Accra, Oct. 22, GNA – The Precious Minerals Marketing Commission (PMMC) Limited would by July 2013 establish a gold refinery to enable the Commission add value and fetch higher dividends from gold produced with daily commercial refining capacity of 10 kilogrammes. Mr Rueben Darko Damptey, Managing Director of the PMMC,  said on Monday, that the operations of the refinery would cost 3.5 million dollars and it would help in putting to an end the gold scamming business being perpetrated in some African countries.  He was speaking to journalists at the end of a short ceremony organized by PMMC to welcome a delegation from the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (ZCCM) to learn from the best practices of Ghana’s small-scale mining industry. Mr Damptey said management was in the process of establishing a laser cutting system for complicated and bigger diamond by November 2013 at an expected cost of 500,000 dollars. He said he was optimistic that the improved cutting method would enable the Commission to both cut and polish the rough stones that had been mined locally at full capacity and also to fetch profit at the world market price. Mr Damptey said management would continue to implement variety of training programmes to sharpen the skills, knowledge and technical competence of PMMC staff. He said the Commission had targeted to operate in new markets in the country and in the Economic Community of West Africa States through market co-operation and imaginative collaboration with international jewellery manufactures. He added that management would develop other local stones for ornament making. Mr Damptey expressed optimism that the Zambian delegation would gain insight into the organized activities of Ghana’s small-scale mining industry. Mr Mwiza Mbewe, Investments Manager with the ZCCM said he was so far satisfied with what he had learnt and heard about the industry in Ghana. He said his country was deeply involved in mining semi-precious stones like emerald, amethyst and aqua marine.optimistic that the Ghanaian experience would be useful in helping ZCCM to develop other mining sectors of the Zambian economy. The PMMC was established in 1963 as Ghana’s Diamond Marketing Board charged with the responsibility for the purchase and marketing of the country’s diamonds. In 2000, it was converted by Act 461 to a limited liability company to operate under the Ghana Companies Code (Act 179 of 1963) as Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited. PMMC is mandated to buy and sell gold and diamonds from small-scale miners, produce gold jewellery for sale locally and internationally as well as to export gold on behalf of third parties for a commission. It is also to smelt and assay gold at the request of agents and suppliers for sale and appoint licensed buyers for the purchase of precious minerals produced by small-scale miners.   GNA...

Accra, October 22, GNA -The Management of the National Road Safety (NRSC) on Monday presented 10 pickup vehicles to the regional offices to build their capacities. Mr Noble John Appiah, Executive Director of NRSC, said the vehicles were funded by government and the World Bank under the Transport Project System. Mr Appiah said it was the expectation of the Commission that the vehicles would revive the visibility of the Commission in speeding up its work to improve road safety. Mr Sabastian Akyeampong, Volta Regional Manager for NRSC, thanked the government for the initiatives adding that it would make sure the vehicles were well maintained. The NRSC was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 567) in 1999 with the mandate to develop and promote road safety and coordinate policies in relation to nationwide road safety education and advise the Minister of Transport on the formation of road safety issues. Picture 0024 shows Mr Noble John Appiah, Executive Director of NRSC presenting the car key to Mr Sabastian Akyeampon, Volta Regional Manager for NRSC     GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 22, GNA - Bharti Airtel, a leading telecommunications service provider with operations in 20 countries across South Asia and Africa, is now the fourth largest mobile operator in the world in terms of subscribers.    A statement issued by Artel in Accra on Monday said the company moved up one position on the table, quoting Wireless Intelligence.     The statement said at the end of the quarter ended June 2012, the Company had over 250 million mobile subscribers across its operations, representing 13% year-on-year growth. Bharti Airtel had become the fifth largest mobile operator in the world following its acquisition of Zain Group’s mobile operations across 15 African nations in June 2010. China Mobile has the largest subscribers of 683.08 million followed by Vodafone with 386.88 million and American Movil Group with 251.83 million subscribers. Bharti Airtel has 250.04 million subscribers while Telefonica Group has 243.51 million.     GNA ...

Tamale, Oct 22, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, on Monday called on Ghanaians to elect a clear winner in a first round, to ensure peaceful elections in December.  He said there were doubts any time elections results were close to call, and appealed to the electorate to vote massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because it is development- oriented.     Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who is also running mate of President John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidate of the NDC in Election 2012, made the call when he addressed party supporters after calling on traditional leaders in the Tamale Municipality, at the weekend.      It formed part of a two-day visit, and final leg of a five-day visit to the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions.      The Vice President addressed rallies at Tamale Central, Tamale North and Tamale South constituencies, and called     on Dakpema Mohamed Alhassan, Chief of Tamale, at his palace, and visited the Guikpe palace to ask for blessings for peaceful polls.       Dakpema Mohamed Alhassan and other traditional leaders praised the NDC Government for the rehabilitation works at the Tamale Hospital, the establishment of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority that seeks to bringing social and economic interventions in the Northern Region, Upper West and Upper East Regions.          At the palace of the Guikpe Naa Abdulai Alhassan, Vice President Amissah Arthur thanked the chiefs for their contributions to peace in the northern region, and said:   “I can’t come here without thanking them for their contributions to peace in Tamale. May that peace be extended to other parts of Ghana”.      The Vice President introduced Alhaji A.B. A Fuseini,  a veteran journalist of the Daily Graphic, as the NDC parliamentary candidate for the newly created Zalerigu North Constituency.     Vice President Amissah-Arthur also visited the Pogolana Palace, and later addressed the leadership of the Tamale Central Mosque.     He would also address students of the Tamale Campus of the University for Development Studies.       The Guikpe Naa commended the NDC Government for seeking the welfare of the people of Dagbon, and gave the assurance that the people would support the government’s development agenda.     He appealed to the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund, Mr Sam Garba, to complete the building of a primary school it started in the area.     GNA  ...

Accra, Oct 22, GNA - The United Church Women’s Fellowship at the weekend marked its 26th Anniversary with a call on the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to indulge in activities that could undermine the peace of the country during and after the December polls. Rev Rose Teteki Abby, the Clerk of the Ga Presbytery, appealed to Ghanaians not to take the peace in the country for granted and called for peace for God to smile upon the country for yet another successful election. The anniversary, which was on the theme “keeping the fire burning,” brought together members of the Fellowship and the church to give thanks to God for 26 years since its inauguration in 1986. Rev Abby urged members of the Fellowship to rekindle their first love for God through obedience and continued reliance on the Holy Spirit. She said it was important to recognize that the fire of God could be quenched if Christians failed to do what is expected of them.        Madam Angela Kwateng, President of the Fellowship, said the vision of the Fellowship was to seek the spiritual and physical growth of its members by encouraging one another in the Lord.     “Visitation has been part of us. We visit our indisposed sisters and other church members.The fellowship continues to take part in the activities of the Christian Council of Ghana’s Women’s Committee,” she said. Madam Kwateng said the Fellowship intended to nurture and teach vocational, catering, batik and soap making skills among the membership. Ms Joyce Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, in a goodwill message said Women’s Fellowship was one of the church’s greatest assets and growth poles that had nurtured the involvement of women in the church the world over. She appealed to members to look beyond the challenges associated with their Godly duties and reach out to the needs of all women and children both in and out of the church. GNA ...

Bawku (U/E), Oct. 22, GNA - Mr. Stephen Yakubu, the Member of Parliament for Binduri, has donated an ambulance at the cost of 30.000 Ghana cedi to people of the constituency. He bought the ambulance from his share of the Common Fund and is to provide free health service to people living in the area but would charge a little fee for people who do not reside in the area. Mr. Yakubu said the vehicle was part of efforts to ensure that quality health delivery reaches the door steps of the people. He said most people living in the area were poor and could not afford transportation to health centers. Mr. Yakubu said as part of measures to promote health in the area he had provided pavilions to all Community Health Planning Services Compound (CHPS) in the constituency to shade nursing mothers and people who go to the health centers. He said he had roofed two nursing quarters and provided solar lights and accommodation for health workers working in the area. Dr. Thomas Afful-Mensah, the Municipal Health Director who received the ambulance, commended the Member of Parliament for his effort in promoting health services in the area and called on other development partners to assist.   GNA  ...

Bawku (U/E), Oct 22, GNA- Mr. David Adoliba, the presiding member of the Bawku Municipal Assembly, has said the national cleanup exercise scheduled to take place on October 26 is likely face low patronage as it coincides with the celebration of the Muslim festival of sacrifice of Eid-Ul-Adha. Mr. Adoliba said as most of the people would be preparing food and other activities towards the celebration of the festival majority might not have time to come out for the exercise. He told the GNA that s new date would have to be set for the exercise. GNA ...

Cape Coast, Oct. 22, GNA - The Bishop of Cape Coast Diocese of the Anglican Church, Right Reverend Daniel Silvanus Addotei Allotey, has appealed to the youth to lead pious, principled and exemplary lives to earn them unquestionable leadership positions in future. He said as young people it would not be easy for them to practice the virtues of disciplined and principled life but with prayers and determination, they would be able to overcome their challenges. Bishop Allotey was delivering the sermon at a thanksgiving service and a sod cutting ceremony for of a GHc12 million office complex at Adisadel on Sunday to climax the 30th anniversary celebration of the Diocese. The year-long celebration on the theme; “Serving the present age, our calling to fulfill” is dedicated to the youth to enhance their overall development. He was assisted by Nana Kwame Animel, Omanhen of Wasafiase Traditional Area and Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, the Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area to cut the sod for the commencement of the project. Bishop Allotey said as future leaders, it was imperative that the youth were provided with a “guiding light for their path” for them to live uprightly to pave the way for the realization of the society “we all yearn for”. The Very Reverend Victor Attah-Baffoe, Dean of the Saint Nicholas Seminary, said as part of the anniversary celebration the Church had built an Electronic Village at Abakrampa in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District to serve as an apprenticeship Center to equip the youth in the Region with employable skills. He said the office complex, scheduled to be completed within five years, will have facilities including conference centers and a guest house for rentals to generate some revenue for the Church.       GNA ...

Takoradi, Oct 22, GNA – A Customs officer has appealed to importers to make use of government warehouses in the event that they are unable to or they do not have the means to clear their goods from the ports. This is to save money or sometimes the loss of goods and services due to smuggling. Mr. Felix Mante-Kodjo, Chief Collector out-door of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, said this at a forum on “Suspense Regime” for clearing agents, freight forwarders, stevedores and importers at Takoradi on Saturday. He said warehousing one’s goods ensued that the capital of the trader was not locked up while small traders could hold large stocks of goods under the system and it also created convenience for the importer. Mr Mante-Kodjo said export trade was also fostered by reason of reserve stock and freedom on trade duty and the importer may also have remission of duty due to natural loss as well as double security for the goods. The “Suspense Regime” talks about free zones, transit, temporary importation and warehousing which forms part of the reforms introduced to maximize income for the state. He said the suspense regime required that transactions were closely monitored and controlled to protect state revenue.   GNA ...

Kpong (E/R), Oct. 22, GNA - Mr Victor Smith, Eastern Regional Minister, has appealed to Ghanaians to vote massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as its leader has a track record of bringing development.       He said Ghanaians should vote for a leader who was credible and had a good track record to move the nation forward.       Mr Smith was addressing hundreds of supporters of the party at a rally at Kpong in the Eastern Region to launch the Lower Manya Constituency Campaign.      He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, had no track record of any developmental project when he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for three terms at Abuakwa South.      Mr Smith said Nana Addo, was also a Minister of State for two terms but could not do anything significant to raise the living conditions of the people from his area.     He said the only project Nana Addo undertook in his community was a post office but later abandoned it.     Mr Smith urged the electorate to renew the NDC mandate and also vote massively for Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, the party’s parliamentary candidate, to continue with the “Better Ghana Agenda” and bring development to their doorsteps.      Mr Terlabi urged the electorate to give him the mandate to represent them in Parliament to lobby for more development for the area.      He told the crowd that they would continue to see much improvement in their living conditions if they gave him the nod.      Mr Terlabi said the incumbent MP, Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu, did not bring any development and improvement in the lives of the people.      He said Mr Nyaunu took the people for granted and did not fight to bring them their fair share of the national cake.      Mr Terlabi  said he was confident of winning the seat and that he would win “one touch’.      He appealed to the electorate to come out in their numbers on December 7 and vote massively for him and President John Mahama.      He advised the party supporters to guard against any form of violence that could disturb the peace of the country.     GNA  ...

Accra, Oct. 22, GNA – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined Berekum Chelsea 5,000 dollars (10,000 cedis) for unsporting behaviours in the CAF Champions League.     Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that the Disciplinary Board of the continent’s soccer governing at its sitting last week in Cairo, Egypt handed the sanctions to the Berekum-based club after reviewing their Group B clash against Egyptian giants, Ahly held on August 4, at the Military Stadium.     Berekum Chelsea lost 1-4, incidentally the only defeat in their campaign but had left-back Richard Kissi Boateng sent-off in the first half and received a further three other  cautions.    Defensive duo Eric Agyemang, Awudu Nafiu were booked just as midfielder Jordan Opoku in the closing stages of the game.     The continental soccer governing body has since communicated the decision of their Disciplinary Board to Berekum Chelsea through the Ghana Football Association (GFA).    Berekum Chelsea narrowly missed out on a place in the last four of the premier continental club championship after finishing behind Ahly and TP Mazembe of DR Congo in Group B.     GNA  ...

Accra, Oct 22, GNA – The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to outdoor Al Ain Striker, Asamoah Gyan as the substantive captain of the Black Stars.         A supreme source at GFA told GNA Sports the Association reached the decision after Gyan captained the Stars for the second time when Ghana toppled the Flames of Malawi to book a place at the next year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.        The source said barring any unforeseen hitches, Gyan who returned to the national team few weeks ago after calling off his self-imposed exile would be taking over completely from inactive skipper, John Mensah.        Club-less Mensah, who took over from Stephen Appiah before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, according to the source has been made the General Captain of the team hoping to end Ghana’s search for a fifth Africa Cup of Nations glory.          Contrary to the GFA’s earlier assertion that the choice of captain will be hierarchical, the latest decision means Gyan has overtaken Michael Essien,  John Painstil and Sulley Muntari who per their supposed order are ahead.          Though the source refused to delve into what influenced the decision,  he remained tightlipped on whether rumours that Gyan demanded being named captain during the GFA's mission to lure him back into the national team contributed.         Gyan made his debut for the Black Stars in 2003, then 17 when scoring against Somalia after replacing Isaac Boakye in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.        He has had a love-hate relationship with Ghana following criticism over his performance in crucial games. Twice in less than two years, Gyan missed from the spot in decisive games which Ghana eventually lost.      The first was at the 2010 World Cup where he missed a late penalty in the semi final meeting against Uruguay before the 2012 Africa cup of Nations semi final game with Zambia in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea earlier in the year.      Gyan decided to take an indefinite break from International football after the competition in the midst of the criticism only to return months later , after several meetings with the GFA where it is believed he demanded for the captaincy as part of the conditions for his return.   GNA ...

Takoradi, Oct 22, GNA – The Sekondi/Takoradi branch of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for the passage of the Food and Drugs Bill as well as the Standards Bill. The Chamber, at a meeting with the leadership of the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Standards Authority, said the passage of the bill would help to define the roles of the two bodies in order to take away the seeming overlapping functions. Mr. Cadmond Dadzie, Treasurer of the Chamber, said there was the need for the two bodies to remove all bottlenecks surrounding product certification to ensure confidence and also develop the business environment. He 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.   He said this had caused delays in licensing and certification of businesses in the manufacturing and food sectors and is also responsible for the low rate of growth in businesses particularly in the manufacturing sector. Mr. Dadzie added that these delays had resulted in the lack of trust in the operations and the capabilities of the two agencies resulting in the high cost of production and low investor confidence. He said agencies playing different roles had resulted in the payment of different amounts for certification of a single product.   GNA ...

Bu (U/W), Oct. 22, GNA – Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Communication Minister, has described the free Senior High School (SHS) being trumpeted by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as politically opportunistic. He said the policy is unrealistic and unachievable and should not be bought by Ghanaians. “Fifty years in the history of Ghana, we have not been able to achieve free compulsory basic education and yet Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP are promising free SHS education within a period of four years”, he said. Mr. Iddrisu said this at Bu during the campaign launch of Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the newly created Nandom Constituency. The Communication Minister said the government did not just create the Nandom District but had also committed one million Ghana cedis as seed money for the Assembly. Mr. Iddrisu announced the fixing of street lights in Nandom and said the government would also construct an ICT facility connected to the internet for the people of the area. He appealed to the people to renew the mandate of the NDC to continue with its unprecedented developments towards the attainment of a “Better Ghana,” and added that the government was committed to ensuring a peaceful election.     Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Minister of Health, said the people made a mistake in the 2008 elections by not voting for Dr. Kumbuor but added that they had the opportunity to correct that mistake to pull more development to the district. Mr. Bagbin, who is contesting the Nadowli West Constituency seat for the sixth time, urged people of the Upper West Region not to buy into the propaganda being spewed by the NPP that before they left office they had secured funding for the construction of the Regional Hospital in Wa. He said government had now secured funding and the hospital would be constructed in no time. Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister and the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Sissala West, urged the people to vote for President John Dramani Mahama to complete the ongoing rural electrification project. Mr. Bede Zieden, a member of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) which had rejoined the NDC, said NDC lost the seat in 2008 because of disunity and appealed to all supporters of the DFP in the constituency to vote for the NDC to enable them recapture the seat from the NPP. Dr. Kumbuor,  the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said despite all the political provocations from opposition members in the constituency, the election would still come to pass successfully without any violence.     GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 22, GNA – Mr Frederic Clavier, the French Ambassador in Ghana, has said that Ghana remains the only English speaking country in Africa that benefits from French policies and would continue to have confidence in its future due to the macro economic development of the country. He said France was interested in the development of the country since it was a development pillar of France and that it would continue to support the decentralisation, cultural and socio-economic sector of the country. Mr Clavier said this at the launch of the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) activity report for 2011. The report throws more light on the activities of the AFD worldwide with the focus on Ghana and evaluates its impact on the nation in line with the development agenda of the Ghana government. “Ghana is one of the countries with economic stability, democracy, and respect for human rights. A country that has the ability to for its own development and has made several efforts to reduce elements of poverty and continues to make changes in most aspects and has an influence on the sub region’s platform,” he said. Mr Burno Leclerc , Resident Manager, AFD said the sub-Saharan African countries continued to be the number one priority of the AFD with more than  2.7 billion euros support with Ghana receiving almost GHc16.8 billion representing two-thirds of the French bilateral aid, in 2011. He said“ in 2011, AFD committed in Ghana 240 million euros, including two loans to the government for the retrofit of the Kpong Dam and a new contribution to the district development facility, a direct loan of 141 million euros to GRIDCO interconnection between Ghana and Burkina Faso and a new 330KV line between Kumasi and Bolgatanga, three credit lines to local banks, several guarantees of loans to SMEs and a grant to a microfinance institution (FIDES) that was intended to develop activities in the north of Ghana”. Mr Laclerc said the activities of AFD were in line with government’s strategy as defined in the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda and were part of the French cooperation strategy in Ghana. He said both countries jointly decided to concentrate in three major sectors including agriculture, urban development and support to local government and energy, adding that innovation was a key driver of the AFD.  “Added value and comparative advantage of ADF were its wide range of financial instruments that allowed it to finance programmes in a sector with mix of modalities including, soft loans to government, direct loans to state-owned companies without the guarantee of government in order to avoid increasing the indebtedness of the state of Ghana, loans and equity participation to private companies and grants”. According to Mr Leclerc the total estimate of commitments for 2012 could amount to more that 150 million Euros, since a 40 million Euro to government had already been committed for sanitation and rural water supply in four regions as well as participation of AFD group in the financing of the third turbine of the Takoradi 2 power point. He said after 2013 AFD would continue to provide soft loans to the government of Ghana, increase direct loans to public and private companies, and focus on analytical works as well as training. The AFD is a public development finance institution implementing the French aid policy in the countries in which it operates, including Ghana and some other West African countries. It was opened in Ghana in 1985 to support the national development strategy, by concentrating in three major sectors including the agriculture, local government and urban development and energy, support the private sector and organise training activities.       GNA ...

Accra, Oct 22, GNA – Members of Parliament are to reconvene on Monday, October 22, 2012 to continue with the unfinished business of the House for the First Sitting of the Third Meeting of Parliament.      Meanwhile, inside the chamber, only six members of parliament were seen on their seats, two for minority and four for the majority side, as at 10.00 hours when the GNA was in the Press Gallery expecting proceedings to begin at normal time.      Normal business of the House begins at 10.00 hours.      Mondays are not sitting days for members except when the Business Committee of Parliament decides to call on members to meet.      On the Order Paper for the day, six papers on loan agreements are to be presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning while other committee reports would be presented.      Chieftaincy (Amendment) Bill, 2012 is also expected to be presented and read for the first time as well as Internal Revenue (Tax Amnesty) Bill, 2011, and the Intestate Succession Bill, 2009 which are at the consideration stage.     GNA  ...

Apam (C/R), Oct. 22, GNA -The President of the national African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Governing Council, Rev. Professor Samuel Kwesi Adjepong, has said that democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence. Rev. Professor Adjepong was speaking at a validation workshop on draft district APRM governance report for the Gomoa West District at Apam on Friday. He said the work of the APRM had always been non-partisan and therefore urged the participants to state their minds without fear or favour. The participants include, Assembly Members, traditional rulers, identifiable groups, heads of departments and religious bodies. Rev. Professor Adjepong called for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to be properly resourced to enable it discharge its constitutionally mandated civic education responsibility. He expressed the hope that through the APRM, corruption would be reduced and that more parents too would be encouraged to enroll their children in schools. The Administrator of the Apam St. Luke Catholic Hospital, Mr Francis Yawson, expressed regret that some people have been abusing the National Health Insurance Scheme, collecting drugs at the hospital for others. The chief of Apam, Nana Effrim X, who chaired the function, expressed concern about high rate of indiscipline in society.     GNA ...

Bolgatanga, Oct 21, GNA - The Export Development Fund, now known as Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDAIF), has supported 765 export oriented projects to the tune of 293.52 million Ghana cedis since its inception in 2001. Major Albert B. Don-Chebe (Rtd), Director in charge of Cooperate Planning and Communication of EDAIF, told journalists at a briefing that in addition, 206.72 million Ghana cedis had been approved for 286 projects under the credit facility including another 86.80 million Ghana cedis approved for 479 projects under the Export Development and Promotion Facility. He said with the amendment Act 823 dated 25 October 2011, additional facility known as Agriculture and Agro-Processing Development and Credit Facility had been added to the Export Credit and Projects Facility and the Export Development and Promotion Facility. Major Don-Chebe said the facility is for the provision of financial resources for the development and promotion of agriculture related industries. He said the new component would be of benefit to farmers in the three northern regions and appealed to them to take advantage of it. Alhaji Sulemana Yusif, the Officer in charge of EDAIF, said hitherto, EDAIF centralized in the southern sector but has now moved to the northern part of the country with its in headquarters in Tamale. He said EDAIF services include grants and loans and that the loan component had the least interest rates as compared to traditional bank rates.     GNA ...

Winneba, Oct. 22, GNA -The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, has said the youth should regard the nation as their legacy and should not allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to destabilize it. He said the youth should be “bold enough to say no to violence and injustice, for Ghana is the only country that we belong and live in”. Most Rev. Professor Asante, who is also the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist of Church of Ghana, said this at the induction service of Right Rev. Kweku Buabeng-Odoom as the bishop of the Winneba Diocese of the Church at Winneba on Sunday. Most Rev. Prof Asante said people should choose Ghana first and not to create mayhem before, during and after the December elections. “Ghana is our only country, let us share ideas, tolerate each others’ views and never to indulge in any acts that can plunge the nation into discomfort as occurred in some countries,” he said. Most Rev. Asante advised people who use phone calls to insult and attack others to put a stop to it because it is not the best in the country’s democratic dispensation. He appealed to Right Rev. Kweku Buabeng-Odoom, 55, to serve, trust, and have confidence in the Lord, for people who waited on him had their strength renewed.     GNA ...

Akyem Tafo (E/R), Oct 22, GNA - Mr Victor Smith, the Eastern Regional Minister, has appealed to the people of Abuakwa North constituency to reject political and traditional affiliations and focus on development. He said they should vote for a true son of the land who has the potential and ability to bring development to the area. Mr Smith was addressing supporters, friends and sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after a “Keep Fit” exercise organized by the minister, who is the parliamentary candidate of the NDC for the constituency. The exercise started at about 6:10 a.m. from the Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS) junction through New Tafo and ended at Old Tafo. Mr Smith said the exercise was also to create awareness that the seat was no more a safe seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He said the people of Abuakwa were lagging behind in development because the NPP had taken them for granted and denied them the development due them. Mr Smith said the people would compare the development projects he had brought to the area when he is not yet the Member of Parliament for the area with what had been given them over the years. He assured the people of more projects when voted as the MP for the area and called for peaceful elections devoid of any unacceptable behavior that could lead to violence.    GNA ...