Drivers of private, commercial and heavy-duty trucks that traverse through the University of Ghana will from February pay road tolls before gaining access to the University campus. A notice signed by the School’s Registrar, Mrs Mercy Haizel-Ashia, said private cars will pay Ghc1 per entry; Taxis and other small commercial passenger vehicles, Ghc2 per entry and large trucks delivering goods or passing through the campus, Ghc3 per entry. The notice said the new arrangements affect “all vehicles entering the University of Ghana main campus and also those using the road passing through the staff village of the University”. It said: “Only employees of the University and their dependents using vehicles registered with the University will be exempt from paying the road user charges”. “While arrangements are being made for the finalisation of work on toll booths to enable electronic access control, the process will start with a manual collection system for the two months being February and March 2014”, the statement said. The University has also put in place measures to help regular private road users who commute through the University to either pay for the entire year or make half or quarterly payments. “These arrangements will enable them to avoid long queues that may be associated with daily payments and also provide them with unlimited entry whenever the roads are opened”. For a full year, a user must pay Ghc400; for six months, Ghc250 and for three months, Ghc150. The University further entreated the public to “drive carefully through the University campus”, while “observing all applicable road use and road traffic regulations, especially in relation to stopping, parking, speeding and tooting of horns”. It added that: “Arrangements are being made for the effective enforcement of road traffic regulations through appropriate sanctioning of violators”. With specific regard to commercial transport operators, the University warned that it “does not permit any form of commercial transport service on the campus except those approved by management”. “The management of the University of Ghana appeals to the general public for co-operation as the aim of the university is to maintain its road infrastructure in a decent state. “It is also important for persons using the Universities roads to respect the values of the institution as an academic institute that needs peace and tranquility for its work”, it added.

Two pupils of the Martyrs of Uganda School in Santasi - Kumasi, were Wednesday morning crashed to death  by a taxicab while on their way to school. The driver of the taxi, Solomon Baifi, was said to have ignored the signal of a traffic warden to stop and drove into a group of pupils who were crossing the road. The incident happened near the Opoku Ware Senior High School on the Kumasi - Obuasi highway. Three other pupils, who sustained injuries with one in critical condition, were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and are said to be responding to treatment. Baifi, who was in charge of a KIA Pregio taxicab with registration number AS 6156-09, was said to be driving on the shoulders of the road to avoid the traffic jam ('go-slow').  The traffic warden who usually assist the school children to cross was said to have signaled all other vehicles to stop for the children to cross but Baifi drove from behind on the shoulders of the road and run into the children, knocking down five of them. The children were said to be pupils of Martyrs of Uganda and Opoku Ware Basic schools. The Ashanti Regional Police Commander of the Motor, Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Chief Superintendent Peter Gyimah, who confirmed the incident to the Graphiconline said Baifi has been arrested and was in police custody. The deceased are yet to be identified. The Police Commander said the suspect would soon be processed for court and provisionally charged with murder. He said the police had decided to charge him for murder because his actions showed that the act was deliberate. He cautioned drivers to be cautious when driving in town and to obey traffic regulations. According to him, if this driver had exercised a little patience and followed the other vehicles, the accident could have been avoided.

  The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Atiwa West Constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has tagged the fight against illegal mining,  “galamsey”, as the biggest challenge of his constituency in 2013. Mr Amoako-Attah told the Ghana News Agency at Akyem-Awenare in the Atiwa District that  he was not against mining since it was a source of employment for the youth.“I am against the wanton destruction of forests, pollution of water bodies such as the Birim River and land degradation through illegal gold mining…this is totally unacceptable,” he stated. Mr Amoako-Attah, therefore,  appealed to those engaged in the industry to operate through laid-down rules and regulations and ensure that all mined-out areas were covered since leaving them open made them death traps. He stated that his major preoccupation since he became the MP in the area had been to build a strong and united community where both indigenes and settlers saw one another as one people to promote the growth of the constituency. Mr Amoako-Attah said this year,   he would continue to lobby for the rehabilitation of the road network in the area which he described as very bad; citing the 12-kilometre Anyinam to Kwabeng, the district capital and to Sankubease as examples. Another area he would vigorously pursue  would be the construction of more Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) compounds to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of the people, the provision of refrigerators and electric generators in health facilities to assist in the storage of essential drugs and the improvement of sanitation. Mr Amoako-Atta disclosed that he had associated himself with the district health directorate’s position of “zero tolerance for maternal mortality” and had, therefore, constructed an ultra-modern maternity ward at the Kwabeng Health Centre, which he would inaugurate next month. On education, he said he would continue with the provision of laptops and books to schools in the area and hinted that even though Moseaso was outside his constituency, in February 2014, he would inaugurate a six-unit classroom block for the Methodist Junior High School which he started before Atiwa was divided into East and West in 2012. In order to allow more children from the area to access high school education, Mr  Amoako- Attah stated that he had acquired a 10-acre plot of land from the chief of Abomosu for a community day senior high school to be built in the town. “ Another dream I have is to construct a college of education to be sited at Akyem-Akropng, ” he said Lobbying for the mobile telephony companies to extend and cover majority of the communities in the constituency, he said, would also engage his attention in this year. — GNA  

  The Accra Regional Police Command has expressed shock that a 27-year-old self-confessed kidnapper had been granted bail by an Accra circuit court and vowed to apppeal against the decision. The court granted bail to the accused, Ernest Abotsi, a self-styled pastor, who was in the dock for kidnapping a nine-year old boy from the Lighthouse Chapel International-Quodesh at North Kaneshie in Accra. Though Abotsi admitted kidnapping the child and three others on separate occasions, he told the court he did not know the consequences of his act.  The court, presided over by Ms Ellen V. Amoah, entered a plea of not guilty for the accused and his accomplice, Isaac Ntie, and remanded them in police custody when the case was heard for the first time. However, on January 7, 2014 when the case was called for the second time, the court granted bail to the two persons who were facing conspiracy and kidnapping charges.  Police not happy  The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohunu, told the Daily Graphic that the police were not happy about the decision of the court. He recalled that there was panic in the Accra metropolis “when these kidnappings started and then after the kidnappings had occurred for four consecutive times, we finally arrested the key suspect and his accomplice.” He continued: “The first accused (Abotsi) had confessed to the police and openly admitted before the court that he committed the offence without knowing the repercussions so why should he be granted bail?” Mr Yohunu explained that the offence was a second degree felony which did not warrant a bail. Prosecutor protest bail Mr Yohunu was of the view that the accused person should not have been granted a court bail as the prosecutor protested against it.  The prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, opposed the bail with the explanation that it would affect the work of the police who were conducting further investigations into the matter. The prosecutor also stated that the kidnapper did not have a permanent place of abode.  “We will liaise with the Attorney General to take up the issue,” Mr Yohunu said. Writers Email:[email protected]  

  Six students at the Nyaniba Health Assistant Training School hostel at Tema sustained various degrees of injury when a gas cylinder they were using for cooking exploded on Monday evening. Three of the students,  Christiana Yawson, 25, Evelyn Sekyi, 21, and Mildred Baufour, 22, who were severely burnt were rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, while the others, Mary Mensah, 24, Gloria Nyeworlemah, 23, and Helena Dzenado, 20, were admitted at the Tema General Hospital. Fire Service The  Tema Metropolitan Fire Officer, Mr William Abekah Blankson, said about 6:50 p.m. on Monday, Mr Kofi Asare, who lived close to the school, called the Fire Service  to  report that fire had engulfed the school at Tema Community 10. He said when the personnel got to the scene  at 7:00p.m., they saw that a section of the hostel was on fire and was spreading fast to the remaining three dormitories. Mr Blankson said they immediately put the fire under control. He said the six casualties were rescued and rushed to the hospital for treatment. He disclosed that preliminary investigation showed that the valve of the gas cylinder was faulty and the gas was leaking while the students were cooking and that caused the explosion. The fire destroyed part of the school hostel and items belonging to the students. At the hospital At the Tema General Hospital, the Senior Nursing Officer at the Accident Centre, Ms Mercy Ologo, said when the victims were brought to the hospital around 8:00 p.m. on Monday night, staff on duty gave them first aid and referred those with severe burns (third degree injuries) to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, adding that the National Ambulance Service was at hand to convey them to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. She said Helena Dzenado was treated and discharged but Mary Mensah and Gloria Nyeworlemah were transferred from the Accident Centre to the hospital’s Female Surgical Ward for further attention.  

  Two young men have been arrested for allegedly robbing two Ghanaian footballers of their laptops and money and stabbing one in the head with a pair of scissors at an Internet café at Abuakwa in the Atwima Nwabiagya District. They were said to have stolen three laptops, three mobile phones, one Apple Ipad and cash, all totalling GH¢6,800.00. The incident occurred on January 7, this year at about 9:30 p.m. at the Executive Internet Café at Abuakwa. The suspects are: Kwadwo Twumasi, alias Rebel, 21, a motorbike seller and resident at Alabar in Kumasi, and Kwadwo Antwi, alias MC, 23, a driver’s mate. Their  accomplice, only known as Cargo, is however, at large. Kwadwo Kankam, a Ghanaian footballer based in Serbia and Michael Oppong, based in Qatar, were in the country for the Christmas holidays and met at the café where they had sent their laptops for programming. Facts Briefing journalists in Kumasi last Monday, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Augustine Gyening, said on the fateful day, the suspects together with the one at large, stormed the café, armed with pistols, knives and scissors and attacked the people there. He said Twumasi, who was leading the group, asked those at the café at the time, including the attendant, one Yeboah Dankwa, to move into a corner while the other two searched their pockets and picked their laptops as well. He said the police managed to arrest Twumasi on January 10, 2014, and he led the police to arrest Antwi the same day. Twumasi was alleged to have told the police that he had secured an American visa and needed money to buy a plane ticket and, therefore, resorted to armed robbery to finance his trip because his family did not want to assist him. The police retrieved the laptops and two of the mobile phones they stole during the robbery at the café. In a related development, the police have arrested 30-year-old Kwame Adarkwah, a suspected dealer in narcotic drugs. According to the police, the suspect had been on their wanted list for a while and he was arrested when he went to pick up his supply of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp. Mr Gyening said the suspects would soon be arraigned.  

  OXFAM International, a civil society organisation, has emphasised the need for transparency, accountability and the judicious use of the country’s resources. The President of Oxfam America, Mr Raymond Offenheiser, who made the call in Accra during a media interaction, said the mining sector must be committed to the development of the towns in which they operated. Mr Offenheiser observed there was a growing interest by citizens in the role extractive industries played in driving development in Ghana. He said there was a general view around the world that extractive industries abused the rights of citizens as they carried out their activities, and called on them to ensure that measures were put in place to protect the rights of citizens.  He noted that the whole world was looking at how Ghana would utilise its wealth in the petroleum industry and, therefore, challenged the government and other regulatory bodies to put in place policies that would ensure that revenue accrued from the sector benefitted the population. He indicated that donor organisations always looked out for countries that were prepared to mobilise and utilise their resources to the benefit of its citizens before offering any assistance. “Will Ghana manage and spend its new wealth responsibly? Will it channel those monies into sectors such as education, health, among others on behalf of the citizens?” Mr Offenheiser asked. Mr Offenheiser applauded Ghanaians for their demand for good governance from their leaders, adding that such an act always ensured that the government acted responsibly. The President further commended Ghana for allowing a lot of civil society organisations to thrive. He, therefore, called on such organisations to step up their advocacy role in ensuring that the ordinary Ghanaian was adequately informed on governance issues to facilitate full participation. For his part, the Country Director of Oxfam Ghana, Mr Sebastian Tiah, said  the organisation was also involved in developing agriculture in Ghana, especially in the three northern regions. He said the aim was to alleviate poverty and ensure food availability and its production in the country.  Mr Tiah said Oxfam Ghana was also working with some farmers to educate them on the need to adopt new methods that would boost crop yields. Mr Offenheiser, who led a team into the country on a five-day visit to major mining sectors in Ghana, also paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, to discuss issues involving public finance and transparency in the management of the Ghanaian economy.  

  The Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has embarked on a demolishing exercise to rid the central business district of the metropolis of illegal structures. The exercise, which started late Monday afternoon, saw the removal of various illegal extensions, as well as structures placed at unauthorised places such as pavements (to already existing structures). Areas noted for these illegal structures included the central business district (especially the Takoradi Central Market) and would be extended to Sekondi and Apremdo, among others. The assembly said it was wrong for people to site structures without recourse to the existing rules and regulations of the assembly. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Captain Anthony Cudjoe (Rtd), said prior to the demolishing exercise, the assembly had carried out a survey to identify the locations of the illegal structures. He said the metropolis was designed in such a way that made it easy to detect any illegal structures that had been erected by people. The MCE deplored the attitude of some residents of the metropolis who obtained permits from assembly members who, according to the MCE, were not recognised bodies or individuals to issue permits. He added that the city could not be run when people decide to act without recourse to the law and that “the assembly is not going to allow the people to hold the metropolis to ransom in the name of politics. The assembly has to do what is right.” He said the assembly had space for everybody to do business in places such as Apremdo, only if the people in the central business district would agree to move there instead of erecting illegal structures in the central business district. He said the STMA would continue to monitor all the structures that were put up in the metropolis, to ensure that illegal structures were not built. Some residents in the metropolis whose structures were demolished, expressed dismay at the exercise that was being carried out by the STMA. They said though they were aware that a demolishing exercise would be carried out in the metropolis, they were not told the exact date it would be carried out and that, to most of them, the exercise had been a huge surprise. When the Daily Graphic walked through the metropolis, every available space - from pavement to frontage of shops and offices - had been taken over by petty traders (Prior to the exercise). Central Business District of STMA appeared suffocated with illegal structures; in that most people who had stores had erected illegal extensions for their stores, which came close to the road. Other traders too had erected makeshift stores on pavements around the Central Business District, notably the inner perimeter around the Takoradi central market popularly known as Market Circle, which was constructed for motorist who were going to shop at the market. These illegal structures do not only dent the beauty of the metropolis but also impede on movement of people and vehicles in the metropolis, thereby causing massive vehicular traffic in the Central Business District during the peak hours of the day.  

  The Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Rachel Florence Apoh Opoku, has advised couples to always show love and respect to each other and take the necessary steps to resolve their differences.She said that was a necessary tool for them to take care and train their children since broken homes tend to have negative impact on their upbringing. Mrs Apoh Opoku, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Gomoa Central Constituency in the Central Region, gave the advice when she addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of Gomoa Manso and Aboso during the celebration of their annual Akwambo festival last Saturday. She said her ministry had received some reports concerning misunderstandings between couples whose marriages broke up with some of the women not allowing the fathers access to their children while some fathers also refused to take care of their children. This usually brings untold hardship on mothers who might not be financially capable to take care of the needs of their children in the absence of husbands. She said fathers as heads of family should be encouraged to perform their responsibilities irrespective of the state of the marriage so that the children would be given the best of care in order to become responsible adults. The Member of Parliament called on the chiefs to resolve all chieftaincy disputes so that together, they would initiate projects towards the development of the Gomoa area, adding that what was stalling progress in the district was the numerous chieftaincy disputes pertaining in the area. Mrs Apoh Opoku presented medical equipment worth GH¢30,000 to the Gomoa Aboso CHPS compound to enable the health facility to start operating. The Gomoa East District Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Kingsley Ahunu-Armah, bemoaned the lack of unity among the chiefs in the area and urged the chiefs to have a united front and offer the necessary support to the assembly to develop the district. The Chief of Gomoa Aboso, Nana Afedzie Mensah VI, appealed to the assembly to assist them to construct the bridge to the cemetery. Nana Okyeadze of Gomoa Manso lauded the assembly and the government for the many development projects in the town, but appealed to the government to rehabilitate the main road to the town.  

  About 500 female head porters (kayayei) at Dagomba-Line, near Oforikrom, in Kumasi have complained about their inability to pay for decent accommodation, making them sleep in kiosks and open spaces. Aged between 12 and 35, most of the head porters migrated from Wulensi, Bimbilla, Kumbungu, Zabzugu, Nakpanduri, Yendi (all in the Northern Region) to Kumasi in search of jobs. Speaking to the Daily Graphic about their plight, the spokesperson for the head porters, Madam Nimattu Dawuda, said currently, most of them lived in kiosks which accommodated between 20 to 70 people, with serious congestion. They said that was because of their inability to pay Gh¢2 per person (for one week) for rooms with light and electric fan and Gh¢1 per person (for one week), for kiosks without light and fan. That, according to Nimattu, exposed most of them to rampant rape and robbery by unknown assailants, who took advantage of their plight and attacked them. They were also exposed to mosquito bites among other hazards. Interacting with them after a recent visit by the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Madam Elizabeth Agyemang, to the area during which they were provided with free medical care, the porters said they spent 50 pesewas and 40 pesewas to buy hot or cold water for bathing and using the bathhouse, respectively. A little over 6,000 of the 9,500 head porters in the area had the opportunity to be screened for various health conditions in an exercise which lasted three days and was funded by philanthropists, with support from the Common Fund Administrator and some Members of Parliament.  

    The Wa Municipal office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in the Upper West Region recorded 155 criminal cases last year. This shows an increase of 14 cases over what the office recorded in 2012. Out of the number, 26 cases were sent to court and eight convicted. Presently, nine cases are still being tried, while another nine have been discarded.  Another 77 cases are under investigations and 52 have been closed. The Wa District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Stephen A.B. Tetteh who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview at Wa yesterday, said during the year under review, there were 15 defilement cases; six rape cases, one incest and 68 assault cases. DSP Tetteh also said there were 13 cases of abduction of females under 18 years with 12 threats of death and added that the others were two abortions, nine stealing, three causing harm, one unnatural carnal knowledge and one compulsory marriage cases. On sexual and domestic violence, DSP Tetteh called on the public to assume full responsibility and go beyond condemning the behaviour to taking concrete steps to end it, to make it socially unacceptable and recognise it as a criminal issue. "Rape and violence rob women and girls of their full potential and causes untold human suffering. It impedes economic development and full participation in civil life. For all of the children who have witnessed this brutality, we must do better", he said. Challenges  He mentioned inadequate staff, funding for sensitisation programmes and lack of shelter for traumatised victims of domestic violence as some of the challenges facing the unit. According to DSP Tetteh, there are no juvenile cells for children who flout the law or counselling rooms. Also there has not been in-service training for the 16 personnel to update their knowledge and skills with regard to current DOVVSU activities. He asserted that in spite of these challenges, the unit had gained a lot of confidence from the public through some sensitisation programmes carried out during the celebration of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence; World AIDS Day, International Day for Persons with Disabilities and the Montreal Massacre. The District Commander called on the general public to readily approach the unit  since it was there to serve them. He also said they were ready to enhance and guarantee domestic security in order to protect children and help them develop their potentials.    

  One of the aspirants contesting the position of the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwabena Agyepong, has expressed his commitment to decentralise the administration of the party. He explained that  he would ensure that party dues and filing fees remained in the constituencies to be used in running the affairs of the party."  Mr Agyepong was speaking during a two-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region last Friday. He visited Jirapa, Nandom, Nadowli, Lawra, Gollu, among others and interacted with the delegates of the NPP prior to the forthcoming national congress. Briefing the Press at Wa, Mr Agyepong said he had told the delegates that he saw himself as the most suitable candidate to occupy the position because of his past and continuous meritorious contributions and services to the development of the party. The aspirant mentioned that he had been a press secretary to former President John Agyekum Kufuor between 2001-06, a member of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) of the Electoral Commission and had been working consistently at the grass root level since 1991-92, among others. Mr Agyepong assured them of his readiness to work with the executives in the 275 constituencies to rejuvenate and ensure that they reached out to the people to make them join the NPP, and also win their confidence in their quest to wrest the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2016. He noted that the NPP was the only party that could salvage the economy, return the country to its past glory and redeem the suffering masses from untold hardships. He said since elections were won at the constituency level, he would ensure that all bottlenecks were removed to allow more people to join the party. He said he stood for the restoration of the party to its values and principles which were service, sacrifice, selflessness and tenacity of purpose.  Mr E. K.Tizzala, one of the aspirants contesting for the position of First Vice-Chairman in the Upper West Region, who was with him, called for the expansion of the electoral college to enable all card-bearing members to vote and elect all executives of the party at the constituency and regional level.  He also advocated that same must be applied when electing parliamentary candidates and national delegates. That, he said, would reduce the expenses involved, ensure an increase in the membership drive and generate a healthy competition among both the members and the executives.   

  A ceremony has been held to mark the construction of a new residence for the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area at Hohoe. The original residence of Togbega Gabusu VI was damaged during communal violence that erupted between the Zongo community and the indigenes of the traditional area at Hohoe in 2012. A construction firm, C.W. Construction Works of Hohoe, is executing the GH¢254,561.25 project which is expected to be completed in six months. Two persons lost their lives and several stores owned by the Zongo community were burnt in that conflict. Background Hostilities erupted between the two factions on June 11, 2012 as a result of the exhumation of the body of the Chief Imam of Hohoe Zongo, which was found lying by the side of the road that leads to Santrokofi. The Zongo community, in a reprisal attack, invaded the residence of the paramount chief and burnt down three vehicles and some of his personal property, while stores belonging to members of the Zongo community were also razed. A committee was subsequently set up to investigate the causes of the conflict and come out with recommendations to help prevent a recurrence. Ceremony Addressing the Gbi Traditional Council prior to the ceremony, the Volta Regional Minister,  Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, said one key recommendation made by the committee was the reconstruction of the residence of the paramount chief. He said the construction of the new residence was also in fulfilment of the government’s pledge and commended security personnel deployed to the area for maintaining law and order since the conflict erupted. Togbega Gabusu For his part, Togbega Gabusu VI expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown to him and his people by stakeholders during the crisis and thanked President Mahama for his concern and assurances.  

  Five new officers of the Methodist Girls Fellowship of the Bethel Methodist at Kasoa in the Central Region have been inducted. They are: Sisters Lilian Juliana Arthur, Connexional Caretaker; Cecilia Arhin, President; Gifty Aba Pratt, Secretary; Esther Afrakoma, Treasurer and Lily Lartey, an executive member. Instruments of office, including the Bible and the Methodist Church Hymnal were presented to guide them in their day-to-day activities as they steer the affairs of the fellowship. The Bishop of the Winneba Diocese of the Methodist Church, Rt Rev. Dr John Kweku Buabeng Odoom, who performed the induction, congratulated the officers on their assumption of office. In his sermon, he said God had called them to help turn the destiny of the young girls in the church around. He said it was by the grace of God they were called and not because of how beautiful, knowledgeable or competent they were. Rt Rev. Odoom reminded the members of the task in handling girls, adding that they should not underrate them since some of the girls knew things they the leaders  did not know. “Don’t assume they don’t know anything. I can assure you that they know more than you know,” he said. He asked the officers to be patient, encourage the young ones, preserve and have courage as they went about their work.  

  Some members of the Graduates Initiative Africa (GIA), a civil society group, claim they have started a hunger strike, to compel the National Service Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), to deduct the financial contributions of its members, who are service personnel, at source. The group set up a “Graduates Fund” the GIA Fund, which it uses to support members who set up their own businesses. The objective is to reduce graduate unemployment and promote entrepreneurship among unemployed graduates. When they gathered at the MOE at about 9.30 a.m. yesterday to present a petition, the group, numbering 10, had hung around their necks, placards with the inscription: “On hunger Strike till we see a change,”  Request Last year, the GIA submitted a request to the NSC to facilitate the deduction of  the dues of its national service members at source. According to the founder of the GIA, Mr Malcolm Asamoah, the NSC rejected the application on the grounds that such a request was against its auditing regulations. “I am ready to go on this hunger strike for as long as possible until the right thing is done. A life is at stake here and this shows that we are prepared to protect the interest of the youth”, he added. Education Ministry When contacted,  Mr Paul Krampa, the Director of Public Relations at MoE, said upon the receipt of the group’s petition, an official of the ministry was tasked to assess the request and added that the ministry had written to the NSC to reconsider its decision, Mr Krampah also said implementation of  the request was difficult and, therefore, advised the group to consider other options for paying their  dues.  

The Kpeve Water project is saddled with  problems that threaten  water supply to the regional capital, Ho,  and its surrounding communities. The existing floating intake is currently operating with three pumps instead of the required five. The pumps have also developed defects including rust, which could affect normal operations if the dry season should prolong. Activities of fish farmers around the intake source have  also become a threat to safe water delivery because the use of feed laced with chemicals has resulted in an increase in the quantity of  chemicals used in the  treatment of water. The Kpeve Water project,  which was installed 20 years ago,  was designed to deliver 4.5 million gallons of water a day . It has never achieved maximum production  because it is operating  six filters instead of eight, and currently supplies about 2.5 miilion  gallons a day.  The Regional Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr Anthony Alomatu, disclosed the state of the waterproject when the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo,  accompanied by his deputy, Mr Francis Ganyaglo,  and Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Mr Edem Asimah,  visited the Kpeve Water project last Monday. According to him, two new pumps were urgently needed to augment the strength of the deteriorated pumps to meet the increasing demand for water. He explained that the water project, which was commissioned in 1993, was designed to serve a population of 100,000 but said the attendant growth in the metropolis had made it difficult to meet the water demand. Mr Alomatu, therefore, justified the present rationing of water supply to Ho and advised residents to invest in water storage facilities.  Mr Afotey-Agbo advised that all proposals for upgrading, rehabilitation and expansion should be sent to his office to enable the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council to make the necessary recommendations to  the government for immediate action to forestall more problems.

  Two brothers were found dead in a ‘galamsey’ pit last Sunday at Prestea. The two, who are twins, have been identified as Fuseini Adams and Alhassan Adams, both 35. According to the Prestea Huni-Valley District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Nwinsori, Fuseini left his Prestea residence  last Saturday but did not return. The crime officer said in the afternoon on Sunday, his twin brother, Alhassan,  in the company of his friend, Abubakari Jibriel, also left for an abandoned ‘galamsey’ site called “I Trust” to look for the brother. Upon reaching the site, the two friends carried out a fruitless search for Fuseini. Mr Mwinsori said Alhassan, therefore, decided to check the pit and asked Abubarkar  to wait for him. He  said Jibriel, who reported the case to the police, indicated that he waited for more than 30 minutes without Alhassan returning from the pit.  According to him, Jibriel said he also went underground to check what was going on in the pit only to discover the two bodies lying side by side in a wave of heat. The crime officer said Jibriel, therefore, rushed out of the pit and hurriedly went to inform the family of the twins about what had happened. He said with the help of members of the community, the two bodies were retrieved and deposited at the Prestea Government Hospital.  

The first edition of the monthly intercessory prayers for Ghana under the auspices of Aglow International comes off on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 7 a.m. at the Black Star Square, Accra. A statement issued by the group said the programme, which was dubbed, “Re-dedicating Ghana unto God”, would be used first of all to thank God for Ghana’s peaceful transition into 2014 since it was neither by our might nor power but by His Spirit. “So as Ghanaians, we ought to say “not unto us but unto You be all glory, honour and adoration.” The programme is on the theme, “The Lord has been mindful of Ghana so He will bless us”, Psalm 115:12. The statement stressed the need to rededicate Ghana to God and ask Him for His involvement and direction in the governance of our motherland for a bright and secure future. It urged Ghanaians to participate fully either in person or via GTV at 10 a.m. The attire would be white. Similar prayer sessions would be held at the Jubilee Parks in Kumasi, Sunyani, Takoradi, Tamale, Bolga and Wa. Cape Coast: Wesley Hall, Koforidua: Jackson Park and Ho: RTC Park.

    The Government has signalled its determination to stem corruption in the country, with the termination of all contracts between the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) through the Ministry of Youth and Sports on one hand and its service providers, on the other. Rlg Communications’ training module, the Asongtaba Cottage Industry and Exchange Programme (ACI&EP) and the Better Ghana Management Services Limited, a subsidiary of Jospong Group, the parent company of Zoomlion, are some of the casualties.    Termination letters The service providers signed the contracts on July 23, 2012 with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and GYEEDA to provide services for GYEEDA. Copies of the termination letters made available to the media and signed by the Chief Director of the ministry, Alhaji Abudulai Yakubu,indicated that the letters were  addressed to the chief executive officers of  the service providers.  It said that “On the basis of the agreement reached between the Ministry and the Company at the said meeting(s), I am directed to officially convey to you government’s decision to discontinue or terminate the contract with immediate effect”. The letters were dated January 9, 2014 and copied to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Minister of the Youth and Sports and the Executive Director of GYEEDA. “You are hereby requested to kindly continue to have engagements with the Attorney General’s Department and the Ministry of Justice on your liabilities to GYEEDA and ensure the refund of same to government,”  the letter further stated. Committee and recommendations The Government’s decision followed public outcry over the financial impropriety and malfeasance committed by the service providers. Subsequently, an investigative committee was set up by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, to look into the concerns raised. The committee, at the end of its investigation, made a number of recommendations, including the cancellation of some contracts it felt should never have been awarded in the first place. The report further recommended that the companies refund some money to the state. The President assured Ghanaians that the government would implement the recommendations of the report to the letter after due diligence. Reactions A source at Rlg Communications Ltd said three companies under the AGAMS Group had been affected and listed them as the Asongtaba Cottage Industry & Exchange Programme, the Rlg Communications Training Module and the CraftPro Ltd. The source indicated that it was not the Rlg Communications Training Module that would be grossly affected, but the thousands of beneficiaries made up of young people, who were taking advantage of the module to pursue ICT education. “What is the fate of the thousands of young people lining up to take advantage of the training that we offer,” the source queried and said since 2006, more than 50,000 young people had benefited from the training. The source also said as a responsible company, Rlg had cooperated with the government and all the agencies involved in resolving the issue since the issue came up, and said the company had taken note of the directive. It also said Rlg Communications Ltd, according the report, had been asked to refund GH¢55 million as overpayment and explained that on the aspect of service providers being paid for no work done, “It is GYEEDA that is supposed to provide the people to be trained and if the service providers are not given the people to train, that cannot be their fault.” When the Jospong Group of Companies was contacted, an official said the information had not been made available to him and that he was outside Accra so he would study the development when he returned before he could make a comment. Commenting on the termination, Mr Afriyie Ankrah said it took immediate effect and explained that before the termination, the ministry had had a series of discussions with the service providers and that currently there were no beneficiaries undergoing training. He also President Mahama had directed that “We pay the beneficiaries to exit to enable us to start on a clean sheet,” adding that no service provider could therefore, claim to be providing training for the beneficiaries. Giving the background, Mr Afriyie Ankrah said, for instance, when the GYEEDA programme was established in 2006, it had no legal backing and it had so many loopholes in its administrative and management structures. He wondered why a programme with such huge numbers could operate manually and was hopeful that the termination would enable GYEEDA to put in place all the necessary structures, including a biometric system, to ensure that “We are paying only those under the programme.” Writer’s email: [email protected]