Bontanga (N/R), Jan 22, GNA – Savana Signatures, a non-governmental organization in the Northern Region, has introduced a new technology to aid pregnant women with the most important information regarding their pregnancies to ensure safe delivery.This technology is being piloted in four districts of the Region.The NGO is using Information and Communication tools to implement the Technology for Maternal Health (TMH) project which started in September 2013 in the Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Kumbungu districts and the Yendi Municipality.Miss Elizabeth Hariba Jakalia, Project Officer for TMH, said on Wednesday that the project had donated some computers and software to four hospitals for nurses and midwives to educate pregnant women especially on safe delivery.She said Short Message System (SMS) was sent to the pregnant women who have been registered in the system and that some 1,735 pregnant women receive periodic information on nutrition, hygiene, antenatal information, dangerous signs and preparations towards delivery.At the King’s Medical Centre at Bontanga in the Kumbungu District, Mr. Nii Otu Ankrah, the Director of Administration, commended the Savanna Signatures for implementing such an innovative project but suggested the need for a projector to showcase video documentaries to the pregnant women during antenatal attendance.He said such a documentary would deepen education for the pregnant mothers especially those who could not read and write stressing that the facility had upgraded the ICT knowledge of the staff.Madam Amina Mumuni, a Matron at the King’s Medical Centre said the project would serve as a complementary education about pregnancy to the expectant mothers aside what was being provided by nurses and midwives.She said 200 pregnant women in the hospital had so far registered on the system and received periodic information on their mobile phones.Madam Vida Molah, a pregnant woman, said the technology had aided her to receive timely information which helped her to prepare adequately on her pregnancy.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA – Vice President Mr Kwesi Bekoe. Amissah-Arthur, has commended the chiefs and people of Gonja Traditional Council for their effort at ensuring the prevalence of peace in the area.Mr Amissah-Arthur made the point when he spoke at the Damba festival of the chiefs and people of the area as the special guest of honour in Damongo on Tuesday.Mr Amissah-Arthur observed that peace and stability engendered development and progress, and therefore urged traditional authorities to complement government’s effort at ensuring peace in the country.The Vice President, who earlier inspected the progress of work on the Fufulso-Sawla road project, said as part of its continuous effort to deliver on the Better Ghana Agenda, the Government was laying the foundation, though critical investments, to improve the lives of the people.Earlier on Tuesday, Vice President Amissah-Arthur also paid a courtesy call on the Regent of Dagbon at Yendi.GNA

Tema, Jan. 22, GNA - The Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate (TMHD) would this year, strengthen the local Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) to intensify the public health drive in the Tema Metropolis.The CHPS concept, which was already operational in some communities, would be extended to all the 32 electoral areas, to facilitate the deployment of health workers throughout the Metropolis.Dr John Yabani, Tema Metropolitan Health Director, was addressing the Directorate’s 2013 Annual Performance Review Conference on Wednesday which was attended by 100 health professionals.He said each electoral area would be assigned two nurses to deliver health services to the people at their doorstep.According to him, the nurses would operate on house to house basis during which they would educate residents on the importance of practicing good personal and environmental hygiene.The Health Director indicated that the nurses would also be the first point of call on health issues in the community after which patients with serious issues would be referred to the nearest hospital.Dr Yabani added that those referred to the hospital by the Community Nurses, would be given special treatment by the doctors.He advised the various health facilities in the Metropolis to do follow ups on cases they refer to other hospitals to monitor the condition of the patient.Dr Yabani called on stakeholders, especially, chiefs and opinion leaders in the community to encourage patients in their locality to consult the nurses on their health problems.He said health coverage last year was very high and called on stakeholders to help bring in more ambulances to reduce preventable deaths.In a presentation at the conference, Madam Vida Eyram Degbor, Tema Metropolitan Births and Deaths Registrar, said in 2013, her outfit registered a total of 18,208 births, which comprised of 9,841 males and 8,367 females.Madam Degbor added that a total of 2,381 deaths consisting of 1,363 males and 1,018 females were also registered.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The Ministry of Trade and Industry on Wednesday formalized a working relationship with PYXERA Global, a partnership that was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Accra.The Ghana Supply Chain Development Program will enable collaboration towards increasing the participation of local small and medium sized enterprises in the supply chains of international oil companies operating in Ghana.A release from the Public Affairs section of the United States (US) Embassy in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said earlier in 2013, USAID awarded a 5-year $ 4.9 million grant to PYXERA Global to implement the program in the Western Region of Ghana.It said the programme which is based in Takoradi seeks to increase sustainable participation of Ghanaian small businesses in oil and gas procurements.“The program strives to increase capacity of local business service providers relating to sector procurement regulations and standards; create market linkages between the oil and gas sector; and collaborate closely with the Enterprise Development Center to facilitate the sustainable provision of business development services”, the release explained.In his remarks, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Gene Cretz, noted that, “Today’s Memorandum of Understanding signing is a visible demonstration of the U.S. commitment to ensuring that Ghanaian businesses have the expertise and support needed to bid for and, most importantly, win procurements in the oil and gas sector in Ghana.“There can be no clearer example of our strongly-held view that local content is a worthy goal and can be mutually beneficial when there is a cooperative process of consultation and shared understandin”, Ambassador Cretz said.GNA

Agona-Nkwanta (WR), Jan.22, GNA—Four persons have been arrested and placed in police custody for attacking a fetish priest and vandalizing his house at Kwamekrom in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.They were arraigned before a Takoradi Circuit court for causing damage and obstructing arrest.Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Samuel Osei, Agona-Nkwanta District Police Commander, confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.He said an angry mob attacked Nana Tandoh, a fetish priest, at Kwamekrom for allegedly killing one Kweku Musu spiritually at Fasen in the Ahanta West District.He said the mob attacked and vandalized the house of the fetish priest but he managed to escape to Agona-Nkwanta Police Station last Monday January 20, and reported the incident to the police.ASP Osei said the police is protecting the fetish priest from further mob attacks and was keeping him at a safe place at the police station.He said the mob also attacked the police at Agona-Nkwanta upon receiving information that the fetish priest was being kept safely there.Asked whether the fetish priest would also be charged for allegedly killing someone spiritually, he said the police do not prosecute spiritual or superstitious cases.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22 GNA - The United Cadres Front (UCF) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has endorsed the proposal by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary of the NDC for the Biometric registration of all members of the party.A statement signed by Mr Sammy Donkoh, National Media Relations Officer of the UFC stated that the National Executive Committee of the group, which held a meeting at the Cadre Headquarters at East Legon, on January 16, 2014, supported the exercise, saying it would enable the party to know its true membership nationwide, as well as its electoral strengthen and weakness.The statement also noted that, the exercise would allow every member of the party to exercise his or her franchise in selecting their leaders from the branch level to the national.It said one very important role of the biometric exercise is its potential of weeding out vote-buying, manipulation and factionalism that often characterize elections at all levels, which stall party organization and growth.The statement urged all those who are threatening to initiate court actions to challenge a possible delay in conducting the elections this year to think about the general good of the party. It urged members to elect genuine people to lead the party from the branch to the national levels.Meanwhile the UFC has also called on the management of the Merchant Bank to publish the names of those indebted to the bank immediately and without fail.The statement said the decision of the bank to give a two-week ultimatum has been overtaken by political events surrounding who owes the bank.The statement said banks and similar institutions, which take the people for granted, should know that Ghanaians are very much discerning about issues concerning them.GNA

Tema, Jan. 22, GNA - The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has reassured residents of Tema and its environs that the Assembly has not abandoned the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park project.The project, which was initiated under the administration of Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, Former Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive in 2012, is to acknowledge Dr Kwame Nkrumah's vision for building Tema as the first well planned city in West Africa.The Nkrumah Park project, which looked abandoned, is located near the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), with a veiled statue of the first president at the park.While the Nkrumah statue and other ones at the park have been covered with black polythene, the green grass fields around it has also turned yellowish and patched.Facilities that are expected to be located at the park include a resource centre, a fountain, library, restaurant and arrangement for relaxation.Mr Frank Asante, TMA's Public Relations Officer, addressing the media on Monday, said "the memorial park concept is bright" stressing that "we have not abandoned it".Mr Asante added that the TMA has only returned to the drawing board to brainstorm and find ways to make the project more viable.He stated that the Assembly was determined to build and rehabilitate existing parks in the Metropolis, including the children's park.The PRO indicated that plans were advanced to improve the status of the children's park, which has become a pale shadow of its initial state.The children's park located between the Tema Metropolitan Library and the Tema Senior High School was vibrant in the 1990s but has become a haven for miscreants.Parents in the Tema Metropolis now prefer visiting other recreational places, including the beaches during holidays, as the park has become dangerous for the children to patronize due to the visible cracks in the giant concrete animal statues there.Mr Asante denied the rumour that the children's park had been sold to some expatriates, explaining that, the TMA has the option of partnering individuals and organisations to develop the harbour city.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - President John Mahama on Wednesday opened a World Economic Forum session on Responsible Mineral Development Initiative.The Initiative aims at helping countries develop their mineral resources in a socially and economically responsible manner.According to a release from Flagstaff House copied to the Ghana News Agency, President Mahama said in his opening remarks that Ghana was seeking international cooperation to move her from a primary processor of mineral resources to a secondary one.He said although Ghana still lived her accolade as the Gold Coast, the sector faced a number of challenges such as illegal mining which resulted in the deportation of about 4,700 illegal miners.“President Mahama noted that apart from a number of legislation passed to inject sanity into the sector, there is the need for technical expertise to manage the system”, the release stated.The session was also attended by Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson and Guinean President Alpha Conde.GNA

Tema, Jan. 22, GNA - The Burkinabe, Malian and Nigerien shipping communities in Ghana have protested against the, “physical escort of goods in transit and the collection of unjustified fees, without receipt.”“The simultaneous charging of transit infrastructural fees for the e-tracking and human escort fees is clearly abusive and does not conform to any known standard, in addition to the fact that it unnecessarily adds to the cost of doing business in the Ghanaian corridor.”These were contained in a petition signed by Mr Yaya Yedan, representative of the Burkina Shippers Council, and addressed to the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) and copied to the Commissioner, Customs division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other stakeholders on 17th January 2014.According to the statement, a recently appointed Officer-in-Charge of the transit yard of the Tema Harbour has at his own discretion introduced the new measure, which took effect in November 2013.“The measure, which adversely affects the entire transit trade has been introduced at the discretion of only one customs officer without any official notice to the GPHA, transit destination Shippers Councils’ represented at the Port, National Security and other port stakeholders”, he said.Mr Yedan said the measure undermined the integrity of the existing GCNET electronic tracking system and contradicts the relevant GRA Commissioner’s order.“It reinforces the perception of unreliability and unpredictability of the Ghanaian corridor and therefore has the tendency to jeopardize the hard-won reputation of the Ghana ports and the tremendous efforts made by GPHA and other players, including the Ghana Custom Command, to attract transit trade.”Mr Yedan said:”We hope you will assist to help eliminate this new non-tariff barrier (NTB) for improved efficiency of the Ghana corridor.”Reacting to the landlocked shipping community petition, Mrs Nunya Amedonoo, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Customs division of the GRA, Tema, said some selected commodities which are normally not sent to their destinations (diversion) are given escorts.“Cloth, Cooking oil, Tomato paste, canned fish and Alcoholic beverages, which are prone to diversion by the shippers are accompanied by custom officers because the tracking system is not enough to stop such diversions.”Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are landlocked (no direct access to the sea) countries in West Africa, which rely on coastal countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin to export and import most of their goods, an activity known in maritime circles as transit trade.Ghana has become one of their most reliable routes since the Ivorian crises. The Tema Harbour alone has between 2001 and 2012, accounted for their combined import and export traffic of more than 8 million metric tonnes.GNA

Cape Coast, Jan. 22, GNA - Kwesi More, a 49 year old accountant at the St. Paul’s Senior High School in Koforidua in the Eastern Region was on Wednesday remanded into Police custody for allegedly stabbing his daughter to death at Saltpond.He pleaded not guilty and will be re-arraigned on Wednesday, February 5.Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Charles Anku told the Cape Coast Circuit court, presided over by Mrs. Florence Otu that, on Wednesday, January 1, the daughter More, Ama Aidoo, visited her father at his residence in Saltpond in the Central Region to discuss issues concerning a family land he had sold to his colleague worker.He said the discussion resulted in an argument between the two and out of anger, Kwesi entered his room and came out wielding a knife and threatened to stab Ama if she does not leave the room immediately.Chief Inspector Anku said Kwesi tried to push Ama out of the room but she refused to leave, insisting that the issue must be resolved before she leaves, a struggle ensued between them and in the process Kwesi stabbed her in the stomach.He said Ama was immediately rushed to the Saltpond District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.A complain was lodged at the police station and Kwesi was arrested and charged with the offence.GNA

Tarkwa, Jan. 22 GNA - A Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced Yaw Badu, an illegal miner to 18 months imprisonment for stealing two mobile phones valued 100 Ghana cedis at Wassa Dunkwa near Asankrangwa.He was convicted on his own plea.Prosecuting Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo that during the early part of November, last year the complainant went and ate in a chop bar belonging to the convicts sister at Wassa Dunkwa and forgot his two G’Tide mobile phones there.He said when the complainant went back to collect the phones it was established that Badu came to the chop bar and stole the phones but when the complainant contacted him he denied having the phones.Detective Amponsah said on December 5, Badu was harassed at an illegal mining site by some food sellers for nonpayment of food he bought from them.According to the Prosecutor, the convict who had no money to pay the women brought out a G’Tide phone from his pocket and pleaded with a colleague who is a witness to collect the phone and settle the debt for him and promised to pay back the money for his phone.He said after collecting the phone the witness showed it to the complainant and he identified it to be his.Detective Amponsah said Badu was arrested and interrogated as to how he came by the phone but he could not give any tangible reason and was handed over to the police.The Prosecutor said the convict also abandoned the second phone in a taxi which was found by the driver and it was handed over to the police.He said the complainant later came to identify the phone as the one stolen by the convict.GNA

Kumasi, Jan. 22, GNA – A carpenter has been ordered by a Kumasi Circuit Court to spend 15 years in prison for robbery.Kanas Manu, alias “Kwaku Mortey”, 22, together with two others on the run had attacked and robbed a student of his mobile phones and cash at Ahwiaa in the Kwabre East District, a crime he denied.A 60-year-old woman, Victoria Nyarko, and her grandson, Francis Asante, who stood trial with the convict were, however, freed after they had been cautioned by the court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey.The robbery incident happened on December 27, last year at about 2100 hours.Police Chief Inspector James Amekah said the victim, John Appiah, was returning to his house, when the convict and his two other criminal partners, held him at gunpoint and seized his two cellular phones and cash of GH¢ 10.00.As luck would have it, he knew two of his attackers and went to inform Victoria, the grandmother of one of them, about the incident, the next morning.The woman with the support of Asante managed to get one of the stolen phones returned to him and based on that a formal report was made to the police, leading to her arrest.The prosecution said Manu, who was being held for his involvement in a similar crime, was identified by the victim at the police station.The court, in discharging Victoria and Asante, said it took into consideration the age of the woman and the demeanor of the young man (Asante).Meanwhile, the police have mounted a search to bring the two other suspects to justice.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA – Ghana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2013 grew by 0.3 per cent (year-on-year) compared to the 6.1 per cent recorded in the second quarter.Dr Philomena Nyarko, Government Statistician, who disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference in Accra said the services sector recorded the highest growth of 6.7 per cent, while agriculture and industry sectors, followed with negative growth rates of 3.8 per cent and 11.8 per cent respectively.She said key findings of the performance of activities in the third quarter of 2013 compared with the third quarter of 2012 by economic activities were electricity production expanded by 16.3 per cent and hotel and restaurant activities increased by 10.4 per cent.The rest are financial and insurance activities increased by 29.6 per cent, public administration was 30.1 per cent and information and communication increased by 19.3 per cent.The Government Statistician observed that seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter estimates of the real GDP grew by 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2013 over the estimates of 3.9 per cent for the second quarter of 2013.She said the most notable performances were public administration, 11.0 per cent, financial and insurance activities, 10.4 per cent, electricity, 9.3 per cent, hotel and restaurant activities, 7.5 per cent and crops and cocoa, 2.2 per cent.Dr Nyarko said in the agriculture sector, economic activity in crops and cocoa sub-sector reflected a positive growth of 2.2 per cent over the 1.5 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2013. This she attributed to the seasonal pattern of crops harvesting.She said economic activities in the mining and quarrying sub-sector within the industry sector recorded a growth of -14.7 per cent over the growth of 3.7 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2013.She explained that this was due to a decline in the production of oil by 16.0 per cent as a result of a planned operational maintenance in the Jubilee field.Dr Nyarko said in addition, the production of gold and diamond declined by 29.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively over the second quarter.She said the manufacturing sub-sector recorded a negative growth of 4.7 per cent over the second quarter’s negative growth rate of 19.8 per cent.This, she also said was partly due to lower production of food and beverages, refined petroleum products, and manufacture of paper and paper products.She said there were increases in the production of electricity by 9.3 per cent, hotel and restaurant activities by 7.5 per cent, financial and insurance activities by 10.4 over the second quarter of 2013 (2.0 per cent, 2.1 per cent and -0.3 per cent respectively).Dr Nyarko noted that most of the sub-sectors, especially in the services sector such as education, financial and insurance activities, health, hotels and restaurants, information and communication activities, showed no evidence of seasonality.She said for the third quarter of 2013, the nominal GDP estimate at current prices was GH¢ 24, 990.96 million, adding that the non-oil GDP at current prices for the third quarter of 2013 was GH¢ 23, 274.57 million.She said the sectoral contribution in the third quarter of 2013, were agriculture, 30.4 per cent, industry, 23.3 per cent, and services, 46.3 per cent.The Government Statistician said the GDP deflator for the third quarter was 304.3 per cent relative to the base year, 2006; declaring that the quarter-on-quarter change in the deflator was 2.7 per cent; whilst the year-on-year change in the deflator was 32.2 per cent.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The leadership and entire membership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday expressed their deepest condolences to the Dumor and Hesse families for their loss.A statement signed by its Secretary General Kofi Asamoah said the TUC also joins hearts with the Ghana Journalist Association, the National Media Commission and the good people of Ghana to express their shock at the sudden death of Komla Dumor.It said the Union was also shocked at the news of the death of Samuel Hesse, the Metro/ETV journalist whose sad demise occurred on the same day as Komla Dumor’s.The TUC described Komla as one of the finest journalists at the BBC in current times; therefore his death was a big blow to Ghana, the BBC and the world.It said Sammy on the other hand was a forerunner on the Ghanaian media scene and had a passion for excellence, adding that, Ghana has lost two gallant sons.“The Union prays that the Good Lord takes both families through these difficult times and bless them with His peace,” the statement concluded.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - A 24-year-old teacher, Nana Yaw Adu-Larbi, who allegedly defiled a five-year-old pupil at a urinal on Wednesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.Charged with defilement, Adu-Larbi has pleaded not guilty.The court presided over by Ms Ellen Amoah has remanded him into Police custody to re-appear on February 5.Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah told the court that the complainant Mr Andrew Ofori is a driver and the victim’s father.Adu-Larbi is a teacher at the victim’s school at Gbawe in Accra.ASP Acquah said on January 14, this year at about 3:00pm the victim after close of school, waited to be picked home when she suddenly felt like urinating. She went to the school’s nursery section washroom to urinate.According to prosecution, Adu-Larbi followed the victim into the wash room and took advantage of her innocence and had sex with her.After the act, prosecution said the accused person warned the victim not tell anyone else he would lash her.ASP Acquah said the victim began bleeding and her pant was soaked with blood. When the victim reached home about 5:00pm, she met her mother’s friend called Akua washing some clothes so she (the victim) asked her to wash her pants for her.When the victim removed her pants blood was oozing from her vagina and Akua rushed her to the Lapaz Community Hospital, where the Doctor confirmed that she had been defiled. The victim mentioned Adu-Larbi as the one who had defiled her.The medical doctor referred the victim to the Police Hospital where she was treated and discharged.A complaint was therefore lodged with the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of Ghana Police Service at Odorkor and Adu- Larbi was arrested.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra has remanded into Police custody a 24- year-old student, Henry Alibah for allegedly posting his ex-girlfriend’s nude photographs on facebook.Alibah is said to have taken that decision after his ex-girlfriend had informed him of quitting their two-year-old relationship.Charged for causing emotional or psychological abuse, Aliba pleaded guilty with explanation.According to Alibah, his ex-girlfriend had threatened to reveal all secret things he had told her, adding, his ex-girlfriend had accused him of going in for a prostitute after she had left him.The court presided over Ms Ellen Amoah noted that his plea did not amount to a plea of guilty, hence, entered a plea of not guilty.Alibah is expected to reappear on February 5.Prosecuting Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complainant, Christiana Adoma Boateng is a student and she and Alibah had been in a relation for two years.However, about three months ago, the complainant called Aliba on phone and informed him that she had quit the relationship. Alibah disagreed and pleaded with the complainant to continue the relationship.A few weeks later Alibah called the complainant and asked her to rescind her decision else, he was going to post her nude pictures on facebook.On November 25 last year, Alibah called the complainant and gave her 10 minutes to rescind her decision.Inspector Atimbire said as the complainant did not heed to accused demands, Alibah uploaded her nude photographs on the complainant’s accounts on facebook with the inscription: “Porn Star, pay and fuck. Call me on phone number 0548898426.”Prosecution said a few minutes later, the complainant’s friends went on facebook and started calling her concerning the pictures.To ascertain the truth, prosecution said the complainant herself went on facebook and saw her naked pictures. She became offended and reported the matter to the Police and Alibah was arrested.In Alibah’s cautioned statement, he admitted the offence.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday granted a GH¢ 10,000.00 bail to Kwao Tettey Alexander, a Goldsmith, with two surety, one to be a public servant or resident in Accra, for discharging firearm in public without authority.Kwao, who pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have discharged 12 bore pump action gun in front of his house.Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Morkeh said both the complainant and the accused persons are residents of Race Course, Accra.He said in April last year, the accused was attacked and beaten up by some people who promised to come back another time.He said this made the accused to flee the area for fear of his life, until December when he acquired a pump action gun for self protection.The prosecution told the court that the accused since acquiring the gun has been firing warning shots at night in an open place in front of his house to scare off his attackers.He said on January 19, at about 0530 hours the accused person again fired several shots in front of his house and in the process caused damage to one of the electrical cables, which provided light within the area.DSP Morkeh said some young men around the area including the complainant called the Odorkor patrol team, who came and arrested the accused person to assist in investigation.He told the court that two packets of cartridges and the gun were retrieved from the accused person's room as well as 12 used cartridges found in his compound and on the street around his area.The accused is to reappear before the court on February 5, 2013.GNA

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - The case in which Pastor Ebenezer Asare Kumi, Head Pastor of Grace Powerhouse Ministries defiled his 12-year-old daughter was on Wednesday adjourned to February 5.This was after Mr Stephen Bekoe counsel for Pastor Kumi had prayed the court to assist him secure the proceedings of the court.The court presided over by Ms Ellen Amoah asked defence counsel to apply to the court registrar for the proceedings.The Pastor is alleged to have defiled his daughter while his wife was on admission to deliver their last child.Charged with incest and defilement, Pastor Kumi who is on remand, has pleaded not guilty.Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah had earlier told the court that the complainant was the victim’s mother, aged 35.The couple, the prosecution said, had been married for 14 years, reside at Asofan, near Ofankor in Accra and they have three children.The prosecutor said last year, the victim’s mother was admitted at the Ridge Hospital for about three weeks when she was about to deliver her last baby.According to the prosecutor, the accused person lived with the children including the victim in the same house.However, one night, according to ASP Acquah, the accused person went into the children's room, fondled the victim and had sex with her.Prosecution said after the act, Pastor Kumi threatened his daughter not to tell anyone else she will die.The victim, for fear of her life kept the ordeal to herself although she had begun limping.In December last year, the victim's mother noticed that the victim could not walk properly and therefore took her to the Ridge Hospital for examination and treatment.After the examination, prosecution said it came out that the victim had been defiled.During interrogation, the victim disclosed that it was her father who had had sex with her.The complainant then reported the matter to the Police at Sowutuom in Accra. Later the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit (DOVVSU).Prosecution said when Pastor Kumi was arrested, he denied the offence.GNA

Nkawie (Ash), Jan. 22, GNA – Seventeen people, including two community elders, Nana Akwasi Sarfo and Nana Akwasi Adu Gyamfi, arrested by the police over their alleged involvement in a mob attack on Wednesday, appeared before the Nkawie Circuit Court and were all remanded.They were said to have armed themselves with guns, machetes and other offensive weapons as they laid siege at a sand-winning site at Freyase in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, where they beat up the sand-winners, truck drivers and traders.They also seized cash and mobile phones from the victims.The accused are angry at the lease of the swath of land by the chief of Abuakwa-Apemhase for sand-winning without the approval of the elders of the community.They pleaded not guilty to the offence and would make their next appearance in court on January 29.Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Albert Oddai Owusu told the court presided over by Mr William Boampong that the police received information on January 17, that the group had packed themselves on a Hyundai mini-bus, two taxis and motorbikes, carrying all sorts of offensive weapons and heading for Freyase.They quickly responded and managed to arrest them at the sand-winning site, where live and spent ‘AA’ cartridges, dagger and other dangerous weapons were retrieved.Also recovered were 30 mobile phones and cash of GH¢ 1,090.00 they forcibly took away from the victims.GNA

Accra, Jan. 21, GNA – Dr Kaku Kyiamah, a Science Technologist on Tuesday urged nutritionists and medical doctors to stop deceiving the public about omega-3 fatty acids and its impact on health. He said recent discussions by nutritionists and medical doctors in the mass media sought to portray ‘linoleate,’ which was commonly known as omega-3; introduced into the body mainly when we ate poly unsaturated fatty acids caused heart diseases. “I beg to differ with the proponents, this is basically wrong and against current scientific research findings,” Dr Kyiamah stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra. He said omega-3s were a beneficial and essential form of fats, one that the body needed but could not make. Dr Kyiamah said the truth was that saturated fatty acids contained in our traditional oils such as palm oil, coconut oil, shea butter and palm kernel oil prevented heart diseases and almost all the life style diseases. He urged medical doctors, nurses and nutritionists to appreciate the current scientific findings on nutrition about omega-3 in order to avoid deceiving the public. He said heart diseases epidemic had its roots in the introduction of the technologically processed edible fats, which contained very high levels of poly unsaturated fatty acids, declaring that good fats were essential for healthy life and these good fats were contained in our traditional oils. Dr Kyiamah said bad fats; that was processed such as unsaturated vegetable oils as used in production of margarine, shorting used in bread making, soya bean oil, sunflower oil and canola all contained fatty acids that caused heart diseases. He said the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had observed that there were no studies that demonstrated a causal relations between the specific substance such as omega-3 fatty acids and reduction of the risk of health related coronary heart diseases in the general population. He however, noted that in the 1991 proposed and 1993 final rules, the FDA discussed safety concerns relating to omega-3 fatty acid intake, which included increased bleeding times, possibility of hemorrhagic stroke and reduced glycemic control among diabetics. Dr Kyiamah said some researchers believed that omega-3s helped prevented coronary heart disease in healthy people and slow progress of the disease in those who already had it. He urged Ghanaians to be very mindful of what they ate in order to avoid heart diseases and other dietary related diseases.GNA