Sunyani, Oct. 24, GNA – Six hundred and forty-three (643) deceased voters were deleted from the Biometric Voters Register in the Brong-Ahafo Region during the 10-day biometric voters exhibition exercise which ended barely two months ago.     They are made up of 417 men and 226 women,  Mr Samuel Boadu, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), told the GNA in an interview Sunyani on Wednesday. He said only 834,698 voters made up of 414,345 men and 420,358 women representing 68.09 per cent of the 1,246,145 registered voters in the Region checked their names. Mr Boadu said 389 names were objected to on the Provisional Voters’ Register with 397 voters filling for inclusion.     GNA ...

Koforidua, Oct. 24, GNA - Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr George Akufo Dampare, Director General in charge of Finance of the Ghana Police Service, has reiterated the commitment of the Police Administration to ensure maximum security during the December polls.    “The police are ever prepared to ensure that we have a successful election”, he said at the passing out parade of 173 police personnel in Koforidua after six months’ training.      DCOP Dampare said the Police Administration had put in the necessary measures to provide adequate security and assured that Ghana would continue to be peaceful, before, during and after the general elections.   He appealed to the public to complement the efforts of the police in maintaining peace so that Ghana would continue to be an ‘Oasis of Peace” in Africa.   DCOP Dampare appealed to the new police personnel to be disciplined at all times to enable them to excel in their chosen career.     General Constable Kokobealowe Nyafele Fofie Philemon was adjudged the overall best and was presented with a baton of honour.   GNA ...

Accra , Oct 24, GNA -The year-on-year inflation in ex-factory prices of goods slipped to 16.8 percent in September compared with 17.8 percent in August, the Ghana Statistical Service said on Wednesday. Dr Philomena Nyarko, Acting Government Statistician, said ex-factory prices of goods for all industry increased on average by 16.8 percent in September 2012 relative to the price level recorded in September 2011. The monthly change rate was 1.3 percent, meaning that compared to August 2012, the Producer Price Inflation increased by 1.3% in September 2012. For mining and quarrying, the producer inflation rate increased by 2.6 percentage points to 19.5 percent, relative to the rate of 16.9 percent recorded in August. Dr Nyarko said the manufacturing sector, which constituted more than two-thirds of total industry, increased slightly to 20.5 percent from a rate of 20.4 percent in August. The rate of inflation in Utilities dropped to 3 percent in September lower than that of 10.5 percent in August. The highest monthly change of 5.7 % was recorded in the Mining and quarrying sector.    GNA ...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA - Herewith results of match day four of the Glo Premier League games played on Wednesday, October 24, at the various league centers.                Tema:               T. Youth              2             Dwarfs               0            Tarkwa:             Medeama           1             Chelsea             0                  Kpando:           Lions                   1             Liberty               1             Dormaa:          Aduana                0             Kotoko               0             Berekum:        Arsenal                 0            RTU                   0             Accra:             Hearts                   1           A. Stars               2             Obuasi:          Ashgold                  3          Amidaus  Prof.     1                    Kumasi:          Faisal                                 Edubiase   (Late Kick-Off)       GNA...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA - Parliament on Wednesday approved a loan facility of 43,784,093 Pounds Sterling for the continuation of the stalled redevelopment project of the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra.   The loan facility would enable the institution to expand access and contribute effectively to healthcare delivery in the country.   The redevelopment project, which started in 2002 and originally billed to cost some 21 million pounds sterling, suffered set-backs due to financial difficulties, but inflationary adjustments from 2003 and the inclusion of a new mortuary in the project, has pushed the initial contract sum to the current amount being approved by the Legislature.   The HSBC Bank Plc, supported by the United Kingdom Government’s Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) is financing the project through a buyer’s credit loan agreement with the Government of Ghana.   Out of the amount, the actual contract sum of the project stands at 40,125,714 pounds sterling, with a ECGD premium of 3,658,379 sterling and a Government of Ghana component of 645,596 pounds sterling.   The loan that has a repayment period of 10 years and a maturity period of 12 years attracts an interest rate of 1.45 percent per annum, a commitment fee of 0.45 percent, an arrangement fee of 0.90 percent and a grace period of two years.    The entire project, which will be executed by the International Hospitals Group, an international healthcare service company, will be implemented over a period of 36 months. This will include the execution of all civil and structural works, all architectural and design works, installation of equipment and training.   Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister of Health said the flagship project had taken too long to gestate and that it was dear to the heart of the Interior and Health Ministries and lauded the intervention to resuscitate the venture.   He said the Police Hospital, established in 1976, was a key medical facility that had not received meaningful support in terms of infrastructure and equipment, stating that the urgency for expansion and retooling of the facility was a step in the right direction, considering the role the hospital played in health service delivery of the nation.   The hospital’s upgrade is expected to boost morale of the Police and enable the facility to support the 37 Military Hospitals, service the security agencies and assist when there was a national emergency, including strikes by civilian hospitals.   Dr Anthony Akoto Osie, MP for Old Tafo, who also contributed to the motion for the approval of the loan, said the Hospital was one critical national institution that should be given all the necessary inputs to improve on its delivery considering its strategic importance in spill-over’s from other major national medical facilities.   He said there was the need to retool the facility for the Police to feel that they are also being catered for like their colleagues in other security services. GNA  ...

Bolgatanga, Oct. 24, GNA – Participants at a forum organised in Bolgatanga on Tuesday to create a platform for citizens to engage the political parties on maternal mortality issues noted that Ghana lacks the political commitment to deal with the matter.   The forum, which was organised by the Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternative (PARDA) a non-governmental organisation and OXFAM Maternal Project attracted traditional authorities, assembly members, women groups and opinion leaders.   The representatives of the political parties were National Democratic Congress, New Patriotic Party, People’s National Convention, Convention People’s Party and Progressive People Party.   The forum stressed the need for the political parties to make the issue of maternal mortality one of the cardinal principles in their manifestoes and to make sure they implement their policies and programmes effectively if they are elected to power.   The participants expressed concern about the spate of maternal mortality in the country and called on government and other stakeholders to pay special attention to the subject by providing the necessary logistics and human resources in health facilities especially those in the deprived areas to reverse the scourge.   Mr Sebastian Tiah, Country Director of Oxfam, said the main focus of his outfit is to work towards the elimination of the structural causes of poverty, making economic and social justice a top global priority and playing an active role in the global movement for a just world.   He said health is a human right issue and expressed wonder why women in an attempt to exercise their reproductive rights are made to die.   Mr Tiah stressed that it is unacceptable in the 21st century for a pregnant women to die when giving birth.   The first phase of the OXFAM Maternal Project, which begun in March, 2011, in the region, ended in March whilst the second phase would run till March 2013.   The core objective of the project is to reverse the spate of maternal and infant mortality in its areas of operation which spans Bolgatanga Municipality, Bawku West and the Kassena-Nankana Districts. GNA  ...

Bolgatanga, Oct. 24, GNA - Ms Georgina Fiagbennu, Corporate Communication Senior Manager of MTN, has said the support given to those under the health sector is purely need based and opened to all.   She said poor people with cases of cancer, cardiovascular concerns like a hole in heart among others could be supported under the sector.   Speaking at an Editors’ forum organized for journalists in Bolgatanga, Ms Georgina Fiagbennu, said the Network only needed a certification to ensure that the cases were genuine.   She said MTN has invested about 10 million Ghana cedis in social support ventures and was currently supporting communities in the areas of health, education and social activities like festivals and the Uncle Ebo Whyte stakeholder road show.   Ms Fiagbennu said MTN was also venturing into economic empowerment to help people grow their business and improve their livelihood under its Alternative livelihood Project saying it recently donated 150 tricycles to the physically challenged in Bolgatanga.   It is also establishing ICT centres in Tamale and Bolgatanga to help the youth acquire knowledge of the world’s latest technology.   She said there had been 398 fiber cuts so far this year as compared to 140 cuts last year due to road constructions and the carelessness of some contractors who did not bother about preserving other objects they encounter and this has led to the disturbance in traffic flow for MTN’s clients.   Ms Fiagbennu appealed to all road contractors to avoid cutting the fibers as that not only affects the Network but also individuals who use MTN daily for important communication needs.   She said Network has introduced a Vehicle tracking system which enables the user to know the location of the car at any given time and this can help protect and trace stolen vehicles when the need arises. GNA  ...

Madina, Oct. 24, GNA - The Madina Divisional MTTU Deputy Police Commander, DSP Mr. Charles Ahiamale Wednesday educated passengers waiting to board vehicles at the Madina station on  motor-traffic regulations.   Commander Ahiamale told the passengers that, due to the constructional work going on at the Madina Zongo junction, buses would not be allowed to use the junction as their Station until further notice.   He cautioned that any  trotro found around the area would be clamped and the driver arrested and prosecuted.  He therefore advised the passengers to go to the Madina VRA Lorry Station to board their vehicles.   The Deputy MTTU Commander said last Tuesday for instance, recalcitrant drivers parked their vehicles at the junction to pick passengers and when they saw the police they quickly took off.   He said in the rush a woman who was about to board a vehicle was caught handing on the bus and she fell off.   DSP Ahiamle said though she did not sustain any serious injuries, she lost her hand bag.   He appealed to the general public to bear with the situation, adding that, their safety was paramount.   He urged the public to report to the nearest police any driver found drunk and blamed some of the road accidents on driver’s lack of carefulness and impatience.   Commander Ahiamale urged the drivers to maintain some distance from the vehicles ahead of them and cautioned passengers not to detract the drivers. GNA  ...

Durban, Oct. 24, GNA – Ghana’s Black Stars will open their campaign at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations against DR Congo on January 20, at the Nelson Mandela bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.   The Leopards are incidentally handled by former Black Stars Claude Le Roy, who guided Ghana to bronze at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.   From the draw, the Stars will next face Tunisia on January 24 also at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium before squaring Niger four days later at the same venue.   The Black Stars will face a team from Group A at the knockout stage.     Ghana matches;   20/01/13        Ghana vs DR Congo    Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium   24/01/13        Ghana vs Tunisia         Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium   28/01/13        Niger vs Ghana            Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium     GNA...

Durban, Oct. 24, GNA – Ghana’s Black Stars have been drawn against Mali, Niger and DR Congo for the group phase of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.   The Stars were pitted in Group B at the draw conducted on Wednesday in Durban, South Africa.   From the draw, the Stars will play their matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.   Below are the groupings;     Group A - South Africa, Angola, Morocco, Cape Verde     Group B - Ghana, Tunisia, Niger, DR Congo     Group C - Zambia Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,     Group D - Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Algeria, Togo,     GNA...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – Katlego and Takuma have been unveiled as the official match ball and mascot respectively for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for 19 January to 10 February in South Africa.   The identities of the two icons of the 29th edition of the continent’s flagship football event were made known at the official draw conducted on Wednesday in Durban, South Africa.   Katlego meaning “success” was selected from a poll conducted on the website on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) earlier this year is being manufactured global kit manufacturers, adidas.   The ball is designed with the latest technologies and will serve as one of the highlights of the 16-team tournament.   It will be the fourth match ball for the Africa Cup of Nations after wawa ba (2008), jabulani (2010) and como-equa (2012).   Meanwhile, Takuma was also announced as the mascot for the tournament.     GNA...

Mr Enoch Teye- Mensah, Minister for Water Resources, Working and Housing said Ghana has gone beyond the era of abandoning good projects started by previous governments merely because it was started by its predecessor.   “We have completed many projects started by the last New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) administration such as the George Bush Highway”, he added.   The Minister said this during a press briefing on Wednesday in Accra to apprise the media of projects currently going on as part of government’s continuous commitment to address the housing shortfall in the country and to react to a statement by Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Add, NPP presidential candidate.   He said the flagbearer during his meeting with members of the Ghana Real Estates Development Association (GREDA), as part of his campaign efforts described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led government as a spectacular failure to provide a single housing unit for Ghanaians.   He said GREDA was established during the NDC 1 administration and therefore the NDC government would not kill her own baby but would rather nurture it for government to achieve her better Ghana agenda.   According to Mr Teye-Mensah right from independence to date if any government has ever failed Ghanaians in the provision of housing units, then it was the NPP.   The Minister opined that it was the NPP and her antecedents who sold government bungalows to themselves and their cronies in Tema, Accra, among others, saying the NPP did virtually nothing concerning the housing sector until the last two years of their eight years.   He raked the Convention People Party of Nkrumah as number one in the provision of housing for the people, followed by the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) and the NDC 1 of Ft Lt J.J. Rawlings and the regime of the National Redemption Council (NRC) of General Ignatius Acheampong.    He reiterated that it was during the NDC 1 era that Sakomono Estates, Tema Community three, Adenta Estates and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) estates were constructed in all ten regional capitals in the country.   Mr Teye-Mensah advised the Presidential Candidate of the NPP to cross check his facts before coming out to make certain pronouncements, saying these facts could easily have been ascertained by the advisers of the NPP Presidential Candidate by making him quote 6,000 housing units instead of the 4,720, and by this they make him appear not to know the total housing stock started by his own government in which he was a senior cabinet member.    He urged him to emulate President Mahama who always caution against over promising to avoid reaping deception ad losing the trust of the people.   The Minister emphasized that the 4,720 housing units started by the NPP in the eight years in power was made up of 1,896 one-unit bedroom and 2,824 two-bedroom units started in 2006 which were at various stages of completion at Borteyman-Nungua, Kpone, Asokore-Mampong, Koforidua, Tamale and Wa.   He mentioned that the Ghana Armed Forces had been allocated 48 units at Borteyman to complete for occupation of officers and work, while the State Housing Corporation (STC) was pre-financing the completion of the 48 units at the Borteyman site.   Mr Teye-Mensah further explained that the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) has proposed to purchase and complete 110 of the one bedroom units and 248 of the two-bedroom at Kpone Affordable site, however, details we still being worked out.   He indicated that a number of housing projects embarked upon by the government include: 168 housing units in Tema for the Bureau of National Investigations by Messrs Amandi Holding Ltd, 5,000 housing units at Kpone by Messrs Sethi Realty Ltd, 10,000 housing units at Amansaman by Messrs Agu Resources Ltd, 200 housing units by Messrs Agency Biwade Ltd, 5,000housing units by Messrs American Capital Partners and the completion of 4,720 the affordable housing units.        GNA...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – The Greater Accra Regional Social Security and National Insurance Trust Pensioners Association, has donated GH¢1,000.00 to the Cardiovascular Centre at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.   The donation, which is a yearly ritual of the Association for the past 10 years, was presented to the Centre by Mrs Beatrice Woode, Vice Regional Chairperson of the Association.   She said though as pensioners, “we feel our little contributions can go a long way to alleviate some of the financial problems facing the centre”.   Mrs Woode said the Association would continue to support the centre to help bring some relief to the patients.   Receiving the donation on behalf of the centre, Dr Mawuko Tetteh thanked the pensioners for their kind gesture and urged other organisations to emulate the good spirit GNA  ...

Ningo, Oct. 24, GNA – Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reiterated the need for members and supporters of the party to work extra hard to ensure victory on December 7.   He reminded them that the one-touch victory envisaged by the party enjoined its rank and file to close their ranks, rededicate themselves to the cause of the party and face the elections with a united front.   Mr Nketiah made the call when he launched the campaign for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency of the party at Ningo on Tuesday.   He told the constituents that they would be doing a great disservice to the party if they failed to renew the mandate of an astute and experience politician of the calibre of Mr Enoch Teye Mensah their parliamentary candidate.   Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, who also spoke at the campaign launch urged Ghanaians to retain the NDC in power to further pursue its Better Ghana Agenda.   Three other speakers, Mr Harry Zaboer, Mr Sam Pee Yalley and Mr Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional Chairman advised members and supporters of the NDC to guard against “skirt and blouse” voting on the election day.   Mr Habibu Awudu Mohammed, Constituency Youth Organiser urged the youth of the party to rally solidly behind its leadership to ensure resounding victory come December 7.   Mr E.T. Mensah assured his teeming supporters that he would retain the Ningo-Prampram seat for the NDC. GNA  ...

Akyem Abenase (E/R) Oct. 24, GNA - The Eastern Regional Secretariat of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) Control Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board, and the Akyem Oda Cocoa District has held a farmers rally to educate cocoa farmers on how to rid their farms of the disease.    The occasion was also used to educate the farmers on the dangers of the disease and best farming practices to maximize production.      The World Cocoa Foundation/Cocoa Livelihood Project (WCF/CLP) in partnership with CSSVD-CD sponsored the programme.      Mr Samuel Amponsah, Deputy Eastern Regional Manager, CSSVD-CU, told the farmers that the disease, which was first detected by a farmer at Nankese in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District, like the HIV-AIDS, has no known cure.    He said the only cure for the disease, which could spread from one cocoa farm to another, was to cut down the infected trees.     Mr Amponsah appealed to cocoa farmers to report to the nearest Secretariat when they detect the disease on their farms for the affected trees to be cut down.   “After the trees have been cut down, you will be paid compensation and then supplied with hybrid cocoa seedlings free of charge for re-planting, which will start bearing fruits within two to three years”.     Mr Amponsah advised farmers to avoid engaging their children of school going age on cocoa farms at the expense of their education.    He said that buyers of Ghana’s cocoa on the world market would blacklist the country if they detect that children below 18 years were being engaged on worst forms of labour on cocoa farms.    Ms Melody Attah, Regional Extension Officer, urged the farmers to form groups and invite extension officers to educate them on modern farming practices to maximize output.    She told them that the formation of groups had become necessary as a result of low number of extension officers to visit individual farmers.    Ms Attah, who spoke on Cocoa Extension Public, Private, Partnership, said it was supposed to be lean, inclusive, focused, cost effective and result oriented.     “It is a Public Private Partnership oriented Extension which attracted major partners such as World Cocoa Foundation/Cocoa Livelihood Project (WCF/CLP), Cadbury, West African Fair Fruits (WAFF), Armajaro and COCOBOD.    She said the WCF/CLP partnered three Community Extension Agents (CEAs) working in 84 communities at the Akyem Oda District and one at Nkawkaw District.    Ms Attah said 770 farmer groups were registered in the region that were trained in 15 Cocoa Modules such as land selection and preparation, cocoa nursery establishment, agro-chemical usage, farm maintenance operations and production of quality cocoa among others. GNA  ...

Accra, GNA - Mr Fritz Baffour, Minister of Information has urged Public Relations practitioners to educate the public on the need for peaceful, free and fair election to consolidate the country’s democratic credentials ahead of the December polls.   He said ensuring peaceful election was a shared responsibility and admonished all and Sundry to be civil in their utterances and avoid anything untoward to destabilize the peaceful atmosphere and international recognition the country had enjoyed over the years.   Mr Baffour made the call on Wednesday at the 20th Annual General Meeting of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana and its 40th Anniversary celebration in Accra.   He acknowledged the various contributions made by the Institute and its members towards the development of the country in areas of human resource capacity building in presenting their organizations in the best light to the public.   Mr Baffour added that all public relations practitioners had done their best to market their various organizations and urged IPR and all practitioners to market the country and its attributes to the outside world.   He noted that this would encourage the citizenry and the international community to take advantage of the conducive atmosphere in the country to invest and work together for the economic, cultural and socio-political development of the country, the sub-region and the world at large.   Mr Perry P.K.Ofosu, Vice-President of IPR said the institute had grown from strength to strength in membership, adding that, as at October 10, 2012, 115 new members made up of 50 new affiliates and 65 new students had joined the Institute.   Mr Ofosu said as part of the Institute’s 40th Anniversary activities, it will organize an Excellent Awards and Dinner Night in 2013 to provide a platform for the celebration of excellence in public relations practice and show appreciation to some individuals and organizations for their support to the progress of the Institute.   He said since the amendment of its Constitution, it had attracted some seasoned Public Relations professionals and intended to pursue the project of bringing all practicing professionals into the fold of IPR.   Mr Ofosu said the Institute would in 2013 launch a research fund to assist the research committee to conduct research into specifically selected areas in Public Relations and communications and the results be published and made available to practitioners.   Mr George Blankson, Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority said the Institute had come of age at 40 years and believed its impact had deeply been felt across the business landscape, having produced a number of professionals in the country.   Mr Blankson urged practitioners to be vigilant to uphold the highest code of conduct and ethics in their practice and debate national issues and policies on governance dispassionately with a view to strengthening democracy, human rights and rule of law in the country.   He urged the Institute to continue providing opportunities for continuous professional development of members through training programmes to enable them to be relevant in the world of work. GNA  ...

Binduri (U/E), Oct. 24, GNA - A youth group calling itself the concerned youth of Binduri has called on the President to appoint a District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.      They wondered why almost all the newly created Districts in the country had their DCEs appointed and even confirmed while Binduri had none.      Mr Albert Asumah, a member of the youth group who read the statement at a press conference, said the absence of the DCE was seriously undermining the development of the area and appealed to the President and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to appoint somebody for the area.      The Youth said they had made several attempts to find out the reason for the delay but to no avail.      In the Upper East Region there are four newly created Districts making them 13 Districts. Among the newly created Districts are the Binduri, Pusiga, Nabdam and Builsa South Districts. GNA    ...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA - The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), has called on the Government show commitment to the Constitutional provision in Article 294 (4) of the 1992 Constitution which requires an entitlement of legal aid services to all persons.   According to the Constitutional provision, “legal aid shall consist of representation by a lawyer, including all such assistance as is given by a lawyer, in the steps of preliminary or incidental to any proceedings or arriving at or given effect to a compromise to avoid or to bring an end to any proceedings”.   Ms Mina Mensah, Regional Coordinator CHRI, explained that by this provision, legal aid, under the Legal Aid Scheme, are  expected to be delivered under three main divisions which are the Public Defender’s Directorate for criminal matters, the Citizenry Advisory Bureaux for free legal advice and legal services where necessary, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Division (ADR) which assists disputants to arrive at compromises to avoid or bring an end to litigation and other adversarial proceedings.   Ms Mensah was addressing a media encounter on Wednesday to commemorate the second Legal Aid Week, which was jointly organised by Legal Aid Scheme and CHRI to project justice for Ghanaians.   She said although the Constitution has made explicit provision for the right to legal services by all, justice continues to elude many, especially the poor who cannot afford it, while the State institution established to provide such constitutionally mandated services remains stagnant due to lack of funding and support.   Ms Mensah urged government to ensure that the Legal Aid Scheme is properly equipped to perform its function adding: “To this end, government should put in place the necessary mechanisms that would ensure that legal aid becomes accessible, effective, sustainable and credible.”   She also insisted that government should allocate the necessary human and financial resources to the legal aid system and recognise the importance of and support for paralegal and university law clinics in the provision of justice and create the necessary legal framework.   She explained that the CHRI as part of its mandate to ensure the practical realisation of human rights in countries of the Commonwealth initiated a project dubbed: “Justice Centres”, which aims at increasing availability and accessibility of legal assistance to indigent persons accused of crime.   The project which also involves advocating for police accountability, pre-trial justice, also aims at increasing awareness of fundamental human rights, especially fair trial rights and reduce the number of pretrial detainees at police stations and avoid overcrowding in police cells.     She said under the project CHRI has provided training for paralegals who currently visit designated police stations including the Nima, Dansoman, Odokor and Madina in Accra, and the Suame, Asokwa, Zongo and Asawasi police stations in Kumasi, once a week to offer assistance to suspects who are financially handicapped to access legal services.   Mr Al-hassan Yahaya Seini, Director, Legal Aid Scheme, argued that justice food, shelter, education and health should be properly viewed as a requirement for social survival, the absence of which negates peace, breeds strife, and destroys these very basic needs.   He indicated that many people are likely to suffer injustices in respect to abuses of their rights, particularly during electioneering and so legal aid thus becomes essential for securing and protection of the rights of the poor, not only to decide who governs them, but to ensure that their choice and that of the majority are respected by all.   Mr Eric delanyo Alifo, Founder and Executive Director, HelpLaw Ghana, called on legal practitioners to support the cause of justice for the poor and vulnerable by volunteering to take cases on pro-bono, to prevent or curtail the entrenched injustices mated against the needy and also free the judicial system from corruption.   He said the challenge was enormous and would require the free services of a network of private legal practitioners to complement government’s effort to secure justice and respect of human rights for the poor and the vulnerable. GNA  ...

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – Wa All Stars added to the woes of Hearts of Oak after beating them 2-1 in their week four 2012/2013 Premier League encounter on Wednesday at the Accra Sports Stadium.    A goal each in the second half from Joshua Otoo and Hafiz Adams gave the visitors a two-goal lead before defender Godwin Osei Bonsu grabbed a consolation for the visitors in closing stages but it was not enough to save the Phobians from a second successive defeat in the four-week old premiership.   Hearts displayed an ordinary output with matters made worse by their leaking midfield which made the absence of hardworking Moro Abubakar heavily felt.   Goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy made his first start of the season after former national number one, Sammy Adjei was left out of the team due to a string of poor performances in previous games.   But this match is one that McCarthy would easily like to forget as his inability to save long balls was yet again put to test.   Hearts started well but lacked the cutting edge to break through an All Stars defence which revolved around Adams, Otoo, Joshua Tijani and Richard Akrofi.   With no clear cut chance at goal, All Stars goalie Robert Dabuo was to his side’s rescue with a superb save from a goalmouth scramble.   The visitors soon discovered their feet and lone striker Prince Papa Arko gave the Phobians defence so much to worry about.   The closest Hearts came was on 36 minutes when a head flick from Mahatma Otoo from Emmanuel Ansong’s cross was no problem for Dabuo.   Three minutes into the second half, Otoo scored the opener with a shot from a corner kick that bounced off McCarthy into the yawning net.   The visitors remained in control and on the hour mark doubled the lead from a well-rehearsed move involving Seidu Zidah, Papa Arko and Adams. Sidah trapped a long ball, fetched Papa Arko, who laid to Hafiz and the latter delivered a deceptive volley which went into the net with McCarthy completely beaten.   On 71 minutes, Hearts of Oak were rewarded a penalty after Ashitey Olenu was fouled by Akrofi, from which Osei Bonsu converted the spot kick.   Hearts piled more pressure in their quest for the equalizer, but Dabuo denied them the equalizer after he palmed away Ansong’s pointblank shot to land his side their first away win of the season. GNA  ...

Juaso (Ash), Oct. 24, GNA – The Juaso Circuit Court has sentenced a 39-year old mason, Kwame Acquah, to 18 years imprisonment for defiling an invalid.   He had pleaded guilty to the offence.   Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ofori told the court, presided over by Justice Alex Obeng-Asante, that the victim, age 10, lives with the grandmother, Aku Yormley, at Abekobon, a farming community near Kyempo in the Asante-Akim South District.        He said on October 11, the young girl had been asked to carry some groundnuts to her father, just on the outskirt of the village.   He said the convict trailed her, pretending to be going to the farm and when the two got to a place where nobody could see them the accused grabbed the victim, pulled her into the bush and sexually assaulted her.   Chief Inspector Ofori said a week later, the grandmother noticed some changes in the gaiety of the victim and she explained her ordeal after some prodding.   A formal report was then made to the police and he was arrested. GNA  ...