Nsawam (E/R), Oct.21, GNA – The National Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Zongo Caucus on Saturday toured parts of the Eastern Region to educate zongo communities on the party’s manifesto and President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for zongo dwellers.      They visited the Aburi/Nsawam, Upper West Akim, Lower West Akim and Suhum Constituencies.      The tour was part of the Caucus’ planned visits to all zongo communities in the country to educate them on President Mahama vision and to win more votes for the NDC in Election 2012.      Alhaji Yussif Captain, National Coordinator of the Zongo Caucus, who led the delegation, said the NDC as a party upholds the dignity of Muslims and the people in the country’s zongos.      He said the NDC established the Islamic Education Unit to improve education in Muslim communities, especially zongo’s adding, “It was the Party that made Edhul Fitr and Edhul Adhar.public holdays”      Alhaji Yussif said the NDC led by late President John Evans Atta Mills was from since 2009 paying Arabic teachers through the National Youth Employment Program to encourage them in the teaching of Islam as Ghana’s Constitution permit the practice of every religion.      He said President Mahama was raised in the Zongo Community in Kanda in the Greater Accra Region and that there was the need to vote for him as he knows the existing problems of the people of living in zongo communities.      Alhaji Captain said many supporters of the NDC in the Zongo communities were passive and called on them to vote massively for the NDC in this year’s election, adding, “We have done it before, and we can do it again.”      Alhaji Bawa Ismael, Former Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central in the Greater Accra Region and Executive Member of the Caucus, said the NDC government had reduced and stabilized inflation to a single digit and that this was a history lesson in Ghana’s economics and democracy.      He said the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) free Senior High School (SHS) policy was impossible and that the government in its quest to prioritize education was currently providing free school uniforms, exercise books, increase the capitation grant by 50 per cent and also expand the School Feeding Programme to reach more deprived school.      Alhaji Ismael said education remained the bedrock for development, and government was ensuring that basic education became accessible to all Ghanaian children.       Alhaji Yussif Osman, Eastern Regional Co-coordinator of the Caucus  said President Mahama was a peaceful man and was always preaching peace in all his campaigns, adding ,    “God has already chosen President Mahama because he is a peaceful person and not a person who want to be President through bloodshed  as amplified in other people’s rallying cry; ‘all die-be-dies’.      The Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapim South, Mr Mark Dompeh Amoako, said the NDC was on its way to victory through the programmes that it had implemented since 2009.      He said the projects implemented by the Municipal Assembly by the NDC in its three and half years of governance was far better than the eight years of the NPP under former President John Agyekum Kuffour.      At Adieso, Mallam Yahaya Abdul-Karim, Imam of the Zongo Community, said the community would always vote for the NDC, adding, “In every election, we vote the NDC 99 per cent, this year, it is going to be 100 per cent”      Mr Aminu Issah, Constituency Organizer of Lower West Akim, said no political party could win elections in the country without the support of the zongo community.      Alhaji Yussif Abubakari, Suhum Constituency Coordinator of the Caucus, noted that the caucus’ initiative to educate people living in zongo communities on the Party’s manifesto was in the right direction, adding, “We need to educate our people on the programmes and projects that are executed, on-going and those in the pipeline.”   GNA...

Vea (UE), Oct. 20,  GNA- The Chief of Vea, Naba Thomas Azubire, has called on the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC) to hold a stakeholders meeting to address issues that have contributed to the stalled work on the Vea dam.          The Contractor working on the dam had a disagreement with some of the community members spearheaded by the “Tindana” (spiritual leader)         Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the weekend, the Chief indicated that a stakeholders’ meeting including the Regional Minister, the Paramount Chief of Bongo, the Tindamas, the clan heads, and the Ghana Water Company including the contractor was the only way they could resolve the problem to allow the contractor continue work.      According to the Chief, he is the Custodian of the land and wields much influence over his subjects and could resolve any problem that has the tendency of stalling development of the area.      The contractor, the chief alleged, went behind him to the “Tindana” after they (he and the contractor) had finished negotiations to use some piled rocks in the area for the rehabilitation of the dam wall.      According to the chief, he earlier held series of meetings with the people whose houses were to be affected when blasting of the rocks took place.           He explained that the Tindana was involved in those negotiations where all the parties agreed to take compensation from the Contractor for those to be affected “only for the contractor to go behind me to the Tindana. Having breached the agreement, he organised some people in the area to prevent the contractor from blasting the rocks leading to work coming to a standstill”.      Naba Azubire indicated that as a chief of the area who had ruled for twenty years, he was development oriented and had lobbied for lots of development projects for the area and said it was not true that he was behind the delay in the execution of work at the dam as alleged by the contractor and some other people in the community.      He threatened to sue anybody who intended to drag his hard won reputation into the mud and said he was not happy with the contractor for telling the public that there was a power struggle between him and the Tindana hence the delay.      According to Naba Azubire, the role of the Tindana is purely  spiritual which includes the purification of the shires and intermediating the gods and the people in times of disaster and that he is not the overseer of the land, adding “the Tindana is  subordinate to the chief in our custom“.      Earlier, the management of the construction firm, Eunitack Services Exchange Limited, said they would have finished the project by now had it not been the misunderstanding between the community leadership.     The project which was awarded to the Contractor in 2010, is expected to be completed in December this year otherwise funding sourced from international donors would go back to them.      The contractor is expected to work on the up and down streams of the dam walls with funds from some international donors.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 20. GNA - Mr Justice Amegashie, Chief Executive of Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority, has called on all road users to take road safety issues seriously since it was a shared and collective responsibility.      He said road safety issues required collaborative efforts amongst public institutions, private sector and non-governmental institutions.      Mr Amegashie made the call at the launch of road safety instruction documentary to disseminate information to road users in Accra over the weekend.   The documentary was put up by the Ghana Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Culture (GHANECC) in partnership with the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU).    He thanked the leadership and members of the Ghana Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Culture for supporting the initiative.    According to him, the initiative was to introduce an innovative and creative intervention to educate Road users.     He said it was a clear demonstration of the understanding that the nature and scale of the road crash and casualty problem could not be solved by one Agency or Institution alone.     He said everybody was affected in one way or the other whenever a road crash occurs.    “The word responsibility is key to the prevention and reduction of road crashes and casualty on the road,” he added.    He said drivers were responsible for their own safety, the safety of those they carry in their vehicle and other road users.     Mr Nico Van Staalduined, Managing Director of GHANECC, said he has never seen so many professors who are genius, intelligent lawyers, clever businessmen, smart taxi drivers and streets smart ‘trotro’ drivers behaving so “stupid” as in traffic.     He said our behavior in traffic makes you wonder sometimes if we forget all road safety and traffic rules after our examination.     He noted that the basics of improving the safety on the roads lies in education, there should be constant education for drivers on safety.     Mr Staalduined said in the Netherlands, road safety instruction movies have been used to educate the general public for the last 50 years.     He commended the MTTU of the Ghana Police for embracing the idea to donate road safety instruction movies as part of GHANECC’s Corporate Social Responsibility.     “With the assistance of MTTU, GHANECC developed the first road safety movies, starting with the most important, most urgent and majority “killers”: Pedestrians crossing roads,” he added.     He disclosed the movies would be released once every month and called on the media especially the TV stations to air these videos to impact on road users.     DCOP Angwubutoge Awuni, Commander of the MTTU, said the unit believed in proactive enforcement which hinges on education.      He said the initiation was a unique visual approach curving rules and the use of side mirrors, dangerous overtaking and braking would definitely help to reduce the needless death and injuries on the road.     “The Police MTTU is doing her best to improve the competence of its personnel and will welcome any institution willing to support in that   GNA...

Accra, Oct.20, GNA – Professor Robert Kwame Nkum, Provost of the College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said the University will continue to make Science and technology education more accessible by all Ghanaians.      He said the KNUST was currently operating in the ten Regional Capitals in the country in addition to some other potential centres in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Akosombo in the Eastern Region and Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.      “Plans are also underway to start the construction of our cherished Accra-City Campus for IDL”.      Prof Nkum made this known at the matriculation ceremony of the Southern Sector fresh students admitted into the Institute of Distance Learning of the University (IDL) on Saturday in Accra.      He said the University through its IDL, was working on efforts to establish a number of computer laboratories and multimedia lecture rooms with video conferencing facilities at the various IDL centers in the country and on the main campus.      Prof Nkum said the University had admitted a total number of 3,892 which comprises 1,628 postgraduate and 2,264 undergraduate students and that the figure revealed that majority of the students admitted were concentrated in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regional centres.      He said the KNUST continues to reform its systems and standards and attempts to provide its services in the most efficient and effective manner to the satisfaction of its clients, various activities were undergoing serious reforms as a University of Science and Technology.      “This year we were able to send regular updates to our applicants, informing them of the status of their admission application through text messages and emails, applicants were also made to print their own admission letters”.      “Today’s ceremony marks the official acceptance and entry of these fresh students into the University as junior members in Status Pupillari; it is after today’s ceremony that the University will officially recognize these students as bona fide students of KNUST”.      “The students would thus be entitled to all privileges accorded students of the University as well as be bound by the responsibilities of attached to their new status as proud students of KNUST”.        He said a similar ceremony would be held next week for the Northern Sector students in Tamale and congratulated the students on their admission into the KNUST.   GNA...

Cape Coast, Oct. 20, GNA- The Augustine’s College in Cape Coast on Saturday launched the Archbishop William Thomas  Porter Endowment  Fund  to facilitate  infrastructural  development  and face-lifting of the college.     Launching the fund in Cape Coast, Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), said the College was among the first catholic schools to be built in the country and has trained a lot of illustrious sons including lawyers, doctors, journalists, politicians and engineers who have and continue to contribute towards the development of the country.    He underscored the importance of education to the socio-economic development of the nation and said the government has a major role to make education affordable and accessible to all Ghanaians as stipulated in article 38 of the constitution.         Mr Amihere, who is an old student of the college, said as much as the government was doing everything to ensure quality education, most mission schools lacked the necessary infrastructure as compared to the time they were being managed by the church and missionaries.        He said the Fund was being launched to get a regular source of funds to help address the numerous problems facing the college and urged all stakeholders particularly, parents, old students and the Catholic church to contribute to the fund, stressing that it was through the efforts of the church that Archbishop Porter was able to establish the college in 1935.       He said the Fund would be used to support needy but brilliant   and disciplined students, provide scholarship for outstanding sports boys, procure prizes for best students including WASSCE, as well as support newly recruited teachers with basic   accommodation furnishing and provide accommodation for internship and national service teachers.          The fund is also to support newly recruited staff with refundable financial support, provide uniforms and equipment for non-teaching staff as well as equip the college’s sick bay, provide teaching and learning material and procure sport s equipment.         The fund would in addition be used to undertake general rehabilitation of infrastructure, modernize and develop the school park, put up and expand the college church building and put up staff accommodation.      Mr Amihere called on the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund to use the “widow’s mite approach” in raising the funds, this he noted would encourage all stakeholders to contribute to the fund.     Most Reverend Mathias Kobina Nketsiah, Metropolitan Archbishop of  Cape Coast, paid a glowing tribute to the founders of the College and said the facility was synonymous with excellence and urged the students and stakeholders to endeavour to uphold the good name of the college.      Archbishop Nketsiah, who is the Patron of the college, expressed concern about the deterioration of facilities on campus and attributed it to the lack of maintenance and the large student’s intake and stressed that the fund was a step in the right direction.     He called on stakeholders particularly, Catholics to contribute to the fund just like how the founders in the past engaged all parishes, deaneries and philanthropists to contribute to the establishment of the college.    He commended the teaching and non-teaching staff for their commitment and dedication to duty which has made the college what it is today.      Mr Joseph Connel, Headmaster, said the college was ranked among the most productive and dynamic Senior High Schools in Ghana and because of that there was high demand for admission among Junior High school graduates thereby putting pressure on the facilities in the college.       He mentioned the lack of adequate residential accommodation for staff, renovation of staff bungalows and rehabilitation of structures, maintenance and improvement of college infrastructure as the challenges facing the college.        Mr  Kenneth Ashigbey Managing Director  of Graphic  Communication Group Ltd, an old student,  who  presided, said to sustain the fund,  it was imperative to  establish a permanent secretariat to manage  it.      He also called on the nine member board of trustees of the fund to be independent of the college’s administration but should have representatives  from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA),  the College Board and the old Students Association  to form a corporate body to effectively manage the Fund.       Mr Ashigbey further suggested that an audit company be engaged to regularly audit and publish the accounts of the fund to attract contributors.      Archbishop  W.T  Porter  was born in 1887  at Birkdale,  a suburb of Liverpool, England,   and  upon assumption of  office  as Bishop  of Cape Coast  in 1933, he   sourced funds from both within and outside the country to establish  Saint Augustine College in 1935   GNA  ...

Tamale, Oct. 20, ,GNA - The over-bearing influence of politicians and traditional rulers on policemen and women in the Northern Region has rendered the Police less effective in the nation’s biggest region, Naa (Chief) Alhassan Issahaku Amadu, Zangbalun Bomahe has said.      He said the situation had emboldened miscreants in the region to foment trouble with impunity.      Chief Amadu, who is also the Northern Regional Director of the National Population Council, was presenting a paper on: "The Role of Traditional Rulers in Promoting Peaceful Elections", at a town hall meeting organised by the Satellite Peace Centre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale, in Tamale on Saturday.      The meeting aimed at discussing ways of ensuring peace at the project areas including Tamale, Yendi, Bawku and Wa during this year's electioneering season.      It formed part of the United Nations Human Security Programme to bring relief to vulnerable people, and was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme, with personnel from the GPS, traditional rulers, youth groups of political parties, and community members in attendance.      The Police Service in the region has been complaining of constant interference in its duties by highly placed authorities who always call on them to release people arrested on suspicion of violating the country's laws thereby demoralising the Police in their efforts to secure the region.      Chief Amadu said such a practice was inimical to efforts at promoting peace in the region and called on the Police to be assertive and deal ruthlessly with miscreants to deter others.      He also called on traditional rulers and other authorities who were fond of such a practice to stop it and respect the independence of the Police institution.      He said "as traditional rulers, we need to conduct ourselves well in public to command the respect of our subjects" and condemned chiefs who attended political party rallies to endorse candidates.      Chief Amadu also called on political parties to stop creating avenues that enabled youth groups to engage in violence.      Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Caesar Abanga, Tamale District Police Commander, who spoke on: "The Role of the Security Agencies for National Peace", assured the people that the Police Service was firmly in control of the security situation in the region adding, there was no need for fear or panic before, during and after the elections.      He called on all to be abreast of the provisions of the Public Order Act and obey them to avoid unnecessary confrontations with the Police.      Reverend Father Thaddeus Kuusah, Coordinator and Project Manager of the Satellite Peace Centre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale, expressed hope that the meeting would help remove the barriers that existed amongst traditional rulers, security agencies and political parties to enhance trust and confidence in the performance of their respective duties.   GNA...

  Pwalugu (UE), Oct. 20, GNA-  Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, Commissioner of Police in charge of Human Resource, says the country’s constitution mandates citizens to arrest criminals and hand them over to the police for action to be taken.          He said it was not the Police alone that was supposed to cause arrest and indicated that in advanced countries, citizens played a very significant role by calling the attention of the police to effect arrest.         “In the same manner, citizens in Ghana will do the Police a good service by volunteering information to the Police or could cause arrest of any criminal and hand him over to the Police. The idea where most communities shelved criminals must be discontinued”   The Commissioner of Police  said this when he addressed 355 police recruits on Friday at  a passing out ceremony  at the Police Training School at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region.         He said as part of efforts to help reduce crimes drastically, the Police Administration tripled the enlistment of personnel into the service and indicated that government had also provided it with 435 vehicles which have been distributed to all the 10 Regional Commands.     “The Police Service is also expecting additional 660 vehicles soon which will help boost our operations”, he added.     The recruits, who underwent six months basic police training, were also trained in contemporary and democratic policy to be able to address contemporary and democratic issues.     Alhaji Mahama admonished the new recruits to exhibit a high sense of professionalism, stressing “your actions and inactions will be seriously monitored constantly and when caught in indecent acts you will not be spared at all. As you are all aware you have six months probation to serve”.     He commended overall best recruit, Takyi Emma and other award winners for their achievements and entreated them not to relent on their efforts but continue to strive harder to win more laurels.   GNA...

Kintampo (B/A), Oct. 20, GNA – The College of Health and Well-Being-Kintampo (CoHK) on Friday matriculated 836 students for the 2012/2013 academic year to pursue various programmes run by the College.     The figure has now increased current number of student population of the College to 1,800 studying programmes like Medical Assistant Psychiatry and Dermatology at degree levels, Community Medicine and Health, Community Mental Health, Medical Laboratory Technology and Health Records Management.      Dr. Emmanuel Teye Adjase, Director of the College, addressing the students, disclosed they gained admission on their own merit, out of nearly 7000 applications nationwide.      The Director therefore reminded them of the College’s vision and core values that informed them to apply to the place to guide them in their lives and studies to achieve success.      The vision of the institution is “to be a world-class Health University that responds to the health needs of communities” with “Service to Humanity”, “Commitment to Duty”, “Respect for Human Life”, “Self-Discipline”, “Team Work”, “Craving for Excellence” and “Creativity and Collaboration” as its core values.      Dr. Adjase stated that the College for the first time had a total national representation because every region had adequate representation adding, it was also the first time female student ratio had gone up tremendously.      He explained in previous years, females constituted only one-third of the total number but this time, females formed 47 per cent.      Dr. Adjase said with their enrollment to study various programmes in the College, they had chosen life-long professions and needed to work hard to protect the image of those professions wherever they would be.      The Director advised them to endeavour to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for effective service rendering on the field, in the interest of the people because knowledge gained without usage for public interest “is a waste and even financial loss”, he pointed out.      Dr. Adjase therefore implored them to be committed and return to serve the people in their communities on completion of their programmes since any excuse other than working to promote good and quality health of Ghanaians would be a betrayal of the trust of the people.      Reverend Father Peter Gyabaah Kumor, a tutor at the College, counseled them to be disciplined in all aspects of life to enable them “to take the best and keep the best because the College gives the best and wants the best from them”.   GNA...

Takoradi, Oct. 20, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama has given the assurance that government would not spare people or a group of persons who would interrupt the orderly progress of the forthcoming general election.     He said: “Ghana over the years has enjoyed five peaceful elections and my administration will do everything under our sleeves to ensure another peaceful election this year.     Let me however, warn that government will deal ruthlessly with people who try to create confusion before, during and after the December 7, poll.”     President Mahama was addressing a network of churches in Takoradi as part of his five-day campaign tour of the Western Region.     President Mahama also inaugurated development projects, cut sods for the commencement of work on new ones, addressed rallies and visited some district capitals of the region.     He said Ghana had carved a niche for herself in the eyes of her counterparts in Africa and beyond and he would not do anything that would reverse the trend, “but rather I will do everything possible to increase that respect”.     He called on the religious leaders to continue to provide intercessory prayers that would help reduce election-related violence before and during the elections.    Reverend Dr Paul Henry Dsane who delivered a speech on behalf of the network said the church had been instrumental in ensuring electoral peace and would continue to pray for more successful elections in subsequent years.     “Let me use this platform to appeal to politicians to note that human kingdom and powers will come to end, but it is only the kingdom of God that will stand forever,” he added.     Bishop Emmanuel Botwey also of the network appealed to politicians to campaign according to the rules of the game without venturing into violence and other practices that could undermine and disrupt the country’s political development.   GNA...

Half Assini (W/R), Oct. 20, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday announced that government would build two additional berths at the Takoradi Harbour to accommodate more ships as a result of the oil extraction in the area.      He said government would also build a mini-harbour at Domuli in the Western Region to increase the intake of ships and goods at the harbour.      President Mahama announced this when he addressed a party rally at Half Assini in the Region as part of his five-day campaign tour.      The President also addressed rallies at New Takoradi, Takoradi Polytechnic, Nkroful, Jomoro, Nzuelezu, Gwira, Value among other communities.     President Mahama said government was spending $1billion out of the $3billion Chinese loan to establish a petrol-chemical and gas processing industry to make Ghana a net exporter of gas to her neighbours.     He said government would also spend 500 million dollars of the Chinese loan to revamp the Takoradi- Kumasi railway lines to create more jobs for the youth.    President Mahama said government would also build 1,000 houses for teachers and 5,000 houses for 20,000 nurses and their families.    He advised the people to train in technical courses that would be relevant to oil and gas exploration to qualify them for jobs under the oil and gas industry.    Awulae Annor Adjei III, Omanhene of Half Assini commended government for providing the area with numerous development projects.    He appealed to government to establish a training College to train more teachers for the area as most teachers do not accept postings to their communities.   GNA...