From: Albert Oppong-Ansah,  GNA Special Correspondent, Hyderabad, India (Courtesy: Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, Global Environmental Facility and Internews)       Hyderabad (India), Oct. 17, GNA - A Ghanaian delegation led by Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, has arrived in Hyderabad, India to participate in the High Level Segment (HLS) of the on-going 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known as COP 11.   Members of the delegation include Mr Raymond Tawiah, Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, Mr Abdul-Rahman, Member of Parliament for Pru, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South and Ms Abigail Aba Anso, Parliamentary Clerk.   Ms Ayittey and her entourage joined the African Group in a meeting where the group was finalizing discussions on developed countries making funds available for developing countries, especially Africa, to conserve biodiversity.      The African Group will join the HLS after the meeting to make their presentation.   Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, who is also a Member of Parliamentary Committee on Environment, said the meeting would serve as learning and knowledge sharing platform.   "I will particularly be looking out for answers to some burning questions as to how to preserve the environment while insect and pest destroy the cash crops like cocoa that generate income for Ghana,” he said.   Mr Apiah said he would also be nosing around to identify more sustainable alternatives to improving crop yields in Ghana.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – The Ministry of Health (MOH) stated on Wednesday that the formal appointment of all health professionals takes effect from the day of assumption of duty at a facility.   “Depending on the requirements of the approved regulatory body, certain categories of personnel are required to undergo a period of internship ranging from three months to one year before being considered as qualified for employment.       “Any form of attachment to a facility prior to this is therefore not considered as employment,” MOH stated in a statement signed by Mr Daniel Osman Mwin, Head of Public Relations and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.   The statement was in reaction to a petition on backdating of appointments of Junior Nurses and Midwives presented by the Junior Nurses and Midwives Group at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.   The statement said MOH’s position was guided by its objectives of ensuring the wellbeing of all its employees in accordance with government’s guiding principles of integrity and accountability.   The statement said the Ministry also had extensive stakeholders’ consultations as well as a review of relevant financial guidelines of the central government before arriving at its position.   The statement explained that there were three distinct stages of employment of professionals trained in institutions of the Ministry: the student status, intern status and employee status.   It said the student status was the period when the trainee is in the training institution and was being taken through the school’s curriculum as prescribed by the regulatory body; this training may include theory, practicals and fieldwork and remuneration for this period is the trainee allowance.   The intern status referred to the period a trainee who had satisfied all the requirements of the institution and regulatory body, underwent a supervised practical attachment for a defined period and was assessed to ascertain his or her competency in the relevant field, it added.   It further stated that the remuneration given was the intern allowance. The period when a successful intern is employed by an Agency of the MOH and given an appointment letter to that effect was referred to as the employee status.   “This appointment, it should be noted well, is based on the availability of vacancies in the Agency and takes effect on the day of assumption of duty of the professional and subsequently is paid salaries and allowances as prescribed in the conditions of service.   “In consideration of the above mentioned statuses, the Ministry wishes to inform all trainees who commenced internship that they will receive internship allowances for the period and will be appointed based on their assumption of duty after the internship.   Additionally, the Ministry assured all affected junior nurses and midwives that the payment of all internship allowances owed them would be made by the end of October 2012 and this will include arrears starting from January 2011.   “We also wish to explain to all interns in particular and all health workers in general that delays associated with the payment of intern allowances and salaries is not deliberate but as a result of technical difficulties facing the staff of the IPPD Unit, as well as the huge workload associated with the migration of health workers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)”.   The Health Ministry assured all concerned that steps had been taken to ensure that subsequent batches received their allowances on time.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – Mr Isaac Osei, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency on Wednesday vowed for the integrity of the party’s flag bearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.   He said: “Nana Akufo-Addo is not corrupt and can never be corrupted; I have known him for over 40 years now, both in private and public life, and I can vouch for that”.   In a stamen to the Ghana News Agency in Accra signed by the MPs Special Assistant Chief Obosu Mohammed, alleged that corruption within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) “is of gargantuan proportions and has contributed to retarding economic growth.   “Under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo, God-willing, the country’s resources will be used judiciously for the benefit of all Ghanaians and not some greedy few”.   The MP said election is about choices and the trading of ideas...“It is important the electorate weighs the manifestos of the various political parties and choose among them, one that can transform lives and the nation”.   He urged the electorates to vote back the NPP to power so they can get the opportunity to enhance their livelihoods through policies such as: “Free Senior High School, strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme and Job creation”.   Mr Osei added that “every child must have the opportunity to go to school no matter the circumstance of their birth”.   The MP entreated the Christians to pray for candidates; “Please pray for Nana Akufo-Addo, President John Dramani Mahama, NDC Flag bearer; Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Convention Peoples’ Party Flag bearer; and Mr Hasan Ayariga, Peoples National Convention Flag bearr.   “Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom,of the Progressive Peoples Party and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party, and all those who seek to lead Ghana in the highest office of the land”.   GNA...

Gwollu (U/W), Oct. 17, GNA  - Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister has called on voters in the Sissala West and East constituencies to vote massively for President John Dramani Mahama in the December elections to deepen the long standing relationship between them and the President.   Traditionally, there is a playmate relationship between the Sissalas and the Gonja ethnic group of the Northern Region, from which President Mahama hails.   Alhaji Sulemana made the call when he launched his campaign for the Sissala West Constituency Parliamentary seat at Gwollu in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region.   The Regional Minister stated that a vote for him would also complete the wish of President Mahama since the latter needed all his Parliamentary candidates to support him run an effective and vibrant government to continue delivering the ;Better Ghana Agenda'.   Alhaji Sulemana urged all his supporters to go about their campaign peacefully devoid of any violence to enhance peaceful and successful elections.   Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, appealed to the constituents to desist from the practice of voting 'skirt and blouse'  which they did in the 2004 and 2008 elections, saying that the practice deprived the district of certain developmental needs.   Dr. Kumbuor who is also the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Nandom Constituency, said there were many things the NDC could point to in the area of education, health, agriculture and road infrastructure.   He advised supporters of the party to conduct their campaign based on its performance in government and avoid personality attacks.   Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minister of Health, said Alhaji Sulemana had for a long a time offered himself to serve his people, adding that the experience the Regional Minister had gathered put him in a better position to represent his constituents well in parliament than any other candidate.   Mr. Bagbin who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli West stated that President Mahama would win the 2012 elections and that it was better for them to have an MP whose Presidential candidate was in power than a "hanging MP".   Mr. Moses Dramani Luri, Sissala West District Chief Executive (DCE) said the performance of the NDC in the district had overshadowed that of the NPP in all areas.    He said since the NDC assumed office in 2009, a total of 108 development projects had been undertaken in the district as against a total of 44 projects in the eight years of the NPP administration.   On rural electrification, the DCE said for eight years the NPP was only able to connect electricity to seven communities, whereas the NDC within its first four years was already completing work on the connection of 40 communities to the national electricity grid.   Mr. Luri added that under the NPP only three communities benefited from the School Feeding Programme in the district as against 44 communities under the NDC's first term in office.   GNA...

Denu, Oct 17, GNA - Mr Bernard Amarble, Ketu-South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has said that the closure of the Togo side of the Ghana-Togo border on election day, could disfranchise some  Ghanaians living in Togo, Benin and Nigeria.          He said in 2008, some Ghanaians resident in these countries, who attempted entering into Ghana through unapproved routes to vote, in view of the closure of the border, were detained by both Togolese and Ghanaian security  personnel until after the polls .       Mr Amarble made the observation at the inauguration of a 20-member Security Taskforce to coordinate the polls in the area, in December, at Denu.   He said there were hints that a group was planning a hoax along the frontier on the day of the election to provide the Togolese government grounds to close its side of the border.      The MCE said Ghanaians who could be prevented from voting if the border was closed were sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress.      “We have reports that some people want to cause disturbances to prompt the closure of the Togolese side of the frontier to prevent Ghanaians resident in Togo and others  from coming down to vote,” Mr Amarble stressed.      He said that monitoring elections in the municipality could be particularly challenging and asked the security to be vigilant, fair and resolute on the day of elections.        Mr Amarble appealed to political parties not to do anything to obstruct the operations from carrying out their activities.       He also appealed to radio stations to ensure that political party activists and social commentators show decorum in their discussions.      The taskforce consist of personnel from the police, Bureau of National Investigations, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, National Commission for Civic Education, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Electoral Commission, and Information Service Department.   GNA...

Winneba (C/R), Oct 17, GNA - A total of 70,273 professional teachers have graduated from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), since the university's establishment 20 years ago.      Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice-Chancellor of the University, made this known when launching the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the university at Winneba on Tuesday.      The one year celebration is under the theme: “Twenty Years of Quality Teacher Education”.      Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw, giving the history of the university, said the UEW was established in September 1992 as a University College under PNDC Law 322.      He said UEW brought together seven diploma awarding colleges located in different towns under one institution.      They are the Advance Teacher Training College, Specialist Training College and the National Academy of Music, all in Winneba and the School of Languages at Ajumako.      The rest are the College of Special Education, Akwapim-Mampong, Advance Technical Training College in Kumasi and the Saint Andrews Agricultural Training College at Mampong-Ashanti, saying that all these centers were satellite campuses.      The VC said the first batch of 481 students was enrolled in November 1992, adding that the university gained autonomy from the University of Cape Coast in 2004 by the University of Education Act 2004 (Act 672).      The first Vice Chancellor of the UEW was Prof. Jophous Anamuah-Mensah and the Registrar was Mr J. N. Aryeetey.      Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said the faculties of the university had increased from six in 2007 to nine presently while the academic departments/centres had also grown from 30 in 2007 to 50 currently.      He said improving on physical infrastructure is of priority of the university for creating conducive environment for academic and administrative activities.   GNA...

Wa, 0ct 16, GNA -  A group calling itself  "Stand Up for Bagbin “ has advised critics of Mr Alban Bagbin, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli West Constituency to rally behind him, if the only reason they had against him was his long stay in parliament.   The group noted that with the level the MP had reached, coupled with his political maturity, he was better oriented to attract development to the constituency.   “It would be detrimental if not suicidal to the development of the constituency and district at large if we replace him with anyone else,” the group said at a press conference in Kaleo in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region on Tuesday.   Miss Florence Kpan, organiser of the group, noted that for most people who were against the retention of Mr Bagbin, the only reason attached to their claims were that he had served for too long and therefore denying other people, especially the youth, the opportunity to go to parliament.   Miss Kpan said the MP’s leadership style and life was an inspiration to the youth and the people of the constituency and that his good performance at the district, regional and national levels was never in doubt.   She highlighted some achievements Mr Bagbin had chalked in his years of service to his people which included the provision of water, health facilities, electricity, enhancing education, construction of roads and improving agriculture for communities in his constituency.   With regards to enhancing education in the constituency, she said Mr Bagbin had been able to provide furniture, textbooks, computers, and other logistics to facilitate teaching and learning at the various senior high schools.   Ms Kpan said the MP recently constructed a new library complex for the Kaleo Senior High Technical School.     The immediate past three years alone had seen a total of at least 61 boreholes sunk across the constituency, she said.   The group called on the masses in the constituency to put aside all flawed impressions created by the MP’s detractors and vote massively for him in the December elections.   GNA...

Tamale, Oct 17, GNA - The defections drama that hit the National Democratic Party (NDP) in the Northern Region last week continued on Tuesday when a group of N/R Constituency Executives of the party announced their defection to join the National Democratic Congress. Announcing the group's decision at a press conference in Tamale, Mr Abubakari Abdul-Karim, who until the defection was the Savelugu Constituency Youth Leader of the NDP said, "We declare our unflinching support and resolve to work assiduously for the victory of the President, John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in the December elections". "We felt disillusioned and cheated by some of the NDC leaders in the past but today, we are happy to state that the leadership of President Mahama has not only brought a spark but rekindled our spirit and confidence in our great party". He said the prevailing atmosphere in the NDC was an opportunity that must not be lost on its members, and expressed their belief in the sincerity and astute leadership of President Mahama. "We are of the firm belief that we are better off staying with him (President Mahama) and pushing for the reforms rather than being in the NDP, a party that clearly lacks vision and direction" he added. He said he and the other former NDP executives  will hand over all NDP items in their possession to the Regional Police Commander in Tamale for safe keeping for Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, and entreat the former First Lady to stop using their names as executives or members of her party because "we are not going to support her". He appealed to other NDP members in the Region to abandon the party and join hands to help enhance the 'Better Ghana Agenda' of President Mahama. It will be recalled that last week, some members including N/R executives of the NDP resigned from the party and joined the NDC citing similar reasons. GNA...