Winneba (C/R) Jan 24, GNA - Nii Ephraim, Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, has urged stakeholders both within and outside the country to cooperate with the Effutu Municipal Assembly in its bid to develop the municipality, in order to make the area the most beautiful, habitable, secured and most convenient investment destination in the Central Region.Nii Ephraim made the call at a stakeholder’s consultation forum on the construction of pavements at the Winneba main lorry station, to give the Municipality a face-lift.The MCE disclosed that funding for the project has been secured from the Urban Development Grant (UDG) of the government of Ghana and the World Bank as a result of prudent management of the resources of, and systems of operations by the Assembly over the last three years.The MCE said the forum was also a fulfillment of the participatory and good governance system as espoused by the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to ensure proper planning and execution of projects, which the construction of the pavements in the Municipality was not an exception.Nii Epharaim disclosed that due to the hard work of the employees of the Assembly, it qualified under the (UDF) and the District Development Fund (DDF) for three consecutive times, since 2010, making the Assembly top the Central Region with 98 percent under UDF and 92 percent under the DDF.The MCE said the assembly has started the process of preparing its medium Term Development Plan, under the enhanced Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda for 2014-2017, and added that to ensure participatory preparation, stakeholders in the development of the area are required to make inputs in the plan preparation process to enable the Assembly have a workable plan to help facilitate development.Mr Alex Afenyo-Markin, Member of Parliament for the area, urged his constituents to let the development of the Municipality be their utmost priority, and hoped with a united front, they can develop the area.GNA

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, on Thursday reiterated government’s commitment to increase the nation’s electricity generation capacity from the current 2,800 megawatts to 5,000 megawatts by the end of 2016.He said there are as many as 500 rural communities across the county in the Western, Central, Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Brong-Ahafo and the Volta Regions that are still desirous of getting connected to the national electricity grid.Mr Iddrisu made these disclosures during a meeting with a Japanese trade delegation which included Marubeni Corporation, and assured Ghana's industrial players that the government will continue to ensure adequate and sustainable supply of utilities, particularly water and electricity.The Trade Minister appealed to Marubeni Corporation to secure concessionary funding from Japan for the extension of rural electrification under the self-help rural electrification initiative.“We would be happy to work with you to extend electricity in order to give meaning to President Mahama’s declaration of energy for all by the year 2016,” he said.He also explained that it is the expectation of President John Dramani Mahama that more rural communities in Ghana are connected to the national electricity grid.He pointed out that Ghana remains an oasis of peace, stable social and political order, and has put in place legal and regulatory regimes to protect any investments.Mr Iddrisu assured Marubeni Corporation of the security of its investments, and appealed to the corporation to assist in building an energy plant to be dedicated to industries in the Tema area and Western Region since they have interest in the energy and power sector.He said Northern Ghana remains the most viable place for commercial farming and agriculture in Ghana, adding that, the Brong-Ahafo, Western and Central Regions, are also fertile grounds for commercial agriculture investment.“I am aware of Marubeni’s interest in development of sugar plantation in Northern Ghana in Depale and Kukubla in the Northern Region of Ghana,” he said.He pledged President Mahama's absolute support for the initiative to establish sugar plantation and sugar factory in Northern Ghana.He said government will play its role in facilitating the acquisition of land together with Marubeni in developing accessible road to the site.Mr. Naoto Nikai, Japanese Ambassador in Ghana, who led the delegation, said Marubeni Corporation is one of the largest Trade and Investment Companies in Japan which operates all over the world in energy and other areas.He added that Marubeni Corporation’s powerful delegation to Ghana shows their strong interest in expanding their business relations in Ghana.The Japanese Ambassador was optimistic that there would be fruitful results in expanding the economic business relationship between his country and Ghana.Mr Shigeru Yamazoe, Senior Managing Executive Officer of Marubeni Corporation, said Ghana is currently one of the most important partners of Marubeni Corporation from the sub-Saharan region.Mr Yamazoe pledged the corporation's desire to organise and promote various projects according to the needs of the country, adding that they would create employment and develop the various industries.GNA

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA - Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) polling and constituency executives have accused Mr Joseph Ade-Coker, Greater-Accra Regional Chairman of the party, for abuse of incumbency.They executives who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra on Thursday, and pleaded anonymity, alleged that Mr Coker was hiding behind the national executives, to use his incumbency to perpetrate injustice against potential candidates willing to contest him for the chairmanship position.According to the executives, the Regional Chairman was violating the party's constitution for even starting his campaign early after he had personally directed constituency executives not to allow his contenders to visit the constituencies to familiarize themselves with those constituencies.“His oral directive is a smart way of banning potential contenders from visiting the constituencies, as many executives are afraid to allow them to visit their constituencies,” one of them said.“Ade Coker has given us a directive that we should not allow his opponents to visit the constituencies, but he is busily meeting us,” another said. They alleged that last Wednesday, Mr Ade Coker met all organizers of the party at Kuku Hill, to inform them about his intention of contesting again, adding that, he threatened to disqualify them if they allowed his opponents into their constituencies.They further revealed to the GNA that he (Ade Coker) has invited all constituency executives of the party to his house this coming Saturday for a party.“We are therefore appealing to the national executives of the party to explain to us what introduction, familiarization and campaigning in the constituencies really mean,” one of them said.When the GNA spoke to Mr Ade Coker, he denied the allegations, and said he believed they were mere political gimmicks.GNA

Tamale, Jan. 24, GNA – A Tamale High Court presided over by Mr Jerome Noble Nkrumah, on Thursday sentenced Abubakari Iddrisu, 30, to death by hanging.The convict, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, and two counts of causing harm, was convicted by a seven-member jury which unanimously found him guilty of all the three charges.He was to serve additional 50 years for two counts of causing bodily harm.Prosecuting, Mr. Salia Abdul-Qudus, Principal State Attorney, told the court that on 17th March 2010, the convict caused the death of Mustapa Jelil, a pupil, and caused harm to Mohammed Mustapha and Mustapha Aliu, all children of his brother.He said at about 04:00 hours, Iddrisu slashed the throat of the deceased, and caused deep wounds to his two other siblings when they were sleeping on their compound at Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale and accused the children of pilfering his money he earned from bakery.He said the cry of the children suddenly woke their mother up and upon witnessing the bizarre scene raised an alarm.The prosecution said the convict became afraid for his life, and bolted into a nearby forest, but he was later arrested by the community members and handed over to the Police.Counsel for the convict, Arif Abdala argued that his client was not the offender of the act.When given the chance to say his last words, the convict, who had neither a wife nor children, pleaded with the court to have mercy on him, since he wanted to further his education.GNA

Dubai, Jan 24, GNA - Mr Daniel Amlalo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that given the necessary support , Ghana can become successful in generation of renewable energy.He explained that Ghana generates a lot of waste, and therefore, can have a lot of raw material for the generation of renewable energy throughout the country.Mr Amlalo who said this in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA ) in Dubai after participating in the second annual Abu Dhabi sustainability renewable energy conference in the United Arab Emirates, added that the conference served as an eye-opener to other experts and participants who would hopefully maximise its benefits in their respective countries.The week-long conference focused on renewable energy, water and environment, and attracted over 30,000 participants from more than 150 countries all over the world.Alongside the conference were also numerous exhibitions from state and private companies, to showcase innovations and technological advancements chalked in their various locations towards their achievements in water, energy and environment.Mr Amlalo said waste and environmental protection work hand- in hand, and gave the assurance that the high level generation of waste in the country can turn out to be a blessing if the resources are properly harnessed.From: George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Special Correspondent in Dubai, UAE

Accra, Jan 23, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association has opened a book of condolence at the Press Centre, for the late BBC ace broadcaster Komla Dumor.The book was opened on January 21 for all Ghanians who want to pay their tribute to the late broadcaster’s family.Ghana’s dedicated broadcast journalist and host of “Focus on Africa” on BBC TV, was confirmed dead early Saturday morning at his residence in London.According to a media report, his death was as a result of a heart attack (cardiac arrest).Mr. Dumor, one of Ghana’s most influential journalists in the country, joined the BBC in 2007, after a decade of broadcast journalism in his native Ghana, Joy FM to be precise, and won the Ghana Journalist of the Year Award in 2003.The Ghana News Agency on Thursday observed that various bodies and organizations in the Greater-Accra Region, signed the book of condolence in memory of the late Komla Dumor.They included Viasat 1 Television, Joy FM, Ghana News Agency, Valley View University, Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation, Uniq FM, Fidelity Bank and the Ghana Institute of Journalism.The 41-year-old journalist left behind a wife, Kwansema Dumor and three children.GNA

Pusunamongo (UE) Jan. 23, GNA - Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Catholic Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, on Wednesday reiterated the need for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to adopt stringent measures to tackle the plastic waste menace that has engulfed the country.The Bishop suggested to the Assemblies to allot compulsory clean-up days for the residents to clean their environments even if such decision would have to halt economic activities temporarily, and said the move should be backed by their by-laws to manage and care of the environment and change attitudes.The Bishop was addressing participants at a review meeting in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on the implementation of the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851).Bishop Agyenta indicated that poor attitudes to sanitation had led to increase in communicable diseases, and said if they engaged in good hygienic practices, they would nib diseases in the bud, stressing the need to address the root cause of these problems, as well as ensure good packaging of sanitation messages.He said there was the need for more promotion and expansion on decisions regarding public health, adding that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has joined hands with stakeholders to make the laws on health more practicable through awareness creation.He said the catholic church continues to play its role to draw attention of the public to some lapses in public health education, and mentioned instances of public distribution and the use of condoms as a lapse in public health education from the catholic church’s point of view, adding “if we are not cautious, we could be cutting the very branches that we are sitting on.'Mr William Abarikisi, Development Co-ordinator at the Yendi Diocese said the Public Health Act 851 targeted the poor and was special to the three northern regions that were more vulnerable and susceptible to poor health conditions, because of the high poverty levels and polluted water bodies there, adding that the forum provided opportunities for interaction between government and end users of services.Mr Daniel Syme , Upper East Regional Minister congratulated the Catholic Church for her role in promoting education, health and the general wellbeing of the people.He said the review meeting was another intervention of the Catholic Church which “even though related to health, was key to wealth creation, and relevant to the socio-economic development agenda of the nation.He added that health was fundamental to government, and so it was making efforts to ensure that Ghanaians had access to health facilities, citing the number of clinics, CHPS compounds and hospitals constructed throughout the country.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA – Eric Atafi, a Mason was on Thursday sentenced to nine months imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for possessing 27 wraps of powdery substances suspected to be narcotic drugs without lawful authority.Atafi was also fined Gh₡1,200.00 (100 penalty unit) by the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri.Atafi, who was charged for possession substances suspected to be narcotic drugs, was convicted for using the substance, after he pleaded guilty to the offence and explained to the court how he got possession of the substance.Mr Obiri also ordered that the exhibits be destroyed by the investigator under the supervision of the court Registrar.Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Cletus Abadamlora presenting the facts of the case said on May 24, 2013, at about 0600 hours, personnel from the narcotic unit of the CID headquarters conducted an operation at Accra New Town.He said in the course of the operation, the team entered a wooden structure at Accra New Town-AKOTEX, where most narcotic drug dealers transact their business.ASP Abadamlora said the convict Atafi, was arrested with a bag around his waist.He said a search revealed that the bag contains 27 wraps of brownish substance suspected to be narcotic drugs and an amount of GH₡209.00, believed to be proceeds from his drug business.The prosecution told the court that upon interrogation and in his caution statement, Atafi admitted the offense and explained that on May 23, the same year at about 2000 hours, the exhibit dropped from the pocket of one Ibrahim, at Accra New Town- Akotex.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA – Mrs. Afi Yakubu, Executive Director of Foundation for Security Development in Africa (FOSDA) on Thursday urged security agencies to promptly react to issues threatening the peace and security of the nation.In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the state of security in the country she stated: “our security intelligence should be sharpened in order to react promptly to issues that threaten the peace and security of our country.”“Even though Ghana appears to be in a very comfortable situation, we should not lower our guards”.FOSDA is a non-governmental organization which focuses specifically on promoting the development of comprehensive human security programmes where issues of good governance, economic empowerment, reduction of violent armed conflicts and constitution democracies become a dominant culture in the sub-region.Mrs. Yakubu said the security of the country is not only the responsibility of the security agencies but also the citizens, adding that, armed robbery and murders are not the only threat to peace and security.“The frequent burning of commercial places like the market, comments made by the public on issues, people brutalizing fellow humans, drug trafficking and land guards are all threats to security,” she added.Mrs. Afi Yakubu said issues concerning land ownership and land guards have not been professionally addressed, and “this exposes our security in a very bad light, which goes a long way to affect investor confidence in the Ghanaian economy”.She appealed to chiefs to assist in maintaining peace and security in their various communities, as the Andani chiefs are doing in their recent Damba Festival celebrated by the Abudus, which is a testimony that tribes in conflict can settle their own differences.Mrs. Yakubu said playing politics with tribal conflicts is very dangerous, undemocratic and an enemy to national development.“It is the responsibility of every Ghanaian to encourage people who are in conflicts, to resolve their differences, since it has a bearing on the economy,” she stated.She urged government to encourage and support activities that will unite people in conflict areas.Mrs Yakubu said tragic outcomes of violence have dangerous consequences for all Ghanaians, no matter where they live…“People died over disputes that might have been solved by negotiations if lethal weapons were not so easy to obtain throughout the country”.She noted that FOSDA since 2000 has led the campaign on action against the misuse of small arms and light weapons in West Africa.The FOSDA Executive Director therefore called for multi-faceted efforts to deal with security in the country.GNA

Konongo (Ash), Jan. 23, GNA – The Konongo District Court has sentenced a driver to a fine of GH¢300.00 after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving and causing harm.Edward Amponsah would serve six months imprisonment, if he fails to pay the fine.A Ford Ranger vehicle he was driving somersaulted, after he lost control of the steering wheel and run into a ditch at Nobewam on the Kumasi-Accra Highway.Police Chief Inspector Osei Kwame told the court presided over by Mrs. Rosemond Vera Aryetey Ocloo that this happened on November 28, last year, at about 1130 hours, whilst overtaking another vehicle.The convict, together with two other passengers were seriously injured and had to be transferred from the Konongo-Odumasi Government hospital to the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for treatment.GNA

Juaso (Ash), Jan. 23, GNA – An ex-convict, Kwadwo Frimpong, is returning to prison to serve a six-year sentence in hard labour after being convicted for causing harm.He had inflicted cutlass wounds on one Doris Frimpomaa at Domeabra in the Asante-Akim North District during a failed bid to rape her.This happened on December 24, 2012, and the victim had to be kept on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for three weeks.Frimpong fled to Atebubu in Brong-Ahafo, where he committed another crime (theft), for which, he was imprisoned for six months.He was re-arrested immediately after serving out the jail-term to stand trial at the Juaso Circuit Court for the earlier offence.Police Chief Inspector Leo Boateng told the court presided over by Mr. Alex Obeng Asante that the woman had engaged Frimpong to assist her carry some foodstuff on her farm.Whilst there, the convict asked her for sex, which she refused and in a cruel bid to force her into submission, he began slashing the woman, with a cutlass.Doris managed to run to a nearby farm, where one Akwasi Hene, rushed her to the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.The ex- convict pleaded guilty to the crime.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA – A woman who claimed to have been possessed by the Holy Spirit to deliver people at the Nogokpo Shrine annex at Ablorman, near Amasaman, has ended up destroying properties at the shrine.Gladys Akpabli, unemployed, has been hauled before an Accra Circuit court, where she pleaded not guilty to causing unlawful damage.On December 2, 2013 at Abloman, near Amasaman, Gladys allegedly destroyed a pot, an earthen ware bowl, a drum, a sculpture believed to be a deity all totaling GH₡12,000.00 belonging to Torgbui Nogokpo.Gladys, who was admitted to self -recognizance bail by the court presided over by Ms Ellen Amoah, will reappear on February 19.Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agnes Boafo explained that the complainant Torgbui Nogokpo is a herbalist.ASP Boafo said the complainant and accused person lived in the same vicinity at Ablorman. On December 2, last year, at about 09:30 hours, Gladys was worshiping in a church with some other members at Ablorman and at a point claimed to be possessed by the Holy Spirit and rushed to the shrine.On reaching there, the prosecution said Gladys met the complainant’s secretary, a witness in the case playing a drumProsecution said Gladys ordered the witness to stop playing the drum to enable her to deliver him with the power of the Holy Spirit.The witness ignored Gladys and this infuriated her and she hit the witness several times with her Bible.According to Prosecution, Gladys got closer to one of the sculptures displayed there and damaged it and other items on display.A report was made to the Police and Gladys was arrested.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur said on Thursday that Ghana’s stable political environment coupled with her good quality labour force has made the country a good destination for investment.He therefore called on private investors, both local and foreign, to anchor their investments in the country, saying that this would also give them access to the larger West African market.Vice President Amissah-Arthur made the call on when a visiting delegation from Marubeni Corporation of Japan called on him at Flagstaff House in Accra.A release from Flagstaff House signed by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Presidential Staffer, and copied to the Ghana News Agency quoted Vice President Amissah-Arthur as saying that Ghana and Japan could collaborate in many sectors of the economy for the mutual benefit of the two countries.“In particular he mentioned the energy and agricultural sectors as potential areas for collaboration, noting that such ventures will not only add to the energy needs of the two countries, but would also help create sustainable jobs for Ghanaians”, the release said.It added that the visiting delegation expressed interest in playing major roles in the country’s energy sector, as well as the establishment of a sugar plant in northern Ghana, among other ventures.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The Government of Ghana has welcomed the desire of Marubeni Corporation, a Japanese business conglomerate to operate as an independent power supplier.This would help shore up electricity supply across the country.Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Thursday gave the assurance that the Government would expand the framework for “that kind of business” and encourage more companies.“We will encourage some more companies to improve the quality of powers supply,” the Vice President said, at the Flagstaff House in Accra, when a business and investment delegation, from the Corporation, led by Mr. Naoto Nikai, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana paid a courtesy call on him.The delegation, on a three-day working visit to Ghana, had since held discussions with the Ministries of Finance and Trade and Industry, and would soon hold discussion with the Ministry of Energy as well as business networking session with Ghanaian business persons.Vice President Amissah-Arthur urged the Corporation to move beyond the supply of equipment to the Volta River Authority (VRA), the main generator of electricity in Ghana, for a more direct participation in power generation.He also invited the Corporation to invest in Ghana’s vast agricultural opportunities, adding that, they could take advantage of the fertility of the soil in Northern Ghana and establish sugarcane plantations and sugar processing plants there, an opportunity that has so far been limited to the Southern sector.Mr Shigero Yamazoe, Marubeni Board Member for Sub Saharan African, said the Maruabeni was one of the largest investment firms in Japan and expressed the Corporation’s strong interest for investment in GhanaMarubeni is involved in the handling of products and provision of services in a broad range of sectors.These areas encompass importing and exporting, as well as transactions in the Japanese market, related to food materials, food products, textiles, materials, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals and mineral resources, transportation, machinery and offshore trading.The Company's activities also extend to power projects and infrastructure, plants and industrial machinery, finance, logistics and information industry, and real estate development and construction.Additionally, Marubeni conducts business investment, development and management on a global level.GNA

Dixcove (W/R), Jan. 23, GNA - There is shortage of pre-mix fuel in the coastal town of Dixcove in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.Emmanuel Bentum, a resident of the town, said more than 400 canoes in the area had not received petroleum products for their fishing expedition for more than two weeks now, thus heightening the economic situation of the people because most of them depended on fishing for their livelihood.Kwesi Awortwe, a fisherman, said as a result of the shortage, some fishermen are facing financial difficulties especially the payment of their wards school fees, whilst others credit food to feed their family.Meanwhile, Mr. Joseph Dofoyenah, District Chief Executive for Ahanta West, told the GNA that he received report on the shortage of the commodity on Thursday January 23, and assured the fishermen that the National Pre-mix Secretariat would be informed.He advised them to exercise restraints as measures would be put in place to address their concerns.GNA

Sunyani, Jan. 23, GNA - The Brong-Ahafo branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has appealed to drivers in the region to desist from charging unapproved transport fares.Mr Richard Amankwaa, Regional Secretary of the Union (GPRTU), who made the appealed in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, in Sunyani, warned that recalcitrant drivers would be sanctioned when arrested.He said the act was illegal and contrary to the rules of the Union and urged passengers to report drivers who charge above the stipulated fares to the Union.Mr. Amankwaa said the Union’s national executives had sent proposals to the Ministry of Trade and Industry after the increase of fuel prices, and that, there had been several meetings with the sector Minister to come out with new approved fares.Passengers in the Sunyani Municipality had been complaining over the payment of unapproved new fares being charged by some taxi drivers plying various destinations in the Municipality.Some considerate and law-abiding drivers argued that their colleagues, charging the unapproved fares must wait for an official increase by the authorities, whilst others insisted that the upward adjustment of fuel had affected the cost of spare parts and that, they cannot not wait any longer.Mr. Amankwaa pointed out that drivers, who charge above the stipulated fares were wrong since those fares could even be higher or lower than what they were charging when the new fares comes out and asked them to be patient.He explained that the Union does not only look at the increase in fuel prices to determine how to charge but factors in 26 other elements in their proposal to the Ministry.Mr Amankwaa appealed to government to liaise with the Union “whenever it is about to announce an increase in fuel prices, to enable the union to educate the drivers, at least two days before the announcement, to prepare their minds.Mr. Yaw Boakye, First Trustee of the GPRTU taxi branch in Sunyani, said even though drivers had been advised to stick to the old fares, they are are not happy and are complaining about the delay in announcing the new fares.Madam Adwoa Faustina, a petty trader at the Sunyani old station, told the GNA that some of the drivers refuse to pick passengers who were not ready to pay the new unapproved fares.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA – The Rent Control Department in 2013 successfully settled 30,456 out of 64,456 cases it received from both landlords and tenants, Mr Addo Soin Dombo, Chief Rent Controller told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Thursday.A total of 15,345 cases were also referred to the courts for redress, while 18,655 are still pending before the Department.He said last year, the Department, in collaboration with some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) was able to open new offices in nine districts.The districts include Akatsi, Kpando and Denu, in the Volta Region, Yendi and Bimbilla in the Northern Region, Jirapa, Lawra and Wa in the Upper West Region, and Weija in the Greater Accra Region.He lauded Alhaji Habib Tijani, Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi for furnishing and equipping the Yendi Office with computers and appealed to other MMDAs and MPs to emulate the gesture.Mr Dombo said the Department had 45 offices nationwide, which was woefully inadequate, adding that, in districts where they had no offices, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative was compelled to take up rent cases which was outside the Commission’s mandate.He said plans were underway for the opening of an additional 25 new district Offices this year, but lamented that the Department was facing serious financial constraints in carrying out its mandate.He said the Department’s subventions for 2013 had not been released and this had made it practically impossible for them to pay contractors for work done, declaring that their projects were at a standstill.The Chief Rent Controller mentioned that on-going office complex projects such as a two-storey complex in Wa, which was 40 per cent completed, a single storey in Jirapa, 55 per cent complete, the rehabilitation of the Tema Office and the Head Office in Accra were 95 per cent and 90 per cent complete respectively.Mr Dombo said their Nkronza Office complex, which cost GH₡9,800.00, was completed and handed over to them in June 2012, but the contractor has not yet been paid.He said some of the contractors had threatened to take legal action against them, and appealed to government to release their subvention, to enable them to pay the contractors.Mr Dombo said for the past two years, the only pickup vehicle of the Department had broken down, making it difficult for management to supervise the activities of its staff.He said this year, through the intervention of Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, the Department was able to acquire a Navada Pickup vehicle from its sister Department, the Hydrological Services Department, which he said was going to increase productivity at the Department.He appealed to government and the Ministry to help with additional three or four pickup vehicles to enhance their work.Mr Dombo also urged the Finance Ministry to speed up works on the processing of emoluments for the recruitment of new staff to replace retired staff.GNA

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA – The Ministry of Education (MoE) on Thursday said it has presented evidence to the National Labour Commission (NLC) to show the level of its commitments towards the concerns of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association (CETAG).Mr Paul Kofi Krampa, Director of Public Relations, MoE, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the Ministry is ready to accompany CETAG to appear before the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on Friday, January 24, to discuss issues over their conditions of services.“We will go with CETAG to the FWSC tomorrow hopefully to resolve the issue of conditions of service once and for all,” Mr Krampa noted.Mr Krampa was commenting on the outcome of discussion held at the National Labour Commission between MoE and CETAG on Wednesday, January 22, which he described as “very successful as both sides presented their points to the Commission”.According to Mr Krampa, CETAG has agreed to call a meeting of its members on Tuesday January 28, to take a final decision over their on-going strike action.Meanwhile, the NLC has described CETAG’s strike as premature, procedurally wrong and illegal under the law.The Commission has therefore directed the CETAG to immediately call off the strike and appraise itself properly with the provisions in the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), regarding the processes of unionization and the dispute settlement procedures.A statement signed by Dr Bernice A. Welbeck, Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday said.According to the statement, the Commission gave the directives after meeting representatives of CETAG, the Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Council of Ghana in Accra on Wednesday January 22.The meeting was to resolve the strike embarked by CETAG.Dr Welbeck said “having heard the parties; the Commission observed that the MoE is working at ensuring that CETAG’s concerns are addressed in line with the harmonized statutes, condition of service and scheme of service developed for the Colleges of Education”.The Commission therefore directed MoE to expedite the process to have the concerns and issues affecting CETAG addressed as soon as possible and urged CETAG to avail itself of the opportunity given the association to be involved in the stakeholder discussion going at the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.The Commission also directed the MoE to provide CETAG with copies of all the relevant documents that will facilitate their participation in the discussions at the FWSC in an informed manner.The CETAG on Monday January 20, embarked on an industrial action against poor conditions of service.GNA

Nante (B/A), Jan. 23, GNA - Mr Thomas Bernakuu, Programme Coordinator of Mission of Hope for Society (MIHOSO), a Non-governmental organization (NGO) on Thursday said parental neglect affects children access to basic education in the Kintampo South District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.Mr Bernakuu, who is in charge of the Complementary Basic Education programme (CBE), said lack of proper parental care and child protection in the district was very worrisome as many of the parents engaged their children in farming activities at the expense of their education.Mr Bernakuu raised the concerns when he addressed the people of Nante, Nante Zongo, Amoma, Pramposo, Mansie, Mo Nkwanta, Agyegyamakunu, Hyireso, Comendar, Chireni and Dumso, all in the Kintampo south district, at separate educational meetings.The meetings were aimed at educating the people on the CBE programme being implemented by the NGO in the communities.The CBE is a ground-breaking and accelerated approach that teaches marginalised children how to read and write in their own dialect and become numerate in a period of nine months and targets out-of-school children.Mr Bernakuu noted with regret that many parents in the communities encouraged their children to go into exploitative work for money to the detriment of their education.He explained that MIHOSO in partnership with World Education Ghana, an NGO, had formed 13 CBE classes and rescued 325 out-of-school children in the district.“These children are now taught every day by using the CBE methodology” Mr Bernakuu said, adding that, the exercise demonstrated strong retention and completion rates, and that, about 90 per cent of learners graduate from the classes; and 70-80 per cent go on to attend primary school.Mr Bernakuu appealed to the District Assembly to enforce the implementation of the Children law Act (560).GNA

Koforidua, Jan 23, GNA - Socioserve-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has taken the initiative to lead the crusade of improving maternal health delivery in the Eastern Region this year.Mrs Josephine Sackey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NGO, disclosed this at a multi-stakeholders meeting held at Koforidua to deliberate on ways to improve maternal health delivery.She said last year, her outfit identified some challenges militating against maternal health delivery in five districts in the Eastern Region under its ‘Mobilising Community Action towards Maternal Health Improvement (MOCAMI)’ Project.The districts were Asuogyaman, Kwaebibirem, Lower Manya Krobo, Kwahu West and Birim Central.Mrs Sackey said those challenges include inadequate human resource, inadequate logistics for effective healthcare delivery and ineffective monitoring of activities of health officers at the health centers.She said others were weak collaboration between Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and difficulties in getting CHPS centres accredited under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).Mr Osman Mensah, consultant for the MOCAMI Project, implored the Health Directorates to explore other sources of funding to improve logistics and facilities at the health centres.He further urged them to strengthen monitoring and supervision of health officers posted to the various communities, to ensure that they are always at post.Mr Mensah appealed to the Health Directorate to consider paring males with females in posting to CHPS centres to improve attendance rate of ‘traditional’ women.The Stakeholders, including health officers, traditional leaders, some Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the media, accepted that they all had a role in improving maternal health.They pledged for the intensification of education on the acceptance of male midwives by the various communities “since the common goal is to save expectant mothers from dying.”Socioserve-Ghana, in partnership with RITE FM and with support from STAR Ghana, initiated the MOCAMI Project to empower communities to identify maternal health issues within the health service delivery chain for solution.