More than 50 wooden structures at the Konkomba market in Accra were burnt on Sunday afternoon in a fire which destroyed property running into thousands of Ghana cedis.
The fire which started around 11.00 a.m, consumed items including DVD players, radio and television sets, suitcases, mobile phones, second hand goods, utensils and foodstuffs.
Attempts by fire officers from the Accra Central Makola Fire Service Station to get access to the fire scene proved futile as their truck could not meander its way through the structures, in spite of efforts by the fire tender operator.
The Assistant Station Officer of the Makola Fire Service Station, Mr O. Emmanuel Adjei said the fire service personnel finally had to abandon the place because there was no alternate route to the fire scene.
He said the route leading to the fire scene, which was about a hundred metres away from the point where their truck was stuck, was very narrow and impossible for them to even join water hoses to the scene.
The Station Officer, Mr Nii Noi Owuo said his team was investigating the cause of the fire.
Some of the affected persons the Daily Graphic spoke to attributed the cause of the fire to an overheated stabiliser in a locked up wooden structure.
A resident, Mallam Zakaria Baba, 30 years said he was asleep when he heard people shouting outside, so he went out and realised that the room he was sleeping in had caught fire.
“I’m lucky I was able to save a few of my belongings”, he stated, noting that some of his friends had lost a lot of items worth thousands of Ghana cedis.
Another affected person, Kassim Satara, a 26-year-old scrap dealer who lost almost all his belongings including two mobile phones, audio and video discs players, and suitcases said he had gone to work with his room mate, but came to meet the horrible sight after the fire had died down.
An eyewitness, Yakubu Abdul Rahim, said to prevent the fire from spreading to other structures they had to demolish all structures near to the raging flames.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Conduct Free, Peaceful polls- Chinese Envoy urges Ghanaians
THE Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhe, has urged Ghanaians to demonstrate the maturity of the country’s democracy to the world once again by conducting free and peaceful elections in December.
He said free and fair elections were essential because Ghana’s economy was in good shape and Ghanaians should protect that.
Mr Wenzhe was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Accra yesterday.
“With courageous policies and relentless efforts, Ghanaians are benefiting a lot from fast economic growth and good governance, the rule of law, democracy and unity under the leadership of the current government.
“For the elections in December, we hope that Ghana will show the world once again the maturity of its democracy by conducting free, fair and peaceful elections,” he emphasised, adding that for the past years China’s relations with Ghana had been very fruitful, especially in the field of economic co-operation, as more Chinese companies were investing and co-operating with local businesses.
“Trade between Ghana and China reached $1.2 billion last year,” he stated, adding that progress had also been made in the construction of the Bui Dam, which he said would be President J.A. Kufuor’s legacy and a new milestone in Sino-Ghana co-operation.
Mr Wenzhe expressed his appreciation for Ghana’s consistent adherence to the “One China policy” and noted that the implementation of the policies agreed on at the recent Beijing Summit was in full swing and progressing smoothly.
“The Chinese government has strengthened its technical co-operation, human resource development, education and cultural exchanges with Ghana. The teaching of the Chinese language at the University of Ghana was launched early this month and more Ghanaian students have the opportunity to study in China under Chinese government scholarships,” he stated, and prayed that the mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries would further promote closer co-operation.
According to him, the 59th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was special to the Chinese people because China had successfully hosted the Olympic Games, during which more than 11,000 athletes, 450,000 visitors and 30,000 journalists from all over the world experienced the warm hospitality of the Chinese people.
“The Beijing Olympic Games provided an excellent opportunity for the world to discover, understand and appreciate China and for the Chinese people to learn and appreciate the world,” he added.
He said the games were special because this year also marked the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and it had also successfully launched its third space mission, with the size of its economy expanding over 10 times.
“China has been transformed successfully from a poor and backward country to a thriving and prosperous one,” he observed.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, who led the government’s delegation to observe the anniversary, said Ghana was grateful for the pragmatic economic and industrial policies China had been pursuing, indicating that those policies had enabled China to make great strides in development and create wealth for its huge population.
“Ghana owes your great nation a deep sense of gratitude for all the assistance you have given us over the years and the amount of investments you have channelled into our country,” he said, and disclosed that China was now the third largest foreign investor in the Ghanaian economy.
“China has provided Ghana with various forms of financial assistance and support for many projects, including the development of the Bui Dam, the rehabilitation of the National Theatre, the Ofankor-Nsawam road and the construction of two stadia in Tamale and Sekondi,” he noted.
Prof Fobih said Ghana was one of the first African countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in the early 1960s, recalling that Ghana’s relations and active political co-operation with China began in the early days of Ghana’s independence, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first President, visited China in 1961, 1964 and 1966 to establish personal friendships with Chinese leaders at that time.
He noted that in recent times the leaders of the two countries had continued to exchange official visits, with President Kufuor paying week-long visits to China in October 2003 and November 2006, with the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, also visiting Ghana in June 2006.
He commended China for successfully hosting this year’s Olympic Games and added that President Kufuor’s presence at the opening ceremony of the games in Beijing demonstrated the importance Ghana attached to its relations with China.
He said free and fair elections were essential because Ghana’s economy was in good shape and Ghanaians should protect that.
Mr Wenzhe was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Accra yesterday.
“With courageous policies and relentless efforts, Ghanaians are benefiting a lot from fast economic growth and good governance, the rule of law, democracy and unity under the leadership of the current government.
“For the elections in December, we hope that Ghana will show the world once again the maturity of its democracy by conducting free, fair and peaceful elections,” he emphasised, adding that for the past years China’s relations with Ghana had been very fruitful, especially in the field of economic co-operation, as more Chinese companies were investing and co-operating with local businesses.
“Trade between Ghana and China reached $1.2 billion last year,” he stated, adding that progress had also been made in the construction of the Bui Dam, which he said would be President J.A. Kufuor’s legacy and a new milestone in Sino-Ghana co-operation.
Mr Wenzhe expressed his appreciation for Ghana’s consistent adherence to the “One China policy” and noted that the implementation of the policies agreed on at the recent Beijing Summit was in full swing and progressing smoothly.
“The Chinese government has strengthened its technical co-operation, human resource development, education and cultural exchanges with Ghana. The teaching of the Chinese language at the University of Ghana was launched early this month and more Ghanaian students have the opportunity to study in China under Chinese government scholarships,” he stated, and prayed that the mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries would further promote closer co-operation.
According to him, the 59th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was special to the Chinese people because China had successfully hosted the Olympic Games, during which more than 11,000 athletes, 450,000 visitors and 30,000 journalists from all over the world experienced the warm hospitality of the Chinese people.
“The Beijing Olympic Games provided an excellent opportunity for the world to discover, understand and appreciate China and for the Chinese people to learn and appreciate the world,” he added.
He said the games were special because this year also marked the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and it had also successfully launched its third space mission, with the size of its economy expanding over 10 times.
“China has been transformed successfully from a poor and backward country to a thriving and prosperous one,” he observed.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, who led the government’s delegation to observe the anniversary, said Ghana was grateful for the pragmatic economic and industrial policies China had been pursuing, indicating that those policies had enabled China to make great strides in development and create wealth for its huge population.
“Ghana owes your great nation a deep sense of gratitude for all the assistance you have given us over the years and the amount of investments you have channelled into our country,” he said, and disclosed that China was now the third largest foreign investor in the Ghanaian economy.
“China has provided Ghana with various forms of financial assistance and support for many projects, including the development of the Bui Dam, the rehabilitation of the National Theatre, the Ofankor-Nsawam road and the construction of two stadia in Tamale and Sekondi,” he noted.
Prof Fobih said Ghana was one of the first African countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in the early 1960s, recalling that Ghana’s relations and active political co-operation with China began in the early days of Ghana’s independence, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first President, visited China in 1961, 1964 and 1966 to establish personal friendships with Chinese leaders at that time.
He noted that in recent times the leaders of the two countries had continued to exchange official visits, with President Kufuor paying week-long visits to China in October 2003 and November 2006, with the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, also visiting Ghana in June 2006.
He commended China for successfully hosting this year’s Olympic Games and added that President Kufuor’s presence at the opening ceremony of the games in Beijing demonstrated the importance Ghana attached to its relations with China.
Prison officers, inmates to enjoy free registration
Fourteen thousand prisoners and officers of the Ghana Prisons Service across the country are to enjoy free registration under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The exercise to register the prisoners and the officers free of charge began at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on Thursday, under the auspices of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Some of the inmates who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the official opening of the exercise expressed their profound gratitude to the government for the initiative, noting that it would go a long way to reduce the burden on their relatives and the prison authorities for their upkeep and medical care.
The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Mr Ras Boateng, in an address read on his behalf to officially open the exercise, noted that the exercise would not cover only the inmates and the prison officers but also children of the officers who were below 18 years.
“The government has also extended the scheme to cover the entire staff of nearly 5,000 of the Ghana Prisons Service, as well as their children under 18,” he emphasised, adding that although the personnel were covered by the service conditions of the security services, the government had decided to enrol them into the scheme because their work involved a high health risk.
He said the government had allocated an amount of GH¢181,934 to cover the first phase of the exercise, under which prisoners in the various jails across the country were to register with the District Mutual Health Insurance schemes in their geographical areas.
Mr Boateng stated that new convicts would also be covered as soon as they entered the prisons, saying those who would be released would still continue to enjoy the free health care until their health insurance expired.
He urged ex-convicts to acknowledge the importance of the scheme and get themselves registered by paying the minimum premium with their district schemes and stressed that ex-convicts who had no means of livelihood and no dependants could register under the scheme.
He said the National Health Insurance Council and the NHIA saw the exercise as a God-send opportunity to contribute to the much needed prison reforms to make life a bit more comfortable for those who found themselves in prison. He advised the inmates to live healthy lives and avoid dangerous lifestyles such as taking hard drugs and indulging in unprotected sex among themselves.
Mr Boateng appealed to the prison authorities not to waste time in sending prisoners to hospital now that they were all being registered under the scheme.
He said before the year ended, Parliament was expected to pass a law to enable the scheme to register children below 18 without attaching them to their parents and appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with the authority as it took steps to improve and sustain the scheme for the benefit of all.
The Director of Welfare of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Mr Israel Kwabla Tsegah, on behalf of the service expressed appreciation for the government’s intervention, noting that the initiative was a great relief to the service, which had depended on civil society organisations and relatives of inmates for support.
The Scheme Manager of the Akuapem South Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Chris Pobi, also advised the inmates to embrace the scheme and ensure that they all register.
The exercise to register the prisoners and the officers free of charge began at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on Thursday, under the auspices of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Some of the inmates who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the official opening of the exercise expressed their profound gratitude to the government for the initiative, noting that it would go a long way to reduce the burden on their relatives and the prison authorities for their upkeep and medical care.
The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Mr Ras Boateng, in an address read on his behalf to officially open the exercise, noted that the exercise would not cover only the inmates and the prison officers but also children of the officers who were below 18 years.
“The government has also extended the scheme to cover the entire staff of nearly 5,000 of the Ghana Prisons Service, as well as their children under 18,” he emphasised, adding that although the personnel were covered by the service conditions of the security services, the government had decided to enrol them into the scheme because their work involved a high health risk.
He said the government had allocated an amount of GH¢181,934 to cover the first phase of the exercise, under which prisoners in the various jails across the country were to register with the District Mutual Health Insurance schemes in their geographical areas.
Mr Boateng stated that new convicts would also be covered as soon as they entered the prisons, saying those who would be released would still continue to enjoy the free health care until their health insurance expired.
He urged ex-convicts to acknowledge the importance of the scheme and get themselves registered by paying the minimum premium with their district schemes and stressed that ex-convicts who had no means of livelihood and no dependants could register under the scheme.
He said the National Health Insurance Council and the NHIA saw the exercise as a God-send opportunity to contribute to the much needed prison reforms to make life a bit more comfortable for those who found themselves in prison. He advised the inmates to live healthy lives and avoid dangerous lifestyles such as taking hard drugs and indulging in unprotected sex among themselves.
Mr Boateng appealed to the prison authorities not to waste time in sending prisoners to hospital now that they were all being registered under the scheme.
He said before the year ended, Parliament was expected to pass a law to enable the scheme to register children below 18 without attaching them to their parents and appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with the authority as it took steps to improve and sustain the scheme for the benefit of all.
The Director of Welfare of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Mr Israel Kwabla Tsegah, on behalf of the service expressed appreciation for the government’s intervention, noting that the initiative was a great relief to the service, which had depended on civil society organisations and relatives of inmates for support.
The Scheme Manager of the Akuapem South Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Chris Pobi, also advised the inmates to embrace the scheme and ensure that they all register.
Friday, September 26, 2008
RANA Motors and Goodyear launches 2 products
RANA Motors and Goodyear, importers of truck tyres to the country, have launched two new tyre technologies, the Duraseal and Max Technologies.
They ensure better fuel economy and reduction in emissions, thus being environmentally friendly.
The General Manager of Goodyear Middle East and Africa, Mr Octavian Velcan, at the launch in Accra yesterday, said the introduction of the two new technologies signified his company’s commitment to the areas of safety and environmental awareness.
He said the Goodyear Duraseal truck tyres could repair themselves in the event of a puncture while in motion, and noted that the tyre featured a built-in component made of special rubber compound that flowed into the puncture.
“The rubber compound stops air from escaping from the tyre, even if any object of up to six-millimetre diameter penetrates the tread,” he stated.
Mr Velcan disclosed that the Max Technology tyres were a whole new concept in the trucking industry as they increased efficiency while reducing the carbon emissions from large vehicles.
“This extended range of products and innovative technologies represent the pinnacle of tyre offerings within the tyre industry”, he said and noted that the Middle East and Africa were the two largest users of trucks for long haul land shipments, and that the new Goodyear products had proven results and success as better and safer alternatives to traditional truck tyre.
The General Manager of Rana Motors, Mr Vinay Kapor, said his company had opened a new showroom and truck tyre service centre at Tema to display the new tyres and offer services to customers.
He explained that the Goodyear tyre had enhanced mileage, wet braking performance, and a concept that allowed increased air volume inside the tyres, causing less road damage to the tyres
They ensure better fuel economy and reduction in emissions, thus being environmentally friendly.
The General Manager of Goodyear Middle East and Africa, Mr Octavian Velcan, at the launch in Accra yesterday, said the introduction of the two new technologies signified his company’s commitment to the areas of safety and environmental awareness.
He said the Goodyear Duraseal truck tyres could repair themselves in the event of a puncture while in motion, and noted that the tyre featured a built-in component made of special rubber compound that flowed into the puncture.
“The rubber compound stops air from escaping from the tyre, even if any object of up to six-millimetre diameter penetrates the tread,” he stated.
Mr Velcan disclosed that the Max Technology tyres were a whole new concept in the trucking industry as they increased efficiency while reducing the carbon emissions from large vehicles.
“This extended range of products and innovative technologies represent the pinnacle of tyre offerings within the tyre industry”, he said and noted that the Middle East and Africa were the two largest users of trucks for long haul land shipments, and that the new Goodyear products had proven results and success as better and safer alternatives to traditional truck tyre.
The General Manager of Rana Motors, Mr Vinay Kapor, said his company had opened a new showroom and truck tyre service centre at Tema to display the new tyres and offer services to customers.
He explained that the Goodyear tyre had enhanced mileage, wet braking performance, and a concept that allowed increased air volume inside the tyres, causing less road damage to the tyres
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Avoid use of Proverbs and metaphors in reports
THE President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, has appealed to journalists who report in the local languages, especially for radio and the newspapers, to avoid the use of proverbs and metaphors that often tend to distort and prejudice their messages.
He urged them to be direct and factual because the excessive use of proverbs and metaphors in their reports made the reports opinionated, exaggerated and provocative.
Mr Tetteh, who was briefing some members of the media in Accra yesterday on the GJA's preparations towards the 13th GJA Awards and the sponsorship packages offered by some organisations, said that style of reporting could be a potential for conflict in an election year.
He implored all journalists working in the media to go about their duties with great circumspection and impartiality.
"In informing, educating and entertaining the people, the media must strive to maintain the needed balance that enables all to undertake fair and qualitative coverage to ensure that credible and peaceful elections are attained at all cost," he stated.
He urged all media practitioners to see that as a responsibility and a duty to ensure that violence did not become part of the electoral process.
He stressed that it had been an additional workload for the GJA to organise the event in an election year but said the executives had not relented in their efforts to organise it and take advantage of that platform to create the necessary awareness of the need for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in December.
"We have, therefore, linked the event to the elections as a sign of our commitment to credible elections in December," he added, indicating that the theme for this year's awards, "Using the Media to Promote National Unity and Stability in an Election Year", was to remind the media of their crucial role to help in ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
"It is our hope that the theme will remind us constantly of the need to be rigidly professional in our work throughout the period of political campaigns, polling and even after the elections," he noted.
This year's awards will be used to acknowledge individuals, media houses and organisations that have in one way or another contributed significantly to the development of the Ghanaian media.
In recognition of the media's excellent contributions towards the country's democratic dispensation, Mr Tetteh announced that this year’s awards would be witnessed by the Togolese Minister for Information and Culture and possibly the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's biggest journalists federation of which GJA is a member.
"There will also be guests representing the journalists unions of Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he indicated, and stated that the GJA Awards Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant and former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, had completed its work and would soon present its report to the national executive for approval.
Four corporate organisations — Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) and Voltic Ghana Limited (VGL) — announced their sponsorship packages for the winners of various awards for their excellent contributions towards the development of journalism in Ghana.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante, said the bank was happy to be part of the preparation towards the awards ceremony.
He said to further deepen the bank’s relationship with GJA and help to enhance the practice of journalism in the country, GCB was sponsoring this year's Investigative Journalism Award with a cheque for GH¢2,500.
Mr Adu-Mante appealed to all media practitioners to remain objective, factual and fair in their reportage on the elections, as Ghanaians would be counting on their professionalism to ensure stability in the country.
"This year is a critical year in the country's development because of the December elections and we the people of Ghana would want to count on you to play your professional roles to ensure peace and stability in this country," he urged journalists, while commending the GJA for consistently providing a platform for the recognition of outstanding performances in journalism.
The Communications Manager of Zoomlion, Mrs Isabella Gyau Orhin, said the company was pleased to lend its support to rewarding journalists for their exceptional contributions to the country.
She said Zoomlion was supporting the association with a sponsorship package worth GH¢2,500 for the winner of the features awards on environment.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of ABL, Ms N. Adjoba Kyiamah, who announced her organisation's GH¢2,500 sponsorship package for the winner of the Human Rights Award, said the gesture was in line with her organisation's commitment to the rights of individuals.
She pointed out that " in a country that has a viable media, businesses also thrive".
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said this year's award winners would be presented with plaques, certificates and laptops to encourage them to work harder and improve their skills.
He urged them to be direct and factual because the excessive use of proverbs and metaphors in their reports made the reports opinionated, exaggerated and provocative.
Mr Tetteh, who was briefing some members of the media in Accra yesterday on the GJA's preparations towards the 13th GJA Awards and the sponsorship packages offered by some organisations, said that style of reporting could be a potential for conflict in an election year.
He implored all journalists working in the media to go about their duties with great circumspection and impartiality.
"In informing, educating and entertaining the people, the media must strive to maintain the needed balance that enables all to undertake fair and qualitative coverage to ensure that credible and peaceful elections are attained at all cost," he stated.
He urged all media practitioners to see that as a responsibility and a duty to ensure that violence did not become part of the electoral process.
He stressed that it had been an additional workload for the GJA to organise the event in an election year but said the executives had not relented in their efforts to organise it and take advantage of that platform to create the necessary awareness of the need for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in December.
"We have, therefore, linked the event to the elections as a sign of our commitment to credible elections in December," he added, indicating that the theme for this year's awards, "Using the Media to Promote National Unity and Stability in an Election Year", was to remind the media of their crucial role to help in ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
"It is our hope that the theme will remind us constantly of the need to be rigidly professional in our work throughout the period of political campaigns, polling and even after the elections," he noted.
This year's awards will be used to acknowledge individuals, media houses and organisations that have in one way or another contributed significantly to the development of the Ghanaian media.
In recognition of the media's excellent contributions towards the country's democratic dispensation, Mr Tetteh announced that this year’s awards would be witnessed by the Togolese Minister for Information and Culture and possibly the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's biggest journalists federation of which GJA is a member.
"There will also be guests representing the journalists unions of Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he indicated, and stated that the GJA Awards Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant and former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, had completed its work and would soon present its report to the national executive for approval.
Four corporate organisations — Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) and Voltic Ghana Limited (VGL) — announced their sponsorship packages for the winners of various awards for their excellent contributions towards the development of journalism in Ghana.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante, said the bank was happy to be part of the preparation towards the awards ceremony.
He said to further deepen the bank’s relationship with GJA and help to enhance the practice of journalism in the country, GCB was sponsoring this year's Investigative Journalism Award with a cheque for GH¢2,500.
Mr Adu-Mante appealed to all media practitioners to remain objective, factual and fair in their reportage on the elections, as Ghanaians would be counting on their professionalism to ensure stability in the country.
"This year is a critical year in the country's development because of the December elections and we the people of Ghana would want to count on you to play your professional roles to ensure peace and stability in this country," he urged journalists, while commending the GJA for consistently providing a platform for the recognition of outstanding performances in journalism.
The Communications Manager of Zoomlion, Mrs Isabella Gyau Orhin, said the company was pleased to lend its support to rewarding journalists for their exceptional contributions to the country.
She said Zoomlion was supporting the association with a sponsorship package worth GH¢2,500 for the winner of the features awards on environment.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of ABL, Ms N. Adjoba Kyiamah, who announced her organisation's GH¢2,500 sponsorship package for the winner of the Human Rights Award, said the gesture was in line with her organisation's commitment to the rights of individuals.
She pointed out that " in a country that has a viable media, businesses also thrive".
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said this year's award winners would be presented with plaques, certificates and laptops to encourage them to work harder and improve their skills.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
World Heart Day Launched
IT is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25 will have high blood pressure, the world’s number one killer, by the year 2025.
The President of the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Dr Francis Kwamin, who made this known at the launch of this year’s World Heart Day in Accra yesterday, said there were no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for heart diseases and stroke, saying the only way to know was to visit a professional health care facility for a check-up.
He said according to a recent report by the President of the World Heart Federation (WHF), Professor Shahryar Sheikh, heart disease and stroke caused 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, plus all forms of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined.
Dr Kwamin said the number of people affected by high blood pressure was predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the coming years, noting, however, that by adopting suitable lifestyle changes to reduce the risk, the picture could change for the better.
“The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important,” he stated, noting that high blood pressure or hypertension currently affected more than a billion people world-wide”.
Speaking on the theme, “Know Your Risk”, he said it was very important for all to know their risk, adding that although there were usually no obvious sign of high blood pressure, the good news was that it was easy for healthcare professionals to detect the disease, which was usually controllable with lifestyle changes or medication.
“There is vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people’s risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health issues,” he noted, indicating that as a result of that people tended to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and more infrequent risks, while they underestimated those from more common causes such as heart disease and stroke.
Dr Kwamin said studies had shown that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables was related to 17 per cent reduction in coronary heart disease.
According to him, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases alone in the country cost the nation more than 80 per cent of what was spent on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) annually and so the essence of the celebration was to advocate the prevention of the risks, instead of spending a lot of money on treatment.
The former Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, appealed to all Ghanaians, especially his colleague doctors who smoked, to refrain from the habit, since it served no purpose.
He said he was calling on his colleague doctors who smoked to join the campaign against smoking and limit their alcohol consumption because “charity begins at home”. Also, a lot of people smoked with the excuse that even doctors smoked.
He said almost 90 to 95 per cent of operations conducted on young adults in the Cardiovascular Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were diseases of the heart valves.
He said statistics indicated that about 8,000 people needed operations annually on diseases involving the heart but said out of the number only 400 people could receive medical care, adding that Ghana should be on the prevention side instead of treatment.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng advised against the use of medicines that contained steroids, noting that when the chemicals from the steroids got into the blood stream, they killed all the melanocytes — the organisms that produces melanin, a substance that protects the human skin from the sun’s ultra-violet rays, leading to skin cancer and heart diseases.
Some of the activities to mark the day on September 28, 2008 include health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.
It is organised by the Ghana Heart Foundation, the National Cardiothoracic Centre, the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Health Page and the Federation of the Ghana Medical Students Association, with support from the GHS, the World Health Organisation and the WHF.
The President of the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Dr Francis Kwamin, who made this known at the launch of this year’s World Heart Day in Accra yesterday, said there were no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for heart diseases and stroke, saying the only way to know was to visit a professional health care facility for a check-up.
He said according to a recent report by the President of the World Heart Federation (WHF), Professor Shahryar Sheikh, heart disease and stroke caused 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, plus all forms of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined.
Dr Kwamin said the number of people affected by high blood pressure was predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the coming years, noting, however, that by adopting suitable lifestyle changes to reduce the risk, the picture could change for the better.
“The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important,” he stated, noting that high blood pressure or hypertension currently affected more than a billion people world-wide”.
Speaking on the theme, “Know Your Risk”, he said it was very important for all to know their risk, adding that although there were usually no obvious sign of high blood pressure, the good news was that it was easy for healthcare professionals to detect the disease, which was usually controllable with lifestyle changes or medication.
“There is vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people’s risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health issues,” he noted, indicating that as a result of that people tended to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and more infrequent risks, while they underestimated those from more common causes such as heart disease and stroke.
Dr Kwamin said studies had shown that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables was related to 17 per cent reduction in coronary heart disease.
According to him, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases alone in the country cost the nation more than 80 per cent of what was spent on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) annually and so the essence of the celebration was to advocate the prevention of the risks, instead of spending a lot of money on treatment.
The former Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, appealed to all Ghanaians, especially his colleague doctors who smoked, to refrain from the habit, since it served no purpose.
He said he was calling on his colleague doctors who smoked to join the campaign against smoking and limit their alcohol consumption because “charity begins at home”. Also, a lot of people smoked with the excuse that even doctors smoked.
He said almost 90 to 95 per cent of operations conducted on young adults in the Cardiovascular Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were diseases of the heart valves.
He said statistics indicated that about 8,000 people needed operations annually on diseases involving the heart but said out of the number only 400 people could receive medical care, adding that Ghana should be on the prevention side instead of treatment.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng advised against the use of medicines that contained steroids, noting that when the chemicals from the steroids got into the blood stream, they killed all the melanocytes — the organisms that produces melanin, a substance that protects the human skin from the sun’s ultra-violet rays, leading to skin cancer and heart diseases.
Some of the activities to mark the day on September 28, 2008 include health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.
It is organised by the Ghana Heart Foundation, the National Cardiothoracic Centre, the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Health Page and the Federation of the Ghana Medical Students Association, with support from the GHS, the World Health Organisation and the WHF.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Government Must build Quality Human Resource for its development Agenda
THE outgoing Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe, has said if the country is to have a competitive advantage within the sub-region, then the government must be prepared to invest in building quality human capital for its development agenda.
“If the nation is to be pre-eminent a decade hence, if we are not only to compete but lead, then we must build quality human capital,” she stated.
Speaking at the 70th anniversary and awards night of the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) in Accra at the weekend, Mrs Mwanakatwe said a quantum leap by Ghana towards development and growth required exceptional leadership with extraordinary insights.
Mrs Mwanakatwe, who was addressing past students of the school on the theme, “70 Years of excellent education — Building quality human capital for national development”, maintained that the cornerstone of the new era was education, adding that if the country was prepared to compete in a global world, then it must be prepared to build quality human capital throughout all second-cycle institutions.
“If the country is to have a competitive advantage within the comity of nations, it is the students we churn out from institutions such as PRESEC who will progress into the universities and ultimately help in making the attainment of these imperatives possible,” she advised.
“We lived in an age in which knowledge holds the key to our security, welfare and standard of living, an age in which technological leadership will determine who wins the next round of global competition and the jobs and profits that come from it,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
She noted that the government’s commitment to build quality human capital was fading, even though all parties, especially parents, were struggling to retain it.
She commended the founders of PRESEC for the foresight that led them to choose to invest in education and the development of the human capital of this country.
The National President of the PRESEC Old Students Association, Dr Henry Aduful, said members of the association were willing to give back to their alma mater what was due it as the school celebrated 70 years of success.
He pointed out that the school had produced many students who had made great contributions to the development of Ghana and the world as whole, adding that they, as a family of old students, were proud to be associated with a school like PRESEC.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Africanus K. Anane, said despite the physical hardship and lack of required facilities, very worthy traditions had been established for the school and that was what called for the celebration of 70 years of success.
He said the school had continued to win many national laurels over the years, including this anniversary year in which it was declared the national champions in the Information and Communications Technology competition, the National Maths and Science Quiz, a debate contest and, to crown it all, the Excellence Awards for the May/June 2007 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“As a school, let us also remember the Herculean trials we have gone through for the past 70 years and give thanks to God for making us the recipient of His Grace and Mercy which has helped us to overcome our numerous trials and obstacles,” he prayed.
“If the nation is to be pre-eminent a decade hence, if we are not only to compete but lead, then we must build quality human capital,” she stated.
Speaking at the 70th anniversary and awards night of the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) in Accra at the weekend, Mrs Mwanakatwe said a quantum leap by Ghana towards development and growth required exceptional leadership with extraordinary insights.
Mrs Mwanakatwe, who was addressing past students of the school on the theme, “70 Years of excellent education — Building quality human capital for national development”, maintained that the cornerstone of the new era was education, adding that if the country was prepared to compete in a global world, then it must be prepared to build quality human capital throughout all second-cycle institutions.
“If the country is to have a competitive advantage within the comity of nations, it is the students we churn out from institutions such as PRESEC who will progress into the universities and ultimately help in making the attainment of these imperatives possible,” she advised.
“We lived in an age in which knowledge holds the key to our security, welfare and standard of living, an age in which technological leadership will determine who wins the next round of global competition and the jobs and profits that come from it,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
She noted that the government’s commitment to build quality human capital was fading, even though all parties, especially parents, were struggling to retain it.
She commended the founders of PRESEC for the foresight that led them to choose to invest in education and the development of the human capital of this country.
The National President of the PRESEC Old Students Association, Dr Henry Aduful, said members of the association were willing to give back to their alma mater what was due it as the school celebrated 70 years of success.
He pointed out that the school had produced many students who had made great contributions to the development of Ghana and the world as whole, adding that they, as a family of old students, were proud to be associated with a school like PRESEC.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Africanus K. Anane, said despite the physical hardship and lack of required facilities, very worthy traditions had been established for the school and that was what called for the celebration of 70 years of success.
He said the school had continued to win many national laurels over the years, including this anniversary year in which it was declared the national champions in the Information and Communications Technology competition, the National Maths and Science Quiz, a debate contest and, to crown it all, the Excellence Awards for the May/June 2007 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“As a school, let us also remember the Herculean trials we have gone through for the past 70 years and give thanks to God for making us the recipient of His Grace and Mercy which has helped us to overcome our numerous trials and obstacles,” he prayed.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Stallion Group partners Kpong Irrigation Farms on rice production
THE Stallion Group of Companies, importers of agricultural produce and vehicles, is to partner the Kpong Irrigation Project to increase rice production in the country.
As a first step, the company is to provide heavy machinery and world class rice processing equipment for use in the country’s southern food basket.
The Finance Director of the Group, Mr Sameer H. Gupta, who made this known at a sensitisation workshop on rice production at Asutsuare in the Eastern Region, stated that the group also intended to promote a ‘Green Field Project’, by installing a 500,000 metric tonne rice milling machine and cultivating 150,000 hectares.
He said the group, which has been in the country for eight years, had a vision to preserve and enrich rice production in Ghana by ensuring the genetic integrity of seeds, encouraging farmers to adopt scientific agricultural practices and leveraging world-class rice processing technologies.
“We will extend the procurement and distribution network to different rice growing regions in Ghana and work towards the uplift and education of the farmers and their families,” he added.
An expert in rice production, Dr P. Bala, who is also with the Stallion Group of Companies, noted that some of the features of the rice terrain in Ghana were remarkable and added that there was good amount of annual rainfall with efficient distribution in all rice growing areas in the country.
He added that there was plenty of water resources, adding that the farmers also had a good attitude towards rice cultivation.
However, he said, the KIP project had an irrigation system that needed to be improved to enhance production.
Other problems he identified were; low crop yield per unit area, low utilisation of irrigable land, low adoption rate of technologies, loss of revenue due to non-maintenance of irrigation infrastructure, lack of input fertilisers and low income for farmers.
He urged the government to maintain a proper database on farmers, provide incentives, rewards and public recognition for rice farmers and maintain a high motivation level to encourage the farmers to work harder.
He also called for the introduction of insurance policies to provide comprehensive coverage for crops including loss of profit to the farmers and prodded the government to make it obligatory for students studying agriculture to work on contract farming programmes as part of their curriculum, and encourage them to set their own targets.
Dr Bala assured farmers that the Stallion Group of Companies would help them to meet their needs with regard to farm inputs by providing them with fertilisers, herbicides, plant protection chemicals and sprayers and guide farmers to solve the specific problems related to crop management in their farms.
He also urged them to endeavour to approach the experts for advice on any difficulty encountered in the process
The Project Manager of KIP, Mr E. T. Sekou, said the management had realised from relationships with other stakeholders that for a healthy and sustainable partnership, there must be mutual respect, a good understanding and appreciation of the needs and goals of partners for a win-win outcome.
He said unfortunately, the relationship between KIP and some of its partners had not been sustainable because of the parochial interests of agricultural input suppliers and processing millers, and lack of capacity of partners to perform their roles effectively.
He said the overall performance of the project had been below expectation because of a number of interrelated constraints, which included fragmented farm plots, lack of specific materials for rice production, and inappropriate machinery.
Mr Sekou noted that there was also the need to increase the staff strength because of inadequate staffing, provide support for research and extension efforts and strengthen staff capacity through partnerships.
Presently, he said, there were about 2,500 household heads involved in rice production and the average farm size per head was one hectare.
He said other commercial farmers had also indicated their intention to grow maize, spices, and fish on the project sites, and noted that two of such commercial farmers were Tropo Farms Limited, currently specialising in tilapia production; and Golden Exotic Limited, which was growing banana for export.
As a first step, the company is to provide heavy machinery and world class rice processing equipment for use in the country’s southern food basket.
The Finance Director of the Group, Mr Sameer H. Gupta, who made this known at a sensitisation workshop on rice production at Asutsuare in the Eastern Region, stated that the group also intended to promote a ‘Green Field Project’, by installing a 500,000 metric tonne rice milling machine and cultivating 150,000 hectares.
He said the group, which has been in the country for eight years, had a vision to preserve and enrich rice production in Ghana by ensuring the genetic integrity of seeds, encouraging farmers to adopt scientific agricultural practices and leveraging world-class rice processing technologies.
“We will extend the procurement and distribution network to different rice growing regions in Ghana and work towards the uplift and education of the farmers and their families,” he added.
An expert in rice production, Dr P. Bala, who is also with the Stallion Group of Companies, noted that some of the features of the rice terrain in Ghana were remarkable and added that there was good amount of annual rainfall with efficient distribution in all rice growing areas in the country.
He added that there was plenty of water resources, adding that the farmers also had a good attitude towards rice cultivation.
However, he said, the KIP project had an irrigation system that needed to be improved to enhance production.
Other problems he identified were; low crop yield per unit area, low utilisation of irrigable land, low adoption rate of technologies, loss of revenue due to non-maintenance of irrigation infrastructure, lack of input fertilisers and low income for farmers.
He urged the government to maintain a proper database on farmers, provide incentives, rewards and public recognition for rice farmers and maintain a high motivation level to encourage the farmers to work harder.
He also called for the introduction of insurance policies to provide comprehensive coverage for crops including loss of profit to the farmers and prodded the government to make it obligatory for students studying agriculture to work on contract farming programmes as part of their curriculum, and encourage them to set their own targets.
Dr Bala assured farmers that the Stallion Group of Companies would help them to meet their needs with regard to farm inputs by providing them with fertilisers, herbicides, plant protection chemicals and sprayers and guide farmers to solve the specific problems related to crop management in their farms.
He also urged them to endeavour to approach the experts for advice on any difficulty encountered in the process
The Project Manager of KIP, Mr E. T. Sekou, said the management had realised from relationships with other stakeholders that for a healthy and sustainable partnership, there must be mutual respect, a good understanding and appreciation of the needs and goals of partners for a win-win outcome.
He said unfortunately, the relationship between KIP and some of its partners had not been sustainable because of the parochial interests of agricultural input suppliers and processing millers, and lack of capacity of partners to perform their roles effectively.
He said the overall performance of the project had been below expectation because of a number of interrelated constraints, which included fragmented farm plots, lack of specific materials for rice production, and inappropriate machinery.
Mr Sekou noted that there was also the need to increase the staff strength because of inadequate staffing, provide support for research and extension efforts and strengthen staff capacity through partnerships.
Presently, he said, there were about 2,500 household heads involved in rice production and the average farm size per head was one hectare.
He said other commercial farmers had also indicated their intention to grow maize, spices, and fish on the project sites, and noted that two of such commercial farmers were Tropo Farms Limited, currently specialising in tilapia production; and Golden Exotic Limited, which was growing banana for export.
Ozone Layer Preservation Day Marked
THE importation of electrical equipment with components that contain ozone-depleting substances will be banned from January 1, 2010, the Deputy Director of the National Ozone Unit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Emmanuel Osae Quansah, has stated.
He said the measure formed part of the government’s effort at combating the depletion of the ozone layer and the effects of climate change, since most of those ozone-depleting substances contributed to global warming.
Mr Quansah, who was speaking at this year’s United Nations International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, organised by the Free World Foundation (FWF) in Accra last Tuesday, further noted that the measure was also to help phase out ozone depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) common in products such as refrigerators to hydrocarbon substances which were safer.
To ensure that, he said the EPA had signed a contract with 53 workshops in the country to convert CFC-based domestic refrigeration systems to hydrocarbon systems, adding that almost up to 1,150 refrigeration units had been converted so far since training began two weeks ago.
As an incentive, he stated that every unit converted by the workshops attracted an extra $7 for work done because that helped the country a great deal in reducing its dependency on CFCs.
According to him, the country reported to the Multilateral Fund Secretariat in Canada and the United Nations Environmental Programme, Ozone Section, in Nairobi, Kenya, on its annual consumption of ozone-depleting substances to avoid sanctions or punitive measures under the Montreal Protocol on substances that depleted the ozone layer.
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, in an address given on his behalf by the Assistant Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Dr Stephen Duah Yentumi, said safeguarding the planet had often been seen as a luxury and a burden on economic recovery and development.
He said in phasing out CFCs and HCFCs, the Montreal Protocol had provided two benefits at once and expressed the hope that governments would look critically at those results and feel empowered to act across a wide range of environmental challenges, and not only in prosperous times.
The UN Secretary-General urged governments to fully explore the natural synergies that could occur among various multilateral environmental agreements to create tomorrow's "green economy" today.
He said the goal of world leaders and governments, when they gathered for the crucial meeting on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark, next year, must be a decisive new agreement that set the world on track to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Mr Ban said such agreements would not only represent progress on one of the greatest challenges in the history of mankind but was also likely to help tackle urban air pollution, deforestation, the loss of biodiversity and other dangers after decades of chemical attack.
The Executive Director of the FWF, Mr Rashid Anyetei Odoi, said his organisation believed that the harmful effects of the ozone layer depletion on humans were too devastating to be ignored and, therefore, expressed his appreciation to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme for collaborating with it to create the platform for discussions on how best to preserve the ozone layer.
He said the measure formed part of the government’s effort at combating the depletion of the ozone layer and the effects of climate change, since most of those ozone-depleting substances contributed to global warming.
Mr Quansah, who was speaking at this year’s United Nations International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, organised by the Free World Foundation (FWF) in Accra last Tuesday, further noted that the measure was also to help phase out ozone depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) common in products such as refrigerators to hydrocarbon substances which were safer.
To ensure that, he said the EPA had signed a contract with 53 workshops in the country to convert CFC-based domestic refrigeration systems to hydrocarbon systems, adding that almost up to 1,150 refrigeration units had been converted so far since training began two weeks ago.
As an incentive, he stated that every unit converted by the workshops attracted an extra $7 for work done because that helped the country a great deal in reducing its dependency on CFCs.
According to him, the country reported to the Multilateral Fund Secretariat in Canada and the United Nations Environmental Programme, Ozone Section, in Nairobi, Kenya, on its annual consumption of ozone-depleting substances to avoid sanctions or punitive measures under the Montreal Protocol on substances that depleted the ozone layer.
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, in an address given on his behalf by the Assistant Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Dr Stephen Duah Yentumi, said safeguarding the planet had often been seen as a luxury and a burden on economic recovery and development.
He said in phasing out CFCs and HCFCs, the Montreal Protocol had provided two benefits at once and expressed the hope that governments would look critically at those results and feel empowered to act across a wide range of environmental challenges, and not only in prosperous times.
The UN Secretary-General urged governments to fully explore the natural synergies that could occur among various multilateral environmental agreements to create tomorrow's "green economy" today.
He said the goal of world leaders and governments, when they gathered for the crucial meeting on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark, next year, must be a decisive new agreement that set the world on track to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Mr Ban said such agreements would not only represent progress on one of the greatest challenges in the history of mankind but was also likely to help tackle urban air pollution, deforestation, the loss of biodiversity and other dangers after decades of chemical attack.
The Executive Director of the FWF, Mr Rashid Anyetei Odoi, said his organisation believed that the harmful effects of the ozone layer depletion on humans were too devastating to be ignored and, therefore, expressed his appreciation to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme for collaborating with it to create the platform for discussions on how best to preserve the ozone layer.
Friday, September 19, 2008
2008 National Youth Summit Launched
THE 2008 National Young Leaders Summit has been launched with a call on leaders of public and private institutions to help nurture and groom young leaders to assume leadership positions in the country’s development agenda.
The Summit was instituted two years ago by Waves International, a youth oriented non-profit organisation, with a vision to bring young leaders across the nation together, to be inspired and motivated by prominent leaders in Ghana and across the continent.
The Chief Executive of Waves International, Mr Ernest Davids, said the summit was purposely being organised for emerging young leaders in Ghana and across the continent to help them gain practical experience from prominent leaders through effective mentoring.
He said ever since the inception of the summit, young leaders have greatly benefited from the summit, which has helped sharpen their leadership abilities, as most of them have made a lot of impact in their various fields of leadership.
Mr Davids noted that this year’s theme for the summit, “Nurturing Leaders Through Succession Leadership”, was appropriate because, “it is high time the existing leaders in the country come together to nurture and groom young leaders to assume leadership position because the country’s future depends on them and how well they are mentored”.
He explained that most Western countries had such mentoring programmes to instil in their youth leadership qualities, a practice that was lacking in Ghana.
He expressed the hope that if the country would be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals then the current crop of leaders should consider mentoring as a key element in the country’s development agenda.
The launching was attended by students leaders from some of the country’s tertiary institutions, and they all acknowledged the relevance of mentoring in improving the knowledge, skill and leadership abilities of young leaders to enhance the country’s socio-economic development.
The President of the University Student Association of Ghana (USAG), Mr Maxwell Ofosu Boakye said students in particular learnt a lot from the summit but believed that their commitment and enthusiasm to serve their fellow students, was paramount.
“I believe that when the youth are given leadership positions, they learn a lot from the experience and exposure, and will advice the youth and other young people in leadership positions to take advantage of this summit to improve upon their professional and personal life”, he said.
He also urged the youth to stay focus, abstain from violence and not allow political parties to use them for their political gains during this year's general election.
The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Ishmeal Tweneboa-Kodua stated that NUGS would not allow any of its constituents to be used by political parties for their selfish interest.
He added that NUGS had taken the position to kick against any sort of rigging in this years election.
He urged students to be the beam of light in their various endeavours and educate members of their community who were eligible to vote on their civic rights and the need to vote as citizens of Ghana.
The President of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS), Anthony Abotsi Afriyie said he opposed minors taking part in the electoral process as it had been stated clearly in the constitution and urged students to uphold the it and defend it at all times.
He further urged students to exhaust all processes available to them before they making a case against anyone who was not eligible to vote in order to avoid any chaos during the elections.
The two-day Summit would be held at the National Theatre in Accra from October 15 to 16, 2008 and start at 8 a.m. each day under the chairmanship of Dr Sir Sam Jonah, Chairman of Jonah Capitals, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Summit was instituted two years ago by Waves International, a youth oriented non-profit organisation, with a vision to bring young leaders across the nation together, to be inspired and motivated by prominent leaders in Ghana and across the continent.
The Chief Executive of Waves International, Mr Ernest Davids, said the summit was purposely being organised for emerging young leaders in Ghana and across the continent to help them gain practical experience from prominent leaders through effective mentoring.
He said ever since the inception of the summit, young leaders have greatly benefited from the summit, which has helped sharpen their leadership abilities, as most of them have made a lot of impact in their various fields of leadership.
Mr Davids noted that this year’s theme for the summit, “Nurturing Leaders Through Succession Leadership”, was appropriate because, “it is high time the existing leaders in the country come together to nurture and groom young leaders to assume leadership position because the country’s future depends on them and how well they are mentored”.
He explained that most Western countries had such mentoring programmes to instil in their youth leadership qualities, a practice that was lacking in Ghana.
He expressed the hope that if the country would be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals then the current crop of leaders should consider mentoring as a key element in the country’s development agenda.
The launching was attended by students leaders from some of the country’s tertiary institutions, and they all acknowledged the relevance of mentoring in improving the knowledge, skill and leadership abilities of young leaders to enhance the country’s socio-economic development.
The President of the University Student Association of Ghana (USAG), Mr Maxwell Ofosu Boakye said students in particular learnt a lot from the summit but believed that their commitment and enthusiasm to serve their fellow students, was paramount.
“I believe that when the youth are given leadership positions, they learn a lot from the experience and exposure, and will advice the youth and other young people in leadership positions to take advantage of this summit to improve upon their professional and personal life”, he said.
He also urged the youth to stay focus, abstain from violence and not allow political parties to use them for their political gains during this year's general election.
The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Ishmeal Tweneboa-Kodua stated that NUGS would not allow any of its constituents to be used by political parties for their selfish interest.
He added that NUGS had taken the position to kick against any sort of rigging in this years election.
He urged students to be the beam of light in their various endeavours and educate members of their community who were eligible to vote on their civic rights and the need to vote as citizens of Ghana.
The President of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS), Anthony Abotsi Afriyie said he opposed minors taking part in the electoral process as it had been stated clearly in the constitution and urged students to uphold the it and defend it at all times.
He further urged students to exhaust all processes available to them before they making a case against anyone who was not eligible to vote in order to avoid any chaos during the elections.
The two-day Summit would be held at the National Theatre in Accra from October 15 to 16, 2008 and start at 8 a.m. each day under the chairmanship of Dr Sir Sam Jonah, Chairman of Jonah Capitals, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Finatrade on a Fact-finding Mission
RETAILERS of rice say they have reduced their prices in compliance with the government’s initiative aimed at mitigating the hardship Ghanaians are facing as a result of escalating food and fuel prices on the world market.
They said a bag of 50 kilograms of Texas rice, which was previously sold at GH¢65 was now sold at GH¢60; Chicago rice, which used to be sold at GH¢64, was now sold at GH¢59, whilst Big Joe rice, which was also sold at GH¢60, was now sold at GH¢50.
This came to light when the Finatrade Group of Companies, a major importer of rice in Ghana, embarked on a fact-finding mission in Accra yesterday to find out if retailers of their brands had also reduced their prices after they had announced a reduction in the prices of all their brands to ensure the government’s initiative to mitigate the effects of rising food prices on the economy and the consumer.
The Director of Corporate Affairs of the Finatrade Group of Companies, Mr John Awuni, told some members of the media during the fact-finding mission in some retail shops at the Central Business District of Accra that they reduced their prices by 20 per cent in June this year, as directed by the President, and had maintained it despite the cedi depreciating against the dollar.
He said in the light of the fact that the cedi was depreciating against the dollar they should have also increased their prices but as an advocate of the government’s policy they intended to maintain the current prices of their brands in order to make sure that Ghanaian consumers did not feel the effect of the soaring world food and fuel prices.
Some of the retailers the Daily Graphic spoke to acknowledged that the reduction in prices by the importers after the removal of import duties had accounted for the decrease in the prices of rice.
Mrs Hannah Mensah of PH Mensah Limited said the prices of rice would have by now increased by 50 per cent if the government had not intervened, noting that the prices of rice in Ghana were far better compared to other countries in the sub-region.
“Even in America consumers are not allowed to purchase more than two bags of rice from supermarkets because of soaring food prices,” she stated, and disclosed that some Ghanaians travelling abroad even came to buy her rice since, the prices there were expensive.
She commended the government for its intervention.
Another retailer of rice, Mr Okyere Boakye, who also attributed the reduction in the prices of rice to the government’s intervention, noted that smuggled rice mostly from Cote d'Ivoire could also account for the decrease in prices.
He said that was because these smuggled goods (rice) were duty free in Cote d’Ivoire and evaded tax in Ghana. He called on the government and the Customs and Excise Preventive Service to go the extra mile to bring these smugglers to book.
President J. A. Kufuor in a nationwide broadcast on May 23, 2008 directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to seek the necessary parliamentary approval for the removal of import duties on major food items and waive levies on some petroleum products.
Some of the food items that benefited from the reduction on import duties were rice, wheat and yellow corn, and importers of these commodities were required to reduce their prices accordingly and avoid any attempt to re-export these items.
The President’s directive came at the heels of increasing pressure on the Ghanaian economy resulting from the distortions in the global market, particularly soaring food and fuel prices, and to that effect Parliament, a week after the Presidents directive, amended the Customs and Excise (Duty and other Taxes) Act 2008 to remove import duties on those commodities.
President Kufuor asked all Ghanaians, particularly importers, to co-operate, so that the benefits could be felt by all, as it was expected that importers would benefit from the removal of duties and subsequently pass on such benefits to the end consumers.
They said a bag of 50 kilograms of Texas rice, which was previously sold at GH¢65 was now sold at GH¢60; Chicago rice, which used to be sold at GH¢64, was now sold at GH¢59, whilst Big Joe rice, which was also sold at GH¢60, was now sold at GH¢50.
This came to light when the Finatrade Group of Companies, a major importer of rice in Ghana, embarked on a fact-finding mission in Accra yesterday to find out if retailers of their brands had also reduced their prices after they had announced a reduction in the prices of all their brands to ensure the government’s initiative to mitigate the effects of rising food prices on the economy and the consumer.
The Director of Corporate Affairs of the Finatrade Group of Companies, Mr John Awuni, told some members of the media during the fact-finding mission in some retail shops at the Central Business District of Accra that they reduced their prices by 20 per cent in June this year, as directed by the President, and had maintained it despite the cedi depreciating against the dollar.
He said in the light of the fact that the cedi was depreciating against the dollar they should have also increased their prices but as an advocate of the government’s policy they intended to maintain the current prices of their brands in order to make sure that Ghanaian consumers did not feel the effect of the soaring world food and fuel prices.
Some of the retailers the Daily Graphic spoke to acknowledged that the reduction in prices by the importers after the removal of import duties had accounted for the decrease in the prices of rice.
Mrs Hannah Mensah of PH Mensah Limited said the prices of rice would have by now increased by 50 per cent if the government had not intervened, noting that the prices of rice in Ghana were far better compared to other countries in the sub-region.
“Even in America consumers are not allowed to purchase more than two bags of rice from supermarkets because of soaring food prices,” she stated, and disclosed that some Ghanaians travelling abroad even came to buy her rice since, the prices there were expensive.
She commended the government for its intervention.
Another retailer of rice, Mr Okyere Boakye, who also attributed the reduction in the prices of rice to the government’s intervention, noted that smuggled rice mostly from Cote d'Ivoire could also account for the decrease in prices.
He said that was because these smuggled goods (rice) were duty free in Cote d’Ivoire and evaded tax in Ghana. He called on the government and the Customs and Excise Preventive Service to go the extra mile to bring these smugglers to book.
President J. A. Kufuor in a nationwide broadcast on May 23, 2008 directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to seek the necessary parliamentary approval for the removal of import duties on major food items and waive levies on some petroleum products.
Some of the food items that benefited from the reduction on import duties were rice, wheat and yellow corn, and importers of these commodities were required to reduce their prices accordingly and avoid any attempt to re-export these items.
The President’s directive came at the heels of increasing pressure on the Ghanaian economy resulting from the distortions in the global market, particularly soaring food and fuel prices, and to that effect Parliament, a week after the Presidents directive, amended the Customs and Excise (Duty and other Taxes) Act 2008 to remove import duties on those commodities.
President Kufuor asked all Ghanaians, particularly importers, to co-operate, so that the benefits could be felt by all, as it was expected that importers would benefit from the removal of duties and subsequently pass on such benefits to the end consumers.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Restrictive migration polices counter-productive — Prof. Manuh
THE Director of the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana, Professor Takyiwaa Manuh, has stated that restrictive policies of migration on Africans are counter-productive.
She described such policies as discriminatory, which led to increase in fraudulent activities concerning visa application and other immigration challenges that did not serve the purpose of globalisation.
Prof. Manuh, an expert on migration policies, was speaking at a workshop organised by the Goethe-Institute, in collaboration with Rueckehrerbuero Ghana, on the theme: "International Migration and Development", in Accra last Friday.
She said issues concerning migration were very serious and noted that even the broad theme for the workshop, "Reintegration as a potential for development co-operation", suggested that restrictive policies on migration did not work.
Prof. Manuh, therefore, appealed to Western policy makers on migration to ensure that the phenomenon of globalisation reflected in their policies.
"The way some Africans struggle to travel to Europe especially is very serious but I think people should be able to move about freely without any prejudice," she said.
She explained that some of the policies were prejudiced to the extent that one could notice a lot of students from Europe visiting Ghana and Africa in general but it was otherwise with students from the sub-region, noting that even some of the questions asked during interrogation at some of the embassies were so offensive and derogatory.
Prof. Manuh said most Ghanaians outside the country were living in other parts of Africa, contrary to the notion that most Ghanaians were living in Europe, adding that that was because there was enormous selectivity as to who is able to migrate or not.
She, therefore, encouraged policy makers to resort to policies that would enhance the mobility of labour and make migration an option instead of the restrictive policies that often led to illegal migration and fraudulent documentation for visa application.
Mrs Jeanett Martin, a lecturer from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, also said the benefits and experience migrants had was a powerful force for development in their prospective countries.
She said there was the need to search for an African alternative of development as the Western concept of development did not seem to work in Africa.
She said expert knowledge and power, the key concept for development in the West, had been questioned and needed to be changed.
In her view, ‘brain gain’ could replace the ‘brain drain’ to benefit both countries as it influenced economic development in respective countries.
The workshop sought to bring stakeholders together to highlight the potential of returned migrants, as it was difficult understanding why professional qualifications and social competence of Ghanaians trained in Germany were barley tapped in development co-operation between the two countries.
She described such policies as discriminatory, which led to increase in fraudulent activities concerning visa application and other immigration challenges that did not serve the purpose of globalisation.
Prof. Manuh, an expert on migration policies, was speaking at a workshop organised by the Goethe-Institute, in collaboration with Rueckehrerbuero Ghana, on the theme: "International Migration and Development", in Accra last Friday.
She said issues concerning migration were very serious and noted that even the broad theme for the workshop, "Reintegration as a potential for development co-operation", suggested that restrictive policies on migration did not work.
Prof. Manuh, therefore, appealed to Western policy makers on migration to ensure that the phenomenon of globalisation reflected in their policies.
"The way some Africans struggle to travel to Europe especially is very serious but I think people should be able to move about freely without any prejudice," she said.
She explained that some of the policies were prejudiced to the extent that one could notice a lot of students from Europe visiting Ghana and Africa in general but it was otherwise with students from the sub-region, noting that even some of the questions asked during interrogation at some of the embassies were so offensive and derogatory.
Prof. Manuh said most Ghanaians outside the country were living in other parts of Africa, contrary to the notion that most Ghanaians were living in Europe, adding that that was because there was enormous selectivity as to who is able to migrate or not.
She, therefore, encouraged policy makers to resort to policies that would enhance the mobility of labour and make migration an option instead of the restrictive policies that often led to illegal migration and fraudulent documentation for visa application.
Mrs Jeanett Martin, a lecturer from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, also said the benefits and experience migrants had was a powerful force for development in their prospective countries.
She said there was the need to search for an African alternative of development as the Western concept of development did not seem to work in Africa.
She said expert knowledge and power, the key concept for development in the West, had been questioned and needed to be changed.
In her view, ‘brain gain’ could replace the ‘brain drain’ to benefit both countries as it influenced economic development in respective countries.
The workshop sought to bring stakeholders together to highlight the potential of returned migrants, as it was difficult understanding why professional qualifications and social competence of Ghanaians trained in Germany were barley tapped in development co-operation between the two countries.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
THE Accra Psychiatric Hospital to embark on a Mass Repatriation
THE Accra Psychiatric Hospital will embark on a mass repatriation exercise on Monday, September 15, to decongest the hospital of patients who have been treated and discharged.
The Social Development Officer of the Department, Mrs Esther Gyandoh, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that the action had become necessary because most of the house numbers given by families of the patients had turned out to be false.
She said the repatriation exercise would therefore seek the assistance of municipal and district assemblies and other community leaders to help trace the families of the discharged patients.
According to her, Monday’s exercise would be the second in the hospital’s efforts at integrating patients and families and disclosed that the first effort saw the integration of 101 recovered patients into their families.
She said the initial phase of the Monday’s repatriation exercise would take five days and involve the repatriation of about 46 patients to the Volta Region and later the repatriation of other recovered inmates to the Eastern, Central, Western , Ashanti and the Brong Ahafo Regions.
It would involve more than 500 patients, some of whom, according to Mrs Gyandoh, had been neglected by their families for more than 15 years.
Mrs Gyandoh stated that the Welfare Department of the hospital recommended the mass repatriation exercise as a necessary measure based on the success of a pilot programme to address challenges including congesting of wards, enhancing effective welfare and rehabilitation programmes, and reuniting of recovered patients into their families.
She complained that apart from lack of funds to sustain the programme, another challenge her department was facing was the refusal of some patients who had fully recovered to go back home because of the stigmatisation and ill-treatment meted out to them by their families.
“The community-based rehabilitation concept where receiving families and district assemblies were trained to reduce stigmatisation attached to mental patients has been conducted to help integrate them in their local environment,” she added.
She noted that the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd) had also requested for an extensive public awareness and education to correct the negative perception the public had about recovered mentally ill patients.
According to her some of the last batch of patients they recently repatriated in the Accra metropolis came back to the hospital a day after the repatriation because of the stigmatisation and also due to the proximity of the hospital to their homes.
“Most of the patients have recovered after treatment but because of the stigmatisation attached to mental patients, their families refuse to come back for them,” she stated, and urged families of affected patients to have sympathy for the patients and help in their integration in society.
Mrs Gyandoh stated that another reason why the Welfare Department had difficulty carrying out its core function could be attributed to lack of coherence in data sharing between the hospital’s administration and the Social Welfare Department.
She remarked that because the administration alone handled the admission of patients in the hospital it became difficult for the Social Welfare Department to carry out its duty to reunite recovered patients with their families.
“The Welfare Department needs to work hand in hand with the administration in the admission of patients to the hospitals so we can hold those who bring them here responsible for their integration and resettling back into society,” she urged, and noted that because most of the families did not want to come back for the patients, they intentionally provided insufficient and misleading information about their residence during admission of patients.
She said the Welfare Department if given the opportunity would follow families of patients to their respective houses after the patients had been admitted to make their resettling back into society much more easier.
Some of the recovered patients who had been able to remember where they came from, she explained, could be assisted to resettle with their prospective families but because her department was under-resourced, most of the patients were still at the hospital after years of abandonment.
She disclosed that notwithstanding all these challenges, her department would on Monday, September 15, 2008 embark on a mass repatriation exercise, the third phase of a continuing programme for some recovered and discharged patients at the hospital.
The Social Development Officer of the Department, Mrs Esther Gyandoh, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that the action had become necessary because most of the house numbers given by families of the patients had turned out to be false.
She said the repatriation exercise would therefore seek the assistance of municipal and district assemblies and other community leaders to help trace the families of the discharged patients.
According to her, Monday’s exercise would be the second in the hospital’s efforts at integrating patients and families and disclosed that the first effort saw the integration of 101 recovered patients into their families.
She said the initial phase of the Monday’s repatriation exercise would take five days and involve the repatriation of about 46 patients to the Volta Region and later the repatriation of other recovered inmates to the Eastern, Central, Western , Ashanti and the Brong Ahafo Regions.
It would involve more than 500 patients, some of whom, according to Mrs Gyandoh, had been neglected by their families for more than 15 years.
Mrs Gyandoh stated that the Welfare Department of the hospital recommended the mass repatriation exercise as a necessary measure based on the success of a pilot programme to address challenges including congesting of wards, enhancing effective welfare and rehabilitation programmes, and reuniting of recovered patients into their families.
She complained that apart from lack of funds to sustain the programme, another challenge her department was facing was the refusal of some patients who had fully recovered to go back home because of the stigmatisation and ill-treatment meted out to them by their families.
“The community-based rehabilitation concept where receiving families and district assemblies were trained to reduce stigmatisation attached to mental patients has been conducted to help integrate them in their local environment,” she added.
She noted that the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd) had also requested for an extensive public awareness and education to correct the negative perception the public had about recovered mentally ill patients.
According to her some of the last batch of patients they recently repatriated in the Accra metropolis came back to the hospital a day after the repatriation because of the stigmatisation and also due to the proximity of the hospital to their homes.
“Most of the patients have recovered after treatment but because of the stigmatisation attached to mental patients, their families refuse to come back for them,” she stated, and urged families of affected patients to have sympathy for the patients and help in their integration in society.
Mrs Gyandoh stated that another reason why the Welfare Department had difficulty carrying out its core function could be attributed to lack of coherence in data sharing between the hospital’s administration and the Social Welfare Department.
She remarked that because the administration alone handled the admission of patients in the hospital it became difficult for the Social Welfare Department to carry out its duty to reunite recovered patients with their families.
“The Welfare Department needs to work hand in hand with the administration in the admission of patients to the hospitals so we can hold those who bring them here responsible for their integration and resettling back into society,” she urged, and noted that because most of the families did not want to come back for the patients, they intentionally provided insufficient and misleading information about their residence during admission of patients.
She said the Welfare Department if given the opportunity would follow families of patients to their respective houses after the patients had been admitted to make their resettling back into society much more easier.
Some of the recovered patients who had been able to remember where they came from, she explained, could be assisted to resettle with their prospective families but because her department was under-resourced, most of the patients were still at the hospital after years of abandonment.
She disclosed that notwithstanding all these challenges, her department would on Monday, September 15, 2008 embark on a mass repatriation exercise, the third phase of a continuing programme for some recovered and discharged patients at the hospital.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
$50 million capital for Green Revolution in West Africa
AN initial $50 million capital for a green revolution in West Africa has been launched in Ghana under the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The fund was launched in Accra on June 12, 2008, with a call on applicants, mainly private sector organisations, to present innovative business ideas to support policies that would boost agricultural productivity, create new jobs and develop enterprises in the rural areas to lift millions of Africa’s small-scale farmers out of poverty.
The first call for applications from applicants within southern and eastern Africa was made at the AECF Africa launch of the fund in Cape Town and Nairobi earlier this month
The AECF is a private sector fund hosted by AGRA and it was set up to encourage private sector companies to compete for investment support to establish new business projects in the agricultural and financial sectors.
By stimulating investment in financial and agricultural markets, the AECF will support policies to boost agricultural productivity, create new jobs and develop enterprises in rural areas.
The AECF will provide grants and non-recourse loans up to a maximum of $1.5 million for each project and an average of $250,000.
The fund will put out several calls for proposals every year for the next six years. To benefit from the fund, applicants would need to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total cost of the project.
The proposals from applicants will need to show a positive impact on the rural poor in Africa, such as increased employment, reduced cost or improved productivity.
According to the Chief Executive of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr Hughes Scott, the AECF would operate across Africa from three regional hubs — Nairobi in Kenya, Johannesburg in South Africa and Accra in Ghana.
He, however, noted that the fund would initially focus on 13 countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Mali. The rest are Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Burundi.
He said an independent investment committee put together by the various donors had been entrusted with making the final decision as to who benefited from the grants, loans or a mixture of the two, adding that their intention was to find suitable ideas that would have an impact on a large number of people.“We will make it a success and we will make sure it goes through a private sector procedure, instead of a donor procedure, in the selection of beneficiaries,” he announced.
The Chief Operations Officer of AGRA, Mr Kwame Akuffo Akoto, said it had been a long journey trying to get the AECF to this level and believed that it was an important step in alleviating poverty in Africa and achieving the dream of a Green Revolution in Africa.
He said because of the importance attached to the AECF and the expertise needed, KPMG Development Advisory Services Limited had been selected to be the fund manager in Ghana.
He called on other donors to contribute to and increase the fund to $100 million to make the programme a success.
A representative from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Mr Mike Hammond, said the UK government strongly believed that the fund would go a long way to alleviate poverty and reduce hunger in rural areas in Africa.
He stated that Ghana had made it clear that it was ready for business and had created the enabling environment for growth in its economy. That, he indicated, stemmed from the fact that Africa was ready for growth.
Mr Hammond said the DFID placed growth and private sector development at the heart of reducing poverty in Africa, noting that private sector development could be encouraged only by governments that believed they could succeed.
The AECF is supported by the AfDB, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, the DFID, IFAD and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The fund was launched in Accra on June 12, 2008, with a call on applicants, mainly private sector organisations, to present innovative business ideas to support policies that would boost agricultural productivity, create new jobs and develop enterprises in the rural areas to lift millions of Africa’s small-scale farmers out of poverty.
The first call for applications from applicants within southern and eastern Africa was made at the AECF Africa launch of the fund in Cape Town and Nairobi earlier this month
The AECF is a private sector fund hosted by AGRA and it was set up to encourage private sector companies to compete for investment support to establish new business projects in the agricultural and financial sectors.
By stimulating investment in financial and agricultural markets, the AECF will support policies to boost agricultural productivity, create new jobs and develop enterprises in rural areas.
The AECF will provide grants and non-recourse loans up to a maximum of $1.5 million for each project and an average of $250,000.
The fund will put out several calls for proposals every year for the next six years. To benefit from the fund, applicants would need to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total cost of the project.
The proposals from applicants will need to show a positive impact on the rural poor in Africa, such as increased employment, reduced cost or improved productivity.
According to the Chief Executive of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr Hughes Scott, the AECF would operate across Africa from three regional hubs — Nairobi in Kenya, Johannesburg in South Africa and Accra in Ghana.
He, however, noted that the fund would initially focus on 13 countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Mali. The rest are Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Burundi.
He said an independent investment committee put together by the various donors had been entrusted with making the final decision as to who benefited from the grants, loans or a mixture of the two, adding that their intention was to find suitable ideas that would have an impact on a large number of people.“We will make it a success and we will make sure it goes through a private sector procedure, instead of a donor procedure, in the selection of beneficiaries,” he announced.
The Chief Operations Officer of AGRA, Mr Kwame Akuffo Akoto, said it had been a long journey trying to get the AECF to this level and believed that it was an important step in alleviating poverty in Africa and achieving the dream of a Green Revolution in Africa.
He said because of the importance attached to the AECF and the expertise needed, KPMG Development Advisory Services Limited had been selected to be the fund manager in Ghana.
He called on other donors to contribute to and increase the fund to $100 million to make the programme a success.
A representative from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Mr Mike Hammond, said the UK government strongly believed that the fund would go a long way to alleviate poverty and reduce hunger in rural areas in Africa.
He stated that Ghana had made it clear that it was ready for business and had created the enabling environment for growth in its economy. That, he indicated, stemmed from the fact that Africa was ready for growth.
Mr Hammond said the DFID placed growth and private sector development at the heart of reducing poverty in Africa, noting that private sector development could be encouraged only by governments that believed they could succeed.
The AECF is supported by the AfDB, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, the DFID, IFAD and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Government to introduce Open University
THE Government is soon to introduce an Open University in the tertiary educational sector.
The Open University is a form of Non-Formal education and will complement the existing Non-Formal Education Division under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS).
The introduction of the Open University is in line with the restructuring of the Non-Formal Education Division and reformation of the Functional Literacy Programme for more participants to undertake formal education.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, made this known yesterday at Dodowa on the occasion of the 2008 International Literacy Day.
He said the package under the Open University would enable participants to obtain the practical know-how and a theoretical basis for higher educational heights.
“It is a total package not just to help the participants to read and write but to take them to greater heights,” he stated, and noted that the participants would not need any qualification to enrol in the Open University.
He said the theme for the celebration, “Functional Literacy — A Partner in the Crusade for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria and other Epidemics in Ghana”, signified the close linkage of functional literacy and education in general to the prevention of these epidemics in the country.
“The theme signifies the fact that functional literacy is a key partner in the prevention of these diseases, which have become a canker in the progressive development of our dear nation,” he noted, adding that to prevent and control the outbreak of epidemics, all had to know the causes, effects and solutions to these killer diseases.
Prof. Fobih expressed his conviction that Functional Literacy, a prerequisite for effective learning and acquisition of knowledge, could be the best tool for the vulnerable and communities to acquire knowledge and the skills necessary for prevention and transmission of diseases.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye, said the theme was a pointer to how the diseases could be adequately addressed in the country.
He noted that “certainly functional education can not be pushed to the wall if we want to find a holistic solution to our health problems”.
Sheikh Quaye said it was time for Ghanaians to aggressively work together to combat and ultimately eradicate these diseases from the country, adding that “it is time for us to defeat Malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS and leave the nation free of these menaces for our children to inherit”.
He said the Greater Accra Region currently had about 520 literacy classes and 12,199 learners, which although were just a fraction of the illiterate population in the region, was the turning point for others to emulate and bring about improvements in living conditions.
The acting Director of the Non-Formal Education Division of the MoESS, Mr James Oppong Afrani, used the occasion to re-launch the National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP) to enable the Division to re-strategise the vision of ensuring a society free of ignorance, diseases, poverty and under-development.
The International Literacy Day, which falls on September 8, 2008 every year, was set aside by the United Nations to sensitise the public to the challenges and problems posed by illiteracy to development.
According to statistics, there are close to about 900 million illiterates and over 133 million illiterates children worldwide who have no access to schools.
Some of the participants who took part in a reading competition under the programme in the various regional capitals were rewarded with 21 inch television sets each for emerging winners in their regions.
The Open University is a form of Non-Formal education and will complement the existing Non-Formal Education Division under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS).
The introduction of the Open University is in line with the restructuring of the Non-Formal Education Division and reformation of the Functional Literacy Programme for more participants to undertake formal education.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, made this known yesterday at Dodowa on the occasion of the 2008 International Literacy Day.
He said the package under the Open University would enable participants to obtain the practical know-how and a theoretical basis for higher educational heights.
“It is a total package not just to help the participants to read and write but to take them to greater heights,” he stated, and noted that the participants would not need any qualification to enrol in the Open University.
He said the theme for the celebration, “Functional Literacy — A Partner in the Crusade for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria and other Epidemics in Ghana”, signified the close linkage of functional literacy and education in general to the prevention of these epidemics in the country.
“The theme signifies the fact that functional literacy is a key partner in the prevention of these diseases, which have become a canker in the progressive development of our dear nation,” he noted, adding that to prevent and control the outbreak of epidemics, all had to know the causes, effects and solutions to these killer diseases.
Prof. Fobih expressed his conviction that Functional Literacy, a prerequisite for effective learning and acquisition of knowledge, could be the best tool for the vulnerable and communities to acquire knowledge and the skills necessary for prevention and transmission of diseases.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye, said the theme was a pointer to how the diseases could be adequately addressed in the country.
He noted that “certainly functional education can not be pushed to the wall if we want to find a holistic solution to our health problems”.
Sheikh Quaye said it was time for Ghanaians to aggressively work together to combat and ultimately eradicate these diseases from the country, adding that “it is time for us to defeat Malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS and leave the nation free of these menaces for our children to inherit”.
He said the Greater Accra Region currently had about 520 literacy classes and 12,199 learners, which although were just a fraction of the illiterate population in the region, was the turning point for others to emulate and bring about improvements in living conditions.
The acting Director of the Non-Formal Education Division of the MoESS, Mr James Oppong Afrani, used the occasion to re-launch the National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP) to enable the Division to re-strategise the vision of ensuring a society free of ignorance, diseases, poverty and under-development.
The International Literacy Day, which falls on September 8, 2008 every year, was set aside by the United Nations to sensitise the public to the challenges and problems posed by illiteracy to development.
According to statistics, there are close to about 900 million illiterates and over 133 million illiterates children worldwide who have no access to schools.
Some of the participants who took part in a reading competition under the programme in the various regional capitals were rewarded with 21 inch television sets each for emerging winners in their regions.
Monday, September 8, 2008
WFP and Donor Community to source $1billion to assist Poor Countries.
THE World Food Programme (WFP) and the donor community are sourcing $1 billion to assist countries which are worst hit by the high food prices, the Executive Director of the programme, Mrs Josette Sheeran, has stated.
She said the entire humanitarian community was adopting strategies to better the lives of those who needed support, adding that WFP, which is the food aid organisation under the United Nations (UN), was working with the Ghana government in particular to assist in the procurement of local products and farm produce as part of efforts to achieve its objectives.
Mrs Sheeran was briefing the press after a tour of the construction site for the new United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
She was accompanied by the Irish Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power.
The WFP Director, who attended the conference on Aid Effective held recently in Accra, said she had taken time off her busy schedule to acquaint herself with the work of WFP personnel working on the ground to ensure that the vision of the programme to save lives in West, Central and other parts of Africa was achieved.
"The UNHRD is a network of 'Interagency Response Facilities', which provides storage facilities, logistics and support services to humanitarian agencies, government and non-governmental organisations to reinforce capacity for humanitarian emergency response," she noted, hinting that their base in Accra was the UN's main humanitarian supply for the sub-region.
She said Ghana was chosen for the location of the UNHRD because the country had demonstrated its leadership role, and its position in the sub-region was strategic in the provision of humanitarian assistance to regions that needed quick responses.
She expressed her appreciation and commended the Irish government for the depth of their commitment, which, she said, was unparalleled by any other user agency of the depot in the fight against hunger.
"Ireland is a major leader in the fight against hunger," she said and thanked them for their life-saving contribution to the humanitarian response depot.
"By pre-positioning essential supplies here in Accra, Irish Aid, WFP and the wider humanitarian community are in a far better position to respond faster and more effectively than ever to humanitarian emergencies in the West African region," Mr Peter Power said.
According to the Project Engineer of the new UNHRD building, Mr Desmond Page, the building, when completed in January 2009, would provide about five thousand square metres of storage space, almost 10 times the current capacity of the old building for free to other user agencies in the region.
He said the additional storage space would help the humanitarian community to respond faster in delivering emergency assistance to countries within the sub-region and save costs, thanks to its strategic location in Accra.
The Country Director of WFP, Mr Martin Walsh, noted that because training formed an important aspect of UNHRD's services, the new building would have training facilities for up to 60 participants with three breakaway rooms and Internet access room.
"Last week, the UNHRD dispatched five river boats for WFP operations and plastic sheets on behalf UNHCR for the current floods in Togo and the heavy rains in Northern Ghana.
He said earlier this year, the Depot was crucial for different actors to send relief supplies to Chadian refugees in northern Cameroon, adding that a consignment of 25 metric tonnes of WFP high energy biscuits was dispatched from Accra to the most vulnerable and food insecure victims at the onset of the floods in the Northern Region of Ghana in 2007.
Mr Walsh stated that the users of the UNHRD had grown from seven to 27 and noted that currently the users of the Depot in Accra included the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Humanitarian Children’s Rights (UNHCR), International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and World Vision, with several more agencies indicating their desire to use the facility.
"To date Ireland has provided $2.5 million towards the UNHRD Network as well as their in-kind donation of a Project Engineer until the end of the construction," he disclosed and expressed his appreciation for the Irish government's support.
She said the entire humanitarian community was adopting strategies to better the lives of those who needed support, adding that WFP, which is the food aid organisation under the United Nations (UN), was working with the Ghana government in particular to assist in the procurement of local products and farm produce as part of efforts to achieve its objectives.
Mrs Sheeran was briefing the press after a tour of the construction site for the new United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
She was accompanied by the Irish Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power.
The WFP Director, who attended the conference on Aid Effective held recently in Accra, said she had taken time off her busy schedule to acquaint herself with the work of WFP personnel working on the ground to ensure that the vision of the programme to save lives in West, Central and other parts of Africa was achieved.
"The UNHRD is a network of 'Interagency Response Facilities', which provides storage facilities, logistics and support services to humanitarian agencies, government and non-governmental organisations to reinforce capacity for humanitarian emergency response," she noted, hinting that their base in Accra was the UN's main humanitarian supply for the sub-region.
She said Ghana was chosen for the location of the UNHRD because the country had demonstrated its leadership role, and its position in the sub-region was strategic in the provision of humanitarian assistance to regions that needed quick responses.
She expressed her appreciation and commended the Irish government for the depth of their commitment, which, she said, was unparalleled by any other user agency of the depot in the fight against hunger.
"Ireland is a major leader in the fight against hunger," she said and thanked them for their life-saving contribution to the humanitarian response depot.
"By pre-positioning essential supplies here in Accra, Irish Aid, WFP and the wider humanitarian community are in a far better position to respond faster and more effectively than ever to humanitarian emergencies in the West African region," Mr Peter Power said.
According to the Project Engineer of the new UNHRD building, Mr Desmond Page, the building, when completed in January 2009, would provide about five thousand square metres of storage space, almost 10 times the current capacity of the old building for free to other user agencies in the region.
He said the additional storage space would help the humanitarian community to respond faster in delivering emergency assistance to countries within the sub-region and save costs, thanks to its strategic location in Accra.
The Country Director of WFP, Mr Martin Walsh, noted that because training formed an important aspect of UNHRD's services, the new building would have training facilities for up to 60 participants with three breakaway rooms and Internet access room.
"Last week, the UNHRD dispatched five river boats for WFP operations and plastic sheets on behalf UNHCR for the current floods in Togo and the heavy rains in Northern Ghana.
He said earlier this year, the Depot was crucial for different actors to send relief supplies to Chadian refugees in northern Cameroon, adding that a consignment of 25 metric tonnes of WFP high energy biscuits was dispatched from Accra to the most vulnerable and food insecure victims at the onset of the floods in the Northern Region of Ghana in 2007.
Mr Walsh stated that the users of the UNHRD had grown from seven to 27 and noted that currently the users of the Depot in Accra included the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Humanitarian Children’s Rights (UNHCR), International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and World Vision, with several more agencies indicating their desire to use the facility.
"To date Ireland has provided $2.5 million towards the UNHRD Network as well as their in-kind donation of a Project Engineer until the end of the construction," he disclosed and expressed his appreciation for the Irish government's support.
PNC signs book of condolence in memory of Prof Saaka
THE People’s National Convention (PNC) Presidential aspirant, Dr Edward Mahama, has signed a book of condolence in memory of the late Professor Yakubu Saaka, a former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in the 3rd Republic, at his residence in Accra.
Dr Mahama who led a delegation, including the PNC National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, Deputy National Organiser, Abu Saddique Kwashie, and other party gurus, described the death of Prof Saaka as a great loss not only to his immediate family and the PNC party but the nation as a whole.
He said Prof Saaka, the Chairman of the Political Committee of the PNC, had served in the Liman Administration but went into exile after the Coup in 1981 and came back on the advent of the Fourth Republic.
"He was a turner professor at Obrelin College, Ohio in the United States. He taught at the University Ghana, Legon, when he came back during the Fourth Republic and since then had contributed immensely to the political agenda of the PNC", he emphasised.
He also acknowledged Prof Saaka’s commitment to the development in the country, and assured his family of the party’s support, after signing a book of condolence in memory of the late professor.
A nephew of the late professor, Mr Daniel Yahaya, who confirmed the death of the professor to the delegation, said Prof Saaka was sent to South Africa for medical treatment where he died last Sunday, August 31, 2008.
He expressed gratitude to the PNC delegation for honouring them with their presence.
He announced that, "the burial service of the late professor would be held on September 13, 2008 in the US, after which the body will be brought to Accra for other ceremonial activities. It will then be sent to his home town, Bole, in the Northern Region, for the final funeral rites to be done’’.
Alhaji Ramadan also described the late professor as a brother and a father to most members of the PNC party, and assured his family that the PNC would ensure that he received a befitting burial.
He also signed the book of condolence and called on all well-wishers to endeavour to pay their last respect to the late professor.
Prof Saaka was survived by a wife and four children.
Caption- Dr Edward Mahama signing the book of condolence in memory of the late Professor Yakubu Saaka at his residence in Accra.
Looking on are some officials of the PNC and members of Prof Saaka’s family.
Dr Mahama who led a delegation, including the PNC National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, Deputy National Organiser, Abu Saddique Kwashie, and other party gurus, described the death of Prof Saaka as a great loss not only to his immediate family and the PNC party but the nation as a whole.
He said Prof Saaka, the Chairman of the Political Committee of the PNC, had served in the Liman Administration but went into exile after the Coup in 1981 and came back on the advent of the Fourth Republic.
"He was a turner professor at Obrelin College, Ohio in the United States. He taught at the University Ghana, Legon, when he came back during the Fourth Republic and since then had contributed immensely to the political agenda of the PNC", he emphasised.
He also acknowledged Prof Saaka’s commitment to the development in the country, and assured his family of the party’s support, after signing a book of condolence in memory of the late professor.
A nephew of the late professor, Mr Daniel Yahaya, who confirmed the death of the professor to the delegation, said Prof Saaka was sent to South Africa for medical treatment where he died last Sunday, August 31, 2008.
He expressed gratitude to the PNC delegation for honouring them with their presence.
He announced that, "the burial service of the late professor would be held on September 13, 2008 in the US, after which the body will be brought to Accra for other ceremonial activities. It will then be sent to his home town, Bole, in the Northern Region, for the final funeral rites to be done’’.
Alhaji Ramadan also described the late professor as a brother and a father to most members of the PNC party, and assured his family that the PNC would ensure that he received a befitting burial.
He also signed the book of condolence and called on all well-wishers to endeavour to pay their last respect to the late professor.
Prof Saaka was survived by a wife and four children.
Caption- Dr Edward Mahama signing the book of condolence in memory of the late Professor Yakubu Saaka at his residence in Accra.
Looking on are some officials of the PNC and members of Prof Saaka’s family.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Technology has influenced rise in crime rate — CID boss
THE Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, has said the trend in criminal activities in the country could be partly attributed to the technological change the country is experiencing.
He said though the crime rate in Ghana as compared to other Africa countries was low, the CID and for that matter the police administration would continue to fight crime so as to reduce it to its barest minimum.
Briefing journalists on the state of crime in the country and emerging criminal activities in the country, the CID boss said it had come to the notice of the CID that some unscrupulous persons had launched a fraudulent website called ‘www.ghanapoliceservice.com’ in the name of the Ghana Police Service and duping unsuspecting people.
He appealed to the public to be mindful that the Ghana Police Service had only one legitimate website, ‘www.ghanapolice.com, which was not in any way connected to the said fraudulent website, and cautioned the general public that there were a lot of false companies floating in the system especially on the Internet.
DCOP Adu-Poku said commercial crime, a technology-related crime that the police was fervently combating, was mostly committed under false pretence unlike other criminal activities like stealing and robbery.
“Commercial crime include documentation and visa fraud, internet and cyber fraud, identity fraud, fraudulent breach of trust, possession of fake currency notes, issues of false cheques and use of ATM and visa master cards to withdraw money from other people’s account, he noted.
He said the seriousness of these crimes had the potential of warding off foreign investors who were interested in doing business in the country and pointed out instances where many potential investors had fallen victims of these fraudsters.
Mr Adu-Poku stated that there was a syndicate that used insiders in big companies to steal blank cheques from those companies and photocopy signatures of the various signatories to such cheques for dubious activities.
“These syndicates then give the specimen signatures to professional signature forgers and these experts carefully sign the signature on the various cheques and huge sums of money are written on the cheques.”
He said during the months of May and June 2008, one suspect, Stanley Atuahene Yeboah Addai, alias Osofo, and Nathaniel Akroful, together with seven other accomplices at large, organised and managed to steal a duplicate cheque of the Tamale Regional Health Service Directorate and a Barclays Bank duplicate cheque.
DCOP Adu-Poku hinted that another criminal activity that had been on the ascendancy in the country in recent times was fraudulent land deals, which had prompted the police to create the Property Fraud Unit at the CID Headquarters to handle land disputes and other property-related crimes.
He said the Unit had since its inception about two years ago handled a number of cases bordering on offences including fraudulent land transactions, forgery, altering of documents, trespass and causing unlawful damage to property.
The CID boss revealed that another emerging crime, “Vehicle Theft”, a highly sophisticated criminal activity that was seriously affecting the West African sub-region and for that matter the world at large, was also on the ascendancy.
He stated that in a bid to fight this menace in West Africa, the Interpol Sub-Region Bureau in Abidjan in conjunction with Interpol General Secretariat (IPSG), Lyon France, the Interpol National Sub Bureau of the Ghana Police Service, the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, DVLA and the Attorney General’s Department mounted an operation code-named ‘SETMA’.
He stated that the Interpol Secretariat had developed the Automated Search Facility-Stolen Vehicle (ASF-SV) database to support the police in member countries in the fight against international vehicle theft and trafficking, hinting that it was this same software that had been so effectively put into practice in executing operation SETMA.
Another criminal activity he noted was fraudulent gold transactions where criminals lured gold dealers into the country under the pretext of selling them gold and ended up duping the businessmen.
DCOP Adu-Poku said in view of these emerging criminal activities, the Police Service had doubled its efforts and devised new strategies to fight crime in the society.
He said though the crime rate in Ghana as compared to other Africa countries was low, the CID and for that matter the police administration would continue to fight crime so as to reduce it to its barest minimum.
Briefing journalists on the state of crime in the country and emerging criminal activities in the country, the CID boss said it had come to the notice of the CID that some unscrupulous persons had launched a fraudulent website called ‘www.ghanapoliceservice.com’ in the name of the Ghana Police Service and duping unsuspecting people.
He appealed to the public to be mindful that the Ghana Police Service had only one legitimate website, ‘www.ghanapolice.com, which was not in any way connected to the said fraudulent website, and cautioned the general public that there were a lot of false companies floating in the system especially on the Internet.
DCOP Adu-Poku said commercial crime, a technology-related crime that the police was fervently combating, was mostly committed under false pretence unlike other criminal activities like stealing and robbery.
“Commercial crime include documentation and visa fraud, internet and cyber fraud, identity fraud, fraudulent breach of trust, possession of fake currency notes, issues of false cheques and use of ATM and visa master cards to withdraw money from other people’s account, he noted.
He said the seriousness of these crimes had the potential of warding off foreign investors who were interested in doing business in the country and pointed out instances where many potential investors had fallen victims of these fraudsters.
Mr Adu-Poku stated that there was a syndicate that used insiders in big companies to steal blank cheques from those companies and photocopy signatures of the various signatories to such cheques for dubious activities.
“These syndicates then give the specimen signatures to professional signature forgers and these experts carefully sign the signature on the various cheques and huge sums of money are written on the cheques.”
He said during the months of May and June 2008, one suspect, Stanley Atuahene Yeboah Addai, alias Osofo, and Nathaniel Akroful, together with seven other accomplices at large, organised and managed to steal a duplicate cheque of the Tamale Regional Health Service Directorate and a Barclays Bank duplicate cheque.
DCOP Adu-Poku hinted that another criminal activity that had been on the ascendancy in the country in recent times was fraudulent land deals, which had prompted the police to create the Property Fraud Unit at the CID Headquarters to handle land disputes and other property-related crimes.
He said the Unit had since its inception about two years ago handled a number of cases bordering on offences including fraudulent land transactions, forgery, altering of documents, trespass and causing unlawful damage to property.
The CID boss revealed that another emerging crime, “Vehicle Theft”, a highly sophisticated criminal activity that was seriously affecting the West African sub-region and for that matter the world at large, was also on the ascendancy.
He stated that in a bid to fight this menace in West Africa, the Interpol Sub-Region Bureau in Abidjan in conjunction with Interpol General Secretariat (IPSG), Lyon France, the Interpol National Sub Bureau of the Ghana Police Service, the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, DVLA and the Attorney General’s Department mounted an operation code-named ‘SETMA’.
He stated that the Interpol Secretariat had developed the Automated Search Facility-Stolen Vehicle (ASF-SV) database to support the police in member countries in the fight against international vehicle theft and trafficking, hinting that it was this same software that had been so effectively put into practice in executing operation SETMA.
Another criminal activity he noted was fraudulent gold transactions where criminals lured gold dealers into the country under the pretext of selling them gold and ended up duping the businessmen.
DCOP Adu-Poku said in view of these emerging criminal activities, the Police Service had doubled its efforts and devised new strategies to fight crime in the society.
Accra Police
THE Accra Regional Police have arrested a suspected armed robber, Alex Ametepe Tetteh who police say has confessed orchestrating five robberies with his accomplices within Accra and the Tema Metropolis.
Ametepe Tetteh who was described as the ring leader of a syndicate was arrested by a Police and Military patrol team at a check point at the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) branch office at James Town in Accra around 12 midnight last Saturday.
The Accra Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Denis Abade who disclosed this to the press said the arrest was made after the patrol team intercepted a Nissan Primera saloon taxi car with registration number GR 389T at a police check point near the CEPS office. He said two of Ametepe’s accomplices who were sitting at the back seat got out and bolted when they were stopped.
He said the taxi car was driven by one Michael Ashelley Coffie, who said the suspect and his accomplices hired him at Agege near Mamprobi to Papaye at Osu.
He said Ametepe upon interrogation confessed masterminding five armed robberies with his accomplices and was on his way to pick one of them at Jokers, La and another at Circle to embark on another operation.
Supt. Abade said he believed that the taxi driver would have been a victim of the syndicate if the patrol team had not apprehended the suspects at the check point and therefore entreated all taxi drivers to be wary of the sort of people they pick when working.
Some of the weapons and ammunitions found on the suspect included a 9 millimetre Lugar pistol which Supt. Abade described as a more sophisticated gun than the ones being used by the police.
The others were three locally manufactured pistols, a knife and seven cartridges of 9 millimetre ammunitions.
In another development on that same day Supt. Abade revealed that one suspected armed robber died during an exchange of fire between a Military Police patrol team and some suspected criminals at Darkuman.
According to him the suspected criminals had attacked a 21 year old man by name Moses Ashiley and bolted with his Geo Prizm saloon car with registration number GW5332Z.
He said the youngman had gone to Darkuman to drop his friend but just as he was about to drive away three armed men in a Nissan taxi car with registration number GW2837S attacked him, with one wielding a pistol and another a machete.
“They ordered him to lie down and collected his mobile phones, $80, GH¢75 and his car keys, leaving the taxi they brought behind”, he stated. He said the youngman immediately made a report to the Kwashieman Police where a patrol team was alerted to look out for the Geo Prizm saloon car.
He said at about 2:30 am the next day, one of the Patrol teams spotted the car at Sukura, a suburb of Accra, and when the occupants also spotted the Police they quickly sped off but the Police pursued them during which the armed robbers opened fire making the Police also return the fire that led to the death of one of the robbers.
He said the others managed to escape but later in the day the Darkuman Police discovered the body of an unidentified male adult with gun shot wounds and deposited the body at the Police Hospital noting that the car was later found with bloodstains in it with bullets riddled through it.
Supt. Abade said, he suspected that some of the suspectedarmed robbers might have also got injured during the exchange of fire and urged the public and hospitals to be vigilant and report anybody with gun shot wounds to the nearest Police Station.
Ametepe Tetteh who was described as the ring leader of a syndicate was arrested by a Police and Military patrol team at a check point at the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) branch office at James Town in Accra around 12 midnight last Saturday.
The Accra Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Denis Abade who disclosed this to the press said the arrest was made after the patrol team intercepted a Nissan Primera saloon taxi car with registration number GR 389T at a police check point near the CEPS office. He said two of Ametepe’s accomplices who were sitting at the back seat got out and bolted when they were stopped.
He said the taxi car was driven by one Michael Ashelley Coffie, who said the suspect and his accomplices hired him at Agege near Mamprobi to Papaye at Osu.
He said Ametepe upon interrogation confessed masterminding five armed robberies with his accomplices and was on his way to pick one of them at Jokers, La and another at Circle to embark on another operation.
Supt. Abade said he believed that the taxi driver would have been a victim of the syndicate if the patrol team had not apprehended the suspects at the check point and therefore entreated all taxi drivers to be wary of the sort of people they pick when working.
Some of the weapons and ammunitions found on the suspect included a 9 millimetre Lugar pistol which Supt. Abade described as a more sophisticated gun than the ones being used by the police.
The others were three locally manufactured pistols, a knife and seven cartridges of 9 millimetre ammunitions.
In another development on that same day Supt. Abade revealed that one suspected armed robber died during an exchange of fire between a Military Police patrol team and some suspected criminals at Darkuman.
According to him the suspected criminals had attacked a 21 year old man by name Moses Ashiley and bolted with his Geo Prizm saloon car with registration number GW5332Z.
He said the youngman had gone to Darkuman to drop his friend but just as he was about to drive away three armed men in a Nissan taxi car with registration number GW2837S attacked him, with one wielding a pistol and another a machete.
“They ordered him to lie down and collected his mobile phones, $80, GH¢75 and his car keys, leaving the taxi they brought behind”, he stated. He said the youngman immediately made a report to the Kwashieman Police where a patrol team was alerted to look out for the Geo Prizm saloon car.
He said at about 2:30 am the next day, one of the Patrol teams spotted the car at Sukura, a suburb of Accra, and when the occupants also spotted the Police they quickly sped off but the Police pursued them during which the armed robbers opened fire making the Police also return the fire that led to the death of one of the robbers.
He said the others managed to escape but later in the day the Darkuman Police discovered the body of an unidentified male adult with gun shot wounds and deposited the body at the Police Hospital noting that the car was later found with bloodstains in it with bullets riddled through it.
Supt. Abade said, he suspected that some of the suspectedarmed robbers might have also got injured during the exchange of fire and urged the public and hospitals to be vigilant and report anybody with gun shot wounds to the nearest Police Station.
Police arrest
FIVE men were arrested by the Accra Regional Police on Saturday when a Police force conducted an exercise to track down criminals within the metropolis.
According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCO Kwaku Opare-Addo the Police force comprised of the Regional CID personnel including both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.
He said they conducted swoops around Adabraka, Jamestown, Articulator Station, Kokomlele and the Tudu Station where 43 suspected drug peddlers were picked up.
Out of them, he said 5 were found with whitish substances suspected to be cocaine and dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
They were Dogbe Kwame who was found with 141 wraps of cocaine, Ishmeal Dapaah found with 87 wrappers of cocaine, Gordon Passasi also found with 5 wrappers of dried leaves, Mohammed Mumuni and Kwabena Kaletsi who were found with one wrapper each of dried leaves.
“Those who were not found with substances are been screened as part of investigations” he stated noting that those found with the substances would be arraigned before the court.
DCO Opare-Addo appealed to the general public to come out with credible information to assist the service to get rid of such drug peddlers in the country.
According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCO Kwaku Opare-Addo the Police force comprised of the Regional CID personnel including both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.
He said they conducted swoops around Adabraka, Jamestown, Articulator Station, Kokomlele and the Tudu Station where 43 suspected drug peddlers were picked up.
Out of them, he said 5 were found with whitish substances suspected to be cocaine and dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
They were Dogbe Kwame who was found with 141 wraps of cocaine, Ishmeal Dapaah found with 87 wrappers of cocaine, Gordon Passasi also found with 5 wrappers of dried leaves, Mohammed Mumuni and Kwabena Kaletsi who were found with one wrapper each of dried leaves.
“Those who were not found with substances are been screened as part of investigations” he stated noting that those found with the substances would be arraigned before the court.
DCO Opare-Addo appealed to the general public to come out with credible information to assist the service to get rid of such drug peddlers in the country.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Ebenezer School receives support
MEMBERS of the 1977/78 year group of the Ebenezer Senior High School have donated items worth GH¢5,000 as part of their contribution towards the growth and development of the school.
The items include distillation equipment for the school’s laboratory, a photocopier, a laminator, a projector with screen and a lap top with other office accessories.
The Chairman of the year group, Mr Fred Aboe, who is the Head of Supply Chain, Cadbury Ghana Limited, said the items were made possible through the generous contribution of alumni from Ghana, Japan, United States of America and the United Kingdom.
According to him, they intended working in tandem with other alumni groups to ensure that the school was properly positioned on the world-wide web with a dynamic and dedicated website to incorporate all alumni year groups for interaction, school updates and sharing of information.
“We believe this is the most important platform to unite all ‘Padua alumni dotted over the globe on a common agenda” , he stated, noting that the school’s library project was also on their agenda.
“As we work with all alumni year groups we believe that this laudable idea will not remain a mirage for long”, he added.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Elizabeth Addo, expressed appreciation for the items on behalf of the Board of Governors of the school, the staff and students, and assured the year group that they would use the items for the benefit of all.
She said the drum appellation group of the school was adjudged the second best at the Accra Metro cultural festival, and would be representing the school in Tamale at the National Cultural Festival for Secondary Schools in the next academic year.
The items include distillation equipment for the school’s laboratory, a photocopier, a laminator, a projector with screen and a lap top with other office accessories.
The Chairman of the year group, Mr Fred Aboe, who is the Head of Supply Chain, Cadbury Ghana Limited, said the items were made possible through the generous contribution of alumni from Ghana, Japan, United States of America and the United Kingdom.
According to him, they intended working in tandem with other alumni groups to ensure that the school was properly positioned on the world-wide web with a dynamic and dedicated website to incorporate all alumni year groups for interaction, school updates and sharing of information.
“We believe this is the most important platform to unite all ‘Padua alumni dotted over the globe on a common agenda” , he stated, noting that the school’s library project was also on their agenda.
“As we work with all alumni year groups we believe that this laudable idea will not remain a mirage for long”, he added.
The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Elizabeth Addo, expressed appreciation for the items on behalf of the Board of Governors of the school, the staff and students, and assured the year group that they would use the items for the benefit of all.
She said the drum appellation group of the school was adjudged the second best at the Accra Metro cultural festival, and would be representing the school in Tamale at the National Cultural Festival for Secondary Schools in the next academic year.
CUC Matriculation
A matriculation ceremony has been held for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) students of the Graduate School of Business at the Central University College (CUC) in Accra.
Out of the 547 applications received, 257 were selected, from which 168 were males and 89 females.
One Hundred and thirty-six are offering Finance, 39, Marketing and 49 for Human Resource Management, while 33 are offering general Masters in Business Administration.
In his address at the ceremony, the Chancellor of the Central University College, Reverend Dr Mensah Otabil, urged the government and tertiary institutions to put in extra efforts to help improve on the current status of the country.
He observed that countries in Africa had been relegated to the background simply because of their status as developing nations, and that Africa could emerge as one of the developed continents in the world if a lot of emphasis was placed on education and industrialisation.
Rev Otabil noted that the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries were once the least developed in the world but currently they had been able to breakthrough that category, leaving Africa behind.
Rev Otabil said the MBA students were being trained to push Ghana and Africa forward from the least developed countries, and advised the matriculants not to study for the sake of material gains or increase in wages only, since all that was insignificant.
The President of the CUC, Prof. V. P. Y. Gadzekpo, said the CUC had introduced a fourth school, the School of Applied Sciences which would start operating in October this year.
Prof Gadzekpo said he believed that products of the four- year Physician assistantship programme would be of tremendous help to the health sector in Ghana.
“A Physician Assistant provides a broad range of health care services that were traditionally performed only by a medical doctor. He or she exercised a considerable autonomy in diagnosing and treating illnesses, developed and carried out treatment plans”, he stated, adding that it was one of the fastest growing professions in the world.
He said the Graduate School of Business currently took a double class for its programmes.
Out of the 547 applications received, 257 were selected, from which 168 were males and 89 females.
One Hundred and thirty-six are offering Finance, 39, Marketing and 49 for Human Resource Management, while 33 are offering general Masters in Business Administration.
In his address at the ceremony, the Chancellor of the Central University College, Reverend Dr Mensah Otabil, urged the government and tertiary institutions to put in extra efforts to help improve on the current status of the country.
He observed that countries in Africa had been relegated to the background simply because of their status as developing nations, and that Africa could emerge as one of the developed continents in the world if a lot of emphasis was placed on education and industrialisation.
Rev Otabil noted that the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries were once the least developed in the world but currently they had been able to breakthrough that category, leaving Africa behind.
Rev Otabil said the MBA students were being trained to push Ghana and Africa forward from the least developed countries, and advised the matriculants not to study for the sake of material gains or increase in wages only, since all that was insignificant.
The President of the CUC, Prof. V. P. Y. Gadzekpo, said the CUC had introduced a fourth school, the School of Applied Sciences which would start operating in October this year.
Prof Gadzekpo said he believed that products of the four- year Physician assistantship programme would be of tremendous help to the health sector in Ghana.
“A Physician Assistant provides a broad range of health care services that were traditionally performed only by a medical doctor. He or she exercised a considerable autonomy in diagnosing and treating illnesses, developed and carried out treatment plans”, he stated, adding that it was one of the fastest growing professions in the world.
He said the Graduate School of Business currently took a double class for its programmes.
Two new faculties for Ghana Telecom Varsity
THE Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) has added two new faculties to its existing ones to provide Ghanaians world-class education in modern telecommunication network and systems.
The two faculties, the Faculty of Telecommunication Engineering and the Faculty of Informatics, would offer programmes at the certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate level to prepare students for professional practice in the telecom industry.
The Principal of GTUC, Dr Osei K. Darkwa, who made this known at the second anniversary of GTUC in Accra last Friday, said the programmes had been designed to provide students with a broadbased knowledge in computer science, information technology, and information sciences.
He reiterated the university's commitment to expand educational opportunities for Ghanaians who could apply Information Communication Technology (ICT) to solve the country's problems, adding that they intended to use technology to create a network of faculty, students, alumni and friends to encourage lifelong relationships among the growing GTUC community.
He said the theme for the occasion, "Two Years of Great Strides in Information Technology Education", demonstrated what they had been able to accomplished as a young tertiary institution within two years.
"We intend to make our campus a model of new learning environment for faculty and students to have access to the latest information and communication technologies," he stated, noting that they again intended to establish a Centre for Education and Technology in Africa (CETA) as a centralised and shared facility that would provide technology-oriented services to academic institutions interested in on-line learning.
He revealed that an alliance was being forged with all the 10 polytechnics in Ghana to enable GTUC to have physical presence in all the regions in Ghana.
"We believe that this path we intend pursuing will provide education to the broad mass of our people looking for opportunities to further their education," he added, noting that that path would enable students to easily access course materials and also facilitate team learning through the provision of on-line materials to enhance their academic work.
A member of the Council of GTUC, Professor Christine Kisiedu, said though two years in the course of an academic institution was not enough, GTUC had been able to achieve a great deal and could be justifiably proud.
She expressed her appreciation to the management and staff of the university, the Ghana Telecom (GT) Board and students for their assistance and hard work towards the great strides achieved by the university.
Dr Prosper K. Ashilevi, the Dean of the Faculty of Telecom Engineering, acknowledged the fact that the university would not have been able to achieve these great strides without the support of GT.
"Although we are only two years old, compared to other universities we are toddlers making great strides," he noted, stating that the future was bright for the university, the country and Africa as a whole.
The occasion was also used to launch two video conference centres for the university, a language centre, a reprographic centre, the GTUC Newsletter and a Bus donated by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
New reference books for the university's library was donated by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), after which a sod was cut for the construction of the GETFund technology and classroom complex.
The two faculties, the Faculty of Telecommunication Engineering and the Faculty of Informatics, would offer programmes at the certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate level to prepare students for professional practice in the telecom industry.
The Principal of GTUC, Dr Osei K. Darkwa, who made this known at the second anniversary of GTUC in Accra last Friday, said the programmes had been designed to provide students with a broadbased knowledge in computer science, information technology, and information sciences.
He reiterated the university's commitment to expand educational opportunities for Ghanaians who could apply Information Communication Technology (ICT) to solve the country's problems, adding that they intended to use technology to create a network of faculty, students, alumni and friends to encourage lifelong relationships among the growing GTUC community.
He said the theme for the occasion, "Two Years of Great Strides in Information Technology Education", demonstrated what they had been able to accomplished as a young tertiary institution within two years.
"We intend to make our campus a model of new learning environment for faculty and students to have access to the latest information and communication technologies," he stated, noting that they again intended to establish a Centre for Education and Technology in Africa (CETA) as a centralised and shared facility that would provide technology-oriented services to academic institutions interested in on-line learning.
He revealed that an alliance was being forged with all the 10 polytechnics in Ghana to enable GTUC to have physical presence in all the regions in Ghana.
"We believe that this path we intend pursuing will provide education to the broad mass of our people looking for opportunities to further their education," he added, noting that that path would enable students to easily access course materials and also facilitate team learning through the provision of on-line materials to enhance their academic work.
A member of the Council of GTUC, Professor Christine Kisiedu, said though two years in the course of an academic institution was not enough, GTUC had been able to achieve a great deal and could be justifiably proud.
She expressed her appreciation to the management and staff of the university, the Ghana Telecom (GT) Board and students for their assistance and hard work towards the great strides achieved by the university.
Dr Prosper K. Ashilevi, the Dean of the Faculty of Telecom Engineering, acknowledged the fact that the university would not have been able to achieve these great strides without the support of GT.
"Although we are only two years old, compared to other universities we are toddlers making great strides," he noted, stating that the future was bright for the university, the country and Africa as a whole.
The occasion was also used to launch two video conference centres for the university, a language centre, a reprographic centre, the GTUC Newsletter and a Bus donated by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
New reference books for the university's library was donated by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), after which a sod was cut for the construction of the GETFund technology and classroom complex.
American Field Service inducts 42 volunteers
AMERICAN Field Service (AFS), an American voluntary organisation, has inducted 42 new participants to partake in Intercultural Exchange Programmes (IEP), including voluntary services at orphanages and other learning centres.
At a reception to welcome the participants, who are volunteers from the United States of America, they expressed their eagerness and appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the programme.
An International Consultant for AFS, Mr Bert Vercamer, was presented with a certificate of recognition from the parent organisation for his 23 years service towards the success of the programme in Ghana.
The national director of the programme, Mr John Kwesi Sagoe, who took the participants on a tour of IEP’s new building said the organisation was one of the largest community-based volunteer organisations in the world, and was present in approximately 60 countries.
He disclosed that the programme was supported by over 100,000 volunteers world-wide and provided exchange programmes for close to 10,000 participants annually.
He pointed out that the programme enabled participants to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding.
He added that the programme which started as a student exchange programme in Ghana in 1967 under the name of AFS Ghana, also encouraged respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or social status.
AFS is an international voluntary non-governemtnal non-profit making organisation which provides intercultural learning opportunities to especially young people by helping them to develop the knowledge, skill and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.
The organisation started in 1914 as a volunteer ambulance corps made up of volunteers from the American Field Service when they assisted wounded soldiers and civilians during World War 1 and 11.
At a reception to welcome the participants, who are volunteers from the United States of America, they expressed their eagerness and appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the programme.
An International Consultant for AFS, Mr Bert Vercamer, was presented with a certificate of recognition from the parent organisation for his 23 years service towards the success of the programme in Ghana.
The national director of the programme, Mr John Kwesi Sagoe, who took the participants on a tour of IEP’s new building said the organisation was one of the largest community-based volunteer organisations in the world, and was present in approximately 60 countries.
He disclosed that the programme was supported by over 100,000 volunteers world-wide and provided exchange programmes for close to 10,000 participants annually.
He pointed out that the programme enabled participants to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding.
He added that the programme which started as a student exchange programme in Ghana in 1967 under the name of AFS Ghana, also encouraged respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or social status.
AFS is an international voluntary non-governemtnal non-profit making organisation which provides intercultural learning opportunities to especially young people by helping them to develop the knowledge, skill and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.
The organisation started in 1914 as a volunteer ambulance corps made up of volunteers from the American Field Service when they assisted wounded soldiers and civilians during World War 1 and 11.
Forex Bureau’s to competerise operations
THE Ghana Forex Bureau Association (GFBA) has begun preparation to computerise their operations in conformity with modern trends.
This follows a directive by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) to all Forex bureau operators to automate or computerise their operations after 20 years of operations.
The President of GFBA, Dr Kwesi Fosu Gyabaa, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra last Friday, said the automation of their services would ensure efficient transactions with its customers and expressed the hope that by end of the year all the 280 members of the association would be fully computerised.
In line with the directives from the central bank, Dr Gyabaa said the association invited two software engineering companies in Accra to exhibit and introduce user-friendly software and new operating systems recognised by BOG to their members,
The Director of GO Solutions Limited, one of the two computer engineering companies, Dr George Opoku, who introduced one of his company’s software,SalesMate FXB, said the programme was a fully integrated currency trading software package specially designed for forex bureau operators.
He said the programme provided a multi-level security system based on user-assigned responsibility levels which was set up by the system administrator, noting that the responsibility levels defined what could be viewed, entered or queried.
“Only eligible users can log on to operate the system and the programme keeps records of users and records any unusual activity”, he stated.
Some of the features of the programme, according to him, included cash flow analysis, lodgements in banks, recording of foreign currency purchases and stock valuation.
“The programme can also send cash transfers from one bank account to another, prepare cash account balances, provide daily, weekly and monthly sales details and summary” he added.
The Managing Director of Computer Solutions, the other software company, Mr Adolf Agbodza, also introduced one of their products, Easy Bureau, to members of the association.
He said the programme was one of the simplest and effective ways of managing forex bureaux since it entailed simply entering their sales and purchases to receive BOG reports such as foreign currency stock position, return on purchases and sales of foreign currency and profits on transactions.
Mr Agbodza noted that the programme had the facility to consolidate balances and reports for companies with more buries, keep track of individual bureaux and their set of reports, and a set of consolidated reports for all bureaux.
“The programme has a fully secured networked environment with passwords, authorised access to selected screens, and an auto backup to secure your data” he told members of the association.
This follows a directive by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) to all Forex bureau operators to automate or computerise their operations after 20 years of operations.
The President of GFBA, Dr Kwesi Fosu Gyabaa, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra last Friday, said the automation of their services would ensure efficient transactions with its customers and expressed the hope that by end of the year all the 280 members of the association would be fully computerised.
In line with the directives from the central bank, Dr Gyabaa said the association invited two software engineering companies in Accra to exhibit and introduce user-friendly software and new operating systems recognised by BOG to their members,
The Director of GO Solutions Limited, one of the two computer engineering companies, Dr George Opoku, who introduced one of his company’s software,SalesMate FXB, said the programme was a fully integrated currency trading software package specially designed for forex bureau operators.
He said the programme provided a multi-level security system based on user-assigned responsibility levels which was set up by the system administrator, noting that the responsibility levels defined what could be viewed, entered or queried.
“Only eligible users can log on to operate the system and the programme keeps records of users and records any unusual activity”, he stated.
Some of the features of the programme, according to him, included cash flow analysis, lodgements in banks, recording of foreign currency purchases and stock valuation.
“The programme can also send cash transfers from one bank account to another, prepare cash account balances, provide daily, weekly and monthly sales details and summary” he added.
The Managing Director of Computer Solutions, the other software company, Mr Adolf Agbodza, also introduced one of their products, Easy Bureau, to members of the association.
He said the programme was one of the simplest and effective ways of managing forex bureaux since it entailed simply entering their sales and purchases to receive BOG reports such as foreign currency stock position, return on purchases and sales of foreign currency and profits on transactions.
Mr Agbodza noted that the programme had the facility to consolidate balances and reports for companies with more buries, keep track of individual bureaux and their set of reports, and a set of consolidated reports for all bureaux.
“The programme has a fully secured networked environment with passwords, authorised access to selected screens, and an auto backup to secure your data” he told members of the association.
IEI
With the launching of a branch of the International Energy Insurance (IEI) Company Limited in Ghana, Ghana and Nigeria have entered a partnership aimed at liberating the African continent,
Based in Nigeria, the IEI Company Limited is a financial institution engaged in the provision of insurance solutions for the energy and industrial sectors.
Speaking at the launch on behalf of the President in Accra, the Minister for Manpower, Youth & Employment, Nana Akomea, said the partnership was the kind of integration Ghana and Africa needed to present a stronger presence in international business.
He added that the move was a smart one, probably because Ghana had hit the single richest oil field in Africa and needed the kind of business IEI was bringing into the country.
Mr Akomea said it was crucial that Ghana learnt from the mistakes of other oil-rich countries to prevent it from repeating those mistakes and rather learn from their successes.
He said the government would ensure that revenue from the oil would transform the lives of Ghanaians in all parts of the country, through the provision of sufficient basic amenities like water, electricity and adequate housing.
He pointed out that the banking industry had been transformed tremendously within the last few years, with the introduction of banks from Nigeria and indicated that the opening of the branch of the IEI was timely.
"It is competition that will bring sanity in the banking industry and the advent of Nigerian banks have demonstrated that perfectly and other banks have followed the trend", he said.
The Chairman of IEI-Ghana, Mr N. Gabby Nketia, said the partnership was a dream come true for the company to create and develop the technical and financial capacity to underwrite energy-related risk.
"Our dream of making a difference on the economic landscape of our country and continent is one that has fellowship beyond political and social boundaries", he said, adding that their strength was not only financial but in the human resource they intended to introduce into the country.
The Group Chairman of IEI, Lieutenant General Saline Ibrahim (retd), said it was their vision to build energy insurance competence and capacity within the West African sub-region and expressed his pride in the fact that Ghana had their first branch outside Nigeria.
He said the company had a partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank for Investment and Development to create a fund for renewable energy.
"This is a fund dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs of our sub-region to develop businesses that will support the energy needs of our people," he explained, hinting that they had pledged $20 million as their financial contribution towards the realisation of the set goals.
Based in Nigeria, the IEI Company Limited is a financial institution engaged in the provision of insurance solutions for the energy and industrial sectors.
Speaking at the launch on behalf of the President in Accra, the Minister for Manpower, Youth & Employment, Nana Akomea, said the partnership was the kind of integration Ghana and Africa needed to present a stronger presence in international business.
He added that the move was a smart one, probably because Ghana had hit the single richest oil field in Africa and needed the kind of business IEI was bringing into the country.
Mr Akomea said it was crucial that Ghana learnt from the mistakes of other oil-rich countries to prevent it from repeating those mistakes and rather learn from their successes.
He said the government would ensure that revenue from the oil would transform the lives of Ghanaians in all parts of the country, through the provision of sufficient basic amenities like water, electricity and adequate housing.
He pointed out that the banking industry had been transformed tremendously within the last few years, with the introduction of banks from Nigeria and indicated that the opening of the branch of the IEI was timely.
"It is competition that will bring sanity in the banking industry and the advent of Nigerian banks have demonstrated that perfectly and other banks have followed the trend", he said.
The Chairman of IEI-Ghana, Mr N. Gabby Nketia, said the partnership was a dream come true for the company to create and develop the technical and financial capacity to underwrite energy-related risk.
"Our dream of making a difference on the economic landscape of our country and continent is one that has fellowship beyond political and social boundaries", he said, adding that their strength was not only financial but in the human resource they intended to introduce into the country.
The Group Chairman of IEI, Lieutenant General Saline Ibrahim (retd), said it was their vision to build energy insurance competence and capacity within the West African sub-region and expressed his pride in the fact that Ghana had their first branch outside Nigeria.
He said the company had a partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank for Investment and Development to create a fund for renewable energy.
"This is a fund dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs of our sub-region to develop businesses that will support the energy needs of our people," he explained, hinting that they had pledged $20 million as their financial contribution towards the realisation of the set goals.
19th export achievement launched
THE Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) has launched the 19th National Awards for Export Achievement, 2007, with a call on prospective sponsors to increase their support to make this year’s event a success.
According to the Executive Secretary of GEPC, Mr Edward Collins Boateng, the awards scheme, which was instituted in 1989, had contributed immensely to the growth and development of the trade industry in Ghana.
He said “Ghana’s economy performed creditably well in 2007. Total merchandise export for the year increased by 12 per cent from $3.73 billion in 2006 to $4.19 billion. Total non-traditional export grew from $893 million in 2006 to $1.2 billion, contributing 27 per cent to merchandise export” during the year under review.
Other factors Mr Boateng attributed to the growth of the industry included improved performance by manufacturers, the aggressiveness of Ghanaian exporters, support from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) and product diversification.
He said the award scheme offered stakeholders and exporters an opportunity to market their products to a larger market, adding that without their support, the billion mark would not have been achieved, and congratulated them on their support and valued contributions.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said Ghana, without export, would come to a standstill, and to prevent that, his ministry would continue to support exporters by making accessible to them market information on standards and packaging to market their products efficiently.
Mr Agyeman-Manu, however, indicated that Ghana had begun to make significant impact in Africa, and Ghanaian exporters needed to be more innovative in order to grow their business.
The main sponsors of the awards would contribute a minimum of GH¢10,000 and above to benefit from all announcements, including the event banner, a sponsorship plaque of recognition, speaking role at the awards event, media mention, advert in the exporter magazine, and the programme brochure.
The platinum, gold, and silver sponsors would contribute GH¢7,500, GH¢5,000 and GH¢3,000 respectively to benefit from some of the above-mentioned publicity.
According to the Executive Secretary of GEPC, Mr Edward Collins Boateng, the awards scheme, which was instituted in 1989, had contributed immensely to the growth and development of the trade industry in Ghana.
He said “Ghana’s economy performed creditably well in 2007. Total merchandise export for the year increased by 12 per cent from $3.73 billion in 2006 to $4.19 billion. Total non-traditional export grew from $893 million in 2006 to $1.2 billion, contributing 27 per cent to merchandise export” during the year under review.
Other factors Mr Boateng attributed to the growth of the industry included improved performance by manufacturers, the aggressiveness of Ghanaian exporters, support from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) and product diversification.
He said the award scheme offered stakeholders and exporters an opportunity to market their products to a larger market, adding that without their support, the billion mark would not have been achieved, and congratulated them on their support and valued contributions.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said Ghana, without export, would come to a standstill, and to prevent that, his ministry would continue to support exporters by making accessible to them market information on standards and packaging to market their products efficiently.
Mr Agyeman-Manu, however, indicated that Ghana had begun to make significant impact in Africa, and Ghanaian exporters needed to be more innovative in order to grow their business.
The main sponsors of the awards would contribute a minimum of GH¢10,000 and above to benefit from all announcements, including the event banner, a sponsorship plaque of recognition, speaking role at the awards event, media mention, advert in the exporter magazine, and the programme brochure.
The platinum, gold, and silver sponsors would contribute GH¢7,500, GH¢5,000 and GH¢3,000 respectively to benefit from some of the above-mentioned publicity.
eTransact
A NEW electronic transaction technology , eTransact has been introduced on the Ghanaian market to augment Bank of Ghana’s e-Zwich which aims at improving the payment system.
The Head of Sale & Marketing for eTransact Ghana Limited, Mr Samuel Asare, at a press briefing said that the technology was basically an endorsement of e-Zwich in its efforts at promoting e-commerce in Ghana.
The system, he disclosed had been tried and tested in a number of countries where they were currently in operation.
“It is in operation in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and now in Ghana and Sierra Leone” he stated, adding that it could be used for transaction including the payment of school fees, utility bills and a whole lot of other transactions.
He said presently eTransact was among the few financial services in Ghana where transactions could be done using the Internet and they were looking forward to establish a continental payment system between all the countries where the system was in operation.
“At the moment we have four banks signed onto this platform and they are UBA, Zenith Bank, and Amalgamated Bank where our services are live and operational, including two other banks, GT Bank and Unibank where these services are in the process of implementation” he stated.
The Head of Operations, Mr George Babafemi said their services did not intend to compete with the services provided by Bank of Ghana’s e-Zwich but rather to complement and contribute to the expansion of a cashless society in Ghana.
“We intend to contribute our quota by making cash handling more easier for the banking and non-banking population”, he noted.
Mr Babafemi hinted that a clear area of handling that challenge could be attributed to the multi-channel switch transaction between card holders, banks and merchants through various channels of transactions.
Some of the channels include mobile phones, the Internet, bank outlets, point of sale devices and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as alternate channels of making payment through the services.
The services he stated was connected to all the communication networks in Ghana and one did not necessarily need a bank account to operate the system but a pin code on a re-loadabel eTransact smart card which would enable a customer to re-load his or her card from any of the banks where the services are in operation.
He encouraged all small and medium-scale businesses and those involved in micro-credit transactions to take advantage of this new platform to be linked to the financial system so as to benefit from the various services that the financial sector could offer.
The Head of Sale & Marketing for eTransact Ghana Limited, Mr Samuel Asare, at a press briefing said that the technology was basically an endorsement of e-Zwich in its efforts at promoting e-commerce in Ghana.
The system, he disclosed had been tried and tested in a number of countries where they were currently in operation.
“It is in operation in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and now in Ghana and Sierra Leone” he stated, adding that it could be used for transaction including the payment of school fees, utility bills and a whole lot of other transactions.
He said presently eTransact was among the few financial services in Ghana where transactions could be done using the Internet and they were looking forward to establish a continental payment system between all the countries where the system was in operation.
“At the moment we have four banks signed onto this platform and they are UBA, Zenith Bank, and Amalgamated Bank where our services are live and operational, including two other banks, GT Bank and Unibank where these services are in the process of implementation” he stated.
The Head of Operations, Mr George Babafemi said their services did not intend to compete with the services provided by Bank of Ghana’s e-Zwich but rather to complement and contribute to the expansion of a cashless society in Ghana.
“We intend to contribute our quota by making cash handling more easier for the banking and non-banking population”, he noted.
Mr Babafemi hinted that a clear area of handling that challenge could be attributed to the multi-channel switch transaction between card holders, banks and merchants through various channels of transactions.
Some of the channels include mobile phones, the Internet, bank outlets, point of sale devices and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as alternate channels of making payment through the services.
The services he stated was connected to all the communication networks in Ghana and one did not necessarily need a bank account to operate the system but a pin code on a re-loadabel eTransact smart card which would enable a customer to re-load his or her card from any of the banks where the services are in operation.
He encouraged all small and medium-scale businesses and those involved in micro-credit transactions to take advantage of this new platform to be linked to the financial system so as to benefit from the various services that the financial sector could offer.
ARB Bank re-lannches news letter
THE Association of Rural Banks in Ghana (ARB) has re-launched its news letter "The ARB News" to redeem and enhance the corporate image of rural banks from recent negative media publicity.
The Board Chairman of ARB Apex Bank, Dr Sam Dufu therefore entreated the media to make reference to the publication when in need of basic facts concerning rural banking and help promote the activities and services of rural banks in the country.
The General Manager of Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh challenged the association to accelerate the modernisation and computerisation of the rural banks in the country.
"After 27 years of existence, it means you have the capacity to grow" he noted and advised the association on the need to merge all rural banks in Ghana to fight the increasing competition in the financial industry.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh who officially re-launched the news letter stated that most of the items in the publication were intended to promote the worth of patronising the services of rural banks but pointed out that the publication had limited circulation because it was more of an internal publication.
"It is important that you tell your own stories so that when journalists read the letter they might refer to it in their publication" he stated hoping that the publication would survive this time around.
The Acting President of the association, Mrs Rose Newman said the introduction of the rural banking concept in 1976 with the establishment of the first rural bank at Nyakrom in the Central Region had turned out to be a very successful novelty in the contemporary banking industry.
"The Association of Rural Banks in Ghana was formed in 1981 with 31 rural banks. Today, it is a remarkable fact that there are as many as 127 rural banks in operation throughout the country and some communities benefit from the services offered by the agency network of some of these banks" she stated noting that there were prospects for the establishment of more rural banks especially in the three northern regions.
She commended the Bank of Ghana's policy on the operations of rural banks in Ghana stating that "the Policy stance of Bank of Ghana was an institutional approach towards filling the wide gap of banking services that existed between the urban and rural communities".
Mrs Newman acknowledged the fact that the rapid growth of rural banks was accompanied by a number of challenges which were in two folds namely the external environment and the managerial and operational problems.
She explained that the association assisted the rural banks to overcome the challenges and some of the steps it took included the strengthening of internal of internal control systems of rural banks as well as training of their staffs.
She said the association as the parent organisation in collaboration with the ARB APEX Bank Limited had mounted programmes to educate rural banks to consider new products and services in order to mobilise more deposits for productive investment.
"The association with the support of Donor Agencies continues to assist the rural banks to specialise in micro-finance activities in order to deliver the required financial products tailored to meet the needs of the micro entrepreneurs" she added.
Despite the progress chalked by the rural banks, she alleged that there were still room for improvement to meet the challenges of a dynamic and increasingly competitive financial services industry.
The Board Chairman of ARB Apex Bank, Dr Sam Dufu therefore entreated the media to make reference to the publication when in need of basic facts concerning rural banking and help promote the activities and services of rural banks in the country.
The General Manager of Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh challenged the association to accelerate the modernisation and computerisation of the rural banks in the country.
"After 27 years of existence, it means you have the capacity to grow" he noted and advised the association on the need to merge all rural banks in Ghana to fight the increasing competition in the financial industry.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh who officially re-launched the news letter stated that most of the items in the publication were intended to promote the worth of patronising the services of rural banks but pointed out that the publication had limited circulation because it was more of an internal publication.
"It is important that you tell your own stories so that when journalists read the letter they might refer to it in their publication" he stated hoping that the publication would survive this time around.
The Acting President of the association, Mrs Rose Newman said the introduction of the rural banking concept in 1976 with the establishment of the first rural bank at Nyakrom in the Central Region had turned out to be a very successful novelty in the contemporary banking industry.
"The Association of Rural Banks in Ghana was formed in 1981 with 31 rural banks. Today, it is a remarkable fact that there are as many as 127 rural banks in operation throughout the country and some communities benefit from the services offered by the agency network of some of these banks" she stated noting that there were prospects for the establishment of more rural banks especially in the three northern regions.
She commended the Bank of Ghana's policy on the operations of rural banks in Ghana stating that "the Policy stance of Bank of Ghana was an institutional approach towards filling the wide gap of banking services that existed between the urban and rural communities".
Mrs Newman acknowledged the fact that the rapid growth of rural banks was accompanied by a number of challenges which were in two folds namely the external environment and the managerial and operational problems.
She explained that the association assisted the rural banks to overcome the challenges and some of the steps it took included the strengthening of internal of internal control systems of rural banks as well as training of their staffs.
She said the association as the parent organisation in collaboration with the ARB APEX Bank Limited had mounted programmes to educate rural banks to consider new products and services in order to mobilise more deposits for productive investment.
"The association with the support of Donor Agencies continues to assist the rural banks to specialise in micro-finance activities in order to deliver the required financial products tailored to meet the needs of the micro entrepreneurs" she added.
Despite the progress chalked by the rural banks, she alleged that there were still room for improvement to meet the challenges of a dynamic and increasingly competitive financial services industry.
HFC
HFC Bank has donated GH¢30,000 to 14 institutions in the country as part of its social responsibility to mark its annual Corporate Donation Day.
The beneficiary institutions are the Accident Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Ghana Heart Foundation, the University of Ghana, the Dzorwulu Special School, Help Age Ghana, Catholic Action for Street Children, the SOS Children’s Villages and the Mampong Babies Home.
The rest are the Rotary Club of Accra, Rotary Club of Accra West, National Partnership for Children’s Trust, Akwapim Educational Fund, the Ga East Municipal Division of the Ghana Education Service and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
The Executive Director of the HFC Bank, Mr Akwete Akita, said the donation was a demonstration of the bank’s desire to give back to the public and urged the recipients to use the money for the intended purpose.
The General Manager of the bank, Mr Charles A. Martinson, said the annual HFC Bank donation started with a few institutions and hoped that the base would expand in the future to enable more institutions to also benefit from the bank’s success in the banking industry.
He said as part of their expansion scheme the bank would roll out new branches in the course of the year when the need arises.
According to him the bank would review its affordable housing project as demand was very high, adding that the bank had arranged for contractors to deliver affordable houses to meet the high demand.
Mr Martinson further said as part of the bank’s strategy to meet the high demand for affordable houses, it would make available accessible loan facilities for Ghanaians to enable them to easily acquire houses.
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra, Mr Andrews Jack Dotsey, on behalf of the other institutions thanked HFC Bank for the donation.
The beneficiary institutions are the Accident Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Ghana Heart Foundation, the University of Ghana, the Dzorwulu Special School, Help Age Ghana, Catholic Action for Street Children, the SOS Children’s Villages and the Mampong Babies Home.
The rest are the Rotary Club of Accra, Rotary Club of Accra West, National Partnership for Children’s Trust, Akwapim Educational Fund, the Ga East Municipal Division of the Ghana Education Service and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
The Executive Director of the HFC Bank, Mr Akwete Akita, said the donation was a demonstration of the bank’s desire to give back to the public and urged the recipients to use the money for the intended purpose.
The General Manager of the bank, Mr Charles A. Martinson, said the annual HFC Bank donation started with a few institutions and hoped that the base would expand in the future to enable more institutions to also benefit from the bank’s success in the banking industry.
He said as part of their expansion scheme the bank would roll out new branches in the course of the year when the need arises.
According to him the bank would review its affordable housing project as demand was very high, adding that the bank had arranged for contractors to deliver affordable houses to meet the high demand.
Mr Martinson further said as part of the bank’s strategy to meet the high demand for affordable houses, it would make available accessible loan facilities for Ghanaians to enable them to easily acquire houses.
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra, Mr Andrews Jack Dotsey, on behalf of the other institutions thanked HFC Bank for the donation.
GCB Kasoa Branches
GHANA Commercial Bank (GCB) has inaugurated two new branches at Kasoa as part of its strategy to maintain its leadership position in the banking industry.
The two branches are the Kasoa market branch and the Kasoa main branch adjacent to the Kasoa Health Centre on the Accra-Winneba road.
The GCB Area Manager for the Accra Zone, Mrs Akua Akuete-Gogo, said the board and management of GCB found it expedient to open the two new branches at Kasoa considering Kasoa’s expanding population.
She said she believed that the two new branches would be able to meet the needs and services of Kasoa’s expanding population in the next few years, adding that the bank’s intention was to give its numerous customers the best of banking services.
The Deputy Managing Director of Operations of GCB, Mr Samuel Sarpong, for his part, said the management of the bank was upgrading its hardware and software as part of its strategy to maintain the leading position in the banking industry.
He said that was to ensure that their system could deal with the capacity and speed at which services were being provided for their valued customers and to bring banking services to their doorstep.
In line with that transformation, he noted that the bank now refers to its divisional branches as Retail Banking Divisions where the managers, including the front-liners, were all under intensive training to efficiently equip them with cutting edge customer care services.
He revealed that the bank had appointed a Customer Service Manager who would deal with all pertinent issues bordering on customer care services.
He added that the management of the bank had begun refurbishing all of its old branches and outlined other initiatives in order to achieve its transformation goal.
The two branches are the Kasoa market branch and the Kasoa main branch adjacent to the Kasoa Health Centre on the Accra-Winneba road.
The GCB Area Manager for the Accra Zone, Mrs Akua Akuete-Gogo, said the board and management of GCB found it expedient to open the two new branches at Kasoa considering Kasoa’s expanding population.
She said she believed that the two new branches would be able to meet the needs and services of Kasoa’s expanding population in the next few years, adding that the bank’s intention was to give its numerous customers the best of banking services.
The Deputy Managing Director of Operations of GCB, Mr Samuel Sarpong, for his part, said the management of the bank was upgrading its hardware and software as part of its strategy to maintain the leading position in the banking industry.
He said that was to ensure that their system could deal with the capacity and speed at which services were being provided for their valued customers and to bring banking services to their doorstep.
In line with that transformation, he noted that the bank now refers to its divisional branches as Retail Banking Divisions where the managers, including the front-liners, were all under intensive training to efficiently equip them with cutting edge customer care services.
He revealed that the bank had appointed a Customer Service Manager who would deal with all pertinent issues bordering on customer care services.
He added that the management of the bank had begun refurbishing all of its old branches and outlined other initiatives in order to achieve its transformation goal.
09’ Ford Focus
MECHANICAL Lloyd has advised its customers and prospective ones to beware of fake spare parts from the open market to avoid damage to their vehicles.
The Sales Manager of the Company, Mr Kojo Annobil, who gave the advice at the launch of the 2009 Ford Focus in Accra said the company, aware of the problem, had stocked its service centre with adequate genuine spare parts to support customers to maintain a higher life span for their valuable vehicles.
“It is important that our customers avoid the risk of buying non-genuine spare parts from unauthorised dealers,” he stated.
The new Ford Focus has safety and security devices including an automatic hazard warning light activation system, which warns the driver of the vehicle and those behind of approaching dangers and emergencies ahead.
He assured potential customers of the company’s commitment to ensuring the security of customers, adding that the new face-lift of the 2009 Ford Focus offered them a list of active and passive safety features.
“The new version, with an improvement on its fuel economy and environmental performance is the face-lift of the second generation model,” he added.
The Group Sales Manager of the company, Mr Morkporkpor Adim, said the new Ford Focus had already the world “Car of the Year” in both Europe and North America.
Mr Adim said the new car also came with a lot of highly improved technological features, such as the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Traction Control to enhance the vehicle’s stability on the road, an Intelligent Protection System (IPS) and Tyre Deflation Detection System (TDDS), all aimed at making the driving experience even better.
The Sales Manager of the Company, Mr Kojo Annobil, who gave the advice at the launch of the 2009 Ford Focus in Accra said the company, aware of the problem, had stocked its service centre with adequate genuine spare parts to support customers to maintain a higher life span for their valuable vehicles.
“It is important that our customers avoid the risk of buying non-genuine spare parts from unauthorised dealers,” he stated.
The new Ford Focus has safety and security devices including an automatic hazard warning light activation system, which warns the driver of the vehicle and those behind of approaching dangers and emergencies ahead.
He assured potential customers of the company’s commitment to ensuring the security of customers, adding that the new face-lift of the 2009 Ford Focus offered them a list of active and passive safety features.
“The new version, with an improvement on its fuel economy and environmental performance is the face-lift of the second generation model,” he added.
The Group Sales Manager of the company, Mr Morkporkpor Adim, said the new Ford Focus had already the world “Car of the Year” in both Europe and North America.
Mr Adim said the new car also came with a lot of highly improved technological features, such as the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Traction Control to enhance the vehicle’s stability on the road, an Intelligent Protection System (IPS) and Tyre Deflation Detection System (TDDS), all aimed at making the driving experience even better.
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