Tamale, Oct. 14, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has selected five candidates to contest the primaries of the newly created constituencies for the Northern Region after a keenly contested primaries. The five selected out of 17 qualified candidates are Mohammed Kumaru Adam for Salaga North, James Cecil Yayunbe for Tatale, James Kwaku Alhassan for Yunyoo, Samuel Yeyu Tika for Daboya and Sheikh Yakubu Adul Karim for the Sangnarigu constituencies. Mr Faisal Gbangili, Head of Research and Election of the NPP, said the elections were conducted peacefully with the supervision of the EC. It will be recalled that the Electoral Commission recently created five new constituencies out of the 45 nationwide for the 2012 elections. As a result of the creation, various political parties have been conducting primaries in the new constituencies to select parliamentary candidates for the constituencies. Dr Clifford Braimah, the NPP Secretary for the Northern Region, had earlier told the GNA that the NDC was quite aware of the chances of the NPP in the newly created constituencies saying they know that “our chances are brighter than theirs”. He predicted that the least number of seats the NPP could get out of the five was four, adding that the NPP had selected good and capable candidates for the new constituencies who were going to match the NDC boot for boot. “We are going to increase in popular votes and increase in the number of seats of the NPP in the Northern Region and our opponents should take note of that”, he said. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith the standings of the 2012/2013 Premier League after the opening matches played on Sunday, October 14, at the various league centres   Club                                   P          W        D          L        GF        GA       GD       PTS   Medeama SC                2            1          1          0          1          0           6           6   Hearts of Oak              2             1         1          0           5          2         +3         4    Amidaus Profs.             2          1          1          0            2          0          2          4           Brekum Chelsea          2          1          1          0            2          0          2          4           Aduana Stars               2          1          1          0          2          1          1              4           Tema Youth                 2         1         1          0            2         1         +1              4     Heart of Lions             2          1       0        1           2          3           -1                3   Asante Kotoko            2         0         2          0           2          2          0             2           AshGold                         2          0          2          0          2          2          0             2             Arsenals                        2           0           2          0          2          2          0           2            RTU                                2          0          1          1          3         4            -1             1           All Stars                       2          0        1          1            2         3              -1            1           Dwarfs                          2          0          1          1          1          2            -2          1            King Faisal                  2          0          1          1          1          2            -1          1           Liberty                           2          0          1          1           1          3         -2          1            Edubiase                       2          0         0         2            2          6           -4         0          GNA...

Kumasi, Oct. 14, GNA – Visiting Tema Youth F.C., fought gallantly to record a 1-0 win over King Faisal Babies F.C. in their Glo-Premier League Day Two encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Faisal had the better part of the exchanges in the first half, playing according to a well-rehearsed tactics but the final delivery remained the problem in most part of the game as they continued to squander many begging chances. The home team, came close to scoring on two occasions, however, Eric Boakye threw away those chances in the 19th and 21st minutes.   In the second half, Tema Youth threw caution to the wind and attacked in droves, particularly from the flanks, where dare-devil Francis Narh operated effectively with incessant runs upfront. The home team seemed to have no answers to the strategy and resorted to physical and rough play with skipper Kwadwo Boateng and Ransford Kwakye being the worst offenders. In one of their advances to break the deadlock, a Tema Youth player was brought down and skipper Jeremiah Arkorful took the kick which was connected home beautifully by substitute Daniel Appiah in the 81st minute to send their supporters into wild jubilation. Faisal, with defeat staring them in the face rallied back strongly to get the equalizer, however, Joshua Akoto surprisingly shot a ball feebly into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Kofi Mensah after he had meandered his way through the Tema Youth defence in a solo effort. GNA...

Bolgatanga, Oct. 14, GNA - The People's National Convention (PNC) of the Bolgatanga Central Constituency at the weekend elected Mr Rockson Ayine, a legal Practitioner as its Parliamentary Candidate for 2012 election. Mr Ayine polled 72 votes to beat his opponent,  Mr Thomas Akurigu Ayinezirigiya who got 70 votes. Speaking to the Media after the keenly contested election, Mr Ayine said he would work harder to ensure that the party wins the seat this time saying “I will move to all areas in the constituency including the hinterlands to win more votes” He commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and impressed upon them to embark upon vigorous campaigns by moving from house to house to persuade more people to vote for the party. The Regional Secretary of the Party, Mr Henry Fatchu told the delegates that now that they had a candidate, it behoved on them to bury their differences and unite in a common front to win both the Presidential and Parliamentary slots in the Region. GNA...

Ho, Oct. 14, GNA - Rev Dr Lawrence Tetteh, an International Evangelist, has said religious groups were the bastions keeping societies from sliding into doom, in these days of high moral decadence across the world. He said but for the churches, things would have been worse for Ghana and many other societies. Rev Dr Tetteh was answering a question at a press-conference in Ho on whether in the light of increased deviant behaviours, the churches were not losing the war against immorality. The interaction with the media occurred during the celebrated evangelist’s religious outreach effort to the Volta Region in collaboration with local pastors and his guest, Rev Paul Naughton of the Benny Hinn Ministries in the UK. The programme dubbed Ghana for Christ Crusade, comprised intercessions, healing and deliverance and mentorships and it attracted large groups of people from all parts of the region. Rev Dr Tetteh, who is Founder/President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach said the fight against deviant behaviour was a fight for all. He said many of the people of character in society today were products of the church. Rev Kwabena Kodua of the Gracious Seed Exploits said the church was conscious of its role in national building and would support anything would promote good governance. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Alhaji Halidu Haruna, Public Relations Offcer of the National Hajj Committee, has denied allegations that a member of the Committee has been arrested for possessing cocaine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said two pilgrims and one member of the Hajj Task Force were earlier detained and after some time the two pilgrims were released. Alhaji Haruna said the two pilgrims were arrested for possessing pain killers without prescriptions and the medicine which was carried by the Ghana Medical Team for the treatment of Ghanaian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.  “The medicine is the normal pain killer we use in Ghana, but is not allowed by Saudi authorities, it is just like cola nuts which are not allowed into the kingdom”. Alhaji Haruna said the Saudi authorities initially called on the National Hajj Committee to pay duty for the medicine but later rescinded is decision and refused to allow the medicine to enter the Kingdom. He said the Committee through the Ghana Embassy in Saudi Arabia was dialoging with the Saudi Authorities for the release of the Task force member. Alhaji Haruna appealed to the remaining pilgrims who are yet to depart from the shores of Ghana to desist from carrying any unapproved substances that are against the laws of the Kingdom. GNA  ...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith results of match day two of the Glo Premier League matches played on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, at the various league centers   Accra:                 Hearts                     5               N. Edubiase         2   Obuasi:               Ashgold                 2                 Kotoko                 2   Berekum:            Arsenal                  1                 A. Stars               1   Tarkwa;               Medeama            1                 Dwarfs                  1   Tema;                 Amidaus Prof.     2                 Liberty                 0   Kpando:             Lions                       2                 RTU                      1   Dormaa:             Aduana                 0                 Chelsea               0   Kumasi:              Faisal                     0                 T. Youth              1   GNA...

Obuasi, Oct. 14, GNA – Ashgold FC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko shared honours in match day two of the Glo Premier League as the two sides settled on a two all game at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi on Sunday. Kotoko, was the first to open the scores in the 16th minute through Kofi Nti Boakye, who slotted home a ball past keeper Isaac Ackon from Yaw Frempong’s pass. Playing their first game of the season at home, Ashgold, pressed for the equalizer and created two clear chances in the 27th and 29th minute but the cross bar denied Yakubu Mohamed and Ben Akuffu the opportunity to level up as they ended the half the disadvantaged side. Ashgold came back from recess, a stronger side  and succeeded in fetching the equalizer through Mohamed, who capitalized a defensive error on the part of Ohene Brenya in the 60th minute. Seidu Basit however restored the lead for Kotoko after he made good use of a cross from Ben Adama a minute later. The home side could have equalized in the 80th minute as they ensured intensed pressure on Kotoko but they failed. Ashgold never relented on their efforts and fetched the equalizer in the 87th minute through Mohamed to end the action packed game. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Accra Hearts of Oak trounced New Edubiase 5-2 in match day two of the Glo Premier League at Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, to pick the second spot on the summit of the two week old league. Hearts, who had greater part of the exchanges despite stiff opposition from the visitors started their impressive run in the 35th minute when Edward Affum was brought down in the vital area for referee Samuel Suker to point to the penalty spot. After few minutes of protests from New Edubiase, Godwin Osei Bonsu converted the penalty to put Hearts on top of the game in the 38th minutes. The phobians increased the tally on the stroke of first half when Attakorah  Gyimah’s swift cross was headed home by skipper Mahatma Otoo to end the half. Hearts resumed the second half much stronger and nearly went up again, but a well taken free kick in the 52nd minute was blasted off by Moro Iddrissu. Edubiase thereafter capitalized on a quick counter attack in the 57th minute and with a quick combination between Aseidu Attoborah and Basit Adams saw the later placing the ball through the legs of Sammy Adjei for their first goal in the game. The visitors, five minutes on, initiated another counter attack and moved swiftly into the area of Hearts. This saw Nuhu Alhassan delivering another perfect cross, with Ebenezer Ofori out-jumping Hearts defenders to apply his head to the ball for the equalizer. Sensing danger, Hearts recomposed themselves and went back into the game with the determination to retain their leadership and this materialized in the 67th minute as Otoo, headed home a cross from Iddrissu. Otoo, was on hand again in the 83rd minute to record a hat-trick, when he pounced on a lose ball and slammed it into the net for the fourth goal, as keeper Abdul Rashid fumbled with a cross by Iddrissu again. The visitors seemed to be disorganized at this stage and Hearts took advantage of the situation to record their fifth goal through Sulley Nuru, who benefited from a seeming goal mouth meele during injury time. GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith results of match day two of the Glo Premier League matches played on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, at the various league centers   Accra:                 Hearts                     5                N. Edubiase         2   Obuasi:               Ashgold                 2                 Kotoko                 2   Berekum:            Arsenal                  1                 A. Stars               1   Tarkwa;               Medeama            1                 Dwarfs                  1   Tema;                 Amidaus Prof.     2                 Liberty                 0   Kpando:             Lions                       2                 RTU                      1   Dormaa:             Aduana                 0                 Chelsea               0   Kumasi:              Faisal                     0                 T. Youth              1   GNA ...

Tema Newtown, Oct. 14, GNA – Unilever Ghana has handed over a 50,000-Ghana cedi Life Buoy Hygiene Station to management of Tema Manhean Presbyterian Cluster of Schools at an impressive ceremony at Tema Newtown.      The facility, comprising eight washrooms and six hand-washing units for both teachers and pupils, was the first phase of Unilever’s Community Investment Projects aimed at inculcating the habit of regular hand-washing with soap in school children.      Ms Maidie Arkutu, Brand Building Director of Unilever Ghana who handed over the facility, quoted a UNICEF Factsheet Report of May 2010 as saying that 2.2 million deaths of children could be prevented through improvement in the provision of safe drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene practices.      Ms Arkutu said sanitation research has shown that human hands are the principal carriers of disease-causing germs.      The Brand Building Director said by making the washing the hand with soap before eating and after visiting the toilet into a regular daily practice, more lives could be saved than any single vaccine or medical intervention.      Mrs Patience Arthur-Badoo, General Manager of Presby Schools who received the facility on behalf of the school management, thanked Unilever for the kind gesture.      Mrs Arthur-Badoo said the authorities of the school would ensure proper hand-washing by the pupils to prevent the spread of diseases.      She urged the school children to undertake peer-tutoring so that by learning from one another they may not only change their attitudes and adhere to good hygiene practices, but would also develop sound bodies with sound minds to learn.      The General Manager of Presby Schools appealed to the authorities of the schools to ensure proper maintenance of the station to prolong its lifespan.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Herewith results of match day two of the Glo Premier League matches played on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, at the various league centers   Accra:                  Hearts                      5               N. Edubiase       2   Obuasi:               Ashgold                  2                Kotoko               2   Berekum:           Arsenal                   1                 A. Stars               1   Tarkwa;              Medeama               1                Dwarfs                0   Tema;                  Amidaus Prof.      2               Liberty                0   Kpando:             Lions                         2                 RTU                    1   Dormaa:             Aduana                   0                Chelsea              0   GNA...

Nadowli (U/W), Oct. 14, GNA – Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the Minister of Health Mr Alban Bagbin as an excellent candidate who should be retained as Member of Parliament for the Nadowli West Constituency.      He appealed to voters in the constituency not to change him for any other candidate saying "my only problem with Mr Bagbin is that he is too good for everything, any position you put him he excels. He has obviously become a good material that cannot be thrown away or exchanged for someone else".      The NDC General Secretary made these remarks at the launch of Mr Bagbin’s campaign for the Nadowli  West seat in Parliament at Nadowli in the Upper West Region on Saturday.      Mr Bagbin has won all parliamentary elections in the constituency on the ticket of the NDC since 1992.       The NDC General Secretary called on the people to vote massively for President John Dramani Mahama and all the NDC Parliamentary candidates for them to complete the “Better Ghana” Agenda.      Mr Nketia said the NDC had no independent candidates and cautioned party supporters against voting skirt and blouse in the coming elections.      Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, cited the extension of electricity to over 400 communities in the region, the construction of five polyclinics, the establishment of two new Senior High Schools and two health training institutions as some of the evidence of the achievements of the NDC in the region within the past few years.      He also mentioned the construction and tarring of some roads in the region, the expansion of classroom infrastructure in addition to other pro-poor educational interventions spread across all basic schools and urged the people not to be deceived by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for they have seen their performance in the past eight years.      Mr Bagbin thanked President Mahama and the NDC party executives for graciously endorsing his candidature and appealed to the party supporters not to go to sleep after the launch of the campaign but to work harder both day and night to ensure victory for the party in the December elections.      He said in the Nadowli District every Day Nursery, Primary and Junior High School was now benefiting from the School Feeding Programme as against only two schools during the NPP regime.      The Health Minister said the government of the NDC had done a lot to transform the country and would have its mandate renewed based on its incomparable performance.   GNA...

Fijai (W/R), Oct. 14, GNA -  The Coalition on the Right to Information Ghana over the weekend called for the amendment of certain portions of the bill before its final passage.      The coalition said the bill, passed in its current state, would make access to information rather a difficult task.      The Coalition at a Focus Group Meeting with stakeholders at Takoradi in the Western Region said though government's commitment to the passage was appreciated there were still eleven areas that needed some critical reviews in order to bring the bill in line with international best practices.      The areas are: Maximum Disclosure, Elaborate Penalty Regime, Independent Enforcement Organ, Appeals Process, Fee requirements, Timely Access, Inclusion of private Bodies, Inclusion of Chieftaincy Institutions as Public Bodies, Implementation and Record Keeping.        Ms Esther Ahulu, an Administrative Assistant with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and a member of the Coalition, said though freedom of information was fundamental in any given democracy, it was also imperative that the right things were done to secure it.      She said it was time for all Ghanaians to own the bill and push for its passage since it would be interest of all.      Ms Ahulu said information flow strengthened democracy, good governance, transparency, accountability, economic growth and development.      It also fights poverty and corruption and that the passage of the bill in its right frame would definitely enhance the socio-political discourse of the country.      Since 2002, the Coalition has been advocating for the passage of an effective and efficient bill into law to give legal backing to the people's right to information.   GNA...

Takoradi, Oct. 14, GNA - Residents of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis have expressed disapproval at the sale of portions of the Casuarina Belt to private individuals and companies.      The Belt which lies along the Vodafone area and the Public Works Department office among other areas was created in 1922 by the then Governor Guggisberg to serve as a recreational centre and for any other social activity with the development and expansion of the Takoradi township.      The Resident at a Press conference though the belt served its purpose for over 70 years, it was during 1992 that the Metropolitan Assembly began selling portions of the land to private developers.      Mr Francis Eghan, a Concerned Citizen and leader at the Press Conference, said with Takoradi becoming highly choked with both human and vehicular traffic due to the oil find, "it was preposterous for the lands Commissioner and the political authorities to dispose of the few lands which should be to solve the congestion".       He said attempt to discuss this unpleasant phenomenon with the assembly had over the years been frustrated and unsuccessful.      Nana Atta Obo IV, Divisional Chief of Takoradi Amanfro, said aside the recreational centre aimed at improving the lifestyle of the people, a portion of the land was also designated to build an African Hospital comparable to the European Hospital in Takoradi.      He said the future of the Region was great and urged government to step in and reverse the sale of lands in the belt.   GNA...

Takoradi, Oct. 14, GNA - The Sekondi/Takoradi branch of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI) has called for a "One stop Shop" for licensing all products, goods and services to enable local businesses to develop and operate smoothly.      The chamber said the complexity as well as frustrations encountered by local entrepreneurs at the offices of both the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Standard Authority for certification of a product had over the years hindered the growth of the local industry.      Mr Samuel Dadzie, Western Regional Treasurer of the Chamber who addressed a press conference at Takoradi, said the seeming overlapping functions of the two agencies created undue delays in licensing and certification of businesses in the manufacturing and food sector.      "These challenges in view of the chamber are responsible for the low rate of growth in most among businesses particularly in the manufacturing sector, " he said.      Mr Dadzie said these delays had resulted in the lack of trust for operations of the two agencies concerned, resulting in high costs of production and low investor confidence.      He said the various agencies playing different roles had led to the payment of different amounts at any point for certification of a single product.      "While as it is possible for a business to visit just an office to present a sample to that particular agency which will carry out all test and deal with all agencies on the business' behalf".      The Chamber is also calling for a definition of the roles of the FDB and GSA so as to remove any ambiguity adding that government should as a matter of urgency pass the Food and Drugs Act and the Public Health Bill as well as the Standards Bill.      Mr Dadzie said the Policing and enforcement functions of the FDB and GSA should be critically reviewed since it is being used to intimidate businesses.      He said "it is the chamber's desire to contribute substantially to the growth and development of businesses in the region and entreated the ministries concerned in that regard to address the concerns raised.   GNA...

Koforidua, Oct. 14, GNA - A concerned group have reminded Members of Parliament that further delay in the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) bill could be a betrayal of public trust in the institution of Parliament.       The group including journalists, assembly members, public servants and opinion leaders, called on the leadership of Parliament, to honour their recent promise to ensure the passage of the RTI bill in conformity with the best practices in the world before Parliament rises.       This was contained in a communiqué issued by the group after a focus group discussion on the RTI, organized by the Eastern Regional Coalition on the Right to Information in Koforidua.        The  communiqué regretted that, despite the pronouncement of the Presidential candidates of the various political parties of their determination to fight corruption, entrench the democracy of the country  and run an open government  to ensure the total development of the country, none of them apart from President John Dramani Mahama had spoken about the passage of the bill into law to empower the citizens to take their destiny into their own hands and  contribute positively to the development of the country.       The group challenged the presidential candidates to demonstrate their promise of good governance by motivating their Parliamentarians to fight for the passage of the RTI with the various amendments needed to make it a good law.       The group expressed its appreciation to President John Mahama for his promise to ensure the passage of the RTI bill saying being the leader of a party in government with majority in Parliament he could do more to ensure the passage of the bill with all the needed amendments.       The communiqué appealed to the Ghana Journalists Association to make the passage of the RTI Bill a major political issue on its election platform.       It called on other Civil Society Groups to join the campaign for the passage of the RTI.   GNA...

Tumfa (E/R), Oct. 14, GNA - The Eastern Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Bismark Tawiah-Boateng, has called on the people of Atiwa to vote for the party to witness further infrastructure development of the area.       He was speaking at the launch of the campaign of the NDC parliamentary candidate for Atiwa, Mr Emmanuel Atta Twum, who is also the District Chief Executive of the Atiwa District.       He said  in spite the fact that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) more often recorded very high votes in the area, it never rewarded the people with the necessary projects and the area remains very deprived.       Mr Tawiah-Boateng said the reward that the people received was the appointment of many of its citizens into various positions under President John Agyekum Kufuor’s government.        He said those appointees instead of lobbying for development projects for the area, only visited the place on festive occasions and holidays to display the expensive vehicles that they had acquired.       Mr Tawiah-Boateng said it was only under the government of the NDC that the Atiwa area saw tremendous development projects and called on the people to vote for the parliamentary candidate of the NDC, Mr Atta- Twum, and President John Mahama, to have more development projects.            The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Victor Smith, said after 12 years of being the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, eight years of which he was a senior member of President Kufuor’s government, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, could not boast of any serious development project in the area.       He urged the people of Atiwa not to take the promises of the NPP serious.      Mr Smith said the NPP gave similar promises in 2000 when they promised to extend the railway line to the North but could not fulfill it.     He said the NPP only extended the Senior High School (SHS) programme to four years without making provisions for extra classrooms and dormitories and created a lot of crisis for the country.     Mr Atta –Twum said he was offering himself to the people to be their servant to go to Parliament to lobby for development projects for the area.     He promised to work towards the provision of the small town water project for the area if given the nod among many projects.   GNA...

Koforidua, Oct. 14, GNA – Rt. Rev Michael Agyarkwa Bossman was on Sunday inducted into office as the new Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Methodist Church at an induction  service  at the Koforidua Wesley Methodist Cathedral.       Rt. Rev Bossman, 53, was inducted into office by the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, the Most Rev Emmanuel Kwaku Asante and he takes over from Rt. Rev Friedrich Nnroh, former Bishop of the Diocese who  completed his term of office early this year.        Preaching the sermon, Most Rev Asante said, throughout human history,  from biblical times to this generation, God often chose people who society regarded as nonentities and make them great leaders to shame human beings who think they are wise.       He said this was because God chose people who could help fulfill the mission of God on earth and urged the new Bishop to totally surrender himself to God and he would help him to succeed.      He said everybody has some leadership qualities that could be exploited and called on people who have low esteem of themselves to see themselves in the way God regards them and change their perception of themselves.       Rt. Rev Bossman is the son of the late Rev. Matthew Agyarkwa Bossman, a Methodist Priest and was ordained in to priesthood in the same Cathedral in 1990.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Haiflow Sal, a division of the sara group, importers and distributors of high quality sanity ware, ceramic tiles and bathroom accessories over the weekend opened an ultra-modern showroom on the Spintex road in Accra.       Mr Karim Ghazale, Managing Director of Haiflow Sal, said the opening was appropriate and timely because their clientele of architects, designers, contractors, developers and retailers the area into an industrial and residential hub.       He said there were many high class facilities both commercial and residential springing up by the day in the country and these were creating the need for high quality building materials.        He said the company with over 40 years of experience dealing with high quality products sourced from reputable manufacturers has served the building material industry.        “We proudly represent world famous brands such as Grohe, Villeroy and Boch, Pavigres, Tredex and Gardenia Orchedia,” he added.         Mr Ghazale noted that the company has taken steps necessary to provide not only their products but also their experience to the African market.         He said to ensure the company’s client service was performing at the highest levels and maintaining quality brand and standards, “we undertake continuous testing to improve our products.”         He said the company has also designed training programmes for their professionals to bring them up to the speed with today’s ever changing products and the client’s demands.         The managing Director said in a couple of months, the company would begin a training sessions for tillers, plumbers and the general contractors to educate them on their new products installation and use.         Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, commended the company for their efforts to contribute to the development of the building industry.         He said their presence would also provide competition and efficiency in the industry.         The Sector Minister said with the commencement of housing project by government for workers, there would be the need for quality sanitary wares.         He said plans were advanced to initiate mortgage systems for workers to address the heavy housing deficit facing the country.   GNA...