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...

Cape Coast, Oct.24, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday asked Ghanaians to vote for a visionary President that could transform the nation, and seek the wellbeing of the people. He said it was only the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that had the required human resources to offer best leadership for the country, to propel it to an accelerated growth and transformation. Former President Kufuor, who was speaking at the campaign launch of Mr. Alfred Thompson, NPP parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast South on Tuesday, called on Ghanaians to vote massively for the party to save the country from doldrums. He said Ghana has resources that could be harnessed to propel its accelerated growth and lamented that: “It is unfortunate that in the mist of all these resources including cocoa, gold, timber, bauxite and the recent oil find, and with cocoa securing better prices on the world market, the country is going through tough times with the prices of goods escalating”. Former President Kufuor said that it would take quality and a visionary leadership to save the country, and added that issue about whether a leader should be young or old was needless, but what was important was for a leader to have a team of think-tanks that would be able to deliver quality leadership to bring about the needed transformation of the nation. He reminded Ghanaians that it was under NPP’s leadership that several social and economic interventions including the National health Insurance Scheme, Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, the National Youth Employment were implemented to give quality life to Ghanaians. On the free Senior High School (SHS) education being expounded by the NPP presidential candidate for Election 2012, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,  Former President Kufuor said it was not an empty promise because all the interventions put in place during his the last NPP administration materialised without oil money. He said teachers would be motivated and given better remunerations for them to give of their best under a free SHS policy, and asked Ghanaians to give Akufo-Addo the opportunity to give them the best. Other NPP stalwarts including, Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, parliamentary candidate for Mfantsiman West, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, parliamentary candidate for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, parliamentary candidate for Assin North, who addressed the gathering, said the free SHS policy was feasible, and asked the electorate to vote the NPP to power in December. Mr. Agyapong appealed to electorate to vote  the National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of power because it had failed the people of the region and the NDC had no legacy for the people to see. He stressed that the stadium and main market projects, among others, initiated by the NDC were not implemented, the people should vote the NDC out for failing them. GNA...

Sunyani, Oct. 24, GNA – A 72-year-old retired educationist, Mr Seth George Mensah, is the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Asunafo North Constituency in the coming elections.   He is among 129 Parliamentary candidates who have filed their nominations to contest in 29 constituencies of the region.      The youngest candidate is Master Abdul Rahaman Kwaah, 21, a student also contesting on the ticket of the PPP in the Nkoranza North Constituency.       Available statistics from the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Electoral Commission said majority of the candidates belonged to the teaching field of which forty-two are contesting.   This is followed by 10 farmers, seven accountants and seven engineers, six businessmen and six politicians and the remaining coming from a variety of other occupations.     GNA...

Accra , Oct. 24, GNA - The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) is to engage savings and loans companies to discuss options through which they could begin providing services under the Ghana Automated Clearing House (GACH).   This means that customers of these micro finance institutions would be able make recurring payments or repetitive collections electronically via the GACH to save time and cost.   The GACH is currently available to the universal banks because Savings and Loans companies do their clearing and settlement via the universal banks.   The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), Mr Archie Hesse said GACH had enormous potential and it was important that customers of savings and loans companies had the opportunity to enjoy the service.   In this direction, he said, GhIPSS would engage savings and loans companies to explore the best options through which the micro finance institutions could come on board in the implementation of the GACH.   Mr Archie said savings and loans companies would be in a position to court utility companies, other service providers as well as other companies such as mortgage finance and hire-purchase companies to offer the services to them.   The GACH comes in two forms namely the Direct Credit and Direct Debit. The Direct Credit system is used for payments while the Direct Debit is to collect payments electronically.   Experts say the GACH could become an important income generating activity for the savings and loans companies through which to get customers as it is a more advanced, convenient and less expensive form of making or receiving bulk payments.   GNA...

Domeabra (Ash), Oct. 24, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Fredrick Fredua Antoh, has rallied the party’s supporters to pull together to ensure resounding electoral victory in the December 7 polls.      They all, he said, should accept individually and collectively, to work hard and with passion, to bring the party back to power, adding that, “none of us should be on the sidelines”.      He was addressing his party’s followers at Domeabra in the Asante-Akim North Constituency. Mr Antoh noted that the NPP’s performance in the region would be crucial for its electoral fortunes in this year’s general elections and that was why they should redouble their efforts and do everything for victory.      He said they needed to step up the campaign to get not less than 90 percent of the registered voters to turn out to cast their ballot.      Their target is to win 80 per cent of popular votes in Ashanti to propel the NPP to a first round victory.      Mr Antoh said to achieve this, the polling station executives, should intensify the door-to-door campaign in their areas.      The NPP in the 2004 elections garnered a total of 1,235,000 votes in the region but this dropped to 1,224,000, in year 2008, a development, the party blamed on voter indifference.   GNA...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – The Ghana Think Foundation (GTF), a non-Governmental Organisation, would on October 27 organise its BarCamp series in Tema to mentor and inspire youths for economic excellence.   Tema-based musicians, D Cryme and Chempe are expected to crown the event by relating their success stories to inspire the youth to aspire to higher heights.   This was contained in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday by Teresa Lemaire, Public Relations Officer for the GTF.   The series being organized by GTF is a free networking forum, which aims at empowering young people through networks and interactions with successful entrepreneurs and public figures in the business and entertainment industry.   The statement said the event, which would take place at the Johnson Kanda block, Central University Campus in Miotso near Tema, is under the theme: “Vertical mentoring and horizontal inspiration, driving excellence.”      It is being organized in conjunction with Google Ghana, Hatua Solutions, Samsung Ghana, Nandimobile and Fienipa Group.   The statement said the Barcamp would feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, technology and development as well as a start-up bazaar where young entrepreneurs and innovators could showcase their products and services.   Interested participants and prospective sponsors are expected to register using the website www.barcamptema12.eventbrite.com or text "Barcamp Tema with name and email address to 1945 through any mobile network.   GNA...

Accra , Oct. 24, GNA  - Disqualified Presidential Candidate of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) Madam Akua Donkor  on Wednesday joined the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), seeking to improve the electoral fortunes of the party in the December 2012 elections.     Madam Donkor, whose bid to contest the elections was thwarted by her failure to meet the requirements before the deadline set by the Electoral Commission for the submission of nomination forms, told the media at a press conference at the PPP’s headquarters in Accra that she had taken that path because both political entities shared a similar vision.     Speaking in Twi, the grassroots politician said that her conviction to lend support to the PPP stemmed from the fact that its presidential candidate, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom had demonstrated in both private and public life that he could handle the affairs of the country competently when voted into power.     She said she was convinced that PPP would offer Ghanaians incorruptible leadership that would accelerate the development of the nation, reduce poverty and provide the free quality education to Ghanaians.     Madam Donkor wondered why Ghana’s enormous natural resources was not benefiting the majority of the populace, adding that, she was convinced that Dr Nduom, whom she considered a friends because of the faith they shared, would address those issues effectively when given the nod to lead the nation.     Dr Paa Kwesi on his part said elections were about numbers, and that the PPP stood to welcome anyone who sought to join them.     He said the PPP had already had offers from other political parties seeking to join forces with PPP, saying that in the coming days more people would join the movement.     Dr Nduom said Madam Donkor had a considerable following, which could inure to the benefit of the fortunes of the party in the December polls.     He said he had a lot in common with Madam Donkor because they were both Catholics, have been assembly members before and had similar plans for the country.   GNA ...

Kumasi, Oct. 24, GNA - Soroptimist International of Kumasi, a society of women professionals committed to gender equality, has appealed to political parties in the country to give prominence to development issues concerning women.     Mrs. Ellaine Owusu, President of the group, said women required governmental and institutional support to give them more social protection, and to enhance their economic situation to boost their contribution to national development.     She asked the parties to implement effective policies and programmes to support women empowerment when given the mandate to govern.      Mrs Owusu, who was speaking at the society’s meeting held in Kumasi on Wednesday, called on civil society organizations, traditional authorities and policy-makers to work together to advance the cause of women.    She explained that Soroptimist clubs work towards human rights protection, equality, development and peace through international goodwill, understanding and friendship.    GNA  ...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – The Programme Director of Vision for Alternative Development, a non-government organisation has noted that the passage of the Tobacco Control Bill is the effective means of preventing the marketing and usage of the product.     Mr Labram Musah Massawudu said to minimise the social cost of tobacco use government must eliminate the activities of the tobacco industry through the passing of the Bill to reduce lung, oral and neck cancers, heart diseases and poverty among smokers.     Mr Massawudu made the observation in an address at a day’s journalists’ briefing and education on tobacco industry interferences, threats to public health and World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on Monday in Accra.      He commended the Ministry of Health for showing enthusiasm and commitment in the fight against the tobacco industry by taking steps in implementing the FCTC through the directives of the ministry while the Tobacco Control Bill passes through the due processes.   Mr Massawudu said Ghanaians stand to gain in poverty reduction and health improvement if government domesticates the FCTC through the Public Health Bill which was passed by Parliament on July 11, this year and awaiting presidential assent.     In November 29, 2004 Ghana became the 39th country to ratify the FCTC to; “adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures and cooperate, as appropriate, with other parties in developing appropriate policies for preventing and reducing tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction and exposure to tobacco smoke”.     Mr Massawudu said the tobacco industry has filed lawsuits challenging various public health measures in a number of countries in a clear attempt to undermine the pursuit of effective policies.     The Programme Director said the tobacco industry is expanding its war against public health, beyond national courts and into the international arena and therefore governments must understand these new threats, and stand together to defend their sovereignty.     “As tobacco control takes hold, the industry continues to adjust its bullying tactics so that it can advance its ultimate aim, to hook  a future generation of smokers.     “After attacking public health policies in national courts and via bilateral agreements, they are now enticing governments into doing their dirty work at the World Trade Organisation,” Mr Massawudu said.     He said the effective means of minimising tobacco use is to eliminate the activities of the tobacco industry by imposing tax increment on tobacco products, introduction of pictorial health warnings on packs and comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.      According to the WHO tobacco smoking related deaths worldwide has increased from five million in 2005 to 8.5 million this year while the global cigarette market has also expanded by 23 per cent in 2012 reaching 464.4 billion dollars.     Some of the topics discussed were tobacco industry efforts to undermine Public Health and  industry combining revenues to infiltrate and undermine treaty’s success and intimidation through lawsuits by tobacco companies.       Mr Massawudu asked the media to show interest and create awareness on key provisions of the Public Health Bill especially on the tobacco control measures.       GNA ...

Kumasi, Oct. 24, GNA – Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, Asantehene, has initiated a lease documentation project in Kumasi, as part of efforts to formalize land grants in the traditional area, to ensure land tenure security.       The project also seeks to make land documentation more affordable and less cumbersome for those who have acquired lands in the traditional area.       These were contained in a statement signed by Nana Kwasi Prempeh, Manhyiahene, and Liaison Officer for the project, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday. According to the statement, the Asantehene has granted a three-month moratorium to enable all interested persons, groups and institutions wanting to obtain leases on their lands to do so at a highly reduced cost.       It said the project would commence on November 12, and end on February 28, 2013, at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace from 0900 hours to 1500 hours each working day.       The statement said those concerned should come along with allocation papers, site plan, one passport size picture, identification cards, both original and photocopy.       “In the absence of an allocation note, any document authenticating acquisition of land would be accepted”, it said.     GNA ...

Pramso (Ash), Oct. 24, GNA – Energy Minister Dr Joseph Oteng Agyei, who is contesting the Bosomtwe parliamentary seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has predicted victory on December 7.          He said he was confident that the tremendous goodwill and support enjoyed by his party in the area would translate into massive votes.          He noted that the job the NDC had done in government within the last four years would be rewarded.           Dr Oteng-Adjei was addressing separate campaign rallies at Pramso, Piase, Onwi, Amankwadei and Kokodei.          This is his fourth attempt at getting the people in the constituency to give him the mandate to represent them in parliament.           He said he had no doubt that the people would be voting based on their conviction of who could make their socio-economic situation better.          He urged his colleague politicians to be more civil in the conduct of their electioneering campaign to avoid needless tension and help protect the peace.           Dr Oteng-Agyei appealed to the people to turn out in their numbers on voting day to return the NDC to power.          The Constituency Chairman, Mr Yaw Amankwaa, urged the party’s members in the various communities to step up their house-to-house campaign to canvass for votes.          They should tell the success story of the government to expose the deception and deliberate distortions by their political opponents.     GNA ...

Mampong (Ash), Oct. 24, GNA – A 26-year-old man on Tuesday died from his injuries when he fell from a speeding KIA Truck at Asante-Mampong.         Baaba Shaibu, alias “Obama” was sitting in the bucket of the truck and came tumbling when the vehicle hit a pothole.         Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Benjamin Kwadwo Gyasi, Asante-Mampong Divisional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), who confirmed the accident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said it happened at about 1945 hours.       The truck, driven by Mathew Boakye, 37, was heading towards Abountem from Mampong.         He said Shaibu died whilst being transported to the hospital.         The body of the deceased had since been deposited at the mortuary of the Asante-Mampong Government Hospital for autopsy.         DSP Gyasi warned against carrying people in the bucket of trucks, saying, that it was an illegality.         Offenders, he said, would be arrested and prosecuted.   GNA  ...

  Cape Coast, Oct. 24, GNA - Ex-President John Agyekum  Kuffuor on Tuesday called on the people of the Central Region   to vote massively for Nana Akuffo-Addo  in the December polls  to enable  him  to continue with the  projects  the party started in his  administration.       He  said the Free Senior High Education programme was possible and that in his administration  the National Health Insurance Scheme  (NHIS) was successfully executed and urged all to give the party the needed support.         Ex-President Kuffour who said this at a rally  held in Cape Coast to introduce the Parliamentary Candidates for Cape Coast  North and  Cape Coast South  constituencies,  underscored the importance of  good  governance  and  stressed that it was only Nana Akuffo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party  (NPP) that could make it work.     He  pointed out that quality education was not only about building of school blocks, but  also involved  the motivation of   teachers to make them give out their best to the children no matter their number in class.         Ex-President Kuffour was happy with the turn out  and urged them to remain committed to the party by voting for  the Presidential and Parliamentary candidates who would come to implement good governance and  better education policies.    Mr. Kenndy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin-North advised the people of Cape Coast not  to  accept gifts like cloth and money from any member of the National Democratic Congress  (NDC) since that was the strategy being used to convince people to vote for the party.      He also urged them to vote the NDC party out of power claiming that the party was  corrupt and was  using  government money for  their own interest  as well as paying judgment debts. “Since the NDC party came into power it has done nothing  for which it would be  remembered”, he said.   Mr. Agyapong  who is  also the  owner of 'Net2' Television said  the Free SHS education policy was feasible and that some members of the NDC enjoyed the free education system during their time and urged them to vote for Nana Akuffo-Addo  to provide them with better things that would change their present condition.      The  MP also advised the people of Cape Coast to be vigilant during the December polls alleging  that the NDC was training some macho men  who would be used during the  election  and asked that they should  not allow anyone to cheat the NPP in the forthcoming polls.  At the launch, Dr Mrs Henrietta Abane  a lecturer at the University of  Cape Coast  (UCC) and Mr. Alfred Thompson, a banker,   were introduced as  Parliamentary aspirants  for Cape Coast North and Cape Coast South constituencies respectively.   GNA ...

Sunyani, Oct. 24, GNA - Mrs Vivian Kakie Tetteh, Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Sunyani East, has observed that threats and frustrations from activists of other political parties are the challenges that prevent women from participating in politics. Mrs Tetteh, a teacher told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sunyani that women must be accepted into politics to enable them to contribute their quota in national development to ensure gender balance. She said since she decided to contest the Sunyani East parliamentary seat, her life had been in danger because “she always noticed strange vehicles and people trailing her to monitor her movements”. She said her house and garage had been broken into on two occasions and had some of her personal belongings tampered with as well as her vehicle. Mrs Tetteh alleged that Mr Samuel Akurugu, an Executive Committee member of the party in the constituency, whom he had been working with suffered in the hands of these miscreants who succeeded in taking away a motor bike belonging to the party,  a laptop, pen drives and other personal belongings. She said the matter had been reported to the police but so far the party had not made any head way. Mrs Tetteh said politics was not about attacking opponents. She explained that she ventured into politics because she was committed to the welfare and development of the people in her constituency. She noted that some people in the constituency depend on water from a stream because a borehole serving the area had broken down. Mrs Tetteh listed her priority areas as health, education and sanitation as well as the establishment of an educational endowment fund to assist the needy but brilliant children to get the opportunity to be in school. She observed that sanitation in the constituency is poor and needs to be improved to check the outbreak of diarrhoea and other communicable diseases. She pledged to collaborate with farmers in the constituency to get access to loans to increase food production. Mrs Tetteh expressed the hope that she would be given the nod as the only female candidate to get the opportunity represent the constituency. “This will give me an opportunity to participate in the legislature to enact laws that will be beneficial to Ghanaians and especially the people in the constituency,” she explained.     GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – An ally of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo,  Justin Katinan who is currently held  in Ghana for murder, was discharged on Wednesday by an Accra Magistrate Court . This was after Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police had failed to provide the court with the relevant law which stipulates that when one commits an offence outside Ghana he or she could be tried within the country. “My Lord I can’t provide any law to that effect. I am only a Police Officer", Prosecuting DSP Abraham Annor told the court. The Court presided over by Mr Ali Baba Bature had indicated to the prosecution that if they did not come up with good reason for remanding the accused, it would discharge him. The court also noted that it had no jurisdiction in the matter. At today’s sitting, DSP Annor prayed the court to grant the prosecution ample time to have “conference” with International Police (INTERPOL), Abidjan. DSP Annor noted that after the said conference it would enable INTERPOL, Accra to have an informed decision as to whether or not to continue with the court process. According to DSP Annor, INTERPOL Abidjan had sent some documents which they had analysed and needed to verify them. “We have the firm assurance that by the close of the week we would receive the information we are looking for. We therefore pray the court to grant us our request by granting us an adjournment and remand the accused person,” DSP Annor added. Mr Patrick Sorgbodzor, counsel for Katinan noted that the prosecution had failed to abide by the court order that it would discharge the accused person if Prosecution was unable to convince him as to why it should continue to remand the accused person. At the Osu Court today, the matter was adjourned to  November 7. Katinan was earlier on put before the Osu District court following charges of robbery preferred against him but was  granted a GHc50,000.00 bail. However, on October 1, this year, he was brought before an Accra Magistrates’ court charged with conspiracy to murder and two counts of murder. Katinan was said to have conspired with one Dalo Desire in Cote d’Ivoire to murder two men at Port Bouet in the Ivorian city of Abidjan. According to the report, the first murder of a 33 year-old welder, Kamagate Seyobou, took place on March 19, 2011 while the second one, of Diabate Drissa, 37, a trader, also took place on March 29, 2011, both at Port Bouet. Katinan’s plea was not taken. Meanwhile the state had indicated that following instructions given, Katinan’s two cases would run parallel. The state said on March 19, 2011, Katinan conspired with Desire to murder Seydou in Port Boute in Abidjan. According to the state, Katinan and Desire on March 29, 2011 also attacked and murdered Drissa. A complainant, known as Kamgate Bakary, reported the incident to the Ivorian authorities. On September 29, this year, Ivorian authorities issued a warrant in respect of Katinan and informed the Ghanaian authorities that he was in Ghana and demanded his arrest.     GNA ...