The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has donated items to some selected institutions. The donation, which took place at the forecourt of the ministry, was primarily aimed at improving the lives of the less-privileged during the festive period. The selected institutions include the Gambaga Witches Camp, the Mampong Babies Home, the Akropong School for the Blind, the Royal Seed Home and Partners in Community Development Programme (PACODEP) and Rescued Trafficked Children. The rest are the Boys Remand Home, the Sunyani Central Female Prison, the Ho Female Prison, Shelter for Abused Children and the Girls Correctional Centre. Each beneficiary institution received pieces of cloths, bags of rice, gallons of oil, boxes of Cerelac, cartons of Ideal milk, boxes of Chocolim, sanitary towels and bags of water. The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, said the ministry was mandated to ensure the empowerment of the vulnerable, the excluded, the aged and persons with disability through the use of social protection and other innovative interventions. “We view this as our obligation towards achieving national development. As we enter this festive occasion to celebrate with our loved ones, there are some who will struggle through the season for varied reasons and that is our motivation for this gesture,” she said The minister commended the various sponsors of the donation, adding that their relentless efforts had enabled the ministry to ensure improved livelihoods for beneficiaries.

President John Dramani Mahama, has urged drivers to avoid reckless driving to prevent accidents on the roads during the Christmas season. He said it was crucial for drivers to avoid speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol to save lives and property. President Mahama made the call at the President’s annual Christmas Party for selected school children at the Castle Gardens, Osu in Accra yesterday. As usual, the pupils were feted to food and drinks and presented with assorted gift items. The President advised the passengers, including children to speak up against reckless driving or the flouting of traffic regulations. That, he said, was crucial to prevent accidents and the consequent injuries and loss of lives. The President said often when the police deployed officers on the road, drivers complained that they were being harassed. Rather, he said, the police were on the road to enforce traffic regulations and support the police to prevent accidents. Accident rates in Ghana go up during Christmas seasons due mainly to reckless driving. Patriotism President Mahama called for collaboration between the government and other stakeholders, to nurture patriotism and nationalism in children. That he said, would make the children grow into responsible adults, who would contribute more to the country’s socio-economic development of the country. President Mahama made the call at the President’s annual Christmas Party for selected school children at the Castle Gardens, Osu in Accra yesterday. He expressed worry over the eroding sense of nationalism and patriotism in the country and their replacement by selfish values. Civic education President Mahama stressed the need for basic schools to pay attention to lessons on civic behaviour, courtesy and patriotism. He said at his recent meeting with members of the Council of State, the issue of the waning sense of patriotism among the youth of the country came up strongly in their discussions. Basic education President Mahama said the government spent about 60 per cent of the educational budget on basic education alone to get the foundation right. He said the capitation grant, the school feeding programme and the distribution of free uniforms and exercise books would continue to ensure quality education for every child of school age. “More than 13 million textbooks have been distributed to meet the ratio of one pupil to one textbook in all the core subjects. All these actions of government are being taken to prepare you for your future," he told the children. President Mahama impressed on the pupils that they could achieve academic excellence if they continued to be disciplined.  "If you achieve high academic laurels in school, the sky will be your limit in the future," he told them. The President advised the pupils to be always conscious of the environment and advised them against indiscriminate littering and also educated them on the need to conserve power and adopt preventive measures to help curb the spate of fire outbreaks in the country. The Minister for Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, announced that the ministry would introduce a programme next year to whip up children’s interest in reading to help address the falling standards in English language proficiency among pupils and students. She advised the schoolchildren to do their best and be proud of their country at all times. So far, she said, more than 60,000 computers had been distributed under the basic schools computerisation project, while a number of teachers had been trained in ICT and supplied with laptops. basic schools to pay attention to lessons on civic behaviour, courtesy and patriotism. He said at his recent meeting with members of the Council of State, the issue of the waning sense of patriotism among the youth of the country came up strongly in their discussions.

In spite of the fire that gutted the Old Parliament House in Accra last Thursday, documents belonging to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and the Commission on Judgement Debts are said to be intact. While CHRAJ  has dismissed claims that its investigations into recent corruption issues such as SADA and the SUBAH saga were lost in the fire outbreak, the Judgement Debt Commission has assured the public, especially its stakeholders, that although the fire incident had been severe, it did not affect any life and that it would not seriously affect its work. For its part, EOCO said although computers and lorry tyres contained in one big store were destroyed, that had not affected its operations. In a radio interview, the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mrs Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, said although the commission lost substantial documents to the fire, there were back-ups for recent works and gave an assurance that there was no cause for alarm, as the commission had a back-up system. At a news conference in Accra yesterday, she blamed the fire on poor electrical wiring in the building. She said although she had filed a number of complaints about the deteriorating electrical wiring system, nothing had been done about it.    At an emergency meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Bani, and attended by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, and  representatives of the affected offices in the building, the affected offices were requested to provide preliminary reports on their needs. The Old Parliament House accommodates CHRAJ, the EOCO and the Commission on Judgement Debts. CHRAJ items destroyed However, a Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Joe Whittal, told the Daily Graphic that the commission lost its entire library, which contained all its publications since its inception, foreign law reports and journals dated as far back as 1914. He added that the entire Public Education Department had also been lost and that the department was responsible for nationwide protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms and human rights. According to Mr Whittal, the Research Unit that published all reports, including the annual state of human rights report, had also been destroyed, as well as data and equipment, including computers and records, both on soft and hard copies. “The fire also gutted the Human Resource Unit, destroying all documents and records that were kept in that office,” he said. He said the whole of the Anti-Corruption Department had been completely destroyed, along with equipment and documents. He added that the stores unit that recently made a large procurement, including stationery, tyres, computers, among others, was also gutted by the fire.  Also the office of the Transport Officer which contained keys to 15 newly purchased cross-country vehicles and some other documentation on the commission’s assets was destroyed. The deputy CHRAJ boss stated that about 40 members of staff had been displaced as a result of the  fire outbreak. The CHRAJ headquarters, therefore, he said, could not operate, as the fire had disrupted electricity supply. EOCO A source at the EOCO told the Daily Graphic that because of the extensive destruction of its property, EOCO had been compelled to move into its newly established offices ahead of the scheduled date. Judgement Debt Commission A statement signed and issued by Mr George William Dove, the Public Relations Officer of the Judgement Debt Commission, said the commission would relocate to a place to be announced soon. It expressed its gratitude to the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for their prompt response which ensured that the fire was put out. “The Commission of Inquiry into Judgement Debt awaits the Fire Report from the Fire Service to know the cause of the fire,” it said, and expressed appreciation to the  public for their concern and unflinching support for the commission’s work.

A survey conducted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in 2012 on teenage pregnancy has revealed that about 750,000 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 became pregnant in that year, with 14,000 of them coming from the Central Region. The Chief Justice, Justice Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, disclosed this  in a speech read on her behalf by a Court of Appeal judge, Mrs Justice Barbara Ackah Yensu, at the launch of the State of the World Population 2013 Report in Accra yesterday. The launch, on the theme, “Motherhood in childhood: Facing the challenges of adolescent pregnancy”, was attended by a cross-section of the media, representatives of United Nations bodies, interest groups and the Kayayei Association in Accra. Mrs Justice Wood stressed the need to empower girls to enable them to make informed decisions in and for their lives. She said adolescents were the future and that depending on the opportunities available to them and the choices they made during their time, “they can become empowered and active adults or be neglected and rooted in poverty”. She, therefore, charged parents, religious and opinion leaders to create the right environment for children to grow and develop properly. Situation globally Mrs Justice Wood reiterated the fact that millions of girls worldwide were coerced into unwanted sex or marriage, thereby exposing them to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and dangerous childbirth. She said statistics available indicated that 70,000 adolescent deaths occurred annually from complications in pregnancy and childbirth in developing countries. The Report The report revealed that 20,000 girls below the age 18 give birth in developing countries daily, with nine in 10 of them occurring within marriage or a union. It said pregnancy had major consequences on a girl’s health, since health problems were more likely if she became pregnant too soon after reaching puberty. In a welcoming address, the UNFPA Representative, Dr Bernard Coquelin, stressed the fact that teenage pregnancies affected girls negatively when it came to health, education, attainment and basic rights. “The girls need a safe and healthy transition into adulthood, but in some cases this is not reality,” he said, adding that “in many parts of the world, adolescents - especially girls - may be taken out of school, coerced into unwanted sex, subjected to early and forced marriage, bear unwanted pregnancies, experience unsafe abortion or become infected with HIV”. Documentary A documentary depicting the real life stories of girls between the ages of 16 and 18 in the Central Region who had to deal with the consequences of teenage pregnancy was shown as part of the launch  to educate members of the kayayei association on the risk of early child-bearing.

A government directive to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to purchase or renew their insurance cover with only wholly or partially owned state insurance companies is stirring controversy in the insurance industry. Some players in the industry say that the apparent introduction of monopoly into the industry is likely to affect the operations of private companies which are playing key roles in the economic development of the country. President John Dramani Mahama, in a directive dated December 9, 2013 to all ministers of state and signed by Dr Raymond Atuguba, the Executive Secretary to the President, said with immediate effect MDAs should purchase or renew their insurance cover required in the course of government business solely with insurance companies wholly or partially owned by the state. According to the directive, any MDA which had cause to do otherwise must first of all obtain the required permission. “I would be grateful if all ministers could ensure that MDAs under the jurisdiction of their ministries comply strictly with this directive,” Dr Atuguba said in the letter to the MDAs. Reaction from Insurers  Operators in the insurance industry are, however, not happy with the directive. Members of the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) and the Ghana Insurance Brokers Association (GIBA) have described the directive as a discriminatory order which seeks to preclude private insurance companies from participating in the insurance business of government. They have, therefore, written to President Mahama to, in the interest of the growth and development of the insurance industry in Ghana, reverse the directive with immediate effect. “It is our respectful opinion that the current directive is completely at variance with the positive efforts that your government is making to promote the private sector as the engine of growth,” they said. Number of Insurance Companies Out of the 48 licensed insurance and reinsurance companies in the country, only State Insurance (SIC) Ghana Limited, SIC Life Insurance Company Limited and Ghana Reinsurance Company (GRC) Limited are either partially or wholly owned by the state. However, the SIC is a public listed company whose shares are held by both local and foreign investors, with the government owning about 40 per cent shares. The GIA and the insurance brokers argued that the privately owned insurance and broking companies made a significant contribution to the economy, as the industry employed 4,000 permanent staff and more than 5,000 people as insurance sales agents. “This discriminatory directive will lead to retrenchment of staff and loss of income-earning opportunities for the large number of citizens who sell insurance as agents,” they said. The industry, they said, exclusively funded the operations of the National Insurance Commission through the payment of fees and levies and also made significant contributions to the National Road Safety Commission, the National Health Insurance Authority, the Motor Insurance Compensation Fund, the Fire Fund, as well as the national treasury through the payment of various taxes. Private insurance companies, they said, also undertook significant corporate social responsibility projects that benefited marginalised and deprived segments of the population. “We are at a loss as to who the real beneficiaries of this directive will be in the long run. We are in no doubt that the directive will not inure to the benefit of the nation and will only serve the interest of a few individuals,” they said. Explaining further the action of the government, a source at the Presidency said the directive was not to crowd out private insurance companies.It said if any MDA had any reason to renew insurance with a private company, it could apply for permission to do so. It said the insurance law provided that an insurer had the liberty to choose any insurance company to do business with.   Monopoly In the late 1980s, Section 64 of the Insurance Law 1989, PNDCL 227, required all government agencies, statutory bodies or corporations in which the government owned more than 50 per cent interest to be insured with the SIC. After about two decades, the law was repealed because it was found to be inconsistent with government policy on the private sector and government’s obligations under international treaties. That led to the enactment of the Insurance Act, 2006, Act 724 which removed the monopoly enjoyed by the SIC and created conditions for a level playing field for all market players. In the reinsurance market, it was also found that the GRC was also enjoying monopoly. Parliament, therefore, repealed the Ghana Reinsurance Organisation Law, 1984 (PNDCL 79) and the Ghana Reinsurance Organisation (Amendment) Law 1987 (PNDC Law 169). Subsequently a 20 per cent compulsory legal concession to the GRC which came into effect in 2009 was also removed.   Writers Email Address: [email protected]

  An 18-year-old boy, described as a terror of Effiduase in the Ashanti Region, has been remanded in custody for allegedly conspiring with some accomplices to rob a number of residents at Effiduase and its environs at gunpoint. Yaw Boakye was remanded by a Kumasi High Court, presided over  by Justice E.A. Lodoh, on three counts of robbery and two counts of unlawfully causing harm. Presenting the facts of the case to the court, the prosecutor, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, a State Attorney, said Boakye, who claimed to be an auto electrician, together with his accomplices, forcibly entered the room of the complainants, a couple, around 7:30 pm on November 18, 2013, and attacked them at gunpoint. He said Boakye, who was wielding a locally manufactured pistol, attacked the husband and shot him in the stomach. The prosecutor said Boakye and his gang ransacked the room and took two mobile phones, GH¢800 cash and other personal items. According to Mr Otoo-Boison, the shouts of the man attracted his wife who was in the bedroom. As soon as she rushed into the hall, Boakye pointed the loaded pistol at her, pulled the trigger and shot her private parts. He said notwithstanding the injuries their victims sustained, which caused them to bleed profusely, Boakye and his accomplices, escaped with their booty in a taxicab which they had earlier hijacked from its owner identified as Kwaku Acheampong  at gunpoint. Mr Otoo-Boison said on their way, Boakye saw a Cocoa Purchasing Clerk coming from the opposite direction on a motorbike and, without any provocation, drove into the vehicle, hurting him in the process. According to Mr Otoo-Boison, unmindful of the injuries caused to the rider and his passenger, Boakye and his accomplices pounced on them and robbed them of the GH¢6,608 they had on them. The prosecutor said Boakye and his accomplices also robbed them of their two mobile phones before absconding. He said the riders reported the ordeal they went through to the Effiduase Police. Mr Otoo-Boison said later after the report was made to the police,  the Effiduase Police said they had information that Boakye had been arrested in another robbery case. The police accordingly followed up and arrested Boakye and put him before the court.    

  Relationship failures are always painful irrespective of who causes it. You may feel abandoned, rejected, inferior, humiliated, disappointed and exploited. You go through grief which may predispose you to bitterness which may shatter your life. Ten years ago, two young adults fell in love. The woman was ‘loaded’ and sacrificed everything to see her young man through to Masters Degree. She got him a good job. Just when they had completed arrangement for the traditional marriage, the man pulled out. His claim was that the woman was a year older and came from a different tribe. The woman was devastated and very bitter. She withdrew from social life and got angry with herself, her ex and the whole world. She suffered stroke and died later. This is what bitterness can do. What is bitterness? Bitterness is a feeling of acrimony, resentment, indignation or ill-will as a result of real or imagined grievance. It occurs when you think someone has taken something from you which you cannot get. It grows as you hold on to the hurt and remind yourself and others of the injustice you have experienced  in the hope that someone will save you and restore to you what you have lost. You justify yourself and keep accusing your lover. It does nothing to heal your wound. Instead, it causes your wound to be more infected. Bitterness predisposes one to many physical, emotional and mental problems. Today, psychologists assert that the majority of our diseases are caused by bitterness. This means if you become bitter, instead of being a victor, you become a victim no matter how right you are and how badly your partner has treated you. Bitterness tricks your conscience as substance abuse works; you long for it as you focus on it and justify your pain. Bitterness dominates all areas of your life. Overcoming bitterness Give yourself time to think of what your lover did to hurt you. Feel the pain so that you can get rid of it. You may do a symbolic act as you imagine the pain going away. Move away from things such as photos, video and mail that reminds you of your lover. Your ex has moved on and so must you. Do not hold on to him or her and hope for a comeback. Get over him or her even when you think you can’t do without him. Anyone who hurts you is not worthy of your pain.Email:  [email protected]. The writer is the Director of Eudoo Counselling Centre,West Legon. He is also the author of ‘your guide to marriage’ ‘love unlimited’ and ‘the journey of love’  

  The Attorney General’s Department (AG) has hinted that it might not prosecute any of the persons or companies involved in the GYEEDA scandal. According to the AG, there might be no need for prosecution since the companies involved have pledged to refund the monies that were illegally paid to the state. RLG Communications, Asongtaba Cottage Industries and Craftpro have all committed to refund some 55 million Ghana Cedis to the State. According to Citifmonline.com, the Deputy Attorney General, Domnic Ayineh said prosecution would only take place when there is substantial evidence to establish that the crime has been committed. “To prosecute somebody, you should have evidence of criminality and what crime have they committed by simply entering into a transaction that has been declared.” Mr. Ayineh further stated that the AG’s department will only prosecute the respective companies if the investigations carried out by the AG’s department, “throws out any act or conduct of a criminal character” “We certainly shall be looking at the possibility of taking criminal action against the company or the directors or shareholders of the company,”Mr. Ayineh added. According to him, the EOCO and other agencies of the Attorney General’s Department are still investigating the issue. “As we speak, they are interrogating directors, shareholders, of the beneficiary companies so until that are done, and we have established acts of criminality. In Mr. Ayineh’s opinion, the companies should not be simply dragged to court because the public says so. “I don't think that we should jump to the conclusion that necessarily because moneys were paid out of government coffers, criminal conduct was engaging.I think this is the problem that we have because public perception is that once any money has been paid, there is either corruption or bribery, but we need to establish beyond reasonable doubt that this is the case before we can go to court. We are not going rush to court because the public is pushing for these people to be prosecuted. We have to change the way we do business at the attorney general’s department. We won’t drag ordinary citizens names into the mud just because the public wants us to do so,” Mr. Ayineh said.  

    With Christmas trees already on display in the supermarkets and commuters trooping into the central business district of Accra and other urban areas to shop, there is no doubt that the Christmas fever is on. The Mirror visited various markets in Accra to ascertain how people were getting ready to shop for the Yuletide. On the streets around the Makola (Central) Market, traders are competing with vehicles and pedestrians for space. Interestingly, the Kaneshie, Mallam Atta, Nima, Mamobi, Batsona, Odorna and London markets, which are equally big, were not as busy as the central market. For most people, Christmas is the time to dress up in their best clothes and eat exotic and sumptuous dishes. It is for these reasons that the shops were all packed with trendy clothes for babies, toddlers, teenagers, ladies and gentlemen of various ages and sizes. There are two categories of clothes being sold in town — the original designer clothes and the ones known as the Chinese replica. Original shoes and clothes by designers such as Carters, United Colours of Beneton, Next and Baby Gap for children range between GH¢60 and ¢350, while the Chinese clothes are between GH¢15 and GH¢150. Top quality ladies’ clothes in some of the boutiques are between  GH¢150 and GH¢1,500 for casual, evening and all occasions wear. A quality Polo shirt for men is selling between GH¢50 and GH¢200, while shirts are going for between GH¢150 and GH¢350. Suits are also in the range of GH¢500 and GH¢2,000, depending on the designer. Interestingly, some Chinese shirts for both men and women could be acquired for between GH¢10 and GH¢35. Currently, both men and women are using wax prints to design shirts, skirts, trousers and the traditional kaba and slit. At the GTP retail shops, half pieces of the Safoa wax prints are selling at ¢40, Nustyle prints for ¢45, while the Adepa print is GH¢60 (for half piece). VLISCO wax prints is selling at GH¢130 per half piece for the Holland Java, Holland Block is ¢160 while Holland Super is GH¢200. For those who love Printex, with GH¢35, you can grab six yards for any style or spend about ¢60 for the block which is a higher grade. Laces of different shades are also in vogue, with some traders selling the materials per yard. A ‘baby’ lace could be bought at ¢20 per yard, while a good Swiss lace is GH¢250 per yard. Fancy leather and plastic watches for both sexes are selling between GH¢2 and GH¢35. Accessories such as earrings, chains, anklets and hair bands are between 50Gp and GH¢10. Chains and earrings made from copper and Romania gold cost between GH¢15 and GH¢500. The season has also brought various types of rice on the market. However, a good five-kilogramme perfume rice is selling between GH¢15 and GH¢25, while a 25kg is between GH¢80 and GH¢120. A five-litre vegetable oil is between GH¢8 and GH¢25, depending on the brand. For the meat eaters, an average size chicken is between GH¢15 and GH¢35, while a crate of eggs is between GH¢8 and GH¢15. Meanwhile, sheep and goats are selling between GH¢250 and GH¢1,000, depending on their sizes. At the moment, tomatoes, a key vegetable for soups, stews and salads, are a bit expensive. A paint bucketful of tomatoes is between GH¢12 and GH¢25, while onions sell between GH¢5 and GH¢15. There are various brands of fruit juices, wine, gin, whisky and vodka being sold on the market. Some of the fruit juices are selling between GH¢5 and GH¢8, while the wines and other top brand liquor are between GH¢15 and GH¢400. Although the city centre is all packed, the good news is that personnel of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service are at various vantage points around the city ensuring that there is free flow of traffic.    

  Has the number plate of a vehicle ever put a smile on your face? Have you felt like smashing the vehicle when you read what was on the number plate? Or has it set you thinking of owning a vehicle to customise it? Vanity, personalised or customised number plates have been in vogue for a long time and is mostly considered as a status symbol for the ‘rich and famous’. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has since 2009 to date registered 946 customised number plates nationwide. Giving the breakdown, the Public Relations Manager of the DVLA, Mr Kwaku Darko Aferi, said in 2009, the authority registered 330 but this reduced to 150 vehicles in 2010. In the year 2011 a record low of 85 vehicles were registered. The number increased to 158 in 2012 while in 2013 a total of 223 vehicles were registered. Mr Aferi said technically, the DVLA refers to customised plates as ‘Vehicles with Particular Identification Marks’. What is vanity plate? A vanity, personalised or customised plate is a special type of vehicle registration plate on an automobile or other vehicle. The owner of the vehicle usually pays extra amount of money to have his or her own choice of numbers or letters, usually forming a recognisable phrase, slogan, name or abbreviation on the plate. According to an expert in automobile, Mr Terrence Atta-Sonno, depending on how the plates are easy to read and decipher, the message captured on a vanity plate could either make the observer smile, frown, shake their heads or give the thumbs-up, depending on the degree of agreement with the message they see. Process According to the Deputy Director of Vehicle Inspection and Registration, Alhaji Iddrisu Huseini, the process of acquiring a personalised number plate is as simple as that of acquiring normal vehicle registration. The only difference, however, is that one must put in an application specifying what he or she wants for a customised number plate. He said whatever name or phrase that one chooses to put on the number plate must be decent and not offensive. He stated for instance that if one decides to use “cocaine” as a number plate, it may sound quite offensive to others. He mentioned that the number of characters for a personalised number plate must not be more than six. Alhaji Huseini said the customised number plate is for one car only and not transferable. For instance if you have a customised number plate for ‘Car A’, you cannot transfer it to ‘Car B’. Additionally, he said if one decides to sell a car that has a customised number plate, he or she would have to write to the DVLA to withdraw that number plate and then the new owner decides the type of number plate to use. Vanity plate – a preserve of the rich? It costs GH¢3,000 for a personalised number plate. This amount excludes the registration fee of the vehicle, which also varies depending on the type of car. Validation of vehicles Mr Aferi said as of now, vehicle registration numbers, once issued, are for permanent usage and vehicle owners do not have to renew them. However, he said with the passage of the Road Traffic Regulations L. I. 2180, all vehicle owners are enjoined by law to validate their vehicle registration numbers on annual basis before being allowed to use them. He said the DVLA was working round the clock to digitise its records before implementing this particular provision in the L.I. “This will ensure that information is easily available, at the click of a button in all DVLA offices around the country so that such validation could be done without undue pressure on vehicle owners who would otherwise have to travel long distances for the validation process,” he said.  Who is who Highlife musician, Amakye Dede has ‘SERIOUS 1 - 11’ embossed on the number plate of his black Ranger Rover Sport and he says “Serious is my stage name that is the only reason why I customised my car by that name and people easily recognise me by the car.” However, he observed that this sometimes causes people to trespass on his privacy, since he may sometimes want to be at places unnoticed. “There is nothing much I can do so when I really want my privacy I use a car with a normal registration number or board a taxi or trotro but interestingly people still recognise me. It is fun to be in commercial vehicles. It reminds me of where I came from,” he said. Black Stars Captain, Asamoah Gyan, has customised his number plate as ‘Baby Jet 3’ while actress Jackie Appiah’s number plate reads ‘Jackie’. Tottenham player, Emmanuel Adebayor, has his initials SEA (Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor) on most of his cars while former Black Stars player, John Paintsil, has JP on his number plate. The MP for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, has his Rolls Royce registered ‘KEN 50-10’ and the Chief Imam has ‘IMAM 1’.  

  The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday said about 9,800 Ivorian refugees are currently living in Ghana. The UNHCR said of the number, 8,000 are living in three emergency camps in the Western, Brong- Ahafo and Central Regions, which are not conducive for them, with the rest living as urban refugees. Ms Patience Folley, UNHCR Ghana Assistant Public Information Officer made the disclosure during a media encounter with some United Nations Agencies in Accra. She said the Ivorian refugees need about 1,200 semi-permanent housing units; however the UNHCR had been able to put up 364 of them. She said the UNHCR is ensuring that refugees in Ghana are self-reliant by helping them to stand on their feet, adding that “we are providing them with skills training”. Ms Folley gave the assurance that through the help of other UN Agencies and donor organisations, the UNHCR would be able to provide enough food for refugees living in camps in Ghana in 2014. She said UNHCR is facing challenges in dealing with urban refugees, since they are not at a particular point for them to be conveniently attended to.She noted that the major problem facing refugees in Ghana is work permit. Ms Folley described the Liberian refugees’ situation in Ghana as a protracted case; since they had lived in the country for more than 20 years and peace had return to their home country. She said Liberian refugees’ cessation was invoked in June 2012, however, about 5,000 0f them are currently living in Ghana under the suspended effect. She said a team of experts from the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week ended their work of vetting and issuing them with their nationality passport at the Liberian refugees’ camp in Ghana Ms Folley said the Liberian refugees’ camp could be closed down by the end of December, declaring that the refugees are being assisted with some grants to enable them integrate into the country. She said two-year residence permit had been given to them. In March 2011, refugees fleeing the fighting in the Ivorian post electoral violence crossed over to Ghana; after the war, majority of them had since returned home under the auspices of the UNHCR.  

  One of the four security personnel of Jidem Security Services Company, who escaped arrest in a Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST) oil stealing case two months ago, has surrendered to the police.   Albert Youmi turned himself over to the Asokwa Police after going into hiding for several weeks.  He has been subsequently charged with the offence of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing before a Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr D. W. P. Amedior, who granted him bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 with a surety. He is to re-appear before the court on the January 14, 2014. An accomplice,  Stephen Nana Yaw Nketiah, who was arrested at the crime scene, was also granted bail in the sum of GH¢5,000 with a surety after a plea from his counsel. The police are still searching for three other accomplices. Background Two months ago, the Asokwa Police, upon a tip-off stormed the premises of BOST and managed to arrest Nketiah, the then Security Supervisor of Jidem Security Services Company. At the time of the arrest, 18 big drums had been filled with fuel, valued at about GH¢9,400. Four big drums and 22 jerrycans were yet to be filled, while a KIA truck, with the inscription, “Respect the Police”, which the suspects used, was left behind at the scene. Four other security personnel, including Youmi, who were on duty and were involved in the crime, scaled the walls of the company when they saw that their boss had been arrested.    The breaking of the syndicate came at the time BOST officials had complained of huge losses through dubious means at the various levels of the company’s operations. Jidem Securities had at the time of the arrest, been contracted by BOST, the national transmitter of petroleum products, to provide daily security services at its depot in Kumasi. The engagement of the company was part of a high-level security control plan to protect life and property at all BOST depots and transmission lines. Meanwhile, the BOST Workers Union in Kumasi has appealed to the Attorney General to ensure a quick prosecution of the case. Union Secretary, Mr Maxwell Seluk, told the Daily Graphic that the outcome of the case would serve as a deterrent to the other workers and also prevent a recurrence. He said the continuous adjournment of the case and the way the accused persons moved about freely, created the impression that no seriousness was attached to the case.  

  The Judgement Debt Commission (JDC) on Thursday assured the public that even though the fire outbreak that gutted its premises was severe, it would not seriously affect its work. It said the fire did not affect any life, adding that the Commission would relocate and the new place would be announced soon. A statement issued by George William Dove, Public Relations Officer of the Commission said the Old Parliament House, which accommodates, the JDC, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and Economic and Organised Crime Office was gutted by fire in the early hours of Thursday. It noted that at about 0400 hours, there was fire outbreak in the main chamber of the old Parliament House, opposite the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, which prompted fire control measures, while Ghana National Fire Rescue Service (GNFRS) was called. The statement expressed the Commission’s gratitude to GNFRS, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces and National Disaster Management Organisation for their prompt response, which ensured that the fire was put out. It said the Commission awaits the fire report from the GNFRS to know the cause of the fire. “The Commission of Inquiry into Judgment Debt is also grateful to the public for their concerns and unflinching support not only at this time but since the commencement of its work,” it said. Meanwhile, Government has announced that investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the fire that gutted the premises of the Old Parliament House in Accra. A statement issued by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations noted that,  “Owing to the importance of the work of the state organisations    affected by the fire, government wishes to assure all Ghanaians that urgent steps are being taken to find them temporary offices where they can continue their critical work for the state.”  

  The chief of Pokukrom, a suburb of Abuakwa near Kumasi, has shot himself dead over what relatives linked to a GH¢50,000 debt owed a woman. Police at Abuakwa said they found the remains of the deceased, Nana Owusu Sekyere, 63, in his bedroom at about 5.30a.m. with the single barreled gun which he allegedly used to kill himself beside the body. A daughter of the deceased, who gave her name only as Juliet, said family members in the house were awoken by the sound of a gun and rushed to the room to see the chief lying in a pool of blood. She said the police were quickly called in from the Abuakwa District Police Station. The deceased lived in his own house with his wife and children. Confirming the incident, the Abuakwa District Crime officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP ) Mr Jeremiah Alare, told the Daily Graphic that, " The chief shot himself in the stomach and died instantly." He added: " We don't suspect any foul play." According to him, information police gathered from family members indicated that the deceased owed a woman GH¢50,000 and the case was before the police at Sofoline. Mr Alare said last Wednesday, the widow of the chief managed to mobilise GH¢5,000 for the deceased to defray part of the debt. Unfortunately, while they were asleep, the chief decided to end it all by killing himself. The crime officer said no suicide note was left behind but there was every evidence to believe that the chief took his own life. His remains has been deposited at the morgue at Toase Hospital while the gun used in the act was in the possession of the police.  

  It is not clear when the Osu Oxford Street Mall will be opened, as officials of the AMA and the management of the mall have declined to state when the impasse will be resolved. When the Daily Graphic visited the mall last Tuesday, officials of the AMA and the consultants to the project, Multicad, were on an inspection tour of the facilities.  An official of Multicad, who gave his name as Offei, told the Daily Graphic that the inspection was to ascertain whether the structure met the standards set by the city authorities. He was optimistic that after the tour, the AMA would give the management of the mall the go-ahead to operate. The AMA closed down the mall last Monday because it said its management had failed to acquire an occupancy certificate. A notice stamped on the entrance to the mall read, “Notice of Closure: This Building has not been issued occupancy certificate. Please contact the Accra Metropolitan Assembly for the certificate.” Workers and customers reporting for work in the afternoon were prevented by private security persons from entering the building. Tenants in the mall, including Shoprite and Samsung posted on their doors notices that read: “The shop has been temporarily closed. Sorry for the inconvenience.”  The 13-storey mall has 27 shops, including Shoprite. Other tenants include Unibank and Golden Dragon Casino. Although the mall had been closed, Unibank, which is located on the ground floor, was fully operational. One of the workers, who gave his name as Michael, told the Daily Graphic that about noon last Monday authorities from the AMA closed down the shop. “We are told management does not have the permit to operate,” he said. Another staff member who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was unfair for the AMA to close down the other shops in the building while Unibank, which is also located within the mall, was allowed to operate. The mall The 13-storey shopping mall and hotel complex built by the Ghana Libyan Arab Holding Limited (GLAHCO) was opened for business early this month. GLAHCO is a joint-venture between the Libyan Arab African Investment Company (LAAICO) and the government of Ghana.   

  Farmers are still using old methods of storing produce despite the introduction of improved storage facilities by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to reduce post-harvest losses. According to the 2013 Auditor General’s Report on MoFA’s Support to Farmers to increase Food Security, “the farmers were not using these storage facilities because they said the facilities were expensive to construct”.  “MoFA’s development partners and NGOs had constructed storage facilities in the communities for farmers who could not afford their own storage facilities, but these were few in number. “Farmers were still using their old methods of storing produce, which resulted in high post-harvest losses,” it said. Recommendation The report said for farmers to use the improved storage facilities, MoFA should identify districts where farmers were not using appropriate storage facilities and introduce them to the appropriate storage technology. In addition, the ministry should re-emphasise the benefit farmers would derive from using the improved storage facilities during their training sessions, adding that it should also share the success stories of farmers in Kpando and Hohoe who had adopted the improved storage facilities and provide incentives for private businesses and NGOs to build more storage facilities in the districts. MoFA’s response According to the report, MoFA had accepted the recommendations. Purpose of audit The purpose of the audit was to determine whether MoFA’s implementation of food security strategies in the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP) II had resulted in six per cent growth rate per annum in the prioritised food crops and whether new storage technologies introduced had reduced post-harvest losses.  The audit covered the period 2007 to 2011.  To ensure that farmers produced more food crops to make food available all-year round, the ministry formulated and implemented the FASDEP I to modernise the agricultural sector from 2002 to 2006.  MoFA, however, revised FASDEP I to reflect the lessons learnt and responded to the changing needs of the sector. FASDEP II was formulated with the objective to ensure food security from 2007 to 2015.  The MoFA, in FASDEP II, set a target of six per cent.  Food security strategies The Auditor General’s Report further said MoFA implemented food security strategies in FASDEP II to increase production of the five prioritised food crops (rice, maize, cassava, yam and cowpea) to achieve its annual growth rate of six per cent, adding that “from 2007 to 2010, the ministry was able to go above the six per cent target but reduced to four per cent in 2011”.  It said although the ministry was able to achieve above the target, production decreased every year from 27 per cent in 2007 to nine per cent in 2010, dipping further to four per cent in 2011.  Production increases The report said it analysed production figures from MoFA’s annual reports and the Ghana Statistical Service and found that production of the five prioritised food crops increased from 16,118 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2007 to 22,921 million metric tonnes in 2011.  The increase was attributed to the introduction of block farm, fertilizer subsidy and roots and tubers improvement marketing programmes and mechanised services which the ministry introduced from 2007.  Production of the five food crops from 2001 to 2006 increased in absolute terms from 12.7 million metric tonnes to 22.9 million metric tonnes in 2011.  

    The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has given a further boost to its operations with the inauguration of a technologically-based quarter fold machine for the printing of books and other journals. The new addition forms part of the management’s effort to make the Graphic Press a general printing production line instead of focusing solely on newspaper printing. Stakeholders in the publishing, printing and advertising industry attended the launch in Accra yesterday. Quarter Fold Machine The machine has the capacity to print 70,000 cuts of a 32-page full colour section within an hour. It can also print 20 million books within two months.   Inaugurating the machine, the Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, commended the GCGL for the achievement, saying the company had set the pace for others to emulate. She said having acquired that machine, the GCGL could expand its frontiers to other areas apart from the business of newspapers. Foreign printed books Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed the hope that now that the government had waived tariffs on materials used for the production of books, Ghanaians would take advantage and print more books locally. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, announced that to promote the reading culture among children, she would, next year, launch a national series dubbed: “Children writing for children,” which would involve schoolchildren writing their own stories to be compiled into a book. She said as the immediate past Board Chairperson of the GCGL, it was her desire that the company should become a good reference source of information as it was the case with other internationally recognised newspapers. Managing Director Earlier in his welcoming address, the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, expressed worry that the local component of the print industry had been virtually non-existent for many years because the industry players lacked capacity and were uncompetitive. “For too long, Ghanaian businesses have lost out because we have not been able to come together to create that critical mass we require to compete on the global stage…,” he said.  Mr Ashigbey, therefore, called on the government to act as a catalyst to bring Ghanaian firms together for “this battle that confronts us”. Industry challenges  Mr Ashigbey identified lack of funds and delay in payment for government contracts as some of the biggest challenges facing printers and publishers. He said development adversely affected cash flow, compelling printers and publishers to borrow at high interest rates and appealed to the government to help deal with that challenge. The Board Chairperson of the GCGL, Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, said as a member of the Ghana Association of Writers, she had been encouraging the culture of book reading in the country and called on stakeholders in the industry to team up and launch a campaign to promote the reading culture.    

  A grand durbar has been held at Akropong in the Eastern Region to seal the re-unification process of the Akuapem Traditional Area. The durbar, held last Wednesday, was attended by all the five divisional chiefs of the traditional area who severed relationship with Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, the Paramount Chief of the area 20 years ago because of a number of grievances. They are Nana Otutu Kono, the Chief of Adukrom, who is also the Nifahene; Nana Asiedu Okoo, the Benkumhene and Chief of Larteh, and Otoobuor Gyan Kwasi, the Aburihene who doubles as the Adontenhene of the traditional area. The rest are Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman, the Krontihene and Chief of Akropong, and Nana Osim Kwatia, the Gyasehene and Chief of Amanokrom.  Also in attendance were all the sub-chiefs of Akuapem and some dignitaries including the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture, Dr Seidu Danaa and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso. Allegiance                              Nana Otutu Kono and Nana Asiedu Okoo, who were installed as chiefs during the period of the crisis and, therefore, did not swear the oath of allegiance to the omanhene took turns to do so to the Akuapem overlord who sat in state, surrounded by his retinue. That was after the two chiefs had each presented drinks, a sheep and cash, in accordance with tradition to the Okuapehene and Okuapeman. Otoobuor Gyan Kwasi did not swear the oath of allegiance because he had done so 25 years ago during his installation as chief before severing relations with the paramountcy but he affirmed his resolve to serve Oseadeeyo. Osahene Kwasi Agyeman then addressed the gathering and expressed his happiness that the crisis had been resolved, adding “Never again should Akuapem go through such a terrible experience.” Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa In a brief statement, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa, who spoke through one of his courtiers, Opanyin Amoako Yirenkyi, recalled that efforts were made to resolve the dispute as soon as it occurred but they had been unsuccessful until now. He thanked President John Mahama and the Eastern Regional Minister for their immense contributions that had culminated in the re-unification of Akuapem. Dr Danaa Dr Danaa, in a brief address, stressed the significance of chieftaincy to the development of the nation and asked traditional areas with chieftaincy disputes to emulate the Akuapem example.  

  Days after being crowned the national best plantain farmer at the 29th national Farmers Day in the Volta Region, Mr Kwadwo Nsafoa-Poku says he is embarking on a programme to entice the youth, especially those with formal education, to enter plantain farming in order to take advantage of the returns in the sector. The 66-year-old farmer said plantain farming, especially the plantation type, had the potential to become one of the most profitable agribusinesses in Ghana if well planned and managed, and it was important for the youth to respond positively to it. In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, Mr Nsafoa-Poku, who owns Amanfrom Farms, said his outfit had instituted an out-grower scheme to support youthful farmers at Makyinimabre in the Nkoranza South District in the Brong Ahafo Region to undertake plantain farming employing modern agricultural practices. The programme would be extended to other plantain-growing regions in the country beginning next year. Mr Nsafoa-Poku said besides these, his farms provided uncontaminated plantain suckers free of charge to farmers in the catchment areas to plant. Produce from the Amanfrom Farms, he said, had a ready market in Fresh-Pak Company, an agro processing company in Accra which produces plantation chips for both local and international markets. Amanfrom Farms is also providing a ready market for produce from small-holder plantain farmers by buying mature plantain fruits directly from them and re-selling to a company in Accra. The leading plantain farmer said he was looking for land in the other five plantation-growing regions of Ghana— Volta, Ashanti, Western, Eastern and Central— to establish plantain plantations. Plantain is a staple food of many tropical countries, and in Ghana, it is eaten in almost every home. Because of the high demand for plantain in Ghana, it is a very good way of acquiring incomes. It is a long-season crop which usually grows for more than 12 months, depending on the type. The son of  a wealthy Kumasi-based businessman,  the late Mr Francis Kwadwo Poku of Poku Transport fame, Mr Asafoa-Poku decided to enter into agriculture where, according to him, “my heart belongs”. He established the Amanfrom Farms in the Ashanti Region, producing mostly maize and cocoa until then Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, advised him to enter into plantain production. “I owe a lot of gratitude to Mr Ahwoi for his great advice that has propelled me to receive the national best plantain farmer award in a short period,” he said. Nr Nsafoa-Poku said in 2007, Mr Ahwoi advised him to venture into plantain farming, “and I responded positively”. According to him, Mr Ahwoi made him aware that the government had in place a number of schemes to support plantain farming. He commended the government for the support given him in his business. “In 2007, I acquired 150 acres of land at Makyinimabre on Nkoranza Stool lands, and currently, 80 acres of land has been planted,” he said. An irrigation project has been put in place within the plantation to facilitate an all-year-round production. The Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDIF) has supported Amanfrom Farms to train 400 smallholder farmers in the Nkoranza area in plantain production. He stressed the need for the youth to show interest in farming, saying the government had demonstrated evidence to support them to succeed.  

  A gender sensitisation workshop to mainstream gender concerns  into energy issues in the country has ended in Tema. The workshop was held for GRIDCo Ladies (GRIDLASS) by the Gender and Energy Network (GEDA,GH), a local non-governmental organisation. Addressing the workshop, the National Focus Person of GEDA, GH, Dr (Mrs ) Sabina Anokye Mensah, explained that the programme was to identify gender gaps in the energy sector relating to poverty to make gender and energy issues visible to a wider audience. She said  the objective of the workshop was to also identify linkages between gender and energy for a sustainable development.  Dr (Mrs ) Anokye Mensah said women must venture into men-dominated areas and prove their status as women because societal roles could be changed to enhance productivity and development, adding that “once the men understand  our views, we have conquered them to bring what they have on board.” She, therefore, called on the GRIDLASS and women in general to build their gender base by bringing the men closer to form part of the gender policy agenda. She noted that some of the major challenges hindering gender mainstreaming included the lack of gender disaggregated  data and inadequate stakeholder consultation in programme and policy development.  She said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had estimated indoor air pollution, which was as a result of the use of firewood, as a major public health issue. Dr (Mrs ) Anokye Mensah cited pneumonia, chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer as some of the effects of the use of inferior energy like firewood. She said women in the rural areas, for example, had not had the benefits of energy at their levels, and called on the GRIDLASS to  seek budgetary allocation to organise forums to extend the education to women and children, including men and boys.  The  Director, Human Resource GRIDCo, Mr Samuel Allotey, in his remarks, said culture had affected the roles of women, preventing them from reaping the full benefits of being women. He, therefore, proposed that some affirmative actions should be taken to address the situation, revealing that some positive steps had, however, been taken in the last 20 years. There was also a forum on the need to prepare one’s will while alive to  prevent disagreements after their demise. A legal practitioner, Ms Juliana  Addo–Yobo,  who took the GRIDCo Ladies  through the various stages in the preparations of wills, advised them to appoint professionals to prepare their wills for them to ensure that they were genuine. The President of GRIDLASS, Mrs  Rosina Amuah, expressed gratitude to the team from GEDA, GH for affording  women workers of GRIDCo the opportunity to have insight into what went on in the gender and energy sector of the country.