Kpando, Nov 13, GNA - Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, Chief Justice has reassured that the courts were more composed to deal decisively with election-related disputes that would emanate from the upcoming December general elections.   This, she said, had stemmed from upgrading the capacities of judges through effective skills-based judicial training and the review of the “Manual on Election Adjudication in Ghana,” first published in 2008.   Mrs Justice Wood made these remarks when copies of the Manual were distributed to agencies that promote good governance, rule of law and democratization during the inauguration of the Kpando Circuit and District Courts.   She said the new edition was an improvement over the maiden one and most useful and informative document for adjudicating election disputes.   The Chief Justice indicated the manual embodies the legal requirements related to the resolution of election disputes, statutes applicable to the conduct of elections, a digest of some latest decisions in the courts of appeal, supreme, high, circuit and district courts of adjudicature.       Mrs Justice Wood advised that the path to resolving election disputes did not lie in armed conflict but through peaceful means of either out-of-court settlements or use of the tried and time tested national courts.   She assured the people of Kpando and the entirety of the country of the judiciary’s preparedness and commitment to a fair, impartial, just and speedy resolution of election disputes.   Mrs Justice Wood said the focus of the world after the United States election was on Ghana, a country considered as beacon of hope for the rest of Africa.   “We should be proud of this recognition and build on it. We cannot afford to disappoint our many admirers and people of goodwill,” the Chief Justice says.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - The management of Melcom Group of companies, has reaffirmed its readiness to support the victims of the collapsed Achimota branch of the company, which 14 people lost their lives last Wednesday November 7th 2012.   The company said on Monday at a press briefing that since the sad incident occurred, it had redirected its resources to save as many lives as possible and take care of the survivors who have suffered various degrees of injuries.   Melcom Achimota six storey building caved-in suddenly at about 0940 hours trapping an unspecified number of persons.   Rescue team, which comprised the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police, the National Disaster Management Organisation, the Ghana National Fire Service and others, who were deployed to the scene, rescued 68 people alive with 14 deaths after several hours and days of rescue efforts.   Mr Richmond Kwarteng Oduro, Public Relations Officer, Melcom Group of Company, who expressed the company’s deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and speedy recovery for the hospitalized, said the company had taken over the medical bills of those who were hospitalized.   He added that Melcom had also provided them with the necessary drugs to carry on their treatment and check-ups until they fully recovered.   “Those still on admission are receiving the best of care in terms of medication and had been provided with welfare packages to make them as comfortable as possible”, he said.   He added that the company had sent out its representatives to the various hospitals and were in constant touch with all the medical teams to fully understand the scale of treatment required and the need to take things further if necessary.   Mr Oduro expressed appreciation to the rescue team for their efforts and all those supported in diverse ways to save the lives of the victims.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The Alliance for Reproductive Rights has launched a new website for the African Union’s (AU) Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) www.carmma.org.   The website, developed by a team in the Department of Social Affairs, is aimed at promoting maternal and newborn survival, and providing evidence on progress in achieving the targets African leaders have set.   A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency by Nii Sarpei Ankornu-Anorbah, media liaison officer, said the development of the website was funded by UK AID as part of the Evidence for Action (E4A) programme.   The five-year project aims at improving maternal and newborn survival in six Sub Saharan countries including Ghana.   It focuses on using better information and improved advocacy and accountability to save lives.   Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) together with the School of Hygiene are the implementers of the E4A project in Ghana.   Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU’s Commissioner for Social Affairs, who launched website said: “The Union continues to play a critical role in promoting issues of maternal, newborn and child survival and placing it high on the African political agenda”. He said the website was a culmination of the work of many African and international champions of maternal, child and newborn health.   He expressed the hope that the new platform would bring together in one place, evidence and information on maternal, newborn and child survival across the continent.   Dr. Mustapha said, “We also hope to showcase the champions that are working to give African mothers and their babies a future.   The AU Commissioner said the Union was aware of the many men and women, health workers, officials, community leaders as well as political leaders who work on a day-to-day basis, saving the lives of women and children.   “We hope to bring together an army of CARMMA champions across the continent, adding that Africa Cares: No Woman Should Die While Giving Life,” he added.   CARMMA was launched in 2009 with the aim to trigger concerted and increased actions to improve maternal and newborn health and survival across the continent. Currently, CARMMA has been launched in 37 African countries including Ghana.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - Vodafone Ghana Foundation is giving its customers the opportunity to show their support to the victims of the Melcom Mall disaster by activating its disaster fundraising platform dubbed: “Red Alert”.   Customers can donate to the hospitals treating the victims of this terrible incident by texting *133#.   A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday said the Alert was created by the company and it was an SMS platform specifically created for customers who wanted to support people in need by donating money.   It said the money collected through this platform would be added to a donation amount by Vodafone Ghana and its Foundation and present to the trauma and surgery departments of these hospitals.   “The trauma of the incident is still very raw and Vodafone Ghana wants to reach out and show its sympathies to the victims and their families,” it noted.   The statement said Vodafone would also donate to institutions which provide counselling to trauma victims to allow these disaster victims to access this service.   The company indicated that talking, sharing and going through the healing process was a beneficial process any victim of trauma needed to go through.   "Vodafone’s Corporate Social Responsibility plan on health has been focused and single-minded over the last two years to engage, educate and empower Ghanaians with information and provide various platforms to better health and long life."   Carmen Bruce Annan, Head of Corporate Communications of Vodafone Ghana, expressed the deepest sympathy to the victims and their families, saying “we can begin to understand their turmoil but hope with a little support from us; they will receive the support needed to get better.”   She said the company was shaken by the incident and expressed the hope that Ghanaian would come together to support the victims.    GNA...

Pusiga, (UE), Nov 13, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has announced that government would in the coming years eliminate the use of kerosene in communities by providing electricity that was affordable and accessible.   “In our manifesto, we have come out with the energy for all policy, where every community with a population of 500 and beyond will be provided with electricity and by the next four years most communities would have benefitted from the policy,” he added.   President Mahama announced this when he addressed students of Gbewaa College of Education at Pusiga in the Upper East region as part of his three-day tour of the region.   He said communities that would not be able to be connected to the national electricity grid would in the interim be provided with solar lighting system, adding “a chunk of the Chinese loan would be invested in the energy sector and hopefully by the end of the next four years, most communities in the country would have been hooked to the national electricity grid.”   President Mahama said the use of kerosene was expensive and detrimental to the health of humans and the elimination of its use would bring the citizens to another level of development.   On education, President Mahama was optimistic that by the next four years majority of the schools under trees would have been eliminated and urged the electorate to assess the performance of the NDC in the past four years and return them to power on December 7th presidential race.   He said government would continue to strengthen structures and institutions at the basic levels that would provide solid foundation for quality and affordable education at the second cycle and tertiary levels in the coming years,   President Mahama expressed satisfaction at the performance of teachers in the country over the years and promised to improve on structures at the training colleges that would further enhance the performance of teachers in future.   “In Ghana now over 60 per cent of our teachers at the basic levels are untrained and government will continue to improve on facilities that would brighten the chances of teachers and their students.”   Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for communications denounced the New Patriotic Party for what he described as ‘coming out with untenable promises to Ghanaians’ and called on the electorate to ignore such promises and vote massively for the NDC.   He said NDC as a democratic party was more sensitive to the plight of Ghanaians than any other party and it was therefore expedient for them to vote for the NDC for growth and development.   GNA...

Bawku, Nov 13, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has called on the people of Bawku to bury their differences and forge ahead and pave way for the initiation of massive development projects in the coming years.   He said: “Your continuous engagement in conflicts and other forms of misunderstanding will not only stall the development progress of the area, but will also stifle all government initiatives that could accelerate growth and development.”   President Mahama made this call on Monday when he addressed a rally at Bawku as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Upper East Region.   The president also addressed similar rallies at Garu, Tempane, Worinyanga, Pusiga, Binduri, Zebilla and Bolgatanga, where he outlined government’s development plans for the next four years.   He said conflicts were destructive and retrogressive and advised the people to ignore it and consider themselves as one people with a common destiny that could propel them to achieve their development aspirations.   The President said there was no difference between Mamprusis and Kusasis  in their daily endeavours and should therefore not perpetuate conflicts that could undermine peace and unity.   Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister appealed to the electorate to avoid voting ‘skirt and blouse’ as that could be tantamount to ‘tying somebody’s hands and sending him to a boxing ring to fight an opponent.”   He said the first four years of the NDC had been beneficial to all Ghanaians and the next four years would further bring about more development in all the regions.   GNA...

Kpando, Nov 13, GNA - Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, the Chief Justice (CJ), has appealed to public-spirited individuals, agencies and organisations to assist the Judiciary Service fight the ills that militate against the smooth administration of justice in the country.   She called on members of the general public to report those grave acts of misconduct that frowned on and threatened the rule of law to its complaints unit or directly to the CJ’s office for prompt action and redress.   Mrs Justice Wood said these during the inauguration of the rehabilitated and automated Kpando District and Circuit Courts with jurisdiction extending to Biakoye, North and South Dayi districts on Monday.   It was financed by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Good Governance and Human Rights Programme of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) with counterpart funding from the government.   She said it behooved all and sundry to help the Judiciary Service build a credible and trustworthy system that would guarantee judicial values and the fundamental rights of quality justice to all.   Mrs Justice Wood was optimistic the automation of the courts would lessen the delays arising from factors that impede justice delivery and entreated judges and staff to rise up to the challenge.   Mr Justice Jones Dotse, Supreme Court Judge with oversight responsibility for the Volta Region fingered members of the public for calling the shots for inducements and other corruptible and bribery tendencies to the judiciary.   He appealed to them to leave judges, magistrates and jurors alone to make them discharge their duties unimpeded.   Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Member of Parliament for North Dayi and Minister of Tourism, the initiator of the rehabilitation works during the era of the late Mr Justice T. K. Acquah in 2001, said her motivation stemmed from modernization of the courts to instill confidence in the public.   She said her tenure had witnessed lots of development projects with the last before retiring from Parliament being the construction of a bridge to link Kpando, Agbenohoe and Dafor.   Mr Francis K. Ganyaglo, Kpando Municipal Chief Executive, said the rehabilitation and automation of the courts would not only bring justice closer to the people, but justice delivery would be swift and prompt.   Togbuiga Dagadu VIII, Paramount Chief of Akpini Traditional Area, who presided, requested that the Kpando courts be upgraded to a High court status as the area was becoming a cosmopolitan in nature due to its catchment jurisdiction.   An emergency ambulance vehicle from the National Ambulance Service under the auspices of the Ministry of Health was inaugurated as part of the event.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 13, GNA - The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has singled out energy for special treatment because of its overwhelming importance to the economy and society.   “Our energy policy will in addition to increasing the production of electricity, promote the use of alternative sources of power. This will include clean and renewable sources as well as fuel of all types.   “Our ultimate objective is to ensure adequacy and security of supply at all times.”   The CPP stated in its Election 2012 manifesto obtained by the Ghana News Agency (GNA).   The party proposes to develop a modern and well-resourced energy planning system to ensure that enough energy is generated to keep pace with the country’s economic and social needs.   The GNA observed that for energy security, the CPP seeks to diversify the sources and location of energy production, especially to minimize the risk of failure or disruptions and supply resulting from a disaster or a catastrophe in any part of the country.   “We shall add between 100 and 150 megawatts of power every year until we reach sufficiency,” the CPP added.   The CPP Government if voted into power will encourage and support production and research into renewable energy resources like solar, wind and biomass as part of CPP Green Agenda.   Under regulation and ownership, the CPP manifesto states that, appropriate legislation will be passed to govern the production, distribution, and utilization of fuel and electricity in the country.   “While we will welcome foreign partnership in the generation and distribution of energy in Ghana, we shall ensure at all times that Ghanaians and their Government have a strategic ownership to preserve our control over strategic national assets.”   The CPP hopes to conserve energy using legislation, public education and physical policy in combination of transportation policy, to promote the efficient use by households, Government, and businesses of the energy that is produced.   On oil and gas the CPP said: “Managing the oil revenue will form part of the larger programme to include the overall public and financial management, in line with its sustainable economic agenda” CPP stated.   The CPP will ensure increased state participation in the ownership of the oil and gas industry as well as, better auditing of the cost of exploration and development as well to improve monitoring of output of the oil and gas industry.   “A CPP government will make Ghana the oil and gas hub of the West African sub region with large scale petroleum refining capacity providing the regions gasoline, jet or aviation fuel, diesel fuel and lubricating oils, with better compliance of the petroleum revenue management Act, (Act 815) and oversight of revenue generation and better resourcing of oversight institutions, the CPP manifesto has outlined”.   Meanwhile, a National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) survey on “Election 2012: matters of concern to the Ghanaian voter”, reveals that 489 responses received, the highest proportion of 289 (59.1 per cent) responses said power outages should stop.     A copy of the survey report made available to the GNA indicates that Ghanaians abhor the frequent power outrages, which they said was destroying electrical gadgets and also rendering some newly established industries dormant.     They also wanted the government to extend electricity to the rural area, whilst another 143 (29.3 per cent) respondents wanted government to have more subsidies on energy; other responses 27 (5.5 per cent) said that there should be uninterrupted gas supply for Ghanaians.     According to the NCCE survey, 17 (3.5 per cent) respondents agreed that oil and gas proceeds should be used to finance the economy, but 11(2.2 per cent) wanted government to create in the oil and gas sector for the youth.     Respondents mentioned that the rate at which expatriates were infiltrating the oil industry to compete with Ghanaian for jobs was quite alarming.     The survey said an insignificant number of respondents, two (0.4 per cent), said the youth should be trained to take up jobs in the oil and gas sector.   GNA...

Ho, Nov. 13, GNA - Volta Youth Caucus (VYC), a non-political pro-Volta Region advocacy group, has said the New Patriotic Party’s Free Senior High School (SHS) promise, could close the education access gap between the haves and have-nots in society.   It said the policy was apt for the circumstances of the people of the Volta Region, where there was evidence of many young people truncating school at JSS Level because of cost of SHS education.   Ernest Agyei-Tuffour, VYC Executive-Secretary, speaking at a press conference in Ho on Tuesday said, it was therefore logical that people in the Volta Region discarded all sentimental attachments to parties seeking to defer the free-SHS- now concept, to a later date.   He said young people in the Volta Region stood to gain from the promise by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the NPP.   Mr Agyei-Tuffour, who hails from the Volta Region, said it was naive for people with the means to see their children through secondary education at whatever cost, to push those without that means, to reject the policy because “it is impossible”.   To a question whether the much touted policy was possible, he said, it was better to give Nana Akufo-Addo the opportunity, and vote him out, if he failed than spurn policy.   Mr Agyei-Tuffour said the VYC was endorsing the policy because it could veer the country on to the path of speedy development, backed by a more educated population as happened in countries with similar policies.   He quoted World Bank report to support the VYC’s stand, which says “secondary education is a gateway to the opportunities and benefits of economic and social development….’   Mr Agyei-Tuffour said claims that there were no schools to absorb the numbers, in the event of secondary education becoming free was untenable.   He said in the Volta Region for example there were a lot of Senior High schools, with very low enrolment, which only needed to be resourced better to attract students.   Mr Agyei-Tuffour said it was ironical for President John Mahama to recount with glee in his book “My First Coup D’état,” the attractions of the free SHS in north and refuse same for others.   He said excuses of resource constraints, was not tangible, in the wake of the lavish spending and underhand dealings leading to huge loss of state money under this government.   Mr Agyei-Tuffour appealed to chiefs in the Volta Region to stop marshalling their people in support of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but allow them to base their decisions on policy proposal of the political parties and not sentiments for us (VYC).   “We are declaring today that until the day of the election, we will tour the whole region to canvas for votes for the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo, so that he can implement this great human-centred policy for all”.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 13, GNA – The Ghana Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), has expressed condolence to the families of the victims of the Melcom disaster, which occurred at the Achimota branch shopping mall.   A statement signed by Mr Ebenezer Zabaku, Executive President of the Institute, extended a message of condolence to the bereaved families as well to the relatives of those who got hurt.   It said the tragedy was not the first to be recorded in the country citing other incidents that occurred at Spintex road and Gbawe.   It said collective responsibility of all stakeholders was needed to achieve durable, aesthetic and threat-free, residential and commercial structures.   The statement said land lords, town and country planners and the law enforcement agencies were all indispensable partners in achieving solid structures for human occupation.   It said most Ghanaians today were more interested in wealth creation than protecting human lives and properties.   It noted that accident of this nature did not boost investor confidence looking at Ghana’s economic potentials.   “We need to know that whether we are talking domestic policy or foreign policy, the context for everything we do is global,” it added.   It said the occurrence of these avoidable tragedies was a sufficient confirmation of weak or non-existent collaboration between stakeholders in the infrastructure industry.   It called on the Government to find out where the chain of collaboration had slacked so as to fix it.   The statement said the manner in which commercial and residential facilities were being built on water ways and other unapproved areas, showed that “someone has reneged on his assigned duties.”   According to the statement, the Institution was taking measures to collaborate with government and stakeholders to provide the necessary technical and educational support needed.   ACI is a technical and educational society dedicated to improving the design, construction, maintenance and repair of concrete and masonry structures.    GNA...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Ghana, has noted that the intolerance level among political parties and the use of intemperate language in the run up to the December elections was very alarming.   It said the political landscape was characterized by a high degree of verbal exchanges between the ruling and the opposition parties, which had led to further polarized the political forefront leading to high rise tensions especially among youth groups of the political parties.   In line with that, the FES on Monday organized a forum engaging the Inter-Party Youth Committee (IPYC) and relevant stakeholders to encourage young people at the forefront of the political high-tension to channel their energies into positive activities that can promote peaceful election.   The forum was under the theme: “The thin line in between peace and conflict: The role of the youth before, during and after election.”   Mrs Daniela Kuzu, Resident Director of the FES, said the forum was to bring together political youth activists from neighbouring countries to share their experiences on elections.   She said the forum was an overall campaign to educate the politically active youth on the democratic process, especially the significance of promoting the plurality of parties, democracy and good governance and to send a signal to whoever was harbouring the intentions of fomenting trouble to be ware.   Mrs Kuzu said the forum also aimed at providing the platform for general dialogue among the youth wings of political parties in Ghana and in West Africa in order to foster networking to ensure peaceful, non-violent elections.   Mr Kobby Achampong, Deputy Minister of the Interior, said the forum was a clarion call for peace, an essential prerequisite for accelerated development.   He said intolerance on the path of the citizenry, the use of inflammatory words in electronic and print media, disrespect for other segment of society, injustice, chronic unemployment and other social problems and marginalization of some segments of the society in the disturbance of the nation’s resources and in the political file were the causes of conflicts.   He said the effects of conflicts were disturbance of social infrastructure, disruption of the economy, the physical infrastructure, degeneration of the moral fibre of society, deterioration of educational standards, deterioration in the health standards and reduction of agricultural production.   Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area said nothing was worth more than peace, adding “But peace don’t comes on a silver platter.”   He said the maintenance of peace was important and that politicians and youth leaders of political parties, were to preach peace instead of violence to save the lives of future generation who would be emerging as leaders of our various African countries.   Mr Ludwig Akpene Hlodze, National Youth Organizer of the ruling NDC and Chairman of the IPYC said between peace and conflict, the Ghanaian youth would always opt for the former and work at achieving greater peace so as to foster nation building.   Mrs Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, said political tolerance was very important in politics.   She said it was important for African leaders to set standards for youths to emulate rather than violence and conflicts.   GNA...

Tema, Nov 12, GNA - Some occupants of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) flats at Tema community ‘5’ have expressed their fear of a future collapse of the buildings due to the deteriorating nature at present.   The 16 flats, which were constructed 17 years ago by SSNIT and either sold or rented out to the residents, have developed serious cracks from the foundation level to the top of the three storey flats.   A visit to the flats on Monday by the Ghana News Agency revealed that the flats, especially the flat number eight was gradually sinking to the ground with major cracks running from the foundation, through the walls and into the various rooms.   Mrs Bernice Addae, a resident, who showed the GNA heavy cracks in her hall, said since she and her family bought the two-bed-room apartment, they have been contacting the SSNIT office for the problem to be solved.   Mrs Addae indicated that even though residents had been carrying out maintenance works on the building frequently, the problem could not be solved due to the intensity of the cracks.   “The cracks are so wide that whenever it rained, the water passes through it into the room”, she noted.   She added that their fears had been heightened due to the collapse of the Melcom building at Achimota last week, which claimed 14 lives and injured 68 people.   She again said several letters and follow-up calls on SSNIT concerning their plights over the years had not yielded any favourable result.   The resident stated that some engineers, who visited the place some three years ago to assess the situation, said the land should have been treated before the construction of the building due to the presence of water.   Mrs Julian Asare, a resident, who occupied the building for the past 17 years, said they were having a hard time convincing their children that the flats was safe due to the Achimota Melcom incident.   Mrs Asare, therefore, called on the SSNIT authorities, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and other institutions to come to their aid to avoid another tragic accident from occurring in the country.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – The government of the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) under the leadership of Dr Michael Abu Sakara will deal ruthless with corrupt government officials to serve as a deterrent to other public office holders, the party’s 2012 manifesto has stated.   The party has identified lack of political will as the bane of the fight against corruption, which accordingly has undermined public confidence in government.   The manifesto states the CPP will use its stand on corruption to attract votes to win the December polls. It says corruption has cost the nation billions of Ghana Cedis as a result of fraudulent practices in government and government projects.   The party says, it would adequately resource public institutions, such as Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).   Again the party sees corruption as a canker where some public officials sometimes used their relatives in acquiring properties which far exceeded their main income.   The CPP claims that it would implement the Whistle Blower Law to encourage the public to report corrupt practices that undermine the integrity of the country.   “CPP will pass the Freedom of Information bill as part of a broad legislative agenda as well as ensuring compliance with the constitution and put open public asset declaration at the heart of public service to improve governance and fight corruption. “CPP will not compromise in the pursuit of social justice...we believe in creating a society that gives equal opportunity to all and the future of our citizens should not be determined by the accident or circumstances of their birth but by the opportunities created by the state intervention”.   A recent survey by the National Commission for Civic Education on matters of concern to the voter with a focus on corruption shows a substantial number of people (45.3 per cent of total respondents) wanting government to severely punish corrupt officials to serve as deterrent to others.   The respondents called on government to strengthen state institutions that deal with corruption; enforce corruption laws in the country, and embark on public education on the dangers and negative side of corruption.   They were of the view that appropriate wages should be paid to government officials to curb corruption; leaders to live exemplary lives, and urged government to review the assets declaration laws of people in authority.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA – The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in collaboration with the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), on Tuesday organized a debate for parliamentary candidates in the Odododiodio Constituency in Accra.   The debate formed part of CDD-Ghana’s activities aimed at promoting policy issues in the electioneering campaign and providing opportunities for the electorate to interrogate aspiring parliamentary candidates in order to make informed choices during elections.   It was on the theme: “Promoting issue based campaign in election 2012: Involving People With Disabilities, Women and Youth”. Supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the debate would provide the platform in 30 hotly contested constituencies nationwide.   Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) described as disturbing the inaccessibility of people with disability to most public and private commercial institutions.   “If I am voted as Member of Parliament I will make sure that people with disability would be recognised and accorded the due respect in society.       “I will champion their cause in Parliament and play advocacy role for the implementation of the Disability Ac,” he assured.   He said, “I pledge that I will maintain peace in the constituency and supporters of the NDC would help me do that”.   Nii Vanderpuye assured the constituents he would lead a crusade to mobilise funds to build a modern sports complex for the people of Odododiodio.      Captain Victor Okaikoi (retired), parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency expressed concern about the spate of HIV/AIDs in the country and said when elected he would step education on it and encourage responsible behaviour to help prevent and control the spread of the disease.   Captain Okaikoi said the NPP free Senior High School election campaign promise was feasible and added that the policy would bring about change in the educational sector.          Mr Emmanuel Nii Ako Oddoye of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) noted that the Government of the PPP would help people with disability by creating jobs to empower them to be self sufficient.   He said the PPP was for peace and would continue to preach it before, during and after the December elections.   Mr Oddoye said: “Under my leadership as MP of the Odododiodio, I will build an ultra modern boxing gym for the people of the constituency since our people stand to be benefiting from boxing.”   GNA...

Prampram (GAR), Nov. 13, GNA – Micro-finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) on Tuesday started distribution of outboard motors to fishermen at fishing communities countrywide at subsidized cost to help boost their economic activities.   Mr Mustapha Abubakar, Public Relations Officer of MASLOC, disclosed this to journalists at a ceremony organized by the Centre to distribute 40 horse-power outboard motors to the fishers at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.   Speaking on behalf of Mrs Bertha Sogah, Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, he said the distribution of the horse-power motors to the fishermen in Prampram formed part of 1,000 motors earmarked to be distributed in series countrywide at a subsidized cost.   Mr Abubakar said though each of the outboard motors costs GH¢9,000.00, it was being given to the fishermen at a subsidized cost of GH¢4,900.00.   He stressed that the 50 per cent subsidy on the motors was as a result of the government’s intervention to boost the economic activities of fishermen.   Mr Abubakar said already 280 of the horse-power outboard motors had been distributed to fishing communities in Cape Coast, and 100 had been allocated to those in Takoradi.   Nii Teye Appeynarh Richson, District Chief Executive of MASLOC, who received the items on behalf of the fishermen, expressed gratitude to government for the kind gesture.   MASLOC was established to provide, manage, regulate and approve funds for microfinance and small-scale credit schemes and programmes.   The centre targets mainly the productive poor and vulnerable in the society, including women, physically challenged and the youth, who are engaged in micro and small scale businesses to provide quick and easily accessible micro-credit facilities to reduce poverty and create employment and wealth.   MASLOC provides micro-credit or group loans, small loans, wholesale lending to microfinance institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and rural banks for on-lending to the productive poor.   Economic activities funded by the centre include food crops, agro-processing, poultry, micro-enterprise, vocations, handicrafts, fish farming and agricultural machinery.   GNA...

Akyem-Akroso (E/R), Nov. 13, GNA - Vodafone Ghana Limited has began a vocational skill training program for the physically challenged and other vulnerable persons at Akyem Akroso in the Birim Central Municipality.   The training which includes programs in dress-making, hair ribbons, fashion designing is to help build the self-esteem of the trainees and ensure that they acquired some useful skill to generate income.   Ms Josephine Nii Whang called on the beneficiaries of the program to take their training seriously and ensure that they acquired the needed vocational skill to help their families.   She said efforts would be made to assist them market their products at the neighboring markets at Akyem Oda and Agona Swedru.   Mr Oto Opare, the Birim Central Municipal Director of the Department of Social Welfare, commended Vodafone and GTP for their assistance to the program.   He said the training would enable the beneficiaries to acquire a useful trade saying “disability is not inability”.   The Executive Director of the Needy Elevation Crusaders, Mr Obeng Afari,  appealed to parents of the physically challenged to send their children to the centre to acquire some vocational training and appealed to other organizations to come to the aid of the centre as they train more people in useful trades.   GNA...

Shama (W/R), Nov.13, GNA - Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in-charge of Operations, on Tuesday said it was not advisable for the people to take the country’s multi party democracy for granted.      She was speaking at a focus group discussion on Deepening and Consolidating  Ghana’s Democracy at Shama.      The NCCE organized the programme in collaboration with the District Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC).      The group discussion was followed by a community durbar on the need for tolerance and peaceful elections.       Shama Assemblies of God Drama Group performed a drama; “Ghana will win” at the durbar.       Mrs Akumanyi said democracy has to be learned and practiced and “we all need to work hard to ensure that there is peace before, during and after the elections”.      She said everybody must play active part in sustaining democracy and peace in the country.      Mrs Akumanyi said: “We cannot sit back expecting our democracy to take care of itself and take no action ourselves”.      “We are democracy and power belongs to all of us especially the youth who will be future leaders,” she said, adding, “we all have to be vigilant”.       She said it is vital for the people to be aware that Ghana belonged to them irrespective of their different political beliefs.   Mrs Akumanyi said those who perpetrated terror in the society have nothing to do with reason or responsibility and everything to do with the perceived rights of a minority to attack and destroy the values of the majority which are freedom, democracy, equality and opportunity.      She said the politics of democracy are about public engagement, civil renewal and strengthening of society through the recognition and acceptance of responsibility.      Mrs Akumanyi said politicians could do a lot but without the engagement of citizens nothing much could be achieved.      She said it was also important that women got involved in all community activities as well as in the decision making process.       Mrs Akumanyi said the representation of women in all levels from the grassroots to the top was vital.       She said: “My view is that we still have a long way to go before we can say that our institutions properly represent women who outnumber men in the population census”.       Mrs Akumanyi said there was the need to respect the established institutions such as the Police, the Judiciary and the Electoral Commission (EC).      She said the people should all believe in the rule of law because the legitimacy of the whole society rests on the Constitution and the laws of the country.   GNA...

Accra, Nov.13, GNA - Mr Samuel Owiredu Amoh, a Communication Officer of the Bureau of Ghana Languages, on Tuesday testified at the ongoing trial of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central.    Mr Amoh, who transcribed the CD’s containing the comments made by Kennedy Agyapong, is the second prosecution witness to testify in the case.    Kennedy Agyapong has been charged for provocation of riot and offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and he is on self recognizance bail.    Mr Amoh, who was led in evidence by Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu, Chief State Attorney, said he was in his office on April 20, 2012 when the receptionist called him that two men were looking for him.   He said the two men were from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who gave him two CDs labeled A&B and asked him to transcribe what was on the CD.   He said after he had completed the work he handed over the CDs and the transcripts to the CID.    When asked by Mr Ayikoi Otoo, Counsel for Kennedy Agyapong, whether the signature on the transcripts was his, he answered in the affirmative.   When he was asked again if he remembered the number of times the accused used the word “If” as a condition in his statement,  Mr Amoh said he did not count the number of “Ifs” the accused made in his comment but he kept using it.   Mr Ayikoi Otoo asked the witness whether he noticed the words used by the accused which says they should beat Gas and Voltarians and not kill all Gas and Voltarians as in the transcript.   Mr Amoh said even though he did not disagree with defence, he was going by what was on the transcript.   The witness was also asked to show where in the transcript the accused said Ashantis should kill Gas in the Ashanti Region.   He said there was nothing of such statement in the transcript. The case has been adjourned to December 4, 2012.   The accused was arrested on Monday, April 16, after being invited by the Police CID over statements he allegedly made the previous Friday, April 13, on his Accra-based radio station, Oman FM.        He was alleged to have “declared war” and vowed to lynch any fake security operative, following the alleged physical attack on Ms Ursula Owusu,  NPP’s Ablekuma South parliamentary aspirant and Mr Abu Jinapor, an aide to the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Tarzan, a registration centre at Odododiodoo in Accra.        The accused reportedly said he would organise supporters of the NPP to defend themselves because the police had failed to protect them.        On Wednesday, April 18, the Adjabeng Magistrate's Court in Accra declined jurisdiction in the case of treason, felony and attempted genocide brought against the accused, saying such crimes should be tried by the High Court.        Ms Patricia Quansah, Presiding over the court, said in a ruling after  prosecution had asked for the remand of the accused, that such cases were heard by three high court judges.        She said the Chief Justice on June 17, 2008, released a circular to all judges stating that cases such as treason, murder, narcotics and rape, were to be referred to the Chief Justice, who would in turn refer them to the court.        Ms Quansah asked the prosecution, also led by Mr Wiredu, to refer the matter to the Chief Justice to determine which court should hear the case.   GNA...

Koforidua, Nov. 13, GNA - Ms Gifty Torkornu, one of Ghana’s HIV Ambassadors, has called on chief executives and institutional heads to introduce workplace HIV policies for their employees.           She said such a policy would encourage many people living with HIV to declare their HIV status, seek early treatment and help reduce stigmatization and discrimination against People Living with HIV (PLHIV).       Ms Torkornu was speaking at the Akwasidae festival of the chiefs and people of New Juaben in Koforidua where the HIV caravan made up of experts and HIV Ambassadors participated.       The caravan which is touring all the 10 regions of Ghana, forms part of the activities marking this year’s World AIDS Day to be held in Cape Coast on November 27.      The theme for the celebration is: “Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS-related Deaths, Zero Stigmatization and Discrimination-Accelerating to zero Together”.       Ms Torkornu said there were many workers living with HIV but fear to disclose their status to their employers for fear of being discriminated against or dismissed from employment.       As part of the festival, 38 personalities who had contributed towards the development of the New Juaben area were presented with awards.       The HIV Caravan would be in the Eastern Region for four days, during which, the HIV Ambassadors would interact with students, churches and members of the community.      The team would depart to the Ashanti Region on Wednesday.   GNA...

Obo-Kwahu (E/R), Nov. 13, GNA - Mr Elvis Ofori Boateng, the Assembly Member for Obo-Asemanya Electoral Area in the Kwahu-South District, on Tuesday honoured 19 basic teachers in the Obo Circuit for their hard work and dedication to duty.     The hard work of the teachers resulted in eight Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Circuit obtaining 100 percent passes in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).     The teachers received certificates, television sets, computers and pieces of cloth.     A total of 143 school children from the primary and JHS level who excelled in their various classes also received certificates, exercise books and text books as their awards.     The overall best teacher in the Circuit, which comprises Obomeng, Obo and Tweneduase, Mr Frank Agyekum Adu of Obomeng Presbyterian JHS, received a computer.   The runners-up, Madam Mary Tetteh of Tweneduase Presbyterian Primary, received a 14 inch television set with the third, Madam Grace Adamaley of Obo Presbyterian Kindergarten, receiving a piece of cloth.     Addressing a large number of school children and teachers at the award ceremony at Obo, Mr Ofori Boateng said he decided to invest in education in his electoral area since education was the best investment a nation could give to school children who are the future leaders of the country.     He said the good performance of the schools in the BECE was the result of the investment he made in the schools last year including organizing a Mock examination for the final year school pupils and the distribution of exercise books to them.     The Assembly Member advised parents to take interest in the education of children by ensuring that they study at home and also provide them with their educational needs.      Mr Francis Adisah, the Obo Circuit Supervisor of the Ghana Education Service (GES), commended Mr Boateng for his effort in recognizing the role of the teacher.      He appealed to the government to provide the schools in the area with adequate teaching and learning materials and initiate new mechanisms to motivate teachers to improve upon their performance.   GNA...