Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court on Monday handed a 30-year sentence to Prince Ganyo, a driver for conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.Prince who was said to have robbed one Joseph Dankyi of his mobile phone worth GH¢ 60.00, an amount of GH¢ 240.00 and a Toyota Corolla worth GH¢ 13,000.00, pleaded guilty to the offences.Presiding Judge Mr Francis Obiri giving his judgment said robbery has been on the increase and as such; “it was therefore important for the law to deal vigorously with people who engage in it”.Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Morkeh said the complainant, Joseph Dankyi is a taxi driver in charge of a Toyota Corolla with registration number GE 4422-12, and resides at Pokuasi, while Prince, the convict is also a driver but resides at Kofevi, Achimota.He said on January 10, 2014, the complainant on his daily routine errands got to Abofu, near Achimota at about 1630 hours.On reaching a fitting shop at Abofu, the convict and one Ben, now at large stopped the complainant and requested that he transported them to Adjiringanor, near the American House.He said the complainant then charged GH¢ 15.00, but on reaching American House, Prince requested to see someone, and for that matter, complainant should turn right, heading towards “Tesa,” an area popularly known as 69.DSP Morkeh said as complainant drove a little further, the convict pulled a knife, and placed it across the complainants neck, and ordered him to stop there.He said the complainant stopped the car, but held the hand of the convict when he attempted to take the car away from him, and this resulted in a scuffle.He told the court that, however the convict with his accomplice managed to take the car from the complainant and in the process the said Ben sustained a cut in the right hand.The Prosecution said Ben sped off with the taxi, leaving Prince, who upon sensing danger managed to free himself and took to his heels.He said Prince was later arrested and sent to the East Legon Police Station after the complainant had shouted for assistance.The vehicle was later abandoned at a different location from the crime scene, upon a police wireless message disseminated to all police stations.DSP Morkeh told the court that the convict in his earlier caution statement, denied having committed the offence, but on January 13, 2014, while on their way to the court, the convict confessed having committed the offence together with Ben.He said in his confession statement, in the presence of James Ewordor, an independent witness at Achimota College, Prince alleged that someone needed a car and that if they could secure him one, he would pay them GH¢ 30,000.00.Hence the said Ben requested that he should accompany him to Achimota so they could get a car for the person.GNA

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – A fake medical doctor who defrauded four traders of GH¢ 19,700 under the pretext of assisting them medically to have babies has been hauled before an Accra Circuit Court.Kofi Agyemang Duah (aka) Dr Prince Boakye who claims to be a doctor at Lister Clinic located at Airport has also been accused of prescribing drugs to some of his victims who were mainly from Okaishie and Kantamanto.A search conducted in Duah’s room revealed some medical instruments and drugs, laboratory and X-ray reports of complainants and other victims, stethoscope and pictures of him dressed as a doctor.Duah, unemployed, who is being held for practising medicine without authority and four counts of defrauding by false pretenses, has pleaded not guilty.The court presided over by Ms Audrey Kocuvie-Tay has remanded Duah into police custody to reappear on January 30.Prosecuting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) A. Atibilla told the court that the complainants were traders at Okaishie and Kantamanto respectively.ACP Atibilla said Duah is a self-styled medical doctor resident at Ayigbe Town in Accra.Prosecution said the complainants name withheld had individual problems in relation to fertility and in the year 2013 they came across Duah who told them that he was a Gynaecologist at Lister Hospital at Airport Residential Area.ACP Atibilla said Duah made the complainant believed that he could support them medically to overcome their infertility problems.Duah therefore collected various sums of money totaling GH¢ 19,700.00 from the complainants and administer drugs and injections for them.The complainants; Prosecution said administered the drugs prescribed by Duah for months only for them to realized that he was not a doctor.Prosecution said a complaint was made to the Police. On January 8, this year, Duah was arrested and a search conducted in his room revealed some medical instruments, some drugs, laboratory and X-ray reports of complainants and other victims, stethoscope and pictures of him dressed as a doctor.Some books which had the inscription Dr Prince Boakye Da Costa were also retrieved.Duah has however denied being a medical doctor but admitted that he has been administering drugs to the complainant, because he has worked as a pharmacy attendant at various shops and had referred complainants with complicated cases to hospitals.Prosecution said more people were reporting cases against Duah.GNA

Tema, Jan. 20,GNA--- The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) is to embark on a series of construction and expansion of social amenities as part of its plans to revive the harbour city. These include an ultra modern transport terminal, upgrading of Community Nine Market, expansion of Tema Manhean Market, and development of parks and open spaces. Mr Frank Asante, Public Relations Officer of the TMA, addressing the media on Monday, said designs for the construction of a befitting bus terminal for the metropolis had been completed, while stakeholders especially residents and businesses were being consulted to pave way for the commencement of the project. Mr Asante, who represented Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, indicated that the proposed terminal would be built along the Community One Site Two and Site 20 stretch of the Tema Harbour Road. He added that when completed, the terminal which cost he could not readily provide, would have facilities such as washrooms, passenger terminals, and adjoining mini-stalls for petty traders. The PRO said his outfit envisaged that the new terminal would significantly address vehicular congestion at the Tema Main Market. According to him, that would bring to the barest minimum, the chaotic situation that commuters faced daily in the Tema Community One business area. Mr Asante announced that the Community Nine Market which lacked market structures to house traders and their wares would be upgraded. He said the Urban Passenger Transport Unit had completed feasibility studies on the creation of a mini terminal at the Community Nine Market. He expressed the hope that the upgrading of the market facility would rejuvenate the almost dormant Community Nine Shopping Mall and also has the potential to rival the Community One Market. On the Tema Manhean Market, the PRO noted that the expansion was aimed at boosting business and improving the local economy. He announced that all was set for the commencement of work on a two-storey block made up of 28 shops with ancillary facilities at the Tema Manhean market. He advised traders at the market to collaborate with the contractor to enable the project to be completed on schedule adding that, the Works Department of the Assembly was arranging to relocate traders who would be affected by the expansion works.GNA

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – Local Black Stars’ striker, Sulley Mohammed has lost his race against time ahead of the team’s final Group C game with Ethiopia in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. Mohammed has failed to shake off a knock he picked up during the Stars’ game with Libya last Friday. The development means Coach Maxwell Konadu’s side will be without two strikers following the suspension of Yahaya Mohammed. Ghana are on four points and require a decent result to book a place in the last eight of the competition.GNA

Aflao, Jan. 20, GNA –A timely intervention by the Aflao Police last Friday halted a ceremony by the Malian community at Aflao to marry off a 15- year-old basic school girl to her 35-year-old cousin at Aflao. This followed a hint by a member of the Malian community to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).The girl, a pupil at An-Nadwatu Islamic primary school was unaware of the proposed marriage and expressed her determination to continue with her education.The police said large quantities of items including food were mobilized for the occasion which was to take place in the house of the girl’s maternal aunt, Nuretu Shabu, her prospective mother-in-law.Yusif Ousman son of Nuretu Shabu had arrived from Saudi Arabia for the marriage ceremony.Ousman and his mother, Nuretu Shabu said to be brain behind the botched marriage have gone into hiding.Some opinion leaders in the Aflao Malian community pleaded with the Police and promised to cancel the marriage after the Police had educated them on the country’s laws against forced marriage and the rights of juveniles.A police source told the GNA that the girl, whose parents are Malian, had lived with her aunt, Shabu at Aflao, since her infancy.The source said about three years ago the girl’s father accepted Shabu’s proposal that her son and niece, who was 12 years then be married.GNA

Kumasi, Jan 20, GNA – A priest has appealed to the the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) to step back from antagonistic posturing and polarization of the society.

Banka (Ash), Jan 20, GNA – A number of feeder roads in Asante-Akim South District, are being improved to make it easier for the largely farming population to transport their farm produce to the marketing centres.

Banso (Ash), Jan 20, GNA – Mr. De-graft Forkuo, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asante-Akim South, has rallied the people to do more to improve their living conditions through self-help.

Accra, Jan 20, GNA- The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has initiated an investigation into the conduct of Mr Gabriel Barima, the District Chief Executive for Ahafo Ano South in the Ashanti Region.

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing on Monday supported the introduction of pre­paid meters for commercial and industrial water consumption by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

 Takoradi, Jan. 20, GNA— Some mourners at Apowa in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region were shocked when a talisman was removed from the grave of a 40-year old woman last Saturday.

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Monday said that about 202 million people worldwide were unemployed in 2013, an increase of almost 5 million compared with the 2012 figure. It said the uneven economic recovery and successive downward revisions in economic growth projections had had an impact on the global employment situation, adding that this reflects the fact that employment is not expanding sufficiently fast to keep up with the growing labour force. The ILO’s “Global Employment Trends 2014: The risk of a jobless recovery” report which was made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra by the ILO said the bulk of the increase in global unemployment is in the East Asia and South Asia regions, which together represent more than 45 per cent of additional jobseekers, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. It said by contrast, Latin America added fewer than 50,000 additional unemployed to the global number – or around 1 per cent of the total increase in unemployment in 2013. It said overall, the crisis-related global jobs gap that had opened up since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, over and above an already large number of jobseekers, continues to widen. According to the ILO report, in 2013 this gap reached 62 million jobs, including 32 million additional jobseekers, 23 million people that became discouraged and no longer look for jobs and 7 million economically inactive people that prefer not to participate in the labour market. “If current trends continue, global unemployment is set to worsen further, albeit gradually, reaching more than 215 million jobseekers by 2018. “During this period, around 40 million net new jobs would be created every year, which is less than the 42.6 million people that are expected to enter the labour market every year. “The global unemployment rate would remain broadly constant during the next five years, at half a percentage point higher than before the crisis,” the reporter said. The report said young people continued to be particularly affected by the weak and uneven recovery. It said: “It is estimated that some 74.5 million young people – aged 15–24 – were unemployed in 2013; that is almost one million more than in the year before. “The global youth unemployment rate has reached 13.1 per cent, which is almost three times as high as the adult unemployment rate. Indeed, the youth-to-adult unemployment ratio has reached a historical peak. It is particularly high in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and Southern Europe”. The report said importantly, in the countries for which information exists, the proportion of young people neither in employment, nor in education or training (NEET) had continued the steep upward trend recorded since the start of the crisis. It said in certain countries, almost one-quarter of young people aged 15 to 29 are now NEET. It said in 2013, 375 million workers (or 11.9 per cent of total employment) are estimated to live on less than $ 1.25 per day and 839 million workers (or 26.7 per cent of total employment) had to cope with $ 2 a day or less. The report explaind that this was a substantial reduction in comparison with the early 2000s when the corresponding numbers of working poor below $1.25 and $2 were more than 600 million and more than 1.1 billion, respectively. It said in 2013, the number of workers in extreme poverty declined by only 2.7 per cent globally, one of the lowest rates of reduction over the past decade, with the exception of the immediate crisis year. The report said informal employment remains widespread in most developing countries, although regional variations are sizeable. It also shows that a rebalancing of macroeconomic policies and increased labour incomes would significantly improve the employment outlook. It said with 23 million people estimated to have dropped out of the labour market due to discouragement and rising long-term unemployment, active labour market policies need to be implemented more forcefully to address inactivity and skills mismatch. The study offers the latest global and regional information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, including employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment.GNA

Takoradi, Jan.20, GNA—More than 50 workers of Schlum Berger, an oil service firm in the Western Region, on Monday demonstrated against the management for poor working conditions.The workers wore red arm band and chanted war songs in front of the company’s premises at Apremdo near Takoradi.They complained bitterly against the oil firm for not increasing their salaries for the past two years because they had proposed to join a labour union.When the GNA contacted Mr. Fuseini Iddrisu, General Secretary of the General Transport and Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), he said the workers petitioned the Union and expressed their interest to join the union about two years ago.Therefore, he said, the union also wrote a letter to the management of Schlum Berger in January 2012 to cooperate in order to facilitate the process of unionizing the workers.He said when the workers are unionized it would help them to get a bargaining certificate to negotiate with management for better working conditions and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).However, Mr. Iddrisu said, since 2012, the management of the oil firm was not cooperating to ensure smooth unionization of the workers therefore the issue of CBA as well as salary and wage negotiation still lingers on, hence the demonstration by the workers.He said the union would petition the National Labour Commission (NLC) and urged the aggrieved workers to exercise patience.Mr Iddrisu said some multi-national oil service companies operating in the country were not treating the local workers fairly and urged the NLC to crack the whip on defaulting oil firms since the local content law on petroleum had been passed to ensure fairness in the sector.GNA

Yendi (N/R), Feb.20, GNA - Mr Bede Ziedeng, the Northern Regional Minister, has appealed to the chiefs and people of Dagbon to use the successful celebration of the Damba festival to bury their differences and let peace prevail in the traditional area.He said the government was on track in prosecuting its development agenda but it could only do that and even double the pace of development in an atmosphere of peace and togetherness.Mr Ziedeng made the appeal in Yendi on Sunday during the celebration of the Damba Festival at the forecourt of the Gbewaa Palace where the people celebrated in unity on the theme: “Honouring our Culture and Traditions, Advancing our Father”.He said a divided home could not be supported in any way and the government needed the support of every Ghanaian to be able to change the living conditions of people in the country.He commended both the Kampakuya Na, regent of Dagbon and the Bolin-Lana for the maturity they displaced so far in ensuring that they resorted to peaceful means and use of dialogue in resolving their differences rather than to violence.He said the peaceful coexistence had enabled the people to enjoy the Damba and advised them to continue to work together for the development of Dagbon for the betterment of the youth.Mr Ziedeng commended the security agencies for their effort and determination to maintain peace in the whole Northern Region and Dagbon in particular.He said the government could not afford to continue to spend scarce resources mainly on conflict resolution when the country needed good roads, good health facilities, quality education, portable water and good sanitation as well as reliable electricity supply. He said he was happy to see chiefs from the Abudu Royal Family at the Damba Festival led by Bolin-Lana Abdulai Mahama and Sunson-Na Shani Amidu II, representatives of Nanton Na among others as well as some youth chiefs who celebrated the Damba together at the Gbewaa Palace.In an address read on his behalf the Regent of Dagbon and Acting President of Dagbon Traditional Council, Kampakuya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani called on Dagombas not to see themselves as Abudus or Andanis but as a united family from one umbilical cord especially in these trying times for prosperity, development and peace. The Kampakuya Na Yakubu Andani said, “Never again shall the world associate Dagbon with division, intolerance, violence and lack of progress”, adding that the major common enemy they faced was poverty, environmental change, and unfavorable market forces.He said all over the world sons of Dagbon were making great strides and suggested that those who made great achievements must be honoured and celebrated to inspire others to work hard. He said those who abandoned Dagbon needed to come back home and build on the foundations their fathers left for them as means of contributing in growing a strong successful nation, which they would bequeath to the younger generation.GNA

Accra, Jan 20, GNA -The Ministry of Roads and Highways has held discussions the University of Ghana on how best the Ministry could absorb the cost of the rehabilitation of some University roads into the Ministry’s 2014 budget. A statement in Accra by Alhaji Amin Aminu Sulemana, the Minister for Roads and Highways and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said the discussions followed the University authorities’ intention to start levying tolls on all vehicles using the new roads, which have been rehabilitated under an agreement with a private firm. It said the Ministry had already stated the government’s view and that the rehabilitation of campus roads was a laudable initiative because such schemes facilitated and supported academic work.It however said there was concern that the introduction of tolls could create a number of inconveniences for some of the regular and rightful road users. "It is hoped that a more conducive solution could be found to end the controversy generated by the announcement of the tolls," the statement said. Alhaji Sulemana said the Ministry would ensure that roads on the campuses of major institutions were maintained at reasonable standards across the country.GNA

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – The Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) is to open new service stations at Teshie and Nungua as part of the Company’s strategy to expand its operations in the oil marketing industry. The two stations would market petroleum and other energy products, Mr Patrick Akpe Akorli, the Managing Director of the oil giant, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Monday. “Opening of the new service stations is aimed at strengthening our geographical spread to ensure that every car owner has access to good energy,” he said. Mr Akorli said in GOIL had embarked on large-scale modernization of its filling stations as part of the broader aim of rebranding the company. “The objective is to provide modern stations in every region to serve the communities. GOIL believes in supporting economic activities at the local level, and wealth creation,” he said. Mr Akorli, also known as Togbe Adza-Nye IV Dutrofia of Ziavi in the Volta Region, said the new stations at Teshie and Nungua have GOIL Convenience shops which have been branded the GOIL C-shop (C meaning convenience). He said GOIL C-shop was becoming the standard at GOIL Service and Filling stations and that the Company was looking at a situation where all GOIL stations in the country would have GOIL C-shops. Mr Akorli said GOIL had plans to open shopping, fast food and recreation centres at strategically located stations in cooperation with owners of strong brand names in the leisure and entertainment industry.Mr Raphael Cudjoe, a car owner at Sakumono Estates, said it was refreshing GOIL had finally decided to make its presence felt at Teshie and Nungua, a huge market in the oil marketing industry.“We have waited for long because we are aware of the quality of GOIL’s service and its reputation of sellers not cheating customers. It is our hope the Company will maintain and build on its reputation,” he said. GOIL remains one of the forerunners in the state-owned enterprises sector and the petroleum industry in general and has maintained its market leadership in gasoline, premix, LPG, bunkering and lubricants since 2002. The Company has also entered the bitumen market and recently made its presence felt in the aviation oil market.GNA

Kintampo (B/A), Jan. 20, GNA – The Kintampo North Municipal Hospital mortuary has installed new fridges with a capacity to hold about 100 bodies. The facility was jointly inaugurated and handed over to the Hospital by Mr Stephen Kunsu, the Member of Parliament for Kintampo North and Mrs Alice Vorleto, the acting Kintampo North Municipal Director of Health Services.It was funded through the MP’s common Fund. Mr Kunsu expressed commitment to continue to assist financially for smooth and effective operation of the Hospital and appealed to citizens of the Municipality to contribute in tackling problems facing the facility. Mrs Vorleto expressed joy for the inauguration of the expanded facility and said the Hospital was the biggest health facility between Techiman and Tamale and due to the centrality of its location, it was the first place to treat road accident victims but the burden had always been the lack of space to preserve the dead. She said the acquisition of the new fridges became necessary following the frequent breakdown of the old 12-body fridges. Dr Gavin Apio, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, said the Hospital was making strides and in 2013 it recorded only one maternal death out of 2,087 deliveries. He said it was a 125 bed-capacity Hospital with only one Medical Officer but handled at most 100 major surgeries in a month. Dr Apio said delivering health care services was a shared and collective responsibility and appealed to the Municipal Assembly to make it a priority to sponsor the training of health care professionals, especially midwives and anesthetists. The Kintampo Municipal Hospital was established by the British Colonial Government for the Royal West African Frontier Force War during World War Two for military personnel who were stationed at Kintampo.GNA

From: George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA Special Correspondent in Abu Dhabi, UAE Abu Dhabi,(UAE ), Jan 20, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama on Monday morning joined other world leaders to participate in the Abu Dhabi sustainability week in a renewable energy conference. President Mahama, who was the Guest of Honour at the opening session of the conference focused on Africa as the next frontier in water, environment and energy, was joined the leaders of Ethiopia, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Also in attendance were Hamdam bin Mohammed Al- Maktoum, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Ghana's Energy and Petroleum Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, among other dignitaries. The opening session focused on the rise of the United Arab Emirates in the areas of culture, construction, education, sustainable access to water and job creation and how those measures could be implemented in Africa to enhance the continent's socio-economic development. It is estimated that the world population would rise to 8 billion by 2030 and this would call for 30 percent increase in potable water, 50 percent demand for energy and 50 percent demand for food. As a result Africa is seen as the next growth pole in these commodities on account of her endowment in those natural resources, giving the indication that the world would focus on the continent for survival and growth. The conference would therefore give the UAE the opportunity to share its expertise and experience with developing African countries to take advantage to develop their resources. As the host of the international Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UAE has been actively involved in encouraging the widespread adoption of renewable energy. The first sustainability conference held last year attracted 30,000 participants from 150 countries. The main agenda of the conference is to tackle the world's pressing issues in energy, water and environment, accelerate the global adoption of renewable energy and sustainable development. It is also expected to address water challenges in the arid regions of the world. At the end of the three- day conference, participants would be expected to stimulate investment in water, energy and environment projects and to empower young generations and entrepreneurs. There is also exhibitions of various technologies and innovations on water, energy, environment, engineering and construction and is expected to feature issues that would provide solutions to challenges in water, environment and energy throughout the world. President Mahama is expected to attend to attend the Zayed Future Energy Prize ceremony later on Monday evening. The Zayed future energy prize is another commitment from Abu Dhabi in the field of renewable energy and sustainability. The annual $ 4 million prize was created to honour the legacy of His Holiness Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan late founding father of the UAE and to inspire the next generation of Global energy innovators to create solutions for the future.GNA

Effiduase (E/R), Jan. 20, GNA - A madman who had occupied one of the abandoned rooms of the old Kindergarten block of Effiduase Methodist School Complex, near Koforidua, nearly burnt down the school at the weekend.The madman started the fire by torching his personal belongings.People living close to the school, saw smoke coming from out of the windows and raised the alarm and tried in vain to put the fire off, and had to call personnel of Ghana National Fire Service to intervene.Although the personnel put off the fire around 1700 hours and left they were asked to return to the scene when the fire ignited.Dr Kweku Owusu-Acheampong, New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, who visited the scene promised to deploy workers of the Assembly to pull down the burnt structure.Ms Freda Opata, Headmistress of the Junior High School of the complex, said due to the closeness of the academic facility to the main street, often, mentally challenged persons have been invading the premises and disrupting academic activities.She appealed to the old students of the school to come to the aid of their alma mater by helping to construct a fence wall.GNA

Yendi (NR) Feb.19, GNA - The feuding royal gates of Dagbon- Abudus and Andanis, at the weekend jointly celebrated the annual Damba festival at Yendi, in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region.It was on the theme: “Honouring our Culture and Traditions, Advancing our Fathers.”Damba festival is celebrated by most of the ethnic groups of Muslim origin in Northern Ghana. The festival is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Dagbon, Gonjas, Mamprusis, Nanumbas and the Walas.The main aim for the merriment is to remember the birth and naming ceremony of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, Founder of Islam.The two gates had engaged in bloody conflicts leading to the assassination of the Overlord of Dagbon; Yana Yakubu Andani II, 11 years ago and scores of his traditional elders in Yendi.The Abudu Royal Family and chiefs led by Bavin-Lana Abdulai Mahama and Sunson-Na Shani Amidu II, representatives of Nanton Na and the youth joined their Andani counterparts to celebrate the festival at the Gbewaa Palace.Mr Bede Ziedeng, Regional Minister commended both the Kampakuya Na, Regent of Dagbon and Bolin-Lana, Leader of the Abudus for the maturity they have so far displayed in using dialogue in resolving their differences.He called on the chiefs and people of Dagbon to bury their differences as well as the hatchet to let peace prevail.This, he said would allow the Dagbon Kingdom, which had very strong historical antecedent to restore its rich heritage.Mr Ziedeng said government is on track in prosecuting its developmental agenda but this could only be possible if the people could sustain the pace and even fast track it in an atmosphere of peace and unity.The Regional Minister stated that a divided home cannot be supported in any way.He said the region cannot afford to continue to spend scarce resources mainly on conflict resolution when there is the dire need for good roads, good health facility, quality education, potable water and good sanitation, reliable electricity supply among other services.Mr Ziedeng noted that even though Damba originated from Islam it is now part and parcel of the northern culture.Kampakuya Na Andani Yakubu Abdulai, Regent of Dagbon and Acting President of Dagbon Traditional Council, called on Dagombas not to see themselves as Abudus or Andanis but as a united people to facilitate prosperity, development and peace.He said Dagbon should not be associated with division, intolerance, violence and of lack progress.Kampakuya Abdulai said the major common enemy facing the people includes poverty, environmental change, and unfavorable market forces.He said all over the world Dagombas are making their mark and these proud ambassadors must be honoured and celebrated as beacons of their great past, present and future.According to the Regent they have to build on the foundations their fathers left for them, grow a strong successful nation and leave a proud and enduring story for their children.GNA