roped into Party activities, thereby promoting some form of “democratic mass participation”.Mr Owusu-Yeboa said the current north, centre and south political delineation of the region was too saggy for building more affirmative political linkages.He said his administration would also build strong ties with traditional leaderships across the region, and try to make them accept the NPP as having cogent solutions to the country’s problems.Mr Owusu-Yeboa spoke against the practice of tagging politicians and political followings to ethnic groups, with the view to fanning animosities.He said in the Volta Region, a microcosm of Ghana, fanning ethnicity would amount to “seeking to create a state of mental darkness around the people”.“The ethnic diversity in the Volta Region should inure to its advantage as every ethnic group has its strengths and weaknesses,” Mr Owusu-Yeboa stated.He stated that prejudice was bad and could destroy, and must not grip the people of the region.Mr Owusu-Yeboa observed that the Ghanaian electorate was transforming slowly and gaining the insight to hold politicians not only “responsive but responsible for their promises”.After filing, followed by scores of the recently elected constituency executives, he stated, “when we take the position, (Regional Chairmanship) we would bring everybody on board and then move on to winning political power in 2016 to bring some respite to the people”.GNA

Takoradi, Jan. 9 - The Youth of Bodi District Assembly in the Western Region on Monday demonstrated and closed down the assembly alleging various malpractices against the District Chief Executive.The Youth claimed that Mr. Solomon Faukye, the District Chief Executive had diverted the one-million-cedi seed money government allocated for the construction of offices and bungalow for new districts.The Ghana News Agency investigation learnt from the Youth that the DCE was not duly appointed by government, but was rather a self-imposed person on the new assembly.The Youth alleged that the DCE had no regard or respect for the chiefs and people of the area, which situation has currently put most of the staffs of the assembly in fear and insecurity.The affected staff have therefore refused to resume duty even after intervention by the Regional Co-ordinating Council.The keys to the offices of the Assembly, the GNA was told, were with the Co-ordinating Director.Mr. Faukye confirmed the closure of the Assembly, but denied the allegations, and said, “these are all baseless and unfounded claims.”On the one-million-cedi saga, he said, “No newly-created Assembly has yet benefited from that package”.He said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was yet to award the contract for the construction of offices and bungalows for all thenewly-created assemblies.He said his movement as DCE from Juaboso to Bodi was occasioned by a government directive, and that his confirmation was supervised by the then Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, and a Deputy Director from the Regional Electoral Commission.The DCE said; “The president has handed to me the instrument of appointment and anybody who cares can go and refer to it.”Mr. Faukye intimated that throughout his five-year service as a District Chief Executive for Juaboso and Bodi, he had had no problem with any chief.GNA

Funsi, January 9, GNA - Mr. Abdul Karimu Abudu, is the new district chief executive of the Wa East District.The 36-member house confirmed him with 26 votes in his favour, with 10 against, at Funsi, the district capital on Thursday.Some 10 government appointee members were replaced and one assembly member who died last year was also substituted before the election was conducted to confirm Mr. Abudu.Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsor, Upper West Regional Minister cautioned the assembly members to avoid witch-hunting one another but to consider all members as important agents of development in the best interest of the people.He suggested that one of the best ways the district could succeed in its development efforts was for the assembly members and all other stakeholders in the communities to remain united and work as a team to enhance development.Naa Seidu Braimah, a Council of State Member in the Upper West Region, advised assembly members to see themselves as non-partisan units for development and progress of the communities.He said the district would not realize the much needed development if the assembly members were playing partisan roles.Naa Braimah, who is also the chief of Guli in the Wala Traditional Area, urged the assembly members and other stakeholders in the communities to avoid political party affiliations, but come together and fashion out development projects to benefit the people.He appealed to government appointees in the Assembly to bring their experience and expertise to bear on the overall development needs of the peopleThe Guli-Naa also urged heads of government departments and agencies operating in the district to support Mr. Abudu to develop the district, which he said was considered as the most deprived district in Ghana.Naa Braimah said the failure of the district chief executive should be judged as the failure of the heads of departments and agencies in the districts, but his success should be equally shared as the success of the heads of government institutions in the area.He advised the district chief executive to work closely with traditional rulers to bring the needed development to the communities.The Guli-Naa, however, appealed to traditional rulers to avoid unnecessary demands on the chief executive and the district assembly.It would be recalled that on January 3, the assembly members failed to confirm Mr. Abudu who polled 20 votes, short of three votes to make two-third of the 34 member house required to confirm him as a district chief executive.GNA

Wa, Jan. 9, GNA – The Upper West Regional Police Command has expressed its sincere gratitude to all security agencies in the region for working effortlessly to ensure a crime free Christmas and new year celebrations within the Wa Municipality and its environs.“Due to the effective collaboration with all sister security agencies, the region did not see any major crime issue before, during and after the celebration of the two major festivities”, said the Command.Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Edmond Nyamekye, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Upper West Regional Police Command expressed the gratitude in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Wa.He said this was achieved through a number of measures put in place by the Command, including the police visibility and accessibility programme, effective police patrol teams and the establishment of two Police Posts at Konta and Dobile, both suburbs of Wa.ASP Nyamekye said the visibility programme had made the Police visible and accessible in and around the Municipality, making it difficult for criminals to operate.He said the Wa-Bamboi-Kumasi road which used to be a robbery prone zone is now one of the safest roads in the country, due to the police patrol teams put in place by the Command to ensure constant police surveillance on the road and in the Municipality.The Regional Police PRO also indicated that the establishment of the Police Post in some suburbs of the Municipality was to open up more to the public to easily report criminal activities to the Police without difficulties.ASP Nyamekye noted that the region had also witnessed an improvement in both manpower and logistics which aided them tremendously in preventing cross border crime in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).He added that there was also the establishment of neighbourhood watch committees to police their respective communities and report any clues of criminal activities to the Police to swiftly act upon them.ASP Nyamekye also disclosed that the Command had kick-started the Regional Police Headquarters project which was being championed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).According to him, the completion of the project would go a long way to create conducive working environment that would further boost the morale of the Police in the region to deliver on its mandate of ensuring peace and security of the people.ASP Nyamekye noted that security was a shared responsibility, and urged the public to co-operate with the Police to maintain peace and security within the society, in order to create the necessary environment for development to thrive.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA -The Minority in Parliament on Thursday questioned the integrity of the Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho, accusing him of plotting to prevent a motion it filed seeking an inquest into the sale of Merchant Bank Ghana to Fortiz Equity Fund Limited.The side, who described the Speaker’s decision to disallow the motion as “just one side of the equation”, imputing bias in his conduct and alleging that his ruling on the issue had been prepared long before Parliament sat last Monday.“It took the Speaker 15 minutes to read a ruling in which he cited many authorities and which he alleges to have researched and written in one hour...A ruling usually take into consideration issues raised or expressed by parties in a matter.“It is significant to note that the ruling from the Speaker represented one side of the equation. Clearly, that ruling had been prepared before Parliament sat that fateful Monday”, Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said at a press conference in Accra.The Speaker last Monday dismissed a Private Member’s motion by the Member for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, backed by 80 other Minority MP’s, which sought Parliamentary investigate into the sale and acquisition of Merchant Bank Ghana (MBG) by Fortiz Equity Funds.Mr Adjaho reasoned that both the Legislature and the Judiciary could not determine an issue simultaneously and that the House stood prejudicing the outcome of a case that was presently before a law court if it admitted the motion that sought to scrutinize the transaction.The House was recalled from recess by the Speaker pursuant to article 112(3) of the Constitution. And the Minority also sought to invite the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and the Board of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to appear before Parliament to answer questions on the sale of Merchant Bank Ghana (MBG).The Speaker rested his decision on Order 93(1) of the Standing Orders of the House that enjoins the legislature not to deliberate on issues in court in such a manner that, that discussion would prejudice the parties to such cases, and guided by previous rulings on such cases by his predecessors and other jurisdictions.The Minority also alleged that the Speaker pretended to encourage both sides of the House to find a common ground on the matter but later evidence pointed to the fact that there was a well rehearsed conspiracy to prevent the motion from being moved.Furthering their argument to buttress their point, they said, the fact that national officers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), coupled with the contents of the address, the majority side made at a press engagement moments after the Speaker’s ruling which could not have been penned in at that such short time, pointed to the conclusion that “a plot had been hatched to prevent the motion from being moved”.But the Minority insisted that the Speaker had shown bias and unfairness in his decision, especially when he had not heard the merits of the motion that the side had sought to move.They however, said they were not perturbed by the Speaker’s ruling, declaring their intention to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter to ensure that Ghanaians and those whose pensions the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) held in trust had value for their money.“We want to assure the good people of this country, especially contributors to the Scheme who rightly believed that the state had resorted to the vehicle of the SSNIT to guarantee their economic security pursuant to Article37 (6) (a) and (b) and who feel frustrated by the unfolding events that we in the Minority Group in Parliament are not perturbed by the gymnastics of Black Monday at all….We will stand by the people; we will stand by the truth”, said Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.He said the Minority as representatives of the people were doubly resolved to protect and preserve public property and expose and combat misuse and waste of public funds, insisting that even though the majority had used their numbers to stifle official parliamentary investigation into the deal, they would investigate the matter thoroughly and make their findings known to the public in due course.They appealed to the public to furnish it with any material evidence relating to the transaction, assuring that the inquest is not to stir the hornets’ nest or witch-hunt anybody or undermine legitimate process.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - The Ghana Health Service, (GHS), Thursday launched a Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) Strategy as part of efforts to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality in the country.   With technical and funding support from PATH, the strategy outlines the causes of PPH and also identifies activities for preventing and managing as well as roles of various stakeholders including ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations, healthcare institution, community leaders and members.PATH drives transfomative innovation in pursuit of a bold vision: a world where health is within reach for everyone, no matter where they live.Haemorrhage, especially in the postpartum period is the leading cause of maternal death in Ghana. Postpartum is the period immediately after childbirth.Health Minister Sherry Ayittey, who launched the strategy said though PPH  could not be predicted it could be avoided and said it was better for pregnant women to plan for facility-based delivery so that in case of complications like excessive bleeding or some other problems, an  immediate management could be instituted.She said losing pregnant women during childbirth was unacceptable and noted that all hands should be on deck to nib it in the bud as part of the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals. For that reason Municipal Chief Executives have been tasked to put in place measures to ensure that maternal mortality is reduced in their district as it forms part of their performance assessment.She also called for the elimination of taboos that prevent women from seeking medical attention and eating healthy diets during pregnancy and encouraged queen mothers to help in that direction.Government would soon decongest the Teaching Hospitals, get additional theatres, build more polyclinics and over 1600 Community Health Centre (CHPS) compounds in remote and vulnerable areas,  60 more Ambulance stations and also equip health centres in hard –to- reach areas to provide quality health service to women and ensure universal access to health care.This she said was to augment health sector innovation for managing health issues which have been developed and noted that it was her expectation that training in the use of gadgets such as anti-shocks garment, uterine balloon or condom tamponades would be widely rolled out so that emergency  management of PPH could reach  every health centre in the country.The role of the National Blood Bank ,the Health Minister said was important in the management of PPH as women may need blood transfusion as a life saving measure.She therefore called on Ghanaians to show kindness and donate massively to stock the blood bank to save lives.    She also tasked the Ghana Health Service to provide the MOH with statistics to be able to mobilise resources for the implementation of the strategy.Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director General of GHS called for team work among all health workers to improve the lot of Ghanaian women.He said with the advancement of technology there was no excuse for failure of the strategy and many others launched to help improve health delivery in the country.Dr Baafour Opoku, a obstetrician/Gynaecologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Dr Patrick Aboagye, Deputy Director of Family Health, GHS took participants through the background, purpose and content of the PPH strategy.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA – The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday reminded business community that the new Value Added Tax (VAT) is 15 per cent, whiles National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) remains at 2½ per cent.GRA explained that the enactment of the VAT Act 2013 (Act 870) taxpayers who have been authorised by the Commissioner General to use their own computer –generated invoices as well as electronic cash registers to re-programme their equipment to ensure that VAT is charged at the rate of 15 per cent and 2½ per cent on their customers invoice accordingly.In a statement issued by Mr George Blanckson, GRA Commissioner General and obtained by the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday said registered entities must use the GRA’s VAT/NHIL invoices adjusted as indicated in any instance where they are unable to use their computer generated invoices or electronic cash register receipts.The GRA statement reminded the business community that their Tax Returns should be submitted to the  Commissioner-General in the last working day of the month, whether or not the tax is payable for the period.It also stated that, allowable period for deducting input tax is reduced from three years to six months, “all registered persons who are in possession of valid VAT/NHIL invoices for input tax claims, which are more than six months, are to claim them on the December 2013 returns”.According to the GRA statement the scope of VAT has been extended to cover immovable property, the supply of financial services, domestic transportation of passengers by air and haulage as well as rental of vehicles, business activities of auctioneers, business of gymnasium and spa and the manufacture or supply of pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, all authorised to operate under the VAT flat rate scheme (VFRS) are required to charge and account for the tax at the rate of 3 per cent of the taxable value of their supplies.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA – Traders, food vendors, chop bar operators, second hand cloth dealers and mechanics have invaded most lorry stations in Accra, a Ghana News Agency monitoring has revealed.The worse affected are the 37 Military Hospital Lorry Station, the Aflao Station at Tudu, CMB Station near Tudu, and Tema Station near the Ministries all in Accra.GNA observed that the traders have taken over the pavements and passenger waiting sheds, whilst chop bar operators cook food in the open, under unhygienic conditions.Mr Kweku Frimpong, Welfare Chairman Ghana Private Road Traffic Union (GPRTU) branch at 37 Lorry Station told the GNA that the union has informed the La Municipal Assembly, overlords of the station to intervene.“We are waiting for their reaction towards the situation on the ground, the situation is very dangerous as now vehicles and vendors compete for space...sometimes as soon as you park to off-load or load passengers, the traders would spread their goods in front of the vehicle.“The local branch executives in their attempt to solve the overcrowding situating, allotted specific portions of the station to the hawkers and food vendors but they have not complied with this arrangement”.Mr Frimpong said the Union is however optimistic that the municipal assembly would address the challenge soon.  Mr Adu Manu, Station Master at Amasaman appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to decongest the various lorry stations.He added that the Corporative Transport Society of Amasaman has developed tax mechanism from the food venders and other hawkers’ at the station to cater for the sanitation situations of the station.Mr Mark Aubry, Station Master at Nima however, appealed to the government to help decongest the stations but described the traders and vendors as “necessary evils”.He told the GNA that “we have embarked on a relentless struggle with the vendors to get them out but it’s a difficult task”.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - A  27-year-old pastor Ernest Abotsi (aka) Koomson has been arraigned for the second time on another kidnapping charge.Abotsi is alleged to have kidnapped an eight-year-old girl from the Winners Chapel at North Industrial area in Accra and took away a ransom of GH 3,000 cedis.Abotsi’s plea was not taken and he was remanded into police custody, pending further investigations. He would reappear on January 23.In the first case, Abotsi and Isaac Atei allegedly  kidnapped a nine- year- old victim at Quodesh Light House Chapel at North Kaneshie.Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) A. Suleman told the court that Madam Doris Boateng of Adenta was the complainant, whiles the accused resided at Darkuman in Accra.ASP Suleman said on Sunday December 8, last year at about 7:00 am Madam Boateng and her 8-year-old granddaughter attended church service at Winners Chapel at North Industrial area branch.The complainant, prosecution said attended the adult service whiles the victim attended the children service.At about 11:00am the complainant went to pick the victim from the church but realised that the victim was nowhere to be found.Prosecution said 15 minutes later, the complainant received a call on her cell phone and the caller stated that her granddaughter had been kidnapped and that she should pay a ransom of GH 3,000 cedis to him at Datus Complex Schools.A few minutes later, the caller rescheduled that meeting point saying they should rather meet at an area near the Darkuman Chief’s Palace.ASP Suleman said the complainant went there and handed over the ransom to her male friend.After taking the ransom, Abotsi directed the complainant to a section on the NI Highway where they saw the victim sitting in front of a story building looking traumatised.On December 23, last year, when the complainant heard about the arrest of Abotsi in a similar case, she proceeded to the Regional Police headquarters and the victim identified Abotsi as the one who kidnapped her.During Police interrogation, Abotsi admitted kidnapping the victim and taking a ransom of GH 3,000 cedis.GNA

Cape Coast, Jan. 9, GNA - A 20-year-old unemployed school dropout, Emmanuel Ofori,  from Ankaful near Cape Coast was on Thursday remanded into Prison’s Custody by a Cape Coast Circuit Court for allegedly assaulting his uncle and  biting his fingers in the process.He pleaded guilty to assault and will be re- arraigned on Thursday, January 30, 2014 for judgment.Police Inspector Christina Sampong told the court presided over by Mrs Florence Otu, that on Friday December 27, 2013 at 19:30hrs, Mr Augustine Nketsiah , (complainant) a security man and resident at Mpeasem,  near  Cape Coast received a phone call from this father inviting him home.She said upon Mr Nketsiah’s arrival at home, a quarrel had ensued between his father, his sister- in- law (  Ofori’s  mother)  and Ofori himself and Mr Nketsiah tried to control the situation but  Ofori rather held his shirt and beat him severely, biting his fingers and causing injuries on other parts of his body in the process.Inspector Sampong said Mr Nketsiah reported the incidence to the police leading to the arrest of Ofori.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Three rioters who were apprehended by the Police during a demolishing exercise at Adenta on Thursday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.They are Freeman Aryee, a driver, Emmanuel Armah a labourer and Tijani Osman a painter.Charged with rioting with weapons, the accused person who were without lawyers, have pleaded not guilty.The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri has remanded them into Police custody to reappear on January 20.Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Morkeh said the complainants were policemen stationed at the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, whiles accused persons were land guards resident at Adenta in Accra.DSP Morkeh said on October 17 last year, the government of Ghana realised that  Ghana Civil Aviation's land  at Adenta, secured in 1958 had been encroached upon by squatters and through the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Natural Resources sent several verbal warnings to the squatters to vacate the said parcel of land.On December 4, last year, the Police received a letter from government through the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Natural Resources to assist in the demolishing exercise at Adenta.Prosecution said on January 6, this year, 25 Policemen were detailed to assist and protect eight bulldozers in the demolishing exercise.While undertaking the exercise, Aryee and Adjei Akpor now deceased  armed with three machetes with inscription “Village 4, 5 and 0,  and  some pump action guns and clubs  distributed the weapons to other land guards.          The land guards on receipt of the those weapons proceeded to where one of the bulldozers was and smashed its wind screen and moved in to attack policemen in their bid to seize their rifles.Akpor, now deceased and others moved towards one of the Policemen saying “today blood will flow, somebody will die today. The deceased ignored the several warning shots from the Police to retreat.Prosecution said in the process the irate youths in the area joined the land-guards and one of the Policemen fired and some bullets hit Akpor and he died.The Police however, managed to arrest three of them together with their cutlasses while the others escaped.           GNA

Nkawie (Ash), Jan. 9, GNA – A  21-year-old auto-mechanic has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Nkawie Circuit Court for robbery.          Daniel Addae Boateng had attacked a hairdresser at Abuakwa, in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District at knife-point, and robbed her of a lady’s handbag and cash of GH¢95.00.           He pleaded guilty to the crime.           Police Detective Inspector James Appiah-Kubi told the court presided over by Mr William Boampong that this happened on January 6, at about midnight.           The victim, Ms Irene Dufie, was returning from a party when the convict emerged from nowhere, pulled a knife and ordered her to surrender her bag and money, which she did.           The prosecution said since they lived in the same neighbourhood, the lady had no difficulty identifying him after she had made a formal report to the police.GNA

Bibiani (W/R), Jan. 9, GNA – A 38-year-old trader was on Thursday killed in an accident at Bibiani, the capital of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District.          Yaa Badu, a popular fried-yam seller, who plies her business by the roadside, was said to be attending to a customer, when a speeding cargo truck run over her.          She died shortly on arrival at the Bibiani Government Hospital.           Police Chief Inspector Isaac Darkwah, Officer-in-charge of the District’s Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and said the suspect-driver was on the run.           The truck had been impounded and the body of the deceased deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.GNA

Kumasi, Jan 9, GNA - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated office equipment and other items valued about US$ 300,000.00 in support of the Ghana Legal Aid Scheme.        These included 80 desktop and laptop computers with accessories, 28 photocopiers, 31 printers, 20 scanners, 51 hard drives, 72 uninterrupted power supply (UPS), 20 motorbikes, office furniture and mediation tables.         Mr. Dominic Sam, the UNDP’s Country Director, handing the items over at a ceremony in Kumasi, said it was to assist the government to open 16 new district offices.         The scheme presently operates in the regional capitals only.          He noted that peace and socio-economic transformation could be achieved only when there was justice.          In its absence, would be tyranny, poverty, violence, impunity and instability and that is why all needed to work together to ensure the rule of law.            Mr. Justice William Atuguba, a Justice of the Supreme Court and Board Chairman of Legal Aid, challenged all Ghanaians to strive to own the nation by making sure that laws were obeyed and followed.          He rallied the people to give support to the operation of the legal aid scheme.          Dr. Dominic Ayine, Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, announced the decision to create a Directorate of Public Defense and Citizens’ Advisory Bureau to broaden access to legal aid.          The goal was to make sure that the poor receive justice.          Mr. Yahaya Al-hassan Seini, Director of Legal Aid, said the scheme was there to assist those who could not afford the services of a lawyer.GNA

Cape Coast, Jan. 9, GNA - A 44-year-old teacher, Kwabena Nyarko from Ntsin, a suburb of Cape Coast was on Thursday remanded into police custody by a Cape Coast Circuit court for allegedly possessing seven wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drug.His plea was not taken and will be re-arraigned on Thursday, January 23rd.Police Chief  Inspector Anku told the court presided over by Mrs Florence Kai Otu that on Tuesday, January, 7, 2014, that the Cape Coast  police  had a tip off that some drug peddlers were dealing in narcotics at Ntsin.He said the police proceeded to the area and the suspect upon seeing the police, dropped a parcel which was retrieved, and upon  inspection,  34 wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were found .He said the exhibit has been sent to the Police Forensic laboratory for analytical examination and report.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - The 65th Annual New Year School and Conference has entered day four with participants lauding it as marvellous, successful, impressive and very interactive but say patronage is not encouraging.They have, however, expressed satisfaction with the 2014 theme: “Information and Communication Technology-driven Education for Sustainable Human Development: Challenge and Prospects,” saying: “it is relevant to current needs.”Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, 80-year-old Theophilus Kojo Hagan, who has participated 45 times attributed the low turnout to the on-going quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).He  observed that GNAT is a major stakeholder of the Annual New Year School, next to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, who usually sponsor members each year to take part in the event, unfortunately its conference had coincided with this year's.Mr Hagan also mentioned increase in the fees from 250 Ghana cedis to 350 as a causal factor, noting that, some individuals sponsored themselves and could not perhaps this time round afforded it.He expressed happiness that a key policy issue bordering the education sector was passionately discussed and appealed to government to consider seriously the communiqué due to be delivered at the end of the school and incorporate it into major national development policies.Mrs Comfort Adjei who has taken part in the school nine times, agreed that the low attendance stemmed from the GNAT conference.She explained that GNAT usually sponsored two persons in each district, however, it appeared this year no one was given such opportunity due to their conference.For him, Dr Stanislaus Kadingdi, Municipal Chief Executive of Kasena Nankana Municipal Assembly, the programme was well organised but added that most elderly persons entertain fear in Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications.He said ICT experts needed to focus on developing local content programmes capturing local traditions to allay fears gripping the elderly on ICT usage.About 200 are taking part in the 65th New Year School and Conference in University of Ghana, organised by the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education.The Institute intends to focus on ICT and national development for the next five years to drive to transform key sectors of the national economy.University authority said the move was to ensure Ghana’s vision of the ICT for Accelerated Development policy was achievedGNA

Accra, Jan 09, GNA - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index has revealed that in 2013 the world food prices stayed high, but steady saying that it was third highest year on its records.It averaged 206.7 points in December, nearly unchanged from the previous month, with a sharp increase in dairy prices and high meat values balancing out a steep decline in sugar quotations and lower cereal and oil prices.The report which was made available to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday by George Kourous of the FAO Media Relations in Rome, revealed that for 2013 as a whole, the index averaged 209.9 points - down 1.6 per cent from 2012, and well below 2011's peak of 230.1, but still the third highest annual value on record. It said large supplies pushed down international prices of cereals (with the exception of rice), oils and sugar. However, dairy values peaked in 2013, and meat also hit a record. "Last month, the FAO Food Price Index remained elevated as strong demand for certain high-protein foods continued to drive up prices overall, countering falling prices of major food crops after last year's abundant harvests," said FAO Economist Abdolreza Abbassian.   FAO's Food Price Index is a trade-weighted index that measures prices of five major food commodities on international markets: cereals, dairy products, meat, sugar, and vegetable oils.The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 191.5 points in December, down 2.8 points from November, and the lowest monthly value since August 2010.It said the large global supplies, following record harvests in 2013, continued to exert downward pressure on international prices of wheat and maize in particular. By contrast, rice prices were up slightly in December. For all of 2013, the Cereal Price Index averaged 219.2 points, down as much as 17 points, or 7.2 per cent, from 2012. FAO's Sugar Price Index averaged 234.9 points in December, a sharp slide of 15.8 points from November,  the third consecutive monthly decline, with the sugarcane harvest in Brazil - the world's largest sugar producer and exporter - exceeding expectations.It said overall, in 2013, sugar prices were 18 per cent lower than in 2012. According to the report dairy prices on the other hand, were up for both December and for 2013 as a whole. The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 264.6 points in December, a rise of 13.2 points over November, declaring that demand for milk powder, especially from China, remained strong, and processors in the southern hemisphere were focusing on the product rather than on butter and cheese. It said during 2013, the dairy index averaged 243 points - its highest annual value since its inception. The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 188.1 points in December, just slightly above its November level.It said prices for bovine and pig meat moved higher: demand from China and Japan had resulted in beef prices showing consistent growth since last June.Prices for poultry were stable, while those for sheep meat moved lower. Still, in 2013, the index remained historically high, well above pre-2011 levels. FAO's Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 196 points in December, a decrease of 2.5 points from November. For 2013 as a whole, the index averaged 193 points - well below 2012's average of 224 points - with palm oil falling to a 4-year low.GNA

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday appealed to the Chinese government to expedite action on the release of  $ 3 billion China Development Bank (CDB) loan to support infrastructural development.   He said although Ghana had received only about $ 600 million from the $ 3 billion loan, the country continued to pay commitment fees on the whole loan.   “I hope that the CDB team, which is expected in Ghana next week, would tie all the loose ends and facilitate the processes for the release of the loan.”   President Mahama made the call when Mr Yi Wang, Chinese Foreign Minister called on him at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.    Mr Yi, who was on a two-day visit to Ghana, is on a tour of four African countries to strengthen trade and diplomatic relations between China and those countries.   He had already visited Ethiopia and Djibouti and would complete his four-nation tour of the continent with Senegal when he leaves Ghana.    Present at the meeting were; the Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Douglas Bani,  Mr Raymond Atuguba,the Executive Secretary to the President, Ms Hannah  Tetteh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Seth Terkper, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Armah Kofi Buah , the Minister of Energy and Petroleum and Mr Fifi Kwetey, the Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Financial and Allied Institutions,    The President said the continued payment of commitment fees on the whole CDB $ 3billion, was a disincentive to Ghana as the country particularly as the funds were not flowing as expected.   Touching on the extradition of foreign illegal miners in Ghana, President Mahama said government had to take such harsh measures to protect the fast depletion of the country’s natural resources through the illegal means.   He said the government was working to streamline the mining sector to stop the degradation of the environment and commended the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gong Jianzhong, for his collaboration in resolving the issue of deportation of Chinese illegal miners.   In his remarks, Mr Yi expressed the hoped that the CDB team that was expected in Ghana next week would address all the challenges and facilitate the release of the loan to support infrastructural development.   He acknowledged the challenge of illegal mining and expressed the commitment of the Chinese government to working with Ghana to address the situation.   Mr Yi said 2014 was a year of transformation for China, and indicated that China would enhance its relations with Ghana and other African countries.GNA