Political parties urged to help calm down the political temperature

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The Afigya-Kwabre District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Wilberforce Zangina has called for concerted effort by all Ghanaians, especially political leaders, to help stave off needless tension and violence as the country prepares for the December polls.

He said it was important to be more tolerant and circumspect in all that they did or said to safeguard the peace and stability of the nation.

Mr Zangina was speaking at the inauguration of the district’s 21-member inter-party dialogue committee at Kodie on Thursday.

The Committee is made up of representatives of the political parties, religious groups, security agencies, district assembly, traditional leaders, the electoral commission, media, statistical service and the NCCE.

Committee members would provide the platform for conflict resolution and assist the political parties to abide by their code of conduct.

Additionally, they would map out strategies to help make the general elections free, fair and credible.

The NCCE Director urged the Committee to work hard to remove unnecessary suspicions, anxiety and intimidation among the parties and their supporters.

Mr Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku Kaakyire, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said peace was vital for socio-economic development and could not therefore be taken for granted.

He gave the assurance that adequate security arrangements would be put in place to allow voters to freely exercise their franchise.

Mr Sampson Dwamena-Boateng, Registrar of the Kodie District Magistrate Court, performing the inauguration, advised the members to be conscientious in the performance of their duties. GNA

Afigya-Kwabre DCE presents 1,000 dual desks to schools

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Mr Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku Kaakyire, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Afigya-Kwabre, has presented 1,000 dual desks valued at GH¢104,000.00 to the District Education Directorate for distribution to basic schools.

The desks, from the Education Ministry, are meant to end the situation where lack of chairs and tables had become a major source of discomfort to many school children.

Mr Oppong-Kyekyeku advised that the desks should be sent to schools where they were most needed.

They were expecting other consignments, he said, adding that all schools would be covered.

The DCE said the district assembly was doing everything to create the right environment for effective teaching and learning.

The Assembly has in three years built and refurbished many school blocks.

He urged school heads to ensure proper handling and maintenance of the furniture.

Mr Ignatius Nwinbe Ere-Der, the District Education Director, receiving the desks said they could not have come at a better time, given the dire situation in most of the schools. GNA

YMCA impacted my leadership qualities – President Kufour

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Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has noted that the Ghana Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) was one institution that impacted greatly on his leadership as a President of the country.

He said the Association in the 1950s was a transformational and still a centre that deepens the sense of responsibility and shapes the attitude of the youth to face leadership challenges in the future.

Former President Kufour said this at a fund raising dinner event to support intervention programmes of the Association from 2012 to 2015 in Accra on Thursday.

The goal of the interventions was to introduce and implement contemporary and innovative programmes that address the current and future socio-economic needs of the youth.

It was also to deepen the outreach and sustainability of activities so as to improve upon the livelihood of young people.

Former President Kufuor said, he was impressed with the activities of the Association in providing 100 students with training skills to develop themselves for the future.

He commended the leadership of the Association for the transformational guidance they had provided for the future leaders of the state.

Mr Kwame Gyimah-Akwafo, National President of the YMCA, said the vision of the Association was to empower young people in Ghana for the African renaissance.

He said the Association is a Christian community-based organization that seeks to enhance the development of the mind, body and spirit of young in the country for a holistic transformation of their communities, nation and the continent.

Mr Gyimah-Akwafo noted that the Association as of now operates in about 70 communities spread over eight out of the 10 administrative regions of the country.

He explained that some of the strategies to be adopted in the achievement of the intervention programmes included, capacity building events and grooming of young people in leadership, business and livelihood skills, exposure of young people to useful learning experience and partnering organizations into youth development to implement relevant programmes.

The Ghana YMCA traces its history to 1890 when a young Gold Coaster, Wilkins Micaber Abbey, who had come into contact with the Association in Scotland during his study tour to Europe, brought it to the Gold Coast.

The Association has spread its tentacles to many cities, towns and villages in the country and are engaging thousands of Ghanaians in meaningful pastimes, volunteer services and community animation. GNA

Bawumia, Nana Addo’s Financier And His Ultimate Choice ….

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For The 2012 NPP Ticket.

After Nana Akuffo Addo was elected as the flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), many including both without the party have been concerned with who partners Nana Akuffo Addo on the NPP’s ticket for the 2012 general elections.

Ghanaians and even the whole world I believe, would have been clear in their minds as to who Nana Addo’s would be appointing as at the end of last year (2011), more especially when names like that of Mahamudu Bahumia (his running mate for the 2008 general election),Alhassan Haruna (Deputy Director of Metro TV), Hon. Ambrose Derry (the Deputy Minority leader), Alhaji M.B.A Jawula (former official under the erstwhile NPP Administration) and some others including Borniface Abubakar Siddiq (a former Minister for Works and Housing under Kuffour Administration) were suggested.

The leadership of the NPP comprising the Executive Committee and the Council of Elders were stagged in a ring of controvercy, as the names of Mahamudu Bawumia(Nana Addo’s 2008 running mate) and Alhassan Haruna of Metro TV were short-listed for consideration.

Others who had no serious backings were Italized, Underlined and subsequently deleted from the list, and were honorably pleaded with by the strong bones of the party (NPP).

The most difficult aspect of the choice making had to do with how Nana Addo would be made to rescind on his decision of giving Bawumia another chance of running with him, without forgetting the unflinching financial support given him by Bawumia during the NPP 2012 flag bearership contest, which saw him victorious over John Alan Kojo Kyeremateng.

Nana Addo, after being embattled with all sorts of reasons why he should consider Alhassan Haruna instead of Bawumia, could not see why he should betray Bawumia who funded a larger portion of his campaigning during their contest, though a member of the NPP Council of Elders had to declared his willingness to settle back Bawumia all the amount he spent in support of Nana Addo during that contest.

A reliable information I have gathered from one of the sides, indicate that because Nana Addo could not betray his financier, a committee was set to handle the matter in other to present a credible personality to partner Nana Addo, which finally presented Alhassan Haruna after a Majority of the committee members had voted in his favour.

The choice of Alhassan Haruna through out the choice-making processes was quite obvious among the leadership of the NPP, majority of whom were disregarding Bawumia’s vote-pulling capacity. But how can any fair minded person like Nana Addo in this case, suddenly forget of the massive financial contribution of Mahamudu Bawumia, who had help him get to where he is today.

I am certainly convinced that former President Kuffour and other Elders of the NPP, who were pressing for Alhassan Haruna have still not come to understand the unwillingness of Nana Addo to betray Bawumia by appointing Alhassan Harunaa, a reason why the announcing date has been moved from the set 5th January to 17th January and subsequently indefinate.

I present a case here that Mahamudu Bawumia is the man to partner Nana Addo, he had bought the slot during the NPP flag bearership contest, long time before Alhassan Haruna, the choice of former President Kuffour started planning machinations against the ruling NDC party representatives who appear on the Metro TV morning show (Good Morning Ghana). His actions pleased the leadership of the NPP and even the former Presindent Kuffour but could not override the financial support of Bawumia to Nana Addo.

Have the media and the public try to find out why former President Kuffour had to adress the media after the Tuesday, 17th January NPP cranch meeting with the flag bearer(Nana Addo),where he fail to announce his partner? Where was the Communication Director of the NPP? or is former President Kuffour the Communication director of the NPP, ahead 2012 election?

God bless our homeland Ghana.

Musah Ahmed.

Former President

(TEIN Kumasi Polytechnic Chapter)

0242-846857/ 0267-571107.

Fisherman stabs colleague to death

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The Half Assini Police is searching for a fisherman from Abrebeano near Komenda in the Central Region who stabbed his colleague at Effasu near Half Assini, resulting in his death.
A police source told the Ghana News Agency at Half Assini on Wednesday that the deceased and the suspect whose names were being withheld for security reasons were both fishermen at Effasu near half Assini in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

He said the suspect gave his fish to the deceased’s wife whose name was not immediately known to sell for him with the consent of her husband.
The source said somewhere along the line the deceased suspected the suspect of having an affair with his wife and warned them to stop that relationship but they failed to adhere to the warning.
On January 21 this year, the deceased confronted his wife over the issue and later went to the suspect who was mending his net at the beach and attacked him.

According to the source the confrontation degenerated into a fight during which the suspect now at large used the knife he was using to mend the net to stab the deceased three times on the chest.
He said the deceased who bled profusely died on arrival at the half Assini government hospital.
His body has been deposited at the mortuary at the same hospital while police investigations continue.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic to ring changes in his squad

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The head coach the Black Stars, Goran Stevanovic would ring changes in his squad that picked three points in their Group D opener against Botswana, when Ghana plays Mali on Saturday.
The Stars would attempt another good result in their second Group Game against Mali and the Serb says he would change personnel for that pursuit.

He told GNA Sports in Franceville that “I have 20 players ready for a game at each occasion and I would be making changes that is best for the team at every moment.’
Ghana will be without captain, John Mensah who picked a red card in the opener and Stevanovic reckons finding replacement for the influential defender remains a tall order.
“John is very important and it is very bad that we would play without him. He is very crucial for us, but we would have to find an alternative”.

“His experience would be missing but we would find a solution to play without him against Mali”. He noted.
The coach though tight-lipped about who would play in the absence of the captain, hinted that the pair of Jonh Boye and Jonathan Mensah in central defence would be good enough to achieve the needed result”.
“I was very impressed with Boye, because I gave him the chance and he took it very well. I am satisfied with his performance and Johnathan too played well”. Stevanovic stated.

Ghana, like Mali has three points from one game thus making Saturday’s dual a dicey one, since a win would mean qualification to the quarter finals stage of the biannual continental gathering.
The Stars, tipped as tournament favourites with Cote d’Ivoire, are pitted in Group D with Mali Botswana and Guinea.
Ghana, four times continental champions, are chasing a fifth glory at the tournament being hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Deputy US Secretary of State Bill Burns to visit Ghana on bilateral relations

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US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will lead a high-level United States Government delegation to visit Ghana, officials at the US State Department say January 24, 2012.
The delegation which is on a five-day African trip starting from January 26-30 will also travel to Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.

“In Ghana, Deputy Secretary Burns is scheduled to meet with President Mills to reinforce the U.S. commitment to building strong ties with one of Africa’s leading democracies,” the Department said in a statement.

“The visit will highlight the United States’ continued commitment to presidential initiatives such as the Partnership for Growth and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Deputy Secretary Burns will also meet with alumni of U.S. exchange programs,” it added.

Officials at the US Embassy in Accra tell ghanabusinessnews.com that the delegation will touch down in Ghana today January 26, 2012.
The delegation will also attend the 18th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Source Ghana News Agency

Farmer defiles 11 year old girl

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The Aflao Circuit Court has sentenced Koshie Awumey, 36, a farmer to 16 years in jail for defiling an 11-year old girl. Awumey pleaded not guilty. Mr Stephen Wuni, Detective Police Inspector at Aflao, told the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri that Awumey lived at Zuime-Toko while the victim, a basic school pupil, lives with her parents at Gbugbla-Toko near Aflao.

He said on December 26 last year the victim, accompanied by her four-year old sister, went to harvest coconut from her father’s plantation nearby.
Awumey, who was passing by, requested for one coconut and insisted that the victim came down from the coconut tree to give him the coconut even though some coconuts were under the tree.
He said as soon as the the victim got down Awumey pulled her into a nearby bush, tore her panties which was the only attire on her, and defiled her.

Mr Wuni said the wailing of the victim’s sister attracted a witness whose cottage was nearby but Awumey fled when the (witness) approached.
He said the witness informed the victim’s father and a search party by the community members found Awumey hiding in a thicket and he was arrested.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahama wants telecoms firms to float shares on Ghana Stock Exchange

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John Dramani Mahama

Vice President John Dramani Mahama has urged the country’s telecommunication companies to consider offloading some of their shares on the Stock Exchange to allow for participation of Ghanaians.
He said after 10 years of liberalization of the telecommunication sector, it was now time for the companies to open up to enable Ghanaians to acquire stakes and to share in the growing influence and gains in the sector.

The Vice President’s comment comes after recent calls by stakeholders for a capital market local content provision to encourage companies in the mining, oil and gas and telecommunication sectors to float shares on the local bourse after five years of operation in the country.

Vice President Mahama, who was speaking at the opening session of the third Graphic Business Forum on the theme: “Leveraging ICT and Oil and Gas Resources to Accelerate Ghana’s Economic Development,” said Information and communication technology had become a powerful tool to increase the competitiveness of the small and medium scale enterprises.

Mr Mahama, therefore, called on the SMEs to harness and build close relationship with ICT firms to leverage the opportunities provided by the revolution in communication to enhance efficiency accelerate job creation and business growth.
To this end, he said, government was encouraging SMEs in ICT through initiatives aimed at facilitating the active participation of the local ICT industry and services .

These include the promotion of the production of information, knowledge and technology products such as business outsourcing and technology parks as well as training in basic skills for use of ICT sector.
There is the provision of mentoring and incubation opportunities for start-up companies.
On oil and gas industry, Mr Mahama said the Government was encouraging the development of Offshore Broadband Network to extend optic fibre infrastructure to cover all the oil fields and areas under exploration.

This, he said, was so because the availability of unlimited bandwidth capacity will facilitate the transmission of data, and also provide real time monitoring of production activities.
“This is underscored by the fact that the optic fibre possesses enormous advantages over satellite and wireless broadband infrastructure, especially as our oil fields lie in active weather and atmospheric conditions,” he said.
He said the availability of sub-marine cable, being promoted by government as private sector activity, would provide critical service to Ghana’s oil and gas industry and create a supportive environment not only to promote efficiency in operation but also reduce the cost of exploration and oil production in our fields.

Such infrastructure will benefit all the stakeholders, including the investors (who need information promptly at their various sites, security agencies, responsible sector Ministries, production units, etc.
The ICT infrastructure will facilitate information-sharing in real time mode, and this will help build confidence and openness in oil and gas operations (including monitoring of volumes being produced and transported).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Reverend Samson Yamoah: Ghanaians lack courage

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A major challenge that face Ghanaians is the lack of courage to tell the truth and point out the wrong doings and mistakes of the nation’s leaders and other persons in responsible positions.
The Right Reverend Samson Yamoah, Bishop of Wenchi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana who made the assertion at the weekend, emphasized that “people are not bold enough to hold the bull by the horns in pointing out the wrongs in society for fear of intimidation and victimization by the powers that be”.

The Bishop was delivering the sermon at the end of this year’s camp meeting of members of the diocese, which was under the theme “Choose whom you will serve”, taken from the Book of Joshua, Chapter 24 verse 15. “In the dispensation of true and successful democratic governance the elimination of the principle of checks and balances cannot allow the government or authority concerned to realize its goals or to meet the expectations of the people”, he stated.

Rt Rev Yamoah entreated persons entrusted with responsible positions and roles to listen to the views of subordinates and accept their mistakes when pointed out to them to enable them to serve the governed better.
“Until Ghanaians are able to tell the truth to correct our leaders of their mistakes, they cannot do the right thing that would please and encourage the citizens to contribute effectively to the development of the nation”, he added.

Bishop Yamoah emphasized that since everybody is fallible, our leaders should not take offence when their shortfalls and mistakes are pointed out to them as that would help them to live above reproach.
Bishop Yamoah noted that Ghana was blessed with fertile land for agricultural purposes and minerals for economic development and there was the need for the citizens to maintain the peace and stability for the benefit of posterity.

He prayed God to touch the hearts of people entrusted with responsibilities in the December general election so they would be truthful and transparent in their activities to guarantee a peaceful and successful exercise.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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