Government has began what it termed the serialization of the 1,775 schools it commenced construction over the last three years to replace the over 4,000 schools under trees phenomenon it inherited in 2009.

A rainstorm has ripped off the roof of the only primary school at Klefe in the Ho Municipality, leaving authorities with virtually no alternative for teaching on Monday.

Gomoa Ankamu (C/R), Nov. 5, GNA – Ghana’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Professor Samuel M. Quartey, has said the free Senior High School promise by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a fallacy.   He said the promise being championed by the NPP presidential candidate for Election 2012, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, could not be supported by the present state of the economy.   Mr Quartey was addressing a night encounter organized by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to showcase development projects that were executed in the constituency on video clip, at Gomoa Ankamu near Apam.   He said: “any attempt to introduce free SHS in the country now can only mean compromising on mediocrity. Presently, quality education cannot be provided without parents or guardians paying something towards education”.   Prof. Quartey said the NDC was not against free SHS but the party was of the view that the time was not yet ripped for such a venture.   He said: “There are a lot of things to be done before free SHS can work perfectly and efficiently in the country”.   Prof. Quartey said government should provide additional classrooms and dormitories and train more teachers to make SHS accessible.   He said: “if the economy is good, the School Feeding Programme for instance would have covered all primary schools.”   Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, Gomoa West District Chief Executive, said the NDC government has invested education since it came to power in 2009.   He mentioned the construction of classrooms and dormitories provision of free school uniforms and others as government’s interventions to ensure that quality education in the country.   Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, appealed to political parties to base their campaign on issues not on insults.   GNA...

Wa, Nov. 5, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama cut the sod on Monday for the construction of the Tumu-Han-Wa 161 kV electricity Transmission Line which is expected to improve reliable supply of electricity to Northern Ghana.   The project when completed would close the northern loop of Techiman-Tamale-Bolgatanga-Tumu-Wa-Sawla-Techiman transmission line.      It has been awarded to Forclum Energies of France, and is being funded by Societe General/GRIDCo at a total cost of 75 million US dollar.      President Mahama said at the ceremony in Wa that government had so far invested 400 million dollars in expanding power transmission in the country.      This, the President said,  had pushed the national electricity coverage from an average of 54 per cent to 72 per cent just within a space of four years.      President Mahama said government was looking forward to generating an additional 5,000 megawatts of power to further push the coverage from 72 per cent to above 90 per cent if given the mandate to serve another term in office in the December polls.     Mr. Charles Darku, Chief Executive of GRIDCo who gave the background of the project, said a 161 kV transmission line had been constructed between Techiman and Wa which was commissioned in 1995, as well as another one between Navrongo and Tumu.      He said there was, however, no 161 kV line between Navrongo and Bolgatanga, adding that the project proposal was therefore to construct a transmission link between Tumu-Han-Wa as well as another  line between Bolgatanga and Navrongo to establish the northern loop.       Mr. Darku said the project would improve the reliability of power supply to the Northern parts of Ghana, as well as the system performance.      The scope of work include the construction of 90km, 60km and 29km of 161 kV transmission lines between Wa and Han through the site for the proposed Azumah Mines, and between Han and Tumu as well as Bolgatanga and Navrongo.       Extension works would also be carried out at the Bolgatanga and Sawla substations and the construction of 161/34.5 kV substations at Wa and Tumu.      Mr. Darku said the project would also improve the quality of existing medium voltage supplies to Dapaong and Cinkasse in northern  Togo, and Po and Leo in Burkina Faso.      It will further improve the capability of VRA to meet the increasing demand for medium voltage supply to Northern La Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina Faso, as well as facilitate the export of power on the proposed Bolgatanga-Ouagadougou 225kV interconnection.      Mr. Gilbert Hie, Country Manager of Societe General said it was the company’s hope that the financing of the project would, among other things, assist government in meeting its desire to generate the 5,000 megawatts of energy for the country in the years ahead.      He said it was also the desire of SG and SG-SSB to partner government in the socio-economic development of the country and to strengthen the cordial business relationship that existed between them.   GNA...

Accra , Nov 05, GNA -The Bank of Ghana on Monday presented Final Licenses to 90 Microfinance Institutions at a short ceremony in Accra, the first time in the country’s financial landscape that such an event had taken place.   The Bank of Ghana took over the regulation of the Microfinance industry over a year ago, following the unbridled springing up of such institutions throughout the country without supervision.   To date, the Bank  had issued provisional licenses to 249 microfinance institutions out of which the 90 had met the needed requirements for the final licenses.   The breakdown of the 90 companies are 77 Microfinance companies, 11 Money Lending Companies and two Financial Non-governmental organizations.   Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Philip Cobbinah, Deputy Head of the Banking Supervision Department of Bank of Ghana, reminded the successful institutions that the handing over of the licenses came with obligations that must be  met.   Some of the requirements include submission of prudential returns, compliance with the limits on deposits and loans, and prior approval by the Bank of Ghana before the introduction of new products to the market, among others.   Mr Cobbinah warned that the institutions would be fined GH¢12,000 and also risked withdrawal of their licenses on infringement of any of  the regulations.   He said while the Bank of Ghana knew that Microfinance regulation was not going to be a simple process because of the varied array of institutions, there was the need for the parties to help in protecting customers in their effort to maximize profits so as to provide meaningful microfinance services to the poor.   Mr Cobbinah expressed the hope that the partnership would help in the fight against poverty and speed up the pace of economic growth and development.   Mr Kwame Sarpong Osei-Bonsu, Assistant Director of Banking Supervision Department, said the Bank of Ghana was helping the microfinance institutions to enhance their systems and improve corporate governance.   He said while record keeping and controls systems were weak in most of the microfinance institutions, the Bank of Ghana was offering trainings to address the capacity needs as well as stepping up off and on-site supervision to ensure that the institutions operated within the law.   Mr Osei-Bonsu, who is also head of the Non-Deposit Taking (NDT) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) at the Bank of Ghana (BOG), said the 90 institutions given their final licenses had gone through rigorous approval processes and would be constantly monitored to ensure that their operations were in line with regulations to enhance service delivery and safeguard the public interest.   GNA...

Wa, Nov. 5, GNA -  President John Dramani Mahama stated on Tuesday that the National Democratic Congress government would never toy with the country's educational policies as that is crucial to the growth and development of the youth.   He said dealing with educational issues needed expertise and adequate professional handling rather than adhoc promulgation and implementation.   President Mahama stated this when he addressed students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) at Wa as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region.   The statement was in reaction to some of the policies various political opponents had promised in their on-going 2012 electioneering campaigns.   ”We do not need to be rushing educational policies just because we want to win elections, but such policies should be backed by concrete logistics that will ensure effective execution”, President Mahama said.   He said the NDC government had over the years been instrumental in the provision of social facilities, including education as evidenced by the establishment of the University for Development Studies, University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, University of Education in Winneba and many other campuses throughout the country.   The President said the NDC under former President Jerry John Rawlings also established seven Polytechnics that had over the years helped in producing technical and vocational professionals in various fields.   On development projects in the University for Development Studies, President Mahama promised that his administration would increase lecture theatres, hostel accommodation and library facilities that would bring the students and staff closer.   “This system, where most of you are living in private homes and attending lectures is not the best environment for learning and developing your skills, and the provision of such facilities will make the learning environment more congenial”, President Mahama added.   He said government was also advancing plans to make all the campuses autonomous and tasked the management of the campuses to work hard to enable them to create more faculties that would provide them the opportunity to achieve that target.   He tasked Joe Gidisu, Minister for Roads and Highways to support the school to map out the roads on campus and provide the necessary support to tar them for students to enjoy safety and security on campus.   Professor Francis Bachuu, Dean of students of the Wa Campus of the University appealed to government to provide the institution with more infrastructure that would befit the status of a university.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - The Soul Food Ministries International (SFMI), has recently trained 900 youth in Information Communication Technology (ICT), under its “Free for all ICT training initiative”.   Pastor Eddie Letsa, General Overseer of SFMI, said the training was to provide free ICT education for the youth as a means of rendering them employable skills in information technology.   He said the project, which has been in existence for the past three-and-a half years, was a non-denominational training package to educate the youth in various information technological programmes.    Pastor Letsa, who said these to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Monday, explained that the church was executing the project to improve the welfare of young people in society.   He said: “SFMI provides training as a way of empowering and providing skills to support people's lives”.   Pastor Letsa said the training was not being conducted for only members of the church, but the members of the  public could take advantage of it and improve on the standards of living.   The training programme which started in 2009 has help students to graduate programmes, including Computer Hardware, Microsoft 2003, Computer Networking, Cisco Certified Network Administration, Linux SLED and SQL.   Pastor Letsa said 4,115 students have benefited from the project since its inception, and appealed to corporate institutions, philanthropists interested in training the youth in ICT to partner the church, to provide employable skill to young people.   GNA...

Kubease (Ash), Nov 5, GNA – A retired High Court Judge, Mr Justice Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi, has been adjudged the best farmer in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.         He was presented with a motorbike, knapsack sprayer, a 21-inch television set, a bundle of roofing sheets, cutlasses and certificate as his prize.         Eighteen (18) others were also recognized at a Farmers’ Day celebration held at Kubease.         Mr Kwaku Afrifa Yamoah Ponko, the Municipal Chief Executive, praised them for their hard work and contribution to the growth of the nation’s economy.          The government, he said, would continue to support and introduce incentive packages to make farming rewarding and attractive.           Mrs Beatrice Asante-Mante, the Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), appealed to the farmers to adopt modern farming practices to increase crop yield and returns.           Mr Justice Adu-Gyamfi appealed to the youth to develop interest in agriculture, the backbone of the economy.   GNA...

Ejuratia (Ash), Nov 5, GNA – Mr Williams Owuraku Aidoo, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Kwabre West, has appealed to the party’s women to become more actively involved in the struggle to recapture political power.           He said they should use their influence to win over more voters for the party in the December elections.     Addressing a rally organized by the constituency women’s wing at Ejuratia, he asked them to step up their campaign activities - reaching out to the people in their homes, markets and lorry terminals with the NPP’s election message.     Mr Aidoo said they should work hard and with passion to help voters to appreciate the tremendous benefits they stood to gain from the free senior high school (SHS) policy, and other initiatives for job creation and health care.     He blamed the present socio-economic hardships faced by Ghanaians on corruption, economic mismanagement and bad political leadership.        Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, the Constituency Chairman, reminded the party’s polling station coordinators to educate the people on the proper way to thumb print the ballot paper.     He said, as law abiding citizens, their members would respect all the rules and regulations governing the elections. They would, however, be vigilant to check electoral fraud and cheating.     Odeneho Appiah appealed to all qualified voters to turn out in their numbers On December 7 to cast their ballot for the NPP presidential and parliamentary candidates.     Ms Beatrice Owusu, the Women’s Organizer, said women were the hardest-hit by the NDC’s bad governance.     She said women had become more vulnerable and the coming elections offered them the opportunity to end the economic suffering and restore hope.    GNA...

Bramkrom (E/R), Nov 5, GNA –More than 300 people in Bramkrom, a village near Pankese in the Eastern Region, were at the weekend given free health screening during the inauguration of a GH¢25,000 health post for the community.   Hitherto, the people had to travel long distances on poorroads to seek medical care either at the nearby Pankese community in the Birim North District or at Nkawkaw.   The health post, which is expected to be fully operational this week, was by the benevolence of Mr Kwaku Bram Larbi, a legal practitioner and a citizen of Bramkrom.   He told the Ghana News Agency that the kind gesture formed part of the contributions he and his other five siblings (the group known as Larbiebi) had pledged to give to the community.   The other siblings included Dr Kwaku Asamoah Larbi, Madam Susuana Nyinaku, Madam Charlotte Larbi and Mr Kwesi Awuku Larbi.   Mr Larbi said the Larbiebi group was committed towards providing quick, accessible and affordable healthcare and free education to the residents in honour of their late parents.   They are the late Opanyin Kwame Obio and Madam Akua Larbi. The health post comprises two consulting rooms, a restroom, a store house, a pharmacy and waiting room, toilet and bathroom facilities and separate accommodation facilities for two nurses.   Nana Kwabena Chartey, the chief of Bramkrom, expressed gratitude to the Larbiebi family for their support and urged other philanthropic individuals to imitate their kind gesture.   He told the GNA that already the family had constructed a classroom block for the kindergarten and primary schools.   Nana Kwabena Chartey said through their support, the community could boast of a Junior High School classroom and a teachers’ bungalow and appealed to the government to provide the residents with electricity and to construct the road to ensure quick access to the community.    He called for a peaceful, free and fair election and urged the political parties to instruct their followers to accept the results.   GNA...

Bibiani (W/R), Nov 5, GNA – A member of the Minerals Commission Board, Mr Awuah Nyamekye, has said there was the need for all to accept to work together to ensure that the social and environmental impacts resulting from mining activities were properly regulated and managed.       He said there should be active collaboration to make sure that mining was carried out in a more responsible manner.       He was speaking at a two-day sensitization workshop on the minerals and mining regulations at Bibiani in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District.       It was the fourth in a series of nationwide forums held to educate and help stakeholders to have better understanding of the new regulations enacted in June.       Mr Nyamekye noted the significant contribution of mining to the nation’s economy and said the new laws were meant to among other benefits strengthen the “local content in our mining industry.”        The sector, in year 2011, contributed 27.6 per cent to the total government revenue.       It also accounted for 45 per cent of total merchandise exports during the period.          Ghanaians, he said, should not only be employed and trained to assume managerial positions in the mining companies to take over from the expatriate staff but that the local industries must also have similar opportunities as the other global businesses to participate in various procurement processes.   GNA...

Mumford (C/R), Nov. 5, GNA – Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II. Omanhen of Gomoa Akyempim, has called on Ghanaians to ensure peace before, during and after Election 2012.   He said political violence in some African countries such as Rwanda, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire, should be lessons for Ghanaians to refrain from utterances and activities that could disturb peace.   Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea made the appeal at the inauguration of the Mumford market, which  was rehabilitated     by the Gomoa West District Assembly at a cost of GHc 94,000.   It coincided with the celebration of the Akwanbo festival of the people of Gomoa Akyempim.   Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea appealed to the people to report any politician or party supporter, who might ignite violence, to the security agencies.     He appealed to the electorate to vote for presidential and parliamentary candidates who could ensure peace and contribute to development.      Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, Gomoa West District Chief Executive (DCE), said the National Democratic Congress government had executed developments in Mumford and cited a school block for the Catholic Kindergarten, a six-unit classroom block and tarring of town roads.   The DCE said a dam was being constructed at Gomoa Antseadze to supply potable water to communities in Gomoa East, West and Ekumfi Districts.   He appealed to the traders to take good care of facilities at the market and asked them to support the government for more projects.   Mr George Blankson, Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority, and a citizen of the town, appealed to the electorate to comport themselves during the December 7 polls.   He appealed to the people to pay their taxes promptly and regularly to enable the assembly to generate more funds for development.   Okumtwi Brebo Asamuadu VII, Mankrado of the town, appealed to the government to ensure that work on the water heads project at Antseadze was completed in time.   He appealed to elders and kingmakers of the town to enstool an new chief for development.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 5, GNA – League leaders, Medeama were forced to swallow a bitter pill pushed down their throat by visiting Asante Kotoko, who were chasing a second successive victory in week six of the Glo Premier League played at all eight centres.   The loss cut Medeama’s hold at the summit of the log to a point following Kotoko’s Kofi Nti Boakye stroke of halftime goal to end Medeama's five-game unbeaten run in the league.             The win, Kotoko's second consecutive victory lifts them to fourth on the standings, three points adrift the top.   Kotoko’s victory, their second in three outings since Mas-Ud Didi Dramani took charge of the team is expected to serve the morale booster for the Porcupine Warriors ahead of their envisaged crunch duel with rivals, Hearts of Oak on Sunday, November 18 in Kumasi.   The battle to ready for the super clash fell in place for Hearts who rallied to pluck their first victory in four games. The Phobians dug deep to send visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) home empty.   On a dramatic day that Hearts could even afford to miss from the spot, the victors had to rely on an injury time winner by second half  Edward Affum to wrap up a 3-2 victory at the Accra Sports Stadium.   The victory, acting head coach Ben Adjei's first following the exit of Charles K. Akonnor in mid-week brought Hearts' haul to seven and moved them to ninth on the table.   Making a returning into the team, 'controversial' Laryea Kingston who was introduced in the second half proved decisive in the final goal which was initiated by his in-swing. It was Mahatma Otoo who put Hearts ahead on 16 minute but Abdul Aziz Yusif drew the visitors’ level before RTU made it 2-1 after the break through Salim Sakara.            Iddrisu Moro drew parity for Hearts from the spot in the 86th minute before Afum scored late on in added-on time to hand followers of the ‘Rainbow’ club a justified joy.   Elsewhere, King Faisal ruined a first half missed penalty following their 0-1 defeat to Ebusua Dwarfs in Kumasi. Joshua Akoto  denied Faisal at least a point in the game played at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi having miss kick from the spot in 16 minutes.           Despite the early set back, the homers held on well only to be undone by a 81st minute goal from Francis Morton.   Faisal laboured to recover from the goal which pushed them to tenth on the 16-team log.   Liberty Professionals marked a big leap from the bottom ranks to mid-table after continuing their gradual climb with a 1-0 win at the dreaded Golden City Park, Berekum as guest of Arsenals.   Midfielder kennedy Ashia grabbed his fifth strike in six matches to move atop the scorers’ competition and gift Liberty a second consecutive win in the league.   Amidaus Professionals' impressive beginning to the season was halted yet again by Aduana Stars. The debutants lost 0-2 at the Agyeman Badu Park, Dormaa where strikes from Alex Asamoah and Emmanuel Allan sealed victory for the host.   AshantiGold were 1-0 winners over Heart of Lions at the  Kpando Park. Francis Coffie scored the match winner in the 78th minute to give the Miners all three points and return out of the Lions’ den unscathed.   Tema Youth sweat to pick a point off visiting Berekum Chelsea in their one-all draw game played at the Tema Park.   GNA...

Cristiano Ronaldo says he would vote for himself to win the Ballon d'Or if given the chance.

The founder and leader of Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, has described the two leading parties in the country, NDC and NPP are 'wicked unbelievers' who do not deserve to lead the country for long.

A young man believed to be in his early 20s allegedly committed suicide Monday morning at Paraku Estates at Achimota in Accra.

The mining industry, reeling under threats of increased resource rent tax and excessive demands to provide basic infrastructure in mining communities, is looking to kill two birds with one stone.

Inter Milan midfielder Joseph Duncan has received his debut call to the Black Stars squad for the friendly match against Cape Verde in Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday, 13 November.

Hearts of Oak Administrative manager Ashford Tettey Oku has been forced to resign from the club after persistent pressure from board chairman Togbe Afede XIV

A campaigner for President John Mahama has expressed gratitude to students of the University of Ghana Legon for their maturity Visit Myjoyonline.com for latest news, breaking news, audio and feature stories in Ghana Police in Achimota say they do not suspect any foul play in the death of a young man whose body was found hanging on a tree near Parakuo Estates.