Alisa Hotel has been honoured by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC) at its fifth Young Professionals Transformational Leadership Conference. The conference, which was held last week in Accra at the International Conference Centre, was on the theme “Beyond vision, transformation.” The honour is in recognition of Alisa’s leadership qualities, professionalism and serving as a role model for the youth through its support for youth development programmes in the country.  The guest of honour was Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts. Also present was Fiifi Kwetey, Minister of State in Charge of Financial and Allied Institution, and Dr Joyce Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries, who chaired the event. YPYC is an association of young professionals in different fields of endeavours who are ready to impact the present generation of young professionals through its programmes. The conference aimed at recognising the hard work, professional leadership and excellence of personalities who have excelled in their areas of endeavours and have become role models for other young professionals. The citation recognising the efforts of the Alisa Hotel emphasised the facility’s quality service delivery and its investment in youth career development programmes which manifest in its entire departments, ranging from youth recruitment to the countless opportunities rolled out for the youth. “You are an avenue where unpolished skills are enhanced; youth congregate and without inhibition, demonstrate their natural talent for accelerated socioeconomic development which goes a long way to reduce unemployment and gives hands-on training to hundreds of graduates.” The citation also commended the hotel for its partnership with relevant institutions which provided support for the youth to realise their God-given potential. Present to receive the award on the hotel’s behalf was the General Manager, Mr Marco Cecchi, who in an interview applauded YPYC for championing the course of youth development. “We are proud to be associated with you because as a hotel, we believe in the youth who are obviously the immediate future leaders, hence the need for us to support them.                                                                                                                                                                      Mr Cecchi urged other corporate entities to take keen interest in activities which would assist the youth to achieve their chosen careers, noting that such a move would ensure that competent and reliable individuals took up leadership positions in future for accelerated development. Honourable Fiifi Kwetey, in his address, charged the youth to come up with creative and innovative ideas for employment creation, instead of relying solely on the government as a producer of employment opportunities.  

A modern police post to promote security for students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has been inaugurated at Ayeduase near the university in Kumasi. The GH¢19,000 police post was financed by the university as parts of its social responsibility to partner with the security agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service, to promote security at the university and its surrounding communities. Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. W. O. Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said the university was concerned about security issues among the students of the university to enhance effective teaching and learning . He said to ensure effective security and policing, the university was also financing two more police posts at Kotei and Bomso to beef up security in the communities.  Prof Ellis hinted that to ensure effective patrol and policing, the university would also provide two motorcycles for the police to facilitate their service to the community. The Ashanti Regional Commander of  the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Mr Augustine Gyening, said there was the need for support and cooperation from the people in the community to flash out  criminals.      He called on hostel operators in the community not to ignore security measures to ensure  the safety of the students, and asked  them to provide CCT cameras at the various porters lodges to ensure effective security at the hostels. The Manhyia Divisional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Debora Adison Campbell, lauded the efforts of the university to promote security and free movement of the students in the community.     She appealed to the chiefs at Ayeduase to provide piece of land for a permanent structure for effective policing with in the community.      Nana Opoku Agyeman Bawuah, II chief of Ayeduase, who chaired the inauguration ceremony, expressed their commitment and support to promote security in the area.

The chiefs and people of Peki in the Volta Region have declared a state of mourning in respect of their Paramount Chief, Togbe Kwadzo Dei XI, who died four years ago. Togbe Kwadzo Dei was known in private life as Mr Seth Yao Tutu Brempong. He ascended the throne in 1961 and served the people for 40 years. Making the official announcement of his death at a durbar, the Dzasehene of Peki-Blengo, Togbe Abe Vuha III, said the Peki Traditional Council, in conjunction with the royal families of Adiyievi of Bengo-Peki, have constituted a burial and co-ordinating committees, as well as various sub-committees to plan and organise the burial in accordance with traditions and customs of the people of Peki. He said a 10-day burial programme was to be observed at the forecourt of the Deiga’s palace to be followed by a fitting entombment next year. The Deiga attended the Mission Infant and Junior School at Blengo in 1943 and continued to the Evangelical Presbyterian Middle School at Kpedze and then to Mawuli Senior High School in 1952. The Peki Traditional Council conferred two titles: “Katamanto” and “Gbedegbleme” on him in recognition of development achievements and the continuous championing of the transformation of the Peki Kingdom. Togbe Dei was instrumental in the establishment of the Ghana-German Agricultural Settlement Farm at Agbate-Peki, the construction of the Peki Government Hospital, provision of water and electricity and the establishment of the Gbi Reunification Festival known as “Gbidukorza” between the chiefs and people of Gbi Nyigbe(Peki) and Gbi Dzigbe(Hohoe). Togbe Kwadzo Dei and three other paramount chiefs, Togbe Adeladza of Anlo, Nana Aburam Akpandja of Buem and Togbe Afede Asor of Asogli, were the founding fathers of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs (in the establishment) and had permanent seats in the house. In an address, the Adontenhene of Peki, Togbe Ayim Mordey, appealed for understanding and unity in the area during and after the period of mourning and funeral.

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95. Mr Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities. He had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital. Announcing the news on South African national TV, President Jacob Zuma said Mr Mandela was at peace. "Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said. "Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss." South Africans have gathered outside the home of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, singing and chanting slogans to celebrate his life Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela - who is known affectionately by his clan name, Madiba - had died shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT). He said he would receive a full state funeral, and flags would be flown at half-mast. Crowds have gathered outside the house where Mr Mandela died, some flying South African flags and wearing the shirts of the governing African National Congress, which Mr Mandela once led. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world's most revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years. He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004. He made his last public appearance in 2010, at the football World Cup in South Africa. His fellow campaigner against apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said he was "not only an amazing gift to humankind, he made South Africans and Africans feel good about being who we are. He made us walk tall. God be praised." BBC correspondents say Mr Mandela's body will be moved to a mortuary in the capital, Pretoria, and the funeral is likely to take place next Saturday. 'Bid him farewell' Mr Zuma said in his statement that "what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. "Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell." Tributes have come in from around the world. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration". "Many around the world were greatly influenced by his selfless struggle for human dignity, equality and freedom. He touched our lives in deeply personal ways." US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela achieved more than could be expected of any man. "He no longer belongs to us - he belongs to the ages," he said, adding that Mr Mandela "took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice". Mr Obama, the first black president of the United States, said he was one of the millions who drew inspiration from Mr Mandela's life. He has ordered that the White House flag be flown at half-mast. FW de Klerk, who as South Africa's last white president ordered Mr Mandela's release, called him a "unifier" and said he had "a remarkable lack of bitterness". He told the BBC Mr Mandela's greatest legacy "is that we are basically at peace with each other notwithstanding our great diversity, that we will be taking hands once again now around his death and around our common sadness and mourning". The Elders - a group of global leaders set up by Mr Mandela to pursue peace and human rights - said they "join millions of people around the world who were inspired by his courage and touched by his compassion". The group's chair, Kofi Annan, said the world had lost "a clear moral compass". "While I mourn the loss of one of Africa's most distinguished leaders, Madiba's legacy beckons us to follow his example to strive for human rights, reconciliation and justice for all." UK Prime Minister David Cameron said "a great light has gone out in the world". Earlier this year, Mr Mandela spent nearly three months in hospital with a recurring lung infection. He was moved to his home in the Houghton suburb of Johannesburg in September, where he continued to receive intensive care. Robben Island Born in 1918, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943, as a law student. He and other ANC leaders campaigned against apartheid. Initially he campaigned peacefully but in the 1960s the ANC began to advocate violence, and Mr Mandela was made the commander of its armed wing. He was arrested for sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, serving most of his sentence on Robben Island. FW de Klerk: Mandela "was a great unifier" It was forbidden to quote him or publish his photo, but he and other ANC leaders were able to smuggle out messages of guidance to the anti-apartheid movement. He was released in 1990 as South Africa began to move away from strict racial segregation - a process completed by the first multi-racial elections in 1994. Mr Mandela, who had been awarded the Nobel Prize in 1993 jointly with Mr de Klerk, was elected South Africa's first black president. He served a single term, stepping down in 1999. After leaving office, he became South Africa's highest-profile ambassador, campaigning against HIV/Aids and helping to secure his country's right to host the 2010 football World Cup. He was also involved in peace negotiations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and other countries in Africa and elsewhere.

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday said the Takoradi Port expansion project, which is slated to be completed in 2016 would create 3,000 jobs for all categories of workers.   He said under the Chinese Development Bank loan facility, government would also embark on the Sekondi-Takoradi industrial city project, to create more job opportunities in the western side of the country. President Mahama said this when he broke the grounds for $197 million- dollar project in Takoradi. The expansion project would among other benefits take in modern, bigger and deep- drafted vessels reduce ship turnaround, time and also provide service and logistics base for the oil field. The facilities include; break water extension, dredging to 16 chart datum, reclamation, and bulk cargo handling berths for manganese, bauxite, and clinker. Expansion would also facilitate the segregation of bulk cargo operation from containerised and unitised cargo operation by providing separate bulk handling terminals. The ceremony attracted former President Jerry John Rawlings, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, the business community and supporters of the National Democratic Congress. President Mahama said while the railway lines would facilitate the movement of goods and services within the country, the Sekondi-Takoradi industrial city project would establish the Atuabo Oil Port. The President said the industrial city project would also revive and rehabilitate the western railway lines and develop the Sekondi Takoradi free zone enclave. On the country’s debt challenges, President Mahama said various organisations would be empowered to become self- sufficient to reduce the debt to about 40 per cent in the nearest future. President Mahama announced that Viking Offshore Support Services has entered a long term lease with Ghana Ports and Harbours to develop Ghana’s first local content oil fields support base in Takoradi. He said the Viking Offshore Support Services are self-financing of an oilfield service hub to serve the entire West Africa oil and gas offshore market. President Mahama added: “They will also mount liquid mud plants that will supply essential drilling and completion for the West Africa’s deep water for oil rigs and FPSOs, cranes and other general support services." Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport, said the expansion project was in response to the demands of the business community to ease traffic congestion at the port and to re- position the port as the one-stop terminal for maritime, petroleum and oil and gas businesses.

Kosmos Energy Ghana, one of the jubilee partners drilling oil off the country’s coast, has donated items worth GH₵ 18,000 to the Western Region towards Friday's Farmers’ Day celebration. The items included a Suzuki outboard motor, fishing nets and floating accessories. The items would be distributed to three districts in the region and the districts include Ahanta West, Jomoro and Nzema East. Presenting the items to the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr. Enoch Gyan, the Administrative and Finance Director of Kosmos Energy Ghana, Mr. kofi opoku , said the company had been supporting the Farmers’ Day celebration since 2011 and that the company would continue to help the country’s farmers. He said the Farmers’ Day celebration was an important occasion in country and that the company was happy to associate itself with the celebration. Mr Opoku said the items were to facilitate the work of the country’s gallant farmers by helping them to increase productivity. He said achieving food security was the ultimate aim for all Ghanaians. Mr Gyan who received the items on behalf of the region said the he was grateful to the oil company for donating the items to support the efforts of the region for tomorrow’s Farmers’ Day celebration. He promised the company that the donated items would be given to the farmers. The Farmers’ Day will be organised nationwide and it is under the theme, “Reducing Post Harvest Losses for Sustainable Food Security and Nutrition”. Western Region’s Farmers’ Day celebration will be held at Lower Inchaban Catholic Primary and Junior High School Park in the Shama District.

De-Graft Okyere Danso ,43,  has been arraigned before a Takoradi Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding 21 people of GH₵150,000 Mr Danso was alleged to have collected the money from the people under the pretense of getting them American visas. According to the Prosecutor, DSP Richard Boatey of the Court Unit of the Ghana Police Service of the Western Region, the accused person had visited King of Kings International Miracles Church for an all-night service where he managed to convince the then Pastor of the church, Mr. Eric Mensah, that he was into recruiting energetic people to work on farms in Virginia, United States of America. DSP Boatey said Mr Danso told the pastor that it would cost each person GH₵6,000 He said when the accused received the initial payment of money from the 21 interested people, all communications between them ceased until January 2013 when one Bernard Kwabena Ameyaw contacted the pastor and informed him that Mr Danso had asked him to conclude the travelling arrangements with them. He said Mr Ameyaw assured the 21 people that they would be airlifted to Virginia by the end of June this year upon which he requested for an additional GH₵10,000 The accused allegedly acknowledged receipt of all the money that were paid to him through the bank to prove that he was working on the traveling arrangements, and sent a photocopy of a new passport for one of the people who had paid the money, The passport was later found to be a fake one and Mr Danso was later arrested in Accra and brought to Takoradi. The accused has been charged with defrauding by false pretense by. He had already pleaded with the court that he would sell his house in the Ashanti Region to pay the GH₵150,000 However, he has not been able to provide the documents on the ownership of the building to the court. The case was then adjourned to Monday, 9th December, 2013 after the accused requested to seek medical attention for a sore throat. Though he had been granted bail by the court, Mr Danso could not provide the two sureties required for granting him bail.

President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to desist from using public resources for Christmas and New Year gifts such as hampers during the upcoming yuletide. A letter from the Office of the President and signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Raymond Atuguba, said the decision, which previously affected only Ministries, has been extended to include the Departments and Agencies under the Ministries and also Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. The letter asked Ministers of State to ensure strict compliance with the directive at all levels of government, adding that “Heads of MDAs which flout the directive would be surcharged with the cost of same to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Some Ghanaian companies have pulled their resources together to produce underground water to support the country’s offshore oil operations. The move is to halt the current importation of large volumes of water from neighboring countries at high cost. The investors formed a company known as Offshore Water Services Ltd (OWSL), with the membership of the Ghanaian companies in the Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA). It said though water was one of the very important ingredients required for various purposes during drilling, the available volume required by the jubilee partners was inadequate. The project, which would be sited on a five acre plot, is in partnership with the host community and upon completion, will have a storage capacity of the facility of 10,000cubic metres at a daily delivery rate of 5,000 cubic metres.  Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Executive Director of Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA), Mr Nuetey Adzeman, said to meet the demands, supply vessels were left with no choice than to lift water from neighboring cThe Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi , he said, was better placed to supply water for offshore operations, however, the demands on Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)to satisfy the needs of the domestic consumers, left little or nothing to meet offshore demands. “As a result of water shortage in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, supply vessels go to the Cote d’Ivoire to lift water to service the offshore demands at a very high cost to the Government of Ghana and the international oil companies,” he said.  This, he said, defeats the spirit of promoting Local Content and Local Participation in petroleum activities as prescribed previously in the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, 1984 (PNDC Law 84) and now Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations 2013 (L.I 2204). The preference was to supply water from within the local communities in Ghana. Offshore Water Services and GOGSPA said recognising the inherent challenges due to the lack of fresh water in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, the company formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to supply fresh water to the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. Mr Adzeman said the project will be located in the Nzema East Municipality (Axim). He said drilling and construction will begin in January 2014, while the commissioning of the project will take place in the second quarter of 2014. This project is intended to complement the efforts of GWCL in the delivery of water by taking the pressure of supplying to the offshore industry and rather enable them concentrate on servicing the domestic users. The project, he said when completed would create wealth for stakeholders and employment for the community.  

President John Dramani Mahama is to join other African heads of state in Paris, France, on Friday for the Élysée Summit for Peace and Security in Africa. He is attending the two-day summit (December 6-7, 2013) at the invitation of the President of France, Mr Francois Hollande. The French President is quoted as saying that the summit would be devoted to peace, security and the fight against terrorism. Besides the discussions on peace and security, the issue of economic partnership between African countries and France will also feature prominently at the summit. They will also discuss the large-scale use of fossil fuels for industrial activities and their contribution to global warming. President Mahama will participate in the opening session of the summit at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Friday. Thereafter, he will join other African leaders for a meeting with the French President on the theme: "Peace and Security in Africa" at the Ministerial Conference Centre. On Saturday, the African leaders will also have a discussion with their French host on the theme: "Economic Partnership and Development" and another meeting on the theme: "Climate Change." France has shown increased interest in the peace and security in Africa.  For instance, in January 2013, France sent 4,000 troops to Mali to help African-led mission to stop a massive incursion by well-armed combatants, including Tuareg separatists and their Arab allies of various origins, who were keen on establishing an Islamic state in Mali.   

    The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, has appealed to mothers to give equal measures of upbringing to their sons and daughters to attract respect between the two genders. She said it was important that boys were taught from a tender age not to assault or insult their female counterparts. Mrs Lithur made the remarks in an address at a community durbar at Ashaiman to mark 16-Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the theme; “Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Ghana: The Role of Men and Boys." 16 Days of activities The event is part of this year’s celebration of 16-Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which is an annual programme celebrated from November 25 to December 10 and is being celebrated world-wide on the theme; “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women.”  The minister was optimistic that if boys were educated on GBV at a tender age, it would go a long way to reduce cases of violence in the society, noting that most GBV was being perpetrated by men. Mrs Lithur also called on men to be at the forefront of the fight against GBV, explaining that it would in the long term be in the interest of the whole nation. Mrs Lithur was of the view that “violence was bad and should not be tolerated under any circumstance, hence the need for all persons to get involved.” Violence against women The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ashaiman, Mr Ibrahim Baidoo, in his welcome address, said it was sad that violence against women and girls who were considered much more vulnerable was perpetuated by men from all walks of life, and described it as unacceptable. He called for a serious crusade against it and to eliminate it from the society, giving on assurance that the “Ashaiman Municipal Assembly will establish a women and children sub-committee to augment that of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) to make the society a better place to live in.” In his presentation, a resource person, Mr Kingsley Obeng-Kyereh, said it was unfortunate that people tend to blame rape victims for attacks on them because they believed they were indecently dressed. He said “that aspect of faulting the victim was a way for the culprits to unjustifiably excuse themselves from blame.”  Advice to society Mr Obeng-Kyereh advised society neither to put the blame on persons who have been sexually assaulted nor call for a reparation to cover up in an attempt to save an individual or a family’s reputation.  He called on all persons to work at providing violence victims with assistance and also expose the wrong doers for the necessary retribution to serve as a deterrent to others. There were solidarity messages from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy which promised to support the country in its fight to end gender-based violence. There were sketches by the Uniforce Actors Guild  on violence against women and its effects.    

  The chiefs and people of Shama in the Western Region have warned that until officials of the Volta River Authority (VRA) pacify the gods of their land, the generators of the newly built T3 plant will never work. According to the Spokesman for the Shama Traditional Council, Nana Kobina Atton III, officials of the VRA were aware of the demands of the chiefs to resettle the gods which had been displaced by the project. Explaining the situation further to the Daily Graphic, Nana Atton said where the T3 was sited was a river which was the resting place of one of the gods of the land. But,unfortunately, he said, "The VRA scooped the water and dug the earth with machines.” "The place is now dry and the gods of the land have been displaced. Therefore, until the VRA respects the land and its culture and traditions and pacifies the gods, the T3 will never deliver the desired results," he added. He said in all, the VRA took 600 acres of land for the T1, T2 and T3 projects but had always refused to honour financial and traditional obligations to its host community. Nana Atton recalled that when President John Mahama inaugurated the facility, he highly commended the community for the peaceful co-existence with companies operating there. "We then told the President about our plight and we were promised by officials of the VRA that they will settle every outstanding bill. But as we speak, nothing has been paid," he said. Asked about the details of their demand to pacify the gods, he said, "We have given them a list of all we need. We have also demanded space near the plant where we will build a resting place for the gods." The community, he said was sounding the warning and if the company had any respect for the community and the land, it should act immediately to restore the strength of the plant. Responding to the demands of the chiefs, Mr Enoch K. Appiah, the Shama District Chief Executive, said the chiefs had, on several occasions, lodged their complaints with the assembly and the VRA. He said he had held discussions with officials of the VRA who had expressed their readiness to pacify the gods or meet the demands of the chiefs of the Shama Traditional Area. When contacted, officials of the VRA at the Aboadze Thermal Plant declined to comment on the matter, except to confirm receipt of the list of demands of the people and to say that they were waiting for directives from Accra. T3 Plant The T3 is the latest of the VRA's thermal generating units at Aboadze which contributes 132 megawatts of power to the national grid. However, a few months after it had been inaugurated this year, the multi-million dollar plant has not been functioning well. Though the officials attributed the problem purely to technology, the chiefs are of the view that the gods are angry because they have been displaced.  

  The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has introduced electronic payment for beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme. The e-payment, which is on a pilot basis in seven regions and nine districts, is to make disbursement of the LEAP grant easier, safer and faster for beneficiaries.  Three companies — MTN, E-zwich and Aya Technologies — have been selected as service providers for the new facility. Initially, Ghana Post distributed the monies to the households across the 99 districts in the 10 regions. The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, made this known when she paid a working visit to Bortianor Chokomey in the Ga South District in the Greater Accra Region to assess the pilot programme of the e-payment. Background The LEAP programme, which disburses funds to the poorest households in Ghana, started in 2008 with 1,640 beneficiaries. As of June this year, the beneficiary households had increased to 73,047 across the country. Through the programme, the government assists the poorest families with basic needs, including food and improved health. People who qualify under the programme include orphans, vulnerable children, the aged and the elderly from 65 years upwards and severely disabled persons who cannot work. Under the programme, a household with one beneficiary is expected to receive GH¢48, two beneficiaries receive GH¢60, three beneficiaries GH¢72 and four or more receive GHc90 every two months.  The e-payment According to Nana Lithur, the e-payment was in line with the global trend of technology usage and it was to make it safer and easier for the beneficiaries to receive their money. She said through the pilot programme, challenges would be identified and worked on to make for a better programme. The Mobile Money Implementation Manager of MTN, Mr Peter Bimpeh, said beneficiaries who would subscribe to MTN would receive their money through the mobile money merchandise. Currently, he said, 987 beneficiaries in the Ga South District had received free mobile phones on which their funds could be accessed.  He explained that MTN would send codes to the beneficiaries whenever payment was made and with the codes they could visit any branch of the mobile money merchandise and collect their money. Although the navigation of the phones had been a challenge to the beneficiaries, since most of them were illiterate, he said, sensitisation programmes were ongoing to educate them on the use of mobile phones.  

  A one million euro cold storage facility to address post-harvest fish losses has been handed over to the people of Prampram in the Greater Accra Region. The Spanish FAD-sponsored refrigeration facility is the first of six to be located in different fishing communities at a total cost of $7 million. Other communities to benefit from the project include Shama, Nyanyano, Kormantse, New Takoradi and Half Assini. No post-harvest losses  At a short ceremony at Prampram last Tuesday, the district assembly took over two newly constructed cold store rooms, one freezing tunnel, an ice bin and a flake ice factory.  In a brief speech, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mr Aquinas Quansah, said the funding arrangement for the project commenced in 2006 but the construction of the facility was delayed due to some circumstances that he did not mention. He said there were plans to include a fish-processing plant which could be used to add value to the fish which could be sold on the domestic market or exported for foreign exchange. “The days of throwing fish away during bumper harvests ... is over,” he said, as the fishmongers and fishermen who had gathered clapped their hands with joy. Mr Quansah said government was exploring how a private investor could be brought on board to help with the management of the facility.  In the interim, it would be managed by the district assembly. The President of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, Flight Lieutenant Miltiades Tackey, noted that the lack of cold storage facilities had resulted in a lot of wastage in the system. He told the fishermen that the ice from the flake ice factory could help them keep their fish fresh while they were on the high seas. The Member of Parliament for Prampram, Mr Enoch T. Mensah, urged the managers to maintain the facility and also to ensure that enough revenue was generated to fund the construction of similar cold stores in other fishing communities. Electricity supply  The Chief Fisherman of Lower Prampram, Nene Sosey Quarshie, stated that the facility would be beneficial, if electricity supply was uninterrupted. Salomey Tsotso Teye, President of the Fishmongers Association, told the Daily Graphic that  most fishmongers in the area were hawkers who had to walk for hours in search of buyers “and sometimes we are forced to dispose of the fish when they are not bought. This is the main reason for the loss of capital by many of the fishmongers here.” Janet Doku, a 56-year-old fish monger, said the fishermen were of late recording low catches and that when the fish was not patronised, they were not able to keep the fish in their domestic freezers, which had little space.  “ I lost GH¢3,000 worth of fish during the last season as a result of lack of proper storage facility. This cold store has come at the right time,” said Ms Doku.   

The government has released GH¢100 million to clear arears owed contractors working on rural roads in cocoa, sheanut and coffee- growing areas. The money, which was released between October and November this year, was to clear the arears accrued between June last year and October this year. Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra, the Director of Feeder Roads, Mr George Adu Afful, stated that the money was used to pay contractors working on rural roads across the country. Ghana depends heavily on cocoa, mainly from the Western Region, Ashanti Region, Brong Ahafo Region, Eastern Region and parts of the Volta Region. Similarly, the country also relies on sheanuts and coffee from the Northern and Upper West regions. According to Mr Afful, the works involve the rehabilitation, upgrading, and maintenance of roads vital for the smooth haulage of the cocoa, coffee, and sheanuts. He explained that the projects were being undertaken in phases under which 658km of roads were programmed for rehabilitation under phase one but out of which 440km had so far been completed.  A total of 2250 km were, however, programmed for phase two, which Mr Afful said were at various stages of completion. Road network condition The rural roads in cocoa-growing communities have the highest road network of 42,000km across the 10 regions. Currently, about 65 per cent of the road network is in fairly good condition, while the remaining is in poor condition. The rural roads fall under the domain of the Department of Feeder Roads, while the other agencies under the Ministry of Roads and Highways are the Ghana Highway Authority with 15,000km and the Department of Urban Roads with 1,600km.

As part of the measures of addressing litigation on land tenure system, officials of the Land Administrative Project (LAP) have organised a workshop in Kumasi for selected queen mothers from the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions. A total of 300 queen mothers from the selected regions attended the workshop which aimed at educating them on the LAP with the view to keeping them abreast of issues pertaining to the project. The workshop, according to LAP, was also meant to sensitise the queen mothers for them to play key roles in land administration with the view to encouraging members of their respective communities to register their landed properties to curb litigations associated with land acquisition. Addressing the participants during the workshop, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ms Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, assured of government’s commitment to redefine cultures, practices and customs which serve as barriers and  belittle women on land issues. “Government is committed to the affirmative action aimed at the elimination of racial, gender and  geographical inequalities in the desire to ensure the achievement of sustained economic growth and shared development for social equity” she noted. She said the LAP was part of the interventions designed to provide access to land for women with the view to empowering them economically and also to promote gender equity and equality in society. “It is unfortunate that the control and ownership of land largely remain in the domain of males, suggesting the preference for male leadership, authority and control over family and community resources” she bemoaned. “Government demands of women to be more involved in the administration of land to ensure that the future of the country is not jeopardised” she assured, adding “the era of not involving queen mothers and female chiefs in land administration and management in Ghana should, therefore, be a thing of the past.” Ms Asamoah expressed the hope that traditional authorities would  be encouraged by the LAP to set up land secretariats in their respective jurisdictions with the view to recording and documenting all transactions of land issues. She also urged them to motivate land owners to register their interests and rights in land as well as keeping inventories of land and parcels they hold. “We  are also undertaking customary boundary demarcations in customary land secretariat catchment areas aimed at preventing land disputes and conflicts, and helping to avoid clashes between communities and traditional authorities over boundaries” she announced.

  The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, has called on police officers to carry out their duties professionally to reverse the erosion of public confidence in the police. He said police officers needed to be dedicated and committed in their duties to change the perception of the public in the ability of the police to carry out in their duties with professionalism. 20 Senior officers graduate  Mr Alhassan was speaking at the graduation ceremony of 26 senior police officers who had completed the maiden staff duties course at the Police Command and Staff College in Winneba in the Central Region. The IGP noted that matters of abuse of authority and related unethical conduct, whether perceived or real, had continued to affect the relationship between the police and the public in a negative way. That, he said, had undermined public support for the police in their law enforcement activities, saying, “It is in this regard that I challenge you to be agents of change as you leave here.” He told the police officers who had gone through the five-week course that they were expected to serve with integrity and provide exemplary leadership at any level of the service structure. “As staff officers, you remain the core lubricants in the administrative machinery of the service in the implementation process of administrative and operational policy decision,” he said. The participants in the course were drawn from the 11 police regions of the country. Intensive Training  The acting Commandant of the Police Command and Staff Training College, Mrs Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, told the Daily Graphic that the participants, who were mainly officers who carried out administrative duties, had been taken through intensive training to equip them with new skills and competencies, “as they are the first point of contact of the various commanders they serve”. She expressed the hope that the participants would assist to effect the necessary change aimed at improving the output of all police personnel.  

  Indigenous equity firm, the Fortiz Private Equity Fund, has concluded the acquisition of some 90 per cent stake in Merchant Bank Ghana (MBG) Limited. That followed the successful meeting of all the requirements necessary for the deal to be sealed. The requirements, which were set by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), included the deposition of the initial capital subscription of GH¢90 million into an escrow account at the BoG, the submission of five-year pro forma financial statements for Merchant Bank, the submission of a board resolution from the bank in support of the share acquisition by Fortiz, as well as the submission of detailed curricula vitae (CVs) and completed personality note forms for all directors and key management personnel of the bank.   Requirements of the deal A statement from Fortiz said those requirements had been met as of November 29, making the acquisition of Merchant Bank from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the SIC Financial Services Limited by the firm complete. “Fortiz has met the requisite and immediate conditions set by the BoG and wish to thank the hardworking management and staff of Merchant Bank for their support through this process. “We wish to thank the loyal customers of the bank who have stayed the course through the acquisition,” the statement, which was signed by the directors of Fortiz, said. It added that Fortiz was in the process of forming a strong executive team to “execute the vision of the shareholders”. “Our vision is to build a formidable indigenous bank within the next three years in order to become the most preferred bank in the country,” it said. Assurance It also assured stakeholders of the bank of plans to re-launch it into a modern, world-class, indigenous banking institution. The statement stressed that in addition to capital injection into the bank, the fund would aggressively pursue all defaulters and reinvest recovered bad loans into the bank to ensure a sizeable balance sheet. “Recognising the importance of staff, we will also look to improving the working conditions of our team,” it added. Urgent question in Parliament Meanwhile, the NPP MP for Okaikoi Central, Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, has filed an urgent question to compel the Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper, to appear before Parliament to answer questions on the sale of Merchant Bank. According to the MP, he filed the question about three weeks ago but the minister was yet to be scheduled to appear before the House. Commenting on the sale of the bank, the NPP MP for New Juaben South, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, said that the transaction “is daylight robbery.  This is a dash from SSNIT to Fortiz, with the full blessing of the  Bank of Ghana”. He explained that SSNIT opted for a deal that did not give value for money, adding that the BoG had not conducted full and proper due diligence. Dr Assibey-Yeboah said the Fortiz deal was a weak bid from an entity with no experience in banking.  

A suspected currency dealer has been arrested for possessing counterfeit GH¢50 notes amounting to GH¢97,350 at Alajo in Accra. Following a tip-off, the suspect, Yussif Iziya, 40, was arrested at his residence on Tuesday. According to the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Prosper Agblor, after thorough investigations, the police found the fake currency notes hidden in the suspect’s room. He told the Daily Graphic the police would continue with investigations to establish the truth or otherwise of another allegation that the suspect was also a narcotics dealer. He said the police also believed that the suspect was in league with other suspected criminals and gave an assurance that the CID was on their heels to arrest them. Mr Agblor urged Ghanaians to always be on the look out for people with suspicious movements and conduct and report them accordingly. 

President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the expansion works at the Takoradi Port. The works, which form part of the government’s infrastructure expansion programme is being carried out in phases to modernize the country’s ports.Addressing a number of chiefs and people of the Western Region, Mr. Mahama said since 1928, the port had facilitated much of the country’s international trade by serving as the main port for some of the country’s resources which included manganese, bauxite, cocoa, timber and other agro-forestry products.He said the port had become the preferred port of call for many of the country’s land locked neighbours.“Over the years the vessel sizes and the operational request on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) had significantly changed, this situation requires immediate and radical solutions if the port is to remain competitive in the West African maritime environment,” he said.The president said the ongoing expansion works would position the Takoradi port to meet the demands of the growing international market.He said when the expansion was completed, the port would be able to segregate bulk cargo operations from containerized or roll-on roll–off operations since a new bulk handling terminal would be constructed.He noted that the expanded port would be able to take in modern and bigger vessels, reduce ship turnaround time and also provide a service and logistic base for the oil sector. He said upon competition, the port would provide employment to Ghanaians and that a minimum of 3,000 permanent jobs would be available.He said after the expansion works the port would play a bigger role in the development of the Western Region.He promised the chiefs that he would return to the region to cut the sod for the start of works on the Western Rail Lines.He said the government would soon announce a major expansion works for the Tema Port, and added that it was his vision to implement the Sekondi/Takoradi Industrial City Program that would further open up the region in a manner that would give true meaning to the potential of the region.The President noted that through the Sekondi/Takoradi Master Plan and the Western Regional Special Developmental Framework, government intended to consolidate growth and create additional space from the industrial expansion in the region.He said under the Central Business District (CBD), government was working on the development of Sekondi/Takoradi free zone enclave.President Mahama said an implementation team would be announced and charged with the responsibility to set up modalitiesfor the establishment of the Ghana Infrastructure Fund that was recently announced in the budget.He said it had always been the commitment of government to improve the living standards of Ghanaians especially the poor and vulnerable and that large sums of money had been spent on the provision of economic infrastructure though there was still a long way to go.He said state-owned enterprises like GPHA were attracting credit and finance on their own balance sheet and that this would help the government to implement the process of desegregation of debts.He said state owned enterprises that had the potential to pay their debts would be transferred to debts service accounts set up by the companies under the Ghana Infrastructure Programme.This, he said would significantly bring down the country’s debts to GDP ratio and it would also improve the country’s debts sustainability analysis.He recognized the collaboration between the GPHA and Viking Offshore Support Services for developing the country’s first local content oil support base in Takoradi.“The hub would service the entire West African oil and gas market,” he said.The Area Director of Jan De Nul, the Belgium company executing the first phase of the expansion works at the port, Mr. Filip Morobe said the challenge the port faced was to prepare ahead for the future demand and that challenge was what the port was solving.The Port of Takoradi is the country’s premier commercial port, opened in 1928 to facilitate the country’s international trade.The location of the port had made it the preferred and ideal gateway to middle and northern parts of the country and the Sahelian landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.Leading exports include manganese, bauxite, forest products and bulk and bagged cocoa beans, while leading imports include clinker, wheat, petroleum products, mining equipment and containerized cargo.In 2007, the country discovered oil in commercial quantities at Cape Three Points in the Western Region and as result of the port’s proximity to the oil and gas fields it had supported exploration and production activities at the oil and gas fields.