Coronation of Ga Mantse will take place on Saturday 14th April,2007-Nii Quaye II declares

Accra, April 12, GNA- Nii Tettey Quaye II, Dzaasetse, Ga Traditional Council, on Thursday said, baring any unforeseen circumstances, the coronation of Nii Tackie Tawiah III as Ga Mantse would take place on Saturday 14th April,2007.
He said the Ga Traditional Council together with his outfit had carefully chosen Nii Tawiah III, adding, “it is sad that people put such impediments to prevent his coronation on Saturday”.

Nii Quaye was speaking at a press briefing in Accra to dispel recent media reports that the coronation of the new Ga Mantse might not take place as planned.Nii Quaye II said he was the only person who could install and destool a Ga Chief and that the Ga Traditional Council had resolved outstanding issues relating to the coronation as directed by President John Agyekum Kufuor.

“I called on those parading in the media and inflaming passions to reframe from that, since it is detrimental to the Ga State,” he said.Nii Quaye II called for unity among the Ga people so as to enable them to move the nation forward adding, “instead of us coming together as one people, we quarrel and cast insinuations at each other”.
12 April 07

Regional Minister Urges Media to Focus on Rural Reportage

Bolgatanga, April 12, GNA – Mr. Boniface Gambila, Upper East Regional Minister, has urged the Media in the region to refrain from portraying the area as being hopelessly poor, but to help redirect the thinking and creative capabilities of the people into wealth creation.
Media practitioners should also do more rural reporting to highlight the developmental progress and challenges in the rural communities so that Government would know which areas required intervention.
Mr. Gambila made these remarks at a get-together organised by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) on Wednesday evening for the Press and Security agencies in the Region.
The Minister noted that Government needed to know how its policies such as education, health, infrastructural development, modernisation of agriculture and the Capitation Grant, which were geared towards rural development, were affecting the lives of the people.
He commended the media in the region for the effective and invaluable services they continued to render in spite of the harsh conditions under which they worked. He also urged closer teamwork on the part of the security agencies, the media and the RCC for the sustenance of peace and development.Mr Mohammed Nurudeen Issahaq, Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), indicated that Government-Media relations had seen a remarkable improvement since 1992, and said the GJA was doing everything possible to ensure that journalists played the complementary role expected of them in the national development effort.
The Chairman noted that the mushrooming of media outlets in the region and the nation could be counted as a blessing to the ongoing democratic dispensation only if media practitioners put the welfare of society above all other considerations.
He appealed to Journalists to discharge their duties with a high sense of professionalism and to refrain from doing anything that would mar the image of the profession.
Mr. Issahaq expressed appreciation to the Regional Coordinating Council for providing means of transport most of the time, which enabled journalists to go about their routine news coverage. He, however, hoped that steps would be taken to equip Media houses in the Region with vehicles to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
Responding, the Regional Minister said he would impress upon the head offices of the various Media houses to ensure that they procured vehicles and other essential work tools for their offices in the region to enhance  efficiency.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Alhaji Awudu Yirimeah, entreated Journalists to always cross-check their facts before publication. He noted that in some instances Journalists got themselves into trouble by failing to cross-check their facts before publication.
The Regional Police Commander, Mr. Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, gave the assurance that the police and other security agencies would continue to collaborate with the media in the fight against crime and in the area of public education. He urged media practitioners to feel free to approach the police for information whenever the need arose.

12 April 07

Three holiday makers died in accident and over 20 injured

Kasoa (C/R) April 12, GNA-Three persons died on the spot and over 20 others received various degree of injuries when a Tipper truck on which they were traveling from Bortiano beach on Easter Monday was involved in an accident near Amanfrom.
Two of the dead had been identified as Yakuba Kadari, a girl from Kasoa and Tetteh Ashalley, aged, 20 from Domiabra near Kasoa.
The Kasoa District Commander of the Motor and Traffic Transport Unit (MTTU) DSP Michael Roland Nyaaba told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that the tipper truck was avoiding a collision with another vehicle when it veered off the road.
Mr. Nyaaba said the injured had been rushed to the Korle Bu and 37 Military hospitals in Accra and the Winneba Government hospital.
He said the bodies have been deposited at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy while police investigation continues.

12 April 07

National review workshop for NCCE staff held in Kumasi

Kumasi, April 12, GNA – Over 20 National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) staff drawn from districts in the Ashanti Region have attended a National African Peer Review Mechanism Government Council (NAPRM-GC) training of trainers workshop on the functions of the District APRM Oversight Committee in Kumasi.
The workshop, the first in a series of regional workshops, was to obtain a deeper appreciation of the critical role of the District Oversight Committee in the implementation of the national programme of action and the preparation of semi-annual progress reports to the APRM panel that would be held in South Africa this year.
It was also to give a progress report on developments after Ghana’s review of the APRM and to solicit the support of the NCCE to implement the District APRM Oversight Committees.
Opening the workshop on Wednesday Professor Samuel Kwasi Adjepong, Chairman of the NAPRM-GC, said the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning has charged all Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to ensure that APRM activities reflect in their annual budgets.
He said he was happy that some tertiary institutions had incorporated the APRM into their programmes and appealed to all institutions to teach the APRM.
Pro Adjepong said the Governing Council has developed a monitoring and evaluation framework to monitor the progress of implementation by all stakeholders.
The framework has been aligned to existing monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure sustainability and avoid duplication in the collection and processing of data.
Mr Kusi Aboraah, the Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, said apart from the three new districts in the region, District Oversight Committees have been established in all the 18 districts.
He said he was happy about the deepening collaboration between the two organizations in dissemination of the APRM Country Review Report and asked the staff to let this encourage them to give off their best to ensure the success of the programme.

12 April 07

Agyepong says he will not withdraw from presidential bid

Jasikan (V/R), April 12, GNA – Mr Kwabena Agyepong, one of the aspirants seeking to be elected as the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate for Election 2008, has said rumours that he would withdraw from the race at the last hour are not true.
Mr Agyepong, who was addressing the Buem Constituency NPP executives, said he remained his own man and that despite his youthful age he had gained enough experience to lead the party to victory in 2008.
He said his second visit to the Volta Region and interactions with foot soldiers of the party gave him an increasing confidence about his chances of becoming the party’s candidate.
“This is due to the general desire in the rank and file of the party for a new generation to rise and face the fast changing technological order.”
Mr Agyepong said he derived a lot of inspiration from the visionary and farsighted decisions of late Prime Minister Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia to bring new generation of young politicians together.
“I believe the time is ripe for a new generation of leaders to build upon what President John Agyekum Kufuor has done.”
He said as a servant of the UP tradition, he believed his record would hold him in the hearts of delegates to give him the nod.

12 April 07

Ghana becoming destination of stolen vehicles- CEPS

Accra, March 25, GNA- The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), has expressed concern that Ghana is increasingly becoming a destination for stolen vehicles from across the world.
“This has become a source of concern for CEPS and other security agencies. This unfortunate practice must stop”, Mr Emmanuel Doku, Commissioner of CEPS said on Thursday at a press conference to outline measures to tackle the issue.
Mr Doku stated that there had been several instances where vehicles discharged at the ports had been found to be un-manifested, with most of them usually concealed in containers together with other goods and personal effects.He said information available to CEPS had revealed that such vehicles were either stolen or tainted with other fraudulent acts of insurance.
For instance, in Takoradi, nine unmanifested vehicles were seized last year, three of which have been confirmed by INTERPOL. And at the Tema Port, 72 of such vehicles were also seized last year, and four have so far been confiscated this year.
The vehicles originated from Canada and United States of America.Unmanifested vehicles are those not reported on the manifest of importing vessel or carrier.
Mr Doku said that in line with these occurrences, the CEPS have put in place measures for the clearance of vehicles which took effect from April 1, 2007.
As part of the measures, all vehicles that arrive at the ports or entry points un-manifested would be seized as mandated by law. This would also apply to vehicles in transit or trans-shipment as long as they are un-manifested.
He said upon seizure, CEPS would carry out thorough investigations in liaison with other security agencies, especially INTERPOL, Ghana and its international partners.
The investigations would, among other things, establish the make/model of the vehicles, the chassis number, country of origin/manufacture, certificate of title, other documentary proof of ownership or possession of the consignor or exporter.
The Commissioner said during the period any vehicle was being investigated, the importer or consignee would not be permitted to apply to the master of a carrier or its agents to amend the manifest unless the he (Commissioner) specifically allowed it.
He said where it was established at the end of investigations that the importer or consignee was titled to clear the vehicle; he or she would be permitted upon written application to amend the manifest subject to payment of pecuniary penalty before clearance of the vehicle.
“Furthermore, if investigations established that the vehicles were stolen or its importation tainted with fraud, such vehicles would be treated for re-exportation under the supervision of CEPS and INTERPOL Ghana, and upon application by an interested party or complainant who may be liable for any incidental expenses”.
However, such re-exportation might only be done where the Ghanaian authorities receive a written application to that effect within a period of not more that three months after conclusion of investigations, or any extension thereafter not exceeding one month.
Mr Doku stated that an applicant requesting for the re-exportation, whether an individual, authority or institution, would be required to bear all expenses or charges that would be incurred.
He said where no application for re-exportation was received at the expiration of the prescribed period, the vehicle would be deemed abandoned, and accordingly, would be forfeited to the State and disposed off in accordance with Law and the laid down procedure.
The Commissioner emphasized that these measures would be additional to all normal customs clearance procedures already in place for clearing vehicles from entry points and asked importers, shippers, the business community and Ghanaians resident abroad to co-operate with CEPS to preserve the country’s image.
12 April 07

Judges, lawyers, litigants mourn mourns late Chief Justice Acquah

Ho, March 26, GNA- Judges, Magistrates Lawyers and litigants in Ho on Monday organized a short memorial service in mourning of the late Chief Justice, Justice George Kingsley Acquah.They prayed and observed a minute’s silence for the blissful repose of the soul of the departed Chief Justice.
Cases slated for adjudication for the day were subsequently adjourned for two weeks, while Judicial service staff went about their normal duties with red band hanging on the main gate to the Court premises.Mr. Victor Tenu, Volta Regional Registrar of the Judicial Service, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said lawyers and judges who reported for work at the courts said they were not in the right mood to work and substituted the day’s activities for the event.
” The news is a sad one and as such it is very natural that many people will find it difficult to work well for sometime but we hope that after the ceremony the tension will come down for serious work to begin tomorrow”, he said.
Mr. Tenu said ” we have special interest towards him in the region because he chose to serve his first appointment as a High Court Judge in Ho from where he also ran the Hohoe and Denu High Courts from 1988 to 1994″.Mr. Saviour Dzikunu, President of the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association, described the late Chief Justice Acquah as a gentleman who exuded judicial authority to the maximum.  ” The time conscious man roars like a lion on the bench but gentle and meek as a lamb when off the bench… his death is a big blow”, he lamented.
26 March 07

Kwabre West constituency NPP meeting ends in confusion

Kodie, (Ash), March 26, GNA- A meeting conveyed by the Kwabre West constituency of the NPP to introduce an interim executive committee purported to have been appointed by the Ashanti regional executive of the party, nearly resulted in a free for all fight at Kodie, the constituency capital.
Members in the constituency who are against the appointment of the interim executive to replace the existing constitutionally elected one rejected the agenda and described it as unconstitutional.This resulted in a heated argument leading to accusations and counter accusations and trading of insults among the feuding factions, which had been created within the party in the constituency.
The situation degenerated into total confusion and the meeting ended abruptly amidst booing and jeering at the supposed interim executive members.
Unable to control the situation, Mr Omono Asamoah, who described himself as the first Vice Chairman of the interim executive and was at that time controlling the affairs of the meeting, had to abandon proceedings and declared the meeting closed.
Meanwhile, a group calling itself “Concerned NPP Youth of Kwabre West Constituency” has appealed to the National Executive Council of the party, the President and all key stakeholders in the party to help resolve the impasses between the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, and the constitutionally elected constituency executives.
They noted that the current impasse between the MP and elected executives had the potential to mar the strength and image of the party in the constituency in the 2008 general elections.In a statement signed by Mr Patrick Sanaah, Chairman of the group, the youth expressed regret at the conduct of the regional executive of the party, which was fuelling the impasse and tearing the party apart.
They warned that, “Any attempt to disrespect the constitution of the party to undermine its image will inevitably incur the wrath of we the youth and an appropriate action would be collectively embarked on”. According to the youth the appointment of an interim executive body to replace the existing elected ones by the regional executive and the MP was unconstitutional and would not be tolerated in any form.
26 March 07

Only genuine remorse can atone for Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade – President Kufuor

Elmina, March 26, GNA – Genuine remorse should be the way forward to atone for the pain and heinous crimes of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, President John  Agyekum Kufuor has advocated.
It is estimated that about 10 million Africans were forcibly uprooted and shipped out of the Continent under the most barbaric and inhuman conditions across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americans and Caribbean during the trade.
Speaking at a ceremony to both commemorate 200 years of its abolition and Ghana’s 50 years of nationhood held at the Elmina Castle in the Central Region, President Kufuor said since some Africans played a facilitating role during the trade the question of payment of reparation was not the best approach.
He said the victims must be accorded respect and human dignity and that common humanity and shared values of fellow feeling should form the bases of acceptance in the present day’s world.
The solemn and emotionally touching commemorative event dubbed “Africa 2007 Reflections” was jointly put together by the British Council, the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat and the Edina Traditional Council and attracted a number of Africans from Diaspora.
President Kufuor said the Continent through its New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was seeking to reconnect with those in the Diaspora and to correct the historic mistake epitomised by the slave trade.
Baroness Valeria Amos, Leader of the British House of Lords; Sir David Green, Director General of the British Council and the Minster of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Jake Obese-Lamptey were among those who attended.
Celebrated artiste and poets from Ghana, Brazil and the United Kingdom were on hand to play back memories of those days of history.
British Prime Minister, Tony Blaire in a video link address pledged his country’s determination to continue to lead the drive to overcome modern day challenges facing Africa.
He said: “As we commemorate 200 years of the Slavery Abolition Act, let us rededicate ourselves to show courage and energy to fight injustices in our modern world.”
Mr Blaire, who noted that there was now a historic turning point between Africa and the UK, lauded Ghana for the significant progressive role she was playing.
“Ghana is a beacon of hope to Africa as it was 50 years ago”, he said.
Baroness Amos described the slave trade as the “darkest and uncomfortable chapter of British History and called for stronger commitment to build a better world that would make our ancestors proud”.
Sir David said although nothing could be done to undo the history of the slave trade, it was important to encourage this generation to explore and to better understand it.
Nana Kodwo Condua VI, Paramount Chief of Edina Traditional Area, said it was time to forgive and to put behind the bitter past.

26 March, 07

Saamanhene appeals for creation of new district for Kumawu

Kumawu (Ash), March 26, GNA- Nana Kwame Osei, Saamanhene of the Kumawu Traditional Area, has appealed to the government to create a separate district from the present Sekyere East district.
This, he said, would ensure effective and efficient development of the area, which in its present size is too big to manage.Nana Osei made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Kumawu at the weekend.
He said the perennial water shortage in the area was of concern to the people and appealed to the government to come to the aid of the people.
The Saamanhene observed that the vast nature of arable land stretching to the Afram plains portion of the area could be developed and urged investors to help open up the area by investing into farming and charcoal production.
He said the celebration of the ‘Papa’ festival of the chiefs and people of the area should not be misconstrued as waste of resources, but rather see it as a rallying forum to initiate more developmental programmes to enhance their living conditions.
26 March 07