Ghana News
Friday, 03 July
Thursday, 02 July
Dzodze — Drama unfolded at the Dzodze Magistrate Court in the Ketu North district last Monday, when a mob carrying dangerous weapons stormed the court building, forcing the magistrate and others in the court room to flee for their dear lives.
The mob, which was shouting "where is the Registrar, we are looking for you," and "we know you are hiding in one of these offices," then forced one of the doors of the offices open and found the Court Registrar, Mr. Dan Sapitey, in it.
The angry youth then carried Mr. Sapitey on their shoulders, and subjected him to severe beatings. The conduct of the youth attracted many people to the scene, some of whom instead of sympathising with the Registrar, hailed the youth for their actions, as they openly shouted "today you have seen where your activities have landed you. Yes, you need to change for the better."
Speaking to the media, the Spokesperson for the Group, Mr. Michael Kofi Sekpeh, explained that the people of Dzodze cherished peace, but the activities of the Registrar was gradually tarnishing the image of the town, as the Court Registrar had engaged in a number of activities contrary to the customs and traditional practices of the people.
Mr. Sekpeh also accused the Registrar of sleeping with married women who sent their marital cases to the court for adjudication.
This conduct, he noted, violated the customs of the people.
He said apart from this, the Court Registrar had assumed the responsibility of a judge, trying cases in his office, and taking money from the parties involved in the case.
The Registrar was also accused of destroying vital documents of the court, after collecting various sums of money from the parties involved, so that their cases would not be heard.
Mr. Sekpeh, who was very emotional, said what necessitated their action, was that a female judge died somewhere last year through a motor accident, and it was rumoured in the entire Dzodze township that the Registrar was allegedly behind the death, since he had reportedly warned that any judge who tried to stand in his way, would "go the same way the previous judge left."
Mr. Sekpeh therefore appealed to the Judicial Service to transfer the Registrar within three days, starting from Tuesday, and that if the service failed to do that, the safety of the Registrar could not be guaranteed.
However, when the Registrar, Mr. Sapitey, was contacted, he would not talk, but shout at the reporters "what is your problem, I said, I cannot speak to anyone of you," in the presence of hospital authorities at Dzodze, when the reporters told him about the allegations leveled against him, and the need for him to react to them.
A Chief of Dzodze, Togbui Adzofia IV, who came to the scene after a middle-aged man in a private car whisked the Registrar away to the St. Anthony Hospital, which is near the court, said the youth should have reported their grievances to the chiefs to invite the Registrar, and assured them that the chiefs would investigate the conduct of the Registrar and the allegations leveled against him, and make recommendations to the Judicial Service.
The Magistrate Court Judge, Her Lordship Mrs. Lydia Aklamanu, who was surprised with the drama, said she did not know anything about the allegations leveled against the Registrar, because she was relatively new in the town.
CONTRARY TO their claims in the lead-up to the 2008 elections that foreign travels are a waste of government revenue, so when elected into power their government will frown on overseas travels, President Mills and his Vice, John Dramani Mahama, have both travelled 13 times since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took office six months ago.
Whilst President Mills, since assuming office as the first gentleman of the land has travelled out of the shores of the country five times, his Vice, John Dramani Mahama, has stepped out of the nation 12 times.
The first overseas travel embarked on by President Mills was when he dashed to Nigeria to attend an ECOWAS summit after which he visited his spiritual father, T.B Joshua, at the church of Synagogue, just a day after he was sworn in.
After been hugely criticised for been holed up at the Osu Castle, the seat of government, President Mills embarked on another foreign travel, this time to neighbouring Ivory Coast, Togo and Burkina Fasso for bilateral talks.
The third President of the fourth republic made his first trip outside the African continent, when he went on a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom (UK) where he met British premier, Gordon Brown, at the number 10 Downing Street for another bilateral talk.
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on his part had a feel of an executive travel for the first time when he travelled to the ancient country of Ethiopia to attend the African Union (AU) extraordinary summit.
Thereafter, the one-time NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi in the Northern Region, travelled to Burkina Faso by road as part of efforts of strengthening ties between the two West African countries.
The former pan-African parliament member, after the brief visit to Burkina Faso travelled, again by air to Libya to dialogue with the Arab country’s government officials for the release of some Ghanaians who were being kept in custody in that country.
The Vice President continued his travelling spree with a visit to South Africa, where he addressed the Pan-African parliament and was also honoured by the leadership of the house.
From the South African trip, His Excellency, John Mahama dashed to Senegal to attend a special summit of the African Development Bank (ADB) where he delivered an impressive address.
Still on the travelling extravaganza, the Vice President again travelled to Libya to represent the government of Ghana during the SEN-SAD summit.
Affable John Mahama returned to the West African sub region with a quick visit to next-door Nigeria where he graced the occasion of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of democratic rule in the oil-rich country.
His Excellency, John Mahama, once again travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to be a part of important dignitaries who attended the final funeral rites of the wife of the late President Omar Bongo.
In an attempt to justify his number of travels within this short time in office, the former legislator told Paul Adom-Otchere of Good Evening Ghana fame, a popular socio-political talk show on Metro TV, that he represented his boss on most of the travels.
Indications are that the fine-looking Vice President may increase his number of travels as it appears his boss does not have the capacity to step outside the shores of the country to project the country into the limelight as his predecessor, ex-President Kufour, did with perfection.
Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed MubarakThe interdicted Chief Director at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Albert Ampong, has threatened to seek justice from the dreaded ‘Antoa Nyamaa’ deity over his mistreatment by the President Mills government.
Not prepared to let go his excruciating interdiction, Mr Ampong has vowed to storm Antoa with schnapps, eggs and other ritually-required materials to seek the face of the powerful river deity over his predicament.
According to a Kessben FM news report on Saturday, the former coordinator at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) says he would solicit the intervention of the sensational river deity if attempts to seek justice from the legal system proved futile.
In the said news item, the interdicted Chief Director who is a native of Antoa, an ancient town in the Kwabre district of the Ashanti Region, noted that currently, he was consulting with his lawyers to see how best they could contest the government’s action in court.
Mr Ampong stated, according to the report, that if government abused its power and manipulate the legal system to his disadvantage, he would have no other option but to seek intercession from the spiritual realm.
In the about three minutes’ radio report, the ex-Chief Director at the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs emphasised that he would not sit unconcerned for the reputation he had built over the years in the civil service to be tarnished just like that.
Mr Ampong’s interdiction was contained in the National Security’s investigative report which cleared Hon Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka of all the 17 allegations of financial impropriety at the Youth and Sports Ministry leveled against him.
Also recommended for interdiction was Mr Adim Odoom, the Principal Accountant at the Ministry who together with Mr Ampong blew the whistle about Hon Muntaka’s financial indiscretion to President Mills.
Outlandishly, the report recommended that Messrs Ampong and Odoom, the whistle blowers, be made to refund to the state, an amount of GH¢20,000 being the sum of money Hon Muntaka allegedly ordered them to pay him without going through due process.
According to the report which has been met with mixed feelings from the public, there was no documentary proof regarding the aforementioned transaction, therefore, the whistle blowers be made to refund the said amount to the state.
Interestingly, the report vehemently exonerated Hon Muntaka from all the allegations but charged him to refund to the state, the amount of money spent on the travel of Miss Zinayela, his alleged girlfriend, to Germany and Cote d’Ivoire.
Amusingly, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, who was asked by President Mills to step aside to ensure smooth investigations, has announced that he has resigned from his position.
Meanwhile, some residents in Kumasi have expressed shock at the manner in which President Mills has so far treated the alleged financial impropriety involving the youngest ever Minister at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Residents in the Garden City who have been calling into various radio stations since the report was made public say President Mills’ approach to the issue was a sharp deviation from his touted promise that he would not hesitate to ruthlessly deal with corrupt officials in his government.
What is disgusting, according to the callers, is the directive that the two whistle blowers should refund to the state an amount of GH¢20,000 because their allegation on that score could not be ascertained.
Collectively, they argued that the action of the government would promote corruption especially at the ministries because concerned Ghanaians could no longer muster courage to blow the whistle on corrupt practices they may be privy to.
An Accra High Court has sentenced Mr Anthony Bleworda to five (5) years imprisonment for having sex with her daughter since she was 16 years old and fathering with her five children, three of whom have since died. Mr Bleworda admitted that he had a strong urge to sleep with his own 16-year-old daughter the first day he saw her after several year’s sojourn abroad.
The daughter, identified as Matilda Bleworda, who is now in her mid twenties, is reported to have later developed mental health problems. Speaking to Peace FM and the Domestic Violence And Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Matilda disclosed that she willingly gave in to his father’s sexual advances the first day she saw him because her father enticed her with lots of money, but the subsequent encounters were all against her will. An earlier medical report had revealed that Matilda had indeed developed mental problems. She however stressed to Peace FM in an interview that she has now been completely cured.
She added that she did not know in the beginning that Mr. Bleworda was her real father. She believed instead that her grandfather whom she had known since her infancy was. According to her she asked the father to stop sleeping with her but he refused, claiming she was married to him by virtue of their having children together.
In an interview with Peacefmonline, the spokesperson for DOVVSU, Inspector Irene Oppong confirmed that Mr Bleworda has been sentenced for 5 years imprisonment. In answer to querries about why the seemingly minimal nature of the punishment, Inspector Oppong said the court took into account the girl’s admission that she was 16 years old when her father first slept with her and also that she consented to the act for which reason he couldn’t be charged with rape.
She explained that the stipulated sentencing range for incest for which Mr. Bleworda was found guilty is between 3 to 25 years. She explained that it took the court this long to dispose of the case because the man was having health issues midway into his prosecution. Peace FM managed to secure a major scoop and broke the scandal to a horrified country in September of last year.
Koforidua, July 3, GNA - By January 2010, payrolls of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), will be run by the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD), Mr Raphael Kwesi Tuffour, Controller and Accountant General (CAG) has said. Mr Tuffour who said this while welcoming Staff of the Department to a four-day Delegates Conference in Koforidua on Thursday, said the CAGD had so far received co-operation from most agencies which were not on Government payroll.
He thanked those organizations for their efforts and urged the remaining ones to speed up with their returns. Mr Tuffour appealed to the Minister of Finance to help the Department create a unit whose responsibility would be to conduct head counts all year round. He said that would enable them to efficiently protect public funds in a manner that will ensure that Government payroll was rid of ghost names, and also ensure a smooth transfer of names from payroll to pensions.
Mr Tuffour reminded the accountants of the significant role they play in government machinery, and urged them to rededicate themselves to the discharge of their duties. He told them that any negative or unprofessional conduct on their part would not only bring the profession into disrepute but affect the country's economic development.
Mr Tuffour appealed to government to support them with logistics to enable them discharge their duties to expectation. He said payroll administration and procurement of Value books were crucial areas that need to be tackled efficiently, adding that expenditure on those items was national in character and had no budget lines.
"They end up virtually absorbing the entire budget of the department. We therefore request for separate budget line for them". Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, who chaired the function, urged the accounting personnel to ensure transparency and accountability in whatever they do.
He told them that the whole finances of the country are entrusted in their care and they must live up to expectation. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo reminded them of the crucial role they were expected to play now that oil revenue would be "flowing soon". He appealed to the department to spend a little of its resources to update the professional competence of its staff to enable them to prove equal to the task. The conference is on the theme "Accountability in the Public Service-The Role of the Accountant".
A STOWAWAY has been found dead in the undercarriage of a jet travelling to Britain from Ghana.
The man, whose name is not known, is believed to have secretly boarded the Ghana International GU101 flight in Accra.
But he is thought to have died during the 3,200 mile journey and was found by workers at Gatwick shortly after 7am today.
A source said: "Engineers were carrying out routine checks on the aircraft after all the passengers had disembarked and found a body.
"It's not unheard of for stowaways to attempt to board flights to the UK and tragedies like this do happen from time to time.
"But it's always a deeply shocking and harrowing experience for any airport worker who stumbles across something of this kind."
A Sussex Police spokeswoman confirmed cops were investigating.
She added: "London Gatwick Airport is working closely with Sussex Police to determine the circumstances leading to this tragic incident."
The former Youth and Sports Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak must have agreed to be used as the sacrificial lamb in his party, as he claims, but the young Member of Parliament continues to cry from afar as he feels embittered about the way members of his own party treated him during his ordeal.
The former Minister disclosed publicly for the first time that he was totally neglected by people of his own party, including his colleague NDC Members in Parliament, when he got entangled in the alleged corruption charges.
Speaking on a Zongo-based radio station in Kumasi, Zuria 88.7FM, which broadcasts in the Hausa language, the embittered former Minister said a number of government officials made mockery of him and even pressurized him to resign to save the party from embarrassment, even before President Mills commissioned the National Security to conduct investigations into the matter.
"Even people I was expecting to support me and offer me the moral support called for my crucifixion long before the investigations were conducted," he said, adding that certain personalities were jealous of him being appointed as a Minister and were bent on seeing his fall.
Although the former Minister failed to mention names, he stated that the very people who pushed for him to be allotted the position were the same people who started calling for his head, moments after his predicaments became public.
He said he received calls from a lot of high raking personalities in government, who were pressurizing him to quickly resign from the position, even though he insisted he was innocent of all the allegations.
Alhaji Muntaka, however, said he enjoyed enormous support from the NPP Asahnti Region MPs in Parliament who expressed their solidarity and encouraged him to remain firm in the face of his misfortune.
He said all the 36 NPP Members of Parliament rallied behind him and supported him throughout the period of his suffering and said he was very much appreciative of them.
Amaada (Ash), July 3, GNA - The government has presented some relief items worth GH¢115,400 to flood victims at Amaada and Abaasa Number two in the Atwima Mponua District.
The items included mattresses, bags of rice, Wellington boots, blankets, and bales of second hand clothing, plastic plates and cups. The donation was as a result of recent heavy rains which caused River Offin to overflow its banks displacing them.
Addressing the people, Mrs Anima Wilson, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister who presented the items on behalf of the government advised the developers to cooperate with town and country planning personnel for proper layout.
She advised them not to build houses near river banks, water ways and flood prone areas.
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister also advised farmers not to farm along river banks and avoid felling trees around communities. She urged them to plant more trees to serve as wind breaks. Mrs. Theresah Adomako Tawiah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) received the items on behalf of the two communities. In another development, Mr. Thomas Kwakwa, DCE for Ahafo-Ano South also received similar donations made to Abaasa Number one, which was also affected by severe floods. 3 July 09
Koforidua, July 3, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, on Thursday disclosed that the President was not happy about his inability to achieve his target of appointing 40 percent women in his government, and the fact that the few women he nominated as Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCE's) were rejected by some assemblies.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo disclosed this when the chief of Akyem Akroso, Nana Kwabena Ofori II, paid a courtesy call on him to plead for a Chief Executive for the Birim Central Assembly. He told the chief that the action of rejecting the President's nominees by the assemblies was an insult to the president's intelligence.
According to Mr Ofosu- Ampofo, the President had not come to terms with the rejection of the only female nominee in the region, for the Birim Central assembly.
He stated that the president was mindful of the promises he made to Ghanaians, especially the appointment of 40 percent women to his government and tasked qualified and distinguished men to scrutinize all the applications before the appointments were made and so he least expected the only female for the region to be rejected. The Regional Minister said the conduct of the assembly members did not only amount to an insult to the president but, also portrays a different picture of the people including himself. However, he said, the prerogative of appointment rested with the president and he would therefore communicate their position to him, and advised them to learn from that mistake and accept whoever the president nominates.
Nana Kwabena Ofori told the Minister that the lack of an MCE coupled with the many chieftaincy disputes in the area, was delaying the development of the area.
It would be recalled that the only female nominee, Ms Ophelia Koomson, for the position of the MCE for Birim Central was rejected out right by the assembly and since then the assembly had been left with no Chief Executive.
Accra, July 3, GNA - The Governor of the Rivers State of Nigeria, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has denied channelling money through former President Jerry John Rawlings, to fund the campaign of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) congress during Election 2008. Amaechi has challenged the publishers of www.pointblanknews.com, who came up with the story to assist any investigative body with proof that he supported the NDC campaign.
The Ghanaian media carried out the publication, last week, which was originated by the news blog, which imputed criminal conduct on the part of the Governor.
The media report suggested that he had misappropriated state funds and doled out a $3.5 million cheque to former President Rawlings to help the NDC prosecute its electoral campaign.
Mr. David Iyofor, Senior Media Adviser to the Governor told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday that "It's a simple thing, this can be confirmed. You give a $3.5 million cheque to Rawlings, it must go through the banks so let him come and tell us which bank in Ghana or which bank in Nigeria was the cheque cleared from". Mr. Iyofor described the allegations as 'arrant nonsense' and a figment of the writer's imagination.
He said the story "was a piece of irresponsible journalism and the Governor was very surprised that the spurious allegations elicited so much publicity in the Ghanaian media, when nobody back in Nigeria is talking about it because of its obvious unreliability". Mr. Iyorfor challenged the writers to put out which bank honoured the cheque to help any person or body interested in seeking the truth, to pursue the matter. He said the embarrassment that the publication had caused the Governor and his family was immense and advised the media to refrain from the spread of such untruth. 03 July 09
Bolgatanga, July 03, GNA - Salt manufacturers and the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) have been called upon to ensure that salt put on the market for consumption contains adequate quantities of iodine needed to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).
This is because some areas in the country have been identified to be highly deficient in iodine, causing the people to suffer from IDD that could be prevented by the effective implementation of the Universal Salt Iodization (USI) policy.
The disorders caused by iodine deficiency include goitre, increased prenatal mortality, irreversible mental retardation, preventable brain damage in children, and cretinism.
This was contained in a study carried out by Mr. J.G.A. Armah, Deputy Director of Public Health, and Professor E. Asibey, Senior Lecturer in the Nutrition Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, and sponsored by UNICEF to assess the Biological impact of iodized salt consumption in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region and the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders could have been reduced considerably by the introduction of the Universal Salt Iodization if the salt sold in the market was adequately iodized, the report noted. It indicated that even though more that 80 per cent of the people consumed iodized salt, only 38.5 per cent and 36.3 per cent of households in Jirapa and Bongo Districts respectively, consumed adequate iodized salt, falling far short of the target of 90 per cent.
Professor Asibey, Presenting the findings of the study in Bolgatanga on Thursday, said it showed that despite the inadequate iodization of salt, the incidence of some IDD related diseases like goitre had reduced from 56.4 per cent to 10.6 per cent in Jirapa and 56.5 to 18.2 in the Bongo District between 1994 and 2007. The incidence of Median Urine Iodine rose from severe iodine deficiency to appreciable levels in the people tested in the two districts. The improvement, even though far below the ideal, could have been because iodized oil capsules were distributed to people in the two districts, he said.
He stated that the interventions of iodized salt consumption since 1995 had caused significant improvement and brought the hitherto severe situation in the Jirapa and Bongo Districts to a mild stage as evident from both the adults and primary school children tested. Dr. John Koku Williams-Awoonor, Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, explained that the lack of iodine in pregnant women could affect the central nervous system of the baby and cause irreversible brain damage, still births, infant mortality and low intelligence.
"If the present energetic minority should remain the same for a long time, they will grow old, but if the newborns are strong enough in all their capacities, be it physical or mental, they will grow to replace the aging ones and develop our economy. We need children with high intelligent quotient (IQ) to become future leaders of our country and even international leaders", he noted.
The Health Director reiterated that salt iodization was the only sure way to prevent IDD, and urged the people to look out and report any sellers or dealers of non-iodized salt to the appropriate authority for the law to take its course.
A baseline survey had earlier on been carried out between 1991 and 1994 in 27 districts in the country and that had shown that many of the areas had varying degree of endemicity ranging from mild to severe, based on Total Goitre Rates (TGR) and mean urinary iodine (UI) excretion rate. Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) was therefore declared as a major public health concern particularly for pregnant women and young children.
As a short term measure to address the problem, Oral Iodized Oil Capsules were distributed to children and women in the severely endemic zones soon after the baseline study. Consumption of iodized salt by both human and animals was made mandatory in 1996 to ensure universal salt iodization.
Accra, July 3, GNA - The Acting Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, Dr Kwame Ampofo, has said it was important for African refiners to shift their focus from conventional fuels to bio-fuel to be in a better position to satisfy the international market. Dr Ampofo said other countries are gradually focusing on bio-fuel, making it important for African refiners to go into its production. "It is renewable and regenerates itself."
He said this on Thursday during the opening of a two-day meeting of heads of laboratories of oil refineries in Africa. The meeting was organized by the Africa Refiners Association (ARA) in collaboration with TOR for 45 participants in the refineries from 10 African countries including Ghana. The meeting, which is a follow up to a previous one held in Dakar, is aimed at reviewing discussions and mapping up strategies for the way forward.
Dr Ampofo said should African refineries fail to go into the production of bio-fuel they would loose their relevance when the use of conventional fuel finally fades out.
He said plans were underway to integrate TOR into the production of bio-fuel and that even though TOR has staff to go into the production it would be fully ready to do so within 18 months. Dr Ampofo said most economies would be consuming up to 50 percent of energy generated from petroleum in the next decade and the proper management of the sector would determine the future of the economy and appealed to refineries to come out with quality products to meet modern standards.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Kwabena Donkor, appealed to the experts to address the issue of adulteration and contamination of products that is normally done in connivance with some colleagues in the profession.
He called for a new breed of professionals in the laboratory as Africa strives to improve fuel quality leading to better health for both people and the environment.
Dr Donkor expressed the government's determination to include renewable energy sources in the country's energy mix and called on African experts to explore bio-fuel as being done by the advanced countries. Mr Joel Dervian, President of ARA, said the meeting was to enable experts in the field to meet and exchange ideas as part of African integration. 03 July 09
Accra, July 3, GNA - Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has denied funding the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) campaign for election 2008 through former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Mr Amaechi has challenged the publishers of www.pointblanknews.com to help any investigative body with proof that the Governor supported the NDC's campaign.
The Ghanaian media last week were awash with the publication originated by the news blog which imputed criminal conduct on the part of the Governor and suggested he had misappropriated state funds, including doling out a $3.5 million cheque to former President Rawlings to help the NDC prosecute its electoral campaign. Mr. David Iyofor, a Senior Media Adviser to the Governor, told the come and tell us which bank in Ghana or which bank in Nigeria was the cheque cleared from."
Mr. Iyofor described the allegations as 'arrant nonsense' and a figment of the writer's imagination.
He said the story "is a piece of irresponsible journalism and the Governor is very surprised the spurious allegations elicited so much publicity in the Ghanaian media when nobody back in Nigeria is talking about it because of its obvious unreliability". He challenged the writers to put out which bank honoured the cheque to help any persons or body interested in seeking the truth to pursue the matter.
Mr Iyofor said the embarrassment that the publication had caused the Governor and his family was immense and advised the media to refrain from the spread of such untruth, "least I will be forced to go legal."
Kumasi, July 3, GNA - The Executive Members of the Asawase Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kumasi on Friday rescinded their decision to resign from their posts.
A statement signed by Mr Joseph Salifu and Mr Baba Mohammed, Constituency Secretary and Organizer, respectively, and issued in Kumasi on Friday, stated that the Executive Members have with immediate effect taken up their various posts in the interest of the party.
It explained that the decision of the members followed a marathon meeting between them and the leadership of the NDC in which they were impressed upon to bury their differences, forget about the past and take back their posts which they gave up last week.
It would be recalled that the Executive Members resigned en bloc following what they described as unfair treatment meted out to the Member of Parliament for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, who was until recently the Minister of Youth and Sports.
The Executive Members could not come to terms as to the fact that even though the Minister was cleared of all the allegations of financial malfeasance leveled against him, the Presidency failed to give back Alhaji Mubarak his position as the Sector Minister and rather appointed some one else to man the sector.
They were also aggrieved of rumors that the Minister was forced to resign against his will.
The statement appealed to all well-meaning NDC supporters to forgive the Executive Members for the inconvenience they caused the party as a result of their mass resignation.
It also apologized to the Ashanti Regional Police Command for the inability of some NDC supporters at Asawase to seek permit before embarking on a demonstration soon after the Executive Members had resigned.
"We wish to assure the Command that in future such occurrence would not be repeated".
Jema (B/A), July 3, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Thursday lauded the efforts of contractors engaged on two major road projects in the region and gave the assurance of every support for the completion of the projects on schedule.
He stressed that in the spirit of continuity the projects, initiated by the NPP government, would be continued and the current government would ensure that they were completed successfully. The projects are the partial reconstruction of the 30 kilometre Techiman-Wenchi road being undertaken by Messrs P & W Ghanem Limited. The contract for the project, costing GHC 15,310,888.64, was awarded on January 24 last year and is scheduled to be completed by May 5, 2010. The other project is the rehabilitation of the 60 kilometre Techiman-Kintampo trunk road being undertaken by Messrs Shinsung Engineering and Construction Limited, whose contract was awarded on June 23 last year and is scheduled to be completed by March 2011. The contract price is GHC 36,058,579.20 provided by the African Development Bank, Government of Ghana and the ECOWAS Fund. The Regional Minister noted that this was an important road, particularly as the main route for the easy movement of people from neighbouring countries and would boost economic activities in Ghana and the sub region.
"The completion of this road is particularly very important as it would boost the socio-economic development of not only this region and Ghana, but the rest of the sub-region," Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said. The Regional Minister was on an inspection tour of government projects, which included the construction of a two-storey district police headquarters,
a three-storey administration block for the district assembly, and a three-bedroom medical officer's bungalow at Jema in Kintampo South district.
He congratulated the contractors for "a good job" done so far and assured them that government was mobilizing funds for the settlement of their unpaid certificates this year, to enable them to complete the projects on schedule.
Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo on the way to Wenchi visited the Local Authority Junior High School building at Nkosia whose roofing was ripped off during a rainstorm last year. The students currently hold classes in the local Presbyterian Church building. The Regional Minister instructed the Wenchi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Yaw Osei Agyei who was among the entourage, to ensure that the school was rehabilitated before the beginning of the next academic year. Also in the entourage were Mr. Alex Kyeremeh, Techiman Municipal Chief Executive and officials of the Ghana Highways Authority and Architectural Engineering Services Limited.
Keta, July 3, GNA - Four robbers armed with guns on Tuesday robbed passengers on board a mini-bus traveling from Tema to Keta at Atito junction near Anloga on Tuesday stripping a middle aged woman naked, a police source said.
The source at Keta Division of Ghana Police Service told the Ghana News Agency that the robbers who were on the same vehicle with the passengers collected money and valuables including cell phones all valued at about 4,000.
They then ordered the passengers and the driver out of the bus and drove away and later found abandoned it at Atito the next day. The source said the Hyundai Mini bus, with registration number GS 5998 Y, stopped when a male passenger in the front seat told the driver he wanted to disembark. That was at 2030 hours.
No sooner had the bus stopped than the passenger pulled a gun and ordered the driver not to move while three others also ordered the passengers to a standstill and robbed them. The source said no arrest had been made.
Accra, July 3, GNA - The Ministry of Health has finished reviewing the Tobacco Control Bill and is in the process of submitting the bill and the accompanying memorandum to cabinet.
Dr George Sipa Yankey, Health Minister, said it was possible that some time this July, the bill would be sent to cabinet for consideration after which it would be forwarded to Parliament for further action. The Minister was responding to a question from the Member for Evalue Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, in Parliament.
The member had sought to know, as a matter of urgency, when the bill would be laid before Parliament.
In response to another question from Ms Shirley Botchway, Member for Weija, on when the Communicable Diseases Clinic at Weija would be upgraded to a hospital, the Minister said the upgrading remains a priority of the Ministry.
"An assessment of the suitability of the proposed site for the project has already been carried out by the Capital Investment Management Unit of the ministry."
Expansion and upgrading of the clinic would be done as soon as funds for the capital projects submitted for consideration are approved by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning," Dr Yankey said In response to another question on steps to curb the collapse of the Tanoso Health centre in Techiman in the Brong- Ahafo region, the minister said plans were far advanced to procure basic equipment to all health facilities in the Techiman Municipality under the High Impact Rapid Delivery Programme to meet the Millennium Development Goals. 3 July, 09
Jennifer Kwakye, Housemistress of Victory Senior High School at Asokwa, Kumasi, is in hot waters, having allegedly enticed female students of the school to engage in illicit commercial sex.
The accused was said to have been engaged in brisk sex business in which she provided visitors to a nearby guest house with female students under her care, pocketing huge sums of money in the process.
The housemistress was said to have been involved in the abominable act for sometime now until luck finally eluded her last week when she was eventually nabbed by the Zongo Police in Kumasi.
Jennifer Kwakye and her male friend, Johnson Kelly, who allegedly patronized the shameful act, were detained by the police for two days before they were granted police enquiry bail.
Two girls were initially said to have fallen prey to the housemistress’ alleged misdeeds, but unconfirmed reports stated that more of such girls who were above 18 years were also involved but were feeling shy to come out.
The girls, according to reports, were helped by the housemistress to scale walls to spend the night with their male guests in a nearby guest house.
There had been uneasy calm in the school and the entire Asokwa neighbourhood at large ever since the illegal act, which was done under the cover of darkness, was unearthed, Daily Guide gathered.
When Daily Guide stormed the school’s premises on Thursday, the campus was very quiet as the students were said to be on mid-term break. However, a few officials were seen stunned by the calamity that had befallen their fast growing school.
Meanwhile, the paper gathered that police had intensified their investigations and might in no time come to the end of the nagging issue which had become the focal point of discussion in Kumasi and its environs.
Speaking in an interview, the Zongo Divisional Police Commander, ACP George Mensah, said investigations were ongoing, pointing out that so far, no acts of sex trade had been established.
He described the victims who were over 18 years, as ‘very bad girls’ who after the conclusion of the issue, ought to be ousted from the school to serve as deterrent to other girls.
The police capo maintained that apart from the two girls said to be involved, no other girl from the school had reported to the police that she was part of the condemnable act.
He advised that any student of the school who was a victim of the act should immediately lodge a complaint with the police and desist from making unfounded allegations in the media.
When contacted for his side of the story, Mr. Kofi Kyei, Headmaster of the school, distanced his outfit from the said unholy acts, pointing out; “We even sent the housemistress and the other man to the police when the news broke”.
The school, he emphatically stated, was formed on Christian principles with a motto, ‘Character and Competence’, insisting he was saddened that such a calamity had befallen his school.
He stated that besides their lectures, the students of the school were always taught Christian ideologies so as to enable them become useful citizens in future.
Though he described the act as an allegation, he was quick to state that the school would not hide anything and would totally support the police to uncover the whole truth of the matter to pave way for the erring parties to be punished according to the law.
Mr. Kofi Kyei said the school, formed six years ago, had over the years produced some ardent men of God, promising that despite this calamity, the authorities would continue to be strict.
He promised to deal with the housemistress sternly if she was found culpable after police investigations, urging parents and students to calm down as his outfit was totally in control of the situation.
Earlier, one of the girls allegedly engaged in the sex act, told Citi FM: “I had financial difficulty and someone took me to see the Housemistress, who told me she liked me very much.
“She took me to a guest house called Sojar Guest House where two men gave her a package and she left. The men tried to forcibly have sex with us, but we bolted,” she narrated.
A gang of robbers, armed with guns and razor-sharp machetes, opened fire when they stormed the Roman Ridge residence of former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye, yesterday at dawn. There was no casualty, no property taken and no arrests have been made yet. Police is investigating the motive of the attack and the brains behind the operation.
The armed robbers, about eight in number, were reported to have masked their faces with black hoods and used two vehicles which had no registration numbers. They reportedly ransacked two houses in the Roman Ridge neighborhood before storming I. C. Quaye’s residence where they demanded that the gate be opened for them to enter else they tear it down with force. Sheikh I. C. Quaye is the second politician from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to have been attacked by armed robbers in recent times.
A constituency executive of the NPP was recently shot dead before the eyes of his wife and children when armed robbers attacked his home at Dome, a suburb of Accra. Daily Guide gathered that there were a number of heavily-built young men sleeping at I. C. Quaye’s house when the incident occurred; and sensing danger, they woke the ‘old man’ up from bed and rushed him into an inner room where they took positions, ready to defend the patriarch politician even at the peril of their lives.
As this drama was ongoing, the robbers continued firing outside the house, demanding that the gate be opened as they attempted to tear it down to force their way in. I.C. Quaye, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, then telephoned the Police Patrol team and reported the attack. “They responded very swiftly and rapidly and saved the situation. Many police men rushed to the area and the robbers had to run and that was it, ‘agbenaa’,” I.C. Quaye told Daily Guide.
He debunked suggestions that the robbers might have been attracted to his house because of his perceived wealth.“I live in an uncompleted house and I am a down-trodden man so where is the wealth you are talking about? They know why they came and what they wanted but I know my life, family, friends and property are in the hands of Allah, the most merciful and that is what keeps me going,” I. C. Quaye added.
Interestingly, the attack at I.C. Quaye’s residence happened a day after former President Jerry Rawlings had accused the opposition of being behind the robberies so as to create disaffection for the incumbent government. Rawlings, during an interaction with leading members of his party last Wednesday, noted: “They are at it again. You don’t need to be a mathematician to tell who is doing this. This time, they have even extended it to foreign nationals who have invested in the country and when they kill, they disembowel their victims and supposedly take body parts to paint a picture of ritual murders.”
Accra, July 3, GNA - Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Tourism, noted on Friday that President Barrack Obama's visit to Ghana this month presents a chance in a lifetime to push tourism to the third highest foreign exchange earner for the country.
She told journalists in Accra that last year tourism earning stood at US$1.4 billion, placing fourth to cocoa, gold and remittances. "But with Barrack Obama's visit and other tourism activities in the pipeline this year, the sector was expected to generate between 16 to 20 per cent revenue, more than it did last year and thereby take its rightful place as the third highest foreign exchange earner," she said. Mr. Azumah-Mensah made the remark at the launch of World Tourism Day, Panafest and Emancipation Day celebrations as well as the Tourism aspect of President Barrack Obama's visit to Ghana.
She noted that President Obama's visit, slated for July 10 to 12, promised to give the world a glimpse of Ghana's golden culture through the eyes of the 300 international journalists coming to cover the visit.
"Our heritage and culture tourism resource will be given a massive publicity worldwide so Ghana must take advantage of it and hang out all her best wares to be captured by the cameras," she said. She therefore urged players in the domestic tourism industry to highlight the tourism opportunities that existed in Ghana to enhance domestic earnings for economic growth.
Mr. Kobby Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Tourism said, on the back of President Obama's visit, Ghana would launch an aggressive sales campaign to attract wealthy black Americans to come, live and spend in Ghana, saying, "we will start town hall meeting in black communities in the United States to promote our tourism opportunities". He also said travel and tourism clubs would also be established in schools and churches as a way of boosting domestic tourism. Just days after President has concluded his visit, Panafest and Emancipation Day would come off from July 16 to August 1, on the theme: "Our heritage, our strength."
The occasion would be marked with activities such as wreath laying, durbars, a reverential night and Pan African Conference and Awards Night.
Mr. Azumah-Mensah said the United Nations World Tourism Organization had also chosen Ghana to host this year's World Tourism Day celebration slated for September 21 - 27.
She said the World Tourism Day would be on the theme: "Tourism Celebrating Diversity- and would be marked with activities such as a tour for the local press and travel writers, tree planting along Lake Bosomtwe and a think-tank on the theme.
The minister urged Ghanaians to participate fully in all the events to ensure that Ghana took full advantage of the opportunities they offered to boost efforts at reaching the over one million tourists target by 2012.
She called on the media to support the ministry in publicizing the good image of the country during "this crucial and most opportune period", in the history of the country.
Accra, July 3, GNA - Mrs Rosina Brew, Human Resource Manager of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on Friday stressed the need for training to precede promotion to improve performance in all sectors of the economy. She said "often staff use their discretion to work, because they are promoted without any training which affects performance and production."
Mrs Brew made the call at the passing-out of the 28th Senior Technical Supervisory Management Course of the Institute of Technical Supervision at Weija in Accra.
The 25 technical supervisors drawn from 11 industries included TOR, Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) had only a woman among them.
It was under the theme "Technical Supervisory Management Capacity Development, an Effective Tool for National Industrial Growth." Mrs Brew said there were instances that no staff was given the opportunity to understudy a senior colleague who played a critical or supervisory role until the position became vacant before a suitable successor would be recruited.
She called on managements of institutions to pursue staff progression through training programmes tailored to suit particular positions to provide the knowledge and skills needed to hold specific positions.
"For Ghana to achieve her national goals and development objectives we need confident, purposeful and well motivated individuals that focus on timely delivery." "There cannot be better leadership if front line technical employees who occupy supervisory positions are not developed," she said. Mrs Brew said in addition to training, technical supervisors must be well remunerated to be ready to undertake greater responsibilities.
She called on managements of participating institutions to undertake follow-up to the various organizations to assess their performance on the job.
Mr John Welbeck, Principal of Institute of Technical Supervision said the proliferation of churches around its premises was a nuisance especially during lectures. He said the rate of encroachment on the institute's land was very alarming and if care was not could affect its future expansion and appealed to Ga South Municipal Assembly for assistance to protect its land. Mr Sheerrif Nii Ott Dodoo, Ga South Municipal Chief Executive pledged to assist the management from further encroachment on its land. He said Ghana's industrial growth could be achieved when government invests in technical capacity development for them to lead the renaissance of the country's industrial growth.
From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Sirte, Libya
Sirte, July 3, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has re-affirmed government's commitment to African unity and would work with other African leaders to realize the developmental aspirations of Africans.
Addressing the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Head of States of African Union at Sirte, Libya, President Mills invited African leaders to the centenary celebration of the birth of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's First President in September.
About 52 African leaders are attending the three-day summit that would deliberate on investing in agriculture for economic growth and food security.
It would in addition, examine strengthening the role of AU in the prevention, management and resolution of election disputes and violent conflicts in Africa.
Apart from exploring ways to prevent unconstitutional changes of government and strengthen the capacity of AU to deal with such situations, the summit is expected to focus on the implementation of a decision made during the Ethiopia Summit of AU in February to transform the AU Commission into a new AU Authority.
President Mills eulogised Dr Nkrumah as a great believer in the modernisation of Africa's agriculture.
"Ghana would be privileged if the African Union, Dr Nkrumah laboured day and night to realise will find a way to join the Government and people of Ghana in the celebration," he said.
President Mills expressed appreciation to African leaders for their role in the success and peaceful Election 2008, describing it as victory for Africa.
"The victory, is as much as Africa's as Ghana's. And for this, we wish to thank you. Once again for your support, encouragement and goodwill," President Mills said.
President Mills called for an overhaul of agriculture and adoption of more innovative approach to the management of agriculture in African countries, which required African leaders to take measures to expand the continental market space to overcome external market forces seeking to strangle Africa's development efforts.
In another development, the European Union (EU) has approved 175 million euros grant from the European Union Fund for Development and Humanitarian Aid to Ghana for her budgetary support for the next six years.
The grant would also be used for poverty reduction under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr Louis Michel, Commissioner for the fund signed for the EU, while Alhaji Mohammed Mummuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD signed for Ghana. Other African countries to benefit from similar assistance are Mali, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana and Rwanda. The grant is given to countries pursuing macro-economic reforms based on standards set by the EU and committed to democratic governance. 03 July 09
Accra, July 3, GNA - The Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, has expressed satisfaction with preparations being made at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) towards the pending visit of the US President Barack Obama.
"Generally I am impressed with what has been done so far. There is a great deal of improvement since the last time I came here," Mr Hammah said when he toured the KIA on Thursday to see how suitable the airport was for the arrival of the U.S President.
The Transport Minister said whilst he was pleased with the preparations being done, it was important to keep the airport in good shape at all times.
"We should not care about maintenance only when a prominent person is about to pay as a visit," he said.
Mr. Hammah noted that a lot of work needed to be done to achieve the KIA's aim of becoming an aviation hub in West Africa. He urged managers of both the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company Limited to always ensure that the airport operated under standard aviation regulations. Preparations such as painting, road reconstruction, the mounting of flag posts, among others, were being carried out at the KIA. President Obama is expected to pay a two-day official visit to Ghana, from 10 to 11 July.
Accra, July 3, GNA -The Wassa Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) has appealed to the government to investigate allegations about illegal prospecting of minerals by foreign nationals in the country. Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Director of WACAM, told the Ghana News Agency
on Friday that reports reaching his office alleged that some Chinese nationals are prospecting for gold at Wasa Adansi, Wassa Samang, Wassa Konkonso, Wassa Dekoto in the Wassa Amenfi East District Assembly. He alleged that the prospectors do not have mining rights and should be held responsible for any destruction they cause to cocoa farms, social amenities and the pollution of river bodies like the Ankobrah, which posed a great threat to economic growth. Mr Owusu-Koranteng appealed to traditional rulers to report such illegal operations to the law enforcement authorities.
Akim Kokoben, July 3, GNA - The Commandant of the Ghana Military Academy and Training School (MATS), Real Admiral Mohammed Munir Tahiru, on Friday opened a five day biennial military exercise called "Tiger's Path 2009" at Akim Kokoben near Akim Oda. The training, which is the ninth edition is being held at the Oboyoh forest within Birim South District and Birim Central Municipality.
Personnel taking part in the exercise are drawn from the Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Ghana Police Service and a four- member army observer team from Burkina Faso. Addressing the participants, Real Admiral Tahiru pointed out that the exercise was intended to shape the skills of the security personnel in internal security and counter insurgency, to be able to deal effectively with situations that could disturb public peace. "As member of the armed forces, our duty for peace is to gather intelligence, collaborate with the police and other security agencies to maintain law and order to enable the citizenry to discharge their normal duties without fear," he said.
The Commandant said in view of the lessons learnt from sister African countries, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) had consistently trained its personnel with the needed skills to help combat any "nasty eventuality".
Real Admiral Tahiru remarked that Exercise Tiger is a tri- service, country insurgency and jungle warfare exercise, organised on competitive basis annually by the GAF and hosted by the Jungle War Fare school at Achaise.
He urged the participants to conduct themselves in the true spirit of professionalism, guided by the virtue of patriotism, loyalty and integrity in order to learn and utilize the skills they would gain.
There is a strong indication of the Agric Development Bank meeting the Central Bank’s new capital requirements soon.
Currently the bank’s stated capital has risen to GH¢ 50 million as share holders agreed in the course of the year 2008 to transfer GH¢ 30 million from the Income Surplus Account to Stated Capital as a first step towards the attainment of the new minimum capital requirement.
According to the bank’s Annual Report for 2008 which the Financial Intelligence (FI) has managed to lay hands on, the bank’s stated capital “rose to GH¢ 50 million during the year”.
The bank’s profitabi lity in the past year also looks quite good as against what it was in 2007. The bank’s net profit for 2008 cruised to GH¢14.93 million as against GH¢11.60 million in 2007, representing an increase of 28.77%. “The profit translates into Return on Assets and Return on Equity of 2.39% and 13.74% respectively compared with ratios of 2.12% and 11.65% in 2007”, said the Managing Director in the Annual Report. The balance sheet of ADB showed appreciable growth during the 2008 financial year, with total assets growing by 34.20% from GH¢ 465.19 million at the end of December 2007 to GH¢ 624,27million at the end of December 2008. The bank’s asset growth was mainly catalyzed by the 57.1 % expansion in the credit portfolio. Total deposits also rose from GH¢271, 024,641 in 2007 to GH¢319,499,930, representing a growth of 17.89 % as against the 15.62% growth realized in 2007, and shareholders funds also went up by 13.70% from GH¢94.709,691 at the end of December 2007 to GH¢107,681,224 as at 31st December 2008. The bank is gearing itself for the future as the board gave its final approval for the Strategic plan for 2009-2013 which seeks to reposition the ADB Brand for competitive advantage in the current competitive environment in the banking industry and the financial sector in general. “The bank would refocus on its core establishment mission and put agriculture at the centre of its financing activities”, said the MD, Yaw Opoku Atuahene, adding that the plan also seeks to emphasize organizational effectiveness and efficiency through improvements in the business processes which places the customer at the centre of whatever they do.
The MD who was appointed to the position in March 2008 noted that 2009 would be a more challenging year for the bank as the effects of the global financial crunch begins to take its toll on economies of many developing countries. This he said would be exacerbated by the intense competition in the finance world in Ghana as banks would be increasing their stated capital positions in compliance with central bank regulations for minimum capitalization requirements.
He said ADB would put in the necessary strategic interventions that would ensure the achievement of their strategic goals.
- Head of Economic Statistics
Government’s targeted growth of 5.9% for 2009 has been described as realistic in view of current circumstance.
Speaking concerning arguments that the targeted growth for 2009 showed a lack of ambition particularly after the previous administration targeted 7% for the past year achieved 7.3% growth, the man on top of the national income accounts says the contrast might not be useful.
Mr Ebo Duncan, Head of Economic Statistics at the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) told the Financial Intelligence in an interview last week that following a year with very high national output, subsequent growth rates would likely be on the lower side.
“Such high rates are usually unsustainable, unless a country is coming out of a recession”, he said. He further noted that the high rate of growth achieved in the past year partly resulted from one-off projects that will not be repeated in the current year, mentioning the construction of additional stadia for the African Nations Cup tournament as an example. The past government saw the country through a period of sustained growth from a growth rate of 3.7% in 2000, and climaxed its performance with the achievement of a GDP growth rate of 7.3% in 2008. Many have lauded the previous administration for this feat, describing the achievement as the result of a better management of the economy. Mr Duncan also mentioned the current economic crisis as a major challenge to government’s ability to sustain growth.
According to him, our ability to meet the year’s targeted growth of 5.9% would be satisfactory under the current circumstance, saying that the World Bank projects growth rates in Africa to plummet to 2.4% in 2009 as a result of the global economic turmoil.
The continent for the past few years had achieved significant growth, hovering around 6%, and the bank predicts a fall in growth rate would translate into increased poverty, infant mortality and rapidly deteriorating budget situations.
Accra, July 3, GNA - Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications, on Friday called for the immediate resuscitation of the Instant Money Transfer (IMT) services, operated by the Ghana Post in order to generate income for the cash trapped organization.
"We all know that the IMT services were very viable and helped to generate a lot of income for Ghana Post," he said.
Inaugurating a seven-member Board of Directors for Ghana Post on Friday, Mr Iddrisu charged the body to also review all collaborative efforts of the Ghana Post with ADB for the Western Union Money Transfer system, with Ghana Water Company for the collection of water rate charges since they all raked in money for the organization. "There are other revenue generation opportunities which are currently unrealized but which are fully available to Ghana Post such as business-to-business mail and delivery of utility bills," he said. Mr Iddrisu called for the institutionalization of the culture of performance contract with management staff of the Ghana Post across the country in order to bring the best out of them and well defined roles in collaborative commercial arrangement in order to prevent the organization from losing in such venture.
He appealed to the new board and management staff to come out with IT based solutions to the works of Ghana Post in order to make it competitive against private sector entities involved in the courier and postal services.
According to Mr. Iddrisu, the ministry would make available to the Board, the new postal policy proposals as well as the report of the Administrative Committee that looked into the operations of Ghana Post to guide it in its deliberations.
The seven-member board is chaired by Mr John Sey and other members are Mr Kofi Nyantatyi, Ms Alice Attipoe, Mrs. Rose Awadzi, Ms Saadatu Maida, Alhaji Said Sinari and Mr Nicholas Dery as members.
Mr. Nicholas Dery, Acting Managing Director of Ghana Post, said the organization as a corporate entity was charged with responsibility of providing its domestic and foreign customers with prompt, efficient, reliable and secure service for profit.
He said the company would adopt a growth strategy with the intention of involving and diversifying its activities and taking advantage of its infrastructure and network.
"Management is also aiming at attracting and retaining qualified personnel who will continue to offer viable services to the organization. We will also offer training programmes to our staff and adopt performance appraisal system and offer competitive compensation and motivation to staff," Mr Dery said.
He complained about the sinking image of Ghana Post due to poor working culture and poor customer service provision. Mr Dery announced the re-launch of domestic money remittance service and the introduction of other services like money gram cash funds, express funds and the post bank project.
The Acting Managing Director, on behalf of the members, thanked the government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged the commitment of the Board towards the development of Ghana Post.
DRAMA UNFOLDED at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Wednesday when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, defied tradition, refusing to hand over to his linguist, a cross of ‘Jesus Christ’ presented to him.
Nakoa Nazareth Ansah Jamson, President of the Prophets of Spiritual Churches Council, had presented the cross and other Christian items including the Holy Bible, to Otumfuo.
Since traditionally Otumfuo is not allowed to hold gifts at public gatherings, the Asantehene’s linguist swiftly stretched his hands to receive the cross from Otumfuo; but uncharacteristically, the Ashanti Monarch refused to hand it over.
Instead, Otumfuo held firmly to the cross of Jesus Christ, putting it on his lap in a manner that perhaps suggested that he would not allow anyone to come between him and his saviour.
Utterly stunned by Otumfuo’s actions, elders at the palace and high powered dignitaries present at the Awukudae festival were instantly thrown into a state of uncontrollably laughter.
The spiritual items were geared towards motivating and helping the Asantehene to pray to his Maker on daily basis to enable him become physically and spiritually strong to carry on his exemplary works.
The Manhyia Palace was turned into a house of prayer after the dramatic scene, as Nakoa Nazareth and his members prayed fervently for God’s protection, wisdom and abundant grace on Otumfuo.
Later in a succinct speech, Nakoa Nazareth debunked assertions that spiritual churches were not truly Christian, insisting that he and his members were genuine Christians who had and continue to preach the Word of God in truth.
He recounted the contributions of spiritual churches towards the effective development of the country which dated back to the 14th century, promising his outfit’s preparedness to continue with the works.
Prophets of Spiritual Churches Council, Nakoa Nazareth disclosed, was formed in Accra but with membership from across the country to help check its members from leading unholy lifestyles that demeaned the Christian religion.
The entire membership of the council were in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, to launch the group’s constitution. Nakoa Nazareth then asked the Asantehene to bring the spiritual event to an end.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY reports in the media about the deplorable state of some ancients buildings in the Cape Coast Metropolis which included the Cape Coast Court, the Ministries’ Block, the Ghana Commercial Bank building, among others, nobody made any attempt to have them renovated until recently, when it was announced that the President of United State of America (USA), Barrack Obama, was preparing to visit the historic town.
The visit of President Obama has totally changed the face of Cape Coast and this has compelled residents to hail Obama’s visit to the former colonial capital.
This is evident by the fact that many residents talk about the historic visit on a daily basis as the city takes a new shape.
Obama’s historic visit has also provided temporary jobs for the youth and some elderly folks who are seen busily working on the various buildings in the metropolis.
DAILY GUIDE, in its bid to monitor the unfolding events, on Monday observed that the Cape Coast Palace which is to host President Obama, has taken a new shape as workers work day and night.
The current state of the palace can be described as an elegant.
One unfolding event that has surprised residents is the beautification of the Cape Coast Complex Court which was left in terrible state for many years.
The court complex is not an ordinary court but a type which was purposely constructed to mark the centenary of the court system in Ghana.
Therefore, it has a historic background to the delivery of justice in the country. It was constructed by the State Construction Company (SCC) during the era of Colonel (rtd) Frank George Bernasco, who is currently domiciled abroad.
The court was in such a bad state that nobody in the area believed that it would gain its beauty like it has now.
The deplorable state of the court compelled the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Woode, to come down to the area to promise the people a new court building at Third Ridge last year.
Another ‘Obama visit magic’ is the renovation of the Ministries which was also constructed by Colonel (rtd) Bernasco and was left to rot.
The building has been given a facelift and residents are wondering why government properties could be left in such an appalling state when they could have been maintained.
“If politicians have the capacity to renovate all these buildings, why did they wait for all this time before renovating them?” they asked.
Although some of the buildings are being renovated, there are two other buildings which must be considered for renovation since it can also serve as a source of revenue for the people in the area.
They are John Mensah Sarbah’s building at Idun which collapsed about three years ago, and the old Post Office building which is directly opposite the renovated Cape Coast Palace.
A lot of politicians, the Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, Prof. Hagan, and the School of Law at the University of Ghana, Legon, promised to rehabilitate the Mensah Sarbah building to serve as a tourist site in the area, but none of them has been able to fulfill those promises.