Kumasi, Oct. 21, GNA – Defending Champions,  Asante Kotoko failed to grab all three points at stake after they were held 1-1 by visiting Heart of Lions in their Glo-Premier League duel at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi,  on Sunday.            A resilient midfield action ensured only a few scoring opportunities were created by both sides.             Kotoko, being coached for the first time by Mas-Ud Dramani, hoped to turn things around and record a possible first victory in three outings but Lions stood still and curtailed every move initiated by the homers.      Skipper Kofi Nti Boakye twice came close to giving the Porcupine Warriors the lead but lack of precision upfront saw him miss two glorious opportunities in the 13th and 43rd minutes.       From recess, Lions initiated most of the attacks especially from the flanks and nearly broke the deadlock in the 51st minute but Prince Acquah’s delivery from a counter-attack missed narrowly.   Kotoko took the game to their opponents after this early scare with series of defense-splitting moves and in one of their surging runs, striker Nafiu Iddrisu was brought down in the vital area by Lions’ Nana Egyir in the 82nd minute.   Boakye stepped forward to convert from the spot to give Kotoko the lead.   With everything pointed to a win for the Porcupine Warriors, Lions fought back for a point. Nana Egyir earned that point for the visitors when he also converted from the spot on the stroke of time after Kotoko’s Ransford Osei brought down Moro Ibrahim.   GNA...

Bekwai, Oct 21, GNA – New Edudiase United recorded their first victory in the three-week old Glo premier league with lone goal over visiting Tema Youth in their clash at the Bekwai Gyamfi Park on Sunday.              The only goal came in the 85th minutes through Sakyi Quaye when he weaved through the defence of Tema Youth and shot past goalkeeper Kofi Mensah.             Edubiase played their hearts out throughout the game but wasted their chances at goal especially in the first half.             Tema Youth in the second half also fought hard for the leader but their efforts were thwarted by the defence of Edudiase.          The last minutes of the game saw Edudiase on the war path and fought hard to maintain their lead.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA – Herewith the standings of the 2012/2013 Glo Premier League after the match day three games played on Sunday, October 20 and Sunday 21, at the various league centres.  Club  P W D L GF GA GD PTS Medeama SC             3 2 1 0 3 1 2 7 Hearts of Oak            3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 4 Amidaus Profs.        3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 4 Brekum Chelsea      3 2 1 0 4 0 2 7 Aduana Stars            3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5 Tema Youth              3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5 Heartof Lions          3 1 1 1 1 3 -1 4 Asante Kotoko         3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3 AshGold    3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3 Arsenals    3 0 2 1 4 2 +2 2 RTU   3 0 2 1 4 5 -1 2 AllStars                       3 0 2 1 2 4 -2 2 Dwarfs 3 1 1 1 4 3 1 4 KingFaisal                  3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4 Liberty    3 0 2 1 1 3 -2 2 Edubiase    3                            0 1 2 2 6 -4 1  GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 21, Herewith results of match day three of the Glo Premier League games played on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21, at the various league centers.   Tema:              Dwarfs                    3              Hearts            1   Kumasi:          Kotoko                  1               Lions               1   Bekwai:           Edubiase             0               T. Youth        0   Wa:                    A. Stars                1               Medeama      1   Dansoman:    Liberty                 0              Ashgold          0   Tamale:           RTU                        1              Aduana            1   Berekum:       Chelsea                2               Arsenal            0   Tema:               Amidaus              0               Faisal               1        GNA  ...

Wassa-Akropong (WR), Oct. 21, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday said the New Patriotic Party’s proposal to provide free healthcare to children under 18 years was in contrast to the National Health Insurance Authority law.    He said such children were already benefitting from the National Health Insurance Scheme from their parents and wondered how the proposal could be useful to them.    President Mahama made this known when he addressed a rally at Wassa-Akropong on the third day of his five-day campaign tour of the Western Region.    The president earlier on addressed rallies at Bogoso, Bawdie, and Nsuaem and is expected to address similar ones at Prestea, Manso and Tarkwa.     President said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would not make promises that would be unredeemable and appealed to the electorate to assess the candidates on merit of workable issues and not on vain promises.    He said the performance of the NDC in the past four years had overwhelmed their political opponents compelling them to make unachievable promises.    The President said all the communities of the region would receive their share of the national cake and urged them to vote massively for the NDC in the December polls for him to continue and complete all the projects initiated by late President John Evans Atta Mills.    President Mahama said communities without second cycle institutions would benefit from the new 200 Senior high Schools to be established in the next four years of the NDC government.    As a way of increasing the number of teachers in the country, President Mahama said government would establish 10 training colleges throughout the country to absorb more students.    President Mahama also announced that two electrical contractors would soon begin work to connect 60 communities in the region.    Kasapreko Kwame Bassanyin IV, Omanhene of Wassa-Akropong appealed to government to upgrade the Police station in the area into a district police headquarters to enable the personnel to fight the rising crime in the mining areas.    He asked the government to work on Wassa- Akropong roads to facilitate the haulage of minerals and food crops to the marketing centres.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - The National Sanitation Taskforce in partnership with Zoom Alliance and La Dadekotopong Municipal Assembly, has inaugurated a 50-member sanitation taskforce to help clean the environment and educate residents on the need to keep clean surroundings.    The inauguration of the taskforce is under the president’s special initiative of keeping the environment clean for a better Ghana.     Inaugurating the taskforce, Mr Daniel Amatey Mensah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ledzokuku-Krowor, entreated the team to exercise patience with residents in the course of creating awareness and educating them on the exercise.     Mr Amatey Mensah added that bins would be provided to residents while others would be placed at vantage points in the communities to ensure that residents do not litter around.    Explaining the work of the taskforce, the MCE said “The team will take charge of critical areas in the communities. Also, the exercise will continue for the next three months on daily basis. But, during every weekend, residents will be called upon to join the team for a massive cleanup exercise”.    “The team will take two days within each week to educate residents on the need to keep their environs clean and where they could find the bins,” he said.    Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Nii Amasah Namoale, who participated in the initial cleanup exercise, asked the residents to make conscious effort in keeping the environment clean.    He said “When the exercise goes on well for the next three months, we will call on the partners, including the sector minister to extend the duration as well as add more human resource and tools”.    The Minister further advised residents to stop throwing human excreta into gutters for a healthy life.   Commenting on the inauguration, Senior Public Affairs Manager at Zoom Alliance, Jacob Mingle, stated that the Alliance would continue to provide both the human resource and tools needed to keep the country clean.   Mr Mingle said: “We will continue to partner all sanitation organisations in the country to clean every corner of this country. Also the taskforce members will be stationed around distributed bins to ensure residents make good use of it.”        The Coordinator of the Assembly taskforce, Abraham Oko Kotey, said the body in the course of exercising their duties, would also educate residents why they need to use the bins for a healthy life.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA- The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gamey and Gamey Group, a human resource consultancy has urged Government to take immediate steps to set up the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre to offer professional approach to conflict resolution.      This, Mr Austin Gamey said is according to section 114 of ADR Act, 2010 Act 798, which has the same weight as all the international laws, rules and conventions like the International Chamber of Commerce Rules, the 1958 New York Conventions that had been domesticated into the country’s  legal system.     Mr Gamey, also the CEO of Gamey Academy of Mediation gave the advice at the closing ceremony of the 14th session of Professional Master of ADR class of the Academy in Accra at the weekend.      “Over the past few years we have all witnessed the use of ADR in the settlement of commercial cases, labour disputes, and land and chieftaincy conflicts.”      He stated it was important that ADR practitioners received quality training as Deltas or Agent of Change if ADR was to become accepted by those who seek redress for their disputes.      According to him, payment of controversial judgment debt was due to badly written agreements and failure of successive governments to seek help from practicing professionals of ADR to find out whether such agreements should be abrogated, “to devise if the matter at hand is suitable for negotiable settlement, mediation or arbitration”.     Mr Gamey mentioned that members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament had demonstrated their lack of appreciation of the effect of the outcome of any arbitration concluded and signed by the parties concern because they had not been trained professionally as Deltas in the field of ADR.     “It is therefore necessary that all organisations learn to seek advice from ADR professionals and not just any profession,” he said.      Superintendent Abraham Acquaye, Director and Secretary of Ghana Police Council advised the participants to put to use the knowledge they had acquired from the programme and play mediating roles wherever they found themselves.      Mrs Florence Larbi, Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company noted that the programme had enhanced her human relations and the ability to tolerate different views.      Gamey and Gamey Academy of Mediation is dedicated to the training of ADR Specialised Practicing Professionals. For the past 13 sessions of the ADR Executive Master Programme, the academy had trained professionals like lawyers, surveyors, human resource practitioners, chiefs among others.      GNA...

Tema, Oct. 21, GNA – “Hope Reborn,” a health-related novel listing the consequences of stigmatisation of People Living With HIV and AIDS has been launched in Tema, with a call on Ghanaian women to develop the habit of book writing.      Very Reverend Japhet Yawo Ledo, former Moderator of the EP Church who made the call reminded women that they could do so only through hard work, zeal and determination.      The 149-page book was written by Mrs Rebecca Asembri, wife of Dr Charles Asembri, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, whilst Dr Joyce Aryee, former Chief Executive Officer of Chamber of Mines wrote the foreword.      The book seeks to demonstrate that love and sympathy from family members and the society at large could impact positively on orphans of HIV and AIDS victims.      Bishop Ledo commended the author for her high sense of determination in coming out with the book, and expressed the hope that it could influence the attitude of the youth to lead exemplary lives.      Professor Paul S.N. Buatsi, Executive Director for Africa of the International Leadership Foundation who reviewed the novel charged Ghana AIDS Commission to endeavour to translate it into a play or movie since that could go a long way to influence the lives of the youth to stay away from premarital and casual sex.      Prof Buatsi described the book as a simple piece of work that provides a good understanding of all the two issues pertaining to the AIDS pandemic.      He recommended it as a supplementary reader for schools and churches to help educate the young ones on the dangers of the pandemic.      Mrs Asembri, the author disclosed that her motivation in writing the novel was to bring to the fore the humiliating and devastating consequences of HIV and AIDS on its victims.      She said part of the proceeds from the sale of the book would be utilised to support the infrastructural needs of Eugemont Orphanage located at Ve Koloenu in the Volta Region.      Mrs Bridget Katsriku, Chairperson of the Public Services Commission who chaired the function expressed worry about the persistent stigmatisation against AIDS victims by some members of the community.      She therefore urged Ghanaians not to shun the company of their relatives and friends who fall prey to the pandemic, but to give them the needed support and encouragement to enable them seek early treatment.      Madam Christy Aku Fugar, Assistant Headmistress of Tema Senior High School auctioned the first five books for GH¢2,400.   GNA...

Ho, Oct. 21, GNA- The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) high-flying campaign banner of free senior high school education, is a choice to bring Ghanaians in line for a march against underdevelopment.      There is the other choice of only squinting at the issue, without the resolve to act.          Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister responsible for Higher Education in the John Agyekum Kufuor administration made this remark during the re-launch of Volta Region NPP Youth Wing in Ho on Saturday.      She said the NPP idea is to raise educational standards of the people as bastions for development, just as is happening in other countries.      Ms Ohene said the NPP “thinks education is important” and so decided to give it the prime of place by routing for free senior secondary education.      She said the NPP had a good track record of visionary educational management, being the political party which made two years of kindergarten education part of basic school education.      Ms Ohene said the NPP is again on the verge of redefining basic school education.      Mr Stephen Amoah, Member of NPP Communication Team said economic indices being flaunted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is not in consonance with the living standards of the people.      Mr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, Member of Parliament for Manhyia, who stood in place of ex-President Kufuor as Guest Speaker, said the NDC is hard pressed finding valid points to counter NPP programmes.      He said propaganda could not sustain a government as the truth always triumphed.      Mr Kenwuud Nuworsu, NPP Regional Chairman, evidently upbeat about the good attendance of the launch said a youth-led reawakening to the important stake of the NPP in the politics of Ghana is imminent.      He noted that propaganda and little prejudices had worked against the interest of the NPP in the region but stressed that it would not keep the region in perpetual ignorance of happenings in political circles across the country.      He slammed the media for not raising and putting issues of development in their proper perspectives, thus allowing for half-truths and lies on the history of projects to flourish.      Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Ho-Central NPP Parliamentary Candidate said a “political tsunami” is about to happen in the region that would see the NPP gaining a lot of grounds in a region touted as a stronghold of the NDC.     A rally at Aflao, placing of wreaths on the graves of Major Courage Quashigah, Minister in the Kufuor regime and S.G Antor, Ghana’s Ambassador to Togo during the Busia regime, both luminaries of the NPP and a fundraising dinner dance were highlights of the launch.   GNA...

Ho, Oct. 21, GNA - Benjamin Kpodo, an Accountant, on Saturday launched his campaign to annex the parliamentary seat of Ho Central on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).     He pledged to facilitate the linking of roads in all the communities within the constituency.     He explained that a fluid inter-community access would make local governance and intra-constituency trading activities and social interaction more eventful.     Mr Kpodo told a well-attended rally after a float through Ho Township that he would also fight to get the Volta Regional capital a metropolitan status.     Mr Kpodo who beat incumbent Member of Parliament, Captain George Nfojoh (Rtd) said he would justify the huge confidence reposed in him.     He said he would make Ho Central pacesetters in the development of the region.     Mr Kpodo said besides serving as a good intermediary between the people and government agencies, he would also promote their interest in many other ways.      He said his campaign would strive to get all the votes for himself and President John Mahama, presidential candidate for the NDC.      Mr Isaac Kodobisah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive said government had for the past three years and over achieved a lot in infrastructure development in the municipality in the fields of education, health and local governance.   GNA...

  Accra, Oct. 21, GNA – The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has predicted the defeat of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 7 General Election.        A statement issued by Mr Richard Nii Armah, National Volunteers Coordinator of the PPP said: “It is very surprising that upon all the signs that the NDC is losing the 2012 General poll, they are yet to come to terms to this fact.”      The party said the defeat of the governing party is due to “the obvious mismanagement by the government”, constant failure of leadership and gross allegations of corruption against the NDC and its functionaries.      The statement said the scenario “may not have been noticed by the NDC, as they look at those things with very political spectacles thus denying themselves the opportunity of seeing the wrongs they are doing”.     “It is time the NDC understood that they are just about losing power and must be preparing to hand over to the Progressive Peoples Party in January 2013.”      The statement said the NDC is jubilating over their number one position on the ballot paper, as if to say, that the current crop of NDC leadership and members have forgotten their history and the history of Ghana so soon.     “If they have forgotten, I (Nii Armah) would like to remind them and give them a cause to begin packing from the castle.      It said in 2000, Ghanaians went to the polls and the keen competition was all about change versus the maintenance of order.     The late President John Evans Atta Mills, who was then the Vice President was the candidate for the then ruling NDC.     The statement said Atta Mills balloted and obtained the number one position on the ballot paper and campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of Ghana and telling Ghanaians that he was already in motion and so he should be given the chance to continue the motion.     “By the end of the elections, there was no winner as the government’s candidate failed to get the 50 per cent plus one. This necessitated a second round in which all the opposition parties came together to defeat the NDC. “In…2008, Nana Akuffo Addo became the candidate of the then ruling NPP (New Patriotic Party). He obtained a number one position on the ballot paper and prosecuted an aggressive campaign that said we (Ghanaians) are moving forward. By the end of the elections, Nana Akuffo Addo could not obtain 50 per cent plus one and was subsequently defeated in the second and third rounds of the polls. “Per the analysis… it is clear that anytime a ruling government is about to be defeated, its candidate obtains a number one position on the ballot paper. By divine intervention, this is a clear way of deceiving them and making them loose with surprise.     “We are solidly convinced that this time around, the four pillars of the PPP’s Political Platform; Stewardship, Education, Healthcare and Jobs has reflected in the number four position of the PPP on the ballot paper. This is a good sign that the spirit of mother Ghana is crying for Ghanaians to give the PPP and Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom a chance.      “Let those who have ears hear and get up. Its awake time; a time to defeat incompetence and replace it with competence; the time to remove corruption and replace it with incorruptible leadership; a time to give way for real accelerated development with a sense of urgency; a time to be bold to crash mediocrity. Let’s all come together under the sun and make Ghana proud,” the statement said.    GNA ...

  Ho, Oct. 21, GNA - Dr Jakpasu V.K. Afun, Rector of Ho Polytechnic Saturday asserted that Polytechnic Education provides the surest antidote to graduate unemployment in the country.     He therefore advised parents and guardians to encourage and sponsor their children to the Polytechnics to be trained towards becoming self-made men and women.    Dr Afun was welcoming delegates to the 2012 World Credit Union Day and Year of Co-operatives held in the Polytechnic’s auditorium in Ho on the theme: “Members matter most.”    He said less than 10 per cent of the group, described as unemployed graduates association were from the Polytechnics.    Dr Afun said parents and guardians therefore have the choice of either continuing to bear the burden of looking after their unemployed graduate children at home or enjoy seeing them gainfully employed and fending for themselves.    He said he would have encouraged and sponsored his children to acquire polytechnic education if he had the opportunity.    On the importance of the Credit Unions movement, Dr Afun said it has proved to be relevant in transforming the lives of many people in the country and raising them up the social ladder.    He therefore urged the delegates to the celebration to “plant the Credit Union seed in the Polytechnic”.    The Credit Union idea was introduced in the then Gold Coast by Reverend Father John McNulty, an Irish Canadian Catholic Priest in September 1955.   That saw the formation of the first Credit Union   in Jirapa, now Upper West Region in that year as the premier credit union in Africa, the Volta Regional Director of Education, Mr Emmanuel Keteku said in his keynote address to the delegates.   He said becoming Bishop of Wa in 1960, the late Bishop Dery formed other credit unions in the Parish and was commended by President Kwame Nkrumah as “doing a good service to Ghana and I encourage you to continue it”.   Mr Keteku therefore reminded the leadership of the Credit Union Association (CUA) in Ghana to put the satisfaction of every member as topmost priority and educate their employees to respect such members and accord them every courtesy when they called at their offices.   “The overall atmosphere and the personal connection of a member with your union are what bind the member to your union. It is this combination that makes an exceptional member’s experience.    “Customer experience will decide the winners and losers in the years ahead, because excellent customer experiences are still so novel that, when we have one, we talk about it,” Mr Keteku said.    Mr Yaw Assua-Yeboah, Chairman of CUA expressed gratitude to past and present National Boards and Managements of the Association for working hard to put the Legislative Instrument (LI) on CUA before Parliament.    He said with collaborative efforts the association would ensure the passage of the LI.”   Mr Assua-Yeboah urged the Chapters of the association to ensure that the Primary Societies honour their obligations punctually.   He urged the Chapters to impress on the Primary Societies that with the exception of CUA dues all other “obligations are investments which serve as financial security in times of need”.   Mr Assua-Yeboah appealed to members of the Association to help educate the public to ensure peaceful elections on December 7.   A report on CUA’s programmes, products and services indicated that there is a total of 408 Credit Unions in the country as at June 30, 2011 with a total membership of 366,136.   Thirty eight (38) out of the 408 credit unions were described as viable with total deposits (savings and shares) standing GHȼ253,218,980 with   assets worth GHȼ288,595,566.   Outstanding loans stand at GHȼ157,132,619 with delinquent loans that are 30 days and over amounting to GHȼ22,791,241 and a total liquidity reserve standing at 28 per cent.   GNA ...

(UW/R), Oct. 21, GNA - Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah –Arthur on Saturday reminded Ghanaians to do everything possible to make this year’s general elections incident free to prove that Ghana is a citadel of peace and democratic governance.      He said the world is watching the nation on how its elections would go and appealed to all to make the elections peaceful for Ghana to maintain its respect.      Vice President Amissah-Arthur reassured Ghanaians of Government’s commitment to peaceful elections, adding that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) would stick to its path of accelerated development when given the nod for a second term in the next December general elections.      Vice President Amissah-Arthur gave the assurance at Han, near Wa in the Sissala West Constituency, in the Upper West Region as part of his tour of the three Northern Regions, ahead of the December elections to solicit for votes for the NDC.      The Vice President, who had earlier been to the Wa Municipality, where he interacted with the electorate and commissioned some development projects, said it was Government’s determination to build a sound economy and social infrastructure for the present and future generations.      He asked Ghanaians to renew their mandate for the NDC to enable it to continue with the agenda of improving the lives of Ghanaians under the Better Ghana Programme, which the late President Atta Mills was working on before his death.      Naa Salifu Dakura, the Paramount Chief of the Kansaw Traditional Area expressed appreciation to the late President Mills for the provision of a polyclinic in the area, describing the polyclinic as a standing legacy to his memory, adding that, the Savanna Accelerated Development programme would raise the standard of living of the people.      He appealed to the Vice President to us his good office to complete a market project in the area which started sometime ago.      Naa Dakura also appealed to Government to reactivate the Han Water Project and build a community Senior High School for the area.      Vice President Amissah-Arthur made stop-overs at Pluma and Tumu, where he assured the traditional chiefs of Government's determination to bring development to the area.      He used the occasion to introduce Alhaji Amidu Sulemanu, the Regional Minister and Hajia Alijata Sulemana, NDC’s aspiring MPs for Sissala West and Sissala East respectively to the electorate.      Vice President Amissah-Arthur asked NDC supporters to put their differences behind them and forge ahead in unity for a resounding “one-touch” victory for the party.   He addressed similar rallies at Bujon, where Kuoro Willie Baah, the Regent, asked for government assistance to build more schools and a police station.      He invited the Veep to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Kanton Senior High School.   GNA...

Nakong (UE/R , Oct. 21,  GNA  – Some Chiefs and people of the Upper East Region have commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for bringing development projects to the Region.      The Chiefs made the commendation at separate fora, when the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur paid courtesy calls on them to solicit for votes for the NDC.      The Paramount Chief of Nakong, Pe Joseph Banapeh Afagachie commended the NDC government for awarding the Bolgatanga–Tumu road on contract and said when it is completed, it would help reduce the travelling distance from the Upper East region to the Upper West region, as well as curbing the high incidences of armed robbery due to the bad nature of the road.      Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, the Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area also paid tribute to the NDC Government for the unprecedented development projects such as the construction of Senior High and basic schools in the entire region.      The Chiefs pledged to contribute towards ensuring peace during and after the forthcoming election and appealed to all political parties to equally do so.      They also appealed to the government to focus more on developing the three northern regions to bridge the development gap between the north and the south.      The Vice President commended the Chiefs for their prayers and support to government and pledged that the NDC government had more plans for the development of the North and that the only way to accomplish it was for them to retain the party in power.      Addressing members of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch of the Navrongo Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) at Navrongo, Mr Amissah-Arthur stated that the NDC Government was more committed to the development of education.      He said to prove this commitment; it had established two Universities and had also built basic schools, including Senior High Schools in the country.      He noted that no government had been so committed to improving education than the NDC Government and urged the electorate to retain the NDC in power.      He told the students that the UDS was dear to the NDC government and that it would continue to support its growth, stressing that, the construction of a modern auditorium and a drainage system at the Navrongo Campus would be completed soon.      The Vice President called on all members of the TEIN to embark on serious campaigns to explain the good policies and programmes of the NDC to the people at the grassroots to win more votes.      The student leadership of the UDS appealed to the Government to provide hostels facilities and accommodation for lecturers, as well as the tarring of roads on the campus.   GNA...

Agona Kwanyako (C/R), Oct. 21, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday presented a set of musical instruments worth GH¢4,000 to Agona Kwanyako Brass band at a ceremony at Kwanyako in the Agona East District of the Central Region.       The presentation was made on behalf of the former President by Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and some NPP Constituency executives of Agona East.      Making the presentation, Mr Agyabeng said the donation was in fulfillment to a promise made by former President Kufuor when he visited Agona Kwanyako three years ago.      It would be recalled that the Kwanyako Brass band members were involved in an accident on the Agona Swedru/Akim Oda road after attending Late President J.E.A. Mills one week cerebration at Agona Nsaba.      The group members were hired by Maame Pokua Sawyer, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Agona East.       The MP called on the political leaders and supporters in the Agona East and other constituencies to conduct clean campaigns to ensure peace in the country.      Mr Agyabeng said the parties should help promote peace and tranquility that Ghanaians are yeaning for before, during and after December 7, elections.      According to the MP, it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to bury their political differences in order to deepen the country’s democratic processes.      The MP called on the people of Agona Kwanyako and others in the Agona East to vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwa  Akufo-Addo in the December 7,polls for free-Senior High School, quality health care and others.      Mr Kweku Buabeng and Mr Kofi Amoah leaders of Agona Kwanyako Brass Band group expressed their gratitude to former President Kufuor and the MP for the donation.      He said since 1958, when the brass band received musical instruments from a British national, the group had been grappling unsuccessfully to get a new one.   GNA...

Apam (C/R), Oct. 21, GNA - The District Magistrate at Apam, Mr Charles Wiafe has stated that the police are not debt collectors and therefore the public must desist from paying moneys at the police stations.      Addressing members of the Gomoa West District Oversight Committee of the African Peer Review Mechanism at a validation workshop at Apam on Friday, Mr Wiafe said debt collection is the duty of the law courts.      He said the courts are not meant for adjudicating cases only but handles ordinance marriages among others.      The Apam district Police commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) L. K. Lumor said suspects do not need to pay money before being granted bail or lodge a complaint.      According to him, accident prone-zone areas had been identified between Winneba Junction roundabout and theApam highway hence the presence of police personnel on that stretch of the road to control traffic.      The Central Regional Director of the National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Victor Markin urged Ghanaians to review their communal spirit of voluntarism.      The Chief of Apam, Nana Effrim X, who chaired the function, called for compulsory military service for all school leavers to enable them to be disciplined citizens in future.      He said in Israel, Denmark, Holland and Switzerland school leavers are conscripted into the army.      According to him if the citizens are disciplined, they would never engage in corrupt activities as well as indiscipline acts.   GNA...

Agona Swedru, Oct. 21, GNA - A 150 member newly recruited Zoomlion Ghana national sanitation taskforce for the Agona West Municipal and East district has been inaugurated to ensure absolute environmental cleanliness.      The inauguration coincided with a four-hour massive clean-up exercise assisted by Zoomlion staff from Gomoa East District to clean vantage points of Agona Swedru on Saturday.      Speaking to the Press after the prgramme, Mr John Sackey, Central Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited said the inauguration of the taskforce was in line with the Policy Statement by President John Dramani Mahama at Parliament recently to improve the sanitation situation in the country.      He said similar taskforces have been inaugurated in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to reduce filth within three months.     The Regional Manager said the President’s directive enabled Zoomlion Ghana to recruit 500, 100 and 50 staffs from Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts respectively to augment the existing staff of the company.      Mr Sackey said education would be the top priority of Zoomlion Ghana to raise awareness about the indiscriminate dumping of waste into gutters and unauthorized places.      The Regional Manager said the clean up exercise was simultaneously done in Ajumako-Enyan Essiam, Asikuma-Odoben –Brakwa districts and Mfantseman Municipality.      Mr Francis Asirifi, Agona West Municipal Environmental Health Director said sanitation should be everybody’s concern.      He said environmental sanitation officers have been deployed into the Municipality to arrest and prosecute people who dump human and liquid wastes indiscriminately in their soundings.      He said 25 people have been fined GH¢60 each by the Agona Swedru magistrates’ Court between January and September, 2012.      Mr Christian Ocran, Agona West and East District Manager of Zoomlion Ghana hoped that the inauguration of the sanitation taskforce in the two districts would help improve sanitation.   GNA...

Ajumako(C/R), Oct. 21, GNA - The Taxi Drivers Association of Gomoa Ajumako Ayan Assiem District of the Central Region, has been commended for their outstanding and dedicated service to saving the lives of pregnant women and their unborn babies.   “Your altruistic efforts in driving pregnant women who are in labour to deliver in health facilities have saved many lives and even reduced maternal mortality in your area,” says Ms Rosina Barba, who is part of the 10 -member delegation of the friends of UNFPA who are in the country from New York in the United States to acquaint themselves with the reproductive health of women.   She was speaking at Ajumako.   The delegation, have visited health facilities in Greater Accra, Northern and Upper East Regions  supported by the UNFPA’s fifth Country Programme (2006-2011).   Friends of UNFPA, is a US based non-profit organisation that advances UNFPA’s global efforts by mobilising funds, doing advocacy and action for life saving work by the Fund.   The visit to Ghana forms part of organisation’s annual visit to field offices.   Ms Doris Ahelegbe District Director of Health explained that the region constantly recorded the highest maternal mortality in the early 2000s and decided to sign a memorandum of understanding with the local road transport union to transport pregnant women to the nearest health facility.   “I am happy to let you know that some of these drivers donate blood when necessary to the pregnant women. Since 2006, we have not recorded any maternal deaths.”   The Ghana Health Service and the Transport Union Initiative supported by the European Union, UNFPA and the government, reward hard working drivers who excel under the initiative to save lives.   Mr Philip Asamoah District Coordinating Director commended the drivers for their assiduous effort for supporting lives.   Ms Esi Awotwi UNFPA HIV and AIDS Focal Person who accompanied the delegation commended the district for the hard work in ensuring that the area recorded no maternal deaths since 2006.   The delegation presented a certificate of appreciation to the district for the outstanding and dedicated service to women, children and families of Ghana.   Outstanding drivers who have excelled in transporting pregnant women to health facilities were given certificates of appreciation and UNFPA souvenirs.   At Agona Abodom , the delegation called on Nana Ahwer Anquandoh III Tufohene of Agona Abodom in the region, who have an adolescent Reproductive Health initiative christened “Time with Grandma”, which helped the youth in the community to lead a responsible sexual life.   The 65 year- old chief initiative organises the youth after school every Tuesday and takes them through adolescent and sexual reproductive health issues.   She also organises women support groups to embark on house to house education on proper bathing, hand washing and keeping the home clean.   For the aged, Time with Grandma organises keep Fit exercises to keep them fit and stay healthy.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - Liberty Professionals remain winless in the 2012/2013 Premier League after playing out a barren draw with Ashantigold on Sunday at the Sly Tetteh Stadium, Dansoman.   The match was balanced with both sides having their fair share of proceedings with attacking midfielder Louis Agyemang stealing the headlines with a superb performance.   Both sides failed to make the most of the scoring opportunities that came their way whilst goalies Daniel Agyei and Fatau Dauda of Liberty and Ashantigold proved why they are the safest pair of hands for their respective clubs.   Hosts Liberty got off well but it was the visitors whose dominance from the half-hour mark with the likes of David Telfer, Agyemang and striker Yakubu Mohammed that led to scary moments for the rearguard.   After a barren first half, the two sides yet again failed to take advantage of the chances that came their way, ensuring that the game ended without a winner. Liberty are still without a win the three-week old premiership after a 1-1 draw with King Faisal and a 0-2 to newly promoted Amidaus Professionals in their previous games.     GNA...

Wa (UWR), Oct. 21,GNA- Dwelling on past and present achievements in the educational sector, Vice  President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur says the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has a better strategy  for developing the educational sector.                He said the nation would have to find  a way to finance the promised  free senior high school education by other political parties, explaining that the “free” really had a price to be paid for it to be achieved.              With an analysis of the concept of Opportunity Cost in economics, the Vice President said the provision of free Senior High School education would definitely have to be paid for from other sectors of the economy, thus depriving Ghanaians of qualitative services from other equally important sectors.             Vice President Amissah-Arthur had met with students as part of a five-day campaign tour of the three Northern Regions of Ghana.             At the Wa Senior High Technical School, Vice President Amissah-Arthur commissioned several projects including to a new assembly hall, an administration block and two storey girls’ dormitory, all constructed with funding from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.           Addressing staff and students later, Vice President Amissah-Arthur said free education could never take place without the necessary infrastructure           The Vice President said there were 725,000 students in public second cycle schools for the 2010/2011 and the total cost of keeping the students in school was about GH¢ 600 million.           He said there were problems even at the basic level, where the current Ghanaian constitution stipulates that education must be free and compulsory, because of lack of facilities.           Government was therefore concentrating on the provision of facilities and conditions with that would make it possible for children to go to school and stay in the classrooms. .         Aside the provision of more classrooms, the ruling NDC Government has enhanced the School Feeding Programme, providing free textbooks as well as other interventions to enhance accessibility to quality  education.          “How can children concentrate in school when they are hungry? Where there are no classrooms, when it rains, it’s a holiday,” Vice President Amissah- Arthur said, adding “the current Free SHS does not provide the necessary conditions.           He said public Senior High School Education cannot be free now, because you have to pay for everything you take, and invoked the constitution to the effect that education has to be progressively free.          Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the financing of SHS education has to be subjected to a national debate.          He reiterated the commitment of the NDC Government to ensure equal and fair access to quality education, which he had featured prominently when he earlier addressed students and staff of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies.         He described the University as a baby of the NDC, and urged the people to vote massively for the NDC to have a “one-touch” victory on December 7 to continue to serve in the interest of the education sector.        He assured the Ghanaian electorate that the NDC has a superior strategy for development, and called on them to reject what he called “textbook economists.”     He had earlier called on the Vicar General of the Wa Diocese of the Catholic Church, who represented the Catholic Bishop of Wa, Bishop Paul Bemile, and assured the cleric to look in the suggestion to re-establish the collaboration enhance access to quality education .   Vice President Amissah-Arthur appealed to all religious organisations to continue to pray for all presidential candidates and their party leadership against any misfortune including accidents as they moved across the country campaigning.    They should also pray for peace to prevail even after the election.    The Vicar appealed to Government to improve the road network in the Municipality and its environs, refurbish and expand the Wa Regional Hospital.     Vice President Amissah-Arthur also called the leadership of the Ahmadiya Mission and Zongo Chiefs, and requested their blessings for a successful campaign and victory at the polls.   GNA...