Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – Two Plaintiffs on Tuesday filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Ghana against Mr Haruna Alhassan, Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV and now aspiring Parliamentary Candidate for Bawku Central, The Electoral Commission of Ghana and the Attorney-General.   The plaintiffs are  Mr Bukari Yabodo and Ms Zidabu Musah, all residents of Bawku in the Upper East Region.   The writ sought to invoke the Original Jurisdiction Article 2(1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution Rule 45 (1) of the Supreme Court Rules 1996 (C.1.16).   The relief sought by the plaintiffs is that the 1st defendant does not hail from the Bawku Central Constituency and is therefore ineligible under Article 94(1) (b) of the Constitution to contest as a parliamentary candidate in Bawku Central Constituency in the December 2012 parliamentary election.   The relief therefore sought an injunction restraining the 1st defendant from seeking to contest as a parliamentary candidate in the Bawku Central Constituency in the December 2012 parliamentary election.   It also sought a declaration to the effect that the 2nd defendant cannot put the 1st defendant up to contest as Parliamentary Candidate in the Bawku Central Constituency in the December 2012 parliamentary election.   The capacity in which the plaintiffs initiated their action is that both plaintiffs are Ghanaian residents in the Bawku Central Constituency with voter identification cards number 730000753 and 3550000768 respectively.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA - Even though liberalisation of trade in ICT services has led to increased investments in Ghana, the policy has nonetheless been detrimental to indigenous businesses, a recent survey by the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPRI) has shown.   The perception survey carried out on the International Liberalisation of Trade in ICT Services to identify the challenges for the private sector in Ghana, indicates that multinational corporations in the ICT sector, have captured the local market, which has affected indigenous companies to take advantage of competitive market.   The survey was carried out in 2011 by the STEPRI of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana with support from the PANOS Institute of West Africa, with funding from the Canadian International Development Research Centre.   The report says in spite of numerous benefits that the international policy on trade in ICT services offers, very little efforts have been put in place in Ghana to educate local businesses of the benefits in the ICT sector.   “Thus many stakeholders who provide ICT services do not have adequate knowledge on liberalisation in ICT, suggesting that they are not able to take the advantage of the full benefits of liberalisation,” Dr Godfred Frempong, a Director at the STEPRI and a co-research of the report said.   He said Ghana’s system of taxation was one major policy that had made it very difficult for the local businesses to reap the full benefit of the liberalisation in trade in ICT services.   “The tax structure makes it cheaper to import complete computers rather than to import parts and assembly them here. This to some extent has discouraged local assembly of computers and constrained the growth of small firms…” Dr Frempong said.   This he added could pose a threat to the development of local innovativeness, especially in the area of software development.   Again Dr Frempong said many multinationals repatriate their profits or earnings to their mother-companies to the detriment of the national economy.   He said though the country’s procurement law makes provision for local content to feature prominently in the goods and services supplied by multinationals, it has not been well articulated and promoted.    “The challenge therefore is how to support the local companies to compete effective with the MNCs to reduce capital flight and contribute to the development of the sector and the economy,” Dr Frempong said.   A positive development the report notes is that knowledge about international and regional framework governing liberalisation of trade in ICTS services was good in Ghana, though participation in the consultation process that led to the international negotiations was not strong.                  Ghana is among the first countries to liberalise its telecom sector in Africa in the early 1990s and today it has one of the most liberalised mobile telephone markets in Africa with six mobile operators.   The ICT sector has made some direct contributions to the Ghanaian economy in the area of trade, government revenue and employment but the report says more can be done with proper implementation of government policies to address the constraints in the sector.     GNA...

Accra, Oct 24, GNA - Mobile network operators Vodafone and Scancom Limited have been adjudged the fifth and sixth most respected companies in Ghana for 2012.   Mr. Michael Ikpoki, CEO of Scancom which owns MTN in Ghana was also voted the 10th most respected CEO for 2012.   A statement from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said the two companies were named at an awards ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra over the weekend.   The most respected CEOs award was based on a survey of over 200 CEOs. They review their peers and choose the companies and CEOs they most respect and assign reasons for their selections.   This year’s edition, under the theme: "Growing the leadership and talent pipeline," was jointly organized by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Business and Financial Times.   The objective of this year’s awards, the statement said was to crystallize how industry had grown leadership and talent over the years.   Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, CEO of the Telecoms Chamber said: "I wish to congratulate Michael personally as the 10th Most Respected CEO of MTN Ghana, and both the Vodafone and MTN teams on your respective honours as the 5th and 6th Most Respected Companies of 2012.   "I trust that in the coming year more of our members and captains of our industry can make the list as well."     GNA...

Asokwa (Ash), Oct. 24, GNA – The Women’s Ministry of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) at Asokwa, a suburb of Kumasi, has organised a week-long prayer conference dubbed: “Women on Fire Conference 2012” during, which prayers were said for peaceful elections in Ghana.   Reverend Mrs Rita Sam Korankye-Ankrah, guest preacher for the occasion admonished women to rise up and pray for their families, the nation and the world at large.   Mrs Korankye-Ankrah said in times like these, when modernism, science and technology were exposing the children to negative foreign cultures, such as homosexuality, drug abuse and indescent dressing, coupled with an election year, Ghanaian women ought to rise up, and together with one accord, lift up their voices and pray to the Almighty God for His divine intervention in all affairs.   “When women fail to pray, evil takes the place of righteousness and holiness, and instead of peace, we have chaos all over,” she stressed.   Rev Mrs Korankye-Ankrah, who is the wife of Rev Sam Korankye-Ankrah, General Overseer of the Royal House Chapel International, advised Christians and Ghanaian women, to shun negative behaviours like gossip, hatred, quarrel and devote their time and energies to prayer and intercessions.   On the forthcoming general elections in Ghana, the Reverend Minister called on all women in the country to stop sleeping and pray fervently for a peaceful and successful exercise.   According to her, when there was peace in the country, children could go school safely, workers would deliver for higher productivity, market women and traders to do good and fruitful businesses while the political leaders govern well for the good of the people and the nation.   “When we rise up and pray, all the plans of our enemies would be destroyed,” she said.   For her part, Mrs Doris Akosua Papabi Otu Nyarko, President of the PIWC Women’s Ministry, stated that the programme was organised to rekindle the spirit of prayer and holiness in the congregation, especially the women, in fulfilment of 1st Samuel 1:26.   Mrs Otu Nyarko, wife of Rev Lawrence Otu Nyarko, Head Pastor of PIWC, Asokwa, hinted that to keep the women on fire for perpetual prayerful lives, the conference would be held annually.       GNA...

Accra, Oct 24, GNA - The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has presented 30 Toyota Pick-Up vehicles to the Ghana Revenue Authority to help the organization in its revenue mobilization drive.   The vehicles are the first batch of 159 vehicles, comprising Toyota, buses, trucks and 55 motorbikes.   Mr Enoch Cobbinah, Chief Director of Ministry, who presented the vehicles on behalf of the Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor on Tuesday, said the presentation was a demonstration of government’s commitment to resource GRA to enable it to deliver effectively and efficiently.   He said the mandate to mobilize revenue for national development was paramount and there was the need to provide the GRA with the necessary logistics to enable it meet set revenue targets.   Mr Cobbinah urged the management and staff to work hard to enhance productivity and added that government was working out modalities to serve as motivation for employees of the GRA.    Mr George Blankson, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Finance for the vehicles and said it would support effective revenue mobilization.   “There is no doubt that the vehicles will enhance the Authority’s productivity and contribute to the revenue mobilization drive,” he said, adding that measures would be put in place to ensure that the vehicles were used for the intended purpose.   Mr Cobbinah appealed to tax payers to make effort to settle their tax liabilities as the year draws to a close.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – The Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) has expressed its disappointment about reports that government was considering the privatisation of the Aburi Gardens.   The privatisation of the Aburi Gardens, the SFG noted was only part of the stern attempt to deprive the state of vital assets, which began after the overthrow of the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s government.   A statement issued in Accra and signed by Kwesi Pratt Junior, on behalf of the Convenor, noted that within two decades, Ghana has sold out more than 300 of its factories and productive ventures to ”predatory forces” in the colonial metropolis with dire consequences for the Ghanaians people.   He mentioned the State Fishing Corporation, the Black Star Line, the Kumasi Shoe Factory, the Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC), Electronic Manufacturing concerns, hotels and public transport companies as some of the enterprises privatised.   “This was intensified under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era on the marching orders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank”, the statement said.   The statement said reckless privatisations had contributed immensely to Ghana’s dependence on the colonial metropolis and far eastern countries for the supply of the needs of the people.   The statement warned that manufacturing was virtually collapsing and unemployment was also soaring in Ghana and therefore, there could be no justification for the privatisation of the Aburi Gardens which was established in 1890 under the colonial administration and had become a major tourist attraction for Ghana.   “It is baseless to say privatisation automatically brings about greater efficiency and qualitative improvement in the management of enterprises”, the statement said.   The SFG noted that most of the enterprises privatised on the whim of neo-liberal institutions had collapsed or become major drains on the resources of the state while the was also stuffed with examples of failed private enterprises.   The SFC would therefore reject the attempt by government to disguise the privatisation of the Aburi Gardens under the vague concept of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and called on government to appointment a competent management team to revamp it.     GNA...

Tamale, Oct 24, GNA – The United Nations (UN) – Government of Ghana Joint Programme on Human Security, has opened a capacity building for decentralized local government officials on human security, peace building and transformation in Tamale.   The training dubbed: “Enhancing human security through developing local capacity for holistic community-based conflict prevention in Northern Ghana” is a collaboration of six UN agencies including Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations University, World Food Programme and United Nations Industrial Development Organization.     The training, which is being attended by officials from the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and Yendi Municipality, is a follow up to earlier support in mainstreaming conflict prevention in the medium term development plans of the two assemblies in 2011.   It aims to equip local government officials at the programme areas, which include Tamale, Yendi, Bawku and Wa with skills for the promotion of peace in their respective assemblies as well as the creation of platforms for dialogue between community members and key stakeholders especially the youth and women on key issues that affect their lives.   Some of the focus areas of the training include understanding conflict, conflict analysis, and mapping, conflict monitoring and early warning, governance and decision-making systems in multi-stakeholder contexts.   Speaking at the opening of the tree-day training in Tamale on Tuesday, Madam Rukaya Mohammed, Programme Manager of UN - Human Security Programme underscored the need for human security, saying “it has become increasingly important in today’s complex world as it touches on people’s survival, livelihood and dignity”.   Madam Mohammed said the programmed responded to the complex threats to the development of northern Ghana and drew strengths and expertise of the participating UN agencies leading to success since its inception in 2009.   She expressed the hope that the training would strengthen capacity for local level governance and promote local level development objectives by integrating human security and conflict management concepts and practices into decentralized policy planning and programme implementation.   In a speech read for him, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister spoke about the effects of conflicts on the region’s economic infrastructure and urged the participants to integrate knowledge to be gained into policy planning to ensure peace.     GNA...

Kumasi (Ash), Oct. 23, GNA – Dwadifo Adanfo (DA), a micro-finance company based in Accra, has organised a day’s seminar/job fair in Kumasi to announce its presence in the Ashanti Region.   According to Ms Love Aboagye, the Human Resource and Communications Manager of DA, the programme was primarily aimed at introducing the company and its products to the people of Kumasi and Ashanti Region in general.   She said Dwadifo Adanfo has innovative and tailor-made products that would meet the needs of the people.   Ms Aboagye described Dwadifo Adanfo as a company with young, vibrant and enterprising personnel, ready to take up new challenges; and assured the public that since the Bank of Ghana had wholly certified the company, they could be trusted to deliver on their promises.   Other speakers at the function included Mr Charles Amonoo, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Alexander Williams, a Legal Consultant and Mr George Fynn, a member of the Board of Directors of Dwadifo Adanfo.   The programme was attended by several young men and women, mostly university graduates, from the Kumasi metropolis and beyond.       GNA...

Nya-Old Ningo, Oct. 23, GNA – The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah has donated three desk top computers for Nyigbenya D/A Basic schools to aid them establish computer laboratory for the schools and the entire community.   Mr E.T. Mensah, who is the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Constituency, pledged to aid the school and the community to establish the computer laboratory which should be accessible by the pupils and the public.   He made the donation during the 60th anniversary celebration of Nyigbenya D/A Basic Schools near old Ningo where he acted as special guest of honour.   In his address, he urged parents to train their wards very well so that they would become useful citizens and read the zenith on the academic ladder, his address was full of illustration and practical experiences draw from the area of individuals who train their wards well and their words reaching the zenith on the academic ladder and social live. The two headteachers Mr B.K. Addico and Mrs Stellar in their brief address said the school was performing creditably in recent times.   The candidates, who sat for this year Basic Education Certificate Examination, scored hundred per cent with the best aggregate of 8.   They thanked the government and non governmental agencies such as World Vision, USAID, to tap among others for their support and called on government to improve the infrastructure of the school to enhance effective teaching and learning     GNA...

Juaben (Ash), Oct. 23, GNA – Juaben Senior High School (SHS) in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality in the Ashanti Region, has celebrated its 40th milestone, with a call on all stakeholders in the educational sector, to ensure discipline in schools and society.   Dr Samuel Bannerman Mensah, a former Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said discipline was very vital in every successful human endeavour.   He, therefore, entreated all stakeholders in the country’s educational system to uphold the important virtue.   “Discipline on the part of school authorities, teaching and non-teaching staff, students, parents and guardians as well as the community, go together, to make an institution great and famous,” he stated.   Dr Bannerman Mensah stressed that in an election year like this, discipline on the part of all Ghanaians would facilitate a peaceful and successful general election; and at the end of it all, Ghana would become great and famous not only in African politics, but the world at large.   He advised students and the youth of the country to be very vigilant and not to allow themselves to be used to foment any form of trouble in any part of the country.   Very Rev Isaac Osei Boadi, Headmaster of the School in his report, said the school had improved upon its academic performance over the past five years.   He explained that the school had maintained a 100 per cent record passes in the WASSCE and attributed the success to the untiring efforts of his teachers to prepare the students well for the examination.   Very Rev Osei Boadi said though the school admitted students with generally low grades, by dint of hard work on the part of the teachers and the students themselves, they were able to make it at the final exams.   The Headmaster, however, enumerated lack of assembly hall, sick bay, classrooms, duty vehicles, fence wall, as some of the challenges facing the school and appealed to the government and other stakeholders for support.   Prizes were later awarded to dedicated staff and students who excelled in their various fields of endeavour in the school.   The ceremony was chaired by Daasebre Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Omanhene of the Asante Juaben Traditional Area.     GNA...

Sunyani, Oct. 23, GNA – The Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs on Tuesday elected Pemapem Yaw Kagbrese II, Omanhene of Yeji Traditional Area as its President at the Second General Meeting of the House in Sunyani on Tuesday.   Pemapem Kagbrese polled 25 votes to beat his challenger Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, Omanhene of Acherensua Traditional Area, who secured seven votes in the election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC).   Nana Bofobene Gyeabour, Paramount Chief of Dwenem Traditional Area secured 18 votes to become the Vice President beating Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, Paramount Chief of Bechem who obtained 13 votes.   Three other paramount chiefs, Nana Kwame Korang II of Awuah-Dumase; Nana Ansah Adu Baah of Yamfo and Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, Kukuomhene and immediate past President of the House were elected to represent it at the National House of Chiefs.   Osahene Aterkyi expressed appreciation to the members for their utmost support during his administration, and pledged to offer free advice to the newly elected President in all matters involving the House.   He expressed concern about the increase in judicial cases pending before the House.   At the end of his four-year tenure in office, there were 52 cases made up of 44 petitions and eight appeals.   Osahene Aterkyi said attempts were being made to settle some of the cases out of court through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanism but could not succeed.   He regretted that after parties had been met and cases settled some aggrieved parties resorted to the law courts to quash decisions of the mediation committee.   Osahene Aterkyi expressed appreciation to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for its role in the maintenance of peace in the Region.   On Election 2012, he noted that for the past 20 years, Ghana had undertaken elections, which ended peacefully and successfully to the admiration of the world.   Osahene Aterkyi said Ghana had now been seen as the beacon of democracy in the Sub-Saharan Region therefore, this year’s election was a test case to ascertain the level of her maturity in multi-party democracy.   He appealed to leadership of political parties to avoid unguarded and intemperate language likely to create trouble and disturbances that might derail the positive gains achieved so far.   Osahene Aterkyi urged chiefs to play their roles as traditional leaders by educating their subjects to be careful not to engage in any political activities that could bring conflict situations in their respective areas.   Pemapem Kagbrese, who before the election was the Vice President of the House, thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged that with support from them, chieftaincy disputes would be resolved amicably.   Two new chiefs were sworn into the House. They were Nana Kwabena Nangor II, Chief of Debibi and President of Tain Divisional Council and Nana Owusu Kuntor, Chief of Mehame and President of Ahafo Divisional Council.     GNA...

Navrongo (UE), Oct 23, GNA - Following the inability of the People’s National Convention Party (PNC) to file a parliamentary candidate for Navrongo Central, delegates at a constituency congress in Navrongo passed a resolution to support the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win both the parliamentary and parliamentary elections.       “On the basis of the 2012 PNC Navrongo Central Constituency issues of priority, the Executive should reactivate and conclude discussions with Hon Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo on a collaborative programme for the 2012 elections”, the resolution stated.   This, however, goes with bargaining and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which include the NDC giving some opportunities to the PNC in terms of political appointments and jobs, should it win the elections particularly in the constituency.   It would be recalled that in the last elections the NDC won the presidential election and lost that of parliamentary election to the New Patriotic Party candidate, Mr Kofi Adda.   The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, the NDC parliamentary candidate, who lost the election to Mr Adda, is to contest with the same opponent.   Meanwhile, Mr Woyongo, who was invited by the PNC constituency to their Congress, commended the delegates for taking such bold initiative.   “We have over the years work together as social democrats and share the same ideologies, in 2008 you gave your support for the first and second round of voting and I want to commend you for the collaboration”.   He said the big fight ahead was poverty and ignorance and indicated it was only when they joined hands together that they could both fight the common enemy.   The aspirant told the delegates that within four years, the NDC Government had brought about unprecedented developmental projects including massive educational infrastructure, construction and tarring of roads among others, adding that most communities, which had no lights would begin to enjoy the Rural Electrification project before the elections.   “150 poles have already been dispatched to Binda, Yua, Gia and other communities. That is how the commitment to bridging the gap between north and south begins”.   He told the delegates that President Mahama was a more credible and winnable candidate and appealed to not to vote him alone but to vote for all NDC parliamentary candidates.   He said an education fund which was launched in the area would be expanded and put into the Navro-Pio Development Fund to assist brilliant but needy students.   “We are going to formalize the MOU and when we win you will also benefit from a lot of opportunities and programmes including National Youth Employment Programme,” he added.   Mr Pwoawuvi Joseph Weguri, Constituency Chairman of the PNC, said over the years the PNC had faced numerous challenges not only in the constituency but across the nation.   GNA...

Cape Coast Oct. 23, GNA - Mr Gershon Wodzrah, the Central Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, has stressed the need for government not to neglect agricultural sector because of the oil and gas development.   He said oil and gas were not renewal resources and could finish at anytime and suggested that a substantive amount from the oil industry be invested in the agric sector to keep the economy running even at the time the oil wells would be dried up.   Mr Wodzrah gave the caution at a day’s stakeholder’s workshop in Cape Coast to address gaps in accessing citrus and lime markets in the country.   The workshop organized by the Cape Coast Citrus Farmers Cooperative Society Limited (CCFCLS) and sponsored by Business Sector Advocacy Challenge  (BUSAC) Fund, was attended by more than 50 citrus farmer drawn from Cape Coast, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Mfantsiman districts.   The workshop was to create awareness on the importance of citrus and lime industry to the economy in Ghana, highlight the plight of farmers and the challenges they face as well as to stimulate stakeholder interest in the citrus and lime sub sectors to push for a policy framework for the establishment of a citrus board.   He said agriculture played a vital role in the sustenance and development of any country and called on the government to adequately resource all the sectors in the ministry of Agriculture to help sustain and develop the sector.   Mr Wodzrah in this regard added his voice to calls for the creation of a “Citrus Board” to get ready market for citrus products just like what the Ghana Cocoa Board was doing for Cocoa farmers.   He said citrus products had a lot of economic potentials and stressed that when given the requisite support it would not only create jobs but could be a very reliable source of income for both farmers and the government.   The Regional Director, however, noted that it was not enough calling on the government to create a Citrus Board but that it was imperative for citrus farmers to endeavour to add value to their products and suggested that citrus farmers acquire simple fruits processing tools to produce juice for the local market.   He further said for the government to take the formation of the board seriously, citrus farmers should do proper networking that would bring all citrus farmers in the country under one umbrella to enable them come out with a strong document to support the need for the creation of a board.   Mr Wodzrah advised citrus farmers to implement the technical skills given to them by agric officers to improve upon the quality of their fruits, saying citrus from Ghana were not of good quality. The world market, he added, was changing and people now preferred quality to quantity.   Mr Paul Ainoo, Chairman of the Cape Coast Citrus Farmers Cooperative Society limited (CCFCSL), appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency put in place a policy framework for the establishment of an institution that would be responsible for the development and promotion of citrus and lime.   He said due to the lack of a vibrant market and a body to manage the sector, most citrus and lime farmers had either cut down their citrus trees or had altogether deserted citrus farming for other means of livelihood. Others, he said, were also contemplating abandoning citrus farming for other ventures.   Mr Ainoo said a citrus Board would help to streamline all citrus farming activities and improve upon the negotiation power of citrus farmers and also go a long way to empower them.   Mr Ainoo said in addition the board would have positive impacts on the standard of living of the farmers, boost the local economy, generate employment and contribute to poverty alleviation in the Central Region as well as contribute significantly to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).   Mr Ato Van-Ess, a trainer with the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC Fund), said the Fund would continue to give citrus farmers the requisite advocacy training to enable them address gaps in accessing citrus market.   Mr Van-Ess called for the establishment of a processing plant, upgrading of farming practices as well as dealing directly with final users of the produce instead of using middle men and market queens who only worsen the plight of the farmers by buying fruits at throw away prices.     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 23, GNA – Although the use of inflammatory language seemed to have subsided after the public outcry, CHRAJ’s pre-election monitoring of the environment shows that tension is already mounting for the 2012 polls.   Mr Joseph Whittal, Deputy Commissioner, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), on Tuesday said more work still needed to be done to ensure free and fair elections that would guarantee peace and success.   Mr Whittal was speaking at the 4th National Human Rights Lectures organized by CHRAJ in collaboration with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa Office in Accra.   The lecture, which was on the theme: “Ensuring Good Governance: Protecting the citizens’ right to Vote” is aimed at protecting the citizens’ right to vote and ensuring violence-free elections.   Mr Whittal said the issue of abuse of incumbency, political intolerance, use of inflammatory language, and the allegation of the discovery of a military training camp in a forest, if not well addressed could easily cause confusion and undermine the country’s democracy.   He, however, commended the political parties for their conduct with respect to CI78, which created the 45 new constituencies, though close to this year’s elections.   “There is no doubt that in some societies in West Africa such a contentious issue could degenerate into civil crisis” he added.   Dr Kwesi Aning, in-charge of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre (KAIPTC), who spoke on the topic: “Managing elections related violence and civil strife in West Africa”, attributed the causes of civil wars in the sub-region to political and economic factors and the extent of ethnic, religious and cultural diversities in society.   He said governance in the sub-region had not generated the much needed impact on the longstanding problems of human security, transparency and accountability, corruption, adherence to the rule of law, electoral credibility and economic mismanagement.   He said these issues had often led to violent protest from marginalized groups or disgruntled sections of the population.   Dr Aning also said the lack of independent, impartial, accountable and transparent state institution such as the election management bodies, security forces and the judiciary were some of the major causes of violence during elections.    He also mentioned the late arrival of election materials or officials, serious printing errors on ballot papers and the apparent deliberate undersupply of important voting material at opposition strongholds.   He said the manipulation of deep regional and ethnic cleavages, unresolved land disputes, ethnic and chieftaincy disputes by political parties during elections represent yet another problem confronting the conduct of peaceful elections in West Africa.   Dr Aning said for the sub-region to overcome election-related violence there was the need for changes in the electoral systems and the regulatory power to create permanent mechanisms to promote cooperation among political parties, relevant civil society organization and candidates for election.   He added that creating and maintaining trust among those participating in the electoral process and preventing electoral disputes was a great opportunity that could be exploited.     GNA...

Accra, Oct 23, GNA - The Ministry of Education on Tuesday organised an orientation workshop for school inspectors of the National Inspectorate Board (NIB) under the Ministry of Education to improve educational performance at the pre-tertiary level.   The objective of the workshop was to provide a diagnosis of what a school must do in order to improve upon its academic performance by setting and enforcing standards that must be observed by all pre-tertiary public and private schools.   Dr George Afeti, Chief Inspector of Schools of the Ministry of Education, explained that the pre-tertiary school means all basic education schools like kindergartens, the first and second cycle institutions including technical and vocational training institutes both public and private.   He said the Ministry had recruited 300 team inspectors across the country and 20 lead inspectors to be introduced to the school inspection guidelines and the code of conduct for inspectors that had been developed by the NIB.   Dr Afeti said report at the Ghana Statistical Service revealed that of the 11.4 million people who constituted the workforce in 2010, 35.3 per cent never had any formal education; 28.6 per cent had, and 10 per cent had secondary or higher education.   He said due to these challenges, Parliament enacted a new Education Act in 2008 to improve education delivery in the country and make it more responsive to national development goals and priorities.   Dr Afeti said the Act established three autonomous agencies including the National Teaching Council, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the National Inspectorate Board under the Ministry of Education to support quality education delivery in the country.   Mrs Cynthia Bosumtwi-Sam, Deputy Chief Inspector of Schools for the Ghana Education Service, said the team inspectors would be expected to have some quality indicators to evaluate the performance of schools.   She said the indicators of quality to be emphasized by the NIB in its work relates to the quality of the teacher, what goes on in the classroom, the quality of graduates, quality of laboratory and the overall learning culture and quality of the school environment.       GNA...

Accra, Oct 23, GNA - Discerning Voters, a group of independent professionals of the National Democratic Congress, on Tuesday stated their commitment to rally undecided voters to ensure victory for the party in the December 2012 polls.   “We are committing to win 80% of undecided voters for the President through an ongoing peaceful, yet robust and massive strategy that will change the dynamics of Ghanaian politics.”   The Discerning Voters said this at a media briefing to inaugurate the Group in Accra.   Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, senior sports journalist and the Convener of the message noted that the Group was inspired by President John Mahama’s sense of maturity, humility, competence and continuous dedication to the needs of Ghanaians.   “If there ever was a man who has made such tremendous impression and impact as President of his country in just four months, then that man is President John Mahama, and surely this man deserves to continue in office as our President”   He noted that the Group had begun massive campaign in villages to inform the electorate about what the NDC had to offer, adding “we want to encourage you to join us to stand up for Ghana, stand up for truth and stand for President John Mahama”.   According to Mr Ampofo Ankrah, the decision to campaign for the NDC was not instigated by any form of financial gains, as speculated among a section of the public.   “So confident are we in the Better Ghana Agenda that many of us have resigned from our jobs and put our businesses on hold to ensure this humble desire by President Mahama to continue to save the ordinary Ghanaians…”   Nana Yaw Agyemang, a television sports commentator, who also declared his support for President Mahama, stated that he had a mind of his own and therefore decided on what he considered to be right.   “I cannot be pushed around by anybody, neither can anyone influence me to do anything, but this is to set an example for those who are afraid to declare their stand. I believe President Mahama is the best person to lead the country.     GNA...

Tarkwa, Oct 24, GNA - The Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission has organized a workshop for stakeholders in the Western Region on the new minerals and mining regulation. The participants at the one day workshop were briefed on the new regulation, minerals property and minerals right and explosive regulations. Addressing participants on the health and safety regulation Legislative Instrument (LI) 2182, the Principal Inspector of Mines at the Minerals Commissions, Mr. Evans Adade, said the new regulation was to take care of the challenges posed by modern trends in mining. He said though the 1970 regulations did not make provision for processing plants especially with regard to the use of cyanide, tailing storage facilities and waste dump as well as mine site rehabilitation and mine closure measures, the current health, safety and technical regulations  seeks to  address these challenges and more. Mr Adade said with the new regulations, confrontation between mining firms and their host communities would be reduced. He said the public and other stakeholders will be assured of their health and safety adding that the security agencies and the judiciary will have adequate guidelines when handling with offenses in the mining sector. GNA...

Ho, Oct. 24, GNA - Mr Pontius Pilate Baba Apaabey, Deputy Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has commended political parties disqualified by the Electoral Commission (EC) from contesting the December Polls for exercising “moral tolerance” after their disqualifications. “The decisions of the parties to engage the EC in further deliberations or resort to court actions are demonstrations of tolerance and confidence in the rule of law, which must be commended,” he said.    Mr Apaabey made the commendation at a Volta Regional Council of Labour Meeting in Ho. He said tolerance is a powerful tool that ensures peaceful co-existence and praised the parties for not causing mayhem, irrespective of investments made towards contesting the elections. Mr Apaabey said that show of tolerance should inspire political parties contesting the elections to abide by the electoral laws and allow the EC to carry out its constitutional duty. “Nobody is born tolerant but we must all learn to be tolerant. If you are not satisfied with a development, you can go to the law court but not take to arms,” he said. Mr Apaabey appealed to any political party that would win the December election to restrain its excesses and accommodate the losers. Togbe Adom Drayi II, Head of Organization Department of the Trade Union Congress Ghana (TUC) , called on Ghanaians to justify the European Union’s confidence in the country to organize credible and peaceful elections. “Our expectation is that, all workers will go and vote and come back to work peacefully,” he said. Mr Elvis S. Van-Lare, Volta Regional Secretary of the TUC, described the labour front in the Region as relatively stable. He appealed to the National Secretariat to increase logistics to the Region to make district councils vibrant. GNA...

Sefwi-Wiawso (W/R), Oct 24, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has wrapped up his tour of the Western Region with the promise that the government would put up adequate security measures to ensure peaceful elections in December 7. “This year’s election is not about life and death but a continuation of what Ghana has achieved in the last five elections and the need to consolidate that feat for posterity to judge us as one people,” President Mahama said. He was in the region on a campaign tour and interacted with chiefs, inaugurated projects, cut the sod for work to begin on projects and addressed rallies. The President told party supporters to be circumspect in their presentations. “Politicians will always come and go but Ghana as the only country in which we live and belonged to will continue to be there for future generations,” he said. President Mahama said by God’s grace the NDC would win the December polls and that he would never insult anybody or group of persons to win power. President Mahama appealed to political opponents to base their campaigns on issues and programmes and avoid all negative tendencies that could escalate into nasty incidents in the country during campaigns. GNA...

Tamale, Oct. 24, GNA – Mr. Gaskin Dassah, Coordinator of the Northern Network for Education Development (NNED), has said a survey conducted by his outfit in three districts of the Northern Region shows that most public schools had failed to comply with the 2007 education reforms. This, he said, had resulted in inadequate and inappropriate classrooms with inadequate trained teachers at the kindergarten level, inappropriate textbooks and teaching and learning materials and the failure to abide by the rule to admit four-olds to KG. He said the survey conducted in the Karaga, West Mamprusi and Tolon districts for the kindergarten level also revealed the absence of toilets and urinals as well as absence of play grounds, adding that some schools do not benefit from the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Mr. Dassah said it was worrying that not all the primary schools in the districts adhered to the policy that they should have KGs as demanded by GES adding “tendency to assign untrained teachers to handle KG classes is very high”. He said by policy, all public primary schools in Ghana were expected to have Kindergartens (KGs) attached to them in line with the first of the six Education for All (EFA) goals and the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which demands providing access to all Ghanaian children of school going age. Mr Dassah said while this policy was seen as a positive step in contributing to meeting the education related MDGs, its implementation remained a big challenge and called on the government and the GES to fix the situation. Mr. Dassah said even though there was high enrolment at the KGs, transition from KG 1 to KG 2 was low, with 40% for girls and 45% for boys. GNA...